#chain bittybones

May I adopt a miniature Chain that's good with babies and toddlers?

(Sorry this took so long!)

*Edgar the Hootle, nursery caretaker and shop third-in-command, has had his fair share of nursery helpers. Most of them have been Papythons who later became Nurse Papythons in the Infirmary. His most recent nursery assistant is a Chain. The Chain has a knack for communicating with the little ones, and not even Edgar can soothe a grumpy hatchling as quickly.

*Today, the Chain is finally old enough to leave the nursery and be adopted, and Edgar is sad to see him go. He can't ask the Chain to stay though; Chains are always happiest when they find that special someone to SOUL bond with. Edgar just hopes that his helper finds a good home.

*The Chain is busy setting up a nest in the shop, and Edgar is gathering some little momentos for him when you come into the shop. He overhears your request to Miss Vex, and he knows you will be a perfect match for the young Chain. Without bothering to explain, he picks the Chain up by the armpits and carries him over to you.

* "i think this might be the Chain you're looking for," he tries to tell you, wiggling the former hatchling enticingly in front of you. Neither you nor the Chain are listening though because you're too busy staring eye to eyelight with each other while your SOULs pulse in perfect time. With a knowing smile, Vex pulls out an adoption form for you to sign once your bond has settled.

If that is okay? May I adopt one?

*The Chain stretched languidly, then rolled onto his back to let the sunlight streaming through the large window warm his tummy scales. Other Chains were always so eager to set out on journeys to find their SOULbonds, but not him. He knew that if he was patient, the right person would come to him, and lately that patience started paying off.

*He noticed you the first time you walked in front of the window of the Lamia (and Felid) Bittybones Adoption Center. You stopped and read the small sign advertising the online matchup form, fiddled with you phone, and, when he curiously peeked, matched with a Chain. His SOUL did a little flip. He heard your SOUL's song even through the pane of glass. It fascinated him, but you didn't enter the shop. The Chain had a feeling that, like him, you weren't quite ready yet. He'd been patient before. He could be patient again.

*It wasn't long before he saw you again. This time you entered the shop and headed for the front desk. He slithered in that direction too, drawn by the sound of your SOUL. The song was complex, like several different songs that overlapped on the same beat- a beat that matched his SOUL. When you asked to adopt Chain, he spoke up. "Me," he said simply. You locked eye(light)s with him for a long moment before nodding. You must have felt it too! He waited, still patiently, while you filled out the paperwork.

I hope I asked correctly and thank you!

(Sorry for the long wait!)

*My recommendations for you are:

Corny (UT!Sans): Corny is a laid-back and low maintenance lamia. Cornies love astronomy, naps, and puns. He will remind you to take care of yourself and get enough sleep, and he'll eat pretty much anything, especially any baked goods that you make.

King (UF!Papyrus): If he knows that loud voices stress you out, a King will make sure to keep his voice quiet. Kings are very protective and will certainly throw down to protect their adopter. Kings love mythology, and many of them also enjoy baking. Praise is the perfect reward for any King.

Chain (SF!Papyrus): Chains form a unique SOULbond with their adopters that helps them to be aware of their emotions. A Chain will protecc, attacc, and also accept a rewarding snacc. Chains enjoy a good nap, and will make sure you're getting enough food and sleep too!

Discord (real name doesn’t get shared with many people) is a mage with a propensity for chaos magic. Her world operates with similar logic to fae rules. She is sassy and smart and strong (magically) and able to absolutely kick ass and take names. On the other hand, in her civilian identity, she is an absolute sweetheart who knits and/or crochets blankets for everyone, has a home full of soft things and plushies. She can’t cook more than scrambled eggs and pancakes to save her life, but she’s got a few tricks up her sleeve. She also has a sort of friend….but he’s a genie…a chaotic neutral genie being controlled by a very bad magic user.

*If you're looking for a chaos-ready lamia bitty, my recommendations are:

Corny (UT!Sans): Cornies are pretty unflappable. Fae-type chaos? Bring it. He'll respond to every situation with a shrug and a joke, but he's also smart enough not to get himself into trouble. He will also happily test-drive any homemade blankets.

