<img src="seed25shuffle24/tsas cover.png" style="max-width: 50%;">
a game written & programmed by [[Norbez Jones, aka Bez|https://norbez.itch.io]]
starring [[James Fagan|https://linktr.ee/jamesfaganme/]] & [[Ryan Gaiser|https://ryangaiservo.com]]
made for [[Shufflecomp 2024|https://itch.io/jam/shufflecomp-2024]] & [[Seedcomp 2025|https://itch.io/jam/seedcomp25-sprouting-round]]
[[Play the game with the voice acting|1][$va to "yes"]]
[[Play the game without the voice acting|1][$va to "no"]]<<cacheaudio "h1_dielikethis" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h1_dielikethis.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h2_reallysorry" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h2_reallysorry.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h3_yeahdots" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h3_yeahdots.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h4_stuck" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h4_stuck.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h5_notmean" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h5_notmean.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h6_welllived" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h6_welllived.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h7_bitch" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h7_bitch.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h8_cutoff" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h8_cutoff.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h9_acog" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h9_acog.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h10_whynot" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h10_whynot.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h11_dots" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h11_dots.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h12_thanks" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h12_thanks.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h13_lying" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h13_lying.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h14_well" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h14_well.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h15_wouldntput" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h15_wouldntput.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h16_goodperson" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h16_goodperson.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h17_notgoodman" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h17_notgoodman.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h18_feelings" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h18_feelings.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h19_feminine" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h19_feminine.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h20_sayingitnow" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h20_sayingitnow.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h21_either" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h21_either.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h22_bros" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h22_bros.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h23_realgoodguy" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h23_realgoodguy.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h24_nothingyou" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h24_nothingyou.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h25_coverup" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h25_coverup.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h26_wth" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h26_wth.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h27_rockingtheboat" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h27_rockingtheboat.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h28_what" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h28_what.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h29_wellshoot" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h29_wellshoot.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h30_right" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h30_right.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "h31_ilu" "seed25shuffle24/va/humphrey/h31_ilu.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "jayden1_jesus" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/jayden1_jesus.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "jayden2_overthis" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/jayden2_overthis.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j3_arestuck" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j3_arestuck.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j4_jumpoff" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j4_jumpoff.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j5_rock" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j5_rock.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j6_meantmore" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j6_meantmore.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j7_alottome" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j7_alottome.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j8_truthbuddy" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j8_truthbuddy.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j9_thereforme" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j9_thereforme.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j10_bestman" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j10_bestman.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j11_whatyouknow" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j11_whatyouknow.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j12_wdym" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j12_wdym.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j13_wow" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j13_wow.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j14_bestfriend" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j14_bestfriend.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j15_doesntmatter" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j15_doesntmatter.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j16_comingfromyou" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j16_comingfromyou.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j17_wishsaved" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j17_wishsaved.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j18_toolate" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j18_toolate.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j19_sue" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j19_sue.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j20_savorthis" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j20_savorthis.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j21_window" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j21_window.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j22_ohwellshit" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j22_ohwellshit.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j23_octopus" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j23_octopus.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j24_underwater" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j24_underwater.mp3">>
