Chapter Text
Bassie awoke from her year-long hibernation, and her whole body felt stiff and heavy. She struggled to push herself out of her bed, almost slipping onto the floor as she stood up. Bassie took a deep stretch until her muscles felt normal again. She took a few steps over towards the mirror in the corner of her room, taking a nice long look at herself.
"I look horrible.." Bassie thought to herself, poking and prodding at her face like it wasn't her own. She'd done this many times before, every time she woke up for springtime. Maybe she should try something different?
"I should wear my other outfit." Bassie poked at her face for a little longer, until she suddenly slapped her cheeks.
"Focus, Bassie!" She told herself, opening the closet next to her, "The kids- No, Delilah expects more of you!" Bassie grabbed her blue and white dress and green stockings, slipping them on quickly.
Bassie adjusted her flowers so she didn't look like she just crawled out of bed (even if she did), and gave one more glance at the mirror.
"Hopefully that's good enough... for her." She took a deep breath to calm herself and left her room, expecting to hear the sounds of kids in the distance.
But it was dead quiet.
Bassie stood there, puzzled. Around this time kids would be bustling around Gardenview, laughing and talking with the other toons. Bassie even had her own little fan club that would wait for her (To her surprise). But, it was nothing this time. It didn't seem like anyone was here. She walked around "Main" hall, a corridor with all of the main rooms, and soaked in all the silence. It was peaceful, but in the worst way possible. She could feel her anxiety creeping up her chest.
Quickening her pace, Bassie turned the corner at the end of the hallway and walked towards the communal kitchen, expecting to see her handler. Instead, she saw someone she definitely didn't expect.
"Bassie! Oh my Santa, I haven't seen you in ages!" The red bauble shouted joyfully, hopping down from a stool near the kitchen counter and waddling over to the basket. Bassie was quickly wrapped in a tight, warm hug, almost uncomfortably so.
"Bobette?" She returned the hug apprehensively, "I thought you would be in your room by now...?"
"Oh right...!" Bobette looked nervous, letting go of Bassie and taking a step back. "You just woke up. huh?"
"Yeah..?"
"How about we sit down for a cup of hot chocolate?" The bauble suggested, but it sounded more forced than Bassie liked.
Still, hot chocolate didn't sound horrible. Bassie walked over to the kitchen counter and plopped down on one of the stools. Bobette walked past her and into the kitchen, preparing hot chocolate as she hummed.
"Unfortunately, all we have right now are the packets of cocoa," Bobette sighed, "I hope that's alright?"
"That's fine. I'm sure it'll be good, because you're making it." Bassie said sheepishly.
"Aww, Bassie! You're too nice!" Bobette exclaimed happily, making the other toon jump slightly.
Bobette returned her focus to the two mugs of hot chocolate powder, opening the fridge and pulling out a jug of milk. Bassie watched the Christmas toon, but her head was in another place.
"Why did Bobette seem so nervous before? Where are all the kids? I'm not used to it being so quiet when I first wake up." Questions consumed Bassie's mind, her hand absentmindedly toying with the petal of a flower in her head. She would have felt awkward for being so quiet if she wasn't so caught up in her own head and Bobette's constant humming of Christmas carols. She was only brought back to reality by the loud beeping of a microwave.
Bobette quickly grabbed the two mugs out of the microwave, giving them a quick stir with a spoon. She waddled over to Bassie and set one of the mugs down gently in front of the easter toon. The bauble slid onto a stool directly across from Bassie, a jolly smile on her face.
"I hope you like it." Bobette took a sip of the hot cocoa, immediately burning her tongue.
Bassie giggled as she watched Bobette panic and run over to the sink to spit out the hot liquid. Learning from the other toon, Bassie blew on the hot chocolate to cool it down before taking a sip. The brown liquid still burned her tongue slightly, but it tasted really good for something that came out of a packet. She had to hold herself back from drinking it all in one gulp.
"That's really good but..." Bassie said as she put the mug down, ".. why is it so quiet.. and where is everyone?"
Bobette seemed to freeze in place as the easter toon stared at her, "Ironic" Bassie thought. The ornament didn't seem like she wanted to answer and wouldn't even look Bassie in the eye.
