DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: "Hello? Yes? What? No, that goes against my...you said I...fine, then." -click-
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Eh?))
Ryusui|GM: "It's time for another thrill-packed episode of Uranium Chef!" Holly calls out as the logo displays over the usual montage of our four chefs.
Ryusui|GM: (opening remarks time!)
Ryusui|GM: <@!Vera>!
Vera: "... I'm still not sure what happened last episode. I already took enough punishment without having a target painted on my back by winning... somehow. So, uh... feel free to go easy on me, other chefs. (Do they even see these?)"
(Trying to be cautious with her remarks; in other words, CAREFUL.)
Vera: !f 1 (CAREFUL)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+1 for -2 [4dF = [ ][-][-][-]]
Vera: (Oof, zilch.)
Ryusui|GM: Tako! (<@!;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾>)
Vera: The audience wasn't impressed, it seems; they've yet to see her place less than second even once this competition, so they're eager to see the "other chefs" (and the house) do the opposite of go easy on her!
Ryusui|GM: (heh heh. yeah i shoulda responded even negatively to that, mb)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Ai'll be honest: Ai'm Big-Fish-from-Small-Pond; if this show has taught my anything, it is humility. Ai have a lot of....space to grow."
Rachelle's muffled voice can be heard giving a congradulatory "Hey~~~~!" from the other room.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 (Flashy)
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [ ][+][+][-]]
Vera: (Kinda strange to attach FLASHY to a message of humility (even if it does have a pun). I would have maybe classified slipping a pun into a humble admission as SNEAKY - not that it matters, as you would have SWS'd anyway.)
Ryusui|GM: The pun gets a lot of guffaws; somehow it translates perfectly into at least 168 different languages, and the ones it doesn't deftly substitute something about cephalopods!
Ryusui|GM: (name your popularity aspect, and...)
Ryusui|GM: <@!Margen>!
Margen: Margen steps up and says "Hi everybody! Last time was fun, I'm excited to see what's next!"
Margen: (I'm not exactly sure what to roll here, maybe Flashy 1?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Well, it's low-hanging fruit as far as metaphors/analogies go. Those kinds of "false homophones" seem more likely to be very common.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Regardless, Tako-San has clearly established himself as an Underdog Prodegy.
Vera: (FLASHY seems good for "bright and outgoing," yeah.)
Margen: !f 1 (flashy 1)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+1 for -1 [4dF = [-][ ][-][ ]]
Margen: (oof)
Vera: (I suppose they weren't hooked by your extremely brief message. XP)
Ryusui|GM: Your opening remarks come and go without comment, <@!Margen>.
Ryusui|GM: Dovelia's up next. She looks deathly serious as she adjusts her mechanical hand. She has no words for her opening remarks, just a casual death glare at the camera, as if the entire audience were ants she could choose to squash at any time.
Ryusui|GM: !f 3 (Forceful)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+3 for 2 [4dF = [ ][+][-][-]]
Ryusui|GM: Across the galaxy, chordates feel a quiver down their spines, and non-chordates feel a similar sensation in their equivalents. The message is clear: Dovelia means business this time.
Ryusui|GM: ([Glare of Death])
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Aggressive, actually.))
Ryusui|GM: (thank you)
Ryusui|GM: After this, the camera cuts to the suites.
Ryusui|GM: What's everyone doing before the competition starts?
Margen: Margen has made a kalimba out of dull table knives and is attempting to get it tuned
Margen: To what, it is unclear.
Margen: It all sounds like sproinging.
Vera: Vera is going to do some *cough-hack "practice" in the living room's kitchen. She's observed Margen long enough to know he'll be doing something in there at this time of day; she has a theory about what his deal is, and now she just has to test it.
Ah, it seems he's... made a kalimba out of table knives. Because of course.
Ryusui|GM: (as one does)
Margen: Margen smiles and waves, then goes back to staring intently at the cutting board he has affixed the knives to
Vera: Anyway. She gets down to one of the low ovens and cracks it open, almost crawling inside to get a good look at the back corners. She's careful to be quiet with what she says next, as the cameras can't see her mouth right now:
"Oof, yeah, that might be enough for a code violation - could you take a look at this, Mr. Inspector?"
