Wearing their shiny gold medal, Ducktape had spent the last few hours reveling in their resounding victory. They kept a close eye on the time, though – as soon as a hint of sundown neared, the purplish marble made their way to the hilly patches of Dopersduin, only to see that another marble had reached first.
“You’re late,” remarked Slimer with a smirk.
“It’s barely dusk! I know we promise to meet whenever we finish consecutively, but today I was occupied with, uh, winning festivities,” Ducktape replied, unable to hide a grin of their own.
The pair’s bond had strengthened considerably since both across the previous Marble Rally season and the off-season following it, as upon the wake of Season 7, Ducktape and Slimer would converse several times a week. Today, they had been reunited on the top two steps of the podium, almost as if they were reliving the eventful year they’d shared before.
“It feels different now,” sighed Slimer, as the two rolled across the mossy terrain in unison. “This year, there’s so much more attention, more scrutiny… It’s been hard to focus on the racing and… be my own marble, y’know? Do I sound pretentious saying that?” asked Slimer, after receiving a strange look from Ducktape.
“It’s not pretentious, just more… confusing. You achieved your ultimate goal, the honor we all want more than anything. In a way, isn’t that a relief?”
Slimer took a moment to ponder Ducktape’s question. They did feel that relief, but simultaneously, a new kind of pressure loomed over them — the champion-level expectation that had been tugging at them each race.
“It does, you’re right. I’ve just always preferred the lower-profile life, but that’s hard to come by now. See, even after your win, the subject is me! Today should be about you. You were great out there.”
“We were great out there,” Ducktape replied candidly. “If anything, today’s race showed that you could cope with that expectation alright. Just like old times.”
“Just like old times,” repeated Slimer, feeling a nostalgic wave of comfort.
“I’ll say it as clearly as I have already – I can’t understand why you’re so obliging to CCE.”
Against the shadowed backdrop of a now-deserted fan-stand, Wisp of Darkness cracked a self-satisfied smile.. “Yeah, we’re not buds, but what you don’t understand is that since the dinner is free, I’m basically making profit off it.”
“But you paid the last time, didn’t you?” replied Black Knight.
“Yeah, so we’re getting even this time,” boasted Wisp of Darkness.
“You know that the Felynian High Council is bankrolling Crazy Cat’s Eye, right? If this is a power play… well, you can’t get even, even if you tried.”
Wisp of Darkness exhaled haughtily. “You just don’t understand.”
Black Knight had to agree – they didn’t. They scrunched their eyes together and reminded themself that it was WOD’s right to make terribly advised decisions.
“If you’re having fun, I won’t get in your way. But let me be frank with you – it’s not the choice that I would make. ”
Wisp of Darkness’ grin grew sharper. “I’ll be having fun when I’m eating lobster and caviar later tonight.”
Black Knight sighed under their breath. I can’t believe someone like this is second right now… If I don’t step things up, it’ll just be Big Pearl against El Capitan.
Late out of the press junket, it was the golden hour by the time RN3 reached the canal on their roll through town. Golden light spilled onto the lazy undulations of the slow-flowing water, occasionally scattered by a light breeze. It was peaceful – peaceful until Quicksilver showed up out of nowhere.
RN3 readied themself for their usual complaints. But the very air around them was noticeably different, and to their side hung a fanciful pink bag.
“Come with me,” they insisted, tugging RN3 forward. Bemused but curious, RN3 obliged, following them until they arrived in a small half-walled garden with a fountain and a bench.
When they sat down, Quicksilver handed the bag off to them insistently. It was almost cold to the touch. “I got you something,” they blurted out, so nervous they could barely stand to meet RN3’s gaze.
Inside the bag was a similarly whimsical pink box; contained within which was a neapolitan ice cream cake, perfectly portioned for two, with “500 career points – congratulations, Red” written in delicate icing on top.
“You even remembered my favorite flavor. I can’t thank you enough,” RN3 gasped. That only embarrassed Quicksilver further, and they withdrew further into themself.
“It’s not a big deal, so don’t make it one,” they mumbled. “I just… Ugh, forget it. Eat it before it melts everywhere.”
RN3 smiled. “Want to share?”
If Quicksilver had been embarrassed before, they were positively flustered now. “F-Fine. But this doesn’t mean we’re not still rivals, alright?”
“I know, I know,” RN3 laughed, cutting half of the vanilla section away for their friend.
Credits
- Writers: Millim, Ramen Powder
- Copyeditors/Editors: Evolution, Millim
- Photo Credits: Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Reference: Marble Rally Season 7 Round 5 | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 19/07/2024
Project Marblearth 