Ren sat down, staring at the towering canopy around him. His walk to Jevin's old folly had been nice and contemplative, although the poison ivy rash up his arm was unfortunate, this was just a hazard of a nice day out. He hummed quietly to himself, and was pleasantly surprised when the acoustics of the trees around him were perfect.

He hummed the intro to 'LUA', his spirits soaring as the music danced around him. He took a deep breath, and became the music. And he sang, and he was at home in the solitude.

"I know that it is freezing, but I think we have to walk

I'm waving at the taxis, they keep turning their lights off.

But Julie knows a party, at some actor's west side loft

Supplies are endless in the evening, by the morning they'll be gone."

You hear a different voice singing for a second. It sings a song about a miracle, and then says one word: "Meanwhile"

Doc ran through the woods, vaulting over fallen branches and skidding down slopes. He suddenly plunged his hand into a pool of something. Quickly realising it was residue from a lingering potion, and it was making him lightheaded, he staggered out of the area of effect, bracing himself against a tree. And then the singing met his ears, a beautiful low voice: his business partner, Ren.

"When everything is lonely, I can be my own best friend.

I get a coffee and the paper, have my own conversations.

With the sidewalk, and the pigeons, and my window reflection.

The mask I polish in the evening by the morning looks like sh*t"

Doc sat back, as he recognised the potion drifting over him, a sleeping potion. He supposed he did need a rest, but he wished he could just listen to Ren sing forever...

This meanwhile was brought to you by T͘͝͝h̸̶̕é̷̴̢̀ ̵́͘͢h̨̕͘i҉̸͠͏̷v҉̧e̛͠m̷̧̨̛͘į̷̛͝n͏҉̶́͡d̸̴̛́͟.̸̢̀͘ ̴̢̡͟͞W͏ǫ̡͟͠n̵͟'͡͏̧̀͏t̡ ̢͢y̧̛o̶̸͝͏̵ư ̧̀͠j̷͜ò̵͜i̶̛͡n̴͜ ̡̢̢͞u͝s̷̸̴̨̡?̸̷̷́͢

Impulse was out for a peaceful walk in the woods, although he swore he could hear someone out running nearby. The trees were beautiful at this time of year, and Impulse just needed an escape from everything. How could Tango keep this secret? How could Zedaph help such a horrible creature? Zed was most likely lying soulless somewhere and Tango... well he'd have taken it.

A voice rang throughout the woods, calming Impulse's nerves, and he relaxed. It was Ren, putting his talent to good use.

"And I know you have a heavy heart, I can feel it when we kiss.

So many men stronger than me, have put their backs out trying to lift it.

But me? I'm not a gamble, you can count on me to split.

The love I sell you in the evening by the morning won't exist."

One last Meanwhile, because why not?

Iskall wasn't busy. He was messing with a stick, sure, but it was just something to calm his nerves down after the week he'd been having. He was slowly snapping it into tiny pieces, imagining it was Doc, and Cub, but mostly Doc. Which is why, when he heard the singing, echoing out through the woods, he went to find the source.

"You're looking skinny like a model with your eyes all painted black.

Just keep running to the bathroom, always say you'll be right back.

Well it takes one to know one kid, I think you've got it bad.

What was easy in the evening by the morning's such a drag."

Iskall moved along the trail, sure he was getting close. The voice of his best friend - nay, his brother, echoed out, lifting the spirits of all who heard it. And Iskall wanted to go give Ren all the support in the world.

"I got a flask inside my pocket, I can share it on the train.

And if you promise to stay conscious I will try and do the same.

We may die of medication, but we sure killed all the pain.

What was normal in the evening by the morning seems insane."

Iskall rounded the corner, seeing Ren just sitting there, Poison Ivy rash climbing up his arm. He sat down next to his brethren, smiling. Ren heard the noise, and stopped singing. Iskall looked at him, disappointed that the song had ended early.

"I was just making a fool of myself in public, wasn't I?" Ren sighed. "I know I can't sing."

Iskall put his hand on Ren's shoulder.

"You have a beautiful voice, Ren. You can sing, and as far as I can tell, I was the only one around anyway. Why don't you finish that last bit?"

"I couldn't. Now I know I have an audience, I don't think it'd sound the same."

"You do you, bro. You do you."

And the two sat there, smiling, as the rest of the day flew by.

What are you talking about, I didn't sing in the woods at all! I know I'm a rubbish singer and wouldn't do that to people.

785 words, a nice round(ish) number.

This has been Pi, and I'll see you all at some point in the future!