Born This Way/Dialogues

As the last bell of the school day rings, you get a text from Autumn and head out to the parking lot to meet her.
MC: Hey Autumn, I got your text! What's up?
Autumn: I've got something special planned tonight and wanted to see if you were down to hang out with me and some friends!
MC: Sure! Which friends do you mean?
You look past Autumn and see... Frankie, Cleo, and Clawdeen piled into Draculaura's pink-and-black roadster!
Frankie: Hi, MC!
Clawdeen: We got the text from Autumn and couldn't resist a visit with our new favorite normies!
MC: Hey, ghouls! It's great to see you all! Hey, that's one nice ride, Draculaura.
Draculaura: It's so cute, isn't it? And the best part is... we've got room for two more! Are you coming?
MC: Sure!
You and Autumn hop into the roadster!
MC: So, Autumn, where to?
Autumn: You're going to love it... I thought I would take you and the ghouls to an art show!
Draculaura drives you, Autumn, and the ghouls over toward the art show, everyone singing along to Lady Gaga's song 'Edge of Glory' on the radio.
After parking in a bustling area downtown, Autumn leads you past trendy storefronts and upscale lofts.
Draculaura: Ooh, this place looks ~fang~tastic!
Frankie: I can't wait to see more of normie culture! Every part of it is all so new to me!
Autumn: And what better way to see a culture than through its art! Come on, everyone. It's just through here!
You follow her into an art gallery, where the curator gives her a nod.
MC: Wow, Autumn, they know you here?
Autumn: Oh, yeah, I come to see exhibits here all the time. But, more importantly, I know the artist who's putting on the show...
Autumn: ... and I'd like you all to meet him at his studio before the premiere!
Cleo: You mean like a VIP pass? I'm not one to turn down some royal treatment...
You walk through to the back room... and the doors open up to reveal a spacious art studio, full of stunning sculptures!
MC: Wow!
Frankie: Autumn... your friend did ~all~ of this?!
Autumn: Yup! Come on, let's have a look around!
Amid the painting easels and pedestals, you find yourself surrounded by stunning, colorful, abstract sculptures!
MC: Wow!
Draculaura: This artwork is great!
Cleo: Some of these would look simply majestic in our throne room!
Ryan: 'Throne room', huh?
You turn to see an artist working carefully as he puts the finishing touches on an imposing statue. He smiles warmly at you.
Ryan: Good to see you again, Autumn... looks like you've made some interesting new friends...
Frankie: Oh! I didn't see you there!
Ryan: Sorry if I startled you.
Autumn: Everyone, this is my friend Ryan! He's the artist behind all these sculptures, and he'll be presenting them all at tonight's show!
Autumn: Pretty amazing, right?
Ryan: Oh, Autumn's just being generous. She's the one with the real talent.
Autumn sweeps a lock of hair behind her ear, blushing...
Autumn: I... whaaat? Noooo...
Nearby, the Monster High ghouls continue to examine the art.
Frankie: I've literally never seen anything like it in my entire life!
Frankie: Which, to be fair, has only been about 16 days... but still!
Cleo: The pyramids definitely didn't have anything like this. What does it all mean?
Ryan: Well, the theme of my collection is 'Born This Way'. It sort of tells my life story, about some of the... ~struggles~ I've experienced.
MC: Struggles?
Ryan: Oh, well, there's the struggle of getting up when I have the most comfortable bed ever...
Clawdeen: Mmm, I know ~that~ feeling.
Ryan: ...the struggle of living with a cat who insists on sleeping on my laptop...
Ryan: ...but really, my most notable struggles have to do with ~this.~
Ryan rolls up one of his sleeves...
...revealing a realistic prosthetic arm.
MC: Oh!
MC: I'm sorry! I didn't notice...
Ryan: Hey, no worries. There's no need to apologize!
Ryan: Some people aren't sure how to react when they see my prosthetic. And I get it. It can be a lot to take in.
Ryan: But I'm cool with it! I'm happy with who I am.
Clawdeen: And it shows! Just one look, I can tell you're real comfortable in your own fur!
Clawdeen: ...er, skin?
Ryan: Well, that's what this art exhibit is all about! Opening up, telling my story, and letting people see the real me.
Ryan: In fact, let me show it to you now!
Ryan guides you through the art studio, stopping first at a sculpture featuring one blue figure lost in a crowd of red ones.
MC: So, what does this one represent?
Ryan: Ah. This one is about the feeling alienated... like I was the odd man out.
Ryan: I was born this way... with one arm instead of two. So it was hard not to feel different, in a sea of 'normal' people.
Frankie: You mean like everyone was staring at you...
