DECAY

THEY / IT | Toyhouse Profile

PLEASE DO NOT DRAW THEM IN BURROWGATORY OR WITH BUNS PRIMARILY RESIDING IN BURROWGATORY!

Decay, much like every other envy bun, had Gremory to blame for its’ trauma and childhood neglect. As it was born with a visage befitting of a dilapidated doll or an All Sinners’ Day costume, Decay was considered an eyesore by Gremory and as such she barely interacted with it, save mocking and belittling it. Decay was forced to scrounge for food from other demons who taunted it like a game and laughed at its’ weakness. Other buns avoided it entirely save for another outcast, Selpie. They bonded together as children due to their shared environment, as well as common hobbies of reading picture books (when they could get their respective claws ands hooves on them). Both grew to be intelligent enough to recognize the abusive nature of their rearing, but before they could form any sort of plan of escape, Decay was separated from Selpie upon reaching maturity and dumped into the wilderness, alone once more.

The unforgiving nature of the wilderness left Decay utterly alone to their devices. Despite feeling this same loneliness growing up, there was always Selpie’s comforting presence not far away. Now, Decay’s only companion was the wind whispering through the trees, and the heartbeat contained within their chest. Figuring out how to acquire food, water, and shelter effectively took many, many attempts and failures. Poisonous berries, the unrelenting weather, tainted streams, and wild imps all dismayed Decay. After many months, their psyche had worn away and they had developed a sort of psychosis. Their body had become hardened and toned by the wild, with their constitution improving and numerous scars and natural wounds to show.

One day, Decay was discovered in a hovel by a gluttony bun named Grem. This bun seemed genuine at first, they took Decay in and made sure it was cared for. Grem led it to warm food, an actual shelter, clean water, protection from the elements, knowledge of the wild, and companionship. Decay let its’ guard down entirely, sharing its life story with Grem and trusting them completely. Grem seemed to relish this friendship, and over time, slowly used Decay’s anxieties and mental illness against it. Decay was manipulated into doing Grem’s bidding and slowly turned from a friend to a servant, with little regard for its feelings. Decay became more and more compliant and miserable, turning into a shell of its’ former self. After a few months Grem grew bored of their plaything, and attempted to incapacitate Decay. Decay, realizing its’ “friend” had totally manipulated it, fought back as hard as it could and barely escaped alive, now covered in permanent wounds and scars. Though it made it back by the skin of its’ teeth, Decay had now developed a deep distrust and innate fear of others in the wilderness.

Even more time had passed. Decay, with knowledge gleaned from Grem, has a much more difficult time surviving in the wilderness. Every tip or trick relayed from Grem was either slightly incorrect, or woefully negligent. Decay’s own mind grew further tainted by the lack of proper survival. They began to construct small dolls out of various natural resources, and used these dolls to verbalize their inner monologue, think through problems, and have as much “socialization” as they could. After a particularly bad rainstorm, a small brown inkap found their way into Decay’s shelter, and after trying to shoo it away at first, Decay reluctantly let them stay, forming their first real friend and naming them Loam.

The succubun and inkap maintained an amiable lifestyle together for a few weeks, surviving as best they could. When gathering berries to eat one day, a mysterious figure approached Decay’s shelter. Decay hid itself amongst the brush and observed the figure. Its’ warped mind assumed that this figure was here only to threaten Decay, it sprung into action and attacked. The figure struggled and a horde of imps launched into action, deterring Decay from combat. Decay fought through the imps, ignoring the cries of its’ inkap, only for the enemy imps to shelter the figure from Decay. Multiple cries of help broke through the fog in Decay’s mind, and it stopped its’ pursuit. Before it was the familiar figure of a bun best described as a firefly swamp witch: Selpie.

Decay was immediately remorseful, and they apologized profusely to Selpie, tears of regret and joy streaming from their eye. Selpie embraced and forgave them, saying that they’ve been looking for Decay for so long they thought they’d never see each other again. Decay took several hours to gather themselves and then joined Selpie in their endeavors. Selpie, having a much more stable grasp of wilderness survival, taught Decay actual tips and tricks that changed life from a struggle to something to cherish. Together, they decided to erect a permanent shelter somewhere where they could really begin to live their lives, as they’ve always wanted to.

Finally, after several more months of planning, toil, construction, and finalization, the Simmering Cauldron was completed. This log cabin/witch’s hut in the swamp was built by hand by Selpie and Decay. Bordering a forest with a waterfall careening gracefully off of a cliff nearby, in the heart of the swamp wilderness, these two created a true haven for imps and buns of their ilk alike. After a tremendously tumultuous start, Decay and Selpie are now ready to begin their lives together, hopeful for what the future may hold.