#the flippy curls out the back

[andy-clutterbuck]

photographed by MJ Kim in 2014

[oh-no-its-bird]

I asked for a trim and my hair dresser gave me a FUCKING PIXIE CUT I'm so genuinley distraught I ended up crying on the train home

Canceling all of my plans next month I can't let anyone I care about see me like this

[netherfeildren]

Idk if u saw the airport pic but I’m going insane bc of buff Pedro…. Like I need a minute

bitch did i ever ……..

i’m taking a twitter break bc that place has been annoying tf out of me so let’s DISCUSS !!!!!

he’s so strong he’s so masculine he’s so SKJDKSLSKSKSKWK his skin looks so smooth and soft also ????? i need to know what he moisturizes with, does he exfoliate in the shower ????? which leads me to my next point the wet fucking hair the little flippy curl at the back what’s his shower routine what body wash does he use i need to be in there with him and experience a live viewing on that like really

ALSO ALSO the tight pants 😩😋 his thigh is so thick i bet if you poked it it’d be rock solid hard (iwonderwhatelsegoesrockhard) also what the hell is he so smiley for 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨 he’s only allowed to smile at me like that guys it’s the law 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

begging praying he gets tf out of engl🤢nd and comes home pedro baby the kids MISS YOU

[maccreadysbaby]

A Hundred Days to Become a Wayne

batfamily + oc insert

tw: sickness, vague emeto, delirium, all that fun stuff

wanna start from chapter one or read more? here’s the table of contents!

OH MY GOD WERE GETTING SO CLOSE YOU GUYS, THREE MORE CHAPTERS AHAJEMDN

part twenty-three

❝ BAD TIMING ❞

FRIDAY — 12:02AM — DAY 97

AFTER HIS MELTDOWN AT THE STORE, BENTLEY DECIDED HE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING, AND FAST. Days had been passing like lightning, and he was growing anxious. The type of anxious that made his stomach hurt. He skipped dinner on day ninety-six by saying he was tired, and went off to his room to make a plan. Patrol had gone back to normal, which meant he had from about midnight to three to properly brood about it.

But the plan never came. He stared at his ceiling for hours and he kept landing on nothing. If he told them, the Waynes might hate him. If he did it, the Waynes would definitely hate him. If he failed, they’d still find out he was a double agent and probably hate him. And as much as he didn’t want to admit it, thinking about that hurt.

Jason came to the Manor on purpose during bad weather so he could be there for him. Dick had been the one to pull him off the street and take him home. Damian trusted him enough to sleep beside him when he was sick, and take him to an art show. Heck, Tim stayed by his side through an entire anxiety attack. Bruce stayed with him through the night after a bad dream. Was he really willing to leave all of that behind? All of the care the Waynes showed him, the lengths they’d gone for him? He’d been given a room, a wardrobe, a stocking, food, and a semblance of family life. All because they cared enough to do it. All for a kid they hardly knew.

Bentley ended up just going to bed, because all the thinking was giving him a headache. He’d make a plan tomorrow, he told himself, a real one.

And then, four hours later, only two hours into day ninety-seven, he woke up. The dim bathroom light and clock that read 2:11am were his only sources of vision. 

And he was so hot.

He kicked his blankets off in a feeble attempt at warding off the heat, but it seemed to be coming from inside of him. His stomach was doing flips and he suddenly regretted not eating dinner, even though he’d gone much longer than this without food and it never got all flippy like that. Although he supposed it was probably his intense anxiety making it angry. He also assumed anxiety was the reason his head was throbbing.

He wished he could just make up his mind. No way seemed right, and any direction he chose, he lost. He never got the happy ending.

And he wouldn’t even be having a happy sleep, because apparently Bruce had turned the thermostat from sixty-nine up to the sun. He was too tired to get out of bed, but he spread out on his sheets like a starfish and took off his socks to try and cool down. It didn’t work.

That’s about when he realized he’d been pouring sweat. His pajamas and hair were soaked, and if he cared, he might’ve even changed into different pjs. Some shorts, maybe.

But it didn’t matter. Not much mattered anymore, did it? Not when he was just going to end up losing.

He laid all starfish-ed on his bed for a while until his stomach changed from uncomfortable territory to swallowed an electric eel territory.

He wondered how hard karma was laughing as he curled in a ball on his mattress with a small grumble of discomfort. His skin was burning. His eyes were burning. His brain was burning. His insides felt like they were full of churning lava and when he sat up, the walls swirled and teetered around him, so he laid back down.

Was this really what was going to happen on one of his last days in the manor? Really? Just when he was about to make some kind of decision?

He faded in and out of sleep for a while, and each time he re-emerged, his brain felt more and more foggy. Like it was stuffed with cotton. Each time he was ripped from the depths of slumber, his muscles were more achy, the eel in his stomach was practicing more vigorously for a circus, and any type of movement got difficult and slow like he was underwater. And he kept getting hotter.

He only found the willpower to get up and move when the eel promptly decided it wanted out. 

Bentley’s bare feet padded across the hardwood and into the tiled bathroom, his eyes bleary from attempted sleep, and he didn’t even have time to as much as glance at his own reflection before he threw up in the sink. Once, twice, three times.

By the time his body decided it was done revolting against him (for now), he had hot reflex tears streaming down his face and a terrible smelling bathroom. He couldn’t think much between the cotton in his brain and the eel in his stomach, but with the one little coherent part of his brain he managed to grab ahold of, he determined that he wanted Dick. He wanted Dick so bad.

But Nightwing was on patrol, that stupid part of his brain said, and Duke was home but he had SATs this week. Bentley couldn’t get him sick and make him miss them. He’d been studying forever.

You’re more important than all of that stuff, Bentley, Tim’s voice echoed in his head.

But would he be more important than all of that when they realized he was a traitor?

So the ten-year-old sat down against the bathroom sink, tear-streaks and all, and wrapped his arms around his screaming body. Maybe he deserved this for thinking about betraying the Waynes. Or maybe he deserved it for disobeying his father. Or both.

The hours drug on like they were crawling through molasses, and Bentley threw up until there was nothing left. By the time his stomach was void, the sun was peeking into his bedroom, and he was reduced to nothing more than a pitiful little heap on the bath-mat.

Now he was cold. Really cold, but too tired to get up. He felt like his arms and legs were tied to cinder blocks. His throat was completely raw and all he could really do was shiver there, and curl up tighter.

He heard Damian’s door close.

Then heard his door open a little, and a cat meowed.

And after a couple seconds, his door opened further.

“Bentley?”

It was Damian.

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out but a weird rasp. Thankfully, Damian was observant enough to glance in the bathroom.

He was in his school uniform, but he looked more like Robin somehow. Or maybe it was just Bentley’s fever talking. He heard Damian mutter something not in English — what did he speak, Aramaic? No, wait… it was Arabic. Right? It started with an A, Bentley knew that. Why couldn’t he think straight?

He felt little hands scouring him, checking his back, his torso. He didn’t even find it in himself to do anything but curl up more when Damian pressed lightly on his stomach. He did manage to whine lowly when his ice cold hand (seriously, did he put it in a blast chillier?) landed on his forehead. There was a tt.

“I’m afraid this is my fault, although I assumed enough time had passed that you would not fall ill,” Damian stated, and Bentley vaguely saw him pull out his phone. He was crouching now, in front of him. He really looked like Robin. “I will message my father. I apologize that you contracted my illness, but… I did appreciate the company.”

If Bentley had it in him to respond, he didn’t know it.

“He will come upstairs post-haste,” Damian stated. His hand hadn’t left Bentley’s head, but it was okay, he liked it there. “I am sorry.”

Bentley hummed in response, and the comfort of having at least one Wayne within touching distance was enough to lull him into a deeper sleep than he’d gotten all night.

—

When he woke up enough to look around, it was dark outside again, and the lights were dim but harsh enough to make him close his eyes.

He was laying on his bed in what felt like different pajamas. The sterile smell of cleaner wafted from his bathroom, and something cold and terrible was resting on his forehead.

He felt like he’d been run over by a train and scraped off the ground. His stomach still hurt despite being so utterly empty it was probably disintegrating, and his head only felt weirder, floaty. His arms and legs felt like they were tied down. He turned his head to the side just enough to make the cold thing flop off onto the sheets.

“Hey, kiddo. You awake?”

Bentley squirmed in protest, and a small whine fell past his lips when the cold and terrible thing was returned to his head.

“I know, I’m sorry. You have a fever. One-oh-three point two.”

He couldn’t even comprehend the words he was hearing, but he did manage to peel his eyes open. A pair of familiar, ocean-ey blue eyes were staring back at him. He knew whose eyes those were, but he couldn’t think of their name. He whispered the first one that came to mind.

“Nightwing?”

The blue-eyed man frowned. “No, kiddo, it’s Dick.”

Bentley nearly said ‘same thing,’ but apparently he still had some kind of filter online that kept it from slipping out.

“Don’t feel good,” Is what he mumbled instead. Nightwing ran his hand through the kid’s hair, and he leaned into it like some kind of feverish cat.

“I know you don’t. You’re going to be all better soon, I promise,”

About half of him believed that.

His brain kicked on just enough for him to realize it was dark, which meant another day had been wasted, and he only felt worse, which meant he’d probably waste another day, too. What was he supposed to do?

For right now, he started crying.

It wasn’t very hard. Thanks to the fever, he’d have been crying at the drop of a hat anyhow. He always got emotional when he had a fever. He remembered countless hours spent crying in the downstairs bathroom of Whittaker Estate when he was sick.

“It’s okay, kiddo. I’m right here,” Nightwing’s voice came, and the hand kept moving through Bentley’s disgustingly sweaty hair.

He wanted so badly to tell him everything right then. To tell him about his father, about the plan, about how it was day ninety-something and his father would be coming to extract him or whatever soon, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t stop crying enough to talk about it. He couldn’t make his thoughts coherent enough, he knew he wouldn’t make any sense.

Instead of his entire life’s story tumbling from his lips, what really came out between gaspy, body-shaking sobs was a desperate: “Please don’t hate me.”

He thought he heard Nightwing take a deep breath — he didn’t know, between his foggy brain and crying he wasn’t hearing much of anything right. 

He didn’t even open his eyes when the mattress dipped next to him and he was pulled into somebody’s arms. Somebody’s arms that were so warm, and he was so cold, somebody’s arms that were so comforting, and he felt so terrible-

There was still a hand moving through his hair, and he was against someone’s shirt. “I would never hate you. None of us would ever hate you.”

Maybe if they learned he was a traitor, they would.

He said nothing, but grabbed onto whatever was closest, and he wasn’t sure if it was a blanket or a shirt that was balled up in his fists. He didn’t open his eyes. He just laid there (sat there? He couldn’t tell if he was sitting up or not.) and cried about all the things he hadn’t cried about yet until his weak body had had enough, and he faded back into blackness.

—

He woke up in the closet.

Wait, no, someone was touching him. He opened his eyes and saw his nice bedroom at Wayne Manor but it suddenly looked a lot like his bedroom at home. He felt like he was on fire and someone kept touching him. He saw the white door at the end of the hall.

“Don’t take me in there,” He murmured to his father, who was touching him, who was right next to him. “Don’t… Don’t put me in there. It’s scary.”

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying right here,”

The voice was distant, like someone on a microphone a football field away. It sounded like it was floating. That was his father’s voice, wasn’t it? What was he saying? The white door was still there.

“Don’t… don’t… please, don’t. Please… please don’t put me in there. It’s dark. Please,”

“No one is putting you anywhere, Bentley. You’re in your bed, at the Manor,”

Was the closet door talking? Was Nightwing locked in the closet?

“I’ll be good. I’ll be good, I promise… I promise. Please don’t close the door,”

“God, Dick, he’s delirious,”

“He threw up the last two times Bruce and I tried to give him medicine,”

“What’s his fever?”

“Edging on one-oh-four,”

Bentley started squirming, trying to get away from his father, away from the door.

“N-no! Please don’t close the door, please don’t close the door!”

“Bentley. Bentley, hey, it’s okay. You’re not locked anywhere. Look at me,”

He didn’t look, he only looked at the white door.

“Don’t close the door… don’t close the door… don’t put me in there,”

“Go open the door, Jay,”

Some big black blob opened the closet door.

“The door is open,” The floating voice came. “The door is open. No one’s putting you anywhere.”

His father had opened the door for him? His father wasn’t going to lock him in there anymore? His father was stroking his hair?

He settled back down in the bed as he watched the black blob drift away.

