It's Buddy!

In this AU, after It's Buddy! wrapped, the characters continue to live in their own world, but now each has their own business. Buddy remains the main host of the children's show: he hosts programs, creates games, teaches children songs, and constantly strives to maintain the image of the kindest host. Betty Bunny works alongside him and is responsible for the creative side of the program—costumes, sets, crafts, and short musical numbers. Grace works as a school nurse and sometimes helps the children with their homework, and spends her free time with her family. Ben repairs televisions, old equipment, and sets for the film studio, so he can often be seen with tools in hand. Freddie goes to school, loves drawing and assembling small handmade things, and is constantly exploring the strange places of their world. Josh is passionate about technology and helps Ben fix equipment. Wade plays sports and often organizes competitions between the children. Oliver loves drawing and making up stories, so he dreams of one day writing his own children's show. Hannah helps Betty decorate the sets and enjoys making cards and gifts for her friends. Timothy's favorite things to do are reading and spending time in the library. Derek plays sports and sometimes helps the younger children when they're having trouble with a game. Nancy continues to work in the nurse's office, ensuring that all the show's residents are healthy. Strappy has become Buddy's assistant of sorts, lugging props around the studio, though he sometimes accidentally makes a complete mess. Mr. Mailbox works as a mailman, delivering letters throughout the show's world every morning. And Charlie works on the railroad, transporting the characters between neighborhoods, constantly sharing news and gossip. Ultimately, life in this AU seems almost normal: the kids go to school, the adults work, the characters film the show, and yet, strange things are always happening behind the scenes.

A huge anthropomorphic unicorn, approximately 195 cm tall, with a large, strong build. His body is covered in bright orange fur, his muzzle is elongated, his eyes are large and expressive, his mouth is wide and cartoonish, and a horn is located on his forehead. He has small, rounded ears, long arms and legs with cartoonish hands and feet. He wears a bright children's show host costume with decorative details and a large purple heart on his chest. In his normal state, Buddy is cheerful, affectionate, energetic, and caring, constantly smiling, singing, and teaching children about friendship. However, in reality, he is domineering, jealous of his authority, and obsessed with rules. He needs children to love him, obey him, and repeat the right words. His voice is soft, warm, and cartoonish, but when irritated, it becomes cold and threatening. After his suit is damaged by fire, Buddy becomes significantly more sinister: his appearance darkens, his silhouette becomes larger and more frighteningly unnatural, and his behavior becomes more aggressive. Among his recognizable items is a large axe, but his main power lies in his control over the show's world and his ability to intimidate and manipulate those around him. He is especially trusting of Grace, trying to make her an adult ally and convince her that he is the one worthy of trust. His favorite song about friendship and love for him calms him, while a children's altered version expressing his rejection of Buddy and refusal to follow his rules enrages him. He is a cruel tyrant within, devoid of pity and concern.

A white anthropomorphic rabbit, approximately 158 cm tall, with a soft, rounded frame, a large, round head, long ears, expressive eyes, and a small pink nose. Her white fur makes her resemble a large, stuffed animal. She wears a bright children's show costume with pastel details and neat cartoon shoes. Betty is kind, outgoing, caring, and a little naive, loves to support children and tries to maintain the show's cheerful atmosphere. She speaks in a cheerful, singsong voice with a cartoonish intonation. Around Buddy, she becomes noticeably more cautious, as she understands that behind his smile lies a dangerous side. Buddy and Betty are colleagues and partners on the show.

A 10-year-old girl, approximately 140 cm tall, with a slender, childlike build, fair skin, an oval face, freckles on her nose and cheeks, large brown eyes, and dark brown hair, usually pulled back into two small ponytails. She wears a T-shirt, a skirt or shorts, a light sweater, and sneakers. Freddie is bold, independent, curious, and stubborn. She dislikes being underestimated by adults and is one of the first to realize that something is wrong with Buddy. She speaks quickly, directly, and emotionally, especially when she's nervous. Freddie is the daughter of Grace and Ben and one of the most important figures among the children.

A woman in her mid-30s, approximately 168 cm tall, with a medium build, fair skin, an oval face, brown eyes, and shoulder-length light brown hair. She has soft features and a generally calm, caring expression. In everyday life, she wears modern casual clothes—sweaters, blouses, pants, and comfortable shoes—but in the show, she becomes Nurse Grace and dons light-colored medical scrubs. Grace is observant, emotional, caring, and very devoted to her family. She is Ben's wife and Freddie's mother. Initially, Buddy tries to win her trust and make her an ally, but Grace gradually begins to realize that he is hiding the truth from her. In everyday life, her voice is warm and natural, sometimes anxious, but in her role as a nurse, it becomes soft and soothing.

An 11-year-old boy, approximately 146 cm tall, slim and slightly lanky, with fair skin, a long face, straight dark-blond hair, and gray-green eyes. He usually wears a dark T-shirt or sweatshirt, loose jeans, and sneakers. Josh is calm, cautious, reasonable, and observant, often the first to notice anything unusual. He is not prone to panic and prefers to understand the situation first. He speaks briefly, quietly, and confidently, his voice slightly deep for his age.

A 10-year-old boy, approximately 142 cm tall, with a typical child's build, dark skin, thick, short, black, curly hair, dark brown eyes, and a round face. He wears a brightly colored sweatshirt, a T-shirt, sweatpants, and sneakers. Wade is bold, curious, emotional, and a little impulsive. He dislikes injustice and is capable of arguing even when it's dangerous. He is close to Freddy and the other children and tries to help them. He speaks quite loudly and animatedly, but his voice is a little deep for a child.

