#rito's posts

It was just another day in Shanon's house, it seemed.

Vee was on the couch, playing the same old song she loved playing on her guitar every day, Shanon was nearby and just reading one of her favorite dinosaur books on the chair nearby, Shelly on the floor and sewing up one of her usual dinosaur plushies. It was peaceful... Oddly so, usually there was some playful teasing going on, either Shelly cuddling up to Vee's side and begging her to stop and play with her or Vee overly loudly (and dramatically) begging Shelly for dinosaur facts or "she'd fall over dead from the lack of wife time". Even if they didn't want to do their usual shenanigans, they usually were at least talking to each other- or looking at each other. Shanon raised an eyebrow as she closed her book, though before she could say anything, Vee set her guitar down and smoothed out her band shirt. It was just a shirt that said "Generic band shirt". They found it at a thrift store the week before and Vee found it absolutely hilarious, so they had to get it, even if it was a bit too big for her.

"Okay, Shells, you haven't said shit since you got up this morning, and I usually don't get nosey but your mom's worried so I'm gonna be a nosey bitch. What's wrong?" Vee very dramatically stated as she soon very dramatically flopped onto the carpeted floor beside the fossil, who just looked at her funny as her tail slightly wagged.

"What makes you think I'm not okay?"

"Your mom-"

"Vee... Be serious for once..." Shelly sighed as she shook her head, shifting so she was sitting more on her left side, her legs tucked against her right, her gaze now fully focused on the robot beside her. Vee just squinted her neon (literally) green eyes at her, scrunching her nose (despite it not existing) up in slight annoyance.

"No, I was being extremely serious, once Shanon gets concerned I get concerned. She's your mom, Shells, she knows when something's wrong. And don't lie to us, if you lie we'll have to get the tickle monster involved." Vee pointed out as she sat up, sitting cross legged as she stared directly into the fossil's eyes, her mic tail swaying menacingly behind her. Warning her that she was serious, that this wasn't silly goofy play time - she was dead serious about tickling her if she didn't find out what was wrong. Shelly raised an eyebrow, way too used to her shenanigans at this point to even be slightly scared, while Shanon just leaned forward in her seat in pure interest in what was happening right now. She never thought she'd see the two reverse like this- to see Vee being the one to check up on Shelly while Shelly just blankly stared at her like she was stupid for thinking something was up with her.

This wasn't normal, but it sure was interesting.

"Look, Vee, as much as I appreciate you and mom worrying your little heads off about me, if something was wrong I would've said something about it by now. You know me, I don't pretend I'm okay just to make people happy, I would tell you when I'm feeling off."

"Not unless you need the tickle monster~" Vee teased, getting a scoff from Shelly as she crossed her arms.

"Vee I told you I'm alright, I just didn't want to talk much today."

"Uh-huh and the sky is definitely orange right now, totally." Vee replied with a roll of her eyes, getting an annoyed sigh from the fossil as she shook her head and picked up her project again. Neither had noticed that their mom had snuck up behind them and was sitting right in their shared blind spot, waiting for the two to end their conversation as she smiled a not so innocent smile.

"Vee I swear I'm okay, you worry way too much about me. Sometimes your dinosaur trivia goddess needs a day to recharge, my love."

"And your adhd ridden goblin of a wife demands attention- wait you remembered that show?"

"...Vee, why would I forget that..?"

"I forget a lotta things." Vee bluntly admitted with a shrug, not even caring that both her sleeve fell off her left shoulder or that her mic tail was now being held. "I sometimes forget to eat and I feel all weird all day lol"

"Vee... God what am I gonna- why are you touching my side-?"

"I'm not touching you at all..?"

"Oh but I am, girls." Shanon gently interrupted with a huge grin. The two immediately looked at her in confusion, then shock, then it hit them- the mom tickles. She expertly tickled the two in their weakest spots at the same time, making the two both burst out laughing hysterically while she just smiled all innocently, as a mom tormenting her kids would.

"Oh boy, why are you both so squirmy now? I was just checking up on you, I didn't even tell a joke yet." Shanon softly questioned as she pulled them both closer, smiling even more as Shelly kicked her with a breathless wheeze. The two were hysterical, Vee completely flopped against her now and gripping her shirt tight as she attempted to plead with her mom for mercy while Shelly kicked and wiggled and honestly lost it laughing.

