2019-11-17: Happy Memories
- Log: Happy Memories
- Cast: Kamui, Eleanor Klein, Zhang Xiumei, Acacia Saitani, Tio
- Where: Meria City
- Date: November 16, 2019
- Summary: It's a trip to the festival for Eleanor and friends. Also Kamui is every staff member?!
DC: Eleanor Klein switches forms to Crest Sorceress Eleanor! DC: Zhang Xiumei switches forms to Biometal Model V!
DG: A party led by Kamui is now entering Meria Boule Festival Games. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
=======================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>=======================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Funny Money *>=========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
"Okay, so, five gella gets you one token, but if you want a bargain, think
about purchasing our fifty gella token pack..."
First things first -- before you can poke around the games at the festival
in Meria Boule, apparently you'll have to buy some tokens to trade to play
the games. That's right, they use their own currency here, and the exchange
rate seems dubiously steep. The good news is, you'll be able to win more and
exchange them for valuable prizes.
One thing's for sure -- if you don't negotiate purchasing (or certain
'discounts') carefully, your wallet is taking a hit.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
MERIA BOULE is having a grand festival of games throughout its streets. It is full of merriment and cheer, with games ranging from those even small children can enjoy to extremely competitive ones that grownups with the hearts of small children can get completely worked up over.
KAMUI left early this morning. She mumbled something about Bob turning up sick and then Ellen also couldn't make it and then--
Eleanor and friends are here; there's a wonderful entranceway with a colourful sign advertising a ticketing booth.
But, oh?
Oh??
There isn't just any ticket vendor behind the booth.
...
There's a mui behind the booth, wearing a newsboy cap, a button up shirt, black suspenders and slacks. (For some reason, this is ticket hawking attire, Kamui decided.)
"Oh...!" Kamui perks up, pumping her arms. "Welcome everyone! Welcome to the Festival Games!"
Her eye glints.
"To play you'll need to buy tokens. Five gella per token, but the Special Mui Pack is fifty gella for eleven, and for five hundred gella you get the Deluxe Special Romancing Mui Pack, which gets me a free doughnut from Marina's bakery."
A pause. She sweats.
"Um. Gets you a free doughnut, I mean, mui."
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"So you see," Eleanor says, "It'll be fun!" She has finished explaining the idea along the way to where they find the colorful sign, mostly to Tio, though she also smiles at Xiumei. She invited both, in fact! But in time for negotiations.... Well. As it turns out--
"oh! You look lovely, Kamui," Eleanor answers, approving of her outfit.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"So you see," Eleanor says, "It'll be fun!" She has finished explaining the idea along the way to where they find the colorful sign, mostly to Tio, though she also smiles at Xiumei. She invited both, in fact! But in time for negotiations.... Well. As it turns out--
"oh! You look wonderful Kamui," Eleanor answers, approving of her outfit. "Very official!" And then she considers.
"Hmmmmm," Eleanor says, glancing at Xiumei thoughtfully, and back at Kamui. She pulls her boomerang--not as a weapon... but as a shiny object.
"This, as you know, can see faaar away... and it can see--"
"What flavor of donut you want! So tell meee."
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Hunter's Boomerang toward her party's challenge, Funny Money.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
Zhang Xiumei wouldn't turn down an invite from Eleanor. After all, she is her very best friend, isn't she?
"It sounds fun," she says in that cheerful, calm, and understated way of hers. Eleanor is the outgoing, louder one; Xiumei is the calm, reflective, and quieter one. She pokes up her glasses with her nose, as they had slid down a little.
But her walk slows to a stop, as she peers at Kamui -- working a booth, in the outfit -- and then she tilts her head. Both of the long locks of hair, framing her face, sway to the side in unison. "...um... Kamui?" she manages. "Um--I guess--um--"
She looks at Eleanor. Then, at Tio. Then, finally, at Acacia.
"...the... Special Mui Pack?" she asks. "I'm not sure if I need as many tokens as are in the Deluxe Special Romancing Mui Pack. Though..." Her brow furrows.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Funny Money.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia's already waiting at the stand for Eleanor and Xiumei, because she's rather obviously come straight from the festival itself - she's finishing up a news story on the event, it seems, because she's just finished scribbling a few notes down in her pad before tucking it away in her pocket.
"Hey," she greets the pair amicably, stuffing her hands in the pocket of her vest after she waves hello. "You're just about on time. Last I checked, the morning rush had cooled down just a little." She seems remarkably upbeat for once, which can be kind of a rare thing for her - but understandable given she's back in 'her' town with time to spare and a festival to look around and report on.
Still, there's something that's been faintly preying on her mind as she looks around the festival, and that feeling starts to slowly solidify as she takes in the sight of Kamui manning the stand. "Not that I don't mind you moonlighting, but... you have been giving people their bonuses properly, right?" she deadpans in response to Kamui's slip. "Don't think that word won't get round to Marina if you haven't."
She brightens, though, and grins to Xiumei. "Yeah, you never really need that many tokens. And the free doughnut's nice, sure, but I can just go and bug the bakery for a good deal nearer the end of the day. That's basically two doughnuts right there."
... this is probably not how this tool is supposed to be used, but at least the name still works.
"Anyway, where do you wanna start?" she adds, betraying the fact she kind of likes to have a plan. "It's pretty much a big circle, I suppose, around the main square.
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Thrifty Drifty toward her party's challenge, Funny Money.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui stares glumly at Acacia when she lectures on how they don't need that many tokens. "So, Master is an enemy of mine today..." The red camera-eye glints softly under her bangs.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Tio has been listening intently as Eleanor has explained the important details of what a festival is to her. "Understood. I will attempt to have fun." She says, a little quietly, as though she is trying to process the idea. "How will I tell I am having fun?" She asks. She understands the concept, to some degree. But it's still an abstract concept to her, rather than an experience she has had. This might take some work.
She looks to Xiumei, who seems to have a stronger grasp of the concept. When they see Acacia, Tio gives a small bow. "Hello Acacia. Is sister not-" Waaaait a second.
Tio blinks a few seconds. The antennae on her head blink with light and waggle. "Sister?" She was not expecting to see Kamui here in this fashion. Or this outfit. Her head tilts, similarly to Xiumei's. "You are also a ticket seller?" Tio pauses, as she processes this realisation. Is this also a purpose of ARMS?
"I do not eat." Tio says, after a moment. "Therefore, I should not get the Deluxe Special Romancing Mui Pack." That seems an obvious conclusion. Then, there is another pause, and she turns to Eleanor. "Master. I do not possess any gella."
Her antennae blink again, as she says this.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Sensor Antennae toward her party's challenge, Funny Money. DG: Kamui has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Funny Money.
