Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Session 1 - Launch Party!
125 Plays1 year ago
We meet our characters, Jerry, Wesley, Max, and Koal and attend the New Years Eve launch party for Jerry's new fitness app. But this is the World of Darkness, and no party goes quite as planned.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Setup
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello mortals, just a quick disclaimer before we begin. This is a vampire game, and as such we'll be dealing with topics like drugs, alcohol, mental issues, violence, death, and of course, blood. The intro and outro song is Foxhole Revolution, and the secondary intro song is Gothamalicious, both by Kevin MacLeod at Incompetech.com, licensed under Creative Commons by Attrition 4.0 License. Also, this is our first time ever recording anything, and we had some audio issues, so
00:00:28
Speaker
It's a little rough, but we did the best we could. Hopefully it gets better in the future and enjoy the show. All right. So let's see here.
00:01:01
Speaker
Oh, I guess if this ever gets released...
Meet the Hosts
00:01:05
Speaker
Hello Internet World! This is... Hi Internet World! Hi! Integrated Dice Management. I'm the storyteller for tonight. My name's Ron, and we're going to be playing Vampire the Masquerade, which fit the pitch in, which none of us have ever played before. So here we go. It should be great.
00:01:29
Speaker
But should we go around the table and say a little bit about ourselves and go? I'm not going. Hey, how's it going, everybody? I'm I'm Bill. I'm the I'm the talent. Yeah, that's the one that was the worst. Shut up, Frank. Shut up, Frank. Shut up, Frank. I'm just joking. I love you, Frank. I love you too, though.
00:01:58
Speaker
I'm Jaden. I'm I I do pest control. Oh Yeah, sorry out. Can I do can I do can I add in mine? I do that too Well, I think we all need to add in and we all do that Yes. Yes. I also do pest control. I'm a certified applicator Hayden Haynes a stripper
00:02:25
Speaker
On the weekends. That's when the camcorder is the best out of this entire group. Every night we come out of your range. Only days that end with Y. Hey, every day is the weekend when you're making it rain. It's more like just a rain day. Who's already gone? It's your turn.
00:02:56
Speaker
My turn. All right, well, I'm Frank. I'll be the one making the wise-ass jokes for the night. Well, he's probably not the only one, but... Well, yeah, not the only one. He's not going to lie. Up this group, we've got a lot of sarcasm. Sarcasm is our first language. I guess I didn't formally introduce myself. My name's Hayden. I'm eating sunflower seeds currently. And I do wear compressed control, so...
00:03:27
Speaker
I know. No way. That's crazy. It must have been like some sort of like sign for us all to be together. Well, see, I do pest control on the outside and then I go inside their home and strip. So. Yeah. Oh, that's a good two for. I've always I've always wondered something. When you do those, do you bring your own or strip on whatever they already have? What do you think? You know,
00:03:57
Speaker
Mm hmm. They have an extension pole. It's like a like a copper brass like extension pole. You can use first. Yeah. We also have a room. Oh, yeah. We like bring with you and just like, yeah, I was going to say my broom. I just lodged that in their house and then. Do my thing. All right, you do. Let's let's get into the game. All right, so.
Game Begins: Setting the Scene
00:04:25
Speaker
The sun rises on the last day of the year. It is December 31st, 2009. Is that really how we're going to start it? New Year's Eve? Like we just kind of introduce ourselves and then jump into the game? We want to. Thank you. Well, I'm just saying it's our first time around, you know, like you're setting a precedent that that's just how it goes now.
00:04:46
Speaker
like that you start the, you know, we bullshit for like two seconds and then jump into the game. Well, my entire life is bullshit, so I'd rather just jump into the game. He's the dungeon master. We've, uh, we've, we've introduced ourselves. We're going to play some Vampire the Masquerade. Uh, here we go. The sun rises on the last day of the year. It's December 31st, 2019.
00:05:16
Speaker
Top stories for today? Crowd storms the US Embassy in Baghdad. Gunshots heard, reporter says. West Virginia correctional cadets that gave Nazi salute and photo will all be fired. Michelle Obama is the most admired woman in a new poll. And Texas man who stopped church shooting says he had to take out the gunman because evil exists. Trending on Twitter, New Year's Eve, Bryce Perkins, Happy New Year, Australia wildfires,
00:05:46
Speaker
and the last day of 2019. So those, those are all real, by the way, real articles. I don't remember any of that and hashtags. Uh, I think I was asleep at that point. Yeah.
Characters and Their Stories
00:06:05
Speaker
It was only a few hours before sunrise, before the rise of the sun that a group of beings, some ancient
00:06:12
Speaker
and all at least decades old, gathered in a luxurious room in an old hotel in the heart of Houston. This is madness, a well-dressed woman says. You can't make us do this, said another figure, cloaked in shadow. Your prince has issued a command. You'd be well to follow it, says another woman. The shadowy figure stares daggers at her until the shadows seem to shy away from
00:06:36
Speaker
and surround the authoritative figure, coalescing at her feet almost as if they were supplicating to her. You will do this, says yet another. The prince has seen it. You all know what that means. You all know you will do what you are told. And with only a few grumbles, the group dispersed and went their separate ways, and the sun rose on the last day of the year. Let's go, Jerry.
00:07:05
Speaker
Or Bill, who are you playing, Bill? I am playing Jerry Wilson. Jerry Wilson. And what does Jerry do when he wakes up in the morning? Well, Jerry wakes up, gives himself a nice stretch. Then he goes about getting up, starting out his day, gets his protein shake ready, made it the night before. All natural, organic chia seeds.
00:07:35
Speaker
Gotta love those chia seeds. Yum, yum, yum. And then after that, he takes his protein supplements and he gets started on his morning workout. Today's the cardio day. Is Jerry alone right now? Yeah, Jerry's alone. He's got butterflies in his stomach for the launch of his new health line app.
00:08:06
Speaker
Frank, you've never heard of chia seeds? I've heard of chai. I'm pretty sure there's... Oh, it's C-H-I-A, C-H-I-A. Chachachia. Yeah, those. It's those. You can eat them. The edible seeds of Salvia hispanica, a flowering plant in the mint family native to Central and Southern Mexico.
00:08:31
Speaker
or of the related salvia clombaria of the southwestern United States and Mexico. So which stream is it from? Well, that makes them happy. Do you have them imported or are they native? Frank, I fucking hate you.
00:08:52
Speaker
I mean, you would know this. Listen, just for everyone else. Bill is not healthy by any stretch of the imagination. He's trying, but Jerry's super healthy. Okay, so Jerry, you've got a big party coming up, a launch party for your new app. How does Jerry feel about that?
00:09:19
Speaker
very excited he's got butterflies in his he's got butterflies in his tummy but you know he's trying to trying to keep it cool not trying to keep his emotions emotions under control and also trying not to panic a little bit getting a bit of a grumble in his grumble in his tummy part way through his workout like oh my okay
00:09:39
Speaker
Oh, okay. We're good. We're good. We're good. We're good. We're fine. We're fine. I've run, I've successfully been running three businesses for several years now. I'm fine. Okay. We're good. Keep your mind up. Keep your mind busy. Come on. Come on, Jerry. All right. So while Jerry does all that Maxwell Cox, it's around midday. Um, about lunchtime. What are you doing right now?
00:10:08
Speaker
So I assume it's like my day off or am I? You tell me. All right, it's my day off. So I spend the day, you know. Doing adult shit just by. Cleaning the house and whatnot, I vaguely I have like pictures that I stay that I stare at half the time that have my son in the in the picture frame and me and him.
00:10:36
Speaker
Um, but obviously you can tell us like taking years ago. Um, and what's your son's name? My son's name is Max Jr. Okay. That's right. And so getting to the party, I'm hydrating. I'm pre-gaming with, uh, probably.
00:11:03
Speaker
I don't know, whatever alcohol is available. That's cheap because Brenda has me on a news with child support. So IPA. Yeah. Fuck you, Brenda. My son. Now he's probably on something even cheaper than IPA. He's probably probably drinking like a cinnamon with tonight at the park. You can just drink burned out of your mind.
00:11:32
Speaker
All right, that's what Max is doing. So Wesley, what are you doing to get ready for the upcoming party? Well, as Wesley would do, he would obviously have his wife, Carol Isaac, as his plus one. He would be dressed to a T because he is the CEO of Isaac Genetics.
00:12:01
Speaker
Of course. So he obviously has to present himself in a way that is going to look good no matter where he is. And he's going to go get a haircut on the way there. All right. Where do you go for a haircut? I go to shag spa and salon. Shag spa and salon. Okay. Yes. Off of research and Grogan's mill. Is this a real place? And yes, this is a real place. Okay.
00:12:31
Speaker
Um, and that's, that's, that's where I'm getting my hair done. You know what I'm saying? Yeah. I was like, that's a good name for something just off the top of your head. Yeah. Hey, actually I did have a bit of a, a bit of a question and I guess I should have made this distinction earlier. Uh, Jen, are, are companies going to be like related to each other or anything? So what is your specifically?
00:13:00
Speaker
Mine is basically a health line. I run a health food store, a healthy workout center, and a mental health therapy type stuff. Well, I am basically a giant lab where everyone is literally breaking down DNA to its finest.
00:13:24
Speaker
you know, item basically, and trying to learn how to graft skin. I think for you, this was honestly just like, it was more of an opportunity to get some cash into the company. You're providing scientific legitimacy behind the- His products that he's making.
00:13:52
Speaker
I'm the, I'm the FDA basically for you. Except, except whether or not you're FDA approved, I don't know, but I am a scientist that is standing in for you that approves your message basically. Yeah. Yeah. You're, you're, you're, you're the, the, the, the. Yeah. Yes. You're one. I'm all not. Yes. Um, and then last of all, we have coal.
00:14:22
Speaker
Cole, what are you doing to get ready? What time of day is it? It's starting to get closer to the party. It's probably around what might be dinner time if you choose to eat dinner. So I would assume that I'm making the last minute touches on the app for Bill. What was your character's name? Jerry.
00:14:49
Speaker
I don't know why. I need to have that up so I can remember names. But I'm probably making last minute adjustments to Jerry's app so that it can be picture perfect for the launch. I probably have a big bag of Cheetos or Funyuns beside me on the desk while I'm sitting just. All right, so the day goes by. You all do your various things to get ready. Is anyone else bringing a plus one? If Brenda wouldn't let me see my son.
00:15:23
Speaker
I don't know if it's an appropriate party for your son. God damn it, Brenda. Well, there's the party, then there's the after party. Is that not how it was supposed to go down originally? I mean, are we still doing that? The official launch and then the after party or whatever. So yeah, the launch party is going to be streamed on very
00:15:52
Speaker
streaming platforms, and they call it simulcast to the world, the launch of what's the name of this app? I'm putting you on the spot, Bill. You would too. It goes by IO, A-I-1-O.
00:16:21
Speaker
all in one all in one oh shit that doesn't that that doesn't that letters don't add up oh wait it still does a i one oh h all in one organic health i oh i oh dang all in one organic health good job i should probably write this down because i'm so you spell that one more time for the people in the back
00:16:47
Speaker
OK, just just for those people in the back. A. I. So number one. OK. Oh, eight. OK. And can you say your slogan one more time? Yes, I love my slogan is all in one organic health. That's that's easy. All right, so.
00:17:15
Speaker
Everybody is going to this party and we're going to fast
Launch Party Begins
00:17:21
Speaker
forward. We've vaguely introduced your characters. How are y'all getting to the party? How are each of you arriving? Are you going to be on time? The party is at a hotel in Houston.
00:17:39
Speaker
launch itself will be in the downstairs kind of lobby area, but the after party is going to be upstairs on the roof. Before Jerry gets there, he does stop by one of his group counseling groups, you know, one of his counseling groups that he helps host, just to kind of help get his mind in the right mind space. You know, other people are having bigger problems than me.