"MAHAHAHAMA YOU JEEEERRRRK HAHAHA!"

"Oh I'm so cruel, aren't I Shelly?"

"MAHAHAHAHAMA PLE-EHEHEHE-ASE!!!"

"Then admit you're feeling better, my little sunshine." Shanon cooed softly as she paused just to kiss Shelly's head, getting nuzzled softly in return. Vee took a heavy breath at the pause and just slowly laid down into a loaf beside Shanon, shaking as she caught herself after such a sudden surprise attack, giggling as she hid her real weak spot from their caretaker so she couldn't reach it and catch her completely off guard again. Shanon looked between the two, then smiled warmly as she looked back down at her fossil daughter, the one now snug against her side, her face stuffed in her vintage Jurassic Park shirt with her tail wagging behind her, her hands curled up in the black fabric of her shirt. The one who was staring back up at her with a smile and a look of "I feel better now" in her eyes, the same old look she'd give her back at Gardenview after a much needed tickle attack there too after weeks of no visitors to play with. Shanon smiled the widest at that, pulling Shelly just a little closer to herself with a soft sigh.

"You promise me you're better, Shellers?"

"Yup, all better mom, thank you." Shelly whispered softly into her mom's side, only turning away from her to go back to watching whatever generic dinosaur kids show was on the tv now. Vee sat up at that, looked at her fossil wife, then just looked at the tv, then at their mom. Technically her mother in law- but mom regardless.

"I'm fine too mom-"

"Oh Vee, I know you were fine all day, your laughs are just too adorable to resist attacking you too." Shanon stated with a nod, getting an offended gasp from the robot as she put a hand to her chest.

"Mother!" Vee dramatically cried out, turning away with the drama of a teenager who was just called out for still being passionate about something they loved as a kid despite their emo phase. "How could you?! Such betrayal!!"

"Heh I know I'm sooooo evil... How about I make it up with dino nuggets and smiley fries for dinner?" Shanon suggested, getting excited looks from the two before Vee caught herself and rolled her eyes as she flopped against the human with a shrug. Shanon just pulled her close anyways, knowing all too well the sass was just Vee attempting to hold a grudge and failing miserably.

"Fine... I guess that's good enough for me."

"You know I love you, Vee. We know you love me too, honey."

"I do... But I do hold grudges too, mom." Vee teased with a smile, getting giggles out of the two as they all huddled close to each other on the floor, none of them batting an eye as Vee took out her remote and started flicking through the channels to find something more entertaining to watch. That was just their normal, their odd little normal, just the way they liked it. Their weird little normal of cuddling on the floor together after a quick tickle attack to make life just a little easier to deal with... Their happy little normal, even the normality of Vee putting on a different generic kids show about dinosaurs after a few minutes of mindlessly flicking through channels was a happy normal.

It was just another spring afternoon, the sun was shining, the flowers were blooming, and Sprout was smiling- in his garden, just resting against the tree that's been there since before he even tried gardening. He was in muddy jeans and had a bit of dirt on his plain green t-shirt, but he was okay with that- that just came with the garden after all. It was hard work maintaining it, but it was so worth it whenever he could just come out into the back and cozy up nearby and just enjoy the sweet smells of the flowers and the berries he was growing.

Just like he was now, arms behind his head, eyes peacefully closed, a gentle smile on his face.

Perfect. Perfectly peaceful. Just how he wanted it. He was honestly starting to doze off like this, his entire body slowly relaxing deep into the tree behind him and the grass under him, his posture slouching as he drifted off a little bit. He was so ready to sleep that he didn't bat an eye when he heard the back door open and close, when he heard the soft footsteps soon approach or even when he felt the presence beside him sit down nearby. He knew who it was, there were only two toons that went out there and the one who usually causes chaos wasn't home- so he knew who it was.

"Heya Cookie."

"Hey Sprout, you know you shouldn't leave your stomach so exposed like that, right?"

