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ALSO i didn’t realize that there’s a fic on here with a similar concept of the two of them visiting the aquarium at night; that was not intentional at all AUGH i just thought the aquarium would be cute bc i like the idea of the toons visiting their rooms every now and then to just think :] (as mentioned with my oc in here pft) Should totally check that fic out too though! :]
It was late at night, most if not all of the toons were already tucked away in their rooms for the night fast asleep—or at least just hanging out in their room for the night if they couldn’t sleep.
Shrimpo was one of the few toons who found themselves unable to fall asleep like usual. He rolled in bed countless times , unable to get comfortable. Grabbed more covers when he felt cold, only to wrangle them off of him in frustration when he grew too hot. He tossed the blankets onto the floor with a huff as he looked up at his ceiling. This was stupid.
His thoughts drifted to the kitchen. Hm, perhaps a snack would make him fall asleep. It was close enough he could just go grab something from the fridge to snack on. He’d most likely bring it back to his room though, he didn’t feel like running into another chatty toon this late at night. He let out an annoyed sigh as he pushed himself up from his bed, kicking aside the blankets that were on the floor as he stormed out of his room.
As the crustacean walked, he glanced around the other rooms down the hall, they were closed of course. He simply glared at them as he walked by.
He passed by Glisten’s room, the door slightly ajar, letting a soft glow of light spill out of the room from some show or movie he had on. Was that Boxten he had heard as well? There was another toon talking to him; it sounded like the music box. Shrimpo didn’t really care who it was though, as long as they weren’t out of their rooms to see him, he didn’t care.
He turned towards the kitchen and began rummaging through the fridge. He looked up and down, his tail giving a displeased flick when he couldn’t find something he cared for.
Shrimpo grumbled something to himself only to stop when he heard footsteps. He pulled his head out from the fridge, looking down the other hallway where he heard the footsteps. He narrowed his eyes and saw a faint silhouette turn the corner before hearing the elevator close.
Honestly, he couldn’t care less about who it was. He glanced back at the fridge as if something he craved would magically appear in it. He growled, slamming the fridge before walking back to the other hallway, following the sound.
Shrimpo didn’t care about whoever was up this late. Or maybe he did—they were distracting him from getting some sleep. So yeah, maybe they were a nuisance.
He made his way to the stairs and followed after the sound. The other toon turned corners and down hallways before Shrimpo realized where they were going when the path seemed familiar.
The aquarium?
Shrimpo continued walking only to pause when he heard another pair of footsteps, softer ones this time coming from another room.
He turned around and was met with glowing stars as he stared at the other toon.
Shiloh?
He stared at them, then back at the room they came from. It was their old room they had for the kids. He remembered it; it was pretty much meant for kids and others to wind down when they felt overwhelmed with all the noise and just wanted to relax for a bit. The crustacean himself didn’t visit the room very often but many of the toons—including Shiloh—had poked at him that he should go wind down in there. That maybe he should cool down and blow off some steam or some crap. Shrimpo had always hated the idea, offended that they thought such a room would do anything for him. Offended that they thought he even needed such a thing.
“Shrimpo! What are you um. What are you doing here?” They spoke anxiously, wringing their paws together. He hated how nervous they seemed to be. They were always sticking their nose in other toon’s business yet seemed so skittish sometimes. Or maybe that was just when they talked to him. Whatever, he didn’t really care.
“NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.” He growled.
Shiloh chuckled nervously. “Sorry, sorry! I’ll just be on my way.” They quickly waved their paws at him before slinking away, their tail slightly curled as they walked back to their bedroom.
He rolled his eyes and continued walking, only to pause. He had lost the toon he was trailing. His fist clenched, dammed Shiloh. If they didn’t get in his way then he wouldn’t have lost where the other toon went.
The crustacean shook his head, rubbing the space between his eyes—if he had a nose, he’d surely be pinching the bridge of it though. He was pretty sure they were headed to the aquarium anyways, so he continued going in that direction.
