Fanfic Mayhem Starts Here

Aquarium naps are best with a friend!

~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~

Finn was becoming a little worried at the moment as he stood impatiently in one of the many elevators at Gardenview.

His left foot tap, tap, tapping rhythmically against the grey floor as his left hand supported his right elbow and his chin leaned ever so slightly into his right hand.

Why was he so tense? Finn could almost imagine a kid asking that. How could Finn, the normally happy and carefree toon, be so stressed looking? He almost chuckled at the irony of the thought.

But, that’s not the focus here, the reason why he looked so stressed was because he couldn’t find his best shrimp buddy anywhere he looked!

The two had an educational presentation on how clownfish can live in a sea anemone, while not stinging the clownfish themselves, but protecting them from any predators for a group of kids later today.

It was one of Finn’s favorite presentations he’s made since the aquarium floor first opened to the public, but he could reminisce about it all at a later date.

As the elevator let out its usual dinging, that somehow sounded louder than ever before to the toon, and the door opening followed shortly after, Finn was met with kids running by him as two seemed to be playing tag or some game similar in the lobby around the colorful benches and the ol’ oak tree.

The fisherman felt a small smile creep its way across his face as he waved at them and walked past.

As much as he would have loved to interact with the little shark baits, he needed to find a missing shrimp first.

“And this here, kids, is the first oak tree grown by your’s truly and my favorite pebble!” Dandy spoke animatedly to a group of kids and adults alike who were on a tour it seemed, Finn briefly waved and shared a small smile with the star of the show as he walked by.

The scene of Dandy having his own group of kids made Finn feel more tense for a moment. He really needed to find Shrimpo before showtime and fast.

“Ah, good morning Finn.” The voice of Gardenview’s colorful clock train manager greeted him, “Heya Dyle!” He responded in what he hoped was his usual cheerful tone.

The clock toon held up a notebook and pen as he did his morning tasks. As he took in the other toon, Finn swears he’s seen Delilah use that pen before, or maybe it's just similar? Finn wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if someone asked him truly.

“Is something the matter, Finn?” Dyle asked out of the blue faster than he could say anything else, as if he had any idea how to ask the question bouncing around in his fishbowl head. Geez, am I that sea through? Finn thought to himself but shook the thought away with a sigh.

Dyle’s attention to detail was both a blessing and a curse for Finn and many of the other toons in Gardenview it seemed.

“Have ya seen Shrimpo ‘round at all today?” He knew of Dyle’s…dislike toward Shrimpo as he would nicely put it. But, if anyone would have seen him it would have been Dyle.

Sure, Finn could have gone to Vee and asked her to help look for Shrimpo via the cameras in the building, but, Vee had a recording this morning and he couldn’t disrupt that before he exhausted his other options first.

And, on the very likely chance, Shrimpo could very well be in a room that didn’t have any cameras. Shrimpo did always like being alone when things got to him too much, but no one would ever hear the stubborn shrimp admit that.

“Oh.” Was all Dyle said.

Okay, Finn was o-fish-ly panicked now.

“What do you mean ‘oh’?” He tried to keep any emotions that would betray his true panic out of his voice as he spoke again, but there was a slight tremble he couldn’t hold back in his throat no matter what he tried.

Dyle hummed and placed down his notebook and pen on the counter before turning around and walking toward the filling cabinet and desk at the back wall of the room.

Finn waited anxiously for Dyle to do whatever it was he was doing.

Dyle shifted through many papers on the messy desk, seemingly looking for something specific, Finn guessed as he watched.

“Aha! Here it is.” The clock toon held a piece of paper in one hand while the other held his chain as he walked back to Finn at the front.

“Earlier, Shrimpo came by to pick up an order from yesterday.” Oh thank cod Shrimpo isn’t dead. The fisherman felt a wave of relief flood him as soon as he heard that. “The order was for one set of sea animal themed sinker toys,” Finn was confused as Dyle listed off the first item of the order.

Did the employees make some changes to how the presentations were going to run from now on? Did Finn miss a memo or something??

“One set of rainbow diving rings,” Seal-ously, was Finn not told about some new activity for the kids?? “And finally,” there was more to this?? “One battery powered swimming fish toy.”

Finn stared at Dyle for a long moment in bewilderment. And maybe that moment was for too long since Dyle brought a hand up to his mouth and coughed to gain his attention in a polite manner.

Finn shook his head out of its confusion and tried to speak, “And..” he swallowed the spit that had gathered in his mouth when he was still shocked from hearing the order.

He tried again, “And did you see where he went with those things..?” Dyle looked at the other toon for a second with an eyebrow raised as his clock hands twitched.

Did Finn say something wrong? “I did not see where exactly he went with the items but I assume he would be in his and your aquatic floor, yes?” Dyle composed himself again quickly.

Finn hummed and nodded to Dyle’s words, “Thanks Dyle!” he shouted out a quick thanks, he heard a ‘You’re welcome Finn!’ as he ran over to the same elevator he took to get to this floor.

He pushed the button that would call the elevator to the lobby, his foot tapping once again as he waited for it to come up.

