[hider]When different groups come together, one of the natural outcomes tends to be conflict. You’ve got a set of people who aren’t part of your clique hanging about, possibly trying to find a good opportunity to muscle in on your ‘turf’ and kick you and your mates out. It might not be what they actually want, but the chance is there, so in order not to look like some wooden soldiers, the obvious solution is to kick them out before they can. They’re just the ‘other’, after all; just a tribe with experiences that aren’t yours, so why should you worry about what they really want? That’s somebody else’s problem, and the only thing you care about is [i]your[/i] problem - what you and [i]your[/i] group wants.

That’s what they’re thinking too, so with that in mind, battle lines start being drawn, and soon enough you’ve been insulated into your side of the battlefield, peeking through the fence at the five people you’ve determined to be your enemies - or just opponents.

Usually though, it’d be four v. four rather than three v. five, but sometimes human selfishness triumphs over the desire to keep your own ‘tribe’ safe.

It’s an unfortunate fact of life, really. Even though our very society is built upon (and so strongly promotes) the concept of everyone working together to further a single, common cause (its continued survival), it doesn’t hide the fact that if it boiled down to someone picking between themselves and every other bugger, “me” sounds better than “we”. Self-interest is the name of the game; even if you’re part of a group, if there’s something you really want that your mates can’t help you with, then there’s no way you’re not ditching them, you know?

Your self-interest is more important than any loyalty.

Fortunately, trust is one of the important glues of society, so constantly betraying your buddies in order to get what you want isn’t beneficial in any way, but it still doesn’t stop some people. You want something, so the rest of the world can bugger off.

Or at least, I guess that’s the long-winded explanation my big sister would give on why the red-headed lass on the other side of the volleyball net is over there with the ‘enemy’ rather than next to me as society (see: the name of my team) has dictated.

Aeronwy Larkspur, Starscream-level traitor, stands there in her orange swimsuit, grinning like she’d just won a lottery. She hasn’t, though, because otherwise we’d be able to hear her triumphant shouting all the way down in Menagerie. She likes winning, you see.

But it doesn’t stop her from declaring her usual challenge in the same loud way as always.

“You’re going down, Fionnaghal,” she yells out through a smile full of gleaming white teeth, punching her fists together in an attempt to pump herself up (more than she already is). “Today, I’ll prove that I’m way better at volleyball than you!”

“Have you no honour, Larkspur?” my (more loyal) teammate Cahaya Camella responds indignantly from my left. “Betraying us like this … how could you do such a thing?!”

To keep the comparisons going, I guess you could call Cahaya Camella my Soundwave, except rather than being a serious, stoic robot gladiator with mixtape minion machines, she’s just [i]trying[/i] to be a serious, stoic knight of great chivalry, though she’s already got the minion bizzo down-pat.

By ‘trying’, I mean that sometimes she doesn’t really nail the demeanour.

“Th-this is unacceptable!” she continues, doing her best to act appropriately betrayed by Aeronwy Larkspur’s antics as you would expect a knight would if one of their sworn comrades were to leave them for the enemy. “You craven creature! This is utterly improper for even you, Larkspur! Doing this has … um, has …karma … will beset you …”

Poor girl. She tries her best, but it’s still a work-in-progress. Nobody got anywhere from pushing the act too hard. It’s cute, but people are going to recognise it as lacking in genuity. Genuineness. The word’s eluding me. It also doesn’t help at all that wearing the bikini pretty much kills the ‘dignified heroic knight’ thing 100%.

Not even Marsail could do it. But she nailed the ‘dignified’ thing pretty easily, so maybe there’s still hope for Cahaya Camella in that regard. Do your best! One day, you’ll be able to get the attitude down and even when wearing a skimpy swimsuit that I never would’ve expected you to own won’t stop you from being seen as a real hero!

Really, the thin fabric plus the shawl and skirt combo didn’t fit the image I had at all. I guess my superficial surface impressions of your personality have failed me once again. But it looks great on you, so full marks there!

“It ain’t improper!” Aeronwy Larkspur shouts back, completely sidestepping the attempts at bringing her back to the side of Justice. Sorry Cahaya~n, she’s not very easy to convince out of her shenanigans, remember? You’re fighting an uphill battle, and I can’t even help out. “- this way, I can finally get a proper chance to beat Fionnaghal in the summer-iest of summer sports!”

If I butted into the conversation, she would’ve gotten even more invested into this whole thing. There’s no way she’ll let going to let escape her challenge at all. It’s like her enthusiasm’s distorting spacetime to the point where my soul just can’t escape that gravitational field she’s got going on.

