User blog:JERealize/Progress Bar: Issue 023

Alright, ready for this? September 30 has arrived, but since I haven't finished my first story yet, I'll give you something else instead. Ready for another Progress Bar?

(September 30, 2013)

A Little Light Reading To Tide You Over...
Well, as I said, Return to Canada will probably not come out yet, but instead, I will release a special sneak peek of what's in store for Episode 1. You can see the contestants enter the game for the first time, and see how you like them just from their first impressions. It isn't the full episode, but I hope to finish my first story to dedicate my extra time to the first episode.

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''Nigel was seen in a parking lot on the other end of the campgrounds. Nigel replied to the camera, "Oh, hello again. Since Chris is setting up the challenge, he let me introduce the contestants." He notioned to the bridge beyond the parking lot. "Of course, our budget had increased since last time, so..."''

''A taxi cab crossed the bridge into the parking lot. Once the cab stopped, someone came out of the back seat, wearing a leather jacket and jeans.''

''"Yes, who are you?" Nigel demanded.''

''"It's Franco," he spoke. "I thought the host knew everything." Without introduction, he took a seat one one of the benches behind Nigel as if he was ordered to do that.''

''Nigel noticed this action. "Huh. They're prepared, aren't they?" He turned back to the parking lot, where the second cab came by. The contestant who came out of this cab wore a gray coat and black jeans.''

''"Gray, is it?" Nigel asked, holding out his hand.''

"Oh, now you remember names," Franco commented from behind.

''"Yes," Gray confirmed with a handshake. "You'll be seeing me often, so don't get my name wrong."''

''"Well, take a seat on a bench," Nigel notioned to the benches. Gray took a seat on a bench near Franco's.''

''The third taxicab came by, but immediately when the door opened, music started playing. The person coming out, besides wearing his clothes, also possessed an obsidian bracelet on his right arm.''

''"Yes, you're Judas," Nigel noted. "I can tell from the song. Now can you please turn it off?"''

''"Oh," Judas realized. The music faded away. "You could have told me ahead of time if it was bothering you."''

''"Well, take a seat," Nigel answered. "We need everyone here before the challenge can start." Judas took a seat on a bench.''

''The next passenger came off the next taxicab. He didn't sport much besides his own clothes and a leather strapped watch.''

''"And your name?" Nigel asked.''

(excerpt removed due to spoilers)

"My name's Clark, by the way," Clark added as he took a seat, "and try not to be as sadistic as Chris."

"I don't control Chris," Nigel warned as the next taxicab approaches.

"I was afraid of that," Clark shrugged.

''The next passenger stepped out of the next taxicab as the talk concluded. She was far from looking normal; her hair was white with red streaks, and she was practically decorated with emeralds.''

''"So, this is Camp Tapestry?" she noted.''

''"Yes," Nigel answered as the two shook hands. "Sorry it took so long to send you the welcome e-mail."''

''"Don't apologize," the contestants answered. "I travel a lot. It was lucky I was nearby."''

''"Yes, you know how to make an appearance," Clark remarked sarcastically. "We don't even know your name."''

"I'm Sylvia," the contestant remarked as she sat down on a bench, "ambassador of Napsteria."

"Well, excuse me," Clark noted sarcastically.

"Yes, and I am an ambassador of the European Union," another contestant commented out of nowhere.

''"Welcome to the one percent of the world that matters, then," Clark retorted. "May you present your name?"''

''"It's Patricia," she informed. "At least I come from a true place, unlike the girl from Pseudonym Town."''

''"Hey!" Sylvia aggressed. "Take back every word you just uttered."''

"Maybe later," Patricia noted as she sat on a bench, "sometime when the Earth freezes over."

Sylvia grew more furious, but decided to maintain herself on her bench.

''The next contestant arrived off the cab. This person carried his own briefcase and wore a cashmere sweater.''

''"Simon Kettle, I presume?" Nigel welcomed.''

''Simon shook Nigel's hand with the unoccupied hand. "Yes, he is," he answered. "Glad to meet you."''

''"You know what you signed up for, right?" Clark commented.''

"I have better reason to be here, than you, you know," Simon countered, before finding a seat.

''The next contestant got off the next cab, checking her surroundings and her watch. "Took you long enough," she informed Nigel.''

''"We selected the order of appearance from random.com," Nigel explained. "If you're not appearing first or last, it's not my fault."''

''"You can't blame everything on Chris," Natasha commented as she found a bench. "You should be responsible enough to take action."''

''Nigel turned away from Natasha. "They really don't appreciate what they receive, don't they?" he muttered, as the next taxicab approached.''

''"Just got back from Nunavut when I got your call," the person stepping out of the cab said to Nigel. "Had I came in any minute later, I would have lost it to bad reception."''

"Give out your name, for the audience needs to identify you," Nigel informed.

''"I'm Wyatt," he answers. "I'm one of the few Americans on the show this season around, and I like to venture to places far beyond human interaction."''

"Now, we didn't ask for your life story," Nigel interrupted.

"Sorry," Wyatt shrugs, before taking his seat.