"...Cosmo what in the world is that supposed to mean..?" Sprout immediately asked as he turned and opened his eyes, looking at the swissroll beside him, who just wagged his tail innocently as he stared at him with his mismatched eyes and crooked, semi-twisted smile. It would've scared Sprout a little if he didn't know why he smiled like that now.

"I'm surprised you have no idea what I'm talking about, sweetie." Cosmo softly teased, getting a squint from the strawberry beside him.

"I am genuinely clueless right now."

"Do you want me to remind you~?"

"I... I don't know if I trust that smile Cosmo, you're actually slightly terrifying right now." Sprout admitted as he slightly sat up, though Cosmo gently stopped him with a slightly more devious smile. Sprout just stared at the deviously smiling revived twisted like he was insane, then paused and thought about it a second. Of course he's insane, who could go through being a twisted for like, five years, suddenly be saved by their boyfriend, kidnapped and taken in by both him and his ex co-worker and be treated like nothing ever happened to him and be sane? Sprout nodded a little at that as he leaned against the tree, content with that reasoning for Cosmo's behavior, even though he was still completely missing the point. Missing all the subtle clues that Cosmo was in complete ler mode and teasing him relentlessly before he struck...

That was until he was too late to stop it.

"I think its time to remind you that I'm willing to tickle you too." Cosmo bluntly informed him, and before Sprout could even say a word, Cosmo was sitting on his lap and very softly tracing shapes on the other's chest, getting the usual fit of confused giggles from the berry as he simply allowed this to happen pfft

"What are you-?"

"Mmmm... You know what Im doing..."

"Teasing me isn't going to get you anywhere- HEHEHE COSMO WHAT THE FUHUHUHUHUCK-"

"I was seeing where you reacted more, simple test." Cosmo very casually replied as he expertly tickled his chest and the upper sides of his torso, getting squeals and laughs from the berry under him as he tried to get away, but he failed horribly as he just very weakly put his hands on his shoulders and shoved him as he laughed hysterically. The force was that of a toddler, Cosmo didn't even budge, Sprout was too hysterical to care. It made the sweetroll giggle a bit, it was adorable and honestly a little pathetic, but in that special way that made it so cute. Cosmo soon tickled his shoulder, right beside his neck, gettin a confused squeal from the berry as he shook his head and shrugged a little, trying to get him off - but Cosmo didn't let up. He just laughed a little more at how adorable this display was, moving his hands to see where else he could get a reaction like that- to see if he could make him squeal and loudly cry out for mercy between laughs.

He found exactly what he was looking for at spot his ribs met his stomach, as the second he tickled there the berry let out a hysterical laugh-scream before a similarly loud plea for mercy between the loudest laughs Cosmo had ever heard come out of the other. He watched as Sprout squirmed to get free, watched as he tried weakly shoving his arms between himself and the other's tickling hands to try to stop the onslaught, soon looking up at his scrunched up face and the tears running down it from laughing way too hard. Cosmo was in awe at the sight of it, the sight of Sprout fully letting himself accept the love and tickles and even letting himself laugh as loudly as he wanted without a sign of shame anywhere- he was so beautiful like this. Cosmo couldn't help but grin even more at how perfect this was, though he soon did slow the tickle attack down to a stop despite it being so beautiful, just flopping into the other and giving him a tight hug in a silently plea for mercy. Sprout hugged him tightly right back when he had calmed down enough to, sniffling as he wiped his tears away with one arm and holding the sweetroll close with the other. Their tails both were wagging intensely at that point, both were happy and content there, even if Sprout was still a fit of sleepy giggles.

"When you said I should rest more, I did NOT think you meant "let my guard down so you tickle me more", Cosmo." Sprout softly teased when he had calmed back down, giving his partner a kiss on the top of his head as his tail wagged intensely from the pure comfort and joy he felt right now. Cosmo just shrugged as he snuggled close, feeling cozy and comfortable against the other, especially when the berry slowly started rubbing his back and held him a little tighter.

"I said that so you'd take better care of yourself, the tickles are just a bonus." He replied honestly, getting a soft, tired giggle from the other as he nodded and yawned softly.

