MSI: Episode 1 Pt. 5: Tribal Council

TRIBAL COUNCIL – MONKEY JOE

            “And you appear here.”

            Tribal Council was encircled with trees and more trees. The branches reached high and around, creating a domelike effect. The trunks were spaced enough to allow wind to tunnel through as if they were in a breezeway. Which was what anyone would want considering the heat seemed to rise when they arrived…maybe because a cauldron of fire crackled in the middle, and on either side were stools. A set for the tribe and single for Squirrel Girl.

            And at the entrance lay a mat, where the tribe appeared. Several dups tripped off the mat.

            “Sorry. Sorry. I’m not good with this kind of travel.” He absorbed the dups.

            “We know.” Deadpool shook his head.

            They could smell the burning fire and a hint of food that they weren’t privy to. Squirrel Girl must have eaten prior to their arrival.

            Squirrel Girl wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and used the other to point toward the stools. “Have a seat. Let’s begin.”

            The stools were arranged in two rows. Domino, Vision, Emma Frost, Jamie Madrox and Human Torch sat in the front row. Thor, Gambit, Black Widow and Deadpool sat on the back row.

            “Right.” Squirrel Girl corrected herself. “Grab the torches that are behind you, dip them in the fire.”

            Human Torch shaped his hand into a gun, took aim at each torch and fired a little ball of flame, igniting them. Except for Deadpool’s.

            Domino rolled her eyes. “Johnny.” She lifted hers and lit Deadpool’s torch on fire.

            Human Torch shrugged.

            Deadpool stared at Human Torch. “Glared. I’m glaring at him with hate. So intense he might ignite into flame.”

            Human Torch pointed to Deadpool’s face. “Mask.”

            Squirrel Girl pulled out a red pair of glasses and put them on. She shuffled through index cards. “How do you like the game, so far?”

            The group grumbled, mumbled and rolled their eyes.

            “Too much excitement to put your words into thoughts.” She paused. “I mean thoughts into words.” She pulled the glasses off and watched their reaction.

            “You don’t need reading glasses.” Deadpool pointed at her. “You’re a fraud!”

            “Sit. Down.” She held up the remote.

            He huffed, folded his arms and plopped back down. “Whatever.”

            Squirrel Girl put the reading glasses back on. “What happened at the Immunity Challenge?”

            Human Torch laughed. “Deadpool ruined it.”

            “No. Scarlet Witch ruined it. I just—”

            “Ruined it.” Human Torch squinted at Deadpool. “You failed. You also fell and caused the only person keeping us in the lead to lose his balance.”

            Deadpool shook his hands in the air and lowered his head. “The big mighty god. So mighty he couldn’t maintain his balance because of a little touch.”

            Thor held up his hammer.

            Deadpool hid behind Black Widow. She didn’t budge, but held her wrist with the widow’s bite facing his side, ready. She didn’t fear Thor’s aim. But she’d make sure not to be in the way once he took action.

            Squirrel Girl shook her head. “No violence at Tribal Council.”

            Thor looked at her with a bit of childlike disappointment. “Why? He can heal.”

            “I know. I would love to see him lose a few teeth, but this is a free space for all to say what they’re thinking.” She grinned. “Even people who look like child molesters.” She nodded toward Deadpool who still wore a hood, shorts and no shirt or shoes. “He’s just as much an important role in all this as any one of you. Unfortunately.”

            “Thanks.” Deadpool sat up straight.

           

            “Moving on.” Squirrel glanced at her note cards. “How is it having Vision on your tribe? He doesn’t have to eat. Drink water. He’s almost the rock in this tribe. He should be a real asset when the animals arrive tomorrow.”

            Domino agreed. “One less mouth to feed.”

            “Correction, two.”  Gambit held up two fingers. “Someone goes to the holding cell tonight, no?”

            Deadpool shoved Jamie Madrox. He fell to the ground, producing three dups. “Unless that happens. Do we have to feed everyone, or can some of them survive without eating? Can we put one in a cage and starve it?”

            Jamie Madrox absorbed the dups. “Really?” He sat back on his stool and glared at Squirrel Girl. “Press a button and give me a new costume. This…I can stub my toe and twelve dups will appear.” He lowered his head. “Please.”

            Squirrel shook her head. “No can do.”

            “What? Iron Man has his suit. Why can’t I have a new costume?”

            “You let it get destroyed. He’s kept his suit all spiffy.”

            Jamie Madrox glared at Deadpool. “I hate you.”

            Deadpool shrugged. “I didn’t know it couldn’t burn.”

            “WHAT?!” He took a breath. “Never mind. Never. Mind. Move along.” He faced Squirrel Girl and huffed.

