Keep Center

(set: $failure to 0) (set: $designs to (dataset:)) [[Glassblowing->The Furnace]] killed my fear of failure.

(set: $confidence to 1) When I open the [[furnace->The Setup]] I am blasted by scorching heat. Everything in my body screams //no, it’s too hot//—as I [[approach.->Gather]]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_setup.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a furnace, glory hole, bench and annealer.">Setup: furnace, glory hole, bench, [[annealer.->The Tools]]

“Gather the glass on the [[blowpipe,->The Tools]]” my teacher says. [[“Keep center."->Challenge #1]]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_tools.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a blowpipe, newspaper, jacks, sofietta.">Tools: blowpipe, newspaper, paddle, jacks, [[sofietta.->Gather]]

|tooLong>[How the fuck am I supposed to [[keep center->Challenge #1 Success]]?] (live: 2s)+(replace: ?tooLong)[It’s so hot. How do I [[keep it from falling->Challenge #1 Fail]]?]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_success01.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a blowpipe rotating.">I rotate the pipe in my hands. The glass settles into an [[orange ball->Bench]].

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_splat.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a glass melting onto the ground."> It [[melts to the ground.->Failure]]

(set: $failure to it +1) (if: $confidence is >= 3)[ <img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_success01.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a blowpipe rotating."><p>Keep center, [[try again->The Furnace]].</p>] (else-if: $confidence is >= 2 )[~~Every time I fuck up, there’s a part of me that says I’ll never get it right.~~ ~~Why even try? I’m just going to fuck it up.~~ ~~This is the end.~~ [[But it's not->Try Again]].] (else: )[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_failure01.png" alt="Every time I fuck it up, a part of me says I'll never get it right."><p>Every time I fuck up, there’s a part of me that says I’ll never get it right. Why even try? I’m just going to fuck it up. [[This is the end.->Try Again]]</p>]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_success01.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a blowpipe rotating.">My teacher pats me on the back. “Breathe. Keep center. [[Try again->The Furnace]].”

I take the (cycling-link: bind $tool1, "jacks", "newspaper") and [[shape the glass->Gather #2]].

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_furnace.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of someone sticking a blowpipe into the furnace."> “Take another gather." I’m still scared of the furnace, but [[I do it anyway->Base #1]].

(if: $tool1 is 'jacks')[(set: $shape to "vase")(set: $shapeImage to 2)](else: )[(set: $shape to "cup")(set: $shapeImage to 1)] This will make a nice $shape. I use the (cycling-link: bind $tool2, "newspaper", "paddle") to [[make the base->Base #2]].

(if: $tool2 is 'newspaper')[I use the newspaper and instantly regret it. Soot flies in my face.|dropPiece>[[[“Keep center!”->Self Talk]] they yell.] (live: 2s)+(replace: ?dropPiece)[[[The piece drops->Failure]].]] (else: )[I use the paddle lightly. It smooths into [[a fine base->Self Talk]].]

I keep center. The punty will rotate the piece 180° and let me work on the lip of the $shape. When it sticks, I hold my breath and (cycling-link: bind $punty, "hit", "tap") the [[pipe->Challenge #2 Result]].

(if: $punty is 'hit')[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_break.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a glass shattering."><p>It breaks off onto the floor. With it [[shatters a piece of my heart->Failure]].</p>] (else: )[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_punty.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a successful transfer."><p>[[It breaks off cleanly->Shaping #2]].</p>]

(set: $confidence to it +1) //It’s okay if I fail,// I tell myself. [[//I’ll try again.//->Challenge #2]]

Time to [[shape the top->Top]]. This time, I’ll use the (cycling-link: bind $tool2, "jacks", "sofietta").

(if: $tool2 is 'jacks')[(set: $lip to 'Flared')(set: $lipImage to 2)](else:)[(set: $lip to 'Round')(set: $lipImage to 1)] (if: $tool2 is 'jacks')[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_jacks.png" alt="Jacks flaring the lip of the piece."><p>The jacks will [[flare the lip->Reheat]].</p>](else: )[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_sofietta.png" alt="Sofietta makes a piece round."></p><p>The sofietta will [[make it round->Reheat]].</p>]

Before I finish, I [[reheat->Confidence]] for the last time.

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_furnace.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of someone sticking a blowpipe into the furnace.">The searing furnace [[doesn’t scare me->Challenge #3]]. In fact, it's pleasant.

I have to [[remove the piece->Challenge #3 Result]]. I (cycling-link: bind $punty2, "hit", "tap") the punty.

(if: $punty2 is 'hit')[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_catch.png" alt="Catching the piece."><p>Success! It [[breaks off cleanly->Results]].</p>] (else:)[<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_break.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a glass shattering."><p>The entire base cracks. I got so close, [[only to fail->However]]...</p>]

(if: $shapeImage is 1 and $lipImage is 1)[ <img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_roundcup.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a round cup.">] (elseif: $shapeImage is 2 and $lipImage is 1)[ <img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_roundvase.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a round vase.">] (elseif: $shapeImage is 1 and $lipImage is 2)[ <img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_flaredcup.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a flared cup.">] (elseif: $shapeImage is 2 and $lipImage is 2)[ <img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_flaredvase.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a flared vase.">] (set: $designs to $designs + (dataset: ($lip+$shape) )) Congratulations! We made a $lip $shape. You have made (folded: _design making _total via _total + 1, 0, ...$designs) out of 4 designs. We [[failed->End]] $failure times.

(set: $confidence to it +1) It’s not end of the world. If I got this far, I can [[do it again.->Failure]]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_success01.png" alt="Hand-drawn illustration of a blowpipe rotating.">I have many opportunities to fail. It used to feel like the end at first, but actually... It’s the beginning. [[View credits->Credits]] or [[Keep center and try again?->The Furnace]] *(Viewing credits will reset your data.)*

Art, Programming, Writing: CJ <a href="https://illuminesce.itch.io/" target="_blank">(@illuminesce)</a> Made for Neo-Twiny Jam. 437 words. //Inspired by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2018503.Advanced_Glassworking_Techniques" target="_blank">Advanced Glassworking Techniques</a> by Edward T. Schmid And my glass teachers, Kaneyama-san, Tanaka-san and Nakamura-san. Thank you.// <div class="button">[[Back to Start->title]]</div>

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_title.png" alt="Take Center: A game about glassblowing"><div class="button">[[Start->start]]</div> [[view credits->Credits]]

<img src="https://www.chostett.com/games/takecenter/kc_bench.png" alt="Sitting at a bench and using the newspaper on the glass.">I sit at the [[bench.->Shaping #1]]