And They Were Roommates

by SaintPachycetus

Summary:

It’s been three years since the events that shook Hatchetfield, and the town has gone back to being the quiet, uneventful island that it always was. But The Lords in Black are still around, hiding in plain sight. More specifically: Grace Chasity’s apartment.

Grace is now twenty-one, with a job at the Recreation Center, and five peculiar “roommates”. She wouldn’t have gotten where she is without them, but has noticed that more recently, they’ve been spending less and less time in The Black and White, and more time hanging around in her apartment. Grace doesn’t mind. It’s better than living alone!

Notes:

Rant ahead. Feel free to skip down a few paragraphs!

I don’t know what it is with me and writing these types of fics - a collection of semi-related stories where the characters just do stuff. I think it comes from the fact that I want to learn screenwriting for shows.

The problem with these types of fics is that I’m always trying to stay a few steps ahead. Because they are more episodic, it’s a bit easier to get them done because I don’t have to focus on a big picture. What makes it difficult is getting the motivation to actually sit down and write the stories, not because it isn’t fun, but because sometimes I get writer’s block during a certain paragraph, or the length of the story is longer than I expected.

This, paired with the fact that I get excited to post, motivates me to complete a few stories ahead, not worrying about editing until later, before I post a chapter. It doesn’t always work out, but I have found it makes things easier!

With that little rant out of the way, as stated in the tags, this started as a one-shot, and then I just kept going.

I am well aware that the characterization, especially for The Lords in Black, probably isn’t perfect, but this is one of those stories that I am really just writing for fun! So let me know what you think!

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Madness of the Morning

Grace was startled awake by her loud alarm clock. She had been in the middle of a wonderful dream, one that was quickly erased from her consciousness as she started to wake up more. 

She heard noises coming from the other rooms - people arguing, the hum of the waffle maker that sent the aroma of food into the air, the TV playing morning cartoons. Those sounds had become somewhat of a comfort to her, knowing she wasn’t alone. Although she wasn’t sure if she would call the things in her apartment “roommates”. They came and went as they pleased. But Grace always looked forward to the mornings when they were all together. 

Grace left her room, still in her pajamas, to find Blinky and Pokey sitting on the couch, focused on the TV. 

“Morning, you two,” Grace said, stretching her arms. 

“Morning,” Blinky replied, idly playing with the drawstrings of their hoodie. Their orange hair was down in a long, tangled mess, as if they too had just rolled out of bed. 

Pokey, on the other hand, seemed ready for the day, as usually. 

He ignored her, focused on Phineas and Ferb. Grace sat down on the couch between them and yawned. Judging by what was on TV and the Lords’ schedule they’d developed, breakfast would be ready any moment. Nibbly made the best breakfast in the world, and he could make anything. Grace preferred waffles, which Nibbly gladly offered with extra syrup. 

Also in the kitchen, Wiggy and Tinky could be heard arguing about something unintelligible. 

Grace turned to Blinky. “What are they talking about?” 

Blinky shrugged, not looking up. “Don’t know. They’ve been at it all morning.” 

Pokey said, “Yes, and I wish they would SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Wiggly and Tinky’s voices both stopped at this. Wiggly popped his head through the doorway, causing Grace to giggle at the bitter expression on his face. 

“Well, if somebody didn’t stop singing during their useless 4 am shower,” Wiggly shot back. 

This time, Blinky snorted, and he and Grace exchanged an amused look. Wiggly and Pokey had a glaring contest before Blinky pulled themselves off the couch. 

“What the fuck are you and Tinky yapping about, anyway?” he asked. “I haven’t seen this type of argument since you caught on that he made daylight savings happen four times in one year.” 

Grace looked at him in surprise. “Did that really happen?”

Tinky strolled into the living room. “Ah, the year 1955. That was fun.”

“It was madness,” said Wiggly.

“It’s what we do,” Blinky reminded him.

Pokey groaned. “Can you all have this conversation in the other room? I’m trying to watch this.” 

Rolling his eyes, Wiggly turned his attention to Grace and motioned for her to follow. Blinky helped her off the couch, and they walked into the kitchen, where the smell of food filled the air and made Grace’s mouth water. Grace sat down at the table. 

Wiggly picked up a newspaper and sat down with a cup of coffee, his eyes squinting, reading it as if he were an old man. 

Tinky tapped Grace on the shoulder to get her attention before pointing at the coffee mug. “ That is what we were arguing about.” 

Looking between them, Grace asked, “The coffee?” 

Tinky nodded. “When Wiggly drinks too much caffeine, he can get a little… hyper?” 

“Manic,” Blinky suggested. 

“That’s the right word,” said Tinky. 

Wiggly ignored them, his lips pursed in annoyance. 

Nibbly strolled in, holding a large plate of waffles for Grace. “Here you go, Gracie! I even mixed blueberries in.” 

Grace smiled at him. “Thank you. Blinky, can you pass the syrup over there?”

Blinky tossed the bottle of syrup to Grace, who just barely caught it. Nibbly stared at the plate of food while Grace poured the syrup onto it. They licked their lips, but said nothing. 

“You’d better not be thinking about eating the neighbor’s cat, again,” Blinky said. 

 “Of coooouuurse not,” Nibbly said. “I was actually thinking of eating the landlord.” 

“Gross,” Tinky commented. 

“It would delay the rent this month,” Wiggly noted, to which they all considered. 

Grace shook her head, smiling. “No need. There’s actually a coworker who won’t get off my back. I’ll lure him into a store room in the CCRP building and summon you. He’s very hungry for a promotion.” The Rec Building and the CCRP Offices were connected.

Nibbly giggled. “Hmmm, hungry…” 

Wiggly shook his head. “Just don’t forget the book this time. Otherwise, one of us will have to bring it to you.”

“Oh, I’m not doing that,” Blinky said. “It’s raining out.” 

Grace nodded. “It’s on the table by the door. I haven’t forgotten it in a while.” 

Blinky winced. “I don’t think it’s a great idea to keep it by the door. What if someone walks in?”

Wiggly shrugged. “Since when does anyone come here?” He looked at Grace. “No offense.” 

Grace smiled shyly. “Well, you guys like to come here.” 

Pokey walked in as she said this, and the five Lords exchanged glances. Grace couldn’t read the look on their faces, especially because there were five of them. There were times when Grace wished she could read their minds. The Lords worked in mysterious ways. There were always mixed signals; it was something she had gotten used to after three years of being around them. 

She liked to think the reason they’d kept her around for so long was because they liked being around her. Why else would they show up at her apartment three mornings a week? But Grace also remembered she was the one carrying out their deeds. 

But she couldn’t deny she didn’t enjoy having The Lords in Black around, too. 

Instead of commenting, Wiggly sniffed, adjusting the newspaper. “We all have things to do today. Eat your breakfast and start getting ready for work.” There was the Wiggly she knew. 

Grace turned to Nibbly, who smiled and rolled his eyes. “Eat up, Gracie!”

Grace wasted no time eating the waffles, which were the fluffiest, sweetest, most delicious things she had ever tasted. The blueberries were an amazing touch. For some reason, Nibbly knew where to get fresh fruit and real maple syrup. 

After finishing her breakfast, she went to the bathroom and took a quick shower, then put a towel over her body and headed to her room. 

Blinky just so happened to be sitting on her bed, looking at the phone he always seemed to be carrying around. Grace always wondered if the phone even worked the way a normal cell phone would. She had even asked him a few times. Blinky never answered, simply laughing at an unspoken joke and winking at her over his glasses. Grace started to fear what he had on that phone. 

Because of all his eyes, Grace understood privacy was never Blinky’s thing. However, they usually left Grace alone unless they wanted to discuss something with them. Unfortunately, those times happened to be Grace’s most vulnerable moments. 

Grace faced away from Blinky, who was occupied by their phone anyway, as she got dressed. 

“Are you sure you don’t want to take the day off today?” Blinky asked. 

Grace turned her head towards him slightly. “Huh?”

“What do you mortals call it? ‘Raining cats and dogs?’ Nobody wants to go to a theme park in the rain. They’re all afraid of lightning striking one of the rides. Please. That’s the least dangerous thing that could happen there.” 

“So, are you staying here today?” 

“Yeah. Pokey claimed Drowsy Town for himself for the day. Something about needing the Sniggles to rehearse for one of his bullshit musicals.” 

Grace shrugged. “I was actually thinking about leaving work early. Depends on how fast I can feed that coworker to Nibbly.” 

Blinky laughed, getting off the bed as Grace finished dressing. Grabbing the brush on the dresser, Blinky combed it through his long, tangled orange hair. They hadn’t changed their look much since the first time Grace had seen them. While The Lords in Black no longer looked like high schoolers, Blinky and Nibbly more often kept their feminine appearance. Grace wondered if it was because that's how she saw them first, and they kept it that way to not screw with their image in her mind. Obviously, after three years of knowing them, Grace had seen each of the Lords take many forms - female, male, neither. But Blinky usually looked like the orange-haired girl with a purple hoodie that Grace had come to know him as.

“You’re staring,” Blinky said, and Grace’s face turned red. Blinky looked at her over his sunglasses. “And there are bags under your eyes. I think the coffee is still hot. Go get some before Wiggly drinks it all.” He sighed. “I guess I’m gonna have to deal with him today.”

Grace raised an eyebrow. “Why would you have to deal with him?”

Shrugging a shoulder, Blinky answered, “I think he's been bored. Happens every few hundred years. The coffee is always a warning sign…” Too confused to respond, Grace just stared at him. Blinky just laughed again, setting the hairbrush on the dresser. “Better not to question it. Trying to understand would break your little mortal brain.”

Grace pouted. There was a lot she didn’t understand. She knew she had asked this question many times before, but she asked again, “I don’t get it. We’re not at a Black Altar, and yet you all can go wherever you please without being summoned. How?”

Blinky tilted his head. “We’ve told you before: you feed us, we gain more power, and in return, you get power. That’s the simplest way we can put it.”

“So, you’re connected to me?”

“We’re connected to everything, Gracie. We’re gods. Thanks to you, our reach has become further; it’s always worked that way. With the strength given to us by our worshipers, it helps us reach out further, beyond The Black and White. How the hell do you think I was able to set up Watcher World? But to try and answer your question, yes, we are connected to you and your place. You let us in here, so we’re allowed to stay.” 

Grace was tempted to ask again if they liked being there in the first place. But she knew if they didn’t answer before, why would they answer now?

“Well, then, what are you going to do today? While you’re here with Wiggly?” 

“Most likely, stop him from ruining the apartment in his caffeinated high. You’re welcome, by the way. Now, go get some coffee before he drinks it all.” Blinky pushed Grace out of her own room. 

Not seeing Wiggly, Nibbly, or Pokey on her way to the kitchen, Tinky was waiting for her by the coffee pot as if he were guarding it. There was still a lot in the pot. Grace went over and poured herself a small cup. It was Tinky who finally convinced her to drink coffee instead of hot water at the legal age of twenty-one. It changed her whole life, helping her wake up and get things done faster. After a few months of spending her days rushing around, then passing out, Grace learned that one cup in the morning doesn’t hurt. 

“What exactly do you do on rainy days?” Tinky asked. “It’s not like you can go outside with those little brats of yours.” 

Grace shook her head. “No, day camp was canceled because of the weather. I’m just going to be planning some events.” 

Tinky sighed. “Ah, camp. Ted told me all about the horrors of Abstinence Camp.” 

Gasping, Grace said, “Abstinence Camp was great. You got unlimited graham crackers!”

“WHAT?!” Nibbly shouted, running into the room. “What is this about the unlimited graham crackers you speak of?”

Grace took a sip of coffee. “Graham crackers were originally made to be an anti-aphrodisiac.” 

“Did it work?”

“I don’t actually know.” 

Nibbly placed a hand on Tinky’s shoulder, having to reach up high. “Tinky, you and I have an experiment to do today.” 

Grace laughed. 

Tinky said, “Better get going, Gracie. You’re going to be late.” 

Quickly looking at the clock on the wall, Grace realized it was already 8:30 pm. 

“Oh, cheese and crackers!” she said, chugging the rest of her coffee and running to the apartment entryway. 

Behind her, Nibbly called, “What about cheese and crackers?!” 

Passing through the living room, Grace saw Pokey watching a synchronized dance on TV, as if studying it. She remembered what Blinky said about Pokey training the Sniggles for something. He must have noticed her watching him, because he slowly turned to her. 

Grace hesitated. “I’m about to head to work.”

“Okay…” 

Why was talking to Pokey always so awkward? Who was Grace kidding? Talking to any of them was awkward.

“Hey, I was thinking of doing some Zumba classes at the Rec Center. But I doubt I would be able to do it without dancing headfirst into the giant mirror.”

“Most likely,” he agreed bluntly. 

Grace took a breath. “I was wondering if you could give me some tips. Maybe teach me a few dances.”

Pokey looked at her, his eyebrows pitched. At first, Grace was about to say “never mind” until he sighed and turned back to the TV. “I’ll see if I have the time.” 

Well, it wasn’t a “no”. 

Grace went to the entryway, making sure her bag was packed, before walking out the door.

Outside, on the covered landing, Wiggly stood, holding The Black Book out. Grace’s eyes widened. 

“Gosh darn it!” she said, taking the book from him. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say sorry to me,” Wiggly said. “But I doubt Nibbly would forgive you if you forgot his snack.” 

Grace nodded.

Surprisingly, as she started walking out of the apartment complex and onto the rainy streets, Wiggly followed her. They were quiet for a while, the sound of the rain on hot pavement and an occasional clap of thunder in the distance creating a dreary atmosphere. 

Wiggly walked fast, most likely due to the caffeine, so Grace had to struggle to keep up. People around them moved slowly, some struggling with their umbrellas, while others trudged along, getting soaked during their own commute. 

“You know,” Wiggly said, “this isn’t too different from what Drowsy Town is like.” 

From the little Grace knew about Drowsy Town, this made sense - dark, wet, and sad. No wonder The Lords in Black were in Hatchetfield so often. Maybe they got sick of ruling their realm for so long, they decided to take a break. Maybe their invading Grace’s apartment three times a week was just a quick vacation from their everyday lives. 

Grace knew she would never understand how The Lords in Black worked. She could study The Black Book - memorize every spell and ritual, dedicate her life to worshiping them and feeding them souls, and even spend her free time with them. And yet, after three years, she was still left in the dark. 

