The Game at Carousel: A Horror Movie LitRPG-Chapter 32Book Six, : Homibridal Part II

The Homibride is Daphne Sinclair AKA Rachel Hutchins

The Homibride has a Plot Armor score of 40, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 15, Hustle of 7, Savvy of 7, and Grit of 7.

The Mysterious Stranger. This enemy can take over an Omen for a mundane murder mystery or slasher by offering an unsolicited gift to a party member. By triggering the Omen, they inviter her in.

Undetectable. This villain warps the minds of its victims so that they will not notice it does not belong.

Shackles of Civility. A social enemy, they cannot be attacked until their nature is revealed. In the presence of characters who know their monstrous secret, this enemy’s Moxie will gradually be added to its Mettle and/or Grit.

You Know Too Much. This enemy will target characters who learn information relevant to discovering their secrets or whose death might help hide those secrets.

Trapdoor Teleportation. Every room and location where a Chase Scene or Fight Scene is occurring will have hidden doors or pathways through which the enemy can escape, move unseen, or surprise players.

Bask in the Aftermath. This villain’s true nature can only be revealed in the Finale as the bodies pile up and the collected clues are reexamined. Players can become suspicious of her, but will not be given confirmation through the system until the Finale. The villain's major assault will not take place until the Finale unless players fail to move the story forward.

Cage Match. Fight and Chase Scenes involving this enemy are private and cannot be stumbled upon, interfered with, or otherwise perceived by others unless the narrative demands their involvement.

A Certain Level of Decorum. Depowers weapons that don’t fit the story's setting and makes them very difficult to find.

Cue the Symptoms. This enemy will poison, hex, or otherwise infect an enemy, but their symptoms and red wallpaper indicator will not show until the enemy triggers them manually.

A Life Relived. This enemy is fully meta and has run this storyline before, but will not remember the plot or their original memories of the events the story is based on until the relevant events have passed. They are a player in their own game.

Slip Right Into Character (Wallflower-Recast). Allows her access to the script, giving her almost any information her character might know about other characters as the information becomes relevant, knowledge of other scenes that are occurring, and those that are upcoming.

Undone on Spec (Film Buff-Critic). Lets her insert set pieces, subplots, and plot devices from a nearby omen into a triggered storyline.

Un-Pheremones (Eye Candy-Beauty). All characters scripted into romantic roles will feel the emotions of their characters and gain relevant insights.

A Plan Enaction (Scholar Strategist). Guarantees she will have time Off-Screen to get the requisite elements of their plan into place if it is in character for them to be prepared and fits the narrative.

No Body, No Crime (Outsider-Criminal). Sends her Off-Screen after secretly killing an enemy and gives her insight into the best place to hide the body.

Convenient Backstory (Eye Candy-Socialite). Allows her to modify her backstory in ways that fit the task at hand, giving her skills and relevant stat buffs.

A Wink to the Audience (Comedian-Cynic). She can see a description of how the audience is reacting to a scene and break the fourth wall without being penalized. Gains narrative momentum as the audience enjoys her meta antics.

Riley Lawrence is The Film Buff

His aspect is Filmmaker.

Filmmaker: The Filmmaker has a comprehensive understanding of the filmmaking process. They can manipulate the game environment effectively, altering the game's dynamics in subtle but impactful ways. Their abilities are a mixture of meta-Insight and meta-Rule tropes. They have higher Hustle, reflecting their ability to stay out of the way, stay alive, and remain unseen as they manipulate meta-movie elements.

Riley has a Plot Armor score of 41, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 11, Hustle of 7, Savvy of 12, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: "My Grandmother Had the Gift…" A background trope that gives Riley’s character some ambiguous connection to “The Gift” through his heritage.

Current Trope Limit: 10

"Trope Master" grants him the ability to perceive enemy tropes, but at the cost of sacrificing half of his Plot Armor.

As an "Oblivious Bystander," Riley remains untargeted by enemies as he convincingly acts oblivious to their presence.

"Escape Artist" buffs his Hustle to help enact plausible escape plans.

"The Insert Shot" makes allies aware of an object the player chooses. The object will be shown to the audience and its use will be buffed in the Finale.

"The Dailies” allows him to see a selection of raw footage from the day's shoot.

