2019-08-11: Sending Mixed Shoopuf Signals
- Log: 2019-08-11: Sending Mixed Shoopuf Signals
- Cast: Ivan, Lydia Seren
- Where: The Moonflow
- Date: August 12, 2019
- Summary: Ivan has been desperately trying to put some distance between himself and Lydia, so, naturally, he joins her aboard a shoopuf for a perilously date-like social interaction.
===============================<* The Moonflow *>=============================== The Moonflow is a large river that bisects Spira's largest island into southern and northern halves. Strange flowers called Moonlilies grow on the Moonflow's banks, attracting pyreflies that gather on its surface at night, making the water sparkle. Although a beautiful area, the weather tends to be overcast more often than not, the souls of the dead providing the most reliable source of illumination. The primary method of crossing the Moonflow is aboard a shoopuf - an elephantine creature that can swim across the expansive river. The crossing service is funded by the Temple of Yevon and is free of charge. BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wcVnJQ-FN4
DG: A party led by Lydia Seren is now entering Ride ze Shoopuf. DG: Party formation is now over. An Entry Challenge will now be drawn and displayed to the party.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Where the Chips Fall *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
On one particular fine day in a lull amidst your many adventures, you and
your friends and family -- or acquaintances, or even complete strangers! --
acquire tickets to a fanciful Degustation Course aboard one of the
Moonflow's Shoopufs.
The open-air cabin atop the Shoopuf's back is lavish and comfortable, with
long couches piled with pillows and blankets. Complimentary beverages and
other such pleasant amenities are also included.
Some time into the journey, overlooking a gorgeous view of the Moonlillies,
your chauffeur speaks up.
"Thank you for riding ze Shoopuf today," he speaks through a quaint speaker
attached to the corner of your cabin. "Sshortly, we would like to begin ze
degustation, starting with ze appetizer..."
A small round table bearing the appearance of a Magic Pot emerges from the
centre. A sweet purple cloud poofs out from the top, and out comes...!
A cute lotus flower-shaped bowl containing lightly crisped renkon or lotus
root chips -- sourced from the very Moonflow itself! Lightly salted and with
a delicate taste of ginger and spice, it's the perfect finger food to kick
back and relax with...
But, ah, with any light finger food, it's easy to overindulge and be too
full before your main meal. Keep your wits about where your fingers go...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia has asked Ivan about riding ze shoopuf before and this time Ivan has actually capitulated because he recently STABBED HER with a throwing knife. Cause, you know, that's how it is sometimes?? Nevertheless, Ivan GIVING UP (to repay her for stabbing her) has cheered Lydia up tremendously even as she's oblivious to his attempts to set her up with someone, anyone else.
Lydia leads Ivan onto the open air cabin atop the Shoopuf's back and it has long couches and pillows and even blankets and it's a lot. It's really a lot of fancy and comf. Maybe too much comf! There's already a selection of bottled beverages that you can partake in. Lydia is already pushing some bottles into a large bag she's carrying...
"I wonder if I can sneak one of the pillows away... they'd take up a lot of space though." Lydia murmurs.
And the shoopuf is off shortly thereafter and a small table is brought out with a Magic Pot on it.
"Is that the bathroom because--" Lydia begins before a purple cloud POOFS OUT from the top and a bowl pops out with chips in it.
"Oh shiiiit..." Lydia says. "Ivan we have to eat them all so we can borrow the bowl--"
Schrodinger appears next to Lydia and Lydia immediately starts feeding the cat.
Maybe she hasn't learned how to comf entirely either.
Schrodinger meows at Ivan.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Schrodinger the Cat toward her party's challenge, Where the Chips Fall.
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Ivan is looking all around himself at the ... the comf, and he is clearly very nervous about the scenario he has gotten himself into. "This seems different from the first shoopuf ride..." he ventures. Lydia's speculation about stealing the pillows and food bowl actually calms him for some inexplicable Ivan reason (well, not entirely inexplicable -- it makes him feel like perhaps she has motives other than Quality Ivan Time), but... only a little.
