SleepySyrin

The original story, created by Clown, revolves around a fictional 1970s children’s TV show that never existed. It’s presented as an online archival mystery, where the colorful world draws you in while fragments of something darker are sprinkled throughout. Clowns project is haunted by absence. We don’t fully know who Wally or the cast are because the story is currently incomplete. It’s a world driven story with characters used sparsely.

The Actor Wally AU is, in many ways, the opposite. Instead of a bright surface with darkness hidden beneath it begins with darkness and characters while asking you to find the light in a bleak situation. Wally is a fully realized character with complicated, flawed, and deeply human tendencies (despite being a puppet).

In the AU, puppets and humans coexist, but puppets are unambiguously discriminated against. Wally’s friends are his safe space, and his fierce love for them becomes both his strength and his flaw. His desire to protect them crosses into control when Howdy leaves to become a soldier but Wally’s fear and codependence pressure him into giving up that future. It shows how trauma can transform care into domination without overtly telling the audience how to feel. You could argue that Wally’s actions are sweet, harmless, or straight up controlling, and honestly, you’d have a solid stance no matter which angle you take.

As they move to the city, the discrimination intensifies. Wally comes to fully grasp the brutality of the world they’re in. He chooses to shoulder the ugliness himself, becoming a martyr who sacrifices his own emotional wellbeing to preserve his friends childlike innocence. But in doing so, he also denies them the agency to grow and face the world on their own terms.

His methods become darker and more desperate. He blackmails a human producer into funding his dream of creating a children’s TV show where his friends can thrive in a controlled environment. When discrimination persists despite their success, Wally turns into the archetype of the “intolerable diva.” A label historically attached to marginalized performers who, in reality, were simply refusing to accept second class treatment in American entertainment. He becomes both shield and sword for his friends by bullying human staff, fighting aggressively for respect, and ensuring no one can harm his community.

It's unambiguously a hypervigilant trauma response from discrimination, previous exploitation, and (possibly) SA. When your identity is marginalized, survival often means becoming the “difficult” one. Any resistance to oppression is often cast in a negative light but sometimes it’s the only light one has. Wally’s inability to “turn it off” when genuinely kind humans enter their orbit speaks to how deeply this defensive identity has fused with his sense of self.

Meanwhile, his friends (the very people he’s trying to protect) begin to feel the weight of his control. They love him, they understand the horrors he’s endured, but they’re not blind. They see how his aggression has reshaped him, how their relationship now comes with unspoken rules and eggshells. Some have lost opportunities because of his need to keep them close, safe, and contained. This is an emotionally honest portrayal of how trauma doesn’t just scar individuals but reverberates through entire communities and relationships.

The Actor Wally AU paints a complex picture of a marginalized figure navigating an industry that was never built for him to succeed and what that does to you. Wally’s character embodies the double edged nature of personal survival and the cost of self-imposed martyrdom.  He’s not a villain, just a person whose love and fear have grown tangled.

I relate deeply to this version of Wally. The way trauma can make you sharpen your edges because being soft was never safe. I understand his friends too. Watching someone you love change, realizing you have to shrink yourself to stay close, or losing a chance at something bigger because love and loyalty pulled you back. No one here is evil. Just complicated.

I’m so GLAD that the plot made sense to others and I wasn’t just crazy. I was so confused on whether or not people were understanding cause I’m not a great writer

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They will be safe. It doesn't matter who else or what else burns as long as They will be safe.

I will be safe. The hunger and the cold will never touch me again.

Fuck any bitch who's prettier(/cooler/better-liked/better at making dumplings) than me.

Yes, Master

Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. LOVE ME!

I know the terrible things these so-called "heroes" will do if I don't stop them (<- is absolutely wrong)

I don't want a better future, I want a better past!

anticipation - bouncing legs - darting eyes - breathing deeply - useless / mindless tasks - eyes on the clock - checking and re-checking

frustration - grumbling - heavy footsteps - hot flush - narrowed eyes - pointing fingers - pacing / stomping

sadness - eyes filling up with tears - blinking quickly - hiccuped breaths - face turned away - red / burning cheeks - short sentences with gulps

happiness - smiling / cheeks hurting - animated - chest hurts from laughing - rapid movements - eye contact - quick speaking

boredom - complaining - sighing - grumbling - pacing - leg bouncing - picking at nails

fear - quick heartbeat - shaking / clammy hands - pinching self - tuck away - closing eyes - clenched hands

disappointment - no eye contact - hard swallow - clenched hands - tears, occasionally - mhm-hmm

tiredness - spacing out - eyes closing - nodding head absently - long sighs - no eye contact - grim smile

My, my...! Ok, that was intense! I think I've been working on this little thing for 2 days now BUT here it is! Finally finished! The next page update is coming up on March 1st, and Wally wants to let you know! Let's hope that this video reaches many more people far from the project and catches their attention. It is such a loving and interesting story, brought to us by @partycoffin . It certainly deserves more attention!

