#I am just so tired aall the time

[ravenmoodle]

character design- ough

sometimes you just gotta draw some messed up lil guys to make you feel better

[avoxica]

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[ofyourmightyharmxnies]

[TW INCOMING MELTDOWN.]

[another pause, except this one felt more poignant. he is typing..]

> I I do you ever get the feeling that In some way We ar edoomed? Because I feel like I am in a way I feel. I haven't felt this hard and so much since my year long dark period when having my boy Fundy myvsweet boy Oh how I love him but sometimes It hurts to look at him sometimes because of how much he reminds me So so deeply about how sad I was back then

> of how helpless and miserable I felt when I had hi m because I never want ed him at all espeically when I wa sstill so young and I hadn't figured out what i wanted to dod wit h my life.. Sally promsied sally my dear promised me that she would be with me through it aall and I believed her i belieeved her because she showed how patient she wa swith me when I coildnt do anything when i did nothtung but cry all the time and stare off to hours on noe nd

> she wa ss O nice. i miss her sos much. she just never came back hoem eone day and That still mad eme So sad because shes the one that wanted to have a family even when iw asnt ready andn annd she just never cam e back homee and now i stitll feel so stupid about that like damn evene up to this day i still feel like im the fuckibg fool for taking it all seriously and now i wa sleft alone with my baby an d i couldnt i didnt jnow what else to do. i had to ask my da d and brother for r help

> i kept s eeking i kept runningbfor dreams to chase because i codudl tell that my grasp on my life wa s slipping it was trying to escape through my fingers mybcontrol my EVERHTING was trying to run away from em and the further, and further i try to chase it i get More and More tired. and now wi finally ahve it i i finally figured out what i wanted.

> a land for me to cultivate into a wonderful prosperous nation where where it cna be a home for everyone ei love and my son Oh My Son my dea r son never habd nice home all bevause of Me But thats Okaay now because i will give ehim the home he always neede d thisbis all i cna ever need, want and More because now i have a purpose a Purpose to serve in this narrative of villaisn, heroes, soldiers , poets, kings, gods and all the More and ana d

> Eveyrhting will be just finee.. Eveyrthing should be alrightt. Yes. I have eevryrhting Now an d Now now I just need to worry on not losing it. I cnanot afford to lose it now I have to hold it I hwve to nourish it I have to I have to live through it I juet have to bear the days where it feels like the same again the days where I felt so helpless and afraid and betrayed i thought i left it all behind before th ewar BUT IT HAPEPEND AGAIN IN THE WA R IT HAPEPEND AGAIN AND ITS HAPEPENING AGAIN THE THIRD TIME na dIm so s fare dim so scare d these constant nightmares and those things at the corner of my eyes will NEVER LEAVE ME Alone they wiell never leave me alone wont they even afte rI lost and Sacrificied so Much of Myself to them Htye just Want More I

> i iI iIi I

> Oh Shit thar s a Lot iM Quite sorry.

H-Hello President Soot!

I..um.. just wanted to say I hope you're doing alright! I'm sure it's reallllly busy and stressful being a president, so make sure to take breaks and try to get rest when you can okay?

A lot of people look like they care about you a whole lot, so it would make them happy too if you're happy!

-💜🌌

Another bunch of kind words.. Thank you, I truly don't deserve you all. I assure you that I'll be fine, Mx. 💜🌌.. You needn't fret too much, I'm quite sorry that you had to.

[katelides]

Bechloe Week Day 3:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13011277/1/Bechloe-Week-2018

https://archiveofourown.org/works/15404181/chapters/35751621

Bechloe Week Day 3: Drunk Texting

It’s Friday evening which means that everyone is preparing to go out, in the Bellas house. Everyone, except for one person... Beca Mitchell. The brunette had just walked into the chaos that she had grown used to over the course of 4 years. She easily dodges a shoe flying towards her and absentmindedly waving up to Lilly who as usual is hanging upside down from the ceiling.

She quietly makes her way into the kitchen and opens up the fridge and takes out a pre-prepared plate made specially for her by Chloe. They still had a few weeks left until graduation and had returned a week ago from their retreat. Things were going extremely well between all of them and the girls all made sure to give Beca space after her shifts at Residual Heat, especially since she got a raise after the amazing demo she made with Emily.

Usually everyone would cook for themselves yet Chloe couldn’t bare seeing a tired Beca coming home, not having food ready for her. Maybe it had something to do with the feeling she has for her but who can really tell. Beca doesn’t notice Chloe walk up behind her as she was heating up the pasta that Chloe had made for her. So it’s no surprise that she slightly jumps up when the redhead taps her on the shoulder.

“Dude!” Beca screeches, which makes Chloe laugh. “Not funny Chlo, you scared the hell out of me.” The redhead holds her hands up. “Sorry Becs, I just wanted to know if you were going to join us for a night out?” Beca shakes her head. “I’m sorry Chlo but I need to work on the setlist of the Worlds so we can put the final touches on the choreo and music on Sunday. My boss wants me to work on another demo for a big client as well and I need to study for my finals.”

The brunette is slight out of breath by the time she finishes her tiny rant because she was speaking so fast. “Whoa Becs relax, it’s ok, I totes understand. Don’t worry, I was just asking because...” The redhead trails off slightly. “Because what Chlo?” Chloe bites her lower lip in a way that makes Beca’s insides churn. “Because I miss spending time with you?” Beca smiles gently at her best friend and opens up her arms, inviting Chloe in for a hug. “I miss spending time with you as well, I promise I’ll hang out with you tomorrow while you’re recovering from your hangover.”

Of course Chloe doesn’t pass up an opportunity to hug the brunette. She smiles into the crook of Beca’s neck. “I though you were hanging out with Jesse?” Chloe suddenly remembers. “Uhmm...” Beca thinks about the issue at hand but shrugs soon after. “I saw him yesterday, and I can always tell him I need to discuss the worlds with you.” No matter how much she would like to, Beca would never admit that she‘d rather spend time with Chloe than her own boyfriend.

Chloe raises her brow to question her best friend but doesn’t actually get a chance. “Really Chloe, I want to spend more time with you as well, and Jesse is moving to LA anyway next week so we’ll see how things go anyway. I mean we’ll have to get used to not seeing each other every day at some point, right?” The redhead is a little bit surprised at the unfazed tone Beca was speaking in. If it was her boyfriend leaving she would be devastated but still, Beca always wanted to go to LA so probably she would go up there after graduation and worlds.

“Do you need my help picking out an outfit or will you just show me when you’re ready?” Chloe thinks about it and shakes her head. “Why don’t you come up when you finish your dinner? I’ll have some outfits ready and you can help me pick the best one out.” Beca rolls her eyes playfully. “I’ll eat when you guys leave. Lets get you ready for tonight.”

Over an hour later all of the the Bellas minus Beca had gone out, leaving the brunette to work on her things. They had no idea how much Beca actually needs this time alone. Her entire life has been turned upside down in only one afternoon. She had wanted to to talk to Chloe about it but chickened out in the last minute. If Chloe had only know about the huge fight the brunette had had with her boyfriend... ex-boyfriend about her moving to New York instead of LA after graduation she would have never gone out with the rest of the girls.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Beca is sitting at her desk working on the setlist, completely oblivious to what time it is. To her it seems like only one hour had passed yet it had been at least 3 since the girls had left. So it’s no surprise the girl jumps up when she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket. She sees that she has a new text from Chloe. She can’t help the laugh escaping her when she reads her best friend’s text.

[From] CHLOE - 1.24 AM

Yoyre the sweetestest candythin in aall of theuniverse.... sprincles odf sugar on m tastrs

[From] BECA - 1.25 AM

Chloe, are you drunk?

It’s a stupid question but Beca can’t help it, she’s going to tease her friend for a very long time after this.

[From] CHLOE - 1.27 AM

Would you arrest me ref I wass?

[From] BECA - 1.28 AM

No m’am

[From] CHLOE - 1.29 AM

U arw so pollite

[From] BECA - 1.30 AM

Do you need me to pick you up?

