I love when I can see the gears turning in the puppy's brain - and actually clicking into a correct gear. We come in from running around outside, I make some toast and sit down, he does a lap, looking at this & that, and then
turns, walks to the toy bin, gets a chew, and lays down on my foot to chew it.
Okay not to start Zatch Bell Posting again but the new cover just dropped and holy fuck
Look at this boy look at him
He looks so fuckin stupid /pos
I love this so much I'm so glad Raiku isn't going for the conventionally cool design route for all the characters' older versions. Kyanchome looks like a fuckin dweeb and Momon looks like an absolute dumbass. I adore this. And I think the fancy clothes unironically work for him
I love seeing pics of other people's graceful and photogenic cats
But the cats I have at home are
The boneless exhibitionist:
The disembodied head (glare optional):
and the uncoiling bun:
I mean, I love them completely and they're clearly happy and relaxed but how am I supposed to get 'classic' cat pics when this is what I have to work with?
Hello @data-expunged-0 ! I was your christmas santa for this event :) Your two prompts were really nice and I hope I did the second one justice : I can continue it, I got the story planned but didn’t have enough time in the end.
I hope it pleases you.
Stuck in the Christmas Factory : Prompt #2: A tiny getting stuck in an area where it's always christmas (3582 words)
Quackity was a curious borrower. That was known in the small community with whom he shared a human house : no device stayed devoid of exploration if they were left alone more than a day. Quick and clever like he was, Quackity didn’t resist the challenge posed by all that technology. And what fascinating opportunity laid behind those screens and toys ! Sounds, lights, connection to others beings in objects always more colorful and joyous.
It’s not like the current occupants of the house cared about those secrets manipulations after all. They were nice people but quite forgetful, and their two children covered easily any mess or disturbance Quackity caused. Or at least, they used to.
The “Christmas” period was approaching fast and the kids seemed to be on their best behavior lately. From what Quackity gathered, it was an inflexible condition to a stranger’s visit in the house, a certain “Sana Laus” ? He heard a bit about the mysterious man, who every family members seemed to know… except neither Quackity nor any other borrowers had ever seen them. And some of the eldest community’s members were there when the youngly wed couple bought the place !
There was some mystery under all those preparations and Quackity would be damned before he let the solution escape him.
So for days, the borrower spied and consigned relentlessly any precious hints he managed to glean there and there. The visitor seemed stranger with every facts Quackity learned, quickly diverging from what he learned was “polite human rules”.
First, the stranger – whose name was actually Santa Claus, Quackity learned – was planned in the middle of the 24th’s night. Second, he would come through the chimney of the living room instead of the front door : Quackity wished him good luck with that. He went there once before quickly turning tails when faced with a spider as high as him. Then again, the mysterious man should be human tall and not any other height. Lastly, Mr Claus would not meet any members of the family, requiring they all sleep to put objects in the socks hanging to the chimney.
Weird customs for sure.
But all this definitely agreed with the borrower : by leaving the presents and gifts unattended until the morning, Mr Claus offered him the perfect opportunity to go there and see if something could be borrowed ! A brand new plaything, just for him, that he wouldn’t have to put back. Even if there was nothing of value, the possibility to have a never-used-before object was too good to be true.
The other borrowers were quite sceptic of his brand new idea and one old community’s member even chastised him, huffing that was thievery. Of course, should the one item Quackity picked be missed, the borrower would put it back immediately : but he refused to let this “Christmas’s night” passed without at least trying. The only compromise they accepted was to let him do his thing.
And so, when all the lights were turned off the 24th, no other borrowers stayed with him.
Soon Quackity was alone with the last lights of the Christmas tree.
***
Quackity stopped counting the time he almost fell asleep after twelve. Turns out staying awake with nothing to do was way more difficult than he thought ! He elected to stay hidden behind the decoration on top of the chimney, but his place turned out to be too comfortable soon. The excitation hadn’t help him sleep well the previous night and he lived the sudden weakness of his body to sleep like a real betrayal.
What time was it anyway ? He counted on the old grandma clock to mark the hours, but it stayed resolutely silent. He hoped it was past midnight already, he couldn’t bare the news only ten minutes had passed. No, the candle forgotten on the table was burned out : more than five hours had passed.
Quackity grumbled, tired and discouraged. Why was Mr Claus so late ? Was he actually aware not everyone was asleep in the house, that borrowers existed ? Or was he simply running late ? Maybe he had some trouble with the dangerous chimney’s spider, thought Quackity with a snort.
Some muffled sound resonated in the living room, interrupting his thoughts and making him go still.
