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.
"Kiki's exit from the game set the tone for the merge, and everyone had to figure out where to go from there," Chris recapped. "Vladimir still had a target on his back from the last round, but things can never be so simple."
"Kun was fed up with things never going his way, so he gave Cyan and Louise a helping hand to keep momentum against Vladimir going," Topher added. "Meanwhile, the Gryphons alliance stayed strong in their push against Cyan and Louise. Bailey in particular pissed off a lot of people who trusted her before the Kiki vote."
"She and Kiki got along so well!" Lindsay cried. "Friends turning on you is the worst! This one time, my friend Meghan, well, I guess I should say my ex-friend, she-"
"Maybe later, Lindsay," Chris quelled. "The challenge forced the players to work together in pairs, as they set foot into Geoff's Nightclub to participate in all sorts of debaucherous activities!"
"If that's what you call debaucherous, then you've led a more wholesome life than I," Topher chuckled. "Vladimir played the Amelie Statue on Shadya, giving her a disadvantage in the challenge, but she played her David Statue in response, giving her an advantage on top of the disadvantage."
"Whether or not either of those mattered, we'll never know for sure, but Shadya and Frita made it to the last round against Cyan and Vladimir," Chris continued. "And even though Cyan and Vladimir wanted each other gone, neither wanted to risk being vulnerable, so they worked together long enough to win the challenge."
"Maybe someday Meghan and I can see eye-to-eye again..." Lindsay sighed.
"With both major targets invincible, nobody was initially sure how to vote in the following ceremony," Chris chuckled. "Cyan's close ally Louise was brought up quickly, and Brittany's status as a threat still hadn't gone away, so things seemed straightforward. At first."
"But then, after a few votes were cast, Vladimir brought up an idea of his own: to vote out Frita," Topher smirked. "Even after spending the last two rounds in Isolation Park, he could still tell that Frita's obsession with him was hurting his reputation."
"If true love is an obsession, then... uh... What's wrong with that?!" Lindsay chimed in.
"Well, after Vladimir proposed Frita as a target, she didn't take it very well," Chris grinned. "She panicked, and told everyone that Vladimir was her childhood friend Devlin."
"He denied it, of course," Topher nodded. "Which freaked Frita out even more, which ended up making people want to vote for her less."
"It was a close vote, but Louise couldn't escape her outsider status, and she became the second member of our jury," Chris said. "This vote left a lot of people with a lot of emotions. Will it all come to a head? 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 not hiring Brad's Wife!" Inside the diner, Shadya found Quentin eating a massive stack of pancakes.
"You're aware of the ramifications of eating so much unhealthy food at once," Shadya brought up.
"Yeah, I am," Quentin said distantly.
"Mm," Shadya nodded. "If you want to talk about it, I'm happy to listen."
"I'm just frustrated. With a lot of things," Quentin admitted.
"With Frita?" Shadya figured.
"I don't blame her for anything," Quentin said. "She's justified in being upset. I blame... Well, I blame myself for not being able to get through to her."
"It's like I said yesterday. How she deals with her own feelings is entirely up to her," Shadya reminded. "If she wants to stay shut in her room all day, that's her prerogative."
Quentin's expression soured.
"There's more to it than that. I can only help you if you're transparent with me," Shadya said.
"Alright," Quentin decided, annoyed. "I also blame you somewhat."
"And why is that?" Shadya scoffed.
"You didn't vote for Vladimir the other night. It would have made a difference," Quentin explained. "You voted for Louise last night, too, right? Even though she wanted to help? With Kiki, I get it, there was bad blood from the Gryphons. Maybe there was a chance we could have worked with Vladimir. But Louise could have stuck by us too, and there was no beef with her before! And to keep Brittany? Who's working against us?!"
"You sound awfully sure that I voted for Louise," Shadya noted.
"Four votes for Brittany," Quentin said. "I was one, Louise was one, and I'm fairly certain Cyan and Kun were the other two, just based on what they said as they voted."
"...I suppose I should be transparent with you, as well," Shadya relented. "At the start of the merge, a Gryphons alliance was established. Including me, of course. While it made sense not to ruffle their feathers in the first two votes, I knew that I was on the bottom of that alliance. Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh have been close since the start of the game, and Vladimir worked with Hugh before the shuffle."
"So, what, now you're going to stick with me and Frita and Kun?" Quentin asked. "How do I know that for sure?"
"Why would I tell you about the Gryphons alliance if I wanted them to keep up their momentum?" Shadya challenged. "Indeed, I trust you and Kun more than anyone in the Gryphons alliance. The idea was to keep Frita on our side by promising her and Vladimir safety. Eliminating Kiki and Louise bolsters this and keeps the Gryphons alliance none the wiser. Recall that Frita also very likely voted for Kiki and Louise."
"But what about Vladimir?" Quentin asked. "He and Frita don't even seem to want to work together anymore."
"If we can eliminate Cyan, then you, me, Frita, and Kun will make up half the remaining players," Shadya explained. "At that point, Vladimir would be foolish not to take the majority against a tight alliance of three."
"...I just don't get why you wouldn't tell me about the Gryphons alliance sooner. We could have worked together against them."
"It benefited us more to have them let their guards down while we vote for people who made targets of themselves already," Shadya maintained. "I understand that I kept information from you, but I would not have done anything to breach your trust if I didn't feel it was absolutely necessary."
"It just makes me feel like you don't really trust me all that much," Quentin accused.
"Like with Frita, you are justified in feeling upset," Shadya said. "Also like Frita, how you choose to work with your emotions is up to you. If we keep working together, we can get that majority going, and guarantee ourselves spots in the final five at the absolute lowest. Four if Vladimir doesn't win safety."
"I guess," Quentin said distantly.
"...I'm sorry I went behind your back, Quentin," Shadya told him. "I'll go get some breakfast of my own. If you wish to eat alone, move your cup to the right side of your plate, and I'll accept that."
Shadya stood up and left Quentin alone. He sighed and stuffed his mouth full with pancakes.
Confessional:
Shadya: Quentin isn't someone who gets angry easily. I overestimated how well he'd take my temporary playing of both sides. As he's someone I need by my side, I must figure out how to regain his trust, quickly. I'll touch base with Frita and Vladimir as well. Carefully, of course.
Quentin: I always try my best to look on the bright side or everything. But I just... can't talk to Frita, and can't trust Shadya, and Vladimir's still here and probably going to make things worse. It feels like everything is crumbling around me and there's nothing I can do to stop it! There has to be something I can do, right?
"Hey, Vlad!" Hugh shouted as he pounded on the penthouse door. "You in there?!"
Vladimir opened the door and caught Hugh's fist before it could hit him in the face.
"Is there something you need?" he smiled politely.
"Uh, yeah? We haven't been able to talk since before the team shuffle," Hugh scoffed. "It's about time we catch up. Especially because I've been bending over backwards to save your ass the past couple of days."
"Well, I'm glad someone wants to fill me in on what's going on," Vladimir beckoned his head as he walked into his room.
Hugh followed. "Alright, catch me up. What alliances do you know you're a part of?"
"After last night? That's a good question," Vladimir chuckled. "It seems like the Gryphons all have my back to some extent. That's a start."
"Lucky for you, Brittany already started that a couple days ago," Hugh informed. "All five of us. And now that we're at nine, that's a majority."
"At least until someone flips, of course," Vladimir continued.
"Not if they know what's good for them," Hugh snarled.
"Come on, you of all people have to realize it, right?" Vladimir explained. "It's no secret you're tight with Brittany and Bailey. That's a majority share held in the alliance. Do you think Shadya's truly alright with you three being in charge like that? Would you have let it abide if it was you outside the strong trio?"
"Tch," Hugh reacted. "You really don't beat around the bush. Except for when you do. You're just difficult, more than anything!"
"Reminding you not to rest on your laurels doesn't strike me as such, but to each his own," Vladimir said. "You don't have to worry. Regardless of how trustworthy Shadya may be, I know who certainly does not have my back. I will not be working with those people. What we need to do is convince Shadya to stick with us instead of any allies she may have made after the shuffle."
"Bailey did say that Shadya got pretty close with Quentin and Kun," Hugh nodded. "I miiiiight still be able to connect with Quent from the Alpha Party days. If we're going for one of them, I'm thinking Kun."
"He seems more passionate about getting rid of me between the two anyway," Vladimir agreed. "Now, do you know where Frita may stand in all of this?"
"No clue. I've kind of gone out of my way to not deal with her," Hugh shrugged. "Did you really tell her all that shit she said last night? Is that why she's never shut up about you?"
"Again, I told her nothing," Vladimir denied. "I said something that Frita construed as something a person she once knew would say. With my position on the team uncertain, I did not turn her away. I did not realize she would become so... what's the word?"