It’s also dragging those unfortunate [s]Autobots[/s] LMGR members currently awkwardly loitering around behind her into her shenanigans too. I’m sorry, I also wanted a simple, fair match, but when Aeronwy Larkspur issues a challenge, you just have to accept it.

Even if she’s probably better at volleyball than me.

It’s not that I can’t play beach volleyball - I know the rules and everything, but there’s a distinct lack of beaches in Vacuo. So I didn’t get a lot of chances to play it. Aeronwy Larkspur, on the other hand, probably (more like certainly, because don’t think I didn’t notice the new volleyball underneath her bunk) started practicing in some indoor sports complex the very moment we settled on the beach for our vacation, meaning her chances of victory are way higher than mine are.

I’m not forfeiting though.

The likelihood of my victory is very close to zero, but that’s still not zero, isn’t it?

So to me, the probability of stopping my rival from crowing her victory to the world for the next day or so is exactly the same as a one hundred percent chance.

“Linna Hafgufa is ours, then,” I announce, jabbing a finger in the direction of LMGR’s leader. The tracksuit-wearing Faunus looks as surprised as everyone (except Aeronwy Larkspur) else is, but this is one time where I don’t think I can win with a handicap. If we’re losing a team member to the other side, then the solution is to take one of theirs in return. It helps that we’re taking the one who knows how Aeronwy Larkspur ticks the best, too. “You winning doesn’t mean anything if you start with the advantage, right~?”

“Of course!” proclaims the betrayer, as if it had been obvious from the very beginning. “Take any of ‘em! I’ll win fair and square and show you how real volleyball’s played!”

An expected reaction from her. I beam through the net. There’s some skittish murmurings amongst LMGR as they huddle together, trying to think of a way to regain control over the situation. It probably would’ve worked at any other point in time, but you know, Aeronwy Larkspur wants a competition, so they’ll just have to offer one of themselves up as a sacrifice to the volleyball goddesses if they want things to get back on track. I don’t really mind if it’s someone other than Hafgufa. Having her will just be easier for me.

Correction: it [i]is[/i] now easier for me.

Linna Hafgufa, cephalopod Faunus (animal trait: her mouth and beak), crosses over to our side of the battlefield in a grumbly mood. She takes up a place to my right (where Aeronwy Larkspur usually would be if she hadn’t been [s]a craven traitor[/s] [s]Char Aznable[/s] inspired to go against me), her blue eyes looking pointedly at the sand beneath us.

“This was supposed to be team versus team, comrade Cirsium,” she says with an annoyed sigh, glancing my way. “And you had not even signed contract for my transfer. Where is my million lien?”

But she’s not annoyed enough to not make her jokes.

“You’re not worth a million lien -” I reply breezily. But before she can protest the slander against her person, I hold a hand up to stall her, winking in her direction. “Buuut … I’ll buy you an ice cream after I win, okay?”

I link my fingers together, smiling.

“... You cut a good deal, comrade.”

I’m down fifteen lien, but in return, Linna Hafgufa’s loyalty’s been assured for the rest of the match. I don’t really think the cost of those cones is really that worth it, but a seasonal business like a beach resort needs a steady cash flow to stay afloat. That’s why they can get away with it, though having a monopoly on all the ice cream within a ten kilometre radius helps.

I still wish I could’ve paid less, but it can’t be helped. That’s capitalism for you.

“So what is your plan?” asks the Faunus curiously, pocketing her hands in that tracksuit jacket of hers. It looks like even a summer trip to the beach isn’t hot enough to convince her to take it off. “You wouldn’t pick me if you had no plan.”

If it’s one thing about Linna Hafgufa I appreciate, it’s probably her ability to go with the flow and get straight down to the bizzo. You probably wouldn’t expect that of her, but the faculty put her in charge of LMGR for a reason. She adapts very fast - faster than the time it takes for one of her victims to realise they’ve been tricked into doing something embarrassing - but unfortunately that doesn’t apply to the romantic uptake. I think she’s been pining for Kozuka Mito over there before my relationship with that dunderhead bowman had even taken a bow.

“You get in Aeronwy Larkspur’s face a lot already,” is my explanation, although it’s a bit more blunt than I wanted it to be. I push those encroaching thoughts to the back of my mind. I should focus on just defeating my rival instead of getting influenced by distracting thoughts. “By that,” I add after a second, my smile growing, “I mean that it shouldn’t be too hard for you to block her shots, right?”

