Chapter Text
The music flowed through him like warm energy. It was like pleasant electricity, a gentle hum of joy and tranquility. He sighed contentedly and continued his slow an exaggerated dance movements, positively ascending when the music hit its crescendo and he held his pose for the whole duration, that energy building up from the tips of his toes and exploding in his core, igniting him for his big finish...
“Squidward!”
He tripped over his own feet and landed face first on the ground. He lay there a moment then sighed, his moment of musical bliss ruined, “Well, at least I got to enjoy it for thirty seconds longer than yesterday.”
Squidward got to his feet and suddenly became aware of the pounding on the door. With another sigh he trudged his way over and opened the door to be greeted by a very excited Spongebob.
“Squidward!! Good morning, buddy! Check this out!!” Spongebob waved a package around in the air frantically, “Look at it!!”
“I’m trying to but you won’t hold it still!!” He exclaimed as he grabbed the box from the sponge’s trembling hand. Squidward furrowed his brow and looked over the package, then back to Spongebob, who was vibrating in place.
“I wanted us to open it together! But... Oh Squidward you’ll have to do it- I’m too nervous!”
Squidward rolled his eyes and opened the small box with his keys and withdrew the item inside. He examined it a moment then scratched his head. What could this thing possibly be? It was too big to be a bracelet, but too small to be a necklace.
“Hooray!! It’s my stim toy!!”
“Your what?” Squidward asked dryly and held the offending item away.
“My stim toy!” Spongebob bounced in place and flapped his arms excitedly, “Give it a try!”
He looked down at the weird trinket clutched in his tentacles. He’d never seen something like this before and hadn’t the slightest idea of how to ‘give it a try’. But he couldn’t fold in front of Spongebob. He assured himself that he was hip and cool with the times, and began experimentally kneading it. It was surprisingly fluid to be made of plastic and it moved easily as he squeezed it.
“Heh, this is actually kind of relaxing.” Squidward mused and admired the differently colored segments of plastic.
“I know! Isn’t it great?” Spongebob allowed his friend another minute of playing with the toy before he began to grow visibly restless, “Squiddy do you think I could see it? I wanna show you another fun way to play with it!”
“Huh?” He was snapped out of his trance-like state and became aware of his surroundings, “Uh, yeah sure. Here you go.”
Spongebob accepted it gratefully and slipped it around his wrist. He began the similar flapping motion earlier and the toy circled around his arm, “Hahaha it tickles!”
All that could be heard in the house was the sponge’s laughter as he bounced and leapt around the room. Squidward had to admit it looked pretty fun, but he wasn’t just going to say that out loud.
“I prefer my way, personally.” Squidward folded his arms over his chest, paused a moment, then offered, “But yours is pretty good too, I guess.”
“I have lots of other toys like this too if you wanna come over and see them!”
The thought of going to Spongebob’s pineapple right now wasn’t his favorite idea, but he couldn't deny that he was curious, “Maybe tomorrow. I have a mani-pedi this evening and I want to give the cuticle oil time to set.”
“Tomorrow it is then! Oh I’m so excited! I’ll make us popcorn, and we can watch movies, and!!!” He gasped and squished his cheeks with his hands, “We can give each other makeovers! Squidward, let me tell you that I have a rouge that was made for you.”
"Yeah, mhm, sure." Squidward gave a noncommittal murmur and began scooting the jubilant sponge out the door, “Now if you don't mind, an evening of pampering awaits me. Oh, and, Spongebob just to be clear- by tomorrow, I don’t mean midnight, I mean afternoon.”
“Ohhh, I gotcha, Squiddy!” Spongebob nodded and reset the alarm on his watch. Squidward began closing the door before his neighbor got his attention, “Hey, Squid?”
He rolled his eyes and sighed quietly before opening the door again, “Yes, Spongebob?”
“I’m really excited to hang out tomorrow! I feel like we never get to do anything just you and me! Here, you can hang onto this! I've got plenty at home!” Spongebob handed him the little blob of plastic and offered a warm smile before running off in the direction of his home, “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, buddy!”
Squidward watched him run off and shut the door. He stood there a moment and to his surprise, he was a little excited for tomorrow too. A small smile formed on his face as he considered the various scenarios that could play out. He looked down at the toy and began kneading it again. He wondered what else there could possibly be, and endless assortment of abstract shapes and textures. It wasn't something he'd considered before, and it ignited intrigue in him. A part of him was wary because Spongebob tended to be a magnet for chaos, but how bad could a quiet evening in possibly be?