Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Aggressive plucking of the strawberries specifically and slightly less to the moonflowers that looked like cosmic brownie swirls. Thats a usual berry-picking evening with Dandy & Astro, Dandy did the aggressive plucky– obviously, Astro did it in gentle ways with one of his 4 arms and the other with magic, since he didn't want people to see if they unexpectedly came. 

Dandy didn't care, since as usual, behind the scenes he was frustrated again with Astro, this time for taking a lesson with Sprout instead of being on Vee’s gameshow with him. 

“I TOLD you that I was gonna be on her show, I reminded you thrice, and you STILL did not show, Astro.” Dandy said through closed teeth. “I promised Sprout that I would be at his cooking lesson, plus I’ve been hanging out with you more than him. Sorry..” Astro replied in a soft and somber tone, delicately pulling the berries from the nutrient-filled soil.

“Every toon and person knows us as being the dynamic duo. I'm not gonna throw away that moment of fame just because you wanna be a FAG with Sprout.” Dandy emphasizes, most people don't know that Dandy is somewhat homophobic, they think that toons cant be queer in all that such (which is weird considering they are almost humans). 

“You can't say that, Dandy. You know that, plus.. Me and Sprout don't have anything going on. Ur just jealous as always.” He mutters the last sentence under his breath to not upset him.

“Yes I can, I’m DANDY!. I'm the star of the show, everybody falls under my command, and ur just a subordinate, a tiny little star about to die out, as you would say.” he looks over to Astro sternly, going back to the various fruits and vegetables and florals.

“Just because you're the face of Gardenview doesn't mean you have complete control, we aren’t puppets on strings. We’re your friends, well, as people say..” he ignores the sharp arrow of eyes on him and keeps picking the weeds with his soft fingers.

“Whatever you say, Sirius.“ The multihued flower murmurs, shaking his head and sighing.

——————————————MEANWHILE—————————————

Sprout and Cosmo have recently finished up doing their cooking episode together, this time they baked some cookies for the new toon Blot! They loved it, and shared it with the rest of the circus trio.

“Phew! Finally done, my hands are tired..” Sprout says while taking off the baking gloves and sits down on one of the comfy circle chairs after handing out cookies.

“Ha, yeah. At least they enjoyed them! That's the nice part about baking.” Cosmo wipes his hands and sits down next to him and puts the pair of gloves aside on a little table.

They both relaxed into their chairs and shared a nice moment of silence between the two best friends, everything was serene and quiet; you could hear a supernova.

The moon was lit with a nice white-glossy color, and the stars were a pretty constellation while the dreamy black-blue-purple background could make you into a daze. Being under it could feel like you were being lifted into heaven by an angel.

“The moon looks so pretty tonight, I’ve never looked at it this closely before.” Cosmo squints his eyes into the beyond of the night.

“It’s always pretty, every night, it controls the tides of gloominess that washes over me on bad days.” Sprout replies, he half-lids his eyes and gets lost into the ethereal cosmic being. Its luminosity is blinding, figuratively and literally, it’s so bright that if you stare for more than a minute then your vision starts to get blurry. Well, that’s the rumor that people share to spread misinformation and libel about the moon, which is false. It IS blinding, but by beauty; not the actual lights.

Many people adore and hate the moon, but nobody desires and thrives for the moon such as itself, and the berries that cultivate at night due to its shine.

Have people ever thought so deeply about it? Have people ever yearned for it, deep in their thoughts, nothing else but the radiating light of its face.

Well, more like his face, Though, all this time, they are only friends, right? That’s what stuck in his head, all this time, whenever he just had time to explore around his mind, that’s the question that pops up whenever he thinks about their adventures.

He has always had these thoughts since the first time he came to Gardenview with Cosmo and Glisten. He just thinks it’s admiration or idolization, but oh, it’s so much more than that. Nobody knows that yet, though. Not even them two, not even their own thoughts. NOBODY.

“Sprout, hello? Are you awake?” Cosmo says waving his hand in front of Sprout’s face, he got into daydreaming on accident and completely was ignoring what Cosmo was saying.

“Oh! S-sorry.. I was just.. dreaming.” He says, shaking his head to erase the memory.

“…Of him?”

“Yeah. Of him.”

The silence was loud, everything was quiet, except their breaths. At last, Cosmo sighs, sounding like relief and acceptance—a hint of sadness. Cosmo knew they were definitely more than best friends, but they didn't take a second glance at their dynamic.

“It’s getting late.. I'm gonna go to my room. I'll see you later, Sprout!” He waves ‘goodbye’ and walks over to his room down some halls.

After some time, he does the same. Going to his room, and trying to sleep, but he gets lost in his thoughts. Astro will be confused on why there's no dreams for him, which makes him overthink.

The night gets darker and darker, everybody is asleep—except a few— and the Gardenview is at rest. The moonlit sky blankets it in a warm hug.

Chapter Text

The smell of fresh breakfast muffins circles around Astro’s head, he instantly knew the smell. The smell reminded him of the old times where whenever Sprout was new, he used to make all kinds of things for everybody to know what they like just for memories.

