Work Text:
Gooseberry was currently live on TV, doing her usual puppet show, educating children on things you weren't really that interested in since you were busy both handling the technical equipment and staring at her as she talked into the mic.
That was until she said something which you noticed wasn't really in the script.
"Now, my children, today we're going to teach you about a little something called taxidermy!"
You jolted a bit at hearing that since you'd been lost in her eyes until now, you double-checked the script sitting on a desk near you to make sure you didn't accidentally get it mixed with a horror movie one.
"Have you ever had a loved one, like a pet for example, unfortunately pass away?"
Sure enough, there was no mention of taxidermy, but she kept rambling about it.
"Well taxidermy is just the right thing you need if you're missing someone or something you love!"
You were extremely confused as to why she'd talk about such things to children, and you were pretty worried about her.
You decided you'd stop whatever was happening before she could keep rambling though, so you cut the airing, broadcasting a 'We'll be back soon' message instead.
What was even weirder was that she didn't even realize the camera and mic were turned off and kept talking and looking at them, which creeped you out a lot.
You walked over to her side, putting a hand on her shoulder as you spoke to her calmly, assuming she was acting this way due to stress or anxiety.
"Uhm.. Miss Gooseberry? Are you feeling alright?"
She sat there for a second before her smile dropped, and she drooped her shoulders.
"Yes... I'm just.. feeling a bit down..."
You felt bad for her, but at the same time knew what she was doing was bad for the children watching the show.
"Miss... i really think you should take a break, it just seems like you're under a lot of stress and that's affecting your behavior here at work."
You tried to be as gentle as possible with her, as she looked up at you slowly with wide, saddened eyes.
"I know dear, i know... but i can work just fine! I'm just not having the best day today..."
You doubted her statement considering how out-of-it she seemed earlier.
"Well... how about you just take a short break anyway? Have some water, maybe re-read the script a few more times?"
You were pretty much just trying to get her to step away from the stage for at least a few minutes.
"B-but what about the children? I can't leave them waiting!"
She said as she pointed at the camera, but you definitely weren't going to let her go live again so soon.
"I'm sure they can wait for a few minutes, uh- m-maybe it could teach them to be patient!"
You tried to use her excuse against her to hopefully get her to take a breather.
"Hmm... fine, i suppose it's an important lesson to learn.."
You smiled, happy to have finally convinced her as you took her hands in yours, guiding her off the stage and in the studio's break room, where you sat her down in a couch near a coffee table and went to get some water for her from a dispenser nearby.
As you filled up the paper cup, you couldn't help but think about the things she said earlier.
When you turned back to her, she was still sitting there, head turned downwards, toying with the puppet still on her hand.
As you walked over to her, you couldn't help but be curious (and worried nonetheless) as to why she was acting this way.
"Uh- Miss, can i ask why you said those things earlier during the show?"
You said as you handed her the cup, she took it with her free hand and took a small sip of it before responding.
"What do you mean.. 'those things'?"
She asked back as you sat down in the couch next to hers.
"I mean the whole taxidermy thing..."
She looked at you with a glare that was clearly trying to seem happy while hiding something.
"Why, taxidermy isn't a bad thing..!"
"I mean- the morality of it can be discussed but, i don't think it's... appropriate, to push it on children."
She looked downwards again and took another sip of the water.
"I just wanted to teach them what to do incase of losing a loved one..."
When she said that, it was clear as day something had happened to her or someone she knows, you were 99% sure she was projecting.
"Would you mind if i asked you something personal, Miss...?"
You got up from your couch, walked over to her, and crouched infront of her so you were looking at her in her eyes.
"...Yes... go on."
She agreed, still toying with the puppet.
"Has... has someone very dear to you.. passed.. recently..?"
You were careful to sound as kind as possible to her as you put your hand on the one she held the puppet in, making her stop fidgeting with it as she paused.
You knew you'd already got your answer when you saw her eyes get teary, and her shoulders drooping even more.
She knew she couldn't talk without being a stuttering mess, so she just nodded as she squeezed your hand, as if she was holding onto you for dear life.
"I'm so sorry..." was all you could muster as you took the cup from her hand to set it on the coffee table, so that you could hug her.
You both stayed intertwined with one another for an amount of time you couldn't really care to think about, as she slowly started sobbing into your uniform (which you couldn't care less about right now) while you rubbed her back.
