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 final six consisted of three pairs, and each sought to convince the others to gang up on the third wheels," Chris chuckled.
"With Cyan in Isolation, Kun saw opportunities to expand his game, and Brittany and Hugh looked like just the ticket," Topher added.
"Poor Cyan. Isolation Park's just a punishment at this point," Lindsay frowned.
"That... was the idea, yes," Chris said. "Brittany and Hugh, realizing Cyan is a big threat, also saw the opportunity to talk with Vladimir and Frita about getting rid of the blue menace."
"This late in the game, you have to play everyone, even if you keep trying to play loyal," Topher nodded.
"You say that, but these players have stuck pretty close to their guns," Chris chuckled. "For the most part."
"Last night was nuts!" Lindsay commented.
"The challenge was a classic kart balloon battle... except the karts were ATVs, and the only weapons were the ATVs!" Chris beamed.
"My back hurt just watching all that!" Lindsay whined.
"You sure that's why your back hurts?" Topher muttered.
Lindsay smacked his arm with the back of her hand.
"Cyan and Hugh were safe that round, leaving Brittany and Vladimir as the go-to targets," Chris recapped. "It seemed like an easy Vladimir vote... until Cyan flipped the script after she realized that Brittany and Hugh were too strong together."
"It went to an unexpected tie, and despite Hugh's, uh, impassioned pleading, it wasn't enough to save Brittany," Topher said.
"That's the angriest I've ever seen him... and I was there for Alpha Party!" Lindsay mentioned.
"We're down to five, and who knows what could happen?" Chris shrugged. "It's all happening, right here, on Total!"
"Drama!" Topher and Lindsay continued.
"Party with the Stars!" all three concluded.
Cyan and Kun approached the door to the penthouse.
"Are you sure, um, Hugh is willing to hear us out?" Kun gulped.
"He has to, right?" Cyan figured. "He knows that if he doesn't, we can just get the others to vote for him tonight."
"Perhaps, but, um, is that a realistic threat to him?" Kun wondered. "I'm still surprised you let Vladimir survive the last round. Another round, um, simply wouldn't make any sense at this point."
"...Yeah, but he doesn't have to know that," Cyan responded.
"Hugh's smarter than his, um, personality might imply," Kun told her. "I think we should approach this from a different angle."
"What'd you have in mind?" Cyan asked.
"Hmm, well, the way I see it, Hugh likes being antagonistic, yes?" Kun mentioned.
"Understatement of the century, but yeah," Cyan agreed.
"If we pitch to him that idea that, um, Vladimir sticking around might make him look less like the biggest villain of this game, perhaps that might inspire Hugh to vote for Vladimir," Kun proposed.
"...That's actually a pretty distinct possibility," Cyan realized. "Yeah, if voting out Vladimir is the big move that cements Hugh as the villain he wants to be, then there's no way Hugh wouldn't go for it!"
"Y-You really think so?" Kun asked. "I'm, um, glad to hear it."
"Have more confidence in yourself, boo," Cyan encouraged. "Anyway, let's talk to him."
Kun knocked on the door. The two stood in wait.
"You know, he might not be in his room right now," Cyan realized.
"I guess we should have, um, accounted for that possibility," Kun admitted.
Confessional:
Cyan: I know Hugh is probably still pissed at me for backstabbing Brittany, but I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think it was the best play for making sure I stay safe this round. Hugh has to realize that he's not in a good position to make demands here. Last night proved that I'm not as averse to playing with Vladimir as people think.
Kun: Admittedly, I'm still not, um, entirely sure that losing Brittany was Cyan's best decision. I get that she's, um, thinking about the long-term, but the long-term won't matter if the short-term doesn't, um, pan out. We've made our bed, though, so we'll have to make sure it does work out.
The marquee outside Hatchet's Diner read 'Stop askin' me when Total Drama Pizza Party is!' Within the diner, Hugh took a seat across from Frita.
"You know, there are so many other places you could be sitting, and all of those would piss me off so much less than you sitting here," Frita groaned.
"Yeah yeah yeah, you're miserable and curmudgeonly. We been knew," Hugh dismissed. "Listen. Cyan and Vladimir are running this game. The way I see it, there is zero chance that I, or Kun, or you stand a chance against a jury as long as those two bozos are still in the running."
"So? I don't have a chance against anybody," Frita claimed. "I'm just riding this out for as long as I can because it's the best I'm ever going to do at anything."
"Don't give me that," Hugh scoffed. "You have Kiki, Louise, and Quentin on lock. Probably Vladimir too, if we lose him. That's like half the jury right there."
"And you think Kiki and Louise would vote for Vladimir over me?" Frita doubted.
"They'd vote for Cyan. Easily," Hugh maintained. "That's why I want to offer something with you and Kun. We take out Vlad and Cyan, and secure our spots in the final three. I don't remember if that's when we appeal to the jury, or if it's at final two, but it doesn't matter. The real threats will be gone."
"Assuming there are two invincibilities in these next two rounds, my vote will depend largely on who's safe," Frita told him. "I couldn't promise you anything if I wanted."
"Obviously, but I'm extending an olive branch, here," Hugh reiterated.
"Don't you have to be the one who's already in a good position to do that?" Frita mentioned. "It sounds like you're asking me for an olive branch."
"Look, we can be semantic all day, or we can secure our spots in the final three." Hugh put out his hand for a shake. "Whaddaya say?"
Frita sighed and reluctantly shook his hand.
Confessional:
Frita: I'll never tell Hugh that he's right about anything... but he is right about me having better chances than expected. I won't screw Devlin over if I don't have to, and I was already going to vote for Cyan anyway, but... maybe facing the jury next to him or Kun could mean something. I should not get my hopes up at all, but...
Hugh: It is faaaaaaar too late for people like Cyan or Vladimir to keep getting away with their BS. It's time for their little followers to realize that they have no chance in this game until they can grow some balls and take the game for themselves! And by that, I mean take the game for me, because there's no way the jury respects Frita or Kun as players more than me. But I'll leave out that little detail until the end. (He snickers.)
Kun went to the arcade and sat at the bar.
"Oh, Kun!" Jayne acknowledged. "One coffee, right?"
"Yes please," Kun nodded. "Um, would you mind horribly if I got something off my chest, too?"
"That is part of my job description," Jayne agreed.
"Have you ever felt... well, that your life isn't going in the right direction?" Kun wondered.
"My life hasn't been a full month yet, so I still haven't entirely figured out which direction beyond this job is right," Jayne told him.
"Mm, yes, I suppose that's, um, fair," Kun figured. "You know how I'm meant to take up my father's position as CEO someday, right?"
"Correct," Jayne acknowledged. They handed him a mug of coffee.
"Well, I signed up for this show in order to flex those leadership muscles," Kun went on. He took a sip. "The first time didn't go great, but at least people acknowledged that I had, um, influence. I've made it to the end of this season, and I still feel like nobody recognizes my input at all, as a leader or otherwise."
"That does seem antithetical to your eventual career," Jayne noted.
"And it's not as though I'm not, um, trying." Kun gripped his coffee tight. "Other people in this game just seem to naturally be better at it than I am."
"Different skills come easier to some people than others," Jayne mentioned. "But something struck me about what you said."
"Huh?" Kun blinked.
"You didn't lament that you were doing anything wrong. You lamented that your life isn't going in the right direction to begin with," Jayne pointed out.
"I've been wondering what I've been doing wrong for, um, years," Kun admitted. "And despite everything, it still hasn't gotten me anywhere."
"So you want to find another avenue towards success?" Jayne asked.
"Um, if I can..." Kun gulped. "I feel awful even considering it. My parents have high expectations for me, and I want to make them proud. I just... I just don't know."
"And the only way to appease them is to succeed in the particular way they want?" Jayne asked.
"You make them sound so, um, unreasonable," Kun frowned.
"I'm just making sure I have all the details correct," Jayne insisted. "Otherwise I wouldn't be a very good listener, and I'd be failing at my own job."
"...I see," Kun hummed. He slammed down the rest of his coffee.