King (UF!Papyrus): Kings admire a strong sassy adopter, and many of them have read about the fae realm enough to make them helpful companions. As an added bonus, Kings do enjoy learning to cook which means that subpar cooking skills aren't an issue.

Chain (SF!Papyrus): When you grow up around Mambas, you get used to chaos. A Chain's unique SOULbond means that he'll be a loyal and dedicated companion in all aspects of Discord's life.

"Hello! I came here to ask if Soda Pop, a honey bo, was still up for adoption? A friend mentioned him."

"Pop pop new frends!" The tinx all but purred.

"Also, I've come to check for any chains that might want to come along? No pressure on them"

(I hope I did this right)

*Your visit to the Lamia (and Felid) Bittybones Adoption Center is a little bit different than most. You'd been talking with Miss Vex about the possibility of adopting a full-sized Honey Bo named Sodapop, and she thinks he's finally ready to be placed in a new home. She's been showing him your messages, and he is looking forward to your visit and possible adoption.

*You're nervous about introducing Sodapop to your energetic Tinx, and it turns out Sodapop is a bit nervous as well. He's made a friend in the shop that he doesn't want to leave behind. You and Sodapop head to the meet and greet room to relax on some beanbag chairs and talk. You show Sodapop your drawing tablet, and he watches as you begin to sketch him while Tinx explores his hoodie pocket. You're so distracted by your artwork that you don't notice Sodapop subtly nodding towards you.

*Being a Chain isn't easy. You spend your life looking for that oh-so-perfect SOUL bond, then hope that the person with the compatible SOUL wants to bond with you. That might not be a problem for most charming Chains, but this Chain hatched a bit different. The very end of his tail is curled into a little circle, and he's worried that nobody will want to SOULbond with a weird Chain.

*The Chain grew up around Sodapop, and the pair of lamias have become close friends. Sodapop's potential adopter even has a compatible SOUL! The Chain is just worried that Sodapop's new owner won't want him when they see his tail. The Chain is so preoccupied that he doesn't notice you noticing him. You've felt the tug on your SOUL since you entered the shop, and you're curious about the mystery Chain who hasn't made an appearance yet.

(For some reason Tumblr decided to eat your ask as I was looking at it @thepudulover​. Thankfully, I remember what lamias you wanted.)

*Mambas are listed in the shop directory as the most difficult of the lamias to care for. They can be ornery, demanding, and extremely dramatic. Add deadly venom to the mix, and you have a lamia that not everyone can handle. You aren’t everyone though. You’re you, and you’ve decided to adopt a Mamba (and a Chain to keep him calm, and a Honey Bo because, well, Honey Bo!).

*Needless to say, you’re heading for the Mambas nesting area first. Since the Mamba will be the pickiest of the three lamias that you want to adopt, you will need to find one who has a Chain friend and is willing to tolerate a Honey Bo. When you arrive at the nesting area, you find an interesting sight before you. There is a Honey Bo already there! He appears to be DJing... a dance lesson?

*A very grumpy-looking Mamba and a relaxed-looking Chain are attempting some sort of complex classical dance style. The Mamba insists on leading, but he doesn’t know the dance. He’s clearly becoming frustrated; you can tell by the occasional angry screech that leaves him. He’s especially irate because the Honey Bo is clearly trying not to laugh as he falls flat on his face again. The Chain, ever patient with his little lamia brother, helps the Mamba back up.

*The Chain refocuses the Mamba’s miniscule rage, demonstrating the movements again, moving slowly and deliberately. The Honey Bo has set the music on auto-play now and is dozing off at his “DJ station,” which is an MP3 player attached to a small speaker. The Mamba and the Chain pair up again. The Chain is holding a tiny silk rose between his fangs, and he subtly corrects the Mamba into the proper movements. At long last, they complete the steps, and the Chain nudges the Mamba to take a bow, pointing at you. You applaud and grab one of the bitty-sized silk roses to toss to the Mamba.