“When I die,” Grace started to ask, “will you bring me to Drowsy Town, too?” 

Wiggly turned to her, grinning. “We haven’t decided yet. Why? Would you like to go? Why would you want to spend eternity with us when you’re already doing it in life?”

Grace hesitated. She suddenly regretted asking that question. It might be one she didn’t want the answer to. At least, not until the time came. But Wiggly offered her a sympathetic look, which was still just as unsettling. 

“I just… I’ve dedicated three years of my life to you,” Grace said quietly. “And you’ve been nothing but fair to me. All of you still scare me, though.” 

“I will admit, we’re hesitant to say you have anything to do with our goals. We could easily replace you.” Wiggly paused for a moment before continuing, “But we won’t. You’ve been the best follower to us since Willabella.”

Grace nodded. “Your first disciple.”

“Precisely. And let me tell you something that if you repeat to the others, I will indeed take your soul to Drowsy Town. Blinky likes watching you, Nibbly likes cooking for you, Tinky likes helping you manage your schedule, and even Pokey likes it when you ask him how to dance and sing. We wouldn’t stick around if we didn’t enjoy being around you.”

“Then, why do you like me?” 

Grace hadn’t realized they were already in the parking lot of the Rec Center.  

“You realize we’re all brothers, right?” Wiggly asked. 

“Yeah.”

“While we all live in The Black and White, being united under a new roof has given us a new view on this world and how we affect it. And each other. Think of it as one of your recreational activities. Bonding and all that bullshit.” 

Grace nodded slowly. She looked at the clock on the side of the building, three minutes before 9 am. Grace smiled, turning to Wiggly.

“Tell Nibbly I’ll summon him in the CCRP building by lunch time,” she told him. 

“And that’s why we would never get by without you,” Wiggly said.

Entering the Rec Building, Grace turned to look out the window, and Wiggly was gone. She brushed a strand of wet hair out of her face and made her way to her office. 

The coworker in particular was handing a coffee to their boss. Grace glared at him, taking one last look in her bag to make sure she had The Black Book. It wasn’t a competition; Grace couldn't care less about any promotion. But it was his cocky attitude, his tendency to kiss their boss’s ass, and his audacity to flirt with the other female coworkers reminded her of some people from her past. She had gotten rid of them and made the world better for it. And, if it meant feeding Nibblenephim, a little power for herself surely wouldn’t hurt. 

But first, she had other work to attend to. 

Grace opened her email to see a message from Stephanie Lauter, one of the members of the town council, and a friend from high school. 

The message read:

Dear Grace Chasity,

Last week, the tax collector went missing around 6 am at Beanie’s. You were reported to have been seen in the area around 6:10 a.m. If you’re going to continue your little rituals in our town, please be more discreet and tell those idiots living in your apartment to consider moving to a different town. 

Sincerely,

Stephanie Lauter

Hatchetfield Town Council

Grace leaned back in her seat. Steph knew how to make the most formal yet casual emails. 

It had been months since they had last spoken in person. Somehow, Steph caught on to what Grace and The Lords in Black had been doing for years, but she couldn’t do anything about it. 

Turning in her chair, Grace got the attention of her stupid coworker. 

“Hey, I hear there’s going to be a surprise party for someone at the CCRP building around lunch time,” she lied. 

Her coworker looked confused. “I never heard about it.”

Grace laughed. “That’s because it’s a surprise. You wouldn’t want to miss it and be the only one to not show up, would you?”

Her coworker agreed and decided to meet her at the CCRP building around noon. Grace smirked, turning back in her chair and pulling out The Black Book, memorizing the page for summoning The One Who Feasts In The Dark.

It didn’t matter what Stephanie said. Grace liked having The Lords in Black around.

Chapter 2: Stop and... Just Stop

Notes:

I just want to start off by saying how grateful I am for all the kind, wonderful comments that were left in the first chapter. I wasn’t able to reply to them, so now’s the time I’m saying a huge THANK YOU for all the support! All of you are so awesome, and it really motivates me to write more!

The title of this chapter may seem a little confusing, so I will provide a quick explanation. Where I live (somewhere in the U.S.), we have a grocery store called Stop and Shop. Usually, I’m good at naming stories and chapters, but I will admit, this one I had trouble with.

Hopefully, you all enjoy this chapter as much as the first one!

Nibbly's cries were so loud, Grace heard them while outside, just home from the Rec Center one afternoon. Grace knew the Lords well enough at that point to know it was Nibbly doing the crying. But these were wails of distress, something Grace had never heard from any of them. 

She hesitated before opening the door to her apartment. Her brain went through all the possibilities of why one of the Lords might be crying. 

Should she be worried? Scared? What was she about to find when she went inside? 

Slowly, she unlocked the door and took a step inside, peeking through the doorway to the kitchen where Nibbly was on his knees in front of the empty refrigerator.

Oh…

His brothers were surrounding him. Pokey massaged his temple, probably annoyed by all the noise Nibbly was making. Wiggly and Tinky, being the good brothers they are, were trying to calm Nibbly down. It was Blinky who noticed Grace first, being well aware that the mortal girl had come inside, despite being as quiet as she could. 

Blinky grabbed a piece of paper that was attached to the refrigerator by a magnet, before going over to Grace and holding it up: a shopping list… from two weeks ago. 

Grace looked between the list and Nibbly. Grace had been feeding him two to three souls a week. Why was he so upset about Grace not having food? 

Pokey looked up at her. “That refrigerator is emptier than a politician’s soul. What the fuck have you been eating for the last two weeks?” 

Wincing, Grace looked down at her shoes in shame. “Mostly leftover takeout from work. And a sleeve of cookies I’ve been rationing.”

Nibbly cried. “You’ve had cookies hidden this whole time, and you didn’t share?” 

“I’m sorry,” Grace apologized, going over and kneeling down next to him. “I didn’t even know you needed to eat anything other than mortal souls.”

“He doesn’t,” Wiggly said, standing. “Nibbly gets cravings for mortal foods. It still feeds them - satisfies a different type of hunger.”

Grace nodded, barely understanding, but deciding not to dwell on it for too long. She put a hand on Nibbly’s shoulder. His hands were tugging on his pink pigtails in agitation. Grace had seen the Lords stressed out, but never to this capacity. 

“Hey?” Grace said. “Do you want to go food shopping?” 

Nibbly’s eyes lit up. 

“Oh no,” Tinky said, putting his hands up. “We don’t let Nibbly within 1,000 feet of a grocery store.” 

Blinky walked over with the list. “We could if someone kept an eye on him- Not it!” He instantly put a finger to his nose. 

Tinky and Pokey did the same, Grace instinctively doing it as well, before they all looked at Wiggly. Wiggly had not been paying attention, and it was too late when he realized he was the only one without their finger to their nose. He glared at them all before grabbing Nibbly’s arm and pulling him off the floor. 

“Fine, we all leave now,” he demanded. 

Grace already had her bag from work with her wallet, phone, and keys. Blinky had the list, and Pokey opened a drawer to grab some reusable bags. Nibbly held onto Wiggly’s arm, all the sadness disappearing as he dragged his brother out the door. Tinky stayed behind, watching Grace as they left the apartment and she locked the door behind them. 

Thankfully, Hatchetfield Groceries was only a short walk away from Grace’s apartment. It made it easier to carry the food back. With the length of the shopping list, they were going to need a lot of hands to carry everything. 

Grace was surprised at how long she had been avoiding it. Until she looked at Tinky beside her. Usually, he was the one who kept her on top of things - rent, laundry, and, most of the time, food. She wanted to ask him about it. She started walking a bit slower to get further away from Nibbly. 

“Why didn’t you remind me I needed to go food shopping?” Grace asked Tinky. 

Tinky laughed softly to himself. “It had nothing to do with you. It’s Nibbly’s own damn fault for eating the ice cream in the freezer that I had claimed.” 

Grace pursed her lips. This wasn’t the first time she’d been caught in the Lords’ business. It came with being their servant. At least they were dealing with it now.

Reinforcing the fact that Grace wasn’t on her own, Tinky pulled a wad of cash from his pocket and discreetly handed it to her.

Seeing her confused expression, Tinky smiled. “I’ve been taking a little from your paycheck and saving it for situations like this. It is a long list.”

“Thank you…?” Grace looked at the money, which must have been at least a hundred and twenty, before putting it in her purse.

They arrived at the parking lot of Hatchetfield Groceries. Blinky turned and looked at the sky - a sunset of orange, pink, and purple bled through the puffy clouds. They pulled out their phone and took a picture. 

Wiggly sighed, looking at Grace. “This world is too confusing. Blinky has an album of pictures of the sky, which I assumed were taken from a scenic place. No, apparently, he took them at a gas station.” He grabbed a cart, pulling Nibbly towards it. “Get in.” 

“But I wanna walk around…” Nibbly said, reaching towards the store. 

“Oh, no. They want me to supervise, then I demand you get in and stay in the cart.”

Nibbly grumbled, “Fine.” And jumped into the shopping cart. 

Blinky patted Wiggly’s shoulder. “We’ll take care of the list.”

“Nibbly, you're free to get a couple of things that aren’t on the list,” Grace said, feeling a bit bad. 

Nibbly raised an eyebrow. “How many is a couple?” 

Grace shrugged. “Four.”

“Four is some,” Tinky pointed out. “A couple means two.” 

Blinky laughed. “Okay, fuck off, number cop. That isn’t how it works.” 

“Oh, and I suppose you understand more about numbers than The Bastard of Time and Space?” 

“Numbers are a mortal invention to organize their short, confusing lives. Even they can’t agree on what words mean in this stupid tongue.” 

Pokey said, “He is right, though. A couple is two.” 

Blinky turned to him. “Whose side are you on?” 

While the three argued behind them, Grace and Wiggly were already making their way to the door of the store, Nibbly in the cart. Grace couldn’t help but smile. She usually went food shopping alone, only needing to feed herself. But the list filled the whole page, in two columns. She wasn’t aware Nibbly had been eating so much, but at least the things Grace didn’t eat wouldn’t get moldy. 

The automatic doors of Hatchetfield Groceries opened, and Grace immediately felt the cold of the air-conditioned building. It was surprisingly busy for a Thursday afternoon - an elderly couple was slowly strolling through the aisle, a young boy cried in the child seat of a cart while his mother ignored him, and a man at the self-checkout machine looked like he was about to hit the screen that would not cooperate with his fist. 

Behind Grace, Pokey sighed. “I’ve always hated places like this. That’s why we never go here.”

“Speak for yourself,” Blinky said. “This place is great. I once saw two old women tackling each other over the last pie crust two days before Thanksgiving. Very entertaining.” 

Pokey glared at his brother, clearly having a different definition of “entertaining”. 

Grace looked around, all of a sudden realizing that Wiggly and Nibbly were no longer next to her. Looking over at Pokey and Blinky, Tinky had disappeared as well. 

“Where did the others go?” she asked. 

Blinky put his hand on her back, guiding her further into the store. “Tinky probably went to harass that weird machine that roams through the aisles. Nibbly jumped out of the cart, and Wiggly went after him. I’m sure they’ll be fine. Now, let’s focus on your list.”

Grace nodded. “I usually start at the deli and fresh produce section and at the other end and work my way down to this side, where the frozen foods are.” 

She grabbed a cart of her own and they started walking through the grocery store. Pokey made grumbles of annoyance at everyone they passed. An announcement over the speakers crackled, so inaudible that Pokey groaned and walked off. Grace paused for a moment, watching as the Lord left. 

Blinky, however, stayed by Grace’s side, keeping her on track. 

They made it to the deli, and Grace got a ticket with a number. She knew she needed some sliced cheese and cold cuts for sandwiches. As she did this, Blinky looked from the list in his hand to the wrapped meats that sat in front of the deli.

“Why do you need a glazed ham?” he asked. 

“Oh, I was planning on having my parents over for dinner at some point,” Grace explained. Blinky raised his eyebrow at her as if that were the worst idea she could possibly have. “I haven’t seen my parents in three months. I’ve been too busy with work, and-” She stopped herself before she could bring up the fact that The Lords in Black had kept her busy with carrying out their deeds, whatever they asked of her, not even mentioning the fact that they invaded her apartment more often. Blinky still stared at her, his eyebrow remaining raised. Despite his glasses, Grace could feel the judgment in his eyes. 

Grace was startled by her ticket number being called by the deli person, and she had to force herself to drag her eyes away from Blinky and talk to the man at the deli counter. She was able to ask for her cheese and cold cuts. She had to wait for her number to be called when the order was ready. 

She turned around to find that Blinky had disappeared from her side. Blinky stood a few feet away, watching something, a glazed ham cradled in his arms as if it were a child. Grace pushed the cart over and saw what he was looking at. 

Between the crates of fresh fruit, Tinky was indeed harassing the robot thing. He picked a bunch of bananas out of the crate and placed them on the floor in front of the robot. The robot stopped.

“ Attention. Possible hazard on the floor. Please use caution in the area until it is cleared ,” the robot beeped. 

Tinky just laughed at it like a madman. “Stupid thing.”

In the background, Grace saw Wiggly and Nibbly by the vegetables. She approached and found them both enjoying the mist that sprayed onto the leafy greens. Nibbly was sitting in the cart again, his tongue out, trying to catch the mist. His tongue was extended to an impossible length. A woman next to them was trying her best not to look until Nibbly turned towards her, his tongue curving in her direction, and she grabbed a bundle of celery before swiftly running away. 

Nibbly just sucked his tongue back into his mouth, snickering and turning to Grace. “Hiii, Gracie!”

Grace smiled. “Hey! Did you pick anything yet?”

Nibbly held up two bags of candy. “Two now, two to go. I’m gonna get strawberries.”

Nodding, Grace looked at Wiggly, whose green outfit blended in with the veggies. He stood before them, breathing in the mist as if he were one of them. The moment this thought passed through her mind, Wiggly’s head snapped to her, and her face burned. Wiggly simply looked her over before putting his hands on his hips. 

“Are you almost done here?” he asked. 

Shaking her head, Grace responded, “No, I haven’t even gotten the first few things on the list.” 

“Okay, well, hurry up,” he said. Grace nodded frantically, clutching the handles of her cart and going to get some fruit for smoothies. 

After picking up her things from the deli and any fresh produce she needed, Grace walked through the aisles, picking up the other items on her list: pasta, tomato sauce, chips, granola, a few cereals, yogurt, milk, coffee, tea, and many other items. She was starting to be happy that Tinky had been putting away money. The cart was almost full.