"Another?" Jayne offered.
"No thanks," Kun declined. "I'll, um, see you around."
"Okay," Jayne smiled.
Confessional:
Kun: It's not unreasonable for people to want their children to be successful. I just need to keep, um, figuring out where I'm going wrong, and do better. Let's see... I keep being overshadowed by other would-be leaders. Hildegard, Shadya, Kiki, Cyan, Vladimir... How do they keep besting me so effortlessly? What do they all have in common?
Cyan found Hugh relaxing in the nice garage hangout.
"The penthouse wasn't good enough for you?" Cyan teased.
"Hey, I didn't ask you to give it up," Hugh tossed an empty soda can aside. "Besides, staying there feels weird. I like it better here; feels more familiar."
"Do you usually hang out in your garage?" Cyan wondered.
"Uh, yeah? We adapted it into a den when I was a kid. I spend more time there than my actual bedroom," Hugh explained.
"Where do you park?" Cyan asked.
"The driveway, where else?" Hugh scoffed. "You need something?"
"Just to assure you that we aren't enemies," Cyan told him. "I know I did Brittany dirty, but she was poised to win this game, and I wasn't about to regret not taking my chance. But that was then, and this is now."
"Well when you put it like that, how could I go wrong trusting you?" Hugh sassed.
"You could just have no one in your corner and get voted out next. Your call," Cyan retorted.
"...I assume Vladimir is still the plan," Hugh mentioned. "No, sorry, Vladimir is back to being the plan."
"Yes, Vladimir is the plan," Cyan sighed frustratedly. "He'll be at his weakest after being in Isolation, and he won't be able to get in anyone's head before the challenge. He won't be able to fight back so easily." She smiled. "Besides, if you take him out, there won't be anybody left to challenge you for the title of the season's big villain."
"You're not wrong about that," Hugh nodded. He smirked. "I'll think about it."
"Glad to hear it," Cyan nodded. "So, is there anything to do here besides video games?"
"I think they have Hulu, but I'm not about to get invested in a TV show this late into the game," Hugh shrugged.
"They had Hulu this whole time? I must have forgotten that part," Cyan hummed.
"It's on the PlayStation, so if you don't use it, you wouldn't have known," Hugh said.
"I guess that makes sense," Cyan figured. She went to the mini-fridge and grabbed a blue soda.
Confessional:
Hugh: Tch. Hilarious how quick people are to beg you for help after taking out your closest ally. And framing it like she's helping me, no less! Words cannot adequately express how badly I want to vote Cyan's ass out, but I have to play along, just in case she wins Invincibility again. (he groans obnoxiously.)
Cyan: I know the chance of Hugh actually siding with me ain't great. But it ain't zero, either. He knows his position in this game is being held by a thread, and as long as Vladimir is here, it's just gonna make Hugh look weaker in comparison. He's just gotta think about it objectively.
Frita sat on a bench in McLean Park and drew in her sketchbook.
"Frita? The challenge doesn't start for another hour," Greg informed her.
"I know. But when it does start, I'll already be here," Frita explained. "Shouldn't you be cleaning the penthouse or something?"
"Unfortunately, I finished that hours ago," Greg said. "As there is nothing more for me to do in that regard, I thought I'd spend some time going about the city to see if there's anything else I can learn."
"Have you learned anything?" Frita inquired.
"Not yet, I'm afraid," Greg informed. "Have you made any progress on getting people to stop trying to understand you? ...Or does me asking run counter to that goal?"
"I think right now, most people are just worried about maintaining their position in the game," Frita explained. "Thankfully, I never cared about my position in the game because I went into this knowing I'd lose eventually, so I can just sit back and watch everyone else stress out for once."
"Sounds like things have improved for you. I'm happy to hear that," Greg said neutrally.
"I guess, although having Vladimir in Isolation sucks," Frita sighed.
"Well, that's only true for another hour," Greg assured her.
"...Hey, you know about the contestants' pasts and stuff, right?" Frita asked.
"I do," Greg confirmed.
"Do you know anything about Vladimir? Or Devlin?" Frita wondered.
"Let's see..." Greg thought. "Barry Flynn, whom you call Vladimir, was born on-"
"Nevermind," Frita interrupted. "It was worth a shot." She sighed.
"I was about to tell you about his past, if you would care to listen," Greg clarified.
"Unless Vladimir and Barry somehow really are the same person, I don't really care about Barry," Frita pouted.
"Thankfully, they are," Greg told her.
"Whatever information they gave you is probably wrong," Frita explained. "Why the hell is he so obsessed with hiding himself, and why are they enabling him? I just want to see Devlin again!"
"Could you not draw Devlin in that case?" Greg offered.
"You know what, you can go learn stuff somewhere else," Frita scowled.
"Okay," Greg accepted. He left.
Confessional:
Frita: If Vladimir really was Barry somehow, they wouldn't have given Greg that information. Besides, you can't fake the kind of weird mess that Barry is. ...I still think he's Devlin. I know he's Devlin. You... I can just tell.
Vladimir sat motionless in a lotus position on a rock in Isolation Park. Birds perched on him, bugs crawled on him, squirrels ran across him, but he would not move. Not even his breathing demonstrated any motion.
Feedback from a PA system crackled before Lindsay's voice rang throughout the park.
"Hey Vladimir! It's time for the challenge! Hurry on back to the door, okay?"
Vladimir opened his eyes and he stood up from his position.
"Let's do this," he said.
Confessional:
Vladimir: Not only is there no guarantee that I'd find a Statue if I looked for one, there's no guarantee that there are any Statues left for me to find by this point. It made more sense to simply take the opportunity to rest up for the next challenge. After all, if I win Invincibility, then the chance of me being eliminated is zero, and I won't need a Statue to begin with. Being perfectly still for long periods of time is a skill I picked up early on in my life, so my time in Isolation Park was almost nostalgic.
The four non-exiled contestants met up with Chris and Topher at McLean Park.
"Welcome back, everyone!" Chris began. "And welcome back Vladimir from Isolation Park."
Vladimir waved as he joined the others. Lindsay, alongside him, joined up with the rest of the hosts.
"Did you find anything useful in there?" Frita wondered.
"Oh, yeah, I found twenty Genesis Statues," Vladimir chuckled. "I've got this game in the bag."
Cyan rolled her eyes.
"Today's challenge is one you may or may not have been looking forward to," Chris smiled.
"But why should we explain it when a close personal friend of mine can explain it instead?" Topher smirked.
"Awww, I'm so happy you think of me that way," a redheaded woman with glasses and cute clothes said as she appeared from behind the giant Chris statue.
"Vanessa!" Cyan cheered.
"Cyan!" Vanessa cheered back.
"Happiness? Positivity? In MY Total Drama?!" Hugh spat.
"Yes sir, and there's more where that came from!" Vanessa assured him. "Oh, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Today's challenge will be a fan-favorite from Alpha Party!"
"Just like me! I'm bound to win this one!" Hugh grinned.
"Oh, but... it'll probably make more sense if we introduce your partners first," Vanessa winked.
"Is this what I think it is?!" Cyan enthused.
Chef drove up in the Van of Losers and lowered the window.
"A'ight! We're here!" Chef called.
"You've all worked so hard at this game. I think you deserve some familiar comfort," Vanessa smiled.
The side door to the van opened, and a tall, middle-aged woman with blue highlights in her hair stepped out.
"Mama?!" Cyan gasped.
"Cyan, my love!" The woman opened her arms, urging Cyan to run in for a hug. The two embraced closely.
"Yep, Cyan's mother Azura, everybody!" Topher introduced.
"It's absolutely wonderful to finally meet you all," Azura said with a hand over her heart. "This has been Cyan's favorite show for as long as either of us can remember. It moves me to tears that she's come so far after what happened last time."
"Tears? I don't see any, um, tears," Kun noted .
Azura smiled at Kun. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes instantly.
"H-How does she do that?" Kun reacted.
"Anyway, next on the docket... Kun!" Topher segued. "I'm sure you're happy to see... your big sister Chen!"
