Chapter Text
Shrimpo strolled into the lobby the next morning, awaiting at least ten toons crowding it up. The crustacean blinked back his growing fatigue.
He kept up his pace throughout his cruise along Gardenview. Whilst striding past the shop, Dandy called out to him.
“Hey Shrimpo!” He waited for the snarky expression to be shot his way. At least a glance to be expected, right? With no response, the blossom attempted at phasing him again. “Shrimpo! Shrimpo!!!” His previous attempts at having him even catch a glimpse were to no avail. He continued to ignore him until being abruptly shot back with force. Dandy snapped. “Why are you ignoring me you asshole?!”
“Oh. Sorry, I guess.”
The pride flower stared back at him, confused with the sudden drop of mood. With an inaudible sigh, he decided to just drop it and leave Shrimpo to his moping.
‘Jeez, why is everyone so pushy? Just leave me alone!’ (it only gets worse from here buddy)
Shrimpo disregarded Dandy’s callout earlier and started towards the benches near the train station. Luckily, today was a day off for the toons, where Gardenview center was temporarily closed. He personally found this relaxing, not that he’d admit it.
He sooner or later found and sat himself on a seat, the red one closest to the gates. Unfortunately for him, the newfound peace wouldn’t last for long.
Promptly, Vee strutted up to him with a tinge of sheltered annoyance.
“Shrimpo.”
He just barely recognized that partially robotic voice that stung his ears. ‘ Is there relaxation in this hell? ’
“WHAT.”
“You know what.”
‘ What? Is she okay? I didn’t even do anything this time! ’
Shrimpo stared at her.
“WHAT?”
She looked at him like he was an encyclopedia or something. How would he know? Clearly confused, he waited for an explanation, or at the very least another response.
“WHAT?! WHAT DID I DO??”
“Ugh-! You cracked my screen!”
‘ What the hell?? HOW? ’
“HOW. THAT’S NOT EVEN POSSIBLE!!”
With their loud arguing intensifying, so did the crowd around them. A comedy mask spoke to their twin.
“Hey Dazzle, what do you think’s going on? (I- I dunno.. Can’t we just leave? I’d prefer to finish that book Astro lent me…)” Dazzle, upset by the other duo’s fight, let his eyes water till they formed to his signature tear-struck face.
Across from them held another group, consisting of Gigi, Glisten, Rodger and Toodles all momentarily stunned. Vee’s antenna twitched with rage and her bow fell to the ground. Seizing the opportunity, Gigi left the group to snatch it and run off.
Rodger directed Toodles out of the toxic environment that was supposedly Shrimpo’s fault, meanwhile the mirror stood to watch.
“Shrimpo! What did you do?!” Tisha, the clean freak she is (not my words, shrimpo’s), saw what she’d call a ‘verbal disorder’ between the main and common toons.
[TISHA] ‘My gosh, this is getting messy. What did he do this time?’
“NOTHING! VEE JUST-“
The tissue box interrupted him. “I don’t want to hear it! I don’t need you making even more messes than the one in your room!”
Shrimpo froze at that.
[SHRIMPO] ‘Well she didn’t need to outright yell out my business to so many toons! Or get so mad at me! I hate when people raise their voice. I hate toons! I hate him! I hate this!'
Both Vee and Tisha's yelling only served as a reminder of his abuse the day before. His palms were sweaty and he almost began to tremble, looking as far as possible in his peripheral vision in search of an escape route. The second Shrimpo found an opprotunity, his mind was fixated on getting out of here.
Without saying another word, he rushed past the stuffed group-- He didn’t need anyone else to get mad at him too!
The shrimp practically collapsed onto the elevator walls and slammed the button to his floor.
What a long day this was gonna be.