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Two meetings a year.
They were fairly simple, especially in concept, once at the end of September and once at the start of March, and they were usually fairly easy-going- even back when there were humans around!
Previously, the Toon handlers would be there, too, but they weren't really... here. Not anymore.
But Mister Dancifer decided to continue the tradition regardless.
Gourdy quite enjoyed the meetings.
He did, really! He didn't always understand it... but he did really, really like them!
Boolynski- um- Connie and Toodles would always come to see him at the elevator before he had to go do that important, adult-y Main-Toon-stuff, and they'd always say bye before he left to return to the Halloween floor, and during the actual meetings he got to see the other Mains!
Really, it was awesome!
Gourdy rarely got to meet the other Holiday Toons... year-round he'd be with the other Halloween Toons, and then he'd see the normal ones during October and halfway through November, but he only got to meet the Christmas ones for a day or two when they were finished cleaning up and Miss Carolynne and the others were coming up to start decorating for their Holiday. He never got to meet the Easter Toons though. Their Holidays were too far apart.
"I'm sorry I'm late!"
But he got to see at least one of them now!
Gourdy was already sitting in his chair. Mister Seedly always made sure to bring him, so he wouldn't be late, and he liked watching the others arrive.
Miss Bloomington- she was the Easter Main- was the last one to arrive, looking frazzled, and Gourdy pushed himself higher onto his knees to wave excitedly.
"You're right on time!" Mister Dancifer said from where he stood at the head of the table, one hand resting on the pet rock that took up his chair. "I almost thought I'd have to send Pebble to come fetch you, but apparently not, haha!"
"Hahaha..." Miss Bloomington laughed along nervously before sitting down in her pinkish-purple chair. It was right next to Gourdy's orange one, so he made sure to give her a bright smile.
She tentatively returned it.
"So! It's nearly time for another Holiday season!" Mister Dancifer said the moment she settled, his hands clapping together, and Gourdy perked up curiously.
It was almost his season.
Oh, Gourdy couldn't wait, he was so excited! He had all sorts of plans... including trick or treating! He had been planning it all year, as well as the costume party and even the costume contest and--
Miss Version 1 buzzed from where she sat near the head of the table. "Dandy, I think there's more pressing matters."
Mister Dancifer's expression soured immediately.
Mister Novalite seemed to shrink in his chair, while Miss Fossilian leaned her head forward into her hands, and the green TV-headed Main lifted her 'chin' stubbornly. "Let's talk about how that last run, why don't we? I think that is all the more pressing."
"Vee, I'm the one in charge here, if you'd please--"
"Oh, cut the crap, Dandy!"
"Vee!" Miss Carolynne cut in. Gourdy blinked a few times when she reached out, placing her hands over the sides of his head, even though he lacked ears to cover. "There's a child!"
Miss Version 1 scowled and stood up. "Which is another problem, might I remind you, that he's not the only child we're sending down there-"
"Is this about the runs?" Gourdy frowned, even though she spoke right over him.
"-but in fact is the second child we're sending to their--"
"Vee!"
Miss Version 1 held Miss Carolynne's gaze for a moment before promptly sitting down, expression firm and arms crossed. "Dandy," she squinted at the flower. "We need to greatly reconsider who we send down on those runs."
"I assure you," Mister Dancifer soothed. "It's perfectly safe."
"Okay now I think that's rather inaccurate, too, actually, what do you mean safe?" Mister Seedly sat up straight.
"I'm sure he knows what he's doing..." Miss Bloomington muttered, glancing away, but she winced when Miss Version 1 and Mister Dancifer suddenly looked at her.
"No he doesn't!" The TV Main scoffed. "Just last week, Shrimpo nearly got himself and Teagan killed, and if Goob hadn't grabbed the two of them in time, who knows what would've happened?!"
"That's why I sent Goob down there! I knew he'd keep them safe!" The star of the show smiled, shaking his head, but the rest of the Mains seemed a little unsure.
...maybe Gourdy shouldn't have been surprised.