“M’ love you,”

There was a pause, a quiet beat, the closet door stayed open.

“I love you, too, kiddo,”

Bentley floated away on a fluffy cloud of something happy, knowing that his father loved him.

—

dedicated to @sassenashsworld💛

—

tag list!

@fleur-alise @cademygod @sarcopterygiian

[spiderh0rse]

freeman's mind notes part 4 e16-20

e16

a vip (self declared)

thinks they should let the aliens eat explosives

the tentacle in the rocket silo is the scariest thing he's ever seen

incorrect Nietzsche quote (deeper sleep fans rise up)

drummers = monsters

thinks Nietzsche could have been in a band once

whistling FOUR. Five????

hang glider fan

rnd would get a big bonus at some point if the military state becomes the reality

finds the zombies worse than online degrees

whistling FIVE. likes Mario.

whistling SIX also Mario, different song

"future wife" duuuude I don't think youre getting a wife

the sewers are not buries treasure location

his ideal mansion will involve visitors being shot as soon as they knock

star wars reference Again

woodshop in high school almost ended in his expulsion

would eat the aliens

e17

has considered spitting on giant machines twice now

wind knocked out of him by the fan to ceiling impact

wasn't expecting to fly today

respects deaths in rocket testing

sad when oxygen isn't oxycodone

likes pushing buttons

wants to level a lawsuit against black mesa

wants to vacation somewhere tropical

wants to ride a sea turtle to menace cruise ships

would name his sea turtle a "nice gender-neutral name" like Flippy or Whiskers

doesn't consider most reptiles dangerous

has always wanted a robot army. the robot coolness strikes again

not good at parkour

grappling hook mentioned Again. he wants one! or a harpoon!

compares himself to a monkey and hates on earth gravity in the same breath

purportedly Not an adrenaline junkie

shaking after crossing the Blast Pit grating jumps.

vaguely implies he's going crazy

I'M BACK IN THE GODDAMN BUILDING AGAIN

SNOT MONSTER moans are what he'll be thinking about tonight

ordering a grappling hook once he's out

e18

would jump extreme heights into water for big splash

fairy-agnostic

He's sun wukong? A monkey god?

simian skills o7

half life mention title drop woooo

"nyyyyeeeeeewww" :D

whistle count SEVEN

admits that stuff here (falling mostly) is scary

"life sucks sober" YOU HAD. TWO SHOTS OF VODKA ON AN EMPTY STOMACH THIS MORNING. admittedly not a ton i retract my objection he's probably got a high tolerance

sometimes goes down the wrong corridor

cuts off a thought to yell "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE :D"

wants a giant metal spider fortress

the dial....

stresses to a dial that he has a DOCTOR'S DEGREE

e19

compares black mesa to a giant beast

would LOVE a massive tomb. pyramid for him please

"it's me" sick FNAF refe

WHAT ARE THESE NOISES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

pain is a constant yes

doesn't consider himself afraid of heights

actually yeah tentacle sounds (loud metal noises) being unpleasant is a consistent trait here. Loud noises bad. (This, beeping of eye scanners, gunshot in the vent)

reel to reel computers..... PUNCH CARDS

BURN BABY BURN

e20

first title card leadup! techno hell room

bad smelllllllll

has made hella strong pillow forts with plaster of paris. pissed his mother off doing so

worn condition grenades are probably not as safe as you hope

he sounds so excited at the idea of going somewhere possibly not terrible

admits if a giant monster that the rocket didn't kill looked all angry at him he'd curl up and cry

bad smell TWO

References his cannonball drop statement from earlier

cons: starving to death alone, pros: could be fun. He does it. Sir. I know he's not okay by now but DUDE PLEASE. STOP WILLINGLY CURLING UP TO DIE

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

shit lung capacity. I've swam further without breathing in more time and been okay. Lllllll

concerned at the green sludge river

cancer mentioned third time

mmmmm radiation,,,,,

liked Austria

turnwheel Used

used to pass people in tube slides as a kid. Would sometimes get wedged in

"nyeeeew"

knees starting to hold up a bit better

[yourbestpalpercy]

If I had any art motivation, I’d draw Chaos in ToonTown. Before we start, chaos’s reference sheet is at the end

“Wh…What are you…?”

Chaos curls up into her true form for a second before spreading out her limbs as wide as they would go, “I’m CHAOS!” She cheered proudly, “The embodiment of Chaos itself has arrived in ToonTown! Isn’t that lovely???” She gets close to one of the toons who flinch back from her.

“I bring the fun wherever I go though! Soooo,” Fireworks! She shoots fireworks high into the sky, still frightening some of the toons. Upon seeing how silent everyone was, Chaos slowly landed, studying their appearance. “...What I’m trying to say is I’m friendly. Usually people associate me with death and destruction but I promise I won’t hurt a fur on your heads!” Chaos grins again.

When met with even more silence, Chaos starts humming. “Woooould you all feel better if I took on a toon form? I have been known to change my form a lot. It’s how Harmony can rarely find me. I just blend in^^!”

“...So…you’re like…a god?”

“Oh-! Uhm…kiiiiiiinda? I definitely am, legally buuuut, the thing is that The Clouds are awful! Suuuper mean. Would not recommend,” She shakes her head as she crosses her arms while sticking her tongue out of her mouth.

“Anyways-! BOOM!!” With a poof, Chaos dropped onto the ground as a fox toon that looked eerily like a toon. Her sharpened snout and big hands, resembling the claws she used to have, being some of the few things that tipped off folks to her not being a natural toon.

“In case you were wondering why I sooooo very directly approached you, it’s simple^^! Wackiness is expected in this world, I felt comfortable to show my real self and make a full introduction! Personally, I think that should be something of an honor (hhh-onor).”

“...That’s…some serious uncanny valley, right…?” One of the horse toons said as they turned to a pudgy, purple cat. “Y-Yeah! Y-Your eyes need to be a tiny bit bigger…your snout’s a little too long, a-and you should wear shoes to hide the sharp points in your feet,” The cat gestured to each part, including how Chaos’s feet ended in spikes. “Oh!” Chaos shook her body out, applying the features, including antlers to her head, making her look a little more like a deer.

“Uhh…foxes don’t…” “I know, I just really like antlers. I can’t believe I forgot them. Anyways, whatcha think? Pretty toony, right?” The cat paused before talking to the yellow horse beside him.

“You look great, welcome to ToonTown, Chaos. If you need anything, my name’s Buttercup Plums, this is my friend, Lunarbug Cheers and we’re always around to help! If you need BIG help, you can go talk to Flippy!” Buttercup smiled, pointing off to the side.

[happy-tori-friends]

Could i get a 'defending lover' prompt for Splendid and Fliqpy with the prompt 'say that again,I don't think I heard you the first time',please?

on it! always a treat to write fliqpy (i have written him twice, and neither of those times were prompts but the point still stands)

‘Huh. Okay. This is happening,’ Fliqpy thought as he glanced around, trying to figure out where Splendid had gone. 

Flippy had invited Splendid to a festival. Said festival was quite crowded, and when one wasn't holding hands with their companion, it was easier to get separated. Then, a switch was triggered and he stopped to seal with that. Splendid had totally been in the zone talking about something while Flippy listened, so he probably hadn't noticed Flippy wasn't next to him anymore.

Well, if he found him, he'd get to have his own date with him, which was always nice. Plus, Splendid's excitement when he talked about things he was interested in was always cute. And the cherry on top was that Fliqpy always loved to surprise him, just because he found it funny. All in all, he'd been dealt a pretty good hand of cards, so it was time to get looking.

They were headed to get a snack, so wherever the food stands were was probably his best bet. Was there a specific snack though, and which way were the vendors? It was probably in the direction he'd been facing, but he couldn't think of anything specific.

“Damn it,” Fliqpy growled, narrowing his eyes and scanning the area as he marched forward. He could yell for him, but that'd attract way too much attention. Splendid would hear it though. To be perceived and make it easier, or to just walk and continue the challenge? The triumph would be all that much sweeter if he just kept walking, wouldn't it?

Fliqpy didn't have to contemplate long. It wasn't too hard to notice a tall man with cyan hair and squirrel features that just so happened to hide his face behind a big pair of glasses. A wide grin spread across his face as he prepared to charge ahead and surprise him, but then he noticed someone bump into Splendid.

“Watch where you're going, four-eyes!” the perpetrator spat, “Don't just stand around, people are walking!”

Splendid frowned, an apologetic look on his face. “Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you or realize I-”

The stranger's face was red with rage and he snarled. “How do you come to a festival and not realize people are going to be walking? You have glasses, how could you not see me? Are you stupid? Is there something wrong with your brain? Or was it so small that it fell out when I bumped into you? Seriously, people like you should just drop dead - you'd be less of a waste of space that way.”

Fliqpy didn't like that. Instead of charging in to surprise Splendid, he marched to the duo, reaching for the knife that Flippy tended to carry around in case he needed to defend himself.

“I'm sorry. I didn't hear you the first time. Can you repeat that? Can you repeat what you just said to my boyfriend?” He sneered, staring straight into the bastard's eyes. “Or do I have to teach you how to walk around obstacles like you're a little baby? I know a toddler that can do it better than you. Funny, huh? I could check and see if your brain is working too, if you want me too…”

With wide eyes, the perpetrator gulped. “Er… sorry, I… guess I was a little… harsh there… Please don't hurt me…” He stepped back, seeing the glint of the knife's blade, but relaxed as Fliqpy put it away. “I'll… leave you to things, then. Sorry again!”

Fliqpy laughed, watching the coward run with his tail between his legs. “There we go! Teaches him not to mess with my boyfriend!” He then threw an arm around Splendid's shoulders. “So where were we headed?”

With a sigh and shake of his head, though the corners of his lips threatening to curl into a smile, Splendid removed Fliqpy's arm and instead took his hand. “Thank you for the assistance Fliq. I really do appreciate it, but I'm sure there might've been a less… threatening way to do so.”

“Eh, it's who I am. And you love me for it, dont'cha?” Fliqpy grinned. “Now I'm hungry, so let's get the snacks.”

This made Splendid smile fully, a chuckle escaping him. “You're right, I do love you for it. Let's go get my hero a soft pretzel.”

The slightest hint of a pout formed on Fliqpy's face, and he put in the tiniest bit of effort to look cute to beg. “Two. Two soft pretzels, ‘cause I saved you.”

Splendid chuckled, nodding. “Two soft pretzels for my hero it is.”

[iraheinichen]

Day 3,440: Fuzz

Looking at Coops’ fuzzy back right now. It’s so…flippy. Like, his hair curls at the very end, giving it this swoop on the tips. It’s very handsome. Of course. Oh wow. Had a nice sleep-in. A nice nap. And between that, Liz and I went out to a wine shop/restaurant, had a flight of their featured wines, ate some pretty dang good food, and then walked around Santa Monica. It was really, really nice.…

[wetslug]

if in 3 years (bc yea ill still be on here) i say i wanna cut my hair short again PLEASE come to canada and stop me. The Pain I Am Currently In Is Unimaginable 

[happy-tree-huggers]

imagine the Reader helping Flippy get over his trauma. The reader being a calm and caring person just trying to help a traumatized war veteran recover as they sit on a couch together with a warm blanket wrapped around Flippy.

Flippy - Calm, Caring Reader Comforting Him During an Episode

Note: Decided to add a bit to the scenario, hope that's okay! Here you go!~ Congrats on being first request! Word Count: 0.7k Warnings: PTSD, panic attack episode

♡ Whether you have known about Flippy in the town for months, or merely a few weeks, you're well aware of his mental struggles as a veteran soldier. His somewhat frequent "episodes" are quite infamous in Happy Tree Town, but with your compassion (and knowledge of self defense,) you've learned to see past that side of him. Once you have the chance to truly speak with him, you can't help but talk with him every time you cross paths. Flippy himself is astounded that someone is now so openly comfortable to be around him, despite that unwanted side of him, and the two of you become fast friends. He often invites you over for tea or other simple activities, and you oblige with open arms.

♡ Over time, Flippy realizes that he's fallen for you—and it appears to be obvious to some degree for others, too. The frequent, seemingly platonic hand-holding in public does seem to catch the eye of many onlookers on the streets. He isn't surprised, either; your calming personality certainly puts him at ease whenever he starts to feel stressed... and, in the rarer circumstance that he starts to 'flip out' while near you, you've been able to eventually pacify him; which was a relief in his eyes, as he couldn't imagine what he'd do if he had hurt you.

