Roleplays after White Elephant: Part 3

Gaile
"Where did the maids leave my good shoes?" Gaile grumbled to herself.

She had just woke up from a nap after the votes were cast and Alexandria was voted out. And even though she still hadn’t gotten a real chance to meet her, after am hour’s snooze she was feeling a lot better. Her hair was still thrown up in a loose, high ponytail that was on top of her head. It flopped back and forth as Gaile continued searching for her beloved jelly sandals. She was hoping to take a nice walk around the town to clear her head and mentally prepare herself for the next challenge. Whatever it may be, she knew that it’d most likely be scary and difficult.

"WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE THEY?" Gaile cried out a little louder. She very rarely lost her temper, but her voice did tend to go up in pitch when she was getting ticked. She slammed the door to her closet and heard a small clatter from inside. Curious, she reopened the doors and saw one of her pink jelly sandals had fallen from somewhere in the closet. Just one. And the other one was still resting undisturbed. On the very top shelf.

"Oh shnikies!" Gaile cried as she gazed at the stray shoe.

She was only 5 foot 3, which in this case is not helpful, as her shoe was very far out of her reach. Gaile began hopping up and down trying to reach for her shoe, grunting little determined grunts as she reached each time. As she landed on the ground each time, a loud thud could be heard. She sure felt mad sorry for whoever lived beneath or beside her, but this was important. She was so invested trying to get her shoe that she didn’t hear footsteps approaching her room.

Baroness:
The Baroness was making her way up the elevator, from the lobby, to go to her room. She was still a glittery mess, despite all the walking she’s done in what seemed like the past hour. As she walked down the hall, the pirate passed by room after room claimed by the contestants, first Jill, then Arizona, and Dennis, Matt, and Alice followed. She found none of their rooms to be interesting, most of the doors were closed and the ones that weren’t had nothing in particular going on in them. That was, until she came across Gaile’s room, where a loud stomping could be heard.

The Baroness casually walked into her room to make sure nothing too frisky or violent was going on in the room, when she noticed Gaile jumping up and down in the closet. “Arr….ye be needin’ any help lass?”

Ry:
(Missing Content)

both of his hands and quickly took the pills to try to get rid of this thing. The fact that she had water made Ry wish he’d been smart enough to not just pack sugar-free, carbonated drinks. “Thanks,” he said after downing half the water bottle, not even realizing how thirsty he’d been.

“I just brought a bunch of ramen, ramune, and fruit for my room… Probably was the stupidest thing to do, like the people who used to drink blood as a way to ‘keep healthy’ during times of plague.”

Noticing that Gaile didn’t even look annoyed that he’d basically just bashed on her Disney induced love fest, he nearly felt more at peace with her.

“I just…don’t find romance appealing anymore, so it’s kind of my theory behind everything that has to do with ‘love’ and that junk…” He told her, shifting from one foot to the other. “I guess it’s just a ploy to hurt you and all.”

Ry’s body froze when she mentioned the bracelet, and he noticed that he was YET AGAIN playing with the fabric. It was just so hard to think that something like this was real. The fact that he had a headache should have been clue enough that he wasn’t dreaming, but he just couldn’t accept that.

“I—Uh…um… Yeah, Dakota made it for me because he wanted to symbolize that we were friends…” He bit his lip and kept his hand intertwined with the fabric. “I guess…he wanted me to believe that he wasn’t just pretending to like me enough to talk to me.”

Gaile shook her head.

"i don’t think that was stupid of you. You probably just didn’t think about needing it. It’s an easy thing to do. You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself." Gaile said calmly.

When Ry talked about his views on romance, Gaile nodded understandingly.

"And that’s okay! Everyone has different views on romance. And you shouldn’t feel bad about expressing your views on it." she stated, thinking about how timid Ry was acting as he talked about it.

Gaile grinned blissfully when Ry told him about the bracelet. She had just had an encounter with Dakota herself, and he was a super sweet guy. She was glad Ry had another friend here.

"Dakota is a great person. It’s rad having him on my team. i’m really super glad you guys are homies." she said pointing at his bracelet.

"Also. I hope you know that I’m your friend too, Ry." she said with  friendly grin and trusting eyes.

Ry raised an eyebrow at her, thinking about what she was saying. This is wasn’t the first time he’d heard that on this show; Dakota said it, Baroness said it, and now Gaile was saying it… Why did they care so much about some freak? “What…? What do you mean that I shouldn’t be hard on myself? I’m just being honest.”

Ry’s eyes slowly lowered to the floor, his face not showing much indication about how her words made him feel. Should he be relieved that she understood? “You think so? Most people look at me like I decapitated their dog in front of them or something.”

Twisting the bracelet around his wrist calmly, he nodded at what Gaile said about Dakota. “Dakota is a really sweet guy… It’s funny to hear those words coming out of my mouth…since I’ve never said that before in my life.” The thought of having a friend was still hard on his mind to comprehend.

When Gaile told him that she was his friend too, he shook his head in disbelief. “I…I can’t believe that… I just… I don’t get friends; I’m supposed to be that freak who makes those comments that people hate and make snappy comments that ruin everyone’s day, not someone who can make two friends…” He averted his eyes clutched the bracelet tightly now. “Why would you want to be my friend anyway…? I’m not a person worth hanging out with; I’m boring and just watch Japanese horror movies and play the piano and draw.”

Ashley:
Ashley was on her way downstairs to grab a cup of coffee when she heard a rapid pounding emerging from somewhere in the hotel. Groaning, the girl rubbed her head and sought out the source of the noise so she could give the person who was making it a piece of her mind. Ashley wandered down the hall, the thudding gradually getting louder until she was looking right into Gaile’s room. That was just great, since Ashley had to get on her good side. Typical.

Ashley leaned up against the side of the doorframe and rapped on it with her fist, to alert Gaile to her presence. “Having trouble over there?” She called forcefully to the other girl, not particularly caring one way or another.

Lavender
Lavender sat on the roof of the hotel, staring at the moon. “I may absolutely hate this place, but the view is kind of nice.” She remarked. “My plan is going as….well, planned.” She thought to herself. “Am I losing my ‘spark’?” She asked herself, a little bit of fear in her eyes. She sighed to herself, gazing at the moon again. Just then, she heard the door leading to the roof open. She turned to the sound, anger apparent in her eyes. “Ugh! Who are you and why are you here?!?!” She yelled at the figure.

Ry:
''Ry stopped dead in his tracks and held the door open with his hand, casually leaning against it like he hadn’t just been startled by her sudden outburst. “I’m obviously some kind of deranged murderer, looking for his next victim, and might I ask who you are?” He asked sarcastically, crossing his arms. “And I came up here to have some peace and quiet after YOUR big performance on the sled.”''

"Haha, very funny, Ry." Lavender deadpanned, not in the mood to be annoyed by the quiet weirdo. "If I was on a team that actually worked," she scolded, turning around to face Ry, "Maybe i wouldn’t be in a pissed off mood." Lavender took a deep breath, trying to control herself. "I have to do whatever it takes to win." She whispered to herself. "She put on a too sweet of a smile and patted the ground next to her. "Wanna sit down with me?" She asked in a sickly sweet tone.

''Ry’s tone took on a much more dark and piercing one when he heard what she said. “You want a team that works? Uh, okay, go to the god damn Penguins! You wanna see how long it’ll last when you have only two functioning members while the other three are writing, running off, and sleeping? Fuck, if I knew you would be such a priss that couldn’t handle dirt under her manicure, then I’d have wondered why you came on a show like this.” He kept his distance from her, eyebrows knit together. “You’re dropping on my view, Lavender. If you want to ‘win’ this fucking show, then you need to start learning how to control your petty temper! Seeing as it was you and Dennis screwing up today, I don’t see how acting prissy toward me would help had we LOST because you didn’t keep your eyes forward.”''

Lavender tried to be civil to this boy, she really had. “The two CAPABLE members of the Penguins can beat you and the idiot, Dennis, any day.” Lavender screamed. “Hell, all five of them probably can! All you did in the challenge was make snarky remarks!” She narrowed her eyes, giving death glares to the boy. “Being on this show can change my life you twirp.” She angrily confessed. “I can do the only thing I’m capable of doing, BEING PRETTY!” She breathed deeply, realizing what she just said. ''"Don’t let your guard down, Lav." ''She told herself, looking at the moon to regain her composure. She looked back at her teammate, anger still evident in both of their eyes. ”Don’t push me to my breaking point, Ry.” She growled in anger. “I may be pretty, but my angry side isn’t. You WILL be sorry!”

''"And all YOU did was complain, preach, and crash the sled, giving me a concussion! Wow, so much help! You think I care about Dennis?! As if, that guy can go on the wall WITH you for all I CARE! The only thing keeping him from being so easy to kick off is the fact that he was stealthy enough to cause you enough damage! You’ll be going before him, unless he somehow manages to screw up worse than a prissy little princess, who lost her crown!" Ry took a deep breath and kept his stance, not going to be scared of her. He had his legs to keep him from getting hurt physically. "And if this is what pushes you to the breaking point, then you can bet your sorry ass that I won’t be hesitating to write your NAME down when we lose! And if it wasn’t for me, then you guys would have fucking sat there, arguing about your precious HAIRSTYLE being ruined by a snowball! Cry me a fucking river about your hair! Maybe, instead of your looks, you could move on to your head! That’s WAY more important than just batting your eyelashes at everyone else to do the work FOR you!"''

"Like I meant to give you a concussion." Lavender answered, crossing her arms. "I don’t give a damn about Dennis, or you as a matter of fact." Her eyes narrowed at his next statement. "Caused me enough damage?!?!" She asked back. "I thought we were a team, ya know, looking out for one another. Making sure somebody doesn’t mess up someone else’s hair that she spent a very long time perfecting." "Wait, he would seriously vote me off?" She thought to herself, eyes widening. ''"I’m pretty, he can’t!" ''"WHY AREN’T MY LOOKS WORKING?!?!" She screamed, falling to her knees. "It’s the only thing I have, Ry."

