TDM 005

[etrayamods]

⏵ arrival ⏴ Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in a sterile hospital bed in a clean, white room to the hum of machines under the unnatural lighting common to well-kept institutions. Every bit was designed to be comforting and calming, even with the jarring undercurrent of this situation. The first face they see is Aurora's: her smile appears to be warm, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She might offer a quick explanation, or leave characters to figure it out for themselves depending on their approach. The door to the room swings open, revealing a hallway that stretches out ahead of them. There’s noise from outside and strong pumpkin spice scents coming from the lobby. Ah, muffins and tea. Grab one and head into the crisp, sunny fall morning ahead. ⏵ potluck ⏴ Cutthroat Iron Etrayan Bake-Off As you step out of the arrival holding area into the main thoroughfare, the entire street has been turned into tents and chef stations to accommodate the activities of thirty people at once. There’s seats, trailers, and robots bustling about to make sure everyone is ready. A couple of cheerful robots in aprons and colorful sweaters approach and redirect you as you step towards the cooking area. There’s gas ranges, ovens, grills, blast chillers, mixers, and set walk-ins and pantries with just about every ingredient you can imagine. There are cameramen (also robots) patrolling the area to capture all your best moments and to broadcast them directly to your fellow citizens’ devices. Your instruction? “Make your signature dish. You have one hour, chef.” It can’t just be straightforward, can it? The land itself is held together with pure chaotic energy. If you’re lucky, all goes as planned. If you aren’t… well… Roll a Die 1 Your leg is now tied to another chef’s 2 Your meal is continually un-cooking itself. 3 All of your ingredients are pickled now 4 The longer you touch an ingredient, the bigger it gets. 5 Every time you lift your pot lid, a component changes. 6 The aromatics are glowing and flashing like LED lights. 7 Your knife has been replaced with a cheese grater. 8 The ingredients are now magnetically stuck together. 9 Your meal is becoming deep fried. 10 Kittens are multiplying out of the cupboard. * 11 All of your ingredients have become incredibly heavy. 12 Your cook pot moves burners whenever you turn around. 13 Eggs scream when you crack them 14 The kitchen has become incredibly slippery. 15 It’s soup now. 16 All utensils have been replaced with crustaceans. ** 17 Your knife has a mind of its own. Watch out! 18 Your fridge catches fire. 19 Your pasta is trying to escape. Go get it. 20 Any ingredient not in the pot starts to float away. * All kittens disappear at the end. ** These however, stay. ⏵ share a meal ⏴ As all the cooking concludes, you will be invited to plate your meal into one of many casserole dishes, regardless of what was made. A ladle will be tucked into the corner and placed on the table with a folded bit of cardstock declaring the chef’s name and the name of the dish. A helper camerabot will come around to each participant and ask for their thinking and their process. Even if you got away without having to cook, even looking towards the table of dishes will spur a helper bot to start making you a plate with one of everything. The helperbot will insist that it is rude to not at least try what their peers have made. In fact, if you are to fill out the score card for each person, you really must taste everything! The robots can’t try the food, so it’s up to you. The cards look like so. The grading system is opaque. Is it meant to be numbers? Stars? Letter grades? Well, you’re the judge. You figure it out. Chef: ___________ Dish:_____________ Judge:___________ Overall Rating:_______ Flavor Presentation Stackability Wet Originality Rizz ⏵ tummy ache survivor ⏴ No matter how well your compatriots cooked or baked their dishes, there are… factors. You see that carrot? It’s really just condensed chaos in the shape of a carrot. No matter how powerful you are, these particular ingredients may not mesh with your being. …And even if it is truly a carrot, do all the chefs know the proper cooking temperature of chicken? Even chickens are aliens to many. (Optional) Roll a Die 1 Tummy Ache. Go lay in bed. Complaining alleviates symptoms. 2 That plate of food has energized you. You feel compelled to race or spar. 3 The food has reminded you of home. You must tell someone a detail of your childhood. 4 That food was so horrible that it simply must be washed out somehow. Spicy peppers? Booze? Gravel??? You’re going to over do it. 5 You have now discovered your new favorite dish. Make them teach it to you or you’ll lose sleep over it. This is all you want to eat for the next week. 6 The oddity of the ingredients has transferred to you. You start floating away. 7 The range of food and textures have inspired you. Acquire an annoying new hobby or habit. 8 You are now haunted by the digital souls of chickens. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment! ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

tummy ache survivor;

[banworthy]

Well, nice to know someone is nice enough to eat questionable food.

