Ralph sighed as he slumped over his drawing table and looked up at the clock through thick glasses. It was almost midnight, and he still had pages of background artwork to draw and ink. It wasn't the most exciting job in the dying field of traditional 2D animation, but at least it paid the bills. His real artwork, however, wasn't fit for the eyes of his current employer, who produced children's cartoons for The Kiddie Channel. Safely tucked away within the bottom drawer of his desk hid pages and pages of buxom cartoon babes, all lovingly drawn with perfect proportions. From cheesecakey pinups to the most provocative, explicit pornography, he had drawn it all. Too bad he couldn't make a living drawing that!
With a grunt, Ralph placed his hands on the edge of the table and pushed himself to an upright position, noticing that he must have gained a few pounds recently with a pat on the belly. At least he got a little bit of exercise whenever he walked down to the art supplies store just at the end of his block. Stretching his arms up into the air, he yawned as he recalled the rather unusual incident on his way home that day. A strange figure covered from head to toe in a trench coat, dark sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat had stopped him as he exited the store and asked if he was an artist. As soon as the word "yes" was out of Ralph's mouth, the figure shoved a small vial of black ink and an old-fashioned ink brush towards him, then immediately turned around and walked away as if nothing had happened. Another yawn later, Ralph's gaze turned to that inkwell, which was now sitting atop his angled drawing table. As for the brush, he had pretty much forgotten about it altogether after tucking it into his front shirt pocket.
As the clock struck 12, a faint gonging could be heard in the distance, and once more Ralph lazily slumped over his desk and laid his head down on top of his arms. It wasn't unusual for him to stay up late trying to finish a project, but tonight he was especially sleepy, so much so that he didn't even notice as the inkwell given to him by that strange figure toppled over, seemingly on its own, spilling its contents onto his desk. Slowly the black liquid, which was dark as night, spread downward across the angled table until its surface was completely covered. Softly snoozing, Ralph did not notice as his hands and arms eerily began to sink down into black surface of the table, which was a table no longer, but rather a portal between worlds! Still fast asleep, his weight continued to shift forward as he sank further and deeper into the blackness, until he tumbled into it completely, awakening with a scream as the spiraling blackness swallowed him whole, his arms and legs flailing wildly as he continued to tumble head over heels, the thickness of the air seeming to soak up every sound he made.
Ralph sat up with a groan as he rubbed his neck. The throbbing in his head certainly seemed real, but from his surroundings he knew it must all be a dream. The dusky purple sky was lit with flashing neon lights, advertising everything from girls to gambling to... girls! A smile curled on his lips as he turned his head and spotted some of his favorite childhood cartoon characters milling about, although they did look a bit worse for wear... some of them were even stumbling around as if they were drunk! His train of thought was interrupted as the sound of a honking horn behind him intensified to a shrill cry, "Hey buddy, get outta the road!" Swiftly he rolled out of the path of incoming traffic and onto the sidewalk. The cartoon cab with headlight eyes turned back towards Ralph to give him the finger before zooming off in a puff of smoke. Which a chuckle, the young artist stood to his feet and dusted himself off before hitting the streets. It was like a cartoon version of Las Vegas! "Ooh this looks place looks interesting," he marveled out loud as he pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose before stepping past the front doors of The Royal Red Casino.<|im_end|>
The Royal Red Casino was a distinctly glitzy place - The thick red carpet underfoot trimmed with gold, spreading out into a sprawling central lobby filled with slot machines and card tables. The clatter of dice, the shuffle of cards ... All of it over a near-constant murmur of voices. Not that different from the typical high-class casino, except ... The players were distinctly different. Funny, anthropomorphic animals, hunching over hands of cards. Scowling Toontown mobsters, smoking comically huge cigarettes, immaculate in pinstripes. The colors were brighter, too, more lurid, as slinky waitresses in Playboy Bunny outfits (white playboy bunny outfits, oversized pocket watches clinking on their hips) sauntered by, carrying trays of delicacies and cocktails ... "What's your pleasure, stranger?" A sultry voice purred from nearby. And if he turned, he would see a leggy blonde beauty in a girlish blue miniskirt ... Her feet arched high on heeled slippers as she sauntered towards him, almost bursting out of her dress. The lacy hem wickedly short, white stockings whispering as they crossed with a silky scrape of fabric ... Before a low gasp parted her lips, deep green eyes widening, just a hair ... "You, you're not ..." Alice began, then, her voice hushed. "A toon." Apparently, he hadn't been noticed yet. Keep walking, ya mugs! A voice boomed from the intercom overhead. A bored-sounding guard clearly having little patience for this. The gorgeous vixen sidled a little closer, hooking her arm into his. Those emerald eyes shining now, a shiver of excitement coursing up her spine. "-It's been ten years ... I thought I'd never see a human again ..."<|im_end|>