With nothing much for him to do, his mind wandered back to the list of items Dyle had read to him.

Do I need to go over the presentation again? The thought sent anxiety straight through his water.

Finn didn’t know if he could even memorize a whole new way of doing a presentation, let alone still have time to find his hot headed friend.

Ding!

Finn was relieved to hear the familiar ding again, the anxious worry didn’t completely leave him but it gave him something else to focus on right now.

Finn forced himself to stop the anxious habit of his foot tapping to try and look normal in case anyone was inside this elevator, he hoped he looked convincing at least.

As soon as the elevator’s door rolled up, he was met face to face with the craft siblings and a group of kids in the elevator.

Thank cod he planned ahead for this.

“Hi Finn!” Goob was quick to greet him with the same kindness he showed everyone, Scraps waved to him and said a greeting as well, “Morning Finn!” The fisherman smiled and responded to his friends, “Heya guys!” he said as he walked in the elevator.

Some of the kids didn’t really pay him much attention as he stood, but he saw some shark bait’s eyes light up when they saw him.

When the door rolled down, Scraps turned to the buttons and asked him "Which floor do you need?”

“My own seven seas if you please!” Finn replied to her with, thankfully she knew what floor that meant, Scraps pushed the button that went to the two aquatic toon’s floor and off they all went to.

“What do ya guys plan on doing yourshells this morning?” Finn asked to try and seem less worried then he actually felt and to help distract him from what was making him so worried in the first place.

“We’re doing some morning arts n’ crafts with our group before the big show!” Goob told him in his own cheery tone, one that was more normal than Finn’s own. Scraps hummed and some of the kids in the group cheered at the mention of doing arts n’ crafts with the siblings.

“Aren’t you doing a show too, Finn?” Scraps asked him.

Finn knew she hadn’t meant to cause him any more stress than what he was already experiencing at the mention of his showing, she had no clue of what he’s been doing this morning, but it still did.

“Yup!” Cod, he hoped that would be enough to stop that potential conversation in its tracks.

Now, don’t get Finn wrong, he loved doing his shows! He loved being able to educate the kids at Gardenview and he loved having his best bud do it with him!

But right now he didn’t want to talk about it.

Thankfully, neither of the craft siblings brought up more about his show this afternoon for the remainder of his elevator trip.

As he saw the elevator’s door roll up for the third, and hopefully the last for a while, time that day, the comforting smell of the aquatic floor greeted him.

“See ya guys!” He called out as he walked away from the now closing elevator, both Goob and Scraps said a quick ‘See ya!’ before it closed fully.

Alright, calm yourshell, Finn.

He took another breath full of the aquarium air to calm himself with a familiar scent. Now, all he needed was to find Shrimpo and hopefully have him fill Finn in on what was with water themed toys.

Looking around the space near the elevator, he didn’t notice anything that was out of place or would lead him to finding Shrimpo.

Since the aquarium floor didn’t usually open until the afternoon, that meant that there was no one on this floor other than him and hopefully his shrimp bud.

But, as he collated his surroundings, he heard no noise other than the gentle water pumps in the tanks and other machinery sounds.

No sounds of someone going through a supply closest for today’s presentation, no sounds of a certain someone talking to himself about how the show was going to go that day, nothing.

That realization made the anxiety and worry Finn has had since six this morning heightened tenfold.

“Shrimpo!? Buddy!? I reely need to know if you're here right now!” Finn called out as walked further into the floor, tanks going by him as he walked.

Finn walked by his ‘meet and greet’ schedule poster, he walked by Shrimpo’s treasure hunt poster, and still he couldn’t see any sign of the shrimp.

But, it seemed fate started to favor him.

Just as he was about to yell out for Sheimpo again he saw something in the corner of his eyes.

Stopping dead in his tracks, Finn looked closely at the tank that would normally be behind him when he would give his educational presentations.

There, Shrimpo was laid down comfortably in the aquarium sand. He was curled up similar to a cat, his tail wrapping around himself, asleep.

Finn almost wanted to laugh from the relief of having found his buddy, but he also almost wanted to cry from the anxiety trip he had gone on this morning all for Shrimpo to just be napping.

Well, at least he found him before it was their time for their showing and he knew how to get to the sleeping shrimp.

Walking over to his right where a ‘staff only’ door was, he turned the door knob and started to walk up the stairs that would lead him to the opening of the tank he needed to get to.

Finn didn’t really know what he was thinking early, of course Shrimpo would be napping in the water! It would be quiet, no one to look at him, and it was, well, underwater.

No wonder he would be in there.

Finn knew he wouldn’t mind being in the water but sadly he couldn’t do that right now. Maybe later though.

Soon enough, Finn was met with the ‘backstage’ so to speak of his floor.

It wasn’t very big but it didn’t need to be, they really only had the one big tank that needed this to be able to get to it, and he needed to get to it right now.

Starting to walk toward the ledge that marked the end of the flooring and the beginning of the water in the tank, but as he came closer, he noticed an ocean themed bag that sat just out of reach of the water so it couldn’t get wet but close enough that whoever placed it there could get to it.