=======================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>=======================
========================<* CHALLENGE - Funny Money *>=========================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
"Okay, so, five gella gets you one token, but if you want a bargain, think
about purchasing our fifty gella token pack..."
First things first -- before you can poke around the games at the festival
in Meria Boule, apparently you'll have to buy some tokens to trade to play
the games. That's right, they use their own currency here, and the exchange
rate seems dubiously steep. The good news is, you'll be able to win more and
exchange them for valuable prizes.
One thing's for sure -- if you don't negotiate purchasing (or certain
'discounts') carefully, your wallet is taking a hit.
=Dungeon Conditions: Injure===================================================
==================<* Meria Boule Festival Games - Round 1 *>================== ==========================< Results - Funny Money >=========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Thrifty Drifty 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Hunter's Boomerang 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zhang Xiumei 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Sensor Antennae 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Kamui 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Injure(2) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Eleanor Klein has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - A Balancing Act *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Come on up and try the rope... /if you dare/."
The setup here is fairly straightforward. A tight rope is strung between two
poles about ten feet up (there is cushioning below, they're carnival
operators not monsters). The goal for the challenger is to walk from one end
to the next and not fall off.
And that is roughly it -- /can/ you walk along a rope and not fall off? Or
can you do one better and really give your fellow carnival-goers a show?
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Oh no!! People are getting wise to the fact that the Super Deluxe Romancing Mui Pack is actually a ripoff. Kamui's extra doughnut* (*not actually hers) is going to go evaporate into the either...
There is a pause, as she beams up at Eleanor. "It's important... to look the part, mui."
She glumly pouts at Master as she grumps, "Getting special bargains from the bakery after making it harder for me to meet my quota is just underhanded, Master."
She does look excited to see Xiumei here again, though. She holds her arms out and exclaims, "Please have fun today, Xiumei... Tio!"
She pays particular attention to the automaton, beaming as she exclaims, "I had a lot of trouble figuring out when I had fun too. Eventually I was able to measure how much fun I was having by how frequently I was checking my internal clock."
Kamui laughs to herself to say, "The human phrase is... 'I'm having so much fun I lost track of time'. So, in order to have more fun, I purposefully disabled my time tracking functions. But then bad things happened because my biomechanical functions depend on them."
A pause, as she realises she's gone roundabout again.
"The point is, um... don't worry too much about it."
She eventually does sell some tokens to the group (not too much), and then once Eleanor decides where she wants to go--
--pchoo--
--Kamui has disappeared from the booth the moment they're not looking, because she has to man the next stall in a new costume!!
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
How will she tell...? Well. "Hmm. I think... Try not to worry about identifying it in the moment. Overanalysis can make fun harder." Such as... making a plan early?? Nah. Eleanor will answer that when it happens. For now she beams at Kamui. "That--Wait." Pause. "M-maybe don't take that particular bit of advice, please don't disable core functions for fun, Tio!" The sweatdrop is practically visible from the right angle.
Then she adds to Acacia, "Still, I appreciate you looking out for timing--it's true that I'd rather not have to wait forever..."
"We can always come back if we need more," she says to Xiumei. "I think it will be nice!"
But she doesn't make her deal too much with everything--instead, she answers Tio, "I'll buy them for you. I have enough for both of us."
And... As for what to do, Eleanor suggests, "I saw a big rope that looked fun, we can move in that direction once we settle here."
Eleanor suggests, "I saw a big rope that looked fun, we can move in that direction!"
And so they do. Eleanor looks up thoughtfully, considering the tightrope, the cushioning, the necessary athleticism...
"This is a terrible idea," Eleanor declares, "Ler's do it! Everyone who needs one...." Eleanor pulls her Ice Rod. "So, there's no way I can do this under ordinary circumstances," she admits to Tio, "But if the idea is to give them a show, then..."
"So," Eleanor says to the crowd as she goes, "I'm good at many things, but athleticism is not my strong suit. However...!"
After climbing to the platform, Eleanor actually pulls a Crest, too--and suddenly a sheen of shining crystalline dust floats around her. "All right, everyone!" Eleanor says. "It's time to see if magic can make even an uncoordinated girl like me get across! I'll bet it can... So watch this!" "
Eleanor starts on--and shows off her ice rod before she points it one way--then the next--and extends ice from a lesser wand on her person, using it for a balance pole!!
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Ice Rod toward her party's challenge, A Balancing Act.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"Ah... well... you sort of just... feel like everything's a little lighter and all the worries rumbling around in your brain go away, for a little while, I suppose," Xiumei says softly to Tio, in regards of how to have fun.
She smiles at Tio -- and then looks up, peering at Acacia. Her head tilts for a second, before she nods. "Thank you! I'm glad that you could come, Acacia," she says, and then she looks at Kamui.
"I, um, I'll try--" Xiumei hesitates. "...but... be careful with, um, your internal clock, okay? It sounds like it could be hard." She looks away for a second. "It's--"
And Kamui is gone.
Xiumei blinks, then sighs.
She looks back at Eleanor -- and she blinks a couple of times at Eleanor, then she nods. She is not, as it happens, wearing Model V's armor; she is instead in a button-up white shirt and black pants, with laced shoes. She stops as she comes to the platform, and glances at Eleanor.
"Be careful, okay?" she says. She watches as Eleanor uses her ice rod as balance pole. She blinks -- and then she steps out onto the rope, arms out to the wide.
"J-Just... need to balance... like Varius would," she whispers to herself.
<I'd just jump across.>
"Not helping!"
<Kid. I'm always helping.>
Wobble.
"NOT. HELPING."
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Model V Boots toward her party's challenge, A Balancing Act.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui has taken the role of...
"It is I, the one who oversees the Rope Challenge... Rope Girl!"
Kamui is wearing a turban made completely out of rope, along with a vest and baggy clothing and bellbottom pants. She's doing a little dance to keep the theme of the challenge out, and watches as Eleanor takes a go at it and... uses magic to get across.
"That's very clever, mui...!!"
She looks to Xiumei and tries psyching herself up with a pump of her hands. "You can do it! Remember all our time climbing up things together!"
She gets distracted because some kids ask what's happening.
"I'm the Rope Guru, muiiii, Rope Giiirl," she sings and plays a little ditty on a flute.
A little animatronic (??) rope wiggles up like it were a snake. It might be inspiring.
Rope Snake...
DG: Kamui has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Balancing Act.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"K-Kamui!" Xiumei yelps. She jumps, and then she ends up standing -- balanced -- on one leg, hands clasped. She looks over her shoulder, back at Kamui, as she plays on a flute. Where did she get the new costume? She whines, a little. "I-I don't remember... being on rope with you--um--"
She hops again, with one leg, and continues that way down the rope.
