Archive of Our Own ^beta

 Ginger was so hungry… she shook, ichor covering her hair and around her face. She slumped into a corner, clutching her stomach. Could she even eat? She reached for a chocolate bar, even though it burned to try and move anything. Sinking her teeth into the old chocolate, she felt sick. Ginger closed her eyes for just a second, gagging. It wasn’t worth it. She shouldn’t have gone down alone. Ichor poured out of her mouth. She was starving. Ginger chewed on her fingertips. Unlike anything she could ever hope to make, it was delicious. It wasn’t enough. She kept gnawing, but she was still hungry. The only thing she could think of was eating more. Ginger didn’t even hear the elevator door open.

 Bobette tapped her foot. She had to be here. They’d been on how many floors? At least nobody was hurt. Rudie had a few scratches, but he would be fine. He was tough. Bobette pressed herself up against the door. Please. 

“Hey, Bobette? Are you okay?” Rudie questioned.

Of course not, Bobette thought, “All set! How about you? Feeling okay?” Bobette cheerily asked.

“Uh… yeah.” Rudie responded, “I miss Ginger. We’ll find her, right?”

Bobette’s heart sank. What if they didn’t? Rudie needed the hope. Everyone did. Sprout might not believe it, but she wanted to.

“Of course we will, buddy!” She smiled, was she convincing enough?

The door opened. Bobette rushed out, looking around. Coal stuck close by, sniffing the ground. She made a low woof, and then a whine. Bobette swallowed.

Bobette pet Coal’s side, “Lead the way, girl. Go on.” Her voice cracked.

Turning the corner, she finally saw Ginger. There was some ichor in her hair, but it was Ginger! Coal tugged on her sweater, trying to pull her back. Bobette ignored the growl, going closer. What was she doing? Bobette felt like throwing up. Ginger’s arm. It was gone, the toon eating it off in her own ichor-fueled stupor. She had to stop her! She raced forward, but Ginger didn’t even look. Bobette tore Ginger’s arm away from her mouth, turning Ginger to face her.

Everything was a little fuzzy. Something, someone was there. Ginger blearily snapped her attention towards the toon. Bobette! Ginger thought for a second, before coming to a horrifying realization. She couldn’t stop herself. Ginger cried, anguished, as she tried to stop herself from harming Bobette, but even making such a small noise made her insides burn. Her legs were moving on their own, and Ginger lurched backward in pain as she tried to turn around. Why was Bobette getting closer?

Ginger would never hurt her, surely. She looked so hurt, Her face spilling ichor like the wound was new. Bobette cried as Ginger tried to escape, her movements harsh and scared. 

“Ginger, it’s me! You recognize me, don’t you?” Bobette yelled, “Come on, Ginger!”

Bobette fell to the ground as Ginger swiped at her. She touched her head, feeling a shard of it cut into her hand. She looked up at Ginger, who had ichor dripping from her eyes. Hoofbeats raced down the hall, Rudie slamming into Ginger, knocking her into the wall. Bobette stood up, and Coal pulled her and Rudie away. Ginger looked like she was going to vomit. She was on the ground, not moving. From behind a shelf, Bobette could see her get back up, ichor oozing from her mouth. 

Rudie shook, and Bobette held him tightly, “You’ll be okay. You’re so strong, Rudie. Make sure to thank Cosmo and Sprout when they heal you. Be good to Coal.” 

“What are you talking about?” Rudie cried, “Bobette? I’m scared.”

Bobette smiled, ever warm, “Don’t be scared. Coal will keep you company.”

She lifted Coal, placing her into a box. She pushed Rudie in too, making sure there was enough air for them to breathe, but making sure it was tight enough for them to not stop her.

Ginger gasped for air. How could she hurt Bobette? How could she not? She staggered, blinking slowly. Who was running closer? Looking up, she saw her again. No Coal, no Rudie. Just beauty.

Cosmo rushed over to where Sprout told him to. Someone was hurt, and Sprout hadn’t had enough tapes, so Cosmo had to help out. Not that he minded, of course. They had to find his cousin! He went through a doorway, looking out for a twisted. He gasped when he saw them.

Bobette held Ginger as best she could. Her head started to hurt, but it would be worth it. She knew why Ginger had gone down. All she wanted was to help the others. How could anyone be so ungrateful? Nobody appreciated what Ginger had ever tried to do for them. It was just her job. It was just a role. That was all they wanted her for. But Bobette wanted Ginger. Did any toon appreciate them? What either of them put their hearts into making? Maybe Bobette wanted something for Christmas other than food made for everyone and Rudie’s macaroni art. She felt red-hot anger course through her, along with the pain of Ginger’s embrace. She was torn apart, wound messily opened, like a present. 

Cosmo hid behind the shelf, staring in horror as Bobette clutched Ginger close to her. It was too risky to get closer. Could he do anything? 

“Cosmo?” Rudie’s shaky voice came from a hastily-wrapped box, “What’s going on?”

Cosmo heard the awful sound of gore. He winced, looking towards the box. He couldn’t let Rudie see. He tipped the box carefully, opening it. He grabbed Rudie’s hand, pulling him out of the box. Coal whined as she stepped out, Her eyes wide and watery. 

Cosmo held Rudie’s hoof, “Come on. We need to get off this floor.”

Ginger saw her reflection in Bobette’s radiance. She went limp for a moment in her warmth, but couldn’t hug her back. Her hand slammed into Bobette, clawing at her like an animal. No, no, please. Ginger pleaded with herself, knowing she couldn’t do anything. Everything burned, but nothing could be worse than seeing what she had done, Bobette’s head gushing ichor and her sweater stained from under the thick fabric. The only thing she could do was cry. Ginger’s tears seeped into Bobette’s wounds like gauze. It was a piteous sight. 

 Rudie knew what happened. How could he not know? How could he forget how Bobette just died? He wouldn’t see her again, would he? He sniffled, heading towards one of the last machines. Were Cosmo and Sprout waiting? Was Coal? Rudie picked up an extraction speed candy, hoping he could leave sooner than later. Bobette looked so different. Rudie just wanted a piece of candy. She swung at him, and all Rudie could think about was her scooping him up like he was a calf again. He wanted Bobette and Ginger back and for all of this to be some bad dream. He hoped Coal would be okay. 

 Bobette smiled. She didn’t want to. Not at all. Not when Rudie was looking at her so scared. Not when she left them all alone. All she really wanted was to be with everyone. It wasn’t worth it.