#almost back to snaxburg!

[jupiterswasphouse]

BUGSNAX - A REVIEW

A few days ago, I fully finished and 100% completed this game, and I'm very happy to have finally done so! Here are my thoughts, under the cut! (Skip to the end if you just want a quick overview of each point)

-

As evidenced by the fact I completed the game, I enjoyed Bugsnax a lot! Which I'm happy to be able to say upon playing it myself after having watched other people (Namely Snapcube, all the way back in 2021) play it in the past. It's a nice change of pace from the other kinds of games I've played in recent times, and a type of game I can't say off the top of my head that I've really experienced before. I've played my share of creature collectors but those were mostly RPGs, like the Pokémon games, whereas Bugsnax takes the concept into a full 3D space where you don't exactly battle the Bugsnax but, rather, you trap them!

Forgive the comparison I'm about to make but it's almost like you're pranking the wildlife of this island, tricking them in various ways to get them into your backpack. It starts off as simple as just waiting for Bugsnax to wander into your trap, and for a handful of species it stays that way, but with the wide variety of them available to you and which you're expected to catch, it becomes more complicated very quickly! The game can become slightly repetitive at points, especially having to refight bosses for 100% completion, but they vary things up enough with tools and specific catching conditions that it never became boring for me. I'd say that Bugsnax is almost a puzzle game in that way, trying to figure out what combination of things catches what Bugsnax. Although some of said 'capturing puzzles' are easy to cheese, or come up with multiple solutions for.

Despite that, though, Bugsnax can be a challenge for the brain! Like any good puzzle, the solution can be difficult to piece together right away at times, making for engaging gameplay that keeps you thinking. That's a great thing, as it's really the only challenge there is in the game. Bugsnax does not have a fail state nor any lives to lose, no matter how much the aggressive Bugsnax try and no matter how many times you light yourself on fire in the middle of Snaxburg. Bugsnax simply isn't a very difficult meal to swallow! Which isn't a bad thing.

As a side note on the gameplay too, the game does keep you busy with a multitude of main quests, side quests, and letter quests, giving you many reasons to want to catch all of these Bugsnax!

Speaking of the titular Bugsnax, though, they're a very interesting bunch! With 112 of them to find (after the release of the free DLC), the variety of designs on display is wonderfully creative and charming. Yes, some of the designs are reused and retextured, but that's perfectly acceptable and to be expected when you're capable of transforming almost every NPC using said Bugsnax!

They're certainly interesting to observe and speculate on how they came to be! They're not anything that could exist in our world, but that's kind of the point! They do, however, interact with each other in some ways you might expect from wild beasts, fighting with each other and accidentally running into each other on occasion. Bunger, Spuddy (Beetle-like Bugsnax), Preying Picantis (A mantis-like Bugsnak), and Scoopy Banoopy (A giant water bug-like Bugsnak) being as aggressive as they are, while played up for gameplay purposes, does mirror how strong and combative these insects are in the real world! Although, you never see these Bugsnax eat each other, nor at all apart from when you specifically toss sauce at them, making it unclear how they survive apart from eating said sauce, even though the ending goes some way into explaining that, to an extent. Even still, not much that truly needs to be explained goes unexplained when it comes to them

Of course, the creativity and good design of the Bugsnax would mean nothing without an equally charming world and set of colorful characters to go along with them! The game does not disappoint there either, making for quite the feast for the eyes. The biomes are lovely, and environmentally tell you quite a bit about the history of the island, from the crashed ship on the beach of Boiling Bay to the cave scrawlings of Garden Grove and the clear existence of a long gone civilization in Scorched Gorge and the isle of Broken Tooth! Meanwhile, the NPCs, the Grumpuses, have wonderfully charming designs, resembling muppets to an extent, all distinct and fun designs but still simple enough to fit in with the impressive mechanic of 'Snakification' without being too disturbing... Most of the time

Heads up! The next section goes into SPOILER TERRITORY, if you want to save the story for when you play it yourself, skip to the next chunk of bold text

When it comes to the story that surrounds all of the Grumpuses, it continues to be quite the charming game, with its comedic flair, colorful personalities, and sweet personal moments. However, it's not a conflictless experience (Nor should it have been!), with many characters fighting and having problems that range from Wiggle being afraid of being a one-hit-wonder and struggling to create her next masterpiece, to Snorpy struggling to communicate his feelings to Chandlo while Chandlo worries about the unhealthy amount of stress that Snorpy is going through, to Beffica being unable to hold a friendship because of her own actions and being afraid that she won't be able to ever have anyone close to her. It doesn't pull its punches, especially once you get around to helping them with some of these issues in the sidequests!

The biggest issue that requires being solved however is the driving force of the game, getting everyone back to Snaxburg, and especially the adventurer who invited you to the island in the first place, Elizabert. The search for Elizabert takes essentially the whole game, searching for clues and interviewing Grumpuses, watching tapes that display the relationship of Elizabert and her girlfriend/wife (unclear whether or not they're married), doctor Eggabell.

This search concludes in quite possibly the most unsettling muppet body horror way it could have, with Bugsnax being revealed to be parasites, composing essentially the entire underground of the island, with Elizabert herself being turned into a giant but somehow still sentient and sapient beast made of multiple different legendary Bugsnax, among other species! and the final sequence of the game is spent essentially killing Bugsnax in a brutal saucy massacre across Snaxburg before making your escape.

Now, does this make Bugsnax one of those "Oops, it's a horror game actually!" games? Not in the slightest. This is not as overtly horrifying and gorey as something like Doki Doki Literature Club, although it is possible to lose Grumpuses to the influence of the island in the final sequence if you play your cards wrong, this is more like an Undertale situation in the sense that the game is mostly perfectly fine but has some disturbing undertones and moments! It is a super unexpected moment but I like it, and the ending provides a very satisfying resolution to everyone's problems while still leaving enough questions about the island for a Bugsnax 2

[END SPOILERS]

The game is also very well scored with a mostly electronic sound track that fits the charming and mostly relaxing atmosphere of the game! Seth Parker's smooth synths filling the space perfectly between Grumpus dialogue and Bugsnax yelling out their names Pokémon style, with an adorable credits theme done by Kero Kero Bonito, which fits in perfectly with the rest of the music.

Now, in terms of game stability, having played after patches, I'd say this game is stable enough for the average player, some things being a bit easy to break for people who are looking to do so, with very few glitches being detrimental to the experience. I did have some Bugsnax get stuck or disappear, but it wasn't enough to really effect things much given there are a couple ways to respawn them (sleeping, leaving the area and coming back).

One funny thing did happen to me though, and it was my fault entirely! I saw the broken bridge in Scorched Gorge and was like "Hmmm, I bet I could get across that when they don't want me too" and I did! Then the game autosaved and I had accidentally set several flags in the game skipping Snorpy and Chandlo's quests. I had to find the save file and manually edit it so that I could fix my hubris and unskip the quests! Which was thankfully not very hard to do, and I got to experience those quests without issue.

Now, finally, what would I add to a Bugsnax 2? Well the obvious answer for me would be some form of wasp Bugsnak, I just want more representation of my favorite guys!! But for a bigger suggestion, I'd say that there are tons of different real world bug features and behaviors that could make for interesting gameplay elements and designs! With mimicry, pollination structure building, symbiotic relationships, resource gathering, pheromone communication, multiple stages of life, etc etc. I'd just really like to see what the Bugsnax team can do with things like these! Even down to more species or family specific things!

-

All in all,

Gameplay: Fairly unique! Can be repetitive at times but stays varied and interesting enough to be engaging for most players.

Difficulty: Catching Bugsnax can be challenging but it's still fairly easy, with very little punishment for failure outside of the very end.

Graphics/Design: Extremely charming with varied Bugsnax and cute NPCs that fit with the biome they're in very well, providing a lovely atmosphere to the game, even if Snakification can make things clash at times.

Story/Lore: Very good, keeping you interested in the world and characters of the game, and at times delving into more serious, personal topics and problems, as well as setting up a world that shows plenty of its history, while leaving some questions to be answered

Soundtrack: Rather smooth, synths filling the space in nicely and not leaving much awkward silence, with a very good guest track

Stability: Rarely detrimental, not giving the player any major issues, while still being breakable if one were to try to do so

Completion Time: 29 hours

Overall: Recommended

[treefory]

Beffica snoops

912 words

Everyday Beffica walked around Snaxburg, snooping through the others huts while they weren’t there. But she could never get into Gramble’s barn. Every morning his barn door was locked, but if she pressed her ear up against the door she could hear him inside. It was like this every morning

She’d try and find a crack in the wood so that she could see inside. But to her dismay she could never find one. She even tried to see through the door that connected to the pen, but of course she couldn’t. she was just dying to know what he was doing.

That afternoon she was making her way over to Floofty’s hut for some casual snooping when a tall yellow grumpus caught her eye. Snorpy stood over his seismometer while taking notes in his journal.

“Hey Snorpy!” She called as walked over to him

Snorpy fumbled as he slammed his journal shut “Beffica! What are you doing over here?”

“Oh nothing,” she shrugged “just wondering if you could help me with something.”

“If this is one of your tactics to go through my things again then you’d best run along.” He said with a scowl

“Oh please, I’ve already been through your things. And besides, I just need to borrow something-“

“If it’s something to aid in your disrespect in basic privacy, then I won’t be helping you.” He interrupted as he turned back to his machine

“Ugh” Beffica rolled her eyes and started to walk away. But then the perfect plan came to her

“Hey, you know how Gramble sleepwalks around town?” She asked without turning to face Snorpy

“Yes Beffica, everyone knows.”

“Well what if he’s not really sleepwalking?”

He looked up from his machine “what do you mean?”

“well what if he’s actually collecting dirt for the gru-“

“The Grumpinati? Y-you think he might be?”

Beffica turned around “well maybe,” she shrugged, “but I’d need your help to find out.”

“Well what do you need? If need be I could make something.”

“Every morning Gamble's door is locked and I need your help opening it.”

“So a lock pick? Don’t worry Beffica, I'll have one made by tomorrow!” He said as scrambled over to his forge.

“Perfect.” She purred.

— — —

A calm purple hue laid over snacktooth Island as the sun had just begun to rise. Beffica slept in her bed soundly. The faint sounds of her floor boards creaking filled her ears.

“Wha…?” She whispered as she began to open her eyes. Her gaze was filled by a tall yellow grumpus standing over her. Her eyes shot open and she inhaled sharply, preparing to scream. Only to be shushed by Snorpy.

“Hush! We don’t need to wake the entire town.” he whispered

“Oh my gawd, Snorpy! You almost gave me a grumping heart attack!” She said through gritted teeth

He pulled out multiple lock picks out of his apron pocket. “The lock picks are done, let’s see what he’s really doing in there before we’re silenced by the Grumpinati!”

“Uh yeah just let me get my camera.”

— — —

The two walked over to the barn, They both pressed their heads up to the barn door. Sounds of happy bugsnaxs filled their ears.

“He's in there alright.” Beffica whispered

“He must be relaying his information back to them!” He whispered back

Beffica pulled the lock into her paw “hand me a pick.”

“You know how to pick locks?”

“Uh yeah. Now stop asking questions and give me one already!” She whispered angrily

“How interesting…” he said as he gave her one

She twisted the pick in the lock just for it to snap. “Another one.” She requested

“I only made three.” He handed her another “so make it count.”

She began picking the lock again, the sound of the pins slipping into place filled the air

SNAP

“Grump! Give me the other one.”

“Last one, be careful.”

Her paws worked carefully as she slid the last pins in place

CLICK

“I did it!” She said as she held the opened lock in her paws

Together the two placed their paws on the door and on three, they pushed it open

At the same time their mouths fell agape as their gaze was filled by Gramble sitting on the floor. His once pink fur was smothered in chocolate sauce. Strabbys, peelbugs, and kweebles that once crawled all over him now stared at Beffica and Snorpy.

“I… I can explain…” Gramble began

Without breaking eye contact Beffica pulled out her camera and snapped a picture of the embarrassing scene in front of her.

Snorpy pulled the barn doors shut.

They stood in front of the door just staring at it, minds still processing what they had just seen

“That had to be the best dirt I have ever seen…” Beffica whispered to herself

“That was NOT what I was expecting...” Snorpy said as he put the lock back on the door “we must never speak of this again.”

“Yeah, I’m going back to bed.” She pulled the picture from her camera “and this little baby is going in my diary. Thanks bestie! ;0)”

“Do not ever include me in your snooping shenanigans EVER again!” Snorpy snaped

“And I am not your “bestie”. Now if you do not mind, I'm going to be writing a hand written apology to Gramble.” He continued

And like that Snorpy stormed off while muttering things about Gramble and Beffica

“I- ugh! Whatever, you weren’t bestie material anyways…”

[snakxreader]

This probably sounds weird as hell but gender-neutral journalist thinking that they may have feelings for wambus?

(I know that there has to be people who crush on him)

A/N: Anon. Anon the entire fandom crushes on Wambus. He is second to Floofty in the sexygrump status. You are not alone and we welcome you with open arms. Enjoy the fic!

