Roses Look Good in Fall

Like many of you, I woke up to the AI slop It Lives Within "TV show" on the Choices app. Having spent thousands (no joke) of loving hours on the fan-made It Lives Within, I admit it felt like a bit of a kick to the gut, especially since I'd stayed up until 2 AM the night before, meticulously working on improving the programming of textbox animations for the updated version of the game.

But at the end of the day, the people are what own stories. It doesn't matter what PB puts out, especially when it so blatantly disrespects a series we all hold close to our hearts. We can choose what to support, what to value, and what to be our true version of these stories.

As such, I wanted to provide an update for "It Lives Within: The Obsidian Cut." We are working extremely hard to finish rewrites, and I apologize it's taking so long - but real work takes time. We take so long because we don't use AI to do our work for us. Our testers have found hundreds of bugs, which have been corrected. I'm currently working on some rewrites for chapters 21-22, and once that's finished, I'm going to play from start to finish with different MCs to include more complete personality variants for your MC.

While our game was highly beloved (which I am still so wholly grateful for three years after the final episode aired), I know some of you tried the original version and decided it wasn't for you. Others maybe never heard of it. But, with the news of AI It Lives Within dropping today, I just wanted to invite everyone to give our fan version a chance. If you tried it before and gave up, or haven't played it yet, I recommend waiting until Obsidian airs to experience that version for the first time. And if you did play the original, stick around! You'll love Obsidian when it airs. All of our testers are highly enjoying it and say that it improves on the story with every change, while still be the story they knew and love.

AI It Lives Within is frustrating and offensive, but ultimately, we never needed their blessing, and neither do you. Our story started small, with a team that never made any money. Everything was done out of passion and love for this series and these characters, and we were and still are, devoted to creating truly player-drive stories where your choices matter. A LOT. That passion is something that can never be generated in any machine. Stories from the heart speak to the heart, "canon" or not, and what really matters is how theses stories impact and inspire us.

i hateee how Lyra's came out but

Author's note: God, I feel like I'm so far behind on this fanfiction. But I want to make it work. I still want to do two chapters a month and I'm going to try as much as I can. I hope you enjoy! Thanks for the support.

@hss-appreciation-events @cadybear420 @lover-also-fighter-also @choicesficwriterscreations

Emma was stunned. Did Erica not understand the meaning of "You're not invited..."? Emma was going to get rejected no matter what Erica said. However, seeing Erica's confident and joyous smile kind of had her at ease. Like everything was actually going to be fine.

Eventually, they were able to drop Emma off and continued on home.

As Ivy and Erica returned Erica quickly went up to her room. She was so excited about the party and couldn't wait to go. She went to a couple parties in the past but they weren't really all that...appealing to her. Most teen parties had cheap booze and other illegal substances, items that goes against Erica's morals. Erica would try to steer other kids towards the "right" path but it always never ended well, mostly with kids dumping beer on her. However, she was certain that this time would be different! With a few exceptions, these kids were different, so it would be much easier getting the word out!

The day began to pass on and the sun began to set. Erica sat at her dresser and began doing her makeup for the party. She heard the front door close and the sound of her parent's voices. It seems that the store had closed for today.

Erica's step-dad had peaked his head into her doorway. "There's my little Tiger!, he exclaimed. Was your first day of school grrreat?!"

Just then Erica's mother joined in, rolling her eyes.

"Scott...she moaned, Just because you're her dad, it doesn't mean you have to tell dad jokes."

"Uh yes it does. It's in my contract!"

Erica's mother just shook her head.

"So...what's on tap for tonight? Scott asked. Fries and TV or...TV or fries?"

Erica blinked. She almost forgot that she never told her parents about the party. Would they even allow her to go? Its only the start of the year after all? Would she have to sneak out? Would she have to lie? Erica started to panic!

Finally she had the confidence to tell the truth. "Actually I-"

But soon, Erica's brother Ivy decided to spill.

"She's going to a party!" Ivy answered.

Erica was blown away. Her own brother betrayed her like this. Now she was really screwed.

"Ivy!! Erica exclaimed. How did you know that?!"

"You literally talked about it in the car? Ivy answered, You're a terrible whisperer.

Erica braced herself for the yelling that she thought she had to endure. However, when she looked at her parents, they gave much more empathetic and understanding looks.