<She does this.>
"Not... helping, Varius...!"
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
With a smirk playing at her lips, Acacia looks to the Reploid behind the counter. "Oh, well. If you don't want a doughnut later..." she trails off with a tap at her mouth, then makes a show of putting her hands together as she strikes a pose of glee. "I guess I'd just have to eat them all myself."
Maybe she's getting a little better at handling Kamui.
She does at least pause, then look to Tio with a quieter smile as she registers Kamui scurrying off. "Kamui's right, and so is Eleanor. It's-- not going to be easy to explain, but it's also not something you can really spot if you're trying too hard to spot it. You just kinda have to... do things on impulse, I guess. Figure out what works and what you like."
For a moment it looks like she's going to try her hardest to abstain from the rope challenge, keeping well back as Eleanor bounds forwards. She might be able to pass it off as her usual habit of wanting to see everything available to her, the reporter's angle - but then she's not making any kind of move to actually report on it, just grinning lightly to herself as she watches the noble girl clamber up the structure and start cheating her way across.
Oh, hell with it. She snaps a quick photo anyway, and then another as Xiumei wobbles. "Arms out! I think?" she tries to venture, then watches in mild disbelief as the clerk instead takes a stance that can only be described as bobbling down the rope Kamui-style.
But it's too late for her, because that's when another of the neighborhood kids ploughs into her back, leaving her jumping in surprise as he shoves her forwards with a cackle. "No fair hanging back!" the boy calls, leaving the redhead to huff to herself and glance at Kamui. "Alright, alright. Jeez," she grumbles, looking up at the rope, squinting at it. It seems... taller like this.
"Is this really safe?" she mumbles as she clambers up and starts to pick her way slowly across it.
DG: Acacia Saitani has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Balancing Act.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Kamui gives some potentially useful advice, followed immediately by the worst advice. Could she disable her internal clock functions? Fortunately, Eleanor overrules that. "Understood. I will keep my functions intact." Would she have done it if Eleanor hadn't ordered her not to?
There's a lot of information about having fun being provided, that she tries to take in. Don't overanalyse. Feel like everything's lighter. You won't spot it when you're looking for it. "Fun appears to have many factors." She says, a little confused. Hopefully she'll be able to detect it when it's happening. Eleanor, however, takes care of the matter of tokens. "Thank you, Master."
Still, the next route is decided for them, and... Sister has disappeared. Strange. She follows the group towards the tight rope, and she looks up at it. That is remarkably high up. She also looks confused by the presence of Rope Girl, staring at Kamui again, head tilted. She then turns to watch Eleanor try and get across with magic. Interesting? Is that how it's done? She continues to watch as Xiumei and Acacia follow. Well, if everyone else is doing it...
Tio waits until the rude shoving kid is out of the way, and lines up, picking up a stick from the ground. She climbs up the ladder, and looks at the rope. And then, with a ballerina's grace, she steps out onto the rope. Tio is surprisingly late, and remarkably agile, so maybe this won't be too hard.
...She does seem to be moving her arms around like she's imitating Eleanor's balancing act, using a stick to aid with balance instead of a magic ice rod.
DG: Tio has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, A Balancing Act.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - A Balancing Act *>========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Come on up and try the rope... /if you dare/."
The setup here is fairly straightforward. A tight rope is strung between two
poles about ten feet up (there is cushioning below, they're carnival
operators not monsters). The goal for the challenger is to walk from one end
to the next and not fall off.
And that is roughly it -- /can/ you walk along a rope and not fall off? Or
can you do one better and really give your fellow carnival-goers a show?
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
===================<* Meria Boule Festival Games - Round 2 *>=================== =========================< Results - A Balancing Act >========================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Ice Rod 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zhang Xiumei 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Model V Boots 3 Agility Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tio 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kamui 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Hesitate(2) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kamui has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"It does! How about, when we're done, we talk about our experiences, and then we can see in retrospect if they were fun!" It has the benefit of letting them remember good parts of the day, which Eleanor finds is a great way to keep spirits up. "Then you don't have to worry so much right now! You can just focus on the moment."
Eleanor gets across via cheating so blatant that she makes it part of her show, but the audience likes it, so she gets a pass on scoring. She beams at the end as she starts climbing back down.
Xiumei hops! and hops! And whines a little. And... talks to herself??? Either way the audience assumes it's intentional and laughs good-naturedly... and also finds itself interested in whether she can make it...! She does!! When she's down, Eleanor says to her, "Thank you--I tried to make sure to stay safe with it."
Pchooo.... Kamui is the Rope Girl!! She's completely adorable. She helps keep kids busy instead of shouting....
Tio is graceful and well-balanced on her way across, moving with precision. However, at just the wrong, distracting moment, the kid who shoved Acacia shouts, "Do the head bobbles help?" in a well-meaning but unfortunately done question about her appearance. Tio might be the one to meet the giant pillow...!
Also kiddo keeps shouting advice. Eleanor makes up for the quiet by adding, "You did it! My, you're much better at this than me... I had to have help," she says with a laugh.
Acacia... Acacia is bullied by a child, apparently. But she gets some great shots. As it turns out, if she's slow, and careful, it is pretty safe! The rope is actually big; people like to see success. If she'd moved faster, though, she might've been introduced to a very big pillow...
Maybe that would've been even more of a win...
Either way, they're all present at the end.
DG: Acacia Saitani has drawn a new Challenge.
=======================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>=======================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Batter Up *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
"Hey, batter up!"
Now this is interesting. It's a batting cage -- but this one's featuring a
machine from Guild Galad to chuck balls for the one in the cage. They
provide a bat for you if you want it.
The game's pretty simple: how far and hard can you hit the balls flung at
you? Just be careful -- these things can fly at you faster than you might
expect.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust, Injure==========================================
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Even if she made it across okay, Acacia still looks just a little rattled by the time she makes it to the other side, sucking air through her teeth for a moment before she manages to get back down to firmer ground. "Really don't like heights much," she grumbles, which is a little rich given some of the stunts she pulled with others back on Spira. Maybe the adrenaline just helps.
"--there!" she tries afterwards, putting her hands on her hips as she turns back to the Meria Boule kid and puts on some bravado. "How'd you like them apples?" Of course, the boy isn't listening to her, having already followed her up to take the rope with a lot more style and confidence than she managed. Quietly, she huffs under her breath, and chalks this one up to losing the battle in hopes of winning the war.
A little further around the festival is a cage, somewhat fenced off from the area around it by thick netting and a couple of ropes, and the distinct whirring from inside draws her closer to take a look, leaning back just a little as a low 'thwoomp' coincides with a baseball whirring past her in demonstration of the machine's capability.
