THE MOMENT
"Some game last night, eh?" Ralph made conversation as he lined his paper cup under the spout. Fred's face lit up. He was the only other employee at the cooler and Ralph was a familiar acquaintance. They'd never met outside of work; but, they got along just fine on the clock.
"I'll say!" Fred chuckled. "Thanks to the Magi-knights, I'm a couple hundred richer today."
"Really?" Ralph wasn't surprised about the betting. The Pineapple Cup was the biggest sporting event of the year and yesterday was only the first day of a week-long tournament. What he did find interesting was that Fred won some money. "Who bet against the Magi-knights? On an unknown team?" The Magi-knights were considered an elite team by most and they were among the favorites to win the overall tournament. Beyond that, the Fae Court that they were up against was completely new to the roller derby scene. They were untested and going up against one of the best; the results of the game weren't a surprise to most.
"Dave...," Fred shrugged with the answer.
"Oh, right. Yeah, I can see that...," Ralph nodded. Dave was another familiar acquaintance of theirs; one they were glad to keep at arm's length as a work colleague. "I guess they do at least have a fairy on the team," he added. "So, calling themselves the 'Fae Court' isn't just for show I guess."
"They COULD have won if they wanted to!" a new voice spoke up. Ralph and Fred turned to see a smaller figure in a suit and tie fluttering at eye level. His translucent fairy wings fluttered casually to keep him aloft. "HERE!" the fairy tossed a small velvet bag at Fred.
"So, why didn't they win, Dave?" Ralph asked. He wasn't normally antagonistic; but, Dave made it easy. His 'fairy pride' was known to get out of hand.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Dave grumbled. "If I'd thought about it for a second, I wouldn't have bet you. The Pineapple Cup is run by Sharp Development and Chroma Corp. together. The two most powerful corporations in the multiverse are cooperating on a project. You don't think they're going to leave the winners to chance, do you?"
"I think they kind of have to," Ralph chuckled. "They have trillions of eyes on them across the multiverse. Besides, with as many people watching as there are, they kind of already 'won', no matter who wins the tournament."
"So, who's supposed to win? The Magi-knights? Cyberriot?" Fred asked.
"Probably the team sponsored by Sharp Development," Dave rolled his eyes at Fred as he gave the answer he'd solved already. "Speaking of which, want to make a new bet?" he asked Fred and eyed the velvet pouch in his hand.
"S. D. Valkyries to win, double or nothing."
"You think a group of teenage girls is going to win this roller derby tournament?" Fred grinned as he shook his head. Then, he extended a hand to the fairy. "You're on! They've got no chance."