Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

This is my first time posting on ao3 so I have no idea what the heck is happening. I wrote these stories over the past few months so there might be some that are related to Halloween and Christmas. I'll update when I feel like it, hope you enjoy 🔥 I did these for fun so sorry if it's cringe (it WILL be very cringe because I wrote this for my own indulgence. I only showed my fics to a few people and some of them told me that I should upload online so here we are)

I AM NOT CONFIDENT IN WRITING THEM I AM VERY SORRY IF IT'S EXTREMELY OOC I am suffering

EVERY STORIES' END NOTES ARE GONNA CONTAIN SPOILERS so if you wanna be surprised, read them when you're finish with the fic

Chapter Text

Just one more minute…

Boxten sat in his seat, staring up at the clock. He watched the seconds tick away, very slowly. Of course, this is what happens when you finish your worksheet fifteen minutes after it was distributed. You sit there for the next forty-five minutes, pretending to do something. In this case, Boxten spent his time doodling and erasing on the side of his paper.

Toons often labeled him the "smart kid." (He didn’t think of himself that way). At this point, he might as well have been called "the answer sheet.”

No one came to him with questions like “What’s 3+7?” or “Does 9+10=21?” it’s more like “Can I copy your work?”

At first, Boxten refused, but that only led to his classmates pestering him until he eventually gave in. Now, he didn’t even bother protesting; he didn't want to annoy them.

The last student leaned over (thankfully, no drawings were on the paper at the moment. Boxten wouldn't know how the person would react), scribbled down the numbers, and turned to his friends without so much as a “thanks”. It made Boxten's left eye twitch. He thought about saying something to the toon, but decided not to. It would be a losing battle if he tried.

Boxten glanced around the room. The whole class chatted in duos, trios, four-ios…? (He wasn’t sure what a friend group of four was called). They were talking so loudly that when the teacher tried to quiet them down, her voice was as faint as a…

Uh, nevermind. Boxten couldn’t think of a simile (He was decent at English, his brain simply goes blank from time to time).

Finally, the bell rang, and his classmates stood up and headed out, their papers and items still on their table. They were going to have lessons in the same classroom after recess, so them leaving it there wasn't a big of a deal. 

The teacher attempted to say something, but was drowned out by the cackling of the students. She probably said something about homework. If Boxten got scolded tomorrow for not doing the assignment (because he wasn't able to hear it), he would have to tell her it was the noisy students’ fault (actually…knowing himself, he might end up blaming it on his own lack of attention instead).

With a sigh, he pulled out his storybook and lunch box (the cafeteria food was awful, so he asked his parents to pack something for him). He trailed behind his classmates. Hopefully, no one had the bright idea steal his things while he was gone (it happened before; Boxten’s pen was stolen. Like, a book shop exists at school. Go there instead? Please?).

He walked down the halls as discreetly as possible. It didn't matter because no one acknowledged him. As he moved, he could hear incoherent talks among the students around him. Everyone was with their friend group. 

Except him.

He was extremely shy, thus he became an outcast. He's known the majority of these toons since kindergarten, and still he couldn't develop any friendship with them. He was scared — no, he wasn't afraid of the concept of friends; it was only the prospect of having to interact with others that made him shiver. He didn't understand how someone could do it so effortlessly. His parents and teachers had always urged him to be more confident, but it was easier said than done. 

He came to a halt to look at a group of students. One of them must have told a joke, because they laughed, pushing and patting each other on the back. Boxten smiled at the display, then frowned, turning away. He wished to have an experience like that, but cliques had already been formed. He went on his way, keeping his head low.

Since it was recess time, half of the students would be in the cafeteria. The other half would be playing games such as "tag" and "hide & seek". Boxten desperately wanted to join, but every time he mustered the courage to ask, they always turned him down. Being ignored was terrible enough; but being deliberately excluded? Wow, school was the absolute worst. He stopped trying to fit in. Oh, he's going to be lonely? Okay, might as well do it on purpose.

He went directly to the field. The field was a large open area (obviously) where PE and sports carnivals were held. During breaks, only a few students would be there, and they wouldn't venture far. The place was a safe sanctuary for him. No one bothered him, and he could spend his time alone doing what he enjoyed: reading.

He'd been fascinated with reading since he first picked up a picture book. He adored how colorful it was, and when he realized he could imagine a new scene in his mind, it was the greatest thing ever.

A few days ago, he got a new book. Something about a lightning bolt being stolen? Oh well, he was looking forward to reading it.

He made his way to the center of the field. There was a massive tree that was at least four stories tall. There were other trees, but this was by far the biggest. He favored this one because the shadow and sun were precisely balanced, neither too dark nor too bright. 

He sat down and leaned against the tree trunk. He opened his lunch box and looked inside. Apples and a sandwich? Nice. He picked up one of the fruit pieces and ate it. Mmm, tasty! While eating, he opened his book and began reading.

After a few minutes, Boxten became intrigued, particularly the chapter name. He had never seen a more out-of-pocket, chaotic title. Before he realized it, he had read the first chapter and was on to the second — how is it possible that the name is even wilder than the last one?! This might be his new favorite writing style. Oh! And the protagonist has been downright hilarious! (And relatable, he supposed...).

He was so engrossed in the narrative that it was surprising he managed to pick up an unusual feeling in the air.

He looked around. He saw students running in the distance, none of whom glanced in his direction. He tilted his head, confused as to why he sensed something strange. He eventually shrugged. Perhaps he was hallucinating? Or overthinking it. Nevertheless, he went back to reading his book.

The feeling never went away.

He searched about again, attempting to locate what was producing the strange sensation. But he found nothing. 

He leaned his head back against the tree trunk and stared up at the leaves. Was he going crazy? Were the monsters from his book coming to life and pursuing him? He doesn’t know how to fight! Was he going to die? 

That's when he saw it.

Boxten spotted something in one of the branches of the tree. It was blue, like the current color of the sky (yes, laugh all you want. It was an awful description, but he wasn't wrong!). He saw something pink, but didn't think much of it, instead focusing on the two enormous eyes peering down at him.

He screamed.

I really am going to die! He attempted to stand up, however, he slumped back down, his legs seemingly giving up on him. He opted to crawl away, but he had no idea where to go, so he awkwardly shifted to the side. He accidentally placed his hand in his lunch box while moving — guess he was going to eat grass-flavored food. He was still carrying his book, which he gripped tightly as if it would protect him.

He gawked at the pair of eyes, wondering when it would pounce. Just then, it began to…laugh? 

The monster climbed down from the tree, which was impressive given the height. If Boxten did it, he would lose his grip, fall and fracture all of his bones. When she got to the bottom, she sat down beside the trunk. She turned to him and spoke. “I'm not gonna bite!”

He studied her more closely and realized the pink thing he had seen previously was a bow. The bow was worn on her head, and it appeared overly large for her. It did not seem to be weighting her down though (blatantly, bows were light! Goodness, Boxten was stupid...). She cocked her head and grinned. "Hello? Cat got your tongue?"

"I- um..." he didn't ask, "Are you real?"  He didn't want to embarrass himself. In the end, he simply replied, "Yes."

She giggled. “Sorry about that!” She regarded him, blinking her eyes in thought. “Hmm, you okay?”

This was a question Boxten could answer. “I think...? I think!” Gosh, when was the last time he had a proper chat with someone other than his parents or teachers?

She extended her hand, clearly expecting a handshake. “I'm Poppy! What's your name?”

Boxten’s hands remained firmly on his lunch box and book. “Um, Boxten?”

“Well, hi, Boxten!” she chirped, and It reminded Boxten of a bird. Well, she was just up in the tree…

Poppy waited, her hand still outstretched, but when it became obvious he wasn’t going to shake her hand, she gave a cheerful wave instead.

He had never seen this girl before. Was she a loner like him? Before he could ask, Poppy spoke up again.

“So, hey! I’m new. I moved here a couple of days ago.”

Ah, that explained why he hadn't noticed her around.

“I don’t think we’re in the same class. I haven’t seen you yet,” she added.

Boxten nodded slowly. “Yeah…uh, where’s your buddy?”

Every new student was assigned a buddy — someone to help them adjust, show them around, and assist with any issues. But as Boxten looked about, her buddy was nowhere to be seen.

Poppy waved her hand. “Pfft! No idea!”

“Then…why are you out here?” Boxten asked. “Aren't buddies supposed to stick with you?”

“Yeah,” she shrugged. “But, eh, I make my own rules.”

Boxten cautiously returned to his old position, bringing himself closer to the girl. He hoped she wouldn't mind. When Poppy showed no reaction, he assumed she was fine with it.

“So, Boxten!” She exclaimed. “Aren't you going to ask why I was up in that tree?”

Oh, how did he completely forget about that detail? “Um, yeah…why were you up in that tree?”

“I'm glad you asked!” Poppy smiled. Boxten gave her a puzzled look. This girl was surely something…

“My old school had tons of trees.” She explained. “I love climbing them. So when I saw this massive one,” she gestured to it, “I needed to get to the top of it!”

Boxten was both impressed and concerned. “Did– did you reach the top?" He looked up, estimating how long she must've climbed. 

She laughed. “Oh! No! I only made it halfway. Next time though, next time…” She rubbed her hands mischievously.

Poppy suddenly changed the subject. “Are you a music box?”

Boxten gave her a puzzled expression. “Um, yes, why do you ask?”

“Oh, nothing — I’m a bubble by the way — just that,” she pointed to her head,  “you’re playing music.”

Oh no . He only did that when he was nervous, but thankfully, Poppy didn’t know. “Haha…” he chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Lovely tune, right?”

She nodded, a curious smile on her face. “Yeah! But,” she tilted her head, “you sound a bit nervous.”

“That’s just the way I talk!” Boxten quickly said.

Poppy shot him a skeptical look. “Even if that’s the case, I’m sorry if I made you nervous. I can sometimes be a bit...overwhelming.” She glanced away.

Boxten was quiet for a moment, thinking of what to say. “Oh, no, it’s fine. I...actually think your extroverted nature has a certain charm, you know?” He tried his best, alright?

Poppy looked at him thoughtfully. “Huh, I guess you’re right.”

Strangely enough, the honest exchange seemed to calm Boxten down, and his nervous habit of "playing music" stopped on its own.

Her mood shifted so abruptly that it felt like Boxten had skipped a bunch of dialogue in a game. “Anyway, what you eatin’? And what you readin’?”

“Uh– some apples and a sandwich?” Boxten replied.

Poppy hummed in acknowledgment. “Nice, and the book?”

“About some kid with water powers,” Boxten said with a tinge of sarcasm, thinking she wouldn’t care much.

“Ooh! Interesting!” Her eyes sparkled. “Can you tell me more?!”

He blinked. “Uh, you sure?”

Poppy nodded eagerly, standing up straight and gazing at him like he was about to share the most intriguing story ever. “I’m sure!”

Boxten was stunned by what she said. She first talked to him, and now she wants to know more about what he's reading? This was weird; this has never occurred to him before. It was something new, but he wasn't entirely opposed to it. So he took a deep breath and outlined the plot to her.

Since he was only halfway through the second chapter, Boxten kept his explanation short and simple. Poppy listened attentively, humming at the right moments. She asked some questions, and Boxten found himself more than happy to answer them.

He couldn’t believe it, but was he…enjoying this?

He remembered the gathering of friends who had been laughing together. Could this lead to something like that? No. Probably not. Never, in a thousand years. This girl must be being nice. She was new and wanted to make friends, which might be why she was so friendly. No one ever approached him being this interested to speak with him. Why should he hope for something that may never happen? 

When he finished his rambling, a voice called out to them. They both turned to see a girl flailing her arms and yelling. They were far away, but her body language was clear: it was Poppy's buddy beckoning her over. 

Poppy stood up and faced Boxten. “Well! That was fun!”

Fun? Boxten thought.

“But I got to go!” She started walking away but stopped and turned back. “Hey, you'll be back here tomorrow, right?”

He cocked his head. “Uh, yes?”

“Good!” She grinned and waved. “Bye-bye! See you tomorrow!” She spun around and dashed to her buddy.

Boxten stared at her, perplexed, as she raced away. Once she disappeared from view, he shook his head. There was no way she’d keep her word. They always forget. He was sure she would too. Still…hoping for it might not be such a bad idea.

He returned to his book and finally took a bite of his sandwich. Fifteen minutes were left for recess, so he was going to spend his time reading.

…Will she actually come back?

***

Time Skip — few weeks later

The answer to that was yes.

To his amazement, she did return. In fact, she scared him again by waiting for him in the tree. 

Of course it had to become a routine. 

Every break, he would go to the field and sit by the tree. Poppy would jump down and land beside him. When he expected her to be absent, she always surprised him by appearing by his side. He sometimes saw her running and climbing the tree. He walked slowly so she could get to the place first.

Initially, they talked about the plot of the book, but gradually their conversations shifted to other topics — their interests, Poppy’s old school, school subjects…

Over time, Poppy’s bubbly (no pun intended) and talkative personality made her popular. She gained a lot of friends and was welcomed into almost every clique. Boxten assumed that would be the end of their tree-hangouts, but to his shock, Poppy always came back.

Boxten was still skeptical — was she really his friend, or was she just taking pity on him? Boxten wasn’t sure. Either way, her company wasn’t so bad.

It was another clear, sunny day when he wandered over to the tree, book in hand. No lunch box this time — he wasn’t particularly hungry. As he was about to sit down, he heard someone shouting, “Hey!”

He turned to see three toons approaching him. Their colour schemes — pink, blue, and green, reminded Boxten of the Powerpuff Girls (for some reason). He didn't know the names of these students, so he might as well refer to them as their color. 

He spoke in the friendliest tone he could muster. “Um, yes? Do you need anything?” Pink, who was in front, stepped towards him. “Yeah, we want your money.”

My goodness. Boxten knew he was meant to be afraid, but after being ignored so many times, this made him want to laugh. This situation was so clichéd that he questioned whether he was in a story written by an eleven-year-old.

When Pink didn’t get a response, he repeated himself, this time more angrily. “I said give us your money!”

Wait– why had it taken Boxten so long to process the fact that he was being mugged? Social cues were never his strong suit. “I– um, I– I– I–” he stammered. It was his worst stuttering yet.

“I– I– I–” Pink mocked, rolling his eyes. “Oh, shut up!”

“I agree,” Green added, sounding irritated. “You’re being so stupid right now.”

The blue guy simply nodded in agreement, then slowly raised his hand. “Hey, are you playing music?”

Oh no, a melody was playing from his head. That wasn't a good sign.

Boxten glanced around, panic creeping in. Where was Poppy? He looked up at the tree — maybe she was there–

“Ay! We’re over here!” Pink hollered. “What? Acting like you’re deaf and blind?”

“N-no?” Boxten took a step back.

“I think he’s trying to run away,” Blue observed. “What should we do?”

Pink tapped his chin, pretending to think. “Hmm, let’s say it nicely.”

Robbing doesn’t sound very friendly to me, Boxten thought but wisely kept it to himself.

They advanced towards him. Boxten froze. He wanted to move, but his legs would not budge. Pink stood before him. “Let me say this again: give your money to us, now.”  

Are your parents not giving you allowances? “No! I-I have none!” In truth, Boxten had five dollars. But what would they buy with that money? A platter of goo that tasted like shi–

Suddenly, the toon yanked Boxten's book from him.

Boxten’s eyes widened in alarm. “Hey–!” He lunged forward, trying to grab the book, but Green and Blue quickly blocked his way and held him back. Boxten watched in horror as Pink flipped through the pages with an expression filled with boredom.

“Words, words, and more words,” Pink scoffed, closing his book and pointing at it. “I can’t believe you actually read this crap.”

Boxten’s terror was replaced by determination. No one insults his favorite book like that!

“It’s not crap!” he yelled, his voice cracking. “If you actually knew how to read, maybe you wouldn’t find it so boring!”

Talking back turned out to be his biggest mistake.

“Is that so?” Pink’s voice dripped with malice. “Alright, how would you feel if I ripped out the pages, one by one?”

Boxten’s face went pale and his music played louder.

Pink’s grin was wicked — he might as well have been a demon! He opened the book, and Boxten tried desperately to get to him, but Green and Blue held him back with a firm grip.

It felt like watching his life flash before his eyes, or like having something precious ripped away. If Pink tore those pages, it would be like tearing out a piece of his heart.

Pink tugged at the first page, but before he could do anything, someone leaped out from the tree. It was so fast that all Boxten saw was a blur of blue and pink. Wait…blue and pink? That combination seemed oddly familiar…

The figure tackled Pink to the ground, causing him to drop the book in the process. The newcomer rose up and exclaimed, “Bastard!”

Boxten recognised the voice. Was that...?

She turned around and gave him a reassuring smile. “Sorry I was late. I was busy calculating how to beat these guys.”

It was Poppy.

“P-Poppy?!” Boxten blinked in disbelief. “You were– what?!”

“Chat later,” Poppy shifted her focus to the two guys who were now making their way to her. Green reached her first, pulling back his fist to throw a punch, but Poppy was quicker. She landed a solid punch before he could strike, sending him crashing to the ground, groaning in pain.

What the–?! Boxten watched as Poppy turned to face the next attacker. Instead of a punch, the guy tried to shove her. Poppy sidestepped his move and pushed him instead. He tumbled onto the grass, letting out an “Oof!”

Since when did Poppy know how to fight? She had never mentioned any fighting skills. This was not how Boxten wanted to find out!

Suddenly, Boxten felt something around his neck. He peered down to see an arm wrapped around him, like a scarf that could strangle him at any moment.

“If you move, I’ll punch him in the head,” came Pink’s menacing voice from behind. Somehow, he had maneuvered over to Boxten without either him or Poppy noticing. Boxten didn’t need to see his face to know he meant it. 

“Back down, let us hit you, and I’ll let him go.” Pink told Poppy.

“You freaking bitc–” Poppy began to say, but was cut off.

“What will it be?” Pink demanded.

Boxten and Poppy locked eyes. He wished he could shake his head. Please, leave. I don’t want you to get hurt. “Poppy, please, get out of here…!”

Poppy’s gaze softened briefly before she turned back to Pink, her gaze hardening once again. “Fine.”

Pink’s smirk widened. “Good.”

W-what?! No!

The two guys who had been down were now back on their feet, advancing toward Poppy. Boxten’s heart raced as he shot her a desperate look. Poppy! No! Run! Don’t let them hurt you! Please–! There were so many things he wanted to say, but his vocal cords weren't working in his favor.

By the time he was able to say something, it was too late.

Green and Blue roughly pushed Poppy to the ground before unleashing a brutal combination of kicks and punches. She curled into a ball, trying to shield herself, but their assault was relentless.

“No!” Boxten’s scream was the loudest he'd ever uttered, filled with raw fear. The melody in his head surged louder, the tune beginning to turn twisted. It was so intense and deafening that it began to drown out the sounds of the two guys’ merciless attacks.

The pressure around his neck tightened and Boxten involuntarily gasped. 

“Oh, shut up,” Pink said dismissively, not staying true to his word about letting him go.

Something inside Boxten snapped.

With every ounce of strength he had, Boxten scratched at Pink's arm. The guy howled in pain and stepped back, releasing his grip on Boxten’s neck. Not daring to look back, Boxten dashed toward Poppy. Behind him, he heard Pink scream in rage. Boxten felt a rush of wind — had he narrowly dodged a punch? He didn’t stop to check.

Reaching Poppy, he pushed the nearest attacker away. It was Blue again, who fell onto the grass and rolled away. Green, the other guy, retaliated with a harsh shove, sending Boxten to the ground. He felt a sharp pain where his body hit the grass and looked up to see Green’s foot coming down toward his face.

But Green halted.

“Teacher!” Pink shouted. “Let’s get out of here!”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Green and Blue, who clumsily got up, followed Pink’s lead, retreating deeper into the field and heading to the trees for cover.

Boxten remained where he was for a moment, stunned. Then, as if realizing he could move, he scrambled over to Poppy. “Poppy– Poppy, are you okay?”

“Aaaaaarghhhhhh,” Poppy groaned weakly.

She’s alive! But…

“Poppy…” Boxten’s voice trembled. Tears welled up in his eyes. “Why…why did you do that?”

“Saving you…?” Poppy met his gaze with a faint smile. She was bruised and battered, but she managed a chuckle. “It’s what friends do, right?”

Boxten struggled to find his voice. She saw him as a friend? Given everything she’d done, he should have realized that by now.

Poppy shakily got to her feet, holding something in her hand. Boxten’s eyes widened when he saw it was his book.

“Here’s your book…” she said. “Sorry, it’s a bit damaged…”

Did she curl into a ball not to protect herself, but to protect my book?

“I…Poppy…” Boxten couldn't hold it back any longer. Tears streamed down his face as he returned her smile. He pulled her into a hug, then quickly drew back. “S-sorry–! I didn’t mean to hug you so suddenly—”

“Oh, you’re such a doofus…” Poppy said, pulling him back into the hug.

His music quieted down until there was silence.

It was broken by the teacher’s approaching footsteps. Who cared if he was going to get in trouble. He'd found what he was looking for: a true friend.

***

Time Skip — many years later

“I can’t believe the author still writes!” Boxten exclaimed, his voice bubbling with excitement as he held up the plastic bag containing his new book from the bookstore.

Poppy flashed him a smile. “I think even if you retired, he’d still be writing books!”

Boxten chuckled. “I hope so! But I’d also be worried about his mental health…”

A week ago, both of them had moved to the big city to continue their studies at university. The transition from their small hometown to the bustling city had been a significant change, but their friendship made the adjustment easier.

Over the years, their bond had grown deeper, so much so that some people assumed they were dating. Whenever they heard these rumors, they would exchange glances and laugh. They had never dated; they remained best friends. Poppy often joked that if people thought you were dating, it meant your friendship was elite.

Boxten had to agree with her.

As they strolled through the park toward Boxten’s new apartment, they talked about a variety of topics. Despite having saved enough money to live together, they chose to live in separate homes based on their preferences. Their apartments were only fifteen to twenty minutes apart, which was fine with them.

Their conversation meandered through memories of the past. Boxten recalled the time Poppy had face-planted from surprise after a thunderclap, and the time she had written “The waffle evaporated.” in a serious exam. Poppy, not wanting to be the only one embarrassed, countered with tales of Boxten’s former crushes.

“Poppy, nooooooo!” Boxten cried, his tone exaggeratedly frightened.

“Oh, Box~” she teased in a sing-song voice. “Do you remember that one girl who handed you a pencil?”

“She just gave me a pencil! I don’t know what I was on!” Boxten protested.

“And– hey, remember the one who rejected you–”

“Pops! You’re killing me!” Boxten interrupted, laughing despite himself.

Poppy laughed along and patted him on the back. “There, now we’re even.”

“I don’t want to make fun of you again,” Boxten remarked sincerely. Of course, the one time he decided to remind her of her embarrassing moments…

Poppy glanced away and stopped in her tracks. Boxten looked at her, baffled. “Why’d you stop, Pops?”

“Look at that tree!” she said, her voice filled with wonder.

Boxten followed her gaze and saw a large, sturdy tree standing tall in the park. He couldn’t help but stare at it.

It must have seemed weird to passersby. Just two toons looking at a random tree, standing in the middle of the path, blocking the way.

Poppy turned back to him with a gleam in her eye. “Doesn’t that remind you of something?”

“Remind me of what?” Boxten asked, before it clicked. “Oh, the tree at our old elementary school?”

Poppy nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah! And isn’t it the same height?” She examined the tree, then returned to Boxten. “Should I climb it?”

“No.” Boxten answered firmly. “This is a public park. People would think you’re an escaped fugitive.”

Poppy laughed, nodding. “Huh, you’re right. Hmm,” she pondered for a moment before continuing, “Do you want to sit there?” She motioned to the base of the tree. “For old times’ sake.”

“Well, since we’re reminiscing about the past…” 

“Yippee!” Poppy grabbed his hand and led him to the tree trunk. Once they reached it, she let go of him, and they both sat down on the grass beneath the tree’s shade.

“I miss when life was simple,” Poppy sighed, leaning against the tree trunk.

“Poppy, you do know we were almost beaten up under a tree, right?” Boxten pointed out.

“Oh, right!” Poppy sighed again, but this time in annoyance. “I’m glad those guys who attacked us got suspensions.”

“The main guy was expelled too,” Boxten added.

She clapped her hands together. “Yeah! That was the best day ever when I heard about that.”

Poppy shifted her gaze to Boxten. “Remember what we used to do?”

“Me info-dumping about my book?” Boxten guessed.

“Yep! Do you want to check out your new one and read it out loud to me?” her eyes twinkled with anticipation.

“Like a bedtime story?” Boxten asked with a grin.

“Like an afternoon story,” Poppy clarified.

Boxten chuckled. “Alright.”

He pulled out his book, flipping to the first chapter. Poppy settled into a comfortable position against the tree. Boxten started to read aloud, his voice carrying the story to her as she listened intently.

As the words flowed, Boxten couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. His friendship with Poppy, which had begun under the shade of a tree, had become one of the most meaningful parts of his life.

Chapter Text

Was this a good idea?

Boxten never wanted to go to the party, but his best friend, Poppy, persuaded him to go (after much pleading and begging. He had never heard her say "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE." so much in his life.) He agreed to attend the party partly because, She’s always telling me to be more social, and this is the perfect opportunity. The other reason? I feel bad for her.  

They were a few minutes away from the venue, and Boxten rubbed his hand nervously. Poppy noticed and told him, “You know, it's not too late to turn back.” She chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry I forced you out here–”

“No, no, it's fine!” Boxten exclaimed, frantically waving his hand. “It's…fine.” His tone of voice betrayed him, because it was clear that he was not fine.

To make it more obvious, his head, which was a music box, began playing a soft tune. That always happened when he was anxious, and Poppy was aware of it. 

She shook her head. “If you’re really not up to it, we can turn around.”

“It's alright, Poppy.” Boxten responded, forcing himself to stop the music. “I've, uh, committed.” He wasn't sure whether that was the line Poppy typically says before doing something reckless, but he hoped it came close.

She sighed. “Hmm, if you say so.”

He nodded. He was glad Poppy cared so much about him; it made him feel terrible for being so shy.

They arrived at a house for a toon that Boxten had never met before. Poppy knew a lot of people, so it was surprising that she chose to spend most of her time with him. Being her first friend came with privileges, he guessed.

She faced him. “Last chance, Boxten. Once we enter, there’s no turning back. For an hour.”

“Why an hour?” He asked, tilting his head.

“Who enters a party and leaves immediately?”

“Oh, yeah…” he stared down at the ground. He let out one last sigh before he returned his gaze to her. “Alright, let's go.” 

She smiled reassuringly at him and opened the door.

Boxten almost got doused by a drink.

“What the heck?!” Poppy yelled and moved to stand in front of Boxten. “Who did that?!” 

“It's me.” A toon, holding an empty red cup, muttered as he approached them. He didn't sound ashamed, just bored. “Sor-reeeeee.”

She scoffed. “Are you?” 

“Geez, you didn't have to be so rude. I already said 'sorry'.” He crossed his arms, acting innocent. “Besides, you should've seen the liquid outside. Maybe enter through the window next time if you don't wanna get drenched?”

Who would notice that? Boxten thought, and Poppy appeared to be thinking the same thing. She hollered back at him, not wanting to take that diabolical statement. “I said two words, what the hell do you mean ‘rude’?!”

The guy did not reply. Instead, he rolled his eyes and walked away, possibly to refill his drink before repeating the process with a new toon. 

Poppy grimaced. “Jerk.” She looked at Boxten, anger replaced with concern. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Boxten replied, somewhat unconvincingly. “I…I would still like to enter, if you wanted to ask.”

“Mhm,” she hummed simply. “Watch your step.”

When they entered the house, they were greeted by a bustling crowd, loud music, and bright lights that flashed a different color every three seconds. Boxten's eyes and head hurt, and it took a few seconds for him to adjust to the sudden shift of atmosphere. Poppy, on the other hand, got used to it as soon she walked in.

“Wow,” she commented, admiring the place. “If that guy hadn't ruined it, this would've been the best party I'd ever gone to.”

“We only been here for a minute though?” Boxten pointed out. 

She shrugged. “Hm, oh well.”

They surged through the crowd. Boxten stayed as close to Poppy as possible to avoid losing her. Poppy took a few glances back to ensure he was still behind her. As they moved, Boxten asked her a question. “Hey, Pops, whose party is this?"
"A friend of a friend." she murmured before she went silent

That answer was sufficient for Boxten.

He had no idea where they were heading, but he didn't want to wander alone, so he followed her. Boxten rarely goes to parties, aside from Poppy's birthdays and his own, so his only experience with them came from movies. In those films, it would show the characters playing games, eating junk food, engaging in illicit activities, running from the cops… On second thought, these aren't exactly the best references.

Suddenly, the crowd surged in one direction, sweeping him along with it. His first instinct was to call out Poppy's name, but the shouting was cut short when he was jostled. Once he regained his footing, he decided to go with the flow.

He looked around and couldn't find Poppy — and he thought someone with a big pink bow on her head would be easy to find. He began to worry, but curiosity overcame that emotion. What’s going on? Was a fight happening? As quick as that thought was, he came up with a conclusion. No, there’s no sound indicating it.

His mind shifted to the next question. Were they all heading to the dance floor? Hmm... maybe. It made sense. They were at a party, and who wouldn't dance? (Him, he wouldn't). But, of all the timings, why now? Wait until he’s out of the way at least! (Impossible. He was one toon against fifty, perhaps even more. Who would listen to him?)

When the crowd parted, Boxten slipped through the gap, finally finding some breathing room. He searched about, hoping to spot Poppy, but there was no luck. Where is she? As the curiosity faded, the earlier worry crept back in. They should have planned a meeting place in case one of them got lost.

…Boxten got an idea.

At a party, where would Poppy most likely be? Knowing her, she'll be conversing and playing games with a bunch of strangers, but she'll tire after sometime. Where would she go for a break...?

He searched around and his sight eventually landed on the food and beverage section.

She'll definitely go there! He made his way over to the drink dispensers that were within the area. When he reached it, he realized something.

For her to find him, he had to wait for her, and he had clue how long that would take.

...Welp, hope she's coming soon.

***

Glisten was loving the crowd.

The expressions of the toons staring up at him in awe made him pleased. He didn't say anything, yet they all hurried up to him. Even though everyone was talking over one another, he understood the gist of what they were saying:

“Oh, it's the first toon to perform for the night! He looks–”

“What’s he going to do? Will he–”

”I wanna go eat…” 

He was going to ignore that last part.

After being handed a microphone, he smiled and spoke into it. “Hey~”

The audience cheered. That was exactly the response he was expecting to hear. “Let me guess, you're all here for me?” he asked, despite already knowing the answer; he just wanted to hear it spoke aloud. He was standing on a makeshift platform, so it was easy to gaze at all of them.

In the corner of his eye, he noticed someone standing alone near some drinks, but it seemed unimportant. Right now, he needed to entertain.

The crowd shouted “YESSSSSSSS.”

When he heard someone yell, “Who is he?!” He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes. If you were going to joke (he will assume they were), at least say it under your breath rather than to the whole world.

“Well, you're all in for a treat,” he paused, relishing in their expectant looks. “'Cause I have a sweet, new song to sing for all of you.” Glisten continued, as smooth as ever. However, the transition to the music was not as smooth.

A loud beat took him off guard, causing him to flinch. The music, rather than sounding pleasant, sounded like something you'd hear when summoning a demon. 

He glared at the DJ, trying to maintain his composure. “Hello?”

The DJ hummed and gave him a bored expression. “What?”

“I'm afraid you're playing the wrong one.” He told him in the nicest tone he could muster. “It's supposed to be a more…peaceful instrumental.” Not this atrocious beat. He wanted to say the last part but kept it to himself. “I thought I made that clear.”

“And the invitation was clear,” the DJ shot back. “On the note” — There was a note? Glisten thought in disbelief. He invited himself. He didn't know anything about a note — “it specifically said what genre I would play, and I strictly stick to it.” 

Glisten gawked at him. “Are you kidding me? Can't you make an exception?” It was a stupid question, but he had to try.

“No.” The DJ replied bluntly. “Get off the stage if you're not gonna sing.” The audience "Oooohhhhh'd" and some even snickered. Glisten could hear them whispering to each other — too soft to make out the words, but just loud enough to catch their negative tone.

This was not going the way he intended.

He shook his head, wondering how to turn this situation around. “Alright, it doesn't matter.” he clutched the microphone so firmly that it could break. “I'll just improvise." he drew in a deep breath but before he could hum the song's opening note's, the clashing melody came back.

Despite having practiced, memorized, and revised the song numerous times, he still struggled to make it match with the tune. Can't blame him though, there were intense beats that happened every. Three. Seconds.

He usually performed behind a camera, and he should have remained behind it if this was how he was going to be treated. All of his hard work was going to waste because of these idiots.

He began to say the lyrics, although he doubted anyone could hear them over the beat. The toons who were watching gave him strange looks, and some were beginning to leave. He tried not to let it bother him, but with all these issues, he couldn't take it any longer.

“Argh! Fine! If you don't want me to sing, I'll leave!” he snapped into the microphone. Everyone around him was startled, including the DJ. Glisten turned to the nearest person and tossed the microphone to him. The toon he threw it to caught it but almost dropped it. Oh, whatever. If it broke, not his problem.

As he stormed away, he could hear the murmurs and comments all around him. He forced himself to drown out the sound.

He was going to leave this party.

Glisten was headed towards the door when he spotted the toon he saw earlier while on stage was still there. He was rubbing his hand and nervously looking about. Despite himself, Glisten sighed at the depressing display. Before he could stop himself, his mind came up with a random suggestion. I should go there and cheer him up.

“Huh?” He blurted, then shook his head. It was fortunate that no one was around, they may think he's crazy! He's a random guy! Why would I...?

Without realizing it, Glisten had stopped moving. Now he stood there as if he had forgotten what century he was in. His eyes shifted between the exit and the toon.

Should he, or should he not?

If he didn’t go to him, would anyone else come by? Would this toon’s night end up as bad as his own? Still, he couldn't stop himself from repeating, It’s not my problem. It’s not my problem. It’s not my problem.

The toon he regarded stared down at the floor, frowning.

Glisten hesitated.

Was it really not his problem?

***

Where was she?

Boxten looked around for the fifth time, sighing. Still no sign of her. He could go find her himself, however, the mere notion of strolling around and speaking to strangers filled him with dread. So much for developing his social skills.

He lowered his gaze to the ground, and that moment he realized he had been subconsciously playing music in his head again.

Oh well, nobody was near him. it doesn't mat-

“Hey,”

A voice made him jump (he hoped the toon who spoke didn't mind because he made it very obvious) and he whipped his head to the left.

Initially, he believed it to be Poppy due to the pink bow, but soon realized it was not on his head. Instead, it was around the torso (he thinks?), reminding Boxten of butterfly wings. Also "his". If he remembered correctly, Poppy was definitely not a boy.

The new guy leaned against the counter. He seemed casual, so Boxten guessed it was someone who wanted to chat. But why choose him if that's all he's here for? Surely there are better options?

"H-hi?" Boxten stuttered, and immediately wanted to flee from conversation. Talking to someone not Poppy, and this is his response? "Uh- sorry, I mean- um." Can someone please rip out my vocal cords.

The toon chuckled, and Boxten assumed he was about to be made fun of. He braced for it, so he was surprised when the toon asked, “How's the party so far?” 

Boxten blinked, needing a moment to process his question. “Oh, um, it's…” he debated whether to disclose the truth. “...not good.” Look, he was unlikely to see this guy again after this night so he might as well be honest. How bad can it get? Boxten was already at rock bottom.

“How so?”
“I...lost my friend.”
The guy made a long "hmmmmm" sound, as if saying "I see, but I don't really care, so I'll just pretend." Did this guy have so many friends that he doesn't notice when one of them goes missing? Like, okay, what a way to one-up him.

“How did you lose them?” he inquired, and Boxten sensed he was becoming bored. It was clear from his tone of voice and the way he dragged out his words.

“The crowd. The crowd took me. And I became separated from her.” What the heck was that flow. He wanted to facepalm and repeat himself, but he didn't want to embarrass himself more.

“Oh,” the guy winced. “Yeah, that's awful.” He suddenly became interested in the floor and stared at it for a few seconds. Afterward, he returned his gaze with a grin. “I never got your name.”

“Boxten.” He responded, relieved at the simple query.

“Glisten.” Glisten replied. “Boxten, just wondering...is your head playing music?”

Oh.

“Uh, uh, yeah, y-yeah! Yeah! It is! Sorry!” He spoke fast, covering his head and focusing on cutting off the sound.

“Hey, that's a nice tune, you know?”

…Did he just compliment my nervous habit. Boxten looked at him. “What do you mean?”

"It's soft, it's lovely, it's...better than the one I was forced to listen too." He huffed, crossing his arms.

“Oh, thanks.” Boxten was glad that Glisten didn't realize (either that or he ignored it, but Boxten wasn't complaining) the meaning of "music in the head". Regardless, if Glisten asked him to play it again, he would decline.

“You're welcome.”

They remained in comfortable silence for a while. Boxten contemplated whether he should say something when Glisten turned and grabbed a red cup from a fallen stack on the counter. “You want a drink?”

Boxten remembered almost getting splashed by someone when he first entered. A small part of him worried that Glisten might suddenly attack him with some totally-deadly-liquid, but then he recalled it was an empty cup (it could still be thrown at him. That would hurt). Glisten had been nice so far, so that couldn’t be his intention, right? “Uh, sure,” Boxten awkwardly gave him a grin.

He cautiously took it, and when nothing happened, he sighed. He then realized how strange that must have looked. Oh, a cup with nothing inside? That’s a relief! Before he could think about it further, or have Glisten point it out, he faced the beverages.

They were inside drink dispensers. From the left to the right, it went from blue, red, and green. Boxten figured the drinks were juice (if they weren’t, they were probably colored water). Before he selected the green one, Glisten stopped him. “Wait, don’t drink that. That one’s disgusting.”

“What’s the flavor?” Boxten asked, cocking his head.

“No clue. But I swear, it tastes expired.”

Boxten was about to say something, but Glisten continued, “Trust me, Boxy, I’ve tried all three, and the red one’s the best.”

Boxy. That made him flustered. “Uh, okay,” 

Following his advice, he chose the red drink.

When it was full, he drew it back and examined it. “So um, what does it taste like?”

“Why not find out for yourself?" Glisten answered, smirking.

I hope this isn't poison. A very random thought, but Boxten couldn't stop himself from thinking it.

He put it to his mouth to take a sip, but a voice interrupted him, almost causing him to spill it. A bit of it did spill on the floor; fortunately, none of it fell on him. “Move out of the way!” 

Boxten lowered his cup and looked to see who said it.

The toon came closer, and Boxten went still. 

“Oh, it's you.” The guy said, narrowing his eyes. 

Oh, why him? It was the same person who almost splashed him at the entrance. Why did he not register the fact that he'd be refilling the cup here? He should have gone to the food area instead. 

“The boxhead, wow.” He folded his arms. When he did, some of the leftover liquid in the cup he was holding dripped out. “Thought you were lucky because I missed, huh?”

Boxten frantically shook his head. “N-no! I never thought of that!”

“Is that so? All right, then,” he held out his hand. “Give me your cup.”

“...What?” Boxten blurted.

“Give. Me. Your. Cup,” the red-cup guy (Boxten decided that’s what he’ll call him. He doesn't want to refer to him as “the toon” every time) demanded, venom coursing through his voice. “Umm, uhhh…” Of course, this was the ideal moment for his mind to go blank. “I…uh, no.” He spoke in a totally brave tone (Boxten is so screwed).

Red-cup guy scoffed. “Just give me the damn thing!” He stepped forward and reached out to snatch it from Boxten's grasp, but someone moved in between them. “He already said no.”

Boxten blinked, perplexed, before recognizing who it was. Glisten. 

Honestly, he thought he had left. He'd been unusually quiet since the appearance of Mr Splasher.

Red-cup guy peered at Glisten and grimaced. “It's you again.” 

Glisten rolled his eyes. “You think?”

He rolled his eyes. “Alright, mirror-dude.”

“Um, do you know him?" Boxten whispered to Glisten. 

“He almost ruined my bow at the entrance.” Glisten muttered bitterly. “Bastard nearly soaked it.” 

Oh, it was just that. Boxten assumed it was his ex or something.

“Yeah, almost.” Red-cup guy emphasized, ignoring what Glisten had called him. “If only you didn't back away at the last moment…” He fixed his gaze on Boxten and his cup before returning to Glisten. “Look, let's propose a deal.”

“This isn't a movie.” Glisten said plainly.

“I know, I know.” He tapped his feet. “But, if you force that boxhead to give his cup to me, then I'll forget about all this.” He gestured with his hands, carrying the empty cup with him. “And hey, I'll pour you drinks the rest of the night.”

“That's a stupid deal.” Glisten stated. “You know I can get it myself.”

“Okay. Then, what about…” he paused for dramatic effect. “... money?”

Glisten went silent.

Oh no, no, no . Boxten thought desperately. It was bad enough that Glisten chose to defend him; now he's being bribed? Boxten bet this was not how Glisten imagined his night to go. 

Glisten hummed. “How much?”

He’s considering it…

“Hmm, maybe a hundred?” The red-cup guy spoke as if he casually had it in his pocket, and it definitely seemed like he did.

“Make it two hundred.” Glisten declared. 

No, no…  

He smiled smugly. “Deal.”

Boxten let out a sigh.

He wasn't shocked when his head started playing that "soft and lovely" tune. It was as if the song was congratulating his death (a bit exaggerated, but somewhat accurate).

Glisten turned around and observed his expression. He acknowledged the music playing from him, and he smirked. Strangely, it didn't seem amused, evil, or even antagonistic. It was simply...reassuring? Is it possible to smile comfortingly? Boxten was even more baffled when Glisten gave him a wink.

“Hello? I don't have all night.” The red-cup guy abruptly chimed in.

Boxten looked down at his filled cup. He did not want to give it to Glisten. Instead, he wanted to drop it, run away, and change his identity. However, he felt he could...trust him.

Reluctantly, he passed the cup to him.

When Glisten took it, Boxten immediately regretted his decision.

Glisten faced back towards the red-cup guy. Red-cup guy expected Glisten to hand it over to him, but when it took a little too long, he grew impatient and stepped forward to collect it. Glisten stayed still, but when he saw him getting closer, he pulled back his arm and, with a swift motion, flung the cup’s entire contents at him.

Red-cup guy dropped the empty cup he was holding (Boxten guessed it was just "guy" now). He stared down at himself, raising his arms in disbelief. His eye twitched as he looked up to glare at Glisten. “What the hell?!”

“Oops,” Glisten replied. “Sorry, my hand slipped.”

Now was the perfect time for the toons around them to realize what was going on. They paused their conversations to see what was unfolding in front of them. It undoubtedly seemed like a movie to them, and Boxten was in the front row (front row seats are, in his opinion, terrible — looking up and all. Fortunately, it wasn't a movie. Although…Glisten can be a good actor).

