How 'Dandy' we are to see you again!

“For Dandicus Dancifer?” the fluffy craft asked, his grin as goofy and bright as ever.

The assistant glared at the mailman.
“Yes, For him. I can take it for him” the lady said, trying to snatch the parcel away from him. The other persisted and brought the items closer to his chest with a small frown.
“Sorry Ms! I’ve been given direct orders to hand this to him personally” Goob chirped, a small smirk of victory played on his lips.
“By whom?”
“By my boss Ma’am. I can show you all required documents if you don’t believe me.” The fluffy craft said as he tilted his head in a friendly gesture, his free hand pulling out a signed letter by the Postmaster.
The lady swore under her breath and opened the elevator to the mailman, who piped his thanks in return.

The elevator shot up the skyscraper, ascending to where clouds even began to form.
it reminds one of the way the Gardenview elevator used to work.
the small ding of the elevator was heard as he stepped out onto the top floor.
A large desk was placed at the front of it, the back of the room a large window peering down onto the city. Everything was neatly organized, and the room had a minimalistic and futuristic touch to it.
And in the centre, was where the big man himself was, swinging his chair to face the postie.

The flower beamed at the sight of him and stood up eagerly from his chair.
“Goob? Oh man, It’s been a while!”
“Dandy! Good to see you!” the toon giggled.
The two happily exchange pleasantries and giggle, before Goob pulls out a small package from his satchel alongside a form attached to a clipboard.
“Unfortunately, I am here for a delivery though. Just need you to sign here and I can hand off the package… from you know who…” Goob trailed off. Dandy's eyes darkened and snatched the board

The flower quickly scribbled his signature and handed the board back to Goob.
“Oh Yea Dandy!” Goob hurriedly says trying to lighten the mood, pulling out a small envelope. “We’re meeting up next Sunday, all the toons from the show. I know it’s back in the hometown, but it’s only an hour away from here. Are you free to come?” the craft says, handing the letter to Dandy. The flower tilts his head and takes the fabled letter off the other’s hands.
“I’ll have to have a look at my schedule, but I’m sure I can squeeze in some time for my friends!” Dandy flashes his Award-winning smile at the other, earning a chuckle.
“I’m off then! Hope to see you soon!!”

The elevator beeped as Goob happily bounced into it, descending to the next job. Leaving the smiling flower, letter in hand.
The letter was placed to the side with all the other junk crowding the CEO’s desk. He’d have a look later, of course! but he had other things to do. The whir of the monitor could be heard as Dandy powered up his computer.
He had quite the list to do…
But he was sure he could arrange a few things here and there.
It’s good to catch up with the old cast, he was especially curious about the old mains' new lives... Dandy sighed as he looked out the window.
The flower gnawed his fingernails at the thought of how much of a hassle it'd be later for the company. He let out another sigh and turned his attention to the screen…
Perhaps…If he knuckled down enough and handed some work down to those below him, he might be able to get by a few hours without work. just barely to the picnic.

It'd be worth it.

…After all, they were his ‘friends’ even if it had been a while…

The Roulade raised an eyebrow
“Astro… I highly doubt there are no cookbooks available. I didn’t think cooking was the new trend since last week when you were complaining that they weren’t selling enough.”
“Cosmo, can you please wait a little? I’m a bit busy…” The Lunae softly replied, breaking his intense staring at the monitor to give the other a soft smile before turning back to the device.
Cosmo sighed and slipped his way to behind the counter. The antique desk was covered in a small layer of dust, much the same as the large collections of novellas and biographies lined on the delicately carved hardwood shelves.
“Are you buying more plushies again?” Cosmo sighs as he strolls beside Astro and slots himself next to the moon.
“Uhm… Cosmo? Could you, uhm, give me some personal space?” astro mumbled, but made space for the cakeroll on his chair.

Cosmo sheepishly ignored the poor moon with a sigh and shuffled closer to get a good look at the screen, “You’re buying another dandy plush?” Cosmo said

surprised, scrolling to look at the few details beside the auction website.

“It’s an original limited edition version from 1998, in pristine condition and still packaged. It was one of the plushs I didn’t have time to snag at the time.” Astro shakes his head and sighs, watching as somebody bids slightly higher than him. He immediately did the same.
“$254? That’s… that’s a lot more than I remember the plushes being when we were on air…” Cosmo exclaimed.
“Such is the price for such a rare plush,” Astro says, his eye twitching when a bidder raises the price to $287.
“You sure love your plushies”, Cosmo giggled “Especially the dandy ones. You used to follow him everywhere.”
“Mhm,” Astro mumbled absent-mindedly.
“After this, though, I do need a new cookbook for Boxten”, Cosmo said, looking at the ongoing battle between Astro & the mystery person fighting for the stuffed toy.
Astro bites his lip as he looks at the timer for the live bid.
10 seconds.
The other person seems to have backed down with him raising the price to $300. That’s good.

