Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

July 30th, 2025. 11:19 pm

It was no doubt, everyone enjoys the prospect of a quiet night in.

A chance to listen to just enjoy each others' company or turn in early (especially if you had a busy day ahead of you in the morning).

Or, if you were a laid-back blond, an insomniac blob of purple magic and a music loving bird man-

"Hey! No fair! That's cheating!"

"Is not."

"Is too, is too, is too."

"I'm just having better luck than you, that's all."

-then eleven-twenty at night was a good time to get into an argument on if your roommate is cheating at Mario Kart

MM winced a little as Lexy slammed down the controller at Avery's victory.

"Lexy, no need to be a sore loser. Avery's winning fair and square." MM added.

"I bet he cheated!" she huffed.

MM rolled his eyes as he stayed seated on the couch. "If you two can't play fair and work together, I'm turning off the game system."

The baby of the bunch's ponytail sprung up in shock. "WHAT?!" 

"You heard me. Play fair and work together, or no more Mario Kart for the night."

Lexy grumbled grumpily. "Fine, fine. Sheesh, attitude."

"I don't care if it's your lady time, you need to be nice." MM continued.

Now, she WAS trying to come up with a clever response, but was cut off before she could do so.

"What're you doing out of bed?"

Mistress' deep, maternal voice.

"W-w-we're heading to bed, after this game, we swear!" MM's usually calm voice became oh-so panicked.

"Get over here right now, young lady!" the dragon's voice continued.

"Guess I'm the young lady." Lexy giggled.

"What the- I'm talking to you." 

"Lexy, what did you do?" wondered Avery, wings shrinking back inside his back.

"I don't know... but I'm about to find out." Lexy nervously headed upstairs.

The first thing she noticed was the dragon standing by one of the rooms.

She was standing by Avery's room.

"Uh, Misty, what did I do?" wondered Lexy.

Mistress quickly turned her head towards Lexy. "What're you doing up here?"

"Didn't you call me up here?"

Now it was Mistress' turn to be confused.

"I didn't. I was talking-"

"So what on earth is going on?"

Mistress turned back to Avery's room.

Sure, it was many muted shades of greens, blues and purples with simple wooden furniture, a few bird cages and some instruments all over the place- but fuck it, it was Avery's bedroom and it was just right for a music loving avian.

The one thing that did stand out like a sore thumb, however...

...a crows' nest of wild red hair flying wildly while drumming out the longest drumroll in the history of drumrolls...

...like a mad lad.

"Is that Jerri?" Lexy asked.

Mistress nodded her head.

"I never knew she could drum."

"Neither did I, being honest."

"Great drumming, Rigster!" Lexy encouraged. "You're killing it!"

"I'll admit, she is, but I'm trying to get her back to bed. Preferably before the crazies kick in."

Lexy shuddered.

She knew what 'the crazies' were. 

It's what happens when any of the five don't get enough sleep and begin to act different, hence the name.

She gets short-tempered, Mistress becomes aloof, Jerri loses all sense of logic, MM gets overly emotional and Avery would screech at random times for no reason.

And the last time one of the five got 'the crazies', poor MM got drenched by a garden hose from a dead-on-his-claws Avery.

The teal dragon smiled softly. "Jerri? It's bedtime."

No response.

"Jerri?"

Lexy walked over. "Maybe she can't hear us with all that drumming."

Fair point, Misty would admit.

The youngest of the three cleared her throat.

"HEY RIGSTER! MISTY'S TALKING TO YOU!"

Lexy tapped her on the shoulder for better emphasis on the urgency.

As if a switch was flipped, Jerri dropped the drumsticks on the ground and shook her head.

Lexy paused. 

"Wait, Jerri, where's your helmet?"

Still no answers.

"I've got a bad feeling..." Mistress slowly crept over and tenderly brushed back Jerri's hair just enough to see her good eye.

It was closed.

"...oh dear."

"What?"

"Lexy?"

"Yeah, Misty? What's wrong?"

"She's sleepwalking."

"Should I warn MM and Avery?"

"No, no, I can get her back to bed." Mistress explained. 

Lexy paused. "I'll help! I'm fast! And I'm a quick thinker!"

"Thanks, Lexy."

"No problem!" 

Lexy knew the layout. She and Misty just had to guide Jerri back to her own room.

"Come on, we got no time to waste." Lexy declared.

Unfortunately, the subconscious mind is a fickle thing.

"HEY! Wrong way, Rig." Lexy rushed after her.

In a sleepwalking stupor, the already visually-impaired redhead had stumbled around enough to be headed straight for the balcony.

"No no no no no no no no no no no no no!" 

Mistress gulped to herself, sweating quite a lot for a dragon in only a mere red hoodie.

"Oh god, stay away from the balcony!"

That one cry from Lexy went in vain as the redhead tried to balance herself on the guard rail.

"...nobody's gonna stop me, Charles Blondin, from performing this trick..." Jerri's voice slurred.

"Who?" 

Of course there was no obvious reply.

Mistress also had no idea what she and Lexy COULD do.

Lexy winced a little as her best friend began to wobble.

"J-Jerri... wake up..." Lexy cooed. "Wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey... cock-a-doodle-doo?"

Now, you'd be right in assuming that the ladies' little pickle had gotten MM and Avery's attentions.

"What is that girl doing now?" MM jumped into panic mode.

"Is that Jerri?" Avery squinted. "Where's her helmet? And more importantly, where's her brain?"

As he said that, she wobbled again, losing her footing.

"JERRI!" a collective scream from Lexy and Avery as Mistress swooped in after her to save the adrenaline-junkie from certain death.

But halfway down, she stopped swooping.

And the reason soon became clear.

Mentalist just looked at the panicked group, using some purple-colored magic to levitate the redhead in the air.

"Phew..." Lexy sighed in relief.

With a hearty chuckle, MM levitated Jerri over to the couch. 

Then he sighed out of relief, blob-shaped body shaking tremendously.

"O-okay, she's out of danger..." MM told himself, voice getting softer. "Jerri? Wake up..."

A tiny whine slipped out of her mouth as her body instinctively stretched out.

"...it's Time Loop time, it's Time... Loop... uh, where am I?" Jerri murmured as she awoke.

Her answer was not met with a verbal response.

It was instead met by a group hug.

"... What's going on? Is it National Hug-a-Redhead-Night? Is that even a-"

"We're just glad you're safe." Lexy hugged her even tighter, trying to hide her internal panic.

"Safe? I was asleep. How could I NOT be safe, Lexy?"

The group hug disbanded.

"Oh you are not gonna believe this." Lexy said.

So much for a quiet night in.

Chapter Text

December 5, 2023. 7:24 am.

They had all only started living together for nearly three months.

So, naturally, there was still a lot to learn.

"What is all that white stuff?" Mistress asked as she walked over to the window in the living room.

Despite the early hour, she was already awake and ready to make herself some breakfast, before her eyes caught a glance at the front lawn.

All the dead grass was now covered under a sheet of white lumps. Even the garbage bags with the leaves in it had the white stuff on them.

MM, who clearly decided to deny his body of slumber, looked away from his most trusted companion (the coffee machine). 

"Have...you never seen snow before?"

"Beg your pardon?"

"Snow. You've...never seen it before?"

"I moved from an island, MM. You calculate the logistics."

"Misty, you are missing out!" Lexy declared as she rushed over.

The youngest of the group (21 years old, at the time) was already dressed accordingly, in a pink, blue and yellow hoodie with black sweatpants and fuzzy rainbow socks.

And yes, she still had her hair in a ponytail, with her goggles on top of her head.

"I am?"

"Duh! Come on, there's so much we gotta show you!"

"There is?"

"...you said you're 350 years old, right?"

"...yes."

"It's time to start living."

"Wait, what?"

Lexy rushed over to a nearby closet and returned with a bright pink deerstalker hat on her head, a bright yellow coat and blue snow boots. In her arms were four fuzzy red socks, a pair of black and white earmuffs and a bright red scarf.

"What are you wearing?" Mistress wondered.

"It's so I don't catch a cold, out there." Lexy said.

"Okay..." Misty shrugged to herself as she struggled with getting herself appropriately dressed for the weather.

MM sighed to himself.

[snap]

With a puff of purple magic, the dragon was dressed in the snow gear Lexy had chosen for her. 

"Now come on, Misty!"

Lexy got the door and bolted outside, with Mistress following after her.

The snow felt... cold.

Kinda like frozen water.

"Is it supposed to feel this cold?"

"Why did you think I'm all bundled up?"

Lexy made a logical point.

MM meanwhile had turned returned back to his date with the coffee machine.

He had just gotten his mug from the cupboard, when-

"Look, it snowed, last night!"

"And you're telling me because?"

"Because why not? Come on!"

He sighed to himself, only to see Jerri getting a pair of green earmuffs, a green scarf and green mittens on Avery.

Normally, MM wouldn't comment on something like this...

...but...

"Why're you two going outside in your pajamas?"

"I got roped into this against my free will." Avery groaned. 

"Come on, come on, come on!" Jerri herself had gotten only a pair of mittens and a matching orange scarf on.

"You're gonna get sick." MM sighed to himself.

Jerri blew a childish raspberry as she shoved Avery outside.

"That's nowhere close to bundling up." Lexy said as she and Mistress saw the two.

"That's what I said." Avery said.

MM glanced out the window, coffee hovering near his nonexistent mouth.

Sure, he could go outside and join them.

But he'd be better off preparing enough hot cocoa and pancakes for the four.

Cause something told them they'd be out there for a long while.

Chapter Text

October 15, 2024. 09:12 pm.

"Movie night! Movie night! Movie night! Movie night!"

That was Lexy cheering happily as Mistress handed them each a bowl of popcorn each.

"Calm down, Lexy." MM sighed to himself.

"MOVIE NIIIIIIIGHT!!!"

"We're just watching 'The King and I', relax." Avery added, stretching his wings out. 

"Is it a good movie?" Lexy asked.

"It's based on a book." MM explained.

Jerri tossed a piece of popcorn in her mouth. "So it's not as good as the book, huh?" 

"How dare you!"

"I knew it." 

"It is a musical masterpiece! In fact, the music was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein."

"Who and who now?" Lexy raised an eyebrow.

...

It was so quiet, you could hear a mouse fart.

...

"I'm not old, I'm just cultured." he explained.

"How old ARE you?" asked Mistress.

"Middle age. And unlike today's youth-"

He motioned at Lexy and Jerri, to the girls' glares.

"-I am well cultured in music."

MM nodded. "You sure are."

"Thank you, at least you appreciate the movie we're going to be watching."

Mentalist chuckled as a faint blush added some color to his 'face'.

And now, it was time to watch the movie. 

...

"This is boring..." Lexy complained.

"It's Avery's turn to choose, remember?" Mistress whisper-scolded.

"But still."

"I wonder if this movie's accurate to the book." Jerri said aloud.

"Shush!" Mistress continued.

MM gave a small yawn as he leaned on Avery's shoulder.

"This is nice..." the mysterious purple insomniac cooed tiredly, eyes blinking.

"I know." Avery cooed back.

And like that, MM suddenly found himself trying to keep his eyes open.

'No no no no! I can't fall asleep yet!'

A green wing wrapped around himself.

...

'Maybe I'll just close my eyes for a few seconds...'

Chapter Text

March 1, 2025. 10:43 am.

Lexy groaned as she awoke on the living room floor...

'What the fuck did we do, last night?' she stood up and stumbled to the bathroom.

She splashed cold water on her face before grabbing her bright yellow toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

Wait a second.

Lexy examined her face.

She was covered in icing, pretzel crumbs, sparkles, feathers and pieces of red and gray confetti.

And last night slowly began to come back to her.

She did remember that they were celebrating Jerri's birthday, the night before.

She also had vague memories of going to town on vanilla birthday cake.

So now she needed to figure out what exactly happened.

Maybe after she finished brushing her teeth, though.

'Must've been some party...'

The door creaked open.

"Oh, I see it's occupied." Avery quickly closed the door.

That got an eyeroll from Lexy as she checked her phone.

10:45 am.

She spat out the toothpaste foam from her mouth, nonchalantly placed her toothbrush back in its place and grabbed her hairbrush, frantically brushing out her very frazzled ponytail.

'Dear god, what did I do?'

By the time her hair was all tied, it was 10 to 11.

And she waled over to the dining room table after getting some water from the fridge.

"I see you're awake, Lexy." MM waved.

"What happened, last night?"

"We ate cake and pretzels, we played 'pin the beard on Lincoln' and then...huh, can't remember much, either."

"We are so fucked, MM."

Mistress slunk over, a stray pink sock on her head. "I remember. We had an anime marathon."

Sounded like fun, Lexy would admit.

But then Lexy's eyes widened.

She just remembered something.

A very cheeky "Hey Lexy, betcha can't do a handstand."

Lexy also began to remember the response she gave. "Oh you're on, Rigster!"

Things were adding up.

"Eventually, you tried to do a flip and belly-flopped onto a pile of pillows." Mistress added.

"Wow, how late were we up?"

"You two crashed first." Mistress looked at MM and Lexy. "Then came the rest of us."

"With all that partying we all did, I'd honestly be shocked if she's awake."

"Me too." MM chuckled to himself.

The chuckles were very short lived, though.

"Look out below, world! I'm a year older and a year bolder!"

"Wow, you've still got energy?" MM was impressed.

"Yep. We partied the night away, after all!" Jerri grinned, a slight eye bag under the bright red digitalized eye.

"Go gather Avery, Lexy. We are taking it easy, today." Mistress said. 

"On it." Lexy saluted.

Jerri giggled to herself. "A cuddle pile? We don't need one after the excitement that was last night."

A yawn slipped out of her mouth.

"Sure. And I'm not wanted in 10 states for malpractice." MM snarked.

"The fuck?" Misty asked.

"Never mind."

"Point still stands. We're gonna at least take it easy today."

Chapter Text

June 29, 2025. 2:48 pm.

She was on top of the world.

Nothing could be better than this.

She was on the best high of her life.

"Chicken jockey!" Lexy shouted as she ran through an aisle in Target with a pink pool noodle, Jerri pushing the red, silver and white cart with a nonchalant look.

Seriously, the redhead was so unfazed that you wouldn't have been in the wrong for assuming she was either listening to music or that her helmet had a noise-cancelling feature.

"Jerri, Jerri, look!"

Lexy had braked near the crafts aisle, eyes wider than pie plates.

Jerri glanced over, digital eye half lidded with a look best described as 'I don't give a flying fuck'.

But deep down, she did give a flying fuck. 

So she looked.

"What are you doing? We're just trying to get new curtains for MM." Jerri tried so hard to sound annoyed.

"Check out the coloring books! Can I get one? Please?"

"Lexy, you're 23. If you want a coloring book, pay with your own money."

Jerri could not believe she was having this talk with Lexy.

"And these markers?"

"Yes, as long as you use your own money."

"Okay, okay, sheesh. No need to get fussy." Lexy smiled teasingly.

"I'm not fussy, I just want to get out of here ASAP."

A Target worker around their age, in the classic red t-shirt looked over at the two.

"Do you two need any help?"

"Where're the curtains?" Jerri asked as Lexy put the coloring book and markers in the cart.

Internally, the older woman was sweating.

She was waiting for a comment about the way she dressed, or the length of her hair, or the dreaded question about the helmet.

She was even ready to defend Lexy's hyperactivity.

"You and your sister will find the curtains over there, ma'am." the worker said.

"Sister?" Jerri asked. "We're not sisters."

"Oh. Sorry, my bad."

Lexy giggled a little. "We're not? Says who?"

"Says me. Now come on. She said they're this way."

The walk to said aisle was supposed to be quiet.

But Jerri couldn't help but crack under the calm and stoic facade.

Some middle aged dad was trying to control his cranky toddler.

Two grown woman in their 30s were arguing over who got a shiny green Stanley.

A woman with a pixie cut was scolding a different underpaid worker for not having a particular brand of lamp.

A man's cologne reeked badly.

The lighting was getting brighter.

The floors were getting harder.

Some overplayed summer song blared over the speakers.

The self checkout scanning rang through the store.

The cashier buttons were pressed with heavy clacking.

The cart was getting harder to grip onto.

And her balance felt...

...very off.

"Jerri?" Lexy asked.

The eye on her helmet shrank, a small bag under it.

Lexy was confused at first. 

'She doesn't seem tired...' Lexy thought to herself. 'I better ask.'

"Everything okay?"

Jerri was just... numb.

"Uh, okay...what do I do?" Lexy worried. 

So what does a 23 year old chaotic genius do?

She walked up to an employee who was luckily not a part of the chaos.

"...excuse me, uh...where's your clock aisle?" Lexy asked.

"Down there."

"Can...can you please guide us?"

"Sure, got nothing better to do before my break."

Lexy smiled as she tapped Jerri's shoulder. 

Jerri instantly tried to play off any signs of...well, whatever just happened.

In fact, she barely noticed where they were going, until-

"Well, here's our selection of clocks, girls."

Normally, Jerri would be squealing on the inside.

But she was more focused on the buzzing coming from the lights overhead.

Then her lab coat began to feel weird.

And her heart was trying to escape her body.

One phrase escaped her lips.

One Lexy never heard her say before.

"I'm fucking 25 years old, for shits' sake- why can't I be fucking normal?"

...

Lexy had no idea what to say.

So she said the first thing to come to mind, before it slipped from her brain for the rest of eternity.

"Okay, maybe going to Target on a Sunday was a bad idea." Lexy blurted. 

"... I just... the curtain... MM needs them."

"Jerri, it's okay-"

"No it's not!"

...

"Fuck..."

Jerri didn't realize how long she'd been crying for, but she did notice Lexy sitting in the cart, as if waiting for a metaphorical storm to pass.

"... do you feel any better?"

She sighed.

"... a little..."

"Yeah, I'll text MM to get the weighted blanket from the closet. We're getting the fuck outta here." Lexy declared as she got out of the basket.

"But-"

"Jerri, we can get curtains any time. Today's just not a good day for Target shopping." 

With the text sent, Lexy led the way to the least-busy checkout line.

"Next?" the teen asked.

Lexy placed the pool noodle, markers and coloring book on the conveyor belt, then got out twenty dollars.

[beep, beep, beep]

"Okay, that'll be $22.95..."

Sighing, Lexy put the twenty away and got out her credit card.

"You really want to get this over and done with, I see."

"My friend had a breakdown in the clock aisle, so we're taking what we already put in the cart and going home to a weighted blanket and Doctor Who."

Not another word was said as the items were bagged.

It was as if the cashier understood.

And finally, the two girls were leaving the line.

"You're a good friend." the cashier said to Lexy before looking at Jerri.

Jerri barely looked over, her social battery at 5%.

"Hang onto your friend, she's a true one."

She gave a small nod, cause that's what people do when they've been complimented.

Even if they weren't normal.

But Lexy didn't care.

She just wanted her friend to be happy and not-overwhelmed, for fuck's sake.

Besides...

"I'll get the curtains myself, tomorrow." Lexy hugged her as the two waited for the bus.

Chapter Text

July 16, 2025. 11:56 pm.

Avery liked the dark.

Naturally, he lived in the forest for quite a long time. So the dark was his friend. That much was obvious.

[creak]

"Hello?" he looked around.

No response.

"MM, if that's you, this isn't funny!"

By now, Avery had tried to turn the lights on.

[flick flick-flick]

"What the?" he squinted. 

No, the lamp was still plugged in.

"Must be a dead bulb."

"Avery, can I sleep here?"

He knew that voice.

He could also identify Lexy's very unique eyes in the darkness, once he stopped panicking over the lights.

"What happened?"

"... power's out." Lexy explained.

"Lay down. It'll come back on, in the morning."

...

...

...

July 19, 2025. ??:?? ??.

"You were saying?" asked Lexy as she passed the cereal box around the table for the second morning in a row.

Or was it now early afternoon?

"Not my fault the power's out." Jerri defended herself, helmet only half on/half off because her sense of late night/early morning was off as all hell. "But it could've been worse."

A long groan came from an overtired MM as he groaned, wishing the power would just come back on. He needed his sweet, sweet blend. He had taken its bitter taste for mere granted.

"Back in August 2003, there was the Northwest blackout. No power for four days, in some locations. About 100 people died from the blackout."

"Jerri, please, we're all going stir crazy here, last thing we need to think about is how history's repeating itself." Lexy whined. "The power's never coming back on. We're all gonna diiiiiiiiiiiiie in this heat."

She paused.

"But on the bright side, I don't have to text anyone ever again, if it gets to that point."

Mistress just sighed as she munched on plain corn flakes. "All in favor of just cuddling together on the couch?"

"Ew! We'll get all sweaty!" Lexy gagged.

...

Next thing she knew, she was indeed dragged into a cuddle pile. 

She was cuddled up to Avery.

Now, she didn't hate him, but he was just...

...not her type of chaotic.

He was nowhere near her level of chaotic.

"Ugh! This sucks!" Lexy whined. "We're all getting sweaty, it's crowded and this is the worst thing to ever happen to me."

"The cuddle pile or the blackout?" Mistress asked.

"The blackout, you guys are the best."

"I hope so." MM beamed with tired pride.

"Once this power outage is over, I will be soooooooooooo thankful." Avery said.

Jerri groaned a little as she leaned on Misty's shoulder. "You said it...it's too hot to do anything. How did you get by?"

Mistress showed some photos of T-shirt island, with its sandy beaches, coconut trees, majestic seagulls-

-and a big, blue body of water.

"Too bad there ain't a pool nearby that we can swim around in." Avery lamented.

"Yeeeeeah!" Lexy added.

"We'll pull through." Misty reassured the restless bunch.

...

It was too hot to do anything, so the quintet was just snuggled up together, crickets going wild outside and owls coming out to mingle.

Therefore, MM realized, it had to have been nightfall, by now.

[beeeeeeeeeeeep]

[whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir]

[beep, beep, beep, beep]

"What the-" Lexy asked as she sat up, Avery rubbing his eyes.

MM gasped. "The power. It's back! It's back!"

Avery shushed him, signaling at the other two, deep in slumber.

"Ohhhhhhh right!"

And MM dashed off to make himself a coffee.

Lexy just snuggled up to Avery, with big tired eyes, as the phone charger finally charged his phone.

And at 20%, the time and date were clear on the home screen.

July 19, 2025. 12:01 am.

"We need to get a generator..." Lexy said. "Big time."

Chapter Text

November 13th, 2023. 2:31 am.

"Misty? Misty? Misty?"

Mistress whined a little as the bedroom lights turned on.

"Wha- where- who-"

A very groggy Jerri groaned, with a noticeably sickly Lexy by her side.

"Oh, it's you girls...what's wrong?" Misty yawned.

[cough cough cough cough]

"It's Lexy."

"I can hear that." Mistress sat upright, stretched out like a cat and flew into action. "What happened?"

"The hell if I know. Her coughing woke me up."

"And you decided to come seek my help?"

"Yes. Got anything to help with the cough?"

Mistress sighed to herself.

"Go back to bed, Jerri. I'll handle Lexy."

"... Pow... pow..."

"Come on, Lexy." Misty cooed. 

Lexy groaned as she followed after the dragon, slipping downstairs very quietly.

Sure, they both knew MM was probably still awake, but one does not wake an early bird because you merely have bad coughing spells.

...

Mistress gulped as the two successfully snuck downstairs, with the dragon getting right to work on making tea. "Got any allergies?"

"Currently or formerly?" a cough slipped out.

"Currently."

"Not really."

"Honey-lemon tea it is, then. Just need some warm water..."

[cough cough hack]

The buzzing and whirring of the coffee machine as it offered said warm water had almost a butterfly effect.

Cause when she turned around-

-she was faced with two very sleepy eyes looking at her.

"Hey MM."

"I never knew you drank coffee- wait, where is the coffee?"

"I'm making tea for Lexy."

"There's a tea kettle in-"

"And I do not wanna risk waking the entire house over a mere cough."

MM shrugged as he got right to work with his own 2:35 am bowl of corn flakes with a cup of coffee.

Meanwhile, Misty got out the full bottle of honey, and checked the fridge for-

"We're all out of lemons..." she noticed.

"Oh dear." MM said.

"Maybe just honey-tea will do the trick." Misty added the tea bag.

...

Misty smiled nervously as Lexy put the now-empty mug in the sink.

Sure, her eyes were slowly getting heavier, and her coughing was slowing down.

"Let's getcha back to bed." the dragon cooed a they headed upstairs.

"I'm sorry to be a bother..." Lexy's voice, hoarse from coughing so much, squeaked out.

"Lexy, you don't have to apologize. These things happen."

"But... but..."

"I don't mind."

"But I'm waking the entire house up..."

"But not on purpose."

"... can I sleep with you?"

"Lexy, you're 21 years old."

"And?"

"... just for tonight."

Lexy gave a small, sickly smile. 'Maybe getting a sore throat isn't so bad.'

[cough cough cough cough cough cough cough]

'I take it back.'

Chapter Text

January 1, 2024. 12:22 am.

There were clear signs that a small NYE party had been thrown earlier.

The tipped-over chip bowl. The TV on mute. The fireworks outside. Three untouched cups of hot cocoa.

Lexy was fast asleep with a party horn in her mouth. Meanwhile, Mistress was sleepily plucking confetti out of her mane. Avery was tiredly enjoying a platter of (cold) nachos in guacamole with MM sitting on the couch with heavy eyes- 

"Happy New Year! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Happy happy happy new new new year year year!"

MM raised an eyebrow in curiosity as he watched on. 

What madness was he witnessing, 22 minutes-

-wait, hold on-

-23 minutes after a new year had just begun?

What insanity was brought upon the house?

"MM! Happy new year to you! Yeeeeeeeeeees, you!"

He rolled his eyes. "Jerri, it's midnight. Aren't you tired?"

"Mmmmm... nope."

Her eye was giving him a different story.

"Why don't you go get into your pajamas?" MM cooed softly. "And I'll get Lexy to bed."

"But there is sooooooooooooooooooooo much to celebrate, MM!"

Jerri climbed next to the youngest of the five. "Lexy! Lexy! Lexy! Lexy!"

Lexy jolted awake as she was being shook.

"Happy new year!" Jerri giggled.

"Uh... we didn't serve alcohol, did we?" Lexy asked.

"No, even though we're all of legal drinking age." Mistress didn't miss a beat.

"Then what the fuck is wrong with Jerri?"

"Probably a sugar rush." Avery tried to be the voice of reason. "Come on, Jerri... let's give Lexy her space."

"IT'S A NEW YEAR, AVERY! TIME TO FUCKING LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! What's yooooooour resolution?"

Avery sighed. 'Well, I can tell Jerri isn't drunk...'

[inhale]

"My resolution is to be a bit more open to new ideas."

"THAT'S A GREAT RESOLUTION! What about yooooou, MM?"

MM sighed. "My resolution is to get more sleep."

"HA!" Jerri laughed. "Your turn, Lexy!"

"... Jerri, what's wrong?"

"Nothing! Come on! Make a resolution!"

"... to come outta the closet." Lexy felt a yawn coming.

"I'll get her to bed." MM said, levitating Lexy with his magic. "Come on, Lexy. The sandman's got a date with you, it looks like."

"Okay..." she yawned once, then smacked her lips.

"See you three in the morning." MM added.

Sensing what could happen, Avery dashed upstairs, with a tired "goodnight" to the rest of the Decas.

"Misty! Misty! What's your New Years' resolution?" Jerri grinned, throwing herself onto the dragon.

"To finish a murder mystery novel I have yet to finish." Mistress explained. "Huh, usually you're ready for bed by now."

"I KNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW! ISN'T IT AWESOME?"

"Jerri, the party's over, it's bedtime. And if you start getting ready for bed now, then you'll be in bed by 1 am and-"

"Pfffffft, bedtime was just a concept created for us to be vulnerable at night." she nuzzled deeper into Misty's sparkly black and gold hoodie.

Mistress knew one outcome of said nuzzling. MM had discussed it in depth a few weeks ago.

She still didn't know just WHAT Avery contributed to the "Lethargy Link" though.

"Besides, Misty, it's a new year! We're allowed to go bonkers! AND IMMA GO BONKERS AAAAAAALL NIGHT LONG!"

"Okay, then." Mistress smiled to herself.

Jerri grinned, jumping straight into action. "OH! I GOT IT! Cookies and milk! I am a MOTHERFUCKING GENIUS, MISTY!"

Mistress sighed to herself. "Maybe you had too much cocoa."

"NONSENSE! Besides..." Jerri blinked for a second as she grabbed her snack. "... what WAS I gonna say?"

"Your body needs to sleep. We were up late." Mistress explained. "Here. Come eat with me."

"Now we're talking... pow... pow... pow... pow... pow..."

"Pow-pow?"

"Yeah..." Jerri mused. 

"What's your resolution?"

"Huah?"

"Don't you have one?"

"Meh, it's silly." Jerri murmured, munching on her snack tiredly. The night was slowly catching up.

"You can tell me, I'll listen." Mistress reassured.

"... I wanna... wanna... be more like Lexy..."

"Awwww, dear."

Jerri sighed, trying to finish her snack in peace and quiet, but given the late hour, the fireworks dying down, and Mistress' natural body temperature...

"... fuck..."

"Lay down." Mistress noticed. "Just for five minutes."

"Believe me, I am." she pushed away the last half of a cookie and the now-empty milk glass before curling up to the dragon.

Mistress tossed her a bright red pillow that would usually reside on the couch.

".... I'm gonna cause soooooooo much chaos after five minutes are up..." Jerri's voice slurred.

"i take it you're comfy?"

...

"Huh?" Mistress looked down.

...

"Already asleep? That's fast." a giggle left Misty's lips. "We're all gonna feel the effects of staying up so late."

Silence.

"Except maaaaaaaaaybe MM."

Chapter Text

March 4th, 2024. 2:30 am.

Or was it 5:18 am?

9:46 am?

10:01 am?

12:06 am?

4 am on the dot?

8:52 am?

"Fuck."

Poor MM's head was spiraling.

He had just woken up.

How did he end up in Jerri's room?

Why did that damn Devil Dad clock have moving eyes?

Why were the clocks soft ticking so eerie at 'who knows when'?

And why were his cheeks covered in dried tears?

He inhaled. Now was not the time to freak out.

He needed to calm down.

'What did Misty say he should do when he's panicking? Oh, right!'

...

'5-4-3-2-1.' MM inhaled 'Five. I need to find five things I can see.'

...

'Hourglass... cuckoo clock... pocket watch... digital clock... alarm clock...'

Okay, maybe five things that weren't clocks.

'Blankets... pillow... Jerri's helmet... window and... is that a bag of pretzels?'

He tiptoed over and picked up a packet.

Yep, it was for chocolate coated pretzels.

And from the weight of the bag, she had only eaten a few pieces before getting distracted by something else.

'Four. Four things I can feel...'

He felt the pretzel packet.

[crinkle crinkle crinkle]

'That's one...'

He leaned down until he was on the floor.

[pat pat pat]

'I can feel the floor. That's two things.'

He glanced around before hoisting himself up and floating over to the window.

[whoooooooooooosh]

Darn it, the window was covered by a faded red curtain.

Wait a second.

'Curtains, a third texture.' he tenderly felt the fabric. Now to seek out a fourth texture.

Well, why not?

He bent back down, glanced at the helmet and-

-no, he couldn't.

'That'd be like messing with a deaf person's hearing aid. Or someone's wheelchair.'

His glance landed on the computer.

And he touched the screen.

[tap tap]

'Four things I can feel. Check. Now for three things I can hear.'

Well, time for listening ears.

[chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp]

Aha! The glorious song of one of Avery's birds fucking around.

Avery...oh, he was such a great conductor-

'Now where was I? Oh right! Listening ears.'

[Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock]

'Of course, clocks. One sound left.]

Try as hard as he wanted to, he couldn't figure out what that last sound should be?

...

"Watch out!"

He jumped. What was that?

"You're in a timeloop..."

Oh.

'Note to self, Jerri sleep talks...' he snuck over and adjusted the blanket that was lazily draped on her.

Oh yeah. And he still had no idea how the fuck he ended up in her room.

'Let's see...sight, touch, hearing. Next up is identifying two different scents.'

He thought about it. 

'Okay. Grape soda from that empty soda can aaaaaaand...'

His eyes darted around the room. 

And he found a bottle of window cleaner.

'I guess it might have a scent...'

He was almost done with the grounding exercise.

Just needed one thing he could taste.

And he knew just the thing.

'It's just one pretzel...' he put it to his mouth.

[crunch munch munch munch munch]

[creeeeeeeak]

He was not expecting the door to open as he enjoyed the sweet-and-salty treat.

"Oh, you're up, Jerri." Mistress smiled a little as she glanced in the room. "We could really use all the help we can get, Lexy's tearing apart the living room looking for her scrunchie and- MM?"

He quietly put the bag of pretzels back where he found them.

"Ah! Misty. Just the person I was looking for... uh... what time is it, exactly?"

"It's 11:37 in the morning." Mistress didn't miss a beat. "The coffee machine got fixed four hours ago."

[blink blink]

"You cried yourself to sleep while waiting for it to be fixed. Remember?"

Now it was coming together... sort of.

The coffee machine (very loudly) decided to act up around 2:30 am, when he went to grab a cup. 

So he decided to ask Jerri to fix it.

But if the coffee machine glitched out around 2:30... and it got fixed around 6:30...

He must've crashed out around that timeframe, with Jerri going back to bed around 7 am.

It was all making sense, now.

"... I really need more sleep."

"And less coffee." Mistress admitted.

MM needed to break the awkwardness.

"You said you need help finding Lexy's scrunchie?"

Chapter Text

"Oh... hey... you're awake."

"...wha- where-"

"Phew, you had me worried there!"

"-do I...know you?"

"C-c-come on, girl, this isn't funny."

"Who the fuck are you guys?"

"GAH!"

Her eye shrunk in fear as she awoke.

"J... just a bad dream... I think..." Jerri reminded herself. "Let's see, the dragon's name is Tournament Mistress, June 23rd. Bird Man is Avery Flundera, May 11th. Floaty pair of eyes is the Master Mentalist, April 23rd. And... and... and the lightning-core one is Lexy, December 12th."

She nodded to herself in 'yep, I was only having a nightmare'.

But there was a new problem now.

The fear she had been hiding from her friends for the past two years.

The one that had been nagging at her for two weeks without end.

Leading to restless night after restless night.

And looking more and more loony to the others. Hell, she kept falling asleep in weird places, according to Lexy and MM.

But that was not important.

This fear in question? Forgetting her found family.

Just like she forgot the first 23 years of her life.

With a small yawn, she got her helmet on, giving herself a few seconds to adjust to the waking world.

May 25, 2025. 1:12 am.

"Breathe, Jerri... breathe..." she told herself.

She wasn't about to cry, so instead, she got out of bed. "Maybe I just need a drink. Hmmmm, Misty says warm milk helps ya sleep..."

Slowly tiptoeing down the hall in only an oversized 'NAP ALL DAY, SLEEP ALL NIGHT' shirt with an alarm clock on it, and a pair of ankle socks. 

Hey, she couldn't resist buying the pajama top.

It had a clock on it, for crying out loud!

'If... if I were to lose all my memories again... no, Jerri. It's another intrusive thought. We don't need 'em in our life.'

She sighed, jumping off the last step before walking over to the kitchen, beelining for the fridge.

"Hey Fridge. It's me, Jerri. Yeah, I had a nightmare again- same one as yesterday, but don't tell anyone, okay? It'll be our little secret" she explained, rummaging through it. "Hey! I thought we got more milk earlier in the week!"

She slammed the fridge door shut, muttering a soft 'sorry' to it, and turning around-

-to see Avery pouring himself a bowl of cereal, the milk on the table.

A bowl of cereal.

At 1:14 am.

"Uh, I think MM's rubbing off on you." Jerri tried to be snarky and stoic.

"I heard you talking to the fridge." Avery said.

Too late to backpedal. 

"Avery...uh...you like music, right?"

"Yes."

"And you lived in a forest with birds and a carnivorous plant, right?"

"Also true."

"Your last name is Flundera and you're a Taurus..."

"Jerri, what is wrong?" Avery asked, pouring the milk into the bowl.

"Nothing. I...just had a silly little nightmare."

Once Avery finished with the milk, he handed it to her.

"You- you- it was awful! You collapsed and- and-"

"Who are you, lady?"

"Wha-"

"I don't know you. What do you want from me?"

"Jerri!" he slammed one hand on the table.

"Eep!"

"Here's the milk."

"Oh... right. Pow-pow."

She barely noticed the way she was running in place as she talked, but Avery took notice.

"Warm milk, huh?" Avery asked.

"Huh?"

"It's why you came down here, am I right?"

"Oh, yeah... what about you?"

"Birds are asleep, I deserve a treat."

Jerri nodded to herself, helmet feeling kinda fuzzy.

"What... what do you mean I've been living here for two years?! Where am I? Who are all of you?"

"Jerri, calm down..."

"I don't even know who you are, you...winged thing."

She shook her head. "Ghhhh!"

"Jerri?" Avery asked.

"Huh?"

"Have you not been sleeping well?"

"Pffffffft, I've been sleeping like a baby, Avery."

"Sure you have." he snarked.

Jerri just ignored him as she looked at the stove.

'What am I supposed to do, first?'

She stared at the stove as if it were her first time cooking.

It wasn't her first time.

"Jerri, it's okay."

"Why do you keep calling me that?!"

"It's your name?"

"Oh dear, you hit your head."

"Yeah, no shit, she did."

"Jerri, are you falling asleep while standing?" Avery chirped out.

"What? No way. Just eat your 1 am cereal." Jerri chuckled nervously, before something turned on in her brain.

"Sauce pan! Need a sauce pan for warm milk."

"Jerri, are you sure you can do this?" Avery walked over.

"Yeah...I can..." 

Unfortunately, the eye on her helmet was telling a whole other story, closing in on itself as she grabbed an 'It's 5 o'clock somewhere' mug.

"Who is this Jerri Rig you keep telling me about?!"

"Jerri... you're Jerri..."

"What? Does? That? Mean?"

And that was the last thing she remembered before she toppled backwards and onto the floor, everything going dark soon after.

She could've sworn something broke, in the process.

...

...

...

"...i? ...rri? Jerri? Jerri?" Avery cooed.

Jerri groaned as she rubbed her head, taking a second to register that her helmet was off. 

"What just-"

"You fell asleep standing up and gravity decided 'this floor makes for a good bed'."

She nodded, still not getting the entire situation.

At least until she saw the mug shard in her arm.

"Yeah, Misty's driving us to the emergency room."

"The where?!" Jerri suddenly looked very awake.

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter Text

"Yeah, we got the shard out." the doctor explained to Misty and Avery as they sat in the waiting room.

Mistress didn't want to scare MM too much with the details, especially since the shard was very close to a vein and...

...well...yeah, surgery was the only way to get it out.

So she just texted that the shard was successfully removed.

"Phew." Mistress sighed in relief.

"She's waking up, as we speak."

Avery sighed in relief as he and Misty were led to the recovery room. "I can't wait to see her."

"Me neither, but we should be quiet." Mistress shushed. "This is a hospital."

"Well, here we are. But do keep it down."

"We will." Misty said as she sat down in the chair next to the hospital bed. "Hi Jerri..."

"Mom?" Jerri murmured, smiling a little at her voice.

Mistress didn't really raise an eyebrow. She's been called "mom" on accident way too many times, now.

"Mom, I'm kinda scared..."

"Shhhhh...it's okay, Jerri. You're safe." Mistress cooed. "I'm here, so is-"

"Poppa!"

"Did she just call me 'Poppa'?!" Avery asked.

Mistress nodded her head. "She did. What happened?"

"The anesthesia we gave her is making her a bit loopy. Now, you said you two are her friends?"

"Yes." Mistress and Avery said in unison, as Jerri brushed her palm against Avery's wing.

"Poppa, where are we?"

"We're in the hospital, Jerri? Remember?" Avery explained. "You got hurt."

"Is Dad and Sissy coming?"

"Did getting anesthesia make her memories come flooding back?" wondered Mistress.

"No, she's just sleepy and confused." the doctor explained. "I'd highly recommend letting her sleep it off."

Jerri was instead ruffling Avery's wing feathers eagerly. "I like your wings, Poppa."

"Thanks, I think."

"Should we just play along with her?" asked Mistress. 

"Yes."

"I swear, usually she's a lot more stoic and cold." Avery added.

"I've seen it all." the doctor added, leaving to check on another patient.

...

"Is Dad coming? What about Sissy?"

"What does Sissy look like?" wondered Avery.

"She's... she's... she's awesome... and lotsa fun, and I love her t' bits!"

Jerri actually cried as she explained this.

"Awwww, there there." Mistress cooed. She then turned to Avery.

"Kinda sounds like she's describing Lexy."

"Misty... maybe she is describing Lexy." Avery replied back.

"Explain?"

"You're 'mom' and I'm 'poppa'. MM stayed behind because Lexy's asleep. Urgo, they're not here."

"Your point, Flundera?"

"I think she knows who we are, but she sees you as 'mom', MM and I as 'Dad' and 'Poppa' respectively and Lexy as 'Sissy'."

"You think so?"

Avery nodded.

"If that's the case..."

Mistress inhaled, then exhaled.

"...hey Jerri."

"Hey Mom..."

"It's okay. Dad's just staying home with Little Sissy because she's sound asleep." Mistress said.

This felt so damn weird.

“Will I see them t’morrow?”

Mistress nodded. “Actually, you’ll see them later today.”

Jerri’s eye widened. “Really, Mom?”

”I promise, just go to sleep. Poppa and I will stay here while you sleep, just in case you have a nightmare. Okay?”

Jerri blinked before giving a smile. “Pow… pow…”

“Even on whatever anesthesia is, she’s still Jerri.” Avery beamed.

…

…

…

May 25, 2025. 10:46 am

That was the most sleep Jerri had gotten in the past two weeks. 

It wasn't restful sleep, but it was much-needed sleep.

”Good morning, sunshine.” Mistress cooed.

”Huh? Mi… Misty?” Jerri murmured. “Where am I?”

”You had surgery-“ the teal dragon began.

Fuzzy memories began returning to Jerri.

And for the first time in her life-

[hug]

[hic, hic]

"Shhhhhhh, there there..." Mistress shushed her. "What's eating you?"

"..." Jerri inhaled.

'Now or never'.

"I've... been having bad nightmares..."

"How bad are we talking?"

"I barely slept, the past two weeks."

The two looked over at Avery, passed out in the other hospital chair.

"Avery and I have been sleeping in shifts, all night." Mistress said.

"...you guys didn't have to-"

"We need to talk about how little sleep you've been getting."

Jerri blinked a few times.

"I don't... know you..."

"I've... been dreaming of... forgetting my memories a second time..."

Mistress winced a little.

Chapter Text

May 25, 2025. 5:44 pm.

"Lexy, can we talk?"

"About what?"

"Something happened earlier this morning..."

After MM explained the situation, Lexy had been worried sick all morning.

And most of the afternoon.

So when she saw the three enter the doorway, she RAN over to greet them with hugs and kisses and-

"Shhhhh. Not so loud." Mistress explained, Jerri asleep in her arms.

Lexy looked at her, then at Avery, then at Jerri, then back at Mistress.

"MM told me about the mug." Lexy said. "God, she looks awful."

Mistress nodded her head. "I'm gonna go put her to bed, then you can give me a hug. But until then, the bird man's fair game."

Translation: Give Avery all the cuddles.

"What happened, Ave?" Lexy worried.

"You know how you and MM kept telling us that Jerri's been falling asleep everywhere except her bed, the past two weeks?" 

"And you guys didn't believe me until the bathtub incident."

"Hey, I'm gonna go take a quick bubble bath. Okay?"

"Knock yourself out." Avery nodded. "Lexy's just about to teach Misty, MM and I how to make a card tower, anyways."

"Puh... puh... puh... fuck." Jerri just gave the weariest finger guns ever. "If... if I'm not out in an hour, you've got every right to turn the hot water off..."

If you're curious, Lexy had only just taught the other three how to make a sturdy base for the card house, when a bubble floated downstairs.

Followed by a bunch more bubbles.

"Just so we're clear, you guys believe MM and I now, right?" Lexy didn't even look surprised at the bubbles.

"Yes." Avery nodded at the memory. "Sooooooo many bubbles. Anyways, earlier, Jerri lost balance and landed on a shard of ceramic."

Avery conveniently left out certain parts.

He couldn't scare Lexy with those certain parts, after all.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Lexy asked.

"She will. But she really needs her sleep." Avery explained.

Lexy nodded her head to show that she understood.

Then, once Mistress returned downstairs empty-handed, Lexy dashed upstairs.

Once she got into her 'Not a Morning Person' pajama top and put three granola bars in her sweatpants pocket, she tiptoed over to Jerri's room, ignoring the 'Do Not Disturb (time travel may or may not be in progress)' sign on the door.

Sure enough, Jerri was still sound asleep, drooling as she snored. 

Now, if you were expecting Lexy to jump on the bed to wake her up, you were wrong. Instead, Lexy climbed onto the bed and shuffled over so she was closer to her best friend/sister figure.

Lexy was curious. She knew Jerri had been having trouble sleeping, the past two weeks. She was in fast the first to notice.

"Jerri? Jerrrrrrrrrrrri? Rigster?"

"Who the fuck are you?!" Jerri sat upright on the couch, before looking around in panic. "Oh... just you, Lexy..."

"It's dinnerti- were you asleep?"

Jerri looked around. "No... I was just... y'know, resting my eye. Yeah, that's it!"

A giggle escaped Lexy's lips as she watched her best friend some more.

[snoooooooooooooore...]

"You're kinda adorable when you're asleep." Lexy cooed. "And I'm gonna stay right by your side until you wake up."

She sighed.

"No matter how long it takes."

...

...

May 26, 2025. 12:55 pm.

Jerri blinked a little, eyes slowly adjusting to her new surroundings. Not only had she rolled onto her side (and dampened one of the many pillows on the bed) but her arms were wrapped around a humored Lexy "What the..."

Lexy gave a small smile, eyes looking up. "You're awake, Rigster."

"It's you, Lexy... hey..."

"Heard you had a bad night."

"Oh, yeah... I did."

Lexy felt the bandage. "I also heard you hurt your arm on some broken ceramic."

"Yeah, fell asleep standing up...then gravity took over." Jerri blushed a little. "Avery can tell you the specifics, but I was trying to make some warm milk and that ended in disaster."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Okay, but if I don't answer it-"

"Did you have any nightmares?"

Silence.

"No, I didn't, now that you mention it...I almost did."

"Stop calling me 'Jerri Rig'. I don't know who that is... please..."

"What do you want us to call you?"

"I... I don't know..."

The one in magenta, yellow and blue pulled her in for a hug.

It felt nice.

"I'm Lexy."

"And you told me all about all the chaos we would get up to... heh, that was nice..."

"Jerri, be honest. When did these nightmares start?"

"I think it happened last movie night."

Last movie night was two weeks ago.

Lexy had chosen the movie. It was one she heard was based on a true story, but also had some catchy songs.

In hindsight, it was a great idea...

"Okay, looking back, maybe I shouldn't have chosen Anastasia for movie night." Lexy sighed. "I didn't know it'd give you nightmares."

"We can't know everything, Lex." Jerri smiled.

Genuinely smiled.

"I'm not mad at you, I promise."

"Phew."

"Besides, I didn't have any nightmares this time, so that's a win." 

"That's good to hear, Rigster." Lexy smiled.

"Yep! So! What time is it?"

Lexy shrugged. "You know which clock shows the correct time."

"Oh, right!" Jerri leapt outta bed and rushed for the clock wall. "Aha! 12:58...pm?!"

"We've been stuck in a hug for 19 hours?" Lexy asked.

"Damn, I only sleep that soundly when I'm sick. What did you do for breakfast?"

Lexy pulled out three granola bar wrappers. "I came prepared."

"... Thanks, Lexy."

"Pow-pow." Lexy smirked.

Jerri giggled in response. "Pow-pow."

"I told you she's up, did I not?"

Both girls looked at the doorway, to see MM, Avery and Mistress looking over at them.

"Guess what, no nightmares of forgetting everyone and everyone I love a second time." Jerri declared.

"We're still gonna seek out a therapist." Mistress explained. "A licensed one, MM."

"Fair 'nuff." he shrugged.

That was the last time Jerri had reoccuring nightmares about getting long-term amnesia...

...it was, however, not the end of 'saving historical figures from their evil clones from alternate timelines' dreams.

And the whole house was thankful for that.

Chapter Text

August 5th, 2025. 7:45 pm.

Nothing good was on TV, noticed Avery, as he flipped through the channels on the TV.

