Finally. After four months, I completed a new gift drawing. This one is for our dear @lastofautumn. Autumn 🍂, THANK YOU SO, SO FREAKING MUCH FOR LETTING ME DRAW YOU AND YOUR BELOVED BABY PUMPKIN MARIE 🤗🤗🤗! I am so unbelievably sorry this took for-fucking-ever to finish 😭😭😭, but I really hope you enjoy this.
@weaselnerd, @spookiifi, @amberfox232, @heartsissopure, @imaginarytoon1, @just-kit-ink A.K.A. @thatnerdgirl7, @basiabd, @marinerainbow, @trashogram A.K.A. @mantisandthemoondragon, @los-angeles-toon-patrol, and @slashingdisneypasta A.K.A. @wicked1will0sparkles, I have a huge favor to ask. Marie sadly passed away this January of 2025, and I think we can all agree that Autumn needs a lot of comfort right now. Autumn, I am so, so sorry for your loss 💔. It is truly a horrible, tragic and unfair way to start a new year, so I have high hopes this long-overdue gift drawing gives you a sense of solace. You bring a beacon of light into our lives, and I’m absolutely certain Marie knew that herself 💛🧡💛
She will always be with you forever 🫂❤🫂
And if anyone else has gone through this heartbreaking experience too, please accept my deepest condolences 🙏. I also wrote a drabble because I felt like the twins should do something special to help Autumn heal.
Autumn and Marie belong to @lastofautumn (A.K.A. herself)
The Twisted Toonz Twins belong to me
The night was usually so comforting. While the days of gold bring long hours of sun-basking warmth and clear blue skies painted by iridescent beams of rainbow renewal blessed by the first few drops of spring rain, the night brings solace in its own way. The sky is a canvas of deep blue ink, providing a sense of serenity for weary travelers and lost souls lingering and seeking a restful slumber. True, one must never forget the foreboding tales of darkness, mystery and the unknown lingering in the shadows once the last few rays of light vanquish. However, words cannot describe the celestial wonders this world is blessed with.
The night is a black velvet curtain, studded with diamond stars and the moon is a glowing pearl. Like specks of fairy dust, the stars twinkle and shine miles beyond the limits of the sphere, radiating the immense, endless galaxy. Moonlight shares the same symbolism of a rainbow; renewal, beauty, and the unseen bridge between the earth and the divine. And the stars symbolize hope and light, as well as guidance during times of conflict and grieving.
And yet, there are no stars tonight. Not a single one.
Autumn sighed, “Figures.”
She had been standing out in the terrace of Bistro de Lumiere, an exquisite restaurant located in Uptown Toontown hosted by Lumiere himself, which included a lovely view of the lake on the second floor. The charming candlestick has really put in a lot of thought to ensure the guests feel welcome, she had to admit. Everywhere she went, the bistro was top-notch in not just having friendly staff, excellent food, music and chic décor. Candlesticks from all around added a touch of warmth and hospitality illuminating the establishment’s bright prosperity. Even the pillars were decorated with glimmering, silver gems of diamonds and pearls.
But despite their best efforts, it wasn’t enough.
It had been four months since the tragedy that completely shattered her life. Four months since Marie. And it had been the worst few months of her life.
Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, but she quickly sealed them shut and veiled them with her palm. Her throat hurt, even now after the champagne, and she struggled to take a calm, steady breath. It sounded shaky and heavy like the weight on her shoulders…and her heart. It hurts. Everything hurts so fucking much. No matter what she’s done, no matter how many days she spent trying to heal, it would never go away. The despair, the anger, the loneliness, and the pain. It felt like her heart had broken into a million pieces, their sharp shards stabbing her soul over and over again with merciless intent.
“It’s not fair,” she choked, wincing at how hoarse she sounded. “It’s just not fair.”
“Grief’s a bitch, ain’t it?”
Scared out of her wits, she turned her head so fast she could have gotten whiplash. For a moment, she panicked at the thought of coming across a stranger only to instantly felt at ease upon recognizing the newcomer.
“Tom!” she exclaimed agitatedly, her heart thundering and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She cursed, “Maldita sea, you scared the hell out of me! Was that really necessary?”
“Nice to see you, too,” the gunslinger greeted her, chuckling. He unzipped his jacket pocket and grabbed a lighter while digging out a small cigarette box from his pocket. Autumn caught a glimpse at the small black box labeled with white lettering contrasted by a bright red triangle for an A. She recognized the brand name. Djarum Black.
Tom caught her looking and politely offered the box. “Want one?”
She blinked back into consciousness and wanted to facepalm for zoning out. Her sleep schedule is off the rails, and it’s high time she gets some time-off. “Sure, thanks.”
She took one and like a gentleman, Tom lit the tobacco base for her. Autumn took a slow drag and exhaled a puff of smoke, and her lips pursed as her tastebuds adjusted to the flavor. Indonesian cloves; a subtly sweet flavor paired with other rich, sweet spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Added with a touch of bitterness, the flavor is intensely aromatic. Her nerves slowly but surely began to relax, and felt some of the tension leave her shoulders. Damn, Tom surely knows his smokes.