As much as he liked the meetings, they usually weren't all that fun.
It wasn't the first time a shouting match started. He usually wound up just awkwardly watching nothing productive happen until they reached an impasse, and from there the entire thing would disperse, leaving an odd tension he didn't like.
Gourdy... usually didn't get involved.
He glanced over at Miss Fossilian, who also usually didn't get involved, fading into the background as well, and she looked at him with a weary sigh.
Relenting, Gourdy lowered himself into his chair properly before scooting his way to the edge, slowly hopping down at the rest of the Mains devolved into half-shouting half-talking-normally. He skirted around the table and pulled Mister Dancifer's chair around. He pushed it over to Miss Fossilian's and picked up Pebble, climbing up onto the seat and pulling his legs up into the chair.
"Hi, Miss Fossilian," Gourdy whispered. Pebble squirmed before settling down in his hold and Miss Fossilian smiled at him.
"Hello, Gourdy." She pushed her chair slightly closer and the two of them leaned away from the growing argument. "You know Shelly's fine."
He paused. Right. Miss Fossilian- um- Shelly, he meant- Shelly usually liked it when he called her by her first name. "Why are they fighting this time?"
Shelly seemed to deflate, just barely, looking over to watch as Miss Version 1 gestured angrily towards Mister Novalite, who was avoiding meeting her gaze with a nervous expression. "Shrimpo and Teagan got into trouble on a run a few days ago," the fossil frowned. "Goob saved them but it really freaked Vee out, I think. She's been trying to get Dandy to do something else for the runs but he's been avoiding her. I guess she figured this would be the time to have it addressed."
"Oh..." Gourdy blinked and looked over. Mister Dancifer was talking again, louder now, but the pumpkin just looked down at Pebble. "I mean, Mister Dancifer knows about how dangerous the runs are. Everyone does. I dunno why it's an issue."
"Not fully."
He glanced up at Shelly.
She was still watching the others, but she continued warily. "There's a lot more to it... with the upcoming Holiday, more Twisteds are going to be around, and each year they seem to have a whole new thing they can do."
Oh.
Right.
Gourdy shivered at the reminder. That was probably his least favorite thing about Halloween. Sometimes the runs were fun, but...
Disjointed chortles and laughs, the stench of rotting gourds and veiled panic, the gleeful clapping of ichor-slick hands.
...he really, really didn't like the Twisteds.
"Some Toons don't fully understand what they'll be facing, and a lot of the others just aren't equipped or prepared to handle it." Shelly finally looked at Gourdy. He must've been making a face, because she smiled widely, setting a hand on his head. "But don't worry about it- we'll make sure everyone is safe! Pebble agrees, don't you, boy?"
"Arf!" The rock declared, tail wagging, but Gourdy...
Gourdy wasn't sure.
Because he should be doing that too.
He could do it, he knows he could! The machines are easy, and he's fast, and sure, he tends to get seen a lot, but that's okay! He never gets that hurt! He's faster than most of them!
He can help!
...but what about outside of the season?
Gourdy knew half the reason why the others tried to tell him to stay back was not just because of his age. They let Toodles do all sorts of things, and he had seen his friend blow a few air horns before making a mad dash throughout the floor, beasts on her heel that she would be forced to shake once they were far enough way, and she was a year younger than him!
He knew it was partially because he wasn't around.
He wasn't allowed to be around.
Gourdy always thought it was a little silly and unnecessary, how the Holiday Toons would be isolated for most of the year, not allowed to see the others or go on runs... and it made most of them a bit rusty when they were finally allowed to be involved. That relearning curve could be life or death.
But that didn't have to be the case.
Gourdy looked up.
"Vee, you're yelling again..."
"I wouldn't have to if Dandy would listen!" Miss Version 1 ignored Mister Novalite, leaned forward, hands pressed to the table. "You need to give everyone a break, not send us all on more runs!"
"I don't force them to go," Mister Dancifer huffed.
"I didn't say that, but hey, the hit dog hollers, doesn't it?" Miss Version 1 snarked. The flower bristled but she moved to continue regardless.
