Bring the Cheer

[ Have 1 Prep Hangout, Have 1 Jock Hangout | None | 100c ]

EMERY: Give me an H… give me an E… give me a Y… what does that spell?

ADDISON: ...’hey’?

EMERY: Hey yourself, Addison! I just wanted to let you know, there’s a big cheerleading competition coming up, and I think our school should enter!

ADDISON: Sounds fun!

EMERY: Unfortunately, there’s one tiny problem. We don’t have a winning squad! But I’m sure that if you and I worked together, we could fix that in no time. Will you help?

ADDISON: Of course!

EMERY: Now the first thing our squad needs is an open space to hold tryouts for new recruits.

[ Add a plot of land | None | 200c ]

ADDISON: What do you think of the space I found?

EMERY: Oh, it’s perfect! I can stand here. The other cheerleaders can stand over there. And that leaves just enough room for ten bleachers full of adoring fans applauding when we win the big cheer competition!

ADDISON: Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?

EMERY: I know, I know. I just like to psych myself up by visualizing what I want to achieve. Anyway, now that we’ve got a place for tryouts, we need to find some new recruits! What do you think? Should we throw a party to get the word out?

ADDISON: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!

EMERY: We’ll need to invite the cheerleaders, of course. And also someone pleasingly athletic, with a body like a chiseled Greek statue…

ADDISON: Are you visualizing again?

EMERY: More like planning my evening!

[ Complete a Party with a Cheerleader | None | 300c ]

EMERY: The recruitment party was a huge success! We found a whole team’s worth of fit, trendy, talented cheerleaders and got them to try out!

ADDISON: That’s amazing!

EMERY: More like cheer-mazing!

ADDISON: Now that you’ve assembled the cheerleading squad, are you ready to start practicing for the big competition?

EMERY: Actually, there’s another problem. Having more cheerleaders on the squad means we’ll need more equipment, and we’re completely broke… We’re just going to have to figure out a way to raise money that is ABSOLUTELY NOT a date auction.

ADDISON: ...why not a date auction?

EMERY: Okay! Okay! Stop twisting my arm! We can throw a date auction. But I’m totally telling the cheerleaders it was your idea!

[ Complete a Successful Date with a Cheerleader | None | 400c ]

EMERY: OMG! The date auction was a huge success! I’m so glad I thought of it!

ADDISON: Did we make enough money to buy new cheerleading uniforms?

EMERY: Plus pom-poms! Plus matching shoes! Did you hear everything I just said?

ADDISON: Yeah… why?

EMERY: Because you’d hear it a whole lot louder through this brand new megaphone which we also just bought!

ADDISON: The competition is just around the corner. Have you settled on a routine to perform?

EMERY: Actually, now that you mention it, there’s been a problem planning the big finish. You’ve been so much help with everything else, do you think you might be able to solve a dispute between me and one of the other cheerleaders?

ADDISON: I can try my best…

[ Addison, Emery, A Cheerleader (Ollie) | 1h | 500c ]

ADDISON: Hey, Ollie, how’s it going? Emery tells me there’s some kind of problem.

OLLIE: There wouldn’t be if Emery would just let me be at the top of the pyramid already. I’m the smallest!

EMERY: But I’m the most experienced! I deserve to be at the top!

ADDISON: You both have good points…

OLLIE: Emery and I already discussed this, and we’re going to agree with whatever you decide.

ADDISON: Hmm… I’m going to need some time to think about this…

EMERY: Addison, the competition is about to start! Have you decided who will stand at the top of the pyramid?

OLLIE: Is it me, because I’m smaller?

EMERY: Or me, because I’m the most experienced?

OLLIE: Remember, we’ll go along with whatever decision you make.

ADDISON: I’ve given it some thought, and I think the person standing at the top of the pyramid should be… me.

EMERY: But… but… you want to stand at the top of the pyramid?

OLLIE: Do you have the right experience?

ADDISON: Does it matter? The person at the top mostly just has to smile and wave, right?

OLLIE: Well, there’s actually much more to cheerleading than that… but we DID promise to stand by any decision you made.

EMERY: And it looks like we’ll have to teach you… fast! The competition is starting up! Girls and guys, let’s take to the field!