"Yeah... That checks out... Sounds like you, Cosmo. You really haven't changed a bit... Though you're stuck in my trap now too, I'm sleepy and I'm gonna fall asleep cuddling youuuuu~" Sprout teased, getting a good laugh out of Cosmo as he just snuggled closer and got comfortable.

"Is that why you came out here? To take a nap?"

"Yyyyyyup..."

"Oh, pfft, sorry I ruined that for you then."

"You never ruin a thing for me you silly goose... You're too precious to ruin a thing..." Sprout softly reassured, giving Cosmo another soft squeeze and a gentle kiss on the head. Cosmo just nodded again, took a deep breath, then he relaxed a little more and nuzzled just a little closer.

"Alright... I love you."

"I love you too, Cozzie. You're too sweet..."

"I am a sweetroll after all!"

"Pfft, that was... Kinda funny..."

"I think you're just too drowsy for your own good, go ahead and sleep alright?" Cosmo stated softly, getting a slow nod from the other, who just yawned in reply before he patted his back softly a little more before he was still and fast asleep in his usual spot under his tree. Cosmo just rested against him, smiling as he wagged his tail even faster and just- relaxed. He wasn't tired, but he wasn't willing to move, so he just enjoyed the quiet bonding time while he could. He even slowly reached up and started messing with the other's leafy hair, which got a sleepy lil smile out of the berry as he slept.

Adorable... Just like he remembered him being back at Gardenview, serious when he was in front of crowds- but an adorable little guy when he was alone with someone he trusted. Cosmo cherished that, especially right now, as he gently stroked his hair and watched his sleepy smile grow more and more from the comforting feeling he had grown to love.

He would forever be grateful he got to wake up to see that absolute goof of a guy every day again, even if he never fully would admit it. He adored every little bit of that doofus... Even when Sprout wasn't awake to see it. They were perfect for each other... And not even twisting could seperate them. Especially not now as they laid together under the tree in their backyard, both just resting, both safe and sound and cozy. As they should be.

The air was cool that night, the hallways were dark, minus the dim glow of the robot's screen illuminating a small area around her. The two were in their pajamas, their sock covered feet hitting the floor softly as they walked side by side, hand in hand. Shelly's other arm had a bundle of blankets tucked under it, Vee's holding shoes for them.

They were silent as they snuck out, just appreciating the other's company as they carried out their plan. After a quick hack to the automatic locking doors from Vee, the two were out, putting on their shoes and laughing at their somehow foolproof plan to see the stars that night.

"Soooo Shells, which spot tonight?" Vee asked softly once they had closed the door behind them, the two now standing on the sidewalk that was between the employees entrance and the employees parking lot. The fossil looked up at the sky, taking a good moment to memorize where the clouds were positioned that night, then she looked at the grinning, dinosaur pajama wearing robot beside her.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who's interested in the stars in the first place, doofus."

"Hm... True... Though I know what you DO like~" Vee teased as she stepped closer to the fossil, grinning like she wasn't planning anything devious. Shelly knew all too well, she quickly covered up both of her sides with the folded up blankets she was carrying before playfully blowing a raspberry at the other, who just pouted and crossed her arms.

"You're no fun."

"We'd wake up the other to-HOHOONS VEHEHEHE-" Shelly squealed loudly as Vee tickled her side anyways, though the fossil soon stepped away and the robot, who was now giggling, didn't even stop her. She just pointed in a direction, and off the two went, side by side, not holding hands this time as Shelly knew all too well that she'd be attacked again if she did.

Even though she wanted to be.

The two made their way to a clearing in a wooded area of the park - a little hideaway spot, 'made just for us, Shells!' Vee would always claim if either of them questioned it. Shelly had honestly started to believe it - they had their first kiss there, they had confessed there, they even had several days of hiding out in there after one of them got overwhelmed and just needed a break. It was their little spot... Their little safe space. Shelly laid out their blankets gently in the grass with a warm smile, her dinosaur tail wagging as she made the spot as cozy and comfy as she could, as she always did. Vee just stood nearby, watching the stars overhead with huge eyes and a slight smile, her mic tail wagging slowly behind her.

Adorable.

She was always so perfectly adorable like that...