"--oh, I heard about these," she blinks. "Last I knew they were using them to help train people up." Hesitating briefly, the redhead grins as she closes her hand around a bat leant against a nearby wall. "Honestly, it kinda feels nostalgic. Been a while since I did anything like this."
She waits out her turn, then steps up to the plate - and there's a slight sensation in the air around her, as if the fabric of the air were lining up just so. She's still not terrifically good at doing this - but if Eleanor can cheat, she can too, right?
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Mana Egg toward her party's challenge, Batter Up.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
"Hmm... it's the poisonous effect of that long haired woman Master has spent so much time with," Kamui concludes. D-did she just add someone to the 'Maverick' list, just like that?
Kamui is dangerous today...
In the end, though, she's still a little distracted with having to cheer kids up with her Rope Snake trick.
"Mmm... it's a job well done, Xiumei, Eleanor," Kamui compliemnts the two, pumping her arms. "Truly when you trust in each others' hearts...!!"
"It's okay, Tio. The next game will be just as exciting," she encourages, which is before she goes--
PCHOO!
--and once more disappears.
...
...
What appears in the batting cages is--
Kamui, who's hidden underneath:
* An American Football helmet (tm)
* A ribbed catcher's vest
* Baseball uniform
* A baseball glove
"I'm the Catcher in the Rye, Mui," Kamui exclaims. "I'll catch anything you bat back at me...!!" A pause. "You're still cheating, Master."
DG: Kamui has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Batter Up.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"Ah... ah, I'm glad that went okay," Xiumei says as she hops down next to Eleanor. She adjusts her glasses -- worried, as ever, that they might fall off. She smiles at her, and then she blinks.
She grimaces, appropriately, when Acacia is bullied by a child. She glances sideways at Tio, then she smiles. "Yes," she says. "It's complicated! People find things fun for different reasons."
She follows Acacia around, and then she pauses as she she spots the batting cage. She hesitates for a second -- and then she looks around. Will... will Kamui appear here, too? Will she--
'I'm the Catcher in Rye, Mui.'
Xiumei blinks her eyes a couple of times. "K-Kamui... um... thank you for cheering us on?" she says, hesitantly. Then, she grabs the baseball bat -- does a test swing -- and then does a good, practiced swing. She, after all, was on a few teams when she went to school.
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Pulse Cannon toward her party's challenge, Batter Up.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Oh no, questions! Tio turns as she is addressed, and her foot misses the next step and she tumbles off the rope and into the big pillow with a 'fwump' noise. She doesn't let out any cry, she just stays there for a few moments and blinks.
No, the antennae do not help.
Tio rolls off the pillow a few moments later, and looks down as she reunites with the group. "I am sorry, Master." Kamui insists that the next game will be as exciting, only to turn and see Kamui has vanished. There is a slight '?' moment.
She nods at Xiumei's explanation. "Fun is complicated," she says, as though she is compiling a list of all the factors of fun. Probably because that is what she is doing.
The group moves on to the elaborate cages, and she watches the ball fly past them. "What sort of fighting is this training for?" She can't remember any situation where she fought like that. She picks up one of the bats curiously.
And then The Catcher in the Rye makes her declaration, and suddenly Tio seems to get it. "Understood. I will send the ball at you." She's, uh, she's holding the bat with one hand, completely wrongly. It's absolutely going to get knocked out of her hand.
Then she closes her eyes, and starts to chant.
"Silver."
That's it, that's her chant.
She swings the bat at the ball that comes toward her, only for it to be followed by a huge gust of wind towards Kamui. Unlike Acacia's attempt at subtlety, Tio has none. Still, it's tricky to manage an object as small and fast moving as a baseball. It could all go disastrously wrong.
DG: Tio has used her Tool Soul Egg toward her party's challenge, Batter Up.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
"You did great," Eleanor tells Xiumei, smiling. She does not comment on child bullied Acacia yet. To Tio, however, she shakes her head pleasantly. "It's fine. You don't have to win in order to have fun! At least, most people don't."
Sadly, Eleanor has no particular spells for this. She considers though. "Training, is it?" Eleanor wonders, and--yep, she notices that. She 'hmms' a little, but says nothing, because, solidarity on athletics being difficult.
She smiles though, looking back to Kamui, "Thank--" She's gone. She blinks to Xiumei. "Ah," she says. "She disappeared again." "Y-yes..."
"It's not for fighting," Eleanor explains, "But for sport--athletic competition. It hones the body and... Ah..." She glances to the side, "W-well I don't do a great deal of it, but it's good for people!"
She watches Tio swing magic back. ...She nods in approval.
When it's her turn, she'll just try with an ordinary bat. She knows how to hold it! But her form isn't... great. She's not very good at this, but she could get lucky.
DG: Eleanor Klein has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Batter Up.
=======================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>=======================
=========================<* CHALLENGE - Batter Up *>==========================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
"Hey, batter up!"
Now this is interesting. It's a batting cage -- but this one's featuring a
machine from Guild Galad to chuck balls for the one in the cage. They
provide a bat for you if you want it.
The game's pretty simple: how far and hard can you hit the balls flung at
you? Just be careful -- these things can fly at you faster than you might
expect.
=Dungeon Conditions: Exhaust, Injure==========================================
==================<* Meria Boule Festival Games - Round 3 *>================== ===========================< Results - Batter Up >============================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Mana Egg 2 Brute Effects: Stalwart ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zhang Xiumei 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Pulse Cannon 3 Brute Effects: Fanfare ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tio 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Soul Egg 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Kamui 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Exhaust(1)|Hesitate(1)|Injure(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Kamui has passed this challenge! The party gained 20 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
The redheaded reporter can't help but jog her eyebrows up as Kamui appears in the batter's cage to give her some unexpected sass, snorting in response as she feels her grin pick up in strength. "Oh, c'mon. I'm pretty sure she's not poisonous. Except maybe to herself," she drawls. "Besides, I'm just using what I've got. There's nothing in the rules that say I can't, right? ... and I've gotta do something like this just to match up to you."
It's meant well - the good humour's obvious in her eyes, along with a little in the way of relish. It's not often she goes against Kamui like this, but a little competition doesn't hurt - and somehow, it really does make her feel more in the way of rapport with the Reploid, who can often seem a little far away. Having her in the here and now feels pretty good, she decides.
"Ooh, look at that," she notes as Xiumei swings. The differences are immediately obvious - the clerk's swings are controlled and smooth, whereas hers are raw but with a little more in the way of brute strength and instinct behind them. And cheating, that too. "Well, I was never part of a club or anything," she notes to Eleanor. "Mostly just the kids on my street and a spare piece of wall. But when I started working, something like this was pretty good to burn off the stress."
Also it's not bullying, it's camaraderie. Really. Hmph.
