[Setting]
Elliot, Claire, and the god are all still at the park after the pineapple exchange. The old lady has left, and Claire is trying to keep the goat from nibbling on someone’s discarded picnic basket. Elliot is sitting on the edge of the gazebo, staring down at the map, looking increasingly frustrated.
Elliot (exasperated, shaking the map in the god’s direction): “Alright, enough is enough. I followed the map. I went to the bench, the tree, the fountain—each time, I found some random carving or a saxophone player who just ‘happened’ to be there. And then, what do I get? Pineapple chunks from a nice old lady. I’m tired of all these… small moments. I want answers. Real ones.”
The god, still in their adventurer outfit, is leaning casually against one of the gazebo’s wooden columns, looking absolutely unbothered. They smile, as if Elliot’s frustration is exactly what they expected.
God of Coincidence (nodding sagely): “Ah, Elliot, my dear seeker. I understand your frustration. Truly, I do. You want meaning. You want truth. You want something with weight—something that makes all these seemingly random adventures add up to something profound.”
Elliot (nodding vigorously, pointing at the god): “Yes! Exactly that. I’m done with goat chases and pineapple slices. If there’s some deeper point to all this, I need you to just tell me. No riddles. No saxophone solos. Just. The. Truth.”
God of Coincidence (looking thoughtful, tilting their head): “Hmm. Truth. It’s such a heavy word, isn’t it? And you know, Elliot, sometimes the truth is not something one can simply be given. Sometimes, one must earn it.”
Elliot’s eyes widen in disbelief, and he throws his hands up in frustration, getting up from the gazebo bench.
Elliot (almost yelling): “Earn it? What do you think I’ve been doing this whole time? I’ve followed maps, I’ve met saxophone players, I’ve done every ridiculous thing you’ve asked of me! If that’s not earning it, then what is?!”
The god watches Elliot’s outburst with a calm expression, waiting for him to finish. They finally push off from the column, stepping forward, their eyes meeting Elliot’s with a rare intensity.
God of Coincidence (quietly, but with a weight that catches Elliot off guard): “Alright, Elliot. I hear you. You want a hard truth. I can promise you that, next time we meet, I will give you exactly that—a truth. One with weight. One with meaning. A truth that may give you the insight you’ve been seeking… or perhaps a truth that will lead you to the answer you’re not quite ready for.”
Elliot (breathing heavily, his frustration easing into suspicion): “You’re serious? No tricks, no cryptic games—just an actual, honest answer?”
God of Coincidence (nodding, holding up a hand as if swearing an oath): “No tricks, Elliot. I will give you truth. I’ll even give you a choice—foresight or hindsight. One will show you what lies ahead, one will reveal the meaning of what has come before. But either way, it will be a hard truth, and it will be real. I promise.”
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Claire (walking over, the goat still tugging on the leash she’s holding, glancing between Elliot and the god): “Wait, you’re really going to tell him the truth? No riddles or anything?”
God of Coincidence (smiling, looking almost amused): “Not a single riddle. Just truth. But remember, Elliot, truth can be a double-edged sword. The answer may not be the one you expect… or even the one you want.”
Elliot (frowning, still skeptical): “I don’t care. At this point, I just need something that makes sense—a direction, a reason. I need to know if all of this is leading somewhere, or if it’s just one big cosmic joke.”
God of Coincidence (nodding, their tone almost gentle now): “Very well. Next time, you will get your answer. Whether it’s what you want, or what you need, only time will tell.”
They reach into their pocket and pull out a coin—one Elliot recognizes immediately. It’s the same coin from before, the one they used to make the decision that led to the saxophone player. The god holds it up, flipping it into the air.
God of Coincidence: “Heads, foresight. Tails, hindsight. The choice is yours, Elliot—but choose wisely. Not every truth brings comfort.”
Elliot (staring at the coin as it spins in the air, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him): “I’ll… I’ll choose next time. When you’re actually ready to tell me. But you’d better keep your promise. No more games.”
God of Coincidence (catching the coin and slipping it back into their pocket, smiling warmly): “As you wish. Next time, Elliot. You have my word.”
Elliot exhales, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The god’s promise feels heavy, real, and for the first time, he feels like he might be standing on the brink of something important. Or maybe it’s just another trick, another layer to this cosmic absurdity.
Claire (patting Elliot’s shoulder, giving him a sympathetic smile): “Hey, at least you’ve got a promise, right? Maybe this time, you’ll actually get some answers.”
Elliot (nodding, his expression a mix of hope and doubt): “Yeah… maybe. I guess we’ll see.”
The god of coincidence tips their mismatched hat, giving Elliot one last nod before turning to leave. As they walk away, they call over their shoulder, their voice light and teasing again.
God of Coincidence: “Until next time, Elliot! Truth awaits—whether you’re ready for it or not!”
Elliot watches them go, feeling that familiar mix of frustration and curiosity. He turns to Claire, who’s still struggling with the goat.
Elliot (sighing, shaking his head): “I don’t know, Claire. Part of me feels like I’m about to get some real answers. And part of me feels like I’m walking straight into another trap.”
Claire (smiling, giving the goat a gentle tug to pull it away from the picnic basket): “Well, either way, I guess you won’t be bored. And who knows, maybe this time, you’ll finally get that treasure you’ve been after.”
Elliot (laughing bitterly): “Yeah, right. Knowing them, it’ll probably be a goat dressed as a philosopher.”
Claire (grinning): “Hey, at least it’d be memorable.”
Elliot chuckles, shaking his head, the weight of the god’s promise still hanging over him. For once, he feels like he’s been given a choice—something real, something with meaning. Foresight or hindsight, a truth that could finally make sense of everything… or nothing at all.
Elliot (quietly, almost to himself): “Next time, I’ll get my answer. One way or another.”
[End Scene]
[retcon:1]