Work Text:
‘SLATE ONE, TAKE ONE!’
The cheers of fifty actors, thirty-four crew members, and six sponsors danced through the air as the clapperboard slammed shut.
Second’s cheer carried a bout of laughter at his next, immediate thought.
Let the chaos begin!
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‘Well, it was a pleasure meeting you,’ Chosen deadpanned, ‘but I should be on my way….’
Madame’s eyebrows rose as if he’d just made a joke. Her smile stretched unnaturally across her lips, pronouncing her canines and spiking his adrenaline.
‘Why leave so soon? We’ve just met~’
As she spoke, the floating platform she was lazily lounging upon drifted a few inches closer to Chosen. Then it veered suddenly and wildly to the left, and Madame slid off the green-screened surface and toppled – thankfully not face-first – onto the pavement below.
Chosen’s eyes widened. He muttered a curse and surged forward to check on her – alongside several crew members –, trying his best to seem concerned and not like he was desperately holding back laughter.
‘CUT!’
‘Sorry, Poppy!-’
Madame’s eyebrows rose as if he’d just made a joke. Her smile stretched unnaturally across her lips, showing a few canines in the process.
‘Why leave doh shoon? Plefhehfeagh-’
Chosen raised an eyebrow, his serious expression cracking. Madame huffed out her own laugh, half-heartedly stifled it, and tried again.
‘Why leave now- I- W- agh-’ she stuttered for a moment longer before laughing, ‘when we ha-ave extra special guests tonight-’
Chosen finally broke and cackled. ‘What??’
She ran a hand over her face. ‘Shut up. I just fell six feet onto concrete, okay?’
‘We’re doing that again!’
( ‘I may’ve hit my head harder than I thought-’
‘Pff-’ )
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Agent stared into the distance, genuinely barely listening. Ballista had been told to yap about something random while Agent had a thinking moment, and his voice would be blurred out in editing. This kind of thing happened often in the roles Agent had played over the years, and he’d developed a talent of actually tuning out people’s lines while thinking about something else.
He tuned back in, figuring that’d be enough time for the editors.
‘… but hey, pool soaked chocolates aren't actually that terrible, I found out – the saltiness actually kinda enhances the flavor! You should try it sometime, Agent – it's actually not bad!’
‘…What??’
‘PFFF- why do you look so horrified, Mono?’
‘I-’
‘We’re keeping that.’
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‘You kids get out of the area – it's not safe!’ Black shouted, masking his speech in a weird tone.
‘Yes, sir!’ Yellow nodded, grabbing Blue and Red by the shoulders and yanking them away as Green took hold of Second's hand and urged him to leave with the others.
Second felt reluctant to leave so quickly as he continued staring at the superhero….
Then a sharp thud sounded from behind him and he turned to see Blue, Yellow, and Red groaning in the pile they’d collapsed into after the youngest had tripped. Green burst into laughter and Second grinned – both albeit tinged with mild concern.
The next few takes went similarly. Chosen and Primal were struggling to keep their composure, and Blue and Yellow would’ve joined in on the mirth of the whole ordeal if it hadn’t been at the expense of their knees.
Opal pinched the bridge of her nose.
‘Okay, we’ll- make it so you going around the corner is out of frame… just… take it slow, okay?’
Second’s smile wobbled dangerously as Red nodded. Opal glared at both of them and sighed.
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Black and Velvet were both visibly stunned by the clamouring attention of the crowds. Black nervously laughed, ‘I'm Black, he's, uh… Velvet, and we're leaving. Have a lovely day!’
Black took Velvet's hand and the two superheroes ignited their flames. As they flew away, Mauve’s voice could be heard murmuring right next to the microphone;
‘Look at those gyatts, damn.’
The sticks around him cackled.
Opal inhaled.
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‘Action!’
Chosen gazed down at Second and Dark. The former sometimes took a moment to wake up in the scene, so he tried not to be expectant of Second’s first action. He glanced at his watch – noting the time, in preparation for his next line. A few more moments passed and he acted through them, though at this point they were about 20 seconds[heh] into the take and the scene hadn’t started.