"He Has A Tell" makes it so that characters in the film will have a physical tell when they are stressed during interrogations.

“Just Out of Shot” allows him to see ‘cameras’ when sneaking near an enemy to avoid being seen.

“Quiet on Set” allows the user to listen to the audio of the current On-Screen scene while Off-Screen, depending on Savvy and the information's value.

“Call Sheet” gives him a timer for when he will be On-Screen next.

“Method to the Madness” Allows him to speak with enemies Off-Screen in-character (and out of character, depending on whether they are meta) to obtain useful information.

Kimberly Madison is The Eye Candy

Her aspect is Celebrity

Celebrity: The Celebrity aspect treats the player like an actor and the storylines like films they sign on to. Using meta tropes to create hype, fan favoritism, and larger-than-life roles, the Celebrity is the most versatile of the Eye Candy aspects. Using past roles to help their “career”, the Celebrity can specialize in virtually anything if they have long enough to build a career.

Kimberly has a Plot Armor score of 38, Mettle of 6, Moxie of 15, Hustle of 9, Savvy of 1, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: “Obsessed Survivor” gives her character some traumatic past even that keeps her on alert and prepares her for the fights ahead.

Current Trope Limit: 10

"Convenient Backstory" allows her to believably change her backstory to assist with the current task, buffing the relevant stat.

"Social Awareness" allows her to see the Moxie stat of all enemies and NPCs and intuit relationship dynamics.

“Does anyone have a scrunchie?” allows her to shift Moxie's points into another stat by putting her hair up.

"The Penthouse" The character will get the nicest, safest accommodations in a multiday storyline.

“The Hall of Fame” The user gains Center of Attention and will have a heightened role in the story regardless of casting. Meta story elements are more central.

"Contract Negotiations" buffs the user’s ability to improvise after "discussing" an their plan with Carousel.

“Compulsive Vetting” makes her aware of exits, onlookers, and potential weapons nearby. It also buffs her when asking characters about suspicious individuals.

“Did You Forget About Me?” allows her to make a flashy and powerful attack after she has been Off-Screen for an alotted time.

"When in Rome" buffs her Grit until Rebirth if her performance matches the tone of the movie.

“A Lip Cease” allows her to take the story Off-Screen by halting the conversation while exploring and then picking it back up in a different setting.

Antoine Stone is the Athlete.

His aspect is Health Nut.

Health Nut: The Health Nut is devoted to maintaining peak physical, mental, and spiritual health, highlighting their wisdom and their intelligent approach to fitness and wellbeing. Health Nuts use their high Savvy to make strategic decisions, enhancing their overall endurance and adaptability in challenging situations. Their healthy lifestyle is reflected in their elevated Grit, showcasing their resilience and ability to bounce back from setbacks.

Antoine has a Plot Armor score of 38, Mettle of 11, Moxie of 4, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 7, and Grit of 8.

Free Background Trope: --

Current Trope Limit: 10

"Gym Rat" buffs Mettle and Hustle by revealing an athletic backstory.

Brandishing a weapon is “Like a Security Blanket,” buffing his Grit and soothing his and his allies’ fear.

"Everyone Loves a Winner" the user's character will have some previous success that endears them to NPCs. Failure reverses this.

“Time Out!” allows him to send a fight scene Off-Screen for a set time.

“In Bed By Nine” allows the player to incorporate a restorative sleeping break into the shoot.

“Arm Candy” buffs the user based on the overall desirability of their romantic partner.

“Fight or Flight” buffs Mettle if escape is not possible or Hustle if victory is not possible. Buffs Mettle if neither is possible.

“The Mountain as a Metaphor” boosts allies' uses of Grit and Savvy and allows the user to conquer maladies through metaphor by tackling physical challenges.

“Calm in the Chaos” allows the user to channel Savvy into their next physical feat through a slowed-down shot of them planning things out On-Screen. Time will appear to slow down while planning.

“Blood to the Brain” provides a passive Savvy buff from regular exercise. In a storyline, the player’s Savvy will be highly buffed during strenuous, meaningful activity.

Logan Maize is The Comedian

His aspect is Cynic.

