Avery/GM: Welcome to episode 56 of Beyond the Furthest Stars.

(intro music plays, fades down, ambience fades in)

Avery/GM: Other than that, is there anything anyone does? While we're in hyperspace.

Jenine/Marty: I'll send a message to the nerd.

Bee/Polaris: Oh yeah. I forgot about that guy.

Jenine/Marty: We like the nerd now?

Bee/Polaris: Do we?

Jenine/Marty: Marty does. I don't know if the crew likes the nerd.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, okay. Okay. The nerd was mean to Marty. So until he proves that he's no longer mean to Marty, Polaris does not like the nerd.

Jenine/Marty: That's fair. Okay. Marty is now friends with the nerd ish.

Bee/Polaris: Okay.

Jenine/Marty: She hasn't shared that, but yeah.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah. So Polaris still doesn't like the nerd.

Jenine/Marty: Marty just messages and says, I will be in town for the big Phred's opening. There's a pastry store next door. If you would like to meet up for this grand event, Marty,

Avery/GM: you get a reply back that just asks, or just says sounds great. I'll see if I can step away from my research. Is this a formal event or should I dress casual?

Jenine/Marty: What is the dress code on the invitation?

Avery/GM: It's Big Phred, so it's casual. Whatever's comfy.

Bee/Polaris: No, it's cosplay.

Avery/GM: Cosplay. No, that's it. That's great. I love that.

Jenine/Marty: No, I think we should do cosplay. I think we should all have our little

Avery/GM: It's cosplay.

Jenine/Marty: I like it. Give me the fan art.

Chris/Ollie: It has to be.

Jenine/Marty: It's cosplay.

Bee/Polaris: If the, okay, if, if the invitation says cosplay, Polaris is going to binge anime because he's never seen it before.

Avery/GM: Sure.

Jenine/Marty: Oh my gosh, now I have the only

Bee/Polaris: That's what we're doing in hyperspace.

Jenine/Marty: Jenine only knows one anime and it's, it's, I know another one, but that one's

Avery/GM: You can make it up, you can make it up.

Jenine/Marty: We already did it, we, I send, I said, oh, I sent, it's, attire is cosplay, I'm thinking of dressing up as, and then I like send the equivalent of like Power Rangers. But I send him the costume of the pal like, them in full, like, suit, while Marty will go as their, like, human, like, their alter ego.

Avery/GM: Alter... their normal ego?

Jenine/Marty: That's

Bee/Polaris: Oh my god.

Avery/GM: Oh my gosh. I love it. Oh, that's great.

Bee/Polaris: I've never seen it, but I think the only appropriate option for Polaris is Akira. So he's gonna have to get a motorcycle.

Chris/Ollie: Big ol motorcycle.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah

Chris/Ollie: leather jacket, lots of drifting,

Bee/Polaris: all red outfit.

Chris/Ollie: You got to move exclusively in 60 fPS.

Avery/GM: And Polaris would technically have had access to earth anime. So it's possible.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, sweet! He only watches, like, nature documentaries.

Chris/Ollie: Akira's a nature documentary? At this point in the future? This has probably happened. Post apocalyptic mutant biker gangs? Yeah. Totally happened.

Avery/GM: Sure. No, so yeah, we'll throw that curveball into the mix. Everyone pick how your cosplay looks for this scene. Sorry I didn't think about that ahead of time.

Bee/Polaris: No, you're fine. That was a spur of the moment thing. I think it's so chaos. I think actually, I'm trying to think of a good magical girl anime that players can dress up in.

Caden/Bruce: Well, I was going to say, Bruce is going as Sailor Bruce.

Bee/Polaris: Sailor Bruce!

Avery/GM: Yes!

Caden/Bruce: Altering his chef jacket to somewhat look like Sailor Moon's outfit.

Chris/Ollie: Sailor Bruce, nice. Ollie!

Bee/Polaris: That's so good.

Chris/Ollie: Alright, Ollie, since the factory isn't up and running yet, Ollie can't really like, hold on. Wholesale build a body for this so he's going to change his coat to look like one of the the scarred up wolf from that one I can't remember the name that wolf anime

Avery/GM: Wolf's Rain

Chris/Ollie: well, yeah where they're they it's like In the ice and they transform into wolves and shit. Yeah, the one that has scars all over him

Avery/GM: Yeah,

Chris/Ollie: the only one that's actually recognizable

Bee/Polaris: Damn it, I have to look through all the animes.

Jenine/Marty: See, I only know My Hero Academia, and then I was like, okay, Power Rangers are not anime.

Bee/Polaris: Wait, you've never seen Uran High School Host Club?

Jenine/Marty: I know, I give off those vibes. Yuri on Ice, don't know her.

