#five dates

1. Fall of Porcupine (2023)

"Fall of Porcupine is a unique story adventure. The collision of work and daily life – an exciting reflection of an unhealthy healthcare-system. Experience the exciting story of Finley and his friends in a lovingly illustrated world and uncover the darkest secrets of Porcupine and its residents." Steam tags: story rich, atmospheric, indie, cute, interactive fiction, emotional, choices matter, narration, adventure

2. Fate of Kai (2021) (I have 2/12 achievements after 14min of play, hltb estimates an average 1 hr completionist)

"Fate of Kai is a new kind of adventure. Explore different storylines, solve complex puzzles, travel through time and manipulate characters ideas to help Kai reach the castle. The game is set in a magical illustrated book, which you will have to master to reach the end of the story." Steam tags: adventure, puzzle, visual novel, point & click, choose your own adventure, time management, hand-drawn, casual

3. Five Dates (2020)

"Five Dates is an interactive rom-com about the unpredictable world of digital dating. With five potential female matches, Vinny explores whether compatibility, chemistry and connection is still possible in a world where physical touch is no longer an option." Steam tags: fmv, dating sim, choose your own adventure, adventure, choices matter, point & click, visual novel, interactive fiction

4. Four Last Things (2017)

“Y/N, you have to get over here.”

Grinning, you grip the steering wheel as you drive home from the office. Jungkook’s voice booms through your car’s speakers, sounding panicked. 

“Oh?” you ask. “Whatever for?”

In the background, you can hear the sounds of a baby crying. “Y/N!” Jungkook groans. “You know what for!”

“No,” you say, shaking your head. “All I remember if you saying you were going to be such a better baby-sitter than I was. I believe you called yourself the Usain Bolt of diaper-changing. The Michael Jordan of diaper genies.”

“First off, I said LeBron. You know that I - YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT ISN’T IMPORTANT!” Jungkook near-shouts. “Please, Y/N, please. I’m desperate. I need you. I… I’ll do your laundry for the next month.”

Snorting, you pull into the drive of Namjoon’s apartment complex. As much shit as you are giving Jungkook right now, you were already on your way when he called. It is his first time baby-sitting Namjoon’s child all alone and you had a feeling something like this might happen.

“I’ll take you up on that offer,” you say cheerfully, unbuckling your seat belt. “I’m here, babe.”

“HURRY,” he blurts, and hangs up the phone.

Exactly two minutes later, you stand outside Namjoon’s apartment and Jungkook flings open the door. Your mouth drops in shock. The apartment is a disaster area. Formula is spilled over the counter, toys litter the couches and baby powder dusts the floor by the changing table.

Jungkook seems harried, hair mussed and eyes wide with panic. He has a dish towel slung over one shoulder, the baby held in both arms while he gently bounces them up and down.

“Oh, thank god,” he says when you enter. The baby continues to cry, wailing into his grey t-shirt. “Y/N, I have no idea what to do.”

You close the door behind you, stepping from your shoes and peering around Jungkook’s shoulder. “Hi, baby,” you coo, wriggling your fingers. “Hi, sweetheart. Did the big, mean man scare you?”

Jungkook continues to bounce, but glares at you. “This is not funny, Y/N.”

Your gaze lifts to his. “It kind of is.” 

He huffs, pouting a little. “I swear, I’ve done everything! I changed her diaper. I swaddled her. I tried placing her on her side, then her stomach. I shushed her, I sang to her! I’m trying to bounce but like, I don’t know how hard? Namjoon warned me about shaken baby syndrome, and I-”

“Jungkook,” you say, holding out your arms. “It’s okay, babe. I swear. Wanna give me her for a second?”

He nods, glumly transferring the baby to you. Pushing hair from his face, Jungkook watches you earnestly. It makes your stomach swoop a bit, to see him like this. He seems so concerned and you know it is not only because he wants to take care of her for Namjoon.

He is trying to prove something to you, even if he will not say it out loud. Dimly, you are reminded of a conversation from a few months ago. You had just gotten back from your honeymoon and were unpacking the kitchen when Jungkook brought up the subject of kids. 

“So, uh,” he said, placing a plate in your cupboard. “We want to have kids, right?”

You looked up in alarm. “Uh, yeah, babe. We’ve talked about this. Damn, this would be a hell of a time to have that conversation, huh? Just married and realizing our kid dreams don’t align?”

Jungkook laughed a bit nervously. “I know, I know. We’ve talked about this before, I just… when?”

You blinked. “When… what?”

“When would you want to have kids?”

“I…” You trailed off, a bit speechless. “I don’t really know. I hadn’t thought about it.”

Truthfully, you had. You had thought about it often while visiting your sister and your nieces. Jungkook was amazing with them; they actually preferred him to you. You thought about it when you and Jungkook went running in the park and happened upon a stroller. You thought about it a lot but honestly, you were scared. Everything between you was new and selfishly, you wanted him all to yourself for a bit.

Seeming to sense your reticence, Jungkook nodded. “Alright,” he said, turning away. “Well. Whenever you wanna have the conversation, let me know.”

You simply nodded, returning to what you were doing.

You think about this conversation now. Seeing Jungkook stare at Namjoon’s baby makes you realize he wants to have kids soon. He wants to have the conversation, and he is trying to do this by proving to you that he will be a good father.

The thought fills you with so much love, it physically hurts. “Does she have a pacifier?” you ask, pulling him from his thoughts.

Jungkook blinks in confusion. “A pacifier?”

You nod, glancing around the apartment. God, this place is massive. Sometimes you forget how successful Jungkook’s circle is. “Ah, here you are,” you coo, spotting it on the counter. Swiftly washing this under the faucet, you slide it into the baby girl’s mouth. 

Immediately, she stops crying.

Jungkook stares at her for a moment before he slumps to the counter. “T-that’s it?” he groans.

You smile at his weary expression. “That’s it,” you say. “For now, anyways.” Gently, you rock the baby side to side. Seeing Jungkook still looking put out, you frown. “What’s wrong?”

He exhales, tugging the cloth from his shoulder. “I just… I don’t know. I wanted to be better at this.”

Of course. Jungkook is nothing but a perfectionist. “No one expects you to be perfect, Jungkook,” you say.

His lips twist. There is baby powder in his hair, you see and apple mush on his cheek. Walking closer, you wipe this with your thumb. 

“Talk to me,” you insist. “Because from where I’m standing, you seemed like you were doing really well.”

His gaze lifts to yours. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” you say softly. “No one knows all the answers, babe. That’s not what makes a good dad. That’s what makes an annoying dad, actually. A great dad cares about their kid. I saw how hard you were trying, so I know you’re going to make an amazing dad.”

Jungkook’s gaze flickers with a question he does not dare ask.

“Do you,” you say, stomach fluttering. Shaking your head, you try again. “Do you wanna… have the conversation, Jungkook?”

His mouth opens a bit, though he shuts it quickly. Frantically, he bobs his head. “Yes. I - yeah, please.”

“Okay.” Trying not to smile, you turn away. “Then, let’s get this place cleaned up before Namjoon gets home and kills us both. Yeah?”