(I'm using SNEAKY for basically a subtler version of "health inspector says 'what.'" How does <@!Margen> try to defend? XD)
Margen: (wuh-oh, that might just get him)
Margen: (I'm not sure)
Margen: (hmm...)
Vera: (If you're truly at a loss, maybe that's a compelled auto-fail via one of your aspects?)
Margen: (Probably SNEAKY to not get noticed responding)
Vera: (Alright... draw!)
Vera: !f 2 (SNEAKY)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [ ][ ][ ][-]]
Margen: !f 1 (sneaky)
DiscoDude: <@Margen> rolled 4dF+1 for -1 [4dF = [ ][-][ ][-]]
Margen: (nnnope XD)
Vera: (Try not to specifically say anything that would out him on camera even without it knowing what Vera said. XD)
Margen: (Oh I mean, like, he whips around and attempts to nonchalant, failing miserably)
Vera: (Alright, describe how he not-so-subtly reacts. XD)
Margen: Margen turns around and knocks the kalimba off the counter, narrowly missing one of his tendrils with the pointy bits and heavy wood.
Margen: He makes a "yEEp"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San is giving a pep-talk to his tank girls. "Ou-Kei! We had a Great (+4) start, but have quickly slipped from that prestigious position. Ai need all of us to be at our best for as long as we can; don't hurt yourselves, but slack off. That said, I'm keeping Rachelle in reserve as our ace-in-the-hole since she's done this song-and-dance before."
"RIght!" Rachelle casually replies.
"Lue-Anne; yu'll be with me this episode. A pretty face and strict discipline will be necessary to pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps."
"Understood." Lue-Anne almost barks.
"The rest of you; Ai have uncomfortable suspicions about the other contestants. While Ai don't like getting into such shady politics, Ai think it's best yu all, on yur own time, help make sure that if this isn't going to be a clean match, it'll at least be a Fair (+2) one."
All four of them look stunned; Tako-San is right about not being the kind to be underhanded or shady.
Mel's the first to speak; "If it's only to stop others from taking advantage of us, I'm game. Also, I openned up to that brain muncher and she completely blow me off."
"Then it's agreed." Tako-San concludes, "Do as you will."
Ryusui|GM: "Might I interrupt?" Dovelia says. She's right behind Tako, having made absolutely no sound with her approach.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I think that needs a Sneaky roll.))
Ryusui|GM: (it's just for flavor, i'm not trying to get one over on him)
Vera: "Pfft..." Vera gets out of the oven. "Too easy. Gotta work on your poker face, Mr. PhD. Count yourself lucky that I find my boss's reactions to people like you hilarious, 'kay? 'Kay." Vera chuckles to herself as she saunters off.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((That depends entirely on how much Dovelia heard.))
Ryusui|GM: (i can tell you this: she is not interested in the conversation he just had, except for the "we've fallen a bit behind" part, which she already knows)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Still a little uncomfortable about this plausible-deniability for any metagaming that results from it.))
Margen: Margen faints, but because he's a Glurrid it looks like he just sits down for a short while and stops blinking
Margen: (he gets better)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San whips around in his tank, a little water sloshing out the open top. "Hai!?"
Vera: (I believe I've won my Contest with Margen here; shall I replace it down in the Intel section with Margen's (revealed) ||Veteran Health Inspector [!]|| Deep Secret with one free invoke?)
Ryusui|GM: "Fourth place, unless I'm mistaken. Rather a poor showing after you showed so much promise early on. What exactly do you plan on doing about that? If you don't turn things around soon, obviously you will have no chance of escaping a last-place finish."
Ryusui|GM: Her tone of voice is unsettlingly cold, detached, a far cry from the person who out of sheer misguided ego tried to one-up the Beryllium Chef's ice skeleton with an ice artwork of her own.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San mimics a grin. "Trade secret."
Vera: (GM?)
Ryusui|GM: (what?)
Ryusui|GM: (OH)
Ryusui|GM: (sure)
Vera: (A'ight.)
Ryusui|GM: <@!;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾>: "What if I told you there was a chance you could shoot to first place in a single competition? And that I'd be willing to help you achieve that?"
