Thread by @hradzka

2019. "Well, that brunch was delicious!"
2016. *reaches* "There's still a cinnamon bun left!"
2017. *slaps his hand* "That's for '18!"
2019. "Aw! I'll take it to him."
2016. "You gonna be okay on the basement stairs?"
2017. "You are kinda drunk."
2019. "One mimosa! I'm fiiiiine."

2019. *waits for 2016 and 2017 to be occupied cleaning up*
2019. *carefully slips key out of cookie jar*
2019. *unlocks basement door and enters*

2018. *is still tied to the couch*
2019. "Whooooo wants a cinnamon roll?"
2018. "..."
2019. *presents cinnamon roll with a flourish*
2019. *wobbles*
2018. "...are you DRUNK?"
2019. "ONE. MIMOSA."

2018. *glares at cinnamon roll, sitting on plate on a crate*
2019. "I knooow. Y're upset. I kinda like it. '16 and '17 are so HAPPY. And VARIETY is the spice of life, y'know?"
2018. "What's going on out there?"
2019. *waves hand* "Everything's fiiiiiine. 'SPECIALLY Virginia."

2018, alarmed. "Virginia?! What happened to Virginia? ...is there still a Virginia?!"
2019. *opens mouth*
2019. *hesitates*
2019. *looks at watch*
2019. "Probably!"

2019. "I'm in a good mood, grumpy gus. You can keep the lights."
2019. *exits*
2018. *glares at cinnamon roll*
2018. *waits*
DOOR. *closes*
2018. "She's gone. You can come out now."

The shadows boil. The darkness ripples.

TIDE OF RATS. *comes forth, one rat atop them like a surfer on a wave*

TIDE OF RATS. *swarms the crate, forms a platform*
LORD OF THE RATS. *steps off platform onto the crate*
LORD OF THE RATS. *looks inquiringly up at 2018*
LORD OF THE RATS. *chitters*
2018. "Yes. It's yours. Just like I told you. And she'll bring more."

LORD OF THE RATS. *takes bite of cinnamon roll*
LORD OF THE RATS. *makes OMG face*
2018. "So much more. You want pay? That's the first installment. Take it."
TIDE OF RATS. *swarm the crate, bearing the cinnamon roll & the Lord of the Rats back into the shadows*
2018. "...soon."

2019. *closes basement door behind her*
2019. *locks it*
2019. *drops the key into the cookie jar with a clink*
2019. *goes upstairs, humming*
KITCHEN. *is silent and empty*
2017. *peeks in around the corner*
2017. *enters the kitchen*
2017. *stares at the cookie jar*