parasitical-if

[parasitical-if]

Pride Month Feature #1: Grey Swan Birds of a Rose

As part of Pride Month, interact-IF will be interviewing LGBTQ+ authors and featuring their games! We are planning a line-up of approximately ~10 interviews, kickstarted by our first author, @reinekes-fox!

Game: Grey Swan — Birds of a Rose (Play Demo)

Tags: dark academia, drama, angst

Synopsis: Born and raised in a cult there is not much but the norm to follow, when outsiders are allowed in and bring with them such weird concepts like "bisexuality" and "mental illness", will you stay in the golden cage of the Divine Flock or break free?

Author: Aaron (@reinekes-fox)

About me: Been writing since I am 12 and… somehow never stopped! I put a big focus on platonic routes, the struggle in a world focused on romance (and in the cult setting on traditional gender roles as well) , since I am aroace :)

Read on for an awesome interview about the hydra-like nature of branching IFs, friendships being given just as much importance as romance routes, and a really intriguing pride month book rec!

Big thanks again to Aaron for taking time to do this. Read on for the interview!

Tell me more about yourself!

So I write since pretty much my entire life. But the first time I had to write something for school, Irefused. Funnily enough, it was about a talking bird trying to convince a child to let them out of a cage. I am currently also writing a traditional book!

2. Can you tell me a bit about what you’re working on right now and your journey into interactive fiction?

My main focus is on the first entry of my Grey Swan series: Birds of a Rose! I stumbled upon Choice of Games a couple years back (I still remember Choice of the Dragon without scrolling down), and finally decided to write out of the best reason: spite. Because the WIPs I liked kept being abandoned so I told myself I would do better! To this day, two years later, I am proud that I achieved that.

3. What are some of the most rewarding or challenging aspects of writing Interactive Fiction for you?

My most rewarding and challenging aspect is the branching, I describe it like a Hydra. It is easily the most challenging aspect (I have an entire file for it, just so that I don't forget any of that) and the most rewarding as I love to see my story grow in ways that don't feel forced.

4. How do you go about portraying queer characters, queer experiences, or queer storylines in your IF?

Now my story is very, very dark and even cishet people in it do get a fair amount of angst and drama, so most routes do focus on: finding a place in society, trying to either break down who you are to fit in or to look for a more accepting place elsewhere (even if it means leaving most you knew and loved behind)!

Otherwise I simply portray them as characters with needs and wants first, before they are queer. I also put a special focus on friendships (aro and ace routes counting towards that), since so often those are seen as lesser than romantic routes!

5. Any books, music, movies etc. you’re obsessed with at the moment, or which changed your life (or perspectives on something)?

Now, this also fits the pride month! The book Songbirds of Valnon by L.S. Baird.

It is so beautiful I had to stop and almost cry multiple times. It literally changed how I approach worldbuilding and I will always add a bit of it in all of my works. I can only recommend it, it is very much the opposite of my stories (it isn't nearly as dark for example), so if you want: badass disability rep, choir boys with magic, holy soldiers and a really awesome world, check it out! (She has also written other books, but, turns out writing yourself limits the time one can spend reading which is a shame!)

6. If you were to say one thing to your readers, other authors, and/or the interactive fiction community: what would it be?

Give feedback. Most often IF authors work full time, study full time, have an actual private life. I sacrifice most of my free time since two years to work on BoaR, and while I don’t regret it, it can feel very disheartening to not receive feedback for my work (on top of my actual work) and (like any creative person) it makes me immensely happy seeing it recognised.

---- Stay tuned for Pride Month Interview Feature #2 and #3 coming up this weekend!

[parasitical-if]

hi! i love your story so far, and i was wondering if Ami's name was a reference to Star Wars? Very cool, if so!

I'm going to be so honest, I found her name off of some random website's 'top ten best names for sci-fi characters' and did not realize it was a star wars reference until way too late lol. In fact, I'm heinously uncultured(for someone who's writing a sci-fi story, no less!) and have never actually watched star wars. Thanks for the ask!

[parasitical-if]

actually having to get out a piece of paper and draw out the branches in this chapter bc who could have guessed trying to lay out my entire outline in a series of *comments is inconvenient and confusing

[parasitical-if]

End-of-Month update: May 2025

I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I've made very little progress this month. Laughably little, some might say. There's a variety of reasons for this, like school, work, and focusing a lot of my energy on outside writing projects, but I'll choose to focus on the positives, of which there are three: I passed all of my finals(believe me, this was not a guarantee), I'm able to walk without a brace now, and I will be getting back on the wagon in June. Snippet under the cut, in any case, and thank you for reading!

