Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Dandy was out shopping, getting some groceries when he noticed a game on the ground called “(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:* 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖙 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖆𝖐𝖊 *.:｡.✿`°¤,¸.•*´¯)”. He picked it up and opened it to see a disc (obviously), but on the inside of the cover in black sharpie was written

“𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑳 𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑳. 𝑬𝑽𝑰𝑳 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬. 𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑳 𝑴𝑼𝑹𝑫𝑬𝑹 𝑬𝑽𝑬𝑹𝒀𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑶𝑽𝑬. 𝑫𝑶 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑩𝑼𝒀. 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑾𝑰𝑳𝑳 𝑫𝑰𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬𝑬”

Well that can’t be good. Maybe Dandy should put it back. But Dandy, Dandy was a curious flower. He wanted to know. Plus when he looked at the price for such a thing, it was FREE. 

Why would anybody say no to a free game. In the cart it goes!

When Dandy got home he immediately booted up the game not even bothering to put away the groceries yet. He’ll do it later. Maybe… 

he booted it up and was met with a loading screen. The background was all pinks and browns like a school in a Cherry grove, the soft classical music filling his hears, just like any ordinary dating sim. To the left it had the name of the game “(¯`*•.¸,¤°´✿.｡.:* 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊 𝖆𝖙 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝖇𝖆𝖐𝖊 *.:｡.✿`°¤,¸.•*´¯)” as well as options to either start a new game, or load a previously saved game. To the right was a girl infront of a statue, he couldn’t see her face since she was facing the statue but he could tell she did have long beautiful pink hair. 

He clicked on new game and the loading screen was a black and white swirly thing, like the one used to hypnotize people in movies. And then he passed out. 

He woke up from his unconscious fixing the rainbow colored hair in his eyes. He observed his surroundings seeing that he was in the cherry grove a soft piano in the distance. Infront of him was the same statue but instead of it being what ever animal it was before it was pebble. Aww that cute! Infront of the statue was a boy? Odd, he had red hair with green tips… wait a minute? Was that Sprout?? 

Dandy picked himself up from the ground wiping off the dirt on his uniform shirt. He walked up to Sprout and before he could even give The red hair boy’s shoulder a tap he turned. 

“D-Dandy?!?!” Oh definitely Sprout alright. “What are you doing here?!?!” He then stated glitching a little bit hit he had been hit with a taser.

“Are-Are you alright?!?” Dandy asked worriedly grabbing onto the taller boy’s shoulders. 

“Gar!” Sprout turned to Dandy angrily like he was the one that caused him to glitch. “Watch where you’re going idiot!”

Dandy was given two options. “Hey! Be careful who you call stupid!” Or “Oh, seriously! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!”

“Hey! Be careful who you call stupid!” Dandy yelled out. In the corner it had Sprout’s face (but very pixelated) and -5 affection. Oh so he can be a bitch to me but when I give him taste of his own medicine he gets offended? Okay I see how it is. 

“You think you’re smarter than me?” 

“Judging by the facts, you are literally just standing in front of a statue doing nothing. Yes.”

“How many cups in 1 gallon?” 

“10” 

“That's ridiculous! Even my brother Gordie knows!” Sprout crossed his arms in victory. 

“Wow, give that kid an Oscar or something.” 

“What do you want?” Sprout Looked Dandy dead in the eyes (and said hey Brian if you still believe in the lord above/j) 

“Huh?” 

“There’s a reason you’re still talking to me.” 

“Well yeah, I was just kinda tran-“ Dandy was then hit with the same glitch Sprout was hit with a few seconds ago. “Holly hell!” Dandy cleared his throat, damn that hurt. “I mean, So, I'm new here and I need help finding my classes.”

“Of course I'll help you.” Sprout rolled his eyes. “Schedule?” 

“Yeah! Yeah!” Dandy looked to the left, he hadn’t realized it until now but there was a side bar, there was an option to save, one to open inventory, pause, and continue. Dandy reached up into inventory and lo and behold there was a sheet of paper with his schedule on it. He gave it Sprout, and in the corner with his face again but this time it was stated +5 affection.

Chapter Text

“Can't you get someone to help you find a class?” Sprout spat out. “You've been chasing me all day!” 

“Well, it's 3:15 now, which means no!” Dandy’s chuckled “No one else can help me find classes! You've already done it all for me!” Sprout rolled his eyes as he kept walking. 

“Where ya’ going?” Dandy caught up with Sprout beaming behind the boy. 

“Baking club.” Sprout sighed. “Now scram!” 

“Oh, can I go?” 

