Alternate Battle for Dream Island

ABFDIA 4c: Door

As is tradition, everyone is given a bit of time to get used to each other before getting thrown into *another* miserable competition.

Blocky and Eraser were far, *far* too occupied with arguing and bickering, however. This left Barf Bag, the reluctant third person dragged into a duo that just *needed* someone new, all on her own. Quite frankly, she was fine with it; given how loud they were getting, as well as the sorts of words they were using, they were probably completely insufferable. Apparently, they also used to be friends. That's just... something. Speaks volumes on how trying to befriend either one would work out.

So, she just wouldn't bother. Instead, Barfy would opt to start walking around the empty Dream Island, looking for... something. Anything. Whatever keeps the mind busy. She ended up walking in a straight line, past all the actually interesting stuff, and directly towards the coast. There the vast blue sea stretched to the horizon, an infinity of water right before her eyes. Waves crashed against the shore, the breeze was strong as it hit her face, and the sunlight was just about tolerable enough.

She stared blankly at the horizon for a little while, unsure of what to make of all this. This makes... *several* competitions that she's been a part of now. One right after another, too. What kind of life is that? She also didn't have *anyone* she even slightly trusted, especially not anyone on her team. That's a bit unfortunate, isn't it?

The bag sighed. That's just how life is. The sort of life that gives itself to a living container full of the foulest thing that could ever possibly be conceived. She'd already gone through so many hardships before, and this one didn't seem to be any different.

And so, instead of focusing so much on *that*, she decided to just... keep on staring into the ocean. Look at all the subtle details of the waves, how they rise and fall, how they interact with one another. More specifically, she'd look for any disturbances, any abnormalities.

She'd look for Teardrop, and she was nowhere to be found.

A few minutes passed by of just this, and the search would be entirely fruitless. Maybe she was just looking in the wrong place, perhaps? Barf Bag began walking along the shore, pondering where the best angle was; there *were* a lot more scenic views of the island, far more revealing.

It was while making the rounds when she'd encounter the passage. Whereas everything else in Dream Island was bright, colorful, and happy, the tunnel going underground was bleak and industrial in comparison. A more utilitarian fixture than all of its surroundings.

The thought unnerved her a bit, and then those thoughts gradually drifted to Pen. Where was he? Where could he be? How was he doing? Why wasn't he here? This was his island, so wasn't he supposed to defend it? He's apparently been recovering somewhere, so why can't they pay him a visit? In fact, why didn't they just kill him and use a recovery center? The more she thought about it, the more things just *didn't* add up. Something wasn't right here. Something just wasn't

"There you are!"

Blocky caught up to her and picked Barf Bag up, with her being completely unable to react. "Hey!" She'd shout. "Put me down!"

She would not, in fact, be put down.

-

The members of Not were in a tense staring contest with each other.

Coiny, Pin, and Taco all stood in a vaguely-defined circle, keeping their eyes directed at one of the two at all times. It all seemed to speak far, *far* more than could ever be conveyed into words. Just nothing but pure hatred, pure anger. Pure vitriol.

But they knew fully well that just moping wouldn't get them anywhere. "Alright, you two." Taco grumbled. "What's going on? What's this whole thing between you?" The coin creature always had the worst temper. "Oh, don't even get me started!" He'd point an accusatory finger at the pushpin. "She's always going around, acting like she's in charge, always telling people to do this and that, telling them what they can and can't do! It's just..." He'd groan. "She's just so incredibly bossy! *Far* too bossy! You thought Golf Ball was insufferable? You haven't even seen even a *fraction* of it!"