Chapter Text
Garden View Educational and Museum is a place where children and adults go to be entertained and to learn. The cartoony figures that roam its halls are always happy to perform, making the place feel alive. Nothing ever goes wrong, and the handlers are always fair.
At least, that’s what the public sees.
Not Dandy.
Not him.
The mascot of it all awoke with a jolt to the blaring sound of his alarm. 5 AM. The time he had to wake up every day.
As much as he wanted to stay in bed, he knew Daven wouldn't be happy about that. The cold air sent a shiver through his body as he dragged himself to the bathroom, barely able to keep his eyes open. He stared at himself in the mirror while brushing his teeth, the bright colors of his petals almost too much to look at this early in the morning.
Just another day. Just another performance.
Dandy left the bathroom after giving himself a half-hearted pep talk, practicing his winning smile as he glanced at the rings of Polaroids hanging above his bed. His smile faltered. They were pictures of his friends. Shelly, Pebble, Vee, Sprout, Astro. Every photo had a date. Every photo held memories he’d never get to relive. The real them—the ones from back then.
The dates were getting older. The memories were fading.
No, no-
Dandy shook his head and turned away. No use thinking about it now. No use… That’s what Daven always said. He pushed open his bedroom door, forcing a grin. He had to be ready for anything. Expect the unexpected—that’s what the Handlers always told them. He was fine.
He was fine.
Laughter echoed through the lobby as Dandy dashed around, the giggles of children ringing in his ears.
"Tag!"
A child jabbed his shoulder, harder than necessary. He barely stopped himself from wincing, instead grinning and taking off again. His legs burned. He hadn’t sat down all day.
Across the room, he caught sight of Astro’s Handler, Austin, watching him. The man’s face was tense, gaze shifting toward Astro, who was pacing back and forth, mumbling to himself.
Dandy nearly stopped mid-sprint, confused.
What was going on?
But then-
"Laugh, Dandy. Play."
The thought snapped him back to the present. He was still on shift. He’d ask Astro about it later. Dandy went back to chasing the young child filled with energy and playfulness, unaware of his drained body. It's not like he blamed the children for anything, it's not their fault for any of this... It never was, they're just kids after all. If anything, the handlers were to blame. He always hated them despite how kind they might act, he knew the truth. The truth. The truth-
Ugh! He needed to get his head straight. He just had to make it through another 20 minutes as that was when his break started.
Just 20 minutes.
He could do that.
Break time was 10 minutes late. He had been forced to play just a little longer despite
Dandy knocked on Astro’s door, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Sweat dripped down his face.
"A-Astro?"
He called, still trying to catch his breath. The door creaked open, revealing a single glowing star in the dark.
Astro.
His best friend.
"Dandy… You look—"
"-Overworked? Hahh- ahh—yeah, I know!"
Dandy forced out, barely able to speak through his exhaustion. He coughed into his hand, forcing himself to get a few deep breaths before continuing.
"I was actually wondering if… you were okay. You seemed… busy? With Austin earlier."
Astro blinked before stepping aside, letting Dandy inside. The room’s cool air was a relief.
"Oh. Right. That."
"You don’t gotta tell me if you don’t want to,"
Dandy quickly reassured the soft blue carpet beneath his feet. Astro hesitated, shifting uncomfortably before sighing.
"I’m just… I’m so tired."
Dandy frowned.
"Yeah, well, me too,"
He chuckled weakly.
"Welcome to the club."
"No, I mean- really tired."
Astro murmured, rubbing his arms.
"Not just… physically. I don’t wanna do this anymore."
Dandy’s breath hitched. Oh no... No no...
"Do… what?"
"Everything."
Astro’s voice cracked.
"The children. The people. Garden View. I can't do this anymore. I'm so-so tired, Dandy!"
Tears welled in his eyes, and in an instant, Dandy was at his side, pulling him into a tight hug.
"I don’t—I’m so exhausted!"
Astro sobbed, arms trembling as he gripped Dandy’s back. His extra arms, arms he was always told to keep hidden, wrapped tightly around his friend. Dandy stiffened.
"You've been doing this a-as long as me, you must be exhausted! Everyone must be exhausted!"
Astro cried, pressing his face into Dandy’s shoulder. The mascot didn’t answer. His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He was drained. He always had been... But he couldn’t say that. No one could know that.
"M-maybe if I tell Austin, he’ll-"
"NO!"
Astro flinched, pulling back in alarm. Dandy’s eyes were wide. Wild.
"No-!"
He swallowed hard, forcing his voice steady.
"Sorry, but—no. You can’t tell him."
Astro hesitated.
"W-well… what about Dalilah? Or Arthur?"
"Not them either!"
"But Dandy-"
"You can't tell anyone!"
Dandy was standing now, breath uneven, panic flashing in his eyes.
"Please. I can’t-"
He clamped his mouth shut. He had almost said too much. Dandy gritted his teeth as he tried to choose his next set of words carefully.
"I... Can't... I can't let them, uh, worry about you too much..."
Astro has an expression that is a mix of different things. Confusion? Apprehension? Disbelief?
"What… What is that supposed to mean?"
"Look- just don’t tell any of the Handlers. Or the Founders. Or anyone. Please, promise me that!"
Astro had never seen him like this. Something was wrong. Dandy was scared.
But he nodded anyway.
"Okay."
Dandy exhaled shakily, his tense shoulders dropping. He forced a grin.
"Good! So, uh… you wanna do something?"
Astro looked away. His hands curled into fists.
"No. Just…"
He took a deep breath.
"Just leave me alone."
Dandy’s smile wavered. He wanted to stay—to help—but if that’s what Astro wanted…
He nodded.
"Alright."
He waved and as he stepped out, he almost felt his heart sink a little.
Astro didn’t wave back.