Chapter Text
Oceanview - beach - 10:34 AM
"SPROUT! Comon hurry up! You're like so so soo slow! Hehe!"
Toodles giggled, playing with her hair. The little eightball was zooming across the sand, bumping into other toons which were setting up aswell. Sprout couldn't help but let a smile shine on his face, chuckling at Toodles eagerness.
"Yes, Toodles. Today is going to be quite fun.. But remember, no running too far ahead of me, okay? And wait before going in the waves without me! I need to keep an eye on you so my favorite little kid doesn't get dragged down... By a mermaid!"Sprout exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the shapes of claws, imitating a beast. Toodles couldn't help but giggle some more, smiling. She trotted along the shore, sand getting kicked up from her feet.
A gentle smile laid on Sprouts face as he watched Toodles run along so happily. Not having a care in the world, just enjoying the moment. Sprout took a towel out of his carry on bag he'd brought, laying it out on the sand. He took a seat, watching toodles. She was distracted, and chasing seagulls. They squawked out for help, before flying up high in the sky. The eightball tried to jump up to reach them, but was a ways away to even touch a feather. She stuck out her tounge, making an annoyed face, before running back over to Sprout.
"Sprout! Sprout! Did you see me? Did you? I was so close to getting a pet seagull! I was like 'you come here you pesky seagulls!' And-and they were like 'Squeak squeak! You are too cool for us!' And I almost got one!!" Toodles exclaimed, jumping up and down with excitement. Her curly black hair twirling with each jump. She was getting sand on the towel.
Sprout smiled big. "Yes I did, you were so close," he murmured, looking at the sand. "But.. Let's try to keep the sand off the towel, okay? I don't want to feel grains of it stuck in my skin!" the strawberry added on with a chuckle, before brushing some sand off, and then purposely brushing sand onto Toodles playfully.
Toodles shrieked, before running away. "Hey! That's not fairr! You didn't tell me you were going to start a sand fight!!" she said, before looking around, trying to find something to pick up sand and shoot back at Sprout.
Sprout just watched this, before Toodles ran off into a more safe area, digging through the sand, already loosing interest. Poppy, was off over with Scraps and Yatta, swimming in the water. Sprout watched them a little too closely, before blinking and looking back away to make sure Toodles didn't get into trouble.
The strawberry had agreed to step in and babysit Toodles for the morning, until Rodger was able to again. He was going to his anniversary with Teagan. Sprout would always help out, even if it took time out of his own day. Plus, Toodles wasn't that hard to entertain or watch over. She's a very sweet kid.
After a bit, toodles comes back, running up to Sprout again, trying to avoid getting any sand on the towel, which still fails. "Sprout! You want to know what I think we should do? I think we should race! Like race until the ocean! It'll be so cooll!" she giggled, smiling at Sprout.
The strawberry couldn't help but let out sigh. "Oh toodles, that would be so much fun, but I don't have a swimsuit on. Not like you," he explains, bopping Toodles nose. "And.. If we did do a race, you'll probably trip and fall and a random rock and get hurt! I can't tell Rodger then his favorite daughter is in pain because of ME!"
Toodles thought, before crossing her arms, sticking her tounge out. "Hmph! You're no fun! It's always rules with you!" she shoots back. "And, I'm a big girl! It's not like I'm going to get hurt from a silly billy rock!" the eightball added on, aswell with exaggerated hand movements.
Sprout put his hand to his chin, thinking. "Hmm.. How about... No?" he asked, smiling down at toodles.
Toodles whined. "Pleaseee!!"
"Don't really feel like it,"
"But, but.. I'm eight! That's almost double digits!"
"And I need to make sure you don't LOOSE that eight," Sprout smiled, flicking Toodles forehead. She whined. "Plus, I need my favorite little girl to eat all my delicious food! Who else will make half the cookies go missing before I even bring them out?" Sprout grinned, gently rubbing Toodles head.
Her eyes widen. "Noo! I can't loose YOUR cooking! Daddy doesn't even COOK anything on your level!" she whines. After a very short pause, she continues. ".. Fine. Guess I'll stay over here with the most BORING morning ever!"
Sprout repaid Toodles eventual compromise with a smile. "There's my favorite little girl," he mummers, pulling on the eightballs ear.
This is how it was.
Over and over, helping out Rodger by babysitting toodles.
..For more days then Sprout would actually say.
He would always help really.
