[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

SKYZONE

Luck is an ever-swinging pendulum. People like to view things within the context of days but if you change your frame of reference you can accept the blessings the moment they arrive — because luck manifests in moments. We just recognize the pattern.

While I had been blessed earlier on in the day, the rest seemed to fall into a recurring pattern of not pairing with Farrin. Then again, after the last showing, where I intentionally sabotaged his performance, they might have thought it best to separate us. Annoying.

Skyzone flipped the dynamic. We floated above giant fans as water balloons descended and filled our baskets. It had taken us a moment to get accustomed to the physics of the arena but with everyone reorienting themselves to the new environment, malice glinted in everyone’s eyes.

We were expressly forbidden from attacking another. But subterfuge was fairplay. And so were a myriad of other strategies to hinder the competition’s progress. What I needed to decide was where I stood. I didn’t care about my performance or prospective future. All I needed was a license. What I did care about, however, was setting up another encounter with Farrin.

There is not an ounce of hatred in my heart. Only a few drops of joy as I watch his rank plummet.

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]Hot and Wet

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Auden had been MIA from doing anything hero social for a while. For once, he had been caught up studying, taking some of this time to get back into some of the subjects in school that he felt lackluster on, making sure that he could keep up with his peers when the new term officially started up for them. It wasn't exactly his idea to go to the sports festival, but he felt that it would be a nice break from the isolation that he had forced himself into for the last few months.

Picking the skyzone, he wasn't entirely sure if it would be cheating to use his wings as a way to make his movement more calculated. Auden knew that his wings were much more useless than they should be, especially with how big they could become, but it was something that he had to just get used to. He wasn't here to prove anything to anyone, as his only hope was to have some fun and perhaps make some friends along the way.

As he lined up for his turn, he'd stare at those in front of him, noticing a lot of unfamiliar faces. "Are we supposed to have partners or go against someone?" He'd mumble under his breath, perhaps only paying half attention to the rules and restrictions of the activity.

Notes

☼ Felix || U.A. uniform.

Auden 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

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[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

The round began.

Despite the rules being as simple as they were — catch as many balloons as you can into your basket — there were a few obstacles in the way. The first of which was each other. There were a limited amount of balloons and a limited amount of space in the basket. The more you caught earlier on the less you could catch later. With more weight toward the beginning, the more difficulty you’d have maintaining your basket.

To wait until the end was a gamble, too. The hexagonal tiles were littered with duds. When you step on them, they might fall and lead you to a suspended chamber where you were unable to move. But even when blocked you could feel the wind blowing and altering the balloons drift. A few people had dropped their baskets. Others had already fallen. And while we were forbidden from attacking one another, people began creating obstacles for one another.

For example, when Auden went to catch one of their first balloons, an arrow would fly through the air popping it and leave him soaked. I’m not sure if this is worth getting soaked over.

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]hot and wet

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

Despite his best efforts, it didn't seem that anyone was all that talkative. Perhaps it was because of the wind that it was too hard to hear, or maybe he was just getting ignored; no matter which, his question seemed to go unanswered, leaving room for him to wonder if he should have even signed up for an event like this one at all. Even with the people around him looking friendly enough, it seemed that it wasn't the time to be asking questions or making friends.

With a sudden gust, they were swooped up with the air, having to dodge each other as well as other obstacles to collect balloons. It wasn't an easy feat, but one that in some way made him feel that it was preparing them for something more. Maybe it was just a hunch, but he tried to have every situation be something that he could learn from.

As he reached over to try and grab one that he saw before him, it seemed that a rogue arrow had other ideas. It popped the balloon right in front of him, soaking him in the process. He stood there in disbelief, before trying to more carefully grab another. It seemed that a few people snickered in his direction, or so he thought, it was hard to tell. From now on, he had to think and act a bit more carefully. He watched his feet, his arms, even his breath, to make sure that it wasn't going to trigger anything this time that would leave him even more drenched then beforehand. Would it work? Maybe, only time could really tell.

Notes

☼ Felix || U.A. Uniform.

