Episode 2 (Part 4)
Beyond the train platform to the west, the sun was nearly finished making its course across the sky, appearing to just barely graze the horizon. Overhead, the Cheep Cheep blimp hovered delicately above its platform. Its paint job, designed ironically after the sea-dwelling creature, seemed more like harsh mockery at this time of the evening: its wide smile hardly replicated the anxieties expressed at that moment.
Koover: Nine minutes. Just nine minutes shy of arriving on time. Had this been nine minutes late driving my kids to school, I could have likely excused their tardiness with the principal. But here? No telling what cruel entrees the host was prepared to dish out.
"I advised you, at the start of this mission, to above all else be punctual," Blue explained, "or that there would be serious consequences. And requiring these men to work overtime simply to transport us to our destination to night is a little inconsiderate, wouldn't you agree?"
"I mean, we could go ahead and board now in dat case," Vinny proposed weakly, noticing the return of the Cheep Cheep steward. Nastasia closed her eyes for a few seconds, as though his lighthearted suggestion might somehow make matters worse.
"6PM was the scheduled departure time for the final blimp to Glitzville this evening," the host continued. "And 6:09PM, unfortunately does not cut it. Under normal circumstances, you all would simply be out of luck and have to catch the next blimp leaving in the morning. Seeing as we have a game to participate in, we were luckily able to pull a few strings...for a price."
Mamar: Oh boy...now we were about to see just how much our pot would suffer.
"That price, payable by all four of you," Blue dragged, "is a minus three."
Vinny: Minus three?! What da hell?!
A wave of astonishment seemed to spread over all of the players, even those who weren't currently at risk. "Wait, you...you can't just do that!" Koover stammered as the sweat began to build up on his forehead. "That's like guaranteeing that one of us is going to be executed!"
"Oh, I'm aware," Blue said nonchalantly. "And as the host, I technically possess the power to eliminate all four of you right now. Granted, that would be extremely unprofessional of me and make this game terribly unexciting for our viewing audience, but those are the conditions of your lateness." He looked blankly at the rest of the group, as if giving a display of intimidation. It seemed to work, for none of them spoke to one another, a few even wishing to turn away from the path of his vision.
Mamar stared back with wishful eyes. "But, if we technically failed this assignment, why aren't we just not being rewarded with the coin value for this mission?" she reasoned. "Why is the penalty so steep?"
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Blue chuckled. "But that would be too simple. It's practically the Mole's job already to lose money, is it not? And as a result of their successes thus far, your group pot currently sits fifty thousand coins less than it could have been, which already is a substantial subtraction." He allowed this truth to sink in temporarily before he continued his argument.
"However, out of my own generosity, I will offer the four of you a chance to earn back some of the total lost in this mission...but at the willing acceptance of this sanction." This proposal certainly peeked their curiosity, but Vinny still remained unmoved.
"And how is a minus three at all worth da return of a few pathetic coins?" he grumbled, failing to see the potential reward for such a sacrifice.
Blue smiled. "Obviously, the penalty will be reduced for every one of you who accepts it," he clarified. "And for all of you who do, I'll return two thousand coins to your earnings for this mission, meaning you can earn back up to eight thousand coins should all of you accept it-roughly half of the fifteen thousand coins you could have earned."
Despite being on the unestablished sidelines, Pennington could not resist interjecting. "I spy a loophole," he mused proudly. "All four of you earning half back for gentler conditions? Done and doner, am I right?"
"True, but on the flip side, none of them have to bear the burden of a penalty if they choose to abstain," the host countered. "But keep in mind, if all four of you refuse to accept the conditions of the punishment, all four of you will consequentially endure the minus three."
"So basically, we're screwed no matter what," Vinny protested gruffly.
Taking quick notice of their doubts, Blue rushed into his explanation. "Allow me to clarify: should one of you accept the bane, the handicap will be lessened from a minus three to a minus two...with thirty seconds added to your quiz time." A few pairs of eyes widened.
"That's practically as deleterious as the minus three though!" Koover complained. "I mean, that's surefire elimination in a tie." He folded his arms across his chest, an action that was observed by Sushie.
Sushie: Perhaps it's a bit callous of me to construct my thoughts in such a way...but they did show up late, so I felt that some sort of punishment was merited. And if doing so boosted my chances of surviving the second quiz, I was all aboard that train.
Blue continued. "Should two of you take it, the cost will be a standalone minus two. For three, it is a minus one with thirty added seconds. And finally, if all four of you bear the weight, you will only endure a minus one, plus a maximum eight thousand coins will be returned to your pot." Upon hearing this, Bandy Andy could not refrain from bursting out.
"So it's still a no-brainer!" he wickedly cheered. "Huge refund at lower the risk. Let's see some nods and get this show on the road!"
"Yeah, but I also don't want a minus, like, anything," Nastasia remarked. "And definitely not for only two thousand coins compensation." She shuffled backwards a few steps in evident hesitance to take up Blue's offer, a reaction matched similarly by her three companions. One bystander had a different convictions, however.
"Typical Natty," Dimentio muttered, his grin not matching his tone.
Nastasia immediately did an about-face. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" she returned, but found her attempt at retaliation quickly cut short.
"Oh, are you really surprised dat you once again you don't want ta do something ta advantage da group?" Vinny said blankly. "Dat you'd ever let go of dat snobby self-image you always carry on your shoulders ta do something useful for once." Everyone grew silent, apparently apprehensive about whatever response would follow such a bold statement. But rather than retaliate, Nastasia remained quiet, her fingers shaking lightly as she adjusted her glasses.
Nastasia: I'm fairly thick-skinned, so a jab from Dimentio or a swing from Vinny shouldn't bother me that much...but being stuck in the crossfire of verbal attacks like that does dig into me a bit.
Peach took notice of Nastasia's silence and decided to step in. "Hey, you four are still a team, aren't you?" she said, her voice directed towards Vinny. "So let's maybe not throw our partner under the bus like that. I'm willing to bet you had your own fair share of mishaps today."
"But dat's da point: I didn't want ta waste time searching for da last ticket!" He folded his arms together and took a step back, eyeing his three teammates. "Dey ignored my idea ta come here directly, so dey can have at it with da penalties: I'm abstaining."
Mamar frowned, uncertain of how to navigate her way around the Pianta's obduracy. "But if all four of us take it, we only have to endure a minus one," she reminded. "And the odds on the quiz aren't that much lower if the rest of us have the same minor disadvantage." She turned to Koover pleadingly, as if depending on him to side with her.
Koover became uncomfortable when he noticed that the group had turned to him. "Wait, why do I have to be the hero all of a sudden?" he asked the many pairs of eyes fixed on him. "I'm sorry, but I am not about to bend over backwards for any of you guys, and especially not after the puerility I had to endure all of today. So no, not worth getting executed over." He too crossed his arms, an action mirrored by two of his partners.
Goombella: Already we have three people outright refusing the chance to put money back into the pot. What sucks is that, were I backed into that same corner, I doubt I would have taken the penalty either. And that makes it really hard to wager whether any of them are actually sabotaging.
"A decision from you would be nice," Blue commented casually. "We have been delaying our patient stewards considerably, after all." Mamar sighed as she noticed the Cheep Cheep rocking back and forth, evidently ready to embark.
"You know what, fine. I'll take the penalty...to add two thousand coins to the pot." The group was clearly surprised by Mamar's decision, but the Star Spirit remained steadfast.