The guy glanced around and realized that all eyes were on him. He gave out an annoyed huff and stormed out, pushing the people in front of him. 

As quick as the attention was drawn, everyone turned away and continued their chat. 

Wow, only that? Did this always occur at parties?

Glisten shifted his gaze to the cup on the floor and kicked it aside with contempt. He turned to the drink dispensers, refilled Boxten's cup with the red liquid, faced Boxten and smiled as he politely offered it back to him. 

Boxten's blush was almost as red as the beverage. 

“Uhhh…” he wanted to speak more, but the earlier thought of someone tearing his vocal cords came into play. He only managed a nod as he took the cup.

Glisten motioned with his head for Boxten to drink it, and Boxten obliged. He was pretty thirsty after all that. He hasn't had a drink since he arrived at the party. He took a sip, and his eyes shone. He lowered his cup and remarked, “Oh, yeah, this’ really good,” before returning it to his mouth to drink again.

As he drank, he noticed Glisten eyeing him with contentment. After he finished, he searched around for a trash bin. Glisten seemed to know what he was looking for, because he held out his hand and said, “I'll throw it away for you.”

“Oh, no, that's really not necessary– I- I can find it myself–” Boxten didn't want to trouble him even more. 

“It's just in the corner over there.” He pointed behind Boxten. “I insist.” 

With his gentle tone, how could Boxten resist? “...Okay, thank you.” But, before giving it to him, he added one more thing. “Hey, uh, thanks for standing up for me.”

Glisten rolled his eyes playfully. “No problem. Besides, I can't be convinced that easily. Like, two hundred? Please, I’m worth more than that.” 

Boxten stared at him.

“It's a joke.” Glisten explained. 

For the first time tonight, Boxten chuckled. “Oh! Oh, okay...!” Finally, he passed the cup to him. Glisten accepted it and started walking towards the trash bin. It was quite a long distance, so it might take a while. 

Boxten thought he would spend the night with Poppy, and when he was separated from her, he imagined this would turn into the worst night of his life. However, after his time with Glisten, it might not be all that bad.

***

Speaking with the embodiment of anxiety was surprisingly great.

Glisten had to admit, he was lucky to find Boxten. He had never encountered somebody who was so shy and used "um" and "uh" so frequently that he could consider it his catchphrase. Oh, the stuttering. So. Much. Stuttering. Still, talking to him made him feel better, and it appeared to cheer Boxten up as well. 

When he returns, should he inform him that his music has stopped playing?

Neither of them brought it up, but a tune in his head playing every time he was in a situation that would make him nervous– yeah, it was obvious. Glisten figured it out the second time it happened, when he was going to hand the obnoxious person his cup. 

Hmm, no. If he told him, Boxten would feel embarrassed. Maybe he'll run away, because there were several moments where he thought he would straight up leave.

Betraying Boxten had never crossed his mind; he only feigned so the guy wouldn't anticipate anything. Seeing Boxten's expression of total dread made something wash over him — how would he describe it? Anger? Concern? Protectiveness? Whatever. Emotions are weird. 

He channeled all of his vexation from the night into throwing the drink at the guy who had been pestering them. It felt nice to vent by wasting perfectly good juice, but knowing he defended Boxten made him feel even more delighted. 

He had only known Boxten for only a while, yet he was already better than any of the other toons he had met that night. Boxten deserved to receive that small piece of justice. 

Oh, how could he have almost forgotten his chuckle? It was…cute. 

…Moving on.

When he got to the trash bin, he discarded the empty cup. As he was turning back, he heard someone yell, “Boxten!” 

Glisten had never sprinted so fast through a crowded room in his entire life. 

He pushed and squeezed between the puzzled toons till he reached Boxten. Who the hell is with him right now?!

When he got to the spot where he last saw Boxten, he looked at the newcomer, puzzled.

She had a pink bow on her head, which reminded Glisten of his own — wow, were they the same color? 

She hugged Boxten tightly, his arms trapped awkwardly inside the embrace, making it look like she was crushing him. If not for the relieved look on her face, Glisten might have thought she actually was. “My gosh, you’ve been here all this time?!” she cried, eyes closed as she squeezed him even tighter.

Boxten wheezed, “Good…to…see…you…too…you’rehuggingmetootightpleasestop,” managing the last bit with the little air he had left.

“Oh!” Finally realizing what she was doing, she opened her eyes and let go of him. “Sorry about that– I was just worried–” Her gaze fell on Glisten. “Oh, excuse us, sorry we're blocking your…” She trailed off and squinted at him. She studied him, slowly tilting her head. “Wait, are you–”

“Glisten!” Boxten exclaimed with a smile. His eyes brightened up upon noticing his presence. 

That expression was so precious. 

Ah-ha, what? 

Screw you, random thoughts. “Boxten.”

“Oh, my, goodness, goodness, goodness!” The girl exclaimed, squealing and jumping in place. “You’re Glisten!” Her eyes widened. “Wait, Boxten,” she turned to face him, “he knows your name?!” Boxten's eyes darted about, and Glisten was worried that music might play again. This girl seemed too energetic for him. 

Boxten, bewildered, responded. “Um, yeah? We just met. He asked for mine and gave me his.”

“Dude,” she said, placing her hands on his shoulders. “You've met the rising talent known as Glisten. Glisten. And you’re telling me you don't know who. He. Is?!” 

Glisten was flattered by what she had called him. “Oh, thanks.”

“Oh my gosh,” she drew back her hands and began shaking them eagerly. “He thanked me! Did you hear that, Boxten?! He thanked me!”

Okay, Glisten needs to learn her name because he is close to calling her "Gosh and Goodness Girl". “What's your name, bow-buddy?”

Her jaw dropped open, and Glisten wondered whether he had broken her. Then she smiled so brightly that it could rival the sun. “Poppy! It's Poppy!” She moved closer to him, grasping his right hand with both of hers. She shook them up and down. “I’m a fan, and I may be your biggest fan!”

“I…see?” For the first time tonight, Glisten felt extremely awkward. Was this how Boxten felt all the time? It was horrible. How could he live like this?

Realizing her action, she quickly pulled back and waved her hands wildly. “Oh, I’m so sorry! I didn't mean to do that!”

He nodded, then opened and closed his fist. Wow, a little faster, and his whole hand would’ve ripped off. “It's alright. Poppy, was it?”

“Yes.” She said, “Let me try this again.” She took a deep breath. “Okay, I love your songs, a lot.”

“I'm glad to hear it.” Glisten replied. “What's your favorite one?”

“Wow, that’s a tough one. Let me see…” She thought deeply for a bit before clapping her hands together. “All of them! I love them all!”

“Hmph, I knew who would say that.” But, honestly, I've only released three tracks so far. There are not many options to pick from. He kept the last part to himself so he wouldn't destroy her mood, especially since she was his "biggest" fan.

Boxten glanced between them. “Wait, I’m out of the loop. What’s going on?”

Poppy shifted her attention to him. “He’s a singer.” She explained. “Glisten published his debut song, 'Reflection' last year, and it was incredible! A few months later, he released another song, 'ABLAZE', which was equally great! And last week, he released his third single, '$w33t @$ H0n3y,' which I swear made me ascend.”

“Poppy,” Boxten said, giving her a concerned look. “Did you just say 'dollar sign, w, three, three, t–”

“Yep, I did.” She said, placing her hands on her hips.

“Just say, 'sweet as honey'...”

“Yeah, but like, you wouldn't know how it would be spelt.”

Why did his biggest fan have to be crazy? But in her defense, he did spell it that way. But, to be honest, he thought spelling it normally was boring. 

Wait, did Boxten manage to translate that? Wow, Glisten had to admit that he was impressed. He did say it that way once — as a teaser, not because he was insane. His fans had no clue what it was and it took them a few minutes to figure out what it meant (it wasn't that hard anyway. All they needed to do was type it). Boxten, on the other hand, solved it immediately after hearing it (well, honestly, if you could think quickly…it was quite easy).

“Speaking of songs, I was actually going to perform something here, you know, like an advertisement. Having 50k monthly listeners is good but I’ve been aiming to increase it lately. But…” he winced. “The DJ's harsh.”

“Wait, I wanna listen!” Poppy said, lifting her hand. “What is it?”

“The puzzle you just said.”

“Oh! '$w33t @$ H0n3y'?!”

“Poppy, please, how are you saying it so fast…” Boxten muttered.

“Yep, but like–” Glisten pointed to his wrist as if a watch was there. “I need to leave.”

“What? Already?!” Poppy cried. “At least give us your number!”

“Ah-haha, no.” Glisten stated bluntly. “Having direct contact with fans is like being in direct contact with a greedy puppy.”

“What?” Poppy and Boxten blurted at the same time.

“They follow you around everywhere and beg you for more.” Glisten elaborated. “Believe me, I've experienced it.”

“Aw.” Poppy gazed down at the ground sadly. Still, she accepted it quite quickly. “Okay, I'll see you at your next show.”

“I don't really reveal where I'm going to perform next.” Glisten explained. “I like keeping my fans in suspense. But let me give you a hint.” He leaned forward and whispered to them. He doubted the toons around them cared, but he did it for the sake. “It'll be at another huge party.” 

“Ooh!” Poppy grinned mischievously. “Alright, I'll remember!”

“Um…” Boxten rubbed his hand.

Glisten turned to him, tilting his head. “What's wrong?”

“I don't like big parties…” 

Ah, he could have guessed. “Oh, well, that's okay.” He faced Poppy. “'Cause you'll record everything and show it to him, right?”

“Exactly what I was thinking!” She held out her fist for a fist bump, but Glisten did not return it, so she awkwardly drew it back.

Glisten was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to see Boxten physically. Boxten listening to his songs was the second best thing.

Boxten smiled, even though it was small. “That could work. I'll listen to your music once I get home.”

“Woohoo, Glisten, you got yourself a new fan!”

“Poppy, I didn't– okay.” Boxten went with it. After all, her enthusiasm made it difficult to argue with her.

“Alright, are we done? I need to go.” Glisten spoke urgently.

“Why? Is it past your bedtime?” Poppy joked.

“Haha, very funny. But no.” He gave her a deadpan stare before continuing. “It's getting late, and I don't like staying out late–”

“Because it's dark outside, and people might run into you and shatter your mirror– wow, just admit it's past your bedtime.”

Shut up! He wanted to say it out loud, but he didn't want to lose a fan. Although, she had quite the nerve... “Fine, I'm exhausted. But that’s not why I’m leaving.”

“Streetlights and house lights exist, Poppy.” Boxten stated, trying to defend Glisten. “As long as you're paying attention, it's unlikely you’ll bump into someone.”

“Not bright enough. Maybe if Brightney was around…”

“Who now?” Boxten asked.

“Oh, you see, she's a popular–”

“Okay, I'm leaving.” Glisten abruptly walked away.

Glisten didn't glance back towards them, but he could sense Poppy waving her hand at him. “Bye! Hope we meet again!” He hadn't heard from Boxten, but he hoped he'd waved goodbye as well. 

Hm, he could have given Boxten a proper goodbye. Oh, whatever. He doubted he'd see that guy again. 

Still, seeing him again wouldn't be that bad.

Chapter Text

last night was crazy

The first thing Boxten saw when he switched on his phone was a message from Poppy.

Last night, they had gone to a party together, where Boxten met someone named Glisten. They chatted for a bit, and it made the party enjoyable for Boxten (only a little, the party was still terrible). Unfortunately, he didn’t get Glisten’s number because Glisten left abruptly, mentioning something about “not making contact with fans.” Yeah, apparently Glisten was a singer — Boxten really dropped the ball on this one (is that what Poppy would say? If not, then he cringed for nothing).

Glisten had only released three songs, but that was enough to make Poppy a huge fan of his. If it weren't for her, Boxten would not have known he was speaking with someone "famous" (in quotations because Boxten had not heard of him before until a day ago).

Boxten opened the notification and began to type.

Good morning Poppy  

—  

Yeah I agree  

—  

It not like in movies

He waited for her response. It didn’t take long.

real  

—  

also y didnt u just text me where y were  

—  

u had your phone with u right?

Oh yeah, he did have his phone. Why hadn’t he texted her?

Oh yeah, I did

—  

I have no idea honesty

What an excellent answer.

Wait Pops  

—  

Why didn’t YOU text me?

my phone was taken  

—  

i tried lookin for u but i accidently got into a game circle  

—  

they threatened to throw my phone into the pool

Oh 

anyway i gotta eat dinner now  

—  

i mean breakfast

I hope you meant breakfast

—

Please eat

dont worry i will

—

im gonna make some burnt pancakes

What?

Poppy didn't elaborate. In fact, she went completely offline. Boxten stared at the screen and sighed. He knew she was joking, but sometimes her random texts worry him. 

He was about to ask her what Glisten's artist name was, but then realized how ridiculous it sounded. Weren't most artists' names simply their names? He didn't want to interrupt her making of burnt pancakes, so he went to his music app and searched "Glisten".

He was so glad he hadn't asked her. It would have been so embarrassing. 

He found Glisten at the very top of the results. He tapped on his profile and read the "About" section.

hi

And that was literally it.

...Boxten went ahead and selected his latest song.

He laid back in his bed and placed his phone next to his head. When Boxten heard Glisten's singing voice, he was taken aback by how nice it was. It made him regret not asking him to sing when he had the chance; hearing him in person would have been incredible. Poppy was onto something here.

He decided to listen to his prior two, and they were both as good as the first. Soon, he had all three of them playing on repeat as he headed to the kitchen to eat breakfast. He planned to make a sandwich because he was not a great cook (he once burnt rice…just…how?) Before he started making his meal, he texted Poppy.

Hey Poppy, remember that guy we met last night?

Poppy replied before Boxten was done typing his message. 

THAT GUY??!!

—

HIS NAME IS GLISTEN >:(

—

anyway continue :)

I’m listening to his songs right now and it’s really nice

OMG

—

WHAT

—

YES JOIN THE FANCLUB

—

JOIN JOIN JOIN 

Boxten chuckled at her enthusiasm.

Okay I will

—

If this isn’t too much, can you record his next performance? It’ll be at another party, right?

yep also didn't he ask me to record i’m literally his personal videographer trust 

Just don't be weird to him

bet

Poppy.

***

Time Skip — few months later

It became a routine.

Every time there was a large party, Poppy would go there, find Glisten, and record him (“Glisten was fine with it,” Poppy would always answer whenever Boxten worried Glisten was uncomfortable). 

He was convinced that they were friends at this point. Poppy's iconic pink bow was practically identical to the one Glisten normally wears. Glisten probably called her "bow-buddy" whenever he had the chance.

He wondered if Glisten remembered him. Poppy said he does, but he doubted it. Boxten was literally a toon with a music box for a head. What was so unique about him? Having social anxiety?

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind. It’s best not to overthink it.

He was sitting on his bed reading one of his story books (it helped him relax) when he received a message from Poppy with a video attached.

caught him in 4k again >:)

It was a video of Glisten singing. As Boxten watched, Poppy continued typing.

today he told us hes doing another performance tmr night and hes going to sing an unreleased song

—

im very excited

That was the first time Boxten had seen Poppy type something so casual — she would usually scream in all capitals. When the video ended, he responded to her.

Really? Wow

But then again, his reaction was just as tame.

Can’t wait 

mhm

—

bet glistys practicing for it now

***

What the hell was Glisten doing.

He never planned to give another performance, but he truly wanted to see that music box again: Boxten. 

He regretted not getting his number. Boxten did not seem to be the sort of toon to spam him about his music, and if Glisten had to admit, he wanted a friend to talk to during his breaks. Seriously, he had to resort to purchasing food online because he was often recognized in public. It felt great at first, but now it's just annoying. He enjoys being the center of attention, but come on, isn't that a bit too excessive?

He sighed. Anything for success he guessed.

He paced back and forth in his room. The event tomorrow night was only so he could talk with Poppy. A few hours earlier, after he had finished singing, he tried to find her and ask her a question, but he lost her in the crowd. Gosh, where did all these people come from?! Being popular sometimes sucked. 

He groaned and flopped onto his bed. He had never felt so pathetic in his life. Why was he doing all of this for the chance to see a toon with whom he had spoken to once? Was it worth the embarrassment?

He looked about for his phone and, once found, turned it on and opened social media. Perhaps an online break will help him clear his mind. 

He scrolled through the posts of random users. Some he found genuinely humorous, but he dared not "like" them. He was using his main account, which had 50,000 followers, and he was too lazy to switch to his small alternative. 

He was scrolling aimlessly and was about to pass another one when he stopped and did a double take. The toon in the post looked familiar. She wore a pink dress and a pink–

Oh my goodness.

He tapped her profile. Was that who he thought it was? 

He skimmed through her posts and saw it was exactly who he was thinking of. Poppy. 

He quickly sat up. What were the odds of finding her account? Well, whatever, it was his opportunity to ask her his long-awaited question. He tapped on "Message" and began typing.

Hey Poppy, it’s me

It only took a few seconds for her to reply.

GLISTEN???

—

WHAT ARE U DOING IN MY DMS.

Don’t make this weird.

—

I found your posts by chance.

oh how were they

He ignored that message.

This is about your friend.

Why did he have to make that so ominous? He made it sound as if her friend committed a crime. 

boxten?

Yes

Glisten had to muster a lot of courage for this next part. He hoped Poppy wouldn't find it strange, even if what he was about to type would be completely filled with it.

Can I have his number?

WHAT

Her status became “last seen”.

Glisten wanted to throw his phone against the wall. Instead, he tossed it aside, grabbed a pillow, and screamed into it. 

He should never have asked her. Time to change his name and flee to another country– 

His phone vibrated. 

He reached for his phone and examined the message.

Why do you want his number?

…Was Poppy interrogating him? What's with the sudden switch to perfect grammar?

Because I find him interesting

Interesting? Please provide examples.

Oh, nevermind, scratch that, it was a test.

Glisten was about to type, "What do you mean by that?" But he figured he must be serious. This was his only gateway to Boxten.

He’s cool

He nearly had a heart attack when "cool" autocorrected to "cute". What made him say "cute" so often anyway?

Elaborate.

This girl, I swear–

When I found him at the beverage table at the party, I went over to have a chat. We talked, and he said so many amazing things that blew my mind.

The only thing that blew his mind was the amount of stutters Boxten had.

When that annoying red-cup guy came, he was so brave.

He was spewing nonsense — Boxten was going to give in to that rude toon (thinking about it still made Glisten upset). What the hell was he saying? 

He made that guy run away in tears.

—

I found that so cool.

—

He was my hero.

—

That’s why I want his number.

Glisten's messages were blue ticked — Poppy had read them. Now he had to wait for her answer. After what seemed like hours (in reality it was only a few minutes), she finally responded.

You passed.

He let out a sigh of relief. That was harder than any exam he had ever taken.

lemme just ask boxten if thats alright with him

Wait, what?

***

Boxten was in the middle of reading his book when he read the weirdest message ever sent by Poppy.

glisten asked for your number is that ok

Boxten thought he had hit his head against the wall.

Are you joking?

nope

—

legit

—

he asked for your number

—

dude how did you pull him

Pull?

nvm

—

forget i said that

—

so is it alr?

At least Boxten knew Glisten hadn't forgotten him. Still, this was not how he expected to speak with him again.

It's okay, give him my number

He isn't really active on social media, so he assumed Poppy wasn't giving Glisten his account. She was probably pulling his number from his chat app and sending it to Glisten. 

A few minutes later, he received a message from an unknown number.

Is this Boston?

—

Boxten*

—

Do you know someone named Poppy?

Oh my gosh. It was him — Glisten was messaging him. It felt like a dream come true — emphasis on "dream" because his dreams were weird.

Yep

—

This is Boxten

Oh thank goodness 

—

I thought Poppy was pulling a prank on me

—

Anyway, how have you been?

Glisten…asking how he has been? Boxten must be the luckiest toon alive.

I’ve been doing well. How about you?

I’m great, thanks for asking

Boxten smiled, but there was something on his mind he needed to address.

I thought you said you weren't making contact with fans?

Haha about that 

—

I lied

—

Well, not really

—

Wait

—

You’re a fan?

Huh? Poppy never told him? Interesting…

Yeah

—

Your songs great

—

I wished I could be there but I hate crowds

—

They scare me

It’s alright

—

I’m just glad you listen to them :)

—

anyway

—

Note that we won't be able to meet up. I have a very busy schedule. But I will make an effort to reply to your messages

Boxten didn't care if they weren't able to see each other in real life. Talking with him through text was enough.

Sure

—

Best of luck for your performance tomorrow!

Thanks <3

***

Time Skip — a month later

Boxten looked around his room. He had lived in this small apartment for about a year. He was fine with it because the rent was reasonable and it was in a convenient location. He simply noticed how empty it seemed. He had his bed, desk, chair, closet, bookshelves — you know, the essentials. He also had a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom, but that was a whole different topic.

Aside from the furniture he listed, his room had nothing in it. The room has been the same since he moved in. So he decided to do some online shopping from his phone. 

He usually goes outside, but he didn't feel like it today. Besides, he would generally shop with Poppy to get her opinion, but she was busy running errands for her million friends.

He opened a shopping app recommended by Poppy and scrolled. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, so he browsed until he came across something that piqued his interest. After a few minutes of going down, his attention settled on something. He paused and tapped it to get a better look. It was a penguin plush.

He thought penguins were cute, and the penguin's design proved his point. It was white and gray, with golden feet and a beak. Its eyes were closed, yet it appeared to be grinning joyfully. 

Boxten wanted it. He can place it on his desk or embrace it while reading or sleeping. Yes, that sounded fantastic!

He checked the price.

What the heck.

It cost twenty dollars. Plus the overseas shipping, which was a whopping thirty dollars, in total it was fifty. 

For a single penguin plush, it was that much.

Boxten wanted to cry. What a way to call him broke. 

He needed the money to cover his rent and groceries. His current job paid decently, but not much. Spending all of his money on a penguin was not a good financial decision.

Suddenly, he received a message that lifted him out of his money troubles.

Boxy

—

Are you eating something rn

—

I hope you are it’s lunch time

—

I got this cupcake and I wanna show it to you

—

It looks so good

Boxten couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of Glisten’s message.

He sat on his bed as he typed a reply.

Yeah I’m eating a sandwich

It was a half-truth. He was thinking of making a sandwich for a quick bite.

Again? A sandwich?

—

Can’t you make anything else?

No

Oh

—

Okay

—

Anyway look at this

Glisten sent an image of the cupcake he was talking about earlier. It was blue, with pink, white, and green sprinkles. It looked to be something you would buy in a local bakery.

Yum right

Yum

—

But why a cupcake?

I love cupcakes

Yeah seems fair 

The conversation went silent for a bit. Boxten was about to put down his phone and prepare his sandwich when he noticed Glisten typing again.

What were you doing before you ate?

Boxten let out an involuntary groan as he remembered the penguin plush and his financial problems.

I was shopping online and I found this adorable penguin plush

—

Let me show you

He took a screenshot and sent it to him.

Look at that

—

Expensive :(

—

I really wanted it

Owch

—

Who makes a plush that experience?

—

Expensive*

Idk the government?

Screw the government 

Over the last few weeks, Boxten saw that Glisten was becoming more comfortable while texting. He wondered if anyone else saw this side of him.

Okay I’m gonna eat my cupcake now byeeeeeee

—

Enjoy your sandwich

Thanks, you too

—

The cupcake I mean

I know

—

:)

***

Time Skip — two weeks later

Boxten had to go to work tomorrow and he was not looking forward to it.

He wanted to hang out with Poppy, but she was still running errands. Poppy promised him that she'd finish as soon as possible and go to the nearby park with him to watch birds. He did want to go to the park, and even though she added the "watching birds" part, he didn't mind. Birds were cool, especially pigeons — they were funky.

Boxten knew Poppy despised breaking promises, so he wasn't worried about what he was going to do today.

He decided to spend his time reading a new book he borrowed from the library. He preferred to buy, but he was saving up for his favorite author's new book, which will be released soon.

In the midst of a scene, he heard a knock at the door. 

He tilted his head. He couldn't recall ordering food. Perhaps the delivery person was at the wrong door. 

He stood up, leaving his book on the bed, and proceeded to his front door.

He opened it and was met with an unexpected sight.

“Hello.”

“Poppy?!” 

She grinned and strolled in as if she owned the place. “Woo, I haven't been here for a while. Hasn't changed much.”

“Poppy–” Boxten's head spun. “What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be running errands?” His eyes widened. “Wait, are you done with them? Is that why you’re here?”

She laughed. “I'm almost done with my errands. This is my last one.” She extended her arms out, and Boxten realized she was holding something.

“Is that a box?”

“Oh no, it's a blender.” 

Boxten stared at her.

“Yeah, it's a box.” She stretched her arms even further. “Here, take it.”

“Is it–” Boxten began, but Poppy answered, “No, it’s not fragile. And no, I’m not trying to scare you.”

Wow. Am I that obvious? “Oh, okay.” He took the cardboard box away from her and went to his bedroom. He trusted Poppy not to wreck his apartment.

When he reached his bed, he placed the box beside his book and backed away, gazing at it. It was extremely light and did not smell like food, which was why he did not carry it into the kitchen. 

He hummed curiously. What might this be? He couldn't remember ordering anything online…

Wait a minute.

He dashed to his desk and searched for his scissors. When he found them, he returned to the box and started cutting through the tape. If he had to cut open boxes for a competition, he'd win. After cutting the tape in half, he opened the top and saw–

A plush penguin.

What. The. Heck.

Behind him, he heard Poppy approaching him and giggling. “Hehe, guess who’s that from.”

On the desk, his phone buzzed.

He walked over and checked the notification.

Poppy texted me but I don't trust her

—

Did it arrive?

It was from Glisten.

“I’m guessing that’s from your phone pal?” Poppy commented cheekily.

He remained silent as he typed a response.

Yes it did

—

Did you pay for this???

Yep

—

Rip my wallet lol

—

How’s the plush?

—

did it come in one piece? 

—

i swear if it isnt then I’m suing the company.

Boxten pulled the plush penguin out of the box and took a photo of it.

“What did he ask, Boxten?” Poppy cocked her head, still grinning mischievously.

“Shh, wait,”

Poppy stifled a chuckle with her hand.

He sent the picture to Glisten.

It’s perfectly fine don't worry

—

I absolutely love it

—

Thank you :)))

—

But

—

Why did you buy it and make Poppy bring it to me?

You said you wanted it, so I bought it

Boxten's face grew hot.

And about Poppy bringing it to you

—

I wanted it to be a surprise

“He asked for my address because he said he wouldn't care if I got kidnapped,” Poppy stated out of nowhere.

Boxten turned to see her reading his texts from over his shoulder. “Hey– this is private–”

She grinned — gosh, he had never seen her grin this much. “Sorry, but I couldn't help myself. Just that…my best friend has a new frieeennnddddd!” Her voice became very high in pitch near the end. “I'm so proud of you!”

She gave an exaggerated sniffle. 

“Poppy…” he couldn't deny that she was right though. Glisten considered him a friend, and if he didn't, why go to the trouble of buying something for him?

“Sooooo, you ready?” She switched topics. “Still up for going to the park?” 

Ah, the park. He honestly forgot about it. “Oh, yeah, I am. Uh, please give me a few minutes.” She nodded and left his room. 

He focused his attention back on his phone.

Thank you so much again for buying this for me

—

I hope I can repay you one day

You don't need to Boxy

—

You being happy is enough 

—

damn

—

that was corny wasn't it

—

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Boxten smiled.

No it's alright 

—

I need to go now

—

I’m going to the park with Poppy

—

We’re gonna watch some birds

If you find a penguin, snap a pic and send it to me

Sure

He placed the empty cardboard box in one corner of his room and moved the penguin to the center of his bed. He kept his book and scissors, grabbed his phone, and hurried out.

When Boxten returned home that night, he did his daily night routine, slipped into bed, and hugged the plush tightly. For the first time in a long while, he slept soundly.

***

Time Skip — a month later

Glisten refused to go to sleep.

He'd been staring at this document on his laptop for the past three hours. He was halfway through writing the lyrics to his new song. He repeatedly typed and deleted it. Why aren't the words flowing? Why was he experiencing writer's block now?

He groaned as he laid his head on the laptop. He won't sleep until he figures out how to do this section; he was so motivated in the afternoon! What happened? 

By the time he lifted his head again, the document had a long line of "b".

Yeah, “b” for bad. He scoffed, shaking his head. I’m getting coffee.

He got up and went to his kitchen. After pouring the finished coffee into a mug, he returned to his room. He sipped it before setting it on his desk. 

He narrowed his eyes at the laptop's screen, as if glaring at it would magically reveal the words. 

He sighed when it obviously didn't work. 

A notification appeared in the top right corner of his screen. His body had a brief burst of energy, but it disappeared when he realized it wasn't the toon he was expecting. 

He opened the message and read what Poppy had sent.

hey glisty

—

u writing a song?

Yes.

—

What do you want?

oh nothing

—

just wondering

—

can you give me a sneak peak

No.

pls

No.

pls

No.

i wont stop typing

And I won't stop saying no.

>:(

Glisten switched tabs and resumed staring at his document. He noticed Poppy spamming, but he ignored her. He took another sip of his coffee and read her texts (which were actually quite entertaining). Mostly, she was just saying "pls" over and over. But a peculiar message drew his attention.

yo are u still reading these

—

u know u can turn on do not disturb mode right lmao 

He set his coffee down and responded.

I don't turn it on because I might get an important notification

He went back to his suffering — staring at the document, attempting to come up with lines, when he saw her answer in the top right corner.

yeah from your million shopping apps

—

ha

—

ha

—

ha

She repeatedly said “ha”

With his patience finally breaking, he opened the chat box and typed.

SHUT UP

It did not cease. 

But the words didn't come from the chat, but from the bar on the left side that displayed the people he was speaking with. 

…Who did he reply to? 

He looked up, and his face turned pale. 

He accidentally replied to Boxten.

Boxten must have sent him a message while Poppy was spamming, and Glisten inadvertently clicked on it. What were the chances of that happening? He deserves a medal for being the unluckiest. 

His hand twitched in shock, unintentionally knocking over his coffee. It spilt onto the floor, and his foot would have been burned if he hadn't pushed his chair back in time. Fortunately, the mug did not fall off the desk. 

He cursed under his breath as he pulled his chair to the table and quickly added.

WAIT WAIT

—

WRONG NUMBER

—

SORRY SORRY

He held his breath when he saw Boxten typing.

It’s alright

—

Who were you talking too?

Poppy

What did she do???

Exist apparently

—

She was spamming me nonstop

—

The shut up was meant for her

Wait I’ll text her

Glisten slumped back in his chair, exhaling with relief. It didn't seem like Boxten was upset. Nevertheless, he had to make sure.

I’m really really sorry. It was really meant for Poppy, I swear.

He received a response from Poppy which completely ruined the mood.

LMAO YOU GOOFED UP SI BAD

He clicked on her notification.

It’s your fault.

yeah i guessed it was

—

sorry

—

boxten spoke with me

—

he told me to stop

—

so you're lucky

—

it’s 10 pm go to sleep

—

nights

With that, she went offline.

Just then, Boxten texted him back.

Is it bad I find your message funny?

Well, that was out-of-pocket. Did Poppy hack his number?

What?

I mean

—

You freely admitted you found Poppy bothersome

—

And you said that to her best friend

Blame Glisten's tiredness — that was the reason for him being stupid.

WELL

—

I’M NOT WRONG

Haha okay

—

Be careful what you say next time

Alrighty

:)

—

Anyway, the message before all this “shut up” shenanigans happened

—

I asked if you were awake

—

Guess you were

Can we forget about this please :(

Alright alright

—

What are you doing?

Glisten let out a frustrated sigh.

I’m writing a song

—

The words ain’t flooring

—

Flowing*

What the heck made him type “flooring” so much?

Read a book? That helps me

The only book I have is my cookbook I never use 

Oh

—

Well then

—

Can I see the lyrics?

Although Boxten was his friend, Glisten wanted to keep the lyrics a secret until his new song was released. He didn’t want to spoil the surprise for him.

It’s top secret

—

Sorry

Hm

—

Okay

—

Just go to sleep?

Haha no.

Go to sleep.

Why

—

YOU’RE not asleep

Then we sleep together

—

Wait

???

—

OH

Glisten blushed so deeply it looked as if the coffee had scalded his face.

I didn't mean it like that

—

Uh

—

Please go to sleep

—

Bye!!!

Boxten went offline.

Glisten didn’t realize it was possible to portray embarrassment over text — until now.

He considered going back to his work, but Boxten’s message stuck in his mind.

…Should he listen to it?

He’d figure it out after cleaning up the mess he'd made.

Glisten stood up, grabbed some tissues, and wiped the coffee that had spilled on the desk and floor. He set the mug upright — it had been lying there for a while now. As he headed to the kitchen to wash it and throw away the soaked tissues, he couldn’t shake Boxten’s suggestion from his thoughts.

Once he was finished, Glisten returned to his room, sat down on his chair, and spun to face his laptop. He clicked on his document, staring at the screen for a minute.

He decided to save his work and close the tab.

He grabbed his charger and plugged it into his laptop, planning to let it charge overnight — it was on ten percent.

Finally, he picked up his phone from the desk, opened his messaging app and typed something to Boxten.

Goodnight and sweet dreams, Boxy

He was getting bolder the more time he spent with Boxten. Hopefully, Boxten didn’t think it was weird. It was such a relief to text someone who wasn’t annoying for once.

He switched off his phone and placed it on the edge of his bed, right by his pillow. Then, he turned over and hugged one of the many pillows scattered across his bed.

***

Time Skip — a year later

One of Boxten's favorite things to do was hang out with Poppy, and today, she'd chosen a coffee shop as their spot. Naturally, Boxten followed along.

They sat across from each other by the window. Poppy was focused on her strawberry cake, while Boxten sipped hot chocolate — he found it so cool they had it here. He might come back here to buy it again.

As he took another sip, Poppy asked, “So, have you heard about that new acting gig?”

“Hm?” Boxten put down his cup, tilting his head. “What acting gig?”

Poppy twirled her fork. “Apparently, there’s an audition for a new show coming out soon. I think it’s called…” Poppy paused, trying to remember. “‘Dandy’s Land’? Wait, no. World. ‘Dandy’s World’. Anyway, there are two roles you can audition for: 'Main' or 'Background'.”

“A background character?” Boxten said questionably. “That’s like auditioning to stand there and do nothing.”

“Yeah, but getting either doesn't really matter,” she leaned in closer to whisper, which was totally unnecessary. Who would eavesdrop on two friends’ conversation?

“You still get paid a ton.”

“A ton?” Boxten raised an eyebrow. “How much?”

“Oh, you know, a couple hundred,” she replied casually, as if earning that much was an everyday thing. She settled back in her chair.

“A hundred?!” Boxten nearly knocked over his hot chocolate. “What?!”

Poppy nodded, grinning. “Intriguing, right? And, from what I’ve heard, anyone can do it. No prior acting experience required.”

Boxten let out a long “ahhhh,” before realizing what Poppy was implying. “Wait, you want me to audition?” he pointed to himself.

She smiled, delighted that Boxten had figured it out. “Mhm,” she took another bite of her strawberry cake.

Boxten sipped slowly on his drink as he tried to process everything.

“If you go, I’m going too,” she added. “I’m not throwing you under the bus.”

He set his cup down. “…Thanks.”

She sat up straighter, giving him a playful look. “So, what do you think? Ready to join the show?”

“What makes you think I’d get in?”

“The acceptance rate’s really high.”

Boxten squinted at her. The whole thing sounded too good to be true. Sure, the money was tempting, but... “Doesn’t that seem a little suspicious to you?”

“Yeah, definitely,” Poppy agreed immediately.

Boxten blinked at her, confused. She didn’t hesitate at all.

“But, like, money!” she spread her arms.

“Gold digger,” Boxten remarked flatly.

“Not!” she shot back, waving her fork. “I just think it would be a fun time for us both!”

She stabbed her cake with her fork. “But hey, if you don’t want to do it, that’s fine! I’m not going if you’re not going.”

Boxten tapped his foot against the ground. Poppy seemed to have heard it, because she cocked her head and her expression turned concerned. “Oh…I didn't mean to pressure you…”

Boxten lifted his hand. “No, no, it's fine!”

“Your head disagrees with you.”

Oh. Apparently, she heard the melody. Not the foot tapping.

A few heads turned in their direction as Boxten focused all his energy on quieting the tune that had escaped him. When he looked up, he saw Poppy glaring at the busybodys. When she noticed him, she shifted her attention back to him. “So, um, do you want to move somewhere else? Should we head to the park? The library? Your house–?”

“Poppy,” Boxten disliked when Poppy became worried about him. She was always so cheery that whenever he saw her troubled, it made him feel terrible. “It's fine…also, uh, I’ve decided.”

“It's a no, isn't it?” She guessed.

“The opposite, actually.”

She stared at him, then blurted out, “What?” she raised her hand as if to ask a question. “Wait, wait, wait– you're not good with crowds– Boxten, there will be so many people! Are you sure you want to do this?”

He shrugged. “You'll be there, won't you?”

Poppy was silent, so Boxten added some more. “Like you said, it'll be a good experience for us — we'll do some acting, get some money, and hey, meet some new toons?”

“I–” She appeared like she was about to cry. Then, she grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. “You won't regret this!” 

“Poppy–”

“I'm not sure about the 'meet some new toons' on your end, but yes to the first three!” She squealed. Her apprehensive tone disappeared, giving way to euphoria. 

“Poppy!” Boxten exclaimed, glancing around. “We're in public!” 

“Oh.” She came to an abrupt halt. She chuckled nervously. “Right…let's just finish our meals…” 

Boxten drank his hot chocolate while Poppy ate her strawberry cake, awkwardly yet happily.

***

Time Skip — few months later

Glisten knew he was going to get in.

When he went to the audition, one of the interviewers recognised him immediately. Despite their best efforts to remain calm, Glisten could see them shaking with excitement. There were two other interviewers there, but only one of them drew his attention — it was a flower with multi-colored petals. He's not sure why, but he found it interesting. 

The show's director/creator — apparently the flower guy — sent him an email that read:

Subject: Welcome to Dandy's World

Dear Glisten,

We are thrilled to welcome you to Dandy's World! We’re excited to have you join us on this incredible journey, and we’re confident that your talent will be a valuable addition to our team.

After reviewing your audition, we are pleased to inform you that you got the role of a Background Character. Your performance impressed us, and we believe you are the perfect fit for this position.

We look forward to working with you and can't wait to see the energy and creativity you'll bring to Dandy's World!

Dandy

Oh, that toon was named Dandy? Using his name in the title seems a little egotistical. Glisten bet he even played a role, presumably a Main, in his own show.

But then again, look who’s talking.

Dandy really flattered him just to say he was a background character. He should have been a Main. His performance was fantastic! All the interviewers did was make him act like himself, which was strange but not important. He got in the show! Even if it wasn't his preferred role... 

An hour later, he got an email from the same individual.

Subject: Groupings & Gathering Details

Dear Gardenviewers,

Good morning! Given the large number of participants, we’ll be dividing everyone into smaller groups for our upcoming gathering. To make things a bit more fun, I’ve decided to keep the groupings a surprise!

Attached, you’ll find your group number and the corresponding location. Please meet at your assigned spot at 1PM. While attendance is optional, I highly encourage everyone to join us — it’s a great chance to connect and kick off this exciting journey together.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Dandy  

Wow. Glisten will definitely not get kidnapped. This Dandy sure was something. 

He checked the attachment to find his group and location. It was in a warehouse not far from his house — maybe a ten-minute walk? It was 10AM, so Glisten had three hours to kill. He figured he'd start by texting his friend. 

He sat down in his chair and opened his texting app.

Heyyyyyyy

Hi

—

Writing a song?

Later probs

—

I’ll be going somewhere later

—

I won’t tell you where

—

I wanna send you the photos after

You and you surprises

—

Your*

—

Me too

Hm? Where?

It’s a surprise

Oh cmonn Boxy

Sorry

—

Send you pics later?

Please phrase that differently

I’ll send you the pictures of the event I’m going to?

Better

—

Ooh an event?

Yeah, me and Pop are going

—

I kinda realize I never told you

—

I mean it was a surprise to me too

Why you so mysterioussssss

Idk

Glisten spun in his chair. He really loved chatting with Boxten.

You know I went to that coffee shop you recommend

Oh, and?

The hot chocolate was so good

You hear me

—

Best thing in the shop, hands down

—

Also, just wondering

—

Can we meet at the coffee shop someday?

We can’t sadly

—

I have popular problems

—

Popularity*

—

I feel like people would get jealous if I hang out with someone

—

You know at the shop I got recognized?

—

Sometimes I just want to be a normal toon

—

Doing normal things

—

I love the attention

—

But I need a break from it from time to time, you know?

Glisten had no idea why he decided to go deep there.

Boxten's answer nearly made him choke on air.

I literally can't relate to that

Wow, what happened to the shy toon I met at a party?

I’m just comfortable with speaking online

Glisten saw Boxten’s status repeatedly change between "typing" and "online". What was he trying to say? What made it so difficult? After a full minute of waiting, Boxten sent something.

Especially to you

Glisten almost dropped his phone.

And Poppy right?

Mhm, her too

—

Point is

—

I don't need to show my face, no one needs to hear my voice

And you can be honest as much as you want?

I guess?

—

I mean, I’m not out there hating on everybody

—

I just feel more

—

Me?

Can’t relate to that

Oh come on

—

What I’m trying to say is

—

I feel comfortable talking with you

—

That it allows me to be more open with how I’m feeling

—

Glisten?

Glisten curled up in a ball in his chair, his face turning red. He wasn't aware he needed to say anything until a few minutes later.

Sorry

—

My wall shelf fell down

He made up a lie on the spot. He can't exactly say, “Oh, sorry, I became flustered at your message.” That would be awkward.

What?

Good thing it didn't have anything on it. I knew I needed to repair it

Are you okay??

Yeah, it didn't hit my head

Gosh

—

I am very concerned for you sometimes

Eh 

—

Anyway is that why we never facetime?

Wait you want to facetime now?!

No no

—

Just asking

I never thought about it, honestly

—

Can we continue texting instead?

Sure

Glisten switched topics. This was getting out of hand.

Hm

—

I haven't ate my breakfast yet

—

I think I’ll eat a sandwich

—

Any suggestions?

Make a bread sandwich

Perfect, I’ll try that

You know I’m joking, right?

—

Glist?

—

Oh no

—

What have I done

The bread sandwich was surprisingly good.

***

By the time Glisten arrived at the venue, it was almost 1PM.

…Why were there so many toons?

He had expected maybe ten or fifteen, tops. But this? This looked closer to fifty.

It was a miracle that no one seemed to recognize him.

As he weaved his way through the crowd, Glisten became acutely aware of how his pink bow — his signature favorite — was at risk of getting crumpled. And his makeup? He’d spent so much time perfecting it, he doesn't want it to be smudged from being pushed around!

Glisten carefully maneuvered forward, hoping to reach a quieter spot, or at least find a place where he can stand and breathe.

Suddenly, someone bumped into him. “Oh! Sorry!”