After a bit of walking and stumbling through the dark—why was it so damn dark? He remembered Gardenview used to have at least some lower lights that would be on at night, it seemed they didn’t work anymore. He could have taken the elevator, that surely would have been much quicker, yet he felt that would have been less discreet if he used it. It wasn’t as dark in here compared to the rest of Gardenview; only a few little lights from the exhibits casting light as he walked through it. He didn’t hear the other toon in here, but perhaps he should look around for them.
Shrimpo walked around but still couldn’t find the other toon. He stopped in front of one of the posters. It was the one with Finn on it; it talked about his meet up he’d do where he’d talk and educate the kids on fish. Shrimpo had seen it a few times from afar. The toon always seemed so excited to be talking about such a thing and sharing all he knew with the kids.
Shrimpo hated it. It always gave him a weird feeling when he saw Finn like that, a feeling he didn’t understand. He despised not understanding his own feelings, that seemed so stupid.
Whatever, it was a meet up Finn would do. Many of the other toons had their own little meet ups as well, but Shrimpo didn’t care much for those ones.
“Shrimpo! Heya bud!” A voice came up from behind him, startling him.
The crustacean quickly turned around and swung his fist to punch whoever it was that decided to sneak up on him.
The other toon quickly moved out of the way, the water in his head sloshing around as he narrowly dodged him.
“Ah! Sorry about that!” It was Finn.
Shrimpo stared at him, brows furrowed.
He took a step back, “didn’t mean to sneak up on you!” He gave a sheepish smile, his wind up fish peeking out from his head.
“DON’T SNEAK UP ON ME LIKE THAT!” He growled as he grabbed the toon’s shirt, shaking him.
Finn only laughed in return, “I said I was sorry pal! Reel-y!—Wait, did I scare you?”
He paused and glared at him before letting him go, albeit a bit roughly. “I DON’T GET SCARED.”
Finn adjusted his shirt before speaking up, “so, water you doing up so late?” He asked with a smile.
Shrimpo mumbled something before talking. “NOTHING. SOME TOON WAS WANDERING AROUND SO I FOLLOWED.”
The fishbowl thought about it before laughing. “Oh! That might’ve been me, hah, sorry if I woke ya up or anything.”
“WHAT’RE YOU DOING UP SO LATE?”
He blinked at him before scratching the back of his neck. “Sounds a bit seal-y but, I couldn’t sleep so I just thought I’d come out here to think. Helps sometimes.”
Shrimpo didn’t say anything, instead continuing to stare at him as if he didn’t believe him.
“You can head back to your room though, no need to worry about me.” He smiled.
He considered it. Yet at the same time, didn’t feel like going back to his room now. “NO…”
“Reel-y? I mean you can stay here with me if you want!”
Shrimpo groaned before crossing his arms, “OK.”
Finn smiled at him and quickly reached over and grabbed his hand, pulling him along as he walked. Shrimpo tensed up at the touch and tried to pull away but found himself relaxing just as quickly as he considered, which bothered him.
He didn’t like being so close to the other toons. Hell, Goob always tried to hug him and Shrimpo was always quick to run off or shove the fluffy craft away from him. Yet here he was, letting Finn pull him along by his hand.
There was that feeling again. The one he’d feel in his chest when he’d watch Finn happily do his fish talks. When he’d smile. When he-
“I miss when the kids used to visit here a lot, so many of them would chat with me. It was reel nice to sea them so happy.” Finn’s voice pulled the crustacean out of his thoughts.
He hummed in response, partially listening to the other toon as his tail gave a tiny flick.
They continued walking, passing by the poster with Shrimpo on it; it was about one of the many little games the kids could play at Gardenview, with this one being a treasure hunt. Shrimpo of course was the bad guy, wanting to steal all the treasure for himself. Gardenview seemed to like having him fit that role, not that he really cared anyways. The kids could get on his nerves sometimes, but he’d be lying if he said he didn’t miss them.