"I'm really not sure this is a thing I should be doing..." he says. He eyes his surroundings for potential escape routes, but the shoopuf is already plodding along through the water. Utility, utility... can he do this if it's about helping Lydia spirit off the magical serveware?
Carefully, cautiously, as if diffusing a bomb, he takes a chip, and cronches upon it. ... Oh no, it's delicious.
"It's spicy," he marvels, in as subdued a manner as he can manage. This unfortunately only makes it come out more dramatic, because he like whispers it.
DG: Ivan has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Where the Chips Fall.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
====================<* CHALLENGE - Where the Chips Fall *>====================
|Type: Entry |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
On one particular fine day in a lull amidst your many adventures, you and
your friends and family -- or acquaintances, or even complete strangers! --
acquire tickets to a fanciful Degustation Course aboard one of the
Moonflow's Shoopufs.
The open-air cabin atop the Shoopuf's back is lavish and comfortable, with
long couches piled with pillows and blankets. Complimentary beverages and
other such pleasant amenities are also included.
Some time into the journey, overlooking a gorgeous view of the Moonlillies,
your chauffeur speaks up.
"Thank you for riding ze Shoopuf today," he speaks through a quaint speaker
attached to the corner of your cabin. "Sshortly, we would like to begin ze
degustation, starting with ze appetizer..."
A small round table bearing the appearance of a Magic Pot emerges from the
centre. A sweet purple cloud poofs out from the top, and out comes...!
A cute lotus flower-shaped bowl containing lightly crisped renkon or lotus
root chips -- sourced from the very Moonflow itself! Lightly salted and with
a delicate taste of ginger and spice, it's the perfect finger food to kick
back and relax with...
But, ah, with any light finger food, it's easy to overindulge and be too
full before your main meal. Keep your wits about where your fingers go...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Stupify==================================================
=======================<* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 1 *>======================== ======================< Results - Where the Chips Fall >====================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 0 --(5)--> 5 Fail Schrodinger the Cat 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ivan 0 --(0)--> 0 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lydia Seren 0 --(20)--> 20 Pass Conditions: Stupify(2) Effects: Enlighten(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lydia Seren 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: Ivan has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - To Be Frank About It *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
By and large, the Degustation Course is a showcase of the finest of local
Spiran produce... but not all of it. Helmed by an Otherworlder chef, it also
aims to introduce some of the unique cuisine of other worlds too. So go,
now, if you want it...
... a hotdog awaits you.
A card reads: "Franzfurter the Hotdog. A truly wonderful and cherished
comfort food, who will always patiently be there for you through thick and
thin. Thank you."
... is the chef projecting about a person, or is it just coincidence? Well,
regardless, the introduction of sausage-making techniques to Spira is one
thing -- but this wonderful delicate hotdog on a bed of relish, ketchup and
mustard on a soft bun certainly is quite exquisite to the Spiran palate.
But be careful, because being the street food that would thrive in Luca's
streets prior to the invasion... it can get a bit messy!
=Dungeon Conditions: Overwhelm, Collapse======================================
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia's motives are like 99 percent QIT and 1 percent 'hey might as well rob this place while making doe-eyes' and that one percent is shrinking as Lydia relearns her love of ze shoopuf and forms a bond with this shoopuf. Can Lydia rob a shoopuf? Maybe not. She isn't sure. But so far she sort of has her usual money-scheming nature.
She looks over to Ivan, smiling as he tries a chip for the first time. Lydia tries one herself and she says, "Daaang! It's not half bad!"
Schrodinger, meanwhile, throws up to the side oh no...
"Oh no..." Lydia says, rubbing Schrodinger's back. "Not feeling well, little buddy?"
"Moww." Schrodinger groans. Lydia tries to feed him another chip. The cat bats it away with a paw sending it into the river.
