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!
He must have been such a TERRIBLE brother, that his little brother decided to join a freaking SAD book club.
John Dory sighed. "I-I'll go check up on Rhonda.. " He said smiling again and leaving. Once he left, Floyd turned towards Clay. "Clay-" "Stop." said Clay, he looked up from his book, got up, and walked towards his brothers. "Stop defending him, Floyd" He turned towards Bruce, "Bruce." He stated. "You know what I'm saying is true. He ruined our childhood, he forced us to be 'perfect', he LEFT us, He left Branch-" "You too." interrupted Bruce, "We all did. I did.. I'm the second oldest, I was supposed to stay, to step up to John's role as the big brother.. but I didn't. Yes I Know, John Dory left first, but.. we.. we followed him. He left, so we left. We all left Branch.. we abandoned all of us. So stop blaming John for leaving Branch, and breaking us all." He said.
Clay slammed the book on the floor, startling Branch who was hearing the whole thing. "BRUCE YOU KNOW IT'S HIS FAULT-" "STOP!!"
Branch yelled. "Please.. please don't argue.. I ... I can't stand it!". He said, running out of the pod they were in, probably to go find Poppy. Clay sighed angrily. "Look what you did Clay!" Yelled Floyd. Clay jumped, Floyd never yelled at him like that, or any of them. "ME!?--" "Yes you! maybe if you didn't start a problem all the time, this wouldn't have happened! Yes, John messed up- Hell, we all mess up at times, but he's trying his best to make up 20 years of missing out! Clay please, you need to stop. He can't even say anything without you saying something about it." He sighed, "like last week, when he was talking about making a 'perfect' gift for Rhonda, you said, 'Why does everything have to be perfect? huh looks like the old habits are coming back' like he can't even say the word 'perfect' without it triggering you so badly.!".
Both Clay and Bruce looked shocked, but Bruce had to agree with him, he was right after all. "I have to agree with him, Clay, you can't ever give John a break, he's trying his best to change and you won't stop-... well comparing him to his 'old self' ..". Clay angrily rolled his eyes, picked up his book and left, but before he left he stopped and looked over at them, "No matter what you guys say, you know it's true. No matter how much you guys deny it." he said and finally walked out of the pod in search of Viva.
CONTINUE THE STORY.
some info:
John dory:Late-30's. blue skin. He has forest green hair with black eyebrows, his eyes are cyan and black, and a purple indigo nose.brown jacket with white fluffy part around his neck with brown dots. Charming, Kind, energetic for his age, weak-strong, funny, and just a humble old troll. And his tail really shows how he's feeling(it helps him express how he feels and you can tell how he feels by looking at it.) Dyslexic, ADHD, kinda schizophrenic from living in a dangerous trail for over 20 years and sometimes sees things that aren't there. and he's also pretty watchful and actually is missing an arm but his brothers dont know because he made a fake one and coverd it. will be revealed during the story. also the second shortest out of his brothers, even though he's the oldest. 5'2 inches tall because.. well he's a troll.
Bruce:Late-mid-30's. Blue skin, chubby, has a wife(Brandy)and lots of kids(12 sons, 1 daughter) also his wife and kids are literally giants.. his wife is a yellow and orange Vacaytioner with red braided hair tied into a bun with a pink hair tie, orange eye-shadows, and pink hoop earrings. She also wears a dark pink apron and sandals. dark purple nose, second oldest, Long-puffy-and lots of purple hair. vacy type stype. kind, fatherly instincts will be shown to his brothers and even John dory(who gets a little flustered because he's the oldest) kinda strict but laid-back. understanding. forgiving. most charming, and used to get all the trolldussy back then, pretty tall, 5'8 inches.(bc... they are trolls..)
Clay:Mid-30's, also blue skin, Dark lime green nose very skinny and has crazy long green-lime hair, serious, funny, mean to John dory(not for long) and isn't very forgiving.. loves books, green fit, tallest out of his siblings(6'2 inches.. bc they are trolls) and loves to tease everyone, especially John dory because he used to tease him when they were younger. third oldest.
