Question
{Broken Promises.}. John Dory Angst.
".....I promise"
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"Okay Branch! what do we do now little bro?" Asked John Dory, clearly pretty hyped, and smiling with lots of joy and excitement about the new song. Branch looked up from his notebook, "oh..uh.. Just take a little break I guess." He said, while going back to writing on their new song. Clay sighed. "oh, I'm SO glad you're the new leader Branch." He gives John Dory a dirty look for a split second. " Usually Dory would make us practice non-stop, never rest." He said with hatred.
John's smile slowly became a frown, remembering how he never- well he wouldn't really give them breaks. They would practice 5 hours or sometimes 6-7 hours a day with only 1-2, 5-10 minute breaks. Bruce put his hand on Clays shoulder, "That was in the past, Clay. Please, stop bringing up the past!" He said, glaring at him. Clay rolled his eyes and pushed Bruce's hands off him. "Whatever man." He said annoyed. Floyd, who was watching everything from a distance, sighed. He hates when his older brothers argue.
He walked closer to Clay, put his hand on his shoulder and sighed once again, "Please Clay, Bruce is right, stop-" "No it's okay, Floyd." Interrupted John. He smiled again. "He has the right to be mad." Clay scoffed and walked away to sit on the couch and read some books from his sad book club. Floyd looked at his older brother. "John..." He said, in a sad tone. Floyd knows how much Clay's words hurt. They all do. But never really do much, because some of- well most of what Clay says is pretty much true. But it all happened 20 YEARS ago! They all forgot the past- Well try to, and move on, BUT Clay.
He will never EVER forget or try to.
Ever since the disaster with Velvet and Veneer and their family reunion, Clay has been saying and reminding John Dory of how much of a "bad brother" he was, and how he's the reason why Floyd was kidnapped and injured. Because according to Clay, If John Dory loved them and was a good brother, Floyd would be fine, they would be happy, they would have never EVER leave Branch. Oh and- and.. its also his fault that Branch is- was gray for 20 years.
What did John Dory say or do? nothing. He took it. Took it all. All those hatred words? He took it, feeling like he deserved it- no he DID deserve it. It hurt. A lot. But if saying all those words to him made Clay feel better, then it's okay. His little brother is just sad. Heck, he's probably the reason why Clay is in that "sad book club" It has the word SAD. SAD. It's not even a "normal" book club. IT'S A SAD BOOK CLUB!
".....I promise"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Okay Branch! what do we do now little bro?" Asked John Dory, clearly pretty hyped, and smiling with lots of joy and excitement about the new song. Branch looked up from his notebook, "oh..uh.. Just take a little break I guess." He said, while going back to writing on their new song. Clay sighed. "oh, I'm SO glad you're the new leader Branch." He gives John Dory a dirty look for a split second. " Usually Dory would make us practice non-stop, never rest." He said with hatred.
John's smile slowly became a frown, remembering how he never- well he wouldn't really give them breaks. They would practice 5 hours or sometimes 6-7 hours a day with only 1-2, 5-10 minute breaks. Bruce put his hand on Clays shoulder, "That was in the past, Clay. Please, stop bringing up the past!" He said, glaring at him. Clay rolled his eyes and pushed Bruce's hands off him. "Whatever man." He said annoyed. Floyd, who was watching everything from a distance, sighed. He hates when his older brothers argue.
He walked closer to Clay, put his hand on his shoulder and sighed once again, "Please Clay, Bruce is right, stop-" "No it's okay, Floyd." Interrupted John. He smiled again. "He has the right to be mad." Clay scoffed and walked away to sit on the couch and read some books from his sad book club. Floyd looked at his older brother. "John..." He said, in a sad tone. Floyd knows how much Clay's words hurt. They all do. But never really do much, because some of- well most of what Clay says is pretty much true. But it all happened 20 YEARS ago! They all forgot the past- Well try to, and move on, BUT Clay.
He will never EVER forget or try to.
Ever since the disaster with Velvet and Veneer and their family reunion, Clay has been saying and reminding John Dory of how much of a "bad brother" he was, and how he's the reason why Floyd was kidnapped and injured. Because according to Clay, If John Dory loved them and was a good brother, Floyd would be fine, they would be happy, they would have never EVER leave Branch. Oh and- and.. its also his fault that Branch is- was gray for 20 years.