Deciding to question that later, Finn crouched down to be on his knees and started to move his hand in the water.

He hoped that Shrimpo’s antenna would pick up on the disturbance in the water and he would swim to the top of the tank.

And he was right!

Not long after he saw an orange and white blob make its way up to his hand, and soon he felt a pressure against his hand as Shrimpo’s head poked out of the water, his tail fully laid back instead of its usual upright position.

It kind of reminded Finn of how some of the employees with long hair would tie it back into a low ponytail.

Due to how Shrimpo came up, Finn’s hand now rested just between his antenna, right where a fluff of white fur was, almost like he was about to give a kid a head pat.

Shrimpo’s eyes weren’t fully opened yet, and clearly still tried since the next thing Finn felt he was not expecting.

Without so much as a loud greeting from the shrimp, Finn felt him softly nuzzle his hand and hummed in satisfaction at the contact.

Finn felt his heart die and go to heaven when he saw the action.

“What time is it?” Shrimpo’s tired, groggy voice soon followed as he stopped nuzzling the offered glass hand, not even bothering to acknowledge what he just did in his, probably, Finn told himself, sleepy mind.

“Oh! Uh..” Finn recovered quickly from the shock and confusion he gained from watching Shimpro do that, his hand having yet moved from its spot on his friend’s head, and looked up to the analog clock hanging on the wall just next to him.

It read 11:45AM.

The presentation wasn’t until 1:00PM, which made Finn both calm down and panic more simultaneously.

With a sigh to compose himself, he brought his attention back onto the toon waiting for an answer and replied; “It’s only 11:45, bud.” Shrimpo hummed again and moved closer to the edge, closer to where Finn was sitting.

“Alright, we still got some time to kill.” He said as brought up both of his hands to the mentioned ledge, Finn finally realized he still had a hand placed on his head and lifted it up to give Shrimpo more space.

“Whale,” Finn began, “I was hoping you could tell me why there’s a bag here..?” He was still very confused on why Shrimpo had gotten this order in the first place, and worried that he wouldn't have time to memorize a whole new presentation before 1 p.m.

Shrimpo looked just as confused as Finn felt before realization crossed his features, “Oh, those are nothing for the show today.” Oh thank cod, well that was one worry of his gone, but he still didn’t know why they were here to begin with.

Finn hummed at his friend’s words and tried again to get an explanation, “But why are they here?” He hoped he didn’t come across as too ‘pushy’, Shrimpo didn’t like people poking around in something that was his business and Finn respected that.

Once Shrimpo heard what he asked, all of the leftover tiredness left his face, “It’s uh..” suddenly finding the floor very interesting to look at, Shrimpo couldn’t meet Finn’s eyes. Seeing this, he brought up his hand again in mock surrender, “Ya don’t have to tell me if ya don’t want to, bud.” Finn spoke in a steady tone, not wanting to cross a line.

Shrimpo looked at him with a sigh and spoke; “Just been a bit restless lately I guess.” Finn hadn’t been expecting that as an answer.

But it did make sense in a way, when Finn thought about it. See, Shrimpo had more qualities similar to that of a shrimp, like how Vee was more mechanical than ichor but still living like the rest of them.

And Shrimpo has been having more and more shoots as of recent due to his growing ‘popularity’, he overheard some directors of the show say one time.

Did that mean Shrimpo needed some form of enrichment?

Gosh, was that why he blew up on Poppy and Brightney the other day? Because he was stressed out?

Finn looked at the bag that he was now thinking might hold the aquatic toys Dyle told him about earlier, then looked to Shrimpo again. “Do ya wanna..” Finn started his question but when Shrimpo finally looked at him, it died on his tongue.

Taking a breath, he tried again; “use the toys ya got?” He spoke in a soft tone, not wanting Shrimpo to feel like he was making fun of him or something else, he just wanted Shrimpo to feel calm. Happy, even, but he knew that wouldn’t be a today thing.

Besides, the presentation wasn’t for another good hour, and Shrimpo needed this.

“How do you know that?” Shrimpo threw back his question at Finn, now looking like he was about to punch him for knowing that.

Well at least he looked more like his usual self, Finn thought with a smile.

“I went to look for you and Dyle told me where to find you.” He told his friend with nothing but truth in his words as he sat down on the floor fully with his legs crossed over each other, a groan escaping him at the action.

He heard Shrimpo grumble a ‘stupid clock’ before he spoke to Finn again, “I mean, I guess, just don’t tell anyone or I’ll kill you, k?”

Finn laughed at his words, he knew Shrimpo wouldn't actually do anything, “Wouldn’t dream ‘bout it!” Finn responded with.

Shrimpo moved both arms to push himself out of the water but Finn stopped him, “Here, I can get it so ya don’t have to get out!”

Turning his right, where the ocean themed bag sat, he reached over and pulled into his lap and started to grab some of the toys. “Thanks, I guess.” Shrimpo said as he watched Finn do this for him, “Y-oar welcome!” he said with a calm he hasn’t felt since yesterday.

Looking through the bag, he pulled out the mulity-colored diving rings that were on the top, he waved them in front of Shrimpo and asked; “These ones first?” to which Shrimpo shrugged and said “Sure.” The most direct ‘yes’ one could get from the angry shrimp.