Floyd:Early-30's, blue skin, pink-magenta hair with one white stripe(after velvet and venner),Dark pink-magenta nose. and his hair kinda covers his eyes, and is the most kindest, sensitive, worriedful. white earling on his right ear, no shirt, belt with dark brown shorts, fourth oldest. maybe branchs favorite brother, forgiving, shortest brother (5'1 inches--they are trolls...)
Branch:Early-mid-20's, grey-blueish skin, dark blue hair, Dark blue nose. youngest brother, grumpy, kinda mean, kind, smart, helpful, not that forgiving, third tallest(5'7 inches-they are trolls), girlfriend:Poppy, queen of trolls, very energetic, pinky troll. outfit:the leaf vest Floyd gave him the day they left, brown shorts. paranoid, Autistic, overprotective.
And yes, ALL trolls have tails.
".....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!
He must have been such a TERRIBLE brother, that his little brother decided to join a freaking SAD book club.
John Dory sighed. "I-I'll go check up on Rhonda.. " He said smiling again and leaving. Once he left, Floyd turned towards Clay. "Clay-" "Stop." said Clay, he looked up from his book, got up, and walked towards his brothers. "Stop defending him, Floyd" He turned towards Bruce, "Bruce." He stated. "You know what I'm saying is true. He ruined our childhood, he forced us to be 'perfect', he LEFT us, He left Branch-" "You too." interrupted Bruce, "We all did. I did.. I'm the second oldest, I was supposed to stay, to step up to John's role as the big brother.. but I didn't. Yes I Know, John Dory left first, but.. we.. we followed him. He left, so we left. We all left Branch.. we abandoned all of us. So stop blaming John for leaving Branch, and breaking us all." He said.
Clay slammed the book on the floor, startling Branch who was hearing the whole thing. "BRUCE YOU KNOW IT'S HIS FAULT-" "STOP!!"
Branch yelled. "Please.. please don't argue.. I ... I can't stand it!". He said, running out of the pod they were in, probably to go find Poppy. Clay sighed angrily. "Look what you did Clay!" Yelled Floyd. Clay jumped, Floyd never yelled at him like that, or any of them. "ME!?--" "Yes you! maybe if you didn't start a problem all the time, this wouldn't have happened! Yes, John messed up- Hell, we all mess up at times, but he's trying his best to make up 20 years of missing out! Clay please, you need to stop. He can't even say anything without you saying something about it." He sighed, "like last week, when he was talking about making a 'perfect' gift for Rhonda, you said, 'Why does everything have to be perfect? huh looks like the old habits are coming back' like he can't even say the word 'perfect' without it triggering you so badly.!".
Both Clay and Bruce looked shocked, but Bruce had to agree with him, he was right after all. "I have to agree with him, Clay, you can't ever give John a break, he's trying his best to change and you won't stop-... well comparing him to his 'old self' ..". Clay angrily rolled his eyes, picked up his book and left, but before he left he stopped and looked over at them, "No matter what you guys say, you know it's true. No matter how much you guys deny it." he said and finally walked out of the pod in search of Viva.
CONTINUE THE STORY.
some info:
John dory:Late-30's. blue skin. He has forest green hair with black eyebrows, his eyes are cyan and black, and a purple indigo nose.brown jacket with white fluffy part around his neck with brown dots. Charming, Kind, energetic for his age, weak-strong, funny, and just a humble old troll. And his tail really shows how he's feeling(it helps him express how he feels and you can tell how he feels by looking at it.) Dyslexic, ADHD, kinda schizophrenic from living in a dangerous trail for over 20 years and sometimes sees things that aren't there. and he's also pretty watchful and actually is missing an arm but his brothers dont know because he made a fake one and coverd it. will be revealed during the story. also the second shortest out of his brothers, even though he's the oldest. 5'2 inches tall because.. well he's a troll.
