(I DO NOT AGREE NOR SUPPORT CAPTAINHOWDIE'S ACTIONS. THIS IS MERELY OUT OF BOREDOM.)
"ˢᵒᵐᵉᵗⁱᵐᵉˢ ᴵ ʷⁱˢʰ ᴵ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈ ˡᵉⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐʸ ᵛᵒⁱᶜᵉ ˡᵉⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐʸ ʰᵉᵃʳᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ˡᵉⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐʸ ᶜʰᵒⁱᶜᵉ."
You have fallen victim to the Enigma Of One-Sided Friendships and his troubl...
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┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ┊ ˚💚 ┊ ┊ ┊ ⋆ ┊ ┊ 🖤｡ ┊ ˚🤍 💚⋆
︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵
"Why are we going to the mall?"
"Because that's what people do. Duh."
You stared out of the window of the car, watching as the vehicle passed by a multitude of trees alongside the road. It's been a while since you got to go to the mall so surely this trip wouldn't be so bad. It would be better if Randal wasn't present though.
"Y/n you haven't been to Maple Mall in a while, haven't you?" Randal asked. "Maybe we can go to the arcade?"
"Mn." That was all you said. Randal looked down at his lap silently as he messed with his gloves. Ever since what happened at the pond you've been acting so weird lately. You weren't being rude like you always were—except you were being...not you. You looked like an emotionless doll just wandering around without a thought in your head.
Did he do something wrong?
Maybe you weren't feeling well? You didn't have a fever or anything...
Whatever it was, it worried Randal to death. The thought of you becoming a figure who didn't think of him, period, was like a nightmare. Sure, you didn't care about him that much anyway but losing all of it in a blink of an eye? That was taking candy away from a baby. He got so attached to you that it's practically something he wants to keep no matter how toxic it may become. That's his issue.
The car came to a halt as Luther parked it in a free parking space. Randal quickly got out of the car and you followed. "Randal, while we look for your—"
"Our! Y/n's here y'know."
"..." Luther sighed in defeat. "...Me and Nyon are going to look for you and Y/n's gifts. The two of you can head off somewhere but don't have too much fun. I'll come and find you."
"Yeah, yeah. Me and Y/n will be fine." Randal brushed off Luther's warning before dragging Y/n along with him into the Mall, making a turn that led straight to the arcade section of the store. It's been a while since you've seen a different picture of your surroundings other than being inside the Ivory household. Of course, there were no people present on the inside of the mall besides the strange-looking mannequins that would make an appearance here and there. "Say, would it make you happy if I won a prize for you?" Randal questioned in a hopeful tone. You didn't say anything, wiggling your hand out of his gloved one before walking into the arcade.
Randal felt the ache in his heart and he huffed. He allows you into the arcade behind you and begins scanning around the arcade for anything that Randal would think will catch your interest. You liked stuffed animals, right? All the girls loved those things. Randal's eyes lit up when he saw a claw machine that had some stuffed animals on the inside of the glass, immediately dashed over to the machine with a toothy grin. "Don't worry, my dearest, most precious Y/n..." Randal said to himself, slipping a. coin into the slot, watching as the machine lit up and was ready for action. "I'll bring you back."
Randal began his gaming spree as he effectively moved the controls that made the claw do its thing. He eyed the plushies that were smooshed together die from the space in the machine. He caught the eye of a plushie that looked like a (favorite stuffed animal). If he remembered correctly, you loved that kind of plush! Randal knew that if he got to for you, you would be back to normal! You showed your true colors back at the pond so it was possible for it to happen again! "First try, sweet." He said, watching the claw clamp down on the plushie. He watched as it slowly raised, looking a bit raggedy as it slowly brought it closer to the small opening inside the machine to drop the plush in.
"...Well shit..." He grumbled. He stared down at the plush that had fallen straight from the claw's grip as it pitifully laid on its side. That's okay. He'll get it next time. "Hmph." He dug into his pocket, pulled out another coin, and put it inside the machine, watching the machine activate itself. He grabbed ahold of the controls and began moving the claw back over to the plushie, eyes locked in on the glass as the claw grabbed onto the plushie's body, slowly pulling it off from the other plushies and carrying it over.
Just as Randal was getting jumpy on the inside, the plushie slipped from the claw's grasp and back onto the set of plushies from below. He growled in frustration. "Aww, what the fuck...?!" He turned behind him to see you sitting at an empty table, messing with the hem of your clothing. "Ugh..." Randal dug deep inside his pocket again, shoving the coin into the slot harshly and the machine started right back up again. He did what he's been doing at this damned machine—move the claw to its designated spot, press down on the button of the controller, watched as clamped down on the plushie, and carry it over only for it to slip out of its grasp again. He gave the machine one good kick, causing the beloved plush to fall into a small spot within the pile, visibly stuck there.
He let out a groan, putting his head in his hands out of frustration. How can he manage to bring you back to him at this rate? He can't lose you, not yet. Not again. He slowly removed his head out of the palms of his hands, staring at the depressing sight of the plushie wedge between the surrounding plushies face down. He could see your reflection through the glass of the machine. Looking so emotionless just sitting there, needing something—somebody to brighten up your day with a little bit of light. Only Randal could do so. Nobody else would. To other people, you were a mere imaginary figure, not someone who had a functioning body. But in Randal's eyes, you brightened up his mind even if it was just nasty things you say to him.
he slowly reached into his pocket, pulled out a coin, and gave it a long stare before popping it into the coin slot.
❔
"Y/n~! Look what I got for you~!!" Randal cried out, running towards you with a look of enthusiasm written on his face.
"What—..." Randal shoved a plushie in your face with a giggle. You stared at the plushie's beady black eyes with an uninterested expression. You held the soft and chubby plush in your hands as your eyes slowly met Randal's which were accompanied by his smile. "...Why?" You mumbled.
Randal giggled at your question. "You looked down ever since we went to the pond so I wanted to cheer you up of course! That's why!" He explained. "Isn't it cute?"
Randal hoped that you would agree with him on this. He already spent himself dry at that damned machine and you throwing it to waste was going to be the death of him. He wouldn't be able to win any more prizes or even get you something because his pockets are now empty!
"I didn't ask you to get me anything."
"But I did anyway!"
You let out a long sigh, getting up out of your chair, and taking the plush with you as you walked towards the exit of the arcade. Randal took this as a sign that you silently appreciated him for getting you the plushie and that was enough to allow that "Money Crisis" to subside...
However, you still didn't act like yourself.
Guess he'll just have to keep finding ways to bring you back to normal. He's been doing that anyway.