Holding around 5 diving rings in one hand, Finn placed down the bag back in its spot and stood to full height. “Ready?” he asked Shrimpo as he took one red ring from his left hand to throw with his right.

Shrimpo pushed off from where he once was to be around in the middle of the water, if that wasn’t a silent invitation to throw it, Finn didn’t know what was. Wanding his arm back, Finn yelled a quick ‘Chatch!’ as he threw it.

When the red ring left his hand, Shrimpo went back under the water and swam around in a few circles before jumping out and catching it with his teeth and falling back into the tank with a splash.

That was both impressive and a little worrying, but Finn wasn’t a dentist.

Shrimpo swam back towards the edge of the tank and grabbed the ring out of his mouth with his left hand as his right came to rest on the ledge.

“Another one?” Finn asked when the ring was fully out of Shrimpo’s mouth, grabbing a yellow ring to throw now, to which Shrimpo answered. “Hell yea!” from where he stood.

Finn chuckled at his enthusiasm. It's been awhile since he's seen the shrimp be so open like this, it was nice to see him smile.

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After a good bit, Finn thinks around 15 minutes, which means it was just turning 12PM, of throwing the colorful rings for Shrimpo to catch, Finn asks if he wanted to move onto something else instead.

He didn’t want this to feel repetitive for his best sea buddy!

“Shrimpo?” He called out to make sure he would hear him. “Yea?” The shrimp toon looked to him from where he was keeping himself afloat in the water, a green ring in his mouth that made him sound a bit muffled.

“Didja wanna try the other things in here?” Finn made sure to keep the question open ended, Shrimpo hated feeling like he only had one choice.

“Sure, I guess.” Shrimpo agreed with a shrug and swam over to Finn, green ring now in his left hand.

Finn crouched down on one knee and held open the bag for Shrimpo to see what he wanted to do next as he came closer.

Placing down the green diving ring on the ledge and off to the side, Shrimpo dug around in the bag until he came across what he wanted.

Unsurprisingly, rather that’s because he knew Shrimpo so well, something Finn took pride in, or because there wasn’t much in the bag, Shrimpo pulled out a handful of the sinker toys.

With both hands palm side up, he held a yellow sea-horse, a blue whale, a purple turtle and finally a pink seal.

“NIce pick!” Finn said with a thumbs-up, Shrimpo snorted with a “Dorkass.” as he leaned backwards in the water, placing the sinkers on his chest as if he were a boat himself, ripples in the water following him as he made his way across the tank’s surface water.

Finn smiled to himself as he pulled the bag’s opening to face himself instead of how he had it before, looking inside, Finn saw the last toy resting inside.

It was that battery powered fish toy Dyle mentioned.

The toy itself was a dark purple, almost plum, with lighter purples, a lavender to be exact, around it in a wavy pattern, making it look like when waves on a beach touch the sand. At least, that’s what Finn thought.

“Hey bud?” Finn called out again, looking up from the bag to see Shrimpo now on his stomach looking like he was about to dive downwards and fetch the sinker toys that he dropped down, Shrimpo turned his head to look at Finn, “Yeah? The hell is it now?”

Taking the purple toy fish out of the bag with his right hand, his left holding onto the bag’s strap so it wouldn’t fall, Finn held it up for Shrimpo to see and asked; “Didja wanna do anything with this today or no?”

Finn knew that if Shrimpo wanted to do something with it he would’ve taken it out of the bag. But, Finn also knew that Shrimpo had a tendency to overlook things when he set his eyes on another thing.

Past experiences with his best shrimp buddy have taught Finn this well.

Shrimpo looked at the toy held in Finn’s hand, the fisherman couldn't tell what he was thinking as he swam over to him again.

Since Finn was yet to stand from how he was crouched over, Shrimpo had no trouble taking the fish from his hand and tilting down his bowl just enough to place it in there. “There.” was all that Finn was given as an answer.

Finn watched as Shrimpo disappeared under the water, most likely to finally get those sinkers, shell shocked by what he just saw.

He knew that…gosh, if Shrimpro knew what he was thinking he would deny it all to hell and back, but, Finn has seen for a while how Shrimpo was less ‘mean’ to him compared to some of the others, he just didn’t think the two of them have grown close enough that Shrimpo had done that willingly.

He knows that makes it sound like he was complaining that Shrimpo had done that but he wasn’t!

Finn was surprised that Shrimpo felt comfortable enough to do that, happy that he felt comfortable to do that and another thing that he couldn’t quite tell what it was right now.

Reaching into his bowl as he stood, Finn pulled the toy out carefully, and held it in his hand and stared at it for a moment.

Finn didn’t know what made Shrimpo think, let alone act on the thought!, of putting the purple striped fish toy in his head, but Finn knew that it made him feel happy when looking at it.

Smiling to himself, Finn placed the toy back into his bowl, sat the bag down back to where it was when he first got there and sat down on the ledge, his glass feet dangling in the tank’s water.

Finn was glad that he found Shrimpo here.

