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"Okay, yeah, haunting the teapot might have not been the best idea, but it was funny!" Connie pointed out.
Connie was currently sat in the diner with Teagan, Sprout, Shelly, Astro, and Vee. Razzle and Dazzle were in the kitchen with Cosmo, working on fixing some of the... more chaotic things Connie did. And, while she didn't know this, Tisha was in Teagan's room, cleaning up the mess she made. Connie really shouldn't be super proud of what she did, but that didn't register to her. What registered to Connie was that she had fun during Teagan's tea party. And, well, Gigi got a real good laugh out of it, so she'd say it was a win. Maybe not the rest of the toons here, but whatever.
"Connie," Sprout was displeased, his voice strict, "Do you have any idea how much chaos you caused?"
Connie rolled her eyes, "It was just a little bit."
"I would not have called that 'a little'," Teagan points out.
Astro nods, "It was very loud there."
"Okay, more than a little bit," Connie chuckled, "But it was very fun."
To this, everyone else groaned, Sprout speaking, "You were the only one having fun."
"HEY! I thought it was funny as well!" Gigi popped up from behind the seat Connie was in, revealing she had been listening in the entire time.
"One of two toons having fun," Sprout corrected, not even batting an eye, "You can't be doing that."
"We don't exactly want to do this, but it's best if we give you a punishment," Shelly admitted.
Astro nodded to that, "We've decided it's best to leave you under watch for a day."
"Who's gonna watch me?" Connie asked, and rhetorically adds, "Gigi?"
"Me," Vee answered bluntly.
Connie rolled her eyes, "Alright, so you're gonna follow me around for a day."
"No," Vee's voice was flat, her eyes staring deep into Connie, "You're going to be following me. I will be timing it. 24 hours."
"When does the timer start?" Connie asked.
Vee's face remained neutral, "Once this meeting is over."
"We hope this lets you think over the problems with what you did," Sprout admitted.
"And no more tea parties," Teagan added on, "I don't think Dazzle would ever want to see you at one again."
Connie waved them off, "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
Everyone got up, and went in different directions. Teagan and Sprout went to the kitchen, checking in on the twins and Cosmo. Shelly and Astro both left to go off to do their own things, leaving Connie and Vee. Vee started a 24-hour timer on her screen, placing it in the top left corner. Connie knew what it meant. She wasn't to leave Vee's side until that timer hit zero. Oh well, it would just be a boring day. But, she could use this for info on when Vee was frequently in and out of her room so she could steal things. Gigi would love that information as well, and Connie knew it.
The rest of the day was rather boring. Vee did maintenance things around her floor, having Connie help out where she could. Other than that, it really was just watching. No wonder Vee's floor was so nice and clean. Connie wouldn't be surprised if this is what she did in her room as well. They only really left once outside of dinner, which was to bust Gigi for trying to steal things. Connie gave Gigi a sympathetic look, but still had to come along to bust her girlfriend. Vee was cold the entire time, like it didn't matter at all to her.
That night, Connie had to sleep in Vee's room. Well, she would have, but Vee had more things she had to maintain on her floor, and by the time they were done, lights were out for the night. Fortunately, there was a space that they could use as a temporary room, where they would be sleeping. It was a small room backstage, one of those rooms you'd use when you're getting ready for a show. A few sets of couches were on one side, where Connie would be sleeping tonight. A shirt was flung over the back of one of these couches.
"I'm not putting myself into sleep mode until you're asleep," Vee said, not a hint of emotion in her voice.
Connie nodded, "Alright."
Laying down on the couch with the shirt slung over it, Connie tried to rest. But something was wrong. Not just wrong, but really, really wrong. Maybe it was because she was used to cuddling Gigi every night, snuggling her face into the wool sweater Gigi wears. The feeling of her warm arms, one of her hands cascading through Connie's hair. It was really the only time Gigi didn't have her hand in her giant sleeves. Feeling the slight shifts from the way Gigi breathed in and out. An environment where Connie knew she was truly safe.
Laying on this random couch, it really wasn't the same. The best she could do to recreate the environment she was so used to was to snuggle herself against the cotton shirt flung over the back of the couch. But not even that was the same. It felt different. It was different. Nothing felt the same, and she missed it so much already. She had already been missing hanging out with Gigi, but this, this was a whole another level of missing her. Connie wanted her so badly, she wanted Gigi's arms wrapped around her. Connie's tail twitched anxiously, wishing for nothing more than Gigi.