"Manic?" Hugh snickered. "If you couldn't see that coming, then I believe you if you're telling me you aren't her old friend or whatever. Whatever the case, you made it clear you don't want to be associated with her anymore."
"I made that public," Vladimir corrected. "Keep in mind, lots of things can happen behind closed doors."
Confessional:
Vladimir: At last, I'm in control of my own position in the game beyond trying for Invincibility. I won't trust this Gryphons alliance with my life or anything, but they're a good start. Once I can parse out where everyone stands with everyone else, I can start playing the game for real. Although, a Kun vote sounds better the more I think about it. We'll see.
Hugh: Look, obviously you need to trust everything Vlad says with a grain of salt. You'd have to be some special kind of artard if you think he's telling you everything. But right now, he needs allies, and I've proven multiple times in the past that I have his back. I've got no qualms cutting him if I have to, but for now, he stays. (He laughs obnoxiously.) I really am in control of this game, aren't I?!
Cyan and Kun sat at the bar, with their usual Blue Hawaii and black coffee.
"Honestly, I kind of admire your refusal to drink alcohol during the game," Cyan complimented. She sipped her beverage.
"Oh, I don't drink in, um, general," Kun admitted. "I told myself I wouldn't until after I'm at least twenty-five. That's when the human brain stops developing."
"...I wish you didn't tell me that," Cyan chuckled as she set down her drink. "And I'm mostly joking about that, don't take it to mean anything."
"It's, um, fine," Kun responded awkwardly.
"So, you're good with Quentin and Shadya, right?" Cyan segued. "If us two, them two, and Frita can stick together, do you think we can actually get somewhere?"
"That would require relying on Frita and Shadya," Kun hummed. "Which isn't impossible, but, um, both tend to go their own way."
"After last night's blowup? I think anything's possible," Cyan smiled.
"Your optimism is admirable," Kun complimented.
"Louise always told me how attitude is important," Cyan said. "She'd never forgive me if I got hung up on how dire the situation is. Time only moves forward for a reason, or something like that."
"We can definitely, um, make it through this," Kun determined. "Although Frita isn't the only one who was upset with what happened last night. I think Quentin, um, took it hard, too."
"Really? I wouldn't have expected that," Cyan said. "We should check on him."
"Agreed," Kun nodded.
"Is the drink not to your satisfaction, Cyan?" Jayne frowned as they returned to the bar.
"Oh, no, it's fine!" Cyan laughed. She took another sip of her drink. "I let Kun get in my head about how my brain ain't done developing yet."
"With any luck, neither are my and Greg's," Jayne nodded. "Perhaps after the game, we may be allowed to be as smart as organic humans."
...
...
...
"I sense I have completely killed the mood. Apologies. I'll go somewhere else."
Jayne walked away with their head hung.
"...I'll check in on Quentin. You should talk to Shadya," Cyan offered Kun. "I don't know if she trusts me at all."
"I can do that," Kun agreed. "She's willing to, um, engage with me. Even though I get the feeling she doesn't see me as anywhere near her level."
"Join the club. It consists of just about everybody," Cyan teased.
"Haha. Fair," Kun relented.
Confessional:
Cyan: There's a very real chance that none of this works, and I just get voted out. But that just means I've got nothing to lose anymore. So why not go all-in? Kun seems like he really believes in shaking things up, and I think with enough push, some of the others will, too. It's not going to happen if I don't make it happen.
Kun: Not only is Vladimir actively hurting people in this game, it's just smart for me to, um, get rid of him. He's sneaky and untrustworthy and probably doesn't want anything to do with me. I know Cyan wants this, and Quentin should, too. Securing Shadya and Frita is key.
Frita lay face down on her bed. The lights were off, the curtains closed, and used tissues littered her bed and the floor around it. She barely registered the knock on the door.
"Frita? Would you like to get some breakfast?" Bailey asked. "I'll sit with you, and I'll make sure nobody bothers you. We don't even have to talk."
Frita's stomach roared. She slid off the bed and plodded up to the door, opening it. Her eyes narrowed from the sudden blast of light.
Bailey scanned her. Her hair was a mess, and she wore in loose pajamas.
"...Ready to go?" Bailey inquired.
Frita hobbled out of her room and shut the door behind her. She made her way towards the elevator.
"Staying active is best in times like this," Bailey assured Frita as she walked beside her. "I can't say I've been in your exact situation before, but I've been gaslit before. Nobody expects shy girls to fight back."
Frita glanced skeptically at Bailey.
"I've overstepped my bounds. Apologies," Bailey frowned. "Have you seen House Party, by any chance?"
Frita nodded slightly.
"People always tell me that Franklin wants to hurt me. That he's just taking advantage of me," Bailey scowled. "Nobody wants to believe that a man in prison can really love someone. Nobody buys that he's a really sweet person. Again, I can't claim to know the depths of pain all of this has caused you. But I want to let you know that you're not alone."
Frita began to cry silently.
"It's alright," Bailey smiled.
She wrapped her arms around her, but Frita pushed Bailey away. Frita retreated back to her room, only to realize that she did not have her card key on her. She fell to her knees and wept.
"I'll go get Greg," Bailey decided as she left Frita alone.
Confessional:
Bailey: Frita's connection to Vladimir has led to her voting with the Gryphons in both of the merge votes thus far. With that connection shaky, however, it becomes much harder to predict what she's going to do. Her and Shadya's connections with Kun and Quentin have never made me comfortable, and I need to do whatever I can to keep things under control. The fact that I see a little bit of myself in Frita helps. If I can overcome crippling insecurity, then so too can she.
Frita: ...Why can't Devlin just be honest? Everyone hates him because he won't just be honest. I'm sure he has a good reason, but... (She starts to cry again.)
Kun found Shadya running laps around McLean Park.
"Oh, um, Sha-"
"If you want to talk, try to keep up," Shadya interrupted as she ran past Kun.
Kun inhaled deeply and jogged as best as he could.
"I was... hoping you could... talk about... the vote... and the... future..." Kun wheezed.
He stopped running and doubled over, forced to catch his breath. By the time he recovered, Shadya already lapped him.
"You tried to keep up," she acknowledged, slowing down to a stop. "If I expected anybody to be on my level, I would not be human perfection, I'd just be the norm."
"Makes sense." Kun mustered a chuckle. "I've been talking to Cyan. She doesn't really, um, have anyone to turn to, but she's willing to work with us."
"Is that the case?" Shadya questioned. "Did she come with a target in mind?"
"I believe she still wants to gun for Vladimir," Kun guessed. "With her on board, we won't need him, provided Frita sticks with us."
"Both are question marks. Especially following last night's proceedings," Shadya figured. "And sadly, Quentin is quite upset with me for voting Louise out last night. So that's another hurdle."
"I won't claim to tell you what's best for your game," Kun said. "But I want us to be, um, frank with each other. If not Vladimir, it should still benefit us to vote for one of Bailey, Brittany, or Hugh. Those three have made their closeness no secret."
"Much like Cyan, Vladimir also feels he has nowhere to turn. He's also a good shield," Shadya claimed. "I'm concerned about that alliance of three, too, so I'm willing to vote for one of them tonight. They can't all be Invincible."
"That's true," Kun nodded. "Is there anyone in particular you-"
Shadya had already resumed running laps around the park.
"Oh, okay," Kun said.
Confessional:
Kun: I do get why Quentin would be, um, not happy with Shadya for voting out Louise. I'm not really thrilled that it happened, either. But if we can get her and Frita to stick with us, and Cyan on board too... Er, what I'm trying to say is that we're not dead in the water!
Shadya: Working with Cyan, huh? I'll admit, my interactions with her have been limited, but in lieu of more reliable allies, she may be worth looking into. All I should have to do is convince her that getting rid of Vladimir isn't the best move for Frita's mental health at the moment. Nothing too difficult.
Bailey and Hugh met up at the motel.
"So, you said you talked to Frita?" Hugh asked. "How'd that go? And by that, I mean how long did that last before she broke down in a puddle of self-pity and ditched you?"
"...Not very long," Bailey sighed. "I overstepped my bounds by trying to relate to her too quickly. I won't make that mistake again. But I did get her to leave her room to eat breakfast with me. So she doesn't distrust me. I think. We didn't actually eat breakfast together on account of the aforementioned ditching me."
"Well, I talked to Vladimir," Hugh relayed. "He's willing to stick with the Gryphons alliance because we're the only ones who've consistently had his back. He warned me that Shadya's probably going to turn on us, though. Which would be stupid as hell, but I can see it happening."
"So we may be relying on Frita's vote, then?" Bailey frowned.
"Fuck, we might be," Hugh grunted. "Well, I'm sure as hell not going to get through to her, and Brittany's in Isolation, so now what?"
