Muse Update: Five Years
"Wilford?"
"Yessee?"
"There aren't any events booked for the today in the Roller, correct?"
"Correct."
"And there aren't any visitors celebrating a birthday?"
"People? Not that I know of."
"So then why are you hanging birthday balloons all over the place?"
"Oh, these?" Wilford turned around, holding two "5 Today!" balloons - one in pink and one in blue, "Ya wouldn't understand. I’m itchin’ ta see a lot of th’ number 5 today. It’s a reaaal quirky number when ya stop an’ look at how it’s made up."
Every single staff member knew the owner of the Roller was an odd - but nice - man, and they had learned fast not to question anything further if they didn't get a proper answer. And so, they didn’t ask further. It wouldn’t be worth the inevitable confusion.
But once the staff member walked off, Wilford chuckled to himself as he threw a glance in your direction.
“Not often I remember dates on time,” he quietly began, “but I’m gettin’ better at it. Memory’s a loooot better than it used ta be too - didn’t think that’d be a sentence I’d ever say. Havin’ y’all comin’ by has helped with that, y'know. Whether yer folks who stuck ‘round, or yer someone who used ta be here an’ then left. Doesn’t matter, really. It’s th’ point of bein’ here in th’ first place. And if this place is nothin’ more than somewhere fer ya ta stop by on yer way ta greener pastures, or some sorta steppin' stone ta better things… then so be it. At least ya came in ta say hi.”
The two balloons finally stayed on the wall, and Wilford could put his hands on his hips to admire his handiwork. “It’s not really a cause fer celebration, just like anythin’ can be a cause fer celebration. This isn’t gonna be one of those ‘ask me anything’ events, or one of them posts recallin’ things that happened an' gettin' all nostalgic fer things that have been gone fer years. It’s not th’ time or th’ place fer things like that. Ya stick up a few balloons, laugh at th’ fact this blog can go ta school now, an’ then ya carry on with yer day. Ya might even make an amused hum at th’ times this blog has lined up with canon appearances, but most of ya won’t get that one, I’m afraid.”
At last, he turned around to face you. You could catch a hint of a smile under his moustache, but his expression was not as bubbly as it normally would be. Or… At least you thought it was. You blinked, and the mischief was sparkling in his eyes.
“But what ya can do is do somethin’ good fer yerself. I’ve been told it’s the solstice too! Longest day of th' year 'round these parts! Y’ve got HOURS ta mess ‘round an’ do stuff. Go ‘cause a bitta trouble. My treat. An’ anyway, who’s gonna stop ya? A broody edgelord who can only give sulky monologues? Some weirdo in red who’ll stomp his foot an’ complain ‘bout a script? Maybe a robot who doesn’t like humans so why would he bother stoppin’ ya? Go onnn. Have some fun today. What’s life fer if ya can’t have a bitta madness in it?”












