Finding Olivia - Exploring Tom’s House

This is a twine of the dialogue the player experiences while exploring Tom’s home. I have edited it to make sense without playing the level to work as a writing sample. Please enjoy!

Finding Olivia Dialogue

//After you step in, Tom closes his door behind him. You turn and see him standing nervously wringing his hands together. As you meet his eyes, he gives you a wry smile.// Did you have any questions for me before you wanted to look around, Stranger? [[Tell me about yourself.]] [[Tell me about your relationship with Olivia up to this point.]] [[Tell me about your relationship with Bianca.]] (if:$TomHistory >1)[//You decide you have enough information and should explore Tom's home for clues on Olivia's disappearance.// [[Look for clues in the house]]]

//Tom rubs the back of his head absentmindedly before answering.// Well, I suppose that is fair. I'm a scientist. I did most of my studying near the CIT campus back in the day. Not much more to say, really. (set:$TomHistory to 2) [[Go back -->Tom Greeting]]

//Tom pauses a moment, his eyes watering some. It is obvious how much he loves his daughter.// Olivia...she is my light and my life. She is so much like her mother... //Tom's voice cracks a moment. He swallows before continuing.// We moved here when she was quite young, and she made quick friends with another girl named Tabitha. They were basically sisters! Ah...there was so much love in this house. That girl. They truly are my joy. // Tom chuckles to himself, reliving happier memories before his face slowly becomes serious and stoic again.// That's why I am so desperate to find where she went. (set:$TomHistory to 2) [[Go back -->Tom Greeting]]

//Tom's face lights up at the question.// Ah, Bianca... //He smiles brightly as he continues.// She moved here to Beacon Hill a couple years after Olivia and I. What started as a friendship grew to something more. She is wonderful. //Tom sighs, rubbing the back of his neck and shaking his head.// Up until she left, Olivia and her got along perfectly. I really want to find her and ask what has changed, as does Bianca. (set:$TomHistory to 3) [[Go back -->Tom Greeting]]

//Tom seems to have picked up on your emotions and seems much more uneasy than before. He wrings his hands together before finally speaking.// Hey Stranger, something on your mind? [[Look at this Letter]]

//You unfold a yellowed letter with the Institute's logo at the top. It is badly crumbled, but the text is still legible. The lettering is blocky and neatly written. It reads: Tom - We know who you really are. We know where you are hiding. We will be collecting what you took from us soon. Don't fight. Tom grimaces and takes in a sharp breath after glancing at it. Your eyes meet and terror reflects back at you before quickly turning to anger.// [[What is this about, Tom?]]

//Steeling himself, Tom puffs his chest up and crosses his arms. It is obvious he wasn't going to divulge his secrets easily.// Wait... where did you? Look, I used to work for the Institute, OK? That's all. I swear. [[How did you escape? The Institute doesn't let people leave.]]

//Tom glares at you and holds his hands tightly together as if he is holding back from punching you.// Look, it's a long story and in the end, it doesn't really matter does it?... [[But, it does Tom. You wrote this note, didn't you?]]

//Tom's resolve begins to falter as color begins to drain from his face.// Wait, what note? [[Show Tom the Note]]

//You show Tom the hastily drawn note on yellowed paper. At the center is a chair with a cybernetic person. A halo of bars and wires are hooked into its head with advanced calculations down the side. Multiple formulas are scratched out and edited with arrows pointing to different wires and parts of the head of the person. At the bottom is a list that reads: Still need: -Courser chip - damn impossible to get -Radian tubes -Visit Good Neighbor and Doctor Amari at Memory Den THERE IS STILL HOPE Tom inhales before cursing sharply. // [[Tell me the truth, Tom.]]