"...Actually, the fact that you have nothing in common with her may be exactly what we need," Bailey suggested.
"And how does that figure?" Hugh doubted.
"From what I keep hearing, she shies away at the idea of people trying to get to know the real her," Bailey figured. "With the exception of Vladimir, which is a whole complicated ordeal unto itself. Perhaps what she needs is someone who doesn't care about who she is, just what she can offer."
"So I get to yell at Frita and demand she vote with us? That's easy!" Hugh grinned.
"Don't upset her. Just let her know what the circumstances are and why sticking with us will benefit her," Bailey said flatly. "Use of the word 'artard' is also not recommended."
"Oh, right, she probably actually is mentally damaged or something," Hugh conceded.
"Hugh..." Bailey scolded.
"What? You wouldn't have told me not to say it if you weren't thinking the exact same thing!" Hugh insisted.
"Most people don't want to be called that, Hugh," Bailey said sternly. "That's just general common courtesy."
"Heh. And when have I ever let the rules of good taste dictate who I am?" Hugh sneered.
"When it means securing a vote and ensuring we stay out of the minority," Bailey told him.
"...Eugh. Fine," Hugh relented.
Confessional:
Bailey: I've had my reservations about the Gryphons alliance for a while now, so hearing that Shadya is already working elsewhere doesn't surprise me. Of course, if she thinks she can take all the power from me, she's in for a rude awakening. Worst case scenario, Brittany and Hugh have very powerful Statues.
Hugh: I've never made it a secret that Frita's woe-is-me attention whoring has always kind of pissed me off. So, yeah, of course now she's the most reliable option we have! Why the hell wouldn't she be?! Why can't she and Vladimir just fuck already and then commit to working under me? How hard is that?!
Cyan found Quentin playing a video game in the nice garage hangout.
"Morning, Quentin," Cyan greeted sunnily. "How you doing?"
"Out of it, honestly," Quentin smiled slightly. "Though, you're probably a lot worse off than I am.""
"I'm doing my best," Cyan chuckled. She sat down on the couch next to him. "So... are you winning?"
"The video game? Yes. Total Drama? It's looking a lot less likely," Quentin answered.
"I know you're not the type to get wrapped up in what could go wrong," Cyan assured him. "It's not over until it's over."
"You're not wrong," Quentin admitted. "I just feel like I can't trust two of my closest allies right now. Not the best feeling in the world."
"How come?" Cyan frowned.
"Well, Frita won't talk to anyone right now," Quentin said. "I feel awful for her, I really do. But at the same time, I can't help but kick myself for not being someone she trusts enough to talk about it. And, on an even more selfish level, I don't know if I can rely on her vote, since she won't communicate."
"Her vote is going to be important," Cyan nodded. "And what did Kun do?"
"Kun? No, I'm fine with him," Quentin explained. "But Shadya's been voting the opposite of how she keeps telling me she's going to vote, and it's like... Apparently she was wrapped up in a Gryphons alliance."
"Really?" Cyan blinked.
"Yeah. She says she's going to jump ship, but I don't know," Quentin sighed. "She wants me, her, Kun, Frita, and Vladimir to stick together. Also she wants you gone next, which, if she's going to flip on the Gryphons, why not take one of them out?"
"She probably doesn't actually want to flip on them," Cyan tutted. "Since the Gryphons hold the majority now, I can't say I blame her."
Quentin ran his hands down his face. His character in the video game died. "So yeah, that's why I'm not at my most optimistic, right now. What can we do at this point?"
"Well, Kun told me he wants us to work together," Cyan began. "He said he'd go talk to Shadya and try to get her to stick with us. We're hoping Frita comes through. She's mad at Vladimir right now, so if he sticks with the Gryphons, that might be reason enough for her to stick with us."
"...Honestly, that does make me feel a bit better," Quentin relented. "I still don't know if I can trust Shadya, though. After voting for Louise instead of Brittany?"
"Yeah, that was not her best look. I'd even say it took her from chartreuse to straight-up yellow in my eyes," Cyan confessed. "But if Kun can get her to at least take out Hugh or one of them, then that's a step in the right direction."
"Here's hoping," Quentin agreed.
"Is this a game both of us can play?" Cyan asked, turning her attention to the TV.
"Huh? Yeah, but if you haven't played before, I don't know if you'd stand a chance against me," Quentin told her.
"Worth a shot, right?" Cyan smiled as she grabbed a controller.
Confessional:
Quentin: I don't know, Shadya going behind my back twice now really hurt. I thought I could trust her. Maybe this is all holdover from my baggage with Tori. I thought I was past all that, but... Ugh. Shadya definitely won't want to talk about that, and Kiki's gone. I couldn't get anyone to listen if I wanted to. Let's just hope Kun can get through to her better than I can.
Cyan: The toughest part about all of this is that we aren't going to know what Frita will do. And it's not like we can just vote for her, because that'll give the Gryphons even more of a majority. And I don't know if she'll appreciate voting for Vladimir or not. So going for the Bailey/Brittany/Hugh alliance is the best bet right now.
Frita sat on her bed, sketchbook against her knees. Her malicious eyes darted back and forth across the page as her drawing pencil carved into the page. Her dark grin widened. From the other end of the room, Greg set down the trash bag he'd been taking out.
"I've never seen you smile so much," he noted. "The concept of you being so happy appeals to me. Good for you."
"...Happy?" Frita asked. "I'll be happy when everyone here is dead!"
Greg took a second to process.
"That runs contradictory to my understanding of death and happiness," he stated. "Would you be willing to elaborate?"
"No!" Frita snapped.
"I see," Greg acknowledged. "May I ask why?"
"No!" Frita shouted.
"I see."
The two heard a knock on the door.
"Frita?" Vladimir's voice asked from the other side.
"No. No, please," Frita quivered.
Greg opened the door. "Ah, Barry. I was just taking out the trash. Frita is right here. She'll be happy when you're dead, she claims. I don't understand it myself. Maybe someday."
The robot made his exit. Frita repeatedly hit her face with her sketchbook in frustration.
"Frita, I'm not here to do anything but apologize," Vladimir frowned. "I did a lot of things last night that hurt you, and I never wanted to do that. I'm sorry."
Frita murmured something as she stared at her feet.
"Whether you believe me or not, that's all I came here to do," Vladimir expressed. "I'll see you at the challenge."
"Wait!" Frita pleaded. "I... I... I don't think you're wrong!"
"Hm?" Vladimir reacted.
"I'm... not well. I am kind of obsessed," Frita conceded. "As if I needed another reason to hate myself, now my best friend can't even be my friend in public."
"Frita, I am not your friend," Vladimir said. "I can be your ally in this game, but no more than that."
"I understand," Frita mustered.
"That's all I can ask for. Thank you," Vladimir smiled.
He made his leave, only to stop and look back at her.
"By the way..." he said. "If you call me anything besides Vladimir ever again, keep in mind how much I know about you. And what things you don't want others to know about you."
"Like people could hate me more than they already do," Frita scoffed.
Vladimir simply smiled as he shut the door behind him.
Confessional:
Frita: I just... I don't know. Maybe De- Maybe Vladimir will be willing to work with Quentin and the others. I forgot to ask him, because of course I did. (She sighs.) Can't wait for that to bite me in the butt.
Vladimir: Everyone has something they'd do anything to prevent others from knowing. Even someone like Frita, who's open about her interest in gore and killing. Even she understands that much. As long as I can get a grasp on what she's going to do in the game, that's all that matters.
As Vladimir left Frita's room, he noticed Shadya in the hall.
"Vladimir. Speaking with Frita?" Shadya inquired.
"Not for very long. I just wanted to apologize for upsetting her last night," Vladimir explained.
"The extent of the relationship you two share only interests me insofar as you're both willing to help me shift power in our favor," Shadya said bluntly.
"I had a feeling you were cooking something up," Vladimir chuckled. "Should I get Frita to come out?"
"No. Follow me," Shadya instructed as she walked towards the stairs.
Vladimir shrugged and followed her. They ascended up several floors until they reached the penthouse.
"Ah, this truly is a private affair," Vladimir smiled. He scanned his key card, and the door unlocked. "Please, make yourself at home."
"This room practically is my home. I don't need your permission," Shadya told him.
"Whatever works," Vladimir figured.
"Anyway, the plan I'm sure you've already figured out," Shadya segued. "You, me, Frita, Kun, Quentin. We eschew the Gryphons alliance Brittany set up, and work in the middle."
"I don't know. Kun doesn't seem to be a huge fan of me," Vladimir pointed out.
"He did mention wanting Cyan to be in the alliance. As long as I have five, it makes no difference to me," Shadya told him. "I would much rather work with you than Cyan, but if you don't wish to accept my offer, then that's your prerogative."
