The Cookie Two, Part 4

Previously on Quest Friends: The Cookie Two... 

[Opening theme, "Great Fun" by Antarctic, begins to play.]

Hallie (as Anastasia Brackleberry)

I want to make a new cookie, and I want to make it based off of a Brackleberry family recipe that's been passed down through the family for generations. 

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

Oh, well, University of Qi bans all books, so it is really hard to find a specific book If you're looking for one. It's actually really nice here!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Taken aback.] In what way is it nice?

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

Well, we have a really good cafeteria...

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Crosstalking.] Oh!

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

With a lot of different foods, and we have a pretty good student council?

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

[Sharply.] Fuck the student council!

Hallie (as Magenta)

I was going to give them a, to give your new friends a warm welcome on behalf of the student council, Charlotte, but, well, I think that if you want this recipe book so bad, you should come to negotiate with us. Meet us at dawn. Cafeteria.

[Theme music intensifies.]

Hallie 

So run me through your plan one more time. You're going to the cafeteria.

Olivia 

To scope it out. 

Hallie 

To scope it out. 

Olivia 

Yes.

Cassidy

Look if they have any, like, hidden book stash, or where we could set up a trap I guess. 

Olivia 

Yes. Um, what time is it right now? 

Hallie 

Right now? It is, like...the sun has set, but recently.

Olivia 

Okay.

Hallie 

So it's night, but it's early evening, maybe like...

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] Seven? 

Hallie 

[Simultaneously with Ari.] Seven.

Yeah.

Olivia 

Maybe we wait like until, like, nine o'clock to go in there?

Hallie 

Okay!

Cassidy

Yep.

Olivia 

So that it's not lunchtime...suppertime. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  I've never had lunch at 7 PM.

Hallie 

I was about to say, well, it's not that. Unless we have a fundamental misunderstanding of lunch. Okay, so you are all going together to the cafeteria. 

Cassidy

Yup. 

Hallie 

Charlotte and Shannon will lead you there, and the doors to the cafeteria are open but the lights are off inside. 

Ari 

Ahh.

Hallie 

The lights are off inside the main cafeteria space where all the tables are, where the students would eat. There is a light on in the kitchen area. 

Cassidy

I knew it. [Laughter.] Can we sneak over there?

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Let's start there. 

Hallie 

Okay. Are you all sneaking in like, one big huddle? 

Ari 

Ahh...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Weh... 

[Laughter.]

Olivia 

I—I mean…

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] Sure?

Olivia 

Let's say, maybe we can like send Eraf, whoever's sneakiest, Eraf, or...no one's good at sneaking. Okay.

Emily

[Solemnly.] You should not choose Ig to sneak. 

Olivia 

[Amused.] Cool. 

Emily 

Like, someone should be, like, next to Ig. 

Cassidy

[Gasps.] My duplicate!

I could send my duplicate and then call it off. Right? Yeah.

Hallie 

You can, let me, uh, look at your sheet. 

Olivia 

How many times can you use that? 

Cassidy

Nnn. We're gonna rest later.

Hallie 

I think it costs her...int.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Two might. 

Hallie 

Oh, it costs you might?

Cassidy

Yeah. 

Olivia 

Oh, that's a good idea. I think we should do that. 

Cassidy

Yeah. 

Hallie 

Okay. Yeah it remains until you dismiss it or it is killed. Ahh...yeah. Okay. 

Cassidy

Yeah. 

Hallie 

You can...I would argue that you can summon it as long as you have the might for it. 

Cassidy

Yeah, and dismiss it at will.

Hallie 

But it will cost two more might each time you resummon it.

Cassidy

Yes, and we took that two might...

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Oh yeah, this is the one that's naked.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] From the light.

Hallie 

We agreed it was a shadow. 

Cassidy

Yeah.

Emily 

Right. 

Cassidy

It was more like a shadow me, like Peter Pan.

Hallie 

Yeah, it's like a little shadow Eraf. 

Olivia 

With no clothes or possessions. 

Cassidy

Nope. So, let's just have my little duplicate sneak over there to see what's going on, because I also have the share senses ability, so I can know everything it experiences within one mile. 

Hallie 

[Surprised.] Oh! That's nice. 

Cassidy

Mm-hmm.

Hallie 

I was definitely going to screw you over there too--

Cassidy

Nope.

Hallie

--And be like, can't speak, just miming at you. 

Cassidy

Nope. I can see what it sees, so.

Hallie 

Okay! So you guys are just gonna hang out like kind of by the doors of the cafeteria, where it's still dark and send just Eraf's... 

Olivia 

Yes. Let's like...I'm gonna like, kind of go off to one side, like let's spread out a little bit.

Cassidy

Yeah.

Hallie 

Okay.

Cassidy

Yeah, I was going to narrate to you guys what was happening.

Olivia 

Oh, never mind.

Cassidy

Or whatever.

Olivia 

Nevermind.

Cassidy

But we could also just do that, and then I'll tell you guys afterwards. But if something goes wrong, maybe best everybody knows?

Olivia 

Yeah.

Cassidy

Right away.

Olivia 

We'll stick together for now.

Cassidy

Yeah, behind like, a table or counter near the door or something, so we can make a quick exit if we need to. Duplicate, go! Sneakily. 

[Mysterious, tinkling bell music begins to play as Eraf's duplicate sneaks off.]

Hallie 

Okay, uh, the duplicate goes. I mean, it's not too hard to see.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Yeah. 

Hallie 

Because it's dark, and it is a shadow. So it doesn't need to do anything special to get up to the little kitchen. So the kitchen is a separate, like, room and there is a window that's a little bit higher up. So your duplicate is just going to kind of crouch up there, and then peek up over the windowsill. 

[00:05:00]

And through the window is a kitchen! And the kitchen has a ton of cooking supplies out. There are bowls, there are spoons, the oven is on, and there appears to be, like, a really long picnic table with, like, picnic foods laid out. Like, there's some hat dags. There's some, like, potato salad. Uh, there's probably a fruit salad on there somewhere.

Cassidy

Potahto salad. 

Hallie 

Some potahto salad. Some mastord. Um. There is...a lot of food on that table. And behind the table, uh, no one is in there. No person is in there, just a lot of cooking supplies. And then there is a pile of recipe books. 

Olivia

Mmmm.

Hallie 

On one of the back tables.

Olivia 

Oh boy!

Ari 

Ohh.

Cassidy

All right, I'll let everybody know.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Nobody's in there, but I see a pile of recipe books. 

Cassidy

Is there another door in the kitchen? 

Hallie 

Yes, there is a door on the other side.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

[Frustrated, uncertain noise.] 

Think I should send it in further?

Ari (as A.Lex)

Could you...

Cassidy

Eraf asks the group. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

I, I think you should also look, your duplicate should look at the books to see if there's the one we want. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Right, right. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Can you, can you, can the duplicate read any of the titles? 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Yeah. I, I just, should we send her in? I can dismiss her as soon as I, you know, think somebody's coming. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Is there a distance limit to your duplicate?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

One mile. [Laughter.]  So it’s pretty big.

Hallie

[Dryly.] This is, this is within one mile. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  All right, the duplicate will go in and go towards the books. If she hears any sort of door opening, or sees the door opening, I'm going to dis—send her away as soon as I can.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Or you can just have her it like hit the dirt, then she'll just be a shadow laying on the ground 

[Laughter.]  

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  That'd be really creepy.

Hallie 

The lights are on in the kitchen, so the shadow would be more visible in there. 

Cassidy

Yes.

Hallie 

Should you put your shadow inside. 

Cassidy

She's definitely creeping right now, kind of like the little sneak, like kind of behind the table too. I'm telling her to duck under cover to get as close to the books as she can.

Hallie 

Yeah.

Olivia 

If anyone, if anyone ever cosplays as the Cookie Crew, someone will be wearing Eraf's costume only all in black.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

All black.

Olivia 

In a blackout suit.

Hallie 

And it will look sick.

Ari 

Also, ah, as she's narrating all of these things, A.Lex is quietly is writing everything down in one of her notebooks as, like, stealthily as she can. 

[Laughter.]  

Cassidy

Perfect, okay.

Hallie 

All right. So, your shadow sneaks into the kitchen and goes to the recipe books. There are quite a few, like they clearly spent...whoever checked these out...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Like dozens? 

Hallie 

Clearly spent a lot of time.

Cassidy

Yeah.

Hallie 

In the library. There are like...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Gosh, okay.

Hallie 

Ten to fifteen recipe books, which is a lot of recipe books because each recipe book has like...

Cassidy

Yeah.

Hallie 

Fifty some recipes in it, and your shadow kind of paws through them and is trying to move them around so that you can see all the titles without—

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.]

Right. 

Hallie 

Disturbing the pile enough that it would be noticeable?

Cassidy

Yeah.

Olivia 

Very prudent.

Cassidy

Smart shadow. Usually.

Hallie 

While your shadow is doing that, what is everyone else doing?

Ari

Writing everything.

Hallie 

Writing everything.