♡ One morning, as a kind gesture, you decide to bake some muffins for him, as he's recently taught you his favorite recipe and you had wanted to try it out soon. Finally finishing them and filled with pride over your success, you pack them up and head to Flippy's place. Knocking thrice as you usually do at his door, you wait for a response, but none comes. Which is strange, you thought, because he's usually up at this hour by now. You knock again and call out for him, to no avail.

♡ Out of curiosity, you place your ear up to the door. When you hear the sound of infrequent, muffled whimpering, you immediately place the tin of muffins by the door and call out once more that you're coming in. You hope it doesn't seem rude to him, as you creak open the door cautiously.

♡ The first thing you see is Flippy curled up on his sofa, knees tight to his chest and a paw clamped over his mouth as he hyperventilates. Upon you entering, he peers over at you while fighting back piercing yellow eyes. You were swamped with worry as you shut the door behind yourself and stepped into his home. Flippy, alarmed that he could flip out any minute, among uneven breaths, warned you to leave while you still could. Deep down, you knew you couldn't abandon him like this to struggle by himself.

♡ Insisting that you're going to help him through this, you rush to the closet and grab the fluffiest blanket you could find. (Having a surplus of them was unsurprising for him, as he knitted frequently as a pastime.) You approach Flippy, who was trembling, and lightly laid the blanket over his shoulders, encouraging him that he'll be okay in the process. He clutches the blanket desperately to himself and looks away from your direction.

♡ Noticing his eyes were still a bright yellow, you sit on the sofa next to him at a distance, unsure whether or not it was alright to be too near him yet. You didn't want to make him feel trapped, or worse. You continue to reassure him that you're here for him, telling him to take deep breaths.

♡ After a while of quiet comforting, Flippy has finally stopped hyperventilating, while hiding his face into his paws. He was crying, you realize. In desperation to make him feel better, you ask if it's okay to hug him. He freezes, then nods quietly. Scooting over to him, you wrap your arms around his shivering body tenderly. Shockingly quickly, he reciprocates, claws digging into your back. You don't mind, however, as you feel him slowly stop shaking in your arms.

♡ Once Flippy recovers enough to be able to speak, he apologizes profusely, but you cut him off and tell him that you would do anything to help him. And, gladly enough, his eyes were now back to those large happy ones that you grew to love.

♡ You both end the morning with a movie (Unfortunately, popcorn wasn't an option, as the sounds it made in the microwave were quite triggering for Flippy), sitting next to each other with the blanket around you both.

♡ ...may include a confession.

♡ Then you realize you forgot the muffins by the front door.

[frostbitebakery]

that sketch of cody with his head resting on his hand...he's fondly watching obi-wan try to cook and obi-wan keeps telling him everything is fine and he doesn't need any help

"Uh huh," Cody says, holding out the oven mittens Obi-Wan is frantically looking for while a gentle line of smoke curls out of the closed oven door.

"Everything is under control," Obi-Wan responds, mouth slightly turned down into a not-pout-Cody-I-fail-to-see-what-about-my-expression-could-be-considered-a-pout-pout.

The smoke alarm goes off.

"Uh huh," Cody says again, typing in the code so half of the Temple Guard won't show up with the fire suppression foam. Again.

Obi-Wan is all grace, flowing lines of tunic, dancer steps around the kitchen table, as he grabs the smoking casserole. Fumbling it on the hob with a strained, muttered "hot hot hot goes to the Force".

Cody might really love this man.

He steps back. He looks upon his creation. He folds his arms. "Something seems off."

In Cody's humble opinion, the charred bits don't add to the charm of the octopus gratin. One octopus arm hanging over the dish side twitches in charcoaly post-mortem. "Uh huh."

Obi-Wan turns to him, a calculating look in his eyes. He flaps a hand at Cody. "Commander, combat plan, please."

Cody holds out the data pad with the recipe. He watches the octopus arm twitch again. Something crackles. It might've been a groan from hell.

"Right," Obi-Wan nods to himself, tapping a finger on one part of the recipe. "After cooling, proceed to mix with gelatine."

Lovely.

He nods again. "Just like I remember from childhood."

"Was that during the age where natborn children typically eat dirt and adhesives?"

Cody gets a look for that one. "May I remind you with the most gentle intentions that it was you who were curious about my favorite dishes?"

No need to get flippy about it. Cody suppresses a grin. "I didn't know my curiosity came with threats to my physical well-being."

"You know what they say about curiosity and loth cats," Obi-Wan sniffs and turns back to the casserole. The arm twitches again. "Is it supposed to do that?"

[spaghett-onaplate]

!!YOUNG ROYALS SEASON 2 SPOILERS!! (from the screencaps specifically) warning: extremely long-winded post

Okay, so, many thoughts. First of all, HOLY SHIT! Second of all, I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm sure plenty of much more talented Young Royals blogs will do better analyses on the pictures, but here's my half-drunk-on-giddiness take on them.

First, this lovely pic of Sara, Felice and the gang. I love Felice's hair oh my GODD!! I was hoping for some natural curls in season 2 but I fear the drastic hair changes in both Felice and Wilhelm possibly hint at a massive time skip. Apart from that, Fredericka and Stella are off to the side, looking almost dejected. This could be interpreted as them being jealous of Sara's newfound closeness with Felice but honestly, I doubt it. In Season 1, the catty girl group trope was stomped on so I can't imagine they'd take that route in Season 2, at least not as anything more than a minor plot point. That aside, this could mean Sara is now boarding at the school, but not necessarily. It is hard to see the time of day in this photo, it could be morning or afternoon.

Now, Wilhelm and Simon. Wille's hair looks great - I expected it to but I was still nervous I'd miss the flippy bangs. I'm sure I will but we'll see ahah. So this looks like Wilhelm is getting the personal entourage again. See that badge on his blazer, and the badges of the people behind him? I wonder if that means they are in a position of leadership - e.g. rowing captain, prefect, etc. And if Simon is lined up along with the captains, does that mean he now has a position such as that? Also, I think that might be Felice's (straightened) hair just off behind Simon.

Now onto the most obvious part of the photo - Wilhelm's expression. Very intense. I love the way Edvin portrays his characters' emotions, he does a great job. Now Wille has his mouth pressed in a line, and he's staring very obviously at Simon. If this is their first day back, it means they haven't seen each other in ages, and they've both had time to think things through.

Next, this screencap of Wilhelm and his parents. A different dining room to last time, and standing above them is who I assume to be the chef. Is that snow I see through the window? This is probably the Christmas dinner at the palace, as I imagine that will be an important scene. Such a shot would not be possible with another person at the table... it's the first Christmas without Erik :(

Wilhelm doesn't look happy, but that's understandable. Kristina is looking at him, and the king is (once again) a wallflower. I wonder if we'll learn more about his character? Who knows.

Next, Simon and Wilhelm together again. I'll start with the background. A few returning characters, a few new ones (unless my facial memory is just that bad, lol.) The classroom is unfamiliar as far as I remember, potentially for history judging by the pinned-up portraits on the wall in the back.

Simon is reading, Wilhelm is neglecting his work to stare at him - as such is a recurring theme. It's hard to read their expressions. Are they smiling slightly? At what point in the season does this scene take place? Towards the start could mean they are sitting together in an attempt to maintain a friendship. Towards the end could mean Wilhelm has decided to follow his heart, rather than the monarchy.

Aside from that - new wardrobes! Very interesting. Simon's seems to stay quite similar, Wilhelm's jumper is rather new. The cut seems kind of fancy, but bear in mind I know nothing about clothes. Henry is wearing a surprisingly bright and casual outfit in front of them, with a graphic on the hoodie, which was previously unseen from most of the Hillerska elite. Someone analysed the clothing in all of Season 1 (please tag their blog if you remember who!) and they paraphrased RWRB in that "graphic prints make a statement." Now I'm probably over-analysing the shit out of this but that could possibly hint to a friendship with Simon - they have grounds to interact, after all.

Next, this scene. I was immediately reminded of the choir scenes, and I think it quite likely that they are in the audience listening to a song. It could also be a speech of some sort. I'm going to assume this is toward the start if it is the choir. Wilhelm is looking at Simon with a rather sad yet veiled expression. I think Henry is sitting next to him - you can see the gingerish hair just behind August. This might not mean anything as Wilhelm sits next to a few of the other boys in Season 1 with no further friendship.

And August is in front of him, looking horrendously smug/happy. I hope someone takes it upon themselves to knock him down a peg in Season 2. I'm not going to speculate why he's so cheery - he's August, after all.

Now, the rowing team around Wilhelm. Matching uniforms, potentially meaning there is a rowing competition that they enter. The boys are all encouraging him. Please correct me if I'm wrong (once again, terrible facial memory) but it seems that the boys behind them are Walter and Vincent, plus a new character (?). I have nothing to back this up on but if there's going to be a Love Triangle in Season 2, I think it's going to be with HIM.

Now, my favourite part of this picture - Simon's hand's on Wille. A casual one on his hip from the front, but if you look in the mirror you can see his other hand is on his back. Is Simon using this as an excuse to touch Wille, or are they together(-ish) and comfortable being intimate in front of the rowing team? And apart from that, there is a boy hunched over by the door behind August in a maroon top, a colour we frequently see on August.

Now, the Bjarstad trio. Simon is looking understandably dejected. He's wearing the same clothes that appear in Season 1, so I would wager this is toward the start, after school. Ayub and Rosh are clearly concerned for him - the conversation probably has to do with his relationship with Wille. They've already had the talk about the sextape. Now, Simon's backpack indicates he came home from school. He potentially saw Wilhelm for the first time in ages, and now they need to console him about it.

I was reminded of the woodsy place outside Hillerska at first, but I am fairly sure this takes place in Bjarstad. It would make sense, plus there's a telephone pole and (Linda's?) car vaguely visible through the trees.

Felice and Wilhelm friendship? Let's fucking GOOOOOO! Wille needs someone now that he's lost Erik, August and Simon (seriously, almost the entirety of Season 1 is Wilhelm taking a fat L. give the poor boy a rest in Season 2 please), and Felice is the perfect person for it. I'm fairly sure they're in Wille's room. Also, I am living for the casual clothing (Felice is in a Hillerska hoodie!) and Nikita's natural hair, omg.

I can see the parallel to that shot of Simon on his bed alone and I can already smell the edits. As for when this takes place in the series, I can't guess. Possibly toward the start, if Wille needs consoling about the situation in general. Either way, I'm excited to see their friendship in Season 2.

And last but not least, this shot between Sara and August. Sara is wearing the same purple coat as in the first image and has the same pink bag (you can justtt see it in the first pic behind her left elbow). Sara's expression seems to be inquisitive, pleading or disbelieving. August is looking down at her with what looks like a sneer. The clipboard is what I assume the Hillerska boarding application, and the lake behind them tells me this must take place at the school.

So, I hope you enjoyed my over-the-top analysis of these pictures. I can't wait to hear all of your opinions! I can't wait to be completely wrong about all of this, but hopefully I'll get some stuff right. I can't wait to see all of your analyses, and I am SO excited for Season 2. Now I'll give my fingers a rest from this rapid typing (it's so loud and has been going on for about an hour straight. I have 90 new things on my dashboard, wish me luck.)

[nagdabbit]

MY GIRLFRIEND'S COMMENTARY WHILE WATCHING HER FIRST AEW PPV

"my entire fitness goal is hook's shoulder-waist ratio, but with taz's extremely dense neck."

"the funniest thing about wrestling is that this fucking company is trying to make something called a stadium stampede sound both cool, AND serious."

gf: "if you cry listening to a crowd sing judas again, im divorcing you." me: "so that means youre gonna marry me." gf: "i've been bamboozled."

about brian cage: "this man is a huge dork. like, literally, i could fit me in him."

"i dunno what it is, but i would die to protect mr. hangman. he hunk, but he also baby."

thoughtfully, "i bet i could just catch you out of the air like that. i mean, i can squat you, i could probably even curl you like that, too."

because she is deeply in wrestling twitter now: "HOOK! babe, look, its hook! hook hive, rise up!"

"what i love about this feud is that all these men are fuckin' idiots. no brain cells, just shoes and fwiendship."

"what do you mean their tag team isn't just the wild boys, wtf? missed opportunity."

"those kicks are ugly, but i would steal them, too, honestly." *thirty seconds of silence layer* "for you, babe. i'd steal them for you, i mean."

"jon, no, the germs, jon, jesus christ, please dont drink that jon you dumbass."

