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Judge Gorgon Ramsay puts a hand on Addie's shoulder. "Stop." He looks angry. "You. Take off your apron."

--Ramsey-- The Nightmare straightened her posture and looked at the man in dumb shock for a moment. Had she done something wrong? Was it the way she handled the rude camera creeple? Addie wanted to argue, to fight for her cause, but she was a bit helpless to bite back at such a domineering presence. It wasn't in her to be defiant to someone like Ramsey.

About ten seconds later, as she was taking off her apron, he finally concludes with a "And bring it over to winners table as you are moving on to round two."

Addie froze, and then immediately split into a more familiar and easy grin. She would have loved to have gushed and thanked him and otherwise made an a** of herself, but she was dimly aware the cameras were still rolling. Instead, she gave him a curt nod and a 'yes chef!' as she tied her apron back into place, trotting over to the winner's table. She did it! The Mare was beside herself with glee, a sweet little smile on her face as the bitter encounter with the interviewers and her momentary fear melted in favor of the chef's approval.

Afterwards, she was blatantly ignored by both judges, but she didn't mind. Ada was happy to remain in her happy little bubble, recharging her batteries for the next round.

And once again the interview team came sniffing around her table. A smug look on the greasy dude with the mic. He was smirking because of what had happened, Falair just knew it.

"Tell me a little about yourself, your backstory, who you are."
Falair sighed. Questions questions so many questions. Really? She had no time for this. "Falair Saab, I used to be a member of the Horseman Clan of Famine. And...that's about it." It was all they would get out of her on that subject.

"Why did you try out for Hades Kitchen?"
"Because I was bored."

"Do you envision yourself winning the grand prize and what would you do with the money?"
She hadn't really thought about what she would do with the prize money. "Of course I see myself winning. Everyone here does. As for the money well I'm sure I can wing something." Probably buy a house or apartment or something. She was kind of tired of living on the streets for the moment.

s**t. s**t s**t s**t.

Brown eyes widened as Judge Hyde seemed to have zeroed in on her right at that moment. Just as she was finished with slicing. The judge made their way over to her table. A serious smug and skeevie look on his face. All the mare could do was watch and hold her breath.

Her body tensed as he picked up a bowl of veggies and then...threw them away before he left. At least it hadn't been all of it. But she was convinced now that the judges had it out for her. Letting out a small sigh, she began to slice a whole new bowl of veggies. Not much of another set back but enough to make her really start disliking the judges.

Just as Kaguya was about to start slicing into the veggies tearjerkers someone came by and asked her to pause everything while she was being interviewed. She stared at the man wondering how she was going to fit an interview into only an hour when she still needed to get so much done. She was reluctant to put her knife down, but she nodded and fixed up one of her sleeves that she’d tied back since it had come undone. She placed her hands together in front of her on the counter and took one mental breath, Kaguya could not believe that she was about to be on TV.

“Why did you try out for Hades Kitchen?” The ghost blinked a few times, she didn’t exactly want to share her whole story least someone tell her to get over it. So, Kaguya opted for few words which she hoped would not prompt any further inquiries into the subject. “I’m on a journey,” she paused a bit. “I’m a new ghost, I am trying out different things to see where my skills lie. I thought this would be the best way to see if my cooking abilities were any good.” There, hopefully the camera had caught her soft tone because she wasn’t going to repeat herself and she was pretty sure she had answered the question so they wouldn’t need to ask more on that subject.

“Do you have any children?” Her face slightly crinkled but Kaguya let her face relax again. “I don’t think so, I think I’m quite young to be having children don’t you think?” But what if she did have children and she had no idea about them? She decided to become just slightly more translucent thinking that they’d get the idea that as a ghost she wouldn’t have any children here since she’d died so young. But you never knew and she hated the fact that she couldn’t remember. No time to dwell on it though, time was ticking and Kaguya felt like she was getting awfully close to that one hour mark.

“What do you think about chefs Gorgon Ramsay and chef Dr. Hyde?” But there was one more question to be asked and Kaguya heard the eagerness in the interviewer’s voice to know her thoughts on the chefs. “Chef Gorgon Ramsay gave me a good critique of my work in the tryouts as well as a compliment,” she’d taken it as a compliment even if it might not be one. “I haven’t had the pleasure of speaking very long with Chef Dr. Hyde to really decide.” Since she didn’t like to partake in gossip she didn’t share how some of the other contestants disliked him. Satisfied with the interview, the camera left her and Kaguya got back to work.

Both Chef Gorgon Ramsey and Chef Hyde stood before her, Kaguya paused briefly to give them a small bow. “Hello Chef Gorgon Ramsey, Chef Hyde.” She expected them to say something, anything really but all they gave her was a stare. Slowly as if unsure she went back to work slicing the veggies tearjerkers as she tried not to think about what they were going to say to her. Except nothing came, ever. She just felt their cold stare at her, judging no doubt her expertise. Kaguya tried so hard not to make a mistake at this point and it was costing her some precious time.

