Mission Name: Get Everyone To Chill!
Seventeen was, for the first time ever in his life, bored.
If he was being completely honest, he hasn't been alive all that long. Even so, he's been spending nearly every conscious moment of his life in the art gallery anyways, it's not like he did much else..
But he liked forgetting about agent work, and preferred his nights go uninterrupted by night terrors.
That still did not change the fact that he had nothing to do.
He had already swept ten times over and done his due diligence replacing the artworks again.
The artist stared up at the ceiling in confusion.
He never got bored, he always had an idea for a painting, or a sculpture, or busy with agent work, or being dragged into some crazy idea Sixteen or Eighteen had.
Or at least spending the day with Nineteen..
But today none of that was happening, none of the other teens had come over, there was no agent work due, and Nineteen had gone shopping..
Not even prime club had something going on.
And there was always something going on with prime club!
(I mean it has Three, Thirteen, Twenty-nine, and Five in it, there's definitely drama almost every day, you can't convince me otherwise.)
The artist was currently watering his now blossoming marigolds, Sixteen was a great gardener, and had lent him some of her plants when he had expressed his love for her garden by painting it. He was grateful for the gift and Nineteen had a field day coming up with names for each and every single one of them.
Seventeen sighed when he planted the last seed, "There. All done! How's your end, Nineteen?"
"What? We started hours ago-"
He was cut off by Nineteen mumbling something.
Turning fully to face the one-off, he was taken aback by her pressing kisses to every seed before sticking it in the ground, but not before whispering something.
"...and you're Junior, and you're Ronald, and you're Mia, and you're Susan, and you're Sam, and you're Iris, and you're Edward-"
"I'm planting." She stated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I know, but what are you doing with the seeds?"
"I'm naming them." Nineteen blinked.
"Naming them? All of them?" Seventeen dropped his tiller, "But that's a lot of seeds.."
"Yeah, it is. And I've still got a lot more to get through. What did you name the others?"
The artist rubbed his head, "I...didn't?"
"What?! Why not?" Nineteen's sunhat fell off her head with how fast she stood.
"...I'm not very good at names?" He shrugged.
"Then I'll name them! You finish my side and I'll go through your side, okay?"
"Ooh, this is a pretty seed, what should your name be?" She held it out to him, "Got any ideas?"
He blinked at the object a few times, before hopefully offering, "...Seed?"
Nineteen looked like she was ready to cry, "What? No, you can't name it Seed!"
"Why not?" He frowned, "That's what it is."
"You can't name everything after what they are!"
"But..that's what names are for. So you know what something is!" Seventeen pulled out his paintbrush, "If I asked someone to fetch my paintbrush everyone knows what I'm talking about. But if I name it something else and ask the same question, they won't know."
Nineteen sighed, "I never thought I'd have to teach an artist how to be creative."
She chuckled, replanting the seed. She softly took the brush from him, bringing out her pencil, "Names are more than just labels, Seventeen."
"Isn't that the point of a name?" He asked, perplexed.
"No. Sometimes a name gives one thing more meaning than others of that same thing." She pointed to him, "It's more personalized, if I asked someone to go and help me find the artist, they won't know who. But if I asked for help finding Seventeen, they know who."
He fumbled with his words for a bit, "Well.. Then only certain things must be named, but why should-"
"Because you can personalize your plants! It's easier to talk to them with a name."
"I..suppose. But why would I be talking to them?"
"Who knows, but at least you'll have something to call them!"
"It does make sense now, right?"
Seventeen hummed once more, taking his paintbrush back, "I guess."
He continued humming Ten's song, honestly, he quite liked the soft melody, it was similar to his own, "There you are Goldilocks.. That should be enough for now.."
He carefully watched the water dribble down the stem and seep into the soil below, it pleased him that his compost collection was working perfectly.
He may not be very strong or particularly skilled in something that actually matters, but he was definitely very big on recycling. He'd once had a run in with Rexie, Sixteen's dinosaur, having an issue with his stomach, after finding out the poor dino had consumed an insane amount of trash, he couldn't stand seeing plastic bottles or anything else that had a place anywhere but a recycling bin.
"That, and it just ruins the natural beauty of the planet.." He sighed, "I do hope Numberland can avoid being so cluttered."
It wasn't really anyone's fault, though.
Things randomly showed up on Numberland, it just happened, and it was nice to learn about something new, but the fact that some of it was falling from space was a more than a little concerning.
