Lights glared and flashed in brilliant and vibrant hues of orange, blue, yellow, and pink. Music throbbed through the evening darkness with an unwavering bass that pulsed slowly and steadily like a heartbeat, however there was nothing slow and steady about the atmosphere inside the large building where marbles rolled around laughing, cheering each other on.
Clutter may have lost their place in the Marble Survival 100, but they certainly were not going to lose this dance battle with Pinky Panther.
“Admit defeat!” Pinky Panther yelled across the dance floor as they threw themselves into a series of extravagant spins on the floor.
“NEVER!” Clutter screamed happily, mid-backflip.
There was no undertone of disappointment in the busy atmosphere, only partying. Many teams lined the edges of the room, sat at tables with drinks, and quietly danced alone in the darker corners, but everyone now had their eyes on the center of the dance floor where Clutter had begun some chaotic rolling.
“It’s so terribly out of time with the music that it’s somehow fascinating and wonderful,” mused one onlooker, to the agreement of the group around their table.
The room continued to hum with a ferocious excitement that reverberated throughout the room as marbles cheered and sang at the top of their voices, enjoying the atmosphere. The song came to an end and both Clutter and Pinky Panther, out of breath, bowed to their audience with a mischievous flourish before calling the room to join them on the dance floor.
Tumult careened around the room, encouraging marbles until they put down their drinks and made their way onto the dancefloor with laughter. The last table they approached was as covered in notebooks and drawings as it was drinks and snacks.
“Fun to get in on the action for once?” Tumult grinned at the group, then nodded at the marble closest, “Come on, I’ve seen you dance!”
“Well, I’m hardly about to tap dance, but-“ the marble stammered as the group was jostled onto the dancefloor where all spectators were spinning with glee to the thunderous tunes. Even Shelly was out there, putting the bitter sadness of elimination behind them just to have a good party. Of course, it was easier to enjoy yourself surrounded by all of your friends, and three tragic finishes in the week wasn’t going to take away from the fact that they’d come fourth in the first week.
“You win some, you lose some,” Frank had said when they’d met up after the race. And it was true, as Frost was about to find out, face to face with Clutter on the dance floor. Yet there were no hard feelings as Clutter spun with some mysteriously chaotic and frenzied elegance, and Frank laughed with the audience as they slipped around.
“More of a racer than a dancer, that’s for sure,” Frank laughed jovially, finding their way once more to the side of the room where their drink was. They were shortly joined by Shelly, exhausted but smiling broadly.
“This is fun,” was all Shelly could get out, among gasps of air.
Frank nodded to their teammate, “it was so great to get to see you today. Despite everything, you know we’re always here for you. Whatever the result.”
The music blaring in the background seemed almost distant as the two marbles grinned at each other, appreciation for each other and their team dancing like the music throughout the room.
“Even if I-” Shelly began, but Frank shook their head and laughed.
“Whatever the result.”
Credits
- Writer: Phoenix
- Editor: Millim
- Artist: Piney
- Reference: Marble Survival 100 – R21 ELIMINATION ROUND | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 30/03/2024
Project Marblearth 
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