Chen T. had just left the four of them stranded, flying high above the ground and holding on for dear life. Standing to the side, Rosalina absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck, nervous towards the outcome of this competition.
Rotating, in orbit to be precise, Luigi, Mario, Pauline, and Birdo all hung on. A lot was riding on this competition, for each individual houseguest. The double eviction had left a tangled knot of lies in betrayal in its wake, and no one was guaranteed safety if someone other than themselves won.
"By a vote of 2-1, the second member of the Jury of Five is….Peach! You've been evicted from the Big Brother house," rang Chen T.'s voice. Peach rose solemnly, bidding her goodbyes to her fellow houseguests before departing.
Mario: Peach's eviction can only mean one thing! Luigi voted her out! Why would he-a-do such-a-thing?
"Chen T.," Luigi looked nervous, "This is-a-my game, and I've got to protect not just-a-Mario but myself! I have to be sure he'll take me to the final two, and for that reason, I'm evicting-a-Peach."
Luigi: I did what was best for my game. It's the final five, and there can only be one winner. Many we're-a-doubting me, but now that I've-a-won two vetoes, and I was-a-responsible for evicting Peach, people cannot-a-say I'm afraid to make-a-big moves!
Peach gently hugged Birdo, blowing the rest of the house a kiss before closing the massive front door behind her.
Birdo: With Peach out of the house, the chances of Rosalina and I making it to the final two are even greater. Peach, although an ally of mine, would become a huge threat right about now. It was too bad really.
Pauline: I cannot explain how ecstatic I am right now! Luigi's such an idiot! Now, both Rosalina and I remain!
Their tiny footholds weren't the best for support or comfort, and the four competing houseguests were finding it very hard to hold their own. The ropes were swinging gently at first, so the competition was not terribly tough from the outset.
Luigi: I could-a-tell this would get increasingly-a-hard as time went-a-on.
Only ten minutes had past, and no one seemed tired or willing to give up anytime soon, for good reason. The outcome of this competition was dire.
Mario: Sadly, I don't-a-know if I can-a-trust Luigi! There's only one-a-winner!
Birdo: This week, its imperative the big red plumber backs his bags, he's going to have too many friends sitting on that jury.
Rosalina: Either Pauline, or Birdo must win! Even though no one knows about my coalition with Birdo, if she manages to win, I know I'll be safe.
The ropes picked up in speed, and Birdo crouched to find her center of balance. She seemed to being doing a good job too, because she was able to control her balance. The other three were doing fine as well, and as the competition passed the thirty minute mark, no one appeared weary. In fact, the competition was still at such a speed were conversation was audible, and Mario called out his brother.
"A-Luigi!" Mario cried, "What-a-happened?"
"Excuse me!" Birdo yelled, picking up on the fact that Mario wished she were gone and not Peach.
"I'm-a-sorry Birdo!" Mario pleaded, realizing antagonizing his brother had just created a chasm between himself and the jeweler.
Birdo: That dumb plumber! He's reinforcing my thoughts of getting rid of him this week!
Mario: Oy vey…
Mario kept mum, and the plumber hung his head, throwing off his balance. His neck swung around the left side of the swinging rope he was holding onto, and he wobbled off of his foothold. One leg in the air and one on the foothold, he yelped in fright, eager to regain his balance. Pulling himself up on the rope, Mario planted his dangling foot back onto the hold, and he successfully saved himself.
An hour had passed, and the four houseguests remained vigilant. Rosalina had gone inside but come back out, holding a bowl of soup the houseguests had made for dinner. She sipped on it coolly, watching the madness unfold.
Pauline: Rosalina's just sitting there with her soup, and I'm having to do all the work by hanging on to this rope!
At about an hour and thirty minutes, Mario wobbled off once more. This time, he leaned further left, and both feet slipped off. He clutched the rope for dear life, and locked eyes with Luigi. Even though the vote for Peach had caused a bit of stress between them, Luigi nodded, sending Mario an emphatic message. Mario closed his eyes, let go, and dropped out of the competition.
"Sorry Mario!" Rosalina cried, "But you've been eliminated!"