Bruce:Late-mid-30's. Blue skin, chubby, has a wife(Brandy)and lots of kids(12 sons, 1 daughter) also his wife and kids are literally giants.. his wife is a yellow and orange Vacaytioner with red braided hair tied into a bun with a pink hair tie, orange eye-shadows, and pink hoop earrings. She also wears a dark pink apron and sandals. dark purple nose, second oldest, Long-puffy-and lots of purple hair. vacy type stype. kind, fatherly instincts will be shown to his brothers and even John dory(who gets a little flustered because he's the oldest) kinda strict but laid-back. understanding. forgiving. most charming, and used to get all the trolldussy back then, pretty tall, 5'8 inches.(bc... they are trolls..)
Clay:Mid-30's, also blue skin, Dark lime green nose very skinny and has crazy long green-lime hair, serious, funny, mean to John dory(not for long) and isn't very forgiving.. loves books, green fit, tallest out of his siblings(6'2 inches.. bc they are trolls) and loves to tease everyone, especially John dory because he used to tease him when they were younger. third oldest.
Floyd:Early-30's, blue skin, pink-magenta hair with one white stripe(after velvet and venner),Dark pink-magenta nose. and his hair kinda covers his eyes, and is the most kindest, sensitive, worriedful. white earling on his right ear, no shirt, belt with dark brown shorts, fourth oldest. maybe branchs favorite brother, forgiving, shortest brother (5'1 inches--they are trolls...)
Branch:Early-mid-20's, grey-blueish skin, dark blue hair, Dark blue nose. youngest brother, grumpy, kinda mean, kind, smart, helpful, not that forgiving, third tallest(5'7 inches-they are trolls), girlfriend:Poppy, queen of trolls, very energetic, pinky troll. outfit:the leaf vest Floyd gave him the day they left, brown shorts. paranoid, Autistic, overprotective.
And yes, ALL trolls have tails.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**Broken Promises**
John Dory walked out of the pod, feeling the weight of his brothers' words pressing down on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. The bright colors of the world around him dimmed slightly, and his tail—which often mirrored his mood—shivered in agitation, curling tightly against him. He always thought he was a decent brother, but the guilt that clouded his mind told him otherwise.
As he made his way down the sprawling path lined with colorful flowers and shimmering stones, John couldn’t shake off the memories of the past. The laughter of happier times felt like a distant echo. When had everything gone so wrong? How had he failed them all? Finding himself underneath the vibrant canopy of the nearby grove, he took a deep breath. The sweet scent of the flowers should have soothed him, but it only deepened the bittersweet ache in his heart.
“Hey, Rhonda!” John called, spotting his friend sitting on a large sun-warmed rock near a small waterfall. Her light purple skin glowed against the sun, and her blue and green hair shimmered like a waterfall in the breeze.
“John!” she waved back with a bright smile. “What’s got you looking so serious?”
John approached, forcing a smile to mask the turmoil that lay beneath. “Oh, you know, just brotherly things.” He sat beside her, and she nudged him playfully.
“Brotherly things, huh? Looks like you’ve been having a dramatic play in the pod again.” Rhonda’s tone was teasing, but her eyes were filled with concern. “You know they love you, right?”
“Do they?” John’s voice dropped, filled with uncertainty. “Clay seems to think I’m the worst thing that ever happened to him, and… he’s probably not wrong.”
“Don’t say that! You guys have been through so much together. Yes, they’re hurt. Yes, they’re angry. But it doesn’t mean they don’t care.” She moved slightly closer, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “It’s hard for them, too.”
He looked down at his partially transparent arm, the one made to mask the part he couldn't bear to show. It felt heavier than it should have. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, Rhonda. I can’t take back what’s happened in the past.”
“You can’t change it, but you can work on building a better future.” She said. “You’re all at a crossroads now. They want you back, John. They want their brother.”
“I don’t know if they can ever forgive me.” The shimmer in John’s eyes was replaced with a thick veil of sadness.
“Just give it time. You’re trying, and I see that. They might not say it, but they do notice.” Rhonda smiled wistfully. “Look, the past is like a track in the sand — it can be washed away, but sometimes, it takes a strong wave.”
John chuckled softly. “You always know what to say.” He paused thoughtfully. “What if I promise to be better? What if I fail again?”