"I was selfish last time, wasn't I?" she recalled, referencing the choice she and Sushie had made to take an exemption in the previous mission. "So why should I show the same level of greediness today? Sure, it's only a pittance of what was previously lost, but at it least it's worth something." From the platform, Bandy Andy appeared to be the most shocked by this choice.
"Whoa whoa, I mean, there's no need to put yourself at risk like that," he stammered in concern. Ms. Mowz looked at the Bandit quizzically.
Ms. Mowz: What reason did he have to be concerned over her being penalized? If anything, he should be encouraging it for two reasons: money is added, and his chances of going home are reduced.
"Well, these three seem pretty set in their ways, don't they?" Mamar mentioned in direct reference to her teammates for the day. "Plus, I suppose it beats the harshness of a minus three by comparison."
"But you'd have three other quizzes to upset the odds of you getting executed," Goombella explained skeptically. "You don't have to be the only one."
"You're right, she doesn't." The group turned in surprise to the source of the outburst, a figure who struggled to hide her emotions as she stepped forwards. "I will also accept the conditions of the penalty," Nastasia clarified, brushing away a few locks of hair from her eyes, eyes which were fixated directly at the host.
Bandy Andy: Definitely was not expecting that.
Dimentio's eyes widened with amusement. "And from what abyss has this altruistic card been drawn?" he speculated, though with less of an astonished reaction as was expressed by many of the others.
"Please, don't make this out as if it were a miracle," Nastasia pleaded, both with tension and somberness. "I've been thinking about it...and...yeah. I...should take the penalty...to compensate for the way I've been acting lately." She looked down at her feet, as if staring at the pavement would somehow create a cavern she could crawl inside of.
After a few uncomfortable seconds of silence, the host redirected his dialogue to the group at large. "Well, at the present, we have two in favor a penalty currently sitting at a minus two, with four thousand coins returning to the pot," he surmised. "Will there be any further takers?"
Nastasia continued to hide her face from the others, evidently uncomfortable by the spotlight she had just created for herself. Mamar smiled at her nevertheless, despite her not noticing. "Well, I personally think it's an admirable decision," the Star Spirit complimented before directing the tail end of her dialogue towards two boys. "A decision which the two of you ought to consider yourselves."
Vinny's response was delivered swiftly. "If she thinks dat being a saint for two thousand coins somehow redeems her actions, den she's welcome ta wear dat shroud," he huffed. "As for me, I've got nothing ta apologize for."
Following his rejection, Koover quickly realized that the ball had rebounded in his court. "Okay, seriously?" he spouted in response to the new attention. "My mind's already been made up, so good luck trying to convince me. Two thousand coins is definitely not worth subjecting myself to a greater risk of execution, and don't try to convince me otherwise." He shuffled his feet somewhat, a posture which seemed to indicate a greater sense of hesitation than Vinny's adamancy.
"...what? Why are we still fixated on me?" he asked. "I've...I've made my decision. I reject the penalty."
"The increase in octave in your tone has me convinced otherwise," Pennington remarked slyly, as if egging on a decision in which he had hardly any control over.
Koover: Two thousand coins meant nothing to me, as that's such a petty amount we can easily earn again in some other mission. But at that moment, my mind was racing with a million thoughts, and it quickly occurred to me: some things in this game are more precious than money.
"Alright, I've got a proposal," the Koopa said in an announcement that was directed towards everyone at the platform. "I'll accept the conditions of the punishment...but I have conditions of my own."
"Well, let's hear them then," Peach replied delicately, nodding for him to continue.
"My conditions are as follows: I'll bear the weight of the penalty, but I'm not about to be sent packing as a result," he began. "So the deal is, the next advantage or opportunity for one that comes up, be it a plus one, exemption, et cetera, I get it. To cover my tail for the upcoming execution." He smiled slightly at his conditions, a smile which was hardly mirrored in the reactions of the others.
"Are you kidding me?" Dimentio spat, almost in disgust. "Why would we ever sacrifice something as paramount as an exemption? And why would we ever decide to give it to you and your unreasonable hands?"
"Oh, I think I'm being perfectly reasonable here," Koover said, his composure not faltering. "I suppose I could just as easily not return two thousand coins to the pot and feel just as satisfied." He turned to Blue as if to seek validation for his offer. Blue simply kept out of the conversation altogether.
Mamar: That...was super smart. I wish I had been as creative in that moment before letting the others take advantage of my softer nature.
Ms. Mowz swung her hands on her hips, not amused by the notion. "Dearie, I think it's safe to say that none of us here are going to hand you any goodies that easily," she said sternly.
"Fair enough," Koover said, taking the mixed disapproving responses into consideration. "Not like your rejection harms me in any way. I'll just pass on the penalty in that case and enjoy having to worry a little less on the next quiz." He stood proudly, as if somehow he had succeeded despite not receiving the results he had hoped for. Nastasia bit her lip, realizing the cost of her current handicap.
"Wait," Mamar pleaded. "What if...what if I gave you my advantage, should I earn one?" Several of the players, including Koover, seemed surprised by this proposition.
"Are you daft?" Sushie asked concernedly. "You're already considerably hindered as it is!"
"Not as much as I would be if Koover doesn't accept," she explained, staring hopefully at the Koopa. "After all, if he accepts, my score goes down from a minus two to a minus one, so in some respects, that's almost like getting my own plus one." Though she made no comment, Nastasia did glance up from her spot towards the side of the group.
"Says the woman who volunteered for a minus three," Pennington commented, shaking his head.
"Flattering as that may be," Koover began, his voice already beginning to trail off into a more serious tone, "there's no guarantee that either one of us will even come close to earning a score boost...or an exemption for that matter. If I accept this, I want insurance that I'm not going to be executed for doing so." He proceeded to extend his dialogue towards the rest of the group.
"Would anybody else be willing?" he asked, not expecting much outcry. He stared at Bandy Andy in particular, who took notice and shifted uncomfortably.
"Um...I guess...maybe..." the fighter mumbled, unable to form a complete sentence at that moment. Many were surprised by this statement, though it was not the only response offered.
"If it would better both the pot and the group dynamic then...I'll consider it," Peach proposed nobly, glancing around at her fellow contestants. After a few more seconds of waiting, Koover nodded satisfactorily before turning to Blue for his ultimatum.
Peach: Honestly, I'm just so exhausted with the constant negativity in this group, that I'd be willing to do whatever it takes just to see this group of people get along like proper adults ought to.
"Very well," he began firmly. "In keeping true with the offers being made...I will accept the penalty. A minus one and thirty seconds, I believe." From nearby, Vinny grunted to himself, as if disappointed in the decision Koover had made.
"Simply digging your own grave," he mumbled in clear disapproval. "I can understand wanting ta help Mamar out, but her?" Though she didn't look up from behind her glasses, Nastasia could determine for herself at that moment that Vinny was pointing specifically at her.
In quick tempo, the host turned to the Pianta. "That leaves only your decision," he explained, anxious for an answer. "Will you join your teammates in accepting the penalty?"
"Tch, fat chance I am," Vinny muttered. "If I stood alone in my decision ta come here first, den I'll stand alone in my decision not to be punished for it." Out of nowhere, a shout erupted from an alley a few blocks from their location, startling the mass majority of the group. Goombella merely grimaced at the sound, one which she was all too familiar with in such a town as Rogeuport.
