Chris, Topher, and Lindsay stood at the city limits of Drama City.
"Last time, on Total Drama Party with the Stars!" the three began in unison.
"Our players all wheeled and dealed to try and gain control over the game," Chris recapped. "It seemed like the groupings were pretty well-defined, but how would those groups work together to get ahead?"
"Well, for starters, Quentin approached Shadya about her always voting with the Gryphons," Topher chuckled. "It's almost like people in the game make plans with more than one person."
"But they were friends! It was seriously uncool," Lindsay insisted. "Speaking of friends, Vladimir came up to Frita to tell her that she isn't really his. But they're still working together... I think."
"Do either of them have a choice?" Chris chuckled.
"The unpopular kids having no choice but to band together... truly, the more things change..." Topher mentioned.
"Oh, just like back in high school, when Elliot and Martha spent their first three years hating each other, and then they started dating by senior year!" Lindsay recalled.
"I guess we haven't reached senior year, yet," Chris remarked. "With Brittany in Isolation Park, a move against her alliance of three started to formulate. Cyan and Kun were happy to be out of the minority, and Shadya understood that weakening the trio would leave all the power in her own hands."
"That's just like when Elliot's ex Londyn gave food poisoning to Martha because she was jealous that they were getting close!" Lindsay mentioned. "Except Elliot ended up caring for Martha when she was sick, and it brought them even closer together!"
"I... Is it like that?" Topher asked Chris.
"All I know is that we messed up by not casting Londyn on this show," Chris tutted. "Anyway, the challenge did end up bringing out everyone's nasty opinions about each other. Bailey and Brittany won Invincibility in the end."
"Which, if you've been paying attention, shook everyone's plans a little," Topher snickered.
"But only a little, because Hugh was still vulnerable that night," Chris continued. "It seemed like a straightforward vote, but Quentin's broken trust with Shadya, combined with the challenge making him feel inadequate, led to the shake-up of the season."
"Why would he play his statue to save Hugh?! They don't even like each other!" Lindsay ranted.
"Well, Shadya was a threat, who Quentin felt like wasn't in his corner," Topher explained. "Not an awful move on paper, though now that Shadya's been eliminated, we still have to see how Quentin tackles the rest of the game."
"That's for sure," Chris nodded. "Anyway, we're down to the final eight, soon to be seven! Who will take control, and who will fall short? It's all happening right now, on Total!" he began.
"Drama!" Topher and Lindsay continued.
"Party with the Stars!" the three concluded in unison.
The marquee outside Hatchet's Diner read "I'm goin' on strike 'til I get new knives!" Inside the diner, Bailey took a seat across from Quentin.
"He really did go on strike," Bailey noted. "It's a good thing I started teaching myself how to cook at a relatively young age."
"And luckily, I remember everything Xingrong taught me," Quentin boasted. "Genuinely, unironically, it's made my life better."
"That does look like a tasty sandwich," Bailey admitted. "I hope you'll pardon me for cutting to the chase..."
"Honestly, it's better than letting the tension hang there," Quentin relented.
"I understand that we've been distant from one another, in spite of how much time we've spent on the same teams," Bailey began. "But you went out of your way to save my ally, and I cannot let that go unrewarded."
"To be fair-"
"Please, Quentin," Bailey interrupted. "I want to repay your kindness. I imagine your move will have earned the ire of the other Wyverns. I think we can take advantage of them being relatively fractured. You, me, Hugh, Brittany, and we can get Vladimir onboard, too. Kun being in Isolation should help."
"I guess it doesn't get much more straightforward than that," Quentin admitted. "Can I ask that we don't vote for Frita, though?"
"There are pros and cons to voting out any of the three," Bailey nodded. "If you don't want to vote for Frita right now, then we can easily vote for Cyan or Kun, assuming they're vulnerable."
"I only ask because Vladimir's kind of sketchy, and if Frita feels safe with this arrangement, I feel like she'd be more willing to stick with it," Quentin explained.
"I agree," Bailey smiled. "Getting Frita to trust us at all may be easier said than done, though."
"She... vaguely trusts me," Quentin offered. "If we offer her safety, she'd be hard-pressed to say no."
"You'd think..." Bailey muttered under her breath.
Confessional:
Bailey: Of course, Brittany and Hugh both have Statues we can use in a worst-case scenario, but the others don't need to know that. I am glad that Quentin seems receptive, though. He's not a dishonest person, so if he's expressing interest in working with us, then that's a good sign.
Quentin: Well... I made a tough decision last night. Literally one of my least favorite things to do, but I did it. And honestly? I feel better about these guys than I did with Shadya. I get the sense that they actually do need me. So that's nice!
Cyan, Frita, and Vladimir met up at the shoddy garage hangout.
"I have to say, I didn't expect a Wyverns reunion," Vladimir smiled. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Cyan gave Vladimir a 'come on' look. "Quentin's shacking up with the obvious trio. If we don't work together here, that's it for us. No ifs, ands, or buts."
"Yeah, I guess Invincibility isn't something we can bank on, huh?" Frita sighed. "Especially because Kun's in Isolation. He's probably not winning anything."
"That doesn't necessarily mean a hard loss is guaranteed, but it does pay to come prepared," Vladimir nodded. "Do you have a specific target in mind?"
"Well, uh..." Cyan thought about it. "I feel like Bailey has the best shot at actually winning between the three. People are on Brittany's case about already winning, and Hugh is... Hugh."
"Very good points," Vladimir agreed.
Cyan leered at him. "And if I hear anything about anyone besides us and Kun catching on to this plan, I'll know who to blame."
"Hey now." Vladimir put up his hands. "Not to discredit your strategic chops, but I don't think it's hard to predict that you'd put this kind of move together, given your position at the moment."
"So what do we do then?" Cyan huffed. "If this move is so predictable, how do you propose we make it out of this?"
"Why can't we just get Quentin to stick with us again?" Frita asked.
"Because he showed last night that he's willing to flip on an emotional whim?" Cyan explained. "We can't rely on that."
"First time, huh?" Frita commented.
"I know you know that it's not," Cyan huffed.
"Frita and Quentin have historically gotten along, right?" Vladimir posited. "She might be able to charm him into staying loyal to her."
"I'm not even going to dignify the use of the word 'charm'," Frita grumbled.
"Convincing Quentin was your idea, hon," Cyan told Frita. "If anyone's going to be able to do it, it's you."
"God, that's depressing," Frita sighed. "I guess you're not wrong, though."
"Yeah, you two used to play video games together all the time before the team shuffle!" Cyan encouraged. "Get him to play with you, and he'll remember how good you two are together."
"...Maybe," Frita murmured.
"It can only help your game in the long run," Vladimir assured her.
"I'll see what I can do, but I won't promise you anything," Frita maintained. "I'm not exactly known for getting people on my side."
Confessional:
Frita: How did we get to a point where multiple people are relying on me to stay alive in this game? Eh, I guess one of those people is me, and I've already made it this far. I might as well justify that on some level.
Cyan: We're only in this predicament because we aren't able to stay organized. Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh, even though there's only three of them, have done this well because they have their crap together. We need to unite against a common enemy, or else none of us are going to see the final three, let alone the blue ribbon!
Vladimir: Hey, as long as it's not me, I'm good to go with this deal. I don't believe for a moment that Cyan intends to let me stick around after she doesn't need me anymore, but hey, knowing is half the battle. I'll count my blessings now, and go get some more later on.
Brittany and Hugh hung out at the motel as the latter practiced juggling.
"It honestly looks a lot cooler than it sounds," Brittany commented.
"What, juggling?" Hugh asked. "I mean, I didn't pick it up so I could brag about being a juggler. It's just a fun little party trick. Nobody ever expects it. It's fun to catch people off guard."
"How did you decide on juggling specifically?" Brittany wondered.
"Saw some guy do it on TV once," Hugh explained. "I was genuinely impressed, so I figured if I could do it, too, that'd at least be a good ice breaker."
"Any luck with that?" Brittany asked.
"You asked about it, didn't you?" Hugh smirked.
"Fair point," Brittany laughed. "...Do you ever miss Irving?"