[From] CHLOE - 1.33 AM

Te Grllsss say your a partypapr but I need u

[From] BECA - 1.34 AM

I’ll be there in 10 minutes, please be careful until I get there

[From] CHLOE - 1.36 AM

Yaaayyy my bay is cominn for me

Beca decides to ignore the last text and hurries out of the house with just her phone, an extra sweater for Chloe and the keys to Chloe’s car. The redhead is the only one that owns a car and Beca is the only one allowed to drive it. No one really knows why but Fat Amy is still very adamant on it being because Chloe and Beca have huge toners for each other. Yet neither Beca nor Chloe will ever admit to it, out loud.

While driving she receives some more texts from the redhead but none of them are supposed to be sent to her.

[From] CHLOE - 1.38 Beeee Bex is thz best! she is pikin me up

[From] CHLOE - 1.41

I looove her so mach bu she can nevr knooo.. she hot nd I want hr as myy girlfrend stupidd jessse stole myy gril! ned her and scrad to lose her

The brunette reads the texts and smiles to herself. Maybe there is hope for the two of them in the future, especially if the brunette would accept the idea of moving to New York with her.

When Beca arrives Chloe is already outside but not alone. She doesn’t like the looks of the guy trying to kiss Chloe. The redhead is trying to get the guy off of her by putting her arms out and pushing the guy away but the redhead isn’t nearly sober nor strong enough to actually achieve it. So Beca doesn’t hesitate to jump out of the car and pull the guy of off her friend. “Try that again and I’ll break your legs.” The guy drunkly stumbles away, not really understanding what just happened.

“Myyyy safiorrrr.” Chloe slurs as she falls with her full weight into Beca’s arms. “Hey Chlo...” BEca huffs out when she catches the extra weight. “... you good to go home?” The brunette asks as she manages to pull her friend towards the car. “Wiiii my char ya wow how yiou get heere?” Beca chuckles at her best friend’s behaviour and gently manages to sit her down in the car a strap her in. It’s only when Beca is 100% sure that Chloe is safe, that she walks to the other side of the car and gets in herself. She checks on Chloe one more time before starting to drive.

-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-

Chloe wakes up in the morning with a huge head ache and a mouth as dry as the desert. The redhead is confused because she doesn’t understand where she is. She smells something familiar next her and kind of jumps up when she feels something move semi beneath her. She opens her eyes slightly and barely makes out the form of an other person.

Then it suddenly hits her. She sits up in a panic which in turn wakes up the person next to her. “Hmmm? W-what’s wrong?” Chloe instantly recognises the voice and groans at the throbbing headache. “Here, drink some water and and take some painkillers.” Beca says softly while holding out a glass and some pills. Chloe takes them and drinks everything. “Thank you.” She says in a hoarse tone. “That’s alright... uhm how about you lay down a bit longer and I’ll make you breakfast?” Beca offers gently. She only gets up when Chloe nods her head and lays back down.

When Beca returns she finds Chloe sitting up with her legs pulled up and a puzzled look on her face. “How are you feeling?” The brunette whispers, knowing the agony of a hangover headache. Yet the redhead stays quiet for a while, as if she hadn’t even heard her best friend. “Becs, did I do something stupid last night?” The question catches the brunette of guard as she remembers the text messages. “Uhhhmmm I think you should check your phone.”

Chloe raises her brow but does as told. The redhead groans as she re-reads her text messages from the previous night. She lets out a strangled cry when she finds out she sent messages that were supposed to be for Aubrey to Beca. “If you’re wondering if I’m freaked out about the messages, I’m not.” Chloe looks up from her phone, straight into Beca’s eyes. “I’m actually flattered.”

Beca carefully sits down on the edge of the bed, not daring to break eye contact with the other girl. “I mean reading that your best friend thinks you’re hot is kind of nice. But I do want to know why she never told me that she had feelings for me?” The brunette didn’t care about taking things slow at this particular moment. She needs to know wether Chloe really meant what she wrote.

“I uhm... I never told you because you are with Jesse and you seemed happy and I didn’t want to be that friend that ruins relationships.” Chloe lets her head hang low. “Well, at least now I know you really meant your promise last night.” Beca says with a shrug. “What promise?” Chloe asks as she snaps her head up. “You promised to move to New York with me because you can’t imagine living apart from me... And I’ll be honest with you, I can’t imagine living apart from you either.”

“But what about Jesse?” Chloe asks carefully, scared of the answer. “We broke up two days ago, when I told him I’ll be moving to New York because of the promotion I got.” Chloe gasps at the new information. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Beca shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know, I guess I always knew that Jesse and I weren’t meant to be. There’s someone else who is my happy ending, and maybe in the future I’ll have the guts to actually ask her out.”

Chloe chuckles and rolls her eyes, regretting doing that almost instantly. “Maybe once you get settled in New York she’ll accept that date.” Chloe says with a grimace thanks to her pounding head. “I guess that’s a great idea but now I want to cure my best friend from her hangover with a nice breakfast.” Beca points at the pancakes on the bedside table. The two girls dive into the breakfast. Not knowing that in a few months they would be moving to New York with Fat Amy, barely having a chance to do anything about their rapidly growing frustrations as they have to share a bed.

[cybernightwanderer]

I went over the “How to Recognize the Signs of Mental and Emotional Abuse” article and heres whats familiar : 46 out of 64 Signs LOL

-Name-calling. They’ll blatantly call you “stupid,” “a loser,” or words too awful to repeat here. There were too many times my mom would come to my room yelling and threatning to beat, or actually beat me up and call me a whore and a piece of shit. Still does, just doesnt call me a whore now, just calls me stupid and a a piece of shit occasionally. -Character assassination. This usually involves the word “always.” You’re always late, wrong, screwing up, disagreeable, and so on. Basically, they say you’re not a good person. Everyday AALL DAY. Things i used or barely did as a child , and keeps trowing at as an adult. -Yelling. Yelling, screaming, and swearing are meant to intimidate and make you feel small and inconsequential. It might be accompanied by fist-pounding or throwing things. No need to even explain this. -Patronizing. “Aw, sweetie, I know you try, but this is just beyond your understanding.” “Ah nooo, youll never be responsible to have your own life” -Public embarrassment. They pick fights, expose your secrets, or make fun of your shortcomings in public. Yup...

-Dismissiveness. You tell them about something that’s important to you and they say it’s nothing. Body language like eye-rolling, smirking, headshaking, and sighing help convey the same message. Trying to explain to her i dont like something or i dont wanna do something and why, trying to explain certain things she does harms me. And i just get mocked and threatned instead. - Insults of your appearance. They tell you, just before you go out, that your hair is ugly or your outfit is clownish. Every single day. Also to a point that she did this many times in front of strangers, or in front of my friends.

-Belittling your accomplishments. Your abuser might tell you that your achievements mean nothing, or they may even claim responsibility for your success. Yup -Put-downs of your interests. They might tell you that your hobby is a childish waste of time or you’re out of your league when you play sports. Really, it’s that they’d rather you not participate in activities without them. I stopped practising my drawing skills because she would always say i had no future in drawing characters and shitty stuff. Even tho i was starting and practising. That i had no future in it. -Pushing your buttons. Once your abuser knows about something that annoys you, they’ll bring it up or do it every chance they get. Daily picking fights with me, the yells at me for fighting with her and misstreats me. -Threats. Telling you they’ll take the kids and disappear, or saying “There’s no telling what I might do.” Threatning to kick me off the house whenever i refuse to do something she tells me to. For example, a few years ago, i was barely holding on with a minimal wage , she would take a cut out of it, so there was this month i did a whole month without days off to try and gather money to go to barcelona. She knew i had money saved up and threatened to kick me off the house if i didnt give her extra 100 euros for house rent. Usually stuff like this always. -Monitoring your whereabouts. They want to know where you are all the time and insist that you respond to calls or texts immediately. They might show up just to see if you’re where you’re supposed to be. If i go out with my friends or stay in my friends houses, if i go to a concert or anything, she will non stop be calling me and texting until i reply. Even if i already told her who i would be with and where ( i have to tell her always ) And always have to tell what i am doing. If i dont she will be mad for weeks and take it out on me. -Digital spying. They might check your internet history, emails, texts, and call log. They might even demand your passwords. Like the previous one, she asks my aunt to sent her my ig stuff and fb stuff i post, so i had to remove my entire family from my social network. Because she would always come up to me daily “ ah u posted this why? “ wether it would be a selfie or a poem. And is always messaging me on whatsapp and humiliating me and crontrolling wich picture i post on whatsapp. I generaly like to post my user photo of whatsapp as something funny, wether its my face with a filter, or a funny meme. Two months ago i posted a guy with his ass pinned up, wich was hilarious. She kept yelling at me everymorning, and even threatned to hit me , to take the picture down , because it looked bad. The picture was something like this ( not this, but the pose kinda )

