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The Rules were simple
- No head shots.
- No physical contact
- No shooting anyone with a choker on
- No shooting in the designated safe zones (cafeteria,Infirmary)
- Teams can have a max of 4 people
- If you are on a team write it down on participation sheet and give it to Corvus
And Most Important (and off book)
- Win The Pot, Win The Glory
🔴🟡🟢
Enjin rubbed his hands together joyously as he gathered up his paintball guns and prepared for the coming battle. In just an hour the cleaners once a year paintball tournament would begin and he would be damned if he lost.
He’d quickly got a team together, having been approached by Fu with the team paper Riyo had given him, Zanka had been quick to request to join after. He’d stocked up all since last year on ammunition, after a brutal defeat at the hands of Semiu. He’d set up a barricade in the rec room for protection. And finally he’d sown seeds of treachery between August and other teams by saying they’d been smack talking his ability to win solo.
Everything would be going his way.
☂️
Bro sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. Dear and Guita were cheerfully loading up their respective guns with a rainbow barrage of different colored pellets and he was internally fussing about the money he was about to lose. He loved his son and his teammate dearly but he knew they probably wouldn’t make it to the end.
Sitting down in the meeting room they had made their personal homebase Bro just hoped the two weren't too disappointed. He knew they weren't naive enough to think that just because they were kids the others would take it easy on them but this was still their first year participating.
They were obviously going to be picked off first.
🧣
Semiu smiled as she watched Amo excitedly load pastel pink, orange, and yellow paintballs into their team's guns. Amo had asked her and Tomme to form a kickass group to take down everyone else and seeing her new teammates' excitement made the request easily agreeable. So all three of them were now hunkered down in her personal office.
She’d been surprised when Amo had asked her. She was sure the young girl and Rudo would team up but Amo came to her and begged her and Tomme to form a “Girls Only” group. Amo said she also tried to recruit Riyo but the redhead had declined, claiming to already have a team formed. A worrisome piece of information, Riyo was a formidable enemy. But with the help of her EYES and Amo and Tomme backing her she wasn’t worried in the slightest.
She was gonna make her two year winning streak into a three year one.
🕶️
August thumped his feat on the ground in rhythm to his music. Loading neon yellow and pink paint bullets into his custom made machine gun. Humming as he worked he let his more manic than usual grin sit wide on his face, the stretch of his lips were starting to burn.
He was so excited. Too excited even. Eishia said what he was doing was insane but yolo! He’d made sure to take down anything in his lab he didn’t want ruined anyways! All he had to do to win was lure the others into his den of creativity and gun them down to win.
And even if he got taken out it’s not like he’d be going down alone.
🥽
Riyo smiled and kicked her feet as she loaded her and Rudo’s guns full of red paint. Rudo was sitting next to her getting the run down from Follo on how to use said gun and Gris was lightly frowning at all three of them perched on the roofs edge.
She was going to win the prize money this year. Everyone participating had to throw in at least 10$ per person and even people not playing could be on who they thought would win, by team or by individual. She had thrown in a 20 for her and her teammates but she didn’t mind because she knew Semiu, August, and Enjin had thrown in double the amount. She’d make her 20$ back times 3 and more if Shikage was to be believed.
If things went smoothly they’d have themselves a shopping spree.
✂️
“Attention participants! You have five minutes before the game begins. Before the game begins I will review the rules.” Enjin heard Shikage’s creaky voice echoing in the loud speakers. The hermit was in charge of watching the security feed for the event and live broadcasting it to those in the cafeteria. A moment of happiness washed through him that his shut in teammate was participating with others before his competitiveness kicked back in and he tuned in to the rest of Shikage’s speech.
“Rule 1) No head shots! Self explanatory to most but still a reminder. Rule 2) Guns only! Using your fellows as human shields or as punching bags is not allowed. Rule 3) Anyone still wearing their choker is not participating and therefore safe! They are still available for jobs and need to be in top shape for said jobs. Rule 4) Any shots in the cafeteria or med-bay will be immediately disqualified! Everyone not participating but watching will be in the cafe and Eishia is in the med-bay for any accidental injuries. Rule 5) Teams can only be 4 people max! You can’t pair up with other teams either to pick off anyone else. Rule 6) Make sure your teams are official with the boss! Teams split the winnings evenly so to make sure everyone gets their fair share your name has to be officially written down and given to Corvus. With that out of the way and the five minutes up, Begin!”