A woman in a leather jacket and distressed jeans stepped out of the van. She sighed and cracked her neck.
"You really need to make some friends," Chen told Kun. "I can't be bothered to take three days off of work to be on this show."
"Well, um, I'm glad you came anyway," Kun smiled.
"Yeah, whatever," Chen said dismissively. She lit a cigarette.
"...I'm a taken man, I'm a taken man, I'm a taken man," Hugh repeated to himself.
"I wouldn't want your scrawny ass anyway, kid," Chen said without even looking Hugh in the eye.
"Ghrk!" Hugh reacted, not expecting her to have heard him.
"Speaking of which... Hugh, your girlfriend Kaylin is here!" Chris mentioned.
A short woman with messy hair and baggy clothes exited the van. She marched up to Hugh.
"Hugh, did I hear what I thought I just heard?! You were looking at another woman with... with..." Kaylin burst into laughter. "Nah, nah, sorry, I can't even pretend. Ohhhh man." She wiped her eyes. "How have you been, dumbass?"
"Better without you, artard," Hugh grinned.
The two shared an affectionate kiss.
"Just as I suspected. Seeing Hugh affectionate with someone is ten times more distressing than being around him normally," Frita commented.
"Oh, you hear that? They're jealous," Kaylin cooed.
"Mm, yeah, I would be too," Hugh said huskily.
"Don't make me hurt you two," Chen grunted.
"Oh, don't be like that. They're just two young souls in love," Azura enthused.
"Besides, they'd probably like it if you tried to hurt them," Vladimir joked.
"Can't deny it," Hugh said.
"I'm down if she is," Kaylin agreed.
"I don't know what I expected," Chen groaned. She lit another cigarette.
"Speaking of the unexpected... Frita!" Topher began. "Here to see you is your old childhood friend, Tristan!"
Frita's face went blank as a chubby guy in a bucket hat hopped out and pointed finger guns at everyone.
"Eyyyyyyy, what's popping everyone?" Tristan greeted. "...French Fry, as I live and breathe." He walked up to Frita and gave her a bone-crushing hug. "It's been a while."
Frita stood there silently.
"...Is she feeling alright?" Tristan asked Chris as he let Frita go.
"Excellent question. We've never been entirely sure," Chris answered.
"Tristan..." Cyan muttered. "Yeah, Frita's mentioned you. And your brother Devlin."
"Really?" Tristan blinked. "I mean, I guess I do tend to leave an impression on people, but I haven't seen this chick since fifth grade. I was kinda shocked when I found out she requested ME as her visitor."
Tristan waved his hand in front of Frita's face. She didn't react.
"...I forgot I did that," Frita finally uttered.
"Well, technically, she asked for my brother, but Dev couldn't make it," Tristan spoke aside to some of the others.
"And why's that?" Cyan asked suspiciously.
"He contracted ligma, unfortunately," Tristan said solemnly.
"Oh my gosh! I hope he gets better!" Lindsay consoled.
The other contestants all looked at Vladimir.
"I bet you all have questions," Vladimir said. "And I, too, am quite curious about who they got to be my loved one."
"Yeah, Vladimir very helpfully refused to fill that portion of the form out," Chris said flatly. "So as Vladimir's partner... here's some guy who kept hitting on Lindsay at the drugstore."
"Hey, guys!" A middle-aged man dressed in office attire waved as he stepped out of the van. "I'm Jerry!"
"It is wonderful to meet you, Jerry," Azura smiled. "Even if you may not be close with Vladimir just yet, I know that in time, you'll come to love each other in the end regardless."
"Incidentally, he kept harassing me and Kaylin in the van, too," Chen mentioned.
"Harassing?! I thought I was just being friendly," Jerry frowned. "How come women always take it the wrong way when I'm just being nice to them?"
"And with that, I'd like to get the challenge over with as fast as possible so I can stop being around this guy!" Hugh declared.
"Hit a little close to home for you?" Vladimir teased.
"We've all done things we regret!" Hugh insisted.
"I'm things he regrets," Kaylin snickered.
"So, you may remember how this challenge goes," Vanessa segued. "We'll ask either the players or the guests a question about themselves, and they'll write their answer on a provided whiteboard. Their partner will have to see if they can guess the right answer. The right answer gets a point, and the two pairs with the most points will win Invincibility, and the chance to spend the next 24 hours with their loved one!"
"This seems a little lopsided," Vladimir chuckled.
"Maybe that wouldn't be the case if you filled out your entire form," Chris said flatly.
"Hey, I didn't say I can't appreciate a challenge," Vladimir insisted.
"You'll get two hours to spend with your loved one so you can catch up," Vanessa continued. "I know you guys miss home, so consider this a taste of that to reinvigorate you!"
"Taste is right," Kaylin snickered.
"Christ," Chen gagged.
Confessional:
Azura: This challenge seems nothing like the ones Cyan had to do in her other time playing. I can't help but wonder if there's a catch to all this. I know they aren't in that scary virtual reality machine this time, but I still can't help but worry about my baby girl. This means a lot to her, though, so I'll do whatever I can to support her here!
Chen: Yeah, I don't plan on trying very hard. I don't like Kun or this trashy show. I am only here out of obligation, but frankly, I hope he doesn't give himself safety. If Dad's going to insist that someone as incompetent as him should be the new CEO of our company, then he should be working on that! Not some stupid reality TV stunt! It boggles my mind...
Kaylin: I, uh, I don't really watch this show. Not even after Hugh and I got together. He says the only other time he was on it was some of his worst moments. I believe him, and I respect that. I wouldn't want him seeing me in my worst moments. ...He wasn't creeping on women back then, was he? At least not as bad as Jerry, right? ...Eh, I shouldn't overthink it. That was forever ago, and lord knows I was a hellbeast five years ago, too.
Tristan: Hey hey, what's up guys, it's your boy Tristan. Frita "French Fry" Dratch, as I live and breathe. Honestly, I had no idea she even remembered me, let alone wanted to see me again. Elementary school was a while ago. Then again, does she even want to see me? She was, like, weirdly distant whenever I showed up. I hope nothing's wrong with her.
Jerry: I can't help it. I'm a lonely guy with so much love to give! I'm forty-seven years old, and the longest relationship I've been in lasted a week! That's not healthy. So I figured I just need to put myself out there more, find some nice ladies to talk to. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take, right? Haha.
The five pairs took a different section of the park to catch up while interns set up the challenge in the background.
"I always knew you could do well in this game," Azura smiled.
"We both did," Cyan winked. "Last time only went wrong because of something completely beyond my control. But I made sure to get rid of that guy as soon as I could this time."
"Is that so?" Azura smiled. "Look at you, getting all cutthroat."
"I-It's not like that!" Cyan insisted. "I'm just doing what I gotta do. That's just how it is in this game."
"Perhaps, but there are still lines not to cross," Azura stated. "Nils and Irving crossed those lines."
"You know I'm nothing like them," Cyan huffed.
"I do," Azura assured her. "I just don't like the idea of hurting others to get ahead. But I know that's not you."
Cyan winced. "...People are going to be hurt when they lose. I have to make nineteen other people lose if I'm going to win. But people understand that, and I'm definitely not doing anything excessive."
Azura frowned. Cyan's eyebrows drew together. Both looked as if they expected the other to break the lingering silence.
"...Anyway," Cyan finally said. "It's good to see you! You really start to miss your friends and family when you're out here doing this for so long."
"And we miss you too," Azura smiled.
The two fell silent again. Cyan rubbed her arm. Azura tapped her thumbs together.
"Alright, yes, I've made some dirty plays," Cyan told her mother. "I know you don't believe that the ends justify the means. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, they don't. But the people who play this game usually know what they're getting into. Especially in seasons like this where it's everyone's second time playing. I've betrayed some of my friends. I've gone against what's morally good because it benefited me. You're probably not going to like watching me whenever this ends up on TV-"
"Don't presume to know how I feel," Azura interrupted. "You're my daughter, and I love you more than anything else in the world. That's why I want you to become a strong woman who doesn't fall to the selfish trappings that others might. You understand that I only want what's best for you."