A big black cloud suddenly appeared under his hiding place, sending soot on the previously clean wooden floor. Profanities escaped from the same spot and Quackity watched, astonished, the gigantic spider run from his life and disappear behind the sofa.
“You good ?” silently shouted someone from very far away. “Seemed like a hard fall.”
“Try it yourself coward !” shouted back another voice, way closer, also trying to keep silent. “I would have landed better if you didn’t push me!”
“You took forever to go down, what was I supposed to do ?!”
“Not yeet me to my death at the very least, there was a fu… honking spider in this hell hole !”
“Stop complaining, you’ll wake up the humans”, dismissed the faraway voice. “I’m sending the packages.”
A soft thump could be heard from the chimney, accompanied by new profanities. Quackity could definitely learn from this Mr Claus, if it was indeed him.
“Couldn’t have given me a warning ?! It almost crashed !”
“I did ! Why weren’t you ready, slowpoke ?”
“Warning goes before throwing the present dumb-face not after ! Now hush or you will wake up the humans.”
A second thump accompanied by a painful crack sounded.
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I TOLD YOU TO WARN ME !” whispered-yelled the close voice.
“Make a god damn decision ! You told me to hush, dimwit ! ”
“Yeah, not to throw away the gift on the ground and watch it crash !”
Seeing no big shadow on the wall and enraptured by this riveting exchange, Quackity chanced a look outside his hiding place. And, okay, now that was fascinating.
Under the chimney stood a very small (by human standards of course, the stranger was actually twice or thrice Quackity’s own size) man, dressed in horrific clothes green, white and red. The borrower had rarely seen so appalling combination of colors and yet, there was in it like an harmony. His head was covered by a ridiculous lime pointy hat surrounded by a white bandana.
His ears were pointed though and Quackity wondered for the first time if he wasn't human. But the owners of the house were expecting this Mr Claus : since when would those tinies exist, and why would they be in good relation with the humans ? He appreciated a moment the irony : here they were, two kind of tinies. One was desperate to stay hidden, took things from humans yet lived secretly with them. The other was announcing his arrival, though refusing to see humans, and gave them things. There really were complementary.
He looked at the mysterious Claus again and watched him installing one last present under the Christmas tree.
« I'm done here ! Send the rope, I'll be pissed if Dream managed once again to complete its run faster. »
« Stop complaining and climb faster. We wouldn't lose so often if you didn't break something each time you got down. »
« Shut up ! And pull me ! »
With those nice words, Mr Claus disappeared. Quackity waited a bit, not sure he didn't dream this whole interaction. He hurried down his hidden spot, jumping from socks to decorations hanging on the tree until he landed on a package. Two of them were so big it would have taken six borrowers to attempt to open the top. Another was trapped in a ribbon like a mummy and so his attention got reported on the last three gifts. The first one was a bit disappointing : it revealed some clothes, way too big for him. He couldn't cut in them either, it would be obvious they were tampered with. The second contained a clear bottle, filled with a brown liquid that smelled weird. Quackity deduced from the big written name on the side that it was alcohol, and tried a taste. The bitter taste left him dubious at first, but he tried again and once more to his great pleasure. He would have to borrow some more at another time.
Which left him with the last gift to date : the one Mr Claus had foolishly let crash down. Quackity opened it with curiosity. Was the damage important ? Would it be the perfect place to scavenge or to borrow ?
A tremor passed through him when he discovered multiple small people, about his height.
The borrower soon realized their appearance are their only common trait, the people actually being some mass of plastic.
He exhaled, relieved. The worst went through his mind for a moment.
Amused by those simulacres, he burrowed under the dolls. Some had their arms or head broken by the sudden fall through the chimney, explaining the crash. Their clothes though were in perfect shape and, luckily, perfectly changeable. Quackity amused himself by putting on a brown hat and vest, adorned of a yellow star. He then put on some white suit with a flower on his heart.
This was the best present ever. Even his community wouldn’t be able to refuse such a gift. Clearly, the dolls were damaged : which human would bat an eye to some missing ornaments ?
Buried under the dolls, he froze when a voice appears, much too close for comfort.
“Which color was the package again ?”
“Are you really asking me that, seriously ? Just take the one who seems ruffled and let’s go. The sun will be up soon.”
Before Quackity could react, Mr Claus closed the top of the box where he hid. Panic filled him : where was the box taken ? Why did the stranger come back at all ?
He didn’t notice Quackity’s presence but then, how could he get out ?
Shaken by the hasty movements of his carrier, the borrower tried to regain his footing without success. The dolls crashed on him with each jolt and he felt himself get sick when the box got suddenly up in abrupt succession.
