Haruka: You know what, guys? I think it would be fun having a little friendly competition. Fuu: Competition? *cracks his knuckles.* Now you’re talking. I could use the exercise. Haruka: Sorry, Honeybee, there is no doubt in my mind you would have no problems in that regard, but that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. Umi: What do you have in mind, then? Haruka: I thought some of us could team up in pairs and then have a little contest to see who knows each other the best. Yukiko: How would you even do that? Haruka: Easy. Through questions. Here’s an example: let’s say Fuu is asked what my favorite flower is-- Fuu: Camellia. Haruka: Then we would get a point, because that is correct. Umi: I guess that makes you two the participants from our group, then. Fuu: Well, your Truth or Dare-idea was fun, so I guess I’m in. Haruka: *to everyone* What do you guys say? Are you in or out?
Beat: "Sir, we don't have time to deal with pointless human games. We have better things to-" Treble: "Beat, Beat, Beat. First off, your doing that 'thing' again. The formal 'thing'? Relax, dude. You don't have to guard me 24/7." Beat: "I take my job as your royal guard seriously. As you should; being the king. ...even if you are still a brat..." Treble: "Oh, HaHa... Your hilarious, I swear. Anyway, we Lutra are know as the friendliest species of Senti to humans so; lets live up to that title, yeah?" Beat: "If you say so, si... err... Treble." Treble: "Awesome! We're totally in!"
*All bows* Umi: Allow me to welcome you here, Your Majesty. We are honored by your presence. My name is Umi. Yukiko: My name is Yukiko, but most people call me Yuki. Fuu: I’m Fuu. Haruka: I am called Haruka, Your Majesty. And I must admit that I’m really surprised that a newcomer here is eager to just jump into something like my meager suggestion. But while we wait to see if more people are interested, how about you tell us about yourselves and your story?
Treble: "Umi! Yuki! Fuu! Haruka! A pleasure to meet you all! I'm Treble." Beat: "King Treble." Treble: "Beat! But, uhh... Yeah. The Music King, Rhythm Mage, or; my favorite that humans love: 'DJ'. And my royal guard and Best friend, Beat." Beat: "..." Treble: "D-don't mind him. He's not a people... well; human person. Ya see, we're know as 'Lutra'. A tribal race that lives on a trio of islands in the middle of the ocean. From what I've been told, our race resembles otters. We're no taller than 5ft and are know for our ability to weave sound and music as a defense mechanism. Beat: "We do not normally interact with humans but we've been known to lend aid to vessels crossing our waters."
Truman: Seeker and I are in! *bows to Treble* Welcome royal company! What news from your story? Libations and refreshments are all for the wishing, here. Allow me to demonstrate. *holds up empty glass - it fills with whiskey* *raises glass to newcomers* I salute you! *gulp* Seeker: ...
Haruka: Great! With three teams on board we could start to get the details down. We could go two ways with this. One: we can decide on a score and then keep the questions coming until one team has reached that score. Two: We can decide on a number of questions and once they are up the team with the highest score wins. *to the other competitors* What do you guys think? Fuu: And who would ask these questions, by tbe way? Haruka: Typical... I had the feeling I had forgotten some detail... Honestly, I don't know... *thinks for a moment* Wait... I guess the teams could ask each other? As in, Truman and Seeker asking us, for example. Unless there happen to be someone willing to act as the host of our little game show?
Truman: My entire Tyranny (Presidency) felt like a game show, so I'll just play along with whatever you all decide.
Niki: So, are we the team? Gabriel: I don't know, I feel like there are better options. Jericho: *With a battered Luna next to him* Don't worry, I heard about this and grabbed Lu. We got this in the bag. Luna: You interrupted our fight for this? I think our training's more important. Zeke: *Equally as roughed up as Luna* I'm fine with it. It's not like we actually need to train at this point. Jericho: So, me and Lu are the team, but we need a host. Gabriel, you down? Gabriel: Sure, if everyone else is fine with it. I can be impartial.
Haruka: No objections here, Gabriel. Guess all we need to decide now is the actual process. Fuu: About that, Little One... Don't you think it would be better to have a fixed number of questions and then see which team have gotten the highest score? The other way... It feels like it could have the potential to drag this on perhaps more than necessary. Haruka: You have a point there. How about this: three questions per team member, which makes six questions total per team. Everyone okay with that?
Beat: "What an interesting greeting." Treble: "I like this guy. I'm sensing... A carefree Rhythm? Anyway, we Lutra are err... 'managing'. Being a young king isn't easy. Lot of talking and listening to the people. Eyes on you 24/7. And a virus plague... ehh..." Beat: "We're managing. Not everything is perfect but Treble is doing his best. That's more than enough to have me stand by his side." Treble: "So dramatic. But... We're in this together, yeah? Friends for life." Beat: "Always... sir." Treble: "GAH! Back on subject. What's your guys story? Seeker and uhh..."
Treble: "Three questions between us. Sounds fair." Beat: "Very well. I'll humor this." Treble: "Aww, your the best~"
Niki: How about each team decides a "one" and "two" member, to keep it more simplistic? Gabriel: Okay, member one, what is your teammate's favorite activity? Jericho: I'll be "one", and it's swimming. Luna: That would not be correct. It would have to be fighting. No points for us.
