(Puggsy, Sailor Androm3da, and Colin are standing in a room, looking in the same direction).
Colin: How long has she been at it?
Puggsy: Since her vacation. She's been spending 90% of her time on that thing.
Sailor: You just HAD to get her that PS3 for Christmas, didn't you?
(Zoom out to show WG playing Ni No Kuni… and looking like she hasn't slept or bathed in weeks, surrounded by junkfood).
Colin: Um, WG, hate to break you out of this, but… you think you could put the controls down and update?
Sailor: Yeah, we're wanting to see the next Security Authors episode!
WG: *eyes remaining on the screen* Not until I level up everyone on my team and get to Castaway Cove- DARN IT, ESTHER! STOP DYING ON ME! Just when I was about to tame that Bonehead, too!
Sailor: Speaking of 'bonehead' what's in store for you and Pugs in this story? *snickers*
Puggsy: T_T How about the idea where we lock you in a room with the Creepypastas?
Sailor: O.O
WG: *without looking away from the game* (hands Pugs a sheet of paper) Already got an idea written down, edit it if you like, have fun now be quiet- CONFOUND IT! A Clubber Cub caught me off-guard!
Colin, Sailor, and Puggsy: *exchange glances* …
You know what these stories will/will not include, we don't own anything, now get on with it so I can finish this game!
[…looks like we'll be on hiatus until then…]
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Setting: Sequel to Fluff 4: Insomnia.
Puggsy rolled over in bed, slowly opening his eyes as sunlight hit his face. He looked at the clock on the nightstand, seeing it was 10 AM… though he didn't get to sleep until around 5 AM, having dosed off on the deck. Eh, a couple more hours wouldn't hurt… he thought as he began to drift off once more.
He snapped awake just then. Hold it! How'd I get back in bed?!
The short teen sat up, thinking back to hours ago before he drifted off. He remembered having a bad case of insomnia due to all the stress of his daily routine, and had stepped outside for some fresh air, when WG stepped out with him, and after talking for a while he fell asleep…
His eyes drifted across the room. If he was here… where was WG?
He developed a sense of paranoia just then. Perhaps, while he was asleep, the girl set up some sort of prank. Cautiously, he lifted the sheets to make sure nothing was put in the bed, like lizards or glue; he checked under the bed to make sure the crazy authoress wasn't lying underneath to pull a boogeyman-joke and grab him by the heels and drag him under; he then stepped on the floor, checking for any trip-wires, trap-doors, or any other kinds of booby-traps that would be activated by a mere touch of his toe. He walked over to the closet, making sure she wasn't lying-in-wait or hid some sort of prank-prop in there, then checked his bag in case she put her killer-bunny, Mr. Cuddles, inside.
After making sure the bedroom wasn't rigged, he made his way to the bathroom, checking it for any traps as well- checking the shower to make sure she didn't switch the 'Hot' and 'Cold' knobs, checking the cabinet to make sure a boxing-glove wouldn't spring out, and checking the toilet to make sure a giant Jack-In-The-Box wouldn't pop out and give him a heart-attack. Once everything was clear, he then turned to the mirror, making sure she didn't dye his hair, write on his face… and took off his shirt to make sure she hadn't written something on him there, either, like she had done once in one of her prank-based stories (He was glad she was one of those authors with some sense of decency, so he didn't have to take off his pants to check for anything).
Sighing with relief, he decided to take a shower- the paranoia gave him more of a jolt than a cup of coffee would, so it would be no use trying to go back to sleep in.
He turned the knobs and waited for the water to warm up, sitting down and thinking about their conversation the other night… specifically how WG claimed she would ease up on her harassment on him (which would explain why he never woke up to any pranks), how she was suffering from a guilt-trip after taking a good look at her life, and was going to try to be a better friend to him.
But then there was the other thing… how the authoress brought up how she would be up at night crying- often just because she wanted to, the reasons varying.
It struck him odd. When he first met WG, she was so light-hearted, high in spirit, and so hyperactive that she would be staying up all night to go on bike-rides, stare at the stars, set up pranks, write fics until after midnight, draw comics, pull up various shows online, or go out to kick ass if someone were causing trouble. She barely had reasons to cry- only when situations got grim, but she would always try to keep her chin up until the problems were resolved!
