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Scraps scribbled away on her paper while Goob stared at the ceiling endlessly. They were both so incredibly bored! Goob simply listened to the sounds of Scraps' crayons scraping against the paper and the fan above him. Woosh, woosh, woosh it went. He was starting to get a little dizzy from it, but didn't really have much better to do. Scraps had been trying to get the eye right on one of the characters that she was drawing--one that she made up from the boredom, an OC--but she kept messing it up. "Stupid claws," Scraps hissed under her breath. "They're always getting in the way. I usually don't mess up this much!"
"Yeah! Mine do, too!" Goob chimed in. He had awfully good hearing for a guy who didn't even look like he was aware he existed. "My arms are also sorta wonky sometimes. They can be annoying... But they're good for hugging with!"
"OH! Right. I keep forgetting that you could practically hear a pin drop in a loud room." Scraps commented, her ears flattening from the slight embarrassment. "But, I guess we're in it together right?"
Goob nodded, moving his gaze from the wooshing fan above him and toward his sister. His eyes were more cross-eyed than usual from staring at the fan for so long. "Maybe we could make a craft together!" He suggested.
"But, Goob, we've already done that so many times! Surely there must be something else that we both can do?" Scraps dropped her pencil and brought a claw to her chin, looking up at the ceiling as she tried to think of something. Suddenly, Goob's eyes lit up, "Wait! I know! I know!! I just thought of something!!!"
"Yeah? What is it, Goob?"
"Sooo... y'know how the Easter toons will be coming back soon?--Eek, I'm really excited for that! Eggson always likes to tell me funny stories!" Goob giggled, covering his mouth with his paw as he tried to restrain his laugh.
"Yeeesss?" Scraps was intrigued and had been brought out of her thinking-daze, her full attention focused on Goob now. She wanted to hear his idea, and his mention of the Easter toons had strengthened her curiosity.
"Well, I had a thought that... maybe, just maybe, we could help make the decorations for Easter together? It could also be, like, a surprise! Y'know, for the Easter toons!" Goob chirped, fiddling with his fingers. "That'd be cool!, don't you think?"
"Goob..." Scraps muttered. Goob's eyes drooped--He thought that she didn't like the idea. But then she added, "...I love that idea! It'll be so much fun!! C'mon, let's go! We can ask Arthur and Delilah if we can help or not!"
Goob smiled at his sister and trailed after her as she ran for Arthur and Delilah's office.
~
Scraps and Goob were so happy they could've exploded! Arthur and Delilah agreed! They even got the craft siblings some paint and specific items to work on! "Make sure the decorations are finished before the Easter toons come, you two." Delilah had warned them. "Get them done as soon as possible."
Goob had nodded eagerly to her warning despite her threatening tone. He was pretty oblivious to Delilah's hostility, unlike his unfortunate sister. Scraps got anxious as Delilah was telling them what to do and how to decorate them, because she was being so serious to them. She was so glad once Delilah let them go.
"Goob, didn't you notice how.... aggressive Delilah was being while we talked to her? I don't think she likes us that much..." Scraps asked of her brother as she squinted her eyes, trying to get as straight of a line possible on one of the decorations she was painting. They'd been ordered to paint cardboard cut-outs of the Easter toons, and luckily for them, Arthur had provided the two with reference sheets of the Easter cast, since the last time they saw them was a year ago. Scraps had decided to paint Cocoa first, since she was her favorite out of all four of them. "But I still can't wait to see them again! It'll be so fun."
"Huh? Maybe that's just you. I didn't notice anything," Goob replied as he tried to mix up the correct color for Flyte's coat. It wasn't going too well for him, so Scraps had to help him with it. "But, yeah! I like the Easter toons a lot. Except for Bassie, maybe, since she sort of... doesn't interact. But I think the Christmas ones are my favorite! Everybody's so much jollier when it's Christmas!!"
"Mhm... I agree with the Bassie part, 'lil bro. I don't know why she's always so stand-offish... Maybe it's just her nature. Have you noticed that she seems to be grumpier around Cocoa?" Scraps asked as she went back to her own cut-out, allowing Goob to continue painting Flyte's one.
"Oh, really? Hmm... I think so? But, who knows? I don't think it'd be nice of us to directly ask Bassie like that."