She exhaled a puff of smoke and talked.
Although it was nice to share a smoke with a buddy, her chest still felt sore from the immense waves of anguish flooding her heart with such intense force and pressure. She was parched, not from thirst, but from the endless hours of despair. Everything she shared brought a sense of relief, knowing that getting it all out helps tremendously, but at the same time it was torture feeling the claws distress and sorrow tearing at the heart piece by piece, relentless and constant. Grief really is a bitch, huh?
Her sweet little Marie. She rescued her when she was a kitten. A fuzzy little seedling, as small and adorable as a Jack-Be-Little. The moment she looked at her with eyes as wide as a doe’s and as radiant as jades, emeralds, aventurines full of love and innocence, Autumn knew she could give her the life she needed. The life she deserved. Life was nothing short of bliss, many years of endless joy, warmth, and companionship. Everything was perfect.
She hates how this year started. She hates it and its guts with a burning vengeance.
Autumn’s frustrated venting dried up, and she’s left with Tom staring at her. Cigarette limp in hand, and his eyes were solely fixed on her, not a single word spoken since she began sharing her grief. His eyes, known to pierce the hearts of even the coldest bastards and as black as the inky void, were so soft it’s almost hard to believe a feared horror Toon like him would ever allow himself to express a rare moment of sympathy. She ducked her head. “S-sorry, it…it just hurts.”
Tom stared a moment longer, then took a slow inhale of his cigarette. Autumn chanced a glance and the Twisted Toon Gang leader seemed…thoughtful, if not pensive. He slowly nodded, gesturing for her to go on when she was ready.
She blinked, surprised. Then began to feel at ease knowing that she doesn’t have to mourn alone.
Turns out that despite being infamous for his reputation as a vicious vigilante with a fearsome temper (not to mention, a brutal kill count), Gunslinger Tom Toonz was a young man of humility and compassion. He hasn’t told her to stop. He never even interrupted her, not once. All he did was listen and provide a literal and metaphorical shoulder to cry on.
So Autumn continues to talk without a filter, and the constant shores of relief and heartache continue to flood over her, the waves rising and crushing. By now, her cigarette had reached half its course, but she really needed something to help her cope. And besides, it was sweet-flavored.
“This is so fucked up,” she said, her throat burning and her voice low and raspy. A gulp of fresh air could only do someone so much good, yet her lungs still felt constricted. She dabbed her eyes again with the handkerchief Tom offered, continuing, “It’s so fucking unfair. I mean, what kind of New Year’s is this?”
She gritted her teeth hard, her heart inflamed by thousands of fiery, angry embers. Her shoulders rolled, shuddering as a breeze of the evening spring wind blew past her as if attempting to help soothe her grieving. “I just…” she breathed out, mentally and physically exhausted due to fatigue. “I just want her to know that I loved her.”
“She does, Autumn.” Tom finally spoke for the first time.
The brunette turned to him again. His expression was grim and stoic, but the gentleness in his eyes never wavered. He took another deep drag, and exhaled, “That’s the thing about grief. It hurts like hell, but grief is a great act of love we give to those we loved. Where there is deep grief, there was great love.”
He caught Autumn glancing at him, and he instantly clicked his tongue, cursing. “Shit, sorry. Got a little sentimental—”
“No, no,” Autumn shook her head and smiled, “Please. I’d like to hear it.”
He was still for a moment, then elaborated. “What I mean to say is, just because her soul has moved on doesn’t mean she’s not here with you anymore. You gave her everything she needed; food, shelter, a place to call home, and above all…love. Your love for her gave her the strength and happiness she deserved in life, and she knows that to this very day. To her, you were her life, her happiness, her everything. That’s why she’s not really gone.”
Not really gone? Autumn titled her head, confused. “What do you mean?”
He let out another puff of smoke, chuckling sheepishly as he rubbed his nape. “I…I’m not good at this, so I think it’d be better if Twyla takes over the reins.”
“AAAHHH!” the human woman shouted, her heart pounding so loud she could’ve gone completely deaf as she palmed her chest, feeling the repetitive beats thump against her hand. She aimed her cigarette at the possible foe like a sword, only to groan exaggeratedly as her sleep-deprived brain recognized the second newcomer. “Twyla! You—ohhh, yyyooooouuu!!!” she wiggled her index finger at both of them, making them both laugh. “You guys don’t just sneak up on people! What’s wrong with you?!”
“Everything, apparently.” The ravenette shrugged, smirking. Her ears lowered, and her smile dropped at the sight of the Latina’s state before she placed a comforting, sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “I heard what happened. I am so, so sorry.”
“Thanks,” Autumn thanked her, but then raised a brow. “Wait. How do you know that?”
Twyla chuckled, pointing at her ear. “No man nor mouse gets past a wolf’s ears. Or even a mink’s, for that matter.”
She carried on before Autumn would pry further, “So listen. I know this sounds silly, but…” she trailed, “I know how to help you with your grieving.”
Autumn blinked, more perplexed than ever. Bewildered was an understatement. Twyla can help her?
