Hello everyone, My Name is Mr. Uberdood, and this is part six of Strange New World!
...I've been watching too much Markiplier…
Anyway, now that I'm done messing around…
Enjoy.
Darkness.
Darkness was all he could see.
Joe stood in what looked like a void of darkness. Himself being the only light he could see.
"Well, never had this kind of dream before…" Joe said, conscious that he was dreaming.
"Hello Mortal."
Joe then grew silent.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"You don't shiver at my voice?"
"With all due respect, the only time I've been shivering was when I was cold. I'll repeat. Who are you?" he said, sternly.
"You should know who I am. You are continuing to amaze be, plebeian."
Joe was then silent, thinking.
"...I thought you were a myth." He said.
"Do I sound like one to you right now?"
Joe chuckled. "Well, a creeper and ender-woman are able to speak, and not try to kill me like others. I'm all up for surprises by now."
"Do not compare me to those, mortal."
"Why don't you show yourself, instead of trying to scare me like a coward?" Joe called out.
There was silence.
"Until next time."
Joe jolted awake, as he saw that Cupa and Andr were next to his bed, looking at him.
"I thought you'd never wake up!" Cupa said, crossing her arms.
Joe smiled guiltily. "Sorry, had a weird dream."
"Must have been an interesting dream…" Andr said, cocking her head.
Cupa then leaned over towards Joe.
"Anyway, you said you would take the day off and join us for a walk." Cupa said.
"Walk, right. When should we be going? Joe asked, stepping out of bed.
"We were hoping soon…" Andr asked.
Joe chuckled again. "Alright. Did you guys want me to make some food for a picnic?" He said, stretching.
Cupa smiled. "Don't worry, we already did. We don't want you doing anything having to do with work today."
Joe was taken aback. "Well then, I guess just wait for me to get ready." He said as he went towards his clothes pile.
The girls then hopped downstairs to give Joe privacy, as he put on his clothes. He looked over at the bottle on his nightstand, and held it in his hands.
"I never dropped this…" He said, popping the cork.
He inhaled a scent of the potion, and it made him nearly gag.
"Hoo...Man, that's rank…" He said, before replacing the cork, and placing it on his nightstand.
He then walked downstairs, to see the girls holding bags.
"Just what did you two make while I was asleep?" Joe asked, putting on his shoes.
"Its a surprise~!" Cupa teased, as she went out the door, Andr following after.
Joe shrugged this off, and followed after.
Everyone was walking along the land, with Cupa skipping ahead, with Andr struggling to keep up.
"Do you want me to carry that for you?" Joe asked Andr.
Andr then shook her head. "No, You won't be carrying anything today. You're just going to relax today." Andr said, adjusting her grip.
Joe then sighed in defeat, and walked behind Andr.
They walked for what seemed like miles, but Joe paid no attention to the distance. He was more occupied at what seemed like beauty to him.
The atmosphere and ambience with the visuals of the forest they were walking through, with the slight warm breeze made Joe feel at peace.
They walked for a few moments more, when they reached a lake.
"We're here!" Cupa exclaimed.
Joe surveyed the land as the two girls set up the picnic.
Next to a shore of the lake, with a perfect view of a side of a mountain, the sunlight reflecting off the lake just perfectly.
"Wow, you two picked a great spot." Joe said, admiring the view.
He then heard the two giggle, as he felt a tug on his sleeve.
He looked and saw Andr pulling on his sleeve.
"We're done." She said, with a blanket behind her, with Cupa sitting down on it.
Joe then chuckled, then walked over to the blanket. He sat down with Cupa to his right, facing the mountain, taking in the view.
He saw Andr sit to the opposite of Cupa next to him out of the corner of his eye.
Cupa then went into the bag and pulled out three bottles of a red liquid.
She gave two to Joe, him giving one to Andr.
They all popped their corks, as Andr and Cupa took a drink in unison.
Joe looked at the bottle, and, faced Cupa.
"What's this?" He asked.
"Try it!" Cupa said back.
He then looked back to the bottle, and took a swig of the liquid.
It had a sweet taste to it, making him more curious.
"We made a tea from flowers we found this morning. What do you think?" Andr asked.
"It tastes good. Who got the flowers?" Joe asked, taking another drink.
"I did. I know a little botany, and knew which flowers would be good." Andr replied, smiling.
"Wow, great job!" Joe said, rubbing Andr's head. She then blushed, looking a bit shy with his words.
