The Garden - Chapter 2 Post

Narrator

A garden with a single path winding around large stones surrounded by raked sands; past an old, stooped tree near a gazebo; and over a babbling brook. While peaceful, it all seems strangely devoid of color.

Abel Lazarus

Abel didn’t want to join any sort of crowd around the bouquets- so noticing the car continued into a garden was… Nice. He slipped from the group to instead… Maybe try to investigate out here. It could be relevant- maybe. Either way- he’s not planning to NOT involve himself with the puzzle- but maybe at least… Give himself some fresh air first.

A momentary piece of kindness for himself.

The colorless flowers are a sad sight- and maybe he’s not used to a gazebo that isn’t so… Lavish- but regardless.

He feels a lot better out here for a little. Taking his time. Maybe he’ll even figure out what’s going on here! Regardless-

He’s just wondering around and investigating here for now he’ll go to the other place a little later <3

Narrator

Abel Lazarus

It’s a nice zen garden with a nice gazebo! Nothing really seems odd about it aside from the lack of color.

Well, the gazebo feels a little familiar to him, but it’s not very expansive.

Melvin Greene

Okay, so maybe the more helpful thing to do would have been to just stick it out and help sort the rest of the flowers to the best of his ability. Which was practically nothing, depending on how Bouquet 4 panned out, but he’s not a florist. His limited plant knowledge was absolutely not going to be any help here. At least he tried before calling it quits and taking a break, or something.

Thank god there was a kiosk somewhere in that awful ball mall plart court where he’d been able to nab a couple packs of smokes before they had to leave. This was about as ‘outside’ as it was going to get anytime soon, bar the literal wasteland, although it was more out of basic courtesy than any real desire for fresh air. Clearly, considering that as soon as he’s only a little ways out into the garden he’s already lighting a cigarette. It seems slightly less likely that Tsubaki was going to lecture him than Plart, and also Tsubaki was a bird who he seriously doubted could actually make him stop by force.

He’d put it out if she asked, but hell with it. Better to ask forgiveness later than permission now. It probably also says a lot about his headspace that it takes him getting to the tree to fully parse the lack of colour in the environment.

“… the hell?”

He just stares at the colourless tree for a minute, taking a good long drag like that would somehow fix his eyes/the surrounding area’s colour imbalance. At least it wasn’t turning into a lion pit… yet.

Abel Lazarus

Abel’s been in and out- mourning the lack of color- but he’s figuring he’s going to Stay out for a moment.

Except here’s Melvin Ruining the atmosphere with second hand smoke. Seriously? Listen. Melvin. It’s definitely the substance he’s Least reactive to- but not by Much and only because Sometimes he doesn’t chew Marius out for his occasional cigarette.

But again. The amount by which it’s “better” is so small that it’s going to change nothing about his handling of this.

“Seriously, Melvin? There’s other people Out here.” And while he certainly COULD go inside- he won’t 💖

“You have to know how bad for you that is. Right? I don’t assume you’re stupid.” Perhaps these words would be far more effective coming from someone who hasn’t had the snot beat out of them so recently- but he’s a hypocrite. “You don’t have to force us to deal with it too.”

If he had the supplies he would make a no smoking sign but he Doesn’t so. Here he is. Being a nuisance. Just go inside Abel.

Melvin Greene

Hahaha! Did I say catch a break? There are no brakes on this train, Melvin, you fool. He groans the moment Abel enters his perception radius, fully anticipating–

Abel Lazarus “Seriously, Melvin? There’s other people Out here.”

Yeah, that.

“Nobody’s making you stay out here,” he very observantly points out. But he’s familiar with that tone. It’s not about the choice of location, it’s about the choice at all. Abel doesn’t like it, so nobody else is allowed to do it. The only choices he makes are bad ones, so he shouldn’t be given the choice to begin with.

Abel Lazarus “You have to know how bad for you that is. Right? I don’t assume you’re stupid.”

He narrows his eyes at that. That just immediately soured this interaction more than it already was initially, which is almost kind of impressive.

“Maybe you should assume that*.* Everyone else does. What’s it even matter to you, huh?”

This was supposed to be the opposite of frustrating. Thankfully, he’s not quite spiteful enough to make a deliberate production of continuing right in front of Abel while he’s here. Yet. He’s going to start back up shortly if he’s not left alone either way, though.

“You’re the one who followed me out here. Just give me five fuckin’ minutes, I’ll make it quick.”

Abel Lazarus

Melvin Greene “Maybe you should assume that*.* Everyone else does. What’s it even matter to you, huh?”

Oh boy Melvin. For as much as Abel comes off the way he does he’s def being hard on you because he thinks you can be better- after all! He thinks he’s terrible and he’s doing better! (… clearly)

It’s just super misguided and he’s copying his uncles mannerisms so hard it definitely makes him seem way less insecure in himself than he is so it’s easier to think he’s Full of himself.