"I do wonder how a tennis racket got up there, though."
He really should go do something, he's starting to talk to nobody..
The front door opened, the small bell ringing as to get his attention.
His fear spiked, but he swiftly calmed down.
It's not Nineteen, she would've let me know, so it's someone else.
Interested that somebody had ventured their way to the art gallery, he finished watering the last of the plants and hurried to the shed.
"Hello? Who is it?" He placed the watering can back on the shelf and walked into the main gallery.
His immediately relief when he caught a glimpse of apricot and a purple hat.
"Oh, Twenty! How are you?"
Twenty didn't respond at first, he was admiring...something in the corner.
"Ah, Seventeen! Here you are!" Twenty beamed, "I was just about to look for you, friend!"
Seventeen was about to answer with nearly as much enthusiasm, but unfortunately looked down at where Twenty was watching, and froze at the sight of a spider scurry up the wall corner, "Um..y-yes..Right."
"So I came to fetch you because-"
"Yes? Is there something wrong?" Twenty seemed puzzled, as if he hadn't just released one of Seventeen's top ten fears into his home.
He gestured to the arachnid, "Uh, why is that there?"
"Oh, that's just Carl, I brought him here with me." Twenty nodded.
So it has a name..? Does he just not know how to name things, because spiders don't deserve names- Who would need to name it?
"You....you brought a spider into the art gallery?"
"Yes?" Twenty raised an eyebrow, he reached a hand out, seemingly ready to steady the artist should he fall, "Are you alright? Something wrong?"
Seventeen gestured to the spider now higher near the ceiling, where it could disappear into the cracks and never to be seen again until it was too late-, "Yes, you cannot bring spiders into the art gallery! They're going to scare everyone!"
"For now, do you know how many minispiders it can make?!"
"Like- thousands!" Seventeen's hand reached out to the side for a broom that wasn't there.
"No, not interesting. Terrifying. Now please take it out.."
"Besides, there's nothing here for it to eat, it'll starve." Seventeen pleaded, "Please take it back out."
Twenty sighed, "If you say so."
He stood tall and plucked the spider off of the wall, "Do you want to hold him?"
That was an absolute no, and he needed a different subject, now.
"No thank you, but what did you need?"
Twenty brightened up, eagerly tapping his cane against the ground, "I'm gathering everyone together! I have a fun thing for us to do!"
That got his attention, "Oh, really?!"
Twenty nodded enthusiastically, it was a wonder how his hat didn't fall off, "Indeed. You're gonna love it!"
Twenty chuckled, waving his hand, "I can't let you know, It's a surprise! I haven't gotten everyone yet, and I don't want to keep repeating myself."
That was fair, Seventeen surmised, Twenty was all for efficiency. If it didn't make sense to do it, he wouldn't give it a second thought, he relied on this method for many situations, and it's often gotten him out unharmed.
Seventeen let out a slight huff when Sixteen practically glomped him, "Hello Sixteen!"
"Did Twenty tell 'ya what we're doing yet?"
"No, not yet."He shook his head.
"Aw man, I was hopin' he'd tell you." She pouted.
Twenty chuckled, "Not yet, my friends! It won't be a surprise if I tell you!"
Sixteen groaned, "Why does EVERYONE say that..?"
"Because it's true!" Twenty laughed, "Alright, let's go find Eighteen and Nineteen!"
Seventeen pointed to the doors, "Nineteen went shopping a while ago..she should've been home by now.."
Sixteen hummed, "Well, do we wait for her? 'Cuz I've got loads a' things for us to do while we wait!"
She brought out a rather impressive assortment of board games and other toys, tossing them to the floor of the art gallery, Twenty stepped back, mildly impressed, "I had no idea you carried so many things with you, Sixteen."
Sixteen snorted, "The more the merrier! Six let me have this one- Roly-poly, I think.."
"Yeah! That's what she said! N' Thirty-six let me have Clue. Then I have these spare airhorns just in case!"
"In case I need more airhorns! Duh!" She laughed, honking them, "Can't have too much noise!"
Seventeen, who already thought it was too much noise, winced, "I do hope she's alright.."
"Oh?" Twenty looked back at the doors, "Nineteen?"
"Last time she went to the store she ran into Octonaughty-"
"Then she's perfectly capable of taking care of herself. I'm sure she just took a detour of some kind. She'll join us again very soon, my friend, I'm certain!" Twenty placed his hand on his shoulder, giving an affirming nod, "We could go looking for her and meet her halfway!"
