(Sergio Gallo continued from Sink or Swim)
Sergio was sprawled out on the deck of the sailboat, staring up at the stars. He had changed into the matador costume the producers had provided to him, but little else had occurred since the ferry. He hadn't seen anyone else since then and didn't want to. Except Akeno. He wanted to take a bat and smash her face until it was unrecognizable with her nose at a new angle, her eyes swollen shut, and her teeth spilled across the floor. But he didn't have a weapon and he didn't know where Akeno had run off to. She must be a coward if she wasn't willing to face him again. He must have really scared her.
Not that it mattered anymore. That fight had cost him too much. One of his best friends was gone forever, and all that he got in exchange was some injuries and an extra bag. It wasn't a fair trade, not by a long shot.
The first announcement had broken him out of the numbness he had been feeling in the aftermath. The season was moving on without Max. He couldn't call a time out just because he was hurting. More people than Akeno were gunning for the win already, and he had to be ready. Which was why it would be better if he got some sleep tonight, but even when he shut his eyes he couldn't rest. Maybe it was a side effect of that gas he had been under less than a day before. He didn't want to think about the other reasons that he couldn't sleep.
So for now, he would listen to the ocean and the creaking of the ships. It was as much of a break as he was going to get.
Time Out
(Midnight, open)
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Courtography
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((Alaska Ferguson continued from Champions 201))
There was a cut in her leg and Larry was gone.
So she was walking through a janky collection of ships all on her lonesome. Blood-tipped screwdriver spinning between her fingers as she explored. Alaska didn't know too much about ships, she knew a basic amount, she'd lived in Miami so she had seen them before. But technical details were beyond her. All she could properly pinpoint was if it looked like shit or not and a lot of them looked like shit. That much was obvious through the darkness.
Her new plan was simple, sleep and then try and find Laura. If she could convince someone to join her at any stage between those two points that would have also been great. If she found any of her teammates then she'd be cooking with gas. Larry had ended up a massive disappointment. So she had been walking the bridges across the darkness by herself, hoping she didn't stumble and fall in. For the sea was still uninviting, that hadn't changed as the night grew deeper.
But before she did any of that she needed a place to sleep for the night and a rusty ass boat would have been a better idea than something nice and pristine. People valued looks and as a result, she was less likely to encounter people on a shitheap. That led to her climbing aboard a passable looking sailboat. Not too flashy and not too fucked. A nice bland middle ground, like a girl who always wore gray cardigans.
No sooner did Alaska's feet touched down on the deck did she realize that the boat already had an occupant. A very Spanish occupant.
Yeah, fuck it, whatever.
"Uh...Hola?"
Nailed it.
There was a cut in her leg and Larry was gone.
So she was walking through a janky collection of ships all on her lonesome. Blood-tipped screwdriver spinning between her fingers as she explored. Alaska didn't know too much about ships, she knew a basic amount, she'd lived in Miami so she had seen them before. But technical details were beyond her. All she could properly pinpoint was if it looked like shit or not and a lot of them looked like shit. That much was obvious through the darkness.
Her new plan was simple, sleep and then try and find Laura. If she could convince someone to join her at any stage between those two points that would have also been great. If she found any of her teammates then she'd be cooking with gas. Larry had ended up a massive disappointment. So she had been walking the bridges across the darkness by herself, hoping she didn't stumble and fall in. For the sea was still uninviting, that hadn't changed as the night grew deeper.
But before she did any of that she needed a place to sleep for the night and a rusty ass boat would have been a better idea than something nice and pristine. People valued looks and as a result, she was less likely to encounter people on a shitheap. That led to her climbing aboard a passable looking sailboat. Not too flashy and not too fucked. A nice bland middle ground, like a girl who always wore gray cardigans.
No sooner did Alaska's feet touched down on the deck did she realize that the boat already had an occupant. A very Spanish occupant.
Yeah, fuck it, whatever.
"Uh...Hola?"
Nailed it.
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Sergio was partway to his feet by the time he was greeted. His left knee was still on the ground, but it would only take a fraction of a second to get the rest of the way up if he needed to.