[ A Classmate, Emery, A Guy Cheerleader (Briar, Nat) | 3h | 5r ]

EMERY: Cheerleaders, take your positions. We’re about to begin our routine! Ready, set--Uh… I’m totally blanking on the cheer! Addison, can you take this megaphone and start us off?

ADDISON: Me? But I don’t know your cheers…

EMERY: OMG, the music’s starting! Just say anything!

ADDISON: Uh, okay! In that case… I love kittens!

EMERY: Um, and warm winter mittens!

NAT: Watch our routines, and you’ll be smitten!

BRIAR: Good cheer, guys! Now everybody get in position for the big finish!

EMERY: And now we raise Addison to the top of the pyramid and…

ADDISON: TA-DAAAA!

NAT: Way to go! You really aced that last trick!

EMERY: And it looks like the judges agree! We won the cheerleading competition!

ADDISON: ...we did? That’s fantastic! Congratulations!

NAT: Turns out one of the judges also loves kitties! And the other judge really appreciates non sequiturs.

EMERY: And with the strength of our routine, we were a lock for first place! All of this is thanks to you, Addison. Without your help, we never could’ve won!

ADDISON: No problem! Any time!

NAT: Three cheers for Addison! Hurray! Hurray!

BRIAR: Hurray!

Step Up 2 Dance

[ Have 1 Jock Hangout, Have 1 Artist Hangout | None | 400c ]

SHERIDAN: Addison! Got time to chat?

ADDISON: Yeah, Sheridan, what’s up?

SHERIDAN: My favorite local TV show, High School Dance Heroes, is holding open auditions for new dance crews that want to compete… And I think our school should totally enter!

ADDISON: Cool! Sounds like fun! So when is your crew auditioning for High School Dance Heroes?

SHERIDAN: The auditions are just around the corner… But as far as a crew goes, I haven’t had much luck persuading other students to sign up. So far, we only have two members.

ADDISON: ...I’m the other member, aren’t I?

SHERIDAN: I knew you’d say yes! Do you think you can help me recruit some more dancers?

[ Have a Guy Dancer, Have a Girl Dancer, Have 8 Different Types of Classmate | None | 600c ]

ADDISON: Sheridan, what do you think about the new recruits?

SHERIDAN: Good synchronization, good memorization… and they’ve got their dance moves down! Brace yourself… I think we might actually have a winning dance crew on our hands!

ADDISON: Are we ready to audition for High School Dance Heroes?

SHERIDAN: We would be. The only problem is that our practice area is way too small to get everyone moving at the same time. I tried to Raise the Roof, but it was more like Bang My Elbows. And I’m not even going to tell you what happened when I tried to do the splits.

ADDISON: Now that you mention it, it IS kind of cramped…

[ Add a plot of land, Spend 6000 coins | None | 25b ]

SHERIDAN: This spot is perfect, Addison! There’s plenty of room to work on front flips, and I love the floor-to-ceiling mirrors and sprung floors…

ADDISON: So we’ll be able to practice here?

SHERIDAN: I think so. Stand back, and we’ll find out!

ADDISON: Whoa… that was a crazy handstand! With moves like that we definitely have a shot at getting onto High School Dance Heroes!

SHERIDAN: Good news, Addison! We did it! I submitted an audition tape of our dance crew performing in our new practice space… and we were accepted onto High School Dance Heroes!

ADDISON: Awesome! I bet the judges will flip when we perform our routine!

SHERIDAN: Unfortunately, things aren’t quite that simple… The competition is spread across three episodes, and the judges love to mix it up with last-minute challenges!

ADDISON: ...challenges?

SHERIDAN: In the first episode, we’re supposed to incorporate ballroom dance moves into our routine.

ADDISON: What’s the big deal? You know how to ballroom dance, right?

SHERIDAN: Sure, I know MOVES, but winning High School Dance Heroes takes way more than just knowing where to put your feet… You need to capture the DRAMA of the dance!

[ Sheridan, An Actor, An Actor (Laurie, Riley) | 6h | 800c ]

SHERIDAN: Whoa! I didn’t know Laurie and Riley knew how to dance like that!