The muffins were his favourite, they were homemade blueberry muffins. Astro had never eaten anything really at Gardenview, the ‘bakers’ were Delilah & Arthur—but they really sucked at it— but nobody ate anything except the candy that was scattered from all the children.

Whenever he came, he tried those muffins for the first time. It was like the stars aligned and the moon covered the sun. He absolutely adored them, it was his favourite food by a long shot. He also liked the tiny fact that the blueberries look like stars and it matches his color scheme. It’s the small details he's obsessed over.

He rose up and grabbed his blanket to cover his multitude of arms, he sauntered out of his room and went to the kitchen. He followed the scent of glory, and he soon found his reward. Sprout was finished baking 3 trays of muffins and set them down on the tables.

“Sprout! I’ve seen you have been busy.” Astro said, glancing at the muffins, then at him. He takes a seat and grabs a napkin to replace a plate.

“Ha, yeah! Just had a hunch, yknow? I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be nice to make breakfast for my friends?’ and so.. I did!” He said moving his hands while he was talking, Astro wonders if it was made for him especially— and others, of course—.

“Yeah, …yeah.” Astro pauses between the two words. Sprout lays a muffin on the napkin and he admires the beautifully shaped masterpiece of food. His eyes sparkle whenever he looks at it, you could almost drool at the sight of it. Everything about it was amazing.. To him at least. 

He used his magic to start to dig in, whenever it comes to these beauties, he is an animal. He’s usually polite with his food, taking small and slow bites, but now he’s unleashed the beast within.

“Slow down, Astro! It’s not going anywhere.” Sprout says chuckling and sitting down next to him with the rest of the muffins. “It’s going in my stomach, that’s where.-“ He says giggling a little, his laugh was something like the faraway constellations. All made out to be a perfect shape.

Sprout laughed at his joke, he doesn’t think anybody is really funnier, it’s just cheesy jokes that he loves maybe? He sure loves Astro’s laugh though, but it’s not only him, for sure…?

He then got up and took the muffins with him, he was going to wake up everybody to have their share of the muffins, considering how many toons there are it might take all the trays. “I’ll try to save some for you!” he smiles then walks away to the toon rooms.

He’s considerate, that’s a reason to like him. Tons of people don’t, they just think he’s strict and rude, those people are just-.. Well, let’s not be mean now. They just haven’t seen the good side yet, that’s all.

He thinks he should make a list of the things he likes, about Sprout or maybe just in general. Maybe on Sprout, but in all he just thinks it’s better to keep it in his mind. Why write a list when there’s a list in your head nobody can reach?

Astro decides he’s been just spacing out for too long and goes to walk around and explore the same building he has been for years, he remembers everything everywhere. Same grey walls with rainbows painted over and the same boxes filled with nothing but air. Same small shrubs in somewhat broken pots and vases, the same tv that plays nothing except static. He stares into that tv for so long it starts to move his vision.

That one corner in the living room with the beat-up bean bag that has been growing a stench, they need to throw it out but Dandy doesn’t want to himself. Dandy sprays it with air freshener since the stink doesn’t leave the living room.

The TV is plugged in but nobody ever uses it, since one day Dandy out a fit of rage broke it and Vee was so personally hurt over it she didn’t fix it. Neither did Veronica, her handler. Nor Delilah and Arthur, nobody cared enough to fix it.

It just plays static with a hole in it on the bottom right of the screen, cracks circle around it like a spider web. Nobody patched it up, it’s just there. Before the hole, it used to only play one thing. And that was just episodes and animations of the toons doing stuff, nothing special. It had no channels and it was just random.

There’s a little table in front of the TV so kids could watch but none of them ended up doing it. They just talked to most of the mains, and the other times played with the toys that were provided.

It was nice that sometimes the kids didn’t talk to Astro though, it gets crowded and it feels like the whole world is encircling him. So it’s nice to be alone and safe whenever the kids are over.

Astro decides to relax on one of the sofas in the living room and doze off, or daydream. But he doesn’t actually ever think during his, he just controls the others. He doesn’t actually sleep though, which is another thing, despite being sleep-inspired and everything he doesn’t.

So he just closes his eyes, and while that happens he does all the magic. Though it’s nothing special, he just views people’s dreams and such, but I guess it’s a break since nobody is asleep.

It’s times like those when everybody is awake and he’s just there, he relaxes. Nothing —and nobody— is there to bother him or overstimulate him. Just the stars and sky within his grasp.

“Astro. Are you awake? I don’t know if you just don’t sleep or you sleep with your eyes open.” Vee nudges his shoulder talking to him.

“Oh! Yeah, I am. Sorry.” He nods his head lightly and gets up. The room around him spins for a second.

“Well, the mains want to hang out together. So, if you care to join, come with me.” she says waving over and walking away.

Astro nods after a few steps and regains his conscience and walks with her. Taking large steps to keep up with her pace.

He thinks of his friends, Sprout.. Vee.. Pebble.. Shelly… Dandy…? Some non-mains… Himself. Though he values others more. Everybody ate their fair share of muffins, and they must have some left over so they can have a nice chat and hang-out. Is that why?

