Chapter 6: The Morning After

"What the hell do you want?" Taki asked tiredly, trying to prevent her head from falling into a bowl of cereal with milk. "The last thing I need right now is for you to talk to me."

"I'm just saying good morning, that's all." Mitsurugi answered innocently. "Guess you should go to bed earlier, Tak. Maybe then you wouldn't be so tired."

As Mitsurugi walked down the long dining room table, Taki rolled her eyes after him.

Taki: Even if that weirdo does care about me, how can I do the same for him? After all, he's nosy, annoying, freakazoid samurai poser who also needs a serious ego-beating. I just wish he'd leave me alone for a good while or so...but I don't know if that's even possible.

Down the long table, other various conversations were being held. While most of the housemates were discussing the past day, many were quite annoyed at Link's 8am wake up call. Which, of course, was the sound of a deafening airhorn in everyone's rooms via loudspeaker.

"Even though this is my mansion, Elphie still won't let me get an extra minute of sleep." Ivy complained loudly to Zasalamel and Kilik who were sitting nearby while picking up a pear from a nearby bowl. "I swear to god if I have to wake up each morning at eight o'clock for five more months then I'll just have to sleep outside! But then again, there's not much I can do now. And a word of advice to both of you. Don't even bother to sleep in if you can. I learned the hard way this morning."

Ivy: The 'hard way,' you might ask? Well, if you are familiar with the kids show Barney the Dinosaur, along with the phrase 'blasting nonstop,' then you should know exactly what I'm talking about.

"Uh huh. We'll keep that in mind." said Zasalamel. "Right, Kilik?"

Kilik was too busy texting someone on his cellphone to notice. Zasalamel stomped on his foot, causing him to jump.

"Oh, right!" Kilik answered quickly. "Say..."

He hastily looked up and down the long table, hoping no one except Zasalamel and Ivy could hear him. To his relief, people were either asleep, just eating their breakfast, or having other conversations with fellow housemates to notice.

"Listen, what's with Voldo today?" Kilik motioned his head to the right, where Voldo was sitting about six seats away. "I mean, he's usually real freaky and shit, but today he just seems out of it. Just take one good look at him now and you'll see what I mean."

"Hm, he does seem a little weird today, but that's just him." said Zasalamel looking up at Voldo.

"It's not just him." Kilik answered, buttering a croissant on his plate. "Seriously, look!"

Voldo was sitting down in his seat, and wobbling slightly. Instead of trying to eat his cinnamon roll, Voldo looked like he had just gotten kicked in the head by a horse. None of the other housemates except Zasalamel, Ivy, and Kilik seemed to notice him. People were either absorbed in their food, themselves, or ranting about Link.

"Kilik, what are you---"

"Not now, Ivy. Wait, listen!"

And sure enough, several seats away Voldo quietly mumbled to himself while trying to sit up straight.

"Grrrrr...Damn gold diggers...grrrrrr..."

Neither one of the three said anything.But after about five minutes of silence, Ivy decided to speak up.

"How long has this behavior been going on for?" Ivy asked quietly. "This 'gold digger' nonsense?"

"All throughout breakfast." Kilik answered promptly. "Hey, I think this is the first time he's said something besides grrr, right? I always thought he was mute and couldn't say a word, but I guess I'm wrong."

"Aren't we all." Zasalamel said to both Ivy and Kilik. "It's always a possibility that he could have a funny day, even though most of his days are like that. You know, all wired and crazy and what not."

"Should we try talking to Voldo? Maybe we could get something interesting out of all this. Gossip or other information that is juicy?" Ivy asked with a slight grin on her face.

Kilik: Gossip is an interesting word. And so is information. Information makes the word 'blackmail' just as useful. Using this 'info,' I might be able to 'blackmail' Voldo or some of the other housemates around here. You know, they always say to keep your friends and family close. For the time being both Ivy and Zasalamel would fall under the 'friend' category. But it's also said to keep your enemies closer. I suppose Zasalamel and Ivy could fit perfectly in the 'enemy' category, too. We're all on this gameshow for ourselves, right?

Just about when Voldo was about to collapse in a bowl of oatmeal Link appeared through the large double doors, causing everyone in the room to stare. Link is dressed in his usual green elf hat, but this time is clad in a large white and purple robe with polka dots as well as his pink bunny slippers that were first show in Chapter 2. The whole room became silent, a became filled with the evil stares of the housemates. Even a half-asleep Voldo is looking angrier than normal.

Link: When I entered the dining hall I assumed everyone was looking at me because of my elf hat and pink bunny slippers. Not to mention the purple and white polka dot robe as well. Then again, why would these people be giving me death glares because of my clothes? I mean, seriously!