"Oh, guess Schrodinger doesn't like them. Weird." Lydia says. "If this is just the appetizer we could be in for quite the journey, Ivan. We'll have to steel our spirits and do our best to get through it!"
(aww he's so cute it's like he hasn't eaten chips before)
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Ivan may have eaten chips in the past but he was not expecting them to have GINGER in them and that is one of his favorite flavors. The chips have exploited a critical weakness in Ivan!! He eats several more, looking like he thinks he is stealing them or committing some other crime for which the universe might demand retribution. Perhaps he is. Should an unrepentant assassin get to have ginger-y chips?
Sadly, it appears they don't agree with Shrodinger. "Maybe they're too spicy for him..." Ivan says.
But soon, a new course is presented! They are introduced to a mysterious... hotdog! It sits within its bun, majestic and heaped dauntingly with condiments. The card accompanying it makes it ambiguous whether they are supposed to eat it or befriend it, but it's probably the first one.
Unfortunately, there is no obvious way to share it without making a mess.
"You can go ahead..." he says to Lydia. He has plenty of knives but they have all done terrible things and should not be anywhere near food probably.
DG: Ivan has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, To Be Frank About It.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Oh that makes sense," Lydia says to Ivan, covering her mouth with a hand as Ivan just CHOWS ON DOWN those chips. She's clearly happy to see him enjoying himself even if it's in spite of himself.
And then of course there is a new meal being wheeled out.
A hot dog.
It's... just a hotdog.
"It's a hot dog." Lydia says. It even has relish, etchup, and mustard.
"Well at least there's one for each of us." Lydia adds, taking ONE of the hot dogs for herself and biting into it--Even as, uh, Schrodinger seems to like hot dogs more because it bits into the other end and now they're kind of eating it together.
"Awwww! Schrodinger likes hot dogs at least!" She pauses. "Don't eat too much though, kitty."
She pets Schrodinger's head with a hand and looks back over to Ivan as if waiting for him to also put a sausage in his mouth.
Can Ivan resist?? It's just a hot dog though so probably.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Schrodinger the Cat toward her party's challenge, To Be Frank About It.
=============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>==============================
=====================<* CHALLENGE - To Be Frank About It *>=====================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 1 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
By and large, the Degustation Course is a showcase of the finest of local
Spiran produce... but not all of it. Helmed by an Otherworlder chef, it also
aims to introduce some of the unique cuisine of other worlds too. So go,
now, if you want it...
... a hotdog awaits you.
A card reads: "Franzfurter the Hotdog. A truly wonderful and cherished
comfort food, who will always patiently be there for you through thick and
thin. Thank you."
... is the chef projecting about a person, or is it just coincidence? Well,
regardless, the introduction of sausage-making techniques to Spira is one
thing -- but this wonderful delicate hotdog on a bed of relish, ketchup and
mustard on a soft bun certainly is quite exquisite to the Spiran palate.
But be careful, because being the street food that would thrive in Luca's
streets prior to the invasion... it can get a bit messy!
=Dungeon Conditions: Overwhelm, Collapse======================================
========================<* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 2 *>========================= =======================< Results - To Be Frank About It >======================= Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 5 --(5)--> 10 Pass Schrodinger the Cat 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ivan 0 --(5)--> 5 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Lydia Seren 20 --(20)--> 40 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Overwhelm|Stupify(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Lydia Seren 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: Lydia Seren has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - The Mysterious Gyu-met *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Spira being what it is, it isn't uncommon to see Fiends along the banks of
the Moonflow. But Spira also being what it is, someone is usually on the
job: in particular, a dashing adventurer in black appears to have several
Garms handled.
Inspired by this presence of derring-do, the Magic Pot retracts and serves
your next course.
A dashing dish of mystery, featuring thinly sliced cuts of choice meat from
the various Fiends of Spira... vouivres, dualhorns, and maybe even that very
garm, all seared rare and shallowly marinating in a tart wine sauce to
expertly slice through the gaminess of such meats.
