Chapter Text
An empty locker room. So empty a tumbleweed could blow through. Of course, Vinesplash knew that wouldn’t happen! It was a locker room, afterall. She scoffed at such a thought.
She ushered forward, letting out a comfortable sigh of relief. Finally, she could get a thing or two in there cleaned up!
“Oh howdy!!” A voice came from the other end of the room. Vinesplash jumped, whirling around to see a blue demon sitting on one of the benches. A cooler was sitting right next to them.
“Ah-” Vinesplash blinked a few times. She coughed. “Hello.” She slowly inched closer, opening her locker and placing her duffle bag inside.
WHO??? WAS THIS???????????
Certainly not anyone Vinesplash knew. She at least knew the faces of the regulars at the tournament! And someone just as early as her??? What did they think they were doing??? Here to CLEAN??? When she was going to do that FIRST?????
“You’re here for Phighting, right?” The blue demon spoke up. “I was starting to think I arrived late!” He laughed. Vinesplash stared at him.
“Yes!! Yeah,” she laughed, slamming her locker shut. “You’re here early! An hour early, actually!”
“Woah…A whole hour? That totally explains it…” He crossed his legs. “When I got here there was like…nobody at all…Not even a receptionist or anything!” He sighed, shaking his head. “Aaaaanywho, I’m Boombox. Or just Coolerbox, if that sounds cooler to you!!!” He laughed at his own joke.
“HAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah!” Vinesplash laughed, gritting her teeth. WHO DID THIS GUY THINK HE WAS????? “It’s soooo crazy here,” she waved her tail. “I mean, I thought I came early!!!!” She laughed again. Coolerbox joined in with his own little chuckle. Vinesplash’s eye twitched. “So, how many phights have you been in so far?”
“One.” Coolerbox held up one finger.
SHE KNEW IT.
“Ohh, that explains it,” Vinesplash smiled. “You should probably look into the schedule times more! They put it up on the website! Very, very, very easy to find.”
“Ohhhh, there’s a website?” Coolerbox clicked his tongue. “They just told me like a week ago…Been tryina remember, but I guess I got mixed up!” He laughed. Again.
Vinesplash made a sort of high-pitched squeak. “How did you sign up then?” She laughed awkwardly.
“I asked!”
Vinesplash stared at him.
Coolerbox blinked back.
After perhaps too long of a second, Vinesplash gave a blank smile. “Oh!!”
Coolerbox slowly turned away. “Sooo…what’s your name?”
“Vinesplash!! It’s…a pleasure to meet you,” she held out her hand. Coolerbox took it and gave it a solid shake.
“Cool to have you around, man!!” He smiled. AGAIN. “OH SNAP! Do you think we’re gonna be on the same team? That’d be pretty crazy actually. I think it’s five versus five…”
“Yes! It is!” Vinesplash was cringing the longer they talked. “If you, I don’t know, checked the website you’d know your team!” She nervously laughed again. “I don’t think I remember a Coolerbox on mine, so I’ll be glad to see you on the other side of the battlefield!”
“Ahh, ahhh, totally cool. I’m sure you’ll be a totally radical opponent.” He gave a thumbs up.
“Mhm, I’m sure you will be too!”
Finally, the locker room was quiet again. Vinesplash let out a sigh of relief. Maybe she could clean up Shurifin’s mess. The bottles on the floor would have to wait for after the match, she supposed.
Not a minute passed before Coolerbox was talking again. “I would ask if you had any cool strats or anything, but I guess that’s all secrets until after the round!! Gotta like, save your plays, and stuff.”
“Ohhhh, yeah,” she waved a hand. “I’m sure your teammates will show up soon! Can totally, strategize right up with those folks.” She smiled again. SWORDS, abort the cleanup mission. Shurifin would have to clean up his own mess.
“Totally, toootally…” Coolerbox nodded. “Y’think anyone’s going to show up soon?”
Vinesplash inhaled sharply. “Well we ARE an hour early!” Her voice was very high-pitched at this point.
“Ohh, yeah, true, I forgot.” He looked around the locker room for about…10 seconds before he piped up. “Y’wanna listen to some tunes while we wait? I’ve got anythin’ A-Z!”
Her eye twitched. “Sure!! You can choose, I’m not very picky with music!”
Coolerbox gave another thumbs up and inserted a cassette tape into his boombox. Vinesplash may have enjoyed the music if she didn’t take it as a chance to finally THINK. She let out a breath, turning back to her locker.
This GUY…Vinesplash couldn’t STAND him! Well, no, he was actually quite polite. But it really just made the entire situation worse. Swords, he was so FRUSTRATING. Did he know anything?? No preparation??? Did he really just bring his boombox and call it a day????
Vinesplash held her horns for a moment, squeezing her eyes shut.
“Yo, you good?” Coolerbox blinked at Vinesplash.
“JUST. DANDY.” Vinesplash turned to Coolerbox, giving another gritted smile. Coolerbox paused for a second, opening his mouth to speak more slow, drawling words before his phone rang.
“Oh, hold on, I gotta take this.” He got up from the bench, flipping open his phone and holding it up to his ear. Vinesplash let out another breath. She slowly pulled out her own phone, trying to ignore his conversation.
Some muffled talking came from his phone. “No obviously not…”
…
“Okay, listen, I didn’t check the times! I totally took your word for it, alrighty?”
…
“I wouldn’t doubt you told me wrong…”
…
“Alright! Okay!! Have fun spectating, dude.”
…
Coolerbox snapped his phone shut and stretched before sitting back down. “Whew, sorry ‘bout that.”
“It’s fine!” Vinesplash waved a dismissive hand.
The room was silent once again, filled with the jazzy tunes of whatever Coolerbox was playing. Coolerbox had begun to whistle along.
Vinesplash. Needed. To. Get. Out.
Finally…FINALLY… A glorious, life saving message popped up on her phone.
[MeowzShot]: wya im lost >_<
“ALRIGHT, I have to go!!!” Vinesplash jumped to her feet. Fins. “It was sooo great meeting you, I’ll see you at the match, okay??” She shook Coolerbox’s hands vigorously.
“Oh, whuh? Buh-bye! Was cool meeting you too! Have fun planning or whatever!” He nodded, waving as soon as Vinesplash let go.
Vinesplash gave a small smile. Then she beelined it for the exit.