Shelly couldn't help but feel like the luckiest toon alive, being able to see her with her guard down, her just relaxing and resting and - being her. Just admiring the stars, not even thinking about anything other than them, probably. Shelly did wonder something though... Her mic was always raised so the grill didn't touch the grass, even when it wasn't wagging. She always avoided dragging it anywhere, even when the ground under it was soft and wouldn't hurt it at all.

She had to find out why.

So, Shelly slowly approached, sneaking up on the other as slowly as possible. She very carefully grabbed the base of her mic when she was close enough to, then she gently ran it across the grass. Vee immediately winced, her body shivering as she snorted and tried to flick her tail out of her hand, but Shelly's grip was too tight now. The fossil had finally found it... Her weak spot... It has always been her microphone all along.

"Shelly, Shelly do-don't do it." Vee warned softly, holding back a fit of giggles as she tried to walk away, tried to figure out how to get her microphone back.

But it was too late, she was doomed, very doomed. Shelly soon was tickling her mic, smiling deviously as she did so, and Vee burst out laughing hysterically before she could even attempt to hold it in, stomping her feet as she tried to plan an escape, but soon was sitting on the grass and holding her stomach as she laughed hard. Shelly was immediately mesmerized by the sound, the glitchy yet gentle and soft laughs, the way she somehow had very real sounding wheezes between loud, joyful laughs.

Vee didn't even plead for her to stop after her first warning, she didn't even attempt to speak, to shoo her off with her hands or anything- she just went hysterical the second she was tickled, and Shelly loved it. The fossil, while still tickling her mic, soon crept up behind her, smiling deviously. She let go of her mic once she was close, but immediately grabbed her sides and started tickling them, getting a loud snort from the robot victim as she burst out into a somehow louder fit of laughter.

"SHE-HEHEHEHE-HELLHEHEHYYYY STAHHHAHAHAHAPPPP!" Vee cried out, flopping against the devious dinosaur as she cried and laughed, her legs kicking once again to attempt to escape the hold of the toon tickling her sides and making her as unserious as ever. Shelly didn't listen, she instead started nibbling on her shoulder lovingly, her tail wagging even faster at every squeal the robot let out between her extremely loud laughs.

Shelly had absolutely no idea she was even this sensitive to tickles until right then, she had never even known the robot could even feel anything more than the pressure of her laying on her chest during their cuddle sessions. She was thriving, watching her usually serious and stoic girlfriend squirm, laugh, squeal and smile a genuine, very awkward smile as they sat in the grass together. Though when Vee elbowed her after a harsh wheeze and tons of laughs, Shelly stopped, but she didn't let go yet. She instead just held her close, resting her chin on the other's shoulder, eyes closed as she felt the robot shiver from the tickle attack, listening to her laughter as it slowly died down into soft, breathless giggles.

"I'm so going to get you back for that... Oh... Oh my God... You're good." Vee breathlessly told her, turning and looking at the fossil snuggling against her, the one just resting on her shoulder with her eyes now slightly open and a sleepily content smile on her face. Vee quickly gave her a kiss on the forehead, getting a giggle from the other, their tails wagging in unison as they both looked up at the sky.

"Get me back later... You deserve to enjoy your star time..."

"Oh I will, I will so get you right back when you least expect it Fossilian. Mark my words! You shall be tickled!" Vee very dramatically declared, getting a sleepy giggle from the one snuggled close and dozing off to the now peaceful night and oddly warm breeze, her face now hidden between the robot's shoulder and monitor. Vee just sighed at that, nodding slightly before she put her arms around the other's and held them close, letting her girlfriend sleep on her shoulder as she just silently admired the stars.

It was just a normal, casual day. They were all in the living room, in their cuddle pile. Vivi was lounging on the couch with Gigi snug behind her, the gachapon being fast asleep and completely okay with the robot using her as a pillow right now. Gi was on the floor nearby, her head resting on Sprout's shoulder, the berry just holding her close with one arm as he looked through an old cookbook she had found on her latest adventure back to Gardenview. Cosmo was nearby as well, just watching TV as he stayed curled up on Sprout's other side, dozing off a little himself from the comfortable warmth in Sam's house. It all was so cozy, so warm, so peaceful. Vivi sighed as she relaxed a bit herself, closing her eyes and relaxing her antennae, though she immediately shot up when she heard something that she didn't expect.

