01x02 - Greyscale Finger Bandit

[bunniefuu]

Long ago, beings decided
that creatures could be friends.

I want to befriend
this hard-footed run monster

to borrow its speed
and brush its neck bangs.

You should sit on it.

But it might kick me.

That is the price of speed.

Okay. Easy.

Easy now, new friend.

Soon you will be
the default mode of transportation.

- Some creatures were too mean.
- Greetings, large vibrating creature.

Would you like to cohabitate?

So we chose ones that were smaller.

Greetings, tiny vibrating creature.

Would you like to cohabitate?

Much better.

Other creatures were too spiky.
Like ouch orbs.

Should have expected that.

Or too stinky, like butt bombers.

Oh, Lorb, it burns.

But some were just right.

Like vibrating creatures
and moral creatures

and trash beards and even slow domes.

Now, many beings say creatures
are our best friends.

But do they really love us?
Or just our treats?

You licked me inside the mouth.

Gratitude.

Here's our orb
It's slightly leaning

Orbiting a star

We find ways to give life meaning

Some might seem bizarre

All we know is that we exist

And it won't be for long
So it helps to put some foot tubes on

Joy and sadness, courage and fear

Curiosity and anger
On a planet full of danger

And it's only getting stranger
From here

But do they really love us?
Or just our treats?

Sometimes,
I think it'd be easier to be a creature.

Not have to worry so much
about other beings liking me.

I think, for some creatures,
that's all they worry about.

Then there is no escape.

Anyway, creatures terrify me.

Well, they say, to grow, you need
to do the things that terrify you.

Like watch my mouthstones fall out?

Was thinking more like adopt a creature.

No deception, I think a creature roommate
would do you good.

Something to care for.

I care for plants, and they don't bite.
Except for one.

Something that knows you exist?

I'd rather lose my mouthstones.

And vibrating creatures make
my eyes swell.

- With joy?
- With pain and crust.

I'm worried about you.
Always so... How do I put this kindly?

Alone. A creature would love you.

I want a being to love me. The real me.

Not just some being who gives them treats.

Infant strides, my sibling.
Infant strides.

Greetings. Your usual.

Gratitude. Soap leaf.
This shouldn't have...

Oh, no. That's not right.
You always order the same sustenance.

Swaddled mush, no soap leaf,
side of crying circles.

You are correct.

- You are correct in that matter.
- I'll get you a soapless rendition.

While you wait, here.
I'm growing my own fuzz juice orb.

They're extra fuzzy and juicy
during fuzz-juice-orb season.

They are my favorite.

Our lifegivers would cut them up
and let us dip them in melted cocoslab.

I know it sounds like another one
of my strange combinations.

No. Sounds lovely.
I'd like to try that sometime.

Maybe tonight.
It's my first night off in forever.

Congratulations?

I'm a sky screamer!

- Hey.
- Hear me scream at the sky!

Hey.

Hey, you bit me.

My sweet legume, I have work.
Important work.

Can we play later?

If you won't let me be a creature,
then you gotta let me pick one.

No, I don't. It's just you and me for now.

Then when?
I'm already this many revolutions.

- Soon.
- But you said that when I was this many.

And you said that when I was this many

and when I was this many.

Well, I only remember blurry shapes
and sounds,

but you probably said it then too.

I can barely handle us alone right now.

But one day, you won't pick a creature.
A creature will pick you.

Promise?

Does a two-wheeled foot pusher
go faster downhill?

I think. But I'm six. You tell me.

I just thought
of a fun thing for you to do.

Go deep-sea diving?

Even better.

Take out the trash.

Trash!

Wow. You come here
every day and stare at that nice manager,

and finally, they give you an opening
to ask them out, and you froze.

Like your brain
after drinking something cold too fast.

Oh, cruel Rorb.
I can barely think around them.

They're the first being
who gives me internal flutters.

So thoughtful… and so dedicated.

And that art on their limbs, so symbolic.
Probably.

Don't worry.
One day, a being will pick you. I promise.

Or not. That would also be fine.

Here we go. Swaddled mush, no soap leaf.
Apologies for the mix-up.

No. No need for apologies.

My apologies for your apologies.

Enjoy your mush.

Unfortunate news. Two waitbeings
and a chef called out sick tonight.

They seem to be healing themselves
by listening to the same music.

Is it possible they called out sick
to go to a concert?

Don't know, but I'm gonna need you
to stay for the late shift.

What? I've had this night off scheduled
for weeks.

I can't remember
the last time I had one off.