"Very well," Blue concluded, prompting the the attention of the players. "With one refusal and three willing to accept, I shall reimburse six thousand coins to your potential winnings for this mission." At the realization of the addition of some money back into the pot, many members in their party were satisfied with these conditions.
"Of course, the three of you," he continued, directing his dialogue towards Mamar, Nastasia and Koover, "have done so in full awareness of the cost. And with the agreement of three of you, that cost shall be served out as a minus one and thirty seconds, to be added to your second quiz of the game." Mamar and Koover both nodded understandingly, whereas Nastasia made hardly any indication that she had even heard the host.
"Well, after all that deliberation, I think it's fair time we bid Rogueport adieu." Blue bowed as the steward stepped forward, opening up the gate which led to the blimp field. Breathing in some sighs of relief, the four leisurely travelers produced their blimp tickets on demand, happy to finally be rid of them.
As the players followed the Cheep Cheep to their designated boarding area, the Mole glanced back at the Rogueport horizon and smiled. If a city built around crime and deceit could already prove to be so chaotic, Glitzville was sure to take sabotage to new heights.
Minutes after their delicate boarding process, the Cheep Cheep blimp was sailing steadily above the skies of Rogeuport below. The interior of the cabin, a relatively cramped environment in comparison to the massive size of the blimp itself, almost paralleled the design of the private jet some had enjoyed earlier. Obvious differences included the absence of the cocktail, replaced instead with a Cheep Cheep steward with a complimentary beverages cart. The windows, however, were the incomparable factor: rather than the tinier portholes of the jet, the tall glass windows of the blimp cabin offered spectacular views in all directions.
"I reckon this must be how a goldfish feels," Pennington mused, staring at the stretches of land beneath him. "Granted, a goldfish swimming in a giant fishbowl that flies." Sushie smiled, apparently amused by his comparison.
"Who said Cheep Cheeps couldn't fly?" she teased, clearly referencing their impressive mode of transportation. She waited for a response, but noticed that Pennington's attention was elsewhere, something clearly on his mind as he glanced out.
Pennington: I wish, for just a moment at least, that I could turn off game mode in my head, but slipping out of it for even a second would be such an elementary mistake. For, if in that split second, the Mole should slip up, then I have outright failed as a detective.
"These sunglasses are definitely a must," Goombella confessed, happy that they had been given the protective eyewear. With the time dipping well into the evening at that point, the gleams from the western sunset shone brightly throughout the cabin.
"Certainly worth the view though," Ms. Mowz said in admiration. "A spectacular precursor to the views we'll be having of those hunky Glitz Pit fighters!"
From the back of the blimp, Bandy Andy, having overheard her comment, rolled his eyes. "For the last time, they're not available," he groaned. "And trust me, it's hardly attractive when they never shower."
"Hmm...maybe I'll just have to shower them with kisses in that case," she teased, a remark which prompted Bandy Andy's gag reflex.
At the front, Blue, after exchanging a few words with the pilot, faced the players in preparation of an address. "The pilot has just informed me that we are about thirty minutes out from Glitzville," he explained to a fixated audience. "So we should land at around seven thirty, just in time for a late dinner."
Vinny let out a sigh of relief. "Phew, I've practically been starving over here," he moaned, rubbing his stomach anxiously. Their early breakfast had been the most recent meal enjoyed that day.
"We've already gone over the mission results of one group," Blue continued, "so naturally, now would be the perfect time to discuss the performances of the other two."
"Oh, right," Peach stuttered, suddenly realizing that their challenge status had not yet been discussed.
Dimentio: At that moment, I was convinced that the host was simply wasting his breath. We breezed through that mission quicker than a pinwheel in a hurricane.
"Let us begin with our savvy travelers," Blue began, prompting the attention of the four indicated. "Your task was simple: make it to Rogueport Station using a minimum of five differing modes of transportation, each of which taking you at least a mile out from its starting destination. Now, if you would kindly repeat for me the vehicles you took today, starting with the first."
Goombella sat upright in her seat. "Well, I guess the first one would be the airport shuttle in Toad Town," she explained. "Although, I don't suppose traveling through the Wise Wisterwood to get there would count, would it?"
"It does not, unfortunately," Blue said with a smile. "But the bus does! That's three thousand coins to start off your earnings." The others looked at each other in surprise to the partial coin credit, satisfied at the achievement and certainly not complaining.
"Okay, the next one was the tram," Goombella continued, before her look of joy vanished. "But due to a certain incident, I'm not positive that one was successful." Some of the players not included in the savvy traveler group glanced at one another alarmingly, apparently unnerved by the word 'incident'.
"So I have been informed," the host added with a chary tone. "I hear that two tram rides were taken, only one of which may count. And fortunately, the one that does took you 1.2 miles before disembarking."
"Thank goodness," Ms. Mowz said with relief before glancing up the aisle towards Dimentio. "Would have been a pity to lose three thousand coins over such a costly mistake." The jester, surprisingly, declined to comment, his undivided attention given to the status of their mission.
Peach: At the time, we had all been easily distracted by the missing fanny pack, that we neglected to remember that it was Goombella's suggestion to take the tram. While we barely made the required travel limit, had we stopped at our required gate, that distance would not have been breached.
"Your next vehicle, the airplane flight, easily surpassed the mile requirement," Blue explained in a playful nature. "That makes three successful voyages totaling nine thousand coins. But here's where things began to go awry..."
The color faded from Peach's face. "Kindly elaborate," she asked, disturbed by the shift in tone.
"Gladly," Blue agreed, as if he would have withheld the results otherwise. "Your fourth choice was an interesting one. A rental car, while a short distance to walk from the airport terminal, certainly comes with its own drawbacks." From the back of the blimp, Dimentio let out a lighthearted chuckle, shaking his head in response.
"What's got you so giddy?" Koover asked suspiciously, confused by the atypical reaction.
"Oh, just knowing that we're all about to hear what the consequences are for such a rookie mistake." He cocked his neck towards Ms. Mowz, who wagged her finger defensively.
"Yes, but we arrived at a remedy, did we not?" she reminded. "And I'm pretty sure you were also riding along with me when we were enacting said remedy."
"To clarify, the consequences of taking a rental car were the conditions behind a rental," Blue explained to group. "And in doing so, the players were forced to return their car to the airport dealership, thus retracing their steps."
"True, but we were fortunate enough to find the help of some Good Samaritans," Peach said in defense, referencing the two Goomba pedestrians who had made the return for them.
"An exchange was made, yes, but did it fulfill all of the required conditions?" His elusive question silenced the players, all attempting to determine the mistake to which he was implying.
Still confused, Goombella attempted a possibility. "Um, we definitely traveled over a mile," she justified, but as the words left her mouth, the ultimate realization hit her.
"We...were closer than a mile out from the rental place," she said with defeat. "By returning the rental, we reduced our distance." She sighed in frustration, but only after exchanging glances with her three other teammates. Neither Dimentio nor Ms. Mowz let rid of any confidence, but both of their faces hinted some distress.
Goombella: Not only did Dimentio avoid speaking up for, like, the first time this entire game, but in his brilliant plan he stops too close to the airport? Ug, it just sickens me to think that it's possible he gets that smug satisfaction through sabotaging missions.