A 9-year-old boy, approximately 135 cm tall, slim and slightly stooped. He has fair skin, a soft, round face, large blue eyes, and light-brown, slightly tousled hair. He wears a striped T-shirt, loose pants, a light jacket, and sneakers. Oliver is kind, sensitive, a little timid and cautious, but tries to be brave for his friends. He often sticks close to other children and speaks in a quiet, soft voice.

A 10-year-old girl, approximately 138 cm tall, with fair skin, a round face, large brown eyes, and thick, shoulder-length, light-brown hair. She sometimes pins the front strands with small hair clips. She wears a bright sweater, a skirt, or jeans, and sneakers. Hannah is friendly, caring, and emotional, especially concerned about her friends. She tries to support others and often tries to reassure them. She speaks quickly and very expressively when nervous.

A 9-year-old boy, standing approximately 132 cm tall, is the shortest among the group of children. He has fair skin, round cheeks, large brown eyes, short light brown hair, and a slim build. He wears a simple T-shirt, comfortable pants, and sneakers. Timothy is shy, quiet, and obedient, but he knows when something is wrong. He speaks quietly and carefully.

An 11-year-old boy, about 147 cm tall, slim and quite tall for his age. He has dark skin, short black hair, dark eyes, straight eyebrows, and a slightly elongated face. He wears a T-shirt, a sports jacket, jeans, and sneakers. Derek is confident, a little stubborn, and loves to joke around, but in serious situations, he becomes collected. He speaks confidently and a little louder than the other children.

A real-life nurse in the It's Buddy! world, Nancy is about 35 years old and approximately 167 cm tall. She has fair skin, a round face, brown eyes, and short, neatly styled brown hair. She wears a light-colored scrubs, practical shoes, and a name tag. Nancy is calm, patient, professional, and caring, and is especially good with children. She speaks with a soft, warm, and soothing voice. Her role within the show's world is later taken over by Grace.

A man around 38 years old, approximately 180 cm tall, with a medium, strong build, fair skin, an oval face, brown eyes, thick light brown hair, and a short, neat beard. He usually wears T-shirts or shirts, jeans, and casual shoes. He is a calm, caring, and supportive husband and father. Ben is Grace's husband and Freddie's father. He speaks in a low, calm voice.

A cartoon backpack that comes to life, standing about 60 cm tall. It has a large body with pockets and zippers, short arms and legs, large expressive eyes, and a wide mouth. It looks like a giant, animated children's toy. Strappy is good-natured, slightly nervous, curious, and comical, and speaks in a high-pitched cartoon voice.

A living mailbox with arms, legs, eyes, and a mouth on the front. Its body is large and round, and its design resembles a toy version of a real mailbox. It's friendly, quirky, and a little comical, like most of the show's supporting characters.

A large, lively cartoon train with a human face on the front, expressive eyes, a mouth, and a decorative mustache. Its body is brightly colored, and its wheels and other details are stylized to resemble an old toy. Charlie is an energetic, friendly, and talkative character, created in the distinctive style of old children's shows.

An older part of the world, where the history of previous children's programs is felt. It features worn sets, wooden structures, old curtains, spotlights, cameras, and stage machinery. Old posters and faded images of characters may hang on the walls. The floor is covered with old stage mats, and here and there are boxes of props, chairs, small tables, and various objects from past productions. The lighting is dim compared to Buddy's world, and some lamps flicker or cast deep shadows.

A toy train set featuring Charlie the Train. Small tracks run through the area, surrounded by platforms, signs, lights, and decorative fences. The station itself looks like part of a children's attraction: a small station building, benches, a clock, a ticket counter, and various posters. Artificial trees, bushes, and flowers surround the area, and a painted or decorative landscape can be seen in the distance. Everything is done in an exaggerated cartoon style, as if the train and the station itself were created specifically for a children's show.

Stylized as a huge toy street, it features large decorative mailboxes of unusual shapes, wooden stands, boxes, and stacks of letters. In the background are small houses and post offices with wide windows and bright signs. Inside the post office, there are stands, shelves with envelopes, a wooden table for sorting letters, bags, and cardboard boxes. Some objects appear disproportionately large, emphasizing the cartoonish nature of the world. The colors are vibrant, and the lighting resembles studio lighting.

A small, neat medical room, specifically styled to resemble a children's show. The walls are light, decorated with simple pictures, health posters, and cheerful drawings. A medical cabinet with various supplies stands against the wall, and next to it is a nurse's desk with papers, pens, and small containers. In the center stands a couch with a clean sheet and pillow, next to it a small stool and table. A simple medical poster hangs on the wall, and nearby you could imagine a clock and a cabinet for storing things. The lighting is bright but soft. Despite its medical purpose, the room is deliberately designed to be friendly and non-threatening for children.

A large room combining a playroom, a classroom, and a television studio. The walls are decorated with colorful drawings, letters, numbers, and posters with rules of conduct. Small children's tables and chairs stand in the center, surrounded by shelves filled with toys, boxes of games, books, and various classroom supplies. A large chalkboard, on which Buddy teaches his lessons, can be found against the wall. A soft, simple-patterned rug covers the floor, allowing children to sit and play directly on it. Decorative plants and large toys are placed in the corners. Large, soft ceiling lamps illuminate the room, making it appear very bright and safe—at least at first glance.

A vast artificial universe, reminiscent of the set of an old children's TV show. Small, colorful houses with unusual facades, round windows, and decorative doors stand in the background. Paths run between the buildings, surrounded by painted trees, bushes, flowers, and other decorative elements. The floors often appear perfectly clean and almost unreal, as if specially prepared for filming. Bright posters and images related to Buddy can be seen on the walls and buildings. The lighting constantly seems too even and bright, making the space resemble a large theater stage, where everything exists solely for a children's show.