Cynic: The Cynic wields sharp wit and high Savvy to navigate chaos, using insight and meta-irony to uncover truths and manipulate the narrative. Their imperviousness to meta challenges makes them masters of reframing chaos, adapting quickly, and turning even the direst situations to their advantage. With sharp analysis and biting humor, the Cynic thrives as a critical thinker and unshakable ally.

Logan has a Plot Armor score of 34, Mettle of 7, Moxie of 5, Hustle of 5, Savvy of 10, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: "Misspent Youth" is a background trope that gives Logan’s character some secret criminal or quasi-criminal history.

Current Trope Limit: 9

“Awfully Considerate Symptoms” suppresses the effects of terminal illnesses, poisonings, and injuries until they are plot-relevant.

“Unmoving Facade” prevents the user from feeling pain if they willfully act like they are not in pain.

“Gallows Humor” allows him to ease mental pain with dark humor after a tragedy.

“Comedic Timing” prevents the enemy from attacking while the user is quipping and causes them to take allies Off-Screen to follow their comedic antics during Fight and Chase Scenes.

“Window Shopping” allows the user to identify and know the rough monetary value of any object they look at, including rare, technological, or magical objects, especially if it fits their backstory.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“The Voice of Dissent” bolsters the players’ current plan when the user confronts the team’s planner and forces them to clarify, justify, or modify it.

“Last Laugh” retroactively buffs an attack when a humorous quip or similar is added to the end. If done well, this will end a Fight Scene.

“Hate to Say It…” gives them additional insight when attempting to disprove an ally’s trope-attained information.

“Dead Giveaway” makes it so that killers will keep a memento of victims close to the user as a sign that they are guilty.

Dr. Andrew Hughes is The Doctor

No aspect has been chosen.

Andrew has a Plot Armor score of 35, Mettle of 3, Moxie of 5, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 12, and Grit of 7.

Free Background Trope: --

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Step Into My Office” Sanctuary is granted while treating allies in a private scene, safeguarding all until treatment is complete based on the user’s Savvy. Grants Health Monitor.

“The Oath” By referencing their personal healer’s oath, the user’s Grit is buffed while treating a wounded ally.

“Observational Analysis” Observing characters before critical scenes lets the user discern their fixed personality traits, making it easier to predict their reactions if provoked.

“Let it Out” During mental trauma treatment, the patient reveals deep-seated feelings, aiding in their mental recovery but risking emotional breakdowns.

“Professional Courtesy” Characters in related professions recognize the user’s professional status, offering them helpful insights and special access.

“Absolute Focus” The user’s Hustle is enhanced when performing tasks requiring dexterity and precision, thanks to their meticulous focus.

“Critical Anatomy” Studying a creature reveals weak spots, increasing the user’s Mettle when targeting these vulnerabilities.

“The Slab” Performing a post-mortem on a corpse yields increasing information over time, with a countdown until the scene’s end.

“Study Session” If the user has the highest Savvy, they designate a “Stacks” research location where allies are safe during certain scenes and can access valuable knowledge.

“Do Everything I Say” allows him to walk someone through a medical procedure verbally. Outcomes will be even better than normal if he is calm and assured.

Bobby Gill is The Wallflower.

His Aspect is Recast.

Recast: The Recast slips into minor NPC roles and quietly transforms them into story-critical characters. Armed with targeted background knowledge and uncanny narrative timing, they pull strings from the sidelines, guiding subplots, influencing outcomes, and stepping into the spotlight when least expected. Masters of adaptability, Recasts turn overlooked moments into defining scenes.

Bobby has a Plot Armor score of 35, Mettle of 4, Moxie of 10, Hustle of 8, Savvy of 8, and Grit of 5.

Free Background Trope: “Actually, I'm a Veterinarian” changes his character’s background to being an animal doctor.

Current Trope Limit: 10

“Background Noise” allows him to get background information from NPCs when Off-Screen.

“Last-Minute Casting” recasts him as an NPC that is moderately involved in the plot. The selection is seemingly random. He will get some limited background information for the character and some access to the NPC script.

“If you Can't see it, it Won't Bleed” allows him to temporarily mend wounds by covering them from the audience’s view.

“The 'Wisdom' of Crowds” allows him to collect ideas and clues from a crowd of NPCs. Sorting the good tips from the bad is going to take some thinking.

“Pure” protects the user from enemy targeting if they avoid the storyline's principal “sin,” until they interfere with the enemy's agenda.

