chapter twenty three;
noritake garden
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"I don't mean to be unkind," Chenle peered over at Mark's half-assed attempt at a plate, "but don't quit your day job. That shit's ugly."

"My day job was torn from my hands," the oldest hissed and waved at Chenle's plate...which wasn't by any means 'beautiful', "and what's that shit anyway? Picasso?"

"It's abstract, to be sure," Jisung agreed as he stared at theirs from across the table.

"Butt out. Yours looks like a murder weapon," Chenle scoffed.

"I can't help that my hands don't follow my brain's instructions!" The youngest argued. "It fell. So what?!"

"A broken plate does have a something poetic about it," Donghyuck nodded and held his hand to his chin as though there was a thought behind his eyes. "You know, a certain je ne sais quoi?'

"Don't bitch about my plate in French!"

"How about we all get gold stars for effort?" Renjun snapped and folded his arms, finally finished with his own piece. They'd been doing this for an hour and a half and so far the others had been finished for an hour.

"I hope yours breaks in the kiln," Mark narrowed his eyes snidely and they all glared at the masterpiece the man had created in such limited time. Intricate floral patterns in gold lined a deep red centre and something about its perfection made everyone else want to smash it. Theirs were barely considered adequate.

"I quite like mine," Jaemin held his up and everyone's jaws dropped at the sight.

"Burn it. Kill it. Never let me lay eyes on that monstrosity again," Chenle gasped. It was a painting of some humanoid blonde person either wrestling, kissing, or doing something unspeakable with a white cloud — more than likely a sheep. That sheep.

"I get that painters were creating evidence of events during their time," Jisung blinked and tried to wrap his head around what he was looking at, "but you don't need to, Jaem. Maybe keep that one in the basement."

"It's going on my wall," the bus driver sniffed indignantly and put it back on the table. Jeno patted his shoulder and told him he thought it was nice. He was a terrible liar.

"Everyone ready?" Yuta returned and looked a bit breathless from his journey. "Sorry I'm a bit late, got caught up with a tour."

"No problem at all, kind sir. Now tell me," Jaemin held his abomination up once more, "what would you rate this from one to ten?"

Yuta stared at it for a long moment. "I...I've never seen anything so...unique. It's sort of...in a league of its own?"

"Nice evasion," Renjun applauded. "Skilful, even."

"So it's gets an eleven, I hear you," Jaemin smiled happily.

"Those are the voices feeding your delusions," Donghyuck murmured but didn't press it any further.

"Everyone can come with me now. We'll put your plates in the kiln and come collect them after the tour of the facility. Ready?"

"Ready," they all responded and followed the man out. Sun beamed down hard against them as they surveyed their surroundings, watching other visitors and tourists admire the gardens and enter the museum not too far from the creation room they'd been in. The oppressive heat hit them once more and Renjun pulled his water out from his bag to hold it.

A few minutes of walking brought them to the Babbling Brook, a little river where apparently you could relax and sit on the benches that popped up at regular intervals along it. Jeno wandered over to the edge of the brook and crouched down to stare at the water. Yuta stopped to tell them all about it, and the others dispersed to sit down or take a closer look.

"The sound of it is peaceful," the guide added, arms folded as he watched the seven strangers take it in.

"I could sleep here," Chenle agreed. "But there's no wildlife. No ducks or anything."

"Yeah, since this is a pretty built up establishment we don't really have any animals. You like wildlife, I'm guessing?"

"Don't even get him started," Donghyuck pleaded. "I'd like to finish this tour before I'm thirty."

"Says the biggest time-waster!" Jaemin scoffed. "You always have 'something you need to do' before we go," he wiggled his fingers like it was something mystical and unknown to them. It was, really. He did take a while to get ready.

"Beauty requires effort, bus driver! Someone get this guy outta here!"

"How about you both stop embarrassing us all," Mark sighed and smacked them over their shoulders. "There's only so much dumbfuckery people are going to stand."

"I'm glad you're all calm," Yuta smiled tightly. "The effects are working..."

"I'll fuck you up!" Hyuck hissed and went to hit back but Jeno had promptly marched over from the stream and caught his wrist before spinning him around into a big hug.

"You're so relaxed now, aren't you? Look at that, so innocent and calm."

"Jeno..."

"Shut up or Renjun will do it for you. Look," they both peered to the brunette standing against a tree. He was listening to Yuta intently but his fingers were dancing off his leg with agitation, probably irritated by the ruckus the rest were causing.

"Okay, but what's he gonna do? Cling onto my waist?"

Jeno had flashbacks about the other day when their least likely new friend flipped someone trying to mug him and swallowed thickly. "Think what you want, but I hate when everyone's arguing. It's noisy."

Donghyuck huffed and peeled himself out of the embrace, waving his hand dismissively. "Okay, whatever. But if Jaemin disses me again..."

"It was hardly a diss," Mark added. "But I won't say more."

"Why don't I get hugs?" Jaemin flounced over to Jeno's direction and tried to latch onto him. "Rude."

"There's no telling what you'll do..." Jisung chimed in and stood over beside Mark. "Nature is nice and all, but Chenle and Renjun are boring. Listening to Yuta all excitedly. Y'know what I mean?"

The others said nothing, but quietly understood.

"If I hear one more word of slander, not even modern medicine with save you from the poisons I can put in your tea tonight," Chenle snapped from behind them and it looked as though the trio were waiting for them to move onto the next zone.

"Did I say boring?" Jisung chirped, slinging his arm around Le's shoulders as they all followed Yuta again. "I meant...um, arid?"

"You think I don't know what that means? Quit digging your own grave!"

"Fair enough."

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Hey guys! Here's an update after *cough* nearly three years *cough*
Hope it was okay, I'm going to plan this story out so I can write it faster.
Thanks so much for waiting!
Stay safe and healthy!
-lily