"Um, Miss Version 1?" Gourdy pushed himself onto his knees, handing Pebble to Shelly.
"You keep putting everyone in danger! Eventually someone's going to get hurt, or worse!"
"I have-"
"In a minute, Gourdy," Miss Version 1 raised a hand to silence him and his tail lashed slightly. "What are we going to tell the others if we go down there and someone simply doesn't come back? 'Hey, sorry about that, we accidentally got your friend killed, but at least we extracted so much ichor!' I'm sure that will go swimmingly-"
"I--"
"-I said in a minute, okay, kid? The adults are talking- do you not realize how bad of an idea all of this is, Dandy? Are you trying to--"
"Stop interrupting me!" Gourdy yelled, smacking his paws against the wood of the table, and he huffed as the TV-themed Main looked at him incredulously. "Miss Version 1, this isn't going anywhere!"
"See? Gourdy agrees." Mister Dancifer smiled smoothly but Gourdy just turned to point a finger at him.
The pumpkin shook his head. "I'm not agreeing with you, either! I'm agreeing with neither of you!" He stubbornly leaned back, crossing his arms. "But I'm not disagreeing either!"
"Gourdy, you don't have to worry about this," Mister Seedly spoke up.
A hand rested on his shoulder but he just shook it off, sitting up again, feeling childish for nearly pouting. "I do, because you're all being dummies," he sniffed pointedly. The prickle of the Mains staring at him made him want to back off but he continued regardless. He had a point to make. "Miss Version 1 is right, the runs are dangerous, but Mister Dancifer knows more about that... ichor stuff... than any of us!"
"It might help if he perhaps told us what it is..." Miss Version 1 grumbled.
There was a mutter of words around the table and Gourdy reached out to steady himself as he stood up in his chair.
"Mister Dancifer has reasons to keep secrets," Gourdy declared. "We can't force him to say anything. We just have to trust him when he says it's important."
The flower seemed to preen with pride. Gourdy thought it was silly, but he didn't stop, just continued onward.
"And with Halloween coming... well, you're also right there, too, there's gonna be more Twisteds, and they're gonna probably be pretty tricky, but it doesn't help that you guys don't trust the Toons that are coming back!"
"We trust--"
"Shh! I'm talking still! I'm not done!" Gourdy pointed at Mister Seedly, whose mouth shut quickly. "Thank you, Mister Seedly." The kid smiled at the strawberry before looking around again. "As I was about to say, you guys don't trust the Holiday Toons to do their best, right? And if you do, you probably worry it's not enough, and you're probably right... but it's not because we're incapable. We just get rusty."
"He's right," Miss Bloomington said quietly. She took a moment when he looked at her, but when she picked up on his expectant gaze, she sat up straighter. "Every Easter, we make a lot of mistakes, but by the end we're able to keep up with everyone else easily."
Miss Carolynne nodded along and Gourdy grinned widely. "It's because we get isolated the whole year! But we don't have to be!" He looked at Miss Version 1, who was watching curiously, antennae low. "If we go on runs all the time, like the normal Toons, everything would be easier!"
"Gourdy has a point..." Mister Novalite wondered aloud, much to Mister Seedly's agreement, and Gourdy glowed proudly when there was a murmur of thoughtful agreement around the table, because he knew he'd be right. It just--
"No."
Gourdy's gaze snapped towards the head of the table.
Mister Dancifer was glaring, right towards him, and he startled at the harsh look. "But..." Gourdy hesitated.
"No, Gourdy," the lead Toon repeated. He narrowed his eyes and pointed towards Gourdy's abandoned chair. "Sit down."
"But Mister Dancifer--"
"Sit! Down!"
"Dandy, he's just a kid." Shelly spoke up gently.
"Exactly why he needs to sit down!" Mister Dancifer snapped, petals flicking, and Gourdy dropped his gaze as he hopped down from the borrowed chair. "He's just a kid, Shelly, and he doesn't need to butt in on the conversation!"
