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3:12am, that’s what the clock read.
Gourdy woke up in a cold sweat- another nightmare about his parents again, it was the third one this week.
This couldn’t keep happening. It was Halloween season and he wasn’t supposed to be up until a few hours later, he had work to do- kids to see- all the important things expected of a main. And yet, sleep seemed far away at this point.
He managed to sneak out into the kitchen of Gardenview’s diner. ‘Maybe a glass of water- or maybe a snack would help me.’ he thought to himself.
Gourdy stumbled around the kitchen for a bit, he was unfamiliar with the layout so it was hard for him to navigate- especially in the dark of the night (not that it mattered, they never got sunlight in Gardenview- real sunlight, anyway). Once he finally made his way to the fridge, he gently opened the door to take out a pitcher of cold water- but before he could grab it…
“Gourdy, is that you? It’s quite late, you know.”
Behind the pumpkin stood Astro, his confused face illuminated by the blue light he was emitting.
“Ah-! Oh, Mr. Astro, it’s just you. I’m so sorry I’m not in bed, I just needed a glass of water and-”
“There’s no need for that, Gourdy. It’s alright.” Astro replied softly, “Are you having trouble sleeping?”
“Uhm, well…”
Gourdy nodded.
“Yeah… uh, I guess I’m just excited for later!” He laughed weakly.
The other toon looked him up and down. The pumpkin felt small in the shrink of his gaze.
“If that’s the case, why don’t I pour you a glass?” Astro offered, “After all, it looks like that pitcher’s just a bit too heavy for you…”
“Oh. Uh, I’m…- Okay, Mr. Astro.” Gourdy replied. He felt his cheeks flush red. He walked over to the barstool of the counter and sat atop it.
Silently, the moon nodded. The sparkles of his powers danced around the handle of the fridge door and the handle of the pitcher with practiced ease. Water poured in a little plastic cup in front of Gourdy just as he set his head down on the counter.
“You know, Gourdy…” Astro started, “You are aware that I can sense dreams, yes? I may not be omnipotent by any means, but…-
You don’t have to lie to me.”
Gourdy’s gaze landed downwards. Getting called out like that made him want to sink into the floor.
“B-But, don’t feel too bad about it.” He tried to reassure, “A lot of the other toons get nightmares as well. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s perfectly normal…”
The pumpkin frowned.
“Do the others get nightmares often?”
“…Well, yes, I suppose so.”
A weighted blanket of silence hung in the air, it was almost suffocating. Gourdy couldn’t quite see him, but he had a feeling that his question might’ve made him uncomfortable. Those dreams were personal. He knew if Astro asked about his dreams he would feel more than a bit awkward as well- Oh, it was probably really wrong of him to ask then. This made him feel more ashamed.
“Sorry, sorry. I really shouldn’t ask you that, mister.”
“Oh, no- no. If anything I should be sorry. I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I just want you to know that if you ever need to talk about something in your nightmares… I’m here. If not about your nightmares, I don’t mind if you have any questions. I’ll try to answer them as best I can.”
Gourdy looked up at him again at that, taking a sip of his water.
“Mister Astro..?”
“Yes?”
“Does it ever get easier? Being a main, that is.”
Something in Astro’s face shifted. Out of all the questions, he didn’t expect Gourdy to ask that. His lips curled downwards pensively.
Usually when he interacts with the others in this way, he expects them to ask for better dreams or sleeping tips or anything else, but it was never this. The question came from a child no-less. Gourdy shouldn’t even be concerning himself with that sort of thing.
Astro thought back to Toodles, who was probably sound asleep at this point. She was a lovely young toon, and while he wasn’t particularly close to her, he felt a pit in his stomach at the mere idea of her going through anything remotely like this. He cared for her, and Gourdy as well. And as much as he wanted to protect the younger,
He deserved to be given the honest truth.
“...You get used to it.”
Gourdy frowns.
“Oh.”
The cup quivers in his hands, his lips do so as well.
“Mister Astro, I don’t think I’m thirsty anymore.” He says in a quiet voice.
And Astro doesn’t blame him.