Cupa crossed his arms. "Hmph. Well, I brewed the tea." Cupa said, trying to show off.
Joe then rubbed her head. "Good job to you too, Cupa" Joe said, making Cupa turn pink, content with her compliment.
She then went to her bag, and pulled out several food items, all prepared by the girls. Joe noticed this, and hoped they would taste great like the steak he had last night.
They had prepared more bottles of tea, cooked pork chops, bread, soup, apples, and cookies.
Joe felt his mouth water when he saw Cupa dividing the food, giving Andr and Joe each a plate of food, and a bowl of soup.
Joe took a bite of the pork chop, and was amazed again. A flavorful, tangy taste was what he tasted from the porkchop.
He took a drink of the soup, and noticed a bitter, yet satisfying taste from the soup.
Judging by the color of the soup, it seemed to be mushroom soup. He normally hated mushrooms, but the taste of the soup kept him enticed.
The girls noticed how much he loved the food, and looked at eachother, smiling and nodding.
They then both scooted closer to Joe, making their knees touch his. Joe was too enticed in his food and the view to properly notice.
They were enjoying their food, with the contact with Joe seeming like an added benefit for them.
They all ate until all their food was gone, leaving them all full and satisfied.
Joe laid back, laying on the blanket, facing the sky. He had a comfortable spot, a nice warm ray shining on him, and a full stomach. You could say he was happy.
Cupa and Andr then both laid back, facing the sky as well.
Cupa looked over at Joe, and scooted closer to him. She then wrapped her arms around his right arm, and cuddled with it.
This took Joe by surprise, as he looked at Cupa.
"H-Hey, what's up?" He asked, nervously.
"Oh, nothing. It's just comfy!" She said, cuddling his Joe's arm.
Joe turned a bit pink, as he then felt Andr do the same thing to his other arm.
"Y-You too?" He asked Andr.
"It's comfy…" She replied, as she hugged his arm as well.
Joe then sighed, and then shrugged off the girl's cuddling from his mind. Though, he did enjoy the feeling of his arms being cuddled.
A few moments pass, as they were all talking among themselves. They told each other jokes, stories, and opinions. Soon after, Andr then fell asleep, with Joe's arm in bundled in her own arms.
He managed to slip his arm out, as he sat up, and popped his neck.
Cupa was still awake, as she kept her grip on his arm.
She then adjusted herself to where she was laying her head on Joe's chest, while leaning on him laying between his legs.
"Er, Cupa?" He said, confused and embarrased.
"Wow, its a really pretty view…" Cupa said, relaxing herself against Joe.
Joe then sighed, then looked over the lake, and smiled. "Yeah, it is…"
Cupa then looked at her hands, and slowly moved her hand over on top of Joe's holding his hand.
They kept like this for a while, as they both enjoyed the view.
Cupa then spoke out.
"H-Hey, Joe-kun…"
"Yeah?"
"Uhm...what do you think of me and Andr-chan?
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"W-Well...What's your opinion on us?"
Joe then scratched his chin.
"Well, you two are very considerate girls. You two are kind, compassionate, and a pleasant to be with." Joe said, smiling.
Cupa blushed, and twiddled her fingers.
"W-Well…" she said, squirming in embarrassment.
"Hm?" Joe hummed.
Cupa then sat up, and faced Joe. She leaned towards him, looking at her with big, gleaming eyes.
"What...do you think of me?" She asked.
Joe was surprised at her question.
"U-Uh...Er…" Joe said, knowing that he would not be able to avoid the question. "W-Well...Your kind, cute, and a joy to be with...You make my time here seem so fun and comforting…" Joe said, smiling nervously.
Cupa then went silent, smiling a little as well.
"Do…" She stuttered.
"Cupa?"
Cupa was silent. "Do...Do you think you would….like me?" She asked, practically shaking in nervousness.
Joe then turned red in his cheeks. "W-Well, you're a good friend, and a great person, so yeah….I like you" Joe said, smiling.
Cupa then looked down, red as a beet.
"M...M-Maybe...Even more...than that?" she asked, fidgeting in place.
"H-Huh?" Joe asked, confused.
In that moment, Cupa then cupped her hand on Joe's cheek, staring at his face.
"C-Cupa? Is everything alright?" Joe asked, feeling Cupa's warm, soft hand on his cheek.
He then noticed her close her eyes, as she moved her face closer.