Bee/Polaris: Oh my gosh, are you serious?

Jenine/Marty: I know I'm a little bad gay.

Bee/Polaris: Shaking my head, I'm revoking your gay card. I'm kidding.

Jenine/Marty: Marty will go in like, the pink Power Rangers. So she'll be in like a pink shirt with like, leggings, a denim jacket and then the, I don't remember what they're called. The thing that lets them transform is like, I know it's not a communicator because that's Kim Possible, but it is like a wristwatch that she asks for technological help to fabricate.

Avery/GM: It's their morpher.

Jenine/Marty: Morpher. Yeah.

Avery/GM: You can literally make it up. You can literally make up that there is some show that, you know. It's not a big deal.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, okay. I have, okay. I think, okay. I think I'm just going to make up an anime. Polaris will cosplay like a an anime that it's like a fake anime in this world, that's essentially just this podcast and he's going to cosplay the pilot, but, but it's a magical girl twist, there's space magical girls, but it's basically just this podcast,

Jenine/Marty: you mean Marty?

Avery/GM: Wait, does Marty count as a...

Jenine/Marty: Is she a space magical girl?

Chris/Ollie: I mean

Bee/Polaris: Psi counts as a magical girl.

Avery/GM: Psi is a magical girl.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, Rho is Hatsune Miku and Psi is a literal magical girl. Cause he transforms into the silver shield.

Avery/GM: This is true.

Bee/Polaris: Oh wait, Bruce has his silver shield cosplay!

Caden/Bruce: I recycled it! I don't!

Bee/Polaris: No!

Caden/Bruce: Which is also why Bruce is going with Sailor Bruce, because, you know, you can't give away the disguises that you've already done before.

Jenine/Marty: This is true!

Bee/Polaris: That is true. I think Polaris is going Magical Girl too. Cause Magical Girl anime is a classic.

Jenine/Marty: The theme is Magical Girl.

Chris/Ollie: Okay, yeah, no, we should, we should, no, the theme should be whatever the Sailor Moon, it should be like, Marine Luna, or whatever, of this world. We're the team Ollie will be the cat.

Bee/Polaris: So we're just doing Sailor Moon? That counts as a magical girl, I'll take it.

Jenine/Marty: Marty's gonna commit to the bit of the Power Rangers so she can fuck with her friend.

Bee/Polaris: Nice. Okay, perfect.

Avery/GM: But hey, technically, I, I, I would put Power Rangers as Magical Girl.

Jenine/Marty: It is a magical girl.

Bee/Polaris: It is technically a magical girl anime because they do transform.

Chris/Ollie: Yeah.

Avery/GM: Yeah. And they aren't chosen by like destiny or fate or whatever. So, you know,

Bee/Polaris: yeah, I mean, technically you're fit. You're on brand

Jenine/Marty: theme is magical girl.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah. So we all go as magical girls.

Avery/GM: Yeah. And this is great. I love this. Okay. Oh so you all arrive. Back on Olympia, your, like I said, your entrance onto the planet is much more chill than it was last time. No one's chasing you down with gunships or anything like that.

There's actually quite a bit of traffic in and out of the planet, a lot more than you saw last time. You again, head over to the Southern continent to the city of Ambrosia. There's all the other stuff that's on this continent as well. The Desert of Exile.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, we haven't addressed that.

Avery/GM: And y'all come into the city of Ambrosia. It is a 100 credit parking fee. As there's a lot of events going on today, so. Someone deduct 100 credits from your account.

Jenine/Marty: I got it. I got it, don't worry. Cause I know none of you would pay for it if you could steal your way out of it.

Bee/Polaris: That is true, that is very true.

Avery/GM: You all are walking down the familiar business district of Ambrosia after finding a good parking spot. Arrive outside of big Phred's anime Emporium. There's, you know, a couple of big spotlights, you know, shining out front, you know, to bring bring traffic in. There's a line of people actually looking to get in and check out this new shop. Looks like big Phred has gone all out on the marketing on this. And standing out front is a little guy in a unicorn cosplay outfit.

And he does not look very happy. And he's just like, yeah, yeah. Come on in and get your anime.

Bee/Polaris: It's little Phred

Avery/GM: how did my brother get me to do this? You know, I was a racer. I was a, I was a gun salesman and now I'm out here and you, and he looks up and he sees you all approaching. He's like, Oh no.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah. Did we hear what he said?

Avery/GM: You can kind of hear like as, yeah. Like his voice is very familiar.

Bee/Polaris: As we walk up, when he says, I used to be a racer, Polaris will walk up and say, yeah, but you lost.

Jenine/Marty: Polaris.

Bee/Polaris: While finger, while finger gunsing.

