❆ Paula Behr

In need of some cozy winter tunes for this holiday season? Curl up with our Holiday Yule Log playlist for soft sounds and festive vibes. ❄️✨
🎶 Listen to the whole playlist here: toon.town/yulelog

ㅤㅤㅤShe then starts setting out the food; small sandwiches, fruit slices, chips, small cheese squares... all light foods,but a decent amount of them.

「 Don't wait for me, dear. 」

It was bad

🎹 Watched Pokar Express for the first time in years, I forgot everything about it.

ㅤㅤㅤShe lays the sheet on the ground, placing the basket on it and pulling out a few paper plates.

「 Well, then, would you like to join me? 」

🎹 I was actually considering reaching out to you in DMs about some things, but I got too nervous XP trust me, it's not that people don't want to, Oswald is wonderful.

「 Of course, dear. 」

ㅤㅤㅤOh, they're so cute... now, it's hard to imagine why anyone would be afraid of them.

「 Oh, I'm so glad. Hold on, this'll probably help. 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe returns to the living room, setting the new mug next to them and grabbing their old one.

「 Here you go, dear. 」

「 No wonder they were so disoriented! I'm really glad I could help, Doctor... should they stay with me, or do you want a closer eye on them? 」

ㅤㅤㅤWith another nod, she dips back into the kitchen, taking a deep breath. There is a /kind/ and /safe/ robot in her home.

ㅤㅤㅤShe breathes a heavy sigh of relief when they laugh.

「 Ah— you're almost out of tea, dear, did you want more? 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe seems calmer now that Surlee is here, at least...

「 I found them out in the snow, I'm not— 」

ㅤㅤㅤHold on, wait, she can test something.

「 I have snow idea if anything got damaged because of it. 」

「 U-Uhm, something like me! Animals, mainly, but... people. That's probably him. 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe stress-waddles to the door, opening it a crack. Through it, she whispers.

「 Please don't freak them out, they seem so sweet. And they were out in the snow. 」

🎹 I could bring over someone from Timecode if we want someone REALLY afraid of robots...

<- lives in the evil capitalist robot world

+ I'm not sure if the same... hypothermia prevention stuff applies to robots, after all. And trust me, haha, it's not easy to look up! 」

「 Wait, but I don't— 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe's cut off by the click.

「 ..have sight of them /now.../ 」

ㅤㅤㅤNo, Paula, don't panic. She goes back to the common room...

「 Sorry about all that, dear! I just called up a friend who's better with robots, dear me, I thought you were a toon! +

「 There is— a v-very kind and sweet... robot in my home. I'm almost certain they're not a cog, but, uhm... 」

「 Uhm... o-okay. Promise you won't freak out. 」

ㅤㅤㅤFrom PAULA of all toons??

「 You stay right here, dear. And if you need anything, you can come find me. 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe's up, and off to a different room. Deeper in the house, she stops hiding her panic, rushing over to the phone and dialing.

「 @doctorsurlee.bsky.social? 」

「 N-No, not at all! 」

ㅤㅤㅤThey can't be a COG, Paula! Calm down, look at them! They're so kind!

ㅤㅤㅤAnd yet... are there non-cog robots that can speak?

「 Do you, uhm, mind if I go to another room for a moment? I promise, you're all fine. Stay cozy here. 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe goes quiet for a moment.

「 ..robot? 」

ㅤㅤㅤThere's a stifled fear in her words. One she doesn't want Dragon to hear.

「 I'm glad! 」

ㅤㅤㅤHer voice comes from the loveseat near the couch.

「 How'd you end up all the way out there? 」

ㅤㅤㅤThey can only tell she's in the living room by the sound of the mug being set down nearby.

ㅤㅤㅤShe just nods, vanishing into the kitchen. There's already blankets on the couch...

「 Got it. 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe brings them to a store of some sort— "Hibernation Vacations", and then further inside. It's... a home in the store.

ㅤㅤㅤIt's warm and somewhat familiar.

「 Make yourself at home, I'll make us some tea. Any flavors you like? 」

「 That's a neat name. 」

ㅤㅤㅤThere's no further comment until the faint glow of lamplights can be seen.

「 No last name? 」

❄️ The snow has fallen.
🎶 Snowman is singing.
🎁 Jinglebell Jamboree is HERE!

Caroling, snowballs, Cold Caller invasions, holiday codes, and New Year’s fireworks await now through Dec 30 (TTT). Let’s make this winter extra Toony!
📖: toon.town/JJ25

「 Of course I don't! I don't own the place, after all— not that I'd like to. This area right here... 」

ㅤㅤㅤShe sighs wistfully, putting the basket on the ground and pulling a sheet out of it.

「 Would you happen to be hungry? 」