All the littles and bugs!

So there was an incident and I had thought I had posted this to PREVENT incidents in my bio, nope, apparently something never saved and the only reason I realized is because 1. I got in trouble with my isopod mom, 2, I went back in my journal (YES I KEEP WRITTEN PROOF OF WHAT I WRITE IN MY BIO IN CASE I FORGET) and realized I had thought I added that I was not 18 (I'm not putting my actual age as that's stupid but I'll be 18 soon) however that shit never saved. And apparently my brain blanked on that and not to mention i never proofread things so I never caught it and then proceeded to keep blanking in the fact I had at least THOUGHT I mentioned it somewhere, and I did! Just completely didn't realize it never saved til I got in trouble then got scared to add it cause wtf now people actually like my writing. I do have drafts (a lot) I plan to sporadically publish but for now I'm switching fandoms cause I lost the motivation for tfc and this shit is literally on a list of 13 reasons now-

Thank you for checking in. Probably going back to KPDH once I get out of my writing block and this weird other crap that's making me not even open this app. Love y'all, fully (not really) prepared to lose most of y'all over this though.

Naptime, good for littles, good for toddlers. Both of which are categories belonging to Natanael. "Maaaamaaaa...." Jester looks down at his whiney little one while handing out fliers still. "Mouse, we're in public." He corrects gently for what feels like the hundredth time pand hands out another flier while deciding if it's time to go home. It is. Natanael is whiney, he's regressing and tired, they're done.

The walk back to the circus is agonizing, a tired Jester and an even more tired little, whining and tugging at his sleeve. "I do hope you know your daddy will be the one putting you down for a nap." Jester says and rearranges some fliers, not noticing the little one now trailing behind "Natanael-?" He turns around to see the little looking at a window, a small toy shop. "Absolutely not, we have enough toys little one. Let's go."

The brunette points at something, a tower with ball pit balls to roll down the ramp. "Mouse, I said no. Not right now." He pulls Natanael along gently. It's silent for a few moments before the little calls out to his caregiver. "Mama?" Jester looks towards his baby. "Yes?" Natanael pauses for a second to yawn. "Cuddle?" "I still have work to do, I'm sure Bil won't mind cuddling for a while until I'm back." Jester barely notices the weird look his little one is giving him, but once he does he almost laughs, it's adorable really, especially with the confused head tilt.

Jester can see the gears failing to turn in the younger ones head. "Yes mouse?" Natanael grabs his mamas sleeve. "Who's Bil?" The question earns a small grin from Jester. "Your daddy." The two finally reach the circus entrance and head to the blue tent, where of course Jester covers the brunette's eyes as they walk through the mirrors. He doesn't want to scare the younger one.

Before Jester can even say anything to Ticket Taker, Natanael sprints forwards and hugs his daddy tightly. "Hi Bil! I miss'd 'ou! Mama was borin' ! " The caregivers freeze, lock eyes, and silently agree he's not allowed to call his daddy that. He may be just a sleepy baby but that's still a hard no to both caregivers.

"Little one, your mama is the ONLY one who calls me Bil, is that understood?" Natanael can't help but tilt his head and look up at his daddy. "Why?" Jester steps closer and rests a hand on their kiddos head. "Because you do not call mama and daddy by their names. Okay?" Natanael nods, he may be regressed but he knows WAY better than to argue with his mama. Heck everyone does, even if he isn't their mama.

"Right, I have a show to do. Bil, he needs a nap." And with that, the Jester leaves. "Alright then little one, bedtime." Ticket Taker holds out his hand to his little one. "No! Not s'eepy!" Natanael turns his head away from his daddy, he's not tired! "Little one..." A warning, a warning to not make him go get Jester because that won't go well. It never does. "Cuddle?" The little asks.

"Fine, I'm sure I can spare a few minutes for cuddles." The two walk off and lay in Natanaels crib, rail down of course so Ticket Taker can get out later. Or so was the plan. They both fall asleep after fifteen minutes and neither of them move until Jester walks in and ultimately joins them. Even then the only movement is just them being shoved over for Jester to nap with them. The guests can wait.

Makes a noise very similar to a baby tiger calling out for its mama, thank his babysitter when he was first born. The habits travel into agere.

Harlequin:

Surprisingly a good hunter when he's little! Until he sees a pond. Then he's diving in head first and yeah he's catching fish but we need a human, little guy.