Jenine/Marty: Polaris, we can't. Hi, how are you?

Bee/Polaris: I love how Marty is also not only the most moral of the team, but also Polaris's manners.

Jenine/Marty: Manners. You know, like in Critical Role, you're just, Manners. Sorry. Rewatch. Anyways. Anyways. Yeah.

Avery/GM: And little Phred. Who this person is. Looks up at y'all and is just like, Yeah, I may have lost, but I'll, I'll get back out there one day. I'll, I'll find another racer who can actually go the distance this time. You, you ever want a rematch? Ha, you know where to find me. Not not right now, obviously. I'm helping my, my brother. Did you get the invite? Is that why you're here?

Bee/Polaris: That's why we dressed up and players does a twirl because he's definitely wearing a skirt

Jenine/Marty: as he should.

Avery/GM: Oh, totally. I love it. Yeah. Little Phred's like, yeah, well, it's great. You'll probably take first prize in the, in the contest. Anyway, they're about to get started. They got some standup comic in there doing something, you know, head on in. There's drinks and stuff, just, you know just try to, I don't know, not break anything.

Bee/Polaris: As soon as he says stand up comic, Polaris shoulders drop and his, like, visor goes slowly red. It's the Hotel Concierge, I know it, I knew it in my bones!

Avery/GM: You didn't think I wasn't gonna bring it back, did ya?

Bee/Polaris: I knew you would!

I just didn't know when! I knew it! When we came back.

Chris/Ollie: Oh no.

Avery/GM: Do you head on in or do you stand out here?

Bee/Polaris: Unfortunately.

Avery/GM: Sure, yeah. You get the VIP treatment and get to skip the line. The second time you've done this in the city of Ambrosia actually. And you hear a bunch of groans coming from the crowd.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris does like peace signs and like waves them as he's like walking by the people to go into the store.

Avery/GM: And you enter the anime emporium. And for the most part, the everyone is sort of gathered around like this little corner over here where someone is doing a standup routine, but inside you also see a bunch of like display cases with a bunch of like anime figurines. You see manga and you see holo vids and all this random merchandise, you know, posters and little key chains and stuff like that all just all on display here, it looks like. Looks like Big Phred went all out with this.

Bee/Polaris: Are there plushies?

Avery/GM: Of course there's plushies.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris beelines to the plushies.

Avery/GM: Sure, sure. As you're coming into the store and Polaris, you are walking over to the plushies, you hear someone say, And so that's when she shut the door, and I immediately started acting like I was dying! And you hear just uproarious laughter from the from the crowd.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris stops, and considers his laser blades., and then continues to the plushies.

Jenine/Marty: Marty will put herself, like, in between Polaris and the comedian, and just you.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, Polaris will, like, stop and, like, over Marty, because Marty is small, he will, like, look at the comedian, like, dead in the eyes, and his visor will slowly go red.

Avery/GM: And you hear the comedian announce, and, that's my time, I'm getting the light, so, I guess I'll I'll be performing down the street at the local club, seven nights this week, so, feel free to stop in. Or, if you ever need to stop at a hotel, be sure to stay at the Ornate Dreams Hotel Just on the other side of the business district and I'll be happy to make your day and everyone's clapping and or not everyone But the crowd around him are clapping as they all sort of like disperse to go Peruse the the shop and what what else what all do you the rest of you do as you enter the shop and hear this comedian finish up?

Caden/Bruce: Bruce will go and browse the manga, not knowing exactly what manga is, and then he opens some of them and is just like, more expecting, not cookbook recipe sort of things, but just like, tilting his head, just like in the, why are these all just pictures? Like, he doesn't understand it.

Chris/Ollie: Bruce picks up Shokugeki no Soma, expecting like, recipes, and it's like, cooking anime? Or cooking manga?

Bee/Polaris: Yeah.

Jenine/Marty: Yes.

Chris/Ollie: What?

Caden/Bruce: Just a huh?

Avery/GM: And I will say, the cosplay here is impeccable. There are people who were really elaborate with their costumes,

Chris/Ollie: Yeah, okay.

Avery/GM: There's some fellow, some fellow magical girls There's some really cool costumes where you can't quite tell if the alien is actually an alien wearing it or like wearing an alien costume or if they're an actual alien.

Really hard to tell with some of these. The makeup, the hair, it's all great. And eventually big Phred kind of spots y'all and kind of just gives you a big wave. I'm so glad you made it. Thanks so much. This is, this is my, my dream and it's all thanks to you. So feel free to browse. You all get one free figurine on me as, as thanks.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris does a big wave while he has a big plushie in his hands from across the store.

Jenine/Marty: Marty gives him a hug. Yeah, big Phred! Marty just rushes big Phred to hug him. Jumps over the counter. Boop, boop. Mm hmm.

