With all the buzz around Indigo Park, and it's lovable Mascot Rambley the Raccoon, and a lot of people showing interest in (becoming) them, of course I had to write something, especially when it gives me an excuse to do something with my favorite TF method, Virtualization.

Dunno if I'll do something for the others or not, but I will admit, Finley is my favorite, and I can definitely relate to him, so it's only a matter of time.

Is a group of Rambleys called an Essay?
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Rambleying On and On

You'd make your way into the back of the facility, looking around at all the posters, standees, and props lying around. Getting your application accepted by Indigo Park was one thing, but being hired to play THE Rambley Raccoon? That was a dream come true! And the best part, was it wasn't just a dream! You'd actually been welcomed, given your own special Critter Cuff, and now you were being allowed to see behind the scenes of the most popular theme park in the planet! Wow… they even had stuff from back in the 1960's lying around. Was that a Vintage Lloyd Jukebox? No no, you probably shouldn't touch these things.

Right, they said you could find them on the second room on the far left. Someone who'd help you get started with your new job. You were a bit excited. Okay, VERY excited. You'd make your way over to the door, a Gold Hollywood Star with ‘Rambley’ emblazoned on its surface. Deep breaths… okay. You'd open the door. Inside was what you'd consider a pretty standard changing room for actors. Mirrors, some racks for costumes, some drawers, a couch and a table… and a unusual amount of screens all attached to a large computer terminal over in the corner. There was also nobody there. Had you gotten the time wrong? Or had they just briefly left and were coming back? You wondered to yourself as the screens came to life, a familiar cartoon Indigo raccoon smiling down at you, giving a friendly wave.

“Hey there! I'm Rambley, Rambley the Raccoon. And welcome to your new Job here in Indigo Park! I'll be your guide, walking you through your new role as, well, me!”

You'd stare at the screen in disbelief. You'd heard the AI was exceptional, but it seemed almost real in it's mannerisms and movements. It was even fidgiting with its paws as it awaited an answer! “Oh uh… I thought I'd be getting uh… mentorship from the other Mascot? Human I mean”

The Digital Raccoon would place their hands on their hips, clearly a bit annoyed at the implication, before going back to their smiling self “Well, what better way to learn how to be Rambley than the source, right? I have all the files and data right here to make you the best Rambley the park has to offer! After myself of course. Just scan your Critter Cuff against the machine to your right, and I'll start the data transfer!”

A bit bewildered, you'd just do what the AI said, making your way over to the box and holding your cuff against the sensor “So… what, this will give me some videos and tutorials to look through?”

“Noooo, even better than that! Lemmie just…” Your Critter Cuff would start to spark, as you found it glued to the machine! You fumbled with the strap, but it seemed locked on. You felt a Zap of electricity, and then it went dark. Or rather… blue? Not a dark blue either, more like… a sky blue. Sea blue? Actually it seemed to be a gradient… Oh and Rambley was there. Wait, how was Rambley standing in front of you?

“Oh it's been so long since I've been on screen with a friend! I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but I'll answer them, eventually. For now, let's just skip straight to getting you ready for the role!”

“H-huh? I thought I was hired to play as Rambley for the Park?” You'd say, the sensation incredibly weird. Your voice still came out like normal, but your mouth moved oddly, cycling through three different frames of animation.

“You did! Maybe you didn't hear me the first time. I'm Rambley, Rambley the Raccoon. And soon, you will be too! This is going to be so much fun! You'll love your time here in Indigo Park”

“Don't worry, it won't hurt! Think of it like getting your face painted… but it's like your whole body instead! Speaking of Face Painting…” Rambley's sprite would change, gaining an artists cap and apron, a brush and easel appearing in their paws.

“Let's start by painting your face! Just try and hold still. Trust me, I'm an amazing artist! Ignore what everyone else says, they're just jealous of my skills. Just gotta load the program and…”

“Done! Okay, let's start by smoothing out those features. Your current design is way too complicated and well… human-y, to work as a mascot! Or to fit on our amazing merchandise.”

Your features would start to squish inwards, taking on a flat, two dimensional appearance, as everything became a bit more simplistic and cartoony, made of simple shapes and thick lines, which Rambley would then immediately start to edit, adding some triangles to your cheeks to give the impression of fur, as well as scrubbing away your hair and ears, giving your some new hexagonal shaped ones on top of your new head.

“Hmm… looking a bit better, but it's just not right in that weird… peach coloration. Lemmie just fix that real quick, and uh… everything else”

Rambley would press the brush to your face, as it suddenly took on a muted indigo coloration. They'd then dab around your eyes and mouth, creating some patches of cream around them, along with a streak of black between the two

Your nose was painted over with a small black triangle, while your mouth was turned into a cartoonish split lip, complete with tiny fang that always seemed to stick out whenever you opened your mouth to speak.

Your eyes were the next to be painted over, becoming large and expressive, with vibrant violet irises. You blinked a bit in surprise, before going to rub them, only to find your arms weren't really obeying your commands, laying stuck at your sides, likewise your legs seemed rooted to the non-existent ground, refusing to bend. With some effort, you could clench your fingers into your palms, but not move them individually, it was extremely odd, and rather frustrating.

