Chase was loafing around over the couch flipping through TV channels. It was only a couple times a week that Sean would let him out to watch what he wanted and help him with editing videos. Chase was the only one Sean allowed that privilege to. Not that the others didn't get that opportunity but Chase loved TV way more than the others. 

Marvin was always busy with warding Sean's house and mind and messing around with new spells and potions. He also had a lovely hobby of creating prank potions and making glitter bombs to make dramatic entrances which effectively annoyed the others to no end.

Henrik was always with reading or practicing something medical. He loved to dissect small things and learn how they worked, trying to become a better doctor even though he was more on his way to becoming a veterinarian. Although, he HAS managed to scrape the others out of close calls before.

Jameson preferred to play around with his puppet show stage and silent films. He loved playing oldies music and playing around with his antique black and white camera, making short family films here and there to brighten everyone's day.

Jackie was always on stand-by to go after Anti if need-be but otherwise he'd be working out. He, astonishingly, was the only one of the group that didn't have many hobbies. It was like he was solely created to go after Anti. Sometimes he wanted to hang out with the others and join in their hobbies just to chill with them but he never seemed to have the time to do so. Sean always either had him tracking Anti, working out to keep in shape or practice his skills.

Don't get it wrong, Jackie wasn't exactly bound to do what Sean wanted . .  . . he just felt like he needed to. 

Anti was a huge threat, after all, right? He NEEDED to keep up in shape in order to stand a chance against him at all.

So anyway, about Chase.

He was practically Sean's daily double if anything. Helping him with his videos, filming or editing or even going out and running errands for him if Sean needed.

It wasn't as if Sean was a monster, making him do these things. Chase actually requested stuff to do. It kept his mind busy. The less time he was left alone with his grim thoughts, the better.

Sean just so happened to walk into Chase chilling about on his couch, "Heh . . ..  you comfortable there?"

Chase only moved his eyes a little, "The laziness is real, bro. I don't even want to move an inch. How do you even get off this couch? It's SO comfortable!"

Sean gave him a look, "Don't you guys have a couch?"

Chase snorted, "Yeah but it's shit compared to this one."

"You can always have Marvin change it if you like" he came over and sat next to him, "Thanks for the idea of a backup like that, by the way. Saved me a lot of time"

"Marvin says that kind of stuff is a waste of his talents. And no probs, dude. I figured since Anti just LOVES to mess with your videos, it was time to make some secret arrangements."

"Until he figures it out. Then what?"

Chase shrugged, still flipping through channels, "Hide the files elsewhere then. I don't know, dude"

"Fat lot of help you are" Sean chuckled, "Nothing on TV?"

"Nah . . . just bored as all hell is all.  . . . . So Jackie said Anti got away yesterday again. Actually said Anti didn't even say a word to him. He was just trying to run. What you make of that?"

"Beats me" Sean huffed, "Bastard always has SOMETHING up his sleeve."

"You were pretty hard on Jackie though. He was upset that you told him off. He tried his best, you know"

"I know" Sean sighed, "It's just . . . we always come so close to nabbing him. And he always gets away. I just want it all to end. I don't want to see you guys get hurt again"

Chase swallowed, remembering of the last time, "Yeah . . . me neither. But just . . . go easy on Jackie, yeah? He always gives it his all. Not his fault Anti's a sneaky, devilish, crazy bastard"

They both chuckled at that but Sean nodded in all seriousness, "I know. You're right, Chase. I'll talk to him"

"You got any whiskey laying about?"

"No. I told you to stop drinking, you know. It's not gonna-"

"Make me feel better. I know. Sometimes, that's not the point. I liked that Honey Whiskey ya got last time. Tasted fooking phenomenal"

"It's still a  no"

"Aw come on! I promise I won't drink it all this time!"

"That's what you said the last time, too!" Sean waved around dramatically, "Then you had to go and get depressed and cry and tried to kill yourself again! Remember that bit? No. No drinking, Chase. I mean it"

Chase snorted at him, "Buzz kill"

But Sean was right. Chase shouldn't ever be allowed to drink otherwise the memories resurface and throw him into a spiral.

