Caleb, David, Jonathan, Melanie, and Rita find themselves sitting in running go-karts, one foot on the brake, hands on the wheel. The sudden transition is disorienting, especially for those who'd been standing, though not physically uncomfortable. Rita still has the tray of frozen pizza rolls she was about to slip into the oven, balanced on her lap.

There's no sensation of missing time or loss of consciousness; one second you were in the bunker, now you're here, on what appears to be a race track on a warm summer's day. To Caleb's left, he can see a ruddy-faced mustached man in a red shirt and blue slacks with a distinctive 'M' on his cap. "Have-a good race!" he chirps in a high-pitched voice, throwing Caleb a thumbs-up.

On his right is a warped mirror image of the first man, wearing yellow, obese where the first is overweight, a competitive snarl replacing his good-natured grin.

Between David and Melanie an enormous gorilla wearing a loose red necktie sits at the wheel of a yellow cart that bows low under his weight. A blonde woman with a crown in a pink dress in a pink cart is just ahead of Rita.

None of this looks digitized. None of them looks like a cartoon. The guy in the red cap looks like a slightly hefty guy. The ape is a real goddamn ape. The breeze on their flesh feels real. The vibrations from the cart's motor feels real. Up ahead, a cloud dangling the race's starter lights slowly begins to descend, top red light illuminated.

ooc: You get to decide which kart you're in; Yoshi's, Luigi's, Toad's, and Koopa's are available.

Melanie has already called Yoshi's.

Yoshi's and Toad's karts get the "Lightweight Kart" aspect; they have the highest acceleration and top speed, best off-road handling, but the worst turn radius and handle worst in collisions.

Luigi's kart gets the "Middleweight Kart" aspect. They have the best turn-radius.

Koopa's kart gets the "Heavyweight Kart" aspect. They fare the best in collisions, but terrible acceleration.

Aside from Melanie, this is a *player* choice; the character just found themself in the kart. Maybe it's subconscious, maybe it's arbitrary. First come first serve, just make it clear which kart you're in when you post your reactions to suddenly appearing on a race track.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:45, Mon 11 Oct 2021.

It had been a long time since Caleb had played some 4-player  Mario Kart. Moo Moo Farm, Koopa Troopa Beach, Bowser’s Castle, and his favorite, Rainbow Road, - nothing beat the 4-player experience of drifting around a turn or hitting the player ahead of him with a red shell. He had Mario Kart on his 3DS, Switch, and phone, but he had never been able to replicate the feeling of sitting on Bernie’s couch and racing through a course with three other real-life players. He had been content to sit back and watch the other four race through a course first and had been surprised that they decided to only play 2-player mode.

And then everything changed.

The transition lasted only a moment. Caleb had gasped in disbelief as reality was swallowed up in pure bright light. Now, he finds himself sitting in a small blue go-kart. Blankly, he looks to his left and his right. Where the hell is he? Who the hell are these people? If they’re cosplayers, they look remarkably like real-life versions of Mario and Wario. But who invited cosplayers to this weekend? And how had everyone gotten outside?

The red light up ahead attracts his attention. The shock of the displacement swiftly gives way to the realization that somehow, he is somewhere far different, a place that very much looks like a Mario Kart racecourse. Was this some kind of hyper-advanced VR? Some kind of Ready Player One program? But they had put on no gear, no goggles or gloves. Astonishing.

”Yeah, you, too,” he responded, almost automatically, to Mario. Gripping the steering wheel, Caleb revved his cart’s engine.

OOC: I call dibs on Toad!

Jon drops the chip he was about to eat, as he stares around in confusion. "What the... did someone just do a screen transition outside the tv!?"

OOC: Jon is in Luigi's green kart.

Rita blinks, finding herself in a green go-kart with the engine running, the vibration somehow thrilling her. In her lap, frozen pizza rolls are vibrating on a cookie sheet. It’s a Koopa Kart, she realizes, slow as molasses but very sturdy. She almost laughs out loud at Mario and Warriors, Peach and Kong, wondering for a moment if she looks like a goofy turtle.