Olivia 

Hannelore is just like, keeping her ears up.

Hallie 

Okay. And Ig?

Emily 

Ig is not...Ig is not really paying a lot of attention. 

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] I think—

Emily

To anything.

Olivia 

[Crosstalking. I think Ig is...

Hallie

[Crosstalking.] Okay!

Olivia 

With Hannelore though, and I think Hannelore has her on Ig's shoulder if nothing else. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Hallie 

Okay. Um. I would like...

Cassidy

Oh, here we go.

Hallie 

Hannelore and Ig to both roll me perception checks. 

Cassidy

[Thoughtful noise.]

Emily 

[Dice roll.]

Oh, um, so what kind of perception check is this?

Hallie 

Just a general...

Emily

[Crosstalking.] Is this...

Hallie 

Perception check.

Emily 

So not noticing danger, because I have an inability in that. [Laughter.]

Hallie 

It's not quite not noticing danger, but honestly, I already gave you, because of what you said Ig's demeanor was, it's already gonna be a little bit harder for you. I am not sorry at all.

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Olivia 

[Dice roll.] I'm just looking around here.

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Olivia

To see if I might have anything.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Cassidy

It's not a great look.

Olivia 

To pad this...it's a nine. 

Emily 

[Faintly.] I think I should have put in effort.

Hallie 

Okay. 

Olivia 

Can I put in effort for it? 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] You going to put in effort? 

Olivia 

What do I, what do I lose for that?

Hallie 

For effort? It depends. This would be...perception is int, so you could take...

Emily 

[Plaintively.] I rolled a three.

Olivia 

I have fourteen?

Emily 

[Disheartened.] I don't think effort would have helped me. 

Hallie 

So Hannelore, for intellect, like for instance, you have fifteen, uh, a tier of effort is three, so you could spend three of your int points to make the roll...

Olivia 

I'd like to.

Hallie 

Easier, really.

Olivia 

Does that even work? Because it's still really low. This is still too low. 

Cassidy

You won't know.

Olivia 

No, I don't know.

Ari 

At tier three, can you spend more than one level of effort?

Hallie 

You can spend more than one level of effort, and then it's two points of int after each level. 

Ari 

Right. So it would be five if she does that.

Cassidy

Five, for two levels. Three.

Olivia 

Um, I'm going to do that. 

Hallie 

You're going to do five points of int?

Olivia 

Yeah. 

[00:10:00]

Hallie 

Okay!

Cassidy

Two levels easier with a nine.

Emily 

Help me please.

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] I barely know what these are anyway.

Emily 

[Crosstalking.] I rolled a three.

Hallie 

All right, Ig is just, is just on her own. Ig is just thinking about things.

Olivia 

What did you roll?

Emily 

A three!

Ari 

Oh no.

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  There's no helping that.

Hallie 

Hannelore, you get the sense that someone is watching you. You know how if...when you're in a public place, or when you're driving and you feel like the driver and the other side is watching you, you just—that really instinctual, like, you look over because you just sense that there's someone there? You sense that from behind you, where the doors for the cafeteria are, and then um, a split second after you do that—

[The sound of a clicking light switch.]

All the lights flip on? 

[The hum of fluorescent lighting kicking on.] 

Like, those industrial really, uh, bright large cafeteria lights. 

[Laughter from the party.] 

And Magenta is standing there, and she has a few bags of groceries with her. 

Ari

Ohhh.

Hallie 

And she's looking at all of you, very confused. And then as you all turned to look at that, from the kitchen you hear, 

Hallie (as Devin)

What is this?

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

And you hear, like, a pot hit a wall. 

[Clattering pots and pans.]

Just like, ka-blang, ka-blang! And Eraf's shadow comes just like, rushing out of the room, because they were just really surprised. 

Cassidy

[Dryly.] Yep. 

Hallie 

And then Magenta kind of looks all of you and then she says,

[The humming of the lights stops.]

Hallie (as Magenta)

[Mischievous music begins to play—the kind of music you would hear in a French cafe.]

I see how it is! No one ever gives us the benefit of the doubt!

Hallie 

And then in a fury, in a fit of rage, she's going to reach into her little grocery bag and she will pull out...

Cassidy

What's she have?

Ari 

A hat dag?

Cassidy

Yeah, a tomato?

Hallie 

There are plenty of hat dags in here. Uh, she is going to pull out...

[Laughter from the party.] 

Emily 

I really don't like the look on your face. 

[Laughter.]  

You're making me real nervous.

Cassidy

The longer you wait, the sooner I'm gonna cast stasis on her. 

Hallie 

[Thoughtfully.] She is going to pull out...yeah. Let's go with a tomato. Uh, after all that. We're just gonna go with tomato.

Ari 

Would it be called different—a timido?

Olivia

A temeter. 

Hallie 

Oh, it's called a, uh, timido.

Cassidy

Does it make you feel timid? 

Hallie 

A timido. She pulls out...

Ari 

Timido, tomahto.

Hallie 

A timido.

Cassidy

Tomato.

Olivia

Timido.

Cassidy

Yes.

Hallie 

And I need Hannelore to roll speed defense.

Cassidy

Ohh! Don't get hit.

Olivia 

[Dice roll.] Eight.

Hallie 

Eight? All right. Uh, [Laughing.] a tomato whacks you straight in the face, and it just like....

Olivia 

[Dryly.] All the glitter and tomato juice.

Hallie 

It just like, explodes. It just...with all the glitter. Um.

Cassidy

[Dryly.] At least it wasn't in the van this time.

Emily 

Ig is gonna notice, finally, what's going on, and turn around, and be like,

Emily (as Ig)

[Startled.] What happened. What did that—someone threw...

Olivia (as Hannelore)

They're here though. 

Emily (as Ig)

[Faintly.] Oh no.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We have company. 

Ari 

A.Lex would be like,

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Indignant.] All right. First of all, do you guys just live here? And second of all, wouldn't you think that maybe we're just being proactive and coming here at a very early definition of dawn? Like why not give us the benefit of the doubt?

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Solemnly.] To be on time is to be late. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Enthusiastically.] Yes. Yeah. 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] A.Lex, roll speed defense. 

Ari 

Oh my god. Okay. I think I'm going to spend effort for that. 

Olivia 

You can do it.

Ari 

[The music stops abruptly.]

I'll also spend...no, just one level, I think, because I am not that speedful. All right.

[Dice roll.]

A nine!

Hallie 

A nine? All right, you don't quite make it. 

[Driving rock music begins to play.]

But that is because this projectile food comes from behind you. 

Ari 

Oh, no.

Hallie 

From Devin, and this projectile food item is spaghooti. Which is spaghetti. So you just feel these, like, cold wet noodles hit the back of your head and you turn around— 

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Spaghooti is served cold. 

Hallie 

Devin is standing there.

Ari 

She's gonna go,

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Frustrated and disgusted noise.] You did not!

Ari 

And just turn around. 

Hallie 

So now that they have both gotten shots in, I need everyone to roll initiative, please. 

Cassidy

Yes. [Dice roll.] And a question with that, did I see the book that we were looking for when...

[The music ends.]

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] You did not.

Cassidy

My shadow? Okay. 

Olivia 

[Dice roll.]

It's gonna have to beat mine.

Cassidy

Yes! I got a one. 

Emily 

What is with this?

Hallie 

Oh, Jesus.

Olivia 

Save the best for last, buddy.

Emily 

I rolled a two!

Ari

Oh, man.

Cassidy

Look at that one!

Hallie 

You rolled a two?

Emily 

Yeah, and I have an inability an initiative too. 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking slightly.] So you're gonna go last. You did that last round, too.

Cassidy

Wait, I got a one.

Ari 

[Disappointed.] This is what I get for using a different die than my usual lucky purple die. 

Hallie 

All right, A.Lex, what did you roll?

Ari 

[Laughter.]  An eight.

Hallie 

An eight? 

Ari 

Yeah.

Hallie 

And Hannelore?

Olivia 

Nine. Or was it a—it might have been an eight or nine. I'm not sure. 

Hallie 

Yes, you are, you lost two might. And then you lost two might because you used it to activate your shadow 

Cassidy

Okay, so we've still lost that three might from the light. [Frustrated noise.] All right. I'm glad I did not dismiss my shadow then.

Hallie 

Eraf, you got a one and 

[00:15:00] 

Ig got a two?

Cassidy

[Sadly.] I got a one.

Hallie 

Actually, Ig will go before Eraf then.

Cassidy

Ah-heh. Sick. 

Hallie 

Okay. So since Magenta and Devin already got a shot in to get the initiative rolling, you all get to attack first. So Hannelore, you are up in the current order.

Olivia 

Cool. Can I shoot my...my little, my little timeout gun at, um, at what's her name? At Magenta? 

Hallie 

Magenta?

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Can...

Hallie 

Yeah.

Olivia 

Okay, cool.

[Dice roll.]

That's a fifteen?

Hallie 

Fifteen! Okay, a fifteen will hit. Magenta kind of tries to, like, knock it aside with one of her grocery bags. 