Still, Kamui's held true to her word - as good as the group are turning out to be, she's managed to block every shot. Even when Tio steps up, and the sharp crack of ball hitting bat is followed by an almighty gust of wind and dust-- it clears to show the Reploid with the ball in her glove, almost hanging in place until the last of its momentum falls away.
... wait, if Kamui saved everything, is that really a Pass??
DG: Zhang Xiumei has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Dance Like You Want To Win *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Are you ready to /shut up and dance/?!"
This is... a dancing contest. Music blares out tinnily from some Guild
Galad-made equipment within the much-larger-than-usual tent; within other
carnival-goers sway to the music alone or in pairs. The ones who do the best
are the winners! There's even a ribbon involved.
Do it solo, together, or however -- but one thing is clear: today you are
dancing, and you are going to dance /crazy/.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire, Treasure===========================================
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"You can do it, Nora!" Xiumei calls, hands cupped around her mouth for volume's sake. "Just like in school!"
Though... maybe not just like in school...
She wipes at her brow, then leans her bat on her shoulder while the others finish. Then, she leans her bat against the cage, and she sighs a little. "Well... we should move along, right? I bet there's a lot more to see, still."
She wonders if she should ask if Tio is having fun. But what do they do, if Tio says no?
The path winds past a couple of benches, in the way that festival ground paths can wind more than they need to. It comes to an open plaza, with a stage out front. The Guild Galad-made speakers rattle a little, and the call comes out from the stage.
There is a crowd cheering. There is a misunderstanding too; a pair of hands falls on the small of Xiumei's back, and pushes her forward. Then, Tio; then, Acacia (and they may be smaller, like... children's); and then Eleanor's
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbcCG7PkI18
Xiumei realizes, suddenly, that a group of people are staring her expectantly. A peppy, upbeat tune starts. She turns her head, peering sideways at Eleanor -- and her cheeks redden with embarrassment.
"U-Um..."
DG: Zhang Xiumei has used her Tool Model V Boots toward her party's challenge, Dance Like You Want To Win.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
"Humph," Kamui grumps regarding Acacia's proclivities. Perhaps she's just mad that she cannot penetrate the eel barrier. But she nods at Xiumei as she exclaims, "Nice hit, Xiumei...!"
She seems to love cheering people on. And of Eleanor too, noticing that she's a bit unconfident... "Bend your knees a bit more, Eleanor, it makes you more steady!"
But...
How did the group pass if Kamui's such an excellent catcher??
Understood. I will return the ball back to you.
"Uh oh," Kamui gulps, as Tio's wind blows in her direction-- and when the wind billows, the Reploid is indeed still there!
...
...
...
WAIT that's just Kamui's Body! Where did the football helmet go?!
"Muiiii," Kamui's Head whimpers as she flies into the air and *squish*, suddenly lands with enough force that the football helmet cracks in half.
This happens to be a good thing, because it allows Kamui's Head to shimmy on out of the remains of the helmet and... emerge on the desk where the prize for the dance competition is.
Kamui's eyes light up when she realises Xiumei and Eleanor are going to dance together.
...
A giant red ribbon -- the winner's ribbon -- is on her head now. She seems to be taking it easy. "Let's Dance!"
Meanwhile, a group of kids are exclaiming, "The Dullahan of Meria Boule has appeared again!" as Kamui's Body haplessly tries to squeeze itself into a red flamenco gown and join up with Kamui's Head.
It's not doing so well.
DG: Kamui has used her Tool Fourth Armour - Foot Parts toward her party's challenge, Dance Like You Want To Win.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
This time, Acacia's almost expecting the hands that shove her forwards. This isn't her first holiday season in Meria Boule, and she's entirely aware of just how much the town loves to have a song and dance. She still remembers being naive enough to get suckered into some kind of marching dance through the streets in her first month of living next to the bakery - even if she ended up drunk enough that she doesn't remember how it started in the first place.
Though the fact there were drinks in the first place probably explains everything.
Fortunately, she can distract herself from her own embarrassment by embarrassing the hell out of others. That's how it works - so she suddenly looms from behind Xiumei, doing a bad job of concealing the mischief in her smile. "Go on!" she calls with the others, as yet another pair of hands nudge the poor clerk forwards - only this time, in the direction of Eleanor specifically, as the journalist flashes a grin towards Kamui's head.
As for herself, she casts around for a partner, because dancing on her own feels a little too much for her own sense of bashfulness. But Kamui looks rather distracted, her head relaxing as her body struggles - besides, some instinct tells Acacia that the Reploid is alright. They had an objective today, after all, and it'd be better to focus on that and let Kamui perform her (many, many) jobs properly.
So with a rakish sort of smile on her face, she turns to Tio and holds out a hand as she winks. "C'mon," she offers, then decides it'd probably be best if she just took the initiative and tugged the new girl forwards into as many experiences as possible. "Dancing is-- you just kinda close your eyes, listen to the music, and move your body. However you think's best," she adds.
... Acacia doesn't know that Tio's entire fighting style involves dancing, and left unprompted the journalist herself is of the school of 'bob slightly back and forth'. There might be a difference in expectations here.
DG: Acacia Saitani has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Dance Like You Want To Win.
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
There's a pause for Tio, in the aftermath of that mighty wind powered swing, that she seesthe fact that Kamui is now headless. "Sister!?" She cries out, and runs over to the body only for... it to get up and start fumbling towards the dance tent. This warrants a "???" especially as no one else seems particularly concerned. "W-wait!"
This only leads out to a dance tent? She follows in, looking around the area. This is... new. And then she is pushed forward by small hands she blinks. What is she supposed to do here?
Fortunately, Acacia pulls her in to start dancing. It takes her a few moments to follow along, but she soon starts to get it. "I see. We are putting on a display." But no-one else has weapons drawn. Her hands pass down to where her Chakrams sit, but she doesn't draw them.
She does, however, go into what looks like a mix of a combat routine and a balletic dance. She pirouettes, she swings her arms out as though she is slicing into the air. She tries to match to Acacia's pace, and tries to match the music. That's a little trickier, but she tries to sync up to the beat with her own timer.
The backflip kick at the end, however, that might be excessive. That's definitely a fighting move, not a dance move. Let's see if she can make this more rhythmic.
DG: Tio has contributed a Agility Basic Action toward her party's challenge, Dance Like You Want To Win.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Her legs... Right. Eleanor considers that--but them Xiumei calls to her about school, and Eleanor giggles faintly. "I'm a little taller than back then..." But she seems energized--and in point of fact, she does it!!
Eleanor doesn't ask about Tio's fun; she just looks at her, and makes a guess. But soon....
