The Floors Below

The familiar 'ding' of the machine signals the end of another frantic floor run. You, Shelly, alongside the usual crew—Goob, Sprout, Razzle and Dazzle, Astro, Rodger, Finn, and Vee—make your way back to the elevator. Dandy, the ever-present figure of authority, appears in his 'elevator shop,' his presence a sign that the cycle is about to reset. Another floor cleared, another step closer to... what? You're not entirely sure, but you're used to this. The cramped elevator car ascends, the silence punctuated only by the low hum of the machinery and the quiet chatter of Razzle and Dazzle. You glance around at the familiar faces, a mix of weariness and practiced calm on their features. The routine is etched into your very being, but a recent small act of unexpected kindness from Vee lingers in your mind, a tiny ripple in the predictable flow of tower life.