Vladimir laughed. "I'll see what I can do with him. Do you have a target in mind?"
"Any of Bailey, Brittany, or Hugh is fine by me," Shadya said. "We can discuss it at Elimination Station. They could have Statues, too, for all we know. The best-laid plans, as they say."
"Very true," Vladimir nodded. "For what it's worth, Hugh made it a point to reach out to me. I may be able to keep him sated if it comes down to it. Not sure about the other two."
"Better you do it than me," Shadya dismissed.
"So, why are we leaving Frita out of this?" Vladimir asked.
"Because she doesn't need to know about the Gryphons alliance," Shadya explained. "Nor that I'm letting you know that I'm willing to drop her as soon as it is convenient. If you want to make it less convenient, I suggest you keep that in mind."
"Believe me, I'm doing my best with her," Vladimir said. "I didn't just offer her name last night for the hell of it. I'm willing to drop Frita if it's convenient, too."
"For now, though, it is not convenient," Shadya established. "So make sure she isn't any more of a liability."
"Between her and Hugh, it's starting to feel like I'm your babysitter," Vladimir joked.
"People will kill for that position when I have actual children," Shadya claimed. "Be grateful."
Confessional:
Vladimir: No matter what, in any aspect of life, it pays to make people feel like they can trust you. Even if you have to betray that trust later down the line, even if you have to hurt them, they won't just be able to forget the time when they were able to let their guard down around you. And you can use that to get back into their good graces. Well, at least that's the case with adults. Ray and Reese still aren't my biggest fans. Good thing I don't have to worry about them anymore, huh?
Shadya: I will do whatever it takes to ensure that the game is entirely within my own control. My biggest mistake in Shuffle Party was making that too obvious. While I'm obviously going to be an intimidating presence in any field, that doesn't mean I can't downplay it. With figures like Vladimir and Brittany here to draw people's attention, that works out wonderfully for me. I can still play a winning game without becoming a target.
Kun and Quentin sat on the couch in the nice garage, the latter still playing video games.
"So, um, you just fight the same person over and over?" Kun asked. "I don't get it."
"This is the guy Frita usually plays as," Quentin explained. "If I practice against him, I'll know what to do if I play with her again."
"'If'?" Kun asked.
"I... Well, I haven't been able to reach her today," Quentin admitted. "Granted, I've spent most of the morning here in the garage. Maybe she left her room by now."
"So you think there's, um, little chance of her ever leaving for anything other than a challenge?" Kun wondered.
Quentin sighed. "I don't know. I never know what'll really upset her, or what she wants. And that's my fault, not hers. It's just... discouraging."
"Preaching to the choir," Kun smiled. "I know I'm not exactly the, uh, the picture of confidence. But a man must do what a man must do."
"And what's that?" Quentin asked.
"Be a pillar for those who need him to be," Kun answered. "My parents expect a lot of me. That's why I signed up for this game in the first place. So I can get the experience and discipline I need to be an, um, effective leader. Because the pencil industry as a whole will, um, expect a lot out of me. And I won't let them down!"
"Mm," Quentin nodded. "I guess I'm really not that much of a man, then. I can't get through to my friend, I can barely make decisions on my own, I..." He choked up.
"I'll stop you there," Kun said. "Being a man does not mean being perfect. That's something I've, um, carried with me for a while. Especially after Shuffle Party. Lord knows, after Shuffle Party..."
"I know I can't be perfect," Quentin said. "But I want to at least be something. Something more than overly emotional and unable to actually help that much."
"Being a man doesn't, um, disqualify you from having feelings, either," Kun pointed out. "And there's no shame in not being able to solve Frita's problems. Her situation is complicated, and honestly, um, so is she. But if you're there for her, if you can be someone she can confide in and trust, then that's, um, invaluable."
"I just worry that she won't talk to me and can't trust me," Quentin said. "...Also, I don't want to go off on her like what happened with Shadya this morning."
"...What's done is done," Kun commented. "It's not great that she, um, voted for Louise, either. But I spoke to her earlier, and she fully intends to vote for one of the Gryphons tonight."
"I just don't know if we can trust her anymore," Quentin doubted. "She's already gone behind our backs twice now. Besides, she's in a Gryphons alliance."
"I see," Kun recognized. "She left that part out."
"Exactly," Quentin said.
"Well, like it or not, we'll need to rely on her if we want to get further in the game," Kun told him. "She and I agreed that we'd both be fine losing one of Bailey, Brittany, or Hugh."
"Cyan said something like that before," Quentin recalled. "That works for me, too."
Kun patted Quentin on the shoulder. "It's normal to get discouraged sometimes. But it's important to, um, hold onto a little optimism, even if it doesn't make sense."
"Maybe," Quentin smiled. "Thanks, Kun. I really needed this talk."
"Of course," Kun affirmed. "That's what friends are for."
Confessional:
Quentin: Heh, and to think, my optimism all those years ago was exactly what Tori liked about me. ...Damn it, I'm still thinking about her. Usually at this point, she'd tell me something like "Stop being so down, that's not the Quentin I know." As if I'm not allowed to be upset about anything. (Tears run down his face.) Man, she really did get to me. I know she's not a bad person, just... (He sighs.)
Kun: I do get Quentin's desire to indulge in being upset. I'm also someone who people expect smiles and stability from, haha. But the, um, the way I see it, none of us have lost yet. So we can still do what it takes to keep it that way. I mean, the final nine is way better than either of us got before. So we must be doing something right.
Bailey found Cyan strolling through the city.
"Oh, Cyan!" Bailey called. She hurried over to her.
"Bailey? What's up?" Cyan blinked.
"I was hoping to bend your ear on something," Bailey offered. "I believe the game is shifting dramatically as we speak, and you're in a unique position."
"A position where I'm completely on the outs?" Cyan questioned.
"Whether or not that was true before, it shouldn't be for long," Bailey said. "I fear Shadya has positioned herself in such a way that almost everyone left in the game feels they need her. Combine this with her challenge prowess, and she may very well win this entire game if we're not careful."
"Her and Vladimir both, if I'm not mistaken," Cyan noted.
"Vladimir's power, by my estimation, is a lot more limited," Bailey dismissed. "Nobody trusts him. I think the only reason he's still around is because there's a chance that where he goes, Frita follows."
"Wouldn't that make him a bigger threat than Shadya?" Cyan figured.
"Not if you consider that the winner will be decided by jury vote," Bailey answered. "I can say with reasonable confidence that the two jurors we have so far would not vote for Vlaimir to win no matter who his opponents are. I'll grant that he's unpredictable, and I would not be opposed to voting him out in another round or two. But I believe Shadya's a higher priority."
"And where does my unique position come into play?" Cyan wondered.
"You expressed belief that you had nobody to turn to," Bailey explained. "I'd like to help you out. I've been doing what I can to assist Frita through her issues in a way that has nothing to do with Vladimir. The three of us, plus Brittany and Hugh. Ideally, we vote Shadya, then Vladimir, then Kun and Quentin. We can be flexible depending on who wins Invincibility, of course."
"Of course," Cyan nodded. "This all sounds good to me!"
"Wonderful," Bailey smiled. "If the flow of the game is going to change, then we'd be fortunate to change it in our favor. I'm happy to have you on board."
"You know it!" Cyan beamed.
Confessional:
Bailey: Excellent. Now, even if Shadya does turn on the Gryphons, we'll have a contingency. Truthfully, getting rid of her sooner than later is probably a smart move to begin with. She truly is positioned that well, and if something isn't done soon, I fear it may never be. That's simply no good.
Cyan: Why Bailey, you're speaking to me for the first time to offer me an alliance with four people I don't trust in the slightest? All while talking down to me and hailing yourself as some kind of savior? You shouldn't have! (She scoffs.) I said yes, because if things royally mess up and that group actually ends up with the momentum, it's better to be on their side than off of it. I'm sticking with the Wyverns, though, for better or worse. I at least get the sense that they respect me.
Hugh walked up to Frita's door and pounded on it.
"Hey, it's almost challenge time!" he shouted. "If you haven't taken a shower yet, now's your chance!"
Frita opened the door, having showered and dressed since earlier.
"I have a clock, you know," she leered.
"Look, I'm going to walk you to McLean Park, because we need to talk," Hugh established.
"You think you can just demand I vote with you?" Frita sneered.
"Nobody trusts your ass, Frita. Not even me," Hugh established. "You're erratic and emotional and nobody knows what the hell to do with you. But Bailey swears that she sees something in you. And we're the only ones who have had Vladimir's back all merge, so he's sticking with us. You and I don't have to like each other, but working together is the best option for us. You think I'd be making this offer if I didn't honestly believe that?"
Frita sighed as she closed the door behind her. She and Hugh headed out.
