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The evil part of Scar’s pain wishes desperately to be a bad pain day. That something tangible would justify the cocktail of emotions looming in the back of his brain.
Pushing off the covers, Scar stretches his limbs, gently testing out his joints. His body was as healthy as a horse—or at least as healthy as a Scar could be anyway. It didn’t really make sense to Scar why horses were the comparison, since Bdubs has stated multiple times that horses are dainty creatures that’s sole purpose of running also can damage their body irreparably.
Maybe, horses were an apt metaphor for Scar’s body after all.
Regardless, what was limiting Scar on this particular moment was what every artist feared.
The well of whimsy had run dry.
Art block wasn’t a stranger to the Hermitcraft server. Joe and Keralis were vocal supporters of forcing Hermits on sabbaticals or vacations to prevent creative burnout. Some Hermits dealt with the feelings easier than others; trying to socialize their way out of the sickness, others taking the title of Hermit to heart by walling off the outside world.
Having to deal with various health flare-ups, Scar was no stranger to a lack of creative output. It was hard to imagine that someone could produce ideas while having bones that acted more like Jello and lungs that could rattle like a box of fine china falling down the stairs.
However this is the first time that his health was not a factor in the pure lack of inspiration.
Wheeling to his closet, Scar pulls out his khaki ensemble designed to beat the jungle heat, before pausing to look at the hat rack.
Maybe he just needs the right outfit to spark that creative juice. From Swaggon Tycoon, Mob Boss Extraordinaire or Scar-Vader, he must have something to inspire him.
One hour and forty minutes later, with his entire closet thrown across the room worse than the chest monster that is his front lawn, Scar sighs. No sparks of elven twirls or spontaneous pranks were hidden in any of the outfits. He pulls on the khaki polo with defeat.
Rolling out to the front lawn, he spies a fellow Hermit swooping above the clouds. With a flash of yellow and purple, Impulse dips down beyond his cyber-punk city walls. Impulse would know what to do about the creative block, surely! Quickly engaging the rockets on his chair, Scar chases after the man.
“Yoo-hoo, Impulse!” Scar calls out, peaking around the alley. “I’ve come to pester you.”
“Oh No!” Impulse calls back, opening up the doors to his storage room with a smile. “What can I help you with, Scar?”
The words cling like honey to his throat, but Scar powers through to voice them anyway. “Have a cure for lack of motivation?”
Impulse’s face softens, pausing his rifling through chests. “I’m proud you got out of bed today.”
“Thank you?” Scar is baffled by the one hundred and eighty degree conversation turn. “What’s that got to do with art block?”
Impulse releases the once hidden tension in his shoulders. “Oh you meant that kind…. I still am proud of you for coming to someone. Surprised you didn’t head to someone who can actually build…or Skizz.”
“Hey, don’t diss this beautiful city scape here.” Scar quickly defends. “You are a builder too. We’ve claimed you.”
“Thanks, Scar.” Impulse has a soft grin on his face. “I’m probably not the best to handle art block advice, but I’d be down to try and brainstorm with you? Any information to go off of?”
Scar pauses and sighs. “I mean, I have many open projects. I’m trying to do all the zoo exhibits, had some thoughts for a panda exhibit, and then there’s more terraforming to the mountain I could do, help connect with Mumbo Jumbles side.”
“Those both sound like good ideas,” Impulse turns to put some blocks back into his storage. “What’s your hang up?”
“Like don’t get me wrong, I want to do both of those things right now. Maybe not the Panda delivering that Zoo needs, but the Zoo will need.” Scar picks at the calluses at sides of his thumbs, “There’s just no spark, and I really want the Zoo to be a cohesive exhibit. Good Times Guarantee Experience.”
Impulse pauses, before looking at Scar for a minute. Soft eyes trying to calculate something by just looking at Scar. Did he have something on his face?
Wordlessly, Impulse beckons him to follow, opening his storage doors with a satisfying thunk. He takes out a stack of rockets, bursting into the air. Scar’s only slightly tempted to HotGuy him as he follows Impulse.
The pair wander up to the top of the Cherry Mountain, where a wooden bench Scar has never seen before rests below the canopy of cherry leaves. The pink-stained wood sported a jaggedly carved ‘Skizz was here.’
“Have a seat.” Impulse motions to the bench, before smacking his forehead in embarrassment.
“I already have one, thanks.” Scar grins, patting the armrest of his wheelchair. “I didn’t know this was up here.”
“My little peaceful getaway. Perfect for taking a breath to admire the entire mountain.” Impulse leans forward onto his arms.
“It is nice up here.” The entire redwood forest and train station seemed like a model set, hand constructed piece by piece. Mumbo’s factory glimmered in the distance, and hints of the Zoo gate peaked through the sturdy trees.
“I have a challenge for you, if you are up to it.” Impulse’s gaze wanders over the landscape. “No pressure though.”
“You can’t just say that and expect me not to take you up on it?” Scar taunts. “How is that fair, you setting me up for a trap.”
“You are smart enough to get out of it.” Impulse grins. “Now, I can’t take credit for this, Skizz has forced me on the receiving end too many times.”
“That’s what she said…” The words are out of Scar’s mouth before he even processes them.
“And you said you didn’t have creative spark.” Impulse grins. “But seriously, here it is. I want you to say five good things about you and your art.”
“Huh. Wasn’t expecting that one.” Scar paused. Complimenting his own work seemed pointless. “That’s so hard. I mean I’m a known builder and terraformer. Gem was complimenting the glass work on the barn.”
“It’s gotta be things you believe too, Scar. Would it help if I got the compliments rolling?”
“Sure.”
“Well, recently you built those little shacks on the boardwalk, tell me about them?”
“You know I messed up when I was showing off the models for my camera outtakes? I went through all the trouble of stocking them with workers and even tried more of Cleo’s armor stand wizardry business. It's so hard to make things look artfully messy.”
“But you did it! You tried something you were still mostly uncomfortable with to add a whole bunch of detail. You have such an amazing eye, Scar.”
“Better to HotGuy with.”
“You know, Skizz would say you are brushing off the compliment with a joke.” Impulse turns toward Scar. “Would it help if I gave you the minute up here to just breathe?”
Scar looks back over towards the Zoo gate, something soft swirling in his chest. “If you wouldn’t mind, I’d like that.”
“You got it.” Impulse’s grin stretches across his entire face. “I’m always here for you if you need me. And Scar?”
“Yeah?”
“No matter what your art block says, you are always an amazing creator.”