"Gardenview is.. closed." Bobette said quietly, twiddling her thumbs anxiously. She finally looked at Bassie, blatantly upset.
"Oh.. Well, that's okay.." Bassie responded lightheartedly, "When do we reopen?"
Bobette stayed silent for a moment, before letting out a sigh and answering.
"Gardenview is closed indefinitely, Bassie.." The Christmas toon put bluntly, "We.. I don't know if we're back."
Bassie stared at Bobette, who was clearly waiting for a reaction of some kind. However, every response Bassie thought of was snuffed out immediately. What could she even say to that?
"On the bright side, we don't have to stay in our rooms when our holidays are over!" Bobette tried her best to lighten the mood again.
"We can hang out more, and drink hot chocolate together, a-and tell stories, and-"
"Our handlers...?" Bassie questioned quietly, looking like she was near tears.
"... They.. haven't come by since the shutdown.." Bobette responded solemnly
"Ah.. I see." She took a deep breath, attempting to calm herself.
Bassie could feel her anxiety from earlier start to creep in like vines along her chest, tightening as her breaths quickened. But more than that, the ichor in her veins started to boil as she clenched her fist.
"I tried so hard every. Single. Day. And you're telling me it didn't matter?" She whispered to herself bitterly, her gaze darkening.
"What did you say?" Bobette asked, making Bassie realize that she said that out loud.
"HAHahaha, um, nothing!" Bassie replied hurriedly, slipping off of the stool, "I'll see you later!" She started to walk away.
"Bassie, wait!" The toon stopped, turning her head to look at Bobette.
The bauble, now standing up, had concern written all over her cartoonish face, an uncommon expression for someone like her.
"I.. I know you're upset, we all are.. or were." She smiled gently, "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here, okay?"
Bassie's face softened at Bobette's words. The Christmas toon was so kind and caring, it was enviable. The kids loved spending time with her during Christmas. She was a perfect "Main" in Bassie's eyes. Delilah would never try to replace her..
"I'll see you later..." She muttered a goodbye and turned around, leaving Bobette alone with two mugs of hot chocolate.
Bobette carried the two mugs over to the sink, dropping them in and turning on the water. She watched the water rushing out of the faucet, holding back the urge to cry. Instead, she held her head in her hands and let out a heavy sigh, muttering to herself.
"Nice going, Bobette.."
Bassie could hear the faint sound of water behind her as she walked away, but she refused to look back. She was too busy with her thoughts anyway. She had spent the past few years trying to be "perfect" for Bailey and Delilah and now they were gone, probably never coming back. She was free now, but how could she go back to any sense of normalcy after everything?
The bile that she had bit back in front of Bobette began to surface as she continued walking without a destination. Bassie's hands curled back into a fist and she sank deeper into her thoughts.
"I'm not going to be replaced.. I should be happy, but.."
"I'm so fucking frustrated…" Bassie cursed under her breath, something she wasn't allowed to do before with kids around.
The main continued back down the hallway, planning to return to her room and isolate herself for the rest of the day. She traced the wall with her hand, the only distraction she could give herself right now.
"Maybe I should have stayed with Bobette... At least then I could keep my mind off of everything." Bassie thought regretfully, guilt setting in. Yet, she still trudged forward. "No, I'll be fine on my own."
She just needed to get back to her room and lie down for a bit, take some time to herself, and just be alo-
"Why, hello there youngin!" A strained, familiar voice called out in front of her.
Bassie looked down the hallway and spotted two toons not far away from her room door. A blue butterfly and an old egg. Bassie forced a smile, screaming internally as she greeted the other toons.
"Hi, guys. Did you both just wake up?"
"Nah, we've been up for a while. It's nice to explore when it's just us here." Flyte replied neutrally.
"Oh, and I just adore having more time to spend with Toodles and Rodger!" Eggson exclaimed.
"You sure it wasn't more Rodger?"
"Watch yourself, young man."
The two toons bickered playfully. Bassie just stood there, her smile faded and she looked annoyed. It's not that she disliked Eggson or Flyte, but she didn't have the energy for this right now.
