With FAE beating me, two games to one, they had won the Second Chance Bracket and had the chance to go against the not-yet-beaten DMC. It was around 11:30 or so, surprisingly early in the night considering, the pace of the night considerably helped by how many people finished their round in only two games. Of the fourteen rounds played only six went to a third game. There was a tolerable chance of the night ending before the bar closed at 2:00, or we got insufferably exhausted staying out past 1:00. But not necessarily: if FAE were to beat them in this round, they would have to play another --- two lost rounds needed for elimination --- so there could be as many as six games yet to play between two of the best players in the league.
As high seed DMC had first pick and chose King Kong: Myth of Terror Island. There are some games we shy away from playing in tournaments because they run long, and King Kong hasn't quite yet got the reputation that James Bond has, but the game was played during the regular season and hadn't malfunctioned so it was a legitimate pick. And a good one for DMC, who beat FAE in a match with way higher scores than I'd ever get.
FAE's pick next and they chose Game Of Thrones and, going first, put up 1.8 billion points on the first ball. A billion points is an excellent ball by any measure --- for anyone but these two it'd be an excellent game --- but twice that is crushing, especially when DMC had an unlucky first ball that ended at under a million. As FAE stepped up for ball two DMC did what we barely considered possible, and conceded. It's allowed, it just, like, never happens. DMC could plausibly have made up that gap, plus whatever FAE did on balls two or three, but apparently decided his chances were better starting a new game.
And that game was, of course, Godzilla, one of DMC's two pocket games. (He'd used Rush, the other, back in the first round when PCL needed vanquishing). DMC put up a mere mortal's game this time, finishing somewhere short of a billion points, but FAE still had to make up something like a half-billion points on their last ball. They gave it a great try, including several great saves, but fell short. Just as last time, DMC won the league and FAE took second. Only my presence in the not-quite-1-am trophy ceremony was different. I caught up on my sleep one of these days, I promise.
Now here's where this sets up future drama. Not that anyone doubts FAE deserves to be in finals in our local league or to win the league (they have, a year ago). But competitive pinball sanctioning body the International Flipper Pinball Association this year clarified (independently of that North Carolina drama a few weeks back) that women's tournaments are open to anyone who finds 'not male' an important part of their identity --- so, women, yes, and transgender persons (for taking up or leaving non-maleness behind), and nonbinary persons. With that policy made clear, ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnyhugger told FAE they were welcome at women's tournaments, and a month or two later they took her up on the offer. And immediately dominated the local women's tournaments, which are rare and low-value.
But half of the people invited to the Women's State Championship are taken for their excellent performance in the open rankings, that is, coed tournaments and leagues. And while FAE hasn't played in many outside Lansing, they have finished excellently high in all of them. With this second-place finish they earned a spot in the state championship and, coming from apparently nowhere, are certainly my favorite to win. (Well, bunnyhugger is my favorite in every way, but FAE is the safe bet.) This has not as of this writing been noticed in a way to cause drama from vagina-inspectors in the Michigan pinball community, or state-championship-watchers. But the prospect is there and I do not look forward to people saying awful things about nice people as a result.
More stuff at Le Grand Huit, now:
Ah, the spirit of French liberty or something, alongside another band organ. I don't seem to have a good picture of the mural behind and apologize for my mistake.
bunnyhugger getting a picture of the elevated carousel rolling above her; you just don't get pictures from directly underneath a horse that often.
Here's what a horse looks like from underneath. Also you see how the things are locked to not fall off the pole yet still be portable in case the carousel moves.
There's something a little magic to seeing the horses floating in midair like this.
And a reverse view getting a look at the chandeliers too. It could almost happen in Mary Poppins.
Looking up again at a horse's underside and also at the scenery panels above, which are all aircraft of an era I bet someone could identify all right.
Trivia: Among the published newspaper rumors surrounding the Wright Brothers' flight experiments at Kitty Hawk in 1905 were that they had flown ten miles out to sea and back (certainly false) and that they never left the flyer unguarded, sleeping beside it with rifle in hand (possible; they brought firearms to Kitty Hawk before, but for game). Source: To Conquer the Air: The Wright Brothers and the Great Race for Flight, James Tobin.
Currently Reading: In The Shadow Of The Moon: A Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965 - 1969, Francis French and Colin Burgess.