Wambus x Journalist (Journalist Catching Feelings)

This was both mutually the worst and best thing to happen to them.

Gaining a crush on the local farmer in Snaxburg was…not their best decision. But really, could they blame themselves? Every minute they’ve spent around him, they can’t stop looking. From the moment they met him at his old garden, by the falls. The dark almost navy blue on his fur, his hard emerald eyes and grump above, he had such toned muscles.

He could throw them off a cliff that broke at least ten different bones in their body and you’d still ask them to do it again.

And maybe life would’ve been easier if it was just that, just that fleeting bit of attraction that made them stumble all over their interview with him, but the more time they spend with him? Well.

They love his puns, the dumb little ones that get a giggle out of you. How he’s always checking up on them, despite a long day. Even where more people came to town, more mouths to feed, he still found time. Gave them a packet of his sauce everyday, “To keep your’ strength up,” he said, patting their shoulder. Even inviting them to the garden sometime.

Everything about Wambus set their heart aflame and they felt incredibly dumb for it. You’re supposed to be looking for Lizbert, not trying to make out with one of her expedition members!

Deep breaths. In and out. In and out. Maybe…maybe they’d get over it. They could get over it! Just had to focus really hard on their job, find Elizabert, help out the town and they’d be so busy they couldn’t possibly think about-

“Hey there.”

They yelped, turning to face a suprised Wambus with bristled fur. The part of their brain that had critical thinking skills promptly clicked off, leaving the journalist to scramble.

“Oh, uh, hey Wambus! What-what’s up?”

“Just wanted to see if you were alright. Ya been spacing out quite hard.” He replied, his surprise adapting to a more curious look. “What’re you thinking about?”

“Just….stuff relating to Lizbert…” Not a complete lie. Wambus did have something to do with Lizbert. Either way, the farmer nodded along. “Darn shame.” He sighed, sitting down to take his hat off and wow, he looks hotter without it. “Hope she turns out safe.”

“M-me too.” The journalist stuttered.

Wambus hummed. A beat of silence passed.

“Stranger.” You jolted, turning to face him. “I know it’s…hard…not ta think of the worst case scenario. Grump knows I’ve thought it myself..but.”

He set his hat back on, staring at them with a firmness that made the journalist struggle to pay attention to his words rather than his eyes. “As cheesy as it grumpin sounds…having a bit of hope never hurt anyone. Even if you’re looking at the worst case. Even if you have to prepare for the worst.” He smiled softly at them. The journalist was grateful that the darkened sky held your blush relatively well.

“…Yeah. I know.” Even if it wasn’t exactly what was bothering them, it made them feel tons better. “Thanks Wambus.”

“Course.” He tipped his hat, before standing to stretch. “I plan on sitting here a bit longer, wanna join me?”

They tried not to think about romantic fantasies revolving around them and Wambus by a campfire. Totally not kissing him. “C-can’t. Gotta….catch a thing. For Filbo.”

“Alright. Take care now.”

“Same to you!” They said, walking away from Wambus. They waited until they were a good few feet away before groaning. They were so screwed, weren’t they? These feelings were not going away.

Grump fucking damnit.

[funkbun]

how was it when the queens became, well, queens? how did it happen and how did they reign?

Based on what Lizbert stated in game, the process of becoming a snakqueen is… bad it's fuckin baaad, it's an awful experience. Like they fall down into the Undersnax, probably break multiple bones after that fall, have hundreds of snax shove themselves down their throat, trying to speedrun the snakification death thing. Buuuut, if a grumpus is somehow strong enough, they won't end up dying and instead make the snax into themselves, basically getting queened. So yea, bad experience.

With Queen 1, she became queen during one of the Stone Grumpus Snax Ceremonies (I'll get an actual name for it one day lol). These are once a month events Stone Grumpus communities did that end in the sacrifice of one random grumpus chosen by the matriarch as a "Thank you" to the bugsnax. Queen 1 (or Alabee at this time) hasn't gone to one of these ceremonies in years, so when she is the one chosen she feels extremely betrayed and attacks her matriarch who she respected for almost her entire life.

During that fight (beautifully drawn below), she ends up getting pushed into the Undersnax cavern, gets queened due to her extreme hatred of her matriarch and everyone who didn't do anything to help her, and passes out for a week.

After waking up, her reign was very deadly. She used her control to make the snax more aggressive (similar to how they were in the Escape from Snaxburg section), leaving Snaktooth a very dangerous place for grumpuses (but not Broken Tooth). During her 200 years of ruling, snax became less and less dangerous once Queen 1 started becoming weaker and was "rotting" (snakqueens are supposed to spend multiple years in the Undersnax to stay stable, once Queen 1 woke up she never went back in). Also grumpuses got better at fighting off snax, even if they still can't eat them. So yeah, she starts out making Snaktooth Island a living hell, didn't follow the Official Snakqueen Rules, and died having her work completely reversed by a second Funny Food Bug Lady.

With Queen 2, she willingly became a queen a few hundred years after Queen 1's death, going through the same thing as Queen 1, and once she woke up she used her snakqueen control to pacify the island's snax to a kinda unreasonable degree. She used her control to make sure that snax no longer feel the need to forcibly snakify grumpuses, thus making snakification deaths less likely to happen (they still did happen during her reign but shh shhhhhh don't worry about that, they just weren't strong enough okay Ok).

Her reign as queen wasn't bad for grumpuses at least, but her idea of making the snax completely harmless backfired almost a thousand years into her reign. You can't make an entire species completely stop doing the thing they're known for doing ma'am.

world's smartest queen

[yandere--stuck]

Yandere!Floofty headcanons..? 👀 If you do I'll be forever in your debt!

Sorry this took so long, but I hope you enjoy!

---

💜 One couldn't be blamed for their first impression of Floofty Fizzlebean being one that's incredibly cold and rude. Mostly due to the whole, "being incredibly cold and rude" thing they've got going on. At least at first. Hell, their first interaction with you ended with them slapping a gizmo in your hands, talking down at you as though you were a child, and then further adding onto the body horror nightmare you've found yourself entangled in. To say you weren't exactly Floofty's number one fan would be an understatement, and the same sentiment was shared by much of the rest of Snaxburg. But the other Grumpuses (and your journalistic integrity) depended on you and your help in finding Elizabert! And to do that, you needed every piece of the puzzle. Even if that piece happened to be incredibly snooty and sat on a rather high horse.

🧪 You had hoped that Floofty's behavior would improve as you spent more time together, but if anything, the scientist grew even ruder! They'd purposely bump into you, talk down to and insult you, pull you aside to demand you collect certain supplies or Bugsnax for their research! And when they weren't bothering you, they'd hole up in the ship at Boiling Bay to do… Whatever it is they do, not like they'd ever let you look. It'd be lying to say you hadn't thought of giving up on Floofty and leaving them to their own devices, but you could never bring yourself to actually do it. All of Snaxburg depended on you, and that included Floofty! … Even if you hadn't convinced them to move back just yet. And even if they don't come around, you can at least rest assured that you had remained the bigger Grumpus.

💜 Floofty eventually is convinced to move back into town, though part of you worried you might have somehow worsened the situation. The scientist now seemed to switch between pulling you closer and pushing you away. They'd ask for your assistance with their research, only to just as quickly turn up their nose at you and insist you'd only mess things up. Anytime you'd manage to have a civil conversation and manage to get somewhat chummy with them, it was as though a switch were flipped, as though Floofty were catching themself being nice to you and rectifying through arrogance. Hell, their behavior was so noticeable that Snorpy felt the need to confront them - all but having to when Floofty had nearly strong-armed you into almost chopping their head off.

🧪 But, the absolute worst thing, even above all that, was how you could feel Floofty's eyes boring into you. Just staring. Whether you were walking through town and talking with the others or running in from a snak run, you felt watched. And it wouldn't be a big deal because, hey, who doesn't people watch from time to time? Eyes are naturally drawn to movement and new stimuli! But, this was constant. A consistent pattern of behavior. And whenever you dared to face them, they wouldn't even flinch. No looking away or even pretending to be looking at someone else. Just them staring unblinking as you both locked eyes. You could swear you saw malice swirling in their eyes, glowering at you with what you were sure was contempt. And the icing on the cake? You had gone back down to Boiling Bay to fetch a snak for one of your friends, before deciding to sneak a peek inside Floofty's ship… All the air had left your lungs. Scratched over and over and over into the wood, on the floor, the walls, the ceiling, was your name. If you weren't so sure the rumor about Floofty being a killer was a lie, you would have sworn you were their next target.

💜 Before coming to Snaktooth, Floofty Fizzlebean had always been a bit of a recluse. Sure, they had family, their brother, some acquaintances and academic and professional peers, but ultimately nothing deeper than that. Likely in part due to coming across as unusual or rough around the edges. But also because they were a Grumpus that focused on the big picture rather than the small details. And, as such, they were derided for letting small details such as ethics fall to the wayside in pursuit of the greater good. Even on Snaktooth, their attempts at establishing connections between fellow professionals was impeded. Floofty was certain this was simply their fate, until you came along.

🧪 You frustrated Floofty just as much as you bewitched them. Though the scientist had thought little of you originally, Floofty was increasingly impressed by your intelligence, resourcefulness, skill, and adaptability - not to even mention your social intelligence. Deny it all you like, it took a rather special Grumpus to capture the hearts of so many in such little time. So many emotions whirled inside them it nearly made the Grumpus sick! Jealousy, affection, anger, fear, sadness, care. They wanted you close, but they were a danger to both you and themself! They knew you were intelligent but couldn't stand the thought of being seen as less than! They were charmed by your warmth and kindness but fumed at how you never stooped to their level! Why were you always so kind to them? Why did you care? Why wouldn't you just give up on them!? Just thinking about it made their heart beat out of sync and made them want to rip their hair out! You began to consume every waking thought. And even in their dreams, they weren't safe. They… They couldn't take their eyes off you, even going so far as to sneak into your hut at night. And when they weren't doing that, they'd go back to their makeshift hut to scrawl your name out over and over, hoping it'd quiet their mind, if only a little.

💜 You hadn't expected an invitation after you and the others fled the island. You'd all kept in contact, of course, but you weren't expecting anything coming up as of recent. Oddly, it was from Floofty, who'd been the most radio silent out of your friends - if they even considered themself your friend? Despite all you'd been through, you were happy to see the Grumpus was doing well! All smiles in photos and a new prosthetic to boot! They had gone back into teaching and was inviting you down to report on the findings from Snaktooth. Reading the letter, a warmth filled you and you couldn't help but hug the letter to your chest, smiling at knowing that Floofty had thought of you so well as to invite you to speak to their students!

🧪 Despite your initial nervousness at meeting them again, it went off without a hitch! You exchanged pleasantries and caught up with one another before going over their plan for the lecture. Throughout your meeting and the lesson, you couldn't help but feel proud at how far Floofty had come. They seemed so much more understanding and patient. Andfar more lighthearted, too! So much so that they even invited you back to their house to talk further, pouring you up a drink as you sat together. You couldn't get over how relaxed they seemed. And you were feeling relaxed, yourself. Relaxed… Or, wait, was it… Were you just tired? It was a bit hard to keep your head up or your eyes open. As you mumbled apologies, you let your head fall back against the cushion of your chair. Barely able to keep your eyes open, you felt as Floofty got up and approached your side. One of their paws overlapped with your own, giving a gentle squeeze. And as you fell into a deep sleep, Floofty pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head and sighed. "As glad as I am to be able to make up for my previous behavior, I fear you're simply far too trusting for your own good, dear..."

[anonymouspuzzler]

IT'S FIBO !!!! WE LOVE FIBO (I love fibo.) as usual thanks to @incorrectbugsnaxquotes for many of these prompts!

(alt text/image IDs under cut!)

[Image 1 ID: A two-panel comic of Filbo and Liz. In the first panel, Filbo is looking worried, clutching his head and saying, "I panic when people compliment me. What am I supposed to say?" In the background, Liz is walking by carrying a box and appears to notice Filbo. In the next panel, it cuts angles so Liz is in the foreground, shouting, "Good job, Filbo!" to which he whirls around and does finger guns, sweating and visibly panicking, shouting, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"]

[Image 2 ID: A two-panel comic of Liz and Filbo. In the first, Liz barrels out of the woods in a hurry, shouting, "What happened?!" Filbo, standing in the foreground and nervously rubbing the back of his head, replies, "Well, remember how you told us not to burn down Snaxburg--" The second panel cuts behind Liz as she grabs Filbo by the shoulders and shouts, "YOU BURNED DOWN SNAXBURG?!" Filbo, throwing his hands up in the air, responds, "No!! We had the fire out almost immediately! This is a success story!!"]

[Image 3 ID: A two-panel comic of Filbo based on screenshots from Brian David Gilbert's "Unraveled". In the first panel, the camera is close on Filbo's face from the side as he looks offscreen, gesturing in front of him with both hands, saying, "The want to be skilled. The want to be respected." In the second, the camera cuts to a shoulders-up view as Filbo grins widely, with unfocused eyes looking slightly off-camera, gesturing broadly to either side, saying, "The want to PARTY."]