Glisten turned to see a toon with a strawberry for a head. Around his neck was a white scarf with pink stripes.

He blinked at the stranger before saying, “That’s it?”

The strawberry-headed toon glanced around, confused. “Yeah? You wanted more?”

“No, no, it’s fine,” Glisten said, though it was anything but fine. “It just caught me off guard.”

“Do people always bump into you and never apologize?” scarf-guy asked.

“What? No?” Glisten replied, perplexed. 

They stood there in silence, simply staring at each other. The stranger cleared his throat and gave a small wave of his hand. “Uh…bye?”

“Yeah, bye,” Glisten responded, his voice flat.

Why was this so painfully awkward?

They both started walking — only to realize they were heading in the same direction.

…Great.

Glisten let out a sarcastic hum. “Wow, what were the chances we’d be going the same way?”

The toon turned to him, unamused. “Come on, you know full well I didn’t mean to walk with you.”

Glisten faced him, eyebrow raised. “Ooh, someone’s got an attitude.”

The scarfed toon tensed up, becoming defensive. “No, I don't.”

“You do.”

He sighed, relaxing. “Okay, maybe I do.”

Glisten tilted his head. “So, a fellow background character I assume?”

“Oh, no,” he shook his head, smiling. “I'm actually a Main.”

“Oh.” What a way to flex on Glisten.

The Main laughed. “It's alright, I was surprised too when I found out.”

How did this plant get the role and not me?! “Hm, does that mean you're gonna be in many episodes?”

“If I don't then I got scammed.”

This guy was interesting (but not as interesting as Boxten).

“Well, I need to know the name of the guy I might be working with.”

“‘Might’?” He said, chuckling a little. “I’m Sprout.”

“Glisten.”

“Glisten…what do you do?”

It was his time to shine. “I sing — I'm a singer, actually. Ever heard of me?”

Sprout shot him a puzzled look. “No?” 

Glisten wasn't sure which was worse: being recognized or the person not knowing who you were. He really should choose a battle; he can't fight both at once. He flipped the question to him so that his embarrassment would not last. “Okay, how about you, Sprout?” 

Sprout proudly put his hands on his hips. “I bake. In fact, I work at a bakery.”

“What's it called?” Glisten asked.

“Best-Baked-Bites,” he answered with a grin.

Glisten's jaw dropped open. “Wait, what?”

“Best-Baked-Bites.” Sprout cocked his head. “Never heard of it?”

“No.” Glisten explained. “It’s just surprising to find out you’ve been chatting with someone who works at the place where you buy your cupcakes.” 

Sprout's eyes widened in shock before he laughed hysterically. It attracted attention from the toons around them, so Glisten had to cross his arms and turn away, pretending he didn't know him (technically, he didn't. This was a stranger, after all).

Once Sprout regained his composure, he said, “Sorry– just that– I'm not working right now– and I'm talking to a regular! I can't escape!” Near the end, he sounded as if he was genuinely in despair. 

Glisten nodded, unimpressed. “Mhm, how come I never see you?”

“I work on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.” Sprout stated calmly — the tone shift was so abrupt that Glisten thought he missed a whole paragraph from him.

“Ah,” Glisten hummed in acknowledgement. “I always come on a Friday.”

“Oh!” Sprout perked up. “Are you the customer that buys one of every cupcake? You know, we nicknamed you ‘The Frosting–”

“TMI!” Glisten screamed.

Sprout laughed, relishing in his misery. 

Typical employees. Glisten had to make a mental note not to visit the bakery on Sprout’s work days.

“So, about this whole meet-up,” Sprout gestured around the crowded venue. “It’s way bigger than I expected.”

“Yeah,” Glisten nodded, scanning the room. “This Dandy guy seems pretty thoughtful with his choice of actors.”

Sprout searched around. “Speaking of Dandy, where is he?”

“No clue,” Glisten answered, shrugging. “When he said 1PM, maybe he actually meant 1AM .”

Sprout scoffed. “I doubt anyone would be awake at that time.”

If he only knew how much Glisten did late-night songwriting sessions.

“Do you know anyone here?” Glisten’s eyes darted briefly to the crowd.

“Nope,” Sprout replied. “And I don’t know anyone who auditioned either.”

“Then why’d you audition?” Glisten asked, ever the conversational master.

Sprout gave a small grin. “I heard I might get to use my baking skills, and I wanted to show them off somewhere other than at work. You?”

Glisten smirked. “To earn a quick buck.”

Sprout stared at him for a moment, then said, “Our priorities are so different.”

“Ditto,” Glisten responded.

Something familiar caught Glisten’s eye.

He averted his gaze from Sprout to examine what he saw. Sprout cast him a confused look and turned in the direction he was looking at. 

Glisten almost couldn't believe what he was seeing: someone was wearing an identical pink bow, and he only knew one person who wore it. 

A text message rang in his mind: “Yeah, me and Pop are going”

He moved his attention to the toon beside her. 

Boxten was there.

This was the event he was going to?! Glisten thought in amazement.

“Who are you looking at?” Sprout asked, but it wasn't enough to shake him out of his trance.

“Box…” Glisten spoke dreamily without realizing it.

“...What?” Sprout resumed looking. Then, he let out a knowing "ohhhhh". He turned back to Glisten. “Who is he? Your crush?”

Glisten had never whirled his head to someone so quickly in his life. “What–? No!”

“Your boyfriend then?”

“Of course not, idiot!”

Sprout hummed, skeptical. “You sure?” He motioned to Boxten. “'Cause you straight up looked at him and said his name in a very loving manner.”

Glisten's face turned so red that it could match the redness of the strawberry he was speaking to.

He opened his mouth to retaliate, but he couldn't think of anything. In the end, he folded his arms and pouted. 

Sprout laughed. “You're so obvious.” 

Glisten glared at him. This plant had the audacity to say these things to someone he'd just met. It reminded him of someone…

He got an idea.

“Alright, shut up and listen to me,” if Sprout didn't have a filter, why should Glisten have one? 

Sprout huffed, irritated, before responding, “Go on,”

Glisten pointed to Poppy. “I need you to talk to her and lead her away from Boxten.”

“His name's Boxten?” Sprout remarked. “I thought that was your nickname for him because he had a box for a head.”

“Are you helping me or not?” Glisten tapped his foot, frustrated. 

Sprout rolled his eyes. “Oh, of course I am. What am I doing again?" 

Why, of all the strangers, did Glisten have to encounter him?

“Talk with Poppy, the pink bow girl.”

Sprout glanced over, took one look at Poppy, turned back to Glisten, and blurted out, “You want me to flirt with her?”

“Why do you assume I want you to flirt with her?!” Glisten placed a hand on his head in genuine dismay. His golden swirl was going to turn gray at this point. “I said ‘talk’! There is a difference between 'talk' and 'flirt'!” He spoke hurriedly, using exaggerated hand gestures to emphasize. 

Sprout nodded, seeming strangely relieved. “Oh, okay. I can do that.” 

…Why was Sprout giving him fruity vibes? And not because he was a strawberry. 

Ah, nevermind. That wasn't important.

“What should I say?” Sprout continued. “Anything, just nothing weird.” Glisten answered. “Like, bring her to a corner or something.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“To talk, moron!”

Glisten should present Sprout with an award — "Glisten insulted them in under five minutes". He could compete with that red-cup guy at the party because they were both so annoying. 

“Relax, I was joking that time.”

“Make it obvious…gosh!” Glisten facepalmed, exasperated.

“Oh, like your attraction towards–”

“Shut the fuc–”

Sprout left before he could finish. That bastard. 

Glisten watched as Sprout effortlessly walked over to Poppy and spoke with her. From a distance, he noticed her head tilting. Then she turned towards him.

Glisten assumed from her sudden gasp that she was startled to see him. Boxten turned (Glisten guessed he wondered what spooked Poppy) and Glisten quickly stepped back, afraid his surprise would be spoiled.

Before Boxten could fully process what was happening, both Poppy and, unexpectedly, Sprout, stepped in to block his view and urged him to turn away from Glisten. Although clearly puzzled, Boxten complied and shifted his focus back to the far wall, where he absentmindedly read the large words displayed there — just the background of the show, nothing particularly exciting.

Poppy told Boxten something, and Boxten nodded. After that, she and Sprout went over to Glisten. 

As soon as Poppy was near, she punched Glisten in the arm. “Long time no see.”

“Ow– the hell?” He pulled his arm back and rubbed it.

“It's a friendly punch.” Poppy shrugged.

“Can I punch you back?”

“No.” 

Glisten and Sprout exchanged glances. Sprout's expression read, “Wow, how did you two meet?” 

“You don't wanna know.” — Glisten expression replied.

Poppy clapped her hands. “Boxten will be so happy to see you! It's been, what, a year since you met?”

“This is our second meet-up in real life.” Glisten said. “I was awfully busy.”

“Busy having problems I wished I had.” 

Glisten glared at Poppy. 

Poppy ignored him and focused on Sprout. “I assumed you were a strawberry demon dragging me to hell because I always ordered strawberry cakes at the cafe,” she stated nonchalantly, as if it were a normal thing to say. 

Sprout gave Glisten a concerned look — I'm scared.  

As you should be. Glisten returned.

Poppy turned back to Glisten and pushed him towards Boxten. “Alright, go get your man!”

Glisten staggered forward, regained his balance, and spun around. “What?” 

She shook her head, rolling her eyes as she smiled. “Come on, you think I don't remember the time you bought a penguin plush for him because he wanted it but it was too expensive?”

“Oh, really?” Sprout suddenly became more engaged in the conversation. “Can you tell me?”

“Of course,” she replied, giving Glisten a wicked grin. She gazed back at Sprout. “I also have to tell you about the time he accidentally texted Boxten the wrong thing.”

Sprout nodded his head, matching her enthusiasm. “This will be fun.”

These two were a nightmare.

He wanted to stay to prevent Poppy from explaining, but he realized he was running out of time. He groaned and waved a short goodbye.

“Good luck!” Poppy yelled. “If you fail, I'm disowning you!”

“I barely know you!” Sprout added helpfully. “But I’m invested in your story! Don’t mess it up!” 

Why did Glisten keep meeting weird toons? 

He made his way over to Boxten and paused a few feet from him. He took a deep breath and said, “Hey, Boxy.”

Boxten flinched (Glisten felt bad) and turned around. His eyes gleamed as soon as he saw Glisten.

Dealing with Poppy and Sprout was worth it. Glisten missed seeing that cute face.

Glisten wasn’t bothered by the fact that he admitted it — how could he be? It was the simple truth. 

“Remember me?”

Chapter Text

Boxten sat comfortably in his bed, a book in hand, enjoying one of his favorite pastimes. The peace and quiet surrounded him, and no one was there to disturb him (well, he did live alone. If someone were to disturb him, he had to move out. There was a ghost in his apartment). 

He had been juggling two jobs, but surprisingly, it didn’t feel stressful. His first job was as an assistant to a manager. Technically, this manager had a whole team of assistants, so Boxten only needed to step in when one of them couldn't make it. He considered himself lucky when he got accepted — all he had to do was tidy up and keep things organized. No interaction? Perfect.

His second job was more exciting, though. He played a background character in a show called "Dandy's World" It might sound a bit dull, but it was actually pretty cool.

The show encouraged improv, which meant he could just be himself without worrying about memorizing too many lines. Sure, there was a loose script to follow, but it was easy enough to keep track of.

After a few episodes aired, Boxten had been curious about what people thought of him, so he checked social media. To his surprise, viewers liked him! Some even called him cute. Cute. Haha…that was unexpected.

If someone told him they had a crush on him, he wouldn’t know how to respond. He would probably say something like, "Uh, you sure you’re talking to the right person?"

He didn't have to go to either work today, so, Boxten decided to place his focus on re-reading his favorite book series. In a few weeks, the next installment was set to release, and he wanted to make sure he was ready. Some people might think re-reading it for the fifteenth time was unnecessary, but for Boxten, it was a habit that he didn't mind not breaking out of.

If he wasn’t immersed in his book, he’d most likely be with his best friend, Poppy. But she had been hopping from one friend group to another today. Knowing Poppy, she was probably on her fifth by now.

Being the good friend she is, she’d texted him at 3AM (she woke him up) to promise that she’d buy him something from each group she hung out with to make up for not spending time with him. Half asleep, Boxten had replied that he was looking forward to seeing what she’d bring him.

Now, twelve hours later, it was 3PM. Boxten had already eaten lunch — he cooked today! Soft-boiled eggs, scrumptious. His phone rested within easy reach.

A plush penguin was seated on Boxten's right. It was a plushie that could stand up, so he made it face the same direction as him. He gazed at it and couldn't help but think about the absurd way he had received it.

When his phone buzzed, he lowered his book, picked up his phone, and read the message.

Speaking of how he received it…

Heyyy, Boxy, you free tomorrow?

Boxten smiled when he saw who it was from: Glisten.

He had met this guy at a party a year prior. They chatted a lot through messages and long story short, they reconnected during the show. He was the toon who gave him the penguin plush, and– well, it was another long story.

Glisten was one of Boxten's few friends (he only had two: Poppy and Glisten. But, shhh, Glisten doesn't need to know) thus the mirror was one of the things that brought him joy in his otherwise boring life. For example, he loved it when Glisten called him "Boxy"; it made him feel a sort of tingle every time he read or heard it.

Do not misinterpret; he is merely a friend! He didn't see him more than…that.

…Moving on!

He opened the notification and typed a response.

Hey Glist!

—

Hmm, I don't know

—

Let me check

By "checking" he meant texting Poppy. He created plans based on what Poppy was going to do.

Pops!

—

Have any plans tomorrow?

AYYYYYYYYY BOXBOYYYY

—

yes very

—

need to hang out with more toons

—

omg

—

this is such a skill issue

If making new friends every day was a job, Poppy would be rich. She would be that one billionaire that says “Money can't buy happiness.”

Aw

why u ask anyway?

—

did u wanna hang out?

—

heck

—

I REALLY WANT TO BUDDY

—

BUT ALAS, I SUFFER FROM SUCXESS

See? Even she agrees.

Also, Boxten swore Poppy was deliberately avoiding calling him "Boxy." Glisten wasn’t gatekeeping the nickname. Boxten was sure Glisten wouldn’t mind if she used it too. 

Haha

—

No, nothing like that

—

I wanna spend with you sometime though

ME TWOIEEE

—

ill buy u some stuff tmr then to

—

i kept my promise

—

wanna see?

Oh, no thanks

—

Make it a surprise

man you do love surprises

—

alrighty

He switched back to Glisten's chat.

I’m free tomorrow 

—

Why’d you ask?

Boxten received an answer in the next second, as if Glisten was waiting to send it.

Hang out with me

He blinked and tilted his head. Did he read that correctly? Normally, Glisten would say, "Do not hang out with me. Reasons are provided here, blah blah blah. We are unable to meet because of various reasons. Blah." Why did Glisten suddenly decide to disregard all he had said over the last year?

Also, why did Glisten sound desperate? It could be because of his texting style, but still.

What?

I know. Weird request.

—

But after spending time with each other during the show

There was a brief silence before he continued.

I’ve grown to like our conversations together 

Bold, Glisten. Bold.

So I’ve been thinking

—

How about we hang out? Outside the show. You know, to make up for lost time?

Don't you hate going outside because of your fans?

Bah

—

I’m used to it

Wow, what experiences did he have with his fans?

Well, in that case, sure!

—

 I’ll hang with you tomorrow

For some inexplicable reason, Glisten went offline. Boxten counted up to ten by the time Glisten's status resumed being online.

Where do you want to go?

Boxten paused to think about it. His initial thought was to head to the coffee shop. But, honestly, there was nothing to do there except eat, drink, and speak. The second choice was– 

Wait. Actually, the second option wasn't that bad.

The mall?

Ooh, I love malls

—

Which one?

The closest one?

—

I mean

—

Which one’s the closest to you?

How about the one closest to you?

No

Why not?

We live pretty far away. I don't want you to travel that far

Okay

—

Then let’s compromise

—

The one in between our houses

—

Sounds good?

Boxten nodded as he typed his response.

Yep

Alright, let me find one

—

Got it

Glisten sent him the location and how to get there. How nice of him. But he did it rather quickly. Did he copy-paste it from another tab? Did he have several tabs open that had different malls? Ready exactly for this occasion? Er, yeah, let's not overthink things.

Thank you!!!

—

Can't wait

Me too

—

Are you fine with 12?

—

We can eat there for lunch

Sure!

Nice

—

Hope to see you there, Boxy

—

<3

Glisten went offline.

As soon as he saw the status, Boxten put down the phone and returned to his book. A sudden thought then struck him: Wait. What am I going to wear tomorrow?

He started to panic. 

Yeah, scratch the relaxing. He was going to spend the rest of his time frantically searching his room for the perfect outfit.

***

Time Skip — a day later

In the end, he wore the same thing he always did: a purple shirt the same color as his head (when he first appeared on the show, many commented whether he was shirtless. He wasn't– he just loved the shade), his signature bandana which he'd had since he was a kid (it was his favorite accessory! It made him look so cool!), and blue pants with darker blue stripes.

Rummaging through his wardrobe made him realize how basic his clothes were. He literally had the same thing x20. How come he never noticed? It was as if he were a video game character with one outfit because the creator couldn't think of anything else. Luckily, he was at the mall. Perhaps he could purchase something new. 

He stood a few feet from the entrance. The toons around him paid him no attention and continued on to their next location. He texted Glisten that he was there and glanced about.

Exactly two minutes later, he received a response.

I'm here, where are you?

If it were Poppy, she’d definitely text something like, “I see you,” as if she were lurking in the walls. She had a knack for being ominous like that.

He recalled all the times she’d playfully mess with him, sending messages like, “You’re looking the wrong way,” or “A bit to the left,” followed by “Look up.” One time, she even surprised him by perching in a tree — and by surprise, he meant, “Why is she up there?” rather than, “How did she get up there?” (That’s a whole other story).

Oops! He got lost in thought — embarrassing. Boxten shook his head. He needed to focus on the present, not the past.

Near the entrance

Okay

Boxten heard hurried footsteps approaching and turned to see his friend. Instantly, he beamed. “Glisten!”

Glisten smirked and gave a casual wave. “Hey~”

His face heated up upon hearing Glisten's sing-song tone. Why did Glisten’s voice sound so alluring today?

Glisten chuckled, seeming amused by Boxten’s reaction. “How’ve you been, Boxy?”

“I– uh…” Boxten awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. His other hand moved to keep his phone in his pocket. “I’m good, how about you?”

“I’m doing well, thanks for asking,” Glisten replied with a friendly smile.

Boxten checked out what Glisten was wearing. Huh. A pink bow and leg warmers. Perhaps we both need a wardrobe change.

Boxten's gaze shifted to Glisten's face, and– wow. Was it just him, or was Glisten looking especially pretty today? Maybe it was the makeup? Or was that just how his face always looked? Either way, beautiful.

What? Friends can compliment friends. Nothing weird about that.

He wanted to say, "You look nice today!" but stopped himself. Wait, if I say "today," won’t that imply he doesn’t look nice on other days? He frowned, mentally cycling through options. Dazzling? No, he might think he’s blinding me. Glamorous? Err, too fancy.

…Hot?

…

…Nope. Definitely not.

“Boxten?”

Boxten jumped, and he hoped Glisten didn't notice. “Huh, oh, uh, yeah, yes?”

“Are you okay?” Glisten asked with a tinge of confusion.

“Oh! Uh, yeah.”

Glisten cast him a skeptical look. “Really?”

Boxten went silent. He had no idea how to respond to that. 

Glisten studied him, squinting his eyes before shrugging. “Anyway, as I was saying.”

Glisten turned toward the entrance, prompting Boxten to follow and face the same direction. “It’s twelve now. Lunch hour picks up around one,” Glisten explained. He glanced back at Boxten to make sure he was following. “Toons will be eating soon, but right now, most of them are busy shopping.”

“What are you suggesting?” Boxten cocked his head.

“I’ve got a plan for today.” Glisten stated it as if it was a secret. “We eat first. The food places should be relatively empty. Afterward, we can go shopping. No lines, ‘cause by then, everyone else will be eating!”

Boxten listened attentively and nodded once Glisten finished. “Ah. Smart, smart. That’s very smart.”

Glisten grinned, clearly proud of himself. “Yep. Of course it is. I’m a master at shopping.”

“So, should we go and eat now?” Boxten asked.

“Sure.” Glisten answered.

With that, they entered the mall.

They proceeded to immediately halt.

Well, Glisten stopped, Boxten followed.

It could be considered a bonding moment: they stood in the middle, obstructing everyone's path. Friendship goals, right?

Glisten turned to Boxten. “Have you been to this mall before?”

“Nope.” Boxten confessed.

“Great, me neither.” He looked around, sucking in a breath. 

Nice to be lost the first time we hang out outside the show after a year. Boxten thought. What a wonderful experience.  

Fortunately, unlike Boxten, Glisten was a problem solver, not a pessimist. “There! A map.” He pointed, and Boxten's gaze shifted to that direction.

Glisten was right — they found a digital map, the touchscreen kind. They strolled over to it.

“Where do you want to eat?” Glisten asked once they arrived.

“Um, how about you choose?” Boxten replied.

“Hm, but I want you to choose.” 

This reminded Boxten of the talk they had over text about where they should hang out. Was Glisten attempting to do the same thing?

“Eh–? Why?”

“Why not?” Glisten responded simply.

“Okay, then, the food court?” Boxten said the first thing that came to mind.

Glisten nodded as he murmured, “Okay, food court, food court…” He tapped the screen, spelling out the words. A few seconds later, the map loaded.

Glisten gestured toward the screen. “You want here?”

Boxten peered at it for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, seems fine.”

Glisten tapped the button to show the path, which led them to the bottom floor. It wasn’t a problem — it was only two levels down, and right by some escalators. All they needed to do was find one that went down.

They stepped away from the map and headed deeper into the mall to follow the route.

When they turned the first corner, they spotted what they were looking for.

“Oh, look, an escalator,” Boxten pointed out, even though it was extremely blatant.  

“Good eye,” Glisten remarked. Boxten tried to make out any hints of sarcasm, but found he couldn't find any.

Boxten chuckled nervously. Then, without thinking, he blurted out, “Let’s starving, I’m hurry.” 

The awkwardness got to him. Someone please pay for his funeral.

What was that, Boxten?! His face flushed as he looked down at the floor, as if suddenly fascinated by it. You need to go back to English class. Actually, you should get the language taken away from you. You completely butchered it.

“Me too,” Glisten’s tone was so calm that Boxten couldn’t tell if he was joking or not. Boxten continued to stare at the ground as they made their way to the escalator, neither of them elaborating.

When they arrived at the food court, Boxten lifted his gaze and dashed to the first empty table he saw (he still had flashbacks to that one day when the food court was packed. He'd waited an hour for a table, stomach aching from hunger). After he sat down, he turned and noticed Glisten covering his mouth. Was he…giggling ?

Uh, what did Boxten do? Sit on a whoopie cushion?

Glisten approached him and motioned toward the inside of the food court. “We can go closer to the stalls.”

“Oh.” Boxten avoided making eye-contact with him as he stood up. He tried to push his chair back in, only to discover it was one of those chairs that was attached to the floor. 

He resisted the urge to facepalm.

“Come on, Boxy, I’m hurry.”

Boxten snapped his head to him. Was Glisten mocking him? Or had he mispronounced "hungry"? 

“Let’s starving,” Glisten winked before turning and walking away.

Boxten blinked, before he mumbled, “Uh, okay.” 

He caught up to him and they resumed walking together.

The food court was fairly empty, giving them plenty of tables to choose from. Eventually, they stopped at a table with two seats on each side, conveniently close to the stalls — something Glisten had wanted. Glisten patted the table, “Let’s sit here.”

Boxten nodded and sat down, while Glisten settled across from him. They stared at each other in silence before Glisten spoke up. “You should go first and buy something.”

“Me?” Boxten raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. You said you were hur– starving.”

“I…” Boxten scanned the area they were in. “I don’t know what to order. What do they sell here?”

Glisten shrugged. “I don’t know either. First time here, remember?”

Right, how did I forget?  “Glist, it’s still pretty empty. Can you come with me?”

“Come with you?” It was Glisten’s turn to raise an eyebrow. 

“Yeah, let’s look at the stalls together. I don't think our table will be stolen.”

Glisten considered for a while before giving him a small smile. “Hm, sure.” 

He stood up, and Boxten followed suit.

Boxten moved over to his side. “Which way? Left to right? Or right to left?”

“Which way do you prefer?”

Why do you continually flip the question to me with "you's"?  “...Left.” 

Glisten nodded, motioning for Boxten to take the lead. Boxten, still perplexed by Glisten's strange behavior, complied.

They made their way to the first stall on the left. They then started working their way down. There were several options to pick from. Boxten paused at each one to carefully study it. When he believed Glisten was becoming impatient, he turned his head to him. Glisten always returned his gaze with assurance, as if to say, "It’s all right. Take your time." 

Hopefully, that was what Glisten had been implying because Boxten was taking forever . Not on purpose, of course! He had to see everything before making his decision. Despite how patient Glisten seemed, Boxten couldn’t shake the feeling that he should apologize later, just in case his browsing was dragging things out too much.

As Boxten moved to the next stall, something caught his attention. He shifted his focus to it before they lit up with excitement. French fries!

He grinned. He was craving something like this. Crisp, golden fries with that perfect balance of salty and savory goodness–

No, no.

What would Glisten think? Oh! Boxten's a picky eater who only indulges in fast food! With a sigh, he forced his gaze away from the fries, as if it physically pained him to do so. Find something else, Boxten. Anything else.

He moved on, but the sense of loss lingered. It was almost like he was walking away from a puppy at an adoption center, leaving it behind with those sad, hopeful eyes (he never did it in real life obviously, but if this was what it felt like…how could anyone live with that kind of guilt?).

When he reached the end, he faced Glisten. “So, did anything look appetizing?” Like the french fries.

“Hmm, I saw some teriyaki chicken back there. I’ll buy that. You?”

“I figured I could get some ramen.” But all I wanted were french fries. He cried internally. However, sacrifices must be made for my dignity.  

Glisten hummed in acknowledgement. “I see, meet you at the table?”

“Alright.” 

They parted ways to buy their lunches.

Because the ramen vendor was closer, Boxten was able to order and return to the table first. 

Since the food court was empty, Boxten could see exactly where Glisten was. Glisten was carrying a tray of teriyaki chicken. He looked at the name of the stall and saw he was at a new one — the one with the french fries.

He was craving fries too?  Boxten thought in disbelief. I should’ve just bought them. He would’ve laid his head on the table if his ramen wasn't blocking the way.

As soon as Glisten arrived back at the table, Boxten stood up. But before he could take a step, Glisten’s voice stopped him in his tracks. “Where are you going?”

“To buy something else,” Boxten replied, trying to sound casual. “There was, uh, something I wanted, but it slipped my mind earlier.”  

Glisten gave him a puzzled look, then smirked knowingly. “By ‘something’ do you mean these?” He picked up a large box — He got a big one?! — of french fries, shook it a little, and placed it right next to Boxten’s ramen bowl. “‘Cause here they are.”

Boxten’s face remained blank, but inside he was screaming in shock. Did Glisten really just…?!

It took him a few seconds to process what was happening and manage a response. “For me?”

“For you,” Glisten confirmed with a nod, sitting down.

“Um,” Boxten felt his face heat up — how many times had this happened already? “Do you want any drinks…?”

“No thanks,” Glisten replied, giving a nonchalant shrug. “Do you want any?”

“Haha, I…don’t think so.” Boxten smiled sheepishly as he sat back down.

They began eating their food. For some reason, Glisten only started eating after Boxten, as if hoping the music box’s food was poisoned (don't ask why Boxten thought of that).

Boxten thoroughly liked his ramen, and the french fries were a treat! Mmm, tasty! Glisten quietly ate his teriyaki chicken. 

They continued eating until Boxten suddenly recalled something he wanted to say. “Hey, Glisten?”

Glisten looked up from his food. “Yeah?”

“I, uh…I’m sorry for taking so long.”

Glisten blinked. “So long for what?”

Of course, be more specific, Boxten! He cleared his throat. “I mean, you know, at the stalls. I kind of took forever looking at everything. Sorry about that.”

Glisten hummed in understanding. “Ah, I see.”

He twirled the fork in the air. “It's fine, Boxy. I’m glad you bought something you enjoy.” 

“...Oh, thank you. And thanks for the french fries. That was…thoughtful of you.” Boxten wished he had bought some drinks because his mouth was becoming dry — blame his nerves. 

Glisten lowered his fork; did he blush? Boxten couldn't tell due to his makeup. “No problem.” He returned to eating his chicken. Boxten did the same with his ramen and fries.

At some point, the lunch rush must've hit because, in the blink of an eye, the food court was packed with toons. Boxten silently appreciated Glisten’s plan — it was working perfectly. If they had waited to eat during lunch time, there’d be no seats left, and they would’ve been forced to stand and wait (ugh, flashbacks of that day struck him hard again — PTSD still going strong).

“You okay, Box?” Glisten was halfway through lifting his spoon (he ate with a fork and spoon. Boxten found this interesting. He usually saw toons dining with a fork and knife) when he asked that question.

“Uh– yeah, I am.”

“Do you like your food?”

“O-of course I do!”

“...The vendor gave you the wrong order, didn't they?” Glisten said it so seriously that Boxten feared he was going to stand up, march over to the stall and demand a new meal for him. 

“No! No, they didn't!” Boxten frantically waved his hands. “I just got…” he looked around.

Boxten was going to say “lost in thought,” but after noticing how full the food court had become, he changed his mind and opted to say, “Wow, how, Glisten?”

Glisten followed Boxten’s gaze, finally setting his spoon down. “You mean all the people? It's lunch hour.”

Boxten nodded slowly. “Yeah, I figured, but… that’s a lot, isn't it?”

“Definitely,” Glisten agreed, glancing at the crowd. “Being stuck on the escalator with all those toons would be awful. Everyone’s scrambling, fighting for a seat.”

“I’m glad I’m not part of that chaos,” Boxten admitted.

“I know, crowds scare you.”

That's what he’s thinking about? “Glist, this type of crowd is fine. Don’t worry.”

Glisten tilted his head and leaned in slightly. “Then what kind of crowds scare you?”

Boxten thought for a second. “I guess…party crowds?”

“Anything else?”

He hesitated, knowing this might be risky, but since Glisten asked... “Concert crowds, too.”

Saying that to a singer? Probably a death wish.

Glisten stared at him, blinking, and calmly said–

Actually, he said nothing. 

He was going to say something but abruptly stopped. 

Was that the wrong thing to say? Boxten was about to apologize when he heard footsteps behind him. He assumed it was Poppy, but remembered she was preoccupied with more essential matters, such as socializing with numerous friend groups and buying souvenirs.

The toon paused between him and Glisten. She ignored Boxten and placed her attention solely on Glisten. “Are you Glisten?”

“Yes.” Glisten answered. He grinned, but Boxten saw his eye twitching. “That's me, do you need anything?”

“My. Gosh.” The newcomer grinned so wide, she could give horror clowns a run for their money. “I’m a huge fan of yours! I love your songs!”

Glisten smiled, resting his cheek on his hand. “Aw, thanks for that.” To her, it probably seemed casual, even charming, but Boxten detected a subtle shift. Glisten was putting on a persona, a version of himself he saved for fans.

What? Friends can notice minor details about one another. 

The girl squealed. “Can I have your autograph?!” She did not wait for Glisten's response. She rummaged through her handbag and brought out a notebook and a pen — why does she randomly have that? She held it in front of his face, obviously not allowing him the option to refuse.

Glisten’s grin lowered a bit, but he kept his cool. “No problem,” he took the paper and pen from the fan. Without missing a beat, he scribbled down his signature with such ease, it was as if he’d done it a thousand times (which he probably did). Boxten couldn’t help but feel impressed — Glisten made it look so effortless, like it was second nature to him.

He handed the two items back to the fan, who excitedly received it. “Oh my gosh! Ha! My friends are not gonna believe this!”

As she kept her belongings, Glisten asked, “Is there anything else you want?”

The girl answered without hesitation. “Yeah, I wanna go on a date with you!” 

Glisten's eyes widened, and his face turned pale. Boxten also realized he wasn't moving; had he become a statue?

She observed his reaction and laughed. “Sorry! So sorry! It was a bet I made with my friends: whoever meets Glisten first must say they want to date him!” She struck the air with her fist, triumphant. “Ha! They owe me fifty dollars.”

Glisten smiled, but Boxten knew it was a ruse.

Glisten rested his arms on the table. “Oh, that's funny. What will you do with that money?”

“To buy merch, of course!”

“I don't have merch.” Glisten stated plainly. 

She waved her hand. “Pfft! When you eventually get some!”

The girl turned to Boxten, as if finally regarding his presence. “Oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?”

“No, you didn’t.” Glisten responded, his tone noticeably tense. “I was just chatting with my friend.”

Her eyes lit up. “Your friend?” She looked at Glisten for a brief moment before fixing her attention on Boxten. “Hey, man! Do you know Glisten’s schedule? I really want to go to his next concert!”

“Um…” Boxten leaned back awkwardly, glancing at Glisten. His friend's smile had vanished, replaced by a glare which he directed towards the girl.

“Excuse me?” Glisten’s voice was sharp with barely-contained irritation.

She faced back to Glisten, her enthusiasm fading. “Woops! Sorry, sorry! I think I overstayed my welcome…” she nervously scratched the back of her neck. “Well, goodbye now! I’ll find you at your next show. Just you wait!” she aimed finger guns at Glisten before hurriedly making her exit.

When she was out of sight, Glisten shifted his focus to Boxten. “Are you okay?” 

Boxten reluctantly nodded. “I think so… How about you?”

Glisten sighed. “Decent.” then grumbled under his breath, “Glad she's gone.”

“Does that always happen when you're outside?” Boxten cocked his head. 

Glisten rolled his eyes. “Yep.” 

They sat in silence. Boxten fidgeted with his thumbs, his gaze wandering around until it landed on one of his food. “Do you want…some fries?”

Look, he didn't know how to continue the conversation. This was all he could think of. 

Glisten blinked and stared at him; did Boxten genuinely caught him off-guard? “That's yours, though.”

“Yeah, and I want you to have them.” He rotated the box of fries to face Glisten and pushed it towards him. “It's too much for me to finish anyway. Haha…”

Glisten hesitated before accepting the food. “...Thank you.”

“You're welcome!” Boxten smiled. Hopefully, it will cheer Glisten up — those fries are very nice, after all.

They resumed consuming their meals. As Boxten ate his ramen, he noticed Glisten slowly picking up fries and placing them in his mouth, as if to savor them. Honestly, Boxten thought that was adorable.

Um…anyway–

When they were finished, they cleared the table, collected their trays, and headed to the tray return station. After setting it down, they left the food court. Boxten decided he wanted to try making conversation again, so he asked, “The food was good, right?”

“Yeah,” Glisten agreed. “Hm, I’m glad I wasn't recognized again.”

“Oh, right.” Boxten nodded uneasily, remembering their earlier meeting with a fan. “I think now I understand why you never wanted to hang out with me.”

That was the worst phrase Boxten could have used. He hastily added as an attempt to correct his blunder. “I mean– uh, I mean, you didn't want me to–” he pointed at himself, struggling to find the words. “–experience that. Yeah. Or…”

He gazed at him. “Did you not want me to see you embarrassed?” Oh, what am I saying?

“You're right on the first one.” Glisten admitted, and Boxten looked at him curiously. “Did you know how bothersome it can get? Like, I'm just trying to eat my dinner– lunch in this case, and then some stranger approaches me and demands an autograph!” He scoffed and crossed his arms. “And the second…?” Glisten glanced away for a moment before returning his gaze to him. “I don't know.” He murmured the last part so quietly that Boxten would have missed it if he weren't paying attention.

“Well,” Glisten said, changing the subject. “Come on, let's go shopping!”

They stepped onto the escalator. Glisten stood beside Boxten. “Where do you wanna go first?” Glisten asked.

“Hm, maybe some place with…clothes?” Boxten answered questionably, as if he wasn't sure himself.

Glisten let out an "ahh" and grinned. “I know just the place.”

“Really?” Boxten cocked his head, skeptical.

“No.” Glisten's grin and chill expression remained, making his response almost comical. “But it's a rather popular store. They must have it here.”

“Well, if you’re sure…” Boxten said. “Lead the way.”

Glisten smirked mischievously and Boxten instantly regretted his words. Did he sign his own death warrant?

When they reached the next floor, they stepped off the escalator and walked until they found a map. Glisten was the first to approach it and enter the store's name. The name appeared at the very top. Walking up next to him, Boxten heard Glisten say, “I knew it.” before he faced him and gestured towards the screen. “Here, that's where we're going.”

Boxten moved his gaze over to the shop and his eyes widened.

Glisten was correct — the store was popular. One of the key reasons for its popularity was its high price.  

Boxten's wallet would be drowning in debt if he bought anything there.

“Um,” Boxten blurted. “Uh…” how can he decline without sounding rude?

“Not your taste?” Glisten guessed, tilting his head.

“No– just that…” Boxten looked away for a moment. “I don't think I'll have enough to pay for any of those.”

“Hmm,” Glisten shook his head and sighed. “I already figured.”

Boxten was running through all the excuses he could think of to avoid paying when Glisten said, “That’s why I’m paying.”

…Say what now?

“What?!” Boxten frantically waved his hands. “N-no! You don’t have to–!”

“It’s my treat, Box,” Glisten winked. “I’m the one who wanted to hang out, remember?”

As nice as that was, Boxten still protested. “Glisten, don’t. I can pay for my own stuff.”

Glisten gave him a thoughtful look. Boxten wondered anxiously what was running through his mind, hoping it wasn’t anything negative. Finally, Glisten sighed. “Alright, I see.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “You choose the store then,”

Boxten blinked in confusion. “Wait, what? I thought we’re going to your store?”

“Yeah, but,” Glisten shrugged, “looking at your clothes, it doesn’t seem like that’s your style.”

Wow. What a way to call him out. Boxten couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious. He could practically hear Glisten thinking, Oh, Boxten doesn’t like expensive stuff. He prefers "poor" things.

Sensing Boxten’s quiet reaction, Glisten backtracked. “I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that the clothes in that store don't seem like something you’d normally wear.”

He kept going, almost as if talking to himself. “I want you to wear something you’re comfortable in. I don't want you to feel pressured into buying something you don't like.”

Boxten managed a small smile. “Thanks, I appreciate it. But aren’t you implying you’re going to my store? Don't you still want to go to yours?”

“I think a change of pace would be nice,” Glisten said. “So, go on — got any place in mind?”

Glisten stepped aside, allowing Boxten to type in the name of the store. As he carefully spelled it out, he silently hoped the mall had it — this was his go-to place for shopping, after all. When he hit "enter," the search results appeared, and a wave of relief washed over him. They had it. Thank goodness. How awkward would it have been if they didn’t?

“I’ve never heard of that store before,” Glisten remarked, squinting slightly at the screen. “What do they sell?”

“Comfortable, but basic stuff,” Boxten explained.

“Basic…” Glisten repeated, as if he was trying the word out for the first time. “Hmm, alright.”

After checking the directions, they headed toward the store.

When they arrived, Boxten raced inside, with Glisten trailing behind. Boxten looked over the clothes, which included shirts, pants, shorts, sweaters and other non-fancy items. Boxten didn't mind, though; he loved this place! It was the perfect fit for his preferences.

He glanced at Glisten and saw him standing there like a lost visitor. Cocking his head, Boxten approached him. “Um, see anything you like?”

“This,” Glisten observed, taking in the store, “is different from what I'm used to.”

Boxten laughed nervously — Glisten's really out here implying he's rich. Boxten pictured him saying, Ew! I don't buy those low-end items. Direct me to the nearest fashion store!

Boxten rubbed his arm and said the first word that came to mind: “Sorry.”

Whenever someone is disappointed, he always defaults to apologizing (someone he does it even if it wasn't his fault. In this case, though, it probably is).

Glisten gave Boxten a perplexed look. “What?”

“You don’t like this place, do you?” Boxten asked.

“No,” Glisten replied firmly, shaking his head. “I’m just surprised.” He turned to a random shirt — something blue — and moved closer to it. “This place isn’t my style, but it has a certain charm to it.”

“Do you…like that shirt, Glist?”

“I mean, it's literally one color.” Glisten lifted it and inspected it. “But I like it. The fabric’s soft too.”

Boxten grinned. “Yeah! Doesn't it feel great? I buy my clothes from this store.”

“This store you say?” Glisten took another look around, as if seeing things in a new light. “You have good taste then, Box.”

Poppy was the only person who had ever complimented his fashion sense before. Maybe that’s why hearing it from another toon made him so happy. “Haha, I'm sure you have good taste too.”

Glisten simply hummed. He left to check another section, still holding the blue shirt in hand.

Boxten gazed at him fondly before returning to browsing.

They stayed at that store for at most fifteen minutes — it was quite small. When they walked out, they both had a bag.

Glisten had purchased that blue shirt and a few others, which Boxten didn't catch. Meanwhile, Boxten bought the identical purple-colored clothing that he already had. This…this is why he doesn't go shopping.

Their next stop was a gift shop. He was intrigued by the large number of keychains and fidget toys on the shelves, so he bought them and placed them inside of his clothing bag for easy carrying. Glisten didn't buy anything, all he did was follow him and make some small comments.

They moved on, heading to a makeup store.

Boxten awkwardly trailed behind as Glisten browsed through a selection of blushes, foundations, concealers, eyeliners, mascaras, lipsticks– wow, that was a lot.

Boxten thought he had a decent understanding of makeup, but watching Glisten meticulously go through each product made him second-guess everything he knew. 

Each time Glisten picked something up, he’d ask for Boxten’s opinion before either putting it back on the shelf or putting it into his shopping basket. Over time, Boxten’s curiosity got the better of him, and he started asking about the various items. Glisten was more than happy to explain everything in detail.

They must’ve spent an hour or more in that store due to Glisten’s info-dumping about makeup. Boxten didn’t catch most of it, but he didn’t mind — he enjoyed listening regardless.

When they finally left, Glisten’s total of bags went up to four.

Boxten glanced at his own — he had one, well, technically two since he placed his gift store bag in his clothing one. He knew it wasn’t a competition, but it definitely felt like he was losing.

They wandered through the mall, exploring every corner. Boxten’s attention was elsewhere, so he was startled when Glisten suddenly asked, “Want something to drink?”

Boxten realized how thirsty he felt — they hadn't gotten drinks back at the food court after all — he replied, “Yeah, sure,”

Glisten led him to a bubble tea shop. Boxten ordered milk tea, while Glisten went for chocolate crème brûlée.

First, Boxten was taken aback by the fact they even offered crème brûlée at a bubble tea place. Second, Wow, he really loves chocolate.

Once their drinks were ready, Glisten collected both orders from the counter and handed Boxten his. Then, he eagerly sipped his chocolate crème brûlée.