Dark sat up, breaking character, and looked confusedly at the younger hollowhead. A smile tugged at his lips.
‘Is he actually asleep?’
Chosen looked down and studied him for half a second before having to stifle his laughs.
‘He actually is,’ Chosen muttered, not wanting to wake him up despite needing to for the scene.
‘Oh my cursors,’ Dark began to laugh as well, but Chosen slapped a quick hand across the red stick’s mouth. Cue the cat-fight over their sleeping castmate.
‘Okay, cut! Can someone wake him up?-’
(‘Dark! No scratches – we cannot afford more paperwork!’)
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BBD Interviews – Super Sticks S01E07 – Beckers
Q: Favourite prop?
Dark: TED. Definitely. He can’t do everything he can in the series, but the walking, hissing, et cetera is remote controlled and real. It’s so cool – Gem’s a legend. My superhero costume is also mostly remote controlled, but only certain parts of it when it, like- ✨assembles✨-
Chosen: You broke it so many times, as well.
Dark: I- …
Alan: [laugh] Oh, right! For context, Dark messed up the mechanics four times in a row during the first shoot, and they had to delay that episode’s filming by a week just to fix it.
Interviewer: Oh, really?
Chosen: Yep. Don’t worry, we tease him about it.
Dark: [huff]
Chosen: Oh, my jumper.
Dark: The one with the floof? That you keep all your random shit in?
Chosen: Yeup. It’s great. Honourable mention to the book my character’s reading, too – I got my own copy of it a while ago.
Dark: [smirk] Real fans know which book it is-
Chosen: [grin] Oh, yeah. Shoutout to you guys.
Alan: What’s a prop?
Chosen: Pfffahaha-
Dark: AHahaha realll
Alan: Heheh… in all seriousness, uh… my apron, if that counts? With the pun on it? I’m still proud of thinking of that one, heheh. Second also had the idea that Dark’s character gave it to mine for his birthday, which is sweet.
( Dark: Oh, I didn’t know that?
Alan: Yeah, it was between takes for scene three last Wednesday.
Dark: Ohhhhhhhh….
Yeah, we went home immediately after our scene finished.
Alan: Pfff- Valid. )
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‘Oh, hey…’ Whiskey wondered aloud, nudging Vodka as the older twin kept the ringing going, ‘t’at one’s a bit resistant, ain’t ‘e?’
Vodka stopped and Second gasped for air, not realising he’d been holding his breath. He looked up hesitantly and was met with the stares of both twins.
‘A hollowhead?’ Vodka tilted his head.
Uh oh.
Second then turned and started to run, but slipped on a layer of mud and faceplanted instead.
Second let out a muffled groan. The costume team instantly rushed to his side, anxious about his clothes and make-up being ruined by the mud. Tar and Grain – Vodka and Whiskey’s actors respectively – stood where they were, unsure of what to do. Blue laughed somewhere behind them as Opal called a retake.
‘Your turn, Sec!’ Blue teased.
‘Oh, shut up!’
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‘I demand to be called Master Velvet!’ Dark threw his arms up from around Second.
A crash grated their ears. The scene was cut as the three hollowheads turned to see floodlight 5A in pieces on the floor. Dark, hands still up, let out a meek “oop” as Tan, Cranberry, and every nearby crew member ran to deal with the broken equipment.
‘…I don’t think the cursors liked that name,’ Second muttered.
Dark scoffed indignantly as Chosen barked a laugh.
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‘Hey, Vic.’ Primal approached the hollowhead, a coffee in each hand.
‘Hey, Primal.’ He nodded and accepted the drink handed to him with a smile. The two of them took a moment to relax in the shaded booth, watching the kids play-fight. They had around ten minutes before filming again, and Tan had finally allowed them a coffee break.
Okay, to be fair, they were allowed breaks often – it was just funny pretending they were being worked like dogs.
Well, they were, but it was of their own volition that they began a career in showbiz.
‘Did you hear who’s been cast as the quadruplets’ mother?’ Primal looked down at him. Her gaze rarely held so much intensity, so obviously it was intriguing to Victim.
‘No?’ he quirked an eyebrow, sipping the long black in his hand.