Muster your courage. This is Drifter food, brought to the next level...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
"Are hot dogs Filgaian?" Ivan asks. She seems to know them well. Despite not technically being a noble, he tended to eat like one, so if Lunar has hot dogs he had not yet encountered one.
He realizes that they have their own individual hot dogs, which complicates his excuse for not having one. He instead offers his to Shrodinger so that Lydia can enjoy hers in peace. This does not seem to make the cat sick, so perhaps everyone got what they wanted this course...??
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Cheater." Lydia complains but leaves it at that
The next dish is a thin platter of thinly cut meats. "Oh sweet. This is just MEAT, Ivan, so no excuse for this one. It's not even like super gourmet." It actually is but Lydia doesn't know what super gourmet is and to her it just looks like coldcuts with some nice sauce.
She is on her third or fourth slice when the speaker crackles and the hypello driver speaks through it.
"Thank you for riding ze shoopuf! We hope you are enjoying your stay so far. I see you like ze fiend meat, taken from fiends all across from Spira through a very complicated process known as--"
Lydia has already started swinging for the speaker with her bat with wild eyes.
"DON'T TELL US ITS FIEND MEAT AFTER WE STARTED EATING IT!!!"
Schrodinger wanders over to Ivan and licks his foot.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Good Luck Bat toward her party's challenge, The Mysterious Gyu-met.
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Ivan makes all sorts of frownie faces at the platter as he waffles on whether he has any reason he can use to give himself permission to eat charcuterie, but then they are informed that the meat is FIEND MEAT and Lydia goes on a bit of a warpath about it.
In the background Ivan can be spotted now curiously trying all of the meats since they are obviously Dangerous and he would like to be able to say he survived them.
"They're not that bad, Lydia!" he announces. The... the flavor may not be the issue here.
DG: Ivan has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, The Mysterious Gyu-met.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
===================<* CHALLENGE - The Mysterious Gyu-met *>===================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Spira being what it is, it isn't uncommon to see Fiends along the banks of
the Moonflow. But Spira also being what it is, someone is usually on the
job: in particular, a dashing adventurer in black appears to have several
Garms handled.
Inspired by this presence of derring-do, the Magic Pot retracts and serves
your next course.
A dashing dish of mystery, featuring thinly sliced cuts of choice meat from
the various Fiends of Spira... vouivres, dualhorns, and maybe even that very
garm, all seared rare and shallowly marinating in a tart wine sauce to
expertly slice through the gaminess of such meats.
Muster your courage. This is Drifter food, brought to the next level...!
=Dungeon Conditions: Tire=====================================================
=======================<* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 3 *>======================== =====================< Results - The Mysterious Gyu-met >===================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 10 --(8)--> 18 Pass Good Luck Bat 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ivan 5 --(13)--> 18 Fail Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lydia Seren 40 --(20)--> 60 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Overwhelm|Tire(2) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: The party led by Lydia Seren 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> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia sits herself back down next to Ivan. She doesn't throw up or anything and she seems to have cheered herself up by murdering that innocent speakerbox.
"Well, I guess if you like them. I mean... I'm not ... entirely sure how you get them off the Fiend." MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE SMASHED THE SPEAKER SO QUICKLY LYDIA.
"But if you like them, well... I guess I can forgive it!"
Schrodinger rubs themselves against Ivan expectantly since Ivan isn't paying attention to them.
DG: Ivan has drawn a new Challenge.
=============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>==============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Home is Where the Heart... *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Several small, humble houses are dotted along one edge of the Moonflow,
belonging to its residents. Some are fishermen, others farmers; others work
in the hospitality business, with the Shoopuf waystations providing much of
the income and attraction to the region itself.
And in consideration of the home, the Magic Pot presents one of the
centerpieces and most highly-advertised dishes of the Degustation Course...
The Maison Glace.
A literal house-shaped dessert of stained glass created out of sheets of
tempered sugar, it tantalises with colours of red, blue, white, green,
creating the stylised image of a wise old and parental butler serving
customers at a resplendent bar on one side. Is it supposed to resemble a
particular place?