//Tom begins pacing. He runs his hand through his hair before stopping and turning towards you again.// I'm not an idiot; of course I wouldn't trust anyone with my full history. My wife was sick, and those idiots at the Institute refused to save her. After I did all that work for them, researching Synths and memory implementation, and those bastards refused to save her! So I took Olivia and fled. //He stops a moment, taking a breath and looking at the ceiling.// And since I've left, I've been trying to continue my research. Before my wife died, I uploaded her memories to the Institute's computers. I couldn't just let her be...gone. I took a copy of the memories, grabbed Olivia, and fled. I've been working on developing a new Synth I can implant her memories into. It has been a long process, but I refuse to give up hope. I am almost done...I can feel it. [[Tom, that's not the full truth is it?]]

//Panic sets in Tom's face.// Wh-what are you talking about, Stranger? [[I found these diaries in your room.]]

//Tom curses again as you bring out a faded book. At one time the leather had been a deep brown, but now it was faded with age and time. While filled with ramblings and regrets, two entries had caught your eye. The first: Why? Why didn't they save you? Bianca... they should have saved you! What good is the Institute and the future of humanity without you here?! What will Olivia and I do without you?! I can't even look at the other scientists' faces anymore. They let you die. I will bring you back, Bianca. I was able to get most of it uploaded before it progressed too far. You won't have to stay gone... I swear it. The second: I have it all together. Olivia is packed up. I have procured the prototype Synth. I have your memories, Bianca. It may take me some time, but I know I can rebuild the machine they have there in the Institute. I know I can find the parts. And once I do, I'll bring you back to life. I refuse to let anyone take you from me. Please, just hold on. The rage in Tom's face subsides to one of sad acceptance. // [[Your current wife Bianca is your dead wife in a Synth, isn't she?]]

//Tom opens his mouth to start. Closes it. Opens it again. Finally, he takes a deep breath and begins to speak.// Yes, Bianca is a synth. She houses the memories and personality of my late wife of the same name. After she died, I left the Institute and began to try to recreate a machine that could finish her design and implant her memories. I was successful in transferring her personality, but her memories... they just won't stay. //Tom buries his head in his hands. You can almost feel the weight of his expectations, grief, and fear crashing down on him.// I don't want to tell Olivia unless I can get the memories to stay... I don't want her to feel like she has lost her mother twice. //Tom meets your eyes again, tears silently streaming down his cheeks.// But... if the Institute has found us...after so many years... //He quickly wipes his eyes and shakes his head.// There, I have told you everything. Please...find my Olivia. I can't lose her, too.

//You decide to explore Tom's home to search for clues to Olivia's disappearance. Unlike other homes in the Commonwealth, Tom keeps his home fairly clean of dust and dirt. At times it is easy to forget that this is a home of someone living in a nuclear apocalypse. In the living room, you find a computer terminal. Hacking it is a simple task, and you find several diary entries from Bianca complaining of headaches and memory loss. While searching in the rooms of Tom’s home, you find a crumpled ball of paper. Upon closer inspection, you realize it is a letter. Scanning it quickly, you realize it is a clue and place it in your pocket. In another room, you find a strange note full of scientific drawings and notes. Whoever wrote it was no layman. Considering Tom seemed to be a simple man, it didn’t seem like it should belong to him. However, you had been fooled by appearances before. You decide to put it in your things along with the letter you found earlier. Tom is not as he seems, but you want more evidence first. In Tom and Bianca's bedroom, you find a faded leather journal. You scan the entries and realize it must be Tom’s. Worse still, it is obvious Tom is hiding things from you, and you intend to get to the bottom of it. You hesitate outside of Olivia’s room. Your job is to find out what happened to the young woman, and the dusty terminal sitting on her desk is quite inviting to you. But, questions about Tom linger in your mind. If he is who you think he might be, Olivia’s disappearance was much more complicated than you were led to believe. You decide it is best to confront Tom first. You approach Tom who is pacing uneasily in his front hallway. He attempts to hide his concern as he greets you again.// [[Hey Tom-->Tom Greeting - Letter Found]]