#ler!devan

But no pressure at all^^ /gen

🎭 “Showtime Comfort”

(Ler!Devan | Lee!Dandy)

The backstage lights flickered faintly, their hum mixing with the muffled cheers of the crowd beyond the curtain. Props were scattered everywhere—confetti cannons, stage cards, spare microphones—but in the middle of it all, Dandy sat on a crate, slumped and silent.

The flamboyant performer’s usual shine was gone. His hat lay in his lap, his sleeves rumpled, and the glow in his eyes was dim.

He let out a shaky sigh. “They keep tellin’ me to ‘wow the crowd,’ Devan,” he murmured, voice cracking a little. “Arthur says I gotta ‘shine brighter,’ and Delilah—she just keeps smilin’ and sayin’ I’m fine, but I can tell she’s not happy. I can’t even tell if I’m doin’ good anymore…”

Devan stood nearby, adjusting his white vest absently as he listened. His brow softened, a rare break from his usual composed demeanor.

“Dandy,” he said gently, crouching down to eye level. “You’re you. That’s what everyone loves. Not because you’re perfect, but because you’re you.”

Dandy gave a small, humorless laugh. “Heh… I don’t feel like ‘me’ right now. I feel like some broken toy that’s just makin’ noise.”

Devan’s expression flickered with sympathy—then a tiny spark of mischief. “A broken toy, huh? …Maybe I can fix that.”

Dandy blinked. “Huh? Wha—”

Before he could react, Devan’s hand reached out and gently squeezed Dandy’s side.

“EEP—!!” Dandy jolted, a startled squeak bursting out of him. “W-WAHAHAIT!! Whahat’re you—hEHEHEHEHEHEE!!”

Devan’s calm, knowing smile grew as he lightly scribbled at Dandy’s ribs with practiced precision. “There you are. I missed that sound.”

“DEHEHEHEVAN, DOHOHON’T—!!”

“Oh, I think I will,” Devan teased softly, his tone full of warmth rather than mockery. “You were lookin’ way too serious. We can’t have the star of the show all gloomy, can we?”

“THIHIHIS—IS NOHOHOT—!! FAHAHAIR!!” Dandy squealed, his face flushing bright pink.

“Fair?” Devan chuckled, moving his hands up to poke gently under Dandy’s chin and around his neck. “Who said anything about fair, sunshine?”

Dandy kicked weakly, laughter spilling out in high, hiccupy bursts that made Devan’s grin widen just a little more. It wasn’t loud, playful chaos—this was soft, grounding laughter, the kind that melted away tension like sugar in tea.

“Dehehevan—! I cahahahan’t—!!”

“Shhh.” Devan slowed his hands to a gentle flutter along Dandy’s shoulders, voice low and kind. “You can laugh, Dandy. You need to.”

And he did.

The giggles came easier now—less frantic, more free. Dandy leaned against him, still shaking with quiet laughter, but the tightness in his chest had eased.

When Devan finally stopped, Dandy was smiling again—genuinely this time. He wiped at his eyes, still giggling softly.

“Y-you’re terrible,” he sniffed.

Devan smirked. “And you’re radiant again.”

“…You really think so?”

“I know so.” Devan straightened his tie, helping Dandy to his feet. “The crowd’s waitin’ for that smile, you know.”

Dandy chuckled, adjusting his hat and taking a deep breath. “Heh… guess I shouldn’t keep ‘em waitin’, huh?”

Devan nodded, patting his back. “That’s the spirit.”

As Dandy stepped toward the stage lights, he turned to grin at him. “Hey, Devan?”

“Mm?”

“If I knock ‘em dead out there… I’m blaming you for the warm-up.”

Devan’s grin turned wry. “Deal.”

Yesss!! Here ya go, my friend!!!<3

Snorty Flower

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--Damn Devon... you're a little jerk!--

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|Lee - Dandy -- Lers - Pebble & Devan|

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FT - Veronica, Sharon, Austin, Sam, Astro, Sprout, Shelly, & Vee

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Mentioned - Ginger, Cosmo, Devon's daughter

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Devan was talking with the other toon handlers, chilling on a bench under a tree while Dandy played with his friends. "So, how's Vee been?" Devan asked, eating a churro. "Oh, she's been... cocky as ever." Veronica laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck. Austin rolled his eyes a little. "At least your toon actually talks to you..." he huffed, pouting a bit. "Awh, ease up there, Austin! I'm sure Astro likes you!" Sharon smiled. Sam snorted. "Yeah. If avoiding Austin is a form of liking." "Okay-- I am not that bad!" He scoffed, lightly smacking Sam's shoulder. "Ow-! Hey, it's the truth!" They narrowed their eyes at Austin, rubbing their shoulder lightly. "Jesus... ease it up, won't ya?" Devan rolled his eyes as Veronica took a bite of her sandwich. "Do you guys always have to fight?.." She asked, gulping down the chunk of food in her mouth. "Yes!" Sam and Austin glared at Veronica. She let out a little whine and started to sink under the table. "What-- you two, behave! You. Get up!" She forced Veronica back on the bench. "...This is weird." Devan mumbled. Austin perked up, looking at his friend. "What is?" He asked as everyone else turned to look at him. "I don't know... it's just that-- we're the complete opposites of our toons, y'know? Veronica is... humble, Sharon is more cocky than anything... Austin is a confident little brat... and Sam is rude to everybody. Not to mention-- Sprout and Astro get along great. Sam and Austin don't... you get what I'm going at?" Everyone paused for a moment. Sam let out a low whistle "That went south really quick..." Sam laughed a little, everyone chuckling along somewhat.

Meanwhile...

