♕ 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]

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...

[bassriff]

[She scoffs, laughing.]

No way, dork, I mean my jammies. You know where they are, or what?

[sweetarts]

Oh, those!

[ Bonnie breaks from the hug then, leaving one arm over Marceline's shoulder as she looks over the pile of boxes in the corner of the room. The rest of them are stacked in her closet. ]

I labelled all of the boxes, so the perjammers should be in the...

[ ......There are a lot of boxes. She gives Marceline a sheepish smile. ]

Wanna borrow some?

[bassriff]

[Marceline smiles wider, trying not to laugh too much. Good job, Bonnibel.]

Yeah. Surprise me?

[sweetarts]

For sure. [ She slides her arm from Marceline's shoulder and out of her seat, moving to open up her closet doors. She pauses just afterward, looking at Marcy over her shoulder. ]

You hungry too? I think we've got some [ counting off on her fingers, ] red peppers, some cranberry juice, and some apples. Those are mine, anyway.

[bassriff]

Can't go wrong with apples. [Marceline floats over, looking curiously at Bubblegum's closet.]

While you're setting up, you want I should grab us some nosh? [oh, glob, what kind of movie would Bonnie even have in mind...]

[sweetarts]

Sure!

[ The most boring and scientific 50's documentary she can find, duh. When Marceline comes over to her closet, Bubblegum smiles, her brow arched. She closes her closet doors by a few inches. ]

You're gonna go through my closet here too? [ She's probably gone through her closet before back on Ooo, anyway. ]

[bassriff]

[Bonnie why....

Marceline backs off, raising her hands.]

All right, all right! [She laughs.] I'll let you pick them things out, I'll brb. [Floating backwards towards the door now.] You want anything? Some of that sleepytime tea you like?

[sweetarts]

Sleepytime's not till sleepytime. Get me something with caffeine in it. [ She brings up a fist and a determined grin. ] I'm ready for an all night movie marathon.

[bassriff]

As you wish, Princess. [ Marceline rolls her eyes and grins, heading through the door. Same basic floor plan as her old house, so she drifts down to the kitchen quickly enough. She opens up the fridge, grabbing some apples and a bottle of cranberry juice, setting them on the counter before starting to open up cabinets and look on shelves for Bubblegum's tea stash and a mug. Wait, right, kettle...

There. Marceline grabs the electric kettle, drawing just enough water for a big mug of tea. Letting that boil...

Ugh nope. Staring at it and pushing it to go faster. Steam rises, the switch flicks, she pulls it off and pours it into the mug over the chai bags. Letting it steep... THERE, FINALLY. Bags out, sugar in. Does she even like it sweet? Surely she does. Whatever, she's overthinking this.

Finally, Marceline comes back in, holding a bowl of fruit with a bottle of juice sitting on top, and a steaming mug of tea.]

We good to go?