Olivia 

Nice. 

Hallie 

It doesn't quite work. And she's standing so close to the wall that it kind of knocks her back into the wall, and stops her there.

Olivia 

But it doesn't get her into, it doesn't freeze her into the sitting position?

Hallie 

Do you want it to freeze her? Make a roll for that.

Olivia 

[Laughter.]  Yeah. 

Hallie 

Because that's what we ruled for your gun. It was one to, like, work. 

Olivia 

[Dice roll.] Yeah. Three.

Hallie 

So that doesn't quite work. She clearly...

Ari 

Oh, no!

Olivia 

Hannelore has a timeout gun. If it, when it hits they just are forced into a sitting position, just to cool down for a minute.

Hallie 

But she has to roll for the sitting position part.

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Yeah, I rolled...

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Because this is a medium weapon that also causes four damage. 

Olivia 

It's three, it didn't hit. 

Hallie 

All right, so that part didn't work, but she is, like, slammed against the wall.

Olivia 

[Pleased.] Nice.

Hallie 

And her grocery bag fell out onto the ground.

Olivia 

[Slyly.] Her baguettes. 

Hallie 

Her baguettes. 

Olivia

[Crosstalking.] Her baguette.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] There is some cottage cheese.

Olivia 

Cottage chors.

Hallie 

Cottage chors. There is some yagurt.

Olivia 

I believe there's hurmbagger.

Hallie 

Hurmbagger? There's? They're hambarger buns.

Cassidy

Hurmbagger helper.

Olivia 

Anyway, leave all this part in.

Hallie 

[Laughter.]  There's, uh, pasta salad. Pahsta. All right, A.Lex. A.Lex, you're up.

Ari 

Okay, A.Lex, after being thrown that thing, she's gonna turn around and say,

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well, I think we're past a reasonable agreement here.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

Like it.

Ari

And then she's gonna just try and book it towards the kitchen, just like “rahh!”

Hallie 

Okay.

Ari 

So yeah, I guess can I just roll for, like, running?

Hallie 

Just, just for like a general like...so Devin is still standing in the doorway.

Ari 

Oh, okay. 

Hallie 

Are you just trying to like, force your way past him? 

Ari 

Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna try that. So I'm gonna spend one level of effort. 

Hallie 

Okay.

Ari 

In here...uh, yeah. Okay. Let's see. Die, please... [Dice roll.]

[Disappointed.] A five!

Hallie 

All right, so you get close but there is just so much spaghetti sauce gooping down your hair—

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Oh, no!

Hallie 

That a little bit of it falls onto the ground and you slip on your way in. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Ew!

Ari

[Crosstalking.] Oh, no.

Hallie 

So you don't quite make it to where Devin's at. 

Ari 

[Frustrated noise.] She's gonna be fuming a bit.

Hallie 

All right, Ig. You're up next.

Emily (as Ig)

I would like to apologize in advance. 

[Mischievous music begins to play in the background. The sound of fire burning is heard briefly over it.]

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Emily (as Ig)

Not to you two. You've been very rude. 

[Laughter from the party.]

But, you know to everyone who, who...who told me not to burn things down.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] You go Ig.

Emily 

And I would like activate my shroud of flame. 

Cassidy

Let it burn. 

Hallie 

Let me double-check your shroud of flame. Your entire body is enshrouded in flames, it lasts for ten minutes. It doesn't burn you, but it inflicts two points of damage to anyone tries to touch you or tries to strike you with a melee attack. So you are now on fire. That is an enabler—

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Are you gonna—

Hallie

So you still have another action left.

Cassidy

Are you gonna rush Devin? [Laughter.]

Olivia

Hug attack!

Cassidy

Just this flaming girl. 

Ari

But I'm also in the way though!

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Emily 

All right, I think right now Ig's just going to place themselves between Devin, uh, and the rest of the party and whip out their baton. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Hallie

Okay.

Emily (as Ig)

If you throw anything else, I'll unleash the true power of a nano!

[The music ends.]

Hallie (as Devin)

[Startled.] You are already on fire!

Emily (as Ig)

[Clearly lying.] Yeah, that's just, that's not even the—the, the true power is even better!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

This isn't even their final form.

Emily (as Ig)

Yeah! Yeah, mm-hmm. So it I could, I could unleash my true power too!

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah, and you don't want to see that.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

That would be just stupid. 

Emily (as Ig)

[Haltingly.] Uh-huh. It's scary and—

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] All right. 

Emily (as Ig)

Big and, and, and it can—it can eat people!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

It can burn ships.

Hallie 

[Dryly.] Roll me intimidation.

Olivia 

They're really easy to fool, remember? I told them that I respect them.

Emily 

[Dice roll.]

[Uncertain.] Uhh, how's a fourteen?

Hallie 

Okay. Yeah, I mean, they are understandably alarmed at this, so you have intimidated Devin, and they're gonna have...their next throw is going to be a little bit harder. 

[00:20:00]

Emily 

Yeah, and Ig's just trying to kind of place themselves in a way that's between the projectiles and the party. 

Hallie 

Okay. Uh, Eraf, you are up.

Cassidy

I have two questions. 

Hallie 

Yeah. 

Cassidy

How big is the window? Could my duplicate jump through?

Hallie 

Through the window? 

Cassidy

Yeah.

Hallie 

It's... 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Narrow?

Hallie 

It's like, it's not one of the open windows, you know, like those like cafeteria windows that don't...it's because it's like an inside window. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] It's just so that you can see into that room. It's not like...

Cassidy

So you can see through. Okay. But it's not like...

Hallie 

It's not an openable window. It's one of those...

Cassidy

Yeah, it's not like just an open space between like the kitchen and the...

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Yeah, yeah.

Cassidy

And the bar area or whatever. 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] There's glass.

Cassidy

Okay. 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] There's glass there.

Cassidy

How big is Devin?

Hallie 

Devin? You are a little bit shorter. 

Cassidy

Dang it. [Frustrated noise.] Okay. That was my only plan, was to use push, but my target has to be...

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Let me look at push.

Cassidy

Has to be my size or smaller. So...is that like a size class thing, where we're in the same size? 

Hallie 

I mean, I would argue like...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Yeah.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] They are just taller.

Cassidy

Right. Okay. My size.

Hallie 

Mm-hmm. 

Cassidy

Okay, sweet. I'm gonna run so I can see him, get in range or whatever, and push him.

Hallie 

Okay!

Cassidy

With my push ability. [Laughter.]

Hallie 

And that does not need a roll, because you can just, you can just spend two int to do that.

Cassidy

Yep.

Hallie 

All right.

Cassidy

The push is quick and the force is too crude to be manipulated. Uh...

Hallie 

Ahh...

Cassidy

You push a creature or object in any direction you wish. I want to...

Hallie 

I was going to give you a GM intrusion anyway.

Cassidy

[Frustrated noise.] That's fine.

Ari 

Oh no!

Hallie 

So you succeed.

Cassidy

[Wryly.] That's fine.

Hallie 

But, but when you hit them...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Uh huh.

Hallie 

When you hit them, you hit them and yourself into another table of food, that's in the little kitchen. 

Cassidy

Okay. 

Hallie 

Uh, and...

Cassidy

How did I get in there? 

Hallie 

Because you pushed him!

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] No, I'm using my ability push. 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Are you like, running?

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] It's, it's like a psychic push. 

Hallie 

Oh, it's like a force push isn't it.

Cassidy

Yeah. 

Hallie 

I've been imagining you running at him, it just confused me.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Nooo. [Laughter.]

Hallie 

Okay, so you're force pushing him.

Cassidy

Yeah. I was gonna have my duplicate run in afterwards.

Hallie 

I'm going to do a, a different GM intrusion then.

Cassidy

[Wryly.] That's fine. 

Hallie 

They hit a table, and their hand kind of like whacks this bowl of fruit that was on the table. 

Cassidy

Uh huh.

Hallie 

And it sends a projectile of grapes coming your way. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Oh boy.

Hallie 

Uh, roll speed defense.

Cassidy

[Distressed noise.] That's my D20. Come on. [Dice roll.] I got a ten.

Hallie 

You got a ten? That'll work. You like, kind of step aside. None of them go in your mouth. You were never in any danger, but it's like grapes. You don't want those.  

[Laughter.]

Olivia

Oh no!

Cassidy

No, I've already got glitter on me. And then is it gonna take another action to send my duplicate in there? Or can she just move? 

Hallie 

Yeah, push was an action. Well, let me double-check your rules on your...on your...

Cassidy

Yeah. I'm so used to just... [Trails off.]

Hallie 

Okay! It's an action to initiate but doesn't say...

Cassidy

Yeah.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Directing it is another action. 

Cassidy

I figure like, instead of using my movement, I could use her movement, or whatever...kind of.

Hallie 

You can use...you have to use an action to dismiss it. 

Cassidy

Okay. 

Hallie 

It doesn't say anything about ordering to do anything. 

Cassidy

All right, I'll send her in there to grab as many books as she can. [Laughter.]

