So Much To Lose

Ch. 2 Relief

Mic wasn't sure what to expect as she stepped foot in Hotel OJ for the first time. She knew the show couldn't possibly be aired live, especially considering the... peculiar nature of the latest challenge.

What she did know though was that she was being followed in by a wildly angry scientist and her best friend, neither of which could have nice opinions of her after what just happened. With her being responsible for their elimination, in a way.

The moment all three of them made it through the portal, it dissipated with the same otherworldly noise it appeared with, changing the room they had all stepped into's color from a pink glow, to a comparably duller orange.

Mic didn't want to turn around to face TestTube, she had had enough defiance for one night. While Knife was right in sensing her relief, Mic doubted the feeling would last long.

"Is that what you said to Pickle."

She could still feel the words ring in her throat, deadpan delivery and all. She didn't want to leave Taco, if you had asked her at the beginning of the show Mic was sure she'd have scoffed at the idea of her ever abandoning someone already so alone.

Now she could see why no one bothered to interact with the British recluse, though it wasn't like she made it easy to get in contact anyway, lurking in the forest and all.

It was the right choice though. Taco was changing, Mic still believed that. But in order for that change to really happen she needed to be separated from the game. Something about it made Taco take actions Mic would never imagine herself doing in a million years.

But you never told her that, you could have fought back sooner maybe she would have sto-

"Microphone."

pped, maybe we could have been frie-

"Mic, yoohoo! Backstabber!"

"Ah!"

Microphone flinched back as she finally realized TestTube snapping her fingers in front of her face, trying to catch her attention.

"I have no clue how someone as spaced out as you managed to be as menacing a geebweezer as you were. You know what, NO. As menacing as you are."

"It... It wasn't what you think, I promise it will make sense later, I just need some time to rest."

"Sure, that's what they all say."

"Who else have you assumed to murder you? When has that ever come up before?"

"So you admit it." Test Tube victoriously declared.

"I said assumed, but you seem dead set in believing this, so go ahead, I guess."

Test Tube was about to throw another retort Mic's way before they all turned to see another figure enter the room. And what a room to enter into, as OJ looked absolutely dumbfounded.

"Okay I have a lot of questions." the breakfast beverage mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"First off, which of the hosts decided it was a good idea to send me contestants at 5 in the morning? You know what. Don't answer that, I know it was Mephone."

OJ let out a quick sigh before trying to up his attitude, albeit it felt incredibly forced.

"Well, anyway, welcome to Hotel OJ! Since you both got booted at the same time, you'll be sharing a room together, so if you just follo-"

"Absolutely not! If it wasn't for that Honyak I'd still be out there with Lightbulb!" Test Tube shouted, aggressively stepping towards Mic.

"Whoa now break it up!" Oj stepped between Mic and Test Tube "I don't care how much you hate each other, rules are rules. If I don't change them for Trophy complaining about the sick one, they don't change for you."

"What if she just stays with me and PB? We're all pals after all!" Fan awkwardly butted in, not wanting his friend to start a fight in the place they both had to live for who knows how long.

OJ thought for a second "Okay... If they agree to it, but after that there's no room changing, so whatever they decide, make sure they know not to complain to me if they regret it."

After discussing how Test Tube would fit in the already packed room with OJ, Fan led Test Tube away, with a few more death glares pointed Mic's way, for good measure.

Mic spaced out again as OJ gave her the tour of the hotel, the portal had dropped her off on one of the middle floors, so they started with her room and worked down from there.

They didn't pass by anyone else, though it sounded like some of the other residents might be stirring for Test Tube's outburst at her, judging by mumbling through the doors.

The tour ended at the first floor, which was a large open area, save for a few support beams and walls. Half of the floor seemed to be a hangout area, tables, chairs, beanbags, and other areas to interact with others scattered her surroundings.

The other half was a fairly large kitchen, along with an island to sit and eat at, there Mic saw the first object other than OJ in the hotel, Paper, who was making two cups of tea, OJ wished her well, and walked off to join him.

Seeing as the tour was over, Mic turned to head back to her room, before another object in the room caught her eye.

She had almost missed him, the way he was slumped down into the couch. He was a dark green vegetable, and Mic knew this had to be Pickle.

Not one to abandon a promise, Mic started walking towards the couch to pass on Knife's hello.

It was a good idea to introduce herself anyways, once the episode aired later in the day and everyone saw her quitting, there'd be questions. If Mic wanted to sort out the Taco situation by then, she'd have to talk to Pickle at some point.

Coming to the front of the couch, Mic noticed a picture of Pickle and Taco having a picnic.

How did anyone take that photo, Mic wondered. If he was being used like I was it would be under the rug, a secret.

You don't actually know what exactly Taco did in season one, she realized.

Maybe Pickle was a completely different type of pawn.

"Uh, Hey." Mic said to Pickle, who hadn't even glanced at her yet.

Pickle responded, deadpan "If you're here to ask about the photo I'm not answering any of your questions."

"What, no? Knife wanted to say hi." Mic replied, sounding a little offended.

Whatever Taco did, it couldn't have been good to make him not even want to mention it.

"Oh, uh, neat." Pickle said, his tone immediately becoming lighter "You're Mic, right?"

"Yeah!" Mic smiled, happy to see that Pickle at least seemed somewhat content here, regardless of what went down in season one.

"So why does science class hate your guts, if you don't mind me asking."

Mic blanked for a second, now probably wasn't the time to mention Taco, especially not with the person she'd tried to rob not even a room away.

"Oh, uh." She sighed "The challenge was nuts and lots of unexpected things happened and-"

She struggled for the right words for a second.

"I... Enabled someone to hurt her, and Fan, but she doesn't know so she assumes it was me. I don't have the guts to throw the other person under the bus right now."

"So... Someone else did something that made her despise you, and you feel too bad about it to out them?"

"It's a long story."

"Well, I've got time, maybe later?"

"Yeah, that would be nice." Mic smiled, she was about to ask pickle what game he was playing before something rammed into her side.

"MICCCCC!!!!"

Before she knew it, Mic was being tightly hugged by Soap, who was tearing up a little bit.

"Hey, what's wrong??" Mic asked, as she moved to hug Soap back.

"You're eliminated, that's what's wrong, you were gonna follow your heart right to victory, I could feel it!"

Mic chuckled as they stepped out of the hug "It just wasn't meant to be, I'm happy to see you again though."

"Hey, you already know Soap, cool!" Pickle said from the couch "One more to add to the gamer gang."

"The what?"

"Sit down and we'll tell you." Soap said while laughing.

And so Mic did, and it was nice, the first time she didn't have to think about the game or Taco for months. It was calming and safe.

She could talk out everything later, after the episode aired and the hotel buzz around who had been booted died down.

For now, this was good.