#badtimewithscar

Wait, THAT'S the guy Etho settled for!?

Team Jade Jaguars is the only team in the Competitive Camera league with a team of 4 cam accounts instead of 5. Everyone's been whispering about their player-born. Seriously, their team's tag started trending when the season began. That was weeks ago, and only rarely has it slipped from the upper spots. Half a dozen articles keep circling the portal hub like lions waiting for a kill. Even Pig knows that, and he gets most of his news secondhand from the rest of the team.

Wait their 5th slotter isn't even a camera?

"Guys, ignore them," TwoMuchGrian said the first time they passed a news page pinned up in town square. "They're just trying to get in our heads." And Two's team captain, so Pig did exactly that. They'd just finished their second practice, all of them with pixels sticking up funny and exhaustion dripping like raindrops from their code. Two praised all of them, even though Pig had a very bad fall and missed catching one of the best crossbow shots Joel's ever had. It didn't matter. Two insisted they all did phenomenal this early in the season. He took the whole team out for hot chocolate and sorbet.

😂😂 Bruh I'm crying WHAT? Who the hell is THAT???

Today is game day. The locker room bustles with chatter and banging iron doors. The room's had a makeover since last year. They've got lanterns instead of torches to light this place up now and their jaguar face logo snarls in triumph from a sea of gray carpet.

Are they tanking on purpose or something?

"Hey, Pig!" Two calls, jogging up behind him, and Pig turns his head. Two's not even changed yet, still sporting the tie-dye T-shirt he's almost always dressed in. His flower-spotted headband keeps slipping over his eyes. He pushes it up with one hand, tossing Pig a jade green jersey with the other. Pig catches it on one finger. Two's grin is crooked, but no less genuine than it ever is. "There ya go! I'm so sorry we cut it so close. I actually feel awful, but hey… we finally got your new shirt in!"

Ngl I can't follow the Jaguars' logic here. They know he's Etho, right? His sign-ups must have been a mile long

Pig flips the jersey around, searching for his name. The familiar number 8 blazes strong and proud on the back. Above it, in smaller print, is his current username: PiglinMyNose. It wouldn't have been a big deal to play the first match with last season's jersey, but… It's nice to shed the final tie to his old identity. LazyBeans26 is a guy of the past. "Pig" is a far more comfortable nickname than "Lazy" ever was.

This I have to see

He hugs the jersey to his chest. "No way! Two, you're the best… See? This man!" He punches him in the shoulder; Two flashes briefly red. "I knew you'd come through for me!"

Like I'm all for a player joining the team if they want, but they pair him with ETHO?

Two hums in approval, fluttering his wings. It's so weird to see Two off spectator mode. When he's not translucent, you really get an appreciation for the deep blue and bright gold feathers he's flaunting. Pig casts a glance or two over his shoulder as Two walks away, calling out to PearlescentMoo on the far side of the locker room. Dang. Two's been putting in hours at the gym even outside their practice time. That's undeniable. Those are good looking shoulder blades. He can probably even lift a llama on a lead with muscle tone like that.

Glad he's on MY team… If we're going up against the Sharks, we need every edge we can get.

lmao I love how #Jade Jaguars has been trending for a month xD

Sniff sits on the center bench, his face pressed in his hands. Pig keeps a mirror on his locker door. He checks it every couple seconds as he sheds his jacket and wriggles from his shirt. It takes another two minutes to unclip all his necklaces and drizzle them in the locket basket. Then he pries off his rings. They drop on the necklace heap with a clatter. Probably shouldn't have worn all the jewelry today, but hey… They're his good luck charms. He always has his necklaces.

Does this mean we're never going to see an Etho/EthoCam team-up? 😢

Sniff moves his hands to the back of his neck, fingers bent as though they're claws.

See the most frustrating thing is that it's not like he's played before. He's still a new account. It's not even skill that got him in good w/ Etho. Etho's only with him b/c he looks like Joel. They're Boat Boy baiting for hype :/

The new jersey smells like cedar wood. Pig's never seen a cedar tree in his life, but somehow… He can tell. He holds it to his nose, breathing in the scent of fresh-cut shavings. In truth? It still feels warm from the printer, even though that must have been weeks ago. It's a sign of a good season, that. When he slips the jersey on, it fits perfectly, like a life vest.

Like… idk. I'm not saying I know for sure or anything, but it feels like there's some kind of nepotism thing going on behind the scenes.

Their first game of the season doesn't promise to be easy. Team Cerise Sharks isn't known for their mercy. BadTimeWithScar is team captain, and Two's been reviewing old footage since the match-up was announced. BadTime always brings out Two's competitive overdrive. Two sees scarlet every time. Pig spent all of last night on Two's bed, preening his wings and chatting about this and that while Two stared (glaze-eyed) at match after match on his comm screen. He needs new chew blocks; he's gnawed through most of them and his rope tug.

I should get him a care package. He'd like to be fawned over this week, I reckon.

Oh, their relationship gets skewed badly in a one-sided way when the tournament is live. It's like Two always says: Captain Two is not your friend. But he always makes up for it. Two's an overly affectionate pest between seasons, pushy and playful, and Pig falls head over heels for him every time. One evening with Two gripping his wrists like handcuffs and teasing raspberries at his cheek is worth a million tournament nights, at least.

BadTime's not even the only one to worry about. The Sharks are rocking a strong roster this season, featuring AriesEva, WellsGlazes, HumanCleo and ImpulseCam. Last year, iCam went home with the title of Top Scoring Player overall… a fact that TangoCam has never shut up about. Pig glances three lockers down. Tea is seething, staring at the half dozen carefully compiled images of his long-time rival taped inside his locker door. He does the whole "anime glasses" thing, pressing his glasses up every time they slip down.