Auden 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[googlefont=Merienda][newclass=.AudenContain] width:500px; background-color:#3e3e3e; margin:10px; position:relative; [/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden"]opacity:1;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden span"]opacity:0;position:absolute;top:105px;left:40px;font-size: 30px; font-family: 'Merienda', cursive; color: #A53DBA;text-align:center;width:400px;padding:5px;border:2px solid #A53DBA;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden:hover img"]filter: grayscale(100%);-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%);-moz-filter: grayscale(100%);-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden:hover span"]opacity:1;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody] padding:25px 25px 25px 25px; [/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1] margin:0px 0px; height:35px; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; font-size: 30px; font-family: 'Merienda', cursive; color: #3DAEBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1:before] content:''; height:1px; flex-grow:1; margin-right:10px; background-color: #A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1:after] content:''; height:1px; flex-grow:1; margin-left:10px; background-color: #A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h2]font:15px Georgia; text-transform:uppercase; text-align:center;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h2 a]color: #e44a4a!important;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div] padding:25px; font: 11px Georgia; color:#c5c5c5; text-align:justify; [/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div b]color:#A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div a]color:#A53DBA;font: 11px Georgia;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

Out of everyone here there was a clear outcast. Regardless of how popular or well-liked you were in your own school, in an inter-school event there would upend the hierarchy. Auden seemed like a put together person. They cared about fashion and knew how to carry themselves. But with their initial confusion, mumbling what I presume were a few curses under their breath, they were the first to be made a fool — condemnation by any other name is just as damning.

“Heads up,” I offer them help out of pity. A lot of pity. They looked awfully unprepared for what was happening. “This is a competition. Everyone’s trying to get ahead. You’re not rewarded for working together…” I had no intention of doing well for its own sake but to help someone as incapable as Auden perform well was a testament to my skill. “But we’re not punished for it either.”

I summon a few bunnies in the air and they gently lob a few balloons in our direction. I catch them in my basket before taking one out and offering it to Auden.

“Get it?”

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]hot and wet

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

"We aren't?" That would be the last time that Auden didn't read a fucking sign. Damn. If he had known that it was a competition, he would have been trying a lot harder from the start. "Thanks!" He'd say in a higher tone, just to make sure that it could be heard.

Before he could really get into it, the man's second statement was heard. They weren't punished for working together but it was a competition? Did that mean that someone would be betrayed at the end? Auden gave him a weird look, assessing his reasoning. He'd nod, taking the balloon, realizing that he was... Making a friend? God, he felt so out of touch he may as well be a senior right now. Who was this person, why were they hot? Why on earth were they helping him? Some questions would go unanswered. For the time being, he'd use his energy to grab up the balloons, occasionally offering one to his new buddy.

Notes

☼ Felix || U.A. Uniform.

Auden 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

[googlefont=Merienda][newclass=.AudenContain] width:500px; background-color:#3e3e3e; margin:10px; position:relative; [/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden"]opacity:1;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden span"]opacity:0;position:absolute;top:105px;left:40px;font-size: 30px; font-family: 'Merienda', cursive; color: #A53DBA;text-align:center;width:400px;padding:5px;border:2px solid #A53DBA;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden:hover img"]filter: grayscale(100%);-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%);-moz-filter: grayscale(100%);-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=".AudenHidden:hover span"]opacity:1;-webkit-transition-duration:.5s;transition-duration:.5s;-moz-transition-duration:.5s;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody] padding:25px 25px 25px 25px; [/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1] margin:0px 0px; height:35px; display:flex; align-items:center; justify-content:center; font-size: 30px; font-family: 'Merienda', cursive; color: #3DAEBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1:before] content:''; height:1px; flex-grow:1; margin-right:10px; background-color: #A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h1:after] content:''; height:1px; flex-grow:1; margin-left:10px; background-color: #A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h2]font:15px Georgia; text-transform:uppercase; text-align:center;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody h2 a]color: #e44a4a!important;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div] padding:25px; font: 11px Georgia; color:#c5c5c5; text-align:justify; [/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div b]color:#A53DBA;[/newclass][newclass=.AudenBody div a]color:#A53DBA;font: 11px Georgia;[/newclass]

[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

It was amazing how far people could make it through life without having an inkling of what’s happening around them. Imagine signing up for the sports festival, then applying to one of the events, and not understanding the foundational premise? Was this what UAU had to offer? There was, however, an opportunity for me to prove myself once again.