There are some days, where Sprout is able to do his own activities in the morning.
Like this very special day.
Oceanview - shoreside - 6:30 AM
The waves trashed against the side of the shore. The ocean was upset. Seagulls squawked up high in the sky, the sun rising over the water, casting reflections. The world was slowly waking up. On the beach was a blue pail, next to a green plastic shovel. Some remnants of sand was left in the bucket, stuck in the crevices of the shovel.
Salty air filled the island, the smell of sea salts and the occasional aroma of sweat from the hot sun was common. Right now, just salt. It was too early for anyone to be active. Most the Islanders Slept till 8 o'clock.
The island was huge. Palm trees, rocky cliffs, grassy areas, and of course wooden houses. Games were set up on the beach, like volleyball. Sand castles polluted the area, rocks and sticks used for decoration. Towels were left out from the following day, alone and quiet.
Huts polluted the grassy spaces, mainly made out of wood. The swing of doors could be quietly heard with every small breeze. The island seemed to be alive, the movement of the leaves, the chirping and flapping of wings completing the atmosphere. The last candles that managed to survive the night died out, leaving the island in darkness- if it wasn't for the sun.
Sprout walked out to the shore, yawning, sleep clouded in his eyes. It was early. He wasn't really a morning person, but fishes come easier earlier; based off of what Brightney said.
This was one of Sprouts free mornings. No babysitting. Just fishing.
On Sprouts right shoulder was a bag, full of the natural supplies. Bait, fishing lures, extra flipflops, sun spray, and of course breakfast. A sandwich if you will. A fishing rod was in his right hand, holding it steadily, with a bucket in his left.
Sprout slid his flipflops off as he arrived at the sand. The sand enveloped Sprout's feet. It wasn't burning like it always was, perfect with the night time breeze still lingering around.
A content hum filled Sprouts throat as he sunk his feet in a little more. He slowly closed his eyes, letting the tension in his body drain away as his eyes drifted shut. The sounds of waves and seagulls calmed his soul. He took a few deep breaths, inhaling the salty air, before slowly letting it free. He enjoyed this a lot.
Sprout first needed to fill the bucket up with water, find a rock to sit on, reel his fishing rod, throw the line as far as he could, and hopefully catch something great. Maybe salmon. He's been craving that for a while. Sautéed salmon sounds good right now. Add some garlic, a squeeze of lemon..
The sound of splashing came from afar. Close, but far. It wasn't the waves, it was off tune with the normal consistent rhythm of the blue lapping at the islands sides.
Sprouts eyes opened, looking over where the sound came from. He couldn't see. Blocked by a rocky cliff. Probably another toon, Oceanview was full of swimmers. Almost everyone took a dip in a day. Taking a swim right now though? When the waters freezing and extremely cold outside? You're practically signing yourself up for hypothermia.
Sprout slipped his flipflops on, staring to pad on over, his footsteps vanishing with the breeze. He'll tell whoever it is just to be careful. He doesn't want anyone to freeze to death, actually, scratch that. He doesn't want any deaths.
Sprout walks around the rocky cliff, making it in the area where he heard unnatural activity. If Sprout was to guess who it was.. Probably Toodles. She always has a knack with staying near the water. Sprout then will have to tell Rodger to make sure she doesn't get out again. What is it now- the third time shes gotten out?
He sighed, shrugging. It's fine if thats the case. He'll just make sure she doesn't do it again.
Sprout looked directly at the source of the sound. A figure. Too tall to be toodles. (Phew,) Looked like they were sitting. Hard to make anything out in the way the sun was shining right in front of them.
He treaded closer, wincing against the brightness, putting an arm up to block some light.
That's when he saw him.
Completely saw him.
Rested on top of a rock, the sun casting shadows against them, sat a mermaid.
Merman, to be more exact.
The golden scales shined against the sun. Orange hues blending in. Peach colors thrown in. Red scales popping up, before some lavender and purple scales clouded the bottom, making a nice sunset gradient. The fin part of the tail was a sweet purple, semitransparent.
Their hair was brown, and curly. Some white curls bled through. Was his hair bleached? No. Born naturally like that. It stopped at his shoulders in some areas, and in others at the ear. Cut with a sharp seashell from what it looks like.
No clothes. The mermans skin was a warm brown, and a bit lighter in some areas that were brushed up against rocks and sand. The tail stopped around his hips, leaving to control for legs.