[Image 4 ID: A drawing of Filbo based on a screenshot from Brian David Gilbert's "Unraveled". Filbo, wearing a sweatband, is lying face-down in the grass, legs sprawled out behind him and one hand limply in front of him.]

[Image 5 ID: A drawing of a comically over-muscled Filbo, waving and smiling with a little kitty mouth and a "MAYO" sash, with text next to him reading "fibuff =)".]

[Image 6 ID: A drawing of Filbo standing from behind, looking down despondently with a sash reading "WHORE", with text next to him reading, "everyone is so mean to me..." with a little broken heart symbol.]

[Image 7 ID: A drawing of Filbo and the Journalist in what resembles a "Friends" or other sitcom-style kitchen, with shelving to the left, a fridge with magnets on the right, and a table covered in various breakfast foods in the foreground. There is text reading "[CANNED LAUGHTER]" overhead. The Journalist, in a robe with a newspaper under one arm, and a coffee pot in the other hand, whirls around so their face is away from the camera, sweating and saying, "did you hear that". Filbo, sitting at the table and sipping from a mug with both hands, casually responds, "hear what?"]

[Image 8 ID: A drawing of the Journalist, seen from behind, and Filbo. The Journalist, holding up a Strabby, steps on Filbo's foot like a pedal-trash can, making Filbo's jaw swing open with text reading "BWAAAA".]

[Image 9 ID: A three-panel comic of Filbo. In the first panel, he is standing and waving frantically with a big grin, shouting, "Hey!! Hey buddy watch this!!" In the second, he flips backwards into the air, and in the third, he has landed perfectly on his face with his arms in the air like a gymnast, beaming. In the background, Beffica, holding her camera and looking on in disbelief, says, "what the grump".]

[cyberaxolotl]

Month Of Macabre has started! Let’s kick it off with our first fic!

The Snaxburg Spirit

Summary: When one of the grumps in the Snaxburg community is mysteriously murdered, the whole town is on edge to have a supposed killer around them. And when the voices make you feel what you never have, it’s impossible to deny the orders.

TWs: Murders, murder-suicide, heavy gore, eye gore

Illustrations: 1 (Contains cartoon gore)

Notes: This fic is not meant to depict psychosis/hallucinations. More elaboration at the end of the fic.

AO3 Version (Does not have illustration)

Fic below the cut

The sun had long since set past Snaktooth Island, making way for the moon to shine through the stars. Wiggle was part of the way through her unwinding process, gentle music playing on her phonograph as she wiped makeup from her fur.

“Hm?” A knock on her door caught her attention. She put down her handheld mirror and turned around in her seat. “Who’s there~?” She asked with a coo, expecting to hear Gramble, or perhaps the journalist.

..But there was nothing more than a knock.

“..?” That was a curious encounter. The knock was assertive and purposeful enough that she was sure a grumpus had to have made it, but why weren’t they telling her who they were? She got up from her seat and opened her door just a crack.

And there was still nobody there.

‘Did somebody just.. prank me?’ She thought, looking around. But when she looked down, another sight surprised her; a slice of cake on a paper plate. It wasn’t a bugsnak, she saw no eyes. It was just cake. “What..?” She muttered, bending over to pick it up. Looking it over to make sure it was really not a bugsnak, she saw thick chocolate that glistened in the moonlight.

“Sachertorte..” She mumbled as she looked down at it. It had been a long time since she’d had a treat like it, and she didn’t remember telling anybody that she liked it either. Did somebody randomly decide to bake a cake? But how? There were no ingredients on that island, or so she thought.

Stepping back into her hut and closing the door, she shrugged. “Maybe Gramble decided to bring me a treat and then go home, it certainly couldn’t hurt.” Her worry washed into hunger as she sat back down. “Sugar has never been something to make me energetic, it’s always made me crash and burn..” She sighed as she picked up the fork and a new makeup wipe.

She could only see herself a little in the mirror when her paws were full. Just the side of her face, but luckily, it was the side that needed cleaning. She enjoyed the treat as it made the annoying task a little easier, and soon, all of her eyeshadow was off. “There we go~” She threw it away, picking up her mirror to make sure she had everything.

“..Eh?” She couldn’t help but notice her eyes.. slacking. She blinked a couple times, making sure it was real, and it surely was. She could barely keep her gaze straight. ‘Goodness, I must be more tired than I thought.’ Putting her mirror down, Wiggle turned to her slice of cake. Trying to finish it wouldn’t do her any good, but she’d hate to leave a treat made by her beloved unfinished.

As she tried to finish off the slice, she noticed herself dozing. It was hard to keep chewing, and her fork almost slipped out of her hand. She could’ve sworn she was pretty awake a few minutes ago, but now her mind slipped every few seconds. When the plate was empty, she stabbed thin air, before realizing she was done. “Okay, that’s it- it’s all done, I can sleep now..” She mumbled tiredly, pushing both plate and fork into her trash bin and standing up.

“-!” There was a crash as she got on her feet only to immediately fall back down. Falling slightly to the side, she hit her head on her bedpost, slouching to the floor. Her head ached in the following seconds from it, and a dizziness overtook her, her sight blurring. Wiggle became overtaken by the realization that something was far more wrong than just tiredness.

A figure entered her vision. “..Who.. who’s there..?” She asked, but her voice barely came out, quiet as a breath. Her throat was tight as though she was choking, and she got no response. “-!” Nothing more than a wheeze came out when something sharp went right into the middle of her chest. It started getting dragged up to her sternum, then the base of her windpipe, where it cut deeper. She felt her flesh getting separated as the blade went up her throat, to under her chin, only stopping at her lower jaw. It was impossible for her to breath when her throat was cut in half, and her vision was too blurry for her to see her assailant. Her mind was too foggy to really even tell what was going on.

She felt her heart beating faster as the blade was removed, only to then be put back where it was before, now going down. Tears pricked at her eyes as she choked on blood, the searing pain being mind-numbing as her outer abdomen was split between two halves. Eventually, her vision went completely black.

~~~~~~

The sun beamed down on Snaktooth Island as the grumpuses came to consciousness, a summery feeling filling the air. Filbo skipped out of his hut, bouncing on his hooves and feeling the wind between his antlers. It was normal to see a deer prancing, and he felt all of that energy that very morning.

“Heeey, good morning, Fil-bro!” Chandlo called to him when their paths crossed, the walrus having just started on his morning jog.

“Good morning, Chandlo!” He smiled, stepping over the seats around the fire pit. He saw a bit of pink in the corner of his eye. “Morning, Beff.” He said with his tone a little quieter.

“Hey.” Beffica said quickly, walking by him.

He felt his heart soar as he watched the town come to life, slowly but surely. It made him happy to feel like part of a community, and when black fur came into his view, he knew it was about to really kick off. “Heya, Scarla! What’s on the breakfast plan today?” He asked, looking at his journalist friend.

“I’ve got fresh fruits and a bit of sugary stuff too.” They said, looking proud of themself. Looking down into their bag, they started going through it. “You up for a breakfast crapple?” They asked, pushing their glasses back up after they slid down.

“I sure am!” He said, holding his paws up. They placed a live, but deeply unconscious crapple into his palms, and he smiled at the sweet breakfast he was about to have. He brought a claw up to his mouth and enjoyed it as he watched the journalist bring Beffica her food as well, giving her a sprinklepede in a similar state.

He felt lucky to see such a community around him, and to be mayor of it. The fresh fruit gave him the energy he needed to feel like that day would be worth putting his all into, but really, he felt like that every day. It was worth the extra step to say hello to his neighbors whenever he could.

He saw another one of his townspeople in his vision. “Floofty, how’d you sleep?” He asked with a friendly smile, feeling apple juice leak down his chin.

“Fine.” They said flatly, walking past him without much expression. He didn’t expect much more from them, so he let them go by without another word.

Scarla was opposite of town to him now, standing in front of Shelda’s gazebo. “Do I really have to put it in the box?” They asked, paws on their hips.

“You know how it is.” She sighed, slouched. “I might as well keep up the illusion for those passing by.” As she said that, Chandlo went by on his jog.

“Fine.” They weren’t going to fight her on that, so they pulled a fistful of strabbies from their bag and stuffed them into the wooden box. With her out of the way, they started to leave.

“Oh, while I have you here-“ She caught their attention again. “Have you been going through my herbs?” She asked.

“..No?” They said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, somebody has.” She looked bothered by it. “I woke up and some of my hemlock was missing. That plant is VERY dangerous if you don’t use it correctly.”

“Huh? Why have you been collecting hemlock?” They were more interested than they were before.

“I collect every plant on this island, child, and all of them are toxic.” Shelda shook her head, looking at her jars and containers. “Hemlock, ragwort, oleander, foxglove.. No root or stem nor flower of these should be consumed. I only have them to make sure the foolish and hungry don’t eat them instead.”

“Hmm.. Well, I wouldn’t know who’d be taking toxic plants from you. Maybe Floofty, for study.” They shrugged at her.

“Floofty would have no reason to take samples from me. Whoever it was, I just hope they weren't planning on using it for cooking..” Her voice drifted off as she returned to her upright position, and Scarla took that as a sign that the conversation was over. Which was good, they still had more snax to give out.

Filbo was bumbling by the fire, struggling to rub sticks together to get it on. Those few minutes in the morning where he wasn’t sure if he’d get it lit or not were always awkward, even if nobody was watching him. “Aha!” Until, finally, he got sparks. Sitting back, he heard more people waking up around him. “Cromdo! ..Hi.” He saw the tired old man stumble from his hut. All he got back was a tired grumble.

And at the same time that Cromdo would get up, another followed soon after. “Morning, Wamby~!” He heard the voice from past the huts, and then the speaker emerged.

“Triffany, good morning!” He brightly waved to her.

“Oh, morning, Filbo!” She waved back at him, then disappeared between the streets again, a little faster than usual. Their little community was coming alive, slowly but surely.

And just a few more minutes later, the barn doors were pushed open, and Gramble stumbled his way out and onto the paths.

“Good morning, Gramble!” Filbo said as the shorter man entered earshot.

“Mornin, Filbo.” He said back nicely, looking down the path to where he was supposed to be. “..?” But he stopped.

“..Eh?” It took the mayor a few seconds to notice the oddity. “Is something wrong?

“Have you seen Wiggle today?” Gramble asked, not seeming too concerned yet. “She’s usually up before I am.”

“Huh?” Filbo looked down the path to the popstar’s hut. “Huh! No, I haven’t.” He shook his head.

“Mh.. Well, it is only seven in the mornin’. Maybe she was up late last night.” Gramble sighed, slinking away. “Oughta go take care of the snax in the meantime..”

“..Huh.” Beffica’s voice came as a surprise to Filbo. He’d forgotten that she was there.

“What?” He prompted.

“I didn’t even notice Wiggle wasn’t here. I thought it was oddly quiet..” She turned to look at the hut, seeing the door. “..Her door is open?” She noticed.

“What?” The mayor leaned to the side for a better angle, and Wiggle’s door was, in fact, slightly ajar. “That’s odd.. It gets really breezy if we don’t close our doors at night.”

“Hm..” Beffica stared for a few seconds longer, then looked down at her camera. “..Heh.” With a devious smile, she started heading for the hut.

Filbo sighed as he watched her walk away. “Oh, Beff..” He looked back down at the fire. Whatever prank she was planning on pulling on the sleeping popstar, he figured it’d at least be harmless.

After a few seconds of silence, a noise louder than any banjo cut through the air. “AAAAAAAAAH-!” A shriek as high as a voice could go, startling everyone in town.

“Beffica-?” Filbo jumped to his hooves, concerned. He was quick to get close to her, and he could see Scarla and Chandlo coming up as well. When he looked through the wide open door, a gruesome sight greeted him.

Wiggle’s body was cut in half and pulled apart, her flesh separated so that they could see into her torso. There was blood coating her fur and they could see every one of her organs, all of the gruesome, dead viscera. The incision stopped at her lower jaw, leaving most of her face untouched by crimson. They could see the remnants of a wide, horrified expression with dilated eyes.

“She’s DEAD!” Beffica shrieked again, turning to the others to get her eyes off of the sight. Those two words got the attention of everybody else.

Nobody knew what they were expecting when called to the words “she’s dead,” but exposed organs and dried blood weren’t it. Several of their immediate actions were to look away, to run, while others stood frozen at the sight, and a couple resisted the urge to and then did throw up. Somebody on Snaktooth Island, a member of the Snaxburg community.. dead.

Then an even worse realization came upon them. “She’s not just dead-!” Triffany started, having been one of the most stuck to the scene. “She’s been murdered!” It occurred to everybody when she said it. The macabre scene was so gruesome that it had to have been deliberate.

“What are we gonna do-!?” Filbo whined, barely able to stay at the scene, but feeling as though he had to as mayor.

“What CAN we do is more like it.” Floofty said, unusually calm about it, but still noticeably shaken. “None of us are trained detectives or cops or anything useful, we’re a bunch of hobbyists stuck in the middle of the ocean.”

“Eggabell’s a doctor!” Scarla butted in. “I can get her down from the mountain, especially if she hears about this. She’s the closest thing we have.”

“What’s the point, it’s not like we can just save ‘er! Wiggle’s already dead!” Wambus added, face scrunched.

“But if a doctor like her gets a good look at the scene, maybe she’ll be able to tell us about what happened to her, and we can find out who did it.” Triffany told him, looking around.

“But what is finding out who did it going to do-?!” Gramble suddenly yelled. “She’s already dead, and what would we even do with a killer-?! We ain’t got no way on or off the island, it’s just us and some crazy killer!” He grabbed at his head, the most distraught out of everybody.

As much as everyone wanted to say that he was wrong, he wasn’t. It was just the eleven of them, and one killer.

“Nothing’s gonna get done with all of us here crowding the place,” Chandlo started, walking up to Gramble. “Gramble, can I take you back to your barn?” The others could all see a kind instinct in him.

The rancher looked frightened, but didn’t decline it. He started walking away on his own, and Chandlo kept a supporting presence behind him.

“Hm..” Filbo watched the two walk away. “I think we should all be taking that as an example. We might be in a scary time, especially when Wiggle is-“ He choked up for a second, almost having looked back into the hut. “But, we can’t leave town. We’re in more danger if we’re all apart. Scarla, please get Eggabell.” He prompted them.

“On it.” Scarla ran off quick as ever.

He turned back to the rest. “What I was saying is we need to look out for our neighbors. If one of us has bad intentions, then sticking together will do more than being apart.” He shut Wiggle’s door, not giving it another glance.

“So what, eh, everyone gets a hut-mate now?” Cromdo questioned, raising an eyebrow.

“Not exactly that, but you can give a neighbor a tool, reach your paw out to them if they need some support!” He preached, looking around. “Chandlo’s already shown amazing kindness bringing Gramble away, and if we all do our town a kindness, we can prevent this with self-defense, helping paws, and avoiding fearing each other.”

“Mm.. I guess some of my tools can be used as weapons.” Wambus shrugged. “There ain’t no actual guns or blades on this island, but hammers and spades are better than nothin’.”

“I’ve got tools too.” Triffany put her paw up. “Enough for a whole team, though some are a little blunt these days.”

“Those options are perfect! If everyone has one thing to hold as defense, then it’ll go better.” Filbo nodded, only to be interjected.

“Your ideas are optimistic, child, but not all of us possess physical abilities.” Shelda interjected, stepping forward. “Tools or not, I could not take down an assailant.”

“I guess that’s where a hutmate comes in.” Beffica spoke for the first time in a while. “Find someone you wouldn’t HATE staying with and then hope they agree.”

“That’s the spirit! I think.” Filbo wasn’t sure he liked the words, but the message was one he liked. “We can talk about it more when Eggabell gets here, but Wambus, Triffany, try to get everyone set up with some means of defense.” He motioned for everyone to spread out. “There’s no use staying crowded here anymore.”

For the next few minutes in town, everyone spread out among each other, talking about the situation. Cromdo and Shelda were unsure about who their best hopes for staying with someone would be, and the others wondered about if they wanted a hutmate too or not. But soon, Scarla was coming back into Snaxburg with Eggabell right behind them.

“Filbo!” Eggabell shouted when she saw him near the huts. “Show me where she is.” There was no more greeting, just pure sternness.

“She’s in here.” He was a little intimidated by her tone, leading her over. He let her open the door herself.

She gasped at the sight, eyes widening. But to the other two’s surprise, she gulped that shock down, stepping inside. “What happened here-?”

“We don’t know.” Scarla said, standing by the doorframe. “We woke up this morning and she was like this.”

“..” Eggabell looked the corpse up and down, getting an eyeful of viscera. “Her stomach is missing.” She said quickly.

“Eh-?” Filbo struggled to stare at the body, but had to look when she said that.

“Whoever did this ripped out her stomach. When autopsies are performed, the stomach is checked for drugs and poison.” She looked around the room, stepping back. “I’m no professional at doing autopsies, but I had to learn a little. The hospital I worked at was so small that I ended up doing emergency work sometimes.” She explained as she looked around the hut more.

“But there isn’t poison or drugs on the island. Just bugsnax and plants.” Scarla said, looking pensive.

“The plants on this island ARE poison. Gramble got food poisoning a few months ago from eating the plants, he had ragwort poisoning, and it could’ve killed him if I didn’t help him.” The two looked surprised at what she told them. “Whoever did this might’ve poisoned her and taken out her stomach so that we couldn’t see.”

“You would’ve looked through her stomach if she had it..?” Filbo looked shakily at her.

“Well.. Scarla said I was supposed to be looking over a dead body, it’s just an autopsy regimen.” She shrugged, looking at the body again. “And whoever did this clearly didn’t care to make it look NOT like a murder. They left her body open like this, I can't help but think they did it on purpose.”

“I can’t believe one of our townspeople would be so bad to do this..” The mayor looked upset, hanging his head.

“Unfortunately, there’s not much to do. I can’t perform a full autopsy, all I know is that they ripped out her stomach, for some reason.” She shook her head, frowning.

“What I know is that you have to stay in Snaxburg now, Eggabell.” Scarla said, holding their paw out. “It’s not safe for you to be alone in the mountains, and some of us down here will need a capable hutmate.”

She sighed, looking away. “I know. Liz would want me to stay down here and figure out what’s going on too.”

“Come on, let’s leave this hut. We can give Wiggle a funeral in a few days.” Filbo said with a supportive tone. “The others have been talking about hutmates and getting tools, and you're one of our stronger grumps.”

“..” It seemed like then was when Eggabell’s shell cracked. When she looked at Wiggle’s body again, instead of being ready to analyze, she felt a wave of emotion, she saw the vivid memory of her and Lizbert sneaking into a concert together. “I’ll help you set it up when it’s time.” She let out without any tears falling.

The three of them moved away from the hut, Scarla shutting the door as they left. There wasn’t anything more they could do to figure it out, but with a tight-knit community now helping each other more, it wouldn’t happen again.

