The Rubber Thief Experience

"So just look out for questions that could have a second meaning the press could use, and you'll probably be fine. Not that the guys here would ask you something like that anyway."

Julian sat across from Cassandra in their hotel room, giving her pointers on how her interview should go with the Fightston news. It was so late that she didn't have a lot of time to get ready. Roxanne tried styling her hair, but had never done much with it before. Not to mention how knotted and generally unkempt it was.

"Okay, when did you last wash your hair?" Roxanne asked, dreading both the answer and the possibility of a dead bug inside it.

"Look, it's been a long day, okay?"

"Got it." Roxanne nodded, screaming internally that she didn't give a number. But she persisted through the maze.

"Okay. How do I look?" Cassandra asked.

"Really good. Probably." Julian said assertively.

"What do you mean probably? I thought your eye was fixed."

"I said it was better. My vision is still blurry and they'll bitch at me if I put the other one back in, but I'll probably make you out on the show."

Roxanne's phone buzzed, and Willow was asking questions.

'Yo is cass redy?'

'I dont think u need a dress ot anyting shes probsb fine now'

'She's just finishing up.' Roxanne texted back, shooing Cassandra out of the door.

Cassandra followed a staffer to the studio where the show was being filmed. The Para-more studios, where the show 'Rubber Thief Experience' was being filmed. Willow and Capri were already waiting outside, neither looking particularly interested.

"Am I late?" She asked.

"Not as late as Cheng. Wherever he is." Willow replied.

Like magic, Cheng appeared in front of the three. While the girls were dressed in the same attire as usual, Cheng was decked out in a snazzy suit, complete with a bright blue Orchid in the centre of his chest. And as usual, he was beaming to himself.

"Ah, it's so good to see you. You guys nervous, actually?"

"Nah." Willow replied.

"Used to it." Capri added.

"I'll probably adjust fine." Cassandra said with a dismissive wave of the hand.

"Yes, you probably will. But anyway, please let me know if I start getting too boring, or annoying, or…generally bothersome, will you?"

"Sure." Capri said with a thumbs up.

"Finalists, you're wanted in five."

The four made their way through the busy studios, following Capri's instructions to the RTE. They entered a dark studio, being prompted by those inside to sit on four stools besides the set, a desk for the host. Behind them was a backdrop of a brick wall, with spraypaint of a guy with a plastic bag over his head riding a horse. It looked the furthest thing from professional, the host probably did that himself. But if the art was anything to go by, the tone seemed casual, so that was good.

Suddenly, lights started flashing around them. Spotlights flashing around the arena, with the main one shining on the host. Time for the show to begin.

Jaunty music began playing around them as the host, a man dressed in a smart suit and a plastic shopping bag on his head waved to the cameras, sitting down on his desk.

"Alright, everyone, welcome to the show! It's time for Big Man Rubber, and with me are the four remaining players in this years Fightston games. We got Cassandra Torres, Cheng Tse, Capri Sious, and Willow Vananna!"

Applause of dubious authenticity filled the room. Cassandra tried to focus on the host over it all. His nasally accent didn't sound like something from Fightston, more something from Saoloro.

"Now, we know the guests might not know the score, so here's how we're doing this, right? Our viewers are gonna ask each of you some questions, and you get to answer them? Got it?"

"Sounds delightful." Cheng replied almost immediately, nodding so hard his head looked at risk at falling off.

"Alright, excellent." Rubber replied, not acknowleding whatever he was doing. "This first one's for the four of you. Who would you rather go up against in the final round? Cassandra, we start with you."

"Well, I guess I'd say Willow." Cassandra said. "I already know her, and her fighting skills have been shown to be impressive."

"Ah yeah, you were in Vannana a while back." Rubber nodded. "Cheng, your turn."

"Well, both options seem great. But I think that Capri would be fun, as a thematic parallel. A sort of light against darkness motif, if you catch my drift."

"I see, makes sense." Rubber replied, nodding slowly. "You think Capri could shrink your…abilities?"

"I'd be interested in finding out." Cheng laughed.

"And Miss Capri, do you share the sentiment of wanting to fight Mr. Cheng?"

"I'll be honest, Mr. Rubber. I don't really." Capri sighed. The most upbeat sigh Cassandra ever heard, but still a sigh. "I'm telling you, nothing against Cheng. But I came on to provide an uplifting performance, and doing that with Cassandra would be way easier than with him. No offence, but what happened with Julian's eye was messed up."

"No, no, I understand. My powers aren't exactly suited for a circus, I understand that."

"A gracious response. Willow?"

"Cassandra. Same reasons she said." Willow said slowly.

"Alright, alright." Rubber nodded. There was a rhythm to his nods, he was either feeling the atmosphere or desperately trying to inject something into it. "Next question, and the one the viewers want the most. What are you doing with the prize? Cassandra?"

"Well, fighting the legion." Cassandra answered bluntly. "I mean, I already have the Sandala axe, so I'd just be continuing the fight."

An applause sound effect played above her. She nailed that question.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." Cheng replied, rubbing his chin. "I think it would look nice, but I don't think I have the fortitude to take the fight to the legion."

"Well, why not?"

"First off, the others here are in teams. I could see myself joining one, but I could see the risks that would run, like my opponent in the last round. And if I went solo, then I could bleed out and die from one intensive fight!"

"You make some fair points." Rubber nodded slowly. "Capri?"

