Chapter Text
Gourdy and Toodles had been alone, longer than they should’ve.
When the Ichor Operation started, the two were only eight and nine, not appropriate for the dangers of the “supply runs”. Back then, they weren’t life-threatening, but somebody could easily get injured.
Sometimes when they were low on one or two toons and nobody else was able to make it, Toodles would go. Gourdy was a main, and seemed too precious to risk getting hurt. He didn’t understand why that didn’t apply to the other main toons… Maybe it was just because he was young and didn’t know any better.
Before the Ichor Operation, everyone was alright. Due to less people coming to Gardenview, Delilah and Arthur came to the conclusion that the seasonal toons should come year-round, making more excitement for the children.
That didn’t work.
Allegations came in newspapers, TV channels, flyers— Anything the media could get their hands on. None of the toons in Gardenview were able to figure it out, after all they never were told anything.
It was obvious that Dandy was keeping something hidden from the beginning. Ever since Gardenview’s visiting declined and Delilah got more irritable, Dandy hadn’t been the same.
When the Ichor Operation was launched, all of the humans left them, leaving Dandy in charge. If you asked most of the toons that were there at the time what they thought about it, they’d probably tell you they thought something had happened to Dandy— Something dark— Something out of the usual.
Their assumptions would basically be proven later on, when Shrimpo was “turned twisted”.
He seemed to be possessed by the ichor, the black liquid taking over nearly half his body. He turned aggressive— Not his usual rude-self, but he turned harmful—violent.
What everyone found strange at the time was how this happened during a supply run.
One of the first supply runs Gourdy went on.
After Delilah and the rest were gone, the rule that he had to stay behind didn’t apply anymore. That day made Gourdy never want to go on another run again, but Dandy had a strict schedule that included every toon.
Gourdy could still remember the look in Shrimpo’s eyes. Red, dark, not his. Those eyes did not belong to Shrimpo.
He remembered standing in the elevator with “twisted” Shrimpo trying to run in. His arm had reached halfway through before the elevator door slammed shut, the sickening crunch of bone echoing against the walls.
Gourdy remembered when Dandy had sprung up with his shop, the same grin plastered on his face.
“What happened… TO SHRIMPO?” Vee had demanded, slamming her hands on the flower’s shop counter.
The latter had shrugged, still smiling like they didn’t lose a fellow toon. Nobody had really liked Shrimpo sure—He was rude, inconsiderate, and judgmental. But he was still a toon, just like the rest of them.
After that everyone just fell like flies. Both Gourdy and Toodles had seen things nobody should see at that age—That nobody should be seeing or hearing at all.
Rodger had researched constantly about the twisteds and ichor. He tried to use the information he obtained to reassure the two younger toons who were only pre-teens at the time.
Main twisteds were way more dangerous compared to any other twisted. When Gourdy saw Pebble twisted for the first time, his heart sank. Pebble was always a sweet pet rock, he always played with both Gourdy and Toodles.
What didn’t feel right is that that pet rock was Dandy’s pet rock, and Dandy didn’t show any remorse when Pebble turned twisted.
The worst of all was the lethal twisteds. Dandy and Dyle.
Dyle came later than Dandy, he managed outfits and stickers and such whereas Dandy handled the runs and item shops within the runs.
Dandy would get upset whenever nobody would buy from him. So upset to the point he would twist into a completely different kind of twisted.
When it was only down to Rodger, Toodles, and Gourdy who were still alive, they had accidentally made Dandy angry.
Rodger, trying to get research and a closer look, figured that the worst that could happen was an injury…
He didn’t know the real strength of a “lethal”.
Toodles and Gourdy had cried non-stop after that. They didn’t want to go on another run again, no matter what. There didn’t seem to be a purpose in them anyways. Entertainment for Dandy? After all, these weren’t just normal supply runs anymore.
The two were still forced to go on one last run.
”Let me make a deal… If you two go on one more run and make it to floor ten, I will let you go… I will find a way to revive everyone,” Dandy had offered.
Having no other choice, they had accepted.
Floor seven, however, Gourdy’s whole life turned upside down.
Twisted Vee had attacked Toodles, her head severely damaged.
Gourdy had heard the awful sound before he saw it, and when he did he immediately rushed over to investigate.
He saw Toodles huddled in a corner behind a counter, clutching her head.
”G…Gourdy?” she stuttered.
Gourdy’s eyes had begun to well up with tears. He couldn’t lose his best friend— The only one he had left. The friend he grew to adore and care for.
”Toodles? Please… No…” Gourdy pleaded, holding her in his arms.
She was too young to have her life thrown away. She was only sixteen.
Sixteen and for half her life she lived in suffering.
”Please… Toodles,” he whispered.
”Gourdy I…” Toodles smiled. “Thank you. I love you so much, thank you for staying with me… no matter what. Together forever?” she weakly lifted up her pinky.
Gourdy nodded, interlocking their pinkies. “Together forever.”
And as Toodles closed her eyes, he knew the danger. He knew the next time she opened them she wouldn’t be the same. She would be a completely different Toodles.
He couldn’t bear to see her like that.
With one more glance, Gourdy ran away, tears streaming down his face with only one goal:
Get to floor 10, for Toodles.
If she couldn’t make it she would want him to make it, no matter what he knew.
So as he struggled the next few floors, cuts and bruises and heartache throughout his body—He did it.
When he stepped into the elevator after floor nine, he turned to Dandy.
“Let… Me… Go…” he said in a trembling voice, staring at the flower.
He didn’t know Dandy.
At least he didn’t know this Dandy.
”Well, a deals a deal! Sure is a shame she couldn’t make it…”
”Don’t sympathize for her, you’re the reason why she’s gone!” Gourdy’s voice broke as he choked a sob.
When Gourdy got to the surface, he silently prayed for Dandy to bring his friends back. Bring everyone back, everyone he ever cared about—Heck, everyone Dandy cared about.
He wanted to know what happened. He wanted to know the truth.
”Dandy… What happened to you…?” Gourdy had managed to ask before he entered his room.
“Gourdy, what happened to you? You didn’t get to choose this life did you? If I’m being completely honest. I didn’t want this life either. We aren’t that different, you and I. Except I’m the cause for your suffering which doesn’t make me any better than who caused my suffering.”
”Why didn’t you tell me before! Why didn’t you tell anyone before?” Gourdy questioned.
Dandy sighed. “I think this is the end. I’m a lost cause. The ichor has effected me too badly— I need to do something before it fully takes over my brain,” he explained.
”Hey kid.”
”Yeah, Dandy?” Gourdy asked, still shocked.
”It’s not your fault. I’m really sorry about what happened.”
Dandy had walked away after that, leaving Gourdy alone with only his room and thoughts.
That was unusual, Dandy had never spoken like that before.
Maybe Gourdy was hallucinating or dreaming or—
Gourdy went to bed, resting his head on his pillow.
He closed his eyes, wanting to go back. Wanting to save Dandy— Save Toodles— Save them all.
Save them all.
Save them all.