“Act Like You Belong” lets the user blend into any scene by quickly adopting small, fitting elements like props or attire. However, all these elements must work together to maintain their cover.

“The Bickering Duo” assigns Bobby an NPC named Jules, who will assist him while creating a comedic tone.

“Character Notes” reveals general needs from allies until Second Blood, though specifics aren't provided.

“Read the Room” allows the user to see unchangeable elements in NPC interactions, especially those involving character arcs.

“The Understudy” allows the Recast to elevate their character to the main cast to replace the narrative void left by a downed player. They may use one of that player’s tropes for the duration of the storyline and gain that player’s buffs.

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We stepped in out of the rain, laughing and holding hands like the wind was trying to blow us away. We were Off-Screen, so we didn't have to put on a show, and we weren’t. That was just us.

Above us was a banner that read: Lawrence Hutchins Wedding.

We both read it at once.

"You're cheating on me," Daphne said, slapping me on the chest playfully. "Who is this Hutchins woman?"

I was confused at first, but then I looked at the wedding invitation in my left hand and said, "I think it's you."

The document I had once listed Daphne Sinclair as my bride-to-be, but it had been replaced by Rachel Hutchins.

A look of realization dawned on Daphne’s face.

"Right," she said. "I forgot to tell you that my name was actually Rachel Hutchins. I put it off for so long, it just became awkward."

"I'm just glad that you had the courage to tell the venue, because they seem to have figured it out," I said.

She laughed and dragged me forward, toward where Kimberly and Andrew were standing.

"Did you hear?" Daphne said when we got to them. "We're getting married."

"I heard," Kimberly said with a laugh. "You'll have to tell me how he proposed."

As I attempted to think of something amusing to say, an image suddenly emerged in my mind.

I saw flashes: a long hike up a mountain, a celebration at a hidden retreat. Me getting down on one knee, and there was Daphne.

As quickly as the flash of memory had come, it disappeared.

The others were speaking, and we had gone On-Screen without me noticing.

Antoine walked up to greet us, hugging Kimberly and giving her a kiss.

"How about we make this a double wedding?" he said.

"Don't," Kimberly said. "I told you that is not funny."

"Who says I’m trying to be funny?" he asked, as he knelt down on one knee, looked up at Kimberly seriously, grabbed her hand, and then let go to start tying his shoelaces.

"For every joke you make about proposing, the more spectacular the actual proposal has to be," Kimberly said. "You know that."

"Then I can probably make at least four or five more jokes," he said as he stood up. “Based on what I got planned.”

He turned his attention to me and held out his hand.

I reached out and shook it.

"The day has finally come," he said. He turned his head to Daphne. "Personally, I’m surprised he ever built up the courage to ask you out."

We continued with the basic wedding banter, as if it were some sort of rom-com.

Outside, thunder rolled, and the rain continued to fall harder and harder.

"You may end up having your honeymoon here," Antoine eventually said, as the roar of the rain beating down on the parking lot and the building roof echoed louder.

"I'm sure the casino won't mind," I said. "They’re probably hoping we’ll bankrupt ourselves at the craps table before the ceremony."

"From what I hear, that’ll take a while," Antoine said, glancing over my shoulder.

I followed his gaze and found a picture of me hanging on the wall, with the title 'Carousel World Poker Championship.'

I was a poker player, apparently. And a good one. No wonder we chose to have our wedding at a casino.

I stared at the front doors, which just happened to have the only windows in view.

The rain was like one massive stream.

"The only person gambling here is my fiancée," I said, turning to her with a grin. “Taking a chance on me.”

She gave me a look like I had made a corny joke, and then put her hand to my face.

"I will always take a risk on you," she said.

Off-Screen.

"Why is your name suddenly Rachel Hutchins?" Antoine asked, looking at Daphne.

"I don’t know," she said. “Do you like it? I don’t know if I can pull off a Rachel.”

“You are totally a Rachel,” Kimberly said.

It was strange. Usually, a player’s name stayed the same regardless of what storyline they were in, and any relevant NPCs would just be renamed if they were related or something like that.

"It’s got to be something to do with the plot," I said.

