[Setting: A Quiet, Hidden Garden Café]

Claire sits at a small table in a tucked-away café, flipping through her phone as she waits for her coffee. The place is charming—overgrown ivy, mismatched chairs, and fairy lights strung between the trees. A small fountain trickles nearby, lending an air of calm to the otherwise bustling city outside its walls.

Across from her, Felicity, God of Happy Accidents, arrives with two steaming cups of coffee, setting them down with a knowing smile. Today, she’s wearing a floral sundress, looking entirely too cheerful for a casual coffee outing.

Felicity (leaning back in her chair, smirking): “Well, aren’t you just a bundle of seriousness today.”

Claire (without looking up): “Deadlines. Work. Life. You know, the usual.”

Felicity (teasingly): “Ah, the trifecta of excuses. Perfect. Let’s do something unusual instead.”

Claire (raising an eyebrow): “Unusual? With you? That’s like saying the sky might be blue. What’s your angle, Felicity?”

Felicity (grinning): “Oh, I don’t know. Let’s just call it... planting seeds.”

[Scene 1: A Stroll Through the Garden]

The two take their coffee and meander through the garden, Felicity leading the way with an unhurried confidence. She pauses by a particularly unruly rosebush, examining it with exaggerated care.

Felicity (musing): “You know, Claire, roses are funny little things. You think they grow just because they’re supposed to, but really... they only bloom when they feel like it. Stubborn, but kind of inspiring, don’t you think?”

Claire (sipping her coffee): “Not everything has to be a metaphor, you know.”

Felicity (with mock shock): “And miss the chance to make your life feel more poetic? Perish the thought.”

She plucks a single petal and twirls it between her fingers, before letting it drift to the ground.

[Scene 2: The Bench of Confessions]

They find an old wooden bench under a sprawling oak tree, where they sit in comfortable silence for a moment. Felicity looks unusually thoughtful, staring out at the garden as though seeing something Claire can’t.

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Felicity (quietly): “Do you ever feel like you’re being... prepared for something? Like everything you’ve ever done is leading you to a place you can’t quite see yet?”

Claire (frowning): “That’s oddly specific. And kind of unnerving.”

Felicity (grinning): “Good. It’s supposed to be.”

Claire opens her mouth to respond, but Felicity cuts her off with a story—abrupt and unprompted, as usual.

[Narrative Sprawl Begins]

Felicity:

“There was once a girl who lived in a little cottage at the edge of the woods. She wasn’t particularly remarkable—just an ordinary girl with ordinary chores and an ordinary life. Or so she thought.

“One day, while she was hanging laundry, an old woman appeared—frazzled, muttering something about lost keys and misbehaving crows. The girl, being polite, invited her in for tea.

“Turns out, the old woman wasn’t old at all. Or a woman. She was a god in disguise, testing the girl to see if she was worthy of something more. And wouldn’t you know it, by the end of the day, the girl found herself saddled with an extraordinary task—saving the world, or maybe just her little corner of it.”

Claire (skeptical): “And she just... agreed? No questions asked?”

Felicity (shrugging): “Not at first. She fought it, of course. Who wouldn’t? But here’s the thing about being chosen for something, Claire. It doesn’t matter if you agree. The choice isn’t really yours. It’s the task that finds you, not the other way around.”

Claire (narrowing her eyes): “Is this your roundabout way of telling me I’ve got chores in my future?”

Felicity (laughing): “Oh, much bigger than chores, my dear. But don’t worry. You’re more ready than you think.”

[Scene 3: A Mystery Unfolds]

As they walk back toward the café, Felicity pauses at the fountain, tossing in a coin with a flick of her wrist. Claire watches, intrigued despite herself.

Claire (casually): “What’d you wish for?”

Felicity (smiling slyly): “Who says I was the one wishing?”

Claire: “Okay, cryptic much? If you’re trying to freak me out, you’re doing a great job.”

Felicity (stepping closer): “Not trying to freak you out. Just... planting seeds, remember?”

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small packet of actual seeds, pressing it into Claire’s hand before walking off toward the café.

Claire (calling after her): “What am I supposed to do with these?”

Felicity (without looking back): “Grow something. Or don’t. It’s up to you.”

[Scene 4: A Subtle Hint]

Claire sits back at the café table, staring at the packet of seeds. Something about the whole encounter feels off—not in a bad way, but in the way that makes your skin tingle like you’re on the edge of something big.

She looks up as Felicity returns, sliding into her seat with a triumphant grin.

Claire (narrowing her eyes): “You know something I don’t, don’t you?”

Felicity (smirking): “Oh, Claire. I know lots of things. But the real question is... how much do you already know and just haven’t figured out yet?”

Claire (groaning): “You’re insufferable.”

Felicity (raising her coffee cup in a toast): “And yet, here you are. Coincidence? Or something more?”

Claire glares at her but can’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

[End Scene]

[retcon:1]