With that conversation out of the way, Sean slapped Chase's cap down to cover his eyes playfully, "Turn to Netflix. I got some Anime I wanted to watch"

Stopping his channel flipping, Chase handed him remote, "All yours all mighty creator. Go to your hentai" he responded equally as playful.

Sean just shook his head, "You're such a dork.  .. . . hey uh . . .. you think you can go to the store here soon and grab some ice cream? I ran out"

"Dude~" Chase whined.

"I'll share with you~" Sean bribed.

"Deal" Chase hopped out of the couch, "You're paying, though. Gimme money"

Sean snickered but told him where his wallet was.

"THAT COOKIE COBBLESTONE ONE, PLEASE!"

"I KNOW!"

"THANKS DAD! LOVE YOU!"

" . . . . the fuck? FUCK OFF!"

Sean ducked as Chase flung his wallet back at him, having just pulled out the money in cash.

"YOU'RE LUCKY I DIDN'T JUST TAKE YOUR CREDIT CARD!"

_________________________________________

Anti had failed. 

He watched the next day as Sean's videos came out just as the egos had planned and Anti was PISSED.

"Fuck!" he hit his chair, "Dammit, I was for SURE it'd work!"

'They must have a back up somewhere. Maybe on the cloud or something like that. Or perhaps a hidden external hard-drive of some sort'

Whatever the case, Anti had failed. He hadn't deserved that pizza and booze last night.

Then again, he did survive another encounter against Jackie. That's always celebratory.

Not that he wasn't strong. It was just that if he went against Jackie in a physical fight, he'd indefinitely lose. Anti was far stronger metaphysically with lightning and his glitching abilities.

Thank whatever god there was that Jackie didn't use HIS lightning ability. Then Anti would have a problem. No, that power was off limits. Sean didn't want him using it. OR maybe Sean hasn't even told him. Either way, Anti was glad for now. He'd be six feet under for sure if Jackie used his full power.

Anti watched the video, curious as he saw Chase instead of Sean, acting like his creator.

'Must of had him fill in for him again. Poor sap. Doesn't even realize he's being used.'

Anti leaned his head against the wall, "Man, this is depressing."

Every day he seemed farther and farther way from his goal. All he wanted. . . everything he wanted. . . was to just set them free. Make them see that they weren't tied to Sean. 

And  yet he couldn't even save ONE of them.

He wondered what Dark would say. Here he had successfully liberated ALL of the Iplier egos from Mark. Compared to him, Anti was a disgrace.

'Ugh. . . thinking about Dark makes me even MORE depressed. . . . thinking he's so much better than me.'

And depressed Anti tends to get snacky. . . .and dramatic.

Anti sighed heavily and loudly, "I need ice cream"

Making a walk down to the store, Anti had his hoodie pulled up just in case Jackie was looking for him. He had to walk to save up his energy just in case. Plus the route wasn't too bad of a view.

Everyone still stared at him strangely though since it was in the middle of summer.

'Mind yer own fooking business, people' Anti was just snappy because he needed his sugar.

Plus it WAS getting kind of warm with the clothes he was wearing.

He came up to the general store and thought of what ice cream he'd want today.

Meanwhile, Chase was driving on his way down to the store.

'Cookie Cobblestone' he repeated in his head, 'I'll probably have to get more than one of those. If Jackie's let out again so soon, he'll steal one for sure. And I'll eat mine quick before I go back. Don't want Henrik to know. He still thinks I'm trying to eat healthy. Been raiding Sean's kitchen every time, though. I am a fooking genius'

He WAS going to go to the store downtown but he wanted to get back to Sean's quickly and spotted a small general store at the next stop light.

'That'll do. Hope they have the Cookie Cobblestone flavor' he pulled in the parking lot and got ready to head inside.

Anti nodded to one of the cashiers. He came here so often, some of the employees sort of knew him in a way. At least knew him to an extend that he wasn't a threat or a complete weirdo.

The cashier blushes at him but waved shyly, making him smirk. He was a sly dog and he knew it.