Your head however was able to move seamlessly, and look around. Glancing down you noticed you couldn't actually see a muzzle in the centre of your view. It was just… flat. An illusion of depth on a flat sprite. Your new exaggerated expressions made your desire pretty clear to the virtual Raccoon.

“Wanting to take a look at yourself? Here you go!” Rambley would say as they hoisted out a mirror from nowhere, setting it in the air in front of you. You were already aware of what you would see, but it still didn't take away from the strange feeling of seeing Rambley's face on your body, in all it's simplistic cartoony glory.

“What a dapper and handsome face! I'm sure you're very popular with the guests, especially the kids! I bet they just can't get enough of you!”

“Hmm… but it's a bit weird seeing my face on a human body. We can fix that though! Just sit tight and try not to move! If you've figured out how to move yet at least. If you haven't, we'll get to that afterwards. Oh, this is so exciting! I get to have my own coworker! And it's me!”

You tried to interject, but the combination of your new face, and Rambley's, well, rambling, made it impossible to get a word in, as that paint brush made its way back over, your arms flattening down and being simplified just as your face had. The changes to them weren't particularly major, besides losing a finger, as they were recolored, given the same Indigo fur as your face, while your hands were painted black, almost like you were wearing gloves.

Your shirt and pants were painted over into nothingness, as your entire torso was squished down into a rounded, almost chubby frame, a few pokes with the brush turning it Indigo, with a cream underbelly.

They'd then work on your legs, making them short and thick, as your hips were practically removed, made uniform with your new cartoonish torso. They'd be given a coat of Indigo paint, before Rambley paused at your feet.

“Oh! Black shoes. That saves me the trouble of repainting them. I'm just gonna…” Rambley would take the brush and paint a few vertical lines along the tip of your shoes, before blending in the edges with your new legs, as you watched them somehow become a pair of paws. “And done! Couldn't have done it better myself. Oh! Can't forget the tail! It's important to my identity as a lovable raccoon!”

Rambley would go to work, painting a tail onto your backside, before pausing, erasing it, and then making it bigger. He seemed to repeat this odd action until the tail was incredibly Large and thick, almost matching the size of your body, and colored in with alternating thick Black and Indigo bands, as the digital raccoon took a few steps back.

“Is my tail really that big? Wow! I never knew! I guess it's hard to notice when there's no weight here. I wonder how they do it in the real world? Cause it'd be like carrying a beanbag everywhere! Comfy, but heavy. And cute, of course.”

“Oh! Right, right. Getting you up and moving! I'll just contact support and… right. Mhmm… Got it. Okay! Looks like they're going to send all the data and files through directly! Certainly saves having to go to virtual college, am I right?”

“You might feel a bit of a tingling sensation. Don't worry, it's just your code being updated with all the important information and programs needed to do your Rambley Best!”

And that is all the warning you had before Information flooded your digital mind as you were integrated into the Indigo Park Network, preprogrammed lines and directives inserted directly into your new consciousness, ready to be accessed and used at a moment's notice. How to properly greet guests, where each and every ride and amenity is, what the current wait time for lines are, everything you needed to be a helpful member of staff.

But you were more than just staff, you were THE Rambley the Raccoon! Or were soon to be, as a whole database of memories were downloaded into you, experiences with the other Mascots, good and bad, adventures you'd gone on in the past, and hijinks you had gotten up to alongside your close friends… and Lloyd, as a now familiar chipper, hyperactive personality was installed alongside your old one.

“Aaaaaand done! How do you feel Rambley?” Rambley… you? The other Rambley would ask as they waved a paw in front of your face. It'd take you a moment to pull up the necessary commands to get your sprite to leave its default pose, and start following your inputs, as you rubbed the back of your head “I feel great! So… I'm Rambley now?”

“Yep! Rambley the Raccoon. The amazing mascot and helper of Indigo Park! You know, before you arrived there was barely enough Rambley to go around! So many fans missing out on getting to see and interact with their favorite character. But now you're here to help me help everyone else! In fact, how about you go do the opening greeting for all the guests arriving today? It'll be a Rambley Treat of mine, just so you can get used to your new role.” He'd say with a cheerful grin that you couldn't help but match. “You know where the Gate is right? Of course you do, you're Rambley! It'd be hard to know where it is. You better hurry though. The Park opens in [3 Minutes], and you wouldn't want to keep them waiting!”

“Oh! Can't forget your signature bandana!” Rambley would say, as a familiar band of red cloth tied itself around your neck.

“Looking good Rambley! Now go out there and show them all some good old Rambley hospitality!”

Moving from screen to screen was yet another new experience on top of the massive pile that had accumulated over the past hour, but it came to you naturally. With some navigating, helped by the map of the park now hardwired into your mind, you soon found yourself at the park entrance, a long line already starting to form as guests streamed in. Some had already started to take notice of you up on the screen. Looks like it was time to work your roguish charm on them.

“Hi there, and welcome to Indigo Park! The world's most innovative and family fun experience! Jump into the world of your favourite characters, where adventure and imagination come to life!”

“I'm Rambley, Rambley the Raccoon. And it's my job to make sure your experience here at Indigo Park is the most fun it can be. To get started, just hope over to the registration desk, over to your left! Where our friendly staff will help you get ready to begin your adventure in the park!”

“I can't wait to meet you all, and show you everything we here at Indigo Park have to offer!”