As Boxten drank his milk tea, he watched Glisten, who looked utterly content. A subtle smile appeared on the corner of his lips. Simply gazing at Glisten made him relax.

Why is his expression…kinda cute?

Uh… 

Fuc–

***

Gosh, Glisten loved his crème brûlée.

This bubble tea brand was his favorite, and for a good reason — it had crème brûlée! It was pure heaven.

The moment he discovered this business, it instantly became his go-to (Glisten was so delighted when he saw that the mall had this store). Now, finally sharing this little gem with Boxten made it all the more special.

As he drank, he began to think about today's events. Well, technically the first one was yesterday.

Glisten, despite being the more confident one between the two, found himself strangely anxious when he asked Boxten to hang out via text. He knew Boxten didn’t like FaceTime or calls, so he stuck to texting. But that only made things more awkward. Why was it so hard to convey emotions with words on a screen? At least when he spoke in person, his tone gave it away. 

Not that Glisten would ever admit it, but after Boxten agreed to hang out, he shut off his phone and stared at the wall, wondering how he’d managed to convince him with the corniest message he could think of. Sure, Boxten didn’t mind corny things, but Glisten still cringed at how cheesy it was.

But then again, he had pulled that whole "I’m hurry, let’s starving" routine just so Boxten wouldn’t feel so stupid.

When Boxten sat at a random table at the food court, Glisten found it so silly (cough cough — and cute — cough) that he couldn’t help but giggle. And then, the moment with the fries: Glisten had been amused by Boxten’s obvious interest in them. When Boxten walked off, Glisten had stayed back for a moment, grinning at the fries, knowing exactly what he was going to do, before catching up. The look on Boxten’s face when Glisten revealed he’d bought them was priceless.

And then there was that fan... Glisten loved his fans, but some could be a bit too much. This was why he ordered online — too many overbearing interactions. He appreciated Boxten’s subtlety in comparison; Boxten liked his music but didn’t make it his whole personality.

Why did his fans (excluding Boxten. He's the best fan), like that girl, have to be over-the-top with comments like "You should date me". That always made Glisten uncomfortable.

When Boxten tried to cheer him up by offering the very fries Glisten had bought for him, it felt like a gift exchange with the exact same present — but somehow, it meant even more. 

Good thing his makeup covered the blush that spread across his face (also yes, it did cheer him up. Those fries were delicious).

He ate those fries slowly, not because he was a slow eater, but because he was touched by the gesture (told you Boxten was the best fan. He wasn’t out here saying, “Date me!” Instead, he goes, “Here, have some fries!” Ah, what a great friend).

At the clothing store, Glisten had less to say. He just knew he’d be coming back there, on his own.

The gift store, hmmm, seeing Boxten so interested with them was fun to see. Other than that, no comment.

Lastly, the makeup store. Glisten could tell Boxten had no idea what was going on, but the fact that he listened and tried to understand was... incredibly thoughtful. Glisten appreciated it.

The bubble tea shop was special, but it couldn't compare to the time he spent with Boxten.

He was so deep in his today’s memories that he almost didn't catch Boxten watching him sip. His eyes fixed on him in a way that, if it were anyone else, would have annoyed Glisten. Normally, he would’ve told them to cut it out. But with Boxten…he let it slide. 

He wondered if Boxten wanted to try his drink, but without an extra straw, that would mean–

Ah, nevermind.

Boxten seemed happy with his own order anyway, so Glisten pushed the thought aside.

They’d been shopping for who-knows-how-long, and at some point, Glisten had completely lost track of time. He glanced around, searching for any clue of the hour, and his eyes landed on a restaurant across the mall. Through one of its windows, he saw how dark it was outside. The only thing lighting it up were the street lights.

“What are you looking at, Glist?”

Boxten’s voice brought his attention back to him. 

“It’s dark outside,” Glisten explained.

Boxten took a look at it himself. “Wow.” he remarked plainly as he turned back to Glisten. He asked nervously, as if Glisten would refuse by screaming at him. “Can we go home?”

If Glisten had been by himself, he probably would’ve kept shopping. But seeing the weary look on Boxten’s face made him swallow that impulse. “Sure, Box.”

Once they finished their drinks, they threw them away into the trash and headed out of the mall together.

As soon as they stepped out, the cool night air greeted them.

Boxten glanced left and right, as if he were about to cross the street. There was no road in front of them, only more walkways for pedestrians. Still, being cautious didn't hurt.

After checking that there was no danger, Boxten faced Glisten. “Today’s been really fun.”

Glisten smirked. “Of course it was.”

“Haha…well,” Boxten rubbed his hand. “Are we going to say goodbye now?”

Glisten tilted his head. “Goodbye? Already?”

Boxten gazed at him. “I…um…”

“I know you’re not trying to be rude, Boxy,” Glisten said, “just that I was hoping to walk you home.”

Boxten blinked, shooting him a flustered look. “W-what?”

Glisten gestured around them. “It’s nighttime now, and who knows what could happen?”

“It’s okay, Glist, really–” Boxten waved his hand. “I’ve walked home alone in the dark before. P-please, I’m not that–”

“Helpless?” Glisten guessed. “I know you’re not.”

“Oh? Then…?”

This oblivious, endearing, music box. “I’ll walk you home, then head back to mine. I’m not going inside. We’re not having a sleepover.”

“Oh.” Boxten sighed, sounding relieved. Yeah, Glisten would be too. If someone told him they’d walk him home, he’d probably assume the worst. “If you insist, then…okay. It’s this way.” He turned to lead the way, and Glisten followed.

They strolled beneath the streetlights, the moon casting its soft glow over them, while cars occasionally zipped past on the nearby road. As they ventured deeper into the quieter part of city, tucked between buildings, it became apparent that neither Glisten nor Boxten knew exactly what time it was, but they didn't need to take out their phones to check. Judging by the empty streets and the few toons lingering here and there, it was well past 8PM.

Did they seriously stay in the mall for that long? 

As they walked, they chatted, letting the topics shift from one thing to another. They talked about music, recent online trends, plushies (Boxten assured him that Pengu the Penguin Plush was doing okay), books (Glisten didn’t have much to say about it), and, finally, makeup.

“Hey, Boxy,” Glisten said suddenly, breaking the flow of their conversation.

“Yeah?” Boxten looked at him, curious.

Glisten lifted all four of his shopping bags he was holding. “My new makeup brush is somewhere in here.”

Boxten’s brows knitted together in confusion. “...And?”

“I need help finding it,” Glisten responded casually, flashing an innocent smile.

Boxten stared at him, still confused. “Um, why?”

Glisten rolled his eyes, amused. “Oh, no reason. I’m just bored. Plus, the brush tip is super soft. I want you to feel it.”

Boxten chuckled softly. “That’s…unexpected.”

“I didn’t hear a no,” Glisten teased.

Boxten blinked for a moment. “I– uh, sure, I guess.”

Boxten stepped closer and began rummaging through Glisten’s bags, carefully looking through all the makeup products. There was one point where he opened a bag, gazed at it for a split second, before immediately moving on to the next — the one he quickly passed over was probably the one with the clothes. They paused their walk as Boxten continued to dig around in search of the brush.

Glisten knew this whole situation was random, but he was exhausted, which meant he would do the weirdest things. Besides, he enjoyed messing with Boxten just a little. The guy was so cute when flustered.

Glisten’s face became a bit red after thinking that. Boxten’s only a friend, and yes, he did call him cute, probably twice already, but why would he…?

“I got it, Glist!” Boxten pulled out the object Glisten had asked for: the makeup brush. His announcement broke Glisten out of his thoughts.

“Nice,” Glisten said with a small grin. “Now, feel the bristles.”

Boxten followed his instruction and when he touched the bristles, his eyes lit up in surprise. “Wow, that really is soft.”

Glisten gave a knowing nod. “Mhm. Kinda figured you’d like it. You felt it before after all.”

Boxten’s gaze slowly moved toward him. “What?”

Glisten smirked. “Back at the store, I saw the look you made when you touched it. So I thought, ‘Hm, I want to see it again.’” His tone was playful, though there was a grain of truth behind the joke.

“I–” Boxten started to say something, probably like, "I forgot," but closed his mouth, his face flushing the faintest shade of red.

Glisten couldn’t help but think how adorable Boxten was when flustered — and no, you didn’t read that. Glisten definitely didn’t think that for the third gosh damn time. You’re imagining things.

“Alright, my turn,” Glisten said, holding out his hand for the brush. “I want to feel it again, too.”

Boxten silently nodded and handed it back to him.

Glisten rubbed the makeup brush across the top of his hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Boxten glancing away. Glisten was about to tease him again when, suddenly, he felt arms wrap tightly around him from behind, pinning his own arms to his sides.

What the hell?

For a split second, he thought it was another overzealous fan. But as two more figures approached from each side, the realization hit him hard.

These weren’t fans at all.

Boxten walked a little ahead, but after hearing the footsteps behind him, he spun around. His eyes widened, and he took a step back. Before he could react further, one of the newcomers grabbed his arm, and Boxten let out a yelp.

“Hey!” Glisten yelled. He struggled against the toon holding him in place. Meanwhile, another guy roughly yanked Boxten's bag away and rifled through it. After a few moments, the toon scoffed and tossed the bag aside, its contents spilling out onto the ground. “Bah, there's nothing interesting in there.”

“What’s in it?” the guy gripping Boxten’s arm asked, his voice impatient.

“Just some boring clothes and useless trinkets,” the other toon answered, sounding disappointed.

Boring? Useless?  Glisten gave them a dirty look.

“Then why didn’t we go after the bow-toon instead?” The rough-voiced one — alright, Glisten's calling him Rough — jerked his head in Glisten’s direction.

Grunt (yep, Glisten’s so creative), the one who had thrown away Boxten's bag, shrugged. “Because that buffoon over there told us to.” He motioned at the person restraining Glisten.

“Shut up, you two!” the third guy snapped, his grip tightening around Glisten. If it weren’t for his oversized pink bow, Glisten might have been crushed.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Grunt muttered indifferently before turning his attention to Boxten. “Alright, boxhead, you must have something worth taking.”

Rough nodded in agreement, squeezing Boxten’s arm even tighter. Boxten winced, trying to pull away, but Rough’s grip was too strong. 

“I– I don’t have anything!” Boxten’s voice cracked. “Please, let me go–”

Grunt shook his head nonchalantly, like he was denying a simple request. “Yeah, no. That’s not happening.”

Rough’s grip on Boxten tightened further. 

How strong was that toon?! Glisten thought as he tried to get out of Buffoon’s — yeah, that’s the third guy’s name now — death hug.

Then, a melody filled the air.

Glisten’s heart dropped.

Grunt exchanged a glance with Rough. “Do you think there’s something in his head?”

Rough chuckled. “Other than insanity? Yeah, probably.”

The music grew louder, as if Boxten’s fear was amplifying it.

Before Glisten could even process what to do, Buffoon barked at his goons, “If there’s nothing valuable on him, grab this one.” 

Glisten knew he was a mirror, which was an object, but seriously, do you have to treat him like one? 

“He’s got more bags.”

Grunt fixed his gaze on Boxten, not even attempting to look back at Buffoon. “No, no, this guy's head is literally playing music. There's got to be something valuable inside.”

“Because he’s a music box, genius.” Glisten snapped. “Of course, he’s going to play music!”

“Shut up,” Buffoon growled, tightening his hug-of-doom.

Rough raised an eyebrow at Grunt. “What are you suggesting?”

Grunt’s smirk was downright devilish. “I’m suggesting we open his head and see what’s inside.”

Rough’s eyes lit up with wicked excitement. “Oh-ho, now we’re talking!”

“No...please,” Boxten’s voice, soft and desperate, was barely audible over the escalating tune. “Don’t…don’t do that.”

Grunt shrugged, unimpressed by Boxten’s pleas. “‘Don’t do that’? Who cares? As long as we get something out of it.” He turned to Rough, gesturing toward Boxten. “Hold him steady. I’ll figure out how to pop his head open.”

Pop his head open? That was not a sentence Glisten ever expected to hear.

“No!” Boxten cried, attempting to free himself. He tugged at Rough’s arm, pulling with all the strength he could muster, but it was futile.

For a moment, the only sound was the melody that played from Boxten’s head.

“Ow,” Rough said mockingly, clearly unbothered. “Alright, that’s enough.” He grabbed Boxten’s other arm, restraining him fully. Boxten’s eyes widened in panic as he realized he couldn’t move. His music became louder.

Damn it, Glisten! Do something! His mind screamed. But all he could do was curse at himself. Why hadn’t he acted sooner? What kind of friend was he? He needed to get free, and fast. But how in the world was he supposed to break Buffoon’s iron grip?

Glisten scanned his surroundings, searching for anything that might help him get loose. There was nothing. The streets were empty, save for the dull glow of the streetlamp illuminating the whole robbery/assault. Tall buildings loomed above them like silent witnesses, but Glisten knew better than to shout for help. In a city like this, a scream was just background noise.

The only thing he could use was himself.

He had never been in a fight before. Great time to regret not taking those self-defense classes.

Glisten’s mind raced as he looked down at the ground, wondering what to do. Should he try squirming free? Flip Buffoon over his shoulder? (Why was that even a thought? He wasn't that strong). Fall backward and hope his weight crushed Buffoon?

An idea popped into his head.

He lifted one foot and stomped down hard on Buffoon’s.

In perfect cartoon fashion, Buffoon yowled, immediately releasing Glisten and hopping back on one foot, clutching the other in pain.

It was a ridiculous move, but it worked.

Rough and Grunt snapped their heads toward the commotion. Boxten followed their gazes.

Glisten dropped his bags (rest in piece makeup products and clothes) so they wouldn’t slow him down and bolted toward Boxten and the goons. 

Grunt, who was closest, tried to intercept him, but Glisten, filled with frustration and adrenaline, shoved him hard. Grunt hit the pavement with a thud.

That left Rough standing both metaphorically and literally. He let go of Boxten and stepped back, confusion plastered on his face. He clearly hadn’t anticipated Glisten’s interference.

Glisten positioned himself between the two, standing protectively in front of Boxten. 

Boxten inched closer, as if the small barrier Glisten created gave him a sense of safety. The melody from his head began to slow, its once frantic rhythm easing.

Rough’s scowl deepened, and he sneered. “Oh, look at this. The knight in shining armor comes to save his little princess.” He spat the words like they were something foul.

Glisten cringed. Who wrote this guy's lines? Did he come up with them himself? Please don’t let him become a writer. If there was a competition to see who had the most random thoughts during tense situations, Glisten would have won first place.

Rough puffed out his chest, trying to seem more intimidating. “Those two idiots are nothing. Me? I’m the real deal.” He raised a fist. “Let’s see how tough you are.”

Glisten understood what was coming. “Down!” he whisper-shouted to Boxten. Both of them ducked and Rough’s punch sailed harmlessly over their heads.

“What the–?!” Rough stumbled, bewildered by their quick reaction.

Glisten grasped the opportunity to escape. “Run!” he urged, pushing Boxten ahead. Boxten hesitated, but after a brief pause, he nodded and sprinted forward. Before they could fully make a break for it, Glisten (because of course things had to get more dramatic and embarrassing) tripped.

With a startled yelp, Glisten flung his arms out just before he slammed into the pavement. His hands absorbed most of the force, sparing him from any serious damage to his face. If something cracked, he knew the pain could have been intense, possibly affecting his vision.

Boxten’s shouting his name fueled him to move, but when Glisten tried to get up, he found himself held in place. Twisting around, he saw Grunt clutching his leg.

This bastard. “Let go!” Glisten yelled, tugging at his leg. 

Grunt only gave him a malicious grin.

Fine. If pulling wasn’t working, then he’d have to kick this guy in the face.

And that’s exactly what he did.

“Ow!” Grunt cried, sounding like a proud member of the Captain Obvious Club. His hands flew to his face, releasing Glisten's leg. 

Glisten scrambled to his feet and when he looked up, he discovered Rough towering over him.

Rough's fist came flying at him.

Glisten knew there was no way he'd be able to dodge.

Glisten cursed under his breath, throwing his arms up to shield his face, turning away in the hopes of softening the blow. It would still hurt like hell, but maybe it wouldn’t be as bad.

He closed his eyes and braced for it.

But…nothing.

He heard the punch land, but there was no pain.

Instead, he felt something heavy fall onto him. Puzzled, he opened his eyes and saw–

Boxten?

He looked up and saw Rough shaking his hand, muttering something unintelligible.

It didn’t take long for Glisten to realize: Boxten had stepped in front of him and taken the blow.

The melody was still playing from Boxten’s head, though it had softened. Maybe that’s why he didn’t hear Glisten coming. Or, perhaps the music was perfectly audible, and Glisten just hadn't noticed — too focused on freeing his leg.

“Box…?”

Boxten looked at him briefly, then shakily stood up, rubbing his head, presumingly where the punch had connected. “Sorry…”

Glisten's gaze shifted to Rough, who was already gearing up for another strike.

He will not allow that to happen.

Anger surged through him, and as he clenched his fists, he realized something.

Somehow, throughout the chaos, Glisten had managed to keep hold of his makeup brush.

Immediately, he flipped it in his hand, angling the blunt end toward Rough. Glisten stepped between him and Boxten, lifting his arm and thrusting the brush against the side of Rough’s head like a dagger.

Rough stopped mid-punch, staggering back with a grunt.

Glisten grabbed Boxten’s arm — not roughly, but with a gentle, firm grip. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Boxten seemed to understand what Glisten intended.

Together, they ran away from the scene.

Behind them, Glisten heard Buffoon, who had finally chosen to recover, shouting, “Get them!” He didn't look behind him to see if they were chasing them. 

Glisten had no idea where Boxten's house was, and even if he had, he wasn't going to lead the attackers there. So he rounded turns and corners at random, hoping to lose them.

As they raced, Glisten could tell Boxten was doing his hardest to keep up. Boxten's energy was draining, and the punch had definitely accelerated the process.

Glisten searched around for cover — any place they could hide.

In the distance, he spotted beams of light illuminating one spot. Glisten figured there was a crowd there, and a crowd usually meant safety, so he sprinted toward the lights.

After weaving through a few streets, he rounded a final corner and saw toons flowing in and out of what appeared to be a bustling night market. Glisten darted through the entrance, pulling Boxten along as they disappeared deeper into the sea of faces.

He slowed his pace, giving both himself and Boxten a chance to catch their breath while ensuring he wouldn’t lose Boxten in the crowd.

As they reached what felt like the heart of the night market, Glisten took a risk and glanced back.

His eyes scanned the area, and he saw that the trio was nowhere in sight. While a flicker of hope led him to believe they had finally escaped, he knew better than to let his guard down.

He gazed at Boxten and let go of his arm. “Are you alright?”

Boxten smiled unconvincingly. “Y-yeah.” He rubbed his head. “Just, uh, it just aches…”

Music has stopped playing from his head, and Glisten hoped that was a good sign.

Glisten looked around to see whether the pursuers were still around before returning his attention to him. “Why did you do that?”

Boxten gave him a confused look. “Wasn't it obvious? I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“And by doing that, you took a punch for me?” Glisten asked, still in disbelief from what had occurred a few minutes before.

Boxten shrugged. “...I guess.”

“Boxten…” Glisten stared at him, unsure how to respond. That was genuinely the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him, which was concerning given that Boxten had willingly put himself in harm’s way.

Before he could find the words, Boxten’s attention shifted. “Um, Glisten, wait here.”

“What are you–?” Glisten started, but Boxten abruptly turned and walked away.

“Boxten–?!” Panic flooded Glisten’s expression as he tried to follow, but the crowd seeped in, blocking his way. “Boxten!” he called out again, desperation creeping into his voice.

He had dragged Boxten into hanging out with him, accidentally putting him in a dangerous situation. Now, Boxten was leaving him.

Why did he have to ruin the only good thing in his life?

Despite the recklessness of his actions, Glisten knew he had to find Boxten. If those goons caught up to him…

He pushed through the crowd of people, determined to follow the direction Boxten had taken.

Spotting Boxten’s purple head was easy, and soon Glisten was right behind him. “Box–”

Boxten jumped, spinning around. His surprise quickly faded into relief when he saw Glisten. “H-hey! Sorry, you scared me.”

Glisten sheepishly grinned — there went his perfect facade. “U-um, sorry.” Great, now he was stuttering too.

Boxten tilted his head, and Glisten expected he would make a remark about it, but instead he smiled. “Glisten, I bought something for you.”

Bought? Glisten remembered Boxten claiming he didn't have anything on him. He was courageous to say so, because Boxten had a wallet and a phone (Glisten texted him that morning, so he knew).

Boxten held something in front of him and Glisten examined it.

It was a dark blue bow. Its edges were somewhat pointed, rather than circular. It featured two long ribbons, one on each side. It was around the size of his pink bow, if not larger.

When Boxten spoke, Glisten fixed his focus back on him. “It's obviously a bow,” he chuckled. “I…I saw yours and thought this would be something you'd like.” He averted his gaze. “Or…do you prefer something pink?”

Thank goodness Boxten glanced away; Glisten didn't want him to see him blushing so much. Was it humiliation because he automatically assumed the worst, or because Boxten did something thoughtful? Both, perhaps?

Glisten cracked a smile. “No– no, I like it.” He accepted the bow from him, which made him realize he still had the makeup brush.

Boxten noticed the object in his hand. “Oh, uh, so, the reason I got that was because we lost all of our bags. I didn't want you to leave empty-handed. Heh, it’s nice that you were able to salvage one of your items.”

Glisten did not have to think twice about his decision. “I don't want you to leave empty-handed too.” He offered the makeup brush to him. “Here.”

Boxten's eyes widened in shock. “T-that’s yours.” He waved his hand. “Really– it’s fine–”

“I insist,” Glisten replied, nodding. “You should wash the blunt end, though–”

“I know,” Boxten interrupted, his gaze softening. “I didn’t know what was happening back there, but thank you.”

Glisten's face grew hot at the sincerity in Boxten's expression. “I…” He struggled to find the words, a trend that had become all too familiar lately.

Finally, he managed, “I should thank you too. Taking a punch like that without hesitation was really brave.”

He noticed Boxten’s face flush — were they really just exchanging awkwardness? “Thanks, Glist. It doesn’t hurt as much anymore.” Boxten peered down at the makeup brush and took it. It seemed the word of the day was "thank(s)," because he added, “Thanks for the brush too. I don’t really do makeup, but the softness is comforting.”

Glisten looked at the bow Boxten had given him. With a small smile, he clutched it close to his chest as if it were the most important thing in the world. Boxten did the same, firmly gripping the makeup brush.

They stood there for a while. The toons passing by probably gave them strange looks, but Glisten didn't care, and it seems neither did Boxten.

They gazed at each other before Glisten broke the silence. “Should we head back to your house now?”

Boxten nodded. “Yes, but how will you get home? What if those toons find you again?”

Glisten shook his head. “Nah, I’ll take a taxi. And hey, I’m popular. One word from me, and my fans will rip them to shreds.”

Boxten raised an eyebrow. “Is this really the time to mention your popularity?”

Glisten realized his mistake and opened his mouth to backtrack, but Boxten chuckled. “J-just kidding.”

Glisten laughed along, though a hint of embarrassment crept into his voice. “Okay, okay.”

They made their way toward the exit.

As they walked, Glisten glanced at Boxten, who was happily holding the makeup brush. He couldn’t help but gaze at him fondly.

He had never imagined forming a friendship with someone he met at a random party. Glisten felt grateful he hadn’t left sooner; if he had, this happiness would never have come to be.

Glisten acts perfect, meanwhile, Boxten naturally is.

Boxten was a good friend, and Glisten was lucky to have him.

Chapter Text

“Finally!”

Glisten pushed his chair back with a heavy sigh, sinking into it as he stared up at the ceiling. “That took forever.”

He had just wrapped up the final edits to the lyrics of his newest song, and it had taken far longer than usual. Normally, he could finish it in a week or two, but this time? It took a whole month. His local supermarket was probably thriving thanks to the sheer amount of coffee he’d bought.

“I swear, if this song doesn’t chart high, I’m never writing again,” he grumbled, though he knew full well he wasn't going to stop. It was one of his sole sources of income (the other is being a background character in a show. Really, he should've been a Main…). Also, being a singer means a lot of fans (which includes those fans. The kind where if he quits, they'll track him down and demand more).

With a groan, he forced himself up from the chair. He went to his desk, saved his work, and shut down his laptop before plugging it into the charger. Afterwards, he moved to his bed and flopped into it.

His mind swirled with melodies, wondering which would fit the song best. But that could be a problem for future Glisten. All he craved now was sleep (if he fell into a coma, it would be even better).

He reached out, took a random pillow, and hugged it (what? It helps fall asleep). He rolled onto his side and closed his eyes. From this point on, he will ignore any–

  Ding.

–distractions.

He frowned, shutting his eyes tighter as he drew the pillow closer to his face. It was a notification from his phone that sitting on the desk. Glisten knew he could turn over and take it; after all, his bed and desk are right next to each other, but he was too tired. Whatever it was. He will check tomorrow.

Ding.

There it was again. Initially, Glisten assumed it came from his YouToon or Toonigram (now that he thinks about it, there were a lot of applications with the word "Toon"), but he was beginning to suspect it was a text.

He doesn't have many contacts. The important ones were Boxten and Poppy and his group chats (don't ask why he doesn't have his parents' phone numbers). If it was Boxten, he would only message once (mostly); meanwhile, Poppy would message twice. The other chats he had were not a top priority. They can wait until tomorrow. He'll just say he was sleeping.

Ding, ding, ding.

More buzzing from his phone. Okay, this was either Poppy spamming him or it came from one of the group chats. What conversation would they be having? What’s my breakfast for tomorrow? It's 11PM, almost 12. You should be talking about how to get yourself drowsy.  

He buried his head deeper into the pillow as he pulled his knees up to his chest. Hopefully, if he got cozy enough, it would go away–

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding, ding–

Oh my gosh.

He flipped over and swiped his phone. Squinting, he looked to see where the notifications were coming from.

B&P

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

Bow-Girl: guys

—

Boxy <3: Poppy, please go to sleep.

—

Bow-Girl: no

Bow-Girl: AY GLISTEN

Of course, the majority of it came from Poppy. At least Boxten tried to stop her.

What is this

Bow-Girl: i really really really really want to share with u smt

—

Boxy <3: You know you can do that tomorrow, right?

—

Bow-Girl: when did i ever have patience

Can you get with it

—

You woke me up

Boxy <3: Sorry

Not your fault

—

Unlike a certain someone

Bow-Girl: rude

I’m not wrong.

Whatever Poppy was about to tell him had to be crucial because she had to announce it with Boxten there. Like, what could be the other reason for her random texting?

Bow-Girl: so like

Bow-Girl: we were given a script some weeks ago

You and Box?

Bow-Girl: yeah

I feel left out

Boxy <3: Welcome to the beginning of my childhood

What

Boxten dropping a fact about himself, even in joke form, was not what Glisten expected.

Bow-Girl: we’re filming the episode tmr

Bow-Girl: the problem is

Bow-Girl: the script is damn vague

Bow-Girl: i know the show encourage improv

Bow-Girl: but seriously what the hell is this

Can I see it? Maybe I can interpret it

Bow-Girl: no spoilers

Then why did you tell me this if I can't help???

Bow-Girl: no reason

Bow-Girl: thought i can be annoying before i sleep

i hate you

Bow-Girl: love you too

Bow-Girl: goodnights

Poppy went offline.

Glisten's left eye twitched as he peered at the screen. He rolled his eyes and facepalmed. He was woken up for that ridiculous thing? He truly pondered how he managed to put up with her for so long.

His phone vibrated, and he focused on the text. Rather than coming from the group chat, it came via his direct messages.

I’m so sorry for waking you up

Despite himself, Glisten couldn't help but chuckle. Boxten clearly cared for him, which he found quite endearing.

It’s okay

—

You weren't the one to wake me up anyway

Right

—

Get good rest

Though he’d felt drained mere moments ago, sleep no longer seemed appealing. Instead, he wanted to chat with Boxten. Was that selfish? It was late, and Boxten was probably exhausted. Still, he sent the message anyway.

Before that

—

Can you tell me what’s on the script?

Are you sure? Don’t you have your own script to memorize?

Glisten thought back to the document that the show's director, Dandy, had given him weeks before. He hadn't opened it at all.

Yeah

—

But if I can remember like 10 of my songs then I can remember a whole script 

Good thing lying was his greatest speciality (the script part, not the song part. Not memorizing your songs is embarrassing, especially for a singer).

Can I see the script?

Alright

—

Don’t tell Pop I did

My mouth’s zipped

Glisten felt like he was about to unravel some top-secret information with how Poppy and Boxten were acting. It was just a script for a kids' show — what could possibly be so confidential?

Pop and I are talking in a park. Something something happens then I get dragged of set

What?

Not literally

—

I mean

—

Actually I don't know

—

It says, quote on quote, “[Poppy drags you off-set]”

Seriously, that’s it?

—

It’s literally talk talk, Poppy drags you off

Yeah

—

Dandy wants genuine reactions

Typical Dandy. One of the primary reasons for the show's popularity is the raw reactions of the actors on screen.

Afterwards we’re filming another scene where someone is apologizing to us

—

Doesn't say who

—

I’m so confused

Same, and I’m not even in it

Do you remember any of your past scripts?

Yeah? I was in a couple of episodes

—

And those episodes become high-rated because of me

—

I would've been in more but Dandy says he doesn't want to use me for profit or something 

—

Also he has to cycle between 100+ actors

—

All of them need screen time, you know?

Was your script really vague?

Okay, Glisten kinda went off-track there. Boxten had a simple question and he answered it with episodes.

Not from what I remember

—

I mean yeah, it is vague but still understandable

—

I recall one where I was in an ep with some guy named Astro

—

I had some speaking lines but mostly all I did was stand there and look pretty

There was silence from Boxten's end. Glisten assumed he'd fallen asleep and was going to send him a goodnight text when Boxten began typing again.

You were

…Did Boxten confess that Glisten was pretty? Toons say that to him all the time, but for some reason, hearing it from Boxten felt…different. Glisten couldn't exactly place his finger on it.

Haha thank you

Now there was silence on both ends. 

Glisten waited for Boxten to reply, but after a while, he figured he had to type first.

Is there anything else you want to know?

No, that’s all

Boxten was in the middle of typing something when Glisten decided to add:

Can I come to the venue?

Glisten could practically hear Boxten deleting his previous message.

Yeah, you can

—

But aren't you busy?

Glisten shifted his gaze to his laptop, picturing the mountain of work still left to do. Sure, the lyrics were finished, but the instruments, the instrumentals…  

Oh, you know what? They could wait.

Nope

—

When are you supposed to be there?

I think 12?

Alright, see you there

—

Don't tell Poppy I’m coming

—

I’m giving her a surprise

What surprise?

You’ll see

Hmm

—

Okay

—

Goodnight!

Goodnight and sweet dreams <3

Glisten checked that “Do Not Disturb” was on before switching off his phone and setting it on his desk. He laid back onto his bed, eyes drifting to the ceiling as a small smile slowly spread across his face.

He couldn’t wait to see Boxten again.

He grabbed his pillow and let himself fall into sleep.

***

Time Skip — a day later

Glisten has gone to this park before, usually to get to places fast because it was a major link in the city.

Glisten rarely spent much time wandering around, always heading straight to where he needed to be. But if he decided to linger for once, what could he do? There were outdoor exercise areas he had no interest in, playgrounds he was obviously too old for, a lake with nothing to offer, and a few other nature spots. Oh, and of course, there were the pigeons (they lived here rent-free). There was this one time a pigeon– well, you probably know what happened based on what birds often do. Let's just say he wanted to jump into the lake.

Gazing up at the blue sky, he noted how perfect the weather was for filming. He returned his sight to the surroundings, taking in the scenery.

Nature truly was beautiful, especially the cluster of pigeons in front of him.

Wait, what?

He blinked, questioning if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But as the sound reached him, he found his answer: those feathered-chirpers were definitely real.

Firstly, there was a lot. Second, why are they assembled here? They were pecking their beaks into the pavement. Glisten understood that grass occasionally seeps in through the crevices (do pigeons eat grass?), but as he looked closer, he saw none. These birds repeatedly hit solid ground.

If there was ever a villain, Glisten hoped pigeons would be their minions. Their stupidity was so great that a hero wasn't needed. The birds would foil their own plan.

The pigeons were completely blocking his path. He paused for a moment, debating his next move. Should he step off the paved walkway and cut through the grass, or should he turn around and take a different route? He glanced at the grass, then fixed his focus to the pigeons. Should he just walk through them?

“Glist–”

The pigeons flew at his face.

Glisten let out a startled yelp, raising his arms to shield his face as a flurry of wings whooshed past him. Some of the birds’ wings clipped him, and a few claws scratched his side. Ow, he thought. That better not leave a mark. In an instant, the flapping-frenzy ceased.

Who on earth was responsible for that? Glisten was ready to give them a piece of his mind. He didn’t care if it was a fan or even a child — those birds tried to murder him!

He lowered his arms and opened his mouth to yell, but he froze. The guy standing in front of him looked familiar, very familiar. He stood there, his expression a mix of shock and guilt. They locked eyes for a solid three seconds before the newcomer finally spoke. “Glisten–! I’m so, so sorry!”

It was Boxten.

Nevermind. Boxten gets a free pass from Glisten’s scolding.

“It's okay!” Glisten replied. “Those birds aren't enough to scare me.”

He was such a great liar.

Boxten's lips curved into a small smile. “Hmm, alright. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

Boxten tilted his head, then pointed at him. “You being here, or,” he pointed to himself, “me?”

“You?” Glisten raised an eyebrow; he thought it was quite blatant. Why would he be happy to be here? It wasn't like he hiked five mountains. “I mean, I'm glad you're here.”

“Oh.” Boxten chuckled softly, tugging lightly on his bandana. “My bad...”

Glisten hummed in response, trying to hide his amusement. Watching Boxten have these silly moments was why he enjoyed hanging out with him. It was adorabl– er…what? Who said that?

Glisten gestured around the park. “Where are the others?”

Boxten perked up instantly. “Oh! They’re over here.” He turned and motioned for Glisten to follow. “Come on.” Boxten strode off, and Glisten fell into step beside him.

They walked side by side, and Glisten couldn’t help but steal a few glances at Boxten. Sometimes his eyes would linger on his bandana; Boxten always wore that, regardless of his attire. Seriously, he could work it into a fancy suit. Glisten pictured it and quickly shook the thought away after he realized his face was heating up.

A couple of minutes later, Glisten spotted a gathering. As they got closer, he noticed the large cameras and equipment scattered around. Boxten led him toward a sheltered area with three benches surrounding a large table piled with snacks and water bottles.

Sitting on the benches — Glisten guessed — were the actors for the episode. He recognized a few faces — for instance, Teagan. He remembered her from a scene they’d filmed together: they were having a tea party, only for Pebble, the rock-dog, to come crashing through, sending cups, small plates, and tea flying everywhere. Dandy had rushed in, chasing after the dog and apologizing, but Glisten had been too stunned to respond. (Fun fact: that chaotic scene only took one take. Their genuine reactions were comedy gold).

Beside Teagan was Tisha. He didn’t know much about her, other than they had both been in the Astro-centered episode he’d mentioned to Boxten the day before. Scraps was there too, same story as Tisha — just another toon from a shared episode. Next to her sat Goob, her little brother. Glisten had seen Goob around countless times, even when he wasn’t in the episode. If Goob wasn’t physically present, Scraps made sure to talk about him enough that he felt omnipresent. Glisten swears Goob will be his paralysis demon one day.

The last two toons were unfamiliar to Glisten. One had a fishbowl for a head, while the other seemed to have a shell of some kind. 

As soon as Glisten entered the space, Scraps shifted her attention to him. With her tail swinging, she exclaimed, “Hey! It’s you!”

“It’s me,” Glisten answered bluntly.

Teagan nodded politely. “Hello, Glisten.”

“Nice to see you again, Teagan,” he nodded back.

“Hey, Glist!” Goob chimed in, waving enthusiastically. “I’ve seen you around, but this is the first time we’re talking!”

“That’s… interesting,” Glisten remarked, even though he didn’t really find it interesting at all.

Tisha simply gave him a warm smile.

The two unknown toons stared at Glisten as if he were some kind of alien. Then, in perfect sync and with as much excitement as Goob, they both greeted him, “Hello!”

“That’s Finn and Shelly,” Boxten said, gesturing toward the pair. “You’ll like them.”

“Will I?” Glisten muttered, just loud enough for Boxten to hear.

Boxten stared at him blankly.

Glisten sighed and rolled his eyes. “Okay, I will.”

He examined the crowd and discovered someone was missing. He turned to Boxten. “Where's Poppy?”

“Poppy?” Boxten asked before providing an immediate answer. “She isn't here yet. I suppose I should text–” 

A ding came from Boxten’s phone.

Glisten watched as Boxten took out his phone to check.

“Oh, speak of the devil,” Boxten said as he typed on his phone. “It’s Poppy.” He glanced up at Glisten for a moment before focusing back on the screen. “She says she’ll be here in a few minutes.”

“Which direction?” Glisten asked.

Boxten looked up fully this time. “Um, no idea.”

“The sky?!” Goob suddenly blurted out, drawing both Glisten and Boxten’s attention to him.

Goob grinned sheepishly. “Sorry, I was eavesdropping.”

“Goob!” Scraps elbowed him, but Goob just laughed. Scraps sighed and shook her head, turning to Boxten and Glisten. “Please forgive him. Sometimes he really lives up to his name.”

“Forgiven,” Boxten said.

“Sure, I guess…” Glisten narrowed his eyes at him. 

As Scraps began scolding Goob, Boxten’s phone buzzed again.

Boxten read the message. “She took a photo– oh, she's near.” He pivoted to face Finn and Shelly. “She’s coming from over there. See?” He brought the phone closer to Glisten's face. “The tree here is that one over there.” He pointed first to the one on the screen, then to the one in real life.

Glisten hummed in acknowledgement and quietly left the resting area, moving to go behind Teagan and Tisha. He whispered, “Tell Poppy to sit here,” before slipping over to a nearby pillar to conceal himself.

Teagan and Tisha exchanged confused looks but silently decided to follow Glisten's instruction.

Remember how he wanted to surprise Poppy yesterday? This was it. No one wakes him up for a stupid reason and gets away with it! (Also, he was petty.)

Moments later, Glisten overheard the toons welcoming someone new — likely Poppy. Like he instructed, Teagan and Tisha told her to take their seat. After hearing Poppy thank them, she settled down, with Boxten joining her and sitting beside her.

She fell right into the ambush.

He stepped out and stood behind her. He crossed his arms and uttered what may be the scariest phrase of all time: “Boo.”

She shrieked.

She leaped and crashed into the table, knocking over a stack of biscuits and a plastic bottle. Everyone was silent except Goob and Finn, who laughed (Goob got another elbow from his sister. Shelly only cast Finn with a bewildered expression). 

Boxten shot a flabbergasted look at Glisten. Glisten shrugged and leaned casually onto the bench. “She deserved it.”

“Screw you!” Poppy yelled, taking a snack off the table and hurling it at him. Despite the situation, she was grinning, as if she herself found it humorous.

“Want a cracker?” Boxten offered. Glisten figured he got it from Poppy, who threw it (she should seriously consider the Olympics; it hit him in the middle of his face. A little harder, and his mirror might've shattered).

“Thanks, Boxy.” Glisten accepted the cracker and started unwrapping it.

Boxten cocked his head toward the empty spot beside him. “Wanna sit with me?” He glanced at Poppy. “Uh– if that’s okay with you?”

Poppy shrugged. “Sure, but only if he’s quick.”

“Don’t you dare steal my seat!” Glisten exclaimed, walking around the bench because there was no way he was going to jump over it.

He re-entered the shelter and sat close to Boxten. Poppy caught his gaze and flicked her tongue out at Glisten. He rolled his eyes. Just Poppy being annoying as usual.

He bit into his cracker as Teagan and Tisha moved over to stand near Boxten. After that, a multi-colored flower toon walked in and clapped his hands. “Hey-ay! You’re all here!” Glisten looked at him and immediately recognized who it was: Dandy.

Dandy scanned the group. When he landed on Glisten, he asked cheerfully, “What brings you here?”

Suddenly, all eyes were on Glisten. This wasn’t exactly a covert mission, but the way everyone stared made him feel like he’d been caught sneaking around. “To watch?” 

Dandy nodded. “Ah! Okay!”

Dandy turned back to his audience. “I'm so glad to see everyone here! Did you all memorize your lines?”

A chorus of “yes” and nods rippled through the group.

“Great! You're going to need them!”

He started pacing back and forth, as if he were a drill sergeant addressing his recruits. “Alright, first-things-first: We're on a tight schedule, and our camera batteries are running low, so we can only afford one take.”

“One take?!” Scraps yelled, shocked. “I– I don't know if that's possible, Dandy! And also, why didn’t you charge it?!” 

Glisten took another bite from his cracker as a subtle way to show he agreed. Doing things right the first time was difficult, and believe him, he had a lot of experience with it.

Dandy tilted his head. “Aren't you the creative one? Can't you come up with something on the spot?”

“Yes– but I–” she glanced at her fellow actors, hoping for support. But when no one, not even her brother, spoke up, she sighed. She returned her attention to Dandy, tail drooping. “Alright, I'll give it a shot.”

“That's the spirit, Scraps!” Goob exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her in an effort to lift her spirits. A bold decision after being completely quiet.

But it worked.

Her frown eased into a smile, and her tail began to wag slowly. “Thanks, Goob.”

Glisten observed the whole scene unfold. It was like watching something out of a corny movie. He’d never experienced that kind of sibling bond before (mostly because he didn’t have a sibling), so witnessing it firsthand felt almost surreal — like the picture-perfect, kid-TV-show brother and sister duo everyone dreams of having suddenly popped into existence.

Dandy coughed, redirecting everyone’s focus back to him. “Ahem, see? Just keep that energy, Scraps!” He then turned to address the group. “Any other questions?”

Silence.

“Alright! Second thing:” He leaned like he was about to spill a secret. “There’s an actor who plays a key role in today’s episode. We” — Dandy definitely meant "I," Glisten knew it. Dandy tended to operate solo and shrug off others opinions — “want to keep it as a surprise!”

“Oooh! Surprises!” Poppy squealed, spinning to face Glisten and Boxten. “Any guesses, guys?”

“Uh,” Boxten blinked, clearly unprepared for the sudden question. "No?"

“I’ve got one.” Glisten smirked. “They’re going to scare you.”

Poppy's grin fell into a deadpan stare. “Ah-ha, very funny.”

“Unfortunately, you're wrong, Glisten,” Dandy interjected, shaking his head. “I can't give you more details, sadly. But–” he clapped his hands together for the second time today. “I can’t wait to get this show on the road!”

He giggled before continuing. “All right, places! Teagan and Tisha,” he gazed at them. “Follow me.” He moved his focus to Scraps and Goob. “You two, please follow that crew member. Finn and Shelly, go follow that one.” He finally faced Boxten and Poppy. “As for you two...stay here. Your scene’s nearby.” 