Chris/Ollie: Yeah, he he's like, he's about, I think, I think we established he's like Bruce's height. So he just wraps you in this big hug, Marty. And he's just like, thank you so much. Wow, this is really great. I'm so glad my friends decided to show up to this. I really, I really figured y'all would be too busy, but it's nice that you made time.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris walks up holding this big plushie and he says, Oh, we're never busy. We're usually just like in various amounts of danger. Which is why we left so abruptly last time, but of course we wouldn't miss this for the world.

Avery/GM: Does Marty say anything?

Jenine/Marty: Marty just smiles and hops back across the counter. We are totally safe and cool. Smile.

Avery/GM: Well, well that's, well that's great. Just be sure to, to pick something up before you leave, okay?

Bee/Polaris: Polaris just buries his face in the big plushie he has.

Avery/GM: Yeah, Big Phred's like I assume you'd rather have a plushie than a figurine?

Bee/Polaris: Oh no, I mean, I'll get a figurine, but I'm also gonna buy this.

Avery/GM: Oh, okay. That's fine. Well you just, you just flag me down when you're ready. I'm gonna, I gotta play the part of a good host, so.

Bee/Polaris: You're doing great.

Avery/GM: I'm gonna go talk to some of my, yeah, thank you. Oh by the way you should check out next door. There's this grocery place Red River Farms.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, we, we bought that building for them.

Avery/GM: Oh wow, you, you all are really nice. Helping people live their dreams. Have you tried the garlic cheesy bread?

Bee/Polaris: It was the first thing we got.

Avery/GM: Oh my gosh, it was so good. I'm probably gonna eat way too many loaves of that in my time here.

Bee/Polaris: It is very tasty.

Chris/Ollie: My flavor sensors indicated it was Top score.

Bee/Polaris: Oh yeah. Yeah. Ollie is that's Ollie.

Avery/GM: Whoa, whoa. Your dog just talked.

Chris/Ollie: Yes. Oh, my apologies. I died before. This is my new body.

Avery/GM: Wow. You you're different, but I like it. Can I, can I pet you?

Chris/Ollie: Please do.

Avery/GM: It is tail wagging. Yeah, he runs a big hand over your. Your dog fur and it's just like, wow, this is so nice

Chris/Ollie: Affirmative

Avery/GM: Okay, I I should I should maybe I should like get a dog next you think that might be a good idea Like just a shop dog just to hang out.

Bee/Polaris: You can co- you can dress him up in cosplay.

Avery/GM: Oh That's great

Bee/Polaris: He could be the store mascot.

Avery/GM: The costume that little Phred is wearing is actually You Meant to go on a, on a pet and that's the only thing that could really fit my, my, my brother. So, you know, I had to, I had to let him use that. Looks kind of funny though on him. Doesn't it?

Bee/Polaris: That's, that's kind of funny considering there's an auto tailor here.

Avery/GM: Oh, there, there is. I've, I've. Never been in a big city like this, so, you know, I kind of just

Bee/Polaris: I can send you the address.

Avery/GM: No, he's he's giving you a smile that kind of

Bee/Polaris: Oh, he knew?

Avery/GM: Indicates like he's he's playing dumb.

Bee/Polaris: That's hilarious!

Avery/GM: Sorry, I was trying to convey that auditorily..

Bee/Polaris: No, you're fine. That's great.

Avery/GM: Marty, you get a tap on your shoulder and you turn around and there is someone wearing a very silly store bought costume with, like, a really ridiculous plastic helmet and, like, super tight jumpsuit in matching colors. And is just like, I thought we were, I thought we were doing the rangers.

Jenine/Marty: You didn't ask which ranger I was doing and which version.

Avery/GM: But you sent, you said super rangers. And so I came as. The, the, the green one. I even got, and he like, holds up like, the fake plastic like, sword. That goes with this costume. He's like, I even got the one that like, lights up. What?

Jenine/Marty: Hi.

Bee/Polaris: Marty.

Avery/GM: Hi Marty.

Chris/Ollie: Seeing him show up in the costume, Ollie's like, who is this nerd?

Bee/Polaris: Polaris like puts a, does like the the mean girl anime hand thing where you put it over your mouth and he just kind of snickers to himself.

Jenine/Marty: Oswald, these are my friends. You met them. We yeah, we have mended our ways. This is me sealing our friendship with a little prank.

Avery/GM: Well, ten out of ten on that one, Marty. Hi everyone. It's, it's Oswald. I, Marty, did you get a dog?

Bee/Polaris: No.

Jenine/Marty: Yeah,

Bee/Polaris: that's wasn't Ollie a dog last time? Oh, no, no, no, no, no, he wasn't. He became the dog after the EMP.

