So..... Umm.... The story behind this was actually something based on real life.

To make things even sadder, I actually experienced this right before my eyes.... 😐😓

Oof

Also this universe is the same universe where my stories
like "Feelings are like glass" and "Infections to dreams" takes place but months later after that incident.

(Aka because Mumbo needed a plot)

So good luck!

~~~Joe's POV~~~

"Wait, tell me again why you want me to watch this movie again?" I asked with confusion filling in my head. Cleo wanted to invite me to watch a movie with Mumbo and Scar and her reasons to why I should join seemed a bit..... Unexpected.

"Because Joe, I chose a sad movie and I want to see whether you are gonna cry over this or not." She replied with a little smirk on her face, eagerly waiting for my answer. But I'm still too confuse about this.

"I'll gladly join but I'm not sure if I'll cry. After all, movies aren't real." I chuckled, patting the zombie's head. But she just pouted at me. "Just you wait Joe, now you will know how everyone feels when they get the feels!" She exclaimed proudly as she flew off to the distances.

I gave another chuckle as I continued walking through the shopping district. "Even as an adult, hermit's can be childish at times" I mumbled.

~~~ Scar's base~~~
~~~Cleo's POV~~~

"I'm still questioning why you want to see me cry" Joe mumbled in his seat. "I mean it's understandable, it's not every day that we see you cry." Mumbo giggled. "And I mean, we never see you cry at all."

"Still, what do you mean?! Is this some fetish or something?!" Joe kept questioning till I suddenly through a pillow on him. "Oh stop questioning Joe, we are here to enjoy a great movie!" I exclaimed, but Scar just rolled his eyes.

"Enjoy? You said this was sad, how are we gonna enjoy?" He smirked but I just through another pillow on him. "Oh shush, your just complaining because it's not a Disney movie." I smirked at him, leaving a glaring Scar and two laughing Mumbo and Joe.

"Ok ok, let's watch the movie. I am too tired from area 77 theme park." Scar got his cake and a little Jellie with him.

~~~ 2 hours later~~~

"NOOO, HE DIED!!" All my tears streamed on my face, Mumbo just laughed at me even though he too had tears on his eyes. "You chose this movie, of course he was gonna die." "Still! And he admitted that he was friends with him as his last dying breathe!" I tried reasoning.

Scar continued cuddling Jellie but with no tears on his face. "The plot was too dark". But he gave a sad frown "But I just felt bad for the other guy, I know that he betrayed them but he really wasn't planning on being friends with them. And that's sad."

"JOE I SEE YOU CRYING!!" I exclaimed happily, catching Mumbo and Scar's attention to the other hermit. "No, it's ninjas cutting onions" he replied hiding his tears. But the others weren't buying it, giving a whole awkward, quiet room....

"HIS FIVE CHILDREN DIED THEN HE GOES ON A KILLING RAMPAGE THEN HE DIES!! OF COURSE IT WAS TOO DARK AND SAD FOR ME TO HANDLE!!" Joe tried wiping his tears but was distracted by the constant giggles from the three.

"Geez calm down Joe, you said it was just a movie after all." I said in a teasy tone, Joe just rolled his eyes but gave me a smile. "I'm gonna go calm myself down before I get another rant about the movie" he walked outside the caverns of the volcano.

"People live to save themselves? Now that's poetic." Scar gave a thumbs up, continuing to cuddle Jellie. "I don't think Jellie is interested about the movie" Mumbo gave a little chuckle.

~~~10 minutes later~~~
~~~Mumbo's POV~~~

I still don't know why but Scar and Cleo wanted to watch season 1 of this movie, not sure if they'll be sleeping at all. I'm already guessing that Joe will scold them for watching too late at night, but I realized that he hasn't came back.

