#puppypapyri

*The Cornies hoot and cheer for the puns, but every bitty in the shop (and two skelepuppers and Miss Vex) are very grateful for the cold treat since it is unseasonably hot and incredibly humid right now. Poff uses some of his ice magic to keep the cold treats from melting while the lamia bitties all help themselves. Fortunately, there is plenty for everyone.

*Edgar allows the hatchlings to enjoy the sweet treats, and in mere seconds, the little ones have managed to get ice cream all over themselves and Edgar. The nursery caretaker doesn’t mind, even when Butter boops his nose with ice cream and sets off an ice cream booping frenzy.

*Cornies, Honey Bos, and Chains tap their ice cream together in a “toast” to puns and ice cream. Corals somehow manage to be involved without knowing how they got there. They don’t like ice cream, but someone has to eat it to keep it from melting everywhere, right? Kraits decide that it may be best not to stowaway and eat ice cream in your pockets, thankfully.

*Pygmies zoom excitedly, comparing the flavors they’ve chosen and doing acrobatic tricks to show their appreciation. Papythons and Kings savor the cold treats carefully, making no mess at all. Mambas, however, are eating the ice cream as fast as they can to see who can get the most intense brain freeze and become the mighty Emperor of Ice Cream through pain and snackrifice.

*You walk into the shop and head right for the front desk. You’re definitely going to want some help and advice on this adoption since you need to find a compatible Coral and Krait. You know Cornies are easy-going enough to get along with almost any bitty, but you’d like your bitty family to be happy and comfortable with each other. Vex is nowhere to be seen at the moment, and both of the desk attendants (a Pappy puppypapri and a frosty little skelepupper) have dozed off curled up together on the chair.

*You wander over to the Krait pools, thinking that perhaps you could ask one of the Kraits if there is a Coral he is comfortable with. To your surprise, there is a Coral at the Krait pool! He is laying very close to the fluffy towels, conveniently positioned so that when the Kraits dry themselves, they end up nuzzling against him. He is also pretending to be asleep though you can see his eyelights through his not-quite-closed sockets.

*When the Krait see you watching them, they all exit the play pools, rolling around on the towels to dry themselves and making sure to do it in a way that involves nuzzling the Coral after they are dry without making it obvious. The last Krait dries himself, then gently wipes a spilled drop of water off of the Coral and gives him a pat on his “sleeping” skull. The Coral can’t stop the blush or the smile that cross his face. The Krait gives you a knowing wink. You point out the open backpack you brought along for Kraits to stow away in before giving the affectionate little lamias you attention. When you glance back at the backpack, you notice that a drowsy Coral has taken up residence inside... right next to the sweet Krait who pretends not to notice him.

*Once every Krait has received some attention, you scoop up the backpack and carry it carefully to the front desk. There is a Corny laying there across three sets of adoption papers- one for a Krait, one for a Coral, and one for a Corny. Wait a minute... You check your backpack and sure enough, a Corny is now snuggled against the Coral’s other side. The Coral shifts grumpily, but you can see that he’s just burrowing deeper between the other two lamias. When you look up, the Corny at the desk has vanished. You’re just finishing up the paperwork when Vex appears from a back room. She asks you if you need help finding anything, but you tell her that you’ve already found exactly what you were looking for.

*Vex is well-aware that Sans is now an available outfit in Smash Bros. Ultimate because some very excited skeleton puppies came bouncing on her bed when it was announced, begging for a Switch and the game to play. Vex caved in (mainly because she wanted to play the Switch too!). She even managed to stop Belle, Lieutenant Cherry and the Commander Gang from swiping the Switch (in exchange for a shoeful of butterscotch pudding).

*Once the new console was set up, the Cornies rolled out from under the anti-venom fridge to watch Honey and Poff play the game. The two skeleton pups happily relinquished the controllers to the Cornies, and Edgar even brought the babies out the nursery to watch the gameplay. The hatchlings were so enthusiastic about the Sans outfit that some craft Papythons made them little gaster blasters that fit over their tiny hands and emitted harmless blue LED light beams.

