Chapter Text
There had been a small commotion in the cafeteria room where most of the toons gathered around during lunch. Normally, the room would be filled with chatter, the clinking of plates and cups and sometimes the occasional argument over who got the last cookie made from Cosmo. But not today though. A certain Magnifying Glass-looking Toon was constantly asking a lot of questions to the witnesses who had been involved from the last run.
”I- I don't know about this, Rodger! It might have already been too late!...I.. Toodles is dead for sure. No one has ever been able to survive that long being left alone in one of the floors with the Twisteds in it!” Looey’s ears flopped down with a defeated voice.
”Looey, dear. Do not say that.” Teagan reprimanded that she usually never would say it that way. She looks oddly calm in this situation. But taking a closer look at her expression; her left eye twitched slightly a few times, lips thin into a hard and flat line when she thought no one was looking, the way she held her cup of tea in her hands tightly. She's definitely really stressed out, but tried to hide it.
Teagan let out a small sigh and took a quick glance at him, ”Rodger, I know you're more worried about Toodles as much as I am. I was there to witness it with my own eyes.” She added, while staring down at the half-empty tea she drank. ”I- …” she paused, ”We were unable to save her in time.”
Everyone in the cafeteria went completely quiet, making the atmosphere feel tense and suffocating.
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”I’m s- sure that we can find her!” Poppy's voice suddenly broke through the awkward silence ”After all, Toodles is a brave toon, I know she's still alive down there, somewhere!” Her attempt of encouragement was clearly obvious, even her voice wavered slightly towards the end. But she still kept that hopeful smile on her face.
”We aren't so sure about that, Poppy. But thank you for trying…” Teagan smiles slightly but her saddened expression is still there. After all, they were instructed by Dandy to wait until further notice during that time in the elevator.
”But Teagan. I must know every detail of what happened back down there. If what you said is true about this…this new Twisted. And…Toodles.” Rodger mumbled her name, coming out slightly strained.
”I understand what you're implying, Rodger. But all of us are worried about her too.” Cosmo placed down a tray filled with fresh-oven cookies he just baked, on the counter while continuing on, ”But prying on others for information isn't gonna bring her back.”
”B- but. This could change…everything. This could confirm many of my theories!...and if we somehow–” Rodger continued on but–
”Are you more worried about Toodles or are you more interested in this mysterious “twisted” that you're so focused on?” Cosmo retorted back with a slight unamused expression.
Rodger slightly flinched from his comment and seemed at a loss for words for a moment, ”W- well…”
”Ooohhhhh!~ Nice one Cosmo! You are literally taking out his words!” Connie snickered alongside Gigi.
”....!!!” Flutter shook her head with slight amusement.
”But all in all, I'm sure the kid will be fine!...I mean, once the Mains are done with their meeting. Dandy would probably pick another group to go on a search party or somethin’.” Gigi shrugged her shoulders, seemingly confident about her statement.
”I-...I hope so…she's a...all alone with that weird-looking Twisted down there! She could get hurt! Or…or worse!” Boxten fidgeted with his hands while sitting next to Poppy.
Poppy placed her hand on his shoulder as Boxten quickly turned to her direction. ”She’ll be fine!... let's keep our hopes up, m’kay?”
Boxten was quiet for a second, then he nodded slowly. ”Okay…” which satisfies her enough.
”I’m really sorry for what I've said earlier…it's just that.” Looey trailed off, outwardly regretting what he said a while ago.
”I know, Looey. It's alright.” Teagan reassured him with a bittersweet smile.
”But still.” Rodger raised his small notebook note and his pen near his chest. ”I must know at least a few bits of what happened in the last run. Tell me more about this unusual Twisted that you've come across.”
”And you didn't talk to Brightney about that? Usually, both of you talk more freely about those things. And she should be the one who can easily explain everything to you.” Teagan questioned.
”No… she told me she has her own questions and theories by herself, but wanted to confirm it fully with Vee and Sprout once the meeting is over before jumping into any conclusions.”
“.....” Flutter expression flattened at that moment.
Rodger let out a small disappointed sigh, ”I supposed Flutter is right, We will wait until the mains would tell us more of what happened in full detail. Let alone what we should do to find Toddles.”
“!...!” Flutter nodded in satisfaction.
”Well~~~~ I mean, I am one of the witnesses, especially Looey and Boxten over there!” Gigi looked over at both of them who were just continuing to eat their lunch. Boxten shook his head rapidly as if he didn't want to get involved in this again.
Rodger’s singular eye flickered somewhat…in excitement or eagerness that he quickly approached Gigi and prepared his own pen and his notebook in his hands . ”Tell me everything that you and the others saw, Miss Gigi.” Behind him is a disappointed Flutter that slaps herself on the face by the tip of her wings with what seems to be a ‘facepalm’.
”Woahhh, okay okay. Slow down there Detective.” Gigi quipped with a sarcastic smile while taking one step back away from his face, awkwardly.