Refuses to leave the water. He's having fun! Let him keep catching stuff, he's doing great! He even found a shiny rock for Doctor.

He was just in water-! Obviously he doesn't need a bath Bil! He knows where you sleep at night.

Jester:

Do not take him hunting. All of the prey will be scared off by the kiddos cries. He's very easily spooked right now.

He does enjoy play hunting though! Get him some of those catnip filled nice and he'll bring them to you all day long.

Plays opossum. Listen no one knows why. He's just a baby, let him play opossum.

Ticket Taker:

He can go hunting while regressed! He just needs lots of supervision cause he has super-bad-vision.

Little one has the track record for "most times headbutting a tree on accident." He'll go crawl around and bump into trees

Has tried organizing leafs at least once. Okay maybe twice. He's not ruining the hunt though! He's just playing and exploring his environment.

Doctor:

Shiny rock, shiny stick, random shiny coin, with a little effort a shiny rock, ooooh a shell!

"Kiddo stop trying to eat bugs!" He wants the worms. Let him have them!

All:

They keep things VERY EXTRA clean, okay? Like extremely clean to reduce the amount of bacteria and stuff.

Honestly at some point or another they've all been scared to let you outside. What if someone coughs on you?!

"I don't care if you'll do it in the morning, shower, now!" Mostly Jester and Doctor. You can take one in the morning as well.

For your safety, absolutely no sharing drinks!

Look they'll hold your hand if they have to, Doc is giving you every single shot you need, nonegotiable.

Scraped knees? More like broken bones! Little one you have to be more careful!

Someone is taking your temperature at least once a day, they'll predict when you get sick.

Not to mention being sick comes with a stuffie that has a heating pouch (you can also freeze it)

Harlequin carries a mini first aid kit when you guys go out playing though, just to reduce the risk of infection!

Oh little one, of course you're not going to the park. It's too yucky! Stay here in the circus where you can play with your caregivers!

Honestly they hesitate sometimes to let you play in the grass.

Jester:

He wakes you up just before he starts cooking so you can sit in your pajamas and wake up

Mini pancakes. He is making miniature pancakes, and if its a Monday you're getting chocolate chips because Mondays are yucky.

Breakfast always goes with fruit. You can pick the fruit but you're having one with breakfast.

Separated plates only. Don't worry little one, the apple isn't touching the syrup or the pancakes.

He'll make your breakfast before he starts on breakfast for the others because- "No little mouse, you can't have these." Why? "Because I'm not raising a cannibal." It's human. He's knows very well you don't know what a cannibal is right now but he thinks it's funny.

No you can't have any of your mamas drink either. The one that is very suspiciously red and looks like a dark fruit punch.

He'll most definitely spoon feed you every little bite, and cut everything into tiny pieces for you.

Never makes you finish your plate, if you're done you're done he's not making you finish it.

Please don't throw your food! If you don't like it just tell him, don't get fussy and throw it!

Yeah you can sit in the playpen and chew on your fruit while the adults eat their breakfast. He may even occasionally hand you a piece of his breakfast to try! It's usually spicy though!

One time. Harlequin snuck you one piece of "bacon" the second your mama saw- oh boy... "Harlequin why did you give them that?!" He really doesn't want you eating the meat they do, it may make you sick!

3rd person:

Both caregivers were distracted, Natanael was left unattended in the playpen. The playpen he snuck a screwdriver into to take the latch off the door. It takes two minutes before the latch hits the floor and the door swings open. No noise, no one's coming to check on him. Now's his chance! He steadies himself and starts walking out carefully, sneaking out of the purple tent and running towards the pink one where the fools are kept after hours.

It takes about 15 minutes to make it to the pink tent after stopping to not get caught by Pierrot and taking another two minutes to breathe. The second he steps into that tent he knows he's screwed. He's got MAYBE 5 minutes now before his mama and daddy know he's missing. Now to find Carol and Kai, in a tent full of about 24 fools, all still wearing masks. He makes its through taking the mask off of 6 fools before finding Carol. Hey eyes are still purple but he doesn't care, just starts trying to take her out of the bed, until he notices the handcuffs...the ones on every single fool.