Sprout blinked. Staring. "Holy shit," he whispered under his breath. It's not everyday you see a mermaid. Or a merman, they're rarer then the females. The only person on this island that has said they've seen a merperson before, was Eggson. That, and with the fact mermaid scales can be found rarely in the sand, and caught in-between rocks.
The merman was breathing heavily, panting even, looking over in the direction Sprout wasn't in. Were they swimming away from someone? Going to get eaten? Horny? Every breath they took was quick and fast, but extremely audible. Sprout didn't truely even believe they were real.
Sprout thinks, taking a breath, looking at the merperson. Only chance in his life at seeing one of these aquatic rarities that was a myth just a minute ago. How does he even approach this? Call out? Walk up to it? 'Oh yeah! Hey my merman pal! Love to swim, how about you?' fuck no!
Sprout takes a slow step forward, before placing the bucket, rod, and bag on the sand, sliding his flipflops off. He approached slowly.
Sprout felt himself sweating, this was nerve-wracking. Don't fuck this up. Don't make this rare sighting last only a few seconds. Just.. communicate, understand why their here.
Sprout walked carefully, and quiet. Being twenty yards away, ten, until.. Just a few feet away from the merperson. Sprout could clearly see their chest rising up and down, panting, hear them too. The way his sides had more fat, and how his tail blended into his skin.
Sprout took a quiet, quick breath, looking at the merman. Okay, here goes nothing.
Sprout gently coughed, trying to draw their attention. A simple greeting to a stranger, not too abrupt or slow.
The merman turned around to the sound, looking in the distance, before staring at Sprout, blinking. The merperson was not eye level, just below Sprouts head.
Sprout could really see their face. The way his eyes were a dark brown, hint or orange in the iris, and how there was orange scallop markings on his cheeks. Sprout swore the mermans eyes sparkled. Their eyes were tearing up, falling over and dripping on his face.
The merman had kelp on his shoulder, and continued to just stare. Sprout returned the action, staring, before a gentle smile took control on Sprouts face.
"You uh.. Got a little something there," Sprout softly speaks, chuckling, before pointing a careful finger at the mermans shoulder.
The merperson looked at Sprout, before Sprouts hand, then.. Eyes widening, before quickly turning back to the ocean, now trying to go back in the waves, pushing himself forward with his hands and tail.
Sprout watched this, eyes widening a bit in surprise. "Hey- Wait! I'm not trying to hurt you! I promise!" Sprout begs, just watching the merperson try to evacuate back to the water
The merperson was slow. Extremely slow on the rock. So slow, that a snail could have competition with this heart wrenching speed.
Sprout watched as the merperson finally got off the rock, before gaining speed on the sand. The mermans tail slithered like a snake, using his hands mainly to push himself. Looked pretty tiring.
Sprout slowly treaded along the sand with the merperson, having to take slow steps to be around the same pace, just watching. "Little slow there," Sprout observed, watching this painfully slow action. He then sped up his pace, before standing in front of the merperson, blocking his path. Sprout started to calmly explain. "Just give me a chance, I'm not trying to do anything. I just want to know why you're here."
The merman jumped in his skin, before changing directions, trying to get into the water. With every path that the merperson took, Sprout just kept following, infront of him, blocking his path. The merman was too slow to even try and evade any of Sprouts blockages.
Sprout just watched, finding this kind of amusing. "Come on, Stay real quick! I'm not going to tie you up," he coaxed, trying to convince the merman to stay.
After endless pestering from the human, the merman eventually cracked. "Okay! Okay okay okay! Please! You-..You-you human! Just move out of the way," the merman hissed at Sprout, huffing. Tears continued to fall, his voice cracking.
For a moment, the strawberry was stunned. He didn't expect the merman spoke and understood English. Sprout shook his head, before responding. "Not before we talk," he stated. "You're.. Why. Why are you even here?"
Each second, Sprout continued to block the mermans footway, making sure no advances were in place. "I'm not telling you nothing! You're stupid! And dumb! And-and stupid," the merman shot back, trying to slither pass Sprout. "..And dumb! Mean! Jerk!"
"For the record, I haven't done anything yet to you! I'm just curious," Sprout responded, looking at the mermans face, continuing to actively block him. "..Can you tell me why you're crying? Or your name?... Please?"
The merman growled animal-like. "Leave. Me. Alone! Let me go back to the water! And," he paused in thought. His eyes drifted down, before looking back up at Sprout. ".. It's.. It's none of you're business to know anything about me! Okay? NOW, let me leave you land walker!"
