Chapter Eight

Otis and Floyd

When dramatic events happen, they can unleash further events, which cause yet further events, until those who had nothing to do with the original events either benefit or suffer indirectly as a result of them. For Otis and Floyd, the downfall of Turbo had been just such an event. For with the undoing of the villain's plan came Vanellope's ability to leave her own game, and with that ability came her decision, at the urging of the Surge Protector, to visit Pong.

They remembered that February night well, for they counted it as a turning point in their fortunes. Not that they were ever unpopular with the players; the mere fact that their venerable cabinet still functioned would have ensured that, even if Pong hadn't been repeatedly recommended by the enthusiastic Mr. Litwak. What they had lacked was recognition from their fellow characters. Whether through indifference or jealousy -they never learned which- they had been generally ignored by their peers since 1993 until Vanellope came. What had started as a quarrel had soon blossomed into genuine friendship. And if the latest celebrity is your friend, one gains attention. Friendship with Vanellope meant an influx of visitors from such games as Sugar Rush and Presidential Combat, among others; the racer was so ecstatic about Pong that she wound up recommended it to all of her friends. For a few months after their meeting, Pong was regularly visited by many other characters, and even when the visits began to be infrequent again, Otis and Floyd still fell into regular conversation at Tapper's, and within Game Central Station.

But Vanellope always came back to Pong. Between Floyd's snarky banter and Otis's calm, collected personality, their presence almost always provided her with enjoyment. And she found their game fun to boot. So it was no surprise for the two paddles that Vanellope would come visiting them again.

"Ah hah!" Floyd cried when he saw her. "It's the lousiest Ping Pong player in the arcade. Back to lose against me again?"

Vanellope gave an embarrassed smile. If there was one skill she had never mastered, it was beating Floyd at Ping Pong.

"Not really…no," she said. "Just to talk."

"Oh, serious stuff, right?" said Floyd. "Then it'll be Otis you want." He turned slightly. "Hey Otis, get over here. Vanellope needs to talk about grim darkness and kicking puppies!"

"No I don't!" said Vanellope, a horrified look on her face. "Who'd want to kick a puppy?"

"Ah, forget I said that," said Floyd as Otis came floating into view. "I'm not liking the mental images that result."

"What was that about kicking puppies?" said Otis, his ethereal voice echoing about the game.

Well, Vanellope thought, they usually are fun to be around.

"Drop it, Otis," said Floyd. "There's a kid in the house."

"But look, she's mature enough to discuss-"

"Otis," said Floyd. "Shut it."

"Oh, alright," said Otis. "But honestly, I do like dogs. So if anybody's been…"

A glare from Vanellope caused Otis's voice to trail off.

"Sorry," he said in a small voice.

"Well," said Floyd, "now that that's done, what can we do for you, kid?"

"Nothing much," said Vanellope. "I just dropped in to say hello."

"Hello," Otis and Floyd said simultaneously.

"Good," said Floyd, his tone playful. "You can go now, bye!"

"But I just got here," Vanellope replied, going along with the joke.

"Exit's that way, kid," said Floyd, pointing with his handle towards the opening to the wire.

Silence descended for several moments.

"Well," said Otis, breaking the silence. "This is awkward."

"Most pointless conversation we've ever had," Floyd agreed.

"So…" said Otis, "how was the trip to the beach? Sorry Floyd and I couldn't make it."

"Uhhhh," said Vanellope, "it was…so-so."

"Oh?" said Floyd. "Pity. I hear the Lifeguard sharks are a friendly bunch. Haven't made it down there myself yet, but I will."

"The sharks were fin," said Vanellope.

"You mean 'fine?'" Otis asked.

"Yeah, fine," Vanellope said, correcting herself.

"Fin," said Floyd, chuckling. "Nice slipup there, kid."

Silence descended once more.

"Yeah well…enough of me," said Vanellope, smiling once more. "How've you guts been?"

"What's wrong with you tonight?" said Otis. "You said 'guts' instead of 'guys'".

"I've got things on my…oh never mind," said Vanellope.

"Stuff on your mind, kid?" Floyd asked. "You know you can talk to us."

"I…don't want to talk about it right now," said Vanellope. "Sorry."

"Suit yourself," said Floyd. "But if you change your mind, we're here for you."

"Thanks," said Vanellope, smiling slightly.

"Anyway, to answer your question," said Otis, "we've not really been doing anything much. Just lamenting the fact that we can't drink root beer."

"That and wondering how we can talk when we don't have any faces," Floyd added. "I've never understood that."

"Have you ever had nightmares?" Vanellope blurted out.

"Nightmares?" said Floyd. "We're Ping Pong paddles. We don't sleep, we don't dream."

"I've been-" Vanellope began, and then stopped.

"So, you want to talk after all?" Floyd asked. "Or do you just want to get away from it all? 'Cause like I said, we're here for you."

Vanellope looked like she was about to speak for a few moments. Then she shook her head. "I think I'll just lose at Ping Pong again," she said.

"Sure thing, pal," said Floyd. "Otis, bring out the supplies."

Later, when Vanellope had gone, Floyd turned to Otis. "Nightmares," he said. "I had them explained to me once. Nasty things, or so I'm told."

"I was told, too," said Otis. "But what about? Cybugs under the bed?"

"Dr. Despair?"

"He's not shown himself much of late," said Otis.

"The jerk's got no reason to yet, that's all," said Floyd. He sighed. "If I'd only known at the time, I'd have made him howl from here to the Whack-A-Mole."

"You would have had a hard time of it, given how crafty he was," said Otis. "But really Floyd, we've no idea what her nightmares are about unless she chooses to tell us."

"I guess you're right," said Floyd. "But maybe we'd better keep an eye on her."

"We don't have eyes, Floyd."

"So how do we see?"

"Keep trying to figure it out and you'll just make your mind hurt," said Otis.

"Anyway," said Floyd, "you know what I meant."

"I do," said Otis. "I do."