CYOA week 5: cloud, sebastian, bradley, jason

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[If Bradley won't give the snowman a hug, Ben will attempt it, except this does nothing because he's incorporeal.

The snowman muses as they put him back together.]

A hug... a huggie-wuggie... It's coming back to me! I... I was orphan, I think. I aged out of the foster care system, and I never could figure out to form connections with other people...

Is that why I feel cold? No, I feel like I got used to that... so why am I cold? There's something else I need to remember. Brrrrrr....

[unrecked]

[Wow, he does not what to hear this story as himself or his AU self. When things hit too close to home. His lips thin, but he doesn't stop trying to build the snow back up neatly because it gives him something to do.]

I'm thinking you might really need that hug actually.

[He glances at Ben and Bradley for a second.]

Well, aging out of foster isn't a great way to get out, but you got out. Then what'd you do? Living on your own isn't easy.

[battling]

[He watched his dad die (probably in this AU) and get eaten in front of him (probably not in this AU). Bradley is not the correct person to ask.

He's filling in the snowman, but he really doesn't have much to add to this discussion.]

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[The snowman sounds distressed.]

I don't know... I was alone, I remember. I didn't have anyone with me... I don't think I did? Brrrrr... why am I so cold? I feel like... there's a warmth I'm missing.

[Ben looks thoughtful, as he listens. Softly,]

No one wants to be alone, huh?

[It's beginning to snow again, falling lightly. Ben floats above Jason and holds up his robe as an umbrella, which continues to do nothing. He mutters,]

Hope that cat isn't freezing out there.

[Careful not to get sick out here!]

[unrecked]

[Yikes. When he pats some snow onto the snowman, it's kind of a reassuring pappap more than a packing of snow.

Quietly, to Ben:] We can leave some food out. [Thanks for the assist, even if it does nothing.]

Being alone probably didn't help, right? You didn't make any friends? You had to run into some other people, didn't you?

[battling]

[ Stray cats die all the time on the streets. If it's smart, it should know a good place to hide away from the snow and chill. ]

Wanna head back? [ They can carry the snowman back home and hang out under a real umbrella. ]

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I did... but I didn't know how to connect to them.

[Glad Jason is trying to give this snowman some counselling.]

Let's go find somewhere else. Maybe there's somewhere HOTTER I can warm up in!

[Time to pick up this snowman again and hope you don't run into anyone on the way.]

[unrecked]

[Saranzanmai..........]

You really think getting hotter is going to make you not cold on the inside? Sheesh.

[Why does this sound so ominous?] Carry Ben. I'll try to get the big guy. [So Ben won't be in the cold chute again. He'll see if he can lift this weird ass snowman so they can go somewhere else.]

Where to?

[battling]

[ Ben gets to be safely carried in Bradley's arms. Good for him. ]

Home?

[ I'm assuming they walked here, Jan. ]

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[You did in fact walk here! But yay, getting carried by Bradley. Jason may carry this weird ass snowman.]

TO THE VOLCANO.

[Do not go to the nonexistent volcano.

Anyway, as Jason and Bradley walk back across the field, Ben hovering alongside them, the cat comes running up to them again. It starts pawing against Jason's legs.]

[unrecked]

Ho-- [He is interrupted by the cheer for the volcano.] Look, there aren't any volcanoes, so you'll just have to make do with the fireplace. Not that I want you melting all over the floor in the house.

[They can start back in the direction of the house, but the cat comes back.] Hey, watch out. I'm going to step on you. [He shifts the snowman and glances around it at his feet.]

What's the matter with you? You do something to this cat that it's out to get you?

[Is this cat its friend. Please don't make the cat Thackery Binx from Hocus Pocus.]

[battling]

[ Bradley's holding a clock and a rifle and doesn't have enough arms to pick up the cat. But he sure would like to. ]

Sure you weren't a cat in your past life or something?

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I don't know what's with this cat! I was totes a human, too. But cat... cat...

[The snowman trails off, sounding thoughtful. Ben attempts to pick the cat up but as with everything else, cannot.

Also the what from what???? Anyway, this cat is attempting to climb up Jason's leg now, pawing where it can at the snowman. It will occasionally jump to Bradley and then back to Jason, as if zig-zagging to reach proper heights.]

