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[color=7fc19e][b][sup]A collaboration of two Candies falling overboard with [@Universorum].[/sup][/b][/color][hr][hr][/center]
[indent]Water. He needed water. A whole ocean’s worth of it. Except not the actual ocean, because the ocean was salty, and that would only make him thirstier. Marshall Radley was far from a boy scout survivalist, but he at least knew that much. What he did not know, however, was what exactly was wrong with him. Obviously he was high… but high on what? Cherry Lego candy? It was stupid of him to have taken that, Ophie recommendation or not, it was obvious that it was a drug. Especially coming from Kit’s hands, if last night’s misadventures were anything to learn form. Marshall clearly didn’t learn, because now he was floating up in the clouds instead of being focused on his mission. He had made a deal with both Trixie and himself that he would talk to Jamie tonight. How was he supposed to profess his feelings of admiration when he couldn’t even follow his own train of thought anymore?

[color=997fdb][i]Oh, wow, pretty…[/i][/color] And just like that, he was distracted from both his main mission, and his side quest for water. His sandpapery dry throat was easily forgotten with the sight of the breathtaking scene before him. Sparkling. Dark. Mysterious. Marshall peered over the edge of the railing, gasping slightly at the deep pacific blue below. Rays of moonlight danced along the shimmering waves, enrapturing the inebriated boy in a spellbound state. It was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen, he was sure of it.

Fortunately for Marshall, there would soon be something to snap him out his trance on the ocean. The very same Kit that had supplied him with the drug, had found him once more. And she had a story to tell! Marshall was [i]pretty much[/i] her third best friend, and the most accessible at this very moment! Kit came barreling toward him at mach speed, fueled by excitement, fruity drinks, and whatever it was that Ophelia had fed her. [color=7fc19e][b]“Marshhhhh!”[/b][/color] She called out, and then came the bad idea.

Kit launched herself off of the flooring. She planned to hug him, like a flying ninja hug. Her plan, as Kit’s plans often did, would instead go south. Literally, as she sent both herself and Marshall tumbling over the edge and down, down toward the glistening beautiful water that Marshall had been distracted by.

Huh? Was someone calling his name? Briefly shaken from his enamored stupor, Marshall turned around slowly. Too slowly. He couldn’t help his sluggish movements though, if he spun around too fast, he felt like he might get sick. This was unfortunate, given that a quick reaction would probably have been the only way to prevent what happened next. Marshall only managed to yelp [color=997fdb][b]“Kit, wait!”[/b][/color] before holding his hands out in front of himself defensively. His defenses were weak, and the tiny blonde crashed into him, sending them both over the railing with the momentum.

Oh god, he was going to die! He was high and he was gonna die that way. Him and this freshman girl he barely knew would be the stars of tomorrow’s tragic headline. The scream that escaped his lips did not sound human, let alone sound like a noise that a [i]man[/i] should make. He was going to die anyway, so shame was out the window. Or overboard, in this case. In those final moments before they met their inevitable end, Marshall did the only thing that was instinctive. He wrapped his arms around Kit and hugged her as they fell. Maybe he could keep her safe in doing so, and if not, at least they would both have a final embrace before they met their doom.

It wasn’t long before they hit the water, and despite Marshall’s internal feelings, they were alive when they splashed into the chilly seas of the Pacific. Alive, but very, very cold. Underneath the water, Kit squirmed out of Marshall’s grasp, and propelled herself back up to the surface. Though the water around them was stone cold, it was illuminated by the boat, and Kit had to admit it was… gorgeous.

Unfortunately for her, the effects of the water were almost immediate. She was sobering up, and fast! She reached under the water and grabbed for Marshall’s form, hauling him back up to face her, [color=7fc19e][b]“Marsh!”[/b][/color] She giggled at him, smiling widely, her pearly white teeth glowing in the blue lights radiating from the boat. [color=7fc19e][b]“I kissed Selena!”[/b][/color]

The frigid waters bit into his skin, chilling him instantly. Marshall was alive, but he wouldn’t stay that way if he kept sinking under the waves. With Kit’s assistance and his own panic propelling him, Marsh breached the surface and gasped for breath. [color=997fdb][b]“Holy shit! Holy shit, it’s freezing!”[/b][/color] Marshall exclaimed through chattering teeth. He struggled to keep himself afloat as the water weighed down his clothing. Kit seemed totally unfazed by this turn of events. She was practically beaming and, wait, what did she just say? [color=997fdb][b]“You [i]what[/i]?”[/b][/color]

