Chapter Text
The garden was a beautiful mess of pastel colors, with eggs and more flowers draped throughout Gardenview. Everyone was looking their best; even Dyle dressed up for this occasion! While not anything crazy, it was a fancy pink vest suit. But it was still a surprise.
And Dandy tried to be all cute with his bunny costume, although no one really cared about his stupid costume. Bassie was walking around, observing everyone doing their best on decorating Gardenview. She even saw Shrimpo help…barely, but any help was good in her eyes.
Her breath was shaky from fear and some…other thing, she still had to prove to herself and the other toons that she’s a worthy main, and one of the key factors of being a main is being ‘able to talk to’, so she went over to some toons she hadn’t talked to in a while. Which were the book club members: Brightney, Astro, Razzle and Dazze, and apparently Squirm. Bassie didn’t say anything initially when she got over to them; she opened her mouth. But nothing came out. Fortunately, Astro noticed her.
“Oh…why hello, Bassie,” Astro said in his usual soft, almost quiet voice. Bassie perked up as she heard her name (somehow), “Oh...Uh-Uhm…hi guys..!” She squeaked out, her voice slightly strained.
“H..How’s the decoration…Need any…help..?” “Oh no, we’re fine!!!! (Yeah…’fine’)” The twins replied as they both wrapped a pretty pink bow together…since they’re conjoined.
“Ah…I see, well…how’s Squirm…” Bassie looked over at the bookworm, his eyes all teary-eyed, nothing new. “He’s his usual. Still crying over…whatever he’s crying over. But he’s helping!” Brightney proclaimed, looking over to see him holding the ladder Brightney was on.
“I-I’m *sniff*...sorry for-for not d-doing anything *sniff* to actually help, B-Bassie…” Squirm wept, which quickly dissolved into him breaking down to tears.
Bassie's eyes widened slightly as she saw the worm crying his eyes out. She looked up at Brightney for assurance, which she just shrugged; she took this as her cue to leave.
But she hesitated for a moment as she watched Squirm cry; she wasn’t…great at comforting; if anything, she’s usually the one getting comfort, usually by either Flyte or Eggson. But...she wanted to prove to herself and others that she’s a worthy main toon, so she awkwardly patted Squirms back to let him know ‘hey, I’m gonna comfort you now’.
“Uh…You’re doing great, Squirm…” She added, her voice softer than she intended to “Holding ladders…is important, very important..”
Squirm sniffed, peeking up with his watery eyes, “R…Really..?” Bassie nodded with excitement as she realized that she was actually helping.
“Yes..! If you weren’t holding the ladder, Brightney would’ve…” Bassie gestured up towards Brightney, who was wrapping the elevator with wreaths of daisies, and then gestured back to the floor. “...You know, since she's a lamp and all …”
Squirm sniffled, more softly now, “I…I never th-thought of it like that…” Squirm murmured, Bassie didn’t really listen to what Squirm said after that, being too into her thoughts on the fact she finally helped someone without it going overboard. Bassie knew it was a bit selfish of what she did; only really helping Squirm only to benefit herself, but if others are allowed to be selfish, why can’t she?
But she heard steps coming up behind her that got her out of her thoughts. She turned around to see…Dyle? Holding two cups of steamy hot drinks, probably the tea Eggson kept pushing onto the others, “Hello there, Bassie.” Dyle spoke, handing her one of the cups. The drink smelled of mint…and egg.
Bassie blinked at the drink, then back at Dyle; clearly confused, why did Dyle even go up to her, let alone give her a drink? “I…uh, thank you.” She brought the drink up to her lips, sipping it with a certain preciseness she’d only do around Dyle, she smacked her lips, and her face slightly scrunched up…it could be better, maybe less sweet.
But Bassie didn’t have time to savor the taste; she needed to help more. And with this great opportunity right in front of her, “S-So.” she started, “Do you…need any help with anything..?”
Dyle blinked as he heard Bassie's strained question, “Help?” He repeated, as if the word personally offended him, at least that's what Bassie thought. Her grip tightened around the cup, distorting the shape slightly.
“I..I, forget I even-”
“Well…there’s something I think only you could find out.”
