A Skilene-Filled September
Scenario 25: "We Go Together"
Saturday, September 25, 2010

To the untrained observer, Skipper and Marlene had a wide chasm of differences between them. One need only compare the fact that Skipper was a military man who concentrated on achieving results as quickly as possible, and that Marlene would rather think things through fully before beginning to act, to see it. Indeed, their personalities were not the same, and far from it.

However, despite their differences, Skipper and Marlene actually shared a lot of common ground. Both were part of the "good side," never wishing to see or do evil in the world, and instead dedicated to only doing what they felt in their heart to be right. Though they had different methods of going about life and reconciling its problems, both shared the same desire for a particular outcome to result in these situations. Their belief system was harmonious; their values in accord. When push came to shove, both would push.

It was because of their similarities that Skipper and Marlene found it easy to be friends despite their different ways of doing things. Their common ground formed a bond between them, and drew them closer over time. It was almost like they still shared a connection even when apart. It made sense, then, for the two to hold each other in high regard, and even for one to hold far more tender feelings in their heart for the other than they would ever let on. Or even if they both shared these feelings.

Privately in her habitat, Marlene thought about her and Skipper's closeness one night.

"What can I say, things just always seem to work out when Skipper and I put our heads together," she thought to herself. "We're like …"

"Cheese and crackers!" Skipper said to himself, alone at the HQ at this same exact moment, unknowingly finishing Marlene's thought for her in the habitat across the way. "Marlene and I really go together well, like cheese and crackers, peas and carrots, butter and toast."

"… spaghetti and meatballs, peanut butter and jelly," Marlene continued in her own habitat. "We both complement each other well and create balance and harmony."

"I am a nuclear weapon, and Marlene is my uranium," Skipper continued to himself. "She is a very critical component, and makes something simple and basic into something complex and special."

"We have more in common …" Marlene began in her habitat.

"… than we have which divides us," Skipper completed in his. "Oh, I wish I could just tell her …"

"… tell him the way I feel," Marlene said.

Somehow, the bond which Skipper and Marlene shared had mysteriously joined together to allow them to complete each other's thoughts and sentences despite the fact that they were a habitat apart. A force this powerful and profound could only ever be one thing: love. And it wasn't about to let up anytime soon.

Just then, Skipper and Marlene both exited their habitats and proceeded as fast as they could to each other's habitat. Both were ready to give each other their heart.

Neither made it all the way to the other's habitat, however. With both Skipper and Marlene heading right towards each other, they met in the middle. Or rather, they walked straight into each other.

Both smiled as they collided in the darkness.

"Marlene, I need to tell you something," Skipper then looked into her eyes and said.

"And I have something to tell you, too," Marlene responded as she reached out to hug Skipper. "Let's both say it together."

Skipper then reached out his flippers and hugged Marlene back.

"OK," he said. "On a count of three, let's do it. One, two, three."

"I love you," they both said in perfect harmony.

Scenario note: This scenario was interesting to work on, since I decided to play around with the dialogue scheme and essentially have Skipper and Marlene complete parts of each other's sentences midway through. Doing such is not something I've done before, and not what I intended to do when I began writing this scenario. Skipper and Marlene saying "I love you" at the end in unison was actually the only thing that was a sure thing when I began writing; the idea to have them complete each other's thoughts just came to me during the rest of the writing process. Hopefully, the complete prose of this scenario was understandable and my "completing the sentence" attempt was a success.

-GrandOldPenguin
September 25, 2010