"Oh!" Eleanor starts, and looks around with a sparkle in her eyes. "A stage... Dancing!" She sounds absolutely delighted--though she's surprised, a moment later, as she finds herself nudged, pushed forward. But she doesn't hold herself apart long--she sees Xiumei's clear embarrassment--and she turns, and smiles at her, offering her hand. "...Let's dance," she says, and wonders at it herself for a moment--here...
It doesn't matter, she decides for the moment, and pulls Xiumei further into the dance floor. As it turns out, Eleanor does have one athletic talent--and as she pulls Eleanor, she starts to move, swaying easily with a grace that would surprise anyone who'd seen her protest about exercise.
As it turns out, she does know how to lead. Hers is not particularly ballet, but there are a couple of spins.
Sticking out of her belt, the Ice Rod catches the light as Eleanor takes both of Xiumei's hands for the next step.
Was there a contest? Eleanor doesn't remember at the moment.
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Ice Rod toward her party's challenge, Dance Like You Want To Win.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Dance Like You Want To Win *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Agility |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Are you ready to /shut up and dance/?!"
This is... a dancing contest. Music blares out tinnily from some Guild
Galad-made equipment within the much-larger-than-usual tent; within other
carnival-goers sway to the music alone or in pairs. The ones who do the best
are the winners! There's even a ribbon involved.
Do it solo, together, or however -- but one thing is clear: today you are
dancing, and you are going to dance /crazy/.
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire, Treasure===========================================
===================<* Meria Boule Festival Games - Round 4 *>=================== ====================< Results - Dance Like You Want To Win >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kamui 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Fourth Armour - Foot Parts 2 Agility Effects: Stalwart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Ice Rod 2 Agility Effects: Quicken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zhang Xiumei 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Model V Boots 3 Agility Effects: Rally -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tio 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Rush 0 Agility Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kamui 60 --(25)--> 85 Pass Conditions: Injure(1)|Tire(2)|Treasure(1) Effects: Quicken(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Kamui has passed this challenge! The party gained 25 exploration! If anyone needs to use party management commands, do so now. Otherwise, the next round's GM may begin the next round with +dungeon/draw. DG: Tio has drawn a new Challenge.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
=============<* CHALLENGE - The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge *>==============
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Welcome to... the Mithril Chef!"
You find yourself approached by a booth operator who sees, perhaps,
something they like in your eyes. They'd like to make you a deal. All or
nothing, staked on your success on their game...!
Which is you against other would-be winners against the challenge posed by
none other than... the Mithril Chef of the Meria Boule Festival themself
(Who is Marina, who is not particularly good at disguising herself). Your
challenge is this: craft a festival-friendly meal with only the ingredients
provided to you, in the time allotted!
Do you have a keen eye and the wits to determine how to proceed? A pile of
tickets is waiting on your ability to concoct a meal on a tight deadline!
(OOC: Feel free to have your alt in the opposing group if desired!)
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Reckless========================================
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
"Yaaah--Acacia!" Xiumei complains.
Suffice to say, when she stumbles onto the plaza, she is red-faced for a reason.
Kamui calls out to dance. Or, at least, her head does.
The quartet shoved into the spotlight aren't the only team competing. There are several people -- some who rushed forward, some who were also pushed -- dancing in different spots. Xiumei glances at them, with a few blinks, before she looks back at Eleanor and sees that she looks...
...delighted?
Xiumei turns a little redder, and then yelps -- but she manages to grab hold and then keep up with some steps that are clumsy at first, and then pick up. There are cheers and shouts from the crowd.
And then, as Tio does her backflip, cries of surprise and delight. Some of the dance afficianados frown; the kids in the audience cheer wildly.
The song comes to an end, and Xiumei grins back at Eleanor, before the judge calls out:
"And the ribbon goes to... those ones!"
Xiumei blinks. "Ah--oh! It sounds like we won!"
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
They won? That's good, right? Tio drops out of dance/fighting stance. She notes the frowns, ever so briefly, and wonders why. Then she looks to Eleanor and Xiumei who seem to have garnered the most attention. They look happy. "Master? Was that fun?" The automaton seems to want to further quantify her senses of fun, and that seems to match.
Fortunately, she doesn't linger too long on that, as she sees something else. "...Master, what is that?" She points to a stage, with what appears to have kitchens set up. She walks over to it, and starts to investigate the benches. Her antennae wiggle. "These items have a high sugar content." She says, as the antennae glow. "Additionally, they are low in nutritional value." She turns around, to a different pile of ingredients. "Whereas these-"
"Hey look," shouts a bystander, "that girl is challenging the Mithril Chef!" Tio looks at the woman, and blinks. "Wait, I-"
She doesn't get to get any further than that, before people start crowding around.
She looks back to Eleanor and the others. "Master, what do I do?"
DG: Tio has used her Tool Sensor Antennae toward her party's challenge, The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui's Body, fortunately and mercifully, finds its way towards her Head and reattaches it...
... at the exact time that the judge announces a winner. Kamui sags as she lets go of her ribbon and hands it to the group, pouting but saying, "Congratulations on dancing real well...!!"
She still looks rather frilly, but alas, it's all for naught (though she might think about showing Gami later) because--
PCHOO
--she has to go dress up as a sous chef, with a white double-breasted jacket and enormously tall chef hat and apron next to Marina, who's rather poorly disguised as the Mithril Chef.
"I get doughnuts for doing this," Kamui clarifies.
On the opposing team, however--
Xiumei and Eleanor immediately notice the tiny Veruni girl in the environmental suit with the matte-black glass helmet dressed up as a black mage currently displaying a :S face. "CR-S01, hurry! Look! Acacia and the others are here!"
...
Yep, it's Yue on the other end, looking beleaguered as she tries her darndest to:
* Cook with both of her arms cuffed with enormous shackles that're getting in the way
* Try to not get her seven and a half-foot hair in the food prep anywhere
* Do all this wearing high heels
"Do you know if Meria Boule enjoys water soup?"
"What... is water soup."
"'Tis when water is boiled and served in a bowl, dear minder."
"CR-S01... you're a real idiot."
A pause, as the Minder waves over:
"Xiumei! Eleanor! I got Black Mage Points!" A pause. "And Green Mage Points too...!" She perks up. "Ooh, who's your new friend??"
DG: Kamui has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
Acacia plants a hand on top of her head as she blinks at the setup, and then looks towards the judges. Having Marina up on the MC's bench is kind of a relief, at least, because she doesn't exactly want to think about what a massacre it'd be if the baker was actually participating.
(For a moment, her reporter senses try to pick out how comfortable Marina is in fancy dress. As the highlight of the festival, it's only right to take a photo, isn't it? Delicious blackmail doughnuts dance behind her eyes. ... really, it's a wonder that she and Kamui together haven't been barred from the bakery yet.)