“No-“ Sprout was hit with glitching once again. “Wow! Follow me.” Sprout lead the way. “I don't think that's what you'd like.” 

“I love food!”

”But you wouldn’t like making it.” 

“How do you know that!” 

“Because baking is hard and time-consuming.”

”It's okay to put in a little effort.” 

“We won't teach you anything about the kitchen, so you'll need some prior knowledge.” 

“Are you saying I’m a bad cook?” 

“Dandy...I saw you put a Pop-Tart in the microwave.” 

“Microwaves are so easy!”

“YOU PUT POPTARTS IN THE TOASTER IDIOT!!!” 

They both walked into the room and were greeted with 3 other people.

“Who is that??” A smaller fatter boy with a darker skin tone. 

“Some idiot who keeps chasing me.” Sprout rolled his eyes. 

“Well Welcome…” 

“Dandy” Dandy answered the chubby boy. 

“nice to meet you” a lean girl that was also in the room. “I’m Ginger and this is Cosmo” She lifted a hand to the Small fat one.

”No, it's not fun meeting him!” Sprout protested. “No more members needed!” 

“Sprout! Stop being rude!” Cosmo chuckled slightly finding Sprout’s attitude amusing. 

“He's not here to bake, he just wants to screw Ginger's cousin!” 

“Heck… I don’t even know her cousin!” Dandy’s defended. 

“I know where you were looking when Cosmo was talking to you!”

”Yes, there is eye contact on his face.” Dandy smiled smugly. “Give it a try, you might just make more friends and be less grumpy all the time.” 

“It doesn’t matter.” Ginger placed a hand on Sprout’s shoulder. “Like it or not, he'll be a member. seedly” 

“I-I have not been introduced yet” A boy with purple hair muttered barely audible. Everyone turned to him as he spoke up.“I-I’m Boxten it’s… It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

”I'm glad to meet you too.” Dandy held a hand for Boxten to shake. Which Boxten took and in the corner next to Boxten’s face was a +5 affection. 

“Now, we're ready to go.” Ginger pulled out a binder and layer it down on the table. “Today is Dandy's first day as a club member! He's got to decide what to bake! Tomorrow, we'll decide by majority vote!” 

Dandy was handed the binder and when he opened it he was presented with 4 options. 

A. Cupcakes
B. Cookies 
C. Breads
D. Tiramisu 

Dandy picked cupcakes because they seemed the easiest. In the corner of the screen he saw that, Boxten affection went up by 5, Cosmo affection went up by 5, Ginger affection went up by 5, and Sprout affection wet up by 6?? No wait 7?? 

Dandy was then presented with 4 more options. 

A. Red Velvet cupcakes
B. Chocolate Chip Cupcakes
C. Strawberry Cupcakes
D. Ube Cupcakes.

Dandy picked Strawberry because logically Sprout would think cannibalism and affection would go down. Surprisingly it went up by 6 AGAIN!! While the rest went up by 5. 

“Oh, that's a good choice!” Cosmo commented. 

“Now, let's start baking!” Ginger yelped.

Chapter Text

Baking was surprisingly simple, it could probably be that they were all baking together instead of baking by themselves so all club members did all the heavy lifting while Dandy got and measured ingredients for them. It didn’t matter because now they were done.

“These look amazing!” Cosmo complimented.

“Well, all Dandy did was bring the ingredients.” Sprout testified

“Sprout, stop!”

“No, it's okay!” Dandy pat Cosmo’s shoulder.

“Now let's dig in!” Ginger grabbed a Cupcake and took a bite. The others following. “delicious!!” Ginger teared up at the taste.

Dandy took a bite of his and it tasted like nothing… there was no smell, no taste, not even the slightest hint of sweetness. Dandy had to pretend he was enjoying this but in reality it was far from enjoyable.

That was how every day unfolded, Classes, Baking club, Conveniently pick to make Strawberry cupcakes to get that Sprout affection up. Dandy didn’t know why, he probably just thought it was funny. Okay to him it was actually really funny.

He didn’t LIKE Sprout it was just funny for Sprout affection to go up. It didn’t matter now, he was heading back to baking club until Sprout stopped the rainbow haired boy; pinning him to the wall.

“You are doing this on purpose.” Sprout glared at Dandy.

“Huh?” Dandy looked at Sprout amused.

“I know the dessert you chose is the one I would enjoy the most!”

“What can I say? I love strawberry desserts!”

“You can’t even taste it!”

“Well, I'm just saying what everyone is thinking!” Dandy scoffed. “We all agree that we should make strawberry cupcakes EVERY DAY!”