"I-a-know," Mario grumbled, dissatisfied with himself.
Luigi: Mario drops, and I'm-a-bit discouraged.
Soon, Pauline plummeted off of her foothold without warning, clutching her thighs. Complaining they hurt, she hobbled over to Rosalina and took her seat. Rosalina didn't signal Pauline's elimination like she had Mario's, but sort of stared down at her alliance partner with a glossy stare, confused as to why she had given up.
It was down to Luigi and Birdo, but the pink dinosaur couldn't hold on for much longer.
"Birdo!" Luigi called, the ropes spinning at a dizzying speed. The jeweler looked up momentarily, looking rather queasy.
"You can't put me up!" Birdo cried, "I won't drop if you say otherwise!"
"Fine, fine!" Luigi cried, "I haven't-a-been HOH! Let me have this!"
"Promise I'll be safe!" Birdo warned, giving him a menacing glare.
"I Promise!" Luigi bellowed, and Birdo let go, ending the game at the two hour and eight minute mark.
"Congratulations Luigi!" Rosalina cried with half effort, upset neither of her allies had won. "You are the new Head of Household!" She looped the key to the HOH bedroom around his neck, and Luigi yipped happily. He hugged Mario, who clapped him on the back. The two men lead the charge back inside, leaving the futuristic backyard behind.
Rosalina: This really sucks, because Luigi promised Birdo safety, leaving only Pauline and myself as the two replacement nominees.
Pauline: I know Luigi will probably nominate Rosalina and myself, but there's still the veto! We can't give up hope!
Not much happened that night, and everyone went to bed pretty much right after the HOH competition. It had been a long night, and everyone was too tired to plot, commiserate, or even have an argument. They all passed out, and as night blended into morning, Luigi awoke and received word from the diary room that his HOH room was ready.
"Wake up every one!" Luigi cried, "Who wants to see my HOH room?"
"What?" Rosalina asked, covering her ears. She was sleeping so peacefully, but then Luigi ruined everything. The other four houseguests awoke, and they all grumbled as they plodded upstairs, mad with Luigi for waking them up.
Luigi: I guess I was too gung-ho about having my first HOH room!
As Luigi finished reading his letter, he couldn't help but notice the lack of people remaining in the house. They had started with so many, twelve of them to be exact, but now only four faces stared back at him from the bed, smiling as he concluded the letter Professor E. Gadd had sent him.
"This room used to be so full," Luigi commented, with some sadness in his tone.
"Oh-a-Luigi," Mario cried, "Don't-a-think about that!"
"Yeah," Pauline nodded, "Despite our differences, we've all done well to reach this point. I know it's hard thinking about everyone who's been evicted, but that's the game right?"
"She's got a point," Birdo nodded.
"No, I-a-know," Luigi nodded his head, "But, I can't help but-a-feel sorry for-a-everyone who's not-a-here!"
"Just think," Rosalina giggled, "I wonder what DK and Peach are doing in the Jury House right now?"
Pauline couldn't help but laugh, and even Mario let out a smile. DK and Peach hadn't really interacted at all while they were in the house together. But still, Mario did think about how Peach was his girlfriend now, and DK had a pretty good physique.
The plumber banished the dark thoughts, and returned to being happy for Luigi.
"Well, it's about that time where this gets awkward and we all trickle out," Rosalina laughed.
"It is," Luigi smiled. Pauline and Rosalina rose, and Birdo followed them out. Luigi stopped them though.
"Hey-a-guys," he spoke sincerely, "I know I have to nominate two-a-people. I'm awfully sorry about it, if I could, I wouldn't nominate a single soul."
"We know Luigi," Birdo smiled, "I think we all feel the same way."
Birdo: Hell no do I feel the same way! I came here for the money baby! Luigi's getting deadly smart. I don't think this is an act, but theatrics or not, this sincerity he's showing is going to win him a lot of jury votes!
The three women trekked back downstairs, leaving the brothers alone.
Luigi held up his hands, "I'm-a-sorry! I know what I did," his voice trailed off.
"Luigi," Mario shook his head, "I'm not-a-mad with you. I understand."