“Oh, shit, we’ve been Tronned.”

The red light is flashing and she grips the wheel, ready for the green.

David, meanwhile, winds up in a Waluigi cart, looking around in confusion.

"What the hell?! Is this some kind of hallucination, or-" He stopped, realizing the race was about to begin. So he grabbed the wheel and got ready for the madness to begin.

All alongside the track were stands for spectators - something that definitely wasn't strongly featured in the game itself - filled with Toad people, a Goomba here and there, and the occasional Koopa. All were cheering and watching with anticipation.

The lights ticked down, accompanied by loud tones that changed in pitch when they hit green.

ooc: If your character has the presence of mind (and desire) to start the race go ahead and gimmie a roll. Take a +1 from Aspects related to go-kart racing.

If you have any Aspects that imply this would freak you out, that you don't deal well with unexpected circumstances, that you wouldn't believe this is happening, etc, consider yourself compelled to react in a way that is not "participating in the race".

Everybody has 2 Fate Points.

It occurs to Caleb that he has never raced in a go-kart before. Is there a brake, or just an accelerator? How is he supposed to stop? "I can't believe this is happening," he mutters to himself. Well, here goes nothing!

OOC: Go go go!

[Private to GM: 18:32, Today: Caleb Rugger rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice ((0, 0, 0, -1)).

"Tronned? Wait, didn't they get killed if they lost their games!?" Jon starts to panic, trying to figure out how what to push to get going, while the others around him race off.

OOC: Too panicked and confuse to start on time, missing the first roll.

Melanie was too stunned, too shocked, to react immediately. This was impossible, it couldn't be happening.

Or, had Bernie got his hands on some weird experimental technology?

Then the light turned green, and the adrenaline rush took over. She floored it.

[OOC: 14:47, Today: Melanie Fox rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice ((1, 0, -1, 1)).
+1 for her Aspect of "Craves excitement" = 2]

"Well... got no idea what's happening, but might as well work with what I've got!" he said, starting up his car and driving.

"Was Waluigi even in this game?" He muttered to himself as he drove off.


10:49, Today: David Richardson rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice.  Racing.

Rita sweeps her hair back out of her face, securing it with the scrunchy around her wrist. When the green light flashes, she stomps on the accelerator hard and holds it down, trying to coax every bit of speed out of her lumbering vehicle.

[Rita Lowenstine rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice for go kart!]

Melanie, David, and Rita rocket forth while Jonathan stares about in perfectly reasonable confusion and Caleb accidentally throws his kart into reverse. The kart's don't really handle or control like they did in the video game, but more like real go-karts, and it takes everyone a few seconds to get used to them.

Melanie manages to take an early lead, though Donkey Kong quickly catches up with her, leaving them neck-and-neck as they reach the first turn. Rita's in the middle of the pack alongside Wario and the Princess, with David taking up the rear only slightly behind a determined looking Mario.

Jonathan remains at the starting like, while Caleb has rocketed backwards a few kart-lengths.


ooc: Current positioning: (Higher is better)

Kong: 2
Melanie: 2
Wario: 1
Rita: 1
Princess: 1
David: 0
Mario: 0
Jonathan: NA
Caleb: -1

There is the opportunity to gain on your competitors by taking the turn very sharply; Luigi and Waluigi karts get a +1 from their "Middleweight Kart" aspect. Aspects related to driving, racing, or risky behavior will apply as well, though other "adventurous nature" type Aspects will not.

Jonathan and Caleb, of course, are not up to the turn and can't gain ground this turn; they can either join the race/start going the right way, continue being stymied, or try something else.

Whoever is in the Koopa Kart: Your "Heavyweight Kart" Aspect is Compelled; you CANNOT try to gain ground here unless you spend a Fate Point (Everybody has 2). If you accept the Compell you get another Fate Point.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:00, Sun 17 Oct 2021.

