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Looey was tired. So, so tired.
He had to go through his room AGAIN, picking through everything trying to find every stupid thumbtack Shrimpo had hidden there. Of course, he had help from Blot and Yatta- in fact they did most of the work, to Looey’s guilt. He always felt bad, but the two always insisted that “you’ll pop if you touch it wrong!”
He knew they were right, but it didn’t help him from feeling like shit about it.
As the trio dug through Looey’s room, searching high and low, digging through every crevice (even under his bed where he usually kept his juggling pins even though he completely forgot they were there every time) to find any strays, Yatta groaned.
“WHY does he keep DOING THIS?!” Her voice was pretty loud, almost a yell, but Blot and Looey didn’t even flinch; they were used to this. In fact, growing up alongside the pinata girl made them pretty desensitized to loud noises.
“I don’t know,” Looey sighed. “It’s like he hates me or something.”
Blot turned their attention to the clown, raising their eyebrow. Looey caught his fumble, flushing in embarrassment. “Right… He hates everything.”
“,wonk uoY” (“You know,”) Blot piped up, “.siht htiw gnilaed peek ot evah t’nod uoy” (“you don’t have to keep dealing with this.”) They lifted their hand to mimic holding a pencil, then they started writing on a nonexistent paper in the air. Wha- huh- Looey thought, a little lost.
Blot continued– or, they tried to continue. As soon as they made a singular noise, Yatta interrupted them. “YOU COULD GET A RESTRAINING ORDER!!!” They suggested. Her ribbon tails swished behind her while she smiled at Looey.
“A restrana-wha??” Looey tilted his head, confused. His ear flopped to the side, bending down at the middle. “What???”
“You know!” Yatta tilted her head as well, subconsciously mimicking her friend. “Like… A piece of paper!”
",attaY ,taht naht erom s'tI" ("It's more than that, Yatta,") Blot interjected, staring at Yatta. They looked back at Looey, ".tcartnoc eht dniheb nosrep eht ot gniklat tsuj neve morf enoemos stibihorp taht enO .redro na ,wonk uoy ,si redro gniniartser a" (“a restraining order is, you know, an order. One that prohibits someone from even just talking to the person behind the contract.")
“Huh…” Looey looked down. They tapped their foot in thought. “Do you really think he’ll even listen to that…? I mean- he’s Shrimpo! It’s not like—”
“He HAS to!!” Yatta said. “He’ll get in BIG TROUBLE IF HE DOESN’T LISTEN TO IT!!” She grabbed Looey’s hands. “We’ll be with you!! HE WILL NOT TOUCH YOU!! NO THUMBTACK WILL EVER HURT YOU AGAIN!”
And that’d been all it took for Looey to find himself in Rodger’s office.
“Yatta and Blot said it’d be best if I did this,” Looey explained. They gripped the desk a little out of nervousness, their tail was a little cramped against the back of the chair from the lack of space there, and his stomach hurt from anxiety honestly. He didn’t know if this was a good idea, really… He scooched a little to the edge of the chair to relieve his tail of some of that discomfort. “That Shrimpo wouldn’t be able to even come near me anymore.”
Rodger wasn’t actually too surprised- it was bound to happen. Honestly, he was expecting Looey to want this at some point. “Right,” he started. “And… Out of curiosity– I can help you with this, of course– what made you think I’d be the one that could help you with this?”
Looey laughed nervously at that. “Well- I would’ve went to Dyle. But honestly I’m a little scared of him, especially after… That fiasco…” Right… The snake thing. Dyle’s speed had scared the shit out of Looey (and the rest of the team)– even as one of the best distractors out of all the toons!! (“Actually, didn’t I come here to extract?” Rodger remembered Looey panting out as a hollow laugh as he was still catching his breath from running around corners to lose Dyle. He also remembered the screams coming from down the halls.)
“Understandable.” Rodger hummed. He stood up, walking around to put a hand on Looey’s shoulder. The balloon dog looked up at him. He could see their tail wagging behind them. The detective gave a soft ‘smile’, “well, I’ll get back to you very soon, Looey. We’ll get Shrimpo away from you.”