~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~

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Aquarium naps are best with a friend!

~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~

Finn was becoming a little worried at the moment as he stood impatiently in one of the many elevators at Gardenview.

His left foot tap, tap, tapping rhythmically against the grey floor as his left hand supported his right elbow and his chin leaned ever so slightly into his right hand.

Why was he so tense? Finn could almost imagine a kid asking that. How could Finn, the normally happy and carefree toon, be so stressed looking? He almost chuckled at the irony of the thought.

But, that’s not the focus here, the reason why he looked so stressed was because he couldn’t find his best shrimp buddy anywhere he looked!

The two had an educational presentation on how clownfish can live in a sea anemone, while not stinging the clownfish themselves, but protecting them from any predators for a group of kids later today.

It was one of Finn’s favorite presentations he’s made since the aquarium floor first opened to the public, but he could reminisce about it all at a later date.

As the elevator let out its usual dinging, that somehow sounded louder than ever before to the toon, and the door opening followed shortly after, Finn was met with kids running by him as two seemed to be playing tag or some game similar in the lobby around the colorful benches and the ol’ oak tree.

The fisherman felt a small smile creep its way across his face as he waved at them and walked past.

As much as he would have loved to interact with the little shark baits, he needed to find a missing shrimp first.

“And this here, kids, is the first oak tree grown by your’s truly and my favorite pebble!” Dandy spoke animatedly to a group of kids and adults alike who were on a tour it seemed, Finn briefly waved and shared a small smile with the star of the show as he walked by.

The scene of Dandy having his own group of kids made Finn feel more tense for a moment. He really needed to find Shrimpo before showtime and fast.

“Ah, good morning Finn.” The voice of Gardenview’s colorful clock train manager greeted him, “Heya Dyle!” He responded in what he hoped was his usual cheerful tone.

The clock toon held up a notebook and pen as he did his morning tasks. As he took in the other toon, Finn swears he’s seen Delilah use that pen before, or maybe it's just similar? Finn wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if someone asked him truly.

“Is something the matter, Finn?” Dyle asked out of the blue faster than he could say anything else, as if he had any idea how to ask the question bouncing around in his fishbowl head. Geez, am I that sea through? Finn thought to himself but shook the thought away with a sigh.

Dyle’s attention to detail was both a blessing and a curse for Finn and many of the other toons in Gardenview it seemed.

“Have ya seen Shrimpo ‘round at all today?” He knew of Dyle’s…dislike toward Shrimpo as he would nicely put it. But, if anyone would have seen him it would have been Dyle.

Sure, Finn could have gone to Vee and asked her to help look for Shrimpo via the cameras in the building, but, Vee had a recording this morning and he couldn’t disrupt that before he exhausted his other options first.

And, on the very likely chance, Shrimpo could very well be in a room that didn’t have any cameras. Shrimpo did always like being alone when things got to him too much, but no one would ever hear the stubborn shrimp admit that.

“Oh.” Was all Dyle said.

Okay, Finn was o-fish-ly panicked now.

“What do you mean ‘oh’?” He tried to keep any emotions that would betray his true panic out of his voice as he spoke again, but there was a slight tremble he couldn’t hold back in his throat no matter what he tried.

Dyle hummed and placed down his notebook and pen on the counter before turning around and walking toward the filling cabinet and desk at the back wall of the room.

Finn waited anxiously for Dyle to do whatever it was he was doing.

Dyle shifted through many papers on the messy desk, seemingly looking for something specific, Finn guessed as he watched.

“Aha! Here it is.” The clock toon held a piece of paper in one hand while the other held his chain as he walked back to Finn at the front.

“Earlier, Shrimpo came by to pick up an order from yesterday.” Oh thank cod Shrimpo isn’t dead. The fisherman felt a wave of relief flood him as soon as he heard that. “The order was for one set of sea animal themed sinker toys,” Finn was confused as Dyle listed off the first item of the order.

Did the employees make some changes to how the presentations were going to run from now on? Did Finn miss a memo or something??

“One set of rainbow diving rings,” Seal-ously, was Finn not told about some new activity for the kids?? “And finally,” there was more to this?? “One battery powered swimming fish toy.”

Finn stared at Dyle for a long moment in bewilderment. And maybe that moment was for too long since Dyle brought a hand up to his mouth and coughed to gain his attention in a polite manner.

Finn shook his head out of its confusion and tried to speak, “And..” he swallowed the spit that had gathered in his mouth when he was still shocked from hearing the order.

He tried again, “And did you see where he went with those things..?” Dyle looked at the other toon for a second with an eyebrow raised as his clock hands twitched.

Did Finn say something wrong? “I did not see where exactly he went with the items but I assume he would be in his and your aquatic floor, yes?” Dyle composed himself again quickly.

Finn hummed and nodded to Dyle’s words, “Thanks Dyle!” he shouted out a quick thanks, he heard a ‘You’re welcome Finn!’ as he ran over to the same elevator he took to get to this floor.

He pushed the button that would call the elevator to the lobby, his foot tapping once again as he waited for it to come up.

With nothing much for him to do, his mind wandered back to the list of items Dyle had read to him.