            “Okay.” She switched to the next card. “Vision, what are your thoughts on this?”

            “I’m efficient. I only take what resources I need. No more. No less.” He didn’t budge in his seat. He sat like a statue that could speak.

            Squirrel Girl laughed. “Sorry. It’s funny that the Emma Frost would have such a difficult person on her tribe. Someone she cannot read.”

            Emma Frost crossed her bare legs, sat straighter and smirked. “There’s more to me than just my abilities.” She tapped her head. “I read Deadpool just today without reading him. I’m capable of seeing people for who they are through how they act, without actually ever cheating, as some would put it.”

            “It seems you don’t like Deadpool, either.” Squirrel Girl put the cards to her side along with the glasses.

            A slight breeze blew through the area. Deadpool turned to face it, cooling himself under his mask.

            “I’ll just say restroom and leave it at that.” Emma Frost kept facing forward.

            “We can’t leave it at that.” Deadpool’s voice rose. “I showed humility to royalty.” He touched his puffed out chest and lowered his shoulders so slightly. “Ow! My head is hurting.” He massaged his temples.

            “He’s being overly dramatic.” Emma Frost rolled her eyes. “His healing factor is far too powerful for my mind.” She brushed her hair back.

            “No, Emma Frost, stop doing this to your loyal subject.” He crumbled onto the floor into the fetal position.

            “Let him tantrum.” Squirrel Girl continued, “We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s get to voting, shall we? We shall.” She pointed at Domino. “Lady’s first.”

            “I was an x-lady one time. Jean Grey remembers. I’m sure.”  Deadpool sat back down in his stool.

            Domino walked past the fire and down a narrow path toward a secluded little area. A table, a few sheets of rectangle paper, a pen and a vase of sorts waited. She read the instructions, took the pen and thought. She wrote a name, folded the paper in half, placed it in the vase-like-thing and said something to the camera.

            “Just a game. You’ll have fun in that little room playing with yourself.” She paused as if she realized what she had implied and then said, “That’s all you’ll have to play with. You’ll be satisfied.”

            Black Widow went next. She wrote her choice, folded the paper, placed it in the vase and said something to the camera.

            “Do svidaniya, douchebag.”

            Emma Frost sashayed her way to the table, wrote Human Torch, folded the paper and placed it in the vase. She waved and winked at the camera.

            Vision walked up to the table, wrote a name, folded the paper, put it in the vase and stared at the camera. He walked back and sat down.

            Jamie Madrox watched his step, still tripped and three dups popped out. Deadpool snickered. Jamie Madrox absorbed them, grumbled and continued to the table. He wrote Human Torch and spoke to the camera.

            “I never knew man of my word would be such a pain in my…stomach. I’m hungry. I can’t wait for tomorrow. Yeah. Yeah.”

            He stuffed his vote in the vase.

            Human Torch walked to the table, wrote Deadpool, grinned at the camera, burned a hole in his vote and whispered, “My signature.” Placed it in the vase and spoke to the camera.

            “There’s only room for one awesome ego and it ain’t you.”

            Thor stopped at the table and dropped his hammer. It broke through the wooden planks and fell into the water below. “Sorry!” He recalled the hammer and thankfully it came up the same way it went down. No new hole. Methodically and with care he placed the hammer on the table. He wrote a name on the paper, folded it and placed it in the vase. He didn’t speak to the camera.

            Gambit wrote the name on the sheet of paper, folded and placed it in the vase. He gazed into the camera.

            “Ugh, mon ami. I look a mess.” He fluffed his hair with his fingers. He sniffed as if he just smelled himself for the first time. “Nasty.”

            Deadpool skipped his way to the table and whistled “Whistling While You Work.” He continued whistling while signing Human Torch’s name on the paper. He lifted his mask up to his nose and he spit and sneezed on it. He thought about wiping it with his butt, but turned and saw he was within eyeshot of everyone. And Human Torch wouldn’t be actually touching it. Squirrel Girl would be…

            “…on second thought…” But still he didn’t do it.  “…third thought?” No, no thought went into this. “Very well. No thought would be me doing it.” Think again. “…fourth thought?” Ugh… “I win.”

            He placed the vote in the vase.

            “Human Torch I hope you’re a flamer no more.” He snickered.  “I said flamer.” He laughed a little louder. “Twice.”

            He skipped back to his stool and sat.

            Squirrel Girl excused herself and she went and riffled through the votes in the vase. She rearranged them into proper exciting order. Just as Jeff told her to do. Or how Jeff on YouTube told her to do. Either way, Jeff had.