”Well, first and foremost. The one thing I noticed that none of y'all even answered my question back there is that the odd-lookin’ Twisted version of Goob looks like a dessert.”
”Pssshh, a dessert? Like Cosmo and Ginger?” Connie was grinning with a playful remark. Meanwhile, Ginger was confused by what they said and Cosmo just shook his head from her nuisance.
Rodger quickly writes it down in his notebook, ”Wait, a dessert? Can you elaborate more of that?”
”Well, the Twisted Goob looks like he just came straight out of an ice cream tub, mwehehe… ice cream- yum-” Gigi got a little distracted for a second in her last words.
”Gigi.” Teagan uttered in a flat tone.
”Oh, hehe. Sorry my bad, my bad. But anyways!” She continued on, ”The Twisted Goob looks like an ice cream. Kinda like….that triple flavoured ice cream ones–”
”You mean, Neapolitan Ice cream?” Cosmo asked for confirmation.
”Well, yeah! Yeah that!”
Rodger wrote it down rapidly on his note as if it's the greatest discovery he ever heard. ”How unusual ...a new variant of Twisted that seemed different from a normal one.”
”Mwehehe, that's just the first part!--” she smirked, but before she could continue on. The cafeteria doors were open and Glisten, Goobs, Scraps went out and walked alongside each other.
”Look, dawlin’ I only have little information I have for the time being. Apart from the mains, who are still busy with their meeting. I must go ask the others for the full details.” Glisten in his usual flamboyant self, talking with the craft siblings.
”So is it actually true? The other me was not all being aggressive at all?!” Goob’s eyes widened. His grin stretched across his face as he leaned forward, practically vibrating with excitement.
”I am not so sure about that. Do you seriously believe all of that? You know that sounds ridiculous. Especially a twisted that looks just like my brother happens to act out so…. differently.” Scraps eyes narrowed, seemingly skeptical about it. They can't really blame her for being somewhat paranoid or incredulous with that information. After all, the Twisteds are nothing more than just savage, senseless copies of the original toons. Nothing but an empty husk with no pain or empathy that seeks to devour them like prey. Before all of that, when she first saw her own twisted. She felt disturbed and revolted by seeing herself look unhinged, deranged, covered in messy ichor, and would attack anytoon with her tail. It took her a long time to get used to it. Whenever she and her little brother went on a run together, Scraps found herself keeping him within sight at all times. It didn't matter how capable he was at distracting the Twisteds or how many times he'd proven he could handle himself. It was rather strange, confusing, and very much unnerving to see twistified version of herself, including her little brother. But in the end, they're the real ones. The Twisteds are nothing more than fake.
So why is it that there's this news that they overheard about this strange twisted version of her own little brother?
”Oh! Hey everyone!” Goob waves at them with enthusiasm and he just swoops in and pulls Gigi a big hug. ”Hug time! :D” he expressed with a toothy grin.
”Woah there, buddy! Uhh, nice to see you too!” She smiles in return but it looks slightly awkward. Goob immediately lets her go.
”Ah, Ms. Scraps, Mr. Goob. And Glisten. You're here.” Rodger addressed them.
”Well, obviously. I was about to question the others, but I guess you were here first.” Glisten dismissing him in a sassy hand shrug with a slight roll in his eyes. ”So mind filling us in?”
”Well, I was about to ask Ms. Gigi about it–”
Cosmo sighed, ”Why don't we eat first, then we will discuss this after? You all seemed starving. I've already baked a batch of fresh cookies, cooked up some spaghetti with meat balls and bacon & eggs.”
”Ohhhh, yummy! Sis come on let's go eat!” Goob held Scraps hand and went to sit beside Looey and Flutter. Meanwhile, Looey flinched, his balloony ears fell down and just cautiously moved further away from them.
”W- wait, so are we n- not gonna address the fact t- that …Toodles is still m- missing??--” Boxten muttered nervously.
”Wait what?!” Scraps stood up.
”Sis!”
”You're telling me there's this strange twisted lurking in the deeper floors and Toodles was left there?! And none of you are doing anything about it?!” Scraps exclaimed furiously while her tail wagged back and forth.
”H..hey sis. Please calm down…-” Goob trying his best to reassure his big sister.
”No! I- I just-... Teagan! Rodger! Aren't you worried about what's gonna happen to her?!”
”We are worried and very much concerned for her, Ms. Scraps. But we–” Rodger being the levelheaded toon he is (maybe), was cut off before he could continue on.
”And do nothing about it?! She could've gotten hurt! She's probably scared of being left behind on those floors and none of you are gonna act on it, immediately?!” Scraps exclaimed, and became increasingly aggravated by this situation.
”Scraps.”
Scraps paused.
Teagan places down her emptied tea cup on the small plate ”Scraps, dear. For all you know. We are worried. VERY much worried for her sake." She's doing her best to stay composed and poise, even though her voice came out strained. ”But yelling and calling us out isn't gonna help or save her. So please, keep it down. As much as I dislike to say...we must wait for more information once the Mains are done.”