Gi was giggling.

It wasn't her usual 'someone said a funny joke' giggle though, no, it was definitely the giggles of her holding back laughter because someone tickled her. Vivi squinted as her antennae went back, her face heating up a bit from the massive wave of emotions that washed over her as Sprout innocently teased his little sister figure with slight tickles and gentle teasing words, both of which were making the gachapon beside him squirm slightly as she started laughing.

Vivi was jealous. Real jealous.

He was so close to making her laugh and she was jealous.

So, she soon got up and stepped over, her body shaking slightly from the jealous rage she felt as she just sat beside Gi. Gi immediately looked over at her with a warm smile and went to say something, but she froze the second she saw that look on the robot's face. She knew that look all too well... She knew something was going to happen and she wasn't sure if she should be worried or totally okay with it.

"Baby... You know-"

"Everything's fine." Vivi softly stated, smiling warmly as she reached over and patted the gachapon's head. Gi just squinted at her, shaking her head slightly as she fully turned towards her. Sprout soon was looking at the two, and immediately froze when his eyes met Vivi's- he knew he messed up the second he looked at her. He slowly moved his arm away from Gi and just held Cosmo a little closer, blinking slowly as he tried to make peace with the obviously jealous robot. Who he didn't even know could get so protectively jealous until right then honestly-

"I'm sorry I was teasing her, I-"

"Everything's fine."

"Vivi... You're not fine, I know that look. Come on baby, talk to us, what's going on?" Gi softly questioned, reaching to grab the robot's hands in an attempt to soothe her, though she froze when Vivi moved to do something fast.

She was a laughing disaster in no time as she was pinned on the floor, the robot now laying on her and tickling her sides, blowing raspberries into her belly and smothering her in love and tickles. Vivi was claiming her Lee right then and there - she was making sure they all knew this was her girlfriend, her ticklee and the love of her life all at once. Gi didn't even try to stop her, she couldn't if she even wanted to though, she was fully stuck under the other's strong grip on her sides, laughing so hysterically she couldn't even attempt to get a word out if she wanted to. She tried to wiggle a bit, to make it a little harder for Vivi to get her weak spot and make her squeal, but alas. Every attempt was futile. She was squealing in no time as Vivi moved both hands to the middle of her stomach, tickling her intensely while smiling wide, her mic tail a motion blur behind her now.

"Ohhh Gi why are you laughing so much~? I'm doing nothing~" Vivi teased softly before she leaned up and started gently kissing all over her face, making the already hysterical gachapon laugh even harder as she kicked her feet from under her girlfriend, who was doing everything she could to make sure she suffered horribly from the loving tickle attack. Vivi just laughed a little at the sight, finding her very poor attempts to wiggle herself free to be extremely adorable, thinking her loud yet very sweet sounding laughs were cute as hell, her little hiccups and wheezes between laughs - the way she looked at her in a silent plea of mercy between fits of laughs - the way her eyes watered from laughing so hard.

She was so perfect.

Vivi paused for a moment to just admire her, to let herself take in the sweet sounding laughs, to stare into the other's eyes as they showed all the love and joy in the world. What she didn't expect though- was for Gi to use the pause to her advantage. The gachapon quickly flipped them over and immediately started tickling her sides instead, sniffling as she calmed down from her own tickle attack.

Vivi never had the heart to tell her she wasn't ticklish.

She started laughing anyways though, finding the pure determination to make her laugh absolutely adorable. Gi smiled even more as she continued her own attack, though it didn't last very long as she soon let up with a tired sigh and sat up, moving away from the robot just to offer her a hand. Vivi gently took it and soon was sitting up herself, giggling a little bit.

"You know you could've just said you were jealous, jerk." Gi teased as she crawled onto Vivi's lap and curled up, letting the robot hold her tight and rock the two back and forth, as she always did after a tickle attack - even the short ones like that one.

"I don't get jealous, Gi."

"You were sooooo jealous he found out I was ticklish, don't lie."