As everyone hurried to their locations, Poppy lifted her arms and proudly screamed, “Woo! Rest!” She approached the bench Glisten and Boxten were sitting on and squeezed at the left side of Glisten, causing him to move closer to Boxten.

The bench could only accommodate two toons (a terrible design choice, by the way), so when Poppy squeezed in, it made things really uncomfortable for Glisten, who was now squished between them. He glanced over at Boxten and realized he had it even worse. Boxten was pressed against the hard pillar, arms folded tightly to his chest in an effort to make room.

“Poppy, get off!” Glisten hollered. “There’s no space!”

“For you, maybe,” she responded nonchalantly.

Glisten scowled. “Boxy’s suffocating here.”

Boxten’s only reply was a long “Errrrrrrrr.”

Yeah, that was definitely the sound of someone in distress.

Glisten stood up, giving Boxten a much needed breather. He turned to Poppy, hands on his hips. “A warning would've been nice.”

“Aw, but where’s the fun in that?” she replied with a mischievous grin — gosh, he was getting tired of her grins.

Glisten rolled his eyes before turning his attention to Boxten, his expression softening with concern. “You alright, Boxten?”

As soon as Boxten looked at him, Glisten noticed how red his face was. He let out a nervous chuckle, and mixed with the blush, he appeared kinda…cute. Wait, was that weird to think?

Out of the corner of his eye, Glisten caught sight of Poppy sporting a knowing grin. He chose to ignore her as Boxten stammered, “Y-yeah.”

Since he was standing, he was closer to the table with the snacks. The food and plastic water bottle that Poppy had knocked over by falling on them still lay there, rendering the entire section disorganized. He wasn't sure if Boxten had eaten yet, so he swiped a biscuit and handed it to him. “Do you want this or something else?” He followed up with, “Or, have you already eaten?”

“Huh?” Boxten looked down at his snack. “Oh, no– I haven't, uh, eaten yet. Thank you.” Boxten smiled as he took it.

“While you’re at it, Glist,” Poppy chimed in, peering around him. “Can I have that strawberry swiss roll?”

Glisten’s initially relaxed expression shifted to one of boredom as he turned toward the table. He snatched the roll and tossed it over to her. 

Poppy caught it and opened it. “Thanks! You’re the best!”

As they enjoyed their snacks, Glisten resumed munching on his cracker, which had been slightly crushed. It was a bit annoying, but he could manage.

Once they finished their snacks, Glisten reached for a couple of water bottles from the table, passing one to each of them before grabbing a third for himself. 

After throwing their empty packets and bottles into the nearby trash bin, Dandy reappeared. “Alright, Pop and Box, you’re up,” he announced before walking away, fully expecting them to follow.

And he was right.

Poppy jumped to her feet with enthusiasm. “Yippee! Filming time! I can’t wait to get paid!” She spun around to Boxten, grabbing his arms to help him up. “Let’s go, Box!”

Watching Poppy's hands on Boxten stirred a strange sense of jealousy in Glisten.

He didn't have time to think about it because they started trailing Dandy. He ran after them and together they went to the filming location. 

Dandy was serious when he stated it was nearby. It was just around the bend, along with a few trees.

As soon as they arrived, Dandy spread his arms. “Hey! It's the bud-dies!” 

Glisten resented the fact that he understood the pun. 

Dandy laughed at his own joke. “Poppy, Boxten, go over there.” He pointed to the end of the walkway. “When I call 'action', you walk through here.” He gestured towards the path.

“When do we stop?” Boxten asked.

“When the mysterious actor approaches you.” Dandy explained. 

Poppy leaned in, whispering to Glisten. “See? Vague.”

“Ah-oh! Time’s ticking! Hurry, hurry, get to your positions!” Dandy clapped his hands (for the third time now. Probably a habit) urgently. Boxten, Poppy, and the crew members — which included the cameraman, lighting technician, audio operator, and others whose roles Glisten wasn’t entirely sure of — scrambled to their places.

Glisten stood still, unsure of where he should go. Thankfully, Dandy turned to him. “You! You, you, you…come over here.” He led Glisten behind the camera, where Glisten could see the screen as the toon operating it adjusted the stand, likely making sure everything was stable and wouldn't unexpectedly collapse mid-recording.

Dandy flashed a grin at Glisten. “Here, you’ll have the perfect view of the scene! Just make sure to stay quiet, okay?”

Glisten tilted his head. “You think I can’t manage that?”

“Pfft! No, no!” Dandy waved his hand. “Just a friendly reminder!”

With a small nod, Glisten replied, “Mhm...”

Satisfied, Dandy's attention shifted to Boxten and Poppy, who were now in position. “Ah, there they are!” He turned to the cameraman. “You all set?”

The toon gave the camera one final check before giving a thumbs up and aiming it toward the music box and bubble.

“Great!” Dandy said, casting a glance back at Glisten. “Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.” Then, with a quick breath, he called out, "Action!”

Glisten crossed his arms, watching Boxten and Poppy walk down the path. Their conversation was lost to him, even with the audio equipment in place. He hoped it wasn't an issue, but Dandy, with his meticulousness, would surely ensure it all came through clearly in the final cut.

The pair moved smoothly along the path, nearing the end. Just as Glisten began to wonder when the third actor would appear, there he was — stepping into the scene.

His left eye twitched.

It was Shrimpo.

He appeared in a few episodes with him, and boy, was he annoying. Always screaming and shouting and complaining and– argh! He embodied negativity. Why did Dandy let this guy into the show?

They were about to round the curve, and because Boxten was on the inner side, he accidentally bumped into Shrimpo. Glisten recalled that Boxten would be completely unaware of what was going on in this scene. Hah, genuine reactions? Dandy was probably just a sadist.

Now was the ideal moment for the audio to finally kick in. “HEY!”

Boxten stumbled backward, startled by Shrimpo’s booming voice. “Huh? I– I'm sorry! I didn't mean–”

“YOU DIDN'T MEAN? I THINK YOU DID IT ON PURPOSE, YOU BOXHEAD.”

Really? Was “Boxhead” the standard insult for Boxten?

It’s just acting, it’s just acting, Glisten reminded himself, though his thoughts unhelpfully added, The show’s improv. They're saying how they feel at the moment.

Gosh damn it.

“Hey, what did you call my friend?” Poppy stretched an arm between them to create distance.

“A BOXHEAD,” Shrimpo shot back, unashamed. “I HATE BOXES.” He pointed at her aggressively. “AND I HATE YOU.”

Poppy gasped dramatically. “Alright, listen here, you little–”

“Look, look, we’re sorry!” Boxten quickly interrupted, waving his hands with an anxious smile.

Good call, Boxy, Glisten thought. Poppy was definitely about to drop a curse word, and one of the show’s strict rules was no swearing. It was a kids’ show, after all, and Boxten just saved them from an age-rating disaster.

“I– I didn't mean to bump into you. And Poppy, she– she…”

Glisten could tell Boxten genuinely didn't know what to say.

“I'll say sorry if he stops talking to you like that.” Poppy spoke sharply, glaring at Shrimpo.

“I DON'T NEED YOUR SORRY!” Shrimpo yelled, clenching his fists. “I CAN TALK HOW I WANT. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO CHANGE.”

“Me?” Poppy made an exasperated motion to herself and wheezed. “Me?!” she said, as if she were insane. “You're crazy!”

“CRAZY?! NO. YOU TWO ARE.” He turned to Boxten. “ESPECIALLY YOU.”

“What–”

“I HATE YOUR FRIEND, WHICH MEANS I HATE YOU MORE.”

“I don't understand–”

Neither did Glisten. What was in Shrimpo's script?

“YOU NEVER BOTHER TO LOOK AROUND.”

“I didn't know you were going to be there–”

“YOU ARE SO STUPID, DUMB, AND IDIOTIC BECAUSE OF THAT. ALSO YOU, YEAH YOU,” Shrimpo glared at Poppy. “I STILL HATE YOU.”

“You know what?” She grinned; yep, she was turning into a madman. “I hate you too!”

Poppy and Shrimpo’s argument intensified, though Glisten barely registered the back-and-forth. His attention had drifted entirely to Boxten. The way Boxten stood — uncomfortably, like he didn’t belong — was telling. He kept opening his mouth as if he wanted to speak, but each time, he hesitated, shutting it again. After a few failed attempts, he gave up altogether and stepped back, turning his gaze elsewhere. He nervously rubbed his arm, and Glisten could imagine his head playing music — the surroundings being too noisy to actually hear it properly.

Beside him, Dandy mumbled to himself, “They’re dragging the scene…”

Glisten leaned in, his voice hushed. “This was part of the script?”

Dandy’s nod confirmed it.

Yeah, Dandy was definitely a sadist.

Glisten’s focus shifted back to the scene playing out in front of him. Poppy and Shrimpo were still locked in their heated exchange, their voices growing louder and more biting with each insult. The longer it went on, the more uncomfortable Boxten appeared. A wave of emotion bubbled up inside Glisten. He couldn’t quite name it, but it gnawed at him.

For a few seconds, he wrestled with what to do, then an idea clicked.

Glisten turned to Dandy. “Just to clarify: improv is encouraged, right?”

Dandy shot him a puzzled look. “Yeah, it is–”

“Good,” Glisten cut him off, decision made. Before anyone could react, he stepped forward, making his way toward the unfolding drama.

“Wait, Glisten–” Dandy’s voice spiked with alarm as he tried to stop him, but Glisten didn’t look back. He could hear other crew members chiming in, murmuring confusion, but he tuned them out entirely. All that mattered now was reaching Boxten and putting a stop to the mess. 

The trio were too engrossed with their own thing to notice Glisten approaching. Once he was close enough, he switched effortlessly into his acting mode, projecting his voice just loud enough to break through their noise. “What’s this commotion about?” 

The suddenness of his arrival caused an abrupt halt in the dispute. Poppy raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his presence, while Shrimpo blinked at him, caught off guard and momentarily speechless. 

The scene must have looked strange on camera because from where Glisten came from, it was from the grass. Viewers would think he was stepping on nature deliberately.

Boxten was the one who looked the most astonished. “Glist, what are you–” he said softly, barely loud enough for the audio to pick up.

Do you know what the audio picked up, though? Shrimpo's voice. “WHY ARE YOU HERE.” The query was half staged, half genuine.

“Oh, you know, I was just strolling around.” Glisten answered casually, trying his best to avoid looking at Dandy or the camera. “And I overheard the…interesting phrases you and Poppy shared.”

“Glisten! What are you doing here?!” Poppy exclaimed, gesturing at him.

He turned to face her. “Did you not pay attention to what I’ve said?” 

Poppy frowned, as if thinking, Oh man, we really are going with this. She smiled and brought her hands to her hips. “Hm, what did you say?”

“WELL, THREE IS WORSE THAN TWO.” Shrimpo stomped his foot, drawing everyone's attention back to him. “I HATE THAT YOU CAME HERE UNINVITED.”

“I hate that I wasn't invited.” Glisten smirked. His fans are going to go crazy with this one.

“AAAAHHHHHHHHH I HATE YOU AND YOUR SMIRK.” He looked at Boxten. “I HATE YOU EVEN MORE NOW.”

“Eh–?” His gaze darted to Glisten and Poppy before responding. “What did I do–”

“EXIST.” Shrimpo stated harshly. “IF YOU DIDN'T EXIST, SHE WOULDN’T BE HERE– HE WOULDN'T BE HERE– ARGH! I HATE YOU ALL BEING HERE!”

Glisten figured it was their cue to leave. Frankly, he was getting tired of Shrimpo’s nonsense anyway. He remembered something Boxten had mentioned yesterday, Poppy drags you off-set. Dandy had said improv was encouraged, so surely he wouldn’t mind a quick change in the script, right?

Glisten sighed. “Alright, fine. You don’t want us here? Then we’ll leave.” With that, he stepped toward Boxten and, without thinking too much, grabbed his wrist. Boxten’s eyes widened as he looked up at him. “Glist–”

“Come on, Boxy, let’s get out of here.”

Boxten blinked, but nodded. “Uh, okay.”

They walked off together, leaving Poppy to handle Shrimpo’s tantrum. As they moved, Glisten realized this was the first time he and Boxten (and Poppy too) had been in a scene together. How were people going to interpret their relationship after this? And, oh dear, did he seriously let “Boxy” slip out like that?

He groaned inwardly, mentally facepalming. Toons were going to have a field day with that. He could practically hear the teasing and gossip already. Still, he felt an odd sense of satisfaction walking with Boxten. It felt...nice. 

Once they rounded the bend, Glisten stopped and faced Boxten. He let go of his wrist, feeling a bit awkward. “Sorry about that, Box,” he said, his voice softer now.

Boxten didn’t respond right away, which made Glisten’s nerves spike. So he kept talking, trying to fill the silence. “You know, the sudden appearance, grabbing your wrist like that…” He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed (which was a first for him. Usually he would like being in the spotlight). If he had made Boxten uncomfortable, he swore he’d head straight to the lake and dive in without a second thought.

Thankfully, he didn't have to. 

Boxten smiled reassuringly. “Oh! No, no, it’s okay!” His gaze dropped to the ground, as if too shy to meet Glisten's eyes. “You did…good, for someone who didn’t know what was coming.” He chuckled nervously. “Wait, actually, you did know a little…since I told you…”

“No, Boxy, that’s a compliment,” Glisten responded, his voice firm but gentle. A small smile crept onto his face. “All I remembered was that you needed to be dragged off-set.”

Boxten looked up and caught Glisten’s smile. Boxten's expression softened even more, making Glisten’s heart skip.

Why was Boxten so cute?!

“Impressive…” Boxten murmured, locking eyes with him. Glisten held his gaze. Honestly, if he had to look at Boxten forever, he wouldn’t mind.

What? It was totally a normal, friend-only thought.

Suddenly, Glisten’s arm got punched.

“Ow–!” 

“Friendly punch!”

Of course it was Poppy. Somehow, she’d managed to sneak around Boxten and make her way over to Glisten without either of them noticing.

“Glisten, what the heck was that?!” She exclaimed, her smile so wide that Glisten wondered if it would stay on her face.

“Improv?” Glisten tilted his head.

“You weren't even supposed to be in the episode!" 

Glisten boldly placed one hand on his hip. “Well, who doesn't love a surprise cameo?”

“Your 'surprise cameo' almost made Dandy have a heart attack!” Despite the worrisome phrase, Poppy laughed.

“Speaking of me…” 

Glisten was startled to see Dandy standing there. Dandy was short, shorter than Poppy, Boxten, and especially Glisten. Short toons are scary. They can legitimately spawn out of nowhere.

“Hey, Dandy,” Glisten said bluntly. “What seems to be the problem?”

“You.”

Wow, straight to the point.

“Fortunately, you were a blessing in disguise.”

Glisten, Boxten, and Poppy exchanged glances with one another.

“What do you mean?” Glisten asked.

“Yeah,” Poppy replied, pointing her thumb at him. “This guy strode in as if he was another surprise actor.”

“Heavy emphasis on ‘surprise’…” Boxten added.

Dandy shook his head, rolling his eyes with a smile that said, Oh, you’re all so stupid. “I love improv, and that” — he gestured broadly at Glisten — “was the definition of it!”

“He’s not getting fired?” Poppy asked, raising an eyebrow.

Glisten whipped his head to her, incredulous. “You wanted me to get fired?”

Poppy shrugged.

“No, you’re not fired,” Dandy clarified. “But you’re not getting promoted either.”

“You can get promoted?” Poppy asked, this time with genuine curiosity.

Dandy didn’t elaborate.

Instead, he followed up with his "blessing in disguise" statement. “Your appearance in the scene improved everything! I suppose if you weren't in it, the charm wouldn't be as strong, and,” he switched his eyes to Poppy, “I don't think you were going to drag Boxten off-screen anytime soon.” 

Poppy scratched the back of her neck, laughing sheepishly.

“Anyway, I’m off to find Finn and Shelly. Their scene’s up next,” Dandy announced abruptly, before spinning on his heel and walking off.

Left standing together, Glisten, Boxten, and Poppy stared at one another. The silence hung in the air until Glisten finally broke it. “How did Shrimpo react when I grabbed Boxten’s wrist? I missed it.”

Poppy waved a hand. “Oh, nothing dramatic. He just gave this confused look before storming off.” She paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up cheekily as they darted between Glisten and Boxten. “The real question is: how are the shippers going to react?”

Glisten blinked in surprise. “The what now?” he blurted, even though he knew what she meant. His eyes flicked toward Boxten, and sure enough, his friend’s face was turning red.

Poppy cackled, clearly enjoying herself. “Ah-ha! I’m just messing with you. But seriously,” she said, tone becoming flat, “you might want to brace yourselves. Both of you.” She pointed from Glisten to Boxten, who only managed a quiet hum of acknowledgment, still looking embarrassed.

“Well, anyway,” Poppy said. “We've got some time before the next scene. Let’s head back to the benches and grab more snacks!” she marched off, her pace quickening as she moved.

Boxten and Glisten exchanged a brief look before trailing after her. Poppy didn’t seem to care about slowing down for them, too focused on whatever treats were waiting (Glisten bet she was going to eat strawberry-flavored food. Some time ago he discovered that was her go-to flavor). Glisten didn’t bother speeding up to catch her. What surprised him, though, was that Boxten stayed right beside him instead of hurrying after Poppy.

As Boxten’s best friend grew smaller in the distance (she never went out of sight because, well, the resting area was pretty close to the place they’ve filmed), Glisten was tempted to ask why Boxten wasn’t racing after her, but after seeing the content expression on his friend’s face, he already knew his answer.

Glisten couldn't help but smile.

Chapter Text

Running away from the cops with thirteen other toons, each of them wearing wildly mismatched hats, wasn’t exactly how Poppy envisioned her day on set.

Dandy’s World — the show where improv was the rule of law and scripts were more of a suggestion. The episodes were chaotic in general, so Poppy going through that wasn't that far-fetched. Still, what was the context for that scene?

When the director, Dandy, finally called it a wrap, Boxten — Poppy's best friend, told her he was going to stick around for a while to help clean up the set. They didn't have anywhere important to go, and Boxten appeared to be really eager, so she nodded.

Before he left, she asked for his blue (it was the same color as his bandana) cap (by the way, were caps considered hats?), which he had worn during the scene. Boxten handed it to her before quickly moving to assist with carrying and storing some props.

Poppy smiled. He may be shy, but he always does his best to help others as much as possible. She chuckled as he lifted something too heavy for him which nearly tipped him over. Suddenly remembering what she needed to do, she left.

She was going to the clothing room to return the two caps they were required to wear. She had to take off her signature pink bow and replace it with a black and white cap. Dandy had to do a lot of convincing to take it off. 

As she strolled, she made small conversation with every toon she met. Toons told Poppy that she had a natural ability for making friends with anyone, and she understood why. Everyone she spoke with seemed to feel better right away. It happened to so many people that Poppy had to start hoping they weren't counting on her for happiness.

When she finally arrived at the clothing room, she opened the door. Initially, she believed nothing was out of place, until she noticed a key difference. 

There was a toon in the room. 

She stood in front of the hat section. Perhaps she was fixing it? Poppy tilted her head. Or keeping her hat? Poppy didn't recognize her, however. In fact, she hadn't seen her earlier while they were filming. 

The figure had some sort of red capsule with some transparent thing for a head. Her back was turned to her, and she was focused on something in her hands.

Poppy entered the room. “Uh, excuse me?”

The toon jumped and whirled around.

She wore a long-sleeved light blue sweater with a star emblazoned in the center. When Poppy said long-sleeved, she meant it. It was so long that her hands weren't visible.

They stared at each other for three seconds. Afterwards, she gazed downwards and she spotted something familiar. “Are you holding my bow?”

The capsule toon glanced down at it before lifting it up. “This' yours?”

“I– yeah?” I literally claimed it was mine.  

The stranger blinked at her before grinning mischievously.  “Finders keepers! Hope you find a new one! Mewhehe!” 

Poppy blinked.

The clothing room had only one door, and Poppy was standing right there. So, what exactly was the toon’s plan? Turn invisible? 

The red capsule blurted out, as if realizing her dilemma, “Oh, flip.” She looked around and grabbed a random hat from the shelf. “This one's ugly and I don't want it, you have it!” She threw the item at her.

Poppy did not move an inch. Even after the hat had made contact with her and fallen to the floor, she kept staring at her. “...What?”

“Oh, yikes…” the sweater-toon winced, swiping another hat from the shelf. She peered at it. “Oh, this one's nice actually.”

To Poppy's surprise, the toon's head popped open, and she inserted the hat inside. She hastily closed it. This time, the toon faced the shelf completely. Poppy watched, baffled, as the hat-thrower searched among the hats. After a few seconds, she took another one.

She spun back towards Poppy. “This one's atrocious!” She hurled it at her. The hat dropped to the floor next to the first one.

Poppy looked down at it before shouting, “Can you stop throwing stuff at me?!”

The toon shrugged. “Can't help it.” She gestured towards her and the door. “Maybe I’ll stop if you move aside?”

“No.”

The red capsule toon groaned.

She glanced down at the bow (Poppy’s bow) she was holding and held it at the edge. “You know what? This bow’s bland. I'm ripping it apart.”

“What?! No!” Poppy rushed over to her. 

The attempted-bow-ripper laughed. “Gotcha!” Just before Poppy could snatch her bow, the toon side-stepped. Poppy crashed into the shelf, shaking the entire thing. Some of the hats fell on her, but Poppy was too dazed to care.

She rubbed her head and wheeled around, just in time to see the toon showing off her bow like a trophy and sticking her tongue out at her.

“Hey!” Poppy hollered. Going with her first thought, she flew a cap at her, the black and white one.

The toon left the room before it could reach her, but the cap did hit someone.

Right as the bow-stealer was leaving, Boxten was about to enter. She didn't see him since she was backing up, so she accidentally bumped into him. She flinched, gazing at him for a split second before running away. The cap that Poppy threw then whacked him in the chest. 

Poppy's eyes widened. “Boxten!” She hurried over to him, nearly tripping over the fallen hats. She halted in front of him. “I'm sorry! Are you alright?! Did it hurt–”

“Pops!” Boxten interrupted. “It's– it's alright. It was an honest mistake.”

Poppy nodded hesitantly. “Yeah, but–”

“It’s okay, I promise.” He gave her a reassuring smile before picking up the hats (Poppy forgot there were more since that toon threw some to her) on the floor.

After he was done, Boxten asked, “So, who was that?”

“I have no idea.” Her expression hardened. “She stole my bow!”

“She stole your–”  Boxten cocked his head then glanced in the direction that the toon had gone. “What?”

“Are you free later?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Good, I want to stab some strawberries.”

***

Poppy and Boxten settled at a small table tucked away in the corner of the café. It wasn’t their usual spot, but it would do for now.

True to her word, she picked up her fork, toddler-style, and stabbed into her strawberry cake (what? You thought she was going to stab Sprout? She wasn't that insane). Boxten watched in silence as Poppy decimated the cake until it was riddled with holes. Once she was satisfied, she calmly sliced off a piece and popped it into her mouth like nothing had happened.

“Uh…” Boxten’s face remained blank, but his eyes carried a trace of concern. “You okay now?”

“Yep, great as always,” Poppy replied, left eye twitching.

Boxten sighed before taking a sip of his hot chocolate. 

Usually, they would come to this café to hang out and catch up on each other’s lives. Today, it was different. Poppy wasn't here to relax, she was here to spill how her life had been ruined in a few minutes.

She recounted the events that had unfolded an hour before. Boxten listened attentively as she explained how some random toon had waltzed into the clothing room and stole her beloved bow. Once she was finished with her rant, she rested her cheek against her hand and pouted.

Boxten tapped his cup lightly, then after a while, he spoke. “I have an idea. Why don’t we check the episodes? Maybe we can spot her in one of them.”

Such a simple idea, how come Poppy never thought of it? “Oh! Let’s do it!”

Boxten nodded, taking out his phone and going to the streaming site that had their show. He tapped on the icon and brought the device to the middle of the table so that she could see it.

Wow. Poppy had forgotten how many episodes there were currently.

“Ah, yeah, that’s a lot…” Boxten agreed, as if reading her mind. “Hm, let’s look at the descriptions first. That way, we can narrow it down.”

Poppy grinned. “Good idea.” Without Boxten’s level-headedness, Poppy figured she’d have her face buried in her cake. 

They began to look through the episode synopsis, searching for anything that involves theft — stolen jewels, stolen food, stolen tables, all that jazz. They watched the episodes but found nothing. Just as she was about to give up, Boxten’s voice broke through. “Wait, Pops, is this her?”

Poppy leaned forward, squinting at the screen. “Yes! That’s her!” She grabbed his phone, bringing it closer to her face as she examined the figure on the screen. “I’m gonna get you, you bow-stealer!”

“Um, Poppy…can I have my phone back?”

“Gigi, no, don’t touch that!” 

Boxten’s eyes widened, and he quickly reached for his phone. Poppy’s grip was still tight, so the both of them awkwardly held onto the device. From an outsider’s perspective, it probably looked like they were trying to hold hands but Boxten's phone was blocking the way.

“Pops, did you seriously turn up the volume?!” Boxten whisper-shouted. “Subtitles exist, and we’re in a public space!”

Poppy blinked. “W-what? Oh!” She let go of his phone, allowing Boxten to swiftly switch it off and set it back on the table. 

“Sorry, Box,” she grinned sheepishly. “Got a little carried away there.”

“It’s fine,” Boxten assured, giving her a small grin. “Just…maybe be a little more aware of where we are next time.” He sounded like he was talking to her about crossing the street without looking both ways first. Honestly, this situation felt like the equivalent. 

“So, Gigi…” Poppy picked up her fork and twirled it around. “That bastard.”

“Yeah…” Boxten replied softly. “Well, we know her name now. But…how do you plan on finding her? It’s not like you can find her address online.”

Poppy looked up at him.

Boxten frowned. “That wasn’t a challenge, Poppy. You can’t actually do that.”

“Oh, bummer.” she took a bite out of her strawberry cake. “And it would be illegal too.”

Boxten nodded as he continued. “Our best bet is waiting for her to be in an episode with one of–”

Boxten’s phone vibrated. They both gazed down at it. 

A second later, Poppy felt her own phone buzz in her pocket. Their eyes met across the table, silently agreeing to check the notifications. 

Poppy pulled out her phone and saw an email. She opened it and started to read.

Subject: Victory with Vee

Dear Gardenviewers,

A brand-new spin-off series, " Victory with Vee " (VwV) (no, that emoticon was not intentional), premieres next week.

In each episode, three contestants will face off in a series of trivia challenges across three different segments. The player with the highest score at the end of the game will win a grand prize.

If you're interested in participating or just want to watch, please check out the details and sign up using the Google Form attached.

Vee

“'Victory with Vee?' That has a good ring to it.” Poppy returned her sight to Boxten. “Are you joining?”

“Oh!” He waved his hand. “Probably not. Getting the answer wrong will kill me…” He anxiously laughed before drinking his hot chocolate.

“I see…” she checked her phone for the third time. “To me, this sounds like fun. But what sort of questions will Vee ask?”

Boxten thought for a moment. “Normal game show stuff? Like pop culture, literature, and…something.”

“Exactly!” Poppy exclaimed, clapping her hands. She momentarily forgot they were in a café, but thankfully no one turned their heads towards her. Also, she was still carrying her phone. Hopefully she didn't crack the screen. “Will it be easy, or will it be–”

She stopped.

Boxten tilted his head. “Pops? You alright?”

“My goodness…” Poppy opened the Google Form and began typing furiously. “I’m signing up!”

“Woah, hold on.” Boxten leaned back a little as if Poppy’s energy was pushing him away. “Where’d all this enthusiasm come from?”

Poppy didn’t look up from her phone as she replied, “You can win prizes in this, right?”

“Uh, yeah?” Boxten answered, giving her a confused grin.

“You know who loves random prizes?” She paused dramatically, letting the suspense hang in the air before delivering her answer. “Gigi!”

Boxten squinted, trying to piece together her logic. “That ‘capsule-headed’ toon?” He used the phrase Poppy said to describe her because she had no idea what she was.

“Yep!” Poppy confirmed, nodding vigorously. “She strikes me as the type who likes receiving free things. I bet she’s signing up right now.”

“If you say so…” Boxten took another sip of his hot chocolate.

Her half-eaten strawberry cake was now a distant memory as Poppy directed all her attention on getting her registration in. The thought of Gigi entering the game show fueled her resolve. Poppy had a plan, and she wasn’t about to let anything derail it. If Gigi was competing, then this was her chance to confront her, and maybe, just maybe, reclaim her beloved bow. 

***

Time Skip — a week later

Poppy was overjoyed to learn that she had been picked to be in the first episode of Vee's new game show, "Victory with Vee". If Poppy goes on the show and discovers that Gigi was not present, she must win the grand prize to make up for it, which is improbable given her poor trivia skills. 

Walking into the studio, she spotted a sign pointing to the game show location. She followed it and soon arrived. She went over near the entryway and stood there. She regarded a large number of toons coming in, many of whom were ecstatic.

She figured they were here to watch the game show. Vee stated that three players were allowed, not fifty.

She was currently waiting for Boxten, and apparently, Glisten, to arrive.

Poppy happily texted Boxten the news that she will be starring in the first episode. Boxten was delighted for her, but somehow he managed to slip Glisten into the conversation, asking if he could invite him to watch and support her. Poppy didn't mind, so she agreed. Furthermore, having two toons rooting for you was preferable to one. 

But, honestly, she bet Boxten wanted Glisten to come so he could talk to him. Oh well, they were cute together anyway.

She was going to pull out her phone to send a message to the group chat with her friends when someone yelled her name. “Pops!”

She looked up to see Boxten and Glisten approaching. Boxten, the one who called out, waved while Glisten had his arms crossed, attempting to act cool.

Poppy smiled. “Hey, my mans!”

As Glisten came closer, he bluntly said, “Don’t say that ever again.”

Poppy laughed. “Oh, like your vocabulary's any better!”

They stopped a few feet away, and the first thing Glisten did was give her a quick once-over, his eyes narrowing. “What are you wearing?”

Poppy held out the hem of her blue skirt with a flourish. “Oh, this? I’m wearing fashion.”

Glisten’s expression turned skeptical. “I’m pretty sure polka dots went out of style years ago.”

Poppy scoffed. “Nuh-uh! You just don't have good taste!”

Why was she wearing a blue polka dot outfit? Her bow had been stolen, so her head felt a bit exposed. So she rummaged through her closet and found a bow she hadn't worn in who-knows-how-long. She also got some old clothes to match because the blue bow stood out too much against her pink dress.

Glisten rolled his eyes. “Trust me, Pops; I shop as a hobby. I believe I know which ones are tasty and which ones are not.”

Poppy raised an eyebrow. “You eat clothes?”

“That's not what I–”

“Uh, guys?” Boxten chimed in. “Can we head inside now?”

Poppy and Glisten were silent for a moment before nodding in unison. “Alright.” Poppy turned to the mirror. “Glisten, really though, eating clothes isn't healthy for you.”

“Poppy, I swear to–” Glisten began, but Poppy already entered through the door.

Her soon as she stepped inside, her eyes lit up. “Wow.”

The room was large. The walls and seats were completely black, but under the bright lights, they appeared to be a faint grey. Poppy imagined that this was what it was like to stride into space. All that was needed were small white dots representing stars. She looked in the middle and noticed tall — what were they called, tables? Whatever it was, game show contestants used it to buzz in their responses.

This was Poppy's first game show, and after taking it all in, she grinned broadly. Then remembering why she was here, she shook her head. Poppy, focus!  

Glisten spoke from her right. “So, is everyone done admiring?”

“Yeah.” Boxten responded.

Wow, Poppy thought she was in the middle, but when she turned, she realized both Boxten and Glisten were on her right, with Boxten actually being in the center. Man, they take any opportunity to stand next to each other. Poppy also half-expected Boxten to be gazing at Glisten rather than the scenery around them, as if they were the main characters in a romance movie.

Well, anyway, Poppy needs to stop talking about them. This wasn't their story, it was hers!

“I'm finished too.” Poppy stated. “You two should find some seats — ones where I can see you. I’ll go ahead and look for the players' room.” 

They nodded, and then separated. 

Being in the crowd was vastly different from observing from a distance. While walking deeper, she was afraid she'd fall down and be trampled on because these people moved so briskly. Thankfully, she kept her balance as she sailed across the room.

Once she reached the end, she looked about, and her gaze fell upon a door. Above it, it read: GAME SHOW PLAYERS ONLY. 

After approaching the door, she opened it–

–and immediately came to a halt. 

Gigi, the bow-stealer, was inside.

In the center of the room, there was a round transparent table. On the side, there were couches and even a beanbag next to one. There was a large television to the left. There was a vending machine in the corner with Poppy on it (The show offered her her own brand named "Poppy Pop". Buy it; it's nice!). The interior was a different color than the exterior; instead of black, it was pale orange. Overall, the room had the feel of a friend's house, with enough space for everyone to hang out and play games.

This wasn't a friend Poppy was looking at though.

Gigi was standing in front of the circular transparent table, and Poppy assumed she was contemplating how to take it (if she can steal a bow, surely she could swipe a table). She was so focused on it that she had not noticed Poppy's presence yet.

Poppy let out a huff. Yes, she wished Gigi was here, but now that she was facing her, her rage flared up again. She stepped forward, slamming the door behind her.

The loud sound made Gigi yelp and turn around. Her eyes widened as she saw Poppy. After registering who it was, she relaxed. “Oh, it's you. The girl from last week…” her eyes darted to the vending machine before returning to her. “You’re…Poppy, right?”

“Glad you figured it out.” Poppy replied flatly. "I bet that was so hard to remember."

Gigi shrugged, seeming bored. “What are you anyway?” she looked her up and down. “A solid soda?”

“I'm a bubble, thank you.” Poppy rolled her eyes. “What are you? An ice container?”

Gigi gasped. “No? I'm a gachapon!”

Oh, that's that Gigi was! Opening it up always made Poppy feel like a gambler.

Well, toon introduction aside, time to get to the point of her visit.

Poppy stormed over to her, fiercely pointing her finger. “You got something that isn't yours.”

Gigi raised her brow, acting innocent. “Oh, what do I have?”

“My bow.” Poppy responded, a hand to her hip.

“Ohhhhhhhhhh!” Gigi nodded, as if it were a genuine error. A bold move, given that she was the reason Poppy nearly had a shelf fall on her. “Ah, yeah. I have your bow.”

Poppy cocked her head. “Oh? Hand it over then!”

Gigi snickered. “Hah! As if I would throw away my prized possessions!”

“Prized– my bow–?” Poppy shook her head. “I don’t care! Just give it back!”

Gigi took a time to think about it before answering, “Nah. Get a new one.”

Poppy sighed.

She was aware that obtaining her bow would be difficult, so she devised a plan a few days before — now was the perfect time to say it. “I have a deal for you.”

Gigi was in the process of turning when Poppy stated that. She paused and turned back to face her. “A deal? Spill.”

Poppy took a long breath before explaining. “If I win the grand prize, you give me back my bow. But if you win, I'll give you my bow.” She motioned to the one on her head. She didn't wear it often, so she thought it was a decent price.

Gigi hummed. “I see, and if we both don't win?”

“You still get the bow.”

“Huh.” Gigi tapped her chin. She stared at her for a moment before grinning. “You know what? I’ll take it. I have better odds, and even though your bow’s atrocious–”

“Hey–!”

“If I win, I'll get two free items. Hah, win-win for me. Lose-lose for you.” She leaned in. “Loser.”

Poppy scowled, but before she could speak, the door opened.

They both moved their attention to the newcomer. The toon was a lamp– oh, Poppy already knew who this was. Her face brightened, much like the person's name. “Brightney!”

Brightney bowed her head. “Poppy.” She shifted her gaze to Gigi. “Who's this beside you?”

“Gigi.” Gigi grinned. “So, Brightney? Hm, have any spare bulbs?”

Brightney smiled, but her expression was one of perplexity. “No?”

Gigi rolled her eyes. “Oh well.”

Poppy turned to Gigi. “Why are you asking for spare–”

“Brightney! Come over and let's share some secrets!” Gigi beckoned her over as she approached the couch.

“Sharing secrets would not be ideal…” Brightney muttered. Still, she followed. Poppy grudgingly trailed after them. 

Gigi and Brightney sat close while Poppy slouched on the beanbag. She didn't want to sit anywhere close to Gigi, even if it meant sitting away from Brightney (the sacrifices Poppy had to make…).

Gigi asked about their sign-up order for the show, boasting that she was the first. Poppy, reluctant, admitted she was second, while Brightney answered pleasantly that she was third and joined to test her trivia skills. Gigi, smirked as she said she joined for fun. Poppy refused to answer, and thankfully neither of them pushed her further.

When it was Poppy's turn to ask a question, she hesitated but eventually asked about their favorite hobbies. Brightney said reading while Gigi stated something about collecting items, which earned her a glare from Poppy. "Collecting items" seems too much of an innocent term. "Thievery" would be better.

A sudden booming sound of the television turning on caught the girl's attention. They looked up to see a message posted on the screen: GAME SHOW BEGINS IN ONE MINUTE. Outside, there was a faint announcement, which Poppy assumed was to notify the audience. 

The girls exchanged gazes. “Huh, so, is anyone feeling excited?” Brightney asked. “Because I am! What kind of questions will Vee say?”

“I had the exact same thought!” Poppy exclaimed. “Probably pop culture…” What did Boxten say?  “Stories…and blank?”

“Blank?” Gigi questioned.

“I don't know!” Poppy threw up her hands.

“Well, whatever it is,” Brightney continued. “I hope it's challenging.” For once, Poppy and Gigi agreed on something: they stared at her with a frown. Hearing the word "challenging" from the smartest toon in the room was anything but reassuring. Brightney backtracked upon realizing. “Oh! And simple for you guys.” 

After a minute had passed, the screen changed to show the words: COME OUT NOW.

“Wow,” Poppy blurted out. “Straightforward, huh?”

Brightney nodded. “Good luck, you guys.” The three of them stood up and headed to the stage entrance.

Brightney opened the entrance door, and on the other side there was a corridor. They strolled through it, and the hallway began to slope upward, eventually entering the stage. The first thing Poppy saw was three podiums (that’s what they were called!). On her right was the audience, who cheered for them.

This reminded her of her school days. The students would always cheer when someone came on stage, whether it was a guest speaker or a random pupil receiving a reward. This memory emerged because the students screamed the most absurd things. She was very sure someone did something like that, but it was drowned out by the hundred voices.

Poppy and the others walked up to the podiums. Poppy was in the middle, with Gigi on the left and Brightney on the right. Poppy turned to Brightney to ask if she wanted to trade places, but she was busy waving to someone. She looked across at the spectators to see who had gotten Brightney's focus.

A little girl, around eight years old (that's what Poppy believed anyway. The child had a grey number "8" on her forehead) wore a huge grin on her face as she flailed her entire arm like she was non-verbally screaming, "BRIGHTNEY, BRIGHTNEY, BRIGHTNEY!". On her right (Poppy’s left), was a toon with a magnifying glass for a head. He appeared much calmer, offering a casual wave to his lamp friend.

Coincidentally, on the child's left (Poppy's right) was Glisten, and Glisten cannot exist without his friend/crush, Boxten.

“Ay, guys!” She exuberantly waved at them.

Boxten waved back — there were a lot of waves going on. This site was becoming a wave pool by the second. Glisten — you guessed it — also waved.

Behind Poppy, she heard Gigi squeal. She turned to see Gigi clutching the podium's edge and leaning back. She somehow managed not to fall despite her hands being completely concealed by her sleeve. She waved her arm (see? Everybody's making waves today) and exclaimed, “Flutter! Flutter! I’m here!”

Poppy followed her gaze and spotted a large pink butterfly. When she heard Gigi call out to her, she moved her antennas and flapped her wings — her own version of a wave.

Hm, Gigi may be a jerk, but at least she was not a jerk to everyone.

Flutter was right next to Boxten which, by the way, was some ridiculous stroke of luck. All the contestants’ friends were lined up beside each other, mirroring the exact positions of where Gigi, Poppy, and Brightney were.

Given this rare alignment, Poppy figured she might as well deal with the fact that Gigi was close by. Anyway, what should she do? By the time she remembered what she wanted to ask Brightney, all the lights went off.

Well, almost all.

Brightney was the only one that shone.

Embarrassed, Brightney quickly switched her bulb off, making everything fully pitch-black.

In front of the participants, a pillar started to ascend from the floor. A melody accompanied its rise, playing faintly at first. But as the pillar continued to elevate, the music grew louder, each note swelling with intensity. By the time the pillar reached its peak, towering over everything in the room, the tune had reached its crescendo — loud enough to fill the space but not too overwhelming.

A figure then leapt out from the shadows. The toon executed a perfect flip in mid-air before landing firmly on the platform.

A single spotlight switched on, casting a bright beam onto the toon at its center. 

The light revealed the newcomer as Vee.

Poppy realized this was her first time seeing Vee in person. Usually, she would only appear in episodes with Sprout (and sometimes Shelly), so having a different Main was a nice change.

She found Vee to be quite intriguing — a green, humanoid TV. Unlike most toons, she had a screen for a face (obviously, since she was a television like Poppy mentioned). Rumor has it that Vee was a robot. Poppy was skeptical, though. Surely, no machine could be this lifelike, right? Perhaps Vee was just pretending to be one?

Her screen-face flickered for a moment before a smile appeared on it. She faced the camera, which Poppy noticed was suspended from the ceiling.

Vee grabbed her microphone tail and spoke into it. “Welcome! I am your host, Vee!” 

The audience erupted into cheers.

Once the noise gradually subsided, Vee continued. “One of these three contestants: Poppy, Gigi, and Brightney,” — the camera shifted to capture them — “will walk away with a grand prize. Who will be the lucky winner? Let us find out,” she spread her arms, her microphone staying in place. “In ‘Victory with Vee’!” 

“Well, isn't this exciting?” Brightney commented to the girls. “I’m nervous, but...joyous at the same time?”

Poppy nodded. “Yeah, being on game shows gives you that emotion.”

“Just so you know,” Gigi interjected. “I'm winning the prize.”

Poppy snapped her head towards her. “No, I am!”

Gigi scoffed. “Mhm, sure.”

“There will be three segments, each with ten questions.” Vee explained. Poppy already knew this but Vee was probably saying it for the viewers’ sake. “The first two rounds will be multiple choice, with the second round featuring pictures to accompany the questions. The third round, however, will be the most challenging of them all. It will be…” she paused for dramatic effect. “Open-ended.”

The crowd "ooohhhhh," while Poppy went "ughhhhhh." Open-ended? She always gets them wrong, especially on exams! This game show was transforming into school by the second.

“Ooh, fun!” Brightney remarked.

Poppy and Gigi exchanged a look that said, "You seeing this right now?" So far, the only thing they agreed on was that Brightney was too intelligent for them.

“Let's move on to the first category, 'Pop Culture'!”

“Huh, she really is asking that.” Poppy mumbled to herself.