The entire cafeteria went completely quiet and awkward.
”I…” Scraps wanted to say something else, but couldn't. Her paper-mache-like ears folded down. She sat back down beside Goob. ”I’m …I'm sorry, I don't know why I would yell like that. It's …. it's just that….” she couldn't say anything else.
”Oh, sis…” Goob immediately gave her a hug from the side.
”Hmh, thanks. Goob…”
”Of course, no problem!” Goob returned with a warm reassuring smile.
Teagan lets out a heavy sigh, ”It is alright. I understand your anger. But you must know that we do worry for her safety. But for now. We'll have to wait until the mains decision on what we can do.”
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Even after all that, the atmosphere remained awkward, and the silence was deafening.
”Soo….are we not gonna address the elephant in the room here?” Looey addressed the situation.
”Ah, right.” Rodger lets out a fake cough and flips another page from his small notebook, ”Now, Ms. Gigi please don't hold back any of the details so please continue.”
”Well, for all I know is that Twisted Goob literally took on Twisted Boxten and it won!” She explained it in a triumphant way.
”Oohhhh~~ really? I want to hear more!” Connie was intrigued and went close to her.
”Wait, take on Twisted Boxten?” Glisten asked.
”Yeah, I really want to know what just happened back there. All I remember is seeing…ahah…Twisted Boxten laid down on the floor dead!..” Looey added, awaiting for the answers while outwardly looking nervous.
Boxten shivered and hugged to himself, as Poppy noticed it immediately. She did her best to comfort him by patting him by the back. ”Is it really…really that bad?”
”Hahah…y- you have no idea.” Boxten mustered up the courage to speak up about it.
“...???” Flutter tilts her head.
Scraps stayed quiet but still listened to what they're saying. On the other hand, Goob continued to hug his sister while listening in as well.
”Yeah! And you have no idea how cool and…well…slightly gross- but still cool how twisted goob literally ripped him out!, mwehehehe.”
”Eugghhh, that just sounds ridiculously gross and terrible.” Glisten scrunched his face in disgust.
Rodger continued to write down everything in his notebook, ”Well, it is to be expected. Goob is stronger. Based on what other toons have experienced from his hugs.”
Goob was surprised to hear that, ”Wait, am I really that strong?...”
”Is that why some of them don't like my hugs?...” Goob optimism slowly died down and stared down at his sharp claws. “I didn't mean to make them feel uncomfortable because of me…”
”Oh, little bro. It's not like that. Well, it is true that you are strong, but it doesn't mean that you are a monster like…like that one.”
”O..okay.”
Rodger fake coughs ‘again’, ”But to think. Another twisted would kill one of its own kind?....now that is something that needs to be studied more.”
“Oohhhhh~~~ another mystery to be solved~” Connie smirks with sarcasm in her voice.
”...” Flutter nods
”W- what I don't understand is why it didn't attack us. W- why does it have toodles dog plush and j- just give it to her?” Boxten stammered.
”Yeah, and ... I overheard Sprout call it ‘Anomaly’ I think?...it was after we got inside the elevator and Dandy came out.” Looey added.
”Wait, hold on just a minute. Are you telling us that IT has toodles prized possession out of nowhere. And gave it to her without constricting her to death by hug?!” Glisten exclaimed with slight confusion and annoyance.
From the background, Goob flinched at that word. Meanwhile, Scraps reassured him.
”And why none of you told me of that word in the first place, knowing it's incredibly important?!?” Rodger says ‘calmly’
”Wait! Wait! No! It's just that-” Boxten panicked.
”In our defense, we were busy trying to stay alive and that Toodles is stuck with that thing!” Looey waves both his hands reactively trying to reason with them.
”It was true, we were…very much preoccupied with everything that just happened back there.” Teagan by heavens, back them up as she was also part of the run. Which, both Looey and Boxten sighed in relief.
”They’re right, y'know?” Gigi shrugged with that snarky attitude.
Rodger sighed, ”I supposed you're right.”
Glisten blinked a few times and realized something, ”Hold on, where did that twisted even get the plush from? And how did it get it? I thought Toodles left her dog plush in her room?”
Rodger's eye widens when he hears glisten is onto something.
”And why would it…give it to her?”
”Hah, funny that you ask cuz'... it was strange and frightening to see a Twisted, who are usually straightforward in their way of thinking like a buncha’ copycat predators and in their reactions, would observe us closely and would even lowering his guard down to give the plush to toodles. Funfact! It even answered Toodle when she asked, with a nod!” Gigi casually explained it like it's Tuesday for her. But more so, a new Tuesday.
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”....What?”
Rodger and Poppy were stunned, while Scraps, Flutter, Glisten were horrified, Cosmo and Ginger glanced at each other with worry, Connie and Goob looked surprised.
”Oh dear…” Teagan shook her head.
”I thought Looey and Boxten already told you that?” Gigi shrugged while tilting her head.
