Afterglow Parlor: When the Lights Return

About Afterglow Parlor: When the Lights Return

Afterglow Parlor: When the Lights Return is an illustrated interactive story set at the public counter of a post office dug into the head of a comet. For two hundred days Marrowlight has been out in the dark, too far from the sun to light its solar sails. In five watches it rounds into sunlight, the sails catch, and the Beam fires one packet of mail towards the inner worlds: a hundred words for the whole station, and then nothing until the next pass, years away. You are the night clerk of the Afterglow Parlor. In the queue are an ice miner writing to the daughter he has never met, the station’s navigator with a chart correction that could save her brother’s ship, two nine-year-olds sending a drawing in words, an old man answering a question he was asked fifty years ago, and Hatbox, the sorting machine, writing its first letter ever. Each watch you call one of them to the counter and decide: send the letter whole, help cut it to fit, or hold it for the next pass. Every word costs, and what is in the packet when the lights return decides the ending. The author’s commentary is the Writer’s track: switch the counter radio on and Delia Moorcroft, who was the night clerk once and wrote this episode, talks over the scenes, and offers you the versions she cut from the broadcast. There are seven endings. The text goes up to Largest, every line is announced to screen readers, you can go back to any choice, and nothing is timed. A new rule each pass and a daily challenge keep it fresh.

How to play

Press Next or tap the slip to read on, and tap a choice (or press 1 to 5) to answer. Z or the Back button returns to your last choice.
Each watch, call one person to the counter. Send their letter whole, help cut it down, or hold it for the next pass. A locked choice says why.
The packet holds a hundred words. The HUD shows the watches and the words left. What is in the packet at sunrise decides the ending.
Turn the Writer’s track on or off at the counter. With it on, the author talks over scenes and offers her cut versions of three of them.
Letters you send go in the packet (E, or the Packet button): lay two side by side to see where they are going. T changes the text size.

Controls

Tap the slip, or press Enter, Space or Ⓐ — read on
Tap a choice, or press 1 to 5 — choose
Z, Backspace or Ⓑ — go back to the last choice
E or Ⓨ — the packet so far; L or Ⓧ — the counter log; T — text size
P, Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

How long is a story?

About fifteen to twenty minutes for the five watches.

What is the Writer’s track?

The author’s commentary. Delia Moorcroft, who was the night clerk once and wrote the episode, talks over the scenes. Turn it on or off at the counter. Three times she offers the version of a scene she cut, and taking two of them opens her ending.

Can everyone’s letter go?

Only if you help cut them. Whole, the five letters come to well over a hundred words. On a stormy pass the packet is smaller, and on an early pass there are only four watches.

What decides the ending?

What is in the packet at sunrise: every letter cut to fit, one letter sent whole, a packet full of whole letters, most of them held, or the writer’s own draft.

Can I play with a keyboard or a screen reader?

Yes. Every line and choice is announced, every button works with the keyboard or a controller, the text goes up to Largest, and nothing is timed.

Does it save?

Yes, in this browser: the watch you are on, the endings you have found and your settings. Nothing is uploaded.