Swathes of white sand extended before them, lapped by the calm early afternoon waves. Bonbon sighed and reclined back against their lounger. In weather like this they felt as if they were slowly melting; that they might wake up and find themself a puddle of chocolate on the floor. But it was a rare treat to relax so thoroughly. Being very busy – and Bonbon was very busy, even busier since having taken up the mantle of captain – tended to keep you out of your thoughts and within reality. There was no time to think or to simply exist. But having gotten so far in the competition, there was now nobody on the Chocolatiers who could say a word to them about taking a little time off.
As they were on the brink of being lulled to sleep by the shade, a raucous back-and-forth of voices swelled behind them and jolted them back to reality. Bonbon only offered the consternation a frustrated backwards glance until it grew louder and more recognizable as Rezzy and Slimelime, engaged in a heated exchange of barbs. By the look and sound of it, it was a beach volleyball game turned sour – Rezzy was standing by the net looking smug with the ball in their possession, while Slimelime’s litany of epithets alluded heavily to an incident of poor sportsmarbship. Bonbon rose reluctantly out of their seat and rolled towards the site of the incident.
By the time they got there they were far from the only beachgoer to have been drawn to the incident. Perhaps the best thing about it happening on a beach was that few had their phones out to record. Just as the two drew in closer and the confrontation appeared to be on the brink of physical hostilities, Bonbon forced themself between the two.
“Enough!” they exclaimed, pushing on each side. “What on Marblearth is the problem now?” Specifying the now was very necessary; between the two of them, myopic conflicts emerged and re-emerged like weeds.
“Rezzy’s been cheating,” accused Slimelime.
“Hah!” laughed Rezzy. “Sorry, but you’re not even worth cheating against –”
“Take that back this instant!” Slimelime snarled. Bonbon backed a little closer to them, hoping to pre-empt a lunge.
“– you just can’t cope with the fact I’m better at you than this. Just like with everything, ever.”
Before Slimelime could respond in kind Bonbon issued an ahem loud enough to silence them. They turned towards the crowd, some of which had at least dispersed now a physical confrontation looked less and less likely.
“Go back to your business, folks. Not all clowns deserve an audience.” Most obeyed, returning to whence they came. Bonbon turned back to Rezzy and Slimelime. “Listen – I don’t care who started it, who was or wasn’t cheating, or anything like that. Acting like a child isn’t going to fly here.”
Slimelime glared at Rezzy. “They started it! Even going back all the way, it’s always been their team starting it.”
“Yeah, of course you think that –”
“What did I just say?” yelled Bonbon. “Children, the both of you! Over a decade since whatever happened between you in the Fruit Circuit happened and you apparently haven’t spent a single day of that growing as marbles.”
Slimelime and Rezzy exchanged a stunned glance. Bonbon’s heart was beginning to pound, but they weren’t done yet.
“Look, I know you’ve already decided I don’t get it, it’s special or something. But it’s not like we were all happy and smiley back in Surculo. We just knew when to quit for our own good! And if you can’t figure that out for yourself, then –” Bonbon snatched the volleyball out from Rezzy’s grasp “– someone a little less patient will do it for you.”
With that they spiked the ball onto the point of the net’s nearest stake, piercing it with a vicious hiss. Slimelime and Rezzy watched its slow deflation with a mutual, indescribable emotion.
“…You got this far, didn’t you?” sighed Bonbon, coming down from their emotional high. “Just… try and enjoy it. Apart.”
As the ball hung lifelessly from where it had been impaled, Bonbon put distance between themself and the still-stunned duo. This time they rolled into a floatie and out into the ocean, where they floated silently under the sun. In the far distance, Rezzy and Slimelime wandered away from each other.
Bonbon inhaled and exhaled, tasting the salty air, and began to think. In hindsight it had been a terrible idea to allow the two of them to tag along on a trip they’d planned for the explicit purpose of relaxation. But their rivalry made such little sense that a little part of them always imagined they’d have realized that suddenly and made up. It made just as much sense for the Savage Speeders to suddenly set their sights on the Solar Flares.
If I was on a championship team, Bonbon thought, I’d never even think about the Limers again. And if I was on the Limers, I’d fix my own problems before starting new ones.
And if I was me… Well, I’d flake out on an eighty-percent chance thanks to a chevron spinner and flub the best chance we’ve ever had of winning something that matters. Such is the Chocolatiers way.
A gull squawked high above. Bonbon shut their eyes.
Oh, well. At least I can enjoy a nice day at the beach.
Credits
- Writer: Millim
- Editor: Evolution
- Artist: Piney
- Reference: Marble Survival 100: Races 85-92 Compilation | Jelle’s Marble Runs
- Release: 22/08/2024
Project Marblearth 