Lucky 13

[Florien]

YES! At last. One more, I think.

>Get a second one if there is one

[NebulaChimera2211]

Arline pulls a card from a tarot deck she had on her person; the result is a reversed two of coins. She studies the card for a moment, then puts her cards away.

Ah, yes... she mutters. She catches Nerva mucking around with gas cylinders, and has a thought.

>Determine roughly how many ovens there are, and if the ovens are operational right now.

[PointMaid]

...Does gas for stoves usually come in canisters? I mean, for barbecues or a camping stove, probably. Never mind. There are many things I do not understand about this place.

Eight will > Find something about the size and weight of a rock that could be hurled in a sling or something if need be

Trajectory calculations are elementary.

[Florien]

Ah, not normally, no. However, backup tanks are usually around somewhere. To hook in in case the gas line gets shut off for whatever reason, you see. I know what I'm talking about, from that time I beat fucking Philomena to the Toledo Crisis Operation, and I ended up pinned down in the Hamburger Duchy. I picked up a related trick in that particular battle too, as will be soon demonstrated, my valor-questioning doctor.

[PointMaid]

I see. Thank you for your answer, I will add it to my databank.

Presenting questions to all is my reason for being.

[Dookie]

>Get a second one if there is one (Flo)

There is in fact! You get lucky and take it.

>Determine roughly how many ovens there are, and if the ovens are operational right now. (Neb)

There are about 5...or was it 4?...3?...6? You have no idea.

> Find something about the size and weight of a rock that could be hurled in a sling or something if need be (Eight)

She just finds a rock. it rocks!

-

"One hour warning - the challenge starts in an hour."

[Kennifer]

Vriska glances over towards Arline.

Just gra88ing some food for l8r. My name's Vriska, 8y the way.

She will

> Get a pot to store her loot in.

...Well, the food anyway. The other stuff's in her pockets. She wishes she had her capchalogue cards on her, not to mention her strife specibus because the FLUORITE OCTET is really quite versatile with the right amount of luck. But she doesn't have that so it's time to be cre8ive.

[Florien]

No challenge can overcome me. I am prepared for the coming war. This shall be an achievement on par with the greatest warriors of old. Not even the Berserkers of the Norwegians could hold a candle to this, the glory of Rome and Bavaria in one dread union!

Nerva overdramatically holds up his gas tanks.


Oh wait I need one more thing

>Unscrew the metal hose from the dish washing faucet and attach that to one of the gas tanks.

[Dookie]

> Get a pot to store her loot in. (Ozz)

Done.

>Unscrew the metal hose from the dish washing faucet and attach that to one of the gas tanks. (Flo)

Done, you've got yourself a weapon.

[Dookie]

The PA turns on again.

"Ok, it is time for our first game..."

And with that, a ballot box appears on a table in the cafe.

"Why don't we start this out with a bit of drama? This is a little game called Election Night. To play, you will privately send me your vote for someone to vote out of the game. It's as simple as that. You can vote for whoever for whatever reason, but you must vote. Votes are due by 12:00 PM CST on Friday the 3rd, or, whenever we get all 13 ballots, whichever comes first."

"I know it'll be hard to choose, but you must submit a vote by 12:00 CST on Friday the 3rd. Remember, it's a secret ballot, so nobody has to know who you voted for."

[wingedcatgirl]

Lucky carefully considers who to vote for.

He also carefully considers how the hell he's even going to vote when he has no thumbs to write with.

He wonders if anyone has any arguments on the subject.

At least, that's what he'd be doing if he wasn't just a little kitty.

[Florien]

This is ridiculous, we're voting now, before the contestants have had time to prepare their dishes?! This is a terrible game show slash fight to the death! To clarify, by dishes, I mean show their various mettles, obviously. You bring shame upon your name, Penstate, with such a poorly construed scheme. This does not make you look serious, it makes you look weak-willed! One might even say... delusional! This is not clever, this is merely the intimidation tactic of one who dares not come up with a true cunning and devious plan to eliminate everyone they've captured.

Nerva slams one of his many blahajes down upon the table, creating an unimpressive "whmf" noise.

And you expect a cat to vote? It may not even speak english! Or is this cat even part of the plan? Was there just a cat in the store and you couldn't be bothered to move it somewhere else? Even if it could speak english, it probably couldn't write down its conclusion, which would presumably be that two potentially murderous robots possessed by the very spirits of two dangerous tech conglomerate companies are a bigger threat than one of anything else currently here!

Nerva pauses for far too long to let that sink in.