Flyte quickly took notice of Bassie's expression.
"You doing alright, Bas?"
Bassie jumped at the mention of her name, locking eyes with Flyte.
"I'm... I will be okay." Bassie struggled to lie to the older butterfly. "Just upset by... everything, really."
She couldn't completely lie to Flyte. He was probably the closest thing Bassie had to an older sibling, and Eggson was... well Eggson.
Flyte placed the tip of his wing on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. Bassie responded with a tiny, obviously forced, smile, which didn't quell any of his worries.
"Back in my day, this place was full of loud, playful children!" Eggson randomly interjected.
"Back in your day, I'm sure they just discovered fire." Flyte jabbed back. Eggson responded by whacking the back of Flyte's leg with his cane.
"Ow!"
Bassie chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully. It was always this way with the two older toons. Flyte just couldn't seem to keep his words to himself around Eggson.
"Eggson, I think we all would've been around that time.." Bassie pointed out.
"Oh, I guess you're right.." Eggson said thoughtfully, like it wasn't the most obvious thing. It made Bassie giggle more.
"I think his dementia is setting in."
"Flyte!!" Bassie nudged him playfully, feeling a lot better now. Maybe staying with her friends was better than isolating. It definitely made her feel way better compared to before.
Flyte and Eggson bickered back and forth as Bassie just listened, enjoying being around her friends for now. As Bassie watched her two friends throw sly insults at each other, she noticed someone walking towards them. As the figure got closer, she recognized them more.
"Of course, it's you." Bassie'd gaze darkened as worked out who it was and let out a small noise of disgust. Flyte was going to ask if Bassie was okay again, but the new toon spoke up from behind.
"Hello my friends!" The butterfly and egg toons turned to see a chocolate bunny greeting them happily. The sound of her voice clawed at Bassie's nonexistent ear drums, painfully so.
"Cocoa!" The two older toons greeted happily, Flyte being the louder one. The other easter toons crowded around Cocoa, chatting up a storm. Bassie was left standing alone by her door. She stared at the new group that formed in front of her, envy creeping into her chest.
"You just take everything from me, don't you?"
The main thought, staring specifically at Cocoa. The rabbit seemed to notice the basket staring, smiling at her. It made Bassie recoil with disgust.
"Bassie, Hi!" Cocoa greeted her happily. Bassie stared at her with empty eyes. Everyone could feel the tension between the two besides Cocoa.
"Hello." She replied blandly.
"Are you alright? You don't sound okay! Do you need help?"
Bassie's eyes began to twitch with annoyance as she spoke.
"I'm fine," Her frustration was obvious, "I think I'll go to my room now." She grabbed the door handle to her room.
"W-Wait!" Cocoa hurried towards Bassie, placing a paw on forearm, "Are you s-"
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME." Bassie swatted the rabbit's hand away forcefully, knocking her back into Flyte and Eggson, both of which just looked shocked. Bsssie breathed angrily as she looked at Cocoa. Cocoa takes everything from her and then has the nerve to act friendly? What the hell was wrong with her?
"Leave me alone." She spat back at Cocoa. Bassie opened her room door and stepped inside. She slammed the door and locked it before anyone could open it.
The main flopped onto her bed face first, exhausted mentally. She heard words be exchanged outside her door and footsteps walking away. Basie didn't care enough though.
Bassie dragged a pillow into her grasp, hugging it close and burying her face into the cool fabric.She had found a sense of relief again. However, her mind in a constant bout to torture her, immediately filled with the events from a minute ago.
Bassie thought she would be able to let things go considering there was no threat of being replaced anymore. But as soon as she laid her eyes on Cocoa, everything came rushing back like a train. Whether the rabbit knew about what Delilah had told her or not, it didn't matter. She was still the cause of every ounce of worry Bassie had in the past.
"I still can't stand her.. even after everything."
Bassie clung to the pillow and sighed, it was better to just push these thoughts away anyways. She would rather sleep.
She closed her eyes and thought of someone that would calm her, Bailey. She slowly drifted off to sleep as she imagined Bailey comforting her to sleep like she used to.
.
.
.
God, she missed her...