''"Well, you—wait, what…?" Ry asked, looking at her in complete confusion. He was TRYING to say she was’t an idiot…but now he wasn’t sure himself. Sighing, he moved closer to her and awkwardly patted her shoulder. "Um…there, there?" Ry asked, his eyebrows up in confusion. "I told you that you need to use your damn brain? Looks aren’t everything…if they were, then you know that Ashley would have been gone first because that girl is hideous…but I digress. Why do you think your looks aren’t working on me and Dennis, then?” He decided that maybe he could have her say it to him…instead of him having to say it nineteen-thousand times before she was eliminated.''

She chucked at the boy’s comment on the “mean girl”, Ashley. “Yeah, I guess you’re right on the Ashley thing.” Lavender confessed. She looked down again, concentrating on her teammate’s question. “There should be no reason as of why my looks aren’t working on you and Dennis.” She stated after a few moments of thinking. “My looks always worked on every guy!” Her eyes widened, fear and anger in her eyes. “ARE YOU SAYING THAT I’M UGLY?!” She screamed. She jumped up and threw Ry’s hand off of her shoulder. “That’s what you’re saying, isn’t it! You’re saying that I’m ugly! Well, mister, I’ll have you know that I was homecoming and prom queen at my school. I won numerous beauty pageants! So don’t you dare say that I’m ugly!”

''Ry retracted a few steps and nearly tripped over a pipe that connected to the stupid pool on the roof. He was surprised about her whole flip out and wondered if her mother had forgotten to add ‘brain’ to the wishlist for her daughter. ''

''Ry did the only thing he knew how to do: he lifted his hand up and gave her a sarcastic thumbs up, “Good for you, Miss December.” The sarcasm dripped from his tone and he didn’t feel any pity for saying that. This girl was more dense than ALEXANDRIA. How was that possible? The girl didn’t even know that she had cost her team the win when she took the sled. ''

''"I’m not sure about Dennis… He may think you’re just so repulsive that covering you with pranks is the only way he can shield himself from you; or he could just be in a really committed relationship back home and isn’t like you and would toss that away or be tricked to toss it away. Perhaps, he’s in that metaphoircal state called ‘love,’" he shuddered at the word. "Who knows what goes on in his head; I assume it’s a few screws that fell out of their holding, but that’s me. Why don’t you think a little harder about why I might not want to date you instead of basing it off your looks… You’re average looking to me, but I’d never date you or any girl on this show. Why would that be? Why would I not date a girl on this show?"''

"You..you think somebody finds me repulsive?" Lavender asked, fear coming over her. She was taken back from that statement. She was the most popular girl in her school! All of the guys fawned over her! How could somebody find her repulsive?! She took a deep breath and put on a smile. “Well, I wouldn’t want a guy like Dennis to be in love with me anyway.” She admitted. “And I can be loyal in a relationship…” She trailed on, knowing that sentence was a lie. She quickly snapped back when Ry told her how she looked. “Average looking?!” She gasped. “I’m above average! Maybe you wouldn’t date me or anyone on this show because your expectations are too high!”

''“You’re repulsive to some, a diamond to others, but you’re never one completely over the other… It’s just a fact of life, Lavender.” Ry told her, crossing his arms tighter than he’d ever done in his life. This was going nowhere and she was obviously too conceited to understand that sometimes men don’t like women.''

''“Dennis and somebody together… What do you think that’d be like…? I can see his partner eventually getting fed up and divorcing him with all the pranking he does on a daily basis.” He told her honestly, though he found it humorous himself, but…not during challenges….or when he was just trying to think to himself. “The guy tried to dump a bucket of water on my head, but he ended up getting wet.”''

''Ry’s tiny eyebrow twitched, looking like it might fly off his forehead with how annoyed he was getting. “You’re…wrong again, Lavender. Why else would I NOT like a woman? Why would I not like a WOMAN?”''

"I can’t believe you keep calling me repulsive!" Lavender gasped, but quickly regained her composure when she heard the following adjective. "Well, I am a diamond!" She remarked happily. "Dennis and somebody together, that would be interesting." She said. "I’d feel bad for whoever would want to date that guy." She thought back to the first one-on-one encounter with the prankster. A frown flickered on her face when she remembered the bucket of water, but quickly regained a smile when she remembered his little “glue incident”. “He had that bucket of water with you too?” She asked her teammate. “Unfortunately for me, I didn’t see the bucket, and it’s contents splashed all over me. It was not fun.” "You don’t like ANY women?!" She asked when realization finally hit her. "Like, none at all?"

''"Yeah, you’re a fucking diamond…you’re as sharp as the stick that you rub on your lips, though…" Ry muttered softly enough for her not to notice he’d just insulted her mental capability. This girl probably had the brain of the jocks at his high school.''

"Dennis…and a date, hm? That’s a thought that’s really hard to see. I’d see him taking the person on a date to some joke store…" He rolled his eyes at the thought of having that as a date.

''Ry nearly laughed at the image of Lavender getting that bucket splashed all over her. It was humorous to him that he was so on the fence about these two idiots… He couldn’t tell who he disliked or if he was just being critical. Either way, it was funny to see how they treated each other. Maybe there’d be a good prank that Dennis could do that would make Ry respect his creativity, but Ry doubted that he would get impressed with fake spiders. “No, he didn’t get me with the buckets or the fake present box, but he did nearly send me flying down the steps. Weirdly enough he didn’t let me go down them, even though he said he’d of done it to you or the other teams.”''

''Then he realized what she said and swung his arms out. “Wow, I was beginning to think that I was talking to an automated system that only was programmed to think STRAIGHT. I don’t like any women, yes.”''

''"He doesn’t like girls?!?!?!" ''Lavender thought to herself. ''"You have got to be kidding me!" ''Nevertheless, she plastered on a smile and said, “I can’t believe it took me this long to figure that out.” She facepalmed, playing more into the role to make sure Ry didn’t know her aggravation. “Thanks for trusting me enough to tell me.” She wrapped an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “That’s what teammates are for, right? ''"You have got to be kidding me." ''She mentally repeated.

''Ry looped out of her hold and moved away, clearly not enjoying the physical contact. “What the fuck do you mean ‘trust you’? Is it some kind of secret to you Americans?” He asked, looking annoyed by her wording. ''

''Rolling his eyes at her, he crossed his arms and glared. “And I don’t think you can really figure out someone’s sexuality just by looking at them, Lavender.” He heaved a heavy sigh, feeling like telling her this may be a grave mistake on his part.''

''"Hm… Hey, there’s something we should do." He decided to bring up. "You’re not on good terms with the team, you know? And… If we lose the next challenge, you know they’ll be looking at you and straw hat, right?"''

Lavender quickly shook her head, trying to fix the situation. “I didn’t mean it like that!” She pleaded. “I was just happy you told me!” "Even though it’s true that Americans aren’t the most accepting, it doesn’t mean it’s some kind of secret!" "You don’t think I’m trying?!" She asked. "I’m pretty! And I know you said that prettiness won’t take me very far, but what else do I have?"

''Ry’s mouth tightened and it didn’t seem like he was impressed with her pleas. He couldn’t stand the way he’d felt when he was living in America, so he wanted to just not feel like he was some taboo. “Look, I know you mean well, but you better watch how you word things.”''

''Then he shook his head, knowing he’d need to be more upfront about this. “Your head will roll if you do not find someone to vote with you if we lose. You and Dennis are the two people that have the abilities to go far, but you’re both…” He waved his hand, trying to come up with the least offensive word he could. “Vacant…? The point is, if you want to go far, then you better find someone to vote with you.”''

Lavender breathed a sigh of relief. “I’ll try to be more careful with my wording.” She answered. Lavender thought about what Ry said about the voting thing. “As of now, Dennis and I are on the chopping block.” She commented. “But who knows what gonna happen in the next challenge. It could be a beauty contest and I’ll win for us!” She then thought to herself, “Get somebody to vote with me…” "It can also be an artist contest, and you can win!" She added, hoping that it would flatter him.

''"It WILL help you to word things better because…who knows what other people’s preferences will be? I mean, you can’t just assume that people are into you. That’s even more idiotic than people thinking that other nations want them to take their resources." Ry stated, not going to bash any nation in particular about that.''

''"Anyway, that’s not what I meant, but, yeah, maybe you can win a…beauty contest…" He paused on that and it felt like he was pushing out comments that he really didn’t feel like she deserved. "But…no…I’ve never won a contest with my art before… I can’t do it." He shook his head slowly at the thought of throwing his time into something only to have it told that it was horrible.''

''"Anyway, you need an alliance with someone," he finally spat out. ''

"An alliance…with Ry?" Lavender thought to herself. ''"What qualities does he possess? He’s a person, uhhhhhh he had cool hair!" ''She thought for a few seconds before facing her teammate. "I accept!" She stated with an award-winning smile.

''"Wait, what?" Ry asked, looking at her in complete and utter confusion. He’d just recommended that she try and get into an alliance with someone, not him… Though, it might help him to have her on his side, but he couldn’t really trust her… She reminded him too much of those backstabbers back at his school. ''

''Should he pretend to be in an alliance with her? No, he would just be as bad as she is, then, and Ry was horrible and wretched enough on his own… “Uh, sure?”''

Lavender ignored the uncertainty in his voice and smiled. “Awesome!” She said, “We can help each other get into the merge!” ''"I may or may not have to drop you after the merge." ''She said to herself. “''We will just have to see.” ''"I’m really glad I came up here tonight." She confessed. "How about you?"