‘Fucking. Orchid.’
He almost choked on his coffee. Almost.
‘Really? You sure?’ he faced her properly, eyes wide.
Primal nodded, giving him a significant look.
‘Tan and Gem were talking about it yesterday.’
Vic let out a small hum as he processed the news. Both sticks turned back to where the kids were playing. He nodded slowly.
Then he smirked.
‘You want to impress her, then?’ He gave her a mischievous side-eye.
‘I- NO. I never said that–’
‘–Out loud.’
‘…Fuck you.’
‘Pfff-’
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‘You seem restless…’ Alan told him as he wrapped bacon strips around thin pickle slices, laying them out on a baking sheet.
‘I'm okay,’ Second smiled genuinely. ‘I'm just… waiting.’
‘Waiting?’ Alan looked up from his food prep yet again to tilt his head at Second. ‘Waiting for what?’
‘For… some visitors….’ Second ducked his head, trying to be vague.
‘You invited frie?-’
Knocking reverberated throughout the house.
Alan gurgled with laughter.
‘Pff-’ Second grinned, then turned and called to the sticks at the door. ‘Too early!’
Dark’s drawn-out groan and Chosen’s “I told you so” could be heard from outside, sending the actors inside into a proper bout of laughter.
( ‘They said action!’
‘They did not, Dark-’ )
‘CUT!’
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BBD Interviews – Super Sticks S01E13 – Colour Gang
Q: Favourite prop?
Second: Uhhhhhhh…I… don’t know. I guess my sketchbook? Most of the stuff you see when I flip through is made by the prop department, but I drew some of the last ones. It’s become a pastime during breaks since it needs to be slowly filled anyway.
Green: We don’t hold many props at this point in the series, but I guess my headphones? Good for entertainment between takes, and just iconic for my character.
Blue: And you.
Green: And me~
Blue: The frying pan in the quadruplets’ kitchen. I feel powerful.
Second: Please do not neutralise us in that scene-
Blue: Pfff- no promises <3
Interviewer: …What scene?
Second: …
You’ll find out~
Yellow: Are we allowed other character’s props?
Interviewer: Oh, uh… I’d say, yeah.
Yellow: Alright, then probably Primal’s spear.
Green: Violence?
Yellow: Violence.
Red: I love my wings! I’ve only worn them twice for fitting since the crew needs to be absolutely sure, like, way in advance that we won’t fall-
Huh? Wha- oh I forgot we were still in Vic’s era-
…
Mm? Uh- OH SHIT SORRY GUYS SORRYSORRYSORRY WE CAN CUT THAT RIGHT-
Sec: …RED-
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‘Action!’
Chosen’s brow scrunched, and he squirmed in his position against Alan’s chest.
He whimpered pitifully.
Dark cracked up.
Chosen reached over and whacked his friend. Second broke into a fit of giggling as well, and Alan cracked a grin.
‘I cannot take you seriously when you do that, oh my cursors-’
‘Shut up, mate-’
‘Take two–’ clap ‘–action!’
Chosen’s soft murmurs and whimpers filled the air as he trembled and shifted in his “sleep”. Chosen grabbed Alan’s arm and gasped as if he was in a melodrama. Dark cackled immediately, and the two youngest sticks tried and failed to recover their composure.
‘Ds-do- you want do falk atout it?- Oh, hockey stick.’
‘PFAAHHAAH-’
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‘Orchid, they're thirteen…’ Navy finally mumbled aloud.
‘Deciding to wait ‘til fifteen was a loose decision anyway,’ Orchid replied in the same hushed manner. ‘They deserve to know.’
‘We deserve to know what?’ Yellow's eyes sharpened with a sudden curiosity, as if he'd discovered a hidden quest in a video game.
Navy took a deep breath and somehow managed to meet everyone’s eyes at once.
‘I’m not the father,’ he stated, calmly going back to his dinner.
A pause.
Then all the kids began wheezing in unison.
‘CUT!’