Appetite:

craving, demand, gluttony, greed, hunger, inclination, insatiable, longing, lust, passion, ravenousness, relish, taste, thirst, urge, voracity, weakness, willingness, yearning, ardor, dedication, desire, devotion, enthusiasm, excitement, fervor, horny, intensity, keenness, wholeheartedness, zeal

Arouse:

agitate, awaken, electrify, enliven, excite, entice, foment, goad, incite, inflame, instigate, kindle, provoke, rally, rouse, spark, stimulate, stir, thrill, waken, warm, whet, attract, charm, coax, fire up, fuel, heat up, lure, produce, stir up, tantalize, tease, tempt, thrum, torment, wind up, work up

Assault:

attack, advancing, aggressive, assailing, charging, incursion, inundated, invasion, offensive, onset, onslaught, overwhelmed, ruinous, tempestuous, strike, violation, ambush, assail, barrage, bombard, bombardment, crackdown, wound

Beautiful: 

admirable, alluring, angelic, appealing, bewitching, charming, dazzling, delicate, delightful, divine, elegant, enticing, exquisite, fascinating, gorgeous, graceful, grand, magnificent, marvelous, pleasing, radiant, ravishing, resplendent, splendid, stunning, sublime, attractive, beguiling, captivating, enchanting, engaging, enthralling, eye-catching, fetching, fine, fine-looking, good-looking, handsome, inviting, lovely, mesmeric, mesmerizing, pretty, rakish, refined, striking, tantalizing, tempting

Brutal:

atrocious, barbarous, bloodthirsty, callous, cruel, feral, ferocious, hard, harsh, heartless, inhuman, merciless, murderous, pitiless, remorseless, rough, rude, ruthless, savage, severe, terrible, unmerciful, vicious, bestial, brute, brutish, cold-blooded, fierce, gory, nasty, rancorous, sadistic, uncompromising, unfeeling, unforgiving, unpitying, violent, wild

Burly:

able-bodied, athletic, beefy, big, brawny, broad-shouldered, bulky, dense, enormous, great, hard, hardy, hearty, heavily built, heavy, hefty, huge, husky, immense, large, massive, muscular, mighty, outsized, oversized, powerful, powerfully built, prodigious, robust, solid, stalwart, stocky, stout, strapping, strong, strongly built, sturdy, thick, thickset, tough, well-built, well-developed

Carnal:

animalistic, bodily, impure, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, libidinous, licentious, lustful, physical, prurient, salacious, sensuous, voluptuous, vulgar, wanton, , coarse, crude, dirty, raunchy, rough, unclean

Dangerous:

alarming, critical, fatal, formidable, impending, malignant, menacing, mortal, nasty, perilous, precarious, pressing, serious, terrible, threatening, treacherous, urgent, vulnerable, wicked, acute, damaging, deadly, death-defying, deathly, destructive, detrimental, explosive, grave, harmful, hazardous, injurious, lethal, life-threatening, noxious, poisonous, risky, severe, terrifying, toxic, unsafe, unstable, venomous

Dark:

atrocious, corrupt, forbidding, foul, infernal, midnight, morbid, ominous, sinful, sinister, somber, threatening, twilight, vile, wicked, abject, alarming, appalling, baleful, bizarre, bleak, bloodcurdling, boding evil, chilling, cold, condemned, creepy, damned, daunting, demented, desolate, dire, dismal, disturbing, doomed, dour, dread, dreary, dusk, eerie, fear, fearsome, frightening, ghastly, ghostly, ghoulish, gloom, gloomy, grave, grim, grisly, gruesome, hair-raising, haunted, hideous, hopeless, horrendous, horrible, horrid, horrific, horrifying, horror, ill-fated, ill-omened, ill-starred, inauspicious, inhospitable, looming, lost, macabre, malice, malignant, menacing, murky, mysterious, night, panic, pessimistic, petrifying, scary, shadows, shadowy, shade, shady, shocking, soul-destroying, sour, spine-chilling, spine-tingling, strange, terrifying, uncanny, unearthly, unlucky, unnatural, unnerving, weird, wretched

Delicious:

enticing, exquisite, luscious, lush, rich, savory, sweet, tasty, tempting, appetizing, delectable, flavorsome, full of flavor, juicy, lip-smacking, mouth-watering, piquant, relish, ripe, salty, spicy, scrummy, scrumptious, succulent, tangy, tart, tasty, yummy, zesty

Ecstasy:

delectation, delirium, elation, euphoria, fervor, frenzy, joy, rapture, transport, bliss, excitement, happiness, heaven, high, paradise, rhapsody, thrill, blissful, delighted, elated, extremely happy, in raptures (of delight), in seventh heaven, jubilant, on cloud nine, overexcited, overjoyed, rapturous, thrilled

Ecstatic:

delirious, enraptured, euphoric, fervent, frenzied, joyous, transported, wild

Erotic:

amatory, amorous, aphrodisiac, carnal, earthy, erogenous, fervid, filthy, hot, impassioned, lascivious, lecherous, lewd, raw, romantic, rousing, salacious, seductive, sensual, sexual, spicy, steamy, stimulating, suggestive, titillating, voluptuous, tantalizing