00:18:09
Speaker
Okay, there's nothing. What kind of problems? Oh, it's a, it's a, it's a, it's a grief grief counseling. Tonight's session is grief counseling. So, you know, dealing with people who have loss or and are dealing with dealing with a loss of some kind. So. Oh, that's right. Because you do the mental stuff too.
00:18:36
Speaker
Yeah, I like people that have to have a healthy mind body in life. So whenever you go to the grief counseling, is it like a group thing? Yeah. OK. Yeah, it's kind of like, hey, everyone, I'm Jerry. Hi, Jerry. And a year and a half ago, this person who was really close, my mom or my wife, my girlfriend, someone died or just isn't here.
00:19:08
Speaker
All right. So there's someone new at your group tonight. Um, it's a woman, an Egyptian woman. Quick, quick question. Um, so Bill, you're hosting this, uh, group therapy session. I host, I host, I host, I try to host one, uh, several nights a week. Is it at like your place of business or is it a place that you put aside for it? Or is it just kind of in the back alley?
00:19:33
Speaker
It's at one of my place of businesses. So it's out of my counseling office. The upstairs is for a private one-on-one session between either me or some of my other staff and some of my patients. But for the groups counseling, the downstairs room is large, has a bunch of chairs and stuff. We set out coffee and some snacks and everyone can just sit down. They can talk if they want. If they don't want to talk, they don't have to. They can just sit and hang out, but it's there.
00:20:02
Speaker
See, I envisioned it being like bean bags and those really uncomfortable chairs are supposed to be good for your back. See, that's that's great. That's great for the meant for the physical physical health aspect. But for a lot of for a lot of people, it's a bit more comfortable to be a bit more.
00:20:20
Speaker
I guess they don't necessarily want to be able to, a lot of people when they're sharing these kind of grief moments don't want to necessarily relax. They're already on edge and necessarily they're already letting a big guard down. So a lot of times having just a basic set up with chairs and some kind of basic snack or beverage or something kind of helps to just feel more comfortable being in the situation. And some Zen music playing in the background, maybe some incense burning around the room.
00:20:49
Speaker
This isn't a, this isn't one of the yoga sessions. Of course I do teach those as well, but not super lab, but you know, kind of just background noise. Okay. So I want to try something. Um, I've heard other shows do this and it sounded fun. So Frank, uh, you're a random NPC in this session and basically just introduce yourself and like, uh, what are you here for? This is just like a straight group therapy. There's no like overarching, like it's not AA or anything like that.
00:21:18
Speaker
No, no, it's just, it's just, it's, it's the theme is, the theme is, uh, is is grief. So, uh, but it's polite. It's polite at the beginning of sessions. They have to introduce yourself. Be like, hi. So just come up with some random NPCs and introduce yourself. Can I do it? Yeah, go. All right. Hi, my name is Richard. I go by Dick. Um, I.
00:21:44
Speaker
Well, I've just been going through a really hard time. I lost my job and I can't find another one. Um, and my, my whole family lives in a different state. So I really, nothing else to fall back onto. This is actually, uh, one of my first times being here. So I'm excited to get to know all of you.
00:22:12
Speaker
Absolutely, Dick, and it's great. I'm so happy you decided to come and join us today. There's a lot of great people here and I'm sure we're going to all love getting to know you. Afterwards, if you want to come talk to me, I'm always open and I might be able to help you out with some stuff. I can introduce you to some people. It's no problem. Somebody else. Hi, my name is Jason.
00:22:42
Speaker
Darryl and you know, I've been just really down lately and I don't know why, you know, I mean, I have a job and I go to work every day, but I mean, it's just so repetitive that, you know, like I just kind of get lost in it all and I'm just trying to get myself back up to where I want to be in life, you know, so that's why I'm here today.
00:23:03
Speaker
Absolutely. Absolutely. Darrell, that's, that's wonderful. I'm so happy to, I'm so happy that you're here sharing, sharing all of this with us. I know it's not, I know it's not easy sharing this kind of stuff in a group setting around a bunch of people you don't know. And it's wonderful that you're here and doing that. Thank you. It's a, it's an honor to be here. I mean, it took a while for me to really get up to the spirit to even bring myself here because I'm really self, uh, you know, damaging if you want to say, but, you know, yeah.
00:23:33
Speaker
Thank you. Sharing is the first step to recovery, friend. And I will say this, if ever you want to talk to me or anyone else, we host groups several nights a week. And I even do one-on-one sessions upstairs if you're interested. I'd love to talk with you more. I really would. I'll have to put a pin in that. Please do. Just did.
00:24:03
Speaker
Hi, I'm Carl. Hi, Carl. Hi, Carl. Hi, Carl. Jerry, you've been here several times before. I've had issues in the past with anger management. I lost my wife. I made her lose her baby.
00:24:31
Speaker
It's been a lot to try to cope with. I didn't know she was pregnant. I just punched her in the belly. And she lost a baby. Man, I'm so sorry. You're making me tear up already.
00:25:00
Speaker
Everyone, it's okay. Carl, I'm so happy to see you keep coming here. Wonderful to see you. How have you been feeling lately with your anger? How's that been doing? Well, I've been doing them exercises you told me about, the breathing ones and just sticking my finger and my pooper and
00:25:29
Speaker
god fucking damn it frank i've never heard of this one before i lean over to the other guy that introduced himself i lean over to the other guy that introduced him before me i'm like shouldn't this guy be in jail
00:25:49
Speaker
Now, hey, everyone, let's watch the crosstalk now. It's fine. Things have happened in everyone's life that you're not necessarily proud of. Please remember that. Carl, I'm so happy that you're taking my advice. Yeah, just whenever you feel like your fuse is getting a little close to the edge, just stop and take a second. Just stick my finger in my pooper.
00:26:20
Speaker
I'm not doing it. I'm not saying it. I'm not even going to support that. He finally denies it. No, no, I'm not. That's not good therapy. I don't know what you'll be doing on the one, you know, like the one-on-ones up there, buddy, you know, I mean. Jayden, don't antagonize it further.
00:26:46
Speaker
I'm not antagonizing anything. It seems like it's starting to happen. I was just messing with Tech Jerry. You know, he's been good to me. You know, I like to make jokes sometimes. Yeah, I guess that looks good to you. Oh, yeah. Mm. Now, Darryl, Darryl, calm down. Calm down. We all love you. I'm just going to break the ice. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
00:27:10
Speaker
I didn't know if there was something going on, you know, I just want to, you know, relate to everybody, you know what I'm saying? You're okay, Daryl. Sorry, this is really stressful being here. Now, I hear you. I hear you. It can't, it can be, especially, and by the way, by the way, Carl, thank you so much. I know for sharing, I know it's not easy, especially after such a serious loss like that. I know it can be hard, but
00:27:35
Speaker
You know, first, for a lot of people, someone of the hardest things is admitting what you've done and coming to realize it. Making it real in your head is a very important step because from there we can start focusing on recovery. Well, I appreciate it, Jerry. I think I'm done for today, though. That's absolutely fine. I appreciate you sharing. Everyone, let's give Carl a round of applause.
00:28:07
Speaker
So, Jerry, you noticed that the other new person, she's been pretty silent. Well, there's still a couple new faces around, but I'd love to hear from anyone if they're comfortable. Ma'am, I noticed that this is my first time seeing you here. Yes. What's so funny?
00:28:37
Speaker
My life's actually in a wreck right now. The fact that you would even laugh at me like that, it just makes me feel so bad. I mean, I just wanted to come here to feel better. You're just going to do this to me? Jayden, I swear to... I swear, I'm going to reach through Discord and choke you. I don't know who Jayden is, but I need to speak to your manager. Did you call me a male? I'm the whole goddamn owner of this place, bitch. Okay, well then let's talk.
00:29:08
Speaker
Okay, let's go to these one sessions. Let's go upstairs. Let's talk about this. No, no, we're going to do this right here in front of everyone. This is group therapy. Everyone has to let out their demons. Let's do this. I think our tempers are getting a little hot in here. How about we all just stick a finger up our pooper real quick? You're right. You know, I'm sorry. It's just my husband left me yesterday.
00:29:34
Speaker
And I haven't seen him since he said he was just going to go get some groceries for them. I'm sorry. Um, the, um, the woman, the other woman who hasn't spoken yet. Um, she looks over at, uh, at Jayden's character and she says she's lying. Oh.
00:29:58
Speaker
Now now now everyone everyone this is this is a group. This is a group. This is a group here We're not trying to call out. We're not trying to call anything out Everyone's truth is their own truth. Okay, her truth is is she's just after attention What did you say to me oh shoot it's going down Yeah, I'll have you know that my husband was in the military and
00:30:27
Speaker
If he was here right now, it'd be over. Nobody left you, so. Okay. Okay. Okay. Let's watch the crosstalk now, everyone. Anyways, let's continue with this meeting. She, she focuses back on, uh, Jerry. My, my name is Imogen and my husband died and that's why I'm here.
00:30:54
Speaker
Well, it's wonderful. It's wonderful to meet you, Imogen. And I am torn apart to hear about that. When did, when did your husband leave us? Well, it was some, some time ago. Okay. Grief can, grief can last for many years. If you hold on, if you hold on to it, the random PCs don't need to, but if you decide you want to make rules or anything, just let me know.
00:31:24
Speaker
checks or anything on anybody. Okay. So are, are we there as well? No, no, this is just, we, we just jumped into seeing of Bill's. Okay. Okay. I understand now. Okay. So, uh, so what a session sessions over. I'm saying, but I'm saying bye to everyone and getting ready to go to the party thing, right? Yeah, we can fast forward the, the, okay. Well then, well, in that case, and I'm just talking to this lady one-on-one and like all of the other people kind of talk and share and stuff.
00:31:54
Speaker
But Imogen doesn't really give much up. She seems more like she's listening and watching. She's more focused on you. I don't know if Jerry would notice anything like that. In fact, we should probably, yeah, let's do our first roll of the night. So every roll is gonna have two dice. So this time let's do Wits and Insight. So you're gonna wanna click on the Insight button first. Okay, okay.
00:32:24
Speaker
And then for the second thing it asks you click on wits for successes. Okay. That's really good. So this woman seems much more interested in what you're doing and how you're handling the, uh, the people and stuff than anything else that's going on in the room. Okay. So, and you said that the meetings meetings, uh, over and I'm just saying goodbye to everyone and putting stuff up, right? This, this is just what you've noticed throughout the meeting.
00:32:51
Speaker
I mean, if you bring it up during meeting, that's fine. We can rewind, but that's what you've noticed throughout the meeting. Is that this woman is not interested in sharing or, or with four successes, I say she's not interested in sharing. It doesn't seem to care at all about the what's going on with everyone else. She is interested in what you're up, what you're doing.
00:33:15
Speaker
All right. Well, in that case, she's not interested in sharing. It's group. No one's required to share. So I'm not going to push her on it if she doesn't seem interested. But I am going to notice that she's focusing more on me than anything. OK. Well, that's all. We can jump forward. We just jumped into that because Bill popped up with something random.
00:33:46
Speaker
OK, so yeah, we can jump forward. So Bill, you're done with the thing. And I guess everybody is on their way to the launch. Oh, yeah. And on the way out, once a group's done, I'm going to turn to the group. Guys, everyone?
00:34:08
Speaker
It was a great, great session tonight. Loved meeting so many new people, hearing so many people we already know. And just getting that, getting all, getting a bunch of this trauma out there, just admitting to it is good. Now, tonight, my line is launching a new app. If anyone's interested, I have,
00:34:35
Speaker
you to the general public is open. If you're interested in coming to meet some people you may know and maybe meet a couple of new faces, please feel free. I'd love to see any of you there. Imogen says, I think a party would do me good. I'll come. Excellent. I love hearing. That's it. That's all I had. Sorry.
