Chapter Text
Halloween was the best part of the year. The four Halloween Toons arrived, and all the Toons dressed up!
Of course, Shrimpo didn’t. He found it to be horrible, and quite frankly, pointless. So when Finn forced to him go to the fashion show Glisten was holding, he was furious. More so than usual. He was yelling the whole time, poor Barnaby stayed hidden at the bottom of Finn’s head (he still wasn’t used to the angry shrimp’s loud voice), but Finn just grinned and dragged him to the change rooms.
“It’ll be fun!”
He laughed as he attempted to wrestle a dress onto Shrimpo. A bright pink, frilly, princess dress. Just the sight of the ugly thing made Shrimpo want to rip his skin off.
Shrimpo was instructed to go last, for special effect, as Glisten told. Shrimpo was sure it was just so his outfit would be remembered the most. So at the end of the show, he drags his feet onto the makeshift runway, basically radiating fury. And the worst part? The Toons all loved it. Yatta laughed like she never has before. Eclipse was howling in cheer (or laughter). Gourdy and Toodles were ecstatic to find out they now had a princess for their games. Dandy sneakily took pictures with a mischievous grin. It all made Shrimpo’s head swirl with anger, clouding what everyone was specifically shouting and cheering. He just wanted to get out of there.
In an effort to leave, he chucks a tiara at Yatta’s head, sending candy flying everywhere. Looey hurriedly tries to make sure Yatta is okay; Blot glares at Shrimpo before helping. Shrimpo storms off, getting out of the dress as soon as possible. He threw it in a box of ripped clothing, absolutely seething. If he could punch somebody, he would.
—
In the whole ordeal, only one Toon stayed silent. Soulvester. He wasn’t a fashion show fan, and although he had seen Shrimpo yelling at someone earlier, he didn’t know him at all. He had only come along because Connie and Gourdy convinced him well enough to tag along But now his attention was hooked. The moment he saw him in a dress, something in his mind switched. His heart skipped a few beats too many, his cheeks flushed beneath his helmet, and his palms felt sweaty. He’s never felt anything like it, and yet, he loves it. He feels more alive than ever.
Before this day, he would’ve protected anyone and everyone without question. But now, he only wanted to protect Shrimpo, to hide him away from all the laughs and mockery that made him oh-so upset. He wants to be selfish, to keep the shrimp for himself like a knight would for a princess; and only the prettiest princess. The prettiest princess with twitchy antennae, the prettiest princess with small claws always poised for attack, the prettiest princess that has a frown deserving to be kissed off by a knight.
“Hey Soulvester, wasn’t that amazing?!”
Eclipse’s excited voice interrupts Soulvester’s thoughts, her sharp teeth on display as she laughs. She clearly enjoyed herself, though for once, Soulvester isn’t satisfied at all. He wants to see—
“I suppose it was mildly entertaining, indeed.”
He manages his usual calm and authoritative tone, though he doesn’t look in Eclipse’s direction. He can’t show his vulnerability.
He can’t be this emotional.