"Yeah, maybe," Daphne said. "So you should all be very careful to call me Rachel Hutchins and nothing else. We wouldn’t want anyone getting confused. Although I already know I will."

"Naturally," Andrew said, but he was mostly talking to himself. His focus was across the room, where they had an entire storefront devoted to selling cigarettes and tobacco products.

"Your hair is wet," Kimberly said, looking at Antoine. "Have you been outside? I didn’t see you come from that direction."

Antoine looked away, almost embarrassed.

"No," he said. "I had some other scenes I had to shoot."

"What were they?" I asked. We were always keeping tabs on each other. Even little pieces of information could be useful.

"I have a feeling you’ll figure that out soon enough," he said. "Don’t make me say it."

I was curious about what would make him clam up like that, but I knew that he wouldn’t hide important information from us.

"So what do you have so far?" I said. "Apparently, I’m the groom. Somehow. Doesn’t seem like a very minor character type of role, but it can be in some movies, especially if the wedding is just a setting and not a key plot event."

"I’m the bride," Daphne said, smiling at me. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

"Thank goodness it was you, or else this would have gotten awkward," I said.

"Maid of honor," Kimberly said, holding up the wedding program. "I haven’t had much time to figure out anything else. Andrew is your best man. I’m assuming Antoine is my date."

"Well, he certainly is after that playful introduction," Daphne said, and she and Kimberly laughed.

"So that leaves Logan," I said.

"You’re going to love this," Kimberly said, and then she held out the program.

"Oh my God," I said when I read the part she was hoping for me to see.

I started to laugh.

"Is he the minister?" Daphne asked, joining me in my giggle session.

"He’s going to have his work cut out for him," Antoine said. "The cynical man of God, whichever god it is that exists in this storyline."

We were still standing in the casino lobby. It was time to move toward the back.

"The sign says that the betting lounge is that way," Antoine said.

The place was built like a maze. Where most casinos had a large, open room filled with roulette and other games, this one was built with intersections and large walls that bounded different areas away from one another. In fact, the front of the casino was the only place that looked open and had a good line of sight.

"We’re going to have fun chasing killers in this," Antoine said.

"Or being chased," Daphne added.

On-Screen

"Should we swing by the chapel first? Maybe it and the dining hall," Kimberly suggested. "Just to get a good look at it, see if the caterers need any answers. I'm halfway certain they didn't understand what I wanted when it came to the floral arrangements."

"Will you calm down?" Daphne said. "It's my wedding, and you're the one acting like a bridezilla."

"Sorry," Kimberly responded. "I just really want everything to be perfect."

They walked ahead of us and continued talking to each other about the wedding.

I held back with Antoine and Andrew.

"I don't think I've seen a casino this empty, even on a Tuesday morning," Antoine said.

"It's the storm," Andrew responded. “No one can get through it.”

"In my experience, degenerate gamblers will make it to the casino even in a hurricane," I said.

As a professional gambler, I should know about that.

"They won't if the road is closed," Andrew said. "They just reported it over the radio. The road to Carousel has been washed away. If the regulars wanted to come out here to burn their money in the slot machines, they'd have to go all the way out east, near the airport."

None of that made sense with Carousel proper’s layout, but Carousel’s geography tended to change by the storyline.

I looked around. Even though there were very few NPCs around, the dings and chimes of the slot machines could still be heard, but the winning player could never be seen. The machine paying off was somewhere in the labyrinth.

This was going to be quite the setting to contend with our slasher.

As soon as we got in sight and laid eyes on our beloved minister, Reverend Logan Maize, Kimberly started to say, "I can already see from here what they've done, "

And then she stopped talking.

She had equipped a trope that she rarely used called A Lip Cease, whose function was to aid in exploration by allowing a player to send themselves and nearby allies Off-Screen simply by starting a conversation in one area and then stopping abruptly, only to continue it in a different area.

Kimberly had just sent us Off-Screen.

If we understood the trope correctly, that meant we would have plenty of time to go to the new betting hall, or whatever it was called, in hopes of finding Lucien Graves and having a nice chat.

We didn’t have to be silent on our way to the betting room. Still, for some reason, we were as if we were afraid that by speaking, we would accidentally continue the conversation that Kimberly had started about the flowers.

It was silly, really. But we needed to be Off-Screen, and we didn’t want to risk anything. So, as Logan joined us, we made our way toward the back.