Jenine/Marty: Mm hmm.

Avery/GM: And also I was too much in a huff to, like, notice that Ollie had switched bodies at the end of that encounter, so he's very confused.

Bee/Polaris: No, that's Ollie.

Chris/Ollie: Circumstances required my changing of housing.

Bee/Polaris: After we got attacked at your laboratory Ollie changed bodies.

Chris/Ollie: If it wasn't for your lack of security, I would still be in my humanoid form.

Avery/GM: It's not my fault, I didn't I didn't order someone to attack you. Like, why is it my fault?

Bee/Polaris: Lack of security for a secure facility.

Avery/GM: Well, oh, is this more teasing?

Bee/Polaris: No isn't it? Polaris looks at Ollie.

Chris/Ollie: My apologies. Organic humor is still new to me.

Avery/GM: Oh, okay. Well, you're nailing it, I guess. Just keep up the good work. Marty, I might go change real quick. Is that okay?

Jenine/Marty: Yeah, it's okay.

Avery/GM: Big Phred from behind you is just like, you. No, keep it. It's awesome. We're going to have the contest soon. You never know, you might win. And Oswald's like, well, what's the prize? And Big Phred's like, just a giant plushie.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris' helmet eyes sparkle. And he says, you're going to lose. I'm going to win. I need that plushie.

Chris/Ollie: As you're holding a plushie?

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, as he's holding a plushie.

Avery/GM: Oswald like, is just like, kind of like, hangs his head, he's like, Okay, I guess I'll keep it on. I'm gonna get you back. And he's like, being playful about it, not like, not actually hurt feelings, but just like, Oh, I get it.

Jenine/Marty: Marty throws back finger guns.

Bee/Polaris: Up until the point where Marty throws back finger guns, Polaris narrows his eyes and slowly reaches for his laser blade.

Jenine/Marty: Marty will will put her hand on the laser It's we're we're we're And then she turns to Oswald, We're working on comedy in this group. It's, it's, it's a fun uphill journey.

Avery/GM: Oh well that's, that's all well and good. Yeah Polaris? That's, that's the name you told me, right?

Bee/Polaris: Polaris Re Yeah, I was about to say.

Avery/GM: Marty, your, your friend's Your friend's name is Polaris, right?

Jenine/Marty: Yeah.

Avery/GM: Yeah, Marty and I we had like a, like, it was only like a two day journey in the, in the desert of exile last time, but we kind of buried the hatchet between us.

Bee/Polaris: Okay. Polaris takes his hand away from his laser blade.

Avery/GM: We're, we're, we're good. And he, like, holds up two thumbs, like,

Chris/Ollie: Ollie will look at Marty and ask, You are good.

Jenine/Marty: Yes, we're good.

Bee/Polaris: Okay. I suppose I won't call you a nerd anymore.

Jenine/Marty: You can still call him a nerd.

Bee/Polaris: I will continue to call you a nerd.

Avery/GM: I, I, I am a nerd. It is what it is. I mean, clearly. Any, like, gestures to his outfit?

Bee/Polaris: I mean, to be fair, we're all in cosplay. And Polaris does a little twirl.

Avery/GM: Yeah, it's, how come, how come you can pull it off, though, and I, I can't? Is it just confidence?

Bee/Polaris: Because I made it.

Avery/GM: Oh, yeah, that might be a good idea.

Bee/Polaris: Well, also confidence.

Jenine/Marty: Honestly, for a last minute build, it's pretty impressive.

Avery/GM: Well, you know, I, I just, I kinda just still had it in the closet from, from last the last costume party I attended. So actually surprised it still fits, but anyway, I'm going to, I'm going to go find something to, to drink. I, I hear I hear there's some, some good punch around here. So I'll, I'll talk to you later, Marty.

Jenine/Marty: Okay. Bye.

Avery/GM: And he wanders off. Bruce, you are perusing this manga still when you. A small tackle from the side doesn't even move you at all. But someone has wrapped their arms around you and they're like, lizard friend, you're back and it is silver from the red river farms family and she has wandered in to try and find you, or no, has wandered in to check out this store and saw you, I should say. And she's looking up at you with just this big, cheesy You know preteen smile on her face and is, is just like, have you come to, to take the job?

Caden/Bruce: Bruce will smile and just be like, I mean, I came to apply and think about it. I haven't really told my crew yet. I mean, I miss cooking, but I also would miss going on adventures. So it's it's something to think about.

Avery/GM: And she like holds her hands up to her mouth and it's just like, Oh, I'm sorry. I'll be quiet. So they don't find out yet.

Caden/Bruce: Well, it's not a secret, but I appreciate it. How's the store going?