"'Miss' is a strong word," Hugh said. "It sucks that he went home when there was nothing we could do about it, but we've managed to get by."
"Come on, you clearly trusted him. You didn't consider him a friend at all?" Brittany pressed.
"Where's this coming from?" Hugh asked skeptically. He caught all his juggling balls.
"I don't know. I kind of miss him," Brittany admitted. "He brought a lot of energy that's been kind of lacking recently, you know?"
"Eh, I guess," Hugh allowed. "The game wears on you, though. You and I both know that well."
"Exactly, that's why I wish he was still here to keep spirits up," Brittany explained.
"What I'm saying is that maybe he wouldn't be so perky at this point," Hugh clarified. "He only played a half season before. He doesn't know the struggle of being here for almost a month and being constantly on-edge."
"The endgame is stressful no matter how long the game is overall," Brittany denied. "Especially when people are on your back the whole time."
"That's why you just refuse to give a fuck what anyone else thinks," Hugh snickered. He started juggling again.
"Isn't that why you lost Alpha Party?" Brittany smiled.
"Why, is that smugness I hear from Ms. Brittany Hardwick?" Hugh reacted, pleasantly surprised. "Alright, I think I get what you mean. Fuck the game, let's just roast each other for a few hours."
"I'll pass on that, but I'll grant you that speaking my mind does feel pretty good," Brittany answered.
"We don't work together so well for nothing," Hugh shrugged. "I'd be honored to win with you as my second place."
"Is that so?" Brittany laughed, eyebrows raised.
Confessional:
Brittany: One big way that this season differs from Explore Party is that my original season felt a lot more casual. Personal relationships were more important than anything. This season, everyone's here to prove themselves and earn a win through tough gameplay. There's nothing wrong with that, but I do kind of miss making it this far with people like Reese or Joel.
Hugh: Yeah, it's important to have fun, which is why I haven't taken this game too seriously. Fuck, after I set up the alliance, I haven't really had to. I've been basically untouchable this whole time! And now Quentin might be with us, too? This really is Alpha Party 2.0! Except with the better outcome in the end, obviously.
"It's been a couple of days," Quentin smiled as he took a seat next to Frita on the couch in the nice garage, controller in hand. "Relaxing is important."
"I'm still not good at this game... or relaxing," Frita prefaced as she grabbed a controller of her own. "...But as long as we're having fun, I guess that's all that matters."
"I'll pick someone I don't usually play," Quentin assuaged.
The two proceeded into their virtual scrap. After some back-and-forth, Quentin still emerged victorious.
"I guess I have been playing this a lot the past couple of days," Quentin admitted.
"It's my own fault if I haven't," Frita sighed.
"Well hey, I'm glad you found me," Quentin smiled. "I want to talk about the future of the game whenever you want to take a break from Street Fighter."
"I was also told to rope you into an alliance," Frita said. "Let me guess, now we have to choose between working with Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh; or Cyan, Kun, and Vladimir."
"Actually, Bailey mentioned letting Vladimir in on it, too," Quentin added. "Other than that, yeah, you're right on the money."
"Why would she let Vladimir in on it?" Frita winced.
"I had to talk her into including you," Quentin explained. "She isn't really sure where you stand."
"And she's sure where Vladimir stands?" Frita doubted.
"No, but... actually, I don't know why she'd include him before you," Quentin realized.
"Probably because I'm a wreck who kept pushing those three away whenever they tried to rope me into their BS," Frita sighed. "At least Vladimir's polite when he screws you over."
"But you trust him more than Cyan, right?" Quentin posited.
"I don't know. I guess?" Frita waffled. "The three Gryphons are probably unbreakable, so if we and Vladimir help them get to final six, then what?"
"Hugh might flip," Quentin mentioned.
"He'd screw over his game-long allies to help our messy selves out?" Frita questioned.
"I wouldn't want to face a jury against Bailey or Brittany," Quentin figured. "Honestly? Hugh might be our best bet against a jury, too."
"Better than Vladimir?" Frita wondered.
"That's what I'm saying. If we go with the Gryphons deal, we can probably lose Bailey and Brittany at final six or so," Quentin proposed. "And that makes it a lot easier for us."
"You could mostly say the same about getting rid of Cyan if we side with the Wyverns," Frita thought aloud. "Kun might even be easier to beat than Hugh."
"That's also a good point," Quentin nodded. "This is tough."
"How long do you think it'll take the others to realize we're right in the middle, and just vote us out?" Frita chuckled darkly.
"If we play it right? After it's too late," Quentin smirked.
Frita looked blankly at him.
"Come on, you have to admit that sounded a little cool," Quentin pleaded.
"We can probably get Vladimir on board with this," Frita ignored. "This... might actually work."
Confessional:
Frita: Dear god, am I seriously vaguely optimistic about something Total Drama related? Because... Devlin would absolutely keep me around for as long as it helped his game, and Quentin has actual faith in me as an ally for some reason. There are still a million ways this can go wrong, but... I don't know.
Quentin: You know I always try to look at the positives. Turning on Shadya hurt... still does... but it's opened up a pretty strong opportunity for me. I think it's even made my position in the game better. This could really happen, guys!
Vladimir found Hugh having a drink at the barcade.
"I don't know if I've ever seen you here before," Vladimir noted.
"That's because it's usually full of artards," Hugh explained. "Granted, most of the people who frequent this place are still in the game, but it was empty for once, so I figured why not. And what about you? I doubt you drink at all."
"It's true, I don't," Vladimir confirmed.
"So, what, you're here to rope me into whatever scheme you've got cooked up?" Hugh guessed.
"Actually, I'm here to play video games," Vladimir smiled.
"Yeah, yeah," Hugh dismissed.
"I'm actually not kidding," Vladimir said. "Is it truly so strange, the idea?"
"You know the answer to that, don't bullshit me," Hugh sneered. "Mr. Serious With A Smile over here."
"I've been called that before," Jayne offered. "Without the Mr. part."
"Shit, when did you get back?!" Hugh jumped.
"Just now," Jayne smiled seriously. "Would you like a drink, Barry?"
"That's alright," Vladimir declined. "But yes, Hugh, I have the urge to give Street Fighter a try."
"Fair enough," Hugh dismissed. "Fill me in on the scheme whenever." He took a sip of his drink.
"Do you want to play with me, perchance?" Vladimir offered.
"Brother, I'm just here for a shitty beer before the challenge," Hugh scowled. "Recall the part where I came here specifically to chill on my own."
"'Brother', huh?" Vladimir chuckled.
"Fuck off," Hugh grunted.
"Alright, well I'll leave you with my scheme, then," Vladimir conceded. "You, me, Brittany, Quentin."
"I'll think about it," Hugh brushed aside.
Vladimir gave a polite nod and went to the Street Fighter cabinet.
"...So the beer is not to your satisfaction?" Jayne asked, hurt.
"It's fine. Shitty beer isn't necessarily bad," Hugh explained.
"I do not understand," Jayne admitted.
"Can you even taste?" Hugh inquired.
"Not in such a complex manner as organic people," Jayne said. "I'm also not allowed to drink any of what I'm here to serve."
"When this game's over, I'm educating you," Hugh decided.
"I appreciate that," Jayne smiled.
Confessional:
Hugh: Pfft, yeah, like Vladimir doesn't already have like seven other alliances of four. You got any other mamby-pamby ideas on this episode of Cuckame Street? He probably spun that exact same shit to Bailey! And probably Frita and Cyan, with each other instead of me and Brit! Absolute artard.
Vladimir: I am serious about this foursome I proposed to Hugh. I know Brittany doesn't trust me a whole lot, but if I mentioned Frita right out of the gate, there wouldn't be much incentive for Hugh to consider it. Frita can be an unofficial auxiliary member, and we can take out some of the bigger threats in the game. I'll give him a better sales pitch when he's more open to hearing it.
Brittany and Cyan danced to some upbeat music at the nightclub that had opened up a few rounds ago.
"Where has this place been the whole game?!" Brittany enthused.
"We had to earn it, but we earned it!" Cyan whooped. "Final eight, baby!"
"I can't believe it!" Brittany agreed.
The two continued to lose themselves to the music, until they noticed Bailey standing at the edge of the dance floor, watching them expectantly.
