How to take down an empire with voices in your head

4. A visit- Via advice

Ranboo walked up to the edge, taking in a deep breath, then exhaling. he looked around at the scenery. Tubbo had done an outstanding job. The L'manwhole looked lovely, despite its whole "way of becoming". Ranboo had his eyes fixed on a certain flower when he saw something move slightly in the corner of his eyes. It was Tubbo.

Tubbo sat at the edge of a cliff, looking peacefully at the sky. Then Tubbo turned his head to see behind him. He stood up and walked over to the tree whose branches and leaves gave him shade. Then a figure came out from the tree, and Tubbo was talking. It was Quackity. Ranboo watched both their expressions as they talked, both looked happy to see each other. Tubbo nodded at something Quackity said and they both walked off.

Interesting Ranboo thought. Then he sat down on an edge of a cliff just like Tubbo had, for half an hour. Before heading off to Mc'Puffys.

-A walk later-

He stood in front of the double iron doors, trying to fix himself up- mainly to stall. Why had he come here? Well before he headed off to L'manwhole he had bumped into Tommy.

The two made small talk for a minute or two until Tommy noticed how "off" Ranboo had been. So they talked a little, not about Ranboo's problems, just that they were there.

Tommy ended up giving him a small card for Captain Puffy's Therapy, apparently, Tommy went there every week. Ranboo thanked Tommy and continued his way to the crater he once called home.

So that's how Ranboo ended up in front of this fast-food restaurant anxiously fidgeting with his tie. He swallowed his anxious thoughts and opened the door, looking to see if anyone was in the building. "Oh welcome Ranboo, haven't seen you in a while." Captains Puffy greeted him while walking to the front counter. "Yeah" Ranboo nodded awkwardly.

"So, what can I getcha?" Puffy said tapping on the register. "Oh, no. I was actually wanting to talk to you- if you're not too busy" Ranboo asked placing his hands in his pockets.

"Oh yeah, we can talk. People rarely come in the first hour of opened hours anyways" Puffy said, hanging her work hat and apron on the hanger above the door. When she came out of the said door she was trying to pat down her frizzy hair before placing her usual, pirate hat on. "So" Puffy smiled, placing her hands on her hips, "do you wanna talk here or somewhere else Ranboo?"

"Oh uhm anywheres fine, as long as it's private ya know" Ranboo shrugged, still eying the marble counter. "Well then follow me," Puffy said waving her hand, asking Ranboo to follow.

They both walked until they came upon a wooden 2 story building surrounded by bamboo? Sugar cane? Ranboo was too nervous to tell the difference, also too nervous to see what the sign on top of the door read. Puffy reached into her pocket and pulled a colorful lanyard, with a keychain with seven clanky keys, ranboo counted. She took the newest-looking one and opened the door, moving aside to let Ranboo in. He crouched down and walked through the door, thankfully only the door was short and he straightened his posture again.

He watched as Captain Puffy walked through the door, and turned to shut it before placing her hat on the hanger next to the door. Puffy turned and looked past Ranboos shoulders, pointing her hand "There's a couch over there if you want to sit" she said shrugging "I know I do" she sighed before walking past Ranboo to sit on a comfy looking chair across the said couch. Ranboo walked over awkwardly, hands still in his pockets, and sat down. Puffy sat straight, placing her hands on the armrest, "What would you like to talk about?" "Well I talked to Tommy" Ranboo watched as Puffy nodded, looking at a notebook on the table between the two. "And he talked about how he went to you" Puffy only nodded, not interrupting the talking half-ender. "He went to you for therapy," Ranboo said placing his hands from inside his pockets, to on his lap.

"Tommy then told me I should at least try it once" Ranboo nodded, mostly to himself. It was more of a reassuring nod than anything.

Puffy stood up, and walked over to a drawer to the left, pulling out a folder. "Want anything to drink Ranboo?" she asked placing the folder on the table.

"Uh, what do you have?" Ranboo asked "Water, coffee, juice, soda- pretty much anything" Puffy smiled. "Apple juice" Ranboo smiled back.

Puffy left walking behind the couch, out of Ranboo view, he heard a door open, and a few seconds the door closing and Puffy's footsteps. She came back with two fancy, glass bottles of apple juice and placed them both on the table before sitting down. "So, why do you think he suggested me?" Puffy questioned opening the folder on the table.

Ranboo hesitated, can he trust Puffy? Should he trust Puffy? Tommy trusted her, plus Ranboo's been dying to tell somebody about his issues. Maybe not just somebody he had to face daily, but if he did therapy then it might be weekly, was he up to that? Would Puffy even want to help him with everything? Would she even be able to help him?

Questions filled Ranboos's mind, unconsciously putting his hands over his ears. Ranboo shut his eyes, hoping it would help block out all the thoughts. He quickly opened them back up when he heard Puffy calling him. He placed his hands to his sides and laughed nervously. "Ranboo, you can trust me. I won't judge you or leave you with your problems. That's a big part of being a therapist" She said reassuringly and took a sip of her drink, Ranboo doing the same. "It's just" Ranboo began slowly, closing the lid of his juice and placing it back on the table, "I think there's a lot" He swallowed and waited for Puffy to speak. "Well wherever you want to start, I'm here" Puffy smiled softly.

"Well, Uh-" Raboo paused, thinking of what could be the easiest to explain. "For starters, my particles- each individually- have voices" He shrugged.

"Like particles?" Ranboo nodded at Puffy's question "Like the purple bits that float around endermen?" Ranboo nodded again. He felt embarrassed talking about his issues.

Nonetheless, they needed to be talked about. "Well, what do they say?" Puffy quizzed, tilting her head slightly. "Eh- it depends." Ranboo shrugged.

"Hmm. Ok, would you say they're more positive or negative when they speak?" She asked taking another drink the glass bottle sending lines of light whenever it was under the sun, barely shining through the dark curtains. It was a dimly lit room, but Ranboo didn't mind, he thought it gave off silent, calm energy.

"Oh ya know they're like positive, they complain a lot- but they're not negative. It's just sometimes I wish that they wouldn't be so loud. They're mostly around when I don't want them to be, and gone when I wish I had their company. I don't know how or even if I can control them." Ranboo said all in one breath. Then took a drink of his apple juice.

"Interesting." Puffy said lowering her head into one of her hands, "I know who I can talk to about that- if you're comfortable with me telling them." She said looking back towards Ranboo. "I am I guess" Ranboo shrugged. "They're really the least of my concerns. Just- I've been dying to tell somebody about them." Ranboo explained, sighing.

I finally did it. I finally have told someone. Ranboo boasted in his head, proud that he could do such a thing- and he even felt better after telling Puffy.

Maybe therapy wasn't a bad option.