Bobby was already there, waiting for us. Given the nature of his archetype and aspect, the Recast, as he had chosen, we weren’t sure when he would show up, so waiting around didn’t seem necessary.

He was wearing a uniform, presumably a management position at the casino.

He had not brought his dogs, which was rare, because he had even brought them on a jungle adventure. This storyline, however, centered around a huge storm, and he couldn't imagine wrangling them in those conditions, especially if we couldn’t go outside.

The dogs weren’t there, but his NPC companion, Jules, was. She stood next to him, also wearing a man’s suit. She was taller than Bobby, with spiky blonde hair and pursed lips, as if she were playing her character as the no-nonsense type.

"Finally, you show up," Jules said. "Bobby was starting to worry you got washed away."

"I just thought they got stuck in the storm, that’s all," Bobby said.

"We almost didn’t make it inside," Daphne said with a smile.

"Such a shame," Jules said. "I would truly hate for your day of bliss to be marred by such a terrible event."

She stared down at Daphne, though I couldn’t quite read her face.

"I’m just glad we have each other," Daphne said, holding on to my arm.

Jules smiled. "Isn’t that nice?"

I had never run a storyline with her, and while I knew that she had a very particular sense of humor, her tone was weird, almost aggressive.

"Well, let’s get this show on the road. Can’t wait to finally meet one of these Narrators Riley can’t shut up about," Logan said with a smirk.

Antoine laughed with him.

The joke being that, in their eyes, I was too tight-lipped about my experience on the other side of the mountain, and maybe I was.

We continued down the path that we were heading, past rows and rows of slot machines, until we found the betting room, which was large, and the floor was sunken into the ground so that you had to take several steps down to get into it.

"Holy crap," I said, looking around.

The décor changed, and I recognized it. The casino was stylized as a fancy hotel in the seventies.

This room was art deco.

"What is it?" Daphne asked.

"I don’t think that this room is in the casino," I said.

They all looked at me funny, except for Jules, who seemed to be waiting to hear what I would say, with a smile.

"I think this room is inside the tower on the other side of the mountain. I think they just connected it," I said. "It’s hard to explain."

The way that Carousel and those parasitizing Carousel were able to just sew together different physical locations was mind-boggling. And while you could understand that it was happening, trying to figure out how it worked did nothing but melt your brain.

But this room was very similar to the one where I had met the Proprietor.

Much smaller, but virtually identical in all other respects.

"Are we safe to go in there?" Antoine asked.

"What do I know?" I responded. "But I doubt anything would happen to us during a storyline."

We descended into the room. There were a few people sitting around and a couple of different NPCs on huge ladders in front of a monumental chalkboard.

Because it was the 1970s or so, there was no digital betting board; it was all done with chalk.

It took a while to see the man we were there to meet.

He wasn’t as flashy as I expected.

He was sitting in a spinning chair, hardly more fancy than the average office chair, in front of the chalkboards.

He spun to greet us, and we knew it was him because he was the only person in the room who didn’t show up on the red wallpaper.

He was eating a bag of chips.

Doritos.

Those were Earth chips.

There was something disarming about the way he smiled with his mouth full and looked genuinely excited to see us, as far as I could tell.

He wore a leather coat, almost like a cowboy’s duster, but less flamboyant. Other than that, he just had a button-up shirt and slacks. His hair was long, but not as long as mine had gotten. He had it neatly combed.

He might have been in his early thirties, but I had no idea for how long, with the immortality and all.

He didn’t look like the daredevil I had seen on the poster.

He didn’t stand up to greet us or meet us halfway down the stairs. He just waited with a smile, and when we got there, he stood up, wiped his hands on a handkerchief, and said aloud:

"You brought a Mobile Omen in order to clear out the Omens in the casino instead of picking one of the ones already here. Very good. You just made Mason in logistics a very wealthy man. He got in on the bet before anyone else did."

He snapped his fingers, and one of the NPCs on the ladders moved to one of the items on the chalkboard grid and wrote out the results of a bet.

"You see," Lucien added, "he was the first to realize that was what you were up to. Got in while the odds were still favorable. Of course, once everyone saw his bet, they realized it was the most likely option. But he got in early, and sometimes that makes all the difference."

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