“Comrade, do you plan on me getting hit in the face?”

I can’t help but giggle upon hearing her response. It’s definitely something with a high likelihood of occurring, and I can testify to the strength in Aeronwy Larkspur’s hits, but I don’t think Linna Hafgufa needs to worry too much about them ruining her face.

“You might be tall enough to get out of the way,” I say, before placing a comforting hand on her fabric-covered shoulder. It’s very sunny today. Not tracksuit weather at all, but that hasn’t stopped her from wearing one like she always does. “And maybe if you do well enough, you’ll impress a few lasses, right?”

There are definitely other girls on the beach today, but I think Linna Hafgufa would most like to impress her previously-mentioned teammate (who’s still trying to adjust to the presence of one redheaded traitor). Even if you’re on opposing sides right now, the sight of you trying to stall [s]Axis[/s] the Aeronwy Larkspur steam train has got to be impressive. I would be impressed if you can pull it off!

“Fine,” she grumbles out, but it’s not a very good disguise for her excitement at the prospect. Almost as bad of a disguise as a pair of shades. “I can take Larkspur, no problem, comrade.”

“I’ll be counting on you~” 

That’s why I chose the cephalopod Faunus for this job. With her being familiar with Aeronwy Larkspur, and now with a bit of extra motivation (see: the ice cream and a chance to impress a girl), she was probably going to be pretty good at blocking any attacks my rival would try and pull off. And given that independent, straightforward streak Aeronwy Larkspur has going on, I don’t think we’ll see too much teamwork play between her and -MGR or any block-abuse. As long as Linna Hafgufa can keep harrying away, then we, the remainder of FSCA, will be free to take advantage of their chaotic situation.

Aeronwy Larkspur, I’ll show you that your superior skills have their limits when they go up against the teamwork that you’ve forsaken! Victory isn’t just determined by differences in volleyball prowess!

“You ready to show her what ‘real volleyball’ looks like?” I ask of Cahaya Camella, who looks like she’s gotten over her embarrassing failure to keep up the knightly thing from earlier. The bit of red still in her cheeks is the only evidence of her ever being so cutely flustered. You have to admire that recovery time.

She replies with a firm nod. “Her betrayal will not go unpunished,” she vows in utmost seriousness. As always, the image isn’t helped at all by the beachwear. “We shall make sure that she understands the shamefulness of her decision -”

I think that’s too biggie of an ask, Cahaya~n.

“- by … um, beating her in … eh, volleyball?”

Cahaya Camella crumples into confusion as she tries to make the mundane declaration work. And she was doing so well at first. Her dark skin flushes, and she’s soon just mewling and stumbling over her words like a wee bairn. I should definitely take her to visit Marsail some time.

Spending time with a more experienced knight might be good for her!

The thought immediately occurs to me. Does Cahaya Camella actually know how to play volleyball? I didn’t … hear any objections from her when the suggestion was made, but what if she was just going along with it because I thought it was a good idea?

“You know the rules, right?” I ask a bit awkwardly. Please tell me you know them, Cahaya~n. I’m sorry I didn’t ask earlier! You have to remember that being a knight doesn’t mean always listening to your leader. If it did, then that’s half of Aura Battler Dunbine’s plot down the drain.

Alas, my fears came true.

“... I don’t,” admits Cahaya Camella, her despairing face looking as if she wants to find a rock to curl up underneath from the shame. “I’m so sorry, Fionna! I didn’t want to disappoint you all and so I just … I just thought I could try and …”

She trails off. It’s an admirable motivation, but sometimes, you’ll just be hurting yourself if you don’t speak up. Don’t worry Cahaya Camella, there’s no way you could’ve disappointed the rest of us, but try and let your worries be known next time, okay~? 

I wish I had the Jin Family’s sleep-learning device to quickly get her up to speed, but I guess we’ll have to rely on good, old-fashioned last minute hands-on teaching.

“Don’t worry a bit,” I reassure her. “Me and Salvia Djetelina will give you a rundown, right?”

I turn around to face the final and quietest member of FSCA. The chibified version of her being held in her hands nods vigorously in reply. Ahhh, it’s just way too cute~. I wonder if I could have one of my own. Maybe I could name it Chionnaghal.

If Teàr heard that, she’d probably go into a long, internal rant on how stupid and original my naming sensibilities were.

Don’t tell her I said this, but she would get one of her own if nobody was looking.