            “No, no Jeffrey helped.” She picked up the vase and walked back toward the tribe.

            She placed the vase on the lectern like thing and smiled. “Once the votes are read, the person voted off will have to report to the holding room at once.” She held up the Universe Remote. “I’ll take care of that.”

            Squirrel Girl removed the lid, reached in and pulled out the first vote. It had a singed hole in the right corner.  

            “Deadpool.”

            Deadpool gasped.

            “Deadpool.”

            He gasped again.

            “Deadpool.”

            And again, he gasped.

            “Deadpool.”

            He fainted off the stool.

            “Human Torch.”

            Deadpool lifted his head. Human Torch gazed around at everyone as if this was a complete shock he’d be targeted.

            “Human Torch.”

            Deadpool lifted his head a little more and placed his elbow under him. Human Torch had a pained expression.

            Squirrel Girl held the next vote at the very corner. She glared at Deadpool. “Human Torch.”

            Deadpool nodded at her as if to say my handiwork is awesome. “It is.” He laughed. “Oh, no, I think Torchy is a little too sweaty to ignite. He’d put his own flaming-self out.”

            “I’ll make your healing factor work overtime!” Human Torch’s right arm ignited and a fireball formed in his palm.

            “I am wearing a fire retardant suit, I’ll have you know.” Deadpool stood and stuck out his chest. He looked down at his bare chest and sighed. “I must have taken it off.”

            “Calm down,” Squirrel Girl said. “Put the flame out and simmer down. Be quiet. And shut up. And don’t open your mouth. And zip it. And not another word.”

            “Got any more?” Deadpool asked.

            “Yes, but I think that’ll suffice.”

            Human Torch lowered his hand and faced forward. Deadpool sat in his seat and pretended to pay attention.

            Squirrel Girl pulled out the next vote. “Human Torch.”

            Deadpool paid attention.

            “And the first person voted off of Marvel Survivor Island is…”

            Rain poured. The dome of tree leaves didn’t afford much protection. Emma Frost turned into diamond. Thor whispered a few words, peered up and realized that he couldn’t really control this weather unless allowed. The rain slowed a bit from pour to just raining. Deadpool giggled. Black Widow welcomed the rain by throwing her head back and allowing the water to run through her hair. Domino and Vision sat as they did before, the rain didn’t alter their stature. Jamie Madrox appeared to have held his breath in hopes the rain couldn’t get a dup out of him. Human Torch sat defeated like the rain was foreshadowing his demise. Gambit fixed his hair every three seconds.

            “….Deadpool.” She beckoned him over. “That’s enough votes.” 

            Deadpool snatched his torch and pranced over to Squirrel Girl. “Now what?”

            She grabbed Deadpool’s hand and placed it over his own torch. He wiggled and squirmed to try and get out of her grasp, but to no avail. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air. The rain brought no relief. Her grip was as strong as a squirrel’s and that was too much for Deadpool.

            “No it’s not!” He pulled and couldn’t get out of her vice grip. “That does suck I’m weaker than a squirrel.”

            “Not for us squirrels.” She smirked.

            “Abuse!” He glanced at his tribemates. “Do something!!!”

            Squirrel Girl let go of his smoking hand. Deadpool danced in place and blew on it. He healed. The torch was snuffed. She waved and pressed a button on her remote. “Have fun, Deady.”

            Deadpool held up his finger ready to speak, but disappeared instead.

            Squirrel Girl said, “If you’d take your position on the mat, I’ll send you back to your camp. May this’ll bring your tribe closer together. Seems like Wade was an anchor. Maybe you’ll win the next one.”

            Human Torch walked to the mat first. “Whatever.”

            Everyone else followed suit. Squirrel Girl pressed a button, and they all teleported back to their wonderful camp with one less crazy, but with a whole lot of bruised ego.

VOTES WENT AS FOLLOWS:

1.      Domino – Human Torch

2.      Vision - Deadpool

3.      Emma Frost – Human Torch

4.      Jamie Madrox – Human Torch

5.      Human Torch - Deadpool

6.      Thor – Deadpool

7.      Gambit – Deadpool

8.      Black Widow - Deadpool

9.      Deadpool – Human Torch

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Until next time. Hopefully it’s entertaining. It did take a while to put together, but it was fun. It is a complete challenge to write for 27 different characters and how they’d react to one another and what parts are important to share and what I just needed to leave out.

Again, this was just for fun. If you find that something was out of character, I’m sorry. I know some of the characters enough to write them and others I only know the bare minimum. I’ll be working on the second episode. It’ll be way shorter than this one. All the set up was in this one, it’ll make the rest that much easier.

 Episode 2 coming soon.