Chapter Text
“No…”
Bassie’s hands gripped the ichor-stained paper, fingers trembling as her eyes darted from line to line.
Arthur,
I think it’s time we replaced her with Cocoa. A bunny mascot would be far more ideal than a basket, they are, after all, the face of Easter itself. On the other hand, Bassie is just too dependent to be a “main” class toon.
I did try to give her a chance, as you suggested, but it just doesn’t seem to be working.
I will go through with this plan, even if you protest at it. Do not worry about the dirty work, I will handle it.
Delilah Keen
The paper slipped out of Bassie’s hands, dancing through the air before sweeping to a stop at her feet.
It felt like her heart slipped out with it, shattering on impact and scattering all over the floor.
Tears rebelliously fell out of her eyes, staining the paper further.
‘I thought… I thought I was finally doing good enough….” She sobbed. “I thought I was finally good enough…!”
The ability to keep herself upright seemed to vanish, and before she knew it, her knees had hit the floor painfully, her body crumpling up like a sack of potatoes.
“So why…? I tried, I really tried to be perfect, I even changed my personality, I changed everything about myself, just to make you happy…”
So why aren’t you satisfied…?
Bassie didn’t know how long she spent in that room. It could be hours, maybe even days. She couldn’t tell, not in the darkness and certainly not with the cascade of a million emotions eating away at her.
All she knew was when she exited the room, the night had long since fallen, the stars strung up high against a black sky, twinkling in an oddly mesmerising way.
She would’ve appreciated the scene if her thoughts weren’t constantly threatening to swallow her whole.
The walk to her room was barely felt; it was like her legs were moving on autopilot. The moment she got to her room, she fell onto her bed and instantly fell asleep, having no more tears to cry.
—-🌷—-
The next day, Bassie woke up to the sound of a rapid staccato of knocking at her door.
“One minute!” Did she sound normal? Crap, she should see if she looked like a mess from crying last night-
Thankfully, nothing was really out of place, it was just her eyes that were a tinge redder than usual.
She cracked the door open a sliver, poking her head out slightly to see who it was.
A familiar, energetic voice floated into her ears.
“Hey Bassie! You’ve been shut in your room since yesterday, we couldn’t even wake you up for dinner… Bassie? You there?” Cocoa said as she bobbed up and down outside Bassie’s room, not entering but still risking a few peeks in from the outside.
“Yes! Yes, I am.” Bassie huffed, somewhat exasperated. “Who else could it be?”
“Ah, well, I was wondering if you’d join us for the picnic? Eggson’s waiting for you, he really wants to see you! Ooh, and! We brought you some new flowers! So can you come out? Pleasee?”
Bassie opened her mouth, initially planning to give a harsh refusal, but then a thought struck her.
Why was she refusing? After all, if her days were oh so limited, why spend the rest of it moping away when she could try to enjoy herself, free from the burden of expectation?
So instead, her mouth softened into a smile, and what came out was,
“Yes. I'll be outside with you in just a moment, wait for me, alright?”
Cocoa looked absolutely shocked. Normally it would take so much more than this to get Bassie to even budge!
“O-okay!”
Bassie closed the door softly, and almost instantly, muffled whoops and cheers of celebration were heard. She exhaled a breath of laughter. This was all she needed to do to get her going, huh?
Typical Cocoa.
—-🌷—-
After fixing herself up and making sure she wouldn’t look ready to break down, she pushed the door open.
Cocoa was sitting on the floor, fidgeting with a bonbon in her hand, seemingly lost in thought.
“Cocoa? I’m ready.”
Cocoa snapped her head up, a startled expression plain on her face. Realizing who it was, her face morphed into a grin.
“Oh hey Bassie! You were in there for so long, I thought you weren’t gonna come out again…”
Bassie looked at the clock stuck onto the wall of the hallway.
“It’s only been 5 minutes Cocoa.” she deadpanned.
Cocoa let out a small huff. “Well, it felt like a long time to me at least!”
Bassie rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes. Well, I suppose we should get going now?”
Cocoa’s eyes instantly lit up. “Yeah! C’mon, you wouldn’t wanna miss it!”
And off the pair went, the bunny dragging the basket. Cocoa was laughing and talking about something along the way, but Bassie couldn’t really hear her. Her eyes were glued, stuck on Cocoa.
Cocoa looked so carefree, her eyes so full of life, her entire being simply radiating happiness…
She looked so free, even when she was as trapped as Bassie was.
…Maybe Cocoa really was always the better one. Maybe, just maybe, Delilah was right in trying to replace her. And maybe, if being replaced didn’t mean her death, she wouldn’t have fought it so hard.
Maybe.
She could faintly hear Cocoa saying something about nearly arriving, and heard herself mumble out a response in return.
Bassie knew that Cocoa was kind, well-meaning and always ready to help when needed. So she knew that when she disappeared, the children would be in good, maybe even better hands.
So when the day comes for the spotlight to turn and shine on Cocoa, which it will…
Cocoa turned a corner, revealing to Bassie the two other Easter Toons in the distance.
…She wouldn’t be too disappointed.
“Bassie! My young child, you came earlier than expected! How are you my dear?”
Bassie’s lips curled into a practiced smile, eyes shining with things left unsaid.
“Hello, Eggson, Flyte. How are you today?”
For now, she’ll just enjoy the few precious moments she has and spend them with her dear friends.