Jon tries turning the wheel when Caleb passes behind him, only to realize he's not moving yet. "Oh, right. Gas pedal." His driving lessons dated back to his teenage years, and badly out of practice from years of bus usage. Without thinking, he jams the pedal down, jumping forward as he tries to catch up with the other racers.

OOC: 17:16, Today: Jonathan Wagner rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice ((0, 1, 0, 1)).

Resisting the impulse to try to get ahead, Rita steers into the turn, feeling the heavy cart shudder a bit.

[Compel acepted.
]Rita Lowenstine rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice to maintain position]

David has no idea what's going on, but his innate competitive streak tells him he should try to get the edge whenever he can. He tries to cut the corner, doing his best to gain ground and avoid being in the back of the pack. However, it goes incredibly poorly, and he skids out.

"Dammit! Knew I should've done those stunt driving classes when I had the chance!" he grumbled


23:31, Today: David Richardson rolled -2 using 4 Fudge dice ((-1, -1, -1, 1)).

With my bonus, that's a whole -1! Yeah, I ain't winning this one, I don't think.

"Right, okay, that's obviously reverse," Caleb mutters, attempting to get the kart to go forward instead. He tries again, this time with somewhat better success.

Melanie barreled into the corner at speed, determined not to let Kong overtake her.

I'm racing against Donkey Kong. I'm actually racing against Donkey Kong!

OOC: 07:21, Today: Melanie Fox rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice.
Possibly +1 from 'Craves Excitement' again

Melanie corners wider than she'd expected, almost losing control of her kart for a moment, but manages to stay neck-and-neck with the giant gorilla. As she skid, smoke rising from the kart's tires, she smashed through a giant floating semi-translucent box with the consistency of a bubble. A dial on her kart's steering wheel began to spin before settling on a green shell... and her keen eyes detected that the dial was also a button.

Kong meanwhile had positioned himself just to her side, and it looked like the big ape was drawing up to try to sideswipe her.

Rita had taken the corner more conservatively as the Princess and Mario passed her by - each taking the same tight turn that Melanie and Donkey Kong had, neither of them hitting question blocks - and so hit a block of her own, getting a red shell for her troubles.

Wario had kept pace with her on the outside of the track, collecting a block of his own, though there was no telling which shell he'd picked up.

David, meanwhile, had taken the corner way too quickly and was spinning out - in danger of flipping his kart unless he pulled off a choice maneuver!

Behind the main pack Jonathan had finally gotten a handle of things and had rocketed ahead, nearing the corner, while Caleb had managed to throw the kart into drive without stripping the gears, though he had a long way to go to catch up with the others.

ooc: Current positions
Basically tied for first: Melanie, Princess, Kong, Mario
Just behind them: Wario, Rita
Spinning out: David
Finally started: Jonathan
Last Place but now going the right way: Caleb

Melanie is caught up in the pack for first and can focus on either jockying for position OR dealing with Kong's upcoming sideswipe; if she focuses on the former she'll have to hope his roll fails, if she focuses on the latter she'll be letting the Princess and Mario draw ahead. Her Role Compels her to focus on avoiding DK's attack to the exclusion of remaining competitive.

For Rita this is a straightaway coming up; she can make a roll to gain on the leaders. Using her shell can give her a bonus here and will knock one of the other racers (Mario is currently in front but that can change based on opponents' rolls) for a loop.

David is spinning out and is in danger of flipping. He needs to roll to stay right-side-up.

Jonathan and Caleb are nearing the turn; they can roll to take it tight and gain some ground - but the blocks haven't regenerated yet. If they take the gentler turn they'll be able to avoid rolling AND grab a block.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:48, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

True to his racing habits, Jon tries to stay as close the the inside of the turn as he can... partly because he usually takes them too quickly, and he expects to drift out before getting out of it. His tires screech as he tries to stay in control, paying no attention to the floating cubes.

OOC: Trying for the tight turn. Managed a 0 because of my cart's Middleweight aspect.