It would be a shame to break this dessert apart like a fragile heart...
perhaps you'll have to systematically unravel the house to get maximum
mileage out of it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
How DO you get meat off of a fiend...?? Perhaps they will never know.
"I wonder if it... turns into pyreflies in your stomach..."
And then what?? Are they then doomed to turn into Fiends, themselves??
Well, in the meantime, there is an elaborate sugary treat!
"It's a house...?" Ivan taps it lightly with a spoon. "It seems too fancy to ruin..."
Shrodinger nudges him. Ivan blinks. He hadn't realized the cat wanted attention. He hesitantly reaches forward to pet them, issuing a rather formal-sounding apology in the same sort of voice he would use with a human: "Sorry, I didn't notice you."
DG: Ivan has contributed a Wits Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Home is Where the Heart....
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
It's like how many licks gets to the center of a shoopuf roll pop? The world may never know.
Lydia doesn't seem to be turning into a fiend luckily though she is a bit skeptical at the meal going from 'hot dog' to 'slices of meat' to 'a fucking sugar house'.
In this case Lydia has to agree that this literal pretty desert might be too sweet and cute to actually eat. "Maybe we can give this to Miss Weaver. She's going through a lot right now." She considers this for a moment before adding, "Yeah! You know what? Let's give this to Katherine!"
She calls over to the shoopuf driver loudly (because the speaker is dead). "We'll be having this to go!" She shouts over to him before looking to Ivan. "She probably won't eat it either but maybe she'll do some magic to it or something."
Schrodinger consiers Ivan's apology with a, "Mrow." and promptly rolls over onto their back and exposes its belly to Ivan.
"Mrow." Schrodinger says seriously.
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Schrodinger the Cat toward her party's challenge, Home is Where the Heart....
=============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>==============================
==================<* CHALLENGE - Home is Where the Heart... *>==================
|Type: Exploration |Dungeon Ability: Wits |Challenge Rating: 2 |
---------------------------< Challenge Information: >---------------------------
Several small, humble houses are dotted along one edge of the Moonflow,
belonging to its residents. Some are fishermen, others farmers; others work
in the hospitality business, with the Shoopuf waystations providing much of
the income and attraction to the region itself.
And in consideration of the home, the Magic Pot presents one of the
centerpieces and most highly-advertised dishes of the Degustation Course...
The Maison Glace.
A literal house-shaped dessert of stained glass created out of sheets of
tempered sugar, it tantalises with colours of red, blue, white, green,
creating the stylised image of a wise old and parental butler serving
customers at a resplendent bar on one side. Is it supposed to resemble a
particular place?
It would be a shame to break this dessert apart like a fragile heart...
perhaps you'll have to systematically unravel the house to get maximum
mileage out of it.
=Dungeon Conditions: Slow, Injure=============================================
========================<* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 4 *>========================= ====================< Results - Home is Where the Heart... >==================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lydia Seren 18 --(8)--> 26 Pass Schrodinger the Cat 2 Wits Effects: Enlighten -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ivan 18 --(8)--> 26 Pass Investigate 0 Wits Effects: BASIC -----------------------------------< Party >------------------------------------ Leader: Lydia Seren 60 --(20)--> 80 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Injure(2)|Overwhelm|Slow(2)|Tire(1) Effects: Enlighten(1) ===============================< Dream Chasers >================================
DG: The party led by Lydia Seren 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: Lydia Seren has drawn a new Challenge.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
================<* CHALLENGE - Mui Compliments for ze Ride! *>================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey upon the back of the Shoopuf is coming to its end, and so is
the Degustation Course as you spot the waystation on the other end of the
Moonflow's banks. The sun is cozily setting to a gentle golden gleam in the
distance. A dessert would truly be perfect to finish the entire meal off,
before you go. And to that end, the Magic Pot retracts one final time and...
Not terribly long ago, there was a muisterious reporter who wrote about the
wonders of the treats provided at the Shoopuf waystations.