[parasitical-if]

Hi! Huge parasitical fan here. I really love this if because of its specific eldritch body horror vibes. It also feels weirdly cozy to me sometimes idk if that’s just me. Also august is my favorite (there’s nothing sexier than a blond man with a devotion to something so strong that it’s killing him from the inside. Put him in more situations)

Thanks so much!! aaa yes nothing cozier than being enclosed in meat(at least it’s familiar…)

Don’t worry, August is getting in plenty of situations (much to his dismay)

[parasitical-if]

The Update is out!

Change of plans, instead of updating "soon", I've just updated it right now. The chapter was complete, I'd fixed all of my beta reader's reported errors... The only thing left to do was get it out to you guys. So here it is, you can play Track 3 of Press Play right here.

It's 81k words excluding code, bringing the entire game up to 200k words. I encourage you to try a lot of different things, because this chapter is the branchiest yet, and you may be surprised by what you find can happen. In this chapter, you will...

go to a party (or stay home)

record your first song... and then another!

get the chance to reach a truce with that one shadow from your past

have a cozy Christmas dinner with your friends and family

get your career boosted by a completely unexpected opportunity

...and lots more!

I'm very excited to share this with you. Also, I guess that this means my askbox needs opening again, which I am slightly reluctant to do after originally wanting a break from it but am going to anyhow. I'm really looking forward to what you have to say! If there's any glaring issues, don't hesitate to reach out.

[parasitical-if]

End-of-Month Update: April 2025

Hey! April was a very eventful month for me. A lot of that was, as i’m sure many of you have seen, the breaking of my leg earlier this month. Luckily it ended up being a minor fracture, so not as bad as it could have been, but needless to say it out a huge damper on both my mood and my writing ability. Still, I’ve managed to write up until the first major branch of the chapter, and I’m holding out hope for a May release. More likely, because of Finals and leg and related stuff, that’ll be June, but keep your eyes peeled! Snippet under the cut as per usual, and thank you for reading!

[parasitical-if]

BoaR Update

So since today was an annoying day, and I bought myself something nice, you get something too!

This adds 60k words, and brings the overall IF to over 220k.

In this update, you can:

- join the ranks of an exclusive group tasked with protecting the secrets of the cult, learn about the hidden secrets and who truly rules

- meet the Phoenix, your religious leader and promised spouse, dance a bit!

- learn more about the First Consort, and... why do you two look so alike?

- choose sides in a vampire feud: will you remain loyal to the Phoenix or follow the Rapaces?

- sleep with an undead girl (or just talk)

-sleep with a male Dove (or just talk, if on a certain route try to force it, see what happens!)

- meet two new ROs: a puppy-like Beizen teammate with rose-coloured glasses, or a fellow soldier and proud son of a fallen Saint

- get arrested for murder and sent to a high security prison

- mourn some old friends

- teach a Stray how to fight (aka box with a werewolf, what can go wrong?)

- bake!

- spend more time with a character of your choice, RO or otherwise - face some more revelations (there aren't enough yet after all) and more! (sadly mostly tba, I will be working on those)

@interact-if

[parasitical-if]

bad part of writing Parasitical is anytime I get a slew of random pains I have to wonder is it because a group of tiny beings are cutting through my body on a quest?

probably not but never say never!

[parasitical-if]

no idea if anyone is going to understand a word of this, but I've been rereading Worm lately, specifically the S9 arc, and I think it's definitely bleeding into my writing. Helps with writing nightmare sequences, at least!!

[parasitical-if]

hey! I was wondering if Parasitical was going to be a stand-alone book, or if it's a series?

It's a standalone! Maybe there'll be books set in the same universe later along the line, but no direct sequels. Even with that, I have a folder full of unrelated half-written drafts and concepts that I'm itching to be able to explore in full, so any other installments in this world most likely won't be in the near future lol.

Thanks for the ask!

[parasitical-if]

having too much fun talking about space creature biology in this chapter. probably none of it is actually stupid things like 'scientifically viable' but pshh who cares about all that!

[parasitical-if]

DEMO

Update Wordcount: 107,512 words Total Wordcount: 333,798 words

Hello, everyone! Chapter 3 part 1 is finally here c: Hoping to follow this one up with part 2 in the next few weeks. This was a long time coming and there's so much in here that I can't wait to share. Thank you everyone for your patience, and I hope you enjoy!

In this update you can:

Walk back into town!

Hang out at a gas station! Get to know the owner!

Find a new place to stay! (optional)

Meet Croft! (finally)

Learn about Easthaven from a new, totally unbiased source!

Look into local real estate!

HUGE thanks to my beta readers; they actually and for real saved my life. For this update I went in and made a character builder, so you can skip straight to the new content if you'd like c: Additionally, content warnings have been updated; those can be found here. And the code is now visible!

If you have any feedback, or notice any bugs, feel free to send it to my inbox or post on the game's forum thread.