Boxten jerked from the sudden namecall and just slowly hid under the table, meanwhile Looey smiled nervously with sweat pouring down from his face. ”Why me…?-” he mumbled to himself.
They stared at the 2 toons then slowly at Gigi and Teagan in question with multiple expressions.
”Are you telling me…that a Twisted was capable enough to understand all of you?!? And you didn't even think about telling us about it?!?!” Glisten called out in a combination of irritation, dread, and even bewilderment.
”Teagan, dear. Why have you never mentioned such crucial information?!” Rodger glanced at her direction.
”I’ve assumed that you already knew based on what Gigi and the others have given you information from before.”
”Still! This information would've helped a lot!”
”Woahh, seriously? For real? A Twisted capable of understanding? Now that is dope.” Connie interjected
”I know right??” Gigi chuckled beside her.
”Woah…” Goob’s eyes sparkles in what might look like amazement and excitement. ”Another me that's actually nice?! That's so cool!!! I wanna meet other me and befriend him!” he claps both of his sharp-clawed paws excitedly.
”Goob, no! It's ..it's dangerous!” Scraps shook her head.
”But… this might be an opportunity to befriend an actual twisted! Let alone the other me!”
”No it's just…-” Scraps sighed, she peered over at them and asked ”are you 100% sure that you are right about that?”
”Well, duhhhh. I would never lie.”
”You sure you're g- gonna tell… e- everything to them? I m- mean. D- Didn't Dandy instruct us…not to spread the information to others, w- without causing a scene?...” Boxten sheepishly asked.
”...!!”
”Flutter is right. After all, y'all are gonna find out later anyways andddd it's already too late– Dandy can go and inhale sum’ tapes for all I care! This is the most interesting and most important thing that ever happened in Gardenview for a longggggg time! So maybe we can just tell the experts on this kind of thing! right Teagan??”
Teagan stares far off from the distance but quickly snaps out of it with a few blinks and responds, ”Ah, yes. Yes. Certainly. Would you take the pleasure to explain to them please?”
”Of course! Since I'm the only one capable of explaining everything properly…” Gigi peeked over at Boxten who was still hiding under the table and Looey looked away, didn't wanna join in on this.
”Oh oh! Please tell us more!” Goob fiddled with his claws while listening in close. Scraps shook her head and sighed.
“Come on dude, what are ya’ waiting for? Spill it!” Connie insisted.
Ginger whispered to Cosmo, ”I don't know about this…”
”Ms. Gigi please, go ahead.” Rodger holds out his notebook and pen ready.
”Well, just like I've said before. He gave Toodles the dog plush, I don't know why, how, and where he got it from. But he did. But before all of that. When I looked at Twisted Goob….he looks confused.”
Everyone except Teagan, Boxten, and Looey stared at each other and all had thought in one mind.
”The way he just stared at us longingly as if he was studying us. Then his eyes suddenly fixated on Toodles and that's the part where he took out the plush and etcetera etcetera- but anyways! We all thought Toodles was gonna get squeezed when she went closer to him twice…”
That made some of the toons around tense up involuntarily for that moment, especially Goob.
”But he did nothing! He just smiles back with an affirmative nod.”
That made Rodger write even faster in his small notebook.
”Y’know, the way I see it. He doesn't have any sort of malice or hidden aggression in his eyes. It's just…pure wonder and in awe. Let alone, seeing her interacting with toodles makes it look like he had some kind of protective instinct in him. Mwehehe, I'd never thought I would imagine Goob having some kind of paternal instinct–”
”Woahh….-- Wait, what does that mean?” Goob tilted his head.
”Wow, Girl. I didn't know you could read people just by looking at their eyes!” Connie felt proud for her.
”Well duh, of course. After all, we had to know if a child needed some help or not by just looking at their faces. I guess that's one of the few good perks we have as toons.”
”Well, we used to teach children the moral values of helping those who are in need, right?” Poppy added, receiving nods of agreements from the rest of the toons.
”Oh yeah! I forgot one thing, while Sprout was in the middle of distracting, he slipped and fell– which was kinda’ funny to see, mwehehe-”
The rest of the other toon's eyes widened in dread, ”he fell?!” they shouted in unison.
”Yeahhh, he was about to get his eyes gouged out by Boxten’s Twisted copy, but then… Twisted Goob literally pulled him close and saved him!” Her hands flew as she spoke with a hint of excitement in her voice. That made every toon jolted and appeared with mixture of surprise, disbelief, and even some are actually look stoked of she explained.
”No way Gigi, girl. So yer’ telling us that he didn't try to hug him to death or what?--”
”Wow!! Really?! Ohhh!~ so he is a nice one! Now I really want to meet my other me!”
”Brother, no! We shouldn't act out hastily. We still don't know anything about that twisted!”
”...???”
”But sis! You heard what she said! Other me saved Sprout! Which means, other me is a good twisted!....right?”
