Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rodger held back a yawn as he clicked the light on. His singular eye scanned the room, boxes and shelving units littered the storage room as dust seemed to visibly float down from above through the dim lighting. He had come to the basement today to try and find more information about the inner workings of Gardenview; there was only so much he could learn from runs after all! And, he liked Shelly, but Miss Fossilian did not appear to be knowledgeable in the same way the other Mains might be. He chose a box immediately to his left to begin rifling through, and got to work. For the next thirty minutes or so, he would search through each and every box in the room. He was disappointed to find mostly props, though there were some documents that provided detailed script plans… and one redacted document on the creation of some kind of functional prop. 

“Pecuiliar…” Rodger muttered, stroking his chin a bit as he thought. Show re-enactments were common, but some episodes had been nixed from such performances due to the nature of their requirements. Ichor did have a magical nature that allowed for more than a few different things to be true for the show characters’ real world counterparts. Astro had magic, Rudie was inexplicably able to hold objects despite having hooves, and they were all able to store away items despite most Toons not having any pockets. Did Mrs. Keen try to make a more magical prop, using the mysterious nature of ichor to make it functional? His train of thought was cut off by a beep from his watch. Ah! It’s time. Rodger would only admit this to himself, but he hadn’t exactly slept lately. So, as a solution without wasting his precious time sleeping, he had been taking short power naps throughout the days! Only ever for fifteen minutes or so, but it was effective! So what if he was a bit exhausted? There was too much to learn. Rodger would look around the room, and then arrange some of the plushier props into a makeshift bed so he could get right back to his search once he was done. It wouldn’t due to head all the way back upstairs to nap, after all. 

He’d be out like a light within seconds, but thanks to the timer he had set with his watch, he was back up again in no time. Minutes later, he would be stretching and putting the props back to where he had found them, and would get back to his search. Something felt off about the room, but he couldn’t quite put his… aha! He cut himself off in his thoughts as he pulled out something luminous from a box. It appeared to be a bottle of some kind, with a glowing red liquid inside. He contemplated the find, unsure of what it could do or even what it was. A potion of some kind? Well, no better place to investigate than his office! Before he left, he’d take a second to write down the description of the liquid in a small notebook he kept in his pockets; he affirmed his decision to do some more investigation back upstairs with a crinkle in his eye of excited anticipation, but unfortunately it’d be short-lived as he almost immediately tripped over a box laid in front of the exit. He could’ve sworn he’d organized the room before he slept, where had it come from? How peculiar- his thoughts were once again cut off, this time by his body hitting the ground since he’d been too busy thinking about the how instead of catching himself.

For a second, fear sliced through his mind in a glaring way; a shattering sound echoed through the room, and Rodger would lay in silence as a cold liquid seeped into his button-up. Oh, thank goodness! It was just the potion, and not his face because boy would that have been a pickle! Rodger would grunt a bit as he shifted up to a sitting position. He did feel extremely woozy for some reason, so he’d need to check in with Seedly more than likely; he was grateful that despite the animosity that Sprout held for him, he still treated him when injured. 

Wait… what on earth? Rodger blinked as he looked up, and saw the ceiling stretch up impossibly high above him, alongside the shelves and the very box he had tripped over. The box was nearly double his height now, perhaps more. How could this have happened? The spilled liquid from the bottle had made a small lake across the floor all around him, and it was this that made the pieces click into place. The liquid must have been a potion of some variety, perhaps one of the props that the Founders experimented with. How interesting! Rodger’s fingers twitched for a pencil, but sadly enough he would not be able to effectively wield one right now, and his office was a faraway thought. The notebook and pencil he always carried around had fallen when he’d shrunken, so those were a no go. He’d step out of the thinly spread out spill, and head out of the room to get a good view of the hallway. If he remembered correctly the way back should be… right up there! He assessed, gauging the distance. 

He began his trek, not a hint of worry in his eyes, for he was certain things would work out splendidly. As he moved, he debated on his options; the Holiday Toons could have stumbled across him if any wandered from their rooms, or perhaps he could have waited for someone to come looking for him? Only a couple people knew he was coming down here though, so he couldn’t depend on that. He hoisted himself up each step, being grateful for the runs he had to go on with each step traversed. Sure, the runs didn’t help with his upper body strength usually, but his endurance was still helpful.

