[color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode Three: The Neon Bath[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [hr] [color=gold][center][h1][i][b]Aurora Interview Questions[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color] [b]Soundtrack: [url=https://youtu.be/0Wi8Fv0AJA4?si=ogD3xfeNhOwPUsn5] Jeopardy Theme Song[/url] [/b] [hr] Paul found himself sitting once more on the infamous interview sofa for Delta Hyper with Aurora’s holographic floating head facing him. On the coffee table in front of the interview sofa was a holographic tablet with the Delta Hyper logo floating above spinning in all its 3d glory. Paul was not in his race suit this time. He was wearing his team button up shirt with all the logos on it and charcoal gray slacks and dress boots. Paul's thick blonde hair looked great. He had that kind of hairstyle that just looked better the more you messed with it. His blue eyes stood out in startling color on the very monochrome and neutral colored set. Paul sat relaxed with one foot resting on his opposite knee and one arm along the back of the sofa. Paul smiled winningly at Aurora’s hologram as she addressed him. [color=ed1c24]Aurora: “Welcome back to Delta Hyper Paul.” [/color] [color=fff200]Paul: “Thank you Aurora. It is a pleasure to be back.” [/color] [color=ed1c24]Aurora: “We have something a bit different for you today, now we're in Japan! Right in front of you, I've left a tablet."[/color] Paul put his foot on the ground and leaned forward to pick up the tablet. He wondered what fun and games Aurora had planned for them today. He didn’t have to wait long to find out. [color=ed1c24]Aurora: "So, on that tablet, there's a few questions."[/color] Paul raised an eyebrow and looked over at Aurora with a neutral expression. [color=ed1c24]Aurora: "Now you've gotten to know the grid, let's see what you think about them. We have heard you in the press conferences talking about their activities on the track. What do you think about them off it?"[/color] Paul’s lip curled up into a half smile. It was going to be like that then. He gave Aurora a competitive smirk. Game On. [color=ed1c24]Aurora: "Any questions?"[/color] Paul looked at Aurora and just clarified what she wanted. [color=fff200]Paul: “Just clarifying Aurora. We are to answer the questions on the tablet about our competitors? Got it.” [/color] Paul looked eager and confident. This should be fun. [color=ed1c24]Aurora: "Alright, go!"[/color] Paul read the questions as they popped up. Paul smiled and read the questions as he answered. [color=fff200]Paul: "Most likely to eat noodles with a fork? Hmm I am going to have to go with Henry Fitzroy. He just doesn’t look like a noodle with chopsticks kind of guy.”[/color] Paul laughed at the next question. [color=fff200]Paul: “Worst at keeping secrets? I am going to have to say Astrid here. The girl doesn’t seem to take much seriously and she loves her booze. Alcohol and secrets don’t go together in my experience.” [/color] [color=ed1c24]Paul: “Best Christmas gift giver?” [/color] Paul tsked tsked at the camera. [color=fff200]“I want to point out that this is a very unfair question to my competitors who are not of the Christian faith. But to pick the best gift giver…. I am going to say Nora. I suspect it will be something fun and unexpected.” [/color] [color=fff200]Paul: “Who is the fussiest eater?”[/color] Paul chuckled a little as he answered the question. [color=fff200]“I am going to say Han Hyeon-Ae. She carries herself with a very formal air. I can’t see her accidently using the shrimp fork for the salad or on her noodles. She has very pretty manners.” [/color] Paul smirked before reading the next question. [color=fff200]“Who is the most likely to climb Mount Fuji? That is an easy one. I am going to say Harrison. He loves that kind of stuff.” [/color] [color=fff200]Paul: “Who is the most likely to get speeding tickets? Again that is an easy one. I am sure Beatrix Ward can tell us all about that. Maybe she would tell us how many she has had?” [/color] Paul grinned into the camera before moving on. [color=fff200]“Who is the best drifter?”[/color] Paul put the tablet down and looked up at Aurora. [color=fff200]“Really? Who put this question list together? The only one of my competitors that I would think knows what drifting is would be Bea. Now as to which one of us is better… I wouldn’t know. I would love to find out. Hey Bea! Let me know if you are interested in a drifting challenge! Sounds like fun!”[/color] Paul looked excited and eager and waved at the camera before picking the tablet back up. Paul looked down at the tablet reading the next question. [color=fff200]“Who is the biggest classic car fan? I am going to have to say me here. I inherited my father’s collection and I converted them to biofuels so I can drive them. I have not heard any of my competitors talk about classic cars.” [/color] Paul moved on to the next question. [color=fff200]“Who would be the first to die in a horror film? Well this question is tricky. Kais would absolutely jump into battle with the bad guy with no hesitation. That doesn’t mean that I think the bad guy could kill him though. Honestly I think Kais would come out on top. So I would have to say probably Amy Stirling. She is arrogant enough to believe that the protagonist couldn’t hurt her and therefore be the first to kick the bucket.” [/color] Paul grinned hoping that answer got under Amy’s skin a little. He moved on though after wiping the smug grin off his face. [color=fff200]“Which of the pilots is the most romantic on the grid?”[/color] Paul gave a genuine smile this time. [color=fff200]“I would have to say Dorian. He is known as the gentleman of the grid for a reason. His exploits in this area are legendary around Valkyrie.” [/color] Paul moved to the last question [color=fff200]“Which pilot would you most want to be stuck on a deserted island with?”[/color] Paul tilted his head to one side as he gave this some thought. [color=fff200]“This is another hard to answer question. Logistically, Layla would be a good choice because I don’t think I would have to fight her for the same level of resources to survive due to all the augmentations she has. Kais probably has survival training. Bea and Nora would probably be the most entertaining. Although Harrison could teach me to surf. It would be hard to choose. Do I go with a smart option or the fun option? My best choice is probably Kais.”