"Are you going to go to sleep or what?" Vee asked, slightly annoyed, "You've been laying there for 20 minutes."
"I'm trying," Connie mumbled, face still in the shirt.
Vee blinked, "Do you usually have sleeping problems? Do I need to bring this up to someone?"
"No!" Connie bothered to look at Vee, who was just sitting on the smaller chair next to the couch, "Don't worry about it."
Vee gave Connie a good look, "You're under my watch, and therefore, my care. I will make sure you get the rest you need."
"And I said you don't need to worry about it. I'm fine," Connie replied, not wanting to admit just how much she wanted her girlfriend. How much she needed her.
Vee seemed to recognize the behavior Connie was showing, "I won't tell anyone. I promise."
"And how should I trust you on that?" Connie was getting more defensive, "We rarely hang out."
"I know secrets I haven't told a toon. And no, you don't get to know them," Vee replied.
Connie bit the inside of her cheek, looking away from Vee, "Don't worry about it."
"Do you want anything to help you?" Vee asked, seeing that trying to get Connie to trust her wasn't working.
Connie seemed to freeze at that, gears turning in her head, but unsure on if she wanted to speak or not, "I..."
"I won't judge," Vee promised, even though she's not even sure if Connie will believe her, "You can tell me whatever you want."
"...Gigi. I want Gigi," Connie whispered, clutching the shirt, unsure if Vee even heard her.
Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, Vee heard Connie, "You want Gigi?"
"Yeah," Connie's voice was quiet, afraid to admit this, "I want... I want her, she, she usually cuddles me every night."
"Alright then. Let me see what I can do," Vee replied, getting up, "Stay put for a few minutes, will you?"
Connie nodded, laying on the couch. She watched Vee get up and walk out of the room, and Connie wondered where Vee was headed. She didn't care enough to stalk her, though. Vee, meanwhile, walked over to a small room, one where Veronica used to hang out all the time. One of the many functions Vee had was an ability to call anyone, especially since most everyone had phones, even if they were flip phones. Including, of course, Gigi. Punching in Gigi's phone number, vibrations wracked through Vee's body until Gigi picked up.
"Heeeyy Vee, how's Connie?" Gigi asked, not even bothering to see how Vee was doing.
To that, Vee sighed, "She's struggling to sleep. I was-"
"She is?!" Gigi replied with concern, cutting Vee off, "Do you need me to come to your room?"
Vee shook her head, even though Gigi couldn't see, "I was thinking of us coming to your room, actually."
"Oooh, yeah that's fine, girl! I'ma finish my race while you guys come on down, coolio?" Gigi confirmed.
"That's fine," Vee replied, "It might take a couple minutes to come down, but we'll be there quickly."
Gigi hung up, and Vee walked back into the room Connie was left in. She stayed put, laying there and staring at the back of the couch. Vee replicated the noise of clearing her throat, and Connie looked at her. Vee gestured for Connie to get up, in which she did, and looked at Vee curiously.
"Where are we going?" Connie asked.
Vee smiled, "You'll see."
Following Vee, at first, Connie was unsure of where the two were going. That was, until Connie saw what floor they had dropped down to. One of the many floors with toon rooms, of course, but this specific one Connie knew very well. That was because this was the very floor Gigi's room was on. And, technically, Connie's as well, but Connie never really used her room. Connie looked down at Vee, wondering if Vee was taking her exactly where she hoped they were going.
Reaching Gigi's door, Vee knocked, and Connie's tail twitched in excitement. Gigi opened the door, already in the usual hoodie she slept in. It was like her regular blue one, but all gray. It, like many other things, was created for a special series of episodes in the old cartoon style. Gigi now used it to sleep in, finding it comfortable to sleep in but not something she'd bother wearing out anyways. A smile was already on her face, but it widened as soon as Connie hugged her and snuggled her face into the sweater she was wearing.