As if someone had broken the ice, Chef Gorgon Ramsey simply walked away towards another contestant leaving Chef Hyde behind. Finally he leaned in and Kaguya stopped her work again to listen only to find that he was looking for gossip! A quick glance towards the girl next to her as Kaguya resumed her work and then she looked back at the Chef again. “She seems nice.” She’d spotted him dumping the girls bowl of onions on the ground. However, she didn’t know the girl and couldn’t just flat out say lies or anything. She was certain that he was bored with her answer because of the look he gave her, but truly she didn’t know the girl! They were just staring the competition.

Chef Hyde closed up his notebook and left Kaguya to finish her work. There was little time left but at least she was almost done even though she’d been slowed down more times than she could keep up with. As she hurried though, the cuts weren’t as good as the rest, some she had to go back and recut and that bit into her time even more. By the time Kaguya was done and happy with what she’d done there were only two minutes to spare on the clock. It was cutting it a little too close for comfort.

Indu lifted up the knife and took a deep breath, preparing herself for the next step. Of course the deep breath taken resulted in a pained gasp and her reaching to cover her nose. In her rage she had forgotten how pungent tearejerkers can be. As she tried to clear her tubes, she suddenly noticed a lot of cameras focused on her. Camerasonher. The anger was sucked back down into her in a speed that was near instant, and her face contorted into a glassy smile. Cameraaaas. And was someone talking to her? She pulled her mind down from cloud nine to focus on the questions that were being slung in her direction.

Do you envision yourself winning the grand prize and what would you do with the money?
"Oh, gosh. You know-" Indu's eyes opened earnestly and she gave a seraphic smile. "-I didn't join this contest for me, personally. I mean, I looove cooking like, soooooooo much! But I'm not here for the prize money. It's all about the experience and the chance, and personal growth." Did that sound friendly enough? She'd win this damn competition, buy a wrecking ball, and level that smug Gorgon Whoever's house to the ground.

What do you think about chefs Gorgon Ramsay and chef Dr. Hyde?
The second outright lie was delivered even smoother than the first, now that she was into the flow of things. "Oh they're just the biggest inspirations! I love how they cook, and their approach, and their whole philosophy. It's so exhilarating! Already I've learned so much!" Like how both of them are probably single and will remain that way till they die thanks to their disgusting horrible vomit-inducing personalities, appearances, and all around general everything. Of course, she was projecting onto Dr. Hyde, but she was pretty sure anyone who chose to work with Ramsay was pond scum of the same level.

Do you have any children?
And -- Indu nearly found herself, wrapped up in the lie, saying 'Yes! Five! They're all so sweet!'. Catching herself, she paused for a moment, giving the camera a confused look. This was a joke right? "I'm ..... I'm fifteen."

Keen started chopping away at the pathetic onion humming softly to herself as she made careful and neat work of the veggie. The actions were actually rather relaxing and she could have forgot she was doing a show if it wasn't for the interviewers suddenly cropping up.

Looking up at them she smiled a bit and waited to hear what they wanted to know from her.

What do you think about chefs Gorgon Ramsay and chef Dr. Hyde?

Keen frowned a little at the question and she gave a little shrug. What did she think of them? To be honest very little overall, since she didn't know them as people. Taking a pen from the counter and writing on a note pad she made her response. They seem to me interesting enough, I feel bad that Chef Ramsay didn't like my meal, but his reaction did prove why many think he is ... evil to say the least. As for Dr. Hyde, I have yet to actually hear from him, and I look forward to it.

It seemed as though the one question was not enough and between chopping Keen listened to hear what was asked of her for her second question, this question though was not so easy to brush off.

Tell me a little about yourself, your backstory, who you are.

Keen thought a moment before writing down. I came from a large clan but I was sent to learn more about the world, to keep up with the times. There really isn't too much to me, I like dancing, parkour and meeting new people. That is part of why I am here, it gives me a chance to see and be seen, perhaps it will make something of my future. I look forward to becoming someone known. Keen let out a musical laugh and looked at the camera winking a bit. Who knows? Maybe I will be a common house hold name in the future?

Do you have any children?

Hearing the last question made keen look up in shock, her knife in hand again. She shook her head and blushed a bit before writing. Goodness no! I am still single and haven't met anyone who I would think of being with that way! Maybe someday I will but not now! She flushed again and went back to slicing as the interviewers moved on.

Indu's shoulders relaxed a bit as she stopped in front of her station. She could get back to the actual task that is necessary to complete to move on. From now on, she made a mental note that was possibly going to be overridden in the future, ignore the cameras. Unless the clock's not ticking, they are not what you need to focus on to succeed. Indu from a day or so ago pointed and laughed and shrieked at this. Of course the camera was important. That's why they had them.

But anger-fuled Indu now, the one who had been stung so sharply by her first score, was for the moment, completely over the idea of looking good for the audience. Which was probably why, when the two judges came over and started to silently glare at her, she looked right back at them, face matching their own in terms of levels of both judge, and hate. She continued to do so until they left, her hands not stopping in their task the entire time. After that they left her alone which was fine enough for her, thank you very much.

Finally, a good twenty minutes before the timer went, she slammed her knife down, wiped her hands on a towel, and stood back, folding her arms. One hundred, chopped, in the bowl. Go ahead and find fault with that this time, you smug pile of wrinkles.