What was a bored bird conductor to do, with nothing good on the tube?

Well, that was easy. He just headed upstairs and got out his old record player from a corner in his room.

And after finding his favorite record (or, more accurately, one of many), he put it on.

An old love song from the 50s began to play, sweet and tender with a slight hint of sexism.

Avery wasn't old, he just had good taste in music.

"Hey, what the fuck is that thing?"

He looked up at Lexy as she stood right behind him, leaning to get a good look at the record machine. 

"This is a record player." Avery explained. "Have you never seen one before?"

"I'm almost 24. If I saw one before, I was probably too young to remember."

"Well, this is the kind of music they listened to in the 1950s, back when the TVs were in black and white and they talked on rotary phones."

Lexy pretended to snore.

"They also didn't have to worry about texting people back."

"Oh?" Lexy asked.

"From the limited knowledge I have, they actually talked to people."

"I'd never survive the 1950s, then." Lexy shuddered.

"I would, but I have a bias on going tech-free." Avery shrugged as he switched out the records. "Lexy, correct me if I'm wrong but, you don't know who the Rat Pack was, do you?"

"Were they like, a lamer version of TMNT?"

"Pretty much. There was Dean Martin-"

"The same Dean Martin that sings Christmas music in November?" Lexy cut him off.

He nodded. "-then, you also had ol' Frankie Sinatra-"

"Who the fuck was he?"

"Luck Be a Lady? My Way? Love and Marriage? For Once in My Life? Chicago? None of those ring a bell?"

Lexy blew a raspberry.

"Figured. There was also Tina Turner, back in the 60s and 70s. You know who Tina was, right?"

"I don't think so?"

"She was basically the Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan of the 60s all the way to the 80s."

"So she was popular and people loved her music."

"Yes." he showed a record of "What's Love Got to Do With It". "You see, long before streaming services, people watched the VMAs on MTV." 

"MM's mentioned the VMAs before, I'm familiar... kinda."

"And before we had MTV, we had records that we would play day after day, time after time. But now you can download any song online. Kids these days just don't appreciate records anymore. It's all about streaming and growing a following online by sharing edgy Nightcore edits."

"Remind me to never show you my YouTube channel, then."

Avery nodded his head as he put on another record.

Wait.

"You have a WHAT?"

Chapter Text

October 13, 2024. 1:15 pm.

They were only halfway through October, and they still had yet to choose pumpkins to decorate for Halloween.

"The top step, the bathtub, on top of the fridge, under the kitchen table, at the kitchen table (luckily the others notice before LL is at risk of starting), wrapped up in the garden hose, on the coffee table, on the washing machine WHILE IT WAS RUNNING..." MM mumbled to himself as he went over a page in a notebook titled 'Why We Don't Need a Cat (We Got Jerri Instead)'. 

Mistress gave him quizzical eyes as the girls and Avery examined each pumpkin thoroughly. "You're mumbling. Is it a good read?"

"Yes. Nothing you'd really be interested in, however."

"If you say s-"

"MISTY! LOOK WHAT I FOUND!" Lexy was lifting a unit of a pumpkin. Plump, orange, ripe and perfect for carving a scary face into.

"It's perfect." Mistress beamed, tail wagging.

Mentalist kept checking his notes.

"Oh yeah...the empty recycling bin. How did she even get in there? All I did was ask her to get the bin, not get IN the bin." MM muttered to himself. 

"Did you say something?" asked Lexy as she rolled the pumpkin over to Avery and Jerri.

"Just talking to myself." MM explained and kept mumbling to himself. "Sprawled out on the banister, on the rug, in a shopping cart basket, in a bowl of popcorn, in the car- somehow that's the most normal one." 

"MM, I think it's time to put your notebook away and start living in the moment." Mistress said, not even questioning the mumbling MM was letting slip.

"Very well then." he nodded, putting the notebook in Misty's bag.

"What's he talking about?" Lexy asked.

"I have no idea."

Avery and Jerri had walked further along the pumpkin patch. "And now, Ms. Rig, now that it's nearing Halloween, we need to have a long talk about what to DO for Halloween. My best guess is that maybe we can stay home and watch movies all night. Oh, but we DID get those invites to Tippet's Halloween Party. Any ideas, Jerri?"

Jerri just played with her scarf a little. "I got nothing."

She shook her head aggressively as a breeze blew past the two of them.

"I'm gonna check over here for more pumpkins." Avery explained.

"Pow-pow. I'll check here. Maybe there'll be a cube-ish one I can carve."

"Alright."

And the two went their separate ways.

"Euuuuuuuugh...maybe I need a snack to keep myself awake..." Jerri murmured, before glancing at an apple tree and (without thinking) climbed it, getting cozy on a branch while snacking on some apples.

...

'Maybe I'll just have one more apple, then... then I'll... I'll go pick out... a pumpk...'

[snooooore]

...

"Alright, team, let's see what everyone chose." MM declared as he levitated a slightly wonky pumpkin.

Lexy showcased her big, plump pumpkin, whereas the teal dragon and winged-male showcased a small pumpkin that fit neatly in both palms and a really long pumpkin respectively.

"Very good, very good." MM said. "We'll have the scariest pumpkins on the block."

"What kinda pumpkin did you choose, Jerri?" Lexy looked around. "Jerri? JERRI?!"

She looked under her pumpkin. "Jerri?"

MM sighed in disbelief.

"Let's be rational, she probably just got distracted." Misty explained.

"Lexy, you can't be serious." 

"I AM serious, birdbrain. And I'll betcha 10 bucks, too."

"Fine. But if it's not the case, I get the 10 bucks."

"Deal!"

"And don't get too discouraged, it is a big pumpkin patch, after all."

Lexy saluted, before putting a hand to her ear.

Her eyes widening after a few seconds.

"FOLLOW ME, EVERYONE!" Lexy declared. 

"Aaaaaaaaaand I'm now 10 dollars poorer..." Avery groaned.

Nervously, Lexy kept listening and scouting the pumpkin patch around-

"Jerri? JERRI? JERRI RIG, WHERE ARE YOU?"

[WHAP]

-walking smack dab into an apple tree.

"Hmmm?" she kept a hand to her ear before nodding. "Okay, she's nearby."

"Lexy... whatever you do, please refrain from looking up." 

"Why not, Misty?" she did so, squinting. "Huh, that's a weird looking apple."

It was NOT a weird looking apple.

It was Jerri's helmet antenna.

"What on earth?!" Avery asked. "How did she get up there?"

"That's a new weird place we've caught her napping." MM took out his notebook and wrote something down. "Dangling in an apple tree... is there any nook and cranny this girl won't explore?"

"I'll go get her." Mistress said, flying next to the tree before looking around.

It didn't take long for her to find Jerri, dangling on the tree branch, a few apple cores on the branch below the one she was hugging.

"Come on, Jerri, let's getcha back down... shhhhh, there there." Mistress scooped her up in her arms before flying down to the ground.

"JERRI!" gasped Lexy as Avery shook his head happily.

"Found her sleeping in the treetop." Misty told the others.

"Y'know, there's a pretty well documented case on why people can't sleep in trees." Lexy deadpanned.

"Glad we agree." MM said as Jerri began waking up.

"... heeeeeeey..." Jerri smiled, embracing Misty's warmth. "Didja see me in that tree?"

"We did. Did you find a pumpkin you wanna carve?"

"Fuck! I was going to, but I fell asleep!"

...

"You looked cute, sleeping in the tree." Lexy giggled a little as she petted the farmer's cat.

"... I did?" Jerri blushed a little, tossing the pumpkin she chose into the trunk. "I swear, I just wanted to grab an apple or two to snack on."

Lexy giggled even more as she kept ruffling the cat's fur. "Yeah. Didja finally choose a pumpkin?"

"Yep! It's kinda cube-ish, too! So I can make it look like my helmet!" Jerri flapped her hands for a second, before stopping. "You saw nothing."

"Mom's the word. Soooooooo, how did the tree feel?"

"Comfy." Jerri blushed even more.

Chapter Text

December 22, 2023. 11:22 pm.

Just a few more sleeps before Christmas. All was calm. All was bright.

"No... no... n-n-n-no, no, no!" 

Well, almost all was calm and bright.

If you were Lexy, you had just awoken from a nightmare of being killed by Jack Frost.

The murderous one, not the child-friendly one.

Lexy gulped as she snuck out of bed and poked her head in Misty's bedroom first.

The dragon was sound asleep, curled up in a ball, wearing a cozy white hoodie.

Her breathing was calm and rhythmic as she twitched her ears on occasion.

So despite Mistress having a maternal side, Lexy did not have the heart to wake her up.

Next, Lexy decided to check on Jerri.

And she was clearly out cold, helmet off and snoring away.

Lexy was not used to seeing her new friend without the helmet. In fact, she was not used to seeing any of the other Decas so relaxed somewhere other than curled up in a Lethargic Link, as MM was calling the phenomenon.

"Well, at least she's alive..." Lexy told herself as she tiptoed over to MM's room.

The floating pair of eyes was just reading on his bed.

That gosh darn bed.

It held some kind of magic sleep-inducing powers.

Lexy discovered that the hard way, when she tried to hide in his covers to scare the daylights out of him one fateful laundry day.

MM looked up, curious. "Bad dream?"

She just nodded her head and looked down. 

After all, she couldn't cry over a nightmare. She was 22 years old.

And it wasn't even Designated Crying Time yet.

She needed to not show her vulnerable side.

"Hey... just let it out, Lexy..." Mentalist said. 

Lexy blinked, but something inside of her...

... flipped a switch.

And the tears just came outta nowhere.

...

"There there..." MM's gentle cooing as he rubbed her back snapped her out of her breakdown.

She inhaled deeply.

"Thanks, MM..."

"So, wanna tell me about this dream?" MM asked.

Lexy inhaled a second time, before twirling a strand of her blond hair with her right pointer finger.

"So... it had snowed... and I was teaching Misty how to make a snowman..." Lexy's hands shook a little. "But when it came to life, it was no Frosty. It... it..." 

She put a hand to her neck, then slid it away slowly.

"Oh my!" MM gasped.

"... and it showed no mercy... it went after the rest of you... Jerri, Avery, even you!"

"Anything else?"

"Mm hmm... after he killed all of you... he went for me. I fought him off for a while, but then... and then I woke up."

"Scared to go back to sleep, huh?" MM acknowledged. 

"... yeah. But I shouldn't be. I just turned 22."

"You're not weak, for crying late at night. You're just hurting on the inside." 

"... beg pardon?"

"You're gonna be okay. Here, wanna check in on them with me?"

"I already checked on Misty and Jerri. They're both very much alive."

MM nodded his head. "So if they're alive-"

"-so is Avery..." she said with nervous hope as the two reached his bedroom.

Avery was just sitting on his bed with a guitar in his lap.

"AVERY!" Lexy ran over and hugged him. "THANK GOD YOU'RE ALIVE!"

"... what?"

"Nightmare." MM explained. "Dreamt a snowman killed us all."

"No more scary movies before bed, then." Avery deadpanned, a wing wrapping Lexy in a hug.

Avery paused.

"Were the girls no help?"

"Fast asleep, both of them. From what I can gather, anyways." MM said.

Sometimes he hated the fact that Mistress was so quiet and soft spoken.

"She was breathing, right?" MM asked Lexy.

Lexy nodded. "You can go doublecheck if you want."

And MM tiptoed back down the hall, listening ears open.

[creeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeak]

He jumped back in sudden shock. What the heck was that?!

"...MM?" Mistress groaned, sleepily opening the door to her room.

"Oh, it's you, Misty... you're alive." he said.

"I sure hope I am..." Misty barked a small laugh. "Don't mind me, just grabbing some warm milk."

"Okay." he said and rushed back to Avery's room. "Yes, she is breathing. In fact, she's awake now."

Avery smiled a little as he played a soothing Christmas carol on his guitar for Lexy.

It almost soothed her off to dreamland too.

Almost.

"Wait. Why would I NOT be alive?" Misty's voice called out.

"Nightmare." Avery and MM chimed back.

"Fuck..." Lexy groaned. "I'm NEVER gonna fall back to sleep, at this rate..."

Sighing, MM pulled her in for a hug while Avery strummed his guitar some more.

His presence, the late hour and the acoustics seemed to be making Lexy's eyes flutter.

[yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn]

MM raised his eyebrows 'Can we achieve Lethargy Link-ness without two links? I'll have to examine that closer'.

...

Mistress sighed as she returned back upstairs. Now she just had to figure out who had the nightmare.

And the list was narrowed to Lexy, MM and Avery.

It was a bit tricky to navigate the dark hallway though, so she kept her ear open for the three.

Soon, she heard it.

Mellowness from Avery's room.

She slowly opened the door to see Avery and Lexy asleep, with MM taking curious notes, his own eyes drooping a bit.

"I see you handled the nightmare efficiently." Mistress smiled a little. "Off to bed, MM."

"... mmmkay..." and he hopped off Avery's bed, making his way to his room and curling up in his bed. "Sorry to rope you into this."

"It's okay. I'm sure I'll hear all about the nightmare in the morning, however."

Chapter Text

November 22, 2024. 3:48 pm.

Just another average afternoon. And if you were Lexy and Avery, you two were just jamming out together and making the loudest hootenanny in the goddamn neighborhood.

"HA HA, YES! NOTHING CAN MAKE THIS PARTY END!" Lexy cheered as she got out the motherfucking cowbell.

The most iconic of all instruments.

[CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG]

"You got this." Avery chuckled to himself, on the drums.

"I KNOW I DO!"

[knock knock knock knock knock]

"Oh, hold up, Lexy. Door." groaned Avery as he stepped away from the drum-set and turned off the recording device.

"Fuck." Lexy cussed to herself as Avery went to get the door.

"You mind keeping it down?" Jerri groaned, clutching the sides of her helmet tightly. "I'm all Time-Looped out."

"Oh, shit. Sorry." Avery gulped. "I forgot you were doing your game until 3."

"Hey, no problem..."

"Drained, I see."

"Yeah, wake me when dinner's ready, I'll be somewhere in the house." 

Avery sighed to himself. That was clearly code for 'I am going to pass out anywhere that is not a bed or a couch, so please don't panic'.

So he did what any sane person would do.

"Have a nice nap." he waved politely. "We'll keep the noise down."

"Crap." Lexy told herself.

On one hand, she wanted to keep the party going. But on the other hand-

"I'm not a heartless bastard."

"Good to know."

She just needed something to keep herself busy.

Then an opportunity arose.

Mistress poked her head in the conductor's room.

"I'm heading to the recycling center, if either of you wanna come."

"I'm good. Might just strum the guitar for a while before microwaving dinner for everyone." Avery shrugged.

Lexy instantly lit up.

"Me! Me! I wanna come! As long as I get to control the radio."

"Come on, then!" Mistress smiled.

"Just, please don't explain the concept of recycling to me. I'm 22, not 2. Big age difference, there."

"I know."

...

"Well, here we are." Mistress explained, hauling a box of scrap. "Now, let's see...oh! There we go!"

And the two headed to a giant recycling bin.

Lexy sighed to herself as she blared some nightcore on her phone. 

It wasn't a jamming session with Avery, but it had to do.

Still, she was bored, if her half-lidded eyes didn't give it away.

Getting to control the radio WAS fun, and so was the concept of listening to as much loud music as possible.

But still...

She needed something to keep herself busy and stimulated.

Otherwise SHE was gonna pass out on the recycling center's floor.

Lexy looked up from her phone, only to see something.

Someone had left a box by the bin. And Lexy, being Lexy, took it.

It was a bit flimsy and worn out, but it was a nice white box.

Wait a second.

Lexy quickly put her goggles on the ground before taking her hair out of its' ponytail and ruffling it all up.

Now was the moment of truth.

She put the box on over her head.

"Hmmm..."

"Everything okay, Lexy?" Mistress asked, not looking behind her.

"Yes."

"Great. I'm almost done. Then we can head back home."

Lexy nodded, picking up two bottlecaps that were on the ground. One was a green fizzy drink bottlecap, and one was a red Coca-Cola bottlecap.

Grinning, she quickly chewing two pieces of gum and spat them out on the insides of the bottlecaps, then stuck said bottlecaps onto the box very carefully. 

"It's just missing something." smiling, she put her goggles over her eyes, then put the box on her head, making sure it covered her eyes. "There it is!"

"Aaaaand done-" Misty turned around. 

She blinked in surprise, then got an idea. 

"Oh, hey Jerri. Have you seen Lexy?" 

Lexy giggled to herself, shaking her head.

"Then where on earth could she be?" Mistress played along.

"I haven't got the faintest idea." Lexy TRIED to distort her voice to sound... flatter.

"Maybe she's already in the car." 

"Then let's go see. Pow-pow." 

A giggle escaped Lexy. 

Smiling, Misty checked the car, turning her back on Lexy just long enough for Lexy to take the box off her head and tuck it under her left arm.

"No, I don't see- oh! Lexy! There you are." Mistress feigned surprise before looking around. "Wait, where-"

Lexy put the box on her head again. "It's me, Lexy Conn. Always has been, always will be. Did I fool you?"

Mistress shook her head. "I knew it was you the whole time."

"Damn it..."

"Buuuuuut MM hasn't slept in 96 hours." a grin crossed her face. "Box, please?"

Lexy handed it over as Misty used her claw to make two eyeholes.

"We can pick up some black and red construction paper on the way home."

...

A good half-hour after the two had returned home (enough time to find a black tank-top and leggings that were Lexy-sized), Lexy grinned, looking around the living room. 

She snickered before flopping down right in front of the TV, on her stomach while Misty went to tend to the garden real quick.

This disguise was gonna fool MM, for sure.

"I'm telling you, we looked upstairs. PLEASE make sure she didn't tumble down the stairs."

"Fine, I'll check downstairs..." MM's voice complained as he got closer.

Lexy smiled, murmuring to herself as the pair of exhausted eyes floated over to her.

"Oh, there she is..." 

Sure enough, MM didn't even register the fact that "Jerri" had blond hair instead of red.

"Found her, Avery. She's in front of the TV." he floated back upstairs, instead.

Once MM had headed back upstairs, Lexy sat up, giggling at the successful mind deception she had pulled. "Misty, he didn't suspect a thing."

"Yeah, I heard. I'm gonna go unplug the coffee machine so he actually sleeps tonight..." Mistress replied while walking inside the house and making a beeline into the kitchen-

[trip]

"Lexy, you could've told me you were hiding on the floor- oh wait. That's the real deal. Whoops." 

THAT just had Lexy in stitches.

Chapter Text

November 1, 2025. 12:12 pm.

The day after Halloween.

The perfect day to just kick your feet up and relax after a sugar rush.

"New month, new Jerri." Jerri told herself, putting her helmet on the washer before looking at herself in the bathroom mirror. "Okay, lesse..."

She grinned as she grabbed her hairbrush. "Okay, Jerri, this is it. The perfect time to try something new, daring and dangerous."

[Knock knock knock]

"I'll be out in a second."

"What are you even doing in there?" MM's voice asked.

"Pep talk!" Jerri called out. "You can come in and do whatever in a sec or two."

"Okay, carry on."

Jerri grinned before splashing some cold water on her face. "Okay, Jerri, this is your month! You are gonna be the most productive you've ever been in your life! And that means one thing. New Years Resolutions are overrated. So Imma give myself a challenge for the month."

"Oh? Nothing too risky please." 

She rolled her eyes and kept talking to herself. "Jerri Rig, this is your month...you gotta be productive, maybe add new features to the modified-freezer... and to do that-" she paused, splashing more cold water on her face. "-it's time to challenge yourself to break a habit."

'It better be recreational weed usage.' MM muttered to himself.

[inhale]

"I... am going to refrain from napping, for the entire month."

MM's infected-looking eyes sprung very wide open at her declaration.

"THAT'S RIGHT! THIS MONTH IS NNN!"

"Beg pardon, Jerri?" MM HAD to speak up.

"Y'know, No Nap November!"

He held back a grandiose sigh of relief.

"It's simple, MM. The way I see it, Misty and Lexy start the sleepy-time-train and the rest of us just get on board, no hesitation. WELL NOT THIS MONTH! That train can snooze- I mean CHOO-choo without me! And Imma prove it!"

MM just groaned. "Just finish pep-talking, Jerri."

"Oh! Right-o! It's simple, though! I just gotta avoid Lexy when she so-much as LOOKS tired. Then I won't be affected when she yawns."

"Jerri, I'm saying this with love, but No Nap November will never work." MM commented "When you get cozy, it's game-over."

"So I just gotta keep myself FROM getting cozy! I AM A GENIUS!"

Jerri paused. Why was her face looking loopy? Her neck was feeling weird, too. As if her head was getting too heavy for her neck.

'No! Nononononono! I'm too young for neck pain!'

She grunted, trying to stay standing at the sink.

'This has gotta be a sick and twisted joke...'

Her arms started going numb, next. And soon, so were her legs. All she could do now was lay down on the floor, nervously.

'What is happening?!'

She inhaled. "MM?" her voice slurred.

"Huh?" MM asked.

"Everything's gone numb all over..."

That was all he needed to hear before slamming the bathroom door open and rushing over to her.

"Jerri? What happened?"

"... just felt all weird and fuzzy all over..." her speech was slowly making more and more sense. "Crap... what was that?"

"I don't know. How do you feel?"

She blinked a little before trying to shake her head. 

Her limbs were starting to react normally again, but god-damnit, she was confused.

"Tired?" he acknowledged.

"Maybe I'll just sit down for a bit."

"Good idea, Jerri." 

...

'No! Eyes open! No napping! You made a promise to yourself!'

...

'Come on, stay awake, you idiot! You can't get cozy on the bathroom floor! That's why beds were invented!'

...

'Stay open, eyes!'

MM just watched Jerri's internal battle. "You really CAN get comfy anywhere. Have you seen a doctor about this?"

"Ghhhhhhhhh!"

"Now, there's the thing about exhaustion, Jerri. You can try to fight it all you want..." he explained. "... but in the end..."

[slump]

"... it always wins." MM explained.

"... shaddup..." Jerri groaned.

Chapter Text

August 6, 2025. 12:53 am.

Bedtime.

The sweetest word in the dictionary.

A time where you can close your eyes and dream happily.

A time where your brain can process the day, your limbs can loosen up like noodles and-

"Now where did she go?" 

"I don't know, and I'm a floating pair of eyes."

"She's gotta be nearby."

"Exactly, Avery!"

"Hold up!"

"We're holding up."

"I can definitely hear her snoring."

-not in THIS house. 

Mistress didn't even to get up out of bed to know what was going on out in the hall. 

[creeeeeeak]

She quickly covered her eyes as the room got very bright, to help with the inevitable search.

"See anything?"

"Not yet, gimme a second."

"I'll check under the rug."

"We have been using our listening ears, right?"

"Of COURSE we have, Avery."

"You guys amaze me." Mistress mused as she pulled out a notebook from under her pillow.

"We do?" MM asked, checking the laundry hamper. "Nothing here."

"Nothing here either." Lexy poked her head out from under the teal rug.

"What're you reading?" Avery was more interested in the teal dragon's literature.

"I've been taking notes of the uphill battle known as bedtime."

"Fuck." 

"Oh, do tell." MM sounded interested as he looked behind fluffed up pillows.

"Really, dude?" Lexy groaned. "At a time like this."

"We can multitask."

---

While bedtime is usually a time to recharge and dream, this isn't always a luxury.

Sometimes, bedtime in this house feels more like babysitting MM and the girls.

"Where am I?"

"Hold on a second, Avery."

At least Avery has a (mostly) decent bedtime routine.

"Indeed I do. Sing in the shower, pajamas on-"

"She didn't ask you to describe it."

Avery is a much more simple fellow. Most nights, he turns in on his own, no battling necessary.

Of course, he has been roped into monkeyshines before. And he has stayed up late as well... one of the downsides of living with MM. 

Sometimes, I feel like Avery and I are the only sane ones in this house.

"Because we are."

Dealing with MM can be a nightmare, most nights. Not only does he have eyebags for days, but his fling with the coffee machine is very concerning to the rest of the household.

"It is?" MM worried as he looked under the dresser and groaned, pulling out a red hoodie.

Usually, one of us has to pressure him to call it a night.

Then you have his bed.

I am left with many questions about his bedtime routine.

How does his bed knock us out within a 60 second timeframe? Why doesn't it knock MM out within a 60 second timeframe?

What does he do all night? Does he lucid dream? What about nightmares? Are nightmares behind his sleeplessness?

"It's a long and complex answer." MM explained, a faint blush on his cheeks.

As MM has previously discussed once upon a winter's night, Jerri will doze off anywhere if the mood strikes her as such. Usually it's utterly adorable (i.e.: falling asleep in a bowl of popcorn during a movie), but other times it makes you wonder 'how did she even get into this mess?' (i.e.: on top of the washer while we had a load of laundry in it).

And if she isn't passed out anywhere that isn't her bed, she's staying awake working on stuff until she literally can't take it anymore and collapses at her workbench.

Luckily it's not hard to find Jerri in the middle of the night. Her snoring tends to lead us to her pretty easily.

"But following a breadcrumb trail of snoring can be a nightmare." Avery complained. "Especially when you don't know where it leads to. Like tonight."

Lexy, being Lexy, is always a nightmare to get to bed, as she would much rather be up causing chaos.

When she starts yawning however, then it's a matter of getting her off to bed BEFORE the yawns' contagiousness seeps into your own brain.

Of course, Lexy has a bunch of tactics for stalling bedtime before her part in the 'lethargy link' kicks in. She does enjoy seeking out trouble and sneaking the occasional midnight snack and glass of water.

While these habits are alright on their own, they become quite problematic when the rest of us get roped into them in one way or another. 

What keeps this girl awake? We have no idea.

---

"Ugh! We looked everywhere, up here!" groaned Lexy.

"I'll help you look downstairs." Mistress commented as she put her notes back under her pillow, leading the others to the staircase.

Neither the top nor the bottom was blocked off.

So they slunk downstairs.

Mistress put her hand to her ear and made a sharp turn into the living room, the other three following her.

Then they saw their friend.

On the couch.

No, not on the couch cushions.

On TOP OF the couch itself.

Just...think of Snoopy from PEANUTS, but instead of a beagle sleeping on his back, you got a redhead sleeping on her stomach while murmuring about the Time Loop.

"There you are." smiled Mistress as she carefully picked Jerri up.

Jerri just snored, gripping Misty's green hoodie as tightly as she could.

"Either Time-Hopping jetlag is a real thing or we should call and see if we can get a sleep study done." MM deadpanned.

"Come on..." Mistress looked at the others. "Let's get you ALL into bed. Yes, you too, MM."

"Nuts."

"Can I grab a drink, beforehand?" Lexy cooed as Avery groaned.

"Just a small glass, Lexy." Mistress said. 

"Thanks!"

"THEN it's bedtime." Mistress stifled a yawn. 'The links are beginning to form, already'.

---

As for me?

Well, I've discovered something about myself.

I put up with these bedtime antics night-after-night, yet I still stay. 

Maybe it's the dopamine hit after getting them all tucked into bed for the night.

Or maybe it's a maternal sense I've had all along.

But there's no place I'd rather be than curled up on the floor with these four gathered around me.

I have accepted my role in the Lethargy Link as a warm and toaster dragon, but also my role as mother.

Chapter Text

February 4, 2024. 3:11 am.

Lexy hated nightmares.

This was VERY evident, if her previous struggles with getting back to sleep after one were any indicator.

So waking up at a very ungodly hour, not feeling like she was gonna be able to fall back asleep on her own...

'I need to talk to someone about this... I just hope... one way to find out...'

[inhale]

[knock, knock, knock]

"Psssst, Jerri? Jerri?" Lexy put an ear to the door with a 'Do Not Disturb (time travel may or may not be in progress)' sign on it. "Jerri? Are you asleep?"

[snooooooooooooooore]

"Oh... okay... that's good." Lexy sighed in relief before quietly opening the door. "... I'll only be here a few minutes. I promise."

Lexy dried a tear with her sleeve as she tried to navigate the darkened room, the faint ticking of clocks creating very eerie white noise...

... well, that's what Lexy heard. It was like she walked right into the spooky atmosphere in a horror movie, right before the psychopath jumps out and attacks his prey.

For Jerri, the clock ticking was more like hearing a mother's lullaby while curled up in a rocking chair.

So Lexy very quietly crept onto bed, sitting up, arms hugging her legs. 

She didn't even wanna bother getting comfy under the covers.

That would just lead to a very awkward conversation if the redhead awoke prematurely.

Besides, she'd only be in here for a few minutes.

"I had a nightmare." Lexy said, to no one in particular. "I know, I should be able to get myself back to sleep after a nightmare... "

Lexy paused a little, hugging herself even tighter. "But... it was real scary. I was all alone in a dark forest, and there were monsters everywhere... I didn't feel safe. I tried to find everyone, but no one answered. Heh, guess the mind is weird like that."

Her shaking hand brushed against the covers. 

Then she realized they weren't bedcovers.

It was just a thin summer bedsheet. Light gray with dark gray, muted red and black clocks scattered everywhere.

"It's February, for crying out loud..." Lexy muttered to herself, as she gave herself another tight hug. "... so, anyways. I know nightmares aren't real, but the feeling was very-"

[rustle rustle]

"Hmmm?" Lexy looked back at Jerri as she rolled over onto her side, curling up like a fetus while using her left arm as a pillow for her head, a little drool coming out from her lower lip.

Alas, the redhead was indeed still asleep, and to Lexy, that was a big relief.

"I know, I coulda sought out Mistress or Avery or even MM, but I always seek 'em out after nightmares." Lexy said. "And... if I had to be honest... you're easier to confide in, when you're sleeping."

A small chuckle escaped Lexy's lips.

"I mean, you do your best to brush us all off like the plague at times, and... well, you coulda easily just NOT of agreed to move in." Lexy gave a small smile. "But I'm glad you moved in. You're cool... I like ya... Rigster. Can I call you Rigster? Snore once if I can."

[snoooooooooooore]

'Yes.' Lexy told herself before sighing.

...

"You're good company, when you decide to just let loose. I mean, you cannonballed off the balcony and into a pillow pile on our first night as a quintet of weirdos." Lexy smiled a bit more. "And sure, you're almost as mysterious as MM is, but that's why we just... get along. I feel like I compliment you and vice versa." 

[inhale] 

[shiver shiver shiver]

"I ALSO feel like craving some warmth, so I'm gonna go talk to Misty now. Sleep tight, Rigster." and Lexy crawled to the end of the bed before hopping off.

"... no, Coffret, I'm fine... don't hafta carry me..."

The words just flew out of Jerri's mouth with no filter, as is the way with the average sleep talker.

Lexy shrugged it off as she snuck to Jerri's side of the bed, gently wiping the drool coming from her new friend's mouth before tiptoeing to the door. 

"See you in the morning." and Lexy dashed out of the room before sighing and making a beeline for Misty's room.

Mistress was luckily in a stage of light sleep, so it just took Lexy rustling the dragon's fur to awaken the latter.

"Mmmmph?" Misty opened an eye. A sad, sleepy smile crept on her face as she identified the blurry figure as Lexy. "Another nightmare, Lex?"

"Yeah..." blushed Lexy.

"Okay, I'm all ears. How can I help?"

Lexy paused. 

It actually TOOK her some time to REMEMBER what it was about.

"I was alone in... I think it was a forest..."

That had NEVER happened before.

"Y'know what, maybe we can just snuggle together?" Lexy asked.

Nodding, Misty rolled onto her back.

"I like that idea." Mistress confirmed.

"And you're sooooooo warm." Lexy said.

...

That was how Jerri and MM found Lexy, at 7:02 am.

Snuggling up to Misty for dear life. 

"You'd never catch me hugging someone like that."

MM raised an eyebrow, humored, as the morning's arrival slowly woke Lexy up.

Chapter Text

April 14, 2025. 7:13 am.

[Pitter patter, pitter patter, pitter patter]

The melodical song of the raindrops slowly awoke Avery from slumber, as he stretched out his body.

First, his arms. Then, his legs. And finally, his wings.

All stretched out, he walked down the hall.

The doors to MM and Lexy's rooms were already left wide open.

'They're already awake?' Avery asked as he headed downstairs.

As he reached the kitchen, he saw MM half asleep as the coffee machine was bursting to life, the scent of a dark roast filling the cozy room.

It HAD to be a cozy room if MM was dozing off waiting for his morning fix.

"I think it's ready, buddy." Avery acknowledged.

MM sprung up to life, levitating the cup of freshly brewed java to his nonexistent mouth.

"If you're looking for Lexy, she's playing in the rain." MM's voice was heavy with slumber.

"She's what?" asked Avery, dashing for the window.

Sure enough, splashing in puddles, was Lexy. 

In a bright yellow duck-hood raincoat, matching bright yellow boots and carrying a magenta, yellow and blue umbrella.

"#It's raining, it's pouring

the old man is snoring

he went to bed and bumped his head

and didn't get up in the morning!#" she sang merrily.

"I'll call her inside." Avery insisted.

"Not yet, just... huah... gimme a second... makin' pancakes..."

He nodded. "Huh, nothing like the rain early in the morning, huh, MM?"

"I guess so... it just kinda makes me..."

[slump]

"Sleepy?" Avery asked.

"Yeah."

"Rain does have that affect on some people, making them feel all drowsy all over."

"I see it doesn't affect you. Bird instincts?"

"If I wanted to, I'd run out there in only my pajamas."

MM nodded, eyelids drooping even more.

"Why don't you go back to bed? I'll make the pancakes." Avery said. "In fact, I taught my birds how to play a reveille, if need be."

"NOPE! I mean, I can keep myself awake." MM reassured.

...

By the time Lexy came back inside, it was 8 am.

She was soaking wet and she was tired.

But man, did those pancakes smell delicious.

"Grab a chair and dig in." MM was barely awake by now, munching on his own pancake.

He left some batter for Misty and Jerri, though. He was a hypnotist, not a monster.

"MM, you look kinda sleepy." Lexy rang out her ponytail.

"He is." Avery said. "The rain's making him sleepy."

"No it isn't..." MM said. "...the rain's fine with little ol' me-"

{snooooooooooooooooooooooooooooore...]

"Bold words, MM." Avery giggled to himself as he and Lexy watched MM sleeping perfectly straight in his chair. 

"Guess not everyone is a rainy day kinda person." Lexy rolled her eyes.

Avery shook his head before smiling. "Wanna go back outside for a bit?"

"Oh you know it!"

Chapter Text

November 29, 2024.

"Dear Jackbox Games... it is with deep regret that I must advise you about my current state of mind and health..."

MM had to take a day off, sending a very lengthy email about how he even got into this hootenanny.

What 'state of mind', you may ask?

A really bad ringing in his ear that kept him awake all night long.

"I think tis only fair I start by addressing our bedtime habits. As some of you may or may not have noticed..."

"WHATCHA WRITING, MM?" Lexy rushed over.

He flinched. Hard.

"Whoops, sorry, sorry. Ear still blocked?"

"Ringing. Not blocked."

"Meh, same deal. It's all ear trouble."

Sighing, he kept writing.

"... when one of the other Party Pack 10 hosts passes out in a 10 feet radius, one of two outcomes will arrive. One. Either we let 'em rest it off and tiptoe around his/her impromptu nap. Two, we discover said impromptu nap by playing a very interesting game of 'Where's Waldo' where we only use our ears to locate sprawled out warm bodies, yawns that try escaping, snoring and even humming. Sometimes this leads to discoveries that make us question everything. (I still dunno how anyone could consider INSIDE THE DRYER to be comfy, but we're glad Mistress checked there). Outcome three is that we get too close and then within the next half hour, all FIVE of us are ASLEEP. Well. Yesterday afternoon, around 3:27 pm..."

---

"Let's see now... oh! I got it! Different singers, they all will be. Tomorrow's game is gonna be a masterpiece, I just know it-"

[SLAM]

"Eeep!"

"Hey, I'm back." Mistress explained, a delirious, limp noodle of a redhead in her arms.

"What happened?" Mentalist looked up.

"I told her to wear a raincoat to the office, I told her." Mistress said. 

"Nothing stops this train in its tracks..." Jerri giggled, her hair was sticking up in every which way, her helmet antenna was crooked beyond belief and she was SHIVERING.

The same idiot that would run into the snow with a SCARF and MITTENS, in the DEAD OF NIGHT.

"What the-" MM asked.

"Good news, I got her to take some medicine. Bad news, I forgot to check the label."

"The drowsy stuff?"

"Yes. I'm gonna go get her bed ready AND start a load of laundry, can you watch her so she doesn't run off?"

MM sighed. "Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine... doubt she'd be able to run much, in this state."

"Going down." Mistress helped Jerri onto the ground. "Look out below!"

Jerri just giggled like a little girl as Misty placed her on the couch next to MM. "Look! Look! Lookitme!"

She wrapped herself in a fluffy purple blanket. "I AM A BUTTERFLY!"

"Yeah yeah, helmet off." MM cooed, helping her take it off. "Don't wanna smush it into the couch while sleeping, do we?"

"Woah... woooooooooah!"

A wince escaped MM as he saw just HOW red Jerri was without the helmet on.

"I feel like a tomato!" she laughed before sneezing into the blanket. "Uuugh..."

---

"Oh yeah, yesterday's shitshow." Lexy laughed. "Mistress sent me out to the arcade all afternoon so I wouldn't make things worse and Avery didn't get back from his game until 6."

MM sighed to himself, flinching as his ear rang very loudly.

"Now, as you know, the common cold is an enigma. Headaches, body pain, sore throat, coughs, sneezing and stuffed noses. Now, I stupidly had forgot about that last symptom I mentioned." he paused as he continued writing. "Add the drowsiness brought on by histamines like certain cold medicines and you have an idea of the sheer horror show that soon followed." 

Silence.

"An IDEA, mind you. Cause I was not ready for what I was about to subject myself to."

Lexy looked up, curious.

"Now, let me explain something, Lexy." MM turned away from his computer. "When someone snores, air is pushed through the nose, mouth and throat during slumber. If an airway is blocked, it creates a vibrating sound, thus making... THAT NOISE..."

"Dude, chill."

"... having a cold... makes that so much worse. We'd have never been able to cuddle up for a full blown cuddle pile." 

MM shuddered even more. "I can still hear it echoing in my brain..."

"You're not hearing things, that's actually coming from her room."

A groan escaped MM's lips as he kept writing. "Colds greatly exasperate one's snoring, so while I was not being hugged, I was subjected to the most cacophonic snoring I have ever had the displeasure of hearing. I will not provide audio clippings, to spare your ears of the horrors that has left me with TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS in my left ear. But if you want to picture it... no, no, you shouldn't. I have a headache just THINKING about it."

He sighed again.

"Back to the topic of my email. Due to a headache and temporary loss of hearing in one ear, I am not coming into work for the next 2 days."

Chapter Text

August 12, 2025. 1:02 pm.

Everything SHOULD be peaceful on a Tuesday afternoon.

That's how it SHOULD be, right? Right!

"I'M BACK FROM THE STUDIO! HEADED TO THE ARCADE AFTERWARDS AS A TREAT!"

Of course, when you live with Lexy Danger Con, peace is always a rarity.

And she had just entered via the door leading to the garden.

"Welcome back." Mistress waved as she laid on the couch, Jerri and Avery curled up to her while MM was watching the TV with a newspaper.

"What am I missing?" Lexy asked as she took her jacket off.

"Well, we got an after-lunch nap going on..." MM acknowledged. "You wanna join?"

"Nah, I'm good." Lexy said. "Look what I got at the arcade!"

Grinning, she showed the Mistress and Mentalist a stuffed animal in the shape of a beige lemur with dark gray markings on its nose, eyes and paws, with a dark gray and light gray tail. 

"What's its name?"

"Meh, I dunno yet. I'll think of something, though."

Mistress gave a nod.

And Lexy sighed as she headed upstairs. "Hmmm, Lemmy? Nah. Sir Lemmingwings? Too fancy... ugh!"

But as she headed upstairs- well- it's best to just cut to ten minutes later.

---

Avery was in the midst of a wonderful dream. He was in Capella Woods, on a date with MM.

Everything was perfect.

Nothing could wake him up from this dream.

[mrowrl]

Except for that.

"Hmmm? Wha-" his eyes fluttered open as he sat upright. "Did anyone else hear a cat?"

MM nodded his head, eyes never leaving the paper. "I thought I was going mad from a lack of sleep."

"Didja say something?" Mistress murmured, nuzzling up to her teal pillow, eyes shut as her breathing mellowed out.

"Wasn't me." MM and Avery defended.

"Oh..." she murmured.

Maybe Avery and MM were looking too deep into this.

Avery yawned a little and leaned back. Might as well try returning to dreamland.

The mood was right. Misty was warm enough and Jerri's snoring wasn't too loud for him.

[purrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr] 

"Huh?" he paused, looking closer. 

There, in Jerri's lap.

A cozy, red tabby cat.

And it too was contributing to the Lethargy Link with its own tender purrs.

"That cat wasn't there earlier." Avery said. "I know it wasn't."

He needed answers. And to get answers...

"Jerri? Jerrrrrrrrrrri?" he nudged her.

"IT'S TIME LOOP TIME?" she shot up almost instantly.

"Look down." Avery advised.

She did so, acknowledging the furry friend in her lap.

"Awwwwww, hey Doc, how did you get inside?"

The cat just purred in response.

"... You KNOW this cat?"

"Avery, this is Doc Meow. I found him in a box one time, gave him a piece of waffle and he followed me home."

"You've been hiding a cat for two years?"

"No, hiding means keeping him out of sight from you guys. He's just a stray that likes my company... a lot. I don't think I'm a cat person. Am I? WAS I?"

There was an awkward silence.

"He stays in the garden, most of the time, anyways." she added.

"A cat and who knows how many birds cannot live in the same house." Avery commented.

"For reasons that are pretty obvious." MM added.

[purrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

"That's the most cared-for stray cat I've ever seen." the pair of eyes paused. 

"He can't care for himself, MM. Come on, Doc. Let's getcha back outside."

[mrowrl]

"I know, I know, I'm comfy too, but y'know the rules. Come on."

Reluctantly, the cat gave in, making it much easier for Jerri to pick him up in her arms.

"I think I got a name idea for my lem-" Lexy called out, rushing downstairs.

The sight of the cat made her pause.

"Awwwwwww! You DO care, Rigster!"

"How did Doc Meow get inside?"

"What?"

"When it's nice out, Doc's an outside cat."

"Wait, the stray has a name?"

"If Doc's an outside cat when it's nice out, I'd hate to know what happens when it's cold out." MM said.

"How have we not noticed a cat in the perimeter for two years?" asked Avery.

Chapter Text

"There we go." Jerri sighed, sneaking Doc back outside, before noticing a certain bush and poking her head in it. In said bush was a purple, starry bowl that MM never noticed go missing, as well as a matching starry plate. 

"Huh, you got water in there... and you ate breakfast, too. What a good boy!"

[mrowrl]

"Did Lexy letcha in when she got home from her game?"

The cat purred happily, fuzzy red fur brushing up against her tan skin.

"Dang it. Come on, down we go..."

She placed him down on the grass as he instantly went to making biscuits.

"Heh, look at you go. Aren't you adorable? Oh yes you are!"

Doc blinked, slowly, tiredly.

"Awwww, hang on a sec..." smiling, Jerri took her helmet off before crawling in the bush. It was a tight fit, but anything for the stray.

IS it a stray if you care for it like a pet AND it trusts you?

[mrrrrrrrrowl]

"You're a very pretty thing... you wanna hear a story to help you sleep?"

Doc Meow gently placed a paw on her nose.

"Taking that as a yes... okay... uh, I suck at storytelling, so bear with me."

Doc Meow purred in response, paw still on her nose.

"Pfffft, whatever you do, don't stop, I've been trying to deal with that itch all morning."

[blink blink]

"Oh right. A story... uh... that's more so MM's forte, but I'll try. Oh, here's one MM told us once upon a stormy night. You'll like it, it's got animals in it."

---

Once upon a time, in a deep dark forest, lived a beautiful teal unicorn with a flowing orange mane... she loved living in the deep dark forest, but truth be told, she also got lonely at times...

Then one day, she came across a bright yellow cheetah- don't ask me why a cheetah is living in the forest, it just is- and the unicorn said "what are you doing today, miss cheetah?" and the cheetah said "I'm on my way to a special place where all animals can live in harmony".

"Now, you can TELL that this is mere fiction, Doc, everyone knows unicorns aren't real and that cheetahs don't have the ability to talk." 

[mrowrl]

"Fine, fine... attitude, mister."

Along the way, the two had noticed a fennec fox stumbling along dizzily. "Hi there, do you want to join us?" asked the unicorn as the cheetah instantly pounced onto the fox, scaring her. "WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE?!" the fennec fox panicked, ready to attack.

"We're friends." the unicorn said. "We don't bite."

There was an awkward silence. "We don't?" the cheetah asked. The unicorn sighed, "Yeah, we don't. So why don't you come join us?"

"... join you... I guess... guess..." the Fen... nec Fox... nodded its head an'-

---

[mrowr?]

"Hmmm? Oh, right, right... sorry, Doc Meow... I dunno how he does it..." Jerri groaned. "I don't even know what happens after they meet the talking wolf..."

It was evident that her own attempts of narrating, alongside the grass and the shade of the bushes and having been woken up from an earlier snooze by Avery were sending signals to her brain to increase melatonin production.

Even though it was still early afternoon.

Doc Meow just smiled a little and curled up on her back before purring happily.

"Heh... good Doc... love you..." Jerri murmured. "... heh heh, happy catnap..."

---

Before anyone knew it, dinnertime was nearing. 

"Well, I looked everywhere in the house." announced Lexy. "She's probably still in the garden." 

"Greeeeeeeeeat. Do you know how impossible it is to wash mud and dirt off of black leather?" MM asked, eyes twitching.

"I'll go get her." Avery said. "Mud and dirt never harmed me."

And he carefully hopped outside, looking around the garden. There aren't many places to hide a cat. 

Maybe under some bushes, but that's it.

So seeing Jerri's helmet near a bush.

"Okay, time for ol' reliable..."

Hand to his ear, he listened.

"... yep. Okay, here I go..."

And he bravely crawled in the bush. 

There was Jerri. Out like a light, on the grass. Doc Meow was still napping on her back, still purring loudly.

"Awwwww, look at you two. You two... actually make soothing harmonies... I'll admit that..." 

Avery shook his head, then sighed. "Get off, Meow. It's almost dinnertime."

[purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

The tabby just purred louder in his sleep.

"Jerri? Pssst... dinnertime..." Avery whispered.

He just got a drawn-out, relaxed snore in response.

"On second thought, maybe dinner can wait, for you two. It's just meatloaf, anyways." he sighed, gently patting Doc Meow's head. "Keep Jerri safe for us, okay?"

[purr-purrrrr]

"Yep, definitely Jerri's cat." he told himself.

...

By the time the two had awoken, a good hour later, Doc meowed out of hunger.

"Mmmmph, I hear ya, boy..." Jerri groaned. "I could go for a bite, too... looks like it's time to feed ya..."

She sighed, crawling out of the bush and getting her helmet back on as Doc followed after her.

"She's risen, Misty!" 

"Very funny, MM, just say 'she's awake'."

"Where's the fun in that?"

"... only you."

With a small 'trying to wake up' yawn, Jerri groaned, letting herself and Doc Meow inside.

"There you are, Jerri... I thought Avery was joking when he said you were in one of the bushes!"

"Heh heh... surprise." Jerri groaned, before sighing. "I can keep a cat alive, but I can't remind MYSELF to eat."

Doc Meow purred, rubbing up against her.

And this time, she just accepted that yes, the cat she's been caring for out in the garden WAS in the house.

"Is that why there's a cat cage under your bed?" realized Misty.

"Can he stay in the house? Ave's birds are in cages, anyways"

"... we're gonna have a long talk about the differences between cats and birds after you two eat... and I'm already addressing the cat as family."

The dragon paused.

"Wait, where-"

"The cat food's in the shed." Jerri explained. 

"We're ALSO gonna have a long talk on hiding evidence of a cat's existence."

Chapter Text

September 1, 2024. 9:30 am.

"Jerri, look at this." Lexy gasped, holding a box labeled 'BABY ITEMS'.

"Oh? Whatcha got there?"

"Stuff. Look, this is my old rattle from when I was a baby. It's got bears on it."

"... it isn't yellow. Isn't that your favorite color?"

"I was a baby and it was mid 2002."

Jerri tilted her head. That was not the answer she was expect-

-now what was Lexy pulling out?