- Unilateral decision-making. They might close a joint bank account, cancel your doctor’s appointment, or speak with your boss without asking. ALWAYS does these kinds of things without my consent. I work 12h a day everyday, im always tired, and i barely have money , and she “trying to take care of me “ will settle apointments for really expensive doctors witouth asking me if i even want, and will get mad at me when i tell her to cancel , saying im a big girl that i have to do it, SO i have to take out sometype of time during my busy work day to make a call to cancel something she settled without even asking me , and will be mad for weeks and take it out on me calling me names and shit. And if i dont accept her “ lending me the money for the apointment “ she will get mad and call me ungratfull and stupid. -Financial control. They might keep bank accounts in their name only and make you ask for money. You might be expected to account for every penny you spend. Well yeah.. dont even need to say anything here. - Lecturing. Belaboring your errors with long monologues makes it clear they think you’re beneath them.  Or here... -Direct orders. From “Get my dinner on the table now” to “Stop taking the pill,” orders are expected to be followed despite your plans to the contrary. This daily basis. -Outbursts. You were told to cancel that outing with your friend or put the car in the garage, but didn’t, so now you have to put up with a red-faced tirade about how uncooperative you are. Always calling me lazy and shit for not doing HER OWN STUFF. -Treating you like a child. They tell you what to wear, what and how much to eat, or which friends you can see.  I am 30 years old. -Feigned helplessness. They may say they don’t know how to do something. Sometimes it’s easier to do it yourself than to explain it. They know this and take advantage of it. Whatever happends she always plays the pity party card “ ahh im old” , “ ahhh i had an aneurism ( even tho she has been fine for two/three years now LOL )”, “ ahh my blood pressure “ She used that as an excuse to always ditch arguments or important discussions when she is loosing, and if i dont shut up she will threaten to kick me off the house or beat me. For example the other day she was shamming me out of nowhere from trying to commit suicide, and i told her she was one of the main reasons. She immediatly started to call me names, tried to hit me, and trow me out of the car. -Unpredictability. They’ll explode with rage out of nowhere, suddenly shower you with affection, or become dark and moody at the drop of a hat to keep you walking on eggshells. She flips randomly during the day, im afraid to leave my room. Or that she will enter my room. -They walk out. In a social situation, stomping out of the room leaves you holding the bag. At home, it’s a tool to keep the problem unresolved. She humiliates me in public then randomly walks out. -Using others. Abusers may tell you that “everybody” thinks you’re crazy or “they all say” you’re wrong. She likes to tell her friends and our family how “ irresponsable”, “immature” and no good for nothing i am, and how i am LEECHING her off... LOL -Jealousy. They accuse you of flirting or cheating on them. Usualy when i game or sometimes, ppl call me and talk to me, and she will eavesdropp my conversation and enter my room to hear better, or later wait until i leave the room , to complain about how i treat my friends so well , and speak so well to them , and how it is possible that i talk to her bad all the time and treat her like shit (? LOL ) Well for starters my friends dont misstreat me or call me names, or try to humiliate me or control me LOL or even pick fights with me. She will get mad at me for not wanting to spend time with her, and spending time with my friends. That im ungratefull and a bad daughter. LOL -Turning the tables. They say you cause their rage and control issues by being such a pain. This, that its my fault. That its my fault everything. - Denying something you know is true. An abuser will deny that an argument or even an agreement took place. This is called gaslighting. It’s meant to make you question your own memory and sanity. For example the other day , olso on the car, with the suicide attempt talk, i was trying to explain why and i told her my most painfull memory of her, was her beating me up for not knowing how to solve a math problem in 3rd grade. That she punched me several times because she tought i had awnsered 7 instead of 1. And she started yelling at me saying i made that up and shit. Like bitch i was afraid of doing my homework home because you would beat the crap out of me, instead of teatching me LOL. She once again used the “ blood pressure “ excuse and tried to hit me and kick me off the car in mid highway. -Using guilt. They might say something like, “You owe me this. Look at all I’ve done for you,” in an attempt to get their way. Ahh this is a classic. She says i owe her everything she asks for because SHE BIRTHED ME AND RAISED ME. And she used this argument to manipulate me in everything. -Goading then blaming. Abusers know just how to upset you. But once the trouble starts, it’s your fault for creating it. Yup -Denying their abuse. When you complain about their attacks, abusers will deny it, seemingly bewildered at the very thought of it. According to her, she just does everything she does because she cares LOL. -Accusing you of abuse. They say you’re the one who has anger and control issues and they’re the helpless victim. LOLOLOL cannot say this enought, SHE ACCUSES ME of being the abusive one , simply because i talk back, because i dont wanna be around her and because i fight with her LOL. Even tho she starts the fights and im just defending myself from her. -Trivializing. When you want to talk about your hurt feelings, they accuse you of overreacting and making mountains out of molehills. Yup -Saying you have no sense of humor. Abusers make personal jokes about you. If you object, they’ll tell you to lighten up. Yup -Blaming you for their problems. Whatever’s wrong in their life is all your fault. You’re not supportive enough, didn’t do enough, or stuck your nose where it didn’t belong.  ALSO YUP -Destroying and denying. They might crack your cell phone screen or “lose” your car keys, then deny it. Tried to break my things numerous of times, or trash them or give them away. Wich she did. -Demanding respect. No perceived slight will go unpunished, and you’re expected to defer to them. But it’s a one-way street. Yup... She will  happly tell me how to dress saying what im wearing is ugly, i will politely tell her to stop, she will continue to give her “opinion” i will get tired and yell to stop , she will immediatly demand respect and tell me i have no right to talk back at her and that im disrespectfull and stupid. -Shutting down communication. They’ll ignore your attempts at conversation in person, by text, or by phone. Yup -Dehumanizing you. They’ll look away when you’re talking or stare at something else when they speak to you. Yup -Keeping you from socializing. Whenever you have plans to go out, they come up with a distraction or beg you not to go. Also Yup She wouldnt let me go out if i didnt do my bed, and would make up shit just so i wouldnt go out, until i got tired and gave up. -Trying to come between you and your family. They’ll tell family members that you don’t want to see them or make excuses why you can’t attend family functions. Well she constantly came in between my first real good therapist. I was finally seeing  a good therapist a few years ago. I was finally relieved and tought i could trust him, all of a suddent she demanded to be in the therapy sessions. So in the sessions instead of talking about what upset me and her constant mental abuse, the therapist gave in to her demands, and started adressing HER issues with me. I remenber the LAST time i decided to attend the doctor. He would first attend my mom , then me. So i came up, and he started his usual talks, and i wanted to talk to him that day about the nightmares i was having and if he could help me. And all of a suddent he cut the conversation off by saying “ ah wait so your mother tells be you have been staying a lot of time on your computer “ “ that you dont socialize with your friends and that you dont go out “ I mean i wonder why i get stuck in my pc and dont go out with my friends LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL She would always cut me off from meeting my friends, she would always control me, so i had less interest or courage to make friends year by year. And gaming was the only thing that brought me joy in my shitty depressed life coz i couldnt develop any interests. -Withholding affection. They won’t touch you, not even to hold your hand or pat you on the shoulder. They may refuse sexual relations to punish you or to get you to do something. She wil straight up give me the cold shoulder, ignore me if she is mad because i didnt do something how she wanted. When i had hand surgery, she refused to go with me, or get me. By me it was ok , she didnt need to go or anything. So after surgery i told the doctors i would take myself home, and why. And they didnt allowe me and still called my mom even thought i told them she wouldnt. She treated me so badly after picking me up from the hospital because they called her. -Tuning you out. They’ll wave you off, change the subject, or just plain ignore you when you want to talk about your relationship. Yup -Actively working to turn others against you. They’ll tell co-workers, friends, and even your family that you’re unstable and prone to hysterics. YUP -Calling you needy. When you’re really down and out and reach out for support, they’ll tell you you’re too needy or the world can’t stop turning for your little problems.  YUP -Interrupting. You’re on the phone or texting and they get in your face to let you know your attention should be on them. Yup -Indifference. They see you hurt or crying and do nothing. Yup - Disputing your feelings. Whatever you feel, they’ll say you’re wrong to feel that way or that’s not really what you feel at all. Yup

[serensama]

To Speak

To my dearest Nonny, I hope you are smiling, I hope you find happiness- I am still here if you need me. All of us here are family you can count on. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE INCLUDED SOME FAIRLY HEAVY STUTTERING TO MC’S SPEECH AND I AM NOT TRYING TO MOCK ANYONE. 