"You do?" Luigi asked, cocking his head.
"Of course!" Mario boomed, "Peach was-a-so good at competitions!"
"Oh…," Luigi spoke in a whisper, "Yeah, she sure was."
Luigi: Mario is not-a-understanding that I got rid of Peach to-a-preserve our relationship! He's so-a-blind!
"So," Mario moved on to a different realm of conversation, "I think it's-a-safe to-a-say that Pauline and-a-Rosalina are in the hot seat this-a-week."
"Yeah," Luigi nodded, "Sounds about-a-right!"
"Good," Mario nodded, "Rosalina needs to feel the pressure of the block for once."
Luigi solemnly nodded, simply agreeing with his brother. As he followed him down for breakfast, he could only think of one thing, how arrogant and blind his brother actually was.
As Luigi climbed back upstairs from breakfast, he opened the door to his HOH room. Open walking inside, he gasped. Painted on the locked side door was a big question mark, another Pandora's Box. Two envelopes rested on the table, and he precariously plucked the first one from its stand, eyeing the television screen.
"You have stumbled upon a Pandora's Box," Luigi read silently to himself, "Inside could be a curse for you, and a blessing for the house, or maybe the opposite way around."
Luigi nodded, then read the second envelope.
"Are you ready to reunite with a loved one?" he read. Suddenly, the screen flashed to a picture of Daisy, waving to him. She blew a kiss at the screen, sunlight dancing on her rosy cheeks. Giddy, Luigi set down the envelope, and didn't think twice about thrusting open the door and opening the Pandora's Box.
"Hello?" Luigi called, "Daisy?"
The room was pitch dark, no sound, no light. Luigi whirled around, and tested the door handle. He was locked in. Suddenly, a sequence of numbers flashed on the wall. Then, bit by bit, the numbers began to tick down. And if they were a timer, then he had three hours in this black box, alone and without light.
He had been cursed.
Downstairs, everyone was minding their own business when the doorbell rang. Fearing the return of MC Ballyhoo, they all froze.
"No," Pauline said quietly, fearing the worst. Mario crept towards the door, with Birdo clutching the back of the couch, her knuckles white. Mario opened the door and a familiar auburn haired beauty bounced into the house.
"I'm back!" Daisy wailed, throwing up her hands in glee.
"No way!" Rosalina breathed, completely astonished. The four of them crowded around her, giving her hugs and kisses.
"There's only four of you left? Where's Luigi?" Daisy cried.
"No, Luigi's still here. Wait, you don't know what's happened?" Rosalina asked.
"No!" Daisy replied, "Only the jury does. But the rest of us are in sequester, we don't know what's happened. So wait…Peach is out?"
Pauline nodded, but Daisy wasn't really paying attention. She was scouring the house for Luigi.
"He should be upstairs," Birdo pointed at the HOH room.
"Wait," Daisy said, turning ghost white, "Luigi's the Head of Household? Oh no..."
"What's-a-the meaning of all-a-this!" Mario demanded.
"Someone opened Pandora's Box," Daisy explained, "And while I'm here for three hours-"
Rosalina filled in, gasping as well, "He's locked up there for the whole time!"
"That's so sick!" Birdo made a disgusted face, "Why would the producers do something so low?"
"Well," Daisy pursed her lips, "I guess you guys can just fill me in on everything that's happened since I was gone."
"Do you want to see if Luigi's just in the room?" Pauline ventured, "He might be able to talk to you through the door."
"Good idea!" Daisy lauded, bolting upstairs.
"Luigi?" She called, speaking right against the HOH room door. "Luigi?" There was no reply, and her heart sunk.
"I'm-a-so sorry," Mario said, patting her on the back. Daisy sniffled, holding in some tears. She had been really excited to see Luigi.
"Well, here's what happened then," Birdo said, kicking her feet up on the couch and regaling Daisy with stories of the past weeks. She discussed Rosalina's rise to power and how she knocked out Toadette after Peach manipulated the house. Following that, Mario was backdoored in a shocking double eviction.
"But he won his way back in, I was there for that," Daisy nodded, remembering the catching competition she lost during her last brief tenure in the house.