Bassie perked up immediately, her eye twitched slightly, “M…Me?!” She blurted out a little louder than intended, immediately clamping her hand over her mouth shut. Dyle didn’t bother commenting on what Bassie said and continued.
“I keep hearing little…sounds from the station, despite it being very hard to get through, being abandoned and all…” His gaze went over to the station, which was pretty dark and scary, as if there was some sort of evil aura surrounding it. “I know it’ll most likely be a bit hard to get through the turnstiles, but I trust you'll handle it just fine.”
Bassie's grip on the cup loosened a bit upon hearing Dyle’s propositions, following his gaze to the station, once filled with guests coming in to visit the garden; now it's just a distant memory, with the turnstiles being rusty, the paint all grimy and gloomy. Bassie swallowed hard as she looked back at Dyle, who still kept his mildly tired face.
“O…Okay, I’ll do it.”
Dyle’s eyes widened slightly; he wasn’t expecting anyone to actually investigate the abandoned train station, let alone Bassie. “Oh, well. Go ahead, then.”
Bassie nodded and went over to the station with a deliberate slowness. The moment she stepped away from Dyle, she felt the weight of how bad this really was. She probably looked crazy to the other toons. Actively going OUT of the garden and into the station that no one would go near, let alone go out and check it out. No toon, No main, Hell not even Cocoa would do this. But she can, and she will.
Bassie’s hand grazed the rust of the turnstiles, shivering immediately. She looked back at the bright pink garden, wondering if she should just call it quits. But this was huge, getting out of the garden, while not prohibited, was strongly not recommended. But no time to think about how this was wrong, she pushed the turnstile with all of her might, the turnstiles screeching loudly as she did so.
After a few more pushes, the turnstiles turned out of nowhere, making Bassie fall through the stiles. She fell to the ground face-first, some of her flowers falling off her basket head. She pushed herself up as fast as she could, dusted off her pink flower skirt, and picked up the few flowers that fell off. The moment she stood up, the air of the abandoned station hit her hard.
The station stank of dust and probably sewer water; she couldn’t tell. Bassie loomed over the tracks, covered with gravel and rust. Bassie quickly shook her head. She didn’t have time to look around; she had to find something, and she had to find it fast. Bassie’s soft footsteps somehow echoed around the station as she crept over the station. She could hear everything, the drops of water, little squeaks from rats maybe, a subway heading its way rapidly…wait what?
She turned around slowly, seeing two lights forming. How, how is that possible? Sure, there’s been subways passing here and there, but this one felt different. Very different, but before she could even come up with a reasonable reason why this was happening, the subway was getting closer and closer, and she didn’t know what to do. Should she run? Should she just wait? But she didn’t really have a choice and ducked and covered her head to prevent more flowers from her head going missing.
The loud screech of the approaching subway pierced through the station and into Bassie’s metaphorical ears, but instantly, as the subway came in as fast as a subway could, Bassie heard the brakes, louder than the screeching of the incoming subway. The doors hissed open as Bassie peeked up; coincidentally, one of the doors was in front of Bassie, and the dim yellow light pierced through the darkness, which followed up with a silhouette of…a toon? Who had pointy ears and four ribbon like tails.
“Y…Yatta..?” Bassie mustered up.
The toon; Yatta, looked down at Bassie, her expression changed from a sort of confidence, to an exaggerated dread, but it didn’t last long as she immediately went back to her usual happy-go-lucky self. “BASSIE!!! Whudya doin’ here in the station?!” She exclaimed, her cheery voice echoed through the station.
Bassie just looked up at her wide eyed, why was she here? How’d she even get in the subway? How is…any of this possible “I…I could ask you the same question, Haha…” Bassie joked as she got to her feet, but there was a genuine curiosity in her voice.
Yatta’s grin widened even more, her tails flicked as she stepped out the subway; one of them kept the door open “Oh ya knowww!!!” Yatta drawled as she leaned closer to Bassie “just keepin’ the ghost train company!!! Nah I’m just pullin’ ya leg…” Yatta wiggled her fingers to ramp up the spook factor I assume, Bassie just blinked out of confusion.