"Oh! This is an old baby blanket. See?"

"What're these stains from?"

"Probably from trying to feed myself. I've always been a messy eater." Lexy shrugged as she felt the fuzzy, faded-pink blanket. "Heh heh...I really outgrew this thing."

"Yeah, it would make for a better towel than a blanket."

Lexy ignored that comment, as true as it may be.

Besides, there was still some stuff in the box.

"Oh my goodness! I wondered where that thing went!" Lexy gasped.

"Huh?"

The younger of the two pulled out a picture taken from a Polaroid. The baby in the picture had slightly tanned skin, eyes covered by heavy eyelids and with very short blond hair in two very thick (and very tiny) pigtails. Said baby was also wearing a plain yellow onesie and cuddling a fluffy pink blanket while laying on its back, in a crib with a very faint blue mattress.

"That baby kinda looks like you, Lexy." Jerri said.

"Boy I sure hope it does." Lexy smiled. "That WAS me as a baby. God, I was a cute thing, wouldn't you say?"

"... your hair isn't in pigtails anymore."

"Yeah, I just tie it in a singular ponytail now. Pretty cool, huh?"

"I guess..." Jerri shrugged.

...

'Huh, I wonder what I was like...'

"Rigster, didja say something?"

"No! Nope! Didn't say a thing."

"Oh. Can I show you one more thing?"

"Okay. I'm listening."

Lexy smiled and showed an old, patched up teddy bear. "Tada..."

"Wow, that thing's been loved to death."

"It sure has."

 "Lexy! Can you come down here a minute?" Mistress called out.

"Coming, Misty." Lexy put the bear back in the box. "BRB, Rigster."

"Pow..." Jerri paused, eyeing the box again. 

She examined the picture Lexy showed her, very carefully. 

"I guess it IS hard to photograph a blur of colors..." Jerri sighed. "I wonder if Lexy's always been chaos incarnate."

She eyed the blanket that she had said would make for a better towel.

"Ugh, okay brain, let's be rational. This is a box of LEXY'S things. We shouldn't be snooping through it! Maybe there's something very personal in there!"

A part of her WAS curious, though.

So, with great reluctance, she picked it up.

It wasn't a bad, towel-kind of fuzzy.

And it wasn't the same level of fluffy as the blankets on MM's bed.

It was more in between fluffy and fuzzy.

'It kinda feels like Misty's tail... snug and cozy all over... almost ideal for napping with.'

She hugged it, then paused.

'I better put this blanket back BEFORE Lexy comes back upstairs.'

"What the-"

Busted.

She slowly looked behind her at a curious Avery.

"... whatever you're thinking, please stop thinking it."

"You're gonna be 25 in February."

"... I know... if anyone asks, you saw nothing."

Avery shrugged as he left. 

So without another word, Jerri put the blanket in the box... albeit while VERY red-faced.

And right on cue too, Lexy had just returned upstairs.

"... sorry I called that old blanket a possible towel..."

"It's fine, I'm used to your unfiltered remarks." Lexy smiled. "If you wanna cuddle the blanket, that's cool with me."

"But..."

"No need to act so stoic, girl friend."

That was all the confirmation she needed to pick the blanket back up.

Lexy smiled a little. "It's almost the same color as your lab coat."

Jerri was just examining the blanket in awe. The gears were turning inside her mind as her hand brushed alongside the fabric, touching each dried-up stain and each loose thread from...nearly 23 years of Lexy giving it love and cuddles.

Hell, that blanket probably got dragged near-everywhere for a good while, too.

And it also... also...

"Mmmmmph... cozy blanket..." Jerri murmured.

"I know. It sure is a cozy thing..." Lexy agreed. "Just, please don't cuddle it too much, okay, Jerri? I know I said you can cuddle it, and cuddling it you are, but..."

Whatever Lexy was saying fell on deaf ears, she soon noticed.

"Jesus, that's a new one. Sitting crisscross-applesauce while hugging a blanket."

...

"Fine, just this once. You are LUCKY you look so cute right now." 

Chapter Text

Bus rides. No one liked them. Especially not the Decas.

They're long. You get stuck on a bus for Mick-knows-how-long. And there're so many people on the bus, usually.

But since no one trusts MM to drive, Jerri cannot drive anything more than a bumper car, Mistress is a literal dragon, Avery lived in a forest for most of his life and Lexy is already chaos incarnate...

Yep, the five of them were stuck on the bus.

"We're going WHERE again?" asked Lexy as she played a game on her phone.

"The aquarium." Avery explained. "I already got the tickets. Do you know how many games I had to host for us to get the family discount?"

"A lot, I take it." Lexy sighed. "Ugh, whoever makes these Temu ads oughta be fired. Stupid orange company."

"We agree, I see." Mistress said.

"It's like those Binjpipe guys, but FUCKING ORANGE! Least it's not pink, though!"

"Hey! Some of us here LIKE pink." a woman in a three-toned pink dress with minty green gloves and a minty green sunhat on curly orange hair huffed, adjusting her minty green glasses.

"Sorry, Sophie." Lexy was quick to apologize. "Are we there yet?"

"Not yet." Mistress said. "We'll be there in an hour."

"Okay." MM nodded as he cozied up on the seat next to Jerri.

He blinked, eyes feeling heavy.

'Maybe just five minutes won't hurt...'

A thought made his eyes open widely as he took in the view of everyone on the bus.

'... and besides, I can trust these guys to wake me up when we get there... '

...

'... I always can...'

And his eyes closed, a faint smile on his face as a soft murmur escaped his lips.

Being asleep, however, he did NOT notice his magic go just the tiniest bit out of whack.

Jerri smiled to herself as she just let her eye close, a book on the history of aerodynamics placed on her lap.

'I'm not gonna let myself fall asleep, just gonna daydream for a few minutes...'

...

'... huah... I really gotta stop going to bed at 12:30 am...'

And her world went dark, too.

---

"We're here, gang." Mistress signaled as she stretched her body out. "Come on."

Avery nodded as he and Lexy tailed after the dragon.

"Let's do this! We're SO gonna scare the sharks!" Lexy grinned.

"Come on, now." Avery called out. "Let's put these passes to good use."

And they hopped off the bus, heading to the entrance.

"How many do we have, today?" asked the woman at front...

... as the bus drove away.

Keep this in mind!

"Oh, five, please." Avery showed his pass. "These guys are with me."

The woman looked confuzzled.

"Sir? Do you need glasses?"

"Beg pardon?"

"There's only three of you."

"Oh, don't mind Mentalist. He's normally this quiet." Lexy said calmly. "Yo, MM, show her your tick-"

She looked around. "Hey! Mentalist! This is no time for gaming around! Where ARE you? We got octopi to see and sharks to scare!"

Misty and Avery looked around some more. "Uh oh..."

"What?" Lexy asked.

"I don't see Mentalist OR Jerri anywhere." Mistress worried, ears drooping.

---

The bus had already reached its next stop, when MM's eyes fluttered open.

"Wha..." he stood up and stretched out before heading to the doors.

"Come on, let's go, guys. Adventure awaits. And Lexy, please try not to scare the aquatic animals. We don't wanna be banned."

And he hopped off the bus, aquarium pass in hand.

Figuratively.

But while he was expecting excited chatter, all he got...

... was silence.

As he looked around in confusion, a thought crossed his mind.

"Wait... Misty? Avery? Lexy? Jerri? Where are you four?"

He was about to rush back on the bus when it suddenly started driving away again.

"... fuck. I gotta get to the aquarium! Wherever the aquarium IS."

"They must be so worried about m-"

Time out.

He thought back to being on the bus.

He had a faint memory of hearing-

"JERRI! Fuck, I KNEW I wasn't hearing things!"

---

"Next stop, the movie theatre." the bus driver declared as he parked the bus.

"... mmmph?" Jerri groaned, half asleep. "... okay, we stopped, so I take it this is our stop..." 

She didn't even think twice as she tucked her book safely in a muted red sensory kit, next to a half-empty bag of barbeque pretzels and her phone. 

"Excuse me, coming through..." she trudged through the bustling crowd that was either getting off or on the bus.

And despite the occasional 'nice helmet' compliment, she didn't really smile much as she hopped off the bus.

"Alright... uh..." Jerri paused, looking around.

'They must already be inside.'

"Oh, you going to see the showing of Freakier Friday, too?" asked a woman her age.

"Uh... what?"

It all set in, soon after.

"It's the fireworks celebration all over again..."

Chapter Text

MM sighed to himself as he sat on a bench, panting.

Did he TRY to run after the bus? Yes.

Did he fail miserably? Yes.

Did a bunch of strangers hear him shout "stop that bus!"?

Sadly, yes.

Ergo, he looked around.

He needed to ground himself.

"Five things I can see..."

And the search began. He could see the sign for the bus stop... a derpy-looking pigeon...

"That's two..."

... there was also a small kid with a crescent moon balloon...

"... three... wait-"

He looked behind to see his back was facing a planetarium.

"-Four... one more thing I can see..."

"Excuse me?" a passerby looked over, holding his small child. "Are you waiting for someone?"

"... Five things." 

MM inhaled, then exhaled.

"I'm waiting for my... uh..."

What was he supposed to say?

"... daughter?"

Way to fuck it up, MM.

"Awwwwww, that's cute. How old is she?"

'You COULD lie and say she's with her other father, MM... but then again, the truth will set you free...'

MM inhaled again, exhaling nervously.

"... she's... twenty-five..."

Did he mutter 'twenty'? Yes. He panicked, okay?!

"I'm sure you're a proud dad, then."

A small smile crossed his face.

"How old's your boy?" MM asked. He NEEDED to clear his mind.

"Just turned four. We're gonna see the planets, aren't we?"

"Yeah! P'an'its!" the toddler giggled, making tiny fists of victory.

"Have fun... I'll just... be waiting... for my girl..." MM gulped nervously. "She's just...hiding from me somewhere, you know how they are when they're... small."

Time to make a scene.

"J-Jerri, where are you? Come out, come out, wherever you are! Daddy can't find you!"

He was looking like a fool.

But what WAS he to do after MUTTERING the twenty in 'twenty-five'?

---

Jerri was in a state of panic, too.

The world was loud, the scent of movie popcorn was overwhelming, the city was bright.

'Breathe, Jerri... m-m-maybe you're still dreaming...'

She inhaled nervously before pinching her left thigh.

"AWWWW CLOCKS!" she yelped before looking around again.

Nope. Not a dream.

More like a waking nightmare.

She instantly grabbed her phone from the sensory bag.

Dead battery. 

"Damnit. I can take care of a cat but I can't remember to charge my phone? I'm paying Dot extra for watching Doc Meow, that's for certain..."

"You okay, ma'am?" an elderly male asked.

"... uh..."

All the alarms were ringing, in Jerri's helmet.

'... I just wanna go home, to my cat and my Ampharos and my clock wall...'

"Ma'am?" a woman in her 40s asked-

-putting a hand on Jerri's lab coat.

"G-GET AWAY!" Jerri panicked, before rushing off, hand on her helmet, trying not to cry.

'I'm scared, I just lashed out- IN PUBLIC! What if people treat me as a menace or a monster or a-"

"Is something wrong?"

"[ERROR]? Is that you?" a woman asked. 

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

"Do you need help?"

Jerri was too anxious to respond to anything anymore. She didn't even CARE if she was crying about wanting to go home.

She was shutting down, alone, afraid, by herself.

Normal people don't just have meltdowns after realizing they're alone and (in their mind) forgotten, in the city.

The last time she had a public meltdown this severe, at least Lexy was there to wait out the bad feelings in a shopping cart.

Lexy...

'She must hate me...'

Crap, she didn't know what to do or say to help herself feel better.

At least until she saw a bus heading in the opposite direction.

Then her brain went on a one-track path as she hopped on, pretzels flying out of her bag.

"Where to, miss?"

"..."

Jerri paused. What WAS she supposed to say when the words FAILED her?

"Hang on... weren't you and your friends on here earlier? Headed to the aquarium?"

The words still failed her, but something told her that the bus driver understood.

---

MM meanwhile, was stuck with his little gray lie. "Wow, she really chose a good hiding spot..." 

"I can tell. Hope you find your little girl. Connor and I are gonna go see the planets. Wave bye-bye."

"Bah-bah, eyes..."

"Bye-bye, young one."

"Bah-bah, birdy... bah-bah, diddy dat... bah-bah, bus..."

Bus! 

MM gasped as the bus going home stopped. 

And he instantly rushed for the door.

"Uh... excuse me, I'm looking for my..." MM sighed. "... daughter..."

"Can you describe her?"

"Lean, tall, red hair, tan skin, kind of a quiet snore that can get a wee bit cacophonic at times..."

He paused.

"Oh, right... almost forgot..." he sighed. "Helmet. Cube. Antenna. Red eye."

"Name?"

"The name's Rig. Jerri Rig."

"You mean the woman rocking back and forth on a seat?"

"... yes. Her. Don't go anywhere. Yet!"

As MM rushed over to Jerri's side, he failed to notice a bus heading downtown.

Chapter Text

"... and name two things you can smell?" MM cooed softly.

They had been on the bus for 20 minutes, by now, and she was calming down tremendously.

"Movie theater popcorn... and... some dude who thinks Old Spice smells good..."

A chuckle escaped The Mentalist's lips. "... and one thing you can taste?"

"... oh, right." she dug a pretzel out of her bag. "Barbeque flavored."

"Feeling more simpatico?"

"Yeah..." Jerri shivered. 

"Come on. Uh, where's the aquarium?"

"Just walk straight down until you see it." the bus driver said.

"Then this is our stop." MM scooped her up as he paid the bus fare. 

"... MM? What happened?"

"Newsflash, we both dozed off and missed our stop." Mentalist rolled his eyes as they headed straight to the aquarium. "But I failed to notice you until the bus started moving again..."

"... keep talking..."

"I will, but please, 'for the love of time travel', recharge your social battery, okay?"

"Just lemme know when we're there."

"Will do." MM cooed.

"... heh, this kinda feels like floating..." she caught herself from flapping her hands.

"I know." MM nodded. 

---

"You say you lost your friends on the other bus?"

"YES!" Misty was, for lack of better words, stressing out.

"And you KNOW we're going to find them." Avery said. "So, ladies, keep your eyes peeled!"

"How hard IS IT to miss a floating pair of eyes and a helmet with an antenna like THAT?" Lexy worried as a family of three climbed on- a dad and two girls. 

"Looking for someone?" he asked.

"Yes." Mistress said. "Maybe you can help us-"

Lexy quickly got into the Photos app on her phone. "Have you seen these two loveable idiots? We're all loveable idiots, but still."

"Can't say I've seen the floating eyes, but I DID see someone wearing a similar helmet in the middle of a breakdown."

Oh scales-

"I think she got on the first bus heading back to wherever 'home' is."

Double scales.

"I got us the family discount, we're using the family discount." Avery said.

"LET US OFF, RIGHT HERE!" Mistress declared.

"Okay, okay. Lady, chill."

"We're taking the nearest bus BACK where we were!" 

"We're gonna spend all the souvenir money on bus fares, y'know..." Lexy pouted.

"Some things are more important than a tacky souvenir." Avery said. 

"Yeah, but still..."

And Mistress dragged the other two out onto the sidewalk.

"Okay! Breathe, Misty, bre-"

"Jerri? Where are you?" Mistress called out as she looked around. "MM? Are you nearby?"

---

"You cozy?" MM asked.

"... didja say something?" Jerri shook her head aggressively.

"I said, are we cozy?"

"... yeah, the orcas are happy on the tractors, dad."

"We're not even halfway there... just mellow out." MM cooed.

"Heh heh... look, that dinosaur's wearing a tutu..."

He knew 'lights out' was coming.

He's carried her and Lexy to bed before.

Plus. He had an idea.

"Shhhhhhh, we'll be there when you wake up."

"Mmmmm... we better... or you're walking the pudding cup of doom..."

And she was out, snoring softly.

"As quiet as she is, I just hope the others can track us down, this way." MM told himself as they got closer to the aquarium.

---

"MM! Jerri! Can you two hear us?" Misty called out as she carried Lexy and Avery on her back.

"MM! RIGSTER!" Lexy added.

"Darling, are you passed out on a bench or something?" Avery wondered.

"Looking for someone?" asked a passerby.

"Our friends."

"Good luck. Downtown can be tricky to navigate. Sometimes all you need is a good ear."

Mistress sighed, twitching her ear.

Downtown hustle and bustle to her left...

... to her right...

... behind her...

...around her...

She stopped, a small smile on her face. 

"Up ahead, you two."

"You can hear them?"

"Yes."

"Amidst all this hullabaloo?"

"We've lived together for a while- FOLLOW ME!" and Misty took off.

---

"Hi, uh, have you seen a dragon, a blond and a male with wings?" MM asked.

"You and your... kid missed them, they took a bus downtown." said the woman at the aquarium entrance.

"Fuck!" MM looked around. It was still crowded AF, but they HAD to reunite. Somehow. "Next bus that's going downtown-"

Wait a second.

He had a stupid idea, now.

Stupider than Lexy's idea of a sleepover on their first night as a quintet? Debatable.

"Psst, we're here." he nudged Jerri.

"... we... we are?" a few snorts exited her mouth.

"Yep..." MM smirked to himself. "Up we go!" he grinned, levitating her higher in the air.

"Woah... hey, that tickles, Mental... you're a funny giraffe..." Jerri giggled.

"I've heard." MM nodded.

Yeah, he knew what he was signing up for when he offered to carry her to the aquarium. One look into his eyes and you lose all coherent thoughts for a while. It was a sacrifice he was willing to take, though, if it meant helping a friend regain her social battery.

But his powers of levitation had a second silver lining. The obvious power of being able to levitate items...

... and, in turn, other Deca members.

"Wow, MM, you've... gotta see the land orca!"

The land orca in question?

Mistress, rushing over at top speed, on all fours.

And yes, Lexy and Avery were still on her back.

Avery looked up, nodded to himself and waved.

"It's coming right for us!" Jerri stimmed. "I never petted an orca before, least I don't think I have..."

"The we better get out of its path." MM levitated her back down to the ground.

Right on cue, too. Misty and the others came to a screeching halt, a few seconds later.

"What the fuck happened, on the bus ride here?" scolded Avery.

"I fell asleep." MM blushed. "And I guess Jerri did too..."

Jerri shook her head again, her brain regaining any and all coherent thoughts as she did so.

"Great! Gang's all here!" she grinned, rushing up and hugging Lexy.

Okay, maybe not ALL coherent thoughts were there YET.

"I take it this is all five of you." laughed the woman at the entrance. 

"Yes." Avery sighed in relief.

Chapter Text

"Finally, gang's back together and now we can scare the shit outta some sharks." Lexy cheered, spinning Jerri around.

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

"And we're sure they're not blood related?" joked Mistress as the four of them entered a shar exhibit.

"Look at that! A great white shark!" Avery looked in a brochure. "And a whale shark! Does anyone see a tiger shark?"

"That one." Lexy said.

"Oh! Did you know that the largest shark ever was called the Megalodon and it was over 60 feet long?" Jerri gasped, hand flapping like mad.

"Imagine the gnashers on that thing!"

"I know, right!" she grinned, showing a chipped tooth.

"And if a full grown Mega-Shark was that long, imagine the kids!"

"Shark kids are called pups." MM didn't miss a beat.

"Fuck. Pinkfong lied to us." Lexy groaned as she stared down a pup. "You may be at the top of the food chain, but you don't have legs, do you?" 

And she blew a raspberry at the unfazed shark pup.

"Hey sharks, betcha never saw a helmet like this before!" Jerri smiled. "Pretty cool, huh? I know, I know."

"She sure bounced back." Misty told MM.

"She sure did. A little rest helped, it looks like."

"Now for the jellyfish exhibit." Avery checked the brochure again.

"Oooooooh!" Lexy grinned.

---

Come 9 pm and the gang was back on the bus.

Mistress was reading a book to herself as the bus drove.

Lexy was already sleeping, curled up to Misty's side.

Jerri was a bit woozy, cuddling a plush shark MM had gotten for his room.

MM was drifting in and out of slumber, on Avery's shoulder.

And Avery was smiling to himself as he watched the other four. 

"Okay, so today didn't go exactly as we planned... we can agree on that." Avery said.

"Amen." Mistress agreed.

"But we're all good, right?"

"Right."

"And we now have a funny story to tell Dot." Avery said, bus stopping at their stop soon after.

Mistress smiled, picking up Lexy in her arms while MM sleepily followed Avery.

"Wait. Headcount. One... two... three... four..." Mistress paused. "Jerri, c'mere."

"Oh, right... we're coming..."

"And that's all five of us."

"We need to do headcounts more often." MM yawned as they returned home.

"Oh, hey you five." Dot waved, a few birds on her shoulders as she let them in.

"So-" Avery began.

"Everything went good, in the pet-sitting department." she motioned at Doc Meow, fast asleep on top of the coffee maker. "Now, how much do I owe you guys, again?"

"You're definitely getting a raise..." Jerri mused, watching the tabby cat. "I wish I was that small right now. Hey Doc?"

[mrowr?]

He yawned and leapt onto the counter, stretching out.

"C'mon, lessgo snuggle." Jerri picked him up, after handing MM his shark plush.

"Where did you have in mind?" asked Dot.

"Anywhere is good, right now... Doc, wait until you hear what we went through."

Doc purred as he was carried upstairs.

"Thanks again for pet sitting." Avery sighed in relief.

"Anything to help." Dot said. "So how was the aquarium?"

"We are so glad you asked." Mistress said, Lexy never leaving her arms. "Do you have three more hours to spare?"

Chapter Text

"Who's the nutjob that decided they wanna play FixyText at 4 in the morning?"

Lexy was not please.

She had been woken up from a really good dream, sparks damnit.

And now she was throwing an outfit together in the darkness of her bedroom.

She didn't even CARE if her outfit mixed or matched.

She was grumpy.

And boy did she wanna teach 'em a lesson.

But she was nice. Nice girls don't flip others the bird or lash out.

Well, that was the problem.

When Lexy herself got overly tired... she became VERY emotional.

Nothing too bad, just...

... imagine the cages in Jurassic Park.

When the metaphorical gates in her mind get lowered, it's from over-exhaustion.

But honestly, she and Misty were the most tame, of the group.

"Least I don't end up going all Muffin Heeler..." Lexy told herself. "Just a few choice words I really wouldn't say with a clear mind."

Now she just had to handle her hair.

And she tiptoed to the bathroom, the door half open...

... and the lights were on in there, a sleepy MM hovering a toothbrush to wherever his mouth was supposed to be.

"FUCKSHIT!" Lexy shouted before covering her mouth. "I..."

"What're you doing up so early?" MM said.

"Hair." she pointed at her mess of blond bedhead. "Why're you brushing your teeth?"

"To avoid halitosis. I have a 5 am game."

"God, some people WANT to watch the world BURN!"

MM nodded, spitting out the foam in his mouth and taking a plastic, purple kids' cup to his mouth. "What about-"

[gaaaaaaaaaaaaargle, ptooey]

"-you, Lexy?"

"I got a 4 am game." Lexy said as she grabbed her scrunchie, sitting on the counter. "Hmmm..."

"Want some help with your hair?"

"You've done others hair before?"

"I've brushed out Misty's mane AND helped Avery with his hair, no problem. But your hair, well... I've never done ponytails before."

"Yeah, yeah, just don't put me back to sleep with your voice, please."

"We can do this in silence, if that's what you prefer." MM confirmed.

Nodding, Lexy grabbed her scrunchie and sat down on the ground as she put said scrunchie on her right wrist. "I'm ready."

"Very well then." MM said, humming as he slowly brushed her hair out, starting at the bottom.

Lexy giggled a little. It tickled. A lot.

Soon, he slowly started making his way through all that blond mess.

"You hair has less tangles than I expected." MM blurted.

"Unlike some of us, I actually wash it every couple of days." Lexy blurted back.

Remember, her filter was OFF.

MM nodded, saying not a word as he continued brushing her hair out.

"All done?" Lexy asked.

"Mmm hmmm. You can tie it as you usually do, now."

And tie it in a tight ponytail, this wrecking ball did.

"Ready for your game?"

"Yep! Gonna grab a banana on the way out." Lexy paused. "Hmmm , you've done Misty's mane, Avery's hair, my hair, what ab-"

"So... many... tangles..." MM shuddered, eyes shrinking.

He could still see the shock on Mistress' face when he showed her the hairbrush, bristles hidden by a clump of red hair.

"You brushed all that out and she slept through it?" 

"Yeah... I would hate to see her at a barber shop..."

"Surprised the brush didn't break."

"... me too."

"-that answers my question. Is anyone else up so early?"

THAT brought him back to the present.

"Just us two. And, keep a secret?"

"Sure."

"... I never WENT to bed."

Lexy, naturally, facepalmed.

"See ya later, MM." she sighed as she left the bathroom, turning off the light, in the process. "But please, your game ain't until 5. Get some rest."

"I'll try."

Smiling, Lexy checked in on the other three.

Avery? Singing very quietly in his sleep. Like usually. He was also curled up in a starry, purple blanket. 

Jerri? Sprawled out like all hell, voice muffled by a pillow. Chest vibrations don't lie, though-he was definitely snoring.

Mistress? She got half-woken by the door creaking, but she was still cozy all curled up.

Lexy envied those three, right now.

Badly.

But alas, someone wanted to watch the world burn.

So she had to leave.

And she was almost at the bus stop, when-

"SHIT!"

She ran back inside. 

"Hey, uh, MM?" she called up.

"Catch." he tossed her a pair of goggles.

And off, she went.

She was probably gonna be a filter-free mess, but she didn't care.

Besides, she could just sneak a cuddle with Misty, Jerri or Avery once she got back.

That was her motivation.

Chapter Text

Avery hummed to himself as he started setting the table, with Mistress making some Bolognese, Doc Meow pawing at her tail as she did so.

It was a remotely slow evening, the two had noticed.

[CRASH]

And now it wasn't quiet anymore.

"Guess who's BACK!" 

Now, based on that comment and the crash, you probably guessed 'Lexy', didn't you?

Well... she was at the arcade and wouldn't be back until 10 pm at most; she said she'd be back at 9 in case of an emergency, though.

Something about wanting to hang out and make new friends.

And MM would NEVER be that dramatic with his entrances. Besides, he was at the theatre, hosting his game.

Avery turned his head away from the table.

Yep, there was Jerri. Tamogachi on her helmet's antenna, a few scratches on her helmet itself, a small tear on her lab coat and-

"Where did you lose your gloves?" Avery sighed.

"Ohhhhhhh, they're in here-heheheheheh!" Jerri pulled them out of her lab coat pocket. "How... how much longer until... till..."

"You forgot to take breaks, didn't you?" 

"... nooooooooooooooooo. I ate a granola bar..."

"Jerri..." Avery sighed.

"Heh heh..." she giggled, nearly losing her balance before catching herself. "Whoopsie-daisy."

"You weren't kidding when you said you COULD do it all day, I see." Avery sighed.

"Heheheheheheheh. I tooooooooooook breaks, Avery..."

"You  can't lie to save your life in a Time Hop." Avery said, gently placing his hands on her shoulder.

His words went in one ear, out the other.

But at least she couldn't wobble too badly with the conductor's hands keeping her stable.

"Woah... woooooooah!" 

"How much longer until dinner, Misty?" asked Avery.

"It's just about ready now."

"I'll feed the Doc..." Jerri giggled. "Heeeeeeeeeere Doc, come to Jerri!"

Doc Meow poked his head out from the kitchen and looked at Jerri.

Was this really the same person that let him live secretly with her and her friends for years?

"She's just woozy, Doc." Avery explained.

"Wait riiiiiiiiight here!" Jerri giggled, rushing to the kitchen and grabbing some cat food for the tabby. 

Yes, there was a family meeting about hiding a cat's existence and why that's a bad thing.

"Food's ready, Doc. EAT UP, BOY!" she rushed back to them, nearly tripping over her boots. "Woooooooooah!"

"You can't even walk straight." Avery groaned as he placed the starry plate of cat food on the ground.

"Bold words from YOU, Mister... Not Straight Bird Man!" she laughed, tugging on her hair.

"Jerri, look at yourself in a mirror." Avery deadpanned. "You're a mess."

"Pfffft! Nonsense!" she said, still playing with her hair. 

Doc Meow just tried to eat as much as he could before the inevitable shitshow.

Luckily, he ate everything on his plate, before the Bolognese were ready.

So he bolted to the armchair in the living room, curling up on the armrest. 

...

"Oh dear..." winced Mistress as she served the spaghetti.

"How does MM do it?" Avery asked as Jerri tripped over her boot and giggled, landing on her butt.

"I don't know, but I know one thing."

"Early bedtime?"

"8:30 at the latest."

"Heehee..." Jerri smiled, using the table for support with standing up. "8:30? That's for kids... do I LOOK like a kid?"

Avery winced a little as he glanced at the dragon.

"Misty, does the term 'tired toddler' still work when the 'toddler' in question is twenty-five?" he gritted his teeth.

"A five year old is controlling her, Avery. But I'd say 'tired time traveler' if I were you." Misty gritted back.

"Ooooh! What're you talking about?" Jerri lit up.

"Adult stuff." Avery said before QUICKLY backtracking. "Got anything to contribute?"

"Oh boy, do I ever!" she grinned, taking her seat. "Okay, uh... oh! How were your days?"

"It was nice, thanks for asking." Mistress smiled.

"It was something." Avery admitted. "5 of the 9 birds chose the kazoos. Do you KNOW what that sounds like?"

"Like this?" Jerri blew a raspberry.

"... close enough..." Avery gave a chuckle. "Just eat your dinner, okay?"

"POW POW!!!" she cheered, tapping her feet to a tune only audible in her head.

"How fucked are we?" winced Avery.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"... I wouldn't say we're 'fucked', but-" Mistress sighed.

"We're in deep trouble, I take it."

"WHY WON'T YOU STICK TO THE FORK?!" Jerri screamed. "YOU ARE TESTING ME, YOU PLATE OF PASTA!"

"We can handle this on our own." Mistress told herself. 

Avery was a bit less optimistic. "She's getting sauce on her helmet, face and lab coat."

"She'll get the hang of it. Coordination sucks when you're tired, it doesn't help when you add a blind eye to the mix, howev-"

"RAAAAAAAAH! HAH! GOTCHA! NOW COME TO MOMMA!"

Mistress and Avery blinked.

In the few seconds they had turned their backs on her, Jerri had gotten most of the noodles and sauce ON her, rather than IN her mouth.

"Oh my flock..."

"Woah, bath time for you, Jerri." Mistress chuckled.

"Consider it battle scars." Jerri said, trying to get the forkful of spaghetti in her mouth.

Only half got in her mouth, a quarter got on her lab coat...

... the other half was now floor food.

"We can do this... we just need to put her to b-e-d before 8:30." Avery said.

"Wait, what?" Jerri asked before blinking.

"Oh no, she's crashing." worried Mistress.

"Snap out of it!" Avery shouted as she faceplanted into her plate. 

"... hoooooo boy." Mistress winced.

"Jerri?" Avery leaned over and nudged her.

"IT'S TIMELOOP TIME!" Jerri looked up, helmet now completely covered in sauce. 

So were a few strands of hair, though it was hard to tell.

[SPLAT]

"Jerri?" Mistress wondered.

"... is she dead?" Avery gulped. "I mean, she's not snoring..."

"Did... did..."

It hit them.

The dreaded microsleep had kicked in.

"Once she's up-"

"... ugh..." 

"-okay, Jerri, I think you ate enough." Mistress said. "Why dontcha go clean yourself up?"

"... puh... puh... puh..."

"That's a 'pow-pow' if ever I heard one." Avery translated.

Chapter Text

'There... my hair's washed and teeth are brushed... can't believe I crashed at the table... again...' Jerri groaned, adjusting a faded pink tank top and some dark gray sweatpants.

[Knock knock]

"Eeeep! Uh.. oh, right! You can come in now." 

"Thanks." Mistress smiled a little as she entered the bathroom, looked in a cupboard and handed her a washcloth. "Here you go..."

"Ugh, this is embarrassing..." common sense had come knocking, as Jerri tried to wash the sauce off of her face. 

"I know, I know."

"Heh, I look funny, though. Don't I?" 

And the common sense left as quickly as it returned.

"You kinda do."

"YES!" Jerri cheered, washing her face to the best of her ability. 

Mistress figured to leave helmet maintenance until tomorrow morning, for obvious reasons.

"I... I look like I was in the trenches in WWI..."

Even when in a sleepy stupor, Jerri was still Jerri.

"Oh, tell me more." Mistress smiled.

"The trenches were suuuuuuuuper muddy and damp and cold!"

"I gathered." 

"I think I got everywhere."

"Oh, you missed a spot." Mistress booped her on the nose.

"Okay!" she splashed some more water on her face.

"No-Jer, you didn't REALLY miss a spot, I was just playing with you."

"Oh. Heh. Well if I DIIIID miss another spot, it's gone, now."

Can't argue with that tired logic.

Jerri giggled a little, before shaking her head. "My body's feeling funny..."

"Well, you did have a busy day. Why don't you go head to your room and cozy up with a good book?"

"Okay..." she stumbled a little as she rushed for her room and grabbed a book on historical events. "Lesse!"

Something in her brain flipped, and next thing she knew, she had grabbed her Ampharos, a pillow and her book, rushing to Avery's room-

[CRASH]

-and faceplanting onto the floor.

"Hey Ave!" she looked up happily, give or take the half-lidded left eye.

"Something wrong?"

"I waaaaaaaaaaas wondering-"

"No more time travel for a few days."

"Buh..."

"What were you gonna ask?"

"Oh, riiiiiiiiight!" she curled up to Avery in his nest, laying her head on her pillow. "Can... can you please read this?"

Avery was tempted to say something among the lines of 'you're 25', but based on her behavior during dinner...

"Alright, let's do this." Avery sighed, taking the book and beginning to read it aloud.

His voice wasn't like MM's, but he was trying, damnit.

...

"And then, in 1877, Thomas Edison-" Avery read aloud.

[yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn]

He had never been so relieved to hear a yawn, in his life.

"Lights out, Jerri." Avery cooed, leaning over to turn the light off.

"Okay..." she seemed to comply easily, cuddling the plushie.

[click]

Avery sighed and curled up under his blanket.

But then he paused.

No soft snoring.

No chest vibrations.

No tired ramblings.

He rolled over to face her.

Jerri just looked up at him with a tired left eye, a small smile on her face.

"Poppa..." 

"Can't sleep, huh? Let's see what I can do..."

"Okay, Poppa..." her hand found its way into her mouth for a hot minute before she spat it out. "Really, brain?"

"Fuck, you really are tired." Avery placed a muted green blanket on her.

"Oooooooooh... cozy..."

"Here... now can you sleep?"

"... mmmm? No."

"Fine, I'll sing ONE lullaby. But I swear to the Great Cycle, you better not remember a thing about tonight, though." Avery sighed and got out of the nest. He soon began writing in his notepad while mumbling to himself.

[Knock knock]

"Avery? Are you okay in there?" 

He knew that voice.

"Everything is under control, MM. Take the night off."

"Why is there Bolognese on the floor?"

"The cat did it." Avery quickly lied. "Now, if you don't mind, I have serious business to attend to!"

"Okay."

Avery sighed, climbing back in the nest as Jerri cooed and doted over the Ampharos before placing it on her pillow.

"You better not remember tonight..." Avery said.

"Poppa, look. he's sleeping." she pointed at the plushie.

"Yep, we're reaching quarter-wakefulness." he smiled to himself as a bird whistled happily. "Lay down, Jerri."

"What's that ya wrote?"

"I'll show you in a minute." he said. "Lay down, comfy cozy."

"Heh heh..."

A small smile crossed Avery's face.

"Time keeps on looping

As your eye starts drooping

I think we should call it a night

Cause you're looking weary

So cuddle up, Jerri

Cause bedtime is near, so sleep tight."

He sighed to himself.

[snooooooooooore]

"It worked..." Avery told himself. "Night night."

A small murmur escaped Jerri's mouth as she cuddled up to the Ampharos.

Avery smiled and planted a small, paternal kiss on her cheek, before getting out of his nest. "Finally, she's sleeping. Now to clean up the kitchen. And then, maybe a movie with MM."

Slowly opening the door to the hallway, he saw MM standing in the hall and Lexy sitting by the wall, the latter wearing a big smile with Doc in her lap.

"How much did you two hear?" Avery groaned.

"We heard all." MM said as Lexy put a finger on her lips.

"And I'm glad we missed the shitshow." Lexy confessed.

Chapter Text

MM needed new bedtime story material. 

And Lexy knew this all too well. 

He himself had complained about the story of the Unicorn, Cheetah, Fennec Fox, Wolf and Peacock getting "old and predictable by now".

So Lexy had an idea.

A stupid idea.

A trip to the library.

A best friends' trip to the library.

"I can grab some cool books, you can check out the non-fiction section." Lexy told Jerri.

So here the girls were.

Lexy was already looking through some children's books from her own youth. She also found some newer bedtime stories.

She just needed to put her pencil to paper and write.

That shouldn't be too hard to do...

Right?

WRONG!

That was the problem with ADHD.

She WANTED to do it. 

She WANTED to help MM come up with a new story.

But her BRAIN had other ideas.

It kept telling her NOT to write.

It kept the led of the pencil tip FROM touching notebook paper.

And honestly, Lexy was going crazy.

She needed inspiration.

Again, her brain had other ideas.

The quietness of the library, being alone with her devices, and the stress-

She soon let out a small yawn, covered by her mouth.

"Something wrong?" Jerri asked, carrying a pile of history books.

"... no..." Lexy lied.

"Oh? What's this?" Jerri put the books on the table before picking up one of the books Lexy chose. 

"MM never told you?"

"Never told me what?"

"He's been looking for new material for a while."

"What type of material?"

"I dunno, and my brain has no ideas either." 

"I'm not good at telling bedtime stories, Lex."

"I heard you read to the cat before." Lexy smiled tiredly.

Yes, her own yawn had made her tired. Which was new, for her.

"Uh, what books did you get?" Lexy shook her head aggressively before trying to look a bit more awake.

"Oh, I am soooooooooo glad you asked!" Jerri began. "Oh! Here's Beethoven's biography. Lemme read it to you."

Lexy sighed, leaning on her right hand as she listened.

"Ludwig Van Beethoven, born 1770 to 1827..." 

Lexy tried to focus, honest, she did.

But something about the monotony of a dead person's biography was doing everything EXCEPT aiding her fight to stay awake.

...

"... at 21, Beethoven moved to Vienna and studied alongside Haydn..."

...

"... in 1800, the First Symphony was premiered... uh, Lexy, you still listening?"

Lexy was quiet, by now. Eyes closed, breathing steady, mind at ease.

"Lexy? Oh... oh my..." Jerri gasped to herself. "Did... did I do that?"

She shrugged to herself and kept reading to herself.

~~~

Lexy gasped a little as she found herself rocking in a wooden rowboat, a full moon in the sky and stars decorating said sky with its various constellations.

She looked over the edge of said boat.

Yes, she was actually floating in space.

And breathing in space, too!

She never had this dream before, so clearly her mind was thinking of something genius.

Her Togedemaru was there, too, as her companion.

"Togedemaru!"

It was alive!

"Quiet you, I think this dream is prophetic." Lexy shushed it.

Before she knew it, the boat stopped rocking and instead began moving forward at a slow pace.

Usually Lexy found long trips to be a "big, loud, non-relaxing snore", but not this one.

This one was magical, wonderful, she didn't wanna wake up.

"Ooooooh!"

"Hey look! There's the moon! And the Big Dipper!" Lexy lit up as she pointed out every planet, moon, star and constellation she knew.

The plushie clapped its little paws excitedly.

"I know, pretty cool." Lexy smiled as the two curled up inside said boat, just watching the always-changing sky.

They must've been space-gazing for a few hours, before Lexy began feeling light and funny.

"I think I'm waking up..." she smiled.

"Hopefully I remember this dream AND my brain lets me write it down!"

---

"... mmmph?" Lexy let out a small groan as she awoke.

Everything felt so... whimsy and lighthearted.

Exactly like the type of dream you never wanna forget.

"... after several months, a carbonized bamboo filament was tested on by Edison and his team. Said bamboo was able to last over 1,200 hours. I think that's the same as 50 days..."

"Wha-" she rubbed her eyes. "Oh, right, right. Still in the library." 

Lexy tapped the table a few times, grabbing Jerri's attention.

"Oh! Lexy, you're awake." Jerri said, lowering the book she was currently reading, showing her smile.

A genuine smile. Flaws on display, without shame.

"I'm gonna need a pencil and a notebook, stat-" Lexy grinned. "I had inspiration for MM's stories."

"Oh?"

That was all Lexy had to say to grab Jerri's full attention.

And Lexy went right to writing. "Okay! So it's about this fox. Common fox, but purple. But not Barney-the-Dinosaur-purple. More like mystical-purple." 

"Uh, cool? I think? Slow down, maybe?"

"So, anyways, the fox... Imma call him Dreamy, haaates going to bed at night."

"Like you do?"

"Don't call me out, yet." Lexy playfully blew a raspberry. "So, anyways, this teal momma fox tells Dreamy all about how wonderful dreaming is, then Dreamy falls asleep and has the most amazing dream of a rowboat ride in space-"

Lexy paused. 

"Save your breath, I know there's no oxygen in space, nor can rowboats WORK in space. It's a bedtime story for MM. Dunno why he needs a new one so badly."

"Okay..." Jerri glanced at one of the bedtime stories Lexy had chosen. "Can I... look at that one? The one with the rabbit on the cover?"

"Sure, help yourself." Lexy was busy writing. "So then Dreamy reaches a milky way, realizes he's thirsty and wakes up, heads to the kitchen-"

"-no kitchens in fox lairs. Get your facts together."

"You said a similar thing the first time MM told the story of the five animals. And besides, you're reading a bedtime story because it caught your eye."

"It looks interesting- and it's mostly factually accurate! Woodland animals do NOT wear pajamas though." 

Lexy nodded as she kept writing. She wrote until she could write no more, and by the, her story was-

"Finished!" she beamed. "MM is gonna love it!"

Smiling, Lexy went to put most of the books she sought references from back on the book cart.

Jerri took a few history books and the 'Goodnight Woodland' book to the checkout though.

"Ma'am, do you have a library card?"

Lexy handed hers over. "Just put it on my card, okay?"

---

Lexy smiled, reading her surprise for MM aloud to Jerri on the bus ride home.

It was pretty effective at emitting cozy vibes, as Lexy had to keep Jerri from dozing off and missing any of the story.

And as soon as the girls got home, Lexy rushed up to MM as he sat in the armchair, while Jerri instantly headed upstairs for a proper nap.

"I made you something. You said your animal story was starting to get old. Didn't ya? Well TADA!" Lexy grinned.

MM smiled to himself. "You wrote this?"

"Yep! Came to me in a nap!"

"I can't wait to read it, then."

"Really? It's suuuuuuuuuuper effective, heads up."

This statement was soon confirmed by the sound of a door slamming from upstairs, followed by the unmistakable sound of a body going limp and books going flying on the ground.

"Thank you for testing the waters." MM patted Lexy's head.

Chapter Text

A quiet night.

That was what MM was expecting as he and Avery watched the girls while Misty had a night game.

"Who do you wanna tuck in, tonight?" asked MM. 

"I'm fine with either." Avery said. 

"Well, I've calculated the pros and cons of putting both girls to bed-"

"-pssst, the girls are glaring at us right now." 

MM looked over at both girls. Sure enough, they were both staring at the two.

"Just read it over and make your decision." MM said. "I can calm both girls down effectively."

Avery nodded and did so. "Going over the pros and cons..."

"I'm comfortable with handling either one, Ave."

---

The pros of putting Lexy down for the night involve the workout one gets when trying to usher her back to bed, plus the satisfaction of finally tucking her in.

Seriously, once Lexy starts yawning, it's time to get her up to bed with a warm "goodnight" as you dim the lights. 

Just don't be surprised if you end up feeling drowsy afterwards. Her yawns are as infectious as the common cold.

And here are the cons of putting Con to bed.

She does enjoy stalling bedtime by getting up outta bed and then, when caught, comes up with an excuse like "I forgot to brush my teeth", "I got thirsty" or, my personal favorite, "I misplaced Togedemaru... again".

For that last excuse, all you gotta do is point at it, sitting on her desk and watch her make up some excuse on why she didn't see it there (usually she'll blame her messy room and then stall bedtime even more by cleaning up different parts of her room).

"Interesting..."

"Glad you think so, Avery."

On the other hand, Jerri's a either a lot easier to put down or a nightmare.

If she passes out somewhere, don't be afraid to either carry her to bed or let her sleep in her newly made bed. If she's just starting to tire out near bedtime, however, just pacify her with a warm blanket and maybe a history book or two, and watch her heart flutter.

However, there are its cons. Namely from how unhinged she gets when she's overly tired. Do not give her any messy food, when she's in this state (it's best for her to skip dinner, if over-exhaustion creeps in before dinnertime).  

But on the other side, no matter how sleepy she is, you will wanna avoid cuddling Jerri to help her settle down. Unless you're touch-starved and want to be cuddled all night long, be very careful when tucking her in. If you do not mind cuddles, ignore my comment.

"Hmmmm..."

---

Lexy grinned and leaned over. "Pssst, Jerri!"

"Yeah?"

"I got an idea!"

"What is it?"

"Let's stay up just a little later, give MM and Avery a run for their money!"

"..." Jerri blinked at Lexy's comment.

"Whatta ya think?" Lexy grinned.

"They're being paid to watch us tonight? We're all fully grown adults."

"Yep!"

"I'll take Jerri. Not really in the mood for playing chase with Lexy." Avery told MM. "Besides, you're not the only one in this house with a soothing voice."

MM nodded his... head? "So I'll handle Lexy and her many stalling tactics. I can do that, easy peasy." 

Lexy grinned. "I am sooooooo gonna drive MM insane."

"I dunno, Lex. Once he tells the story of the Unicorn, Cheetah, Fennec Fox, Wolf and Peacock, it's lights out."

"Pffft, that's a you thing. I got a few tricks up my sleeves to stall bedtime, too."

"Lex-"

"I'll show the house what I'm capable of!"

"... okay, but don't rope me into your antics. Okay?"

"Not my fault you can fall asleep sitting up." Lexy playfully teased.

"Hey!"

Lexy blew a raspberry, cheeky and playful.

"Oh you little troublemaker!" Jerri's feisty side had come out to play, involuntarily...

...if her grabbing a pillow to whack the younger girl with was any indicator.

"Let's give them a bit of chaos-causing time before they need to jammy up." Avery told MM.

"Always do."

A giggle escaped Lexy's lips. "I surrender, Rigster! I surrender!"

"You better, Lexy." Jerri smiled, before shaking her head for a second. 

"Oh, what was that?" Avery wondered.

"A sign that..." MM cleared his throat. "Maybe you girls should consider getting in your pajamas, soon."

"Boooooo!" hissed Lexy.

"No fair." Jerri sulked.

"Don't you have those new pajamas you bought, Lexy?" MM smirked, winking at Avery.

"Oh right!" and Lexy dashed off.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to get into my pajamas either, better than staring at the ceiling while waiting for Lexy to finish up." Jerri shrugged.

---

"I'm aaaaaaaaaaaall jammied up!" Lexy ran down the stairs in a cheetah onesie, dusty blond with brown spots, a tail and a hood that included cheetah ears.

"Hey! Wait up." Jerri mused, climbing on the banister before sliding down, landing with a front flip (that almost ended in her stumbling onto her stomach). She didn't choose anything as wild as Lexy did. Just an oversized, faded-pink pajama top with a red clock on it, and some dark red pajama bottoms to match the color scheme of pinks/reds.

"And down they come." MM mused. "Looking great, Lexy."

"Thanks, MM!"

"Look at me, too." Jerri smiled. "It's not as grand as Lexy chose, but it's snug and cozy and I love it."

MM gave a small smile. He knew Lexy.

She definitely skipped out on brushing her teeth, whether to stall bedtime or because she genuinely forgot to do so.

Seriously, that girl had serious FOMO.

"Ten more minutes, girls. Then it's time to start getting ready for bed." MM said.

The ten minutes warning was for Lexy, since he was gonna be handling her tonight.

"Now this is when you usually give the heads up. Add your own musical twist to it, if need be, but make the warning clear."

"Ten more minutes, Jerri." Avery commented.

"Oh! Okay!" Jerri nodded, shaking her head again.

"Second thought, make that nine minutes." he winced a little.

MM nodded his head as if to say 'good call'.

---

"Hey Lexy, you know what time it is?" MM asked.

Lexy nodded. "Oh I am ready to tire you out silly, MM!"

"I knew you'd say that, so let's do this!" and MM teleported away.

"That's cheating, MM!"

Avery nodded to himself as Jerri sat on the ground, rocking herself forward and backward.

"Hey, we getting tired over here?" Avery asked.

"Maybe a little." Jerri mused. "I got enough fuel in the tank left."

"Helmet. I don't trust your verbal statement alone."

Jerri groaned, taking it off. "It's my left eye you're supposed to look at, remember. Blind in the right one."

Avery nodded. The time she explained, half asleep, that she was blind in one eye, was... well... pretty interesting.

"Okay, let's see..." Avery moved a finger left and right.

Jerri's eye followed it, despite threatening to flutter shut.

"Come on, Miss Rig, let's getcha into bed-"

"I AM NEVER GOING TO BED!"

Lexy's giggles were heard as she chased MM around, the pair of eyes continuing to teleport around the house.

"Was I addressing you, Lexy?" Avery snarked. "Anyways, Jerri, I think we should get you upstairs before-"

He sighed as he glanced at her. 

"-you crash out. Are... you already asleep?"

Her head jerked up from leaning forwards in her lap.

"Not anymore!"

"You're biting your inner cheek, I take it."

"Yep..."

Avery sighed. "Come on, it's night-night time."

"... fine, you win, Ave."

She tried to stand up but couldn't, for the life of her.

"I got an idea." Avery said.

---

"Wow, good idea." MM commented, looking at the blankets and pillows laid out. One for each of them.

"Win win." Avery said, helping Jerri lay down. "Okay, helmet off... and down we go..."

Did she doze off waiting for Avery to finish getting the setup set up? Yes.

Lexy, however, still had energy for days.

"She'll be snoring soon, too, after my story." MM said. 

"And if not?"

"Then you have full permission to sing her a lullaby." 

Avery smiled to himself. "You've got a deal."

And MM began telling a whimsical tale about a little girl going on an adventure to find 'slumberland', as the protagonist thought it was a real place far, far away.

Ironically, he put himself to sleep, as his body collapsed onto his purple blanket.

"Leave it to Avery." Avery smiled.

"Dash, zip, run

Behold the setting sun

It's time to rest

Your sleepyhead

So lay upon

Your blanket bed and

Hush, hush, hush..." he sang.

Lexy was beginning to doze off, so Avery sang more.

"Snooze, dream, sleep

Within a slumber deep

The moon is glowing in the sky

So listen to my lullaby and

Hush, hush, hush..."

She was nearly asleep now, mumbling something about wanting a drink.

Avery still got her a cup, to be nice.

"Doze, nap, snore

Bedtime's come, once more

So now it's time to say goodnight

As I turn on a little light

Hush, hush hush

Hush... hush... hush"

And Lexy was out.

So Avery leaned over, nudging MM.

"Mmmph?"

"We did it." Avery whispered.

"We... make a good team."

Chapter Text

Usually, MM lived for nights like these. Usually. I mean, it was business as usual. 

Mistress was sprawled on the couch, on her back, hind legs twitching periodically as she slept.

Lexy was sleeping in the arm chair, leaning to her right. Despite being the embodiment of chaos while awake, she was as quiet as a mouse when asleep...

... which juxtaposed Jerri, curled up on Misty's tummy, snoring just a little bit louder than usual.

And Avery was slumped on the rug, face-down on his tummy. He was humming some soft melody while Doc Meow made himself comfy on the male's back, purring contently.

So here was MM, sitting next to Lexy, playing with her loose blond hair as she slept. He didn't have much to do, anyways.

At least, that's what he thought.

After all, the others had only recently dozed off, and-

"... no... no...no...NO!"

-hold that thought.

MM looked up curiously. He could've sworn he heard something.

And based on how Doc twitched his right ear, he heard it too.

"...mrowr?" the cat awoke, sleepily making biscuits on Avery's back.

"Go back to sleep, Doc, it's not feeding time." Avery murmured.

"NONONONONONONO!"

 THAT woke him up faster than a smoke detector.

"GET AWAY! GET AWAY! I SAID 'GET AWAY'!"

[punch]

If the sudden fire Misty blew out of shock as she awoke, followed by her rubbing a spot on her tummy, said anything, it said one thing.

They knew who was responsible.

"Jerri?" Misty looked down. "Jerri?"

"NO, NONONONONONONONO!"

"Jerri, wake up... you're having a bad dream." 

Jerri just began screaming into Misty's stomach... and yes, it did wake Lexy up, but not enough for her to register a thing.

"Jerri..." Mistress' voice got a bit louder.

MM cleared his throat. "Whatever you do, don't wake her up, Misty. As counterproductive as it may seem, it's best to not disturb her."

Avery tilted his head. "Why not?"

"Just...it'll pass." MM reassured.

"But-"

"NONONONO... no... no..." the redhead began to settle back down, still a bit restless. Still with distressed snores. But by now, she was one bad twitch away from falling onto the floor.

But hey, progress is progress.

"Phew..." MM sighed in relief.

"What was that noise?" Lexy murmured, trying to stifle a yawn.

"That, my friend, is what we in the business call... a night terror."

"A what?" Lexy rubbed her eyes.

"Is that like a nightmare?" Avery asked, curiosity peeked as Doc scrambled over onto Misty's tummy, curling up to Jerri.

MM shook his head. "No, Avery. If it was a nightmare, she'd have jolted awake by now. She just had a really bad dream during Non-REM sleep."

"English, please?" Lexy yawned.

"Jerri just had a really bad dream. She won't remember it when she wakes up, however, as it didn't happen during REM sleep. That's the time when we dream our most vivid dreams."

"Ohhhhhhh..." Lexy was waking up a bit more, by now.

"However, due to the scare said nightmare caused US, it might take the four of us-"

[hiss]

"-five. Sorry, Doc. It might take the five of us forever and a half to settle back down."

Misty nodded, wincing at the bruise forming on her stomach. "Yikes..."

"That, my draconic friend, is common within the night terror. Screaming, thrashing, a few stray tears..." he gently lifted Jerri's helmet with his telepathy. "I think she's settling back as we speak. her breathing still sounds distraught, but she's stationary now."

"Good for her, bad for the rest of us." Avery groaned. 

"How're we supposed to go back to sleep?" Lexy asked.

Doc blinked, before licking Jerri's palm. It seemed to calm her down a bit more.

MM paused, then headed to the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with four cups of hot cocoa, some cookies and a piece of bacon for Doc. He then grabbed the first aid kit and applied some ointment to the forming bruise Mistress had sustained.

"Thanks, MM." Mistress groaned a little.

"You're welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me...I have a spell I really wanna check out right now."

He hoped it worked, as he got cozy on the armchair with Lexy as she dunked a cookie in her cup of hot cocoa.

'Well, here goes nothing...'

He closed his eyes, ready for anything.