~~~~~~

After a long day of talking to each other and getting everybody ready, when evening came upon them, everyone was as ready as they could be. The decision was made that only Shelda and Cromdo would need to stay with a second person for support, and it was narrowed down to who'd be willing to take them in. Ultimately, Cromdo ended up staying in the barn, and Shelda found herself in Eggabell’s home with her. The doctor was scared by the idea, being intimidated by Shelda’s nature, but it wouldn’t be right for her to refuse when nobody else was willing to.

Chandlo returned to the mill just before sunset, entering his home for the first time since the morning. It was then when he realized there was one person in town still completely oblivious to the situation.

“Chandlo!” Snorpy greeted with a perk in his voice, expression brightening when he saw his hutmate. “I woke up this morning to all sorts of commotion in town, everybody was too crowded for me to get in and hear about it, all I got was a lot of stuff about safety. Nice to see everyone else is now aware of the danger lurking around us, but Chandlo, could you tell me what happened?”

“..” His eyes widened as he realized that there was no good or even neutral reaction to what he had to tell. At best, Snorpy would take it with the same grief as the others, but at worst, he’d have a full mental break at the mention. Taking a deep breath, the athlete started heading towards his companion. “I can tell you, but I think I should get you in our safe position to do it.”

The “safe position” was something that the two had established when they were teenagers. Snorpy had tendencies for meltdowns of various types, and Chandlo’s priority when they’d happen would be making sure neither of them got hurt when it happened. The easiest way to do it was to restrain him in the safest way possible, and the two acknowledged it as the best option.

“Oh-?” Snorpy looked surprised at the mention of it. “What could’ve possibly happened that needs you to hold me back-?” Anxiety was already on his face at the mention that something could set him off.

“Everyone else already has it talked about and we know what we gotta do! I just wanna make sure you’re safe.” Chandlo then got down onto the floor, sitting back. “It's not really something that can wait.”

“..Very well.” The ideas that popped up in his mind scared the rabbit-like grumpus, but he knew he trusted his companion more than his own mind sometimes. Sitting down and scooting to be back-to-front with the other, he let himself get held back.

Chandlo put his legs over the others and locked them together, then took Snorpy’s paws and held them behind his back. Resting his head on his shoulder, he took another deep breath. “It has to do with Wiggle.” He let out, seeing what that got him.

“..Yes..?” The bunny prompted.

“We, ah.. We found her this morning. In her hut.” He gulped, unsure. “She was dead.” He finished.

He could feel it as the other tensed and went rigid. There was a pause between them for a few seconds, then a very quiet “..What?”

“She was dead.” He repeated.

“Tell me how, Chandlo-!” Snorpy jerked a little, trying to look back.

Chandlo’s hold on the other tightened, struggling to keep his voice unobtrusive. “We don’t know-!” He got out quickly, “Eggabell looked her over and couldn’t figure out much.” He left out the detail that Wiggle had been cut in half, hoping he could get away without mentioning murder.

The engineer’s breaths got unsteady and fast. “Okay- okay-! Okay-“ He started repeating, “Safety, I heard safety, WHAT does everyone think we’re unsafe from-!?” The jerking started getting worse.

“Snorpy- Snorpy, calm down!” He tried to console the other.

“No! You’re not telling me everything-!” It was clear that there was no getting out of what would likely be a meltdown into breakdown. And then, things changed a little.

The two were immediately at attention when the door nearest to them opened. Filbo’s face peered in, his expression unsure and uneasy. “Hey, Chandlo, I just wanted to thank you for-“ He saw the two boys on the floor, stopping mid-sentence. “..Is this a bad time?”

“Filbo!” Snorpy yelled at him, snapping his head over. “Filbo, tell me what happened to Wiggle-!” His voice was laced with distress.

“Oh! Um- well-“ The loudness in his voice made the mayor freeze in place like a deer in headlights, immediately blurting out his first thoughts. “Sh-she’s dead! We think she got murdered, it was really bad, Eggabell said she didn’t have a stomach anymore-“

The room became frigid when the word murder was said. Every thought came down on Snorpy all at once as he froze for just a second- then broke into hysterics. Chandlo couldn’t get a word out as all of his focus turned to making sure his companion couldn’t get his paws up to hurt himself, and Filbo watched in silence as the room filled with incoherent and horrified words.

“Yeah, bad time..” The mayor took a step out, shutting the door tight. It wasn’t his place to calm Snorpy down when he had just said the thing that made him tick. “So much for thanking Chandlo for helping Gramble..” He started walking away, heading back to the center of town and his hut. It’d been a stressful day for everybody, and it seemed like he was only making it worse for some.

He was sure those two could sort it out on their own, or at least, he hoped they could. It was late enough that all he felt like doing was sleeping, and everyone else seemed to have the same idea.

“Night, Flop. Night, Flip.” He said shakily as he entered his hut, taking care to latch the door behind him. He got no answer, as expected from his two stuffed frogs, and he got into his bed without another sound.

And then, there was silence. There were no crickets or owls on the island. No fire crackling. No white noise to fill his mind. Just silence, pure silence.

He didn’t like it. Any thoughts he had to fill the silence weren’t pleasant, and anxiety would make it harder to sleep. He just had to wait.

“Hello.”

“-!” His eyes opened wide as a whispery voice spoke to him. Not from above him, not from either of his sides, and not from under his bed. The voice was in his own mind.

“Never heard the voice of deities before, hm?”

The voice was distorted and crackly. It was not feminine nor masculine, nor smooth, nor rough. A completely ambiguous voice.

Filbo sat still with his eyes wide open. Was he becoming ill? Was the anxiety-filled day making him hear voices? He stared up at his ceiling with no idea of what was happening.

“I am gathering sacrifices. The celebrity’s stomach was one, but now, I crave an eye.”

“What..?” He whispered, looking around. Nobody was in the room with him.

“Snaxburg will burn if I do not have the eye from whom I desire by dawn. Do not challenge the gods.”

He froze up at those words. “There’s a god talking to me..?” He muttered out, still unsure of the reality around him. “…Do I have a fever..?” He brought his hand to his forehead, feeling his temperature.

“There is no fever. Only me. Now, look next to you.”

Blocked by his antlers, he had to sit up to look next to him. “Gah-!” He gasped. There was a knife between the limbs of the nearest plush toy, with a glinting blade and an intricately carved handle.

“You believe me now. Next time you close your eyes, you’ll see the target.”

Filbo immediately believed what he was told, it all came down on him. “Wh-wha, wha- what happens if I don’t get it-?” He asked, bringing his blankets up to his chin and looking at the blade.

“Then Snaxburg is destroyed. Your choice.”

He blinked subconsciously. “-!” The silhouette of someone was in his vision when he did. “B-but, but I don’t want to hurt anybody-!” He whined, looking at the blade.

“You do. You know you do.”

He felt a tingle run up his spine, followed by a creeping, burning sensation. “What is this?” It was a feeling foreign to him.

“Bloodlust.”

His eyes opened wider.

“It’ll only get worse the more you wait. You may as well do it now.”

The voice was right. His eye twitched as he kept staring at the knife, trying not to blink, but struggling. If the voice was right, then it was one life, or everyones. “What did you say you wanted-?”

