#plcowboychallenge

[detroitverse]

Poe, Finn, Rey and Rose in my new cowboy themed challenge.

Close-knit, they won't take kindly to getting pitted against each other and may very well decide to split the prize, regardless of who wins.

[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.

[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]

Poe:

♪ C'mon, Captain Oblivious, kiss her already! ♪ ♪ So that sweet Rose and her man can get weddy ♪ ♪ I'm running out rhymes, you two are the worst ♪ ♪ You need your minds get checked by Dr. Gorst ♪

"Spoiler": Armitage and Rose are yet another couple that will unlock intimacy before First Kiss.

[detroitverse]

With Poe and Finn being a couple now and Rey being a solitary person, that left Armitage and Rose to spend more time together. They certainly didn't complain!

One day Armitage spilled the truth about the challenge that hadn't went anywhere to Rose. How his father had wanted to make a man out of him by putting him against the cowboys and how he had been ready to name whoever won the competition his heir.

Armitage: "But then Rey crossed father, so he got second thoughts about leaving his ranch to her or her friends. A little later my little brother got born, so the heir problem was solved."

Rose: "Your little brother? Archibald is Brendol's child? Your baby brother?"

Armitage: "Yes. Yes and yes."

Rose: "Really not yours? We were so certain!"

Armitage: "Could you please tell me already how you all got the impression that someone could LIKE me?!"

[detroitverse]

Poe: "I've talked to Hux, but he keeps denying fatherhood..."

Finn: "Little Archie doesn't need him. Growing up with parents is more important for a child than having his blood donor around. And parents he will have - you and me!"

At 37% success chance it was a risky move, but it paid off! Finn and Poe are officially an item now.

[detroitverse]

Poe: "Joke aside, Mr. Hux, we know that you are the father."

Armitage: "That's ridiculous!"

Poe: "No. What's ridiculous is the fervency with which you deny what's plain to see. You have your rough edges, but we figured you a decent bloke. Salvageable, at the very least. But we erred."

Armitage: "Plain to see? What do you mean by that? The baby looks nothing like me. Like any of us, for that matter."

Poe: "Oh, stop denying it already! None of us is shaken more than expected given the surprise delivery. Only you are visibly uncomfortable by the baby's mere existence!"