To be clear that is the conclusion that a cat might come to. I am sure it has its own logic, and will probably simply immediately lose interest in the ballot box and go hide in a corner because cats presumably do not know how voting works and it is unclear how they would vote if they could.

[Dookie]

This is ridiculous, we're voting now, before the contestants have had time to prepare their dishes?! This is a terrible game show slash fight to the death! To clarify, by dishes, I mean show their various mettles, obviously. You bring shame upon your name, Penstate, with such a poorly construed scheme. This does not make you look serious, it makes you look weak-willed! One might even say... delusional! This is not clever, this is merely the intimidation tactic of one who dares not come up with a true cunning and devious plan to eliminate everyone they've captured.

Nerva slams one of his many blahajes down upon the table, creating an unimpressive "whmf" noise.

And you expect a cat to vote? It may not even speak english! Or is this cat even part of the plan? Was there just a cat in the store and you couldn't be bothered to move it somewhere else? Even if it could speak english, it probably couldn't write down its conclusion, which would presumably be that two potentially murderous robots possessed by the very spirits of two dangerous tech conglomerate companies are a bigger threat than one of anything else currently here!

Nerva pauses for far too long to let that sink in.

To be clear that is the conclusion that a cat might come to. I am sure it has its own logic, and will probably simply immediately lose interest in the ballot box and go hide in a corner because cats presumably do not know how voting works and it is unclear how they would vote if they could.

-

The voice on the PA box sighs.

"Ok, calm down you over prepared moron. I have no idea how the cat will vote, but it'll do it, you just wait."

After a short pause, you can hear it mutter to itself, "ok, new objective, find a way for a cat to voice an opinion.."

[PointMaid]

I believe I may be able to help there., Dr. Eight says, her eyes literally lighting up as if there are lightbulbs in them. Oh, and a lightbulb icon appears over her head.

Mathematics is the universal language. However in this case one may need something a bit... more specific.

How about you print out a chart with a number representing each of the other contestants? The cat may claw at or lie on whichever one the feline would prefer to vote for. Or randomly, if that is its methodology. You could even put the device behind a screen so the rest of us cannot see.

[Kennifer]

Vriska snickers to herself a bit. She's not even sure the cat knows what's going on or what the stakes are. Meanwhile, she's planning her own vote carefully; what would be best strategically (...or just the most interesting, whichever) and the like.

[Mr. Lee Hammer]

Darryl stands around pondering who he should vote for. Tough decision for him. But he knows what's at stake.

[Dookie]

How about you print out a chart with a number representing each of the other contestants? The cat may claw at or lie on whichever one the feline would prefer to vote for. Or randomly, if that is its methodology. You could even put the device behind a screen so the rest of us cannot see.

"..ok...yeah. That works."

A FWOOP sound is heard. One of the showpieces is now covered by a plastic screen, with a paper with 13 colors representing each person. hanging against the screen. On the bottom, there's a small hole.

"The cat can go in whenever they like and scratch whoever they like the least. Or just scratch whatever color they like most. Same thing, really."

[PointMaid]

Eight nods.

Now, above her head you see an icon of turning gears. Clearly, she's thinking about who to vote for, as well.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

"Isn't that a bit arbitrary?" Jewel looks at the cat. "...No arguing, I guess. Even if it seems kinda stupid. You all seem fun, though. Don't want one of you going down just because of some slot machine in your head picking a name at chance. We gotta vote, but still."

[wingedcatgirl]

Lucky is definitely no longer concerned about how to cast a vote, if he ever was. Perhaps now would be a good time to give arguments for who his vote should go to.

Assuming he knows what words mean or how logic works. He's currently knocking the Monopoly dog around the floor, so maybe he doesn't. Or maybe he's just planning to vote later.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

Jewel thinks about it for a moment. Sure, does the cat intimidate her? Yes. Very very much. Cats are intimidating creatures that judge you from afar. But if the cat's going to be the judge and executioner, she should probably play nice.

...So xe slowly outstretches their hand, and tries to pet Lucky.

[Despair's Archon of Memes]

Jack is anxiously shuffling a deck of cards she brought with her... clearly deep in thought about who to vote for...

"Decisions... decisions..."

[wingedcatgirl]

Lucky accepts Jewel's pets purrpurringly! His ears twitch cutely.

[MadameButterflyKnife]

"...It is vibrating?" She looks to the others, as if she's trying to see if they too are seeing the purring cat.

[PointMaid]

...It does appear to be giving off a vibrating noise. I shall investigate. Remember, kids: always investigate! But ask your parents first.

Eight also gives the cat a pet.