00:35:06
Speaker
Okay, so yeah, you arrive at the party, you know, in whatever vehicle or however you're going to get there. It's at a big fancy hotel in, you know, in Houston. There's valet parking. What is it called? Complementary valet parking. Although, you know, they do still expect you to tip them.
00:35:34
Speaker
When you walk inside, you'll see various tables scattered around. There's a stage with a podium for speakers and a big screen behind the stage, which right now just has the IO logo on it. And it's just kind of just up there, some sort of fancy animated logo, probably like, I don't know.
00:36:04
Speaker
an apple with a bread with delicious foods, no healthy foods circling around. It's been compressing. Yeah. It's all organic. There's plenty of vegetables. There's some healthy lean meats. I thought you were like vegan or something. Party fair snacks, that kind of thing.
00:36:33
Speaker
Well, if he's vegan, he doesn't have to make everyone else. Well, the way I'm not vegan, I'm just healthy. The yeah, all of the food being served, except maybe the alcohol is approved by by Jerry. The recipes you can find on the app. The there is wine being served and there is a bar, a full bar you can order.
00:37:02
Speaker
more drinks to your taste, but the wine itself is complimentary. It's a sparkling white wine or a champagne. Yum. And there's various tables, lots of business people around, but also people who look like maybe they're definitely more into the hippie scene. It's a pretty good assortment of people. Yeah.
00:37:32
Speaker
Oh, I just want, and I just want to make a quick distinction real fast. Well, Jerry doesn't mind people drinking just for person for personal and health reasons. He doesn't partake. It's a, it's a, um, you know, a low alcohol or a, uh, a low sugar content wine somehow, even though wine is made from berries, which are full of sugar. What do you guys do? Well, my guys shows up. Oh, you can go ahead. Oh, sorry. Now you go first.
00:38:02
Speaker
All right, my guy shows up, walks, the first thing he does walks straight up to the bar, orders a Hennessy and a Red Bull. And so with that, he carries around in his cup and continues just to mill around, just looking at potential plus ones for later tonight.
00:38:32
Speaker
There's definitely a lot of people around, um, a good mix of people. Um, it's a health app, so probably a lot of like fit people, though, not necessarily all of them, you know, a good mix of people. And also there's more than one way to be healthy. So it's not necessarily just like a workout app or something like that. Um, so a good mix. Uh, so at the bar, whenever you're ordering your drink, there's another man there. Um, he's a well-dressed man, African-American who's.
00:39:01
Speaker
nursing what appears to be a glass of red wine. And he looks over at you and just kind of like nods hello, nods and greetings, something like that. What did you say he was nursing? A glass of red wine. Interesting feller. Does the glass of red wine look suspicious at all to me?
00:39:28
Speaker
No, okay. I nod my head at him and proceed to order my drink. Alright, now let's move over to Jayden. Jayden, you're about to come in, right? Okay, yes. I am whipping up in my Porsche Cayenne, because I'm a family man. My wife drives a LX 570. Just as a side note, but I pull up
00:39:54
Speaker
And I'm with my wife. I give a nice generous $50 to the valet. Kind of like big man on the block. Do what? He says, thank you, sir, for when and before he takes her keys. No problem. Just to make sure she doesn't get any dents when I'm back. You know what I'm saying? The only dents will be in my wife. No, I don't beat my wife. Anyways. Jesus Christ. So I walk in.
00:40:23
Speaker
Um, and I go up to Jerry and I congratulate him on the, um, opening of tonight. Congrats, Jerry. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it. And I just want you to know that we would not be here without you and your, and your, uh, aid and I appreciate everything you've done for us. Of course. I've seen your work. I appreciate it all. Um, I'm, I'm happy to be here and to support you in this new endeavor.
00:40:54
Speaker
Well, here's hoping that brings both of us some success. Hey, I'll cheers to that. And I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll cheer. I'll cheers. And with my sparkling water, we, I call over one of the guys with the champagne plates and I take a champagne and I clink it with Jerry and I take down the entire thing in one goal. I was a party man back in my day, but I'm sophisticated now, but you know.
00:41:24
Speaker
I like to let loose at parties. Your wife kind of rolls her eyes at that. So, hey, Jayden, if you want, you can totally make an insight and make an insight on Jerry. Make an insight. Insight. So that. So hold up. That would be.
00:41:46
Speaker
I was going to ask, does my character notice him? Like, does Max notice this CEO looking guy just down an entire champagne glass in one go? Uh, I mean, would, would that be something you'd notice? I mean, I'm scaring the room looking for people and I probably see his wife. I'm like, Hey, just because there's a goal, he doesn't mean I can't score. That's true. You do notice him. Uh, so to roll insight, I believe that that would be insight plus wits. So you click the insight first.
00:42:19
Speaker
OK. Yeah. So don't. Plus WITS. All the skill combinations. But. So you said with WITS. Yeah, Insight and WITS together. So you can. And then zero for modifier. Zero modifiers. So five successes. So since you brought this up, Bill, what is Wesley C and Bill Penn very
00:42:48
Speaker
Yeah. Well, he's he's going to notice that Jerry's Jerry's Jerry was took a couple extra seconds to stare at that at that the person with the champagne with the champagne glasses and also that he was that the that bit nice the nice delicious long long drink of champagne he just took. Okay. Looking at it real nice.
00:43:13
Speaker
So, and then Jerry's just going to be like, just going to say, you know, sip of sparkling water, like successes. What is, what is he getting from that? Cause that's not very clear. Like what, what is Jerry? Jerry is a recover, is a recovering alcoholic. Oh, so he wants. Okay. Okay. Yeah. I was going to guess he's like a closet alcoholic or something. Do I know this recovering? Yeah. With five successes, you know. Okay. So I feel bad. I say, sorry.
00:43:41
Speaker
I didn't mean to do that in front of you. No, I don't know how you are. No, no, no, no, no. I'm sorry. It was a different time in my life. I was a different person. And I don't- Hey, look at you now. I don't partake anymore. That's all. Hey, I mean, and I completely, I have all the respect towards you. I mean, I respect your bodily figure at this point. I mean, I'm over here looking like I work at a nine to five office job.
00:44:11
Speaker
No shame there. All right. Let's hop over to Cole. Cole, what are you doing? You were working on the app. Did you finish it in time to get to the party?
00:44:22
Speaker
It was already finished. I was just like nitpicking myself while finishing, like, you know, making sure the color transitioned right and making sure the random failure whenever you tried to press the menu and workout buttons was fixed and all those other little small things. But yeah, I got that done. I was probably running a little late, so I'm rolling up in a
00:44:48
Speaker
Really beat up looking like 83 ish Fox body Mustang, but it's like falling apart There's like duct tape holding one side of the bumper on Russ is eating through like the side of the car. It's doing that like sputtering fucking thing like As I'm pulling up yeah, it barely makes it to like within five feet of the guy the
00:45:14
Speaker
The guy who takes your keys and parks your vehicle. So it makes it like five feet from where I should be. And it just dies. And I'm like, I get out. I'm like, I hand him a screwdriver. I'm like, all right, just pulled around side if you can. And he just looks at the screwdriver while I walk away. There's no key. There's just a screwdriver. And I kind of just like, like slowly like try to slip inside without being noticed.
00:45:41
Speaker
Here is hoping that this app launches well because either way you're getting paid for the work, but hopefully you get paid some decent amount in royalties. Oh, I'm just fixing it up. It's a hunk of shit because I bought it a hunk of shit. I'm trying to fix it up into something better. So how are you money-wise? I am not well off. I live in a mostly efficiency apartment.
00:46:09
Speaker
Um, like I'm the one that basically did the app from the ground up and I helped build the company. Um, but I don't get any royalties or, uh, any credit for it. I'm the brain behind the, the company, but I'm not the pocket. If that makes sense. Um, as you pull up, uh, uh, or as you're getting out of your car, um, a limo pulls up behind you.
00:46:38
Speaker
And a Hispanic woman steps out and she's she's she's I don't know how old is Cole? That's a good question. Now Cole is decisions going to stick with you for eternity.
00:47:00
Speaker
Let's say 28 ish. Okay. Yeah. So she's, she's an older woman, looks to be in her forties. Um, she, uh, gets out of her car and like looks at your, your beater and gives you like a raised eyebrow before, um, you know, heading inside, uh, just ahead of you. You know, you're busy talking to the, uh, valet and the valet person in front of you. Okay. I just like lance over and watch her walk up and just.
00:47:30
Speaker
You know, yeah, it's just something that happens, you know, nothing to think weird of it Did she like look at me weird or anything she's like glance with like an eyebrow She just like looks at your car gives you a raised eyebrow. Maybe a smile and then just goes on in Like it she just like it looks like it she thinks it's funny Like that someone would bring that kind of card at this kind of party basically Gotcha. Okay
00:48:01
Speaker
Yeah. So what do you do when you go inside? Me? Yeah. So I'd probably go up to where the coat check-in is, pull off my somewhat ratty looking blazer with the patches on the elbows, with the suede patches. It's like a leather blazer.
00:48:21
Speaker
I check that in. I make sure I tell them don't grab anything out of the pockets. I've got some loose change in the USB drive. I don't want them stealing my loose change. The USB drive is fine.
00:48:36
Speaker
Then I probably just kind of like slink around to where the bar is and like go to the furthest corner that's like the least occupied and then slump into a chair. And then I just kind of like stare at the cashews and I just start munching on the cashews waiting on a bartender. Random out of care. Okay. Random question. If you guys click on, can y'all see each other's character sheets or just the bio and info tab? No.
00:49:06
Speaker
Just a bio and info. OK. So Maxwell, you've been eyeing the place. And you do notice a woman nearby. I don't really know how to describe. But she's drinking.
00:49:33
Speaker
something, you know, fancy like mixed drink with a martini. Yeah, she's drinking a martini and just kind of like being just real flirty with whoever walks up to her. Great. Well, but. Oh, wow. All right. All right. I can roll with that.
00:50:03
Speaker
with the fictional character. She's cute. I guess I'll show you the picture of the person who was in your grief counseling session. She was also pretty cute, not dressed as a doctor. Do they both, are they both dressed up nice?
00:50:28
Speaker
Um, both of them are, yeah, well, yes. Um, so Imogen is there. Um, and yeah, both of them are dressed in more formal party appropriate hire. Although, um, the, uh, the first picture that I showed hers is more casual. Like it's nice, but you know, nice, but like more, more club, nice, not formal party. Nice.
00:50:53
Speaker
Well, since Jerry has already been introduced to Imogen, he'll walk up to her and be like, you're looking gorgeous, absolutely radiant. I love what you've done with your hair. She gives you a slight smile and says, oh, I haven't done anything with it, but thank you. Tell me, this app of yours, what exactly does it do?
00:51:24
Speaker
Well, it does it does several things. It allows you to make appointments, reservations. It also allows you to chart your work, your workout progress, health goals, things of that nature. But you can also use it to chat with some professionals or you can also use it to set up appointments for therapy appointments. And you can even put you can even put in a shopping shopping list.
00:51:52
Speaker
Uh, so that, uh, if for people that can only come, uh, every now and then you can just show up. We've got all your, all your specific, all the specific foods for your specific diet and mind. It even allows you to track specific diets you're on. So you're also a grocery store in a sense. So, uh, sort of it's kind of, it's kind of like a gym, a health foods. It's kind of like a, it's kind of like a smaller version of sprouts.
00:52:20
Speaker
I have no idea what that is. Yeah, I have no idea what that is either. Sprouts is kind of like a whole, it's almost like a whole foods type of deal. It's like organic and you know, when you're on a diet, you shop there. You pay $30 for an onion, gotcha.