"i love eddie, but i'm pretty sure we should never hang out. too much extremely new york energy, we would get arrested in like ten minutes. possibly less."

"diorsday device is the funniest shit ive ever fucking heard, how goddamn sad is that."

"max caster is gonna get murdered, but i love him."

"i wish bowens and his extremely attractive boyfriend the best in life."

"colt cabana and tay conti are tied for best smile in wrestling, but tay wins because i dont want colt to kick me in the face."

"penta is the only joker i formally recognize."

"today i found out that some people don't like stu and uno, and to them i say get entirely fucked."

after rush came out and i lost my entire shit: "i don't fully understand yet, but i support you." *one minute later* "oooooooooooohh. okay, yeah."

gf: "i enjoy that cody is pushing ogogo by being a dumb bitch with this america schtick." me: "you gonna say that when cody wins?" gf: "...fuck."

"ogogo got that guy ritchie movie ass music you love to see it."

"you were right about cody and i fuckin' hate it."

"aw yeah, its big boi season."

about miro: "i'm very gay, but the thing is, men with extremely jacked traps just do something to me."

"lance changed changed the color of his extensions and i appreciate that." *thirty seconds later* "are those... three crosses? tattooed on his back? jesus doesnt like murder, i don't think he likes murderhawks, either."

"britt baker is the only dentist i want in my mouth. no, wait, don't type that one!"

"oh, fuck, shidas getting teary i'm gonna fuckin cry, oh fuck, i get it now, i'm so sorry i made fun of you, i love her."

"oh fuck, shida knee me directly in the face."

"britt scares me. like the blood drip details on her gear are really cool, but i would legit believe its real blood from her."

"are you really crying about britt and the nice announcer man hugging?"

"hey, quick question, just real quick while ive got you here... why is the emo twink... like this?"

"darby's dad looks like my dad, and i'll never be okay with that."

"i like that darby just yeets himself around like that. he came in like a wrecking ball. a tiny, tiny wrecking ball."

"sting just tossing his son around the ring like that is very good, but, sir, that's bad parenting."

"the thing about sky and page is that these are the suburb guys i beat up at the beach on summer vacation. they have big "i robbed these guys at the pier" energy."

"damn, darby just feels his emotion with his entire face, doesnt he."

"okay explain the gambling thing and WHY it's a thing."

"orange rolling into the ring is so fucking good, that man is national treasure."

after me showing her the video of younger orange cassidy shitfaced and holding a fish for no reason: "i am shocked and appalled that you're only showing me this now."

after explaining the history of the jansport: "the range of this dumbass."

"i get that kenny is good and all, but his hair really fucks me up. it's upsettingly bad and i hope he knows that."

"pac is just. so much muscle. flippy beef man. a meateor." she did specify how to spell it for the joke because it was important.

"that man is a weeb, isnt he."

"something about a man breaking a hold by putting his hands in his pockets really gets me hype."

"fuck just murder omega and be done i hate this, put it on the beef man or the juicey boy already."

"babe, ill be right back i gotta murder this callis bitch."

screaming, "THAT'S MY FAVORITE REF, YOU UGLY FUCK!"

after kenny won: "i fucking hate wrestling, this is bullshit."

"holy fuck, babe, i forgot mark henry was a wrestle boy! i know him from the olympics!"

"hey, is mark henry bigger than large paul?"

"mjf is a dumb bitch and i love him."

"hey, quick question, who thought repelling down the stadium would look cool, they're so far away."

"there's wardlow, my sweet boy. this is cool now."

she laughed for a solid two minutes at tony schiavone saying, "here comes the little guy."

"i fuckin hate hager. kill him wardlow, kill that crispy maga ass bitch."

"okay what's with the chairs." *after a brief explanation of the chairshot heard round the world* "and, like, he can't just pick a new gimmick? it's been two years, bro. move on, shes not coming back."

"okay, i admit that this is great and i love it, kill that old man on the dancefloor."

upon learning this is technically the main event: "you mean it's over after this? theyre ending the show on THIS? not the triple threat match, this?"

"i just noticed mjf's bedazzled jeans, i'm not angry anymore, this is perfect."

"no, more wardlow. gimme the beef."

"christ, sammy guevara is kinda incredible and i'm fuckin angry about it. why cant inner circle be just sammy and santana and ortiz, fuck the other two."

"no, shut up! i refuse to sing along to this! whats wrong with you?! this is a bad song!"

[sharperthewriter]

Chapter 5 of Roneo and Kimliet

Chapter 5

Ron was curled in a fetal position.

"Flying monkeys are just sick and wrong!" he exclaimed.

Tara and Monique groaned at his behavior.

"Ron, can you please stand up?" Kim asked of her best friend.

Ron stood up.

"I had to hide behind the dumpster at Bueno Nacho for an hour just to get away from them!" he exclaimed.

"After that, he swore off all starting roles in any plays." Kim said, "So he had to...reluctantly...play the tree in the next play."

"But for this play, Romeo and Juliet, I'd rather be behind the assistant director's table rather than be on the stage..." she added, gritting her teeth at the word assistant due to Barkin's announcement of the Glee Three as directors.

"Okay, so we understand Ron's reluctance on the stage comes from his monkey fears." Monique clarified before looking at Kim. "But what about you, girl? What's the buzz about your feud with the stage?"

Kim began, "It all began that October in Freshman year. I was about to go on stage for another Shakespeare play of his...the Scottish Play that begins with the letter M"

Ron gasped, recalling the name of the play.

"You mean MacBeth?"

And then he heard his pants rip from behind, showing off a part of his Flippies boxers.

"Oh man...not again with the pants!" Ron complained.

"Ron..." Kim groaned, "...you're not supposed to say the name of the play or else you would suffer years of bad luck!"

"Oh, come on, Kim! It's not like I say the name of MacBeth every time and something bad happens!" Ron said while leaning on a nearby tree. All of a sudden, a bird pooped in his hair, a stray dog urinated on his right shoe and something stung him in his behind.

"YYEEEEOOWWWW!" he exclaimed. A wasp had stung Ron in his posterior.

"Like I said, Ron...years of bad luck!"

"Okay, KP! I'll officially stop saying MacBeth from here on out!" Ron exclaimed while trying to rub his behind. A thunderstorm hovered above Middleton, including the high school. A flash of lightning followed by a loud boom of thunder was heard.

Rufus squeaked in fear and ducked in Ron's pants pocket, for he did not like thunderstorms.

It them began to pour buckets of rain onto the four teenagers.

Tara's jumpsuit and Kim and Monique's overalls were starting to get soaked from the rain.

"We're gonna head under the awning of the gym, since most of the students had gone for the day, excluding those in detention.

The group headed under the awning to protect themselves from the wet elements.

"So yeah...as I was saying..." Kim said while her red hair was sopping wet. "...flash back to freshman year...October...that Scottish Play."

A flash of lightning followed by a rumble of thunder as she flashed back.

(October 18, 2003, 7pm)

Kim was dressed in the costume of Lady MacBeth in the area to the back of the stage. She kinda felt nervous going on stage for the first time since the whole 'Silent-Night' high-note incident from last year in eighth grade.

"I'm getting butterflies in my stomach." she complained to the drama teacher, Miss Tudor.

Miss Tudor replied, "Don't worry. You'll do great out there!"

"You really think so, Miss Tudor?" Kim wondered.

"Trust me on it!" the drama teacher said with a wink of he eye.

Kim gulped as she walked out on stage, not prepared to face a crowd of people. She prayed that they didn't come with an extra set of earplugs.

She was unaware that Amanda, one of Bonnie's hench-girls, came up to Miss Tudor's side.

"In case if Miss Possible falters on stage, you'll take her place." the teacher said with a whisper.

"I know all my lines and studied them." Amanda replied.

"Very thoroughly?" Miss Tudor asked, "This play counts for 20% of your final grade, you know that."

"Inside and out!" came the reply from the vile cheerleader, rubbing her hands in glee, anticipating even the slightest of mistakes from Kim.

Kim was now in act 1, scene 5 of MacBeth. This was the scene in which she is reading the letter from MacBeth, played by fellow freshman, Alan Platt.

"The witches met me on the day of my victory in battle, and I have since learned that they have supernatural knowledge. When I tried desperately to question them further, they vanished into thin air. While I stood spellbound, messengers from the king arrived and greeted me and the thane of Cawdor..."

Sheer determination filled her lungs as she performed those lines without a script. Kim felt like that she was born for this part.

"So what happened then?" Tara asked.

Kim sighed, "Then...came Act 1, Scene 6..."

(the flashback continues)

Russ Niedelmeyer, as Duncan, and Kim, as Lady MacBeth were saying their lines.

"Look, here comes our honored hostess! Sometime the love my subjects bring me is inconvenient, but I still accept it as love. In doing so, I'm teaching you to thank me for the inconvenience I'm causing you by being here, because it comes from my love to you." Russ said while in-character.

And now came Kim's infamous turn.

"Everything we're doing for you, even if it were doubled and then...and...then..."

Kim then saw the guy who was playing Banquo, and stuttered on her line. It was none other than Josh Mankey, whom was talking on the role of Banquo because the student who was going to play him got sick on the day of that frosted tip spiked hair was present, attracting Kim like a moth to an electric zapper.

She never saw such a cute hottie guy in her life before and struggled to memorize the next line with a shaky voice.

"We...we...we...gladly welcome you...you as...um...ermmm...our guests..."

The full effects of stage fright came at her at possibly the worst time because of only the mere appearance of Josh. She was trembling and blushing at his cute hair, his cute spikey frost-tipped hair.

"Ooooooh! Ahhhhh!

Kim was so smitten by his looks...that she completely forgot her lines! And the audience was staring at her, seeing if she was going to say anything.

Not even a peep uttered from her mouth. The audience started to boo and hiss at her.

Miss Tudor, panicking that her job was on the line, ran onto the stage and made an announcement.

"Um...we are going to hold a brief 15-minute intermission! Yeah...yeah! Snacks and refreshments are located in the cafeteria to your right!"

While the audience filed out for the intermission period, the teacher went backstage to talk with Kim.

"What happened out there? Why didn't you recite your Lady MacBeth Lines?" Miss Tudor asked.

Kim told her the truth while eyeing Josh, smitten by him.

"I'm crushing...like a sheep!"

Miss Tudor looked at her and said, "I knew this would happen. Amanda, take the role of Lady Macbeth for the rest of the play!"

Kim was stunned out of her Mankey-like trance.

"Wait...what?!"

Amanda grinned evilly at Kim, "Yes, Miss Tudor! It would be such an honor!"

Miss Tudor then looed at Kim and said, "Miss Possible...for your lack of attentiveness and your...teenager-like 'crushes' on boys...if you call it that...I am giving you a F on MacBeth!"

Kim was beyond mortified to receive such a low grade. She had no choice but to accept it.

The redheaded cheerleader sighed and said, "Fine...Miss Tudor...I'll accept the grade as is.."

Amanda cackled and added salt to the wound.

"As Shakespeare would say so himself to you...to better to not thine be seen rather than choke during thine play of the Immortal Bard."

Kim hung her head low in defeat.

[dex-xe]

(And an ask requesting Captain + anyone Angst #5 - I lost all the asks by accident cause I’m an idiot!!)

Pat & the Captain Angst #5: “I don’t want to feel this. I want to be numb again.”

Pat & the Captain General #48: “I won’t hurt you.”

(I combined these three because I really felt they’d work well together. I didn’t wanna make the romance obvious but it’s definitely implied!! Anyway, thank you to you for sending these I really love this one!!)

Prompt list

Inbox

Pat had always felt fairly content with his tiny attic bedroom. Four walls barely metres apart, a sloped ceiling, and small window that gave him a rather pleasant view of the gardens of Button House. He’d chosen the room mere hours after his tragic and sudden death. One glance at the miniature single bed tucked into the corner was all he got before he was forced to dedicate his afterlife to those four walls, hoping his choice of attic room would place the least amount of burden on the apprehensive ghosts already haunting the other bedrooms. It had suited him just fine. Being a man of small stature, he wasn’t particularly bothered by the cramped nature of his quarters, always one to make do without complaining.

That was all until the past week, when the suffocating closeness of his bedroom became abundantly clear. A few nights prior, the Captain had entered Pat’s room following their nightly patrol. They’d been deep in discussion about the best way to build a shelter; so that if, in the unlikely event the deceased pair managed to get lost in the wilderness, they’d thrive and survive. The conversation wasn’t finished so Pat didn’t hesitate to invite the Captain in to sit and continue.