Sixteen, who was already setting out the Monopoly pieces, cheered, "Great! I'll get to putting these back! You guys go 'n get her, I'll catch up!"
"Are you sure?" Twenty blinked, a small frown playing on his lips, "I would hate to leave you behind."
"I'm fine! I gotta clean up anyways! Seventeen likes this place neat, and I don't wanna ruin his hard work."
Seventeen sighed, "I can clean up, Sixteen. It's alright."
Sixteen managed to shove everything back into it's place, "Well you guys oughta wait for me now! I'm almost done!"
Twenty nodded, "Do hurry."
As soon as silence began to flood back into the room, it was abruptly interrupted by the sound of Nineteen slamming open the door, completely out of breath.
"Nineteen! There you are! I was beginning to get worried-"
Nineteen let out what sounded like a strangled gasp, bringing Seventeen in for a hug, almost squishing the poor artist.
Seventeen held her at arms length, "I'm safe?? You're safe! You were taking so long!"
"Yeah, but at least you didn't come home to the door just left open! I thought someone broke in!"
"Uh..yes!" Nineteen let go of him, still holding his left hand, "How did you not notice?"
"I..didn't check?" Seventeen glanced at the other two numbers in the room.
Sixteen chuckled, "That was me, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."
The one-off sighed, "No...No, it's fine. I'm just glad you're okay. I've got the groceries outside, I'll bring them in."
"I'll get them, I have square power!" Sixteen jumped up, "I'm done cleaning, I can go put up the groceries then we can go!"
"Go?" Nineteen glanced at Twenty, "Where are you taking us this time?"
Twenty, mildly surprised, held a hand to his chest, fidgeting with his bow-tie, "Ah? How did you know I'd suggested that?"
"Seventeen doesn't get out unless I make him, Sixteen would've been gone already, I just got here and I haven't even suggested leaving again. So that left you, Twinkle Toes." She laughed.
"..Hm, rather logical." The tango choreographer glanced to the side, "I didn't know you were that quick with your mind."
"Are you calling me slow?" Nineteen uncrossed her arms, unsure if she should be offended.
"No, not at all!" Twenty waved his arms.
Nineteen laughed, "I'm just messing with you. So we're on our way to Eighteen's, then?"
"Right again." He tapped his cane on the ground, "As soon as Sixteen comes back we'll depart."
"So...what's the surprise?"
Twenty blinked, "I'm not even going to ask how you knew it was a surprise-.. I can't tell you!"
"Figured." She elbowed Seventeen, "Hey, can you help Sixteen find out where everything goes?"
"Will-do!" He bolted to the front door, helping Sixteen find her way to the upstairs area, "I'll show you where to put everything."
Nineteen turned to Twenty, "Can I guess what it is?"
"Is it..another rescue mission?"
"No rescuing teddy bears from evil museum dungeons this time."
"...Hm, are we...dancing?"
"That's almost a better idea.." He stared at the ceiling, "I still have yet to show Carl how to dance."
"The spider." Twenty held out his hand, the small critter balancing on his array display.
"EXCUSE ME- WHY DID YOU BRING A SPIDER INTO-"
"Do not worry, Nineteen. I'm not leaving him here."
"Are you and Seventeen both scared of spiders?"
"N-no! It's just- Why would you bring one in here?"
"Because he's my friend." Twenty blinked, ever the clueless.
"Please take it out." Nineteen facepalmed.
"...If you say so." Twenty nodded down at the spider, "Meet me at home, the window is open, you can crawl in through there."
He opened the front door and put it on the ground, and as if it didn't even happen, he turned back to Nineteen, grinning widely, "Anymore guesses?"
"Wh-..that's just.. random."
"Well, do you have any more?"
"...What about..walking?"
"I guess we would be hiking there.."
"Aha!" Nineteen pumped her fist, "I guessed!"
"Not entirely, we'll be doing more than hiking."
"Just let me have this small victory.."
Sixteen and Seventeen returned down the stairs, having finished their tasks.
"Alright, who's READY TO GET TO EIGHTEEN'S HOUSE?!"
Sixteen huffed and put her hands on her hips, "Don't act like you're not excited."
Twelve answered the door, "Oh! Hi, thank goodness you're here!"
Twenty glanced sideways at Nineteen, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing!...I hope." Twelve sighed, opening the door wider, "Come in."
