Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Did you know that roughly, more than once a month, there's a new dinosaur discovered?!” Shelly beamed. Bassie smiled back at her.

“That's crazy… there must be so many dinosaurs then!!”

“Over 700! Isn't that cool?” Bassie just loved hearing Shelly talk. Shelly could talk and talk and talk and talk for hours and Bassie would sit there and listen like a hopeless romantic. Though, realistically, the basket couldn't deny she was one.

“The T-Rex…” Bassie said idly to herself as the pair walked past a large fossil. “Such a stupid looking creature… and yet weirdly scary.”

“Some abelisaurids– like the carnotaurus– had arms that were even shorter in comparison to their bodies!! I believe… hmm…” Shelly stopped in her tracks, putting the hand that wasn't in Bassie's to her mouth in thought. “Ah! I think we have a carnotaurus fossil– or at least a model– over here!! C'mon, let's go take a look!!” The shell eagerly ran to the exhibit, dragging the basket along. Bassie had trouble staying upright for a moment but giggled as she was pulled through the museum.
The pair suddenly stopped in front of a glass panel with a skeleton behind it. Shelly raised both of her hands, displaying the fossil. “Ta-da!! The Carnotaurus!” Bassie's now free arm loosely wrapped around her girlfriend, landing gently at her hip.

“Woah… it's so… silly,” Bassie smiled, trying not to giggle.

“It is!!” Shelly smiled wider than Bassie had thought possible. “These things were super specialized for running, and it could run, like, 30, 35 miles per hour!!* Isn't that–”
(*50-60kmph)

“Yo, that you, Bassie?” Bassie immediately snapped to attention at that, putting her hand behind her back and turning her head. “Huh?” Shelly's face dropped.

“We were about to go on a run and we'd appreciate the help,” a green woman with a TV head spoke. Vee. She stood with that familiar, non-caring swagger.

“O-oh, uhm… morning run, huh..? Honey, is that… o-okay?”

“Can I–” Shelly began.

Vee hissed through her teeth. “Oof, sorry Shells, we only have one slot left and we really need a supporter…”

“Don't call me that, ” Shelly glared at the piece of scrap metal.

“Are you okay with…” Bassie turned to her girlfriend. Shelly just nodded, shooting Vee the most horrid glare as often possible, teetering on the edge of making things awkward. Vee either didn't notice or played dumb very well. Bassie gave her girlfriend a sheepish double thumbs up and began walking backwards, towards Vee and the promise of a run.

“How did someone like you pull a girl like her?” Vee said a minute or so later, breaking the silence that preceded their quick elevator trip.

“I should be asking you,” Bassie bit back. Needless to say, neither of them spoke a word the rest of the way.

“Bassie, Pebble, Sprout, Cosmo, myself, Gigi, Yatta, Vee,” Glisten counted out loud. “That's all eight– we ready to go, Vee?”

Vee nodded and Glisten hopped off of the box he was lounging on. The eight of them filed into the elevator and began their descent.

The first handful of floors went exactly as expected– Though there was quite the early blackout on floor 4. No matter, everything was typical. On floor 10, Bassie carried a few candies and stamina items, to be given to Sprout. Vee's orders. All the heals went immediately to Cosmo.

Bassie had realized in the elevator to floor 9 how unfair it was that Sprout and Cosmo got to bring their special person on this run, yet Bassie couldn't. She supposed it was because Shelly and Vee were exes. Shelly had mentioned it a few times. Bassie wondered sometimes whether Vee was jealous of her. Sometimes she wondered if Vee had emotions. Nonetheless, the elevator door opened to floor 10 and Bassie stepped out. She was quite familiar with this floor– the Easter event floor. Back when Gardenview was still open, this was where she spent a lot of her time. She'd talk to kids, promote merchandise, whatever. Autographs and selfies.

Bassie stepped around the large island outside the elevator and turned the corner, just to see… Cocoa? But her eyes were bloodshot and her ears were unkempt and her hands and feet were covered in ichor and the thing was running right at her. It hit Bassie before Cocoa had the chance– it was a twisted.