Miss Carolynne was standing, expression strained. "He's still a Main, he has a say in these things!"
"Hardly!"
Gourdy's tail twitched as he skirted around the table. He tensed when he passed by Mister Dancifer, but stopped when Miss Version 1 set a hand on his shoulder before he could sit down. "Aren't you the one who always invites him?!" She spat. "He has a point, too! Why are you so adamant on continuing some silly tradition? It only ostracizes the Holidays!"
"...I already told you it's because of the ichor..."
His eyes stung.
He stayed still, staring quietly at the floor, tail laying against the floor, and the words died out in a quiet drone.
It wasn't fair.
Gourdy knew he was just a kid.
He was the youngest of the Mains, only not the youngest by a few months, and he knew he was often deemed childish. The other Mains doubted him for it. They trusted him with all things Halloween but that was it. These annual meetings always had him and Shelly talking quietly, and if she couldn't talk with him then there was always Mister Novalite or he could even play with Pebble instead. He never got involved. He avoided it. He knew it would never go anywhere.
So why did he think this was any different?
He sniffed quietly and brought a paw up, the heel of his palm rubbing under his eye. He hated it.
He hated how they always didn't take what he had to say to heart, always doubting, always not quite believing, and it was silly.
Why was he crying over this?
"--Gourdy?--"
He pushed Miss Version 1's hand away, ducking away from her worried screen, and he avoided her gaze. "'m sorry, Miss Version 1. You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine." He reeled back a pace before sidling past the prying eyes and words and he forced out a smile. "I'm gonna go get ready to go, I think I wanna gather the stuff for Halloween so it's easier to decorate 'n' stuff, I'll see you in a month!"
Gourdy waved before escaping out the door, shutting it firmly behind him.
It wouldn't change much if he was there or not anyway.
Gourdy wasn't really sure why he was here.
He had just sorta picked a direction and walk-ran.
His eyes stung, and the candle hidden in his head kept flickering, and he couldn't quit shaking, and he wasn't sure when he actually got to the door, and he didn't know what he was supposed to do. Was he allowed to knock? Was he even allowed to be here?
Did it even matter if he was?
Gourdy hiccuped wetly, flame sputtering, and he stepped aside before plopping down onto the ground beside the door. He pulled his knees to his chest and rested his chin atop them.
It was a little weird, to be in this hallway, without any decorations and cheeky voices. It felt weird to not be carrying a box full of spooky decor as he talked with his Toons.
Every Main had Toons that were decidedly 'theirs.' They were meant to be their friends. It was a bit more obvious, with the Holidays. Miss Carolynne had Ginger and Rudie and Coal and Miss Bloomington had Cocoa and Eggson and Flyte... he thinks... and Gourdy had Ribecca and Soulvester and Eclipse. He used to have Boolynski, but she had gotten moved, but they were still friends!
...Gourdy didn't know what to do, without them.
He didn't know what to do at all.
He had always relied on them, just like they did him! Ribecca always helped make the spooky-ist of costumes, and Soulvester always helped him carry things and reach high up, and Eclipse always helped him scare the daylights out of all the other Toons- and he made sure they were okay and happy and safe and cared.
...
...but what if that wasn't enough?
What if Gourdy just caring and making sure they were happy wasn't enough? He wondered if the other Holiday Mains did more for their Toons, if he was the one lacking.
He wouldn't know what to do either way.
He was just a kid.
He hated being just a kid.
Gourdy sniffled and hugged his knees tighter, burying his face, and he waited for a fate he wasn't sure would come.
He didn't know who he was waiting for. Maybe he was waiting for Mister Dancifer to come and tell him it was time to go home and he'd have to say bye to Toodles and Connie, even when he felt more like crying instead of saying "goodbye." He really didn't feel like saying "goodbye." He really didn't wanna go back to isolation, even if he knew he was 'supposed to,' because as much as he loved the other Halloween Toons he still got so lonely with them around, and--
"We'll chat some more later, Teagan, gotta bounce!"