~~~

His eyes opened, and he was sitting atop a shelf above a cuckoo clock, overlooking a very crowdy, messy basement.

"By Jove, it works." he said quietly.

By now, he looked more human, with raisin-purple skin, midnight black hair and a mid purple and white vertical stripe nightgown with fuzzy purple slippers and an indigo-purple cape with white fluff surrounding the edges.

Now, he had to find her.

"HEY! Uh... I mean, alright, state your name and time era."

MM didn't need to look below him to know that he just found Jerri, standing behind him with a bright red axe in both hands.

"St-st-stand back... I am not afraid to get violent..." 

He slowly got off the shelf and floated over a la Peter Pan.

"Jerri, it's okay-"

"How... do you know my name?"

"It's okay, it's okay... what happened?"

"I... I can't remember... o-one minute, I'm grabbing some extra waffles from the freezer..."

"Mm hmm..."

"... then I wake up on the ground, with an axe in my hands..."

"It's okay to be afraid, right now..."

"..."

She dropped the axe, with shaky hands.

"Can I get you anything? Glass of milk? A warm blankie? Some pillows? Just say the word."

"I just... I'm scared..."

"Hey, Jerri, can you look at my nose for a second?" MM cooed.

He knew how she felt about making eye contact with him. Especially when his eyes were all silvery.

So he figured she still felt the same way, during slumber.

"Okay...looking at your nose." she closed her right eye extra tight as she did so.

MM sighed. "Jerri, it's me. Master Mentalist. No need to hide your eye."

And the facade just broke as she crumpled to the ground and cried.

"Hey, it's okay..." MM cooed as he walked over and sat beside her. "Shhhh... there there."

"... I'm not normal... normal people don't forget their dreams. Normal people don't wear helmets to hide a blind eye. Normal people don't act all crazy when they're sleepy-" she took the helmet off.

"Jerri, you don't need to act normal for us. We love you, flaws and all-"

"-normal people don't fall asleep in the dryer..."

MM remembered THAT incident. Misty kept a very watchful eye on her for the next two and a half weeks, especially when doing laundry.

"Ah, you're stressing over that up-and-coming polysomnography, huh?" he realized.

"It... it... strangers will see me vulnerable. They'll stick wires all over my face and head. And I can't take it at home. I can't do it, Mentalist."

"It's not for another month and a half." MM said. "But it has to be done. It's like wisdom tooth removal or getting your tonsils out-"

'Way to fuck it up, Martin, you don't know her medical history pre-amnesia.'

Silence, as Jerri cried into his chest. 

"-you know what, if crying helps you feel better, just cry it all out, then." 

And cry it all out, she did.

...

She cried until her eyes drooped.

"I think a change in scenery might help." MM suggested, handing her back her helmet.

"Will... will you stay..." Jerri seemed a lot more frail now.

He sighed and nodded. "Yes. Daddy's right here."

"How long will you stay?"

"Just until you feel serene enough. Can I get a 'pow-pow'?"

"No pow-pow. Not yet."

"Understandable." MM nodded, brushing her hair as the two were suddenly teleported to a fluffy lavender cloud in the sky, a giant, Victorian styled castle in the distance.

"Oh?"

MM smiled to himself, undoing his cape and wrapping Jerri in it. "Shhhhhh, just lay your body down."

"Okay." Jerri mused sadly, doing so.

The cloud... moved. She was not expecting that to happen.

"And I'll stay here until you feel more 'pow-pow', finger guns and all." MM reassured.

Jerri nodded. "Oh, that's cool, MM... do... but... this is gonna sound childish..."

He inhaled quietly. "Once, there was a fennec fox who lived by herself in a cozy, small lair..."

...

This pair of silver eyes talked and talked for what seemed like an hour, creating a story of a fennec fox going on a grand adventure all by herself and facing all sorts of obstacles along the way. 

...

"... and the fennec fox went back home to her lair and promptly fell asleep, dreaming about the big day she had. The End." MM finished.

"Thanks, you big showoff... I feel... I feel..." a yawn escaped her lips. "...I feel a lot better."

"Ah, I can tell. And, based on how long it's been, REM sleep is coming up. Ergo, if you want, I'll let you be live out a wild dream."

"Pow p-wait! What if-"

"We're still in the living room, if you need us."

"... I owe you one. How do you like your egg sandwiches, again?" Jerri asked, handing him his cape back.

"Scrambled is good with me." MM said.

"Pow-pow. I better go live out my wildest dreams, see ya."

"Sweet dreaming, Jerri."

"... night, MM. And thanks again. I feel so much better now."

"I know..." a small smile brushed his face as he faded away.

---

[blink, blink, blink]

"What happened?" Lexy asked MM as he yawned.

"I... I did it..." MM smiled tiredly. "I... I can..."

"I don't know what you did, MM, but she's sound asleep again." Mistress smiled. 

"Why thank you. Albeit, can I ask the three of you a question?"

"Oh, okay."

"Fine..."

"This better be good."

"Permission to enter your dreams, tonight? I'm kind of intrigued." he handed out three slips of paper.

"Will this involve-"

"No, Misty, I will not be waking you three up beforehand. Otherwise said dream will fade away from your minds forever. So please, ponder this carefully."

"You got my approval, MM. Besides... 'm pooped." Lexy said. 

Chapter Text

MM inhaled to himself as he watched Lexy sleep.

Small smile on her face. Eyes fluttering gently. Very soft breathing. Barely any movement.

"Is this really the Lexy Conn who's known for her chaos?" Avery joked, sitting on the rug with his empty cup of cocoa.

"Shhhhh, she's just entered REM sleep. Time for me to see what I can do."

"Good luck, MM." Mistress gave a sleepy wave before giving a small chuckle. 

[purrrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrr]

"Doc wants to partake in the Lethargy Link too, it appears." Avery whispered to the dragon.

Nodding, MM closed his eyes, hugging his Hatenna tightly.

Hey, if you're gonna dreamweave all night, best bring a buddy.

~~~

He arrived in a purely white room.

"Okay, uh... did I take a wrong turn?" MM asked himself. 

His human form was the same one he had on earlier in the night, when making sure Jerri was okay.

Shoot! He forgot to mention the human form to the others.

Oh well, he'll remember for Misty and Avery.

[Yaaaaaaaaaaawn]

And bursting onto the scene in a handful of sparks, was Lexy. 

Still in her pajamas.

Still with her hair down.

She was just... really calm.

Usually a calm Lexy is bottling her emotions until they tip over.

MM learnt this after a really bad night where Lexy could not fall asleep.

To make a long story short, she had the mother of all nightmares. Heavy emphasis on "mother".

But here, in this white room that would make an insane asylum envious...

... she was calm.

So he was ready for anything.

"Ah, so this is your dreamscape, I take it." MM said. "I was honestly expecting a lot more color."

Lexy nodded calmly as she summoned some paints with the same sparks.

She also remembered paintbrushes.

"No comments on my appearance?"

"Your eyes give you away, MM. Even in a human form."

Her voice was calm. Probably due to drowsiness. 

"Thank you, Lexy. I am glad to see you recognize my eyes, as they play a crucial role in my game."

"Uh huh. Keep talking." Lexy mused as she grabbed a paintbrush and dipped it gently in green paint, then using said paint to create a hill overlooking a city.

At least, that's what it looked like to poor Master Mentalist.

"Where's your spark, Lexy? Your pizzazz? Your get-up-and-go?" he wondered.

"Meh, probably still sleeping." Lexy shrugged, grabbing a brush and dipping it in brown paint. "Why?"

"You're quite quiet in this dream. It's not my presence, is it?"

"Nah. Sometimes I just dream calm things." Lexy said, with a small smile. "My doctor says having calming, screen-free hobbies helps with calming down."

"That's true." MM nodded. "Especially close to bedtime."

He paused. "So...what's that you're painting?"

"A tree." Lexy said.

MM nodded. So it was going to be a tree overlooking a city, probably.

"I was expecting brighter lights, loud bubblegum pop music and some 80s nightclub... not... uh... what is this?"

Lexy was too busy painting to answer.

So MM just watched and waited until she finished.

"There! Whatta ya think?"

It was a simple tree. Just a few strokes of brown paint before she went wild with the green, again.

But even then, she was calm.

"Nice tree, Lexy." MM praised.

"Thanks, MM." she smiled, before continueing to paint.

First, she added buildings for the tree to overlook, then added a blackbird on a branch and some lavender clouds.

Now she was painting a yellow crescent moon, as well as flicking a paintbrush to decorate the walls in yellow 'stars'.

"Oh my." MM gave a small laugh.

"Now it's all starting to shape up."

Smiling, she tapped her left foot, sparks going up her body as she slowly transformed into her day clothes like a Pretty Cure protagonist.

Her hair was still down, though.

"You're enjoying this dream, huh?" MM was humored.

"Yep. Now I'm ready for one of my favorite things!" 

She painted an outline of a door with a thin paintbrush, neatly dipped in black paint.

The door turned into a full-on wooden door, with a golden doorknob.

"Follow me!" Lexy's voice picked up the tempo.

A smile crossed MM's lips. "Oh?"

And Lexy opened the door, revealing the arcade on the other side.

"I guess I should say I was expecting this, but everything was so calm, just now. What's up, Alexis?"

Yes, Lexy had let slip her full name once, when SHE was half asleep and thought Misty hated her.

---

[LX] WELL AT LEAST NONE OF YOU CALL ME 'ALEXIS' WHEN I FUCK SHIT UP!

[MS] You didn't mess up, Lexy, you didn't mean to track mud in the house-

[LX] THAT WAS A NEW RUG, AND I RUINED IT!

[MS] It was bound to get dirty eventually.

[AV] Did you just say your name's 'Alexis'?

[LX] YES! I DID! FUCK! I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT!

[LX] I... I... I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT!

---

 "..." Lexy looked away for a second.

"Is this about my presence?"

"No. I don't mind-mind it. It's just..."

"You can tell me anything, I won't tell a soul."

"... is it weird that I KNOW I'm dreaming, right now?"

"Oh! No, that's not weird at all."

"Really?"

MM shook his head. "You're lucid dreaming. That means you're aware that you're dreaming. You can control the narrative, now."

"Oh, so that's what this is. I just thought I was going crazy. I mean, I already am cra-"

"You are not crazy. You're just wired differently. We accept you, even when HER comments make you doubt yourself."

"You mean it?"

"Yes. Misty, Jerri, Avery and I have put up with you for two years. We enjoy your energy and the unique charm you bring to the team. Now go enjoy the dream arcade, Lexy. Cause something tells me you'll have a fun story to tell at breakfast, tomorrow."

"Thanks, MM."

Smiling, Lexy hugged him before walking through the door. 

MM smiled, watching her from the doorway. "Happy lucid dreaming, Lexy!"

She had already made her way to a racing game, ready to explore the world of lucid dreaming.

"My work here is done..."

He paused, picked up a paintbrush and dipped it in indigo paint, painting a picture of himself and Avery.

Well, the two of them were stick figures...

... but still.

"Heh..." he smiled before fading away.

---

"Lexy behaving herself?" asked Mistress as MM stretched his eyebrows.

"She is, don't worry."

"We won't, Avery and I." 

"What's she dreaming about?" Avery asked.

"... very interesting stuff, if she wants to spill the beans in the morning, so be it." MM confirmed. "Now, who's next?"

[mrrrrrrrrrrrowrl]

"No, it's not feeding time." Avery sighed. "Oh, you want down?"

He walked over and helped the tabby off Misty's tummy.

And Doc Meow instantly leapt into Lexy's lap, curling up for company.

Lexy smiled in her sleep as a faint snore exited her mouth, her left foot twitching happily.

Chapter Text

Well, Mistress was toast. That was all you needed to know.

Especially since Jerri was settled back into a happy dream, fists clutching Misty's hoodie tightly.

"Heh... good little time traveler..." Mistress murmured before looking at MM. "Yes, you can go in my dreams... I'm almost lulled, anyways."

"That might take a while. REM sleep only happens about an hour and a half after dozing off."

"Okay..." Misty nodded, before yawning. "I'll be ready."

MM nodded as he fluffed up Misty's pillow. "And please, try not to freak over my appearance, when we meet again. I neglected to warn Lexy about that."

Lexy giggled in her sleep as Doc Meow purred merrily.

"Okay..." Mistress let out a yawn.

"See you in about 90 minutes." MM whispered as her breathing slowly evened out, now taking slow, deep breaths.

Well, might as well USE those 90 minutes to watch the stars.

He smiled and set an alarm before peeking out the curtain.

The stars did look lovely, this time of night, all bright and shiny and twinkly.

And the moon was just perfect, too. The perfect night to take it slow and just... relax.

...

*bzzt bzzt bzzt*

"100 minutes already, noted."

Yes, he gave Misty an extra 10 minutes to settle into a dream.

What're you gonna do about it?

~~~

Once again, he found himself on the island.

But that wasn't all he saw.

He saw... everyone evacuating.

Misty looked pretty distraught, helping some Oni onto her back. "Don't cry, don't cry, we'll get everyone to safety."

"Misty?" MM asked quietly. 

She didn't hear him.

"Mistress?"

Still nothing.

He inhaled.

"Mesei?"

She looked over. "WE'VE GOT TO GET EVERYONE TO THE SHELTER!"

"What?"

"NOW!"

MM shrugged and floated after her as they reached a storm shelter near a mountain.

"Misty, what's going-"

She promptly grabbed him by the collar and dragged him in the shelter. Right on time, too.

A giant wave crashed into the mountain.

"Tsunami." MM told himself. Time to spring into action.

*SNAP*

He teleported the two of them to a dark-indigo sky, lavender clouds everywhere, a clear crystal lake and a shiny silvery staircase leading to-

-that castle, Victorian style... yep...

"I've been here earlier..." MM nodded to himself. "This must be some kinda dreamweaving sanctuary..."

Mistress just looked around nervously, breathing heavily.

"Bad dream, I understand."

An awkward silence MM hasn't experienced since... well...

He inhaled.

"Can you breathe in real deep, like this?"

He took four seconds to inhale, seven seconds to hold the breath in, then eight seconds to slowly exhale.

It took a lot of reassuring (and a few near-fires) that he was sure Misty did not register, but eventually, slowly, she began to settle down.

"... huh?" Mistress paused. "MM! I am so sorry you had to see me like this-"

He's definitely experienced this song and dance before.

"It's okay, you were having a nightmare, Misty."

"I... I was?"

MM nodded his head. "You may not have registered it, but I was assisting you in a breathing exercise."

He gave a small chuckle, and reassuring eyes.

"No comment on what you just saw?"

"Why would I need to comment?"

"I am the team mom. You've heard the girls."

Yeah. Sometimes the girls slip up and call Mistress 'mom' by mistake. Usually in the heat of the moment.

"I cannot show fear."

"Fear is a natural reaction to danger, Mesei."

He paused.

"Remember what happened with the you-know-what?"

Mistress' eyes shrunk as she remembered that day.

She remembered sitting on the floor, watching Avery read a book to Lexy

She remembered thinking it was nice, seeing the two bonding.

Her thoughts then strayed to wondering where the others were.

Then she heard a metal-on-metal sound from inside the dryer...

"You couldn't find us. Then, when you heard the dreaded noise, you instantly sprung into action. I never heard your heart beat so loudly, before that day." MM said. "Then again, I never hid in your hoodie until that day."

Mistress nodded, looking at her hoodie. 

"You're worried." MM said. "So I take it the night terror shook you up just as badly. Makes sense, since you got bruised in the process."

"I promised to keep all of you safe... and I failed."

"No you didn't." MM said. "What happened was sudden and occurred without warning. Besides, despite how hypocritical it was to let her keep thrashing, waking her would've made things worse. You kept all of us safe, after all."

She seemed a bit uncertain.

"I just... what if something happens to one of you and I'm not able to keep you guys safe?"

"Well, we're still here, are we not?" MM reassured.

"Somehow. Those girls have a taste for danger."

MM paused. "I have an idea."

'Let's see what's inside the castle'

*SNAP*

The two teleported inside a cozy chamber, a king sized bed in the center, with a light blue and orange blanket on it.

"Huh?" Mistress asked.

"Interesting setup, I'll have to examine this thoroughly..." MM said as Misty slowly got on said bed, laying on her back. "Okay Misty... I want you to imagine yourself atop the hill back at Tee Shirt Island..."

Mistress nodded, a bit nervous.

"A calm night sky, laughter all around, you cozy on the grass, the blades gently tickling your tummy..."

MM smiled as he kept talking softly.

"And we're all gathered, watching the fireworks show together. Lexy complaining about the taste of Avery's drink..."

"Ramune, MM."

"Riiiiiiiight. Ramune. That grape Ramune did taste quite refreshing."

"The watermelon Ramune was pretty nice, too."

"Now where was I? Oh, right. Just reflect back on us all on that hill. Lexy's regretting having traded Ramune with Avery. Jerri looks like hell, cuddled up to you and near ready to pass out. And then Avery has me wrapped in a hug while we all watch the fireworks. I give you curious eyes while you explain the history of the fireworks show. We're all curled up together, all enjoying each others' company... and come morning, we'll all be together, to enjoy a brand new day."

Misty nodded as her eyes fluttered a bit. 

"I think you're ready to return back to dreamland." MM nodded. 

"... I am."

"Goodnight, Mistress. I love you." MM cooed.

---

MM gave a small yawn as he shook his "head".

"How's Misty?" he asked Avery.

"She's settled down, alright." Avery gave a reassuring smile. "Look at her. Comfy cozy, not a worry in the world."

MM knew the truth-

-but would he tell Avery?

No. Not yet.

Chapter Text

"I'm next, huh?" Avery sighed to himself.

"Yes, now pick your poison. Do you wanna sleep on the armchair with Lexy OR on the rug while I read to you?"

"I'll take the rug."

"Very well, then."

"Mrowr?" Doc Meow asked, slowly lifting his head up.

"It's okay, Doc." Avery cooed. "Just go back to sleep. It's all gonna be okay."

[purrrrrrrrrrr]

The purring made Lexy's eyes flutter open before they dropped back down like sandbags.

A smille crossed MM's "face", gently levitating Jerri for a hot minute while he placed a unit of a blanket on Misty. "And down we-"

[yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn]

"-go..." MM paused. "Avery, please tell me that was you who yawned."

"Beg pardon?"

"Oh dear." 

MM gulped as he kept Jerri hovering in mid air. To his panic, the eye on her helmet was a very skinny rectangle. And she was humming tiredly.

"Shhhhhh! Shhhhhhh! It's not morning yet." MM cooed. "Close your eyes, drift back off-"  

"... wa'ch out fo' 'mpos'ers an' beware o' t' Tiiiiiiiiiiiime Loop..."

"Phew, she's still out of it." MM lowered Jerri back on Misty's stomach. "It's okay, back to dreamland..."

A small murmur escaped her lips as the red LED eye fluttered shut.

"That was close."

Avery nodded as he placed the armchair's blanket around Lexy and Doc Meow. "You're good at acting calm, but what in the name of the Great Cycle WAS that?"

"Funnily enough, we call that cycling through a sleep cycle. Look closely, both members of the Science Duo are both at either square 1 or square 2." MM said, placing a blanket on Jerri. "Meanwhile, Misty's either still in REM sleep or has transitioned to N3 sleep."

"How often do you watch us sleep, for you to know each stage and how we respond?"

"Often. But that's obvious. Ready to seek out slumber?"

Avery nodded. "Do your worst, MM."

MM nodded, just humming to himself.

He heard the tune before. He liked it. It was cute, he would only admit in secret.

And soon-

~~~

"Welp, shit, we're in the forest." MM told himself as he clutched his fluffy cape for dear life.

Avery was just sitting up in a tree branch, overlooking a bunch of birds trying to sing for their lives.

A smile crossed his mouth. "Hey there."

"Oh, hey dear."

Floating over, MM sighed, before getting comfy on the branch.

"Enjoying the dream so far?"

"Just started dreaming, actually."

"Oh, my apologies-"

MM paused. "Did... did..."

Yes, he did lull himself to sleep, too.

Well, why try to fight it?

"Come on." Avery smiled. "Wanna explore it together?"

"Sure." MM said. "Thoughts on this form?"

"You look somehow even cozier."

"I do?" he blushed as the two flew off the branch, then began wandering around. "You dream about this place often?"

"Yeah, I do."

"It is quite cozy here, and serene."

"Just like your voice."

"Huh?"

"I bet you could read a shopping list aloud and knock us all out while doing so."

A laugh escaped his lips. Warm, hearty, bold.

Maybe he could get used to Avery's dreams. They weren't too cacophonic, nor were they too stimulating or horrific.

It was just ideal for a (literal) dream date.

And if MM was honest, he didn't want to leave-

---

-fate had other plans, though.

[mrowr? mrowr?]

MM's eyes fluttered open sleepily as Doc Meow pawed at his "cheek".

"Now what, you needy feline?"

[mrowr]

MM did not speak cat.

"Do... what do you want?"

The cat meowed even louder.

"Doc, please...I can't speak cat."

And like a cannonball, Doc rushed to the armchair, where Lexy was half-awake, rubbing her eyes tiredly while nuzzling into her blanket.

"Oh..." MM sighed. "Everything okay? You were sleeping so soundly, before-"

Right, some people with ADHD have trouble STAYING asleep.

"I heard a sound and now..." Lexy murmured.

"Wanna snuggle with Avery and I?"

Lexy nodded tiredly as she hopped off the armchair and curled up to the two, Doc nuzzling into her arms.

"Now let's wrap you up snug..." MM cooed. "Lights out, Lex."

And he found himself quietly telling her an impromptu bedtime story.

~~~

Avery was just looking around confusedly, before MM reappeared in a puff of lavender smoke.

"What happened?" Avery asked.

"Lexy woke up, that's what happened." MM said. "Soooooooooooo... care to show me around?"

"I'd be delighted to."

Chapter Text

Smiling, Avery began to show MM around the forest, showing him different things for the next few hours.

"And here, we have-"

"Heh, this really is a nice dream." MM complimented.

"I'm flattered."

"As you should be." MM said before noticing the two of them begin to fade away. "Oh?"

"We're waking up, now."

"Ohhhhhhh!"

---

MM gave a tired yawn as he awoke, still curled up to Avery. Lexy was still cuddling Doc, but by now, Misty was curled up around them, with a relaxed smile on her face.

"Morning, you two." Mistress cooed.

"Oh... thanks..." MM stretched out with a yawn.

"Mmmmrph?" Avery asked, looking around. "Hey MM."

"Hey."

"Did you like wandering around the forest?"

"... as much as I hate admitting it- yes, I did."

Avery let out a small chuckle as Lexy stretched out, Doc wriggling out of her arms.

"Good morning..." Lexy smiled...

... as Doc Meow DASHED for the kitchen.

"What the-" asked Avery.

"HEY! I'm almost done, Doc. Cool your jets!"

"I have my theories." MM deadpanned as he got up off the ground, trudging over to the kitchen.

[purrrr-rrrrrrrrrrrrrr-rrrrrr]

"Sheesh, you really are needy, well just give me an extra three minutes!"

MM smiled, watching Doc rub up against Jerri's leg. "You're up early."

"I know, figured I'd make breakfast for you weirdos..." she looked away from the stove as she said that, but still kept a tight grip on the frying pan, a pancake cooking inside it. But she sure looked as if she were ashamed for caring. "Ugh... I swear to the timeline, I feel like I flew through space all night long."

MM nodded. "Well, uh... how'd you sleep?"

"... I guess it's all kinda fuzzy, MM, but I coulda sworn you were there." 

His eyes sparkled at that comment.

"I was?" he sounded neutral, however.

"Yep... and flip!" 

"You flip a mean pancake." MM commented.

"Pancakes?" asked Lexy as she, Avery and Misty poked their heads in the kitchen.

"Yes, that's what I said."

"ALRIGHT! Pancake breakfast, baby!" 

"Okay, pancakes are ready." Jerri beamed. "Hah! How'd I do?"

"Pancakes look good." MM levitated the stack to the table.

"Thanks! I'll just pop a waffle or two in the toaster for myself and-"

[MROWRL]

"-Okay, okay, I'll feed ya, boy."

Doc Meow mewed happily to himself.

---

"Okay, guys, so I take it you had some interesting dreams. Who wants to share first?" MM asked.

Mistress raised her hand first. "I did have a nightmare about a tsunami hitting the island, but then MM calmed me down and I had a happy dream about the five of us at the fireworks festival."

"Ooooooooh! I was lucid dreaming. First, I got to paint the inside of a white room, then I painted a door to the arcade and played there until my body woke me up. Then I dreamt about being a superhero." Lexy smiled as she drenched her pancakes in syrup. 

"Lexy, please save some for the rest of us." Avery sighed. "My turn. MM and I were on a date in the forest, I showed him around and we had a grand ol' time." 

"Oooooooooh!" Lexy cooed, handing him the syrup bottle. "Your turn, Jerri." 

"Meh, can't remember much, but I do remember seeing MM's eyes- they were all silvery. And I think he was reading something. It's a blur." Jerri mused.

"About that." MM said. "So, guess who learnt he can dreamweave."

"... you can what?" she looked at the others. "Did you know?"

"Yes." Avery said.

"Heh, guess I was left outta the loop on that news." 

"Well you know now, so..." MM blushed. "Permission to do a bit of dreamweaving tonight, you four?"

The gang went quiet.

"I will need oral consent BEFORE your usual bedtimes." he added.

An awkward silence, before-

"Okay, MM. You really helped me a lot, last night."

"Sure, you can lucid dream with me."

"I guess it won't hurt."

"You can come back into my dreams any time."

[mrowrl mrowrl mrowrl]

Lexy grinned, sneaking the tabby a piece of pancake. 

"Thanks, guys. I promise to keep the nightmares away." MM vowed.

Chapter Text

Most mornings always started the same.

Wake up, get dressed, freshen up, head downstairs, make awkward small talk over breakfast, get your act together in case you have a game-

So whenever a wrench is thrown into the daily routine, it's always an interesting way to kickstart your morning.

No one knew this better than Lexy and MM.

One. Lexy's sleep-wake cycle sucked. Badly. The only times she'd get DECENT sleep was whenever everyone was curled up together on the couch or if she was sharing the bed due to a nightmare.

She did hide her crankiness and bitterness pretty effectively, 75% of the time, however.

Two. MM... rarely sleeps. His ears hear things no ears should hear. And if he can't see the things no ears should hear, he gets paranoid.

So, yeah, a friendship made out of struggling together.

This morning was almost no different... it was 6 am, however.

That didn't deter Lexy's usual routine of waking up, getting an outfit on (not even giving two fucks if it 'matches'), trying to remember where she last had her scrunchie and goggles, then brushing out her hair.

Usually after a bit of hair care, she'd head back to her room and be productive for a few minutes to an hour or two.

Well, things changed as she exited the bathroom, hair neatly brushed and in its ponytail.

Something told her to go make breakfast now.

---

"Come on, brain, this isn't our usual routine, y'know..." Lexy reminded it as she rushed over to close her bedroom door. "... why do we even want breakfast this early? It's 6 am!"

Her brain did not answer.

"I'm not that bad at self care, brain!" Lexy added, tiptoeing downstairs. 

She paused, looking around. 

"It's not even my birthday, or Christmas. So WHY are we even awake at 6 am? Everyone else in this house is asleep. Probably. Nah, okay, pretty sure three outta four are." 

But her brain still sent hunger signals to her stomach... loud ones.

"Okay, okay, fine, I'll grab some cereal or something. No need to put up a fuss."

She didn't feel the need to tiptoe. 

MM usually stays in his room until 7, unless he sleeps in. Then everyone else celebrates.

So here was Lexy "Danger" Con, casually walking to the kitchen, trying to reason with her brain-

-only to look around and tilt her head in confusion.

The kitchen screamed "midnight snack gone wrong", with a box of cookies on the floor.

The box was empty.

But the more obvious hint that something happened around Designated Crying Time was the cube-ish helmet on its side, mere feet from the fridge.

"The fridge? That's a new one." Lexy told herself. 

The fridge itself looked fine. Just a few sticky notes Misty made, and a picture or two that Lexy herself was proud of. As well as a shopping list MM wrote out.

"Milk

Eggs

Butter

Apples

Granola bars

Coffee <3

Meatloaf

Ketchup (thanks, Lexy)

Paper towels

Ravioli

Potatoes

Tea

(whatever Time Juice is)

Waffles"

But Lexy wasn't here for a shopping list.

"Nothing on the ground in front of the fridge..." she mused.

And nothing unusual was inside the fridge either.

Naturally, her next bet was to check the freezer.

And she was so glad she decided to check.

She knew that crows nest of red hair on TOP of the fridge anywhere.

"Pffffffft!" Lexy could not help the giggle that escaped her mouth. "I gotta get MM!"

So she placed the helmet on the counter, then dashed upstairs and crept into MM's room.

---

"Hey, Mentalist, you awake?"

"Is that a question or a statement?" MM asked, sitting on his bed with a book.

"Can... uh... you come downstairs for a second?"

MM sighed to himself and put the book down. "Okay, what did you burn this time? A bagel or a piece of bread?"

"Neither! It's- pffffft!"

"I'm listening. Must be pretty funny."

"COME ON!" she shouted.

"Lexy?" Avery grumbled a little. "What's going on?"

"She wants me to see something."

Avery paused. "Either Lexy made breakfast, or she made a mess."

"I didn't make a mess, all I'm saying." Lexy said.

So naturally, Avery went to wake Misty up.

[Knock knock knock knock]

"Hmmmm?" Mistress stretched out. "Kinda early to be up."

"Lexy wants to show MM something downstairs. Theories?"

"It's not mail day..."

"Maybe she made him coffee."

"Or maybe-"

MM quickly rushed to Misty's room. "Hey, uh... Misty, I'm gonna need your longest blanket."

"My what?"

"Come downstairs, both of you." his face was one of neutrality.

"Are we under attack?"

"What? No! We just got a small problem in the kitchen."

"A leaking pipe?" Misty asked, grabbing her longest blanket ever.

"No, no... it's not the furniture..." he inhaled. "You know the action movies where the firefights use a safety catch when someone's trapped in a burning building?"

---

"Oh..."

"... my..."

"... scales..."

"How did Jerri get on the fridge?" Avery asked Lexy.

"No one knows." Lexy replied.

"One wrong move and she's done for."

"Ah-tut-tut-tut. I'll gently rouse her." MM sighed, grabbing an egg shaped kitchen timer and setting it for two minutes. "There we go. We got 120 seconds to prepare for a daring rescue."

Misty nodded as she, Lexy and Avery each grabbed a corner of the blanket.

"Can't you just use your levitation magic?" asked Lexy, a bit curious.

"And where's the fun in that?" MM asked. "Now, when the timer rings, I'll call out 'jump' and let's hope this works."

"Are you sure this will work?" asked Avery. "I mean..."

Mistress lit up. "Ave, hold my corner!"

And she was off, dashing to the living room, grabbing some pillows and tossing them in the blanket before clutching her corner again.

"Right on time, too... 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-" MM inhaled.

[RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING]

"Mmmm..." Jerri blinked. "Okay, I'm up, I'm up, don't make-"

She glanced down from her spot on top of the fridge.

"-a fuss... uh... hello down there."

"Jerri, listen very carefully. Jump!" MM called up. "We'll catch you!"

"... oh it is ON!"

She inhaled and leapt off the top of the fridge, right into the makeshift safety net.

"Woah..."

"Thank goodness you're okay!" Lexy sighed in relief, tossing her helmet over. "You had us worried."

"Worried? You've seen me cannonball and flip and do crazy stuff before!" Jerri put her helmet on with an unfazed smile.

"HOW did you find the top of the fridge cozy?" Avery demanded.

"I was half-awake, what did you expect?"

"Makes sense."

Jerri paused, looking at the others. "Can I ask a dumb question?"

The others looked at each other knowingly.

"Can we do that again?"

Chapter Text

There's nothing quite like a trek in the snow, that was obvious.

The soft, fluffy "white shit" flying everywhere, certain animals coming out to play.

Oh yeah, and the most aggressive snowy winds known to human.

"Ghhhhhhhhhhn... almost... almost there..." 

The snow blew harder, in a way more aggressive manner, flakes getting in mangled red hair.

"... I can do it, I can get there..."

A few small ice patches here-and-there do NOT help your case when the snow blinds your eyes.

"Whoops... I'm okay, I'm almost... almost... almost there..."

Panting for breath, the urge to just sit down and catch her breath would be inevitable by now.

"Not... yet... I can't miss this!"

Gasping a little more, she reached a rock large enough to hide behind.

Still didn't prevent her from poking her head out to watch the scene going on.

"Now, am I at the right place?" panting a little, she checked her watch. "December 25, 1776."

A sigh of relief left Jerri's lips as she stole another quick glance. "Yep, there's good ol' George Washington... what about Knox, Glover and Monroe? check, check and check. Oh, there's Whipple and Cornwell... and there's Hamilton - yikes, he looks a bit sick. Yep... I made it... right on time to watch history in action..."

It wouldn't hurt to stay a little longer and watch this 18th century ragtime team of historical heroes cross the Delaware. Right?

Right?

Of course not. This Jerri MOTHERFUCKING Rigg we're talking about.

She'd watch them cross the Delaware until the boat was nothing more than a small speck of black.

And that's just what she did.

"Phew... that's enough time in the 1770s for me... where to next? Oh! I know! An arcade in the mid 80s to warm up! Or- or maybe-"

She sighed, taking her helmet off for a quick second to rub at her left eye.

"On second thought, maybe it's time to go home... yeah, time to go home."

Nodding to herself, she summoned a quick time portal and leapt through it, helmet snug in her arms.

---

"Hup!"

"There you are." Avery said, standing right in front of the portal she leapt out of.

Jerri blinked, rosy-cheeked, red-nosed and out of breath. "Can't... you read... the sign on... my bedroom... door?"

"I've been practicing, but dinner's ready and Mistress sent me to get you."

"... din... ner?" she paused, putting her helmet on with shaky hands.

Avery nodded. "Where've you been, all day?"

"T-t-time traveling."

"I see. Come on-"

"C-c-cold..."

"Beg pardon?"

"Sooooo cold..."

Avery sighed to himself. "I can tell... why don't you change into something warmer and I'll try not to break the washing machine."

"I'll try..." Jerri inhaled, successfully getting her scarf and mittens off before trying to take her lab coat off. "Fuck!"

"Need a hand?" Avery asked.

"Y-yeah..."

"Okay... just gimme one arm... now the other... and there we go."

"Th-thanks, Ave... I can take the jumpsuit off by myself..."

Avery nodded. "Very well then. Got something snug to wear?"

She nodded and grabbed a fuzzy red turtleneck from a drawer, as well as a pair of fluffy, navy blue pajama bottoms and some fuzzy red socks.

"The sooner you get into something warmer, the better. You're no bird."

That was indeed true, as she managed to get changed without too much of a hassle.

Just a bit of clumsiness, but nothing too severe.

Well that's how most illnesses start, with just a few changes to one's personality.

---

"Finally, is she coming?" Mistress asked.

"Yes, she is." Avery reassured.

"..." Jerri hesitated before just walking downstairs.

That was new, Mistress noticed. "Usually she doesn't hesitate to slide down here."

"Maybe she's all time-lagged out." MM suggested as he poked at a bowl of broth.

"Is time-lag a real thing?" Lexy asked, already on her second bowl of broth. "I mean, I know there's jetlag, but time-lag?"

"No, no, she's just a little cold." Avery said as the two took their seats.

"Yeah..." Jerri said, trying to focus on everyone. 

Focusing on everyone is a lot harder, when your eye threatens to flutter shut on you as soon as you sit down to eat.

"Hey, brain, it's dinnertime, okay?"

"Pretty sure it's real." MM nodded.

Jerri sighed to herself, trying to eat. 

"Rough day?" Mistress asked.

"Oh, yeah. Lots of stuff to see, historical events to witness and time to fix." Jerri blinked. Slowly.

"Try not to pass out at the table, Rigster." Lexy said. "Oh! I know! Whatcha been up to?"

"Just time travel, nothing too outta the ordinary. You know how hard it is to repair rips in the space-time continuum?"

"Very, Jerri?"

"Very."

A small yawn escaped, making the redhead blush.

"Sorry..."

"Why on earth are you apologizing?" Mistress asked.

"Cause I yawned. Duh." she aggressively shook her head. "Come on, brain, it's nowhere close to bedtime."

Avery sighed. "Jerri, whatever you do, don't doze off."

"What?"

"Just, not until we figure out what's going on in there."

Well, let's just say, that was easier said than done.

---

"Finally, somehow made it through dinner." Jerri told herself, curled up to Misty.

"You're still shivering?" Avery sighed. "Mouth, please?"

"This is ridiculous. I don't even feel remotely sick-"

He nodded, shoving the thermometer in her mouth.

"-mmmmph!"

"Just stay still and stay awake."

Again, an uphill battle.

One she was slowly losing, eyes getting even heavier.

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]

"Gah!"

"Alright, let's see... uh, Misty, can you read this?"

Mistress nodded. "90 degrees Fahrenheit. That is not normal body temperature."

"Awwww fuck." Jerri groaned. 

"I'll grab more blankets and pillows." Avery said. "Mistress, keep yourself wrapped around her."

"No need to tell me twice." Mistress said. "And Jerri. Whatever you do, do NOT fall asleep."

"Kinda hard not to..."

Nervously, Avery took off and rushed to get Lexy and MM.

"Hey, uh, dumb question." he asked.

"Spill it." Lexy grinned.

"What happens if you're out in the snow in only a scarf and mittens?"

"... sooner or later, you get sick. Everyone knows that." Lexy facepalmed.

"Ah, hypothermia." 

"Welp..." Avery sighed. "Thank you, both, for explaining. MM, I'm gonna need all the blankets and pillows you keep on your bed."

"I'll grab everything, so you don't succumb to the bed's apparent spell. There's just... one teeny tiny issue on the table."

---

"There we go...bundled up in blankets, pillows and a very warm dragoness..." Avery cooed. "Stay awake, remember?"

"I'm trying, but crap is it hard."

"Just let her sleep, what's the worst that can happen?" asked Lexy.

"She COULD never wake again." MM explained.

"WHAT?!"

"Exactly, Miss Con."

"We NEED to keep her awake." 

"Do you know how impossible that is to do?!" Avery said.

Mistress instantly snuggled closer.

"Am I in hell?" Jerri asked. "Cause I am soooooo tempted to drift off, right now-"

"Don't." MM explained. "You were outside, right?"

"Yeah. I time-traveled somewhere cold and snowy."

"Could be hypothermia. Now, whatever you do, no matter how loud the lure is, do NOT fall asleep."

"Is this reverse psychology?"

"No."

"We checked her temperature. 90."

"Ah, mild." MM nodded. "We just need to keep her warm and snug until her body temperature returns to 95 degrees F."

"Eugh... tell that to my body..." Jerri grumbled. "How do I stay awake if I'm snug as a bug in a rug?"

"Who wants hot cocoa?" a small smile crossed MM's lips.

"WE DO!" Lexy aggressively shook Jerri.

"We?!" Jerri asked.

"Two mugs coming right up."

"Make that three, actually." Mistress said.

Lexy smiled and hugged the redhead (wo clearly was trying to fight a stronger wave of exhaustion). "Fuck, you are kinda cold-to-the-touch. Oh! I got the perfect idea!"

"What?"

---

"Tada! Girls' Movie Night!" Lexy smiled.

Jerri just tried to keep herself awake. It was a blur of colors and shadows, on the TV.

And that was all she could see with her NON glossed-over eye.

"Hey! You heard MM, stay awake."

"I'm trying... what're we watching again?"

"Barbie and the Fairy Castle." 

"... oh. I guess it's cool."

"Here we go, three cups of hot cocoa." MM smiled. "Here's some whipped cream and chocolate chips, because I dunno how you three like it."

"Ooooh..." Lexy smiled. "I'm taking mine topped to the max!"

She shook Jerri again, making her yelp.

"You want any toppings?"

"... fine, just some whipped cream."

"I'll handle it." Lexy grinned, going crazy with the whipped cream canister. "TADA!"

"No need to shout."

"Nonsense, the extra sugar should keep you awake."

"I don't need to be supervised, Lexy."

"Pffft, you do." Lexy giggled as she looked at Misty.

"I'll take mine without toppings."

"Okay then." and she added the entire bowl of chocolate chips to her mug. 

Jumpcut to a good five minutes later, with Lexy bouncing around the room like a pinball with Jerri trying to keep herself from falling asleep. 

"Struggling, I see." Mistress said, offering the thermometer. "Let's take a quick looksie."

"Mmmmmph!"

"I know, I know, this has got to be hell."

[BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP]

"Well?" asked Misty.

"92... I think that's close enough-"

"No it's not. Just until you reach 95 F. Maybe 96 for good measure."

Great. Just time-loving great.

"I... I can manage." Jerri sighed, playing with Misty's tail.

Yeah, that was a stupid move.

"Ghhhh! No, no, no, no!"

"What's wrong?" Misty had an idea.

"Stupid brain. It's TELLING me it's bedtime, but it's not. You two are making sure I don't drift off."

Mistress nodded. "You're still shivering, Jerri."

"I know! It's upsetting."

"There there..." 

Jerri groaned, her eyes getting even heavier that before as she tried fighting it.

"Just a few minutes?"

"No, not yet." Mistress scolded.

---

It had been three hours since dinner had ended.

"Now can I go to bed?" Jerri whined.

"Not yet." Mistress said, with Lexy passed out on her back.

"This sucks..."

"You can call it a night once your temperature is in the 95 to 96 F range."

"... that's gonna take forever."

At least the shivering was starting to slow down. And her breathing was also slowing down.

"No! Nonononono." Mistress nudged Jerri with her chin. "Don't drift off yet."

"Kinda tempted to go against you, outta spite." 

"I know..." 