<<cacheaudio "j25_ilu" "seed25shuffle24/va/jayden/j25_ilu.mp3">>
<<createplaylist "1">>
<<track "h1_dielikethis" volume 1>>
<<track "jayden1_jesus" volume 1>>
<<track "h2_reallysorry" volume 1>>
<<track "jayden2_overthis" volume 1>>
<<track "h3_yeahdots" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "2">>
<<track "h4_stuck" volume 1>>
<<track "j3_arestuck" volume 1>>
<<track "j4_jumpoff" volume 1>>
<<track "h5_notmean" volume 1>>
<<track "h6_welllived" volume 1>>
<<track "j5_rock" volume 1>>
<<track "h7_bitch" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "3">>
<<track "h8_cutoff" volume 1>>
<<track "h9_acog" volume 1>>
<<track "j6_meantmore" volume 1>>
<<track "h10_whynot" volume 1>>
<<track "j7_alottome" volume 1>>
<<track "h11_dots" volume 1>>
<<track "h12_thanks" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "4">>
<<track "h13_lying" volume 1>>
<<track "j8_truthbuddy" volume 1>>
<<track "j9_thereforme" volume 1>>
<<track "j10_bestman" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "5">>
<<track "h14_well" volume 1>>
<<track "h11_dots" volume 1>>
<<track "h15_wouldntput" volume 1>>
<<track "j11_whatyouknow" volume 1>>
<<track "h16_goodperson" volume 1>>
<<track "h17_notgoodman" volume 1>>
<<track "j12_wdym" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "6">>
<<track "h18_feelings" volume 1>>
<<track "h19_feminine" volume 1>>
<<track "h20_sayingitnow" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "7">>
<<track "j13_wow" volume 1>>
<<track "h21_either" volume 1>>
<<track "j14_bestfriend" volume 1>>
<<track "h22_bros" volume 1>>
<<track "j15_doesntmatter" volume 1>>
<<track "h23_realgoodguy" volume 1>>
<<track "j16_comingfromyou" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "8">>
<<track "j17_wishsaved" volume 1>>
<<track "h24_nothingyou" volume 1>>
<<track "j18_toolate" volume 1>>
<<track "j19_sue" volume 1>>
<<track "h25_coverup" volume 1>>
<<track "j20_savorthis" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "9">>
<<track "h26_wth" volume 1>>
<<track "h27_rockingtheboat" volume 1>>
<<track "j21_window" volume 1>>
<<track "j22_ohwellshit" volume 1>>
<<track "h28_what" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<createplaylist "10">>
<<track "j23_octopus" volume 1>>
<<track "h29_wellshoot" volume 1>>
<<track "j24_underwater" volume 1>>
<<track "h30_right" volume 1>>
<<track "h31_ilu" volume 1>>
<<track "j25_ilu" volume 1>>
<</createplaylist>>
<<cacheaudio "moansandtoans02" "seed25shuffle24/assets/moansandtoans02.mp3">><img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/13_nightmare_lavender.png" style="max-width: 50%;">
SCENE: THE SHIP "SPIRIT LINER", TIME UNKNOWN
In the afterlife, two people, JAYDEN and HUMPHREY are together on a strange, ethereal ship. They have been trapped here ever since they died, and the boat doesn’t seem to be getting any closer to land. One day, they have the following conversion.
[[(When speaking, Jayden is always on the left, and Humphrey is always on the right.)|2]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/1_TSaHS.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: I never thought I’d die like this. I thought I’d die surrounded by loved ones, slowly fading away in a hospital or something. Instead, I die on company time, killed by the very product I was asked to transport. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "1" play>> <<else>><<endif>> <<audio "moansandtoans02" volume 0.05 loop play>>
JAYDEN: How do you think I feel? Jesus, I never should have asked to tag along for your stupid trip.
HUMPHREY: I’m really sorry I got you killed, buddy.
JAYDEN: (sigh) . . . We’ve been over this. It’s not your fault this happened. It’s that stupid company, NorteK. [[This is on them.|3]]
HUMPHREY: Yeah. . .<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/2_SR.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: I feel stuck, Jayden. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "1" stop>><<playlist "2" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
JAYDEN: Well, we <i>are</i> stuck on this boat.
JAYDEN: I mean, we could jump off, but I don’t think that would end well for us.
HUMPHREY: That’s not what I mean.
HUMPHREY: I’ve been thinking about the life I had. Whether it was "well lived", like they say. Every night, I listen to waves crash against the side of the ship and I think over every single thing I ever did. It makes me feel stuck.
JAYDEN: That’s surprising. I’ve been sleeping like a rock.
HUMPHREY: Yeah, I know. [[You snore like a bitch.|4]] (laughs)<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/3_Splash.jpeg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: It was all over in the blink of an eye, and now we’re stuck in this weird purgatory. Everything my life was building up to, cut off in an instant. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "2" stop>><<playlist "3" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: All I really did was transport wares and boxes and barrels for all of those big companies. Was that all I really was, a cog in the corporate machine? Was that all my life meant in the end?
JAYDEN: Of course not. You meant more than that.
HUMPHREY: Why not?
JAYDEN: Because you meant a lot to me.
HUMPHREY: . . .
HUMPHREY: [[Thanks.|5]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/4_Figure.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: I feel like you’re lying to me, though. (laughs) I know I shouldn’t doubt you, but. . . <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "3" stop>><<playlist "4" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
JAYDEN: I promise I’m telling the truth, buddy.
JAYDEN: I liked hanging out with you when we were alive; I still do, even though we’re dead. You’ve always been there for me, no matter what. And when I needed help, you were the first person I would call.
JAYDEN: You’re the best [[man|6]] I’ve ever known. Trust me.<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/5_Prepared.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: Well. . . <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "4" stop>><<playlist "5" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: . . .
HUMPHREY: I wouldn’t exactly put it like that.
JAYDEN: What? You know you’re a good man, right?
HUMPHREY: I know I’m a good <i>person</i>.
HUMPHREY: I’m not sure I’m a good <i>man</i>, though.
JAYDEN: [[What do you mean?|7]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/6_ocoawh.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: I’ve always had these . . . <i>feelings</i>, Jayden. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "5" stop>><<playlist "6" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: Like even though my body is male, my soul is feminine, trapped in a masculine shell.
HUMPHREY: I was holding off telling you because I didn’t know how you would react, and I couldn’t find the words to say it, either. But ever since we died and came here, I’ve had all of the time in the world to think of how to say it. [[So I’m saying it now.|8]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/7_Figure.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
JAYDEN: Wow. I never would’ve expected that. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "6" stop>><<playlist "7" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: Yeah, I wouldn’t have either. (laughs)
JAYDEN: Well, no matter what your gender is, you’re still my best friend. It doesn’t matter to me, ok?