"It kind of figures, huh?" Frita mentioned. "Vladimir also told me earlier that he's not my friend, just my ally."
"I thought you didn't trust anyone enough to be your friend in the first place. That's, like, your whole thing," Hugh pointed out.
"I at least thought I had Vladimir..." Frita murmured.
"Oh, right, that whole episode last night," Hugh recalled. "Listen, anyone can claim to be your friend. You think I haven't been burned by that kind of shit before? You remember my whole incel phase from Alpha Party."
"So, what, you're so numb to the concept of friendship that you're just an asshole to people in general?" Frita jabbed.
"You say that so dismissively like you aren't the exact same," Hugh sneered. "At least I'm honest about it. You just keep sympathy-baiting and then getting mad when people take the bait. You're in your twenties for fuck sake!"
"So are you, and here you are, putting people down constantly for no reason other than to make yourself feel better," Frita retorted.
"It's working," Hugh grinned. "It's a whole lot more fun than just being a sad sack."
"Until you realize that nobody likes you because you're an asshole," Frita told him.
"That's not even true," Hugh laughed. "I have friends, I have a girlfriend, and as far as the game goes, I've got stable allies. Being a jerk is way better than being a complainer!"
"Deflecting your pain onto others is better than being realistic about it?" Frita doubted.
"Constant catharsis is way better than wallowing in pessimism, yes," Hugh responded. "And in case you haven't noticed, artard, you're deflecting your pain onto others too. The difference between us is that you get all defeatist like it's all somehow completely out of your own control."
"You think I want to be a freak?" Frita spat.
"People would respect you more if you owned it instead of acting like it's the end of the world," Hugh said.
"Not true, but go off," Frita scoffed.
Confessional:
Hugh: MAN it felt good to just let her have it! And what do you know, Bailey was right. Not even pretending like I give a fuck about her as a person actually got her to engage with me. I have no idea if she'll actually stick with us, but as long as Vlad does, she probably does too.
Frita: It's easy to tell someone to just be confident in who they are. How confident am I supposed to be in being a gore enthusiast? Nobody wants to hear about that! Excuse me for being upset that the only thing that really interests me is something no one can relate to!
Brittany sat in a lotus position near one of the fountains in Isolation Park. The fountain wasn't actually running. She took slow, methodical breaths through her nose.
...
...
...
She began to snore lightly.
Confessional:
Brittany: Normally, I'd go searching for Statues, but I sincerely doubt there are any more that haven't been found yet. I decided it'd be a better use of my time to just take a breather from the stresses of the game. I know my position's not great, so relaxing might actually help, since I'll need energy for the challenge. Lord knows I won't be getting that energy through food.
The contestants met up with the hosts at McLean Park.
"And coming back from Isolation Park, Brittany!" Topher announced.
She approached the rest of the contestants with a slight smile.
"Today's challenge will be taking place outside in a fairly nondescript part of town," Chris explained. "But the challenge itself will be anything but. In fact, I'd say it's our most descript challenge yet!"
"What does that even mean?" Shadya barbed.
"Just go with it. He was proud of that one," Lindsay pleaded.
Chris shot her a side eye. "Just follow me to the place."
Confessional:
Kun: How today's challenge goes should greatly affect how the vote goes. It all depends on, um, who's safe and who isn't. I, um, suppose that's the case for just about every elimination, now that I'm saying it all out loud. But this one is particularly important, in my opinion.
Brittany: I was able to rest up, more or less. I'd rather be in my bed than on an old, unsafe wooden bench, but we take what we can get in this game. I dodged elimination last night, and that's what matters. I'll spend all game in Isolation Park if I can make it to the end.
Everyone followed the hosts to the nondescript grassy part of the city. Situated within the small field were nine pedestals, upon each of which sat a doll resembling one of the contestants. In front of each pedestal stood small catapults, with a lit torch where the bucket would be, and five taut ropes holding the catapult back.
"Should there be so much open flame in a field like this?" Bailey fretted.
"It's fine, we watered the field this morning," Chris dismissed.
"That was hours ago," Kun pointed out.
"It's probably still damp enough," Chris figured. "Anyway, today's challenge is a fun one that'll test your understanding of the group's dynamics and how you all really feel about each other."
"And here to help explain it is someone who probably could have used this challenge when she played: Angie!" Topher introduced.
A young woman dressed in beachwear popped out from behind one of the pedestals.
"What's up!" Angie grinned. "Yeah, you're not wrong, Topher. I misread a lot of things. But hey, now I get to watch everyone's deepest darkest feelings come out~"
Brittany swallowed a lump in her throat.
"What are we to do?" Shadya requested.
"First, everyone's going to take the same questionnaire," Angie explained. "It'll ask questions about who among you is most like this, or least like that."
"So the point is just to roast everyone? Easy!" Hugh laughed.
"Your answers will stay private," Angie said. "But after everyone's done, we'll get everyone as a group and ask the questions again. This time, you'll be publicly answering with who you thought was chosen the most. Not necessarily what you think, but what you think the majority answered in the questionnaire."
"How devious," Vladimir chuckled. "Forcing our hands on our perceptions of what everyone believes."
"If you're right in choosing the majority answer, you get to cut a rope in front of someone else's doll," Angie continued as she revealed a filet knife. "Once all five ropes holding the catapult are cut, the torch will hit the doll and set it on fire! That person will be out of the challenge. We'll keep going until the last one standing. Two people win Invincibility, but only one gets the penthouse."
"So on top of everything, we have to specifically target other players?" Brittany winced.
"It's not something you're unused to," Angie responded with a catlike smile.
"F-For the record, she and I are good friends, she's just ribbing," Brittany made clear.
"She's not wrong, though," Hugh snickered.
Brittany made a thin line with her mouth.
"Here's your question and answer thingies!" Lindsay announced as she handed a questionnaire to each contestant. "Don't be too mean."
"All they have to do is pick names. The questions will be plenty mean on their own. Hehaha," Chris chuckled.
Confessional:
Vladimir: As the subject of a lot of ire amongst the players, I imagine I'll be the consensus to a lot of the harder-hitting questions. If that is the case, I'll have to gauge how I ought to react. If I am so clearly low in the opinions of others, I need to spin that to make myself look like less of a threat.
Hugh: These were way more brutal than I was picturing! I was expecting softballs like "who's the most ruthless player", but no, they go for the throat! Can't wait to see how everyone really feels about each other. Hearts are gonna break!
Everyone had finished their questionnaires, and now held whiteboards and markers. They stood in a line in front of the row of catapults.
"Alright, we'll start off with a few nice ones to warm you guys up," Chris began. "First question. Who would you trust with your life?"
Vladimir answered 'Kun'. Brittany, Frita, and Hugh answered 'Bailey'. Bailey, Cyan, Kun, Quentin, and Shadya all answered 'Shadya'.
"The correct answer is... Shadya!" Chris confirmed.
"It's true. I am the most qualified to defend someone's life," Shadya accepted.
"As a reminder, even if someone who got it right gets all five of their ropes cut, they'll still have the right to cut a rope on their way out," Topher brought up. "We'll start with Bailey and go alphabetically."
"Alright..." Bailey trepidatiously took the filet knife. She pored over her options, and then cut Kun's first rope.
"Oh," Kun frowned.
Bailey carefully handed the knife to Cyan. After briefly scanning each doll, she went for Vladimir's first rope.
"I'm shocked," Vladimir joked.
Kun received the knife from Cyan and cut Vladimir's second rope.
Quentin cut Brittany's first rope. Brittany shot him a glare.
Shadya cut her own first rope.
"Shadya, chickening out of making a stance," Topher commented.
"Hardly," Shadya denounced.
"Question two!" Chris proceeded. "Who is the most honest?"
Bailey, Brittany, Frita, Hugh, Kun, and Shadya answered 'Quentin'. Cyan, Quentin, and Vladimir answered 'Kun'.
"Correct answer is actually Kun!" Chris revealed.
"So lots of people think it's me, but, um, also thought others would think it's Quentin?" Kun questioned.
"I'm not sure if I should be flattered or not if I'm not the majority answer," Quentin chuckled.
"Well I'm glad people think I am honest," Kun chuckled awkwardly.
Cyan took the knife and cut Vladimir's third rope.
"At least take me out to dinner first," Vladimir remarked.
Quentin took the knife and cut Bailey's first rope.
"At least he's willing to spread the love," Brittany murmured to Bailey.
"If he doesn't want to commit to taking one of us out, then that means more opportunities for us," Bailey rationalized.
Vladimir cut Cyan's first rope.
"Fair's fair," Cyan figured.
Confessional:
Kun: These questions are meant to be uncomfortable, but I'm still not sure what's wrong with being the most honest. I know, um, lying is a part of the game and everything, but not lying is a valid strategy, too. Trust is important.