“Why would you want me to? Do you think that people assuming the worst is an excuse to not live up to your potential? I guess that explains some things.” Abel… this would be inspiring WITHOUT the digs.

“Does it make you feel better to not have to Try anymore?” Eugh. Abel….. “You might feel better if you prove people Wrong.”

Melvin Greene “You’re the one who followed me out here. Just give me five fuckin’ minutes, I’ll make it quick.”

“I did NOT follow you out here. I’ve been coming in an out and quite frankly I Don’t want to be in the Middle of Jack and Viper right now. I have every right to want to Be Out Here.” He looks a Little distressed for a moment which is….. okay bestie pack that back in.

Melvin Greene

Abel Lazarus “Why would you want me to? Do you think that people assuming the worst is an excuse to not live up to your potential? I guess that explains some things.” Abel… this would be inspiring WITHOUT the digs. “Does it make you feel better to not have to Try anymore?” Eugh. Abel….. “You might feel better if you prove people Wrong.”

Melvin’s demeanor shifts from tense and closed-off to all around agitated at all of that. Yay. He rolls his eyes so hard it’s a miracle they can’t be heard rattling around in his skull.

"Don’t give me any of that shit about potential. I don’t care. This –” he gestures at himself with the hand not holding the lit cigarette, thankfully, “– is as good as it was ever gonna get. Nobody’s assuming anything, they’re all right.”

It’s hard to tell if he’s even that upset about it, given that it’s stated more like a long-accepted fact than anything else. Honestly, he’s probably more annoyed about Abel giving him a hard time for smoking. He’s back at it, but is at least trying to exhale away from Abel’s direction, for the minimal good that’d do.

“Don’t act like you care. You don’t even know me.”

Being train buddies only counted for so much. Melvin had avoided talking too much about his own life to most people for this exact reason. So many people would just act like they knew better, could have done better, wouldn’t have been as stupid if they were him. The one person he felt comfortable enough to share with was gone, and that was just going to keep happening. It was easier to not let it hit as hard next time.

He’d go on, but. Uh. Seems like it wasn’t just them taking a break from The Puzzle. It didn’t sound like anything had exploded, so it seemed a little unlikely that Jack or Viper had caused… whatever happened to upset Vinzent this much. It’d be the friendly thing to do to maybe. Go check on him, but Melvin was a little too irate to want to deal with someone else’s crying right now… and even if he wasn’t, he’d probably manage to make it worse anyways.

Vinzent Mayer

As timing would it have be…

Someone was running to this very place. And boy did he not look happy. It’s actually a very upset, teareyed man looking for a place to hide.

Ah shit, there’s people here. At least… It was just Abel and Melvin here? But. Did it matter when all he wanted was to hide away?

Ducking under a gazebo, he made no point to talk to either. He… He just. He didn’t know what to think. Why did this particular bouquet got to him. Why did it have to be this one?

Sniffles could be heard, but otherwise. No voice came out.

Atsuko Samukura

The moth had made herself scarce as soon as she had to raise her voice. She would leave the introductions and the help to Tsubaki, she was content to stay at a distance as she always did.

But then the roses started flying, and that was the last straw. The silk moth retreated from the window of the flower shop and retreated into the garden, where her mint colors were harder to hide amongst the sea of gray. But she sat herself atop the gazebo, hopefully out of sight, and with all four of her tiny hands, she painted what she saw.

So much more animosity than she could have expected, but maybe that was just because of the size of the group. These were all emotions worth expressing with vibrant color, worth being brought to life with flowers and paint, but still… Some of those bouquets had seemed unusually sad.

Even more gray is added with the smoke, and she should probably be a little more upset about it… But somehow, the only color being from the people in the already monochrome garden is somehow beautiful. She wants to convey that in her painting, too.

She wants to fly down to advise the big red man to keep the smoke as far away from the shop as possible, but the air is… tense. Argumentative. So she stays away, and had planned to keep it that way, until the gazebo beneath her is suddenly wrought with sniffles and oh no. She didn’t know what the source of it was, if it was any of the flowers or just the tenseness of the people in the flower shop, but it wasn’t supposed to be this… difficult.

It’s supposed to be beautiful here. Even if it’s difficult, to express your color and connect with others…

“…I-I’m sorry…”

Her voice is barely above a whisper, and Vinzent might not even be sure he heard anything at all. But looking up at the gazebo, there’s nothing there.

Abel Lazarus

Melvin Greene – is as good as it was ever gonna get. Nobody’s assuming anything, they’re all right.”

Abel scoffs at him. Seriously? That’s as good as he will ever get? That’s a joke. It has to be a joke. He’s resigned himself to what? Pizza delivery?

