Work Text:
It’s a cold November day in the bright city of Poppyton, and Dogday had just turned the sign of the “Found downstream” thrift store from closed to open.
“Time for another amazing day at work!”
He says, happily.
He and his good friend Craftycorn had been working there together for a few weeks now, with him stocking shelves and helping customers and her working the cash register.
His favorite part of working here was sorting through the boxes of old clothing, books, movies and chachkis.
He never knew what sort of amazing treasures he’d find.
On this day, Dogday had just opened a new box that had just been shipped, eager to see what was inside.
Sorting through boxes of old shirts, pants, coats, scarves, hats, shoes, and every article of clothing imaginable, he cleans, dries, and hangs up every last one, all with a bright smile on his face.
The rest of the day went normal, helping people find specific clothes or objects, sorting clothes by size and color and hanging them up on the racks, and just making sure the store itself was clean and welcoming to customers.
At the end of the day, when he was done sorting out clothes and helping out customers, Dogday found something truly special.
At the bottom of the last box of women’s clothes, there was a knitted purple sweater, that was just his size.
It was amazingly soft, and smelled like his favorite scent, Lavender.
After cleaning it up a bit, he tries it on, admiring how he looks in the mirror, enjoying the soothing scent.
He then smiles, going out of the dressing rooms and over to Crafty.
“Hey Crafty!”
He says.
Crafty looks at him, noticing his sweater.
“Oh, nice sweater.”
She says. “I’m guessing you found that in one of the boxes?”
Dogday nods.
“Can I keep it?”
He asks. “I REALLY like it…”
Crafty shrugs.
“Sure.” She says. “At least if nobody else claims it.”
Dogday smiles, hugging her.
“Thank you!” He says. “You’re the best!”
Crafty giggles.
“Well I'm glad you’re happy with it.”
~a few weeks later~
For every day of that cold November, Dogday wore his new sweater, he hardly ever took it off. The only time he did was to wash it. He even slept in it most of the time.
But then, on the first of December, a new customer came in.
Dogday heard the bell ding, and looked over to see a purple cat, a bit taller than him, who looked like a second or third year college student.
“Hey! Welcome to found downstream!”
He says, waving from behind the clothes rack he was putting some hangers on.
The cat smiles, waving and walking over to the other side of the clothes rack he was standing near.
‘Say, you’re certainly the cutest retail worker I've seen in a while.’
The cat signs with a smirk.
Dogday blushes.
“U-uh, thanks!” He says.
“You’re not too bad yourself!”
The cat blushes and giggles.
‘I appreciate it…’
Dogday clears his throat.
“So uh… did you need any help?”
The cat nods, looking Dogday in the eye.
‘I’m looking for an item of clothing that was donated by accident.’
Dogday’s eyes widened.
“Accident?”
The cat nods.
‘It’s a knitted purple sweater, that has a lavender scent.’
Dogday goes cold.
‘Have you received anything like that?’
Dogday was still for a moment, then walked out from behind the clothes rack, revealing himself.
“It wouldn’t happen to be… this sweater… would it?”
The cat gasps, smiling.
‘Yes!’
He signs. ‘That’s the one!’
Dogday’s smile falters a bit.
The cat steps closer.
‘I’ve been looking in thrift stores and donation bins for my sweater for weeks now!’
Dogday’s eyes widened.
“Really?”
The cat nods sadly.
‘When my last ex and I broke up, I accidentally left it at her place.’
He looks down.
‘Then when I asked for it back, she said she'd already donated it.’
Dogday looks a bit angry.
“Well that was rude…”
The cat nods.
‘Yes, but I'm glad I found it.’
He signs.
He then steps closer.
‘So, um… can I have it back please?’
Dogday’s heart hurts, but he slowly nods.
“Sure, one moment…”
He says as he goes to the dressing rooms to change into a different shirt.
A few minutes later, Dogday walks out, holding the now folded sweater with a sad smile on his face.
“Here…”
He says, offering it to the cat.
“On the house.”
The cat’s eyes sparkled, gently taking it.
“R-really…?”
He says aloud. “Y-you’re giving it to me for… free?”
Dogday shrugs.
“Well, it’s YOUR sweater…”
He says.
The cat laughs joyfully, hugging the sweater, then hugging him.
“Thank you thank you thank you!”
Dogday blushes, hugging back.
“Uh… no problem sir!”
While they embraced, Dogday noticed something.
The cat smelled just like the sweater. Like freshly bloomed lavender, with just a hint of sweet pea.
The cat blushes, quickly pulling back.
“S-sorry!”
He says.
Dogday smiles and giggles.
“I don’t mind.”
The cat smiles gently, as he starts to leave.
“Thank you again!”
He says quietly.
“I’ll come back soon!”
Dogday sure hoped so…
Low and behold, the cat came back the very next day.