00:52:39
Speaker
At Sprouts, you don't pay $30. I will say, prices at Sprouts weren't that exorbitant when I was shopping there. Actually, we shopped there when I was almost at my poorest. We were actually able to afford some pretty healthy and delicious food, but it's kind of like that. It's agreeably priced foods and everything, but that are healthy.
00:53:04
Speaker
You're not going to find a lot of overly processed stuff there. Or at all, probably. Can the app also track the amount of calories from the food that you buy and also suggest different meals throughout the day and also curate a shopping list for you, depending on your goals? Absolutely.
00:53:34
Speaker
I feel like you should have a Fitbit type deal where it can constantly communicate with your app about your physical well-being. It does. Especially since smartphones now are already pre-built with a pedometer and all that stuff. So it already usually charts your overall walking and that kind of stuff. So honestly, it just works with the pre-built stuff already in there. It's like Skynet, but for working out. Image in, I guess, your guy.
00:54:05
Speaker
Was was all that was any of that in character? Do what did I like button? Yeah, I buttoned. I'm standing right next to him. So yeah, I say that. So yeah, Imogen pipes and also says. Do you have any scientific backing behind your your app? Yes, I do. I've actually been studying some of the different health benefits to some of the foods that he has been offering, including some of the super foods that are very
00:54:35
Speaker
good for your just overall well-being. I've done extensive research and the specific vegetables and why their genetic makeup works so well with the human body. I apologize. I apologize, Imogen. This is actually a very good friend and colleague of mine. His name is Wesley Isaac. He's a
00:54:59
Speaker
I'm sorry. Jerry's pretty smart. Bill is fucking stupid. What is your job again? I am a CEO of Isaac Genetics. This is Wesley Isaac, CEO of Isaac Genetics and he is my business partner. Oh, I've heard of Isaac Genetics. I'm actually a doctor and we've used some of your company's products. How do you feel about it so far?
00:55:27
Speaker
Uh, you kind of, you know, for the most part, it's, it's fine. Okay. I mean, uh, that, that, uh, um, Oh my God, I don't know anything about medical stuff. This, you know, the spinny thing that, that you use to look at, to separate the, uh, blood, um, Yeah. Interfuge the center. That, that new, uh, centrifuge you had, uh, that, that your company released was, was quite remarkable.
00:55:58
Speaker
Thank you. It took actually three years to even get to the point where we are today. And actually, one little other little other thing that
00:56:09
Speaker
Actually also a little fun thing that Mr. Isaac and I are also gonna be doing is we're also pretty soon gonna be setting up blood drives and blood donations to help our local hospitals. There is a bit of a blood shortage out right now and I'd love to try to help. We're trying to kind of get something like that together. Disclaimer, the blood is not for genetic research. I am well aware of the blood shortage.
00:56:40
Speaker
Yeah. What year was this? 2020? 2019. Well, I guess my first day. It's new year. It's new year's eve. It's let's just say it's 2020. Yeah. It is limbo. Um, so, uh, what do you do, uh, you know, in the medical field and everything? Um, hold up. Let me, let me look at her skills real quick. Um, actually, uh,
00:57:10
Speaker
said you're a geneticist, I do actually do a lot of work with with blood. Interesting, but you know, I'm not here to talk about work. I'm here to enjoy the party. I. Jared Jerry. Is a how about you show me around? And then like she she she's
00:57:37
Speaker
She is not interested in talking to Wesley despite Wow Does he notice that does he get the do an insight? Yes, you can do an insight Okay, how bad you got swerved on that for real? I was just trying to make some general conversation. Oh God, I hope Imogen is not I really do hope that not interested because she's barking. She's barking up a wrong tree Jerry Don't play for her team
00:58:04
Speaker
Yeah, you don't notice anything specific. But other than that, she's more interested in Jerry than she is in you. No. OK. I don't know. If you want to make an insight, you're welcome to. Do what? I said, if Jerry wants to make an insight, he's welcome to. Oh. Oh, my bad. No, no. Honestly, I probably wouldn't have noticed it. I wouldn't have noticed it. Jerry can get a little flustered around this many people.
00:58:34
Speaker
Plus, you know, he's like a celebrity. Of course people are interested. That's true. I mean, I mean, I'm just going to, I'm just going to put this out there. Small time, small time business owner versus CEO.
00:58:50
Speaker
Jerry's Jerry's like, I don't, I don't know. If I, if I'm supposed to be here, am I supposed to be, uh, where am I supposed to be? He probably is like the country bumpkin next to, next to an actual next to someone that actually knows what's going on. Yeah. But my business isn't something that's always going to be displayed everywhere. You know, you're not going to be like, Oh, I'm watching out on TV and be like, Oh, Isaac genetics. No, it's going to be like, you know, like a secret. I mean, I like super secret, but you know, like a,
00:59:19
Speaker
a research facility that, you know, only like medical professionals and stuff like that would know of. Yeah. Plus we're here for, for Jerry's app. So yeah, you know, this is, this is a Jerry centric party here. Everyone knows you or you know, everyone that you invited at least somewhat. Yes. I mean, there's plenty of people here who he doesn't know, probably their investors and things like that, or people just, um, you know, from the genetics company or from, uh,
00:59:49
Speaker
or even people in the hotel. Whenever the company is that cool works for just hotel, people are just taking advantage of some free stuff. And Jerry's had a couple of sleeper investors too, just people who prefer to remain anonymous. That's why a simple health app is such a big party.
01:00:17
Speaker
So if someone thought about it, they'd be like, wow, this is a big deal for just a small time fitness guy. But hey, he's moving up in the world. Speaking of which, someone gets up on the stage and taps the mic to get everyone's attention. I think it's, hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming.
01:00:47
Speaker
My name is Harold and I'm here to just introduce our esteemed guests.
IO App Launch and Party Drama
01:00:59
Speaker
As you all know, we're here for the launch of the IO app. What was that slogan again? All in one organic health.
01:01:11
Speaker
And he motions to Cole. And Cole, could you, or Mr. Stone, could you bring up the app on screen? Cole freezes and looks over. You don't have to get on stage. He's just like, points at you like, here's your cue. So he keeps the app on screen.
01:01:40
Speaker
started like looking around frantically and I grabbed my phone and like I start pressing buttons on it and I look at the screen it just says no signal and I press some buttons and like I look back up it says still says no signal and I've looked back at my phone and I'm just pressing buttons so hold on so um the uh you notice the one time when you look up that the um Hispanic woman that you saw who I guess I could show her picture real quick the older Hispanic
01:02:14
Speaker
Um, was standing near the big screen and she, for a second, um, she glances at you and then, and then glances at the screen and then kind of, uh, does like, uh, what do you call it? Um, Uh, it gives a little start, like very minor, but then she moves away from the screen and all of a sudden you're connected. Uh,
01:02:41
Speaker
Shit. All right. So I look back up at Sierra Walker. I'm like, can I look back and forth between the two of them? And I'm like, I'd not even be something you'd think anything of. But you happen to see her, and she looked at you, made eye contact, and then got a vaguely startled look on her face and moved away, and the screen started working. Yeah. So the app comes up, and it's like, and thank you.
01:03:10
Speaker
Of course, the best person to introduce the app would be the creator of it himself, Mr. Jerry Jeremiah Wilson. And Bill, Jerry was probably ready for this. The spotlight shines on you wherever you happen to be standing. All right. All right. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. It's wonderful to be here.
01:03:40
Speaker
Wow, to have so many people here to help get this off the off the ground. I can tell you there's probably a dozen other places every 1 of you should be and it's so great that all of you are here helping me and everyone else. Get this on the get this off the ground. There's so many great people been helping me out.
01:03:58
Speaker
got Mr. Stone over there, literally the brains of this whole operation. I would still be kicking this idea around if it wasn't for his insight. And I also have to thank Mr. Isaac, who's
01:04:15
Speaker
very generous donations and backing are helping us keep everything clear through the FDA side and everything else. I can't wait to get to know everyone here better and to help everyone live the best possible life that they can. For anyone interested, we are taking donations over there that are going to be going to our local shelters. Any uneaten food is also going to be donated as well, so please, everyone.
01:04:45
Speaker
Have a great time and I appreciate every one of you for the help that you're putting forward to help get this off the ground. And so as Jerry continues to speak in the background, the scene shifts over to Maxwell who, what are you doing right now? Is this talking is happening?
01:05:09
Speaker
Um, so Maxwell wants to be like courteous to all of it. I mean, are people like 100% zoomed into this or is it just kind of like, for the most part, everybody's, you know, paying attention. Okay. So I guess I would have walked up to that girl that you previously pointed out to. Um, and I just kind of be like staying a appropriate distance away from her. It's like two to three feet. Are you like watching her from like a slight distance?
01:05:40
Speaker
Yeah, so I placed myself kind of behind her, but not like directly behind her. Are there like circle tables with like the white cloths and like this five to six chairs around them and we're all sitting around listening? That's kind of how I imagine this. I just imagine like a giant open studio. We're just all standing. So the girls, she's definitely she's kind of paying attention to what's going on. She's also kind of just
01:06:11
Speaker
seems to be kind of wandering and observing the place, but it always seems to be in such a way that, you know, you wanted to stand kind of off her, but she keeps somehow ending up to where she you're in her line of sight versus, you know, the other way around. Like she's always behind you. She ends up behind me. Yeah. So.
01:06:37
Speaker
You know, you positioned herself, but then as as Jerry is speaking, you notice like you lose sight of her for a second. But then she then you realize, oh, she's she's right next. Sipping at Martini and she she glances over at you and says, what are you drinking there?
01:07:03
Speaker
I give a sly smile, and I go, probably not the most appropriate thing for a party like this, but it's a Hennessy in Red Bull. She chuckles. And she's like, not really my choice of drink, but to each their own. So is this as boring to you as it is to me?
01:07:35
Speaker
What was that? I didn't hear that. Do you, uh, do you find this as boring as I do? Honestly, I came here for the drinks, found out the drinks cost money. Who would have thought that they would be on the house. But yeah, honestly, I just work in the CEO's department. I just HR. So not really invested. Why would you got in mind? What?
01:08:04
Speaker
What do you got in mind? I don't know. Just trying to decide if I want to, you know, maybe run into you at the, the after party. Oh, I'll be there for sure. Well, for sure. All right then. And then, and then she, she kind of fades away, you know, like goes off and, and to mingle with other people, but you do notice like she's, she's always around. Um, you never catch her looking in.
01:08:33
Speaker
But she's never too far. Like she doesn't appear to be paying you any attention, but she's always easy to find. Yeah. And you said she was like super flirty all the time, right? She just like gave off that vibe. I don't even know if flirty is really the right word. She's just very, I wrote down she has a chipper attitude. So she's really friendly.
01:08:59
Speaker
I probably would have handled that a little different. I don't know, but yeah. Flirty works too. She reminds me of the, I don't know, there's always the character in the TV shows that is always the like, the one who's always got a good attitude, but
01:09:29
Speaker
You discover they have some dark or sad background or something. So in the Powerpuff Girls, the secretary to the mayor? I don't know, but I'm going to say yes. Miss Bellum? Yeah. OK, let's be honest. In that whole power dynamic, she's the one actually running the city. I'm thinking, like,
01:09:59
Speaker
She's like the, uh, like for some reason, Chloe from smallville was popping into my head or, um, or the, uh, the mechanic girl from firefly, like just, just the happy, but also.
01:10:19
Speaker
She's she's had some like trouble in her. Yeah. See, I'll more role play towards that then. See, translate that through translate that through the through the nerdometer and then we instantly understand. He just said flirty like she was flirting with everyone and I was like, I guess I'll take that and roll with it. That was the wrong word. Well, she might be flirty with you. Well, I mean, she did.
