DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: MEANWHILE, DURING THE QUICK-FIRE COOK-OFF...
Ryusui|GM: Mel! Where are you, and what are you doing?
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Let me see if I can remember everything: each contestant gets their own room, pairs have to share a bathroom, Tako-San and Dovelia are paired, so Mel will need to sneak in to the other pair of rooms to find incriminating evidence that confirms her suspicions.))
Ryusui|GM: Yes, that sounds about right. The rooms are unoccupied, but they are locked between rounds. Well...Tako only ever brings one tank girl along, so obvs his girls have free rein of his room and the suites when he doesn't bring them along, but the other rooms are off-limits.
Ryusui|GM: If it were Dovelia you were snooping on, it would be a much simpler proposition, though she keeps her own secret stuff in an ornate, antique box with a fancy sci-fi lock!
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Simpler; not easier.))
Ryusui|GM: There are also guards on a regular rotation outside the suites, to keep crazy fans from breaking in. They don't generally come in but they might react if you make too much of a ruckus.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Let me get the notes doc open, so I can refresh my memory of the suspicion aspect.))
Vera: (Should be in the “intel” section, near the bottom.)
Ryusui|GM: (as opposed to the "AMD" section)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((O.K.; the aspect doesn’t provide any leads on it’s own, so it’ll all come down to how Vera describes Vera’s room.))
Vera: (Hmm...)
Vera: (That’s assuming you can get in to begin with, of course.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Wait; Ryusui|GM asked this to be a one-roll thing? Are we rolling for the break-in, the searching, everything bundled into one?))
Vera: (That’s between you and him; I’d say you pick one or the other to act as the “actual challenge” of the vignette.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Either way, it’ll be a flat roll given Mel’s stats.))
Ryusui|GM: (the way i've framed it - and the way which makes the most sense to me - the challenge will be in the entry, yes)
Ryusui|GM: (bear in mind you may have more than the direct option)
Vera: (Yeah, I agree, considering what the house’s stance on behind the scenes snooping should be.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel, slinks out of the room for Tako-San-and-guests and over to the other pair of suites. She goes for the classic, bobby-pin-to-lock-pick trick.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: !f
DiscoDude: ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾ rolled 4dF for 2 [4dF = [-][+][+][+]]
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I think that’s a tie.))
Ryusui|GM: (that's a tie, so...success at a minor cost, then?)
Ryusui|GM: (i think the obvious cost is, "vera will know someone's been snooping")
Vera: (Hmm... Can I interject?)
Ryusui|GM: (yes)
Ryusui|GM: (also i was gonna ask: what kind of evidence would it make sense for Mel to find suggesting Vera's secret?)
Vera: (Even if this is passive Opposition on account of me not being there, this is still technically an Exchange in our Contest, right?)
Vera: (If so, a “tie” means that a complication gets introduced, with neither party gaining a Victory.)
Ryusui|GM: (well, that sounds about right, doesn't it? like i said, Mel thinks she's gotten away with it scot-free, but she's left [Obvious Evidence of a Break-In] for Vera to find)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: While their is a mechanical component to pick, the electronic components are an enigma to Mel, leaving her unaware that the access has been logged, even if it’s been spoof’d into thinking it’s a legit one.
Ryusui|GM: (dude, no, i'm going to flavor it)
Ryusui|GM: (in a way that'd make sense for Vera to find)
Vera: (Yeah, it has to be something that complicates it for the both of us since neither of us is gaining a Victory from a tie.)
Ryusui|GM: (again, Vera, what evidence would Mel find?)
Ryusui|GM: (where would it be and what form would it take?)
Vera: (I’m not sure she does, since, again, a tie in a Contest means nobody gains a Victory.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((It’s still my action as a player; I get to at least partaken in the decision making.As I type this, I remember that’s for normal outcomes, and not the twist.))
Vera: (The twist?)
Vera: (Is that what a tie complication in a Contest is called?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((The complication for both sides from a tie.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I don’t remember the official name.))
Vera: (Yeah, that; that’s what I’ve been trying to explain.)