9
No action. Definitely backed off.
8
Still nothing.
7.
The screen flickers.
6.
He seems to have won so far.
5.
The bid rises to 301.
4.
Astro quickly raises it to 302.
3.
nothing.
2.
the timer is about to finish.

1.
The bid raises to $303

Astro jolts and attempts to raise it before it can go once or twice, but the damn old bookshop computer is too laggy to.

Astro swears under his breath as he watches it go to the other person.

“that’s… sad. Better luck next time?” Cosmo says, his voice full of pity toward the moon. Astro gnaws his lip harder and sinks into the chair.
“Yea… I guess. He closes the tab and sighs. “You wanted a cookbook? What type, Brightney got a large range on Friday.” Astro brings up the catalogue and proceeds to flip the screen around to face Cosmo.
“This one should be good.” The roulade says and points to one of the recommended books. “Me & Boxten are hosting a catch-up picnic. You know with the old cast. Since some of the old members are back in town. Sprout and Vee especially!”
That didn’t sound too bad.
Astro gets off his chair and walks toward the back of the store, where a bold ‘STAFF ONLY’ sign with a small scribble of all the staff was on it.
“Yea, I can be there. And uh, I’ll get you the book right now.”
Astro slammed the door shut behind him.
It'd be a while since the mains had been around.
He and Shelly always met up. Shelly was the only main that had stuck around after the show had finished.
She worked at the local museum. She was quite the well-known palaeologist. Despite her potential, she decided to stick around. Her bright energy and never-ending enthusiasm always never ceased to bring a smile to his face.
Astro was similar, he was able to pursue his love for astronomy… and he did make a big contribution alright, winning big competitions and so on. but nothing big enough to grab attention like the other mains.

Astro searched around the backroom’s shelves, looking for the cookbook. His fingers skimmed the wood till they landed on the autobiography section… where his finger lingered a little longer with the logo of the bright smiling flower.
Dandy… well dandy was still on the face of basically everything. Dandy was a big, well-known businessman now, he owned a wide range of brands. Nothing less was expected of the rising young star of such a famous show.
Astro lets his fingertips drift away, where they finally land on the book he was looking for. Astro pulls it away from the rest of the others, dusting it off lightly and tucking it snugly between his sparkles.
He wraps his cloak around himself and strides back to the main shop.

Astro finds Cosmo in the front of the store, talking to a now singular tragedy mask.
“Yeah, uh here's the book, wanna come to the counter to pay for it?” Astro says as he finds an opening in the conversation
“(Oh.. sorry didn’t know you had astro getting a book for you)” Dazzle says, looking at the book. “(you chose well, Razzle likes to cook things from time to time. Everything he cooks when it’s from that book is always tasty)” Dazzle tilts his head to the side and smiles.
“Thanks for the reassurance Dazzle! Great to know.” Cosmo grins “Yeah I’ll get that one!” he says as Astro gives a sigh for relief and walks the cakeroll over to the counter, where he powers up the cashier for the transaction.
“Yeah so that’s just 24.99.”
“Mhm!” Cosmo says as he taps his card to the machine, earning a ding of an approved transaction. “So… are you coming around for the picnic? It’s on Sunday at 1,” the roulade inquires, gently taking the book off the counter.
“Ye uh… I’m supposed to work that day though…” Astro smiles weakly.
“Oh uhm, no worries! Just ah, get back to me anytime. We always have more space for you!” Cosmo waves his goodbyes and leaves the small bookshop.
Dazzle gives a look of confusion at Astro after cosmo departs.
“(Did brightney not tell you?)”
“…Tell me what?”
“(We’re going to be closed on Sunday?)”
“… Since when?”
“(Brightney mentioned it yesterday at the meeting?)”
“…”
“(Well brightney mentioned it… since we’re both going too...)”
“Must of zoned off. Uh, sorry”
“(No, It’s fine. Uh just thought I’d let you know)”
“I’ll uh, see if I can. You know…”
“(I understand.)” Dazzle left it at that and went somewhere in the store.

Astro was left to his own devices, going back to the monitor,  closing the store catalogue and looking at the open tab of the limited dandy plush.

He really hadn’t seen his best friend in a while…