What did John Dory say or do? nothing. He took it. Took it all. All those hatred words? He took it, feeling like he deserved it- no he DID deserve it. It hurt. A lot. But if saying all those words to him made Clay feel better, then it's okay. His little brother is just sad. Heck, he's probably the reason why Clay is in that "sad book club" It has the word SAD. SAD. It's not even a "normal" book club. IT'S A SAD BOOK CLUB!
Answers
GPT-4o mini
John Dory leaned against the wall, trying to breathe through the ache in his chest as he watched Clay storm off. He felt like a storm cloud had settled over him, dimming the bright excitement that had filled the room just moments ago.
"Hey, John," Branch called softly, lifting his gaze from his notebook. "You okay?"
John Dory forced a smile, though he knew it didn’t reach his eyes. "Yeah! Of course. It’s just… you know, Clay…" He trailed off, his mind flickering back to the moments of their youth—the joy of singing together, the laughter that once filled their home. What had gone so wrong?
"Maybe you should talk to him," Branch suggested, concern lacing his voice. "I know he can be rough, but he’s hurting."
"I know," John Dory replied, staring at the floor. The words were stuck in his throat, thick and heavy; he wanted to reach out and bridge the gap, but it always felt like he was stepping onto a minefield. "But what do I say? He won't listen. He’s made up his mind about me."
Branch sighed, closing his notebook. "He might surprise you. You’re his brother, after all. Maybe he just needs to hear it from you. That you’re sorry. That you want to fix things."
"Fix things," John Dory echoed, bitterly. How could he fix what was broken? It felt impossible—like trying to stitch back a shattered glass vase. The thought of confronting the pain, not just for Clay, but for himself, twisted his stomach into knots. John Dory was terrified. Terrified of the past, terrified of facing the truth that had haunted him for two decades.
Suddenly, Floyd appeared beside him, concern painting his small features. "John, please,” Floyd pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. “Don’t let Clay hurt you like this. You’re not a bad brother. You never were."
John Dory knelt down to bring himself to Floyd's level, a bittersweet smile forming. “I know you believe that, buddy, but it’s what he thinks that matters to me. I want him to heal, to feel okay again. But how can he when I’m the cause of all his pain?”
Floyd's eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “You were just a kid too. You made mistakes, but so did he. You can’t carry all of this alone.”
John Dory’s heart sank. “But I can’t let go of the guilt. If it means I have to suffer through his anger, then maybe that’s what I deserve.”
"That’s not how it works!" Floyd exclaimed, frustration edging into his voice. "John, you can’t keep punishing yourself for something that happened so long ago. Clay needs to understand that too!"
Before John could respond, he caught a glimpse of Clay sitting in the other room, furiously flipping through the pages of a book. The sight pierced him—a reminder of the scars that their family carried, scars he felt responsible for reopening.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up, turning back to Branch and Floyd, determination trickling back into his veins. “I can’t just sit here. He won’t listen right now, but I owe it to him… to us. I have to try.”
Floyd nodded, a faint flicker of hope lighting his expression. "Just remember, you’re not alone, John. We’re here with you."
With a last glance at Branch, who encouraged him with a nod, John stepped forward. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he pushed through the thick fog of regret that clouded his mind.
"Clay?" he ventured, his voice softer than he intended. “Can we talk?”
Clay didn’t look up, but the flicking of the pages slowed. John felt his heart race; this was it—his moment to reach out, to face the tangled mess that had become their lives.
After a long pause, Clay finally responded, still staring at the book, resolute. “Are you here to tell me how great of a brother you are now? Because I’m not interested.”
John steeled himself, forcing his voice to stay steady. “I know I’ve messed up, Clay. I know I can’t take back what happened before, but I want to learn how to fix things between us.”
Clay’s silence was deafening.
"Please... I’m sorry," John continued, feeling raw and exposed. "I can’t change the past, but I want to help you with the hurt. I don’t want to be the reason you’re unhappy anymore."
This time, Clay finally lifted his head, the intensity of his gaze pinning John in place. “You think saying sorry is going to change anything? You played a part in everything that happened, John. And it still hurts.”
“I know it does,” John replied, the weight of those words pressing down on him. “And I’m here to tell you I’ll keep fighting for you, over and over again, even if you don’t want me to.”
The room hung in silence as Clay absorbed the words, a tumult of emotions flickering across his face. For the first time, John could see the cracks forming in Clay’s defensive wall.
“Just… don’t expect me to forgive you right away,” Clay muttered, the fight slowly seeping out of him.
John's heart swelled with cautious hope. "I wouldn’t dream of it, but I’ll keep trying, no matter how long it takes.”