”I don't know about that. An intelligent Twisted is very dangerous. We don't know if it has evil intentions hiding behind that mask…pretending to be nice.”
”Oh come on, Scraps. Don't be like that. I mean…isn't that twisted…you're brother?” Looey asked.
”Yes. But.” Scraps sighed, ”My real brother is here with me. Whatever that..thing down here. Is not. We've encountered our twisted copies so many times already that we already get used to it anytime we're on a run.”
Goob noticed there's this bitter edge in her voice and made his face fall with a frown. He didn't know why she sounded like that, but what he does know is that there is something that made her sound so spiteful. Well, sure. Him and Scraps have already been through many runs and encountered many different Twisteds such as their own selves. It was indeed terrifying and weird to see their own twisted versions when it's their first time. He only knew that almost all Toons agree that the Twisteds are just mere copies of them. For now, he'll just observe for the time being.
”Wait, you're serious about it? Teagan, is that true?” Glisten turned to Teagan's direction who seemed preoccupied with drinking another tea, which might look like her 8th one.
”Yes, it's true. We all saw it.”
Rodger wrote even faster on his note. ”How intriguing. A Twisted…capable of understanding, killing its own kind, and saved one of ours without any killing intent. This is the most incredible discovery I've ever had in a long time. This would surely help out with my research!”
”Oh please, do not forget about me.” Glisten huffed out in a sassy tone.
”I’m aware, Glisten. I must ask Brightney about this later.”
At the counter, Cosmo exhaled out and just finished baking with Ginger whilst they were listening in to their conversation. ”So, Sprout was correct.” Ginger nodded.
”Hold on, Cosmo?! He told you two about that?!” Glisten pointed it out.
”Well, yes. He talked to us about it not too long ago.” Ginger confirmed.
”Hmmm…” Rodger studied them for a moment, ”By the looks of it. Seems to be there's more to it than that. Especially with the ‘Anomaly' topic. Would you be kind enough to explain it to us?”
Teagan gives him a quick side glance at him, alongside Glisten as well.
”Wait- what?” Ginger blinked a few times, didn't expect that he knew something was up.
”Oh, uh what do you mean?...” Cosmo deflected it.
”I’ve overheard a few things that happened before this place was shut down. I asked them but none had given me any answers at all. So please. Could you tell us?” Rodger pleaded.
Cosmo scratched behind his head, ”Look, I don't know what you're talking about.--”
”Oh don't give us that crap, just tell us already!” Glisten demanded.
”Uhmm… it would be for the best if you wait until–” Cosmo continued to deflect their questions but a hand placed on his shoulder stopped him.
”Cosmo, I think it would be better if we just….tell them about what he told us.”
Cosmo’s eyes grew wide, ”But, Ginger! That's —”
”Cosmo. Gigi already explained everything, even the other witnesses. The others would find out eventually…it would be better now if we can explain to them without...uhm…having Dandy behind our backs.” Ginger turned away for a moment, then facing him back.
Cosmo went quiet. He wanted to protest further, not waiting to betray his best friend's trust. But, when he saw their faces, almost all of them showed an expectant look. He heavily sighed and glanced over at his cousin again. ”Fine, but please. Not a single word until the mains and especially Sprout said so. Please.” he pleaded
”Pinky promise! :D” Goob gives a thumbs up.
”You have my word, Cos! Andddd other 2 as well!” Gigi placed her hand over her chest with a tiny pride while glancing over at Gigi and Flutter, who reluctantly and enthusiastically agreed.
”Don’t worry! You can count on us!” Poppy gave Boxten a side hug while giving a thumbs up as well with a wink. Meanwhile, Boxten nodded timidly.
”Uhh, of course! No worries! I'll keep it a secret too!” Looey agreed as well.
”You have my word as a professional detective.” Rodger gave a small nod.
”Hmmh, okay…” Scraps said with a slight worry and doubt in her voice.
”Do not worry. We won't say anything until the right time.” Teagan places down her emptied 9th tea cup.
”You have my word that I won't say anything, darlin’~” Glisten flicks his non-existent hair with a flair.
Cosmo gave one last quick glance at his cousin, who gave him an encouraging nod. ”Alright, …uhm. From what Sprout has told me. It all started on that day before Gardenview shuts down—”
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(MC’S POV)
It was a total disaster. I’m already almost out of breath and my fur is getting all messy with these ichor stains all over my body. I probably smell like crap. ’Fuck ….how long is this going to take? Hmmh, wait…what floor are we again?...’
I've lost track of which floor we are on, I was too preoccupied on clearing all the Twisteds on each floor we're going one by one while also keeping an eye on the kid I'm looking after. I slowly turn my gaze toward her, she's just swaying with her body in a somewhat upbeat energy at the same time holding onto her dog plush while staring at the metallic door of the elevator, waiting for the next floor.
Even after all that extreme, ridiculous, and exhausting fight against the other Twisteds. I'm still quite surprised that I'm not dying from bleeding so much ichor…blood?. ‘Huh, right. Ichor is technically the toon’s blood version, so yeah.’
