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Chapter 2 - C:2

The episode starts with a new day at Central Perk, the bustling café where the group of friends usually gather. Rosé is seated at his usual spot near the window, smoking casually while flipping through the pages of a book. His deep pink hair catches the light from the window, and his relaxed posture shows how comfortable he is in this environment. He's been coming here regularly, building a quiet routine, enjoying the atmosphere, and occasionally interacting with Ross, who he's grown to like.

Today, Ross walks in looking slightly nervous, fidgeting as he orders his coffee and approaches Rosé. "Hey," Ross greets him with a tight smile, slipping into the seat across from him. Rosé looks up, slowly closing his book and raising an eyebrow.

"Morning, Ross," Rosé says, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "You seem... on edge. Everything alright?"

Ross sighs, nodding slowly. "Yeah, yeah, everything's fine. It's just that... I wanted to introduce you to my friends. You know, like, make things a bit more... official."

Rosé smirks slightly, exhaling smoke and leaning back in his seat. "Ah, I see. So I'm finally meeting the inner circle, am I?"

Ross chuckles nervously. "Yeah, something like that. I think you'll like them. They're a bit... quirky, but we're kind of like family."

Rosé nods, intrigued by the idea of meeting the people Ross considers family. He had seen them come and go, often in lively conversation, but hadn't yet interacted with them. "I'm sure it'll be... interesting," Rosé replies with a slight smile.

Just as he says that, the door to Central Perk swings open, and in comes Monica, Ross's sister, with Rachel following closely behind. Monica spots Ross and waves, leading the way to their usual couch. Behind them, Joey and Chandler stroll in, Joey sporting his signature smile and Chandler making a sarcastic comment to Joey as they approach. Phoebe is the last to arrive, carrying her guitar and looking as whimsical as ever.

"Guys, over here!" Ross calls, waving his friends over. They all head toward the table where Ross and Rosé are sitting, curiosity evident on their faces as they approach.

"Hey, Ross," Monica greets, then glances at Rosé. "Who's your friend?"

Ross stands up, a bit awkwardly, gesturing toward Rosé. "Everyone, this is Rosé. He's... uh, he's new in town. We've been hanging out a bit. Rosé, this is my sister Monica, my friends Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, and Rachel."

Rosé rises from his seat, towering over them at 6'8", and extends his hand. His crimson pink eyes take in each of them with a calm, collected gaze. "Pleasure to meet you all," he says in his smooth, deep voice.

Monica shakes his hand first, blinking up at him in surprise at how tall he is. "Wow, you're... you're really tall."

Rosé chuckles softly. "So I've been told."

Joey steps forward next, grinning. "Hey, man. You ever do any acting? With your height and, you know, those looks, you could totally be in movies."

Rosé's smile widens slightly as he shakes Joey's hand. "No acting for me, but I appreciate the thought."

Chandler, not one to miss an opportunity, pipes up. "Oh great, another guy who makes the rest of us feel like hobbits. Fantastic."

Rosé raises an eyebrow at Chandler, his lips curving into a playful smirk. "I don't think you have to worry about that, Chandler. I'm sure you've got plenty of charm of your own."

Chandler's eyes widen in mock surprise. "Charm, you say? Well, that's a first. Usually, I get 'awkward' or 'weird.' I'll take 'charm,' though."

Rachel steps forward next, giving Rosé a polite smile. "Hi, nice to meet you. So, you're new in town? Where are you from?"

Rosé shakes her hand gently, his gaze softening. "Nice to meet you as well. I've moved around quite a bit, so I don't really have one place I call home. But I like it here so far."

Phoebe, still strumming absentmindedly on her guitar, tilts her head at Rosé. "I can tell you've got a deep, mysterious vibe going on. Do you play music?"

Rosé's eyes flicker with amusement. "I do, actually. I've been known to play a few instruments."

Phoebe beams. "Oh, that's great! We should totally jam sometime. I can feel the creative energy already."

Ross, sensing that the introductions have gone well, sits down again, motioning for everyone else to join them. They all sit, some in chairs around the table, while Joey and Chandler take the nearby couch. The conversation starts to flow naturally, with each of them trying to get to know Rosé a little better.

