Archive of Our Own ^beta

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After everything that happened at hockey camp Anxiety just can't stop feeling guilty over what happened and what she did.
She makes it her mission to not repeat those mistakes and to prove she can be helpful and good for Riley, proof her worth to the other emotions.
But nothing seems to go the way she wants it to, every attempt just makes the others more frustrated with her and she can't help but wonder if she really is any good at all.

After a particularly bad day she comes to the conclusion that she's not needed and is bad for Riley and she decides to run away.

Despite any possible negative feelings the other emotions might have about her, when they realize she's gone they know they have to bring her back.

Envy, Embarrassment and Ennui volunteer to go out and find Anxiety and bring her back.

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Anxiety acts as Envy's maternal figure, always has been and it becomes very clear to the original emotions once things settle down in HQ.

Envy takes a quick liking to Disgust, and though she is kinda put off by her at first, Disgust quickly warms up to Envy and the two become very close.
Anxiety has mixed feelings about it, she's glad that Envy is getting along with others and seeing how happy Envy is makes her happy too. But she feels jealous over how much time Envy spends with Disgust and how much she idolizes the green emotion.

Neither Anxiety nor Disgust like the other, but they recognise how important they are to Envy and try to act civil with mixed results.
Meanwhile, Envy sees a chance for her to have two moms for reals and plays matchmaker to try and guide them together, possibly draggin other emotions to help with her ultimate plan to get her moms together.

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Anxiety and Ennui have been dating since basically forever, after hockey camp is over and things start to settle the original emotions slowly realize this through some subtle and not so subtle signs.

Fear: Hmm, those two sure spend a lot of time together...

Disgust: Duh, they're friends, what do you expect?

Joy: *Sees Anxiety kiss Ennui's cheek* Aww, that's nice they get along so well

Sadness: *Notices the two sleeping in the same bed one morning and assumes one had a nightmare and is there for comfort*

Anger: *Gets gradually more pissed off at the pair talking in French to each other and being unable to understand what they're saying*

Envy and Embarrassment, who are in the know of course, notice but instead of doing or saying anything they just watch from the sidelines.
Meanwhile Ennui and Anxiety remain oblivious to all of this.

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For some reason the original emotions didn’t make it back to Headquarters, whether that’s because they didn’t manage to break out of the vault or if they got lost somewhere in the mindscape, the possibilities are plentiful.

With Anxiety unable to stop her panic and no one able to help, Riley ends up having a heart attack at camp.

Ennui has grown numb to most things, she does still care for Riley and her fellow emotions, but what can she really do? She doesn’t see the point in trying.

Embarrassment is even more quiet than he was before, but tries his best to support the other three, but it’s hard. He has contemplated leaving HQ to look for the original emotions multiple times, feeling it might just be the only way for things to improve, but is too scared to do so.

Envy sticks close to Anxiety and the console, taking any chance she sees to make Riley feel envious, even over the littlest things to take some of the weight off both their girl and Anxiety.. Growing increasingly worried for them both and wishing she could do more to help.

Riley is now in a near constant state of anxiety, the feeling lingers even if the emotion herself isn’t directly controlling her and it’s taking it’s toll on the girl.
Anxiety sees she did wrong, and now she has to fix it. She has to have control over everything, most of all herself, to keep Riley safe.She can not fail like that again, never again, she’s ruined Riley and has to fix her no matter what. The originals can’t be brought back, not until she’s fixed this, cause if they are there is no doubt in her mind they will throw her out.
The others don’t bring up the idea anymore, afraid the mention of bringing the original emotions back to HQ will cause a spiral and possibly another attack, it nearly did last time…what are they to do?

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The first Chrismas since the new emotions joined Headquarters is approaching and they're let in on a holiday tradition of the original emotions, secret santa!

Anxiety wasn't sure about the idea, there's too many surprises and unknowns involved, but she ultimately agreed with the majority to take part. Only, it just so happens the emotion she picks to get a gift for is Anger, who she's had a hard time getting on with despite months of working together, not to mention that according to the other original emotions he's impossible to get a gift for, just her luck.
But if she does succeed then maybe they can finally start getting along? The pressure is building and the stakes are high, but she's not one to back down from a challenge.

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As Riley grows older and life becomes more complicated and stressful, Anxiety finds herself overworked and torn in too many directions at once. There's just too much for one Emotion to worry over.
It eventually becomes too much, and just as the others are prepared to help settle a panic attack, instead of turning into a storm, Anxiety splits into parts.

Seeing 7, Envy sized Anxieties in place of just the one sends the whole of Headquarters into a state of confusion and panic, which in turn freaks the mini Xieties out.
Joy takes charge despite being freaked out herself, and once everyone is calmer, they take stock of the situation.

The mini Anxieties are very much like their combined self, yet different from her and each other, acting more similar to children than the grown and developed Emotion the rest are used to.

Separation Anxiety is clingy, wanting to be held as much as possible and sticks close to whoever she seems to be preferring at the moment.

Mutism Anxiety talks little and has trouble communicating, not all the time but stressful situations make her go completely silent and it takes some time for her to be able to speak again.

Social Anxiety sticks to the sidelines, not interacting with the other Emotions much and trying to draw as little attention to herself as possible, getting uneasy and unsure of herself whenever talking with someone.

Health Anxiety avoids touch and things the others use much, even touching the console is difficult for her to do as she fears contamination and illness of any sort.

Compulsive Anxiety keeps a routine and has a dozen habits she does in an attempt to calm herself when she gets overwhelmed, they usually work but she gets stressed easily and those habits can get in the way of things for her or others.

Phobia Anxiety keeps away from the other Emotions the most, almost like she's afraid of them, usually hiding somewhere she can see them but can't be seen by them in an attempt to keep herself safe.

Panic Anxiety is constantly on edge, afraid of an incoming panic attack she tries to anticipate and prepare for, the continued stress she's under makes her sick and tired.

Headquarters is a mess as the Emotions try to adjust and help the mini Xieties the best they can and in the progress end up learning more about their orange colleague and just how extensive her role really is, all the while trying to figure out how to get Anxiety back to her full, complete self.

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Anxiety and Ennui have been getting into more and more arguments lately.
Sure they're very different emotions, but they have gotten along fine in the past, but now it seems not even a day goes by where they don't butt heads about something.

One evening Joy has enough of it and sends the two off on a job together in hopes of maybe getting them to make up. Or at least not having to deal with their squabbling for one night.

Some worker down in the Science department claims to have build a machine to help with 'emotional regulation', Anxiety and Ennui are tasked with checking it out. Somehow through some mishap the two end up in the machine together and it goes off, and when they come out they do so a little..different.
They've switched colors, and more importantly, their roles.
Their personalities remain the same, but now Anxiety acts as Ennui and vice versa.
Getting freaked out over the situation, the two demand the worker change them back immediately, but the machine is fried and needs time to be fixed.

With no other options, they return to Headquarters and have to fulfill each other's jobs until this can be fixed, and try not to cause a disaster in the meanwhile.