"Yup, I agree. Have you ever noticed how much of an emphasis Bassie puts on her being a main? I think she's worried the title will get stolen from her!"
"Ouh... Well, now that you mention it, yeah! Jee whiz, Scraps, you're quite the observer!" Goob chuckled.
"Hehe, thanks! But, yeah... It's sort of sad, but, I don't think that we can do anything about it. I don't know if Bassie knows that the side characters--like us--even exist!"
"Hmm..." Goob scratched his head. "Maybe..? I hope she does! I think she might just need a hug!!"
Goob and Scraps continued to have a rather long conversation with each other, discussing lots of things, but usually something about the Easter toons or the Easter event. After a few hours, the two had finished their cut-outs, and moved onto the next decorations. They continued this all the way until 11:30pm, and by then, they knew that they'd be toast if Delilah caught them up so late! They were supposed to be asleep hours ago. Scraps yawned and placed her decoration aside, wiping off as much paint as she could before leaping into her bed and turning off her lamp. "Cmon, Goob. I'm tired, and we got a long day ahead of us tomorrow!"
"You're right," Goob muttered. He, too, yawned from the tiredness. He wasn't even sure if he'd been up this late in his entire Toon life! He grabbed his own decoration, a streamer, and went into his bed. Goob turned off his lamp and the two had a peaceful, well-needed sleep.
~
The sun cracked through the craft siblings' door as they arose. Scraps stretched and went to go get some breakfast first. She decided to let Goob sleep in, since he just looked so at-peace. She continued to walk down the hallway and got some cereal--Frosted Flakes, her favorite! She got some milk, too, and filled the bowl up to the brim with her beloved Frosty Flakes before pouring in the milk. Scraps also got another bowl and two spoons--The bowl was for Goob once he woke up. She placed the second spoon by Goob's bowl and used the first spoon to eat her cereal. Just then, halfway through her cereal bowl, she noticed the sound of someone. Goob had finally woken up--30 minutes after Scraps, at 8:30am. He yawned, visibly tired, but went to go get his Cocoa Puffs cereal. This time, however, he also got some Fruit Loops and mixed them into the bowl before pouring his milk. He got a glass of orange juice and had it with his breakfast.
"You must be really sleepy, huh?" Scraps teased. "But that does look delicious... is it?" She motioned toward his bowl.
"Yup!! You should try it, I use this combo when I need an extra boost of energy!! Trust me, it's really good!" He replied through mouthfuls of cereal.
"Hmm... I will!!" Scraps cheerily answered.
They continued lightly chatting until they each finished their breakfast. Once the siblings had placed their bowls in the sink, they rushed back to their room and got started on their work.
~
It was time. Many of the toons, from Common to Main, had gathered around in the main lobby area of Gardenview to see the Easter toons get released. Everybody was very excited--Particularly Scraps, Goob, Flutter, and 1-2 others. Everybody had woken up rather early for this--6am--But it was worth it! The tension built up as the door began to creak open, and just as they were about to welcome the Easter toons...
"Hey, guys. I know that you're all very excited to see the Easter buddies again, but we're having some... err, technical difficulties." Instead of the Easter toons they'd expected, Arthur had peeked out of the room. "Sorry, guys! We don't know how long it'll take, so sit tight!"
The entire crowd of toons groaned. They waked up early for nothing? With nothing else to do, they decided to just hang out and talk to each other. After all, what else was there to do at the current moment? Vee lightly made fun of Sprout, or 'Seedly', as she called him. Shelly was talking with Tisha, Brusha was in a corner and all by herself (like the little emo Toon she is), Astro was chatting with Dandy, etc etc. Scraps and Goob were having a conversation with Poppy and Boxten. The four were making theories about what had happened, and why the Easter toons were late.
"I think that they're getting a new outfit! Poppy suggested.
"W-well, sure! I mean, it's happened before, but this time feels off." Boxten commented.
"I agree with him. I do think this time it just feels... weird. I think that something's happening that Arthur isn't telling us about." Scraps supported Boxten's view. Goob simply nodded--He didn't know what to say exactly, but was in agreement with his sister.