Her heart soared with full gratitude at the generosity of the younger woman’s wholesome offer. It would, in fact, be very nice to have more things to provide the comfort and solace she needed over these last couple of months. And since Tom was being so uncharacteristically nice tonight, who’s to stop her from accepting Twyla’s suggestion?
She nodded. “I’d love that, Twyla. Thank you.”
The strategist returned her nod. “No problem.” Then, she gently reached her hands up and instructed, “Hold my hands?”
Autumn lightly giggled but complied. Twyla’s hands held her in a gentle, steady grasp.
“Very good. Now, close your eyes and take a deep breath.”
She followed the horror halfie Toon’s instructions and took a slow, deep breath. The moment her eyes sealed shut, the world around her faded into obscurity. A soft wave of calming, tranquil energy slowly but surely began to take hold of her being as the two remained still and serene. Her shoulders, once stiff and rigid due to stress and grief, now fell content without the bulldozing, massive pressure weighing on her back. Every fiber of her, once tied and tangled into messy knots, now broke free and roamed aimlessly as she continued to breathe. And then, she felt a new sensation. Warmth. Now that the first blossom of spring bloomed, the days were much warmer and the nights were much gentler without the ice-cold remnants of snow biting at her skin. The warmth Autumn was feeling right now, it was as if she was lying on the lush, verdant grassy knoll, basking in the golden beam of sunlight blessed by the summer goddesses Aine and Auxo. It was a rare, but unforgettable kind of warmth. The background chatter from inside the bistro ceased in her ears, the remaining cacophony of rushing cars and traffic disappearing into the far corners of the Tooniverse. Everything was peaceful and quiet.
Wait. Does that sound like…?
Autumn opened her eyes…and her heart nearly exploded out of her chest.
Facing her with a pair of beautiful, pearl-white angel wings streaked in luminous streaks of gold, was a smiling, happy little tabby. Her pumpkin fur was as vivid and bold as she remembered, and as smooth and adorable as a baby Jack-Be-Little pumpkin. An intense aura of heavenly, angelic light surrounded her, radiating her celestial presence. Her eyebrows and tiny whiskers were also painted in bright, glimmering gold and every time she blinked, a trail of sparkling golden pixie dust bounced off her lashes. She was clad in a whimsical, but charming and delightful pumpkin-orange outfit decorated with tiny, smiling Jack-O-Lanterns, a satin green ribbon bow accented her neck like a necklace, and a small hat crowned her head, shaped like the stem right below her halo.
Her forehead face and forehead carried chocolate kisses, and her innocent doe-eyes shone as bright and radiant as jades, emeralds, and aventurines.
A waterfall of tears rolled down Autumn’s cheeks but not tears of sadness. Her wobbling lips pulled in a joyous, exhilarating smile as a newfound euphoria washed over her, and her soul ascended to the jubilant, overpowering waves of elation. Her heart, once broken and shattered into a thousand shards of glass, now repaired and held onto each other as she comprehended the fact that this was no joke. This wasn’t a dream. Her little Marie, her sweet little pumpkin, had returned to her.
“Marie!” Autumn cried out, and her darling cat meowed and trilled happily as she was taken in the brunette’s arms. Her little snow mittens held onto her as much as she could as Autumn embraced her lovingly, her wings fluttering and tail swooshing with equal excitement as she was once again smothered in kisses. Autumn held her with one arm while zooming over to yoink the twins in a one-armed bear hug. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” she thanked them, sparing them no mercy.
The twins gasped out, unable to breathe. She was quite strong for a human. Fortunately, she eventually let them take a moment to regain oxygen as they watched her twirl Marie around, dancing the night away in the light of the full moon as she was cheered on by thousands of sparkling, diamond stars. They sang and danced with her, ringing the bells of heaven.
Tom was unable to hide a smile as he watched their companion rejoice in the joy of her reunion with Marie, playfully elbowing his sister’s shoulder. “You did good, Twy.”
“Speak for yourself, tough guy.” Twyla returned the gesture, right in the chest and leaving him gasping for breath as the wind was literally knocked out of him due to her enhanced strength. He nearly collapsed to the floor, hadn’t it been for the railing to grab onto.
The forensics specialist rolled her eyes, “Wimp.”
Tom glared at her in response, but eventually regained his composure once he was certain his sternum hadn’t been ruptured. While he straightened his collar, he glanced up at the moon shining down on him and couldn’t help but feel…melancholic. It’s been so long since he gazed at the moon on rarely peaceful nights such as this. Hell, he can’t even remember the last time he did it. It all felt so long ago, the memories buried deep in the shadows of a past that can never truly be forgotten, no matter how hard he tried. The stars twinkled again, albeit sadly as if they could sense his own grief and pain.
The fearsome gangster shook his head, forcing the demons out of his mind before they could rear their ugly, twisted claws into his skull and tear apart whatever remnant of sanity he had left. It’s over, he reminded himself. It’s over. I’m not the scared little runt I was before.
He took one final drag of his cigarette before joining the girls back to the bistro, and turned his back on the world once again.
