stuck-in-the-box

[stuck-in-the-box]

Yeah, Pete's around here somewhere. I haven't seen him in a little while, though. I hope he's doing alright-

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

[Ted shivers, unthinkingly running a nervous hand through his hair.]

Yeah...me too, kiddo.

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

[Ted took it, nodding his head in thanks, and took a bite. It was as shitty as he remembered, but it was certainly better than nothing.]

Thanks.

Hey, hey Ted? I know we haven't talked, like, at all, but I'm a friend of Hickory's... Do you, like, want or need anything? Anything that, um, that Tinky will let you have, that is.

-🗣️ of @youngvoice-and-gameplayer

A break from all of this.

I'm kidding, I know you can't do that.

This might sound weird, but do you have any snacks? It's been a minute since I've had anything to eat.

[stuck-in-the-box]

[He shrugs.]

It's better than nothing.

Hey, hey Ted? I know we haven't talked, like, at all, but I'm a friend of Hickory's... Do you, like, want or need anything? Anything that, um, that Tinky will let you have, that is.

-🗣️ of @youngvoice-and-gameplayer

A break from all of this.

I'm kidding, I know you can't do that.

This might sound weird, but do you have any snacks? It's been a minute since I've had anything to eat.

[stuck-in-the-box]

Hey, hey Ted? I know we haven't talked, like, at all, but I'm a friend of Hickory's... Do you, like, want or need anything? Anything that, um, that Tinky will let you have, that is.

-🗣️ of @youngvoice-and-gameplayer

A break from all of this.

I'm kidding, I know you can't do that.

This might sound weird, but do you have any snacks? It's been a minute since I've had anything to eat.

[stuck-in-the-box]

No, He wouldn't. Let's be honest, it's really only a matter of time...

[The Bastard's Box jostles slightly, as if confirming Ted's statement. Tinky's here. He isn't directly interfering yet, but everything TJ and Ted do from this point is being closely watched by the Bastard of Time and Space.]

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

Well.....that sucks.

Does...It know you're here? I mean, there's no doubt in my mind He knows since this is His domain, but has He interacted with you at all yet?

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

Pss, Tinky. I have quick question. Do you know someone named Chronos/Chronus/Kronos?

No I do not!

[stuck-in-the-box]

[Ted pales slightly, a conditioned fear washing across his expression.]

Were you killed recently? ...how long have you been stuck here?

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

Your-

[He pauses to process.]

I'm sorry, your girlfriend killed you? Although to be fair, it's Grace Chasity we're talking about, and if there's anything that being forced to see infinite timelines has taught me, it's that that kid is always one moment away from killing someone-

Wait hold on, who's them?

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

[Ted goes quiet.]

...

What?

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

No problem, kiddo.

[He pats her on the arm, smiling back.]

What...are you doing here? In the Box, I mean. Why aren't you, you know...out living your life?

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

Damn right he did! I'm proud of that kid! And I'm proud of you. It takes a special kind of Spankoffski to pull a Chasity.

[ There’s someone new in the box, someone Ted recognizes immediately. His daughter. She looks way different now. She is covered in snow and is bleeding out from her chest. Her hair is dyed to look more like the color red, but her roots still show the ginger her hair used to be. Her brown eyes are pale and once devoid of life and warmth that she used to have, and it reminded him of the Homeless Man’s. ]

[ it’s been 5 months since TJ disappeared. no one knew. no one missed her. no one cared about her. No one ever checked up on her. Not even the people she considered friends. ]

[ Her eyes slowly open. ]

[Ted's eyes widen as soon as he sees her. TJ...his daughter...it's been so long...]

[Ted scoops TJ up in his arms, hugging her tight as his eyes well up.]

TJ! It's you! You're back! You're alive! You're okay! I was so worried...

[stuck-in-the-box]

A folded-up piece of parchment with a lavender on top of it appeared in the box next to Ted.

- @lies-lore-lilacs-thorns

[Ted picks up the lavender and parchment, looking at them both quizzically before unfolding the parchment.]

[stuck-in-the-box]

Is Ted free on Friday night… 👅

(Satire)

From the box? No. But I'm sure I can find a way to fit you into my busy schedule all the same ;))

[stuck-in-the-box]

YAY!!!

Don't think that this is over, Pokey. I'm definitely getting you therapy and self worth so you can get over Paul.

- Grace 🎀 [@grace-chasity-nerdy-prude]

NO YOU CANT MAKE ME GRACE.

YOU CANT MAKE MEEE!!!

[stuck-in-the-box]

NO! If you're gonna bother me with your dumb musical all the time, the LEAST you could do is make my favorite guy suffer in it!

Don't think that this is over, Pokey. I'm definitely getting you therapy and self worth so you can get over Paul.

- Grace 🎀 [@grace-chasity-nerdy-prude]

NO YOU CANT MAKE ME GRACE.

YOU CANT MAKE MEEE!!!