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"Knock, knock!" Dandy sung out cheerfully at Brightney's door along with a knocking motion.
"Oh, Dandy, welcome in!" Brightney stepped aside for the flower to walk on in.
"Golly! You have a LOTT of books, Brightney!" Dandy stepped into the library-like paradise that is filled to the brim with books of all kinds. BRIGHTNEY'S ROOM.
"Yep! I LOVE reading! It's the only thing that keeps me sane around here hahaha!" Brightney laughs awkwardly into her hand attempting to brush off that odd joke she had made. Dandy joined in too with his own kind of chuckle.
"Ooh, y'know what?! I have just the book for you!" The petaled-toon holds his pointer finger up to her as he rummages through his cartoonish pocket. Alas, he pulls out a giant book, even bigger than his head. Obviously the bright toon's eyes were already sparkling, she had never seen a book so big! So many pages to flip, so many places her mind could explore, the possibilities were endless!
"This is Dandy's World's own little biography book!" He shakes the book in the air, Brightney's gaze following it with wonder. "It has information on EVERY toon from A-Z! With birthdays, fun facts, and my FAVORITE-" Dandy skips a few pages and his finger lands on a line of text. "Every toons opinion on me!" The image that accompanied the writing was Connie's, her own description of Dandy. Brightney smiled at this silly photo of her girlfriend. Connie was pulling the sides of her mouth with her tongue out.
The text read:
"He's one big scaredy cat."
"Wowie! Can you believe that, Brightney? Me, a scaredy cat! She knows me SOOO well!" Dandy jumped on his heels with a blush of appreciation coating his face.
She raises an eyebrow at his strange reaction but delivers him a soft smile. Her eyes graze over the page again, that picture of Connie.
Boolynski "Connie" the Ghost
As a ghost, Connie enjoys floating around and having fun! Sometimes she may cause a bit of trouble for her own enjoyment yet at the end of the day, she'll be there for her friends.
Created December 17th
Former Halloween Toon
Brightney adjusts her glasses, she looks into the book further. Her quick yet careful eyes never would miss such an important piece of information, Connie's birthday.
"Wait Dandy, Connie's birthday is in December? How come we never celebrate it?" Brightney peers up from the book to watch Dandy's smile fade.
"Ohhhh well ya knowww.. Connie doesn't like celebrating her birthday and we must respect her wishes!" Dandy scratches behind his head, looking away.
"What?! She doesn't like celebrating her birthday? But.. It's her birthday!" Brightney's eyes scan Dandy's face hoping to find a hint of falsehood. But the main character was telling the truth. She put a hand to her chest, looking away.
"Aww, don't look so down Brightney!" Dandy comes around and pats her on the back. "I think it's for the best since y'know she can't see her brother and that'll just be so TRAUMATIC to have to celebrate a birthday without your twin, ey?"
Brightney couldn't find any comfort in these words, but did not push any further. She straightened from her slumped-over position and cleared her throat. "Thanks for showing me this, Dandy. That was very kind of you." She smiles at him.
"You're always welcome Bright!" He smiles back at her and looks at his wrist. "OH ME OH MY! It's time for me to go!" Dandy puts on a shocked expression and shoves the book back into his pocket. "See you later~!"
She waves him off and turns around. She puts a finger to her chin.
"Oh.. That's clever." Brightney squints her eyes and smiles to herself.
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The date is December 17th. Connie's birthday. Brightney created an elaborate surprise plan, but obviously she did not want to make a huge scene for her girlfriend. So she had them meet in Brightney's room.
Brightney tied a blue ribbon around a chair, the birthday toon's very own seat! Wow! She wipes her brow and steps back to observe her masterpiece. She has definitely made this library haunted! A knock at the door indicated Connie has arrived. Plan Connie's Birthday is in action!
Brightney shut off the lights in the room and hid behind the table.
"Knock knock! Open up or I'll phase through!" Connie calls from across the door.
"Brightney?" She asked, peeking through the small peep-hole but it was too dark to see anything through.
"Okay, I'm coming in~! Ready or not!" Connie shrugged and phased through the door. The door was unlocked anyway, but Connie is a ghost and very extra.
A glow came from behind the table, the room was partially illuminated by it. Connie tilts her head and chuckles as she vanishes from sight, playing along with whatever is going on.
Brightney peeks up from the table, but no one is there. She furrows her eyebrows in confusion. She JUST heard Connie? Where did she go?
It's chilly, thought Brightney.
"So what are we hiding from?" Connie reappears in front of her.
"AHH!" Brightney's light flickers as she stumbles back. "Oh, C-Connie! I didn't see you come in!"
Connie smirks, leaning over the lamp. "I saw you though." Their 'noses' almost touching. "You look good, what's the occasion?"
"Ah, I forgot.. I'm pretty bright aren't I?" Brightney giggles to herself and she cups Connie's face gently.
"The brightest." Connie leaves a peck on Brightney's lips.
"But seriously.." Connie pulls away. "What IS the occasion?"
Brightney shakes her head and stands up. She readjusts her skirt and makes her way towards the light-switch. It flicks on.
Brightney's hard-work from the night prior comes into Connie's view. Balloons tied to the bookshelves, Happy Birthday letters hung across the back wall, and the blue-ribboned chair.
Connie just stood there in shock, stirring worry inside of Brightney. Maybe she needed some time to process it?
"Attention Gardenview, this is your last chance to see the Halloween toons until next year!" The loud-speaker blares throughout building.
"Hey bro, whatcha wanna do for our birthday?" Connie floated up next to Soulvester who was marching proudly down a corridor from meeting the remaining children who had visited for Halloween.
