Another week gone… and another skeleton gone. It’s time for the second elimination, folks!
Groggy and hungover, Cash is faced with the task of picking a second contestant to dismiss from the competition. Who will he pick this time? And will his sluggish cognitive state alter his decision? Let’s take a look!
🌸
🌸
🌸
🌸
🌸
🌸
💀
💀
Cash squeezed his eye
sockets closed as sunlight pierced through his half-conscious haze. Groaning,
he rolled over in bed, pulling his duvet over his head and trying to cling to
the last shreds of sleep. It was only when something heavy dropped onto the
mattress beside him that he realised he wasn’t alone.
“Mornin’ sunshine,”
Twist sang brightly, gently trying to tug the duvet away from Cash’s face.
“Well—barely mornin’. Only abou’ half an hour left of it.” He chuckled as Cash
resisted, holding the duvet firmly over his head. “C’mon, sweethear’—ceremony’s
startin’ soon.”
“have it without me,”
Cash mumbled into his pillow. Twist’s laughter seemed to press against the
walls of his skull, making it throb. “and shut up while you’re at it.”
He tried to struggle
as Twist wrapped his arms around his blanketed frame, squeezing him tightly. He
then proceeded to half-lift, half-drag him off the bed and discard him in a
heap on the floor. Cash grunted as he landed with a thump, his heavy head
protesting at the unexpected jolt. “Can’ have it without ya,” Twist said,
pulling the duvet away to expose Cash’s crumpled form. “Yer our guest a’
honour.”
Cash curled up on the
carpet, making a disgruntled noise of disagreement. “you could honour me by
letting me sleep.”
Crouching down beside
him, Twist met his eye, grinning. “Now where’s th’ fun in tha’? Up ya get,
Patches. Ya’ve got seven eager contestants waitin’ fer ya downstairs.”
It took a little more
prodding and coaxing, but eventually, Twist managed to get Cash up and dressed
and (more or less) ready for the ceremony. Cash didn’t protest when Twist offered
him his arm, using him as a crutch as he allowed himself to be dragged downstairs.
His headache only
amplified when he saw the seven remaining skeletons waiting for him at the foot
of the stairs in the entrance hall. Just as they had been last week, they stood
in a row, eagerly awaiting his decision. Cash scowled at the floor, burying his
hands in his pockets and leaning against Twist. “we can’t just… delay this
until tomorrow?” he murmured.
Twist almost looked
affronted, holding Cash at arm’s length and giving him a serious look.
“Absolutely not, Patches,” he said, firmly. “We’ve got a strict schedule ta
stick ta—no time fer dilly-dallying.” He cast a glance at the other skeletons,
before shooting Cash a wink. “’Least—not a’ that kind.”
“ugh.” Cash gave Twist
a one-armed shove and extracted himself from his grasp, turning reluctantly to
face the others. There were a couple whose gazes he couldn’t even meet—and a
few others who appeared more than a little amused by his current state.
Sighing, he shakily summoned his first violet bone.
It was difficult
deciding who he’d least humiliated himself in front of the previous night—but
eventually, Cash settled on Edge. Handing him the bone, he muttered, “next time
you see me trying to drink more than i can handle—for the love of god, stop me,
will you?”
Edge took the bone
slowly, nodding. “I’ll take the suggestion under advisement,” he said smoothly,
before joining Twist.
Scowling over his
shoulder at him, Cash summoned a second bone and gave it to Razz. “thank you
for saving my life,” he said, smirking as Razz lifted a brow-bone.
For a few seconds,
Razz watched him closely, as if searching for a trick. But his expression
quickly melted into the usual smug smile Cash was starting to grow accustomed
to. He took the bone from Cash and leaned in. “Well, now that you’re sober,
perhaps we could…?”
Cash scoffed and
rolled his eyes. “five minutes, razz—go five minutes without being an asshole,
and maybe i’ll consider it.”
Razz’s smile grew, and
his fingertips graced Cash’s hip. “Be careful—one of these days, I just might.”
“think i’m safe,” Cash
said, derisively.
“Hey, this is the Bone
Ceremony—not the Bonin’ Ceremony,”
Twist called from behind them. “Take yer victory an’ leave, short asshole.” Razz
shot Cash a final grin before joining Edge at Twist’s side. Twist glanced at
him, unimpressed.
Cash turned to Stretch
next—whose cheekbones immediately lit up with magic as Cash handed him a
summoned bone. “sorry for, um…” Cash trailed off, ducking his head as his own
face began to glow. “well—y’know.”
