It's For Melody

The head-baker hands me a tablet with a new recipe on it for Space Rock Cookies. I grew up eating these, and the recipe is fairly simple, but I know we're out of squash nuts. Actually, sugar seeds would be an easy substitute, and would be my go-to if I was making these for [[Melody|RecipeA]].

{(if: $Unlock3a is true and $Unlock3b is true)[[[Space Rock Cookies|SRC]]](else:)[Space Rock Cookies]} ☆ //A {(if:$Unlock2a is true and $Unlock2b is true)[[[neo-vegan|nv]]](else:)[neo-vegan]} take on an old favourite// ☆ * 1/2 cup [[moon flower|mf]] paste * 1^^1/2^^ cup {(if: $Unlock3a is true and $Unlock3b is true)[[[amber crystals|ac]]](else:)[amber crystals]}, ground * 2 tsp {(if: $Unlock1a is true and $Unlock1b is true)[[[honey stem extract|hse]]](else:)[honey stem extract]} * 6 tbsp {(if: $Unlock1a is true and $Unlock1b is true)[[[red lunar algae|rla]]](else:)[red lunar algae]}, mashed * 2^^1/4^^ cups flour * 1 tsp baking solids * 1/2 {(if:$Unlock2a is true and $Unlock2b is true)[[[tsp|TeaSP]]](else:)[tsp]} salt * 1^^1/2^^ cups of {(if:$Unlock2a is true and $Unlock2b is true)[[[sugar seeds|ss]]](else:)[sugar seeds]} * 1^^1/2^^ cups of dehydrated fruit * 1 pinch of nutritional powder **Directions:** - [[Combine|C]] crystals and moon flower paste in a large bowl - Add algae and honey stem extract - In a medium sized bowl, combine flour, baking solids, salt, and nutritional powder - Slowly add dry ingredients to large bowl, and stir until no lumps remain - Add dehydrated fruit - Roll dough into two-inch balls and place on greased baking sheet - Place cookies in solar oven for five minutes or until golden brown

This is the first thing I’ve ever gotten to grow. [[Back|RecipeA]] (set: $Unlock1a to true)

I didn’t excel at languages when I was a student. Just science. But because most scientific careers rely on interplanetary relations, there is a mandatory language component in the certification process. So now, I’m a baker at this diner, which is food [[science]] if you think about it. Growing up, I always wanted to get off-world and see a solar garden in person. Now I’m working up to be head baker because that might mean controlling the menu and using my own recipes. [[Back|RecipeA]]

I started modifying recipes even before I got the job here. Back in school I worked at the student food center, and I’d experiment with leftover food that I was supposed to throw out. You would not believe all the things you can do with anacardium root. [[Back|RecipeA]] (set: $Unlock1b to true)

This word can be offensive in the wrong context. Self-identified aliens are reclaiming the word for personal use. [[Back|RecipeA]] (set: $Unlock3a to true)

The first time we kissed, we were at the Earth History Biosphere. There was a holographic tropics exhibit on. I’d been researching chocolate so much that I wanted to show Melody where it came from. We wandered around an ancient dense wood until I found a cacao tree. Melody, being as tall as they are, reached up and touched a large holographic pod. It fell with a thud, which scared us both. And then they burst out laughing and it was a sound of such joy that my heart leapt and I couldn’t help but kiss them right then and there. [[Back|RecipeA]] (set: $Unlock3b to true)

I call them Amberdroids. One time, Melody and I snuck into the factory to watch them work. We were chased around by security but hid out behind a crate of packaged crystals. Melody stole a small package without me knowing. Later, when we were back at their place, they made me close my eyes and stick out my tongue. Sweetness. We fed each other crystals until we felt sick. After work, when I’m cleaning up, I often pocket a few to keep for special occasions. {(if:$Unlock4b is true)[[[Back|RecipeFinal]]] (else:)[[[Back|RecipeA]]] (set: $Unlock4a to true)}

Actually, the mainstream has never helped me much. I can put my recipe mods out there myself. Well, most of them. Some of the ingredients I get from Melody aren’t for sale anywhere or at least not yet. Actually, a cookbook would be the perfect birthday present for them! {(if:$Unlock4a is true)[[[Back|RecipeFinal]]] (else:)[[[Back|RecipeA]]] (set: $Unlock4b to true)}

[[Credits]]

//It's For Melody// is a story by <a href="http://twitter.com/OrbWitch">Jillian Wakarchuk</a> Please tweet her if you liked the game and want more ecopunk outer space adventures in your life. #itsformelody