Whooping excitedly and slinging an arm around each Zanka and Fu’s shoulders he smiled wolfishly. “We got this in the bag dudes! Ain’t nobody stopping us!” He ruffled their hair and walked to stand in the doorframe of the rec room to scout for anyone coming. Zanka bounced on his heels a little behind him, clearly just as worked up over the competition as him and Fu gave a weak smile, the skittish kid’s version of excitement. He would have had Riyo join his team as well but the girl had declined his offer which was a pity. She’d claimed she actually wanted to win this year and he would just drag her down. He’d been happy to see her team up with Rudo though. Even if it was strange since she claimed she wanted to win and it was the kids first time playing. Still… the rest of her team could prove trouble, Follo and Gris were pretty decent at the game.
“Gris and Follo are out! Downed by Amo and her crew!”
Scratch That Thought! His odds were looking better and better by the minute! With what Semiu called his “Little Fan Club” backing him there is no way he was gonna lose!
☂️
Bro had known Guita and Dear wouldn’t wanna actually stay in their base but he hadn’t expected them to try and go after a big fish like August. Quickly making their way down the hall to the mad designers lab he kept his eyes peeled for the other real threats like Semiu and Riyo. If they actually pulled off this insane idea he’d worry about Enjin later. Blonde bastard always like to hunker down and let the more ambitious players take each other down first.
“Carefull Dear, Don’t turn the corner too quickly or else someone else might jump out and get you. Same for you Guita, I know you're in your civies but don’t get reckless because of that.” he tried to coach them gently but all he got in return was a flapping hand and angry sucking. Sighing under his breath he knew it was better to just let August teach them instead. They turned another corner that led to the long hall leading to August’s workshop. The metal doors closed as usual but an eerie quiet behind them. A menacing type of silence.
If they even wanted a chance to take down the man they’d have to charge in full force.
A plan Guita and Dear had already put into motion. His two teammates took off and he was quick to follow them. Before they could reach the doors themselves though they flung open and only the nozzle of a paintball gun emerged from the pitch blackness within. None of them had time to even backpedal as they were sprayed with an eye melting assortment of yellow and pink.
🧣
“Bro, Dear and Guita are out! Downed by August!”
Listening to Shikage’s announcement, Semiu watched through Tomme’s contact mirror as Bro and his two teammates walked away. Bro comforting a pouting Dear and corralling a hyperactive Guita. As they trudged away she could hear the kaiju girl chattering about how this was actually a good thing and she could prepare better for next year's tournament. Closing the mirror and handing it back to Tomme she could see her teammates confident smiles. ‘We got this!’ Tomme mouthed and Amo gave her a thumbs up.They did have this. Her and her EYES wouldn’t be taken down by August’s basic ass tactics and she would lead them all to victory.
Sending a wink to her team they stepped out from behind the wall and began making their way to August’s dungeon. Just as with team child the doors flung open and pellets began to spray down the hall. She was quicker though, activating her eyes she easily used the ammunition holder of her gun to block incoming shots. Since the paintball pellets were even easier to counter than the real deal it gave her team the opportunity to fire back. Amo and Tomme launching a dual assault at August's door. She didn’t hear Shikage say anything had landed though. They tangoed in the hallway for a few more seconds before she heard August swear and duck back into his lab, obviously needing to reload after two back to back assaults.
Motioning her teammates to follow she charged forward until they were plunged into the darkness of the lab. Keeping EYES activated she could see August hurriedly reloading. Grabbing the front of her teammates' guns she spoke her marching orders “Amo, Tomme, fire when I say go.”. She heard twin “Yes”’s and smiled as she watched August frantically try to aim at them. “GO!” letting go of their guns and both her teammates shot August in a leg each.
That should have been the end of it but suddenly the doors slammed closed behind them and with a clap of the mad designers hands the lights flickered to life. Squinting at the sudden harsh brightness she rubbed her eyes and heard the other two groan and whine in discomfort as well. “What the hell is your problem?” she growled her vision finally clearing but the sight before her made her blood run cold.
🕶️
“HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAHA! OH SEMIU OUR RENOWNED RECEPTIONIST IT’S NOT ME LOSING! IT’S WE LOSING!” August cackled as he opened his bedazzled trenchcoat to reveal the paint bomb strapped to his chest. Four jugs of neon pink paint ready to burst as soon as the thirty second timer went off. He watched as Semiu’s face turned ashen and she began to yell about it being against the rules. “Wrong Semiu! I already checked with Shikage and traps are 100% allowed, doesn't matter when they’re activated!” He crooned.
Semiu, Amo, and Tomme turned and began to try to pry his door open but with the padlock he’d rigged before the game it would be futile. Twenty seconds were left on the countdown and he smiled as his assailants panicked at their inevitable demise. Tomme even picking up his emergency crow bar to take a whack at forcing the doors open.