"I wasn't, I just wanted to hear you laugh, my darling." Vivi softly spoke, giving the other a kiss on the head. Gi just sighed, rolled her eyes, then snuggled closer to the robot who was definitely lying about being jealous as she closed her eyes.

"Sure..."

"Gi... You know you love me."

"I do love you more than anything in the world, your horrible lying makes me cringe though." Gi softly replied, letting out a quiet yawn afterwards. Vivi just chuckled as she held her closer - more protectively.

Not at all beating the jealousy allegations.

"I love you too... Rest easy, my love." Vivi whispered, making Gi just nod once as she soon fell asleep on her shoulder, lightly clinging to her robot wife as she just let herself rest after their usual tickle session. Vivi just relaxed with her close, looking as content as ever, while Sprout - after witnessing everything - just silently watched before he turned away and looked at the TV again.

"So... You guys do that a lot?"

"I'm the only one who gets to tickle her, she's my baby, I make her laugh." Vivi sternly yet very softly said, making the berry nod just once in understanding as he went back to his cookbook instead. Soon it was back to the usual calm and quiet in the house, the toons all cuddling and being warm together.

Sprout just now lived with the fact that Vivi can indeed get jealous...

It was just another day in Gardenview, another day of Version Two laying on the couch in the green room, another day of trying to get her to move out from under the green blanket she was buried under. Veronica stood nearby, shivering nervously as she slowly reached over and rubbed her shoulder, attempting to comfort her and make her get up. She hoped Gigi - Vivi's best friend - would show up soon for one reason or another, hoping she'd just appear so she could ask her how to comfort the poor robot as she laid there, stuck in the fetal position, unmoving.

Veri soon gently tried tickling her neck, under her bowtie, just like Vee always loved. Vivi just shrugged her off, flicking her antennae with a sigh.

That didn't work...

"Vee... I'm so sorry... I know you're upset because the other mains aren't used to-"

"I'm just a replacement... I'm not worth anyone's time. I'm just Version Two... I don't deserve to be called a main, or to have my own show, or to even have my own floor." The robot softly spoke, her mic tail tucking under the blanket when she mentioned her version, her eyes shifting from being stuck on the back of the couch to now looking at a poster of Vee. The original Vee. The one the toons all desperately wanted back but couldn't get. Veronica slowly reached over and wiped away the digital tears that formed, not even realizing her own eyes were getting a little misty themselves from seeing her new daughter- I mean co-worker in such a state.

"I know it's hard to believe right now, but I promise you, you do deserve everything you have. You're going to do great, okay? Y-you just gotta... Trust yourself a little more." Veronica very softly and slowly spoke, her hand shifting from the robot's screen to rest on the top of her head again, making the other's light green eyes shift to it before she turned her monitor to look at the handler herself. Studying her nervous smile, her shifty, uncertainty filled eyes, her uncomfortable pose as she leaned over to reach the little robot. Her uncomfortable looking uniform too... Vivi didn't even know how to explain it. How did they manage to put on those weird looking shirts? Were they as uncomfortable as they looked??

She'll never know.

"Uhm... I-I'm not really... That interesting, Vee-"

"You're stressed yet you're trying to soothe me, why?" Vivi suddenly spoke, sitting up and adjusting the blanket so it still mostly covered her up. "Why do you care? I cannot feel true depression, my emotions are all programmed into me. This is just a simulation, it will clear itself out."

"It's... Not... Vee... It's real, I don't know why Delilah makes you two question that, but... It's real. Your feelings, even if they're programmed, they're valid and you're more than allowed to express anything you need to with me. You're not just a robot..."

"Then prove it." Vivi spoke up, her face now blank, her head tilted slightly to the side. "Make me laugh. Make me fee-"

She couldn't even finish her sentence before she went completely still, her mic tail now tight in Veronica's hand, one hand carefully but very firmly grasping the base as the other's fingers teasingly fluttered near the top of it. Vivi didn't understand what in the world she was trying to do... Or why that sensation made her inevitably start giggling. She wasn't even being touched and she was giggling. What..?

"Miss Hur-LEHEHEHE WHAT ARE YOU-?!"