Melody is a plant biologist. They work on developing new kinds of plants that can provide better nutrients to small colonies. Not all moons have responded well to terraforming efforts, and solar gardens aren’t valued by a lot of communities (like mine). The diner gets some special ingredients, like dehydrated fruit, from the people Melody works with so that even a cookie can get someone most of their daily vitamins. Actually, a lot of folks like using sweets for nutrition because not everyone has historically been comfortable with genetically modified food, but based on my own very scientific research, cookies and the like are objectively delicious and non-scary. [[Back|RecipeA]] (set: $Unlock2a to true)

//Amsonia Lunaris// - A tall plant with fuzzy flowers. It thrives with small, intense bursts of sunlight, perfect for the orbit where I live, and it was engineered by my girlfriend. Well, girlfriend is an old word that isn’t really used anymore. Gender isn’t what it used to be, but Melody picked the title themself. They also gave me a [[seedling]] for my bedroom window! When the flowers are blended with water, it creates a thick fat-rich paste with a “buttery” taste. I mean, I’ve never had butter, but that’s what Melody said. [[Back|RecipeA]]

An ancient egg substitute from what I’ve read. When our ancestors discovered water on certain planets, they also discovered lunar algae growing on rocks. It’s full of protein. When mashed it gets sticky and works great as a binding agent for baking. [[Back|RecipeA]] (Set: $Unlock2b to true)

During their contract with our fruit supplier, Melody was stationed in my community for several months. They came in for pie almost every day (quality control, they said blinking several of their eyes in what I know now was a wink). After it became clear that they were going to be a regular, I started giving them the same ornate spoon every day (the diner cutlery selection is rather eclectic because it was started by a historian). When the contract was up, I, um, permanently borrowed that spoon, used a laser pen to make a hole, and turned it into a necklace for Melody. I’ve never been [[kissed]] so hard in my whole life. [[Back|RecipeA]]

This recipe could be my head-baker application if I was braver. If I could show my boss how good my recipes mods are, then maybe I’d get a promotion, or fired. Who knows. We use so many non-vegan products here because the bulk prices are low, but a lot of the plant alternatives would be cheaper if we could [[mainstream]] their growth with... Realistically, I can’t tell my boss any of this. [[Back|RecipeA]]

An upgraded take on the lifestyle favoured by many. Neo-Veganism advocates for all sentient life in the galaxy, and access to fresh, cruelty-free nutrition for all. While it is understood that resources can be limited, neo-vegan activists are trying to convince colony leadership to put more effort into ethically sourced protein and nutritional supplements. Some powerful beings have (finally!) publically adopted this lifestyle as a means to strengthen inter-species relations. There’s a lot of alien politics involved, but I mean, I’m dating an [[alien]], so I shouldn’t be eating them. Pretty easy choice if you ask me. [[Back|RecipeA]]

Amber crystals are a synthetic sweetener made by [[androids]]. [[Back|RecipeA]]

Sugar Seeds are Melody’s favourite. I’m trying to find a cake recipe for their birthday but nothing seems good enough. I might modify the crater cake recipe I have if I can find transportation to 3045alpha for some chocolate. I’ve been saving up all year but working here doesn’t pay much. [[Back|RecipeA]]

The head chef introduced us when I was starting out as a baker here, because Melody had a contract with the fruit suppliers. Melody is not their real name. I can’t pronounce their real name yet but I practice every day. It’s a musical collision of sounds not native to my language or species, but they’ve been so patient with me as I try to learn. Melody picked up my [[language]] with ease because it’s commonly used to trade. [[Back|RecipeA]]

In the time it takes to bake a batch of cookies, I wash the bowls, and reset my workstation. I think about Melody and allow myself to feel a little sad. Missing someone all the time is too hard, so I do it in bursts. I'll see them soon. When the timer goes, I wash my hands, and start on [[another batch]].

Space Rock Cookies ☆ //A neo-vegan take on an old favourite// ☆ * 1/2 cup moon flower paste * 1^^1/2^^ cup amber crystals, ground * 2 tsp honey stem extract * 6 tbsp red lunar algae, mashed * 2^^1/4^^ cups flour * 1 tsp baking solids * 1/2 tsp salt * 1^^1/2^^ cups of sugar seeds * 1^^1/2^^ cups of dehydrated fruit * 1 pinch of nutritional powder **Directions:** - Combine crystals and moon flower paste in a large bowl - Add algae and honey stem extract - In a medium sized bowl, combine flour, baking solids, salt, and nutritional powder - Slowly add dry ingredients to large bowl, and stir until no lumps remain - Add dehydrated fruit - Roll dough into two-inch balls and place on greased baking sheet - Place cookies in solar oven for [[five minutes|fm]] or until golden brown