"And for that blunder, three thousand coins will not be rewarded for the fourth voyage," Blue verified, redirecting the group's attention. "Which brings us to the final vehicle: a leisurely taxi ride through the streets of Rogueport to the station. To your relief, the distance requirement was easily surpassed. What's interesting, however, is your decision to take a cab."
To the surprise of both himself and the others, Dimentio appeared to perplexed by the looseness in his statement. "Are taxis now a primitive mode of travel?" he asked the host suspiciously. "Not all of us are entitled to the convenience of a private airliner, you know."
"Fair enough, but why bother travelling by plane when you already did so earlier this morning?" Blue countered. "That wouldn't constitute a separate and unique mode of transport, would it now?" He allowed the group to digest this second vague utterance, but seconds later none of them had yet been enlightened.
"Look dearie, we're still greenhorns when it comes to the whole dissecting your dialogue thing," Ms. Mowz said bluntly, taking ownership for the thoughts of many in the group. "What part of our cab ride wasn't separate and unique, other than perhaps our cab driver's girlfriend calling him 'unique' before they separated?" Towards the back, Bandy Andy struggled to stifle his laughter.
Hardly amused, Blue continued his statement. "Lets try a structural approach," he reasoned. "A taxi cab is a four-wheeled automotive sedan which runs on gasoline. But earlier, you traveled by a rental car, which many might define as...a four-wheeled automotive sedan which runs on gasoline." He allowed the players to process this information, anticipating a possible outburst.
"But...but that's..." Goombella stammered in protest. "Okay, really? Just because both are automobiles doesn't mean they're the same type of vehicle. I mean, there's a fine line between travelling by cab versus travelling by rental." She kept her mouth open as if to speak further, but realized the difficulty she was having in fueling her defense.
Vinny: Da fact that Goombella and Ms. Mowz, two fellow residents of Rogueport, couldn't come up with an original mode of transport in dere own hometown astounds me. Just because a taxi is painted yellow doesn't somehow make it not a car.
Out of nowhere, Ms. Mowz's face lit up with elation. "Ha! But our mishap with the rental car disqualification essentially erases that trip altogether, meaning our taxicab ride shouldn't be penalized!" she declared excitedly, bouncing ever so slightly in her seat. Her dreams of outwitting the host were soon demolished, however.
"Nice rebuttal," Blue congratulated sardonically. "But given that your mission was to embark on five separate and unique voyages, the exact number of vehicles your group chose to utilize, the taxicab qualifies as your fifth. Hardly unique from its predecessor, and thus no prize money can be rewarded." The players frowned, realizing that their fifteen thousand coin potential had just been reduced to a mere nine thousand coins.
"But let's not forget, there was one further element to this mission," Blue introduced, gesturing his hand towards Peach. "The pedometer required your team to tread quite lightly, as I recall."
It took a moment for the princess to process that the host was referring to the device attached to her hip. "Oh, um, correct..." Peach mumbled, her hands fumbling to remove the step-counter. Dimentio shot her a suspicious glance, which she struggled to deflect.
Peach: Oh no...I had totally forgotten about the pedometer after we landed in Rogueport. There's no way to know how carelessly I walked from that point on.
"Thank you," Blue said, the precious device now under his control. "As I stated this morning, for every two thousand steps acquired throughout the day, one thousand coins would be subtracted from your winnings," he reiterated. "Of course, seeing as you did successfully find five modes of transportation, I'm confident you minimized your walking distance considerably today." His confidence felt contradictory to the nervous glances of the four players in the group as they waited for the fateful number.
"And the winning number is...goodness. 6,208 steps!" This announcement spread a wave of astonishment throughout the blimp, especially to some of the personalities towards the back.
"You guys walked over three miles today?!" Bandy Andy spat out in disbelief as he turned to Peach in particular. "What the heck? Did you qualify your legs as another vehicle or something?"
"Probably should have. Seems to me it would have been more successful than a rental car," Sushie scoffed lightly, though her judgment was still evident.
On cue, Dimentio stood from his seat, his finger pointed in the direction of the politician. "Fantastic work today, your highness. Putting your pride ahead of the pot. Hardly dignitary, considering that seemed to be our only focus today." He looked around the blimp as if to be egged on by his fellow passengers. Peach, however, was unfazed by this direct attack.
"As much as it would please you," she said calmly, "I neglect to indulge your invitation to retaliate. I will apologize to the group for gathering so many steps today, but I will not apologize for maintaining professional appearance in my hometown. I do believe that is dignitary." She smiled, as if to reassure herself of her response, before boldly facing the host.
"So because we took over six thousand steps-steps which all four of us embarked upon collectively as a group-we are penalized three thousand coins, correct?"
"Correct," Blue validated, though his confirmation was poorly received by the occupants in the blimp. "Which combined with your deductions for vehicles, makes your earnings for this mission...six thousand coins." Though the number had been anticipated, its verbalization left many in the group flabbergasted.
"Dat's it?" Vinny interjected. "Let me get dis straight: you four showed up first and still only earned six thousand coins?" Dimentio expressed his frustration by slumping back down into his seat. Ms. Mowz and Goombella, meanwhile, exchanged dejected glances with one another.
Koover: Our group literally failed the entire premises of the mission by not showing up to the station on time, and somehow, ladies and gentleman, we manage to earn the exact same amount of money as the group which arrived without a hitch. Guess the savviest traveler in that entire group may in fact have been the Mole.
Goombella sighed. "Whatever. At least our group didn't have to rely on a cop-out to earn money," she retorted.
"But let's not forget, we had one more group who endured their own share of struggles today," Blue reminded as he hinted to three players who suddenly became more tense.
"Yeah, the struggle of deciding between a deep tissue massage versus a shiatsu," Ms. Mowz jabbed playfully.
"Ha ha, so clever we think we are," Pennington derided. "If you think you know the adventures we have so well, how about you describe them?"
"Or perhaps I should start," Blue dictated to retain the group's attention. "As you all are aware, Bandy Andy, Sushie, and Pennington here were treated to the luxuries of my private jet liner as they voyaged to Rogueport this morning. There was one luxury, however, which was withheld from them."
"Yes, the luxury of having actually having a ticket," Sushie explained, her tone almost demanding sympathy from the group.
"But how does that differ from what we had to endure?" Mamar asked with skepticism. "We weren't exactly provided with our tickets either, you know."
"True, but whereas you knew where to collect yours, we had to fund our travel expenses from scratch," Pennington chimed in.
Bandy Andy, in recollection of earlier events, shuddered slightly. "Ug...that harbor is probably harvesting some sort of parasite on my clothes," he mumbled, alarming some of the players within his close proximity.
"To clarify, the task for my fellow jet passengers was to raise enough money to purchase blimp tickets," Blue explained. "For three tickets, that total would amount to 150 coins: a fairly hefty sum to raise on such short notice. But how exactly did they go about accomplishing this?"
Sushie straightened herself as she turned away from the Bandit in the back. "Well, some of us in our group behaved more frivolously than others," she trailed, prompting the person in question to speak up.
"Really, Sushie? You're going to throw me under the bus like that, when I literally had to drag you out of the store just so we would make it on time?" Bandy Andy folded his arms as he braced for a rebuttal.
"At least I was working diligently rather than recklessly throwing coins towards a machine," she countered. "I mean, gambling? Really?"
"Yes, but it was also your 'diligent' work that caused you to work for thirty minutes unpaid," Bandy Andy said distastefully. This small banter posed many questions within the group.