[ It's what Vincent says as he sits down next to the suffering man. His hand reaches out to lightly pat his shoulder. There-there, warrior.

He does, however, think he's found the person to be his food taster since he's grown quite wary and weary of the shlock that has been put in front of him lately. ]

Want me to try to get you some water, friend?

[redsquares]

[There's another groan, and for a moment, that's all that Vincent gets in return. Perhaps he would argue the idea that he's overly nice, and that he was more obligated to judge the food laid before him (no, he's too nice), but it's hard to argue the fact when he's out here DYING OF STOMACH PAIN.

Give him a moment.]

If...

[Finally straightening just enough sit up and look at the man, his brow pinched and his mouth pulled into a frown.]

If you don't mind, please.

[banworthy]

[ Propping his cheek up against his closed fist, he tilts his head to get a better look at James. His head tilts slightly as he looks at him -- there is almost a look of recognition.

He blinks and it's gone. ]

'Course.

[ Vincent drops his hand as he pushes himself up to stand. It's a few seconds - probably agonizing for James - before he returns to hand him a glass of water in a styrofoam cup. ]

There you go. I'd say some fresh air and breathing in around something that's not food would be good, but I don't think that you're yet ready to move. [ Another quick pat on his shoulder. ] Vincent, by the way.

[redsquares]

[Maybe he'd note that flicker of recognition if he wasn't absolutely dying right now, but James isn't so lucky. As soon as Vincent walks away, he drops back down into the "oh god I'm in so much tummy pain" position, and though it's just a few seconds, it does feel like an eternity.

When he returns though, he lifts his head up again and straightens, taking the little cup of water.]

I shouldn't have had so much...

[To eat. James states the obvious, but it's a little apologetic, as though he's sorry for having make this stranger tend to him now.]

Thanks, Vincent. I'm... [screw up his face, fighting back another pang from his stomach] ...James. I think I just need a few minutes and I'll be okay.

[maybe]

[banworthy]

Just... keep this... [ Vincent swirls his hand in the air but stops. He worries the motion of his hand might worsen the situation. ] ... as a learning experience.

Every good person has their limits.

[ Another firm pat on his back before pulling his hand back. ]

Well, James, why don't we take our minds off food and onto other things... [ He pauses to gently push his glasses up. ] ... any topics come to mind?

[redsquares]

Other than complaining about how it feels like someone's driven a knife into my stomach?

[Oddly enough, however, the complaint makes the most recent pang fade away, and James straightens, rolling his shoulders back. Putting on a brave face for the sake of this man's kindness, and replies only after he takes a small sip of water from the cup.]

Sorry. Is this the kind of thing I can expect from this place? A cooking competition kind of a weird metric to judge whether or not someone's... world is worth saving.

[banworthy]

If you like.

[ The corner of his lips curl up. Smiling doesn't suit his face, unfortunately.]

Universe. [ He chimes in with the correction. ] And I couldn't say. A lot of weird little games have been played... I can't say I know how it is going to go.

But at the very least we're all in it together. [ And he chuckles to himself. ]

[redsquares]

[...Ah, no it doesn't. But if there's something odd about this man, that would definitely be rude to point it out on their first meeting, anyway, wouldn't it? And after he was so nice to bring him water.

Universe. Right.]

I guess so.

[Why does he have to get wrapped up in all of this? He doesn't deserve respite, it's true — but to use James Sunderland as a basis of judging the worthiness of his universe's survival is nothing short of a comedy.]

How long have you been here?

[banworthy]

Mmhmm.

[ There is a higher infliction of the affirmative sound than needed as he hums his agreement. ]

A good question. [ Stretching his legs out in front of him, he crosses them at the ankles. Tilting his head back, he stares up at the ceiling. His shoulders soon give a bounce. ] I don't know.

[ Lifting his hand, he waves dismissively as though to banish any troubling thoughts that might come from his answer. ]

I don't mean that like it's been centuries or something like that, James. I mean that I haven't been paying attention to the days. [ He tilts his head back. ] I'm afraid I don't care enough about something like that... sorry.

[redsquares]

[Now that's an odd reply. Odd enough for James to realize it as much, even despite his aching stomach. What kind of person is pulled from their home and doesn't count the days that they've been gone?]

You don't care enough...?

[He doesn't know what to make of that. It seems flippant — but he has no reason not to believe it's earnest, either.]

Then what kind of things do you concern yourself with while you're here?

[banworthy]

No, I don't.

[ He chimes back with the same cheer as before. ]

Why... helping people out who seem displaced and doing my part to ensure my universe will be saved. Is there anything else that I should be doing?