The next person off the cab wore a wooden hat that seemed to come with its own skyline.

"Minnow," Nigel introduced.

"The obligatory oddball everyone needs," Clark nodded sarcastically.

''"I'm wearing Vancouver," Minnow replied harshly. "It's the appropriate fashion here, isn't it?"''

''"For whom?" Clark questioned.''

Minnow didn't say another word and found a bench, but didn't look too pleased with Clark's snarky commentary.

''The next person came off the cab. He wore a red-and-yellow scarf, plus a beige beret to top off his beige suit.''

''"Who are you, actually?" Nigel asks. "Wait, are you Randall Kerston?"''

"Yes, that's me," Randall proclaimed.

''"The same person who voice-acted Neo from 'Summer-Sault'?" Nigel asks excitedly.''

''"I don't know if I can give you an autograph," Randall remarked. "Forgery and all that."''

''"How about if I give you mine first?" Nigel offered, pulling out a pen.''

''"No offense, but you're not famous enough to hand out autographs without being laughed at on national television." Randall denied. He walked away, leaving Nigel disappointed.''

''The next person came by Nigel and patted his should, grabbing his attention. Nigel jerked away in surprise to notice his face.''

''"I take it you're Nigel?" the person, wearing a leather suit and black cowboy hat, asks.''

''"Yes, and you're Weston," Nigel recovers, shaking his hand. "Take a seat, but don't brand it. I don't appreciate graffiti on a finished project."''

"Got it," Weston nodded, taking a seat.

''The next cab approached, but this time, the driver came out and took his stuff. "Notice the twist?" he remarked about the event.''

''"Yeah, but who's driving it back?" Nigel asks curiously.''

''"Don't think I'm an idiot," he added, when the cab drove off again, this time by someone who got out of the passenger seat. "I have my learner's permit, don't I?"''

"Well, as long as you're 16, I guess," Nigel shrugs.

''"My name is Marshall," he continued. "I have to know the laws to enforce them." He moved on toward the bench.''

''The next cab came by, and the next person came off. He was in hunting gear.''

''"Listen," he said as he approached Nigel with his luggage. "You may have banned the use of firearms, but you left a loophole." He pulled out a slingshot with a long handle from one of his bags.''

''"Okay, A-K," Nigel accepted. "Just don't try to injure anyone."''

''"Seriously?" A-K continued. "You remember how many birds Chris took down? And how about Scott?"''

''"Just go," Nigel ordered. "You really like to mess with the rules, don't you?"''

As A-K looked for a bench, another contestant came off the next cab, carrying her supplies.

"Hi, Lorri," Nigel greeted Lorri.

''"Hi to you, too," Lorri added. She hesitantly offered up one of her hands for Nigel to shake it, and Nigel shook it. When Nigel let go, Lorri's hand was still suspended.''

''Lorri looked on to her hand. "Oh, you finished?" She pulled back her hand, blushing in embarrassment before moving on.''

''Nigel didn't understand quite what Lorri was fretting about, so he focused on the next person instead. She came out of the cab wearing a gray robe and a hairnet.''

''"Elma?" Nigel noticed. "I thought you were from Nunavut."''

"Yes, I am," Elma nodded, "but don't you remember my audition tape?"

"Yes, I do," Nigel replied, "but, why come in that choice of attire?"

"As I explained," Elma sighed, "the robe is--"

"No, I mean the hairnet," Nigel interrupted.

''"Oh, this thing?" Elma pointed to it. "Well, I can't have any hair fall into any potions, can I?"''

''"So, you practice chemistry?" Simon asked Elma.''

"No, alchemy," Elma corrected.

"Which is now called chemistry," Clark corrected.

''"No," Elma shook her head. "Alchemy includes the art of transmutation."''

"You can't turn lead into gold," Clark enforced.

''"Then, why do I have this?" Elma pulled out a thin golden rod from her robe.''

''"So?" Clark protested. "It's just a golden rod."''

''"One of my ancestors crafted this out of a lead pipe." Elma waved the stick to show them. "It kinda shrunk during the process, though."''

"Completely false," Clark claimed.

''"Other people on this show had their supernatural claims," Elma argued as another girl came behind Elma. "Remember Dawn? She could sense auras."''

''"No one can sense auras," Clark argued back. "It was scientifically disproven. Note the word scientifically."''

''"And Mike?" Elma added on. "He was possessed by five others."''

''"He had dissociative identity disorder," Clark reacted. "It even said so on the show. Weren't you listening?"''

"Well, how about--"

''"Alright, listen up!" the girl behind Elma snapped. "You," she notioned to Elma, "stand aside!" She shoved Elma to the side, causing her to trip and fall on the sidewalk, letting go of her rod as she fell.''

''"Yikes! Watch it!" Nigel ordered. "You have the whole season to get into a catfight."''

''The standing girl faced Nigel. "You're gonna accuse me of conduct disorder, aren't you?"''

"Just tell me your name, and you can take your seat," Nigel spoke.

"You already know me, so don't expect an introduction," the girl stated.

"The contestants don't know you," Nigel mentioned.