"So why are you torturing me like this? I feel like I'm on trial for being a witch."

"Huh?"

"As soon as I tiredly babble something nonsensical, you guys are gonna-" she paused to yawn. "-gonna say 'yep, she's a witch' and try to kill me."

"Kill you? No, no we won't." Misty paused. "Just calm down. Your brain's just confused."

"Tell me something I don't know..." Jerri curled up to Misty even more, eyes barely open.

"There there..." 

"Raaaaaaaaaaah!" Jerri groaned, trying to free herself from her 'blanket prison' as she had been calling it.

"I guess we can try removing a few blankets." Mistress said, helping her out of a couple of said fluffy blankets.

'Hopefully she won't be too tempted to drift off, with fewer blankets, too'

"Mmmmm..."

"There we go..." Mistress cooed.

"Fuck... you..." Jerri groaned.

"It's gonna be okay." Misty added as Lexy rubbed her eyes, waking up from her own little crash-out. 

---

It was 12:30 am, before any of them knew it.

"Misty, Lexy, please have a heart..."

"Just a minute." Mistress handed a very tired Jerri the thermometer. "You know the drill."

Groaning, she put the thermometer in her mouth, fighting for wakefulness.

"And now we wait." Mistress said.

"We've been waiting for forever." Lexy added.

"I know."

"She should be better, by now."

"Let's hope so."

Jerri just groaned. This was the time of night where she usually passed out, for crying out loud.

She was livid, enraged, very much tempted to pack her stuff up and leave, maybe hop on a bus and-

...

...

...

-whoops, she NEARLY dozed off with the thermometer in her mouth.

Wait, what was she rambling about, prior to that?

[BEEP BEEP BEEP]

Never mind, her internal ramblings were no longer important.

"Here..." Jerri handed the thermometer over. "I'm sorry about the drool..."

"You really are tired." Lexy smiled. "We should be glad you're too tired to act all whack-a-doodle."

Mistress shrugged it off as she checked it over. "98 Fahrenheit. Back to normal."

"... Now can I go to bed?"

"Yes." Mistress reassured. "You earned it."

That was the last thing Jerri heard before collapsing asleep, sitting up against Misty, with her head tilted forward into her lap.

"Shhhhhhhh..." Mistress cooed, scooping her up.

"Come on, girl, let's getcha to bed." Lexy giggled. "Wow, you're gonna be cranky in the morning."

Of course, Jerri didn't answer, too far gone of it to even have the energy for opening her eyes.

"Awwwww, look at her, Misty. Sleeping like a baby. A baby with a cold, but still."

Mistress smiled as they reached the redhead's room, with Misty getting her settled into bed while Lexy tucked her in.

"Shhhh, shhhhhhhhh..." Lexy cooed quietly. "All tucked in. Sweet dreams. Love you like a sister."

The faintest smile crossed Jerri's face as she slept.

"See you in the morning."

Chapter Text

MM couldn't sleep.

That was nothing new, he was an insomniac, after all.

So what was he doing instead of sleeping.

He just sat on the end of Jerri's bed, watching her sleep.

But not in a creepy way.

More-so in a 'please don't suddenly stop breathing' way.

So far, so good. She was sound asleep, snoring pretty contently, even drooling a little.

In fact, he was almost tempted to leave her alone for a minute or two-

"No... no... the monkey needs his tennis shoes, Mrs. Journalist. Heh, how else can he be Miss America?"

-on second thought, he had nowhere to be, yet.

"Oh dear..." MM chuckled a little. "She'll never believe me when she wakes up."

He chuckled nervously.

"Gotta make sure she DOES wake up, however."

"Mental?"

He gulped and sat up straighter... somehow.

The door creaked open and the pair of eyes instantly shushed it as if it were sentient.

"Are you in here, MM?"

"Yes, I am." MM confirmed. "Something wrong, Avery?"

"What're you doing in here?" Avery asked.

"... funny story..."

"We don't have time for funny stories."

"What's got your feathers in a knot?" MM asked.

"It's two in the morning, MM. You have a game at 7:30."

"You wanna take the next shift, then?"

"No, no one is taking any shifts. You need SOME rest for your game."

MM sighed to himself. "We sound like an old married couple, right now."

"Just... please go to sleep..."

And Avery left with a door-slam of annoyance.

"Gonna need a new sign." MM told himself. "And I know just what to write."

- - -

'DO NOT DISTURB.

SOMETHING TELLS ME THAT THE MOTHER OF ALL NAPS IS GOING ON IN HERE

TIME TRAVEL IS NOT IN PROGRESS

(WELL, NOT IN THE WAKING WORLD. WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON IN HER MIND?)

ANYWAYS, UNLESS THERE'S AN EMERGENCY, DO NOT DISTURB.

THAT MEANS YOU, LEXY 

-MASTER MENTALIST'

"Lexy, what does it say NOW?" asked Avery, looking at the sign, come 7 am.

"Be quiet." Lexy translated, poking her head in the room.

At some point after putting the sign up, MM had crashed out on the bed.

"MM, pssst! MM!" Lexy called out. "MM, come on!"

"I got this one." sighed Avery, flying in and grabbing a stray weighted blanket off the ground before using it to tickle MM under his nose.

Within seconds, he had sneezed himself awake.

"Mmmmph... can't you - oh, it's you, Avery. Well, the sign says-"

"You got a game in 28 minutes." Avery said, quietly. "What happened?"

"My frenemy, the Lethargy Link, took over. She's still breathing, right?"

"Affirmative." Lexy confirmed. "I'll take the next 'shift'."

"You guys sound like security officers in a cop movie." Avery sighed.

"Cool." 

And MM was off to get ready for his game.

"Alright!" Lexy cannonballed onto the bed and looked up at the ceiling, grinning like a loveable idiot.

She could keep herself occupied for the next who-knows-how-long, right?

Of course she could.

It would be her way to compensate for what happened before midnight.

All she needed was something to play with-

-wait a second. 

She had an idea.

-

Well...

When Mistress knocked to try figuring out where Lexy was, at 12:30 pm, the last thing she expected was... well...

"Hatenna, we gotta get to safety! Follow me!" she made her Togedemaru 'speak' as she held onto MM's Hatenna. 

"Where're we going, Togedemaru?"

"Up the mountain, come on!"

Mistress sighed, watching Lexy very gently place both plushies on Jerri's head.

"Aha, they'll never think of looking for us here." Lexy spoke for the Togedemaru.

"Lexy..." Mistress sighed to herself, like a very disappointed mother.

"I'm not disturbing her, Misty. She's not even the slightest bit awake." Lexy defended.

...

"I'll put Hatenna back on MM's bed in a minute."

"It's lunchtime." Mistress blinked. "She's still asleep?"

"Yep, and I've been on watch for five hours. She's still breathing, still cozy, still snoring." Lexy sighed.

"So she's very much still alive." 

"Yeah... I've seen cop shows, you cannot snore if you're dead."

"Why don't you go eat something? I'll watch her."

"Thanks, Misty." Lexy picked up both plushies.

"And please, put Hatenna back."

"Will do."

- - -

Mistress checked the time on her phone, since every clock on that wall showed a different time.

2:56 pm

"There there..." Mistress cooed, curled up at the foot of the bed like a dog, a small smile on her face.

If you're wondering, Lexy got exhausted after lunch and decided to take a quiet nap of her own on the couch.

So Misty was on Make-Sure-Jerri-Doesn't-Die duty.

"Heh, I see we're very cozy, here." the dragoness smiled as she watched Jerri murmur something nonsensical while nuzzling up to the Ampharos. "She's still breathing, that's a relief."

"Everything simpatico in here?" MM called out, sounding very out of breath.

"She hasn't woken up since you left, if that's what you're asking." 

She could hear MM's brain register that news.

"HOW?!" he asked, voice getting a little louder out of surprise.

"I have no idea." Misty said.

"It's almost 3 in the afternoon."

Mistress gently brushed the tip of her tail against Jerri's cheek.

"... no, dad, I'm good... do I have to set the table?"

"I know, I'm just as surprised." Misty sighed.

"Well one of us needs to stay by her side until she wakes up." MM reasoned. 

-

Jumpcut to Avery sighing to himself in 'why me'.

But still, he sat on the edge of the bed, watching her.

He felt kinda weird, watching her, but he still did so. After all, what if they left her alone and she snored for the last time?

"No, Avery, get that thought out of your head." he told himself.

After all, she was still alive. Just in a really, really deep sleep.

"She'll wake up eventually." Avery told himself.

His thoughts cut off as she yawned a little.

"Jerri, finally, you're-"

"... it runs on friendship and dopamine..."

"-barely awake." he sighed. "But at least she's alive."

"Hmmm..."

Her eyes fluttered open very briefly.

"Hey there, Sleeping Beauty." Avery cooed.

"... hey... how long was I asleep?" Jerri murmured, not all there.

"What time do you usually crash out at?"

"Just gimme the facts."

Avery checked his phone.

Quarter to 4.

"13 hours."

"... woah..."

"You really were tired. Makes sense, we had to prevent you from falling asleep."

"... don't really know why."

"Otherwise, you'd have probably... you know... you're a pretty sound sleeper, but the last thing we want is for you to succumb to the big sleep."

"Big sleep... don't tempt me, my brain's still tired."

Avery smiled a little and climbed closer to her, gently placing a hand on her back, rubbing it very slowly.

"You don't know what the big sleep is, do you?"

"I don't think so... issit like hibernating?"

"Well..." Avery sighed. "It's a state of sleep that is so deep and sound..."

"Go on."

"... that whoever enters this state of sleep is so relaxed..."

"Mmm hmmmm?"

"That they never wake up again."

That woke Jerri's brain up better than a sugar rush. 

"I WAS GONNA DIE?!"

"You had hypothermia, you could've died if you fell asleep with an already-low body temperature."

"... crap."

"I know." Avery sighed. "Come on, let's getcha something to eat."

"Pow... pow..."

"Just let me..." he took the sign off the door. "There we go."

"Alright...now for some grub." Jerri grinned, not even bothering to put her helmet on or even brush her hair out.

Avery gave a chuckle as he walked downstairs, with Jerri not wasting any time to slide down the railing for an adrenaline high.

"LOOK OUT BELOW!"

"She's awake." MM sighed in relief as he and Misty looked up from a game of Uno, with Lexy jolting awake at the sudden scream.

"Jerri's up?" Misty asked.

"Finally." Lexy sighed in relief.

"Indeed, she has emerged victorious from slumber's grasp, bearing scars from the battle." MM nodded.

"Boy I sure hope I did..." Jerri mused as she followed Avery to the kitchen for a quick bite.

Maybe 4pm was the right time for a PB&J.

...

Why was she craving such a childish meal?

Must've been the lingering sleep inertia.

Or were her dreams trying to stay nestled in her waking-brain?

Oh well, the world may never know.

Chapter Text

August 22, 2025. 7:58 am.

MM gave a tired yawn as he awoke in his bed, before looking around.

To his left? Avery, murmuring a lullaby as he slept.

To his right? Lexy, quiet as a mouse, with barely audible snores.

Sprawled out on the bed itself? Misty, deep in a happy dream as she twitched her hind legs.

Curled up in the armchair? Jerri, snoring away with Doc Meow purring madly in her lap.

"Something clearly happened, last night." MM deducted with a small yawn. "But what?"

Oh well, while the others were still asleep, he might as well try to get some work done.

So he levitated a journal and a feather pen over.

Maybe he could figure it out by writing down his observations.

- - -

Observations.

Let's start with the action going on in my bed.

The Tournament Mistress "Misty" (real name Mesei) is sprawled out on my bed like a sleeping not-a-lap-dog-that-thinks-she's-a-lap-dog.

Alexis "Lexy" Con is cozy on her stomach. Despite sounding a lot quieter than she is in the waking world, she is very much alive. 

Avery Flundera is snuggling up to me, humming in his sleep. If I had to guess, he's humming "Twinkle Twinkle", but it's a bit hard to tell.

This is the most action my bed has experienced in the past two years - get your heads out of the gutter, you know what I mean.

Now, let's mosey on over to the armchair.

Jerri Rig (do you spell it with one or two Gs) is asleep in my armchair with the once-a-stray tabby cat known as Doc Meow on her lap.

Doc Meow himself seems snug and relaxed, purring contently as he dreams pleasant feline dreams. 

So something definitely happened during the night, for all of them to seek shelter in my room.

It couldn't have been a thunderstorm, the noise would've awoken me from even the deepest depths of slumber.

Clearly, the rain didn't pick up into storm territory.

- - -

"Mmmmph?"

MM sighed in relief. "Lexy! You're waking up."

A just-woke-up yawn escaped her lips as she stretched out to the best of her ability. 

"Good morning, sleepyhead." MM cooed.

"Oh... morning." Lexy smiled sleepily in return.

"Didja have another nightmare?"

"... yeah." Lexy blushed. "And everyone else was asleep..."

She paused.

"... in their own rooms."

"Hmmmmm..."

- - -

Lexy has just told me that she decided to seek out one of us during the night after a bad nightmare.

Now, normally this wouldn't be any trouble. But she told me that when she sought out shelter in my room, while knowing what could and did happen upon climbing into my bed, everyone else was in their own rooms.

And I am not about to wake everyone up to seek out answers.

Let them get up on their own terms and conditions.

---

"What're you writing?"

"I'm getting to the bottom of this mystery."

"Oh, can I help you, MM?"

"Sure, but don't do anything stupid."

"Hey!"

Lexy nodded and leaned forward, looking at Misty as she twitched her hind-leg rapidly.

"I think she thinks she's a puppy." Lexy giggled.

"Noted..." MM nodded as he looked at Avery. 

Avery's eyes slowly blinked open. 

"Hi." MM said, neutral as ever.

"... hey." Avery blushed sleepily.

"Didja sleep well?"

"Slept a lot better after - oh my flock, when did Misty get on the bed?"

"She wasn't on the bed when you came in here?"

"No." Avery said, looking very nervous.

"Something lured your attention here. But what? Do you remember?" MM said.

Avery's eyes said all as he instantly examined the bed, then instinctively leaned over to check the floor.

"What's he looking-" Lexy began.

"I figured, like a moth to a burning flame." MM deadpanned. "She's in the armchair."

"Oh, thank goodness." Avery sighed in relief, wriggling his way out of the bed, being extra careful to not awaken Mistress by accident.

- - -

Newfound observation.

Lexy said that when she came to seek me out, everyone else was in their own rooms.

But given Avery's sudden instinct to check the floor when I asked him why he came in my room...

I think the chain of events is simple.

1. Lexy has nightmare, seeks shelter with me. This kicks off the chain, somehow. I don't know, I was asleep.

2. ???

3. Avery grows curious when he can hear Jerri from my room. Eventually her role in the Lethargy Link clouds his brain, so he curls up in my bed.

4. ???

- - -

"Age before beauty..." sighed Avery, gently nudging Misty.

"Mmmmph?"

"Misty, wake up..." Avery cooed.

The dragon just yawned, stretching her body out. 

"Huh... oh, morning."

"Mistress, you better explain the chain of events that led to your inner canine showing."

"The what? I just heard Avery and Jerri and went to check on them. When I saw they weren't in their rooms, I checked here. And everyone looked so peaceful, I had to curl up on the bed."

"And that's all you know?"

"Yes."

An evil grin crossed Lexy's face.

"Uh oh." Misty winced. "It's too early for monkeyshines."

"It's 8 am." MM corrected.

"Really? Crap."

And Lexy took off, only to return with an alarm clock.

"Well, we're in trouble." Avery said. 

MM sighed to himself as Lexy put the alarm clock close to Jerri's ear.

Did Lexy have to lift the helmet a little, to find the ear?

Yes, yes she did.

"H-huh?" Jerri murmured.

"Hey Rigster." Lexy cooed.

"Oh... hey Lexy... morning."

Doc Meow yawned before hopping off her lap, smiling happily to himself as he left the room.

"So, Jerri..." MM sighed. "What happened, last night?"

"Doc woke me up." Jerri explained. "He was hungry."

"Mm hmmm... then what?"

"Then on our way back to bed, we saw your door slightly open." 

"Ah, so you grew curious?" Avery asked.

"Sadly... next thing I knew, I had sat down in the armchair with Doc Meow, then it was lights out."

"I envy how quickly you relax, sometimes." MM deadpanned.

He then looked at Avery and Misty. "So, what woke you two up?"

"A bird woke me up." Avery admitted.

Misty sighed. "I just woke up on my own."

A small smile crossed MM's face. "How about after breakfast, we cuddle a little longer, here?"

"Under one condition." Lexy said.

"And that is?"

"We take the cuddling to the living room."

Silence.

"I'm in." Mistress nodded.

"YES!" Lexy cheered.

"I got a game at 10 am, but after that, I'm game." Jerri shrugged.

"5 out of 5." Avery agreed.

Chapter Text

11:30 pm. 

A calm hour, one where you can just lay down and take it easy.

Right?

Not in this house.

"Okay, let's get this over and done with." Jerri sighed, placing her helmet on the bed. "Do your worst, Mistress."

Mistress nodded as she got a sturdy hairbrush. "Do you want me to talk to you while I do this?"

"Sure. Fire away."

Nodding, Mistress began to brush out her hair. "Sooooooooo, how was your day?"

"Oh it was AWESOME! Lexy and I... we...ugh-"

"Stopping." Mistress ceased her brushing. "Continue."

"Phew. So Lexy suggested that the two of us go down to the arcade, so we went there, played a bunch of games - Lexy ALMOST won this huuuuuuuuge bear in a claw game!

"Then what?" Mistress asked, slowly brushing the tips of her hair.

"Oh! Then we headed to the ice cream parlor. Lexy got this vanilla sundae with hot fudge and nuts on it, said it's to die for."

"Did you get the same thing?"

"No way! I just got a vanilla sundae with whipped cream, strawberry sauce and sprinkles. There's no way I'm gonna die over a sundae. Then again, Lexy didn't die after eating her sundae, so maybe it wasn't really 'to die for'..." 

Mistress chuckled to herself, slowly brushing more of Jerri's hair. "And what did you two do after you got home?"

"Oh! Lexy dragged me to her room for a cartoon marathon. With popcorn and pretzels."

"Which cartoon?"

"... ugh! Come on, brain, think!"

Mistress stopped brushing her hair, a second time.

"That's better. Oh, right! I think it was called 'Lambchop'."

"Interesting..." Mistress told herself as she resumed brushing her hair out. "Does this usually happen when you brush your own hair?"

"What do you mean, Misty?"

"I mean, you spacing out."

"Meh, not really. I just rush a brush or three in it, then go about my day. The helmet hides most of it, anyways."

"I thought so."

"Almost done?" Jerri asked.

"Just a few more brush strokes." Misty replied. "Stay with me, okay?"

"Pow-pow."

"Okay, just hold very still."

"Holding still."

Mistress nodded as she continued working the brush through Jerri's hair, working very carefully whenever she reached a tangle (or a clump of them). 

"HEY LADIES! Are we having a girls' night?" Lexy asked, rushing over, hair all wrapped up in a big fluffy towel and a bright yellow bathrobe covering her body.

"Not really." Misty reassured.

Jerri blinked a little, looking at Misty nervously with her left eye.

Mistress took the brush out of her hair. "Okay, shake."

Nodding, Jerri did just that, shaking her head aggressively.

"Ooooooh, can you do mine afterwards, Misty?" Lexy grinned.

"Sure...?" shrugged Mistress. "Lexy, you know the gist."

Lexy nodded as she booped Jerri on the nose.

"Hey! Lexy!"

"Come on, girl friend. Any plans for tonight?" Lexy grinned.

"Not really..." Jerri mused, idly brushing her hand on the carpet.

"Whatcha doing?"

"Just trying to keep my brain stimulated."

"Is it working?"

"So far so good. Just, Lexy, PLEASE talk to me!"

"I thought we were talking together."

"Ugh, just PLEASE KEEP TALKING!"

"On it." Lexy grinned. "I've been trying to decide on what to wear tonight. Should I go for the lemon tank top or the lightning bolt tank top?

"I'd say the lightning bolt one. It's one of your favorites, after all."

"Genius! Hmmmmmmm, boxers or sweatpants?"

"Who wears sweatpants to bed?"

"... Mistress wears hoodies to bed."

"That is true." Misty said. "Just a few tangles left."

"Look, Lex, if you wanna wear boxers, wear 'em." Jerri sighed. "She's almost done! I can make it!"

"Your eye is twitching."

"Do you know how hard it is to not relax, right now?"

"You're almost there." Lexy giggled. "Oh! Oh! Oh! Remember the time you got into the flour when you were half asleep?"

"I had a busy day with a game marathon, that day, Lex. Cut me some slack."

"You were soooooo out of it. It took forever to get you all cleaned up cause you kept having hypnic jerks. Remember?"

"... no, it's all a blank."

"It was awesome!" 

"Lexy..."

Lexy playfully stuck her tongue out.

"All done." Mistress called out.

"Phew..." Jerri sighed in relief.

"Hmmm, you know, I've always wanted to try doing braids." Mistress said.

"I'll take one!" Lexy grinned. 

Jerri seemed a little curious. "Just. One."

"Okay, girls." Mistress smiled.

"Lexy, keep yapping."

"Okay!" Lexy grinned. "I've been thinking, and bear with me."

"Go on."

"Do you think, if we stayed at the arcade longer, I'd have won the stuffed bear?"

"My thing is time travel, not future predictions."

"Yeah, you got a point, BUT STILL!"

Jerri paused, left eye slowly wandering over to watch Misty braid a few strands of her ear, neatly tucked behind her right ear.

"Woah! Cool eye trick!" Lexy grinned.

"Thanks, it helps me see what's going on, without the helmet on."

"You look like a creepy raggedy doll!" 

"... thanks...?" Jerri winced a little. "How much longer, Misty?"

"Just gotta tie it all together-"

Lexy quickly pulled out a green scrunchie from her bathrobe pocket.

"Thanks." Mistress smiled, tying the small three-strand braid together. "All done."

"Phew."

"Lexy, go get in your pajamas, and then I'll do your hair." Mistress instructed.

"ALRIGHT!" Lexy cheered.

And off she went.

"Do you want me to get a movie on the TV?" Jerri offered.

"Good idea." Mistress nodded.

- - -

Come midnight and the trio were curled up on the couch with a family-friendly movie playing. 

Something that wouldn't give Lexy bad nightmares, again.

"When are MM and Avery returning from the show?" asked Lexy, letting Misty brush her wild blond hair out.

"Give it another half hour." Misty explained as Jerri tried focusing on the TV. "What type of braid do you want?"

"Oh! Can you do whatcha did with Jerri?"

"Okay." Misty hummed a little, doing so. "How does this feel?"

"It feels nice. But not cozy-nice."

"Am I not normal?" Jerri asked herself.

"Normal? In this house? No one here is normal, nope, not in this house." Lexy denied.

"Some people just enjoy the sensation of someone else brushing their hair out." Mistress added. "Almost done, Lexy."

"Woooooooooooo!"

"And hopefully this movie doesn't give you nightmares." 

Jerri blinked, catching herself from drifting off. "No, come on, brain. This isn't a bed."

"People sleep on couches all the time."

"Yeah, after they have arguments with their spouses, Misty." Lexy explained. "Have you seen The Simpsons?"

Mistress rolled her eyes as she tied the braid together with a black hair tie. "I'm taking your word for it."

Smiling, a yawn flew out of Lexy's mouth. "Whoopsie..."

"Should we get you girls up to bed or..." Mistress asked.

"Nah, we're good." 

Nodding, Mistress sprawled out on the couch, making for a living, breathing pillow for Lexy and Jerri.

"Frick, I'm gonna be a goner!" Jerri told herself.

"Meh, we'll be goners together." Lexy shrugged. 

"... I guess?"

"Hey, tell ya what."

"What?" Jerri asked, trying to keep her left eye open a bit longer.

"Tomorrow, we're going clock shopping." 

"It's a deal."

Lexy nodded as her eyelids fluttered. "See ya in the morning light."

"You too, Lexy." 

And before Mistress knew it, both girls were out.

So she just stayed up, waiting for MM and Avery to arrive back home.

Did she get worried when they didn't return until 4:30 am?

OF COURSE!

But she didn't press for questioning.

After all, their expressions said it all.

"Tired? Join the girls and I."

Chapter Text

[PROPERTY OF MM]

<< BEST PLACES IN THE HOUSE TO TAKE A NAP - AN ANALYSIS >>

– – – – –

To my knowledge, the human body is not meant to sleep anywhere other than a bed.

Before I first arrived here, I thought this was obvious. Well, unless you're a cat.

(Yesterday evening, I found Doc Meow asleep in a cooking pot in the sink - if you need an example of 'If It Fits, I Sits'.)

So, during the up-and-coming week, I decided to (to quote Lexy) "fuck around and find out". 

To do this, I decided to cancel all games for the week and instead, just spent the next seven days testing out some of the oddest places we've ever found Jerri.

Of course, I had to hide my true intentions more than a few times.

– – – – –

<< TESTING THINGS, MARK 1: LET THE BODIES HIT THE KITCHEN FLOOR >>

The kitchen floor. Something about it gives off cozy vibes, but what?

[DOC] "Mrowr?"

Before I could start asking questions, I had to give Doc Meow a few head pats and tummy rubs.

[DOC] *purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

Then I moved onto my little experiment. This involved having to wake Jerri, but I was ready.

I brought along an alarm clock to gently rouse her.

[JR] "Hmmm... 'm up, Dad..."

(I still wonder if she was talking about me or her father. She was probably addressing me, the more I think about it)

I gave a small smile and quietly asked her if she knew where she was.

[JR] "I'm at home, right?"

I nodded in confirmation, then asked if the floor was comfy.

[JR] "...yeah, it's comfy..."

I would NOT call it comfy, myself, for it was like laying down atop of cold, hard ceramic tiles.

Ergo, I then asked if she's been getting decent shuteye.

[JR] "Mmmm, depends on the night. Usually, if I'm left to my own devices, I go to bed by twelve-thirty."

[LX] *from the living room* "Nuh-uh, you collapse around twelve-thirty. Big difference."

Interesting, Lexy has the second hardest time getting decent sleep, in this house.

Whether it's from ADHD or an underlying condition or nightmares.

However, it's very rare to find Lexy passed out anywhere other than a bed, the couch, a mode of transportation, Misty's back/body or even a hammock.

So I sent Jerri upstairs to HER OWN BED while I talked to Lexy.

[LX] "Yeah, I find it a bit weird, too. How can anyone find the floor comfy?"

[DOC] "Mrowr!"

[LX] "Maybe all that time travel just makes it easier for her to relax on the ground?"

– – – – –

Now, Lexy DOES have a good point, so I decided to test the waters a bit more. 

I wasn't gonna spy on Jerri though. That'd be inhumane. I know, bold words since I mess with peoples' brains.

But I have limits, people!

Instead, I was gonna play a listening game.

The rules were simple. If I could hear Jerri snoring, I'd do my best to locate her. Then I would jot down mild knowledge about her preferences in floor-texture and what-not.

Sounds easy, right?

Wrong. I am an insomniac. She crashes out at 12:30 most nights.

So I added a second rule. "No investigating between 12 am - 7 am".

– – – – –

<< TESTING THINGS, MARK 2: WHAT GOES ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS >>

10 am. I... had overslept.

What woke me? Well, let me explain.

[AV] "Hey, MM, glad you're alive. We have a problem."

We have a problem.

Those are four words NO ONE wants to hear after JUST waking up.

So I calmly moseyed out of my room, the bed could be made later-

-and found Lexy aggressively banging on the bathroom door, shower clearly running.

And I asked the upmost stupid question I could've inquired (I blame sleep inertia for it).

[MM] "Is something wrong?"

[LX] "SOMEONE is using all the hot water..."

Well, I couldn't find Misty, at the moment, so it was a 50/50 split. 

So I did what any normal hypnotist would do.

I telepathically turned off the hot water.

(It's easier than barging in on someone when they're vulnerable)

No reactions, whatsoever.

[AV] "Either Misty is used to cold water or... oh birdseed... you don't think..."

[LX] "I'm not going in there and checking."

Can't say I blamed her.

[MST] *entering house with a bag of cat food* "What's going on? And why're you three huddled by the bathroom door?"

Why? Because privacy exists.

None of us are gonna break trust because we're concerned.

Instead, I shut off the cold water, as well.

Then Avery had the brilliant idea of knocking as hard as he could. 

[AV] "ARE YOU ALIVE IN THERE?!"

Yeah, I'm not forgetting that morning, until I die.

– – – – –

Yes, as it turns out, the warm water FROM THE SHOWER was relaxing enough.

I've seen that girl pass out mere seconds after cuddling up to Mesei/Misty, so I wasn't too surprised.

I'm just glad the four of us collectively decided "let's not bring this up unless she asks first". (I know I would've made things weirder by saying the wrong thing)

– – – – –

<< TESTING THINGS, MARK 3: THE HAMMOCK WILL ROCK >>

By now, I have attempted to nap in both spots we've found her in.

On the kitchen floor? Too hard and cold.

In the tub? It just felt weird.

So I kept playing my little listening game.

I even entrusted Avery to help me, since his game is all about music and sounds.

[AV] "Aha! I hear her!"

I was relieved to hear those words. And this time, it didn't take much moseying around the house to find her.

And I felt a small sense of relief when we followed the audible breadcrumb trail to my room.

But when we found my bed empty, I began feeling a bit nervous.

[AV] "Aha! MM, look!"

I looked around my room. Armchair, side-desk, bookshelf, floor, bedframe-

[AV] "Your plushie hammock."

I almost didn't believe him, until I saw the antenna sticking out of the pile.

Luckily, no plushies were harmed. Aside from a bit of dribble on a few of them.

[AV] "Honestly, kinda surprised the plushie hammock hasn't collapsed, yet."

And he had to jinx it.

Cause down had come Jerri, plushies and all.

(It's my notebook, I can write whatever I want!)

[JR] "Eugh... wha... where..."

[AV] "You okay, Jerri?"

She was, just very confused.

So once her bearings were collected (and I grabbed her flask for her), I decided to ask her what she was thinking.

[JR] "I... well... I was..."

No weed was involved, we checked.

[AV] "When was the last time you got decent sleep?"

[JR] "Me or him?"

[AV] "You."

[JR] "I dunno... maybe a week ago."

[MM] "A week?!"

I know, ironic coming from ME.

[JR] "Time travel can reaaaaaaally screw you over..."

So, upon finding Ampharos in the plushie mess (my theory's that Lexy hid it in the hammock) and making sure she drank at least a bit of water, I helped her onto my bed.

From previous experimentation, I knew what she could experience in the seconds leading up to passing out, so I kept my voice low as I helped her take the helmet off so I could brush her hair.

[AV] "Worked like a charm, MM."

– – – – –

<< IN CONCLUSION >>

Now, I'm writing this while she's sleeping on my bed, but the way I see it, there's a few secrets behind this talent she holds, as seen below.

-Lexy had pointed out that having time traveled a lot, she's probably grown accustomed to having to sleep in pretty inhumane conditions. (I think Jerri once boasted about being able to sleep in a junkyard once)

-Comfort plays an effect on the brain. Whether the "warm, fuzzy feelings" are psychological or literal. Maybe a wave of warmth, comfort and trust washes over her?

-Sleep deprivation might play a factor in the "warm, fuzzy feelings" taking control of her brain.

-Apparently my plushie hammock that Lexy got my for Christmas makes for a good hammock... I still don't know how it didn't collapse BEFORE Avery commented on it, however.

--THOSE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD 25 POUNDS! A 25 YEAR OLD DOES NOT WEIGH THAT MUCH!

Will I continue to upload entries, this week?

Maybe just one or two more times, but that's it.

So until I get those two chances, I shall leave this report here.

- - -

"Hmmmm? Dad?"

MM quickly put his journal on the side table, pencil placed neatly beside it.

"It's okay, shhhhh." he teleported to her side. "Misty and Lexy are downtown for the day... remember?"

Jerri blinked, disoriented and semi-lucid. "... where'd the rabbit go?"

A small chuckle crossed his lips. "What'd it look like?"

"... heh heh... it had angel wings... an' antenna... have you seen it?"

"Nope, haven't seen it." MM shushed. "Just close your eyes again. Dad's here."

"Tell me if you find it, 'kay?"

"Will do."

Avery gave him a teasing smile. "How come she called YOU 'dad' while she barely recognized ME?"

"You're in her blind spot." MM said, not missing a beat.

Yeah, his findings could wait. 

...

"A hammock sounds relaxing, right now..."

Chapter Text

"Huh, what've we got here?"

"What'd you find, Lexy?"

"I dunno, but we're about to find out!"

"Lexy, are you crazy?! This is a suicide mission!"

"I know, Rigster. But I'm not as susceptible to sudden bouts of coziness, so I'm going in!"

And Lexy cannonballed onto MM's bed, grabbing a sparkly purple notebook.

She then gasped, fighting off a bout of drowsiness as she flopped off the bed.

"I... I got the notebook..."

"But at what cost?" Jerri sighed, helping Lexy up.

"I'll be fine." Lexy said as the two dashed out of MM's bedroom. "Quick! My room!"

And the two made a beeline for Lexy's room, with Jerri flipping onto the bed.

"Showoff." Lexy teased, flopping onto her bed. "Now! Lesse what MM writes about."

- - -

[PROPERTY OF MM]

<< HOW THE LETHARGY LINK WORKS - AN ANALYSIS >>

– – – – –

I have been living in this house since 2023, which should be ample time for me to learn a thing or two from everyone.

Right? Riiiiiiiight?

Wrong.

For I still have no clue how the five of us link up.

So to perform this investigation, I am going to observe these four* go about their nightly routines. But not in a spying way, more-so from lurking in the shadows.

(*five, counting Doc Meow)

By performing these observations, I should get at least an aeoda of an idea on how everyone's roles in the Lethargy Link connect into one harmonious, exhaustion-filled puddle.

- - -

"Wait, he's been watching us?"

"Lexy, you sound surprised."

Lexy nodded. "How haven't we picked up on this?"

"You're asking ME?"

The two looked at each other.

"Keep reading, Lexy, I'm curious."

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, NIGHT 1 OF INVESTIGATING: LEXY CONN >>

Like most great observations, this one occurred whilst watching AGT.

We were all "all jammied up" and lounging in the living room.

[MST] "How has this show been going on for 20 years?"

[LX] "Everyone loves a sob story and creating future child stars."

[AV] "Who's the bald one, again?"

[LX] "Howie."

[AV] "Oh, right."

Everything WAS going smoothly until it cut to a commercial break.

I had made my way to the kitchen to make us all some popcorn, when I heard... that sound.

[MST] "Oh flannel!"

[LX] "... Crap."

[AV] "We're doomed! We're doomed!"

[DOC] "Mrowr?"

[LX] "Yeah, you said it, Doc. It won't be long now! Oh geez... my eyes are already failing me!"

I had to act fast, so I dashed back to the living room to examine the scene.

I'll give Lexy credit for this, she sure knows how to fight off exhaustion.

But, when Lexy yawns, it's usually a matter of time before Jerri crashes.

And we had mere seconds to interrupt all coziness from clouding her cranium.

[MST] "Tickle, tickle, tickle..."

Thank god for draconic tails.

That fluffy tip helped prevent her from dozing off.

And all seemed simpatico while we watched the next batch of AGT acts.

However, by the time the show cut back to commercials, both girls were trying to fight it off again.

[AV] "Guess once a yawn comes out, coziness is inevitable."

Before long, both of them were asleep in the armchair.

Misty offered to carry them to bed, before the Lethargy Link spread to the rest of us.

But it was too late.

Avery... had succumbed, by then, as well.

[MST] "On second thought, maybe I'll tuck 'em in after the show's over."

Bold words, because by the time we ALL awoke, it was 3 am.

Stupid thunder.

- - -

"What're you two doing?" Avery asked.

"Reading." Lexy said. "MM's trying to figure out how our parts in the Snooze Chain work, exactly."

"Oh, mind if I listen?"

"Make yourself at home." 

Nodding, Avery sat crisscross-applesauce on the bedspread.

"You're a bird, I'll let it slide."

"Oh, next page, Lexy. Next page." Jerri grinned.

"Let's do this."

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, NIGHT 2 OF INVESTIGATING: MESEI/MISTY  - AN INTERVIEW >>

[MM] "So, Tournament Mistress-"

[MST] "Please, MM, just 'Misty' will do."

[MM] "-Misty, I am doing research on how your warmth clouds our judgement and aids in the Lethargy Link."

[MST] "Go on."

[MM] "Do you mind if I pet your fluff for a while?"

[MST] "I highly encourage it, if it helps with your studies."

[MM] "Okay, does the Tournament Master have similar fur?"

[MST] "It's been a while, maybe it's a dragon thing."

[MM] "Mm-hmmm."

At this point, I toyed with her tail.

[MM] "It's flexible... the tip is fuzzy like a pompom... Mesei, you ARE a walking, talking, breathing, human heating pad."

[MST] "Thanks, it really comes in handy during 'lady times'."

A wild Avery Flundera had appeared by then, looking drained.

He leaned up against Misty and instantly began feeling better.

Must've been one busy day, because he was asleep within a mere 90 seconds.

So I carried him up to his bed.

Huh... maybe Misty's body acts like my bed.

Her chest vibrations could/do knock us out better than an elephant tranquilizer, anyways.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, NIGHT 2 OF INVESTIGATING: AVERY FLUNDERA >>

Avery has a unique feature. His sleep-humming/sleep-singing.

It's naturally more calming melodies and what-not.

Mainly lullabies from youth and gentle renditions of certain music.

So for this experiment, I needed a guinea pig. 

[JR] "You want me to do what?"

I then explained that since she can't remember much before the past two years, it could make for an interesting challenge to see if her brain can identify different music from one's childhood.

[JR] "You better pay well, MM."

I made an offer she could not refuse.

(Jerri, if you are reading this after-the-fact, I am so sorry that I bribed you with a bag of chocolate coated pretzels just to see how Avery's link works. It was selfish of me to not do it myself.)

Once I was sure she understood the terms and conditions of this venture, I sent her to Avery's room.

[JR] "Oh jeez... uh... I've handled worse situations. Okay, Jerri, there he is. Don't get too close. Just close enough. Maybe just lay down next to him."

[MM] "What're you hearing?"

[JR] "It's all a bunch of humming and stuff. Very quiet and cozy. It feels familiar, but I can't put my finger on it."

Aha! 

[JR] "I feel like I've heard that melody before... but where?"

(I knew that tune anywhere: "Rockabye Baby".)

And before I knew it, she was out. So I carried her to MY bed before she could cuddle anyone to death (my bed hasn't gotten much action in a few days, anyways). I then began watching Avery until I couldn't stay conscious any longer.

He woke me up the next morning asking me why I was in his nest.

Theory? The cadence of whatever he sings seeps into your brain and signals to the neurotransmitters that it's time to relax.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, AFTERNOON 3 OF INVESTIGATING: DOC MEOW >>

Cats are known for sleeping anywhere and everywhere. Hmmmm...

So, while everyone else had games, I decided to watch Doc Meow as he slept on the armchair's armrest.

Observations are as followed:

-When he enters REM sleep, he purrs. LOUDLY.

-His purring's very gentle and relaxed.

-He makes biscuits in his sleep. (I may or may not have squealed, upon discovering this)

-His fur's very soft and fluffy.

In conclusion, even as a new member, he already has us wrapped around his fingers(?) and knows how to make us feel warm and fuzzy and relaxed all over.

Besides, who would have the heart to push a slumbering cat off your lap, if/when the situation arises?

Aside from a monster.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, EVENING 6 OF INVESTIGATING: JERRI RIGG >>

<< (IT'S BEEN AN UNEVENTFUL FEW DAYS) >>

Of course, it's never an investigation unless I supervise the enigma of the house. 

Unfortunately, it's never that easy to just watch and wait for the cozies to kick in.

That could take hours.

At the time this observation took place, however, far from it.

So, Jerri, I swear, if you got your hands on this book AND have made it this far, PLEASE stop reading NOW.

This page might make you (a bit (more)) self-conscious about eating at the table.

Misty had made dinner. It was subpar. But I'm not complaining. She made a delicacy from Tee Shirt Island, some kind of curry.

It actually tasted incredible.

Anyways, we were all just casually talking about our days.

[AV] "This time, 8 out of 9 birds were on the kazoo!"

[LX] "I swear, words can't even describe how much I hated my game, today."

[AV] "Do you KNOW what that sounds LIKE?!"

[MM] "Hell?"

[AV] "YES!"

[MST] "Everyone's shirts were so good, it was impossible for ANYONE to pick a winner!"

[LX] "You're KIDDING ME!"

[DOC] "MROOOOOOOOOOOOWRL!"

[LX] "Pspspspsps! Down here, Doc."

[MST] "Alexis, we saw that."

[LX] "Saw what?"

[AV] "Don't play dumb. You fed Doc Meow."

[LX] "He was hungry!"

As Lexy and Avery began to feud, I just casually tried to eat dinner. 

And I remember saying this to myself:

"Something feels... off."

Now, naturally, if something feels off, you speak up. 

So that's just what I did.

[MM] "Soooooo... uh... great curry, amiright?"

Yes, I failed to address the weird feeling in the air.

But not for long.

[DOC] "MROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWRL!"

[LX] "I just fed you, what now?"

[AV] "You created a habit."

[MST] "Hold on, is anyone else's brains feeling a bit... fuzzy?"

Ahhhh... that's the dreaded feeling I was feeling.

[LX] "HOW are our brains feeling fuzzy and clouded?! DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THE LIVING ROOM?!"

[AV] "Am I humming merrily to myself? If I am, I better cease this behavior."

[LX] "Yeah! Otherwise we all might faceplant into the curry."

My expression must've said all, because the gears turned at lightning speed and we all looked in the same direction AT THE SAME TIME.

[LX] "I SWEAR, I WAS JOKING!"

[MM] "Ah... I knew it felt quite quiet around here."

Nothing got in the helmet's air vents, luckily.

Luckily, it didn't take too long for her to come around (Lexy generously kicked her leg from under the table).

[JR] "Mmmmmph?"

We quickly realized "she'll never make it until midnight without a nap", so Misty and I decided to take the coziness to the living room so everyone else could eat with a clearer mind.

(Adorably,) Jerri was out quickly, after cuddling up to Misty, so I had a bit of time to watch her while Misty fell victim to the snoring spell (two words I never thought would go together).

Now, I could go into depth about how muscle relaxation causes snoring, but instead, I'll delve into what I learnt over dinner.

Even when muffled, the vibrations of throat tissues are silent, but still there. In this case, it was barely noticeable, like carbon monoxide. 

But just like with carbon monoxide, as soon as we detected the cause of the 'brain fuzzies', we could find a way to fix the solution.

And sometimes, said solution is just letting your friend take a nap.

Also, Lexy, you HAD to take pictures?

- - -

"Yes I did!" Lexy boasted, pulling out her phone. "Wanna see?"

"... wait a second... we had curry last night... and I was dead tired from time travelling all day..." Jerri paused, taking her helmet off and examining every bump, scratch and mend in it with her good eye. "Yup. That's a FRESH curry sauce stain. And my hair was kinda sticky, when I woke up this morning. That entry was from YESTERDAY EVENING."

"You're blushing." Avery noticed.

"Why wouldn't I, Avery? MM has been observing us ALL WEEK."

"Good point."

"Come on, let's get this journal back to his room." Lexy said.

Jerri just blushed even harder.

"He warned you that you shouldn't READ that entry." Avery reminded.

"Lexy read it aloud, I merely listened to it."

"You are so literal-minded, sometimes, it's not funny."

Chapter Text

"You cannot hide forever, MM."

"Try me! You'll NEVER find me!"

"You can hide, but we'll always find you, in the end."

Well, now Misty was eating her words as she looked around the living room. Behind the TV, the bookshelf, the stairs, behind the couch, under the couch, the couch cushions.

"You're really hiding in a good spot, MM." she told herself.

"Misty, what're you still doing awake?" Lexy was halfway down the stairs.

"I'm looking for MM. Go back to sleep." Mistress explained.

"I'm thirsty." 

"ONE glass of water, young lady."

"You're not my mom, thank goodness." 

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" Lexy said in a sing-song voice as she hopped downstairs and dashed for the kitchen.

"No, no, you definitely said you're glad I'm not your mom."

- - -

[MM's LOG]

Dearest diary,

I cannot even remember the last time my infected-looking eyes have seen the sunlight. It's now merely a faded memory in my mind. I will never see another sunrise or sunset, feel the freshly trimmed grass under my feet, inhale the heavenly scent of a dahlia, feast upon a bowl of Bolegnese or hear a bird song.

From this moment onwards, I am surrounding myself in a mere, hollow shell of darkness, only being lulled into false tranquility by periodic bouts of light and the eerie white noise of the outside world.

Life has lost all meaning, so until said meaning finds me again, I am accepting my fate and will serve out this sentence, in this 4x4 prison I had made for myself.

[Cuckoo! Cuckoo!]

Of course, most people call such a prison "a cuckoo clock", but I am not "most people". I have powers that are to be feared by all. Men, women, enbies and children of all ages cower when they lay eyes upon my shows! So of course someone so grands needs a just-as-grand cuckoo clock to conceal themselves within (Mesei gets scary when she's angry).

No one has noticed my presence, thank the stars. Besides, I can just hide in the lab coat, if it gets too cuckoo-y in here.

What're my hiding plans come 7 am?

That, my dear diary, is when I plan to hide under the bed. She'll never think of looking there. No one would!

- - -

MM sighed to himself as he finished writing his diary entry.

Yes, he was hiding in a cuckoo clock. 

Did he have any regrets?

Well, he could've hidden away in the sock drawer or in an untouched, red hoodie.

It's a lot quieter inside a closet than it is, inside a clock.

Well, it was 2 am. He was alone with his thoughts.

And the little birdie inside the clock.

"You're not due for another hour." he patted the plastic bird, its stare never-changing.

He could've sworn the door creaked open.

'Probably Lexy seeking nightmare comfort. Again.'

"I'll just tiptoe around and try not to knock anything off the shelves or desk." Lexy's voice was heard, in a very hushed whisper.

"Oh you better, Alexis." Misty's voice quietly warned.

"Relax, I know how to turn off 5 different types of alarm clocks, if I accidentally set one off."

MM went quiet as he stayed hidden deep in the clock.

Deep among the gears that kept it ticking.

Deep among the bird that signaled the hour.

Deep among the ticking and tocking that were supposed to be white noise.

Yeah, he wasn't getting the white noise vibes.

But he couldn't poke his head out of the clock.

Alexis "Lexy" Conn, a well-known trouble maker not unlike Bart Simpson, was in the room.

And the last thing MM needed was Lexy finding his hiding spot.

Maybe he could use his sleep magic on-

-no! He was not about to do that to his own roommate. And not just because she was looking for him.

He had limits, people.

So he just waited, listening until she got bored and left.

But Lexy wasn't giving up so easily.

She checked the workbench, within a pile of technology that was gonna be fixed in the morning, under a weighted blanket that was draped on the ground-

"And Misty calls my room a mess." Lexy told herself as she looked behind a Lo-Fi CD and under a flask.

She even snooped in the closet.

"No, no, nope, nothing, nada-huh? This black dress looks cute." Lexy's voice giggled.

A small smile crossed MM's face as he stayed hidden.

No one would ever dare to check a cuckoo clock. 

Besides, Lexy KNEW what could happen if any part of a clock got broken.

- - -

[JR] "That's weird..."

[LX] "What's wrong, Rigster?"

[JR] "I coulda sworn this thing wasn't busted up last night."

[LX] "What thing?"

[JR] "The Devil Dad clock's tail. It broke off. See?"

[MST] "That might've been me. You were calling out for 'mom' in your sleep, so I ran over to check in."

[JR] "I'm sorry, what?"

[MST] "You were screaming pretty loudly and seemed distraught."

[JR] "No... heh heh... you broke the tail?"

[MST] "By accident..."

[LX] "Run."

- - -

"Misty was sooooooooo close to being turned into a kebab... " Lexy told herself. "Oh, what's this?"

She picked up a red cup, half-full/half-empty with water in it (yes, she did a sniff-test to see if it was alcohol).

"MM? Are you in there, for whatever reason?"

MM felt his heart racing, from inside the clock.

"Meh, guess not. Are you UNDER there, though? Noooooo... no you're not. Seriously, girl? Coasters exist so as to NOT leave rings with cups... aaaand I gotta take my own advice."

"Phew."

"I looked aaaaaaall over this room and I can't find you! I even checked the closet!"

Lexy instantly glanced at the clock wall.