There were kids who would ask him so often about why he was such a bully. He’d say something about how he was better than the other toons and that he just wanted everyone to see that. Some kids tried to lecture him on how it was important to not be a bully but he’d often laugh it off.
Despite trying to shoo kids away, they still seemed to love him. And honestly? He missed that. Not that he’d ever admit that outloud.
Finn gave his hand a gentle tug when he didn’t respond back. “Hey, you okay?”
He blinked at him, not realizing he was asking him something prior. “HUH?”
“I asked if ya had any favorite memories ‘bout the kids?”
He growled again, “I HATE IT. THE KIDS WERE SO ANNOYING.” He lied, and Finn knew.
The fishbowl chuckled at that instead, “You shore? I remember them coming up to you to ask you things—which, I don’t know what they’d ask you about, so now I’m curious.”
Shrimpo rolled his eyes, “THEY’D ASK ABOUT YOU. THEY THOUGHT I WAS YOU.”
He snorted. “They thought you were me? Oh my cod, how?” He shook his head.
“I’M SHRIMPO. I DON’T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE SOMEONE NAMED FINN. I’M CLEARLY A SHRIMP!!”
He continued to laugh, “That you are. You’d be surprised how often the kids would mix up the other toons.” He shook his head, “they’d ask me a lot about you, it was funny.”
“WHAT?”
The toon nodded with a smile, “Yea! They’d ask if we were friends—which they’d often be surprised when I said yes.” Finn chuckled, “They’d say things like ‘but he’s a bully!’ I shrimp-ly told them that they just had to get the chance to know ya!”
Shrimpo stared at him, his tail giving a small flick. “WHAT.”
“Well yeah! We’re friends! I always liked being part of the aquarium with you!” He gave his hand a gentle squeeze as he spoke.
The crustacean huffed, “THAT’S BECAUSE I’M GREAT.”
Finn smiled and Shrimpo felt that feeling again, only to quickly shove it aside.
“STOP DOING THAT!”
He snorted, “Doin what?” Finn asked as he continued smiling.
Shrimpo pointed at his face, so close he almost poked him. “THAT.”
“Smiling?”
“YES. STOP IT.”
He dramatically pouts for a moment before smiling again, “why, got a problem with it, bud?” He tilts his head, the water sloshing around.
Shrimpo growls before shoving at his face, “STOP IT. STOP IT.”
Finn only giggles in response, grabbing his friend’s hands and moving them away. “Woah woah, what’s up with you?”
He hates the way he’s laughing at this, unbothered by any of it at all. He doesn’t even realize what he’s doing.
“I HATE WHEN YOU SMILE.”
“Whale, plenty seem to like it.” He grins bigger as if to emphasize.
“I HATE HOW IT MAKES ME FEEL.”
Finn pauses, blinking at his friend. The way it makes him feel?
“Like, angry?”
He growls, pulling his hands back. “I DON’T KNOW.” His tail gives an anxious swish as he stands there with his arms crossed, avoiding looking at the fishbowl, foot tapping on the floor.
Finn continues to stare at him, he can feel his stare even as he looks away. He finally gets an idea of what he meant by that and can feel the water in his head starting to heat up ever so slightly, bubbling up.
“Oh…”
Shrimpo glared at him, “WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘OH’?”
Finn waves his hands at him, “N-Nothing! Haha nothing! I just um…” He tapped on his cheek as he tried to think of a lie, “Hey! Um, it’s kind of late, maybe we should get some rest, yea?” He said, suddenly feeling nervous.
He stares at him before taking a step closer to him. “ARE YOU TELLING ME TO GET OUT?”
Finn shook his head so fast he was sure he could hear a few drops of water hit the floor. “N-No! I’m just saying that maybe you’re sleepy and want some rest, yea? I-I mean feelings are reel odd sometimes so maybe you’re just tired and—”
“I’M NOT LEAVING.”
Finn stopped talking, looking at him. “You’re not?”
“NO? WHY WOULD I?” He seemed almost offended at such a suggestion. Did he not want him there?
