DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui: "We're back from commercial break, folks, and it's time for things to heat up in Kitchen Arena!"
Vera: (We skipping the green room?)
Ryusui: (whoop. sorry, wanted to get straight to the action XD)
Vera: ('Cause the green-room's about what I actually have time for at this point.)
Ryusui: (mmmkay)
Ryusui: The camera cuts to the green room, where the chefs have one last chance to interact or make any prep or plans for the coming challenge!
Ryusui: Tako, bear in mind you have a bonus as the winner of the quick-fire, but you haven't been told what it will be yet!
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I assume that'll be revealed at the end of this scene/start of the next.))
Ryusui: (yeah, it'll be revealed as part of the intro to the main challenge)
Vera: "Sooooo. Second quick-fire win in a row. Neat. If the trend continues... that'd be pretty sweet. No pressure, though."
(Come to think of it, should Tako have won a Popularity Aspect for winning that?)
Ryusui: (i think so, probs XD)
Ryusui: (sorry 'bout that)
Ryusui: Dovelia is spending some time to herself applying a whetstone to her arm blade. It's a nano-whetstone comprised of billions of tiny sharpening machines honing her blade to a molecular-keen edge, but its manner of operation is the same.
Ryusui: !f 2 (carefully creating advantage)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui> rolled 4dF+2 for 0 [4dF = [-][ ][-][ ]]
Ryusui: (a difficulty of 0 seems about right, so let's call this a boost XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Was what Vera said aimed at Tako-San?))
Vera: (Yeah.)
Ryusui: (Dovelia gets -Nano-Sharp Blade-)
Vera: (Wait, she got Mediocre (+0) Opposition? How do we get odds like that?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((True; the default is generally Fair (+2).))
Ryusui: (fair enough; i'll call it a fail then)
Vera: (Yeah, I was thinking that should be at least Average (+1).)
Ryusui: The whetstone is already very nearly spent, so Dovelia doesn't manage much but a little extra polish, nothing functional.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Yesu! I aim for greatness, and I'm not want for progress."
Vera: "Here's hoping my part becomes a trend, too."
Vera: "... Not that I particularly care, but... eh."
Ryusui: ( <@!Margen>, you gonna do anything this scene?)
Margen: "I'm considering the last cook-off"
Margen: (And listening to everyone else)
Margen: (gahh parantheses)
Vera: "Thank you for saying that...?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Either way;" Tako-San replies, "would you like a job after this is all over? I could use a decent dessert-specialist in my first off-Earth location."
"If you don't need me, I'm gonna go chat with an old friend." Rachelle interjects.
"Of course."
With Tako-San's greenlight, Rachelle walks over and sits next to Dovelia. "How're the kids doing?"
Margen: "How did everybody else feel about their presentation"?
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "I felt Great (+4)! Tako-no-Taco never fail to delight."
Vera: "'Boy, that sure was presentation.' What're you expecting out of me?"
Vera: "Also..." Vera turns back to Tako with an outstretched finger, pausing to consider her next words for once. "I... am... not presently seeking employment."
Ryusui: "Astera's fine. Off on her own adventures now. I suppose I couldn't keep her close forever." She frowns, still futilely trying to sharpen the blade. "Been home a few times. Cleared things up, as it were. Things are changing quite a bit on top of that. My sister and her friend have been able to..." She chuckles. "They've been doing for real what my ex-husband merely promised."
Ryusui: Dovelia pointedly ignores Margen's question. She's genuinely put out by the failure of her last dish. Abject defeat is not a familiar feeling to her.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "That's fine, just thought I'd get take the opportunity to scout for talent." Tako-San replies.
"Yeah; Children have to leave the nest eventually. Honestly, I'm worried mine will never reach that point. I don't think I've heard much about your ex, though. What was his broken promise?"
Vera: "Haha, gross."