Melvin Greene He’s back at it, but is at least trying to exhale away from Abel’s direction, for the minimal good that’d do.

“Don’t act like you care. You don’t even know me.”

God that’s so infuriating. The smoking and the… self pity? Ugh. He didn’t try did he? He looked the low expectations in the face and decided he didn’t need to prove himself and Abel could NEVER imagine taking the same path. His mother believed he would be terrible and die a burden and maybe he will be terrible and die but he’d at least do what he can about What he can.

But Melvin’s given up.

“No sh-t I don’t know you but that doesn’t f-cking matter.” He prods Melvin in the chest once. Pointing right at him. “Give yourself a fighting f-cking chance. Do you want a job? I’ll give you a f-cking job.”

Abel. Besides the fact you’re being…. Kinda classist- you’re…. Trying to be nice?

“Give yourself a chance. Jesus, you’re so ready to resign yourself to misery. Find some damn Passion for life.” Rich coming from the guy who’s only passion is work but….. it is technically a passion In his life.

Sorry Vinzent he’ll notice you later but right now he’s sorta… preoccupied.

“If you can’t get yourself off the ground fine I’ll help you with that first step- but you have to f-cking take the chance.” I guess this is one way for his old helpful nature to resurface?

Melvin Greene

Someone always thinks they know better, thinks it’s that easy. He bristles when Abel jabs him - of course it’s easy for him to say that. He’s got more money to throw around than he knows what to do with.

Abel Lazarus “Give yourself a fighting f-cking chance. Do you want a job? I’ll give you a f-cking job.”

“You don’t actually want me working for you, and I don’t want your goddamn pity.”

Trying to be nice, and it’s met with very little receptiveness. The worlds they came from were just so different. He knows that Abel probably could contrive some kind of job doing whatever menial little tasks needed to be done. Graduate from pizza boy to errand boy. To hell with that, at least his current boss wasn’t so uptight. He was willing to throw a few coins at Jack once, but making a career out of something like that? Eugh.

Abel Lazarus “Give yourself a chance. Jesus, you’re so ready to resign yourself to misery. Find some damn Passion for life.” […] “If you can’t get yourself off the ground fine I’ll help you with that first step- but you have to f-cking take the chance.”

“What makes you think I need your help? I’m fine.” No he’s not. “It doesn’t matter if I’m never getting out of here anyways. Quit wasting your time on me.” Abel is in fact completely right about him being ready to resign himself to misery, but Melvin would just consider himself as being ‘realistic.’ It’s not a full No, but it seems like a waste of time to look forward to something he never thinks is gonna happen anyways.

It’s a damn good thing he has this cigarette, because he definitely needs it now. In this situation that having it caused to begin with. So the serpent consumes its own tail. “Is that all you came over here to bother me about?” If it is, he might just go finish up somewhere else and head back in. Suddenly, the Rose Throwing Fight doesn’t seem so bad.

Abel Lazarus

Melvin Greene “You don’t actually want me working for you, and I don’t want your goddamn pity.”

“Jesus- You’re so in your own sh-t aren’t you? You’re SO sure you’re so useless you can’t even think people think you can do things? God.”

Abel isn’t precisely being Helpful but he doesn’t really get that. He’s like the worlds most… Aggressive life coach. Unhelpful but clearly sure he’s doing something right.

“What? You really are SO sure you can’t make it doing anything else? You can’t give yourself Any sort of shot? You’re paralyzed with fear thinking you’ll fail and you’ve decided that means that’s it, right?” He crosses his arms. “You’ve decided that people thinking shit about you is more real than you are and THAT is what’s pathetic here.” Abel. THE CALL IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE?????

Melvin Greene “What makes you think I need your help? I’m fine.” No he’s not. “It doesn’t matter if I’m never getting out of here anyways. Quit wasting your time on me.”

“I didn’t say you needed it, ” Just sorta implied it! “But CLEARLY something has to give. You’re not going to try on your own. That much is obvious- Maybe you don’t know where to start maybe you’re just Scared of failure but either way if you EVER get your head out of your Ass you know who to Call.” Which….. hey at least he’s leaving that Open? He’s also definitely assuming somethings but. Well. Melvin can correct him if he really cares.

“And you know what? if you’d rather believe that nothing can change- sure. Stay like this. I’m sure that makes staying on this train easier, right?” Abel. I’m BEGGING YOU to take YOUR OWN ADVICE. “Keep proving those people right, yeah? Maybe you’ll do it just to get away with spitefully proving me wrong.” Which is. The closest he’ll get to admitting he. Sort of Believes in Melvin?

Mostly since. You know. There’s no way Melvin could be uniquely terrible! That’s Abel’s job.