Very quickly, Pat had realised his mistake. He was hesitant to even call it a mistake but, as the discussion developed and continued, they had strayed, as ghosts often did, to reminiscing about their lives. Comfortable ground for Pat, slightly more treacherous for the Captain. It had started innocuous enough with the Captain regaling the odd story of woodland walks and the flora and fauna he had discovered.

But soon enough, Pat had watched the Captain begin to slacken both physically and mentally and his stories had become looser and more personal. He told tales of his overbearing father and doting mother, his more successful and respectable older brother, and his grandmother; his adoring grandmother who lived up on a hill and waited every day for her nervous little grandson to trek up to help her bake bread and plant flowers. Pat couldn’t lose the golden opportunity that had fallen straight into his lap.

The Captain had returned the following two nights and Pat had learned more about him in three days than in the previous seventy years, and he was determined to bring the Captain to a place he wasn’t even sure the soldier knew existed. Very strategically, the Captain had been avoiding bringing up anything that could potentially lead to his romantic life, he’d refused to indulge Pat in talking about Carol and had quickly shut down Pat’s amusing first date anecdotes.

It reached night four before Pat finally broached the subject, waiting for the perfect moment. The pair sat in comfortable silence, curled up and knees pressed together, in the window seat of Pat’s miniature bedroom gazing out over the shadowy gardens.

“The stars are rather bright this evening, no cloud cover, see?” The Captain muttered contemplating the inky black sky. “I wasn’t much of an astronomer in life, I can’t say I know very much about the cosmos but I can appreciate its beauty.”

“I don’t know much either,” Pat confessed, but he pointed up into the sky just to the Captain’s right. “But that one’s Ursa Major.”

“It is?”

“No idea, could be!” Pat chuckled. The Captain smiled softly at him and turned back to the view. “The best date I ever had was taking Carol stargazing.” “Mhmm,” the Captain shuffled awkwardly in his seat, but said nothing to drive Pat away. So he pressed on.

“We’d only been together a little while. We wrapped up in so many layers and went up Bromley Hill, I held her hand the whole way up, to keep her warm, you know? And we lay down and just talked and drank hot chocolate. It was so wonderful: that was the night I realised I was in love with her. Yeah, good night!”

“Sounds lovely,” the Captain mumbled. Silence fell between them as Pat waited patiently for the Captain to talk, a technique he’d picked up over the past nights: give the Captain a minute to think and he’ll be willing to share.

“When the soldiers were getting rowdy of an evening,” he began slowly. “I would take myself off. The banks of the lake have a rather wonderful view of the sky. I’d just lie there and wait until the early hours, when the men had disappeared for bed.”

“A regular occurrence?”

“Now and again,” the Captain said non-committed. “Occasionally, very occasionally. I wouldn’t be alone, friends would join.”

“Friends?”

“Friend.”

“This friend would keep you company?” Pat asked carefully, eliciting the smallest hum of agreement from the Captain. “It’s nice, isn’t it? To have someone to share a night with?”

“And what precisely do you mean by that, sir?” The Captain turned suddenly. Pat realised he’d stuck his foot in it - rookie mistake really. He sat staring back at the Captain in silence before deciding on a response: in for a penny. “Well, you and this... friend. You’re like myself and Carol. Someone you can talk to, relax with, and truly be yourself around.”

“And how do you gather that from me telling you of my friend?” The Captain interrogated.

“You wouldn’t let just anyone gaze with you,” Pat pushed his glasses further up his nose. “I know you, Cap. They must have meant a great deal to you to let them anywhere close to you.”

“Do not compare him to your wife, Patrick,” the Captain huffed and turned back to the window.

“Why not?” Pat pushed.

“You loved Carol,” the Captain said. “She was your wife, he was but a friend.”

“And?” Pat avoided the Captain’s glare pointedly.

“Completely different situation.”

“You know, Captain, I’m not entirely sure that’s true.” The Captain spluttered and raised his stick towards Pat. His eyes were wide and very, very afraid of wherever the conservation was going. Pat half thought he might get up and run from the room as, like a deer in the headlights, his fight or flight reflex was taking far too long to kick in.

“Now listen here!” He stuttered. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating about Havers but I shall not sit here and listen to you slander a good man. You did not know him, he was nothing like your beloved Carol.”

“I wasn’t saying anything about him,” Pat argued. “But he was ‘beloved’ to you, as you put it?”

“How dare you-,” the Captain started. “I don’t understand, what are you- I don’t understand? He was never... ‘beloved’. Not by me.”

“You cared for this Havers?” Pat waited before the Captain nodded slowly. “You cared what he thought, what he had to say?” Another nod. “You wanted to spend time around him, make him happy? He made you happy?”

“What is this is aid of?” “Your face would go red when you saw him, yeah? Hands would get sweaty? You wanted to be the very best version of yourself in front of him?” Pat locked eyes with the man opposite him, both deathly afraid of the unspoken words. “You found him... physically attractive?”

“Now, what are you-,”

“I hate to be the one to break it to you, Captain.” Pat said quietly. “But that sounds rather like what love is.”

“No, it isn’t. It wasn’t.” The four walls of Pat’s tiny bedroom closed in, suffocating the pair despite their  lack of need for breathing. “It wasn’t love.”

“Did you ever feel that stomach-flippy thing? When he walked into the room? Like you’re going to explode with emotion, or be sick, or perhaps both,” Pat asked. “Think about your other friends. Think about Robin. Does that happen when you see him? Or Mary? Kitty? Does that feeling happen?”

“No.”

“Now think of your Havers.”

Oh God. The Captain’s stomach fell over itself with the image of Havers’ dark eyes floating in front of him. His insides twisted and turned as he listened to Havers’ voice describing the intricate details of their weapon plans, the silky smooth tones of his voice flowing straight into the Captain leaving him shell shocked. How had he never noticed that feeling before, that horrifying swirling feeling. It made him feel both comfortingly warm and ridiculously sick at the same time, as if every illegal thought he’d ever had for Havers were about to burst out from inside him.

“It’s there, isn’t it?” Pat prompted. The fear in the Captain’s eyes told everything Pat needed to know, guilt overrode his body. “It’s okay, Cap! You’re okay.”

“I- I- is that?” He stammered. “It- love?”

“I shouldn’t have pushed you,” Pat conceded.

“No. No, it’s not love! What are you talking about?” The Captain was overcome with anger all of a sudden, frustration threatening to spill out. “He was, well. No, he was a ‘he’ to begin with. That’s not- that’s not how love works.”

“Love is love is love,” Pat told him. “You can fall in love with anyone. Legal now, Cap.”

“I- I’m sorry,” the Captain’s head was scrambled.

“Don’t you dare say sorry, mate. You’ve bugger all to be sorry about.”

“I really- I don’t want to feel this. I want to be numb again,” he stumbled over his words, avoiding Pat’s gaze and pointedly staring out of the window instead. “I can’t feel this-.”

“Feel it, please,” Pat grabbed the Captain’s wrist in a tight two-handed grip and locked him into place. “It’s not healthy to keep everything inside.”

“We’re dead, Patrick!” The Captain urged. “We have no need to feel, no health to maintain.”

“Up here,” Pat tapped the Captain’s head carefully, the cold tip of his finger brushing through the thin grey hairs at his temple sending a small shiver through the Captain’s spine. “Healthy, up here. You need to take better care of yourself. It’s like a dam, holding back gallons of water simply increasing the pressure inside. Let a little emotion spill over once in a while, keeps your head on right.”

“Water will not spill, Patrick, it will flood. And then where will we be left: vulnerable to enemy attack, that’s where.”

“There’s no enemy,” the Captain moved to interrupt. “No, no enemy. Just allies. Let me in, just for a little while.”

“I can’t-,” he stopped, a single tear tracking its way down his cheek, burning hot onto his skin. “I wouldn’t know where to start.” Pat finally released his tense grip on the Captain and opened his arms, nodding to give the Captain silent permission.

“I won’t hurt you,” Pat whispered, brushing his hand over the scratchy khaki uniform at the Captain’s shoulder. “You don’t have to be the big, brave Captain you always try to be, not in front of me. Just for a moment, let go.”

After only a moment’s hesitation, the Captain dove forward head butting Pat in the chest, pushing him back against the window frame and practically folding himself in half to curl into the open arms. Seventy years of denied feeling poured out of the Captain to pool in their laps, warming their lonely ghostly forms. Pat dropped his legs to either side of the Captain, allowing him to curl closer and lie steadfast against his shoulder taking as much affection as he could having suppressed anything he wanted for years.

“Thank you for talking to me,” Pat whispered. “It’s a big thing to come to terms with, a big, big thing. But a good thing, yes? It’s good that you cared for him, good you felt a way you didn’t know you had. It’s all very, very good and very, very okay. And it’s for you to know and me to hopefully find out a little bit more about, okay? No one else need know.” He paused, his calloused hand finding the Captain’s in the darkness. “You can talk to me, Captain. Whatever you want to say, whenever, and I’ll listen. Hey, I’ll listen to you rant and rave about the shades of brown in his eyes for hours if it means you can start feeling again. Is that okay?” The Captain nodded vigorously, unable to trust himself to produce words.

Pat’s tiny bedroom no longer felt quite so suffocating to either man, nor did it feel like the dingy attic, barely tall enough to stand straight, that it had before. Instead it was a sanctuary to whispered secrets and profound confessions of adoration, four beige walls protecting the Captain in a way his emotional barriers had never quite been sufficient at. He tilted back to glance up at Pat, who smiled softly down at him running a hand over the Captain’s back and leaning to rest his chin among grey hair. The gentle look in Pat’s blazing blue eyes causing the Captain’s stomach to give off a familiarly warm flipping sensation.

[pines-troz]

Animaniacs/PATB/Wakko’s Wish Fanfic - Pinky Promise

Summary: When Pinky sees the Warner siblings trying to stay warm in the frigid cold, his heart is overwhelmed with compassion. He suggests to Brain that they should help the poor orphans, to which the smaller mouse reluctantly agrees. But when the mice receive a stroke of bad luck, their friendship is put to the test. 

Word Count: 7,396

AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/28299807

Based on @themurphyzone‘s lovely post about Wakko’s Wish 

The winter snow blanketed the buildings and streets of Acme Falls. The citizens of the village trudged miserably as they went about their daily lives trying to get by in a country that grossly overtaxed its people for the financial satisfaction of its corrupt and cold-heart ruler, King Salazar the Pushy.

Pinky and The Brain emerged from their home and strolled through the village square. To protect themselves from the biting cold winds, Brain sported his purple scarf and brown fingerless gloves, while Pinky wore his red scarf. It wasn’t much, but when there was little to go around they learned to appreciate what they had. 

A particularly harsh gust of wind blew past the mice. Brain chattered his teeth as he instinctively rubbed his forearms for extra warmth. Pinky saw how frigid the smaller mouse was and immediately pulled him into a side hug for extra warmth. Brain sneered at his lanky companion and shoved him away, rejecting the affectionate gesture. 

“So where are we going again, Brain?” Pinky asked. 

“I just told you, Pinky! We’re heading over to the village dump to scavenge any materials that would aid my latest invention.” Brain answered with an annoyed frown. 

The pudgy mouse pulled out a rolled-up piece of paper from his pocket and unfurled the sketches for his device. “A giant vacuum cleaner!” He declared with an eager grin. “With this machine, we’ll be able to suck up that wretched king and his allies, trapping them in a lint-filled prison. Then, while the throne awaits for a new monarch, we will seize power over the kingdom and restore Warnerstock to its former glory!”

“Naaarf!” Pinky awed. 

“So that’s why we’re going dumpster diving today, Pinky.” Brain concluded as he stashed his sketch back into his pocket. 

“Egad Brain, brilliant!” Pinky joyfully cried out. But then his smile faltered. “But no, no”

“What?” Brain asked exasperatedly. 

“Don’t we need proper swimming equipment when we go dumpster diving? Like goggles and flippy fins?” Pinky asked, waving his arms around to emphasize his point. “We can’t waste any time, Pinky!” Brain said curtly. “The daylight hours are considerably shorter this time of year, and we need to make the most of our trip to the dump!” 

“Yay!!!” Pinky cheered as he followed his roommate. 

As the mice walked past the village square, they looked over at the abandoned orphanage to see three shabbily dressed children huddling around a makeshift fire.