I know, and it's that experience
and devotion to this restaurant

that we have come to rely on.

And that big anniversary meal
for that couple who loves you.

I also have a vibrating creature
with asthma,

and I don't have my creature sitter
to give them their lung juice inhaler.

I don't want to abandon the restaurant,

but I am left without a choice.

I can do it.

I realize I wasn't in that conversation,
but I heard you need assistance.

I use a being inhaler. I can do it.

There we go. Terrific. It's settled.

No, you cannot do this.

Gratitude, but you do not need
to look after my vibrating creature.

Good, because you're allergic.

Like this, right?

You are also completely terrified.

Well, yes, works the same way.

Look at that. An expert in lung juice.

Seems like we've solved two problems
in record time.

You don't even know
where my apartment is located.

They'll find it.

Are you sure?

Oh, yeah. Lorb knows I've never met
a creature I don't love.

I'm a total creature being.

You can trust...

Are you picking me?

This must be the Manager's place.

I can do it. Wait, how do I do it again?

And you apply it gently to their face,

give it two poofs and ding ding.
That's how you apply a creature inhaler.

Thanks for gazing. Don't forget
to smash that validation button.

And now, a word about mouthstone goo.

Mouthstone goo.

It's sweet, it's minty,
and it's meant to taste like food.

But don't eat it. Unless you do,
which is fine. I think.

Is it fine? How much did you eat?

- Hey.
- How's it going?

Wow, their place is so meticulous.

Okay. All ready.

Got my mild poison and cocoslab
to give them when they get home.

Now you just need to keep
an asthmatic creature alive until they do.

Don't remind me.

Or actually do.
Yeah, remind me frequently.

Greetings, vibrating creature.

Look at us.

The air is gently toxic to you

and you are gently toxic to me,

but we could still be friends.

Low on dough slices, low on wheat elbows,
and these are overripe.

They were underripe yesterday.

They have a 20-minute window
between being a rock and an evil mush.

Table two has a goober-pod allergy.

Table seven wants zingy yellow goo.

And that being sent
that being a mild poison.

I'm gonna see how this plays out.

And a one, and a two…

Revolutions are great…

My friends, fizzy festivity poison on us

to celebrate your 50 revolutions
of companionship.

- Oh, my, my. What a surprise.
- That is far too kind.

- But yes, we did expect that.
- Well, enjoy.

It's important you feel like
you're family here.

Every being deserves that.
Now, I have to...

You know the dessert we preordered?

The same one from our honeymoon.

- The same one.
- Not literally.

Sure. That one has been excrement
for a long time.

Wow. Very nice. I'll double check.

So beautiful.

- We haven't had one since.
- So unique.

- Can't wait to see it again.
- Excuse me.

Like it was on our honeymoon.

Feels like it was yesterday.

- But it wasn't.
- Famously.

Revolutions are great

If you like them, that's great

If you don't, then we're sorry

Here, I know we're busy,

but I'll make sure it's just like
you expect it, no matter what.

If I couldn't juggle it all,
then who would I be?

- That would be lovely.
- You juggle too much.

You need a break.

Though, we'd love some more dough slices
when you get a chance.

A creature picked me!

Uh-huh, sure. Now let me pick you
out of the trash before a neighbor sees.

No, look.

Let me go.

I'm gonna tickle its spine
to show my friendship.

No. That creature won't respond
with vibrations, but with wounds.

Now, I need to get back to work.

But I want it to live with us inside.

This is not a creature roommate.

This is an outside creature
who must remain a stranger. Okay?

I don't accept this information
and will continue to be upset

until you give me more context.

Some creatures we can love inside,

like moral creatures
and vibrating creatures.

But that's a greyscale finger bandit
which we can only love from afar.

No. Any creature can be a roommate.

I'm afraid not. For many of them,
the outside is their inside.

Then who decides
what creatures are allowed inside?

Beings hundreds, maybe thousands,
of revolutions ago.

Like, they saw snarling creatures,

and over time,
made them into moral creatures.

Can we do that
to the greyscale finger bandit?

No, we can't.
And we just got new furniture.

But how did they do it?

The beings that made
the snarling creature into a roommate.

Probably by giving it sustenance
and having it breed with its own relatives

for many generations until its brain
got bad enough for it to love us.

This isn't context I wanted to know.

I know. That's how context is.

It can make bad things good
and good things bad.

Now, let's go inside.

But I want them 'cause they have fingers.

Like a snarling little sibling.

Oh, my sweet legume.

