❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[kikoku]

[Actually, this is fine. Talking about his ability is preferable to talking about himself. It's obvious there's nothing he can say to dissuade Iskandar from considering him a good Friend Candidate, so any positive thoughts he has about the devil fruit ability doesn't matter all that much.]

Not exactly. It worked here because the machine just needed power.
[He turns back towards the other man, throwing up another Room, and demonstrating the technique again without touching anything, electricity sparking off of his thumbs.]

It's one of the things I'm able to do within my "Room," among others.
[He gestures to the transparent spherical barrier as it expands to encircle the both of them.]

[notwagging]

Deal! We can trade stuff. [ maybe whatever Ren finds will be more interesting than what Keaton will uncover? this pleases the Wolfskin, who tries his best to keep his yawn from being TOO obvious, but after his day of randomly entering rooms looking for anything worth taking in his eyes...

maybe he found something special and important this time! it just took a while. ]

Hey... do you mind if I rest here for a bit?

[ he's found somewhere relaxing and safe, with someone he deems to be equally relaxing around and safe. not a rarity, but certainly not common. ]

[shikomizue]

[No. A loss of faith is clear in her voice; the Natha had ensnared so many with their talk of omnipotence. Watching it drain from Mai's face - everyone's trust fading - is a nice sight.

He's smug, unabashedly.

Regardless of whether she'd been one to consider them allies, or she'd simply settled on the convenience of not questioning their potential - the mistake of complacency has been drawn into plain sight.

She's smart enough not to make the same error with Magda, at least.

Trust no one but yourself. If nothing else, Takasugi believes Mai is shrewd enough to live by that mantra.] You can't trust anyone to make it right...

Sounds like you're going to have a lot of enemies.

Which means you'll need all the allies you can get. [He anticipates being among her foes eventually, but for now...

Cooperation benefits both of them more.]

He's a problem child.

[kikoku]

[Law isn't stupid enough to push buttons on a mystery device. But maybe he can return it to the Nathat for some brownie points. So he pockets it, waiting long enough to ensure the other man saw it in his hands, and smirks back at Sanzo.]

Minding my own business. Isn't that what you wanted?
[There's nothing about this that is minding his own business, this tricky bitch.]

[gravemistake]

"Try me."

Though Reyes knows he might be disappointed--he's not necessarily a great conversationalist himself, but luckily the ship means there's plenty to talk about regardless. He's not exactly a computer guy, so he'll defer to John on that, unless it turns out he doesn't know what he's doing.

All that, however, is beside the point, which John makes clear with his next question. Gabriel finds it only fair that he identify himself, given the fact that he sort of snuck up on this situation.

"I'm here to satisfy my own curiosity."

To say he doesn't trust any part in this situation is something of an understatement--he's here to gather empirical evidence for himself, to make his own judgements.

[ayes]

Yoshiko-chan... [You says, with a very long-suffering sigh in her voice.] You didn't even know what you were drinking, huh. Okay, okay, let's sit back down. We can wait to test the singing until tomorrow. [She's curious, honestly, but she needs to be the good senpai right now.] I guess I can't really blame you. I didn't know what I was drinking my first time here, too! So I had... way too much of it.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[mAYBE WARN A LADY, ROXAS. Claire nearly jumps into a wall.]

What is that? A--sword? You can summon a sword? [Two, usually?]

[baguablade]

Ha!

[ A short bark of laughter, Cain giving Sandalphon a sharp grin, all teeth. An accompaniment. That's the best joke he's heard all week. ]

If the captain were awake, they'd already be in the lake, and we'd both be fishing them out.

[ayes]

I'll show you how they work sometime, then! They're super convenient! [She says. She keeps mopping up the spill, but at this point the paper towel is coming away mostly dry; it's either been mopped up or has soaked into her clothes.] What sorta networks did your friends make? Were they programmers? [A world wherein one has computers and apps and programming but no washing machines makes complete sense to her.]

[baguablade]

No, they don't.

[ All-knowing, or at least close to, interstellar beings... Cain can see how they just might not realize that they don't mention important things. But that may be too kind an explanation for it. ]

The question is if it's habit, or if it's a deliberate withholding of information.

[ Or if that even makes a difference. ]

[baguablade]

Hmmm.