Avery/GM: Oh my gosh. It's so great. It's so much fun. I actually am able to like go to school and like learn stuff and not just learn like kind of when, when my parents have time. And I'm actually doing really well. I help out in the shop sometimes when, like when the workers like call in sick or something, but like, we're doing so great.

We, we have extra money to spend. We are selling all of our crops, so we're not wasting anything. And yeah, we're, we're doing great. And it's all thanks to you and your friends.

Caden/Bruce: Well, sometimes you just need a better location to make your business thrive, and I'm glad that you're enjoying school.

Avery/GM: Okay, well, I'm, I'm gonna, I'm gonna grab one of these and she picks up, like, volume six of sort of your slice of life high school manga and is like I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna grab this and go read it while while I, you know, hang out in the, in the back room of the, of the store. But I'll, I'll see you later. Okay.

Caden/Bruce: Yep. I will Come by and say hi.

Avery/GM: Sounds good. And she wanders off to go pay for her book.

Caden/Bruce: Bruce noticing that Oswald has now left the group, will go back up to the group because he didn't want to run into Oswald. Because he doesn't know.

Jenine/Marty: Fair,

Caden/Bruce: you know.

Avery/GM: But you're, but you're Sailor Bruce. There's no way he would recognize you.

Caden/Bruce: This is true. And he'll come over and he'll just be like so, I might have gotten a job offer.

Bee/Polaris: Oh? From Big Phred? You're gonna work here?

Caden/Bruce: No from Red River's Farm. They want to start up a restaurant to go alongside their store so that people can buy their foods but then also experience different recipes named after them. And ideas for what they could cook with said food.

Bee/Polaris: Well, is it what you want to do?

Caden/Bruce: I mean, I think it would be nice for me to help them maybe train a chef? I don't know. I mean, I enjoy traveling, but I do miss cooking.

Bee/Polaris: Well, whatever you want to do, I'll support you.

Jenine/Marty: Yeah, and think about it. You can make your own cookbook and then franchise it and be better than you know.

Bee/Polaris: We don't, we, we don't know Jamie.

Jenine/Marty: We don't? I thought we do.

Bee/Polaris: No, Bruce never told us about Jamie. What, you do? You, I don't know about Jamie.

Caden/Bruce: We know of Chef Jamie, yeah.

Jenine/Marty: We know, yeah,

Bee/Polaris: we know of Chef Jamie.

Jenine/Marty: I know the beans.

Avery/GM: You also did mention To Red River Farms, like, one of the conditions was, like, you don't sell Chef Jamie's stuff, right? And they were like, no we only sell what we grow. And so, like, you know there's a hint. There's a hint of something there. I don't think Bruce has gone into the whole story.

Jenine/Marty: Marty knows there's something there. She could read rooms. She knows there's something there about Jamie.

Avery/GM: Yeah, totally.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris can't read rooms. So he just, as soon as Bruce is like, I don't like this person, Polaris is like, yeah, I also don't like that person.

Jenine/Marty: As you should.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris is ready to die for his friends.

Jenine/Marty: As he should.

Bee/Polaris: Okay. So yeah, we did. Okay. We at least know that Bruce doesn't like Chef Jamie and by proxy, we don't like Chef Jamie. Okay, cool.

Chris/Ollie: Now that we don't hate the nerd, we got to focus it all on Chef Jamie. So.

Jenine/Marty: Yeah, Obvi..

Bee/Polaris: But yeah, Polaris points to Marty and nods at the, at her, saying he could start a cookbook and outclass Jamie.

Caden/Bruce: I've never considered writing a cookbook. I don't, I don't think any of my species has ever written a cookbook, actually. That would be different.Bruce will Smile. Smile.

Avery/GM: And Zahn, actually, who's with the group.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, zahn's with us?

Avery/GM: We'll come over to Bruce and clap you on the, on the back and just be like, Bruce, you got this. I believe in you. If this is the path for you, then you should do it, but you'll always have a place with us anyway, even if you're here decide in two weeks that you want to come back. We'll, well, I won't be there cause I'll be back on the, on the Cassiopeia, but I'm sure the rest of the crew will turn the ship around and come pick you up.

Chris/Ollie: We're sad to see you go, but if at any time you message us, we will come running.

Avery/GM: If this is the way things go for you.

Caden/Bruce: Well, I would still have to go and accept said job, which I've not yet done. But I would like to go and visit the farm either way and see how their store is doing since we bought it for them.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah, I think it'd be cool to see how far they've gone.

Avery/GM: So you all, how much longer do you hang out at this party?

Bee/Polaris: Well, we get our figurines and then Polaris will win the competition. No, I'm kidding.

