#plarmitage

[enkisstories]

My four paras were in a group when I told them all to nap, assuming each would find their own bed (or any bed, there were four on the lot).

Rose and Armi opted to do this instead.

[detroitverse]

New story: THE COWBOY CHALLENGE

The midwest. Sometime early to mid 20th century.

Not that it mattered, Armitage thought. His father was perfectly able to combine the worst antediluvian barbarian behavior (towards everyone else) with the comforts of the civilized age (for himself).

"Weak, paper-thin and just as useless" - by now the young man was word-perfect on every last way Brendol knew to belittle him, about the only department in which the elderly man showed any creativity. Even the added "not without potential" Brendol managed to make sound like an insult.

"Die already", Armitage thought and realistically speaking that day couldn't be too far in the future. Then he'd sell the ranch and move someplace where he probably wouldn't be apprecciated any better, but where at least he could distract himself from the memories that would accompany him.

Brendol: "We will have guests today, by the way, one of them being the future owner of this ranch."

Armitage: "You're going to sell the place?!"

Brendol: "You wish, boy! No. I was thinking that my time is running out and that I need an heir. And I have decided that my land and money will go to the best of my cowboys, smelly things that they are."

Armitage: "You don't even know their names..."

Brendol: "I don't need to. Only one is important: the winner.

You have the choice, Armitage: Outdo those dirty lowlifes in my challenge to claim your birthright or marry the winner to get at the wealth and live with the shame. Or do none of that, lose everything and perish at the roadside, like the useless runt you are!"

---

So this will be my new save. Brendol's clock is ticking and whichever of the five young adults scores best in the categories Professional competence, Income, Culture, Household, Romance and Parental Approval when he leaves us will be named heir.

[enkisstories]

Hux got the option to propose to Chris, but looking more carefully, I realized that he also had the option to propose to himself.

Chris was the easier choice with a 100% chance. Meanwhile Hux had only a 91% chance of himself accepting his proposal.

Out of curiosity I picked Hux as target, the game rolled the dice and Hux accepted. He is now engaged to himself.

[detroitverse]

The cowboys had gotten told the categories they would get evaluated in, but not the exact skills that would provide the score.

Guitar contributing to "Culture" was a bit of a stretch, but there they were, merrily taking turns plucking away on the strings of a single guitar between the four of them.

After watching Poe Dameron play for a while, Armitage noticed that he gave the others helpful hints to improve their own playing.

What was the point of this? They were rivals! Why would Dameron give his opponents pointers? It made no sense!

Oh, well, all the better for him! Should Dameron sabotage himself, that would only help him, Armitage, come out on top.

Armitage slammed down the keys of the piano with mathematical precision, but little heart, until the noise drowned out Poe's guitar play.

[detroitverse]

I didn't expect the Paras to manifest romantic cards in the very first conversation already! Brendol quickly changed the topic to the weather, but before that I took a screenshot of Armitage's romantic prospects.

Right now it looks Rose > Finn > Rey > Poe.

In my headcanon it's actually Rose > Poe > Finn > Rey, so me and the game at least agree on Armi x Rose, lol.

[detroitverse]

It happened still into the first week of the challenge:

Armitage received a strike from Mr. Pryde due to low performance and almost wouldn't have made it home.

While he dozed exhausted on a lounge chair, the cowboys did the cooking, cleaning and repairing, never even a question. He was weak, they were strong, so they carried him.

"First come, first serve", was Brendol's motto. To hell with the slow, should they starve! In Poe's world it went "First to come sets the table". The best got the most praise, but everyone ate the same.

Rey: "Your son, Sir, seems to be under the impression that he has to demonstrate cowboy skills. Why, if we may ask? He isn't cut out for this kind of life."

Brendol: "Maybe he isn't cut out for life, period! And I just didn't admit that to myself all those years. I wasted food and space on someone barely scraping by instead of looking into alternatives."

[detroitverse]

Armitage spent more time with the cowboys than he had planned to (or even noticed). One day he was this close to sharing promotion secrets with Finn.

Only Poe talking about his favorite love songs saved Armitage from the near lapse.

Finn seemed to really like what he heard... But what had come over Armitage! These people were not his friends! He needed to remind himself of that.

[detroitverse]

Armitage: "Where's Palpatine?"

Rose: "She needs a little more alone-time. We'll save some sandwiches for her."

Finn: "These are good! Where's your cook, Mr. Hux? They must be busy, whipping up all that premium stuff for us, but we never see them."

Armitage: "There is no cook. I do that."

Poe: "A-ha! So that's your oh-so secret vocation!"

Finn: "With kitchen skills like yours you could go places."

Armitage: "Oh, shut up, Sloane! Father already reminds me that I make a good housewife..."

Rose: "If you ever feel like having an adventure, Mr. Hux, you're welcome to join the next cattle drive as our cook. And we mean that!"