01:10:50
Speaker
ask it, you know, see if he's going to be at the party. Let's see. So yeah, so that the the launch party kind of continues like this for a while. Various, you know, speakers come up and like that we give, they give demonstrations of the app and just various people who are
01:11:16
Speaker
you know, somehow associated because of money or because they actually do work with Jerry. And that goes on for a little while. And then everyone kind of eats dinner. Does anyone want to do anything before the the quote unquote official party ends? I'm going to go to the bathroom and shine my Rolex watch that I'm wearing. OK.
01:11:47
Speaker
being ready for that after party. Yeah. So while you're here, when you go to the bathroom, there's a, I accidentally had introduced this character to Hayden versus you. There's an African-American man, you know, he's, I introduced him to you. You did, when I was buying my drink. That same guy, he walks in, you know, shortly after you and you're like polishing your watch and he's like,
01:12:18
Speaker
Uh, he's like, Oh, wow. That's a nice watch. Oh, thank you. Yeah. It's, it's one of my more, you know, private possessions. Uh, yeah. Yeah. I've got, you know, he's, he's wearing, um, like a antique watch. Um, okay. It's, it's definitely like, let's say it's, uh, no, it wouldn't be a Rolex, but it's, it's just, uh,
01:12:45
Speaker
If you know watches, it's probably valuable because it's old. Yeah, because it's old. Also scuffed up. He looks good in his suit, but the watch kind of scuffed up. He's had it all. Yeah. I guess I would point towards his watch and be like, are you Watchman yourself? He watches. He glances down. Very nice. He's like, oh, this old thing. Yeah, it's a family heirloom.
01:13:14
Speaker
Yeah. And I wear it to, you know, things like this. Honestly, this, this really isn't my scene. Um, my, my employer is, you know, just wanting me to be here. Yeah, quite not my scene either. I'm the, one of the employees of the CEO. I just showed up because I thought there were going to be free drinks, but turns out I'd pay you. Turns out what?
01:13:42
Speaker
Him turns out I had to pay you Hey him Yeah, I'm talking to a dude right now and I do its bathroom You're saying he's Are you mistaking him for one of the employees of the benefit I Thought he was one of our tenders. No. No. No, he was at the bar drinking. I
01:14:06
Speaker
Oh, OK. I thought you said he was a bartender. OK. At the bar nursing. OK, I misheard that. Yeah, so I say, yeah, but crazy. I had to pay. Yeah, yeah. Do you think that that, you know, something other than this that water they call champagne would would be on the menu? I'm going to show the picture of this guy, but he's got a
01:14:36
Speaker
Did he's got an old timey picture? This is what he once looked like. All right. Yeah. And I guess you get to see his bio. Let me buy him just like you were not joking about his, about that being an old timey picture. My goodness. I didn't mean to show the bio, but you know, whatever. I'll just hide it with the other ones. Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. He, uh, he.
01:15:07
Speaker
Kind of just after a moment leaves the restroom, he doesn't use the restroom or anything. Interesting. That's your interaction with this man. Keep that in mind. He likes to enter bathrooms and walk out. Yeah, he goes and maybe he washes his hands or something. Oh, OK. Makes it less awkward.
01:15:36
Speaker
like washes his hands and then he leaves. You know, I mean, he could have come in because he had something on his hands. No, that's true. He came in, stood right next to you while you're polishing your watch. And just walked away. Yeah. That would have been a little too obvious. He goes on, you know, like I said, random people.
01:16:04
Speaker
There's about an hour after the party ends before the actual after party begins. The after party begins at midnight. It's gonna be up on the rooftop. Well, it begins a little before midnight. That way, maybe people start showing up on the rooftop around 1130. There's a big, it's actually a glass bottom dance floor that spans across the road.
01:16:33
Speaker
Um, and so you're dancing essentially on the, you know, in the air above the, uh, busy, um, Houston, uh, streets. Um, between two buildings and there's like, uh, what do you call those the, I guess there's spotlights, but you know, shooting up in the air and waving around. Um, and, uh, there's, you know, a DJ and a dance floor and he's cranking out, you know, various dance music.
01:17:03
Speaker
Um, there, the bar upstairs, it's still not a free bar, but, uh, um, definitely. Yeah. Um, that there's, there's the bar. There's definitely other things being passed around. Um, it's, you know, definitely turning into a full on an after party. There's the, the after party seems like maybe it's not just for Jerry's thing. There's, you know, you see, uh, insert name of
01:17:33
Speaker
football player and stuff like that. Interesting. Yeah. So it's a big New Year's after party or New Year's party at the top of these two Houston version of skyscrapers that don't actually exist in the real world. I don't know. Can you call our buildings in Houston skyscrapers? I'd say so. They're pretty tall.
01:17:57
Speaker
When I worked in downtown Houston, I went into one building one time and it was like 60 stories up. That's a legit skyscraper. Yeah. I mean, I've never been to New York or something, so I don't know how big their buildings are. That's true. I haven't either. I would try the buildings in New York is like 2,500 stories. That can't be right. A lot of stories.
01:18:30
Speaker
2500 stories sounds a little hot sounds a little tall Hold on. Let me read this typical and I'm sorry. That's the height of it. Okay I was like that'd be like cuz a floor is at least you know, 10 feet tall This is the average height is like 21 stories. Okay Yeah, we can call we've gotten downtown Houston skyscrapers in all right, so so but we're at a hotel right so we're in the penthouse You're on the roof Okay
01:19:00
Speaker
The roof, okay. And it spans between two large buildings across the street from each other. And so there's basically a bar on both sides. There's the dance floor suspended over the street. And there's probably people dancing on the rooftops themselves as well.
01:19:30
Speaker
food and stuff like that. There's various benches and just little alcoves on the roof that you can go in if you want to hang out or get a modicum of privacy. Definitely not private, but more private than being on the dance floor.
01:19:59
Speaker
And yeah, so parties happening upstairs. Let's see. So everyone's intending on going to this, I assume. Obviously. I'm just kidding. OK. Yeah, so you're on your way up.
01:20:31
Speaker
Let's how, how much do you keep track of your wife? She's always by my side, always by your side. Okay. So y'all are heading up to the dance. Normally, normally. Yeah. I'll just say that cause I can kind of see where this is going, but yeah, normally she's next to me. And I mean, if she ever meets someone that she knows, sometimes she'd be like, I'm going to go. Yeah. But yeah. All right. So what's everybody else doing? Like what, what's yours? What are y'all kind of doing up, up, up top?
01:21:00
Speaker
It's not quite midnight yet, but the big counters up there is like 15 minutes away from midnight. 15 minutes away? I'd say I'm probably just kind of chilling and dancing probably next to my wife right now. Right. Jerry's probably off to the side. He's not really big on these kind of huge social gathering type of deals.
01:21:26
Speaker
especially not with a bunch of people that he's also trying to impress and everything. So he's probably off to the side. He's certainly not on the dance floor and probably just found some quiet place to kind of collect himself mentally and just kind of be out of the fray a little bit. All right. What's Cole doing? Cole's probably...
01:21:55
Speaker
Finally getting his first drink because he never called to the bartender. He just sat there until the bartender came over. So he's he just got his first drink. He ordered a. A man had. No, that's not it. What's the one that's got the club soda and the alcohol in the cherry?
01:22:24
Speaker
Uh, no, I, I personally don't drink, so I wouldn't know. Um, club. So, uh, are you talking about a long Island? I see. Okay. That must be what I was thinking of stolen Island. Um, so yeah, I ordered a long Island ST and I actually just got a nice tea. Um, and I didn't say anything. So I'm just sitting on an ice tea. So you're aware. I am aware that it's not alcoholic and, and I am not the type of person to say anything when something fucks up like that.
01:22:53
Speaker
And so I just continued to drink my sweet tea. You're in Texas. Iced tea is not exactly ever the wrong answer. Well, yeah, but I mean, alcoholic, I see would have been better, but it's just like straight ice tea. Would you ask for another drink or would you just only have that now since you kind of think he's my messed up? Well, so as a person, I would probably try to order.
01:23:19
Speaker
something different, but as the character in this situation, I'd probably just go with sweet tea. I think we'll fuck it. I'm screwed now from this particular bartender. Now, when I go to one of the other bars, I might try to get something different. Interesting. But I look over and I see Jerry's over by himself kind of just chilling. And so I go over and try to strike up a conversation with them. Right.
01:23:50
Speaker
Let's see, we know got to figure out what to do with Wesley. Yeah, so while you guys are chatting, what's Max doing? Max, he would probably be hanging out closer to one of the bars, not necessarily sitting at it, but kind of probably leaning on the bar, making small talk with anyone he can.
01:24:17
Speaker
I'd say probably Max would probably be in my like general vicinity because I'm probably one of the only ones he knows. And I feel like I would know him. I would definitely be having you in my sight line. But yeah, besides that. Yeah, I guess I would go talk to the CEO. I mean, would the CEO even like know of me?
01:24:48
Speaker
I'd say so. I mean, you would be in the same office area. That or maybe you talk to him because you're trying to get him to know you, you know, it's like, oh, look, it's, you know. Yeah. So I guess I would, you know, after failure of small talk with the girls at the bar, I would walk over to the CEO and say.
01:25:15
Speaker
What was your character's name? Wesley. I think I would try to be ballsy and just straight up call you Wesley. Or Wes. Wes, wow, you're really getting out there. I did not say that. I'd be like, hey, start snapping my fingers. I can't really because I just ate chicken wings.
01:25:42
Speaker
Yeah, you work in, uh, what is it called again? Oh my gosh. It's slipping the least favorite departments. I'll give you that. Uh, your secretary. HR close. Okay. Um, uh, Cox, uh, max. Yes. Oh, yes. Okay. Yeah. Yes. All right. You know, I've, I've, I've already had a couple of drawings as you could probably tell. Uh, but, uh, you know, nice to see you here. You know, I mean, jeez, you know, like, I mean,
01:26:11
Speaker
It's great to see some people, some familiar faces, if you know what I'm saying. So, I mean. Yeah. What have you been drinking, man? Just straight champagne all night. I mean, I don't know what it is about it. I just like railing them.
01:26:25
Speaker
I saw I saw you down that one down in the in when you picked one up from that server I saw you down that one goal. That was impressive That was like, you know, you know, like that's like the the pregame for the night, you know, you know You have to work the first one and then I mean you could sip on the next ones if you want I mean, you know, I tend to not but you know
01:26:47
Speaker
I mean, you got to let loose every now and then. A CEO can't be a CEO all the time. That's right. I mean, I have kids at home. I mean, I don't get sleep. You know, I mean, this is this is this is basically vacation for the night for me. So here we go. So as you all are talking, you're Wesley, your wife comes comes up and taps you on the shoulder. And I'm going to I'm going to run to the little girls room real quick. No problem. I'll be right here.
01:27:17
Speaker
Talking to my buddy Max, I put my arm around him. I give him an idea of the chest. He's still wasted. The kind of interaction that has never once taken place with someone working in HR. Yeah. And I vaguely try to hide the fact that I'm watching his wife's butt as she's walking away. She has a very tight dress on tonight. I must agree.
01:27:46
Speaker
Can I do an insight on that? Yeah, go for it. On him looking at my wife's ass. Go for it. Awesome. Let's see. Sequence roll. Oh. Damn. OK. Yeah, you noticed. You got a critical, actually. So the four successes is actually, I think that means it's, no, it would already have added that in, I think.
01:28:16
Speaker
think. Yeah, you know exactly what's going on, though. So 6 is success. I pretend to ignore it, I'll say for now. I'll definitely recognize it. I want to roll an insight to see if he knew that I knew. I say go for it. So what do I roll for that? So click the roll for insight, and then it should give you a dropdown. I'm just going to wiz. All right. There it is.
