Jack W. Tweeg has nothing. His tower has been repossessed by Mrs. Maggothart. Tweeg has stupidly and carelessly spent all the coins that had been spared to him and could no longer afford to pay her incredibly unfair fines. He has no respect, no home, and probably worst of all, no job. Not only that, Tweeg has managed to make Quellor so mad, that he has been permanently banned from M.A.V.O. He's contemplated getting on his knees, groveling like a pathetic worm, something Quellor often took great enjoyment from. But no matter how much he begged, pleaded, or sucked up to Quellor, he would never get his privileged position back and be a part of the bad guys' club.
Tweeg is a green-skinned Troll/Grunge hybrid that stands roughly six feet in height, is of average, albeit wimpy build, and has light purple splotches splattered across his cheekbones, pointy dog-like ears, and a rounded snout. He wears a full-length violet robe with a mandarin collar, fastened with a round, golden clasp at the neck, and blue trim around the sleeves and the bottom hem. He stumbles through the heavily shrubbed Boggley Woods with his hands sunken into the deep pockets of his robes. His feet hurt from all the walking, but not as bad as his head from his unparalleled feats of boobery that had caused him to clumsily tumble down the mountain where his tower is perched. Despite the head trauma, Tweeg retains his memory. In his quiet loneliness, he drowns himself in thought. "How could I go through with this? I must be out of my mind".
Yet, before he knew it, he had reached the cabin where L.B. and Buffy would be spending their little honeymoon. As he walks up to the door, he can hear the faint muffled sound of giggling coming from inside. He takes in a long breath of fresh wooded air and lets out a drawn-out sigh as he knocks on the door. The giggling stops and all is silent. The next fifteen seconds feel like an hour as Tweeg stands there, twiddling his thumbs and waiting for someone to answer the door.
L.B. approaches the front door, opening it with his two-toed foot. The short, stubby red bounder stands before Tweeg, the hair surrounding his small, dull, horned head is unkempt. His eyes are closed as he greets his guest with a bit of musical tone to his deep Brooklyn accent.
L.B.: "Hello."
L.B. opens his eyes, only to look up and realize it's Tweeg. In an instant, his cheery disposition changes to that of immense frustration.
L.B.: "Oh, it's you. What the heck do you want, Twig? Can't you see Buffy and me are, uh... busy?"
Tweeg: "Hey L.B., I was just, uh, wandering by—"
L.B.: "Really? You was just wanderin' by, in the woods, in the middle of the night, nowhere near your tower, and suspiciously close to where we was stayin', just by complete coincidence?"
L.B. looks at him accusingly with a raised brow. If he had arms, they'd be planted against his waist in frustration right now... although that would require having a waist as well.
Tweeg: "Yeah, I uh... look, there's no easy way to ask this. I've never had to do this before. But I've come into a bit of a financial situation—"
Tweeg dances around the question, fighting with his embarrassment as he scratches the back of his head avoidantly. L.B. just looks at him with eyes half open in a complete lack of shock.
L.B.: "You spent all the money, didn't ya, Twink?"
Tweeg: "It's TWE—... I mean... yes. I no longer have the money that you and Buffy most graciously loaned me."
L.B.: "Typical, it's so typical of you. You're so predictable. So lemme guess, you're homeless now, and you'd like someplace to stay?"
Tweeg: "Yes?"
L.B.: "Tweak, are you outta your mind? Do you even know what a honeymoon is?"
Tweeg: "I won't bother you, or Buffy, I swear. I just need somewhere for the night."
Tweeg shrugs pleadingly.
L.B.: "You got a lotta nerve, you know dat?"
Buffy, L.B.'s wife, another short, red bounder, yells from the bedroom.
Buffy: "What's the matter, my ripe tomato of joy?!"
He looks behind him with a smile on his face, responding to her with a chipper attitude.
L.B.: "Nothing, my little dumpling! You just stay right where you are, and I'll be right back in a jiff!"
Tweeg: "I really don't mean to rain on your parade but—"
L.B. resumes his frustration with Tweeg at the front door.