Vera: (Then again, do normal Contest rules still apply when I’m forced to rely on passive Opposition? Is it even still a “Contest?”)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I think you can still invoke.))
Vera: (True; but what say you, Ryusui|GM? Even with me providing only passive Opposition, does a tie still result in a twist, nothing more?)
Ryusui|GM: (honestly i wasn't even framing this as a contest till you brought it up)
Ryusui|GM: (i don't remember ever describing these things as Contests)
Ryusui|GM: (so i assumed i'd misremembered)
Vera: (That’s how I thought these were operating from session 1.)
Vera: (“Contests, but with their exchanges spread out across multiple scenes.”)
Ryusui|GM: (oh)
Ryusui|GM: (well. session 1 was literally months ago)
Ryusui|GM: (and i never thought this angle was going to be important enough to keep notes on it myself)
Vera: (*head-desk You’re killing me here, man. XP)
Ryusui|GM: (i was thinking of it more in terms of "rules for roleplaying" rather than "a serious mechanic i will need to seriously keep track of")
Ryusui|GM: (like, "this is gonna be something folks are gonna wanna do, and they asked me how it's gonna work," not "this is going to be a major focus and i need to hammer out in exacting detail how it functions")
Vera: (I didn’t think this was something that needed hammering out...)
Ryusui|GM: (like. my instinct was, from the get-go, "Mel tied, so Tako gets the clue to succeed, BUT leaves obvious evidence that tips off Vera that she's been found out")
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I’m not sure how this mandates the latter.))
Ryusui|GM: (but then you bring up the contest thing!)
Vera: (I thought “the Contest thing” was how this was supposed to work this whole time...)
Ryusui|GM: (i was fine with things being simple here!)
Ryusui|GM: (we could've been done with this half an hour ago!)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Your ruling: Normal Overcome that counts towards the contest, or full contest rules?))
Ryusui|GM: (look, DC, obvs you're more invested in us sticking to the rules on this point, so I am putting the decision on you:)
Ryusui|GM: (does Mel find the thing she's looking for, succeeding at a cost, where that cost is "she leaves behind evidence for Vera to find")
Ryusui|GM: (or does she fail, and a complication is introduced affecting both parties?)
Ryusui|GM: (because i can't even think of what that might be)
Vera: (Maybe I’ll just invoke something, then!)
Vera: (Lemme check what aspects there are.)
Ryusui|GM: (i don't think there are any aspects that can help you but go ahead)
Margen: (Worst case scenario: pick breaks in door, nobody has access to Vera's room :v)
Vera: (Can I invoke Safe Zone on the bedrooms?)
Vera: (Ooh, I like that, Margen.)
Vera: (That would make an excellent twist, actually.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((That definitely affects both parties.))
Vera: (Never mind on invoking, then.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((No twist?))
Ryusui|GM: (...we're twisting)
Vera: (Yes twist; that comes from a tie.)
Ryusui|GM: (thank you Margen)
Margen: (no problem!)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Misread that.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: While their is a mechanical component to pick, the electronic components are an enigma to Mel, leaving her unaware of a pitfall until she blunders into, shorting the circuit and fusing the pin within the lock!
Ryusui|GM: A famous starship engineer once said, "the fancier they make the plumbing, the easier it is to clog the drain." These locks are 16,384-bit encrypted with dilithium cipher encoding and triple-biometric redundancy. Your attempt to pick it with a bobby pin, while it would easily crack any ordinary Earth lock, leaves it irreparably jammed.
Margen: ([dramatic reality show music])
Vera: (I believe twists formulate as an aspect. This one’s called... hmm...)
Margen: ([dramatic spy reality show music])
Ryusui|GM: [Mis-Picked Lock]
Vera: (Vera’s Room, the Oubliette.)
Ryusui|GM: pfff
Margen: (sigh)
Margen: (there it goes)
Ryusui|GM: (righto, so, ;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾, feel free to have Mel respond however, then let's move on to the green room proper)
Ryusui|GM: (also, unless i'm mistaken, Vera is the only one moving into the Main Cook-Off with more than 1 FATE Point)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Ooph! This took the better part of an hour; sorry about that, Vera.))
