Half-Baked... Sort Of [Brazil and Holland]

[Pangea]

Never let it be said that Maarten and Rodrigo didn't know how to have a good time. Sitting in Holland's living room, the necessary "tools," as it were, were assembled on the table in front of them.

"Thanks for inviting me over, meu," Brazil intoned, lounging in his chair and grinning like a loon. Nodding tersely, Maarten started rolling their first, his expression his usual passive irritation.

A gnome walked out from behind Rodrigo's chair. A high pitched shriek issuing from him, Brazil jumped, staring. "Wh-what the hell is that?!"

Holland just stared, eyes darting between the joint and the gnome, eyes wide and surprised. "...I have GOT to lay off this shit," he muttered, laying the offending item back on the table.

"I'll say," said the gnome, scowling. "You haven't been listening to me for the last fifty years because of it." Plopping down between them, he cleared his throat. "I came with a message, and God help you if you don't pay attention this time."

[Maarten de Vries]

Maarten gave another glance at the joint on the table. He was quite sure that he didn't have any that morning, he saved the good stuff for the night with Rodrigo. Did it get mixed up with his tabacco? He was about to ignore the gnome when he realized that Rodrigo was the one who jumped.

A quick glance at the still startled Brazillian confirmed that the gnome in front of them was very much, well there. At least, he didn't think Rodrigo had anything yet. He poked the creature's hat with one finger. Yep, definitely tangible too. He had the urge to pick up his joint again, it felt rather silly to hallucinate without being high. In fact it sounded more like the onset of madness. He rubbed his temples.

"Gast, I do enjoy my conversations with hallucinations," he said, watching the gnome. "But I know better than to listen to them." Not that they were usually that good conversationalist either way. Of course, they were very interesting when you were high, but then you sobered up and somehow realize you've been talking about the deeper meaning of why the sun isn't blue instead of orange, because dude, it would be like sea.

He gave another look at Rodrigo, they didn't smoke yet did they? Were they so high already they forgot they did?

[Rodrigo Silva]

Rodrigo repeatedly looked from Holland to the gnome and from the gnome to Holland. The only possibility that matched with the scene simply couldn’t be, since it was still untouched on the table, and he was pretty sure he had nothing like that up to that moment. And both of them were seeing the exact same thing. In a similar manner as Maarten, he poked the gnome’s forehead lightly, letting a surprised gasp escape from his mouth and taking one step back by reflex. That gnome was real.

Real.

And he was talking to them.

The Brazilian vividly stared at the small being oblivious to what he said, with mixed feelings about the situation. What won over, in the end, was the curiosity, as he waited for what else the gnome would do. “You should have waited a little more to show up, little buddy… just a little more” and then this would make all the sense of the world.

[Pangea]

The gnome scowled between them. "That's awful stuff, you know. Kills brain cells. Which," he added, staring pointedly at Rodrigo, "you do not seem to have any to spare." Hopping up on the coffee table and knocking the joints off in the process, the little gnome pulled out his own pipe, lighting the fragrant tobacco before leaning back, getting comfortable.

"You're not safe," he said, his face now serious. "Anywhere. Things are afoot, things even my brothers and I don't fully understand. All we know is that there are more of us, and more things we thought had vanished." Puffing a little ring of smoke from his mouth, he inhaled again, as though for fortification. "It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if something attacked you both today." It was almost comical, how serious he was.

[Rodrigo Silva]

“Hey!” Rodrigo protested at the gnome’s accusation loudly. “My brain cells are just fine, thank you…” he mumbled, observing as the gnome started smoking tobacco. Yeah, tobacco is just way better, sure… but he soon cut his scowling thoughts as the small creature started to talk about the nations being in danger.

Sitting on the chair next to him, the Brazilian began to think about the gnome’s words, giggling a little at the last ones. “Not safe, eh? Well… you might be right, little buddy…” he said seriously, but sounding a little distant. “After all, the creatures of your kind never really disappear… and there are too many mysteries in this world to name… or list…” Rodrigo balanced the chair on two feet, staring at the ceiling. “But even these creatures have their own rules about how to act… and I’m sure we’re not doing anything specific to enrage anyone, plus it’s not any special day of the year… and I’ve seen nothing weird around here today…” then he added with a laugh “besides you of course-- kidding . But I know you’re here to help because…” Rodrigo cleaned his throat, before singing.

“Gnomos não nascem do pé, gnomos não brotam do chão.
E a mente fluente é que é seu meio de reprodução.
Gnomos são nossos amigos, gnomos não são perigosos.
Gnomos são inofensivos e amigos dos mais grandiosos.
Eu vi gnomos... ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaaa.”

That would sound funnier if he were a little out of himself, he wondered.

Putting the chair back into its original position with a loud bang, he stared at the gnome, intrigued. “What’s really going on?”

---
((Just for everyone who's wondering, Rodrigo is singing THIS song, and the part on the post can be translated as:
"Gnomes are not born from the stalk, gnomes don't brout from the ground
And the flowing mind is their way of reproduction.
Gnomes are our friends, gnomes are not dangerous
Gnomes are harmless and friends of the grand...
I saw gnomes, ha ha ha ha ha haaaa..."))