''“If you keep letting Dennis bug you and act on your beauty, then I doubt you’ll make it to the merge…but even you can see a use in Dennis, right?” He asked her, walking to the ledge, jumping up and on it, and taking a seat, feet over the edge. “He may be an annoying little asshole, but he’s got some use with his vindictive side and his ability to be a sneaky bastard…”''

''He looked back at her and wondered if he really should answer a question like that… In fact, he’d come up here to have a ‘good time and was feeling attacked’ or however Todd would have worded it. “Yeah, it’s a decent night, I guess… I prefer it storming, though… Really reflects my mental state.” ''

Lavender took a step back, a bit offended about what Ry had said, “Hey, my beauty can help us both!” she stated, “I can get people to help us, instead of just me. Gosh!” She thought about the boy’s question for a bit. “Heh, maybe Mr. Annoying can help us.” She confessed. “He is on our team, but on the other hand, I hate his guts.” The walking embodiment of beauty walked up to the ledge and sat next to her teammate. “Storms are pretty nice.” She replied, gazing at the moon. “But only if I’m inside of course. Can’t let a storm ruin my hair and makeup!”

''Ry shrugged his slender shoulders, staring up at the sky in concentration, watching a few stars twinkle in the distance. He knew that they were probably already dead…a thing that happened to most humans before they have no brain activity, though that concept was arguable.''

''A metaphor? Probably.''

''“Yeah, well, he’s not too horrid when you think about all the things he CAN do. If he’s not near you, then he’s got a brain going…and I hope the same goes for you when you’re not near him.” He wasn’t joking, but he tried to make it seem like he was. “All I’m saying is: he can be sneaky, which is always a good thing to have on a team this early on. When the teams completely dissolve, then he’d be a complete threat, but I don’t see his use going out just yet… As for you,” he stated, looking back at her. “If you are as useful as you say, then you should start getting information from the other teams…” He crossed his legs, raising a finger. “I know some people that are just full of information: leaders. If you can befriend, get the trust of, and sway a leader, then you can gain access to all sorts of secrets, see?”''

''Ry vehemently chose to ignore the thing about hair and makeup. “I think storms are way better when you’re in them.” ''

"Well, if my brain wasn’t going, then I would be dead." Lavender stated. "And I don’t really want to be dead so…" she trailed off, gazing at the night sky, suddenly enchanted by the stars. "I guess you’re right about Dennis." She agreed. "I just wish he wasn’t so…so completely annoying, ya know?" A smirk found it’s way to her girl’s face when Ry explained how she was useful. “Getting information from people?” She repeated. “I can do that! With my looks!” "Why do you think storms are better when your stuck in them?" she asked, confused.

''“It was a figure of speech, Lavender,” Ry explained about the brain part, wondering if she knew about it or was just not catching on to literature. “I just mean you aren’t wrapped up in your own desires when the challenge is going… If you are, then your brain is not going and you’re hindering us.”''

''When she talked about Dennis, he scoffed and nodded. “He can be a little twat, eh?” The pranks he pulled had been so unnecessary that day… If he’d not fallen for that second one, then he’d of likely just brushed it off. Well, next time he’s looking or trip wires. “Anyway, I’m sure you’re going to be of good use when you put your mind to it… Maybe next time we’ll actually win if we keep you two apart. If in a challenge, you two aren’t split up, then we’ll likely lose…”''

''Ry looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. “Well, when nature is screaming, hitting, and throwing you around, you don’t really feel as hurt…but it’s different when people do it… I like storms when I’m in them because I feel like it’s calming…and not against me.” It was hard to explain for him, but wasn’t everything when it came to being like him? ''

''"Oh, that makes sense," Lavender agreed when Ry explained to her about the brain statement he made earlier. "We’ll have to see what the challenge is though." She said. "It may be a challenge where all five of us have to work together. That would be horrible!" "So like, you think storms are your friends?" She asked. "Not all people are bad." She stated. "I’ll admit, I’m not the best person, but someone like T isn’t a bad person." ''

''Ry nodded when she talked about the next challenge being about complete teamwork. “That won’t do well for us… I’ve tried to talk to Dennis about holding off on pranking the team during challenges… He says that he might agree with me because a million dollars is a better reward…or something like that. It was a few hours ago, so I don’t know EXACTLY what he said. If we have to work together, then I guess I’ll…distract him or something. Point out things he can play with or use to infuriate the other team with while you, Kiki, and T do whatever.” He shrugged, not quite sure how that would work. If it got him pranked, then he’d be voting Lavender off for making him feel like he’d taken a bullet for her.''

''“Anyway, T’s way too awkward to talk to for me… I’ve met some people on here that aren’t douches and actually speak to me, though.” He stared down at the road below, mind going off somewhere. “Todd’s pretty decent of a guy; Dakota’s cool, too; Derby wasn’t too shabby; Baroness…I think I made her cry; Gaile’s pretty nice and bubbly; Arizona offered to teach me braille; Mallory also wasn’t bad, though her nicknames made me want to shove her off the roof; and…Mika’s cool enough.” He didn’t include Benny because he felt like he’d pissed him off. ''

''"Todd would be easy to manipulate" Lavender said, "He thinks he cool, I’m actually cool. It should be a breeze." "I think I can manipulate Dakota too, and besides, he likes cameras! He can be my personal paparazzi!" "Pirate is pretty cool, how dare you make her cry! She seemed so tough, like Kiki. I’m surprised you made her cry. What did you do?" "I can use that to my advantage." Lavender thought to herself. "90’s chick is weird. Like, why would you want to stay in the 90’s? The clothes were horrid!" "I never talked to Arizona, Mika, or Derby, so I really can’t say much for them." "Mallory scares me." "I’m thinking we try to get Dakota and pirate to our alliance. We need more than just us if we want to make it to the merge!" ''

''‘Even a guy like Todd shouldn’t fall for something like that… It’d be obvious you were trying to manipulate him like that…’ Ry thought to himself, shaking his head in the mix. “Yeah, I’m sure he’ll love that you’re cool,” he said in a way that didn’t come off as sarcastic and sassy as his mind thought against that.''

''“I didn’t make her cry on purpose, you—you should know that…” He saved himself. “Look, I just told her about my life, and I guess she got bummed about it.” He shrugged, not wanting to reveal too much yet.''

''“Gaile’s pretty cool… She’s got a happy disposition and is easy to get along with…” He let his legs dangle off the side of the building again. “And Mallory is clumsy, Lavender… Not really scary at all.” He paused when he remembered she said she’d manipulate Dakota.''

''“DON’T manipulate Dakota.” He ordered, looking up suddenly, then looked back down. “He’s…not very good at keeping secrets.” He lied, knowing that he could keep a secret, but the idea of manipulating him was too much for Ry.''

''He pulled his legs up and stood up, suddenly not wanting to be out here anymore. “You’ve got targets now at least. Just not Dakota because of his faulty secret-keeping,” he once again lied, then turned on his heels. “I’m going in to turn in for the night.” He told her, making his way to the door to leave. ''

She was overcome by shock when he snapped about the photographer. Her shock soon turned into a smirk. “Fine, I won’t manipulate Dakota.” She lied. "I should be heading off too." She said, walking towards the door. "Night alliance member!" And with that, she walked through the door and made her way back to her room.

Kiki:
Theres a pool on the roof.Oh hell fucking yes. Kiki happily shimmied herself into what she called a bathing suit(a sports bra and spanks) before slinging a posh complimentery towel over her shoulder and traveling the floors up to the roof landing. Its way too late for anyone to even bother with the roof right? I’ll have the pool all to myself. She grinned at the blissful thought of having access to a pool all her own and not having to worry about accidently swallowing piss diluted water as she did back home.public pools are nothing short of sespools in all honesty.She reached the door leading out,pushing it open only to jump at the unexpected voice ringing out just as she did so. She was stilled for a second in surprise before it registered to her who the voice belonged to. None other than aunt lavender. Wooptie woo ha. “Chill out” she deadpanned,staring at the girl in mild irritation. She huffed,walking past the still fuming Lavender with little more than vague annoyance at her pointless out burst and the now known fact that she didn’t have the roof to herself. Well she’s not dressed for swimming so I guess I at least still have the pool.

"Don’t tell me to chill out!" Lavender scolded, much to her annoyance that she was not alone anymore. She looked at the moon, sighed, then looked back at her fellow teammate. "Why are you going in the pool?" She asked. "It’s like, midnight. And do you really think Chris and/or Chef cleans that thing?" "Can’t be rude to your teammates, or else they will vote you off” She told herself. "Maybe Kiki can also be useful." Lavender put on a sickly sweet smile and said, “So glad that we didn’t lose the challenge!”

She shrugged off most of the prissy girls comments as she headed towards and then through the gates protecting the pool after finding a weak spot in its protective wire mesh,pulling bit up and out to create a nice crawling space underneath. “Chris and Chef may not give a shit about keepin this pool clean but someone fuckin does” she idly remarked, stepping towards the strangely cleared of clutter waters surface. None the less she cautiously tapped its pristene surface to ensure its waters were devoid of any life before cannonballing into its depths,soaking the sulking girl on the other side of the gates rather completely. “Yeah well you and Dennis didn’t exactly help us win ya know.” She said once she surfaced,clinging to the pool wall closest to lav and wiping water out of her face as she staring at the girl in odd amusement at the plastered on smile.

"KIKI, WHAT THE HELL?!" She screamed looking down at her now soaking wet body. "DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR ME TO PERFECT MY HAIR AND MAKE-UP?!" She walked over to the gate and grabbed the towel that was lying on it. "You’re lucky you brought a towel up here." She scowled, covering her hair with the towel, trying to dry it. She thought back to the first challenge, furrowing her brow at the mention of her least liked teammate. “I was trying to steer the sled, but that doofus kept harassing me!” Lavender pleaded, hoping that her fellow teammate would agree.

She scoffed loudly at the others remark and leaned against her hands,kicking idly at the waters under her to keep herself surfaced as she spoke. “Oh /I’m/ lucky huh? Tell me what would’ve happened if I didn’t convieniently bring that towel for you to claim and use dry ya cute lil head with hm? Would ya drive us into another rock and almost cost us tha next challenge again?” She said with a raise of her eyebrows and a teasing smile on her lips. ” Ya know tha only reason he annoys ya is because ya /let/ him” She abruptly splashes water through the gate ,effectively hitting the unuspecting lav square in the face. “Ya pretty easy to mess wit too I can see why he targets ya” She adds with a small laugh.