He chuckled nervously, swaying on his feet, “Right! Sorry, dunno why I suggested that. Haha!” Finn laughed before clearing his throat, “hey um, did ya wanna go sit down for a bit, maybe chat some more?” He asked, trying to push down his own nerves.
Shrimpo leaned in closer, eyes narrowing as he looked at him before straightening up. “…SURE.”
Finn smiled at that, his nerves relaxing at his friend’s answer. “Reel-y?” He smiled. “Great!” He reached for his hand again and went back to pulling him around.
The two of them found a place to sit and simply stayed there for a few hours just chatting away. They spoke more about their memories of Gardenview, of the aquarium and all the little interactions they’d have with the kiddos.
Shrimpo kept feeling that…warm fuzzy feeling—that was what he started to call it. It wasn’t a bad feeling, it made him feel really good and honestly? Happy. But he wasn’t the best at expressing such an emotion, yet Finn didn’t seem to mind.
In fact, Finn was one of the few toons who…‘tolerated’ him. Most would be upset by his insults, whereas others simply didn’t care at all. Yet Finn wasn’t exactly either of those. Not only was he unaffected by any insults he threw his way, he’d laugh them off. Joke with him about them and simply go back to being his cheery self. He often would seek out Shrimpo, he intentionally wanted to spend time with him. It was odd.
And honestly? Shrimpo didn’t mind it.
He tried pushing Finn away, but Finn kept coming back and didn’t seem bothered by it at all. Finn viewed him as a friend and enjoyed his company. There weren’t really any other toons Shrimpo considered a friend, other than Finn.
Feelings were hard enough as is, but he enjoyed talking with the other toon, even if he couldn’t figure out how to express the way he felt.
Finn did most of the talking while they sat down, going on and on about his interactions and what he missed about Gardenview. Shrimpo had laid on his back, arms tucked under him as he stole glances here and there up at his friend. Shrimpo enjoyed seeing how happy the other toon was, the way his eyes glimmered when talking about something he particularly liked. The way the soft blue lighting reflecting off of his glass. He looked…Shrimpo didn’t want to use the word.
Shrimpo hadn’t realized when his eyes grew so heavy that he had drifted off to sleep, having fallen asleep to the other toon’s voice.
“Shrimpo?”
Finn glanced down when he got no answer. His eyes widened at the sight of him. He had fallen asleep on the floor, brows still furrowed, but he appeared much more relaxed. It was odd to see him in such a way.
He smiled fondly at him before his little fish toy peeked out from his head. Finn was silent before suddenly talking, “Barnaby! No—I don’t…” He glanced down at Shrimpo then adjusted himself so he was looking towards one of the empty exhibits. “That’s silly.” He chuckled as he spoke to the little toy.
Finn sat there quietly, lost in his thoughts, keeping his friend company until he began to feel himself tire out as well. He sighed as he rubbed at his eyes, realizing he’d have to wake Shrimpo up. Finn looked back down at his sleepy friend and smiled.
It reminded him of the nights the center would host. They’d host sleepover events for a limited number of people where they could spend the night at Gardenview; their choices being the aquarium, the dinosaur exhibit, or the art room. The toons themselves weren’t actually allowed to sleepover with the others, but Finn would often stay up until everyone dozed off, then he’d head back to his own room for the night. It was always fun seeing the kids nestle in for the night in their sleeping bags, staying up chatting with their friends until finally falling asleep.
He leaned back on his hands as he looked at him. Finn scooted closer just slightly, making sure to not move too much to startle him. He wanted to be closer, much closer. Yet the other toon wasn’t the best at emotion and Finn didn’t want to scare him off. He glanced down at his friend’s hands, the ones he had so easily held and wanted to hold in his own hands again but held back from doing do. Jeeze, Shrimpo would surely yell at him.
Perhaps he could let Shrimpo sleep a bit longer, he’d wake him up in a bit. Shrimpo might also yell at him for doing such a thing too, but it was worth it to admire him just a bit longer.
“Sleep well buddy.”