01:28:48
Speaker
wits submit no modifiers no zero yeah i do not notice that i am like a high school boy don't notice shit oh that's right uh is the butt
01:29:05
Speaker
OK, six or higher is a success. So you rolled two sixes, but also two tens. So that was actually a critical success. Not that it's super important on a insight role in this case, but yeah, you do know exactly what was going through his mind. Oh, yeah, it's burning my memory. It doesn't matter how many drinks I take tonight. I'll remember that. Yep.
01:29:30
Speaker
But I pretend not to notice and I just continue, you know, like, you know, just creating small talk. And then I can give it back to you, Ron. As the party's going, it's it's been a while and your wife hasn't come back yet. I don't know if you would notice, though. Should I do an insight? The countdown that, well, let's say it's up to you if you notice, but the you know, it's it's where we're one minute from midnight.
01:29:58
Speaker
You know, I definitely notice if it's 1 minute till midnight because I'm like, okay, well, I need my kiss. Um, I guess I'll kind of like. Leave the party a little bit and kind of go searching for her really quick. All right. So, um, you know, that, uh, the, uh, the restrooms are downstairs. Um, you, you go take the, the stairway down to a little hallway.
01:30:29
Speaker
And then there's an elevator. And y'all don't have access to the penthouse restroom. But you can go to the one down one floor. I was actually going to see if I could buy the penthouse for the night. But if that's the case, then that's fine. Well, I mean, if you want to say that's something you did, then sure. Yeah. I say why not. I say I could do that and then go there by myself. And then maybe there's not anybody there.
01:30:59
Speaker
So yeah, you rented out the penthouse. So that's probably where your wife would have gone. OK. So you enter the penthouse, and you notice that the door to the restroom is closed, but you can see light coming from under the door. And other than that, it's kind of like,
01:31:28
Speaker
Dark, I guess. OK. So let's just say there's like maybe a light on in the living room, like one, and then like the light under the door. Yeah. OK, I go to the door and I start knocking. I'm like, honey, are you OK in there? There's no answer. Hello? I keep knocking. There's still no answer.
01:31:59
Speaker
Uh, I try the door. Um, as you try the door, you hear, um, uh, a man's voice behind you. Look, man, I'm really sorry about this. And then, um, let me see here. Give me, uh, so this would be wits plus composure. So two stats don't click what either wits or composure first. Okay. Um, well, they're both the same. So I'll just do composure.
01:32:30
Speaker
with wits. Yeah. For successes. So you you hear the man's voice and then, you know, you get that kind of like, you get the feeling, you know, duck, like something's coming at you. Oh, or dodge or something. Should I do performance? Or performance wouldn't help to see is
01:33:00
Speaker
So someone's coming for you, like what do you in this situation? And I'll kind of, I'll tell you what to do. Well, I, as a CEO, I wouldn't be carrying, so I wouldn't just have a gun on me. So if someone just kind of, do I see the, the, is he like trying to hit me? Um, well, you're facing away from him. You, you feel that someone, you heard his voice and you feel that someone is coming for you. Okay.
01:33:30
Speaker
Well, I whip around. If you spin around, you see him. He is running at you, more or less. Can I roll something to see if I can dodge out of his way and put him in a headlock or something? Yeah, let me find this rule. There is the thing for various rules, combat.
01:33:57
Speaker
I mean, we do have a brawl option. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So you can either do dexterity plus athletics, or you can do dexterity plus brawl. So dex plus athletics would be just purely dodging. Dex plus brawl or melee would be to attempt to counter-attack, basically. OK. I'll do that then. Just because I've had a couple drinks of me and I'm not wanting to deal with this right now. Right.
01:34:28
Speaker
Um, so if I, if I click on brawl, I do, wait, I do dexterity. Right. Um, you would do brawl first. Yeah. And then dexterity or strength. Okay. Actually, what would be strength?
01:34:55
Speaker
Yeah, I would say for this, since you're trying to well, no, you're trying to get him in a headlock. So let's say Broll plus strength. OK. Strength. It's acting weird. OK, there we go. Well, that's not good. So do I add one for my strength modifier? Or does it already do that for me?
01:35:21
Speaker
It's not a modifier. So basically, each dot counts as a dice. So if you've got a total of three dots worth of strength and brawl together, it should roll three dice. Okay. Well, I have two. Well, I don't even have one in brawl, so I just have one in strength. Okay. So yeah. So you rolled one dice. Yeah. So that's what it would be. This guy rolled...
01:35:50
Speaker
for successes. Yeah, so he, you try to grab him. He easily, you know, you kind of swing at him. He easily grabs your arm as you're swinging at him and kind of spins you around and shoves you at the door, which he shoves you hard enough that it actually knocks the door open. The bathroom door? Bathroom door.
01:36:15
Speaker
Okay. And, uh, you, you see your wife, she, there's no blood. Um, but she seems to be just, uh, cowering it in the, uh, the bathtub. Like she's, you know, she's clothed, fully clothed, but she's cowering in the bathtub, just like really afraid. Okay. Um, so I've just pushed in. I probably stumble. I probably fall on my butt. Um,
01:36:45
Speaker
I'll look to my wife. The guy says, I, I, I'm telling you this, this wasn't my first choice. He does glance it at your wife and he's like, damn it. She's not supposed to be in, she's not supposed to see this. Interesting. Um, well, I don't know what's about to happen. So she's just, um, so she is, was terrified by something, you know, probably the strange man. Um,
01:37:13
Speaker
maybe a little more terrified than like the way she's acting. It's more like she, something horrified her type. Like, it's not just, I'm afraid that this man's gonna do something to me. It's like something really just- She's seen something. Something. Yeah. He approaches you and grabs you again. And this time he throws you and you go flying.
01:37:40
Speaker
You smash into the wall, you fly out the bathroom door and smash into the wall on the other side of the penthouse. The man steps out of the bathroom and closes the door behind him. And then before you know it, he's leaped across the room and he's right in front of you. I'll explain everything tomorrow.
01:38:07
Speaker
He punches you in the face. And as your consciousness is starting to fade, you feel a sharp prick in your neck before you overcome with, honestly, the best thing you've, it's like the best drink and the best, you know, I don't know if your guy does drugs, but the best high, the best, you know, just intoxicating. And that's what you pass out to.
01:38:36
Speaker
Interesting. And, uh, yeah, so if you've got to go, you got, you can go. Okay. Well, then yeah, I'll be passed out in the pin house. I'm guessing. And, uh, I will be prepared to, uh, continue this next week. Right. Um, thank you all. Um, but you'll have a good rush sales night and let me know how it goes. Yeah. All right. I'll see y'all later.
01:39:06
Speaker
Um, anyway, so that all happened, but nobody knows that happened. Yeah. So, uh, yeah, it's, it's the, the countdown, you know, honestly, obviously it passed midnight for, uh, for Wesley while all that was going down, but rewind a little bit back upstairs. Um, we're a minute away from midnight.
Midnight Tensions and Revelations
01:39:29
Speaker
Uh, uh, what's everybody doing? They're getting them ready for the big countdown.
01:39:37
Speaker
Um, I guess most of my goal after seeing the CEO would have been trying to see where that girl was. Yeah. So you actually, you can't find her. She said she'd be here, but she's not. Dang. Actually, I guess make a, um, wits plus no, no. Is there a perception which, which wits plus awareness.
01:40:07
Speaker
So you would click awareness first and then wits. Where is awareness? It's one of the skills. On the right hand side, one of the mental skills. Oh, there it is. Is there a person? Sorry, it was just making sure. It's just a drop down. I expected all the A's to be on the same side. Yeah.
01:40:35
Speaker
So you said awareness plus what? No modifiers? No. Three. Three. All right. You might see her stats. Okay, let's see.
01:41:07
Speaker
She also rolled a three. OK, well, if it beats it needs or if it needs it beats. I'm going to say you think maybe you spotted her, but then when you but I don't know when you go over to where you thought you saw her, she's not there. Gosh, dang, she playing ring around the Rosie with this girl. Yeah, I guess.
01:41:33
Speaker
I'd probably just go I imagine that there's probably like one of those sit around the fire things. And I'm still nursing my one drink that was overpriced for this bull crap. And I'm just, you know, sitting there at the fire. And what's what's Jerry up to? Jerry, actually, the the Imogen has found you again. And she hold on, let me check.
01:42:04
Speaker
So, um, she's, she's looking pretty like she's not looking good. Like maybe she had a little bit too much to drink. Um, and let's see just how believable that is. It's okay. It's pretty, it's decently believable. So she, she looks like she's had, um, you know, too much to drink. Um, she's not looking good and she kind of stumbles your way. All right. Well,
01:42:33
Speaker
Jerry's going to catch her before she falls and be like, you okay? Oh, thank you. I don't usually drink this much. Anything in that app of yours that might help me out? No, but I guarantee you, I know just what you need. Come on, let's get away from all these people, get you some fresh air, and I'll grab a bottle of water. I'll grab you a couple bottles of water.
01:43:02
Speaker
OK, so you lead her off to a more places unknown. Sure, places unknown. Yeah, just more an out of the way area off the deck. And yeah, she takes the bottle of water and kind of sips at it, not drinking much of it.
01:43:34
Speaker
And she's like, this really doesn't look like it's your scene, is it? Center of attention is not really where I belong, I feel like. I'm just trying to help out as many people as I can. Yeah, I can understand that. Would you be interested in seeing some of the stuff I'm working on?
01:44:02
Speaker
Absolutely. I heard a bit of that conversation that you're a doctor and working in the same field as my friend Wesley. So yeah, absolutely. I'd love to. Yeah, actually, I think I've got something. No, I've got a room here. And I know how that sounds. I promise you it's not that. But I've got a room here. Well, you don't trust me. You're fine. You're fine. You don't need to worry about a thing. But I am going to put this out right now.
01:44:32
Speaker
You don't need to worry, but you're playing for the wrong team for me to be interested. I'm sorry. Oh, whoa. Good. That's not really my thing either. No. Just putting it out there. That's all. I've got some of my work downstairs in my room. I'd love to show you. And maybe, if anything, you could just walk me back so I don't make a fool of myself on the way out.
01:45:00
Speaker
Yeah, personally, I just like to make sure that wherever you're going, we get you there safely and without you getting behind any wheels. Come on, let's go. So yeah, you're leading her downstairs to this. In the background, there's the sound of the 10, 9, 8, and 4. What are you doing? Oh, yeah. Well, just real quick, while that's actually going on, Jerry's very quietly muttering to himself. 5, 4.
01:45:28
Speaker
It's just part of a tradition, I always count down, so does Jerry. Right. Cole, what's Cole up to?
01:45:42
Speaker
Um, so Cole is probably still sitting at that bar downstairs. He's now made fast friends with the waiter. Um, and it's angry that he can't walk away to one of the other, uh, not waiter, the bartender. Um, and he's kind of angry that he couldn't make it up to the, one of the other bars to actually get something alcoholic, but he's made fast friends with this guy. And they are, um, in the process of debating the differences and, um, uh, attractive possibilities of.
01:46:11
Speaker
computer AIs, like, current understanding of AIs. Yeah, so he honestly, yeah, he just kind of talks to, you know, he's like, oh, yeah, you know, I've been I've been actually you. So you're the brains behind this app, right? And I know that's what Jerry said. It was more of a collective thing. I mean, yeah, I did do the majority of the supervising and right. Right.
01:46:41
Speaker
I did most of the color combinations and had to program all the individual options for the app to actually work and trying to get the VoIP system set up so that you could actually contact some of the professionals on the app. It was really difficult.
01:46:58
Speaker
But you know, it wasn't just me. There was me and a couple of guys were on the project. There was Harry. He made the design. There was Kevin. He made sure it worked on Android phones. There was Lisa, who made sure it worked on Apple phones.