Entering her room, Vee noticed the two bean bags on either side of Gigi's bed, one pink and one blue. Of course, Vee could guess who used to sleep in each bean bag, but Connie had stopped using hers, and Flutter seemed to not be in the room. Gigi and Connie laid down in the former's bed, and Vee took a seat in the blue bean bag. She was curious about one thing, but figured now probably wasn't the best time to ask. Once Connie was fast asleep, Vee put herself into sleep mode, letting the night pass by.
"She wasn't in her room or on her floor," Sprout pulled at one of his leaves, pacing back and forth, "Where could they be?"
Astro hummed, "She's been watching Connie, and she can get very dedicated to a task, can't she?"
"Yeah, she can, but that doesn't explain how she seemingly disappeared!" Sprout used his other hand to gesture wildly.
"Maybe she's just somewhere else!" Shelly suggested, "But I don't know where."
Astro seemed to be deep in thought, before he finally spoke, "I think I might have one idea, considering she's been watching Connie. Do you mind if I go check?"
"Please do," Sprout practically begged, "She can't, can't just up and vanish!"
Astro left Sprout and Shelly, walking down to Gigi's room. Astro was very aware of the fact Gigi and Connie cuddle every night, and wouldn't be surprised if, somehow, Vee and Connie ended up in Gigi's room. Of course, Sprout and Shelly wouldn't know this, especially Sprout, and Astro figured it was best if he checked. When he got to Gigi's room, he heard Vee, sounding very annoyed. Astro only lightly chuckled to himself before knocking on the door.
"Come in!" Vee yelled.
Astro opened the door to quite the scene. Vee was standing over Gigi's bed, practically pulling Connie. Connie was being bratty, and clinging herself even tighter to Gigi. Gigi was looking very grumpy, but Astro wasn't sure if it was because of the noise or the fact she was practically being shaken. Either way, all three of them looked displeased with the situation at hand. Astro only rolled his eye, seeing that everything really was fine.
"Connie's not much of a morning toon," Astro spoke, "I don't think she wants to be up."
Vee only looked more annoyed, "And I'm watching her, she's coming with me wherever I go."
"And you decided to come here?" Astro asked, seeing there was a discrepancy in Vee's words.
"That was different," Vee bit back, "Don't worry about it."
Astro hummed, seeing it was one of those things, "I see. I doubt Connie's going to cooperate this morning, though."
"No duh, she's not cooperating right now," Vee rolled her eyes, before giving Connie a really good tug.
"Stooooooppp..." Connie whined, immediately adjusting herself back to Gigi's side.
"She's been like this the entire time," Vee replied, "I've been at this for 10 minutes."
Astro nodded, "Let me help."
Using his magic stars, Astro gently pried Connie off of Gigi, doing it slowly but surely. It wasn't rough or sudden, nor was it rude. It was calm, and eventually, the two non-mains were separated. Once they were, Vee grabbed Connie, not letting the ghost go back to Gigi. Connie started thrashing in Vee's arms, really showing just how much she disliked the mornings. Vee was practically fighting her as she left Gigi's room. Astro gently closed the door behind the three of them, walking to the kitchen.
"Just... HOW MUCH... do you- ah- DISLIKE the mornings?!" Vee held Connie tightly, struggling to keep a hold on the ghost.
Astro walked gently next to them, "She's usually up about an hour and a half later, Vee."
"Of- ah-" Vee tightened her grip on Connie, "Of course."
Once the three got to the kitchen, Sprout saw them and breathed a sigh of relief. Taking a good look at the three, he noticed just how much Vee was struggling with Connie, the timer in the corner of her head saying there was still a solid 8 hours left. Sprout shook his head, walking over to see if there was a way he could help.
"Anything I can do about her?" Sprout asked.
Vee shook her head, "If I- ah- let go then she's going to g- STOP! Go back to Gigi's room."
"Then maybe let her?" Sprout suggested, "She may be on watch, but I think this is a bit much."
"If she's- ah, my GOD CONNIE! If she's on watch then I'm going to watch her!" Vee replied, annoyance dripping in every word.
Sprout blinked, "I see."
The rest of the day went better than the morning, once Connie had calmed down, stopped thrashing about, and could be trusted to not be in Vee's grasp. And, once that timer was up, Connie went right back to Gigi, happy as could be. Maybe she did learn her lesson, maybe she didn't. Fortunately, there wasn't much to worry about at this point.