Sprout sighed, he was getting nowhere with this. The strawberry pinched the bridge on his nose, thinking. The merman was rubbing his eyes, sniffling up some snot dripping out of his nostrils. "Okay, I get it," Sprout muttered, before rasing volume again as he got a new idea. "So.. Guess I'm just going to be referring to you as a 'mermaid' now," a small grin planted on his face.
The merman inhaled a bit quicker, definitely agitated on the topic. "What? No! I'm not a mermaid! There's a difference! Im a-"
"Ah, sorry, I meant siren, silly me!" Sprout couldn't help but push the boys buttons.
".. I'm. Not. A. SIREN! I'm a-"
"Oh! So you're a freak human?"
"I-"
"Fish?- Oh wait I know! Human whos eaten BY a fish! You had me concerned for a few seconds there. Honestly, can't believe I thought you were a REAL mermaid! But no, they're way too sweet and kind unlike you, a normal silly human! Didn't know that there were some humans who still played dress up, INSPECIALLY with such a rotten color for the tail-!"
That broke the last straws for the merman.
"A MERMAN! I'M A MERMAN! You imbecile! Mer-MAN! Not mer-MAID' not a siren, not a fish, not a freak human or whatever you- you said! And, my tail is not UGLY! It's a piece of art mind you! And it's most definitely not rotten! If anything YOU'RE rotten! With that personality of yours!"
The merman huffed at Sprout, glaring at him as tears continued to fall. With this small outburst, the berry was able to atleast know what he's picky over. And apparently, extremely sensitive over his tail.
"Okay okay- I got it. Not a mermaid, a merman," Sprout replies, eyeing him up and down. He took a step closer. "So.. what makes you so different from a mermaid, hm?"
The merman twitched. "So. Many. Things! You wouldn't even get it! First, I don't have breasts! Second, my tail is shorter and a bit stubbier! Which makes my tail overall better than anyone else!" his tail batted against the sand. "Third, my tail has multiple colors! Unlike most mermaids! And, I'm just better looking!"
"You would tell be the differences about your biology, but yet you won't even tell me your name," Sprout notes verbally, looking into Cosmos eyes. Sprouts eyes closed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You're a little self centered for your tail, actually- no. Completely self centered. And, you're incredibly-"
Sprout opened his eyes, to be greeted by sand. He stumbled backward, a foot falling in the water. "Ah- SHIT!" the strawberry growls, rubbing his eyes. He couldn't wash them out, the salty ocean water would only draw fourth more pain. The sand, from the beach got thrown into his eyes by the mermans hands. When Sprout let his guard down, closing his eyes and being distracted, the merperson got a fist full of sand, before throwing it in Sprouts eyes when the time came.
The merman, who caused this, immediately started to flee, escaping as fast his arms and tail allowed him.
Just as he got to the beginning on the water, Sprout fought through the pain, blinking rapidly, eyes red and puffy, drowned in water. He looked quickly at the escaping fish. "Wait!"
Sprout forcefully grabbed the smallest part of his tail, the purple above his fin. The merman was halfway in the water, desperately flapping his tail. The berry was introduced to the slimy natural residue covering the tail. He didn't expect it, so as fast as he caught the tail, it slipped out.
With the short timeframe, the merman quickly swam into the ocean, being free, diving under the water.
Sprout stared. Pants soaked with water. He started back on his rapid blinking, yelling out to the ocean. "Wait! Please! I didn't mean to make you upset!"
The strawberry paused, taking a huge inhale. "It's Sprout! Sprout! You hear me? You merman! Come back! For me! Sprout! Please!" he was getting desperate.
Sprout grumbled, before feeling the sticky merman fluid of his hands. He recoils, before wiping his hands on his already soaked pants. He brought a wrist up, before rubbing his eyes.
"..I need a bath."
Sprout personally bullied himself. He didn't truly even know what his goal was. Just apparently go and try to make friends with him. Yet, he didn't even get his name. Just ran in that conversation like a fool, and was keeping the swiss roll on the land even as he so wanted to go back in the comfort of his home. No one is even going to believe him.
"I'm a complete idiot..."
And even through all that, he didn't get a single answer to the most important question in his opinion.
Why was he even crying?
hi cosmo!!
(Imagine this as Cosmo, just with a bit different eyes and actual hair.)
(Yes I drew this >;D)