Yoosung:

-       It was their first date and everything was going so well…

-       Except… she wasn’t speaking so much… and she blushed and giggled a lot

-       … which was good right? Blushing and giggling meant that she liked him… right?

-       But he’d ask a question and she’d give him one or two word answers, a shake or nod of her head- was she just that nervous around him?

-       Yoosung didn’t push it, didn’t want to rock the boat but after three dates and she’d still barely talked to him he needed to know if there was something wrong. It just didn’t make any sense? She was so chatty via texting he was sure he was going to get carpel tunnel syndrome but as soon as she was face to face with him she’d clam right up.

-       Maybe… maybe that meant she didn’t really like him?

-       Unfortunately, halfway through their fourth date… he just kinda blurted it all out? One long session of paranoid verbal diarrhoea about how scared he was about being boring or if she thought what she had to say wasn’t important to him or maybe she really didn’t like him after all-

-       “N-N-nnn-no! Tha-that’s n-nnot it a-at a-aall” she replied, her cheeks aflame and her eyes brimming with tears. She continued slowly, trying her best to calm herself down so her stuttering didn’t get worse than it already was.

-       She explained to him that she had a profound stutter and that she’s hyper aware of it and would hate for him to be seen in public with a girl who couldn’t even speak properly.

-       Yoosung clapped his hands over his mouth in sad state of shock, his blonde head twisting side to side in disbelief

-       “No, No please don’t think that way MC! I’m so sorry that I asked so abruptly- I never thought it could be for that reason! I’m sorry if I offended or embarrassed you, please forgive me!” he begged, hands clasped together at his forehead in a sign of contrition.

-       The two were a muddle of words and apologies and MC just gave him a kiss to stop him falling over himself with self-flagellation.

-       Yoosung has to admit, he much prefers this way of communicating with her.

-       He then tells MC that he will happily talk to her and she can answer in any way she wants, a nod or a smile a thumbs up or down.

-       Some of their dates consist of him asking questions with only yes or no answers

-       It’s after a few months of truly getting to know him and being with him almost 24/7 that her stuttering starts to improve.

-       One day MC is talking and notices Yoosung staring at her with stars in his eyes so she asks what he’s staring at, “Oh you’ve been talking for the last 15 minutes and haven’t stuttered once.”

-       Which of course makes her stutter come back instantly. 

-       MC slapped her boyfriend on the arm playfully.

-       “Awww MC, stutter or no stutter you know I love you… besides, it’s super cute when you still get flustered around me…”

 Zen:

-       When MC came over that time when he was injured he didn’t even realise that he had talked for most of the stay.

-       To be honest he assumed she was so quiet for the most part because she was so awed by his perfection that she was rendered silent. Mute due to his beauty. It wouldn’t have been the first time it happened.

-       …and after the bomb it made sense that she was stuttering because well… he was surprised she was still even coherent, he was just impressed she could still speak.

-       … and before the party it made sense for her to be nervous…

-       But after the party- when it was just the two of them at home… and she still stuttered…

-       “Jagi… do you… I mean… do you have a stutter?”

-       The red flush and look of utter surprise and astonishment that sprawled over her face was enough of an answer for the ivory haired actor.

-       The next morning, he tried his best to engage with MC, talking to her and asking her question after question but it all became too much, too fast and MC squealed and buried her face into his well defined chest.

-       … which got him spluttering and stuttering so badly that MC leant back and stared at him.

-       AND LAUGHED.

-       Shocked, he blushed and laughed along with her.

-       “Okay- I get it. Slower. Fewer questions. There’s no rush is there Jagiya? I’m not going anywhere.”

-       Later in the week he comes bounding into the house and picks her up by the waist and spins her around and around until she yells at him to put her back down.

-       “Jagi! Jagi- Jagi- Jagi- Jagi- Jagi!” he bounced up and down like an excited puppy, grin lighting up his face.

-       “Y-yes Zen?”

-       “I was listening to our vocal coach at rehearsals today and he was saying that his son has a stutter and has since taken up singing lessons and his confidence and his speech has gotten so much better-” “Z-Zen?” she asked apprehensively trying her best to wriggle out of his grasp.

“How about it MC? Try singing… at least with me! Just me and you and we can take it slowly, however fast you want it! I’ll make sure it’s good and fun and you’ll be singing with me in no time!”

-       MC blushed at the double entendre…

-       As they go along… he finds that she has the sweetest voice, quiet and unconfident… but sweet and oh so perfect.

-       Zen always comes home straight after practise so he can sing with his lady; he’ll wake up early on days off so he can make breakfast with her and sing along together, even cleaning the house is a musical affair.

-       One day as MC is singing a rather challenging song, Zen sits back and watches over his prodigy and love. Smirking to himself Zen has to fight to hold back his chuckle; he guesses if all else fails and she can only sing without stuttering… there’s no harm in them singing their wedding vows to each other, right?

Jaehee:

-       Noticed straight away when she talked to MC over the phone and of course when they met face to face.

-       She didn’t make a big deal of it at all and smiles at her reassuringly. She can tell MC was trying her best to hide it, poor dear must have been embarrassed, last thing she wanted to do was bring attention to it when the woman so obviously wanted it kept hidden.

-       When she gets more and more flustered as she speaks, Jaehee takes her by the hand and squeezes it. “Breathe with me, MC… in…. and out… in… and out… now please, try again, in your own time.”

-       Whenever it gets really bad though, Jaehee will take out her pen and paper and let MC just write out whatever it is she wants to say.

-       They spend days and days like this; taking turns to write in a notebook the other has brought along, writing jokes and flirting quite literally between the lines.

-       Jaehee can’t help but notice how beautiful MC’s penmanship is and how lovely it looks entwined with hers all over the page. Not one page isn’t filled with silly drawings or comments and when she gets home she looks over the dated pages and laughs and laughs. Such wonderful memories they’re making.

-       Sometimes they write out a shopping list.

-       Sometimes it’s a sonnet.

-       Sometimes it’s just “I love you.”

-       Jaehee really wants to hear her say it though, even if it’s just once.

-       It isn’t long until MC is emailed a very long and detailed list of current programs and speech pathologists she can undertake if it was something she was interested in doing.

-       Jaehee is with MC for every session without fail, encouraging her and taking notes for how she can help her practise at home.

-       Will always encourage MC to try to use her words, but she understands that her emotions affect her speech and that sometimes… sometimes it’s just no good. She just can’t do it… and that is okay.

-       Jaehee always has a pen and paper ready so they can converse normally until MC feels confident enough to start to try talking again.

-       Jaehee has kept every single piece of paper since they’ve met, to her, every word written or spoken is precious.

Jumin:

-       He never understood the preoccupation MC had about the sound of her voice.

-       It was beautiful.

-       So, what if she stuttered? She could say his name fine- to him that was perfection. Everything he ever needed to know was in how she said his name. It was his hello, his goodbye, his I love you. His own name becoming a mantra when coming from her lips.

-       However, he could see how it affected her self-confidence. She would try her best to speak to him when it was just them at home, he would smile to himself whenever he’d come home to find her on the floor with Elizabeth the third, chatting and meowing away like the oldest friends… but outside. She’d never say a word.

-       “Jumin… the-the p-press w-will m-m-make f-ff-fun of m-me and you,” she would always say and always look close to tears whenever he’d try to encourage her to speak. He was never one to care for other people’s opinions apart from his own and to him she was perfect… and he wanted desperately for her to see that.

-       Within two weeks (and much help from Assistant Kang… her holiday now included a very generous cheque for her spending money) the best speech pathologists from around the world were at Jumin Han and MC’s beck and call.

-       MC met with each one of them until she found the one she was most comfortable working with.

-       Months and months passed as MC and the therapist worked day and night until Jumin came home, to which then the pathologist would give a detailed report to him about their progress.