Vera: (Does it have to be spoiler'd on the doc, BTW?)
Ryusui|GM: (i don't think so, no)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Suspicious, considering that's aither not in your best interest or yu're not here to win." He turns to his cadre and gives a quick "Dismissed." before turning back to Dovelia as the tank girls casually scatter.
Ryusui|GM: "I'm here for the challenge. And a game is not challenging if there is one obvious champion halfway through, is there not? It's merely a bore." Neither her face nor her tone of voice betray whether this is what she actually feels. "You're free to accept my offer of a temporary alliance, or decline. Past this competition, I cannot say what our relationship will be, but I aim...to bring down Vera."
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel darts in at the sound of Vera's name and blurts out, "Do it!"
A half-second passes before Tako-San slowly turns and gives her a Dovelia-esque glare as if to non-verbally scold her for eavesdropping.
"Er.... Sorry." Mel gives before ducking back out of the room.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San then turns back to the ex-assassin and calmly instructs, "Go on."
Ryusui|GM: "I cannot divulge the full details of the plan, but once today's competition starts, it will be self-evident what this opportunity will entail. And you stand to gain the most from it."
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Then Ai shall reserve judgement until them."
Ryusui|GM: "Simply put, we will not interfere with one another, and while I aim to make Vera's culinary proceedings difficult, you will aim to win."
Ryusui|GM: "Are we agreed?" She offers her mechanical hand.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Tako-San flinches, then immediately gives a curt bow. "Mai apologies; but Ai'd rather not approach someone else's cutlery. ....For multiple reasons."
Ryusui|GM: "Fair enough." She returns the bow.
Ryusui|GM: ( <@&627978553669058562> ready to move on to the competition proper?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Yeah.))
Vera: (I'm ready.)
Margen: (sure, but I'm fairly burned out after my quiz and I'm not sure how many exchanges I have in me)
Vera: (Let's just do the intro, then?)
Ryusui|GM: (all right, maybe we get through the intro then?)
Margen: (sounds good)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Wait!))
Ryusui|GM: (???)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I actually do want to try for Mel investigating Vera.))
Ryusui|GM: (wait, what)
Vera: (I'd be down for that if you guys are.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Or is trying to uncover a Deep Secret not allowed at this point in the episode.?))
Vera: (I mean, Tako hasn't made any rolls this scene, so...)
Ryusui|GM: (i was kinda thinking we each got to Do One Thing before moving on but...yeah i guess technically Tako hasn't done anything)
Ryusui|GM: (so yeah if <@!Vera>'s cool with it sure)
Vera: (Yep.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((It'll also give Thor more time to recover.))
Ryusui|GM: (describe what Mel's up to, Tako!)
Vera: (So this is the Overcome roll to try and initiate the process, right?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I guess? I haven't looked at the rules in a while.))
Vera: (So like, is Mel trying to follow Vera until she does something suspicious?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((She's going to be a bit more proactive about it; strike up a conversation like Vera did to her.))
Vera: Vera's retired to her room, currently browsing her messages.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Door open or closed?))
Vera: (Closed, but not locked.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel knocks to get Vera's attention before trying the handle. As she opens the door, Mel, in an overly cheery tone befitting Margen, says "Hey! Just wondering if you're free to talk. I could use some of what we had last time."
Vera: "Hm? O-oh, sure." Vera fumbles to close her message app and sits up.
Vera: "What's up?"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel walks over and takes a seat at the foot of Vera's bed. "I've just been in a lot of stress lately. I had to dredge up some painful memories to pull off that stunt yesterday."
Vera: "... Stunt?"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Yeah; all that athleticism on the mountain didn't happen over night."
Vera: "Okay, and this made you feel...? (Lords, I'm bad at this...)"
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "Hey; be too hard on yourself; just listening can be a lot of help."
Vera: "... And why am I listening? Don't you have like five teammates that can understand you better than I ever could?" Vera says 'teammates' with a slight pang of jealousy.
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: "They're co-workers; our relationships are too professional for that." Mel lays on her back, stretched across the foot of the bed. "You probably have something similar with your job, right?"