"Good morning, fellow housemates!" Link told loudly before sitting down at the head of the table.

Various mutterings of 'good morning,' 'blustery wind head,' 'asshole,' and other negative around the room, all of which did not reach Link.

"Here is a quick reminder to all of you: The first team activity will take place today at half past eleven this morning, and if anyone is late then their team will be disqualified!"

"Link," Sophitia began, raising her hand. "What if both teams have people who are missing?"

Several people nodded their heads in agreement. Link frowned slightly while reaching past Talim on his left for an orange.

"Hm, excellent question Sophie." Link started, peeling the orange. "Well, then both teams will suffer---"

"---Death by deapitation?" Seong-Mina, who was sitting in the middle of the large table, finished for him. Link frowned slightly.

"No, Mina, you're way off on that one. They'll be no food for a week if people from both teams don't show. I'll be the only one eating around here if people are missing."

"Link," Ivy asked with a slight hint of curiousity from the other end of the long dining table, "What's so special about this activity that you'd punish people harshly for not showing up?"

"Oh, you'll see soon. Soon my dear, soon..."

There were quiet mutterings of great annoyance and suspicion around the tables as Link finished, and soon the dining room was back to its usual hustle and bustle. Link sat down at the head of the table, with Sophitia to his left and a muffin-eating Raphael to his right.

Raphael appeared to be trying to get Sophitia's attention, but she didn't notice him at all. Link on the other hand, completely ignored both of them and took a bite of a large cantaloupe slice.

"Hey, Sophie!" Raphael said from across the table. Sophitia was already absorbed in a conversation with Taki, and tried not to take notice of the Frenchman.

"Taki, did you just hear something?" Sophitia asked sarcastically, nibbling on an apple.

"Hm, I believe I did." Taki answered, not bothering to look at Raphael. "It must be the wind, or something. Now wouldn't Talim be interested in that? The wind..."

"She most certainly would be, but that wasn't a breeze. It sounded more like an enemy player. Maybe if we ignore him he'll go away."

Raphael groaned. All he had was a question to ask, and nothing more. He'd normally flirt, but now wasn't the best time.

Raphael: Yes, I admit it. I'm usually the kind of guy who flirts with women---and sometimes attractive objects of all sorts, but this time I only have a question. Geez, ever since we were all divided into two teams people have been turned against each other, and crazy shit like that.

"Link," Raphael whispered quickly in the elf's long ear, "Could ya ask Sophitia for me about Cassandra's---?"

"Raphael, I'm not a frickin' messager, for Christ's sake. Ask the Greek Goddess yourself." Link answered in a mouthful of cantaloupe.

"But couldn't you---"

"---No can do, Raph. Ask her later, and she might not be as bitchy as what she is now."

Sophitia whipped around dangerously, ceasing her conversation with Taki. This time, Link looked quite scared indeed.

Across the long table Ivy, Kilik, and Zasalamel watched Sophitia's palm dig itself into Link's cheek. And of course, for practically the whole day Link would have a souvenir of that exact moment---a large white handprint.

"Isn't Sophitia suppossed to be the good girl around here?" Zasalamel asked, slightly shocked.

"It's 'Miss Goody-Goody,' to be exact. That's what I dubbed her yesterday when we all arrived here. But I'm sure she has many nicknames by this point, right?" Ivy answered briskly.

"I always thought everyone should call her Sophititia, if you get my drift." Kilik grinned, giving Zasalamel a high five. Ivy's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Ivy: So that's what is now, huh? It almost sounded as if Kilik was comparing her to me! I'd say it's pretty obvious at who is on top around here!

"Quite amusing." Ivy told Kilik cooly. She stood up, glancing at the large grandfather clock to her left. "I must be off, for the time being everyone has about three hours until the first activity. And remember, it's at half past eleven, so don't be late!"

Kilik and Zasalamel watched Ivy walk out of the room quickly, glancing at each other after she'd left the room.

"Meh, she must be PMS-ing too, right?" Kilik asked Zasalamel, spearing a sausage on his fork.

"I wouldn't know, at least I'm not one of them. I don't get them, but I can't live without 'em.

But then again, Voldo's the only thing around here that could pass off as a woman."

A/N: This chapter was really supposed to be longer, but I decided to leave it here. The next chapter is mainly going to be fluff---but I might add in the first task there too.

I've been really brain dead this past month...and of course all of you can tell 'cause of my lack of updates. When I first came up with BBZ everything was fresh in my mind and thought I had everything planned out.

Apparently not.

I hope I can cure myself of this 'writers-block-disorder' before things eventually get too out of hand.

-Abzan342