Letting Go, Holding On

A companion to this story

Warning: character death, injury (mention)

Things can change in an instant. Even an otherwise unremarkable event can change the lives it touches forever, and those outside of its influence go on without even noticing that anything is different. Someone slipped on a flight of steps, then an ambulance came and took them away, ending their story in the eyes of the bystanders. Nobody considered the outcome… nobody except for their lamias.

The Chain felt it the moment it happened: terror, pain, and then a hazy confusion. Their other lamia, a Cherry Coral, worried about leaving the house, but when offered the choice between staying behind alone and following the Chain, he opted to tag along. He trusted the Chain to find their adopter quicker than waiting for an emergency contact to think about finding their lamias and bringing them to the hospital.

The two lamias took turns teleporting to travel faster; the Chain swiveled his head back and forth before choosing a direction, like a compass returning to true north after being shaken. The pair teleported into the hospital emergency room without bothering with the front desk. They didn’t have time to answer questions or risk being turned away because they weren’t human. Their adopter needed them.

Massive double doors labeled “Operating Room” finally stopped the Chain and Cherry Coral’s forward charge. The pair didn’t dare risk startling a doctor who wielded sharp instruments so close to their adopter. Instead, they found a waiting area and put it to good use, waiting. The Cherry Coral kept glancing at the Chain, but the SOUL bound lamia wore a troubled expression that discouraged conversation.

At long last, the double doors opened, and nurses wheeled a hospital bed out of the operating room. Their adopter looked so small and fragile lying motionless on the enormous bed, a bevy of machines being wheeled along after them. One of the nurses spotted the two lamias and called out to the others to wait. He asked them if this was their owner as they slithered over, and the Chain nodded. Without another word, the nurse picked them up and placed them on the bed alongside their adopter, and all three were taken to a private room.

Their adopter stayed completely still, lost in peaceful unconsciousness.

A doctor stopped by later in the evening to check on the patient. When she discovered the lamias in the room with their adopter, she explained the severity of the injury, trying to be as gentle as possible but refusing to tell them comforting lies. Their adopter would likely never awaken from the induced coma they’d been placed in. Unsurprised by the news, the Chain simply maintained his bedside vigil, monitoring their condition through the SOUL bond.

The Cherry Coral wailed, and the Chain didn’t have the heart to stop him. He couldn’t escape the truth. It pulsed in his SOUL with every mechanically assisted breath that their adopter took. 

His SOULbond was not going to survive much longer. Their SOUL lingered because of the strength of the bond, but the Chain could feel it gradually slipping away. He didn’t need a doctor to tell him that, or the frantic chorus of alarms from the various monitors that impassively tracked his adopter’s vital signs. The Cherry Coral’s panicked cries rang out above the cacophony, reminding the Chain of his promise.

It had seemed like such a small thing at the time. His adopter wanted him to take care of his Cherry Coral brother if something happened to them. The words of the promise were spoken without a thought, a promise for some vague, far away future that couldn’t possibly exist in the bright, joyous light of the here and now, but the here and now had arrived. Here. Now.

As much as he wanted to lay down, press himself against his SOULbond, and crumble to dust as his own SOUL followed theirs beyond the physical realm, he could not. It hurt, the moment when the bond, pulled taut as life and death separated their two SOULs, snapped. The backlash cracked his SOUL, but the determination within him to fulfill his promise held the pieces together.

Reaching out, he pulled the screeching Cherry Coral close, moving aside for the nurses and doctors who rushed into the room in an attempt to reverse their adopter’s fate, though their resuscitation efforts were all in vain. At first the Cherry Coral clawed at him, blinded by fear and sadness, but the Chain held tight until those wild emotions settled. The Cherry Coral clung to the larger lamia, sobbing, and the Chain gently rocked him as grief consumed them both.

Slowly, tentatively, tiny tendrils unfurled from the Cherry Coral’s SOUL. The tendrils drifted from the Cherry Coral to the Chain that comforted him. Those tendrils wrapped around the Chain’s broken SOUL, filling the cracks and holding the SOUL together. As the tears that the two lamias shed for their adopter mingled and fell to the spotless tiled floor, a thin strand, barely there at all, emerged from the Chain’s SOUL and entwined with the Cherry Coral’s.

They would survive this tragedy.

They would go on.

Together.