Can We Find a Middle Ground? (Mumbo x Iskall)

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Have some more Boatem fanart guys *gasps* INSPIRATION!


The meeting room felt tense from the start, the air heavy with unspoken words and unresolved issues. Grian sat at the head of the table, flipping through notes, his eyes darting between Mumbo and Iskall. The tension between the two was palpable, a silent storm brewing beneath the surface.

Mumbo's voice was the first to break the uneasy silence. "I think we need to pivot our focus. The projects we've been working on aren't yielding the results we expected."

Iskall's eyes narrowed, his frustration barely contained. "And what exactly do you propose, Mumbo? Abandon everything we've worked on? Just because you're not satisfied with the pace?"

Mumbo's jaw tightened, and he leaned forward, his hands gripping the edge of the table. "I'm not talking about abandoning anything. But we need to be realistic, Iskall. We can't keep pouring resources into projects that aren't paying off."

Grian glanced between them, his discomfort growing. "Guys, maybe we can find a middle ground? There's no need to—"

But Mumbo cut him off, his voice rising. "A middle ground won't solve anything, Grian. We need decisive action."

Iskall stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Decisive action? Is that what you call it? Because it sounds to me like you're ready to throw away everything we've built together."

Mumbo stood up as well, his eyes blazing. "Maybe I am. Maybe it's time we stopped pretending everything is fine and faced reality."

Grian took a step back, holding up his hands. "Alright, I'm out. I don't want to be a part of this fight." He quickly gathered his things and left the room, leaving Mumbo and Iskall alone.

The door had barely closed behind Grian when Iskall's voice dropped to a cold, dangerous tone. "Is this really what you want, Mumbo? To tear everything apart because you're too impatient to see it through?"

Mumbo's voice was equally cold. "Maybe it is. Maybe I'm tired of always compromising, always bending to your ideas."

Iskall's fists clenched at his sides. "Then maybe we shouldn't be doing this anymore. Either the company or ...us."

Mumbo's eyes flickered with pain, but he didn't back down. "Maybe you're right. Maybe we shouldn't."

The words hung in the air, heavy and irreversible. There was no going back from this. They had crossed a line, and both of them knew it.

Iskall took a deep breath, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and sorrow. "Fine. If that's how you feel, then I guess we're done."

Mumbo's response was barely above a whisper. "I guess we are."

Without another word, Iskall turned and walked out, leaving Mumbo standing alone in the empty room. The weight of their broken relationship settled over him, suffocating and inescapable.

The atmosphere in the Sahara meetings was strained, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Mumbo and Iskall sat on opposite sides of the table, their eyes rarely meeting. Grian did his best to keep the discussions focused, but it was clear that the rift between them was affecting everyone.

"We need to finalize the design for the new storefront," Grian said, glancing nervously between Mumbo and Iskall. "Any ideas?"

Mumbo spoke first, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. "We should go with a sleek, modern look. Something that stands out but still fits the theme of the shopping district."

Iskall barely looked up from his notes. "I disagree. We need something that feels more integrated with the existing architecture. We don't want to alienate potential customers."

Grian sighed, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. "Can we maybe find a compromise? Combine elements of both designs?"

Mumbo's lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine. Whatever works."

Iskall nodded curtly, his gaze fixed on his papers. "Agreed."

After the meeting, they dispersed quickly, eager to avoid any further interaction. The shopping district became a minefield, each encounter a reminder of the broken bond between them.

Grian tried to mediate, pulling them aside separately to talk. "Look, I know things are rough, but we need to work together for Sahara. Can't you at least try to be civil?"

Mumbo's eyes were hard. "I'm trying, Grian. But it's not that simple."

Iskall's response was much the same. "It's complicated. I'll do my best, but don't expect miracles."

Despite their promises, the tension remained. Meetings were filled with awkward silences and terse exchanges. In the hustle and bustle of the shopping district, they crossed paths frequently, their interactions limited to brief nods or averted gazes.

Both of them threw themselves into their work, hoping to drown out the thoughts that haunted them. New projects, new ideas, anything to keep their minds occupied. But every now and then, they'd be caught looking at each other, their expressions unreadable.

To their fellow Hermits, it was impossible to tell if those looks were filled with longing or if they were merely cold-hearted glares. But for Mumbo and Iskall, each glance was a painful reminder of what they had lost.

Grian watched from the sidelines, his heart heavy with worry. He could see the toll it was taking on both of them, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't bridge the gap that had formed. The damage was done, and it seemed that no amount of time or effort could heal the wounds that had been inflicted.

In the end, all they could do was move forward, each step a struggle, each day a reminder of the cost of their broken relationship. And though they tried to hide it, the pain was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.


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I realize that at the end of stories it will most likely use 'In the end', so every now and then I might change up the last chapter, because that type of repetition is very unnecessary.

I have plans for more angsty stuff, but I wanna have a more upbeat chapter next.

Happy reading lovelies!

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