♕ ic contact - mask or menace

[sweetarts]

❝You've reached Bonnibel.
Or not, since I'm not actually here right now.
Leave a message and I'll get back to you.❞

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[sweetarts]

-Crownless... [ She was going to say she was okay with waiting later, but that last bit slips out. She gives a half-smile and blows a small raspberry. ]

Did some goon steal my crown or something? [ SHE MEANS LITERALLY... ]

[bassriff]

[shit. she scuffs the floor a little with her shoe, wishing she hadn't said that.]

Sorta. You quit for a few months. [true enough, really.]

[sweetarts]

[ Bubblegum straight up drops her phone from her hand. She just stares, mouth open. Then, after a moment: ]

'Quit'? What do you mean, I 'quit'?

[bassriff]

I mean you weren't princess for a while? [smooth]

[sweetarts]

No duh! But what the flip does that mean? How can I just quit on my kingdom? [ Lots of italics... ] The people I made? The kingdom I run so it doesn't go completely bananas on itself? Earth to Marceline? This isn't funny!

[bassriff]

Okay, okay! Easy, Bon. There was an election or... something. [she shrugs, looking a little unsure about that. the way it was explained to her didn't make tons of sense. she walks over with Ozzy and takes a seat.]

King of Ooo took the place, you bailed. Let your peeps deal with the mess for a while. You were... tired, I think. I get that. You didn't tell me about it, I had to hear it from that guy like... two months later? [rubbing the back of her neck, looking away a little before she turns her attention back to Bubblegum.]

While after that, Crunchy took over. [eyerolling. yeah, that's gonna last.] Last time I saw you, you were ready to take the place back.

[sweetarts]

[ It's a lot to take in all at once. Bubblegum just watches, calming down while no less confused. While she had thought that she might become a more passive rather than controlling ruler to her peoples might ease the stress of her job, the prospect of walking out under those circumstances isn't a surprise. What did she do, then? For more than two months? Maybe go to Gumbald's cabin? Go see Finn? Either way, the story itself makes sense. Even the Crunchy part. But she still has to take a step back and sit down at her desk chair to let it sink in. She leans her elbow against her desk and pushes her fingers into her goopy hair. ]

I see. [ Quietly. A moment after staring at her desk, she regards Marceline again: ]

Was the election rigged for this loser or what?

[bassriff]

You didn't really campaign. I guess you got all overconfident, figured your peeps couldn't be that stupid... [Except. You know. They totally can be, and are most of the time.]

I caught up to you and Pepbutts down by Lake Butterscotch, at your uncle's old place. You fixed it up pretty nice.

[Until it got wrecked, that is. Twice.]

[sweetarts]

I really did end up at Great-Uncle Gumbald's.

[ She smooths her hand down from her hair to her cheek, staring off at nothing. She must have gotten overconfident. She figured that even if her people were stupid, they might have some semblance of love or loyalty for, you know, the one that created them and took care of them and made sure they didn't blow themselves up. (Aside from Crunchy. And Starchy? Lemongrabs?)

None of this should surprise her, but it doesn't sting any less. She punches between her eyes and sighs deeply. ]

Well, I mean... [ She drops her hand and raises her eyes back to Marceline. ] That's just... how it was, right? I can't stress over it. [ Even if she's clearly troubled. She'll get over it. She takes a deep, calming breath. ] Thanks. Sorry I got frazzled.

[bassriff]

[Marceline frowns a little, floating up from her seat and putting Ozzy down.] Hey. [She drifts closer, putting a hand on Bubblegum's shoulder.]

It works out in the end, dude. It's not gonna be the end of the world. [even if there was some other stuff that very nearly was.]

You got nothing to apologize for.

[sweetarts]

[ With that little shoulder pat, she offers a smile. ]

Yeah, you're right. [ What's with her and letting her emotions run over her logic? She ducks her head a bit and pats her cheeks, eyes squeezed shut, as if waking herself up. Then she looks back at Marceline with a full smile. ]

So! Wanna tell me how it was? How long were you even gone for, anyway?

[bassriff]

[She grins right back.]

Three years. Crazy, right? Guess I'm ahead now.