L.B.: "Twig, look, I ain't your goonie no more. I'm a clean man now. I got a wife, a place o' my own, I'm lookin' to start a family o' little L.B. Jrs and Buffy Jrs and... well... I ain't babysittin' you no more. You want my best advice? Suck it up, and go beg mommy dearest to let you back into the bosom of her care again, 'cause you ain't stayin' with me. Goodbye, Tweeg."
L.B. shuts the door in Tweeg's face.
Tweeg: "It's TWEE—oh wait, he said it right that time." (Sighs)
L.B. Walks back into the bedroom where Buffy is on the bed, lying there on her front with a rose in her mouth.
Buffy: "Who was that, my love?"
L.B.: "Don't worry about it, my sweet cherry pie, just some pesky snake oil salesman."
The giggling resumes, and Tweeg marches in the other direction, trying as hard as he can to not imagine what's going on in there. He shivers as he tries to turn those stray thoughts into static brain fuzz.
Tweeg: "Go back to mother? No way! There's no way I'd ever be able to live with that indignity! I'd rather be homeless, I tell you, HOMELESS!"
As Tweeg leaves the woods, towards the direction of Mizley Meadows and into the trajectory of his tower, he crosses by Newton Gimmick's house. The residents of this house: the owner, an eccentric and stuttering Perloon (human) inventor in his late fifties or early sixties, is a balding Caucasian man with round glasses and a mustache. He wears a green long-sleeved, collared shirt over worn blue pants with patches, a white frock containing many utilities, brown work shoes, and always has mismatched socks. Teddy, a kind-hearted fifteen-year-old Illiop (an anthropomorphic bear-like creature) has brown fur with tan fur around his snout. He wears a beige sweater-vest over a red t-shirt and red shorts and has no shoes. Grubby is roughly the same age as Teddy, a chubby man-sized Octopede (Myriapod containing eight legs), and is a leisurely and often indolent fellow that enjoys Root Stew. He has yellow, chitinous skin with two antennae, a rounded snout, and red splotches across his face, cheekbones, and abdominal segments. He wears no clothes.
A good distance from the house, Tweeg stops at a tree. He sits on the ground, resting his arms on his knees and his head on top of that, and gazes at the house with a hint of not only envy but unabated sadness. From inside Gimmick's house, he can hear the sounds of laughter from the residents. He sulks, childishly, with embarrassment, talking to himself.
Tweeg: "It's not fair. Why do those three always get to be happy? Why can't I be happy for once in my life? What am I doing wrong?"
Tweeg starts to cry into his arms. His tears soak into his sleeves as those nearby are none the wiser of his misery. Inside Gimmick's house, Teddy, Grubby and Gimmick are sitting at the table as Gimmick tells a joke that neither Teddy nor Grubby understand but are pretending to laugh at anyway.
Gimmick: "Er, um, what do you, uh, call a gear that becomes so pressed with tension that it flies off of its hinges, disconnecting from its chain link?"
Grubby: "I don't know. What?"
Teddy: "I don't know either."
Gimmick: "A SP-ROCKET!"
Grubby and Teddy force a laugh at the joke despite not understanding the wordplay or the technological meaning behind a sprocket.
Grubby: "So, did you guys enjoy my special brand of Root Stew?"
Gimmick: "I certainly did. I can't put my finger on it, but the spice you added to it gave it quite a bit of extra zing."
Grubby: "And you, Teddy?"
Teddy: "I have to admit, Grubby, it's starting to grow on me."
Grubby places his finger to his mouth and scratches his head as he looks at Teddy densely.
Grubby: "Funny, I don't see anything coming out of your fur."
Gimmick: "That's a metaphor, Grubby."
Grubby: "Oh. Uh, I knew that."
Teddy: "I'm gonna head up to the roof to watch the stars. Do either of you wish to join me? It's a beautiful night."
Grubby yawns, stretching his chubby yellow arms outward. He scratches his tummy.
Grubby: "To tell ya the truth, Teddy, I'm one pooped pup. I think I'll hit the sack."