[/color] Paul waited patiently to see what else Aurora had up her digital sleeve this time. [hr] [center] [h1][b] Round 3 of Formula Anti-Gravity Racing Friday March 31st, 2094 Post-Practice Japanese AGP Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan 2100 JST Hakone Izakaya Bar [/b] [/h1] [/center] [center][img]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EbiWwLcUYAA07-x?format=jpg&name=large[/img][/center] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]The Liquid Lounge[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [center][h2][i][b]Cassie Neves.....and others[/b][/i][/h2][/center] [b]Soundtrack: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XTPrbI6O_Y]KiloWatts- Last Hoorah[/url] [/b] Paul had been informed by Alexander that he and Dorian were required to attend the BioCHO party at Hakone Izakaya Bar. BioCHO was one of those large sponsors that provided biofuel to the entire racing league. Their name was plastered all over stadiums around the world. This event would have representation from all the teams here. Paul was meeting after the race to do the promotional endorsement photoshoot and commercial videos for Enigma Lux a high fashion house that caters to high end formal wear. Paul was repping one of the suits that they had made for him tonight. The suit was tailored beautifully and highlighted Paul’s physique to perfection. The royal blue shirt had a mandarin style collar that he had left unbutton to fall open showing some chest. The color made his eyes look even bluer. It gave a little more casual feel to the suit. The suit itself was a silk blend in a navy blue. Paul had worn black patent leather loafers with it. He had a classic brushed steel watch of his father’s on his left wrist as his only jewelry. Paul was wearing his favorite cologne, a scent that combined leather and amber together. He was actually looking forward to this party. He wanted to get to know his fellow pilots better after his call with Bea. Paul was conscious of the drone cameras flying above their heads to capture the event. He was grateful that the press of paparazzi from the past was avoided in this smaller space by their use. He found the robot waiters an interesting choice. His thought went back to one of his father’s favorite movies which was an old one but still a cult classic, Star Wars. He felt like the waiters were a combination of R2D2 and Piakchu. Pokemon was still an ongoing fan favorite in Japan. Paul worked his way through the crowd. He stopped to sign autographs. He stopped to talk to the sponsors' representatives, at least the ones he recognized. He was asked to take a few photos with some fans that were in attendance. There was an older Japanese gentleman that had stopped him. He told him he had been a fan of his father’s and had watched him race here in Japan when he was driving for Formula One and then followed him as he made the move to Anti Gravity Racing. Paul was polite to the older gentleman who looked like he was almost 90. The man told Paul that he saw some of his father in him. He also told Paul he was looking forward to watching him race here in Tokyo and would be rooting for him. Paul thanked him politely before moving on. He appreciated the experience since he had watched tapes of the race the gentleman spoke about so knowledgeable. He wondered who he had been. Paul made sure to stop and give one of the camera drones taking picture some good poses. He spoke to the video drones filming the pilots and following them around. [color=fff200]"Good evening Paul Mulder with Team Valkyrie here. I wanted to thank BioCHO for the invitation to this party. It looks like we are all going to have a good time. I want to point out that if you like what I am wearing, check out one of my new sponsors, the Enigma Lux Fashion House." [/color]Paul turned from side to side modeling the suit for the cameras. [color=fff200]"Let them know if you like it! I think they did an outstanding job."[/color] Paul winked at the camera and drones after giving them a sound bite. He smiled and waved and moved back into the crowd. Paul made his way towards the cluster of his fellow rookies. He had spotted Bea near Ava and it looked like she was greeting Cassie and Nora. Paul slid into the back of the group. It sounded like Cassie was going on an alcohol run. Paul smiled and sipped his glass of water that was in a glass to mimic a Martini Royale. He had no plans to get drunk tonight and he did not want a blood transfusion so he could race tomorrow. Paul just listened on the edge of the group for now. Paul was surprised when Dorian joined them. He smiled as Dorian revealed he had been the high bidder on the piece of art Bea had created with Amy. Paul wasn’t surprised. Dorian was a man with sophisticated tastes. It was nice to see Dorian relaxing a little. He had been so wound up just after Auckland. He seemed to be in a better mood since Cape Town. Cassie had rejoined them with drinks for everyone who had already been there when she left. Paul was surprised by the hint of bitterness in Cassie’s tone. He wondered what had caused it. Dorian had been a great teammate so far with him. [color=00a651]Dorian: "Sometimes you need your whitewashed walls to be covered in something. It's pride of place."[/color] Cassie: "I bet you're a real wine snob too. But that's okay. Family's originally from Douaro so I could tell you about reds, forever....not this cocktail stuff." Paul decided to step in and defuse Cassie’s bitterness a little. [color=fff200]“I know what you mean Dorian. The apartments for us on the Valkyrie Campus are all white with black accents. I had to hang some photos and art myself. I needed some color.” [/color] Astrid: "Well, cheers to alcohol." Paul chuckled and held his glass up to acknowledge Astrid’s toast. [color=fff200]“Cheers Astrid”[/color] Harrison: "And having it pumped out of your blood?" Ava: "Something like that." Paul waved to Han across the way and motioned for her to join their group. Paul then tried to break the ice a little. [color=fff200]Paul: “Does anyone else wonder where they come up with these questions to ask us?”[/color]