Shrugging at each other, the group entered and found a seat in the livingroom.
"You're here for Eighteen, right?" Twelve had her hands clasped together.
"Yes?" Nineteen hesitantly replied, "Is he alright?"
"I'm sure he's fine.." Twelve looked around, "But he hasn't been himself lately, and locked himself in his room."
"Why didn't you say so?!" Sixteen jumped from the floor, "I can have him out faster than you can say 'Squares'!"
(Why did my mind go 'buncha munchy crunchy carrots' lol)
"No! No! He's not locked in! He locked it himself. He wants to be in there."
"Oh, then what's the problem?" She sat back down.
"That is the problem!" Twelve grabbed at the sides of her head, she couldn't find anything to hold onto, though, "Eighteen never stays in his room unless he's upset about something! And I can't get him to say anything as per usual!" Her voice cracked at the end of her sentence.
As Twelve struggled to keep herself from crying, the Teens looked at each other frightfully.
"...Dearie me..it's okay to cry, Twelve.." Seventeen got off the edge of the couch, making his way to the super rectangle, who had a slightly better handle on herself, and slowly touched her arm, "It's natural, and it's good to express yourself. I'm sure we can fix it."
"Why didn't you tell us before?" Nineteen also rose, her eyebrows angled with worry.
"I thought I could get him to talk to me..I don't know why he never tells me- It's like everyone can talk to him better than I can.. And I just want to be a good older sister.." She mumbled, wiping the few tears that did fall, "I did ask Fourteen to help, but Eighteen wouldn't even let him in. I had to force Fourteen to go home, and now I've worried him too.."
"...I'm very sorry. I'm sure he just doesn't want to worry you.." Seventeen stared back at them worriedly, "Can someone try to talk to him? I need to call Fifteen."
Nineteen rubbed Twelve on the back, the other hand taking her arm, "You go call her, I've got Twelve."
He nodded and pulled out his communicator, walking outside.
"Twenty, I'm going to make her some tea," Sixteen got up, "Do you have Eighteen, or do you want to wait?"
Twenty sullenly watched Twelve, "Go ahead, Sixteen. I'll go cheer him up."
Twenty slowly made his way upstairs, noting Eighteen's room was indeed closed.
Peering down at the crack of the door, he saw that it was a lot darker, implying Eighteen had the drapes closed.
"Hm." He knocked on the door briskly, "Eighteen? Are you in there?"
He used his cane to knock again, "Eighteen?"
Twenty smiled, "Ah, there you are. Are you feeling alright?"
"...Twenty?...Yeah, I'm fine. Whaddya' want?"
"I was just wondering if you wanted to come with us? I have a surprise planned, and I'm sure you'll like it!"
Twenty blinked, "You don't even know what it is."
The tango choreographer glared at the crack of the door, truly perplexed as to why Eighteen's drapes were closed, the super rectangle loved sunshine and open spaces almost as much as racing. "Why not?"
"....'m a little tired..okay? Can..can you come back some other time?"
"Unfortunately I cannot accept your request. Twelve is mighty worried, and I am as well."
"I believe you've underestimated how much she cares for you."
"Then please come with us."
"It'll be worth it. I promise."
"Not a chance friend." Twenty finally picked the lock on the door, opening it, "Sorry to intrude, Eighteen, but I do have to make sure you're truly unhurt."
Eighteen didn't even move, only turning over in his bed, "M'kay, jus leave everything where it is.."
Twenty glanced at the drapes, opening them, "Eighteen, please. I do need to talk to you."
"You already are..now close those.."
"No." Twenty pulled over a stool, "You need to discuss with me what is bothering you."
Eighteen finally sat up, surprising Twenty.
"Have you been getting sleep?"
"No! Because everyone keeps bothering me! I was trying to sleep, but then Twelve started asking what's wrong, then Fourteen, and now you- I'm just really tired.. and...Its as hard to fall asleep as it is.." Eighteen yawned, laying back down, "I'm so tired.."
"...My sincerest apologies.." Twenty fidgeted with his cane.
"T's fine..Tell sis that she's good too.. I'm just... I can't get comfy.. So I don't sleep, but finding a comfy spot is so hard.."
Twenty stared at the bed, "Will you come with us, Eighteen?"
"Really? Are you still on that- I just told you I'm tired.. And I'm getting cranky and stuff. I don't wanna snap at you guys.." Eighteen sighed.