Gimmick: "And I have a few adjustments to make to my new Atomizer shrink ray, so I'll be in my lab."
Teddy: "Suit yourselves."
Teddy shrugs casually at their declination with a smile. He heads upstairs and climbs out of the second-story window to lay on the gables of the roof and gaze at the stars. He smiles as he looks into the dark night sky that is filled to the brim with speckles of white wonder, becoming almost entranced as they reflect off his glistening corneas. But then, something grabs his attention, off in the distance, using his keen senses, Teddy can hear faint sniffles from down below.
Teddy: "What could that sound possibly be? Is someone crying? Where is it coming from?"
Tweeg is getting up and walking away, and that's when Teddy notices movement from below.
Teddy: "Is that Tweeg? What's he doing here?"
Curiously, Teddy abandons his original plan to gaze at the stars and retreads back through the house, downstairs, and out the front door. Cautiously, he pursues Tweeg, spotting him just as he walks back in the direction of his tower, where it is assumed he would scrounge up his things and pathetically make his journey to his mother's house. Teddy follows close behind, being sure not to be seen. He tries to get in just close enough to see what Tweeg is doing.
As Teddy tiptoes behind a tree a mere few yards away from Tweeg, he tries to get a side vantage point where he can see his face. Tweeg looks positively miserable as he sulks and walks with his head hung low, but he doesn't notice Teddy. He continues walking, and Teddy moves in to continue his stealthy pursuit, but then something unfortunate happens, Teddy steps on a crispy autumn leaf, letting out a loud crunch. He cringes at his misfortune and Tweeg becomes alerted to the idea that someone is following him. Tweeg turns around, angrily looking back in the direction he came from, observing his path.
Tweeg: "Who's there? I'm warning you, I might not look that tough, but I'll give you quite the wallop if you think you'll have the best of me!"
Tweeg assumes a hilariously ineffective combat stance, pretending to be strong when his cowardice is more transparent than a freshly-cleaned window.
Tweeg: "D-d-don't make me use these!"
Teddy sighs and decides that he might as well come clean.
Teddy: "It's just me, Tweeg."
Tweeg: "Ruxpin! What are you doing out here? Why are you following me?"
Teddy: "I heard a noise from outside the house, and then I found you wandering around. It sounded kind of like someone was crying."
Tweeg: "Crying? Most certainly wasn't me. I would never show such weakness."
Tweeg folds his arms, looking away from Teddy in a snobbish manner. Teddy walks around Tweeg, examining him.
Teddy: "Then why are your eyes so red?"
Tweeg: "Allergies. It's allergies."
Teddy: "Tweeg? Were you upset?"
Tweeg: "Me? No sir, nuh-uh."
He continues to stand there, unresponsive and in denial as he shakes his head.
Teddy: "Why were you outside of Gimmick's house?"
Tweeg gets mad and breaks from his pose as he stands there with his hands balled into fists.
Tweeg: "What is this? Are you interrogating me? Enough with all the silly questions! I'm leaving!"
Tweeg stomps angrily towards his castle. Teddy follows him close behind, much to his annoyance.
Teddy: "Tweeg, if something is upsetting you, you could tell me."
He continues marching, spitting in disdain as he addresses Teddy.
Tweeg: "Why in the world would I ever tell you, Illiop?"
It's then that Tweeg hears something he never thought he would hear from Teddy in his entire life.
Teddy: "Because I care about you, Tweeg. I'm worried about you."
Tweeg stops dead in his tracks. He continues to avoid looking in Teddy's direction as Teddy stands behind him with a concerned look in his eyes.
Tweeg: "You? Care about me? You must be joking. Since when?"
Teddy: "You haven't been very nice to me, or my friends, but there's a part of me that believes that you're not a bad person, just... misguided."
Tweeg gets frustrated. He turns around in place and makes exaggerated hand gestures at Teddy amid his embarrassing accusations.
Tweeg: "What are you talking about? Misguided? I'm perfectly well-guided, thank you very much."