Kit was beginning to feel the chilliness of the water seeping through her bones, and she looked over her shoulder back at the boat. The boat that had human drying machines. The boat that had hot food. She yearned to be on the boat… But Marshall had asked her a question, and she was a good friend! Press on, she must. [color=7fc19e][b]“I kissed Selena. See, I was talking to Brynn and I drank alcohol and I got all hyped up cuz I saw her talking to Jamie… So I just walked over and grabbed her and kissed her! I’m glad I did it, but… It kinda sucked, I don’t think she’s really for me.”[/b][/color]

Marshall was focused mostly on not drowning, but he managed to listen to most of Kit’s response. He perked up at the mention of Jamie, no doubt beaming much in the same way that Kit had just been. [color=997fdb][b]“Oh, well. That’s… uhm… good? So you aren’t upset about it?”[/b][/color] Marsh asked in a concerned tone. His mood was quickly shifted when a wave knocked into them, punching as if it were solid ice. This snapped Marshall back to reality. He was in the ocean! And you know what else is in the ocean? Jellyfish. Marsh’s face paled to a stark white shade of terror as he looked over to Kit. [color=997fdb][b]“We need to leave. Oh my god, we need to leave. There are jellies in here, Kit! Sharks! And jellies!”[/b][/color] He declared before turning to paddle towards the nearest ladder up the boat. Oh god, he hoped there was a ladder!

Kit swam after Marshall, wondering what he was going on about. Jellies? Like Jellos? Man, Kit really liked Jello… Green Jello, red Jello, blue Jello, sometimes but not very often because it’s kinda foul but it’s still Jello yellow Jello… Kit swam up to Marshall as he approached the opening of the boat, and nudged him toward the ladder that was, luckily for them, lit up by additional LEDs. [color=7fc19e][b]“Come on, let’s go. I want Jello!”[/b][/color] Kit said excitedly, shaking her head and watching the water spray from the blonde locks. Kit was apparently very comfortable in the cold water, as it seemed to be having less of an effect on her than Marshall. Of course, Kit wasn’t afraid of jellyfish.

The petrified boy didn’t need to be told twice to ‘go’. Marshall scampered up the ladder with haste. He lost his footing a few times and almost sent them both careening back into the deep. It wasn’t for lack of grace, but because he was soaking wet. That, and his drenched clothing made him feel twice as heavy as normal. And… despite the sobering effect of the chilled waters, he still wasn’t very sober. Once they were safely back aboard the ship, Marshall held on to the nearest surface for dear life and panted. He could honestly kiss the ground right now. After a few moments of letting his brain catch up with everything, he looked back over to Kit. [color=997fdb][b]“Wait… so you kissed Selena. You kissed… how? What did she do after that? Did she kiss back?”[/b][/color] Could the silver princess be [i]gay[/i]? Marshall had a pretty decent gaydar, but he’s been wrong before. If she was a closeted lesbian, that might explain how grumpy she could be sometimes… and why no man ever seemed good enough for her.

Kit was up to the boat shortly after Marshall was, sitting on the warm, heated floors of the lower deck of the ship. After she was asked another question, Kit shook her head, and tapped her chin thoughtfully, [color=7fc19e][b]“I mean, she [i]did[/i] kiss me, but I didn’t really give her much of a choice… I went hard. Like, real hard. Anyway, afterward, she and Jamie kinda stared at me like I was gross? I told her that she isn’t really good ‘nuff for me, then ran away and found you so I could tell you!”[/b][/color] She grabbed a handful of her hair and twisted it, squeezing some of the water out, [color=7fc19e][b]“she’s not for me, I guess. I’m not upset, I’m more relieved than anything. I got to do it! And that’s been my goal for like… months now…”[/b][/color]

[color=997fdb][b]“You told her… you told her she wasn’t good enough for you?”[/b][/color] Marshall stared at the little one with wide eyes and then laughed. Oh wow, he was pretty sure that Selena had likely never heard those words before in her life. It was cruel… but it was also a little amusing. [color=997fdb][b]“Yikesss, you’re lucky to be alive, kid. You aren’t gross, though. Probably shouldn’t have just… ran up and kissed her and then ran away, but, you know. Nobody’s perfect. I’m glad you realized that she wasn’t for you though. If she looked at you like you were gross, it’s probably because she’s very straight. Not meant to be.”[/b][/color] Marshall ran a hand through his hopelessly wet locks, shaking some of the water out. [color=997fdb][b]“So… who’s next on your radar then? Any other suitors for Candyland to help you with?”[/b][/color]

[color=7fc19e][b]“Nope! I’m a strong, independent, blonde Kit, who doesn’t need no man or woman. ‘Sides, I gotta help my friend with her boyfriend… Also, I don’t think I’m going to sit with you guys tomorrow… I’m pretty sure that Jamie and Selena — and maybe Hailey or Trixie — are gonna be mean to me. Luckily, I have a plan to deal with that! So don’t worry about me, I’ll be okay… I’m not sure if I should… [i]be[/i] in Candyland, neither? Since, I just kinda showed up and wiggled my way in! If I’m not in love with Selena, Ophelia and Cassie aren’t gonna want me around are they? I’ll probably quit the cheerleading squad too, I don’t even like cheerleading…”[/b][/color] Kit blew a raspberry and shook her head in disappointment. All that, for a little kiss. It didn’t seem worth it now that she looked back at it.