But then, he had a theory of his own. "Maybe it's both! I think they could be getting new outfits, and that something else is also happening behind the scenes. We could ask the Toons once they come out!" Goob gleamed. Everybody, while waiting, seemed a little off. As if they could sense it too. "I'll go ask some of the others what they think. Maybe it's not just us!" Goob trotted off to go and question the other Toons. Scraps kept an eye on him as she continued to talk with Poppy and Boxten, coming up with other theories too.
They were all oblivious.
~
"Hey! Everybody! They're here!" Arthur announced after they'd waited for 45 minutes. It certainly felt like more than that amount of time, though. Arthur's voice seemed as if he were faking it to be that happy, though. He slowly backed away from the door, and out emerged, finally, the Easter toons! They had on nice, customized outfits. Something new, instead of their usual ones!
"He... Hello, everybody..!" Bassie's voice was barely a murmur as she spoke to the crowd of awaiting toons. They cheered for the arrival of the Easter toons, of course, but something about how stiff she (and the other Easter toons) were made the regular Toons suspicious.
"Heya!" Cocoa seemed cheery as usual, even if just a bit off. She looked like she'd been given something to keep her mouth shut about whatever had actually happened back there.
"Hi, guys!" Flyte spoke. His wings flapped--Flyte looked... cheery enough.
"Oh, howdy, fellow Toons!" Eggson croaked. He seemed fine as usual, just a little less energetic. He appeared to be the least, well, 'affected' out of all of them.
The newly-released Toons were greeted and conversations were started. But some stayed near the back of the crowd--Scraps, Goob, Poppy, and Boxten. They were still weary.
"Bassie looked so uncomfortable. I think something happened to her." Scraps muttered, as close to the other three as possible, so (hopefully) nobody else would be able to hear them.
"EXACTLY!" Poppy replied, almost a little too loud. "But, cmon. We're gonna look weird if we stand around here and keep whispering. Let's just go greet them!"
"You're right." Scraps answered. And, so, the four joined the crowd of other Toons.
...
~ [What happened in the room]
Bassie bit her lip as she tried to get the straps of her dress further up. It was a little too tight for her, and the straps were digging into her shoulders, but regardless, she tried to put it on anyway. She was too scared to ask Delilah to fix it. Not when they were supposed to be coming out soon.
Unfortunately for Bassie, Delilah stormed into her room. Delilah was visibly frustrated, and usually, Bassie was who she took it out on.
"BASSIE! Come here." Delilah yelled as quietly as she could without alerting the Toons waiting for them outside.
Bassie, reluctantly, approached Delilah, still trying to loosen her dress straps as she walked. "What... What is it, Miss Delilah?" Bassie tried to be as polite as possible. She didn't want to further anger Delilah, but trying to avoid it was nearly impossible.
"You need to get it together, okay?! The kids don't care for you as much as for Cocoa! Or any other toon, for that matter! If you don't try to be a little INTERESTING for once, and stop being so DAMN WEIRD, then I'll make Cocoa the new main! YOU'RE AWFUL AT THE ONE JOB I GAVE YOU! YOU'RE LUCKY THAT I WAS EVEN GENEROUS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU A MAIN IN THE FIRST PLACE! You're no fit for a main. And I don't know if you ever will be. STOP BEING LOUSY AND JUST TRY TO BE INTERACTIVE!" Delilah screamed at Bassie, practically in her face, but still tried to keep her voice down.
"I know, I know, Miss Delilah! I'm trying, I swear! Just give me some time, okay?" Bassie paused between a few of her words, being cautious. It was no use, though. And Bassie knew it. Trying to not anger Delilah was like trying to get the Sun to not be blazing hot. It would just never happen.
"YOU SHOULD BE MORE RESPECTFUL, TOO! You dare talk to me like THAT?! Damnit, I knew I should've altered your Ichor when I had the chance." Delilah muttered the last part under her breath, but just loud enough, on purpose, to make sure Bassie could hear it.
Delilah continued to yell at Bassie for practically every reason under the sun. Bassie had tears streaming down her face by now. All she'd ever wanted was approval from Delilah, Arthur, and the toons she trusted. As much as she was rather good friends with Cocoa, she felt a new feeling wash over her. When Bassie thought of Cocoa, she didn't feel the same respect for her best friend as before. Instead, she felt like she needed... Revenge.
Bassie had no idea that Cocoa had been overhearing pretty much everything that Delilah had been screaming at her.