ADDISON: Turns out a lot of Shakespeare plays have party sequences, and the actors have to dance in the background…

LAURIE: Addison doth speak verily! As a consequence of our theatrical avocation, we’ve learnt dances like the pavane, the galliarde, the jig…

RILEY: Not to mention the flopdizzy and the pigtickle!

ADDISON: Um, let’s keep the pig-tickling to a minimum…

SHERIDAN: Would you guys be willing to join our crew and teach the rest of us how to inject some drama into our ballroom dancing?

LAURIE: Certainly! Now take my hand. And one, and two… you’ve got it!

SHERIDAN: That’s good news… because High School Dance Heroes is starting any second now! Okay, everyone, the show is starting! Let’s begin our routine with a cursy, then do a synchronized body wave… Now circle around me as I slide into an armchair freeze for the big finish!

The crowd applauds!

ADDISON: Whoo! That was fun!

RILEY: Forsooth! The spotlight has an allure!

SHERIDAN: The judges loved us! Not only did they advance us to the next round, but they singled out our devotion to period authenticity!

LAURIE: Well, you know, every truly incredible performance does begin from a place of truth.

SHERIDAN: Oh no. Oh, this is not good.

ADDISON: What’s wrong?

SHERIDAN: I just saw who we’re competing against in the next round… and I’ve got some serious history with one of our rivals!

ADDISON: Dancing history or dating history?

SHERIDAN: ...both? Ugh, this is totally messing with my headspace. How am I going to be able to focus on tangoing when I’ve got to look at my ex?!

ADDISON: Can’t you just focus on the moves?

SHERIDAN: The tango is more than just some steps! It’s a whole attitude! Dancing the tango is like making out in a lightning storm!

ADDISON: Dangerous and inappropriate?

SHERIDAN: No! If you do it right, sparks fly!

ADDISON: Sounds pretty intense!

SHERIDAN: It is… or it SHOULD be. But right now, all I can focus on is my ex!

ADDISON: Sounds like you could use some new romance in your life!

[ Complete a Successful Date with Sheridan | None | 1000c ]

SHERIDAN: Ooh! My heart is dropping mad beats, and my feet can’t stop tapping to the rhythm…

ADDISON: I take it the date went well?

SHERIDAN: So well that I’ve got passion to burn! I am SO ready to show my ex just how over it I am!

ADDISON: That’s the spirit!

SHERIDAN: Let’s hit the dance floor and show those judges that it takes a CREW to tango…

And so, on the set of High School Dance Heroes…

SHERIDAN: One… two… now take it smooth… Get low, get close… and do an air kiss for the finish!

The crowd applauds!

ADDISON: Who knew slow dancing could be so… sensual?

SHERIDAN: The judges were fanning themselves and talking about how steamy our routine was. We’re definitely advancing to the final episode of the competition!

ADDISON: We aced the tango, so I’m sure we can handle whatever the judges decide to throw at us in Round 3!

SHERIDAN: Yeah we did! Too bad my ex made the cut as well. We’ll be going head-to-head in the final, ultimate, end-of-the-line challenge!

ADDISON: That sounds… not easy…

SHERIDAN: We’re supposed to put together an original dance routine that showcases our school’s diversity… But how do we even begin to do that?

ADDISON: Hmm… I think we should go right to the source!

[ A Level 5+ Cheerleader, A Level 4+ Artist, A Level 4+ Filmmaker (Emery, Avery, Morgan) | 10h | 5r ]

SHERIDAN: OMG, Addison! All of these people want to help with our dance routine?

ADDISON: Yep! And I think they have some pretty good ideas!

EMERY: Cheerleading is basically dancing, only way more vertical! I can definitely teach everyone how to make a pyramid!

AVERY: I could demonstrate some dance steps that express the moods of having a crush on somebody cute!

MORGAN: I watched every major dance movie ever made in chronological order! Things got pretty weird in the 70s, not gonna lie.

ADDISON: And that’s not all! The jocks are ready to Zumba, the nerds are ready to dance the Robot--or was that ready to MAKE a dancing robot? The point is… these guys are going to make this dance routine the best that High School Dance Heroes has ever seen!

SHERIDAN: Then what are we waiting for? Let’s dance! Okay, everybody, the whole world is watching. Time to show them the best dance routine ever!

