WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[You now know why you're here, Titled. The question now is, is there a way to get out of here without invoking the rules? What will those who brought you here do to get you to kill?

Time will tell.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[theirmagic]

... Croix, you didn't.

[ She can't. Believe. She's watching this? ]

It's probably too much, even for you, whatever it is!

[scienceofmagic]

I'll be fine, Ch--Ursula. You know how good I am with spice.

[ She has this in the bag! ]

[theirmagic]

... Please don't ruin yourself...

[ She's fussing. She can't help it. But she'll watch with concern. ]

[strangerpeople]

[ARE YOU READY, CROIX?

ARE YOU READY??!!??]

[scienceofmagic]

[ SHE'S READY. SHE'S SO READY. ]

[strangerpeople]

[With the challenge confirmed, some high intensity music starts playing from a speaker in the restaurant. One-by-one, ten plates are set in front of Croix, as though by an invisible hand.

To take home the prize, she will have to finish her plates on the entire list, which consists of:

1. Lo Bok w/Szechuan Peppercorns
2. True Kung Pao
3. Dan dan mian (noodles in Szechuan pepper sauce)
4. Shaanxi Liangpi (cold noodles in a hot chili sauce)
5. Hunan Beef Stir-Fry with Added Garlic
6. Kou Shui Ji (chicken doused in Szechuan-style chili sauce)
7. Suan La Fen (sweet potato noodles doused in hot and sour sauce w/five-spice powder and hot peppercorns)
8. Hong shao rou (Szechuan braised pork belly)
9. Szechuan Huo Guo (bowl of Szechuan hot-pot)
10. Ma Po Tofu

Many, if not all of these, are extremely hot. Dig in, and try not to cry!]

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix feels like she's prepared for this her whole life. Her normal preferred cup noodle is spicy tuna, spicy mayo and chili pepper flavored with hot sauce mixed in. So she takes some chop sticks, breaks them with her mouth, and begins to dig in.

It's probably a sight to see, her going one dish at a time. She's at least not forgetting her manners. But she's going to take them on quite happily. ...She honestly is probably making this look a bit easy. ]

[theirmagic]

[ She is. Watching with awe, because what is her girlfriend. ]

... That's a lot of food. M-my goodness, my mouth is burning just looking at some of these...

[ But Croix is just happily eating them... ]

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix is absolutely happily eating the dishes. Oh, she probably won't eat again for the rest of the day, but. She's going for it and tucking it away with a good pace and not really seeming to be bothered by the spice.

She's probably got this in the bag tbh. ]

[theirmagic]

[ Nervously twisting a napkin watching this, honestly... ]

[scienceofmagic]

[ I mean it takes awhile, but Croix slams down the chopsticks in the end.

She is triumphant. ]

[theirmagic]

I--I... you actually did it, Croix?

[ Holy shit. ]

[strangerpeople]

[A victorious recorder solo a la Final Fantasy begins to play on the restaurant speakers.

SOMEONE HAS WON THE CHALLENGE. IT IS TIME TO BEQUEATH THE PRIZE.

ARE YOU READY, CROIX?

Also, do you need a glass of water?]

[scienceofmagic]

[ PROBABLY? But yes, she's ready. ]

[strangerpeople]

[And out of nowhere pops the following on Croix's table:

A t-shirt, with "Celebrate! Wok This Way Secret Menu Winner" on the back.

A piece of paper next to it.

A glass--wait, no, two glasses of water.

There's a pause, before the recorder starts up again.]

[scienceofmagic]

[ She's going to happily accept all of this and drink down that water. AW YEAH. ]

[theirmagic]

[ ... Clapping and pointedly ignoring the music. ]

[katsufemmefatale]

[Yuuri comes in just in time to see Croix a little more than halfway through the challenge. He sniffs the air, coughs a bit, and feels his eyes watering even from a distance. Dear gods, is her entire GI tract made of steel from end to end??]

How... how is she doing that?

[scienceofmagic]

[ AFTER SHE COMPLETES IT. She'll take her prize, get up and go over to Yuuri. ]

Hey. You want to work together?

[katsufemmefatale]

Me? Um, I don't know how much use I'll be to you, but I guess so? It's weird that they have us doing this when there's murder hanging over our heads, too.

... will your stomach really be okay?

[theirmagic]

... It's C--ah, Professor Croix.

[ As if that explains everything. ]