He would probably need to in a place like this.
The girl looked familiar, but of course she would; they went to school together. A-something. Arkansas? No. He'd think of it.
"What do you wa-ant?" he asked, a small cough interrupting his question. He wasn't looking for a team anymore, so Alabama whatshername had better move along.
She was holding something in her hand. The raw and sensitive end of his tongue pushed against the back of his teeth, making him wince.
He quickly stood on his left foot. Not being ready had cost him a lot last time. It wouldn't be the case now.
He would probably need to in a place like this.
The girl looked familiar, but of course she would; they went to school together. A-something. Arkansas? No. He'd think of it.
"What do you wa-ant?" he asked, a small cough interrupting his question. He wasn't looking for a team anymore, so Alabama whatshername had better move along.
She was holding something in her hand. The raw and sensitive end of his tongue pushed against the back of his teeth, making him wince.
He quickly stood on his left foot. Not being ready had cost him a lot last time. It wouldn't be the case now.
"Whoa there, easy tiger," Alaska said, holding both her hands up in a pacifying gesture, screwdriver still held firm. She scanned over the matador's face and tried to connect it to a member of her class. Faces and names rolled through her head like a slot machine until she came up with a match.
Sergei-wait no, that wasn't right. Sergio! That was it! His name was Sergio and he did baseball? She was pretty sure it was baseball but that didn't really matter given their situation. It was relevant only if he happened to find a bat or ball really. Why he had decided to dress like a matador was another matter entirely. Playing up for the cameras perhaps? It was a common tactic people liked to use to generate screentime. Come to think of it she had an entire costume she'd yet to put to use.
"I was just looking for somewhere to sleep for the night." She said as Sergio stood; he was taller than her and almost definitely stronger and in better shape.
She took a step back.
Sergei-wait no, that wasn't right. Sergio! That was it! His name was Sergio and he did baseball? She was pretty sure it was baseball but that didn't really matter given their situation. It was relevant only if he happened to find a bat or ball really. Why he had decided to dress like a matador was another matter entirely. Playing up for the cameras perhaps? It was a common tactic people liked to use to generate screentime. Come to think of it she had an entire costume she'd yet to put to use.
"I was just looking for somewhere to sleep for the night." She said as Sergio stood; he was taller than her and almost definitely stronger and in better shape.
She took a step back.
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Was she tricking him? It was possible. It seemed like everyone was out to kill in this place, but maybe that was just Akeno.
He scowled down at her. Sergio hadn't been able to sleep tonight, and he doubted anyone else could either. There were too many chances for someone to slit your throat while resting on this show. Fuck sleeping. He wasn't just going to wait for it anymore. He needed to be constantly vigilant.
"There's no bed on this thing," he responded. Maybe other people were used to roughing it like that, but Sergio sure wasn't. A nice squishy mattress and air conditioning was what he was about. No wonder he'd failed to sleep on the deck. He was a fool. There was no way he could deny that now.
He found himself glancing down at Alaska's exposed midriff.
Nice.
He needed to focus. Eye on the prize, Gallo.
"Err uh, if that matters to you, anyway."
Smooth.
He scowled down at her. Sergio hadn't been able to sleep tonight, and he doubted anyone else could either. There were too many chances for someone to slit your throat while resting on this show. Fuck sleeping. He wasn't just going to wait for it anymore. He needed to be constantly vigilant.
"There's no bed on this thing," he responded. Maybe other people were used to roughing it like that, but Sergio sure wasn't. A nice squishy mattress and air conditioning was what he was about. No wonder he'd failed to sleep on the deck. He was a fool. There was no way he could deny that now.
He found himself glancing down at Alaska's exposed midriff.
Nice.
He needed to focus. Eye on the prize, Gallo.
"Err uh, if that matters to you, anyway."
Smooth.
Her eyes followed his gaze and a smile flickered at the corners of her mouth.
Still got it baby.
So what had she learned? Well, there was no bed on the ship, he had been clear on that but he hadn't told her to go away and his mood seemed to have softened a tad. Which was all good for her, because if he accepted her company for the evening she could sleep in relative peace. They'd just need to take a watch each and not kill the other while they slept...which was an option that was still on the table.