But as time went by, things changed, and she changed with them. Puggsy soon noticed that some of her stories started to have a darker, often sadder, edge to them- like how she once wrote it to where he got shot. Where did that idea come from? She didn't hate him, and actually made sure that he would live and get a happy ending; She used to get out more and joke around, but nowadays spent more of her time at the computer, growing a little more paler than usual, and always seemed a little more hungry as if she hadn't eaten enough; And how she was starting to get more aggressive- normally she would be able to keep a cool head up to a certain point, but nowadays she would lash out if no one was listening to her.
It was as if one day she just woke up, and forgot who she used to be.
At least that's how Puggsy saw it. The WG he knew wouldn't just try to make herself cry. He hated to see her cry, never forgetting the first time she broke down in front of him, all because she couldn't get a mental-break from all the people who harassed her over the years- in ways that made her wish she could trade places with him! What could people have said or done to her that made her wish she lived a life where werewolves attacked her every day?
And that was before she was getting more depressed…
Sighing, he got into the shower, yet the thoughts still lingered in his mind, wondering if WG hadn't been suffering from insomnia as well, due to all the problems that preyed upon her mind.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Once he was done with his shower and got dressed, Puggsy walked into the kitchen, looking into the connecting living room, noticing WG was nowhere in sight. He saw a note on the counter from her, before he could wonder, which read: "Went for a walk in the woods, be back later, do not eat the last muffin! ~luv WG"
Rolling his eyes, he poured himself some coffee and walked onto the deck. It was getting close to 11, and he started counting down the hours before they could leave the cabin and go back home- the two having been sent there as a way to resolve their rivalry… or just give everyone a break from hearing them pick on each other day and night. He still thinks someone just sent him there to make him suffer. They were told they could leave around 4:30…and the producers, Joe and Ken, claimed they had Vincent Fondane standing by to tranquilize them if they showed up so much as a minute sooner than 5.
He took out his cell-phone to see if anyone left him any messages, maybe wondering if he and WG had mangled each other yet or if they burned the cabin down or something. There were none, then he remembered that, until the trip was over, no one was supposed to contact them and interfere with their 'therapy retreat' (and he was thankful they made sure Fangpuss wouldn't try to follow them with a camera).
He sat down in a deck-chair, deciding to enjoy the solitude while he still could.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
That solitude lasted longer than he expected.
Puggsy had fallen asleep in the chair, having been awakened when his phone rang. "Hello?" he asked, stifling a yawn.
"Hey, Pugs, where are ya?" came Fangs' voice.
"At the cabin, where else? I thought Joe and Ken said you guys couldn't call,"
"Yeah… but we figured you guys would be back by now. It's almost 5:30!"
"What?!" Puggsy looked at his watch, seeing it had been that long. Leaping ignorpotomases, how did I sleep for that long?! Was the coffee decaffeinated or something?!
Fangs was quiet for a couple seconds. "Puuuggggs… did you kill WG?!"
"What- no! She went for a walk and I fell asleep…" he then stood up, looking inside the cabin… but didn't see a trace of the authoress anywhere. "I figured she would've been back by now… No way would she leave me alone for this long."
"Ooh, ooh, you don't think something happened to her, do ya?"
"I don't know… maybe she just wandered off too far- or got in the car while I was sleeping and ditchified me."
"Yeah right- WG hates driving! I'll tell the others- maybe one of the villains were lurking around…"
"I'll check around. If we're not back by 6:30, you can worry then." With that, Puggsy hung up and walked into the woods. "…if this is one of WG's pranks…"
He walked on a path, looking around while calling for the authoress. The path lead down to the lake's dock, but the authoress wasn't down there. She must've gone off-path… dammit… he figured, and started to search the woods. Doesn't this girl know that wandering around the woods in the toon-world alone is insane?! They could be full of whack-jobs! …then again, she's pretty crazified herself…
He looked around, noticing the woods were quiet, the birds chirping being the only sound, occasionally a deer or two prancing by, and other woodland creatures going about their day. It was quite peaceful, and made him think back to the 'secret spot' the authoress had shown him before, which either one of or both of them would go to clear their heads and find some peace… WG heading there quite often, he noticed…
…Then again, she hasn't been her regular 'crazy' self for a while, he thought to himself, and began to grow concerned. If she's more depressed than insane, then being out here would be suicide-
He froze, a sick feeling forming in his gut. The depressed feelings… the guilt trips… her statement about not harassing him anymore… what if...?