All the way back to his room, he thought about what the potion could have been used for, and how the Founders could have created it if they did. Oh, how he wished he had a sample! He would absolutely need to go back with a kit to try and collect one from the shattered bottle. He would grunt as he crawled under the door of his study, and would dust himself off the moment he reached his destination. Jolly good, he’d made it! It would be a lot easier for someone to find him like this. He scanned the room for any way to get atop his desk; it would be the best place for someone to see him if they walked in, like Tisha or his Jr. Detective, they’d be the most likely to walk right in… or, actually that would need to go to Glisten. The Mirror tended to knock, but not wait for an answer. Eventually, he’d climb up the sleeve of a coat draped over his chair, and use that as a way to hop off from the top of the chair onto a small pillow he had positioned on his desk for the most strategic power naps. Rodger sighed after this, and finally took a moment to breathe now that he’d reached his destination. He was beyond tired… but he couldn’t rest now, he needed to be vigilant! Rats were common in the facility despite Tisha’s best efforts, and he’d need to be prepared. Where did he set that sewing needle Shelly had lent him?

He didn’t have enough time to figure out the answer to that question. A resounding knock would come from the door, before it was opened instantly. If the gentle yet firm knocks didn’t tell him who it was, the instant entry was what did it. “Oh, that was quick!” He spoke with a smile in his eyes as he straightened out his collar and prepared himself for his company.

“Rodgerrrrr!” Glisten called out as he stepped over the threshold, a wide smile present on the Mirror’s face as his eyes scanned the room for the Detective. “Are you taking one of your-” Glisten’s eyes landed on the desk, and a look of surprise washed over him. “-silly power naps?” He finished as he moved toward the desk in a few long steps. “Well… that’s unusual.” Glisten spoke, a slight tease in his voice as he smiled and got into the chair at the desk. He’d rest both elbows on either side of Rodger and lean in a bit. “Ah well-” Rodger tugged at the collar of his suit, and seemed to have an unnerved but polite air to him. He hadn’t fully thought out the reality of his new situation. Glisten, as much as the Magnifying Glass loved him, was quite a bit more intimidating with his size. “Yes it is. You see I was in the basement doing some research, only to find a most mysterious liquid that I accidentally spilled onto myself. I shrunk to this size, and now I’m here and trying to find a way back to normal.” He explained, rubbing his chin a bit as he looked away for a moment in thought. In truth he was mostly looking away so he wouldn’t have to be eyelevel with his mouth. “Oh… hmmm, you know, Rodger?” Glisten asked with a mischievous smile. “I believe that I can help you! But before that… I think this is a good opportunity for you.” 

Rodger furrowed a single eyebrow in confusion. “Whatever do you mean?” Glisten would then unexpectedly scoop up the tiny Detective with two hands, and hold him closely in an almost hug. “Well… you’ve been just so tired lately, working, listening to me ramble on and on; it’s only right for you to get a little break!” The sensation was most curious. Rodger froze up and attempted to let his logical mind overcome the emotional cloud of tenseness that built up from the situation; even if you trusted someone, the sensation of being picked up by a larger being was one that was quite terrifying. The hands cupped around him, and he was glad to find that the embrace was not nearly as restrictive as he initially perceived. On one side, he could feel Glisten’s chest; at a first glance Glisten’s overall form resembled a personified mirror quite perfectly, but the reality was that the actual body felt soft, and warm like skin. On his other side, the hands supported him to ensure he didn’t plummet multiple stories down, or more accurately about 20 inches. It was a long fall for him. “Glisten! I already take multiple breaks throughout the day; I have no need for more.” Rodger would assure, pushing against the hold he had on him before Glisten would pull him away with one hand and hold him up to their face. Rodger could see his reflection quite clearly in the mirror’s face, and it was only all the more curious. “Oh please, the bags under your eyes tell me otherwise. If you want to be glamorous, you need beauty sleep!” The Mirror scolded as he held him. Warm breath overcame the Detective, and he’d flinch a little. He trusted Glisten, but from the angle he was being held, it forced him to get a good look at the Toon’s maw. “And I know just the thing for you! Hmmm… making sure I did everything;” the Mirror began, seemingly thinking to themselves, “I did that, that, that… andddd yes! Assurance, I almost forgot.” Glisten spoke, seemingly to himself as he gave Rodger a strangely predatory look. “You won’t need to worry, Detective, anything from here on out is 100% safe, I’ve made sure of it! Nowwww, close your eye, I’ve got a surprise for you.” Glisten would finish, gesturing animatedly with his one free hand. Rodger raised his only eyebrow suspiciously. He didn’t exactly like the sound of the surprise, but it was going to happen one way or another if he knew Glisten at all. He closed his eyes, and just waited.