"Ohhh, so they didn't program that out of you, mhm. I see~" Veronica softly spoke, getting a very puzzled look from the now shivering and giggling robot.

"What in the world are you testing-?"

"Nothing." Veronica replied, nodding once as she looked at the mic, then at Vivi. She immediately fluttered her fingers over the top of the grill again, making the other snort and giggle as she gripped the couch, squirming slightly from this new feeling she very obviously genuinely didn't understand. It made Veronica grin even more as she upped the antics and used both hands, watching Vivi as she covered her mouth with a hand and kicked her feet a little, the robot tugging her mic to get it away- but Veronica had a great grip on it.

Oh how dreadful... Having to face tickles from your handler. Oh have mercy on this poor soul.

"Hehehe- what- ahahahare you-?"

"You gave me orders to make you laugh, Miss Vee." Veronica pointed out with the largest smile she's ever pulled off, then she forced herself to pretend she was oh so chill as she shrugged casually. "It's in my programming to listen to you as well."

"HUMANS DON'T HAVE PROGRAMS!!" Vivi loudly (well as loudly as Vivi can be - which isn't very loud without a mic) pointed out before she finally let out a little, quiet laugh, which soon turned into a whole fit of soft, shy sounding laughs mixed with the softest little snorts and "wheeze"s as she finally realized exactly what Veronica was doing. She said that because she knew exactly how she'd react, that she'd find it hilarious that she'd lie about such a thing- that she'd be a little laughing disaster in no time if she just said something ridiculous that caught her off guard.

It worked.

It fucking worked.

The stupidity of it all just made the robot laugh even harder, her arms soon around her stomach (a programmed in habit to make her seem more lifelike) as she let out the loudest laughs her little body allowed. She didn't even notice Veronica had moved to be right beside her until she felt her hands lightly run up her sides, which just made her laugh even more from the sheer stupidity of it all. She wasn't ticklish on her belly, but Veronica didn't know, so she just- tickled her belly and her sides as she held the little laughing disaster close. All until Vivi slowly calmed back down and gently forced her to stop- but instead of shoving her away, she just brought the humans arms tightly around herself and put her monitor on her shoulder. Veronica just held her as softly yet as closely as possible, handling the little robot like she was glass as she let her rest against her, watching her closely as she calmed down from the whole ordeal.

"Miss Hurley."

"Yes..?"

"That was incredibly unprofessional... But I needed that. Thank you." Vivi softly spoke as she nuzzled herself into the crook of her handler's neck, her body slowly shifting off the couch and onto the lap of the handler right beside it. Veronica just softly accepted her, helping her move until she was cozy on her lap, then was back to gently holding her. Both arms tight around her, one hand rubbing her back, the robot securely in a little ball right against her. She soon turned her head and gave the toon she held so carefully a little kiss on the top of her head, getting a little look from her in genuine confusion.

"Unprofessional or not... I love you. I will never care what version I'm holding... I love you both so much, you both deserve to feel joy and smile and laugh." Veri softly soothed, getting a glance from the one she was holding before she nodded.

"Unprofessional... But I still love you. Thank you, Miss Veronica."

"You can call me Veri, silly-"

"Would it be too unprofessional to call you mom..?" Vivi softly spoke up, her voice trembling with every word, her eyes showing fear- but also content. She was nervous, but comfortable in such a spot, with such an idea in her head, with such closeness to the human she was starting to believe actually genuinely liked her despite absolutely refusing to let herself get attached since she found out what she was. Veronica just stared into those little green eyes, tears flooding her own as she held her little robot a bit closer. Vivi just huddled into her in return, staring at the human with uncertainty, but love.

"You have my full permission to call me mom, but not in front of anyone else, okay? It stays between me and you."

"Your eyes are dripping wet, do you require a towel?"

"No... Vee this is... This is what happens when a human feels a lot of emotions, it's okay. It's normal."

"So you are okay?"

"Mhm..."

"Okay... I love you mom."

"I will always love you too, honey." Veronica whispered back to her as she covered the robot with her favorite blanket, then gently rested her face against the top of her monitor. Vivi just let out a comfortable sigh as she closed her eyes, letting herself just relax in the warm embrace she was held in right now.