We can't get a greyscale finger bandit.

But you know what?
We'll get you a proper creature roommate.

Exciting, right?

No, only them!

I'm a greyscale finger bandit.
I love trash!

Please, come out.

I have treats, toys, fresh skin to claw.

I have currency. Just tell me
what you want. I can make it happen.

Help me help you help your roommate.

It's a win-win-win.

Hey.

So, I don't know how to say this.

Let me guess.
The vibrating creature is hiding,

but it needs lung juice
in the next two minutes,

and you're calling for help because you're
so infatuated with the Manager,

your brain isn't working right.

Oddly specific. But yes, exactly.

- I'll see you soon.
- Gratitude. Real gratitude.

Oh, Lorb.

Were you waiting for me to give up?

Forget it. I don't care why, just remain.

Remain. Yes. Remain.

And breathe. Yes.

Yes, you're going to live and...

Uh-oh, not now.

Table 22 found a paper clip
in their leaf bucket.

I told them it was good luck,
but they didn't buy it.

And the couple that loves you
is ready for their dessert.

That's a health code violation.
I don't mind it.

Everything okay?

Yes, I just need a moment.

Take two.

Oh, no.

Hi. You sound happy. I assume all is well?

Yes. All is very well.

No deception, I am relieved to hear that.

Did they take their inhaler?

Yep.
They took it without any problem at all.

Total cooperation.

Wow, that is impressive.

It often takes me several attempts
to get them to sit still.

Does it?

I cannot tell you how appreciative I am
of this favor. I owe you one in return.

No, you don't. That's up to you.

Apologies.
Is my creature a light shade of red?

What? No.

That must be your machine.

Not light red at all.

Okay, I will try to get home
as soon as I can. And again, gratitude.

Blink if you have magical powers.

Ready to set it ablaze?

- Yes.
- Wait.

Look, the side is concave

but in the photo convex
and the frosting there.

No, it's all wrong.

It's close enough.

It's their 50th anniversary.

Well, the pastry chef is out sick.

Poor being's ears must be clogged.

They had their music blasting.

Hand me the pastry chef's hat.

I only see the sous chef's hat.

Then that'll have to do.

Actually,
I don't need a specific hat for this.

It just felt right to say in the moment.

You must be so excited to pick out
any creature roommate you want.

This one's fluffy.

Too vibrating.

They look fun.

Instead of vibrating,
they wiggle their butt spine.

- Too moral.
- Uh-huh.

This one's colorful and has no morals.

Not enough fingers.

Okay.

Those are finger-ish?

Not enough trash.

Then, come on, what do you want?

Where are your greyscale finger bandits?

They're about yea high.

They have lots of creepy little fingers
and they sing like this...

I'm afraid we don't adopt them.
The outside is their home.

Then I will join them.

No. Sweet legume, careful.

We've got two hours to fix this.
Or they will never speak to me again.

I hate to say it, but this is a real,
"I knew this was going to happen

and it's exactly why I tried to stop you
from doing it" moment.

That is deception.
You are thrilled to say it.

That is correct.

I think you should just call them
and be honest about what happened.

It's too late for honesty.
I have told too many deceptions.

Now, let's get serious and remove
this mild poison stain

out of the creature's fur.

What... How did you?

That was dangerous. Very dangerous.

Now, you stay here and heal.

If you leave this room, we're not getting
any creature, you understand?

Got a big pile of trash up here.

Do they have mineral sprinkles
and fizzy liquid?

I only see big wet crystals
and bubble fluid.

Don't... What...

What if we pour white mild poison
onto the red mild poison stain,

you know, cancel it out?

What?

Tilt a pan over the flame and voilà.

You came, you're picking me. Here.

Wait. No, I have other snacks. Wait.

How is the stain larger?

I give up. I will have to move again.
I don't want to move again.

Perhaps I can have a disguise from now on.
I'll add an accessory, wear a hat.

My head is too small for hats.

Sibling, you need to compose yourself.

I am unable to.

Things don't always go as planned.
Every being knows that.

And if you like this being,
then you need to be honest.

A partnership can't start with deception.

Partnership?
They will not want to be partners

after they find out I spilled mild poison
on their favorite creature.

They will ask me to leave
and ban me from the restaurant

and I'll be forced
to drink good jitter liquid

from a better establishment.

You tried to win over the Manager

like a being tries to win over a creature
with treats. You can't force it.

You have to be yourself,
or you'll never know if it's real.

Like, come here, like this. This is real.

