The Ranch

Slumber Party (1)

(Warning: The Slumber Party Arc will talk about some dark and disturbing things. You've been warned)

The day has finally come, the day of the sleepover. The members go through their day with an oddly heavy mood only they know the reason for.

They eat breakfast, go to work or class, and whatever else in their daily routine, not knowing whether to look forward to being able to uncap the bottle that's been tightly screwed or fearful of the consequences for opening it up.

Dusk approached and they meet at the designated location. The group of nine enter the two story apartment building, previously used as a storage with blankets in hand.

The blankets are laid flat on the floor and the boys huddle into a circle.

Victor speaks up first," All of you have already been informed of what we're here to do, but I'll say it once more. W-"

"Wait." Kai cuts him off and turns to Lucien," Did you bring the thing?"

Lucien nods, taking something out of his bag. He stands up to set it up in multiple parts of the room.

Sherlock explains," Sound jammers. Everything said in this room stays in this room."

They nod in unified agreement.

Victor picks back up," As we're officially integrated as a real team now. We need to be able to have each other backs in the future. To do so, we need to be able to trust each other."

Kai continues," So tonight, we're laying everything bare. No secrets between us."

Abel looks more hesitant that the rest," ...So we really have to share our backstories?"

"Do you want our trust?" Theodore says resolutely.

Kai looks at the faces of people that might as well be complete strangers. After staying on Ranch Island long enough, one would realize a few things. One of those being...if you're on this island, you have an...unsavory past.

That's not to say the people themselves are bad, but their stories are better kept to themselves, and that's how the people themselves want it to be.

Another thing Kai has noticed is certain, unrealistic abilities some people on this island own. There seems to be certain requirements to be picked to live here. One of them is to be better in a certain subject or to have a unique ability, something the world doesn't believe to be real, though those seem to be rare, even on the island. But he has suspicions of a certain person in his current group and if that person decides to keep it to themselves, well, that's a good gauge of how long their cooperation will last.

Not only that person, but everyone, including his former group members. The only person Kai completely trusts is Tih and if that's the only person he ends up standing besides, he'll just have to made it work, adapt like he always had.

Sleepovers are usually characterized by their pillow fights, pajamas, junk food, and the like, creating a fun experience, but right now, a serious aura looms over the silent room.

How much will they spill, what will they continue to keep, and how much trust can they trusty give each other. It may all depend on these next couple hours.

"Once again, the goal of this "bonding experience" is to fully trust each other. You need to lay everyone on the table. No secrets. Nothing that can compromise our trust in the future. Does everyone agree to that. If you want to back out, bows your chance to leave."

"Wait." Pierre attracts the attention of the room. "I want to be sure of something. What's our plan for the future. What's our goal?"

The members take their time to seriously contemplate their answers.

"I want an environment I can continue to grow in. If that comes at the cost of labor and trust, I'm all for it." Theodore opens a different side of him, starting the transformation from mask to true self.

"I need background, but I don't want to be under anyone's control. Why slave away for someone strong when I can be my own boss. It's not like I don't have the capabilities." Pierre shrugs, his words painfully blind and lacking any hints of comradeship.

"I'll follow Victor." Basile answers even more bluntly. Victor glances at Basile, not showing his suprise.

"Freedom." Another blunt answer by Lucien.

"I need people I can trust to aim for the top." Sherlock's answer is vague.

"To have any power on this island, I need people I can trust with my life. I need support." Victor's is similar to Sherlocks.

Who's to say who answered truthfully and who did not, either way, Kai already had his own answer," I feel the same way. Somethings going on on this island and I don't intend to be a guinea pig forever." Kai purposefully gave the others information. But more importantly, for the ones already in the know, he let them be aware that he knew.

"I...don't know." Abel answers truthfully.

And Tih remained silent, but no one intends to bring up that fact.