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Skeppy kicks the tin can and watches as it goes flying across the floor. It tumbles until it slows to a spinning stop. He just grumbles and sits back down on the crates, arranged to make a little sitting space in an otherwise chairless room.
"You alright?"
Skeppy looks up to see BadBoyHalo, otherwise known as his longtime rival. The two had been neck to neck in rivalry since Skeppy had joined competitive hoverboard racing. It's strange to see Bad here, but he's not competing against him this time; last night, he had clutched victory from the jaws of defeat against Bad, landing in first place by some sort of miracle.
"I'm alright," Skeppy says, nodding in respect, then he thinks about it, then admits, "I could be better, but this is pretty normal for me. Being nervous right before races."
Bad nods, then makes his way over. Skeppy's heart races rapidly - just as fast as it does when he's on the track - at seeing his approaching figure. Bad pauses though, looking down at the ground to see the tin can at his feet. For a moment, Skeppy isn't sure what to expect, but Bad kicks the tin can himself for good measure.
The two watch the tin can, once again, rattle all across the floor and end up on the other side of the room.
And now, BadBoyHalo is sitting right next to him.
"I'm going to be honest, I never thought you'd be nervous." Bad runs a hand through his hair. "You always seemed so determined to beat me at every corner. I didn't think nervous was in your vocabulary."
Skeppy laughs, then bites it back. His rivalry with the man isn't exactly hostile, but it's not exactly friendly either. Everyone who was into competitive hoverboard racing knew that they were rivals, though. They don't really interact, but Bad has always been there to challenge him further.
What now, now that at semi-finals, he's already beaten Bad?
"I'm often nervous," Skeppy says, shrugging it off. "I guess I don't really try to show it. And I process my nervousness differently."
"By kicking tin cans?"
"Well..." Skeppy thinks. "... Sometimes, if they're around."
"Maybe I should get you more tin cans, then, and make sure to buy them before every match so that you have something to let out your jitters through." Bad laughs at his own joke. "Really, though, I guess I'm not that surprised that you're nervous. A lot's on the line."
Skeppy lets out a nervous laugh. "Everyone's going to be watching me, now that I'm at finals. One more race is standing between me and 50K, between me and my name going down in the leaderboards. Of course I'm nervous." He sniffs. "If anything, that's an understatement."
Skeppy rubs his hands together.
"That's a lot of cash," Bad nods. "I know the interviews are going to ask, but what are you going to do with the prize money if you get it?"
Skeppy stays silent, then, "Well, I originally went into hoverboard racing because I enjoyed it."
"I've watched your earlier videos on your first races. There was a lot of passion there. Not that you don't have passion now, but is there something else driving you now?"
Skeppy closes his eyes. He hasn't really told anyone this, and definitely not this much in detail, but no better time than the present, right?
"But then, my family started falling into debt."
"... Oh."
"And I will do anything I can to support them." Skeppy swallows. "50K... that much cash could very easily clear it in one fell swoop."
Bad nods. Skeppy bites his lip. It's a little weird to throw out your entire backstory at your rival, but Skeppy's never been normal, has always been kind of weird. His friends have always thoguht it was weird how he was always into hoverboard racing, and while they support him and show up to the occasional race, they don't quite understand him.
Needless to say, maybe that'll change since he's literally in the finals at this big international competition.
"Can I give you something?" Bad asks all of a sudden.
Skeppy looks up at him, with furrowed eyebrows. Bad's pretty nice looking underneath the protective gear, actually.
"It's just something that I think will help you." He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a little chain with a gem on it.
"What's that?"
"My good luck charm." Bad smiles, holding it out. "It's an opal charm. I like gemstones. And... this has helped me a lot. And I think it can help you."
Skeppy tentatively takes it. "This... are you sure?" He swallows, then frowns. "A-aren't we rivals? Why are you helping me?"
"Is it a crime to help out someone?" Bad tilts his head. "Besides, we've known each other for so long; we're practically friends at this point, if you want to be."
Skeppy's eyes grow wide. Bad's heart is so full, so kind. This whole time, he's been pushing hard and hard to beat this guy, sinking all of his energy into defeating him. Seems contradictory now, when Bad's doing his best to help him and support him from the sidelines now.
And friends? He doesn't have any in the racing scene, and he's starting to think that maybe he should have one.
Skeppy just nods shakily at Bad's questioning look, and it's comforting to see Bad's facial features contort into a pleased grin.
The speaker crackles, then says plainly, "Competitors step out, get to the starting line."
Skeppy gets to his feet. His anxiety has faded for the most part; it's always going to be there, but it's mild now, enough for him to focus on the task at hand -- win the finals.
"Guess you have to go now, huh." Bad hums.
"Yeah." Skeppy takes in a deep breath, then breathes out. "I got this. Thanks for believing in me, Bad."
Bad just gives him a wry grin. "... Just call me Darryl."
"Okay," Skeppy breathes out, gripping the opal charm. "... Darryl."