"Come dance with us, Bailey!" Cyan invited.
"I'm sorry?!" Bailey called, cupping her hand behind her ear.
"I said come dance with us!" Cyan repeated, beckoning with her arm.
"I can't hear you over the music!" Bailey explained.
"I don't think she can hear you!" Brittany reiterated.
"What?!" Cyan asked.
Brittany walked over to the DJ booth and turned down the music.
"What, no, I offered for her to dance with us," Cyan pouted.
"I think I've proven that I don't really dance," Bailey said apologetically.
"What brings you here, then?" Brittany inquired.
"Oh, just killing time until the challenge," Bailey said.
"By not dancing at the club?" Brittany wondered.
"Maybe she's looking for that video game we played for that one challenge," Cyan brought up.
"They have DDR at the arcade, that's basically a better version of what we played," Brittany countered.
"It also uses up a lot of energy," Cyan pointed out. "Bailey seems like a lower-energy person."
"If you would stop speaking as if I'm not here..." Bailey twitched. "How would the two of you feel about voting for Kun tonight?"
"Over Vladimir? Not great," Cyan answered. "Do any of us even trust that man?"
"If you want to make a deal, Brittany and I are certainly open," Bailey offered.
"Vote out Vladimir?" Cyan proposed. "I'll vote out Kun next as long as he goes first."
"That sounds agreeable," Bailey nodded. "Brittany?"
"Oh, uh, yeah, no objections here," Brittany agreed.
"Wonderful," Bailey smiled. "I'll leave you two to your dancing."
Bailey took her leave. Brittany and Cyan shared an amused look.
Confessional:
Bailey: If Brittany and Cyan are to form a relationship in the game, I should be capitalizing on it, not trying to prevent it. If she and Quentin feel safe with me and my alliance, we can take great advantage of that, considering the poor reputation we have at the moment. Naturally, Cyan will not be sitting next to me against the jury, but I'll give her an inch if it means I can take a mile.
Cyan: Yeah, I'm not voting out Kun. He's the person I trust the most at this point. Hell, I'd probably be better off sticking with the deal that includes Vlad! Part of me feels kind of bad lying to Bailey, but, I mean... you saw her there, right? Forcing herself into me and Brittany just trying to unwind so she can drop some uninvited deal on me? Read the room, babe!
Brittany: I know Bailey has a lot riding on this and wants to do well, but maybe I should talk to her about toning it down. She's playing hard, and it's becoming more and more noticeable. I don't want that to come at the cost of her game, you know? There's a balance you have to strike.
Bailey had returned to the penthouse and sat on the balcony, writing poetry.
"Come on, what rhymes with 'obtuse'?" Bailey asked herself.
"Rubber goose? Green moose? Guava juice?" Greg suggested.
"...I'll pass on using any of those," Bailey declined.
"That aside, Hugh is at the door," Greg relayed.
"Let him in," Bailey allowed. She shut her notebook and returned indoors.
"Bailey, I am nonplussed!" Hugh announced as he entered the penthouse.
"What happened?" Bailey sighed.
"I was just enjoying a drink by myself, and who else but Vladimir shows up to give me some phony alliance offer," Hugh explained.
"Okay...?" Bailey gauged. "That doesn't seem particularly out of character for him."
"Exactly!" Hugh shouted. "Let me guess: he offered you something along the lines of you, him, Quentin, and Brittany?"
"No, I haven't spoken with him today, actually," Bailey admitted. "The peace and quiet of the penthouse is nice, so I'm taking advantage of it while I can."
"Wait... You serious?" Hugh blinked. "Has Brittany said anything about him offering her anything?"
"I'm afraid not," Bailey denied. "I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean he hasn't offered her anything, if you'll pardon the double-negative."
"Come on, work with me here!" Hugh interjected to nobody in particular.
"Your telling me about this tells me that you wish to target Vladimir. Is that the case?" Bailey wondered.
"Might as well, if he's going to make me look like an asshole!" Hugh ranted.
Bailey thought about her next words carefully. "Cyan and Kun should still be willing to vote for him. Doing them a favor might help our standings with them, and still leave us room to take control in future rounds, assuming Quentin sticks with us."
"Isn't he fucking Frita? Shouldn't we be getting rid of her if we want him to stick with us?" Hugh asked.
"Crass implications aside, that's not a bad point," Bailey admitted.
"Actually, Vladimir's probably fucking Frita," Hugh thought aloud. "Then again, I guess they can both be fucking Frita."
"Hugh," Bailey said sternly.
"You're right, you're right," Hugh placated. "If she was fucking anyone, she wouldn't be like this in the first place."
"Bring up sex one more time, and I'll vote you out!" Bailey threatened.
"Alright, geez!" Hugh reluctantly complied.
Confessional:
Bailey: I'm back-and-forth on if Frita really is the best option, though it's not a bad option. Right now I'm still hung up on my uncharacteristic outburst at Hugh. Sex is a little touchy of a subject to me, no pun intended. My boyfriend of six years has been in prison for as long as we've been together, and I've stayed faithful. I want nothing more than to be with him, but I can't, and... it gets to me sometimes. I'm not proud of it.
Hugh: So, wait a minute... There's no way Vladimir was serious about that alliance offer, right?! There's no fucking way. Because if he was serious, and Bailey had no idea... Fuck, I totally could have used that to my own selfish advantage! And then my artard ass had to go and tell her just so I could make fun of him for it! Christ on a cracker, the ONE time he actually says something he means!
Frita sat at a bench in McLean Park, drawing. Cyan noticed her as she passed by.
"Oh, hey Frita!" Cyan waved.
Frita looked at her in acknowledgement, hummed inaudibly, and returned her attention to the sketchbook.
"I don't see you outside very often. Guess you're doing well, huh?" Cyan encouraged.
"Pointing out how out-of-character it is for introverts to do something extroverted just makes us more insecure and less likely to put ourselves out there," Frita said harshly. "I can't just go outside without everyone calling attention to it like it's some big weird novelty?"
"Sorry, sorry!" Cyan panicked. "I really am happy to see you here, though. It tells me that you're in a better place since the other night."
"My mental health is none of your business," Frita said harshly.
"You're my friend, so that's not entirely true," Cyan frowned.
"Stop thinking about me as your friend, then," Frita glowered. "Then you won't have to bear that burden."
"Frita..." Cyan sighed. "Alright, I'll ask this as your ally instead of your friend: did you talk to Quentin?"
"Yeah," Frita confirmed. "I think we're on the same page."
"That's good," Cyan smiled. "You think I should follow up with him?"
"Do what you want," Frita dismissed.
"I'm not just asking for my own health, here," Cyan scolded. "This concerns your spot in the game, too."
"No, no, you're doing it wrong," Hugh condescended as he approached the two. He turned to Frita. "Alright listen, we get it, pushing people away is the only way you know how to maintain any shred of self-esteem! You think that's impressing anyone?! Like anyone actually thinks better of you because of it? And don't try to tell me you don't care what other people think, because we all know that's a lie! You never shut up about what others think! And that's especially important in this game, where the people you're voting out become the jury that decides the winner. You think Cyan wants your ass to win when she's trying to help and you're just being a bitch in return? If winning apparently matters that little, then do us all a favor and just quit already. Stop taking up a precious spot in the game. People might actually respect that!"
"...Fuck you," Frita mustered. She speed-walked away.
"See, that's how it's done," Hugh boasted to Cyan.
"What?!" Cyan reacted. "That was so beyond necessary!"
"Wow, you try to help someone in this game, and they just react with anger." Hugh shook his head. "First Frita to you, then you to me. When will the cycle of pain stop?"
"When this damn game is over," Cyan answered.
Confessional:
Cyan: I hope Hugh realizes the irony of him yelling at Frita about jury management in front of me. I doubt either of us would vote for him... well, to begin with, but especially not now! I guess the pressure's getting to all of us one way or another. At least those two are there to remind me to keep my cool. (she laughs nervously)
Frita: Hugh's wrong. I can't just quit. That wouldn't be fair to everyone who's already lost. I'm here, and they're not. This is probably going to be my last chance to make something of myself on this show. Even if I'm probably going to mess it up... I need to at least try.