“Her eye. Get me her eye.”

He gulped, starting to breathe faster, looking around frantically. He didn’t want to do it, much less so brutally to get an eye. “-!” He squeaked as he saw the glimmer of a blade on his bedside table again, feeling something calling him to it.

“You wouldn’t want anyone to hear you and find that knife, would you? Now hurry up. You have one night.”

“One night- I can’t do it in one night-!” He whined. “I don’t want to do it at all, not ever-“ He shut his eyes tight, only to immediately open them. He had seen who was next.

The voice didn’t respond. With eyes wide, he turned to his bedside table.

“..Okay.” He whimpered out. “Okay- okay.” He picked it up out of the toy’s soft appendages, feeling fabric brush his fur. Gulping down hesitation, he stood up. “Just get it over with, Filbo..” Clutching it to his chest, he turned around and walked off.

Unlatching his door and sliding it open, he was immediately stopped. It was late enough at night that Floofty was standing by the firepit, looking intently in the direction of Gramble’s barn. ‘Why are they standing out here-?’ He thought, sneaking behind his hut. He had to get all the way to the other side of town without them seeing him..? The task sounded impossible, especially when his hooves crushed every leaf and pebble, but he only had one night to get the job done. Running behind Scarla’s hut then past Wiggle’s, he had to make a dart to Beffica’s.

Luckily for him, Floofty seemed preoccupied. Whatever was so interesting to them from that direction didn’t matter to him, at least, not at that time. Shelda’s absence made getting through that area considerably easier, and it was easy to reach the door of where he had to be.

It didn’t budge when he tried to slide it. “Oh, what do I do..?” He whispered, not knowing how to break into a home.

“Stab the door until you hit the latch.” The voice advised him.

Filbo gulped, he’d have to be louder than he wanted, but the only thing he could do was bust the latch with the blade. ‘Let’s hope they’re heavy sleepers..’ He thought as he stabbed through the wooden door, twisting the knife around to find the lock. “-!” A soft metal clink made him jump and pull it out, pausing for a second.

..Snoring.

He sighed in hesitant relief, then pushed it back through the hole he had made. Now with more care, he moved it until it hit the metal, and then-

Click!

The door was unlatched.

Taking one more look around, he saw nobody in any windows or doorways, and so, he slid the door open and slipped inside. Suddenly, sneaking around began to feel natural.

The couple were in each other’s embrace, spooning with their bodies as close as they could be. He was pretty sure that was how they slept every night based on what Scarla told him, but it only inhibited his progress. To successfully murder and take an eye from one without waking up the other… Neither were one he wanted to end up in a fight with. He’d be physically overpowered by both.

He looked into the other room of their home, his eyes landing on several potted plants. He could’ve sworn there was usually a cactus there, but wherever it was now wasn’t his concern. Walking over, he carefully picked up a pot, a plan forming in his head.

He had to leave the house to do it. Slipping outside, he backed away, bracing himself. It’d be easy to be loud enough to attract the attention of the couple, but hard to make sure it didn’t attract anyone else too.

‘I’ve only got one chance…’ He gulped, then held his arm back- and promptly threw the pot.

It smashed with a crash, and Filbo walked past the hut, looking past it. Floofty was looking in that direction, but wasn’t moving; just watching.

“What in tarnation was that?” He heard Wambus from within the hut.

“Sounded like something broke.. Did one of the plants fall over?”

“It wasn’t in here, it was outside. You go back to sleep, I’m gon’ check it out.”

“Stay safe out there.”

Filbo gulped as he heard the door slide open. He snuck a little further away, making sure he was out of view.

“Grumpin’ damnit.. One of the seedlings got smashed.” He heard a tired sigh, and assumed Wambus was just too sleepy to notice the implications. “I gotta fix this upstairs, I’ll be back with you in a couple minutes.” With that, the door was closed again.

‘Triffany’s alone…’ The mayor thought, looking back around the house again. The shattered pot and plant had been picked up and taken away, and he waited until he heard hoofsteps up stairs to make his next move.

Sliding the door open, he peeked in. Triffany was curled up with her tail up by her torso, and a light was coming from upstairs, telling him that he had to be quiet and quick. With quiet hoofsteps, he made his way inside, immediately at the bedside. Bracing his knife in his hand, he leaned over her, trying to bring it close to her neck. As long as she didn’t scream, he could do it.

“-!” Her eyes shot open right as the blade came to her neck. Before she could get more than a squeak out, he drove it down her throat, effectively silencing her.

Putting his free paw over his mouth to hold back his own scared sounds, reality was already setting in that he had killed a person. He pulled the knife from her neck with a sickening squelch, and the blood started to flow out rapidly, spraying onto his body. Desperate to get out of there, he stabbed his knife through the top of her eyelid, prying behind her eye and trying to force it out. There was a wet ripping noise as it popped out, and he took it quickly, then turned around. The sight of so much blood made him nauseous when he saw it on Wiggle, and now it was coating him.

Walking out and shutting the door, he ran back the way he came, not wanting to be there when Wambus went back down. Floofty was gone when he went by again, and he hoped they’d just gone to bed themself. Getting back to his hut, he slid the door open.

“-!” He gasped and froze as he opened it up. “What are you doing in my hut?” He blurted out as though he wasn’t covered in blood and holding a knife and an eye.

“What are YOU doing covered in another person’s cruor and hemoglobin?” Floofty glared at him, surprisingly calm, but with an expression incredibly intense.

Filbo looked them up and down, mind blanking on any idea of what to do next. Squeezing the knife in his hand, his decision was made by his body; he lunged at them with the blade.

“-!” But they were expecting it. Their arm was immediately under his, and in one swoop, he was shoved to the ground. “What- Gh-!” Their foot was pressed against his upper back, their weight shifted to it, holding him down by his spine.

“I wouldn’t make any sudden moves if I were you.” They leaned down to his face, making eye contact with him and holding it tight.

“What do you want-?” He squeaked out, now more scared than he ever was violent.

“I can't be sure yet. What have YOU been wanting out of murdering your own townspeople?” Their eyes narrowed at him, shadowed in the lack of light.

“I didn’t- I don’t want to be doing it-“ He started, but they pressed down harder on his back, successfully winding him. “I didn’t want to kill her-!” He huffed out.

“..?” They raised an eyebrow as though prompting him to continue. Their foot on his back lost a little pressure.

“Get them.”

A voice in the back of his head hissed at him. As soon as it had, the strong sense of bloodlust came back. Filbo pushed himself up onto his hands and threw his body up, knocking Floofty off of their balance, then turning around. He darted at them with the blade at the ready, getting a hit into their arm before they could react.

“Ga-ah-!” They yelped, feeling it cut through their flesh. The moment after it had happened they tried to throw themself back and disorient him again, but when they saw into his eyes, something scared them. There was nothing but a vicious glare in his eyes that they saw friendliness in just that morning. “HRK-!” The knife was in their throat a second later.

“…” He stared into their eyes for a second, watching the life stay in them, but knowing that it wouldn’t for long. “..! No-!” Dropping the handle, he watched both it and Floofty fall to the ground. “No, why would you tell me to do that-!?” He whined, covered in blood that wasn’t just Triffany’s anymore.

“You’ve done your duty. Now live with the consequences.”

“ALL Y’ALL WAKE UP, RIGHT THE FUCK NOW!” He heard Wambus call from the middle of town, and his heart felt like it stopped.

He quickly slid the door to his hut closed. “No- no, no, no, no..” He muttered erratically, falling to his knees and sliding down the door. No matter what he did now, it’d be over. He was covered in blood, there was a dying body on his floor, and viscera in his home. Wambus was the person he least wanted to face the fury of, and he could imagine the disgusted faces of everyone else when they found out it was him. “Why me, why pick me to do this, why-?” He asked.

“You’re gullible. And an easy vessel.” The voice responded. “But once you’re caught, and you’re exiled, I’ll just move onto someone else.”

“…Wha..?” The first part made him look up.

“I knew you’d believe anything I told you. Trickster spirits love the weak.” He heard a bellowing laugh in his own mind. “I wouldn’t have destroyed the island if you didn’t do what I asked. I don’t have the power to. But you destroyed your town yourself.”

Filbo burst into tears, looking down at himself, at all the blood in his hut, and curled back into himself. It was too much. It was all too much. “I believed it, why did I believe it, why did I have to..”

Then, a thought occurred to him. “Wh-who killed Wiggle-?!” He asked the voice.

Another laugh. “Triffany did, of course. You would be the next target, but you’ve set your fate in motion yourself.”

There was banging on his door. “EVERYBODY MEANS EVERYBODY, INCLUDIN’ YOU, FILBO!” He heard Wambus yelling.

He didn’t want to. They wouldn’t listen if he explained it to them, and he didn’t want them to listen. Not after he’d killed his friends. Getting up, he walked over to Floofty’s body, looking into their eternally wide eyes. He pulled the knife out of their throat.

“I-I’ll get him, mister Troubleham.” He heard Eggabell’s softer voice, and turned to face the doorway, holding the blade close to himself.

The door slid open, bringing moonlight into his dark hut.

“Filbo, I- -!” Eggabell gasped when she opened the door. He was overly aware of how the blood felt caked into his fur, and how it now glimmered in the light.

He felt anxiety overcome his silence. “I’m sorry-!” He yelled, taking a step forward. “I can make it up, I…”

She froze up, eyes widening to a pinpoint. She was scared of him and that blade. And somehow, she tensed up even more when he madly wedged it down into his thigh.

He pulled it out then shoved it back in, now into the lower corner of his abdomen. He brought it out and up, then in, out and up, until it went right through his ribs. “..!” He let out a low squeaking sound as he stared right at the woman in front of him. And then, he collapsed to the ground, the blood of many mixing together.

End

Secondary notes: This is not meant to depict psychosis in hearing voices/auditory hallucinations. It was literally a god talking down to him.

[renguro]

I did in fact make a grumpus his name is Scritch Riddleby and more info about him is down below

he is a fucking eboy

Scritch Riddleby is a streamer on GrumpTube who suddenly got shot into the limelight a few years back. Known for his love of entertaining, and popular for his friendly personality and dedication to his fans, he was able to retain his audience after his initial blowup and uploads and streams regularly!

Behind the scenes, Scritch is stressed and overwhelmed with what his life has become, especially with his fans. He’s grown quite a temper and vindictive streak, that he puts away for the camera. He’s no longer creating for himself, but he can’t stand the disappointment of the audience he now hates enough to stop.

When the opportunity to go to Snaktooth Island arose, with an invitation from Lizbert to help her document the goings on in a more casual way, Scritch took it. However, the moment he arrived and realized how disconnected he was from his fans, he dropped his initial reason for being there, much to Lizbert’s frustration. He much prefers causing a scene in Snaxburg and picking fights to take out his pent up emotions on things.

He enjoys the company of some of the older grumpuses, especially Wambus, who has no idea what a GrumpTube is and doesn’t want to ask. Scritch likes helping in his farm, but it’s more stress relief than really assisting him. He tries to hate Filbo, but just can’t, reminded of how he himself used to be when he first started creating content.

He plans to return quietly to his old life like nothing happened once the expedition on Snaktooth Island ends, and is therefore cautious of Beffica. He knows she can destroy his career, but a part of him wants her to do that. They’re almost friends. He respects Cromdo’s slimy business sense, and can sometimes be seen with him complaining about this or that. Clashes with Wiggle from time to time, since he can’t understand why she’s always trying to reclaim her fame. He does like her music though, even the failed hits.

Scritch sees Lizbert as the manifestation of his fans, who he’s grown to hate. She wanted someone more marketable and relatable to share her findings, and he doesn’t want to be that grumpus anymore. He doesn’t get along with Snorpy, who’s convinced he has some sort of connection with the Grumpinati, or is a beacon for them, due to perpetually being online around all of those ‘tracking devices.’

When Lizbert and Eggabell disappeared, Scritch stormed off to Flavor Falls, where he’s been ‘happy’ to be away from everyone else and keeps himself busy by failing to build a boat to return home.

--

extra because a prototype of him was the first time i ever drew a grumpus lmao look at this dude

[the-artist-of-chaos]

Thank you all so so so so SO MUCH for the motivation! Now, for what you all have been waiting for.

Even the toughest of grumpuses can crack.

By Bugsnax-liker

WARNING, POTENTIAL SPOILERS FOR THE GAME.

It was all happening so fast. One moment, it was a big celebration party for the success of getting everyone back to snaxburg, and next thing you know, the volcano erupts, and bugsnaxs are trying to kill everyone. Wambus and Triffany were the final people to help before they could all get out of there. Wambus gripped his gardening hoe in anger, doing his best to wack away all of the parasitic foods. Triffany however..she was losing hope. Infact…she had given in. She suddenly drops the cactus that she was using to defend herself.