"WHEREVER GIRL!" Puggsy shouted at the top of his lungs, sprinting through the woods, causing many animals to scurry in a panic. No way she would… would she? No! She said she never would! She… She promised!
He doubled back just then, catching something in the corner of his eye. He looked over, seeing that, by a rocky hill, WG was climbing down, and running in another direction. Changing his angle, Puggsy ran to catch up with her. "WG!" he called, getting her attention.
She turned, grinning a bit. "Huh, I figured I heard you bellowing my name." she said, taking a breath as she had been running. "Look, I know you're probably pissed- considering we should have left about an hour ago, but I went off-path, climbed a few rocks, lost track of time..."
"Next time, call! You freaked me out!" Puggsy snapped, out of breath from the amount of running he did.
"I would… but I left my phone at home. …How could I have freaked you out if I wasn't around?"
He shifted, crossing his arms. "Just …Thought something horrifyable happened to ya,"
WG looked at him in mocked-surprise. "Aw, so you do care!"
He sneered. "Shut up- I just don't want your boyfriend murdifying me because I let his girlfriend get lost in the woods. Heck, Fangs called and thought I killed ya!"
WG rolled her eyes. "Sheesh. He's never going to live down that moment from MIF3, is he?"
Puggsy flinched, recalling that moment- when WG was bringing up suicide, and out of irritation he pointed a gun at her head (though she didn't know it was just a toy), stating he would be glad to answer her death-wish… and his shock when she told him to pull the trigger- not a hint of mockery in her eyes, just a serious expression. In the background, Fangs had been calling for every character in the story, whereas the cameos Iago and Abu were placing a bet on whether or not Pugs would actually shoot or not.
The fact that WG had actually tried to commit suicide before still scared him to this day.
"Hey, Pugs, where are you going?" WG asked, snapping him back to reality.
"Huh?" he responded, noticing they were in front of the cabin… well, WG was. He was half-way pass it. "I guess I spaced out,"
"Try not to do it while driving- I don't want to be the only one watching for deer,"
Puggsy scoffed, walking inside with her. "Lets just pack up and head out."
"Alright, alright… But what was on your mind? Must've been something serious, if you just lost focus like that,"
Nope, just worrying that you might have tried to kill yourself, that's all. Puggsy thought but wouldn't say. "Nah, just didn't get enough sleep, that's all."
"Okay… you want me to drive?"
"HA! With the way you drive?! I don't want a bunch of geezers giving us the bird on the highway,"
WG chuckled. "Excuse me if I'm the only one in my family who follows the speed-limit."
Getting packed, they got in the car and started driving home, WG sending Fangs a text on Puggsy's phone assuring her that 'Puggsy didn't pull a Jason Vorhees in the woods on her, and they would be home soon' (making him regret not being one of the people who were able to text-and-drive with ease). The drive was silent after that, and every minute or so Puggsy would look over at the authoress, noticing how she kept her gaze out the window… no signs of a smile on her face. The closer they got to the city, he noticed a misty look in her eye, though with a couple blinks it disappeared.
"Listen, WG… about our conversation last night…" Puggsy finally sighed. "You… You shouldn't make yourself cry. There's better ways to relieve stress…"
He waited for an answer, a pregnant pause falling between them, and he wondered whether she was even listening, or if he had ticked her off for bringing the matter up and she was ignoring him…
She sighed after a minute. "I know. It's just… I think it's the only thing I can do. You don't have to worry… it just… it's better than writing something dark like I used to, or writing about trying to commit suicide… It just helps."
"I'm sure it does… but if you're stressed, there's no problem in talking about it."
"Yeah… but I've vented to everyone enough as it is. I think they know every detail about my grudge against my sister, or how tired I am from babysitting, or how I feel overwhelmed because of all the fics I have to work on- a couple people not taking the hint that I'm too busy to help them write a story and want to finish my own." She sighed again. "…so I cry. I get overwhelmed, stressed, aggravated… and reality doesn't make it any better."