Hallie 

Okay, so the duplicate is just frantically scooping up all these books.

Cassidy

[Through laughter.] Yes.

Hallie 

And then make another D20 roll for me for no reason at all. 

Cassidy

Yes. 

Olivia 

Oh.

Cassidy

Oh boy. I'm glad I sent my duplicate in. [Dice roll.] That was a twenty!

Hallie 

That was a twenty? Okay, this duplicate somehow gets, like, all fifteen books into its arms.

[Celebratory crosstalking from the party.]

Cassidy

What a talented little thing. I'm so proud. [Laughter.]  All right, um, if that's all I can do, I'll just threaten and say,

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Stay out of our way.

Hallie 

As your duplicate? Or as you?

Cassidy

Eh, why not both? Could I do that? 

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

They have two—

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Like a reverb.

Hallie 

Eraf voices. Okay!

Emily (as Ig)

Yeah!

Hallie 

Two Eraf voices sound out at once. Ig is on fire in front of them.

Emily (as Ig)

Eraf's gonna get you!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Stay out of our way!

Hallie 

Magenta...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] I'm not very good at being intimidating.

Hallie 

Is now up. Magenta has been slammed against the wall by Hannelore, by her a little grapple gun, her grapple stun sit gun, and Magenta...

[Madcap, whimsical music begins to play.] 

...will reach into the bag of groceries that she is still holding and pull out, like, a to-go container of mashed potatoes. 

[Snorting laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

This looks good.

Cassidy

Oh my gosh. 

Hallie 

She is just going to lob them at Hannelore. 

Olivia 

Nooo!

Hallie 

She is so mad.

Cassidy

These students are way more skilled than we are. 

Olivia 

They throw really hot foods. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

What is all this food you guys have prepared. Why—why are you here? 

Hallie 

Are you asking that as—

Olivia

[Crosstalking.] Yeah!

Hallie 

She's lobbing mashed potatoes at you? Roll speed defense first and then I'll answer that.

Olivia 

[Dice roll.] Nineteen!

Hallie 

Nineteen! Okay—

Ari

[Crosstalking.] Ah, nice!

Hallie 

You somehow step aside from—they're kind of, they're like, not warm mashed potatoes. They're cold. 

Cassidy

Ugh!

Ari

Ew, gross!

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Because she got them to put in the fridge for a while, so they're just lobs of mashed potatoes. 

Cassidy

Chunky.

Hallie 

And you can dodge them easily.

Olivia 

I do. I dodge.

Hallie 

And—

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Why are you guys—why do you have all this cold food? 

Hallie 

Magenta goes,

Hallie (as Magenta)

[Indignantly.] Why do you care? 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

It's weird!

Ari (as A.Lex)

Because you're tossing it us!

Hallie (as Magenta)

Because you came in—

Cassidy

[Crosstalking faintly.] These sad aspiring chefs.

Hallie (as Magenta)

Before the time agreed upon for the negotiations, and you're clearly up to no good!

Emily (as Ig)

But you're here too!

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Crosstalking with Ig.] But we wanted to be here early!

[00:25:00] 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Yeah, you're being weird about this!

Ari (as A.Lex)

You, you have not been listening to our arguments! You're, you're throwing pasta and gross potato things at us! 

Hallie 

A.Lex, roll—is that your—yeah, I'm gonna have you roll persuasion on your roll. 

Ari 

Okay. 

Hallie 

[The music stops.]

Um, so Magenta throws that, Magenta does that, and then Hannelore is up again.  

Olivia 

Okay. I'm gonna try to hit again with my gun. [Dice roll.] Eleven.

Hallie 

Eleven? Okay, yeah. Eleven will hit, and then roll again to see if the grapple ability works.

Olivia 

[Dice roll.] Sixteen!

Hallie 

Sixteen! Yeah, it does. [Laughter.]  It forces her into this really awkward sitting position.

Olivia 

Awesome.

Hallie 

Against the wall. 

Olivia 

Okay. I just shoot Magenta into a wall sit position.

Hallie 

Okay.

Olivia 

And then train my gun on Devin.

Hallie 

Okay. So you're like, preparing for the next...

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Yeah.

Cassidy

Devin! 

Hallie 

Devin! A.Lex, you're up next. 

Ari 

Oh—

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] So A.Lex, you had yelled the pasta line. 

Ari 

[Laughter.]  Yes.

Hallie 

Uh, roll persuasion for me.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] The pasta...

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] Okay—

Hallie 

And are you trained in that?

Ari 

What? I, I think I am. I am training that. Indeed. Let's see if I can use a different thing...uh, never mind. No, I was, I was trying to see if I could add a thing to that but no, okay. So yeah, I am trained in that, and...

Hallie 

Intimidation. You're trained in intimidation.

Ari 

Yes, but also perception, I mean...

Hallie 

Persuasion. 

Ari 

Oh! Persuasion! Nevermind.

Hallie 

Yeah, persuasion. You're trained in perception but not persuasion.

Ari 

Yeah. I misread that. I am not...yeah. I am not trained in persuasion.

Cassidy

They're very close. 

Ari 

Yeah, I do want to spend two levels of effort to...

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Okay.

Ari 

To do that. Okay. [Dice roll.] Sixteen. [Relieved sound.]

Hallie 

All right! Uh, okay. So Magenta from her sitting position will go,

Hallie (as Magenta)

You mean you just came...why...but why didn't you just ask to come early? 

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Stammers slightly.] I—

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Crosstalking.] We don't trust you. 

Emily (as Ig)

How were we supposed to contact them?

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Upbeat, slightly silly tuba music begins to play as A.Lex lies through her teeth.]

Um, well we didn't think we needed to. I mean we would just be the first person, the first people here, because you know, I for one sometimes...have the bad habit of oversleeping? I mean, it's a thing that I shouldn't really do, but it happens, right? So...instead of having that issue, why not just be here early? You know? We didn't, we didn't want to bother you about it. So yeah, we are really sorry about this inconvenience. I didn't really expect you to come here with your groceries and starting throwing foods at us! Really, if anything that's a little bit impolite. I believe.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Sternly.] You're a bad host. 

Hallie 

All right, coincidentally Devin is up next. Uh, Devin is a little bit shaken.

Hallie (as Devin)

[Distraught.] What do you mean we are bad hosts? 

[The music stops.] 

We made all this for you!

Cassidy

I knew it. 

Emily 

Oh no!

Cassidy

[Whispering.] I knew it.

Olivia 

Why would they do that? 

Emily (as Ig)

You were making us food?! Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Oh...

Hallie 

Um, Devin will kind of like scramble up and lazily throw like, a donut? I'm sorry, morshmellows. 

Olivia 

Morsh...

Emily 

Morsh!

Hallie 

Morshmellows in the direction of Ig. Ig, roll a speed defense.

Emily 

Roll a speed defense against morshmellows... [Dice roll.] Fourteen!

Hallie 

Fourteen? Yeah, it's fine. They just burn up.

Cassidy

[Crosstalking, gasps.] Toasted marshmellows!

Hallie 

[Talking over Cassidy.] The second that they hit—

Emily 

[Crosstalking.] Wait, can I roast—

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Your fiery shroud.

Emily 

Can we get, um, roasted marshmellows?

Hallie 

Yeah, it's like, it's really pleasant for everybody actually.

Cassidy

Would I do this on my turn? Just because I'm trained in um, discerning disposition, and I want to know if they're telling the truth or not.

Hallie 

Devin is...

Cassidy

Are they genuine. Or should I do this on my turn? Yeah.

Hallie 

I'm gonna wait for your turn to do it, because Devin's turn was throwing the marshmallows, and now it's Ig. And then your turn also will resolve your shadow running with all fifteen books. 

Cassidy

Yep.

Hallie 

In their, in her little arms 

Olivia 

Awesome. It makes sense that Eraf's double would be so good at carrying books. 

Hallie 

[Laughter.]

Olivia 

It's probably how, part of why...how you smuggled them. 

Cassidy

That's a great, oh my gosh. I never thought of that. Okay. 

Emily 

Ig is going to turn around in a circle twice, like just looking at everybody. 

Emily (as Ig)

I am so confused as to what is going on! 

Hallie 

She's just turning in a circle while on fire?

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  Like a dog. 

Emily (as Ig)

Should I be, wait, I was getting to...into...in, I was, I was doing a defense because you were throwing things, but you were actually being nice? 

[Stressed sigh, sounding increasingly distressed.] I'm really confused! Can someone tell me what I'm supposed to be doing right now, ‘cause I don't think this was part of the plan?! 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Hold your, hold your fire Ig.

Emily (as Ig)

Stay on fire?

Hallie 

Is that what your turn, your turn is just, is just saying that?

Emily 

I—I'm saying that, and like, if someone, if a party member tells me what, like to turn off the fire, I will.

Hallie 

Do any—do any PCs want to respond to Ig? 

Cassidy

Not right now.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Just hold—

Ari 

Nah.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Just hold your horses. 