Vera: "Pssh, yeah, don't I know it. Still, it sounds like you have grievances with what you had to do back there, and the guy you can take them up with is like right there, so..." She glances at the door. "I mean... somewhere in that direction, but close is what I'm saying. You aren't cool with what your boss did? Tell it to his fcking face. Don't talk about it behind his back with one of his opponents."
Vera: (I feel like the conversation is quickly getting away from Mel. XD)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Oops! That was the perfect spot for me to roll.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((The outcome would determine whether Vera gives that advice or spills the beans about their boss.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Are you O.K. with a potential retcon, or should I just move on?))
Vera: (I mean, the full beans about her secret is at the end of an episodes-spanning contest, but if you want Vera to potentially clam up about work and make Mel suspicious, I'd be game for a roll.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: !f 3 (Flashy on account of the "faux-friend theatrics")
DiscoDude: <@;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾> rolled 4dF+3 for 5 [4dF = [+][+][+][-]]
Vera: (I'd think that'd be more SNEAKY.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Right; then that's only a Great (+4) result.))
Vera: (Rolling CLEVER to try and redirect the conversation back to being about Mel.)
Vera: !f 3 (CLEVER)
DiscoDude: <@Vera> rolled 4dF+3 for 1 [4dF = [+][-][-][-]]
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((EngiNope.mp4))
Vera: (Oof. I at least don't want it to be SWS - lemme boost with her persona (I Play the Cavalier Task-Master) to try and give her a prescription of "tell him the fck off" anyway.)
Vera: "... Let's not talk about my work, and instead talk about something else." Vera claps her hands, but the sudden deflection doesn't escape Mel. "It sounds like you were upset with what he told you to do, so tell it to his fcking face. Don't talk about it behind his back with one of his opponents." She gestures to the door. "Get outta here until you've done that."
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Mel sits up. "Alright, alright. That charisma-you-can-get-swept-up-in does need to be taken down a notch." THen leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
Vera: (Name the aspect representing how you've started to become suspicious of Vera's secret - it's your ticket to initiating exchanges of the contest between us, but that's all it's good for until you can succeed at turning it into the full Deep Secret aspect.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: Thinking back on their conversation, Mel recognized what Vera did just then. The tiniest "I know your pain." solemnly leaves her lips. Then "Wait, she can sympathize, but didn't." the thought occurs, "That rotting creeper is SO getting double-tapped."
Vera: (Remind me what "double-tapped" means?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Almost made it "I Know Your Pain" before realizing that it still needs to be an antagonistic relationship.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Like with a shotgun.))
Vera: (So like, she wants to fight her?)
Vera: (Or have you not named the aspect yet?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((It's a reference to the movie Zombieland.))
Vera: (Well yeah, but what does that have to do with being suspicious that she's hiding something?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Mel's being figurative.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((She's redetermined to take Vera down.))
Vera: (The aspect seems to imply she's gunning to kill her, though - the mental hoops to jump through to get to the intended meaning of the aspect seem a little obtuse.)
Vera: (Sort of a "yeah, I guess you can interpret it that way... if you tilted your head and squinted really hard" way.)
Vera: (Basically, if we need to have an aspect explained to us beyond what it already says, I think you need to rephrase it.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((And I thought I was the one who struggled to identify figurative speech.))
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((How about something bog-standard, like ***Hell Hath No Fury Light bulb! Hell Hath No Fury like a (Trans) Women Scorned, since that refers to what underlies Mel's potential to empathize/sympathize with Vera.))
Vera: (That still has less to do with the suspicion about her secret than it does about Mel just being angry.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((The anger is what'll motivate her to investigate further, which seems fitting of an aspect that can only be used to initiate said future confrontations.))
Vera: (I guess.)
Ryusui|GM: (righto, are folks good for now?)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((Yeah.))
Ryusui|GM: (sounds like thor ain't up for the intro so i'm cutting it here if we're all good)
Vera: (Sure.)
;}"÷™+╎®^★█¬ˇ¾: ((I'm fine with that.))
Ryusui|GM: "Coming up next: the competition starts in earnest! Don't touch that channel, folks!" Holly interjects with a wink.
Ryusui|GM: !end