Despite all that, it doesn't change the fact that it hurts like hell. Even if I'm somewhat stronger than them, which I just so happened to notice from 2 floors ago– I still bled the same ichor as them. I've already used up my last bandages and the medkit, which kind of sucks since those items are literally vital for both me and Toodles. My body is slowly healing up from the bandages I used, but I don't know how long I can keep up until my body wears out from exhaustion. Even standing still was starting to become increasingly uncomfortable.
I heavily sighed, ’Man, I'm so tired… I really want to go and find a soft cushion to just lay down on…’ Maybe a bed, or anything soft. Anything that didn't smell like ichor, dust, rust, or whatever horrible combination of substances I'd been inhaling for the past few floors. But I guess that won't be the case since my mission isn't done yet. I still need to keep moving forward.
”Uhmm…Miss Cassie?”
I snapped out of my own thoughts and immediately glanced at her direction, ”Oh uh, yes?”
Her eyes widened, pupils growing slightly big as she stared at me with that worried look. Her eyebrows(?) are lifted, and her lips formed a small, nervous pout while her hands kept fidgeting. ”You look really tired, Ms. Cassie. Are you really really really sure you'll be alright?”
Hah, to be honest I kinda like this version of Toodles unlike the ones that people portrayed her as some iPad kid who would steal medkit and bandaids from others.
”Don’t worry about me, kid. I'll be fine! See, I'm still as healthy as ever.” I pointed at myself confidently. Though, it was certainly a lie. ”Just continue to collect some items that you might need, okay?”
”Hmmh…” Toodles face fell into a look of quiet disappointment. ”Okay…”
We heard the familiar mechanical sound of the elevator as usual that led us to the next floor. It reveals a row of brightly colored shelves and displays beneath the warm lights. The walls were covered in decorations, the toon posters and there were tons of merchandise scattered around the place. Huh, this must be the gift shop floor. We stepped out from the elevator and I slowly let my gaze sweep across the room from left to right. The horrendous musty, dusty, metallic smell literally went through my face. ’My god, this crap smells far worse than the previous floors.’ Though, beneath all that there are these faint smells of dusty fabric cardboard, and some sweet scent that you could smell from…toys? ’Eh, whatever. I'd smelled worse…’
Suddenly a floating text pops up in front of me. ‘Man, I really need to get used to this.’
YOU ARE NOW AT FLOOR 4
Clear out all the Twisteds in this area to move on to the next floor
(~NEW NOTIFICATIONS~)
We stepped out of the elevator as the door behind us closed down.
”Well, you already know the drill. Kid.” I reminded her.
Toodles gave a quick nod, ”Okay!” she skipped away, clinging onto her dog plush as usual. Heh, she probably hoarded more items than I did. Oh well, I'll just go take a look around this place.
I began walking around and exploring this place. There's lots of wooden boxes and pallet racks scattered from place to place, as per usual. I do wonder what's even the use of them though. Eh, it doesn't matter to me. There are even shelves filled with colorful merchandise, though plenty of them were covered in a thin layer of dust. I went inside this purple room area and saw a bunch of main plushies on the shelves and even some are on top of the boxes. I went to take a closer look at the first shelf I found, there I found a bunch of small dandy plushies and pebble plushies as well. Well, there's 5 small & 1 large dandy plushies, and 3 small & 4 large pebble ones.
Before I even got transported to this place, I've always wanted the official Dandy's world merchandise, especially the plushie or stuffed toy versions of the toons. But I was a broke college student, who still lived with her parents, so I couldn't even buy one. Now I see one in real life. I just…
I keep looking at it and lingering on its soft fur and familiar little face. After a moment, I reach out and I carefully lift the larger pebble plushie from the shelf that's almost the size of my head. It's not really large in comparison to the real world's huge plushies that's the size of a pillow or a couch. This is basically just a normal size one to me.
I continued to stare at this fluffy little rock plush and gently hug it close to my chest. ’Hehehehehe, I finally have the literal plush!’ My shoulders(?) relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever. I couldn't help but grinning to myself, for someone who adores plushies, a broke-@$$ student, and in dire need of mentally well-rested mind. I definitely needed this. The pebble plushie stayed nestled against my face, its soft fabric brushing against my own fluffy skin. ’Hmmmh, I wonder if I can bring it around with me?’
I paused and unhurriedly lowered it toward my right side, near my waist. The moment it touched the space beside me it magically disappeared.
”Hey! It worked!!” A wide grin spread across my face as excitement bubbled in my chest. So that means, I can input anything into my inventory even if it's not an official ’item’ as supposed in the game. I continued to stroll away, then stopped by the other shelves filled with other main plushies as well.
Just like as it was shown in the game before, there's a bunch of shelly plushies, untouched in the first shelf. Meanwhile there's only a few of the other three mains from the other shelves, which means they sold out more than hers. ’Hmmh, well…’
I casually yoinked one Shelly from the shelf, ”Don’t mind if I do~”
I put the Shelly plush into my inventory and it instantly disappeared from my paws.