"Yes," Mario nodded, and Birdo continued.
"Then, Waluigi went flipping crazy and we all ganged up on him. He was evicted next," Birdo explained. Following Waluigi's eviction, a true double eviction took place and both DK and Peach were sent packing.
"She's really gone," Daisy whistled, "Serves her right."
"She cleaned up her act," Pauline pointed out, and Mario nodded.
"They're dating," Rosalina mouthed to Daisy, who looked alarmed and embarrassed. After apologizing, Daisy spent the rest of her time in the house eating lunch with the houseguests and enjoying her company. Then, during her final minute, a buzzer sounded and she had to leave.
"Goodbye guys, it was so wonderful seeing you again," she said, hugging everyone. After saying her goodbyes, she waved and walked out the front door for the third time that summer. Once being evicted, once after losing the redemption challenge, and now signaling the ending of this dreaded Pandora's Box. As soon as the front door closed, Luigi burst out of the HOH room.
"I was locked in there for-a-three hours!" Luigi stammered, and the other four houseguests swarmed him.
"Luigi," Mario hung his head, "There's-a-something we need to-a-tell you."
"Daisy was here," Birdo reported sadly, and Luigi nodded in grim understanding.
"I think I-a-get it," Luigi said, "It was a curse. I was locked up-a-there while she got to visit."
"How horrible," Rosalina restated.
"Well guys, I-a-opened the Pandora's Box. How was she?" Luigi asked, genuinely concerned over Daisy's well-being. Everyone caught him up to speed, and as the four trickled into the backyard, Luigi trotted upstairs to cast his nominations, hating having to do so.
Upstairs, Luigi inserted two keys into the ring's slots. Two of the other keys he placed inside a red velvet pouch, which he sealed away in the cabinet. Toting the massive nomination ring downstairs, he called for the meeting and the other four contestants filtered into the kitchen.
Placing the big tray on the table, Luigi stepped back and clapped his hands.
"This is the-a-nomination ceremony. One of my-a-duties as-a-Head of Household is to-a-nominate two houseguests for eviction. I will-a-pull the first key and that person is-a-safe. They will-a-pull the next key and-a-so on and-a-so forth," Luigi explained.
He bent forward, removing the first key.
"Mario, you are-a-safe," Luigi smiled, handing his brother the key. Mario knew he was going to be safe though, so he looked between the three women before removing the second and final key.
Birdo looked calm, as always. Pauline and Rosalina knew their fate though, for Birdo had everyone on her side.
"Birdo," Mario revealed, removing the final key, "You are-a-safe."
"Thank you Luigi," Birdo smiled, accepting the key from Mario. Pauline and Rosalina weren't too terribly upset, for they knew Mario and Birdo were closer allies with Luigi than they were. Luigi still looked upset.
"Ladies, I'm-a-so sorry. I had to put up two people, so just fight a real hard during the veto!" Luigi tried to sound motivating, "But with that, this-a-nomination ceremony is adjourned."
Luigi: I've wanted to win-a-HOH so-a-bad! But I hate having to-a-nominate people!
Pauline: I'm in a pickle. I know I'm last on the totem pole, Rosalina's played a far better social game than I have, and she's won more competitions to boot. If I don't win this veto, I'm screwed.
Rosalina: I've got Pauline wrapped around my finger and Birdo in my back pocket. All I need to do is win this veto and it'll be smooth sailing from here on out.
I'm so sorry I did that, I know it was cruel keeping Luigi from Daisy, but it had to be done! Actually, you didn't know what you were doing, but voting for the Pandora's Box content also determined this weeks HOH! Selecting the veto ball would have made Mario in power, picking Daisy would put Luigi in power, voting for Toodles would result in Birdo winning, and picking the chance to win 10,000 dollars would've secured Pauline's success as HOH!
So, now that Luigi is in power, he's feeling remorse over casting nominations. However, Rosalina feels confident with her secret ally Birdo. Pauline is between a rock and a hard place, and her life in the game depends on the veto. Who will win, who will lose? Find out next time on Big Brother!
-AdmiralBobbery