Clay finally lowered his gaze, and in that small gesture, John felt a shift, a tentative bridge forming between the pain of the past and the possibility of healing. It wouldn’t be easy, but they were brothers—in all their complexities, they would figure it out together, step by step.
"Hey, John," Branch called softly, lifting his gaze from his notebook. "You okay?"
John Dory forced a smile, though he knew it didn’t reach his eyes. "Yeah! Of course. It’s just… you know, Clay…" He trailed off, his mind flickering back to the moments of their youth—the joy of singing together, the laughter that once filled their home. What had gone so wrong?
"Maybe you should talk to him," Branch suggested, concern lacing his voice. "I know he can be rough, but he’s hurting."
"I know," John Dory replied, staring at the floor. The words were stuck in his throat, thick and heavy; he wanted to reach out and bridge the gap, but it always felt like he was stepping onto a minefield. "But what do I say? He won't listen. He’s made up his mind about me."
Branch sighed, closing his notebook. "He might surprise you. You’re his brother, after all. Maybe he just needs to hear it from you. That you’re sorry. That you want to fix things."
"Fix things," John Dory echoed, bitterly. How could he fix what was broken? It felt impossible—like trying to stitch back a shattered glass vase. The thought of confronting the pain, not just for Clay, but for himself, twisted his stomach into knots. John Dory was terrified. Terrified of the past, terrified of facing the truth that had haunted him for two decades.
Suddenly, Floyd appeared beside him, concern painting his small features. "John, please,” Floyd pleaded, his voice barely a whisper. “Don’t let Clay hurt you like this. You’re not a bad brother. You never were."
John Dory knelt down to bring himself to Floyd's level, a bittersweet smile forming. “I know you believe that, buddy, but it’s what he thinks that matters to me. I want him to heal, to feel okay again. But how can he when I’m the cause of all his pain?”
Floyd's eyes glimmered with unshed tears. “You were just a kid too. You made mistakes, but so did he. You can’t carry all of this alone.”
John Dory’s heart sank. “But I can’t let go of the guilt. If it means I have to suffer through his anger, then maybe that’s what I deserve.”
"That’s not how it works!" Floyd exclaimed, frustration edging into his voice. "John, you can’t keep punishing yourself for something that happened so long ago. Clay needs to understand that too!"
Before John could respond, he caught a glimpse of Clay sitting in the other room, furiously flipping through the pages of a book. The sight pierced him—a reminder of the scars that their family carried, scars he felt responsible for reopening.
Taking a deep breath, he stood up, turning back to Branch and Floyd, determination trickling back into his veins. “I can’t just sit here. He won’t listen right now, but I owe it to him… to us. I have to try.”
Floyd nodded, a faint flicker of hope lighting his expression. "Just remember, you’re not alone, John. We’re here with you."
With a last glance at Branch, who encouraged him with a nod, John stepped forward. Each step felt heavier than the last, but he pushed through the thick fog of regret that clouded his mind.
"Clay?" he ventured, his voice softer than he intended. “Can we talk?”
Clay didn’t look up, but the flicking of the pages slowed. John felt his heart race; this was it—his moment to reach out, to face the tangled mess that had become their lives.
After a long pause, Clay finally responded, still staring at the book, resolute. “Are you here to tell me how great of a brother you are now? Because I’m not interested.”
John steeled himself, forcing his voice to stay steady. “I know I’ve messed up, Clay. I know I can’t take back what happened before, but I want to learn how to fix things between us.”
Clay’s silence was deafening.
"Please... I’m sorry," John continued, feeling raw and exposed. "I can’t change the past, but I want to help you with the hurt. I don’t want to be the reason you’re unhappy anymore."
This time, Clay finally lifted his head, the intensity of his gaze pinning John in place. “You think saying sorry is going to change anything? You played a part in everything that happened, John. And it still hurts.”
“I know it does,” John replied, the weight of those words pressing down on him. “And I’m here to tell you I’ll keep fighting for you, over and over again, even if you don’t want me to.”
The room hung in silence as Clay absorbed the words, a tumult of emotions flickering across his face. For the first time, John could see the cracks forming in Clay’s defensive wall.
“Just… don’t expect me to forgive you right away,” Clay muttered, the fight slowly seeping out of him.
John's heart swelled with cautious hope. "I wouldn’t dream of it, but I’ll keep trying, no matter how long it takes.”
Clay finally lowered his gaze, and in that small gesture, John felt a shift, a tentative bridge forming between the pain of the past and the possibility of healing. It wouldn’t be easy, but they were brothers—in all their complexities, they would figure it out together, step by step.