Tag List? But also has some important (colored) notes:
Angst || Vent/ranting || comfort || (how do people usually tag writing on tumblr??) || "I do bad things to cyrus later" the bad things to Cyrus later are here now || Prints POV || I barely write.. not polished either || later story/non-current type event || these sublevels dont exist.. || riddled with personal headcanon lore || NOT-CANON BACKROOMS CONTENT || variant backrooms content || facial expressions dont exist (I dont know how to write them.) || partygoers no-clip through controlled destabilization || Partygoers also have very very short thin and compact fur || Its impossible to tell unless you touch one (very soft!) || I dont know what kind of writing style this is, || Happens after Pim+Lux meet Print, but before Begonia finds out about the partypoopers. || Backrooms entities have a type of mental radar that allows them to 'feel' places and other entities in range, the mechanics of it are a bit hard to explain but its how Print finds Cyrus. || Humans/Human descendants don't have this radar. Partypoopers don't have it naturally either but are able to learn || Print teaches Cyrus at some point || They is used for Cyrus when there are multiple he/hims's in the sentence to differentiate.
Recommended but not required, reading Cyrus's section and the partypooper society section (both cyan) in this post may help :))))
(thank you to cookieafk who asked those btw HEHHEE I'd been holding back this writing after i saw the ask in my inbox cus it touched on a lot of stuff that gets brought up here :D )
>< Begin ><
//Somewhere in the far future//
Something is missing, But what?
Print paced down the hallway, letting the sunlight heat his skin as he trudged through the grass beneath his feet.
His whole week had gone fine, in fact even the week before that had been fine. He'd ate, slept a little, baked some stuff, killed some people. The usual. But outside of that it was… boring.
He was used to this feeling, but this time it felt almost deeper..
What else had he done?
Saw Tulip briefly, (thankfully Tulip hadn't seen him)
Took a walk through the far far outskirts of level 63's clouds.. away from all the wanderers.
Scowered the internet for any mentions of partypoopers.
Huh. That reminds him, he should ask Cyrus about the rumors of a partypooper in Thalassaphobia next time he sees them.
Print pauses, snapping out of his tranced walk. He hadn't actually seen Cyrus recently. It wasn't uncommon for the guy to screw off for a month or so, that couldn't be it. Could it?
Come to think of it he hadn't actually checked if Cyrus had texted him recently either. The lack of notifications always bugged him, but this was easier than making his own account.. phonenumber. whatever, just so Cyrus could send him nearly incomprehensible messages.
Suppose it couldn't hurt to check. The stained partygoer finds a spot near a wall to sit, getting comfy in the grass before… hesitating. The level he was in was known to be rather devoid of entities and wanderers. But it still nagged him that he could be seen through the hallways.
Even with the mental radar allowing him to sense other entities beyond walls and rooms, it still felt uncanny.
He sighs, rubbing the tension out of his shoulders before destabilizing himself, and noclipping a stolen PDC out of his chest. It was an odd trick but a useful one, allowing him to hold items without needing a bag.
Though this laptop and a charger for it was perhaps the only thing he really kept on him nowadays..
It didn't take long for the machine to start up, the net explorer already open to Cyrus's messages from the last time he had used it. Rereading through the past few sent, it was the same as last time. Nothing new from Cyrus.
hmph.
:[22:54 / You're not dead right? -P]
The message was short, accompanied by a time and signature that he had long since gotten in the habit of adding. Cyrus had insisted they use it to tell their messages apart, given that Print was using his account and it was essentially an empty DM.
He didn't expect a reply, nor did he get one. You can't exactly get notifications from yourself anyways so it'll probably take a while for Cyrus to see it. This was normal, unfortunately and annoying normal. So he closed the PDC, returning it to its noclipped space and picked himself back up to return to his walk.
He had liked this level, albeit not as much as his last go-to. It consisted of long halls and scarce rooms. Adorned by grand stained glass windows that casted rainbows across the vibrant flowers of the ground below. The level was oversized, making any human feel small, with crystal suncatchers that would hang high above their head. Though for Print they would smack straight into his face, one of the two reasons he didn't favor it over the last go-to. The other being that he was forced to crush the plants he stepped on, at least he had walkways before..
Before,
Print feels his fur stand a bit on end, it was the only time he had ever missed something. And the worst possible time to ever miss something. The level wasn't gone. But.. he had gotten too comfortable, missed her presence. It wasn't safe there anymore. Not for him or for Cyrus who had followed him occasionally. Print throws his hands behind his head to stretch in an attempt to ease the anxiety. Only to knock his arms into the ceiling and suncatchers.
Okay.
Three reasons he didn't like this place as much. Hanging crystals in his face, Has to step on plants, and its too small for him.
So much for a stress-free escape.
