AN: So, I saw Inside Out a while ago and I'm really surprised of the lack of Joy/Sadness because they are super adorable and I can't take it. So, this is going to be a collection of Joyness drabbles, if you don't like it, don't read it. I will just post oneshots here when I have the motivation to write so I don't know how often I will update these. Spoiler warnings for anyone who hasn't seen the movie (I think this one will be okay but in future drabbles, there will definitely be spoilers.)
Drabble #1 (Her Laugh):
In all of the years Joy has known Sadness, it is astonishing to say that she had never heard her laugh before. Sure, she had seen her grin from time to time, but there was never a laugh. In the past, she remembered trying to make the blue emotion laugh just once. Her attempts never worked. She did knock-knock jokes, silly faces, puns, and just about everything Joy thought was funny. In the end, the only one laughing was herself, Joy was laughing at her own jokes while she didn't even get a noticeable reaction out of Sadness. She tried everything but she could never get a laugh out of her or even a smile. The yellow emotion didn't understand, Joy made everyone else in headquarters laugh (even Anger at one point).
One day, while Sadness was away, she asked her other coworkers if they ever heard Sadness giggle before. "Of course not. Have you met her, Joy? She's never in a good mood." Disgust stated the obvious. Joy knew that it couldn't be true. Sadness never "appears" to be in a good mood but she's not always down in the dumps, or at least that's what Joy tells herself. Sadness can't be miserable and pessimistic all of the time, right? No one is.
"Are you sure? I mean, I've known her for eleven years and I had never heard her laugh before. It feels strange, don't you think?" Joy retorted.
"You knew her longer than us, Joy. How would we know?" Questioned the red emotion, rather defensively. "Well I…" Joy's words faded when she glanced and saw Sadness return to her usual spot in headquarters. Joy ended the conversation but she silently vowed herself that eventually, she will make Sadness laugh. Just one laugh is all that she wants from her, even if Sadness is too...well… sad to have Joy's sense of humor.
Due to their adventures trying to get back to headquarters, Joy grew closer to Sadness and felt guilty that she didn't understand her. She felt bad that she wasn't her friend and that she pushed the blue emotion aside. She, along with her coworkers, apologized for their misunderstandment and their previous actions around Sadness. Sadness forgave them all and forgot about the past experiences, but Joy could never seem to forgive herself. Due to her guilt, Joy started to act kinder around Sadness. Since they were closer, Joy had more motivation to make her laugh once more, despite Sadness's rather apathetic appearance whenever Joy said a "bad" joke (Come on, everyone laughed at those knock-knock jokes). Each morning had the same schedule. Joy would wake her coworkers up in the most annoyingly positive way (that is, if she had dream duty the night before). Fear was the first one to arrive in his usual place and Sadness, due her sluggish ways, was the last one. Joy, one by one, would tell everyone good morning as they arrived in headquarters. Sadness would slightly grin as her way of saying "good morning". And then Joy would tell Sadness a joke, Sadness would never laugh but if it was a good day she would give out another smile, bigger than the earlier one. Joy was making progress, due to their new friendship, it was easier seeing Sadness with a smile on her face. Joy had hope.
Trying to get Sadness to laugh is easy! She just has to think of something funny enough to relate to Sadness's sense of humor (or lack of). All day, Joy tried to think up an idea. Okay, obviously her jokes (even the good ones) didn't help at all, as proven countless times before. Hmm…puns didn't work at all, it probably made things worse because Joy's puns actually make Sadness cringe. What could Sadness, an embodiment of sad feelings, possibly laugh about? Wait a minute! In that moment, it just hit her. Joy had an idea of a possible solution to her almost seemly never-ending problem.
It was the end of the day, and Joy had dream duty, but everyone else was walking away to get some well deserved rest for tomorrow. Quickly before Sadness left headquarters, Joy called out, "Oh wait, Sadness? Come here for sec."
Sadness, confused but curious about what her friend could want, walked up to her. It was amazing to think how small she was when compared to Joy. Joy smiled at her and got to her level by sitting on her two knees. Sadness was extremely confused but then uproars of unexpected laughter escaped her lungs before she could even process what was going on. Joy was tickling her sides. Finally, after eleven years, the answer to her question was apparent. Sadness can laugh! Of course, she kind of had to force it out of her but at least she knows what she sounds like when she's laughing. "J-J-Joy Wha-What are you d-doing?" Sadness asked in between her laughs and fell over right next to Joy's lap, still in a giggle fit. It felt…abnormal but it was adorable seeing the blue emotion like this. Joy's smile widened. She never heard her laugh, it was cute and light even when she was being tickled and hearing it herself made Joy delighted. After a few more seconds, Joy stopped her actions; after all, she didn't want to torture her friend. Sadness tried to catch her breath, still on the ground, and she gave Joy the most bewildered expression, the smile was off of her face.
The other emotions stopped what they were doing once they heard Sadness's laughter. It felt rather unnatural to hear the blue emotion laugh. They couldn't believe it, Joy finally did it. "Uh…Joy. What was that for?" Sadness asked, her solemn tone of voice was back once again. Joy stood up and grabbed Sadness's hand, helping her rise up to her feet. Joy smiled, "I just wanted to hear you laugh, Sadness." Sadness looked almost surprised and then avoided eye contact with Joy, "Oh. Uh…can you um, not tickle me again though?"
"Aw, I like your laugh though! I think it's cute!" Joy stated truthfully. Sadness honestly hated when people used the word "cute", or any other words that are similar to it, to describe aspects about her. The only exception is when Joy said it, because Joy was honest. Sadness looked away, "Really?"
"Yeah, of course! I think you should laugh more often!" Joy confirmed happily. The taller emotion knew that she can't technically encourage her to laugh more, for the same reasons that she can't make Sadness positive. Sadness was just made that way, to be mostly gloomy and only occasionally happy. However, her words spoke the truth because, in all honesty, she wished she didn't have to force laughter out of the blue emotion.
"Goodnight, Joy," Sadness mumbled.
"Alrighty! Get some rest, Sleepyhead! I'll see you in the morning!" Joy said, always upbeat and positive. Sadness walked away to get some well-deserved rest.
Joy was eventually left alone during dream duty, hoping that wouldn't be the last time she hears Sadness laugh.