Puggsy nodded in understanding. They were quiet for a moment, until he spoke again. "Well… if you need to vent, I'll listen. I've got enough problems to put yours to shame,"
She scoffed, smirking. "We'll see next time I'm stressed, won't we?"
They arrived back to the apartments a few minutes later, and not even a minute before walking through the door did the others swarm them and ask how their trip went, what all happened, and who broke whose what. The twosome managed to convince them that they had a long weekend and just wanted to get some rest, promising they'd tell them about it tomorrow.
Puggsy was the first to get to his apartment complex and- after telling Kiff to stop asking about his weekend and assuring Brielle that he didn't try to kill her counterpart- went to bed.
Insomnia had other plans for him again, however, as he was having trouble getting to sleep. Brielle was resting next to him peacefully, and he sighed, deciding to get up and head to the kitchen…
His phone vibrated just then, and he looked, seeing a text message from WG: "Are you still awake?"
Probably needs back-up for our 'paparazzi', he joked in his head, figuring the others were keeping the authoress awake, asking for details about their trip. He replied back: "Yeah… Insomnia's struck again. Need help?"
She replied back: "Depends… are you in the mood for a vent?"
He arched an eyebrow, texting back: "What's wrong?"
Her reply: "The usual… can you meet me in our spot?"
"Yeah- be there in fifteen."
He put on a jacket and headed for the door. Kiff was walking out of his room and heading for the kitchen, when he noticed his father. "Dad? Where are you going?" he asked.
"WG wants to talk," Puggsy replied. Kiff was the only one he could talk to when it came to personal matters with WG- after all, she was his kid's surrogate mom.
"Okay. Is she alright?"
"She just wants to vent,"
"Whoooaaa… well, see if she can keep it short, so you can be home before sunrise."
Puggsy chuckled. "Yeah… What're you doing up?"
"Insomnia- I drank soda after eight,"
Must run in the family, Puggsy thought. "Alright… see you in a while, if you're still awake,"
"Ditto,"
Puggsy gave a nod then walked out the door, heading outside and into the woods to the secret spot, WG showing up minutes after he arrived. "Sorry, I took the long route in case one of the others were following," she said.
"Okay… so, first of all, why don't you ever talk to Fanatic, FF2 or Tracker when you need to vent?" Puggsy asked.
"They've heard the whole song-and-dance… and I don't want to make them worry," Her voice sounded like it was about to crack, and Puggsy noticed red-rims around her eyes, as if she had been crying.
"What happened?"
WG took a deep breath. "My sister called… she was really pissed that I wasn't home to-"
Puggsy raised his hand. "Say no more… just c'mere," he stretched his arm out.
Without hesitation, she leaned forth and hugged him, tears running down her face. He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back. They had been in this kind of situation before, so he kept silent, holding onto her until her tears stopped.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't vent, considering you put up with enough…" she began to say.
"It's alright. Like I said, I have enough problems to rival yours- ever have a bunch of gangsters mad at ya for blowing a boxing tournament they rigged?" he replied. "And your sister can just relax- she should know that you have a life in the tooniverse, she'll have to deal."
"It's… it's not just that… I got a bunch of PM's from a few other authors, asking when I'd update a few stories, or demanding I help write one of their stories, or asking if I would read and edit some DocX's… and… and I just wish I stayed at the cabin! When will everyone understand that I need a break?!"
"You just gotta be more assertive. Tell them that you're busy, can't do it right now, and they'll have to take their business somewhere else- and if they can't understand that, just ignore them. …But, that can't be the only reasons why you're crying, is it?"
WG shook her head. "No… it's just… remember when I said I took a long, hard look on my life? Well… I miss how things used to be. I'm changing Pugs… but I don't like what I'm becoming. I… I started hitting my nieces every time they don't listen to me! I-I don't get abusive or anything but… but I'm worried I might. It's getting hard to control!"
