Work Text:
December 1991
A young cookie, Ginger the gingerbread was meeting the non-holiday toons for the first time. She was very shy, and didn’t speak much, so she got Aurthr to do most of the talking for her. she wore her hair down in long icing, and wore a short ruby red dress.
Ginger didn’t know what to say when she met him. tall, strawberry red skin, seed freckles covering him head to toe, and a short mop of leaves sticking out of his head. Before she was even introduced, she noticed his loud voice echo from across the room helping out other toons carrying trays upon trays of sweets in his arms.
She was very impressed with how confident he seemed, he was a main after all, and she even slouched down so she wouldn’t be seen over the crowded kitchen. Though this movement did the exact opposite, flagging Arthur to notice her looking at Sprout.
“Oh, Ginger! Why don’t you introduce yourself to Sprout? He loves baking, just like you and Cosmo!”
Her face ran deep with blush, and fear. Of course Cosmo had mentioned sprout in passing, but she never thought he would be this intimidating. She wondered if Cosmo could be friends with someone so much diffrent than him, maybe it was possible she could do the same.
“Sprout! This is Ginger, I’m sure you’ve heard lots about her from Cosmo, but since are first Christmas at gardenview is coming up, it’s finally time for you to meet her!”
Not wanting to mingle with the toons longer than he had too, Arthur left the two alone and Sprout in charge well the toon handlers dealt with delivery’s and preparations for Christmas.
Sprout gave Ginger a large welcoming smile, and she practically swooned.
“Oh! Sorry friend, i just have my hands full right now, let me just put these in the freezer and I can show you around the kitchen!”
Ginger shook her head in agreement eagerly, but didn’t respond. Sprout continued to walk to the freezer with his hands full.
“Not much of a talker huh? That’s ok, Cosmo and me didn’t talk much when we first met. I guess you two are pretty similar! Oh- could you get the door for me?”
Sprout gestured to the large freezer door infront of him, and Ginger quickly opened it to a gust of cold air, making her shiver in her sundress.
“Hey, that must be pretty cold”
Sprout said gesturing with his hand down to her outfit. She froze.
“I understand. the handlers didn’t really think about that huh? I have a pair of tights you could barrow if you’d like.”
The gesture alone got ginger to smile, and she genuinely appreciated the thought. She was quite chilly in this outfit she wore, especially for winter. No one had ever been so thoughtful to her, especially him being a main toon, it made her feel so important. But that being the case, she didn’t want him to waste something on someone as unimportant as her.
“I- no! It’s ok you don’t have to do that!”
Sprout looked shocked by the response, especially because he saw her so happy when she first heard the offer. He closed the Freezer door behind himself and Ginger.
“No, Ginger really, I insist. I know Cosmo means a lot to you and he’s my best friend so if you ever need anything just let me know, I’m here for you.”
She nearly fainted, maybe she was in a dream, the coolest looking most extroverted toon wanted to know her, and she wouldn’t turn up an opportunity like that. She was worried about what Cosmo would think, Sprout a boy and her a girl.. Ginger knew all about knights and princesses, the possibility’s made her giddy and heart fill with butterflies. She didn’t want to mess this up!
“Oh! Well if you insist..”
Then Sprout pulled her in for a quick hug, and enthusiastic pat on the back.
“Of course! Now let’s go find Cosmo, we have to let him know the treats are in the freezer, I wonder where that goof went!”
And so, Ginger was left in the dust with her heart beating like a drum as Sprout jogged ahead gesturing her to fallow his lead.
December 1994
It had been a couple Christmas’s since Ginger had met her secret crush Sprout, and the more he invited her into him and Cosmos holiday festivities every year, the more Ginger grew attached to the strawberry. Though she felt so strongly about the taller toon she never had the ability, or really the time, to admit it to him. Not only was she only around some of the year, but Cosmo was always there with them so they could never talk about it. She had no doubt in her mind Sprout felt the same, so why wouldn’t she just tell him? Ginger looked down at her pink and white stockings and felt her heart ache.
“I have to tell him how I feel, holding this inside is like torture. I can’t even tell Cosmo how I feel because he just wouldn’t understand, he’s a boy after all.”