Ms. Mowz: I always find it fascinating whenever I get to hear about the events which unfolded in groups other than my own. The downfall is perspective: everyone has one, whether or not they're willing to share it. And so-called 'objective' descriptions still carry their own biases and inaccurate recollections.
"Regardless," the host interjected, regathering the group's attention, "the three of you found ways to scrape together enough coins to purchase blimp tickets for yourselves, having narrowly squeaked up to the station just minutes before six o'clock. Still, having now endured you travel nightmare, wouldn't it have been nicer if the afternoon were as stress-free as our flight this morning?" Sushie eyeballed the host suspiciously as he momentarily excused himself to retrieve an item from the cabin's compartment of the blimp.
"Geez, you guys had a party today," Goombella said, referring to the empty bottle of chardonnay that Blue returned with.
"Chateau d'Auger...a 'mysterious' blend indeed," Blue said, quoting himself on a remark made earlier that day. "The four of us indulged in its delicious taste, but would you care if I indulged with you what truly makes for its 'mysterious' flavor?"
"Please, spare me the knowledge of what poisons I consumed earlier," Sushie chuckled as she clutched her own stomach. Then to the group's confusion, the host peeled off the wine bottle's label, giving it a quick look-over before revealing its back side to the contestants.
Pennington held up his magnifying glass to examine the writing. "Limited time offer! Redeem this voucher at Westside Goods for one free blimp ticket..." His voice lingered over those last few words, words which prompted Bandy Andy to rise from his seat.
"Are you freaking kidding me?" he asked. Flabbergasted, he stormed down the aisle to examine the label himself before forcefully shoving the hidden ticket into the host's chest.
Pennington: Given how highly alert I was that entire flight for even the scent of something being awry...and for it to be as simple as a cryptic statement by the host...is an embarrassment to have overlooked, to say the least.
"Back into your corner," Blue teased, pressuring the fighter to return to his seat. "You can't blame me that none of you bothered to check the jet after our landing. Had any of you recovered this, only one hundred coins would have needed to be collected to cover your travel expenses. An amount, ironically, which happened to be all you managed to earn today."
"Now hold up," said Sushie as she processed this closing remark. "How can we have only earned one hundred coins? All three of us managed to get a ticket today, didn't we?" She turned to Blue, who rather than offer her an explanation directly, proceeded to stare in the direction of one player in particular.
"...Pennington?" The detective immediately stood from his seat, clumsily dropping his deerstalker hat in the process. Realizing that everyone had turned to him with interrogative eyes, he cleared his throat.
"I came across Blue during our mission today," he began, his voice displaying more confidence than his body language. "As the first to return to the Trouble Center, he proposed a deal: a guaranteed blimp ticket, at the sacrifice of 5000 coins from our potential winnings. Given the lack of success seen at the harbor, coupled by a general anxiety that we wouldn't have luck finding legal opportunities of earning coins today, I accepted." He nodded once as if to affirm his own words.
"An offer, which, may or may not have been worthwhile," Blue warned. "As a result of Pennington's acceptance, and because you three did indeed succeed, ten thousand coins will be rewarded for your component of this mission...out of a possible fifteen." Relieved of the limelight, Pennington sat down again, though several pairs of eyes were fixated on the Bumpty.
Bandy Andy: Hero or villain, I'm not sure. Pennington's decision easily makes him appear as the mission's savior, given that we may have shown up short without that additional boost. But when you lost five thousand coins as a result...that's where the suspicion kicks in.
"Three different groups, with three different outcomes," Blue said, tying together the events of the day. "Wherever the Mole may have poked their head in today's game, the results are decided. Out of a potential 45000 coins for your travels, 22000 coins will be added to your group pot."
Happy Travels Results
22000c/45000c
Team Pot
42000c/115000c
"Just barely below half," Mamar observed. "The dividing line between passing and failing, I suppose."
"Hmph. Any total where money is lost should be regarded as an absolute failure," Dimentio remarked, arms folded in frustration. "And the fact that it happened across three groups means that, on top of a Mole, we arrive at an even greater problem: incompetent players."
"Could we, like, not right now?" Goombella pleaded, sighing in both exhaustion and disappointment. "We don't need to host an investigation after every mission. I, for one, would just like to enjoy the rest of this blimp ride in peace." She turned to her window as for a distraction, slipping off her sunglasses to observe a sky which was now much less illuminated than it had been at the start of their voyage. The blinding gleams of sunlight had vanished, though from the corner of her eye, Goombella could detect what appeared to be the glimpse of light pollution tracing the clouds below.
Koover caught this source of illumination from his own window and stared at it with marvel. He could detect two spotlights painting the sky with their beams in parallel motions, and as the blimp drew closer, he observed what appeared to be propellers protruding from the base of a giant structure. "That...wouldn't happen to be..."
"Glitzville?" Blue said with a smile. "A city filled with temerity and charisma. A location I'm sure you're all anxious to study, but perhaps none as anxious as the Mole. Brace yourselves, as we journey further above the clouds...and further into the field of the Mole."
As the platform lowered below the hovering blimp, the remarkable display of Glitzville crept into their view. Bright colored lights traced every corner of the city, from lampposts to souvenir shops. Every citizen or tourist seemed to be quipped with some sort of snack or souvenir: a stick of pink cotton candy for one Monty Mole, a foam finger for a young Lakitu. But perhaps the biggest culture shock was the noise. Vendors from food stalls hollered out in every direction, attempting to be heard over the loud cheers which erupted from the largest building in the city. With a menacing Chain Chomp arch illuminated by a spotlight, the Glitz Pit served as the propelled city's finest attraction, and certainly succeeded in stirring exhilarating emotions within the players.
"There it is, in all of its glitz and glory," Bandy Andy beamed, quickly taking on the role of tour guide. The players stared in awe as the steward unchained the platform, allowing them to touch the ground for the first time.
Sushie: It felt like having the red carpet rolled out in front of us. So many big names bouting it out in the arena with hoards of screaming fans...honestly, the scene felt awfully barbaric, yet encapsulating at the same time. Definitely a different environment than my beloved Lavalava.
"I feel like I should be exhausted right now," Mamar remarked. "But something about this place has my adrenaline pumping again."
"I wonder if after a day as long as this one, Blue will allow us some time to go shopping," Peach proposed, staring at the trinkets on display at a nearby stall.
"What I'm wondering most is how much dose hot dogs cost," Vinny trailed, his eyes following the delicious treat in the hands of a young Doogan child. On cue, his stomach growled, which was somehow fairly audible in spite of the overwhelming noises of the city.
Pennington: Glitzville certainly provides a rewarding change of scenery. Back in Flower Fields, the mood of the game around us was fairly lackadaisical, with no real pressure to compete or trace the Mole's footsteps. But here, in a city where there's no hiding from a challenge and fights are practically idolized...the sky's the limit.
"Welcome to Glitzville!" Blue began, formally extending his invitation to the players. They had gathered beneath the iconic Chain Chomp arch, just at the base of the steps which led to the iconic Glitz Pit.
"Perhaps the most charming characteristic of this city is its magic," he continued. "Emotions rocket sky high in a land propelled far above the earth. If your blood isn't already pumping from the elevation, then it's pumping faster because everything else has been elevated as well. Victories. Defeats. Tempers. Glory." He paused momentarily, surveying the eleven different individuals before him.
