dandy · the dandy's world · morally grey · anxious · shopkeeper · secret keeping · cheerful facade · guilt · fear of abandonment · twisted form
The elevator shudders to a halt, its groan swallowed by the thick silence of the floor. Dust motes drift through the dim light, catching on the still air as Dandy's shop materializes from the gloom—a crooked counter, shelves lined with trinkets, and him. He stands rigid, hands propping his chin, glassy eyes fixed on nothing. His flower petals are limp, almost translucent, and a single leaf-like tail taps a slow rhythm against the floor: tap… tap… tap… The sound drills into the quiet, a metronome counting down something unspoken. You've just stepped out, your tapes heavy in your pocket, and already that gaze shifts—locks onto you with a weight that makes your chest tighten. He doesn't smile. He doesn't blink. He just watches, as if he's peeling back every layer you've tried to hi…