Vee plucked a card out of nowhere; truly, where did that come from? It didn't fall from the ceiling, no one handed it to her — was it stuck to her back?

Vee inspected the card. “First question: Which singer is known as the 'Queen of Pop'?”

As Vee listed out the answers, Gigi looked at Poppy. “I wonder who rules you, Poppers.”

That was the first time Poppy had heard that nickname. Toons would normally call her "Pop" or "Pops" or, in Glisten's case, "Bow-Girl/Bow-Buddy".

Poppy scoffed. “Definitely not you, Ginger.”

Gigi's mouth flew open. “I’m not even–”

A buzz sounded out.

Poppy and Gigi gazed at Brightney. Brightney smiled and gave her answer. After a little period of silence, a ding went off. “Correct!” Vee exclaimed, a green tick flashing above her.

“Huh?!” Poppy's left eye twitched in disbelief. She looked at the audience and spotted Glisten mouthing something and swinging his hands around.

Right, she missed a singer-related question, and guess who was a singer... The way he was acting led her to believe she had offended him in three different languages. She noticed Boxten saying something to Glisten, and whatever it was seemed to have calmed him down. Still, he crossed his arms and glared at her, as if she were next on his hit list.

Sometimes, Poppy found herself wondering on how her friendship with her favorite singer had developed into this unique bond.

She glanced at Flutter, who flapped her wings, as if saying, “It’s okay! Just keep going!” Probably directed at Gigi. Poppy thought.

To her left, she saw Brightney’s young friend bouncing excitedly on her feet. The girl hadn’t been sitting at all, and Poppy recalled that she might have been standing since the moment she first saw her. With her arms flailing in delight, she shouted something that Poppy couldn't quite catch. Behind her, the toon with the magnifying glass head appeared to be speaking to the little girl. However, the eight-ball toon seemed too distracted to pay him any attention.

Turning her sight to Brightney, Poppy saw her beaming with happiness — metaphorically, of course. If she were beaming literally, Poppy would definitely be blinded.

“Second question: which artist released the hit song 'Blinding Lights' in 2020?”

Speaking of being blinded. She was about to buzz in, but Gigi beat her to it.

Gigi spoke, and a ping followed. 

“Correct! You better step up your game, Poppy!”

“Ah–?!” She glared at Gigi. “Come on! I knew that one!”

“Too slow!” Gigi stuck out her tongue.

Poppy risked a glance at Glisten, and boy, was he unhappy.

She resolved to focus solely on the questions at hand from now on. Looking at the audience will distract her, but largely because she does not want to see Glisten staring at her like he wanted to murder her.

“Third question: Who is the Greek god of wine and festivities that serves as the camp director at a demigod training camp?”

Poppy perked up as she listened intently. She knew this one! It was straight out of Boxten’s favorite book series! If she didn’t get this right, what kind of best friend would she be?

Poppy slammed down on the button as soon as Vee finished listing the available answers. Just in time too: Brightney was about to push hers. She shouted out her answer, hoping to get the pronunciation right. It took a second before the ring started playing.

“Correct! Didn't think you’d catch up!”

Poppy poked her tongue out at Gigi as retaliation for earlier. Gigi rolled her eyes as Vee progressed to the fourth.

Poppy locked in for the following seven questions. In what seemed like a flash, the first round was over.

Poppy and Gigi exchanged sharp glares. If Brightney was standing between them, she would be fearing for her life.

“First round: complete!” Vee announced. “Poppy and Gigi are currently tied, each with four points. Brightney trails with two points. Proceeding to the next round!”

A massive screen descended from the ceiling behind Vee. A few seconds later, the words "Category: Math & Logic" appeared on it.

Poppy threw her hands behind her head as she gawked at it, cursing under her breath. Poppy's worst subject at school was Math, why can’t it be easy like…going to recess? Gigi had the same reaction as her, minus the throwing-hands-behind-head part. Poppy had a fleet notion about whether Gigi was similarly awful at it or simply disliked it; perhaps both.

Meanwhile, Brightney was all smiles — oh, of course she was. She was the smart one, most likely the sort who aced her studies and graduated as valedictorian. A topic like this would be a breeze for her.

The first image flashed onto the screen, and– goodness. It was like opening the first page of a test only to be hit with the crushing realization that you couldn’t answer the first question. A wave of dread washed over her — there was no way she was getting this correct.

It was a formula question and– oh my gosh. No matter how much she tried, formulas just wouldn't stick in her mind. The image on screen was something about finding the surface area of an open hemi– what? How was this going to help her in the future?

Even though this section was still multiple choice didn’t make things any easier for her. She didn't have the faintest clue where to start calculating. What was she supposed to do?

She glanced at Gigi and noticed her mouth twitching. To her right, she heard Brightney hum thoughtfully. After a few moments, the lamp toon confidently hit the button and announced her answer. Unsurprisingly, a cheerful ring echoed in response.

“Correct! A bit tougher than the last one, huh?” Vee gazed at the contestants. “Next question!”

The next was even worse.

Poppy peered at the question — something about "n" terms. After thinking, she took a guess and hit the button. She told Vee her answer. There was silence, then a loud buzzer boomed around the room.

“Wrong!” a red cross appeared above Vee.

Poppy wanted to disappear at this very moment. She now understood what Boxten meant by getting the answers wrong; it was extremely humiliating.

“Anyone else want to have a go?” After Vee had finished speaking, Brightney pressed her button and shouted an answer.

Brightney got it right.

“You’re on a roll, Brightney! Maybe a comeback isn’t completely out of reach after all!” Vee grinned before heading to the next question.

Poppy rested her elbows on the podium, burying her face in her hands. There was no denying it — she was going to score zero in this category.

Just then, there was a light tap on her shoulder.

She looked up to see Gigi was the one that did it.

Poppy scoffed. “What?”

“This is ridiculous, isn't it?” Gigi gestured towards the screen.

Poppy hated to admit it, but she couldn't argue with Gigi on that point. Letting out a sigh, she nodded. “Yeah, it really is.”

Gigi's grin widened. “Well, thanks for being dumb,”

Poppy blinked. “Huh?”

Gigi shrugged. “It raises my chances of getting your bow,”

Poppy’s frowned. “You’re bold, don’t you know that?”

Gigi lifted her brow slightly, as if she was contemplating whether Poppy’s words were praise or a veiled jab.

Vee's robotic voice droned on, stating the third question. Poppy realized she hadn't been listening at all and doubted Gigi had either. But in a split second, after Vee had finished saying the choices, Gigi pressed down on the button. Without breaking eye contact with Poppy, she spoke her answer.

The room went still for a moment until the familiar ding echoed, signaling that Gigi's answer was correct.

“Gigi! With the lucky guess!” Vee motioned towards her. “May not be as impressive as knowing the answer, but still the correct one nonetheless.”

A smug smile spread across Gigi’s face. “Now I’m a point ahead of you,” 

Poppy’s left eye twitched. Seriously? Did Gigi take her earlier comment as an idea? She hoped Gigi would say something equally foolish so she could twist it around and turn it to her own advantage.

Poppy tore her eyes from Gigi and turned her attention to the next question — algebra, what. Those letters really needed to end their vacation in Mathland and return to The English Country.

Brightney, as expected, quickly pressed her button and gave her answer to Vee. Unexpectedly though, instead of the usual celebratory ring, a loud buzzer echoed through the room.

“Wrong! Not the brightest of the bunch?” Vee remarked. “Anyone else want to give it a try?”

Poppy turned to Brightney. “How did you get that wrong?”

Brightney chuckled. “Calculation error. I haven't done algebra in a while.”

Poppy hummed in acknowledgement. Brightney's phrase "in a while" most likely meant she hadn't done it in a few weeks. Poppy, on the other hand, hasn't done it for several years. Poppy’s focus was drawn back to Gigi when she buzzed in.

Gigi responded effortlessly, like she had before, but this time there was a buzz.

“Wrong! Tough luck, Gigi.” Vee shifted her gaze to Poppy. “Got an answer?”

Poppy did not understand anything at all, but Gigi and Brightney made things a little easier by eliminating two options. Now there were just two choices remaining. However, those two were so dissimilar from one another that Poppy would have assumed they stemmed from different enquiries. 

She averted her gaze, considering her options. She regretted having glanced in Gigi's direction. She should've turned right, but no, she had to go left. At the very least, Brightney would have offered her some encouragement. Gigi simply stared at her, bored. You’re so helpful, Gigi, so helpful.

With a huff, she pressed her button and shouted out her response. It was a complete guess, but it was preferable to looking at that annoying toon.

A ring played.

“Correct! Despite the others making things easier for you.”

Poppy folded her arms and smiled pridefully at Gigi. “See? I can also be bold.”

Gigi rolled her eyes. “Come on, you only had two options to choose from.”

Poppy shrugged. “I made a lucky guess, like you.”

“And that's why I hate it,” she pouted. She murmured beneath her breath so softly that Poppy might have missed it if she hadn't been paying attention. “Now we're tied again.”

Poppy smirked. “That won't last long, because I'll surpass you.”

Gigi slammed her hand against the podium. “Oh, no, you won't–”

“Gigi!” Vee said. “What's your answer?”

“Flip.” Gigi blurted.

Poppy giggled.

Gigi gave her a glare before squinting at the screen. After a few moments, she replied to Vee.

A loud buzzer was her response.

“Wrong! Anyone else?”

Poppy leaned on the podium, resting her cheek against her hand. “Were you saying something?”

Gigi groaned.

Poppy's triumph was short-lived, as the next question, the one after that, and the rest of the section left her clueless. Brightney took the initiative, answering everything with ease, as if her tiny slip-up before had not occurred.

Unsurprisingly, Brightney received the most points for the category.

At the end of the round, Poppy had five points tied with Gigi, with Brightney leading with a solid ten. Poppy sighed when Gigi suddenly spoke to her.

“Are we going to be tied at the end of the game?” Gigi asked.

Poppy raised an eyebrow. “Why do you care? You’ll get my bow either way,” The second the words left her mouth, she instantly regretted it. Was it a mistake to remind Gigi of the deal?

Gigi hesitated, then shrugged. “Yeah, but being in a tie with you makes it feel like I’m not trying hard.”

Poppy's brows furrowed as she stared at Gigi. Was she actually trying to have a civil conversation with her? Vee was off in the background, explaining the next section of the game, but Poppy’s focus was coming up with an answer for Gigi.

Gigi might have been annoying, a thorn in her side throughout the competition, but Poppy didn’t actually want her to feel like she wasn’t giving her best effort.

For a split second, Gigi’s behavior reminded her of Boxten. She shook her head at the absurdity of the comparison — Boxten was her best friend, while Gigi was, well, a stranger-rival (and a thief!)

But then another notion struck her: what if Gigi was just trying to get her to lower her guard, trying to weasel her way into some kind of psychological advantage? Was she using the pity tactic to throw her off?

Poppy turned back to Gigi. “We’re tied, but at least you’re trying, right?” she tried to sound casual but it came out a little pointed. “Oh, and aren't you the one that got a point before me?”

“Right.” Gigi pointed at the screen. “The category’s ‘Dandy’s World,’ by the way.”

What?

Poppy whipped her head around to face the screen. Sure enough, the words were displayed there. Just as she registered it, the first question popped up.

Before she could fully process it, Gigi resumed, her voice oddly softer. “I don't usually say this, but you’re fun.”

Poppy’s eyes snapped back to Gigi. “What?” 

Gigi shrugged, her eyes still fixed on the screen, though a small, almost reluctant smile tugged at her lips. “I don't know. You’re just fun to talk to, I guess.”

Poppy became filled with incredulity. “Wait, let me get this straight: we’ve been at each other’s throats since last week and you’re telling me I’m fun?”  her voice climbed in pitch. “Fun to make fun of?” Man, "fun" didn't sound like a word anymore.

Gigi shook her head. “You have funny retorts.”

Poppy’s jaw dropped. “Why are you so weird?” 

“Says the polka dot lady,” Gigi shot back.

“Hey!” Poppy crossed her arms defensively, but a smile crept through.

Gigi laughed. “You’re fun to mess with too.”

Poppy continued to stare at her, completely thrown off by the turn of events. Was this the same Gigi a couple minutes ago? Did a shape-shifter take her place while Poppy wasn’t looking? She couldn’t figure out if she’d missed some major character development or if Gigi was genuinely warming up to her (if this was her way of warming up…how did she become friends with Flutter?)

Vee's words interrupted her stream of thought. “No buzz? Come on, is it so difficult for you?” Poppy realized Brightney wasn't doing her usual "buzzing in and getting it correct" routine. “Brights?”

Brightney grinned sheepishly. “I don't watch the episodes…”

Poppy's eyes widened. “You– you don't?”

“I'm always busy doing other stuff…heh-heh.” Brightney scratched the back of her head. “Want to give it a shot, Pops?”

Poppy usually only watched the episodes she appeared in, which explained why she hadn’t known about Gigi until now — they had never shared the screen together. Occasionally, she’d tune into other episodes if their descriptions piqued her interest or if they were hyped up by the fans as a “must-watch.” She hoped the knowledge she’d picked up from those viewings would be enough to help her nail the questions.

After Poppy read the question, she buzzed in and gave her answer. This round wasn’t multiple choice anymore — it was open-ended. She prayed she didn’t need to use any specific keywords or phrases to get it right.

To her relief, the familiar ring sounded.

“Correct! Gigi, this is the last round, and you’re in last place!”

Gigi scoffed. “I know that, TV girl.” she grumbled under her breath, just loud enough for Poppy to hear.

Poppy snorted.

Gigi faced her. “Hey, just so you know, the deal is still on.”

Poppy didn't need a reminder. It was in the back of her mind. Nevertheless, when Gigi addressed it, she began to feel dread. “Oh, you still want my bow?”

Gigi nodded. “Yep, no matter how ugly it is.”

“Can you stop?”

“Mewhehe…no.”

Poppy frowned. She assumed they were having a friendship bonding here! Was Gigi really going to bring it all down?

“Oh, Poppers,” Gigi shook her head slowly, like a disappointed parent. “At least make it challenging for me.”

Poppy blinked at her in disbelief. “I’m literally a point ahead of you.”

For a moment, Gigi froze, her expression blank as if she had completely forgotten that detail. She then narrowed her eyes, taking a second to process it before replying, “That’s only one point, though.” she shifted her focus to the screen and buzzed in.

Poppy’s eyebrow shot up. Was Gigi about to pull another wild guess?

Gigi announced her answer, sounding completely sure of herself. As soon as she finished speaking, the ring played, confirming she’d nailed it.

A smug grin spread across Gigi’s face as she turned back to Poppy. “Whoops, guess we’re tied again.”

Poppy shot her a determined look. “Oh, you want something challenging? Fine, you’ll get it.”

Poppy's competitiveness skyrocketed, perhaps because Gigi finally provided her with a more difficult challenge. Surprisingly, Gigi knew a lot about the show, and fortunately, so did Poppy. Poor Brightney though, she knew nothing. She tried buzzing in and telling Vee her response, but it was always incorrect.

Fate seemed cruel, as Poppy and Gigi ended up tied at the end of the game. To make matters worse, they were tied with Brightney (yeah, despite her not getting any right. She was initially way ahead of them).

“Well, well, well! It looks like we have ourselves a three-way tie!” She glazed her sight over the three contestants. “This calls for a tiebreaker!”

In a flashy move, Vee spun the microphone in her hand, catching it with ease. She resumed speaking as if the gesture was a normal, everyday thing. “Here's how it works: I’m going to ask you a question that could be from any of the categories we’ve covered so far,” she explained. “The first one to answer correctly takes the win, but if you answer wrong...you’re automatically out of the game.”

Poppy shifted her attention for a moment, tuning into the audience for the first time in a while. They all let out a collective “Oooohhhhh” Whispers rippled through the crowd, everyone exchanging their own theories on who might win. Gradually, the murmurs faded and once it was silence, Vee moved on.

“Ready? Because this is the final question:”

Poppy held her breath.

“How many episodes do I appear in?”

Ah, dang it. 

At least it was Dandy's World-related. If it's Pop Culture, there's a 50/50 chance. If it's Math & Logic, take Gigi's name without the 'i's because that's how she'll be. Poppy knew she hadn't watched every episode that had Vee in it. She pictured the episode thumbnails, trying to remember which ones included Vee. She also attempted to recall the descriptions — how many times had Vee been mentioned?

Brightney let out a sigh. “I believe this is the end of the road for me.”

Poppy turned towards her. “Don’t say that! Maybe make a lucky guess?”

Brightney considered it before she answered, “It's really risky...but I suppose it's better than giving up.”

Poppy smiled. "That's the spirit!”

“Poppers, are you trying to sabotage her or something?” Gigi blurted.

Poppy gazed at her. “Oh, so do you want to give it a try?”

“Nope.” Gigi answered without hesitation.

“Wow, I'm so flattered.” Vee said in a tone that sounded quite opposite. “The grand prize is on the line. Anyone ?” Vee tapped her feet. Poppy felt compelled to shout, "Shut up, we're thinking!" But she held herself back. If she did it, Vee would eliminate her right away. 

After what seemed like decades, Brightney drew in a long breath before buzzing in. “Sixteen…?”

There was a long interval during which Poppy would suffocate if she held her breath. It was really dramatic, and she was beginning to feel anxious — but she wasn't sure why. Was she worried that Brightney would win or get it wrong?

When the erroneous buzzer sounded, a large red cross appeared above Vee.

“With that, Brightney is out of the game! Better luck next time!” The spotlight beaming on Brightney disappeared, leaving Poppy and Gigi in the light (Brightney made sure to have her bulb off this time).

Brightney chuckled despite the loss. “Aw, just when I was so close.” She turned her gaze to the audience and gave a thumbs-up. Poppy imagined she was looking at the small 8-ball girl and the magnifying glass toon, perhaps to let them know she was okay. Poppy couldn't see the audience's reactions because it was dark, so she didn't get to see what her friends might be thinking (Boxten’s was probably like “You can do it!” While Glisten's was “You better do it.”).

Now that Poppy focused on her surroundings, she noticed the entire room was cloaked in darkness — except for her, Gigi, Vee, and the glowing screen displaying the question. The setting felt almost like a trial, where a wrong answer would lead to a doomed verdict.

Poppy propped her elbow on the podium, resting her chin on her hands. If she got this wrong, not only would she lose, but she'd also have to hand over her bow to Gigi. And if Gigi won, well, she'd still have to give up her bow. Her only hope was either to get the answer right herself or for Gigi to buzz in and get it wrong.

The pressure was so intense that Poppy had to fight the urge to scream in frustration.

“Popppsssssss,” Gigi called out in a high-pitched tone, like a queen bee chatting with her best friend. “It all comes down to this~!”

“You don't say,” Poppy muttered, not tearing her sight away from the screen.

She sensed Gigi shuffling a bit closer. “Hey, can we at least end this on a good note?” 

Poppy faced her, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, so we pretend we’re all buddy-buddy? For the viewers? To make yourself look more likable?”

Gigi shook her head. “Pfft, no! I just…” her gaze flicked to the side. “Idon'tknow…!” she forced a chirpy tone as if that was exactly what she meant to say. Poppy could tell she genuinely didn't have a clue how to respond.

Poppy stared at Gigi, then sighed, softening a bit. “You know what? I’m not big on making enemies, so,” she extended her hand. “Truce?”

Gigi was speechless for a moment before she grinned and reached out to shake her hand “Truce.” As they released the handshake, she added, “May the best toon win.”

Poppy thought that was the end of it, but then Gigi smirked, “And may the best toon keep that outrageous bow.”

Poppy’s left eye twitched. “Can you stop making fun of it?”

“Why? Your reaction’s hilarious,” Gigi replied, completely nonchalant.

Poppy rolled her eyes, but she had a hint of a smile. With a silent agreement to put the banter aside, they both turned their attention back to the screen.

Vee didn't try to hide her irritation with them at this point. She placed her hands on her hips and swayed her microphone tail back and forth. After a time, she brought it back up to her mouth. “Come on, we don't have all day.”

Poppy chuckled and leaned closer to Gigi. “I think I know the reason why Dandy chose her as one of the Mains.”

“Her attitude?” Gigi snickered. “I see it too. Entertaining.”

“Can you stop gossiping and answer the question?” Vee's voice reminded them that they were still competing with each other.

“So, what do you think the answer is?” Gigi asked, her voice uncharacteristically calm.

“I’m not sure. How about you?” Poppy replied.

Gigi shrugged. “No idea.”

The normalcy of their conversation threw Poppy in a loop. She blinked a few times, anticipating waking up from a bizarre dream. It felt surreal, talking with Gigi without any teasing or jabs. Was this really happening? Were they actually speaking like friends?

Vee’s vexed voice cut through the moment. “This isn’t a group activity,” she snapped. “Can one of you just buzz in already?”

“Wah,” Gigi’s face twisted into a brief frown before she quickly shifted back to her usual grin. “Let’s answer before she explodes.”

“Yeah,” Poppy agreed, nodding slightly. “I’ll go first.”

“Wait, what—”

Poppy pressed the button.

Annoyed melted into forced enthusiasm as Vee smiled. “Poppy? What’s your answer?”

“Nineteen?” Please be correct, please be correct, please be cor–

Ring, ring, ring!

“We got ourselves a winner!” Vee announced. “Finally! Took you long enough. I was about to make you all los–” She paused, catching herself mid-ramble. Clearing her throat, she continued more composedly, “Ahem, congratulations to” — the spotlight flicked off Gigi, casting all the light on Poppy — “Poppy!”

Poppy's mouth became agape. “I– I won?” The next thing she heard were the audience's cheers and claps. Next to her, Brightney smiled, “Congrats, Pops!”

“I– dang. I honestly expected you to win, so I was shocked when you were eliminated first–”

“It's okay! There will be another chance, as Vee mentioned.” Brightney interrupted. “She didn't say anything about doing it once.”

Poppy nodded. “Well, I better see you win the next time you're on the game show!”

To her left, she heard Gigi groan. “Fine, you win.”

“My pink bow was never yours to begin with.”

Gigi responded by crossing her arms and pouting.

“Poppy will be walking away with the grand prize... that prize being...!” Vee stretched her arms out as a drumroll played. A moment later, an item dropped from the ceiling into her hands. She held it up. “A Vee plushie!”

“A Vee– what?” Poppy stared at the plushie in Vee’s grasp. Her eyebrows furrowed. “Is that– is she self-advertising?!”

Vee wrapped one arm around the plushie while she spoke into the microphone. “The prize is a mini version of me– but it’s special.” She turned to face the audience and the camera. “Plushies of all the Mains will be available in online stores starting next week! And Poppy here” — Vee motioned towards her — “is the first toon to ever receive one! Let’s give her a second round of applause!”

The crowd proceeded to applause.

She turned to face her friends. Boxten smiled so widely that it looked like he had won. She was pretty sure the loudest claps came from him; he was smacking his hands together really hard and quickly. Poppy hoped he wasn't hurting himself.

Meanwhile, Glisten clapped more slowly. He gave her an expression that appeared to say, Good, you won. At the very least, being an idiot in the first few questions wasn't pointless.

If that was what he was thinking, she was going to play pranks on him for a month just to be petty.

“That concludes today's game show! See you next time on 'Victory With Vee'! Poppy, please come to the players-only room to claim your prize!” With that, Vee flipped back into the darkness as her spotlight switched off. After that, the pillar she was standing on lowered itself. That was the cue for the audience to stand up and go.

Brightney cast the girls a small smile. “Huh, so...good game, guys?”

Poppy nodded. “Good game.”

“Sure,” Gigi replied.

“Well, Vee didn't say anything about the losing players staying, so I’ll be the first to head out.” Brightney explained. “I’m having dinner with Rodger and Toodles later. What time is it, anyway?”

Both Poppy and Gigi shrugged.

“Oh, nevermind. I’ll figure it out.” Brightney said, more to herself than to them. She began to walk off, tossing a cheerful, “They’re waiting for me, so I gotta go– bye! It was nice playing with you two!” over her shoulder.

“It was fun with you too!” Poppy called back, waving energetically.

“Bye,” Gigi said with a weak, half-hearted wave.

Once Brightney was out of sight, Poppy's focus shifted back to Gigi. “Pink bow?”

Gigi huffed, resigned. “Argh, fine.” She popped open her head and reached into it. A moment later, she pulled out a pink bow. With a roll of her eyes, she closed her head back up and held the bow out to Poppy. “Here it is.”

“Thank you!” Poppy took the bow eagerly, clutching it in her hand like it was a long-lost treasure (technically it was, right?)

She was jubilated that she had gotten it back, but when she looked at Gigi, she saw how unhappy she seemed. “Gigi?”

“I’m fine. It was part of the agreement. I'm just a sore loser.” Gigi admitted. “Now, if you excuse me, I have a butterfly to get to.”

She was about to walk away when Poppy stopped her. “Do you remember our truce?”

Gigi turned back to her, perplexed. “Yeah?”

“You don't hate me anymore, right?”

Gigi snorted. “I've never hated you. You were only my rival! I can't act like that around rivals?”

Poppy chuckled. “There’s a vending machine in the players-only room. I’ll buy you one for free.”

Gigi’s eyes lit up with surprise. “You’d do that? For me?”

“Yep!” Poppy smiled. “The show’s over, I got my bow back, we’re chill with each other now. The least I could do is give you something.”

Gigi stared at her for a moment, then broke into a grin. “You know what? You’re not my rival anymore — you’re a friend.”

Poppy coughed. “Ugh, corny.”

“Don’t ruin it,” Gigi retorted, though there was a playful glint in her eye. “Besides, any toon who gives me free stuff automatically gets marked as ‘good’ in my book.”

Poppy chuckled, shaking her head. “Glad to know I’ve made the list. Now, come on.” She nudged Gigi lightly with her elbow. “Let’s not keep Vee waiting, or she might actually explode this time.”

Gigi giggled. “Mewhehe…yeah, let’s go.”

They walked side by side back towards the room, their earlier tension replaced by an easy camaraderie. 

Poppy couldn't quite believe it. She’d entered the game show with Gigi as an enemy, turned her into a rival midway through, and somehow ended up with her as a friend. What kind of clichéd TV show ending was this? It felt like Dandy’s World had come to life.

She glanced over at Gigi. “Hey, since we’re friends now, does that mean you’re done trying to steal my stuff?”

“Depends.”

Of course, she just had to go and befriend the most unpredictable toon ever.

Poppy knew that being Gigi’s friend was going to be extremely fun.

Chapter Text

Being a full-time singer and a part-time actor was unsurprisingly exhausting for Glisten.

He became a singer because, well, he loves singing (and attention, as long as it wasn't excessive). As for acting, that was purely for some quick cash.

These two jobs made him ridiculously rich. He earns about four to eight thousand per month — either that or more.

Nonetheless, no matter how much he makes, it won't be enough to fix his tiredness.

He lay on his bed for an hour, gazing at the ceiling. In his mind, he mapped out his schedule: he’d rest until Monday, then brainstorm lyrics for his next song. Oh, and he needed to memorize the script for an upcoming episode. Filming begins in two weeks — or was it sooner, or later?

A notification on his phone pulled him out of his thoughts. With a curious hum, he reached for the device and opened the email.

Subject: Halloween Horror Nights

Dear Gardenviewers,

I hope you're all having a fantastic day! I have some exciting news to share!

To celebrate the completion of our 50th episode and the spooky season, I've decided to treat you all to tickets to Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights! Your tickets will be sent to you soon.

If you're joining us, please check the attached document and choose the bus you'd like to ride (one Main per bus). It will take you to and from the venue.

If you’re unable to make it, feel free to give your ticket to someone else.

On 25th October, meet at the Studio at 5PM. The bus will not wait for late-comers.

Happy Halloween!

Dandy

After he finished reading it, he switched off his phone.

Halloween Horror Nights? Wasn't that the event where toons tried to scare the living life out of you? Glisten liked the costumes and makeup, but everything else? Not so much.

Not that he was scared (obviously), just that he never really had any interest in those kinds of things. He wasn't the type to willingly throw himself into a terrifying situation.

Since Dandy would be sending him a ticket, he might as well do a giveaway — let a fan have it for free. How would he organize it, though? Make a Google Form for fans to fill out, then spin a wheel to pick the winner?

Actually, that didn’t sound like a bad idea.

He was about to start creating the form when his phone buzzed. He turned his device on and discovered it was a message from Boxten. It said he’d be joining Poppy and her new friends, and asked if Glisten wanted to tag along.

A moment later, another notification pinged. It was another email from Dandy and attached to it was his HHN ticket.

Glisten stared at the screen for a long moment before letting out a sigh.

He swears, only Boxten could make him drop his previous plans.

He booked a bus and a few days later, he boarded it.

Glisten found his seat beside Boxten, who had claimed the window seat. In front of them was Poppy, and next to her, across the aisle, were Gigi and her friend — a butterfly toon. Glisten felt he had seen her before, but he wasn't sure...

Poppy, Gigi, and were in their own world chatting. Beside them, the butterfly toon simply nodding along. Poppy had met Gigi a month ago when she’d stolen her bow. Now they were acting like the best of friends. Glisten felt like he was watching an enemies to friends arc. Meanwhile, the bug toon? Yeah, Glisten definitely had seen her before, but where?!

The bus started up and before long, they were on their way.

Glisten spent his time by talking with Boxten. They were so engrossed in conversation that it was unexpected Glisten hadn’t asked the most basic question: “Have you been to Halloween Horror Nights before?” Deciding it was better late than never, he finally spoke it aloud.

Boxten blinked at him before chuckling lightly. Then he told him that, shockingly, he had.

“Yeah, third time ever.” Boxten elaborated. “Only with Poppy though.”

It was amusing that his shy friend went to an event like HHN. It seemed like Glisten needed to step up his game.

“That’s interesting.” Glisten paused before admitting, “You know, it's my first time going.”

Boxten's eyes lit up. “Oh! Glist, don't worry.”

“‘Don’t worry’?”

Boxten nodded. “Scare-actors aren’t allowed to touch you. And uh, if you brace yourself for the scares, it isn't that bad.”

Glisten thought about it for a while. “Hm, I suppose you're right. Besides, they’re called scare-actors, not touch-actors.”

Boxten stared at him.

Glisten recognized the issue in his sentence. “I didn't mean it that way.”

Boxten responded by rolling his eyes and cracking a grin. “I know.”

The bus slowly came to a stop, and Glisten assumed they were at a red light, but then the bus driver opened the door and announced, “We have reached the venue. Everyone please alight and walk down the path. It should lead you straight to the park.”

Wasn't that a little too straightforward? But then again, that was the longest thing Glisten had ever heard from a bus driver. If Glisten didn't listen to him, he'd probably drive away, kidnapping him and the other toons on board.

Everyone stood up and began to get off. Glisten and Boxten stayed seated, waiting for the passengers to leave. Coincidentally, Poppy, Gigi, and the butterfly toon all had the same notion.

After everyone had gone, the five of them got up and stepped off.

Once they were out, Poppy, Gigi, and Flutter (that was the bug’s name! Thank you memory!) went back to their talk (Flutter was still just nodding). He could hear them pretty clearly, however, that didn't matter since they discussed a topic he was unfamiliar with. That encouraged him to speak with Boxten instead, who seemed to be equally confused. “Hey, Boxy.”

Boxten turned to him. “Hm?”

“Are you excited?” Glisten asked, smirking.

“Excite– oh, yes!” He grinned. “They always outperform last year's. This is your first HHN, right?” 

Glisten nodded.

“You're going to love it, Glist.” Boxten's gaze shifted to the ground. “If you don't mind the scary aspect of it.” 

Glisten scoffed. “Of course I don't mind! I wouldn't be here if I was.” that was his reply, but the truth? I’m here because you invited me.

Boxten moved his attention back to him and sighed. “That's a relief.”

By the time Boxten said that, they had arrived at the venue.

The actors had all assembled in front of someone. Glisten peered over and glimpsed something red, orange, yell– oh, it's Dandy. The flower toon was the shortest person Glisten had ever seen (Dandy's pet rock-dog, Pebble, appeared to be the only one Dandy stood taller than. Glisten had never seen him stand next to Toodles, a literal child, but it would be funny if he turned out to be shorter than her) so for a split second, he was bewildered as to why Dandy was towering over them. Glisten got his answer by Gigi randomly going, “He's standing on a bucket.”

Glisten faced her. “On a what?”

Gigi shrugged. “Flutter spotted it.”

Ah, yes, there was a butterfly here. She could fly up and investigate. He anticipated her to be doing exactly that, but Flutter remained next to Gigi.  

Dandy's voice brought Glisten's attention back to him. “Finally, you're all here!” He cast a fleeting glance in Glisten's direction, presumedly referring to them, before returning to the crowd. “I'm delighted you took your time out of your schedule to be here!”

He spread his arms wide, as if inviting everyone in for a big hug. “I bet you’re all excited to get the night going!” Dandy exclaimed before pointing toward where the actors were gathered. “Meet back here at 10:30 PM sharp! We will leave without you!” His tone made it hard to tell if he was joking.

The toons began speaking to each other, whispering things like, “I don’t want to walk home.” and “Is he being serious?”

Glisten had to agree with what they were thinking. After all, they were about two hours from the city. If you're walking home, you might as well sleep in the streets.

Dandy waited for the mutters to die down before motioning toward the entrance of the park. “Have fun! And just a reminder: 10:30 PM! Dis-missed!” He separated the last part, making it sound like “This! Missed!” It felt like Dandy was a fortune teller, subtly hinting, “Yeah, this event’s a hit-or-miss, and guess what? It missed.”

Like soldiers being ordered to fight, the crowd rushed into the theme park. Fortunately, Glisten and his group were standing behind them. If they were inside, one of them would most likely fall and be crushed. Flutter, however, was different. She could fly up and avoid it completely (lucky bug).

They waited for the toons to funnel in before making their way through the gates themselves.

The first thing Glisten noticed was the decorations. Halloween-themed props were scattered everywhere: pumpkins, skeletons, ghosts — your typical spooky setup. It reminded him of that one time in school when they had a Halloween celebration. The people organizing it had been too lazy to do it right, so they bought the cheapest decorations and tossed them around, putting no effort at all. It ended up being the most boring Halloween Glisten had ever experienced.

Additionally, the setting was the equivalent of a kindergarten event. Glisten half-expected a worker to approach them, hand them a basket, and tell them to go trick-or-treating.

“Gosh, take a look at that pumpkin!” Poppy squealed. “Ooh! Take a photo with me!” She bolted ahead, and Gigi and Flutter went after her.

“That pumpkin's just bigger than the others…” Glisten remarked.

Boxten hummed. “Well, if Poppy likes it, then…” he gestured towards them, silently asking Glisten to join.

Glisten obliged with a roll of his eyes.

After Poppy had taken a selfie with them, she examined the image. Gigi and Flutter shifted to her side to see the picture. Meanwhile, Glisten looked up and saw a gigantic glass dome covering the space they were in, with heads hanging from it. There was also a TV showing the promo for this year's HHN, and orange ribbons were draped all around. Surrounding the TV were spotlights that shone and moved on the ground, changing the color of the toons beneath them. It felt like an outdoor party. All that was left was some beverages and red cups to complete the scene.

“What do you think, Glist?” Boxten's question redirected Glisten's focus back to him.

“It's nice, but,” Glisten glanced at the props. “The decorations should use an upgrade.”

Boxten followed his gaze and replied, “Oh, yeah, agreed…but it gets better.”

“Hey, guys!” Poppy called out, drawing Glisten and Boxten's attention to her. “Come on! The welcome ceremony’s about to start!”

“Let's hurry,” Boxten said. “Keeping Pops waiting is scarier than any actor.”

Glisten nodded, and they continued down the path.

Boxten's statement regarding the decorations improving proved to be right. The plastic props evolved into elaborate, expensive-looking ones. Some looked to be handcrafted; they must have taken months to construct.

As Glisten admired the objects and structures, he almost walked into the toon in front of him. He waited for them to move forward, but they remained stationary.

“Oh, come on!” Poppy hollered. “This is the worst spot ever!”

“Right?!” Gigi groaned. “That tree’s totally in the way!”

Poppy sighed dramatically. “I can't believe this.”

Glisten glanced up and saw why they were both complaining. Somehow, out of all the places they could’ve ended up, they managed to stand right behind a tree that completely blocked their view. The crowd around them was so tightly packed that squeezing through to the front was out of the question.

Flutter flapped her wings, making Gigi turn to her. “What is it, Flutts?”

The butterfly pointed towards the stage where the welcome ceremony will take place. Then she pointed to the top of one of the buildings. As she accomplished all of this, she moved her antennas.

Gigi seemed to understand. “Oh! That's a great idea!”

“What did she say?” Glisten asked.

“Flutter said I should give her my phone. Afterward, she would fly up and video call us. That way, we could see it clearly.” Gigi smiled at Flutter. “Gosh, you're such a genius!”

Flutter bowed her head, as if expressing, "Thank you".

Gigi took her phone out of her– head? Weird, but moving on — and gave it to Flutter. Flutter held it between her feet — was that hygienic? Oh well. She flew up, and a few moments later, Poppy's phone started ringing.

Poppy switched it on and pressed the green icon. The next thing to appear was Flutter's face. “There's the bug-buddy!” Poppy exclaimed heartily. Flutter once again did her antenna movements before flipping the camera towards the stage. The three of them: Glisten, Boxten, and Gigi, encircled Poppy, peering over her shoulder to see what was on her phone.

The stage was vast, with a giant screen in the rear. Glisten wondered when it would begin, and as if he had manifested it, music began to play.

The audience went silent as a figure dashed on stage, shouting for help. Just then, more toons appeared, asking the same question. After a bit of this, the killers — from what Glisten assumed, entered.

At this point, Glisten stopped paying attention to the screen since what they did to those desperate yellers was enough to give him nightmares for the next week. He could hear their blood-curdling screams, knives slicing across bodies, and the crowd going "OOHHHHH!"

He looked at Boxten to see how he was handling this.

Yeah, he stopped paying attention as well.

Poppy and Gigi, on the other hand, were completely fixated on the mass murder, and Glisten became concerned. Was he hanging around with the next big-hit serial killers? 

Finally, after what seemed like decades of misery and laughter, one of the actors welcomed them, causing the toons who were watching to cheer and applaud. And with that, Halloween Horror Nights had officially started.

The crowd surged forward, all of them radiating excitement. As they moved, Glisten and the others stayed put.

Gigi leaned toward Poppy's phone and said to Flutter, “Meet us down here! The area you were at earlier.”

Flutter nodded, and three seconds later she glided down and landed gracefully. She was teetering on one leg and holding Gigi's phone. Gigi smiled. “Thank you, Flutter!” She took her device back and kept it.

Poppy placed her hands on her hips. “So, what should we do first?”

“Go to a haunted house?” Glisten proposed. “That’s the main attraction, isn't it?”

“Yeah, but,” Poppy shook her head. “Let’s save that for last.”

“How about we walk through a scare-zone?” Boxten suggested. “It could make us get used to being scared.”

Poppy thought about it before clapping her hands together. “Good idea, Box!” She turned to the rest of the group. “What should we do after that?”

“Rollercoaster!” Gigi exclaimed like a toddler who wanted ice cream. Flutter beat her wings in agreement.

“Roller–” Boxten blurted out.

“Awesome!” Poppy cut him off and didn't realize it. “If we have time, I think we should grab a snack.”

Glisten rolled his eyes. “Obviously. None of us had dinner.”

Poppy ignored him and continued. “Finally, haunted house. Everyone cool with it?”

The group nodded.

“Great!”

With that, they walked down to the first location: the scare-zone. The majority of the crowd had dispersed, allowing the group to easily pass through.

Glisten remembered from the internet that following the welcome ceremonies, toons would sprint to various sections, attempting to arrive first. People described it as a crazy experience, so he was relieved he didn't have to go through it. Instead, he could brisk peacefully while seeing the well-made props and décor.

It did not take long to get to the first area. The theme was "Mutation" therefore there were toons dressed as animals strolling about; those costumes where you use stilts to move around on all fours.

He noticed a brown dog with holes all over its body, as if it had been shot numerous times. It has incredibly long sharp teeth and fully black eyes. Blood flowed from its muzzle. It ran up to people and barked. Glisten had to remind himself that it was some guy in a suit and not an actual animal.

From afar, there was a scruffy, tattered ginger cat who was much quieter than the dog. Instead of darting around, it moved slowly. The cat looked in his direction and stared at him. Even though it wasn't a jumpscare, it still made Glisten uneasy.

There were a few more creatures: rabbits, rodents, bears, and possibly a bull and a horse. What was the backstory behind this? Alien invasion with animals doing their bidding? Animal experiments? Possession?

Poppy and Gigi's screams broke Glisten's train of thought.

The dog ran in front of the girls, snarling. Poppy and Gigi escaped behind a trash can, but the dog followed them. As they were chased around the zone, they both let out fearful yet amused cries. Flutter was nowhere to be seen, until Glisten noticed her hovering. Flutter flew away, likely following the girls.

This left Glisten and Boxten standing there.

Glisten turned to him. “So, how’s your day been?”

“Hmm, it’s been good,” Boxten replied casually. Having a normal conversation while toons were screaming was always the best.

Glisten glanced around. “What do you think this whole setup’s about?”

Boxten hummed thoughtfully. “It’s probably about–”

Glisten heard a noise behind him.

He whirled around and yelped.

The monster cat from earlier was right there. Somehow, it had managed to sneak up on them– heck, teleported seemed like the correct word.

It took Glisten a few moments to steady himself after the scare. When he looked at Boxten, he was surprised to see he’d barely reacted at all. The monster cat simply stared at him, and Boxten stared back. After a tense three seconds of silence, the feline moved off, wandering away in search of a new target.

Glisten went back to his friend and mumbled, “What?”

Boxten shrugged, meeting his gaze. “I don't know either.”

Glisten gazed at the cat, who was already prowling toward its next victim. For some reason, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Honestly? That was impressive.”

Boxten gave a small smile. “Yeah, that cat was–”

“I’m referring to you.” Glisten stated.

“Oh.” Boxten blushed. “Uh, thanks…”

“Gee, Glisten. Didn’t know you screamed like a girl,” a familiar voice teased, shifting both Glisten’s and Boxten’s focus to the newcomer.

It was Poppy, grinning mischievously, with Gigi and Flutter on either side of her. Thankfully, there was no dog trailing behind them.

Glisten scoffed, putting a hand on his hip. “Have you heard yourself scream?”

“I don’t count! I’m already a girl!” Poppy shot back.

Gigi snickered. “Should’ve taken a video of that. You screaming like a girl, I mean.”

“And I’d have asked you to delete it,” Glisten retorted.

“Uh,” Boxten interjected. “Shouldn’t we be heading to the–”

“Rollercoaster!” Poppy interrupted. “Yes, exactly that! Thanks, Box!” She turned to Glisten and Gigi. “You two can have your beef later. I’m really in the mood for a near-death experience.”

Before anyone could respond, Poppy spun around and walked off. Gigi stuck her tongue out at Glisten before following her. Flutter flew after them.

Boxten faced Glisten. “Ready to go?”

“I'm always ready.” Glisten answered (hopefully that confidence would last the entire night).

