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DING DONG
THUD!
“... I really question his decisions, you know? it doesn't benefit anyone in any sort of way!”
“Yeah… I hope he knows what he’s doing… maybe he has plans for it to be better! We just have to hope for now, Sprout...”
“Whine…”
“Astro, I don’t know why you think Dandicus could possibly have good intentions with that new decision.”
“...Sorry, you're probably right Vee.”
“...I’ll start prepping for the changes.”
“Bark bark!”
“Oh that's right, I still need to make lunch for everyone!”
“...”
It was the end of a short mains run. Not a single scratch on any of the main toons who came out. Though Dandy had imposed some changes he wanted and the mains were testing them. No one liked it Sprout had gone off into the kitchen to make food for all the toons, Astro slowly walked off to his room to most likely get a nap, Pebble went off to find and beg Dandy to play fetch probably, and Vee decided to get some of Dandy’s tasks done early. Shelly didn’t really have much to do. She was going to find Tisha, but who knows where she is. Tisha is always trying to clean one mess after another. For all she knows Tisha could be with Sprout cleaning his and Cosmo’s mess… again.
“I guess I’ll just go to Tisha’s room and see if she’s there,” she thought, “Passing by the kitchen for lunch soon would be nice too”
The elevator wasn’t being used since everyone had already left to do their duties. Shelly stepped inside to go to the safer, higher floors, specifically one of the toon rooms.
Click
Thud!
“Even after the show ended, I’m not exactly the toon anyone would want to talk to…” the thought suddenly raced into her mind. “No no Shelly, don't think like that! I can always still support them!” Shelly had to interject her own thoughts, she always seemed to find optimism in everything.
Ding Dong!
Before she could think more on the subject of her own likeness, she arrived on toon rooms 1B, where Tisha’s room was located. She stepped out of the elevator, where she could hear the elevator close behind her.
Thud!
Gosh, Shelly was starting to get tired of elevators today. The repetitive clashing of it opening and closing started to get on her nerves, yet it was barely the afternoon. She decided to go straight to Tisha’s room, to hopefully, A) recite dinosaur facts, or B) take a nice nap like Astro always did. She peeked in the room, hoping not to disturb anything, however, not to the surprise of Shelly, Tisha wasn’t in her room. It was a very neat room unlike Gigi’s room. The messiest thing there was Shelly’s sleeping bag in the corner of the room. Shelly always tried to keep it as tidy as she could. It was the least she could do after all the Main rooms got overtaken by twisteds!
“I don’t think I got enough rest last night… yawn” she said.
That’s right, she stayed up late last night to see if there were any fossils left she could salvage in her room. Sadly, there weren't many, even with all the danger it took to even get there. She cleaned most of the fossils she did salvage, however, for Tisha. “I think napping sounds good for me right now” Shelly said to herself. She got comfy in her sleeping, or on her sleeping bag.
Knock knock!
“Shelly, I can see you sleeping. You haven’t grabbed lunch!” Tisha called out.
“Huh.?... wha- tisha what could possibly be the time…”
“Sprout is already talking about what he should make for dinner.”
“AH DINO POOP THAT IS LATE!”
——————————-~> POV switch: 3rd person → Shelly <~-———————————
I just wanted some rest. I guess I was so tired that I didn’t realize the time! “Tisha! Why didn't you warn me earlier..!” I honestly probably already knew why.
“I was busy cleaning up after everyone! Then I realized your usual mess wasn’t there… so, I got worried and came over here.”
Yeah, just as expected. The last thing in her post-lunch routine made her realize.
“Well I can’t exactly stay on an empty stomach all day! I’m going to bolt down there like a Gallimimus despite it probably being cold already…”
“Yeah well don’t make too much of a mess, I am not cleaning the dinner more than necessary. I should really ask Sprout to clean up his own kitchen more often…”
“Will do!” I rushed out the door without organizing my corner much. Oof, Tisha will have something to say about that later. Right, my main priority is getting food. I headed for the elevator. I saw Toodles and Rodger in the elevator. I headed inside the elevator to join them, “Hey Rodger!”
“Oh Miss Fossilian, hello!”
“I didn’t expect you to be going down the elevator at this time, can I ask why?”
“Ah, well Teagan promised to take care of Toodles while I go do a solo run. So, I’m dropping Toodles off at the diner where Teagan is going to meet with us.”
