['Puzzle Games' Arc] May the games begin.

Smack.

"Ow!"

"I said, 'don't touch'."

"I know!"

"You know, but touched it anyway?"

"...yes."

Smack.

"Ow! And stop hitting me!"

Two boys were hunched over in the living room, intent stares across their face, when a clutter of steps stopped at the entryway.

"Alright you two--what are you doing?"

Neither of them looked up at the older man holding his hip some feet away, instead tapping a chin, clutching a bendy, ever uncertain puzzle piece from the mess laden across the mat before them.

Quietly ruminating.

"Carl."

Grunt.

"Jason."

Another grunt.

"Boys."

"Forget it honey," came a feminine voice in the background. "They've been trying to complete that puzzle this whole weekend. Supposedly today's the last day to submit it."

"...submit..?"

"Don't you remember? To the Puzzle Games committee? They hold a big tournament every year up there in the big city. Last year, Carl and them tried and didn't make it so they decided to try again this year."

"Ah." The man raised his head in a half-nod, wrinkled a brow, shook his head, and awkwardly shuffled away. Under his breath, something along the lines of, 'so much for teaching them about woodshop.'

A few excruciating minutes had passed, maybe even an hour, when a long sigh left Jason's lips. "Damn it man. Just call Helia."

"No." Adamantly, Carl laid down the law. "We're doing this. We're doing this!"

"Are we man? Are we really?"

"WE ARE MAN. TO THE END."

"OH? IS THAT HOW IT IS? 'CUZ IT SURE DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT."

"BECAUSE YOU KEEP PICKING WITHOUT THINKING! THAT'S WHY!"

"AND YOU KEEP TOUCHING ALL MY SHIT WITHOUT ASKING!"

"Boys!"

Carl backed down at his mother's ice-laced call, while Jason rubbed his face with his hands. The two stared down at the unfinished peacock, which stared back with colder, lifeless eyes. A rigid silence sat indiscriminate.

Then, finally, Carl unfolded his arms, letting them flop against his kneecaps in resignation.

".... Call John too. Actually," Carl waved the air in front of him. "Just call everyone."