[chapter nine] shelly's epilogue [virtual world dw au]

Instructions

[Chapter Nine - Ginger] The elevator ride was kind of awkward. Rudie only stared at the ground while Glisten made multiple attempts to ignore the tense atmosphere of the elevator and interact with the two other toons. “So, Ginger… have you been baking recently?” “Not really…” she responded, not making eye contact. “The oven in the Christmas floor is broken anyway.” “Ah.” That’s how most of the conversations went until they arrived. When the elevator door slid up to allow them entrance to this floor, the first thing Ginger noticed was how quiet it was. If there was three toons living here, then why was it so quiet? ‘Maybe they’re sleeping?’ she thought. ‘I can’t start being pessimistic before we’ve even walked out of the elevator…’ As they walked through the entrance of the floor, Glisten finally stopped talking. He just stared at the ground as he followed behind the two Christmas toons. “What if they don’t let us in the virtual world?” Rudie asked as they passed by a few crates. “What do we do?” Why was he asking her? She didn’t know much of anything except to listen to Bobette. But since there’s no more Bobette… “We could ask them if we could stay here?” Glisten answered in Ginger’s place. “Maybe. I don’t think that Sprout would like us here, though…” Glisten simply shrugged back. “...I mean, Vee did say that.” someone giggled. All three of them froze. “Well, she says weird stuff all the time.” someone else responded, which was followed by more giggling. “Do we… uh… go talk to them?” Glisten whispered. “Why are you whispering?” Rudie asked, which caused the two voices from afar to go silent. “Great, you blew our cover…” Glisten muttered, crossing his arms. “We’re here to talk to them, Glisten, not sneak up on them.” Ginger sighed as she walked forward. “Hello?” she said as she walked into the next room. There was a doorway with… no door. ‘How does that even happen?’ Ginger thought before she noticed two toons sitting inside the room. Well… One toon and… “Oh! Ginger!” Shelly jumped up from where she was sitting. “Dandy- He’s- Is he a twisted…?” “Wow, why is that always the first thing I’m asked?” “S-Sorry…” Ginger mumbled, but then remembered something. “Wait, where’s Sprout and Vee…?” “Oh, they’re somewhere else on this floor.” Shelly responded, walking over. “What did you come here for?” “I came with Rudie and Glisten-” she said, looking over to the aforementioned toons, who were still standing in the exact spot as they were two minutes ago. “A-And… um… we were wondering if there was any way we could get into the… ‘virtual world’?” Shelly’s smile remained, but something about her composure shifted. “The virtual world is…” she seemed to be searching for a word. “Gone.” “Gone?” Ginger echoed. “Something happened with Vee and the virtual world is gone.” Shelly laughed nervously. “Y’know, I should probably go tell Vee and Sprout you guys are here! Be right back!” Shelly ran off, leaving the three toons with this goliath of a toon. Glisten and Rudie finally decided to step into the room, the latter being more hesitant. Rudie seemed to be rethinking coming here at all. Dandy sat there awkwardly while they waited for Shelly to bring her friends here. ‘There’s been lots of awkward silences today…’ Ginger speculated. “What exactly happened with Vee?” Glisten asked, leaning against the wall. “I wasn’t there for it.” He shrugged. “That’s a very… indirect answer.” “Yup.” Glisten gave Ginger a look that she couldn’t decipher since the only feature on his face that wasn’t covered in ichor was one eye. She just gave him an uneasy smile in exchange. After a bit, Ginger could hear two pairs of footsteps walking back. “So… who’s here?” “You’ll see!” Shelly walked into the room with a reluctant Sprout following behind. “I don’t quite know if you remember them, but the Christmas toons- and um, Glisten- are here!” Shelly said, gesturing a hand toward them. Sprout’s face immediately changed when he saw them. Just slightly. “Oh… hi, Sprout.” Ginger waved politely. He didn’t respond. He just gave her a weird, spaced out look. “Is… he okay?” She pointed toward him, to which Shelly laughed nervously again. “Yeah, he just… went through some stuff. He’s…” Shelly glanced toward Sprout, her smile faltering. Before she could continue talking, Sprout went up to the two Christmas toons. “I-It’s you guys!” He exclaimed. “I- I recognize you guys-!” “Ummm…” Shelly chuckled as Rudie and Ginger exchanged confused looks. “Yup… I’m pretty sure you would recognize us…?” Ginger stepped back a bit. “No- like, everything’s been so weird! And- and then I see you guys and…” he started to say, but trails off. Glisten let out a snarky chuckle. “Are you sure you didn’t lobotomize him?” Dandy actually laughed at that joke too, but stopped when Shelly gave him a panicked look. “Okay, uh, Sprout, you should probably go back to Vee for now.” Shelly said.