The second his little brain decides to use a pin from her hair, there's a hand on his shoulder. A hand with much longer claws than his daddy's..."Are you supposed to be in here?" His mama. Ticket taker must've gone running to the black tent to make sure he wasn't with other monsters. The little doesn't respond, just crumples against the bed of one of his favorite baristas. "Mama..." Jester doesn't play into it. "Let's go. It's bedtime." Jester reaches for his littles hand, only for said little to gather courage that no one should have around their caregiver.

Said courage however doesn't stop at smacking Jesters hand. It doesn't even stop at screaming and swearing. And it most certainly doesn't get stopped until Natanael makes the horrible decision to lunge at his mama. He doesn't make it even a step towards Jester before he's picked up and held TIGHT. "That was incredibly ridiculous, little one you are in a WORLD of trouble you don't even know how bad this is-"

Natanael is taken all the way back to the purple tent, practically dragged back kicking and screaming to the point the others come out to see if he's okay. He's fine. Just very loud. By the time they get back and into Jesters room, Natanaels crib is moved right next to his bed. Not in his own room or even a few feet away. Directly next to it. "No! No no no no no!!!" The kicking gets worse until Ticket Taker walks in with meds from Doctor, he messed up big time and it's finally sinking in.

The once aggressive little switches up almost instantly, going from kicking his mama to clinging to him in seconds. Jester just gives him a pacifier and lays him on the bed, holding him still as Ticket Taker steps closer to the bed. "Was he trying to get to those two again?" Jester nods and continues to readjust the squirming little to keep him still. "You know the more you move the worse this feels, yes?" Neither of them have much patience. It's late, Jester's been kicked too much for his liking tonight and their kiddo just tried running again.

"Just hold still." Jester cleans off a spot on the littles thigh, knowing that spot is a bit easier for the younger one. They're mad yes but they still love him, of course his mama is going to hold his hand while his daddy gives him the medicine. "Small pinch baby, hold still." Just a small poke and 5 minutes later he's asleep. His legs will be numb for days but at least he won't be getting in trouble again.

"All of the fools are locked away and dead asleep thanks to Doctor. How about we just try, hm?" Jester nods and grabs the pacifier, it'll just be for a while.

20 minutes of cuddles and careful words and what do you know? A little Jester! Not screaming, not fussing, just laying there babbling small "sentences" at his daddy.

Eventually he'll take Jester to that familiar black tent, where the whining starts. "Jester, shh. We're just going to get some plushies, it's alright."

His anxiety is a bit high but there's still no tears, just anxious finger chewing that doesn't get corrected even if it's not the best habit.

By the time the two arrive Doctor corralled Pierrot and Harlequin into the playroom and secured a baby gate to the wall very well.

"Do you want down? We're the only ones here." Jester nods and decides crawling is the best option as his daddy leads him towards the playroom only for jester to pause a few feet away. He hears giggles. But his Daddy is right there at the gate, it's okay..

He peaks his head past the doorframe and looks through the gate, two other littles. One having tummy time on a mat the other trying to climb the very tall bird man.

Ticket Taker notices Jester looking worried, so he steps over the gate and into the room with the babies. Bad idea. Harlequin and Pierrot (albeit slower) dashed for the gate the second they saw the purple little.

Ticket Taker didn't make it fast enough to grab them, they hit the gate and scared the little who screamed for Ticket Taker as four hands a bunch of tendrils reach for him.

The other two get pulled away as Ticket Taker all but jumps over the gate to get his little one. "Oh sweet prince you're okay- did they scare you?"

He just keeps talking, taking Jester away from the other littles and into the kitchen to get some water. "Shh, no more crying. It's okay baby." He adds some juice mix to the water and it to him after screwing the lid on.

Moments later, Doctor comes into the kitchen to refill sippy cups, "Is he alright?" He asks, getting only a nod in return as Ticket Taker debates trying again.

"Doctor, what if you carried him in? You're much taller, and the two listen to you better." Doctor thinks, then trades the sippy cups for the Jester.

Doctor doesn't make a big show, just steps over the gate and stands in the corner with the wiggly toddler. This time, the boys ignore Jester. They don't swarm or pester, just play.

Eventually, the purple kiddo wants down, and down he goes aaaaand he's getting bolted towards. Back into air jail!