"Of course I know that," Cyan said. "But nobody knows what's best for me more than me. I know that's hard to understand, but I'm a grown woman now. I can and will make my own decisions. I know you've got life experience and all that, but things are always changing. Besides, this is just a game. It'll be over in a few days, and whether the decisions I've made bite me in the butt... well, we'll find out. I'm not gonna become some kind of delinquent just because I'm not playing as honest a game as I did last time."
"Cyan, I..." Azura sighed, frustrated. "We should not let this moment be soured by arguing. We need to be in sync for this challenge, yes?"
"Yes, you're right." Cyan took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry as well," Azura smiled.
Confessional:
Cyan: My mom's always kind of been like this. Again, I know she just wants what's best for everyone, but she's very set in her idea of what's best for everyone. I know lying to people and hurting others to get ahead is horrible to do in real life, but Total Drama is a competitive circumstance. I don't think I've crossed any lines out here - at least none that previous respected players haven't crossed.
Kun paced back and forth while Chen leaned against a wall and smoked.
"Alright, so, um, we haven't really spoken that much in recent years," Kun mentioned. "Which is fine, you don't owe me your, um, attention, but I think we should go over some basics before the challenge. Things we expect to be asked about ourselves."
"I'm going to stop you right there," Chen sighed. "I am not helping you win this challenge. Do not expect me to."
"Er, well, um, if you , uh, didn't plan on helping, then-"
"Why am I here and not Mom or Dad? Why do you think?" Chen sneered. "You're all the ones with the stakes in the dumbass pencil company." She took a drag of her cigarette. "It's bad enough that Dad's misogynistic ass thought you were somehow better-suited to inherit the CEO position. It's bad enough that you somehow qualified to be on this show despite having no practical skills. It's bad enough that you got asked to come back! But now you're about to win?!"
"Well, um, it's a lot harder than that. Anything could-"
"You've coasted through life on astonishingly good luck and daddy's goodwill," Chen continued. She spoke through her teeth. "And where do you think that leaves me? I've had to work my ass off to actually get somewhere. I'm barely scraping by thanks to two part-time jobs and some pity money from Mom. And somehow I'm still the one who has to come see you, because Dad and Mom are in fucking Aruba right now! Not only is that three days' salary I'm losing, but travel expenses are a thing, too! So if you think for a goddamn second that I'm going to dignify your spoiled ass, you can go eat shit!"
Kun gulped. He scratched his face before speaking.
"Well, um, you're already here. Might as well not waste it," Kun offered.
"Don't get me started," Chen denied.
Confessional:
Kun: I... hadn't really thought about... any of my life like that. (His eyes dart around.) She's right, right? But it's not like I could help Dad's decisions... Is it bad that I'm benefiting from it? Should I stop? Can I stop? Will Dad let me? Can I get him to help Chen out? Oh man, I... This is a lot to take in.
"Are you sure?" Kaylin frowned.
"Trust me, as much as I want to, as much fun as it would be to do that in public, I'd like to be seen as more than some crass jackass," Hugh said.
"Since when?" Kaylin chortled.
"Hey, I'm a good Total Drama player!" Hugh insisted. "Even in my other season, where I was embarrassing myself at every turn, at least I still had some decent game sense!"
...
"Besides, this is your only appearance on TV," Hugh added. "I know you want to be known for more than something they would cut out in post-production anyway."
"Damn, you take this seriously," Kaylin noted.
"Uh, yeah? Being on TV is forever, Kay," Hugh insisted. "Like, everyone does dumbass shit when they're a teenager, but I'm still haunted by my dumbass shit. It puts things in perspective."
"It's really not that big a deal," Kaylin frowned.
"It is to me," Hugh said firmly. "People already look at me weird because you're still in high school. I want to maintain some dignity."
"I'm eighteen. I got held back, but I am still an adult" Kaylin leered. "And since when do you give a shit about dignity?"
"Look, we can do stupid shit after I get home," Hugh insisted. "But I'll be damned if people recognize you for doing something stupid on TV! It already happens to me, but I can prevent it from happening to you!"
"Oh, look at the big hero," Kaylin jeered.
Hugh sighed. "I don't want to fight with you, Kaylin. I care too much about you to let something stupid happen."
"Oh, so I'm stupid now," Kaylin glowered.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Hugh argued.
"Maybe I don't know you as well as I thought," Kaylin huffed.
Confessional:
Hugh: I love Kaylin. A lot. We break laws every day, and it's the best! But that's off-camera. And I'm worried that she's already making a bad impression of herself. That stuff follows you! Potential employers look into this kind of thing! ...I probably shouldn't have mentioned the misdemeanors. That was, uh, exaggeration for effect.
"Hey, I know it's kind of weird that we haven't seen each other in so long, but don't be a stranger," Tristan told Frita as they settled on a location. "I mean, you're the one that wanted to see me. Not that I don't want to see you - this is great! - but it's kind of-"
"Tell me everything. Now," Frita demanded.
"Everything, like... everything?" Tristan asked, unsure.
"Why did you and Devlin never contact me after you left? What's with Vladimir? Why is Devlin hiding his identity? Why is he so secretive about everything?!" Frita listed.
"Uhhh... I mean, I can tell you why we didn't contact you," Tristan offered. "Our parents were, like, super anti-social-media when we were growing up. And then when we were old enough to make our own decisions, we didn't really care enough to start. I'm still kicking myself that we never got a phone number from you, though. I promise you, nobody's hiding anyone's identity, though."
"Then why did Vladimir, the man in this game who's always in disguise, claim to be Devlin with excruciating detail?" Frita asked.
"Because... he was in disguise? I dunno," Tristan responded. "If he was that secretive about it, he wouldn't have given you a bunch of details, though, right?"
"Unless that's what he wants me to think!" Frita wailed.
"Woah, woah, it's all good, French Fry," Tristan consoled. "...Look, I kind of jokingly handwaved it before, but Devlin is really sick. I don't know what this Vladimir dude told you, but it's not true."
"But what if..." Frita choked. "What if that's what you want me to think...?"
"I mean... I do. Because it's true," Tristan insisted, crossing his arms. "Why don't we talk about something else?" He managed a smile. "I'm sure we've got a lot to catch up on."
"I... I need to unmask him," Frita determined.
"Uh, yeah, sure, whatever works," Tristan said. "So... hey, what have you been up to since we saw each other last?"
"Depicting the many fascinating ways in which one's life can end," Frita said nonchalantly. "I tried this game once before, but I was voted out as soon as my team lost. I still have no idea why I'm back."
"No kidding? Wish I knew about that, I would have contacted you sooner," Tristan told her. "The first time you played, not the other thing. I'm still not sure what that means."
"I'm a gore artist," Frita explained.
"Oh. Right on," Tristan grinned.
Frita cocked an eyebrow.
Confessional:
Frita: Man... I really hadn't made any friends since Devlin and Tristan. To think I really wanted to see them again. You'd think I'd be happy to see my old friend. I was happy to see Devlin. But... I don't know. Something about this just feels wrong. It's too easy. Vladimir isn't that easy. But Vladimir is Devlin! So... what gives?!
"So hey, I know her mom is married, but-"
"I don't think you're Cyan's type," Vladimir interrupted.
"You don't even know me!" Jerry exasperated.
"I know Cyan, and she doesn't strike me as a 'dates men twice her age' sort of gal," Vladimir explained. "Now that I think about it, I don't think she's the dating type in general. She's never posted anything online about any sort of serious relationship."
"That's the only way kids these days know how to relate to each other, isn't it?" Jerry griped. "When I was your age, we just talked to people, like normal human beings! None of this Facebook crap!"
"And how did that work out for you?" Vladimir questioned.
"Irrelevant," Jerry said.
"Well, you'll be happy to know that I'm someone who isn't so quick to post about himself online," Vladimir smiled. "If others don't have the same mentality, then that's their prerogative. I can use that to glean whatever information I can before the game starts."
"Oh, so when you do it it's okay, but when I do it it's 'workplace harassment' and 'I need to talk to HR'!" Jerry ranted.