She needed to play it up a bit, act cool. Social game it some. She could do that, not too difficult. Convincing simps to part with their money was literally her job. Not that Segio was a simp or anything but it was the closest comparison she had to, fuck it, whatever moving on.
Leaning back, Alaska rested her forearms on the railing of the boat.
"Nah, I think I can make do, use some clothes and my costume to make a bed or something."
Still got it baby.
So what had she learned? Well, there was no bed on the ship, he had been clear on that but he hadn't told her to go away and his mood seemed to have softened a tad. Which was all good for her, because if he accepted her company for the evening she could sleep in relative peace. They'd just need to take a watch each and not kill the other while they slept...which was an option that was still on the table.
She needed to play it up a bit, act cool. Social game it some. She could do that, not too difficult. Convincing simps to part with their money was literally her job. Not that Segio was a simp or anything but it was the closest comparison she had to, fuck it, whatever moving on.
Leaning back, Alaska rested her forearms on the railing of the boat.
"Nah, I think I can make do, use some clothes and my costume to make a bed or something."
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Applesintime
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"Oh, hey guys!"
((Gregory Miller contined from The Commutative Property))
He had been searching for some time now. The little bastard couldn't have gotten too far, after all. And while he was searching through this tangle of boats and jetties and water, he had heard voices. It wasn't Cory, that was for sure, but there were two new people he could talk to! Maybe one of them would be on his team and they could hunt Cory down together! All the teamwork and comradery and stuff really sold itself to the audience. Of course, then you had to put up with all the shipart and the weird fanfictions that were like, half the author projecting onto the characters and half of them trying to write porn but doing it really badly.
But that was a small price to pay! So, approaching this sailboat that the two were on, he raised his hands high, making sure that he could easily reach in and get his bolas if these guys wanted to try and kill him. The blood all over his shirt probably wasn't like, too comforting for these people but hey, he could probably think of some way to spin it! Like, uh, he got attacked by someone! Or he fell and hurt his nose running away from a killer! There were endless opportunities!
"I'm not gonna hurt you guys, I just want somewhere to like, sleep without being attacked!" Gregory called out, waiting for their response. Maybe he could like, find a new group of friends to hang out with! Cory wasn't here, so they could be a much more effective group without someone whining about shit.
Unless one of these guys was just a Cory, in which case he was just going to fucking leave. He'd had enough of people like Cory for the rest of his life, and he had only talked to him for like, a day. Dude didn't find anything funny. Like, come on, that fucking Abel joke was the peak of comedy! How did that guy not find it funny? Was his sense of humour like, the Simpsons or Family Guy or one of those shows that really just needed to be put out of its misery because the show writers clearly didn't know what to do anymore? Like, the 'Survival of the Bartest' one was kinda funny but then Family Guy tried to copy it and it was just not funny.
Gregory wrangled his mind away from trying to remember the stupid sitcom things, awkwardly grinning at the girl.
"Can I come aboard, or, uh, d'you want me to go away?"
((Gregory Miller contined from The Commutative Property))
He had been searching for some time now. The little bastard couldn't have gotten too far, after all. And while he was searching through this tangle of boats and jetties and water, he had heard voices. It wasn't Cory, that was for sure, but there were two new people he could talk to! Maybe one of them would be on his team and they could hunt Cory down together! All the teamwork and comradery and stuff really sold itself to the audience. Of course, then you had to put up with all the shipart and the weird fanfictions that were like, half the author projecting onto the characters and half of them trying to write porn but doing it really badly.
But that was a small price to pay! So, approaching this sailboat that the two were on, he raised his hands high, making sure that he could easily reach in and get his bolas if these guys wanted to try and kill him. The blood all over his shirt probably wasn't like, too comforting for these people but hey, he could probably think of some way to spin it! Like, uh, he got attacked by someone! Or he fell and hurt his nose running away from a killer! There were endless opportunities!