Every few minutes, the speaker would crackle until Pokey’s voice could be heard throughout the store. 

His announcements included:

“ Father with the two brats in the cart - they don’t need that much sugar! Put that cereal back! ” 

“ Martha, you don’t need all those spices for a single recipe. They will sit in your cabinet for a year before you forget you have them and decide to get more when trying a new recipe. Don’t waste your money! ” 

“ Attention owner of the orange Mercedes-Benz! Your car alarm is going off. I’m assuming it’s being broken into. Go take care of that! ”

Tinky was back at Grace’s side. Grace was about to put a bottle of honey into the cart when Tinky suggested, “Get two. Maybe three.” Seeing her confused expression, he added, “Nibbly likes to drink it straight from the bottle.”

Her nose wrinkled. Grace just said, “Ew.” 

“You’re almost finished, aren’t you?” 

“Yeah. Just some frozen things to pick up. I think I’m going to skip the ice cream, though.”

“Keep your voice down,” Tinky said. “Nibbly is in the other aisle and will not be happy.” 

Pokey came over to them, apparently finished with whatever he was doing while controlling the announcements. “Are we done here?” 

“Just a few more things,” Grace told him. 

“That either means three or four,” Blinky said, still cradling the ham in his arms. 

An elderly woman stopped at them, her eyes looking at the ham and a smile on her face. “Oh! What a cute baby.”

Grace, Tinky, and Pokey stared at them, confused, as the elderly woman cooed at what was clearly a ham. 

“What’s his name?” she asked. 

“Ham…let…? Hamlet,” Blinky answered. 

Pokey scoffed. “You have got to be kidding.”

Blinky lifted his sunglasses, glaring at him. “His uncle isn’t fond of my name choice.” 

The woman laughed. “I think it’s a grand name. Very old-fashioned.”

“Exactly.” Blinky shot his brother with a smug look. Pokey just rolled his eyes. 

Grace looked at the list again, realizing she had forgotten something in the produce section. She started pushing the cart that way, the others following after her. When they got back to that end of the store, they found Nibbly still in the cart, but reaching out to grab grapes from a torn-open bag. They continued doing this as Grace went to the watermelons, of which there was only one of left. 

As she quickly rushed towards it before anyone else could, Nibbly called out to her, “If you lick it and claim it as your own, nobody else will try taking it from you.” 

Grace did not do that. She picked up the watermelon, Wiggly coming up beside her. 

“Hang on,” he said, before holding out his hand and smacking the melon. It let out a hollow sound. Wiggly nodded, apparently satisfied.

“Hmmmm,” Nibbly’s throat gurgled. “Ripe and juicy.” 

Grace was a little disturbed that they knew that trick, but she would have taken the watermelon either way. The weather was getting hotter, so it would be a nice, healthy snack. 

She looked at her cart, trying to think if she forgot anything else before going back to the other end of the store. For a moment, she thought she had forgotten the ham until she remembered Blinky was carrying it around. Looking over at Blinky, who was back near the deli, he was carrying two hams. A small crowd of people was gathered around him, talking about how cute the “twins” were. 

“And what’s this little guy's name?” a man asked. 

“Ham…il…ton,” Blinky made up. 

Pokey scoffed once again. “Yeah, real original.” 

Grace started making her way out of the section. Nibbly noticed, having finished the bag of grapes, and attempted to scoot the cart in that direction. Wiggly grabbed the cart and pushed it, Nibbly squealing as they rolled, following Grace. 

“You three,” Wiggly said to Blinky, Pokey, and Tinky. “Let's go.” 

His three brothers stopped what they were doing and also started walking to the other end of the store. 

Grace picked up two frozen meals and a pizza. After double-checking, it seemed she had gotten everything, and the cart was about as full as it could get. Nibbly attempted to reach out of his cart and steal something before Wiggly slapped his hand. 

“Ow!” Nibbly shouted, glaring at him. “I’m hungry.”

Beside him, Tinky said, “You just ate a whole bag of grapes.” 

“Pft. Yeah, and it wasn’t enough. Can we get something on the way home?” 

“No,” Pokey said. “We’re going straight home.” 

Grace got in a checkout line since the self-checkouts were busy. Blinky stood next to her, carrying the two hams. 

“I can’t wait for these to cook in the oven,” he said, prompting the person in front of them to turn around and look at them like they were insane. 

Grace laughed awkwardly. “Haha, they said, ‘I couldn’t wait until they finished cooking in the oven.’ Because they’re babies.”

The person let out an uncomfortable laugh, then turned around. Blinky, whose sunglasses were still on his forehead, just winked at Grace. Grace was starting to decide that she might not always allow The Lords in Black to come with her on every shopping trip. 

When they got to the register, Grace was putting her things on the conveyor belt when she heard a voice ask, “Grace?”

Looking up, Grace saw Peter Spankoffski in a Hatchetfield Groceries uniform, working the checkout. Grace smiled in surprise. 

“Hey, Pete!” she said. 

Pete looked anxiously between her and the five Lords in Black behind her. He obviously knew who they were, and probably wasn’t expecting to see them in a grocery store. Grace kept her smile as Pete’s eyes lingered on The Lords in Black, the only ones noticing Pete being Tinky and Blinky. 

“Don’t worry,” Blinky said, placing the two hams on the belt. “We aren’t here for you.”

“Yet,” Tinky commented, laughing. 

Grace tilted her head. “How is Steph? I feel like I haven’t seen either of you in forever.”

Pete shrugged. “Fine, I guess.” 

“Maybe someday I can invite you both over.”

Pete froze before scanning the rest of the food. Pokey handed him Grace’s reusable bags. Pete cautiously took them and started bagging the items. 

“Maybe,” Pete said, finally. 

After bagging the items and paying, Grace was about to take the receipt from Peter before he leaned in and whispered to her, “Steph told me that they’ve been staying in your apartment. Is that true?”

Grace shrugged. “Only sometimes. They come and go as they please. But they’ve never caused me any trouble.”

“Because of…?” he didn’t finish the question, but the answer was pretty obvious. 

Changing the subject, Grace asked, “How are things with the two of you, by the way? Why are you working here?”

“It’s only part-time,” Pete admitted. “Steph has to take a month off after spraining her wrist. I was lucky enough to get this job, so we have the extra money, you know?” 

Nodding, Grace put the receipt in her bag, and each of the Lords took a reusable bag full of food. Before leaving, Grace turned around to see Pete scanning the items of the next person in line. 

“Hey,” she said, getting his attention. He looked at her nervously. “I really do mean it. If you ever want to do something, I can make sure they don’t get in the way.” 

Pete pressed his lips together before saying, “I’ll… ask Steph.” 

Grace smiled before turning to leave. She caught up with Blinky, who had his lip pouted like he was trying not to say anything. 

“You saw all that?” Grace asked. 

“Yup,” Blinky said. 

“Are you going to tell?”

“Nope.” 

“Thank you.”

Blinky just nodded. 

The sun was almost completely gone by the time they got to the apartment. Together, they put all the food where it needed to be. 

Grace had to admit, the shopping trip with The Lords in Black was a lot more tame than she expected it to be. Yes, Tinky harassed the robot, and Pokey took control of the speakers, Blinky made people coo at glazed hams, Nibbly ate a whole bag of grapes they didn’t pay for, and Wiggly… he was the calmest out of all of them. After a while, he must have gotten so sick of trying to control Nibbly that he just let them do whatever they wanted as long as they stayed in the cart. 

Nibbly was already eating their strawberries, rather violently, as they looked up, and Grace saw the red stains and seeds surrounding his mouth. 

With all of them back to doing their own thing in the apartment, Grace went into her room. Blinky was too busy making popcorn with Tinky to notice her walking away. But she had the feeling he would know what she was doing anyway. 

Pulling out her cellphone, she called her mother. 

“Grace, sweetie, how are you? I feel like I haven’t heard from you in months,” her mother said. 

“Hi, Mom,” Grace couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve been really busy. But I was wondering if you and Dad wanted to come over for dinner this weekend. I bought ham.” 

“Oh, of course! Your dad and I were thinking of inviting you over. But we’d love to see your apartment again.”

Grace cringed at this. Her apartment wasn’t bad, far from it. Even if it was a bit small, it was nicer than some of the others in Hatchetfield. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was that the last time her parents came to visit, The Lords in Black were only around once a week. Now, there were signs of them - messes in the kitchen that Nibbly and/or Tinky had made, traces of blue goo in the sinks and bathtub, piles of opened mail on the table that Blinky had ripped open to see if he was right about what they were for, among the average blankets strewn around the den, and things not being in the right place. It looked like Grace had roommates, and some of the evidence wasn’t easy to explain. 

“I just have to clean up a few things. But if you can come over around five on Saturday night, I’ll get it ready,” she said. 

There was a muffled conversation between her parents before her mother said, “Great! We’ll see you then. We love you, Grace!”

“Love you too, Mom!” She hung up the phone and fell onto her bed. 

Grace was exhausted. After taking a few moments to breathe by herself, she got up and went back to the kitchen. 

Wiggly was leaning against the doorway. She tapped on his shoulder. 

“Can I talk to you about something?” she asked. Wiggly raised an eyebrow before nodding and turning to her. “I’m going to have my parents over for dinner.”

“When?” he asked. 

“Saturday.”

“And you would rather not have us here?” 

Grace nodded slowly. “That… Would be ideal.” 

Wiggly glanced over his shoulder before sighing. “I’m not going to make any promises. But, I’ll see what I can do.” 

It wasn’t a yes, but Grace had some time to figure things out. Accepting the answer, she just responded, “Thank you. I need to clean the apartment this week.”

“Yes, you really do.” 

“Do you think the five of you could help me out?” 

Wiggly gave her a look. Then he motioned to the kitchen and the others, “I can rarely get them to clean up their own messes in our dimension. I’ll try to get them to do you the favor.” 

He turned away from her, and Grace had to accept that answer. 

At least now, she had more than just leftover takeout to eat for dinner. 

Notes:

As you can see, this is where the “plot” of the stories starts. I realized there’s less of a single plot and more arcs tied into the connecting stories based on the general idea of Grace and The Lords in Black being roommates.

Things will get chaotic, so stay tuned!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember how I mentioned I like to stay a few chapters ahead, especially before posting a new one. As I am currently working on chapter 4, I am leaving for a four-day vacation tomorrow, where I will have no access to the internet. If I’m not completely distracted by packing and getting my life in order (ugh), hopefully, I will have chapter 3 edited and out either a few hours after this one, OR tomorrow morning, depending on how today goes. More information about this will be in the notes of chapter 3.

If you like it so far, any form of support is welcome! As I said, your comments always fill me with so much joy! I appreciate every kind one.

I wish everyone who reads this the best!

Chapter 3: Purging the Apartment

Notes:

I had an existential crisis writing this chapter, and it shows. Obviously, the main purpose of this story is humor and fun, so it's nothing intense.

I hope you enjoy it regardless!

The Lords in Black hadn’t shown up yet. Grace had her hands on her hips, looking over the living room of the apartment. Multiple blankets were covering the couch, a result of Blinky liking to wrap themselves up like a burrito when watching TV. Speaking of the TV, it was broken. None of them would admit to Grace exactly why it happened, but she knew it involved Pokey throwing the remote at the screen. Not to mention all the food and stains on the furniture and carpet. Grace didn’t even want to look closely at the kitchen. Even the bathroom needed to be cleaned. 

Grace sighed, sitting down on the couch. She had been alone that morning. As much as she wanted to say the quiet was welcome, it felt so… lonely. She had no one to talk to, no one to eat breakfast with, no one to say goodbye to as she left for work, no one to welcome her when she got home. 

When she first bought the apartment, three years ago, there was much fear from her parents. Of course, she couldn’t explain to them how she got the money to even buy her own place. It involved some sacrifice, mind-control, and innocent number forgery that was between Grace and The Lords in Black. But her parents eventually came around to the idea, even though it meant they were seeing each other less. In fact, it had been over a year since Grace had invited them over. This was for obvious reasons. Grace preferred to visit them instead. 

There were times when Grace thought back to when she was a senior in high school, imagining going to a Christian college out of state, meeting a guy who wouldn’t kiss her until their wedding day, buying a big house, and raising a family. Plans changed. 

Grace realized she had been procrastinating when she blinked a few times, and realized that her sitting on the couch in a daydream was not cleaning the apartment. 

Wiggly said he would try to get his siblings to help her clean. But it was Friday evening, and The Lords in Black didn’t come over on Friday nights.

Grace stood up and went into the kitchen, not even thinking about how messy it was, and opened her mail because Blinky wasn’t around to do it for her. She flipped through the envelopes until she stood at a letter from an online university. She had taken classes at Hatchetfield Community College to land her job at the Rec Center. But she always considered expanding her education. 

She stared at the letter for a few moments before a voice said behind her, “Maybe you should clean up your head before your apartment…” 

Grace jumped and spun around to see Bliklotep sitting in a chair at the table. 

“What?” Grace asked, confused. 

“Your mind,” Blinky said. “It’s dirty. And not in the fun way. You need a clear head.”

“ How can I have a clear head when this apartment is a mess? I just got home from a long day at work, I haven’t had a dinner with my parents in months, I have to think about tomorrow, I have to lie to my parents about going to church every week, I have to cook for my dad who can eat five plates at a buffet, and I have to talk about my job which as been stressing me the heck out lately. But first, I need to clean and make this place look like I live alone. Otherwise, my parents will think there’s a guy, and I told them I’m not seeing anyone! And-” 

Grace was suddenly interrupted by a finger being placed on her lips. Her eyes looked up to see Pokey shushing her. 

“Please, shut the fuck up,” he said. 

Grace looked at the finger on her lips, then at Pokey, and slowly nodded. Pokey backed up and looked around. 

“Wiggly says we have to help you clean,” he said. 

A small smile on her face, Grace said, “You don’t have to. I would just… appreciate the help.” 

“And what will we get in return?” 

Blinky said behind him, “Consider this a way to repay her for breaking her TV.” 

Pokey slowly turned to his brother, and Grace couldn’t imagine the glare he was giving him. Grace covered her mouth with her hand to mask her laugh. 

Another surprise came when she heard Wiggly shouting, “Nibbly!” 

Grace’s head whipped to the side to see Nibbly on all fours on the counter, licking up dried pasta sauce from the night before with his tongue. 

Nibbly looked up, sucking in his tongue. “What? I’m cleaning!” 

