The living room was unusually quiet.
No salsa remixes. No floating teacups. No disco lights. Just Rey, sitting on the couch, a steaming mug in his hand, watching a faint wisp of smoke curl lazily from the teapot on the table.
The genie was already out, but this time… he wasn't dancing.
He sat cross-legged midair, levitating just a foot above the carpet, a floating clipboard in one hand, reading glasses perched crookedly on his nose.
Beans was beside him on the armrest, wearing a tiny velvet cape and equally tiny gold-rimmed glasses. She had a glittery pen in her mouth and a clipboard of her own, because of course she did.
Rey blinked at the scene. "Is this… a school project?"
The genie looked up. "We're making a list."
"A list of what?"
"Reasons to live."
Rey choked on his tea.
"GENIE."
"No pressure! No pressure," the genie said, raising both hands. "I just figured… you know. The whole one-year-countdown-to-possible-death situation. Might be good to start hunting."
He snapped his fingers. A large holographic list shimmered into view above the coffee table. It was titled:
✨ REY'S REASONS TO STAY ALIVE ✨(working title. subject to edits, glitter, and divine chaos)
Rey squinted. Underneath, there were only two entries:
Beans
Don't know yet
He stared. Then laughed, dryly. "Wow. Inspiring."
"It's a work in progress," the genie said brightly. "So. Let's add. What did you used to love before things… got heavy?"
Rey leaned back, arms crossed. "I don't know."
"Wrong. You painted."
"That doesn't count anymore."
"WRONGER," the genie said, floating closer and bopping him on the head with the clipboard. "You painted orchard fields in your sleep. That's obsession."
Beans made a sound like a judge agreeing from the bench.
Rey sighed. "Fine. Add… finish one painting."
"DONE." The clipboard dinged. The holographic list glowed.
Finish one painting
The genie grinned. "Now we're cooking with purpose."
He turned to Beans. "Her Majesty?"
Beans licked her paw. Then, very deliberately, tapped her clipboard with the pen.
The genie translated: "She suggests 'eat more shrimp and nap in sunbeams' but I'm adapting that to 'find comfort in small things.'"
Rey tried to hide the softening in his face.
"Add it," he said quietly.
Find comfort in small things
They kept going.
Some items were serious:
Find out why the orchard haunts my dreams
Stop feeling afraid of living
Learn to sleep again
Some were weird:
Learn to dance. Badly.
Buy a ridiculous coat for no reason
Hug someone without flinching
And some were just… Rey:
Make tea that doesn't taste like fire
Feed Beans better snacks
Laugh, really laugh, even if it's stupid
Eventually, the list shimmered with over a dozen glowing lines, suspended in midair like a constellation.
Rey looked up at it. He didn't say anything.
But something in his chest felt… less collapsed.
"Look," the genie said softly. "You don't have to know the answer right now. But the fact that you're willing to ask? That's already a win."
Rey didn't respond, but his hand found Beans', and she headbutted his knuckles.
The genie floated higher, reading the list with mock-seriousness. "Still think we should've added 'wrestle a swan.' Missed opportunity."
"Try it," Rey said dryly, "and I'll paint a mural of you losing."
The genie gasped. "HE SPEAKS. HE FIGHTS BACK."
Rey smiled. Just a little.
And above him, the list glowed brighter.