Gasp:

catch of breath, choke, gulp, heave, inhale, pant, puff, snort, wheeze, huff, rasp, sharp intake of air, short of breath, struggle for breath, swallow, winded 

Heated:

ardent, avid, excited, fervent, fervid, fierce, fiery, frenzied, furious, impassioned, intense, passionate, raging, scalding, scorched, stormy, tempestuous, vehement, violent, ablaze, aflame, all-consuming, blazing, blistering, burning, crazed, explosive, febrile, feverish, fired up, flaming, flushed, frantic, hot, hot-blooded, impatient, incensed, maddening, obsessed, possessed, randy, searing, sizzling, smoldering, sweltering, torrid, turbulent, volatile, worked up, zealous

Hunger:

appetite, ache, craving, gluttony, greed, longing, lust, mania, mouth-watering, ravenous, voracious, want, yearning, thirst

Hungry:

avid, carnivorous, covetous, craving, eager, greedy, hungered, rapacious, ravenous, starved, unsatisfied, voracious, avaricious, desirous, famished, grasping, insatiable, keen, longing, predatory, ravening, starving, thirsty, wanting

Intense:

forceful, severe, passionate, acute, agonizing, ardent, anxious, biting, bitter, burning, close, consuming, cutting, deep, eager, earnest, excessive, exquisite, extreme, fervent, fervid, fierce, forcible, great, harsh, impassioned, keen, marked, piercing, powerful, profound, severe, sharp, strong, vehement, violent, vivid, vigorous

Liquid:

damp, cream, creamy, dripping, ichorous, juicy, moist, luscious, melted, moist, pulpy, sappy, soaking, solvent, sopping, succulent, viscous, wet / aqueous, broth, elixir, extract, flux, juice, liquor, nectar, sap, sauce, secretion, solution, vitae, awash, moisture, boggy, dewy, drenched, drip, drop, droplet, drowning, flood, flooded, flowing, fountain, jewel, leaky, milky, overflowing, saturated, slick, slippery, soaked, sodden, soggy, stream, swamp, tear, teardrop, torrent, waterlogged, watery, weeping

Lithe:

agile, lean, pliant, slight, spare, sinewy, slender, supple, deft, fit, flexible, lanky, leggy, limber, lissom, lissome, nimble, sinuous, skinny, sleek, slender, slim, svelte, trim, thin, willowy, wiry

Moan:

beef, cry, gripe, grouse, grumble, lament, lamentation, plaint, sob, wail, whine, bemoan, bewail, carp, deplore, grieve, gripe, grouse, grumble, keen, lament, sigh, sob, wail, whine, mewl

Moving:

(exciting,) affecting, effective  arousing, awakening, breathless, dynamic, eloquent, emotional, emotive, expressive, fecund, far-out, felt in gut, grabbed by, gripping, heartbreaking, heartrending, impelling, impressive, inspirational, meaningful, mind-bending, mind-blowing, motivating, persuasive, poignant, propelling, provoking, quickening, rallying, rousing, significant, stimulating, simulative, stirring, stunning, touching, awe-inspiring, energizing, exhilarating, fascinating, heart pounding, heart stopping, inspiring, riveting, thrilling

Need:

compulsion, demand, desperate, devoir, extremity, impatient longing, must, urge, urgency / desire, appetite, avid, burn, craving, eagerness, fascination, greed, hunger, insatiable, longing, lust, taste, thirst, voracious, want, yearning, ache, addiction, aspiration, desire, fever, fixation, hankering, hope, impulse, inclination, infatuation, itch, obsession, passion, pining, wish, yen

Pain: 

ache, afflict, affliction, agony, agonize, anguish, bite, burn, chafe, distress, fever, grief, hurt, inflame, laceration, misery, pang, punish, sting, suffering, tenderness, throb, throe, torment, torture, smart

Painful:

aching, agonizing, arduous, awful, biting, burning, caustic, dire, distressing, dreadful, excruciating, extreme, grievous, inflamed, piercing, raw, sensitive, severe, sharp, tender, terrible, throbbing, tormenting, angry, bleeding, bloody, bruised, cutting, hurting, injured, irritated, prickly, skinned, smarting, sore, stinging, unbearable, uncomfortable, upsetting, wounded

Perverted: 

aberrant, abnormal, corrupt, debased, debauched, defiling, depraved, deviant, monstrous, tainted, twisted, vicious, warped, wicked, abhorrent, base, decadent, degenerate, degrading, dirty, disgusting, dissipated, dissolute, distasteful, hedonistic, immodest, immoral, indecent, indulgent, licentious, nasty, profligate, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, shameful, shameless, sickening, sinful, smutty, sordid, unscrupulous, vile 

Pleasurable:

charming, gratifying, luscious, satisfying, savory, agreeable, delicious, delightful, enjoyable, nice, pleasant, pleasing, soothing, succulent

Pleasure:

bliss, delight, gluttony, gratification, relish, satisfaction, thrill, adventure, amusement, buzz, contentment, delight, desire, ecstasy, enjoyment, excitement, fun, happiness, harmony, heaven, joy, kick, liking, paradise, seventh heaven 