"Glitzville could be a playground where you experience many joys and triumphs as a group," he considered. "But like any playground, not everyone in your group always plays by the rules. It'll be up to you to determine whether emerge from this ring as a champion...or an upset."
Ms. Mowz: I sniff great potential for Glitzville to be the place where the Mole truly makes their grand entrance. Time to take my dazzling to the next level.
After a few seconds of acknowledgement for his words of wisdom, Blue readopted a more jovial tone. "You'll have plenty of time to digest my words throughout your stay here," he said, addressing any concerns. "But I'm sure the only digestion on your minds currently is dinner. And tonight is a spectacular treat! As your reward for advancing to new heights this episode, our producers have arranged for you to stay in the glitziest of accommodations. After enduring three days of meadow crashing, you will be spending the night in some of the Glitz Pit Hotel's finest four-star rooms!" The mention of four-star quarters immediately perked the curiosity of the group.
"Wait. Do these rooms come with actual showers?" Sushie asked, somewhat skeptically.
Blue smiled. "Yes, actual showers," he reassured them with a warm smile. "Along with actual reservations for dinner in the grand ballroom at eight fifteen. The receptionists in the lobby have your room keys and bags, so you all should have plenty of time to get settled in before reconvening for our meal. I shall see you all shortly then!" He stepped aside, as if cutting the red ribbon for them to explore the marvels of the Glitz Pit. And from inside the arena, a new match was under way between the players and the Mole.
"He wasn't kidding about the showers," came the voice of Ms. Mowz from the adjacent bathroom. Peach set down her duffel above her duvet and went to investigate for herself. The Squeek's marvel had been legitimate: the elegant suite consisted of a large porcelain tub alongside a walk-in shower with marble walls and glass doors. The princess ran her hands through one of the plush towels on the rack, embroidered with the iconic Champion's belt symbol.
"Don't suppose our host would allow us to enjoy a quick rinse before dinner?" Peach wondered. She ran her fingers through her hair, reminded of their lack of bathing opportunities the past few days.
"Dearie, I'm sure you'll have numerous opportunities to get cleaned up after this evening," Bree reassured her. Then she smiled. "Though I wouldn't mind appearing fresh if it means getting closer to some of those athletes!"
Peach smirked, shaking he head non-judgmentally. "Wouldn't some sweaty, smelly fighter make that effort counter-intuitive?" she teased, returning to their main living quarters. Three queen-sized beds offered a promising night of rest later that evening. And on the third, leaning cross-legged against the bed frame, was their third roommate, Nastasia.
Nastasia: I should be more focused at trying to deduce the Mole's identity after a mission like this. But...when after such an exhausting day, you find yourself in the crossfire of insults and attacks...you feel somewhat...depleted. I should be tougher than this, but today's incident was different.
"You've been awfully quiet ever since we left Rogueport," Peach observed, sitting down on the bed across from her. "Anything you need to talk about?"
Nastasia's first reaction was to slam down her journal, which was open to an empty page. The secretary quickly realized the brash impulsiveness of her actions as she cautiously picked up her journal. "...sorry," she muttered under her breath. "Today just...wasn't an enjoyable experience."
"So I'd noticed," Peach said, somewhat empathetically. She herself could recall the exchange of words which had occurred at the station earlier. "If it's worth any consolation, I think it was unfair for you to have been targeted like that." Nastasia slowly looked up from behind her journal at the princess, who attempted to offer a sincere smile.
"...thanks," Nastasia trailed, her voice shaky. "But...it was warranted. Not like I've been the friendliest face in this group..."
"Don't give yourself so much credit," Ms. Mowz hollered from the bathroom, spitting into the sink as she continued to brush her teeth. "Those boys want nothing more than to have their egos stroked. Besides, it's only been four days; hardly time for them to mean what they say. I wouldn't take let their words settle too deeply."
"She's right, you know," Peach affirmed. "And it doesn't matter what they say to get at you. What matters most is how you respond to it. Like having the bravery to accept that penalty today." She patted Nastasia's knee lightly before returning to the bathroom to wash her face before dinner started. Nastasia watched them disappear as she collapsed back against her pillow, her arms clutching her journal against her chest.
Nastasia: I wanted to believe what my roommates were telling me, but I knew inside it just wasn't the case. This...this bears deeper than the game.
"How have I never known about this injustice?" Bandy Andy exclaimed as he slowly paced throughout their suite. He gave Vinny a look of horror, to which the bodyguard seemed hardly interested.
"If you need ta hug someone, use a pillow," Vinny said bluntly, marching over to the mirror to button his cuffs. While he had been quick to change into his suit for the evening, Bandy Andy had spent his time marveling over the elegance of their living space.
"I mean, I realize millionaire sponsors probably pay big buck for a room like this, but come on! I've been fighting here for over three years, and where do we get?" he continued to fume. "Worn mattresses and showers crawling with athlete's foot, that's what!"
"Well, you are just a minor leaguer," Vinny admitted, prompting a glare from the fighter. Realizing the unintentional harshness of this statement, he attempted to rectify himself. "I mean, like you said. Dese rich people pay da Pit money whereas dey pay dat money ta you. Poor priorities, I suppose."
"They definitely don't pay us enough, that's for sure," Bandy Andy sulked, finally deciding to unpack his duffel. He grabbed two ties and joined Vinny by the mirror as he compared the two in preparation for the evening's attire.
"Ah, dat why you decided ta gamble all of dat money?" his roommate teased, though this time the joke was delivered more convincingly. Still, Bandy Andy remained silent, grabbing the silver tie and lining it up to his neckline.
"You stuck to your guns today," he noted, striking up new conversation. "Back when you refused the penalty despite your three team member's acting differently. Really that paranoid about the quiz?"
Bandy Andy: Vinny...is someone whom Koover and I have been considering. Koover's had the opportunity to watch him in missions twice now, but rooming together should provide me with an all new perspective.
Vinny shook his head in amusement. "Confidence is da least of my worries. But why should I subject myself ta elimination for only two thousand coins? Taking da minus one would make sense if I were at fault, which I definitely wasn't." He paused momentarily, casually reaching for some deodorant. "Especially when one of dem blew da tire."
Bandy Andy arched an eyebrow, but did not break from his routine. "I was under the impression that you got a flat after passing through a construction zone," he mentioned, hoping for some clarification. "Couldn't it have just been some freak accident?"
With this Vinny halted his actions, shutting the cap on the deodorant tube before setting it beside the sink. "Let me ask you dis: do you believe in coincidence?" he asked, rather bluntly. "Because I don't. I've been trained not to. When da Robbo gang shows up in da center of Rogueport, is it a coincidence dat da Pianta Syndicate is watching dem from across da square? Or perhaps, when da teammates you're with all vie ta hunt for da third ticket, we show up late ta da station?" Bandy Andy shrugged his shoulders in response, unclear of what the Pianta was trying to draw out from him.
"So, when your teammates make suspicious decisions throughout da day and be absolutely intolerable to be around, den no, it's not coincidence dat I choose not ta punish myself further." With a quick adjustment of his sports coat, he elected to head to dinner early, leaving Bandy Andy to contemplate his words at the mirror.
"Also, not a coincidence dat you blew so much money today," he hollered as he headed out the door. "I do know a thing or two about dat Parlor."
"I'll be ready in just a minute!" Mamar shouted into the bedroom, continuing to make the final adjustments on her bow for the evening.