Wiggly put his hands up. “We need a plan.” 

“We have a plan,” Tinky said, suddenly coming into the room. “Clean.” 

“Why don’t we just get the Sniggles to clean?” Blinky asked. 

Wiggly said, “Because we told Grace we would do this. And I think it would be beneficial for us to learn how to keep a space cleansed and organized.”

Blinky threw his arms up. “What do we look like to you? The seven dwarves?” 

“Stop complaining,” Pokey said. “Let’s just do what we have to.” 

Blinky, Tinky, and Nibbly groaned but started moving. 

Blinky reached over the table and took the mail, going through it, “Bill, bill, toss, toss, toss, huh, coupons.” 

Grace walked over to Wiggly, who was struggling to use the broom to sweep crumbs under the table. Grace picked up the tray and said to him, “Here, this will make it easier.” She held the tray down on the floor. “Put them in here. Try not to be so aggressive with the sweeping.”  

Wiggly’s nose wrinkled, but she did as she said. Eventually, the floor looked a bit better. Grace stood up, brushing the hair out of her face. She smiled at Wiggly, whose eyebrows knitted. Then she looked at Nibbly, who was still licking the counters. 

“Should I…?” Grace hesitated, but Wiggly answered anyway. 

“Nibbly will take care of the mess. But, I recommend wiping things down with a wet paper towel before tomorrow night.” 

Grace nodded. “Noted.” 

When the floors were decent, Wiggly asked if there was anything else he could do. Grace thought for a few moments. He was right about it being a smart idea to have a plan. So, Grace sent him to clean up the living room and vacuum. Grace was always hesitant about giving the Lords orders of any kind, but they seemed not to mind following her instructions. 

There was one place in the apartment where none of The Lords in Black bothered to clean - Grace’s bedroom. She went in, quietly shutting the door behind her. Her bedroom was the only room in the house that wasn’t a complete mess. Yes, the bed was unmade, there was a basket full of dirty laundry in the corner, and the dresser had a mix of hair clips covering it. But compared to the other rooms, it was a sanctuary. A soft breeze even blew out of the slightly open window, causing the fresh summer air to come in. Grace could smell the sweet scent of flowers from her neighbor's balcony. 

Grace walked over to her closet, opened it, and knelt to pick up a cardboard box from the back. Inside was a collection of pictures and other things from her childhood - a necklace with a cross, shells from visits to the beach, even letters from her parents during her summers at Abstinence Camp. Pieces of the past that felt both so recent and yet also a million years ago. 

Why was Grace being so nostalgic? It wasn’t like that in the morning or at work. It’s like she was avoiding doing what she had to do - clean and organize. But Blinky was correct; her brain was just as mixed up, filled with the clutter of fears, memories, and random thoughts. Grace didn’t have the time to sit down on the floor and meditate for a few minutes. 

She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn’t even notice Pokey appearing in her room and kneeling next to her. Grace stared at a picture of her and her parents standing outside their church - Grace was five years old at the time, in a white dress with small blue flower designs. 

“That was you,” Pokey said. 

Grace flinched, turning to him. He had the same expression as always. But as Grace analyzed what he said, she frowned. 

“Was,” she said quietly. 

Pokey nodded, looking down at the box of memories. He picked up a program from a performance of the Nutcracker ballet that Grace went to see when she was eleven. Pokey let out a hum of interest. 

Grace couldn’t help but smile. She told them, “My parents took me to that ballet every year. They even bought me the vinyl. I even remember seeing The Christmas Carol at The Starlight Theater. And, of course, there was always the nativity play at church.” 

“Have you seen anything not Christmas-related?” Pokey asked. 

Grace thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. “No. I don’t think so.” 

She knew Pokey was judging her, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, he said, “I’m sorry about the TV.” 

Looking at him in surprise, Grace was baffled. The Lords in Black rarely apologized for anything, especially Pokotho. After getting to know them for three years, Grace started to understand the concept that the only voice Pokey wanted to hear was his voice alone, and he would use it often. Although when they started coming over to Grace’s apartment more often, Pokey became quieter. Grace thought of it like someone who constantly had headphones on - in their own head, in their own world, and getting mad at anything that interrupted their peace. 

The idea of powerful beings from beyond time and space having mortal characteristics just confused Grace more. But she would never call any of them out for it, despite being curious. Did the Lords in Black have fears or cherished memories? Were they being honest when they apologized for things when people would bow down to them no matter what they did? What made Grace so special, other than the fact that she served them? 

She thought back to what Wiggly had said to her a few weeks before: they enjoyed being around her. But she wasn’t ready to put herself anywhere close to what they were. 

After a lifetime of understanding that you were nothing compared to a god, and that your only job was to obey in order to receive salvation, Grace never took for granted what she got from The Lords in Black. Up until recently, she never asked for much in return either. The fact that they agreed to help her clean was quite shocking.

Grace assumed Wiggly or Blinky convinced Pokey to apologize. Considering anything else might lead her to think that Pokey actually felt bad about it. 

“I used to sing in the choir at church,” Grace said, trying to start a conversation. “That was fun.” 

Pokey nodded. “I do enjoy a good choir. Why did you quit?” 

No one had ever asked her that before. “I don’t know. I guess I just grew out of it.” 

Digging through the box more, Grace found a square of plaster with two tiny hand prints. She held it up to Pokey. 

“My parents made this the week I was born. I was pretty small,” she explained. 

Pokey blinked, looking at it, then at the other items in the box. 

“I never understood why mortals keep things like these anyway,” he said. 

“What do you mean?” 

“Why hold onto things that just take up space? You already had the experience. Why keep something you won’t need anymore?” 

Grace shrugged. “Because it helps you remember who you were back then. It makes you happy to see what your childhood was like, especially if you have a difficult time remembering.”

“What if you regret the person you were in the past?” Pokey asked. 

Grace froze for a moment, the question hitting her like a punch to the gut. She leaned back, bracing her hands on her legs. Pokey sat silently beside her, waiting for an answer. 

“Then, you can reflect on how much you’ve changed,” Grace said quietly, somewhat unsure of her answer. She liked to think she wasn’t that different from the person she once was. She still held most of her values. The idea in her head started to form that it wasn’t her that changed, more rather her situation. One of the fears she refused to face was considering if it would be the same for the rest of her life.

Pokey stared at her for a long while before picking up a photo of Grace on her first day of high school. 

“Pictures were always Blinky’s thing. Wiggly gives us shit for being messy when he’s just as guilty. It’s all about materials. I prefer to keep all I need safe in my head. After all, you can’t have the script with you on stage.” 

“Huh, I’ve never thought about it like that.” 

“Most people rarely do. But most of the time, you can’t take the props home when the curtain closes. All you can do is give the audience your performance, which, if done well, may never leave their head. That’s how things stay immortal. Not by keeping them in a box to collect dust, but by planting the memory in those who will never forget it.” 

There was something about Pokotho that made Grace feel like she could listen to him talk for hours. His words seemed so poetic, clear, and natural in a way that they may have been both improvised and rehearsed.

Taking another look at the box, Grace realized that she hadn’t opened it in two years. It just sat in her closet, collecting dust - remnants of the girl she once had been.

Suddenly, there was a bunch of noise coming from the other room. Grace stood up quickly and ran to see what all the commotion was about.

She found Tinky folding blankets in the living room. Or, at least trying to. Wiggly held a blanket up. 

“It goes,” Wiggly said, “fold this way, then this way, and then down like this.” He demonstrated. “See? A square. Not bunching it up and throwing it in the corner.”

“But it’s out of the way in the corner,” Tinky argued.  

Wiggly huffed and whispered, “For someone who stares at a box all day, you would think you would know how to fold something into a square.” 

“Fuck you.” 

Grace could see Blinky leaning around the doorway, watching his brothers fight and giggling to himself. 

She also saw that most of the blankets had been folded and draped over the couch. 

Wiggly sighed and said to Tinky, “You know what? You can use the vacuum. I’ll finish with the last blankets.” 

Tinky rolled his eyes, but went to the storage closet where the vacuum was kept. 

Nibbly skipped into the living room. “Finished with the kitchen!” he said cheerfully. 

Grace winced. But Blinky, who was still leaning around the doorway, told her, “It’s pretty much spotless.” 

Curious, Grace went into her kitchen and saw that all the counters, table, and even the floors looked as if they had never been used. They had a light cover of shine to them, in fact. Grace blinked, turning to Nibbly, who looked proud of himself. 

“You did this with your tongue?” she asked. 

“Yup!” Nibbly said. “You wanna know what else I can do with my tongue?”

“No,” Grace said quickly.

She started to unload the dishwasher, having run it the night before. Grace had refused to let Nibbly lick any of the dishes, except his own. As she did this, she looked up at a houseplant that sat on the counter. It was dying. Grace picked a cup out of the dishwasher, filling it with water, and pouring it into the plant's little pot. It may have been pointless, but she did it anyway. 

She was thinking of getting more plants, just to make the apartment look nicer. While the space was small, it was enough. The layout was fine. The neighborhood wasn’t too loud, and her neighbors were kind. But there was nothing around except for a few pictures that made it personal to Grace. 

Immediately, she thought of what Pokey had said - about not being so materialistic. Items would just sit around and add no value to her life. It would most likely make cleaning even harder. But a few plants and decorations wouldn’t hurt. She’d always wanted to make the apartment look more her own. 

After putting the dishes in the cabinet, Grace followed Wiggly’s advice and wiped the surfaces down with wet paper towels. Blinky wasn’t lying when he said everything was spotless. Though Grace would cringe every time her parents tried to touch something. 

Because they had just gone food shopping, Grace made sure Nibbly didn’t steal any of the food she needed for the dinner. The refrigerator was packed with everything they had bought the day before. As she leaned to look at the food, Nibbly walked up next to her and looked too, a low rumble coming from the back of his throat. Grace panicked for a second before Blinky grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him away, causing Nibbly to shriek. 

Grace shut the refrigerator and went to clean up the entryway. It wasn’t as dirty, except for the dirt on the floor. Once again, Wiggly helped, but this time, Grace swept, and he held the tray. 

During this, Wiggly complained, “I swear, Tinky acts like a fucking idiot. He’s perfectly capable of keeping things in order. He just chooses not to.”

Pausing her sweeping, Grace said, “That’s the interesting part about growing up an only child - hearing others complain about their siblings.” 

Wiggly sighed. “Consider yourself lucky, Gracie-wacy. It’s not easy. Especially if you have a bitch sister.”

That stunned Grace for a moment. Since when did they have a sister? Yes, Blinky and Nibbly liked to look like women sometimes, but… Oh…

Webby.

“You don’t talk about Webby much. I almost forgot she existed,” Grace admitted. 

“I wish I could forget she existed,” Wiggly said through his teeth. 

Grace hesitated before continuing to sweep. The family drama between The Lords in Black and Webby was something they never discussed in detail. Clearing away all the dirt from the floors, Wiggly discarded them in the trash. 

Grace lingered in the entryway, looking down at The Black Book that sat on the table beside the door. She was going to need to hide it. Picking it up, she carried it to her room to put on her dresser when she realized something: her bed had been made, and the hairclips on the dresser were put together in a small bowl. 

Who had done that for her? The last person in the room had been Pokey.

Placing The Black Book down, she left her room and looked around to see if she could find him. 

Passing the kitchen, Grace saw Blinky smoothing out the tablecloth. Nibbly poured a bag full of hard candies into a bowl and placed it in the middle of the table. 

“What’s your favorite type of candy?” Nibbly asked his brother. 

Blinky, who already had a piece in his mouth, responded, “Eye candy.” 

“Hey,” Grace interrupted. “Do you know where Pokey is?” 

“Cleaning the bathroom with Tinky,” Blinky told her. 

Nodding, Grace went to the bathroom, and her eyes widened. Bubbles, everywhere. Pokey and Tinky scrubbed the toilet, bath, and shower, getting out all the blue goo that Pocky somehow left behind whenever he took an unnecessary shower. Tinky, however, was soaking wet and covered in bubbles, with the expression of a sad, wet dog. 

“What… happened here?” Grace asked.

“He dumped a bucket of soapy water on my head!” Tinky responded irritably. 

Grace nodded slowly, looking around. Well, it was one way to clean a bathroom. Moving on from it, Grace asked Pokey, “Did you clean my room?” 

Pokey shrugged, not looking up from his meticulous scrubbing of the sink. “I just made your bed and put your hair clips in a safe place.” 

“I know. Thank you.” Grace smiled at him. Pokey simply glanced at her. “Well, I suppose this means you also have the bathroom taken care of. How are you going to dry all this?” 

Tinky said, “We get Nibbly to eat all the suds. He’s done it before and burps the bubbles out.” 

“We’re not doing that,” Pokey said. “We can just rinse the bubbles and open the window to air dry.” 

“What’s the fun in that?”

“Nothing about this is fun.” 

“Mortals are so strange. You have to do everything yourselves. Just get a Sniggle to do all the work for you.” 

Wiggly came up next to Grace. “It’s about taking responsibility.” 

“Boo!” Blinky said from the other room. 

Grace thought about how almost everything was taken care of. The kitchen was clean, the living room was organized, the bathroom was about to be finished, and even her room looked a bit nicer. But as she turned her head to look around, she found it a bit boring. 

“You know,” Pokey said, causing Grace to turn around. “I can tell you’ve been thinking about what I said.”

Wiggly looked confused. “What did you say?” 

Blinky called, “Material items are a waste, and you should get rid of them!” 

Pokey looked out of the bathroom at Blinky. “Do you ever keep your eyes to yourself?”

“Only when it isn’t interesting,” his brother said cheerfully.

Rolling his eyes, Pokey continued, “Be glad you don’t have a lot of stuff. It’s a waste.”

Grace’s lips pouted slightly. She looked down at her feet. “I was thinking of ways of decorating the apartment. Not before tomorrow night, but at some point.” 

“Oooo, can we help?” Tinky asked, shaking the bubbles and water off him. 

Grace smiled. “Of course.” 

“Yay!” Tinky, Blinky, and Nibbly cheered. 

Grace started walking back to her room to see if she could start doing her laundry. She had no idea Blinky was following her until she looked over her shoulder. Picking up the basket, she started leaving for the laundry room of the apartment complex. 

“I’m surprised you and Pokey bicker so much,” she said, going up to an empty washer. 

“Why is that surprising?” Blinky asked, looking down at his phone. 

