The cog seemed unfazed when the creature gently splatted against his hand and reshaped immediately: he’d run over other toons before. Hey! He can’t see everything in front of him! Don’t just STAND IN FRONT OF A MOVING PIECE OF MACHINERY, THAT’S DANGEROUS.

“Started noticing? Hah, I don’t actually remember! Probably because it was so long ago. Either way, I’m pretty used to it, as unsettling and creepy as it is. I guess it’s no different than that one really quiet part of night.”

Okay, maybe it would help this character if he knew. The Repairman took a deep breath; he’d be lying if he said he was looking forward to doing this.

“Um,” the Repairman began, tentatively, “I…might know why that seems to happen…”

The Repairman gulped, looking around.

“…You may want to…” he continued, before seeing the VP’s lower half, “sit down?”

Apparently, the Vice President had treads. The Repairman hoped the phrase still had meaning.