Vladimir: I'm not surprised some of the others are gunning for me. There isn't much I can do about that besides keep getting the questions right myself and cutting them back. Whether or not I actually need Invincibility is a whole other matter. We'll see.
"Alright, here's a hard hitter," Chris snickered. "Who never shuts up?"
Hugh guessed 'Shadya'. Bailey, Brittany, Cyan, Frita, Kun, Quentin, Shadya, and Vladimir guessed 'Hugh'.
"Hehaha. Yep. It's Hugh!" Chris confirmed.
"What?!" Hugh reacted. "Bullshit! Shadya's always going on about her seventy-fifth obscure world record or whatever the fuck! And Frita's always on about how fucking tortured she is! I am hardly the person here who most needs to-"
"Shut up!" Angie interrupted.
Hugh growled as Bailey took the filet knife. She gave him an apologetic look, then approached Kun's pedestal and cut the second rope.
Brittany took the knife and cut Kun's third rope.
"I have to say, I was not expecting to be their target," Kun noted.
"It could be a red herring," Cyan told him. "Too bad it's not a royal blue tang."
"What would, um, that mean in this metaphor?" Kun asked.
"I don't know," Cyan admitted.
She received the knife and cut Vladimir's fourth rope.
Frita took the knife, stared at it for a few seconds, then returned to reality and cut Cyan's second rope.
Kun took the knife and cut Vladimir's final rope, setting the catapult off. The lit torch flung up against the Vladimir doll, setting it ablaze.
"Vladimir is the first out!" Lindsay announced.
"Welp, what can you do?" Vladimir shrugged.
Quentin cut Hugh's first rope.
Shadya cut her own second rope.
"Interesting strategy," Brittany noted.
"I still get my last hurrah, don't forget," Vladimir told Shadya, who passed him the knife.
He cut Cyan's third rope, then returned the knife to Angie and moved to a nearby series of benches.
"Lots of damage done this round," Topher noted. "It's a good thing we didn't stick to only three ropes per player."
"Alright, alright, we get it, you're full of great ideas, Topher!" Chris exasperated. "Next question! Who mistakenly thinks they're running the game?"
"Wasn't looking forward to this one," Brittany muttered.
Everyone guessed 'Vladimir'.
"I can't tell if everyone getting it right is no fun because we're getting through the challenge so quickly, or more fun because you guys have to take more pot shots at each other," Chris grumbled.
"I think it's always better to look on the bright side," Lindsay offered.
"Sure, why not?" Chris shrugged.
"For what it's worth, I'm under no impression that I'm running this game," Vladimir piped up.
Bailey retrieved the knife from Angie and cut Kun's fourth rope.
Brittany moved on to cut Kun's final rope. His doll caught fire.
"Can I ask why me, at least?" Kun winced.
"Frankly, I figured you'd take it the least personally," Bailey claimed.
"Mm," Kun acknowledged.
Cyan cut Shadya's third rope.
"I see," Shadya glowered.
Frita cut Cyan's fourth rope.
Hugh cut Quentin's first rope.
Kun cut Brittany's second rope.
Quentin cut Hugh's second rope.
Shadya cut Cyan's final rope, sending her doll ablaze.
"Kun and Cyan have been knocked out of the challenge!" Chris announced.
"Nobody's right on the edge, but some people are getting there," Topher recapped. "Meanwhile, Frita still hasn't taken a hit!"
"I'm as surprised as you are," Frita said.
Confessional:
Cyan: The fact that Kun and I were some of the first people taken out is... concerning. Kun said he could give me an in, but I'm worried that he has too much of a target on his back to even be able to help me. I probably shouldn't overthink it. It's just a challenge.
Hugh: People only think I don't shut up because of negativity bias or something! They can't handle that I don't give a fuck what they think, and that sticks in their minds more than Shadya or Frita going on and on about the same old shit. That's all it is!
"Let's go back to a softie," Lindsay requested.
"We've only got one more, but alright," Chris allowed. "Who would you most like to be stranded with?"
Hugh answered 'Cyan'. Frita answered 'Quentin'. Bailey, Brittany, Quentin, and Shadya all answered 'Shadya'.
"The majority answer was actually Brittany," Topher said. "Nobody got it right."
"Really?" just about everyone responded.
"Wow, I, uh..." Brittany blushed. "I appreciate it."
"You're smart and easy to get along with," Bailey smiled. "I didn't know if the majority would share that opinion, though."
"At least most of us seem to understand the practicality of sticking with me," Shadya spat. "Hugh confuses me the most."
"Cyan's tall. She could, I dunno, reach coconuts or something," Hugh rationalized. "I don't know how you people think!"
"Well, with that out of the way, let's hurt some more feelings!" Chris beamed. "Who has not lived up to their potential?"
Quentin answered 'Bailey'. Shadya answered 'Brittany'. Frita answered 'Kun'. Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh answered 'Quentin'.
"The correct answer is actually a tie between Bailey and Quentin!" Chris revealed.
"Haha, yeah, fair enough," Quentin forced.
"I've had an inexplicable target on my back ever since I was forced to change teams, fought my way to - at minimum - the final nine in spite of it, and maintained decent relationships with most of you, but sure, I'm not living up to my potential," Bailey scowled.
She took the filet knife and cut Quentin's second rope.
Brittany cut Quentin's third rope. The young man winced.
Hugh cut Frita's first rope.
"Honestly, I'm surprised it took this long," Frita mentioned.
Quentin cut Hugh's third rope.
Confessional:
Quentin: At least I can say for sure that me not doing enough isn't all just in my head. It's the real, honest-to-god truth. I need to do something about that, but I'm still not sure what. Is this the part where I'm supposed to make a big move?
Bailey: I've played an effective game with strong control over my fate and little blood on my hands. The blood I do have was to benefit my standing with the others to ensure that I make it to the end and win. Just because I'm not as bombastic as someone like Vladimir or Shadya doesn't mean I'm not living up to my potential. I guess being underestimated was part of the plan, but that doesn't make this any less infuriating!
"Alright, here's a simple one," Topher segued. "Who is the biggest poser?"
"I haven't heard someone called a poser since I was a kid," Cyan claimed.
Frita answered 'Vladimir'. Hugh and Quentin answered 'Shadya'. Bailey, Brittany, and Shadya answered 'Hugh'.
"It was close, but the correct answer is Hugh!" Chris laughed.
"Oh fuck off!" Hugh snapped. "What even is a poser, anyway?!"
"You are, apparently," Angie chuckled.
Hugh growled at her.
Bailey took the filet knife and cut Shadya's fourth rope.
Brittany cut Shadya's last rope, setting her doll on fire.
"And where did this come from?" Shadya asked, holding back anger.
"Apologies," Bailey told her. "The penthouse is in my reach for perhaps the only time it ever will be. I'd be remiss not to take advantage of the opportunity."
Shadya cut Bailey's second rope. Bailey leered at her as she made her way over to the bench.
"Here's one that might be helpful!" Lindsay offered. "Who most needs a wakeup call in life?"
"How is telling someone they're living their life wrong helpful?" Brittany questioned.
"Well, uh, because if they... Chris explained it better!" Lindsay insisted.
"People can't improve themselves if they don't know what they need to improve," Chris said with a hand over his heart.
"Right," Brittany responded flatly.
Quentin answered 'Quentin'. Frita answered 'Vladimir'. Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh answered 'Hugh'.
"Hehaha. The answer was actually Frita. Nobody got it right!" Chris laughed.
"Yeah, that checks," Frita sighed.
"Though to be fair, the three you guessed were also at least one person's answer," Topher chuckled. "Guess you all don't think that highly of each other."
"Topher, that's mean!" Lindsay objected.
"They're the ones being mean over here," Topher dismissed. "I'm just reveling in it."
"Let's do another hard hitter," Chris decided. "Who does not deserve to still be here?"
The contestants glanced at each other uneasily. Brittany guessed 'Brittany'. Bailey and Frita guessed 'Frita'. Hugh and Quentin guessed 'Vladimir'.
"The majority answer was Quentin. Once again, nobody got it right!" Chris revealed.
"Wow," Quentin reacted softly.
"Sucks, doesn't it?" Frita told him. "Having everyone's opinions of you outright confirmed."
"More than I expected," Quentin admitted.
Confessional:
Frita: That's one where I'm surprised I wasn't the answer. Do that many people really think Quentin hasn't earned his spot here more than I have? Neither of us are really active players, but I feel like he puts in more of an effort than I do. Am I doing something without realizing it?
Shadya: I'm not surprised Bailey is the type to be jealous of others' success. I'll bet that if you look on her social media, she's made more than one post complaining about people whose boyfriends aren't incarcerated murderers getting to walk free and go on dates whenever they want. The likelihood of her targeting me isn't lost on me.