Rapacious:

avaricious, ferocious, furious, greedy, predatory, ravening, ravenous, savage, voracious, aggressive, gluttonous, grasping, insatiable, marauding, plundering

Rapture:

bliss, ecstasy, elation, exaltation, glory, gratification, passion, pleasure, floating, unbridled joy

Rigid:

adamant, austere, definite, determined, exact, firm, hard, rigorous, solid, stern, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, concrete, fixed, harsh, immovable, inflexible, obstinate, resolute, resolved, severe, steadfast, steady, stiff, strong, strict, stubborn, taut, tense, tight, tough, unbending, unchangeable, unwavering

Sudden:

abrupt, accelerated, acute, fast, flashing, fleeting, hasty, headlong, hurried, immediate, impetuous, impulsive, quick, quickening, rapid, rash, rushing, swift, brash, brisk, brusque, instant, instantaneous, out of the blue, reckless, rushed, sharp, spontaneous, urgent, without warning

Thrust:

(forward) advance, drive, forge, impetus, impulsion, lunge, momentum, onslaught, poke, pressure, prod, propulsion, punch, push, shove, power, proceed, progress, propel

(push hard) assail, assault, attack, bear down, buck, drive, force, heave, impale, impel, jab, lunge, plunge, press, pound, prod, ram, shove, stab, transfix, urge, bang, burrow, cram, gouge, jam, pierce, punch, slam, spear, spike, stick

Thunder-struck:

amazed, astonished, aghast, astounded, awestruck, confounded, dazed, dazed, dismayed, overwhelmed, shocked, staggered, startled, stunned, gob-smacked, bewildered, dumbfounded, flabbergasted, horrified, incredulous, surprised, taken aback 

Torment:

agony, anguish, hurt, misery, pain, punishment, suffering, afflict, angst, conflict, distress, grief, heartache, misfortune, nightmare, persecute, plague, sorrow, strife, tease, test, trial, tribulation, torture, turmoil, vex, woe

Touch:

(physical) - blow, brush, caress, collide, come together, contact, converge, crash, cuddle, embrace, feel, feel up, finger, fondle, frisk, glance, glide, graze, grope, handle, hit, hug, impact, join, junction, kiss, lick, line, manipulate, march, massage, meet, nudge, palm, partake, pat, paw, peck, pet, pinch, probe, push, reach, rub, scratch, skim, slide, smooth, strike, stroke, suck, sweep, tag, tap, taste, thumb, tickle, tip, touching, toy, bite, bump, burrow, buss, bury, circle, claw, clean, clutch, cover, creep, crush, cup, curl, delve, dig, drag, draw, ease, edge, fiddle with, flick, flit, fumble, grind, grip, grub, hold, huddle, knead, lap, lave, lay a hand on, maneuver, manhandle, mash, mold, muzzle, neck, nestle, nibble, nip, nuzzle, outline, play, polish, press, pull, rasp, ravish, ream, rim, run, scoop, scrabble, scrape, scrub, shave, shift, shunt, skate, slip, slither, smack, snake, snuggle, soothe, spank, splay, spread, squeeze, stretch, swipe, tangle, tease, thump, tongue, trace, trail, tunnel twiddle, twirl, twist, tug, work, wrap 

(mental) - communicate, examine, inspect, perception, scrutinize

Wet:

bathe, bleed, burst, cascade, course, cover, cream, damp, dampen, deluge, dip, douse, drench, dribble, drip, drizzle, drool, drop, drown, dunk, erupt, flood, flow, gush, immerse, issue, jet, leach, leak, moisten, ooze, overflow, permeate, plunge, pour, rain, rinse, run, salivate, saturate, secrete, seep, shower, shoot, slaver, slobber, slop, slosh, sluice, spill, soak, souse, spew, spit, splash, splatter, spout, spray, sprinkle, spurt, squirt, steep, stream, submerge, surge, swab, swamp, swill, swim, trickle, wash, water

Wicked:

abominable, amoral, atrocious, awful, base, barbarous, dangerous, debased, depraved, distressing, dreadful, evil, fearful, fiendish, fierce, foul, heartless, hazardous, heinous, immoral, indecent, intense, mean, nasty, naughty, nefarious, offensive, profane, scandalous, severe, shameful, shameless, sinful, terrible, unholy, vicious, vile, villainous, wayward, bad, criminal, cruel, deplorable, despicable, devious, ill-intentioned, impious, impish, iniquitous, irreverent, loathsome, Machiavellian, mad, malevolent, malicious, merciless, mischievous, monstrous, perverse, ruthless, spiteful, uncaring, unkind, unscrupulous, vindictive, virulent, wretched

Writhe: 

…

“I’m tellin’ ya folks, I’m not that sic- AAHHHH-CHOOOOOOOO!” Howdy let out a sneeze that practically shook the entire bodega. Frank’s face scrunched up in disgust.

“Mister Pillar, no offense, but-“ Frank shook her head as Julie passed Howdy a box of tissues with a sympathetic look. “At this rate, you’ll be spewing your salivary bacteria all over your merchandise! And I, quite frankly, wouldn’t spend my hard-earned money on defected products.”

