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Bobette and Bassie sat together in Bobettes room, a comfortable silence cast over them. The christmas lights from above cast a warm shadow on their sitting figures, leaving the dim room feeling comfortable. Bassie let out a sigh as the yelling from adults and children alike was heard from outside- Christmas was always a busy time, and Bassie was glad Bobette would take breaks in between seeing the children just to spend some peace and quiet with her.
"It's always so chaotic around this time..."
Bobette chuckles, her hand on the back of her neck, breaking the comfortable silence. Bassie nods in agreement, her head resting on Bobettes shoulder gently. Even after a few long seconds, Bassie doesn't move away from Bobette in any way. Just as they were getting comfortable again, Arthur walked into the room, Rodger slowly following behind him with a piece of paper on a clipboard and a pencil. Arthur lets out a somber sigh as he spotted Bassie and Bobette in the corner of the room, making his way over to the two female toons. Rodger remained in the doorway, writing something down on his clipboard. Arthur got down on his knee to match Bobette and Bassies height, but he wouldn't look at them straight. He avoided any eye contact with either of them as he began to speak.
"Bassie, Bobette... Delilah has, ah... told me to inform you that since it is not easter anymore, Delilah wants to take the Easter toons away temporarily." Arthur looks away, tears threatening to fall from his eyes. It was clear he didn't want to do this. If Delilah wasn't in charge, he wouldn't have even thought of this in the first place. Rodger is still standing in the doorway. writing away on his clipboard, the sound of his pencil scraping against the paper nearly jarring in the silence of the room. In that moment Bobette and Bassie could have sworn that time paused. Everything seemed completely silent, it was deafening- Earsplitting, even.
Everyone stayed silent for nearly 10 minutes, sitting in silence, trying to process what Arthur had just told them. Arthur stood back up slowly, holding his hand out of Bassie to take. Bassie barely even glanced at Bobette before taking Arthurs hand in hers. Arthur began to walk out the room, with Bassie following slowly behind. Just as they got to the doorway Bassie looked back at Bobette. Bobette was staring at Bassie in a cold silence. Tears were pooling in her eyes, falling from her face in silence. Bassie quickly looked away, her eyes widening as she bit her bottom lip to stop from full-on sobbing. As Arthur and Bassie walked out the room, Rodger tried to follow, but Arthur stopped him before he could even make it out the room.
"Rodger, I know your curious, but this is an official matter." Arthur sighed, letting go of Bassies hand and leaning down in front of Rodger, cupping the side of his Magnifying Glass head, rubbing a smudge off of Rodger's glass. Rodger leaned into Arthurs touch, letting out a childish whine. Despite technically being full grown and usually remaining stoic and calm, he was quick to get upset when it related to his research.
"But-!"
Rodger began, but he was quickly cut off by Arthur. Arthur stood back up, letting go of Rodgers face and taking ahold of Bassies shaking hand again, running his finger over Bassies knuckles to try and calm her.
"No, Sweetheart, I love you, but you have to stay behind, okay? You shouldn't be involved in this." Arthur shook his head, before walking out the room without another word. Rodger let out an annoyed huff, glaring at Arthur as him and Bassie walked away into a faculty only room. Rodger looked back over at Bobette who was drowning in tears, sobbing loudly. Rodger let out a quiet sigh, slowly walking over to Bobette and letting his clipboard and pencil fall onto the ground near the doorway. Rodger sat next to Bobette, his hand slowly making his way onto Bobettes shoulder. Bobette sniffed, leaning into Rodgers touch. She slowly sunk onto the ground even more, attempting to wipe her tears away, before eventually failing and just letting her tears fall onto her sweater. Rodger let Bobette rest her head onto his chest, letting her cling to him for comfort. Rodger stayed silent, not exactly knowing what to say.
She cried for a long while, and Rodger stayed there, Even though he likely had other work and research to do. The christmas lights from above remained their bright color even as Bobette fell asleep, though to both Rodger and Bobette, they seemed more cold than anything now.