[00:30:00] 

Don't burn anything yet. You can just, you're doing great. 

Emily 

Ig is—

Hallie (as Devin)

[Crosstalking.] You were going to burn something?

Emily (as Ig)

[Defensively.] Well, I was on fire and sometimes it just happens! I got on fire because you were throwing things and so I thought that maybe the fire would stop the food…

Hallie (as Devin)

I was angry! I am angry! 

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Crosstalking.] Look, what happened is just—

Emily (as Ig)

[Crosstalking.] Why are you angry? 

Hallie 

All right now, we're going to cut to Eraf. Eraf, go ahead and do your disposition check. 

Cassidy

Uh, that's a D20 roll.

Hallie 

Yeah. D20. And you're...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Can I put some effort?

Hallie 

Trained?

Cassidy

I'm trained.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Yes, you can.

Cassidy

In what kind of...

Hallie 

Int.

Cassidy

[Thoughtful noise.] We'll do two, I've got int to spare. So here goes. [Dice roll.]

Twelve!

Hallie 

Twelve?

Cassidy

And I am trained.

Hallie 

You, and you used effort. You—they are telling the truth. 

Cassidy

All right. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

We could have handled this better. 

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia (as Hannelore)

What do we do you guys? Um...

Ari (as A.Lex)

Um. Look. I think this was just a big misunderstanding on both parties. So...

Cassidy

Good. Bring my duplicate back and secure the books in my hands, and start shuffling through to see if I can quickly find the one we need.

Hallie 

Uh, you do. It's like the seventh book. 

Cassidy

Okay. 

Hallie 

It's in there.

Ari 

Oh!

Hallie 

[Gentle, chiming music box music begins to play.]

It's called like Brackleberry Family Recipes. It looks very homey.

Ari

Ohh no.

Hallie 

It looks like it looks like a jam, like, you know, how jam lids are like checkered? 

Cassidy

Uh-huh.

Hallie 

And look very country and homey?

Olivia 

Aww!

Cassidy

I love it. 

Hallie 

That is what the cover of this book looks like. 

Cassidy

[The music fades out.]

I will have my duplicate hold on to that and I'll hold the rest of the books, and I'll wait.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Well, I mean, what's up guys? 

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

Will, will we know that, that she found the book? Or is that...

Olivia 

Yeah, we, yeah. I mean, like, we got the book. 

Cassidy

I'll kind of, I'll...yeah, I'll hold it up and show everybody.

Ari 

Okay.

Cassidy

I won't like, make a big deal about it. But.

Olivia 

[Gentle, soft-rock guitar music begins to play.]

I guess, I guess Hannelore is just gonna like, stand up. And just like...

Ari 

[Crosstalking.] Yeah, A.Lex will to try to do so.

Olivia 

Like, like putting the gun down and maybe try to like unhinge Magenta and be like,

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Hey, I think, I'm sorry about that. I think we had a little bit of, uh, I think we were a little startled. I myself was startled. 

Emily (as Ig)

Yeah. I thought you were attacking us.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Yeah, so…we're sorry. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

I think this was just a big misunderstanding on both parties involved. We wanted to be polite and come early, you wanted to cook food for us. 

Cassidy

Where...what are Shannon and Charlotte doing? Are they still there? 

Hallie 

Oh my God. They just watched the whole thing.

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

Thank you.

Hallie 

Like, Shannon was clearly not wanting to get involved. Charlotte was enjoying this from behind. They were with you the whole time. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  Yes.

Hallie 

[Laughter.]  They just didn't help?

Cassidy

Nah, that's...

Olivia

[Crosstalking, dryly.] That's great. 

Cassidy

Yeah, it's like...they don't want to get expelled.

Hallie 

As Hannelore helps Magenta up, she kind of knocks Hannelore's hand away, and then gets up herself. 

Cassidy

[Offended gasp.]

Hallie

And then Devin, seeing that Eraf has found the book that they wanted is just like,

Hallie (as Devin)

[Defensively.] You can take whatever book you want. We don't care.

Cassidy

Guys, I feel bad.

Emily (as Ig)

Can I deactivate my shroud of flame? Or are we still in combat?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Yes, Ig.

Hallie 

You can, combat's done.

[The music intensifies.]

Hallie 

[The music ends.]

Well friends, this is it! The final installment of the Cookie Two. Thank you for listening with me all the way to the end, or at least the almost end, because you've gotten to this announcement break. Seriously, thank you so much for listening to this...this miniseries. It means a lot to me. I'm so glad that we were able to do it. I love the people that I play with, I love being able to experiment as GM even though it riddles me with anxiety each and every time, and I love being able to do a special woman-only thing for Women in Gaming month, even if Women in Gaming month is in June and this is now finishing in August. We don't talk about that, except for just now when I talked about that. 

If you are listening to the Cookie Crew without having listened to our main series, Quest Friends, you should also give that a listen. Our main series can be found on QuestFriendsPodcast.com. And if you want a recommended starting episode, go to QuestFriendsPodcast.com/About.

And if you go to our Patreon, if you just go on Patreon and search Quest Friends, July and August I guess, was Cookie Crew month. All of my girls wrote a short story about their character. They're all really cute. They're all really good. They're all compiled into a little zine, if you want to check it out. It's a, it's a good time. So again, you can find out that information at the Quest Friends website. 

Thank you again so much for listening to the Cookie Crew and we'll see you for the Cookie Crew 3.

[The guitar music begins to play once more.]

[00:35:00]

Ari (as A.Lex)

I guess we get could retroactively negotiate. What were you, uh, what did you want to discuss? We started on the wrong foot, or wrong food as you would want to call it. So.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Very nice.

Cassidy

Gosh.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

Magenta, who spilled a little bit of like the mashed potatoes and like, other stuff that was in her grocery bag, kind of like, wipes it off as she stands up and collects herself and says, 

Hallie (as Magenta)

I don't really know. I guess we just wanted effort. No one respects us, you know, I mean. [Scoffs.] We know why we were left behind. We know why we're here. And being on the student council is a lot of pressure, and it doesn't help when people don't even give a good faith effort!

Hallie 

And she looks over at Charlotte, who kind of like, [Chuckles and scoffs.] While eating another peppermint stick she has procured from her pockets, and then Magenta gestures as an example, and says,

Hallie (as Magenta)

Charlotte, I bet you didn't even know what we wanted!

Hallie 

And Charlotte shrugs and goes,

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

[Dismissively.] Nah, not really. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well...

Olivia (as Hannelore)

What did you want?

Hallie 

Magenta will reiterate,

Hallie (as Magenta)

I don't really know, I just wanted to see what you guys came up with. It just felt like we couldn't just give it away, not after we've been fighting with Charlotte all this time!

Hallie 

And Charlotte pop in,

Emily (as Ig)

[Crosstalking.] Wait, why are...

Hallie 

Go ahead. 

Emily (as Ig)

W-wait, so, so I'm a little less confused now, but I'm still kind of confused as to why you're...but it seems like Charlotte puts a lot of effort in right? Right? To, to lots of things. Maybe...maybe we could all be friends. 

Hallie (as Devin)

We are on the student council. You think we like having banned books?!

Emily (as Ig)

But why do you...why don't you fix it?

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Crosstalking.] Why are you working for the man then?

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah. Why are you on the council if you don't like this?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Ig, I think you hit the nail on the head. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I believe student council, you would benefit from, if not assisting Charlotte and Shannon with their endeavors, that perhaps turning a blind eye to allow them to continue.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Your education would be better.

Emily 

[Talking over Olivia.] Ig is blushing in excitement that they said something right.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie (as Devin)

[Slightly maudlin, dramatic music begins to play.]

My family has been on this student council for years. I am a legacy student!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Dryly.] Nepotism, great. 

Hallie (as Devin)

[Indignant.] Have you ever had to live up to something? No! Clearly not. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Flatly.] I'm an orphan. Thanks for bringing it up, man. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]  Can I, can I throw out my name here and say...

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I don't know if you've heard the name Eraf Xindal, but I think today I did have to live up to something. 

Hallie (as Devin)

[Flatly.] Not once.

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

[Through laughter.] I've never heard of you.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Ah, shmucks.

Ari (as A.Lex)

The, the fact that you in the student council doesn't mean that you have to follow the same rules as the previous councils, right? You should have some sort of power to change things here if you don't like them. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Exactly!

Ari (as A.Lex)

You are in a privileged position, if you ask me, because you have some sort of leadership role in the school, whatever's, however small it is, so you can start making a difference, voicing out the things that you don't like instead of pretending that you like them. 

Hallie (as Devin)

We aren't even powerful in the student council! We were left behind!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

You have to know—here's the thing. You work for the school. You have to know something about the school. And if you don't want the school to keep being the way it is with this banned books and all this bad stuff, you need to use your skills make that happen. 

Hallie (as Devin)

[Glumly.] What skills? 

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Well, okay.

Cassidy

[Through laughter.] They just...

Hallie 

They did just...yeah. They are not in a good mindset right now guys. They made a picnic for you, and they were really ready. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Yeah, yeah.