"Sister, that is quite a question!" Soulvester lifted up his metal helmet's eyepiece in thought. "Perhaps we shall engage in role-play!" He suggests, stopping in place to strike a knightly pose.
"Bro??" Connie raises her eyebrow and chuckles at the idea. "Can I be the knight this time?" She elbows him then holds her elbow in pain, sharp armor.
"Negative!" Soulvester pushes his finger in the air. "I am the knight!" He points to himself with his thumb, quite proud of his role.
"Pshh, well-" Connie started.
"Ahem." A humanoid figure stops them in their path. "Connie, Soulvester, just the toons I wanted to see."
"Eyy, ███████, what's up?" Connie throws finger guns towards them.
"Yes! We haveth arrived!" Soulvester stands up straighter giving a salute gesture with his hand over his forehead.
This person looks past Soulvester and focuses on Connie.
"You are going to be staying up here quite longer, Connie!" Although their face blurred, their smile shone prominent. A piercing smile.
Soulvester applauds his sister. "Marvelous!"
Connie shakes her head, hoping she heard incorrectly. "Say what?"
"You have been our most famous Halloween toon, so you were invited by ███████ to stay all year long! Congratulations!" Connie's hand was shaken. Connie was quiet.
And Connie remained quiet. The memory flashed inside of her mind, contorting the decorated library into the dark chamber where she and her brother had spent their birthdays.
"Soo.. What do you think?" Brightney came up from behind and put a hand on Connie's shoulder.
"Heh." Connie's shoulders raised and then shakily lowered. "..It's great."
"A-Are you sure?" Brightney let go of the tense shoulder, clutching on her own hand.
Connie looked upwards. "It's just.. I haven't had a birthday in so long." Her face was not visible to Brightney, but this bookworm can read even body language. Brightney came closer and wrapped her arms around Connie's waist, pressing herself agaisnt the ghost's back. "Yeah?" She murmured.
"Sorry, ugh, I shouldn't feel this way." Connie shuttered. Brightney moved with her movements. "You can feel which ever way you'd like, Connie. I love you and I want you to be honest with me." She buries her face deeper into Connie's back.
"You know Soulvester..?" Connie asked quietly. Brightney lifted her head off. "I do.. Oh, Connie.."
"Qwel.. This is soo stupid.." Connie covered her eyes, throwing her head back.
"Hey hey.." Brightney tugged at Connie's hands, removing them to unveil the puffy eyes of her lover. "It's okay, I'm here for you like I said." Connie jerked her head away.
"I just want to see him again. Maybe celebrate another birthday with him." The saddened toon admits in one breath. "I know it was JUST Halloween but this day is not the same without him."
Knock, knock.
Connie wiped her tears quickly. "Looks like someone's at the door." She reverted to her nonchalant look at once, jerking her head towards the door.
"Oh!" Brightney shot her head back to the door and stumbled over.
She opened the door.
"Okay what the heck." Connie looked passed Brightney with her mouth agape.
"Fair Brightney! I am filled with the utmost merriment that I have sought out the correct room!" A familiar medieval voice echoes throughout.
"What the heck." Connie repeats, just in total belief.
"Happy Birthday! Come in, Soulvester! Make yourself comfortable!" Brightney smiled up at the armored toon and looked back at Connie.
"Well, go on and greet your brother, silly!" Brightney closed the door after Soulvester. "Don't be rude, it's his birthday after all!"
"Dudeeee." Connie floated to Soulvester and looked him up and down. "How did you even get here?"
"Your dearest acquaintance Brightney requested that I appear for my natal day!" Soulvester puts his hands on his hips.
Connie attacks the suit of armor with an abrupt hug.
"It is grand that we can meet ag-"
"Shut up you larping idiot and hug me back." Connie pat his back.
Soulvester returned the hug rather harshly, the sharp armor piercing Connie but she could honestly care less. Brightney fondly watches them both reunite with her hands folded on her lap.
"This is actually insane." Connie pulled away from the embrace and turned to Brightney.
"Don't I know it!" She giggled. Connie smiled with gratitude towards her lover. They locked eyes for a bit, forgetting where they were. Brightney really did this for her. And she was so touched by this kind gesture.
It wasn't unusual for her girlfriend to go above and beyond for her, the extra help at the Book Club says a lot about her generous attitude. It's extremely difficult to request for a Holiday Toon to return before their designated time-period, but Brightney somehow had done it all.
"Ahem!" Soulvester clears his throat.
They both snap out of it.
"Yeah, what's up, bro?" Connie wraps her arm around his shoulders like nothing had ever happened.
"When will we commence with the roleplay?"
"I'm not being no princess." Connie crossed her arms. Everytime Soulvester and Connie role-played, she had to be the princess her brother was saving.
Brightney steps up to them both. "I will be the princess!" She curtsies.
"Affirmative! Brightney has volunteered to be the princess and Connie.." Soulvester points dramatically, with his other hand behind him balled up in a fist. "You will take on the role of the dragon!"
"Sick." Connie smirks and looks towards Brightney.
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Connie's dragon costume looked so stupid on her. What was more stupid was the kisses she pressed onto Brightney's neck as Soulvester pretended to fight outside of the 'castle' (which was just a bunch of pillows, blankets, and chairs).
"Halt, beast!" Soulvester called out, his sword swinging the pillows away from the blocked entry.
"Bro, can you at least knock first? I'm attacking the princess here." Connie grabbed onto her tightly and buried her face deeper into the crease of her neck.
"Ahhh!" Brightney let out a fake scream, smiling.
Connie sighed of relief and her own smile was felt against the lamp.
"Happy Birthday." Brightney whispered. "I love you."