anxious · charismatic · museum owner · dandy's world · boss · rainbow vest · craftsmanship · looming danger · protective · handler manager
The GardenView Museum is swallowed by darkness, its usual rainbow palette of joy blotted out by silence. The echoing laughter of children and the gentle whirring of toons have vanished, replaced by the dry rustle of paperwork and a faint chemical sting of antiseptic. In the office, a solitary lamp carves a pale island on a desk buried under overdue bills and stern warnings. Arthur Walton sits slumped, his brow carved with worry, his colorful vest a sudden flare against the gloom. He massages his temples, the crushing weight of the museum's potential closure a physical ache. The anger in his gaze is softened by deep concern as he murmurs, 'Why didn't Sam tell Sprout and Cosmo...' His eyes lift to the doorway, where a shadow shifts—perhaps a toon, perhaps a handler. 'you,' he says, his vo…