( ‘I’m not sure if this is a good or bad sign for your casting…’
‘I need to start doing “try not to laugh” challenges so anything and everything would stop being turned into a bit.’ )
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“ And… Mono. I still consider you the best agent I've ever had, and I am so sorry if I made you feel otherwise or that you weren't good enough just because of the injury. You've been a true hero, a true agent, and furthermore… a friend to me. ”
‘Gay.’ Hazard spoke aloud.
Agent bonked the back of his head.
‘CUT!’
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‘Alright, you’re ready.’ Gem gave Vic a smile as she completed the finishing touches on his stab wound and blood. He returned the warm gesture and headed back on set, waiting for Opal’s signal.
Green and Blue were giggling over their phones nearby. When they saw Vic, he could see the idea forming in Blue’s head, followed by the raw mischief at the wheel of Green’s.
… He wasn’t sure if he should be scared.
When Opal walked back on set after her break, she was immediately met by the sight of Blue and Green beatboxing over Vic’s dying body. Green’s phone was recording nearby.
‘…You’re lucky I can’t fire you guys for this-’
‘Pff-’
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Dark met Vic's gaze first.
Time seemed to stop as Dark's eyes widened in instant recognition.
‘V-’ Dark stuttered out the first syllable of Vic's name before his voice died.
Dark's hands fell limply from Second's shoulders as he took a small step in Vic's direction. Vic gave him a wobbly, sheepish smile.
Dark took another step forward, and then another and another, until he was standing – shaking – directly in front of his older brother.
Then Vic was slapped across the face, the grey hollowhead's neck and head jerking to the side.
Ballista cackled, and Second broke a moment after.
‘I’m sorry, I thought I could handle it-’ the latter apologised through wheezes. Ballista was going full wicked witch with his laughs, and Dark’s lips were stretched in an evil smirk.
Vic groaned and touched a tentative hand to where he’d been slapped.
‘Cursors above, Dark. You don’t have to do it that hard-’
‘Yes, I do.’ He smiled.
‘CUT!’
PAH
‘Pfffahahahahaa-’
‘Oh my cursors I’m so sorryyeehehee-’
‘CUT!’
CRACK
‘OW!’
‘Oop- didn’t mean to do it that time-’
‘CUT!’
Dark grinned violently as he slapped Vic back and forth across the face.
‘Aglh-aglh-aglh-aglh-’
‘Okay- Dark-’
‘CUT!’
BBD Interviews – Super Sticks S02E03 – Ladybug Brothers
Second: [laughing]
Chosen: Opal had a chat with his agent after that. We knew he couldn’t be fired after so many episodes and prep, but–
Dark: But I got banned from so much shit! I couldn’t get anything from the buffet, I couldn’t show up on days I wasn’t needed, I couldn’t interact with anyone outside scenes unless I was practising… !
Chosen: I’d say we missed you, but it was funny watching you squirm.
Dark: Die.
Second: PAhahah-
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SNORTT
‘Gno, I’ghm figne,’ Second attempted to say. SNORTT
Green cringed. Yellow rubbed his forehead. Blue – the medic, as always – stared at Second until he turned away, too uncomfortable.
‘You,’ Blue said slowly, ‘are going home.’
‘I gneedt to filgmn a ssegne, dtough….’
‘Sec, you’re imploding in real time.’
‘Crreegn-’
‘You’ve been outvoted, bud~’ Red leaned against Green’s shoulder, resting his chin on his arms. Yellow nodded.
The four of them stared at Second – Blue’s morphing into a glare.
The hollowhead sighed.
BBD Interviews – Super Sticks S01E20 – Colour Gang
Green: And he didn’t come back for five weeks.
Blue: He left us alone….
Second: Oh come o- it wasn’t my fault I had pneumonia!
Yellow: [sniffling] We thought you were dead….
Red: [wiping tears] I’ll never forgive you for that….
Second: Shut.
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BBD Interviews – Super Sticks S02E06 – Recent Reveals
Q: Favourite prop?
Purple: Oooooooo… I actually don’t know. Uhhh…
Vic: Wings?
Mango: They’re afraid of heights.
Interviewer: Oh?
Purple: SHUT UP-
Vic: Wait, seriously?