Grace shrugged. “He does musicals and performs. You like to watch stuff. I would think you would be very close.” 

“We would be if most of his musicals weren’t shit,” Blinky answered cheerfully. “It wasn’t always this way. Our relationships changed with our priorities. Hell, even three mortal years have changed us. Mostly because we’re spending more time in the mortal dimension rather than The Black and White.” 

“Do you have an end goal?”

“Such as…?” 

“I don’t know. Taking over Hatchetfield. Even the world.”

“Been there, done that.” 

Grace’s brow pinched in confusion. She turned back to the washer, putting a few quarters in. “I’m surprised that you change at all. Growing up, I was taught that God never changed.”

“You were also taught that the ways of ‘God’ were unknowable to humans,” Blinky countered, and he was correct. “And by the way, you’re doing the opposite of what I told you to do earlier.” 

“What?” 

“You’re filling your head with more clutter. You may not have much to purge from the apartment, but you’re collecting so much in that tiny little brain of yours. If there’s one thing Pokey and I can agree on, it’s that the less you have weighing you down, the easier it will be to get rid of what you no longer need.” Blinky tapped away at his phone. “Our presence definitely isn’t helping. Wiggly's favorite thing is buying shit that isn’t needed. Tinky collects toys, but at least he actually uses them. And Nibbly… Well, he only gets things he can consume.”

“So, that’s where you and Pokey find common ground?” 

Blinky shrugged. “If you want to put it that way, then, sure.” He put his phone down. “That being said, I think decorating the apartment is a great idea. The bathroom is clean now. Let’s get back.” 

Grace and Blinky walked back to the apartment, which looked much better than it had an hour before. It looked like Grace had kept up with the mail and bills, that she had cleaned the kitchen and the bathroom, and made sure the living room looked presentable. A weight came off of Grace’s shoulders, and the clutter in her mind started to clear, knowing she was ready for dinner with her parents. 

Grace and The Lords in Black gathered in the kitchen. 

“Thank you all so much,” Grace said. “If there’s anything you require of me, I am at your command.” 

Nibbly giggled. “More tasty souls!” 

Wiggly put his hand up. “Consider this a Christmas present.” 

“It’s summer,” Tinky said. 

“Early Christmas present,” said Wiggly. 

Pokey sighed. “Can we go back to The Black now?” 

Wiggly waved his hand. “Yes, of course. You four get out of here. I need to talk to Gracie-wacy first.” 

“Thanks again,” Grace said. She could have sworn she saw Pokey smirk before the four Lords in Black twisted and disappeared. 

Wiggly motioned for Grace to sit down at the table. She did, curious about what he was about to tell her. 

“I lied. There will be a price for this,” Wiggly said. 

Eyes widened, Grace asked nervously, “What is it?” 

“We’ll keep that a secret for now. But it will be when you least expect. I’ll tell you the truth - cleaning didn’t need to take this long. We could have snapped our fingers and had it done in thirty seconds. But it wasn’t for you. I’m going to remind you that we first started focusing on Hatchetfield in the early 1800s, because of Willabella Muckwab. We’ve lived in The Black and White since before time itself, but only started pulling strings in Hatchetfield for the last 200 years.” 

Grace nodded along, her brain becoming messy again. 

“Blinky told me you’ve already taken over the world,” Grace said. 

Wiggly smiled at her. “Did he? I wouldn’t worry about that. But I’m not going to dance around the subject. They cleaned the way they did, not because you asked, but because I told them to. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses. And only being here for 200 years is nothing compared to the eternity we’ve lived in other ways.” 

Grace was starting to understand. The Lords in Black weren’t familiar with certain things, and Wiggog Y’Wrath was trying to prepare his siblings. For what? She didn’t know. It was less about the cleaning and more about doing something abnormal, even for them. But what did that have to do with what Grace owed them?

“I may not be able to read faces like Blinky, but I can tell you get the idea,” Wiggly said. 

“I… I think I do,” Grace said. 

Wiggly smiled. “Good. Just thought I would give you a warning. That’s free of charge.” 

Standing up straight, he looked at her one more time before saying, “Good luck with your parents tomorrow.” 

Before Grace could respond, Wiggly became a swirl of green and gold, then disappeared, leaving Grace alone in her clean apartment. Suddenly, it felt empty, nothing living there except her and the slowly dying plant on the counter. 

Notes:

I know this ended on a more somber note. As comedic as I want to make this, I still want to feature the darker side of The Lords in Black as a way to keep them in character. It’s not a big aspect of the story, but simply my way of practicing writing them.

There are so many people in my life right now who have been so supportive of my work, and that includes everyone who leaves a kudos, or comments, or even just takes the time out of their day to read it. I can't say thank you enough.

As mentioned in the last chapter, I am posting this the night before I am going on vacation, where I will not have internet access. BUT, I will be able to do some writing. My hope (and this isn't guaranteed) is that I will have chapters 4 and most of 5 done around the time I get back. I really don't want to make you wait for those. If I can get on a schedule in a few weeks, even better.

But I hope you all are doing well! Thanks again for reading so far!

Chapter 4: Family Dinner

Notes:

I have some explaining to do…

Long answer: my mental health plummeted, and drained all motivation to write. That and because I’ve been so busy with a partial program, I’m exhausted by the time I get home. Good news, I’m doing fine, things are improving, and I’m taking care of myself.

Here’s the thing: this chapter wasn’t supposed to take this long, and I wanted to post chapters 4 and 5 together for reasons you will see. But I’m posting chapter 4 now so I can get it out of my head and actually work on chapter 5.

Hope it’s worth the wait! Enjoy!

Grace’s mouth was already watering as the glazed ham cooked in the oven. 

She had put on a nice dress, combed her hair, and even put on the cross necklace from her memory box. She had practiced her smile in the mirror, trying to get it right. She felt like an imposter. Fake. 

It wasn’t that she hadn’t smiled since she’d started seeing her parents less. She had smiled a lot, actually, and it was just as genuine. But this would require an act. She wasn’t unfamiliar with lying, but these were her parents. They thought she was doing things she definitely was not - like going to a different church closer to the apartment, researching potential universities, and going out with friends from high school, and the biggest lie of all: she had the apartment to herself. 

Mixing the mashed potatoes, she turned to look at the clock on the wall. She had half an hour to make sure dinner would be ready so they could all eat. Eating meant less talking. What made it harder was the fact that Grace hadn’t said, well… grace , in years. She was surprised she even remembered how to. There was no need for it. If she had anyone to thank for a meal, it would have been Nibbly. But Nibbly wasn’t there, thank goodness. 

However, someone else was. 

As Grace turned the heat down on the stove, she was startled by a loud crash coming from the living room. Running out of the kitchen to see what made the sound, she saw Tinky holding her broken TV in his arms. They stared at each other for a long moment, unsure of what to say. It took a moment to realize that Tinky looked different. Instead of the usual bright yellow, his hair was a sandy blond. He wore a crisp white button-up shirt and a yellow tie, along with tan trousers. The look on his face was a mix of guilt and cheekiness. 

Grace blinked. “Tell me the others aren’t here.” 

“The others aren’t here,” Tinky told her, rather slowly. 

Grace turned on her heels to see Wiggly, Pokey, and Blinky, all looking more human than usual. Their clothes were modest and dressy, but not too formal. Grace’s eyes immediately moved to the food that was cooking. 

“Where’s Nibbly?” she asked, her voice panicked. But there was less fear and more acceptance of the tragedy that was happening. 

“Yeah, so, remember that second ham I made you buy?” Blinky asked. He still looked feminine, only now his hair was more ginger and his outfit looked like something Grace would wear. All three Lords had chosen pastels instead of their usual bright, neon color scheme. Even their hair was normal shades.

Grace tilted her head. “You’re keeping him occupied with a single ham?” 

Blinky shrugged. “If he has to chase a bunch of Sniggles around to get to it.” 

Tinky commented, “It’s like Pac-Man.” 

Groaning, Blinky said, “What did we talk about, about mentioning Pac-Man?!” 

“Sorry,” Tinky said. He turned to Grace, still carrying the TV, and mouthed: I’m not sorry.

“Bastard,” Blinky said. 

“That’s what they call me,” Tinky replied cheerfully. 

Grace clenched and unclenched her fists. Somewhere deep down, she knew this would happen. Especially because it wasn’t the first time. And she understood exactly why. 

About a year ago, Grace was doing her job at the Recreation Center on a hot summer day when she had a few preteens doing fun games and sports in the field. 

Short story long, a few days before, Grace had been promoted to head counselor for the day camp, thanks to The Lords in Black manipulating the previous head counselor into thinking she won the lottery and moved to a nice big house in Clivesdale. When she got the unfortunate news that the state of Michigan had no record of winners, she had to abandon the big house and attempted to return to Hatchetfield. The Recreation Center refused to give her job back, and she became known as the poor, scammed, Clivedale-loving backstabber. 

And Grace became the fun head counselor that the preteens came to adore and look up to. But it came with a price. The Lords in Black didn’t just want a soul to claim; they wanted in. 

Because their reach was growing, and because the field was so close to the CCRP offices (aka, a Black Altar), somehow they managed to appear as preteens and destroy the real kids in every sport. It was all fun and games for them, but as Grace watched, that’s when she started to realize that she should take absolutely nothing for granted when it came to The Lords in Black doing her favors. 

So there she was, twenty-five minutes before her parents arrived at the apartment, feeling stupid that she didn’t pick up on Wiggly’s warning earlier. 

She tilted her head again, staring at Wiggly, who simply smiled at her. “Do you enjoy seeing my suffering?” she asked.

“Yes,” Blinky answered immediately. 

Shaking her head, Grace asked, “Why do you want to meet my parents?” 

“Gracie-wacy, we’ve known each other for how long now? I think it would be the next step,” Wiggly said. 

Blinky shrugged. “I already know all about them. They’re really fucking boring.” Grace narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m surprised you turned out the way you did.”  

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Grace asked, not entirely sure if she should be offended. 

Blinky didn’t answer, instead turning to Pokey. “They always have that smile on their faces, like one of your theater masks.” 

Grace opened her mouth to say something before remembering those smiling theater masks and realizing he was right. Even worse, that’s exactly what she had thought while practicing her own smile in the mirror. 

Pokey looked at her. “If you want honesty, Gracie, I’ll drop the act. We mean your parents no harm.” 

“Promise?” Grace asked. 

Wiggly put his hand over his heart. “The price isn’t a soul this time, Gracie-wacy.” Then he said very solemnly, “It’s dinner and a show.” 

Blinky giggled to himself, twirling his hair with a finger. His orange and purple eyes flashed with excitement. 

Grace held her head up high, standing up straight and looking at Blinky. Then she made eye contact with Pokey, then Tinky, then Wiggly. “If this is a performance I’m expected to play, then I expect you to act along too.” 

“Ohhh, I like the confidence,” Blinky said. 

Tinky lifted the TV he was carrying higher. “I hope this turns into a murder mystery dinner.” 

Blinky said, “I think it was Grace Chasity with the knife in the kitchen.” 

“No one's getting murdered tonight, sadly.” Wiggly put his hand up. 

“The poor TV already got murdered,” Tinky said. 

“I’m changing my answer,” Blinky said. “I think it was Pokotho in the parlor with the remote.” 

Pokey shook his head. “You mouthy fuckers.” 

Tinky coughed. “Takes one to know one.” 

Grace, meanwhile, stared at Wiggly as if to say: You’re really making me do this?

Wiggly simply motioned to the food still cooking. Grace sighed and went back to the oven, opening it and checking on the ham. It still needed more time, but would definitely be ready and hot by the time her parents arrived. 

She started preparing the carrots, chopping them up and putting them in a pot of boiling water. Behind her, Grace heard the four Lords in Black talking. 

“Code names,” Tinky said. “Have we all chosen ours?” 

Wiggly sighed, “I suppose William would be best for me.” 

“Blair,” Blinky answered. 

“Poe,” Pokey said. 

Blinky snorted. “Oh, and you say I can’t come up with a good name.” 

“Hamlet and Hamilton are stupid names for hams.” 

“Well, Hamlet is currently cooking at 145 degrees Fahrenheit, so I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it?” Blinky threw his arms up. 

Tinky shrugged. “I’m just going to go by Tony.” 

Grace pointed to the TV. “Are you going to hold that the whole time?” 

“I was actually going to hide it until I can fix it. Would you rather try to explain why your TV screen has a large crack in it, or just say you don’t have one?” 

“That… I don’t have one,” Grace decided. 

“Exactly. I’ll put this in your room.” Tinky left the kitchen. 

Blinky came over to where Grace was busy cooking and leaned to look at the oven. 

“There was a time when kids thought staring into the microwave would give them superpowers,” he said. “Sometimes I would give them super eyesight for a few days. Then I would make their vision constantly blurry, along with frequent headaches.” 

“I can see perfectly fine, but you still give me frequent headaches,” Wiggly commented casually. Blinky’s jaw dropped. 

Leaning up, he said to his brother, “You know, you haven’t even told us what the hell our cover story is. Are we supposed to be her friends? Sorry. Friendy-wends ?” 

Grace listened as she worked, but didn’t look at them as they argued. It was still her business, but she didn’t feel like saying anything yet. This type of argument was normal for them. Grace just wished it wasn't during a night of dinner with her parents. 

Blinky turned to her, a hand on his hip. “We’re supposed to be on our ‘best behavior’ tonight. That's all he told us.” 

“Alright, everyone, shut up and gather around,” Wiggly said as Tinky entered the room. “We met Grace at Hatchetfield Community College. If they ask, you have to come up with a major.” 

“Theater,” Pokey said with no hesitation.

“Film,” Blinky decided confidently. 

“Minecraft,” Tinky said. 

“No,” Wiggly said to him. “Something real.”

Tinky frowned. “Robotics?”

Wiggly nod. “That’s better.”

Grace asked him, “What about you?”

“Economics,” he told her. 

“Hm,” Grace hummed. That made sense, knowing him. She looked at the clock. Fifteen minutes. 

“Tick tock, Gracie,” Tinky said, laughing. 

Deciding that the best thing to do at that point was just to accept the situation and move on, Grace continued cooking. The others, unsurprisingly, did not help her. Blinky sat at the table on his phone. Tinky told her every time a minute passed, Pokey was in the bathroom looking at himself in the mirror, but Wiggly stood by Grace, watching her cook. He didn’t say a word. 