While Dogday was carefully cleaning and putting a set of china cups on the shelf, he heard the doorbell.
He looks back at the door, smiling when he sees his new friend, waving softly.
“Hey!”
He says, putting the last of the china on the shelf. “You came back.”
The cat giggles, walking over.
‘Well I said I would, didn’t I?’
Dogday nods, and they both giggle.
The cat then steps closer.
‘I wanted to thank you again for giving me back my sweater…’
He looks down at his nametag.
‘… Dogday.’
Dogday smiles.
“It was no problem, uh… what’s your name?”
The cat giggles.
“Catnap.”
He says aloud. “My name’s Catnap.”
Dogday smiles softly.
“Cute name.”
Catnap giggles and blushes a bit.
‘Thanks.’
Dogday steps closer.
“Well, it was no trouble.” He says.
“Stuff that ends up here always goes to someone that needs it.”
Catnap nods. ‘I see.’
Dogday smiles.
“So, is there anything else I can help you with today?”
Catnap shrugs. ‘Not really.’
He says. ‘I just wanted to spend time with you.’
Dogday smiles brightly.
“Aww, well that’s sweet… but i’m kinda on the clock right now.”
Catnap’s smile falters. ‘O-oh, yeah…’
He says. ‘Sorry…’
Dogday giggles. “That’s okay.”
He says.
He steps closer.
“I don’t suppose you’d wanna hang out after work?”
Catnap smiles.
‘Sure,’ he says. ‘What time do you get off work?’
Dogday points to the clock over Catnap’s shoulder.
“About 6:30, around dinnertime.” He says.
Catnap’s eyes light up.
‘Oh, that’s perfect!’ He says.
‘There’s a really nice cafe a few blocks down, we could go get dinner there after you’re done,’
Dogday smiles. “That sounds like a plan.”
‘Great.’
Catnap says, starting to leave. ‘I will see you later then.’
Dogday nods. “Alright, see you at 6:30.”
He says, waving happily.
Before he leaves, Catnap blows a kiss to Dogday, causing him to blush.
~enter the montage~
Over the next few weeks, Dogday grew closer to his new friend.
Catnap would come to see him at the thrift store, they would often go to dinner together every few days, and even hung out at each other’s apartments once or twice.
And every time Dogday saw him, he noticed something new about the cat.
Whether it was the way his ear twitched when something got his attention, the way he’d silently giggle every time Dogday said something funny, or even just how his onyx eyes often sparkled in the moonlight.
He was wonderful…
~sweater transition~
It was a dark, snowy christmas eve at the thrift store, and Dogday was closing up for the rest of the year.
As soon as he locked the door, and turned to go home, he hears a familiar voice.
“Dogday!”
Dogday turns to see his feline friend had walked up, with his hands behind his back.
“Oh hi Catnap!”
He says. “I was just closing up for the season.”
Catnap nods. “I can see that.”
After putting the key away, Dogday turns to Catnap.
“So, you wanna hang out?” He says. “We could have dinner, or maybe go play in the snow?”
Catnap steps closer.
“Sure, but first…”
He reveals that he’s holding a medium sized flat box with an indigo ribbon.
“I have a gift for you.”
He says with a soft smile.
Dogday’s eyes sparkle, taking it.
“For me?!”
Catnap nods. ‘Open it.’
Dogday does, pulling the ribbon so it comes undone, then taking off the lid, looking inside.
His eyes sparkle when he sees what it is.
Inside the box was Catnap’s lavender sweater.
Dogday’s eyes sparkle.
“Y-you’re giving it to me…?”
Catnap nods.
“I don’t really need it anymore…” he says.
“And besides… I know how much you like it.”
He smiles brightly.
“Merry Christmas.”
Dogday takes the sweater out of the box, hugging it.
“Thank you, nap!”
Catnap smiles as Dogday puts it on, then twirls around.
“How do I look?”
Dogday asks.
Catnap smiles softly, his eyes gentle.
“You look perfect.”
Dogday smiles softly as well, blushing.
“You know… I have something for you too.”
He says, stepping closer.
Catnap giggles. “What is it?”
Dogday blushes.
“Something I've wanted to give you for a while…”
He says, wrapping his arms around Catnap’s neck.
Then, under the glow of the streetlights and the softly swirling snow, Dogday kisses Catnap.
The cat jumps, but kisses back, wrapping his arms around the dog to pull him closer.
The moment was blissful, their hearts beating in sync as being in each other’s arms kept them warm from the cold.
When Dogday pulls back, he looks deeply into his companion’s sparkling onyx eyes, smiling softly.
“You wanna know something, Catnap?”
He whispers.
Catnap nods.
“Yeah…?”
Dogday hums, leaning in to whisper in his ear…
“I only love this sweater…”
He says, nuzzling him.
“Because it smells like you.”