The screens go dark and Travis hopes that when the lights come up, no one will see how red his cheeks are.
He just finished a live screening of Wednesday night's two-hour episode of The Hero Project—which featured maybe thirty minutes of castle mission footage and ninety minutes of Finalist drama. The producers did quite a good job of covering up the Mission's failures with the splashy, soapy antics of his fellow contestants.
After a brand-new friendship budded with Asrid, it appears Sky has made a deal to leave the Underdogs and join the Populars. Travis still haven't had a chance to process how that's going to affect the competition, moving forward….
Of course, the episode did a lot to set up the next elimination vote as well, playing up the rivalry between the Populars and the Underdogs. Naturally, given his past romances, his position in the vote was portrayed dramatically as well.
And he got a small Legend boost, since his role helping in the escape was featured prominently in the brief Mission segment.
Walking out of the screening room, he enter a post-episode party on the ground floor of the Mansion. He scans the room for some hors d'oeuvres—he haven't eaten a proper dinner today. He has been fantasizing about Grandma's hearty cooking, because the production schedule this week has been particularly grueling.
There's still no word on Phobus's next move yet, so The Hero Project has kept the Finalists as busy as possible with press events, heroic outings, and general footage opportunities (all of which, he has been told, is meant to mimic what life will be like if he makes it on The American Protectors).
Every day there's hours of rigorous training, holographic Mission simulations against Phobus, and tapings for confessional interviews, but his favorite day this week has been monday he got to do a hometown visit to see Grandma.
Though sleeping hasn't really been a part of the schedule, so he's just doing his best to stay alert and motivated.
"Gravitate, come join us," Bearcat calls from across the room. Feeling relieved to have something to do other than dream about sleep, he makes his way over.
Lucky had to stay behind for some extra interviews, but the rest of the Underdogs are with Bearcat. Null stands with her hands behind her back, scanning the room. Next to her stands The Crush, who has decided to join the Underdogs after his recent image overhaul.
And speaking of image overhauls, they all fall silent as two other Finalists pass by—Asrid and Sky, their arms locked as they laugh out loud.
And he barely recognizes Sky.
Travis had seen in the episode that ever since Shula's elimination, Sky was feeling even more challenged in the competition. And after losing Frey, Asrid was on the same page—and it appears he quit his spoiled brat routine long enough to bond with Sky.
Apparently the two have been inseparable ever since—so much so that Sky seems to have jumped to the Popular side of things.
And to solidify this switch, she has arrived tonight with an entirely new look brand new diamond earrings and a striking crystal icicle necklace.
It looks like this real housewife received quite the star makeover, from a bonafide reality hero-star herself.
"Like what you see with this Sky minx?" Asrid says, giving Travis a death glare as he goes—it looks like someone still isn't over losing his girl-toy in last week's vote.
Sky avoids eye contact with all of the underdogs, instead picking up her pace. Travis feels pretty terrible about losing Sky to the Populars…
Though no one feels worse than the Underdog's unofficial leader, Lucky—Travis is happy Lucky isn't here to see this right now.
"I'm going to snatch that bitch's wig, hard," Bearcat snarls, his gigantic muscles pulsating.
"She's not worth it," Null says in her robotic voice.
"Well, at least with you all being kind enough to accept me into your ranks, we have a tie vote," The Crush says. "Five Populars and five Underdogs. Though it's rather frustrating to think that that leaves the decision in Manbeast's hands."
The Crush sends Manbeast a death look that runs a chill up his spine—he can be really intimidating, when he wants to be.
"Did Manbeast say anything to you about how he might vote, Null?" Bearcat asks, leaning his massive head towards hers. Bearcat is particularly invested, since he's eligible for the vote along with Lucky.
"No," Null says. "But I'm working on it."
Travis looks over towards Manbeast, growing nervous. What if he votes for Lucky and Bearcat? He must know if he does that, The Populars will pick off the rest of the Finalists one-by-one…including him, at some point.
"Gravitate, I'm afraid I have to steal you away for a moment," Rexford says, suddenly appearing next to him. "Could you please follow me?"
Not having much of a choice, he follow Rexford across the main floor and away from the party.
"This won't take very long, but I have someone here who needs to have a word with you," Rexford says, not bothering to turn and face Travis as he speaks. "I'm sorry we haven't had much time to chat since the show started—things have been rather busy, as you already know."