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] And you just, you were not...

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Look, we...I mean, here's, here's the thing. I mean, you can take it like this. We took you guys pretty seriously. We were very prepared to fight you because we didn't think that you were just going to give us this recipe book. I... 

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Make a persuasion check. 

Ari 

Oh, god. 

Olivia 

I would be happy to. [Dice roll.]

Fifteen!

Hallie 

Okay, yeah!

Cassidy

Ooh!

Hallie 

Uh, their expressions both change at that. They kind of like, look like they're considering it. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

I definitely underestimated you guys.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Can I propose something? 

Hallie (as Magenta)

Yes, you did underestimate us. Yes. Was it...was it Eraf?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I propose we make a truce and we cook together!

[Bright, triumphant music begins to play.]

Emily 

Awww!

Cassidy

So wholesome...

Olivia (as Hannelore)

I know just what to make!

Cassidy

Yeah. She's definitely just walking over, plopping all the cookbooks back down on their table and starting to pick up some of the food.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We'll compensate you for the lost food. I believe we have enough money to compensate for that. Um, we'll help you cook, and I think we could cook something up for the rest of students as well to show that you care. I think that would be a step in the right direction to make some changes in your school. 

Ari 

To that, A.Lex will add,

Ari (as A.Lex)

Also, you seem to be a good cook, so maybe this is a way to start using your skills into something beneficial!

Emily (as Ig)

Plus everyone has skills and everyone is special! That's, that's what I always learned. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

That's right, Ig.

Cassidy

This is turning into...

Emily (as Ig)

[Crosstalking.] And so that means that you have to have skills! And you are special!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

And here's the thing, is that you 

[00:40:00] 

obviously have a great passion for recipes. It must have taken you, I don't know how long to get all of these recipe books, because it takes five weeks. It's a really horrible system for your library. 

Hallie (as Devin)

It is not a good system.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Okay!

Ari (as A.Lex)

It is not! All right! Right direction.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Let's burn this mother down!

Cassidy

Oh, jeez.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Metaphorically. 

Emily 

Ig has perked up.

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Breakfast and books! Lets do breakfast and books.

Ari (as A.Lex)

Bookfest!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We can talk and see. Help you make some change. We're all...

Hallie (as Magenta)

[Crosstalking.] Well, you know we...

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Diplomats of some sort. [Laughter.]  

Hallie 

[Dryly.] Of some sort.

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Hallie (as Magenta)

You know, we were...we were learning so many recipes because we wanted to start throwing fun student council events like...chili cook-offs!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Oh, that's a wonderful idea 

Hallie (as Magenta)

[Brightly.] And potlucks!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I love it!

Emily (as Ig)

[Wistfully.] I've never been to a potluck. 

Hallie (as Magenta)

It's like this, but less messy.

Emily (as Ig)

Ohh.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

It's like this but instead of firing guns, we bring a casserole or napkins. 

Emily (as Ig)

What's a casserole?

Cassidy

Can I... 

Hallie 

Yeah! 

Cassidy

Did they have it? 

Hallie 

They they do, in fact, because it's mostly like, it's really—it's a really simple cookie, just, you know, eggs, flour, milk, sugar. 

Cassidy

Do we have the technology to like, photocopy this thing?

Hallie 

You have the yipher that has the image projector!

Cassidy

I can just—

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] I'm going to go ahead and just say you can use that as a copier, because I like that a lot. 

Cassidy

[In a quiet, triumphant whisper.] Yes!

[Normal voice.] Okay, so they can keep the book. They can keep the book, and I'm going to...I'm going to tell them.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

So this is the recipe we're looking for. Fortunately, we have the means, we can copy this recipe and leave you with the book. I suggest as a sign of goodwill towards the students of Qi. 

Hallie (as Devin)

[Startled.] You..you would do that. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I absolutely would, speaking as an alum of Qi.

Hallie (as Devin)

Oh, you are an alumnus! 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Hannelore touches her hat.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

[Through laughter.] Starts to put it on.

Hallie 

Are you all still wearing the—

[Laughter.]

Cassidy

No! Absolutely not.

Olivia 

No, I took my hat off back when I found out that they banned books. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.]  Oh, gosh.

Olivia 

Like some kind of 1984 nonsense. 

Ari 

So how, how big is this recipe book? Just because...

Cassidy

Yeah, there's...

Hallie 

So it's the average size, just there's a lot of recipe books. 

Ari  

Okay.

Cassidy

But the one we need is like a page or two, maybe.

Ari 

Oh.

Hallie 

It's mostly desserts.

Cassidy

Yeah.

Olivia 

Do you want to copy them, A.Lex?

Ari 

Well, it was thinking of writing the recipe, and...

Cassidy

There we go.

Ari 

Leaving it to them in case we actually...'cause A.Lex, she doesn't want to not bring the treasure back as the head treasurer.

[Laughter from the party.]

So she will write the recipe down.

Olivia 

Yeah, so they can have fourteen recipe books. 

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Plus...

Olivia 

And then maybe we can break, like, maybe we can storm the library and...

Cassidy

They could do the written recipe books, whenever...the written recipes whenever they want too, they don't have to check written recipes out. It's just books. 

Ari

Yeah.

Cassidy

I like it.

Hallie (as Devin)

Collecting the recipes for constant access would be very nice. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

I think that you...what do you think? How can we free your books? 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We do have access to...in fact, Her Majesty, Anastasia Brackleberry. I'm sure she could pull some strings.

Hallie 

At this point Magenta finally asks, 

Hallie (as Magenta)

Who are you?!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Oh.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy (as Eraf)

[Through laughter.] We are...

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Driving music with a hiphop beat begins to play.]

I am Angelina Lexington, head of the Treasury Department of Queen Anastasia Brackleberry, here joined by the Brackleberry Brigade, a really group of talented diplomats!

Emily (as Ig)

[Pleased.] I'm a talented diplomat.

Ari (as A.Lex)

I would say the best diplomats that Queen Brackleberry has, no one is better than them!

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

Oh, this is great. 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

It should have been our job, but...

Emily (as Ig)

I am being incredible Igneous Artiste of Astaria, and I do magic!

[The music fades.]

I'm not very good at cooking. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

You can entertain us all while we cook. What do you say? 

Emily (as Ig)

Oh, I want to help though!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Of course, we can all help. 

Hallie (as Magenta)

Well, we appreciate you taking us seriously, and we appreciate your assistance and your willingness to help, and I think we would like that very much.

Cassidy

My heart!

Hallie 

And from the background, Shannon has been like clapping to herself this whole time. Shannon loves it. Shannon is here for it. 

Cassidy

Of course!

Hallie 

And then Charlotte will go like, 

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

Yeah, whatever.

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

[Quietly.] What are your mysteries. What are your secrets?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Charlotte, I think we can show some forgiveness to the student council on being perhaps a little strict.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Let's be a part of the solution.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

They're willing to be flexible as well. 

Hallie (as Magenta)

We've been willing to be flexible the whole time Charlotte, but you never...you never gave us the time of day! You just assumed that we weren't on your side from the get-go!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

That's what happens when you work for...

Ari 

Ahhh.

Olivia 

Hannelore starts to say that. Then just...

[Laughter from the party.]

Mmm.

Cassidy

[Exasperated “mmm” noises.] Nope! Stop there.

Hallie 

At that half comment, Devin will add,

Hallie (as Devin)

There are expectations. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well screw them!

Olivia 

I just, Hannelore just points, points to A.Lex.

Ari (as A.Lex)

You can make your own expectations!

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

Aptly put! I like A.Lex!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

You can go, as the poet—as the poets once wrote, you can go your own way. Legacy, expectations, this is yours. You don't have to be a part of anything you don't want to be.

[00:45:00]

Hallie (as Devin)

 [Crosstalking.] It's true, but there are institutions in place. There is power. However, it is just occurring to me now that they are no professors currently here at the university!

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy (as Eraf)

You are correct.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

No teachers! Yeah!

Hallie 

And then Magenta will be like,

Hallie (as Magenta)

I think that's why I'm...I apologize on behalf of, of our student council. Um, we were so obsessed with keeping the order the way that they wanted us to that we got a little bit carried away, I'm afraid, and forgot to think about what we really wanted. Um, we'll do, we'll do our best now to spread cheer and goodwill among the student body, and books. We do not like the book banning rule, very few people do!

Ari (as A.Lex)

Then don't follow it. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We'll support you as much as we can. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well, I will...I promise that I will pull all of the influence that I can get in order for this school to not have these stupid rules anymore, and for the system to be different. Because you deserve books! You deserve the freedom to read whatever book you want, any time you want, and not having a repressive regime telling you what to do!

Hallie (as Magenta)

We would be ever so grateful for official assistance from an outside party. I think that we would be ready to implement change with that kind of support 

Ari (as A.Lex)

And you will! Just keep at it, kid. 

Hallie 

[Upbeat electric jazz begins to play in the background.]

But you're not leaving yet because you're all, you're all gonna bake some fucking cookies together!

