#2
Characters: Hendery, Lucas (WayV)// pairing: Hendery/You(?)
“So it’s like that Spongebob episode where he thought he broke his laugh box and couldn’t laugh?”
You stare at the strange-looking stranger sitting next to you, who appears to be deep in thought. His serious face doesn’t really go with the huge ass flashing neon sign hanging around his neck, the words ‘$5 FOTURNE TELLER! LIMITED TIME 80% DISCOUNT” clumsily written in rainbow glitter cursive. You wonder about his life story.
Without looking away, he steals a fry from your Happy Meal set. You now do not wonder about him.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about but something like that yeah,” you retort drily.
He gasps. “YOU DON’T KNOW SPONGEBOB? Wouldn’t this be the real reason they cancelled your show lmao?”
“Your listening comprehension sure is piss poor,” you begin, crushing the half-empty drink in your hand, “I told you the show’s not being cancelled yet! I’m just going through some life-changing stuff right now but if I don’t get myself together real soon then…! Everything I’ve worked for all these years — ”
“I do not,” he chews, “piss on the poor.”
“ — really? That’s all you heard?”
He wipes the excess oil on his fingers on the flimsy cardboard sign like he’s wearing a bib. “Anywayy, big deal. You turned into the most boring person overnight? Kim, there’s people that are dying.”
“Who’s Kim??”
“Omg, you know zero pop culture references. How are you a stand-up comedian.”
What the hell, you didn’t come here to get attacked. “Excuse you, I provide insightful commentary on social issues and give them a twist so people can laugh but ponder at the same time — ”
“My god that sounds like the most boring job ever?”
“That’s rich coming from a guy who stands all day under the hot sun holding up a shady sign for a shady business!”
“Eh, it’s a chill gig. I get to do almost nothing and get paid so it’s all good for me lolol sounds like you can’t relate…”
That’s it. You’re done. You have been miserable for a week straight thinking of lost opportunities and future insecurity and this is what things have come to? This little man trying to end your whole career?
Not if you ruin his first!
You stand up and cross your arms, looking down at him with the nastiest bitch face you can muster.
“I want to see your manager.”
“Oh my God,” he sputters out in laughter, “you’re a Karen!”
“That’s right,” you nod, pretending you know what a Karen is. “Bring me to your employer, the fortune teller.”
The person in question smiles as you enter his unnecessarily bejewelled tent. You can see your face reflected in at least 26 of the hanging crystals around you, making you feel self-conscious. Damn what if you had spinach stuck in your teeth.
“Hi. Lucas right?” you begin.
“I know why you’re here,” the fortune teller leans forward.
“Ugh, of course you do. Good, saves my time,” you sigh, pulling a chair to sit in front of him.
“Your employee has been terrori — ”
“Yes, you should cancel your show.”
“ — sing my — WHAT?”
He smiles wider. “It’s not like you actually want to do it. It’s foolish to keep building with bricks that are already cracked. We all know deep down you want to work as a textbook editor for school kids.”
“What the fuck,” you breath out. “Magic is real? You know all that?”
“Of course bestie,” he giggles, hiding his phone under the table. Your Twitter account is displayed on the screen.
Behind you, Hendery flashes a thumbs up to his boss. It’s not his fault you think he only holds up the sign all day. He’s the social media intern, and it took him seconds on his phone to figure out your account the moment you gave him your name earlier.
“It’s hard,” Lucas nods with empathy, “living up to people’s expectations. They all come looking for you to show them a good time, but who’s showing you a good time, amirite?”
“Um, I mean, I’m being paid for it — ”
“But are you truly happy? You say you’ve been diagnosed with — ” he squints his eye to read the specific illness you wrote in your Thread but he really can’t see shit in this damn dark tent, “ — this condition, but what if it’s really your heart trying to bring you to a different path?”
“Huh? You mean…” you whisper, light rapidly returning to your eyes.
Techno music starts playing and Hendery pulls off some impressive acrobatic moves at the back. “Oof okay, time’s up. That’ll be $5 please.”