Howdy’s antenna buzzed with irritation. Taking a tissue from the box and swinging it around as he spoke, he exclaimed, “I could sell that if I wanted! ‘Howdy Pillar’s Genuine Quick-Stop Sick Line! Guaranteed to keep you home from school, work, and any other unwanted activities-‘ Aw, who am I kidding? That sounds disgusting!” He blew his nose, letting out a sound similar to that of a depressed trumpet blast.

Sally Starlet sat by his bed, shaking her head with dismay. “Oh, poor sweet Howardson- doomed to wither away upon his bedsheets, never to work again!” She brought her hand to her forehead dramatically, a single tear coming to her eye. Julie and Barnaby let out simultaneous gasps.

“Sally! Now that’s not a very nice thing to say- Howdy’s gonna be feeling riper than a raspberry in the rich soil of Frank’s garden in just a few days!” Julie protested, placing her hands on her hips as she looked upon Sally with narrowed eyes. Barnaby, meanwhile, had taken to Howdy’s bedside- and was holding one of the caterpillar’s hands, on his knees, like a mourning wife.

“Howdy! Pal! Big Buddy! Store-owner of mine! You can’t go into the light!” He said dramatically. “No one knows how to make a hot dog like you! I can’t go on without you!”

Despite his state, Howdy let out a flat chuckle at this. He solemnly pat Barnaby on the back with his other free hand. “Oh, Barns, you know I’d never die without making you one last painted bloodhound before winter!”

Howdy’s last hand balled into a fist as he continued, a look of anger passing over his face. He exclaimed, “Besides, if I did go, that no-good brother of mine Hank Pillar would be in here faster than you can say hullabaloo to collect the insurance on this place! And you know I’d never let that happen!”

“Then, um, dear- I do think it would be best if you rested for a while,” Poppy said gently, entering the room with Wally at her heels, the three-apples tall fellow carrying a bowl of hot, steaming soup. Despite Poppy’s gentle demeanor, she stayed over by the doorway, far away from Howdy’s bed. No doubt the bird woman was filled with a fear of his germs infecting and, potentially, killing her. Howdy seemed to know this and glared at her, silently sizing her up as if to observe whether it would be difficult for him to make a break for it or not.

His decision was made for him, however, as Wally held up that hot bowl of soup to Howdy. “Poppy and I made this for you,” he said slowly, that signature calm smile of his staying upon his face. “I hope you like it, ha ha ha.”

Howdy let out a long sigh and, removing one hand from Barnaby and setting down the tissue he held in the other, took the soup. “Thanks, shrimp,” he grumbled. He sniffed and began to eat the soup in silence, much to Barnaby’s horror.

“Only two words?! Boy Howdy, you must be feelin’ more awful than we thought!” He said, removing his hat and placing it upon his heart. Howdy let out a pity laugh at that before coughing once again.

“I hate to admit it, but I am feeling pretty out of it,” he sighed as he swirled the spoon around in his soup. “But I can’t just close up my shop for days at a time!” He sniffed, tears coming to his eyes. “My sales- my sales! They’d drop lower than someone buried six feet under! I’d never recover!”

“Not to mention, we’ll be left without any food or essentials for the next several days!” Sally added in, unintentionally feeding into the caterpillar’s wallowing. Frank cast her a look, part of his brow raised.

“Do you not have any food in your home, Sally?” He asked dryly, to which Sally scoffed and brought a hand to her chest in offense.

“Ex-cusez-moi? I have plenty of food saved up, dearest Franklin. A star is always prepared for when worst comes to worst,” she protested with a huff. “I’m merely speaking on behalf of our other more quiet neighbors, who may not have the mental fortitude to speak for themselves!”

“Why thank you, dear,” Poppy said with a hesitant smile. Sally waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s no problem, Poppy,” she replied, still glaring at Franklin. The pair were still engaged in their staring contest when Julie suddenly popped up between them with a loud gasp.

“Oh, oh!” She said, waving her arms around with excitement. “What if we didn’t close the bodega?!”

This was enough for Frank to break his gaze away from Sally’s. He gave Julie a quizzical look. “But, Julie, Mister Pillar can’t work while he’s sick like this-“

“Who said Howdy had to work it?” She said, grinning from ear to ear. She clapped her hands together excitedly. “I had the most splendorificously stupendous solution that will solve ALL our problems!”

“And that would be…?” Frank said with hesitation. Julie’s ideas tended to be a little… out-there at times. For all anyone knew, this could turn into some kind of event where she wanted to build a contraption that would do all of Howdy’s tasks around the bodega for him. Which, besides being very out-there in terms of concept and their abilities, was just entirely outside the realm of reality.

Julie hopped in place ecstatically, her eyes wide and flitting around to an almost intimidating degree. “What if we all worked at the bodega!”

“What.” Both Howdy and Frank said in dry unison.