Heart pounding, lungs heaving, sudden violence overcoming. Bassie threw her fist at the twisted. Her hand hit its eye, leaving ichor behind, and splattering some on her face. Cocoa– the twisted grabbed Bassie's arm and bit down, sending waves of radiating pain through her body. She shivered. She stood there. Frozen. About to die. She squeezed her eyes shut.

BARK!

One eye opened slightly. Pebble gathered the twisted. The arm was dropped. A gaping wound poured thick black puss. Ichor. Bassie quickly continued on her way, trying her best not to wince at every step. It's not like there were any good items anyways. She picked up extraction candies and put them next to machines. Collected stamina candies for Sprout. Gave pop to Yatta and Pebble. Then just stood near the elevator for a bit.

“Get to elevator!!” Gigi yelled from across the room. Several bodies came to the elevator, one by one. Sprout was one of the last.

“Gnarly wound,” Sprout said in the elevator, pulling a cupcake out of his bag.

“Yeah,” Bassie mumbled and grabbed candies from her head. There was an awkward exchange of items.

“Sprout, you're so kind to want to take care of everyone…” it would be awkward not to thank Sprout in one way or another, right?

“Well it's nothing really!” Sprout smiled. “Just part of my nature, I guess.”

“Your nature to help others?” Bassie paused, suddenly insecure, yet more eager than ever. “Do you know what my nature is?”

“Huh? Haha… no, that's something you gotta find out yourself!” Sprout laughed, as if there was nothing weighing on her psyche.

“Right… I guess you have a point. I hope I'm kind of like you,” she brushed her skirt down. A silly nervous habit.

“Well, I think you're kind if it's worth anything.” Sprout elbowed Bassie in the arm, to which her head immediately snapped towards him.

“...thank you, Sprout.” Bassie felt a shy smile cross her face as she looked down at the floor.

Sprout glanced toward Dandy’s shop right before it sunk into the ground. There was nothing worth his tapes, really. “You good, Bassie? I know Cocoa meant– MEANS… A lot to you. I wouldn’t judge you if you wanted to just sit this one out or–”

“I’m fine, Sprout,” Bassie held up a halting hand as the metallic doors screeched open. “Thank you, though. I don’t need anything.” Independent, she kept telling herself. Independent people don’t need to sit something out, they just keep going. They're strong.

Floors began to blend together. It was always the same, after all. Pop your veemote. Run around. Pick up items. Drop them where they're supposed to go. Give them to Sprout or Pebble or by machines. Whether it had been 4 or 40 floors, Bassie found it hard to tell.

Chapter Text

Dyle hummed to himself. He had a few things to deliver to different parts of gardenview. There were several types of food to restock the kitchen, potting soil and seeds for Bassie, and teabags for Teagan. Quite the toon, Teagan was. Always aiming to please.

“U-004, U-005…” Dyle muttered to himself as he walked through the hall, reading the signs next to each door. “Ah, here we are. U-006.” He raised his hand and knocked on the door. “Miss Teagan? I have your shipment.”

“Ah, forgive my appearance,” Teagan’s voice came as the door slid open. Their room was warm and welcoming. Teagan themself was wearing a yellow robe. “Thank you very much, Dyle,” she said as she took the crate of teabags out of his hands. (It was hard not to get things in bulk in Gardenview after the place shut down.) “Care for a cup of tea? There must be black tea somewhere in here…” they dug their hand through the box of free-lying teabags.

“Apologies, but I must be off. I have a few deliveries to make. Thank you, though. Perhaps next time?”

“Perhaps,” Teagan agreed.

And with that, Dyle was off to his next destination. The kitchen.

“Mr. Seedly? Mr. Cosmo and Miss Ginger? I’d hate to interrupt, but–”

“hahahahaha… heyyyyy…” Ginger was sitting on the ground, legs out and back against the counter behind her. To her left was a bottle of some sort of pink viscous liquid labeled “stupid sauce”. She took a break from staring at her hands as if they were foreign objects and lazily looked at Dyle. Dyle narrowed his eyes in slight concern.

“Miss Ginger. Hello,” he said hesitantly, “I have brought supplies to restock the pantry. Do you require assistance for this?”