Hugh: It's a harsh reality of this world that some people just respond better to negative feedback. Frita's so goddamn transparent about how she wants people's attention and sympathy and all that bullshit. Please! She hasn't earned my sympathy!
Brittany returned to her room, and noticed the envelope she left on the table.
"Oh, right, I forgot to open this," Brittany mentioned.
She opened the envelope and read the contents.
"It's another one of these. Hopefully I never need it, but it's better than needing it and not having it. Thanks, Shadya!"
She heard a knock on the door. Answering it revealed Quentin and Vladimir on the other side.
"Good afternoon," Vladimir smiled. "May we come in?"
"Uh, sure," Brittany allowed. "What's up?"
"I'm not sure either. He just said to follow him because we were looking for you," Quentin admitted.
"That's... not weird," Brittany laughed awkwardly.
"It's not, I promise," Vladimir assured her. "I'm here to highlight an opportunity that would help us all."
"Is that so?" Brittany responded skeptically.
"The way I see it, the lines that have already been drawn won't do any of us any good," Vladimir explained. "Everyone already thinks they know where everyone else stands, and it's led to a lack of trust. Last night exemplified that, I think."
"So me and Quentin are your ideal final three?" Brittany figured.
"I think that, if the three of us plus Hugh, work together, we can take advantage of the fact that the others will be too occupied on what they think is going on," Vladimir posited.
"That's actually not a bad arrangement," Quentin admitted.
"You really want to leave the rest of the original Wyverns out to dry?" Brittany asked.
"Well, it's like Vladimir said, right?" Quentin said. "They won't expect it, so they won't be able to do much about it until it's too late. Besides, after the move I made last night, I don't know if they trust me anyway, haha."
"And where's Hugh?" Brittany asked.
"I found him at the barcade earlier," Vladimir answered. "He seemed like he just wanted time to himself, though I did put the offer out there to him. I promise, I didn't arrange it with the three of us in order to corner you."
"Well, at least you're aware of the situation," Brittany remarked.
"You're right, this was out-of-line for me," Vladimir admitted. "I hope you accept my apologies. I'll see you at the challenge."
Vladimir took his leave.
"Between you and me, I talked to Bailey earlier," Quentin told Brittany. "She's interested in getting us, Hugh, and Frita for a majority."
"Is that so?" Brittany asked. "For what it's worth, I am open to working with you. I just need to get all my ducks in a row before I'm comfortable promising anything."
"Can't blame you for that," Quentin chuckled. "I'd better go, though. Don't want Vlad getting suspicious because I didn't leave right after him."
"See you," Brittany smiled.
Confessional:
Brittany: So I've got Bailey trying to get Cyan to join me and Hugh in voting for Kun, and now Vladimir proposed this new deal without Bailey and with Quentin. Also Bailey told Quentin about a deal with him and Frita instead of Cyan? I never agreed to that deal, so I'll vote Frita out if need be. It'd at least give me some time for figuring out the best direction here.
Quentin: You know, at this point, I'm just going to do what I do best: go with the flow, and look for the silver linings. I'm in a pretty good position, so if I make sure Frita's safe, I think we could make final two if I play my cards right.
Vladimir: Well, with that, I'd say I'm fairly well-insulated. Cyan wants to keep the shuffled Wyverns together, and with this group I've established, that's three more people who have less incentive to get rid of me. I don't think it'll be too hard to convince people to vote for Bailey or Kun, you know?
Kun sat on a rock in Isolation Park, across from Chef, who sat on a tree stump.
"I don't know, man," Chef grunted. "Why go out of your way to give me parole if you ain't gonna let me do shit? I got to participate in that one challenge out of pity. Other than that? I'm just stuck in that damn diner! Sometimes I'll make food if it's time for a meal. Ain't nothin' else to do between then, though! I read all my books twice by now!"
"Well, um, eating is important," Kun told him. "Without you, everyone would be a lot worse off. Being in Isolation Park, if anything, has taught me that you, um, can't undervalue a good meal."
"Give me a break!" Chef shouted. "It's the final goddamn eight and you're just now here for the first time! Some motherfuckers been here two or three times!"
"Er, yeah, I guess that's true," Kun sighed. "...Are you allowed to be in here? Isn't Isolation Park supposed to be... isolating?"
"I'm on strike, I don't give a fuck," Chef handwaved. "It's like how the jurors ain't supposed to be talkin' to anyone but each other, but they still talk about tedious shit that's got nothin' to do with the game. Nobody stops 'em, 'cause who cares?"
"Is that really okay?" Kun asked.
"If it ain't vital game-changin' information, then I don't see why not," Chef shrugged.
"I suppose that makes sense," Kun nodded. "But what does that have to do with you being here?"
"Nobody's stoppin' me, 'cause nobody cares," Chef claimed.
"I care, Chef," Kun said. "And, um, I can help you get through this, if-"
"I'mma stop you right there," Chef interrupted. "If you need me, I'll be back in the kitchen."
"The... The park door won't unlock until-"
"You think I got in here through the door?" Chef scoffed as he walked off.
Kun failed to formulate a response.
Confessional:
Kun: Being in Isolation Park has given me a lot of time to reflect. There really are a lot of people working for this show who feel thankless and unnecessary. That is, um, the opposite of how employees should feel. It saddens me to see that companies won't prioritize the happiness of those who take the time to work for them. At least I can, um, learn from the mistakes of others? (he laughs awkwardly)
The contestants met up with the hosts in McLean Park.
"Let's all welcome Kun back from Isolation, everyone!" Chris announced.
Kun waved slightly as he rejoined the others.
"I, um, hope things didn't get too hectic without me," Kun joked.
"Somehow, things can still be tedious and awkward even without you here," Hugh remarked.
"I'll take that as an indication that, um, uh... You know what, never mind," Kun sighed.
"Today's challenge will see us taking advantage of the illustrious O'Neal Barcade!" Chris announced.
"See, what'd I tell you?" Hugh told Kun.
"Jayne told me you spent a lot of time there this afternoon," Lindsay pointed out.
"Yeah, but unless this challenge is a drinking contest, I don't see myself enjoying the implications, here," Hugh grunted.
"That might not be a bad idea," Topher snickered.
"Nelson already shot it down, Topher," Chris said flatly. "Let's go, boys and girls!"
Confessional:
Cyan: Yeah, like Hugh's 150-pound ass could handle his liquor in the first place. ...Is that why he was so unnecessarily hard on Frita earlier?
Kun: I haven't allowed myself much time to get, um, acquainted with the video games here... or in regular life, for that matter. Still, I feel better about this than I would a strictly athletic challenge. (His stomach grumbles, and he chuckles awkwardly.)
Vladimir: I did not anticipate that this would be today's challenge, though it is pretty fortunate that it turned out this way on the day I started practicing, huh? I'm still not very good at any given video game, but hey, my earlier visit could pay off in the end. Who knows?
The players entered the barcade, where a man wearing overpriced casual clothes greeted them with a condescending sneer.
"Well hello. You've kept me waiting," he said.
"Oh, sorry, we haven't quite mastered teleportation yet," Hugh snarked.
"It's been some time, Preston," Bailey acknowledged.
"And for good reason," Preston scowled. "How's Mr. Knife-Happy?"
"Happier now than you'll ever be for the rest of your miserable life," Bailey seethed.
"I don't have anyone's literal blood on my hands, but if he can live with himself, then I'm glad he's taken baby steps," Preston brushed aside.
"Hey, let's explain the challenge before this gets any nastier," Brittany suggested nervously.
"Now now, let them talk," Topher denied.
"We're on a timeframe and will probably have to edit any further debate out, unfortunately," Chris pointed out.
"Alright, so be it," Preston smirked as he ran his hand through his hair. "As I'm sure you've no doubt surmised, today's challenge will involve playing games set up here in the arcade. This will be a tournament-style challenge, where each of you will face off one-on-one, where the winner moves forward. The first round will involve games of skee-ball, where the highest point count moves on. Second round will be the light gun game; once again, highest points win. The two who make final round will both win Invincibility, but only the person who walks away from the Street Fighter round victoriously will win penthouse privilege."