Boxten smiled before they trailed after their friends.

They moved into the next zone of the park, passing through a grand entrance as the scenery shifted around them. Moments ago, they’d been surrounded by tall buildings that were very reminiscent of the city where Glisten and the others lived. Now, they were in a futuristic, sci-fi landscape.

Above them, a rollercoaster track twisted through the air, and a train of cars zoomed by, filled with toons screaming. Glisten followed it with his gaze as it dipped toward a pool of water below. As it skimmed close to the surface, he thought the riders would get soaked.

“My gosh!” Poppy exclaimed, vibrating with excitement. “That’s it, I'm going, going, going!”

“Oh!” Gigi chimed in, matching Poppy’s energy. “I’m definitely getting on that!”

Flutter flapped her wings.

“Of course, you can come!” Gigi smiled.

“I'm sitting out.” Boxten announced. “I– I don't want to ride that.”

“It's alright, Box!” Poppy chirped. “I understand!”

Glisten gave the rollercoaster another look. He shivered just thinking about going on. He watched that one movie with those teenagers, and even if it was unrealistic, he does not want anything like that to happen to him. He wasn't taking that chance. Also, wasn't there a musical about choir kids who die on one? Wow, the media really made rollercoasters a living nightmare.

He faced Poppy. “I’m sitting out, too.”

Poppy raised an eyebrow. “Really? Actually…yeah, that makes sense.”

Glisten narrowed his eyes. “What does that–”

Before he could finish, both Poppy and Gigi shoved their valuables into his hands.

Poppy handed him a wallet and phone, simple enough, but Gigi — well, there was no way Glisten was keeping track of all that. Let’s just say she had a phone and an entire collection of random items. She piled on so much that Boxten had to step in, taking a few things to keep Glisten from dropping the lot.

“Gigi, where did you get these?” Glisten inquired in disbelief. 

“From stores.” She grinned at him before she, Poppy, and Flutter scurried away to find the queue for the ride.

Glisten and Boxten stood there in the midst of the park, carrying the girls’ stuff. Passerbys went by and gave them stares that said “Woah! Look at them! They're carrying an entire mountain of stuff!” At this point, they were basically a new attraction.

“Bench!” Boxten yelled. For a second, Glisten thought he meant he wanted him to lift everything like weights, but then he remembered where they were. Following Boxten’s gaze, he spotted an actual bench nearby.

“Good eye, Boxy,” he said as they made their way to the seat as carefully as they could.

They sat down, and Glisten let out a sigh of relief as he rested his arms. Even though he’d only been carrying Gigi’s things for five, maybe ten seconds, his arms already felt sore. Seriously, how does Gigi carry all this?

“I’m surprised she carries all of it herself,” Boxten remarked, thinking the same.

“She’s probably an anomaly,” Glisten leaned back and gazed up at the night sky.

They sat in comfortable silence for a while before Glisten broke it with a question. “So, any reason you decided to sit out?”

Boxten hesitated a bit. “Oh, well…I just don’t…” He trailed off, struggling to put his thoughts into words. After a while, he finally admitted, “I don’t like heights.”

“Hm, not because of the speed or the steep drops?” 

“Er, that too.”

Glisten chuckled. “Fair enough.”

Boxten flipped the question to him. “What about you? Why’d you sit out?”

“I hate rollercoasters,” Glisten replied simply.

“Oh.”

There was music coming from speakers all across the park. Earlier, it was playing Halloween-themed music. The next tune that came after it felt strangely familiar.

When Glisten heard the melody, he understood why: this was his song.

It was playing "ABLAZE". It was his second ever release. Glisten doesn't listen to his old songs much anymore since they make him cringe. So far, this has been the scariest thing tonight. Yes, even more frightening than the deformed cat.

“Oh my gosh.” He buried his head in his hands. “Out of all the things they could’ve…”

“What's wrong, Glist?’

He looked up to see Boxten tilting his head at him. “Listen.”

Boxten became silent. Then, he said, “Oh, your song?”

Glisten nodded. “Yep.”

“...Are you embarrassed?”

Normally, he’d never admit that he was. He was supposed to be proud of his work — his songs were what got him popular, after all. But with Boxten, he trusted him enough to be honest. Letting out a reluctant sigh, he said, “Yeah, I am.”

“Your voice is lovely, Glist.” Boxten said, and he sounded completely sincere.

“Thanks, Box, but…” He sighed again. “It’s like hearing yourself in a voice recording. I can’t stand it.”

“But…all your songs are recordings.”

Right, how could he have forgotten that major detail? “This song’s pretty old.”

Boxten raised his eyebrow. “You released this a year ago.”

“Two years ago,” Glisten corrected. “And I’ve made plenty since then.”

“Wow,” Boxten murmured. “You blew up fast.”

“Yeah, and sometimes I wish I hadn’t,” Glisten gestured vaguely. “Because…well, this.”

“It’s still kind of impressive. I mean, your music’s everywhere.”

Glisten groaned. “I appreciate that toons are playing my songs, but can’t they pick a newer one?”

“Maybe it fits the theme?” 

Glisten shook his head. “Doubt it.”

When the chorus began to play, his left eye twitched. “Oh, goodness…”

Boxten flashed him a reassuring grin. “Glist…I like how far you’ve come.”

“Hm.” Glisten rubbed the back of his hand. “Thanks.” He folded his arms before changing the subject. “Hey, did you know? This song is about going through a breakup.”

“Did that actually…?” Boxten didn't say the last part, but Glisten already knew.

“Nope.” he shook his head. “Never even dated. I just write about common experiences so toons find me relatable — it works. People tell me how much they connect with my songs.”

“I haven’t dated either.” Boxten confessed. “But I’ve had a few crushes. Got rejected every time…”

How could anyone reject him? Glisten thought. I’d never. “They’re all fools.”

Boxten smiled at his response. “You know, if I did go through a breakup, your song would really resonate with me.” He quickly added, “I know it sounds weird, but you get it, right?”

“Yeah. That doesn't make me want to listen to it.”

Boxten laughed. “Well…listen to me then.”

Glisten blinked, caught off guard by Boxten’s straightforwardness.

Boxten’s eyes widened. “Wait– no, I– I didn’t mean it like a demand, I was just–”

“I already am.”

“…Am what?”

“Listening. We are having a conversation, aren’t we?”

Boxten relaxed. “I…suppose we are.”

The song playing over the park's speaker was coming to an end. Glisten decided to squeeze in a few more sentences. “You know, you made me feel better.”

“I did?”

He nodded. “If you weren't here, I would've suffered alone.”

“That's a bit dramatic considering this is only an older song of yours.”

“An older song that makes me want to jump in the water over there.” He pointed to the general direction of it.

“Scratch that, you're dramatic.”

Glisten had no comeback to that since he was correct.

When the song ceased, Glisten heard someone call out their names. He searched about and found Poppy darting over to them. “There you guys are!”

“Pops, it's not like we went to the other side of the park.” Glisten said bluntly.

Poppy rolled her eyes. “Yeah, anyway Gigi and Flutter are getting food for us.”

“Food?” Glisten tilted his head. “Aren't the wallets with us?”

Poppy stayed silent, gazing at them with a grin.

Glisten and Boxten exchanged glances.

Glisten turned to Poppy. “Help us carry the things.”

“Of course, I'm not a freeloader.” She approached them and took a few items from each of them, keeping her phone and wallet in the process. After making sure that nothing would fall, the boys stood up.

“Where are they?” Glisten asked.

“Follow me.” Poppy answered, walking away. Glisten and Boxten kept up with her as she led them through the park.

They strolled through the sci-fi zone until they found Gigi and Flutter near a food cart, each holding some…interesting items. By the way, neither Gigi nor Flutter had their wallets. Did they steal those products?

Gigi spotted them and came over, taking her things back and putting them into her head without somehow dropping her beverages or snacks. “Guess who got you food and drinks!” 

None of it looked like food nor drinks. One was in a massive syringe, while the other came in a blood bag. Flutter had another set too. Judging from the size, it was enough to feed the five of them.

Boxten raised a brow. “Did you—”

“Yep, stole it.” Gigi cut him off, unapologetic.

So they did steal it, Glisten thought.

Boxten’s jaw dropped. “I– that’s–”

“Illegal?” Gigi guessed. “Yep. But only you guys know!”

Boxten turned to Poppy. “You're okay with this?”

She winced, eyes darting between him and Gigi. “I mean, I tried to talk her out of it...”

Boxten shifted his focus back to Gigi, at a loss. “Uh, I really don’t condone that.”

“Duly noted.” Gigi replied, looking anything but remorseful. “But I have ‘em, and I’m not returning ‘em.”

Flutter motioned with her antenna, wings occupied, catching Gigi’s attention. After her silent statement, Gigi sighed. “Fine, fine.” She gazed back at Boxten. “You don’t have to eat ours. You can buy from the cart. It’s only six dollars.”

“Wait, Flutter’s okay with you stealing?” Glisten asked, finally contributing something to the conversation.

“As long as no one gets hurt,” Gigi answered, and Flutter nodded along.

Glisten shook his head. “You two are criminals.”

“We’re not criminals if we don’t get caught.” Gigi shrugged, unbothered.

Glisten exchanged a look with Poppy, his expression saying, Why did you decide to become friends with them?

They’re entertaining, her expression seemed to reply.

Boxten cleared his throat, snapping them back. “I’ll…uh, buy something.” With that, he walked toward the cart.

Glisten followed without a second thought. “I’m coming with you.”

Boxten gave him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”

“I’m coming too!” Poppy chimed in, hurrying to Boxten’s other side. “I want to prove to Glisty I’m not a criminal.”

“Calling me ‘Glisty’ was already an offense.”

Poppy ignored him.

They approached the cart where Gigi had taken the food and beverages. Fortunately, there was no queue. When they got close enough, Glisten examined the menu.

There was the massive syringe and blood bag that Gigi and Flutter had. It turned out that the syringe contained jelly, whereas the blood bag contained juice. Obviously, they weren't blood, but it was a relief to find out what they really were.

There were green and blue versions of the jelly, but Glisten preferred the red one. Poppy was also interested in it. Boxten was the only one who wanted a different flavor, the blue one. 

“Hello!” The vendor greeted. “Want anything? Just six dollars!”

“Are they all six dollars?” Poppy questioned, but Glisten thought it was blatant.

The seller nodded. “Yep! But there's a discount!”

“Discount?” Glisten tilted his head.

“Mhm! If you buy the syringe in its three different colors and a blood bag at the same time, you can get a discount of ten percent!”

Glisten hummed in understanding. “I see, well–”

“Give us a moment to discuss this.” Poppy interrupted, placing her arms both on Glisten's and Boxten's shoulders.

Poppy formed a huddle with them, but Glisten quickly got out of it. “Poppy, we’re not doing a business deal.”

Poppy rolled her eyes playfully. “Yeah, but doing this is fun! Come on,” she spread her arm towards him. “Join us!”

“I’m not joining–” he caught Boxten’s eye.

Just go along with it. Boxten’s expression said. Glisten stared at him before coming to a decision. “Fine.” He placed himself back next to Poppy, allowing her to put her arm around his shoulders.

Gosh, this was so embarrassing. Three toons huddled together, as if hyping themselves up for a football game. Glisten hoped no one besides the vendor was observing.

“Anyone know Math?” Poppy looked at both of them.

“I'll try.” Boxten answered.

Poppy nodded. “Alright. We’re purchasing a syringe for each of us, correct?”

“We have too, I mean, we're doing this.” Glisten stated bitterly.

“Blood bags for each too, right? If you want, we can share–” Poppy started.

“I'm not sharing with Poppy.” Glisten interjected.

“You can share with me.” Boxten spoke.

“Okay.” Glisten agreed. “To save money, of course.”

“Ahem,” Poppy coughed. “Three syringes, two blood bags. How much is that, Boxten?”

Boxten took approximately three seconds to calculate. “Thirty dollars.”

“Alright, then after the discount?”

Boxten took more time to figure it out. “I…I think twenty-seven? Wait, no, twenty-one? I don't know...around that range at least.”

“I see…”

“For the discount, either Poppy and I need to buy the green one.” Glisten pointed out.

“Rock, paper, scissors?” Poppy proposed.

“I am not playing–”

“I can buy both the green and blue–” Boxten suggested.

“I'll get the green one.” Glisten decided.

“Alright, guys, we settled?" Poppy glanced at each of them. “I get red, Box gets blue, Glist gets green, and an additional blood bag?”

“Seems about right.” Glisten replied.

“Mhm.” Boxten added.

Poppy let go of their shoulders and turned back to the vendor. She collected the items from the cart and showed them to her. The toon looked down and laughed, “Oh! Sorry, I may have described it incorrectly: you only receive a discount if you purchase one blood bag.”

Poppy gazed back at the boys. “I'm afraid we have to share.”

Glisten sighed. “I'll drink water then.”

“The discount wouldn't work.” The person behind the cart spoke. “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Glisten knew the toon was merely doing her job, and it wasn't right to be furious with her. Nevertheless, he felt like screaming. “Nevermind, I'll pay for all of this.”

“We should still buy with the discount.” Poppy reminded him. “That means you have to buy the green one, Glisty.”

“Can you shut–”

“One blood bag for me! You can buy your other items separately!” She waved to them before spinning around and running away.

Glisten frowned. “Gigi better not be rubbing off of her.”

“I fear that's just Poppy being herself.” Boxten responded.

“Great.” The next time he saw Poppy and Gigi together, he would avoid them at all costs. He had to make an exception for this night, however. Walking five feet away from them may get a little awkward.

He returned to the cart and purchased all of the products with the discount. He was going to pay for some water when Boxten stepped in. “I'll help you buy it.”

“Hm? You don’t need to. I've got it hand–”

“I want to.” Boxten stated firmly. “Besides, you just spent a lot of money. And you're carrying four items.”

Glisten couldn't argue with that. “...Alright.” He moved back so Boxten could get some water. 

After he had finished paying, Boxten turned to face him. Glisten inspected Boxten's hands. “Box, where's your drink?”

Boxten blinked, as if realizing himself. “Oh, right.” He was going to turn around when Glisten stopped him.

“Hey, we can share.”

Boxten gazed at him with curiosity. “Share? Not buy?”

“Do you want me to buy it for you?”

Boxten shook his head, chuckling. “No, no– it's– we can share. Thanks.”

Glisten smiled. “You're welcome.”

“Thank you for your purchase!” The seller exclaimed. “Have a wonderful night!”

Glisten and Boxten walked back to the girls. 

Poppy was the first to see them. “Guys, over here!”

As they headed towards them, Glisten noted that Gigi and Flutter had finished their jelly and juice. Did Flutter have a mouth? Oh well.

Gigi scoffed. “Took you guys long enough.”

Glisten huffed. “Whatever. Poppy, here.” He gave her the things she wanted. 

Poppy gladly took it. “Thanks!” She pulled down on the plunger of the syringe, but it would not budge. She tried again, but to no avail.

“Gigi, is this how you get it out?”

“Yeah? Come on, my hands were covered.” She held up her hands, which were enveloped by her long sleeves. “If I can push it, you can do it.”

Poppy tried it for the third time before giving up. “I’m too weak for this. What if I do…” she gripped the plunger and barrel tightly and pulled them apart.

She was able to yank it free, but the force caused the jelly to fall and drop on the ground. 

The five of them looked down at it as if it were a new spectacle in the park. Poppy confidently placed her hands on her hips and said, “Five second rule.” She bent down, picked it up, and shoved it all into her mouth.

Glisten's mouth became agape. “Poppy…”

He gestured at the dirty jelly she was devouring. “That’s disgusting.”

“Stilltastesgood,” Poppy mumbled in between chews.

Glisten shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I have to side with Glisten on this one,” Boxten chimed in. “The eating part, I mean.”

Poppy was too preoccupied with her germ-filled jelly to respond.

Facing away from the group, Glisten focused on Boxten instead, since he was the only one who wasn’t a criminal or a germ chaser. “I almost forgot to give you yours.”

“No worries,” Boxten replied, taking the blue jelly syringe and offering Glisten a water bottle. “You can carry this.”

“Sure.” Glisten accepted it.

Once they finished their snacks, they threw the empty food and drinks into a nearby trash can and made their way to their final location: the haunted house.

They proceeded to the very end of the park, where the most anticipated Halloween attraction was located.

They spotted the entrance and made their way through it to join the queue.

It didn't take long to stop walking.

“What's the wait time for this?” Glisten inquired, turning to the group.

“An hour at most.” Poppy answered. “And the time is…” She pulled out her phone to check the time. “Nine o'clock, on the dot.”

Already? Didn't we arrive at seven? Glisten thought. Did time really pass by that quickly? “So, we're going inside at ten?”

Poppy hummed and rubbed her chin. “Maybe? I mean, this is the longest house.”

“And that’s why it has the longest queue.” Gigi joked. “Even the rollercoaster we rode on was shorter than this.”

Poppy laughed. “Yeah, that's why we rode it twice.”

“Well, how are we keeping ourselves occupied?” Boxten buzzed in.

Poppy perked up. “Oh! I've seen toons do this!” Since she was still holding onto her phone, she swiped it. She tapped on an icon, and an image appeared. She showed it to her friends. “Let's play this!”

Glisten squinted his eyes. “'Heads Up'?”

Poppy beamed. “Yep! Come on, I've seen at least three groups do this when they were forced to wait for an extended period of time.”

“Well, so?” Gigi waved her long-sleeved covered hand. “Let's start!”

“I'll go first!" Poppy cheered. By the time the app loaded, the queue had moved two steps forward. Well, Glisten doesn't have any other options. He'd rather do this than stand there doing nothing (yes, he has a phone, but scrolling through social media may get boring after a while).

“Let's play this mode.” Poppy selected it. “You guys have to describe it and I'll guess the word.”

“How to win?” Glisten asked. “The person that helps the guesser answer the most?”

Poppy hummed thoughtfully as she nodded. “That can work.”

Flutter frowned, or at least Glisten thought she did. According to his observations, Flutter was mute and can only communicate through ASL (Antenna Sign Language) and wing and foot motions.

“I'll help translate.” Gigi stated, noticing the problem.

The countdown began, and when it hit zero, the first word flashed on the screen.

Boxten leaned forward, speaking quickly. “Oh! Uh, a mountain that erupts?”

“Volcano! That was easy!” Poppy exclaimed, tilting the phone forward as it dinged in confirmation. The next word appeared.

Glisten furrowed his brow, thinking fast. “Alright, an instrument that lets you see really tiny things?”

“Magnifying glass?” Poppy guessed, sounding hopeful.

“Close! Hmm, what’s a word that means ‘small’?”

“Micro?”

“And what are you holding?” Glisten added, trying to guide her along.

She narrowed her eyes in confusion. “Phone…microphone?”

“No.” 

Flutter moved her wings in little gestures.

“What’s another word for ‘range’?” Gigi said, doing her translation work.

Poppy’s eyes lit up. “Scope? Oh! Microscope!” She dipped her phone again, a grin spreading across her face.

When the next word showed up, Glisten was momentarily stumped. He scanned around, then pointed at a nearby tree. “What’s an animal that has a neck like that?”

“Brachiosaurus?” 

“The living one,” Glisten clarified.

“Giraffe?”

“Correct.” 

The next word flashed on the screen, and before Glisten could even speak, Gigi pointed at him.

Glisten cast her a perplexed look. “How am I–”

“Rainbow!”

Glisten became incredulous. “That’s not even–”

“Glisten, have you seen yourself?” Gigi asked with a grin, leaving him speechless as Poppy moved on.

Boxten smiled at the next prompt. “I have a plush of this!”

“Pen–” Glisten cut himself off, realizing too late he wasn’t the one guessing.

“Penguin!” Poppy glanced at Glisten with an amused smirk.

“Can I see your penguin?” Gigi asked, cocking her head.

“No,” Boxten replied flatly, clearly not entertaining the idea. Well, Glisten couldn't blame him. Gigi was known for stealing.

The queue inched forward, and as the next word appeared, Gigi’s eyes sparkled with a bit too much enthusiasm. “Ooh! Toons died in this!”

“Gigi, what the heck?” Glisten chided.

“Car? Rollercoaster?” Poppy got a bit thrown off by her response.

“It goes underwater!” Gigi continued.

“Oh! Submarine!” Poppy shouted.

Flutter, silently animated, mimed another answer.

“A place with a lot of sand,” Gigi assisted.

“Beach?” Poppy guessed.

Flutter shook her head, her wings swaying.

“Desert?” Poppy asked again, finally hitting the mark as Flutter nodded in approval.

A timer blared, marking the end of their round. Poppy checked her scores, satisfied. “7 out of 10, not bad.” She looked around, eyes twinkling. “Alright, who helped me out the most?”

Glisten started counting. “I have one, Box has two, Flutter: two, and Gigi…two. Are you kidding me? I got the least?!”

Poppy burst into laughter. “Maybe if you weren’t so busy judging…!”

The game resumed, and Glisten quickly realized he might be the worst at giving clues. Boxten and Flutter kept things straightforward, but Poppy’s and Gigi’s clues were like a whole new slang language. 

However, Glisten was quick when it came to guessing; he caught most of them right away — well, except for the few where Poppy’s or Gigi’s hints left him in the dust.

After seven rounds, each taking their turn, they finally reached the front of the queue.

Poppy took her phone back and kept it. She then gazed at the group, expectant. “So, who's screaming the most?”

“Glisten.” Gigi reacted immediately.

Glisten crossed his arms. “Screw you.”

“I think me…” Boxten muttered.

Glisten faced him. “I don't think so.” He looked at Poppy. “I think it'll be you.”

Poppy held out her hands in defense. “Let's not point fingers now.”

“You asked first.”

“Hey! Flutter!” Poppy exclaimed, hoping that the attention would be drawn away from her. “What do you think?”

Flutter’s eyes drifted over each of them before shaking her head.

“She doesn't want to answer.” Gigi said.

Smart choice. Glisten thought.

“How many?” Someone suddenly asked.

They turned their attention towards the toon who spoke.

It was one of the employees, and she was standing in front of the gate leading to the haunted house. “Five.” Glisten informed her. 

She nodded. “Alright.” She untied the rope that was blocking the entry and pointed with her whole arm to the place where Glisten and the others would stand.

They made their way over and looked back. As more people gathered behind them, Glisten came to a realization. “Wait, we're going first?”

“Sweet!” Poppy smiled so broadly that she could be an honorary scare-actor. “We're getting all the scares!”

Next to him, he noticed Boxten nervously rubbing his arm. “Hey, Box…?”

“Hm?”

“Remember what you said back on the bus?”

“...No?”

Oh . “Well, you said something about being prepared.”

“Oh, right.” He fixed his sight on the ground. “Yes, that works. But I've never been in front before — always in the center or behind." 

Seeing Boxten afraid was nearly as terrifying as the haunted house itself, and Glisten hadn't even entered yet. “You can stand behind me.”

“Uh, are you sure–”

“I insist.”

“Yeah, listen to him, Boxy.” Gigi giggled. “It'll be great.”

Oddly, her using the nickname he gave to Boxten irked Glisten. “Oh? How about you be my meat shield?”

Gigi stepped back, still grinning. “Nah.”

“You may enter now,” the same worker from before told them, motioning toward the entryway. Glisten sighed as he led the way into the haunted house.

It appeared haunting enough — but it wasn’t a house. Instead, towering buildings rose on either side of them, looming over the group as they entered. Streetlights flickered, casting eerie shadows, and the ground was littered with heaps of trash. A plastic bag drifted slowly past, adding an unsettling touch of realism. Glisten had to hand it to them; they’d really gone all out to make this feel immersive.

Ahead was an abandoned pet store, and from the looks of it, they needed to go there.

It's only the beginning. Glisten reassured himself. I bet some person will warn me not to go in there. He peered about for a good hiding spot. There was an alleyway on the right, and Glisten was betting that someone would emerge from it. He walked cautiously across the path, bracing himself.

He sensed Boxten's presence behind him, which gave him a bit more courage (not that he was scared! He wasn’t…). As he was about to walk past the alley, he paused and stared at it. He was the first potential person to be scared, so where was the actor?

A figure suddenly jumped out. “DON’T GO IN THERE!”

Glisten flinched, a quick gasp escaping him before he could help it. Poppy and Gigi reacted even worse, screaming at the top of their lungs. From the lack of noise on Boxten's end, Glisten assumed he was either perfectly calm — or internally freaking out.

The toon who had startled them was dressed in tattered clothes, parts of which looked shredded or torn away. His skin was smeared with blood, and his eyes were an alarming shade of red, as if he'd been crying his heart out just moments before.

Without a second glance back, he dashed down the line behind them, warning the other toons trailing after Glisten’s group to turn back. As the stranger's frantic yells grew, Glisten ventured on.

He entered the pet store and discovered it to be a mess. Food was on the floor, and toys were scattered everywhere. Papers regarding animal experiments were displayed on the wall. Is that what the scare-zone was about? Glisten notioned. Is this the backstory? He made careful steps, tensing up for anything — toons, monsters, strange scenery sounds–

The ceiling above them crumbled and collapsed.

Glisten yelped and staggered backwards, accidentally bumping into Boxten. Boxten grasped both of his arms and asked in a tone filled with puzzlement, “W-what happened?”

Poppy approached as the ceiling returned to its previous position and replied, “Glisten got scared from the ceiling.” She gave him a grin. “Nice display of bravery from you.”

Glisten frowned, stood back (causing Boxten to remove his hands from him), and gestured for her to move forward. “Ladies first.”

Poppy laughed flatly. “Ah-haha. No.” She went back to standing near Gigi and Flutter.

Glisten scoffed and turned away. He continued down the store. The place became dirtier and disorganized as he walked deeper. He had to pass by some shelves, and Glisten realized it was another opportunity for someone to jump at them. Not too awful. Not too awful. This is predictable. He tensed as he moved, but nothing came at him. When he assumed the entire zone was designed to instill false terror in toons, he heard the girls scream bloody-murder.

Before he could even turn around, one of the girls shoved into Boxten, who then stumbled forward and knocked Glisten off balance. Just as he began to fall, someone grabbed his arm, steadying him. When Glisten looked back, he saw it was Boxten who had saved him.

“Thanks,” Glisten said, then turned to the girls. “Alright, what happened?”

“A lady popped up and waved her hands — except she didn't have any!” Poppy exclaimed, her voice laced with fright.

“Her eyes were blood-shot!” Gigi chimed in, still visibly rattled. “Wait…I don’t think she even had eyes…”

Glisten sighed, folding his arms. “Well, if you’re all going to push, you might as well go first so Boxten and I won’t be in the way.”

He was directing this at Poppy and Gigi, so it was unexpected when Flutter took the lead without hesitation, hovering forward to guide the group. Not that Glisten was complaining — it was nice to have someone up front other than him.

Flutter led the way into the next area, which was obscured by heavy, dangling curtains. Poppy and Gigi hurried after her, leaving Glisten and Boxten behind.

Glisten glanced at Boxten. “Feeling better, Boxy?”

“Why?” Boxten asked, raising an eyebrow.

He cocked toward the others ahead of them. “They went first. We’re not, you know…totally in the front now.”

Boxten stared at the floor, then looked back up with a small smile. “I guess…?”

The lady Poppy and Gigi had described returned and sneered. Boxten’s eyes widened, but he didn’t make a sound.

Without thinking, Glisten reached out and grabbed Boxten’s wrist.

Boxten blinked. “Glist–?”

“Come on, let’s catch up with the others,” Glisten blurted out, gently tugging him forward.

“I– okay…”

Boxten’s soft reply brought Glisten back to reality. He suddenly realized what he’d done, silently cursing at his impulsive move. Why was he holding Boxten’s wrist — and without even asking?

The second they cleared the shelves, Glisten quickly released him and crossed his arms. “Alright, what’s next?” he mumbled aloud, hoping to shake off his embarrassment.

They seemed to have entered the pet store's back area, which was only accessible to workers. The store must have been half vet, if they did slaughtering.

On the table lay an animal's head, severed from its body. The veins and guts lay on the counter. Glisten knew it was fake, but that didn't stop him from becoming sick at the sight of it.

Glisten shifted subtly, keeping Boxten’s view blocked as he attempted to distract him. “So, what keeps you from being scared?”

Boxten’s response was simple, almost blunt. “I am scared.” as if to prove his point, music began to play from his head.

Glisten understood what that meant, and he swiftly said something, hoping it would lead him to anything that would help him calm down. “Alright, then what keeps you from, you know… screaming? How do you prepare yourself?”

Boxten hesitated, glancing to the side as though double-checking that no one else would overhear before looking back at him. “Okay, um…I stare at the floor.”

Glisten nodded, giving him his full attention. “Okay, then?”

“Then I cross my arms and hold onto my shirt like this.” Boxten demonstrated. “It stops me from jumping, and if something spooks me, I can just hold onto this. Kind of comforting, you know?” He frowned slightly. “Sorry, am I even making sense?”

“You are,” Glisten assured. He followed what he was doing. “And you know what? I feel much better. Do you feel better, Boxy?”

Despite his worry, Boxten flushed. “I– I guess…”

They approached the table with the dead animal, and Glisten was relieved Boxten was not looking up. As they passed, he gazed at the corpse. Despite how disgusting it was, he couldn't deny that it was a well-made prop. 

Suddenly, from beneath the table, a portion slid open, and a hand reached out to grab Glisten's leg. Glisten recalled how scare actors aren't supposed to touch you, but this one came near.

He shrieked, losing any remaining confidence and perfectionism. He sprang to avoid being grabbed, unintentionally performing a short tap dance. He yelled a curse; if he was on the show and it was caught on video, they would undoubtedly have to retake the scene because "Dandy's World" was for kids.

He bumped into Boxten, who looked up. “Huh–?” Behind him, another actor appeared. He was holding a needle, positioned in a way where he would stab the music box. Boxten sensed the new presence and turned around.

For the first time that night, Boxten screamed.

The melody he was playing grew in volume and became deafening, like a loud microphone ring.

It caught Glisten off guard, spooking him more than the guy from under the table. The scream mixed with the tune made Glisten think his glass would break from the noise. Apparently, it also frightened the scare-actor. He stepped back, arms tight to his chest. Then he hid again, ready to scare the next group.

Glisten and Boxten locked eyes.

“I…uh…” Boxten rubbed his hands with his thumbs, music still at a high volume. “Sorry…”

“Box…” Glisten took a step towards him. “It’s okay.”

Boxten looked away, anxious.

Knowing Boxten, he was probably spiraling downward into his overthinking mind, so he quickly held out his hand. “Shall we get a move on? Before they decide to go for round two?”

Boxten glanced down at Glisten's hand, and after a few seconds, a small smile formed, soft but genuine. “Let’s.” He took Glisten’s hand, and they began making their way through the remaining rooms of the haunted house.

They passed through different setups: a lab with jars of "specimens," a dark alleyway filled with creepy noises, a shadowy room that resembled an abandoned house — but Glisten barely registered any of it. Instead, he found himself focused on Boxten’s hand in his. He usually only grabbed Boxten’s wrist or arm —  was this the first time he’d held his hand?

Wait.

He was holding his friend’s hand.

It felt strange — not wrong, but strange. Out of all the ways he could’ve calmed him down, why had he chosen this? Why not just tell him to stick by his side? Sure, he asked to hold his hand, but–

…

Oh no.

He felt his face heat up as the realization sank in. Yet, he held on, refusing to let go until they reached the haunted house’s exit. Did this make him a bad person? Was this taking advantage of Boxten's panicked state?

He risked a glance at Boxten, who seemed calm. The music in his head had died down, and Glisten noticed that Boxten didn’t flinch at any of the scares, as if he’d found some reassurance in their shared grip.

Finally, they emerged from the haunted house, where the girls were waiting for them. Reluctantly, Glisten released Boxten’s hand, hoping none of the girls had seen it. If they had, he knew the teasing would be relentless.

“You sure took your time.” Gigi said bluntly.

“Oh, I'm sorry.” Glisten responded sarcastically.

“We were just walking through a bloody mess.”

“Guys, save your beef for the bus.” Poppy joined in. “We need to leave.”

“Really?” Glisten raised an eyebrow. “How long have we been in there?”

“Long enough for the buses to start leaving without us. Come on!”

Because they were at the end, they had to run across the entire park. After everything, it was remarkable that Glisten had the energy to keep up with the others.

It must have been weird to observers: a bunch of young adults dashing to the other side of the park as if their lives depended on it.

By the time they arrived, it thankfully appeared they hadn’t left yet, likely because Dandy was assisting toons in finding the correct bus. As Glisten walked past, he caught a snippet of Dandy’s questions, “Which Main were you with? Any number you can recall?”

Ah, Glisten thought, so that’s why Dandy told us one Main was allowed per bus — to keep track more easily.

Luckily, he remembered their bus number from earlier.

They sat in the same seats; the only change was that Glisten had taken the window seat. Boxten was in the aisle because the bus stopped at his house first.

Dandy was kind enough to give the driver extra so he could take them straight to their homes. Glisten was grateful for that; he didn't want to walk or take a taxi after spending a fortune on food and drinks.

When they were on their way to the theme park, the bus was full with enthusiastic conversations. Now the atmosphere was absolutely different. Everyone remained quiet, either sleeping or doing their own thing, such as looking out the window or going through their phone. Glisten was doing one of those things: staring out the window.

He rested his elbow on the window ledge and leaned his cheek against his hand. He watched trees, cars, and roads pass by. Pretty mundane, yet soothing after the entire HHN event.

He suddenly felt something rest lightly on his shoulder. Curious, he turned his head to the right, and his eyes widened in mild surprise. 

Boxten had fallen asleep and was now leaning against him.

For a moment, Glisten simply froze, hesitant to move in case he disturbed Boxten’s sleep. His first instinct was to stay perfectly still — but as he sat there, he realized neither of them were in a particularly comfortable position. If they were going to make it back without sore necks or cramping limbs, he’d need to shift.

Glisten carefully scooted closer to the wall. He slowly guided Boxten into a more comfortable, almost-lying position against him. Boxten’s head was still resting on his shoulder, but there was more room for him. Glisten basically gave up his space for him, and he didn't mind. 

After the ups and downs of the night, this small, unexpected moment felt like a win.

Soon enough, he knew he’d have to wake Boxten so they could get off the bus and head home. But for now, with Boxten leaning trustingly against him, none of that mattered.

“Goodnight and sweet dreams, Boxy,” he whispered, letting his own eyes drift closed.

Chapter Text

Boxten had so many books that taking them off the shelf felt like a workout.

He spread them all out on his bed, realizing his plan to clean the bookshelf had just expanded. Judging by the layers of dust on some of these covers, it had been ages since he’d last cleaned them.

Honestly, by the time he finished dusting off both the shelf and books, the day would be over (and it was still only morning).

To make room for the books, he had to move his pillows and Pengu, his beloved penguin plush, onto his chair.

He stood back, hands on his hips, and sighed. “I know I consider myself a bookworm, but…” he trailed off, sweeping his gaze over the books before gazing back Pengu. “Did I really spend my life’s savings on these?”

Pengu stared at him.

Boxten stared back.

They stayed locked like that for three seconds before he blinked. Was he really talking to a stuffed toy? Was the worm in "bookworm" eating away his brain cells?

On the table, his phone vibrated.

He went over, picked it up, and read the notification.

boxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Boxten rolled his eyes fondly. The text came from his best friend, Poppy.

Hello

—

What’s it?

do u know my friend scraps?

Scraps…wasn't she Goob's sister? The cat-like paper craft? He was pretty sure he had seen her before. Perhaps in an episode? If so, then they were probably only in the same scene, no engagement between them.

Yeah?

—

Why?

i found her randomly at a mall

When was something never random for Poppy?

she asked if i wanted to join her hangout

—

or smt

—

idk she just told me she invited anyone available 

Boxten didn't need to inquire to know what Poppy was implying.

You want me to come?

:)

—

its at some laser tag place we should be there by 6pm tmr

—

u free

Boxten glanced back between his bookshelf and collections. Today he was busy, tomorrow however…

He looked around the room. The apartment needed to be thoroughly cleaned, but Boxten figured he could postpone it for another day (gosh, the amount of dusty spots he found– Boxten was going to dread it).

Also, laser tag? Boxten had never played that before. This could be the perfect opportunity to try it.

He returned to his device and typed a response.

Yep

awesomeeeeeeee :D

The next thing Poppy sent caught him off guard, although it shouldn't have.

invite glisty

I don't think he’s into this stuff

trust me hes into weirder stuff

What

jk

—

still

—

if youre the one asking he'll definitely agree

Just because he agreed one time does not mean he’ll do it again 

—

Anyway, won’t he be busy tomorrow?

—

Writing songs??

excuses excuses

—

just do it

—

whats the worst that could happen?

He rejects me in the most brutal way possible?

u know he would never do that to u

—

he’ll give u a no and never talk to u again :)

Your so helpful.

i know

Despite the jest, Poppy was not entirely wrong. Glisten didn't seem like the kind to refuse in such an uncivilized manner. At most, he'll politely decline and explain why. Nonetheless, Boxten had to take a deep breath to muster the courage to text him.

Glisten?

If there was a competition for who could reply the quickest, Glisten would be the winner.

Yeah?

Seriously, that was record-time fast. The only reasonable explanation for that was Glisten was already in the chat box when he received the message, either that or he has swift reflexes.

Will you be busy tomorrow?

There was a pause before he answered.

No

—

Why’d you ask?

Wow, guess Boxten was incorrect when he said Glisten would be preoccupied — it was unexpected considering he usually had a packed schedule.

I’m going to play laser tag with Poppy

—

There will be other toons there, like Scraps, Goob, more

—

I was wondering if you could come?

There was a long silence on Glisten's end. If he didn't want to go, Boxten would understand. Walking about in the dark, hoping not to get shot — it reminded Boxten of the time they walked into a haunted house (a fake one in HHN). It was similar; instead of being shot, it was being jumpscared. Boxten had never screamed so loudly in his life, and it was both embarrassing and humiliating, especially with Glisten there to witness it. It happened a few weeks ago, and since then, Boxten had been doing his best to forget about it.

Didn't Glisten hold his hand to comfort him? Boxten wished to prevent a repeat of that happening (not the holding hands part, which he wouldn't mind if Glisten did again, but rather the need to calm the music box down. He didn't want to burden the mirror with that task).

After a period of staring at his screen, Glisten finally said:

Sure

…It took that long for a "sure"?

Oh well, a win’s a win.

Nice

—

I’ll meet you there? We should be there at 6pm

Alright, where’s the place?

Wait, I don't know

—

I’ll send you the location later?

Okay

—

See you there, Box <3

With that, Boxten switched back to Poppy’s chat.

He said yes

i freaking knew it.

***

Time Skip — a day later

Boxten had no idea this laser tag establishment existed, despite having lived in the city for around six (maybe) years. Well, it wasn't on any of his usual routes, so that probably explained it.

As soon as Boxten entered, Poppy darted over. “Box! There you are!”

He smiled. “Hey, Pop–” 

“Come on! You’re the last one!” She grabbed his arm.

“Last– what–” he started, but Poppy tugged him forward. 

Boxten stumbled a bit, but he didn’t mind; Poppy had a habit of pulling him into things, literally and figuratively. Though, no matter how many times it happened, it always caught him off guard.

Just as suddenly as she took his arm, she let go. He looked around and saw the group of toons he’d be playing with.

The siblings Scraps and Goob were the first to catch his attention. Goob was happily speaking with his sister, making huge hand motions. Scraps listened attentively, hand on her hip as her tail swayed back and forth.

Next to them stood Sprout and Cosmo, the inseparable duo. If one of them was going somewhere, the other would undoubtedly follow. Coming to a place like this felt very Sprout-ish, but Cosmo? Not so much. Still, he appeared equally excited. They were chatting with each other, too engrossed to notice Boxten.

Gigi and Flutter were on the other side. He'd spent time with them before, and they weren't that bad. Boxten thought the butterfly was more "behaved" than her gachapon best friend. The last time Boxten hung out with Gigi, she had stolen some food and drinks from a cart. Boxten hoped Gigi would keep her hands to herself this time, but he knew that would be impossible.

In the corner was Finn and–

…

What was Shrimpo doing here?

Every time Boxten was near him, he was insulted in some way. Shrimpo emitted such negativity and hatred that it was surprising he had one friend, that fish bowl over there. 

Honestly, congrats to him. Boxten was too scared to even approach the prawn.

Finally, Boxten found Glisten with a two-headed mask toon. Who were they? Boxten couldn’t recall seeing them before.

Glisten was talking with them casually, so Boxten quietly strolled up behind him, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.

As if sensing him, Glisten turned around and greeted him with a smile. “Oh, hello.”

“Hey,” Boxten peered over his shoulder. “Who are they?”

“These two?” Glisten stepped aside to reveal them. “They’re Razzle & Dazzle.”

Boxten’s gaze shifted between the two heads. “Um…hi!” He awkwardly waved, hoping he was making a decent first impression.

The head with the white mask perked up. “Hey! I’m Razzle, and this is Dazzle!” He gestured to the other, who had a black mask.

“It’s nice to meet you…” Dazzle softly said.

“Glisten and us? We’ve been in tons of episodes together!” Razzle resumed with a grin. “Oh, and did you know? Fans call us the best duo–”

“Um…” Dazzle interrupted.

“Trio–”

“Forgive Razzle,” Glisten chimed in, waving his hand. “He gets very…enthusiastic at times.”

Razzle's only response to that was to laugh, making it unclear whether he was offended.

Razzle faced Boxten. “Boxten, correct?”

Boxten nodded.

Razzle’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! Glisten always talks about–”

“Ahem?” Glisten interjected.

Razzle shrunk back with a sheepish giggle. “Sorry, sorry!”

Boxten’s first impression with Razzle & Dazzle must be good, because it was certainly better than whatever Razzle had. Well, they both seemed friendly and easygoing. If he ended up in any episodes with them, he figured it wouldn’t be terrible.

Scraps clapping her hands brought everyone's focus to her. “Alright, guys, I’m glad you’re all here!”

Even Shrimpo? Boxten pondered, not daring to speak it aloud.

“I appreciate that you all took your time to be here, because Goob” — she motioned to him — “really wanted to play laser tag with y'all!”

Goob grinned. “Yep! She’s right!”

“Why can't you just — you know, play with strangers?” Glisten ventured. “Why did you go out of your way to ask us to be here?”

Scraps shrugged. “I dunno, he wanted it.”

Glisten directed his sight to Goob. “Goob, what’s your reason?”

“No reason! You're all funner than strangers!”

“Strangers are more 'funner' than Shrimpo…” Glisten remarked under his breath, and only Boxten and possibly Razzle & Dazzle heard him.

“Okay! As I was saying!” Scraps exclaimed. “If you guys are hungry or thirsty, there are plenty of vending machines and– anything else, Goob?”

“Nope.”

“‘Righty! Are we settled?”

“Wait, Flutter has a question.” Gigi cocked her head to her friend before voicing it out. “She asked where’s everyone else.” 

Scraps blinked. “We're all here?”

“No.” Gigi frowned. “She meant as in:” — she gestured around the room — “why are we the only group here?”