Grace considered how the night was going to go. She believed that none of them would hurt her parents. As a matter of fact, this probably wasn’t about her parents at all. No, their focus would be on Grace. 

“Is this some kind of test?” Grace asked Wiggly as she pulled the ham out of the oven. “Or are you just that bored?” 

Wiggly’s smile grew. “A little bit of both. Is it at all surprising to say that it wasn’t entirely my idea?” 

Grace turned to them all, taking off her oven mitts. “Am I allowed to have a life outside of you?” 

“No,” Tinky said. 

“Yes,” Blinky said. “But we make it more interesting. Don’t you think?” 

Grace couldn’t deny that. Although it certainly didn’t make things any easier. The relationship between Grace and The Lords in Black was complicated. It didn’t have a clear label. Grace’s wishful thinking considered it more than just a relationship between a god and a believer. Wiggly said this was supposed to be a test. Since they cleaned the apartment, the idea of Grace living with the Lords and what Wiggly made them do as their leader was becoming more suspicious. 

Looking at the clock, Grace had five minutes to work things out before her parents were supposed to arrive. Placing the dishes of food on the table, she saw Pokey setting up the plates and silverware. 

Tinky and Blinky were already sitting, Tinky messing with The Bastard’s Box and Blinky on his phone. 

“No phones at the table,” Wiggly said. 

Grumbling, his two brothers stuffed their things in their pockets. When Grace was finished setting the table, she smoothed out her dress and looked at Wiggly. 

“Can we discuss something in the entryway?” she asked. 

Wiggly nodded, and they went to the entryway where Grace did a double check that The Black Book was no longer sitting at the table. 

Taking a deep breath and nervously smoothing out her dress again, she asked Wiggly, “Remember when I asked you how you’ve already taken over the world?” 

“Yes…” Wiggly said. 

“I know that I’m just a follower, but… what do you expect to get out of all this. Why stay around at all?” Her voice got quiet around the end of the sentence. She thought she deserved to be in the know about what they were doing. If it were all about games with them, and Grace was just a conduit for it, she honestly would have accepted that answer. But it seemed like there was something bigger; something on the agenda that Grace didn’t know if it was her place to even ask about. Still, she asked nonetheless. 

Wiggly was silent for a long moment. Grace took that time to look at his chosen outfit: combed brown hair, dark green sweater, and black pants. 

“Something that I don’t think is clear to you, Gracie-wacy,” Wiggly said, “is that we don’t rule over this dimension. We’re not bound to this timeline. And at any moment, we can poke and prod at other timelines for our enjoyment. Blinky told me what you asked, and he already answered. But the real reason we’re here, with you, is because we have the power to do as we wish. You’ve taught us what it’s like to follow a mortal girl around, how she lives, how life in this dimension works. Mostly for research purposes. But also because it gives us a break.” 

Grace paused before asking, “What do you do when you’re not here?” 

“I believed I mentioned other timelines,” said Wiggly. 

Grace knew she had limited time, so she asked one more question. “So, if I’m understanding correctly, this is considered a break, and yet you still demand to be in control.” 

Wiggly’s grin was unsettling. “You’re a smart girl, Gracie-wacy. As our main follower, you have the right to figure things out. You serve us well and will be rewarded. And before your parents knock on the door, I will say one final thing: as our follower, we don’t take you for granted either. Which is why this isn’t a test of faith or devotion. It’s of character. And I’m sure you’ll figure out what that means soon enough.” 

There was a knock on the door. 

Grace held her head high, building up the confidence that she always had, and that had just gotten stronger within the last three years. Then she turned to the door and opened it. 

Mark and Karen Chasity stood, holding a bag - possibly gifts - and smiling. Grace smiled too, but it wasn’t fake. 

“Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad!” she said. 

Her mother pulled her into a tight hug. “Hello, dear. It feels like it’s been forever since we’ve seen you.” 

Grace’s dad said, “It’s only been three months, Mother. But it’s been years since we’ve seen the apartment.” 

Pushing a strand of hair back, Grace said, “It hasn’t changed much. Come inside, there are people I want you to meet.” 

Karen Chasity gasped. “You made some new friends?” 

“Yes, from college. Do you mind if they join us for dinner?” 

“Not at all,” Mark said. 

Grace let them into the entryway, where Wiggly stood, waiting. He politely held out his hand to Mark. 

“I’m William. I met Grace in community college. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chasity.” Wiggly shook Mark’s hand. Then he nodded his head to Karen. “And you, Mrs. Chasity.” 

Karen put a hand over her heart. “Oh, what a gentleman.” 

Grace said, “A few others are waiting at the table. Let me take that.” She took the bag from her father, and they went into the kitchen, where the table was set and Pokey, Tinky, and Blinky sat. 

Blinky was looking at his phone under the table until Pokey tapped on their arm, and they rolled their eyes and stuffed it into the pocket of their lavender dress. The three of them smiled at Grace’s parents, their lips pursed and faces scrunched up. 

Putting the gift bag on the counter, Grace motioned to the human versions of The Lords in Black. 

“Mom, Dad, these are Poe, Tony, and Blair. We all met in college,” she explained. 

“Oh,” Karen said. “Do you go to church with Grace, too?” 

They looked at each other awkwardly. 

Tinky said, “Yeah… I love the part with the wafers.” 

Mark and Karen nodded, either not picking up on the awkward explanation or simply too polite to question it. 

Mark Chasity said, “The food looks and smells amazing, Pumpkin.” 

“Thanks, Dad,” Grace said. “Please, have a seat.” 

They all sat down at the table, where Grace was thankful she was able to get extra chairs. It was a little cramped, but they all fit. 

Something in Grace’s stomach twisted. Without the others being there, Grace would have simply avoided conversation. But because something was now expected of her, even though she wasn’t sure what that was specifically, she needed to find a way to navigate any conversation. 

“Have you four always lived in Hatchetfield?” Mark asked. 

Pokey answered, “I was homeschooled until college.” 

Tinky said, “I grew up in a military family, so we moved around a lot. I went to school online until we moved here, and I started taking robotics at Hatchetfield Community College.”

“I took theater. You should have seen our production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Grace played an amazing Mary Magdalene,” Pokey said. 

Grace’s parents turned to her, their eyes wide. They all turned at her, and Pokey gave her a look that said: “We got the ball rolling. Your move.”

Mouth agape, Grace paused for a moment too long. 

“Pumpkin, you never told us you were in a musical,” Mark said. 

Floundering for a moment, Grace finally took a breath and said, “It was an exclusive performance for the students.” 

“That’s unfortunate,” Karen said. “You’re an amazing singer.” 

“She really did an amazing job,” Blinky said. 

Mark turned to Blinky. “And what do you do, Miss…?”

“Blair,” Blinky said. “I study film.” 

“Ah, I see.” 

There was an awkward moment of silence, Grace’s hands clutching the table. It wasn’t surprising that The Lords in Black seemed to know exactly what they were doing. At any moment, they would toss the ball to Grace. This was just the beginning. 

“Let’s start eating before the food gets cold,” she said to break the silence. 

They all served themselves ham, mashed potatoes, carrots, cranberry sauce, and some non-alcoholic sparkling cider. When their plates were filled, no one did anything. Grace realized they were waiting for someone to say grace before eating. Grace could feel her parents' eyes on her. So she locked her fingers together and closed her eyes. She waited for someone else to start. Because Grace had been so busy getting ready, she forgot to remind herself how to properly say grace before a meal. 

Opening one of her eyes slightly, she saw Pokey watching her. She blinked before words that were not her own came out of her mouth:

“Bless us, O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive.”  

“Amen,” Mark and Karen said. Grace said it too, after a moment of hesitation. But she realized that none of The Lords in Black said it - they didn’t have to. 

As they began eating, Mark said, “How have things at the Rec Center been going?” 

“They’ve been good. Day camp is always fun, but with all the rain, it’s been getting canceled a lot. Mostly, I’ve been doing schedules and planning events.” These were all true. Grace had been getting bored at work. The best days were when she could work with the kids. 

Blinky leaned his elbows on the table. “I’ve been trying to get her to do movies in the park.” 

“Oh, that would be a wonderful idea,” Karen said. “What movie?” 

Blinky looked at Grace, expecting her to answer. Grace didn’t have one, so she said, “I would maybe put up a poll. Have people vote on the movies they want to see with their family.” 

Wiggly leaned back. “Family activities are an important thing.” 

“Oh, we know,” Tinky said, exaggeration in his voice.

Mark asked as he cut a piece of ham. “Are you related?” 

“No,” Wiggly lied. “But we’ve all become something like a family.” 

Karen smiled. “Grace, it’s so wonderful that you’ve found these friends. I was afraid that you would get lonely living by yourself.” 

“Gracie is never by herself,” Blinky said. “There’s always someone looking out for her.” 

The subtle undertones of that statement sent a chill through Grace’s body. Her parents just nodded in approval, not picking up on the true context. Grace couldn’t even bring herself to eat. 

The rest of the dinner was normal enough. But the Lords continuously trapped Grace into conversations that she was not ready to answer. It wasn’t just them either. Grace’s face turned red when her mother asked, “Are you seeing anyone?” 

A few of the Lords snorted. But Grace took a breath and said, “No, not at the moment.” 

Tinky laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Gracie became an old maid.” Pokey stepped on Tinky’s foot hard. “Ow!” 

“We’re trying to get Gracie to meet more people,” Pokey said. 

“I’ve just been really busy. They’re really the only people I see outside of work.” Grace wasn’t even lying. 

“Well, they seem like good people,” Mark said. Blinky looked like he was trying to hold in laughter. 

Karen reached across the table to put a hand on Grace’s arm. “We just don’t want you to feel bored. There’s so much you could do. You have been researching colleges, yes?” 

“Uh, yeah,” Grace lied. “But I haven’t really chosen a major.” 

Wiggly jumped in. “Gracie-wacy is great at planning and organizing. She’s thriving at the Rec Center. I think she would be a great leader.” The way he said it seemed genuine. 

Pokey added, “I think she should go into politics.” 

“She would make a better president than Goodman,” said Blinky.

“Gracie-wacy, what would you do as a leader?” Wiggly asked, and the question itself seemed like a test. 

All eyes were on her, but Grace took a breath, trying not to pause for too long before saying, “I would focus on what I could do for the people rather than what they could do for me.” 

The whole room was quiet, and Grace couldn’t determine what the look on all the Lords’ faces meant. She knew none of them would expect that answer. It was a thing that broke the established rule - that this was supposed to be a performance. Yet, most of the answers Grace gave had been true. And after learning the nature of The Lords in Black, she knew that the thought of leading for the people rather than the power was another concept that was foreign to them. They wanted to challenge her, then she would challenge them back. 

But Mark Chasity nodded in approval. “That’s quite noble of you, Pumpkin.” 

“Indeed,” Wiggly said, his voice slightly strained. But he didn’t look upset. He rhythmically tapped on the table with his fingers as if he were contemplating something. 

Before anyone else could say anything, Grace stood up. “Let me clear the table.” She took everyone's plates and utensils and put them in the sink. “I don’t have dessert, but does anyone want tea?”  

“That would be lovely,” her father said. 

They all got a cup of Earl Grey and moved to the living room, which was cleaned and ready for company. 

Grace’s mom asked, “What happened to your TV?” 

Blinky turned towards Pokey, but asked, “Yeah, Gracie. What did happen to the TV?” 

Pokey glared at his brother while Grace said, “It broke. I’m not sure why. I need to go shopping for furniture and stuff, so I’ll probably get a new one if not one can fix it.”

Karen said, “You’re going to do some decorating?” 

Blinky lounges sideways on the couch, feet on Wiggly’s lap. “I’ve been wanting Gracie to decorate this apartment for years. It’s so boring.” Grace had a difficult time arguing with that. “We want to make it so it matches her personality.” 

Tinky smiled. “And what would that look like, exactly?” The question was directed at Grace. Another test. 

“Well, since you guys are here so often, you can help me,” she answered. “I’m only twenty-one. I haven’t gotten everything figured out yet.” 

Mark responded, “Well, Pumpkin, you know to trust in the Holy Spirit, and it will guide you on the right path.”

Grace nodded, not meeting the eyes of her parents. “I know what to trust.” She said this in a hushed tone. 

Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the door. Grace put her tea down on the coffee table. “I’ll get it.” 

She was slightly nervous leaving her parents alone with the Lords, but it was only for a few minutes. Before she got to the door, there was another knock, this one louder and significantly more aggressive. 

When Grace opened the door, she was standing face to face with a girl with long blonde pigtails, dyed pink at the ends. The girl was in a flowy white dress. And she looked angry. Because this was not a girl, but Nibblenephim himself. 

“Tell Blinky,” Nibbly said through his teeth, “to go fuck himself.” 

Grace frowned. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“Cookies.” 

“...what?” 

Nibbly pointing into the apartment. “There’s a bag of cookies on the counter. I can sense it. Give me them, and I’ll forgive you.” 

Grace let Nibbly in and handed the gift bag on the counter to him. He tore the bag open, and inside was a smaller bag full of biscuits. He immediately opened that and stuffed a few cookies into his mouth. 

“My parents are here,” Grace said to him. 

“I know,” Nibbly said. “My true form may only be a mouth, but I can pick up on things pretty well. Like your hunger to make sure everyone is happy. Which is why I’m going easy on you if it means that you sacrifice the gift from your parents. Yummy!” They smiled at the sugar biscuit in their hand. 

“So, you know not to use your real name?” 

Nibbly nodded. “Does Nina work?” 

“That works perfectly.” 

Before they went into the living room, Nibbly said, “Blinky once said your parents are boring. I agree. They don’t hunger for anything. They’re like… these cookies.” 

Grace blinked. “What do you mean?”

“Buttery. Dull. Dry.” 

“Okay, I get it,” Grace said, then immediately wished she hadn’t snapped. Sighing, she led Nibbly into the living room where the others were waiting. 

“Oh,” Mark said. “You found the gift.” 

Grace sat down, picking up her tea. “Nina couldn’t make it for dinner, so I offered her the cookies.” 

Nibbly smiled at them, mouth closed and filled with cookies. 

Grace’s mom held her mug of tea with both hands. “Did you go to Hatchetfield Community College too?” 

“Apparently,” Nibbly said. 

Mark asked Wiggly. “William, you never told us your major.” 

Wiggly said, “I majored in economics.” 

Mark nodded. “It’s so nice that Hatchetfield is in the good hands of the next generation.”