[color=997fdb][b]“Oh…”[/b][/color] Marshall looked saddened by her words. Perhaps the kiss had more of an impact on Kit than she was letting on. [color=997fdb][b]“Well, if you don’t like cheer you should probably quit that. It’s a ton of work and it takes up a lot of time, which probably isn’t worth it if you aren’t enjoying yourself. As for sitting with us, and Candyland, you don’t have to ditch. I know a lot of people think we’re a mean bunch, but we aren’t like that. I like you, and Ophelia must if she invited you over, and even Hailey seemed to like you this morning. If Hailey is on your side, no one else will say shit. But… it’s your choice if you don’t want to hang. I hope you’ll still talk to me?”[/b][/color] He asked hopefully. Perhaps not all was lost with this new unlikely friend he’d gained. Kit was fun, and in need of guidance, and Marshall thought he was the perfect friend to help. Hopefully. He could try.

[color=7fc19e][b]“I don’t mean to be rude, but I think I heard Selena say the words ‘end her’ as I made my dashing, daring, sneaky escape. I’m a lil scared to sit at the table, and I’ll feel a bit safer with my plan in action, but I’ll still go to Candyland if you think they’ll let me! She has a soft serve machine in her home. How cool is [i]that[/i]?”[/b][/color] Kit asked, smiling widely at Marshall. Kit liked the group of those people! Plus, they’d ran and got her pizza and cheesy bread without so much as a word of complaint. If she was going to survive high school, then these were the people she needed to stick by.

Marsh grinned in response. [color=997fdb][b]“I’m sure they will. Ophie is my bestie, she’s good people, definitely not the type to drop you just because you didn’t hit it off with Selena. We didn’t really expect you to, not that you aren’t cute, it’s definitely a “it’s not you, it’s her” situation.”[/b][/color] He watched as she wrang her blonde locks out, dripping icy water all over the floor. [color=997fdb][b]“Do you think they have towels or something?”[/b][/color] Marsh looked around with a shiver, hugging his arms around his torso in an attempt to retain what little body heat he had left.

[color=7fc19e][b]“Dude, what? This is a Helmsley joint. Top of the line! Spared no expense. They just have like big ass air dryers for humans. It’s pretty wicked, but my hair is gonna be fucked. Oh well, at least I’m still in this way too short dress.”[/b][/color] Kit smiled and stood up, [color=7fc19e][b]“I’m gonna go get dry, then see if I can find Shauna! The dryers are up the stairs and to the left. I’ll be okay, once I find her we’re gonna get in the hot tub! Thanks Marshie, I love you, you’re too kind! And excellent at making me not upset.”[/b][/color] Kit paused, and tapped her chin.

[color=7fc19e][b]“Wait, one last thing…”[/b][/color]

[color=997fdb][b]“Shauna? Hot tub?”[/b][/color] Marshall asked incredulously. His features were colored with worry. [color=997fdb][b]“Be careful, she’ll probably try to sleep with you. You’re kind of… her type.”[/b][/color] The apples of his cheeks rose in a smile when she said that she loved him. What a little sweetheart! [color=997fdb][b]“What is it?”[/b][/color]

[color=7fc19e][b]“Do you wanna go to the Valentine’s Dance with me? I can’t ask Selena obviously, and going LITERALLY BY MYSELF sounds lame. You’re cool, and you’re gay, so you can’t just ask another boy along with you. So I figured you and me could go!”[/b][/color]

That was unexpected. He briefly considered correcting her, and saying that he [i]could[/i] actually ask another boy to the dance. He had already vehemently argued against the sexist, homophobic undertones of having the Valentine’s Dance be “Sadie Hawkins” style (and he obviously lost that argument). But… Kit just said that she loved him. Obviously not [i]love[/i] love, but it was still a very nice thing to say, and he wasn’t about to go and break her heart, so… [color=997fdb][b]“Of course I’ll go with you. Brush up on your dancing skills though, I expect the best.”[/b][/color]

Kit stood up and straightened her body, saluting Marshall, [color=7fc19e][b]“aye, Captain. Thanks! I’ll see you tomorrow, and if I don’t, I’m either dead because I overdosed, or I’m late! Byeeeee.”[/b][/color] With that, Kit rushed up the stairs, onto the next part of her night long journey.[/indent]