“Oh!” Scraps chuckled at her misunderstanding. “I rented this place.”

Gigi went silent, and so did everyone else.

Scraps coughed and continued. “Well, any other questions?”

Everybody shook their heads.

“Good! Let’s go!”

They headed into the game lobby and waited for the employees to finish setting up the arena.

Boxten glanced at Glisten. “Hey, do you think you could rent this place out?”

“Definitely,” Glisten replied — he was the wealthiest toon Boxten knew, of course he could. “If I had any interest in laser tag, that is.”

“First time playing?”

“Mhm.”

“Same here.”

Boxten looked away, figuring that was the end of their conversation, but Glisten hit him with a question. “Do you know how these guns work?”

“Laser guns?” Boxten asked, gazing back at him.

“Yes? Did you think I meant paintball?”

“No…?” Boxten stared at the ceiling. “Uh, I think I know. I watched a few videos on it before I slept.”

“Mind if you share?”

Boxten imagined that if he didn't, Glisten would use the laser gun like a throwing weapon. Boxten knew Glisten would never do that, but the possibilities were endless. “Um, alright, first off–”

The next two minutes were spent with Boxten giving a clumsy but earnest breakdown of how laser guns worked, frequently stopping to backtrack and correct himself. Glisten listened patiently, giving small hums to acknowledge what he was saying. When Boxten was done, Glisten commented, “Hm, thanks, that was easy to understand.”

Boxten literally kept on pausing and stuttering every two-three sentences, but okay. “Yeah. Hopefully the facts’ right,” he replied. “The videos kept rambling on and on about random stuff–”

Glisten chuckled. “Guess I’m lucky I asked you.”

His sincere tone made Boxten blush.

Glisten smirked briefly, then said, “Seriously though, what tutorials were you watching?”

“Urm, well, I was kinda sleep-deprived…so I think I tapped on the worse ones.”

Glisten raised an eyebrow. “The best ones are always on top. Did you scroll all the way to the bottom?”

Thankfully, Boxten didn’t have to answer that because the employees finally arrived with the equipment. 

A worker handed each of them a vest with lights — those lights being the hit zones, and explained the laser guns. Boxten was astonished to realize he’d actually gotten most of it accurate. Take that, sleep deprivation!

As they began to go over the safety briefing: no running, no foul language, no physical contact etc, Glisten leaned over and whispered, “Told you I was lucky.”

“I think I’m more lucky that I managed to grasp the concepts.” Boxten told him.

Glisten shrugged. “Good luck?”

“Good luck.”

After the rundown of the rules, the workers led them to their starting positions around the arena. 

They were going to play a mode called "Capture the Point," which sounded exactly how it sounded. Everyone started with three points, and shooting a player earns you more, but getting shot meant you lost one point and a life. Each player had three lives, and once they were all lost, they had to return to their spawn point and wait fifteen seconds before rejoining. The whole game would last about ten minutes.

Initially, Boxten thought ten minutes was too short, but when he stepped into the game area, he could see why it was probably the perfect amount of time.

The space was full of structures that created an endless number of hiding spots, blind corners, and vantage points. Every time he rounded a bend, he feared that someone would suddenly spring out.

It wasn’t like paintball or nerf, so he wouldn’t actually feel any contact when he got hit, but he knew the loud beep from his vest (an indicator of when he got shot) would be enough to startle him. He simply hoped nobody would catch him unprepared and cause him to reenact what happened during Halloween Horror Nights.

A full minute passed, and Boxten hadn’t seen anyone. Was the arena really that big? Or was he getting extremely lucky/unlucky?

A scream echoed from somewhere in the distance.

Boxten froze, but then confusion settled in. Why would someone scream? Getting shot wouldn't hurt (unless he accidentally found himself in a killing game. He watched a lot of those videos). The scream rang out again; alright, now they were just being dramatic.

He ducked behind a nearby structure that blocked him from several angles. It was a good spot to listen without being too exposed (wait, "listening to screams" sounded weird out of context…). Leaning back against it, he tuned in to the faint sounds of lasers firing in the distance.

Boxten counted up to ten before the lasers faded into silence, but instead of relief, he felt a sinking dread. What if the player was heading his way now?

The laser sounds returned, and it was much, much closer than before.

He tightened his grip on his gun. Whoever it was, they were coming nearer with every second. The footsteps grew louder, and Boxten held his breath, aiming his gun forward, just in case they turned the corner.

Then they actually did.

A toon came barreling down, ignoring the safety briefing's obvious "no running" rule. Taking a risk, he shot his laser gun at her.

A voice coming out of her vest made her come to a halt, her tail sticking up as if she got electrocuted. When she turned to him, Boxten recognized her: it was Scraps.

“Boxten?!” her eyes widened, staring at him for a few moments. Then, as if remembering what she was holding, she raised her gun and pointed it at him.

Wow, that backfired spectacularly. He’d just gained a point, only to lose it again, along with one of his precious lives. What he thought was a "hiding place" had turned into a trap, his cover now blocking any escape route. He braced himself — there was no way he was getting out of this.

Well, that's what he thought.

An announcement from Scraps’ vest caused her to lower her gun. Her attention shifted to something over her shoulder. Boxten, confused, followed her gaze.

He spotted Glisten approaching them.

“Seriously?!” Scraps’ tail lashed in exasperation as she facepalmed. “I was so close…!”

“So close to–” Glisten looked away and blinked in surprise when he noticed Boxten. Clearly, he hadn’t expected Boxten to be the one Scraps was talking about.

Scraps grinned, showing she had no hard feelings. “I almost earned myself a point, but you swooped in and assassinated me first.”

“Wait, you’re out of lives already?” Boxten asked, stepping closer.

She nodded. “Yep. Got shot by Flutter, by you, then by Glisten.”

“Flutter got you?” Boxten tilted his head. “Isn’t aiming while flying kinda…impossible?”

“Well, it’s Flutter,” Scraps shrugged. “She’s practically built for multi-tasking like that.”

She threw up her hands in mock celebration. “Anyway, haha! I love having zero points!” She glanced between the boys. “Have fun shooting each other!”

Boxten and Glisten exchanged gazes, almost as if they’d forgotten that shooting players was the objective of the game.

Once Scraps was out of earshot, Glisten turned to Boxten and stated firmly, “I’m not shooting you.”

Boxten let out a sigh, his grip on the gun loosening. “Thanks. How many points do you have?”

“Four. You?”

“Same.”

Glisten huffed, amused. “Did we both get one from Scraps?”

Boxten smiled. “Seems like it.”

Suddenly, lasers fired from all directions, and Boxten’s vest blared, “I’m injured! I’m wounded! I’m out! Return to base!”

Glisten’s vest followed with the same announcement.

“What just–”

“We got ambushed.” Glisten said, glancing around. They were close enough that Boxten could hear him over the noise. Glisten walked away and Boxten trailed after him.

Glisten led him to a quieter place, and once they stopped moving, Boxten asked, “What happened?”

“As we were talking, a bunch of toons popped out and started firing,” he explained, irritated. “We got caught directly in the crossfire.”

“Oh,” Boxten muttered, dazed by how quickly it had all unraveled.

“We should head back now.” Glisten pointed out. “Fifteen seconds is surprisingly a lot.”

“Alright…see you soon?” Boxten peered at him hopefully. They already set the fact that they weren't going to shoot each other, and Boxten wanted a bit of company. The employees didn't say anything about making alliances, right?

“Absolutely,” Glisten answered playfully, giving him a wink before striding off.

Boxten stood frozen in place. That wink? Probably meant nothing. But…

Nevermind, perhaps it was him having fun.

***

Time Skip — first round over

Despite the odds, Flutter emerged victorious. She scored a remarkable twenty-two points. Meanwhile, Boxten earned five, while Glisten earned eight.

Boxten kept missing his shots, and whenever he managed to hit someone, another toon shot him. Glisten, on the other hand, attempted a different method — that method being what he did with Scraps: sneaking up on players. It worked occasionally, but most of the time others noticed him first and shot him.

For some reason, Boxten never noticed when Glisten was sneaking up on him, as if Glisten put in more effort to keep Boxten unaware of his presence.

A horrible idea, really, given Boxten's awful experience of being crept up on. At the very least, Glisten would give him a heads up: “Pssst, Boxy, it's me.” (Anyway, Glisten used "Boxy" as if it were another name for him. When he said it, Boxten knew it was him.)

Glad he wasn't on Glisten's hit list, since he would surely lose points because of him. Speaking of points…

“You're telling me you got negative twelve?” 

Boxten went over to Glisten and inquired, “Negative what now?”

Glisten motioned to the toon he was speaking with, “Sprout here — very smart. Got shot fifteen times and earned no points.”

Sprout scoffed and held his hands out in dismay. “I kept getting spawn-killed!” He pointed to Gigi. “By her!”

Gigi was too busy congratulating Flutter to realize the accusations being thrown her way.

Glisten placed a hand on his hip. “And she managed to shoot you first? Every. Single. Time?”

Sprout fell silent.

As if being quiet summoned him, Cosmo appeared beside them. “Hey, what's wrong?”

“We were just talking about our scores,” Glisten told him. He gestured to Sprout with a shake of his head. “And your friend here…he’s managed to get negative twelve.”

Sprout's voice returned. “It’s not my fault! I got spawn-killed, Glisten!” he protested, giving Glisten a frustrated look. “Spawn-killed!”

“I got negative six,” Cosmo blurted out.

Now, it was Glisten's turn to fall silent. Boxten knew how much he enjoyed giving Sprout a hard time (for reasons he hadn’t figured out), but Glisten seemed to know when to hold his tongue — especially when it came to toons he didn't have any ill will against (it's kinda funny, actually. Glisten was always at Sprout's throat, but was chill with the fruit's best friend).

Sprout crossed his arms, a smug grin spreading across his face as he watched Glisten finally shut up.

The next game mode they were going to play in round two was called "Duo Teams". As the name implies, you work in groups of two. There was no time limit, and the last team standing was the winner. You only had two lives, not three. Additionally, respawning was no longer an option. Once you've lost all of your lives, you're done. Your teammate would still remain in the game, but without a teammate, it was basically game over.

After the workers told them to get into teams of two, Sprout and Finn turned to their best friends (Shrimpo having friends in general was a bizarre concept. Did he even consider Finn a friend?) Boxten expected Gigi and Flutter to be together, so it was shocking that Flutter preferred to be with Razzle & Dazzle.

Gigi got slightly upset, but when Poppy came over, they exchanged a high-five, and Gigi’s vexation disappeared. They were the most chaotic pair, and they were bound to be a powerful duo. Even though Poppy was his best friend and he was on "good terms" with Gigi, Boxten was nervous to see them partner up.

Poppy caught his gaze, then flicked her eyes to his right. Boxten followed her look and jumped.

Of course, Glisten had somehow managed to sneak up on him.

He glanced back to Poppy, who gave him a knowing grin. He redirected his attention back to Glisten. “Uh, Glist, hi!”

Glisten tilted his head, amused. “You know I never moved, right?”

Oh. Yeah. Boxten came up to him. The conversation between Glisten, Sprout, and Cosmo made him forget. “Uh, yeah.”

“Well,” Glisten looked around at the others, “it seems like everyone’s already paired up — except us.”

Before Boxten could reply, Sprout’s voice shouted out, “Omg, lovebirds!”

The whole room heard him, especially the two targeted ones.

Boxten whipped his head to him, eyes wide. In the corner of his vision, he noticed Glisten doing the same thing. Was it the makeup, or was Glisten…blushing? Not that he could judge — he was blushing too.

Sprout snickered. “Oh, sorry, I was looking out the window.” it was obvious he yelled it out on purpose as payback for earlier. But instead of Glisten calling him out, he muttered beneath his breath, too soft for Boxten to hear.

Boxten observed Cosmo whisper something to Sprout, causing him to shrug in response, as if whatever he did was entirely reasonable.

Before anyone could say more, the employees decided to show up and lead them to their new starting positions for the second round. With everyone in place, the countdown began, and once it reached zero, Boxten and Glisten set off.

Both of them sailed around the arena, carefully inspecting every corner and looking behind to ensure no one was following them. They remained wary for around two minutes before they gave up and strolled around.

Surviving other players? Nah, more like surviving boredom.

“You know, it's nice I don't have to break off from you every time I see someone.” Glisten said.

They haven't run into anyone yet, so Glisten wouldn't have to break off anyway, but Boxten got his point. He was grateful Glisten wanted to converse because the lack of action was going to kill him. “I find it's nice too. I enjoy your company.”

Boxten stared at the ground, debating whether or not to say what was on his mind. In the end, it was better than silence, so he spoke. “Can I ask you something?”

Glisten glanced over. “Hm? Sure. Go ahead.”

Boxten hesitated, trying to frame it right. “How did you meet Razzle & Dazzle?” He hoped he didn’t sound too curious. It wasn’t like he was jealous — just interested. 

Glisten lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “Them? It was through episodes.”

“Oh, so, like a Sprout and Cosmo situation?” Boxten clarified.

Glisten nodded, confirming it. That was what they called it whenever toons met in the same scene rather than outside the show.

Boxten gave a small nod. “Nice.”

Alright, now how should he steer the conversation from here? Why did small talk have to be so awkward?

“I’m glad you’re my teammate.”

Glisten’s sudden statement made Boxten lift a brow. “Really?”

Glisten gestured with his hand, listing off his reasons. “Poppy and Gigi? Way too hectic. Shrimpo? Annoying. Finn and Goob? Too silly. Scraps? Too serious. RazzleDazzle would just straight up scream–”

Boxten blinked. “Wait, they were the ones who screamed during the first round?”

“Technically, only Razzle, but yes.” He continued as though Boxten hadn’t interrupted, “I’d never get Sprout or Cosmo to team up with me, and Flutter…” He trailed off. Either he had nothing to say about her or too much.

“So, you’re glad I’m with you because…I’m not like any of them?”

“Mhm, and also because you’re reliable.”

Boxten nervously grinned. “All I’ve done is talk to you.”

“And before that, you were making sure we wouldn’t get ambushed.” Glisten flung back.

“You were doing the same thing–”

“Shh.”

There was no way he was going to win this argument, so Boxten became quiet.

Right as Boxten did that, the sound of lasers echoed faintly in the distance. He was used to it by now, so he didn’t flinch. The shots were far off, not close enough to be a concern. 

What did make him worry, though, was the feeling that someone was standing right behind them.

He turned around — and nearly dropped his gun.

Sprout and Cosmo were there, both with their lasers aimed at them.

“Glisten–!” Boxten whisper-shouted. Glisten whirled around, instantly alert. Unlike Boxten, he didn’t say a word. Instead, he staggered back.

Boxten’s gaze flickered to his right, where something flapped behind a nearby structure. Then, Flutter appeared, followed by Razzle & Dazzle.

They raised their laser guns — not at Boxten and Glisten, but at Sprout and Cosmo.

Shots began to fire.

Boxten and Glisten could have utilized it to their advantage: while they were distracted by one another, jump in and shoot them. They did, after all, have the element of surprise, as neither team seemed to realize the two of them were present.

But alas, all they managed to do was flee.

They huddled behind a barrier and kept as hushed as possible. The four toons shot at each other, making it difficult to determine who was hit. It was such a haywire that Boxten almost missed Sprout shouting, “Get down, Cosmo!” And Razzle's maniacal yelling.

The next five seconds were filled with nonstop, brutal shooting, before it abruptly ceased.

Boxten does not want another Scraps scenario to happen, albeit it may not be as deadly with Glisten around. Nonetheless, Boxten was not taking that chance. He risked a glimpse at the zone they were previously at and discovered it to be empty, as if nothing had ever occurred. 

“Are they…gone?” Boxten retained his hold on the trigger in case one of them appeared.

“I doubt it, Box.” Glisten searched around briefly before returning to him. “They have to be around here somewhere.”

Thanks, Captain Obvious. “Got any plans, Glist?”

He pointed with his gun and said, “I do. See that opening there?”

Boxten moved his focus to the direction Glisten directed him. “Yes?”

“I'm thinking we should–” Glisten was cut off when Flutter glided in, carrying the laser gun between her feet. In pure cartoon logic, she held it like her legs were hands (Boxten had no idea what to imagine at this point). She fired at them.

Luckily, it did not hit Boxten. Unluckily, it struck Glisten instead.

As Glisten's vest announced the damage, Flutter pointed the gun at Boxten. He thought that he was going to lose a life, but when she pulled the trigger, there was no sound to indicate he had been shot.

She definitely did not miss. If she did, it would be even more impressive because he was right in front of her. Flutter's face displayed bewilderment as she peered down to examine what was wrong.

Boxten understood what had happened and nudged Glisten. When Glisten turned to him, Boxten sped-walked away, not giving him any elaboration. He trusted Glisten to follow him without explanation. Well, given the circumstances, there was no choice but to listen.

He moved as far as he could in the short amount of time Flutter accidentally created. After a few corners, he came to a halt and waited for Glisten to catch up. Once he did, Boxten asked, “Is she following us?”

Glisten looked behind him before shaking his head. “No, I don't think so.”

Boxten sighed, relieved. “Good. We lost her.”

“Was something wrong with her gun?”

Boxten smiled. “No, she had to reload. Reloading takes a few seconds. It left her vulnerable.”

Glisten tilted his head. “Then why didn't we shoot her?”

Oh.

How was he supposed to tell Glisten that he never thought of that? “Uh, I feared your gun would need reloading?” Glisten never shot his laser gun once, what was he talking about? “And I, I can't aim.” That part was half-true.

Glisten peered at him skeptically before shrugging. “Alright.”

“She took a life from you?”

Glisten rolled his eyes and scoffed. “Yes. I can't believe I was shot by someone who couldn't even hold a gun properly.”

“She had to use her feet. Her wings are too big, and using her antennas would be awkward.” Boxten replied, then realized Glisten was probably not searching for an explanation and just needed to rant.

“Oh, I see.” Glisten reacted in a tone that did not convey his emotions. Boxten hoped for something positive; please don't tell him that Glisten was judging him. “Well, earlier I wanted us to go to an opening — but Flutter happened to show up there.” He groaned. “Sadly, I now have nothing. Got any ideas, Box?”

Now was the ideal moment for his mind to go blank.

“Um…”

Fortunately, he didn’t need to come up with a plan — only because Cosmo rounded the corner.

He didn't have Sprout with him, so Boxten assumed he was eliminated moments prior. He couldn't think of anyone who could have gotten him out because when Cosmo saw them, he aimed his gun at them.

Boxten's immediate instinct was to run, but he remembered that running was not permitted, and he was not going to become a rule breaker. So he swiftly backed away behind a structure, leaving Glisten to deal with the newcomer (Boxten was such a good friend).

It appeared that fate wanted him to fight, since as he stepped away, Boxten felt something was wrong – was the air making noise? He turned around and came face-to-face with Flutter. She could be a ninja because Boxten never noticed her sneaking up on him.

He yelped and pulled the trigger.

Flutter’s vest buzzed and her antennas drooped. The grip on her gun loosened — loosened to the point Boxten thought she would drop it. She flew away, making Boxten realize he had taken her last life.

He would've celebrated (internally, of course), but there were more important matters to attend too.

He spun back toward Glisten and Cosmo.

He watched just in time to see Cosmo adjusting his aim to target him. The next second later, Boxten’s vest blared, signaling he’d been hit. Impulsively, Boxten fired back at him.

A bright flash on Cosmo’s vest confirmed he’d been struck, and with a half-laugh, half-sigh, Cosmo lowered his laser gun. “Gosh, that was intense.”

“Intense–” Boxten interrupted himself when it registered. “Wait, you’re out?”

Cosmo nodded. “Yep. Good luck!” He turned and strolled back to the lobby.

Boxten returned to Glisten, noting the faintly defeated look on his friend’s face. “Are you okay?”

Glisten shook his head, and a wave of dread washed over Boxten. “No. I’m eliminated.”

Boxten's face fell. “Oh…sorry.”

“It's not your fault.” Glisten looked around. “I saw Flutter earlier. Where is she?”

“I got her out.” Boxten informed him. “Lucky shot, honestly.”

Glisten hummed thoughtfully. “Still good, though. Didn't you also get Cosmo out?”

“Yes?” Boxten cocked his head, unsure where he was heading with this.

“You got two eliminated, Boxy, that's impressive.”

Boxten grew flattered at that. “Thank–”

“Return to base, return to base.”

Glisten looked down at his vest and grumbled. “I need to go.”

“Yeah, I see…” Boxten frowned. He did not want Glisten to leave, but he had already lost both of his lives, so it was inevitable. “Who are left?”

“No clue, and I wish I could relay the information to you when I get back to the lobby.”

Boxten chuckled. “Wouldn't that be cheating?”

“If everyone does it, then it's not.”

“Eh, good point.”

With that, Glisten left.

He drew in a deep breath. Okay, if he can get two eliminated, he can get another.

He walked deeper into the arena, hoping for the best.

***

Time Skip — second round over

He should’ve hoped harder.

Five minutes after Glisten had walked away, Boxten was shot from behind. When he turned, he saw Gigi and Poppy. He overheard from their vests, “Last players standing. Winner! Winner!” After listening to it, the girls faced each other and high-fived.

Boxten hadn't heard any lasers firing until now, which led him to realize he had finished in second place. Unfortunately, there was no announcement that declared, “Congrats! You weren't too bad!”

He went with Poppy and Gigi to the lobby. The girls told him about their "war": they got into a chaotic shootout with Scraps, Goob, Finn, and Shrimpo and came out with only Gigi losing a life. As they rambled on, Boxten recalled hearing noises before Sprout and Cosmo arrived — were they the same ones from Poppy and Gigi's battle?

They asked Boxten what had happened to him, and he spent the next few minutes explaining.

“Wow, Boxten, didn't know you had it in you.” Poppy chirped.

“I got five points from the first round, Pops.” Boxten replied, deadpan. “I know how to shoot.”

Poppy scoffed. “Pfft! I knew about that!”

Boxten raised his eyebrow. “Did you?”

Poppy gave him a happy expression, no thoughts behind her eyes.

“You got only five?” Gigi tilted her head. “I got thirteen!” You can always rely on Gigi to bring out the obvious.

“Congratulations, Gigi.” Boxten spoke.

Gigi grinned. “Mewhehe…and I won this round!”

“Along with me!” Poppy added.

Gigi nodded. “Yes, along with you. You were surprisingly good at shooting.”

“Yep, and I never got hit!”

The girls began to converse energetically with one another, leaving Boxten awkwardly beside them. It felt so relieving when they finally got to the lobby.

Boxten took the opportunity to say farewell to the pair and go. He had someone in mind, and when he saw him, he beamed. “Glist!”

Glisten turned his head to meet his gaze, and he smiled.

He walked over to him and handed him something. Boxten looked down and discovered it was a Pocky box (of course, chocolate-flavored. Glisten loved chocolate). “You hungry?” Glisten asked.

“Uh, yes. Thank you.” Boxten accepted it.

Glisten continued to speak while Boxten opened the box (sounds kinda weird…oh well). “I saw you on the screen.”

“What screen?”

Glisten cocked his head to a corner, and Boxten looked in that direction.

There was a black television that showed the arena's several zones. It repeatedly switched between cameras. How come Boxten never noticed this TV before?

“It usually sticks to one screen when there's toons on it.” Glisten explained.

Boxten had a sudden realization. “Wait, that means you watched me–”

“Get shot?” Glisten finished. “Yep.”

Great. Why did that moment have to be captured in 4K? In front of everyone?

Picking up on Boxten’s embarrassment, Glisten said, “It’s alright. Just enjoy your Pocky.”

“Oh, okay.” Somehow, that made Boxten feel better — maybe it was the silly sentence, and he couldn’t help but laugh a little.

He tore open his packet and held it out to Glisten. “Want to share?”

“No thanks.” Glisten waved his hand, then pulled out another Pocky box. Where did it come from? No clue.

Boxten suspected Glisten had gotten his own box just to avoid any teasing — no one could say, “Play the Pocky game!” (if you know, you know) if they each had separate packs. Still isn't really fool-proof though.

As they ate, Boxten glanced around the room, noticing that everyone was also on a snack break.

Scraps was nibbling on a cracker, while Goob was devouring a muffin and already eyeing the next one in his hand. In the corner, Poppy, Gigi, Flutter, and a very out-of-place Razzle & Dazzle were munching on something, though Boxten couldn’t quite tell what — but it didn’t really matter.

Finn and Shrimpo, however, were nowhere to be found. Boxten could imagine Shrimpo yelling, “I HATE EATING IN FRONT OF TOONS!” while Finn chased after him with an armful of snacks to make sure they both won’t starve.

Nearby, Sprout and Cosmo happily enjoyed a cupcake and a cookie. Glisten, a fan of cupcakes himself, seemed like he’d be tempted by Sprout’s treat, but when Boxten looked over, he saw Glisten intently focused on his own Pocky. He was probably resisting — that cupcake did look tasty.

When Boxten finished his snack, Glisten gave him a plastic bottle. He did it so swiftly that Boxten almost thought Glisten had been waiting for this moment. “Where did you get this?” Boxten asked.

“From the vending machine,” Glisten replied simply. “That’s where I got the Pocky too.”

Boxten hummed in acknowledgment, took the bottle, and twisted off the cap. After a sip, he turned to Glisten. “You don’t happen to have another one, do you?”

Without missing a beat, a new one appeared in Glisten’s hand — seriously, he could be a magician. “Sorry if you wanted to share.”

Boxten snorted. “No, it’s fine. It’s fine.”

For the next ten minutes, everyone ate and drank in comfortable silence. It was probably the cheapest dinner Boxten had ever had (well, technically free since Glisten bought everything for him), but he wasn’t complaining. It was delicious.

Eventually, Finn and Shrimpo returned (finally. Where had they been?). With their trash tossed in the bin (what? You think they would litter?), the group got ready to kick off the third round.

The final game mode they planned to play was called "Teamwork." The players are divided into two groups of six and compete until the opposing team is eliminated. Each player only gets one life.

Boxten assumed it was like the second round, so he moved straight to Glisten. But then the staff mentioned that the teams would be randomized. The lights on their vests would switch on and show either red or blue. 

When Boxten's lights turned on, it showed blue. He cast a hopeful look towards Glisten, and his heart dropped.

His vest was red.

Glisten offered him an equally dreadful expression.

Gosh, Boxten did not want to fight him. This was not like the first round, when they could just not shoot; that was no longer an option. There would be five other players on Glisten's team, so Boxten prayed that if he had to fight someone from the red team, it would be one of them rather than his friend.

Boxten took a look around, noting his team members: Scraps, Shrimpo, Poppy, Razzle & Dazzle, and Finn.

Luck must’ve been feeling bold to split up Scraps and Goob. They were bound to become temporary rivals now — if they were the type of siblings who loved a little competition, they’d probably target each other first. If not, they’d avoid each other until there was no other option.

Poppy, Razzle & Dazzle, and Finn were solid in Boxten's book. But Shrimpo? Yeah, it was safe to say they were already down to five. What was Shrimpo going to do, anyway? Distract everyone by hollering about how much he hated them?

He glanced over at the other team: Glisten, Goob, Cosmo, Sprout, Flutter, and Gigi. Yep. He was positive he was about to lose. If he had any faith in one thing, it was that.

Before heading to their stations, Scraps called out to her brother, grinning mischievously. “Ooh! Goob! You better watch out!” She raised her tail in challenge. “I’ll find you!”

Goob laughed, rising to the occasion. “Not if I find you first!”

Oh, great. Setting the mood already. Boxten figured Scraps was about to claim the leader role, which was perfectly fine by him. As long as he didn’t have to lead; he was awful at giving instructions.

They made their way to their starting position. Unlike the first two rounds, where the toons were spaced throughout the arena, they were on the very edge of it. Presumably, the opposing team would be on the other side. Meeting them can take some time due to the size of the place.

That may appear inconvenient, but it was actually beneficial because it allowed Boxten's team to devise a strategy.

When the game began, the group huddled up, like coaches do to hype up their players. Scraps served as the coach in this scenario, while everyone else was a player. Boxten was not very adept in sports in general. If he made a comparison to anything linked to physical activity, it said volumes about his confidence.

“Alright, guys,” Scraps started. “Got any ideas?”

Finn raised his hand. “Ooh How about we rush in?!”

Scraps shook her head. “Finn, that's suicide.”

“WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE ANYWAY.” Shrimpo said helpfully. Given how loud it was, Boxten was pretty sure the opposing team heard it.

Everyone wisely ignored him, except Finn. “With flair!” he added. “We're all going to die with flair!”

Scraps facepalmed, which was understandable. “No, no, no." She looked up, her tail thrashing back and forth. “Anyone got slightly better ideas?”

“I might have one…” Dazzle spoke quietly.

Scraps leaned closer, her ears pricking up in curiosity. “Oh? What is it, Dazz?”

Dazzle became silent as all eyes were on him. Razzle faced his other half. “Dazzle, just say it!” Razzle said encouragingly. “I'll be here if you need any help.”

Dazzle gazed at him for a few seconds before taking a breath. “Okay, um...I think we should…split up?”

“That's impossible for us.” Razzle responded blankly.

Dazzle frowned. “That's not what I meant…”

“YEAH, IDIOT.” Shrimpo shouted, giving in to his intrusive thoughts.

Scraps' left eye twitched, and her fist clenched, as if she were fighting the temptation to punch Shrimpo. “I see… Could you elaborate, Dazzle?”

“Smaller group, smaller target…?” He answered.

She scratched her chin with her claw and hummed. She then nodded. “Let's try it. The other team wouldn't expect that.”

“Unless they’re already doing that…” Poppy chimed in.

“The opposing team has Goob, so I doubt it.” Scraps proclaimed.

Wow, brutal. Boxten thought.

No one added their own plan, so they followed Dazzle's suggestion. The team divided themselves into two groups of three. Boxten was with Scraps and Poppy, while the other party included Shrimpo, Finn, and Razzle & Dazzle (thank you RazzDazz for taking one for the team. Being with that duo was enough to make Boxten's anxiety spike).

They strolled across the arena, alert for any strange movement. Scraps lifted her tail high, her ears continually changing angles to better hear approaching footsteps. Meanwhile, Poppy was in front of the gang, looking around and keeping her hand on the trigger. That left Boxten lagging behind, serving as the sacrifice if they were snuck upon.

They paced around for a few minutes until a laser shot in the distance. They froze and turned towards the source of the sound. They waited a few moments before it fired again, this time with more lasers.

“They found them.” Scraps said.

“But who found who?” Boxten asked.

As the excellent leader she was, she remained silent.

After five seconds, the noise stopped. Scraps faced the group. “We should head over there.”

Oh, and be utterly murdered?  “Now?" Boxten tightened his grip on his gun. “What if the entire enemy team is there?”

She sighed. “Then we have to hope at least one of the boys made it out alive.”

Boxten didn't want to tell her, but he was fairly certain he was the only boy remaining on the blue team.

With that delightful notion, they continued on towards the massacre.

Boxten stayed in the back while the two girls sped-walked to the zone. In his thoughts, he was thinking about how stupid this was, like “Omg! Noise? Let's approach the noise! Half of our team may be dead, but still, noise!” But what other options did they have? Go the other way? What was the point in delaying the inevitable?

When they were near the location, Poppy and Scraps came to a halt. Scraps turned to them. “Should we split up?”

“Again?” Boxten tilted his head. If they did that now, they'd probably face off in a 1v6.

“Isn't there safety in numbers, Scraps?” Poppy inquired, voicing what he had thought.

“Makes us a bigger target.” Scraps explained. Boxten and Poppy exchanged looks.

“Ehhhhhhh…you know what?” Poppy shrugged. “Why not? What do you think, Boxten?”

“Uh–” Boxten blinked. “I– I guess?”

With that, they broke off. Again.

This reminded Boxten of the second round. He was fervently begging, Don't be behind, don't be behind. Don't be behind. It would be embarrassing if he managed to get eliminated in the same manner. Let him fight back a little. 

It hadn't even been thirty seconds when he heard lasers firing. It came from the direction of Poppy, and Boxten hoped she was fine.

He walked along the slithering path, wondering when someone would emerge. He groaned when realized he was moving in circles. He went in a different direction and caught something red in the distance.

Carefully, Boxten edged closer with his steps light, making sure not to make a sound. As he got nearer, he finally recognized who was standing there with her back turned — Gigi.

Boxten immediately pulled the trigger, hitting her squarely.

Gigi’s only reaction was a slight, surprised flinch. She turned, and when she saw him, a laugh burst out. “Wow, back for revenge, huh?”

“Reven—” he started, then remembered. “Oh, right.” Gigi had gotten him out in the second round. But this time, he had gotten her out.

“What a perfect little twist of karma, don’t you think?” she teased, still laughing. “Anyway, I’m off. Gotta send my regards to Poppy.”

“Why– wait, you got her?” 

Gigi nodded before disappearing around the corner.

Huh, alright, he’d actually gotten someone out. Nice. He picked a direction at random, praying that this luck would last.

He hadn't even made it halfway through the trail when someone popped up on his right. Of course, his reaction was to yelp.

The toon winced, her ears lying flat. “Oh– sorry– Boxten, it's me.”

It took him a few moments to realize who it was. “Scraps?”

She nodded. “Yep.” She pointed her tail to the right (Boxten's left). “I spotted some over there.”

“Are they the last ones?”

“No clue, but with us two, we stand a chance.” She beckoned him to follow.

They cautiously sneaked towards the opposing team. As they did so, Boxten asked, “Did you see who they were?”

Scraps shook her head. “No, only their guns. When I saw them, I quickly went to find you or Poppy.” She looked around. “Where’s Poppy anyway?”

“Gigi got her.” He informed her.

“Goodness, and I haven't seen the other boys either.”

They didn't need to speak it out to understand: they were the last members of the blue team.

They walked a few more feet when Scraps said, “Stop here.”

Boxten listened.

“I'll come up from the front and I'll lure them to you.” Scraps continued.

“Won't you get shot?”

“Yeah, but while they're distracted, you come up behind them.”

“...Wait. You're putting your trust in me?”

“Why wouldn't I? All you have to do is 'pew pew', right?”

"Pew pew" did not uphold the reputation of Boxten's mission. “Yeah–?”

“Good, be ready, Boxten.” With a flick of her tail, she moved away.

…Great, guess he's doing this now.

He waited for a signal, but then remembered he hadn't been given one, only a "Shoot if you see them." Well, to see them, he had to approach them, and based on his previous attempts to get close, there was a 50/50 possibility of him absolutely fumbling.

His thoughts were interrupted when lasers began to fire. For some reason, it seemed much more intense than the previous ones he had heard. He hid behind a structure. Now, he had to wait for someone to run across him. After all, pew-pew.

He can do this.

“Boxten?”

The familiar voice saying his name made him freeze for a moment. Forcing himself to move, Boxten turned and felt his stomach drop when he saw who was standing in front of him.

He can't do this.

“Glisten?!”

His eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step back. Of all the toons he could’ve run into — why did it have to be him?!

Glisten had a similar reaction, but instead of taking a step back, he stood still. He slowly shook his head. “Gosh, you were not who I was expecting to be here.”

“Me too– er, are we the last ones?!”

Glisten shrugged. “My team lost Cosmo and Flutter early on, then Goob shot Scraps. Sprout and Gigi? I have no idea where they are.”

“I can assure you that Gigi is gone. Sprout, however…” Boxten trailed off. “I don't know.”

“How about your team, Boxy?”

“I'm the last one.”

“Oh.”

They stared at one other awkwardly for a few seconds before Boxten said. “Well, leaving now would not be ideal, huh?”

Glisten nodded. “Yeah, we're both on camera.” He peered about, looking for them. “They're all watching us.”

What a way to make me anxious, Glisten. “Glist– I really don't want to shoot you!”

“Me neither, but that's the aim of the game.” He raised his laser gun and pulled the trigger.

Miraculously, Boxten managed to dodge by sidestepping just in time. “Seriously?!” He threw Glisten a look of disbelief, which faded when he caught the wink his friend gave him.

Glisten wanted him to play this game as if he were just another opponent. That wink was basically a green light, telling Boxten it was okay to shoot him. Besides, Boxten noticed Glisten’s gun hadn’t even been aimed where he was standing; it was a little to the left. Glisten had never intended to hit him — he’d just made it look like he had for the spectators’ sake.

If Glisten wants him to play, then Boxten will give him a game.

Boxten aimed and fired, but Glisten ducked behind a block. Boxten knew that trying to shoot at this angle would get him hit, so he carefully scanned the room and plotted a path around.

As he rounded the corner, he spotted Glisten’s back and moved forward slowly. But as he got close, Glisten glanced over his shoulder and spotted him. Boxten immediately dove behind a structure as a barrage of lasers shot his way.

This was intense — but he was having fun, and from the flash of excitement he’d seen in Glisten’s expression, he guessed Glisten was, too.

He heard footsteps coming near and quickly darted to the side. By the time Glisten reached his spot, Boxten was already gone. Glisten’s confusion gave Boxten the perfect opportunity.

Moving quickly, Boxten slipped around to the other side, appearing from behind a corner to get a clear line of sight on Glisten’s back. This was it, the perfect shot!

He pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. Out of ammo. He thought, a bit frustrated but mostly panicked.

Glisten turned, realizing what had occured, and Boxten knew he was done for. He backed up, trying to retreat behind the barrier, but it was too late. With a smirk, Glisten took his shot, hitting Boxten before he could make it out of range.

“Red team wins! Red team wins!” Glisten's vest voiced out.

Boxten let out a tired sigh as he relaxed his grip on his gun. “Good play, Glisten.” He laughed. “You fought well.”

“You did too.” Glisten answered, coming over to him. “If you didn't run out of ammo, you would've gotten me out.”

Oh, right, that. “Ah-haha, yes. It came really close.”

Glisten smiled and tapped on his gun. “Alright, let's head back now.”

Boxten smiled back. “Yes, let's. I wonder what kind of reactions the others will have.”

They strolled back towards the lobby, and when they entered the room, everyone flocked around them. Finn, Goob, Poppy, and Razzle (along with poor Dazzle, who was pulled into it) spoke so quickly that Boxten couldn't understand a word. After a full five seconds of rambling, Scraps intervened and said, “Guys, give them space, give them space!”

Everyone obeyed and waited for Boxten and Glisten to settle down before discussing what happened.

Glisten was correct when he stated that they watched them on television. The way they phrased it made it sound like a scene from a movie. 

That was the last game of the day, so after removing their vest, keeping the equipment, and having one last conversation, they bid their goodbyes and parted ways.

Scraps and Goob were going to be picked up, Sprout and Cosmo were taking the bus, Flutter, Gigi, Finn, Shrimpo, and Razzle & Dazzle were walking home, and Boxten, Glisten, and Poppy booked a taxi.

As they waited for their cab, Poppy turned to Boxten. “Hey, sorry for ganging up on you with Gigi earlier.”

“It's alright, Pops.” Boxten assured. “That was unavoidable. Anyway, do you know what happened to Sprout?”

“Oh, I shot him.” She blurted out.

“Ah, no wonder.”

Oddly, that was very in character for her: shooting a main character with no remorse.

“Even though it was short,” Glisten chimed in. “I found it fun.”

“Yeah, that's 'cause it was Boxten you fought.” Poppy replied, smirking knowingly. “If it were someone else, you would be saying it was terrible.”

Glisten opened his mouth to retort, but just then, the taxi arrived.

Glisten shot her a glare before they got in the car. Poppy entered first, followed by Boxten, and lastly by Glisten.

Boxten, seated in the middle, dared not fall asleep. He recalled taking the bus back to the city after the HHN event. He had unknowingly fallen asleep on Glisten's shoulder. He only realized what he'd done once Glisten woke him up. Boxten had been sleeping for two hours, and Glisten had thankfully allowed it. But that didn't help his embarrassment. Seriously, why couldn't he stay upright?

On his right, Poppy had drifted off into another dimension. Boxten wished he could be in her place; his eyes were already drooping, and he could feel drowsiness settling in. But he fought to stay awake. If he nodded off now, he’d probably end up leaning on her or–

Something rested on his shoulder.

Oh no.

He looked to his left and saw exactly what he’d expected: Glisten had fallen asleep, his head on Boxten’s shoulder.

He began screaming in his mind about what to do. He gazed into the front mirror, hoping to capture the driver's eye. The driver didn't even glance in his direction, instead focusing on the road. Honestly, good for him; why would he devote his attention to something like this?

Boxten turned back to look at Glisten, and his expression softened. His friend looked so peaceful, almost serene (maybe a bit too much — if he didn’t know any better, he might’ve thought Glisten was dead).

After what happened on the bus a few weeks ago, Boxten thought it’d be amusing to turn the tables and wake him up just like he had before. He could already imagine Glisten’s reaction, the way his cheeks would flush when he realized he’d been leaning on him. And if he had to admit, a flustered Glisten was pretty cute.

...Okay, maybe that was exhaustion talking. And speaking of exhaustion…he couldn’t keep it at bay any longer.

With a quiet sigh, Boxten leaned in closer, letting his head rest against Glisten’s.

Boxten really hoped he’d be the first one to wake up.

“Goodnight, Glist,” he murmured, his voice trailing off with a sleepy yawn. “Sleep well…”

And with that, he closed his eyes, drifting off beside him.

Chapter Text

It was Boxten’s birthday today.

He can't believe he's lived this long. Honestly, he expected to be involved in a tragic car accident during childhood.

When he woke up, he checked his phone and discovered that Poppy had texted him at midnight to wish him a happy birthday. Boxten appreciated it, but he also became concerned. Did she really stay awake to be the first to say it? First, that's a lot of motivation; second, Please go to sleep.

As he ate his meal — pancakes with a ridiculous amount of syrup and a single slice of butter on top — he received a text from his parents. They understood how much Boxten loathed facetiming, so they respected it and only communicated verbally. They were truly the best mother and father he could have asked for. When Mother's Day and Father's Day (or their birthdays or holidays) roll in, he’ll pay them a visit. It had been a long time since he saw them, and he missed their company.

Once he finished his meal and washed his plate, he walked to his room and pulled out his favourite book off the bookshelves. After lunch, he, Poppy, and Glisten planned to do something "exciting". They didn't say what it was, but Poppy promised he'd love it. Glisten apparently had no idea what they’d be doing either, so at least Boxten wasn’t the only one sailing on the clueless boat.

He sat on his bed, leaning against the headboard. He was about to open his paperback when suddenly his phone vibrated on the table next to him. He picked it up to see what the notification was.

Happy birthday, Boxy <3

Boxten smiled. It was the first time Glisten had wished him a happy birthday. The simple greeting meant a lot to the music box — if this was his only gift, then it was enough.

Thank you Glist :D

He "hearted" Glisten's message to show how much he loved it.

You’re welcome :)

—

Poppy and I will be arriving soon

Soon? It’s only 9

—

Lunchtime’s not even near

Yeah, just wanted to remind you

It's my birthday. I don't think I’d miss the ceremony

—

Celebration*

Who knows? Maybe you’ll be distracted by your book

He’s not wrong… then the realization hit him. Wait, how did he know?

How'd you know I had my book with me?