Building a community-authored narrative for the world of Jelle's Marble Runs.
Watching Red Eye, Bumble and Pinky Panther vanish with their coaches into the podium preparation room, one they hadn’t come close to stepping into themselves, left Speedy feeling strangely deflated. Another championship was on the line and they’d only advanced a single place in the order. Keeping the overall bronze was a cold comfort, though they were sure they’d feel differently on the podium later.
It was Rapidly who approached them first after the race, bringing them off to the side.
They’re going to be the first Marble League champions to not win a single event. It’s as if with every revolution around the bell that statement made its own loop back into their minds, a reminder of what they couldn’t reach four times over this season. At least those saying it admitted to their eventualContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #14: Shadow of a Doubt”
At the bottom of the sand slope, still covered with a thin film of sand, Pinky Toe was greeted enthusiastically by the rest of their team. A mood soured by anxiety after their first-race wipeout only made their victorious comeback sweeter, and the Rosakan team was by far the loudest amongst those greeting their racersContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #15: Penultimatum”
Under the fluorescent lights of the Superhive’s changing rooms, Kinnowin’s gold medal shone like the sun. Their entire team had gathered to celebrate its acquisition before they’d even made it back to the athletes’ village. “It’s a nice little reclaim, isn’t it?” hummed Tangerin, watching it bob as Kinnowin held it proudly aloft. “Of what?Continue reading “ML2023 Memo #11: Lost Ways in the Marble Maze”
A silver medal finish would be worthy of celebration to many. It wasn’t gold by any means, but to have beaten fourteen other teams and given the chance to stand on the podium was usually just enough to drown out the woes of what could have been. Usually, anyways; if you happened to be ThunderContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #10: A Bitter Taste”
“…so, as I was saying, we have this giant festival that takes place at one of our lakes, and if you go there you’ll see motorbikes for miles, everyone lined up in the mud and strolling between the rows talking. It’s awesome.” “Damn. You’re speaking my language.” “And if you buy the weekend ticket, youContinue reading “ML2023 Memo #9: Tri, Tri Again”
Rosaka (28/9/24) Rosaka was overstimulating at the best of times, but Ruzzy had an apparent knack for picking the loudest and brightest spots in the entire city. First was a comics convention, second was a busy cafe, now was an arcade in the middle of the city. Not practiced enough to play anything on theirContinue reading “M1S5 Memo #3: Like Blossoms On The Water”
Orlango (14/9/24) In spite of how much the world around it had changed, Orlango remained best known for its cozy countryside vibes thanks to the many small towns and farms surrounding the city. It was a place where family and hard work had been cornerstones of the culture for generations, and there was no realContinue reading “M1S5 Memo #2: Rollercoast to Coast”
Hunluen – 1/9/24 Exiting the elevator onto the bustling streets of Hunluen, Ruzzy didn’t realize for a few seconds that the sun had set in the half hour they were underground. The block was a blinding array of shops and food vendors. A department store opposite the vendors beckoned customers with neon arrows flashing inContinue reading “M1S5 Memo #1: The Places Between the Races”
Wisp of Darkness was not known for their overwhelming cheer, but after two golds in a row, it was hard to be anything but happy. Across the finish line they were surrounded by the other B-League competitors, all of whom had seen the same standings WOD had – standings that guaranteed them a podium and even put them a point ahead of El Capitan.
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