EMERY: Ready and… build a pyramid!

AVERY: Now move freely, expressing your emotions!

MORGAN: Then swing your partner in time to the music, and remember to smile for the camera!

The crew spins, flips, and moonwalks, perfectly in sync!

SHERIDAN: And for the big finish, everyone stand back while I do my patented backflip to spin to Planche!

The crowd leaps to their feet to deliver a standing ovation!

ADDISON: How’d we do?

SHERIDAN: Judging by the deafening applause, the crowd LOVED us! And so did the judges! We crushed my ex… which makes us the new High School Dance Heroes champions!

EMERY: Duh… anything cheerleaders do is bound to be a big hit!

AVERY: The trophy really is quite aesthetically pleasing…

MORGAN: And the video of it came out really well, too!

SHERIDAN: Thanks so much, Addison! We couldn’t have won the Dance Heroes trophy without all your help.

ADDISON: Don’t worry about it! Just tell me, did you get a chance to say anything to your ex?

SHERIDAN: Actually, I did… I got to say ‘not a chance’ when my ex asked if we could get back together!

ADDISON: Awesome.

SHERIDAN: Thanks for everything, Addison! If you ever need a backup dancer, you know who to call!

Level Eleven

AUTUMN: Well, that’s at least one member of the board that we’ve impressed.

ADDISON: One down, two to go.

AUTUMN: Hey, just remember that even if we only get two on our side, that’ll still be enough to take the vote! And I’ve got even more good news… my dad’s out of town for the weekend, and he’s letting me have friends over for a slumber party!

PAYTON: Oh. Em. Gee. I am SO in! I’ll buy new pajamas and everything!

MIA: I’m always down for a good slumber party…

AUTUMN: How about you, Julian? Want to come over?

JULIAN: Uh, are you kidding? What are we going to do, sit around doing our nails, having pillow fights and talking about our feelings? Besides, I’m hitting up a horror movie marathon with Nishan.

NISHAN: Yes. That is a thing we are doing. Of our own free will.

AUTUMN: Your loss. How about you, Addison? Want to come?

[ Have 1 Upgraded Nerd Hangout | None | 3650xp ]

NISHAN: Addison! Autumn! I’ve got big news! I was able to contact the second board member, Professor Edwin. She’s the youngest head physicist to win the Quantum Award for Scientific Discovery! She did something with portals and cakes… I don’t remember the details. Anyway, she asked if our school has any science events coming up that she could attend!

ADDISON: That’s great!

AUTUMN: Uh, DO we have any events?

NISHAN: Not yet, but I was thinking we could have a science fair! It’ll be a good way to get the whole school involved! I already have an idea for my project… but it’s going to be ambitious. Very ambitious. It’s something I always wanted to do at Hearst, but could never get permission… You know that many science fairs feature a model volcano, right?

ADDISON: Yeah, I’ve heard of that. Isn’t that a little basic?

NISHAN: Not when you’re constructing a gravity-accurate Venusian Vapor Volcano!

ADDISON: Is that really a thing?

NISHAN: Well, this will simulate what one WOULD be like. I want it to be a perfect predictor of what life will be like for the terraforming future colonists of Venus when they go too far and destabilize the planet.

AUTUMN: Oooh! I can help with that. You’re going to need someone to make the tiny trees and miniature people, right?

NISHAN: Well, tiny terra-forming mist trees and miniature space settlers…

AUTUMN: Close enough!

ADDISON: Should I be worried?

NISHAN: Let’s just say that if you can clear out some room around here, it’ll help. And some funding will also be required…

[ Add a plot of land, Spend 80000 coins | None | 3650xp ]

NISHAN: There! The Venusian Vapor Volcano is done! The enclosed environment is the closest possible replication of the planet Venus.

ADDISON: Wow… it’s taller than I am!

AUTUMN: And everything is done perfectly to scale! I made the vapor trees out of unraveled cotton swabs, and I even made a tiny, hermetically sealed settlement with tiny space colonists! That’s Kai… and that’s his wife Amy. They fled the oppression and poverty of future-Earth when the water rations were reduced for the second time.