Cassidy

Yeah we are!

Hallie 

In the kitchen!

Cassidy

Let's get cooking.

Hallie

And I love it!

Cassidy

Montage!

Hallie 

Yeah, imagine a montage. What does everyone like, what would everyone like to do during this montage, this wholesome cooking into the night montage?

Cassidy

[Crosstalking over Cassidy.] I can make chilli. 

Hallie 

You're just gonna make us a whole pot of chili over the course of the night?

Cassidy

That's all I can do!

Hallie 

They have all the ingredients, they have been shopping a lot. Yeah. 

Olivia 

Hannelore's gonna use her strong arms to stir the big, the big pot. 

Cassidy

My duplicate can clean dishes!

Hallie 

Your duplicate can clean dishes, you did not activate her.

Cassidy

Heh-heh.

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

Just holding all those books.

Emily 

Ig is like, not following a recipe. They're just kind of sticking stuff...

Hallie 

Ig is following their heart. 

Cassidy

You know what's good for that? 

Emily 

[Crosstalking.] Yeah.

Cassidy

Chili!

Emily 

[Crosstalking.] It's gotta...

Cassidy

Chili, you just kind of throw whatever.

Emily 

It's just kind of got a lot of love in it, and a lot of...a lot of paprika. 

Olivia 

I imagine it's just like when a little, when little kid makes a witch's brew, and it's like, flour, and water, and dirt, couple of rocks.

Emily 

[Crosstalking.] And Ig is taste-testing along the way.

Cassidy

Oh boy.

Olivia

Hannelore physically turns away.

[Laughter from the party.]

Cassidy

I can't.

Hallie 

Shannon is helping you, Ig, and then every time you do a taste-test, she replaces like, the spoon with a clean one, because we have Eraf's duplicate cleaning all the dishes. So Shannon is just fixing your mistakes behind your back. 

Cassidy

Aw!

Hallie 

After you've, after you make them. 

Ari 

A.Lex is just gonna be going like, from, from person to person, like, helping with like, little things that might need to be helped, but like, she can't stay in a single place for like a short period of time, so she'll just going around. But when she does, she'll also be regaling people with like, well, inspirational quotes about just like, fighting the oppression, and like, she's gonna, uh, yeah, just basically be doing that. 

Cassidy

Is she jotting down the recipes at the same time?

Olivia 

Yeah, I was gonna say.

Ari 

She's also doing that, she's like doing that while also well sort of regaling people with like, quotes that inspire her.

Olivia 

A.Lex!

Hallie 

Charlotte is hanging on her every word.

Olivia

A.Lex is type A.

Ari (as A.Lex)

My favorite quote by, incidentally, enough by a kids' book adventurer named Jameson Hopper.

Hallie 

Fuck you! 

[Laughter from the party.] 

Olivia

I feel like I'm gonna pass out.

Hallie 

But I love it! Continue!

Ari 

She's basically gonna keep being like,

Ari (as A.Lex)

[The music fades out. A trumpet fanfare begins to play.]

You know, unless unless we make a change, no matter how small it is, everything is going to stay the same. This is something that a book told me, and not a, not a history book. Not a recipe book, but actually a children's book from an adventurer called Jameson Hopper. So you can see that every single book is important, and every single book can teach you a lesson, which is why we need to fight for them. 

Hallie 

Charlotte is following you around, and she's beaming at that quote, like she clearly loves it. She's not really helping anyone cook, um. 

Ari 

So basically like me, she's just...

Hallie

[Crosstalking.] Eh, she's just trailing A.Lex, like occasionally she might pick something up that someone dropped, but mostly it's making sure A.Lex has everything that she needs, which is nothing because A.Lex isn't doing anything except walking around telling people things. 

Cassidy

So heartwarming.

Olivia 

Um, so Hannelore is gonna go to Shannon at some point. 

[The trumpet music swells and finishes.]

Hallie 

Okay.

Olivia 

And pull a really old raggedy copy of “Rocket Science for, for Dummies.” 

Hallie 

Okay. 

Olivia 

And be like,

Hallie 

You can just have that, that's fine. 

Cassidy

[Laughter.]

Olivia 

I, I chanced it.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[Tinkling, nostalgic music box music begins to play.]

Hey, I'm not really going to be around here, so I can't show you a lot about being a mechanic, but this was really helpful to me when I was first getting into it. So, 

[00:50:00] 

you know, whatever. 

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

Thank you. That's the second book I've been given today! Um, listen, this means a lot and I know that you won't be around here because you're not in school, and you have to go back to Ancuan, but I mean, I go and visit the nuns a lot because it's my home, and it—you were raised there too! So that basically makes us sisters!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Ahh...

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

So I hope I'll see you around there. Then maybe you can teach me hands on how to be a mechanic!

Olivia 

Hannelore extends a very stiff hand and pats. 

Cassidy

[Whispering emphatically.] Hannelore you better visit this girl.

Olivia 

Just a quick, a really light little pat. 

Hallie 

As you're patting, she moves her bifocals out of the way so that you don't like, break them. 

Olivia

[Indignantly.] I would never aim for someone's—Hannelore knows better than to touch someone's equipment. It's a little, like, just took two quick pats on the shoulder like, 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Uh huh. Yes, indeed.

Hallie (as Shannon Iggins)

Unless you don't want to?

Olivia (as Hannelore)

That's, that's not the situation.

Olivia 

[Laughter from the party.]

Hannelore just cannot express herself. Hannelore's just like, flushed, she's like,

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Yeah. [Clears throat.] Yeah. Basically, so it's just...totally… 

Cassidy

And Eraf—

Hallie 

[Crosstalking.] Shannon's beaming. 

Cassidy

Yeah, can Eraf go up to Charlotte and—

Hallie 

Yeah.

Cassidy

Let her know,

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Meet us, meet us at the bus in the morning and we'll have some books that you can, can have. We'll have a stash for you.

Hallie 

Charlotte extends her hand for a handshake and says,

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

It'll be nice working with you Eraf. 

Cassidy

[Laughing.] She'll, she'll accept the handshake. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Good to be back in business, I suppose.

Emily 

Can I have noticed, uh, Hannelore...since she must be nearby if Shannon is fixing all of Ig's mistakes? 

Olivia 

Yeah, probably. 

Hallie 

Yeah. I mean you're all in one kitchen. 

Emily

Yeah.

Hallie 

So you can all just talk to whenever, at whenever.

Emily 

I'd like to, like without cleaning her hands, Ig is just gonna kind of launch herself onto Hannelore and like rub her sticky whatever, paprika-filled and on Hannelore's cheek and be like,

Emily (as Ig)

Emotion!

[Laughter from the party.] 

Emily 

And then go back to cooking.

Cassidy

Accept it!

Olivia  

Hannelore zips her coverall all the way up so you don't get anything on her tank top.

Cassidy

[Through laughter.] Oh boy.

Olivia 

Stalwart. She just ignores the paprika-covered hand, like it's not happening. But she does like, like wrap her arms around like Ig's butt, kind of automatically, like the way you put a, carry someone on your hip.

Hallie 

Hannelore, I'd just like it to be pointed out, has tomato and paprika on her face.

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] And, and glitter.

Hallie 

And glitter all over her body. 

Olivia 

Yeah. I'm, it's, it's a good thing I wore the coveralls. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Gonna have to shower after tonight.

Olivia 

This is a vintage Grateful Dead t-shirt that I'm wearing underneath these coveralls! I didn't talk about it before now.

Hallie

[Laughter.]

Emily 

In person Emily almost wore her shirt, vintage Grateful Dead.

Olivia 

You should have, it's one of Hannelore's bands. Okay. Are we—Hallie, are we about to leave? 

Hallie 

Yes. Uh, yeah, you spend the rest the night cooking, and then you can leave whenever you want. 

Olivia 

Okay, I'm gonna, uh, Hannelore is gonna be like,

Olivia (as Hannelore)

One more thing before we go.

Olivia  

And she's gonna, 

[High beeping noises.] Uh, triple-click. Yeah.

Hallie 

Are you doing...okay, you're doing your, your trick. 

Olivia 

So, so Hannelore does, [Three high pitched beeps.] And then she just gives the one second finger and just listens.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

[A low rumbling sound begins.]

In the distance, you hear a rumbling that steadily gets louder as it approaches the building that you're in.

[The rumbling increases and culminates in a crash.]

Until...the Red Mary just bursts through the wall.

Cassidy

Oh my god.

Hallie

[Through laughter.] Like the Kool-Aid man, of this kitchen you all just spent several hours in.

Olivia 

I wanted it to be the cafeteria! Not...

Hallie

Okay.

Olivia

I don't care about the cafeteria.

Cassidy

We parked it on the other side of the campus. 

Hallie 

The van comes crashing through the cafeteria. So through the window that doesn't open, you all see the Red Mary just burst through the walls, and then it almost is going so fast that it almost hits the opposite wall, but it's like, [Tires screeching.]  

Olivia

It's hard to stop.