Blinky laughed softly. “You have no idea.” 

Grace’s mom looked at her daughter. “It seems like you have everything under control. I was never worried.” 

Mark laughed. “Oh, Mother. You were quite worried. Grace knows what she’s doing. I think she just needs a push in the right direction.” 

Pokey placed his mug down. “Gracie has us to guide her. We’re all going to make it so Hatchetfield can thrive in the way it should.” 

Wiggly added. “We support each other. Gracie-wacy is great for when we all need a break.” 

“Although,” Blinky said. “It’s always fun to nudge things when life starts to get boring.” 

Karen said, “There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of drama. That’s why I love my soap operas.” 

“I completely understand.” 

Grace’s eyes shifted between them. Everything about this seems too relaxed. Grace was waiting for the thing that would throw her for a loop. 

When they were all done with their tea, they listened to Mark talk about real estate. All the Lords looked bored, but they thankfully kept their mouth shut. This went on for an hour, and Grace was so nervous waiting for the next time she would be put on the spot; she hadn’t realized that The Lords in Black were waiting for her to keep things moving.  

After another awkward moment, Grace cleared her throat. 

“I’ve actually been very satisfied with my life at the moment. I’m not sure I want anything to change.” She was being honest. At twenty-one years old, she had everything she could ever need: an apartment, a decent salary, and… friends, or at least, company. She owed all of it to The Lords in Black. 

Wiggly responded. “If you did want to move things along, what would be the next step?” 

Grace shrugged. “Getting a laptop, maybe.”

Blinky’s mouth dropped. “Fix your TV first.” He glared at Pokey, who gave his brother no acknowledgment. 

Mark Chasity yawned and stretched his arms. “Well, you’re free to visit us any time you wish, Pumpkin. Your friends are welcome as well. Mother, are you ready to get going?” 

They both stood up and hugged their daughter. 

“Actually, I want to talk to just you two for a moment,” Grace said to them. She knew The Lords in Black would be able to hear every word. Blinky couldn’t keep his eyes to himself, and Pokey could hear a bell ring from a mile away. But she didn’t care. She just needed to say things to her parents that should rather would not in a crowded room.  

Grace Chasity and her parents went into the kitchen and sat down at the table. 

“I hope my friends weren’t too chaotic,” she started, 

Mark put his hand up. “Not at all, Pumpkin. They seem like good people. And they seem to look out for you.” 

Grace nodded slowly. “They do.” With a price, but that went unspoken. “They come over so often. They’re basically my roommates at this point. But, they’re not always easy to get along with.” 

“We trust your judgement,” Karen said, placing a hand on Grace’s arm. Grace couldn’t help but smile. 

“Thanks, Mom.” She looked around the kitchen and thought about how dull it was. 

Grace was starting to realize that The Lords in Black very well could be considered her roommates, which meant this was their space too. In The Black Book, they talked about the Black Altars around Hatchetfield. It was almost as if Grace’s apartment had become one itself. 

Grace said, “It was nice having you over. Drive home safe.” 

She had her parents a hug and they left. When Grace went back into the kitchen to see five heads peeking around the corner of the door to the living room. Their hair was back to full, colorful neon. 

Taking a moment to breathe, Grace asked, “How’d I do?”

Wiggly smirked. “Perfectly.” 

“That was too easy,” Tinky complained. 

“It wasn’t supposed to be hard,” Wiggly told him. “It was made to see what our little follower would do when facing her parents. What she would say. What she would do.” 

Blinky, who put his glasses back on and also pulled his phone back out, said without looking up from the screen, “Observation isn’t always thrilling, unfortunately.” 

Grace put her hands on her hips. “It’s late and I’m tired. I think I’m going to go to bed.” 

Wiggly nodded. “We’re going back to Drowsy Town. We got all we need here.” 

“Sleep well, Gracie!” Nibbly said, mouth full of the last of the cookies. 

The five Lords vanished, and Grace didn’t hesitate to put her pajamas on. She put her cross necklace back in the memory box, stuffing it back in the closet. After brushing her teeth, she went to her bedroom and combed through her hair. Looking down at the corner of the dresser, she saw a spiderweb. It looked new. Grace didn’t hate spiders, but she wasn’t sure if she should get rid of the web. Deciding to ignore it, she shut the ceiling light off and snuggled into her bed with a book and a reading lamp. 

Also, sitting on the bed next to her was a Tickle-Me-Wiggly. She never cuddled with it, but it had been a gift from Wiggly himself a couple of Christmases ago. 

As Grace’s eyelids started to feel heavy, she started seeing a white light in front of her bed. She blinked a few times, believing it was simply because she was tired. But it getting brighter got her attention. Grace looked up, and her eyes widened. 

In front of her was a woman with long white hair, a white dress made from strands of silk, and black makeup. She smiled kindly at Grace. 

“Hello?” Grace said, unsure of what else to do. 

“Hello, Grace. My brothers gave you a difficult time tonight, didn’t they?” the woman asked. 

“Brothers…?” Then, it clicked. “ You’re Webby …”

Webby laughed softly. “I am Webby. Wiggly thinks I couldn’t get to you, but I can. I saw everything you had to do this evening. I will admit, they went easy on you. It means they like you. It wasn’t as bad as you were expecting, wasn’t it?” 

Grace nodded. “I was expecting way worse.” 

“Mm hm,” Webby nodded. “There’s always an alternative motive. Obviously, they will not tell you everything. But they were telling the truth when they said this was for observation. They want to see if you’re worth their time.” She paused. “I think you should do the same.” 

“What…?” Grace asked, confused. 

“I’ve spent eons dealing with my brothers. But they’re still my family. They got to see how you are with your family. I say, we put my brothers in a web of our own.”  

“You want me to get back at them?” 

Webby shrugged. “If you want to put it that way.” 

Grace figited. “If I do anything against them, they might kill me or worse.” 

“They won’t,” Webby said, and Grace believed her. “They need you too much. Leave the rest to me. I think it’s time we had a family meeting.” 

Thinking about it for a moment, Grace considered the consequences. But she believed Webby when she said that The Lords in Black wouldn’t punish Grace for it. Whether it was because she was their main follower, Webby would protect her, or, for some reason, The Lords in Black actually liked her enough, there would be no repercussions if Webby and Grace gave them a test of their own. 

Taking a deep breath, Grace asked Webby, “Alright. What did you have in mind?”

Notes:

Yeah, that cliffhanger was the reason I wanted to post both chapters. In this case, I make no promises when it comes to when chapter 5 comes out. I know you all understand I need to put my mental health first. But I love writing, so hopefully I can keep myself motivated.

I wanted to say as well, I will be taking some classes this September, and that will keep me pretty busy. Just gonna say that as a heads up.

Thank you for being patient, and I hope you’ll stick around! I have a bunch of chapters planned out already!

As always, kind comments and observations are great if you have any. But even just by reading, it is enough to make writing worth it, so thank you all readers!

Chapter 5: Family Therapy

Notes:

A lot of caffeine helped me write this chapter.

I will say that this chapter is a bit more tame, but I hope you’ll enjoy it regardless.

The morning after Grace had dinner with her parents and The Lords in Black, she sat at the breakfast table with Webby. Grace wasn’t sure what she had expected. But it made sense that Webby was everything her brothers weren't. 

Instead of having scheming eyes or an unsettling smile, Webby looked kind and gentle. Grace soon came to learn this as they talked. 

“Wiggly knows I'm here,” Webby said. Her voice was soft and relaxing. “But he isn't a coward. He'll drag the rest of them here to face me because they think they’re more powerful. But this is your house, Grace. If they want to stick around, they’re going to have to be tested themselves.”

Grace felt uneasy in her stomach. But she trusted Webby. The Lords in Black wouldn’t hesitate to throw someone into danger. Webby had already established that she had no malicious intent towards Grace. It was her first time even meeting Webby, and she could already see the stark differences between her and her brothers. How could Webby be so kind while the rest of her family thrives in chaos?

It made her think about how The Lords in Black interacted with each other. Grace was an only child, but there was clear sibling turmoil that went on between them. What was their concept of family?

Webby seemed to be in Grace’s head, because she said, “Love. Trust. Acceptance. These are all things that my brothers do not understand. They did, once, a long time ago. But that all changed. Now, greed is the only thing they care about. What they can get for themselves. And they'll knock down anything that might get in the way of that.”

Grace thought back to what Blinky had said days ago, about how Pokey and he used to get along. 

The family drama between them was interesting and something that Grace was being dragged into. It wasn’t involuntary; Grace made the decision three years before when she chose to carry The Black Book and serve The Lords in Black. But this was the first time things got serious. Without believing she was important to the conversation, Grace was curious about the fact that Webby came to her, even after the Lords met Grace’s parents. For some reason, Webby found it the right time and place to confront her brothers. 

The Black Book sat on the kitchen table in front of Grace. But Webby spoke.

“You don’t need to summon them. They’ll come,” she said.

“Even with you here?” Grace asked, still unsure.

Webby smiled. “Especially when I'm here.” 

They sat in silence for a long moment. Grace sighed and went to the bathroom. After washing her hands, she splashed her face with cold water. When she looked up in the mirror, Pokey stood behind her. She jumped and spun around. 

“Gosh darn it, Pokey.” Grace put a hand on her chest. 

Pokey had his arms crossed, tapping his foot. “There better be a good reason why that bitch is in the kitchen.”

“I…” For a moment, Grace was at a loss. Then, she stood up straight. “Are you afraid of her?”

“She gets in the way of everything.”

“That didn’t answer my question.” 

Pokey's eyes narrowed. Then he said, “You are lucky to have grown up an only child, Gracie. Siblings destroy everything you wish to create.” 

“Did you and Blinky really use to get along?” she asked. 

“It's amazing to consider a lifetime in which only you have the last word.”

“Still not an answer to the question.”

Pokey rolled his eyes. “I'm not going out there. If the others want to gossip about family issues, I'm going to keep my mouth shut for once.” Turning his back to her, Grace took that as a cue to leave the bathroom. 

When she for back to the kitchen, she saw Webby and Nibbly sitting across from each other. Grace could feel the tension in the air, and Nibbly breathed heavily. 

“Hello, brother,” Webby said calmly. 

“Did you bring a treat?” Nibbly asked.

Webby tilted her head. “Why would I do that?”

“Because it's polite to bring a treat or dish when you go over someone's house.” 

“That’s true. I unfortunately didn't have the time to make anything before coming here.” 

Nibbly stood up. “Then I have no reason to be here.” He started to walk off, but Blinky came in through the entryway, grabbed Nibbly’s arm, and pushed him back into the seat. Nibbly pouted, clutching his pink pigtails. 

Blinky tossed his own long orange hair over his shoulder, holding his phone in one hand. 

“Long time no see,” he said casually to Webby. 

Grace looked between them. She thought Blinky would always be keeping an eye on Webby if her interference was that bad. 

Webby shrugged. “I know how to get around while staying hidden.” 

Grace turned to Blinky and asked, “You couldn't see her? I thought you had a thousand eyes.”

Blinky tapped on his phone. “Actually, it's more like one-thousand-three-hundred-fifty-seven. But our first followers thought a thousand ‘sounded better'.” 

“Wait… huh?” 

“I don't care about what she does anyway,” Blinky motioned to Webby before sitting down at the table. “It’s not like they have dirt on me.”

“Liar!” Tinky said, stomping into the room. Blinky just looked at his brother over his glasses. Tinky pointed at Webby. “She has just as much dirt on us as you do.” 

Blinky just smiled. “Why should I be ashamed of what I've done in the past?”

Webby leaned her elbows on the table. Then she just said, “Egypt. 124 BCE.”

Immediately, Blinky stopped tapping on his phone and went quiet. Even Tinky shook his head, looking shocked. 

“You irksome little bitch,” Tinky said. 

Grace looked at Blinky. “What happened 124 BCE?” 

Blinky’s expression was a mix of amusement and guilt. “I may have started a cult that would one day lead to generations who built The Library of Alexandria. It… didn’t end well.” 

“Most of them murdered each other,” Nibbly said. 

Shrugging, Blinky said, “Not all of them.” They paused before using their phone again. “I did feel guilty. I should have kept them around longer. Then maybe all that information would still be around.” He looked at Webby. “But I wouldn’t exactly consider that ‘dirt’. Not like that time Wiggly got people to invest in stock in Uncle Wiley Toys and went bankrupt.” 

Tinky snorted. “Yeah, that was a disaster.” 

Webby leaned in and said to Grace, “My brothers aren’t as clever as they might seem.” 

“Oh, fuck off,” Tinky said. “If we’re calling each other out, what about that time that girl shot Blinky in the eye?” 

Blinky pressed his lips together and kept his focus on his phone. 

Webby laughed. “Tinky, you’ve lost The Bastard’s Box more times than anyone can count. It’s because  you never clean your space.” 

Scoffing, Tinky put a hand on his chest. “I have a system. Plus, half those times, it’s Blinky that steals it.” 

“I like watching the confused little people inside…” Blinky kept their head lowered. 

As they talked, Grace realized that The Lords in Black - the gods that she served - weren’t perfect. They had their own issues, made their own mistakes, and as she was understanding, relationships with each other. They were still a family, a rather dysfunctional one. 

“Grace,” Webby said. “You’ve been serving my brothers for three years. You deserve to know more about them.” 

“I agree.” Wiggly came up behind Grace. He smiled at her before turning to his sister. “And what makes you think you’ll change her opinion on what we are based on a few incidents? She’s too far in deep to reject serving us now. You could have gotten to her the same way you did with Miss Holloway. Or that girl, Han-nah.” 

“I think we should let Grace make the decision herself.” 

Grace suddenly felt the pressure being put on her. But Wiggly sat down at the table and motioned for Grace to do the same. The only one standing was Tinky, who paced around the room, grumbling to himself. Pokey was still hiding in the bathroom. 

“I think it’s time for a talk,” Wiggly said. 

Nibbly sighed. “Gracie, when a man and woman love each other very much, they-” 

“Not that type of talk!” Tinky shouted. 

Nibbly giggled. Even Webby smiled a little. 

The energy in the room seemed different than usual. For Grace, at least, it felt like there was a heavy weight lingering in the air. It pushed down on her shoulders, keeping her glued to her seat. At first, it seemed strange. Grace had been in the same room with all the Lords before, but it didn’t feel like this. It was almost like because of Webby, everyone had their defenses up - ready to strike at any moment. 