Of course, you couldn’t keep a curious soul like Rodger’s waiting for long! He felt the air rush past him a bit as he was seemingly lifted higher. Wait… what kind of surprise is this? If it’s not related to my size I may be too small for it, but if it is then Glisten would need to know I’d be this small beforehand... Oh. The realization that he’d, potentially, been duped hit him harder than Cosmo’s Twisted’s right hook. Before he could get into an entirely separate mental tangent about whether it should be “Cosmo’s Twisted” or “Twisted Cosmo,” he would be hit by warm air around his legs. “Hm?” He’d open his eyes, and instantly tense up. Before him lay the entrance to a confined cave, or more specifically, the entrance to Glisten’s maw. Rodger couldn’t even get a word out as the sight beguiled him. The inside was such a vibrant pink, and the tongue was laid out just under him like a welcoming carpet. But… What on earth was Glisten doing? Rodger would get the answer quickly as the grip that the Mirror had on him slackened, and he’d find himself dropped inside. The tongue would accept him fast with the lips sealing behind him easily, his body sliding along the muscle all the while. The environment was quite humid, and the Detective would be quick to put up a struggle of protest as the tongue assailed him. He found himself quickly covered in Glisten’s saliva, which only made it easier for the Mirror to hum and seemingly enjoy his taste. Any rational thought was drowned out by the intensity of the sensations across Rodger’s skin as his outfit grew damp and the throat pulsated at the back of the chamber, ready to accept any food that Glisten may consume, or Rodger at this very minute. “Guh- Glisten, what are- Mph!” 

Glrkkk! 

With a thick swallow, Rodger would be squished, and pushed down by the tongue until he felt his bottom half and soon enough his whole form be pulled entirely into the gullet. The throat walls held him in a tight hug and simply helped him along seemingly careless in regard to his struggle. Rodger pushed, struggled, and generally tried to climb his way back up, but it was useless as he felt an outside pressure help him along. Glisten’s finger…? He wasn’t quite sure. As he was transported all the way down to the Toon’s stomach, he had a moment of clarity. He should be much more scared of this, yet he wasn’t, at least not by that much. He did trust the Mirror quite a bit, and doubted that he’d ever harm him… plus they had reassured him that the surprise would be safe. So, Rodger tried his hardest to suspend his fear responses as he entered the stomach chamber that quickly contracted to squeeze him and grumbled seemingly affectionately around him. He initially didn’t move that much, just sticking to staying still and keeping his eye out to analyze the environment. The chamber was not at all like he expected… he knew Toons weren’t 100% similar to the humans anatomically, that’d be impossible, but he was expecting the internals to be consistently either a standard soft pink, or even black due to the ichor that flowed through their blood streams. Strangely enough, the chamber was mostly gold with white stars dotting the space, with an occasional splash of the pink that had been present in the maw. It almost resembled a pristine changing room. 