"Here's one that'll cut like a knife," Chris smirked. "Who's the most likely to stab you in the back?"
Bailey, Brittany, Frita, Hugh, and Quentin all answered 'Vladimir'.
"Damn," Vladimir chuckled.
"Yep. Although it wasn't as big a blowout as you'd think, Vladimir was the majority," Chris snickered.
"Who else did people answer?" Kun asked.
"Uh uh uh, that's for us to know and you to get paranoid over," Topher scolded.
Bailey took the knife and cut Quentin's fourth rope.
Brittany cut Quentin's final rope, setting his doll ablaze.
"Fair enough?" Quentin figured.
Frita cut Hugh's fourth rope.
Hugh cut Frita's second rope.
Quentin cut Hugh's last rope, setting his doll on fire.
"And that's two more out of the running!" Topher announced. "Only Bailey, Brittany, and Frita are left. Two of you will win Invincibility, and with three ropes left each, it could be any of you!"
"Okay, let's do another softer one," Lindsay suggested. "Who would be most likely to squander the million dollars if they won?"
"Does she even know what 'squander' means?" Shadya doubted quietly.
Frita guessed 'Frita'. Brittany guessed 'Hugh'. Bailey guessed 'Vladimir'.
"It was another tie! Frita and Hugh are both acceptable answers!" Chris revealed.
"Acceptable my ass!" Hugh objected. "I have plans for the money, you know!"
"I know that, but I didn't figure you were opening up to most of us," Brittany said.
She cut Frita's third rope.
Frita cut Brittany's third rope in retaliation.
"I don't have plans for the money. Me being right is fair," she sighed.
Confessional:
Brittany: I've mostly had to follow Bailey's lead with this challenge. I know where my loyalties lie, but I can tell Bailey's been branching out while I've been in Isolation. She's probably my closest ally, so if she has plans, I'm not going to get in the way of them.
Hugh: This challenge is ass cheeks! Can we have another one where we push each other off a platform or something? At least that isn't going to make me look bad in front of future jury members!
"Alright, let's see how this one turns out," Chris said. "Who would the majority least like to see win?"
Frita answered 'Vladimir'. Bailey and Brittany answered 'Brittany'.
"It is actually Brittany," Chris confirmed. "Vladimir was close behind, but Brittany got the majority."
"I'm shocked," Brittany scoffed.
"You can't let it get to you," Bailey assured her.
She took the knife and cut Frita's fourth rope.
Brittany cut Frita's last rope, setting her doll on fire.
"Yeah..." Frita accepted.
"Frita is out, meaning Bailey and Brittany have Invincibility!" Chris announced. "Now it's just a matter of who wins penthouse."
"I'm willing to step down and let Brittany have it," Bailey offered. "She was just in Isolation Park. She could use it more than I could."
"What about this being your best shot at getting the penthouse?" Brittany asked. "I don't want you to give it up for my sake. Going to Isolation is just part of the game."
"I accepted a long time ago that I will likely not get to spend time there," Bailey said with a shake of her head.
"If neither of you can decide, can we get on with the challenge?" Topher asked impatiently.
Brittany, still holding the knife, walked up to her platform and cut her last two ropes, setting her doll on fire.
"Fair enough," Bailey said.
"Well, that does make that a hell of a lot easier," Chris figured. "Bailey wins access to the penthouse! And she gets to keep the doll we made of her!"
"I can't tell if that's adorable or creepy," Bailey commented as Lindsay handed her the doll.
"I think it's cute!" Lindsay offered.
"Well, with all that out of the way, why don't we head to Elimination Station?" Chris decided.
"So wait, was I just not the majority answer to any of these?" Cyan frowned.
"Did you want to be known as someone nobody likes or trusts?" Hugh doubted.
Confessional:
Bailey: Today's challenge got a lot of people riled up. Myself included, I won't deny. With things already somewhat up in the air, I find myself headed to this elimination less sure than I've been all game. There's solace in Invincibility, but that doesn't mean things will necessarily go my way.
Kun: Shadya said she was, um, interested in voting for a Gryphon tonight. With two of them safe tonight, things should be straightforward. Then again, even she didn't tell me everything when I spoke to her earlier.
Vladimir: I know names other than mine have come up. Whether or not people are willing to go with those names is another matter entirely, but there is a case for keeping me around, and I think the others realize that.
The contestants slowly exited the elevator at Elimination Station. Chris was already in his seat, and Kiki and Louise stood at their lecterns. The players took their spots at their own lecterns.
"Welcome back, ladies and germs!" Chris greeted. "You know how it is. Majority rules, just like in today's challenge! Except this vote's going to have much more dire consequences than just making someone upset. Although whoever leaves will be a part of the jury so who knows? Maybe even that'll bite you in the ass. I will remind everyone, though, that Kiki and Louise are just here to watch. They won't talk, and you won't talk to them."
"I suppose I'll lead off with the obvious," Shadya began. "I should hope this comes as no immense surprise to anyone, but considering the alliance of Bailey, Brittany, and Hugh are in a strong position, it would be smart of the rest of us to take a shot now."
"...Now wait just a gosh darn minute, missy!" Hugh reacted.
"It's a good evening to be invincible, huh?" Brittany remarked to Bailey.
"It is. And Shadya's right, this does not come as an immense surprise to me," Bailey claimed. "That's why I have no reservations in pointing out that Shadya has made commitments to most if not all of us left in the game. She's good at making others believe they truly need her. It served her well in Shuffle Party as well as this season. But this is not Shuffle Party. This is a merge full of some of Total Drama's most capable players. I believe we know better than to settle."
"Damn," Cyan remarked, impressed.
"Naturally, Bailey's callout sounds good on paper, but consider this," Shadya rebutted. "It's indicative that she does not believe I am willing to side with her. Eloquence aside, she is scared that I have sided with those not working with her. Her alliance of three has been tight and exclusive. To those not a part of it, there is little incentive in empowering it further. Especially when the alternative is voting Hugh, who I can say with confidence - in light of today's challenge - is not a controversial target."
"Hey, I'm controversial as fuck!" Hugh objected. "Chris may keep reminding us, but I'm sure I don't have to: the winner's going to be decided by the jury. Do you all think you have a shot against Shadya at the end? And don't say you can get rid of her later, because you sure as fuck don't know that for a fact!"
"What they do know for a fact is that I have fired shots against your alliance," Shadya stated. "Even on the original Gryphons, I've never been close to you. Vladimir can attest to that."
"She was on decent terms with Bailey and Brittany before they grouped up with Hugh and Irving," Vladimir pointed out. "But she definitely wasn't happy after they took out Isidora."
"Isidora wasn't even a target going into that vote," Shadya spat. "So either they have immense skill at hiding their true intentions, or they're willing to screw over anyone on the fly if it means they're safe."
"I've been a target since day one, Shadya," Brittany glowered. "If an option presents itself, it's dumb not to take it. You of all people should know what it's like to be targeted for your successes."
"Except unlike Brittany, Shadya's gotten no votes against her all game," Hugh added. "She's smooth as fuck. She knows how to make people comfortable, even when they really shouldn't be."
"She was able to find allies in Kun and Quentin very quickly after the team shuffle," Bailey mentioned. "Had the new Gryphons lost a challenge, it would have been me or Kiki to go home."
"To be fair, I don't recall either of you, um, really trying to work her over," Kun chimed in.
"As if you have a universal understanding of anything that happened back then," Bailey frowned. "As if anybody does at any point. Even Shadya admitted to not realizing Brittany and I had been talking to Hugh and Irving."
"I, um, I suppose that's fair," Kun admitted.
"It's not like Shadya's even that consistent," Quentin pointed out. "She voted for Kiki and Louise, even though she kept telling the original Wyverns she had our backs. How do we know this whole thing isn't just made up to get us to let our guard down?"
"They could have a statue that we don't even know about..." Frita proposed. "I wouldn't be surprised if I was just getting manipulated. It happens."
"The original Gryphons hold a majority right now," Quentin continued. "They could just be getting us to split our own votes in case one of us has a statue."
"For the sake of transparency, I've only been to Isolation Park once," Shadya said. "I found two statues there. One was the David Statue, which I've already played. The other is the River Statue, which forces votes to fall between myself and someone else of my choosing. I have no reason to play that tonight."
"What benefit would that kind of statue even have?" Cyan wondered.
"It's very situational; I agree," Shadya nodded. "Quentin, I understand you're upset with me for not voting with you these past few votes. I'm sorry I left you out of those votes. But you can ask Kun, this move has been in the works all day."
"I did, um, tell you about it earlier," Kun corroborated.
"Yeah, 'this move'!" Quentin accused. "How do we know 'this move' is just a simple vote against one of the power trio? Not just a distraction?"