Avery/GM: Well, I was going to say we will, we will roll. We will roll for that today at least.

Bee/Polaris: Oh shit, let's go! Oh heck yeah, let's go.

Avery/GM: Who all would like to enter the competition?

Chris/Ollie: Yeah, let's go.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris needs that plushie he's entering.

Jenine/Marty: Marty will do it and give the, if she wins, she's, she's, she's going in and she goes, if I win, it's going to you. We're just adding more odds.

Bee/Polaris: Polaris is like, Polaris is like Whispers yes, rig the system.

Jenine/Marty: Okay. Well, we're not rigging the system. It's more along the lines. Okay

Avery/GM: Okay, so here's how this is gonna work Phred announces big Phred is just like, So anyone who wants to participate in the cosplay contest just go ahead and line up and what we'll do is we'll just we'll go by crowd Crowd cheers I've got little sensors set up to kinda gauge the, the sound of the, of the crowd cheering.

So just make your voices known who's, who's the best. The way this, this'll be judged is just, I want you to, you know, kind of just walk down the makeshift runway we've got here, strike a pose, or say a line from your character's, you know, like your character's catchphrase or something, and the crowd gets to vote on what they like.

So go ahead and let's get started with Marty! And the way this is gonna work is describe what your character does, and pick a skill, and roll that plus charisma.

Jenine/Marty: Oh, beautiful.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, gosh. Oh, no.

Avery/GM: And the skill has to match, kind of, the general feel for what you're doing cosplay is doing

Jenine/Marty: mm hmm. Mm hmm. I do have something.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, no,

Jenine/Marty: wait, wait, wait, wait. I have I have a No, you have something

Avery/GM: you have a foci.

Jenine/Marty: I do have a foci it's connected

Avery/GM: That's right

Jenine/Marty: Gain Talk as a bonus, if you have spent at least a week in a not entirely hostile location, you will build a web of contacts willing to do favors for you.

Now, I have a question. I have technically been in this space a week. It has been a bit, so this is kind of like my homecoming in a way. So like, you would say What, like, besties would be pulled up, right? And would love to see me on the stage. So so technically I am connecting with the audience.

Avery/GM: Yeah, you were on Ambrosia for what, like a week and a half? So you've met that timeline you were eating and shopping at local businesses making connections because Marty's a friendly person anyway

Jenine/Marty: Mm hmm

Avery/GM: Oswald has probably also said some nice things about you in your absence because of the way you've mended your friendship with him yeah, I think that works

Jenine/Marty: Amazing and so when she's going down she does like And then she goes it's morphin time. And then does the whole like thing, but like very poorly, but like tries her best. Like you could see she's trying her best because also she's in front of a crowd. So she's like, I normally go one on one. So this is a first time. But she's trying to connect to like each individual in the space with with like each one of her movements.

Avery/GM: Sure. Maybe some of your poses, like you're like pointing at someone.

Jenine/Marty: Mm hmm.

Avery/GM: Like this one's for you or something. Yeah. Okay. Sure.

Jenine/Marty: Amazing. So we're doing connect. So I roll three dice and drop the lowest and then I'm also adding charisma. Okay, great.

Caden/Bruce: Can Bruce assist? Bruce isn't entering the competition, but every time someone who he knows does, he'll just be in the crowd making extra loud noise.

Avery/GM: Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Go ahead and roll either strength or dex exert to assist.

Jenine/Marty: 11.

Avery/GM: 11. Ooh, that's good. Okay. I got that marked down. Okay. Next up is little Phred and his unicorn costume and he gallops up and down and he rides up and it's just like, yo, look at me. I'm a unicorn. You, nay. And

Bee/Polaris: That's pretty good.

Avery/GM: He rolled a one and a two. Minus two. So he rolled a one.

Caden/Bruce: Bruce is literally the only one in the audience just like just a slow clap.

Avery/GM: And he's just like, ah, screw you guys anyway. And wanders kind of off

Caden/Bruce: Bruce will hold a thumbs up, just being like, you did good.

Avery/GM: Ollie or Polaris, do either of you want to go next?

Bee/Polaris: I can go next. I do have a question though.

Avery/GM: Sure.

Bee/Polaris: Because this is like a fake in uterus magical girl costume. Can I say that he has rollerblades?

Avery/GM: Is this so you can do a pilot check?

Bee/Polaris: Yes!

Avery/GM: Yeah, but I want to hear what kind of sick tricks Polaris is going to do.

Bee/Polaris: I got you. Polaris is going to start out by like gaining some speed and then he's going to skate backwards down the, the runway and do like a, like a waving kind of motion, like with the skates, like waving back and forth. And then he's going to do a cartwheel and then land in the air. Like at the end of the stage and strike an anime pose.

