Written as part of my prep for Mayblade, a team bonding scene prior to the Bladebreakers match with the Demolition Boys
In the hours after they returned from the lake and after they’d all thawed out from the cold, the Bladebreakers gathered in their hotel room with snacks Kai had fetched them from the closest convenience store.
“Take all my rupees,” Tyson had declared. “I offer it all in the name of snacks.”
Tyson’s cash had been enough for two whole boxes of snacks, including popcorn, American candy and an assortment of Russian delicacies that Steph had never seen before, but she quickly recognised the picture of a peppermint leaf on a chocolate bar and snatched it up.
Becky found a bowl and popped the popcorn in the microwave. “Let’s play truth or dare,” she suggested.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Steph said hesitantly. “We need to concentrate on being a team tonight, not almost killing each other.”
“Aww, don’t be a buzzkill,” Tyson jeered, nudging her in the ribs gently to assure her he was only teasing. “Daring your friends to do reckless stuff is how some of the best friendships are made.”
“He has a point,” Ray agreed with a shrug. “But maybe we should agree now that no one gets dared to steal anything.”
“Fair point,” Max agreed, “can’t beat the Demolition Boys from prison.”
“Unless they end up in prison too,” Becky added. “Oooh, that’s an idea…”
“No,” Kai said, in his most serious, no nonsense voice. “No one is going to jail. But otherwise Truth of Dare is a good idea.”
Steph scowled at him. “I warned you,” she said.
It wasn’t as terrible as she thought it would be. They learned the truth about Ray’s fear of werewolves, dared Tyson to eat his popcorn out of his hat and Max was forced to stuff as many Oreos in his mouth as he could at once. After almost choking down the last one, he rounded on Steph.
“Steph’s up,” he declared, far too cheerfully for the Italian beyblader’s liking. “Truth or dare?”
Steph hesitated, then as she caught sight of Becky, looking far too happy as she munched on a handful of popcorn, a wicked idea occurred to her. “Truth,” she said and grinned. “Becky’s not a real blonde.”
Tyson, Max and Ray gasped and the room fell silent as Becky looked up, her hand buried into the popcorn bucket. She met Steph’s gaze, and for a fleeting moment, Steph wondered if she might have gone a step too far. Then all of a sudden, Becky raised her popcorn filled hand and launched the popped kernals in her cousin’s direction and chaos ensued.
“Blasphemy!” Becky roared as popcorn went everywhere and Steph ducked behind Tyson, using his body as a shield.
“Why am I getting dragged into this?” Tyson yelped helplessly.
“I call foul play!” Becky went on, this time upending the entire bucket of popcorn on top of them both. “The truth is supposed to be about you!” She whirled around, empty popcorn bucket in hand causing both Max and Ray to duck for cover as she turned to their captain for reason. “Referee, a decision please?”
Kai took a moment to deliberate then, with a wicked grin, declared, “I’ll allow it.”
“TRAITOR!” Becky bellowed, and launched the popcorn bucket at her captain.
“Oho,” Ray winced sympathetically as Kai swore, ducking behind the couch as Becky descended on him, taking up a cushion as her new weapon. “He’s caused a mutiny.”
“Guess that means we have a decision to make,” Max decduced, as he too took up a pillow. Then he grinned at his teammates. “Well, are we a team or not?”
Tyson, Ray and Steph exchanged glances, then in silent agreement they nodded and armed themselves with pillows and blankets (and even a bag of skittles in Steph’s case.
“MUTINY!” Tyson bellowed as he led the charge, Becky cheering madly.
Kai realised his mistake all too late as he covered his head with his arms as the onslaught began. “Guys, wait - let’s talk about this!” he wailed helplessly.
But it was no use, he realised dismally. After the incident at the lake, the Bladebreakers were indeed a team, and a force to be reckoned with. As Kai was pelted with pillow after pillow and skittles rained from the ceiling, he knew for certain that whatever the Demolition Boys threw at them tomorrow, they would face it as a tea