Gourdy's tail narrowly avoided being stepped on as someone bounded out through the newly opened door, blue sleeve swinging in a lazy wave as the red girl spun around with a sneaky chuckle.
She nearly tripped over Gourdy but rightened herself. "Hey, little man, didn't see you there," Gigi said idly, stepping around him, and he blinked up at her foolishly. The gachapon didn't look down- she merely continued down the hall- and he wiped at his face with the back of his paw as she disappeared around the corner.
Someone else saw him there, though.
"Hello, Gourdy."
He dropped his hand into his lap and didn't dare look up at the woman he knew would be there. "Sorry..." he mumbled. "I didn't mean to bother you, ma'am."
He could hear the subtle clink-clink of her movement, and he could just barely see her golden dress out of the corner of his eye, and he felt guilty all over again, because now she was sitting on the floor too... and that train of thought only served to make him feel silly and childish again and he felt all the worse for it.
"You're not bothering me," she said gently. "Do you wanna come in?"
Kinda.
Not really.
Maybe.
"I dunno. I dunno what I want."
She hummed at his words and he hiccuped quietly, and eventually she was standing up with a hand outstretched. "Come here, we'll share some tea, and you can tell me what's wrong if you'd like."
Gourdy glanced up at Teagan's hand.
She didn't move.
...he didn't really want to make her wait, though, so he reached out to grab her hand, and she pulled him to his feet as he nodded. She didn't quite squeeze his hand, she hardly even held it, and he trailed after Teagan as she led him through the doorway. She let go of him once inside and shut the door.
He hadn't really spent much time with Teagan before.
She was friends with Toodles's dad, Rodger, and Gourdy had come to one or two of her tea parties. He didn't remember much of it. He only really remembered the blue tea she had labeled 'Spooky Tea...'
...
...Teagan's room was nice, though.
It was fairly normal- the only real highlight was the simple table on the carpet, with cozy-looking chairs and the tea set situated at it, and he hesitantly found a chair to sit in.
"I don't have any spooky tea this time, but I do have some tea left in this pot," Teagan said as she followed him. She didn't quite sit down, not yet, instead going through the cabinet she kept all her teacups and teapots in, and she returned with a purple one with rough spiderweb patterns in black. She picked up the teapot to pour into both that one and her own. "It's Gigi's favorite. It's a bit sweeter than what you had last time, but you might like it. It has vanilla."
"Thank you, Miss Teagan." Gourdy mumbled when she set the cup and saucer in front of him.
The teacup Toon smiled and sat down on the other side of the table.
She didn't talk.
Not yet, at least, but Gourdy thought it'd happen soon enough, so he just watched wearily as she sipped her tea, occasionally letting himself pick up his own cup to drink from. It was rather sweet. He didn't know what was in it, but he liked it. He could see why Gigi would call it her favorite. It seemed like an easy favorite.
The pumpkin let the silence remain for a little longer.
He didn't want to break it yet, since he was sure Teagan would eventually- and he didn't really want to talk about it... nor bother her.
...
So he drank his tea.
He sipped at it until the cup was empty and he sat there quietly. At some point Teagan got up to go brew more, not saying anything, and he only offered another "Thank you, Miss Teagan" when she poured him some. It was different to the sweet one with vanilla. It was more bitter but he didn't mind.
Gourdy finished that cup's worth too.
Teagan poured him more but he just sorta sipped at it for a little bit.
He wasn't sure why Miss Teagan hadn't broken the silence. Was he doing something wrong? Was he missing something? Was he supposed to know something but for some reason didn't?
Halfway through his second cup of the slightly bitter tea, Gourdy decided to ask, hating how small his voice sounded even to him.
"Did I do something wrong?"
Teagan blinked at him a few times before shaking her head. Her gaze was gentle and voice calm and he didn't know what to do about it. "No, you didn't do anything wrong, Gourdy, why do you think you did?"
"I dunno," Gourdy sniffed and he dropped his paws into his lap. "I mean, I do know, but I dunno at the same time, and it's stupid. 'm sorry."