"... hey," she breaks into a grin at the sight of the Minder, waving as she steps over - and doing her best to sneak a peek at how good their food looks before smiling warmly at the Veruni girl in the environment suit. "D'you like the festival? It only comes every-- what-- hey!-- ow--"The pink-haired alchemist girl stood next to the Minder lowers her ladle as Acacia steps back again, having briefly channeled her full Granny Power to dissuade the reporter from her industrial espionage. "Now, now, dearie," she puffs up her cheeks as she puts on an older voice, deliberately cracked. "No cheating. It'll be ready when it's ready," she adds with a waggle of an oversize wooden spoon for emphasis.Though at the same time, she still answers. "--but it's really good! Never been this far west before, but it seems like a lot of fun, right?" Shalune encourages the Minder with a nudge of her elbow, her smile big enough for the both of them. Behind her, a twelve-foot golem stands impassively, a gigantic chef's hat covering half its head. Anyone who's seen Big Shal before knows her as ponderous - but not now, as she spins a flat pancake of dough around in her hands.
Somehow the reporter manages to miss it. Instead she retreats, and scanning the ingredients available makes her frown as she sizes up the possibilities. They're probably expecting her to bake, she concludes. Tio's already picking through the things and noting that most of them are sweet. But she'd be the first to admit it isn't exactly her forte. On the other hand... there's a lot of market stalls around.
"--hold down the fort here a sec," she blurts to Eleanor, turning on her heel to slip past the audience. It's a few minutes before she returns, a bag dangling from her hand and a battered and well-loved wok stuck under her arm, along with a few choice spices from home. Maybe frying some noodles isn't exactly in the spirit of the challenge, but it's festival-friendly food as far as she's concerned, and it's what she knows best.
DG: Acacia Saitani has used her Tool Thrifty Drifty toward her party's challenge, The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
Xiumei slows to a stop. "Tio, I think--"
She doesn't explain further. She realizes that they have been volunteered for mythril chef. Her eyes widen; Xiumei isn't, really, that great of a cook. She is strictly average. She opens her mouth, then closes it. "W-We'll.. need to cook! It shouldn't be too hard. It--Minder?"
She turns to look at the girl, staring at her for a second. "Um--very good!" she says to Minder. "This--this is Tio. She..." A blink. "...Yue is here, too? She knows how to cook?"
A part of her, desperately, wants to hide. Instead, she walks to the kitchen, and flips on a burner. "Okay... so this shouldn't be too hard, we just need a menu..."
But then Acacia returns, with a wok and noodles. Xiumei breathes a loud, audible sigh of relief. "I think the day is saved!"
DG: Zhang Xiumei has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward her party's challenge, The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Eleanor finally reddens a little herself, maybe from exertion, but maybe because she's thinking instead of acting now. But it's brief. She beams to Xiumei. "We did! I'm--" Tio asks if it was fun, and Eleanor beams, squeezing Xiumei's hand before she lets it go from where she'd grabbed for cheering purposes. "Yes!" Eleanor answers Tio brightly, a little red-cheeked finally. "That was a lot of fun!"
Another smile to Xiumei, and she continues on, until... suddenly--uhhh. "Well, that's a kitchen setup..."
Eleanor blinks. Not because she needs to answer Tio, no, the immediate thought is...
She has to teach Tio of the wonders of dessert. Somehow.
"It seems we'll have to put paid to the challenge! We can't just back down!"
Pause. "Though, ah, er. I don't... really... Um..."
"Xiumei, um, do you..." Eleanor, as Xiumei knows well, is great at eating but somewhat hopeless at cooking. Not that she's going to hide from the challenge as she's told--
"Ah, yes. Of course. I can... Yes, let's start gathering ingredients! That looks tasty, and that..." She considers. She thinks.
And she regards, for a moment, the woman in black over on the other side near Yue, carefully putting together ingredients. "...Yue," she says quietly, thoughtfully, "This isn't too hot, is it?"
Lily's mixture is absolutely too spicy.
Eleanor pulls her boomerang, and thinks. "I wonder..."
She glances to the left. She glances to the right. Aaaand... she throws it into the sky, over the other team's table, where it won't hit anything!
"For luck," Eleanor blatantly lies, and peers over before--
"Oh!! Yes, you're the best, Acacia!"
DG: Eleanor Klein has used her Tool Hunter's Boomerang toward her party's challenge, The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
A LONG LONG TIME AGO
Several Veruni in military academy garb look back and forth, blinking. "Where did Yue go?"
"Oh, she said something about how she can't stand the Spicy Beef MRE so she's going to steal the enemy's rations...?"
NOW
"I--i--it isn't too hot," Yue answers with a blue face trickled with fear lines as she stares at Lily's Maboroshi no Spice Curry.
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
=============<* CHALLENGE - The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge *>==============
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"Welcome to... the Mithril Chef!"
You find yourself approached by a booth operator who sees, perhaps,
something they like in your eyes. They'd like to make you a deal. All or
nothing, staked on your success on their game...!
Which is you against other would-be winners against the challenge posed by
none other than... the Mithril Chef of the Meria Boule Festival themself
(Who is Marina, who is not particularly good at disguising herself). Your
challenge is this: craft a festival-friendly meal with only the ingredients
provided to you, in the time allotted!
Do you have a keen eye and the wits to determine how to proceed? A pile of
tickets is waiting on your ability to concoct a meal on a tight deadline!
(OOC: Feel free to have your alt in the opposing group if desired!)
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify, Reckless========================================
===================<* Meria Boule Festival Games - Round 5 *>=================== ===============< Results - The Mithril Chef Festival Challenge >================ Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kamui 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acacia Saitani 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Thrifty Drifty 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eleanor Klein 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Hunter's Boomerang 1 Wits Effects: Cleanse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zhang Xiumei 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tio 5 --(0)--> 5 Pass Sensor Antennae 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Kamui 85 --(35)--> 120 Pass Conditions: Reckless(2)|Stupify(2)|Tire(1) Effects: Cleanse|Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Kamui has successfully explored Meria Boule Festival Games!
========================<* Meria Boule Festival Games *>========================
=======================<* CHALLENGE - A Winner Is You *>========================
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
"How many tickets do you got there? ...That many? Hey, nice work! Here you
go!"
Fresh from your successes at the games you present your tickets to the
person at the prize booth. They mull them over before producing today's top
prize:
Amazing. It's a toy replica of an energy sword. It looks just like the real
thing -- there's even a button you can press so that the 'blade' lights up.
Just about any kid would love to have something like this (and maybe more
than a few adults too).