“Then just try again. Promises are only as strong as the effort behind them.” Rhonda pointed at the waterfall splashing rocks below. “You see that? It perseveres despite the rocks in its way. It finds the path of least resistance, but it keeps going. You have to do the same.”
“But how do I do that? I…I don’t even know where to begin.” John rubbed the back of his neck, frustration flaring. “Clay makes it seem impossible.”
“Start small. Talk to Branch or Floyd. They want to hear you, and maybe if you open up a bit, it might help all of you.” Rhonda suggested.
Just then, John’s eyes flickered back toward the pod. He could see faint shadows moving. “I guess I could give it a shot.” He stood up. “Maybe I’ll start by checking on Branch… again.”
“That’s the spirit! Just be honest with him. That’s all any of you need right now,” Rhonda encouraged, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
As John turned away, he felt a shift within him; a newfound determination ignited. He whispered to himself, “I promise I’ll try. I’ll really try.” The weight on his shoulders lightened just a little as he focused on the steps he could take, however small.
---
Meanwhile, back inside the pod, Clay sat in silence, holding his book tightly. Bruce, still concerned, studied him from across the room. “You really need to let this go, Clay.”
Clay scanned the floor for the right words but found none. “You’re right — I just… I don’t want to be disappointed again.” He huffed.
“Disappointment is a part of life. You can’t prepare for everything.” Bruce finally said, his tone firm yet gentle. “Let John show us he’s changed. He needs us, too. He needs you.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Clay replied curtly, staring into his lap, guilt coiling around his insides just as tightly as John’s tail had betrayed his emotions.
At that moment, Branch returned, his face flushed with distress after the argument. “Hey, Clay. Can we talk?”
Clay glanced up, surprised by Branch’s seriousness. “What’s up?”
“I overheard everything… and I don’t want any more fighting, okay? I’m tired of it.” Branch’s voice was quiet but firm. “If we keep this up, we’ll lose him again for good.”
“Fine, but I just can’t—” Clay started, but Branch cut him off.
“No, Clay, this isn’t about you. It’s about us. Let’s give John a chance to show he can still be there for us, just like we want to be for him.” Branch reached out, his hand steady.
A tense silence filled the room. Clay could see the earnestness in Branch’s eyes, the vulnerability that only came from being cornered by the past. This wasn’t just an argument anymore; it was a chance for healing. “Fine,” Clay finally said, a slow breath escaping him. “But he needs to understand he can’t go back to the way things were.”
Bruce chimed in, “Then let’s make sure he knows he has to earn it. Slowly. Together.”
“Together,” Branch echoed, an optimistic smile breaking through the tension.
As the brothers settled once more into the pod, Clay felt a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. Perhaps John really could change. Perhaps they could build something new.
Maybe they’d just have to find their way through the broken promises together.
John Dory walked out of the pod, feeling the weight of his brothers' words pressing down on his shoulders like a heavy cloak. The bright colors of the world around him dimmed slightly, and his tail—which often mirrored his mood—shivered in agitation, curling tightly against him. He always thought he was a decent brother, but the guilt that clouded his mind told him otherwise.
As he made his way down the sprawling path lined with colorful flowers and shimmering stones, John couldn’t shake off the memories of the past. The laughter of happier times felt like a distant echo. When had everything gone so wrong? How had he failed them all? Finding himself underneath the vibrant canopy of the nearby grove, he took a deep breath. The sweet scent of the flowers should have soothed him, but it only deepened the bittersweet ache in his heart.
“Hey, Rhonda!” John called, spotting his friend sitting on a large sun-warmed rock near a small waterfall. Her light purple skin glowed against the sun, and her blue and green hair shimmered like a waterfall in the breeze.
“John!” she waved back with a bright smile. “What’s got you looking so serious?”
John approached, forcing a smile to mask the turmoil that lay beneath. “Oh, you know, just brotherly things.” He sat beside her, and she nudged him playfully.
