Carry out Teanna plan

You said. "Well, normal is overrated," you say with a friendly grin, popping the cap off your beer. "I'm just here for the ride. See what happens." You glance between them, your expression perfectly curated to seem non-threatening and affable. "You two seem to have found a good starting spot, though. Better than the cowboy over there." You subtly nod towards Jackson, who is now openly bragging to Mia about some rodeo win. "Looks like he's trying to start a party of two already. Maybe more."

Sky wrinkles her nose in a charming way. "A little... direct, isn't he?"

Deshawn chuckles, taking a long pull from his beer. "That's one word for it. I'd rather have a conversation, you know? Get to know somebody. Like this." He gestures between the three of you, a simple, genuine contentment on his face.

This is your opening. You let the conversation flow, a casual river of small talk about jobs, hometowns, and ridiculous reality shows you've all seen. You make them laugh. You agree with Sky's views on finding a real connection. You high-five Deshawn over a shared opinion on a basketball team. You're becoming the third wheel, the perfect, unobtrusive buffer that makes their little bubble feel safer, more secure.

After a few more minutes, when the moment feels natural, you lean in slightly, lowering your voice conspiratorially. "You know," you say to Deshawn, glancing sideways at Sky to make sure she's included, "it's not just the cowboy. Over there..." you give a subtle, almost imperceptible tilt of your head towards Teanna, who is now watching you from across the room with an expression of cool approval, "...is a whole different kind of energy."

Deshawn's eyes follow your gesture for a split second before snapping back. "Teanna, right? Yeah, she seems... intense."

"That's one word for it," you say, echoing Sky's earlier comment. "But I don't think it's a bad thing. She seems like she knows what she wants." You let that hang in the air, a gentle puff of smoke. "Seems like the kinda woman who'd appreciate a guy who's just here to have a good time, you know? No pressure." You meet Deshawn's eyes. "Someone confident, but chill. Sounds familiar."

You've planted the seed. Not a demand, not a threat, just a casual observation. A compliment. A possibility. You've made your queen happy and set a potential future piece in motion without lifting a finger against him.

Sky picks up on it, a thoughtful look on her face. "She is very beautiful."

"Absolutely," you agree easily. "But look at you two. You're the real deal. That's hard to find in a place like this." You give them an encouraging smile, deflecting the attention back to their 'safe' connection before excusing yourself to the restroom.

After a few minutes of using the bathroom you comeback to see Sky by herself while Deshawn is striking up a conversation with Teanna. Her claws already digging into the tall basketball player mind.

You went over to comfort Sky. "Hey," you say softly, your voice gentle. "You okay?"

Sky forces a weak smile, the warmth from earlier replaced with a flicker of hurt. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's... it's a game, right?" She wraps her arms around herself, a small, **** gesture. "I just thought we were having a real conversation. He seemed so different."

"He is different," you confirm, sitting on the arm of the plush sofa near her. "That's what makes this place so tricky. Everyone here has a dozen sides to them. He probably didn't mean anything by it, guys like that are just... social."

"Or guys like him are looking for the most attractive girl in the room the second she gives him an opening," Sky counters, a bitter edge to her tone. She's not as naive as she appears. "And she just... swooped in."

"From what I've seen, you are the most attractive girl in this room," you say, and you mean it a small amount. It's not a line, it's a statement of fact. Teanna is beautiful in a predatory, manufactured way. Adriana is gorgeous but have a slight prissy manner. Rae is the innocent pretty woman. Mia sluttiness and thickness is great if you like that type of woman. Sky is beautiful in a way that feels like home.

Your honesty seems to catch her off guard. Her defensive posture softens, her arms dropping to her sides. "Thanks," she murmurs, her gaze meeting yours. "You're a nice guy, John."

"The guy who got abandoned by his new friend and decided to talk to the girl he left behind," you correct her with a lighthearted shrug. "Doesn't seem like a great strategy if I'm trying to win."

She gives a small, genuine laugh this time. "Maybe you're playing the long game."

You decide not to mention that you are absolutely, one hundred percent playing a game given to you by someone else. "Or maybe I just hate seeing someone get their feelings stepped on, especially when they didn't deserve it. You were just being yourself."

Sky looks at you then, really looks at you. The wariness in her blue eyes is replaced by something else. Something that looks dangerously like approval. "Well, 'Regular Joe'... you're not so regular after all, are you?"

You chat with Sky for the next few minutes. You get her a drink, another beer for you and you talk about things. Not the game, not the other contestants, but things. Her love for old movies, your terrible cooking skills, her rescue dog back home. You find yourself enjoying it. She's easy to talk to, a safe harbor in the storm of Teanna and Chad and Jackson's games.

You watch Teanna leave Deshawn her eyes finding yours telling you to follow. You do after twenty minutes not wanting Deshawn or Sky to know how deep you are into Teanna pockets.

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