"Gooo, get it, Pebble!!" Dandy threw a stick as Pebble barked and ran off to go fetch it. Astro was sitting on the grass with Sprout, making little bracelets. "How are you and Cosmo doing?.." he asked, holding his blanket around him tightly. "Hm? Oh! Cosmo is doing great! Kinda sad about his cousin being gone until December, but other than that-- great!" Sprout grinned, slipping on charms on the wire. "That's good... haven't talked to him in a little." He smiled softly, his magic slipping a little star charm on the string. "Okay! Okay! I got this one.... uhhh..." Shelly thought for a moment as Vee just laughed. "It's not rocket science. Just tell me... how many species of dinosaurs were there?" She asked with a grin. "U-Umm... Oh! 701?" Vee made a beep sound with a big X on her screen. "Errr! Wrong! So close, though! There's 700." The X disappeared as she laughed at Shelly's shocked face. "Okay, well... my pride is definitely ruined..." Shelly muttered with a short laugh at the end. "Aww, good boy, Pebble!!" Dandy kneeled down, petting his pet rock, who returned with the stick in his mouth. "Woah-!" Dandy fell backwards on his back when Pebble jumped up on him, licking his face. "Pfft-- Pehebble!!" Dandy giggled, trying his best to block his face. Sprout snorted. "Got a little dog trouble, huh?" He helped Dandy, picking Pebble up off of him. "Awh, what a rascal!" Shelly ruffled Pebble's head as he just let out a little "Arf!"

"Hm... what time is it?" Austin asked, looking at Sharon. Sharon blinked before looking at her pocket watch. "Geez! Already 4 PM? I thought it was only 9AM!" She scoffed, her eyes widening. "Time does go by in summer." Sam laughed, standing up and dusting their pants off. "Sprout! C'mon, inside!" Sam waved their hand over, catching Sprouts attention. "Dang... guess we gotta go inside. Coming, Sam!" Sprout collected his belongings, waving to his friends goodbye and rubbing over to Sam, who brought him inside. Vee reluctantly walked to Veronica, Shelly to Sharon, and Astro to Austin, who brought them inside. "Alright, you two! C'mon." Devan stood up, cracking his back. "Awh... c'mon, Dev! A few more minutes? Pretty pleeeeaaassseee?" He whined, giving Devan puppy dog eyes. "...Dandicus..." he warned. "Pleaseee? Just like... ten more minutes! It won't hurt, right? Pretty pleaseeee?" He begged more. Pebble, not knowing what was happening, just gave Devan puppy eyes as well. "...Christ-- okay, okay! Just quit it with the eyes!.. I feel attacked!" He scoffed, crossing his arms. Dandy smiled, grabbing the stick. "Yesss!! Thank you! Go on, Pebble, fetch boy!" He threw the stick, Pebble immediately going to fetch it. Devan sighed and sat on the grass next to the standing Toon. "...So, what's it like having a dog?" He asked. Dandy laughed. "Awesome! I get to give him treats, cuddles-- I have somebody to always play with!" He bounced in place a little. Devan smiled a little. He was starring to grow... fond of his toon. "Hm... must be nice, huh? Having somebody to spend time with..." he hummed in thought. "Yu-- WAHH!!" Dandy fell backward, again, as Pebble pounced on him, licking his cheek again.

"Gaha-! Noho! Not agahahahaian!!" Dandy squealed, holding Pebble as his legs kicked a little. Devan blinked. "Huh... didn't know toons could be ticklish." He looked at the two. "Ehehe! We cahahan-- bahahahaha! D-Dehehehehevan, hehehehehelp!!" He giggled, tossing his head from side to side. Devan snorted, "This is... something new, indeed." Devan lightly poked Dandy's side, making him squeal. "Nohoho!!- Dohohohon't tihihihihickle mehehe!!" Devan chuckled "Why not? You seem to very much enjoy it..." Devan teased, his finger lightly scratching at Dandy's belly. "NAHA-! NohohoHOHOHOHO!! DEHEHEHEHEV!!" He squeaked, his legs kicking more. Devan chuckled. "You're more ticklish than my daughter... and she's only eight." "THAHAHAHATS EHEHEhehehembarassiiIIIHIHIHIHIHING!!" Dandy shook his head more. Devan laughed softly. "Oh, don't make me feel bad~" He teased with a toothy grin, squeezing behind Dandy's knees. "WAHAHAHAIT!! *snort*" Devan laughed in surprise. "Noho way! You snort?! Oh, let me hear THAT again!" "NAHAHA!! *snort* QUIHIHIHIHIT IHIHIHIT!!" Dandy's cheeks flushed in embarrassment. God, this was humiliating... "I AHAHAHAHAHASKED FOR YOUR HEHEHEHEHELP!!-" He squeaked out. "Yeah, I am helping! Helping Pebble!" He smiled innocently. "YOU EHEHEHEHEHEVIL BAHAHA-- WAIT NOOOHOHOHOHO!! *snort*" Dandy's laughter went up a notch as Devan scribbled his fingers along one of his petals, Pebble still licking and nuzzling his face. "Dandicus Dancifer! Language! Goodness my! Who taught you how to swear?!" He playfully scolded, a proud grin and a raised brow on his face. "I'M SAHAHAHAHAHAHAHARRY!!! *snort*" His pink-rainbow like blush spread across his nose, laughing up a storm. "Gah, you're one cute flower, Dandy." He ruffled up his hair/petals. "SHUHUHUHUT--" He squealed. "Alright, alright..." Devan chuckled, picking Pebble up and off of Dandy, giving him a breather

Dandy panted a little. "Ehe--... never do that again... hehe..." he chuckled softly, his eyes closed. "Mhm... c'mon you two. Let's go inside. You've been out here long enough." He carried Pebble, helping Dandy up as the three walked inside, Devan's hand on Dandy's back.