Apparently, the kindly bakers and patissierie that supply the Shoopuf
Degustation Course has seen it fit to provide a little homage in turn, in
the form of a specially-crafted set of dango. Normally a grilled series of
glutinous rice balls set upon skewers glazed with a delicious salty-sweet
sauce known as mitarashi...
These particular ones are printed to have the expression of someone who is
truly discovering the human emotion of lazing around, mui.
The muitarashi dango is taking it easy. Do you dare finish it, with its
surprisingly hard, crunchy exterior?
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Lydia suggests giving the house to Katherine, which seems perfect, even though Ivan feels a little silly assuming that having a magic house means Katherine is a fan of... houses. Still, it does seem like something she might find kind of charming, regardless???
"Oh, she mentioned she was having a tough time...?" Ivan doubts Lydia knows any of the specifics, but in this case, HE DOUBTS WRONG. "I think that's a good idea, though. Maybe she would want to display it. Although Talia might eat it, but that's probably okay because it would be funny." He can easily imagine Talia eating it bit by bit and pretending that it wasn't dissappearing.
Lydia calls out her request to their driver, who acquiesces to let them take it home in a box.
Ivan squints as Shrodinger presents their belly. It is a trap, perhaps, but if so, Ivan feels that Shrodinger would be mistaken to assume he fears kitty claws, and so the petting continues.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Oh yeah she told me pretty much everything since I caught her changing into her ninja suit." Lydia says. "Like she mentioned you were looking for the Shadow Cult cause of her and everything. She needed a hug. I gave her a hug! That's the power of Lydia." She pauses a moment before adding, "But I am a little worried about you going after super ninjas." Actually very worried but if she says 'very' then Ivan might think she doubts his super ninja skills and that would be even worse!
"Hey if Talia eats it that's okay too." She adds. "But I would feel a little guilty to be honest."
Lydia is totally assuming that Katherine, because she has a magic house, is a fan of houses. Or at least, cute candy houses.
Schrodinger does not claw Ivan... this time. He passed the challenge! No Schrodinger claws!
But they do get ANOTHER desert. This time it is a set of dango skewered in mitarashi sauce.
Or... Muitarashi sauce?!?!
"This feels strangely familiar." Lydia murmurs. "But.... these aren't cute enough to not eat! They're just cute enough TO eat!"
She sets her bat to the side as a thinly veiled excuse to use her tool and takes a dango up and chews on it.
Wait did she eat the skewer too?
(Yes).
DG: Lydia Seren has used her Tool Good Luck Bat toward her party's challenge, Mui Compliments for ze Ride!.
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
"...Oh." says Ivan. "That makes talking about some things simpler I guess."
He gravely and unnecessarily elaborates: "All that stuff I was talking about earlier that I wasn't supposed to say anything about was about that."
Thank goodness THAT'S been cleared up. He shrugs uncomfortably at her expression of concern. "I'm really not doing very much at all, so you don't need to worry about it. Mostly I just asked people about their upbringing and got a lot more personal information than I was prepared for..." He looks a bit haunted by the memory of the awkward conversations he unleashed. Maybe in a way he WAS doing something dangerous... by Ivan standards.
Lydia pronounces the dango not-too-cute to eat. Ivan grimaces in another dire confrontation with treats, because apparently this crisis is starting new every time.
"It does have a face..." he argues, only to look up and see Lydia chewing on her own dango, stick and all. His eyes linger a bit on her distinctive teeth. Perhaps she was able to chew the stick more easily...? But it's still a stick!
"I'm not sure you're supposed to... ... ... how's your throat?" he asks. It didn't poke her on the way down?
Speaking of sharp things, he notices a distinctive lack of claw raking.
"You are a very calm cat," he tells Shrodinger, his voice becoming a little gentler but still not entering any sort of cute animal babytalk range.
DG: Ivan has contributed a Brute Basic Action toward his party's challenge, Mui Compliments for ze Ride!.