-       MC would often be tired and her throat sore from speaking all day so the time with Jumin was often spent in silence or with him talking about his day at work.

-       At night, Jumin would still read to her as she told him that it soothed her and that she loved nothing more than the sound of his voice lulling her to sleep.

-       Almost a year and a half of work and the pathologist said that unfortunately that there was nothing left that he could do and that only God would be able to help her now, leaving a very disgruntled and frustrated Jumin. Not because he needed MC to speak without a stutter- he just couldn’t fathom how anyone could ever give up on MC.

-       Walking up to his wife, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the temple, “I don’t care what that stupid man says MC, if you want to keep going, we’ll bring back all those other therapists and start again. I’m sure that this time around-”

-       “N-no thank y-you Jumin. I don’t w-want to do this again, please d-don’t make me,” she weakly replied.

-       “Of course my dear,” he answered as he tightened his hold around her. “Now how about joining me for a bath? That man has left me in a foul disposition and nothing sounds better than you in my arms and a nice bottle of wine to share.”

-       As they readied themselves for bed, Jumin went over to the bookshelf and found a new book to start reading. Even if he was upset, there was no reason to disturb their nightly routine.

-       Settling into the covers with MC tucked away in the nook of his arm, Jumin cleared his throat and was about to read the title, when MC read it aloud before him.

-       Startled Jumin looked down at his wife, but she was already busy turning the page.

-       “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

-       The ebony haired director sat stunned and silent for more than ten minutes, just listening to his wife read to him without stuttering once, not once.

-       Overcome with pride and emotion, Jumin threw the book to the end of the bed and swept MC into an all-encompassing kiss, ravishing that tongue that held such a wonderful voice.

-       When they parted, MC was left panting and wanting.

-       … As Jumin dived to the end of the bed to retrieve the book.

-       “Well go on then my love, you were doing such a wonderful job, please, continue.”

-       For the first time since his last Nanny left him, Jumin slept to the sound of a woman reading to him and felt a new kind of peace wash over him.

-       Mr and Mrs Han now quarrel regularly over whose turn it is to read the other to sleep. That and how much the yearly donation to the speech therapist’s treatment centre will be. They are the only things they argue about.

 Saeyoung:

-       He had known since the first day. There it was on her records, plain as day.

-       Which is why he so loved to text her…

-       But… he really wanted to hear her voice… so he had to call sometimes….

-       Upon hearing that melodious voice there was no way he was letting it stay trapped behind those lips forever- NO, HE, 707- DEFENDER OF JUSTICE WOULD GET THIS WOMAN’S VOICE FREED!

-       But like… how?

-       He studied up on speech pathology that’s how!

-       Boy builds robots and cures speech ailments in his sleep.

-       He had planned to start helping her at the apartment but… things got weird between them really quickly… instead of helping her and encouraging her he was telling her to go away and to shut up.

-       How the hell was that going to help her?

-       By the time it was all over and they were back home… she still wasn’t talking well… she would smile and sadly shake her head as he tried to get her to say anything… to no avail.

-       He pulled out his phone and showed it to her before starting to type

-       “I met you and fell in love with you over the phone. If the only way I can speak to you properly is through this- then so be it. Now… did you want tacos for dinner?”

-       They would talk through messenger or text or tripter or snaptalk, every known non-verbal way to communicate.

-       Saeyoung however… never gave up on hearing her speak to him properly.

-       “Let’s try something MC, mouth your words, don’t speak, just mouth them and I will try my best to understand you… let’s just start from there.”

-       Funnily enough, without hearing her faltering words, MC became super talkative and Saeyoung became eerily proficient at lip reading. NOONE WAS SAFE FROM THIS MAN NOW.

-       Soon she started to speak only the first word of every sentence, building up her confidence by adding one word at a time.

-       Her first complete sentence was, “Saeyoung, please put your dirty clothes in the hamper, I swear to God I understand why Vanderwood was so hard on you now.”

-       Saeyoung was so thrilled that he even did as she asked. He was so in love with what she said he almost got it tattooed upon his arm (MC had to physically restrain him and Saeran was of course spurring him on… “Cmon MC… it would look so damn stupid on him, let him do it. It will complete his aesthetic.”)

-       Now even though MC can generally converse almost normally, Saeyoung still often reverts back to their non-verbal communication.

-       “I still love the way you type, baby.”

Saeran:

-       He’d been watching her for weeks before choosing her, of course he knew she had a stutter. He could see how she actively avoided speaking to anyone, how reliant she was on her body language and non-verbal cues. He could see how much she hated herself for not being able to do something children learnt how to do properly… and yet she couldn’t.

-       He could see all of that.

-       So, when they had decided to try to make this official he decided two things; if she never talked he was ok with that-  and if that meant he had to stay silent too, even better.

-       For the first two weeks, the two had a silent relationship.

-       It wasn’t that awkward really.

-       Both were used to living silent lives but having someone to share it was… actually comforting.

-       They would go for silent walks, they would read in the library. They would go to the ice cream parlour and use the self-service kiosk to order and get their ice creams delivered to their booths.

-       However… they had to communicate and neither had the patience to deal with technology (she had more than enough of that with the RFA and the party planning and the last thing he wanted to do was text her like he used to do as Unknown… the idea creeped him out and made him remember memories he’d rather forget) but her stutter… it got even worse around him because she loved him so much and she didn’t want to embarrass herself… something that Saeran found so damn endearing.

-       Not that he ever admitted it to anyone. Ever.

-       So, Saeran taught himself a new language.

-       Sign language.

-       MC was baffled- how had she never thought of this before? With grateful tears in her eyes and an overjoyed smile on her face, she sat upon Saeran’s bed as he taught her the sign for the letter A, then B and then C

-       After two days she spelt out “thank you” … to which then Saeran taught her the actual sign for thank you… still, it meant a lot to him.

-       It meant the world to her.

-       They could communicate now.

-       They would talk and walk for hours in the park. The would discuss the books they were reading in the library. They would still order using the kiosk though… cos screw socialising with other people.

-       Eventually when they were in bed and she did finally say his name… he realised how much he missed hearing her voice, how much more he desperately wanted to hear from her.

-       Kissing her forehead before pulling back, he simply signed, “When you are ready, I want to learn how to speak with you. There is much to say. When you are ready. Until then, we have our very loud silence. I am happy.”

 V:

-       Had no way of knowing she had a stutter until she introduced herself at the party.

-       He was surprised but all he heard was the kind voice that wavered ever so slightly when she said “Jihyun”. He was too preoccupied with how nice it sounded coming from her.

-       MC was hesitant to enter a relationship with V, not because she wasn’t attracted to him but she… she didn’t want to weigh him down.

-       She was already a burden to the average person, but someone who would so heavily rely on her voice to communicate? It was only asking for disaster.

-       However, knowing everything he knew about her and just hearing her voice… even if it was only once and months ago- V was a man who trusted his instincts and every fibre of his being was telling him to chase after this girl. So, he did.

-       After wearing her down until she could no longer refuse him, they went on one date.

-       One quiet date. With a legally blind man and an almost mute woman sitting at a restaurant surrounded by happy, chatting couples.

-       It was stunted and weird with MC unable to order verbally or assist V who could not see the menu, but somehow, they managed to order their meal.

-       It soon occurred to MC… that as tough as she had it… V had it just that little bit tougher. She could get by without her voice, it was undeniably tougher to live without your eyes. Yet here he was, making an effort… she should try… but she didn’t know how.

-       V had scooted his chair scandalously close to MC’s and a bright pink flush graced her cheeks at the furious whispers of the people around them- she stuttered people, she wasn’t deaf!

-       V turned to her and smiled, that dazzling, enchanting, mesmerising smile and lifted his right hand, his elbow propped upon the edge of the table. “M… May I?” he asked as he wiggled his fingers.

-       Oh, he wants to see my face! She thought as she scooted forward with a grin of her own. That she could do!

-       “Y-Yes!” she answered almost confidently as she leaned forward.

-       She guided V’s hand to her cheek and sat still.

-       His fingertips gliding over her cheekbone, in the hollows and contours of her face, down her jaw and up her chin- until his index and middle fingers rested on the centre of her mouth.

-       “Please… speak… mouth the words… anything,” he requested, a slight blush forming on his cheeks.

-       MC was glad he could barely see at this point because she was almost fuchsia.