Vera: (It’s partly my fault for pressing the Contest issue; let’s just proceed.)
Vera: (Ryusui|GM?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: “****!” Mel’s voice, dropping two octaves, doesn’t quite reach a shout, but she’s worried about how well her voice will carry through the halls and bolts back to Tako-San’s Room™️.
Vera: (Ah, right, the reaction.)
Vera: (Now let’s proceed.)
Ryusui|GM: The Chefs are all gathered in the green room, awaiting the next challenge!
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel’s in the far corner trying to not be seen as Tako-San enters behind the other contestants.
Vera: (I’ve decided to put the twist aspect under our Contest in the Intel section, BTW.)
Margen: Margen has pulled a selection of various drying pots out, arrayed them by tone on surrounding counters, and begins idly drumming a soft funky groove with spoons held in 3 of his arms
Ryusui|GM: As soon as she has an opportunity, Dovelia grabs Tako's tank and wheels him away from the other contestants. "What was that back there," she hisses. "I had you lined up to win that."
Vera: “Yo~” Vera saunters up behind Margen. “So. Congrats on the victory.”
Margen: Margen YEEPs loudly because he hasn't had much sleep lately and he's in the drumming-place, but recovers as he turns around
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: “Indeed. Quite the triumph.” Tako-San’s voice sounds only half-genuine.
Margen: "oh hello there! Than you, I kind of went all-in with the bacon and destroyed the first run of pasta, I have no idea how that happened...
Margen: "
Margen: (not , whups)
Margen: "The winning, that is"
Ryusui|GM: (wait, Tako, who are you responding to)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Tako-San is affirming Vera’s congratulations of Margen’s victory.))
Vera: “Cool, cool.” Vera has her gangly arm wrapped around Margen’s shoulder, and her voice drops to a whisper. “Very cool. Hey. Buddy. Eenspectorrrr. I have a proposition...”
Ryusui|GM: (did you miss the part where Dovelia grabs his tank and drags him away from the others)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Apparently.))
Vera: (How does Margen respond?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Lue-Anne let’s out a yelp at the yank of the tank.
“What lining up? Your plan was to just go about the contest normally.” Tako-San bites back at the big cat; not letting on to any nervousness.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: “Not sure what sort of coordination you had in mind.”
Margen: Margen goes cross-eyed and gulps, he's not comfortable with that title in this environment :y
Margen: "Ehyess?"
Vera: “Okay, more like a contingency,” the space-ghoul whispers. “I’m not asking you to throw the contest... Okay, yeah, maybe I am, but it’ll be mutually assured destruction.” She looks around, making sure no one is listening. “||See, considering that trophy they have lined up, it ain’t likely that there’s going to be a House Chef. But, if there is... part of me wonders what would happen if they won. But yeah, if there’s none, you don’t even have to lift a tentacle for me, but if there is... What say we both wreck shop on the other two here?||”
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia scowls. Technically it's not Tako's fault the plan fell through and Vera figured out the trick, but she's still pissed. "Losing the Quick-Fire doesn't mean you've lost the competition, thankfully. This next challenge should prove more...suited to your talents." She leans in close: "||I'm going to presume you're familiar with those restaurants where they prepare the food in theatrical fashion, yes? They are a...Japanese thing, I think? And you are Japanese?||"
Margen: Margen had, in the heat of the quick-fire, forgotten about the special thingy completely
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San does their impression of a human’s devilish smile. “Mine is one of those restaurant’s.”
Margen: At this point he feels something is definitely up ||and his investigator drive is rapidly starting to outweigh the competitive aspect||
Ryusui|GM: "I thought so." Dovelia returns the smile. "This will be like that. Also...||there will be further considerations to reduce Vera's likelihood of victory. Margen may, in fact, be your most significant competitor this time. And mine, for that matter.||"
Margen: "Consider it considerable"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San’s demeanor returns to a calm neutrality. “What are supposing?”