[sweetarts]

Three years since the Door Lord incident... You're ahead of me by a few months, at least.

[ Which is still a long time in her eyes. ]

At least rely on the fact that when we get sent back, everything's the way it oughtta be. [ Bubblegum wasn't missing, anyway. ] Where was Finn and Jake in all this nonsense?

[bassriff]

Right where we left it. [It's a little distracted, almost wistful the way she says it. She barrels straight on after a brief pause.]

You had them stay with the Kingdom for a while. Waxhead put them in charge of the Royal Guard or something, but he fired them later. The four of us went through a lot together before I got back.

[sweetarts]

[ That earns a smile. At least Finn and Jake were loyal enough to her to get fired, or so she's assuming.

She stands, turns her chair around, and sits in it with her arms crossed over the top. She leans forward to get a good view of Marceline. ]

Spill.

[bassriff]

[Marceline winces. She still really doesn't want to get into that last week, not yet. But maybe...]

I'll tell you all about the last week later, like I said. Still processing it. But we had some good times before that, too. [She smiles at the memory, warmth edging into her voice.] Night I heard you quit, I flew out to see you. Some freaky varmints kept eating your pumpkins, and you and me ended up chasing 'em down into the old rock candy mines. You remember when we used to go down there, right? We'd follow the rails, you'd get scared when we hit a gap... [She laughs, quietly.]

[sweetarts]

Oh my glob. We went back there? [ Bubblegum brings up her arms, elbows still propped on the chair. ]

Um, didn't I find you spraypainting my property down in those mines? That's why were down there.

[bassriff]

Yeah, the first time. And don't forget I got you to leave a tag too! We found it, but I had to jack it up to dig us back out... we got cornered.

[She looks away for a second, absently rubbing the back of her neck.]

We talked when we were down there. About how things used to be, and- I know I've been weird about stuff for a while. [Even if she had been trying before she left. Home gave her the time she needed to sort through it.]

But we're good now.

[sweetarts]

Varmints, huh? [ She sounds thoughtful, pressing her hand to her cheek. She had been forced to tag that wall, sure, but the memory of it had been poignant in her mind. It's a sad thing to let go of.

That next part, though- The bit about being good is baffling. Bubblegum raises her head, shoulders squared and arms still resting over the chair. ]

...Good? [ She thinks a little more. It's been three years. Marceline had to have gotten past all the Door Lord things, remembered the Sky Witch, when she had been starved for Red, everything that had come after their falling out. Bubblegum raises herself from the chair enough to turn it around and sit in it properly. ]

Like... you're really ready to try and be friends again? For real?

[bassriff]

[She leans forward and reaches out, resting a hand on Bubblegum's forearm.]

Yes, you goob. We're as close as ever at home. I know we're not there here, but... I wanna try. You're the best friend I've got, Bonnie. [A beat, before Marceline gives her a crooked, sheepish smile, trying to cover for her own embarrassment with some teasing.] Even if you're in a freaky timewarp.

[sweetarts]

[ Time for this face. Bonnie is happy. And also because Marceline herself seems happier too, even if she's stuck back here. She lays her hand on Marceline's wrist. ]

I'm ready to try too, timewarp or no. Welcome back, Marcy. This place felt super different without you.

[bassriff]

[Yeah, nope. Marceline's gonna hug her now. Just a lil bit, enough to put her face out of view.]

[sweetarts]

[ It catches her a little off-guard, especially since she's sitting and Marceline isn't, but that's what's convenient about one of them being able to float, isn't it? Bubblegum is quick to hug back, tucking her chin over her shoulder. ]

Aw. [ A tiny squeeze. She lets the hug be for a little bit, her eyes slipping closed, before she suggests: ]

You can spend the night, if you want. Your pajamas are already over here. We can watch movies?

[bassriff]

[She closes her eyes, pressing her face to Bubblegum's shoulder. Marceline would be happy to stay like that for a while, she thinks, but she nods against her after she speaks.]

Sounds nice. [...wait.] I'm not gonna have to go digging for them, right?

[sweetarts]

[ Bubblegum gives a little laugh. ]

Not unless you wanna! I've got movies here too. Or maybe you're excited to go through all those boxes...