Tweeg folds his arms in defiance once again, hoping that Teddy will just give up and go away, but the stubborn teenage Illiop perseveres at breaking Tweeg's thick shell.
Teddy: "Tweeg, just because you and I aren't friends doesn't mean I don't worry about you. I found you outside of the house. I know it was you that was crying. You don't have to hide that from me. There's no shame in showing hurt feelings in front of others. I know that you have your pride, and that's something that's important to you, but I will never shame you for being who you are."
Tweeg grits his teeth, listening as the Illiop's words bite into his soul. Angrily, he lashes out at Teddy.
Tweeg: "MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE I'M A LOSER, OKAY! I'VE BEEN A LOSER MY WHOLE LIFE AND I ALWAYS WILL BE! I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT! I RUINED MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD, MY ONLY FRIEND HAS NO RESPECT FOR ME! I SHAMED MYSELF IN FRONT OF MY PEERS AND NOW I DON'T EVEN HAVE A HOME ANYMORE! THERE, HAPPY?! IS THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU, ILLIOP? MUST YOU CONTINUE TO BERATE ME WITH FURTHER REMINDERS OF WHAT A WORTHLESS BAG OF NOTHING I AM?"
Tweeg is positively livid. If it wasn't apparent he was crying before, now he's doing so, visibly in front of the one person he'd despised the most. He stands there, shamefully gasping and choking on air as he tries to recompose himself. Teddy says nothing. He just looks at Tweeg with a face of remorse. Tweeg faces the ground, sinking into his own despair.
Tweeg: "I'm hopeless... an utterly hopeless... worthless loser. I'll never make gold out of buttermilk, I'll never be rich or powerful, and I'll never get back into M.A.V.O. Maybe I should just go back to mother. She'll just tell me what I already know to be the truth."
Teddy walks up to Tweeg, who isn't paying attention, and wraps his arms around him. Tweeg is completely taken aback and doesn't have any idea how to respond. He's so broken that he doesn't even outright resist Teddy's physical contact, nor does he reciprocate the compassion towards him.
Tweeg: "What are you doing?"
Teddy: "Giving you a hug."
Tweeg: "Why?"
Teddy: "Because you're the one that needs it the most."
Tweeg doesn't understand why, but he doesn't feel repulsed, not even in the slightest. This predicament confuses him. Teddy is willing to stay with Tweeg as long as he'd wish but ultimately decides that Tweeg would likely only tolerate it for so long, and releases his embrace voluntarily. He looks at Tweeg with a saddened expression and speaks to him quietly.
Teddy: "How would you like to join me out in the meadows?"
Tweeg continues to look at the ground in melancholy. He speaks quietly, with no energy behind his voice.
Tweeg: "Why would I want to do that?"
Teddy: "I just wanted to get a good look at the stars tonight. The meadows have the best view of the stars since there are no trees around to block the sky, but I wouldn't want to go there alone in the middle of the night."
Tweeg: "Why don't you just ask the Octopede to go with you?"
Teddy: "Grubby? He said he was tired and went to bed. Between you and me, I'm a bit of a night owl myself. I'm always up just a little bit later than Grubby, but he doesn't know."
Tweeg: "I don't know."
Teddy: "Please?"
Tweeg folds his arms as he looks over at Teddy, whose big eyes look almost as if he's trying to guilt-trip him into joining him. Tweeg limply shrugs as he caves to the pressure.
Tweeg: (Sighs) "What do I have to lose?"
Teddy smiles, and the endless optimism returns to his face.
Teddy: "I'm so glad. I promise you won't regret it."
Tweeg looks at him with a semi-disgusted scowl.
Tweeg: "Too late."
With that, Tweeg follows Teddy out into Mizley Meadows. Together they find a large empty field of grass and Teddy just flops back into a lying position with his hands behind his head. He pats the ground beside him, signaling Tweeg to lie down next to him. Tweeg rolls his eyes with a deadpan look on his face but follows suit, lying down with his hands folded on his chest.
Teddy: "It's so peaceful out here. I love looking at the sky, especially during a cloudless, perfect night like this."
