3 am…3 am and my phone is ringing. For some reason someone back at headquarters wishes to talk to me, most likely about me being here in the first place. I picked up the phone, wiping the crust from my eyes and answered with a groggy, "Hello?"
"What, the actual fuck, are you doing in there?!" There's only one person I know that would talk to me like that at this time of the night. "Hi Marcus, how's everything back home?"
"Do not give me that shit dad! What are you doing performing an unauthorized mission in a reality that hasn't been completely scanned yet?"
"The scans said it was fine."
"50 PERCENT SCANS THAT SAY IT'S FINE DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS FUCKING FINE!"
"You sound mad, and as I recall, I own the goddamn place, I own the machinery, and I do not need ANY authorization on where I can and cannot go!"
I could hear him biting his fangs on a piece of wood in anger over the phone. "Well I, and the rest of your family mind you, would like to know why you just upped and disappeared without saying anything."
"It…it's complicated. I can't explain it to you right now."
I heard him do a long sigh, he got that from me. "Is this about what happened last month? With the…"
"DO NOT FINISH THAT SENTENCE YOUNG MAN!"
"Okay, first of all, I'm like 23, and second of all you remember what happened! You lost control of you temper…you killed so many people, dad. We had to pull you out of there before you clawed your way through to the Master Reality. You…you came out in tears, soaked in blood. We had to lock down the universe before we even got a chance to fully explore its potential."
He was right…it was the only time anyone, even my family, to have seen me like that. I took a deep breath before responding. "Marcus, I know I was never the best dad. I…after I cooked you and your brothers up I gave you away and watched you like sick super soldier experiment. I shouldn't have done that, but I'm here because I want to make at least SOME good in this prolonged life that I have."
"Well…at least be careful in there. We don't know what might happen, and I'll call you if anything comes up. Good-goodbye." He hung up the phone, and I stood there for what seemed like hours just listening to the tone. This isn't what I needed this late at night, but I guess this is what happens.
Seeing as how I was wide awake now I decided to get ready for the day. After I cleaned up, got dressed and ate some form of breakfast sustenance I decided to walk around Peaceville. This would give me the opportunity to learn my way around seeing as I did not bring a car. It was quiet, calm, and weird because when you watch a reality like this as a cartoon that is written and planned out by the creators it just feels…off. I passed the Bean Barn, one of the many establishments owned by the local multi-millionaire, Barney. Stared at the ridiculous version of the Apple store they have. And made my way to the park, where Grojband met those mimes, that was a good episode, kind of a fan of mimes actually. I found a bench to sit on and waited for the sun to rise. The air was crisp, yet, I couldn't help but feel like there were a pair of eyes on me. I glanced around, looking through the dark, but to no avail…nobody.
"Calm down E- I mean 'Marvin', it's just the withdrawals." I still cannot believe I named myself that, well it was getting old using my real name for every universe I went to so maybe a new name could help me. I looked at a nearby pond and began staring at my reflection; specifically the dark circles I have under my eyes. "I look so tired for someone who looks so young. Woe is life of a demi-god."
Hours passed and it was finally time to speak to Mayor Mellow about my proposition for the town. I decided to slip past the secretary and head straight into his office because I guess I was eager to meet the guy.
"Well a fine Mello hello to you stranger!" The mayor extended his arm in greeting which I happily accepted. "Hello Mayor Mellow, my name is Marvin Backs, and I have a little proposition for you and the good folks of your quaint little town here."
"A proposition you say? Well that sounds swell, go on don't be shy, do tell!"
I cannot believe he just rhymed, and I was right there to hear it. The man is also really short, like his height makes me feel fine about how my own kids tower over me, but whatever.
"It has come to my attention that Peaceville isn't so…peaceful, if I might say?"
"Well that just won't do! Will it Mother?"
Who voted for this man?
…
Scratch that, Peaceville did, of course.
"Well I am a certified therapist and I was maybe hoping for a sort of…mandatory therapy session day with everyone in town?"
"A bit unorthodox…why should I trust someone I have just met?"
"Mayor Mellow, all I want to do is help people here in Peaceville. To make everyone close friends and bring joy to every little face…plus I don't charge."
"Free therapy sessions?! Heck, I'm in! Go leave your contact information and address at the front desk while I go let the town know that today is Mandatory Therapy Day!"
I did as the funny mayor instructed and left my contact info at the front desk with the secretary giving me a funny look because I snuck past her.
I quickly made my way back to my house to set up the office in my garage…because why not?
After half an hour or so I finally hear a knock on the garage door, and as I hesitantly walk towards it I lightly smack my face a few times to bring up my nerve.
"You can do this Marvin, you've prepared for this. Remember, you are here to listen, and to help."
I took a few quick deep breathes before opening the garage door to greet my first patient.
And there they stood, the very group of kids I was hoping to meet. The ones I've been waiting for.
Grojband.