’Oh right, I forgot about it’
”Stats on!” I called out and the floating screen popped up.
Side Status window:
STRENGTH: 38.5
DAMAGE: 38.5
DEXTERITY: 29
ADDITIONS:
+Walk and Run speed by 10% on even-numbered Floors.
Boosts a random Stat by 12% once every Floor, effect wears off at the start of each Floor.
Trinkets:
- Veemote
- Ribbon Spool
- Lucky Coin
- (empty slot)
- (empty slot)
Thanks to the user interface, you now have 1 extra slot. You have successfully killed 5 Twisteds and unlocked 2 extra trinket slots.
ACTIVE:
HUG!
- This Twisted can pull other toons towards his direction. Needs direct line of sight. 30 seconds cool down.
DEADLY SNUGGLE
- This Twisted can pull others towards his direction and gives a powerful embrace. Squeezing the life out of a Toon or Twisted. 15 seconds cooldown.
CLAWS OUT!
- This Twisted can slice other Twisteds or Toons with its deadly sharp claws 2 - 5 times. 5 seconds cooldown.
PASSIVE:
GEAR UP!
- Gain an additional 5% extraction speed on the number of Toons in the floor.
ZOOMIES
- Gain an additional 25% movement speed during panic mode.
TWISTED
- You are a Twisted clone of a Toon character! You have an additional one star on each stat
NIGHT VISION
- You can see everything during a blackout and have glowing eyes.
GAMER ABILITIES:
ENDLESS SPACE:
This ability allows you to carry as many items as you want (except the trinket slots)
SANITY MIND:
Whenever you feel a certain negative way that affects your mental health. This ability will kick in and help you think clearly.
SOCIAL TABLE: (ƈʟɨƈӄ ɦɛʀɛ)
Main objectives:
• Encounter the first 10 different toons you meet. (8/10)
• Give some random toons a hug 5 times. (2/5)
• Picked up items. (19/30)
• Kill 3 rare Twisteds. (0/10)
• Clear all the Twisteds in the vicinity.
Bonus objective:
Kill the Twisteds. (9/15)
Rewards:
Main:
• 1 extra trinket slot.
• Gain an additional 1 star for your MAIN Status window.
• Receive 2 medkits.
• Receive a RANDOM trinket.
• You may move to the next floor.
Bonus:
• Unlocks all the toons in the Social Relationship Table
’Huh. Well, I'll be damn…’
I've been improving a lot since the last few floors ago, so far I've gotten a lot stronger the more I kill– ah, I mean, eliminate Twisteds. And there’s new objectives that need to be completed, ’Alright. So far everything looks okay.’
10 rare Twisteds? This might be more challenging than I thought. Well, at least it's not the main Twisteds. Otherwise it would make things more difficult for me.
”Stats off” the floating text disappeared as I continued my way in this place. ’I wonder who are the Twisteds that roam around this area, hmh?...--’
My stomach suddenly growled loudly, I stopped abruptly and patted my own stomach. ’Damn, how long have I gone without food? I'm really hungry….’
---̷A̷̷n̷̷d̷ ̷w̷̷h̷̷y̷ ̷d̷̷o̷ ̷I̷ ̷f̷̷e̷̷e̷̷l̷ ̷l̷̷i̷̷k̷̷e̷ ̷I̷'̷m̷ ̷c̷̷r̷a̷̷v̷̷i̷̷n̷̷g̷ ̷m̷̷e̷a̷̷t̷ a̷̷l̷̷l̷ ̷o̷̷f̷ a̷ ̷s̷̷u̷̷d̷̷d̷̷e̷̷n̷?----
I slapped myself on both sides of my cheeks, I'm probably just sleep deprived and very much drained out. ’Maybe I could ask for some food once we're back at the main lobby area?’
I could only hope that they could at least give me a snack or something, but I don't think that's gonna be possible. They're…probably worried a lot because toodles is literally with me. ’I better hurry up and finish this up so we can go quicker.’
I continued my path and looked around the place. The horrible stench still irks me till this day. I am prayin’ to even taste or smell fresh air for once, but all these past few hours or maybe even days (I’ve probably lost track of time, because there's no fucking clock or a phone in here). All I smell is this stupid, disgusting, metallic stench like someone died here. I don't know how many times I kept gagging from it.
While walking, I saw one of the ichor machines just stood still in the middle area, where the supposed light on top is green, instead of red.
”Hmmmh…Eh, at least I don't have to extract ichor.”
I overheard a low groan and a soft, rhythmic swisshhh sound coming from the other elevator. I went there to take a closer look and peek behind the wall and saw Twisted Tisha mindlessly sweeping on a dry floor. ’Oh, it's Tisha’
The familiar floating text appeared in front of me.