"Oh, THAT'S gotta be where you're hiding, MM." she grinned. "Don't mind me, just giving myself a small boost..."

And she carefully climbed on the bed, arms out to balance herself. 

She knew the risks she was taking, but goddamn it, she needed to find MM.

"Alright, MM! Show yourself now, and I won't snoop behind the alarm clocks!"

MM just stayed quiet.

"Oh you're testing my limits, I swear to the dictionary!"

And she JUMPED off the bed, rushing for the clock wall.

"Lesse, where would I hide? Behind THIIIIIIIIIIIIIS clock? Or THIS ONE? Whattabout THIS CLOCK? Noooooooooooo? THIS ONE HERE? Geeeeeeeeeee, look at all this racket lil' ol' me is causing as I look behind THIIIIIIS CLOCK aaaaaaaaand THAT ONE! Geeeeeee, I dunno what would stop me."

He was so tempted to grab her hand with his magic and tell her to stop. 

But that's what she wanted.

"I GUESS the only way I'm gonna BE stopped is either if MM comes forward OR if my snooping around wakes Jerri up. Sure would be a shame if the latter happens, but sacrifices must be made. NOW! Are you hiding in HERE?"

She picked up an alarm clock and shook it aggressively.

[RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING]

"Ohshit! Ohshit! Ohshit! Ohshit!"

MM winced to himself, even more tempted to just turn the clock off himself, forcefully remove the Double AA batteries and let Misty give her a lecture for shaking things that weren't hers.

"What on earth?" Avery groaned, walking over, bleary eyed and very confused.

Lexy gulped, trying to turn the alarm clock off. "Shit! How do I turn this off?"

A small sigh exited MM's mouth as he telepathically turned it off with a subtle hint of lavender-colored magic.

"Phew." Lexy put the alarm clock back. "That was soooooooooo close."

"Lexy, explain yourself." Avery sighed.

"I was... uh... sleepwalking?"

Avery gave her the 'I Don't Believe You' eyes.

"Oh YOUR ROOM's next, Ave! I'm searching YOUR ROOM top to bottom, next!"

"You're on thin ice, you know."

"I KNOW." Lexy complained, putting the alarm clock back-

-and knocking a second one off the shelf in the process.

MM couldn't stay quiet much longer. So he snuck out of the clock from the door the bird would pop out of.

He then slunk over to Lexy and Avery as the former TRIED shutting the second alarm clock off.

"Is there a problem?" MM asked, feigning innocence.

"Yes, MM, I'm trying to find MM!"

"He's right there."

"Where were you?" asked Lexy, noticing MM's yellow eyes.

"None of your business." MM grinned, teleporting away.

"YOU BETTER BE GOING TO BED, MASTER MENTALIST!" Mistress called out. 

"NOPE!"

Avery just looked at Lexy, curious.

"What?" Lexy asked.

"She slept through all that racket."

"No!"

"Yes."

Lexy and Avery looked at the other for a few seconds before they both came to the same conclusion.

"We're better off-"

"-NOT telling Jerri."

"Exactly, Lexy."

"So let's get the fuck outta here BEFORE she wakes up."

"Are we to never speak of this night?"

"Pretty much, unless she asks first."

-

Come 8 am and MM was tiredly poking at his breakfast sandwich while Misty sipped a coffee.

"Morning, guys!" Jerri grinned, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (well, if she did have a tail).

"Morning..." MM groaned to himself.

"Uh oh, here it comes." winced Misty.

"Huh?" Jerri paused. "Here comes what?"

"I take it you noticed an alarm clock got busted."

"It was probably Doc Meow, cats like knocking shit over." Jerri shrugged. "Besides, I can fix it up, later."

"She didn't hear a thing?!" Avery asked Lexy. "That brand of alarm clock is hard to go unnoticed."

"Avery, that new cuckoo clock she got chimed all night long, DO YOU THINK she cares about an alarm clock or two?" Lexy laughed a little.

MM sighed and let out a huge yawn.

"You look awful, MM." Jerri didn't miss a beat.  

"I bet I do."

"You want me to read you a history textbook?" 

"Please, none of us slept a wink."

"...weird. I slept great."

MM just playfully rolled his eyes.

Chapter Text

Mistress enjoyed peaceful, quiet nights. That was obvious. She needed breaks after dealing with the girls and the gays.

Well, she was also a mother hen, so she always made sure a spare blanket and pillow were always on call for Lexy's latest nightmares.

[creeeeeeeeeeak]

"We keep telling you, Lexy." Misty didn't even bother opening her eyes, upon hearing the door. "Too much TV before bed will mess you over."

She only questioned stuff, when she heard the dragging of what sounded like a beanbag chair.

"Lexy?" she reached for the light, flicking it on.

"Ghhhhhhhh! Too bright..."

"Oh, it's you, Jerri." Misty was genuinely surprised, seeing the redhead drag her weighted blanket as if it WASN'T weighted.

She kind of looked like a lost child.

"Ahem?"

Misty squinted a bit more, then rubbed her eyes.

Jerri was not alone.

"MM?" Mistress asked.

"Yes." he nodded, silver eyes blending into the now bright room. He was levitating a bunch of plushies in his grasp.

Misty quickly turned the light back off. "C'mere, you two."

MM quickly teleported his way into Misty's arms while Jerri continued dragging her blanket over.

"There isn't a thunderstorm..." Mistress muttered. "And we didn't watch any disturbing content during the evening."

"Those are some very valid points." MM commented, watching Jerri finally reach the dragon, then wrap herself in the weighted blanket.

He was oh so tempted to coo and gush over how cute she looked, at that moment.

"So, MM, what brings you to my room?"

"Well, I was thinking..." MM mused. "Do you think I'm dark and brooding?"

"You're an interesting anti-villain..."

"Anti-villain?"

If MM had visible lips, he'd pucker them into a toddler's pouty face.

"You act like a villain, but you also have morals and stuff." Misty elaborated.

"Ah. Then... I want to be a villain?"

"Oh?"

"Think about it, you're always the villain in SOMEONE'S story."

Mistress sighed to herself and gently placed MM on her pillow as she slunk downstairs, returning with a glass of water.

"Here you go." she cooed.

"A villain in training does not need a cold, frothy glass of water..." he said, unironically drinking from said glass.

Misty gave a small giggle as she looked over at Jerri already cozy in her weighted blanket. "MM?"

"Yes?"

"What... happened?"

"I woke up craving vengeance against the world!"

"I mean-"

"Oh, that. I heard sniffling and blubbering."

- - -

[MM] "Lexy? Psssst? Lexy?"

[LX] "Mmmph?"

[MM] "Another nightmare?"

[LX] "Wha- no...I was dreaming of winning a racing game."

[MM] "Oh, my bad, my bad. Lay back down, I'll send you back to dreamland."

[LX] "Why'd you think I was having a nightmare?"

[MM] "I thought I heard crying."

- - -

"Go on..." Misty said, scooping MM back into her arms. 

"Go on with what?"

"What happened after you got Lexy back to bed." 

MM sighed to himself. "Well, if you MUST know..."

---

[MM] "Jerri? Is... is that... you?"

*a lot of unintelligible blubbering, as well as the eerie lullaby of a bunch of clocks*

[MM] "Jerri? Is this another night terror?"

*a lot more unintelligible blubbering, followed by sniffling and a few suppressed yawns*

[MM] *clears throat* "Jerri?!"

*blubbering comes to a halt*

[JR] "H... huh? Oh... it's you..."

[MM] "You're crying..."

[JR] "I'm fine, I promise."

[MM] "No, no you're not." *grabs a history book and flips through it* Let's see...'The History of the Royal Family'..."

[JR] "... Dad?"

*this was followed by more sniffling and blubbering*

[MM] "What's wrong, Jerri?"

[JR] "... The tree branches have human fingers on the tips of them..."

[MM] "Oh? Ohhhhhhhhhh!"

*small murmur under his breath of "she's really tired" as he sighs to himself*

[MM] "J- just lay down and close your eyes, Jerri-Bear. That's right, slowly... steadily. Dad will lull you into the deepest sleep of your life."

*small silence as MM thinks about it*

[MM] "Heh heh... that's right, Dad will lull you to sleep... sleep, my dear... close your eyes, without fear.

*cue maniac cackling*

[MM] "Oh, hey, that felt good."

*cue a second round of maniacal cackles*

[JR] "... You're scaring me..." 

[MM] "Oh, right, right. Sorry. Just, uh... oh stars. I can't narrate stories in this state of mind!"

[JR] "Why were you laughing so loud?"

[MM] "My bad, my bad... uh... not important, let's just..."

*sound of curtains being closed*

[MM] "That should handle the tree branch- hey, where're you going?"

[JR] "Kinda cold."

[MM] "Hmmm. Why don't we talk to Misty about this ordeal?"

[JR] "Pow-pow..."

[MM] "I'll just grab my own stuffed animals in case I feel like catching some Zs too."

- - -

"And now I'm nowhere near tired, BUT I do feel like being evil and stuff." MM groaned.

Misty tilted her head. "Define 'evil'."

"All hammy, big bad, kinda like a mad scientist. I won't wake the whole house up with my antics though, I promise to try avoiding that."

"I mean, do you wanna be evil-evil or evil-with-standards."

"With standards, obviously. I won't go hurting the rest of you. I'll just ask for consent before poking and prodding at squishy pinkish-gray brains at my shows with devilish delight!"

"What you do in your game is none of my concern."

"Heh heh. Well! Evil never sleeps, so-"

Mistress sighed to herself. "You can go on and do whatever, MM. Just please don't wake the house up."

"I'll try not to. I just want to know why evil FEELS good."

"If that's all." Misty said as MM teleported away.

"MM?" Misty asked herself. "What was his problem?"

Jerri just murmured tiredly to herself as she cuddled up to Misty even more.

"You comfy? That was a silly question. Of course you are. You're in the state of mind where you could get comfy anywhere."

Just like an overtired toddler, Misty murmured. 

"M... mom...?"

"It's okay. MM's just off doing some stuff somewhere. He'll come back, just close your eyes and go back to sleep."

"Oh... g'night."

'If I didn't know any better, I'd say she's thankful it's so dark in my room...'

"Sleep tight." Mistress nodded as she tried staying up for MM's return.

She had so much to ask him about why he wanted to BE evil in the first place.

But, alas, even big fluffy momma bears need their sleep.

As for MM?

He spent the rest of the night taking notes about "evil" figures in history. (If you're gonna be evil, might as well learn what to do and what not to do)

Eventually, he realized that being completely evil might not be worth it, so he teleported back to Misty's room and into his plushie pile.

She and Jerri were already asleep, so it didn't take him too long to cave into slumber's call as well.

It just took him a while to stop grumbling over how morality is a fickle thing and to instead embrace the two-link Lethargy Link.

Chapter Text

11 am. 

Lexy was just staring at the TV, bored. 

She tried readjusting her position on the couch, stretching her body out and even changing the channel.

Nothing was working.

Maybe she needed some fresh air.

She wondered if anyone else wanted to come for a walk.

Time to ask!

- - -

"Hey Misty-"

"I'm doing the laundry, can you quickly check the dryer?"

Lexy nodded, looking inside. 

"No one in there."

"And the washer?"

"Both are clear."

"Phew." Mistress sighed in relief as she turned on the washing machine.

"You only made that mistake once."

"I genuinely did not know MM was hiding in the washer."

Small giggles escaped both of their lips. 

"I'm going on a walk, wanna come?" Lexy asked.

"Not today. I have a lot to do. Maybe tomorrow?"

"... Oh. Okay."

- - -

Lexy KNEW better than to enter when the 'Do Not Disturb (time travel may or may not be in progress)', but yet she was also known to rebel against the sign.

Usually she rebelled when she KNEW time travel was NOT in progress.

"Nah, it's 11 am. Time travel probably IS in progress." Lexy mused to herself as she tried finding MM.

He soon made himself known, sitting on Avery's bed, watching him play the violin.

"Oh hey, lover boys." Lexy smiled. "Wanna come for a walk? I'm booooooooored."

"I thought you were watching the gameshow network." MM mused.

"It's just old-fart gameshows, today."

She climbed up on Avery's bed. "So! You two wanna come on a walk?"

"We're good." insisted Avery.

"Maybe tomorrow. I have a game at noon." MM added.

"Oh." Lexy sighed to herself. "Everyone's busy, today."

"Actually, I have a suggestion." MM commented, teleporting away and returning with a blue-and-white cat carrier.

Doc Meow had just woken up, bright eyed and excited to see Lexy.

[mrowr!]

"Awwww, come on, Doc. You wanna go for a walk?"

Jumpcut to Lexy getting a beige leash on the cat's blue collar, then opening the front door. "We'll be back in a while, Avery."

"Okay."

And they were gone, Doc mewing happily as his paws peacefully pattered on the sidewalk.

"Where do you wanna go, boy?" Lexy asked. "Cause I could do this all day, being honest. Nothing good's on TV."

Doc Meow just meowed happily.

Cats don't care about the journey, or the destination.

They just have one braincell bouncing around their brains like the DVD logo.

Lexy nodded as they wandered into town.

- - -

And it was calm and quiet again, for another two hours.

"Alright, do you guys have anything I need to wash?" asked Mistress to MM and Avery.

Avery handed her a slightly muddy, green cape made of very fluffy material.

MM just shook his "head".

He was wiped out from his game and it was showing.

"You only had to host two games and you're tired." Avery chuckled.

"Being mysterious is hard work."

"I hope Lexy's not too upset at us." Misty said. "She really wanted to go out for a walk."

"Don't worry, we suggested she could take the cat outside for a while." MM didn't miss a beat.

"I just hope they're okay, out there." Avery mused.

"This is Lexy, they'll both be fine."

[SLAM]

"We're back!" Lexy called out, unclipping Doc's leash from his collar as he sprang upstairs, happy, energetic, full of life.

And the trio bolted for the balcony to wave at her.

"How'd it go?" asked Avery.

"There's soooooo much to see and do downtown! We both had a blast!" Lexy told them, panting.

"Guess we're taking it slow for the rest of the day." 

"Yep. This girl definitely got all her steps in." 

Her smile said it all, this was worth it.

"I'll make us some snacks and then we can just chill out on the couch with the 2pm movie." Misty said as she dashed downstairs. "They're showing 'Watch Your Back, Jack'."

"Sounds like a-" Lexy let out a yawn. "-plan... fuck."

Well, old 90s movies DO make for good white noise, y'know.

Chapter Text

Mistress smiled to herself as she read quietly, late one aggressively rainy night. 

She had prepared for the inevitable.

Flashlights? At the ready, each one color-coded.

First Aid Kit? Right beside her bed, just in case.

Black sleeping bag with yellow lightning bolts on it? Check!

A stray red pillow and a teal battery-powered alarm clock? Check!

A mountain of plushies and a purple, starry pillow? Check and check!

A 'nest' of hoodies and long-sleeve shirts- most of them being green? Check!

A blue, cat-shaped pillow on the floor? Check!

Five thermoses of hot cocoa? Gotta be prepared!

Water bottles? Oh yes!

Snacks? Well DUH!

A bag of cat food? Big time!

A few stacks of books? She had something for everyone.

Music box? Much needed, they'd thank her later.

[creeeeeeeeeak]

And here they came.

"Is it gonna storm?" MM was the first to ask, fear in his eyes.

Misty nodded her head. "Everyone ready for the weather?"

"Yeah... we're ready." Lexy nodded. "Right?"

"Storms are a part of nature." Avery replied.

"Yeah, Doc Meow and I are ready." Jerri clutched Doc's cat carrier in one hand and the tip of her weighted blanket in the other hand.

[mrowr?]

"Come on in, make yourselves comfy." Mistress smiled.

Nodding, the four settled down in their designated spots. So did Doc, once he was let out of his carrier.

"It's really raining hard." 

"Yeah, it is." Avery agreed with MM.

With a warm smile, Mistress passed out the flashlights and thermoses before filling a blue collapsible food bowl with water. 

"Oh geez..." Jerri groaned to herself, playing with the fabric of her weighted blanket. "What if it thunders?"

"I'll protect everyone!" Lexy declared, her own baby blanket tied around her neck like an impromptu hero's cape.

MM smiled nervously. "Hey, uh..."

"Help yourselves to the snacks." Misty insisted.

"Very well, then." nodded Avery, grabbing a handful of spicy chips.

"Hey! I got an idea! How about we each tell a story each?"

Everyone looked at Lexy.

"What?"

"That idea is so genius, it might work." Avery said.

"Who wants to go first?" Misty asked, sipping some hot cocoa.

"ME! I suggested it, after all!" Lexy commented.

"Very well then." MM nodded as he hunkered into his pile o stuffed animals.

"Once upon a time, on a night not unlike this one, there lived a family of wolves who lived together." Lexy put her flashlight under her chin. "And on this night, the wolves were out hunting in the rain, potential storm be damned!"

...

"And then, they chased the rabbit all the way to the field, right up until it was being cornered at all sides!"

...

"Then, the littlest wolf pup dashed ahead of the pack, a mischievous gleam in his eyes..."

...

"And they lived howl-y ever after. Heh heh, get it? Howl-y? Instead of happily?" Lexy giggled.

"That was cute." Mistress gushed as she stroked Doc Meow's fur.

"Yes, if your idea of cute is a wolfpack striking fear into the other woodland animals." Avery seemed a bit bitter.

"I thought it had a certain charm to it." MM nodded. His magic was glowing dimly in the mostly-dark room as he performed some act of levitation on an object that no one other than him could identify.

Lexy paused. "Don't tell me she's already asleep."

[Mrowr.]

"Nuts." Lexy sighed. "Five bucks say that if it begins storming really hard, she won't be sleeping like a baby for long."

MM gave a slight eyeroll as his body shivered. 

"You know you just jinxed us all by blurting that out, right?" he asked.

"I know!" she grinned, snuggling into her sleeping bag.

Avery took a huge gulp of water, then cleared his throat. "My turn!"

"The floor is yours." Misty nodded.

"Okay, so this is the story of a little purple, silver and black bird..."

...

"... One night, the bird got lost in the woods and couldn't find his way back..."

...

"And the silky white swan told him to go seek out the Great Cycle..."

...

"The goose then-"

"Uh, Avery, you're putting us ALL to sleep, here." complained Lexy as she rubbed her eyes.

"She has a point." Misty nodded as MM yawned.

"I'm so sorry. May I keep telling my story?" 

"Sure, just don't say we didn't warn you."

He cleared his throat again.

"The goose then told the bird to fly up to the highest branch on the tallest tree and to overlook the forest from there..."

...

"And with that, the bird flew south." Avery bowed, only to see Misty and Doc Meow sound asleep, with MM and Lexy struggling to stay awake.

"We warned you." MM murmured as he sipped his hot cocoa.

"Your turn to tell a story, MM." Lexy yawned. "I mean, you don't really HAVE a choice, right now. Misty and Jerri are already asleep."

"Very well then. I'll tell the mother of all bedtime stories, then." MM nodded. "Sleep tight, Lex."

And Lexy was nearly asleep.

MM cleared his throat. "Okay, since Lexy yawned, we don't have much time. This is the story of The Fox and the Peafowl."

"Never heard that one before." Avery said.

"It's Rainy Night Sleepover Exclusive."

"Oh! Carry on!"

"Once upon a time, there lived a bold and daring fox and his best friend, a slightly stingy, but well-meaning peafowl..." MM smiled to himself.

...

"And then-"

[CRACK! BOOM!]

MM gulped, eyes shrinking as he screamed.

Loudly.

Out of panic.

"Hmmmm?"

"MM?"

"GAH-"

[Mew?]

"And then there were six." Avery told himself. "You're safe, MM. The storm can't hurt you, in here."

"Is... is Avery's story over?" Misty shook her head. "Eugh..."

"It is, MM was telling his story next and then-" Avery shrugged. "Need I say more?"

"Good point." Lexy said. 

MM nervously poked an eye out of the plushie pile. "I am so sorry for screaming and waking you guys."

"No harm." Misty said.

"..." Jerri curled up into a scared ball, weighted blanket still clutched in her grip.

"It's gonna be okay, you two. We're safe. We're inside." Avery reassured, turning on his flashlight and shining it around the room. 

Mistress smiled. "May I tell a story?"

"Sure." MM still seemed scared.

A smile crossed her face. "Once upon a time, on a far away island, there lived a dragon known by all as the Tournament Mistress..."

...

"And then, one day, her whole world changed..."

...

"The house was quiet for a while, before she was introduced to her first roommate, an eccentric young lady."

"Ain't that the truth?" Lexy grinned, sticking her tongue out.

That got a giggle from Jerri.

"She had no idea what she signed up for, before meeting this first roommate..."

...

"And now, that dragon can't think of anywhere else she'd love to be."

MM smiled nervously. Despite the storm still going strong, both he and Jerri had settled down a bit more.

Jerri just stared at her left hand with a very angry glare. "Yeah... that was cute, Misty..."

"Whatcha looking at?" Lexy asked.

"... Oh... uh... I broke a nail..." Jerri sighed.

That seemed to please her.

"Your turn to tell a story."

"Oh, okay, Lex..." Jerri gave a slight smile. "Lemme think."

[CRACK]

"Gah-"

Mistress handed over a bag of pretzels and the thermos of (no longer) hot cocoa.

"... Thanks."

MM kept hidden in the plushies.

"Now lesse... this story is about... about..." Jerri groaned, clenching her left fist.

Out of sight, out of mind.

"... This story is about... a Unicorn, Cheetah, Fennec Fox, Wolf and Peacock."

MM's eyes softened a little, though he did sigh to himself. 

"Once upon a time, in a deep, dark forest... uh... oh! There was a quintet of animals. One chilly morning, the Unicorn and the Wolf were out picking berries while the Cheetah was nagging at the Peacock and the Fennec Fox..."

"OH!" Lexy grinned. "And the Fennec Fox was stumbling around groggily, but no one really noticed this because they were doing their own things."

Lexy paused. 

"Right, right, you didn't get a chance to tell a story, yet. You can continue now."  

"Okay! Then, all of a sudden, the Wolf looked at the Fennec Fox's current state of mind, then got the Unicorn's attention."

A chuckle escaped MM's mouth as he listened.

'Is she trying to make me feel better? If she is, I don't mind...'

And he kept listening, a smile on his face.

Chapter Text

"And then, after finally coaxing the fennec fox inside, and the Fox passing out almost as soon as she curled up nice and snug..." 

"... The Unicorn, the Cheetah, the Wolf and the Peacock all agreed that, yeah, it would be a good idea to just curl up and cozy up together.."

"We make for a good team." Jerri told MM as she kept looking at her left fist.

"We sure did... I can see your brain and body are slowing down now. Why don't you call it a night?"

"I do not think I can fall asleep without making a fool of myself."

"Everyone else is asleep, now." MM said, softly. "They won't mind."

"... Still, what if they wake up before me?"

"We'll take it as it comes."

"Look. Misty, I won't mind. Avery, I don't even wanna know! But Lexy! Ohhhhhhhoho! I am NOT letting HER know until I feel readyy."

"When shall that be?"

"Judging by the-"

[CRACK]

"-current situation... mmmmm, I'd say 3025."

"Lexy will be dead by- ohhhhhhhhh..." MM said. 

"But..."

"We've seen you asleep in so many unnaturally comfortable positions, we're mostly unfazed. Besides, I think the sand-woman's getting a bit restless waiting for her date." MM gave a small chuckle.

"Pow-pow..." she took her helmet off, looking a bit nervous.

Last thing she needed was the helmet's LED eye drawing attention to her form.

"Okay, body, don't embarrass me to Kingdom-Come. Especially you, hands."

MM smiled a little and brushed her hair a little.

"MM..."

"Goodnight, try to get-"

[CRACK]

"-some sleep."

"... MM?"

MM gave a teasing smile. "Are you always this much of a pain with Lexy?"

"Even bigger."

"Why was I expecting you to say that?"

"You know me..."

"And I know the best way to help you reach peak coziness."

Jerri giggled a little, ready to test those waters. "How so?"

"Well, my time traveling companion... I wasn't always so stoic. Do you know WHY I only showcase my eyes?"

"... Nope!"

"Well, that's a story for a different night. Instead, I was thinking about telling you of a dream I had?"

"A hope-dream or a dream-dream?"

"A dream-dream."

"You get those?"

"Yes, and in them, I am something to behold."

- - -

It was a dark and stormy night, not unlike this one! And I, believe it or not, was once... how do I put this? Much more human-looking.

MM, in his human form, looked out from the rooftop. 

I enjoy everyone in this house, trust me. But, in this dream, I was just... craving more.

More boldness.

More impulse.

More of a can-do attitude.

Less worry about others' feelings.

Less fears about being a nobody.

In this dream, I was... unstoppable.

"MM, come inside. The storm's picking up."

But instead of coming inside, under Mesei's orders, he leapt off the roof in one bound, flipping onto a tree branch and jumping and climbing his way all across town. He did catch rides on the backs of moving vehicles, however.

I had a power I wish I could posses in the waking world, Ms. Rig.

"Your attentions please, residents of Chicago." MM asked, his eyes appearing on a huge billboard as his voice echoed through car radios and TV speakers, interrupting podcasts and creating an unskippable YouTvube ad. 

Basically, the whole city was in panic.

"Now, that I have your attention. I shall merely ask one thing from all of you..."

Everyone was in hysterics. 

Until I said it.

"Sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep..."

And just like that, I had put the entire city to sleep.

"Wow, that really is villainous, MM."

It gets better.

I got up to so many hijinks. I ruled the entire city! I was powerful!

But... I also missed you guys.

"You care about us?"

Yes, I do, Jerri. 

But I was still in my "villain" era.

"Ooooooooh! What did you do?"

Well, lesse... ah, yes. I didn't do anything to wake you four up. 

I was having too much fun being an evil villain.

"Fuck you."

I know. Heh, I spent the rest of the dream causing chaos everywhere. I committed so many crimes, I dined and dashed, I threw a brick at a Tesla- I also fixed a few ice cream machines and made my own food.

- - -

"So, basically, being a villain was kinda fun." MM shrugged as Jerri laughed herself into a state of exhaustion. "And when I undid the spell, I dashed back home and told you guys what I did- all of you were very nonplussed."

"Wha-"

"In this sentence, it means you four were not surprised in the slightest bit."

"Makes sense... you'd be a funny villain..." her eyes were closed as she finally calmed down.

"Want me to... tuck you in, or...?"

"I don't mind. Just, not the weighted blanket."

MM nodded and placed one of his blankets on her.

"Night." he cooed as he floated to his plushie pile. Upon settling in with his Hatenna, he glanced back at her.

She was already asleep, hadn't even been 10 seconds.

And a proud smile crossed his face. "Huh, I still got the charm."

He smiled, watching her cozy up tremendously, before glancing over at the others. 

'They won't mind, and if they do, I'm not afraid to burn a few bridges.'

-

Lexy was the first one awake, at 4:30 am.

Due to a really bad nightmare about getting caught in a thunderstorm.

"Hey... anyone awake?" Lexy turned her flashlight on, looking around the room.

She soon noticed Jerri and snuck up until she was right beside her.

"Hey Rigster..." Lexy cooed softly. "Wow, this has gotta be the comfiest I've EVER seen you, so I'm gonna letcha sleep and instead bother MM."

And with a smile, she poked MM's plushie pile. "MM? MM? MM?!"

"Huah...?"

"I had a nightmare."

"I'll listen." MM gave a sleepy smile. "As long as you don't ask questions."

"About what?"

"Never mind, then. What was your nightmare about?"

"I dreamt that I was trapped in an arcade game and I had to get out of it or die."

"Darn it, I could've helped, if I wasn't putting all of Chicago to sleep. Again."

"WHAT?!"

Chapter Text

[PROPERTY OF MM]

<< LET'S GO CRAZY - AN ANALYSIS >>

– – – – –

Dear journal, as you know, there's a rare phenomenon in this house known as the Lethargy Link.

It happens by causing some sort of hypnotic effect when it comes to certain little traits that befall us when the sandman sprinkles his dream dust in our eyes.

(Seriously, I CANNOT study the art of Lexy's yawning WITHOUT getting sleepy. I thought I was the hypnotist...)

But, as it turns out, if we decline on a date with our bed and pillow (or the chair and table) for long enough, another rare phenomenon occurs in this house.

Mesei, Lexy and Avery call it "the crazies". But I figured that it deserves a much more "professional" name.

So, may I be the first to introduce my findings about... The Sleepless Stupor.

Now, to analyze these occurrences, I couldn't just deny my housemates of shuteye, so I decided to just watch on and write down what I hear and see with my own invisible ears and hard-to-miss eyes.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, DAY 3 SINCE INVESTIGATION BEGAN >>

<< SUBJECT: LEXY CONN >>

November 15, 2024

All it took was 96 hours before something went awry. It was just the girls and I at CVS picking up some medication for Mesei (poor thing had a fever) while Avery took care of her.

(We made her some soup before we left, so Avery wouldn't have to worry about doing so)

We also needed to grab Lexy's ADHD medication.

Well, the first red flag that the Sleepless Stupor was gonna show itself at the pharmacy should've been Lexy's ponytail being completely unkempt and the lack of her goggles.

Second red flag? Lexy was mad at the whole wide world.

It was taking, to quote Lexy's metaphorically tummy-aching, "forever and seven-eighths" for us to get her meds, and the three of us were getting restless.

[JR] "Well this is just great... I'm getting comfy..."

[MM] "I know, I know. It shouldn't take too l-"

[LX] "Ugh! Can they BE any slower?"

Lexy grumbled something under her breath about the pharmacists being "a bunch of slow motherfuckers", making me remind her to at least be somewhat patient.

[LX] "DON'T get cocky. You think you're sooooooooooo smart because you're older! Well, newsflash, you're not! You're just a nobody. So get over it and suck it up!"

I hate to admit, but I was too stunned to speak up for myself.

[JR] "Lexy, what was that about?!"

[LX] "And DON'T get me started on YOU, Jerri!"

[JR] "Yeeeesh, someone needs a nap and it sure ain't me."

Observation: The more exhausted Lexy gets, the more annoyed she gets at anything and everything.

However, she did come back to her senses midway through calling Jerri out for her habit of passing out in really bad locations.

[LX] "Whoops..."

[JR] "Meh, it's fine, Lexy. Here... I know I don't do this often, but..."

And she HUGGED HER! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, JERRI HUGGED LEXY.

As tightly as she could.

Which, given her muscles, must've been like being spontaneously wrapped in a weighted blanket.

[LX] "I... I... I DIDN'T MEAN IT!"

She began crying, but we both reassured her that these big feelings were normal, given her history of poor slumber.

Well, while I was explaining how sleep deprivation affected the limbic system (part of the human brain responsible for emotions), I managed to accidentally lull Jerri to sleep. Normally, if this happens in public, one of us tries to wake her within the next 300 seconds... but this turned out to be a good thing.

Lexy was asleep soon after.

(Guess that snoring's good for something, after all)

And shortly before the two woke up, the pharmacists had gotten Lexy's medications in order.

[LX] "Already?"

I indeed confirmed that her meds were ready to be picked up, and once she got her meds, we grabbed Mesei something for her fever (as well as a treat for Avery).

Luckily, for all of us, the bus ride home lulled Lexy back to sleep.

I insisted on carrying her inside and getting her on the couch, but Jerri insisted she could do it herself. So I just lurked behind with our bag from CVS (mile-long bill included) and watched on. 

And Lexy was asleep for the rest of the day, only waking up at 7:30 am the next morning, disoriented, but a lot more mellow.

She became much more embarrassed of the outburst, with a clear mind, but she also said...

[LX] "God, that hug did the trick. I'm pretty sure I'd flip a chair over or something if I wasn't restrained."

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, DAY 5 SINCE INVESTIGATION BEGAN >>

<< SUBJECT: AVERY FLUNDERA >>

November 17, 2024.

It was 5am. 

Mesei was sleeping off her fever.

The girls were having an impromptu slumber party after one of them (guess who) woke up from a bad nightmare.

And I had just settled down for "the night".

Something in Avery's brain, however, said it was "Designated Screaming Hour".

I instantly went to Mesei's room and did my best to keep her blissfully asleep with my voice.

But I could hear Lexy and she had a lot to say.

[LX] "AVERY! IT IS 5:02 IN THE EVER-LOVING, CHURCH-GOING, SUNNY-SIDE-UP, TEXT-AVOIDING MORRRRRRRNING! YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR THIS BEHAVIOR!"

He just screamed even more.

[LX] "WE! WERE! SLEEPING! ASSHOLE! Tell him, Jerri."

[JR] "Why? You said it perfectly clear."

Yeah, Avery was not ceasing this behavior.

[LX] "Avery, sheeesh! It's Sunday, for crying out loud. Sunday's like, the IDEAL day to be lazy." 

[AV] "I... am so sorry, my body just told me to do that."

[LX] "Oldest excuse in the book."

[JR] "Lexy!"

[LX] "What?"

[JR] "Maybe HE had a nightmare, didja think about that?"

[LX] "... Good point."

I had to listen in as I tried keeping Mesei asleep.

[JR] "Hey Avery, it's okay. We all cope differently with nightmares- n-not that I'd know, I don't get nightmares..."

I could've sworn she muttered "often" under her breath.

[AV] "Nightmares?"

[LX] "You never had a nightmare before?"

[AV] "No, no, I have... but... I haven't slept much..."

There it was. 

We had known each other for 13 months and this was the first time seeing him react from the Sleepless Stupor.

[LX] "We can help take care of Misty, take the weight off your shoulders."

[JR] "Yep. But only cause being sick and stuck in bed all day is no fun."

[AV] "If you two think you can-"

[LX] "Oh we KNOW we can."

[JR] "Now, can you fall asleep on your own or should we pull an MM?"

Ah great, they put a term to how I get them to bed.

[AV] "I'm good, I got some old lullaby albums I could play."

[LX] "Okay then. *YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN* C'mon, let's get back to bed."

I stayed with Mesei for another few minutes before collapsing on the floor.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, DAY 12 SINCE INVESTIGATION BEGAN >>

<< SUBJECT: JERRI RIG >>

(IT WAS AN UNEVNTFUL WEEK, ONCE MESEI FELT BETTER)

November 24, 2024.

One night. That's all it took.

One singular night.

It's not my fault some college students thought Time JINX would help with their history exam.

But I could tell Jerri wasn't in the best condition for leisurely time travel. 

Or fixing tech.

Or even trying to make her own lunch.

Because the sound of a pained scream (followed by a frying pan hitting the kitchen floor) is what got the attentions of Avery and I.

Avery quickly grabbed the first aid kit, just to play it safe.

I, meanwhile, was ready to find her nearly asleep, only for an adrenaline high having woken her back up.

Turned out, for once, I guessed wrong.

She just bit her tongue to stay awake and, in the process, knocked a frying pan off the stove, a half-toasted grilled cheese sitting on the floor.

[AV] "Are you hurt?"

[JR] "No... don't think so... hang on a second."

She faced away from us to lift her helmet up just enough to rub her left eye, if her grumbling of "they cannot see me like this" was a hint.

I just calmly asked her if everything was okay.

[JR] "Oh, yeah... I just, y'know, lost my grip on the pan."

I quickly turned the burner off as Avery put the sandwich in the trash (it failed the five second rule).

That course of action.

She almost looked ready to lose it.

But her inner-child wasn't fully in control yet, probably on a snack break.

[JR] "That... was my lunch..."

[AV] "You could've gotten sick, if you ate it. The floor is not very clean, you know."

She gave him "Resting Bitch Face", if the pout didn't give it away.

I then explained (in thorough detail) how there's a difference between sleeping on the kitchen floor and eating something that fell on the kitchen floor.

[JR] "Now what am I supposed to do for lunch?"

[AV] "A turkey sandwich might help you feel sleepy."

Avery did have Thanksgiving of last year, for basing his theory on the 'turkey wives tail'. It's actually the overeating of certain foods that contain tryptophan that MAKES someone feel abbiocco. 

I had my own ideas for luncheon, though.

[MM] "Maybe stay away from the stove...?"

[JR] "I need SOMETHING to keep me going."

That inner child was gonna come out soon, Avery and I could feel it.

[MM] "How about a peanut butter and banana sandwich?"

[JR] "Interesting... I think I can handle the knife."

[AV] "I'll have the first aid kit on standby."

We did NOT need the first aid kit, but we DID need to toss almost everything in the wash-too much peanut butter, not enough banana.

Once Jerri was in something cozier and the wash had been started, however, she curled up atop the machine and, like clockwork, was out. 

Yeah, that's gonna be fun to explain to Lexy and Mesei after their games, but at least this bout of Sleepless Stupor was mild.

Now, let's all give a standing ovation for washing machine white noise.

– – – – –

<< OBSERVING HOUSEMATES, DAY 12 SINCE INVESTIGATION BEGAN >>

<< SUBJECT: MESEI/MISTY >>

(still) November 24, 2024.

Mesei was NOT amused with the news.

[MST] "That's... good to know, I guess."

Spite was etched all over her face.

Avery and I have never seen this before. 

[AV] "Maybe she's just stressed."

[MM] "Something feels off."

Little things can really trigger big feelings, especially when you're tired.

[MST] "And here I was, hoping I could get SOME laundry done today..."

For the first time in 13 months, she look unsympathetic. 

Like she wanted to just kick the washing machine angrily.

This was new.

So I tailed behind Mesei, watching to make sure she didn't try anything.

To my dread, she made a very angry beehive for the washing machine.

I had to act quickly, so I grabbed Jerri (delicately) and teleported her to my bed BEFORE I dealt with Misty's newfound "bad girl attitude".

(I hope my stuffed animals appreciated getting 5 hours worth of uninterrupted, unfazed cuddles)

[MM] "There. She's off the machine. Happy?"

[MST] "This setback knocked my Sunday plans back by 10 minutes."

She then showed me a good twenty shirts. Most were hoodies, then there were tee shirts, and finally, only three tank tops.

I tried to explain that she could just toss the shirts in the next load while the current load's in the dryer.

[MST] "That won't do, that won't- awwww great, that's drool, isn't it? Drool! On top of the washing machine. WHY CAN'T TODAY BE EASY?"

I tried to give her a reassuring pat, but she glared at me in a way she never did previously.

It was an angry glare.

I was gonna be a goner, my fate being sealed by a sleepy, enraged dragon.

But, as you can tell, I'm still alive. And I have Lexy to thank.

[SLAM!]

[LX] "I'm back!"

I audibly sighed in relief as Avery promptly shushed Lexy for her hootenanny.

[LX] "It's just one slammed door, Ave."

I took the opportunity to run and hide...

... under Lexy's bed.

I found the last piece of that puzzle there, so, I guess that's a win.

Anyways, Mesei eventually tracked me down, saying she could "smell my fear".

[MST] "You cannot hide, MASTER MENTALIST! The truth ALWAYS COMES OUT! AND GUESS WHAT! I AM NOT IN THE MOOD FOR EXCUSES!" 

I sighed and just told her to be glad it wasn't INSIDE the washing machine.

As if THAT deterred her expression and random outpour of rage and vengeance.

Note to self, never upset a dragon.

[MM] "Misty, you're making a big mistake..."

[MST] "Hmmmmph!"

Once the rage subsided, she was back to being aloof. 

She didn't crack a smile when Lexy tried to make her laugh, nor did she compliment the birds' newest song.

It was as if my telling her about something OUT OF MY CONTROL was Armageddon.

But she stayed aloof for the rest of the afternoon.

She was even aloof as she made dinner.

I've never seen anyone aggressively read a meatloaf package before today.

She was even petty enough to only get out four plates.

At first, I thought she was too unhappy to eat or that she was putting leftover in a Tupperware bin.

Nope.

She purposefully made enough only for four of us.

[AV] "I want the old Misty back."

[LX] "Me too..."

[AV] "So... you wanna do Jerri-Duty or should I?"

[LX] "What difference does it make?"

[MST] "You snooze, you lose."

I could clearly see she was exhausted, but I couldn't let it be her excuse for her pettiness.

A part of her brain wanted to let a bunch of pent-up anger out, though.

THAT was the trigger.

[MM] "Tournament Mistress?"

[MST] "WHAT?"

[MM] "No one's stopping you from stepping outside and screaming."

I think my words struck a cord because that's exactly what she did.

With a big exhale of fire, for good measure.

Nothing caught on fire, though. Thank goodness.

That would've been one awkward talk with the firefighters.

Anyways, Mesei was pretty sad, afterwards. So I just sat outside with her until she spoke up.

[MST] "I..."

[MM] "Bad day?"

[MST] "So many 9/11 designs."

[MM] "I can see why that would be upsetting."

[MST] "And so many... sexual slogans."

[MM] "Very fair point."

[MST] "I still had winning shirts and hoodies and tank tops to toss in the washing machine, though..."

I could see it now. A busy day, a bunch of stress she needed to bottle up, then she comes home to learn she can't even open the washing machine.

[MST] "I... I... I didn't mean-"

[MM] "But you still raised your voice. You still chased me down. You still got peeved over minor details. This isn't like you."

[MST] "And I understand if you three fear me from now on..."

[MM] "Fear you? We're just worried about you. A bit mad, yes. But we're mostly worried." 

We talked for a few more minutes before heading back inside.

[MST] "I am sorry for my behavior today. Exhaustion alone cannot excuse it, nor can the fact that I had a bad day. I became a monster. If today changes how you perceive me, so be it. I probably deserve it. Maybe I'm not as maternal and loving as I thought I was."

Avery AND Lexy were BOTH stunned into silence before nodding their heads.

Lexy guided her on the living room floor as Avery grabbed a bird.

[AV] "These birds are capable of mimicking sounds with perfect pitch. For example, kazoos are a favorite of theirs."

The bird chirped in agreeance.

[AV] "So it's obvious that these birds have picked up on... uh... let's just let this little fellow demonstrate. MM, Lexy, cover your earholes."

And that bird let out a yawn that sounded just like Lexy's.

[AV] "They can also repeat my humming without fail, not to brag."

A sleepy smile escaped her frown as she curled up on the floor.

(Something about the floors in this house emits coziness, I SWEAR!!!)

[AV] "And if the lapping of the ocean is what you need..."

Again, the bird perfectly mimicked it.

And Mesei was asleep within five minutes.

That was how long it took for the three of us to figure out who was handling Jerri-Duty.

It landed on me, once I told them I moved her to my bed. Can't say I blame them!

– – – – –

<< IN CONCLUSION >>

-The Sleepless Stupor makes parts of ourselves that we bottle up just come gushing out.

-Lexy becomes overly emotional and quick to snap.

-Avery loses his sensibility and instead just SCREAMS for no reason other than "just because".

-Jerri becomes very unstable, so it's best to catch a Sleepless Stupor in the earlier stages, when it comes to her.

-and Mesei... we never wanna see THAT again.

With that, I shall leave this report here.

PS: As for what we did about the meatloaf Misty purposefully separated into fourths while in a spiteful Sleepless Stupor... Jerri just grabbed some toaster waffles and toasted them up.

Chapter Text

<< What is up with Master Mentalist? >>

<< Observations by Jerri Rig >>

– – – – –

MM is weird. Lemme be the first to say that out loud. 

His eyes are all yellow and infected-y, but when they're silver, he's reached his peak when it comes to his powers?

What is up with that?

And his voice. He could read a phone book from the 1970s and it'd probably sound like he's ad-libbing a bedtime story.

Anyways, Lexy bet me twenty dollars to read MM's journal, and I couldn't help but notice that when he talked about how... uh... crazy we get when we're overtired, he forgot to write something for himself.

So, I have taken it upon myself to do just that.

I am sorry if this does not "match" MM's writing style. It is lengthy, boring and I couldn't help but imagine MM's voice narating it.

(MM, if you are reading this, I am sorry for the small drool stain on the top-left corner of page 3 of your studies. That was an accident.)

Okay, awkward introduction aside, let's get this Overtired MM Analysis Train choo-chooing.

– – – – –

<< November 30, 2024, Saturday >>

So. Guess who caught a cold?

Yep! I did.

Kinda my fault for not wearing a raincoat, cause it kinda dampened Thanksgiving plans.

However, apparently NO ONE has been able to sleep well the past two days. My bad, my nose is all stuffy.

The exhaustion that's being felt around the house is perfect for my analysising (I hope that's a word) however.

[MM] "Eugh... oh, hey, how's the cold?"

I told him I was doing fine-ish and that there's only so many times you can re-read the same books.

[MM] "I think I got some books in my room, hope you don't mind a few fables."

At this point, being drugged on cold meds every few hours, I'd probably ENJOY a fairytale or two.

And MM knew this.

I had to get an analysis of him when in a "Sleepless Stuper" BEFORE the meds and his voice work in tandum to knock me out.

[MM] "Here we go. Now, can you read these on your own or shall I?"

I commented on how I can do it myself and that he should get some rest while I'm awake.

[MM] "No, no. I insist."

Even me telling him I could fend for myself didn't stop him from asking to help.

I think he wanted to feel... important(?)

So I caved and told him he could read ONE chapter.

Worse mistake of my life.

I woke up to a darkened bedroom, with my left thumb in my mouth.

And MM was gone.

Observation 1: if you wanna outsmart MM, you gotta think ahead of time.

– – – – –

<< December 1, 2024, Sunday >>

I'm gonna try again! 

Besides, my nose feels less stuffy and my eyes feel much more open.

But still, no one's been sleeping well.

Don't earplugs exist?

[MM] "Oh, hey..."

Woah, he actually sounded terrible.

This was a breakthrough.

[MM] "How're you feeling?"

I told him I was feeling much better before commenting on his tiredness.

[MM] "Oh, this? I'll be fine, Jerri. Just... if there's anything I can do, say the word."

Again, I told him I could fourge for myself. 

[MM] "Oh, yeah..."

Yep, he really wants to feel important, right now.

[MM] "While we're both down here, can I get you a drink? Water? Juice? Broth?"

I asked him if he heard what I just told him.

[MM] "Right, right."

He still watched me like a hawk as I grabbed a banana and a cup of water.

[MM] "You're gonna spill that. Do you wanna sit down? What if you start to feel woozy?"

Yep, it was starting.

History was being made.

But I still kept a profesional appearance (even when wrapped up in a blanket and helmet-less). 

I told him I could get back to my room by myself and that (quote) "I'm a big girl".

[MM] "I am so sorry, I keep forgetting."

But I swear, he was watching me climb back upstairs as if he was expecting my body to just give out.

So I glanced back at him.

[MM] "Your gate seemed a bit off-balance."

I don't have a gate, so I told him as much.

[MM] "It means your sense of coordinasion."

If I'm gonna figure out what he does when overtired, I needed a plan.

The plan was simple.

1. I'd wait in my room for him to check on me next.

2. Then I'd pretend to be asleep.

3. He'll leave me alone.

4. Once the coast is clear, I'd read one of my history books.

5. After a bit, I'd wander downstairs,

6. He'd ask me if he accidentally woke me up

7. I'd explain that I was bored cooped up in my room.

8. ???

I'll figure out step 8 eventually.

– – – – –

<< December 2, 2024, Monday >>

That didn't work at all. I fell asleep while pretending to be asleep. 

Talk about irony.

(Note to self: don't pull that stunt again)

And MM still looks awful.

Now, most people would've thrown in the towel by now, but the third time's a charm.

Besides, I'm Jerri FUCKING Rig, nothing keeps me down.

And before you ask, no, no one's getting any decent shuteye AND no one's thought of getting earplugs.

Misty's a bit snappier, Lexy's emotions are a little outta whack and Avery's screaming every other hour.

But today's the day! I'm gonna catch MM and do something about him.

[MM] "You're awake. Good morning."

I just told him the cold hard truth that there was friction in the house.

[MM] "Yeah... I'm trying my best here to help them out, but it's hard."

He REALLY wants to be helpful 

So if he WANTS to be helpful, I'll give him a chance to be helpful.

I asked him if he could get the curtains, just this once.

[MM] "Oh, okay."

A bit of sunlight actually helped light up the room a lot more.

[MM] "Looks nice outside."

I agreed with him as I watched him try to fight off a bout of exhaustion.

Is... that what I look like?

Before I could ask MM any questions, he began crying.

[MM] "I'M FINALLY USEFUL!"

Beg pardon?

[MM] "MY DESPERATION TO HELP IS PAYING OFF! IT'S NOT GOING IN VAIN!"

He was crying a lot about being useful and important and about being able to help.

Turns out it's hard to get through to the other three, in their current states of mind.

[MM] "I know earplugs exist, but... OH WHAT'S THE USE IN TRYING TO TALK TO THEM? LAST TIME MISTY FELL VICTIM TO THE SLEEPLESS STUPER, SHE TRIED TO ATTACK YOU, THEN WENT AFTER ME IN A RAGE!"

