2: and they’re off!!

december 9th, 2025

yay storytime go!! and YAY it’s Pepper!!! she’s been a character since suuuuuper early in AwS history — she’s the dog with Holly on the banner art for AwS: Vanilla (the one below) — but she wasn’t originally going to be introduced until much later in the story. but now she’s here! Pepper’s a real one; I’m glad I’m still able to include her in this version.

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transcript:

Ollie is standing in some grass alongside a dog, Pepper, who’s roughly her size, with shorter fur and no antennae but similar markings. the two are connected by a leash that extends from a collar around Pepper’s neck to a harness around Ollie’s chest. Pepper is leaning into a play bow, smiling with her tongue out and wagging her tail, and Ollie is smiling back at her (albeit with no tongue).

Pepper: woof!
Ollie: yeah? wanna play?

Ollie runs past Pepper, calling back “then come and get me!” as he goes. Pepper replies “woof!!” and bounds after him.

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