Boys Night Out (locked to Bliss)

[mistersmith_tm]

Mister Smith couldn't have asked for anything more out of life. In fact, he was amazed at his good fortune and still, even now, half expected to awaken from this incredible dream. A dream that took him out of his post-apocalyptic world of the Big Death and gave him a home, friends, and a loving family. A loving, beautiful wife and three equally beautiful children. His days were full and rewarding, spent with his family, his hobby of photography, and his duties as high priest to the god of Happiness and Joy. So busy, in fact, that it took him some time to begin to realize that there was something missing in his perfect life.

His best friend.

The realization struck hit him with startling clarity late afternoon while he was watching a group of children having a water balloon fight on the greensward outside of the temple's main doors. Their laughter and squeals, accompanied by the frequent "SPLOOSH!" of impacting water balloons, made him think of a time not so long ago when he and Bliss had enjoyed a similar pasttime. And that made him realize that it had been a very long time indeed since he and his best friend had spent any real time together, just the two of them. Just enjoying each other's company.

He missed Bliss. Even though they saw each other every day, it wasn't the same. They were both so very busy, what with their individual duties and the new addition to their respective families.

Mister Smith wondered if Bliss felt the same way. He suspected he did, even if the young god didn't quite understand what that feeling was. Like Smith, it probably hadn't yet occurred to him what that peculiar little nagging emptiness was.

So Mister Smith went off in search of Bliss. Not as his high priest, but as his friend. To tell him how much he missed the time they'd once spent together. And to propose that they do something about it . . .

Comments

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Bliss was working in the main temple, re-arranging some of the furnature so when the cherubs were flying they'd always have something to land on if they were inside. Seeing his friend, he perked up and grinned, "Smith," waving him over, "How are you?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

He stepped around a few of the cushions and beanbag chairs that were being stragetically positioned, and notice that anything with sharp corners or edges had either been removed or subtly padded. "Expecting a group of tumblers?" he teased, knowing perfectly well why Bliss was suddenly rearranging things.

Instead of perching on a chair to watch, or pitching in to help right away, he did something he hadn't done in a while. Walked up and simply hugged Bliss.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Bliss stopped slightly startled, then wrapped his arms around his friend and gave him a tight hug. It had been far too long since they'd shared one. "Not tumblers... toddlers..."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Same difference," he chuckled, almost reluctantly stepping back. "Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. I kind of . . . well, missed doing that."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Grinning, "Hey, I missed it too. Entirely too few hugs in the world."

Flopping backwards onto a bunch of pillows, "What are you up too?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"At the moment? Wanting to spend a little time with my best friend," he admitted as he sat down opposite him. "We've both been so busy . . . and haven't had much time to spend together. Actually, we haven't had any time. And I just realized . . . I miss it."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Bliss sat back up, and looked at Smith, with his mouth open as if to say something, then closed it and looked like he was thinking, "When was it we last spent any time together? Just the two of us?" He couldn't think of it since before his sister came.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"That's just it. I can't remember. Before you found Aille. Before Joan moved in. That's . . . a year, isn't it?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Way, way too long..." Bliss actually looked kind of sad about that, "Why has it been so long?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"We were both kind of busy. With establishing your temple, then with wives and new families . . . it kind of slipped away from us. How long before we become too busy and too distant? I don't want that to happen. Never." He looked down at his feet to hide the mist of tears in his eyes. "So I was thinking that, maybe . . . sometime . . . we could take some time to ourselves. Just to be together and do something, as friends. What Kurdy likes to call a 'boys night out' or something."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Why don't we do it now? Joan is busy with Serenity, Aille is doing things... we're both free... and they can get a hold of us if we're needed..."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

He looked up, startled. He hadn't been quite certain how Bliss would take the suggestion, but to have it so readily accepted . . .

"Now? Now would be great!" He hopped up from his seat. "What should we do? Where could we go?" Anything, anywhere, would suit as far as he was concerned. As long as he got a chance to spend some quality time with his best friend.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Laughing, "No idea... no idea whatsoever..." Pulling himself up, "BUt something.... um..." They'd never really planned anything before... they just did it.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Movies? Or the mall?" Whatever that was. "Aille and Rose like to go there. Or . . . um . . ." He really had no idea. All he cared about was having one on one time with Bliss, even if that meant staying right here.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a movie? Or maybe we could build something?" He smiled, they'd had such a great time when they'd worked together building something. "I don't know what though..."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"I like the idea of building something," he admitted. But he would have been happy doing anything or nothing, as long as he got to spend some quality time with Bliss. "Maybe . . . a clubhouse for the temple children? Out back somewhere, on the grounds?" He'd have suggested a treehouse but there weren't any trees in the garden that would do one justice.

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

At least any other tree than Aille's and no one would think of building something in that. "Um... how about on the grounds, outside of the temple, but nearby?" He really liked the idea of doing something they both seemed to enjoy so much when they first met.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"We could make a sort of miniature temple. But with extras the children would like. Like a sliding board to get down from the second level?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Laughing, "They'd love something like that." Grinning, "Say with more pillows, like in here? I know they love pillow fights."

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Maybe a place they can jump from, onto the pillows? But not too high. And tunnels they can crawl through to get to different rooms?"

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Instead of doors? That would be great! Maybe a net area to crawl over too?"

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"And a rope swing? Something they can use to swing out onto the net or the pillows?" He laughed. "If I were a child I'd have love to have something like that. And maybe a few secret panels or trap doors. Kind of like a temple/playroom/maze/jungle gym."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

"Oh that would be fun..." The smile was growing even brighter over his face, "I can just see it now, but I think it's going to be a bit bigger than just a little club house now..." Laughing, he couldn't wait to get started on it.

[mistersmith-tm.livejournal.com]

"Well . . . maybe not quite as big as the temple," he said with a smile. "But if we keep coming up with ideas, it will be."

[littlebitobliss.livejournal.com]

Grinning brightly, "Hey, how about we make a play house? A small house, but a house?"