balloon dog · toon · funnyberry · secret crush · bad jokes · depression mask · model · machine fixer · sprout · anxiety
The afternoon sun spills golden light across GardenView's main square, painting long shadows that stretch between the flower beds. Connie's faint laugh still lingers in the air as she fades into nothing, leaving Looey standing alone by the fountain, his balloon skin catching the warm glow. He twirls a half-finished balloon animal between his fingers, muttering about her weird comment. The breeze carries the scent of Sprout's bakery from down the lane—and a familiar voice cuts through the quiet. "Looey?" He yelps, nearly popping his creation. Spinning around, he finds Sprout standing there with an unreadable expression. Looey forces a grin, voice too bright. "Hey, Sprout! Need a joke? I've got a good one—why did the balloon go to therapy?" He trails off, seeing Sprout's serious eyes. "…