"I promise you'll like it." Twenty nodded, "Please. I want to help you, friend."
The super rectangle blinked a few times, "You...fine."
Eighteen stumbled down the stairs after Twenty, and Twelve was in a way better mood.
It still didn't stop her from nearly dropping her teacup upon seeing them though.
"It's alright, Twelve. 'M fine..just really tired.."
Twenty nodded, "Sleeping here is stressing him out."
"What? Did I do something wrong?" Twelve gasped.
"No, no. It's not you, Twelve. Honest." Nineteen interjected.
Sixteen nodded, "Yeah, sometimes you get really stressed out, and your room isn't comfy enough to sleep in."
"That's when you know you need a vacation." Twenty finished, "So Eighteen is coming with us."
Twelve seemed, less on edge. She looked to her brother, "...Okay..then, have fun. And get lots of sleep."
Eighteen hugged her, "Mhm. Now calm down..You can't be panicking while I'm chill...That's wrong."
Tears welled in her eyes again and she nodded.
"Are you gonna be okay here by yourself?" Nineteen asked.
Before Twelve could answer, the door was flung open and the tweens rushed in, carrying various soft items and... a handful of lavender??
"Twelve! Apologies that it took us so long!" Fifteen started, placing her green tea bags on the coffee table.
"Are you okay, Twelve?!" Eleven almost knocked Nineteen over with how she shoved her aside, pulling Twelve in for a hug much like the one-off did Seventeen earlier, "Tell me you're okay!"
Fourteen threw his skateboard and a heated wooly blanket to the side, joining Eleven in her hug, "I'm so sorry I didn't check on you, dudette!"
"I BROUGHT YOU RELAXATION!" Thirteen tossed the lavender at her, also near tears as he also engaged with the group hug quickly forming, "I'm a terrible friend, I know! But I couldn't think of anything!"
Twelve was still processing the initial entrance, and slowly began to realize that she was surrounded by her friends, and burst into tears.
"Shh. It's alright, Twelve. We're here."
"We'll fight the sadness, don't worry!"
"Was it too much lavender?"
Seventeen slowly walked back in, gasping, "Hah! You got Eighteen?"
Twenty nodded, "He's tired. So he's coming with us by default. Ready, friends?"
"Sure thing!" Sixteen answered, being the only one not watching the Tweens slowly devolve into a cuddle pile.
When they finished hiking up the mountain, all of them except Twenty gasped in amazement.
"Surprise friends!" Twenty spread his arms, "I've built us a treehouse!"
If the treehouse already didn't look magnificent, the scenery sure did, the house sat atop steady wooden poles attached to the mountainside, a thick canopy of trees below oozing the smell of evergreen and freshness. A calm mist hung over all of it, as the waterfall nearby made for the perfect background noise.
This would be the best place to relax, if Nineteen had to pick one.
"...You built this?" Seventeen piped up.
"Yes! I wanted to surprise you all, so I couldn't ask for help."
Sixteen squealed, "It's amazing! Can we stay? Pretty please?!"
"Of course, it's a vacation is it not?" Twenty grinned.
Eighteen smiled, "This..this is nice..and quiet.. but not too quiet.. And wide open.."
Nineteen laughed, "Right, go get some sleep, champ. You've earned it!"
The super rectangle yawned, slowly flying up to the treehouse and opening the door, "WOW THIS PLACE HAS EVERYTHING!"
"REALLY?" Sixteen activated her rays to join him, Twenty following them.
"Whelp. They forgot us." The one-off nudged Seventeen.
"Don't worry, I'll make a way up!" Seventeen began to paint some stairs, "This is the perfect spot for ideas! I'll come back out with my sketchbook!"
"Sure thing, buddy." Nineteen opened the door, feeling the warmth of the fire Twenty set, "Oh, it is nice in here.."
Eighteen was already knocked out on one of the nearby couches, snoring peacefully. It was clear he needed this more than all of them combined.
"Wanna play Clue with me, anyone?" Sixteen was already setting out the pieces, regardless of their answers.
Twenty chuckled, "Sure Sixteen, I'll play. What will you be doing, Nineteen?"
"...Hm. I'll read over there."
"Ah, fireplace reading, can't get better than that." Twenty nodded, "I'll be Mr. Green."
"I'll be Madame Rose, then." Sixteen laughed.
Seventeen was already out on the balcony, sketching the waterfall in his own unique inspiration.
Twenty smiled, "Well, I'd say mission accomplished."