Ten seconds left and he let his head lie against the ground. Pulling a mask from his pocket to protect his face from the incoming paint bath. He can't believe Eishia thought this would be a bad idea.
Five seconds on the clock and Semiu wheeled around looking ready to strangle him well Tomme and Amo hunkered down behind her giving him evil eyes. Which admittedly he did deserve but oh well.
The timer hit zero.
🥽
Riyo was running behind Rudo when they both heard a loud BOOM far in the direction of August’s workshop. “August taken out by Amo and crew! Amo and crew, taken out by trap!” Shikage’s crackly voice echoed in the speakers above them. This was perfect! She’d been worried that Semiu, Amo, and Tomme would keep hunting them down after they’d got the drop on them and taken out Follo and Gris but it seems like August took care of that problem for her. Now it was just her, Rudo, Enjin, Zanka, and Fu. The perfect ending to the hours-long battle.
Team Akuta infighting.
Her and her ally’s were definitely going to have a field day shoving it in Enjin’s face even if one of them didn’t want to.
Rudo stopped in front of her and she also paused so they could both catch their breaths. Everything was going swimmingly and the prize money was as good as theirs. Her and Rudo were only a few halls over from the rec room where Enjin was hunkered down. Now she and her teammate just needed to carry out the rest of their plan. She should thank Semiu later for making this part of her plan so much easier.
“Hey, Rudo.” She called and almost felt bad when the other registered exactly why she’d called him to turn around.
✂️
“Rudo murked by Riyo!”
Enjin was so startled by Shikage’s announcement he nearly dropped his gun. Weren't Riyo and Rudo on the same team?! You can’t take out someone who’s on your team if your names were together on the team paper! Besides, it wouldn't stop them from getting any money, just dwindle your numbers and your chances of winning! But Shikage hadn’t called foul so.. So Riyo had to be pulling a scam.
Speak of the devil and she will appear.
The door of the rec room flew open with a loud bang as his favorite red haired menace kicked it in. Bold as brass the girl immediately ran into the room and rolled behind a couch to avoid his firing. Quickly before Riyo could fire back he ducked behind the overturned tables he and his two teammates had stacked together as a shield. “Ok guys. We still got this. She may be the best damn shot around but there are three of us and were all good at dodging gunfire so/” He had turned to face Zanka when he mentioned dodging gunfire as a joke but the words died on his tongue when he felt and heard a quick ‘SPLAT’ hit his back.
He could see his disbelief and horror mirrored in Zanka’s face before he slowly turned around and was met with a manically grinning Fu. NO. NOT FU. HII.
“Enjin blindsided by Fu!”
☂️
It was all over, they had won and everyone was congratulating them. Well except Enjin who was being a mopey dope.
Giggling as she swung her feet back and forth well sitting on one of the bar counters' tall chairs she slung an arm around Fu who preened shyly under the attention. After Hii had shot Enjin she only had a moment to see his annoyed face at being called Fu by Shikage before Zanka shot him in the chest. Luckily since she knew the betrayal was coming she was able to sneak up behind Zanka before her friend could worry about her. Zanka did swear up and down he would get both her, Fu and Hii back next year though, even if he was smiling, clearly impressed by her strategy. Besides Rudo had forgiven her easily too since she gave him some of her cut of the money to buy whatever he wanted….probably sweets knowing him. So she would have many days to come pleasantly remembering the looks of shock that had rocked her two fellow teammates to their core.
Speaking of shock Enjin had immediately started to pry about how she even pulled off her little scheme. Whining like a big baby as he pulled her hair out of place teasingly and demanding to know how she turned Fu against him. “Well I asked Hii first, not Fu.” was her response and Hii had immediately high fived her after, leaving her hand stinging. It was technically true anyways. She’d caught Fu late at night and asked to speak with Hii. She knew the other usually just chilled in Fu’s mind and honestly she didn’t like thinking about the logistics of it exactly but she had a feeling Hii would enjoy the trick he had up her sleeve. The other had been down immediately and had convinced Fu that it would be ok to work against Enjin for a few hours. Riyo had to promise to order Fu around if they were revealed to be in cahoots to early in the game though.
A small price for victory.
She had gotten Fu to go around and “build” a team with Enjin and Zanka first before she continued passing the paper around. Making sure she was the last to have it so she could secretly put the three of them together. She was glad she did too because Shikage’s information about how much money was bet had been spot on. Now with 1,265$ split three ways and her pocketing around 400$ making her pockets heavier she could confidently say her and Fu would make an even better team moving forward.
✂️