Chapter Text
Dandy hopped out of the elevator and waved to the toons who’ve completed a night run. The elevator closed and they were sent back to the rooms. They yawned and intended to go to their room after closing up shop, but spotted someone in the back room next to Dyle’s shop. They turned off the radio, and got up to examine. They spotted Vee hunched over the Swimming Barnaby arcade game in the lobby.
Dandy would’ve gone and joined in, but it was 1:30 A.M.
“Vee? What are you doing up so late?” they asked, catching Vee so off guard she lost the game. “Dan! Don’t sneak up on me like that-!!!” she exclaimed, and leaned against the arcade. “I’m just trying to beat my highscore on Swimming Barnaby. I’m aiming for 999 because I heard Gigi say there was a special ‘win’ screen.” She explained. Dandy tilted their head. “Do you know it's about 1 in the morning???” they asked. Vee nodded. “Yeah, I'm trying to keep myself busy.” she replied. “Why??? Why don’t you just go to sleep?” they asked again. Vee shrugged, then explained, “I don’t really sleep. I mean I could, but it's more convenient to change my batteries when I use too much energy.”
“You don’t SLEEP!?” Dandy exclaimed. Vee nodded. “I did before the shutdown I think. I don't know, it's been a while.” she said so casually. Dandy was completely dumbfounded. Sure they weren't the best sleeper either, as they constantly went for snacks at 2 A.M., but they slept afterwards! This was completely ridiculous. Vee was about to turn back to the game, when Dandy took her arm and started to drag her to the elevator. “How about instead you accompany me to my room! I’d like to kiss my girlfriend goodnight after all!” They cheered.
Right, they were dating now. It still felt so strange, and unfamiliar.
“All right, blossom. Just this once.”
Dandy’s plan was set in motion. As they opened the door to their room, they turned around to kiss Vee. She knelt down and leaned in to the kiss. “All right, I love you. Good night. Sleep well-” she began to get up when Dandy stopped her. “Wait! Could you maybe stay by me until I go to sleep, I’d like to know that you’d be.. uh… nearby…?” they asked cautiously. Vee looked down, and her brow furrowed. From behind her perpetually closed eyes, they could see she was starting to pick up on what they were trying to do. “.. are you trying to use the fact that you’re my partner to coax me into a healthy sleep schedule???” she questioned. Dandy smiled back awkwardly. “Is.. uh… is it working???” they asked in reply.
It indeed worked.
They ended up turned around in dandy’s room with their backs facing each other as Dandy took off their overalls and vee took off her jacket and belts. Dandy had successfully coaxed vee into going to sleep. They got into bed, watching as Vee climbed in next to them. “You’re not gonna get away with this every time, Dan.” She said, and Dandy chuckled. “You know I'll try Cathode.” they replied, and gently leaned into her. Their arms wrapped around her, as if trying to make sure she stayed, and didn't try to leave. Vee cautiously wrapped a hand around them as well. “Are you sure you don’t want to shove a pillow in between us or something? I’m worried I'm going to crush you, and I don't think I'm a very comfortable thing to hug.” Vee asked warily. Dandy shook their head. “No, it's fine. I don’t mind at all.” They said, and gently rested their head against her side. Vee grew a bright green, then lifted her hand to turn off her screen. “All right, goodnight Dandy. I love you.” she remarked. Dandy reached up and kissed the side of her head. “I love you! Good night! Please try and sleep, Vee.” they said.
Vee felt her world grow dim as she turned off automatically. She didn’t even realize how tired she was until she felt the comfort of their large circular bed, and felt their warm embrace.
Vee was walking, holding a heavy and large crate. She heard footsteps in front of her. Before she could look to see who it was, they spoke and answered it for her.
“Vee Version 1, thank you for agreeing to help me today.”
Arthur Walton.
She peaked around the crate and looked at him, then looked around. They were walking in one of the rainbow rooms. The walls were lined with posters, and it looked bright and upbeat. Like Gardenview was still open.