Lavender angrily tried to dry herself while her fellow teammate was talking to her. “Hey!” she abruptly yelled. “I was able to steer that sled just fine until Dennis kept putting snow down the back of my shirt! Blame him for getting us third place, not me!” "I don’t let him annoy me!" She angrily commented. "Dennis is just an annoying person in general. He needs-" Lav was stopped by a cool liquid splashing across her newly dried face. "I will not hesitate to beat you up." She thought about that threat, and Kiki, before adding, "or bribing some guy, whichever."

She stared at the girl across the chain link fence in an expression that could only be described as one of expected disappointment. Heh, this ones fucking annoying. Too bad. What a waste. “Well have fun havin people fight your battles auntie” She said with shrug. She dove under for a second and resurfaced a meter away. “Dont let the door hit you on the way out” she says,barking out a small laugh before going back to her predetermined activity of swimming. Like hell ima let this chick ruin my swim,if she wants to be a little baby,better let her tire herself out.

Ry
Ry wandered down the hallways, feeling relieved that his concussion or whatever it was had died down to a dull throb. If he’d had a dime for every time his team had screwed up, he wouldn’t need to be stuck on this stupid show. He could give them credit, though; even though they screwed up so much that he was about to wonder if he could beg Chris to let him switch teams, they still didn’t lose to the Penguins.

Opening the door to the lobby, he stopped dead, his mouth dropping open, and nearly raced over to the object in his sight.

In front of his eyes, or rather his seeing eye, there was something in the corner of the room, roped off with professional rope made of red velvety fabric, and glistened in the light.

There was a PIANO here! He could finally play on it! He’d been itching to get his hands on one sense he’d gotten here…but it wasn’t here earlier when he’d come in here and talked with Matt; surely he didn’t miss something so big… He’d never miss something so gorgeous and big and new looking.

Making his way over to the masterpiece and ducking under the ropes that blocked instant access, he noticed a piece of paper on it.

“If you’re going to play this, then at least know how to PLAY it! I’m not going to hear a bunch of key banging!!”

Ry shrugged his shoulders and tossed the paper over his shoulder, which only really made it slip under the little stool in front of the piano. Gently reaching out, he touched a key and nearly smiled when the middle C gave off its charming song.

“It’s perfectly in tune…” He mumbled, slipping around the edges of the stool to sit down on the cushioned velvet, his butt sinking into the comfortable fabric. Who knew Chris would actually care enough to allow something so cushiony to be put in here? Pulling out his music folder from his bag, he placed it gently on the built-in music stand.

What should he play first? What should he even began to pound on the keys?

‘I’ll Make a Man Out of You?” He asked himself quietly, then shook his head at the very thought. No, something like this couldn’t just get played with that kind of song… It has to be something old first…

Gingerly placing his fingers on the keys in the corresponding locations and pressing his foot gently on the pedal of his choice, he let loose a beautifully constructed Chopin piece: Nocturne Op 9 No 2….

As his fingers glided across the keys professionally, he envisioned being somewhere else and allowed his body to move to the music, almost in a hypnotic sort of way.

The song rang out its final ending once he hit the final key and his mind become completely clear of all the annoyances he’d been feeling that day; he finally felt at peace with everything and everyone again just like when he’d first come here.

The next song he began to play was much more daunting and haunting since he needed to also shove any grievances off his sore chest. Calmly, he played a song he’d heard from a video game he’d played a few months back: Crooked Man. The song was “This Will Make You Cry” and Ry had to admit he’d teared up when he’d heard the song and the saw the relation it had to his life in the ending of the game.

Sighing, he shoved the back of his hand against his face, gladly ridding himself of any musical tears, wishing he could move someone with this song as much as it had moved him the first time he’d heard it. Would anyone really care, though?

No… He just couldn’t see it as he rang out the final note into the empty lobby…or what he thought was empty. Really, Ry wasn’t paying attention to anything or anyone around him. He didn’t even notice the one person audience that had formed right behind him.

The third song Ry played was probably the least majestic sounding of them all, but it was a meaningful song, nonetheless, and he needed to play it.

He drew out a long sigh and began to play a song he’d converted himself to piano, even though he left out some parts and had to sing the vocals himself, which he found to be the least appealing part.

“A young man walked through the forest…with his quiver and hunting bow…” He softly sang out, looking over the wrong shoulder, not noticing the one person behind him. He was so used to playing and singing alone that anyone being there would be so embarrassing.

Playing through the song and softly singing along with the lyrics he’d learned from repetition, he finally made it to the end, which was his favorite part.

“She followed him out the forest, and collapsed upon the earth Her feet had walked but a distance, from the green land of her birth

She faded into a flower, that would bloom for one bright eve

He could not take from the forest, what was never meant t—“ Ry’s head turned around the other way this time to see if there was anyone there. Unfortunately, this time he saw the person and his eyes widened, his fingers freezing over the keys.

“H-How long have you been there?!” He demanded, not wanting to sound meek or embarrassed, even though he really was…

Dakota:
Dakota’s head poked into the room as his body hid completely behind the door. He didn’t mean to eavesdrop- if that’s even what you could call it. But he was drawn to such lovely music coming from the room. He shifted awkwardly before venturing past the doorway, shuffling over towards Ry. “I got here just a little bit ago… before you started that last song.” He said, smiling slightly. “It’s really pretty…. why did you stop?”

Ry stopped his thoughts and looked back at the keys in front of him, wondering if he’d somehow scared Dakota, then he looked back at the slightly taller than him boy. “I… Well, it’s just I don’t usually play in front of people…” He gingerly tapped a key, letting it ring out for the second it sang.

"I’m mostly home alone, so when I play, I play for ghosts, air, or no one really… My family comes home mostly after nine at night, so I just…sit there alone." He let his hands slide off the keys and into his lap.

"Plus, I shouldn’t sing around other people when I don’t have the proper training… It’s kinda like my art: I don’t know what I’m doing, so others shouldn’t see me doing it." He coughed awkwardly.

"But your art is good! So is your music!" Dakota puttered over, kind of scooching his way onto the piano bench next to Ry, now beaming at him. "I think everything you do… I mean like, your music and art, is absolutely beautiful. You really shouldn’t be so ashamed of it!"

Ry’s head lowered for a moment, thinking over what Dakota said, wondering if it could really be true. He’d always heard such negative things that he’d just come to terms that he’d ‘never be good enough’ and that was fact. He submitted art online and people SAID they liked it, but did they really? Did they want him to feel good about himself just so they could come off with a clean conscious?

"I…" He stopped, unable to come up with words of gratitude, scooting over slowly, he let Dakota sit next to him, but he couldn’t think straight anymore, which was odd for him because he was normally one of the few people that could come up with something to say right off the bat.

After a few more moments of hesitation, he finally managed a lame response: “Thank you… Nobody really says that to me… Well, mainly because no one WANTS to talk to me; maybe because I’m like the monster they fear escaped from under their bed? I don’t know, but…it’s nice to hear compliments…”

He rubbed his wrists, realizing that he may have never complimented Dakota on his photography. Well, he’d do it when he saw more pictures, then it’d be more relevant. “You’re a really cool kid, Dako; I don’t say that often because I don’t meet people that are neat and nice all in one package. Most of the time, I meet the worst possible people around.”

"I think you just have bad luck." Dakota said, shrugging as he looked down at the piano and tapped a single key, smiling as the note played. "I haven’t seen a single thing unlikable about you. You’re nice and creative and you have a cool hat. I just…. Well I think you’re great!" Dakota admitted, glancing back at Ry. He really admired him crazy ammounts. He only knew him for a short time but he felt this weird connection with him.

Bad luck…? Dakota thought he had good qualities? Well, if he’d seen him at the school, he’d probably think differently. Ry was nothing short of garbage to the school children and staff. He even knew he’d be denied Valedictorian by them because he wasn’t as ‘amazingly well-liked’ as someone else. Perfect grades? Ha, what’s that matter when some kid is liked by the school? “I…I don’t know… I think it’s really my fault people don’t like me; I’m really weird and difficult to handle for jocks, preps, and the big cliques…”

If he just stopped being such a freak, then maybe he’d get to be more liked. But he couldn’t help but love to ruin their days with the thoughts that he may have killed someone in their family, done something to their lockers, or drawing their damn deaths! Ah, he loved to see their faces when he drew the perfect spot to kill them at.

He stopped and put his hands on his hat. “You think this thing is cool?” He lowered his hands and gave Dakota a small smile. “Thanks for being really cool, Dakota-k—Dakota.”

(Missing response)

The thought of Dakota not lying to him circulated through his mind, but he couldn’t accept it… He didn’t know why it was so hard for him to just…come to terms with someone not being freaked out about his weird habits and dark humor. It should have been his clue-in when the guy replied without terror when he talked about a dead body. AND that he was willing to take pictures of dead things with him or for him to see later.

His jaw tightened momentarily and he nearly stood up and ran from the room to try to gather his thoughts, but he just sat there, thinking about what Dakota said for what seemed like hours. Finally, he looked up and took a long and well-needed breath.

“It’s hard to think that someone actually thinks I’m worth the time and effort, honestly…” He told him, glancing his way then back at the piano, softly playing a melody to calm his nerves. “It feels like taboo when people talk to me, so hearing that someone legit wants to be a friend of mine….just…feels kind of surreal. Like, those movies where you have a dream before you encounter something, but it’s not like the dream at all…and you end up at a horror story instead. And you meet the people in your dream and they are completely different; it’s that feeling right now.” He wondered if that made any sense.

“It feels really unreal that anyone would actually keep their word to want to associate with me…and say they like me enough to be my friend.”

"Well it’s real. I’m real." Dakota said, smiling ever so innocently to Ry as they spoke together. He just wanted to somehow prove to Ry that he was being sincere. He couldn’t think of anything that he could say to change his mind. Maybe their was something he could do…?

