Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Essentially pressed against the window, Gingi was sniffing to try and get the scent of possible new territory.  They've never been this far out of Dialtown! Honestly, they haven't been this far out of the county!...At least, they don't think they've been.  "Are we there yet? Karen, are we there yet??"

The artist sighed, glancing up at the rearview mirror. "Not yet. We got about half an hour to go. Why don't you play a game with the other guys?"

Stretching back (and, not so secretly wrapping an arm around Randy) Oliver sighed. "We've like, played I-Spy a bunch already. Norm forbid Slug-Bug because Gingi almost decked him. Would You Rather and 20 Questions gives Randy anxiety...ooh! We could try a sing-along!"

"W-Wait, you..really want..us to sing?" Randy sputtered.

"Of course, babe! We don't have to be good, it's groovy to just sing! No matter how ear-splitting it is!"

Gingi piped up, "I've done karaoke plenty of times, you know."

"You have?" Karen hummed, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.

"Yeah!" the cryptid grinned. "Normally, they chase me out of the bar because I end up eating the microphone, but I can do a great cover of Phrank Ringatra's 'My Way'. I'm quite the popstar."

"Hooooh."

"See? Even *Bigfoot* thinks I'm a popstar. Maybe I should try and go on American Phone-Idol!" Kicking the back of the cowboy's seat lightly, the green goblin asked, "Normy-Wormy, do you think I would win?~"

"Don't refer t' me like that again, thank you very much."

"You're no fun :(, at least I got Stromboli supporting me. Ain't that right, lil fella? :D"

Randy lightly placed his hand on Gingi's shoulder. "H-How are you doing that with your face?"

"Doing what? This? :3."

"Yeah..uh, that. Y-Your head is..a rotary phone and I don't think? It's capable?? Of?? That."

">:3"

"Starshine help-"

"Hey, Gingi, have you ever been to a beach before?"

With Oliver saving Randy's sanity, the question was left up to the air. Have they ever been to the beach? They've..been to lakes and they've been to rivers. But a beach? "No clue!! I think having the sand slide between my webbed-toes would be nice!"

"Yer' toes are webbed? Like, some sort o' amphibian?"

"Kinda! I haven't tested if I can dr- GUYS I CAN FINALLY TEST IF I CAN D R O W N!!!"

"No." said the chorus of non-most-likely-amphibians. Lame. Gingi crawled into the back to sit with Bigfoot. He was rummaging (with the upmost politeness), looking for 'naners. No luck yet, though.

"Hello, my sweet."

"Hoh."

"Have you found any of the golden fruit yet?"

"Hooooooh."

"Ah, no worries bud! I'm sure Karen will let you get dem 'naners once we're at the beach! Speaking of- Kawen?? Awe we dere yet?"

"We'll get there faster if you sit down and buckle up. You're going to crack open your head and die, and we don't want that."

Chapter Text

Ahh, the beach. Where the sun makes the sand burn, and the water makes the sand squishy. Crabs, minnows, maybe even some shiny rocks are to be found here. Bigfoot, Karen, and Norm did most of the unloading, while the other three goofballs got the umbrella and towels set up.

"Gnarly! We've got the beach all to ourselves! Maybe there's some sort of *ghoul* or *goblin* that's scaring folk away? D'ya think they'd want to work at the Scare Shack?"

"Oliver we're n-not Mystery Ringc-"

"Nah. I don't feel the presence of a lesser-cryptid. Doesn't look like Bigfoot does either," Gingi muttered. They promptly flopped onto the sand and rolled around, feeling the warmth of the grains.  "I could...live here. Forever. Become one with nature."

"Ya wouldn't be able t' do that, solely 'cause if the sand doesn't smother ya, the crabs will feast."

...

...

"Hi Norm <3."

...

...

"Howdy, pardner." 

There was shuffling besides the cryptid, and when they turned their head, Karen was there, sketchbook in her lap.  She waved, lightly patting their head, before looking out upon the water. Norm shuffled to the other side of Karen, sighing softly.

A wild "YAHOO" came from the water,  as well as a shriek. Sitting up, Gingi could see that Oliver had (playfully) picked up Randy. Wanting to be a part of the cuddle pile, Gingi dashed off into the water, shuddering as the cold embraced them. Wading their way to their partners, the goblin ended up wrapping around Oliver's back, while Randy was being cradled in the front. 

Everything was going swimmingly! Norm was even starting up a barbeque with Bigfoot's hungry gaze following. The smell of the divine hit the three goobers out in the water, slowly wading their way back to shore for a feast of deities.

That was, until the angry yowl of a feline escaped through the air. Heads turned, and the party of friends were shocked to see a party of... co-workers?? Evil-doers?? What...were they now that Gingi was allowed into town?

Mingus stood there, tail swashing angrily, in...full mayor attire for the beach. Stabby and Shooty...or, Shooty and Stabby? Had their swimsuits on, but they were cautiously holding their own weapons. There was Abel, glaring at Randal, and then there was Bunny, who really couldn't care less about who was here but more about why they were in the perfect beach spot. 

Ah...the company beach episode has been forcibly 'crossovered.' This was going to be fun.