An Anon's Journey: Remnant Act 1

V3E2: Fortune Favours Foresight

The deafening roar of the crowd reverbed throughout the arena like pure, unadulterated sonic hype. Cheers and jeers flew like popcorn being popped in the machines distributing them to the unwashed masses. Mercury kept flicking popped kernels into his mouth, the fake butter and cheese flavour busying his tastebud. He leaned towards the seat to his left, where his partner enjoyed a fruity soda.

"Y'know," he said with his mouth full, chewing disgustingly loud. "I wonder who's gonna win. Who'd you think's gonna take home the prize?"

Emerald leaned away from him with an exclamation of disgust, repulsed by her partner's eating manners.

"Would it kill you to not talk with your mouth full?! You're spitting popcorn on me!"

"Still didn't answer my question."

"As if it wasn't obvious enough!"

A fine feminine hand reached into Mercury's bucket, pulling out an unpopped kernel with an exaggerated flair. Cinder took a seat next to her green underling, crossing her legs and rolling the kernel between her fingers.

"Emerald dearest," She purred as she looked into the arena's battlegrounds. "You should know by now that even though you might know how the story ends, that doesn't make it any less fun to watch it unfold."

Her eyes glowed an ardent orange as burning hot air enveloped her fingertips, popping the kernel right into her mouth. The artificial aromas made her sneer in revulsion but she nonetheless swallowed her mouthful. Unbeknownst to CME*, the one person who's been a constant thorn in their collective sides sat right behind them with quite an unimpressed expression.

"Tryhard," he muttered as he made yet another bid on the match.

Gambling was not something he would normally recommend to most people but when you already know who's gonna win, it's a simple must.

Besides, it's not like it wasn't fun to see morons lose their money to some greedy cunt in a wheelchair.

"Eh. If you're so certain about the outcome, you'd best get in on this,"

Emerald and Mercury jolted stiffly in their seat, whipping their head around to meet his gaze. Merc was stiff as a board, looking like he was about to jump him right then and there while Emerald kept calm if weary of him. Cinder kept her eyes to the battlefield, a seductive smile creeping across her velvety lips.

"Should I?" She half-questioned, sounding more interested in his query than the possible dosh.

"Absolutely, you're missing on some serious dosh."

Despite his egging, his tone was openly venomous. Her uncovered eye was still fixated on the field and refused to even meet his stabbing stare.

"What do you think about this match, dearheart?"

Hope's red-hot glare turned ice cold at this new nickname.

"If I wasn't in a wheelchair, I'd throttle you."

"Such hostility." She said, flippant and uncaring of his death threat. "Yet I don't think we've done anything to merit such vitriol."

"Riiiiiiight, you haven't." he drolled bitterly.

The thief and the murderer stared at the scene, almost afraid to interrupt. Hope obviously knew who and what they'd done and Cinder didn't care in the least that he did. Was this part of her plan? Since he was crippled, does it mean that he's far less of a threat now and she's allowing herself to gloat? Many more questions like these popped into their heads. Hope leaned back into his seat, exhaling angrily through his nose.