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
"I am Tio." She says, when Minder asks who she is. "I am pleased to meet you." Formalities aside, it comes to the matter of the challenge. Tio may have no knowledge of cooking. Or eating. But she can tell what ingredients are made of! She piles up a number of the sugary ingredients: some chocolate, flour, eggs, sugar, a mixing bowl. "I believe these are the ingredients for cake." How does she not know what a hug is, but she knows what cake is!? Nonetheless, she is onto a right track, and she starts attempting to mix things. With Xiumei and Eleanor there, the three of them put together actually something... not too shabby.
Acacia is the star of the piece, however, by bringing her own ingredients and actual cooking skills. She fires up noodles with ease and expertise.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the kitchen, a mysterious boomerang that disappears as quickly as it arrives, knocking a whole bottle of hot sauce into something that shouldn't have hot sauce in it. MYSTERIOUS.
"The winners are... BLUE TEAM!" Tio looks down at the floor. Oh right, this side is painted blue. A pile of tickets are proffered to the team, Tio blinking. "Master, what are these tickets for?"
Smashcut to the prize booth, where Tio is handing over all the tickets at once. In exchange, five light up energy swords. Tio holds hers with one hand, and looks at it. She presses a button. It lights up. "...This weapon has no combat value." She says, slightly confused. Again.
Still, she pauses, thinking on something Marivel told her a few days ago. "...Master? Would you say today generated happy memories?"
<Pose Tracker> Zhang Xiumei has posed.
Xiumei looks sideways at Tio, as they cook, and nods. She tries to make it encouraging. "Good work!" she says to her. Then, she glances at Eleanor; she smiles in a way that she hopes is encouraging, but shows a little more strain. Neither of them are, really, the type who cook much.
But they manage to pull it off! With heart and -- probably, more -- Acacia's noodles. She sighs with relief, and then looks down at the toy thrust in her hand. It feels strange.
And familiar, when she flips it on, and a harmless light blade emerges. "Like the Pulse Saber..."
<Except not at all?> Varius says.
Then, she looks at Tio. Her head tilts with the question -- and she glances, briefly, at Eleanor, before she smiles.
That must be her vote.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Xiumei asks if Yue can cook.
The Minder shakes her head rather sadly as she watches Yue try to parse the next list of ingredients. "What's a mascar... pony? I do not comprehend this..."
She does look towards Shalune and ask, "Why are you imitating Granny...? Also, where did she go anyway?" at the same time Yue sulks to Acacia as she complains, "Now! You would not want to pilfer culinary secrets from our side."
The Minder nods as she says, "Yeah, because Yue's cooking will just ruin your chances! Also, oh, hello, Tio!"
A pause, as Acacia disappears and returns with a wok. "She cooks junk food too," Yue murmurs.
Yue looks towards Lily after her terrified statement, sniffing and-- coughing a little. "... dare I ask, is this the kind of spice level you prefer?"
She's already sweating from where she's standing!
In the end, though--
Minder's Scoopful of Vanilla Ice Cream and Yue's ??? (can only be eaten on an EX+ save file only to unlock a bonus battle)...
... are not enough, of course.
The Minder whines a little as she says, "... those toy swords look so cool... I want one..."
Kamui blinks as she looks towards one of the five, bobbing her head. Then hops over as she hands it to her. "Here you go!"
The Minder's expression changes to :O. "R-really?"
"Yes. I have one," Kamui answers as she holds up Gami's Saber's hilt. Then she looks towards Tio, pumping her arms.
"We can practice sword fighting with it! And you can play with the children, Tio!"
A pause, as she looks towards her, anticipating Tio to determine whether or not she had fun... and even if she doesn't quite understand it, that they had this experience is muimory enough.
<Pose Tracker> Eleanor Klein has posed.
Cake!! "You... you know how to bake, Tio?" Eleanor's eyes briefly have stars in them. Why does she know? Because someone out there likes Eleanor, maybe??? ....No that can't be why. There's probably a more causative explanation out there.
For the record though, Lily says, "Yeah, though I'll eat things that aren't spicy fine, too. ...I'll eat most things, to be honest." Lily... doesn't even appear to notice that it's especially spicy, except insofar as Yue reacts. "...Too much?" she wonders.
Xiumei smiles--and Eleanor smiles back at her, warmly. She turns a gentle look Tio's way, after, and inclines her head. "Yes," Eleanor answers her. "For me, it definitely did. I'll remember our time out together with everyone. And I got to see a bit more of your personality, too, in the way you approached each obstacle. That's a happy memory in itself; I got to know you a little better."
Eleanor holds up her beam sword, and its light... is pink! "Ahh," she says, "It is like the Pulse Saber," Eleanor agrees. "Oh, it has a nice heft..."
She smiles, again, and looks at everyone. "A--yes, a--a nice time, wasn't it...?" She pauses, then. Sidles closer to Acacia. "...Though I... don't suppose you'd be willing to make... more of those noodles, maybe? <3"
<Pose Tracker> Acacia Saitani has posed.
"Oh, she said something about 'wanting to see what Yue can do' and went to sit down. She kinda had that tone of voice that meant it was a Grumpy-Granny thing," Shalune replies rather bluntly, in an upbeat tone of voice that belies the way in which she's probably going to get owned with a walking stick in a few minutes. "It's fine! We'll just bring her some food and it'll be great. I'm pretty sure her tastebuds are made of steel anyways."
Shalune's trying to be reassuring, but... well, maybe it's fine.
At the end of it all she's got her own pot of curry, because any kind of food near to her seems to just sort of transmute into it as she goes. At least she's empathic enough to pick up how nervous Yue is, leaving hers a lot milder than any alternative.
"I heard that," Acacia calls over to Yue, tapping her shoulder with the end of the 'light saber' she's just been handed and looking around her at the other pair with a rather glum frown. "Honestly... I can't believe I'm the only one who knows how to cook anything. It's not like I spend a whole lot of time in my kitchen, either."
She sags a little at Eleanor's request, because somehow she suspected it might turn out this way. "Alright, alright... you got it."
Before that, she does at least pause to look dead-on at Tio, then glance for just a moment towards Kamui. Her expression is a little drawn, but not in an unhappy way - more that she's giving the answer some serious thought. "We can't answer that question for you. And right now, you probably can't answer it for yourself. But-- give it a while, then think about it again," she encourages with a lopsided smile. "At least, I'll say I enjoyed it, I guess."
<Pose Tracker> Tio has posed.
Tio nods thoughtfully, as her question is answered in a number of ways. There's something about her face, her expression, changes just a little. Not even a smile, but the hint of understanding. "...Then, I believe I have had fun." She says, finally. Maybe she's growing faster than expected.
<Pose Tracker> Kamui has posed.
Kamui beams as Tio comes to that conclusion, looking to Eleanor and Tio both for permission -- and if allowed, gives her a big hug. "I had fun today, Sister."