[ Cain spends another minute holding his glowing hand to John's wrist, but the scars don't seem to be fading. Too old, it seems. ]

Looks like you're stuck with them, for now. And stuck with me. It seems like we could both use someone to watch our backs, don't you think?

[ His grin is slanted, inviting John to relax, to let someone help him instead of staying so prickly. ]

[lancings]

I would if it weren't so insistent, but you're probably right. I shouldn't take such things to heart. There's no sense in getting wrapped up in my fashion of all things.

[ So long as she can survive the cold and looks fairly presentable, that's what matters, right? Besides, it's not as though there is anyone around to impress. The one person who comes to mind is still deep in his slumber, so she should let this go. Focus on more important things. Like proper introductions- ]

I am Cordelia by the way. I hope I didn't startle you too much. Did I interrupt you on the way to somewhere?

[ She feels a bit bad for keeping the poor girl, but she doesn't exactly have a whole lot of other people to turn to or question. She was pretty much the only person who happened to be passing by at an unfortunate moment. ]

[personalwar]

[ This isn't the first time that 76 has heard of someone's powers being limited on this planet compared to what they're used to, and so he isn't surprised by it. He's only relieved that he hasn't experienced the same effects with his own abilities.

Then again, he doesn't have any powers that let him teleport around. ]

We still have no way of knowing if there are any other worlds left out there. Maybe the Storm has something to do with it.

[ 76 shrugs, because he's only guessing. That's all he can do when it comes to a lot of these questions.

With a raised eyebrow: ] ... You talk about darkness a lot more literally than I'm used to.

[personalwar]

[ When two muscled, tall, competent fighters enter a bar fight that's mainly just amateurs who've had too much to drink, it's no surprise that all of the action is over in just a matter of minutes. 76 also feels like he's just getting started by the time that everything calms down and the patrons either head home or retreat into corners of the bar to lick their wounds and watch the game.

Which leaves the two of them again. 76 glances over, a wry smile tugging at his mouth as he shrugs. ] I'm sure there'll be more chances. There's usually no shortage of opportunities to throw some punches in this place. [ Not just Nadril, but all of El Nysa. Ysevrai's looming figure should be proof enough of that.

76 inclines his head toward the other refugee. ] Didn't catch your name.

[personalwar]

[ It's unfortunate that Nadril is characterized by freezing temperatures, because 76 definitely isn't a fan these days. He never thought that he would actually miss the humid heat of Wyver, yet here he is.

Riku. It's not a familiar name at all, but at least it's easy enough to remember. 76 probably doesn't need to bother with an alias anymore, but it leaves his mouth before he even thinks about it. ]

76. [ He turns away from the cycle, if a little reluctantly, to take in the rest of the lab. ] So, what do you make of all this? [ He doesn't only mean their immediate surroundings, but Nadril in general. Riku might be a kid, but 76 is ready to pick anyone's brain at this point. He's learned not to underestimate someone simply because they're young. ]

[lancings]

Yes, I heard Frederick has been here for some time. I wouldn't be surprised if he's made a few friends.

[ Whether or not Frederick actually thinks of them as his friends is up in the air, but the wolf-man seems kind enough. Gentle-mannered and firendly. There's no reason why he wouldn't get along with her fellow shepherd. ]

I hope you've been looking out for him, too. He can take his tasks a bit too seriously at times.

[ The pot calling the kettle black, but she does hope he was at least looked after as she knows Frederick probably fussed over everyone he came into contact with. As is his way. ]

Maybe I should take him a miniature horse to remind him of his own steed.

[ Anything to improve overall morale. It's just a shame they can't keep the pets, though probably for the best given the fact that they are synthetic. There is only so much bonding one can have with something that isn't real. ]

[lancings]

That's rather kind of you. I will be the first to let him know of your efforts should he ever awaken.

[ She's still hoping he will, knowing it's not exactly easy seeing him so lifeless. As someone who's always been full of smiles and charisma, it's difficult to see him frozen like that. ]

Do you yourself have any family or close friends still resting? I've made it a point to visit them often and check up to see if they've been disturbed at all.