Ryusui: Dovelia laughs. "It's a long and really rather stupid story," she says, a bit bitterly. "Suffice it to say he promised to change the world in order to wed the girl of his dreams. And when it all came crashing down on him, he tried to run." She involuntarily clenches her cybernetic hand. "Of course it's all in the past now. Nothing more to regret."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Gross?" Tako-San recoils in confusion before leaning forward with assertiveness. "I can't just be a Great (+4) cook! I have to be Great (+4) businessman, too! I'm sure you're familiar with that, lass. Lad? Lass? Ugh; I wish English had a word for 'anata'."
Vera: "Wasn't talking about you. I meant all that talk about kids."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Hope that ******* got what's coming to him."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I made a typo. Could we change it to "anata"?))
Ryusui: Dovelia says nothing further, just smiles and continues sharpening her blade.
Vera: (Japanese usually say anata/you directly in an affectionate way. In normal conversation, the 'you' pronoun is omitted/implied unless absolutely necessary.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Well, sure, some are snot nosed little brats," Tako-San affirms; "but they are plenty of well-behaved and hygienic children as well."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I know, but I thougt it would be semi-analogous to ending a sentence with lass/lad.))
Vera: "I mean, sure, eventually, but you know what they all start out as? Babies. And babies are the worst."
Margen: Margen wistfully contemplates his youth as a bud
Ryusui: (you wouldn't generally end a sentence with "anata"; start it, maybe)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Than I got first, second, and third person prenouns mixed up.))
Margen: and raising his first spawn
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San would give a hardy chuckle; "Only if you don't know how to handle them! Of course, most tako are capable of fending for themselves the moment they hatch, so there's no need for my people."
Vera: (RG, he means that Japanese grammar works differently.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((I know; I just thought they'd be vaguely analogous anyway, and thought it made for a decent low-key joke at the English language's expense.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "I'm guessing you've been too busy to remarry?" Rachelle tries.
Vera: "Lucky. Whole reason I'm celibate is 'cause I know one screw-up means having a wriggling mini-me growing inside me like a little parasite. Then after it comes out, it's gonna eat, poop, and cry. I should know - I was one."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Another chuckle from Tako-San; "I've seen enough human infants to know all too well, but I also believe humans when they say the delayed gratification of raising them is worth it."
Ryusui: "Marriage wasn't my choice in the first place," Dovelia says. "Though in all honesty, if I knew skipping all of it meant never meeting Astera, I..." She sighs. "Some things are worth a little pain, I think."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "True; my kids may be more hassle than ever, now that they've dropped all human pretense, but I still love them. Their biological parents? Not so much. ****ers made me carry their parasites for them."
Vera: "Whatever you say..." Vera saunters off to her own corner to figure out a recipe. She honestly has no clue what to expect, so this might end up being useless in the end, but it doesn't hurt to try... what the hell, a Carnivore Burger Recipe, just in case.
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 5 [4dF = [+][+][+][-]]
Vera: (SWS + Stunt!)
Vera: (Assuming this recipe doesn't end up being worthless. XD)
Ryusui: "Dropped all...?" Dovelia drops the whetstone in surprise, but says nothing.
Ryusui: (so is everyone ready to move on to the challenge proper?)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Not quite.))
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Yeah; ever since their biomom stopped pretending to be my husband, they just sort of went feral. Something about some resource on their homeworld. I've been making progress, though; can still see glimmers of their old selves in how they act. Helps that they still respect my authority."
Ryusui: "Ah..." Dovelia says, because she's too polite to simply say "good luck with all that."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Now I'm ready for the time skip.))
Ryusui: The camera cuts to the four chefs standing before the podium at the center of Kitchen Arena. Chairwoman Maalu is already there, having dispensed with her usual grandiose introduction.
Ryusui: "Now, chefs, it's time for our main cookoff challenge. You've already proven your skill at dealing with unfamiliar produce, but now it's time to take it to the next level. The theme this time will be..."