“naww, it’s fine… when mister and misses seedly are back they’ll get it.” Ginger looked suddenly, soberly confused. “Er, wait, was I supposed to get it? ehhh, whatever,” she ended by lazing back against the counter. “leave ‘em over there, timesly. i’ll get ‘em later.”

“What in the fruitcake? Alright, Miss Ginger. Take care,” Dyle said after dropping the box off next to Ginger. She immediately leaned onto it, sliding it slowly to the side. Dyle wondered if she noticed. He turned and began on his way to his final destination– Miss Bloomington’s room.

“hehehehehehe… buh-bye…”

Dyle had been to Miss Bloomington’s room enough times that he knew exactly where to go, without even needing to pay attention to the system of addresses Arthur and Delilah had set up when organizing the rooms all those years ago. Soon enough, he was at Bassie’s room.

“Miss Bloomington? I’ve brought– oh.” Dyle opened the door, confused when the familiar wicker face wasn’t the one he saw sitting on her bed. There was another woman– this one paler and with smoother skin. Must be made of some sort of bone. The woman was oddly familiar, but Dyle couldn’t put his finger on who she was. She sat on Bassie’s bed, holding some fabric, thread, and needles. She looked up from her work.

“Oh, Dyle! Hello,” she said.

“Hello, Ma’am. What may you be doing in Miss Bloomington’s room?”

“Oh, she just went out on a run. I’m sure she’ll be back soon!” The woman smiled as she proceeded work on her fabric. “What brings you here?”

“I have a delivery for her. Do you happen to know her, Ma’am?”

The woman paused. Quiet fell over the two of them for a moment. Slowly, she spoke up. “Yes, I happen to know her. Fairly closely, actually.

“Wonderful, would she like the supplies here or directly in the greenhouse?” Dyle asked.

“Here is fine, Dyle, thank you.” She spoke with an agitated tone.

“What might your name be, Ma’am? So I can ensure the package ends up in the correct hands.”

“Shelly,” she said, looking up at Dyle. “Shelly Fossilian. I’m her girlfriend.”

Suddenly, recognition and realization hit Dyle like a truck. He had been talking to a fellow Main this whole time. He suddenly felt embarrassed. Not a typical feeling for him to have. “O-oh, dearest apologies, Miss Fossilian! I fear I did not recognise you. This lighting–”

“No, it’s okay,” Shelly said, resigned, “I’m used to it. Don’t worry. Here is fine, thank you Dyle. You may be on your way now.”

Dyle set down the heavy, heavy box to the left of the doorframe and began to step out. “Dearest apologies again Miss Fossilian, Genuinely–”

“Goodbye, Dyle.”

---

As the elevator door opened to floor floor 22, Bassie felt a sort of fog fall over her mind. It wasn’t clear– it became sort of hard to think.

“Rodger said something about a twisted with, like, powers to confuse you when we were babysitting toodles the other day. Can’t remember who though, shame,” Glisten piped up, eyes partially closed. The world was just slightly spinning, as if it hadn't quite come to a stop.

“Right… Pebble, you still good to distract?” Vee asked. Pebble barked in return. “Try not to get hurt, Silly. Remember, Dandy’s gonna kill me if you come back harmed.” He wagged his tail.

The elevator doors screeched open and people began on their way. It was one of many diner floors. Bassie ran to the closest machine she could find and used Vee’s Remote– she had borrowed it– and instantly completed the first machine she saw. Before she knew it, half of the machines for the floor were done. She began walking around the floor, looking for good items. She stored a box of chocolates for Pebble later. That was about it, at least so far.

Bassie turned into one of the two side rooms, where people sat and ate back in the day. Once or twice she’d come out and meet kids while they were eating. It wasn’t typical, though, at least not for her.

Bassie was met with something horrifying. Its head strangely familiar, its torso made of ichor-soaked bone. It dripped onto the floor slowly, painfully slowly. Drip… drop… drip… drop… drip… drop… it towered over her with a look of manic excitement. Its eyes were red, with black ichor oozing from them. Tears? Ichor leaked from the side of its head, leaving small puddles on the ground. Drip… drop… drip… drop… drip… drop. The ichor seemed to pulsate on the floor.