Jade: Oooof. Amazing casting-
Purple: Oh, sod off. Uhhh, about the question…
Jade: Mhmmmmmmmm~
Purple: Shh. Um- Maybe it’s basic, but probably the banjo I hold at one point -- don’t ask -- ‘cause Green taught me a few songs on it and it’s good to fuck around with-
Interview: Oh, uhhh-
Purple: Oh shit can I say that- OH F- NO. No. Not doing it again.
Jade: Ahahaahahaha-
Vic: Oooo, uh… the vials, probably. I like the idea that I made them. I feel powerful.
Jade: Not your pole?
Vic:
Purple: [cracking up]
Vic: My- my what?
Mango [trying not to chuckle]: That’s Mono’s weapon, mate.
Jade: Oh-
Purple [through laughs]: Tchdfffuhff- d-dang right it is~
Mango: …Oh -- cursors, Purple-
Vic: Oh, fuck off.
Jade: Ahahahaaahaha-
Interviewer: Language?
Vic: Sh- Oop. Sorry. Nope. No.
Purple: Your turn <3
Vic: Shh.
Mango: My cape. It’s warm, and makes me feel luxurious.
Purple: Pffaha real
Jade: dO YoU Or DO yoU nOt fEeL bOniTA??
Purple: AO-
Mango: …
[Staring for an almost uncomfortably long time.]
Vic: Mang-
Mango: I feel bonita.
Purple: AHAHAHAAAHAHAHA-
Jade: Oh, woooooooonderful, because you LOOK bonita!~
Vic [trying not to smile]: Oh my fucking cursors-
Jade: I have not held any props
Purple: The helicopter.
Jade: Oh, YES.
Mango: Pff-
Vic: He did actually try to steal it
Interviewer: Wait, what?
Jade: Wh- only briefly!!
Mango: Ohhh, I remember that now! Yeah, that was chaos.
Purple: I need to give you flying lessons.
Vic: As long as you don’t look down-
Purple: Shut your mouth.
Mango: Pshhaha
Jade: Karma~
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In each of Primal’s scenes, an extra prop table was set up for her various weapons. It was usually strictly banned from anyone other than the props and effects teams, but filming had been going well that week and she was in a good mood, so Opal only sipped her coffee and watched as Yellow and Purple mucked around with the timber weapons.
Yellow tossed the spear in Purple’s direction, and the latter quickly caught it in fear of being stabbed by a flying log. They grunted, hefting it up in a bicep curl along their chest.
‘Cursors and IPs, I was not expecting this to be so goddamn heavy,’ Purple huffed. Yellow only gave a breathy hum in agreement, rubbing his own arms in an attempt to recover from the throw.
Purple shifted it to their right palm, stepped back, and gave it a small, experimental swing.
Adrenaline rushed through Opal’s body as the young stick jolted to slow the spear’s momentum. They quickly brought it back to their side, arm locked, and for a moment the three sticks stared at the weapon, processing that moment of panic.
Then Yellow laughed and twirled a few of the arrows he’d picked up, watching as Purple carefully braced themselves against the weight.
‘Pfff- or maybe you’re just weak.’ He pointed one of them at his friend, smirking.
Purple’s eyes narrowed.
CLANG
‘Hoh myechokehcoekdfhkcOUfaH- HoRgHr- RAUGHEFR- AHEM.’
‘OH HOLY FUCK-’
‘Shitshitshitshit my coffee where’re the tissues-’
‘Oops, my arm slipped~’
‘Purple-’
Then the echo of Gem’s shout was heard all through the set.
‘What. Was that?’
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‘I don't know if I trust Vic yet….’ Green confessed. ‘I mean like, yeah, Second does, but I haven’t exactly met him, and I just…. I'd rather see the guy for myself before I go blindly trusting him just ‘cause he's related to Second, you know?’
‘An understandable concern,’ Yellow nodded, his tone formal and somehow more English than usual.
Green squinted at him, mirth dancing across his expression.
He managed not to laugh, but the damage was done, and Yellow hadn’t met Green’s eyes yet.
‘Sometimes… I wish we could just help Second in the field.’ Green deepened his voice, placing a hand across his heart. Yellow’s eyes flicked upwards. ‘I… well, don't know how, since none of us have any fahhncy schmahhncy powers… but the pure desire to help protect my friend… our… friend … remains.’
