Runs with the headcanon Animalese is not Villager's first language and that they're self conscious about it, which is why you don't talk much in the game.

Clarification on what MC/Reader/"X" is saying on the bottom A/Ns.

Enjoy!

You look over at Sable from where you sit on the sandy shores of Horizon. She's squinting at the sun with a large hat shielding her face from the ruthless rays. Mabel is running through the small waves lapping at the beach. You pat the ground next to you and Sable spreads out a towel and sets down her basket.

"Wish you had let me bring some of my sewing stuff." Sable mimics a sewing motion with her paws. Stimming, most likely. You shake your head in good nature and huff out a breath.

"Ooh nee' bake."

Your Animalese sucked. Your cheeks heat up as you speak, hoping that despite your broken accent she understands you. Sable scratches the back of her neck.

"I guess my hours are a little long. But I like what I do!"

"Still, nee' bah-ache." Sable sits next to you and closes her eyes. She angles her snout towards the sun.

"I guess it's just hard not to be in 'make enough to look after all of Mabel and Label's needs' mode, even after all these years."

You give an awkward shrug. You really don't get it, since you have no siblings. You've always wanted one, though. Rather than say anything, you breathe in the salty air and let your shoulders relax. Sable observes you through tired eyes.

"You need to take a breather too, X," she says. "Everyone's telling me how you're always running around, donating to the museum and going on those little islands. You can't be on the grind forever." The pointed look you give her look makes her look down. "I'm not being hypocritical. We're sitting here now, aren't we?" She looks at Mabel as she swims, blue quills almost blending in with the ocean. "Don't swim out too far, Mabes!" Sable cries out.

"Okay, Gray-ble!"

You squawk out a surprised laugh. Sable's quills point out in annoyance.

"C'mon Sable! The water's great! You too, X!"

Sable gives the water a cautious stare. You stand up and brush sand off your thighs. Your wetsuit is one from Nook's Cranny, yellow stripes making you feel like you're one with the sand. You wonder if Pascall is over the border looking for scallops. You offer a hand towards Sable to help her stand up. The two of you slowly walk into the water. While the cool waters give your body some relief, Sable's quills stand up straight and sharp.

"Cold, cold; cold!" she says. You keep walking until the two of you are thigh-deep. She gets used to the water soon enough, calming down and even sighing in pleasure. You treasure the sound of Sable actually relaxing for once. Bubbles catch your eye and you let go of her paws to dive.

"Way he."

You follow the cloud of hand and grip something. You swim up with your catch victoriously and wade over to Sable with saltwater in your nose and over your lips. You hold it up to her inspection.

"I didn't know Horizon had these in its waters."

"Ooh ka see in moo-see-um." Sable leans in to get a better look at the sea anemone in your hands. It wiggles and you gently toss it back in the ocean.

"You won't keep it or sell it?" she asks.

"No sell well," you explain. An idea strikes you. "Label ka use oh-sha in-pie." Sable's eyes widen before she squints in happiness.

"You really do have the best ideas, X! I'll tell Label about that." You grin. A splash startles you and Sable. The sound you make is not one you want to admit to. Mabel cackles at Sable's grimace. "Cold! So cold! Mabes!"

"You two were just taking so long, so I came over here! C'mon Sable! Head under the water."

She splashes Sable relentlessly.

Maybe you don't want siblings.

Sable takes in a deep breath and goes under the water. She comes up and tries to shake her head dry, getting water all over your own face. She apologizes and you shake your head.

"Fah-in." Mabel splashes you too. You return the favor with gusto. She wades back.

"No fair!" she cries out.

"You were splashing us! It is fair."

"Hey X, are you okay? You're spacing out." Mabel swims close to you. "Don't tell me you're captivated by Gray-ble here."

"No! Jus… see Say hah fun nigh."

Your Animalese is absolutely abhorrent. Still, the sisters don't seem to mind your second-language struggles all that much.

"Yeah, it's nice seeing Sable kick back. We should do this more often."

"I need to work."

"Sable, you can't only take breaks Thursday nights for 'Pointed Questions.' You're too young for us to lose you to true crime shows."

"I hope the DA lays off the witnesses this week."

"He ah-ways bah-jing wit-neh."

"Exactly!"

Mabel rolls her eyes. An idea pops into her head.

"We can talk about this while we eat! I've heard you're good at cooking, X!"

"But it's only four. We tend to eat at ten."

"But this is a laid-back day." You want to chime in, but you'd be better saying it in Bebebese. You take the shot and say it.

"Bianca lent me one of her magazines because we were hanging out and there was an article about how you shouldn't eat too late. Acid reflux or something like that."

"Oh! I think I read that article!" Mabel says. She taps her snout pensively.

"I think the Nooklings need that article more than us," Sable says. "Those poor kids are taking after Tom, and his sleeping and eating schedule is worse than mine."

You make your shot at Bebebese again.

"Tom Nook sleeps?"

Sable laughs. "Of course he does! He's a sleep talker, too. Mostly like, saying 'yes, yes' and 'okay' though. Makes it sound like he's awake."

"Huh."

"Oh, X, you can talk Bebebese whenever. We can understand it, we're just… well." Mabel grimaces. "You know the saying, right? 'If Bebebese isn't your first language, don't bother'?"

"Yeah, I've heard it. I think we can head back to shore. I'll make whatever you two want."

You wrap your towel around your shoulders when you get back to the sand. Sable uses her towel to dry Mabel off.

"I can dry myself!"

"No, you always track water everywhere when you try to dry off by yourself." Sable forgoes the towel and shakes herself dry. She poofs up a little and tries to smooth her quills down with her paws. You give her your towel. "You sure you're fine without it?"

"Yeah, I swim without a towel all the time. Blathers gets mad because I get the museum floor wet every time I donate sea critters. Buzz too. Says I'll slip and fall one day."

"Be careful, X! You really could slip and fall. No one wants you getting hurt."

You decide not to tell them about the dozen or so times Wilbur called an alert because you got stung by scorpions and he thought you died.

"Okay, okay; I'll be careful. What do you two want for dinner?"

"Ice cream!" Mabel says. Sable gives her a stern look.

"Not ice cream. Ice cream is not a meal, Mabel." She shakes her head in disappointment before facing you. "You can grill vegetables, if that's not too hard."

"Not at all." You lead them towards the cooking area you made near the beach and whip up food as you talk. "I think there's going to be a few shooting stars tonight." You squint up at the thinning evening clouds. "Hoping I can get star fragments from that."

"What will you do with them?" Mabel asks.

"DIY stuff. Celeste gives me recipes when she visits."

"Oh, Celeste! She visits?"

"Yeah. I'll take her by the shop sometime so you can say hi."

"That would be nice. I remember when she ran the observatory."

"You're really old, then," Mabel says.

"You remember it too, so that makes you old."

You shakes your head and flip over the vegetables, letting them brown before serving them. You get out juice from the coolers and pass the cans to the sisters. They thank you and dig in.

"Wow X, you should cook for us more often."

"Mabel, manners!" Sable turns to you. "The food is great. I'd love to taste it again sometime."

"I'll keep that in mind." The first shooting star of the night catches your attention. You make a wish immediately.

I hope I can see Sable relaxing like this more often.

Clarification on what X is (trying) to say:
1. "You need a break."
2. "Wait here."
3. "You can see it in the museum."
4. "Doesn't sell well... Label can use ocean as inspiration."
5. "It's fine."
6. "No! It's just... seeing Sable having fun is nice."

Anyway, hope this was a nice read! See y'all around!