''"They never heard of Grace?" the girl protested. She turned to face the others. "Do not forget my name. I am Grace, and do not forget that." She was about to take a seat before Elma sneaked up on her and positioned her rod around Grace's neck.''

''"They say you can stop a beating heart by hitting the right spot," Elma whispered. "Want to try it?"''

''"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Nigel broke up the two. "I'll tell you what. You guys would make history by being the only two people eliminated before the season began. How about it?"''

''"No, thanks," Elma offered. She took a seat on a bench.''

''"I'll be all right, too," Grace admitted. "Just don't forget my name." She took her seat on a bench.''

''Nigel nodded, then turned to see the next contestant get off another taxicab. She was dressed up as a housemaid.''

''"Kaitlin," Nigel noticed. "How nice of you to make it."''

''"Yeah." Kaitlin shook Nigel's hand. "I usually get three weeks of vacation per year, but seeing that I'm on television, my boss agreed to allow me to stay as long as the season lets me do so."''

"Nice to hear it," Nigel added.

''Kaitlin takes a seat on a bench, while some people took a good time to notice her. Gray even commented, "Are you sure you're allowed to dress like that?"''

"I'm not French," Kaitlin commented.

''"Yeah, but still..." Gray added. "Fan-fiction writers would ship you often for that."''

''"We'll see about that," Kaitin answered, as the next person came off the next cab. She gathered her stuff and set it by Nigel.''

"Nice to see you, Yesenia," Nigel greeted.

''Yesenia pulled out a can of fruit-punch soda and handed it to Nigel. "A little gift, just because."''

''Nigel holds up the can. "This had better not be a bribe."''

"It's just because," Yesenia reiterated, before taking her seat.

''The next person got off the next cab. This contestant wore a metal cap on her head.''

''"Introduce yourself," Nigel offered. "It's kinda customary."''

''"You don't remember my audition tape?" the girl asked. "It's Beatrice."''

''"Oh," Nigel realized. "The girl with Viking blood who didn't know how to dress up like a Viking..."''

''"I was dressed like a Viking," Beatrice argued. "You probably thought Vikings wore horned helmets and drank from skulls."''

''Nigel stepped back. "Sorry, sorry. Didn't mean to tease you."''

''"Eh..." Beatrice shrugged. "As long as you leaned from this..."''

"Thanks," Nigel replied, as Beatrice took her seat.

The next person off the next taxicab came in clean former attire and a gold bracelet.

"I guess we found our season's rich contestant," Weston commented.

"The only thing I'm rich in is humor," she replied with a chuckle, before meeting Nigel.

''"Leah," he introduced as they hook hands. "I see you made it."''

''"Of course," she replied. "Mind if I take a seat with the other contestants?"''

''"Not really," Nigel answered. Leah just came for the bench and took a seat, at the moment when the twenty-second taxicab came by and dropped off the 22nd contestant.''

''Nigel checked through a list he pulled out from his pocket. "Exactly who are you?"''

''"My name is Markus," he replies. "I'm one of the contestants."''

''"Oh, really?" Nigel questions Markus. "I don't see you on this list."''

''"Check again," Markus ordered politely. "The list must be in alphabetical order, right?"''

''Nigel checked his list. "Oh, there you are," he noticed embarrassingly. "I must have missed you."''

''"Don't worry about it," Markus assured. He notioned to the benches, saying, "I'll just be over there," and took a seat.''

''Nigel, looking back on the list, murmured to himself, "How did I even miss him?" He didn't notice another male contestant approach him.''

(excerpt removed due to spoilers)

''"Is your name Dylan?" Nigel asked the contestant. "The contestant with long-term memory issues?"''

''"I'm treating it well enough," Dylan replies as he advances to the benches. "I hope to not forget you."''

''"The same," Nigel replied. He turned back to the bus stop to see the final contestant get off the final taxicab. She wore dark clothes, along with a gold necklace, gold earrings, and a utility belt.''

''"The final contestant," Nigel introduces. "Never expected it to be you."''

"It had to be someone," she accepted.

''"And, who might she be?" Elma asked Nigel.''

''Nigel notions her hand to the final contestant. "She is Millicent, an avid disciple of..." Clueless, he turns to Millicent. "What organization were you aligned with?"''

"I prefer not to mention it on live television," Millicent denied.

''"I see..." Nigel nodded. "Well, take a seat and meet your fellow contestants. In a few minutes, I'll explain the challenge."''

''"Why not now?" Lorri asked.''

"The challenge isn't ready," Nigel answered.

''"Figures." Clark rolled his eyes, as Nigel walked off, across the parking lot.''

-- -- -- -- --

As I said, there's still a bit to fix in ths story, but this is a bit on what to expect in Episode 1.

Anything else?

 * New avatar
 * Take a look.
 * Checking Reality, Part 3: Government Shutdown
 * As in: Non-necessary federal agencies will be shut down on midnight of October 1st. My real issue is, will the government default on October 17, making things even worse for us?

Warning! Read the above message or you will die, even if you just read the first bit... (Talk | Blogs | Contributions) 22:31, September 30, 2013 (UTC)