"Believe me, I've received no shortage of grief for it throughout this game," Vladimir assured him. "There are several instances in which I could have been voted out. Do you know why I haven't been?"
"Why would I know that?" Jerry responded.
"Because I'm polite," Vladimir said. "I'm approachable, I don't lose my temper, and I apologize when I've wronged others. Those things go a lot farther than most people realize."
"Is that supposed to be some kind of backhanded jab at me?" Jerry leered. "I try to be approachable! It's not my fault I'm not six-foot-four or have beefy muscles!"
"Neither of those things applies to me, either," Vladimir said. "And that wasn't meant to be a jab at you. If you feel convicted by what I said, maybe there are deeper issues for you to work through."
"Tch. Don't presume to know anything about me," Jerry scoffed. "So, wait, aren't we supposed to answer questions about each other? And winning that is how I can get a chance to score with the ladies here?"
"The challenge is to answer questions about one another, yes," Vladimir nodded. "But I'm not worried about that."
"Why not? It's not like I've posted anything online for you to look up," Jerry noted.
"Perhaps not, but I have a different plan," Vladimir smiled.
Confessional:
Vladimir: I'm surprised they brought this challenge back. If I recall correctly, it didn't end well last time. Maybe Lindsay wants a runback of her one challenge idea. Unfortunately for her, I know nothing about my partner, and that made it easy to come up with an alternative win condition. We'll see how it goes.
Lindsay: Why is everyone arguing with their loved ones? That's, like, the opposite of what this is supposed to be for! And what does Vladimir mean he found an alliterative win conditioner?! Did I do something wrong again?! (She sniffles.)
The contestants and their partners returned to the location of the challenge and took their positions at the lecterns.
"Alright! Looks like everyone's here!" Vanessa announced. "As a reminder of how this will work: I'll alternate between asking our guests a question, and our contestants. The person I'm asking will write the relevant answer on a whiteboard. Their partner has to guess what they wrote, and will put that on their own whiteboard. If it's a match, the pair gets a point, and the two pairs with the most points in the end will win Invincibility for their player, and the guest gets to spend the next 24 hours here in Drama City!"
"I know you guys are looking forward to hanging out with your loved ones!" Lindsay encouraged.
This was met with a few hearted attempts at affirmation from the others.
"That's the spirit!" Chris laughed.
Confessional:
Azura: Thankfully, this challenge seems to only test the strength of one's connection with another. And there is no connection as strong as that of a mother and her child. I can't imagine we'll do any worse than the two men who only just met, at the very least.
Chen: What, so all I have to do is put answers that are definitely wrong, and Kun doesn't win any points? That's easy.
Kaylin: I just don't get why Hugh is so gung-ho about being so professional. That's just not who either of us is. That's what we love about each other! It's not a big deal, but I just don't get why he's like this. It doesn't bother me, it just doesn't make sense to me is all. It's fine, it's whatever.
Tristan: I mean, I guess I always kind of knew Frita was a little different, but I thought she was cool. Hopefully she hasn't changed too much since elementary school, because I might have a decent shot at this if so.
Jerry: I'm still not entirely sure what this whole game thing is all about, but this is probably the most interesting thing I've done in years, so I'm just going to do what what's-his-face says, and hopefully it'll work out.
"Question one!" Chris began. "Contestants! What is your visitor's favorite food?"
The participants all put their answers on their whiteboards.
"Aaaaaaand, answers!" Chris instructed.
Azura answered "Bleu Cheese", Chen answered "Bananas", Kaylin answered "Brownies", Tristan answered "Pizza", Jerry answered "Pickles".
Cyan answered "Bleu Cheese", Kun answered "Lasagna", Hugh answered "Brownies", Frita answered "Pizza", Vladimir answered "Pickles".
"Chen, you hate bananas," Kun frowned.
"Do I?" Chen questioned.
"Welp, everyone but Kun gets a point there!" Chris acknowledged. "Off to a strong start."
"Your favorite food is still pizza?" Frita asked.
"Yeah? Why wouldn't it be? Pizza's awesome!" Tristan beamed.
"I... didn't actually expect to get that one right, but okay," Frita nodded.
Confessional:
Frita: I need to distract myself from the Vladimir stuff. If he knows I'm stressed, he'll keep his guard up around me. I can't have that. I need to... I need to... Great, I'm stressed again!
Azura: Truly, no flavor compares to the sharp, distinct flavor of bleu cheese. Adding it to any dish makes it better. ...Maybe not dessert, but hey. Who knows? Cheesecake exists for a reason.
"Question two!" Lindsay smiled. "Visitors! What was the name of your contestant's first pet?"
Everyone wrote down their answers.
"Alright, let's see what everyone's got!" Lindsay continued.
Cyan answered "Blue", Kun answered "Jing", Hugh answered "N/A", Frita answered "None", Vladimir answered "Pickles".
"You did not name your dog Pickles," Cyan doubted, side-eyeing Vladimir.
"Of course not," Vladimir agreed. "I named my rabbit Pickles. She liked pickles."
"Just like Jerry just so happens to like pickles?" Cyan noted.
"Who doesn't like pickles?" Jerry responded.
"I don't," Kun mentioned.
"Well anyway, let's see what the guests thought the answers were!" Lindsay segued.
The guests revealed their guesses: Azura answered "Blue", Chen answered "Dr. Phil", Kaylin answered "Never had one", Tristan answered "None (I think)", Jerry answered "Pickles".
"I'll count Kaylin and Tristan as right, so everyone but Kun gets a point once again!" Lindsay announced.
"Chen, we had the same cat!" Kun exasperated. "I know you're mad, but at least help me out, here."
"What if his full name is Dr. Phil Jing?" Kaylin chuckled.
"It, um, wasn't," Kun sighed.
Confessional:
Kun: I didn't realize Chen resented me, um, that much. I mean, she never talked to me that much after she moved out, but I didn't think that was motivated by anything other than being busy. I want to help... but how?
Tristan: It seems like everyone on this show kind of has no chill. I guess that's always been the point of reality TV, at least from what I can tell. I wonder what drew Fren- er, Frita to it. She never seemed like the spotlight type.
"Question three," Topher continued. "Contestants! What's your visitor's favorite band or musician?"
Everyone wrote their answers down on their whiteboards.
"Pretty straightforward. Let's see what the correct answers actually are," Topher smirked. "Visitors, reveal!"
Azura answered "Moody Blues", Chen answered "Falling In Reverse", Kaylin answered "King Gizzard", Tristan answered "Weird Al", Jerry answered "Pickles".
"Are we really just going to let this Pickles thing happen?" Kaylin asked.
"What, you've never heard of the band... Pickles?" Jerry awkwardly took his phone out of his pocket and started interacting with it. "Famous for their hit songs... uh... 'Pottery Barn'... and 'Torn From The Pages'? What are kids these days listening to?"
"That's what I've been saying for years!" Topher agreed. "But anyway, let's see what the contestants thought the right answer was, and hand out points accordingly. Reveal!"
Cyan guessed "Moody Blues", Kun guessed "AC", Hugh guessed "Pickles", Frita guessed "Weird Al", Vladimir guessed "Pickles".
"Cyan, Frita, and Vladimir all get a point!" Topher confirmed.
"Hugh! How could you get that wrong?!" Kaylin scolded.
"I thought it was obvious what we needed to do to win!" Hugh explained.
"Um, I'm your girlfriend! You should already know all these answers anyway!" Kaylin scowled.
"Yeah, but I could kind of use a guaranteed victory here," Hugh told her. "Especially if it means spending more time with you after the elimination."
"This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," Kaylin huffed, blushing.
"And for the record, Kun, the band is called AC/DC," Topher added.
"Oh, no, that's not who I meant," Kun said. "Chen's actual favorite band is, um... well, I don't think I can say either of those words on TV, but their initials are AC. Um... don't look too deep into it."
Confessional:
Hugh: Welp, egg on my face for trying something clever to try and clinch a win! I swear, if the one-point difference ends up being what costs me the challenge, I'm going to lose it.
