The director cleared his throat and looked at the room.
Everyone settled.
"First announcement," he said. "Regarding the Thursday games."
The murmuring started immediately. Ruaan watched it move through the auditorium like a current, everyone leaning toward whoever was beside them, everyone with an opinion already forming.
The director held up a hand.
"Effective from this week, the Thursday games will be held every two weeks instead of every week."
The reaction was split directly down the middle.
The higher ranks responded with something between satisfaction and relief. More time at the top. More time enjoying what they had earned. Ruaan watched the blue uniforms around the platform exchange looks that were clearly positive.
The grey section reacted differently. They were murmuring, worrying about themselves. The specific anxiety of people calculating what two weeks in the bottom ten meant instead of one.
