astralfortune

[astralfortune]

An Update but also Not really

So here's the side project! Now you're the artist who will be preparing for a debut! Get to know your new manager and work together to become the first ever solo artist in Astral Agency!

Since this is a side project, updates will be very sparse. It's mostly going to act as a way for me to try out different coding and test them without having to go through multiple playthroughs and long text. The plot will be even less deep that Bridging the Gap and most of the choices won't have any impact, so just have fun with it!

There's only one story available right now and I don't have any idea when the next one will be out. All the stories can be read as standalones and there isn't any specific order you have to follow to understand the timeline.

Please Enjoy!

Link: [Here]

[astralfortune]

An Update but also Not really

So here's the side project! Now you're the artist who will be preparing for a debut! Get to know your new manager and work together to become the first ever solo artist in Astral Agency!

Since this is a side project, updates will be very sparse. It's mostly going to act as a way for me to try out different coding and test them without having to go through multiple playthroughs and long text. The plot will be even less deep that Bridging the Gap and most of the choices won't have any impact, so just have fun with it!

There's only one story available right now and I don't have any idea when the next one will be out. All the stories can be read as standalones and there isn't any specific order you have to follow to understand the timeline.

Please Enjoy!

Link: [Here]

[astralfortune]

I told myself I wouldn't do it. But here I am letting you all know I'm starting a side project 🫠

[astralfortune]

I was going through my notes from when I was still conceptualizing the story and it's interesting how things have changed or stayed the same. Did you know Fortune was originally going to be called Nexus? Or that all the members were meant to be written with the idea that their character arcs are done so that they can help the MC with their arc?

Funny how things can change as the story evolves.

[astralfortune]

What if mc parents shows fortune videos of baby avery and mc playing together and having a good relationship? And now in present they have gremlin avery and aloof stoic mc

How their parents managed to get their children together and willing to show those baby videos is a mystery.

T/H - It's strange seeing how different Avery and MC used to be like. They're so used to who they are in the present that learning what they used to be like feels like looking into a different world altogether. Suddenly they feel grateful that they have a good relationship with their brother.

X - Watching the videos makes X think. Would they change if they had a sibling, too? They're probably the only ones enjoying seeing another side of their manager and friend.

E - They're laughing and making jokes about the video, but really they're confused. MC and Avery looked so happy together, what changed?

O - This stirs feelings in O that they don't like thinking about. It's like getting a glimpse of what might happen to them and their siblings in the future. They don't want that to happen. They don't want their siblings to hate them.

[astralfortune]

D-did I ever say how long until the comeback is??

[astralfortune]

I sure do love writing little hints about this in the game ^_^

Fun Fact #8

There's a rumor that Astral Agency is training a rookie to be their first solo artist. But no one knows when that will be or what kind of person will be debuting. Much less if the rumor is even true.

[astralfortune]

hii! i might be remembering wrong, but i think if you choose to have MC wear glasses or contacts, you only have the choice between wearing glasses or contacts at home? would it be possible to add an option for not wearing either? ^^ i'm near-sighted so i wear glasses/contacts outside but take them off at home haha

and thank you for writing this if, i love it so far! :)

Hello!

I just double checked and yeah, there isn't an option to not wear glasses or contacts if you already do at work. I'll make sure to add it in the next update!

[astralfortune]

Conceptualizing will always be more fun than actually doing the work to make it come to life 😔

[astralfortune]

I need more bad!Avery love

You'll only get tough love from them.

[astralfortune]

Ooooh! Thank you for sharing this! I love the bit of favoritism towards Xavier. He'd be a little smug about it if he ever found out lol

My mc for “Bridging The Gap” (edit) by @astralfortune

Name: Carlos Rodriguez

Pronouns: he/him

Age: 26

Orientation: Gay

Romancing: Xavier

Work personality: Caring

Home personality: Prickly

Despite his attitude Carlos actually has a pretty good relationship with his baby brother Avery

His apartment is an organized mess and tbh I imagine Carlos sometimes regrets keeping his hair long when he gets ready for work but he’s also too lazy to get a haircut

Oh yeah for the picrews you can pretty much guess which is his work persona and which is his home version

Bro does not know how to take a break. He needs to stop falling asleep on the couch smh

Debating between his reasons for his work persona being low confidence about his true personality and it simply being how he first presented himself as. Leaning to the latter

I imagine Carlos tries not to play favorites but he probably unknowingly favors Xavier slightly more

Also sorry to Xavier but I find some of the asks teasing him about having a crush on manager funny

My next fav after Xavier would probably be taeyang. I love that he’s a bad cook

I can’t wait for fortune to meet Carlos outside of work

I realized I forgot to tag the author lol so made a quick edit

The story is really interesting so far and I can’t wait to see more. More Slice of Life if’s tend to be my fav’s for some reason. Xavier is obviously my current fav but I also really like the other members as well

Here’s the picrews I used for Carlos

[astralfortune]

I forgot if this has been asked before but what tag would you prefer people to use for fan content?