12:50, Today: Jonathan Wagner rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice ((0, 0, 0, -1)).
+1 Middleweight

Rita presses her accelerator as hard as she dares. She senses Donkey Kong's designs on Melanie. Figuring her cart's performance makes it unlikely she will win, it seems important that one of her friends wind up as the victor She lines up behind Kong and fires the red shell!

Rita Lowenstine rolled 4 using 4 Fudge dice!

Pizza rolls fly around the cockpit as Rita does a seated happy dance.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Tue 19 Oct 2021.

Melanie's eyes widened as Kong tried to side-swipe her, and for a moment she felt a stab of fear. Anything could happen if he collided with her - her cart might flip, or crash, or go to pieces. It was too much of a risk, so she briefly hit the brakes, enough to let Kong slide in front of her and possibly side-swipe someone else.

Accepting the compel.
OOC: 19:26, Today: Melanie Fox rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice.

This is much harder than the game itself! Caleb thinks as he goes into the next turn. Attempting the skid maneuver he had used so often in Mario Kart 64, he attempts to take the turn sharply to gain ground on the field. However, as he skids into the turn, he knows something is wrong.

OOC: Take a tight turn.

David does his best to right the cart, remembering defensive driving courses about what to do when you lose control of a vehicle. It's not much, but hopefully it'll at least keep him from getting hurt. Fortunately, it seems to do the trick, and he gets back in the race, albeit pretty far behind.

12:22, Today: David Richardson rolled 2 using 4 Fudge dice.

Rita fires her red shell right up the big ape's tailpipe! Enraged ape screeches commence as the large primate's kart goes spinning off-road!

David manages to pull himself out of his spin and right his course before disaster strikes, just as Caleb finds himself in a similar disaster, nearly tipping over sideways as he begins to spin out. Jonathan's fate is almost the same, but the worst that occurs is the skipping of his tires as he takes the turn to fast, skidding sideways and up on to two wheels for a moment before hitting the straight-away.

When the chaos clears Mario has a clear lead, followed by the princess, both having pulled ahead of the Donkey Kong-Melanie-Rita melee, with Wario bringing up the rear behind them and gaining fast as they neared the next turn.

ooc: Normally I'd say that Melanie's breaking to let Kong pull ahead turns her into the target of Rita's red shell, but four successes is a lot of successes... so it works out somehow!

Positions:
Mario (he's a-numbah one)
Princess
Rita and Melanie
Donkey Kong (spinning out) and Wario
Jonathan
David
Caleb (spinning out)

Caleb can make a roll to see how well he recovers, everybody else gimmie a general roll for the rest of the lap. There will only be a few more rolls, but due to the nature of item boxes and cinematic race scenes it's still anybody's race.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Fri 22 Oct 2021.

The entire situation seems preposterous to Caleb. He still isn't sure how all of this has happened, though he suspects ol' Bernie had somehow cooked up some next-next-next-gen VR platform. If he could figure out how to drive this kart, he'd be having a lot more fun right now.

Jon gives the ape a worried glance, hoping he'll be able to avoid him as he tries to catch up with the rest of the pack.

OOC: 21:41, Today: Jonathan Wagner rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice ((0, 0, 0, 1)).

David once again thinks back to when he used to play, aiming for one of the item boxes and praying for a miracle that will help him pull ahead. However, he winds up with nothing more than a banana peel, which doesn't help him at all- and spending the time aiming for the boxes only cost him more time.

"Hate this fucking game," he muttered, as he tossed the banana peel behind him to free up his inventory.

03:14, Today: David Richardson rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice.

Rita grins as Domnkey Kong spins off the track, gripping her steering wheel firmly. Catching Melanie’s eye, she points at her and then motions down the track, indicating that Mel should press forward.

Figuring her kart is unlikely to win, she’ll be her friend’s wingman and try to keep any of the real Mario characters from overtaking her. That should ensure their team of at least a third-place finish.

If that matters.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:22, Sun 24 Oct 2021.

