Late Bloomers

Our Entry For Otome Jam 2024!

This is Cider. After some life events came up, Cheddar and I were unable to turn this story into a complete visual novel. However, we did want to share what we had worked on in some form, so we converted the script into a short story format. It's free to read and enjoy! let us know what you think. (and also let us know if you find any spelling errors)

Spring is just around the corner, and prim Ivy Watkins is at the Early Risers Festival with two things she doesn't want - a broken heart, and an old flame. 

Ivy gets word that her fiance, who has mysteriously vanished for months, may make an appearance at this famous festival. If Ivy wants to learn the truth of why he suddenly disappeared, she must attend and track him down. Raised by her parents to always behave like a lady, Ivy battles many temptations in the form of greasy festival foods, frog race gambling, and losing herself in the enchantment of Early Riser blossoms. But the worst temptation of all follows her like a shadow - the notorious town flirt, Marshall Cabot.

As children, Marshall and Ivy were close friends, but a single tragic incident sent their lives in two different directions. Why is Marshall so anxious to reconnect after all this time? And why is Ivy letting herself get charmed into it? There must be something in these pale white blooms that awakens past longings, long forgotten...

"Annually, just a few weeks after new years, the whole of Hawthorne descends on the Mayflower North Field, which abuts Mayflower Grove, the largest grove of Chuckwood in the state. Chuckwood produces a cheap and commonplace lumber I’m told, but has the unusual property of flowering early in the year. Several generations ago, someone in the Mayflower family had the enterprising idea to use this unremarkable event as a source of income. Since then, the Early Risers Festival has drawn us all out of our warm homes into the nippy late winter air to drink hot cocoa and stroll among the blooms. "

Ivy Watkins - This story's discomposed protagonist! Ivy is a polite, respectable lady of high society, but it's a facade quickly faltering after the sudden disappearance of her fiance! She is determined to track him down at this festival and resume the perfect life she'd planned with him.

Kelvin Dendy - The kind, humble owner of Hawthorne's local used book shop, and Ivy's fiance. Ivy and Kelvin grew close from their shared love of literature. Why did he suddenly disappear?

Marshall Cabot - Ivy's childhood friend, who grew up to become Hawthorne's most notorious flirt. Marshall has had more Beaus than chickens on his aunt's farm, which is the only reason Ivy is able to resist his charming personality. His special attentions are probably just an act.

Bellinda Mayflower - The daughter of Thomas Mayflower, who runs the Early Risers Festival, and Ivy's close cousin. To Beatrice, good gossip is more valuable than money--probably because she has plenty of money and nobody tells her anything.

Hannah "Howdy" Willowbeak - The enthusiastic, omnipresent mistress of ceremonies at the Early Risers Festival. Always willing to lend a helping hand to visitors, except when they want a refund.

Mary Meighan - Ivy's old governess and companion. The woman has always had an air of aloofness, but perhaps that's because she's been keeping a long-held secret...

• 📖 Roughly 35k wordcount - It takes about 45 minutes to read the whole story

• 🔥 Spicy Romance - This game is classified by us as a "Spicy Romance", meaning there are one or more scenes of a suggestive but not fully explicit sexual nature, such as passionate touching, kissing, and caressing. All sexual/romantic scenes are consensual

• ⚠️Content Warning -This game portrays scenes of familial abuse, death and grieving, hand-to-hand combat, and mild eating disorders.

• Story by Cheddar and Cider (couplet games)
• Cover art by Cheddar (couplet games)