Jerry: You know what, Kaylin's probably not my type anyway. The skinny guy can have her.
"Question four, everyone!" Vanessa continued. "Visitors! What placement did your contestants get in their original season?"
"There's no way they can mess this question up," Lindsay smiled.
Everyone wrote their responses onto their whiteboards.
"Alright, contestants. What are the answers?" Vanessa asked.
Cyan said "9th", Kun said "18th", Hugh said "7th", Frita said "13th", Vladimir said "Pickles".
"Really, Vladimir?" Vanessa commented. "This question's based on objective fact."
"I don't see how that's relevant," Vladimir responded.
"Well, let's see how many of our visitors got it right," Vanessa segued. "Reveal!"
Azura said "9", Chen said "0th", Kaylin said "Pickles", Tristan said "19th", Jerry said "Pickles".
"Oh, now you're doing Pickles?!" Hugh called out.
"I thought that's what we were doing now!" Kaylin shouted back.
"You got mad at me for doing Pickles, I thought we were doing actual answers again!" Hugh ranted.
"Well, Azura got it right. That's a point for Cyan," Vanessa said.
"Now hold on. Vladimir and Jerry both got the right answer too," Topher stepped in.
"They both got it wrong," Vanessa frowned.
"The point of the challenge is to be in sync with your partner so you both get the same answer," Topher explained. "Doesn't matter if neither are factually correct, all they had to do was submit the same answer."
"That's not the idea and you know it!" Lindsay denied.
"Yeah, come on Topher, that's super lame," Chris frowned.
"That's the rule. That's the condition to earning points in this challenge," Topher insisted, shaking his head. "'If it's a match, you get a point'. Those were Vanessa's exact words. It's a match, so Vladimir and Jerry get a point."
"But what's stopping everyone from just putting Pickles as their answer every time then?" Vanessa questioned.
"Hey, I'm not the one who designed the challenge," Topher said. "It's not my fault those two found a clever workaround."
"We have to draw the line somewhere," Chris said.
"Oh? Because we let points go to answers that were close enough but not exact matches," Topher pointed out. "But we're denying points to exact matches just because you arbitrarily don't like it?"
"It's not arbitrary, Topher," Chris leered. "Why are you so hung up on this, anyway?"
"Because it might be a bad look if this sudden change in the middle of the challenge ends up hurting a contestant's game," Topher maintained. "It's for the integrity of the competition."
"And the fact that the contestant in question is the cause of a lot of drama has nothing to do with it?" Vanessa pressed.
Lindsay, in tears, left the scene.
"I'm willing to stop putting Pickles as my answer if you let me have this point," Vladimir offered.
"And then what? You just start putting Onions instead?" Vanessa doubted.
"I don't really think you're in a position to call me into question like that," Vladimir frowned. "But I guess you always were the sanctimonious type."
"Don't act like you know me!" Vanessa reacted.
"He knows a lot more than any of us probably want to realize," Cyan shuddered.
"Frankly, Topher's right," Vladimir said. "This feels like a deliberate act of meddling against me. Nowhere in the rules does it say that the answers have to be factually correct. Changing the rules in the middle of the challenge devalues the challenge and calls the game's integrity into question."
"Oh, come off it," Cyan grunted. "You've never cared about things being fair. Don't get all pissy just because things are unfair against you now."
"I resent that. What have I done that's unfair?" Vladimir challenged.
"Looking up information about all of us so you can manipulate us comes to mind," Cyan said.
"Don't claim to know my intentions," Vladimir denied. "And, intentions aside, there's no rule against studying the competition before a game starts."
"And how did you know who the competition was?!" Cyan questioned.
"I didn't. I studied all the Total Drama alumni," Vladimir claimed. "I could tell you things about Cordelia you wouldn't believe."
"We're losing track of the main idea, here," Azura stepped in. "I think the offer to stop using Pickles as an answer if you allow him one last point seems more than fair."
"Mom!" Cyan objected.
"He's offered a fair compromise to end the conflict. I see no reason why we shouldn't allow this compromise in the name of reaching a peaceful conclusion to this snag in the game," Azura explained.
"Heh, he may have promised to stop, but we sure didn't," Hugh tried saying quietly to Kaylin.
"What?!" Kaylin called.
"I said we can still do Pickles even if he doesn't!" Hugh said loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Well, that's one good reason why that compromise doesn't work," Vanessa said.
"Alright, you know what? We're skipping that question, nobody gets any points, and from now on the answers have to be factual," Chris decided.
"How do you know Pickles hasn't been factual up to this point?" Vladimir questioned. "You don't know anything about me or Larry."
"Jerry," Jerry corrected.
"It's simply not something you can disprove without a shadow of a doubt," Vladimir continued.
"He's not wrong. That's why I think the rules were fine as they were," Topher stepped in.
"Fine?! Do you not see how easily exploitable this is?" Vanessa objected.
"Like we've never had easily exploitable challenges before!" Topher argued. "It's nobody's fault that the others didn't come up with that strategy except for the others themselves."
"Well if we're going to give out points for both sides just saying Pickles, then what's the point of even running the challenge?" Vanessa questioned.
"She's got a point. At this rate, if there's zero chance anyone gets any of the next questions wrong, then we have our winners," Chris noted. "Assuming we let this round stand in the first place."
"And if you don't let the round stand, then it's a three-way tie. You might as well let it," Vladimir suggested.
"No, please, I needed safety so badly," Frita droned.
"Alright, enough!" Kun shouted. "The challenge doesn't need to continue! Because... Because I'm quitting the game!"
...
"What?!" several people reacted.
Confessional:
Cyan: I couldn't believe my ears either. Not only because Kun said he wanted to quit, but also I don't think I've ever heard that boy's voice get any higher than, like, a food processor. That's how I knew he was serious.
Kaylin: I don't know if this kind of thing is normal, but the fact that the world 'pickles' had the whole thing devolve into rules arguments is fuckin' hilarious to me.
"Kun, that's not really necessary," Cyan assured him. "We can figure this out without you quitting."
"It's not because of the challenge," Kun told her. "It's... well, it's a lot of things."
"Oh, here we go," Chen groaned.
"Listen, Chen," Kun said. "I made a friend in this game... at least I hope she considers me a friend. At the start of the game, I offered her a spot in my leaders alliance... which she rejected to form her own alliance. She didn't see any leadership qualities in me. Neither did the rest of the team, seeing how I lost the other two members of my alliance in the first two votes we went to. We got new teams, and... I might have been the least qualified to be a leader on my entire new team. I went back-and-forth, making promises with everyone else, and never followed through with any of it. And after we merged, not only did my friend get voted out immediately, but everyone's always just seen me as an extension of someone else. Nobody's taken me seriously, not even when I give my input on serious subjects. And this is all in my second try at the game! In my first try, nobody took me seriously as a leader then, either. And I was eliminated pretty early. If I can't get a grasp on leadership in a game show, how am I supposed to lead a huge company in a waning industry?"
"He's just now figuring all this out?" Chen remarked.
"Of course not, Chen!" Kun cried. "It's all I've been able to think about, ever since my first time playing! I keep trying, and trying, and trying, and nothing works! ...But when you told me that Dad's promise to make me the next CEO was hurting you so much... I just can't let that stand! I refuse to be in anyone's way any longer!"
"That's great and all, sweetie, but you don't have to quit the game," Cyan told him.
"...I was never going to win this game, Cyan," Kun sighed. "Like I said, nobody has really respected me or taken me seriously throughout this game. What am I going to tell a jury that would convince them to vote for me? Over you, or Vladimir, or Hugh, or Frita? All four of you have real reasons why someone would vote for you. I'm just Cyan's extra vote, or the awkward straggler of the Grand Gryphons, or the guy who wasn't good enough for Kiki to work with. How... How arrogant would I have to be to try and take up a spot in the finale when someone who deserves it could be there instead?!"
"There is no way I deserve it more than you. Not that I want you to stop quitting or anything," Frita commented.