"I'm not gonna hurt you guys, I just want somewhere to like, sleep without being attacked!" Gregory called out, waiting for their response. Maybe he could like, find a new group of friends to hang out with! Cory wasn't here, so they could be a much more effective group without someone whining about shit.
Unless one of these guys was just a Cory, in which case he was just going to fucking leave. He'd had enough of people like Cory for the rest of his life, and he had only talked to him for like, a day. Dude didn't find anything funny. Like, come on, that fucking Abel joke was the peak of comedy! How did that guy not find it funny? Was his sense of humour like, the Simpsons or Family Guy or one of those shows that really just needed to be put out of its misery because the show writers clearly didn't know what to do anymore? Like, the 'Survival of the Bartest' one was kinda funny but then Family Guy tried to copy it and it was just not funny.
Gregory wrangled his mind away from trying to remember the stupid sitcom things, awkwardly grinning at the girl.
"Can I come aboard, or, uh, d'you want me to go away?"
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Sergio had been on the verge of softening, but then some other guy had to show up. He wasn't good at distinguishing the newcomer by voice, but he knew that he didn't want him to be here.
And why the fuck was everyone so obsessed with sleeping? They would sleep plenty when they were dead. For most of them that would happen soon.
Just like Max.
He felt his eyes tearing up. He wasn't going to cry in front of Alaska. She was a girl and it would be the most embarrassing shit ever.
He didn't bother to wait for Alaska before responding.
"I'm not looking for a fucking slumber party, bro."
His hands clenched into fists at his side. His mouth twisted into a scowl. Sergio wasn't a fighter, but he wanted to deck this kid right now.
"Go eat shit somewhere else."
And why the fuck was everyone so obsessed with sleeping? They would sleep plenty when they were dead. For most of them that would happen soon.
Just like Max.
He felt his eyes tearing up. He wasn't going to cry in front of Alaska. She was a girl and it would be the most embarrassing shit ever.
He didn't bother to wait for Alaska before responding.
"I'm not looking for a fucking slumber party, bro."
His hands clenched into fists at his side. His mouth twisted into a scowl. Sergio wasn't a fighter, but he wanted to deck this kid right now.
"Go eat shit somewhere else."
Alaska jumped slightly at the sudden greeting from an unknown voice but managed to keep herself from yelping. Nice composure, bonus points for maintaining dignity. As it turned out it was...some kid who had appeared from out of fucking nowhere. Alaska had no idea who the hell he was. So he couldn't have been that important. He was also pretty short. A short, skinny boy with blonde hair. Yeah, Alaska had no clue who it was.
They could have given her any name and she would have accepted it as their real one. It wasn't like she knew any better. But what she did know was she didn't appreciate some dude randomly appearing from the darkness. That was stalker behavior y'all and she was not here for it. The good news for her was that Sergio was also not here for any of this new kids' shit and any residual aggression that hadn't fully faded from her disruption was instead focused all on blondie.
Now, this gave Alaska an opening, and goddamn if she wasn't going to use some maneuvers to take advantage of it. Any viewers watching were going to be amazed, they'd all say to their friends 'goddamn, that girl used some maneuvers'.
To that end, Alaska took some steps away from the boy and positioned herself slightly behind Sergio. It was some real pro skills. That hide behind the tank shit. But even with that her fingers subconsciously tightened around the screwdriver's handle.
"Yeah, sorry bro, but this boat is all full up."
They could have given her any name and she would have accepted it as their real one. It wasn't like she knew any better. But what she did know was she didn't appreciate some dude randomly appearing from the darkness. That was stalker behavior y'all and she was not here for it. The good news for her was that Sergio was also not here for any of this new kids' shit and any residual aggression that hadn't fully faded from her disruption was instead focused all on blondie.
Now, this gave Alaska an opening, and goddamn if she wasn't going to use some maneuvers to take advantage of it. Any viewers watching were going to be amazed, they'd all say to their friends 'goddamn, that girl used some maneuvers'.
To that end, Alaska took some steps away from the boy and positioned herself slightly behind Sergio. It was some real pro skills. That hide behind the tank shit. But even with that her fingers subconsciously tightened around the screwdriver's handle.