"But I did want to take a moment to tell you that the Popular alliance is tracking very well with our viewers. So if you want to continue to do well in this competition, I'd think about joining them. Just a friendly piece of advice, from me to you."
Rexford pats Travis on the back, a bit harder than he'd like. And all he can wonder is—was that a suggestion or an order? And it immediately makes him wonder if Rexford had anything to do with Sky's sudden change of heart, too….
Travis opens his mouth to answer, but Rexford swings open a door and points him inside the library, making it very clear he isn't interested in hearing his response.
"Best of luck in there," Rexford says, already turning away, no doubt to put out (or start) another fire. "Oh, by the way, you're meeting with your little showmance-gone-wrong. Have fun!"
Travis sits across from Black Magic so silently that he can hear the buzzing from the camera orbs that film him.
"Look, I don't have much to say," Black Magic starts, eyes boring into him. "We both know what has happened between us. I just need you to make it all up to me now."
Black Magic stares at him with that beautiful Lady L face. Then, without warning, she stands up and approaches him.
That's when he notice her costume is half unzipped, showing off a large patch of skin down to her tight bellybutton.
"My whole career is on the line now that that story leaked. If I get nominated for elimination now, I'll go home. And if I go home, I don't know that I'll ever bounce back from that."
Black Magic stops in front of Travis, breathing heavily. Despite what he thinks of her, he can't help but be attracted. It's like every nerve on his body is on fire, with Black Magic standing this close.
"If you want to be a silly Underdog, that's your call. I'm not here to bring you to the dark side. But I will say this, the votes are split. Depending on how Manbeast votes, your vote can save me. I don't care about Asrid, so all it would take is switching your vote for me to Bearcat. Would that really be such a big deal?"
Black Magic says this last part in Travis ear, her breath on his neck.
"I need you, Travis. I always have."
And just like that, Black Magic disappears.
Minutes later....
"This week has been crazy—we haven't had any time to talk," Lucky says, giving Travis a quick hug hello as she walks into the room. "I have to run to another interview, but I just wanted to say, after losing Shula, then these stupid alliance switch-ups and everything with Sky…" Lucky trails off, obviously very stung by Sky's unexpected betrayal.
"Anyway, I just wanted to make sure we were all set for tomorrow's vote. All the Underdogs are voting for Asrid and Black Magic. I know we can't control Manbeast's vote, but all we can do is stick together. Sounds good?"
Travis nod, because whatever he's going to do, Lucky doesn't need to hear about it now.
"This means a lot, Travis," Lucky says, coming in for another hug. And she smells just like he remembers, making his knees a bit weak. He decided to stay friends, but there are some things he just can't help….
"You know how much my family needs this. I'm all they have right now. So you putting your neck on the line for me and Bearcat, it's everything," Lucky says, headed for the door. "We'll beat those Popular idiots yet, don't you worry. If this vote goes our way, they won't have a prayer of stopping us."
As he watches Lucky walk out the door, he hopes he knows what the right move here is….
Crap. It looks like he got another big decision to make.
Should he split his vote between alliances so he can save someone he has a history with? But if he does that, what will it cost him?
These are the thoughts running through his mind as he walk back into the hallway—and find Black Magic and Lucky staring each other down just outside.
His first thought is to step back immediately and keep out of sight—the last thing he needs right now is to be in the middle of this particular face off. His second thought is that Rexford must have had something to do with timing this little meeting and alerting all of the camera orbs that arrive to capture it.
"Oh, perfect. Just what I need today," Black Magic says to Lucky. "Friendly word of advice? I'd start packing now, if I were you."
"That's so sweet of you," Lucky says. "But I can't understand why in the world you'd feel threatened by little old me."
"Who says I'm threatened?" Black Magic asks, almost laughing.
"Oh no, I'm sure you're this nice to everyone you meet," Lucky says, turning to walk away. "Actually, there's been a lot of press about your particular brand of charity lately, hasn't there?"
Hearing this, Black Magic lurches forward towards Lucky, fists curled.
But Black Magic's handler pulls her back just in time, giving Lucky the chance to make a clean exit. Black Magic's handler then escorts her away, talking her down as they go.
Crap, he think, creeping back around the corner. That could have gone a lot worse….
And as he headed back upstairs, he know that when it comes to this next vote, he had better choose carefully.
Because it could potentially change everything for him.