"And, yes, I do want this challenge to just be over. It's not going to reach a conclusion that satisfies everyone no matter what happens," Kun mentioned. "So if this isn't the perfect chance for me to do something good for everyone, then I don't know what is. We don't need to finish the challenge, or even go to a vote. I'm removing myself from the game, like DJ, Duncan, Harold, and Fauna before me."
...
"Well, I guess that's one way to resolve all this, eh?" Tristan laughed nervously.
"Even when he lays down and dies, he has to make a big deal about it," Chen scoffed.
"Your brother has taken your feelings into account with this decision. That's hardly the attitude you should hold towards him," Azura scolded.
"And you should mind your own business," Chen responded.
"Chen, even if Dad insists on making me CEO after all this, my first executive decision will be to have you replace me," Kun claimed. "I... I don't know what I want to do with my life, but I'm sure I'll find something that suits me better than this."
"You have a good, caring heart, Kun," Cyan told him. "I... I don't want you to quit, for a number of reasons, but I respect your feelings and the reasoning behind this decision." She smiled, and tears streamed from the corners of her eyes instantly..
"Thank you for understanding," Kun smiled. "You have a good, caring heart, too. I'll be rooting for you."
...
"Well, if nobody has anything else to say, I can and will officialize this motion," Chris said.
"Please, don't delay anything for my sake," Chen encouraged.
"Alright, by his own decision, Kun is now removed from the game," Chris confirmed. "Since we never went to a vote, nobody will go to Isolation Park. And since the challenge ended without definitive winners... the final four will all get to let their loved ones stay for the next 24 hours!"
This was met with encouraged murmurings from the contestants and their visitors.
"Don't say I never did anything nice for you people," Chris smiled proudly. "Kun and Chen, you'll both be escorted away from Drama City shortly. Everyone else, enjoy the night off!"
Confessional:
Kun: This isn't a decision I'd make lightly. I've, um, always tried my best to be as responsible as I can, even if that means doing something I'm not confident I can do. But all of this has been weighing on my mind a lot, and I can't in good conscience keep going down this path in life. It's no good for anybody, no matter what Dad thinks! If I can, um, take charge of anything, I think I can take charge of this!
Cyan: I feel for Kun. And while the back of my mind kept going 'Don't let him go! You need him in this game!'... that'd just be in bad taste. I just hope his sister lightens up. I didn't get to talk to her much, and I get why she'd have a chip on her shoulder, but it's like damn girl, chill!
Hugh: What the fuck?! I was just too stunned to stop him. Why would he even do this?! I mean, yeah, he was going to be easy to beat, that's why we needed him! If the jury votes at final three, I'd have to go up against Cyan and/or Vladimir now! That's so much harder than if it was Frita and Kun! And I think my Franklin Statue expires now, too! Fuck!
Frita: If Kun wants to quit, then let him. That just ensures I have a chance to get to the bottom of what Devlin's deal is! Tristan's still here... If Vladimir somehow isn't Devlin, then Tristan might be able to help... somehow. I don't know!
Vladimir: Well, that certainly makes things a lot easier for me. I get the sense that the hosts aren't too thrilled about my little loophole. Well, except Topher. I appreciate Topher. Whatever the case, victory is within my grasp. I just need to stick it out a couple more days, and the million dollars will be mine. Simple as that.
Through a window in the nice garage, Frita and Tristan watched the Van of Losers drive away from Drama City.
"Well, I hope that guy turns out alright," Tristan mentioned.
"He'll be fine," Frita dismissed.
Tristan glanced at Frita, whose double-handed grip on her soda can started to crease it.
"Are you alright?" Tristan asked. "I know that one guy's on your mind, but hey, it looks like you're close to winning this whole game here. That's pretty cool."
"I doubt it, but the fact that I've made it this far is kind of funny," Frita admitted. "...Vladimir's always on his guard. And I think he says he uses glue to keep his mask on. How do you think I can- Of course! I just cut it off!"
"That sounds like it'd be even harder to pull off... not to mention you'd probably end up hurting him," Tristan winced.
Frita tossed aside her empty soda can. "And?" she pressed.
"Man, this guy really messed you up, huh?" Tristan asked. "I don't know what all he told you, but he's the one who said he knows everything about everyone who's ever played this game, right? If he's really hiding his face this whole time, then sure, he could tell you that he was really Devlin. But I can tell you for sure that he's not. Even if you're not sure you can trust him, you can trust me, right?"
Tristan took Frita's hands and looked her in the eye.
"Hey. It's going to be alright," he smiled.
Frita avoided eye contact, but made no attempts to wrest her hands from Tristan.
"I don't get why people always say that. Nobody can possibly know for sure," Frita claimed.
"Sometimes, you just need to believe that, even if you don't think it's true," Tristan told her. "I... I have to tell myself that every morning, not knowing if Devlin's condition is going to get any worse. And hey, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, everything has been alright... er, relatively, at least. But yeah, that's the way I look at it."
Frita sighed, releasing the tension from her posture. "I just... I need to know who Vladimir really is."
"Will that really make you feel better?" Tristan asked. "What will knowing give you that not knowing doesn't?"
"Closure. I need closure on all of this," Frita said.
"Hey, voting him out might be closure, right?" Tristan offered.
"I..." Frita couldn't come up with the words to continue.
Confessional:
Frita: Even after a decade of me not talking to him once, Tristan's still really nice to me. I don't get it. Is he in cahoots with Devlin? Vladimir? Whoever?! Is Devlin really sick? I just... I need to know!
Tristan: I really am worried about French Fry. And now I kind of feel bad that I haven't been there for her in the past. I mean, obviously we couldn't talk to each other, but what if I did get her number before we moved? It just hurts to see her like this, you know?
Cyan and Azura sat on the bed in Cyan's room.
"I can't believe nobody gets the penthouse just because there was no first place in the challenge," Cyan mentioned. "We totally earned it!"
"Anyone who needs a penthouse to sleep comfortably has bigger problems to worry about," Azura rationalized.
"Facts," Cyan chuckled. She took a deep breath. "I'm almost there, mama. I don't want to get complacent, but if I make it to the end, I think I got this whole game won."
"Kun said there was a jury in this season, right?" Azura mentioned. "You've been a good girl then, I imagine."
"Yes, mama, I've been a good girl," Cyan huffed. "Like I said, I've hurt some feelings, but that's just going to happen in the game sometimes. I ain't done anything excessive."
"...I believe you," Azura smiled. "Do you get along well with the others who are still playing?"
"Frita and Hugh are both kind of rude, but I don't think they dislike me?" Cyan guessed. "Vladimir... I've been pretty actively gunning for him for a while, and everyone knows it. I spared him yesterday to get rid of someone who was more likely to win, but I don't know if that means anything to him."
"Do you regret that decision?" Azura wondered.
"Yes and no," Cyan half-answered. "From a game point of view, it was absolutely the right decision for me. From a moral point of view... well, he's done some messed up things to help him get this far. Keeping him feels almost like enabling him, even after all I've done to try and get rid of him before. But that would just make him easier to beat in a jury vote, so I don't think he wins either way?"
"And yet, Duncan beat Beth in a jury vote," Azura recalled.
"This is sooooooo much more complicated than that, mama," Cyan told her. "The big concern is that I've had a huge target on my back for a while. And Kun was the one person who I knew wouldn't ever vote me out, so him leaving kind of stinks."
"He had his reasons," Azura said.
"I know, obviously!" Cyan insisted. "That doesn't put me in any better of a position, though."
"Perhaps we should talk about something else," Azura suggested. "You've been thinking about this game for the past month straight, I'd bet. My being here is supposed to be a way to ease your mind, not give you more to worry about."
"You're right," Cyan smiled.
"So..." Azura smirked. "Any summer flings out here?"
"M-Mama!" Cyan blushed.
"Ain't that what summer camp's all about?" Azura asked.
"I don't need no summer camp for that. Besides, none of my seasons are on one of them camp islands," Cyan pouted. "Anyway, no, I ain't found a man. I ain't really the settling down type."
"Live while you're young," Azura smiled.