Of course!

It was like a lightbulb went off in his head and he bent over to reach into his backpack where he pulled out some ribbon he had for crafting pretty albums in his spare time. There were three colors- purple, pink and blue. After pulling them out he started to braid them together. After about a minute he looked back at Ry. “Hold out your arm please, Ryry.”

Ry’s eyes kept forward for a few seconds before he turned his body to look at Dakota skeptically. Was he going to slap his wrist to make him feel the stinging pain? Or maybe it was something along those lines…he knew it was a common way that people would get others to believe the other wasn’t dreaming.

“Well, um, okay?” He said, extending his arm out to Dakota, still looking skeptical of it all. Well, maybe Dakota wouldn’t pinch his arm too hard or whatever he was planning. Ry mentally prepared himself for pain, not noticing him having gone to retrieve what he was holding from his bag. Hm…even more weird was that he wasn’t miffed about the nickname he heard him say. Maybe he’d heard it somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember who said it. It just didn’t make him feel annoyed when he heard it.

“You aren’t going to slap or pinch me, are you? If this IS a dream of some sort, I’d rather not be woken up.” He morbidly joked, hoping Dakota wouldn’t take it as a coma joke, even though it really was one. He’d be more happy in a coma than awake.

"Of course not!" Dakota immidiately said, then tied the braided ribbon around Ry’s wrist as sort of a makeshift friendship bracelet. "There. I’ll make mine in a minute but it shows that we’re friends, okay?"

Ry’s eyes drifted down to the bracelet on his hand now and he slowly twisted it on his wrist, admiring the stability of it. “A friendship bracelet?” He asked, looking back up at Dakota now. Were these things real? He’d seen them in some really…pink…stores, but he never thought that these things were a real activity.

So…this meant that they were REALLY friends? Like, a real symbol of them being friends, so that people would understand it…? And if Dakota wore the same one, then that would mean he isn’t ashamed of Ry being near him or…having something of his.

Pausing for a few moments, he opened his mouth then closed it, feeling a little shocked about this. The fact that he was speechless made him feel horrible, but he just couldn’t formulate words without feeling like they wouldn’t grant enough gratitude.

….Of all the people he’d met so far, Dakota had to be the best person he’d come across. Swallowing a little, he stared at the charm, twisting it again. This was it… This was his first REAL friend, not someone who said they cared but shoved him away, not someone who would rather laugh at him behind his back….

“…I-I…” He managed to say softly, feeling a wave of astoundment come over him. “Thank you so much, Dakota….” He finally managed to say, keeping his eyes lowered.

"Yup. A friendship bracelet just for you. Wear it all the time! During the show, after the show when we’re both home. Remember that I’m always going to be your friend." Dakota smiled cheerfully, reaching over to pat Ry gently on the back. "Though if you don’t mind, can I take a picture of you wearing the bracelet?"

"I’ll definitely wear it longer than I will these stupid, meaningless bracelets Chris gave us…" He said, snapping the stupid white bracelet on his wrist. What was this supposed to mean? Oh, I see you don’t have one, so GOOD-BYE! guess you don’t want the million? It was ridiculous to expect them to wear these things at all time. Certainly, Chris wouldn’t make them wear them to sleep in, right?

"I’ll only remove it when I shower, sleep, and before challenges because who knows what will happen there? Chris plays with fire and the charm that’s actually beneficial goes up in smoke." He played with it again, the initial shock and disbelief finally subsiding.

When Dakota asked him if he’d let him take a picture, he nodded at him. “Sure, why not? Just, um, don’t expect it to be really good… I’m still dirty, sweaty, and gross from the challenge today…” ''Freaking Dennis and Lavender… '' ”I’ll try to not look bad, though.”

Dakota let out a small squeal of excitement when Ry agreed to wear the bracelet. He reached into his bag, pulling out more ribbon for his own bracelet and his camera. He felt a little bad that he couldn’t have made something cooler- just braided ribbon. But he wasn’t very crafty and it was the thought that counted, right?

"Thank you!" He said happily, lifting up his camera to look through the viewfinder. "And you could never look bad, Ry. Just a little scruffy at most but it works for you. Okay, lift up your bracelet and say ‘cheese’!"

Ry jumped on the bench from surprise when Dakota squealed, even though it was small. He recovered quite quickly and crossed his arms while Dakota rummaged through his bag. The fact he’d been so distracted by the fact he’d made a friend made his mind completely numb until then. It was probably for the best that he snapped out of his thoughts.

“Y…You’re welcome,” Ry finally croaked out when he’d managed to recollect his thoughts. “Oh, you’ve never seen me when I wake up.” He told him, quietly envisioning Anna from Frozen in that case. He looked like an old rag doll left alone in a museum for years. “Thanks for…the compliment,” he told him, though, face turning a little pink.

As Dakota instructed him, Ry slowly lifted up his bracelet and thought about a pose. Should he smile too? Maybe a small one? Erm… Why was this so hard for him to get right?

Finally, he managed to hold up his bracelet with his fist slightly clenched, so it looked more like a medal of honor than just a simple bracelet. Then he…thought about a small smile and tried to make one, though it felt weird on his face. “….Cheese?”

Baroness:
"Arr…… god no not a piano." The Baroness growled as she made her way into the lobby, still caked in glitter from a miniature war going on near the elimination site. The pirate absolutely hated the way the instrument sounded: a year of forceful piano lessons a young girl had done that to her. It was only then she noticed who was playing it: it was Ry, the lad she had a heart to heart with. The Baroness slightly changed her demeanor to be slightly less angry.

She stood there in her place by the door for a few minutes, tense from childhood memories but at least attempting to pay attention. She didn’t pay it very well, however, and completely ignored him singing as her ears squealed with every press of the keys. Ry soon turned towards where she was standing and became shocked that someone was there. Was he thinking he’d be alone?

“H-How long have you been there?!” He demanded for an answer

"Fer ‘bout the past five minutes." The Baroness shrugged.

Ry’s head turned back around to face the piano, his eyes staring at the while and black pattern. Gently poking a key, he sighed with content feelings taking over once more.

No comments about the singing would keep him sane and less embarrassed. All his life he’d been terrified that someone would hear him sing and yell at him or hit him for doing something so awful, but he wouldn’t say that out loud. Besides, who would care?

"Well, you shouldn’t sneak up on someone like that," he warned, pressing another key, admiring the in tune noise and then looked at her. "You could end up getting hurt by them or they could flip you over their body." He wasn’t speaking from experience, but he didn’t want her to know that.

…She’d been here THAT long? She’d heard him play the entire Willow Maid song? Oh god…he was so freaking embarrassed… “Well…I just…didn’t expect company here while I played is all… I mean, who in their right mind would come to the lobby instead of go lie down on their beds?”

Okay, he was really floundering over his words, but that was common when he was embarrassed. Taking a large breath, he glanced back at her. “Why are you here anyway? Shouldn’t you be doing one of those ‘classical’ pep talks or something?

Ry’s head turned back around to face the piano, his eyes staring at the while and black pattern. Gently poking a key, he sighed with content feelings taking over once more.

No comments about the singing would keep him sane and less embarrassed. All his life he’d been terrified that someone would hear him sing and yell at him or hit him for doing something so awful, but he wouldn’t say that out loud. Besides, who would care?

"Well, you shouldn’t sneak up on someone like that," he warned, pressing another key, admiring the in tune noise and then looked at her. "You could end up getting hurt by them or they could flip you over their body." He wasn’t speaking from experience, but he didn’t want her to know that.

…She’d been here THAT long? She’d heard him play the entire Willow Maid song? Oh god…he was so freaking embarrassed… “Well…I just…didn’t expect company here while I played is all… I mean, who in their right mind would come to the lobby instead of go lie down on their beds?”

Okay, he was really floundering over his words, but that was common when he was embarrassed. Taking a large breath, he glanced back at her. “Why are you here anyway? Shouldn’t you be doing one of those ‘classical’ pep talks or something?

The Baroness chuckled at his comment of someone flipping her over their body, still wincing at the sound of the piano as it’s keys get pressed. “Naw,I can handle meself pretty fine. Don’t be thinkin’ some lad’ll be flippin’ me over.” The pirate didn’t really think someone would dare challenge her just for her being there.

"Arrr, I be here in ‘da lobby cause I was gonna ‘ead up n’ take me bath!" The Baroness replied ecstatically, green glitter shaking from her upper body as she approached the piano. "There be a glitter battle goin’ on out there ‘n now that me ‘ands are no longah’ there, I have no reason ta’ be stayin’ in ‘da middle of it!"

Ry numbly nodded to the Baroness, wondering if she were stronger than Matt, Todd, or Kiki when it came to fighting. He hoped that she wasn’t stronger than Kiki… He needed Kiki for her strength and power… Way more useful than the other three.

Just then the glitter hit him and he swatted vehemently at it. FUCK! He hated this god damn stuff and all the people associated with it! If someone got this crap in his eye, then he’d be DONE for! He wasn’t Arizona when it came to listening, so he wouldn’t be able to handle this!

Begrudgingly, he sighed and crossed his arms eventually getting almost all of the droplets of glitter out of his hair. A few specks remained, but he didn’t notice. ”Well, I hope you’re right because it’d be a shame if someone managed to flip you over them and you lost a challenge because of it…”

"But you’re in the lobby now? Why are you over here when the door to go to your bedroom, or the hallway leading to your bedroom, is over there?" He inquired, gesturing toward the door he was speaking of with his head.

"Arr, I’d always be thinkin’ like water back ‘ome in New Brunswick when I went sailin’ with me ‘ands, yet barely anythin’ evah’ happn’d!" The Baroness quietly pouted. She never had completely control over the water bending aspects of her powers; just minor things such as being able to float at will as well as being able to breath when she’s gone under. Except for one horrible, horrible incident, her powers have been minor at best. Perfect for concealing, not very good at being of any real use.