Avery/GM: Oh my gosh. Okay Go ahead and roll and

Bee/Polaris: he's gonna

Avery/GM: go ahead

Bee/Polaris: he Instead of I'm gonna say instead of me having his laser blades that are very dangerous He has light sticks and he's gonna be waving them as he's skating backwards

Avery/GM: Very nice. Charisma pilot

And then Bruce again if you want to help go ahead and roll

Caden/Bruce: yeah

Avery/GM: that same role to assist

Bee/Polaris: Well, I have plus zero and charisma bruce, what did

Caden/Bruce: I rolled, I rolled an 11.

Avery/GM: Okay.

Bee/Polaris: Yay. So plus one.

Avery/GM: Yep.

Bee/Polaris: Okay. 15.

Avery/GM: Jesus.

Jenine/Marty: Yes.

Avery/GM: Okay.

Bee/Polaris: I rolled a six and a five plus three.

Avery/GM: Groovy. Okay. Next up is going to be a little non furry alien. And he is wearing a, let's see, what kind of, what kind of anime he's running, like a martial arts gi and has like this, this. This alien is like, kind of like pink and has kind of like, just like very like tight skin, almost like all around him.

So he's like, it's all just clinging to him, almost kind of like Rhea, but not as creepy looking and not the same species. He's wearing like this karate gi and then has like really spiky purple, like wig hair on top of his head.

Bee/Polaris: Oh my gosh.

Jenine/Marty: I got it.

Bee/Polaris: I also got it.

Avery/GM: Yeah and he's doing some karate moves down the runway kind of maybe, maybe trying to do a little imitation of what Polaris was doing, like with using the whole runway for this purpose. And he's getting the crowd pumped up. Let's see. Okay. He rolled a 10.

Bee/Polaris: Oh, not bad.

Avery/GM: Not bad. Doing, doing pretty good, but yeah, it's just a little bit, a little bit louder for Polaris than, than for this, this fella. All right. Ollie. Let's have you go next.

Chris/Ollie: All right. So while this was going on, Ollie, who was maneuvering one of his drones into the little display booth and he hooked it up to the the projector machines to like project a hologram onto himself, if that is possible to, in order to use my program roll for this and so he has the hologram set up to display himself as the founding titan and to do like a whole like rumbling Display to try and scare up the crowd see if he can get a reaction

Avery/GM: Well in that note or on that note go ahead and roll charisma program then and maybe i'll make a Mental saving throw for this crowd versus their morale score.

Chris/Ollie: All right. Okay. Charisma program. Okay.

Avery/GM: Yeah.

Chris/Ollie: I don't have any of that. At least it's not a minus. So that will be 13.

Avery/GM: That's pretty good. Well, I am also going to give you a plus a minus one because the crowd rolled a two on their mental save against their morale score. You scared a good portion of this crowd.

Chris/Ollie: These crowd ain't giving a fuck.

Avery/GM: And so some of them actually book it out. And a few other people try and and do good. But with this reduced crowd, it They just can't muster the same response that Polaris received with his cool ass Rollerblade skills and Ollie's valiant effort comes just a little bit short of, of Polaris's Skill and big Phred's just like, well, looks like our winner today is magic girl, Polaris

Bee/Polaris: Polaris skates back on the stage and is like waving his light sticks.

Avery/GM: Big Phred hands over a big plushie. What is this plushie? Polaris.

Bee/Polaris: I don't know. It's like one of those like really cute like animals from any sort of magical girl anime. It's like the, the animal that gives them the powers.

Avery/GM: The companion pet. Yeah.

Bee/Polaris: Yeah.

Avery/GM: Totally. Okay. Very good. Cool. Yeah, so. The crowd cheers for you as you collect your stuff. You all get your figurines and Polaris, you buy this extra plushie for just like 50 credits. It's not much. And the party basically thins out and you get a big wave from a big Phred and you just, you get a, yeah, yeah. See you next time from little Phred. And, yeah, you are back out on the street, and Bruce, the bright lights of the Red River Farms store, is almost seemingly beckoning you to come on in.

Caden/Bruce: Let's a go!

Avery/GM: Alright, and Bruce, you step on in to the Red River Farms, and you immediately hear, Bruce! You're here! I'm so glad you got our email. Have you decided to take the job or not? And that's where we're going to end it.

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Avery/GM: Thank you for listening to our show. Beyond the furthest stars is a one up podcast network production. Be sure to leave a review wherever you get your podcasts. Intro and outro by Dustin Carpenter. Background music by TabletopAudio. com. Tracks used include Starbase Omega, Cyberpunk Bar, and Starship Bridge. We’ll be back in 2 weeks with our next episode. See you out there. Beyond the Furthest Stars.

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