The rodents recognized the Warner children; Yakko, Wakko, and Dot. The kids usually had a penchant for causing chaos around the village. But seeing the normally playful Warners in a state of misery and shivering in front of a weak fire pit was particularly heartbreaking. An awful reminder of the adverse impact of Salazar’s over taxation on the populace. 

Poor Pinky was on the verge of tears at the sight of the distraught siblings. Kids were supposed to be happy, bouncing around without a care in the world and having a fun-fun silly-willy time! But to see three poor and defenseless children broke the tall mouse’s heart.  “Poit! Oh, the poor dears...” He warbled, placing a hand on his cheek. 

“Yes, poverty is a merciless mistress.” Brain agreed in a melancholic tone whilst gently patting his taller friend’s back. “But now is not the time to dwell on the depressing sight of three poor waifs having to fend for themselves in a cold and unforgiving world.” 

As Pinky watched his smaller companion lead the way, he thought of a wonderful idea that made him feel all warm and fuzzy. Maybe he could do something to make the kiddies smile! 

With his heart filled with renewed hope, the taller mouse skipped along gaily, catching up with his companion. “Say Brain, if we come across anything that’s nice or shiny during our trip to the dump, can we give some to the little kiddies?” Pinky suggested cheerfully. 

Brain stopped in his tracks, turning his chubby head towards his lanky roommate. He stared at Pinky with an incredulous look. The odds of finding something of value were slim (not that it deterred the determined mouse from trying anyway). But it didn’t take long for Brain to be captivated by the warmth and compassion that pooled in Pinky’s beautiful blue eyes. How could he ever say no to a gaze like that?

“Should we come across something of value, we could, perhaps, share our wealth with the orphans.” Brain reluctantly spoke. 

“Is that a Pinky Promise?” Pinky asked excitedly. The mouse curled three of his fingers with only his pinky pointed out, and eagerly wiggled it in front of his friend.

Brain looked at Pinky’s pinky. The thought of making a Pinky Promise was juvenile and saccharine from Brain’s perspective. But despite his cold exterior and cynical outlook on the world, he could never bring himself to crumble Pinky’s childlike sense of wonder. The eloquent mouse let out an exhausted sigh, surrendering to his roommate’s request. 

“Fine, it’s a Pinky promise.” He confirmed, giving in to his best friend’s plea. He showcased the pinky finger on his right hand. Brain carefully wrapped his pinky around Pinky’s, giving it a firm shake. 

Once they untangled their pinkies, Pinky scooped Brain into a tight hug, to which Brain recoiled as he kicked his feet in the air. Pinky was unaware of Brain’s resistance as he twirled around. “Oh Brain, we are such kind and good and thoughtful mice! Zort!” 

“That’s all well and good my personal-space-invading friend, but we first need to search the dump and obtain anything of monetary worth before we could perform our noble deed.” Brain recalled as he struggled to liberate himself from Pinky’s affectionate embrace. “Now would you be so kind as to put me down before we further indulge in any more mawkish sentiment?”

“Of course, Brain!” Pinky apologized as he gently lowered Brain on the ground. The pudgy mouse gave a curt nod to his companion before resuming their journey. The lanky mouse did his best to keep up with his roommate’s quick pace. 

With their pact sealed, the mice ventured forth to the village dump in their desperate search for usable materials and anything of monetary worth. 

By the time sunset rolled in, the mice were unable to find the materials for Brain’s invention. But they did come across an even better find. Brain searched through a rusty tin can only to discover three gold coins. After retrieving the coins, Pinky immediately grabbed one. With the assumption that he held a chocolate coin wrapped with gold tinfoil, the mouse scratched at the sides in the hopes that he could remove the wrapping. Brain rolled his eyes and inspected the other two coins, observing them in great detail to check if they were real or counterfeit. After minutes of inspecting the symbols and inscriptions as well as testing their physicality, Brain confirmed that the gold coins were authentic. The mice then fled the town dump, absconding the valuable currency in their paws.

Brain held two of the coins over his head and Pinky held the third coin in his arms. The chubby mouse already planned out the different ways to spend their newly acquired wealth. The first coin would be given to the Warners (in keeping with his Pinky Promise to Pinky), the second coin would be used to purchase food from the grocers, and the third coin would be used to fund Brain’s latest plan for world domination. 

In the words of the classic show tune, they’re in the money!

The two companions sprinted down the street as fast as their little feet allowed. They needed to avoid drawing attention from the greedy local tax collector, Baron von Plotz, and his bumbling lackey, Ralph the Constable, as well any person willing to get their hands on the money.

Brain was a few paces ahead, desperate to return to their home with the coins. Pinky, despite his physical agility, was distracted when a somber sight caught his eyes. 

Pinky noticed the Warners forlornly trudging inside their ramshackle home in the abandoned water tower. Oh, how his heart ached at the sight of the downtrodden children. But as he gripped the coin in his hold, he remembered what he needed to do to cheer them up!

Unfortunately Pinky failed to see where he was going and tripped over the cobblestone street, landing with a thud. As he fell, he accidentally let go of his coin, which went rolling down the street.

“Oh no!” Pinky gasped, alerting Brain. The pudgy mouse whipped his head around to see the fleeing coin. He was about to intervene when the coin made a right turn and went straight into the sewer grate.

They stared in shock as they watched the coin disappear before their very eyes. 

Brain felt his anger rising like a kettle filled with boiling hot water. He snorted and gritted his teeth as he confronted the bumbling mouse.  

“Pinky, you clumsy nincompoop!” Brain snapped, clenching his fists with rage. The mouse furiously stomped over towards his roommate. 

Pinky closed his eyes and lowered his head, expecting a particularly hard bop on the head. This was all his fault. If only he had paid attention! 

As Pinky waited to receive his blows, he heard the sounds of two coins clinking together followed by two small paws hitting a particularly hard object and the aggravated grunts of his roommate. 

Pinky opened his eyes and turned around to see Brain taking out his aggression on the dilapidated picket fence. After a few additional jabs, the smaller mouse looked at the fence, his breathing slowing to calmer breaths.

After releasing his anger, Brain picked up the two coins and resumed the trek back home. “Come along Pinky,” He called out while keeping his eyes on the trail ahead. “let’s return to our home and prepare for tomorrow night.” 

“But Brain, what about the poor kiddies?” Pinky asked concernedly. 

“What about them?” Brain spat without stopping. 

“But we have to give one of our coins to the children!” Pinky reminded his roommate. He could feel his eyes starting to water. 

Brain groaned and turned to face the taller mouse. “We need the money, Pinky! One coin to put bread on the table, and the other to pay for our latest plan to take over the world!” 

“But you Pinky promised, Brain!” Pinky cried out as tears streamed down his cheeks. “And a Pinky promise is the most important promise of all!” 

The lanky mouse fell onto his knees, ignoring the frigid dampness of the snow beneath him.  Putting his head in his hands, Pinky sobbed uncontrollably, curling himself into a pitiful ball in the snow.  

Brain stared at his distraught friend and was immediately overcome with guilt. He hated seeing Pinky cry. Even more so, he hated the fact that he made Pinky cry. Brain winced at his inconsolable companion and looked to his gloved hands instead. There were two sides of him battling among themselves as he pondered. His ambitious side told him that world domination was more important and that he could make reparations after he ascended to power. But his heart told him that he needed to place the well-being of others before himself, no matter how much it wounded his pride. With a forlorn sigh, Brain concluded that he didn’t want to sour his relationship with Pinky by backing out on his promise. He needed to do the right thing and fulfill his promise. 

Brain courageously shifted his gaze back at Pinky, who was still crying his eyes out with ragged breaths as a disgusting amount of snot oozed from his nostrils. The pudgy mouse knew that he needed to cheer up his soft-hearted companion. 

“I did, didn’t I?” Brain softly replied, his voice laced with remorse. Pinky’s ears perked and immediately stared at his friend. The lanky mouse wordlessly nodded as he took his red scarf and blew out the snot from his bulbous red nose. 

With a deep sigh, Brain walked over to Pinky and shoved one of the coins into his chest. The lanky mouse instinctively held the coin tight, knowing now that he needed to be extra careful not to lose the money. Pinky looked over to see Brain making his way over to the worn-down water tower. 

“Come along Pinky, I believe we need to pay the orphans a surprise visit.” Brain quietly ordered. 

Pinky’s glistened as an optimistic smile broke out. Brain had kept his Pinky Promise after all! The lanky mouse eagerly sprinted to join his shorter friend by his side. 

“Oh thank you, Brain!” Pinky exclaimed joyfully. “I can’t wait to make the little kiddies smile!” 

Brain looked at Pinky, whose cheerful attitude was now restored, and gave a small smile in return. 

The mice cautiously entered the ramshackle home through the open door, which was susceptible to the cold gusts of wind that blew through Acme Falls. They quietly walked through the broken down home and scanned their surroundings. The water tower was laid bare with the exception of a few worn-out pieces of furniture. Blue tattered curtains that divided the living space, a wooden bureau that held a burning candle, and a makeshift bed which was currently occupied by Yakko and Dot. 

The eldest Warner brother and the Warner sister were tucked underneath the quilt blanket. Pinky and Brain remained in the shadows as they heard Yakko enchanting Dot with a bedtime story. 

“Once upon a time, a brave knight married a beautiful princess and they had two sons.” Yakko recited with a gentle smile. 

“But they wanted a daughter too!” Dot said eagerly. 

“Right, so they planted a garden all over the kingdom,” Yakko explained as he draped his arm around his little sister. “and on the first day of spring every flower in that garden bloomed. And out of the prettiest flower came...”

“Me!” Dot chirped, pointing towards herself. 

“Yup!” Yakko affirmed, causing Dot to snuggle up to her brother. 

The mice also noticed Wakko appearing from behind the tattered blue curtains. The middle child played around with the fabric as he listened to the tale. 

“And so the knight and his bride, Mom and Dad, took you home. And every night at bedtime they’d come in and say, ‘who’s the girl?’” Yakko asked as he affectionately nuzzled his nose into Dot’s. “And you’d say,” 

“I am!” She confidently declared, gesturing to herself once again. 

“And they’d ask ‘how’d you ever get so cute!” Yakko asked, nuzzling her nose once again. “And you’d say,”

“I was born that way.” She boasted as she crossed her arms. 

“And they’d say ‘tell us your name young lady’” Yakko requested as he gently booped his sister’s nose with his index finger. “And you’d say,”

“Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fana Bo Besca the Third!” The Warner sister stated as she clasped her hands together. “But you can call me Dot!” 

Yakko smiled at his younger sister. “And they’d say ‘can we call you Dottie?’ and you’d say,”

“No, just Dot.” Dot commanded with a serious look on her face. “Call me Dottie and you die!” She warned. 

“And Mom and Dad would laugh and laugh and laugh, and tickle ya!” He said whilst tickling his sister, causing her to giggle. “And you’d laugh too! And you’d fall asleep with a great big smile in your heart!” 

Hidden within the shadows, the mice had listened in on the endearing bedtime story. Brain felt something stir within him as he heard the story of their parents. Was it pity? Sympathy, perhaps? He couldn’t tell. Brain awkwardly focused on the coin he held, feeling like he was intruding on an intimate family moment. Something told him that he should just flee the scene, but his feet remained planted on the floor. 

Meanwhile Pinky sniffled as he was moved to tears by the lovely tale. The mouse thought about what the children’s lives might have been when they lived with their parents. What kinds of activities did they like to do? Did they like gardening or were they more into arts and crafts? Did their Dad like to ride them around on his back like a horsie? Did their Mom bake some nice chocolate chip cookies for the kiddies? Did they all like to sit by the fireplace on a snowy evening all wrapped up in blankets and snuggle on the sofa together? And to think that the poor kiddies were robbed of more bonding time with their parents and now had to live in a worn-down water tower. Pinky felt the tears fall down his face as he gazed at the Warners making the most out of what little they had. 

“I like that story!” Dot proclaimed. 

“I like that story too. Narf!” Pinky agreed in a wavering voice. 

The strange response alerted the three children. Yakko and Dot instinctively hugged each other while Wakko sprinted from behind the curtain and leaped onto the bed to join his siblings. The kids were frightened that a mysterious person entered their home. 

Yakko kept his younger siblings in a protective hug as he scanned the room. “W-who said that?” He loudly inquired, trying his hardest to hide his fearfulness with a hardened look on his face. 