Melanie was too caught up in the race to even think about the strangeness of it all. She accelerated forwards again, and fired her green shell at Princess.

OOC: 11:55, Today: Melanie Fox rolled -1 using 4 Fudge dice.
And missed :)

As the grown-ass adults get the hang of the karts things seem to level out a bit and the rest of the lap is taken up with jockeying for position. Caleb manages to recover his cart and at least catch up to the point where he can see the rest of the racers. Jonathan picks up a speed-boost mushroom. Rita chiefly guards Melanie, who misses in her attempt to take out the Princess... though a winged shell fired by the rotund Wario does the job instead, leaving the Plumber with a commanding lead.

Crossing the starting line at the dawn of round 2 it's Mario followed by a neck and neck header between - surprisingly - Jonathan and Wario, then Melanie and Rita a hair's breadth ahead of the Princess and Donkey Kong. David is a bit behind them, followed at a distance by Caleb.

Risking a glance at the standings above the stands it looks like there are two laps to go.

ooc: We'll abstract the next lap. Describe a particular tactic or incident during it, give yourself the bonus if you're able to work in any of your aspects, and gimmie a roll.

"Okay, stay cool, just remember what they did in GDQ..." He's in a good position, but Jon doesn't trust things to stay so smooth for long. So... he tries something crazy. Something too risky to try unless you're far enough ahead that you can recover, or so far behind you've got nothing left to lose. As he comes out of the tunnel, he turns inward, punching the engine with his mushroom, trying to jump the wall in a classic Mario Kart shortcut.

OOC: 14:22, Today: Jonathan Wagner rolled 0 using 4 Fudge dice ((-1, 1, -1, 1)).

As he zips down the track, the wind blowing through his hair, Caleb figures that he is so far behind that he might as well enjoy himself. Had Bernie done the same thing with his other games? If so, this is incredible technology, worth far, far more than the value of his geek collection. He wonders what the most responsible use of this game system would be. Maybe for the Make-A-Wish foundation?

But then another thought comes to Caleb. Is this simulation like the Holodeck or the Danger Room, with safeties to prevent people from being injured? If he wrecks his cart, would he physically be hurt? The thought is suddenly terrifying.

OOC: Keep going. Try to slide into turns. Grab boxes for speed-up mushrooms.

David does his best to recall the old stunt driving tricks he saw in the movies, long ago. Such things wouldn't work in the original Mario Kart as originally programmed, of course, but maybe they could work in these unique circumstances...

Gonna invoke my Wannabe Action Star aspect for this one. Rolled a 1, and if my Aspect is acceptable, it'll rise to a 2.

23:12, Today: David Richardson rolled 1 using 4 Fudge dice.

Melanie pushed her cart as fast as it would go, now thoroughly caught up in the competitive race. Sensing a chance, she slipped into the narrow gap between Jonathan and Wario and attempted a risky side-swipe of Wario.

OOC: 09:44, Today: Melanie Fox rolled -4 using 4 Fudge dice.
LOL, I don't think I'll even try using her 'craves excitement' aspect to help this!

Rita gasps at Jonathan's attempt to leap the wall and at Melanie's effort to sideswipe Wario. She was always much too cautious in video games and Mario Kart was no exception. She tries to steer through any power-up boxes that she comes upon.

The final two laps are chaotic and, to some, a little terrifying. Melanie's attempt to sideswipe Wario goes horribly wrong as the large man seems to anticipate her attempt, dawing back just enough to let her make the attempt before slamming the left rear of her cart - sending her into a tailspin off the track and flipping against the wall below the stands. It's all fire and smoke for her - protected from the impact by the kart's roll-cage, but not from the whiplash and possible concussion of the sudden stop. A cloud descends in an instant, extinguishing the blaze of her kart's engine before it can reach her, leaving the woman shaken but not seriously harmed.

The others are well past when this happens, out of sight, unable to see as Toads - small men with simple faces and too-smooth skin - help her from the car and off the track, to wait in the pit for the end of the race.

