#hatbox interactive

You enter. Coordinating your movements ever so slightly as to answer your inquiry. Your first answer is revealed.

???: Well now, don’t be shy! I’m here to assist you after all.

The store is packed with various fluids, body parts, cases, and rolls of what looks to be tan paper. The individual in front of you appears to be a wolf-man of sorts slipped in banana-colored pinstripe, their tag reads “O-R”.

???: Where are my manners? My name is Oscar and I’m here to provide you with something that will change your afterlives forever…

That’s cool but is he edible?

Oscar: No. No, I am not.

All your swarming consciousnesses are packed into a twitching, swampy figure. The light attracts your burning eyes to a small store.

Standing as the lighthouse across the mighty ocean is the small white lodge. ???: Please.. come inside, I've been expecting you all for quite awhile now..

You take the stars eyes and squeeze them into your sockets, it squirms and jitters a bit as you feel something worm into your body.

You blink and adjust your new round eyes, aren’t they beautiful? Maybe you do feel like a star.

???: I’d say you’re shaping up to be one! It’s never too late to have a bit of “Heaven” in you, however you define heaven. D’ahhh I keep forgettin’ you’re multiple people all getting randomized chances to surface actions in some form that drives you!

A hole is opening in Oscar’s shop. It’s as if a cosmic black hole had been pacified and domesticated into a diminutive form, emerging.

Oscar almost looks startled if it weren’t for the fact their expression paints more “annoyance” if anything. They dip under their desk as the hole is emerging from the seams of your reality.

Oscar: Oh it’s you again. Listen, customers, don’t pay too much mind to them. He’s simply a “side effect” of being here. She’s either helpful or a nuisance depending on the time of.. well “lack of time of the day” considering there is no concept of time in this space.

The entity in the portal gives a coy cackle in return for Oscar’s comments.

???: Ohohoho, don’t let little old me ruin your fun. I’m just setting up for when I need to step in a little later. Go on and keep doin’ your dress-up game, wolf-boy. I’ll just be emerging over here.

Oscar just gives a slight sigh and whispers in your new ears.

Oscar: Apologies for this disturbance. You all chose from the mouths section while I go grab a deterrent for our little disturbance.

He walks past you. You gleam into your next selection.

You have decided to take your first option with painting your vessel.

You’ve covered most of your body, your eyes are barely noticeable and you seem much more tangible. The ears click onto your body like hair clips.

Oscar: There you go! Just as the good as the days you all died, surely! However, with these extra touches, you’re going to look so much more alive!

Oscar opens up the much smaller black boxes and begins placing their inventory in front of you.

Oscar: Here are your eyes, these ones go out of stock more often. They’re a hit item at my shop, people can’t get enough of what they see.

You slipped on the skin.

It feels like it’s melding and invading you all. Not like a trap but more like

Home.

Oscar: Well there! It seems to fit just perfectly but we can’t have all the marks and blemishes showing and you can’t go looking like a zombie either. Here’s a selection of paints! Just play it like a coloring book! I can even get you some smaller brushes if you want freckles or whatever it is.

Oscar: I appreciate your moxie there, spirit! Now..

Dangling the across the table and laying out a sheet in front of your entwined form, depicting your options as he proceeds rely unravels the next.

Oscar: I can only give you so many options at the moment. Can’t change these once they’re formed. You could say you’re all lucky in some way considering no one gets the chance to chose what they’re born in? Here, we’ll start with your four skins.