01:47:22
Speaker
So, um, but yeah, you know, it was a group effort. Uh, and of course it wasn't for, uh, Jared, Jared, Jared, Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Jeremiah. If it wasn't for Jeremiah, then, you know, this whole thing wouldn't be possible. So it's more of a group effort than it was anything. Oh yeah. I hear that. Yeah. I kind of, uh, you know, been trying my hand at, uh, making some apps myself like, Oh, let me,
01:47:48
Speaker
Check this out, and he pulls out his phone and opens it up, and then it turns off. It's like, what? He hits the power button, and it kind of turns on. The screen flickers, and then it turns off again. And it's like, oh, damn it. My battery must be dead or something. And there's a surprise. Well, if you fit in your apron this entire time, you might have got some water on it. Oh, you're right. There's a surprise like, well, I don't know if you can have a surprise clink.
01:48:17
Speaker
Again, kind of the same situation, the Hispanic lady, she kind of accidentally slams her glass a little bit when he mentions that there's something wrong with his phone, like another just surprise thing, and then just keeps on doing what she's doing. It's like, yeah, man, I don't know what's going on with it. Yeah, well, anyway, I was working on this app.
01:48:45
Speaker
it tracks the amount of ink in your pen. And then whenever your ink, your pen is getting low, it'll actually alert you. But anyway, yeah. That sounds kind of interesting. Here's my card.
01:49:05
Speaker
What was that? What the fuck was that? I'm sorry. I'm sorry. But they're just, I'm sorry. I couldn't, I couldn't resist that, that app, that app. Just, I couldn't help it. Just lame. It's like, uh, like one of those people who gives their like shitty script to a, uh, it's a jump to it's a don't jump to conclusions, Matt. Yeah. So he, he definitely, he's very grateful and takes your card.
01:49:35
Speaker
Um, as I tell them, uh, you know, just, you know, give me a call and, uh, uh, or, uh, just send me an email with the details on it. I'll look it over. We might be able to make some of the work out of it or might be able to improve on it somewhat. Like maybe not just do, um, a pin, but maybe something to track the ink cartridges of your printers at the home, um, or possibly, um,
01:49:59
Speaker
something along those lines, if ink is really your thing or if you're looking for tracking. Another fun thing that people are doing nowadays is geocaching. Don't you see that there are other people who need drinks? This manager walks up and starts scolding Jeremy because there's other people who have been waiting drinks. All he's been talking about is ink app.
01:50:21
Speaker
It's like, I don't want to hear another thing about that ink app again. Who cares how much ink is it? Ink pins cost 20 cents apiece. I don't know if that's true. You can just go buy another ink pin. And he like shoes the guy off and says, I'm sorry, sir. He's just been having a, you know, he gets so easily distracted. Anyway, you enjoy your drink. And the guy walks off and goes and starts yelling at some waiter who was not getting to a table quick enough.
01:50:49
Speaker
So, so as, go ahead, as the manager walked away, um, Cole like raises his finger. He's like, but could I get a, I, can I get something alcohol lick? I guess not. Okay. The, the panic woman over at you now. And she's like, uh, um, she says, uh, so, so you sure seem to know a lot about, uh, uh, computers and phones and stuff, right?
01:51:18
Speaker
I kind of glance over and look at her drink. It's clearly something that's alcoholic. I look back at my sweet tea. I take a sip and I'm kind of slightly frustrated, but I look back over. I'm like, yeah, you know, it's just kind of been her longest time as a kind of a personal thing, like a pet project that I like to do with trying to fix things, put things back together to make a little bit of money here and there.
01:51:47
Speaker
Um, I grew up kind of in a bad area and there was all sorts of, you know, other things I could have done. And this just helped me stay positive and stay, you know, centered on learning. Um, so, you know, it's just simply, I grew up doing, and it's just kind of stuck. Yeah. I know how that is, uh, growing up back in, uh, uh, Reynosa, um, I, uh, you know, in Mexico, um, yeah, it was a, it was a bad area, but you know, I kinda, I, I.
01:52:17
Speaker
Let's just say I worked my way to the top and honestly, my organization could use someone who's got your talents. I know this is a party, but would you be interested in maybe after the big countdown, swinging by my office before you head home tonight? And maybe we could, I might have an opportunity for you to, as you put it, make some money.
01:52:49
Speaker
Well, I mean, do I have a, is there a name to the CEO of this company that I work for? Wesley, Wesley, I say, oh, are you working for his company? No, no, no, I, I work for a different company. Like Wesley does the, the, the science side. I do the tech side of a different company. Is there a name of the CEO? Um, I mean,
01:53:16
Speaker
I'm going to say his name was, no, that would be confusing. We'll say his name was Alex. That'll work. Yeah. Okay. His name's Alex. Huh? Alex Parker.
01:53:36
Speaker
of the
01:53:59
Speaker
I wouldn't feel right going away from him right now, especially with the launch of this new app. He's been like a brother to me for most of my life. This wouldn't pull you away from the company you're at. Just think of it as freelance work.
01:54:18
Speaker
Well, I'm under contract with the company. I can't do any sort of freelance work, anything that takes away from my time that could possibly put towards other things that our company is currently developing. It's a very strict contract. It doesn't make much money. She gets up and moves over. She was like a couple of stools down and she moves over to the store next to you and looks you in the eye and just says,
01:54:46
Speaker
After the countdown, you'll come to my office, and she gives an address. And I look forward to speaking with you more. Do you forget that you need to roll something here? Nope. Humans don't. OK. Against this. You don't even, you kind of like blink and she's gone.
01:55:16
Speaker
in your subconscious after the countdown, you'll go to the address she gave you. I do that. Yeah. So, um, the countdown, you know, five, four, three, two, one, blah, blah. Meanwhile, back in, uh, uh, um, with, uh, what's his face, Jerry and Imogen, um, you, you, you take her to her room and she, uh,
01:55:42
Speaker
She kind of, you know, she's keeping up the drunk appearance, but she's doing a little bit better. And she's like, yeah, just give me one second. You go and follow her inside. So just have a seat. Let me go get my bag. I'll show you what I've been working on. Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Real fast, because do you mind if I use your bathroom? Oh, yeah, go ahead. Thank you very much. And I go to relieve myself. I've had several glasses of sparkling water.
01:56:13
Speaker
Max, the countdown is happening. You've been unable to find the girl from earlier. So you are, you unfortunately are spending the last 10 seconds of New Year's. Yeah, I take this as like a bad failure and I'm walking towards the elevator. Surrounded by people, but alone.
01:56:37
Speaker
I take this as it gets down to 20 seconds and I'm headed towards the elevator. You make it to the elevator. Where are you going? I imagine I would be going back to the parking garage.
01:57:07
Speaker
Frank, when the countdown completes and everyone, you know, cheer and the fireworks go off and stuff, you get up and you, you know, you catch the next, you know, the next ride down because someone left, apparently left the party right before the countdown was even done. And so you're on the next elevator down. Do you know where you're going?
01:57:37
Speaker
But you don't quite remember why. You're just going. It's kind of like when you're driving home and...
01:57:47
Speaker
You just blank out, blank out. And then all of a sudden you're in your driveway and you're like, how did I get here? Well, all of a sudden, um, you are standing outside an office and you've just finished knocking the door, knocking on the door to the office. The, the Hispanic woman, um, is standing in front of you and she's like, come in, come in. Let's discuss, uh, you know, let's discuss. Uh, you must have been pretty persuasive. Oh, okay. Yeah. You, you, I guess you,
01:58:16
Speaker
I mean, I'm glad you made it here. You did have a lot to drink. That's wrong. I drank tea all night. It wasn't even very sweet tea. It was almost unsweet tea, but I didn't want to say anything.
01:58:41
Speaker
It was, yeah, but you, you, you, you promised there was going to be some possible alcohol. So is that still a thing or I feel like that was a thing. Yeah, there'll be plenty to drink. Um, Oh, wow. Okay. Nice. Uh, so I like that. So, uh, these, these apps that you work on, um, is, is it just, uh, telephones or are you good with other things as well?
01:59:09
Speaker
So it's most things are to deal with technology. I mean, back in the day, I fixed consoles and worked on vehicles, I've worked on technology. I've done a few different odds and ends. I've done plumbing, I've done electrical work. But my main point of
01:59:39
Speaker
The main thing that I focused on has been technology up to this point. Yeah. Speaking of technology, the light in the room flickers. And when it comes back, we're in the room with Bill and Imogen. Bill, I mean, you went to the bathroom. Are you done in there?
02:00:06
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, it was quick. I went in, did my business, washed my hands. All right. I washed. And then drying them off and I'm making my way up. Okay. As you walk out of the bathroom, you know, back towards, you know, the living room area, make a awareness plus wits role.
02:00:29
Speaker
Ooh. Awareness plus widths. Okay. Let's have that. Kind of like something like that. And I'm just gonna keep that like that. I'm rolling better on average than I feel like I've ever rolled. Okay. So you hear Imogen come up behind you.
02:00:57
Speaker
Um, what do you do? Like you just hear her behind you. Uh, I hear, I hear her behind me. Yeah. Okay. Then I'm there's like imaging and I just kind of turn while I'm saying that I'm kind of turning my head, like what's going on? Um, when you turn, she, she quickly puts her hands behind her, behind her back. Uh, with that critical hit, you think you saw, maybe it was a pin.
02:01:25
Speaker
Maybe it was a syringe. Oh, nothing. I was just going to show you the stuff I'm working on. OK.
02:01:41
Speaker
He's going to turn to where he's facing her. Like, you know what? It's been a long night. You've had a couple of drinks. And I've got others. I still have to go and say goodbye to a couple of people out there. I'm just happy you made it back safe. And he's going to start motioning towards the door. OK. Do you turn towards the door? Can I get?
02:02:07
Speaker
I'm going to be I'm going to like you know back I'm going to be like backing up towards the door more or less while I'm kind of saying that I need to go. She. Let's see here so she. Drops all pretense of being drunk and tries to. Get around you to block the door. She.
02:02:36
Speaker
maybe a little more spry than she was a moment before. She's gonna, let's see how quickly she gets in front of you. She gets one success, trying to dart around you. Give me, you can do dexterity plus probably athletics to move quicker than her if you wanna try. All right, all right, let's roll that through. Dixie Dixie.
02:03:07
Speaker
I'm assuming I did just like one better than her. So honestly, while that's happening, I'm just gonna be like, whoa, whoa, okay. Yeah, it's like awkward where you meet each other in the hallway and you both have your like, at the same time. Yeah, it's yeah, basically, it's like, well, look, show you this. Just okay, I'm just gonna put I'm just gonna put this put this out there.
02:03:35
Speaker
It's a little weird. I don't know what's going on, but something is, and I'm not 100% sure how comfortable I am with it.
02:03:53
Speaker
So I personally think for right now, at least until tomorrow or at some point where we can have an official meeting, we can discuss this further. I would love to hear it, but I think I should go. She lunges at you with the syringe. So it'd be Dex plus athletics to dodge. Hope she's got a second plan because I'm rolling pretty damn good tonight.
02:04:20
Speaker
Dice gods are in your favor. Okay, so you Matt. Yeah, you get you get away from her God got the gods do not want me to be a vampire apparently Apparently, all right, let's let's uh, um switch over to uh, you know, hey, uh, not tayden max well, um heading down he's in the parking garage, uh Yeah, nobody uh, no one really um
02:04:46
Speaker
clicks with any of these people in a way that other than violence, to be honest, except Hayden's person. Yeah, so you head down to the parking garage and you're, I forget, did you come in a car? Yeah, you did. I guess it would be valet. The valet's probably gone by now, though, because this is the after party. I don't know how that would work.