Ginger pondered what she could make him as a gift, to show her love before the holiday season started up, at the beginning of Christmas. She considered all her options and realized nothing would be as good as some homemade baking and a card, she precisely measured everything with love and care, writing a thoughtful message in frosting as heart shaped strawberry cookies baked in the oven.
“I.. really hope Sprouts not busy filming today.”
She specifically planned it on a day Cosmo said he was filming so she wouldn’t accidentally embarrass herself in front of her cousin, good thing Cosmo always tells her when he’s busy! She smoothed out her long icing hair, and made sure her makeup wasn’t smudged, before heading out the door to Sprouts room.
Gingers heart skipped with anticipation, she felt her face burn red and she began to sweat as the plate cookies shook in her hand. she tried to wiggle the door to Sprouts room open,
she barely had a second to comprehend what was unfolding on the strawberries bed before she screeched and dropped her heart shaped cookies out of the plate to the floor. The cookies shattering like glass on impact as the plate did the same.
“Ginger! Dont scream!”
Cosmo whispered as he jumped off Sprouts bed running to cover Gingers mouth, unintentionally stepping on the broken plate in front of her.
“Cosmo! You’re gonna cut yourself!”
Sprout said reaching out off the bed, still trying to remain calm. But it was too late, Ginger had already stormed out of the room as tears welled up in her eyes. she tried everything not to let the water ruin her makeup, but there was nothing she could do.
As Ginger sat on her bed, she slowly wept, feeling her sarrow slowly burn into rage as she hyperventilated. Why would sprout do that to her? Why would COSMO, someone who’s meant to be her family, do this to her? Why would he lie about filming? Why would he sneak off to do something.. something she didn’t understand? Something that hurt her heart so badly! The door to gingers room slowly opened;
“Ginger, it’s me, Cosmo. we need to talk in private.” He said it under his breath like it was serious, so Ginger knew Sprout and Cosmo were doing something they shouldn’t have, maybe even something they knew would hurt her. She silently wept under her breath.
“Get out of here Cosmo. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“I- you need too tell me what you saw Ginger, I can’t just let you go tell Aurthr about this I don’t even know why your so angr-“
“You lied to me and told me you had filming today.”
Ginger snapped back at Cosmo glaring a hole into his head before he could even finish his words, it genuinely caught him off guard, he stuttered before entering the room and closing the door behind him.
“What do you THINK you saw..?”
Was all he could mutter out well sighing under his breath. Ginger felt outraged he even wanted her to repeat it, but if it will get him to stop lying so be it.
“You… you were on top of... kissing Sprout. On the lips. Don’t deny it Cosmo, I’m not stupid, you know that.”
She was going to stand her ground no matter the cost, the rage still burnt inside her and the betrayal Cosmo never knew he inflicted appon her hurt deeply. Even though she still didn’t understand the scene she walked in on, she couldn’t deny it happened.
“Ginger.. you have to understand.. we aren’t trying to get in trouble.. I know I shouldn’t have lied, but it’s the only way we… I can.. BE with Sprout..”
Ginger interrupted again,
“You know that’s not right, you know that’s not how it go’s. There is no such thing as two boy toons kissing, that’s not how it ever go’s!”
She started welling up in heavy flows of tears again, ranting and babbling in pain.
“I was supposed to be the princess! I was supposed to be with Sprout! He.. I thought he liked me!”
Cosmo seemed to understand and felt a deep pain and guilt form in his chest, he knew what he was doing with Sprout was indecent and wrong, but how could he change the way he felt when he was with Sprout, because it felt so right? And how could he explain that to someone who has been told something completely different their whole life? Someone he just now found out, was in love with his best friend?
Ginger was a bumbling mess of tears that wouldn’t come. Why was her cousin doing this if he knew it was incorrect? And Sprout.. oh Sprout, how could she misjudge him? She never thought he was the type of toon to stoop so low, she always thought so highly of him. She stood up and grabbing Cosmo by his hoodie,
“Cosmo, why would you.. why would Sprout do this to me?”
“Cousin, I never did this to hurt you and neither did Sprout, it’s complicated alright? We both love you so much but… me and him love each other too, in a different way, even though you may not know what I mean, or any of the other toons for that matter…”
Cosmo paused, trying to find the right words to describe a romance he truly didn’t understand himself. He looked down and clasped his hands together like a puzzle piece.