Looey took in a breath. He looked down at the paper in front of him that Rodger had given him to fill out- which he had ZERO idea how to do so. They’d been staring at it for, what, 5 minutes now?? He looked up at the clock- 7 minutes, actually.
He sighed, finally looking down at it and picking up the pen that Rodger had given him.
Name…
Looey the Balloon.
Lawyer for petitione—
Right. Rodger said he could skip that part.
Address… He had no idea what to put here. So he guessed:
Gardenview, S-12.
Hopefully that’d work…
Employee (Protected Perso—
WAIT! GAH-
“CRAP-” Looey yelped. He moved his pen back up to the first area- what the hell was an ‘employer’??? He thought he was supposed to put his name there!!!
They sighed, crossing out his name and moving back down to write down his name where it was supposed to be, apparently… Gosh. He really was lost in this.
Respondent…
Shrimpo…
Soon Looey completed the paperwork and headed back to Rodger’s office. They knocked, opened the door– dang. Rodger wasn’t here. Maybe on a run. Probably on a run- yeah, no. Definitely on a run, haha…
“We’re hosting a main hunt!” Poppy hollered across the lobby, “anyone wanna join?!”
Looey had ZERO clue why anyone would want to track down twisted mains of all things- he just assumed they were bored. Honestly though sometimes he joined those himself without even being asked so he could distract! He liked the rush it gave him anyways.
Okay- shut up, mind! Looey thought. Rodger’s on a run, yada yada- doesn’t matter!! Just slip the paper on the desk and this will all be over finally…
They set the paperwork on Rodger’s desk and walked out, being sure to close the door gently so it wouldn’t slam.
They couldn’t wait.
Finally… The day was here. All of this could stop. Shrimpo could never touch him again, never hurt him again. EVER.
Looey walked around Gardenview, their heart racing as they searched for the shrimp. He had no idea how he’d react- would he rip it to shreds? Would he even follow the order? He knew that if Shrimpo didn’t he’d have Yatta, Blot, Sprout and Cosmo to answer to, AND everyone else! Hell, maybe even Dyle! As much as he scared Looey, Looey knew he’d stand up for them! Or- he hoped so. Haha…
“YOUR MUSIC SUCKS! I HATE IT! JUST GIVE UP ON IT!”
Yep… There was Shrimpo. Harassing Boxten, from the sound of it.
Looey peeked around the corner. Yep- that was Boxten he was yelling at. Boxten looked really uncomfortable- as anyone would! Looey felt bad for him.
Then Shrimpo spotted him when he stepped out. They took a step back though as Shrimpo’s target set onto them- of course. Looey was one of Shrimpo’s favorites. ‘Favorites’ as in ‘favorite victims’. If not the favorite…
“HEY, BALLOON BOY! I HATE WHEN YOU HIDE AROUND CORNERS! YOU’RE A COWARD! I HATE COWARDS!”
Looey wasn’t a coward at all, the clown knew that for sure. I mean, what coward throws themself to the twisteds and risks death (AND actually dies too) for others?? But Shrimpo didn’t care, he was just a dick in general.
The balloon dog took in a breath- and wordlessly held out the restraining order. Shrimpo didn’t hesitate to snatch it up. “I HATE YOU!” He yelled, moving his hands in a motion to start ripping it in half “I HATE YOU AND I HATE THIS PAPER YOU’RE GI—” He stopped. “IIvving—…” He lowered the paper to eye level and read it. His eyes widened. “Me…”
Shrimpo took in a shaky breath, his eyes began to water as he looked back up at Looey, who was tapping his foot anxiously. No…
This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t… Bully him anymore…?
Shrimpo dropped to his knees. He clutched the restraining order to his chest, looking up at Looey through his tearful eyes, “I-I HATE YOU!!! I HATE THAT I CAN’T BULLY YOU ANYMore…”
Looey looked away, a little uncomfortable now. Well- at least Shrimpo wasn’t freaking out at him for this… “Haha… Um. I’m gonna go now,” they said quickly before rushing away.
Looey wouldn’t ever have to worry about Shrimpo again.