“Ohh, don’t give me those looks!” *she said, puffing out her cheeks in frustration for a moment before that look of excited determination returned once again. “We could all take turns every day this week working at the bodega! So it keeps running, so we can still buy all of Howdy’s simply scrumptious products, and so our favorite catering caterpillar Howdy gets to get his resting on!”

The room was silent for a moment as they all considered the idea. All things considered, it wasn’t a bad one. In fact, Howdy thought as he let out another congested sniff, it was a decently bang-up plan. There was only a few problems, though…

“And how do I know that you’ll run my business the way I intended?” He said suspiciously, his eyes squinted as he gazed at Julie. She let out a chuckle.

“Don’t you worry even a wallowing moment about that, Howdy! We all know how much this place means to you, we’d never-ever let it go under! Unless, of course, the market called for it,” she said with a laugh. Howdy didn’t look very reassured, until suddenly Barnaby clapped a paw onto his back.

“Don’t worry, Howdy,” he said as he placed his hat back upon his head. “As yer top pooch of the place, I’ll come in every day and make sure they’re sell in’ things the Pillar Way. And you’ll be the first one t’know if I sniff out any foul play.”

He leaned over and added in a stage whisper (loud enough that everyone could hear), “I’ll have t’keep a good eye on that Frank, though- guy lost his funny bone a looong time ago! Tibia honest, Howdy, I wouldn’t trust him with the bugdega if my life depended on it!”

“Barnaby!” Frank exclaimed as that pun threw Howdy into a fit of laughter, followed closely by a coughing fit in which Barnaby had to quickly grab hold of Howdy’s still-full bowl of soup as to not allow the pillar to spill it all over himself. He scooted a watching Wally behind him, so he couldn’t get sprayed by any of the sickly saliva caused from the coughing.

“Alright- alright,” Howdy finally wheezed once the coughs had died down. “I… suppose I can agree to that. As long as my bodega doesn’t come crashing down on me, stocks and all, I’ll-“ he shivered in fear. “-take a few days off.”

“Excellent!” Sally said, standing up. She clapped her hands together. “Now, we best get to planning who takes what day, hm? I suppose I can take the first day, tomorrow- it may be a bit tight for my script-writing, but I don’t have any rehearsals scheduled.”

“This was Julie’s idea, why are you-“ Frank began, only to be interrupted by an excited Julie.

“Oh, oh! I call terrifically tremendous Tuesdayyy!” She said in a sing-song voice. Frank let out a sigh.

“Frankly, I’d rather not, but- I will take Wednesday,” *he said, crossing his arms. Julie let out a whoop.

“As a punful pooch myself, it’d be a crime if I didn’t take a day. I’ll take Thursday,” Barnaby said, pulling up his tie pridefully as he spoke. Wally looked up at him curiously.

“Should I be taking a day too, Barnaby?” He asked slowly, bringing a finger to his chin. Barnaby laughed and clapped him playfully on the shoulder.

“Nah, little buddy, you and Poppy have to take care of Howdy!” He said with a smile. He leaned down and actually whispered this time, “You know how she gets around germs, Walls…”

“How does Poppy get around germs, Barnaby?” He whispered back, though it was loud enough for most people in the room to hear.

“I dunno Walls, but if I had to guess, sick,” Barnaby replied with a grin. Howdy overheard this and went into a fit of laughter once again.

Poppy sighed and fiddled with her feathers anxiously. “If Wally and I can’t take Friday, then… who will?” She said fretfully, a frown gracing her beak. Her concern was quickly met with the familiar tinkling of the bell above the bodega’s door and grunting from the main room.

“I’m back! I’m back- oh, pardon me ma’am-“ Came the familiar southern drawl of the local mailman, Eddie Dear. He squeezed past Poppy in the doorway, who uttered very quick, fearful apologies and bawks at his sudden arrival.

The orange-felted mailman let out a few heavy breathes as he entered the room, and held up a small box. “I’m terribly sorry about takin’ so long- you know how it is, you go in a room with one goal in mind and then you just forget why you went in their in the first place!” He said, shaking his head with a sigh and an apologetic smile. “Took me a moment t’even remember that I’d forgotten somethin’, and then when I did I had to remember what I’d even forgotten! Finally came t’me, though, and I grabbed that medicine ya needed, Howdy-!”

Eddie paused as he saw them all staring at him. He blinked and his sheepish smile slowly faded into a look of concern. “What’s wrong? Do I… got somethin’ on my face?”

Frank was the first to speak up. “Well, it’s decided than,” he said, turning to the rest of the group. “Mister Dear will take Friday, and someone else can take his place as the mailman for that day.”

Eddie blinked and said, “Say what now-“ Before being quickly interrupted by Julie letting out a cheer.

“Yay! This’ll be so much fun!” She whooped. “C’mon, Frank, I need you to help me pick out my ‘serious store-clerk’ outfit! Oh, should it be blush pink or coral pink? Ah, so many choices!”

“Ha, yes, okay, I’m coming,” he said, shaking his head with a smile. Julie took his hand and eagerly pulled him out of the room, the pair brushing past Poppy and a very confused Eddie on the way out.