“Me... me and Sprout were made for each other, Ginger. even if Aurthr or Delilah themselves didn’t intend it.. they made a bound between me and him so strong, it ascended the rules of lov-“
“And who told you that? HIM? Why would you even belive this? You think sneaking around doing Delilah-knows-what is what she intended for you two?”
Ginger lashed out in pain, her icing makeup rubbed all over her face, she spit the words like venom. As the seconds ticked by, the anger towards Sprout grew, and her protectiveness towards her younger cousin kicked in. Why did Sprout not want her? Was it because her cousin was easy to manipulate? Was it because he could get Cosmo alone? Vulnerable? The questions piled up in her crust till she couldn’t take it anymore;
“This isn’t right, Cosmo!”
Was all she could fumble out of her sobs, as silence filled the room again.
“Oh, Ginger…”
Cosmo cooed sympathetically, grabbing onto Ginger and leading her back to her bed into a large hug. She clung to him like her life depended on it, as she silently sobbed into his shoulder.
“Sprout, please don’t fallow me, I have to go get her! What if she tells Sam?”
Cosmo quickly rushed out the door before Sprout could protest, shocked at the scene that just unfolded in front of him. To be caught at all, but not just any toon but Cosmos Cousin, was very worrying for Sprout. He shifted on his bed, and remembered the bliss of the couple minutes before Ginger entered the room, with Cosmo on his lap. He dreaded the idea that moments like that would soon vanish with the new looming threat of their secret being discovered. They had been sneaking around like this for years, it was only a matter of time before their shame was found out. He couldn’t just leave Cosmo to deal with Sam himself, he jumped out of bed and made his way to the pile of glass and baked goods strewn across the floor. Among the rubble he noticed a bright pink card left on the floor in all the chaos, and couldn’t help but reach over and grab it. Written in black frosting the words ‘Dear, Sprout’ lined the top of the page.
“Oh, Ginger.. I had no idea..”
guilt rang a deep pit in his stomach, Gingers love so pure and vibrant coated each word like cinnamon sugar. The pain he felt knowing he would never be able to feel the same, it hurt him immeasurably. the idea of a reality where he was acceptable and able to fulfill his duties with a female toon like Ginger haunted him every day. But for him that reality was impossible, because he was uncontrollably hopelessly in love with his best friend Cosmo. He wished he didn’t have to sneak around like a criminal to be with the Toon, but he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to be with Cosmo if it where to destroy his career or the whole world even, because he couldn’t imagine a reality without him. Sprout questioned the reality where Ginger ended up giving him this note sooner, would he lie and tell her he loved her back? Would he let her down easy? What would Cosmo say?
“Oh no, Cosmo, I need to find you. I need to let Sam know it was my fault.”
Before Sprout could even make it to the toon handler, he noticed the door to Gingers room, cracked slightly open. Even though everything in his body told him not to go in, he had to see Ginger. she was his friend, and she desperately deserved an explanation. No matter how awkward the situation they found themselves in.
“Ginger..? Oh! Cosmo, you are here too! Thank Delilah I didn’t go running to find Sam..”
Sprouts cheerful demeanour instantly faded away when he saw Cosmo coddling the sleeping tear-stained cookie to sleep. Cosmo signalled him to be quiet, and beckoned him closer.
“She’s heartbroken Sprout, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never had to deal with her like this before.”
Cosmo gingerly pet her icing hair, trying to keep the cookie asleep. Sprout signed.
“I know.. I found what she was trying to give me.. it was a love confession. Comso what do we do? What if she tells the others?”
“Theirs nothing we can do, except maybe convince her to help us out. though the odds aren’t really in our favour are they?”
The cake roll and strawberry looked at each other in agony, there was only one thing to do, and it was talk to Ginger. Cosmo spoke up,
“We should just wait till she wakes up, maybe give her some time alone.”
Sprout couldn’t disagree, she was Cosmos cousin after all, but he went along nonetheless. They placed a blanket over her, and turned out the light. Holding each other like they would never see again, Cosmo looked up at Sprout as they stood in Gingers doorway.
“You know this is really dangerous right? For.. both of us?”
Sprout quietly shook his head in agreement, and wrapped his arm tightly around cosmo.
“I know. What are we going to tell the others if she tells the staff? I have no idea how she’s going to act normal after seeing this.”
Cosmo muttered something quietly in agreement, as he lead sprout by the hand out of her room.