"It's not stupid." Teagan assured quickly, picking up her cup, and he watched tensely as she took another sip. She set the tea back down and looked at him worriedly.
Gourdy couldn't meet her gaze.
So he dropped it, lowering his eyes, staring down at his tea guiltily. "The other Mains don't think I'm good enough." He muttered. Teagan's eyes prickled at him and he pulled his legs into the chair to hug them. "And they're right, 'cause I can't do everything they do. I just get in the way of the Distractors during runs. I can't do all the Halloween stuff by myself and we never clean up in time for Christmas, so I'm just getting in the way during clean-up, too, and wasting Miss Carolynne's time."
"Gourdy, I doubt that's the case," Teagan sighed, chair creaking faintly as she moved, and he sniffed half-heartedly. "You try your hardest and I'm sure the others see that. Your best is all you can give."
"But it's not enough!"
Teagan paused and Gourdy shook his head. His tail lashed, claws twitching, feeling his skin prickle.
"I had a good idea, I know I did, but they don't believe me! Dandy said no and he said that- I-" the table's wooden surface made an odd sound in protest and he reeled away, glaring at the claw marks left behind. "They don't listen. They say 'you're just a kid, Gourdy. The adults are talking, Gourdy. In a minute, Gourdy.' They baby me every single meeting the moment I get even slightly involved in the conversation."
"Gourdy-"
"I'm a Holloway. We're meant to be the spooky-ist. People listen to Holloways."
Gourdy's vision blurred and he hiccuped. His chest squeezed pitifully, a protesting feeling, digging through his ribs and forcing a pathetic sob-wheeze between his teeth.
"Mama and papa would be so disappointed," Gourdy whispered. "If they saw me now."
"Gourdy!"
He flinched at the sound, head whipping around as he startled away from Teagan.
She was next to him- halfway knelt to be at his level- with her expression wide and concerned. Her hands were outreached but didn't touch. When he looked at her, though, that expression softened.
"You need to breathe, sweetie," Teagan muttered. A hand inched forward, and when he didn't recoil it was set up on his arm. "You shouldn't say that. You shouldn't even think that. Nobody's disappointed in you, and I'd bet, if anything, they'd be so, so proud of you."
Gourdy winced and lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry, Miss Teagan..."
"Oh, no, don't be."
Gourdy sniffled as she pulled a chair closer, settling down beside him, and he let himself lean into her hold.
"You know, a lot of people are proud of you."
"Really?" He mumbled, glancing up.
Teagan was smiling at him. Her gaze was kind. She was being kind. And she was nodding, too, thumb rubbing over his arm soothingly. "Definitely." She chuckled, amusement in her gaze. "You're a little bit better at those machines than Vee, believe it or not, I don't think I've ever seen anyone finish one as quick as you do."
"Machines are easy though," Gourdy pointed out. "And the Twisteds always see me- I keep getting the others hurt 'cause of it."
"Yatta does the same thing all the time. So does Brightney, and Looey, and Glisten... I sometimes draw too much attention to myself!" Teagan laughed. "It's just a matter of working around it."
He thought for a moment longer...
...and it kinda helped.
It was nice to know he was good at something. Miss Version 1 and Shelly were super good with the machines... and if he could match one of them in that, well, that would be awesome.
Gourdy smiled slightly and rubbed at his eye, nodding. "I'll get better at that, then, so that way, nobody will have to worry about me."
"That's the spirit," Teagan grinned. He made sure to return the gesture.
Then he was moving, giving the tea-themed Toon some space, and he reached across the table to grab her teacup. She hummed appreciatively when he handed it over and he picked up his own soon after.
Gourdy did feel a bit better.
Teagan stayed beside him, sipping her tea ever so often. She was watching him out of the corner of her eye- he could tell- but she was avoiding making it obvious, so he didn't make it obvious that he knew.
And after a while, Teagan said, "Can I ask you a question, Gourdy?"