Suddenly he thought of something and snapped his fingers. The girl wasn't busy so he walked up to her since she was the closest employee to ask.

"Hey lass. Do you know where the hardware section is?"

She giggled, "Well you've been in here enough, I'd think you'd know, sir. Aisle 12"

Chase walked inside and immediately saw a man in a dark hoodie flirting with the cashier.

'Honestly. Some men have NO class'

Then he heard something about hardware and she was answering him.

'Maybe he was genuinely just asking a question. Why's he gotta be so weird, though? It's fooking sixteen degrees Celsius. He's probably on drugs if he's that cold'

But minding his own business, he went on.

Until he remembered something and snapped his fingers.

'Stop judging, Chase. I should get some of that whiskey while I'm here. What Sean don't know won't hurt him'

He snuck off into the spirits section.

After winking to the girl, Anti thanked her, "You're a saint, lass. Thank you so much fer your help"

"It's no problem" she waved it off, "Why do you always wear a hoodie in here by the way? With the hood up? Can I  . .. can I see your full face? Unless that's too much to ask!  . .s-sorry" she shut down a little, worried she over-stepped.

But Anti just smiled nicely to her and took off his hoodie for a moment, "There. . . .. nothing too interesting, sweetheart"

She smiled again, "I think you're handsome"

It was Anti's turn to blush. With a short wink, he took off towards the hardware section, "I'll come back and see ya in a second lass"

He knew he was good with women but he had to remember he was on a mission. Ice cream.

.

.

. 

Well . . . and something else.

The moment he stepped in, he thought of an idea and he had to see what they had that he might be able to use. If they had any heavy rope or some sort of heavy duty bindings, he could use it to contain Jackie if only for a few minutes.

Any amount of time to try and talk to him. Right now, Jackie was both Anti's biggest gamble and hope.

"Hm" Anti walked through the aisle. He saw zip ties and standard rope but nothing like what he was really looking for.

And then he saw the chains. Thick and heavy.

He slowly nodded to himself, 'This might do it' 

He struggled putting a wheel of it over his shoulder but he managed just in case the cashier girl was watching. Anything to impress.

'Now for the ice cream'

Chase had his hands shoved in his pockets, looking through all the assortments of liquor this general store had all the while biting his lip.

'I don't see that honey whiskey Sean got last time. Maybe they don't sell it here'

But he did find a vanilla flavored whiskey, 'I could give that one a try' he grabbed it.

'Now to go get that ice cream. Cookie  . . .something . .was it? I'll know it when I see it'

As he walked, he examined the bottle more closely not that he needed to. It was booze and it'd get him drunk. Or at least buzzed.

He felt the cold air on his skin and knew he was in the right section, not realizing someone else was right there, too.

But Chase knew exactly where the ice cream was. He saw it in the corner of his eye.

Anti was lost in thought but he knew his way straight to the ice cream. He didn't have to look where he was going or anything which was kind of sad.

He reached for the right door.

Only to bump his hand into someone else's.

"Oh! S-sorry!" Anti apologized, "You go first"

"Oh sorry about that. No, it's fine. You go"

He thought he recognized the man's voice but didn't care too much to look. He was only after one thing and one thing only.

"Oh. . . uh thanks." Anti gazed into the freezer, searching for his favorite flavor. Cookie Cobblestone, "Ah! There it is! Cookie Cobblestone. My fav"

"Oh really? It's mine and my friends' favorite, too. It's got both cookie dough-"

"AND oreo cookie pieces in it!" Anti finished.

"Exactly! It's the freaking best not to mention all the chocolate and the marshmallow swirl in it, too! Can you grab me one, too, man?"

"Oh yeah, sure" Anti took another one out and handed it to the other man with a smile.

Only . . . 

They both finally actually looked at each other.

Chase stared at the man in front of him, hand reached out but frozen in fear, "Uh . . ."

Anti stared back, equally as fearful, his smiling having quickly faded away, "Um . . ." he calmed down pretty quick, though and looked about to see if anyone was around them. They were clear, "Please don't freak out"

"Did you follow me here?!" Chase was freaking out.