“My associate did.” Brian addressed in a monotone voice, tugging Pinky’s hand as they stepped into the light. Brain wore a tired frown as he stared at the Warners, while Pinky used his scarf to dab the tears from his eyes. The smaller mouse noted the fearful looks on the children’s faces and tried his best to soothe their worries. “Pinky and I have no intentions of bringing about any harm, so there’s no need to be frightened.” 

The Warners released a collective sigh of relief at the tiny strangers. 

“Are you leprechauns?” Wakko asked curiously with a pointed finger. 

“Actually we are a pair of genetically altered lab mice trying very hard to get by during these trying times and plotting to take over the world.” Brain explained in earnest. “But my friend Pinky here has something he wants to give to you.” 

The smaller mouse ushered his taller friend to approach the children. “Oh, right-o!” The lanky mouse remembered. 

With a joyful smile, Pinky sprinted towards the mattress, carrying the coin in his hands. Brain stood by the edge of the shadows, clutching their last coin to his chest as he watched his Good Samaritan of a roommate perform his good deed. Once Pinky made it over to the bed, he lifted the coin, offering it to the Warners. “Here you go!” He chirped. 

The siblings looked at each other in disbelief. 

“Well go on, it’s yours! Zort!” Pinky cheerfully insisted. 

“You’re just gonna give away that large sum of money to us?” Yakko asked incredulously. 

“Well, it’s from me and my best friend!” Pinky explained sincerely, nodding over to Brain. The big-headed mouse’s face faltered, surprised that Pinky would share the spotlight in his good deed. 

“Brain was the one who found the coins, and we decided to share the money with you! Zort!” Pinky pleasantly told the children, causing Brain’s to draw a ragged breath.

“I don’t deserve such praise from Pinky…” The smaller mouse pondered. As his eyes started to water, he rapidly blinked his eyelids to fight off the tears that threatened to fall. 

Yakko graciously accepted the coin from Pinky and inspected both sides. He knocked the coin on the bedpost and smiled. “Yup, it’s real!” 

Wakko and Dot cheered as they took turns holding the gold coin, their eyes glimmered with fascination at their newfound wealth. Pinky’s blue eyes shined, elated to see the smiles on the poor children’s face, and even happier that he did his part to contribute to their joy. 

Having fought back his tears, Brain briefly smiled at the sight. 

“Thank you guys so much!” Dot exclaimed gratefully. She leaned down and patted Pinky’s head, who eagerly tapped his foot at the affectionate gesture.

“Man, I wish we could think of some way to repay you two,” Wakko added, turning his attention toward the smaller mouse. 

Brain frowned as he shook his head. “There’s no need to fret over that. You children don’t owe us anything.” He shoved a hand into his fur pocket and tucked the gold coin underneath his other arm. “Now if you’ll excuse us, my associate and I must swiftly return home to avoid detection from the greedy tax collector.” He informed. With a quick turn, the eloquent mouse walked back into the shadow and made his exit from the shabby water tower. 

“Goodnight kiddies!” Pinky cheered as he followed his roommate. 

“Goodnight!” The Warners chorused, beaming their grateful smiles at the mice. Pinky returned the smile before he left. 

Pinky stepped outside into the bitter cold, still warmed from helping out the poor orphans. With a joyful laugh, the mouse skipped and twirled around on the village street. All of his remorse from accidentally losing the third coin was washed away and replaced with the joy and giddiness from seeing the precious smiles on the Warners’ faces. A sentimental image that he will always hold in his heart. Oh, how wonderful it was for him and Brain to lend a helping hand!

As Pinky glanced at Brain, who still had his hand in his pocket and stopped in the alley near their humble abode. The taller mouse ceased his twirling and approached his most trusted companion. 

“Oh Brain, wasn’t it wonderful to see the kiddies happy?” Pinky happily asked. But he did not receive a response. Brain remained silent as he looked up at the starry sky above. 

“Brain?” Pinky carefully addressed. 

“Why did you share the credit with me?” Brain softly inquired, still looking up at the night sky. 

Pinky didn’t hesitate to answer his query. “Because you were the one who found the coins while we were dumpster diving,” He eagerly explained. “and if it weren’t for you then we would have gone back home empty-handed and the kiddies would still be penniless! Zort!” 

Brain turned his head towards Pinky, stunned by his roommate’s reasoning. He then let out a tired exhale and walked through the front door of their humble home. 

After a few seconds of staring at the doorway, Pinky cautiously followed Brain’s footprints. The taller mouse stopped to take a step next to one of the footprints before taking a step back. Pinky gazed at the different footprints, his feet were remarkably bigger than Brain’s, which were practically tiny. But despite how different they appeared, the footprints were close together like two very good friends. Much like how he was close to Brain. The lanky mouse smiled at the two footprints for a few moments longer before heading inside. 

When Pinky arrived, he saw his roommate extinguish the match he used to light the candle that sat atop the bureau near their matchbox bed. The lanky mouse silently yanked the string on the pull-down screen that Brain used to map out his schemes as a feeble attempt to keep out the cold winds. 

The chubby mouse tossed aside his purple scarf and brown fingerless gloves. He retrieved his blue nightgown and nightcap from the bureau and changed into his pajamas. 

Pinky swiftly moved behind the wooden beam to respect his roommate’s privacy. The lanky mouse took off his scarf and dressed in his yellow nightgown and nightcap. After waiting patiently for a minute he decided to call out to Brain. 

“Can I come over now?” He asked. 

“Certainly.” Brain answered in an unusually quiet voice. 

Pinky emerged from behind the beam and carefully approached Brain, now dressed in his pajamas. The smaller mouse wore a particularly forlorn expression that greatly worried Pinky. 

“Is something wrong Brain?” He softly inquired. 

The chubby mouse sighed as he brushed the dust off of his blue nightgown. He looked into his roommate’s soft blue eyes and was captivated by the compassion they seemed to exude. After getting lost in the pool of his companion’s loving stare, Brain darted his own pink eyes to the floor and was compelled to address what was on his mind. 

“I don’t know what you see in me, Pinky…” Brain admitted as he pulled back the covers of their bed and got into bed. 

Pinky quietly listened to the sullen confession. But he couldn’t understand why Brain would say such things.

Why Brain’s the most determined and hard-working person he ever met! Even when his plans to take over the world backfired, he rarely dwelled on his failures and got right back up, eager to come up with another plan. And Pinky was well aware that while there were many good and wonderful things in the world (like Brain, Pharfignewton, and ice sculptures made from frozen spit) there were many bad, awful things in the world (like that awful meanie King Saladbar and his terrible taxes). But Brain was motivated to take over the world so he could make it a better place for everyone! 

And even though Brain can be grumpy, he and Pinky did almost everything together! Living in the same place, sharing the same bed, and even working on plans to take over the world together! Pinky loved and respected Brain. Brain just needed to be reminded of how important he was.

“Well, I see my best friend in the whole world.” Pinky offered with a gentle smile. 

Brain’s eyes widened in shock, kneading his fingers over the thin purple blanket. While he was always pondering over his plans and focused on fulfilling his destiny to take over the world, he sometimes forgot about how Pinky held him in such high-regards. That imbecilic mouse was simply too good for this world. 

If Brain was being honest with himself, he didn’t deserve to have a friend like Pinky. But then again, he needed to have someone like Pinky in his life. Someone who supported his goals for world domination, but wasn’t afraid to usher him to use his heart when making decisions as opposed to his superior intellect. And despite his easily distracted nature and occasional clumsiness, Pinky was an absolute godsend of a friend. Always eager to assist Brain in his schemes, making his favorite meals, and cheering him up when he needed it most. Brain loved Pinky, but he could never bring himself to admit that. 

Instead of professing his honest musings, the eloquent mouse simply looked into his roommate’s beautiful blue eyes once more with a sad smile on his lips. “That’s very kind of you, my charitable chum.” 

Pinky smiled, happy that Brain was feeling better than he was earlier. The taller mouse hopped into bed and settled himself next to the mouse he admired. While Pinky laid on his back, Brain shifted over on the right side of the bed, curling himself into a protective ball. 

A gust of cold wind blew through the makeshift shield that covered their front door and into their home. Brain shuddered as he felt the frigid wind seep into his fur and instinctively rubbed his arms for warmth. Even the added layers of his nightgown and blanket weren’t enough for the freezing wind to seep into his fur. 

Pinky noticed his shivering companion and it didn’t take long for the taller mouse to gently wrap his arms around his pudgy roommate, pulling him into a soft and affectionate embrace. He laid his chin on top of Brain’s large cranium, waiting for any sort of reaction from him. 

For once, Brain didn’t bother to recoil from Pinky’s loving hug. Although his intellectual side insisted that he needed the extra warmth from his roommate’s body heat to combat the cold weather, his vulnerable side (as much as he tried to conceal it) reminded him that it was okay to accept the comfort his friend so kindly provided. 

“Thank you…” He sighed contentedly, causing the lanky mouse to smile. 

“Goodnight Brain.” Pinky said sweetly, keeping him in his gentle hold. 

Brain smiled as he immersed himself in Pinky’s hug. 

“Goodnight Pinky…” 

Two Years Later

Inside the walls of the royal castle, Prime Minister Brain, now dressed in a black robe, white ruffled neckerchief, and curled powdered wig, was writing away in his office. With the strokes of his feathered pen, the mouse placed the finishing touches on the new laws he planned to propose to the monarchs: mandatory public education for all youths under eighteen which would be properly funded by the government and taxpayer money, the abolition of child labor, and the establishment of affordable healthcare. Knowing all of the hardships he, Pinky, and the other citizens of Acme Falls endured during the terrible reign of Salazar the Pushy, Brain vowed to use his political authority to undo the damage caused by the tyrant and enact positive social change to bolster a more prosperous Warnerstock. 

The mouse grinned at the documents, immensely satisfied with his work. All he needed was the Warners’ stamp of approval before these new laws would be put into place. 

He placed the feathered pen back into the ink jar, straightened out the papers, and got up from his seat. After stretching out his arms and back, he walked over to the window. Brain smiled as he admired the beautiful view of Acme Falls and the rest of the valley from the comfort of the castle. 

He could hardly believe that his wish for a position of power had been granted. 

After the events of the wishing star, the village of Acme Falls and the rest of Warnerstock was ushered into a new age of peace and prosperity. The purchases from Wakko’s two ha’pennies resulted in a thriving economy for the little town, which extended throughout the rest of the country. Once it was revealed that the Warners were actually the surviving children of King William the Good and Queen Angelina Contessa Louisa Francesca Banana Fana Bo Besca II, Salazar was removed from the throne. In his absence, Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warner were crowned the new co-rulers of Warnerstock. During the transfer to power, the children needed to bring aboard someone who was trustworthy enough to assist them in governmental affairs and lead the cabinet of ministers. After reviewing all of the competent adult figures in Acme Falls in need of employment, they all agreed that Brain was the most qualified candidate for the job. The day after the interview, the Warner siblings appointed Brain as their Royal Advisor as well as the new Prime Minister of Warnerstock. 

Coming off the heels of his years as a poor inventor with a desire for political power, Brain was thriving in his new career. His first order of business was to appoint Pinky to work in the stables. The chubby mouse recognized how important Pharfignewton was to his hopeless romantic of a roommate, so he decided to reward Pinky with the job that would allow him to spend more time with the mare he was so dearly fond of. 

As the Royal Advisor to the new monarchs, Brain was responsible for lending his political expertise to the Warner siblings so that they would become capable and just rulers Warnerstock deserved. The small mouse applied his extensive knowledge of the previous world leaders to tutor them on the dos and don’ts of leading a country. But Brain quickly learned that the best way for the siblings to retain this knowledge was through the alluring power of music. As a result, Brain wrote and performed many songs about the monarchs of the past, the history of Warnerstock, and various aspects of political science, all of which were sung to the tunes of catchy folk songs and memorable classical music. Having to come up with new songs for each lesson proved to be a challenge for the Royal Advisor. Fortunately, King Yakko lent a helping hand and collaborated with Brain in his spare time to work on the songs. 

Prime Minister Brain also performed skits with the Warners to practice appropriate behavior for when they needed to attend important social events outside of the castle. He hoped that by having the kids act out how to properly speak to their subjects, the kids would adopt those traits as they grow older. 

Dot also consulted with Brain when it came to matters of party planning for royal balls. Researching the latest fashion trends, deciding what music would best fit the atmosphere, dealing with catering and decorations. Brain even recruited Pinky to teach the Warners how to properly waltz. As a result of their collaboration, their first royal ball proved to be a smashing success. 