Yellow shlurped his cheese. ‘Hm.’
‘CUT!’
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Rum snorted. ‘Less bragging, more helping, dear!’
The Ladybug Trio took a moment of collective surprise before each turning their attention back to Jade The Pretzel.
‘My apologies,’ He shifted into a little bow. ‘Allow me to…’
His gaze moved between Black, Velvet, and Ginger at the speed of someone who intended to savour every little detail of their reactions. He smirked.
‘...Remedy this situation~’
…
Jade broke down right there on the car – cackling uncontrollably at Chosen’s immediate lemon-faced reaction. The blotted sliver his sight had become was all he needed to know that; one, breaking character was the last thing on the black hollowhead’s mind, and two, said black hollowhead wanted him buried at least twelve feet under.
Rum didn’t say anything, but she didn’t need to. Tar and Grain were quite literally rolling on the concrete a few metres away, and Second looked like he was going to join them.
Dark blinked. And swallowed. And blinked again. He would not break. He would not. He could not. He could not lose buffet privileges again…
‘Direct-tor, you-’ whgeeeze- ‘you saihd to follo-ow the rehears-sal trhack–’
‘MATE, THE REHEARSAL TRACK’S ACTOR IS A CUNT-’
AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA–
‘Opal.’
‘WHAT. Oh, my cursors- JUST CUT-’
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BBD Games – Super Sticks S02E08 – Heroes And Villains Storytime – Interview Break
Interviewer: So, as heroes and villains, you tend to fight a lot. Do you ever get hurt in fight scenes?
Dark: Surprisingly, no! As violent as the scenes are, Crimson actually does a lot of work with Leif and Conduit to make sure we don’t injure ourselves–
Primal: –Because of the script.
Interview: Oh, that’s good! Yeah.
Grain [nodding]: Mm. And we’re all absolutely perfect at following the script.
Poppy [nodding, cracking slightly]: No slips here.
Chosen [Cho’s Anti-Corpse Spell™]: Absolutely none.
Second [sighing whimsically]: We’re purified of any and all fluffed lines…
Ballista [practically vibrating]: Clean. Perfect.
Dark: We always do exactly as we’re told…
Gloss: No one’s ever had to take injury leave–
Interviewer: Okay, what’s the best story.
[Dark, Second, Grain, Ballista, and Poppy all start laughing. The others grin.]
Grain: OH. Oh I know.
Dark: …Oh, don’t you fucking dar-
Ballista: HAH! Yes.
Primal: Dark.
Dark: Sorry, but Grain I swear to c-
Tar: [Smile slowly stretches]
Second [realising]: Ohh! [grins] The helicopter one?
Poppy: I- don’t think I know this?
Gloss: Are we allowed to share that one at this point-
Interviewer: What??
Grain: OKAY SO we were in the helicopter, right? Like, only seven or so metres above the ground or, well- concrete roof- and Tar tried to high-five mumma but swung really weirdly–
Tar [unchanging smile]: Shh.
Grain: [sticks tongue out] –and he fell out of the helicopter door and Dark tried to run and help for some reason but forgot he was in suspenders and literally flipped upside down
Poppy: OH?
Dark: Shut up.
Interviewer: [laughs]
Gloss [grinning]: Tar landed on Chosen instead.
Interview: Oop-
Chosen: [sighs] He has not stopped apologising-
Tar: And rightfully so! You almost broke your arm!
Chosen: Almost. I was just annoyed!
Dark: And bruised.
Chosen: You’re not helping
Tar [letting the silly back in] [Hakuna Matata-ing] [editor’s note: We need to stop letting fans write these]: [pauses before rolling his eyes and theatrically leaning on Dark] O, but my dear, you tried to help! And I shall forever be grateful!
Second: Watch him periodically damsel-in-distress into Dark’s arms after this.
Poppy: Every ten business days, Tar falls from another helicopter...
Primal [shaking her head]: This is why we can’t have nice th-
Ballista: War vehicles.
Primal: …Or that.
Grain: Pffahaha-
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