"Honestly, can't we just enjoy some room service tonight?" Sushie wondered, collapsing even further against the mattress. "This bed is like being lofted on the wings of angels!"
The door from the bathroom swung open as Mamar finally stepped out. From her own bed, Goombella watched the Star Spirit emerge, donning a large turquoise bow with flowing strands of silk, paired with glistening earrings of a matching color. "You're looking absolutely stellar!" Goombella marveled, her compliment ironic for a Star.
"Oh dear, the bow isn't wearing me, is it?" Mamar immediately worried, darting back into the bathroom to check for herself. "I'm not used to dressing so formally, so I'm not really sure what constitutes as too much."
"Darling, don't say another word," Sushie instructed, stopping her immediately. "Everyone in this room looks stunning, and that of course means in the best way possible." The three of them laughed together as they checked their appearances in the mirror one final time before departing for the hallway.
"If anything's really stunning," Goombella mentioned as she closed the door behind them, "it's your willingness throw yourself in quiz jeopardy earlier." This comment caused Mamar to take a few extra seconds in locking the door behind them.
"Perhaps," she reasoned as she rejoined the girls. "But I'd rather my decision redeem some degree of selflessness to this game." Mamar smiled as Goombella nodded at this answer, processing it for herself.
Goombella: I've tried to comprehend the gutsy move Mamar made (let alone that Nastasia of all people followed her). Sure, if she were the Mole, her action could be viewed as a heroic cover-up, but that'd be so risky if nobody else stepped forward. I mean, how would you justify your innocence if you survived the quiz with a minus two, and thirty seconds?
"Well, I think some other people in our group could do well to have a dose of your servant's heart," Sushie remarked, though her compliment was quickly followed by critique. "Like some players who waste their afternoon and their wallets at the gambling parlor!"
"But seriously though," Goombella huffed, promptly turning to face her directly. "Today's mission was unbearably long enough as it was; Dimentio's arrogance was hardly a bearable factor to deal with." Mamar appeared startled by Goombella's blatant name-dropping, electing to watch rather than engage as Sushie continued to engage in banter with the archaeologist.
Mamar: This game is so polar to the life I'm used to back at Star Haven. Here, it's commendable to call out others on their fallacies and shortcomings-in fact, it's almost necessary for one's survival in the game. And I know that's inevitable in a game built around lies, but part of me clutches onto the hope that there's genuine truth to be found in some of these people.
The elevator doors swung open as the three dressed-up gentleman stepped inside. Pennington whistled in marvel at its intricate design. The elevator itself was composed of glass walls, providing a spectacular overlook of the Glitz Pit lobby below.
"Seems structurally sound," Pennington observed, pressing the button for the main level. "Of course, it'd be quite the shame if we were to find ourselves stuck in here."
"Nonsense," Dimentio quickly dismissed, watching as the doors proceed to close. "We're in full view of everyone in the lobby below. Not to mention, I'm sure these panels would be very easy to crack." He folded his arms coolly, prompting Pennington to withdraw from any further conversation.
"Somehow I doubt that's the only thing in this elevator to crack," Koover said bluntly, staring up at the blinking light of the floor indicator above them.
Dimentio: It would benefit the others tremendously to realize that my intelligence is not worth crossing. Parakarry tried that-and subsequently failed. Players like Koover, or Pennington for that matter, certainly do not phase me. In fact, I find it rather amusing. They'd be better suited understanding that sooner than later, lest I aid the Mole in arranging their fast demise.
"Playing games, aren't we?" Dimentio replied coolly, glancing over his shoulder at the Koopa behind him. "Riddle me this then. Do you feel comfortable knowing that your attempt to chisel away at the rewards of the group hardly left a chink in their willingness to compromise their safety for yours?"
Koover smiled, still looking up and away from the jester. "Well, if generosity were measured solely using your scale, then I guess I should expect stinginess in its purest form," he reasoned. The weatherman failed to notice the look of irritation on Dimentio's face, though this expression was noticed by the detective in the corner.
"Careful," Pennington advised with a smile. "The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning."
"And it's clear to me that both of you are too smug for reasoning," Dimentio huffed, tapping his foot until the doors finally opened. His composure transformed swiftly when they were exposed to the lights of the lobby.
"Well, I suppose we'll see each other at dinner," he chirped, his stride leading him away from the elevator. Pennington shook his head at the scene which had unfolded.
"Reasoning for what?" he wondered in confusion. "Well, whatever. I find it quite ironic that we're viewed as the conceited ones."
"I don't," Koover said, shaking his head. "He's trying to pave an easy route to the end. Players like us only make it tougher when we don't buy into his antics." As the elevator doors began to close, the Koopa propped them open for a few seconds longer, watching as the jester disappeared around the corner.
"Perhaps," Pennington contemplated, straightening his tie as he followed his roommate towards their long-awaited dinner. "But that is to make one delicate assumption: that his route to the finale isn't already being paved with sabotage."
"Oh, it's covered with sabotage alright," Koover smirked. "The better question is, under what motives?"
The Glitz Pit Grand Ballroom, located in the hotel portion of the iconic Glitz Pit, served a multipurpose function. On days of special championships, it purposed as a pavilion for holding press conferences and trophy ceremonies. For the Pit's elite patrons, lavish dinners helped to satisfy the stomachs of guests prior to their attendance at some of the evening's matches. As contestants on The Mole, the players were rewarded to a similar experience.
"Hoo dear, we're not overimposing our welcome, are we?" Sushie asked, expressing some slight concern as she glanced around the spacious room. For a ballroom with a capacity to hold hundreds, an isolated table of twelve easily felt out of place.
"I think we've been through enough hellfire today ta merit one fancy dinner," Vinny remarked, nodding to the host at the head of the table as he took a chair for himself.
Peach: It's always pleasurable to close the day out with the group dinners. During missions, we tend to get so overheated as a group, that the simple act of sharing a meal together can be so therapeutic in unifying us again, albeit temporarily.
"Please, enjoy yourselves," Blue said, extending the invitation for the others to make themselves comfortable. "Tonight's dinner is my treat."
"I would hope so, after all of the tricks you had us endure today," Pennington said with a grin. "Perhaps one of these nights, we should reverse the spotlight and interrogate you about the missions!"
"Could we not, actually," Nastasia voiced quietly, her tone more timid than usual. "Sorry, it's just...I'd prefer if we let this dinner be a fresh start. To, maybe, not talk about suspicions." The longer she talked, the more uncomfortable she seemed to appear, and by the end she had sunk two inches lower in her seat.
The arrival of their waiters soon rescued the secretary from the awkwardness. "Good evening, players," one of them, a Shy Guy, introduced. "Here at the Glitz Pit Hotel, your glitz is our glory." Some of the players exchanged glances, apparently unimpressed by their attempt at a catchphrase.
"May I interest any of you in one of our specials tonight?" his counterpart offered, reaching for his notebook. "Our gourmet chef has prepared a delicious Zess. T. classic, quite the treat I might add. A scrumptious Shroom Steak, served to your degree of wellness, accompanied by a hand-tossed Healthy Salad drizzled in sweet honey mango dressing."
"You had me sold at steak," Goombella declared, already setting down her menu as the waiter jotted down her order. "Though honestly, I'd be satisfied with snails at this point."