Okay, yeah, that is enough.

You're right, all right.
I guess a sibling always does know.

Hey, let go.
That cocoslab doesn't belong to you.

Just take it. I don't think they care
about property rights.

It's rude to steal and that cocoslab
will make you sick when you eat it.

- Oh, well.
- All right.

We could at least give
the vibrating creature a bath.

Oh, my Lorb.

Celebratory burn.

I know. Sincere apologies.

- Apologies?
- What's wrong?

Your cake's late, it wasn't perfect.

It had dripping frosting,
the wrong distribution...

Oh my.

That's a fire, dear.

- How did you know?
- Know what?

- Well, for our honeymoon...
- Everyone tells you

- what you have to do to be happy.
- Do this, do that... Okay.

- So we went to this little island…
- Well, it wasn't that little.

- …with all these plans…
- These expectations.

…and it rained.

Raining vibrating creatures
and moral creatures.

Just like these sprinklers.

But you know
what's kept us together this long?

You made backup plans?

- We stopped being scared.
- Of others' expectations.

To make everything perfect.

Anyone can force love
in the perfect moments.

- So they mean nothing...
- Well, not nothing.

But finding love in the rain.

- In the sprinklers.
- In the chaos.

The sheer chaos.

The love not trying
to make anyone else happy.

That's the only way to know it's real.

That's beautiful.

Probably should give this
a little tidy up though.

And would love those dough slices
when you get a chance.

Great job tonight. You helped us
in a pinch like you always do.

Why don't you take
the rest of the night off?

- My shift ends in ten minutes.
- You're welcome.

They picked the neighbor. Not me.
They'll never be my...

Roommate!

You like cocoslab?
I have cocoslab. Wait, I'm coming.

I have cocoslab! Be my roommate?
Will you be my...

Hey, careful now, neighbor.

That's a wild creature.
They won't like it.

No, that's my new roommate.
Look. They're beautiful. Look.

Let me. They really are.

- They all are.
- All?

- It has a family.
- You're surprised?

I just... I wanted the greyscale
finger bandit to be my roommate,

but it already has its own tiny roommates.

There you are.
You are in big trouble, little being.

I know now the finger bandit,
they can't be my inside roommate,

but I will be their best friend outside.

I... Yeah, that's right.

That's very sweet to not try to force it
to be something against its nature.

We all deserve that, right?

I'm not sure. I'm six and there's too much
new context coming my way.

Well, I have a creature roommate
who I'd love for you to meet

and, if you'd like,
help give them their lung juice.

Wait, what kind of juice?

- What am I gonna do?
- Greetings.

I mean, uh-huh, greetings to you as well.

I... So I have to tell you
before you see your vibrating creature.

I know they're pink. I'm sorry.

But... okay, honest, honestly, be myself.

I brought over some mild poison
for you to enjoy at the end of your night.

Then I proceeded to spill it
on your creature.

A ravenous greyscale finger bandit
entered your home

and ate the cocoslab
I also brought for you to enjoy.

I then diluted the color
of your creature's fur in the bath

and considered fleeing the Burg
or at least wearing a hat.

It has been complete chaos.

Chaos.

Very much so. Yes.

Sometimes there's
a lot of good to find in chaos.

They look stunning and so strange.

It's an odd combination.

But you're good at those.

But I'm not good with creatures.
I just... I wanted you to like me.

- But you did give them the lung juice?
- Yeah.

- Are they alive?
- Definitely.

Then I am grateful.

I really wanted a night off,
but if I had the night off,

I wouldn't have returned home
to a gorgeous pink creature.

I wouldn't have served
my anniversary couple their fiery cake.

I wouldn't be here right now
talking to you.

So maybe everything happens for a reason.

I did also clog your toilet.

Do you think creatures really love us?

I mean, I know physically loving
a creature or a being

it's just chemicals and flesh wires.

I think they do.

We may never know if it feels the same,
but there is definitely love.

They may love us more
when we give them treats,

but we can't blame them for that.

Many beings love each other more
for similar reasons.

We are all imperfect.

Maybe that's the takeaway.

We too may be imperfect and strange,

but they love us for who we are anyway.

And because of that, we can learn how
to love other beings from them.

Did you just come up with that?

My lifegiver had
a sign like that in their kitchen.

Long sign.

Still wanna have fuzz juice orb
with cocoslab together sometime?

Sometime?

Yeah, I'd like that.

Hey, feels like I shouldn't be here,

but let me know if you want me
to come back and finish cleaning.

Okay, bye.