“Huh… I would have expected you to be floundering around a bit more than that, haha; glad you’re not panicking of courseee~” Glisten would say with what was probably an exaggerated stretch as he made himself at home. Rodger would feel the larger Toon flop onto a surface that he could only deduce was the Detective’s own bed. The movement caused Rodger to be pushed into one of the walls, lose his footing, and get comfy laying on his side. “But yes, you’re perfectly safe in there, I promise.” The Mirror would remind, setting a hand on their stomach as they felt where Rodger shifted slightly. “Hmm,” The liquids in the stomach were clear, and thankfully did not feel harmful in the slightest, but there was something else on Rodger’s mind, “you left that potion for me, did you not?” He asked, a squint in his singular eye as he looked to one of the side walls… if Glisten was laying on his side, then that should be the direction his head was in. Glisten seemed to tense a bit. “..what makes you say that, darling Detective?” The voice emanated from the side that Rodger was looking at. It wasn’t exactly muffled, but it wasn’t clear either. “Because, you somehow knew that I’d be safe, had a surprise ready that is exclusive for me being at this size, and finally,” Rodger paused for a second, Glisten was always telling him that dramatic pauses were good, “you weren’t the least bit surprised when I mentioned the potion; you just immediately went into talking about how-” He paused for a second to yawn, the walls contracting around him cozily as he did. “-I hadn’t been resting enough and about the surprise you had for me… hm.” Rodger stroked his chin a bit as he was forced into curling up a bit in the cramped space. “Welllllll, maybe that could have been the case, but- heh, you’ve got to admit that it’s kind of cozy in there?” Glisten asked, still stylishly relaxed in the bed. 

Rodger’s eye drooped a bit, his body growing tired the longer he stayed in the warm and soft space. It felt far more comfier than his bed after a long day. “Hmph… Glisten, let me out, right away! I can’t afford to fall asleep!! There’s so much more I- Yawnnnn -I need to do…!” Rodger protested, the warmth of Glisten filling him up as the vines of sleep ensnared his mind… maybe he really did need this. Before he could protest further, Glisten would shush him softly. Rodger could feel that large hand of his push into the stomach and gently pat where he was. “Shhhhh, it’s all right. You really need that rest my friend. With your bed, it would be great; with me? Oh, I’m sure you’ll sleep perfectly.” He assured with a confident grin as he yawned himself alongside the smaller Toon. “No… hm. Wake me up in… fifteen minutes…” Rodger mumbled sleepily, mildly alarmed that sleep had overtaken his body so fast. He needed to be more alert so this didn’t happen again! He absentmindedly traced some of the grooves with one hand, rubbing gently as his eye grew heavier and heavier…

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Glisten got himself as comfy as he could. He went under the blankets, stretched out, and used a spare sleep mask he kept on him at all times just in case he crashed at any other Toons place. It helped him sleep, stylishly after all. He was more than satisfied to feel Rodger’s movements slowing down, and when the smaller Toon asked the question, Glisten covered his mouth with a chuckle. “Of course, dear. Rest now…” He whispered just as he finished getting ready to sleep himself. It was with that last assurance that Rodger finally went still. Ah… I’m such a perfect friend. Glisten thought to himself as he relaxed, and began to drift off himself. He was delighted that the potion had worked so perfectly! The Halloween Toons, while they had so little time left with them, were such fun with those potions. He should totes make them a care package to take back to… wherever they go. Ah well, he’d need to plan that later. After he let Rodger out a few hours from now. What? It was only a little white lie that he’d told for his own sake; Rodger really needed it, you know? Eventually Gisten would fall asleep, and Rodger would finally get the rest he so deserved. All was more than well.

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A few hours later, Rodger was back to normal size and alone in his room, stringing up the corkboard once again to try and restart his mind on what he’d been doing in the time before Glisten surprised him. He rubbed his forehead, smudging the glass a bit as a result; it was a bad habit. He would hold up his notebook, open it up, and hover over the entry about the potion with a pencil. It had been a set-up by Glisten, after all. Before he crossed it out, however, he had a thought. Just because it had been a set-up, didn’t necessarily mean the potion was useless information. Miss Keen had still made a Toon capable of creating Actual potions. It was something he hadn’t really thought about, but it was true. Maybe if he could learn more about it from whoever made it… hm. In truth, Rodger was mostly distracting himself from another thought as he moved to set the notebook down on his desk, turned the board over, and sat at his bed. That nap he had, it had been the best one he’d had since Gardenview shut down. His mind turned toward that thought he’d been distracting himself from. Maybe if he resisted sleep more, got busy, maybe it would happen again.

Suddenly, Rodger had a very booked plan for the week.