Do I need to go over the presentation again? The thought sent anxiety straight through his water.

Finn didn’t know if he could even memorize a whole new way of doing a presentation, let alone still have time to find his hot headed friend.

Ding!

Finn was relieved to hear the familiar ding again, the anxious worry didn’t completely leave him but it gave him something else to focus on right now.

Finn forced himself to stop the anxious habit of his foot tapping to try and look normal in case anyone was inside this elevator, he hoped he looked convincing at least.

As soon as the elevator’s door rolled up, he was met face to face with the craft siblings and a group of kids in the elevator.

Thank cod he planned ahead for this.

“Hi Finn!” Goob was quick to greet him with the same kindness he showed everyone, Scraps waved to him and said a greeting as well, “Morning Finn!” The fisherman smiled and responded to his friends, “Heya guys!” he said as he walked in the elevator.

Some of the kids didn’t really pay him much attention as he stood, but he saw some shark bait’s eyes light up when they saw him.

When the door rolled down, Scraps turned to the buttons and asked him "Which floor do you need?”

“My own seven seas if you please!” Finn replied to her with, thankfully she knew what floor that meant, Scraps pushed the button that went to the two aquatic toon’s floor and off they all went to.

“What do ya guys plan on doing yourshells this morning?” Finn asked to try and seem less worried then he actually felt and to help distract him from what was making him so worried in the first place.

“We’re doing some morning arts n’ crafts with our group before the big show!” Goob told him in his own cheery tone, one that was more normal than Finn’s own. Scraps hummed and some of the kids in the group cheered at the mention of doing arts n’ crafts with the siblings.

“Aren’t you doing a show too, Finn?” Scraps asked him.

Finn knew she hadn’t meant to cause him any more stress than what he was already experiencing at the mention of his showing, she had no clue of what he’s been doing this morning, but it still did.

“Yup!” Cod, he hoped that would be enough to stop that potential conversation in its tracks.

Now, don’t get Finn wrong, he loved doing his shows! He loved being able to educate the kids at Gardenview and he loved having his best bud do it with him!

But right now he didn’t want to talk about it.

Thankfully, neither of the craft siblings brought up more about his show this afternoon for the remainder of his elevator trip.

As he saw the elevator’s door roll up for the third, and hopefully the last for a while, time that day, the comforting smell of the aquatic floor greeted him.

“See ya guys!” He called out as he walked away from the now closing elevator, both Goob and Scraps said a quick ‘See ya!’ before it closed fully.

Alright, calm yourshell, Finn.

He took another breath full of the aquarium air to calm himself with a familiar scent. Now, all he needed was to find Shrimpo and hopefully have him fill Finn in on what was with water themed toys.

Looking around the space near the elevator, he didn’t notice anything that was out of place or would lead him to finding Shrimpo.

Since the aquarium floor didn’t usually open until the afternoon, that meant that there was no one on this floor other than him and hopefully his shrimp bud.

But, as he collated his surroundings, he heard no noise other than the gentle water pumps in the tanks and other machinery sounds.

No sounds of someone going through a supply closest for today’s presentation, no sounds of a certain someone talking to himself about how the show was going to go that day, nothing.

That realization made the anxiety and worry Finn has had since six this morning heightened tenfold.

“Shrimpo!? Buddy!? I reely need to know if you're here right now!” Finn called out as walked further into the floor, tanks going by him as he walked.

Finn walked by his ‘meet and greet’ schedule poster, he walked by Shrimpo’s treasure hunt poster, and still he couldn’t see any sign of the shrimp.

But, it seemed fate started to favor him.

Just as he was about to yell out for Sheimpo again he saw something in the corner of his eyes.

Stopping dead in his tracks, Finn looked closely at the tank that would normally be behind him when he would give his educational presentations.

There, Shrimpo was laid down comfortably in the aquarium sand. He was curled up similar to a cat, his tail wrapping around himself, asleep.

Finn almost wanted to laugh from the relief of having found his buddy, but he also almost wanted to cry from the anxiety trip he had gone on this morning all for Shrimpo to just be napping.

Well, at least he found him before it was their time for their showing and he knew how to get to the sleeping shrimp.

Walking over to his right where a ‘staff only’ door was, he turned the door knob and started to walk up the stairs that would lead him to the opening of the tank he needed to get to.

Finn didn’t really know what he was thinking early, of course Shrimpo would be napping in the water! It would be quiet, no one to look at him, and it was, well, underwater.

No wonder he would be in there.

Finn knew he wouldn’t mind being in the water but sadly he couldn’t do that right now. Maybe later though.

Soon enough, Finn was met with the ‘backstage’ so to speak of his floor.

It wasn’t very big but it didn’t need to be, they really only had the one big tank that needed this to be able to get to it, and he needed to get to it right now.

Starting to walk toward the ledge that marked the end of the flooring and the beginning of the water in the tank, but as he came closer, he noticed an ocean themed bag that sat just out of reach of the water so it couldn’t get wet but close enough that whoever placed it there could get to it.

Deciding to question that later, Finn crouched down to be on his knees and started to move his hand in the water.

