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It seemed like another normal day at first. Everyone had done their part, serving as guides for guests, main characters hosting meet and greets, or performing like Razzle & Dazzle. Each day they would host plays, fantastical comedies in the morning and noon for the kids, and sweet tragedies for the adults in the evening. Each day the same. As time passed, the amount of people watching them dwindled, the only ones who bothered to come regularly being staff on break. Although it was difficult for the black and white pair, they managed, reminding themselves that humans move on and others will replace them. Well, until they heard the dreaded words.
"We have to shut down the theater. It's taking up unnecessary space." Delilah- Ms. Keen. She.. she was going to get rid of their home. The place where they let out their creativity. "But Delilah," Mr. Walton added, "What about Razzle and Dazzle's wellbeing? You know performing means the world to them." "So? They'll be fine. They have each other's company, no need for an audience."
No.. No they weren't. All they've known is the spotlight and roar of a crowd.. they.. they can't be alone.
"Uhm.. Ms. Keen?, " the white blushing one spoke up, "Why are you closing our theater? We're not that unpopular.. are we?" But they were met by silence from the woman as she and her co-worker stared at them. The teary one had added in a soft tone, "Hello..? A-are you liste-"
"You two are taking up space. That simple. We need space for the others and your theater is the best choice."
Razzle could swear he felt his face crack at her words. No matter how much they tried to protest, it would be in vain. After a bit of discussion, they decided to give up and return to their bedroom. The brothers collapsed on a beanbag as a tape began to play on the projector. However, even the cheesy movie that droned on in the background couldn't shake away what happened earlier. They were just... being discarded like its nothing. No questions about whether they agreed or if it was a good idea.
"Dazz. What d'ya think they'll do with us once the theater's gone?" It was a tough question, what did they want out of the masks afterwards? They could be one of the toons that works behind the scenes. Probably wouldn't get along with Dyle though. They might also end up like everyone else, a guide. But the pair had little to no experience working with kids. There's always the rare chance that they become main characters. Oh, wait. Ms Keen said there would be no more mains for the regular cast. Maybe become holiday toons? What holiday could they fit into though? Maybe they'll be redesigned or renamed. Will Razzle still see him as the same person if that happens? Would he still care?
"Dazzle? You're zoning out again" Right, his question. "Uhm... probably behind the scenes.. or maybe we'll just be killed off. We can't do anything other than perform y'know.." ...Killed. They could be murdered. They could be rid of to make new toons. Razzle then replied "O-oh.. You really think they'd do that..? Or is it just your pessimistic thinking again? You know you only come up with the worst.." Yeah he was a pessimist, but he knew Razzle was the same. He knew that Razzle was a tragedy mask with cheer painted over it. "Razzie... They've separated siblings and cousins. They lock up holiday toons for the whole year. They gave a child the role and pressures of main character. A literal child. There's no telling what they could do." ...After a bout of silence, Razzle broke the tension "Well...What should we do? Should we just.. kill ourselves before they do?"
"Lets... do it on the stage.. they're already gonna destroy it. After all, what's the meaning of doing it in a boring place with no one?" Dazzle had a point. They could host it as a final performance. Let everyone know the extent of their grief for the spotlight. They silently headed to the elevator to the theater, tuning out the stares and whispers as a crazed expression adorned their faces. The hysteria only seemed to get worse as they approached the stage. Everything, everyone, it was all white noise to them. Someone had caught them planning their deaths and spread the word, believing it to be performance preparation.
The seats soon filled as toons waited for the curtains to be drawn. Backstage, Razzle and Dazzle were destroying a room. Punching mirrors, throwing chairs, knocking over racks, yelling, letting everything out before they died. Their faces were reddened and coated in tears, the ache of the past almost unbearable. The pair then slammed the door open, almost breaking it down, and took a shard of glass from the mirror they shattered. They needed it to even execute their plan due to forgetting a weapon or rope.
The conjoined theater masks stood on their soon-to-be-destroyed stage, the spotlight on them as usual. Dazzle's darker hand clutching a shard of glass, the sharp material making him bleed. Razzle's voice spoke up, his louder voice lacking its usually positive energy, "Thank you staff and toons for coming to see our final performance on the stage! For this conclusion to our acts, we have something extra special prepared! Thank you for your minimal support and goodbye, hopefully, forever." Before anyone could do something, the twins stabbed themselves, their thick ichor blood flowing down from the wound. Both hands were on the glass now, black trickling down and gathering in a puddle on the floor. It was suddenly moved to carve out the skin on their abdomen, the flesh revealing their insides before falling off as they finished cutting. With nothing to restrict them, their organs fell out, decorating their legs and floor. The blood rained down their body and coated the ground black, leaving their physical mark on the stage.
Their large red pupils had been reduced to tiny dots that were fixed to the front as their body trembled. The masks' knees buckled as more of the dark fluid flowed down. It had also started coming from their mouths as well as tears pricked their eyes. The magenta lamp yelled to the crowd as she rushed up the stairs to the stage, "I-IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP?! YOU'RE WILLING TO WATCH SOMEONE DIE?!" Sprout had followed Brightney, having heard of the situation from Cosmo. "Razzle, Dazzle, can you hear me? Just at least look at me if you do... please.."
Their porcelain faces jolted to their left, their desperate eyes looking at the strawberry with an unknown emotion. The tragedy mask then muttered, "Y-y-you-u p-p-proud..?" He and his brother.. they were so broken.. was this for attention..? Their spilled insides, their tears, the cold that ate at their fused bodies.. was it all to get a crowd again?
"t-t-thank you.. f-for wat-tching-g-g us.." Razzle.. This.. this was their goodbye wasn't it? They did this to die. They wanted to die. Their suicide was as they lived, a performance for the audience's entertainment. A couple more toons scrambled in, hearing of what their friends did. "Are we too late...?," questioned a half-asleep moon. with a figure behind them. It was too tall to be a toon but all the handlers already left for the day. Wait... it was Arthur. Surely he would know what to do, he's literally the co-founder! The creative genius who came up with their designs and personalities. H-he can fix this- he has to fix this. He.. should've known... Why doesn't he know how to resolve this...?
Arthur ran up to the dying toons and scooped them up in his arms. They were so frigid, so delicate, their limp little bodies.. Just like when they were first created. He cradled them like little toddlers as he rushed to the workshop. Razzle hastily tried to grab those slippery, bloodstained guts that were hanging out of him and Dazzle. Arthur, noticing his actions, scooped them up to not leave any innards on the ground. Once he burst into the room, Delilah stared with a mildly shocked expression. "What happened here? Did they have another f-" "No time, they're bleeding out. We need to hurry or they're dead." The stern tone in his voice made Delilah freeze.
That little bastard of a comedy mask. He never seemed to stop smiling, even now as he let out a quiet "B-bye bye... M-M-Ms. Keen..." No.. No! She can't let her creation die just like that! Delilah rushed to get some sterile gloves and bandages, hoping to at least get the tissue back inside their bodies. The bandages would protect the organs until she can replace the skin that was carved away. The pair was resisting. They squirmed around and hit and kicked while she tried to wrap them up. Suddenly, Razzle dug into their chest and tore out their hearts. They finally ended the show that seemed everlasting. Now they wouldn't have to worry about their acts or how popular they were. They wouldn't have to care about whether they're loved or not. For even if its never said, they knew it's true that everyone wanted them dead.