[chapter nineteen] virtual world [dw au]

Instructions

[Chapter Nineteen - Vee] As Vee sifted through her mind, through the nooks and crannies of her code, searching for something, she and Sprout’s argument kept echoing through her head. “I know you’re struggling, Vee. We all know! You need to stop doing.. Whatever you’re doing to yourself!” “I’m not doing anything. All I did was get rid of something that was getting in my way.” “Your EMOTIONS aren’t pesky roadblocks, Vee!” “If they prevent me from making the virtual world perfect, then, yes, yes they are.” He groaned. “No. They’re not.” “I can’t bring them back, anyway.” “What-? What do you mean?” “...” “Being silent isn’t going to do anything, you know.” “I don’t want to speak to you anymore, so I don’t have to respond.” “Vee, I care about you! A lot! You’re worrying me!” “That’s not my problem.” “HOW IS THAT NOT YOUR PROBLEM?!” “It’s not my problem you’re so overprotective.” “There’s a VERY good reason I’m like this, Vee!” “Do I look like I care if your little cake friend is de-” “MISSING.” “Fine, missing. Do I look like I care either way?” Sprout went silent for a long, suffocating moment. “What’s the point of the virtual world, then?” “What?” “What’s the point of keeping this virtual world ‘perfect’ if you don’t even care???” It was Vee’s turn to go silent. She didn’t know the answer. Eventually she pulled herself out of her head and back to the cold, stinging air of reality. She got distracted while looking for the error in her code and stayed a bit too long. Her vision was dancing and she wanted to pass out, but she couldn’t get herself to care. For the first time in a while, she actually wanted her emotions back. Deleting everything was supposed to help her. All it did was make her hollow. And for some odd reason, her system wouldn't let her install her emotions again. Something blocked it. She checked her internal clock; the time was 12:02AM. ‘I should head back. Shelly’s going to start complaining if I’m gone for too long.’ She hated that thought. She’s been hating all of her thoughts now. Sure, Vee was sarcastic and sometimes snarky before, but she wouldn’t stoop so low as to blatantly disrespecting the only toons she had left. ‘Wait- I already did disrespect them.’ she chuckled bitterly to herself. ‘I can’t believe they still cling onto me after how cruel I’ve been.’ Once she caught her balance, she sat up and made her way back to their little base. She remembered when they first met there. She was so happy and relieved to see them. Now she didn’t even care to speak to them anymore. When she was back, everyone was fast asleep. Well, at least, that’s what she hoped. Shelly and Dandy were fast asleep, Dandy against a wall near the door and Shelly on the floor near him, like she nodded off. But Sprout was wide awake inside the base, sitting on the floor, rocking back and forth. “Hey.” Vee said, not even trying to be quiet. His head shot up and he froze “Hi.” he responded, quietly. She went inside and sat on the floor near him. Not too close, though. “What are you doing? Go back to sleep.” “I haven’t slept in 3 days, Vee. It’s not that easy.” he retorted, rolling his eyes. Her screen flickered as she noticed the corners of her vision were blurry. She hadn’t slept in a while either... Although she didn’t quite sleep the same (seeing as Sprout can’t just turn on ‘sleep mode’), she needed sleep just as much as he did. But she couldn’t. The virtual world would shut down. She needs it to be perfect. ‘What’s the point of keeping this virtual world ‘perfect’ if you don’t even care?’ Sprout was fidgeting with his friendship bracelet that he and Cosmo made. He’s been doing that a lot more lately. Vee began to reach out a hand to Sprout but froze. What would she even say? She so badly just wanted to help him, to connect with him, to hug him and scream at him it's not his fault. But, as always, her stupid mind would warp it into something horrible. Why did she even bother? Sprout glanced over at her and noticed her hand frozen mid-air. "Uh- What were you doing?" "Nothing." she snapped, pulling her arm back. "Are you sure..? You looked like you were trying to... y'know.. do something?" "No I wasn't." "...Okay." Did he actually want her to do... that? What was she even trying to do? What did he want her to do? Put a hand on his shoulder? Hold him? She realized she was staring at him and quickly turned away. 'Why do I care what he thinks when I can’t care about anything else..?' Sprout seemed to shift closer to her. She didn't move away. "Vee.." Sprout spoke up again. "What did you mean earlier when you said you couldn't bring back your emotions?" Vee looked back. She was silent again, but this time it wasn't a bitter silence. It was an aching silence. "I mean, I know you.. probably actually.. 'got rid of your emotions', but you keep doing things like trying to help or be supportive, but then instantly switching up." "No, I-" "Do you want to be like this?" That question stung.