Cleo: But totally ~not~ in the good, regal-and-stunning-and-popular way?
Ryan: Exactly! There were times I just wanted to be like everyone else.
Draculaura: This statue over here looks so sad! It's slumped over like there are weights pulling it to the ground.
Ryan: Oh yeah. I made that when I felt there were a ton of obstacles holding me back.
Ryan: Not just physical ones, but mental ones. Bullying, loneliness, frustration...
Ryan: I felt like... I had no ~value.~ All because of the way I was born.
Autumn: I can only imagine... What turned it around?
Ryan: Ha. Among other things? ~This.~
Ryan shows you a sculpture featuring half of a person, holding a musical instrument.
MC: ...Part of a clarinet player?
Ryan: Oboe, actually. This represents my best friend, Calvin. He's a band geek, and kind of a dork, and I love him.
Ryan: He was kind to me when I needed it most. Being there for me, even just to listen... it made a real difference.
Ryan: He encouraged me to be brave, and to speak out through my art, instead of bottling it all up. He's my other half. Get it?
Clawdeen: Now ~this~ one, I like!
Ryan: Oh! The 'Linked Hands' piece. This is dedicated to family and friends who supported me. A whole network of them, like a safety net.
Ryan: No joke, they made a ~huge~ difference. I'm pretty lucky.
Clawdeen: My siblings Clawd and Howleen drive me crazy sometimes, but I know they have my back.
Clawdeen: So trust me, I know how important it is to run with a pack!
MC: And what are you working on now?
You walk over to the sculpture in progress. Ryan flashes you an excited smile as he follows.
Ryan: This statue represents where I am ~now.~
In the middle of Ryan's workspace sits a massive hand, sprouting from the ground like a tree, lifting a small, one-armed figure toward the sun...
Ryan: My differences used to bring me down... but now, here I am, sharing my art with the world. I'm stronger and prouder because I'm different.
MC: I think this statue projects a feeling of... of...
Choice
What do you say? 
   Triumph. 
   Love. 
   Awesomeness!
if "Triumph." then
   MC: You struggled through your obstacles... and it's made you a better person.
   MC: This captures the moment where you celebrate that victory.
   Ryan: 'Triumph'... I like that! It's perfect!
if "Love." then
   Ryan: 'Love'?
   MC: Uh! I mean...
   MC: Well... you could say the love from your friends and family helped you get to this point.
   MC: ~And~ learning to love yourself is important too.
   Ryan: Huh. Love... you know what? I think I like that!
if "Awesomeness!" then
   Ryan: Ha! 'Awesomeness'! ~Yes.~
   Ryan: Definitely an epic feeling of ~awesomeness.~
MC: What can I say? I have a way with words.
Ryan: I hope to see all of you tonight at the premiere of my show!
Autumn: Of course, Ryan!
Draculaura: We wouldn't miss it for the world! Or the underworld!
MC: Couldn't have said it better myself!
The night of the art show arrives!
You wander among a murmuring, excited crowd through the lavish art gallery, where Ryan's sculptures now sit on pedestals, illuminated by studio lights.
Autumn: Wow... this is such a nice setup! And everyone looks so fancy! We might be underdressed!
Cleo: Really? I think I'm looking ~especially~ good today. I might belong on a pedestal myself.
MC: And check out Ryan! He looks like a rock star!
You look over to the other end of the exhibit hall, where a crowd of people has gathered around Ryan. He shakes their hands, poses for pictures, and even shares a hug with one tearful fan.
As the crowd thins, you and your friends approach him.
MC: It's the man of the hour himself! Looks like you've got a lot of admirers!
Ryan: Ha, I wouldn't say that. They're just fans of the art.
Frankie: I've talked to some of the people here. Your work really speaks to them!
Autumn: Especially people who've been in similar situations! People dealing with physical struggles, psychological ones...
Autumn: ...or even ones they may be too scared to talk about. There must be so many...
Ryan: ~Too~ many. It's sad to think that there are all those people out there who feel hopeless or alone.
MC: I agree. That's why I think what you're doing is great. I just wish I could help people the way you do.
Draculaura: And the way your best friend helped ~you!~
Ryan: Actually, I think there might be a way...
~Want more info on how to support the wellness of our generation and empower others to create a kinder, braver world?~
~Visit Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation by clicking the button below!~ ===https://bornthisway.foundation
~Unlock Frankie, Cleo, Draculaura, and Clawdeen in the Store for more quests featuring the Monster High ghouls! And stay tuned for more stories featuring Ryan.~
~And don't forget to join Lady Gaga in spreading the word about the Born This Way Foundation... and making a difference!~