Margen: "something is... hinky"
Ryusui|GM: "Nothing that need concern you. Just bring your A-game to this round, and I shall endeavor to do the same myself."
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: “Ai have only failed to do so once; not counting the learning curve to making shawarma.”
Vera: “I mean, this will involve ||us both sabotaging or, hey, if you’re feeling pent up, attacking either Dovelia or Tako.|| Pretty serious stuff. But, if you agree to this only to back out later... I’ll have to have a little talk about that with our pals at the judging table. Capeesh?”
Vera honestly doesn’t think Margen’s “secret” is a big deal, but he certainly thinks it is, and she’s gonna start milking that for all it’s worth.
Vera: (Margen?)
Ryusui|GM: "Your score in this competition would suggest otherwise. Hence this intervention." Dovelia reminds him. "But I think you will find yourself quite at home in this next challenge."
Margen: Margen is concerned about sabotage, but it is part of the competition as written...
Vera: “Of course, you don’t seem like that type. Maybe play it up as like... ||trying to claim the same Station as Dovelia everywhere she goes, and try and be constantly underfoot for her||? ||Grab everything for yourself before she can||? Yeah, I think you can pull that off.”
Vera: “But yeah, again, we do nothing out of the ordinary if there’s no House Chef; just aim to win. Sound like a plan?”
Margen: "That can be arranged, ||and is significantly less convoluted than rigging the stoves to fail..."||
Vera: “Cool.” Vera backs off and raises her voice back to normal levels. “Cool!”
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: “A human space captain once said,” Tako-San starts, “‘It is possible to do everything right and still fail; that’s not weakness, that’s life.’” before pushing off of Dovelia and gliding over to Mel. “What did yu discover?” he asks her.
Mel looks down. “That bobby-pins short out electromechanical locks.”
Tako-San slumps in frustration. “Unexpected setback, but it shouldn’t detract from the main show;” he perks back up, “it might even help if Biru-Chan can get the lock fixed.”
Margen: Margen silently refiles using globs of explosive hotcake batter to burn through starter wires in the 'Serious Putty' folder of his Safety Thoughts
Vera: She swaggers... Stumbles? It’s kinda hard to tell with space-ghouls. She swumbles over to Tako with an uncharacteristic grin.
“Looking forward to a good match, dude.”
Vera: (That’ll be my last line for the scene.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San caught off guard by Vera’s gait, turns from Mel to reply with confusion, “Etto.... Yeah; Ai as well.”
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia says nothing, just issues a baffled "...'Beru-chan?'" before the camera cuts.
Ryusui|GM: (everyone good to continue?)
Vera: (Yeah.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I assumed the “a” in “Vera” is a shwa, and the potentially unrounded “u” sound tends to be the most similar to that.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((!end?))
Ryusui|GM: (well i'd certainly like to at least kick off the next cook-off before i do XD)
Ryusui|GM: (also it would still be "Bera-chan")
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Seems odd to intentionally cut mid-scene.))
Vera: (I sorta meant the “looking forward” comment to be a sort of foreboding line to cut off of. XD)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((“Bira”, maybe; depends on D.C.’s idiolect.))
Ryusui|GM: (right, but seriously, do folks wanna cut the session for the night, or begin the FInal Cook-Off?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Cut here.))
Margen: (I'm good with either)
Vera: (It would be Bera - “u” in Japanese spellings is always the long vowel (“ooh”). Meanwhile, I’m good with either plan.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Thought long vowels were doubled letters? How do you distinguish short “a” and short “u” otherwise?))
Vera: (They don’t normally use those sounds, period.)
Ryusui|GM: (well, all right, if folks are good with us cutting rn, we can do that)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I need to double-check that.))
Vera: (Katakana spellings is just their best attempt at spelling and pronouncing foreign words - they don’t necessarily have all the sounds they need in their language.)
Ryusui|GM: "Don't go away, folks!" Holly cuts in. "The main event is about to start!"
Ryusui|GM: !end