Either way he’ll storm off in a huff towards the Gazebo. Let Melvin let that sink in because he’s so frustrated his entire face is warm and he’s just…

Ugh. Whatever.

Melvin Greene

Abel Lazarus “What? You really are SO sure you can’t make it doing anything else? You can’t give yourself Any sort of shot? You’re paralyzed with fear thinking you’ll fail and you’ve decided that means that’s it, right?” He crosses his arms. “You’ve decided that people thinking shit about you is more real than you are and THAT is what’s pathetic here.”

“I’m not scared, jackass.”

But he doesn’t protest pathetic. He knows! He’s aware. Thank you. That’s not exactly what Abel said, but that sure is what he heard. The best he can do is pathetic, he’s accepted that. It almost seems like they might be on the same page about something.

Abel Lazarus “I didn’t say you needed it, ” Just sorta implied it! “But CLEARLY something has to give. You’re not going to try on your own. That much is obvious- Maybe you don’t know where to start maybe you’re just Scared of failure but either way if you EVER get your head out of your Ass you know who to Call.”

“Yeah, sure, if I ever want a job at the stuffy business suit factory or whatever the hell it is you do, I’ll get right on that. Thanks.” Realistically, he probably should. He knows how much he can’t stand his current (former, since it’s been long enough by this point) job, and the stuffy suit factory would almost certainly at least pay better.

Unfortunately, he’s every bit as prone to digging his heels in on this matter to his own detriment. It feels too much like he’s being told what to do and how to live, no matter how well-intended of a place it’s coming from.

Abel Lazarus “And you know what? if you’d rather believe that nothing can change- sure. Stay like this. I’m sure that makes staying on this train easier, right?” Abel. I’m BEGGING YOU to take YOUR OWN ADVICE. “Keep proving those people right, yeah? Maybe you’ll do it just to get away with spitefully proving me wrong.”

“You know what the only goddamn way off this train is! You nearly got yourself killed about it!” He thinks. It’s been a while. His memory isn’t that good. “I’ve been good as dead since we got here and you–rrrrrgh.” He can’t even finish that sentence out of sheer frustration. He’s gonna die here and this motherfucker won’t even let him enjoy a smoke along the way. Some break this turned out to be. There’s not much worth left so after one last inhale, he tosses it down, stubbing the remainder out under his heel and storming back off to the stupid flower shop with its stupid flowers. Sorry for littering : (

Vinzent Mayer

Was Vinzent still upset? Yes. But…

Despite his emotional turmoil, he was aware enough to overhear the conversation that was happening between Abel and Melvin. Vinzent didn’t know what started it but… He caught on some context.

You know… Abel had a point. Melvin was really… Yes, the artist knew some things Melvin told him, but Vinzent was surprised at how fast the delivery man was giving up in general.

Passion… He has always wondered to himself what Melvin has liked, because when they talked in that shitty mall cop car, the taller man did hint that he liked sports, Vinzent thinks… But what exactly? The artist didn’t know, but he might inquire later. Maybe next time that they properly talk… He may try to push Melvin to try to do something that he’d like.

That said… Abel’s attempts at helping Melvin… Well, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t super ideal! But then again, do we even know how to deal with this kind of stuff. Still… While Vinzent won’t voice anything. he definitely agreed with Abel that Melvin should give himself a second chance… But when you’re almost 30, things are a little hard to be optimistic about.

‘Fine’. Sure Pizza Man you are. Anyway. Vinzent did feel a little out of the place, only realizing he probably listened in most of the conversation without meaning to, when he was running away from the upsetting situation he caused himself. To a very awkward situation to watch/listen to.

While Vinzent won’t say anything at all, he saw that Abel came his way. Uhh, oh no, Vinzent’s eyes are still having tears stains. Uhh.

Don’t worry Abel, everything is fine now! (Barely. As if he’d recover fast from this f-cked up bouquet moment. Why did he expect that it’ll be fine when this was going to bite him back hard instead?)

And Vinzent… Prefers to stay here anyway, there’s less people here and his… Bouquet task is technically done. Right?

…He doesn’t have to do it again. Right?

And if Abel asks him… Well, at least Vinzent knows he can talk about what upset him with all honesty, and he’d like Abel’s company right now. But now… He’ll just wait. And be quiet for the moment. The gazebo is nice, after all. Not colorful maybe, but… It’s quite alright.

Roadie 🪶Jack

What, did everybody leave? Cool. With his dagger’s location (theoretically) ascertained and no idea what he was doing on the puzzle, now seemed like a good time to take a walk. Over to the bridge, apparently, which seemed like the best place to sit down at the moment—on the railing, of course, because he simply had to live his life On The Edge™.

After double-checking that no one was here (whether he was actually correct in his perception or not), he located and carefully pried off the outside end of his neck bandage. Time to… try to check on this thing again.