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I know I said the last chapter was the last chapter, AND IT WAS, but this is just an extra chapter because 1. I'm bored 2. You guys are the best viewers I've ever had and I wanna see your comments one more time and 3. There's just a lot to the story/universe that I wasn't able to fit into just ten chapters for multiple reasons! So this chapter is just an extra, a not real chapter. Just a sort of... Answering any questions you might have about the series? Just to clarify, in case I left any stone unturned and made the story confusing! If you have any other questions feel free to ask them, these are just some questions I thought of that might have been too vague or not understandable to get while reading the story initially. So here's a list of questions and answers for ya!
Q: Why did you choose this specific cast of characters, and what about any other characters that are in the SMP that you didn't write into this story?
A: I chose the cast based on people who interact with Tommy pretty frequently, except for Bad. Bad was meant to be comic relief at the beginning but then when I figured out where to take the story I realized he'd be better off as a main character. Everyone else though is either already a friend of Tommy's on the SMP or is important in some way to the plot of the story. Sapnap for example, he and Tommy don't interact too often but Sapnap is Bad's canonical son so it would only make sense to include Bad's other son in the story about Tommy being essentially adopted by Badboyhalo.
As for the characters I didn't include, such as Fundy, Foolish, Callahan, Punz, etc. the simple answer is that I didn't have the space/time to include them. In the reality of the universe the story is set in, they interact with Tommy as much as the main cast. It's just probably in insignificant ways (except for Fundy, he occasionally has dinner with Tommy and Philza as well, just later on in the future). But rest assured, everyone in the SMP gets their time with Tommy eventually, especially Dream who does eventually get out of prison and apologize.
Q: Speaking of Dream, what role does he play in the story?
A: Simple answer? None. He isn't important here. Keep in mind this is an AU, and in this AU not once has Tommy, Ranboo, or Quackity visited Dream and gotten manipulated or hurt in any way. The simpler answer is that Dream spent so much time in solitude that he got over himself and realized everything he'd done wrong. Consider Vilbur, he said after 6 years in limbo he was changed, but then 13 years set him full circle. For Dream, He was changed when he got out, but at least Sapnap and George will eventually forgive him.
Q: How much time exactly passes during this story?
A: It's a bit hard to tell in the story, because I'm bad at describing settings (I'm good with feelings, not with dialogue or settings), but essentially it's been about a year since the beginning of the whole fiasco by the time we're at the end of the story. It starts in summer, which is when Tommy goes fishing. Then over the course of the next three days he turns into Angel and dissociates, then months later in winter is when he comes back. After more months of rehabilitation, we see him again after somewhat recovering by the time it's spring. A whole year cycle! Would ya look at that :D
Q: Let's talk lore. What was the purpose of "the boy in the yellow sweater?" Isn't that just Ghostbur?
A: No! It's actually what you would refer to as Alivebur! Lemme explain. In this universe, Wilbur doesn't go to limbo, because in this universe heaven actually exists. He goes to heaven and becomes an angel! And that's the boy in the yellow sweater, who is separate from Ghostbur (who is simply an echo of Wilbur's memories). Tommy still loves Ghostbur, although Ghostbur is so different from Wilbur, and he doesn't see Wilbur again after the bakery scene, as Wilbur has finally moved on from the world. I dunno, I think it's just a sweet idea that Wilbur loved Tommy so much that he left heaven to go down and help him find himself again when he needed him most. He's back in heaven now though! Let's hope he doesn't have to come back down again :)
Q: What exactly changed at the end? What was the character arc, what did Tommy become?
A: It's subtle (I think) but Tommy changed for the better. He became more accepting, sharing, and happier, and that (coupled with what they refer to as "the baby incident") brought his friends and family closer together and made the SMP happier again. Again, it's subtle I think. The main line that I can remember writing with this lesson in mind is the line where Bad brushes away a bit of Tommy's hair and Tommy declines slapping his hand away, then thinks that he feels a lot better because he didn't. I mean think about it, we all know the real Tommy would no doubt slap his hand away and say something along the lines of "Don't touch me" but this Tommy is better. He realizes nothing will be happier if he doesn't try. And he's trying!
Q: Who were the gods?
A: Gods? What gods? :)
Q: What happened after Tommy woke up?
A: Well, he had a heart to heart with his friends, with Phil and Techno, and made sure to explain to everyone what actually happened. Although, Philza had already told them a good bit after Bad called him up saying Angel had gone missing.
Q: So did Philza know about Tommy being Angel?
A: Yes, of course! He knows what his son looks like! It's just that after Bad criticized him about it in front of everyone, he sort of got a bit pissed and left immediately. He told Techno about it afterwards, of course, but then figured Tommy was probably happier with Badboyhalo so he actively chose to ignore it. Until he got the call and realized Tommy could potentially die. That was when he realized he still cared about the poor boy, which eventually lead to their heart to heart :)
Q: I got this question in a comment so I'm repeating it here: Did Philza ever find out about what actually happened to the wheat field?
