Chapter Text
It's the weekend of the 2020 All Star Game. Currently, Troy Barrett, Eric Bennett, Wyatt Hayes, Shane Hollander, Scott Hunter, Cliff Marlow, Hayden Pike and Ilya Rozanov are scattered throughout the penthouse of the swanky Buffalo hotel reserved for the league's best (i.e. most popular) players.
The evening had started at the hotel bar, but after learning that Bennett had splurged on the penthouse for himself, the group moved upstairs for a bit of privacy. They were seemingly an odd assortment of players, especially with the addition of Troy who was infamous in the league for being Dallas Kent's best friend. Thankfully Kent had not joined them, not that anyone even considered inviting him.
Earlier in the evening, Troy had struck up a conversation with Scott—who was secretly Troy's favorite player—and later, after noticing Troy seemed kind of down, Scott invited him to join the group.
So far, everyone's getting along as well as can be expected among casual acquaintances. Pizzas have been finished but alcohol is still flowing. Conversation, though, is starting to get stilted.
Scott lets out a big yawn.
"Hey, none of that. It's barely 8 PM old man," Ilya snaps from the kitchenette. He's sitting on a bar stool next to Shane and Wyatt, the farthest away from Scott, but of course Ilya misses nothing.
Scott flips him off as he takes another drink of his beer. He should probably switch to water or something. Alcohol always makes Scott drowsy.
"You know what we need?" Cliff doesn't wait for anyone to answer before proceeding. "We need to bring the energy up with a game!"
"I'm afraid to ask what kind of game," Hayden pipes up from the corner of the living room.
"Then don't."
"Fuck off, Rozanov."
"Kids, control yourselves. And don't worry, it's nothing terrible. Roz can back me up. We use to play party games all the time in Boston. It helps break the ice. Especially with the rookies."
"It's true." Ilya adds with a smirk.
Any game Ilya endorses doesn't exactly make Hayden want to play.
Cliff remembers some of their more diabolical games. Perhaps no Never Have I Ever tonight. Cliff's lucky he didn't get alcohol poisoning the last time he played with Ilya. "We can play Truth or Dare. If anything, it'll help us get to know one another better."
"I'm in," agrees Wyatt immediately.
"Sure, why not?" Everyone is surprised to hear Eric agree so quickly. He's the oldest player in the group and seems the least likely to play.
What they don't know is that Eric just doesn't give a shit anymore. Or at least not as much as he did before. He's about to retire (not that anyone but Ilya is aware) and this is his last All Star Game. It's why he spoiled himself with the penthouse this year.
"If Benny's in, I'm in. Barrett, you playing?" Scott asks Troy who's sitting next to him, looking slightly out of place still. This isn't what Troy signed up for when he agreed to join them but, as it's Scott asking, Troy feels like he can't say no.
"Yeah, I'll play."
Scott looks relieved. He hates to think he invited Troy just to make him feel excluded.
"That leaves the Montreal boys. You two joining us?" Cliff asks Hayden and Shane.
"I guess."
"Okay."
Everyone grabs their drinks and those who were hanging out by the kitchenette or dining table make their way to the sitting area to get started. Cliff drags the chair he's been using and sits next to Hayden. Ilya and Wyatt squeeze themselves onto the sectional with Eric, Troy, and Scott. And Shane sits on the ottoman at the far end of the couch opposite of Cliff and Hayden.
Shane's trying to put distance between himself, Ilya, and Cliff. He has a feeling they're the most likely of the group to cause trouble.
They all briefly discuss the rules of the game and then, because the game is Cliff's idea, he goes first. Ilya assigns himself the task of doling out his questions.
"Marly, Truth or Dare?"
Cliff thinks it over. He's familiar with Ilya and how he plays these games. Whichever option he chooses, he won't be let off that easy.
Should Cliff choose Truth or Dare?