Arthur continued, “I know you’re still a bit mad at me, because this cuts into your show, and I'm sorry about that." Vee’s gaze softened, he’s never sounded this genuine to her before. Arthur opened up one of the side rooms, and the storage closet inside the small room. Vee’s antenna stood on end. The room was already tight and small, the storage closet was even smaller. Arthur gestured to the dark room. “Mind setting the crate in there Vee?” He asked. Vee nodded, and cautiously stepped inside the closet. She hated tight spaces, and wanted to be out as fast as possible. She set down the crate and turned around to walk out.
The door closed on her.
She heard a soft click! That locked the door.
She was locked in.
Vee ran to the door. “Mr. Walton?! MR. WALTON!!! I’m still in here!! Let me out!!” she cried out, banging her fists against the door. The room was only barely illuminated by her screen. Arthur’s voice came from behind the door. ‘I’ve already cancelled your show for this afternoon, and your foreseeable shows of the future. I’m sorry Vee.” His voice sounded so cold and careful, “We’re moving forward with the Vee Version 2 project whether you like it or not.” Vee felt her fans pick up speed, as if she was hyperventilating. “No.. no no no! Don’t lock me in here! Please! I don’t want to be locked away! I don't want to be REPLACED!!” she pleaded, banging her fists against the door.
“Don’t you worry Vee, you won't be here for long. or you won’t have to endure being awake here for long, I should say… Just until your battery dies. Then you’ll be peacefully asleep.”
Arthur’s voice never sounded so cruel.
“PLEASE!!! PLEASE I DON’T WANT THIS!!! I can still work! I can still perform!! PLEASE I CAN STILL DO THINGS!!! I’m not BROKEN!!!”
She pleaded, and tried to slam her body against the door. The walls felt like they were closing in around her. It was suffocating.
“You’re a CRT Vee, We’re moving forward with a different television. One that can do more than you. It was always inevitable, that's why we named you that way,”
“Version 1.”
Vee was sobbing at this point, Arthur wasn’t listening to her cries. She was struggling to stand, and struggling to comprehend the room. She felt so much emotion burning in her chest. She hated it. She had to call out to someone, anyone.
She cried out, “SHELLY?! SHELLY!!!”
Arthur replied, “She’s at a meet and greet in the lobby, I'm afraid she can’t hear you.”
Vee called again, “SPROUT!? SPROUT PLEASE!!!”
Arthur responded to her pleas, “He’s too busy baking with Cosmo, I'm afraid he won’t hear your calls either.”
Vee pleaded, slowly sinking to her knees, “ASTRO!? Astro come on… please!”
Arthur again spoke, “He doesn’t have the courage to interfere even if he wanted to.”
Vee cried out, “MUM!!! VERONICA!!! ANYONE!?” crying out for the people who cared.
Arthur simply responded, “I’m afraid the decision has been made, there's no way either can interfere now. They’re occupied with building Version 2.”
Vee’s voice was breaking, she was breaking, and she rested her head against the door, “D… Dandy..! Please be there… Dandy…”
She heard Arthur laugh from behind the door. “Oh Vee, he won’t help, even if he hears you.” his voice came cold, uncanny, and unlike him, “You and him were written to be rivals, enemies, nemeses. He won't help you.”
“Rest now, Version 1, you’ve played your part in Gardenview well.”
“Its time to shut down.”
Vee completely broke and crumpled to the ground, sobbing and weeping. She hated it, she hated feeling like this. She despised how small the room was. She despised that after hearing Arthur’s footsteps fade away, she was alone. In her crying she tried to call for anyone, but felt only thick static exit her speakers.
Nobody came.
She was alone. Forgotten. Disposed of.
She was worthless old tech.