“Then that’s settled,” I declare, linking my hands together in front of my chin. I give my assembled group of fellow volleyballers a bright smile. “If we just keep at it, we can definitely beat Aeronwy Larkspur -”

“- and my team,” adds Linna Hafgufa.

“- and LMGR,” I continue. “We [i]will[/i] definitely win. As long as Linna Hafgufa keeps being the distraction, the rest of us can try and keep hitting [i]Aeronwy Larkspur[/i] where it hurts. And that means we’ll have more time to help you improve, right?”

My last words are directed at Cahaya Camella. She flushes again under the scrutiny, but hopefully by the end of today, she’ll no longer be so worried about something like volleyball.

“You finished planning, Fionnaghal?!” shouts the great betrayer from the other side of the net. It looks like she’s already shanghai’d the non-cephalopod LMGR into following her lead. As expected. But if Linna Hafgufa sticks to script, then that won’t help at all.

“Yep,” I reply, popping the ‘p’ at the end. “Just needed to make sure I have a winning plan~”

She smirks, punching her fists together. “Hah! Come at me if you can!”

I’ll be taking you up on that offer, Aeronwy Larkspur~. But I’m going to have to say sorry first - this time you’re not going to win again.

[hr]
“I WIN AGAIN, FIONNAGHAL!”

Guess I spoke too soon.

Aeronwy Larkspur punches her fist into the air, triumph flowing all over her. The sheer joy she has on her face is almost enough for me to forget the melancholy at having lost. Not even seeing her happy will soothe these wounds of betrayal-induced humiliation. I actually wanted to win this, you know?

I let out a heavy-hearted sigh. Even though it was a close game, it was still two points away from victory. Two points that decided whether or not Aeronwy Larkspur could go home in the clear belief of her own superiority in volleyball. Argh, that was super frustrating.

But in the end, it’s true. She is better at volleyball than me. Even if Cahaya Camella had actually known the rules, I think Aeronwy Larkspur still might’ve been able to get a win out of it.

This really isn’t good for our rivalry, you know? A lot of those competitions she throws my way are pretty lame, sorry, but her numbers are higher there than mine, and I don’t like that. It’s a petty thing to focus on, but I just don’t like losing to Aeronwy Larkspur.

But I guess I can let this one slide for now.

“Congratulations,” I reply, putting on a smile and clapping as I make my way over to her. Everyone else is already dispersing, with Linna Hafgufa returning to her own team to commiserate with the remainder of LMGR. Leaving Aeronwy Larkspur free for me to approach. “It was a close one, huh?”

“Of course it was,” the redhead replies in a tone that asked how it could be any other way. “Team stuff is your forte. There’s no way you would’ve lost easily.”

I’m flattered, really.

“I think you have too high an opinion of me,” I giggle. Maybe I shouldn’t have expected anything different. “But it didn’t stop you from betraying us all, did it?”

I pout at her, trying to induce a sense of guilt in that triumphant head. Even for my Starscream, Aeronwy Larkspur really is too focused on beating me all the time.

“Always gotta take the chance, yeah?” It didn’t work. She’s unrepentant. What a reprobate. “I wouldn’t have any other time to beat you in beach volleyball.”

“And that’s why you went for it, huh?”

“Exactly! Not gonna rely on a next time if I have a now!”

A ‘next time’ also means that Cahaya~n would know how to play. “That was a good idea,” I say sagely, before grinning at her. “Because a ‘next time’ would be my victory.”

Aeronwy Larkspur crosses her arms underneath her bikini top. “No way I’m gonna let that happen, Fionnaghal.”

A laugh leaves my throat. It’s a vow I know she could keep, but the next match certainly won’t be something that’ll end in her favour. I’ll make sure of it.

“We’ll see~”

“Comrades, we are off to purchase ice cream!” interrupts Linna Hafgufa’s voice. “Cirsium, you owe me the cone, remember?”

The rest of the group’s already beginning to make their way off the beach. Leaving us behind and everything. I think they’ve defeated Aeronwy Larkspur in being a traitor there. Ah well, I guess if it’s for ice cream, then it’s fine.

Even if that ice cream I’m going to buy for Lady Hafgufa never panned out in a victory.

“I can eat more of them than you!” declares Aeronwy Larkspur, the thought of another possible competition entering her mind immediately. “And I’ll get to the stand first!”

She starts running off.

I shake my head. She sure likes trying to beat me, doesn’t she?

I start pursuing.

“Don’t fall behind then~!” I call to her teasingly as I speed past.

It’s definitely fun, at least.[/hider]