“Fool!” Sprout tugged at his own hair in frustration. “They have no will of their own! They're all programmed to agree with you!”

“Cosmo can think for himself, and so can other bakers.”

“In the real world it is!” Sprout shouted. “But here?! They can't think! They can't feel! They can't taste! Every time you bake, it fails and no one says anything. Because they're all databases and can't figure out what's wrong!” Sprout explained. “You and I are the only ones not connected to a computer!”

“Oh…” Dandy pushed Sprout off with one hand. “Okay, okay, I'll choose something different today.”

“Good” Sprout followed as Dandy entered the room.

“Hey, Dandy!!” Cosmo called out. “Me and the other club members were planning a sleepover at Sprout's house! You'd love to come along!!”

“W-We’re inviting him?!?!” Sprout turned white.

“Yes! He's a new club member!” Cosmo smiled “We should at least give him a chance to come with us!”

“No! I won't let him even step inside my house!”

“Sprout, stop being rude!” Cosmo turned to Dandy. “I am so sorry about Sprout, he isn’t usually this mean.” Cosmo apologized putting a hand on Dandy’s shoulder before getting all giggly. “I think he likes you!”

“Hey, I heard that!” Sprout shouted. “By the way, I would rather to kiss a tree!” Cosmo giggled at that.

“Ah, let's see.”

“Okay, everyone!” Ginger called pulling the binder out. “What should we bake today?”

Dandy was presented with the options once again.

“Strawberry tiramisu.” Dandy grinned.

“that's nice!” Boxten stated.

“Just what I was thinking!” Cosmo smiled.

“You can't be serious!!” Sprout spouted out.

“Huh? I love strawberry desserts!” Dandy testified.

Chapter Text

It was now the week they all would all meet up at Sprout’s place. Ginger has taken it upon herself and the other club members to make snacks for the Sleepover and gifts for Sprout’s folk (which was just more snacks)

“I can’t believe we’re inviting him to a sleepover” Sprout snarled.

“Shut up.” Ginger side eyed. “Anyway, do you have it all?”

“Uh huh!” Cosmo nodded.

“I triple checked.” Boxten assured while Dandy just nodded his head.

“Okay, let's get started!” Ginger cheered. They all followed Ginger as she lead the way to her car. Ginger sat in the driver’s seat, Cosmo was in the passenger side. Dandy had the choice of

A. sitting in the middle with Sprout and Boxten on either side of him

B. Sitting to the left, have Sprout sit in the middle and then Boxten on the right.

C. Sit on the right and have Boxten in the middle and Sprout at the other window.

Dandy decided to go to the middle.

“You know… you could’ve not sit next to me.” Sprout muttered.

“Ah! But thanks to the game” Dandy batted his eyelashes mockingly.

“Don't lie! You deliberately chose the middle one!”

“What are you two talking about?” Cosmo asked. “The game? What game? Tell me the name, I want to play!”

“We should all play the game at the Sleepover!” Boxten hinted.

“We don't even know what the game is.” Ginger stated as she drove.

“Come on! Tell me, tell me, tell me!” Cosmo chanted.

“Now look what you've done!” Sprout scowled. “There are no games! Dandy is just talking nonsense!”

“That's something you clankers can't understand..” Dandy chuckled. Everyone except Ginger turned to look at him. “What? I’m right!” He was then punched in the face by Sprout.

“When I get out of this car, we're having a very serious, private conversation.” Sprout glared at Dandy. “And I’m beating your ass.”

They finally arrived at Sprout’s humble abode but before Dandy could even take a breath and stretch his legs Sprout pulled him to the side.

“What were you thinking?!?!” Sprout smacked Dandy across the face. “Just because we have self-awareness doesn't mean that other people necessarily do too!” He smacked Dandy again. “If you ever do that again, I'll kill you!” He smacked Dandy one last time before dragging him back with the others.

Everyone got their stuff from Ginger’s trunk (except Sprout because he lives here) and went inside the house.

“I’m back!~” Sprout called. “What am I doing, my gender neutral parent is at work, and Gourdy doesn’t come home from school until like an hour later.”

“~yeH”(Hey~) Someone called from the living room. “!tuo gnah ot emac I os ,dnekeew siht revo sdneirf emos gnignirb erew uoy draeh I”(I heard you were bringing some friends over this weekend, so I came to hang out!)

“Blot… GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!” Sprout shouted.

“…oN”(No..)

“Let’s just go to my room.” Sprout lead the way upstairs to his bedroom.