“Triffy?” Wambus questioned. “Well…no sense delayin’ the inevitable.” she quietly declared before suddenly letting the bugsnaxs crawl down into her mouth. Wambus could only watch in horror…he didn’t know what to do. And while he did try his best to keep anymore bugsnaxs from getting over to his partner, it was too late. Before long, Triffany was already looking sick and ill as her body parts transformed. “Triffany, are ya alright!? Why did ya do that!?” wambus shouted. Triffany gave no reply; she only smiled sadly. “Come on, we gotta get out of here before these here vermins cause more damage!” the farmer exclaimed before trying to head up to the ship. But when he noticed that Triffany wasn’t following him, he turned around, and gasped in horror.

Triffany was standing there, with tears streaming down her beautiful blue eyes. Her body was suddenly falling apart. She looked wambus, her partner, who has been by her side for almost 30 years, right in the eyes, and choked out her final words. “This is now my end…yea? I was gonna end up here, one way or another, not like it mattered anyhow…the only thing that mattered out here…is bugsnax.”

And just like that..she was gone. Her food themed remains fell onto the ground as wambus just stood there. He was shocked. He was heart broken. But most of all…he was angry. At himself. “TRIFFY! NO…t-that…that can’t be!” He told himself. But that was reality. No matter what, he knew that the diamond in his rough was now gone forever…suddenly, reality started collapsing around the poor man. Everything was fading to black as wambus held triffany’s hat close to his chest. He wanted to scream, he wanted to yell, he wanted to cry, but he somehow couldn’t. It was like his mouth was glued shut. And just like that…

“AH GRUMP-” wambus would Yelp before falling out of the bed. A small but loud thud would echo across the slightly lit room. As he sat up to regain his thoughts, He then remembered that Triffany was in fact, still alive, for that they had all escaped snaktooth in one piece. They all were now living together in one big apartment, which had about 4 floors, and wambus and Triffany were on the 2nd floor, as well as wiggle, gramble, and Filbo.

“My head…grump, that hurt like hell” he mumbled to himself. He was covered in a cold, and hard sweat, and he was trembling like a sad and wet lost kitten. But something in his head told him that he shouldn’t be acting like that, so he did his best to stop trembling and wipe the sweat off. He then picked himself off of the floor, and looked at his gorgeous wife….who was wide awake.

“Wamby dear, what are ya doin up so late? It’s almost 3 in the mornin’?” Triffany inquired. Wambus just stood there in silence, trying to figure out what to say without seeming stupid. “Well? Is somethin on your mind?” Triffany asked. Wambus would then speak. “Nope, I’m positive that I am fine, I-I just need to get…um- ! A glass of water, yea, I just woke up with dry throat, that’s all.” He explained. Triffany just stared..she knew something was off, for her husband rarely stutters.

“Glass of water, yea? Then why did I wake up to you on the floor?” she interrogated. Wambus now knew that unless he could find a way to convince her that everything was fine (Spoiler alert, NOTHING IS FINE), he was in what he thought was boiling water. Triffany waited for an answer for 1 minute. Then 2. And finally, wambus spoke again. “Well see, I rolled out of bed on accident, and it woke me up, and I realized I had a dry throat so-” “alright wambus, I don’t wanna sound mean, but you shouldn’t really lie..” those words made wambus freeze. How could Triffany tell he was lying?!

“I wasn’t lyin about anything!” Wambus exclaimed, but Triffany knew better. She knew that wambus was lying, no matter how he tried to convince her. “Wamby, hon, I ain’t dumb. Plus, ya look like you’ve seen a ghost! And you’re hands look a little clammy, yea?” She replied. Wambus would look at his hands, which were infact clammy. “Crap.” Triffany then sat up, and approached her husband. “Now to get to the bottom of this. Wambus, what’s goin on?” She demanded. Wambus didn’t answer her question, and instead, he started walking away. And Triffany was NOT having that

“Wambus, please do not walk away when I ask you a question like this, now what is wrong?” She asked, with a more stern voice than before. Wambus was as silent as a mouse. It’s almost as if he was forcing himself from telling his wife about the horrific nightmare that he encountered in his sleep. He shook his head. “I ain’t tell ya.” He mumbled. “Why not?” “Because I don’t wanna!” Soon enough, it went from talking, to squabbling. “wambus, listen to me, it’s better to tell someone about what’s wrong than to just keep it in! I ain’t taking no for an answer, so just tell me what’s wrong! Please!” She pleaded. “I already said it enough times! The answer is N O!” He barked back. Now, if his wife was different, she would’ve attacked him, or insulted him to make him talk, but no. Triffany knew that she had to convince him. And so, in a calmer voice, she said, “honey, if you think I’m gonna make fun of you, you are wrong. I promise, whatever the issue is, I will NOT treat you with disrespect..now,would you like to tell me what’s wrong?”

Those words..those calm, and beautiful words..was what finally made wambus’s hard, stubborn, and tough shell crack. He suddenly looked to the side, with a saddening expression on his face. Tears would start appearing in the corners of his beautiful dark green eyes. This concerned Triffany a little, for it was rare to see her husband tear up, let alone cry. She took wambus’s hands into her own. “Wamby…are you alright?” She asked. “N…no. I aint alrighty..at all. I..had this- this nightmare about snaktooth. We were tryin to defeat those..those vermins, and you suddenly stopped and just- it was almost as if you were sacraficin’ yerself to the damn critters! As if you were tryin to save..me. I didn’t know what else to do, a-and you just- you suddenly..”

Before he could get another word out, he started crying..this shattered triffany’s heart. “It was the worst moment I’ve ever had *hic*, nightmare or real life! You were gone, a-and I- you were dead, and I just- I felt so grumpdamn horrible because I couldnt keep you safe! It was as if it was MY fault that you were grumping dead! I’m such a damn failure!” At this point, wambus was wailing his poor heart out. That’s how much this one nightmare got to him. Triffany hugged her husband close to her, tears prickling up in her own eyes.

“Oh Wamby…I recognize how ya feel, I really do..listen to me..you always do a good- no, excellent job at keepin’ me safe, no matter how small or big the danger is! And I promise, even if I do get hurt, it’s not ever gonna be you’re fault! And you are NOT a failure! You are a successful grumpus that is sadly misunderstood by lots of people, yea?” Triffany assured before wiping wambus’s tears with her thumb. Wambus chuckled sadly and smiled. “Remember, if you ever need to talk to me, you do not need to be afraid, no matter what the topic is, understood?” Triffany stated. Wambus nodded. “Understood” he replied before yawning quietly. “Now, let’s get back to sleep, shall we?” He asked.

Triffany would nod before suddenly picking up wambus. “W-wow, yer strong…very strong” wambus complimented, blushing an emerald green. Triffany chuckled. “Of course I’m strong! And plus, I’ve picked up lots of heavy stuff back at snaktooth, ya just weren’t there to watch!” she explained as she put wambus down onto the bed before snuggling close to him. Wambus would then kiss Triffany on the forehead. “I love you very much triffy..” he whispered before dozing off to sleep. Triffany would carefully hold wambus’s hand. “I love you too Wamby” she replied, before drifting off into a quiet and peaceful slumber.

(Hi everyone! I really hope you all enjoyed my first hurt/comfort oneshot! It took about 2 days, but I’m pretty proud of it! Bai!)

Bonus-

*the next morning*

Wambus and Triffany: *snuggling*

Filbo; Um- should we wake them?

Beffica, recording: nah, ima show this at their anniversary!

[floofy-grumpuses]

So like. Can u talk abt ur Bugsnax x Steven Universe au?? :D

I CAN AND I WILL. It starts just a little bit before Liz and Egg go missing and the fight occurs.

So the basic idea is this: Steven and Connie decide to go on a silly little boat trip, just for fun, just to be a cute little couple. And, as most things do for poor Steven, it did not end up how it was meant to.

There was some flash, a storm, suddenly they can't see the city in the distance. And then the storm gets *bad*. They can't turn the boat around, and then, it's dark. Steven wakes up in some medical tent. He looks around, and he is definitely not at home. It's some sort of island, wooden buildings, very pretty, but not home. He's greeted by the strange face of some fluffy white creature with a nurse cap on, who begins to talk to him. "Oh, good, you're awake. Hold still, let me check your vitals really quick." And he doesn't know where he is, or what's going on, his head hurts and he's tired, so he just plays along. It doesn't feel like he's in danger anyways. This being, whoever they are, seems to just be some sort of doctor. Taking care of him. And he could use a doctor right now. That's when he hears Connie's voice. It sounds like she's laughing. And he can barely see her from where he's laying. She's surrounded by other versions of the creature checking him out, one of them is grey and big with walrus-like fangs, one of them broke, a big hat on their head. Also laughing. Smiling. It seems like they're getting along.

That was the beginning of their stay in a place called Snaxburg. Connie had woken up a little while before Steven did, she explained the entire situation to their new hosts, who showed incredible amounts of sympathy towards the poor human children. These fluffy beasts, these people, called Grumpuses, had found the two of them shipwrecked and brought them to the village. They began to bond with Lizbert and Eggabell, who gladly opened up their hut to host the children for the time being. The Grumpuses weren't leaving the island anytime soon and they only had one boat (the one the pair came on had wrecked), so the kids just need to stick around until their families came to find them.

It's mostly just, the two of them bonding with the community. Steven scaring the shit out of Filbo one morning by summoning his shield a little to close to guard him from a rogue Bunger, that's how the Grumpuses learned Steven was half alien. It was quite the morning.

Losing both Liz and Egg the same night was pretty tough on Steven. Connie was almost equally as distraught to hear about it, but those two had started to becoming all motherly towards Steven, and he was really getting used to all the genuine affection from them. Wambus and Triffany tried to step up for the kids, but it was only so long before things fell apart again. When the fight broke out, the kids were out with Triffany, and they were pretty mortified by what they returned to. They ran to Filbo for answers, and were incredibly confused by what he told them. They'd spent at least a good couple weeks with the grumps of Snaxburg, and everyone seemed so close. The way they turned on each other was pretty surprising to them. For a little while, they tried to get everyone back together, but even the love for the village's favorite little human/half human couple, nobody would come back. So they stayed in the village with Filbo. Occasionally visiting the others (the ones they could find anyways). Then the Journalist shows up.

[j-nightingalesb1tch]

how i think floofty would feel about the other grumpuses (excluding snorpy and shelda, as we already know they canonically dislike one another)

chandlo

floofty would initially wonder why their brother was wasting his time on such a simple buffoon. they would grow to appreciate chandlo once they realised he took a genuine interest in their work.

they would also watch his and snorpy's relationship from afar and secretly find it sweet how much they loved each other. floofty would be glad snorpy has found someone who cares for him as much as chandlo, but would never tell him that.

triffany

floofty would be put off by her friendly nature, but soon grow to respect and value her input in their work. they would enjoy going on adventures with triffany and she would learn not to fear floofty's research so much, soon becoming a helpful volunteer in all their experiments.

wambus

floofty always respected wambus from afar, but was never interested in making friends. they run in different circles, after all. floofty admires wambus' drive and determination when it comes to his garden, and wambus respects floofty's research, even if he doesn't really understand it.

cromdo

floofty has no time for criminals like him. to them, he's just another blight on a society only they truly understand.

gramble

floofty pities gramble's naivity when it comes to bugsnax and would almost feel sorry for him when the end came. gramble is the one grumpus floofty would never want to involve in their experiments, wanting to shield him away from the truth. however, they would always feel an urge to reveal to him the truth about his precious family, just to save their own sanity.

wiggle

wiggle would definitely get on floofty's nerves. they would've had to surpress the urge to throw her guitar in the campfire so many times. they would find it easy to insult wiggle to her face because she takes nothing to heart. still, a part of them admires her dedication to her dream and secretly hopes she makes it.

beffica

floofty had always known beffica was smart and reckons she would be a valuable member of their community if she put her intelligence to good use. instead, they found it shameful that she chose to spy on everyone and dig for their secrets, even though a part of them was curious to know what everyone got up to late at night.

filbo

a simpleton. naive. weak. slightly stupid.

yet, floofty still felt as though he needed protecting. maybe because he was the only one happy to have them back in snaxburg. maybe because he was the one keeping them all together. whatever the reason, floofty could never bring themself to involve him in any dangerous experiments.

[b-r-i-n-g-x]

Okay so i figured something out.

Yknow that speedrun path you do to get to frosted peak

If you get there you automatically get all the tools you supposed to get during the game

And if you normally walk back then you get almost everyone back to snaxburg

But

If you get frosted peak and you fast travel back to snaxburg then the game wont put everyone back to the town, but you Still have all the tools

So basically this gives me power to yeet everyone with the lunchpad who i couldn't yeet before

[poliel]

Having Their Permission Would Make it Okay, Right?

Another fic I started way back when I was initially in Bugsnax but have no come back to finish and upload.

Content warning for mentions of cannibalism, needles, drawing blood.

~

“Hey Floofty,” Buddy said as they walked into Floofty’s part of the research tent.

Floofty sighed, making zero effort to hide their annoyance as they looked up from whatever they were working on to turn and face Buddy instead. “Yes, what is it?”

“When I interviewed you the other day you confirmed that you had indeed eaten grumpus before. What…”

“Are you going to try to slander me for that in that despicable excuse for a publication you work for? If you must know the specifics, it was my own leg I took a bite of after I had severed it for experimental purposes of which you know the result of. It was only a single bite and thus it hardly counts as cannibalism.”