HUMPHREY: You sure? I was worried you wouldn’t like that we aren’t "bros" anymore.
JAYDEN: That doesn’t matter as much as your happiness, obviously.
HUMPHREY: See, you say I’m a good guy, but you’re the <i>real</i> good guy in our duo.
JAYDEN: (laughs) Hey, thanks bud! [[That means a lot coming from you.|9]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/8_Figure.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
JAYDEN: I wish I could’ve saved you. You deserve to be out and alive, not out and dead. <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "7" stop>><<playlist "8" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: There’s nothing you could have done.
JAYDEN: I tried to save us. . . By the time I realized what the substance you were transporting did though, it was too late.
JAYDEN: I hope our families sue NorteK, and get one hell of a payout.
HUMPHREY: Chances are, the company will find our bodies first and cover it all up.
JAYDEN: True, but let me imagine a happy ending. [[Let me savor this.|10]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/9_Figure.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
HUMPHREY: What the hell? Do you feel that?! <<if $va is "yes">> <<playlist "8" stop>><<playlist "9" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUPHREY: What’s rocking the boat?!
JAYDEN: Let me look out of the window and see!
JAYDEN: Oh. Well, shit.
HUMPHREY: [[What?|11]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/10_Octopus.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
JAYDEN: I think an octopus has grabbed the boat. Looks like it’s trying to pull us under. <<if $va is "yes">><<playlist "9" stop>> <<playlist "10" play>> <<else>><<endif>>
HUMPHREY: Well, shoot. I should’ve known we couldn’t drift around the sea forever.
JAYDEN: I guess now we’ll find out whether spirits can breathe underwater, right buddy?
HUMPHREY: Right. (laughs)
HUMPHREY: If we end up getting separated, or if this is the end. . . I love you, man.
JAYDEN: [[I love you too.|12]]<img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/11_Nos.jpeg" style="max-width: 50%;">
<i>The two spirits sunk into The Eternal Sea<<playlist "10" stop>>
and into its depths.
Soon, they found the bottom:
the floor of a starship, located in deep space.
Destined to drift from one vast ocean to another,
always just infinitesimal atoms in the gargantuan habitat that is the afterlife:
[[that is their fate for all eternity. . .|end]]</i><img src="seed25shuffle24/assets/12_CosmicFigure.jpg" style="max-width: 50%;">
the end. <<audio "moansandtoans02" fadeout>>
a game written & programmed by [[Norbez Jones, aka Bez|https://norbez.itch.io]]
made for Shufflecomp 2024 & Seedcomp 2025.
Humphrey is voiced by [[James Fagan|https://linktr.ee/jamesfaganme/]]
Jayden is voiced by [[Ryan Gaiser|https://ryangaiservo.com]]
Shufflecomp song inspiration: [[Acid Food by Mogwai|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzLbYp08aWU/]]
Seedcomp seeds used:
[[Story B|https://flintstonesshapedvitamins.itch.io/they-crawl/]] by FlintstonesShapedVitamins
[[A Dismal Vessel|https://demonapologist.itch.io/a-dismal-vessel/]] by DemonApologist
[[Moans & Tones|https://overthinking.itch.io/moans-tones/]] by Charm Cochran (track 02)
Images from the [[Public Domain Image Archive|https://pdimagearchive.org]] (in order of appearance):
1. [[The Subject and His Skeleton|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/d24ec705-f57a-4545-bba5-861f5f994123/]]
2. [[Shepherd's Race|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/e158e647-ac4f-44eb-ae00-72b9028bbbc0/]]
3. [[From The Splash of a Drop|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/ac3b90f3-25ce-467b-a25e-ef9cc5874d28/]]
4. [[From Bizzarie di Varie Figure|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/30767a92-95a2-4ade-b16a-c559f3799dda/]]
5. [[Prepared for Cremation|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/92293376-ff8a-4f28-b91d-6de13681db15/]]
6. [[open country of woman's heart|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/9e5d571e-dbc7-4d2b-8d82-012bc530d8dd/]]
7. [[From Bizzarie di Varie Figure|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/e8e02740-0c46-4e75-a77e-6ff4d458a3ca/]]
8. [[From Bizzarie di Varie Figure|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/bc7d7b66-27f1-4dce-a597-2ca8f29a4d4f/]]
9. [[From Bizzarie di Varie Figure|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/f97c0aa7-fc7b-408e-af90-fe5811129279/]]
10. [[An Octopus Devours a Ship|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/225c8a26-3e66-49a2-9e29-a10ce8090bfd/]]
11. [[From Nos Invisibles|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/80c14c90-20f7-4d2f-8405-22c50332963a/]]
12. [[Cosmic Figure|https://pdimagearchive.org/images/34d80e55-e3a2-4fe8-aa99-a9804863e4cb/]]
<big>[[Restart?|Start]]</big>