He nodded idly as he pulled the teapot closer so she could refill her cup. He leaned back in his chair afterward, cradling his own cup. It could be a bit awkward to hold some items with his paws but he had learned how to do it. Now, he was really good at working around his bulky paws and claws!
"Why would your parents be disappointed in you?"
Oh.
Gourdy guessed he wasn't all that great at holding things, actually.
The teacup tipped over and he had to righten it before it could spill over and make a mess, and he practically threw the thing at the table, but he kept his hands on it so it wouldn't spill or break or something equally as bad, and his candle burned the inside of his head for a moment.
...but Teagan asked him a question.
And it'd be rude to not answer. Gourdy always respected the other Toons, and how could you be both rude and respectful?
Gourdy stared quietly at the cup of tea in front of him. He could see the subtle glint of his flame being reflected off the liquid's surface. It trembled with the subtle shake of his paws and he quickly let go of the cup, drawing his hands closer, wrapping his arms around himself. "Every Halloween, we'd go and help decorate everyone else's homes, too. And we had the best haunted house every single year. Papa would tell me I was the most spooky kid ever."
Fog, webs, and dimmed lights. Ominous candles and the eerie whoosh of wind through empty tree branches.
He missed it.
"And then we'd have a party, with food and costumes and games!" Gourdy sniffled. "And everyone would come and celebrate and it was great but... but I haven't done that. Only a few Toons actually do stuff for the costume contest and games and I can't make the food myself, and we can't even go trick-or-treating! And-"
His claws pricked.
He dug them deeper, blinking back tears, breath catching in his throat as he whimpered.
He was being so childish.
"And I can't even remember them..." he whispered, shrinking in his chair. "I can't remember their faces."
"Oh, Gourdy..."
"'m sorry."
A hand rested on his shoulder and Teagan rubbed her thumb over the spot gently. "It's not your fault."
"I'm the worst son ever," Gourdy hiccuped, lifting a paw to scrub at his eye. "What kind of son can't remember their parents' faces? I don't deserve to be a Holloway!"
"Gourdy, sweetie-" Teagan's frown deepened as she leaned closer. He shook his head but she continued, voice gentle. "I promise they wouldn't be disappointed in you for something you can't control!"
Get away from me.
"Just take a deep breath... I can't--"
"Get away from me!" Gourdy shouted. He wasn't really sure what he was doing. He was just shoving, pushing, prying away from the table and teacup-headed Toon, and he hissed as he hit the ground roughly.
He growled low, claws curling into the wooden floorboards as he backed away.
He hated this.
He hated how he couldn't stop shaking, and how his eyes stung, and how his flame flickered, and how he couldn't remember- oh, why couldn't he remember? Why can't I remember!?
"Gourdy!"
Gourdy snarled but his hand phased through a chilly outline. He shivered at the drop of temperature, jolting as cold hands grabbed onto his arms, and he struggled fitfully as the hold tightened.
"C'mon, kid, take a breath or two, don't make me go in there."
He growled at the shape in front of him and blinked back harsh tears. "Let go of--"
"Look at me first," the shape snapped. He hissed and wriggled but it held firm, refusing to give, and he glared roughly at the blurry blues. "Breath and look at me."
Boolynski?
Gourdy blinked a few more times.
The shape smoothed, waving faintly with an eerie breeze, and his tail swished lazily as he stared without much comprehension. "Boolynski?" He frowned.
Boolynski's mouth sharpened into a subtle grin and the hands on his arms loosened. "Close enough. Welcome to the land of the living, kid."
"Oh..." Gourdy glanced around, staring at the knocked over chair and disturbed carpet and unsettled Teagan, and he slowly looked back at his friend. "Where am I?"
"Teagan's room. Come on, we'll go to mine instead," the ghostly figure leaned forward and he shivered as the chill scooped him up. She turned to Teagan but he refused to look the woman in the eye. "Thanks for watching him. Let's keep this one between us."
"Of course."
Gourdy didn't fully care.
He was tired.
