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It is a warm afternoon, the sky is nearly clear with a few clouds slowly painting their way through it. The sun shines, the grass sways ever so slightly and a bench that isn’t usually there sits on top of a hill. It is the middle of the day, and yet the beginning. A man sits on one end of the bench, staring up at the sky as he waited for the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. He did not turn his head as he listened to them step around and sit down.
“Well, howdy there. You’re here just on time, you know.” Joe laughed a bit, still looking up at the sky. His hair did not move with the wind. “As always.”
“As always. You know why we’re here.” They spoke, “Can’t you help give me ideas?”
“Not directly, you know that already. You have plenty of ideas of your own, so why do you need me to tell you them?” He laughed and turned to look over, “You can just do any scenario, you know. Anyone could sit there if you put your mind to it.”
“That’s not true, you know that. Things change depending on who’s there,” Cleo groaned as she leaned back against the bench, draping her arms over the back, “No one talks the same, Joe, that’s ridiculous.”
“What can I say? I’m a little ridiculous. What do you think would happen if someone else sat there, then?”
Cub rubbed his chin as he sat forward. He crossed his legs and raised an eyebrow at Joe, “Now that’s just an odd question, don’t you think? This isn’t meant to be about who’s sitting here next to you.”
Joe nodded a bit, “That’s true, but it does still change if someone else is right there, doesn’t it? Why, I would say that if I sat next to Grian I’d feel much more awkward than if I sat next to Ren.” He laughed and put his hand on Ren’s shoulder, the soft fabric of his cape crumpling just a bit.
Ren grinned as his ears stood up straight, nearly knocking his little crown off of his head, “Well, I’m glad to hear that dude. I’d love to sit here with you too. I bet we could come up with the best scenario around.”
“And yet?”
Grian brushed Joe’s hand off of his shoulder and scooted a little further away, “I’m not really sure what the purpose of this is, you know. Doesn’t it seem like a waste of time to discuss this? It really would be easier to just come up with an idea.”
Joe sighed and leaned forward, he propped his elbows on his knees and his face on his hands, “You’re starting at the beginning again.” The stars sparkled above them, lighting up the night sky. His hair moved with the wind, “I can’t come up with the idea for you! That wouldn’t be helping you, you know.”
Keralis chuckled as he mimicked Joe’s pose, “You’re no fun, Joe! Won’t you spare me, sweetface? I’m pouring my heart out for you!” He moved one hand just to pinch the air, “I’m thiiiis close to having a good idea! Just need your help!”
“Why do you need my help though? I’m just your friendly neighborhood pinball enthusiast.” He rolled his eyes and looked at the dirt under the bench. The hill was covered in dirt. “You shouldn’t need the guy you’re trying to make this about be the one to think of it. Sounds a bit like cheating.”
“ME? Cheating?!” Bdubs gasped and put a hand to his chest. He sat up as tall as he could, and Joe chose not to point out how it didn’t help much, “I resent the accusation! I’m just giving you a fair choice in your fate, you know! Really you should THANK me for being so kind!”
“Thank you.” He laughed and sat up, “But that’s not how this works.”
“But why not!” Gem huffed as she crossed her arms, “Can’t you just…make it work? Come on, I’m doing my best here! I just want to include you!”
“I’m sure you’ll come up with something eventually!” He held up his hands defensively, “You just need to be patient, is all! You’ve got plenty of ideas! Come up with something after you get through that!”
Xisuma sighed and stared at Joe for a moment. He shook his head a bit, “It always comes back to that, now doesn’t it? We’re at an impasse once again, I believe. You know, you’re not supposed to reason out of this discussion every day?”
“I know.”
“I just want to hang out with you, man.” Doc stood up, a hand on the back of the bench as he looked down at Joe, “I want to include you, but I can’t seem to put my finger on how to do that yet.”
“All good things come to those who wait. Or some nonsense like that, I’m not sure if that saying is even true. Plenty of times waiting hasn’t worked, but other times it has. It’s a coin flip, really.” Joe smiled, “You’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, whatever. Figure it out,” Jevin laughed and rolled his eyes, “Absolutely ridiculous, you know. I’d say you should write a book but we both know that’s not what I mean. I should head out, then. Find something better to do and all that.”
“I’ll see you around, alright?” Joe smiled as he looked over the back of the bench. Wels smiled back before turning away as Joe called after, “Take care now! I’m sure you’ll figure it out without needing a stand in or ten!” Wels simply laughed back as he turned back around.
He leaned against the back of the bench and folded his arms behind his head. It was a warm afternoon, and it was rather nice to watch the few clouds in the sky try to paint their way across it. The soft sound of the grass swaying was relaxing, even on a bench that wasn’t actually on a hill.
“That was a bit too insightful, if you ask me. Maybe next time try to bring a game or two along, that’ll really liven up the discussion!” He laughed to no one and he closed his eyes, taking in the warmth of the sun, “Wouldn’t want to talk around in circles forever, after all.”
He hummed as he relaxed on the bench. It was the middle of the day, but who knows how long it’d be until the beginning of it again. For now though, Joe will take a moment to enjoy some peace and quiet before someone, or even him (probably him) decides to do something that’ll disrupt the flow all over again. Maybe tomorrow he could make something, or end up roped into a horrifying scenario, or maybe even go on an adventure. Maybe tomorrow, he’ll just sit on a bench and talk to someone all over again. It all just comes down to waiting and seeing, doesn’t it?