*Vex wonders what the lamia bittybones will think of Undertale for Switch...

*The lamias, Edgar, the skelepups, and me are always here if you need some encouragement. Even something small like imagining a bunch of snuggly skeleton snakes taking care of you can help with a rough day or situation, and I do not mind at all trying to make someone feel better.

*Cherry Corals tend to separate themselves from the other lamias in the shop because of their anxiety. They begin to doubt that even the friendly lamias really like them. Just like people, when they get depressed and lonely, they tend to avoid social situations even more. Why bother when nothing good ever happens? Vex and the Nurse Papythons always go out of their way to make sure each Cherry Coral receives personal attention and love.

*Regular Corals are different. They always manage to find themselves in situations where they will receive attention. They aren’t afraid to go out and find a group of other lamias to convenient be near to for company. A Cherry Coral waits for attention to come his way because he’s afraid that asking for it will make him seem clingy and desperate. A regular Coral goes where there is a attention to be had and puts himself right in the middle of it.

*When it comes to being around Cherry Corals, a Coral will not avoid a Cherry Coral, but a Cherry Coral may avoid a regular Coral. A Cherry Coral would be nervous that a Coral may become upset at having to share attention with him. While a regular Coral may want all of the attention, he feels compassion for a Cherry Coral and won’t bully him or try to steer attention away from him. He will want to help the Cherry Coral become more like his former Coral self.

*You are warmly greeted by two enthusiastic skelepuppers when you walk through the door of the shop. Honey the Pappy puppypapri and his big brother, Poff run up to you, tails wagging. “Welcome!” they say in unison before scurrying away for other pup-related business (possibly some sort of snack, nap, or quick brotherly tussle). A Papython heading in the other direction dodges them, but something about you catches his eye. It must be your wings because he circles you once, then says “Wait here,” excitedly and disappears under the anti-venom fridge.

*He emerges a moment later, holding up a limp Corny who appears to still be sleeping... until the Papython shakes him gently and encourages him to look at your wings. Chuckling at their excitement, you spread the wings to show them the colors and soft, delicate fuzz. “I’m over the moon for lunar moths wings,” says the Corny with a lazy wink. The Papython tells you that he thinks your wings are beautiful, and a small, shy voice echoes his words. A Krait pops out of the Corny’s hoodie, waves at you with a pale lilac blush, then hides again.

*Apparently, your wings are causing quite the commotion in the shop. A full-sized King rounds the corner of some nearby shelves, stopping just in time to keep from bowling you over. He steadies you with one hand, then immediately goes into display mode. He bows, twirls, strikes a pose, and flares a hood... that has a gorgeous black lunar moth silhouette underneath. You gasp out a little “Oh” of wonder. He’s perfect, as if he was destined to be yours! You response makes a pale red blush creep across his cheekbones, but he continues his display, striking heroic poses and stretching to his fullest height until you finally tell him that you’ve already decided. You’re going to adopt him... and the Papython, Corny, and Krait.

*Now you just need to sign the papers and get outside before the attention and admiration overwhelm you!

The sound of the bell of the door fills the shop, making everyone who cared look over. “Hey, is Vex here?” The woman asks the papy-pups at the front desk. “I have something to give to her” in one arm she’s holding Sharkie, in the other she’s holding what looks like a box of stuffed animals.

(submitted by @askarteliaandfam)

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*The skele-puppers scurry off to get Vex, who comes around the corner and gasps in happiness when she sees Sharkie in his little shark hoodie with his pacifier. The hands the box of stuffed animals to Honey and Poff to distribute throughout the shop and gives you a huge hug.

Sharkie’s story

WARNING: hurt/comfort, blood, violence, bitty abuse, human death but a happy ending