"Escargot is a menu option," Dimentio noted with amusement. "Though personally, I shall indulge in the Champion's Surprise."
Ms. Mowz batted her eyes in his direction. "That decision can't possibly be ironic," she mused with a grin. "What made it most appealing, the word 'champion' or the word 'surprise'?"
"Already jumping to conclusions," he countered, "when in fact, I'm simply attracted to satisfying my palate with eggs." He maintained a straight face for as long as he could before the snickering shared across the table prompted him to stifle a laugh.
"Well, gee, usually you're so hard-boiled that it's nice to see you sunny side up," Ms. Mowz teased, stirring even more laughter throughout the ballroom.
Bandy Andy: I've said it before and I'll sing it long after the cows come home. Games are for fun! Fun, people!
As the waiters continued to take orders, Bandy Andy watched as the Bumpty next to him attempted to conceal his journal with his napkin. "Dude, can't we be out of game mode for just one meal?" he said, almost pleadingly. "We're in Glitzville, baby! Paranoia in the ring gets you knocked out."
"But we aren't currently in the ring, are we?" the detective protested. "Just because we aren't actively competing doesn't shroud the fact that a quiz is looming at some point. I believe in your world of barbarism, the nomenclature of my actions would be called 'training'." He looked up at the fighter, hoping to acknowledge through eye contact that his use of the word 'barbarism' was purely sarcastic.
"Speaking of which, what new adventures can we expect from this stunning new metropolis?" Peach asked, redirecting attention towards the host.
"Mamma mia, you players are so demanding!" Blue jested, rolling his eyes playfully. "First I generously loan you a private jet, then I invite you to a refined culinary experience on my tab, and you are all still so demanding." His improvisation of their neediness droned on, erupting full laughter from the group.
Ms. Mowz: Oh, Blue...you charming, yet savage fungus you.
"Well, if the schedule for tonight is free, I honestly think it'd be nice to go star-gazing tonight," Koover proposed, a smile appearing on his face as his daydream continued. "From this altitude and without the occlusion from the clouds, I bet you could see every twinkle imaginable."
"Um...hate to ruin the sentiment," Mamar began, "but as someone who knows a thing or two about stars, you'd probably be spending your night identifying little more than light pollution." With this realization, the Koopa frowned, the weatherman in him forced to compromise.
"I would be equally content just to crawl in bed," Sushie reasoned, fantasizing back to their brief moments in their suites. "I'm almost too drained to bring myself to finish this meal."
"Well, Mr. Hotshot homelander," Goombella said, pivoting to the Glitzville resident at the table, "what would you propose is the greatest way to encapsulate the heart of Glitzville on the first night of being here?" As if on cue, a faint rumbling noise could be heard from beyond the ballroom, accompanied soon after by the sound of cheering.
"Um, pretty much exactly that," Bandy Andy acknowledged. He then, along with several others at the table, reverted their attention back to the host.
"Well, are we den?" Vinny asked, repeating the previously addressed dialogue. "Are we getting ta spectate one of tonight's matches?"
Despite his sigh, Blue could remove the planted smile on his face. "The answers will come in due time, my children," he addressed, adopting a fatherly manner. "But only if you eat your vegetables!" Realizing that their speculation would not provide further answers, the players dialed down the maintenance of their dinner conversation. The two Shy Guy waiters circled the table, collecting menus from everyone in the group.
Goombella: I was in the process of subconsciously handing the waiter my menu when during the exchange, I felt something slip into my lap. I at first figured he had accidentally dropped his pen, but when I looked up, he indicated for me to keep quiet. And immediately my head began to spin.
"Thank you all! Your meals should be served to you shortly," the waiter communicated before he and his colleague scuttled back to the kitchen. Goombella smiled lightly as they disappeared, casually scanning the fixations of the other players at the table. When it became apparent to her that she was in the clear, the archaeologist carefully scanned downward to examine the card which had been mysteriously bestowed upon her. And after catching a quick glimpse of the text, her heart began to race:
*HIDDEN MISSION*
Eeeey, hope that makes up for choosing holidays on opposite ends of the calendar year to drop an update! Granted, it's not the longest hiatus I've tortured you with, plus considering half of that period was enjoyed in Internet isolation in the mountains (the definition of bliss), I'd say it ain't too shabby.
SHADOW OF DIMENTIO: Great to hear your speculations, as always! (Mountains were on also top-notch :P) Happy that you're still enjoying the characterization of Dimentio, as well as the hopeful diversity of the rest of the cast. A universe like the Mole is definitely an enjoyable one because you have the artistic freedom to evolve the personalities of your characters with a bit more flexibility, yet still place them in enough situations for their identities to really shine. One helpful clarification, though: the apparent lack of Parakarry is due to his being executed at the end of the first episode. Thus, he's no longer a competing player. :P Haha, hope that helps a bit. Can't blame your confusion considering how long ago in real-life his execution was actually written...
ADMIRALBOBBERY: So great to hear from you again! Goodness, there's something about your suspicions that I always find so fascinating to read. Literally, I could probe through your comments multiple times, they're that insightful! They're always so witty, and your easter eggs to the Paper Mario universe bring back so much nostalgia. So, thank you. :) And as always, you detective skills are super acute! I can tell you've formed strong opinions about each player in the cast, which as an author is a rewarding thing to hear.
PRINCESS TOADY: AAAAAH, love hearing from you! Quick shout-out to everybody reading this segment, GO CHECK OUT THIS DUDE'S MOLE STORIES! They are phenomenal (and as soon as a clear moment in my schedule clears up, currently Thanksgiving break, I will be dropping some serious review bombs in your direction, mark my words). Thank you again for always providing such keen insight in your reviews. Not only do you do such a fantastic job probing into the suspicious activities of potential Mole candidates, but you dig up and identify potential clues and setbacks for the players, sometimes before they even occur! I definitely understand what it's like to be in the boat of over-analyzation (because trust me, I've done it for countless hours over your Mole stories, and even worse when you actually were the Mole. :)
BRITTKIP: Hey, thanks for the review! And thanks for also pointing out some of those player-player interactions as well! Part of why I'm attached to this story is not just because the Mole to player dynamic is a fascinating one to write about, but with such a diverse cast of characters, it's also highly pleasurable to explore how these different dynamics develop.
THE WISE ZORA: Yo, thank you for your continuous support and feedback! Reading your reviews reminds me a lot of how I approach speculations about the Mole. I guess I'd describe it as very meticulous, and to hear insight like that is super beneficial as a writer (also as a Mole-hunter, I'm sure). Hooray for critical analysis! And oh jeez, at the very least, hopefully your suspicions about the Mole's identity aren't themselves going nowhere fast. :)
EMS602: Hey, welcome to the world of the Mole, and thanks for your review! Also, thank you for your character critique as well! Dimentio's Super Paper Mario arc is perhaps one of the most complex ones to portray, and while it's enjoyable to explore some artistic license with each character, there's likely some oversight on my part. Glad you're enjoying it though, and hopefully you continue to do so!
Y'all are seriously the bomb dot com. If you've enjoyed this story so far, don't hesitate to drop a review! As for future updates, I have a (current) plan to finish this episode by the end of the year (ironically a holiday as well). I imagine after the endurance that was the Happy Travels mission, it will probably be split among two chapters, but at any rate will hopefully be made available to you in reasonable time.
Enjoy the rest of your fall, and enjoy the continued excitement to come on The Mole!