Puppet on Strings {|} a DHMIS reader-insert

{|} That Live in Your Head - Chapter 2 {|}

Later that night, around 2 A.M., I went to bed really early that night, I was awaken up by a scream. Robin and Harry sleep in the same room as Manny (the kid), of course, so it was just me. I rush up the stairs to their room. After the spaghetti monster and duck had explained everything to me, I shrugged off the disturbing stuff and asked a few questions, and went to bed. They had gone through everything up to episode five, and I sorta still wonder why the hell those two are still here. Some kinda... AU? But this must be episode six. Which meant Larry. He's my fucking favorite, but I'm not gonna let that kid get drowned in oil.

I knock on the trio's door. "Guys? Guys?" I try to mask my nervousness. I hear Harry yelling and Larry's very prominent voice. I sigh and force the door open. "What the fu-" I pause, seeing Robin carrying a passed-out, half-drenched-in-oil Manny, an angry Harry holding the lamp by the arm, and I just walked in on all this. "The... what the hell?!" The lamp quietly looks at me, and then giggles. "Heyyyyy, angel," hiccup, "when'd yooouuu fall ouuuutta heaveeeen?" I'm deadpanned. I walk up to the lamp and take him from Harry's grasp. I stare him in the eyes for longer than expected, and then turn his light off.

The lamp seems shocked for a few seconds before turning back into a normal beside lamp, and falling to the ground. "What in God's name happened up here?" I pick the lamp up, putting it under my arm in a football carry. "The lamp- it-" Robin stutters, holding Manny close. "It was alive." Harry deadpans, still seeming shocked himself. "Is Manny okay? Still breathing?" I ask. "Y- yes!" The bird has been and is still crying, I realize now. "Good. I'm gonna take care of this." I flick the lamp's shade and walk out. Nobody wakes me up at TWO IN THE MORNING and walks away. I arrive downstairs and set the lamp on the couch, and his light turns on. He giggles, just sitting there for a minute. "The fuck were you doing? There's no alcohol in this house, you motherfucking..." I'm cut off by him grabbing my hand, pulling himself up. "My joooooooob, sillyyyyyyyyy!" I sigh. "I know that's your job, hun." The lamp giggles again, falling against my chest. "You're deliriously drunk... right."

I hear a familiar voice. "Is everything alright here, Y/N?" Tony. "Yeah, just some.. drunk fucking lamp harassing the youths." He chuckles. "That's certainly new." I pat the lamp's shade. "Whooooo's yoouuuuuuur frieeeend, angeeeeel?" He hiccups, hugging me. The lamp really only reaches just above my waist. "... Tony, lamp man. Are you like, a newborn or something? Have you imprinted on me?" He laughs. "I'm a laaaaaaaaamp!" I turn to look at Tony. "He really isn't pleasant." Tony is visibly disturbed. "I mean... he's touchy. I need me a freak like that." I shrug. The clock's visible disgust intensifies. I hear paper rustling, and I see... ah, the Sketchbook. 

She climbs on top of Tony's... head... and yawns. "What's going on?" The Sketchbook asks. "Oh, hello, Sketchbook." Tony greets. "Hi, paper god." I mumble. She giggles. "This is Y/N, isn't it? How lovely!" Sketchbook claps her 'hands' together. "Sheeee's an aaaaangeeeelll..." The lamp slurs, still attached to my waist. "And... is this a new teacher?" Sketch... I'm calling her Sketch, too tired for Sketchbook it's 2 in the morning... asks. "I think." I reply. "What's your name, anyway..." "Haaahhahahhah-" hiccup, "I'm... Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaarry. I'd oooofffeeeeeeeeer to teaaach you aaaaboooout dreeeams, but yoooou're alreeaaadyyyy one..." He laughs, burying his 'face' into my hip. "... I like him." I look up at the two in front of me. "As you've already stated." Tony sighs. "So, anyone else new or just Sketch and this guy?" Sketch smiles. "Oh, there's a few other teachers living here, actually!"

"Is the computer one of them?" Sketch pauses. "Why... yes. His name is Colin. The laptop is too, but she never speaks with us. Or anyone, for that matter." I give an uneasy thumbs up, pick up the lamp in my arms and sit down. "So I'm gonna go to sleep, yeah? We can do the whole... interacting thing... in the morning." I yawn. Larry giggles and clings to me. More. "Alright, then. Are you... sure you want him near you?" Sketch asks. "... I would agree with the notion of having the lamp return to the students' room." Larry shakes his 'head', and I make a noise of agreement. "He can stay, I don't think he's gonna let go of me, anyway..." I hear the two sigh in unison, and Tony shuffle off.