NISHAN: Anyway, when we set it off, it’ll show what we can expect early space settlers to face as they terraform other planets! Professor Edwin is DEFINITELY going to be impressed! Now, if we’re going to have a real science fair, we’d better get more people to make projects. We just have to explain to them how even simpletons can enjoy science!

ADDISON: Um, maybe I’ll do the talking… let’s start with Julian. Hey! Julian! Can you help us out for a minute? We’re looking for more people to help us with the science fair.

JULIAN: Uh, really? You know I’m not like a rocket surgeon or anything…

NISHAN: I can help you! We just have to come up with an interesting premise. How about analyzing the science of arm wrestling?

JULIAN: And what does that mean?

NISHAN: You could arm-wrestle three opponents and analyze the physics involved!

JULIAN: This is the moment I was born for.

[ Addison, A Level 5+ Gamer, A Level 5+ Student Gov (Kennedy, Hadly) | 6h | 2250c, 3650xp ]

KENNEDY: Hey, Addison! You said we could help with the science fair?

ADDISON: That’s right! Julian needs some subjects for his project.

HADLEY: Every generation has a great battle… perhaps this is ours.

JULIAN: What about you, Addison?

ADDISON: I’ll help!

JULIAN: Okay, who wants to go first?

KENNEDY: I will! This is just like a boss fight! I’ve got to assess Julian’s weak points and target him there…

JULIAN: Uh, sure. Ready? 1… 2… 3!

Julian slams Kennedy’s hand onto the table!

KENNEDY: I thought this was turn-based!

Next, Hadley and Julian get into position…

JULIAN: Ready?

HADLEY: Wait! Let’s talk about this for a minute. Maybe brute force isn’t the best way to resolve this situation.

JULIAN: Huh?

HADLEY: Maybe we can reach a diplomatic solution that works for everyone!

JULIAN: Yeah, but that’s still not as fun as actually arm wrestling. Ready, set. go!

Julian slams Hadley’s hand onto the table!

ADDISON: I guess it’s my turn…

JULIAN: Heh. This should be fun.

Julian grabs your hand and signals for the match to begin!

ADDISON: (Whoa! Julian is strong! I’m not going to last long…) Hey, is that Autumn over there in a bikini?!

JULIAN: Huh? Where?!

You take advantage of Julian’s moment of distraction and slam his hand down!

ADDISON: I won!

JULIAN: Wait, where’d Autumn go? What kind of bikini? WHAT KIND OF BIKINI?!

ADDISON: Sorry… it was just a trick.

JULIAN: What?!

ADDISON: Hey, you never said it was against the rules…

JULIAN: Yeah, yeah. But don’t go thinking this REALLY counts.

NISHAN: Ahem! Winning or losing isn’t the point of this experiment! Julian, you were supposed to be studying the physics of arm wrestling.

JULIAN: Yeah, yeah. I’m on it. The elbow acts as a fulcrum. Then you have the force coming from the bicep. The oppositional force is your opponent! The whole point is to see whose bicep fails first. I’ll draw up some diagrams or something.

NISHAN: That’s… actually all pretty good. Good work, Julian! Payton! Have you done a science fair project yet?

PAYTON: I… um… er…

NISHAN: I’ll take that as a ‘no’. I really need you to do this, Payton. Getting the whole school on board is our only shot at impressing Professor Edwin… And I shouldn’t have to remind you how important it is that we impress these board members!

PAYTON: I’m sorry! It’s just that I’ve been so busy planning a party I haven’t had time to work on science.

ADDISON: Hey, there’s no reason you can’t combine the two. We just have to come up with an experiment that ties into partying.

PAYTON: You can do that?

NISHAN: Science is about the study of life! Experiments are driven by what we’re passionate about exploring.

PAYTON: Well, that doesn’t sound so bad… I’m in!

[ Complete a Party with a Jock and a Dancer, Complete a Party with a Cheerleader and a Filmmaker, Complete a Party with a Prep and an Actor | None | 3650xp ]

NISHAN: So, Payton, how’s the project coming?

PAYTON: Great! I’m studying the psychology and physiology of partying. Dancing releases endorphins! Different colored decorations impact mood! Sugary snacks produce a spike in energy, then a crash! As a side not, I’ve also discovered that EVERY game of Truth or Dare ends with someone crying, but I haven’t figured out how to work that in yet…

NISHAN: I think we have enough projects now to field a respectable science fair.