"I suppose I should ask Frita and Vladimir. They've been mostly quiet so far," Cyan stepped in. "Are you willing to let us know what plans you've been in on?"
"Bailey and Hugh both tried to get me to trust them," Frita laid out. "Vladimir made it clear that I'm not his friend, just a means to an end."
"Hey, I wasn't that mean about it," Vladimir chuckled. "Shadya came up to me earlier. She wanted us, Frita, Kun, and Quentin to take a shot against the three."
"Wow, what am I, a bowl of oranges?" Cyan asked, insulted.
"I get what you were going for there, but that doesn't sound nearly as bad as chopped liver," Vladimir joked.
"Your anti-Vladimir sentiment could not be ignored," Shadya explained. "If you can look me in the eye and tell me you're willing to work alongside him, I'll own up to my misjudgment and apologize."
"I told you this would happen, Cyan," Bailey said regrettably. "Shadya is willing to do whatever it takes, including working with Vladimir. And she truly never had faith in you."
"Hey, I know things with Frita got complicated, but we've mostly straightened things out," Vladimir said.
"I don't really want to get into it," Frita uttered.
"The point is, I've been clear all day that I fully intend to see this move through," Shadya maintained. She cast her vote. "Letting these three make it any further intact would be a massive mistake."
"Alright, screw you then!" Hugh shouted. He cast his vote. "We wanted to work with you for real, even though we knew you were good with Kun and Quentin."
"That sounds like a misjudgment on your part, not anything I did incorrectly," Shadya dismissed.
Bailey cast her vote. "We offered you a spot in the final five. If you do not wish to take it, then that is your prerogative."
"Do you truly believe I needed your help to make it there?" Shadya scoffed.
"You sure as hell couldn't last time you played," Hugh sneered.
Brittany cast her vote. "I vowed to play a loyal game from the beginning. No matter what happens tonight, I'm sticking to my guns."
Frita cast her vote. "I don't really like either of you that much, but I know who I trust less."
Kun cast his vote. "Likewise."
Vladimir cast his vote. "Unless I'm misreading the room, it seems pretty clear where things are going."
Cyan cast her vote. "This probably should have happened a while ago, but better late than never."
Quentin slowly exhaled through his nose and cast his vote.
"And that's everybody!" Chris announced. "If anyone wants to play a statue or something, now's the time. Otherwise, I'll-"
"Yes," Quentin interrupted.
"Huh?" Chris inquired.
Quentin revealed his Genesis Statue from his pocket. "I would like to play this. It lets me nullify every vote cast against one person of my choosing."
"Quentin, that doesn't seem necessary," Shadya told him. "The majority is clearly against Hugh."
"I know," Quentin said. "I'm playing this for Hugh."
Shadya's expression grew hard and intense. "Excuse me?!"
Hugh burst into obnoxious cackles as Quentin approached Chris and handed him the statue.
"This is indeed the Genesis Statue," Chris confirmed. "And, just as Quentin said, it'll nullify every vote cast for whoever he chooses. Anyone else got a statue they want to play?"
Brittany glanced at Hugh, too busy losing himself in laughter to notice. She returned her attention to Chris.
"Alrighty then!" Chris continued. "First vote... Hugh, does not count!"
"Quentin, I don't believe you understand how thoroughly stupid this is!" Shadya shouted.
"Second vote... Hugh, does not count!"
"It seems to me like nobody can trust you," Quentin claimed.
"Third vote... Hugh, does not count!"
"If that was true, then you wouldn't have to play your statue in the first place!" Shadya berated.
"Fourth vote... Hugh, does not count!"
"Well, nobody should trust you," Quentin frowned. "First you're with them, now you're against them. What's anybody supposed to believe?"
"Fifth vote... Hugh, does not count!"
"It's called positioning!" Shadya ranted. "It's called playing a smart game! Don't you dare try to claim you're doing the same by doing this!"
"Sixth vote... Shadya!"
"I won't," Quentin said. "I'm just taking out a big threat who I can't trust. That's a pretty basic strategy that even I can figure out."
"Seventh vote... Shadya!"
"And where will that leave you in the future?!" Shadya doubted. "You just turned on your best ally! Who's going to trust you?!"
"...You turned on me first," Quentin told her. "And believe it or not, you were never my best ally."
"Eighth vote... and the ninth... Shadya!" Chris concluded.
"Fuck this gaaaaaaaaaaame!" Shadya bellowed.
She pounded on her lectern. Twice.
"Wow. You'd think she'd never been backstabbed by a close ally before," Vladimir remarked.
"You do everything correctly, and then some idiot you've been helping almost the entire game gets a bad case of big moves and just screws you over!" Shadya growled. "First Rhiannon, now Quentin. Do yourselves a favor and have him follow Rhiannon's footsteps by going home next!"
"You and I never voted the same way, and you left me out of a lot of your plans," Quentin retaliated. "If that's what you think being a good ally is, then I don't know what to tell you. You're not as perfect as you think you are."
Shadya grit her teeth. "Bring out the Shackle of Shame, Chris."
"Caaaaaan do!" Chris tapped his phone.
The ceiling opened up, and the Shackle of Shame slithered down and grabbed Shadya by the waist. She glared daggers at Quentin as she ascended, until she returned above ground and the ceiling closed back up.
"Alright, well, normally this is where I'd tell whoever got the next highest number of votes to go to Isolation Park, but all the votes against Hugh were nullified," Chris explained. "So now it's an eight-way tie for second with zero votes each. We'll go to a random selection."
The lights on everyone's lecterns went out, then everyone's light blinked green in a clockwise pattern, giving the illusion of a roulette spinning. The light slowed down until it eventually settled on Kun. Then the light turned red.
"Looks like Kun is going to Isolation Park tonight!" Chris announced.
"I've never, um, been before," Kun noted. "I hope nothing goes wrong."
"You'll be fine. It's not that bad," Brittany told him.
"With all that said and done, everyone is dismissed!" Chris established.
Confessional:
Quentin: I know this was a hell of a risky move, but I'm tired of just being passive and feeling useless. I can't help Frita, I can't help Jean-Marie, I can't help myself, and Shadya doesn't even trust me. It's time to start actually taking action!
Hugh: (He's still laughing.) Oh, oh man. When I said offhand that Quentin and I kind of worked together back in Alpha Party, I didn't think that would actually amount to anything! Alright, it was probably more a move against Shadya than for me. But hey, now that he's made the move, that's a real step in the right direction. So I'm sure as fuck not complaining! (He laughs again.)
Brittany: A lot can happen while you're in Isolation Park. I guess I've got some catching up to do. Whatever makes me look like less of a threat, I suppose. (She smiles.)
Chris, Topher, and Lindsay stood outside the limits of Drama City.
"Another brutal elimination! Man, this game just won't let up!" Chris boasted.
"That's what happens when you get some of the show's best to come back for their big second chance," Topher smirked. "Everyone's got a lot to prove."
"It's too bad you never got another chance to play," Lindsay sympathized.
"Hey, I got the hosting gig. That's all I ever really wanted," Topher shrugged. "Leave the thinky stuff to everyone else. I'm just here to laugh at them from a higher position."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Chris complimented. "Where will Quentin stand in the group dynamics after shooting his shot?"
"Who's the underdog at this point? It feels like everyone, which also means it's kind of no one," Topher added.
"When will Frita and Greg realize their love for each other and finally confess?" Lindsay asked desperately.
"I don't think Greg is capable of feeling love," Topher told her.
"All this and more, next time, on Total!" Chris began.
"Drama!" Topher and Lindsay continued.
"Party with the Stars!" all three concluded in unison.
Votes:
Bailey - Shadya
Brittany - Shadya
Cyan - Hugh
Frita - Hugh
Hugh - Shadya
Kun - Hugh
Quentin - Shadya
Shadya - Hugh
Vladimir - Hugh
The Merge:
Bailey - The Pragmatic Poet
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
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: There were a lot of great female characters who made Shuffle Party's merge, so picking between them came down to whose arc I felt like I could do more with. I mentioned back in that season that I had wanted to do more with Shadya's backstory and expanding her emotional angles. That's where her being on the outs in the pre-swap and becoming friends with Quentin after that came into play. It was easy to make Shadya stoic and untouchable in her first season, but I wanted to showcase more vulnerabilities. She had to choose between her competitive, perfectionist nature and staying loyal to those she trusted, and that's a balance that even human perfection can't always strike. It's easy to forget about the emotional consequences of your moves, and it led to Quentin giving up on loyalty to her in the end. Was Shadya the right choice to come back for another season? What did you think of her overall?
Oh, and next episode is an Aftermath! If you have any questions for Dalit, Kiki, Louise, or Shadya, feel free to drop those, and they might show up in the episode!