Once they were gone, Sally sighed and brought a hand to her forehead once again. She said, “I best be going as well! The stage- nor the production- waits for no one, and I’ll need to work double time to get all of my scripts done before my shift! Au revoir, dearest neighbors. Get well soon, Howardson!” With a twirl and a bow, the great Sally Starlet exited stage right.

Howdy glared pointedly at Eddie, who quickly straightened up like he was being inspected by a commander in the army. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you most, Mail man. Don’t think I won’t be inspecting my wears and checking for any inconsistencies in my stocks,” he said, his voice full of warning and threat. Eddie’s eyes widened and he nodded quickly.

“Uh- yes, right, ‘course Howdy- I- I mean, Mister Pillar, sir!” He said hurriedly, saluting the bug man. “I- I don’t really understand what you mean but, uh- yes, sir, anyway!”

Eddie quickly turned to skedaddle, before suddenly remembering he still was holding onto the medicine. “Oh! Uh- right- here ya go, Ma’am.” He handed the box of medicine off to Poppy, offering her a nervous smile before quickly taking his leave as well. Poppy glanced at the box for a moment.

“Oh dear, it looks like the box is taped shut.. hm…” she fiddled with it nervously, before looking to Wally. “Wally, would you, um, be a darling and help me open this? I’m sure there are some s-s-scissors out in the bodega.”

“I am a Darling, Poppy,” Wally said, blinking slowly as he smiled up at the much-taller bird woman in mild confusion. He followed her out of the room, leaving Howdy and Barnaby alone.

Once it was just the pair, Howdy sighed and leaned back against his pillows, his eyes shutting. “Barns, I need to be frank with ya.”

“Be Frank with me? I’d rather you just be Howdy.” Barnaby joked lightly, though he received nothing more than a light smirk from the caterpillar.

“I’m serious, Barns- I didn’t want to say much infront of that Julie there- I tell ya, she shines brighter than the sun after a stormy day, and is just as intense too! Hard to say no to her when she gets an idea,” he said, shaking his head. “But I have my doubts about this plan. Full disclosure, Barns, but you’ve been in my store enough times to know the ins and outs like no other!”

His mouth stretched into a thin frown and the caterpillar ran a hand through his messed-up hair. “But the rest of them ain’t like you- they’re going to my strange up, I just know it! I can feel it in my antennae!”

Howdy’s antennae wiggle with anxiety as he spoke, as if to display his point. A slight frown came to Barnaby’s muzzle for a moment, before he put back on his signature Barnaby Grin™️.

“Come on Howdy, have a little faith in yer neighbors! They’re all happy t’help ya,” he said. Howdy scoffed.

“A little too happy if you ask me… I tell ya, I’ll never trust that mailman! Something real fishy about him- and he always jabbers on about this and that!” he mumbled that last part, but with his super-sensitive dog hearing Barnaby picked up on it real quickly. He let out a short laugh.

“All I’m sayin is, none o’them- not even Eddie’s- gonna do anything t’purposely sabotage this place! Not if I have anything t’say about it, anyway,” Barnaby said, tilting his chin up a bit proudly as he spoke. “As yer number one pal and customer, I’ll keep’em in line. I already told ya that, and I’ll be keepin’ that promise to ya.”

Howdy hesitantly opened one eye, peeking at Barnaby with an air of uncertainty. “You’re 100% certain ya won’t let those fellas screw around in my shop?” He asked warily.

“Pooch’s honor!” He said, raising his free paw as if he was making a vow to Howdy. After a long moment of thinking, Howdy finally relented.

“Fine. I trust you, Barns.” He sighed. His congested voice then turned stern as he added, “But if I find any bananas out of place, any cuckoo clock uncuckooed, any cash registers out of order… you’ll be hearing from me first!”

Barnaby let out a laugh at that. “Course, course, I wouldn’t expect nothin’ less,” he replied. Barnaby passed Howdy the soup bowl he had been holding for him. “Now c’mon, eat yer soup before it gets cold.”

“Ain’t hungry, Barns,” he grumbled, closing his eyes again and turning his head away. Barnaby squinted at him and nudged the pillar.

“Ey- Ey- gotta have something in yer gut before ya take yer meds, Howds.” He said, taking the spoon out of the bowl as if he was going to feed the caterpillar himself. He waved it around a little, letting the aroma get closer to the sick caterpillar. “Besides, ain’t it smell good? I’d chow on it myself if I could! Don’t like a starving pooch suffer, holdin’ our food that he can’t have!”

After a few moments of this, Howdy relented with a chuckle. “Fiiine, ya twisted my arm- only for you, Barns,” he sighed, taking the lukewarm soup. He finally began to eat once again as Barnaby watched on with a smug smile. He grumbled, “Oh quit lookin’ at me like that.”

“Like what?” Barnaby said innocently, grinning widely before standing up. “Anyway, I better go check on my little buddy and Poppy before anything spirals outta control-“

Just as he said that, there came a terrified squawk from the main room of the bodega. Barnaby flinched, then chuckled nervously. “Yep, that’ll be my queue. See ya in a bit, Howdster!”

