Gust's Umbrella Problem! (My Time At Portia)
I also posted this to my wattpad, @ arminarlertaddict.
I think we can agree that Gust deserves more love, so enjoy!
'I've officially had it!' Gust thought. Even though he had a small smile plastered on his he couldn't be more annoyed! The Crafter had done it again! They waltzed up in their less-than-clean work clothes into A&G Construction holding an umbrella. Another umbrella.
"Thanks..." Gust said taking the umbrella. "Of course Gust! Have a nice day!" The Crafter grinned and left the store. Gust's smile dropped as he went to his desk and opened a drawer that was almost filled with umbrellas. They had been bringing him these for months now. Never missing a single day. He couldn't handle it anymore!
At first, it was nice, Gust was on his way to work when the Crafter ran up to him. After catching their breath they showed him the pink umbrella. "Its suppose to rain tomorrow so... Here you go!" The Crafter had given him a few gifts before but they were never anything special.
An apple or other things they acquired on their various adventures. But this was a surprise and in a good way! He smiled. "You finally got it right!" He said and noted to himself how the Crafter looked more excited then he was.
Shortly after that, they became good friends, but that's the issue. "How do you tell one of your best friends that they're suffocating you in gifts?!" He cursed to himself, getting Albert's attention. "Is this about the pigments I gave you last week?"
Gust sighed. "No no, this is about
(Y/N)." Albert raised a brow. "You mean you're upset that someone as lovely as (Y/N) takes time every day to visit you?" Albert asked.
"It would be fine if they just came to say hi, but the amount of gifts they've been leaving every time we meet is ridiculous! Have you seen my bedroom? It's full of them!!" "I think you're being a little dramatic buddy, I would be glad if any of the Portia ladies gave me that many gifts!" Gust sighed and figured it was possible that he was being a bit dramatic. He decided he would focus on work for the rest of the day.
(Time skip)
Gust had just got home from work and he took his newest umbrella up to his room. At first glance the room looked okay, he made sure of it! However, under his bed there were as many as he could hide there, the desk drawer that he had built was filled to the brink, and he used up as much space he was allowed to in the downstairs closets.
As he opened the door to his wardrobe all the umbrellas that he so carefully stacked fell right over. He rolled his eyes in annoyance as he stacked them up again and counted about 19, and now 20. He had just closed the wardrobe door when Ginger poked her head it to tell him it was dinner time.
The next day Gust woke up early and headed to the Central Plaza to relax on a bench and clear his head. He was just thinking about how even though his museum just opened the Crafter had already donated multiple amazing artifacts, which was very much appreciated by him when Mint sat down next to him on the bench.
"So what's up?" Mint asked. "Huh? Oh, its nothing." Gust said quickly. "It's just... you seem a bit distracted from work lately." "And Albert sorta told me everything." Mint chuckled. Gust mentally cursed Albert and sighed. "(Y/N)'s been driving me crazy, I know they mean well but I just can't take it anymore!" "It's alright! I have the perfect solution, just start giving them gifts back! That way it won't be so one-sided."
"That could work." Gust said. It really did sound like a fine idea, but when he realized there was only one person he knew that would know what gift to give to (Y/N), he wasn't as confident. He tried to ignore his embarrassment as be cleared his throat. "Ginger? Could you come here please?" He shouted. She made her way to the couch and had a concerned expression.
"Is something wrong Gust?" She asked "Nono, I just need your help with something." He said nervously. Ginger raised a brow and waiting for him to continue. "I wanted to gift (Y/N) something and I uh, I wanted your advice on what to do." Ginger's face lit up with excitement. "I always thought you two would be cute together!! Oh I promise I'll think of a gift that'll start off your romance with each other right away!"
Gust's eyes widened and his face got red as he got even more embarrassed, which he didn't even know was possible. "What?! No! There's no romance! I just want to give them a platonic, friendly gift!" Gust blurted out, his face red as a tomato now.
"Ohh alright..." Ginger said doubtingly.
The two of them brainstormed and decided on a simple silk scarf. He thought it might spice up they're... Let's say less-than-fancy style, and after Ginger promised it wouldn't send the wrong idea, he agreed.
But was the smirk on her face suspicious? And why did he have to wrap it up in a pink box with a frilly red bow? He shook his head and told himself that Ginger wouldn't deceive him like that. He knocked on (Y/N)'s door and they came right out smiling brightly. "Gust? What are you doing here? Oh! Wait right there!" They left the doorway for a moment and came back with an umbrella.