Huh, this actually hasn't been asked yet.

I don't mind people using #bridging the gap if for now! But I would like to be @'d so I can see them right away!

[astralfortune]

That last line for Bad!Avery to ....

:)

[astralfortune]

Tbh I’m curious what Avery’s reaction was like the very first time they learned about mc’s different work and home personas

It probably won't come up in the game besides a few references, so I'll just put a bit of what their internal dialog was like when Fortune has their first meeting with MC as their manager.

G!Avery - Hey, wait... that's not my MC. They would never act like that. Why are you being so different? It's weird and I don't like it. What's going on? Did something happen? I should talk to MC later. There's gotta be a reason. Maybe someone's bullying them. Or maybe they're in trouble.

All I want is for you to be happy with who you are.

B!Avery - Why are you trying so hard to be someone you're not? Don't you see how weird this is? I can't stand watching you act like this. It's making me irritated. I knew you'd be just as annoying at work as you are at home. God, I can feel myself getting more annoyed the more I watch you be so fake.

...Have you been fake to me, too? Is that why we don't get along?

Both Averys don't understand why the MC is so adamant about putting on fronts. In their eyes, being your genuine self is the only way to live your life. Acting like something you're not is like lying to everyone about who you are.

[astralfortune]

I work as an EMT and one time I was called to a neighbor of mine. At work I wear contacts and have my hair up, while in private I wear glasses and have my hair down.

I talked with my neighbor for over 1 hour and they didnt regonize me as their neighbor.

Three days later, I saw them in private and, again, they didnt connect that I was that guy from the ambulance.

It sounds so bizarre to me because I never thought it could work but since that happened. Yeah, wearing glasses and a cap to hide does work, no doubt from my side.

This makes me so happy that I can choose this in the story too, and that they wont regonize me because I never could implemend that in an IF before and I am so exited.

Also I am quite confident at work but in private really shy which makes your concept even more alluring to me because I never could implement that in an IF before and aaaah. Did I already say that I am exited for this IF?

Hehe, are you excited? I couldn't tell lol

It's interesting how a small thing like changing your hair or putting on glasses can make you look like a completely different person!

Coding all this will be a massive hurdle but it's one I'm willing to jump because I'm so excited to see it come to life! I've always been a fan of gap personalities and characters hiding a side of themselves until a big reveal.

[astralfortune]

I think it’d be so funny if mc tried to hide their identity and one of the members saw right through it but another is like “wow you look familiar” but it’s not clicking at ALL for them 😭

You don't know how badly I want to write this kind of scenario into the game. Unfortunately coding it would be a nightmare so all we can do is imagine 😔

This is so on brand for E. They'd be completely dense and unable to connect the dots for a very long time. I can't help thinking it'd be like the Perry the platypus thing.

E: Our neighbor?

Manager: *Puts on a defining item.*

E: MC the neighbor???

X would be the one who most likely sees through the disguise. They've spent a lot of time admiring from a distance, so they're very familiar with your appearance. They would also be giving E some sideye when E doesn't recognize you. It's so obvious to them, why can't E see it?

[astralfortune]

I'm really looking forward to how you handle the personality mixes and am sending you good vibrations. Speaking of vibrations, how would the members and our dear avery respond to catching the MC singing one of the groups songs? Are they any good at singing? well I suppose that's up to you.

There's so many ways this could go! In general, they wouldn't be too surprised if they catch you humming or singing one of their songs. It's produced to be catchy and popular, after all, and you're going to be hearing it almost every day.

But if you choose not to be a fan of idol music, it'll be a bit of a shock. Or if you have either the aloof or prickly personality, they might feel flattered to see a side of you that's different, one that's not so put together and professional.

It's up to you if you want your MC to be a good singer or not! Imagine going to karaoke with them...