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
================<* CHALLENGE - Mui Compliments for ze Ride! *>================
|Type: Final |Dungeon Ability: Brute |Challenge Rating: 2 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
Your journey upon the back of the Shoopuf is coming to its end, and so is
the Degustation Course as you spot the waystation on the other end of the
Moonflow's banks. The sun is cozily setting to a gentle golden gleam in the
distance. A dessert would truly be perfect to finish the entire meal off,
before you go. And to that end, the Magic Pot retracts one final time and...
Not terribly long ago, there was a muisterious reporter who wrote about the
wonders of the treats provided at the Shoopuf waystations.
Apparently, the kindly bakers and patissierie that supply the Shoopuf
Degustation Course has seen it fit to provide a little homage in turn, in
the form of a specially-crafted set of dango. Normally a grilled series of
glutinous rice balls set upon skewers glazed with a delicious salty-sweet
sauce known as mitarashi...
These particular ones are printed to have the expression of someone who is
truly discovering the human emotion of lazing around, mui.
The muitarashi dango is taking it easy. Do you dare finish it, with its
surprisingly hard, crunchy exterior?
=Dungeon Conditions: Hesitate=================================================
=======================<* Ride ze Shoopuf - Round 5 *>======================== ==================< Results - Mui Compliments for ze Ride! >================== Player Exhaustion Pass/Fail ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lydia Seren 26 --(15)--> 41 Fail Good Luck Bat 2 Brute Effects: Strengthen ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ivan 26 --(5)--> 31 Pass Force 0 Brute Effects: BASIC ----------------------------------< Party >----------------------------------- Leader: Lydia Seren 80 --(35)--> 115 Pass Conditions: Collapse|Hesitate(2)|Injure(1)|Overwhelm|Slow(1) Effects: Strengthen(1) ==============================< Dream Chasers >===============================
DG: You have overcome the dungeon's trials! This run is a success! DG: The party led by Lydia Seren has successfully explored Ride ze Shoopuf!
============================<* Ride ze Shoopuf *>=============================
===============<* CHALLENGE - Spira II - Eternal Blue Sphere *>===============
|Type: Discovery |Dungeon Ability: Conclusion|Challenge Rating: 1 |
--------------------------< Challenge Information: >--------------------------
The service bell rings.
"Most esteemed guestz... we have arrived at the other shore of the
Moonflow!"
Ah, perfect timing. Through both a combination of the luxurious Shoopuf
cabin and the meals you've had onboard, you certainly feel well rested and
well fed. As the Shoopuf pulls up to the waystation on the other side of the
shore, it's time to find accommodation for the night or continue your
journey onward, depending on what plans and destinies are in store for you.
But as you leave...
"Excuse me!" speaks an attendant. "We're offering complimentary gifts as a
commemoration of our service's anniversary. Please, have this Sphere on our
behalf!"
Fanciful casing aside, it's a perfectly functional recording device that can
record video and audio. There's no telling when a recorder might just come
in useful...
=Dungeon Conditions: Treasure=================================================
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Yeah," Lydia says. "I didn't mean to find out though it just sort of happened."
She pauses for a moment and adds, "I guess people are really just waiting for a chance to share their backstories with anybody who wants to know." She grins sharply a bit there even though Lydia totally shared her backstory with Ivan pretty darn quick. But to be fair, that's partly because most of her friends already know and Ivan's a friend isn't he? Yes he is. No matter how munch he denies it! It's too late. Lydia has made her decision.
"Mm? Throat's fine." Lydia swallows. Did she...even notice? She looks around a bit before ultimately shrugging her shoulders. Maybe she munched it up into mulch with the rest of the django so she doesn't have to worry so much. Her teeth do seem like they could do a number to a toothpick.
Schrodinger seem to be the lazy hang around and be pampered type of cat rather than the prickly hates everybody kind of cat. Maybe it was a house cat before Lydia's evil hands got ahold of it.
"Mrow." Schrodinger tells Ivan before leaping on top of him (still no claws though).