“Wiggly, do you remember the time I tried to convince you not to make all those automated voice messages?” Webby asked. 

Wiggly wrinkled his nose, but said confidently, “It was the Cold War. People were paranoid. They would have reported the communists no matter what I did.” 

“The government shut that down real quick.” Blinky still hadn’t looked up. But Grace knew they were watching from every angle. That was the funny thing about Blinky - in their human form, they were focused on their phone. But Grace knew he saw and heard everything. Grace thought back to when he said he had more than just a thousand eyes. It was a small detail that seemed unimportant to them, but to Grace, it meant Blinky saw and knew a lot more than what she originally thought. 

Nibbly’s throat grumbled. “Capitalism makes people hungry, which means I get to eat them.” 

His eyebrows knitting, Wiggly said to him, “You need to learn to control your hunger. I claimed those people during the holidays. It isn’t your holiday to feast. You have your own season for that.” 

“If we’re talking about getting in the way of each other’s plans,” Blinky finally looked up from their phone and at Wiggly. “How about you stop peddling your stupid souvenirs at Watcher World?” 

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Wiggly said sarcastically. “I thought I was making that stupid little project more interesting. After all, your advertising department has been lacking.” 

The expression on Blinky’s face made Grace let out a quiet and nervous giggle. Even with their glasses on, Blinky looked like he was ready to strangle Wiggly. 

Then Nibbly said, “People don’t even hunger for material things anymore. All they care about is likes on their selfies, or ragebaiting, or making things up for clout.” 

“I think Wiggly’s going to get into crypto,” Tinky said. 

Wiggly’s brows pitched together as he clutched the edges of the table. “Can we stop talking about me?” 

“I think we’re making good progress,” Webby shrugged. “You’re teaching Grace that you aren’t perfect.” 

“Gracie-wacy doesn’t think we need to be perfect,” Wiggly told her. “She just has to do as we say.” 

Something hurt about that statement. Grace lowered her head. 

Webby looked at her. “Do you see what I mean now?” 

Wiggly shut his eyes and sighed. “None of us has ever been good at forming relationships. Especially with our followers. Gracie-wacy, you are more than just a pawn.” 

Blinky set his phone on the table. “It’s true. Which is why we’re talking about you, Wiggly. You’re the oldest and the ruler of The Black and White. We followed your lead. We all have our reasons for coming here every week. But it isn’t just because of tests or bounding. Before Earth was even a thing, we were all different. We only had each other. And you like to think that if we’re here, together, you’ll get back some of that feeling.” 

For a long moment, no one said a word. Grace watched Wiggly as his fingers tapped lightly on the edges of the table. 

Nibbly figited in his seat, before asking, “Remember that time in December, early CE? When we all celebrated. That was one of the only times I actually felt like we were a family. We had a huge dinner, exchanged gifts, listened to Pokey sing, and lit candles. It’s because we saw all the mortals celebrating. It was one of the few times when we all celebrated something together.” 

“Remember that time,” Tinky said to Nibbly, “we built a gingerbread house?” 

Perking up, Nibbly nodded. “Yeah! And we used the red frosting to make it look like a crime scene. Then I ate them.” 

“Wait,” Grace said. “When did you all stop doing activities together?” 

“Thousands of years ago. But more recently, when Willabella wrote The Black Book,” Wiggly answered. “And Hatchetfield became our main source of followers and power. We all wanted it.” 

Webby said to Grace, “Their greed overcame them. It was always there, but eventually they became their own enemies. Tinky wanted to trick people, Nibbly wanted to eat them all, Pokey wanted complete control, Blinky wanted to watch as they suffered, and Wiggly wanted to rule this dimension. That’s why the timelines exist. So they could all get what they wanted.” 

“And you’re the stupid bitch,” Wiggly said to his sister, “who keeps getting in the way.” 

Pokey was right; Grace should have considered herself lucky she did not have any siblings to argue with. Her parents gave her all the attention. But there was something else. Hearing what Nibbly said warmed something in Grace’s heart. The five Lords in Black hated their sister. Yet, there was a time when their relationship was good. It probably wasn’t love, but something like it that cosmic gods could understand. 

It made her reconsider what she had seen from them in the three years since she’d known them. To her, they were powerful, all-knowing beings that could wipe out the world in seconds if they wanted to. But their personalities showed, to Grace at least, in a way that often made her forget that people even feared them. 

Grace turned to Blinky and asked, “What about you and Pokey?” 

“I gave him a suggestion on an apotheosis. He didn’t like it and got angry. I got frustrated. We didn’t talk to each other for years. After that, I focused on my own projects. I started looking for new forms of entertainment.” 

“You eventually made up,” Tinky cut in. 

Blinky shrugged. “We did. But he’s still an annoying little asshole who wants everything to go only his way. You need to be flexible.” 

“The point we’re trying to make, Gracie-wacy,” Wiggly said, “Is that things change. The universe is constantly moving. As the world evolves and the timelines move, we move with it. Unlike the god that you once believed in, we change. We adapt.” 

“It keeps things interesting,” Blinky added. 

“I beg to differ,” Webby said to Wiggly. “You’ve led our four brothers for billions of years. You asked Grace what she would do as a leader, and she had been shocked by your answer. Don’t you think you could learn something from her?” 

“I feel I’ve done well enough that there’s no more for me to learn.”

“Bullshit!” Blinky said. “After billions of years of watching and prodding, I’ve discovered there is always more to learn. You know that, too.” 

Tinky nodded. “With time and space, it isn’t just about adapting to the world you live in. It’s about observing mortals. What makes them tick?” 

“They can be boring at times,” Blinky said. “But that’s when you interfere. And our Gracie seems to have caught onto the idea that being a leader could mean progress lasting for years. Instead, you, brother, wish to conserve the ideals you have set with an iron fist.” 

“Okay,” Wiggly said. “First of all, fuck all of you. Second of all, I believe the way I lead works perfectly fine. And third, why are you all ganging up on me?” 

Tinky whispered, “Uh oh, the big octopus is floundering…” 

Blinky and Nibbly snorted. 

Webby smiled. “Nothing is off limits.” 

“Okay,” Wiggly said. “Then what about you, Webby? What’s something about yourself that you want to admit?” 

“That you are all more powerful than I. I understand I can’t make Grace change her mind. But I wanted her to see that you all aren’t who you pretend to be.” 

Nibbly said, “Pokey isn’t here.” 

“No,” said Blinky. “He’s in the bathroom grumbling to himself. I say we let him.” 

Grace couldn’t help but ask, “When the five of you are here, do you get some of those moments back? Of family?” 

“...yes,” Nibbly was the first to answer. 

Wiggly turned to Grace. “This apartment, while small, has become our main base for this world. With your influence, our power has grown, and it’s connected to you. We have no intention of leaving.” 

“Unfortunately,” Webby said. But then she smiled kindly again. “One of the reasons I came here is because I wanted to let you know that this timeline is one of the few you haven’t ruined. It’s almost like you enjoy the domestic part. You don’t want to get rid of it.” 

Tinky nodded. “Domestic is a good way to put it.” 

Grace asked The Lords in Black, “Any plans for the future I should know about?”

“Not at the moment,” Wiggly told her. “This bitch is correct about that.” 

Blinky said, “Gracie has too much on her mind.” 

Face heating, Grace never got used to Blinky being able to read her. But if what Wiggly was saying was true, then she knew she had nothing to fear. Pokey once told her to live in the moment, so she would. In truth, she couldn’t have asked for better roommates. 

“Any dirt on Pokey?” Tinky asked. 

Blinky raised his hand. “I once saw him rehearsing, and he did a spin and fell face-first off the stage.” 

Grace tried to hold it in, but she started laughing. The others laughed too. Thank goodness Pokey wasn’t there. 

Webby braced her forearms on the table. “I think would could talk for days about how you all feel about each other. You all share The Black and Drowsy Town, but have separate domains. You do your own thing. If you had to choose one thing to agree on, what would it be?” 

“That you're a bitch,” Wiggly said. 

“That we need a new insult for Webby,” Blinky said. 

“Pain in the ass,” Pokey suggested as he walked into the kitchen. “Who needs to mind her own fucking business?” 

“Well, look who finally came out of their room.” Blinky laughed. 

He glared at him. “I heard what you said about me.” 

“Good.” 

“Something we have in common,” Pokey said. “Is that despite hating each other, things do change. Nothing is ever truly black and white.” 

They all nodded in agreement. 

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to stop messing with this dimension,” Tinky said. Once again, they nodded. 

Sighing, Blinky went back to using their phone. “We agree that things don’t have to be done for a purpose. The worlds we conquer, the cults we start, we don’t do them because we have to. But because it’s something we can do.” 

“I never agreed to that,” Wiggly said. “My goal is to bend worlds to my will.” 

“Because you're selfish,” Webby said. 

Tinky said, “Sorry, Wiggly. You can’t call the kettle black on this one.” 

“Webby is a stupid pain in the ass.” 

“Huh, that actually works,” Blinky said. 

Webby sighed and shook her head. She turned to Grace, and Grace now understood what Webby must have gone through her whole life. Her brothers were chaotic; they all knew that. They hated her, and she tried to stop them from whatever darkness they wished to release into the world. But she still tried to get through to them. Because they were still family.

“I agree with you, Blinky,” Webby said. “Sometimes it’s nice to just relax and not have to worry about what comes next. You might not agree with me on this, but peace is a very good thing.” 

“Peace is boring,” Blinky said. 

Nibbly spoke, “Peace is a big breakfast and coffee on a sunny morning. I learned that here.” 

Grace couldn’t help but smile at that. 

Tinky nodded. “It’s true. I doubt that we would be able to do these things without Gracie. But I feel like we keep spinning around the conversation. There’s only so much to talk about without going over years of issues.” 

“I think,” Pokey said. “Gracie should have the last word.” 

All six of them turned to her, and Grace tensed. In so many ways, they challenged the lessons she had been taught growing up. Grace never saw them as black or white. Like their appearance, they were a mix of color, chaos, and power. Three years of knowing them would never be enough. A lifetime would also never be enough. But like Nibbly had mentioned, Grace cherished the moment where they were all together, in the apartment, sometimes doing their own thing, sometimes hanging out together. 

As they waited for an answer, Grace finally took a deep breath and said to them, “I think that we should all start working together. To make a little chaos wherever we go. I chose to serve you. I’m on your side.” 

Wiggly smiled. “Good answer, Gracie-wacy.” 

Webby sighed. “That is something I’m going to have to accept.” 

“We know what we’re doing,” Pokey said. 

“Oh no,” Grace said. “I actually think you have no idea what you’re doing. But that’s the point. And that’s why you can’t get rid of me.” 

Blinky put their phone down and clapped his hands. “And she finally gets it.” 

Nibbly laughed. “If there’s one person in Hatchetfield who’s ready to help us fuck shit up, it’s you, Gracie.” He put his hands on the table. “Can we have our own family breakfast now?” 

Webby stood up from her seat, “I think I’m going to go.” 

“Hey, pain in the ass, you think you can just call us out and bail?” Tinky asked. “Sit down and eat with us.” Sighing, Webby sat back down, and Grace started preparing breakfast. 

It was just cereal that morning, because Grace didn’t feel like doing a lot of work. No one did much talking, but when they were all served, Grace noticed nobody was eating, not even Nibbly. Confused, the lingering weight in the air was still there. 

But it was Nibbly who said, “Are we going to say grace?” 

Grace herself blinked for a moment, then put her hands together. She spoke her own words: “Thank you for this moment. Where all of us are together, and happy. Let us enjoy this meal and many more of the sacrifices that will come by the hands of chaos.” 

Nibbly nodded. “Ramen.” 

“It’s amen,” Pokey said. 

“Potato, potahto.” Nibbly didn’t hesitate any longer before devouring the Cherioos. 

When they were all finished eating, Webby and Wiggly actually helped with the dishes. Blinky, Pokey, and Tinky were already planning a movie for that afternoon. Meanwhile, Grace was feeling something different from before. It was a sense of not being alone, like a whole in her soul had been filled by a thrilling darkness. The future could mean anything. That made it more exciting. 

While she was sitting at the table, she overheard Webby and Wiggly having a conversation. 

“When will you all learn that your actions have consequences?” Webby asked her brother. 

Wiggly shrugged. “When will you learn to stop getting in the way?” 

“I just don’t want people getting hurt.” 

“Which is why you’re okay with this.” Grace knew he was referring to the other timelines. “What makes you think we just haven’t chosen the right time to take over?” 

Webby turned to her brother, and with a relaxed, but straight face, she said, “Because you’re having too much fun now.” 

Tilting his head, The Lord in Black looked at his sister, then at Grace, who stared back at him curiously. “If you wanted to call us out, Webby, you did it. But I think you just made Gracie-wacy like us even more.” 

“Hm.” Webby dried her hands and went up to Grace. Then she said something that hit Grace in the stomach: “Take care of them in the ways I can not.” 

Grace was stunned for a moment before standing up and nodding. Webby pulled her into a warm hug. She smelled like fresh linen. When they separated, a light surrounded Webby, and she faded into what Grace assumed was farthest away from her brothers in The Black and White. 

“Let’s go see if they choose a movie,” Wiggly said, leaving the kitchen. 

For the first time that morning, all the heaviness lifted from her shoulders as Grace took a deep breath in. After three years, everything seemed a bit more clear. Her world was one where The Lords in Black ruled. But even as their disciple, she never truly understood her place in all of it. It wasn’t just offering souls or carrying out various deeds or performing rituals in their name. Grace had become their anchor to the world and to each other. 

Grace started serving The Lords in Black because of their power and influence on the town of Hatchetfield. She believed it was darkness that would spare her soul. In reality, it was a rainbow that made it all worth it.

She couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. 

Notes:

This isn’t the end, far from it. As I said, there will be arcs that go through the chapters. This is the end of one of them. We are far from an ending.

I’m sorry if this was more of a change of pace.

Chapters are going to get more chaotic, and I’m so excited for what I’ve got planned.

If you liked it and want to see more, any support is welcome, and I adore reading all your wonderful comments! Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ll stick around!

Notes:

I should mention, this isn’t just a collection of short stories. All of them are connected, and there will be more of a plot that develops in the later chapters.

So, if you are all interested, feel free to stick around!

If you like it so far, feel free to leave any support you think is appropriate. Comments are always appreciated! But, I’m mostly writing this for myself because it’s fun!

Thank you for reading! Wishing you all good things!