(no subject)

[unglitched]

It's really happening. After two solid months of trying to convince Ralph that the magic bar with humans in it was real, after two months of lost arguments and futile searches, Vanellope finally has concrete proof. Proof that'll let both of them visit whenever they want to. Proof that'll settle their bet once and for all.

Assuming it works like the big blond guy said it would, anyway.

Vanellope is tempted to run straight into Pac-Man and grab Ralph out of the Bad-Anon meeting, but... no. The last time she tried that, Inky had a panic attack and Clyde had to make everyone leave while he calmed his brother down. She'll just... casually loiter around the Pac-Man entrance until the meeting's over. There's no law against that, right?

Comments

[yourcolossalhands]

"Just didn't wanna get caught by surprise, that's all." He grins and steps through to the tram line for the ride up to the cabinet.

On the way from the Niceland tram station to the shack where he keeps his more sentimental stuff, Ralph waves at the Q*crew and a few Nicelanders who happen to be out and about. (Felix and Sarge still aren't back from their night out; it's Felix's treat this time, which means a nice luau just off Cruis'n World's Hawaiian track.)

Everybody with arms to wave waves back; Q*bert manages a wave-like waggle of his snout, and Coily rattles his tail in a friendly way. Gene strives to be cordial, with some success, but Ralph can't help feeling like it's more for Vanellope's sake than his, for all that he and the mayor have come to be on speaking terms these last few months.

Inside the shack, Ralph scoops up a double handful (which would be at least a quadruple handful in most people's hands) of coins (technically some of Felix's spare medals, exactly 23 as it happens) and pours them into a pocket of his overalls, whence they vanish into the coin-storage slot of his inventory, leaving the pocket as flat as before. "Okay, Captain Shortstack," he challenges, "can you make the door to this shack open onto the alleged watering hole?"

[unglitched]

"Yes I can," replies Vanellope. "And so can you, with...these!"

From her hoodie pocket she pulls out a pair of key-shaped gingerbread cookies. One is decorated with mint-green icing and the initials "VvS," the other with red icing and the initials "WiR."

[yourcolossalhands]

Ralph takes the red-iced key carefully between his right index and middle fingers. "I'm still not seeing anything you couldn't have made from Kart Bakery leftovers, but stranger things have happened." He steps toward the shack door. "So, apart from the magic, it works like any other key, right? Just stick it in the doorknob and turn?"

[unglitched]

"You don't even have to stick it in. Just hold it and think 'Milliways' real hard while you're opening the door." She gestures magnanimously toward said door. "After you, Admiral Underpants."

[yourcolossalhands]

"See you on the other side, President Fartfeathers." He holds the key, still gently, opens the door, thinks the word... and steps through.