Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 9a: Host's Nightmare

"Alright, you guys. Cake at Stake. C'mon."

The Squishy Cherries would reluctantly follow Golf Ball over to the Cake at Stake place; they'd all awkwardly mess around with their seating posture a bit to try and prolong the inevitable, with the exception of Spongy, who would want to just get this whole thing over with.

"I'm sure you guys know how this works, unlike the Namers, so let's just get right into it." The dimpled one continued. "Pin, you've got a Win Token; do you wanna use it now?" "Uh, no." Pin shook her head. "I mean, there's nothing mean I did that I can think of that would make people want to vote for me." Golf Ball blinked. "Right." She'd turn to the big block of cheese "Spongy, what about you?" She'd ask. "Well, of course." Spongy answered. "...Oh." Golf Ball frowned. "...Alright. Let me just, uh..." She'd anxiously look around, hoping there'd be something, *anything* that'd let her get out of this. "I mean... where's the.." Spongy knew what all the fuss was about; sighing, he'd grab his Win Token with his foot and throw it over to her. "...Thanks." GB stared at it for a few moments, then pushed it away ever so slightly. "How about you, TB?" "I won't use it right now." Tennis Ball replied. "Given my recent performance, there's *no* way I'd get voted out by my teammates. Right?" Bubble, Firey and Pin would nod; Spongy simply watched. "Mhm." Golf Ball nodded just a bit. "Now that that's over with, get to voting."

"Wait!" Tennis Ball interrupted. "GB, before we get to *any* of that, there's something I just can't hold onto." Golf Ball sighed. "What is it *now*?" She'd ask. "It's about what happened during the challenge." Tennis Ball continued; GB let out a deep sigh as he kept on going. "What you said before it started, that was... *really* concerning. It just wasn't like you, you know?" Golf Ball shook her head. "What *wasn't* like me?" She'd ask. "GB, don't play dumb." Tennis Ball replied. "You know *exactly* what I meant." "Well, maybe I don't." Golf Ball turned to him. "After all, how can we know for certain that *anything* besides what's happening right now happened for real? How do you know that whatever it is actually occurred the way you saw it?" Tennis Ball grumbled. "Stop trying to avoid it; you know I'm just trying to help. Like I always have." Golf Ball seethed. "Well, here's my saying it as clearly as I can: I don't need, nor *want*, your help." She'd put her foot down to make her point. "Now, if that's all you wanted to talk about, then I suggest you just stop wasting your time and-"

"GB, No!" Tennis Ball shouted. "I'm not willing to just let this pass; what happened back there was completely unlike you! I mean, releasing your anger and shouting at everyone instead of just keeping it in? Violently releasing your emotions publicly instead of getting rid of it in private? Never, and I mean *never*, in my entire history of working with you have you ever done that." Pin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that *was* pretty crazy." "A-And now you're telling me to just... ignore it?" TB continued. "GB, you know that you can trust me more than anyone; I've always been someone that's willing to help you out with even the toughest problems, even if it takes us all day to get through. If there's something bothering you, if this whole hosting thing is getting on your nerves, then you can just tell me! We can work our way through this together!"

Golf Ball remained silent; the offer was awfully tempting. Being someone that championed common sense, she could see very, *very* clearly that she wasn't acting, thinking, and doing right anymore. Not by a longshot. But on the other hand... Could she stomach giving in? Would she be able to live with the fact that there was a moment in time, no matter how brief, that she failed? That she couldn't handle things? That she didn't have a grip on *anything*?

GB sighed. "I'm fine. Really." She'd flatly state. "I can say with complete certainty and absolute honesty that I'm doing perfectly fine, and that there's nothing to worry about." She'd turn away. "Now, if you all could just *start* voting-" "GB, *please*." Tennis Ball interrupted. "You know that you can tell me, tell *us*, anything. Stop bothering yourself like this and just tell me what's going on." Golf Ball was starting to grow restless; she'd turn back to him. "TB, did I not teach you *anything*?" She'd ask. "I told you from day one that ultimately, regardless of what happens, all you should focus on is yourself. It's nice to get some extra help, sure, but this is *exactly* the sort of problem that comes with it; you stop caring about what's really necessary, what *really* needs to be done, and you start worrying more about complete non-issues!" Tennis Ball frowned, Pin nodded along, while the others just *couldn't* wait for this to be done. "You want to know what's going on? It's bothering you that badly? Fine: that was just a little attempt at humor, alright? A silly little joke. Something to lighten the mood after all that stress. But *clearly*, that didn't work out. Thanks for being so concerned about me, but all you're doing is waste your time and effort. Now, *I* have a competition to run, *you* have a team to manage, and I suggest we both get going with that. Who are you voting for?"