Chapter Text
Grian collapsed in front of the telescope, his bag hitting the ground with a loud thump. He reached for one of the half empty cups of coffee that were scattered around him, sighing when he realized they had all gone cold. With a loud groan he stood up and stretched. Trudging over to the corner he called a kitchen, he started to brew a new cup to add to the ever growing pile near his desk. He was startled out of his daze by a sharp rap on the door. Before he could open it himself, it burst open to reveal a disheveled looking man in a plaid shirt and jeans. In his hands he held a mess of papers held together by a papaerclip that had probably been unbent and rebent over a hundred times.
“Mumbo!” Grian said, startled. “I thought you were on a climbing trip?”
“I was.” Replied Mumbo, his voice slightly muffled by the large mustache covering his upper lip. “I got back yesterday. Was wondering why you didn’t come to see me until Gem told me you were overworking again.” He set the papers down on the desk, knocking over the tower of coffee cups. Grian squirmed.
“You know how it is Mumbo. Got charts to make, notes to take, all very important.” Mumbo narrowed his eyes like he could see right through Grian’s act. With how long they’d been friends, he definitely could. He gestured to Grian’s desk.
“I don’t see a single piece of paper. I know you. I know how you work. If you were really doing something, there’d be paper scattered everywhere. But other than your…” Mumbo paused “castle of cups, this desk is empty. What’s really going on mate?” Grian sighed, slumping into his desk chair.
”Listen mate, I’m fine. Space is confusing, you know? I’ll figure it out. I always do. How was the trip?” He moved the telescope slightly, just enough so it was no longer pointing at its original position. He gestured to the stack of papers. “And what’s all this? More blueprints?”
Mumbo sighed. “They’re nothing. Just some concept sketches for my bots. Trip was fine.” He took the papers again and started heading towards the door. “I better go meet up with Gem. She’s gonna help me with Grum in a bit. Try to take care of yourself, okay mate?” He turned towards Grian, his hand resting on the doorknob. Grian nodded, looking away. With a final sigh, Mumbo headed out the door, shutting it behind him. In the following silence Grian realized the coffee maker was beeping. He got up, turned it off, and took his cup out. Taking a sip of the scalding liquid, he sat down and adjusted the telescope back to its intended spot. Looking through, he spied the phenomenon he’d been studying for the past month. A trail of bright blue, leading away from a planet. The planet he’d discovered not a year ago. It almost looked like a comet, but comets didn’t curve like that. Comets didn’t head directly towards a destination.
“Weird.” He sat forward, ready for another all-nighter.
Scar leaned back in his seat, staring at the wide expanse of space in front of him. The painting of stars and supernovas, while something he’d known all his life, still amazed him. He got up, trusting his ships autopilot to guide him for now. He headed through the various corridors of his ship down into the cargo hold. Nestled between crates of fuel and bundles of crystals lay Rusty. Scar knelt down in front of him, ruffling the short spikes on top of his head. He got up once more and headed to the back of the cargo hold. Pausing once more to scratch the back of the cat lying on top of one of his crates, he opened a door into his memory room. Piled atop shelves and scattered along the ground were mementos of home. Here a rock from his garden, there an old photo. He sat on the soft carpet floor, slowly sifting through the memories he’d left behind for adventure. He felt himself slowly relaxing, sinking back into his childhood. Jellie crawled onto his lap, and he sat there for hours, blissfully immersed back in the days of open air an sunshine. Scar loved the traveling life, hopping from planet to planet, exploring the stars. But he missed the stability, of knowing people for more than a couple months before the need to fly kicked in again. He sighed.
”Y’know Jellie, I’d love to settle down one day. Maybe make some real friends.” He stared out the nearby window, his reflection mirrored as if it was a portrait painted in stars.
”Maybe finally find someone that gets me.”