Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDI 16b: Now With Suffering!

For quite a while, it was just Pin and Tennis Ball awkwardly sitting around.

The pushpin had been kicking the idea around for some time now, but only found herself capable and willing to finally do it after deciding to hang around and watch TB mess around with the DDS'; he'd managed to get quite a few at this point, and had proceeded to disassemble most of them in a vain quest to figure out how these things work. Seeing him work hard at this job without much payoff or reward caused everything to click, making her finally bother to get work done.

She'd excuse herself for a moment and proceeded to knock on everyone's door, asking everyone to get together for a meeting to figure out what to do from here on out. The number of contestants competing in the Battle for Dream Island was now cut in half, so it was as good a time as any to sit back, relax, contemplate and wonder. How are things going for you? How have things changed between then and now? What are things you still have doubts and concerns going forward? Things you look forward to? Things you *don't* look forward to? All those questions and a few (near the ballpark of 2,763) more. Pin figured that if everybody knew about *everything*, especially now that they've all had their fair share of mutual suffering, that'd finally give them the necessary push to get their act together and... She didn't really know at this point. Have them work cooperatively for once? On what?

She returned to TB's room, giving him a heads-up; being used to her nigh-authoritarian rule at this point, he nodded without hesitation, dropped whatever he was doing, and promptly cleared enough space for all 9 of them to *maybe* fit. Maybe. If they were willing to get too close for comfort. Then they'd sit and wait; seconds passed, then minutes, then a few minutes more. Pin warily looked at the clock, very much aware of the seconds flying past, precious time being constantly taken away from her, wounds still deepening, conflicts still unresolved, pain still lingering.

"Why aren't they showing up?" Pin finally broke the silence; she had other, *better* things to do than wait around for nothing all day, thank you very much. "I sure *wonder*." Tennis Ball sarcastically remarked; the thumbtack picked up on this and frowned. "I've been noticing you've had more of an attitude lately." She'd remark. "What's going on?" TB simply looked at her, unamused, as if she'd just offended him dearly. Well, maybe she did. Maybe she didn't. Things stopped making sense a long time ago.

"I wonder why?" Leafy would make a sudden appearance shortly afterwards. "Why people aren't showing up, I mean." Pin just decided to pretend that didn't happen. "Well, at least *you're* here." She'd weakly smile. "This can be an alliance meeting, at least." She'd attentively watch as the leaf found her spot on the floor and made herself comfortable. "We're still missing a few, though." The heroic leader continued. "Besides Firey- for obvious reasons -we're still missing Bubble. Also-" "Didn't she basically leave the alliance a while back?" Tennis Ball interrupted. "Because of... you know." He'd angrily nudge Pin a bit. "What's *that* for?" She'd grumble. "And how'd you know about that, anyway?" TB glared at her. "What, you think I've just been in my room all day?"

"Yeah, word gets around." Leafy chimed in. "I talked with her a while ago, and she said-" "You've been talking to her?" Pin interrupted. "And I haven't?" The leaf sighed. "That's exactly my point." She'd continue. "She says you guys keep touting her as part of your alliance, and yet you don't actually... recognize her. You don't have her do much of anything; even Firey got to do a few things for the team." The pushpin raised an eyebrow. "I thought she'd understand." She'd reply. "She's fragile, so we don't want her-" "You guys also don't talk to her." The nice one went on. "She's voted for herself *twice* now, all because she'd rather be eliminated herself than see one of her friends go. And yet each time that's *exactly* what happened. She's at her weakest, her most vulnerable. She needs you guys..." She'd trail off. "She needs *friends* more than ever, but you guys just aren't..."