"Yeah, sorry bro, but this boat is all full up."
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Applesintime
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"What? Man, c'mon!" Gregory protested, throwing his hands up in the air. It was getting kinda cold out here, damnit! And the boat wasn't all full up, there was still like, a ton of space left! Frankly, he got it, you can't really trust anyone here, but man, come on! He was one dude, what was he gonna do? Kill them?
,,.Actually, he probably would have.
But still! He was a small guy, it's not like he's suddenly gonna turn into the Hulk and beat them all up. At the worst, if he did anything they could probably overpower him! Man, people were asses.
"Look, I got attacked by some guy! He could still be like, looking for me! C'mon man, I'm a junior! I'm like, too young to die or whatever! The guy stole my weapon so I don't have anything I could even use to kill you. N-not that I was actually gonna do that! Like, look at me man," Gregory gestured to his shirt.
"The dude attacked me! He coulda killed me! You don't like, wanna have that on your conscience and stuff! If you leave me out here, I'm gonna die!" Honestly, if Gregory had been in their position, he woulda just killed himself. Not like he was gonna pass up the chance for a free kill, after all! He still needed to find wherever the hell that little asshole Cory went and kill him. But it couldn't hurt to try and get some more kills while he did so, right?
,,.Actually, he probably would have.
But still! He was a small guy, it's not like he's suddenly gonna turn into the Hulk and beat them all up. At the worst, if he did anything they could probably overpower him! Man, people were asses.
"Look, I got attacked by some guy! He could still be like, looking for me! C'mon man, I'm a junior! I'm like, too young to die or whatever! The guy stole my weapon so I don't have anything I could even use to kill you. N-not that I was actually gonna do that! Like, look at me man," Gregory gestured to his shirt.
"The dude attacked me! He coulda killed me! You don't like, wanna have that on your conscience and stuff! If you leave me out here, I'm gonna die!" Honestly, if Gregory had been in their position, he woulda just killed himself. Not like he was gonna pass up the chance for a free kill, after all! He still needed to find wherever the hell that little asshole Cory went and kill him. But it couldn't hurt to try and get some more kills while he did so, right?
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This Gregory guy was really annoying.
Like Sergio didn't want to be a dick, but like, none of that was his problem.
"It's not on my conscience, my dude."
Why would it be? Sergio wasn't trying to kill this dude, although like, if Gregory tried to come up here there would be a man overboard pretty quick.
"Why not fuck off and not draw that fucker to our location?"
Gregory had been pretty loud. Sergio was considering abandoning this place now anyway. If Gregory didn't leave in a minute, Sergio would.
Hold on a second. When had he decided to be cool with Alaska hanging around?
Whatever. At minimum she'd be better company than crybaby Gregory.
Like Sergio didn't want to be a dick, but like, none of that was his problem.
"It's not on my conscience, my dude."
Why would it be? Sergio wasn't trying to kill this dude, although like, if Gregory tried to come up here there would be a man overboard pretty quick.
"Why not fuck off and not draw that fucker to our location?"
Gregory had been pretty loud. Sergio was considering abandoning this place now anyway. If Gregory didn't leave in a minute, Sergio would.
Hold on a second. When had he decided to be cool with Alaska hanging around?
Whatever. At minimum she'd be better company than crybaby Gregory.
She was queen smooth out here. Sergio was totally set on telling Gregory to get out of their general vicinity and any seeming hesitance he'd had with her presence had vanished, or at the very least been reduced to accepting her. She could totally work with that and she was happy to have the situation continue. Not Gregory being there though, he did actually need to get lost.
To that end, Alaska was happy to have Sergio handle the heavy lifting. He seemed good at it and also passionate that Gregory needed to see himself out of their area. It did however help that Gregory was providing her with an opportunity to integrate herself more with Sergio.
The sob story about being attacked by someone else was sad and all but that was how Survival of the Fittest worked. She couldn't feel sorry for him because someone on SOTF had decided to do SOTF things. That was just one of those things you needed to overcome and work around, just like she was working around the loss of a teammate. Not that he'd died or anything.