Hallie

And then stops right before, right before impact.

Emily 

Ig claps.

Hallie 

[Laughter from the party.]

Shannon's, Shannon's just like so here for everything that's happened today.

Olivia 

What's the jalopy sound? Like, [Beeps.] I don't know. Insert here.

[A jalopy horn blares.]

And then I'm just going to open up the door and, and gesture everybody inside. 

Ari 

So before, before like, we have like, the actual jumping inside, I do want to have a final scene with Charlotte probably? Like A.Lex will just approach Charlotte and, and just be like, ah,

Ari (as A.Lex)

Make sure to keep in touch, kid. I want to see how this pans out in the end.

Ari 

And like, giving her like a side smile. I mean yeah, like a side, like, look and smile like really cocky/confident. 

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

We will! 

Ari 

And she...

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

[Crosstalking.] And welcome to the team.

Hallie 

And then she's gonna give you a shoulder bump, or, I'm sorry, like where she lightly punches your shoulder. 

Olivia 

But she's just gonna do shoulders.

Cassidy

Bumping shoulders. That's what they call it nowadays. 

Hallie 

[Laughter.]

Olivia 

Mm-hmm.

Hallie 

She is, for the record, a sophomore, so she is like, 19-20.

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

A.Lex is gonna chuckle a bit at this, and then she's gonna be like, 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well, I'm honored. I'm honored for this, and you know, this—people are going 

[00:55:00] 

to need someone to lead them here, and I can see no better person than you. So I think you'll be pretty fitting.  Um, and also, you know, my job as the Treasurer requires me to travel a lot. So nothing stops me from making a pit stop or two in Qi to see how things are going. 

Emily 

A.Lex is setting up a...[Trails off into laughter.]

Olivia 

Yeah.

Hallie 

Charlotte is trying not to look like she's beaming, but she, like she's trying to play it off real cool like. So she'll lean again, again, against...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] She's gonna miss the wall.

Hallie 

Whatever wall you're standing by. Yeah. She kind of misses, that's a good idea. Yeah. She kind of misses it a little bit and then collects her composure and is like,

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

Thanks, you know, coming from someone as, as cool as you, that means a lot.

Ari (as A.Lex)

Please. I don't mean to brag but uh, yeah.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

[Through laughter.] She's gonna offer a fistbump.

Hallie (as Charlotte N.)

I expect to see you around these parts soon. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well, you, you sure will, kid.

Olivia 

Hannelore's gonna, [Car horn noise.] Like a soccer mom.

Ari 

All right, A.Lex will be like,

Ari (as A.Lex)

All right, I think it's time to go. But just keep being awesome and free the books!

Ari

And then just like, jump into the van. 

Emily (as Ig)

[Jazzy, Ocean's Eight heist music begins to play.]

Wait!  Should, should, should I still burn that into the wall? ‘Cause I can do that.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

All those in favor?

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah! That's a good, a fitting goodbye. Go for it, Ig.

Cassidy (as Eraf)

I would check with the student council first.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Student council?

Hallie 

All four of the students you are leaving behind who you have befriended, Magenta, Devin, Charlotte, and Shannon all do two thumbs up at the same time. 

Cassidy

Yeah-heah-heah.

Ari 

And I actually, I do want to like ask them like, 

Ari (as A.Lex)

All right. So, uh, as members of the new and improved student council. What do you want this message to say?

Hallie 

Uh, we're gonna go with simple with this. Magenta is going to sheepishly suggest,

Hallie (as Magenta)

How about just “read free?”

Olivia (as Hannelore)  

Love it. 

Cassidy (as Eraf)

We can do that.

Ari (as A.Lex)

I love it!

Emily (as Ig)

It's good. I can spell that!

[Laughter from the party.]

Olivia 

Just in case, Hannelore's gonna write it down and just like, show it.

Emily 

I'm gonna activate my shroud of flame, and then I'm going to use the new ability that I was so excited for. 

Hallie 

Excellent.

Emily 

And it is a hand made of animate flame that is twice the size of a human's hand. 

Cassidy

That's big.

Emily 

I can direct it and it lasts ten minutes. So I want to make the fist of fire. I want to draw it out of my shroud of flame and make it point, and then like slowly draw all the lines into the ground.

Hallie 

I'm not going to make you roll for that. You can, you can write read free no problem with your fancy fire hand.

Emily 

And then in slightly smaller letters, more quickly, I want to put a "plus Ig was here."

[Laughter from the party.]

Ari 

[Amused.] Man.

Hallie 

Okay, you can do that, yeah.

[The music stops.]

Emily 

And then Ig gives gonna like, start bounding towards the van again...

[A more rock and roll song begins to play instead, something out of Hannelore's collection.] 

Remember that they're not allowed to be on fire.

Olivia 

[Crosstalking.] Just see the look in Hannelore's eyes.

Emily 

And then deactivate...yeah. Deactivate the shroud, then just like, throw themselves in for a group hug. 

Cassidy

So proud of them. 

[The music intensifies.] 

Are we gonna...[Clears throat.] Head straight back? 

Olivia 

Let's bring back, let's bring back our glorious gains.

Cassidy

Yes, the goodies. 

Olivia 

Hold on, I have to figure out what song handle or playing as we were pulling into the Brackleberry castle. [The music fades, now sounding like staticky music from the Red Mary's speakers.] With A Little Help From My Friends, by Joe Cocker. We...

Cassidy

[Crosstalking.] Perfect 

Olivia 

Just come cruising in as the sun, as the sun raises.

Cassidy

We gotta be tired.

Olivia 

Knock on that invisible door. It's been one day. Hello. 

Hallie 

Yeah, an attendant, the same one who let you in yesterday, uh, sees you and is like, 

Hallie (as the door attendant) 

Oh, you're back already...[Trails off, confused.]

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Don't-don’t worry about it. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

We bring the treasure! That's what's important.

[Laughter from the party.]

Hallie 

All right, and they will show you in. Ah, you wait a little bit because they have to go get Anastasia. She was off, um, she was off practicing axe throwing.

Cassidy

[Quietly.] Gosh.

Olivia 

That's cool. 

Hallie 

She is only good at throwing blunt axes, but she is very good at that. So she comes back in from axe throwing, and she's holding two little axes, and she goes, 

Hallie (as Anastasia)

[Delighted.] You're back already! 

Olivia (as Hannelore)

Oh, yeah!

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Gleefully.] We bring the treasure!

Olivia 

I put A.Lex right in front. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah. 

Hallie (as Anastasia)

Oh my god, you, you brought the book back! That's so great! Was my, was was my aunt Ramya okay? Was she okay?

Ari (as A.Lex)

Oh, well, you know she actually was not there. She was on a ship of some sort. 

Hallie (as Anastasia)

[Confused.] What?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

The semester ship. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

Yeah.

Olivia (as Hannelore)

The semester at ship.

Hallie (as Anastasia)

Semester at Sky. I am so sorry! I did know that she was going on that and I just forgot!

Ari (as A.Lex)

Well, you know, my Queen, if I dare say...be bold, I think it was beneficial that she was not there, because we were able to notice some problems with how the school was run, and we were wondering...I was wondering if uh, 

[01:00:00] 

you could help implement some changes.

Emily (as Ig)

Was is it bad that I burned thin--burned a message in the...

[The party immediately starts talking over her.]

Cassidy (as Eraf)

Nothing!

Ari (as A.Lex)

Nothing! Nothing was burned or anything. Nothing was damaged.

Hallie (as Anastasia)

You burned what, Ig?

Cassidy (as Eraf)

[As the rest of the party tries to talk over her.] Nothing! She wasn't allowed to burn. 

Ari (as A.Lex)

[Upbeat, playful music begins to play.]

We were just, you know, it was nothing important. Nobody got hurt. Everything is fine. 

Olivia 

I'll put the cookies in front of the queen's face so she never remembers!

Cassidy (as Eraf)  

We spent some time cooking with the students. 

Hallie 

[Over laughter from the party.] There is a lot going on. You're all talking at once, and Ig is like, fire! And everyone is like, no, what?

Cassidy

No no no!

Hallie

And then Anastasia is presented with these cookies.

Hallie (as Anastasia)

Oh, you made cookies!

Olivia (as Hannelore)

[High pitched.] Yeah!

Cassidy (as Eraf)

[More calmly.] Yes we did.

Hallie 

And she will try one. And she will also, her hawk is there. She'll let her hawk nibble on one.

Cassidy

Yess.

Hallie 

It is a sci-fi universe, the hawk can eat whatever he wants. So it'll nibble.

Hallie (as Anastasia)

So these are good! Tell me all about it.

[Closing music intensifies.]

Hallie (as Anastasia)

[The music fades.]

That part sounded, uh, more threatening than diplomacy usually is...

Ari (as A.Lex)

There really, there wasn't any threatening Queen, my Queen. Just, uh, you know. You know, the usual...uh...banter. You know. But uh, I've done worse things! [Awkward chuckle.] You know...

[Laughter from the party.]

[Episode ends - 01:01:39]