IC Day 8 - After dinner

After dinner, you gather with Motoko again, who explains the night's activity. It looks like a crazy, reality TV pillow fight on a platform high up over a pit full of foam. It's definitely insane... and Motoko doesn't like it.

"It is foolish nonsense," she says brusquely. "But it is not meaningless. It's still an opportunity to establish dominance over other teams and secure valuable intelligence."

Apparently for each point you get by knocking someone off the platform, you can get footage from yesterday's obstacle course of players from other teams, so you can analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Or rather... Adella and Motoko can.

"Do well. The producers will favor the teams that put on a good show," Motoko says disdainfully. "This is entertainment. They want stars."

"Stars?" Olga says disdainfully. Some of your teammates agree. You definitely wish you could just stick to soccer... but you have to do this.

They make you wear the tight practice uniforms from the obstacle course. They look good on girls like Olga that are slim and fit... you think it looks silly on you. You see Adella staring at the way your top is stretched, trying to contain your chest. It's not even comfortable...

Adella and some of the others do well, but fighting... even pillow fighting is not your strong suit. You get knocked off right away, but nobody expected you to do well, so you are not too worried.

Adella goes off with Motoko... something is going on with the captains, but the rest of you go back to the cabin.

There, everyone is calling family and talking excitedly about what happened... FUTA is unpredictable. There's something energizing about not knowing what they will make you do. You send messages to your family, then get your bag to get ready for bed.

Olga sits down.

"Going to sleep already?" she asks. "It is still early."

It's not early. It's not very late either.

"What do you want to do?" you ask her.

"Go on a date?" Olga has this look on her face. It's not cockiness, but makes your heart beat faster.

"Motoko said," you begin, about to tell her what Motoko told the team: do not go into the city.

"A date here," Olga says.

How can you have a date at the camp?

Olga takes your hand. She's warm.

"OK," you say.