A: No, Tommy kept that a secret from him, and will continue to probably for the rest of his life. The memory of that night is what brought him and the boy in the yellow sweater closer together, and without it he wouldn't be who he is to this day. Instead of feeling pain when he thinks of it, now it makes him happy. After all, it was a very noble thing to do. Sure it hurt getting in trouble for something he didn't do, but he and Phil apologized to one another and are moving past it, so there's really no reason to taint his father's memory of his precious son.
Q: What were the possible other routes you could have taken for the story?
A: Oh there were a lot. The first thought I had was just to write maybe two chapters for no reason and then throw it away, cause I didn't think it'd get a lot of views or comments. Then you guys came along and kicked that expectation out the window so I had to actually start planning, you fuckin shits >:(
The first idea was to just have Tommy in Angel's body without forgetting about himself at all. The main issue was going to be him trying to communicate who he was, even to Phil who wouldn't recognize him either. He'd be passed around from character to character (essentially a character a chapter) until he did something to get recognized. And by then would come the conflict with him not knowing if he wanted to continue the fun life of being a kid or go back to being his big sad self. The story would end much the same way, but with no frostbite or god-driven fever dreams :) But that would take too long so that idea went down the drain.
The second idea was to have Tommy actually go to the city, which is called Minecraft in this world. It would be somewhat of a continuation of the last plot, but with actual travel. I wasn't quite sure what would happen after that, though, so I kicked that idea as well.
A possible third idea would be to have the conflict that Angel was getting sick, like deadly sick, which would put a time limit on when he had to convince people he was actually Tommy. It would be some weird excuse like his soul wasn't meant to be in a baby's body so it was... dying, something like that. It would end similarly to the current ending, though, just with sickness instead of frostbite!
There was even an idea I had where the story never ended and I just constantly wrote feel-good babyinnit chapters with episodic conflict until either I or you guys got bored. That would have been fun! But a bit pointless.
I could have done a number of other things, and maybe if you guys really want it I can make little one-shots of alternate alternate universes, but then that'd be getting ridiculous haha! It'd give me something to write after class though!
Q: How do you write so fast?!?!
A: Been writing for over a decade baby, I'm up to 4k words per 2 hours if I know what I'm doing. :)
Q: So what's in store for the future of you and your stories?
A: What a weird question you would ask me, reader! I'm glad you asked though. Because I don't know! :D I genuinely don't know what to do next. I'm afraid of writing more because I know none of them will be as popular as this story was (comment wise, I get quite a few hits and kudos on my main pseud but you guys know that doesn't motivate me) and I have a crippling fear of failure so I genuinely don't know what to do with myself anymore! That's what this chapter was for, because I don't have another story idea planned and I have nothing better to do in my free time.
I'll finish Fever Dreams, most definitely. I love that story. I probably will write maybe a few more chapters of Cut It Free at some point, just so I can say I did it. Maybe a few more dnf oneshots if the fujoshi's demand it *shivers* But really I should get back to focusing on my original works eventually. Can't get too sucked into a fandom again!! That did not go well *stares at username in vague disgust*
Unless of course you guys have better ideas for stories. I would love to hear 'em. Might just make a series of one-shots of babyinnit situations, just for the fun of it. We'll see!
Q: Now that your story is done, what will I have to look forward to in the afternoon/night?!
A: If you like babyinnit, I suggest checking out the instagram account @gekafaye and their babyinnit au as well as their various other amazing au's. Their art was partially the inspo for this story, but of course they're not the only one who does beautiful babyinnit art. But I do love their current babyinnit comic/doodles so much!
User @myara_ame also does a cute au with Papa Wilbur. Very wholesome.
@korokapot has very good comics, you might already know about them. I don't believe they have a babyinnit comic, I might be wrong, but plenty of other stories to keep up on!
@shmeck_doodles is good at everything they do as well. They've drawn a bit of fanart about another fic including babyinnit and it's also super fucking cute. Heavily encorage!
There are tons of other fanart accounts out there that I heavily encourage you to go check out and follow! As well as plenty other babyinnit fics (that I unfortunately can't recommend because I don't read fanfics nowadays) that I hope you show some love to as well! Chances are they want you to comment too, so show them some love the way you showed me some!
And, ya know, you could go to my insta too if you'd like. @marionmarionette1987 I don't post much and I'm pathetic and terrible but my therapist says I have to stop thinking that way so I'm telling you to follow anyways! I don't do much yet, but I'm making an SMP-ish realm soon which I am very very very excited about and will be posting to my instagram soon. I've been working on it for months and my friends and I are heckin hyped about it, it's gonna be cool!! But ya know, not obligated to check me out, just sayin!
And that will conclude my QnA about questions no one asked! Please do comment, lemme know what you think about... idk anything. I just really enjoy hearing from you guys :)
And with that, I'll see ya later lovelies.
FOR REAL THIS TIME
No more chapters, the story is over.
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