Everyone looked at Frita and Quentin.
"Come on, like I'm even going to make it that far," Frita sighed. "Hell, like I'm even actually any good at that game."
"You have more experience than most of us," Kun debated.
"Oho, we of all people should know that skill isn't everything when it comes to winning games," Preston chimed in.
"Yes, keep coping," Bailey muttered under her breath.
Confessional:
Bailey: Frankly, I'm not entirely sure why they selected him specifically to explain the challenge, but I could have gone the rest of my life without talking to that horrible, manipulative, gaslighting mongrel and been perfectly content.
Brittany: Preston does have a talent for getting under people's skin. I can't blame Bailey specifically for getting upset with him, though that is probably the angriest I've ever seen her. At least he didn't get asked to play this season, right?
Everyone gathered in front of the skeeball machines, all glowing with differently-colored neon bars and LED displays and decorated with loud 90s-esque patterns.
"What's neat about this challenge is all of you can go at the same time so we can move things along speedily," Chris boasted.
"If you want to get rid of us that quickly, you could just randomize Invincibility and not even bother with challenges," Frita droned.
"Tried that pitch twice, it's not happening," Topher grumbled.
"The chance to fight for safety from the vote is as core to the game as everyone getting a vote," Chris tutted. "Besides, it helps the annoying people stick around and stir up drama! Hehaha."
"Susan and Chappy really both outlasted me, didn't they?" Preston lamented. "Perhaps the game was flawed from the start."
"You're the one who begged to cameo in an episode," Chris mentioned flatly.
"I inquired as to the possibility," Preston corrected.
"The pairs facing off for the first round are..." Lindsay checked the list. "Frita versus Hugh, Kun versus Quentin, Bailey versus Cyan, and Brittany versus Vladimir. Whoever gets the most points in each pair will move on!"
"This might be our most high-tension bout yet," Vladimir joked to Brittany.
"You flatter me," Brittany joked back.
"Everyone has seven balls each," Topher mentioned. "Once you've used up all seven, that's your point total, take it or leave it."
"Realistically, take it," Chris added.
"Oh, okay, I guess if you say so," Quentin accepted.
"Readyyyyy... a-GO!" Chris prompted.
The players all pitched their first ball, which earned them various point values as they landed in the holes. Frita scored 5, Hugh scored 25. Quentin scored 100, Kun scored 15. Cyan scored 25, Bailey scored 25. Vladimir scored 50, Brittany scored 25.
"We've got some point leads between the pairs out of the gate, but things can always change," Chris commented.
"You can always forfeit the challenge and save yourself the embarrassment," Hugh mocked Frita.
"...No," Frita said. "If you're going to beat me, I'm not going to let it be because I was too scared to try."
"Since when are you undergoing an inspirational growth arc?!" Hugh reacted.
Everyone rolled their second ball. Frita scored 15, Hugh scored 15. Quentin scored 100, Kun scored 15. Cyan scored 50, Bailey scored 25. Vladimir scored 25, Brittany scored 50.
"Well, um, seems like you have a considerable lead," Kun commented to Quentin.
"I played a lot of skee ball at my local arcade when I was a kid," Quentin shrugged. "Guess muscle memory kicked in. These might be the exact same model, actually."
"Surely you've grown since then!" Kun reacted.
"I might not know how muscle memory works," Quentin admitted.
The players made their third roll. Frita scored 15, Hugh scored 15. Quentin scored 100, Kun scored 5. Cyan scored 50, Bailey scored 5. Vladimir scored 50, Brittany scored 50.
"This goes to show what a difference one bad roll can make," Bailey winced. "We were relatively close in the first two rounds."
"Well hey, that just means there's still plenty of time for me to mess it up," Cyan said playfully. "You got just as many points as Hugh, and he's in the lead on his side."
"I just need to land that hundred!" Hugh insisted.
"Don't we all?" Bailey mused.
The fourth attempt. Frita scored 25, Hugh's ball bounced off the lip of the 100 and rolled down into the 5. Quentin scored 100, Kun's ball met the same fate as Hugh's. Cyan scored 25, Bailey scored 50. Vladimir scored 25, Brittany scored 50.
"Well, um, at least we tried, right?" Kun commented to Hugh.
"Uh, fuck that, trying doesn't mean shit if you get 5 points and lost your point lead!" Hugh argued.
"We're still tied, it's not that dire," Frita murmured.
"That's right, at about the halfway point, Frita and Hugh both have 60 points," Chris recapped. "Quentin has... literally ten times Kun's points: 400 to 40. Cyan and Bailey are still not too far off, with Cyan at 150 and Bailey at 105. Vladimir and Brittany have traded decent scores, but right now Vladimir's at 150 and Brittany's at 175."
"Three rolls left. I'm curious to see who will fall behind," Preston added.
Confessional:
Quentin: Alright, I might have played the skee ball here a couple of times, so it's not like this is really my first time playing these since I was six. Still, I'm just as shocked as you that I've managed to get this many 100s in a row. Usually, at least one of them misses and falls into the 5.
Hugh: You know what, those jerks are right! I can still turn this around! Like hell am I going to lose in round one to Frita! And hey, at least I'm not Kun! (he cackles)
Now more determined than ever, the players rolled their fifth balls. Frita and Hugh each scored 25. Quentin scored 100, Kun scored 25. Cyan scored 15, Bailey scored 25. Vladimir and Brittany each scored 50.
"I'm not sure I can catch up at this point," Kun noted.
"Nope, but we're going to subject you to keep rolling anyway!" Topher mocked.
"Topher, that's mean!" Lindsay scolded.
"I wasn't going to let one of our precious contestants feel so down on himself that he gives up entirely," Topher claimed.
"Oh... That makes sense," Lindsay accepted. Kun looked more skeptical.
On the sixth go, Frita scored 25, while Hugh scored 15. Quentin scored 100, Kun scored 15. Cyan scored 25, Bailey scored 25. Vladimir scored 50, Brittany scored 25.
"Who knew we were so evenly matched?" Vladimir commented as he directed Brittany's attention to their even scores of 250.
"I certainly didn't," Brittany bantered. "Hey Topher, what happens if Vlad and I tie?"
"Keep rolling until you don't?" Topher responded as though the answer was obvious.
"Yeah, fair enough," Brittany winced.
"Alright, last roll for everybody!" Chris announced. "Make it count."
"Quick, how do you go from 1 to 10?" Quentin asked his ball, earning him strange looks from the others. "You know, cuz... Because he said to make it count... So I... Aw, you guys get it, it just wasn't funny."
"I laughed. It was quiet, but I laughed a little," Lindsay assured him.
"I appreciate that," Quentin smiled.
"Roll!" Chris instructed.
And they did. Frita scored 50, Hugh scored 15. Quentin scored 5, Kun scored 25. Cyan scored 15, Bailey scored 25. Vladimir scored 100, and Brittany also went for the small hole, but missed and scored 5.
"Huh, see, usually that happens to me a lot more often," Quentin noted.
"If only, huh?" Kun joked awkwardly.
"And we have our scores!" Chris announced. "Between Frita's score of 160, and Hugh's score of 115, Frita moves on to the second round!"
"Give me a BREAK!" Hugh shouted.
"Yeah, please take a break," Frita grumbled.
"Quentin scored a clean 605, which is just enough to beat Kun's 105," Chris continued.
"At least it was, um, close," Kun played along.
"Good game," Quentin complimented with a handshake.
"Cyan and Bailey were actually pretty close," Chris mentioned. "But it just takes one or two rolls, and Cyan's 205 beats out Bailey's 180!"
"Well played," Cyan complimented.
"Likewise," Bailey nodded.
"And we don't have to worry about a tie between Vladimir and Brittany," Chris concluded. "With a big scoring roll coming in clutch, Vladimir beats Brittany, 350 to 255!"
"I guess you're better than me after all," Brittany joshed.
"I never would have guessed," Vladimir shrugged casually.
"Now that we know who's moving on, let's head on to the next round!" Topher decided.
Confessional:
Frita: Skee-ball is mostly luck, so I'm not getting my hopes up... but it did feel nice to beat Hugh at something.
