Light flicker's within the night [Dandy's World Requests] (requests are paused for now)

The quiet filled his room like a flood, silently drowning him in his own self doubt, his antenna twitched with existential dread as the thoughts consumed him. “Shrimpo hah! What a joke, you’ll always be Prawni In their eye’s.. You were born a lady act like it..” They’d jab at her him, his own mind tormenting him. He couldn’t escape it, feeling like there were eyes on him, burning into his skin. In a fit of panic he’d punch the wall, hoping that the taunting thoughts would go away. Instead he just caused another hole in his wall, adding to the many that were already there, his knuckle slightly swollen, minorly bleeding. “Shrimpo..?” Someone called out to him, causing him to whip around, unfallen tears stinging at the corner of his eyes. It was Goob, oh great someone had seen his anxiety-driven outburst..  

“What do you want..” He grumbled, his voice cracking, despite him trying to appear intimidating. How embarrassing was that, he sounded like a sissy.. “ Are you feelin’ okay Shrimps..?” Goob tilted his head, stepping out of the doorway and further into the room, his long noodly arms dragging behind him. The fluffy craft looked around, spotting the holes in the wall and wincing, that must’ve hurt. “M’ fine..” he clearly was NOT fine, but Goob didn’t know any better so he’d assume that would just get him to screw off. “You look like you’re about to cry.. Do you need a hug?” The offer hung in the air, enticing, but Shrimpo couldn’t let himself crack, he was a tough toon, or was he..?

Obviously he wasn’t as strong as he thought he was because the tears began streaming down his face. Suddenly rushing over to Goob, Shrimpo wrapped his arms around the taller craft toon bear tight, sobbing into his neck fluff quietly his body shaking. For a moment Goob was stunned, not expecting him to actually want one, though realizing Shrimpo needed comfort, he wrapped his arms around the usually angry toon, gently rubbing his back. “Shh.. Its alright Shrimps..” He consoled the sobbing Shrimp the best he could. “I hate hugs..” A choked voice muttered into Goob’s fluff, though he didn’t tear away. “What's troubling you..?” The fluffy craft asked softly, not trying to scare Shrimpo any more than he already was.

“Just.. Thinking about stuff.. Goob you think of me as male right..?” He finally fessed up, glancing up and shifting his head slightly out of his fluff. “Of course I do.. And I'm sure everyone else does as well..” Goob smiled toothily, moving a hand away from his back to pat Shrimpo on the head. Seeing Shrimpo like this, vulnerable is bewildering to say the least, but Goob doesn’t mind. “Is this about how you..?” Without another word needed Shrimpo nodded slowly, sniffling. “I just.. Can't get over it..” He added, slowly retreating from the hug. “Well, how about we try something to get your mind off it.. How about crafts..?” He suggested hopefully, letting out a breath he didn’t know he was holding when shrimpo nodded in agreement.

Without another thought, he gently grabbed onto Shrimpo’s hand and led him to his own room. He soon let go of the shrimp toon's hand and gathered some paper of various colors from the drawer, laying them out on a table and sitting down, patting another to urge shrimpo over.  Shrimpo hesitantly took a seat, looking at the papers confused. “Here, this is how you make a paper star..” Goob demonstrated slowly then looked up at shrimpo. “Here you try!” Shrimpo, looked at the paper and frowned, clearly unamused.. “This is pointless, how is this supposed to help me..” He snarled, garnering a sigh from Goob in response. “It’s just meant to take your mind off things.. To help you cope..?” He’d respond carefully, knowing Shrimpo was tricky when it came to things like this. “Whatever..” Shrimpo picked up a paper and attempted to fold it like he’d seen Goob do, struggling. “Ugh i hate paper, this looks all wrong!” He’d fumble with it frustratingly “No here like this..” Goob helped out, showing Shrimpo what he’d done wrong and helping him to fix it carefully.

“Hmph.. I guess its kind of neat..” He added, picking up another paper and attempting to fold it in the way he was taught now that he knew how to do it. One thing led to another and pretty soon the table was littered with colorful little paper stars. “Thanks Goob.. This actually did end up distracting me..” Shrimpo muttered, standing up, and as he turned to leave Goob poked his shoulder and offered two paper stars. “Here its the first two we made!” Goob grinned goofily. “Ah, yes.. Thanks, cya man..” Shrimpo took the stars into his hand and left, offering a hopeful wave as he disappeared through the doorway, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.