“ANYWAY.” Yatta said abruptly, clamping her hands together “I need ya to help me with somethin’!” But before Bassie could ask what she needed to help with, she was pulled inside the subway. And the sight was nothing Bassie expected. It was…a human. With a bag over its head and seemingly passed out, Bassie’s eyes widened immediately, did Yatta kidnap this poor human? How did she even do it?? Did she go to the outside world?!?! More and more questions kept forming in her head while Yatta went over to pull on its leg, seemingly trying to pull the body out of the subway.
“Yatta-”
“Ugh! This guy's a heavy one, thank gosh you’re here!!!” Yatta exclaimed out of nowhere.
“Yatta wh-”
“Oh oh look!!” Yatta took one of the human hands; which had prosthetic fingertips for the middle and ring finger, and shook it around “He’s got fake fingertips!!! HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!?”
“YATTA, are you even LISTENING TO ME?!?!”
Bassie finally snapped, her voice cracked at the last word as she grabbed Yatta’s wrist; stopping her from shaking the poor guy's hand, causing the prosthetic fingertips falling off, Bassie picked them up quickly.
Yatta blinked at Bassie, then at the unconscious human, she snapped her fingers “Ohhhh… right, right…” Yatta drawled as if she finally realized what she’s doing “Ya’ wonderin’ why I got him all like this” She flourished her hand at the victim.
Bassie's eye twitched “Y…YES?! Wh-why did you even do this? How did you even get out in the outside world?!” Yatta waved her hand as she scoffed, “Psh!!! It ain’t even that hard!!! Dunno why Dandy n’ Dyle makes it such a big deal on how we can neva’ see the outside!!!” She somewhat explained, her tails gesturing to the human “Figured I’d just hop on a subway; WHICH you should totes do!!! And then I’m outta the garden and in the world baby!!!”
She cheered, throwing her hands up into the air. Bassie just blinked at Yatta, her grip around the prosthetic fingertips tightened “Yatta…Th-That doesn’t…You can’t just…” She stammered, her voice cracking again as she tried her best to form any sort of thought. “We…We’re NOT supposed to LEAVE!!”
Yatta blinked at Bassie confusingly, her head tilting like some sort of dog “Why not???” Yatta asked with genuine confusion “I mean, look at him!! He’s kinda cute in a way!!! And ya know this is kinda like savin’ an abandoned puppy!!!!”
Bassie looked at the human, the bag still covering its ‘cute-in-a-way’ face “No, No its’ not.”
Yatta’s grin widened, as if it wasn’t wide enough. She leaned closer to Bassie “Oh c’monnn Bassie, have some fun in ya’ life!!! It’s not like ya neva’ thought about bein’ a bit adventurous ever!!!” She nudged Bassie by the elbow. “ I mean look what y’ can do!!!” She pointed at the human.
Bassie felt her whole body shake out of both anger and fear. The grip on the fake fingertips tightened slightly, but not enough to damage them. “Yatta, what are you…Why? Why HIM specifically?” She rubbed her temples, trying to calm down.
“Why him??” Yatta repeated “Would ya believe if I told ya he’s pretty famous?” She whispered in Bassie’s metaphorical ears “Now hold ya’ horses, he ain’t exactly ‘Tom Cruise’ famous, but he seems like a big deal, eh? Saw him sign a vinyl of some random fan!! Probably a musician!!”
Bassie stared at the human, then at the fingertips; as if trying to connect the dots on who this could possibly be. But it didn’t matter, not now “Wh…What if he wakes up? Have you thought about that?!”
Yatta rolled her eyes playfully as if she’s not committing a crime. “Oh c’mon!!! He’s completely out!!! Plus, YOU’RE the one always goin’ on about provin’ yourself and to the others too, right?! Well look at this HUUUUGE opportunity right here” She nudged the human towards Bassie “C’mon!! Think of it as a…Surprise! By bringin’ a human!! And a famous one at that!!!”
Bassie felt her stomach lurching. This whole thing was so…absurd, terrifying. Surprising the toons with an actual human? But Yatta wasn’t wrong, far from it actually. This would prove herself. This would prove that she’s capable of being a main character, more capable than Cocoa for sure. She was probably being gaslighted by her, but damnit if it wasn’t working.
“...Fine, but…we’re taking him into the garden at midnight.”