The conversation of the group downstairs appeared to be going well, as there hasn’t been any screaming or kicking or even yelling. The Baroness was still uneasy, however. It felt like her stomach was going to give birth to a horde of butterflies. She glanced around the room and watched as shadows slowly danced around like the patrons in a fairytale ball room. “Say, Ry me bucko’, when’d ye learn ye had yer powers?”

Ry closed his eyes and took deep breaths, making the shadows much more transparent again so they’d cause no problems or noises. “Well, maybe it’s not about physical water, Baroness…” Ry told her, crossing his legs and arms to keep calm. “I mean, you can’t just look at water and control it; the moon does that. You have to feel like water, and you need to just…let it guide you instead. You can’t be the moon, even if your mom calls you that, so you have to let the moon guide you to control the water. Also, I think you have to feel freer.”

The question he’d hated discussing, which annoyed him greatly because he should just let it be something casual. When did he find out about it? “Well, I guess when I woke the day after the meteor shower… It was a weird morning, but not like I’d notice it being alone and all… My dad and mom had already left, go figure, and I was brushing my hair for school. Well, I went to go grab something, but it fell off the counter, landing on the floor. I got really annoyed, then…the shadows from the toilet, shower curtain, and even the shadows under my clothes and in my body started to just swirl around me… I was scared at first because this wasn’t something that happened, unless it was in anime. I rushed from the bathroom, but the shadows followed; I realized after I left the house that they were bending to my will…”

He sat there, staring at the floor. “I stayed home from school…and I just sat there, learning how to use the powers…but I didn’t know that if I freaked out they would go out of control and turn tangible…”

"Aye matey, I be six feet n bout two ‘undred pouds, I doubt any’n’d flip me!" The Baroness bragged. " ‘specially not, ‘cause this sea dog’s got a bad bite." She then added with a chuckle. Back home, every now and then her and her crew would fake a fight, just for fun, and even when her muscular cabin boy attempted to flip her over, a good kick in the jaw put him in his place.

The Baroness gave Ry a puzzled look when he asked why she was in the lobby when, despite the door being to the side of the building, he was playing the piano in the open. Even though she hated the way the piano sounds, why wouldn’t she, at the very least, go to see who was playing. “Well lad, yer the one playin’ the piano. Why not be curious in seein’ who be playin’ it?”

"I’m only a 105 pounds, but I have really strong legs, so I wouldn’t try anything down low…" He mumbled, tapping a key a few times before bringing out a soft melody that sounded slightly familiar. "I’ve trained by running when my dad puts me through military exercises, but I mostly just run for fun nowadays… The feeling of the wind is just too nice to pass up… Plus, I can envision that I’m running from something worthy, like a giant bloody-thirsty creature or someone’s trying to cut my tongue out… Mm…either one is really worth running from." He knew this would sound weird to her, but he didn’t give a shit.

"I’d assume you’d not want to check on some lousy instrument like a piano… I mean, I assumed someone would think that Chris installed some annoying music in the lobby and just leave it at that…" Okay, so he hadn’t thought it through when he saw the instrument, but it made him feel better to lie on this one.

The Baroness thought Ry’s explanation on why he likes running sounded weird. The only blood thirsty creatures she’s seen in a long time were fleas, ticks, and Ashley. Actually, she quickly took that back, Ashley definitely seems like the type to cut out someone’s tongue and was definitely worth running from.

Ry assuming Chris would use actual piano playing to annoy the contestants also struck her as odd. “If Chris wanted ta’ ‘noy us I bet the blaggard’d use bilge-sucking pop music like the Beaver guy.” the pirate shrugged. “N’ sides matey, I could see that piano from where I entered, had ta’ ‘sume some’n’d be playin’ it once I ‘eard it.”

The fact that the Baroness mentioned that she could hear the piano clearly caused Ry some anxiety, but he bit his tongue to avoid saying anything about it. “Justin Bieber, the kid that America is trying to send back to Canada….but I don’t think they understand that no one wants him near them.” The thought of Bieber coming back to Canada made him mentally and physically ill feeling. “Never let him come back…or I swear I will hunt him down and cut out his tongue.”

The Baroness groaned. He was Canadian!? That piece of human garbage belongs to her home country? The pirate thought that was completely outrageous! However, the pirate did have to chuckle about Ry wanting to cut out his tongue, despite quickly going back to how outraged she was. “Beaver’s from me ‘ome country of Canada!?” She shouted. “I’ll have the blaggard’s lights n’ liver befer’ ‘e steps foot in New Brunswick!” She then pouted.

"Bee…ber." Ry enunciated for her, trying to make her understand. "If you say it beaver, then people are going to look at you skeptically. Understand it’s Bieber, not beaver, then continue to call him beaver, so that you can make fun of him." He told her, crossing his legs on the plush fabric of the bench. "I can’t really say anything because I’m pretty sure he’s been to my place…and he HAS been in New Brunswick." He informed her.

"I’m not a fan, so don’t get those ideas… I just watched television and his face appeared there with tour dates. I remember looking through the dates, hoping he would’t be in Toronto…he was…but I remember your place being on that list, too. Suck, right?"

The Baroness Pouted. “I know it’s fookin’ Bieber lad, e’ just looks like a beaver n’ that’s what I be callin’ him!” Her body shook as she moved around, causing more shimmers of the glimmer to fall to the floor rather than fly towards Ry and stick on him like flies to fly paper.

Her face contorted into an expression of “Whaaaaaaaat!” When she learned he had already been to New Brunswick. “Shiver me timbers, the blaggard must’a been there when I was out at sea!” She shouted, thankful she had missed him.

Ry’s mind tried to move together a picture of Justin Bieber and a beaver, but it didn’t mush well. The only way he even resembled one was the pronunciation of his name. “Okay, then…” He mumbled, trying to still understand the beaver and Beiber look-a-like scenario. “Well, I think he looks more like a girl—nothing wrong with females, though, so don’t get me wrong, but he looks like a female.”

He watched her move back and forth, completely wondering if he’d made her go mad. “It’s not THAT bad, though… He’s more in America nowadays, so it’s not like he comes back to our country enough to be considered Canadian, even though the name still sticks… He’s WAY more American, so I mean…if we catch him near us, we can still kill him. At least that’s how I plan to do it.”

Dennis
One down, twenty to go. And thankfully, Dennis wasn’t one of them.

One, twenty-one guns~

No, he didn’t want that stupid song stuck in his head. He was too busy to get distracted.

He stared out at the lobby that lay before him, before looking up to see if any cameras might be filming this. Surprisingly enough, he hoped so. He wanted all of this caught on camera, ASAP.

"Because I’ll disappear, right?" he asked aloud, his usual crooked smile temporarily losing its demented luster. His contemplative expression disappeared, replaced once again by his usual grin.

A present lay in the center of the lobby, wrapped as tantalizingly as Dennis could muster. Inside was one of his spiders, attached to a spring. But he knew that his fellow contestants were a lot brighter than that.

That’s why he rigged a wire across the floor, suspended slightly. If they’d go around the present, unless they were very observant, they would trip. As Dennis sat in one of the lobby chairs, he had a skateboard under his feet. That was just the beginning of his much more elaborate plan B.

"As long as I do somethin’, I won’t disappear," he added in amusement. Now to wait for a sucker to come through the hotel lobby.

Ashley:
Ashley stretched out her arms as she headed down the stairs, to get something to eat before everyone else rushed into the dining room for dinner. Ashley didn’t want to be trapped in part of the mob of 19 hungry teenagers, she’d much rather eat sooner, even if it meant that she would have to settle for bagged snack foods or whatever.

The girl paused in suspicion as she reached the lobby floor, her food-based thoughts screeching to a stop. Something in the room seemed… off. There was a huge gift box in the middle of the floor for some reason, wrapped in so much lemon yellow wrapping paper and electric blue ribbons that it was almost blinding. There was something else too, but Ashley couldn’t put her finger on it. She cautiously made her way around the box, not trusting it at all. If it was something for the next challenge, she wouldn’t be the one to open it. The odds of it being something nasty were far greater than it being something useful.

Distracted by the box, Ashley failed to notice the wire snaking above the floor. As soon as she reached it, the girl tripped, stumbling forward with a shriek that was more of a frustrated snarl then a yelp of surprise.

Dennis watched Ashley cautiously dodge the box. A smart move. However, when she tripped, he kicked the skateboard underneath his feet to try and catch her fall and try to send her flying down the hall towards the stairs.

The frustrated snarl was an interesting indication to him. Either she was much more of a threat than he first indicated or she’d just spiral to her doom from here.

"Let’s find out, shall we, heheheheh~" he mused to himself aloud.

Ashley found herself tumbling to the floor, and automatically spread out her hands to land on them rather then on her head. Surprisingly, however, her torso was lifted up by something which had just been placed underneath her, and while Ashley’s hands smacked down, her body did not. This caused her head to be lower then the rest of her body, and she somersaulted over her hands, crashing into the ground with a loud crack. The girl was winded for a moment, the thing which had caused the pain gently bumping into the crown of her head.

When the girl could breathe again, and she had successfully determined that nothing was probably broken, she sat up, twisting around to snatch up the object she’d landed on. “What the HELL????” The girl yelled as she threw the item, which she determined to be a skateboard, at the figure she could see laughing near the back of the room. After this, her back twinged again and Ashley slipped down a couple of inches closer to the floor.

"…That works too— ow!" Dennis had tried to catch the skateboard, but his awkward movements caused the skateboard to change direction and beam him in the face.

He rubbed his face for a moment, a rough scrape on his cheek showing up a bit, before arching an eyebrow at Ashley’s pain, “Shit, Ry was right, this was probably a bad idea.” The fact that he had set the string up again and was watching the girl in pain showed he wasn’t repentant in the least.

"I’ll give you a ten at the ability to not go down the stairs, but a two for the landing," he offered, chuckling in a mix of cruelty and nervousness.

Ashley grinned maliciously as she heard her target yelp in pain. She shook her head one more time to clear things up a little, and as the boy began to speak, she realized who had tripped her.