You didn't dare to talk the entire time, and just focused on letting her know you were there.
After a while her cries started becoming more and more quiet, her breathing became slower and her heart finally wasn't beating at the speed of light.
You carefully let go of her, making sure to let her know you weren't going anywhere, so you could give her back the cup of water, so that now you could maybe talk about what exactly happened.
"Do you want to talk about it... Miss..?"
You asked as you made sure to keep holding her hand.
"I don't know... it happened very recently, it was the most important person to me..."
She tried not to stutter or stumble over her words as a few tears still ran down her cheeks.
"It's okay... you don't have to, but just know i'm always here to listen to you, alright..?"
You reassured her as you wiped her tears away with your free hand's thumb.
"Hm... Could talking about it alleviate my pain...?"
She said before she took another sip from the cup.
"Yeah... usually it really helps."
She looked at you with probably the most pained expression you'd ever seen.
"It..." She spoke quietly as ever, trying not to break down into tears again. "It was my-my own father..."
You both sat in silence for a bit, you were still trying to process this situation, while she was trying to compose herself.
"I'm so sorry for your loss Miss..."
That was all that came to your mind as you thought about a way to comfort her from such an event.
"Tha-Thank you..."
She practically whispered to you as her voice cracked.
You knew you couldn't ask about how or when or where it happened or whatever yet, you needed to focus on her right now.
"I understand how devastating it must be to lose someone you were so close to..."
You made sure to choose your words carefully to not upset her further.
"It's okay to be sad over losing someone so important to you... I think you should take some time off of work for your mental health..."
You held her hand tight as you saw the gears turning in her head.
"Hm... I suppose i probably shouldn't be working under this condition... i'm sorry if i caused a scene, i... i just- he was so important to me-"
You cut her off by hugging her again, to stop her from spiraling.
"Miss... it's okay, you don't need to apologize for something you can't control... Just rest for however long you need to.. I'm always here for you if you need anything."
You comforted her as she hugged you back, finally feeling a bit better.
"As much as i'd want to stay here with you Miss, uh- i unfortunately need to head back to work, feel free to stay here or go home if you feel the need to though-"
She interrupted you,
"Oh, that won't be needed.."
You stared at her in confusion for a second before she continued:
"I'm the head of the studio, i give you permission to stay here for the rest of your shift."
You tilted your head at her, you were a bit confused but, in the end, you understood that she simply wanted company in this hard time for her.
"Uhm, okay then, i'll keep you company for as long as you'd like, Miss."
She nodded happily and mother for you to sit down in your couch again, and as you did, she started talking in more detail about what happened, you made sure to keep eye contact with her and listen to her as she explained how her father passed, she cried a few more times but just like earlier, you were there to reassure her that everything was fine.
It had started getting late after a while, the end of both of your shifts coming closer.
Gooseberry was done rambling now, you were both just enjoying each other's presence and making small talk every now and then.
You looked at the clock in the room and noticed it was getting late.
"It's getting quite late, i'll go clean up the stage if that's okay."
She nodded along with a 'mhm', and you went to clean up for the day, as Gooseberry joined you after a while when you were sweeping around the floor.
As you were sweeping, she came up to you to talk to you.
"Dear?"
You blushed a bit at her use of the petname, but you didn't show it since you were still turned away from her.
"Uhm- yes Miss..?"
"Would you mind... accompanying me to my house after this shift?"
You froze at the sound of that; you'd been crushing on her for a WHILE and an opportunity like this was only possible in your dreams, or at least you thought so.
"I- uhm.." You turned towards her, perfectly aware that your face looked like a tomato right now.
"I would be glad to, Miss.."
She chuckled a bit at the sight of you being so flustered, helping you clean up and close the studio for the night.
After closing it, she took your hand in hers and started walking towards her house, which wasn't that far away.
On the walk there, you made some small talk, about the show mainly, and about how Gooseberry would likely be taking a few days off of work like you suggested.
After a while you got to the front of her house.
"Thank you for being here for me, dear, you helped me a lot today."
You smiled softly at her and so did she.
"It was no problem, really, now, take as long of a break as you feel like taking."
"I'll make sure of it."
She kissed the corners of your mouth one by one before letting go of your hand and walking into her home, leaving you frozen in place, knowing she'll probably get you to comfort her more from now on.