"I'd fight the Legion, obviously!" Capri answered. "After all, that can clone, and I can change it's size. So if it can clone things besides itself, then maybe I could clone anything! Like me!

"Sounds like an idea, anyway. Willow?"

"I guess I'd give it back? I mean, I have a weapon at home, so bringing it back there or my next destination just paints a target on my back, and I'd really rather not be dealing with that."

"Well, did you hear about the spear of Vannana going missing recently?" Rubber asked, leaning into his desk oh so casually.

Willow leaned back in her chair, her eyes darting around the studio.

"I…have not."

"Weird. Because the Legion seemed to have left a note, which a certain lady has provided me with. To quote. 'borrowed the spear. love, Willow and Zach.' and it seems to be in your handwriting."

"Wow, those Legion people, trying to frame Zach? Wild. Especially considering, you know…that thing you guys went through twenty five years ago. Wild."

Rubber just ignored her. "Well folks, it's time for our special guest."

A screen above them turned on, and inside were Zach and Freyja. Freyja was already berating Zach while trying her best to look professional in the small studio. Zach was clearly trying not to laugh at how funny the whole thing was.

"Willow? Willow, is that you?"

"You're live to the skies, miss!" Rubber said casually, leaning back and putting his feet on his desk.

"Willow! Why did you and Zach take the spear without telling anyone?"

"She told me." Zach replied with a shrug, resulting in the laugh track going mental with this top tier comedy.

Freyja looked in fury. "Willow, once I pull you out of this, you are going to pay for the panic you caused-"

The screen turned to black.

"We'll let her collect you after the show." Rubber said casually. "Last question for you lot. How are you handling the Legion?"

"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked. She sat up straight, tried playing it straight.

"I mean, how should we go about with Legion members. Because if I recall, miss Cassandra, you killed a couple of them when saving Inariu."

"I did, yeah." Cassandra sighed. She looked around the studio for a second.

"Look, all I'm saying is…maybe some Legion members could be made into better people?"

Rubber leaned in, while the other three guests turned their gazes to her.

"Go on." Rubber nodded. The nod seemed trustworthy enough. Cassandra tried to cut through the stares and continue her point.

"I mean…if all the Legion members get taken in as children and brainwashed, then surely they can be convinced to return to the Skyspace?"

"And how do you propose we do that?"

Cassandra shifted her gaze to Willow's voice, her eyes burning with enough intensity to melt ice.

"Well, if we…forgive their crimes, then we can work towards letting them integrate. Besides, they have secrets, right? So I think that letting them in would be a good idea."

"So what about the ones that killed Marcel?"

"Well, murderers should be investigated, obviously! But some people there don't want to kill people! Look, the people who broke Roxanne's leg were hoping she'd survive, so clearly some don't like where they are!"

"Okay? They could have let Roxanne live just to get off easy while another crime is pulled off, like, you know, the murder of Marcel?!"

"They should be punished, not all of them?"

"So what, the people who helped orchestrate the murder?"

"You aren't listening!"

An air horn blared through the studio, which Rubber held as the lights went out.

"Thanks for the show, everyone. But if you could take this debate somewhere else, that would be lovely."

Willow gave a death stare to Cassandra as she left. Capri sighed as she hopped off her chair to follow. Cassandra waited a few minutes and stepped out of the studio, with Cheng following.

"Hey, Cassandra?" He asked, his voice wavering ever so slightly."

"What?"

"What you said back there…thanks. I don't think that coming from a bad background guarantees you'll be a bad person. I mean, everyone thinks I'm a creep, but I think I'm okay."

"Could have backed me up." Cassandra answered back, not turning to face him.

"Well, it's scary being the unpopular one. But I get why Willow would think like that. After all, she was chosen by bloodline to be the best, allegedly."

"I guess she was." Cassandra sighed.

"Say, you don't think that's right, do you? The whole monarchy thing this place and Vannana have."

"Why are you asking this now?"

"Well, you are pretty important now. So I thought your opinion would be interesting."

Cassandra finally turned around, tired and ready to snap at whatever question he had next.

"Just what are you?"

Cheng put his hands to his face in a surrender position. His gauze eyepatch still fresh.

"Just a guy drifting through these crazy skies."

Cassandra didn't respond. She just went back to the hotel, picking up the pace to lose him. Cheng didn't seem to try to keep up.

When Cassandra got back to her room, Julian was waiting on his bed, watching a rerun of the show. His glass eye was back inside him. They looked at each other for a second in silence.

"Well, I liked your points." He said casually, turning the TV off.

Cassandra flopped onto her bed face first, screaming into the bedsheets. Her phone vibrated against the sheets, and she looked to the message.

Willow.

'do u really think wut u sed bk dere?'

'Yeah whats ur idea?' Cassandra responded.

'kill em no mercy.'

A million responses rushed through Cassandra's phone as she gripped it. Some of them stemming from what Cheng said. What gave her the right to dictate an entire group of people in a bad situation? Being born in the right family? She closed the phone and lay down to get some sleep, and Julian lay next to her.

"Cyberstalker?" Julian asked.

"Willow."

"Ah." Julian sighed. "Well, she'll probably be in a better headspace when she gets over Marcel."

"Okay, but-"

"But nothing. If you were at some point part of the Legion, then you're already doing a great job at proving your point. Now get some sleep, you gotta avenge me tomorrow."

Julian turned around to get some shut-eye. Cassandra stared at the ceiling.

Whatever came next, she'd be fine.

Right?