Gust sighed, trying his best to hide his annoyance. "Thanks... And this is for you." He said, handing them the box. They blushed deeply and Gust raised his brow. 'It is pretty hot today so that's probably why.' He thought.
"Anyways, I must get to work so see you around." He said, leaving the Crafter in shock with the gift in their hands.
The Crafter still had that flustered look on their face when they stormed into The Round Table and scanned the room for Sonia, who was wiping down a table. "Ooo what's in the box?" She asked. The Crafter blushed as they explained the situation.
"So he finally confessed? Took him long enough! You should come here for your first date, I could convince Django to make a romantic meal!" She winked. "Well that would be amazing, but he really didn't confess..." "Are you kidding me? His feelings couldn't be more clear." Sonia chuckled gesturing to the beautiful box. "And the scarf looks so expensive too! I wish a man would care to spend that much on me!" Sonia sighed but quickly turned her attention back to the Crafter.
"It is pretty... But I don't want to just assume it was meant as a confession." "Look (Y/N)! You've been crushing on him forever now! If you're that uncertain you should ask him out yourself!" Sonia said. The Crafter blushed heavily. "What?! I can't do that! I wouldn't even know how!" They stuttered. "It's simple. His birthday is coming up this week, so just tell him when you give him his gift!"
The Crafter's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! I already made his umbrella, he loves those!" Sonia sighed, mentally face-palming. "I think I might have a better gift idea."
(Time skip)
Gust sighed. Working on your Birthday is never fun but he had an important business meeting with a client that could only travel to Portia today. As he walked down the stairs Russo, his butler, informed him that Albert had dropped off all the Umbrellas he had been storing at work.
Leaving a note that said, "Look, buddy, I know its not your fault but I can't have all these umbrellas taking up our workspace." "I counted 16 of them, where would you like me to put them?" Russo asked. "The closet in the dining room will be fine." Gust said, slightly annoyed at Albert's timing. "Well, that closet is about full..." "Please make it work, my clients will be here any moment now and I don't want them to see these..." Russo nodded.
Sonia and the Crafter were at the Salon, getting a bit of a makeover. "A little self-grooming can go a long way for winning a man!" She said as the Crafter nervously nodded. "And Django is making a special new recipe just for the two of you! Plus the Elegant outfit Nora let us borrow will look so cute on you!" Sonia grinned. The Crafter smiled a bit. "I hope everything goes well..."
Gust shot up from the couch when there was a knock on the door. His clients arrived, excited to see the plans and sketches they came for. He explained all his plans for the building, and it was going extremely well when suddenly the closet door only a few feet away from them burst open, tons and tons of umbrellas spilling out. His eyes widened as his face got extremely red. "I... Um..." One of the clients chuckled nervously. "On second thought... We must be going now!" They said, dashing out of the front door.
Once Gust realized what had happened he was filled with anger. 'Why did Albert pick today of all days to drop these off?!' He fumed. "Wait no, this isn't Albert's fault, its (Y/N)'s fault!" He said before storming out of the house.
The Crafter was at The Round Table with Sonia, setting up for Gust's birthday surprise when the boy stormed into the Cafe with a sour look on his face. "Gust! What are you doing here?" He ignored their question and took the pink umbrella in his hand and shoved it in their arms. "You can take that and all the rest back! I never want another one of your gifts ever again!" He yelled. The Crafter's eyes widened and filled with tears as they ran home.
"Oi! That in the hell do you think you're doing?!" Sonia shouted. Antoine turned to Gust. "That wasn't very nice Gust." "Sorry buddy but I have to agree." Albert said. Gust suddenly realized as the people in the room stared judgingly at him, that he had fucked up.
"You don't understand! Them and their damn gifts ruined my meeting! I don't even understand why they give them to me all the time." Gust explained. "Oh my god are you that dense? They're in love with you!" Sonia said. Gust blushed deeply. "They... What??" "It was pretty obvious mate." Albert said. "Why do you think they jump at every chance to help you, they even walked your damn pet for you!" Said Sonia. Gust's face was unreadable when he walked out of The Round Table. He knew exactly what to do.
The Crafter was sat on their bed when there was a knock on the door. Gust stood there looking at them apologetically. "What is it?" They said, their voice still cracking from crying. "(Y/N) I'm so so sorry, I was an idiot." Gust said. The Crafter sighed. "Yeah you were, but I kind of went overboard with the umbrellas huh?" "Just a bit." Gust chuckled.
"Look I know it's my Birthday, but to at least attempt to make it up to you, I got you something," Gust said before presenting the gift.
A Heart Knot.