-       “I… I…. h-hello, Ji-Jihyun,” she mouthed almost silently, barely whispering his name.

-       “Hello MC,” he beamed, so happy he could still see the movements of her lips through one eye and whatever he missed he could feel with his sensitive hands.

-       Although it attracted a lot of attention- the two still felt completely at ease in their own private conversation no one could hear.

-       V was never one to truly push however so he felt completely content with how they communicated… it was MC who came up to him 4 months into their relationship.

-       “Ji-hyun…” she said… that perfectly sweet voice ringing in his ears. “Jihyun… i-if I a-agree to g-go to the-the spee- to the speech ther-p-pist… w-will you con-sider g-getting y-your eyes f-f-fixed?”

-       They sat there in the silence for 15 minutes straight.

-       His eyes were a sign of his devotion and love to Rika, his penance for being unable to save her… but she was willing to find the voice that was calling him home… it would only be fair for him to be able to see exactly how beautiful that home would be.

-       “Of course, MC. Of course.”

[josephstoontown]

Fox Hunt, Ch. I

Chapter I of "Fox Hunt," a Joseph's ToonTown story. (Originally one-half of a one-part story of the same name.)

Ten days later…

Word count: 4,228 – Character count: 24,603 Originally written: December 18th - 19th, 2016 Slightly revised: January 18th, 2017 Revised further: August 30th, 2017

Even when left to pick up the pieces of a shattered heart, some 'toons just can’t leave things as they are.

Winnie Woodpecker, Wally Walrus, Woody Woodpecker, The Woody Woodpecker Show, and related characters and properties created by and © Walter Lantz Productions Dot Warner, Animaniacs, and related characters and properties created by and © Warner Bros. Animation Snap White, ChalkZone, and related characters and properties created by Bill Burnett and Larry Huber and © Viacom Media Networks

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    ToonTown.  A fast-paced, bouncy sort of town located south of Los Angeles and full of some of the strangest people you’d ever meet.  Some would call ToonTown “wacky,” some would call it “silly,” but the ‘toons who lived there just had one word for it: “Home.”

    On a particular day, a well-known, redheaded woodpecker by the name of Winnie had decided to stay at home and watch cartoons – her own, to be specific.  From her first appearance as a throwaway character in the early Woody Woodpecker shorts to her last appearance as a recurring character in The Woody Woodpecker Show in 2002… it was a relatively short task for her to watch every single cartoon she’d ever been in.  But, something was bothering her… and, it bothered her enough to make her watch the cartoons several times.

    “Whee-ney,” called a voice as she watched “Everybody’s a Critic,” an episode from 2001.  “What are hew do-ing?”     “Research!” was her immediate response.  Indeed, a notepad rested in one of her gloved hands and a pen was in the other as she watched that episode intently for the 17th time total.     “Hew’ve been wat-ching for a loong time now,” the voice called again.  “Maybe hew should take a break?”     “Not until I figure this out…”     “Fi-gure what out?”     Winnie paused the cartoon and turned to face the owner of the other voice.  She had a concerned scowl on her face and her eyes were a bit bloodshot – likely from staring at the screen for so long.  She also looked pretty tired…

    “I need to figure out when I lost my stuff, Wally!” she explained.     “Lost yoour stuff?” the walrus asked, a confused look showing on his face.  “I don’t under-staand.”     “Neither do I…” the woodpecker said as she turned back to the cartoon.  “I mean, look at this gag where accidentally threw that bowl of salty soup on your head!”     “Yees.  Veery fuunny,” Wally said with a snort.  “Whee-ney, hew’ve been hog-ging the com-pu-ter all day.  I need tew check my e-maail…”     “The timing…” Winnie mused, ignoring the walrus.  “The execution…!  This is funny!”     The pear-shaped man shifted his large moustache from side-to-side, standing with crossed arms.  He was getting annoyed…     “I know it’s been a while, but… is it true?  When did I stop being so funny…?” she asked no one, in particular.  “When did I lose my stuff?”     “Wait…”  Wally gave a blink.  “Is that what this is all a-bout?”     “Well, yeah!” Winnie said, as if it should have been obvious.     “Whee-ney…  Why do hew care if you’re stiill fu-nny?  Neeither of us work in the en-ter-taain-ment biz-ness a-ny-more.”     “Because!” she exclaimed as she slammed her hands down on the desk, dropping her pen and pad.  “I know… I absolutely know… that I’ve still got it!”     “That’s niice and aall, but…”

    The bird spun around in the office chair, fully facing Wally for a second time.     “And, I want to know why he said I didn’t!” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.     “What?  Whoo?”  The walrus scratched his head.  “Woo-dee?”     “Joseph!” she half-shouted as she hopped out of the chair.     “Whoo?”  Wally paused…  “Oh, hew mean that threee-deee fox?”     “Yeah!  Who did you think I meant?”     “Woo-dee,” he answered honestly.  “Un-tiil hew said ‘Joo-seph.”

    “I just… don’t… understand…” Winnie mused as she looked down with a troubled expression.  “Why… why would he say something so… so mean, to me?  Why would he question my credentials as a ‘toon?  How could anyone be so cruel…?”     “May-bee he was juust ha-viing a baad daay,” Wally offered.  “Why dew hew caare, aanyway?”     Winnie looked back up with a frown…     “Because I thought… I thought…”  She gave a sniffle as she quietly whispered, “I thought he liked me…”     “Theere theere,” Wally said as he knelt down.  He withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing it under her moistening eyes.  “Wee’ll have noone of that, noow.”     The lady gave a blink, looking up at the taller, moustachioed man.  She still looked confused and upset… but, she was attentive, as he continued to speak.

    “Hew’ve been a-roound for loong eenough to knoow that not eeveryone is go-ing to laaugh at your coo-medy.  Not eeveryone haas the same seense of huu-mor as hew.  The woorld would be a veery boo-ring place if they did.  But, if this Joo-seph fox deed liike hew aand he toold hew that hew weren’t fuu-nny, then he was either bee-ing hoonest or hee wus haa-ving a baad daay.  Eeither way, I would not taake it to heart.  There will aalways be cree-tics out there no matter whaat hew do or no matter whaat hew say… but, as the old saa-ying goes… ‘O-pi-ni-ons are liike stin-kee breath: E-ve-ry-one gets eet, soometimes, but no-body waants eet.’”

    For several moments, all Winnie could do was stare up at the bulbous-nosed walrus smiling her way.  He was really doing his best to make her feel better.  However…     “I… don’t think that’s how that saying goes, Wally.”     “Eet’s noot?”  Wally looked genuinely surprised.     “No, but…”  She smiled.  “I think I get the idea.”     “Ah!  Good, good!”     Wally slowly rose up, getting off his knee with a few audibly cracks.     “Ah, thee old, graay waal-rus,” he commented.  “He ain’t what hee h’used to be.”     “I guess not!” Winnie giggled.  “But, you know what he is?”     “Wut?”     The woodpecker wrapped her arms around the taller form’s round belly.     “He’s a mighty good friend.”     “Ah… hew flaa-tter me,” was his reply as he ruffled her bangs.

    “And, you know what else?”     “Wut?”     Winnie gave a confident to her friend.     “I’m going to go find that stupid fox and get some answers!”     The walrus tilted his head.  “Ree-lly?”     “Yeah!”     The woodpecker’s stomach gave a sudden, very loud rumble.     “Um… after I make a sandwich, that is.”     “You’re go-ing out too-night?” he asked.     “‘Tonight?’” was Winnie’s confused reply.  “But, it’s only…”     A glance at a nearby wall clock caused her eyes to shoot open wide.     “Ten o’clock?!  How?!”     “Hew’ve been waatching caar-toons aall daay…” Wally said as he waddled over to the computer chair and sat down.  “I’ve been paa-tiently waaiting foor hoours, now.”     “I… I’m sorry, Wally!” she apologized with a frown.  “I just got so caught up in watching my old cartoons and trying to figure out where I lost my stuff that I–”     “Eet’s fiine, kee-do,” he replied, cutting her off.  “Wheen Faarmville has a doouble-gaains weekend… I, too, lose traack of tiime.”     “I should get something to eat and head to bed!  I have work tomorrow!”     “Proo-bably,” the walrus said as he began to check his e-mail.     “Um… thanks for the pep talk, Wally!  I’ll see you tomorrow!”     “Good niight, Whee-ney.”