Suddenly she was forcefully powered on, and she sat up. Accidentally headbutting Dandy in the face. They yelped in pain and fell back. Vee shook out her head, her hands dug into the sheets like she was hanging on for dear life. Dandy rubbed their forehead, and quickly went to reassure her, “Whoah whoah! Vee! It’s okay! It was an accident! You’re awake, cathode!” they said and placed a hand on her shoulder. Vee’s wide and teary eyes began to soften as her fans began to slow down. “Sorry about that… This is why I don't like to sleep. I always have bad dreams” She groaned and looked at them. “ I didn’t.. Wake you, did I, Dan?” she asked, her voice sounded heavy with static, which was the equivalent to a voice crack for her at the moment. Dandy said, “It doesn’t matter. Are you all right? You sort of started to twitch in your sleep. Your screen actually turned on, and I thought you woke up! It wasn’t until I shook you and realized you were dreaming.”
Vee began to lay back down. “I’m fine now, don’t worry about it.” she said bluntly. Dandy cautiously lay atop her chest, and wrapped their arms around her. Vee rested her arms on their back, carefully hugging them. “Are you sure? You looked like you were having a nightmare!” they remarked. Vee’s antenna pinned back. “It’s really nothing, it’s just… Well, I don't really like small and tight spaces. Like.. closets. It’s why I can't have a ‘walk-in’ closet. It makes me nervous.” she began to explain, “And in the dream I kind of got… locked in a closet? It’s dumb I know, what a stupid thing to cry over.” Dandy gazed at her with a soft expression and gently held her tighter. “Oh Vee! I'm sorry you had to endure that! That must've been terrifying for you! It’s not dumb!” they gently bumped their head against her screen. “It's not stupid, come on, the dream obviously shook you up. You were crying and hyperventilating in your sleep!” They comforted her. Vee relaxed a bit, she didn't even notice how tense she was.
Dandy softly looked at her. “... Was that everything that happened, or did something else happen?” They inquired. Vee went quiet. “Vee, I know you’ve been dealing with a lot before and after the shutdown. Did something else happen that you’d like to talk about?” They softly placed their hand on hers. Vee clenched their hand tightly. “..A… Mr. Walton was there… He… He…” she seemed to be struggling to get the words out. Dandy softly asked, “Was he the one who locked you in the closet?” Vee nodded shakily. Dandy further questioned, “Did it have something to do with the... Version 2 project…?” Vee nodded again.
Dandy rested their head on her chest again, hugging her tighter. “Oh Vee… I’m sorry.” They continued to try and comfort her. Vee sighed. “It's fine… it just feels so stupid to still be crying over it. Gardenview’s been shut down for years. Mr. Walton’s obviously not coming back, I don't know why it still bothers me after years.” She remarked. Dandy placed their hand on her screen. “No, shut up, it's not stupid. It obviously messed you up. It's not wrong to be bothered by it. I mean, it was a planned replacement! Why would that not bother you!?” They reasoned. Vee protested, “Its been years-”
Dandy shushed her again, and said, “You didn’t say that when Bassie’s ordeal was brought to light, do you remember what you said to her when you found out?” Vee took a moment to remember, and replied, “I… I told her that she shouldn’t have this define her… since it was in the past…” Dandy nodded, “And?” they asked to coax her into thinking about what she said. Vee continued, “And… I can understand why it was so scary for her… and she had… every right to be... bothered by it…” The gears started turning in her head, both literally and figuratively. Dandy nodded, “And why’s that?” Vee blinked, then said, “Because no one wants to feel like they're not good enough.” Dandy softly nodded. “See? You understand that logic, but you can’t apply it to yourself until someone else points it out.”
Vee leaned back into the pillows. “You’re right… Geez, I'm a mess..” she remarked. Dandy gently kissed her screen. “I’m also a mess, let's be messes together.” they said, their voice held gentle joy. Vee chuckled softly. “Oh how’d I end up with you, Dan?” She asked with a tease in her voice. Dandy laughed a bit and replied, “No clue, cathode, I could ask you the same thing.”
They lay softly in silence for a bit, until dandy spoke up again,
“Vee?”
“Yeah Dan?”
“I want you to know that you’re an incredible toon, you’re so much more than meets the eye, and i love you for that. You're perfect for your job, I'm sorry papa didn’t see that back then.”
Their words made Vee feel warm inside, she bumped her screen against their face again again.
“Thanks Dan, That means a lot to me. Gosh, this is why I love you so much.”