Chapter Text
"Thank you for purchasing from the Stuff For Your Self shop!"
"You're welcome!" Naily smiled, picking up the tubs of ice cream from the counter. She placed them into a bag and wrapped it around her ankle, dragging it with her as she began to walk up the stairs.
It felt strange to return to the Showgrounds after countless of months in the elimination area. Even stranger that Naily didn't have to worry about the competition anymore, still being counted as an eliminated contestant and all.
Of course, the metal contestant wasn't complaining. It felt nice to feel the yellow grass tickle her feet again, and to run around the sunny fields without a care in the world as much as she pleased, so long as it wasn't challenge day.
And to top it all off? That Roboty Flowery chick had a shop that seemed to store just about everything and anything! To celebrate her first week back in the TPOT hotel, Naily had bought all sorts of sweet treats to feast on today, mostly ice cream. Would she regret it later when throwing up in the bathroom? Maybe. But that was a problem for future Naily.
She grunted as she tugged her goodie-filled bag up the stairs, having to awkwardly use a single foot to step up while the other pulled at her plastic bag. Several minutes had passed and Naily had only gone up the first flight of stairs, panting from the effort.
For a moment, Naily stood in the hallway as she regained her breath, wondering how she could manage to repeat this four more times. She debated using the elevator, but a shiver went up her spine as she remembered how disastrous it was last time.
Naily debated with herself. Wait for help? Too long. Continue anyway? Too exhausting. Give up on the whole ice cream thing? Too cowardly. Maybe she could ask Black Hole for he-
Her train of thought suddenly halted as she heard a harsh, dry coughing sound come from one of the hotel rooms. Naily raised an eyebrow, looking around and attempting to locate the source of the sound.
The coughing repeated, followed by a muffled, feeble groan. Okay, that was definitely weird.
Naily hesitated, standing in the corridor. But then the coughing fit came back a third time. She sighed and walked up to the culprit's door, giving it a few knocks with her foot.
"Hello..? You good in there?"
No answer.
"Oh, now the coughing stops…" Naily muttered under her breath, hesitating for a few extra seconds before turning the knob. She was faintly surprised to find out that it was unlocked.
"Er.. I'm coming in!" Naily warned whoever was inside, before pushing forward and entering the room.
Immediately, Naily's eyes were exposed to vibrant pinks and blues decorating the room. Normally, the metal contestant would've approved of such a flashy style, but what lost her was the sheer amount of Ice Cube everywhere.
Hand-drawn pictures of the icy contestant were taped to the walls, though Naily couldn't help but notice how the papers looked creased and worn-out. There wasn't a whole lot of furniture, but a small dresser covered in cutesy stickers stood against the wall, with more merchandise stacked on top of it, also looking like it's seen better days.
But the most surprising thing of all was the silicone girl who was currently nestled in a pile of fluffy blankets on top of her small bed, shaking like a leaf and looking half-dead. A small gasp escaped Naily as she saw… what was her name again? Ringy? Ringlety? Ring?
…Whatever it was, *she* was currently here. Her former teammate from half a decade ago. Someone who Naily thought she'd never see again. Someone that she has, quite frankly, completely forgotten about.
Naily knew that alongside the eliminated contestants of TPOT, the BFB boots were also welcomed back into the hotel. But still…
Swallowing back the uncanny feeling growing inside of her, Naily stepped into the room (still dragging her dessert-filled bag with her) and closed the door behind her. She opened her mouth, intending to demand some sort of explanation on what was happening before swiftly shutting it as she properly saw the state of her former teammate for the first time.
The silicone contestant looked utterly lethargic. Her eyes were half-lidded with a dull look to them, as if she hadn't even noticed that Naily had joined her in the bedroom. Despite the mountain of blankets she currently had on top she still trembled like they were in the middle of a raging blizzard.
"Geez, girl!" Naily bluntly exclaimed. "Did Four have you trapped in a dumpster for years? You look horrible."
For a long moment, the cyan girl didn't reply. Naily was beginning to think she was actually dead before she sluggishly turned her head.
"No…" She finally croaked out, voice weak and raspy. "Th… the storm.."
Naily blinked in confusion. Storm? She was taken aback for a few seconds, before a small realisation hit her. She had heard tiny snippets from the competing contestants, something about a harsh downpour hitting the Showgrounds before she had been granted freedom. That's probably why Ringy(?) felt so under the weather; she must've caught something nasty from the gale.
"Ooooohhhh…." Naily drawled out, feeling an abrupt pity for the sickly girl. She frowned. "Guess life hasn't been treating you too great, huh?"
Her former teammate didn't respond, aside from the bout of dry coughing that escaped her.
Naily was silent for an awkward moment, her gaze drifting to the floor. She wasn't sure what to do. It felt so weird being around this girl, like a ghost from the past has suddenly made its way back to the surface after everyone had moved on. Heck, Naily could barely even remember her name! Or anything else about her, for that matter.
Naily heard the cyan contestant sneeze, followed by a few sniffles and then a faint whimpering sound. She felt her heart clench. Ugh, she couldn't just leave her like this, she was clearly miserable.
Naily shifted her feet, desperately searching her brain for any ideas before she suddenly felt the plastic handle of her bag tug at her ankle, as if trying to remind Naily it was still there. A jolt went through her as she realised that all of the ice cream had definitely melted by now.
"Oh- crud…" Naily muttered to herself, already dreading the dripping mess she would inevitably find inside of the containers. She hastily raced for the exit, before skidding to a halt.
She turned towards the bed, blurting out. "Uh... I'll bring back medicine or something! You'll feel better before you know it, Ringy!"
Somewhat satisfied, she reached for the door handle.
"…Bracelety."
"Huh?"
"S'my name."
"Oh… got it!"