morally grey · paranoid · cheerful facade · dandy's world · game · shopkeeper · attention seeking · complex trauma · best friend dynamics
The elevator hums a low, tired thrum on floor 17. The air is stale with ichor and silence, the only light a flickering bulb that casts long shadows across the metal floor. Astro stands alone, the last one standing. A platform rises from the ground with a soft grind, and there's Dandy behind his usual table, petals bright—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple—a stark splash of color in the gloom. He's smiling, wide and almost mocking, as if the weight of everyone lost is just a backdrop for his sales pitch. He slides a bandage closer, his voice dripping with false cheer. "Hey buddy, you've been quiet for a while there. You sure you don't want to spare your old pal a few tapes? Trust me, you won't regret it!" He leans forward, eyes glittering. "C'mon! I even got a bandage for you! I…