Is it here to attack me again? WHAT DOES IT WANT WITH ME.

[unrecked]

[THIS CAT. There isn't anything Jason can do about it because his hands are full. Maybe the cat will calm down and hitch a ride on one of their shoulders.]

Beats me. Maybe you smell like a tasty mouse.

[He's KIDDING. But it does make him think.]

You got something inside of you that it wants? [To the cat:] What do you want? We don't understand.

[battling]

[ This cat is so hyped and for what? Was the cat supposed to be in the snowman's chest hole?]

Hey kitty, missing a friend?

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[The cat meows. No one here speaks cat, but Ben will suggest:]

Maybe put Mr. Snowman down.

[The snowman mutters, as though rambling.]

Nothing inside of me but a cold, empty void... Cat... cat...

[unrecked]

I think there is more inside than you are giving yourself credit for.

[jan: you idiots put more snow back on when you should’ve been melting him

Jason slows to a stop and lowers the snowman to the ground, but remains squated down.]

What? Are you trying to get inside? I don’t know what you want.

[battling]

[ I don't understand this snowman puzzle, Jan. ]

There's definitely more than a void there. Even if ya can't remember it.

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[It's fine.

Anyway, they put the snowman on the ground. The cat jumps off whichever the two it was on, and begins pawing at the snowman again.]

Wah! ... Wah? It's—it's warm. I don't feel cold anymore?

[And then the... snowman begins to sob? It's hard to tell because its expression doesn't actually change, but it makes sounds that sure seem like sobbing.]

I... I remember now! This is my cat... He was a stray, with no one else there for him, just like me. All we had was each other... We were family.

[The cat meows sadly, curling up next to the snowman.]

You've been looking for me this entire time, haven't you? Since I died, you were alone again. And... you'll still be alone—because I can't stay, can I? Sooner or later, I have to melt, and pass onto the afterlife...

[The snowman seems like he's addressing Bradley and Jason now.]

Can you do me another favour? Once I'm gone, can you take him to a shelter or something? So he doesn't have to be on his own again...

[unrecked]

[JAN I SWEAR TO GOD. I am going to end you.

He… looks from the cat and the snowman to Ben and Bradley. A sigh, with fog on the air. He turns back to gather up the cat gently.]

Just stop. Come on. The snow might not melt for a while. We’ll take you both back to the house.

[If the cat will let him, he is going to try to zip the cat up in Bradley’s jacket with the head out.

He really can’t dump this cat at the shelter, not AU and definitely not if he was really himself.]

I get what it’s like. You remember his name? We’ll… just take him. You can sit outside, and he can stay.

[battling]

[ Can't believe this cat is getting premium seating by being in Bradley's big comfy jacket. ]

You're adopting cats now?

[ First it was stray criminals, then it was locked up clocks and now it's sad, abandoned cats. ]

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Wow? Really? I can't thank you enough... You really do have a heart of gold underneath the bad boy appearance!

[Kill this snowman now. Anyway.]

His name... Yes, I think I remember! It's Marshmallow.

[The cat will cozy up in Bradley's jacket. Ben, meanwhile, looks excited for new additions to this household because Jason really can't stop.]

[unrecked]

I’m telling you, I’m not a bad boy…

[To Bradley:] Shut up. [But (affectionately) in this adoptive AU.

Marshmallow… We’ll bad end this cyoa if anything happens to Marshy.]

Marshmallow, huh. What about you? Remember yours yet?

[He is… adopting this damn snowman and the snowman’s cat, wtf. Okay, well, whatever. Taking after non-AU Dad.

He’s gonna lift the snowman back up again.]

We really have to get you a scarf or something.

[battling]

Big softy. [Fondly. It's fine if he does it, it's only embarrassing when he's the one getting called out.

This is their cute little cat, who must suffer no danger.]

Got a couple of those back home, don't we?

[Jason's rich, he better have scarves.]

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[Imagine if Jason wasn't rich enough for scarves.]

Nah, I don't remember my name. But as long as I remember Marshmallow's, I should be good, right?

[As Marshmallow purrs in Bradley's jacket, Ben speaks up.]

Saying Mr. Snowman is kind of a handful, though. Maybe we should come up with a nickname in the meantime?