Using that word for it was a good reminder of how insane this thought was but Buddy was already here and desperate enough to not really care as much as they probably should. Also, Beffica was right, international laws held no sway over the people of Snaxburg. So… “I really don’t care that you did it or even why. What I want to know is what did it taste like? Did it taste good?”

That almost seemed to give Floofty pause. If so though they quickly recovered from their surprise. “No, it did not. It tasted quite foul actually.”

Well, that wasn’t too surprising. But it was still something solid and not sauce so… “Would you be mad if I asked to try it too?”

Now that for sure took Floofty by surprise as they took a breath as if to respond but a solid beat or before they surprisingly let out a slight chuckle. “You can’t be serious.”

“No, I’m pretty serious. And you got that whole severed foot in your cabin that you’re not doing anything with, right? So maybe I could… you know.” Unable to maintain eye contact after voicing such a suggestion, their eyes drifted away from Floofty to Triffany’s skeleton laid on the table instead. Good thing she wasn’t here to hear them asking about this. “And you can’t call me a bad person for this because that would make you a hypocrite because you did it too.”

“I wasn’t planning to. However, I would like to point out that I ate a bite of my own flesh while you are asking to consume someone else’s, specifically mine. I think we can both agree that that is not the same.”

“All right. Fair enough, I guess. But do I have permission to eat your grumping severed foot or not?” Having their permission would make it okay, right? That’s why they’d decided to ask first instead just stealing. In hindsight they should’ve just snuck and took it because there was no way Floofty was going to let them eat their foot.

“As much as I would like to study any affects consuming my once snakified limb may or may not have on your body I can’t allow you do so. I’m not surprised you haven’t noticed or perhaps don’t even know anything about how severed limbs and such are usually preserved from rot. It’s in a liquid called formaldehyde.” They sounded it out slowly as if Buddy were a particularly dumb child. For once being addressed as such was kind deserved but that didn’t make it less annoying. “Which is a chemical that…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know what it is and what it does and that it’s highly toxic,” Buddy interrupted. “I wasn’t really thinking though.” After hearing Floofty admit to it, they’d grown curious about what that would be like and one thought had led to another and eventually… that had occurred to them.

“Well, that’s nothing new.”

Buddy was going to ignore that insult, as much as they wanted Floofty to think well of them it clearly wasn’t ever going to happen. “I just… really want something to eat that isn’t sauce.” They hadn’t eaten solid food since their stores had run out what felt like ages ago now.

“Hmm…” Floofty crossed their arms, lifting one paw to tap the side of their face in thought for a few seconds before seemingly reaching a decision. “While I don’t have any limbs I’m currently willing to spare, you could ask someone else in town if they’d be willing to lose a foot or paw for this cause. I’m living proof that it wouldn’t even be permanent. Or perhaps we could amputate a horn. Those don’t naturally happen on most grumpuses without bugsnax so losing one would hardly be an issue. Operating on myself in that capacity would be rather difficult though so I would prefer to do it on a volunteer. So assuming you can get a willing participate for such an experiment I would gladly assist you in your quest to taste grumpus flesh. In fact, I encourage it. I would like to see if it would transform you in any way.”

“Uh… no one’s going to agree to that.” And Buddy was not going to ask anyone.

“It’s a shame but you are correct. Which means I can not help you.” With a dismissive wave of their paw, Floofty turned back to their research. Before focusing in on it again though… “If you are really that desperate for food though I recommend dropping whatever inane reason you have for refusing to consume bugsnax and just eat one already.”

Buddy sighed, holding back a groan. If only it could be that easy. “I can’t. I’m allergic.”

“Oh, really?” Floofty turned back to face them. “It’s a shame my sample size is so limited, I’d love to know how common that is. I will just have to make do for now though. May I study your supposed allergic reaction to bugsnax?”

Buddy was almost a little tempted to say ‘yes’. It would probably raise Floofty opinion of them, right? And they’d like to know more about why they were the only one who was allergic too. If their reaction was less severe, they’d have already started eating them though so… “Sorry but I’d rather never go through that ever again.”

Floofty scoffed disdainfully. “Figures. May I at least have a blood sample and a description of what kind of allergic reaction you had exactly?”

Buddy took a breath, intending to lay into them for being rude to them about not wanting to suffer for science but… let it out with another sigh instead. They were too exhausted to be mad for long. “Uh, long story short, I ate a strabby and then spent the next I don’t even how many hours in the outhouse feeling like I was dying. And then I didn’t feel completely okay again until like a day or two later.” And then to make matters worse not long after that was when their food supplies on the airship had run out, resulting in their current sauce only diet.

Floofty took out their clipboard, flipped to a new page and wrote some stuff down. “Hmm… I see.” They looked back up at Buddy. “Were you vomiting or…”

“Both, mostly the latter. I don’t want to talk about the specifics.” This whole conversation was proving to be more and more of a mistake.

Floofty noted that down as well. “I suppose then in your current state of malnutrition, asking you to consume a bugsnax might kill you or come very close to it.”

“Exactly!” Buddy intended to say more but Floofty continued.

“Now, tell me, at any point did one of your limbs or any other body part snakify, even for a little bit?”

“Not that I was aware of.”

Once Floofty finished noting that down, they placed their clipboard back onto the table behind them. “Now for that blood sample.” They pulled open their desk drawer, revealing a row of needles – what the grump? They casually picked one up and pulled the cap off as they turned to face Buddy again. “Your arm.” They lifted their free paw in a gesture for Buddy to come closer.

That was the last thing they wanted to do. At the same time though, they didn’t want to give Floofty another reason to berate them – they wanted them to like them. So resisting the urge to whimper and step back, they stepped forward instead, offering their arm to Floofty. They even managed somehow not to tremble too much. “You sure you can wield that thing properly with your paws like that?” They were strawberries after all, even in a paw shape they had to be less dexterous, right?

“Mostly yes.” That wasn’t exactly the most reassuring answer. But it was too late to back out, Floofty was already pushing the needle into their wrist.

Buddy had always felt a little unwell when getting any kind of needle jabbed into them but for some reason this was…

***

Watching Buddy’s eyes start to roll back into their head, Floofty barely had time to finish the blood draw and pull the needle out before Buddy dropped like a stone. Well, that was unfortunate because they now felt obligated to deal with this.

With a sigh, they turned and recapped their now blood-filled syringe. They put it in the cold box, packed with fresh snow from the mountain peak just this morning, meaning it’d keep for a while at least. They then turned back to look down at Buddy’s unconscious body. Unfortunately they lacked smelling salts so they had to use other, more difficult methods, or just call Chandlo over and have him carry them to their bed. That would involve rushing off to find him though or shouting loud enough to get his attention from wherever he currently was, assuming he was even in town, far more trouble than they were willing to go to right now.

Bending down, Floofty patted the sides of Buddy’s face. They groaned and muttered but seemed determined to stay unconscious. Not surprising actually given they were running on an almost exclusively condiment diet while also being the most physically active member on the island. They ran around doing stuff for everyone perhaps even more than Elizbert had.

It was honestly quite impressive, really pushing the limits of grumpuses’ inherit resilience. Despite their profession, Floofty’s opinion of them had raised as a result. Part of that also had to do with the fact that they weren’t trying for some moral grandstanding about not eating Bugsnax as Floofty had assumed them to be doing. Too bad they couldn’t morally justify experimenting on them to find out more about that supposed allergy. Oh well, there was nothing more to do but to get them to a bed because clearly they needed some rest. But how was Floofty going to…

“Hey, Floofty!” Filbo on his daily rounds, for once not a nuisance. Or not as much of a nuisance as usual.

They turned to face him. “Perfect timing. Assist me in getting Buddy here to their hut.”

“Oh… what happened? Are they okay?”

“They should be fine in a few hours. As for what happened, they passed out while I drew their blood. Trypanophobia is fairly common and occasionally results in fainting, especially when coupled with other issues such as exhaustion or malnutrition.” As they spoke they gestured for Filbo to grab Buddy by the feet while they picked up Buddy by the under arms.

Filbo followed the unspoken order without complaint. “Why’d you draw their blood.”

“I wish to study it. They’re supposedly allergic to bugsnax. Though I have yet to determine if it’s a true allergy or an extreme intolerance. Regardless, any benefit my current research brings up likely wouldn’t be helpful to them or anyone else with a similar issue. Now, as they’re the only one here with such an affliction I have reason to believe it’s fairly uncommon but something being uncommon does not mean it shouldn’t be accounted for when possible.” Especially since one in thirteen was still relatively high odds.

“Oh, uh, that makes sense. I think.”

There wasn’t time for any further potential conversation as they reached Buddy’s hut. As soon as they were deposited safely on the bed, Floofty turned and left. They had research to get back to and a new angle to start studying. Later, when Buddy woke up they’d give them more of a chance, certainly they’d go a bit easier on them knowing their misery wasn’t a choice they’d made. Perhaps, if it proved to be more of an intolerance than allergy, they might even find a way to make bugsnax edible for them, like a lactose pill but for bugsnax. That would be quite the scientific breakthrough and something Buddy would no doubt appreciate greatly.

[snakxreader]

how.... how about wambus inviting the reader to garden.... and. spmehow getting in a situatio nwhere he has to pick me I MEAN THE READER up in his big strong paws

A/N: Feeding the Wambus simps, but ALSO, I did add a little bonus of how the Sauce plants in-game regrow so quickly! I’m, uh, sorry if you didn’t want that, but I figured it’d be a fun way to twist the gardening idea ^^’ I still hope you enjoy nonetheless!!

Wambus x Reader (Gardening)

“W-woah!”

“Careful now, this terrain is tricky. Here, hold onto my paw.”

You grabbed his paw as he pulled you down towards him, and barreled into him. Your face turned scarlet. “Shit, sorry.”

“It’s alright. Ain’t got nuthin to apologize for.”

You pulled away from the farmer, groaning from the impact still. “How much farther…?”

“Only a bit of a short walk. Come in!” Wambus called eagerly, almost heading off by his damn self. You run over and smack him on the back, which he barks out a laugh. “What? Thought you were followin’ me!”

“No you didn’t, you giant douchebag!”

Wambus shrugged his shoulders innocently, and you got him again, as he laughed harder this time, his eyes bright and cheery. The sight makes you blush a bit, as you turn away out of pretend annoyance.

You’ve had a bit of a crush on your close friend, Wambus, for a while now. Something about him just makes you gravitate towards him and despite your hidden feelings, you two became close friends. Close enough where he invited you to garden with him.

When you first heard, you didn’t quite believe your ears. “Uh, Wambus? I don’t know the first thing about gardening.”

He shrugged. “So? I’ll just teach you then.”

“Really….?!”

“We’re close, ain’t we?”

And that was that. The two of you set off at dawn, which if it weren’t for the adrenaline of constantly moving, would’ve drained you completely. But, it lets you see Garden Grove in a whole new light.

Even with the chilly morning air, the sunrise was beautiful. You could see multiple Bugsnax just flying around, or bumbling in the ground, enjoying life to the fullest. The orange hue in the clouds and sky is something you never wanted to forget.

“Really pretty, ain’t it?”

You blinked. “Sorry, didn’t catch that.”

“The sky. It’s really nice.” His raspy tone turned a bit brighter. “You don’t see sights like this much….”

“Not in the city, you mean?” You can’t help but tease as he huffs.

“Maybe. One thing I like about this island? Still full of natural beauty.”

“I suppose.” You shrug. “I don’t really see that much beauty in Snaktooth often.” Wambus looks behind you as you walk up a slope-like cavern. Glances you up and down, but as he turns away, you could almost swear you see him smiling.

“Yeah? You should look a bit closer then.”

He clearly found something humorous. You didn’t get the chance to ask him what, before emerging at the garden. You noticed a White Strabby roaming around, before it darted into the bushes at sight of you and Wambus. Other than that, it seemed like an abandoned garden. Roots over flowed, and while there was some output, it wasn’t as plentiful as Snaxburg’s farm. Wambus cringed.

“Grump damn.”

“H-hey, it’s not that bad!” You tried to see the positive side. “We just gotta pull out some roots, no big deal, right?”

Big deal, actually. There were multiple, burrowed deep into the ground. You and Wambus must’ve spent at least an hour pulling them out. However, it was incredibly rewarding, seeing the garden look even just a little bit better.

“I assume we can actually start now?” You asked. Wambus stuck his hand deep enough into the dirt, and massaged it for a bit before nodding. “Yeah. This seems good ‘nough, at least.”

“Thank Grump.” You sigh in relief. “So, what exactly are we planting anyways?”

He digs into a pocket in his flannel, pulling out a sauce seed bag. He picks a tiny one, covered in a reddish hue. You blink. “Huh…those little guys are what turn into Sauce?”

“If you plant 'em’ right.” He motions you closer. You crouch, as Wambus gently cuts away at the seed with a spade. Once the tip is opened, he rests it down. “See, this is the quickest way. Its tip eventually breaks out itself, but it’s a longer while.” He then produced a small canteen, and poured a small amount in a little dirt hole. “And it grows better submerged in water. Increases germination rapidly, especially for these critters.”