That's a lot of info I need to process, but the main point I got is that the Sleepless Stuper makes you act nuts.

I needed a plan to help the four of them out.

But great ideas don't just happen like that.

So after grabbing some quick breakfast, I asked MM if he could please help me brush my hair.

It was a fucking rat's nest.

[MM] "You WANT me to brush your hair out?"

I explained the condition of my hair and how it was all matty and knotted and tangled.

Luckily, MM complied without too much suspicion. It actually feeeeeeeeee~~~~

I GOT AN IDEA!

It's stupid, but it's worth a shot.

Fact: Avery's birds can mimic any sound better than a parrot/macaw

Fact: No one can get any decent sleep around here

Fact: A cold can really stuff your nose up, so I'm a "broken link". 

Theory: If I can coax all four of them into one spot, then use a bird to mimic how I usually snore, it might set off a four-way LL

Challenge: Getting everyone in one room

[MM] "What're you writing?"

I told him that maybe MM could do a read-along with the other three in Avery's room to help mellow them out by saying the bird songs could help in the mellowing out process.

[MM] "That could work. I'll go run that idea by them."

While he did that, I snuck into Ave's room and tried to see just how much the birds could parrot.

I started with asking a bird to mimic Avery's humming. They passed.

Then I asked just ONE to mimic Lexy's yawning. Passed with flying colors.

Now for a toughie.

I asked a different bird if it could mimic my snoring.

The bird looked traumatized.

Then a different bird mimicked the way I usually snore.

Huah, I never knew it sounded like that.

I then told the bird to wait until MM's "shoulder-deep in reading whatever" before parroting.

Will update tomorrow.

– – – – –

<< December 3, 2024, Tuesday >>

It's 8:08 am and I have good news. 

My brilliant plan worked.

Just... not in the way I was expecting.

It all happened whilst MM was reading to the others.

[MM] "I... I... I LOVE YOU THREE SO MUCH AND IT PAINS ME TO SEE YOU ALL IN SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH PAIN AND AGONY!

[AV] "Awwwwww, MM..."

[MST] "I guess I feel the same way..."

[LX] "Meh, I don't have any games, until tomorrow afternoon."

[MM] "BUT... THE FOUR OF US, WE'VE BEEN SUFFERING IN SILENCE!"

[MST] "You call THAT silence?"

Misty, I know you're sleep-deprived, but cut me SOME slack, okay.

I didn't choose my link, it chose me.

But, speaking of links, once MM had continued reading aloud, something incredible happened.

Something I only heard about from Lexy just a few minutes ago.

[LX] "Hey, I think your cold's gone. You snored normally, last night."

At first, I thought that she mistook the bird for me, so I told her about my cunning plan to get her and the others to sleep.

[LX] "Jerri, the bird fell asleep loooooooong before any of us did. It sleep-chirped. In fact, none of the birds were awake."

Well what would you know?

My cold IS gone.

I then took the chance to ask Lexy what MM was like the past few days.

[LX] "Oh he definitely had 'The Crazies'. He kept insisting on helping us out and felt so empathetic about how little sleep we were getting. He's NEVER like this."

Aha!

So, as I have discovered:

-Never do analysising while sick.

-Don't pretend to be asleep IF you can get easily cozy anywhere and everywhere.

-Invest in earplugs (especially during COLD SEASON)

-and most importantly, when MM's in a Sleepless Stuper, he becomes very emotional and open about his feelings. 

-If he got over-angry at the others during this timeframe, I must've been out cold.

– – – – –

The road to recovery's gonna be a bit bumpy for the others' sleep schedules, but at least we can all rest easy now.

So until next time, Jerri "Rigster" Rig, over and out.

Pow pow.

– – –

"Oh boy..." MM sighed, putting the red journal down. 

"What's wrong?" asked Misty, looking just a little frazzled.

"We could've avoided that whole ordeal, if we used earplugs."

"..."

"Aaaaaaaaand Jerri documented how I act when I'M overtired."

"There it is."

Chapter Text

"So, I've had this plain-gray weighted blanket blanket for the past two years."

"Go on."

"Well, I was home alone because my games ended early."

"Mhm."

"And I made this stew outta some vegetables Misty got at the store."

"Oh this is gonna end in tragedy."

"Sooooo I took my meal AND my blanket to the living room."

"I see."

"And I put the TV on, just in case something good was on."

"And you got sooooooooo distracted in the TV that-"

"Lemme finish, Jim."

"Right, sorry. Maybe it's worse than I thought!"

"I soon found this show Lexy's been DYING to watch, so I taped it for her."

"Keep talking."

"And... you can tell him, Lexy."

"When we got back from our games, we could see the living room lights were on." Lexy jumped into the conversation being held at Cookie Haus.

"Oooooh! Go on!" Jim was really interested, now. 

"So I was gonna knock and announce our presence, like a normal best friend would."

"Wait, you two aren't sisters? ... I mean, carry on."

"And I heard the most dreadful sound ever."

"Silence? Did the TV go on the fritz?"

"Worse." Lexy said, deadpanning.

"What's worse than silence?"

Lexy sighed. "Jerri, I'm gonna do it. He wants to know."

"Okay..." Jerri blushed, burying her head in her arms ahead of time. "... I'm ready."

"Ooooooh, things are heating up!" Jim grinned.

MM and Avery just sighed in disbelief as they tried to hold a civil conversation with Finnero. 

"Is she really gonna do it?" Avery winced.

"She is." MM deadpanned.

"She always makes it sound so much raspier..."

"What did you hear, Lexy? Oh! Wait! Was it burglars?" Jim asked.

"Nah, we don't own anything valuable." Lexy reassured. "SO! When I went to knock on the front door, ready to announce that we had arrived home, I was met with..." 

She fought back a giggle.

"Go on, do it." Jerri sighed. "I'm ready."

"It... it... it sounded like this, Jim! SNRRRF!"

Lexy, for emphasis, had leaned her head back a little, her arms bent and draped over the top rail of the old-fashioned bakery chair.

"Check, please." MM cringed.

"What are the girls talking about?" Finnero asked.

"About how we had to sneak inside our own house via the garden door because going through the front door would've put us in the crossfire of sheer and utter coziness." Avery explained.

"... English?"

"Never come over for a sleepover." MM sighed. "You five won't survive."

Jim was in stitches. "You're serious, Lexy?"

"I didn't record it, Jim. This one would've killed me." 

"I have a name, Lexy!"

"Welllllllll, it could've been worse." Jim said. "Did the stew get aaaaaaaaaaall over the weighted blanket?"

"No, just a small bit." 

"Oh. Well, didja faceplant into the stew?"

"For once, no." Jerri blushed even harder.

"Wait, what?"

"So-"

"The armchair has armrests." Lexy explained. "They serve ONE purpose. For resting your arms!"

"Oh! Was she using it as a pillow?"

"Not this time." Jerri muttered.

"This time?!"

"Just cut to the chase, Lexy." Jerri groaned.

"You see how my hands are positioned, Jim?" Lexy said, arms still draped over the top-rail.

"Mhm."

"This is how we found her."

"Uh huh?"

"In my defense, I was tired." Jerri added. "So I placed my spoon on the blanket and just leaned back a little to see what the TV show was about."

"And you were out for the night?"

"Not quite."

"We were kind enough to let her snooze while we divided the pot's contents evenly." Lexy said. "Then I woke her up when we were all done."

"Well how come?" Jim asked.

"We had a Game Night planned for 7pm."

Lexy suddenly went very quiet.

"Oh, something happened!"

"You're right about that..." 

- - -

[LX] "Okay, MM, the bowl's on the coffee table, now gimme the goods."

[MM] "Very well. This one works best."

[LX] "Bright red. Thanks. Just gonna crank it up... and tippy-toe over."

[MST] "And Avery an I will get everything set up for game night!"

[AV] "The sooner, the better!"

[LX] "One... more... crank..."

[MM] "Crank? I just let it tick." 

[LX] "NOW you tell me?"

[RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING]

[JR] "Guh- huh? Wha..."

[LX] "One. We're back. Two, it's almost game night time. Three. Sorry about the alarm."

[JR] "... Wait. If the penguins aren't wearing tutus, then who let the alligators on the swim team?"

[MM] "Ohhhhhhh dear..."

[LX] "I got this, MM."

[MM] "Okay..."

[LX] "Come on, Rig-"

[SNRRRF]

[MM] "You were saying?"

[LX] "Oh shut up, you. WAKE UP, JERRI!"

- - -

"HAH!"

"Laugh it up, okay? I was cozy." 

Finnero just looked at MM and Avery.

"Yeah, we keep telling her to get that checked out." Avery deadpanned.

"What's the gossip today, Esther?" Spiny asked as he, Esther and a very embarrassed Misty sat at their own table.

"If I had to guess, the Decas caused it." Esther said. "Tournament Mistress, how was your night, last night?"

"It was interesting." Misty muttered.

"Cause from what I gathered..." Esther looked over her notes. "Something happened with a garden door, a bowl of stew and-"

"That was a new rug, now there's a stain on it." 

"People trip and fall all the time." Spiny said.

"Well you're right about falling..."

Jim burst into cacophonic laughter, making the rest of the DecaPack and the HendecaPack look in their direction. 

Even Moonique, who was making cookies, looked over.

"She NEARLY FELL BACK ASLEEP while you guys were playing?!" Jim laughed.

"It was honestly kind of adorable, the way her head leaned forward and her eyes struggled to stay open." MM commented before blushing.

"No it wasn't." Jerri denied, suddenly an all new shade of red as she looked at her hand. "G-good thing I didn't fall back asleep..."

"But you were close to it."

"The thought of accidentally embarrassing myself was enough fuel. I'm acerbic, for timelines' sake!"

"Hah! You ALMOST made it worse!" Jim laughed.

Jerri sighed. "I am so glad we're in different packs, y'know."

Chapter Text

"Hi, welcome back to Cookie Haus!" Moonique waved Misty, Esther, Avery and Jim over. "Wait until you see-"

Noticeably, Misty was carrying a sleeping Jerri in her arms.

"-the new cookie shapes we can turn into anything."

So she kept her voice low.

"Hey Moonique." Misty was the first to speak up.

"Lemme guess, two chocolate chip cookies for each of you?" Moonique asked.

"Yes."

"Which designs?"

"One bird, one plant, two clocks and surprise me."

"Noted. Jim, you taking the usual?"

"Yep!" Jim beamed.

"What's 'the usual'?" asked Avery.

"A couple sugar skull sugar cookies. They look wonky, but they're incredible."

"How do... you eat?"

"I have an ass, you tell me."

"Alright, Esther, three dog biscuits, right?" Moonique looked at the Pomeranian.

"Yes, but please make it quick. I have a case to get to. Twelve dogs on jury duty."

"Oh, of course."

Avery looked up at her, quizzically.

"I'm a detective, remember?" she said, a bit surprised by his confusion.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Misty asked.

"Jury duty." Esther said.

"I... I have to call someone." Misty said.

"Was it something I said?" Esther asked.

- - -

"Hey! Lexy speaking."

"Alexis, we need to have a serious talk."

"Oh boy, that's not my forte."

"We bumped into Esther and Jim."

"Oh, cool. Tell them I say hi!"

"About that, uh..."

"Oh no, is tension brewing, again?"

"No, no, not at all. It's just... apparently Esther took it upon herself to handle Jerri-Duty."

Lexy tilted her head. "That's new. Handling Jerri-Duty is usually an us thing"

"Yeah, she said she was doing it because she's a detective. She's sending out twelve dogs, I think. Then she's going to a case."

Something seemed to click.

"JURY duty, Misty. Jury, with an 'UH'." Lexy explained.

"Beg pardon?"

"The dogs are a part of a court case. They've been called in for JURY duty. They're jurors."

"Explain."

"The dogs on jury duty are gonna look over parts of a case and then help determine, with a nonbiased opinion, the fate of said case. Esther probably has to present evidence. Maybe she's gonna present a smoking gun!"

"You've been watching cop shows again, haven't you?"

"Yep." Lexy confirmed. "It's fun."

"Okay. Bye."

Lexy hung up and nearly died of laughter, to MM's confusion.

- - -

Misty sighed as she hung up, looking at a very confused Avery glaring at Esther.

"Woah, I know she can be a little cold..." Jim said.

"Hey!" Esther gave a small growl.

"... but let's not get angry. Okay?"

"Misty and I talked about it on the way here, I'M on Jerri-Duty, here."

"Really?" Esther seemed kind of surprised. "This is news to me."

"It shouldn't be! Whoever handles the task at wing has to be willing to face the consequences."

Jim smiled a little. "So, Avery, what IS jury-duty like?"

"Oh it is hell. She's a nightmare and a quarter when we have to wake her up."

That's when Jim got the little confusion, or, as he so tastefully put it... "a vowel problem".

"Jim, people are EATING here." Moonique reminded.

"No, no, HE thought... oh this made my day."

"What?" Avery asked.

Jim got out a pencil and wrote something down on a napkin. "Read what this says."

"J...eh...ry?"

"No, 'jury', Avery."

"What's that?"

Misty felt the need to step in. "He spent his entire life in a forest."

"Ohhhhhhhhhh..."

"It is something I REALLY need to get to." Esther said. "Bye, guys." 

And she paid for her cookies and left.

"So, Esther has to go to court for a case. A golden retriever is being framed of murder." Jim said. "Now, the jury-with-a-u is twelve dogs who will decide if 'Goldie' is innocent or guilty. They must attend this case, that's why it's called jury duty."

"Oh..." Avery looked sheepish. "I thought she was sending twelve junior detectives in here."

"WHY would she do that? What didja THINK she was saying?"

"The sugar skull sugar cookies are almost done." Moonique called out.

"So we have time to tell you." Misty said as she, Avery and Jim took a seat at a booth. 

"Give me the goods." Jim grinned.

"As you know. This redhead in my arms is Jerri." Misty ruffled her hair, earning her a slightly-loud, content snore.

"And we have unofficially coined the term 'Jerri-Duty' for when one of us needs to grab her attention." Avery added.

"Oh? Can anyone partake?"

"Up until today, it's only been me, Misty, Lexy, MM and Doc Meow."

"But you can try."

Jim nodded and rushed over, climbing in Misty's lap and slowly lifting up Jerri's helmet.

Risky, especially for a NON DecaPack member, but Misty kept an eye on him.

"Huh, no reaction." Jim noticed. "Sleeping like a corpse."

"The three of us had been at the studio since 4 am." Avery explained.

"So, how DO you guys handle Jerri-Duty?"

"Usually we're just gentle, as to not scare her."

"While a little rough around the edges." Avery added.

Jim nodded and plucked a feather off of Avery's wings.

"I'm not mad, I know what you're doing, Mr. No Moral Compass."

[Tickle tickle tickle tickle]

"Mmmmph?"

"Hey." Jim gave a genuine smile.

"... Mmmm?" Jerri gave a tired head tilt.

"We're just grabbing a quick bite at Cookie Haus." Mistress said. 

"Oh yeah... hey Jim."

"Didja sleep well?"

"Yeah..."

Jim turned to Avery. "How was my first time on Jerri-Duty?"

"You did incredible for your first time." Avery reassured.

"Really?"

"Yeah, MM dropped her onto the couch, his first time."

"Decas, your cookies are ready." Moonique called out.

"We're coming." Misty reassured as Jerri sheepishly climbed off her lap.

Jim beamed to himself as he got on his phone, texting the group chat.

MadeItWorse: These Decas have a term for everything.

MadeItWorse: But I can safely say I'm better at Jerri-Duty than an actual pair of eyes.

He then muted his phone and shoved it in his fanny-pack. 

Now to watch HIS pack members try to figure out what he meant BEFORE Esther got out of court.

*bzzzzt-bzzzzzt*

And the shitstorm was beginning.

Chapter Text

Another day had come and gone.

Another day of making small talk over breakfast, putting off cleaning her room and avoiding texts.

Another day of passing by the arcade with a smile on her face, grabbing a quick bite to eat with her own money and looking at the random knickknacks on sale.

Another day of awkward dinner conversation, unwinding by arguing over something to watch and just vibing until a yawn escaped.

Another day of climbing up the stairs with a drowsy gait and then hugging Togedemadu before tucking herself into bed. 

Now for another night of non-rejuvenating sleep.

...

Rats. 

Lexy couldn't settle her body down again.

Even though she yawned pretty loudly during a commercial while watching a tapped episode of "Love Island".

Why couldn't she fall asleep, now?

Was it her fear of having a nightmare?

Or was it her ADHD keeping her brain awake with simple, mundane thoughts that sound much bigger when you're sleepy?

She didn't know and she didn't want to know.

So she just sat up in bed, twiddling her thumbs, as the minutes ticked away.

The first season of "Full House" played in her mind, word for word, as if each scene was actually being projected onto a TV.

"Eugh! I can't stay up all night! Otherwise, I'll probably fall asleep in my cereal bowl..."

So she groaned and flopped down onto her bed, making a small "click' noise as if trying to turn her brain off with an imaginary remote control.

It took a good hour, but eventually, she was asleep.

~ ~ ~

Everything was all static-y and glitchy, like a psychadelic tee shirt from the 1980s.

And she was not alone.

No, she was the only one there.

But there were soooooooo many voices.

"Why don't you do what you're told?"

"Alexis Conn, stop chewing on your pencil!"

"You got an F, Lexy?"

"Do you even care about anything?"

"Lexy, stop daydreaming!"

"You don't need that teddy bear anymore, you're seventeen; not three."

"What's with the mess, Lexy?"

"Your teacher called me, young lady..."

"Hey freaky!"

"I like your ponytail!"

"Earth to Alexis!"

"What do you even wanna DO with your life?"

"You are a [ERROR]!"

Lexy gulped, breathing heavily.

Where was MM when you needed-

[Hic... hic...]

-him?

~ ~ ~

Lexy awoke from her nightmare, dazed, confused and worried.

"Hey, uh, anyone still awake?" Lexy asked, roaming through the hall.

[Hic... hic... hiccup...]

"Sure seems like it." 

Lexy squinted, reaching a door with a sign on it.

She knew that sign anywhere, even in the dead of night.

"Jerri? Can I come in?" Lexy whispered.

Silence.

[Knock knock]

"Jerri, it's me, Lexy."

...

"Heads up, I'm coming in." 

And she did just that, noticing a sniffling mess of redhead poking out from under a blanket.

"Is something wrong, Jerri?" Lexy cooed softly, putting her own nightmare in the back burner for now. 

She could deal with that, later.

Jerri poked her head out from the blanket, red-eyed and with a slightly runny nose.

"What happened?" 

"I... I..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Jerri."

"... It... I was... small..."

"Small? Like shrunk-small or child-small?"

"I was... small enough for... y-y- for you to carry me on your back..."

"Mhm... is there anything else you wanna share?"

"... I was looking through one of my history books and pointing out pictures to you... but the rest of the dream's not important..."

Lexy nodded. "Okay... I'm gonna go grab a quick drink from the kitchen. Coming?"

"... Yeah, be right there."

After giving the Ampharos a big hug, Jerri slowly tailed behind Lexy.

Not even bothering to put her helmet on.

She was nearly tempted to bring the Ampharos however, but her logical side told her not to. 

Especially not for something as simple as a quick drink.

- - -

"Okay, I got some warm milk all heated up." Lexy said. "And I didn't even burn myself."

"Heh, that's... nice."

"Welp, time to drink my nightmare into oblivion." Lexy half-joked. "Bottoms up!"

And Lexy finished her glass as if it was a shot of beer at a lesbian bar.

Jerri just stared her glass down with her left eye as if the drink had ill intent.

"It's just milk."

"It might have other intentions."

"Like what?"

"I do not know..."

"You're weird, but I like that. It compliments my weirdness." Lexy mused. 

"I know. It's just..."

"You don't have to tell me."

"Then I won't."

Yeah, that was obvious.

Lexy didn't mind, however, even if it took her best friend longer to finish her drink.

"Woah..." Jerri groaned. "Okay, dunno why I hesitated there."

"Me neither. Come on, let's try going back to bed."

"Kay, Lex."

Lexy smiled nervously as the two tiptoed back upstairs.

"See you in the morning." Lexy commented.

"... Pow-pow." Jerri hesitated, for a quick second.

"Poor thing..." Lexy told herself.

- - -

It was now 3am and she was still awake.

She hated the whole world, for this bout of insomnia.

She had a game at noon and an alarm for 7am, so-

Ugh! Her brain was overthinking.

[Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeak]

That was probably MM, given the awkward silence.

"Come in, I'm still awake."

Not a word was said as Lexy heard nervous footsteps approaching her bed.

'Nope, can't be MM...'

She didn't react when she felt someone climb into her bed and nuzzle up under the covers, though.

If it was a sleepwalker, best to just let them go about their journey.

"So, uh... rough night?" Lexy made nervous small talk. "I dreamt that people were calling me names and stuff. I don't mean to be weird and inattentive and a ball of energy. My body just doesn't know what to do and it sucks because I WANT to do stuff, y'know."

Silence.

"But I guess talking about my nightmare COULD be therapeutic, I mean, you're not judging me or calling me weird or freaky. Thanks, I really appreciate that... goodnight."

And she leaned over, onto her side, eyelids beginning to flutter. "And if you wanna talk about anything, in the morning, I'm here."

Her eyelids closed as her breathing began to pace itself slowly.

Maybe she could sleep easy, now.

...

At some point, Lexy awoke to a nagging feeling on her hair. 

Tight, strong. Almost like...

"... A death grip?"

She opened her right eye, squinting in the darkness.

She could see...

... Red.

Not in an angry way or a "lady time" way.

Just in a... "mop of red hair" way.

Her eye glanced down.

Tan skin? Check.

Salmon-red pajama top? Check.

Dark red pajama pants? Also check.

She couldn't hear any snoring, though.

Maybe that was a good thing.

Once she focuses on something, good luck getting her attention BEFORE her body tells her to stop.

It was strange though.

But Lexy didn't wanna bring it up.

So she snuggled back down to the best of her ability, given the tugging on her hair.

And she tried putting that thought out of sight and out of mind.

Easier said than done.

Lexy eventually put an earbud in her right ear and shut her brain up with a podcast.

Her eyelids began to flutter, soon after.

But she could've sworn her left ear, muffled by a pillow, picked up on giggling.

Genuine, happy giggles.

Was she having an auditory hallucination? Who knew?

She just hoped they BOTH woke up happy.

- - -

{Beep beep, beep beep, beep beep, beep beep]

She groaned, reaching over to grab her alarm clock and turn the thing off.

[Slam]

The 'OFF' button was successfully slammed, as Lexy noticed. 

Then a sputter, followed by a sleepily-annoyed voice.

"Awwww come on, brain. Really? Didja have to betray me like that?"

Lexy just gave a small smile and tried not to giggle.

"And a very happy morning to you too, Rigster."

Chapter Text

7:45 am.

MM just sighed as he brewed a coffee sleepily, eyes heavy with the burden of having neglected his bed for the past week.

But still... why was he the only one awake?

It was almost 8 am.

Usually everyone's awake by now.

Okay, he needed answers.

So he finished his coffee and teleported upstairs.

Observation: Misty was already at her game, so was Lexy. This was revealed in the form of two notes taped to their doors, as well as the signs of beds having been made.

"Okay, that gives me an easier job. Almost..." MM said. 

Something cut off his train of thought.

Giggles.

Genuine giggling.

Lexy had reported hearing something similar, a few mornings ago, over breakfast.

And, to avoid a long debate over if the house was haunted by a ghost, they all agreed that it was probably just one of Avery's birds.

So that's what MM chalked it up to.

One of Avery's birds being smug.

Now, if he was gonna wake the two up, he was gonna need to delve into the mind.

He knew what he was signing up for, with this...

So he decided to handle Avery first.

~ ~ ~

Sitting on a tree branch, in the dead of night, singing along with a forest's usual night lullabies.

Why was MM not surprised?

So he climbed up the tree, commenting to himself about how versatile he was in this human form.

And he plomped himself on the branch Avery was on.

"MM?"

"Surprised by my appearance? Charmed? Persuaded? Enamored?"

"Yes. And  lot more."

"Buckle up, Avery. It's morning."

"Oh... need a hand?"

Hmm, MM was hesitant.

Take Avery dream-hopping and risk the challenges?

Or wake Avery up now and have him tend to his birds.

"I can handle this on my own. I've seen Lexy dream about us all getting axed before. But you can come, if you want."

Avery smiled and hugged MM tightly. "I've always wanted to do that."

Okay, the gays had five seconds to dream-hop.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

NOW!

~ ~ ~

Where were they?

Okay, they knew where they weren't.

Neither of them were trapped somewhere in history, face-to-face with an imposter of a famous historical figure, or inside a freezer.

They also weren't in space, a mad scientist's lab, a basement or even on top of a roof at a museum.

And no, they weren't at some 1960s party, having to blend in (thank the Great Cycle).

MM needed answers.

Cause all he saw was the living room, with Misty reading to herself.

"I have several questions and I don't know if I want any of them answered." he told Avery.

"Explain yourself, dear."

Then the two saw tiny hands poke out from behind the dragon's mane.

"Huh?" Avery looked curious.

"Stand back." warned MM. "Things could get embarrassing." 

"Don't you mean 'dangerous'?"

"No, I mean-"

[Grunt]

"Missy?" a small girl with messy red hair, a red hoodie and black trousers wondered, standing atop the dragon to see what was ahead of her.

"Hmmm? What is it?"

"Did... did ev'ything grow?"

"Grow? What do you mean?"

"Ev'ything's aaaaaaaaaall big an' stuff."

Avery just tilted his head, confused.

MM gave a silent head nod, as if to say "that's her, just... ignore the sudden size difference, dreams can be weird."

"Noted." Avery began to walk over, only to be held back again.

"Don't let the size fool you, just... just pretend she's normal height, right now."

He nodded and was allowed to walk over again.

"Hey Jerri." he gave a smile. "Whatcha doing on top of Misty?"

"Ev'ything's gone big, Ave'y. It's driving me nuts."

"Everything's gone big, huh?" Avery nodded.

"Missy's bigger, the house is bigger, but I'm not."

"Really? You seem fine, to me."

"Don't do anything you'll wegret, Ave'y."

"I won't."

From MM's experience with kids, he'd say she was around the height of a five year old.

"Okay, so we know what we're dealing WITH." MM nodded.

Jerri looked up at him, pouting.

"It's em... emmarra...embama... huh? Why can't I say it?"

"Embarrassing?"

"YES, AVE'Y!! Ev'yone thinks this is fine an' normal... I just wanna make an egg san'wich. But nooooooooooo! The world's too big, now."

"I told you I can make you one, myself." Mistress commented.

"I'm big, Missy! I can prove it..."

"Oh no." Avery groaned, watching Jerri rush for the stairs.

Her gait, given her newfound size, was a lot more unstable than it would've been in the waking world.

"Almost... almost there... now I'll show her."

[Jump, jump, jump, jump]

"If... I... could... weach... the..."

Avery gave her a small lift onto the railing, to her chagrin.

"I coulda dunnit myself, Ave'y."

"No, you couldn't."

"Maybe if the house wuzn't so big, I woulda done it better."

"Good point. Ready to slide down?"

"Pow-pow!" she gave a toothy giggle.

Avery nodded and let go of his grip on her as she zipped down the railing at record speed, braking as she reached the bottom.

Something told her to NOT attempt a front-flip.

"See, Missy! I'm big 'nuff."

"If you get hurt, I'll be getting the blame."

"Why's ev'ything so big? It's em...emba...emmiba... I was able to say it, yes'erday night!"

"Dreams can be weird, you know that." MM reassured.

"... Oh yeah, they can. Now can I PWEASE make an egg san'wich?"

"Sure." 

"Uh... MM?" she blushed a little. "I'm s'uck."

"Okay, down we go." he scooped her up and helped her back on her feet.

"... Thanks... y' really are kinda cool."

He smiled, flattered at the compliment-

-as she dashed off to make herself an egg sandwich.

"Lesse... gonna need butter fo' the pan... and some milk... and two eggs..."

Unfortunately, when you're five years old, certain things are out of reach while other things are an accident waiting to happen.

So Avery helped make sure nothing got too messy.

"Y' don't hafta watch me, Ave'y, I can do it."

"Can I handle the stove? You're pretty... small, right now."

"The house is big."

Avery sighed. He didn't wanna scare her awake with the truth.

"Yes, the house is big. And you might hurt yourself, cooking. So until you catch up with the house-"

"Oh, okay, then."

"Here's the egg, Ave'y."

"Now, how do you-"

"Scrambled, pwease."

Luckily, for Avery and MM's sanities, it didn't take long to make the sandwich.

"So, while she's eating..." Avery looked at MM. "How do we explain the situation?"

"She'll piece it together upon waking up- crap, it must be past 8am by now." MM winced.

"Wha' happens at 8?" Jerri asked, swallowing a big bite.

"Jerri, we need to wake up soon." Avery said. "Okay?"

"Yeah, this house's too big. I wanna be innapendent."

"I know, baby girl." 

The words slipped out before Avery could correct himself.

"Baby?"

MM sighed to himself. "I love you, Ave, but really, watch your tongue."

"I... I'm... I'm small?" Jerri's eyes widened.

"Yes, your body's small. But when we wake up, you'll be fully grown again."

"I hope so...I can't host Time JINX like this!"

He looked at Jerri and Avery. "I'm gonna wake us up now."

"Okay." Avery sighed.

"Pow-pow, I think..."

~ ~ ~

MM sleepily blinked his eyes like a frog, before noticing Avery walk over.

"Morning, dear." Avery cooed a little. "Sorry I fucked up."

"It's fine, Avery." MM reassured. 

[Yaaaaaaaaaawn]

"Hey..." Jerri murmured, subconsciously dragging her weighted blanket behind her. "Am I grown?"

"Boy I sure hope so." Avery said.

"Phew... so it was just a bad dream..."

MM smiled as the three made their way downstairs for breakfast, with Avery grabbing a bowl of cereal and MM making some toast with raspberry jam.

Jerri just looked over her options, still a bit out of it, as if trying to comprehend her dream.

"I'll grab the toaster waffles." MM said.

"Huah?!"

"Here. Plain or chocolate chip?"

"Choc... late chip..."

"Alright, you can pop 'em in the toaster." MM said. "After you."

"Kay..." Jerri paused to try thinking over the details of her dream. "Was... was the house big or was I a toddler?"

"The house wasn't big." Avery admitted. "You were physically five yet mentally twenty-five."

He chuckled a little as she subconsciously moved her hand closer and closer to her mouth.

MM used his magic to place said hand on the table, as to prevent her from embarrassing herself.

Her brain didn't register what just happened, but if it did, she'd be stammering out an apology. 

"Once she's eaten something, we'll explain what happened whilst dreamweaving." he explained. "That's when the realization of the dream's contents will probably kick into full gear."

Chapter Text

December 6, 2025. 10:45 pm.

"Oh geez, look at that snowstorm..."

"Isn't it beautiful? Bring it on!"

"... Geez, Jim, don't torture us."

"Listen to that winter wind..."

"At least they're hospitable hosts."

The HendecaPack were gazing out the windows, at the forming blizzard, while Misty was doing the dishes.

WHY did they have the Hendecas over for dinner?

Because it was the nice thing to do, and the turkey was on sale if you bought two.

"Can this get any worse?" Avery dreaded.

MM sighed. "Worst case scenario: they spend the night."

"Are you nuts?! Where are we all gonna sleep?" Lexy asked.

Jerri lit up as soon as she said that.

"Okay. The floors aren't' that hard, but if you want, we have pillows to make it easier on your heads. Then we've got Misty herself, her stomach is ideal for curling up and falling asleep."

She shook her head and continued listing off a few more ideas while Misty gave a warm smile. 

"Workbenches, desks and tables are good, too... just as long as you aren't trying to eat at the table before passing out. Or working on tech."

"Go on." nodded Esther.

"Closets and cupboards are a bit stuffy and crowded." 

"Can confirm." Lexy agreed.

"The couch is a staple of having guests over. The cushions are comfy, the top of the couch is also a fun place to sleep while under the couch gives off spoooooooooky vibes."

"Mhm?" Spiny and Finnero asked.

"The tops of the washing machine and dryer are actually not that cold. In fact, it feels even better, when the washing machine is running! An arm chair is good, too. Also..."

A small snort escaped her mouth before she plucked a strand of hair, to keep herself awake.

"Come on, Jerri, focus..."

"Pffft, someone's getting tired." Jim tried not to giggle.

"I still have a few more places to list off, I can do this... oh! Right, right! The bathtub is an ideal place to sleep, the oven is off limits, sleeping on the stairs are a fun way to stretch your body out and it is possible to fall asleep sitting upright... so if any of you five wanna use my room tonight, go right ahead. I'll just grab my blanket and pillow, real quick."

And she was off.

"My bed is off-limits to you five." MM warned the Hendecas. "It lulls everyone EXCEPT ME into a restful sleep within three minutes IF you make small talk."

Lexy and Avery nodded in confirmation.

"So..." Misty winced a little.

"I call dibs on the kitchen floor." Moonique grabbed a quilt and a throw-pillow from the couch. 

"Okay." Misty nodded.

"I'll take the couch." Esther said.

"Good call." Moonique agreed.

"Due to my roots, I'm gonna sleep in the bathtub." Finnero advised.

Lexy quickly wrote up a sign for him with a glow-in-the-dark marker.

"DEAR EVERYONE, SLEEPING SHARK IN TUB"

"I'm calling first dibs on the cupboards."

Everyone glared at Jim.

"What?"

"Only you." Spiny said. 

"You can take my bed, Spin." Lexy suggested. "I'll take Jerri's bed, if she ain't using it."

"I couldn't, it's your bed."

"And you five are our guests."

"Tell you what, I'll stay up all night, right here, in this armchair." MM plomped into said armchair... falling asleep soon after.

Avery just blinked. "I'll stay in my room, thank you very much."

- - -

Come 2am, Spiny couldn't sleep. 

He felt bad for taking Lexy's bed.

Maybe a drink would cool his nerves.

So he carefully navigated the kitchen, in pitch darkness, trying to NOT wake Moonique up.

Once he grabbed his glass of water, he decided to head back upstairs.

Everyone seemed so cozy, somehow.

Maybe it was the late hour and the silence.

Spiny didn't know.

All he knew was that he was covered in spikes.

[SNRRRF]

He paused and squinted.

The door to Misty's room was slightly open.

And, scarily, a bunch of shirts were scattered all over the floor, right where a wardrobe was, doors slightly open.

No...

She wouldn't...

Would she?

He opened the closet doors.

And his eyes shrunk in surprise.

Jerri had tied her blanket to two clothes hangers, using it as a mini hammock, with one leg sticking out over the side and an arm also draped lazily, with her hair all frazzled and drool trickling down the side of her mouth, all for emphasis of someone getting a good night's sleep.

"Uh... wow, that's... an all new level of cozy... I'll just... close the bedroom door and retreat back to Lexy's room."

Spiny was envious beyond words, wondering just how Jerri was able to get comfy like that.

What was her secret?

He had no idea, as he tiptoed out of the room and gently closed the door behind him. 

"Sleep tight." he whispered before turning around.

Lexy was just standing a few feet away, rubbing her eyes sleepily. 

"Oh! Lexy... I... I was just headed back to bed..."

"..." Lexy sighed. "I had a nightmare... it's routine, around here, but... yeah. I had a nightmare and I'm tryna shake it off."

"I literally can't get comfy."

"Because you're part cactus?"

Spiny nodded.

A smile crossed Lexy's face. "I can hear Avery's still awake. Come on!"

"Lexy, what're we doing now?!"

"You'll see!"

Chapter Text

Avery was just humming some Christmas song quietly to himself, so as not to wake the rest of the house up.

[Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeak]

"What nightmare was it, this time, Lexy?"

"Good ears." Spiny was bewildered.

Lexy was less shocked. "Nah, he's used to me coming to his room after a nightmare or two."

He tilted his head.

"Whoever I seek out depends on the nightmare."

"Oh."

Avery signaled the two over.

"Did you have a nightmare too, Spiny?"

"No, I just... don't kid me, I appreciate the hospitality... but... I can't sleep in Lexy's bed."

"That's fine... how about I tell you two a story to help you fall asleep?"

Lexy instantly nodded her head. "I'd like that. Just...lemme grab Togedemaru..."

And she took off, grabbing her Pokémon from her "bedroom-away-from-my-bedroom".

"I'm back..." Lexy said, climbing in the nest.

"Very well, then." Avery cleared his throat.

- - -

T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house.

Everybody was stirring. Yes, even a mouse.

The TV was on, with a nice tender glow,

As outside the window, there was snow, snow and more snow.

"Pffffffft! I like his style already."

"Hah, I knew ya would, Spinster."

"... Not bad, I think I like it."

"Ahem?"

"Continue, Ave."

We nuzzled to Misty to battle the cold.

But such an act can be risky, so we've been told.

With these folks all around me and a cat in my lap.

We were all crazy-prepared for a long winter's nap.

When we heard a sound, but not from out on the lawn-

-this strange noise our ears heard, it was a mere yawn.

"Avery!"

As soon as it happened, we knew in a flash,

That within the hour, we were all gonna crash!

The gentle swaying motions from the calm dragon's tail,

Meant we weren't staying up late, we just knew we would fail.

When what would have tickled our curious ears

But the sound of some bells from eight tiny reindeer-

"NINE, Avery. NINE! You forgot Rudolph!"

"Maybe this isn't working." 

"Yeah, it ain't."

"... Rats."

"Hey Spinster, wanna build a pillow fort?"

- - -

And Lexy and Spiny took off. 

Avery sighed to himself in relief, as his attempt at "TAFMODWP" - The Avery Flundera Method Of Dealing With People- had worked.

Maybe NOW he could get some decent shuteye.

Wait... what... time WAS it?

[Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!]

Ahhh birds, three in the morning?

- - -

"Dashing through the snow

In a one horse-open sleigh

Over the hills we go

Laughing all the way" 

Spiny chuckled as he and Lexy sang together...

... Up until the door opened, a tired Finnero glaring at them.

"We're trying to tire ourselves out." Lexy explained. "What do you think?"

"Looks comfy. Mind if I come in?"

"Sure, BYOL." Spiny added.

"BYOL?"

Fin climbed in the makeshift fort (made with many blankets from MM's bed) pulled out his lyre.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh! Bring Your Own Lyre!"

Nodding, Finnero strummed his lyre, humming happily.

"Wow, he's good." Lexy told Spiny.

"He sure is." Spiny confirmed.

"Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

It doesn't show signs of stopping

And I brought lotsa corn for popping

The lights are turned way down low

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow"

"Hey Spinster, I'm feeling a bit cozier and happier."

"Finnero's music does that."

"Huuuuuuuuuuuuuah... see you in the morning light..."

"You too..." Spiny said. "Hey Fin, I'm gonna go see if the storm died down."

"Okay. If you need me, I'll be in the bathtub." Finnero said as he and Spiny left Lexy alone.

...

Spiny sighed, looking out the bedroom window. The storm had died down, by now, but it was still 3 in the morning.

So, yeah, it was gonna be a few hours before they could go home.

A sigh escaped his mouth as he flopped back on Lexy's bed.

- - -

"These guys aren't too bad.. I think..."

Wait, was someone brewing coffee?

At 3 am?

Esther got up off the couch, for now she had to investigate.

First observation? MM was no longer in the armchair.

Well, she didn't need to guess where he was, as she snuck into the kitchen.

MM was just hovering by the coffee machine, having been careful to not bother the cow on the floor.

"Is this a routine of yours? 3am coffee?" Esther half-teased.

"No, I just woke up feeling parched." 

"Oh." she gave a small smile. "While you're up, may I ask about Misty?"

"Is she on the living room floor?"

"Yes."

"She does that a lot. Her body temperature helps lull us to sleep when we're tired. It also makes it harder for Lexy to bottle up yawns."

"interesting. I'd have to run some tests, but I don't wanna invade on something that's a Deca Thing."

"It definitely is. Here are some research papers I did on three out of four of their habits."

"Three out of four?"

"Lexy's yawns are too powerful. And that's coming from ME, someone who can be put under with something as mundane as classical music."

"What's-"

"My voice." MM said, getting back in the armchair with his coffee.

He took a delicate sip. "I have the idealistic voice for narrating a bedtime story, as I've been told."

"Interesting."

"I can also narrate history books and Emails with similar effects. So either us Decas have been cursed by a wizard with twisted humor or we developed these habits the longer we stayed in the group."

"The thought of developing a habit from being around JIM is a horrifying thought."

The two chuckled quietly, as to not wake Misty and Moonique.

- - -

[Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!]

Finnero blinked to himself. 

That was a cuckoo clock he heard.

6am already?

He couldn't say he was surprised...

But he did wonder how Spiny was holding up.

So he checked on his prickly friend.

"Oh... oh my..."

Spiny was asleep, sitting on the bed.

"At least he's comfy?" Finnero told himself as he headed downstairs, lyre in tow.

MM was still awake, with Esther having fallen back into Dreamsville.

Theory? MM probably read his research aloud to her.

Mistress had just awoken, and, if the sounds of kitchen noise was any indicator, so was Moonique.

"Morning." Finnero said. "Nice bathtub you got. 4.5 out of 5 stars."

"This isn't Yelp, but I'm glad to know it's not just Jerri who finds that thing comfortable." MM snarked as he wrote something down about his voice potentially having a soothing effect on members of the other Party Packs.

"Want me to play a reveille?" 

"Oh, you can do that?"

Nodding, the humanoid shark got his lyre out, aggressively plucking out a reveille on it.

MM thought it would have the opposite effect.

His hypothesis was wrong.

"You done yet, MM?" Esther yawned as she sat up.

"I was done, hours ago." MM blinked.

"Oh."

"RISE AND SHINE! IT'S ANOTHER DAY OF MAKING QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS!" Jim declared from inside a cupboard.

"Morning." waved Spiny from the balcony.

"Woah..." MM and Misty said in awe.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Finnero asked. 

"What do you call that?" MM asked as he got out a new notebook.

"I call it 'Finnero's Wake Up Call'."

MM nodded, writing down his discoveries. 

"Hotcakes are almost ready!" Moonique called out.

"You forgot to turn the burner on." Jim opened his cupboard and looked at the stove.

"Oh gee... what do I do?"

Jim flew out of the cupboard and looked in the Decas' fridge, then in the freezer.

"What about toaster waffles?"

- - -

"I take it everyone was simpatico, during the night." MM said, over breakfast.

"It took a while, but yes." Spiny said honestly.

Lexy nodded. "Ave tried to help us settle down. Key word 'tried'."

Avery was just shaking his head, watching Lexy feed Doc Meow a slice of waffle. 

"I told ya, I know the best weird places to sleep, around here." Jerri beamed.

"Weird is an understatement... that was a wardrobe." muttered Avery.

"Coulda been worse. Coulda been the washing machine." Jim said. "HA! Made it worse!"

"Is he always-"

"Yes." Esther confirmed. "How do you five..."

[Mrowr?]

"... Err... make that six... how do all of you live in the same house, together?" 

"We just make it work." MM said.

"Anyone up for a snowball fight, after we finish breakfast?" Lexy asked.

Jim, Spiny and Jerri grinned.

"Oh no..." Misty and Finnero groaned in unison.

Chapter Text

"Welcome to an impromptu Saturday morning Zazen class. My name is Mesei, but you might know me better as-"

"Just quit the formalities, Misty."

"Very well then, as most of you may know, none of us know how to traditionally relax."

"Ain't that the truth?"

"One more snarky comment, Mr. Flundera, and you're kicked out of this lesson."

A grumble escaped his lips.

"Now, class, does anyone have any questions, before we begin?"

"Oh!" Lexy raised her hand.

"Yes, Ms. Conn?"

"What exactly IS Zazen?"

"It's a form of meditation, but you may know it better by the second syllable in its name: Zen." 

"Oh." Lexy blinked.

"Any other questions?"

A throat clearing sound got her attention.

"Yes, MM?"

"What on earth is that stick for?"

"This is a kyosaku. It is used in Zazen for... uh..." Misty didn't look in any direction in particular, but a pink blush tinted her fluffy face. "Safety precautions...?"

"What type of safety precaution requires a stick?"

"I don't wanna fuck around and find out."

"Good idea, Lexy."

"Now, before we begin, does anyone else-" Misty paused. "-yes, Ms. Rig?"

"I have a game in an hour..."

"Oh, right. Shoot, almost forgot."

The dragon broke character from "mentor" to "mother", at the reminder that not everyone had their games in the afternoon or evening, that day.

"... So how long is this gonna take, exactly?"

"Thirty minutes, maybe forty." Misty reassured.

"Phew. That'll give me a half-hour to twenty minutes to get ready."

And the "mentor" side returned.

"Helmet off, Ms. Rig. I wanna be able to see your eyes."

"Right, right. Ignore the right eye, Misty."

Misty nodded her head.

"And now, class, let's begin."

Misty looked at the others as she sat on a black cushion, placing the kyosaku down in front of said cushion.

Try as she might to go traditional, she wanted to monitor her "class", so she had them seated in front of her instead of a wall.

"Just, do what I do."

"Oh, crisscross-applesauce." Lexy nodded.

"In Zazen, we call it the half-lotus."

"You can call it whatever, it's 'crisscross-applesauce' to me. I learnt this in kindergarten... and I always struggled with it."

"In that case, you can also get on your knees entirely, if the half-lotus- err- 'crisscross applesauce' seems uncomfortable. Just make sure your big toes keep contact with each other."

Lexy nodded, doing so as Avery and Jerri sat in a half-lotus position with MM just... well, no one knew.

Go figure, he was just a pair of eyes hovering above a black cushion.

"Now, cup your hands like this, with the palm of your right hand facing upwards, thumb to the sky. Your left knuckles should fit right below your right knuckles. The tips of your thumbs SHOULD be touching."

"This is tricky."

"You're doing good, Lexy." Avery whispered.

"Thanks, not bad for a bunch of beginners."

"And bring the blades of the hands in against your tanden."

Awkward silence.

"Four fingers below the belly button." 

There was a collective "ohhhhhhhhhhhhh" after Misty used laymen's terms.

"Okay, so far so good... now... shoulder blades open... straight heads... slightly draw your chins back... bow forward slightly, as if facing an invisible wall."

"Is this good?"

"Yes, Mr. Flundera. Just keep your spines erect- as in straight. I hear your snickering."

Very faint giggling had ceased after she ratted her housemates out.

"Now, if your body's aligned correctly, you should be feeling weightless."

"Uh, girls, I don't think I'm doing this right..." whispered Avery. "What about my wings?"

"Try tucking them in." Jerri suggested.

Nodding, his wings retreated into his back.

"I want you all to exhale deeply, through the mouth. Then, place your tongues against your palates."

She smiled, giving them time to process this instruction.

"Aaaaaaand close your teeth and lips. From here on out, our mouths won't do the talking."

Misty sighed. "Now, for your eyes..."

MM groaned, feeling her gaze land on him.

"Don't keep your eyes wide open, or you might get distracted easier."

Lexy nodded, closing both eyes tightly.

"And don't close your eyes either, otherwise... uh... you might feel 'too Zen'."

Avery gave a confused chirp.

"Half-lidded should do the trick."

A sigh escaped Lexy's mouth.

"This is confusing."

"I know, just try to focus on the kyosaku, if you need a focal point." Misty said. "Cause if we do this right, I won't need to use it."

Lexy sighed to herself.

She did not wanna know what such a stick's purpose was.

Neither did Jerri, MM or Avery, based on the slight tension they felt at Misty's words.

"Now, with your hands positioned like that, I want you to feel your breathing."

Lexy looked around the room for a second, trying to keep her position stable.

"Don't focus on it, don't watch it; just feel each inhale and exhale, each one new and fresh."

Jerri was more open to just listening to what Misty said.

"Don't force your breathing, let it flow naturally."

MM hummed in response, already feeling the Zen-ness.

"When you're angry, so are your lungs. When you're sad, your lungs are sad, too. When stress builds up, young lungs feel it."

A relaxed chirp escaped Avery's mouth.

"Just let your lungs work to pump out relaxed, mellow breathing."

Misty smiled as she watched her "class".

"In... and out... just let your minds do their own thing."

Huh, this wasn't going badly.

Not by a long shot.

"Now, let's stay like this, and just focus on our breathing. You're all doing great."

In...

... Out...

...

... In...

... Out...

...

... In...

... Out...

...

... In...

"Uh, Misty?"

... Hold up.

"Yes, Ms. Conn?"

"I can't focus. I want to, I swear, it's just- my legs are falling asleep. And my nose itches." 