Print huffs, pulling the PDC out a second time to check. Finding his own message still staring him back in the face. He sends in another
:[23:12 / Earth to idiot, where are you right now? -P]
:[23:13 / @ ParkourMaster9000 -P]
:[23:14 / @ ParkourMaster9000 -P]
:[23:14 / If I ever make an account I'm giving it a cooler name than that. -P]
..
:[23:15 / I'm going to kick your ass next time I see you. -P]
Alas, nothing. Maybe Cyrus really was asleep? though it wouldn't be
<DING>
unusual for- huh?
Print takes a glance to Cyrus's other dm's, Pim was texting him, or Cyrus technically. He glossed over the notification, not paying it much mind. Afterall he had told Cyrus he wouldn't intrude on his other dm's and had stayed true to that fact since then.
<DING>
It's none of his business anyways, he goes to close the PDC.
[WHERE ARE YOU???]
Print freezes his action at the new notification, having read it on accident. Taking a minute to contemplate, He nervously opens the laptop back up. Staring at the notification. Come to think of it, there were.. A lot of unread message pings here.
Print felt his gut wrench a little, this was weird even for Cyrus.
<DING>
Again, he said he wouldn't intrude.
<DING>
However this feels urgent.
<DING>
If Pim didn't know where Cyrus was, had Cyrus gone missing? Fuck it hes opening the DM.
CHAT : PIMUX
<[CYRUS]
<[WHERE ARE YOU???]
<[I CAN SEE YOU ONLINE]
<[DUDE]
<[HELLO??]
Shit he hadn't thought about how his presence on Cyrus's account would cause it to show as active. hhrmmm.. Pim Hates him, something hes rather glad for if he had to be honest. although not in this situation.
<[MOTHERFUCKER REPLY RIGHT NOW]
Print cringes at the harsh language, holding brief solace in the fact its not directed at him… Yet.
He sits down in the grass of the level, seating the laptop on his legs to scroll just a small bit up the chat history, so much for not intruding.
Theres a few messages of Pim asking what was taking him so long, with Cyrus replying sluggishly that stuff changed.
that was… 2 weeks ago.
Okay this is uncomfortable.
Muttering a brief apology to no one, Print types something into the chat.
[Sorry its Print, I was checking to see if Cyrus sent something to me.]>
Pim's typing bubble disappears near instantly. Before returning.
<[Has he?]
Print pauses, the sudden shift being unlike Pim, he had expected to get cussed out for being in their dms not... whatever this is. Okay somethings wrong.
[No, why?]>
<[Have you seen him]
[Also no, did something happen?]>
It takes a few moments for the typing bubble to reappear, though it lingers for much longer this time.
<[Nothing that concerns you, sorry.]
Yeeahh hes gonna, just ignore that dismissal. Unfortunately for Pim he's decided that Cyrus's whereabouts now concerns him.
Okay, so then. Where is Cyrus?
Lets see.. list of places Cyrus could be. A lot. Unfortunately a very lot.
Dark levels, neons, anything without water, arcades, schools, houses. Well actually he would be avoiding wanderers as well as partygoers. So that cuts down the list.
What else does he know?
Cyrus usually leaves for adventure, he likes climbing and traversing hard to traverse levels. 8? No too many wanderers. Unless they can't see him in the dark of the caves. As far as hes aware the higher traffic levels are off limits here.
hhhrmmm..
This is annoying.
His options are to either text Pim (intrusive), check cyrus's other dms for where he could have gone (also intrusive), wander aimlessly through levels until he finds a trace of Cyrus (maybe?) aaaanddd do nothing (not happening.)
Print huffs, as much as he'd like to magically know exactly where Cyrus would be. He doesn't actually know Cyrus that well…
What if Cyrus is dead?
The thought hits him like a freight train, Cyrus isn't the brightest bulb, but hes not stupid enough to get himself killed...
Is he?
Unless he was caught off guard, also uncommon but.. Not unlikely. ..Or he could have tripped into another level.
Print feels his gut wrench, he may not have liked Cyrus at the beginning but.. While he hates to admit it, Cyrus has grown on him through their time not trying to kill each other.
Damn it.
Standing here is doing nothing.
Print shoves away the PDC before noclipping himself through the levels flooring. Might as well start somewhere.
--------------------
Every entity has a presence, sometimes you'll find traces of it even after they're long gone, luckily for him he knows Cyrus's presence all too well to miss it.
Print pushes himself through the narrow hallways of the smooth tiled sub-level, It's been multiple hours since he started searching, and he had been perceptive enough to recognize the faded signature some levels back. But that didn't make the process any less bothersome.
This place was tight, hard to traverse. And it was part of 37, Sublimity.
Full of water.
..One of the things he had marked off of his list due to Cyrus's aversion to such liquid.