He hoped that Shrimpo’s antenna would pick up on the disturbance in the water and he would swim to the top of the tank.

And he was right!

Not long after he saw an orange and white blob make its way up to his hand, and soon he felt a pressure against his hand as Shrimpo’s head poked out of the water, his tail fully laid back instead of its usual upright position.

It kind of reminded Finn of how some of the employees with long hair would tie it back into a low ponytail.

Due to how Shrimpo came up, Finn’s hand now rested just between his antenna, right where a fluff of white fur was, almost like he was about to give a kid a head pat.

Shrimpo’s eyes weren’t fully opened yet, and clearly still tried since the next thing Finn felt he was not expecting.

Without so much as a loud greeting from the shrimp, Finn felt him softly nuzzle his hand and hummed in satisfaction at the contact.

Finn felt his heart die and go to heaven when he saw the action.

“What time is it?” Shrimpo’s tired, groggy voice soon followed as he stopped nuzzling the offered glass hand, not even bothering to acknowledge what he just did in his, probably, Finn told himself, sleepy mind.

“Oh! Uh..” Finn recovered quickly from the shock and confusion he gained from watching Shimpro do that, his hand having yet moved from its spot on his friend’s head, and looked up to the analog clock hanging on the wall just next to him.

It read 11:45AM.

The presentation wasn’t until 1:00PM, which made Finn both calm down and panic more simultaneously.

With a sigh to compose himself, he brought his attention back onto the toon waiting for an answer and replied; “It’s only 11:45, bud.” Shrimpo hummed again and moved closer to the edge, closer to where Finn was sitting.

“Alright, we still got some time to kill.” He said as brought up both of his hands to the mentioned ledge, Finn finally realized he still had a hand placed on his head and lifted it up to give Shrimpo more space.

“Whale,” Finn began, “I was hoping you could tell me why there’s a bag here..?” He was still very confused on why Shrimpo had gotten this order in the first place, and worried that he wouldn't have time to memorize a whole new presentation before 1 p.m.

Shrimpo looked just as confused as Finn felt before realization crossed his features, “Oh, those are nothing for the show today.” Oh thank cod, well that was one worry of his gone, but he still didn’t know why they were here to begin with.

Finn hummed at his friend’s words and tried again to get an explanation, “But why are they here?” He hoped he didn’t come across as too ‘pushy’, Shrimpo didn’t like people poking around in something that was his business and Finn respected that.

Once Shrimpo heard what he asked, all of the leftover tiredness left his face, “It’s uh..” suddenly finding the floor very interesting to look at, Shrimpo couldn’t meet Finn’s eyes. Seeing this, he brought up his hand again in mock surrender, “Ya don’t have to tell me if ya don’t want to, bud.” Finn spoke in a steady tone, not wanting to cross a line.

Shrimpo looked at him with a sigh and spoke; “Just been a bit restless lately I guess.” Finn hadn’t been expecting that as an answer.

But it did make sense in a way, when Finn thought about it. See, Shrimpo had more qualities similar to that of a shrimp, like how Vee was more mechanical than ichor but still living like the rest of them.

And Shrimpo has been having more and more shoots as of recent due to his growing ‘popularity’, he overheard some directors of the show say one time.

Did that mean Shrimpo needed some form of enrichment?

Gosh, was that why he blew up on Poppy and Brightney the other day? Because he was stressed out?

Finn looked at the bag that he was now thinking might hold the aquatic toys Dyle told him about earlier, then looked to Shrimpo again. “Do ya wanna..” Finn started his question but when Shrimpo finally looked at him, it died on his tongue.

Taking a breath, he tried again; “use the toys ya got?” He spoke in a soft tone, not wanting Shrimpo to feel like he was making fun of him or something else, he just wanted Shrimpo to feel calm. Happy, even, but he knew that wouldn’t be a today thing.

Besides, the presentation wasn’t for another good hour, and Shrimpo needed this.

“How do you know that?” Shrimpo threw back his question at Finn, now looking like he was about to punch him for knowing that.

Well at least he looked more like his usual self, Finn thought with a smile.

“I went to look for you and Dyle told me where to find you.” He told his friend with nothing but truth in his words as he sat down on the floor fully with his legs crossed over each other, a groan escaping him at the action.

He heard Shrimpo grumble a ‘stupid clock’ before he spoke to Finn again, “I mean, I guess, just don’t tell anyone or I’ll kill you, k?”

Finn laughed at his words, he knew Shrimpo wouldn't actually do anything, “Wouldn’t dream ‘bout it!” Finn responded with.

Shrimpo moved both arms to push himself out of the water but Finn stopped him, “Here, I can get it so ya don’t have to get out!”

Turning his right, where the ocean themed bag sat, he reached over and pulled into his lap and started to grab some of the toys. “Thanks, I guess.” Shrimpo said as he watched Finn do this for him, “Y-oar welcome!” he said with a calm he hasn’t felt since yesterday.

Looking through the bag, he pulled out the mulity-colored diving rings that were on the top, he waved them in front of Shrimpo and asked; “These ones first?” to which Shrimpo shrugged and said “Sure.” The most direct ‘yes’ one could get from the angry shrimp.