An attendant approaches during all this and says, "Excuse me," to the two of them. "We're offering complimentary gifts as a commemoration of our service's anniversary. Please have this Sphere on our behalf!"
Lydia quietly sets the platter she was shoving in her bag to the side and takes the Sphere. "Oh uh--sure! Thank you??"
She frowns a little. Were they too nice and now she'll feel bad about robbing them???
Probably. For the most part. She's keeping the silverware.
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
"A lot of people have really been through some shit," Ivan says woefully. "I mean, not me, but like everyone else."
Apparently Lydia made it out of the dango situation okay...? Lydia continues to work in mysterious ways. Ivan acquires a cat passenger, around the time he is watching Lydia abort her stealing mission as she's handed a sphere.
Ah right, at right! Lydia's thieving plans! If Ivan cannot help her achieve this, the whole thing would have just been some kind of ... casual, pleasant, perilously date-like social interaction! That won't do!
He decides to Provide a Distraction! To this end, he starts fussing to the attendant about how he is worried the sugar house might be damaged in transit and how can they ensure it makes it safely to its destination??? No no that won't do, what if they get attacked by fiends and it falls off a cliff? It would surely shatter then. Isn't there some way to pad the inside more securely...??? And so on.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
"Heh, yeah. I mean. Everyone. Not you, sure." Lydia clearly knows better but is willing to play around. "I mean, just because you can handle anythingr right? So how bad can it be? It's one of the many reasons I--"
She cuts herself off as she notices that Ivan is starting to distract the attendant.
Lydia blinks blankly a few times because Ivan saying these things is only like maybe .7 Ivanesque and is thus unusual he rarely dips below .8.
She then realizes---it IS a distraction and she quietly starts sliding the plate back in, giving Ivan a small thumbsup that ruins all subtlety to those in the know.
(eat the rich) she thinks to herself despite this actually only being a modestly wealthy for Spira operation.
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Once Lydia has secured the magic bowl or whatever it is she wanted, Ivan suddenly caves on the sugar house, pronouncing that it's fine and they will simply have to be very careful with it, and scooping it up in its box to slip off alongside Lydia.
Once they are well on their way, he says, "I'm glad I could come on this mission with you," because, well, Ivan has strict parameters he needs to stay inside, like an electric dog fence of the mind.
Maybe it's his way of saying he had fun.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia is pretty impressed with Ivan's con job. Maybe he'd make a pretty good merchant.
(Lydia your vision of what a merchant is a little unusual).
once they are well on their way, Ivan says he's glad he could come on the mission with him. "You know, we really do make a great team." Was it supposed to be hard to beat a chill-out challenge? Honestly with these two, yeah, it was probably a completely failable dig here somehow. "In fact, you did so well that I think this pays back for way more than the accidental stabbing so it looks like I'm going to have to give you payment for a job well done."
She stops suddenly and gives Ivan a quick peck on the cheek that takes a D30 Reflex Save to avoid.
"There! It's all balanced!" She grins again and she jogs off a bit so she isn't looking at Ivan's reaction to that (or convesely, Ivan isn't having to look at Lydia's face).
<Pose Tracker> Ivan has posed.
Lydia will never know precisely what happened after that kiss, but suffice to say it included of .1 seconds of shock and like 5 additional seconds of dancing and fumbling to catch the sugar house and save it from shattering after he dropped it during the .1 seconds of shock.
He worked so hard to rationalize the outing up until the point of the kiss!!
...that part will be... ... ... awfully hard to rationalize...
Oh no, oh no, what will he do...!!!???!
Should Lydia look back for him after she has decided her expression is fit to share with him again, she will find that in the interim, Ivan has run away... or perhaps misused his assassin skills to hide until a more suitable time to escape.
<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.
Lydia looks back eventually and like Eurydice...
Ivan's gone or hiding.
Lydia lowers her head, breathes into her hand, and holds it up to her nose. She sniffs it once, hangs her head, and continues on her way.