ADDISON: Then let’s get started!

NISHAN: Excellent. I’ll extend an invitation to Professor Edwin.

[ Addison, Nishan | 8h | 4500c, 3650xp ]

PROF. EDWIN: I have to admit, when I heard about your school, I was skeptical. The faculty presence is almost non-existent… But it seems you have everything well-managed here.

NISHAN: I think you’ll find that our school is a shining example of efficiency and organization. Now, let me show you around the science fair. Over here, we have Julian’s experiment…

JULIAN: My project examines the science behind the common question, ‘Can Anyone Beat Me At Arm-Wrestling?’ Conclusion: Only dirty cheaters.

PROF. EDWIN: A very… non-traditional approach…

NISHAN: Just wait until you see the rest of what we have! And in this corner… is Mia’s analytical study…

MIA: Here you can see that I’ve graphed attractiveness versus popularity, and I also have charts comparing household income to quality of clothing!

ADDISON: And Payton has extensively researched the science of partying.

PAYTON: I’m working on creating a perfect party… the right combination of snacks, music, decorations, and dancing!

PROF. EDWIN: I must say, this is an impressive level of participation from the school. A little unorthodox… But it’s delightful to see so many students involved!

ADDISON: There’s still one project left to show you, Professor Edwin!

NISHAN: This over here is the pinnacle of our science fair… literally… the Venusian Vapor Volcano!

PROF. EDWIN: A surprising twist on the classic. I assume it’s fully operational?

NISHAN: Of course! Let me merely activate it, and…

The volcano rumbles… shakes… And then violently explodes, erupting in paint and goop that splatters all over the room… AND all over Professor Edwin!

NISHAN: What? No! How… how could this happen! This is impossible!

PROF. EDWIN: Impossible? It’s clearly not impossible. What this is… it’s… simply appalling! Does this school have no regard for safety?!

NISHAN: I… I…

PROF. EDWIN: Good day, sir.

NISHAN: But--

PROF. EDWIN: I said good day!

Professor Edwin storms off!

AUTUMN: This is a disaster.

NISHAN: I just don’t understand. This shouldn’t have happened. It COULDN’T have happened!

ADDISON: Come on. We need to buy some supplies to clean up this mess. If we sort through the wreckage, maybe we can figure out what went wrong.

[ Spend 100000 coins | None | 3750xp ]

MIA: Yuck. I can’t believe Nishan ruined the science fair.

NISHAN: It wasn’t my fault!

ADDISON: Calm down, everyone.

MIA: Don’t tell me to calm down! I made charts! I actually did WORK for this! And then his weird volcano ruined everything!

NISHAN: My measurements were perfect! I conducted three trials to ensure no amount of error would creep in! I didn’t even use any elements that could cause this kind of reaction!

ADDISON: Wait a second… I just found burnt-up firecrackers at the bottom of the volcano. Nishan, did you put firecrackers in the lava-mist?

NISHAN: Of course not! The volcanic eruption is a chemical reaction, not the result of firecrackers…

MIA: Then maybe it was Autumn’s fault! She’s the one that painted it and everything! Maybe she used explosive ink!

AUTUMN: All I did was decorate it! And that’s not even a thing!

ADDISON: Stop it, everyone! We need to focus and come together, not get distracted by blaming each other!

WES: Addison is right. Seems like you’re all forgetting what’s really going on here.

AUTUMN: Huh? Wes? Where did you come from?

WES: That’s not important. I’m just here to remind you who your REAL enemy is.

ADDISON: ...Max and Kara. They did this.

NISHAN: They… they ruined my volcano!

MIA: This is about more than your stupid volcano! They ruined the whole school’s chance to impress Professor Edwin!

WES: It’s not over yet. There are THREE members of the board. You need to impress two out of the three to win the vote. Since you just sprayed one with goop, it’s safe to say you’re not getting HER vote. But you’ve still got one last chance to save your school… you just have to make sure you don’t mess up with this final board member.

ADDISON: You’re right. That means we’ve still got a shot at saving our school!