Chapter Text

Breathe in, breathe out. That’s the exercise for whenever somebody has a breakdown, or as Dandy would call it, an ‘overreaction’.

It works well, most of the time, but with others who have higher stress levels and such. It doesn’t really solve the problem for when they’re violent emotionally, maybe physically, or verbally.

I have never had one, and I don’t think I will. Hopefully, right? Yea. A few toons have had one, some not that bad, but some had to get locked away for a day. To.. calm themselves down? That’s what Dandy said.

Though, they are never the same after that one day, and that scares me a little. They act differently, don’t talk the same way, kinda like an alien. They are the same, it’s like someone is different under their skin.

Some toons were just wired differently, like Vee, or Yatta. Vee is a TV show so she doesn’t show much emotion, and Yatta is like the opposite. If you could describe Yatta, it would be energetic. Too energetic for me, well, a lot of people are. But some people are just too non-energetic. Some people are just right, like a perfect star. I don’t know who yet, but someone is out there.

“Astro! Stop daydreaming! The garden isn’t perfect yet, and I needed your help.” Dandy says waking me up from my delusion, I completely forgot about the renovation.

“Sorry.. I’ve just been thinking about everybody. You know what clouds my mind.” I say polishing one of the steps. Spotless is what it needed to be.

“I wish I didn’t. Wish you never told me.” He snaps back, harshly, I don't know why.

“Sorry.” Apologizing for things that weren’t my fault. Hm.

“Mhm.”

...Why is he such a bastard? So mean. Cruel, cruel, cruel. I guess. It’s whatever. He only must act like this to me.
”What’s wrong with me telling you things all of a sudden? You’re my.. best friend, after all.” I say dusting off one of the flower’s petals gently.
“Nothing, jeez. Don’t worry about it,” he rolled his eyes and sighed before clarifying sarcastically, ”if you just happened to do so. But you never worry about anything.”

“I do in fact worry, I worry about a lot of things actually.” I say ‘matter-of-factly’, to express to him that I do care about stuff. I care about my friends, and Sprout! And all those little stars in the vast field of moons.

“Then start showing it, actions speak louder than words, y'know." He tilts his head while speaking sternly.

“I.. do. You just don’t see, you just choose not to.” My voice cracks a little while saying that, oh shit.

“Sure, whatever, retard.” He scoffs and shakes his head, going back to tending his flowers only shaking a little bit out of frustration of not getting his way.

“Didn’t know you could get worse..” I say under my breath going back to the flowers making them thrive. Why does it seem like only mine grows better and faster rather than his own? That’s weird, we do it the same way.

He notices the wilt of his little Potentilla he had been growing for new toons and furrows his eyebrows with an annoyed expression, “What?! Why are they drooping? I give them enough water!”

Most gardeners should have known this, doesn’t he know and like all plants? “Well, Potentilla’s need air circulation and sunshine, they mustn't have got enough of that, right?”

He takes a few seconds to dwell on that, then he berates, “Right. I just forgot for a second, it’s from sleep deprivation. Actually, let’s go to sleep, it’s so late out.”

“Really? It’s only 11pm, that’s not late?” I questioned, usually nights like these are just 6pm’s to me, but i can’t really sleep for an extended period of time so that’s a reason why too.

“That’s pretty late, come on.” He argued, directing him and I away from the garden, but I made sure to set my tools in rainbow orders and place them nicely near the last plant I worked on. After that, we walk side-by-side to each other to our rooms. My room is the farthest since I enjoy being alone but his room is the opposite so we wave goodbye to each other and I slowly stroll against the hardwood floor.

The posters around the walls cover up the holes. I shouldn’t have gone slow, I need to get to sleep so I don’t end up not falling asleep at all and in the morning I fall asleep standing up, wow, that was embarrassing.. My footsteps don’t make any more noise while I speed up, I don’t want to accidentally wake somebody up from their slumber. It must have taken them hours to get back to sleep if I did!

When I reach my room, I immediately close my door and lock it, so I'm safe. Some toons think I lived on the moon, which would be nice, but I unfortunately don’t. I just lived in a cozy square area that has a hanging bed filled with stuffed animals galore and astrological decorations. Which were gifted from Sprout, which was sweet of him! He only gave me 2, rather small to how much Dandy let me borrow.

But I just.. I like them a lot, they smell like sweet pastries, it’s like an evocative smell —or even better— an ambrosial smell.
I shouldn’t dwell on the scent of props, so I just turn off my lights and head to my cozy bed, and doze off. But instead I lay awake helping people with their dreams, or think mindlessly, or just not sleep at all. Though I find a way, usually.

Luckily, nobody has dreams tonight, so it’s just me, myself and I. Who, or what should I think about? So many options, though nothing crosses my mind.

Except Sprout, oh, that’s embarrassing. Why is my face getting red, just at the mere thought of his name?.. Maybe it isn’t a good idea to think about him, right? Right. Right..? ..right.

Thinking about him will most likely make me take longer to go to sleep, so i’ll just have a clear mind.

Clear mind, breathe in, breathe out.

Breathe in, breathe out.