"You're doing great, Lexy. Any progress you make is good progress."

"-thanks. I'm really trying, I swear. I wanna learn more about your culture."

"Again, it's no problem if you can't fo-" Misty paused, ear twitching.

Was that-

-no, it couldn't be.

Could it?

"-focus?"

"Uh, Misty, how Zen is too Zen?" Avery wondered, clearly trying not to laugh at something.

MM just made small 'hmm' and 'huh' noises, as if he tried to ignore any distractions.

So by process of auditory elimination, that other noise Misty's fluffy dragon ear picked up on WAS snoring.

Misty sighed. She reeeeeeeeeally didn't wanna use the kyosaku.

Hell, she HATED the mere idea of FIGHTING.

"I am so sorry for what I am about to do." Misty cringed as her body tensed.

"Wait, what?" MM asked, eyes widening with nervousness.

"Lexy, Mentalist, Avery, stay calm, keep doing what you were doing earlier. I'll handle this." 

Her hands shook.

She couldn't...

... But tradition was tradition. And the kyosaku was a part of Zazen tradition.

She picked it up, with a deep sigh.

It had to serve its purpose.

"Misty?" Lexy asked, a bit nervous.

"Whatever you do, DON'T LOOK BACK." Misty warned the group, walking behind them.

Here goes nothing...

Her hands shook as she brushed back red hair.

All she had to do were four whacks. Two on each shoulder.

No.

She couldn't. 

She couldn't use the kyosaku.

Especially on a housemate.

But she also couldn't let this act go unpunished.

Luckily, there was a second way to do this.

Sighing, she slunk back, placing the kyosaku a few inches away from her cushion.

She sat back in a half-lotus and sighed deeply.

"What did she do?" Avery gritted his teeth.

"I don't know!" MM gritted back.

"I don't wanna know." Lexy whispered.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Misty's fists SLAMMED into the ground as she roared out a kiai.

Sure, the sudden shout may have made Lexy fall onto her stomach while MM and Avery flinched out of surprise.

And Doc Meow, watching on idly, may have run out of the room due to fear.

But the kiai did its job.

"Huh?" Jerri blinked.

"I think your brain wandered too far, Rigster. Ya dozed off." Lexy tried to lighten the mood, getting back in her kneeling position.

"Fuck... I think meditation isn't my thing."

"What WAS that, Misty?" Avery was in awe.

"That, Mr. Flundera, was a kiai." Misty said, calmer. "A kiai is a vocal or spiritual channeling of concentration."

"Or the world's loudest alarm clock." MM shuddered.

"Look, it was either that or the kyosaku."

"What DOES that stick do?" Avery asked. "You've been tiptoeing around the question, all session."

Misty sighed.

Guess she should explain.

"If someone's brain begins to wander, like what happened earlier-"

Jerri blushed.

"-then, he or she would take notice of a lack of focus or drowsiness, then they can do this position with their hands."

Misty put her hands together in a prayer motion. 

"It's called the Gassho Gesture and it would tell me that someone needs a boost to stay focused. It's like an SOS call. Then I would walk behind him or her and give a very gentle tap on the right shhoulder, they would tilt their head to the left and bow, then I would deliver two taps to the right shoulder. Then they'd tilt their head to the right and I'd give two taps to the left shoulder. Then he or she would bow again and return to their previous Zazen posture."

[Blink blink]

"I'll put it into writing, after class." Misty said.

"Okay." Lexy said.

"Maybe we're just not good at meditation." Jerri sighed. "Crap, I got a game after this, too!"

"You two did great." Misty reassured. "Sure, MM and Mr. Flundera had fewer struggles, but no one's perfect. Especially not on the first day."

Lexy sighed.

"You should be proud of yourself for being able to soldier through... ten minutes. That's either a third or a fourth of a usual session." Misty said.

"Really?" a smile crossed her face.

"And I'M surprised you fell asleep. FOR ONCE."

"Explain how come." Jerri said.

"Very well then, Ms. Rig..." Misty laughed. "A half-lotus position, not unlike a full lotus, is supposed to be too uncomfortable to FULLY fall asleep in."

"... I must really be bad at this, then." 

"No, you girls are just different..." 

Misty's eyes lit up. 

"I got it! Avery, MM, keep on keeping on."

MM hummed in response as Avery nodded.

"You girls are a lot more... chaotic."

"Duh!"

"What's the plan?"

"I know how to help you two deal with your energies."

- - -

[Beep beep beep beep]

"And you two lovebirds can stand up now." Misty said, stopping a timer.

"Phew..." Avery said. "That was a bit painful, but I feel ready to take on the day."

MM nodded, eyes drooping a little. 

"You two did a good job."

Misty smiled, looking back at the girls trying out some yoga positions she had printed earlier.

"We're doing SOMETHING alright." Lexy said. "Okay... breathe in, tuck the right leg, breathe out, look up and pull my foot to my hip-"

She flopped onto her stomach.

"Fuck, that's a hard one."

"No one said it was easy." Jerri giggled.

"Hey, the Zen class is over." Avery smiled, walking over.

"Alright! We survived!"

"Pow-pow! Now I really got a game to get ready for!"

And the redhead took off, getting her boots, gloves and lab coat on.

"See ya later, I gotta get ready and whatnot." her voice called out.

"She'll be back within the next five minutes." MM said, eyeing the helmet that's been left behind like a toy a child had forgotten in the sandbox.

Chapter Text

"Awwwwwwww, what a cute baby yo-kai!"

"Thanks, Lexy. She's a Baku."

"Guys, look, she's sleeping!"

"How adorable."

"Endearing."

"Awwww, she's a cute lil' dumpling."

Misty chuckled at the compliments. Here they were, end of the summer, helping around Tee Shirt Island.

And one of the Yo-Kai had asked Misty for help with their kid.

It had an elephant's body, but a light blue color and with dark blue spots. She also had a purple mane down her back, the paws of a big cat, the tail of a baby ox and a red cloth diaper on.

"What're Baku again?" Lexy asked.

"They devour nightmares." MM and Misty said in unison.

"Finally, a part of your culture I can get behind." Lexy gave a nervous chuckle.

Avery just felt a little... isolated.

He didn't have a childhood, he just spawned into the world.

Fully grown.

He never got to be carried after a long car ride, or squeal with delight over the simplest of things.

Or snuggle up while hearing a bedtime story, or even discover the trials and tribulations of having an imaginary friend.

He also never really got to experience much whimsy. 

But music was his escape from the cold, hard truth.

'I wonder if this is how she feels, sometimes...'

No! He shook that idea out of his head. 

'At least she had a childhood, even if she can't remember it.'

Eugh...

His body just...

Felt numb.

So he sighed and flew until he reached a tree.

He didn't wanna get off the island, he just wanted to getaway from the baby Baku.

Huh?

Someone had been here previously, if a neglected pair of sandals was anything to go by.

Oh well, he could speculate about that later, he needed to get away for a while.

He climbed branch after branch after branch until he was high up in the tree. 

The view of the island was honestly... kinda incredible.

Everyone living in harmony, everyone happy and not-fighting.

It almost made him forget about his problems.

Almost.

Misty was STILL tending to a baby Baku.

And he felt like he couldn't contribute a thing.

"Okay, let's do this..." a voice said from down on the ground.

Company was coming, great. 

He didn't want a pity party.

"Boots off... there we go... just gotta remember them..."

Avery braced himself for the worst. 

Someone was coming up here.

Probably after seeing him fly away from his own problems.

He could hear a bit of grunting and straining, but not a lot of it.

"And hup!"

Someone was on a branch below his.

At least they were avoiding conversation.

I mean, what would you even say to initiate that conversation?

"Why're you hanging in a tree?"

"Nice weather we're having?"

"Do you know whose sandals those are?"

Nothing would be a good conversation starter.

...

Was that the smokiness of a fire about to be lit?

Oh no, was he paired with a crazy arsonist?

...

No, thank goodness.

...

Huh?

"Bleh! What IS that stuff?"

Welp, there was his conversation-starting starter piece.

Awwww birds, this was gonna suck.

"Oh, hey Ave..."

Fuck, he knew that voice.

"Jerri, what're you doing?"

"Dealing with my problems."

Avery didn't want to look down, but soon enough, an arm was stretched up, some sort of rolled-up thingy in her palm.

And he glanced over at her direction. The eye on her helmet was as wide as a pie plate and the screen surrounding it was tinted green.

"I can light it up for you..."

"I'll... pass...?" Avery said.

"Your call."

"There are safer ways to deal with whatever you're going through, you know."

"Like what? They won't understand."

"... Good point."

"At least up here, I can smoke my problems into oblivion."

"Jerri..."

"Don't 'Jerri...' me. I know what I'm doing."

"You do?"

"Yep, all I gotta do is just stay calm and not mind the unicorn."

...

An awkward silence lingered in the air.

So did the scent of weed.

"Cigarettes don't do it?"

"Too many chemicals and whatnot." Jerri murmured, speech starting to slur.

"And this is okay?"

"Just every few months. It gives my body time to recover..."

Oh crap, Avery needed to get her out of the tree and onto the ground.

...

Aha.

Avery climbed down from his branch, onto hers. 

"Avery?"

He wrapped a wing around her.

"Heheheheh... that tiiiiickles..."

[INHALE]

He was lucky she was too high to grasp what he was gonna do.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

- - -

The scream echoed all over the island, soon grabbing Misty, Lexy and MM's attentions.

The Baku stayed asleep, however.

"I think Avery's in trouble." MM said.

"Well what're we waiting for?" Lexy asked. "COME ON!"

And Misty put the Baku in a baby carrier before taking off, Lexy and MM on her back.

The small quartet was high in the air now, navigating the island from up above for their friend.

"Hey Misty, look!" Lexy's attention wandered to a hill. "I remember that hill. We watched the fireworks on it."

Misty nodded. "We need to find Avery before he gets into trouble."

"Wait..." MM paused. "Has anyone seen Jerri, today?"

"Probably JRMTAYP-ing." Lexy didn't miss a beat.

"... English?" Misty asked.

"Run away from your problems until you reach rock bottom."

A yawn escaped the Baku's mouth as she looked down, giggling.

"Biwdy! Biwdy!" she pointed at the tree.

Avery waved his arms, making him look like a green blur.

"Oh shit!" Misty said as she swooped over.

...

She suddenly wished that she hadn't.

"Di you cuddle a skunk or something?" Lexy gagged.

"I knew weed smelt akin to something else." Avery said.

"Wooooohooooooo..." Jerri murmured. "Y-yer my bes' friend, Ave'y. Wuh-we got something no one else is EVER gonna un'ers'and..."

Avery nodded. "Okay Jerri... just sit back..." he helped her onto Misty's back

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!" she stretched both arms out, as if she were on an airplane.

"Oh dear." MM winced as Avery flew off the branch, before signaling at Misty to come down to the ground.

[nom nom nom nom]

[spark, spark, spark, spark]

"My ponytail is not food!" Lexy groaned, as Misty gracefully landed on all fours.

- - -

"What were you two doing in that tree?" sighed MM.

"It's not a funny story." Avery said, helping Jerri get her boots back on.

"Ah! It's more so a Shakespearian tragedy where there're no survivors?"

"A what?"

"Hamlet... m' bewuved..." Jerri giggled.

"She was running away from her problems. Never said what they were, per say. But I have my theories." 

The redhead burst into a fit of stoned-giggles.

"There we go... both boots are on..." Avery said.

MM smiled. "I'll get her somewhere safe. Preferably with some fruit to munch on."

"Good idea." Lexy said.

"Upsie-daisy..."

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

MM gave a small chuckle. 

"I'll stay with Misty and Baby Baku until Rigster's off her high."

"Smart idea, Lexy." Avery admitted. "... I'll join you, MM."

And he flew after MM as they reached a more beachy area with a banana tree nearby.

"A nice view and free food." MM mused as he helped Jerri lay down. "So, what made you run off, Avery?"

Avery sighed. 

"I felt like I couldn't contribute to the doting on the Baku."

"Because you never had a childhood?"

"Precisely. And... I had these thoughts."

"What type of thoughts?" MM asked.

"About what I never got to experience. And my brain even DARED wonder if this is how Jerri feels."

MM sighed, letting Avery wrap his arms around his knees.

"Cause if it is... it's a crappy feeling to feel..."

Jerri just curled up on the sand, watching the waves lapping gently.

Who knew what SHE was seeing, though.

"I wish I was able to... you know..." Avery said.

"No. What does 'you know' mean?"

"I wish I knew what I missed out on, exactly. What could I have experienced?"

"Well, I don't know. I don't know what life would've been like if you were born to a doting mother and father instead of just spawning as your current self." MM admitted.

"It doesn't feel fair."

"I know. If it helps, I'll stay here until you're ready to talk more." 

"... Thanks, MM."

"No problem."

Jerri blinked, eye still wide, but the screen slowly fading back to navy blue.

"Heh heh... woah!"

"Quick, go grab a banana." MM told Avery. "Maybe two, I feel a bit famished, myself."

Avery nodded, doing just that.

MM peeled one for himself, then peeled one for Jerri.

"Here ya go."

[Om nom nom nom]

MM gave a small smile as he ate his banana slice. "I'm sorry if you two felt left out in any way, shape or form. But running away won't do anything. And neither does getting high. No matter how much it aids at a temporary numbing of the pain."

Jerri smiled woozily, just trying to focus on the banana.

Avery was listening to MM insightfully.

"If either of you have any questions about what having a childhood is like, or anything of the likes, I won't mind helping either of you out."

"I just wanna know what I could've experienced." Avery repeated himself.

"And that's okay,, too. I still love you."

"What're you even talking about?"

"If you ever wanna experience childhood whimsy, I can help you with that. Just let me know and I'll help."

"That sounds both weird as ever, but also very interesting." Avery admitted.

Jerri, meanwhile, had already finished her snack, now examining her hands carefully.

"What're you doing?" Avery asked.

"Either she thinks she has an extra digit, or her brain's 'time hopping' between mental states before returning to 'pre-joint Jerri'." MM explained.

Hearing his voice made her snap out of it, slightly.

She was still coming off of the weed-high, but she decided to just watch the ocean some more.

It almost looked tempting to walk over and dip her feet in the water.

Or was that the joint talking?

Avery held her hand, making her giggle.

"You made a good point, MM. But I don't know. How would I even know my brain wants something it never had?" Avery asked, clearly mid-conversation.

"If it ever gets to that point, something in your brain will tell you." MM reassured. 

He gave a confused nod, but decided not to question it.

Instead, he and MM just made small talk while keeping Jerri safe while the high reached its low.

[Hug!]

"What the-"

"... wuv you, poppa..."

"Aaaaaaaaaand there's the low." MM said.

Chapter Text

The summer sun shone brightly on the sandy surface where the island met the waves, a gentle breeze blowing through the island.

And a small dragoness no older than 3 (30, in dragon years), was sitting by the shoreline, admiring it all as the breeze touched her fluffy mane.

Her orange eyes gleamed with awe and fascination at the lively ocean, inhabited by fish of many different kinds.

She leaned closer, giggling as her fluffy paw touched the cool saltwater. 

It felt... special, in a way.

A smile crossed her face.

"What're you doing, Mesei?"

"The water's nice an' cool."

Her voice, coated in the innocence of a toddler without any previous life experiences, explained.

"I bet it is."

The Tournament Master nodded as he sat nearby to keep her safe.

A Namazu jumped out of the water, waving at Mesei, as it jumped back in the waves.

"Didja see? The Mamazu waved!"

"I sure did."

~ ~ ~

Mesei smiled, her sleepy toddler eyes fluttering open as she heard the sounds of someone having fun. 

She snuck over to investigate the origins of said merry noises.

One Oni, red, was skipping stones on the water.

The other Oni, naturally blue, was just sitting at the edge of the water, letting the fish nibble on her toes.

And Mesei was curious.

Yeah, she was supposed to be napping, but this looked fun.

"Whatcha doin'?" asked the toddler.

"Watch!" said the Red Oni, her stone skipping a good six hops.

"Tha' looks hawd."

"It's not that hard, it's all in the wrist."

"I just gon' watch, otay?"

"Fine with me."

The Blue Oni never said a word, preferring to watch her twin have fun, instead.

Mesei nodded as she swished her left front-paw in the water. "I'm not 'posed t' be o'er here, right now."

A curious expression crossed the Blue Oni's face.

"Is nap time, not play time. Bu' I wanted t' see. So here we is."

[Nod nod]

"Yeah, naps are lame." the Red Oni stated.

"No they not, you're just vewy loud an' noisy."

Uh oh, some dragon was getting cranky.

"Mesei, where are- oh there you are." sighed the Tournament Master, gently picking her up in his mouth by some of the floof on her body and carrying her over to a more secluded area of the beach.

He then carefully placed her on the sand, as a small, forced giggle escaped her lips.

"What happened?"

"It was noisy an'-"

"You need your rest. I mean, I'm just trying to do what's best for you."

"... I knows... I just..."

And she sniffled a little.

"Shhhh, there there... I'm here, Mesei... let's just watch the water together."

"I like tha' idea..."

~ ~ ~

A firefly landed on her snout as she giggled, tail wagging.

Mesei just sat on a hill, propped up against a tree that was just starting to grow.

Now, being almost 6... in human years, she was very curious at this newfound friend.

Why did it have tiny wings?

Why did its butt glow?

Why was it so pretty?

And where was the firefly flying off to?

She needed answers.

So she inhaled and leapt up in the air before running down said hill, nighttime wind blowing through fluff and fur.

Not a care or worry in the world; just magic and wonder in her eyes and her toothy smile, full of dull dragon teeth.

And before she knew it, the firefly had led her to a smooth turf of grass where the Tournament Master was overlooking the island.

Looking up, she could faintly see the tree from its spot atop the hill.

Looking forward, she could see...

It was hard to tell, right now, as it wasn't firework season yet.

But she knew what she was going to see, one night.

Fireworks.

They were a tradition on the island.

And one night, when she's old enough, she's gonna witness them.

But tonight, the island was bustling with life while also being subdued and quiet due to it being close to bedtime for younger inhabitants.

Dragons included.

"Did you have fun?" asked the Tournament Master.

"Lots! A fi'fly tickled my nose!"

~ ~ ~

By the time Mesei was 80 (8, in human years), the Tournament Master figured it was time for her to watch her first fight.

Two very elegant yukatas.

One decorated with edible berries and bright flowers.

One featuring leaves, sticks and mud all arranged in unique patterns.

Mesei thought they both looked wonderful in their own ways.

Eventually, the berry-and-flower yukata won...

... and she watched the Tournament Master prepare to handle the losing yukata and its maker.

"Hey... uh...?" Mesei asked.

"My ways of doing things are very-much set in tradition."

In fact, it was like that for a lot of things on the island.

Very set-in-tradition.

Mesei became much more observant of this fact, the older she got.

She learnt to never get too chummy with the Yo-Kai going up in battle, because of tradition.

She learnt that certain rules must not go questioned, because of tradition.

'It's okay to be scared. Whatever happens out there, you'll both be awesome!' Mesei told a Kappa and a Nue before they went into battle.

She couldn't understand.

Why did they have to fight?

Every piece of clothing was amazing.

Why did there have to be only one winner?

~ ~ ~

One night, she and her Mentor were sitting on the spot overlooking the fireworks.

By then, the tree atop the hill had grown even taller, the branches growing fuller and stronger, each and every day.

The fireflies coming out to play didn't get the same childhood twinkles in her eyes, but her tail still wagged.

By now, Mesei was nearing 200.

She didn't have much desire to romp on the beach, feeling the sand in between her paws.

She didn't feel a need to check out every sound of merriment. 

And it's been years since she thought nothing bad could happen on the island.

That rug had been lifted out from under her talons, over a century ago.

'Do I have to uphold these traditions, when it's my turn?'

She hoped not.

~ ~ ~

Here she was, now 350... 35, in human years.

Sure, she had made a big blunder previously, of not reading move-in forms.

But here she was, an oddly fuzzy feeling inside her while watching two of her new housemates get into a full-on pillow fight.

At least for all of "a minute and maybe thirty seconds".

Time was VERY fickle to Mesei... now going by Misty by her four new housemates.

Her warm fuzzy feeling was soon replaced with one of confusion.

That was the floor.

A wooden floor.

Sure, Misty was a dragon, she was used to hard surfaces.

But this was a human.

There's a big difference between dragons and humans.

Dragons are different from humans in many different ways.

So she carefully scooped up the two non-fighting housemates, getting them both onto the couch.

“She would kill us.”

It was Misty's first NIGHT in a new house, that was the last thing she wanted to think about.

Getting flat-out murdered.

So she tried to cool her housemate's jets.

It just led to awkwardness.

...

In fact, the first few days (maybe the first few weeks) were off to a semi-rocky start.

But eventually, Misty was able to understand aspects of them.

Avery, the last housemate that moved in, enjoyed music, birds and had a hard time adjusting to human "norms".

Master Mentalist, a forever-tired pair of eyes, wanted to be hammy and "extra", yet he was also gentle and had a fear of thunderstorms.

Jerri, a fiery redhead, took a while to warm up to the idea of roommates that wouldn't judge, but man, when she cares, she CARES.

And Lexy, the first housemate Misty met, was actually not that bad to be around, she just needed help staying on task.

- - -

Now, Misty was sitting on the couch, watching a soap opera with a bucket of popcorn.

Her TV-watching became interrupted by the pitter-pattering of two best friends trying to be quiet.

As well as the "thump-thump-drag" of a weighted blanket.

Misty pretended to not notice the company she was receiving, though she knew that they knew she heard them.

She knew Jerri and Lexy could take care of themselves. 

After all, they were 25 and 23 (and three-quarters), respectively.

But still.

It was 2am.

Misty listened in as the two snuck over to the fridge, presumably for a late night snack.

It was either that or to heat up warm milk.

Maybe both.

"I have some popcorn, if you two want." Misty offered. "I don't mind sharing."

"Nah, it'll just get stuck in our teeth."

Huh, Lexy made a good point.

"Suit yourselves."

Misty kept an open ear as she listened carefully.

Neither girl was in trouble.

That was good.

"What number's for bread?"

"I just put it on 1 or 2. What about you?"

"2."

"Okay, we'll put it on 2."

"Good idea."

"Quick, get the peanut butter, Lex."

Misty HOPED those two cleaned up any messes that were gonna be made.

...

Eventually, the two headed over to where Misty was.

Lexy had half a piece of peanut butter on toast in her mouth while Jerri had peanut butter and bread crumbs around her mouth.

"What's got you two up at this hour?" 

Motherly mode was now activated.

"You go first, I'm almost done my snack." Lexy's voice, muffled by the snack, suggested.

"... A tree branch woke me up."

"I was nearly asleep. I swear. Then I heard a tree-on-window noise, followed by a yelp... and here we are."

Misty paused, muting the TV.

"I don't take it you two can settle back down, huh?"

Two head shakes.

"Can we stay in the living room with you?" Lexy asked as Jerri tried to lick the peanut butter around her mouth.

"Just until either of you reaches 'Pre Link Lethargy'." Misty said.

The girls nodded in agreement.

"So, what're we watching?" Jerri wondered. "Did I get all the crumbs, Lexy?"

Misty gave a small chuckle as she explained the soap opera's premise.

It seemed interesting enough for the girls to WILLINGLY agree to watching.

...

"Hey! Hey! HEY!"

Misty didn't even need to glance at the two girls.

One was sitting crisscross-applesauce. The other was curled up like a shrimp, on the ground.

She could hear the desperation in Lexy's voice.

Followed by a very confused snort.

"Phew..." Lexy sighed in relief. 

"Come on, girls. Up to bed." Misty smiled as she turned off the TV.

"I know, mom. Up we go, Rigster."

"Woooooooo..." Jerri blinked a few times, like a drowsing deer in the headlights.

"Do you two need any help getting upstairs?" Misty asked.

"... I sure hope not." Lexy thought about it.

Then she groaned.

"Darn it, I meant to say 'Misty'. Why do I even call you 'mom'? You're nothing like her."

'Maybe you're yearning for maternal approval.'

Misty wasn't gonna just SAY THIS to Lexy, though.

Not when it's almost 3am.

"Maybe there's just something about me that gives off the vibe."

"Yeah, you are a momma wolf of sorts- come on, let's getcha to bed. Or at least on the upstairs floor." 

Misty smiled, waving the girls goodnight, complete with a comment of "sweet dreams".

[Sigh]

Might as well call it a night as well.

She flew upstairs and made her way to her room, laying down on her bed.

...

It didn't take long for her to feel drowsy.

And on the cusp of slumber, she could feel it.

A saltwater breeze blowing through fluffy dragon floof, warm sand in between all four paws, and the chatter of happy yo-kai.

A tender voice cooed in her ear as her head hit the pillow, her chest rising and falling steadily as her body lay still, in N1 sleep.

"Welcome home, Mesei..."

Chapter Text

...

...

...

Do... do you ever just...

Jus' overwork yourself sooooooooo...

Uh... so hard that you... ummm... you-

Everything... just fuzzes up around you?

And no matter what you do, the fuzziness... it just...

It just... doesn't go away?

...

Yeah, I think... I did that...

Now, life's too bright, too noisy and too texture-y...

... maaaaaaaybe I should just lay down before dinner...

Okay, I can do this... boots off. Gloves off. Coat off.

Helmet-

... yeah. Helmet off, too...

There we go... nice and snug on the workbench...

[Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!]

5pm... yeah, I got time to lay down...

Lemme just make sure this is my room...

... wait.

Of course it's my room. The workbench and the cuckoo clock are mine.

I must've overdid it...

O... kay... you can do this...

Jus' pull the covers back and crawl into bed...

...

Nope. It's too bright in here...

I swear, my brain's feeling all kinds of weirds and fuzzies.

Window closed? Check.

Curtains drawn? Check.

Door closed? 

Mmmm...

Maybe I'll leave a lil' bit open...

... jus' so they won't think I'm...

... y'know...

... bleh.

Okay... NOW t' cozy up in bed.

I got time until dinner...

And besides... usually someone comes get me...

Sooooooo... yeah. I got time to unwind before it's dinnertime...

... Aaaaaaaaall the time in the world...

It's all... wrapped 'round my fingers...

... and it's... it's... ugh... what am I even saying?

... C'mere, Mr. Snuffles...

Let's just cuddle 'til it's time...

... time to...

... eat...

...

Mmmmmph...!

- - -

[Num num num?]

"I'll knock, Avery."

"Okay..."

"I don't think she's asleep anyways; we'd have known by now."

[Knock knock knock]

Hmmm...? Voices?

Was that the door?

[Knock knock knock]

It was.

"Who issit?"

My eyes keep drooping as I...

... I...

... wait for an answer...

"It's Lexy. And Avery."

"Are you awake?"

"Avery, that's a stupid question to ask!"

O' course 'm 'waked, right now...

"Mhm! 'm WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE 'waked..."

"I told you she was resting, Avery."

Eugh... everything's spotty and fuzzy.

How long's it been?

Doesn't matter...

"Dinner's ready."

[Sigh]

"... 'm comin', Lesy..."

Okay, lesse...

Hop outta bed...

... get both boots back on...

... lab coat, then gloves...

... 'm ready now...

"Hurry! Before Misty eats your dinner!"

"She wouldn't do that, Lexy!"

"Fine. Then hurry up before I eat your dinner!"

An' here I come...

... heh heh...

... ready or not...

...

I feel like sliding down the railing...

I can still do this.

CAUSE I'M JERRI RIG! I'M AS STUBBORN AS AN OX, AS STRONG AS A BULL AND AS CARING AS A BEAR!

...

What the fuck, brain?

Okay, I'm on the railing.

One for the money...

... two for the show...

... three to make... ready...

... and fo... ur... t-

[THUD]

- -  -

"Ghhhhhnnnn..."

"Are you okay?"

A giggle escapes my lips as I look up, now on the floor, with my Ampharos next to me.

Oh yeah!

[Giggles]

I forgotted I brought it with me!

"That doesn't seem 'okay', Lexy."

What're they looking at?

Issit the Ampharos?

Do I have something in my hair?

What is it?

"Jerri, are you okay?"

Lesy an' Ave'y are looking at me kinda funny.

"I'm good. I... uh... meant to do that."

Nex' thing I know, Ave'y's asking me to move my left arm.

I dunno what the problem is.

I can move it jus' fine!

"Good, nothing's broken."

"Rigster, you know better than to slide down the railing if you're... woozy."

"Bu' it's fun!"

Huh? Lesy looks kinda pale, right now.

Ave'y seems much more calmer, though.

So maybe Lesy saw something scary.

"I think we fucked up, Ave."

"Explain."

"She wasn't resting. Or asleep. She's got... y'know... the Crazies."

"Maybe we can hide it from Misty and MM?"

"We can try."

[Giggling]

Lesy gives me a hand up as I hug Ampharos tightly.

"Come on, let's go join them at the dinner table."

"Pow-pow!"

"At least we don't have company over for dinner..." muttered Ave'y.

By the time we reach the table, MM's eyes go small and Missy gives a small gulp.

Is... I wonder wha's wrong.

Maybe there's a spider on the floor.

"Oh dear..." MM's voice dreads.

"Is something wrong?"

He quickly shakes his head.

"Oh, okay. Ne'er mind."

...

Something's wrong, they jus' don't wanna say it.

O' maybe they're hiding a surprise.

I dunno.

"Just eat what you can."

I look at Missy as she says tha'.

I am pretty hungry, so I'll probably finish it all.

I place Ampharos on the counter, kiss 'im on the head, then take my seat.

...

Why's eve'yone looking at me weird?

Oh well... lesse...

"It's just chicken, broccoli and potatoes." Ave'y says.

That's good. 

I catch myself humming a lil' as I try to get the chicken on the fork.

"Awwwwww, what're you doing?"

Lesy's giggling a lil.

I don't get why.

Do I have something on my face?

...

Wait...

Where's my helmet?

Is tha' why they were all lookin' a' me like I'm crazy?

I'm not crazy.

I'm jus' diff'ren'.

...

B'sides, I can jus' go lay down af'er dinner.

Hmmm?

The chicken jus' won't stick to the fork.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

{Sniciker]

Is... is Ave'y laughing?

An' MM?

"It's NOT FUNNY!"

Okay, so I got a lil' bit loud. 

"Jerri, that's a spoon."

...

Huh?

MM thinks he's so smug, telling me I messed up.

Hmmph! We'll see who gets the last laugh.

I just gotta...

Oh, right. Still a spoon.

[Giggle giggle giggle]

"Lexy, don't laugh." Missy warns.

Yeah! Don't laugh, pretty please?

I'd... uh... have probably seen that it was a spoon if I had my helmet on.

Okay, now that I know where the fork is, I can finally eat in peace.

Maybe now, everyone won't laugh.

I'll show them what happens when you ridicule Jerri Rig.

I'll show them all!

Okay! To enact vengeance, Imma gonna need my helmet an' maybe a sword or two. 

...

Maybe three, and a Cerberus.

"Jerri, are you gonna eat or not?"

Huh?

Oh... right.

"Yeah, Missy, I will..."

I sigh, trying to eat.

There's just one problem.

Nothing's getting in my mouth.

It just falls in my lap or on the floor.

See? THIS is why I need my helmet!

Otherwise, I can't see anything in front of me!

This sucks-

-never mind. Finally got a piece of chicken in my mouth.

"Hey Doc, can you handle clean-up duty?" Lesy's calling out to Doc as he curls up on the couch.

"Mrowr?"

"Yeah. Over here, Doc. It's chicken."

An' here comes the kitty.

He looks funny, eating the floor-chicken.

[Giggling]

"She's delusional." 

I think Ave'y said that.

Maybe MM?

I dunno.

...

Okay, I'm almost done. Just a few bites of potato left.

Then I can finally enact vengeance. 

Hmmm...

I wonder if Finnero would lemme borrow some swords. 

Or... or maybe... hmmm. Where do you even RENT a Cerberus?

Eugh... my eyes hurt.

"Yep, it's almost been ten minutes."

I dunno who said that.

It was one of 'em, though...

"All... all done..." 

"Can you put your plate in the sink?"

I can do that. 

Okay, baby steps, baaaaaaaaaaaby steps, you're almost there.

There we are, the kitchen sink...

Now I just need to place my dish...

... uh...

Wait. What did she just ask me to do?

Oh... I think I know...

"No, Jerri. That's the dishwasher."

Huh?

Oh. She wants it in the sink.

There we go.

"Aww done!"

"Way to go."

I... I... I did it.

I did it aaaaaaaaaaall by myself.

Hah! Sc- score one fo' the Rigs'er...

Wooooooo... maybe I should sit down a bit.

My body's all dizzy and heavy, now.

...

Eve'ything's no longer making sense...

I can't tell who's speaking...

Missy? Ave'y? Lesy?

... eugh...

Sittin' down isn't doin' a thing.

Maybe I need t' lay down.

Yeah, good idea...

...

My eyes keep openin' an' closin'...

Eve'yone sounds un'erwater...

I... I can't move...

I try to talk, bu' it sounds all muffled up...

Where's Mr. Snuffles?

"I'll clean up, can you-"

"Will do... just..."

"You don't HAVE to get her in her pajamas, you know."

"Phew. Good to know."

...

Wha- 

Wha' are they talking about?

Who's talkin'?

"Shhhhhhh, I gotcha." 

An' who's carrying me?

It... it feels kinda...

... nice.

"There we go."

Mr. Snuffles! 

I instantly cuddle him tightly.

"When... when we reach our woom... we're gonna right all those wrongs... doesn't 'at sound fun?"

I can hear giggling, even if I can't tell who it is.

[Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn]

"Lesy...don't yawn so loud..."

Whoe'er's carrying me is chuckling.

So either I'm funny right now or... uh... or...

... I'll think of something.

"That wasn't Lexy who yawned."

Whatta ya mean? Tha' was really big. An' really loud.

"That was you."

"I don't b'lieve you..."

"Fair point, you're barely conscious, anyways."

Did... did...

Berry?

Like the fruits y' put in a blender?

I make a small whimper, still cuddling Mr. Snuffles.

...

Eve'ything's going all dark, now.

Issit nighttime already?

I can't... wait t'...

... see the moon...

Hmmm?

"Arms, please?"

I dunno why, but I don't feel like fighting no more.

"There we go... and up we go again."

Heh heh... 

It tickles.

"Going down..."

[Poomph]

I let out a giggle as I'm placed onto some kinda giant marshmallow.

"Lay down, I'll just... stay here and read to myself until you're asleep."

Eve'ything's darker, now...

... bu' I try staying awake...

... justa lil' more...

... I wanna hear the story...

... so I can stay 'waked...

... yeah, justa...

... lil' bit...

... lon... ge... r...

[SNRRRF]

"Sweet dreams."

- - -

[Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock]

...

[RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING]

[Snort]

Is it morning already?

[Chirp chirp, chirp chirp]

Huh, sure sounds like it, if Avery's giving his birds a tune-up.

Wonder what time it is.

[Cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo, cuckoo]

And there goes the cuckoo clock. 

Weird, it sounds a bit muffled, this morning.

Maybe I got an earache? 

Not important, how many times did it chime?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine-

-TEN IN THE MORNING?!

Crap...

How tired WAS I?

Wearily, I sit upright. 

Boots? Next to the bed.

Gloves? On the side desk.

Lab coat? folded neatly on an armchair.

Helmet? Placed ON the lab coat.

Hair? Definitely a mess.

Eyes? No doubt, I got some baggage to hide with the helmet.

Huh?

How did I get a pajama top over my jumpsuit?

Better question...

When did my room get so purple and soft?

...

Wait a second.

This is MM's room. Not mine.

That explains why the cuckoo clock sounded muffled.

...

The pajama top is mine, though.

So how did I get in MM's room?

Theory: I must've sleepwalked.

Yeah, that's the only logical explanation.

A late night stroll around the house.

Cause...

I would've remembered getting woken up and joining the others for dinner.

Chapter Text

September 4, 2025. 12:47 pm.

How did MM get in this mess?

One minute, he had just finished his last game of the day.

The next minute, Jackbox superstar Cookie Masterson looked over at him, pail of fortune cookies in tow.

"You're the guy who hosts Hypnotorious, aren't you?" 

"... yes, that's me."

"Look, uh, I have a problem."

"Okay, when did it all begin?"

"At 5 in the morning..."

"And you waited 7 hours to seek out help?"

"We thought he'd tire himself out on his own."

"Woah, woah, woah. Who's 'he'?"

- - -

Jumpcut to MM watching a male with tan skin, mussy muted brown-gray hair with green streaks in it, a leg brace and a mostly green outfit just run and jump around parkour style.

"Master Mentalist, meet Guy Towers."

"... you're kidding me?"

"No, that's really his name."

"... very well then. Guy?"

Guy chuckled, running around like mad.

"Your attention, please?"

MM wasn't getting it.

"... sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep..."

And he wasn't sleeping.

"Hmmmm..." MM thought about it.

Aha!

"Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived-"

[ZOOOOOOOOOOM]

"Sorry if I can't stay still, Mr. Eyes! I have the zoomies!"

"Mr. Eyes?! And what on earth are 'the zoomies'?!"

"He gets all excited and can't sit down." Cookie deadpanned as he cracked open a fortune cookie, unfazed.

"I know exactly what to do." MM nodded.

- - -

"Why did you invite us over?" asked a confused Avery, birds in tow.

[Whisper whisper whisper whisper]

"We can try." Avery set his birds up. "Let's do this, Flockapella!"

And the birds burst into an off-tune version of "Rockabye Baby".

"Is it working?" asked Avery.

"Nope." Cookie snarked.

Guy was too giggly to listen.

"Any other ideas?"

"As a matter of fact..."

- - -

"Lemme get the facts, you want me to read a history book aloud?"

"Yes, Jerri."

"... why?"

"Cause it'll bore him and he'll get tired, then I can calm him down." MM explained.

"Lemme guess, the birds didn't work?"

Avery just blushed nervously.

"Fine. Let's see."

...

"And then, at the start of 1929..." 

Jerri blinked a little, shaking her head.

"I better stop, before I put MYSELF to sleep."

Avery and Cookie were fast asleep.

If you were wondering, Avery was murmuring Brahms'.

MM was hanging on by a thread.

Guy was still full of energy.

"Dang... okay, this is tricky."

"Glad we agree..." MM muttered.

"Oh! I got an idea, and this one's gotta work!"

- - -

Misty sighed as she ran beside Guy, on all fours.

"So, you're one of the OGs?" she asked.

"YEP! Bob and I took our retirement, but we still like to hang around!"

"Bob?"

"Ever heard of Headrush?"

"Not really, sorry. What about you?"

"I hosted YDKJ: Sports."

"WHY am I NOT surprised?"

"Yep! Nate hosted the very first one. He also has a segment called Truth Talk 23/7. And Buzz, we dunno what happened to him. Cookie says he died, however. I just think he moved far, far away."

"Wow, you're fast." Misty laughed, trying to keep up.

"Not bad for someone with a limp, huh?"

"I'll say."

"And... Cookie over there is the most popular out of us hosts. Well, right next to Schmitty. He hosts the Quiplash trilogy."

MM gave a curious expression.

Hosts? As in present-tense?

He gave Jerri a gentle nudge.

"What's up, MM?"

"When was the last Quiplash game?!"

"... how should I know?"

"YOU DON'T KNOW?" MM asked.

Misty sighed to herself. "Humor me, when did the last Quiplash come out, Guy?"

"Oh, 2020." Guy didn't miss a beat.

"2020?!" MM asked. "HE ESCAPED?!"

"Yeah, he's in the midst of a Quiplash 3 marathon, right now!" and Guy bolted faster than a bullet.

Misty panted as she flopped on the ground. 

"I'm pooped..."

"Oh dear..." MM said as Misty curled up around Cookie and Avery.

'HE'S ALIVE?!'

"We need another idea." Jerri groaned before yawning.

"Aha!" MM declared. "You are a genius."

"..."

He quickly got on his phone.

"What did I do?"

- - -

[Ring ring ring ring]

"Hello?" Lexy murmured, busy trying to beat a boss in a video game.

"Hey Lexy. How's life?"

"I'm good, still stuck on the boss level. Have been all night. What's up?"

"Can you come to the studio, real quick?"

"I don't have any games, today."

"Okay, then I'm putting you on speakerphone." 

[Beep]

"How come?"

"Trust me on this." MM explained cryptically.

"Okay..." Lexy blinked, pausing her video game so she could rub her eyes.

"Here it comes." MM whispered to Misty and Jerri, as he put the phone to his... ear?

[YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN]

Guy screeched to a halt, curious.

"You guys tired or something?"

Misty nodded, swaying her tail. "Yeah. We are."

"Now that I think about it, maybe I COULD use a quick water break, stretch out a bit too." Guy mused, sitting down against a wall and grabbing a green and white water bottle.

"That's a lot of running you did. I'm suuuuuuuure you're gonna sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep soundly, tonight."

Guy's eyes drooped a little, but he tried shaking it off with a swig of water.

"You look a bit exhausted. Can't blame you, you were really working your feet out, back there." MM cooed. 

He curiously moved his feet left and right, like a windshield wiper.

"And your legs must be sore, too."

"Yeah, they kinda are..."

"Let's take the brace off, then let all the stress and tension release." MM said.

"I can do it myself, kay?"

"Very well." MM hummed his show's end credits, while waiting.

"... it's off." he was now slumping against the wall.

"Good, good. Now, breathe deep and let your spine rest a while."

"Now what?"

"Now let your stomach settle down..." MM cooed.

Guy blinked, a small whine escaping his lips.

"I know, I know. Your chest must be heaving. Hush, okay?"

"... uh huh..."

"And let your shoulders slump."

"Mhm..."

"Now let your arms relax... and the wrists... hands... and each joint on your fingers and thumbs."

[Raaaaaaaaaaah! Nyum nyum nyum...]

"Are we growing sleepy?" MM cooed.

"Yeah, a bit..."

MM was NOT gonna comment on the weird yawn. Not when he was thiiiiiiiis close to lulling a Guy to sleep.

"Let's let your neck relax, then... and your head." 

"Hmm?"

"Now let's quiet our jaw... and our tongues."

A bit of drool escaped his mouth, which MM carefully wiped with a tissue.

"And let's relax our ears and nose, too..."

Guy's eyes fluttered even more, as he struggled to keep them open.

"It's okay, just let your eyelids droop. You've been at this for even hours, I heard."

"But..."

"No buts..." MM tsk-ed.

Sighing, he let his eyes close.

"And finally, let your brain process everything you've done, all day long." 

...

"Aaaaaaaaand..." MM inhaled.

A slightly raspy snore escaped Guy's lips.

"... sleeping like a baby. I did it."

MM then looked over.

Yep, Cookie and Avery were still asleep.

And now, so were Misty and Jerri.

MM figured that Lexy had drifted off, back home, too.

So he hung up the phone and just sat sandwiched in between Avery and Jerri.

Avery's sleep-humming made him feel a bit drowsy, whilst Jerri's snoring created a slow and steady pattern of relaxation.

Misty was warm and cozy, like always. Whereas Cookie's raspy, unpredictable snoring added some "zest" in a usually predictable link.

"... he's still alive?" MM muttered to himself, trying to fight off the pending drowsiness.

"... Martin?"

His eyes widened.

He was so glad the rest of the Decas were asleep, right now.

"Is... is that really you?"

Chapter Text

MM's eyes fluttered open as he sat atop a skyscraper's roof. The moon was only a mere sliver in the sky and the entire city was chattering away.

"So whatta ya wanna do tonight?"

"Awwww, babe, I love your dress!"

"That color looks so nice on you."

"GET BACK HERE!"

Too much noise.

Sighing, MM stood upright and walked to the center of the apartment roof. 

And once again, his presence began to infect all of Chicago like a case of the Bubonic Plague... but far-less deadly and much-more sleep-inducing.

"Heh heh heh. That's right. I own the city, now."

He paused.

Every time, it was the same.

He puts all of Chicago to sleep, he goes about his merry way, he enjoys being a villain, then he wakes up.

He needed to spice this up.

[Inhale]

[Exhale]

The first thing he decided to do, this time?

Steal an empty bus and drive it home.

He then snuck in via his bedroom window and inhaled.

He was really going to do this.

He... was this a good idea?

Oh well, to quote Lexy when she and Jerri went clock-shopping one time, "We're just going downtown, no one's gonna get hurt".

[Inhale]

"I can do this."

And he slunk in the hallway, noticing a light on down in the living room, the TV still on. With a hearty chuckle, he turned the TV off and teleported over to find Lexy passed out on the couch with her right hand in a popcorn bowl and Doc Meow asleep on the coffee table.

"Like human, like feline... aaaaaanyways..."

He slunk over to the couch.

"Lexy? Lexy? Alexis?" MM cooed tenderly. "Waaaaaaake up..."

She just snored... very, very quietly. He almost couldn't hear it.

And this WAS the embodiment of chaos, in the waking world.

"Oh dear. Lexy?"

He carefully lifted her up in his arms.

A small smile formed on her face as she murmured something about a DJing championship.

"Come on, Alexis, up and at 'em." MM cooed, gently brushing her arm with a nearby feather duster.

A few giggles escaped her mouth as her eyes opened, slowly but surely.

She murmured for a bit, before realizing she was in MM's arms.

"Hey MM..." she gave a sleepy smile, eyes half-lidded.

"Come on, Lexy..."

"Where... where're we going?"

"We're going downtown."

"Down... town?" Lexy mumbled. "Downtown sounds nice..."

Doc Meow stayed fast asleep, purring all-the-while.

"Where're the others?" MM asked.

Lexy shrugged. "I dunno."

"Fair 'nuff. Now come on, let's go downtown."

"Okay!"

Despite the excitement in her voice, as well as the accompanying fist-pump, her eyes stayed half-lidded, like a baby doll with eyes that didn't open/close fully anymore.

She rubbed her eyes, then gave a semi-drowsy smile.

"Interesting..." MM mused, before looking around the house.

He didn't find anyone else inside, he also checked the garden and the roof.

"They must've been hosting their games when I did my thing." MM gave a nervous chuckle.

"Yeah. Dunno why..." Lexy stretched her body out.

Nodding with slight concern, MM got Doc in his cat carrier. If no one else was home, might as well bring him along for the ride.

Besides, it was just him and Lexy awake, out of everyone in the city.

"We are going for a joyride to get them from their games." 

Lexy's eyes stayed half lidded as she squealed at the declaration.

She then paused.

"Wait! You can't drive-"

"It's my dream, don't tell me how to live it."

"... good point."

Lexy sighed as she took a seat on the bus, looking out the window. "Yeeeeesh, ALL of Chicago is asleep!"

"It's real quiet, isn't it?"

"I guess...but you wanted ME awake?"

"I learnt to handle your chaos, quirks and all. Same with the rest of you guys. Now, I can't say the same for the rest of an entire city, however."

"..."

"..."

"Floor it!" Lexy grinned, eyes in a 'permanent' droop, as she gripped the seat ahead of her.

- - -

"We made it!" MM gave a proud cheer.

"Aaaaaaaaaaand we crashed into the studio wall." Lexy commented.

"Meh, it's a dream." MM explained as he, Lexy and Doc exited the now-crushed bus and headed over to Misty's game first.

Yes, the chibis were fast asleep in a drowsy heap, surrounded by half-finished drawings as the catchy soundtrack was replaced with a cozy lullaby. Misty was all sprawled out, a snot bubble coming out of her right nostril.

Lexy snickered a little at how vulnerable Misty looked.

MM however, gently nudged the dragon.

"Mmmm... two minutes left..." Misty slurred, eyes slowly opening.

MM snapped his fingers, the background music turning back into the catchy soundtrack heard when making shirt designs. 

"No, no more minutes." MM cooed. "Come on, time to get up."

Lexy grinned and popped Misty's snot bubble.

[POP!]

THAT woke the dragon up, despite her eyes being just as half-lidded as Lexy's.

"What... the... Lexy? MM?" Misty murmured.

"Come along, Mesei." MM declared, offering his hand. "Huh, Mesei. Sounds nice, I wonder what it translates into."

"The world may never know." Lexy said, with a sleepy giggle.

Did she snoop in Jerri's journal out of curiosity?

She's not telling.

Oh. Speaking of...

"Come on! We gotta get the others up, too!" her eyelids stayed neatly settled halfway over her eyes.

Misty nodded as she flew after Lexy, MM gripping onto her tail for dear life.

- - -

Huh. 

That was one messy basement.

Understatement, but still.

"Now where is she?" Lexy muttered.

"Maybe we should let her be...?" MM asked.

"Nonsense. Those weirdos are here."