    It didn’t take long for Winnie to whip up a sandwich for herself – as well as one for Wally since he’d been so nice – and, even less time to eat it.  Soon enough, she was prepared and tucked into her bed for the night.     I hope things go well tomorrow, she thought as she started to doze off.  I’d hate to think that Joseph is really that cruel…  He seemed so sweet!  Not to mention warm and cuddly…     She mentally giggled to herself before frowning.     I don’t want to lose a friend like him over something like this…  Maybe he’s really sorry…     And, on that thought, she finally let herself fall asleep.

    The next day, work was thankfully pretty slow.  Most of the cases Winnie had to deal with in Warner General Hospital were relatively minor, ranging from simple household accidents to more ‘toon-specific incidents.  One such case happened when a slapstick ‘toon tried to eat an entire watermelon in one go.  Everything turned out fine, though, when the doctor took a mallet to his head, causing the melon to shatter and making it considerably easier to swallow.  Such was the sort of thing Winnie had to deal with at her job…

    “I’m heading out for the day, Dot!”     What looked to be a black-and-white puppy girl with a red nose gave a nod as she typed something into a computer terminal.     “You’re all clocked-out!” she said in an energetic voice.  “Have a good one, Winnie!”     I always did like her, Winnie thought to herself as she walked from the front of the building and out into the parking lot.  Her brothers, though…

    Once Winnie was buckled into her compact convertible car, she adjusted her rear-view mirror, turned the ignition, and was off.  Rather than head straight home, though, she had somewhere else she needed to be.     I really wish I knew his work schedule, better… she thought as she drove along the road leading toward the Universal District.  But, if I remember right, he only works half-a-day at the diner… so, he should be home!     As Winnie drove through familiar streets, she began to wonder…     What should I say, to him?  What sort of questions should?  Should I be straightforward… or, should I skirt around the issues?  Should I apologize for what I said to him?     She briefly paused to consider that.     I’ll see what he has to say, first…

    After a few minutes of driving, Winnie had arrived at the parking lot of the Rubber Arms apartment complex.  She got out of her car, taking a moment to adjust her red skirt and make sure all her feathers were in-order.     Wait…  Why am I straightening myself up? she suddenly thought.  This isn’t a social call…  I’m here with a purpose!     Still, she couldn’t help but give herself a quick look in the side mirror, just to make sure she didn’t have anything on her beak or in her bangs.  With herself sorted, she marched up to the front door of the apartment complex and entered.

    The place looked the same as it ever did, she noted.  The mail room sat to her right and a set of stairs sat some distance ahead, leading to the next floor.  A brief look in the mail room told her that it, too, had remained unchanged since her last visit.  No one seemed to be there, at that time, but she figured she should check just in case.

    There were still some balled-up papers lying on the floor, mostly surrounding an overflowing trash can.  The pen-holder was still empty, the pen and its chain missing for as long as she could remember.  And, of course, the mailboxes remained looking spiffy and clean against the far wall with a large outbox sitting in the middle of them all.     I wonder what they do when packages get sent here? she briefly wondered before taking her leave and starting her trek up to the third floor.

    By the time Winnie had climbed two floors up, she started to feel a little uneasy…  There were butterflies in her stomach and her hands had turned cold under her gloves.  She really wasn’t sure why… but, she was starting to feel really nervous about the visit…     Worst-case scenario, she started to tell herself, Joseph turns out to be a big jerk and I end up never talking to or seeing him, ever again… just like I said…  Oh, why did I tell him that…?     She nervously swallowed, wringing her hands as she walked up to a specific door.     Inversely, best-case scenario, she continued to think, I get some straight answers out of the guy and we go back to being friends!     She hesitated, staring at the plate on the door which read “3C.”     Hopefully… she thought as she closed her eyes and started to knock, that’s what will end up happening…  Oh, I hope he’s not too mad to talk to me like a rational adult…

    Winnie stood there for a while, waiting.  She waited… and, waited… and, waited even more.  She must have waited there for a good minute before she decided to knock again.     Come on…  You’re supposed to be home, right now… she internally muttered.  Don’t tell me I wasted my time, coming over here…     Again, she waited… though only for a handful of seconds.     Is he… ignoring me? she suddenly thought.  How would he even know it was me?  Did he see my car pull up?     “Joseph?” she called as she rapped a little louder.  “Are you in there?  It’s me, Winnie…”     Still, there was no answer.     “I want to talk to you!” she said in a raised voice.  “Open up!”     Not a peep could be heard from behind the door.     What is going on?  I know for a fact he’s home!  He has to be!     “Joseph!” she half-shouted, impatiently pounding on the door.  “Open the door this instant!”     “Hey-hey-hey, what th’ heck’s goin’ on out here?!”

    Winnie gave a blink and turned toward the other end of the hallway.  She had to do a double-take as what looked to be a blue-and-white chalk drawing, standing a bit shorter than herself, rapidly walked toward her from apartment 3B.     At a glance, he looked like he could have been a superhero of some sort, wearing a blue bandanna with eyeholes over his head as well as matching gloves, shorts, and boots.  He also wore what looked to be either a neckerchief, scarf, or possibly a cape – though, it must have been heavily-starched since it pointed out like a lightning bolt.  He also seemed to move at a slower, more jittery frame rate, than her… almost as if half his keyframes were missing.

    “What’s all th’ mess out here, miss?!” he demanded in his tough-guy accent, pointing one… fist, apparently, toward the taller bird’s beak.     Does he not have fingers? she internally wondered before speaking.     “Um…  I-I’m sorry,” she offered as an apology, “but, I–”     “Do you realize what time it is?!”     “Erm…”     The bird nudged her left glove up enough to reveal a charming-looking real-world watch.     “It’s… 5:14 PM…?”     “Right’o, bird’o!” the blue figure said, pointing his hand at her, again.  “Some people are tryin’ t’ relax after a hard day’a work!  So, if you’d kindly shut your loud beak and–”     “Now, just a minute, buster!”  Winnie scowled, giving the shorter figure a dirty look.  “Who do you think you are, to be talking to me, like that?”     “Oh, excuse me!  Allow me to introduce myself!”     The figure graciously bowed to the female.     “‘Snap’ is the name, adventure is the game!  Normally, anyway…  Right now, though, I just wanna kick back ‘n relax whilst I watch a movie!”     He crossed his arms, giving an angry look of his own.     “But, some loudmouth bird-brain keeps squawkin’ at the neighbor, fer some reason!”

    Winnie couldn’t believe how incredibly rude the little ‘toon was being!  But, even so… he did have a point, she thought.  Maybe she had been making a little too much noise…     “Listen…”  She paused, biting her tongue to keep herself from insulting him.  “Snap…”     “That’s Mister Snap, to you, toots!”     She scowled, again, finding herself rapidly losing patience…  That rude little “adventurer” didn’t really seem worth her time, considering the way he kept talking down to her…     “Fine… Mister Snap…” she started, again.  “I was just trying to get my… ‘friend’s’ attention and–”     “Lady, you could get the entire building’s attention, with the way you were yowlin’!”     “Alright, you little troll!” the lady exclaimed.  “I’ve think I’ve had just about enough of your abuse!”     Snap pointed a hand her way, yet again… something which was really starting to get under her feathers…     “You started it, lady, with yer yellin’ ’n poundin’!”     “If you point that thing at me one more time…”     Snap gave a smirk.  He withdrew his hand… and…     “Point!”     Put it right back in her face!

    Winnie went bright-red with rage.  She had never met someone so rude… so immature… so absolutely infuriating, before.  And… she was tired of taking his flack!

    “You rude little hobgoblin!” she yelled, getting in Snap’s face.  “If you’d just come out and politely asked me to simmer-down, I would have gone on my merry way, but oooh-ho-ho no!  You just had to shuffle yourself out here, get in my face, call me names, and push my buttons, didn’t you?!”     “H-hoi polloi, lady!” was Snap’s startled reply as he backed away.  “I was just–”     “You were just butting into my personal business?  Is that it?  I was already upset from being ignored by the person in that apartment –” she pointed to room 3C “– but, that wasn’t good enough for you, was it?  You had to come out here and attack me instead of being nice and asking me what I was doing!  Well, aren’t you glad you did?!”