"C-Cupa…" Joe said, as he could only watch, as her face was coming in closer and closer.
"Joe….kun…" she whispered as she was mere inches away from his face.
When their lips were about to meet, Andr made a groan of waking up, and in that moment, Cupa hopped out of Joe's lap, and on the blanket.
Andr sat up, rubbing her eyes, eventually seeing the two.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry, I've seemed to have fallen asleep…" Andr said.
"O-Oh, no worry about it. we had a long walk here." Joe said, chuckling.
"A-ah, ok…" Andr said, looking down.
Joe and Cupa then looked at eachother, them away from each other, both red as cherries.
If Andr-chan hadn't woke up, I would have… Cupa thought, as she shook her head in embarrassment.
Joe scratched his head.
We almost… Joe thought, looking at the ground.
"Well...Maybe we should get back…" Cupa said, looking down.
"Yeah, it's starting to get dark out…" Andr said in return.
Joe then stood up. "Yeah, don't want anything after us. Who knows what crawls in the dark…" he said.
Cupa then stood up along with Joe, Andr following after, as they all packed up their bags, and left for home.
On the way, Cupa led front again, while Joe hanged back, both of them shocked, and embarrassed.
They eventually reached home, the sky being pitch black.
They all went inside, with a tense atmosphere hanging in the air.
Cupa went immediately to her bed and crawled in, facing away from Joe and Andr.
Joe then spoke out. "I'm...gonna go get some water…: He said, then walked out the door again.
Andr then stood there, Cupa keeping to herself. She then walked outside as well.
Joe walked over to the well, and washed his face with water.
"Certainly was not expecting that…" He said to himself.
He then heard steps on grass, and turned around, seeing Andr.
"O-Oh, hey Andr. Need anything?" Joe asked, drying his face.
Andr looked down, then back to Joe.
"C-Care to take a small walk with me?" She asked.
Joe was surprised as her question. "Er..Sure. Lead the way."
Andr then walked ahead, with Joe following after.
It struck him as no surprise, but even at nighttime, the world seemed calm and serene to him, Sure, they were in darkness, which ran the threat of monsters, but the two didn't seem to care.
Andr then spoke. "Calm outside, isn't it?"
"Yeah, it is…" Joe replied.
They were in a dense forest, when Andr then stopped.
"Andr? You alright?" Joe asked.
She then turned around, looking at Joe.
"Could...Could I ask something of you?" She asked, squirming.
"W-Well, of course. What do you need?" Joe asked.
"W-Well…" Andr started.
Joe could see she was nervous, as he chuckled to himself.
She then finished her sentence. "Could….you...give me..a..hug?" she asked, stuttering her words.
Joe was rather surprised, at this request. Andr was mostly too shy to even talk to him, let alone ask for contact.
"W-What's with this sudden question?" he asked.
Andr then looked down. "C-Cupa's normally with us, and I see how she's all over you...I never really get any time with you alone…" she replied.
Joe then scratched his cheek. "Well...You just want a hug?" Joe asked.
Andr nodded, still looking down.
Joe then chuckled, then walked over to Andr. He then extended his arms, offering an embrace.
Andr looked up, and saw Joe's offer. She then stepped closer, still unsure what to do.
Joe took action, as he pulled Andr into and embrace, burying her head in his chest.
Andr was surprised as first, but then wrapped her arms around Joe's waist.
They stood that way for a few moments, as Andr spoke.
"It feels….nice…" Andr said, closing her eyes.
Joe then chuckled. He kept Andr in his arms for a few moments, then releasing her.
He stared at Joe, with the same face that Cupa had.
"A-Andr?" Joe asked.
"Do you think you could...do another thing for me?" Andr asked.
Joe then froze in place, but he nodded.
"C-Could….Could you...K...K...Ki-" She started, but was interrupted by Joe placing his hand on her head.
"Dork." He said, making her look at him with confusion. "No need to push yourself."
Andr then looked at the ground.
Joe then rubbed her head, smiling.
"Come on, lets get home. Never know if a Zombie will creep up on us." Joe said, offering his hand.
Andr then nodded, then slowly took Joe's hand, as they then started on their way home.
She kept to herself with her thoughts as she looked at Joe.
Home...It feels….nice...
And there you have it. I decided to make a chapter focusing on the romance aspect of this fic, while leaving more about exploration and action. What can I say? I'm a shoujo lover at heart.
Anyway, now that I'm done, I will see you in the next chapter.