Tired, and cold, but the cold was okay, so he leaned heavier into Boolynski's arms as she carried him, and he hid from the lights above, and he hid until he didn't feel like hiding anymore.
Hiding took a while.
Gourdy didn't feel like not hiding, even when Boolynski stopped in her room, but nobody forced him to stop then, so he hid for a little while longer.
There were other people when he hid- Boolynski had let in two more Toons and the three even talked a bit- but Gourdy decided he didn't care. He didn't care for a while. He didn't care until he felt like caring.
When did feel like caring, he was underneath blankets.
There was a pillow under his head and blankets practically cocooning him, with a plushie cushioned in his arms, and his flame flickered curiously as he looked up.
"...found one of Yatta's candy stores, finally! I don't know how she even fits in those vents!"
"...?"
"I know she's meant to be flexible but there's gotta be a limit to it... oh, hey, Connie, your stowaway's up."
Gourdy blinked a few times when three pairs of eyes turned to him. He paused, glancing around, before gently setting the plush toy down and sitting up, watching Gigi and Flutter study him. "Are you Boolynski's friends?" He asked quietly.
"Aw! You told him about us~?" The red gachapon crooned, leaning closer to the ghost beside her.
Boolynski- Connie, he corrected- ruffled slightly before huffing. "He's a nerd. He's watched all the episodes at least twice." She reached out and set a hand on his head. "Are you with us, little man?"
Gourdy tugged at the blankets around him and nodded slowly. "Mhm... did I miss anything?"
"!!" Flutter's wings flapped as she inched closer. He blinked at her a few times, but her eyes squinted in a smile, so he hesitantly returned it. "...!"
"Besides Sprout yelling at Dandy loud enough I'd bet the Twisteds could hear it? Nope," Gigi chimed.
"Yo, Gi', lay off!"
Yelling?
Gourdy shrank down a bit and he winced. "I should go back... Mister Dancifer will be upset..."
"What?" Connie sat up straighter. "No way!"
"Yeah, no, little dude," Gigi's expression soured. She leaned back, waving a sleeve-covered hand vaguely, looking annoyed, and Flutter nodded along with her. "The basket filled us in. You're right about everything you said back in that meeting."
Miss Bloomington...?
Gourdy blinked. Flutter set a wing over his back and Connie huffed, looking away. "The isolation thing is so dumb. As someone who used to isolate, I think it's such a waste of time and energy, y'know?" The ghost grimaced before looking at him again. "We're keeping you up here until Dandy agrees."
"But I don't... I don't want to cause trouble!" Gourdy insisted, shaking his head, and he winced. "And what about the others? They're gonna be worried when I don't come back, and-"
"We've got ways to tell them," Gigi winked with a giggle, all sly.
Flutter nodded along but he... wasn't very sure.
He knew Eclipse would be waiting, likely right by the elevator, happily biding her time until he returned- and he promised Ribecca he'd help her make costumes when he got back! He was even gonna help Soulvester polish his armor today! He couldn't just not go back!
"But-"
"No buts, prince," Connie snorted. "You're officially our hostage."
"I-"
"Nope."
"Yeah, little prince, it's hostage time!" Gigi declared, scooping him up, and he yelped when she bundled him up in blankets. "We're not letting you go until the terms have been met- and if you try to escape... then the tickle monster is coming!"
Gourdy gasped when she poked at his side. It tickled. And she didn't let up, grin evil and cruel, and he broke out into a high-pitched giggle as she dug at him, ignoring his wriggling. "I yield! I yield!"
"Do you truly?!" Gigi demanded playfully.
"I do, I yield, I swear!" Gourdy laughed, thrashing as the blankets tangled. "No escape attempts!!"
Gigi barked a laugh before dropping him, leaning against Flutter, looking smug. "That's right."
Gourdy gulped down air and shook himself firmly. He grinned slightly, sitting up again, and Connie set her hat down on his head firmly.
"We've got you, kid." Connie smirked and Gourdy offered a smile in turn.
"Okay... thanks, Connie."
"Don't even mention it."