    Snap quickly found himself pinned up against the archway near the stairs.  We wore a terrified look on his mask-covered face as the little, redheaded woodpecker tore him a new one with her words, alone.  The resident of room 3A, curious as to what all the noise was, had peeked out their door… but, they didn’t dare say anything, just letting the situation play itself out…

    “Why don’t you just go back to your little apartment and watch your little movie!” Winnie shouted at the curled-up ‘toon.  “Or, would you rather keep ruffling my feathers?!”     “N… no, ma’am…!” was all Snap could say.     “Well, then?”  She leaned back, pointing to the door of apartment 3B.  “Go on!”     “Y-yes, ma’am…!”

    The woodpecker watched as Snap scurried back into his apartment.  She could hear him lock the door behind him, as he did.  Suddenly… her attention turned toward the resident of 3A.     “What are you looking at?!” she shouted, causing the spectator to immediately close and lock their door, as well.     “I thought as much!” Winnie said with a nod.  “Now then…  I… I…”     With no one to level her anger at, the bird started to realize… she’d really made a spectacle of herself, just then.  The entire complex probably had heard her, then, just like Snap had said.  Bearing that in mind, she came to a conclusion…     “I… should probably leave.”

    The woodpecker rapidly descended the stairs, zipping down to the second floor… but, when she’d reached the first floor’s stairs, she found her progress impeded by something…     “Gyah…!”     Or, rather, someone!  The two quickly found themselves tumbling down half a flight of stairs, together.

    “Hey,” called a familiar voice once they’d landed.  “What’s the big idea, you…  Oh!”     “Oh…”  Winnie looked up with a bashful grin.  “Hello, Woody…”     The male woodpecker stared at his girlfriend, wearing a confused look as she lay sprawled atop him, rubbing her head.     “Gee, I was kinda hopin’ t’ run into you!”  Woody gave a grin.  “But, not like this!”     “Yeah, sorry, I…”  She paused.  “I was in a hurry, and–”     “Yeah, I figured!” the male interrupted.  “Where’s th’ fire, babe?”     “I kinda… made a fool of myself upstairs, and–”     “Was that you shriekin’…?”  He tilted his head.  “What was all that noise about?  And, what are ya even doin’ here, in th’ first place?  Come t’ see li’l ol’ me?”     “Weeell…”

    Winnie and Woody sat on the lowest step of the first floor stairs, the former telling the latter about why she’d actually come there and what had happened upstairs.  By the end of her short tale, Woody had the biggest smirk on his face…     “Babe, ya really need t’ work on that temper of yours!” he teased, giving her a nudge.     “I know, I know…” she said with a look of shame.  “But, I can’t stand it when people just… disrespect me, like that!  Especially when there’s just no reason for it!”     “Eh, Snap’s like that,” Woody said as he drew a cigarette from his chest pocket.  “That’s why I don’t talk with him much!”     “Woody…”     The male tilted his head, noting the annoyed look on his girlfriend’s face.     “Oh, oh right!” he said as he realized what he was doing.  “No smokin’ in th’ stairwell!”     “No…” she said as she took his unlit cigarette and stuck it back into his pocket.  “No smoking in the presence of a lady, silly…”     “There’s a lady present…?”     The two grinned at each other… then, they snuggled into each other’s arms, sharing a warm hug and a laugh.

    “So… you came over here straight from work?” Woody asked after breaking the hug.     “I did.”     “It’d be great if it was t’ see me!  But, Winnie, didn’t I tell ya?”     The female tilted her head.     “I kicked that fox’s tail outta my apartment days ago!  He’s long gone!”     She blanched upon hearing that.  “What…?”     “Yeah!”  Woody smiled.  “Anyone who makes my gal cry ain’t no friend’a mine!  So, I got rid’a that rude dude faster than you could say ‘Jimmy cracked corn and I don’t care!’”     Winnie gave a blank stare before speaking again.     “Do you know where he went?” she asked.     “Don’t know…”  Woody gave a shrug.  “Don’t care!”     “Woody!”     He jolted as he heard his girlfriend raise her voice.     “I need to know where he is!” she exclaimed.     For some reason… that made Woody narrow his eyes.

    “Whhyyy…?” was his suspicious response.     “Because, I want to ask him some questions!”     “Well… you’re fresh outta luck, on that one.”     Woody retrieved the cigarette from before and lit it, despite the scowl he got.  He then took a short puff-and-blow before looking back at his annoyed girlfriend.     “He ain’t showed up t’ work, lately.  Ain’t seen hide ‘r hair of that fleabag since I threw ‘im out.  He ain’t wanted ‘round here… or at Joe’s!”     Winnie gave another blink, blankly staring a second time as Woody took a long drag of his cigarette.  She couldn’t believe it…     “You mean… he’s gone?” she said in a weak voice.     “Like I said…” he answered, “don’t know, don’t care.”

    Once again, all Winnie could do was stare.  However, her focus had shifted, her head turning toward the bottom of the stairwell.  Her hands rested between her legs as she quietly sat and thought, her mind starting to wonder where Joseph could have gone… where he might be…  Her thoughts then turned to the question of whether or not she would ever see him again…

    “I’ve made a horrible mistake…” she audibly realized.     “Look at it this way, Winnie…  With that jerk outta the apartment, we can finally spend some quality time, together!” Woody offered.     “Oh, so, he was the reason you’ve been ignoring me.”     “What?”     The man leaned back as his girlfriend shot him a sharp glare.  He seemed genuinely startled by the sudden look…     “W… Winnie…?”  He gave a nervous chuckle and an uneven smile.  “Wh… what’s up?”     Winnie said as she got to her feet, then.     “I’m going to go find him…”     “Wait, what?”  Woody gave a confused blink.  “Why…?”     “I told you…  I have questions for him…”

    Woody was the one who was speechless, then…  His girlfriend had just walked right out the door, seemingly bent on finding the person who, not too long ago, broke her heart.  It didn’t make any sense to him.  Not in the slightest.  But, for some reason…     “H-hey, hey, hey!  Wait up!”     He decided to help her.

    “It’s probably better if we split up, for now,” Winnie said when she noticed Woody heading toward her car.  “Do you have your cell phone?”     “Yeah…  But, why–”     “We can cover more ground, that way,” she explained.     “Oh…  Yeah, that makes sense.”  The male paused…  “Ya know, he might not even be in ToonTown anymore, though!”     “That’s why my first stop’s going to be the bus station,” was her reply.  “Even with all the unique ‘toons in this town, I’m sure they’d remember a fox who looked like Tails.”     “Tails?” Woody tilted his head.     “Yeah, Tails.”  She gestured to him with one gloved hand.  “From Sonic the Hedgehog?”     “That’s what it was!”  Woody snapped his finger.  “That’s who he reminded me of!”     Winnie was the one to tilt her head, then.     “Ya know, that’s pretty funny!  I think th’ day we got our jobs at Joe’s, some guy called him ‘Giant Tails.’  Dang… can’t believe I forgot he looks like that fox kid!”     “Well… you’re not really a gamer,” the female woodpecker rationalized.  “Plus, I don’t think you watch modern cartoons.  Do you?”     “Naaah…” was Woody’s reply.  “Those 3D ‘toons are all-flash ‘n no-substance!  Where’s th’ style?  Where’s th’ imagination?”     “Well, I think Hotel Transylvania made a good attempt at bringing a little squash-and-stretch to 3D cartoons,” Winnie said with a smile.     “Mm… never seen it.  Looked dumb.”     “I’m sure some people have said the exact same thing about our cartoons…” she teased.     “Whaaat?”  The male bird scoffed.  “No way, babe!  Our wacky antics are timeless!  There ain’t no one out there who hates a Woody Woodpecker cartoon!”     Winnie offered a smile to her boyfriend as he gave one of his trademark “pecking laughs.”  While she didn’t agree with his opinion, she couldn’t help but be amused.

    “In any case,” she said after a moment, “we should get going.  The longer we wait around, the farther away he might be.”     “Or, maybe he’s been sittin’ under our noses this whole time!”     “That’s not likely…”  She offered a grin.  “But, it’s certainly optimistic.”     “Actually, I just said that so I wouldn’t have to go search for the big lunkhead.”     Her grin became a smirk, then.     “Go on, Woody…  I’ll keep in contact.”

    With that, the two split off to their individual cars and headed out in an attempt to find the errant fox.