Though only a select few among the multitude had ever actually inhabited it, each and every former cast mate of the Total Drama franchise felt a sorrowful pang in their respective hearts as they surveyed what was left of Playa Des Losers. The pools had all dried up long ago, leaving behind a musty set of browning pits in the ground. The artificial waterfall near the entranceway had suffered the same fate, as had many of the outdoor fountains. The interior had fared moderately better; kept safe from the elements, but still smelt of seawater and stagnancy. The staff had long since packed up and abandoned the premise.
It seemed so empty, and yet, also so small now. The Villainous Twin, Amy, was the one who voiced what everyone else was too afraid to say.
"Okay, this place is depressing."
A few, including her sister, shot her a sour glance, but none among them disagreed. They'd been called back by Chris McClain himself for a reunion, but this was certainly not what they'd expected. It had been almost three years since the wannabe celebrities had consolidated in one place and, aside from awkward greetings and polite small-talk, none of them had much to say to each other. Truthfully, there wasn't one among them that hadn't desperately wanted to leave Total Drama in the past, where it belonged.
And yet, none of them could make themselves hate Chris McClean when he walked through the front door.
Time and obscurity hadn't done the man well, a fact made evident by the grey steak in his hair, the wrinkles creasing his forehead, and the lines around his thinning lips. No amount of Slow-Tox could disguise how he'd aged. Had it not been for the unsettling gleam of victory in his eye, none of his previous charges would've recognized him.
He took a good look around at his constituents. "I suppose you're all wondering why you're here?"
Silence held the air for a moment. Alejandro, the Arch-Villain, piped up, "Uh... I guess so?"
Chris chuckled a dark chuckle, as though seeing all of the no-longer-teenagers he once tortured on live television reminded him of what once had been. He pushed through the crowd and took a seat on the least moth-eaten armchair he could find. A few others followed his example.
"Damn it, why are we here?"
All the heads in the room snapped toward the back, where Courtney stood with her fists clenched. "We're all sick of your games, Chris. We just want to get on with our lives."
Even after all these years, The C.I.T. could still intimidate with the best of them. A swell of unrest built around her words.
Duncan and Scott, the both of them looking rougher than ever, muttered something in agreement. It seemed as though a few repressed feelings were threatening to dissolve the wary truce between the gathered fifty-two. Ezekiel had already stooped over, fighting back a feral snarl.
Chris cleared his throat. "I promise, after this, I'm letting you all go free. You'll no longer be bound to me, the franchise, or anything," said Chris. Everyone's eyes lit up. A future free from Total Drama, far away from the thing that had robbed them of their adolescence? The prospect seemed too good to be true.
"I'm one-hundred percent serious," Chris said, crossing heart with his free hand. "If you all cooperate, you can consider your respective contracts completely annulled."
Everyone had sprung to their feet. Chris couldn't be serious, could he?
" I'm not committing to anything," began Shawn from his place in the back of the huddle. "But, if I did, what would I have to do?"
Chris smirked. "Total Drama has sprung many unofficial spin-offs. Most of them require contestants from the viewing community, and every now and again, I see one who may need some help in touching up their application. Your job is help him or her, flesh them out a bit. That's all you'd have to do."
At this, the former cast mates all looked at each other with unsure eyes. Chris seemed sincere enough, but could they trust him? Would he keep his word and leave them alone if they did as he asked?
For the second time that day, no one said anything. Chris' hope began to falter.
"I'll do it!"
It was Owen, now considerably taller and somewhat slimmer, who raised his hand first. Everyone turned to look at him.
"C'mon, guys," he urged with his trademark smile of enthusiasm. "Think about it, it'll be just like old times! Just... better!"
The heavier man did have a point. Maybe it could be fun to spend one last summer together before they all got on with life.
Chris cleared his throat. "So... Do I have a crew?"
And, one by one, piece by piece, the cast fell in with agreeing murmurs. The former Host with the Most looked out on his gaggle of fifty-two constituents, looking by no means convinced, but at least somewhat less wary.
For a single and fleeting instance, Chris McClean felt young again.
"Alright. Let's get started."
Yep, there it is.
Do you have an OC that you wonder may be a bit on the bland side? Or maybe you love them, but you aren't sure why the never get accepted anywhere? Are you worried you may have created a Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu?
Well, the Total Drama cast is here to help. Just submit your character through review or PM - you can use whatever application you want, and tell me what five characters you want to evaluate your OC. It's as simple as that.
Well? Get going!