02:05:16
Speaker
Yeah, so I find my keys wherever my keys are, find your keys, you know, and start heading to your car.
Mysterious Encounters and Threats
02:05:23
Speaker
And as you're approaching your car. That's when you see the girl from the party leaning up against your car. She's like. She says, hey. You know, hey. How are you doing?
02:05:45
Speaker
I'm doing great. How's the party? Doing good and I'm gonna act like that's not my car. And so I'm gonna like start like facing like contours a different car. And I'm gonna say I didn't see you up there. What happened? Oh, I was around. Just, you know, some of my friends kind of
02:06:14
Speaker
distracted me. And I go, well, yeah, that's actually, yeah, I noticed how you can be everywhere but nowhere all at once. Oh, yeah, I'm always on the move. Yeah, so that was your night. And I'm slowly playing with my keys. I'm like, this is weird. Oh, pretty good. So you're on your way out?
02:06:45
Speaker
Yeah, I remember that I had to run a quick errand before I forgot about it. As you were talking to her, there was another person heading to their car, and they've gotten into their car and have driven away. Maybe you see the flash in the headlights as they turn in the street.
02:07:11
Speaker
And as the headlights flash, the next thing you know, she's standing right in front of you. And she said, she's standing right in front of you. And you know what? There's a knife at your throat. Holy shit, Jigaki.
02:07:39
Speaker
That was fucking fast. Now. Listen here. Listen here, you you you pitiful piece of trash. I'm only doing this because I was ordered to. And then she just she. And I so I would like to mention that I do carry because this is Texas. Yeah.
02:08:05
Speaker
And when she was like, all of a sudden up in my face, I would have gone for my gun. And it's like one of those quick pulls where I'm already aiming up into her stomach and I will pull the trigger. Okay. So you pull the trigger. So roll dexterity plus firearms. She probably can't dodge this. Let me just double check crit three. That's a good.
02:08:33
Speaker
But let me see if she can dodge it at this level. So out of curiosity, does that mean that you crit that you crit it on three dice? So let me see what he rolled here. OK, so I think what he said earlier was six is a crit. No, a 10 is so two 10s together are a crit. OK.
02:09:01
Speaker
Yeah, it's just does the green thing cause it's roll 20, but two way I can. Oh, okay. I get that. Okay. Where's your sheet? So it's a eight, 10, eight, three. Yeah. So you've got three successes. Um, anything six and above is six is a success. Two tens together, um, count as, uh, two successes plus another two successes. So for total, um, and then, you know, can also have extra results as a crit. Um,
02:09:32
Speaker
So, uh, I'm just checking this, uh, these different powers real quick. Oh, she rolled better than me for successes. All right. So, um, impossibly you pull the trigger and suddenly she's behind you. Um, moving faster than you can see, she's behind you. The knife, the knife is to your throat. Um, and, uh, you, you do feel something, um, pierce your throat. Uh,
02:10:03
Speaker
it doesn't feel like a knife. At first it hurts, but then it starts to feel good, really good. But then you start to feel worried because yes, this feels good, but it's not stopping. And before you know it, your vision is going black and you fall into the most, probably the most peaceful and nice
02:10:31
Speaker
going to sleep so you've ever done. But at the same time, there's like that hint of, oh shit, what just happened? So yeah, she rapidly drains you of your blood and you pass out into her arms. Luckily, she's strong enough to drag you to your car and drive off. Of course, you don't know that. So you are done.
02:11:00
Speaker
Bill, okay, Frank, actually we need to do yours because Bill's escaping at the moment. So the lights flicker and she looks irritated at this. The room seems a little bit darker as well. Anyway, like I was saying, we could really use someone of your talents at my organization. I definitely could make it worth your while.
02:11:28
Speaker
Would you be interested? I do enjoy money. Well, money's definitely something we can get you access to pretty much anything you need. What kind of issues or problems am I going to be trying to solve or face in this new role that you have?
02:11:58
Speaker
Unfortunately, that is top secret. We would need to get you to sign an NDA first. It's starting to get dark in this room, but the light bulb's not flickering.
02:12:24
Speaker
I could guarantee you a starting salary of at least a hundred thousand a year. That's twice as much as you would probably ever make what you're doing currently right now.
02:12:40
Speaker
I kind of figured myself making some was around like 40,000. So I was hoping for something closer to like three times as much to try to switch. I mean, I am going to be fucking over one of my best friends from like way back. So can we shoot for 120,000 a year? She says that if you if you can come through for it, if you can come through
02:13:10
Speaker
Uh, for us, then yeah, definitely. And she slides the India, the, uh, uh, like an employment contract. Yeah. Gotcha. Gotcha. Gotcha. All right. So I pull out some like smaller reading glasses. I put them on. I grabbed the paper. Um, and I just start reading it line by line.
02:13:34
Speaker
It's like, oh, this is for the employment of one in coal stone. Um, by respective employer, uh, whatever the company, yada, yada. Um, this is a joint NDA as well as, uh, employment contract. Okay. And.
02:13:55
Speaker
Sign right there. OK. Do I see anything weird when I'm reading the contract? I was hoping you would step in before I had to keep going line by line. More or less, it looks like a basic employment contract and says that anything that you learn or do for the company is under the NDA. OK.
02:14:19
Speaker
Just so I'm clear, anything that I do outside of company time is my own. Yes. To say if I develop apps or anything outside, am I solely to work for you or can I do freelance work in other situations as well? You're welcome to do freelance work, yes. Okay.
02:14:40
Speaker
Uh, so overall, I did that. Uh, it seems like a pretty decent deal. Um, I will have to give my previous employer a two week notice.
02:14:51
Speaker
And if nothing else, I'd like to leave behind somebody that I know can do the work to make sure Jerry's app does well. That being said, do y'all by chance have a app division of y'all's company? Have you signed the papers yet? I'm not done signing papers. I'm in the process of it. You're like halfway through your signature or something. Not at the moment, but you could certainly head that up.
02:15:23
Speaker
Okay. All right. Well, that sounds pretty decent deal. I know the company we're working for now, even though my, my buddy's CEO, it's not really working out. And I wouldn't mind bringing that over just so I, just so I know Jerry's taken care of. But yeah, so, and I finished signing my signature on it
Vampire Themes and Struggles
02:15:44
Speaker
and I filled a couple of pages just to make sure I haven't missed anything. And the room goes black. You feel,
02:15:50
Speaker
Something wrap around your legs, your arm, and your chest, pinning you to the chair. Go ahead and give me a strength plus athletics. How do you do a strength plus athletics? Well, it'd be athletics. Do you click strength in athletics? Athletics first. And then attribute strength? Yes. OK. Wait, no modifier?
02:16:20
Speaker
No modifier, no. So the room goes black, and something wraps around your arms, your legs, and your chest, pinning you to the chair. You attempt to struggle, but an inhuman, impossibly strong force, it doesn't budge at all. It's not.
02:16:43
Speaker
squeezing you or anything like that to try to harm you. It's simply holding you completely immobile. You hear across the room the woman move, but you're unable to see as this is true darkness. It's not just, it's like when you go down to the bottom of a cave and they turn out the lights and you feel her
02:17:12
Speaker
her move behind you and says, welcome to the company. And then you feel something pierce your neck and it feels real and eventually you fall asleep. Well, you die slows and, and, uh, you, you're already unconscious before it takes its last beat.
02:17:42
Speaker
then the screen is black, the scene is black, and it fades back into the scene of Imogen and Jerry. And Imogen has, she's not a combat character, but she wasn't trying to do real combat, you just caught her. So what are you doing, Bill? When I saw,
02:18:11
Speaker
I'm trying to get out. I'm trying to be like, okay, no, I need to get out here. No. All right, so you're able to get out the door. She does chase after you. All right, as I'm walking, the friendly guy thing is dropping like, listen, I don't know what's going on. I don't trust this situation at all.
02:18:36
Speaker
Uh, don't worry about me, about meeting me. Just send me, send me what you've, what you've got. And we don't need to have any further meetings. You have a great night. I'm sorry. Look, this isn't how I normally do things, but I don't have a choice. And she, she jumps at you again. This was a, um, athletics. Uh, depends on what you're doing.
02:19:05
Speaker
Are you continuing to dodge or are you gonna fight back? She's trying to grab you and she's trying to stab you with a needle. I'm not, I don't, oh. See, I'm not trying to fight back, but I am trying to maintain some, any wrestling fans out there, I'll get this. I am trying to maintain some risk control and disarm the situation and get myself the fuck out of it.
02:19:30
Speaker
kind of like non-violent, I'm trying to non-violently disarm the situation. Or I guess disarm her. She is the situation. What do I need to roll for that? To disarm her, it'd probably, it'd be brawl plus dexterity. All right, so you don't disarm her and the two of you
02:19:59
Speaker
continue your struggle for a while. At first, it seems like you're stronger than her, but as you continue the fight, all of a sudden she seems to get stronger and you feel like you're on even grounds with her, but you were starting to push her off, but then she seems to have found some sort of inner strength and somehow she starts pushing back against you. She's really trying to get that needle into you.
02:20:26
Speaker
And maybe at this point you're getting nervous and you start to actually fight back. You get a knee into her. It knocks the breath out of her, but it doesn't seem to stop her. She doesn't even bother to breathe back in. She keeps fighting and eventually she overcomes you and gets a needle in your skin. And then she lets go. You stumble back. Maybe you even try to run away a little more, but quickly you find yourself getting sluggish and eventually you are overcome and you fall into unconsciousness.
02:20:54
Speaker
All right. Well, at this, at this point, at this point, the polite, at this point, the polite thing is out the window. I'm like, you fucking. I really am. The last thing you hear is I really am sorry. But I had no choice. And then, you know, you, you, you fall asleep. She, she drags you into her room and as you're sleeping, she does, uh, well,
02:21:24
Speaker
She, eventually she does drain your blood, whether it's in the room or somewhere else. Um, Hmm. And yeah, I think that's where we'll call it a night. That was fun. I liked that. So anyway, um, yeah, it was really good. I don't, I don't think signing a contract gives her the right to restrain it.
02:21:46
Speaker
I mean, did you read the fine print? Was there fine? Yeah, did you? That's why I said I read it line by line and went through everything. And then I was like, it looks like a rain. What you did was you agreed to work for. And you didn't get it. Because you. Oh, oh, well, I had to sign the NDA before invisible ink.
02:22:16
Speaker
You know, if I had assigned an NDA prior to getting any information from it, I was thinking a government contract or something, not going to get chewed on. Well, you are playing a vampire games. I realize that out of character, but in character. I mean, if you think about it, whether it's a government contractor working with vampires, they're still going to suck the life out of you.
02:22:46
Speaker
So that was, um, I don't know if I'm going to stick with this name right now, but Houston after dark with the, uh, um, what's the name of our show integrated integrated dice management, integrated dice management.
Session Reflection and Closing
02:23:03
Speaker
I don't know. It should be something like, well, that's been Houston After Dark with integrated dice management. Our main DM man over there, Ron. Fancy Pants Hayden. We had Jayden. Bill and Jayden, yeah. I always have a hard time with names, but like something like that, you know? Yeah.
02:23:29
Speaker
Like a delivery, you need it like with, well, with Usto. We'll come up with it. I think I got you. We can come up with a problem. Yeah, let's get, let's go. Yeah, we can think about this. And then stuff together. Well, everyone. Bill, you want to try it? It was a great night, great game. This is integrated dice management. We've had a great time performing for y'all. We, over in our corner, we had to say goodbye to Jayden early, but we've got Frank. We've got- Hey-oh. Hey-oh.
02:23:58
Speaker
And we've got the main man, the voice of God himself, Ron. And that's it for tonight. Watch the shadows because you never know who's going to try to eat you.