“Can’t you pull me up faster ? It’s still dark and creepy here” complained Mr Claus.
“Be… arrgh… quiet. Your air is… hmpf… getting too heavy…” answered the foreign voice, getting clearer the higher they got.
“His air, seriously George ? You couldn’t have picked like, literally anything else ? Like his humor ?” asked a third voice with amusement.
Still crammed in the present, Quackity closed his eyes to concentrate on the sounds he perceived. Where were they ? Wasn’t Mr Claus supposed to be one man ? A new jolt put him higher and rolling against a corner, crashing harshly in the pile of clothes he assembled. Wood cracked as the three voices came together.
“Oh you, don’t start it ! You could have helped him at any time but nooo, mister Dream is too good for his old friend.”
“Not my fault if you idiots cracked a package”, crooned the third voice. “Get better. Losers.”
“Next time… arf… you carry his sorry ass. And you’ll see who’s faster.”
“Sorry, since when was I the one responsible for this fiasco ?” explosed Mr Claus (?).
“Since you started ordering things and complain-“
“Shut it girls, you’re both pretty”, interrupted the third voice. “Let’s go before we’re late, I’m hoping to get promoted this year. Yip-yip Rudolph!”
Let’s go ? Where ? screamed Quackity in his mind. Where the hell are those dumbass taking me ?
Before he got to think too hard, the box was jolted in the air while one of them started happily screaming. Quackity tried to focus on his lunch and more specifically, to keep it in his stomach. Wherever they were going, he hoped the travel would be fast.
***
The travel – no, the journey ! – was not fast. Despite Quackity’s best thoughts and prayers, they didn’t reach their destination before a time that seemed infinite to him. Still, he was an optimistic at heart and different things were gained during that interminable travel.
One : he managed to cut himself a hole to see and breathe through with the gold star of his new vest. The air was incredibly cold but he had enough clothes with him to create sufficient heat. Two : he now discovered Mr Claus, if it was indeed him, flied. Which would explain why he came through the chimney. Sadly, this also meant he did have to wait until they reached their destination to escape his unknowing captors. Three : his captors were certified idiots. Imbécils. If he was caught by them, it was no surprise it was an incident. They were also really loud, which wouln’t hurt when Quackity made his inevitable escape. Four : he was freaking flying. No borrowers ever went in the air ! He would have so much stuff to say to his community when he came back.
If he came back.
As said before, Quackity was an optimistic guy so he didn’t linger on that thought. He did listen however the three morons argue and discuss, lulled by their funny conversation.
He was almost disappointed when they reached the ground, but his sick stomach quickly made him grateful for the stopping motion. The third man, easily identifiable with his confident and leading voice, stopped their carriage and the two bickering ones got down. Through his hole, Quackity saw the one he had nicknamed Mr Claus and another, similar looking man. His green and red uniform was as beautiful on him than on Mr Claus, which is to say not at all, but big round black glasses framed his face. At least they would be easy to distinguish.
“When you meet Karl, remind him Santa’s speech is at seven in the Great Hall”, said the third and still invisible man. “I’ll see you there.”
“That arrogant prick”, sighed Mr Claus. “I can’t believe he beat us once again ! Bad, Antfrost and Sam are going to be unbearable this eve.”
“Yeah. Wouldn’t have happened if you caught the package”, answered Googles while walking towards an unidentified place.
“Wouln’t have missed it if you warned me”, replied Mr Claus, following his friend (?). “It should be your responsibility to get that thing to the broken factory.”
“Are you saying you don’t want to see Karl now ?” exclaimed Googles with an atrocious, fake concerned face. “Oh the poor boy, he will simply cry all the tears he has when I tell him how you would rather go wash the reindeers than visit him... But”, he interrupted himself, “as your bestest friend ever Sapnap, I accept to bring those heart-breaking news. No need to thank me, I’ll do what’s necessary.”
He made a move towards the box and Quackity readied himself to a violent transition but Mr Claus/Sadnap (?) held firm.
“Don’t even think about it, you manipulative, lazy ass !”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“You’re insufferable and each day I hope you’ll get chosen for the lost children’s daycare”, replied Sadmap.
“You mean that’s not already my job, with being forced to accompanny you ?”
Their quick back and forth came naturally, smiled Quackity. At least their banter was enough to forget about his situation.
“GEORGE ! SAPNAP !” screamed an high pitched voice bubbling with joy. “You came back just in time for - … Wait, is there a problem with your gifts again ? I swear I did everything right this time, I don’t get how…”
“It was that dumbass’s fault actually,” came the answer in chorus from the two not-friends.
