Chapter Text
Carmen sat idly spinning in a chair next to Player, dramatically tilting her head towards the ceiling. They were in a darkened room, with the curtains drawn shut, casting a dim light over the cluttered space. The room was filled with the glow of several monitors, the only source of illumination in the otherwise dimly lit room. A bunch of finished energy drinks cluttered the desk, evidence of countless late nights spent in front of the screens.
As Carmen balanced one of Player's energy drinks on her forehead, she idly shot a small basketball through a small hoop on the wall, the sound of the ball hitting the backboard echoing through the room. "Hey, Player, what type of friends are we?" she asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
Player raised an eyebrow, unsure of where this conversation was heading. "Uhhh, what do you mean?"
Carmen grinned and continued, "I mean, what kind of friends are we? Are we the type of friends who comfort each other if we were sad, or are we the type to help kidnap somebody?"
Player side eyed her from where he was no doubt trying to finalise more data. "I'm not helping you kidnap someone, Carmen," he deadpanned.
Carmen let out an exaggerated sigh. "What? Pfft, I never said I wanted us to—yeah, okay, I want to kidnap someone," she admitted with a mischievous grin.
Player shook their head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm friends with a kidnapper," they joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Carmen laughed and playfully nudged Player's arm. "Your friends with a thief, it comes in the package! Buy one get one free!” She laughed. “Come on, it'll be an adventure!” she teased, leaving Player wondering about their friendship all in good spirits. Of course if she really did want to kidnap someone with good reason player wouldn’t doubt that he would easily helped, but he wasn’t going to entertain her. He might give her the wrong ideas right now. He didn’t have energy for that today.
Carm continued her mischievous streak of thought "We steal things every day, just imagine we're stealing again, but this time it's a person. And it's only Zack or Ivy. For fun!"
Player fought back a grin, retorting. "This feels familiar. I mean, what happened to kidnappings not being my style?"
Carmen reassured him, "This is different. They won't even know they're being kidnapped. And if we’re doing really good, we’ll go for the boss, I doubt Shadowsan would see it coming"
"That makes it like 10 times worse, Carmen!" Player protested.
"Ughhh alright, jeez," Carmen relented, feeling bored again.
The room collapsed into comfortable silence again. Thinking the convo was over player refocus his attention back on his monitors. Carmen clearly did not have the same idea.
Carmen grinned mischievously. "But like, would you be the type of friend to help commit arson?"
Player spat the drink that he just took a sip from in monetary shock. "*cough* dude, *cough* what's wrong with you? Are you high?" he managed to say in between his chocked coughs. However, his eyes showed clear amusement.
Carmen gasped dramatically and put her hand on her chest just feigning being offended, "Le gaspppp, no <3… not yet at least," leaving Player both amused and bewildered by Carmen's unpredictable nature.
"Okayyy then, what's sparking your interest to commit a felony right this moment?" Player asked.
Carmen sighed dramatically. "I'm bored. Like extremely bored. I haven't stolen anything for the past week, Player. I'm about to implode."
"Your ribs still haven't healed, red," Player reminded her. "You know you can't be doing anything serious for at least another 2 weeks." This was the second time she’d broke her ribs and player was convinced she was trying to give him a heart attack at this point. Jeez who knew being the mom friend would be such a struggle.
"I know, I know," Carmen replied with a pouty expression.
"But that doesn't mean we can't go out. I don't think I've touched grass in ages, and I'd probably be doing mom a favour. I'll go get ready now," player said excitedly.
"Yess, thank you so much, Player!" Carmen exclaimed as she hurriedly left the room.
Just as Carmen reached the door to leave, player yelled back and added, "Oh and red, you know I would commit a felony with you any day <3."
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As soon as he finished dressing, Player walked downstairs, skipping the last two steps and looking around for Carmen. He spotted her trying to steal a cookie from where she was sitting by the counter, but his grandma swiftly slapped her hand away. His grandma, who was blind and old, seemed to have an extra sense for catching Carmen in the act. Carmen simply smirked before eyeing Player and walking up to him.
Player's family had known Carmen for a while, as she was the only friend they saw hanging out with Player. Their only regret was that she didn't come and visit often. Besides a Christmas event back when she first made it off the island, Carmen had only been there a couple of times each year. She didn't make it a habit not wanting to endanger Player or his family, but on the occasion that she was seriously injured or team red forced her into a break, Player often found himself with his best friend in person.
As Player's mum called out to him, the aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air, making their departure even more enticing. "You two heading out?" she asked, her warm smile reflecting the love and care she had for both Player and Carmen.
"Yep, we'll be back before dinner!" Player reassured her, his voice brimming with excitement for the day ahead.
"Have fun," his stepfather chimed in.
Stepping out to the patio, Player hugged his black puffer jacket closer, feeling the chill of the crisp air against his skin. Carmen was not far behind, her breath creating small clouds in the cold air. She was dressed casually as well, of course, and put on her hoodie, wrapping herself in its warmth. Despite her confident demeanor, it was clear that she wasn't quite as used to the cold as Player.
After a few steps on the sidewalk, Player asked, "Any suggestions on where you want to go, Red?" The sound of their footsteps echoed against the pavement as they walked, creating a rhythmic beat to their conversation.
Carmen finished the cookie she had managed to pick from his grandmother, savoring the sweetness before replying. "How about the mall for now, then you can show me that arcade you always talked about," she suggested with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Oh yeahh!" With a fun idea in mind, Player's enthusiasm was renewed, and he felt a surge of excitement at the thought of sharing his favourite arcade with Carmen.
"C'mon, Red, we don't want to be late," he said as he started tugging on Carmen's arm, eager to make the most of their day out.
"Whoa, relax, I'm going," she laughed, her playful demeanour adding a light-heartedness to their journey.
As they arrived at the mall, Player and Carmen were panting from their race to get there. Well, Player was; Carmen didn't even break a sweat throughout the whole ordeal. It became clear to Player that he really needed to get out more and work on his stamina.
"Well, ta-daaa," he exclaimed after catching his breath, doing a playful jazz hands gesture in front of the mall entrance, setting the tone for an exciting day ahead.
As they approached the entrance of the mall, the exterior was adorned with vibrant storefronts, each displaying eye-catching displays and inviting window decorations. The sound of laughter and chatter filled the air, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere. The scent of freshly baked goods wafted from the food court inside, tempting passersby with its delicious aroma.
The hustle and bustle of shoppers and the sight of families enjoying their day out created an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. It was a vibrant and inviting scene that promised an enjoyable and eventful day ahead for Player and Carmen.