She gave an exaggerated shrug.
"Sorry bro, but again, this boat is taken." She gestured to the other boats gently bobbing around them. "You got loads of other options though."
To that end, Alaska was happy to have Sergio handle the heavy lifting. He seemed good at it and also passionate that Gregory needed to see himself out of their area. It did however help that Gregory was providing her with an opportunity to integrate herself more with Sergio.
The sob story about being attacked by someone else was sad and all but that was how Survival of the Fittest worked. She couldn't feel sorry for him because someone on SOTF had decided to do SOTF things. That was just one of those things you needed to overcome and work around, just like she was working around the loss of a teammate. Not that he'd died or anything.
She gave an exaggerated shrug.
"Sorry bro, but again, this boat is taken." She gestured to the other boats gently bobbing around them. "You got loads of other options though."
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Applesintime
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"Alright man, fuck you guys! If I see you fucking asshole again, I'm gonna fucking kill you!" Gregory was quite pissed at this. Like, man, come on! What the fuck was he gonna do? Kill them- Wait he had already said that. Whatever. He knew what these assholes looked like and what they sounded like, all that was gonna happen now was him waiting for the day to hunt them down. Cory, these two guys and whoever else he could get his hands on! Sounded like a good plan.
For now, he flipped off them as he walked away.
Fucking assholes.
((Gregory Miller continued in Land of Milk and Honey))
For now, he flipped off them as he walked away.
Fucking assholes.
((Gregory Miller continued in Land of Milk and Honey))
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Courtography
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Well at least Gregory was leaving.
He let out a sound halfway between a cough and a laugh.
"If he would kill us he'd do it right now. That fuckin' guy."
Sergio didn't feel threatened by the yelling at this point. One of the few things he'd learned so far was that the quiet ones who just went for it were the ones you needed to look out for. Or that's what Akeno had taught him. Things would be different when they met again.
Now what had they been talking about before, sleeping? Had he told her there was no bed? He wasn't sure.
"So uh, there's no bed on this thing, yeah."
He had totally mentioned it before. Get it together bro.
He let out a sound halfway between a cough and a laugh.
"If he would kill us he'd do it right now. That fuckin' guy."
Sergio didn't feel threatened by the yelling at this point. One of the few things he'd learned so far was that the quiet ones who just went for it were the ones you needed to look out for. Or that's what Akeno had taught him. Things would be different when they met again.
Now what had they been talking about before, sleeping? Had he told her there was no bed? He wasn't sure.
"So uh, there's no bed on this thing, yeah."
He had totally mentioned it before. Get it together bro.
Well...okay then. He took the rejection super well, like a real mature adult. Cussing them out, flipping them off, threatening to kill them, and then stomping away. It really made Alaska glad they had decided to tell him that he wasn't allowed on their boat actually. She didn't feel any guilt or remorse over telling Gregory to go away, it was just smart gameplay after all. They couldn't trust him and didn't want him and then in a shocking twist, he had proven their instincts right.
Okay, so maybe they had just not wanted him around but she could totally claim it was strategy, who was going to claim otherwise?
Alaska smiled and gave a small laugh at Segio's comment.
Lock it down. He was making jokes. Her company was accepted. She was in.
Thank you random sweary boy whose name she didn't know.
"Yeah, you said, before we were interrupted." She said, with a mischievous smirk. Stepping back into the middle of the deck she made a show of looking around the boat.
"But," She elongated the word, letting it linger on her tongue. "I'm pretty sure I could make a den out of spare clothes and my costume."
Okay, so maybe they had just not wanted him around but she could totally claim it was strategy, who was going to claim otherwise?
Alaska smiled and gave a small laugh at Segio's comment.
Lock it down. He was making jokes. Her company was accepted. She was in.
Thank you random sweary boy whose name she didn't know.
"Yeah, you said, before we were interrupted." She said, with a mischievous smirk. Stepping back into the middle of the deck she made a show of looking around the boat.
"But," She elongated the word, letting it linger on her tongue. "I'm pretty sure I could make a den out of spare clothes and my costume."