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Bojack and Herb were driving through the LA streets with music quietly playing through Herb's shitty car speakers. They were on their way to the local bar, the place they hung out most. Both of them loved alcohol (Bojack even had a bit of an addiction), so it was a nice place for them to kick back, drink, and joke around.
"I think I wanna try stand-up again" Bojack said at one point during the drive. Herb shot him a glance before returning his gaze to the road. "Have you been writing new material?" he asked, curious. Bojack looked off through his own window, suddenly feeling a small, familiar pit at the bottom of his stomach. "I was just gonna wing it"
"Hmm" Herb replied. Bojack felt his anxiety spike slightly at this. What the fuck does 'hmm' even mean? The familiar voice in his head droned. It wasn't a constant voice but it showed up whenever he was particularly anxious. It could be a good 'hmm' like he agrees but it could ALSO be a bad 'hmm' and he disapproves. Shit. But before his thoughts could spiral more, Herb continued
"I think you can pull it off" Herb said, making Bojack's worries vanish. "Just don't do the thing where you ask the audience if they get it and don't act like a dumbass" he continued bluntly. Bojack cringed at the memory of his first performance. He always had really conflicted feelings on that moment.
On the one hand, it was incredibly embarrassing. But, on the other hand, that's when he met Herb. It was both an embarrassing moment while also one of the best moments of his life at that point in time. "Yeah" Bojack replied with a slightly sarcastic tone. "Noted"
"Hey" Herb said, shooting another glance at Bojack "Don't be like that. You'll do good out there" he said with a reassuring tone "You're one of the funniest guys I know. You got nothing to worry about. Just work off the audience. Poke fun at them a bit. Tell a story or two. You'll do great!"
"I guess" Bojack replied with uncertainty "But what if I pick drink some water and start choking on it?" He continued, beginning to vocalize his more iteration thoughts "And then, trying to cough it out, I spill water onto the stage and then it hits the wires and I slip and fall and knock over shit and then the whole fucking stage catches on fire and then-"
"Okay, Bojack?" Herb cut off "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you briefly drinking water isn't gonna end in a massive, deadly fire" he said with a hint of sarcasm. Bojack let out a long exhale "Yeah, you're right" he replied "I just- I don't know. The last time I did this, it crashed and burned so I guess I'm just nervous"
He paused and then thought of something "What is with the phrase 'go out on a limb'?" He asked rhetorically, a smile forming on his face. Herb took this as a win. Bojack was no longer worrying about being able to improvise a bit, instead making one before they even got to the bar.
"I know, right?" Herb replied, "It sounds like you're getting killed with only one limb left!" He joked, making Bojack chuckle. "What is this, war?" He replied with a smile "Oh, sorry doc, I didn't realize my limbs were gone. Time for a lethal injection, I guess" The horse continued.
And they just continued like that until they reached the bar, joking about the ridiculousness of different phrases and just enjoying one another's presence. They soon arrived at the bar, and wrapped up the bit around that same time, falling into silence.
"You ready, Bojack?" Herb asked, looking at him with a smile. Bojack took a deep breath and turned to Herb with a similar, loving smile.
"Yeah" he replied "Now I am"