In addition to advising the Warners, Prime Minister Brain worked to fulfill all the duties that came with being the head of the government. In regards to overseeing the kingdom with the Warners, Brain did most of the heavy-lifting when it came to wielding political influence. The mouse led meetings with the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss matters of finances, education, and the like. He also drafted new laws and policies, as well as reviewing laws proposed by other members of the Cabinet, before awaiting approval from the Warners. 

The reason why Brain accepted the extra work was so that the Warners could have some much-needed downtime for themselves to indulge in some crazy kid shenanigans all around the castle. After years of having fend for themselves, they deserved to act like regular kids and create cherished childhood memories while they were still young. 

While being the Prime Minister of a small European country was not the same as being the supreme potentate of the globe, the mouse was thoroughly content with his current political career. 

Perhaps in due time, Brain could convince the Warners to peacefully transfer their sovereign powers over to him while the siblings kept their royal titles and all the comforts that came with it. And with the kingdom under his control, he could use his status as the benevolent and undisputed ruler of Warnerstock to manipulate other world leaders to do his bidding and finally take over the world! 

“Knock, knock!” He heard a distinguished cockney accent singing from behind the door. 

“Come in, Pinky.” Brain commanded as he turned away from the window. 

Pinky opened the door and waltzed into his office. The taller mouse twirled around and pranced towards the table as he sang the tune of Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2. 

“La la la la! La la la la! La la la la! La la la la!” Pinky belted out as he climbed up the table leg. 

Once he perched himself on the table, he swiftly grabbed Brain and broke out into a giddy waltz. Brain blushed when his cheek collided with Pinky’s. The smaller mouse surrendered as he listened to the rest of the verse. While Pinky’s singing was not great by any means, Brain couldn’t help but smile as he saw the jubilant expression on the lanky mouse’s face. 

After spinning around, Pinky gently placed Brain back on the table. The Prime Minister swiftly grabbed a hold of the taller mouse’s arm to steady himself. Once Brain regained his composure, he adjusted his powdered wig and looked up to Pinky. “I see you’re doing well for yourself, my rhythmically-agile friend.” 

“Oh Brain, I had such a fun-fun silly-willy time with Pharfignewton this morning! After brushing her teeth and combing her mane, we took a ride around the royal gardens to admire the pretty flowers!” Pinky eagerly replied, clasping his paws together. “I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to work in the stables! Troz!” 

“My pleasure, Pinky. Your happiness is important to me, my friend.” Brain said as he gently ruffled Pinky’s hair. The lanky mouse contentedly closed his eyes as he accepted the loving gesture.

Then the mice heard someone knocking on the door. 

“You may enter.” Brain commanded, swiftly placing his hands behind his back. 

The door opened and three royally dressed children entered the room. King Yakko, King Wakko, and Queen Dot happily smiled at the mice. The children were adorned in their sparkling regal attire. Brain noticed that the siblings were considerably healthier now that they had a stable roof over their heads and were financially well off. 

“Ah, good afternoon your excellencies.” Brain politely addressed with a short bow. 

“Good day your majesties!” Pinky exclaimed as he dramatically fell to the table, bowing before the children. 

“Aw come on fellas, there’s no need for over-the-top formalities,” Yakko assured as he motioned for Pinky to stand up. 

“Yeah, you two are cool with us,” Wakko added. 

“We just wanted to drop by to see how you two were doing.” Dot said. 

“We’re doing just swell, my queen! Narf!” Pinky gushed “Why I had a grand old time taking care of Pharfignewton and riding her around the castle.” 

“How wonderful!” Dot happily replied as she gently scooped Pinky into her hands. 

“And you three arrived at the perfect time, for I just completed my proposal.” Brain declared as he collected his papers. 

“Oh, who’s the lucky lover?” Yakko asked with a cheeky grin. 

Brain quickly glanced at Pinky and promptly shook his head. “I wasn’t referring to that type of proposal and I’m not courting anyone at the moment.” 

“We could wield our power to arrange some dates for you if you’d like.” Dot offered with a sly smile. “I know someone who would be the perfect romantic partner.” She looked at the Prime Minister while giving a subtle gesture towards Pinky. 

“I know a few horses who are totally in your league!” Pinky added. 

“That won’t be necessary.” Brain dismissed. The smaller mouse picked up his documents and walked over towards the monarch. “Now that you all addressed my imprecise wording in jest, I’ve recently drafted a new set of laws to improve the social welfare of our country and would greatly appreciate your feedback on the matter.” 

Yakko grabbed the papers, with Wakko standing on his tippy-toes to get a better look at the documents. Dot placed Pinky back on the table with Brain and joined her older brothers.  siblings as they perused through the proposed laws. But it wasn’t long before they were excited by what they were reading. 

“Reforms on public education!” Yakko declared. 

“No more child labor!” Wakko exclaimed. 

“More accessible healthcare!” Dot eagerly shouted. 

The young monarchs looked back at Brain with eager smiles. “Good work Prime Minister!” Yakko complimented. “All that’s left is the royal stamps of approval!” 

The Warner siblings reached into their pockets and retrieved their stamps, happily marking the front page with three differently colored WB symbols. 

Brain couldn’t help allow a satisfied smile on his face as his new laws were highly favored by the young kings and queen. “I’m elated to know that you three are pleased with these new laws.” He admitted. 

“We just want to make Warnerstock a better place!” Dot insisted. 

“I knew that we could trust you since you’re always looking out for the needs of the little guy,” Yakko mentioned. “Much like that time you and Pinky gave us a good portion of your life savings back when Acme Falls was a dump and everyone was dirt poor.” 

“You kids remembered that?” Brain sputtered with wide eyes. 

“Well of course! How could we forget about a kind thing like that?” Wakko asked. 

Brain hadn’t realized the full extent to how he and Pinky had impacted the Warners with the gold coin. While Brain was mainly motivated to stay in Pinky’s good graces, Pinky’s kindness and compassion were what drew him to help the orphaned siblings in the first place. Brain felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He didn’t deserve their adulation. 

“You should all praise Pinky, for he was the one who thought to help you three in the first place.” The Prime Minister confessed as he gestured to the lanky mouse. “He noticed how miserable you kids looked and he sought out to give you anything we could find and I promised I would help out. And while I did find three coins that day, we lost one of them and I was so close to breaking that promise…” 

Pinky noticed his distraught companion and wanted to alleviate his woes. “But you still kept the Pinky Promise, Brain.” He consoled, placing a warm hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“I can understand how you felt,” Dot interjected with an assuring tone. “You and Pinky were struggling to get by too, and in all honesty, had I been in your position I would have kept the money!”

“But you still followed through on your promise.” Yakko countered. “And, if my memory serves correct, you were the one who assured us that we didn’t have to pay you back.” 

Brain was surprised that the Warners remembered their exchange so vividly. 

“And even though you didn’t want any financial compensation, we still wanted to show our gratitude.” Yakko continued. “But after some time, we found the perfect way to repay the moment you walked in for the job interview when we scouted Acme Falls for our Royal Advisor.” 

“So you selected me for the position solely out of moral obligation?” Brain questioned. 

“Well, yes and no,” Yakko admitted. “Of course we needed a trustworthy adult who was highly educated and well-versed in politics and people skills. Qualities that the other candidates sorely lacked.” 

“You have no idea how hard it was to conduct an interview with The Mime!” Dot interrupted. 

“But from the very moment you showed up, we immediately remembered how you and Pinky helped us out a couple of years earlier,” Yakko explained. “And after listening to your compelling answers, my sibs and I agreed that you were the right guy for the job!” 

“And even though you told us not to repay you, we still wanted to return the kindness,” Wakko added with a soft smile. 

Brain was stunned by the siblings’ thoughtfulness. He could only gaze at the young monarchs as a single tear escaped. 

It wasn’t long before Pinky pulled him into a gentle hug. Even though he frowned at being smothered with love in front of the monarchs, he secretly appreciated his friend’s affectionate gesture. 

Dot reached into her pocket and retrieved a handkerchief. “Here you are, Prime Minister.” The young queen kindly offered. Brain nodded as he accepted the cloth, wiping away the tear from his face. 

Once he placed the handkerchief on the table, he motioned for Pinky to release him from the embrace. Brain straightened out his black robe and adjusted his neckerchief to maintain his orderly appearance. The Prime Minister remembered that there had to be a reason why the monarchs visited him during work hours. 

“So to avoid any more mawkish sentiment, is there anything I could do for you while you’re still in my office?” Brain inquired. 

“Oh yeah!” Wakko exclaimed, remembering why he and his siblings dropped by in the first place. “We just wanted to drop by and invite you and Pinky to have lunch with us!” 

Reaching into his pocket, the middle child took out a folded table, which popped open to reveal plates and bowls filled with a variety of food that was still warm.  Wakko carefully placed the banquet in the middle of the office. Yakko grabbed three chairs and gathered them around the table. 

Dot carried the mice over to the table and placed them in front of two plates each holding a large wheel of cheese. 

“Naaarf.” Pinky expressed, his blue eyes glistening with joy at the glorious giant cheese wheel. Without warning, the mouse leaped into the air and dove into the cheese as if it was a giant swimming pool. 

“I suppose it’s only appropriate to take my lunch break now.” Brain affirmed with a shrug. He took a handful of the cheese and looked up at the Warner siblings. “Thank you for the thoughtful gesture.” 

Pinky emerged from the cheese wheel and looked up at the kids. “Thank you very much! Troz!” He added with an eager smile. 

“We’re always happy to provide for our friends!” Yakko casually replied.  

And so the mice and the monarchs happily shared their meals together, making pleasant conversation and jests and enjoying each other’s company. 

Additional AN: Wakko’s Wish was one of the many animated movies I was really fond of as a kid. The movie came out direct-to-video when I was seven, and I have memories of taking out Wakko’s Wish from Blockbuster (as well as other Animaniacs VHS tapes) and had a blast with this movie.

I recently revisited the movie and not only do I still like it, but there are a lot of things I appreciate about it. I like how it manages to capture the humorous spirit of the show and showcased the enjoyable character dynamics while telling a heartwarming story with believable stakes. The animation by TMS is beautiful and the musical numbers were pretty good. But probably my favorite aspect of the movie was that it served as a nice finale to the show and gave the majority of the characters satisfying send-offs: Rita and Runt receiving a permanent home when they’re adopted by Dr. Scratchinsniff, Buttons getting some appreciation, The Goodfeathers blissfully under the impression that they’re respected, and Brain receiving a position of power by becoming the Royal Advisor to the Warners and the Prime Minister of Warnerstock. And after seeing Brain try and try again after so many failures, it’s a really nice and fitting conclusion to his story (even if he doesn’t take over the world, he’d probably thrive as a government leader). 

So in addition to writing a story based on the previously mentioned post, I decided to expand upon Brain’s position as Prime Minister and Royal Advisor for the Warners, thinking about what their general relationship would be like. The idea of Brain using songs to lend political advice to the Warners was something that came serendipitously as I was writing. I thought about Brain’s political song numbers from the PATB spin-off, such as the glorious The Really Great Dictator and the wonderful A Meticulous Analysis of History, as well as Yakko’s educational songs. So those two would probably spend some time together as a collaborative song-writing duo lol. I also thought about how the Warners would love to throw parties at the castle, so Dot and Brain as party planners was the first thing that came to mind as well as Pinky as a part-time dance instructor!

Admittedly I kinda winged it when it came to using the gold coins as the thing Pinky and Brain found. I’m well aware that the ha’penny is seen as valuable to the citizens of Acme Falls, but I decided to place this story one year before Wakko went off to find his fortune via child labor. So I’m going off on the assumption that there was some higher currency that was still used in Acme Falls that was eventually confiscated by Baron von Plotz. 

The most important aspect I wanted to explore in this story was the loving relationship between Pinky and Brain. Their voice actors confirmed time and time again how much Pinky and Brain love each other. Now whether you interpret their relationship as a strong friendship, partners in crime, or even as a romance, there is no denying the love between these silly mice.

Also, I don’t recall if there was a moment in either the original run of Animaniacs or the PATB spin-off where Pinky and Brian made a pinky promise (if they didn’t, then they wasted an opportunity for a comedic or sentimental moment between the characters), so I thought about how they would only make pinky promises for something serious, and Brain would always keep his pinky promises to Pinky. 

I had a lot of fun writing this story in particular because I always wanted to explore more of the Wakko’s Wish universe and add some depth to what was presented in the film as well as playing around with what the characters would be up to after the events of the movie. 

Thank you for reading!