The First Annual DSFL Rookie Cruise was about to get underway just as Kacey Dream boarded just before departure. Myrtle Beach had volunteered to be the first host of the cruise since it was so convenient for them. I mean, they already had a cruise ship available to them somehow. Kacey had been busy with his agent working on an endorsement deal with Old Spice so he had missed the Portland Pythons team jet to the event. He and his agent had to fly in separate and they had barely made it in time. A few teammates and players from other teams noticed Kacey board and came up to greet him. Perhaps most noticeably among these players was Quindarius Tyerucker.
“QT, what's up my man?” Kacey asked as they bro fisted. “Not much, I was starting to think you were afraid to show your face after I beat you so bad last time I saw you,” QT replied with a smirk. “Hey now, that was a close race, I'll give it to you but I guarantee it would be a different story if we raced now.” QT gave Kacey that sly look again and said, “Well I guess it's too bad we can't race now.”
Kacey looked around and examined the deck of the ship. It was actually a quite large cruise ship and after a few moments of careful consideration Kacey said, “Why can't we? I actually think the deck is long enough, we could mark it off and do this today. There won't be all the fanfare from the last couple of times but the rest of the DSFL will get to see us duke it out at least. Unless you don't want your team to see you lose this time.” Kacey turned and looked at QT again and this time he was the one with the smirk. “Alright I see you, let’s do it! I’m not afraid to embarrass you again.”
After discussing it a little more they decided to spread the word and race later that night. The cruise was well on it's way at that point. Festivities were going strong and the entire DSFL had heard about the boat race and just about everyone was gathered to watch. The exceptions almost unanimously had seasickness and everyone had forgotten to bring dramamine. Looking at you Noka.
The vibe of this race was totally different. There were no flashy camera or reporters. The only real recording devices they had were people's smartphones. Unfortunately most of the rest of the class was a little inebriated at this point so the footage they were getting was shoddy at best. Kacey and QT deliberated and after they had discussed it for a while they decided that they had to go with an impartial judge and recorder. Since he wasn't one either of their teams and seemed reasonably sober they went with Avon Blocksdale Jr.
They had decided to start the race at the aft of the ship and finish at the bow. They didn't know exactly how far it was nut it was about one hundred meters, probably a little longer. They were racing down the port promenade deck and finish by jumping into the pool on the bow deck. First one to hit the water wins.
It was nearly impossible to find a place to warm up as the party was in full swing and the entire deck of the ship was popping. They eventually just settled on warming up below deck to avoid the crowds for now. There was a dull murmur of the rest of the league roaring above them in anticipation. After they had finished stretching and were ready they wished each other luck and headed up to start.
Sweet James Jonez had volunteered to start the race for them. There were no sprinting blocks this time and the starting line was mostly imaginary. One of the crew had at least given a flare gun to let them start with. Sweet fired the gun and the flare spiraled up and cast a red pallor over the entire cruise.
They bolted across the deck at the same time, step for step once again. The deck heaved back and forth under their feet but somehow they managed to stay upright and continued to surge forward. There were whoops and hollers coming from around them as the rest of the players cheered them on. At one point a drunk player fell in front of QT and he was forced to hurdle. Or fall behind. A little later Kacey lost his footing on a part of the deck that had gotten wet. Still though, despite their setbacks they were neck and neck once again.
They rounded the corner of the port side promenade deck and broke out onto the bow deck at the same time. Most of the players were there waiting for them and the deck erupted with cheers when everyone saw them. They were pushing one another, each trying to gain an edge on the other, neither being very successful.
They neared the pool and saw Blocksdale holding his phone camera up to record the finish. They both jumped at the same time and there was a giant splash as the hit the water. They broke the surface, looked at each other and couldn't help but burst out laughing. Their teammates pulled them out of the water and hoisted them up like champions, even though a winner had yet to be declared.
Blocksdale looked down at the footage he had gotten for a minute then looked up at them and said, "Uh guys… you should take a look at this, I can't really tell who won."
They gathered around and all looked at the shaky and slightly blurry footage. Again, there was no slow motion frame by frame this time, no fancy way of deciding who hit the water first. And it REALLY looked like it was another tie. They decided to just leave it a tie and continue the festivities. This competition would just have to continue another time.
At the prow of the ship a phantasmal figure watched the proceedings with approval. "Argh these certainly be the best that Palm Beach has to offer matey." As he said this Ghost Pirate noticed a shadow fall upon him from behind...