"So, Rosé," Monica starts after a moment, "what do you do? You know, for work?"

"I own some properties here and there," Rosé replies casually, not giving too much detail. "Investments, mostly."

Chandler's eyebrows shoot up. "Oh, great. So you're one of those guys who just casually owns properties? No big deal. Meanwhile, I'm out here still trying to figure out what it is I actually do at my job."

Rosé chuckles softly. "It's not as glamorous as it sounds, trust me."

Joey leans in, always curious. "Wait, wait. So you're like, a landlord? Or a businessman? Or both?"

"More or less," Rosé replies, taking another drag of his cigarette. "But I don't let it define me. I prefer keeping things... simple."

Phoebe, nodding sagely, adds, "Simplicity is key. Like when I'm writing a song. The best ones are always the simplest."

Rachel, who had been quiet for a moment, suddenly perks up. "So, Rosé, what do you do for fun? Like, do you have any hobbies?"

Rosé smiles, enjoying the casual atmosphere. "I enjoy reading, playing music, and... smoking, as you can see." He gestures to the cigarette between his fingers. "It helps me relax."

Joey claps his hands together. "Oh man, we should totally have a guys' night! You, me, Ross, and Chandler. We could grab some beers, hang out, maybe shoot some pool."

Chandler nods. "Yeah, that sounds like fun. Although, fair warning, I'm terrible at pool."

Ross, chiming in, adds, "I think it sounds like a good idea. Rosé, what do you think?"

Rosé takes a thoughtful drag of his cigarette before nodding. "Sure, I'm up for it. It'll be a nice change of pace."

As the conversation flows, the group falls into their usual banter, with Chandler cracking jokes, Joey telling stories about his acting gigs, and Phoebe occasionally strumming a tune on her guitar. Rosé watches them with quiet amusement, observing the close-knit dynamic they share.

At some point, the topic shifts to relationships, with Ross mentioning his recent divorce. The atmosphere grows a little tense as Ross hesitates before speaking, clearly uncomfortable discussing it.

"Yeah, uh... Carol and I... we split up," Ross says, running a hand through his hair. "She... she's with someone else now."

Monica gives her brother a sympathetic look, while Joey and Chandler exchange awkward glances. Rachel shifts uncomfortably, and Phoebe, always the free spirit, simply nods as if she understands the cosmic flow of life.

Rosé doesn't say much, but his presence is reassuring. He listens quietly, sensing Ross's discomfort, and simply offers a nod of understanding. He doesn't push for details or offer advice, knowing that sometimes silence and support are all that's needed.

The conversation eventually moves on, and the group relaxes again, laughing and joking as the afternoon wears on. By the time they're ready to leave, Rosé feels a sense of acceptance from them—a subtle but significant acknowledgment that he's now part of their world, even if only on the periphery.

As they all stand to leave, Monica turns to Rosé with a smile. "You should come over sometime. We usually have game nights or hangouts at the apartment. It's fun. You'd fit right in."

Rosé returns her smile, nodding. "I'll keep that in mind."

Joey pats Rosé on the back as they head toward the door. "Catch you later, man. Let's definitely do that guys' night soon."

Chandler gives Rosé a mock salute. "Stay tall, my friend."

Phoebe waves her hand in a whimsical gesture. "Catch you in the musical ether, Rosé."

Rachel offers a friendly smile. "See you around, Rosé."

Ross, looking a little relieved that everything went well, claps Rosé on the shoulder. "Thanks for coming, man. I'll see you later?"

Rosé nods. "Yeah, see you around, Ross."

As they all leave the café, Rosé stays behind for a moment, watching them walk down the street. He takes a long drag of his cigarette, exhaling the smoke slowly as he watches the sun set behind the buildings. There's a sense of quiet satisfaction in him—a feeling that, in this bustling, chaotic city, he's found something... worth sticking around for.

Rosé taps the ash from his cigarette and, with a slight smile, turns and walks out of Central Perk, heading toward the night with a sense of newfound connection.