Barnaby quickly left the room, and his exit was quickly followed by much squawking from Poppy as well as a bit of laughter from Barnaby at whatever troublesome situation had occurred out there. Howdy let out another deep sigh and then a cough.

“Oh, what’ve I gotten myself into?” He mumbled.

…

I DIDNT MEAN TO WRITE A FULL FANFICTION AT 10 IN THE MORNING BUT HERE WE ARE 😭😂 This headcanon just gave me a whole idea for this mini-story here- it was really fun but I have no idea how I just threw it onto the page like this so suddenly. And yet, here we are.

Hope ya enjoyed my random lil Drabble, lemme know if you want me to maybe continue with a part two about the neighbors trying to do Howdy’s job??? Could be fun, could be fun.

No, Wally ain't wearing a devil costume because he's evil (he has in fact, been brought to slight insanity given his circumstances though)

He's wearing it because it represents how he is quietly defying the authority. And who's the authority? The company and/or puppeteers of Playfellow Workshop. I mean that's what I THINK his costume means.

So at the time of the Halloween video, you see Wally eat with his eyes by biting an apple. Of course in religious context, that as we all know, symbolizes gaining knowledge. So was it on that VERY Halloween that he's gained his eye eating ability? And all other audios and videos we see of him are months AFTER this incident?

We should start thinking about the timelines but that's another topic.

Point is, he's always had an extra sense. And he doesn't eat apples. He just likes to hold them. So the fact he took a bite compliments the "gaining forbidden knowledge" theory. Even though most of the old art with religious themes were taken away, it seems like Clown has decided to incorporate bits and pieces into the new canonical plot.

In the words of Willy Wonka,

"So you're the little devil that cracked the system?" -Probably Playfellow Workshop to Wally before the show abruptly ended.

The revolution cannot be televised after all. But it will be in this current era! No more silencing!

The true devil is the narrator who was cackling like a demon at the end of the narration. A Playfellow Workshop member. I'm rooting for Wally and the WHRP to absolutely annihilate everything Playfellow Workshop stands for once the story is like, 90% completed.

So Red is Wally. Then who're the other two red numbers? Home and "You"? The one person in the Restoration Team who communicates with Wally is the one called "You"...or us I guess, since we're the fans analyzing everything.

But there's just one issue.

Home and Wally live together. Err, Wally lives in Home, why would Home even have their own phone number? So now we know the two reds are: Wally and "You".

You’re more than what you make.

Your productivity does not determine your value.

It’s okay to do nothing sometimes.

Not everything you do has to result in a product.

Not everything you make has to be important, significant, or even good.

You can make things just for yourself.

You can keep secrets for yourself, whether it’s not posting some of your projects or not sharing your techniques.

You’re allowed to say no.

Inspiration doesn’t cure burnout. Rest cures burnout.

People will wait for you; take your time and come back when you are ready.

It’s okay to scrap projects that no longer excite you, even if other people like them.

It’s delightful and excellent to be openly proud of your work.

Afford yourself the same gentleness that you would afford another creative - negative self-talk is counterproductive and frankly cruel.

Self-indulgent creations are satisfying to others as well; don’t apologize for your own pleasure.

coiling (up in a ball, in on themselves, against something, etc)

panting (there’s a slew of adjectives you can put after this, my favorites are shakily, weakly, etc)

keeling over (synonyms are words like collapsing, which is equally as good but overused in media)

trembling/shivering (additional adjectives could be violently, uncontrollably, etc)

sobbing (weeping is a synonym but i’ve never liked that word. also love using sob by itself, as a noun, like “he let out a quiet sob”)

whimpering (love hitting the wips with this word when a character is weak, especially when the pain is subsiding. also love using it for nightmares/attacks and things like that)

clinging (to someone or something, maybe even to themselves or their own clothes)

writhing/thrashing (maybe someone’s holding them down, or maybe they’re in bed alone)

crying (not actual tears. cry as in a shrill, sudden shout)

dazed (usually after the pain has subsided, or when adrenaline is still flowing)

wincing (probably overused but i love this word. synonym could be grimacing)

doubling-over (kinda close to keeling over but they don’t actually hit the ground, just kinda fold in on themselves)

heaving (i like to use it for describing the way someone’s breathing, ex. “heaving breaths” but can also be used for the nasty stuff like dry heaving or vomiting)

gasping/sucking/drawing in a breath (or any other words and phrases that mean a sharp intake of breath, that shite is gold)

murmuring/muttering/whispering (or other quiet forms of speaking after enduring intense pain)

hiccuping/spluttering/sniffling (words that generally imply crying without saying crying. the word crying is used so much it kinda loses its appeal, that’s why i like to mix other words like these in)

stuttering (or other general terms that show an impaired ability to speak — when someone’s in intense pain, it gets hard to talk)

staggering/stumbling (there is a difference between pain that makes you not want to stand, and pain that makes it impossible to stand. explore that!)

recoiling/shrinking away (from either the threat or someone trying to help)

pleading/begging (again, to the threat, someone trying to help, or just begging the pain to stop)

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the comments/reblogs!