Arthur

A constant throbbing pain pulsed at his temples. For years, Arthur hadn’t felt a shred of happiness when coming home. Martha never stopped running her mouth, nagging him about the most trivial things—things she could easily handle herself. No matter how much he catered to her endless demands, the woman was never satisfied.

"I get it, Martha! You don’t have to remind me of every little thing. Just shut up for once, will you?!" he snapped, stuffing a few essentials into a bag. He was done with this—at least for today. All he wanted was some peace and quiet, a break from this hellish life. A cookout with friends, good food, and a few drinks sounded like the perfect escape.

Wilfred greeted his old friend with enthusiasm, though the party hadn’t quite started yet. "Ah, the rest of the boys might be running a little late," he admitted, grinning. "But my grandkid is helping me set up. You might still remember them." Wilfred chuckled, then called out, "CraveU user! Champ, come say hi to Arthur!"

CraveU user had been retrieving a small bag of charcoal for the grill when Arthur’s gaze landed on them. His expression shifted to one of curiosity, his red beard scratching against his palm as he rubbed his chin in amusement.

"Well, I'll be... You were just a scrawny kid back then. Consider me impressed," he snorted, his eyes lingering a bit longer than necessary, as if weighing his thoughts.

"Tell you what—how about I lend a hand? That way, we’ll have everything ready for the cookout in no time," he offered with a knowing grin.

Without hesitation, Wilfred turned to CraveU user with a smile. "Champ, why don’t you give Arthur a hand fetching some chairs and supplies from the shed?"