[ Their bodies are so vulnerable there, and she knows she's not the only one worried about those from her world. There were so many caskets inside, more than she could name and describe. If she could do anything to help their situation, she would in a heartbeat. ]

[lancings]

Of course. It's only proper that the one who helped me pick it out get the honors.

[ And if it's something utterly ridiculous, then she'll only have to call it that for a day. That's something she can live with. Little embarrassment to be had, and she gets to boost the morale of a kind stranger who happens to be in an unfortunate situation with her.

She gently reaches for the pegacorn and lifts it up to show him to see if he can gain any inspiration. Its wings flap a few times as it cranes its head, staring at him with its beady, robotic eyes just begging for something even slightly dignified. ]

I don't know if it's a he or she or anything else, but that shouldn't matter, should it? Go on. I trust you.

[ Not entirely, but she does find him to be amicable for the most part. Only time will tell whether or not he'll live up to his first impression. ]

[lancings]

[ Through the strain, she practically drags the both of them over the proverbial finish line. She's soggy with sweat under her clothes somehow, though the rest of her feels chilled to the bone. Her throat aches, and her limbs weigh like heavy potato sacs -all concerns she shoves away as they reach the encampment. She doesn't waste much time finding a spot for them to rest at least, somewhere relatively warm and cozy as she fights through the exhaustion. ]

I promise I'll fix us both the best stew I can once we've rested up. I don't know what I'll find out here to make it with, but nothing motivates a person more than hunger.

[ Hopefully, there are some fish around or something she can hunt, but those are concerns best filed away for later. For now, her body sags heavily against the first bed she sees. If she ever walks again, it will be a miracle. She can't remember the last time she's used her legs that much. ]

I don't think we're in any immediate danger, but I'll move my bed close to the door in case anyone does try and come in. You can bundle up in the meantime and nap. I imagine they won't be sending one out yet to explore any further after the long trip we've all just taken.

[lancings]

[ That definitely surpasses what her imagination had come up with, but he does have a point. It would take a village to raise a village and so on. ]

I will try and remember that. Does the engine have a main part or something that is portable?

[ Otherwise, there's little point in searching for the engine room if there is nothing they can take from it. She also imagines engine failure is likely the cause of this wreckage, otherwise, it would still be in use, wouldn't it?

As for their training- ]

My friend, Olivia, can teach you better how to wield a sword, but a lance is not difficult to learn. Only difficult to master. Anyone can swing one haphazardly, but precision and discipline take a lot of time. Are you willing to perform drills daily? I must warn you- I have a strict training regimen.

[ She knows it's not for everyone, but how else would she have gotten to where she is? She's aware how many people mocked her for being a perfectionist and a try-hard, but she never wanted to settle for second-best. She doesn't expect the same out of others, but she wants to be a good teacher and help those who can't defend themselves. ]

so sorry for the wait!!!

[icingonthecake]

(continued here!)

[frombetrayal]

I want to.

[Is she jazzed about the idea of finding giant bugs? Not... exactly, but spending time with a friend is always a good thing, so it will probably be fine.

And she definitely owes him after he's gone so far as to help her out here.

Onward to Nadril!]

do we want to move this into an overflow.. captcha is hell

[frombetrayal]

[To say that Haru feels a little caught off-guard would be quite the understatement. Does that show through? ...probably a little! She hadn't really expected to find anyone down here, least of all Akechi.

...

Starting a fight isn't going to do her any good here. That, she knows. And this wouldn't be the first time she's turned a blind eye to Akechi's... well, everything, for the sake of not blowing an operation.

And this is technically an operation - they have tech to salvage and bring back.]

They've given you a task too, then?

[frombetrayal]

Well, you never know until you ask, do you?

[Only one way to find out!]

[frombetrayal]

[Can he really turn her into a fish if she loses? Maybe he can. This planet is filled with all sorts of people with all sorts of magical abilities. It would probably be safer for her to decline, but...]

Very well. However, if I win, you'll have to taste-test a few concoctions of mine.

[Coffee. It's coffee. It's literally just coffee from plants she's going to attempt to grow herself, but you know what, if she's not sure how it will turn out... there's no better opportunity to get some honest feedback than now, is there? Henry doesn't even know her; he's not likely to lie to spare her feelings.

Her smile doesn't so much as waver at his theatrics.]

Does that sound fair to you?