[ Pulling his hand back, he presses his palm against his chest. ]

[redsquares]

[Fair enough of a response. Hard for him to argue the point, nor does the desire exist too prevalently in James right now. In fact, something wry slips into his tone.]

I guess you're one of the more diligent ones.

[James is going to have to start being helpful around here, too, he realizes. There's some kind of twisted joke in this place choosing him, of all people, to prove that his universe is worth saving — especially when James doesn't think all too highly of himself these days. Half-jokingly:]

I'll use you as a shining example then, Vincent. Otherwise, it's hard not to think this place made a mistake.

[banworthy]

I'm nothing if not hardworking.

[ A brief smile glosses over his mouth. He pulls it back after, however; his smiles tend to put people on edge than at ease. Something he's noticed, but what can he do? A shame to have a face that wasn't suited for smiling. ]

Thanks, James. I do love being an example for others. [ He chuckles to himself. ] Anyway, sounds like you're doing a little better.

[redsquares]

[He does have a strange smile, maybe a little unnerving, but who's James to judge? He's really in no position, and he should be grateful rather than suspicious when Vincent's given him no reason to be.

So he just twists his mouth into something wry, nodding.]

A little. It hurts, yeah, but I've been through a lot worse. I'll take a stomach ache any day of the week, comparatively.

[banworthy]

Understandable.

[ Another quick pat on his shoulder. ]

So, did you also come from Earth? [ His head tips back as he wonders if, perhaps, he's playing a little too dumb. ] I know some people don't. And isn't that fun?

[redsquares]

[What an amiable guy, this Vincent fellow.

Playing dumb or not, James is in no real state to think any more deeply on the matter. These are basic questions that anyone might ask a newcomer, anyway.]

I'm from Ashfield. It's a city in the New England area of the States. [Rather close to a certain town named Silent Hill, huh!] So, yes. Earth, unless something's changed between then and now.

[banworthy]

Wow, that so?

[ That is rather close to Silent Hill, huh! ]

No, that sounds like Earth to me. [ Vincent chuckles along. Aren't they friendly! Tourist. A snide thought burns through his head.

He breathes in sharp and immediately rubs his nose after. ] And yes, I'm from Earth, too.

[redsquares]

[Sure is!]

Yeah? Where on Earth?

[What a wild thing to ask someone, but he supposes in this place, he might as well get used to it. Still, it's nice to find someone who comes from the same... baseline as him.]

[banworthy]

[ Vincent found himself at a crossroads of either lying or telling the truth. His eyes briefly become glassy as he thinks about his answer.

Unfortunately, the longer he thinks about how to answer means he can't lie. ]

Sorry, it goes by a few names so I was -- whatever.

[ He waves his hand dismissively. ]

New York. Wall Street.

[redsquares]

[New York, Wall Street. James will indeed be looping back to this conversation once Heather, sometime in the near future, tells him the truth. But that's a problem for future James!]

Wall Street? Big business man?

[Which could not be farther removed from James himself, just an office clerk.]

[banworthy]

Something like that, yeah.

[ He tips his head in a quick nod. ]

Investments, investments, investments.

[ His mouth splits into a wide smile before he pulls it back. ]

And sadly, I am terribly ordinary, so I feel very ... exposed. Don't you?

[ Aw, he's being mean; he should watch that - but eh! ]

[redsquares]

[If he's being mean about it, James just doesn't know the subtleties of this man's personality to pinpoint that down. Though there's a strange lilt to his words, all he hears is someone trying to ply commiseration for now.]

Exposed? Of course I do. I don't belong in a place like this. [And he's quite tired of feeling exposed, thank you.] I...

[He doesn't deserve a break, though. He shouldn't complain.]

But what choice do any of us have?

[banworthy]

Yeah, you're right.

[ His head drops as he nods along with him. There are complaints that are lodged in his throat but he holds back. ]

Nothing we can do but stick it out. Even if we overstay our welcome.

[redsquares]

I guess so.

[James winces, another pang of pain grumbling through his stomach, but tries to push past it with-]

Thanks for your help, by the way. And I guess if we're all in this together, let me know if you need help with anything, too.

[oughhhh his stomach tho]

Just... maybe not today.

[banworthy]

Oh, don't worry, James.

[ Soft pat on his shoulder. ]

I never had any expectation of being paid back.

[ Tourist. ]

So, don't worry about it, okay?

[ Using his shoulder, he pushes himself up. He offers an apologetic look like he didn't realize and pats his shoulder again. ]

Feel better, okay?