"Your going to a party on a school night? Erica's mother asked soon to be replaced with a joyous expression. I'm impressed! You're making new friends quicker than you did at home!"

"Y...yeah..."Erica said.

"Well I hope you have a fun time! Scott said. I'll be in the garage working on my model trains!"

Erica blinked. Were her parents really ok with her just going to a party? That's weird right?

"Aren't you guys going to tell me about the dangers of underage drinking and unplanned pregnancy?" Erica asked.

"Nah...Erica's mother said looking up and down at her daughter, You're a good girl unlike your brother..."

"HEY!" Ivy yelled.

"I was talking about Yarrow!" Erica's mother yelled back.

"Oh...my bad momma!"

Erica just smiled and got up from her chair. She grabbed her bible and a couple church pamphlets from her desk. She was ready to go, but her mom stopped her.

Alice was one of the few members in Erica's life to accept her high faith but she remembered all the times Erica would come home with bruises and sometimes smelling like cheap alcohol. Erica didn't really mind as she would always smile while looking like that. However, Alice was scared that it would happen again.

"Hey honey... Alice comforted, Why don't you leave the pamphlets at home this time?"

"Huh?" Erica asked.

"Its just well...Since we've just moved here there might be kids who might not know who you are yet. Don't you want to get to know them first? Some of these kids might not be chri-...might already have a church!"

Erica had never thought about that. Maybe the actual reason people shunned her was because she was stealing other churches members. It was so obvious

"Ok!" Erica agreed.

Alice smiled in relief. She just didn't want Erica to be hurt again. "You know, you should really wear that outfit your cousin Lavender gave you for your birthday!"

Lavender...just know that Erica doesn't like that name.

Erica nodded and put on the outfit. She looked adorable in it. Just then a text came to Erica's phone. It was from Emma stating that she was here. Erica let her mom take a couple pictures and went out to meet Emma by her car.

"Hey Erica! Emma greeted, Did you bring your swimsuit?!"

"Mhm! I'm wearing it under my clothes!" Erica answered.

"Me too!"

The girls giggled, they were almost like sisters.

Erica waved to her mother and brother who were standing in the doorway and the two girls set off.

As they were driving Emma noticed Erica's outfit. "Your outfit is so pretty! Were did you get it?" Emma asked.

"Oh it was a birthday gift." Erica answered.

Soon Erica tried to change the conversation.

"Are you ready?!" She asked.

"....Y...Yes, maybe, I'm a little nervous?" Emma answered.

"Why?"

"Caleb's gonna be there...not to mention I'm crashing this party..."

"Trust me! You've got nothing to worry about. We can get through this together!"

"Well...Let's do this before I chicken out!"

As the girls drove, the neighborhoods began to change, houses went from normal to luxurious. Erica was amazed on how big and pretty the houses looked. The last rich persons house she went to was Stacy Greene's but even her house wasn't this big. They eventually made it to Brian's house.

"I always wondered why Brian was so popular. Emma noted. This house kind of explains it."

Erica scooped the area. It was almost like Westchester but more colorful, teens dancing, playing and drinking.

Soon the big man walked towards the girls arms opened and smile wide. "Welcome to my-"

Brian soon locked eyes on Emma. She wasn't supposed to be here.

"Wait a second...I KNOW you weren't invited!" Brian shouted.

Emma and Erica were shaking. Erica looked around and landed eyes on Michael.

Michael soon landed back and walked up to the brawl. "Yo, everything okay over here?"

"Just trying to keep the rabble out..." Brian scoffed.

"I think you're mistaken man, these two are with me!"

Michael then lowered himself to Brian. "Unless you want something to happen to the sound system."

"Oy oy oy! No need to do anything crazy! Brian stuttered. Didn't know you all were...friends. Come in!"

"How nice of you!" Emma gritted clearly upset.

Erica soon turned to Michael. "Thank you...I owe you one!"

"Whatever, I just like to keep that douche on his toes." Michael smirked.

"I think you just care about other people! In fact, at my church we really need a-"

Michael soon put a hand to Erica's shoulder.

"Don't make me regret getting you in, now go mingle!" He said annoyed.

The girls both took a deep breath and began to explore the party.