Seeker: Truman, what is your favorite leisure activity? Be honest. Truman: *nervous* Err, cards? Seeker: Incorrect. It is using Alpha-moeba to wear as you jump off cliffs and glide to ungraceful landings, and as a catapult into the Wall of Glue. Truman: Heh heh Seeker: no points.
Beat: "That does beg the question, Treble. How well do you know me?" Treble: "I'd be a pretty lousy friend if I didn't know you." Beat: "Alright, I'd be 'member one' then. What's my favorite food?" Treble: "Ughh, don't remind me. ANYTHING Melody cooks is your favorite. Like seriously; how do you trust the cooking of someone who's blind?" Beat: "Okay, first; Stop being rude to Melody. Second; no. Surprisingly, I'll have to hand it to humans on this 'sushi' dish they invented. Had it during one of your concerts in the city." Treble: "Whaa- Dude! That's not fair! How was I suppose to-" Beat: "Still got a long way to go... sir~" Treble: *grumble* "That anyway to treat a king?"
Haruka: Uhmm... What is going on? Fuu: I think the teams are handling it among themselves. Is that how we are doing this? Haruka: I'm not sure... *sighs* This is not turning out the way I imagined... Anyway, I guess I'll be member number one.
Gabriel: I was trying to ask all of the "member one"s the same question, but I guess it got kind of muddled, huh? Zeke: Yeah, I could pretty much guess from the start that this was gonna lead to confusion. Luna: Yeah, unfortunately, it seems that your idea has stumbled a bit at the start. I guess I'll still participate, but we all need to get on the same page, first. Gabriel: Right! Let's start from the beginning. We'll keep it simple. Each pair choose one person to be "First." I will ask questions to every "First" and then every "Second." Whoever gets a question right earns their team a point. First team to six wins. Sound good? We'll start once everyone has decided on who is "First" and "Second." Jericho: I'll be "First" on our team. Luna: That makes me "Second."
Haruka: I'm First. Fuu: I don't exactly like having to put it like this, but... By default, that makes me Second. Haruka: It's just to have a chosen order, Honeybee. You know you'll always be my number one.
Treble: "Humans have some interesting games. Alright. Beat will be first." Beat: "Guess that makes Treble second. Very well. Let us proceed then. "
Gabriel: Okay, then, question one: For all of the "First"s, what is your partner's favorite animal? Jericho: A fish! Luna: Not specific enough. Jericho: ... A whale? Luna: While you're correct, that's not a fish. We'll get one point.
Beat: "That's an easy one. Humans." Treble: "Uhh, d- does that even count?" Beat: "We're all creatures in the eyes of Gaia. And humans are indeed a type of creature." Treble: "I mean- Sure? Putting it that way; I guess your right."
Haruka: *laughs* Definitely not goat! Fuu: *he is not amused at all* Haha, very funny. Haruka: Alright, jokes aside. The answer is house cats. But I guess I have to name the breed too? Fuu: Well... I can't expect you to know the names and characteristics of every cat breed in Sekai, can I? And I suspect they are different from the breeds on Earth too. So I'd say you are correct. Haruka: *smiling* One point for us!
Beat: 'Interesting. The various worlds you are all from have nicked my curiosity.' Treble: 'Our turn? Sweet! Go for it, Beat!' Beat: 'What is your partners favorite hobby?' Treble: 'Uhh, working out?' Beat: 'Actually, I enjoy collecting the shells that brush up on Sonata's shore. I... don't tell too many people that.' Treble: 'Aww, that's so cute...' Beat: 'S-shut up...'
Haruka: Uhmm... Treble, Beat... You are going off on your own again. Although I must admit that it had come to a unnecessary stop. Maybe we should add a rule about teams having to name their answer within a time limit or they are out? Or they can pass on a question they can't think of an answer for? This could drag on forever otherwise. Yukiko: Just get on with this already! Haruka: Right... So how about we just make that the second question and you take it from there then, Gabriel? *turns to Fuu* So what's the answer to the question? Fuu: Your favorite hobby? Seriously? Guess I got the easiest of them all. Painting. Haruka: No point there. My art is much more than a hobby. True, I have yet to become established enough to make a living out of it, but I was working on it before I got spirited away. Fuu: What? No second chance? Jericho got one for the animal question. Haruka: He was close enough to get one. He started off knowing it was an aquatic animal. Fuu: Fine. Then what is the right answer? Haruka: While I didn't do it much back on Earth I have really enjoyed going horseback riding since I got to Sekai.
Gabriel: I'm more worried about Truman and Seeker falling behind. Luna: It's not like it's unrecoverable. They can just answer each question at once. By the way, my answer is star gazing. Jericho: Got it in one! Zeke: Anyone else think this is a bit unfair? I mean, Luna and Jericho are siblings, and I think they've known each other for... twelve years now? Luna: Of course it's unfair, Zeke, that's what an advantage is. Besides, if you think this is a problem, you could've insisted that Niki swap with one of us. Gabriel: So, next question, next question... Nik, I'll defer to you. Niki: Alright! Member one, if your partner was lost in the wilderness, and didn't have any kind of gadgets or super powers, what would be the first thing that they do? Jericho: Hm, probably build shelter? Luna: Absolutely not. The first thing I would do is figure out directions and locate a river. Then I would build a shelter. I'm pretty sure I taught you guys to do that while we were training, but I'm sure you weren't paying attention. Again.