“Germination?”

“Process of seeds to seedlings.” He burrows it carefully, burying it under the soil with a few pats. “Alright…four..three..two..one…”

The seedling pops out of the ground, leaving you looking shocked. Wambus laughs. “Surprised the shit outta me too! This place must have miracle soil!” You could believe that, especially after what you just saw.

“Alright, lemme try!” You had to do this yourself, mainly out of curiosity. You picked a seed, and began to gnaw away with Wambus’s spade.

“Woah, woah, woah!” He grabbed your hands, pausing you. “You’re gonna split the darn thing in half! Here, hold on a minute.” He got up for a second, and before you could ask, plop down behind you, intertwining his hands with yours. Your breath hitches, your heartbeat accelerating. He’s soft with you, careful because of the seed in your hand. He holds the seed using your thumb and presses the spade down at the tip, cutting it with ease.

“See? You gotta find the perfect mix between gentle and firm.” His murmur sent shivers down your spine, being so close to your ear.

“Easy for you to say, you’re an experienced farmer.” You retort, face aflame. He’s still holding you so gently and so grumping soft, you feel like your heart’s gonna explode.

“Well. Good thing you have me in your life then, eh?”

The next few minutes are quiet and gentle. Slowly, oh so slowly, you cut seeds and put them in the ground, sealing them up with a little pat. Of course, this is simply Wambus helping you because you still can’t cut them properly after five examples and totally not because you like the feeling of his hands covering yours. He humors you anyways, and you both get 5 separate seedlings out of it.

He pulls you in close. “Well, I’d say you did pretty well for your first time doing this.”

“You walked me through the entire thing.”

“Nah. More like I was helping out a professional.”

You snorted, a bit of a yawn escaping your mouth. Wambus looked at you with a raised brow, but you shrugged him off. You were just a bit tired. You’d be fine.

So, you began the trip back to Snaxburg, because Wambus couldn't leave his farm alone for too long. But your body didn’t make it easy. Your adrenaline was gone, and you were feeling incredibly drowsy. You could still walk though, so maybe…just keep walking…and stay close to Wambus so you don’t-

“WOAH!”

You blinked, inches away from the dirt ground. You feel your right foot trapped in one of the tree roots in the grove. Oops.

“Shoot- sorry, I’m just a little tired.” You apologized. Wambus glowered at you.

“A little? You nearly fell face first into the ground.”

“It’s fine-“ But that’s all you could get out before Wambus picked you up and carried you in his arms. “What the-?! Wambus!” Your face is absolutely on fire right now, as the farmer carried you.

“I don’t want you rolling down a hill or somethin. Just stay still!”

A part of you wanted to protest, but that part was quickly overturned by the thought of being carried by Wambus. You fell silent as he switched to carry you in an almost bridal style position.

“I still could’ve walked by myself.”

Wambus snorted. “You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

You didn’t even half the energy to try and figure out the meaning of that.

[messbianarts]

holy crap i’ve had this fic about bubbles’ arrival in snaxburg for like a month or two and completely forgot to post it??? well here it is now!!!

~~~

“Now listen, it ain’t like I got a problem with y’all comin’ in and takin’ some sauce. That’s why the dang farm is here. As long as you let me know so I know when I need t’replant, y’all can help yourselves.” Wambus spoke, arms folded against his chest. “However. Comin’ in at midnight and making a massive ruckus and throwin’ dirt all around is unacceptable. You don’t live in a barn.”

“I-“

“‘Cept for Gramble.” He rolled his eyes. “Which, speakin of, don’t think yer off my radar. These tracks are Gramble sized, and I know you sleepwalk.”

“I sleepWALK, Wambus! I don’t sleepeat or sleepdig!” Gramble huffed. “It could be anything, you know that Bugsnax go crazy for sauce.”

“Hmm… nope-its probably not a Bugsnax..” Triffany spoke, looking at the paw prints. “Those’re definitely Grumpus prints.”

“See? Maybe you should secure yo-“

“But. I don’t think its Gramble.” Triffanny shook her head.

“There’s no Bugsnax tracks… so it’s certainly not the creature from then…” Triffanny shook her head. “But there’s the front paws. Whoever this is would be able to run on all fours. Which eliminates…. Basically anyone.”

“I can run on all fours! I’ve got the core strength for it!” Chandlo blurted.

“Do you run on all fours….?” Snorpy sounded more confused than anything.

“Well… uh… no, but- I could.”

“So we have some sort of… quadrupedal Grumpus on our paws?” Floofty raised a brow.

“It’s the queen of Bugsnax!” Wiggle exclaimed. “She’s moved on from just spooking us, she’s stealing our crops! Next, she’ll nab us Grumpuses!”

“I highly doubt that.” Floofty rolled their eyes. “Remember, no Bugsnax tracks, just Grumpus ones. They are not even snakified, you ignoramus.”

“I believe we should trap it.” Snorpy said. “A simple net trap should do. Most Grumpus claws can’t get through them.”

“Not a bad idea…” Wambus nodded. “Could ya whip up one of those to catch whatever varmint is messing with the crops?”

“Mhm. If it is some sort of Grumpus coming for us, then I’d be worried… but the idea of a Bugsnax taking the form of a Grumpus is even more terrifying.” Snorpy shivered. “If its some sort of Grumpinati scheme, we should act fast.”

“Best to nip this in the bud, I guess.” Filbo spoke, as the ‘meeting’ dispersed.

~~~

Snaxburg awoke to blaring alarms.

Seems Snorpy had spared no detail in the trap…

The Grumpuses quickly rushed towards the sauce farm, freezing in shock and confusion.

Instead of a bugsnax or some sort of shapeshifer, an ornery Grumpus pup was squirming in the net. Its blue fur was matted and tangled, and a few small cuts and scrapes littered its body. However, judging by its stained paws, they’d caught their culprit.

“Holy Grump, is that a kid?” Chandlo said as Wambus brought down the net.

“Well I’ll be damned,” he opened the net, trying to pick up the little Grumpus.

However, the little one lunged for his arm and bit. Hard.

He shouted and dropped the net, giving the pup the chance to escape as Wambus shouted all kinds of profanities.

“Catch it!” Snorpy shouted, as some of the Grumpuses ran past the pup. Others decided to run towards the exits of Snaxburg to block them.

To say it was pure chaos would be an understatement.

“Cmon! Get it!"

“Ow! It bit me too!”

“Almost had it!”

“Ugh, how is it slippery?!”

“It scratched my leg!”

“I’ve got it!” Chandlo shouted. “Nope- nope, don’t bite me, lil dude. You don’t need to squirm,”

He managed to pin the little grumpuses arms to its side as he walked back to the center of town.

The others walked back, still cautious just in case it managed to escape, but escaping from one of Chandlo’s bear hugs bordered on impossible even for the strongest of Grumpuses.

As Wambus and Floofty were bandaging and disinfecting themselves from the bites, Triffanny walked forwards.

“That’s a little kid." She muttered, kneeling down to its level a little. “Hi there, I’m sorry we were a little rough with you. We just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

She gently moved the little one’s messy hair out of their eyes. “Do you have a name?”

They thought for a moment, slightly kicking their legs. “Bubbles Dinkypop. But I like just Bubbles.”

“Hi, Bubbles.” Triffanny smiled. “Welcome to Snaxburg, I’m Triffanny. This is Chandlo, Wambus, Floofty, Filbo, Gramble, Beffica, Cromblo, Wiggle, Shelda, and Snorpy.”

“Tha’s…. Tha’sa lot of names.” Bubbles muttered

“Yeah, bit of a big group.” She shrugged. “But there’s safety in numbers.”

“Would- would you like to stay?" Filbo said. “I mean, you’re a little grumpus. I’m sure you’ve been doing great fending for yourself, but you don’t have to do that. We’d be happy to help you.”

“I think you staying here would be for the best. Little grumps like you aren’t supposed to be fighting for their life just to survive on a harsh island.” Triffany said. “It’ll be much easier for you here.”

“Yeah, we’d be real mean if we just made a little’un like you fend for yourself when we’ve got a cozy town,” Gramble said in agreement as he checked to see if any of his Bugsnax had gotten out during the chaos.

“Plus! I’ve been really wanting to build another hut, and making a little Grump hut is just the perfect project for that!” Chandlo grinned, patting the little Grumpus’ head.

“So, whaddaya say?”

They looked down at the ground for a minute, thinking.

“I… can really stay?”

“Of course!” Triffanny smiled. “I wouldn’t pull your leg about this. Howsabout you get some rest, alright? Think we could all use it after the hubbub.”

~~

“M’sorry, Triff. I’m just… m’worried about takin’ this kid in.” Wambus said, leaning on the fence. Bubbles, along with the other Grumpuses, had already gone back to sleep after their injuries had been taken care of.

“She was scared, Wambus.” Triffany spoke softly, careful not to wake the others. “She was caught in a net surrounded by strange Grumpuses. Biting is a pretty normal reaction.”

“It’s… not really the biting thing.” He shrugged. “Not anymore, at least, even though it hurt like hell. Honestly, I think she could be great at fendin’ off Bugsnax from the farm.” Wambus chuckled softly, before his expression became somber again. “But… I mean, she’s a random kid, Triff. What if her parents are lookin’ for her? Or… if Lizbert comes back, and she sees a completely new Grumpus she’s probably never met-“

“If her parents are looking for her, then this is the best place for her to be.” Triffany reassured, taking off her hat to make the humid night air a bit more tolerable. “But… Lizbert always said, the more the merrier, when it came to Snaxburg. I mean, she even said if we ever had a kid, they’d be more than welcome here.”

Wambus’ face shifted. “S’pose so…” he muttered, but his voice had a clear lump in his throat.

“Are you alright, Wambus…?” Triffany gently set her paw on his.

“I… just.. I don’t know how to feel, Triffy.” He sighed. “It’s…it’s not every day a child- a child you’ve been wantin’ for years and had given up on- falls into your lap. But I guess its just- not the way I expected it to be. I dunno, it was messy, she’s probably scared a’ me… we don’t know if she’ll be able to stay..”

Triffany sighed, leaning on his shoulder. “We don’t know that. We don’t know anything. But… let’s just try to make the best of it, alright?” She smiled softly. “Even if it’s short-lived, let’s just see how things go and enjoy it while it lasts.”

“Alright, I promise.” He gently hugged her. “We’ll do our best, just like we always do.”

~~~

so yeah!! hope you liked it! this was kinda my first time writing the grumpuses and it was an absolute blast lol

[yandere--stuck]

YESSS YESSS UR SO RIGHT. And then ofc we can’t forget the way they’ll both just stop talking randomly and watch you play around in the water and sand, sometimes even daring to join you. Snorpy is a bit hesitant but seeing that smile on your face and how much fun chandlo has lifting you up and touting you around makes him join in.

At first, Snorpy was content to simply watch from the sidelines. Despite a protective layer of fur and a good amount of sunscreen to protect from the sun's rays, Snorpy's penchant for staying inside made him far more susceptible to sunburn than Chanldo, who loved nothing more than a good jog outside or basketball game during the daylight hours, or you, what with how you spent almost all hours hunting snax and running errands.

Oh, you poor dear, perhaps they had all been too hard on you without realizing it. Not just him, but the other grumpuses within Snaxburg. Having to lean on you to provide food, emotional support, requests, errands...

The least he could do was to partake in this little beach party, sunburn and potential spies from The Grumpinati be damned!

He watches with a smile as Chandlo gives you a piggy-back ride, the both of you laughing as you splash around, scaring the Crapples back into their nest. He quickly trots into the water, wading up to the both of you as you greet him.

"Ey, look who's joined the party!" Chandlo beamed.

A playful thought flits into Snorpy's head, and with a laugh, he reaches into the water and the splash soaks both of you, sea water soaking you and Chandlo through your clothes and fur.

Snorpy can't help the laugh that escapes him as the two of you splutter in disbelief.

"Aw, Snorp-dawg, not cool!" The amusement in Chandlo's voice betrays him, clearly showing that it was, in fact, cool.

"C'mon, Chandlo, we gotta get him back," You urged, smile wide and eyes crinkling. "Charrrrge!"

And with that, Snorpy takes off, water impeding him as Chandlo is hot on his heels.

By the time the sun is low in the sky, the three of you are tired and soggy, drying up on a blanket one of you had brought. You were laying in between them. Chandlo was finishing one of the many sandcastles you had decided to build. Every once in a while, his paw would drift near yours, flexing with the urge to hold it, before returning to his work.

Snorpy couldn't blame him. He was lying next to you, overwhelmed with the urge to wrap his arms around you and nuzzle close to you, but... He supposed both of them were far too nervous to confess. He chuckled internally. Wasn't that just like them...?

Snorpy allowed his eyes to close, maybe he could sneak in a quick nap before you had to leave, or before The Grumpinati's satellites were able to ping his location.

Before he let himself give in to unconsciousness, a thought entered his mind. The thought of anyone else doing this with you, being close to you, of someone (The Grumpinati) taking you away from him and Chandlo...

It made him burn.