Ryusui: Green lights shine all over the arena, and the center podium opens up to reveal three tall plants surrounded by a clear plastic sheath - the secret ingredients of this round, no doubt.
Ryusui: "...BATTLE VEGAN!"
Vera: "F**."
Ryusui: The words "BATTLE VEGAN" appear on all the holodisplays surrounding the upper reaches of the arena.
Margen: Margen raises an eyeridge
Margen: ...and mumbles something about Meroot stock
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San Smirks.
Ryusui: "For those of you unfamiliar with the concept..."vegan" means a strict dietary restriction on all animal products. No meat, no dairy, no eggs. These things will be forbidden from your use during the duration of this challenge. If they should 'slip in' for any reason...that will be grounds for that dish to be disqualified. That said..."
Ryusui: A spotlight shines on the Lardertron. "A variety of vegan substitutes for common ingredients will be available - exclusively via the Lardertron. Your regular kitchen station pantries will not be stocked with these. If you want cheese, if you want to make hamburgers, if you want to make ice cream, you will only be able to retrieve the necessary items from the Lardertron."
Ryusui: "And without further ado, let me introduce you all to your challenger - the Flerovium Chef!"
Ryusui: Another spotlight shines on the entrance to Kitchen Arena. Two large, thick tree-men are escorting a figure which, at first glance, wrapped in a straitjacket and carried in with a gurney, but as he draws closer, it's clear he's tied up between two poles with thick restraints, in the fashion of freshly-planted trees - except the familiar mask with a grating over the mouth hole suggests this is quite a dangerous tree indeed.
Ryusui: With evident trepidation, the guards unstrap the figure and remove his mask. He steps forward, a tall, thin, green-skinned figure, dressed in a long violet coat, with florets on his head styled in unkempt spikes.
Ryusui: His arms are bare, and have scarring reminiscent of bite marks on them - and the way he grins at you all, it's clear what left them.
Ryusui: The audience alternates between cheers and boos at the sight of the figure.
Vera: "I have a good feeling about this one."
Ryusui: "Please, please, hold your applause," he croons. "I suppose I need no introduction - Crucifer Broccolini, 'the Greengrocer of Xanthophyll-9.' Pleasure to make all your acquaintances." There's a diabolical chuckle in every word.
Vera: "Yo, how're you a cyborg? Got a digestion pump or something?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Yeesh! I hope they aren't carnivorous!" Rachelle quivers.
Margen: Margen positively glows with competitive fire in the presence of a chef more mad than he
Ryusui: Holly pipes up: "Formerly a botanist on his home planet, Crucifer was found guilty of multiple counts of snacking on his patients and was sentenced to multiple life sentences! Given his species is known to live for hundreds of years, that's several thousand he's in for! However, through a deal with Mongogo Productions, he stands to reduce his sentence through 'community service,' applying his forbidden cooking knowledge to defeat up-and-coming chefs here in Kitchen Arena!"
Ryusui: The Flerovium Chef chuckles. "We're all plant food in the end, aren't we?"
Margen: Margen nods solemnly
Vera: "So meat-people are safe from this guy? Cool."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Rachelle and Tako-San both give Margen a weird look; a mix of horror and deep concern.
Margen: "For land-things, it's technically true."
Vera: "What about getting launched into the sun? ... Wait, sht, right; fuel for sunlight."
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Pretty sure they'd still burn to a crisp." Rachelle adds.
Ryusui: The Chairwoman chuckles. "The Flerovium Chef isn't the only dangerous plant you'll have to contend with." The plastic shield around the center of the arena retracts, and a sound of hissing and chomping can be heard. "These are no ordinary vegetables you'll be harvesting for this competition. This produce is fully capable of defending itself. Of course, the judges will overlook it if you end up getting a little of your own flesh and blood mixed in with your vegetables..."
Ryusui: `Killer Eggplant (Bitter), Atomic Grapefruit (Sour), Vampire Zucchini (Cool)
Aspects: The Produce Bites Back!