“Dennis.” The girl snarled, pulling herself up to a sitting position again. Taking a deep breath to steel herself, the girl tugged her body to her feet, determined to stand up straight in front of the prankster. Almost haughtily, the girl strode over to the boy, her angry grimace working to cover up the fact that her muscles were screaming in pain. She was careful this time to glance down at the floor, making certain that there weren’t any other trip wires in her way. Once she was close enough, Ashley bent down and snatched up the skateboard from where it had bounced off the boy, holding it up threateningly, as if Dennis’ head was a baseball and Ashley was just stepping up to the plate.

"Okay, trickster boy, you can give me that and I’ll give you a shut the hell up unless you want me to crack this skateboard across your miserable little skull. Do you understand me?” Ashley lifted the board a little higher over her shoulder.

The prankster’s grin widened in amusement, as she snarled out his name. He loved when people got angry. It just fueled his sadistic and sociopathic tendencies further.

"Yes-is?" he played innocent, although he already knew she was angry as all get out. He watched her lift the skateboard in the air and he instinctively stepped back, stumbling over his own trip-wire and landing on his buttocks.

"…I already did give you that, so,” he was always the one to try and have the last word. But either way, for once, he was right about already giving her that score.

When the boy fell, foolishly tripping over his own wire, Ashley rolled her eyes and tucked the skateboard back under her arm. She couldn’t reach him while he was sprawled out down there, and she didn’t want to crouch down unless she really had a reason to. This way, she had the power in both physical position and in the board she was still holding. She was still bubbling with anger, but it was better to stay like this until the boy was stupid enough to stand up or he did something else warranting a nice whack on the head.

The girl buried her head in her free hand and sighed, as though Dennis was simply too impossible to deal with. “God, you really are dumb, aren’t you? Better watch that big mouth of yours, it’s going to get you shot someday.”

Bundling his feet under him and crossing his arms, Dennis replied, “You offerin’ to shoot me or somethin’? Man. And I thought Ry and Lavender were shit at makin’ friends.”

He then added, his mischievous grin broadening, “I might be dumb, but I ain’t the one who fell for a trip— Qwll, wait, I did, but that was in self-defense. You just stumbled onnnn down, yo.”

Lavender:
Lavender strolled into the hotel after walking around the city to try and clear her mind about the first challenge. “I’m seriously going to murder whoever attacked me with that wand glitter.” She muttered. As she was about to walk up the stairs leading to her room, she saw a bright colored box out of the corner of her eye. Curiously, she walked over to the box. “It’s pretty wrapping paper!” She commented. She was tempted to take the box, but opted not to. “It could be a trap.” She wondered out loud. “Why else would there be a box in the middle of the lobby?” She maneuvered around the box, but failed to see the wire. Her foot caught the wire, suspending her a bit in the air. “AHHH!!!” She screamed.

"Jackpot!" Dennis exclaimed, kicking his skateboard out to try and catch Lavender ‘s fall. However, it was then that he rememberef:

"Shit, she’s on MY team!" He vocalized his thoughts. He waited to see how Lavender would handle the skateboard before he’d go in and try to keep her from falling down the stairs. Not that he really wanted to help her, but he wanted a million dollars much more.

Ry:
Ry made his way down the stairs, from his room, stomach growling and hands holding a small cup of instant ramen. He knew that his plumbing was all screwed up from the fact that his water was now rustic. This hotel was probably so much better for the others, and as much as he loved watching others suffer, he hated the way it backfired on him. If only he could trick Ashley to switch rooms with him, then he’d find it hilarious.

Shifting his weight, he made his way toward the lobby, wondering if he’d chosen the right meal for the night. There was no way he’d accept anything that Chef could be cooking, if he even was doing something like this season.

Chicken ramen, though?

He had a much more delicious meal of shrimp ramen, but he didn’t want to spoil that until he saw Ashley get hurt or told off. That would be a meal worth celebrating.

Stopping at the entrance of the lobby, he rolled his mismatched eyes at the sight of a present box. There was no way he’d touch that thing with the fact he knew that someone was behind it. He wasn’t sure if it was Chris or someone who’d nearly lost them the challenge, but it was someone and he wasn’t going to fall for it.

Early, he’d managed to avoid a prank and he wasn’t going to fall for something so…obvious. Shaking his head, he moved around the present. “Dennis, you should really get new mat—…“ He said a little too soon as he tripped over the wire and yelped in surprise. “Fuck!”

Dennis suddenly kicked his foot, sliding the skateboard underneath Ry when he tripped.

"No hard feelings, Ry Ry," the prankster chortled, "But you did outsmart me last time~ Whoops~" He kicked the skateboard again, sending Ry forward, but at a slower speed than he originally planned. He was already on enough bad terms with his team. Now if it was someone from the other teams? He wouldn’t have cared one single bit. He barely cared as it was.

He raced off after Ry, reaching out his hand and trying to grab him before he could take a tumble down the stairs as planned.

The fact that Ry’s eyes had widened from slight terror didn’t bother him as much as hearing Dennis taunt him for being tricked, then it occurred to him that he hadn’t touched the floor at all. That’s when slight panic set in, then he realized that he was on a skateboard and he was about to twist it around to stop the thing, when he felt Dennis touch him and he went to yank himself away, not wanting to feel something go down his shirt. But he wasn’t quick enough and grabbed anyway.

'Thunk! Thunk! Whirlllll!'

“Don’t touch me, you—!” He was about to finish his sentence when he realized he was at the edge of the stares. Then it all came to him and he felt a slight irritation rise to his face, cheeks turning a slight shade of red in annoyance.

“What the FUCK is wrong with you?!” He yelled now, turning to face Dennis, eyes wide.

“You could have fucking killed me and all for some PRANK?! If I’m going to die, then I’m doing it on MY terms!” He started to raise his voice, shoving Dennis back and out of his grasp.

"You’re the worst member of this team, you know?! You’re the WHOLE reason we fucking came in THIRD! Had Alexandria NOT fucking been an idiot, YOU would be going home! I swear to fucking every deity that you have ROCKS IN YOUR BRAIN!" Ry shoved him again, obviously not pleased with the prank.

"Heard worse," Dennis said after being shoved over, before eyeing the stairs.

"Could’a actually harmed someone," he mused, standing back up and peeking down the stairs, "Duly noted for someone on another team or Lavender."

He sat down and did some mental calculations of the stairs, not seeming all that taken back by Ry’s anger. “Lessee… If I kick a little harder next time… Yup. That’ll be a nasty spill. Heheheh, now to find a way to make the wild ride a little easier to access…” He was once again in his own, sociopathic little world.

Ry’s eyebrows rose at the sight of Dennis just acting like none of what he said phased him. He BARELY got angry or raised his voice with people, but this was a new level of head pounding anger.

Taking a few deep breaths, he managed to calm down enough to not shove Dennis down the stairs—it was seriously tempting. Instead, he took the less aggressive route.

"What’s your deal with Lavender? If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume you had a little-boy-on-the-playground crush on her." Ry stated, digging his foot into the floor for a few moments to suppress the urge to kick his teammate; ‘kicking his ass would just cause more issues when you’re down a teammate.’ He mentally scolded.

Moving back, picked up the present box, not surprised if it were some horn, pie on a spring, or toy spider.

"And why not just…push her off the roof? It’s much easier and you could frame someone when she’s dead; I’d pay to see that happen…"

Dennis averted his eyes from his “work” and back to Ry, frowning. “Crushes are for the weak minded, yo. Fuck that noise.”

He waved his finger back and forth, “Nononono. Lavender is popular. She’s conventionally pretty. Get where I’m headed with this?”

His grin widened, “No, Ry Ry, I can’t stand her ilk. If you’re popular, you might as well be dead to me.”

"So I’m going to personally make her time on this show a living hell~" he rubbed his hairline below his straw hat, turning back to the stairs, "Or my time regardless. Gotta make m’impact before I’m voted off next episode, mm?"

“Interesting viewpoint, Den.” Ry nodded in agreement to Dennis’s reply, knitting his eyebrows together. He’d never met someone who agreed with him on that, even though they just LOVED to say that he was ‘gay,’ so he must like someone. “Crushes are just things that hurt you.” He stated calmly.

“Basically, you’re torturing because she’s naturally pretty and popular, so she uses her ‘power’ to her advantage, constantly looking down on people and making them feel like they aren’t humans at all? You mean, like every person at my high school back in Toronto?”

He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrow at Dennis. “Do I LOOK like I could be popular? I’m the least liked person at my school, and that extends to teachers, too. They can’t touch me academically, but they will make sure someone else gets the title ‘Valedictorian’ when I graduate.”

He walked past Dennis and down the steps to grab the skateboard. “You think you’re gonna go next episode? Why don’t you just—this is going to sound insane—focus on the challenge? You can fuck with the girl afterward.” He examined the skateboard, turning it over and staring at the design on the bottom. “I mean, it’s not like you won’t have 12 hours now to torment her? Especially since she’s only two rooms from me.”

"Den, huh?" Dennis gave a low hum, "I’m usually the nicknamer; not vice-r-versa." He didn’t vocalize it but he agreed with Ry. Crushes were shit. Romance was shit.

He crossed his arms, “Ya catch on quick, slick. Ya seem to get why she’s in my particulars. But you’ve missed one thing. Ya think I think yer popular.”

"Someone as debatably sociopathic as me, popular?" He laughed, "What a joke! You a comedian?"

"I like your spunk, but don’t flatter yerself," Dennis took a step closer to Ry, "Lavender gets a special helping of my love for being a popular witch. Everyone else? You guys still get it, but not as big of a helpin’."

"If I go next episode, I’ll go out with a bang, but a million dollars IS temptin…" He mused, before feigning a look of disgust, "As much as I hate to admit it, you might be right, Ry."

(Missing response)

"Den, huh?" Dennis gave a low hum, "I’m usually the nicknamer; not vice-r-versa." He didn’t vocalize it but he agreed with Ry. Crushes were shit. Romance was shit.