By holding back Farrin, I showed my ability to specifically target a person and reduce their efficacy. By focusing on him, what’s likely to be a dropout by how uninvested they are, and elevating him to greater heights, I could show another aspect of my worth: my ability to work alongside others.

I’d toss rabbit bombs and do one of three things.

First, they’d pop balloons that were headed for others. Second, they’d redirect what they could toward Auden to make it possible to collect as many as possible. Third, they would turn into puffs of smoke to obscure the balloons that made it past them for others…

As long as Auden didn’t mess anything up, he’d be one of the top scorers. But an opportunity revealed itself. There were two groups of balloons falling. One had three the other had twelve. If Auden stayed in the same area they had been, barely moving and having things directed to him, then he'd only get the three. This was the end of the round, the final shebang. To get the highest score possible, Auden would have to chase the group of twelve... with that he'd over come the number one spot in our subdivision, who was a single balloon ahead of him... but also chasing the twelve.

What will he do?

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]hot and wet

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

In all honesty, he was regretting this every second that he had. It wasn't truly a good look for him to be fucking up this bad, both with how to play the game and pretending that he knew what he was doing. The boy helping him, however? It seemed that he had a good knack for what to do, and was helping him more than he really deserved. Still, he had to stay awake and alert for what was to come in order to try to not embarrass himself even more than he had already.

He looked up to see a big group of balloons falling alongside a slightly smaller one. Even though he wasn't holding much, Auden honestly wasn't sure if he would be able to grab all twelve of them in his arms. With a scoff, he would anyways, moving to the side in order to grab the larger amount of balloons. His only hope now was that they didn't pop in his face and make him have a lower score.

Notes

☼ Felix || U.A. Uniform.

Auden 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

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[𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲]

Sigh.

Once again someone was deluded into thinking their success was dependent on their skill and not the aid of another — even when it’s as obvious as mine. I turn away. There’s nothing I can do for him. A single rabbit turns to many under the guise of the balloons; every greedy competitor finding their baskets emptied as they pop under the weight of my competence. At once, four different students drop down to zero balloons as our timer runs up.

I won’t be waiting when he’s done. If he wants to share any scathing remarks, he can spit them at the wind. I’ll watch as it flies back into his face. There’s solace in proving a point — he, like the everyone else here, will know to listen to me when I bark an order. Otherwise, they squander their potential. Because without someone like me, who knows what it’s like to work from the bottom guiding them, they will never reach it.

Another event, another zero on the board for me, too. It’s a point I’m deliberately making. Tell me, agencies, do you get it?

---

Auden

[Auden]

[attr="class","AudenContain"]

[attr="class","AudenHidden"]Hot and wet

[attr="class","AudenBody"]

Auden

AH, he was greedy. Of course he thought he could catch them all- what was he thinking that he could so easily just catch them all? Stupid, but it was time for him to learn a lesson. The second that the timer goes out, he looks down to see that his once bountiful harvest was nothing more than wet arms. He'd sigh, looking himself over and seeing that he was without anything now. His eyes would pan to the stranger, but there was no harm or regret, just disappointment of himself. "Well, I played myself." He'd coo softly, his shoulder hunched over. As he exited, he would move to the side and start to dry himself off with his fire. There was nothing more to do or say, he had lost.

Notes

☼ Felix || U.A. Uniform

Auden 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲

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[coffee]

I'M COMMANDER SHEPARD, AND I APPROVE THIS THREAD

Nice work, y'all!

Auden: 75 tokens + 100 Tokens = 175 Tokens

Rahul: 750 tokens + 100 Tokens = 850 Tokens

tag: 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐲,Auden,