Though this particular section is drained of it and completely dry, so he supposes that checks out.
No monsters either.
Sometimes he wonders if there are entities out there that can copy signatures..
A few more rooms later and he feels the familiar presence off in the distance above him, relief washing over him as he treks towards it.
The particular area is narrow, with Cyrus being somewhere above him in the staircase he currently resides at the bottom of.
Print opens his mouth to call out for Cyrus but hesitates. It had been radio-silent since he got here, even his own foot steps failing to make much noise. No water swishing, not even the buzz of the lights. Come to think of it, it was suffocatingly silent.
One of those situations where the longer one stays silent the less comfortable it feels to talk..
He doesn't exactly want to scare the partypooper, though come to think of it. Showing up in front of him quietly might be even more heart-attack inducing.
Print takes a breath, steeling himself.
"Cyrus?" the sound echos off the walls louder than he thought it would, his own fur sticking up at the uncomfortable noise. Through it however, he can hear shuffling from above.
Print keeps his eyes trained on the stairwell above him. Deciding to talk much quieter this time.
"I uh.."
He falters, he really had no reason to come find the guy other than his own anxiety. Cyrus is allowed to be alone, is this intrusive too? Shit. Too late now.
"I'm gonna.. come up the stairwell," he starts "if thats okay with you?"
the silence drags on, until he hears a small voice above.
"..sure."
Okay good, Cyrus is here. Hes also rather quiet but its likely the silence of the level getting to him just like it did with Print.
Print makes his way up the stairs, keeping an eye above him for Cyrus.
He almost misses the blue jacket tucked around the doorway in the corridor, halting his movement up the flight to return down to the level with the hall.
"Are you alright?" he asks, taking note of Cyrus's crouched silhouette. They seem to be sitting away from him.
it takes Cyrus another few seconds to reply
"Why did you come find me?" he sounds choked, Print can just barely see him move his arms up to his mask around the corner.
"…Would you believe me if I… Wait, are you crying?" The slight sniffling from Cyrus briefly stopping as he attempts to quiet himself.
"Holy shit, Cy what happened?" Print reaches to enter the corridor but pauses, Cyrus probably needs space.
..
"I just… I'm sorry," he groans, trying to wipe his tears off of his face "I'm just frustrated, it's fine. It's not your fault."
"It doesn't sound fine.. aghk, I'm not that good at comforting, uh.. I can leave… If thats bett--"
"Nonono its.. I'm glad your here. Please stay."
"Kay.." Print sits himself down next to the hallway, "Sorry I don't know how to help,"
"Your fine-- dont even worry about it"
The two sit in silence for a while, Despite him being here supposedly being enough, Print can't help but feel somewhat guilty at his uselessness in the situation..
He shifts, feeling uncomfortable. But still checking on Cyrus ever now and then. Maybe he should delete the messages he sent Cy while hes here... Would that be rude? Hell, he doesn't know.
Cyrus is still sniffling away tears behind him and here he is, saying nothing.. fuckk.
"I just don't--" Cyrus starts, catching print off-guard "I don't understand? I had handled it perfectly fine… This shouldn't be- happening!" He waves his hands out in front of him trying to grasp at nothing. "I thought It was fine-- I was fine! I dont get why I'm crying over it now!" Cyrus shudders as he wipes more tears from his eyes. "I even knew it was gonna happen Print. I knew it was! I thought I had already come to terms with it. I let it happen!"
"Woah, woah. Let what happen?"
Cyrus takes a deep breath, pushing through his own sobs "Okay.. theres, I'm sorry I gotta explain here.. Theres this other partypooper I know, I'm not friends with him. His name is Mav-- and he's always sort of... tried to get on my bad side, I never mentioned him because It wasn't an issue. I never let him get to me."
"He wanted to spar with me, 3 weeks ago and I knew he was going to try some shit. And I knew that, I really did know that. So I-- ..I told Pim and Lux about it so that they would come with.. And they told me not to and I told them it was fine-- and that I'd handle it, right? and--"
"I kept winning actually, The whole thing is that you have to pin the other down! that was the rules. And he kept getting up and telling me he wasn't done yet.. I don't know how many times-- maybe 5?? 6?? But then it got really bad.. Like.. I knew it would be bad, I knew he didn't like me but I didn't know he- ... I didn't know he hated me enough to de-mask me..."
Print feels his heart sink, slowly turning to Cyrus, "..What?" knowing all well the implications of the action.
"I already knew he was gonna do it.. The entire 'spar' he had been aiming for the face. I'd have been stupid not to know. But I figured I could play his game.. Right? Point him out, flip him upside down.. I dont know! whatever I could do to show him that hes not-- not what he thinks he is?? I dont know-- I-"
Cyrus's words break down into choked sobs as he tries to regain himself, print gives him the time to do so.