Kun: The lack of food or, um, decent sleep took more of a toll than I expected. I know excuses are excuses, but, um... Alright, I can't know for sure if I'd have won without being in Isolation Park. What I'm trying to say is that it's not fun out there.
Frita, Quentin, Cyan, and Vladimir each stood in front of one of four arcade cabinets pressed up against each other. The others surrounded them, ready to watch the next round.
"This round is a light gun zombie shooting game!" Preston announced. "You get points for killing zombies, but you get more points for shooting them in their weak spots, so keep an eye out for the pulsating red parts."
"Don't I always," Cyan chuckled.
"Not the pulsating blue parts?" Vladimir offered.
"If any part of you is blue and pulsating, you should probably have that looked at," Cyan cringed.
"Well, they're zombies, so they're already dead anyway," Quentin figured.
"Depends on the story. Sometimes the zombie infection is a virus that shuts down mental faculties without actually killing you," Frita explained.
"Nerd!" Hugh called from the back.
"I wish he'd catch that virus," Frita scoffed.
"On the push of this button, the games will all start at the same time," Chris told the contestants as he held up a remote. "Draw your weapons and get ready!"
The four took the light guns out of the holsters and stood readily.
"The matchups are Frita versus Quentin, and Cyan versus Vladimir," Preston explained. "Whoever gets the most points among their pair will move on to the final round."
"May the best of us win." Vladimir offered a handshake to Cyan.
Though hesitant, Cyan accepted the handshake with a slight nod.
"Good luck," Quentin said to Frita.
"I thought you didn't believe in luck," Frita mentioned.
"I don't, but it's still a polite thing to say," Quentin scratched his head. "There's got to be something else to say, right?"
"Break a leg?" Bailey suggested.
"Heh... Break a leg, Quentin," Frita smiled.
"Aaaaaaand... GO!" Chris commanded.
With the press of a button, the title screens all faded away, and Level 1 began. The four stood primed and ready for the first zombie to show up, which didn't stop most of them from stepping back in shock when the loud noise of glass shattering broke the once-dead silence. Zombies crawled through the now-broken window and turned their attention to the players
"Oh to hell with this!" Cyan cried as she and the others opened fire. Her aim was sub-optimal, and the zombies made it right in front of the screen, swiping and leaving red scratch marks on the display. "Am I dying?! What happens if I die?!"
"Then you have less of a chance to earn points?" Preston scoffed. "Honestly, think before you ask stupid questions."
"You are the last person who should be telling people to think before they speak!" Cyan shouted as she tried to remain focused on the game.
"Anyone else feel really good about their chances of moving on?" Vladimir asked.
"Quiet, you!" Cyan chastised.
She took more damage, nearly emptying her health bar.
"How are you holding up, Frita?" Quentin asked.
Frita did not answer, and remained in the zone as she picked off each zombie upon entering the screen.
"Haha, fair enough," Quentin grinned.
Confessional:
Cyan: Not every challenge is going to be in my wheelhouse. I get that. But do I have to be up against Vladimir while Preston's breathing down my neck, too? Is it so much to ask for that to not be the case?!
Bailey: It's annoying, having your most trusted allies all out of the challenge in the first round. Granted, I have deals with Quentin and Cyan... but I'm not optimistic about either of their chances here.
After taking one more hit, Cyan ran out of HP, and a bloody Game Over graphic appeared on screen.
"Welp. I lost!" Cyan threw her hands up in defeat.
"This means I'm more or less guaranteed Invincibility, right?" Vladimir smiled. "Nice."
"You can keep playing until you die if you really want," Chris offered.
"Might as well," Vladimir shrugged.
"How many points do you have?" Quentin asked Frita.
Frita did not answer.
"I'll take that to mean you have less than me," Quentin joked.
The zombies came in higher quantities than before, more spread out than before, moving faster. Both players focused on picking them off as best they could, though neither performed perfectly.
"It's come down to a battle of survival between Frita and Quentin," Topher narrated. "Who will be the first to give in to the zombie uprising?"
"Invincibility's on the line. One of them will have to deny the other's right to safety," Preston smirked. "I'm pretty sure I know who it's going to be, but why ruin the fun?"
"Yes, why start now?" Brittany remarked.
Quentin took a few hits from some zombies.
"Oh geez," he winced. He shot them off, but his HP had taken a considerable hit. "You probably have this, Frita."
Frita's eye twitched. "Can't let him get to you... Just ignore him..." she told herself inaudibly.
Kun and Cyan stood apart from the others.
"So, did I miss anything, um, big?" Kun asked.
"I'm trying to get everyone to go for a Bailey vote," Cyan relayed. "It's hard to trust pretty much anyone, but I've got to at least try, right?"
"It's usually better to regret something you did than something you didn't do," Kun nodded.
"That's not a bad way to look at it, honestly," Cyan realized.
"Do we know who Bailey's going for?" Kun asked.
"You. She told me herself," Cyan answered.
"Wow. She must be, um, really desperate if she's throwing me under the bus to my closest ally," Kun gulped. "And while I was isolated, no less."
"Yeah, you don't need to worry about me," Cyan assured him. "It's Quentin, Frita, and Vladimir who I'm worried about."
"I've gotten along with Quentin before. Fingers crossed," Kun chuckled awkwardly.
Just then, Quentin ran out of HP, and the Game Over graphic appeared on his screen.
"And Frita moves on to the final round!" Chris announced.
"Seriously?" Frita blinked.
"Good game," Quentin beamed.
Confessional:
Kun: Being separated from the rest of the players is, um, not the best thing for your standing in the game. That sounds obvious when I say it out loud, but this late in the game, I feel like it only becomes more and more of a detriment. (he gulps nervously)
Vladimir: Honestly? I don't really care if I stay in the penthouse. Invincibility is all I needed. That being said, I'm still going to fight for it. Gotta prove to Frita that I respect her at least a little if I want her to stick with me.
Frita and Vladimir stood in front of the Street Fighter 2 cabinet.
"Give me a break," Hugh said flatly.
"What?" Lindsay asked.
"Frita plays this game every day!" Hugh explained. "Why even hold the last round at that point?!"
"Come on Hugh, don't you remember this morning?" Vladimir tutted. "I've got some experience under my belt, too."
"Besides, just because I play it doesn't mean I'm good at it," Frita sighed.
"Well, as I'm sure you've all figured out, the last round is a game of Street Fighter," Preston highlighted. "Matches are best two out of three. We'll be playing to best two out of three matches. Changing characters between matches is allowed."
"If you have the guts to change characters, you probably deserve to win at that point," Frita claimed. "I can barely use the one."
"I can barely use any of them, so I'll probably have to switch after you smoke me in the first match," Vladimir smiled.
"Is he cocky or not, make up your mind!" Hugh grumbled.
"To be fair, he's always been like that to some extent," Brittany reasoned.
Vladimir and Frita took their spots in front of the two-player cabinet. Both chose Ryu.
"I didn't think you were the type to pick the main character," Vladimir noted.
"I figured he'd be the easiest to learn," Frita admitted.
"Heh. Me too," Vladimir mirrored.
"She's not bad with him. Don't underestimate her!" Quentin called.
"No, please do," Frita gulped.
The first round began. Vladimir took the offensive, but Frita blocked his moves with little effort. Once she saw an opening, she countered with a strong uppercut, knocking Vladimir's character on his back. She threw a fireball before he could get up, leaving him to stand up directly into the fireball. Then Frita took advantage of the opportunity to run in and start hitting Vladimir's character directly, resulting in a quick KO.
"Haha, I hardly had a chance to fight back," Vladimir complimented. "Maybe I did underestimate you a little."
"Fair. I overestimated you a little," Frita responded.
"OHHHHHHHHH!" Cyan, Hugh and Quentin shouted.
"Was that truly necessary?" Bailey griped.
"It's like sports. Pride's on the line in this most primal of competitions," Hugh explained.
"Mm, well I never got the appeal of sports either," Bailey added.
The second round began, and Vladimir approached Frita more slowly. This gave her the chance to use a long-reaching kick to maintain distance, which she followed up with a quick fireball. Vladimir jumped before Frita could close in and follow up with more attacks, and he landed behind her, allowing for some attacks of his own. Some landed, but Frita blocked after taking a couple hits. She took advantage of the next opportunity to connect a short combo, which led to another swift KO.