Jonathan's stunt is more effective, literally catapulting him into a distant second place behind Mario with a death-defying leap far more real than any stunts David'd pulled in his film career - and perhaps more dangerous. But who knew if they could really be hurt here? If there were stakes? Risks? Was this real?

Caleb didn't know, but the possibility saw him falling further and further back - so much so that Mario managed to lap him before the end.

Such was it that at the end of the race it was Mario by a wide margin, then Jonathan beating Wario by a whisker, followed by the princess, Donkey Kong, Rita, David, and - eventually - Caleb.

By the time Caleb crossed the finish line Toads were already helping the racers out of their carts, chattering excitedly as they led Mario, Jonathan and Wario to the winner's podium. They were, up close, alien - half the height of a human, with smooth unlined faces, mere slits for mouths, and dark pits for eyes. They didn't seem malevolent... simply wrong, and far from human.

Mario, Wario, and the Princess, on the other hand... they were human up close. Normal, lacking the exaggerations of any versions of their character sprites. Not cuddly cartoon characters. Mario looked... well, like a blue collar guy, the princess was somewhat regal, and Wario? A slob who leered far too much for comfort. And Donkey Kong was, straight up, a gorilla in a necktie.

They looked real. The wind on the racers' skin, the warmth from the sun, any soreness from the seatbelts or seats lingering from tight curves... the weight of the small silver trophy pressed by an excited Toad into Jonathan's hands... and the ringing in Melanie's head and the small tears in her clothing... that all felt real.

Meanwhile, the crowd was roaring, and Jonathan was being helped up onto the platform by a pleasantly smiling Mario. "You did-a good for a-first time!"

Rita gives the trampled pizza rolls scattered across the floorboards of her Koopa Kart a sorrowful glance and abandons the baking sheet as well. She hurries to Melanie’s side to provide moral and—if needed— physical support.

“Great effort, Mel! You almost got Wario! You feeling okay?”

Watching the presentation of the trophies, she applauds madly and yells, “Woo-hooo!” For Jonathan’s silver trophy.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:03, Thu 28 Oct 2021.

Caleb remembers the frustration of when he first started playing Mario Kart, how difficult it had seemed at first. Everyone had seemed better than he had been. He had felt so alone.

And now history repeats itself. He grimaces wryly. He must have looked pretty silly, poking along at a snail’s pace behind everyone else, eventually being lapped by Mario. Caleb feels pretty crummy, and he jams his hands in his pockets as the winners are announced. At least Jonathan had done well.

The Toads were weird. Caleb was reminded of the Pokémon in Detective Pikachu. Pika himself had looked great, as had several other mon, but some, like Jigglypuff and Lickitung, had looked bizarre. Mario, Wario, and Peach looked like excellent cosplayers, but the Toads and DK looked so off. The characters’ artistic charm had somehow been sacrificed.

Wait, what had happened to Melanie’s clothes? Did she smell faintly of smoke? ”Melanie, uh, are you all right?” he asks, a little nervous. ”Your clothes - what happened?”

Jon blinks as Mario shakes his hand. "Ah... thanks." His legs still felt rather shaky after that crazy jump he did. Everything felt real, but the entire experience was so surreal that it seemed more like a dream. He gives the crowd a shy wave half-expecting to wake up at any moment.

Melanie has no time to scream before her kart flips and explodes in flames, winding her. Once it's extinguished, she climbs shakily out of the cart.

"Wow," she finally manages, still having trouble focusing.

For a moment, she doesn't take in Caleb's words, then she looks down at herself. She's damp and bedraggled from the extinguishing cloud. Her silk blouse is ruined, with a number of small rips. At least her leather jeans only need a bit of soot wiping off.

"I liked that blouse," she grumbles.

The cheers of the Toads grows distant as the light of the sun grows brighter, giving everything a washed-out quality. It's all the visitors can do to shield their eyes as it brightens to white, accompanied by a high-pitched tone, and almost as quickly fades again, to black.