By the time Jester settles into playing, sippy cups are being grabbed for, everyone has the wrong cup, claws get thrown. Harlequin grabs Jester who screams and scratches Pierrot on accident who then gets sad-angry and hits Jester but also gets Harlequin. Then Harley swings at Pierrot and suddenly everyone is a big mess of limbs and teeth.

Ticket Taker ran first, Doctor reached the pile faster. He tugs Pierrot away knowing how bad he can be and tosses him (yes tosses) into the playpen currently FULL of stuffies.

The next to be yanked up is Harlequin, now covered in Jesters bite marks.

Pierrot:

He's confused, where is his little one going? Don't you know how dangerous it is to be running through the circus?! Especially this late at night!

A fool stops you before you make it to the exit, you were so close! Just two more steps and you'd have escaped! His shadow looms over you as you stare at the fool. You both know what you just tried to do.

"oh little dear, you'll learn to love it here soon enough." He'll take you back to his tent and set you on your bed, leaving momentarily and returning with a piece of cake. You know what's in that cake.

"You can eat this or I have to go to Doctor, and that won't be fun, will it baby?" You eat the cake. He stares at you as you fight off sleep, kicking until you can't feel your legs anymore, hitting until your arms are too heavy to move... screaming at him until you just fall asleep.

Harlequin:

He'll make it into a game. Watch you from afar, let you run until you can't get any further.

"Did you really think I'd let you leave? You know you're staying with us, do you not?" He'll carry you the whole way back to the circus, only taking a small detour to get a pacifier from a store. One for toddlers so it'll be more comfortable, just until you get back.

He'll hand it to you before putting a mask on you, one of the fools mask. That's what you are at this point, no? Just a silly little fool.

Once you get back to his tent he'll switch out the pacifier for your regular one and hold you, no more mask, just you and him. "You should know better by now." And everything goes black the second you feel a pinch in your shoulder.

Jester:

He can't help but smile. It's cute honestly, the fact that you think you can escape him while half little. That courage is just so funny to him.

He'll let you run, he'll track you by having fools follow you around everywhere. You'll spot one, blink, and it's gone. By the end of the day you're running back to the circus, back to him.

"There you are. And I was betting you'd make it until at LEAST morning." He wasn't, he knew you'd be back within a few hours of it getting dark. But for now he'll pull you into his lap and pet your hair.

"My poor little mouse, I bet it was so scary out there all on your own. Without your mama, isn't it too big of a world for such a little you?" Bathtime, then bed. No exceptions.

Ticket Taker:

The farthest you're getting is MAYBE to the end of his tent. The mirrors will have you frozen in seconds.

He'll watch, see you stand there and cry as the monsters seemingly come to life in the mirrors and tell you things that will keep you with him.

"Lets go little guest, back to my office." He'll guide you back and set you down in a chair, giving you your stuffie and sippy cup. "I'll just pretend you were looking for me rather than attempting to run away. This is your only warning, don't try that again."

You get an early bedtime, an air tag sewn into the sole of your shoes. He's not losing his little one this fast.

Doctor:

He sees you escape the playpen. He gives you the benefit of the doubt, maybe you just need to play and stretch? He doesn't turn to look at you, just keeps working. He can trust you, right?

But he can't. He didn't expect you to come over to him but he was expecting you to not leave the tent entirely! Fortunately all he needs to bring you back are just a few feet away on a table.

You get about 10 steps away before he grabs you by the back of your shirt, not painful, just enough that you simply cease movement.

Jester:

"Mouse, it's time to wake up. We have much to do today." I make yet another attempt to wake the mouse up, however they just won't listen. There's too many things to be doing today that don't require them laying in bed all day. "No!" I can't help but stare, my little fool telling me no? As if they don't quite remember who makes the rules in this tent. "Mouse, it wasn't a request. It's time to wake up." I tug the blanket off them and start grabbing their attire for today. I reach for the suit option, a bit more flexible for them to hand out fliers. However before I can turn around the mouse is clinging to me from behind. "Ti'ed!" I pause for a moment but pull then off me and face them before kneeling to their level. "Mouse, how do you feel?" They stare at me with those tired eyes. "S'eepy dada..." The tiny mouse mumbles while holding onto my work attire. "Fuck." I stare back at their eyes. Of course they'd be little the one time I actually need them to be in their right head! I push them away gently and take a breath, I do adore my little but sometimes- sometimes I wish they had been on the dinner table, even if I won't tell them those cruel words. "Mouse, you need to get dressed." I hold out a new outfit, softer but still blending in with the other fools, though still likely to pull guest attention for being different. I grab them their pacifier and clip it onto their shirt after I get them dressed. "Good job mouse, go put your shoes on." I pat their head and walk away to get her some papers for Bil, only to turn around and see them half asleep on the floor. "MC...shoes. Now." I scoop them up and put them on a chair so they'll wake up. "I don wanna! No-!" They rush back towards the bed and wrap up in their blankets, oh what a disaster today. "Mouse, do I need to get Bil?" They tilt their head quietly but still visibly upset. "Right...little one," I begin, trying to reason with them. "Do I need to go get Daddy or will you behave so we can work?" I watch them shake their head and start putting their shoes on, what a good little one. "Good job sweetie." I help them with the laces and hold their hand as we walk out of my tent and towards Ticket Takers. Thankfully the circus isn't open yet so I can let them run ahead of me a few steps towards his tent. "Pick up your feet, don't fall." I reminded as gently as I can, they truly don't respond well to louder voices.

Ticket Taker:

I don't bother turning around as I hear my little ones footsteps approaching quickly, I know how much they adore trying to surprise me by hugging me. Their efforts are adorable but relatively ineffective. "Daddy!" I turn around and smile at the human currently hugging me. "MC, hello." I pick them up and hold them in my side while staring at Jester. "Were they not supposed to help with flyers today?" I ask him, already knowing the answer. "They woke up feeling small, don't blame me." He adjusts my mask and sits down on my bed. "I see, we'll have to get someone to replace them for the day." I say mostly to myself, Jester already has it sorted while I brush my littles hair and give them their pacifier. Whilst the two of us talk about businesses we keep a close eye on our little fool currently crawling around looking at everything with newfound interest. Despite seeing it all day everyday. Childrens curiosity, what an interesting concept. And a slightly ridiculous one- "MC, drop it darling. We don't put things that touch the floor in our mouths." I tell them as I take away a pen they were actively trying to chew on.

They have a pacifier, yet try to bite everything NOT meant for human consumption. "Right, now that the little one isn't attempting to eat office supplies, what should we do with them while we're performing? We both go at the same time." I turn back to Jester and continue the conversation with him. "I'm not sure, we could leave them with Doctor, but you know how they get when in his tent." He nods, we all remember the day our little wandered past the bounds of their ticket and in to Doctors tent. Thankfully he knows to be gentle with them but still gave them quite a scare. "...I hate to say it, but we could still send them out and have Harlequin watch over them." We both stare at each other, it's a logical option. We do have a leash for them that Harlequin can use to keep them close, but what if something happens? That's our darling, our life. What if they get hurt? Trip and scrape their knees or even walk into the street and get hit by a scooter! "No." We both quickly agree having thought the same thing. After some strategic arrangements we came to the conclusion that staggering out performances would be the best option, as well as swapping who has the little one. As time ticks by, we play, color and even do some reading, but eventually the time comes. "Right, little one you need to go with mama while I get ready to perform, I'll see you later dearest." I tell them before kissing their forehead and watching my beloved monster begin to carry them out of my tent and towards his own. I'll see them in an hour, they'll be alright. Even if I do already miss them But for now, the show must go on.

Jester:

"Okay mouse, you stay in the playpen while mama works, alright?" Before I can even finish setting them down however, they grab me and try kicking their way out of the playpen. "Mama no! Play?" I shake my head and set them into the playpen. "Little one I need to work. I have papers to fill out, you stay in here and play." They frown but I pat their head and give them a stuffie to play with in addition to their other toys. And that's just how the rest of the day goes until they fall asleep.

He'll have quite a few different toys to distract you during bandage changes and adding medicine. That includes showing you what he's doing on a stuffie first!

Each (healed) scar gets a kiss before the others get medicine! He's giving it the magic to grow and heal the others better!

He keeps you from noticing honestly. Cute character bandaids, compression gloves over top and just in general pulling your attention away from everything.

Bath time can be tricky but he'll take care of the icky bits for you darling, he'll make sure all the scars and cuts get cleaned oh so gently.

If you're worried about raised scars he'll get you special scar tape to keep everything nice and protected once they've healed better.

Will hold your hands for hours to keep you from picking, poking and scratching wherever the infected scars are 💜