Confessional:
Cyan: I got a lot to stress about, both in and out of the game. Maybe I should take a second to just step back and breathe. I don't want to get complacent, but... God damn could I use a minute to just relax. Having my mom around is the change in perspective I think I needed.
Azura: For a game, Total Drama seems quite stressful to play, even if you're doing well. I suppose it appeals to different types of people than myself, and I remember Cyan being so happy to see herself on TV, despite how the first time went for her. If she's truly safe and happy, that's all I can ask for.
Hugh and Kaylin hung around behind Hatchet's Diner.
"So when does he get off again?" Kaylin asked, checking her watch.
"Not often enough, but I think he closes the diner at 10," Hugh said.
"It's 7! Why do we have to wait so long just to steal some bloody mary mix?" Kaylin questioned.
"Because we need to make sure his guard is down," Hugh explained. "Then when he closes up, we pick the lock to the back door, grab the bottle, and make a getaway back to Blaising Tower."
"Can't we just go get loaded at the bar and then do it in the public bathroom?" Kaylin asked.
"...It doesn't have the luster of doing it in a crowded public bathroom, but for you? Anything," Hugh smirked.
"There's the Hugh I know and love!" Kaylin beamed.
"Hey, we don't have to worry about the game right now," Hugh said. "No need to keep up appearances if there's no guarantee they'll even put this in the episode."
"What if they do?" Kaylin bounced her eyebrows.
"Filming us talking about doing dumb shit in a diner parking lot? They aren't YouTubers, I'm sure they can find something more entertaining than that," Hugh figured.
"Or we could do something even more fun. So fun they have to put it in the episode," Kaylin suggested.
"Like what?" Hugh asked.
Hugh and Kaylin walked through the front door of the diner and approached the bar seating.
"Hey! I know y'all kids're up to somethin'!" Chef warned. "You'd best not test me, or else I'mma-"
Kaylin decked Chef across the face. Hugh ran past the large man, grabbed the bloody mary mix, and dashed out the back door.
"Hey! I can have you ejected for this!" Chef roared.
He turned back to Kaylin, only to find that she wasn't there. He seethed.
Hugh and Kaylin ran away from the property, cackling.
Confessional:
Hugh: I got a stern warning from Topher. Apparently if I steal from Chef again, I will actually get penalized. I don't know how I can go the entire rest of the game without needlessly messing with a man who's just doing his job, but I'll manage. Somehow! (he overdramatically clutches his heart.)
Kaylin: (She's holding a plastic cup) I don't even like bloody marys, but Hugh said that the big chef guy was all protective of it, so stealing it was way too funny! (She sips her drink) Also, I'm never allowed back on this show because I punched the dude. Eh, whatevs.
Vladimir led Jerry to the O'Neal Barcade.
"What makes you think I want to play video games? Do I look like one of you millennials who wastes all their money buying pictures of Chinese cartoon girls on their phones?!" Jerry objected.
"That's not the part I wanted to show you," Vladimir told him.
The two approached Jayne and Greg at the bar.
"Oh, Barry!" Jayne smiled. "I see you've brought a friend with you."
"Uh, it's Jerry, not Barry. And, uh..." Jerry trailed off. "How long have we known each other?"
"They call me Barry. It's a whole thing," Vladimir said. "Jayne, Greg, this is Jerry. He's a friend of mine who's sticking around for the next day or so. Be nice to him, alright?"
"We are incapable of being intentionally mean to others. Your request should not be difficult to fulfill," Greg claimed.
"Would you like something to drink?" Jayne offered.
"Do you have any craft IPAs on tap?" Jerry asked.
Vladimir slipped away while the others conversed.
"I have Budweiser and Corona on tap," Jayne smiled.
"...Eh, Corona will have to do," Jerry grumbled. "So, uh... are you two friends, or just coworkers, or..."
"Jayne and I were constructed with the sole purpose of being a part of this game," Greg explained. "As the only two robots the other has met, I feel a certain sense of kinship with them."
"Aw, I feel the same way," Jayne smiled. They handed Jerry his beer.
Jerry looked at the beer, then back at Jayne. "I haven't even started drinking yet and this dude's already talking nonsense."
"What needs clarifying? I would be happy to help explain things," Greg droned.
"Eh, don't worry about it," Jerry dismissed. He downed a few gulps of beer. "So... is the bartender lady single?"
"Lady?" Jayne asked, cocking their head to the side.
"Yeah, uh... Jayne, right?" Jerry asked.
"Oh, no, I'm Jayne," Jayne told him. "I don't see a lady around, though."
"...You're not one of those femboys I've heard so much about, are you?" Jerry winced.
"I don't identify as male or female," Jayne explained.
"...I want to grumble about kids these days, but you're so hot that you just might change my mind about that kind of thing," Jerry grinned.
"...Greg, would you be able to run the bar for me? I just remembered I had a date with Joseph tonight," Jayne requested.
"But Joseph is-"
"Thanks!" Jayne interrupted as they threw off their apron and left.
"All she had to do was tell me she had a boyfriend. None of this 'pretending you don't know you're turning me down' crap," Jerry grumbled. He slammed the rest of his beer.
Confessional:
Jerry: (He's holding his head.) Where am I? I think that cute girl at the drugstore asked me if I wanted to be on TV... Am I still on TV? I'm talking to a camera, so... Ladies?
Vladimir: Endless thanks from the bottom of my heart to Jayne and Greg for taking Jerry off my hands. My reputation's bad enough, I can't be associated with someone like him for any longer than I have to, haha.
Greg: I was interested in talking to someone new, for the sake of better understanding humanity. Alas, I fear my grasp on humanity may be a lot weaker than I thought. Jerry said a lot of things I didn't understand. I must seek further comprehension of the human mind.
Chris and Topher stood outside the limits of Drama City.
"Yeah, I don't think Lindsay has it in her to do the episode conclusion today," Topher said as he got off the phone.
"Fair enough. I'll talk to her tomorrow," Chris accepted. He turned to the camera. "Well, I knew that bringing the loved ones in would cause drama, but I sure didn't expect today's outcome!"
"For what it's worth, I thought Kun played alright," Topher chimed in. "But hey, a big dramatic quit should be good for ratings."
"And truly, what else do we need?" Chris asked rhetorically. "Besides a budget, but... anyway! We're at the final four! Dangerously close to the finale. Who will be the next to fall? Will everyone's loved ones sticking around be a factor somehow?"
Topher's phone rang again. He answered it, and listened to the voice on the other side. "Seriously? Jayne actually made it all the way there? I thought the robots didn't have clearance to leave the city."
...
"I mean yeah, but that far, that fast, all just to get away from Jerry?" Topher questioned.
"Hey, I can't blame them," Chris shrugged. He turned back to the camera. All this and more, next time, on Total!"
"Drama!" Topher continued.
"Party with the Stars!" both concluded.
Votes:
None
The Merge:
Cyan - The Sweet Madame Blue
Frita - The Morbid Artist
Hugh - The Head Villain
Vladimir - The Untrustworthy Impostor
5th: Kun - The Awkward Team Leader
6th: Brittany - The Loyal Bombshell
7th: Quentin - The Lucky Ornithologist
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: Oh, Kun... Someone I included in the cast hoping to make a big breakout protagonistic force. Yes, really. I knew he'd have an interesting enough dynamic with Kiki and Shadya, who were both locks for the season, and I knew I wanted him to go far as kind of an in-over-his-head underdog type. In practice, Kun ended up more as the kind of person who felt more comfortable in the passenger seat, especially after his initial plans at a leaders alliance fell through. That's not to say that he wasn't important, since he played a big supporting role for characters like Kiki and Cyan, and helped keep the game from getting too heartless, I think.
Kun was going to be a finale loser for the longest time, but I don't think anyone actually expected him to win at this point, and I didn't want him sitting there when someone who actually has a case could sit there instead. As for his quit, it's something I was back-and-forth on enacting - as opposed to just having him be voted out normally - but the pieces just kind of fell into place as I wrote the episode out. Besides, this way's a lot more interesting. What do you think?