Stretch smiled weakly,
looking flustered. “no harm done,” he said, his tone light—if not a little
forced. “i always appreciate hearing how nice i smell.”
Cash grunted, his eye
fixed on the floor, and his cheekbones only growing brighter. “yeah. anytime,
asshole,” he said, dryly. Stretch beamed at him, squeezing his shoulder affectionately
before going to stand beside Twist.
Cash surveyed the
remaining contestants. It was becoming more and more difficult to decide who he
had the gall to face. Deliberating for a few seconds over whether or not Twist
would be able to catch him if he teleported far enough (he decided that—yes, he
most definitely would), Cash walked over to Slim. He formed a purple bone and held
it out. “i suppose i owe you one too,” he sniffed, keeping his gaze lowered, “since
i vaguely recall complimenting you on your scent as well.”
Slim blushed, but he
was grinning, clearly having difficulty suppressing his laughter. “i believe
the word ‘sexy’ may have been mentioned at some point too,” he whispered,
leaning close.
Cash drew away abruptly,
blinking in surprise. Slim’s blush had darkened immensely, but there was
something mischievous glinting in his eyes. Clearing his throat, Cash nodded, folding
his arms and ducking his head. “yes. well. i was rather intoxicated, as you may
remember.”
Slim’s smile faltered
ever so slightly. “right… yeah,” he said softly, giving a quick nod. He watched
Cash for a few seconds, looking almost hopeful. But when Cash kept his gaze
averted, he hurried to join Twist and the others.
A nervous pit churning
in his chest, Cash summoned the final two bones and approached the three
remaining skeletons. He turned to Red first, sighing. “you know, i should’ve known
you would be a manipulative asshole…” He looked at Papyrus. “but you?” He shook his head. “i expected
better of you.”
Papyrus looked
sheepish, but there was a knowing glint in his eye. “You just never know who
you can trust,” he said in mock-despair, placing his hands on his hips and
shaking his head. He leaned in then, whispering, “You are aware that it was
water, aren’t you, Wealthy Me? Neither Red nor I would ever knowingly poison a
good friend such as yourself.”
Despite his heavy
skull and pounding headache, Cash snickered, nodding. “i figured it out
eventually,” he said quietly, and Papyrus’ expression relaxed with relief. “still.
i don’t appreciate your trickery.”
Red chuckled
throatily, offering Cash a one-shouldered shrug. “what can i say, bud? yer a
pretty hilarious drunk. couldn’ resist the temptation ta rehydrate ya.” He
winked, and Cash snorted, shaking his head.
“next time,” he said,
handing them each a bone, “i might not be so hilarious.” He pinned them with a
dark look—Red cringed slightly, while Papyrus only beamed innocently. As they made
their way to Twist’s side, Cash finally turned to Sans, his smile fading. “i…”
He shook his head, sighing. “i’m sorry.”
Utterly unfazed, Sans
shrugged. “eh, no harm, kiddo. someone had to go.” Pressing his teeth together,
Cash nodded, though his chest still twinged with guilt. Seeming to sense this,
Sans leaned in. “hey—seriously, bud. i don’t mind. nothing against you, but…”
Cash glanced up,
lifting a brow-bone. Sans was certainly taking the rejection a lot better than
Blue had. If anything, he looked relieved. Smiling, Cash nodded. “thanks. i,
uh, appreciate you putting up with…” He indicated vaguely “… all this.”
Sans chuckled. “heh.
wasn’t so bad.” He glanced over Cash’s shoulder before leaning in to murmur, “just…
do me a favour and pick someone who deserves you, got it?”
Cash considered for a
moment, frowning as he drew away. Sans’ permanent smile wasn’t as relaxed as
normal, something more serious beneath it. Swallowing, Cash nodded, and the
casualness returned to Sans’ expression.
Cash turned to face
the rest of the group, shoving his hands in his pockets and slumping slightly. “think
i’m gonna go nap until the next ceremony,” he mumbled, heading for the stairs.
“Ya sure ya don’ wanna
help me prepare fer the next event?” Twist called as Cash made for his room. “I
think ya might actually wanna—”
Cash slammed his
bedroom door behind him, cutting off the rest of whatever Twist had been going
to say. Later, he told himself. Later he could fret over Twist’s maniacal
schemes. For now—his bed beckoned.
Dragon Blog 