[parasitical-if]

so i broke my leg today lol. Technically my knee, but same same! Just wanted to let you guys know, so if I can’t get the chapter out by May you’ll know the #1 reason 😭

[parasitical-if]

i just finished reading parasitical and my goodness it's so good!!! the concept is one of the most interesting ones i've seen, and the way you slowly reveal the world is just perfect!! there's just something about the setting that is so hauntingly beautiful . i would give up my first born just to see this made into a real show/movie.

and the characters! you breathe so much life into them despite only having a few chapters available! i'm especially fond of icarus and their yearning of more, of growth (?) humanity (?) ouugfffgggg its js so good i wish i could articulate my love for this </3

Aaaa, thank you so much for your kind words! I'll match your bid of a firstborn with one of my own.

Especially glad you're liking Icarus, I put a lot of thought into how to portray them and their weird little perception of the world. Thank you again, you do a great job of articulating imo <3

[parasitical-if]

End-of-Month Update: March 2025

Made some good progress this month, though not as much as I've been hoping. I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but I've been on the road for life-related stuff most of the month, but it's going to be at least a bit better in April.

I've been listening a lot to Enchanté a ton this month, because that's a very August song to me, and August is having some fun, fun times this chapter.

Thank you for reading!

[parasitical-if]

Smalltown, Nowhere (an Interactive Fiction game)

a slice-of-life game set in a small town with a focus on romantic, platonic, and family relationships

After getting laid off from your swanky job in the city, you are left with no choice but to move back to your rural hometown, Bridgewater, while you get your life back together. Your parents let you move into the apartment above their bar, with one condition- you pick up some shifts and help their once-popular bar get more customers again. But life in a small town can get messy quick, and even though Bridgewater comes with a lot of mess, it’s hard not to get attached to the small town and the people that reside in it. As you start to build a life here, you realize you have a big decision in your future: will you stay or will you go?

Play as female, male, or nonbinary; gay, straight, bi, aro, or ace.

Customize your mc’s appearance

Develop your personality over the course of the book.

Romance one of 4 romanceable characters: your best friend, their (moody) twin sibling, a single parent, or the kind but mysterious bartender.

Develop friendships with the cast.

Customize the bar: choose a theme, decorate, set the vibes.

Make a big decision: do you stay in your hometown, or move away again?

Make decisions that impact your reputation in the town.

Get involved with the town: volunteer at local businesses, help plan town events, and get to know the people of Bridgewater.

Apply for jobs in the city… or procrastinate.

all gender selectable

Spencer | 28 : Spencer has been your best friend since childhood, but you haven’t lived in the same place since you were 18. For the last ten years, you’ve stayed in touch, but living 2 minutes away again will be completely different. Spencer is kind, funny, and creative, and there’s not much they wouldn’t do for you.

Spencer has dark brown hair, brown eyes, and tan skin. m!Spencer has medium length wavy hair and is 5’11. f!Spencer’s falls to her chest and is slightly wavy. f!Spencer is 5’8.

Arden | 28 : Arden runs Bridgewater’s community center and is the glue that holds the town together. They’re generous, patient, and mature- or so you’re told. They’ve never acted like that toward you. Arden is Spencer’s twin, and you’ve just been their sibling’s friend who’s always around, and always annoying. Moving back to Bridgewater could be a chance to start fresh, or you can pick up right where you left off.

Arden has dark brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin, and a small scar above his right eyebrow. m!Arden has medium length, slighty wavy hair and is 5’11. f!Arden’s hair is mid-back length and wavy.

if Arden and Spencer are the same gender, they are identical twins.

Noel/le | 31 : Noel/le is the coach of the local high school’s football team and a musician at the bar. A relative newcomer to Bridgewater, N moved here after the birth of their daughter, Tatum, in order to be closer to Tatum’s other parent. Noel/le is gentle, responsible, active, and cautious- especially when it comes to who they let into their life.

Noel/le has pale, freckled skin and green eyes. Noel has short light brown hair and he stands at 6’1. Noelle’s hair ends between her jaw and shoulder, and she stands at 5’10. Noel/le has a toned build.

Kit | 30 : Kit moved to town a few months after you left and works for your parents as a bartender when they aren’t studying at a nearby college. In your absence, they became close with your parents. Despite this, Kit is one of the few people in Bridgewater who doesn’t seem to be here permanently. Kit is hardworking, intelligent, and extremely driven. They have a lot they want to achieve, and romance just doesn’t fit into that.

Kit has rich brown skin and brown eyes. m!Kit has buzzcut and is 6’0, and f!Kit’s long hair is in many braids that reach mid-back and is 5’9. Kit has a lithe body.

smalltown, nowhere is rated 18+ for (optional) NSFW scenes.