Quackity tried to see the newcomer but the hole was directed towards Googles/George’s torso. He resigned himself to more waiting.
“I, of course, expect a full explanation but let’s cut to the chase so I can repair that while you explain. What’s wrong with this gift ?”
George looked towards what Quackity guessed was Sapnap’s face.
“It fell down the chimney and made a crash sound”, succinctly said his current holder. “It’s some dolls apparently ? The list wasn’t clear, but luckily we could use one of the substitute once the round ended.”
“Okay, okay, let’s take a look at it then, I’ll see how bad it is and whether I sent it to trash’s section or to Foolish’s office”.
Being passed around was definitely the worst feeling ever, thought Quackity while once again being sent tumbling down. He wished he didn’t have to correct his thoughts so quickly when the box opened and a round face with sparkling brown eyes and pointed ears peered inside, making him freeze instantly.
Was it his prey’s instincts or simply his survival instinct ? Either way, he couldn’t move an inch, his breath caught in a bout of panic. His kidnappers may not be humans but they were still thrice his size, big enough to inflict serious damage should they want to. Quackity had no idea they even existed before tonight, who’s to say they won’t react violently when faced with the borrower’s existence ?
“Well, there’s a lot of them with parts broken. And their clothes are a mess, good thing you didn’t leave the gift at the house.”
He barely twitched when the stranger’s hand got each dolls out one by one, revealing him more and more. His tongue was paralyzed, opposite to his heart who beat like crazy in his chest. He could hear their conversation through a impenetrable molasse, distorted by the anxiety. Faintly, he guessed Sapnap recounted his version of the night ?
His forced immobility certainly saved him when he was the next picked, the brunet grabbing him like the previous dolls. To his immediate fear however, he wasn’t let down with the rest, but closely examined. Those brown eyes may have been magical from afar, but they were now a mere centimeter from his face and he really would like some personal space
“This one though is beautiful, don’t you think ? Glad it didn’t get damaged, it’d be quite the waste”, sighed Karl wistfully before settling him down on the left, with the intact one. “I’ll send the good ones to Foolish. He will know what to do with them, the rest can go through recycling.”
But Quackity didn’t want to go to Foolish. He was lucky enough to pass through this guy’s quick control, he refused to try his chance again. His boy seemed in agreement seeing how he could now control his movements. Taking advantage of the three men’s distraction with the last dolls and the “weird pile of clothes, I wouldn’t ever done that for a command”, Quackity slowly got up and went back towards the end of the counter. Now that he could see where he was, he was almost in awe.
The building was as tall as three humans’ houses put one on one. The walls, covered by a magnificent wall papers in iridescent green, gold and red, regorged from details more funny and practical than the previous one.
Multiple carousels went from one place to the other, multicolor lights and decorations illuminating the place in a perfect kaleidoscope. A dozen of Christmas trees, heavily ornamented, embellished the place and the roof, made of glass and so faraway it could as well had been space, was covered by a fin layer of snow. It was a wonderful sight.
All also seemed at his kidnappers’ height, which made it way less dangerous to parkour through than in human’s houses. It was perfect.
Good things come to an end however.
This one did when George turned around and spotted him.
“K… Karl ? I think one of your toys is alive”, he stammered, not believing his eyes, even putting his glasses on his forehead to see better.
“What ? That’s imposs… Wooooaaaw”, howled Karl while turning, in total disbelief. “Huh, hello little guy ?”
Quackity turned around slowly, as if he could delay the inevitable. But there, right in front of him, still were the three guys, as frozen as he was a few seconds before.
“Do… do you understand me ?” tried the brunet once again, approaching slowly as to not frighten him.
The borrower didn’t stay to offer him an answer. He turned around and jumped down, going towards one the multiple carousel that were at the back of the desk.
“W… What ? Stop it ! Or him ! I don’t know, do something !!” shrieked Karl while watching it disappear in the factory.
George and Sapnap stayed petrified a bit more, shocked to their core by the sudden movements of the toy. Since when was such a thing possible ? Clearly, it had blinked and moved, this was no illusion. But the fact a toy was alive seemed to much for the poor elves.
Sapnap was the first to follow, screaming at the doll to get back here this instant, jumping after it on the carrousel. George took a bit more time before asking where the carousel went to Karl, that barely managed to answer him. It was the first time ever an elf got such a situation to the repair’s desk.
The two friends hurried down to the trash’s room, where they should hopefully find the “toy” or at the very least Sapnap.