Holding around 5 diving rings in one hand, Finn placed down the bag back in its spot and stood to full height. “Ready?” he asked Shrimpo as he took one red ring from his left hand to throw with his right.

Shrimpo pushed off from where he once was to be around in the middle of the water, if that wasn’t a silent invitation to throw it, Finn didn’t know what was. Wanding his arm back, Finn yelled a quick ‘Chatch!’ as he threw it.

When the red ring left his hand, Shrimpo went back under the water and swam around in a few circles before jumping out and catching it with his teeth and falling back into the tank with a splash.

That was both impressive and a little worrying, but Finn wasn’t a dentist.

Shrimpo swam back towards the edge of the tank and grabbed the ring out of his mouth with his left hand as his right came to rest on the ledge.

“Another one?” Finn asked when the ring was fully out of Shrimpo’s mouth, grabbing a yellow ring to throw now, to which Shrimpo answered. “Hell yea!” from where he stood.

Finn chuckled at his enthusiasm. It's been awhile since he's seen the shrimp be so open like this, it was nice to see him smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a good bit, Finn thinks around 15 minutes, which means it was just turning 12PM, of throwing the colorful rings for Shrimpo to catch, Finn asks if he wanted to move onto something else instead.

He didn’t want this to feel repetitive for his best sea buddy!

“Shrimpo?” He called out to make sure he would hear him. “Yea?” The shrimp toon looked to him from where he was keeping himself afloat in the water, a green ring in his mouth that made him sound a bit muffled.

“Didja wanna try the other things in here?” Finn made sure to keep the question open ended, Shrimpo hated feeling like he only had one choice.

“Sure, I guess.” Shrimpo agreed with a shrug and swam over to Finn, green ring now in his left hand.

Finn crouched down on one knee and held open the bag for Shrimpo to see what he wanted to do next as he came closer.

Placing down the green diving ring on the ledge and off to the side, Shrimpo dug around in the bag until he came across what he wanted.

Unsurprisingly, rather that’s because he knew Shrimpo so well, something Finn took pride in, or because there wasn’t much in the bag, Shrimpo pulled out a handful of the sinker toys.

With both hands palm side up, he held a yellow sea-horse, a blue whale, a purple turtle and finally a pink seal.

“NIce pick!” Finn said with a thumbs-up, Shrimpo snorted with a “Dorkass.” as he leaned backwards in the water, placing the sinkers on his chest as if he were a boat himself, ripples in the water following him as he made his way across the tank’s surface water.

Finn smiled to himself as he pulled the bag’s opening to face himself instead of how he had it before, looking inside, Finn saw the last toy resting inside.

It was that battery powered fish toy Dyle mentioned.

The toy itself was a dark purple, almost plum, with lighter purples, a lavender to be exact, around it in a wavy pattern, making it look like when waves on a beach touch the sand. At least, that’s what Finn thought.

“Hey bud?” Finn called out again, looking up from the bag to see Shrimpo now on his stomach looking like he was about to dive downwards and fetch the sinker toys that he dropped down, Shrimpo turned his head to look at Finn, “Yeah? The hell is it now?”

Taking the purple toy fish out of the bag with his right hand, his left holding onto the bag’s strap so it wouldn’t fall, Finn held it up for Shrimpo to see and asked; “Didja wanna do anything with this today or no?”

Finn knew that if Shrimpo wanted to do something with it he would’ve taken it out of the bag. But, Finn also knew that Shrimpo had a tendency to overlook things when he set his eyes on another thing.

Past experiences with his best shrimp buddy have taught Finn this well.

Shrimpo looked at the toy held in Finn’s hand, the fisherman couldn't tell what he was thinking as he swam over to him again.

Since Finn was yet to stand from how he was crouched over, Shrimpo had no trouble taking the fish from his hand and tilting down his bowl just enough to place it in there. “There.” was all that Finn was given as an answer.

Finn watched as Shrimpo disappeared under the water, most likely to finally get those sinkers, shell shocked by what he just saw.

He knew that…gosh, if Shrimpro knew what he was thinking he would deny it all to hell and back, but, Finn has seen for a while how Shrimpo was less ‘mean’ to him compared to some of the others, he just didn’t think the two of them have grown close enough that Shrimpo had done that willingly.

He knows that makes it sound like he was complaining that Shrimpo had done that but he wasn’t!

Finn was surprised that Shrimpo felt comfortable enough to do that, happy that he felt comfortable to do that and another thing that he couldn’t quite tell what it was right now.

Reaching into his bowl as he stood, Finn pulled the toy out carefully, and held it in his hand and stared at it for a moment.

Finn didn’t know what made Shrimpo think, let alone act on the thought!, of putting the purple striped fish toy in his head, but Finn knew that it made him feel happy when looking at it.

Smiling to himself, Finn placed the toy back into his bowl, sat the bag down back to where it was when he first got there and sat down on the ledge, his glass feet dangling in the tank’s water.

Finn was glad that he found Shrimpo here.

~~~*~~~*~~~~*~~~

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