WARNING: YOU ARE ENTERING A BATTLE AGAINST THE ENEMY ‘TWISTED TISHA’
Twisted Tisha:
Health: 🖤🖤🖤
Attack: 10
Speed: 12.5
This Twisted is common and it does not have any passive nor active abilities.
I was about to confront her and finish the job as usual but paused for a moment. A sudden small idea popped up in my head. ’Huh, it never really crossed my mind about trying to talk with them’
Most of the time, I was preoccupied with handling the Twisteds and just ended their life there and then. Well, they're obviously aggressive and all, but. I do wonder if there's a possibility that they're sentient just like the toons? Could it be possible to befriend them without the need to just straight up take ‘em out.
I exhaled and slowly confronted her, where she stopped sweeping and just stared at me with those lifeless eyes and that dull, vacant expression on her face. She was drooling a little bit of ichor on her mouth (ew) and was doing these involuntary head twitches. This is probably the stupidest decision I've ever made.
I cleared my throat. ”Heyyy, Tisha! You seemed pretty busy with cleaning the uhhh…” I glanced down for a second, ”the floor! Yeah, so uhm…do you have anything else to do other than cleaning?”
An awkward tentative smile formed on my face as I tried to greet her with an open hand/paw.
There was nothing.
She's just quietly staring at me with that soulless red eyes of hers. I gulped.
’Okay…that did nothing at all.’
”Can you…speak?” I asked again with a nervous smile.
Still nothing.
”So, uhm…. Could you–”
She walked away before I could even continue on.
”Motherfucker- just ignored meh?!-”
Then another floating text pops up near me like a door slammed on my face.
”Wha- hey!”
WARNING: YOU ARE ENTERING A BATTLE AGAINST THE ENEMY TWISTED COSMO’
Twisted Cosmo:
Health: 🖤🖤🖤
Attack: 10
Speed: 12.5
This Twisted is common and it does not have any passive nor active abilities.
Twisted Cosmo just walked out from the other side of the room and just mindlessly passed Twisted Tisha from the other direction.
’Okay, maybe I could try talking to him….’
I immediately went in front of him and greeted the guy, ”Hey! Cosmo!....were you…lookin’ for your…bestfriend?”
Twisted Cosmo looked up and stared at me for a brief second, then just left. Continuing his path, grumbling, and crying.
”...”
”Yeahhh, no. Screw this.”
____________________________
(TOODLES POV)
I've collected tons and tons of candies and some other items, so far. Which is good, I'm sure Mister Rodger and the others would definitely be proud of me for collecting lots. I checked in my pockets and counted the stuff I've collected.
I have 3 boxes of chocolates, 10 different types of candies, 40 leftover tapes that the others might have forgotten to check, 6 cans of Soda Pop, annnndd 1 bandaid.
I picked out the bandaid piece from my pocket and felt really happy. It might not be much, but I just hope this would help out Miss Cassie.
I knew that she wasn't okay. She was pretending to look okay so I won't get worried, and I don't like that. She tried her very best to protect me from the other mean Twisteds. I have to make sure I can convince everyone that she's good!
There were so many scars and scratches all over her and had those tired-looking eyes. It really worries me that she'll be so exhausted that she might pass out.
I really hope that we'll get out of here soon enough. There's only about 4 more floors left to go.
I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard loud crash noises, some scratches and some kind of splash from the other side. It is definitely Miss Cassie fighting off the other Twisteds. I better try to search again if there's at least another bandaid somewhere. Or a medkit even!
I slipped the band-aid back into my pockets and held Mr. Spots closely in my arms and went to the upper area where it's close to our elevator and searched again. I looked over the tall purple shelves where most of the other stuff toys that look like the mains were placed. I did my best to be on my tippy toes to at least check if there's anything that's hiding in the shelves as well.
Nothing.
I stopped and bent down to look under the shelves, the fallen pallet racks, even other tables. Nothing, nada.
”This is hopeless, Mister Spots. I've already checked the rest of the other places! What should I do?” I stared at my plushie. Hoping he could give me some answers.
”Hmmh, no matter. I'm not giving up! I just hope I can find some on the next floor somehow!”
I suddenly hear footsteps behind me. Quickly turned around and saw Miss Cassie, all covered in ichor and scratches, yet again.
”Miss Cassie! Are you alright?!...”
She just smiled back at me and patted my head with gentleness.
”Don’t worry, I'll be fine. Come on, let's go. The elevator must've already opened.”
That made me more worried than I'd imagine. After everything that she's going through, she's still kept moving on. She really is that strong and has the will to not give up.
”Come on, kid. Let's go” She said as she walked towards the opened elevator. And I followed behind her.
The more I took a closer look at her, the more I noticed how bad she appeared to be. Not just scratches, wounds and ichor. But also that she has a smaller stomach. Our Mister Goob normally doesn't look like that originally.
Has she….not been eating at all?...
When was the last time she even ate?...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Both of us went inside the elevator and immediately the mechanical door thingy shuts down in front of us and proceeded to the next floor.