"Frita takes the first match!" Chris announced. "Will Vladimir turn things around in the second match, or is this in the bag?"
"Well, I'd hate to be predictable," Vladimir commented.
"Don't lie to us. We all saw your gameplay," Hugh snickered.
"OHHHHHHHH!" Cyan and Quentin shouted.
Confessional:
Cyan: You know what, I've learned more and more over the span of this game that giving in to dumb brainless fun is necessary sometimes. Worrying about things constantly isn't making me look any younger. I can stress about the vote once we're actually in Elimination Station, okay?
Brittany: I don't know. As far as I can see, it's just two dudes beating each other up. I don't really get it. (she shrugs.)
For the second match, Vladimir changed to playing as Chun-Li, while Frita kept Ryu. They also agreed to switch sides on the cabinet.
"It's game point for Frita, but Vladimir can still turn things around," Chris mentioned. "Will we see a Cinderella story?"
"If Vladimir is Cinderella, does that make Frita the prince?" Lindsay wondered.
"'He' is the one pronoun I don't go by," Frita mentioned.
"I stan a she/they queen," Jayne commented.
"Ahh! When did you get here?!" Topher jumped.
"I work here," Jayne stated.
The second match began, and neither character approached the other. Frita threw a fireball, which Vladimir couldn't block. This gave Frita the chance to approach and perform another short combo.
"Chun-Li is harder to use than Ryu," Frita mentioned. "I don't know what you think is going to accomplish."
"Hey, nothing changes if nothing changes," Vladimir figured. "We all know the actual definition of insanity."
Vladimir connected a few kicks to Frita, knocking her character down. Upon getting back up, Frita blocked the incoming attacks, giving her the chance to punish Vladimir as she had done before, taking the first round.
"May I ask a question?" Vladimir offered.
"In the middle of a game? That's too obvious," Frita declined.
"Fair enough," Vladimir accepted.
The start of round two saw Vladimir approaching immediately and getting some solid hits. Frita took her first chance to back up a little and respond with a low kick, followed by a fireball. Another short combo later, and Vladimir's character was almost out of health. He tried to rush in upon getting up, but Frita's character jumped over the attack and kicked the opponent over, clinching the second round, the second match, and the challenge.
"Frita wins penthouse privilege!" Chris announced.
"Wow... I'm as shocked as you all, honestly," Frita admitted.
"Nice job, Frita!" Quentin cheered.
"May I ask a question?" Vladimir requested of Frita again.
"Still?" Frita wondered. "If you really want."
"Pardon me if it's embarrassing to answer, but do you feel any sense of fulfillment regarding your violent thoughts when you play games like these?" Vladimir wondered. "I only ask out of curiosity. You don't have to answer."
"Not really," Frita claimed. "My interest in violence focuses on things way more gruesome than a cartoon video game."
"Is that so? Those thoughts seemed less prevalent when you started playing this again," Vladimir hummed. "I may have made assumptions. My bad."
"Everyone has their demons," Preston interjected. "It's too bad I didn't get to play this season. Exploring those demons could have made for interesting TV."
"If I had to share a team with Irving, Vladimir, and him, I'd quit on the spot," Cyan remarked.
"Hey, less competition for me," Preston chuckled. "If not painfully indicative of your aversion to being challenged."
"Excuse me?" Cyan leered.
"Let's just head on to Elimination Station," Chris said. "Not you," he added to Preston.
Confessional:
Frita: I have a distressing amount of power today. Not only am I safe from the vote, but Quentin and I are situated pretty nicely in the middle of it all. I don't want to get used to it. It's not going to happen again. ...I guess that means I should take advantage of it, though.
Kun: Cyan says she's, um, sowed the seeds of a Bailey vote. Part of me wishes I'd found a Statue when I was in isolation, but I'm going to keep telling myself what I told Quentin: it's okay to not be perfect at everything. I mean hey, it's only my game on the line, right? (he chuckles nervously)
Cyan: Yeah, I hate being challenged, that's why I signed up for Total Drama and chose to come back even after what happened last time. That guy's all bark and no bite - he would have been voted off immediately if he was in this season.
The contestants slowly exited the elevator at Elimination Station. Chris was in his seat, while Kiki, Louise, and Shadya stood at their usual spots in the circle of lecterns. The players each took their places in the circle.
"Eight, soon to be seven," Chris commented. "As always, you have thirty minutes - or until everyone has cast their vote - to discuss openly who you plan on voting out. Frita and Vladimir are safe, but the other six of you are all fair game."
Kiki and Louise shared an annoyed glance upon hearing who was Invincible. Shadya looked unimpressed.
"I wonder if there is much to discuss," Bailey said.
"There sure is for me," Kun chuckled. "I've been, um, gone for most of the day. Though, I suspect that might be why you want to cut to the chase."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Bailey twitched.
"I've been informed that I may be your target tonight," Kun explained. "Taking the time to outline things for me might, um, get in the way of those plans, shall I say?"
"Oh wow, he just came out and said it," Brittany reacted.
"Shit, if I knew you could find balls of steel in Isolation, I would have gone way more often!" Hugh laughed.
"At least Hugh's honest," Cyan commented.
"Of course, if I'm mistaken and that isn't the plan, feel free to correct me," Kun added.
"No, you're right, that is the plan," Bailey conceded. "What's yours?"
"Well, um, as I said, I haven't had the chance to form one yet," Kun explained. "That's why I posited that there is much to discuss. Although, I'm not likely to vote for myself."
"But you're saying there's a chance," Hugh snickered.
"Well, if anybody wishes to illuminate Kun on who the alternate target is, please, proceed," Bailey invited.
...
"Alright. I already told him during the challenge that it was you," Cyan revealed.
"You would target me over Vladimir before you even know who's Invincible?" Bailey doubted.
"Yeah, what were you thinking?" Vladimir chuckled.
Cyan gave him a look, then returned to Bailey. "It's like we said last night: your little group has gone unchallenged for a long-ass time. I had to go kicking and screaming to get rid of Irving, and I really shouldn't have, given he is a proven threat!"
"And you'd choose me specifically, despite the olive branch I offered?" Bailey shamed.
"I've been pushing it since before then," Cyan claimed. "And a deal to vote for Kun is not an olive branch, it's extortion."
"Dare I say Franklin is rubbing off on you?" Hugh jested.
"Do not joke about that!" Bailey shouted. "The only offenses to the law on Franklin's head were justified cases of self-defense!"
"He nearly killed David. On purpose," Frita said with a dark smile.
"He needed that money! He still needs that money!" Bailey argued. She cleared her throat. "The injustices of the legal system are not the topic of conversation here. Let us not get sidetracked."
"I'd like to return to the Kun pitch," Brittany requested. "No offense, but I've never gotten any impression that you've been interested in working with me, or even talking to me that much. I get you're not a super outgoing person and don't like to make promises you can't keep. Believe me, I get that. But from my point of view, it doesn't make sense to vote for anyone else when the others have all chatted with me at least a little, game-related or otherwise."
"I'll, um, confess, I've had trouble knowing what to do with a lot of people following the Vladimir controversy," Kun explained. "The optics of it all have been tough to gauge. Your group voted for Kiki and Louise, right? It's an uneasy circumstance."
"Yeah, well, if you actually did talk to people, you'd realize that they already talked that shit out and have reached some kind of understanding," Hugh scoffed. "Don't go blaming us for your own paranoia, artard."
"I resent the implication that anyone can understand me," Vladimir chuckled.
"You'd think being safe would be when he'd go the hardest, but it's just been jokes," Quentin commented.
"Vladimir did mess with my head, and a lot of it was me getting caught up in projecting onto him," Frita sighed. "He was wrong, I was wrong, we were both wrong. I don't want it to keep coming up, please."
"You called him Devlin, right?" Bailey asked.
"What part of 'stop talking about it' wasn't clear?" Frita snarled. "Yes, I'm a big ball of mental illness who projected onto someone! You happy? Does it make you feel good calling attention to it?! As if you haven't been obsessed with a boy you once knew!"
