*Chapter 21*
One Week Later
"You all ready?" Ibuki smiled as Ralph emerged from the Niceland building. The Valentine's party, held in Game Central Station, was about to get underway. Ibuki was wearing something more subtle than usual, a cream dress that went to her knees. Her hair was still pulled up in the original ponytail. She kept her fighter style, but tried to dress for the occasion.
"Yep," Ralph shrugged.
"Ralph, you're wearing your usual attire to the party?" Ibuki frowned, Ralph looked down at his red, torn overalls and orange polo.
"Yes?" Ralph said with a sheepish grin.
"Don't you want to knock Vanellope off of her feet?" Ibuki smiled.
"O-of course I do," Ralph stammered as he looked around, "I don't really have other clothes really. I have a tux, but I think that's too dressy for something like this."
"You guys all set?" Taffyta said as her and Calhoun approached the Niceland building, Taffyta's facial expression fell to that of dull annoyance, "Ralph, are you seriously wearing that?"
"I don't have a choice!" Ralph barked as he looked down at himself. Taffyta fixed her choppy white hair; it was pulled into a pretty up-do. She wore a sweet, peach colored strapless dress.
"Where's your code room," Calhoun asked in a monotone as she nudged Taffyta. Calhoun's knee length, dark brown dress was a little more edgy.
"It's on the top floor of the Niceland building," Ralph said casually, "Why?"
"Ralph, look at all of us," Calhoun laughed, "Ibuki is dressed up, Taffyta's dressed up, even I'm dressed up. And that's saying something."
"I don't suppose you have clothes for me that will fit?" Ralph growled, feeling defensive.
"I don't," Calhoun smiled as her, Taffyta and Ibuki made their way towards the Niceland building, "But I'm sure your code does."
"Come on!" Taffyta exclaimed as she grabbed Ralph's arm and tugged him into the building, "We don't have much time, the party has already started!"
"We can be fashionably late," Ibuki smiled, "Isn't that the idea?" "True," Taffyta smiled as the four quickly hauled into the elevator. Ralph hunched his shoulders and rolled his eyes.
"I'm starting to think this game wasn't designed for me," Ralph said as he hunched over Taffyta a little.
"Hang in there," Taffyta laughed as she pat his shoulder, "We're going to make you look absolutely irresistible. Vanellope won't know what to do with herself."
"Where is she, anyways?" Ralph asked as the elevator stopped on the floor below the penthouse.
"She's at the party," Taffyta said as everyone made their way into the code room. It was a bright room, red and yellow code boxes floated all around. Everyone weaved their way around the floating pixels.
"Does, she have a date?" Ralph asked nervously.
"Yep, Swizzle asked her to the dance. She's down there with Candlehead and Gloyd," Taffyta said softly, "But don't worry. Swizzle is too focused on looking in the mirror. If she left his side, he wouldn't even notice, because he's so wrapped up in himself."
"Oh, I found Ralph's code box!" Calhoun exclaimed as everyone gathered around it.
"Okay, let's see what we got," Taffyta said softly as she tapped the box with Ralph's name on it. It opened and expanded a few things, some of Ralph's traits and appearances.
"Please don't delete me," Ralph worried as he gazed at all his code information.
"I'm not an idiot," Taffyta snapped as she adjusted her dress and tucked her hair behind her ears, "Ok, let's see here. Clothes." Taffyta tapped on the box and it expanded, showing a whole variety of clothes for Ralph. She flipped through the dozen or so outfits as she bit her lip in concentration.
"Oh, this one looks nice," Taffyta said as she tapped it. Suddenly, Ralph's code wigged for a second before he was straightened out again. He was wearing a nice pair of dark pants, slightly torn at the feet. He wore a sleek, black vest with a dark, olive colored polo underneath, the sleeves were rolled to the middle of his upper arm. It was all complete with a sleek, black bow tie.
"Oh that's a good one!" Ibuki smiled as each girl beamed at him eagerly.
"I didn't know I had these!" Ralph chuckled as he looked down at himself.
"There's even a swim suit in here!" Calhoun laughed and pointed as if to push the swim suit button.
"NO don't!" Ralph suddenly hollered as he threw his large hand out. All the girls bent over laughing, Ralph inhaled sharply and pointed a finger at the three, "Don't even think about it."
"That would be hilarious," Taffyta laughed as she shook her head and pressed another box. She quickly looked at Ralph and pondered, "Ralph, you grow facial hair right?"
"Yeah, but I shave it off every day," Ralph said as he ran his hand over his chin and neck, "It bugs me."
"Welp, too bad," Taffyta laughed as she opened the facial hair box, Ralph heaved an annoyed sigh, "What look should we go with?"
"Nothing too much," Calhoun said as they flipped through them, "Maybe just a five o'clock shadow."
"Good idea," Ibuki said as Taffyta pushed a button. Everyone shot their attention to Ralph.
"Gah! No, it's so itchy," Ralph complained as he rubbed his face. Slight stubble appeared on his jaws, chin and upper lip.
"Wow, look how different he looks!" Taffyta squealed, "Vanellope's going to go crazy. She's going to want to program a baby with you right on the dance floor, I'm certain."
"Taffyta!" Ralph hollered, his face bright red.
"She has a point," Calhoun laughed as everyone quickly began to leave the room, "You look awesome."
"Yeah, yeah," Ralph grumbled as he caught his reflection in a nearby mirror, "Huh. What do you know," Ralph smiled as he ruffled his hair and straightened his shirt a little.
"Told you," Taffyta smiled as she nudged him, "You can thank us later."
"That is, if this night goes in our favor," Ralph heaved a sigh as everyone piled into the elevator again.
"It will," Taffyta beamed as the elevator doors began to close, "I can feel it."