He crossed his arms, “Ya catch on quick, slick. Ya seem to get why she’s in my particulars. But you’ve missed one thing. Ya think I think yer popular.”

"Someone as debatably sociopathic as me, popular?" He laughed, "What a joke! You a comedian?"

"I like your spunk, but don’t flatter yerself," Dennis took a step closer to Ry, "Lavender gets a special helping of my love for being a popular witch. Everyone else? You guys still get it, but not as big of a helpin’."

"If I go next episode, I’ll go out with a bang, but a million dollars IS temptin…" He mused, before feigning a look of disgust, "As much as I hate to admit it, you might be right, Ry."

“You don’t like it?” Ry asked, taking notice of his tone. “Aw, but I spent the essence of five seconds, shortening your name down three letters.” Ry continued, sarcasm mixed deeply in his voice. Ry’s eyes lifted from the skateboard, noticing Dennis coming near him. He looked back at the skateboard.

“Glad you don’t see me as one of those dicks up above,” he gripped the skateboard, then dropped it on the floor, placing his foot on the top it, moving the wheels back and forth. “I sit under the hanging tree, not at the crowded table, so I assume you don’t have many friends at all, huh? Get that feeling of nonexistence when you’re in class, or do you have friends that like to plan heists?”

When he mentioned the fact that he would get some of Dennis’s ‘love,’ he almost smiled, thinking of it as a challenge to ruin as many pranks as he could. “Well, good luck because this prank has alerted me about what to expect from you, so try harder next time.”

Ry shrugged again, standing on the skateboard now. “And a lifetime supply of paint…” He crossed his arms. “Did anybody else come here for that aspect besides me?”

Dennis hummed again, “it’s not TOO awful. I’ll take it. I’m just not usually on the other side o’ nicknames. Well. Outside of, ‘Wheres the king of the assholes?’” He chuckled at the thought of that.

"Nah, you seem pretty venomous, but it don’t have to do with ego," the black Cupid postulated, "Least I don’t think you have much of an ego. Dunno."

"I have a friend," he explained, "We have… ‘Fun.’ Lot less loner sitting under the tree folks, lot more stay away from at all costs folk. In a way, our folk are kindred spirits to your folk, Ry Ry. In a fucked up way."

"Art, huh? Any good?" As to it being Dennis just trying to change the subject or being genuinely interested was anyone’s guess; hell, half of what he was telling him in general could have been lies, "Or how bout skatin for that point?"

Ry smirked and nodded in response to that nickname, not having it told to him, but it was creative compared to ‘freak’ and ‘weirdo’ that he was used to. “I think I’d embrace that nickname; it really gives off an air of truth and intimidation, leaving room for the imagination to wonder what gave you the title. You could be the one who ruins your day with one word or the one who is admired.”

"All male’s have egos, but some got their stomped into the dust years ago, so they have self-doubt spread out in front of them." Ry shrugged because he’d never considered himself ‘with ego’ if that made any sense. "Though venomous is correct; it’s wise never to get on my bad side, which is a rare side of mine…" He paused, balancing on the board. "I only think I have one person here that I hate at this point..everyone else can make up for their crap eventually, but they probably won’t try."

He raised an eyebrow at that. “In a fucked up way? What’s that implying?”

After being asked about his art, he instinctively put his hand on his bag and shrugged. “I don’t really know how to answer that… Art is whatever you make of it, so some people find the Mona Lisa to be a piece of trash and others find it to be a masterpiece. I’ve also never won any contests, so that could tell you about it.”

Moving his foot back, he pressed it on the back of the board and flipped it on its side, jumping up to land on the edge with pristine balance. “I do know that I can skateboard just fine. What about you? Is this yours?”

Dennis tapped his lip, mulling over that thought, “Huh… Fine, then. I’ll add Den to my vocabulary. Why the fuck not?”

"I’m in the hate category, right?" the prankster gave off a mischievous cackle before asking, "Squashed ego, huh? Self-doubt, huh? Man. Talk ‘bout depressin’.

He shrugged, “Y’know. Fucked up that we’re considered the bottom o’ the totem pole. Well, in your place, anyway. I don’t give much of a shit where I am ‘cause that’s how I work. Dunno if you’d ever wanna crawl outta yer hole of,” he used finger quotes, “‘unpopularity.’”

"…Yeah, you sound like an artist," Dennis crinkled his nose, before adding, "Never won any contests, huh? Last time I checked, a million artists didn’t get nowhere either til their dead and burnin’ in hell. Sounds ‘bout right."

He shook his head, “Yeah, it’s mine. But nah, can’t ride it. I just use it for my pranks and shit. No mo’, no less.”

Ry looked at his fingernails calmly and looked back at Dennis. “Well, hate’s a strong word; I’d consider you more ‘a teammate that I want to kick the ass of’ rather than hate. There’s really only one person here that I consider worthy of the hate category. You’ll have to piss me off with something more than a simple prank.” Which Ry assumed would happen, knowing this kid.

Jumping back off the skateboard, he kicked it back on to its wheels. “I’m not depressing; I’m just weird and enjoy it like that.” He gently put his foot on top of the surface again, letting it slide back and forth.

“No, I’m never going to try to,” Ry stated, eyes narrowing at the thought of it. The amount of kissing ass would be nauseating. “I prefer my ‘hole,’” he mocked Dennis’s air quotes, “rather than the one that gets people stabbed in the backs. You know, I find it hard to get stabbed in the back when people aren’t behind you. Julius Caesar had a whole government behind him before he died, so I’ll stick to being against the wall.”

His mouth tightened at Dennis’s description and he shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t know that we made noises that set us apart,” shrugging his shoulders. “I’ll be dead for years before people even find my body, Den.”

Stepping up on the skateboard, he pushed back and gently rolled around Dennis. “You could do a lot more pranks if you learned how to ride one of these; fast getaways, too. At least that’s what I’ve learned when you need to get out of the high school after the jockstraps are put on and you’re the only one who went in the locker room.”

Dennis gave an amused, “Oooooh!” but said nothing else. He made a mental note of that. It could come in handy later in the competition.

Weird and liked it, huh? Would rather have no followers than many? On one hand, he agreed; but on the other, wouldn’t that mean Ry would fade away into the annals of time?

And that’s when Ry pretty much said that. Dennis’ smile drooped to a frown for a few moments before he moved back to his regular grin.

"I’m with you, fuck being popular," he explained, "But… I wanna be remembered. Some prank someday so big that they’ll remember it forever. Heh. Yeah. Just you see, Ry Ry."

"…I’m not the best at athletics," he said, before adding, "But if it’s easier than runnin’ everywhere, I’ll take you up on that. Can’t be… that hard, I guess, heheheh.”

Ry looked off for a few seconds to contemplate what Dennis had said and abruptly stopped the skateboard in front of him. Abandonment issues? Family deaths? Bullied at school? Told he would be forgotten by some old hag at a carnival? The possibilities were endless, but Ry just tilted his head at his teammate.

“A prank so big that they’ll remember it forever, hm? You should invite me to see it happen and I will see it. Maybe you could do it to Lavender before she gets the boot, hm? Is that why you joined this show anyway?”

Ry rolled his eyes at Dennis’s comment, then stepped off the board and kicked it up to grab it with his hand. “Maybe you should put on a helmet… I don’t want you to bash your head into a wall, even though it’d be hilarious and probably make me laugh. ”

The sad part was that he COULDN’T risk it because if he was willing to off one of his teammates in the eyes of Lavender, Kiki, and T, they might think he’d do it to them next. Though Ry didn’t think he needed to kill anyone to get his point across. He liked to stab people with verbal assaults more.

Dennis cracked into stilted laughter, “Huh! You ain’t awful, Ry Ry! Don’t worry! You’ll get a first row seat!”

"There’s all that macabre shit again," he replied, but didn’t move his grin an inch, "Does dark thoughts just come naturally to ya? Not that I blame ya much."

Ry contemplated that and crossed his arms. “With you? I’d take a chair right next to you, if you don’t mind. It’s nothing personal, but I don’t trust you since you, you know, almost sent me down the stairs.” Ry stuck out his tongue at a thought coming to mind about that.

Either way, he knew that he’d either be watching some poor sap get the prank or he’d get the prank himself while he was watching. “I appreciate the gesture, though, and you don’t know me enough to say I’m not awful; just wait until you make me mad enough to consider revenge.”

He waved his hand to indicate a 50/50 split on that one. “I didn’t almost get kicked out of my art classes because I was ‘too good,’” Ry told him, shaking his head at the memory of all his teachers in the past.

'What a bunch of pansies.' He thought, shutting his eyes for a few moments.

Reopening them, he continued. “Anyway, yeah, I love to spout out the worst things you can say, ask, or mutter bitterly to people; I asked Benny about his dead grandparents, called Ashley’s hair a ‘rat nest,’ asked Dakota if he ever took a picture of a dead body, made Benny loot a dead—well, we thought it was dead at the time—body, nearly stabbed Ashley, told Matt I would ‘not kill someone on camera,’ told the Baroness I wanted to die, and…” He tapped his chin. “threatened to burn you and Lavender’s pillows while you slept.”

Admittedly, that one was probably something he should have kept to himself.

Dennis listened to Ry speak, sometimes nodding and giving an “Mhm,” with his hand resting on his chin. It seemed like he wasn’t listening, but he was picking up more than it seemed. However, he did choose to ‘ignore’ the whole thing about burning his pillow.

"Eh, close enough," Dennis shrugged, complacently, before adding, "By ‘not awful,’ I mean you’re not a stuck up prude with a corncob up your ass, get me?"

Then, in an uncharacteristically act of deadpan, he added, “You listed a bunch of shit that’s ‘wrong’ to someone who does ‘wrong’ like every five minutes. Seriously, dude. Wrong ain’t right, and wrong ain’t wrong, that’s what’s right.” He nodded, sagely, before returning to his normal tone.