Chapter Text
On the corner of Johnson Street, past the bumbling streets and cafes, sat a toy store. Blue paint matching the clear sky, aisles of plastic products piled high. Chip worked here, and he hated it.
Don’t get him wrong, Drey’s a great manager, Jay is somewhat tolerable, but you can’t blame the man for wanting more. He had dreams and ambitions that were stifled by this job. He didn’t even like toys!
What he hated more were the boxes they came in. Giant packages, just dumped out front of the store. Heavy cardboard boxes he had to carry inside after the trolly incident. Drey refused to replace it. Apparently this a “punishment for your actions” and “you’re lucky I didn’t fire you.”
If you asked Chip, that was bullshit.
He entered the shop with an exhausted sigh, glancing at the clock. 2:15. He should be here soon.
“Are you waiting for your boyfriend?” Jay teased from behind the counter, a smug smile on her face.
“I will throw this at you.” Try as he might, Chip couldn’t convince her his fascination with the Triton man wasn’t romantic. Hell, he didn’t even know his name. Frogtopus Fishman was what they called him. The Riptide Toybox didn’t get much traffic, let alone regular customers.
This Fishman was a strange one. He came by every single day sometime after 2pm. He would peruse the products carrying his pink frogtopus plushie. Chip thought it was cute, but he’d never mention that to Jay. God, he could already hear the ridicule he’d receive…
Frogtopus Fishman never bought anything. Ever. He just looked at the toys, then left. Every single day. He was an enigma.
Chip knew a few other people from the Undersea, and this behaviour didn’t seem to be cultural. Caspian had purchased from them before, and he barely stopped by the shop. The pretty bartender Edyn had never stepped foot inside their building, though Chip wished she had. Clearly the Undersea weren’t obsessed with toys.
Look, he wasn’t judging this Fishman, just intrigued. Endlessly so. Chip tried to man the cash register whenever he was in. It’s an easier spot for observation. Usually Jay would relish in the opportunity to check her phone or piss or whatever she did.
Unfortunately, Miss. Ferin refused to help with the boxes, so that wasn’t an option. How fun for him.
He placed the box next to the others. At least he wouldn’t be opening them and checking inventory. He wasn’t very good at counting.
He left the store room, glaring at Jay.
“Maybe if he sees how strong you are, he’ll talk to you,” Jay said tauntingly. “Use your big strong muscles to carry those boxes.”
“I’ll carry your boxes,” he retorted back.
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“You don’t make sense!” He stomped his way outside, preparing to pick up the next one when a flash of blue filled his periphery. His eyes locked with Frogtopus Fishman’s. “Oh, hey.”
The Triton stared back. “Hello,” he muttered back shyly, seemingly clutching his plush closer.
Chip sat in the silence for a moment, unsure of what to say. So instead, he picked up another box, heading inside. Frogtopus Fishman followed.
Jay flashed him a sarcastic thumbs up, flexing her muscles when the Triton wasn’t looking.
Chip couldn’t help scowling, sticking out his tongue in childish retaliation. He glanced over at the Fishman, who was taking an interest in their new dolls.
Chip swelled with pride. He set that up this morning, good to see someone had taste. Fishman turned his attention in Chip’s direction, causing the human to fumble his grip on the box, dropping it.
“Jesus Chip!” Jay yelled, unhelpfully. “If you break anything, it comes out of your paycheck.”
“I wasn’t trying to break anything!”
“Are you just gonna leave it there?”
Chip rolled his eyes, his coworker undeserving of a real response. Before he could pick it up, however, a pink frogtopus was placed on top of the box.
“Allow me to help,” Frogtopus Fishman said, picking it up.
“Oh, no, y-you don’t have to–” Chip tried to dissuade.
“The boxes go in that room,” Jay said, pointing.
The Fishman nodded, following her directions.
“Jay what are you doing,” he whisper-yelled.
“Hey, he offered.” She shrugged nonchalantly.
Chip grabbed another box from outside, glaring at Jay all the while. She was pure evil, a devil.
“Are you able to carry that?” The Fishman asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Chip felt embarrassed. He hated asking for help. Chip brushed past the man, setting his box down next to the one with the frogtopus.
He stared for a moment. It looked old, not nearly as soft as the ones in store. The shade of pink seemed dull, one of the eyes was replaced with a button. It was clearly a very well loved toy. He smiled.
“Her name is Pretzel.” A voice sounded from behind him, causing Chip to jump.
The Fishman placed down two boxed he’d stacked up. Chip tried not to feel emasculated.
“That’s a nice name. She’s very cute.”
A grin spread across the Fishman’s face. “She is my best friend. She comes with me everywhere.” He picked up the toy, offering it towards the other man. “Would you like to hold her?”
“Yeah, sure,” Chip took hold of the surprisingly heavy toy.
“She is weighted.” The Triton watched him inspect the toy. “Pretzel was a gift from my sister.”
Chip handed Pretzel back to him. “What’s your name?”
“I am Gillion Tidestrider. It is nice to meet you, Chip.”
“How do you know my name?!”
“You are wearing it,” Gillion pointed to the name badge.
“Oh, right. Well, thank you for helping with the boxes,” he chuckled, scratching his neck.
“It is my pleasure. There are still three more–”
“No, Gillion don’t–”
He had already left the storage room.