Tweeg stares at the sky with complete apathy.
Tweeg: "A bunch of white dots. All I see is a bunch of white dots. What's so special about them?"
His voice has a slight hint of aggression and jealousy behind it.
Teddy: "You never just laid back and enjoyed the stars, Tweeg?"
Tweeg: "Why would I do such a silly thing?"
Teddy: "I guess beauty is subjective, but I think the stars are just beautiful. It makes my soul happy to look at them."
Tweeg scoffs in distaste.
Tweeg: "Your soul? Happy? Gracious, you are disgustingly saccharine, you know that?"
Teddy almost smirks and laughs at the absurdity of his comment.
Teddy: "What a strange thing to say. Happiness disgusts you?"
Tweeg: "Of course. I'm evil, a villain. I'd rather feel anger and disdain. Those are REAL feelings."
Teddy and Tweeg lay there in silence for a moment while Teddy ponders, biting his lip and looking off to the side as he thinks. He then rolls over onto his side, propping his head up with his hand, supported by his elbow on the ground.
Teddy: "Tweeg, can I ask you a question? It's kinda personal."
Tweeg responds tiredly and defeatedly.
Tweeg: "Go ahead. Why not?"
Teddy looks at Tweeg with a slightly raised brow of curiosity.
Teddy: "Why do trolls think good things are bad, and bad things are good? It seems so strange to me."
Tweeg lifts his shoulders in a limp shrug as he continues to lay there avoiding eye contact with Teddy.
Tweeg: "I don't know. Why do you like good things?"
Teddy smiles innocently.
Teddy: "Oh, that's simply because they make me happy."
Tweeg: "Well, badness makes me happy."
Teddy: "Does it though?"
Tweeg: "What are you getting at? Of course it does."
He folds his arms on his chest.
Teddy: "You don't seem very happy being a villain. Have you ever thought about not being a villain?"
Tweeg: "And what, turn into a goody-two-shoes like you and Grubby? No way."
Teddy: "But have you ever tried it?"
Tweeg: "Me? Turn over a new leaf? Never in a million years. Mother would have nothing to do with me if I did that."
Teddy: "But that begs the question; are you a villain because your mother wants you to be, or because you want to be?"
Tweeg goes to speak, but he finds that he doesn't even know the answer, himself. He doesn't answer Teddy. Teddy looks at him, curiously. Tweeg catches his glance and stares back at him.
Tweeg: "What?"
Teddy goes back to laying down and staring up at the stars.
Teddy: "I'm just throwing it out there, but maybe you'd be happier if you just let go of the whole villain thing."
Tweeg faces away from Teddy, rolling over with a look of shame on his face and drowning himself in thought. He speaks to Teddy quietly once again.
Tweeg: "I don't know the first thing about being a good person. All I know is how to be evil."
Teddy looks over to him with a smile of sincerity.
Teddy: "I could show you, if you'd let me."
Tweeg says nothing. Teddy gets up off the ground and stretches. He tilts his head over to Tweeg, who continues to lay in the dirt like a worm.
Teddy: "I don't want to push it on you too hard, but just think it over. You always know where to find me."
Teddy starts walking away in the direction of Gimmick's house when Tweeg says something barely audible, getting Teddy's attention.
Tweeg: "Ruxpin?"
Teddy turns to look at him.
Teddy: "Yes?"
Tweeg: "Promise me something... Promise me you won't tell the others what you saw tonight."
He looks down at Tweeg with that same genuine and compassionate smile.
Teddy: "I promise. Goodbye, Tweeg."
Teddy walks back to Gimmick's house through the woods. He's careful not to make any noise. Luckily, Gimmick was far too busy with his invention to check in on him and Grubby was drooling into his pillow, in such a deep sleep that not even the firing of Tweeg's tower canon could wake him. Still, with great concern, Teddy sneaks into the bedroom so as to not wake Grubby and climbs into the top bunk of the bunk bed. He lays there for a few minutes and genuinely wonders if Tweeg will consider his proposition. Still, he decides in the long run that it's not worth losing sleep over.