“OH-! Are you sure going down solo is the way to go? I don’t want Dandy charging everyone double ichor again… I can go with you to-”
“No worries about me Fossilian, I’ve learned to be careful in these circumstances”
“Ah right! It’s been about a year…” I really didn’t want to be reminded how long it's been since I’ve last seen the children. They always seemed so happy to come by, even if it wasn’t directed towards me. Maybe if we wait long enough, Gardenview will open up again! I know that’s a lie but being all gloomy and stuff isn’t the way to go. I can hear Toodles ask,
“Rodger, how long will you be gone again?”
“Only about an hour.”
“UGH, THATS LIKE FOREVERRRRR… Can’t I go on one of your big investigations soon???”
“This one will be dangerous Toodles, this investigation will be fairly ‘scary’”
“But I can handle it..!”
“Even when there might be a Twisted Pebble there?”
“Uh, but but-!”
“No ifs or buts about it”
The elevator opened afterwards. I could see Teagan waiting nearby the elevator in a seat at the diner. Toodles flew right by me to go say hi to Teagan.
“Shelly, do you need to go to a different floor?”
“No no! This was the floor I needed to be on anyways.”
“Ah alrighty. say would you be willing to partake in an interview later today?”
“Me?!- YES I WOULD!”
“Alright, after dinner would be a good time.”
“OK OK! Bye Rodger, good luck!”
“See you soon Shelly!”
Yay! That was something I could look forward to today! Though I don’t like Rodger’s questions all that much… BUT! It gives me an opportunity to talk with someone genuinely other than Tisha.
Stomach growl…
I should really hurry to the kitchen to grab lunch… I’m pretty hungry. I kinda skipped to the kitchen part of the diner in a small rush. I’m honestly praying that Sprout won’t say anything about my late lunch. He seems to worry a lo-”
“SHELLY!”
Great, I was never going to hear the end of it… Oh well! I guess taking a nap was a bad idea.
“WHY DIDN’T YOU GRAB LUNCH EARLIER?!?!”
“I overslept my nap Sprout. Don’t blame me for wanting to sleep!”
“I just- sigh” I can practically see him face palming in disappointment right now.
“Somehow Astro got his lunch earlier than you… you can’t just neglect food! Next time, please make sure you get food earlier… It's better for you.”
“Alright Sprout, I’ll try.” Taking note of that, I’m probably going to forget sometime soon though…
“Good, now I’ve been trying to keep your food warm, but it's going to be a little cold because of how LONG it took for you to get here.”
“Mhm got it!”
Sprout gave me the bag for lunch, it seemed to be an… egg sandwich? Dyle must've recently brought in new cooking supplies for the bakers. Speaking of which, I don't think I remember them ever cooking instead of baking. I was honestly expecting a huge loaf of bread as per usual. A change to the typical food honestly, is nice!
“Ok now I have to do this, blah blah…” Sprout started rambling to himself after that.
I walked out into the dining section of the room to find a small table to sit at since the room was already pretty empty. There was a table left from the kitchen that seemed nice to sit at today.
Clink clank clink clank clink clank…
Is that Vee? I almost never see her on this floor since she doesn’t need to eat.
Hummmmm… clink clank clink
Yeah, I can hear her recognizable soft mechanical whirring. I take a look around and see she has a ton of boxes by the elevator “ohhh supply duty” I mutter to myself. I try to finish my food as fast as I can, so I can leave. Honestly, I don’t want to get in Vee’s way too much. She never seems to catch a break with tasks after Dandy’s whole ordeal with the shutdown. Clink She was never one for small talk either, and me being in the elevator with her would just be Clank awkward haha… I’ve tried talking with her but she doesn’t seem Clink to take kindly to it..! It’s ok, she’s already super busy so talking would just slow her down. Clank
“Hey Shelly.”
“OH-! Hey Vee! You’re talking to me right?”
“Yeah, no one else here is named Shelly.”
“Haha… True!”
“Anyways, would you mind helping me move supplies around?”
“Uh, yeah sure! Just let me quickly finish my lunch first.”
“Ok.”
Vee always asks me for help when I’m around. Another reason why I wanted to get out quick but whatever! I don’t think she really wants me to help? She probably pitties me or something like that… but honestly it doesn’t matter much because I think I at least help somewhat? I still have to gulp down this lunch. Which I did, though it's kinda messy. Sorry Tisha! I kinda am in a hurry to meet up with Vee after this though!