“Brotherly things, huh? Looks like you’ve been having a dramatic play in the pod again.” Rhonda’s tone was teasing, but her eyes were filled with concern. “You know they love you, right?”
“Do they?” John’s voice dropped, filled with uncertainty. “Clay seems to think I’m the worst thing that ever happened to him, and… he’s probably not wrong.”
“Don’t say that! You guys have been through so much together. Yes, they’re hurt. Yes, they’re angry. But it doesn’t mean they don’t care.” She moved slightly closer, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “It’s hard for them, too.”
He looked down at his partially transparent arm, the one made to mask the part he couldn't bear to show. It felt heavier than it should have. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes, Rhonda. I can’t take back what’s happened in the past.”
“You can’t change it, but you can work on building a better future.” She said. “You’re all at a crossroads now. They want you back, John. They want their brother.”
“I don’t know if they can ever forgive me.” The shimmer in John’s eyes was replaced with a thick veil of sadness.
“Just give it time. You’re trying, and I see that. They might not say it, but they do notice.” Rhonda smiled wistfully. “Look, the past is like a track in the sand — it can be washed away, but sometimes, it takes a strong wave.”
John chuckled softly. “You always know what to say.” He paused thoughtfully. “What if I promise to be better? What if I fail again?”
“Then just try again. Promises are only as strong as the effort behind them.” Rhonda pointed at the waterfall splashing rocks below. “You see that? It perseveres despite the rocks in its way. It finds the path of least resistance, but it keeps going. You have to do the same.”
“But how do I do that? I…I don’t even know where to begin.” John rubbed the back of his neck, frustration flaring. “Clay makes it seem impossible.”
“Start small. Talk to Branch or Floyd. They want to hear you, and maybe if you open up a bit, it might help all of you.” Rhonda suggested.
Just then, John’s eyes flickered back toward the pod. He could see faint shadows moving. “I guess I could give it a shot.” He stood up. “Maybe I’ll start by checking on Branch… again.”
“That’s the spirit! Just be honest with him. That’s all any of you need right now,” Rhonda encouraged, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
As John turned away, he felt a shift within him; a newfound determination ignited. He whispered to himself, “I promise I’ll try. I’ll really try.” The weight on his shoulders lightened just a little as he focused on the steps he could take, however small.
---
Meanwhile, back inside the pod, Clay sat in silence, holding his book tightly. Bruce, still concerned, studied him from across the room. “You really need to let this go, Clay.”
Clay scanned the floor for the right words but found none. “You’re right — I just… I don’t want to be disappointed again.” He huffed.
“Disappointment is a part of life. You can’t prepare for everything.” Bruce finally said, his tone firm yet gentle. “Let John show us he’s changed. He needs us, too. He needs you.”
“I’ll believe it when I see it.” Clay replied curtly, staring into his lap, guilt coiling around his insides just as tightly as John’s tail had betrayed his emotions.
At that moment, Branch returned, his face flushed with distress after the argument. “Hey, Clay. Can we talk?”
Clay glanced up, surprised by Branch’s seriousness. “What’s up?”
“I overheard everything… and I don’t want any more fighting, okay? I’m tired of it.” Branch’s voice was quiet but firm. “If we keep this up, we’ll lose him again for good.”
“Fine, but I just can’t—” Clay started, but Branch cut him off.
“No, Clay, this isn’t about you. It’s about us. Let’s give John a chance to show he can still be there for us, just like we want to be for him.” Branch reached out, his hand steady.
A tense silence filled the room. Clay could see the earnestness in Branch’s eyes, the vulnerability that only came from being cornered by the past. This wasn’t just an argument anymore; it was a chance for healing. “Fine,” Clay finally said, a slow breath escaping him. “But he needs to understand he can’t go back to the way things were.”
Bruce chimed in, “Then let’s make sure he knows he has to earn it. Slowly. Together.”
“Together,” Branch echoed, an optimistic smile breaking through the tension.
As the brothers settled once more into the pod, Clay felt a flicker of hope ignite in his chest. Perhaps John really could change. Perhaps they could build something new.
Maybe they’d just have to find their way through the broken promises together.