“Hey– hey I know you!” she yelled. The vertical, wandering creature with swaying arms became horizontal, lunging at her at a quickened pace. “I KNOW YOU!!” Tears filled her eyes. She turned and ran. “PEBBLE!!!” WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!” Bassie felt her ragged breaths. Tearing at her chest. Her sobs. Rippling through her body. Yet she ran. She saw Pebble. He barked. Shelly ran towards him.

Bassie stood. Winded. Gasping for air. Tired. So, so tired. For a while she watched Pebble. Dazed. There was something hypnotizing about watching him run in circles. Calming. A sort of trance that could only be broken by a pinata yelling your name from afar and telling you to come collect a box of chocolates that she dropped.

Body light as feathers, she returned to the elevator during panic mode. They made sure to pick up all the research capsules. Get seen by all the twisteds. They still needed research, after all. Especially on a main character’s twisted like Shelly.
Every floor became a grueling journey of trying not to think about what she had seen, standing strong and independent. She was lightheaded for a long while after the floor was over.

---

“Ya look pretty fucked up,” Vee mused. that fucking piece of– “Eyes all red, lookin spacey… you sure you’re not gonna twist?”

“That is… such a horrible thing to say,” Bassie began quietly. “Why would you say something like that..?” Bassie still wasn’t fully back to her normal self after that floor– though if it was her mind or the twisted she didn’t know.

“Floor goal is 50, you sure you gonna make it that far? We’re hardly halfway.”

“Yes, Vee. I’m… I’m fine.” A dependent person would be upset after that. An independent person would just move on. So why did she still feel so scared? Ripples of memory ran through her, just gentle enough not to show on her face. Heavy footsteps radiated from outside of the elevator.

“Shit,” Vee said, “Peb, you’re gonna distract twisted Pebble. Yatta, got the commons?”

“YESSS!! I have a spare box of chocolates!!!!”

“Bassie–” She perked up at Vee saying her name– “Give a box of chocolates to Pebble. He might need it.”

“On it.” She placed a box of chocolates right on Pebble’s back– partially to see what he did with it. Miraculously, it just sort of… phased into his body. It was like an inventory. Bassie narrowed her eyes in confusion. There was no time to ponder, though, as the elevator door opened. “Vee.” The machine turned her head. “Um… walk with me…?” It was meant to be one of those “I’m cool, do this for me” commands, but it ended up more as a hesitant mumble. It wasn’t like her to make commands, after all.

“So…” Bassie said, wandering next to Vee. Vee walked weirdly slowly. Bassie caught herself walking ahead a couple times and had to slow down to match her pace. “How’s your day?”

“You’ve been here for most of it,” Vee said. They were a few hours into their run, and it was likely around lunch time, so that made sense. “Finding you was hell.”

“Ha… sorry…” Vee walked up to a machine and began work. Bassie leaned against the wall next to it.

“But, ya know, Berryboy said to just look for Shelly. He– WE figured you’d be wherever she was.”

“Oh… I suppose… so.” Was this dependance? Why was she still scared of being dependent? It’s not like she could be taken off of any lists, not since Gardenview was abandoned.

“I suppose he was right, hm? I don’t know why you like her so much.” Vee finished the machine with one final twist of the valve. The two of them continued onto the next one, conveniently close to the first.

“Hm…” Bassie was deep in thought. Vee started work on the machine, seemingly not having a care in the world. “I… have a question.”

“Ask away! Questions and answers are my life after all,” Vee said with a flair.

“What… happened between you and Shelly?” Vee failed a skillcheck. Bassie bristled. “I didn’t– I mean– only if you–” she stumbled over her words. Vee gave her a death glare.

“MEDKIT!!! BASSIE, WHERE ARE YOU?!” Gigi called out.

“C-coming!!” The basket would take any excuse to get out of there at that moment. “Sorry, Vee, can’t stay and chat… you understand…” and she ran away.

“Thank you, Gigi,” Bassie said as she picked up the medkit.

“‘Course,” Gigi smiled. “Hey, it says gullible on the ceiling over here.”

“...no it doesn’t.” Bassie wouldn’t give the gachapon the satisfaction of glancing up.

“Honest!! On my dust collection.”

Bassie caved and looked up. Nothing. “Oh…”

“Mwehehehehe…”