"Leave. Franklin. Out of it!" Bailey ordered.
"Hey, hey, the vote, everybody!" Quentin attempted.
"I am curious as to why Bailey would ask about that in the first place," Vladimir mentioned.
"Oh, alright," Quentin relented.
"It's not like Frita or I can be voted out in the first place, and our relationship has nothing to do with Kun," Vladimir carried on.
"Perhaps you're safe today, but that won't last forever," Bailey explained. "Frita's clearly loyal to you, and I doubt you'd cast such a reliable factor aside."
"So... you're throwing them under the bus for... next time?" Cyan asked, confused.
"Bailey, you're stressed," Brittany said. "And that's fine, but panicking isn't going to help in this scenario."
Bailey cast her vote. "It's Kun. That's all that needs to be said."
Brittany cast her vote. "If you see Kun as someone you can really, truly rely on in the long-term, then you're a more trusting person than I."
Kun cast his vote. "Well Bailey, um, I guess that's how it has to be, then."
Frita cast her vote. "Eat shit."
"Ha!" Hugh cackled.
"Not another word out of you, Hugh," Bailey glowered.
"That was an onomatopoeia, thank you," Hugh corrected.
"I think it was an interjection, actually," Vladimir offered.
"Onomatopoeia is an inherently funny word, alright?!" Hugh shot back.
"Look, I've made my offers," Bailey said. "What can Kun provide? What value does he bring to your endgame?"
"This whole ceremony has been, um, very disheartening, I must admit," Kun frowned.
Cyan cast her vote. "Yeah, you've all been very rude to Kun today, when he's barely had a chance to defend himself. I ain't with it."
Quentin cast his vote. "And when it comes to trust, I know where I stand between the two of you, honestly."
Bailey noticed Hugh and Vladimir had yet to vote. "Hugh, why haven't you voted yet?"
"Huh? Oh, my bad." Hugh cast his vote.
"Seems it all lies on me," Vladimir said. "Do I force a tie and a potential random outcome, or go with a seemingly clear majority?"
"You know there's no benefit in that second one," Cyan huffed.
Vladimir cast his vote. "We'll see."
"I have the votes!" Chris announced. "If anyone wants to play a statue before I read them, now's the time!"
"I will," Brittany confirmed. She revealed the small wooden effigy from her pocket. "The Godfrey Statue. It lets me double somebody's vote. I'll be doubling my own."
"Well, so much for a potential tie," Vladimir surrendered.
"Toss it up here," Chris requested. He caught the incoming item and inspected it. "Yep, this is the legit Godfrey Statue. So that's one additional vote for whoever Brittany voted for. Anyone else?"
...
"Hugh," Bailey said. "Play your statue."
"What statue?" Hugh denied.
"Play the Franklin Statue, Hugh," Bailey directed.
"I don't need to, calm down." Hugh denied.
Bailey took a deep breath.
...
"Alrighty then," Chris chuckled. "First vote... Bailey."
"You had better be right about that, Hugh," Bailey fretted.
"Second vote... Kun."
"No, please, um, be wrong, I insist, haha," Kun coped.
"Third vote... Bailey."
Bailey wrung her hands.
"Fourth vote... Kun."
Kun tugged at his collar.
"Fifth vote... Bailey... Sixth vote... Kun."
Both swallowed lumps in their throat.
"Seventh vote... and eighth and ninth..."
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"Fourth member of our jury... Bailey."
Bailey's face twisted in pain as tears fell from her eyes. She covered her face with her hand and stifled the choked sobs.
"For the record, Bailey, I voted for you because I saw you as the biggest threat to my game," Cyan explained.
"Don't talk down to me!" Bailey wailed. "It's because of you that Franklin..."
"Bailey..." Brittany empathized. "You've got a good heart."
"I've... said and done a lot of things in this game I never thought I would," Bailey sniffled. "And I'd do it a thousand more times if it meant the thousand-and-first time let Franklin walk free. I have no regrets. Not even with the things I said to hurt people tonight. I've become stronger, and I can still take that with me."
"I guess you're the juror. We have to impress you at this point," Vladimir figured.
"And so far, very few of you have," Bailey claimed. She wiped her eyes, and looked at Hugh. "Least of all, you."
"Like anything would have changed if I played the statue," Hugh denied.
"You also voted for me," Bailey accused.
"Huh. I guess so," Hugh admitted smugly.
"...There's nothing more to say, Chris," Bailey stated.
"Alrighty! One one-way ticket to the Van of Losers. Departing: now!" Chris announced
With a press of a button, the ceiling opened up, and the shackle grabbed Bailey by the waist. She left the ground and rose above the hole, which shut once she was out of sight.
"No matter how secure you think you are in this game, things are never as simple as you think," Chris commented. "Of course, you should all know that very well by now. Hehaha. Oh, and Kun, it's back to Isolation Park for you! But hey, at least you earned it this time. See you guys tomorrow - you're dismissed!"
Confessional:
Hugh: Sorry, Bailey, but you've become a liability to me at this point. Everyone's called out our alliance a million times, everyone knows you're a threat, and I've got new offers I can take advantage of. I appreciate your help in getting me this far, but I don't need you anymore!
Brittany: I... had a feeling we didn't have the Frita, Quentin, or Vladimir votes we needed. But I thought Hugh would at least stick with us and use his statue, too! I don't regret sticking to my guns, but I am in a considerably worse position, now. Hopefully Vladimir meant it when he said he wanted to work together. (she lets out something between a groan and a sigh)
Vladimir: And to think I was worried going into the merge. It seems like all my biggest obstacles keep getting voted out back-to-back. I don't want to rest on my laurels, but I'm certainly optimistic.
Chris, Topher, and Lindsay stood outside the limits of Drama City.
"Emotions, accusations, and betrayals! What else could it be but Total Drama?" Chris boasted.
"That sounds like Londyn and Elliot's relationship, too," Lindsay mentioned.
"We could do what Big Brother did and secretly recruit people's exes," Topher suggested.
"Until then, we've got a damn fine game being played right now," Chris claimed. "Will Hugh come to regret his decision? Where are Vladimir's true loyalties? How will Brittany adapt to tonight's boot?"
"Are Quentin and Frita in secure positions? Will Kun ever be in a secure position? When will Cyan realize that dark slate gray is the real best shade of blue?" Topher proposed.
"But... isn't it gray?" Lindsay asked.
"It's a dark cyan. Look it up," Topher insisted.
"All this and more, next time, on Total!" Chris began.
"Drama!" Topher and Lindsay continued.
"Party with the Stars!" Preston suddenly shouted.
"Hey! I thought I told you to get lost!" Chris exasperated.
Votes:
Bailey - Kun
Brittany - Kun
Godfrey Statue - Kun
Cyan - Bailey
Frita - Bailey
Hugh - Bailey
Kun - Bailey
Quentin - Bailey
Vladimir - Bailey
The Merge:
Brittany - The Loyal Bombshell
Cyan - The Sweet Madame Blue
Frita - The Morbid Artist
Hugh - The Head Villain
Kun - The Awkward Team Leader
Quentin - The Lucky Ornithologist
Vladimir - The Untrustworthy Impostor
8th: Bailey - The Pragmatic Poet
9th: Shadya - The Genius Athlete
10th: Louise - The Friendly PE Teacher
11th: Kiki - The Strategic Hipster
Eliminated Pre-Merge:
12th: Dalit - The Social Media Model
13th: Nolan - The Wildcard Gambler
14th: Irving - The Chaotic Pirate
15th: Steve Jenkins - The Vlog Icon
16th: Jean-Marie - The Homeless Frenchman
17th: Ernie - The Lazy Law Student
18th: Joseph - The True Bro
19th: Isidora - The Asocial Bookworm
20th: Lilith - The Harbinger of Unrest
A/N: I'll admit, I was never entirely sure where in the merge Bailey was going to place. The idea was always to make her an increasingly antagonistic force over time to parallel Franklin's arc, and for a while she had a runner-up position to reflect this further. Antagonism doesn't really come naturally to someone like Bailey, though, despite her need for control in the game, and I feel like she's run her course by this point. She made her mark and did what she could, but what did you think of Bailey this season?