Now I didn't want to disturb these two continuing to watch this series so I excuse myself to use the bathroom, leaving the two to rant about weretigers.

~~~

I walked near Scar's little pirate town, as the waves crashes near the shore. The only thing that caught my eye was Joe sitting near the docs. "Hey Joe, you know it's cold out here. The others are watching another movie again."

Now what caught my attention were a few things, he's trembling a bit but it's probably because of the wind. He's holding his glasses, which confuses me. And lastly something wet fell on his lap.

I looked out to see that Joe was quietly sobbing?! "Joe?" I held my hand on his shoulder but he stayed silent. "Joe if that movie really was that sad, there really is no need to cry over it that much." I nervously smile, but Joe just smiled at me.

"Honestly I don't know why, after crying from that movie, I just remembered what happened...." He continued. "Like.... Crying made me remember all the terrible things that happened in hermitcraft." I stared blankly at him but I still continuesly patted his back.

"Even though nothing harmed me, seeing the hermits hurt just.... Emotionally harms me already, like even though you had a good life.... You would always still feel pain and regret.... Regret that you can't help them." Tears continued strolling on his face.

"You want to everything to be alright, you stay that positive for others, and you don't let all hate and criticism get you... You just i-ignore it..."

"And after holding the tears for years and then you cry by the tiniest thing.... You suddenly cry even longer, letting all the pain and tears you've held for years and it just.... Hurts so b-badly-..." He choked but he tried calming down.

Honestly I was unaware how Joe has held these tears for years now, and it's quiet understandable why it hurts. All I could do was feel pity for Joe.... This was probably how he felt for everyone and yet....and yet....

~~~Joe's POV~~~

I really tried holding back more tears but it just wouldn't stop, although I couldn't do anything before I felt a body on my back, arms wrapped around my neck. And surprisingly it wasn't the mustache hermit.

I looked behind my shoulder to see Cleo giving me a hug, and Scar just standing sadly in the background. "I know how you feel Joe... I'm not really the most loved hermits in the server, and yet I stand tall and proud... Whether the fa-nns wanted me to or n-not." Cleo explained, with tears in her eyes.

Scar slowly walked up with Jellie still in his hands. "I have health issues which make things challenging for me, but I wanna make my all for you guys and others-" he was interrupted by a small meow from his cat. "Even you Jellie." He gave a giggle.

"And me. As much I was the one suffering from these terrible wounds, I wanted to ignore it because I knew Grian suffered from being controlled physically and emotionally." Mumbo to explained, also was crying.

"So it's ok to let it out Joe, you can't keep tears forever. Just cry..." He suggested. At first I was hesitant about it.... But he's right, I can't really hold it for that long. Can I?

Before I could even mumble a thank you, I suddenly choked a bit before both of my hands covered my wet face. Alas I was really sobbing that hard. Cleo still continued hugging me while Scar and Mumbo just sat beisde me with both hands on my shoulders.

I didn't knew how much pain I held for the past years now if I really was crying that hard. I guess I held it for too long. The silent hiccups and weeps of a man silently echoed near the caverns.

I felt my breathing hitched and I couldn't really calm myself down. But even though I felt pain, I felt happiness, I felt free. Felt free to cry out all my work.

We four kept huddled together before I heard tiny snores from the three hermits. Alas they were all asleep, leaned on every side of my body. I didn't want to disturb their sleep so I stayed in this position for the whole night.

Honestly I couldn't fall asleep, the only thing that kept me awake was a pen and notebook, and Jellie still purring in Scar's arms....

~~~Next Morning~~~
~~~Cleo's POV~~~

I woke up to find myself in a familiar place.... It was my ship?! Was it all just a dream? Was I really asleep? I stumbled out of bed to find the sun shining in the sky, many hermits were flying around like busy bees.

I looked out to see Joe reading somewhat poem to two sleeping hermits in the distance. Now I was confuse whether last night's event really happened or not, it was confirmed when I suddenly saw a piece of paper on the ground.....

"What hurts more than experience pain?"

"Bottle up pain."

"To our eyes that carries many,"

"We ignore it, bringing shame."

"To smile over it,"
"To shed a tear."
"To the light you lit,"
"To me expressing the fear."

"To the liquid that wonders about,"
"Just let it out"

~~~The End~~~

I am sorry to you Joe for choosing you to suffer. 😢

Also Jellie and Cleo finally has more spotlight now so hooray! 😄

BTW,  I'll just give you a little clue: The movie they were watching actually spoils my next couple of chapters. But if you know what movie it is all about then "Shhhhhhhhh" 😏

May your night
Shine like the moonlight
Ladies and gents! ;)
-Keichi Akechi