"What?! No!" Anti was still trying to whisper as to not make a scene but Chase didn't care. He WANTED to make a scene.

"THEN WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE?!"

Anti scoffed at him, "Seriously?! They have my favorite ice cream at a discount, that's why! Don't flatter yourself, asshole!" he quickly took a breath, "Sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just-"

"I'm gonna call Sean"

"Oh god, please don't call Sean"

"Oh yeah? Why shouldn't I?!"

Anti looked over to see the cashier had heard their noise, "Is everything alright over there?"

"Yes! Everything's fine! Just a slight misunderstanding is all, lass!" Anti tried to downplay the scene.

He wasn't ready to do this yet. He wasn't ready to talk to Chase because he was Sean's number one supporter! He'd NEVER want to hear what he had to say!

Chase had his phone out and was dialing a number.

Anti did the only thing he thought was a good idea at the time and snatched Chase's phone from him.

"HEY!"

"Sorry!" Anti fried it by glitching his hand, "But I can't let you call him! He'll fucking kill me!"

"As if you don't deserve it!"

Anti looked over at the TracFone's, "Here, I'll buy you a new phone" he gave him one and reached in his pockets to pull out some cash, "That should do it. Now if you excuse me, I'm gonna just pay for my things and leave. . . . . . .  Have a good night?"

Anti wanted to slap himself, 'Have a good night?! As if you're chatting with an old friend!'

"Uh" Chase didn't understand what was happening whatsoever, "You're not gonna kill me?"

"No. . . .I'm leaving now" Anti up and turned away, heading over to the cashier to pay for his things.

Chase was right behind him, "Hey don't walk away from me!"

"Ah shit"

The girl seemed concerned, "Are you okay, sir? Do I need to call my manager? Or the police?"

Chase went to speak to her "Everything's-"

"Everything's fine, lass" Anti finished, "Just a slight skirmish is all. Nothing to fret about"

"Hey, I'm not done talking to you" Chase growled at him, "I think I'm owed an explanation!"

Anti gave the girl some cash, "Keep the change, alright?" he went to leave until the girl grabbed his arm to hold him back.

"Wait!" she took out a small marker and wrote some numbers on his forearm, "That's my number . . . in case you wanna . . .call me?"

Anti slowly smiled at her, nearly forgetting he was supposed to be running away, "Th-thanks, lass . . . . " he snapped out of it, "S-see ya!"

Making a tough call, Chase left his things plus the new phone and went after Anti, "Get back here!"

He ran out the door after him, seeing him turn to the right. Chase went to the right as well only . . . only to see he was already gone.

"Fuck!" Chase cursed, "Where'd he go?"

Anti glitched back home, ice cream and chain with him, "Fuck! That was close!"

He had to admit, though, he could have handled that better. Now Chase was gonna tell the others where he got groceries and Jackie would look for him there!

He could have talked to Chase better than that but as soon as he realized it was him, he just . ..  froze. Anti was . . afraid. And he knew what of. He was afraid he wouldn't believe him. Of course he wouldn't. He was so far up Sean's arse, he was blind to everything but the creator's word.

'Dammit . . . .  Maybe I should go back?' But he knew he couldn't. 

He was a coward . . .

And his ice cream was melting. That was a good enough excuse, right?

Chase didn't understand any of it.

'Why'd he run? Shouldn't he have. . . hurt me? Tried to kill me?'

But instead, Anti just . . . ran from him. 

'He seemed. .  afraid of me. But why? Was it because I was gonna call Sean? He broke my phone . . .'

That was another thing, 'He tried to buy me a new one. Even if it was a cheap ass one . . . Man, this is just too weird.'

And the interaction with him and the girl. Man, was that awkward. But in a cute sort of way. Anti actually seemed shy. Which was way off base for him that Chase knew of. 

'Should I tell the others?' he didn't know what to do, 'Maybe . . . . maybe they don't need to know . . . it's not like I got any information from him, after all. Except for the weird chain he was buying . . . Fuck, what do I do?'

Chase shook his head from the headache he was starting to get and went back into the store, 'I'm gonna really need that drink, after all'