Skilled at (+2): biting, resisting being picked
Bad at (-2): complex thinking
Conditions: [1] Scrambled (fleeting)`
Ryusui: "Here are the specifics: you will need to create three dishes - an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert or drink - using at least two of these secret ingredients, while adhering to the vegan requirement, and within 15 exchanges. Any questions?"
Vera: "What if my blood gets in a dish that's not mine?"
Ryusui: "The point is, you're not going to be disqualified if the produce you use bites chunks off of you or someone else before it's picked."
Vera: "Also, how is he a cyborg? Aren't they all supposed to be cyborgs?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Weren't we going to wrap up about now?))
Vera: (I can keep going until the start-buzzer sounds.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Is Flerovium Chef a cyborg? It's not obvious from their description.))
Ryusui: (no, he's a plant-man)
Ryusui: (the part about the mask is just...he's wearing a Hannibal Lecter mask when he's brought in)
Vera: (I mean, I thought all of them were supposed to at least be part-robotic, in the lore or something?)
Ryusui: (i didn't remember that part. well, it's safe to say he's at least got an implant that lets him control the House Hazards 😉 )
Vera: (Ah, whatever, if there's a rule, I'm fine with breaking it, as long as it's clear that's what we're doing.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San responds to Vera, "Cyborg plants aren't unheard of, I'm not sure what the deal is."
"Ew. Please stop trying to use youth's slang, it doesn't suit you." Rachelle interrupts.
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Fine."
Vera: "There was slang in that?"
Margen: "what the deal is"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Probably doesn't translate well," Rachelle answers, " but he tried to say it like a street hooligan trying too hard to seem cool."
"'Hooligan'?" Tako-San is bemused. "Shouldn't you stick to you're age-group's lingo as well?"
Rachelle sighs with a playful smile. "Fine."
Vera: "'What the deal is' isn't slang. You wanna hear slang?"
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: "Not particularly." Rachelle replies.
Vera: *finger guns "Ok boomer." She looks done with the conversation now.
Ryusui: (so, <@!Vera>, you'd like to wrap this up?)
Vera: (Sure. I've been trying to get to bed earlier.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Rachelle can't help but burst into laughter. "How'd that get into space? I'm gonna strangle whoever told you that."
Tako-San just gives Vera a stern look of disapproval.
Vera: Vera turns back to the podium.
"... Oh, right, this guy." She waves at the greengrocer. "Yo, so if I'm right, you aren't really dangerous to meat people? Cool? Cool. Let's have a good match, or whatever."
Ryusui: "Oh, you poor, naive little girl," the Flerovium Chef croons. "I'm going to destroy you all, utterly." He cackles. "And I'm going to enjoy it. Because you know what the best part of eating my vegetables is? It's the terror."
Vera: "Ok boomer."
Vera: (That's my last line.)
Ryusui: (XD)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: Rachelle twirls her finger around her temples while imitating a cuckoo clock.
Vera: (Vera does not give a single shit. XD)
Margen: Margen is oscillating subtly with excitement for the upcoming battle
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((Tako-San and Rachelle are more concerned about Flerovium Chef radicalizing Margen.))
Vera: (Something tells me he was already a little more radical than we reckoned. XD)
Vera: (Prolly has something to do with whatever Secret Thor came up with.)
;}"÷™+╎®♂★█¬ˇ¾: ((But not in that direction.))
Margen: (Less likely, Margen understands that eating sentients isn't cool. He just also gets that trees eventually eat us all in the end. Unlike the motively-inclined, they have the courtesy to wait until you're done being before consuming you.)
Margen: (Mostly.)
Vera: (Anyway, is everyone done? Is the Chairwoman gonna do her thing?)
Ryusui: "No further questions, then? Very well. Let Battle Vegan begin..."
Ryusui: "...after these messages!" Holly cuts in. "Don't go away - we'll be right back!"*
Ryusui: !end