"...He got a lucky hit in.. and it broke at the weak spot.. and I don't know-- How it broke! It shouldn't have! Our masks are very durable I don't-- I don't understand-- but whatever right?! he broke it! right in half."
"..And there was a crowd around us.. and I hadn't noticed Pim and Lux had gone to get some of the veterans for help. and they didn't know what to do. I dont know.. maybe the whole outpost was fuckin there I dont know--"
"You know what I was even lucky too! you know how fast I flipped my own hoodie over my face?! No one saw it!"
Cyrus takes a minute to breathe,
"And he kept going. Trying to fight me while I couldn't see, and the others didn't try to stop him. I mean it was a spar after all- You don't interrupt spars. But maybe it was a test or something, maybe they wanted to see what I would do? I dont know either. I almost felt like I didn't want them to help because I could handle it myself too right?! right! of course I fucking could! And I did. Even after he got my hoodie off, baring my fucking head for the whole world to see you know what I said?! I said 'Jeez Mav if you wanted to see my face so badly you could have at least asked me out to dinner first!' I handled it like a fucking CHAMP Print!"
Print grimaced at the mere image of it, de-masking a partypooper was like a public execution.. but any words he tries to say dry up in his mouth.. Making another mental apology towards the partypooper behind him.
"..and the whole time he was telling me I was a disgrace.. a shame. y'know.. the things that you become when you get de-masked. I don't know what kind of point he was trying to prove to himself but I didn't let him. I didn't let it affect me, I just went on with it. y'know.. like whatever. sure. right. you do you.. and he couldn't say anything. I dont remember much of what I said, something like 'are you happy now?' I dont know. And he just.. took off" Cyrus made a wave with his hands for emphasis.
"Kyros said I did good, but that I shouldn't have let Mav go that far. That I should have signaled for the spar to end." Cyrus's tears have long since dried, the exhaustion setting in "he hugged me after it all, apologized that he.. I dont know.. well I do know I just.."
Cyrus groans into his arms
"I hate this."
Print leans around the corner of the wall to look back into the corridor.
"I.. dont know what to say," he grits his teeth at his own inability "I'm gonna uh, come over there. I won't look at you-- assuming your mask is still broken."
"You can look, its fine. It's not like it matters at this point right?" he forces a laugh.
"..I think your privacy matters very much still. Even after that." Print shuffles himself through the tight corridor up next to Cyrus.
"Listen Print, I don't ca--"
He's cut off by long soft arms wrapping around him, pulling him into a hug. Prints cheek pressing into the back of his hood.
Cyrus brings his hands up to hold the sides of prints arm, trying, and failing to hold back all the emotions resurfacing, the thank you being lost in ugly tears and long sobbing.
[Found him.]>
>< End ><
Explodes
GHHJHJHHHGHHHJJ BRO IVE NEVER WRITTEN EANYTHING W THEM WHY IS THE FIRST STUFF ANGST AUUAUGHJMNJGHiohu2393939e4g
Cyrus gave Print therapy, now its time to return the favor <3
Anwyays anyways extra stuff, Print thinks Cyrus handled the situation horribly however at the moment hes more concerned about Cyrus.
Also if cyrus looks weird here its because his jacket isn't flipped! (double siddedd jacckkeeett, its on the dark side when hes out. Thats also the side that has the rainbow splat from his previous design.)
Hes also not wearing his gloves..
Got curious about the Partygoers and went to see what their lore was, then I went looking into the Partypoopers. Anyways why tf do they look so different from one another?
IMO Partypoopers should be a sub species of partygoers
It was also the perfect opportunity to use an Alex profile picture, as much as I loved the old Eclipsion one.
(And uhh, I was originally too lazy to update my profile because it still has the Team Fossils team card and Team Seafoam decorations, lol. I wasn't going to update it, buuuttt.. I probably should tbh)
Duuude don't question my version of events I'm such a reliable narrator. I'm literally the protagonist and the main character. You can literally read some of my internal thoughts, that clearly means you have complete access to an objective view of my thoughts and feelings and a correct impression of my characterization and the events unfolding around me. I'm not omitting any information from the audience. Nevermind that timeskip just now
of course colour change between partypoopers, masks are of course blue but can be green-ish or purple-ish or any colour-ish!! (warmer colours are SUPER rare, and are mostly related to past interactions with partygoers)
they're full of soup (toxic chemicals)
the orb is sorta like a heart? and kinda a brain, its weird and complicated
really one of my favorite types of characters in the world it seems is. well i dont know how else to describe it but "losing the idgaf war" but theres at least 2 genres of this that ive noticed I Gotta Make an Image hold on
andulkaphoto
tangentwithtanner