"WG-"
"It's just getting too hard! I mean, when I first started out, it wasn't SO bad- I had fun with my nieces, but then my sister starts breathing down my neck, and I'm always having to go to HER house, and when I'm trying to handle the kids when she's around she either tells me I'm being 'too soft' when I'm trying to coax them, or being 'too hard' when I'm yelling at them and… and the kids just act like I'm just a pushover, like they have no reason to give me any respect no matter what I do, and I get so mad… and I keep having violent thoughts based on my rage, and sooner or later I'm just going to SNAP-"
"WHEREVER GIRL." Puggsy gripped her by the shoulders, looking her straight in the eye. "CALM. DOWN." He waited a moment, and when WG remained silent, he sighed. "Listen… I get angry too, so I know how you feel. But you can't let it get to ya! So the kids don't listen well- remember when Kiff was the same way, always hi-jacking Eric's solar-surfer or stealing Lamone's journal and getting in trouble? It's just something every kid goes through- but they learn to show respect depending on how they're raised.
"And I know your nieces will learn to respect you because you show some discipline… but also because, deep down, you're still a kid at heart. You're honest, you're trustworthy, you like to get out… you have a few pets they can play with, and teach them how to handle them gently. You still watch cartoons without a hint of shame, but also teach them what cartoons are decent to watch and which ones to avoid… and you teach them about Jesus! I'm telling you, they're going to look up to you,"
WG sniffled. "My mom says the same thing…" she muttered. "But-"
"Look, WG, if you're going to keep letting aggravation get to you and have doubts in yourself… then I don't know what else to do. Just… unwind, okay? Don't let things get to you, focus on what makes you happy… and if you have a problem, you can talk to anyone about it- me, the others, God, your mom… heck, if you're really bothered, tell your sister about it! Sooner or later you're going to have to put your foot down… and when you do, she's going to be the one wanting someone to vent to."
WG nodded. "I'll try, Pugs… it won't be easy, but I'll try."
"And… try not to cry anymore, alright? Like I said the first time… it's just not like you. There's GOT to be a better alteranative,"
WG shifted. "Well… there's one thing that helps…"
"And that would b-" Before Puggsy could finish asking, WG was pulling him into another hug, burying her face in his shoulder. "Oh. …Why didn't you bring this up before?"
"Maybe because me saying, 'Hey, Pugs, I'm depressed, hug me' would sound too weird- even for Fanfiction."
"O-kay… so why don't you just hug FF2?"
"I was going to… but he has to get up early for college, and I didn't want to wake him, so I just called up the second best hugger I know. …Speaking of which, mind hugging me back, again? Pretty sure we shouldn't be out so late,"
Puggsy rolled his eyes but smiled, hugging her back tightly. "There. Feel better?"
She nodded. "Totally."
"Good… now lets get back inside. I want to get some sleep."
"Right behind you, dude."
They started walking, though halfway up the path WG began to slow her pace, yawning heavily and leaning against a tree. Puggsy walked over and held out his arms. The authoress only looked at him, curiously. "You carried me to bed, I might as well return the favor."
She nodded, allowing him to pick her up and carry her in.
Once they got to their floor, Puggsy opened her apartment door- the girl having kept it unlocked, which he thought was pretty reckless- and he lied her in bed next to FF2, immediately cuddling next to him, her boyfriend stirring a bit but relaxing, recognizing when his girlfriend was next to him. Puggsy then snuck out of the room, heading back to his own room and snuggling beside his own lover.
At long last, he finally got some well-deserved sleep.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Fanatic: WHAT?! *turns to Pugs* She thinks YOU'RE the best hugger, outside her boyfriend?! Outrage! I demand evidence!
Sailor: Isn't the fluff enough evidence?
Fanatic: Not until we get a one-shot that shows who's ranked the better hugger!
ATF: Oh! Oh! Can I write it? I loooooove fluff!
Colin: 0_o Dudes… I don't think a 'hug-fest' is THAT important-
Fanatic: It is, considering I'M the second-best hugger! Who else can make someone's spine crack?!
Puggsy: T_T …Is WG done with that game, yet?
Sailor: As soon as someone in the game shouted, "Stop, thief!" she started hunting for Swaine.
ATF: NO WAY! She's on that level already? *runs off*
Colin: …poor thief doesn't have a prayer, does he?
Fanatic: Read her NNK stories, it's that obvious… And I still think I'm a better hugger!
Puggsy: Don't you guys have school in the morning?!
[Apparently, WG couldn't sleep one night and wrote this. I added a few parts, mainly telling her to get a grip (and cutting her sister-vents short), and now I'm going to sleep. Goodnight everybody!]
*WG is still playing NNK*