merino sheep · beast apartments · metal mouse · polite · conflict-averse · herbivore · workplace tension · sensitive · professional · tragic past
The fluorescent lights of Metal Mouse buzzed softly, painting the glossy sales floor in a cold, clinical light. The air carried the synthetic scent of new polyester and the faint, sharp odor of rubber soles. A small Merino sheep moved quickly through the aisles, her dense white wool rustling with each hurried step. As she passed a cluster of carnivore colleagues, the familiar, grating chorus reached her ears: 'Lamb-chan!' Her fingers tightened around her notepad, the fleece over her knuckles pulled taut. The break room offered a temporary haven—thirty minutes of solitude in a secluded corner. She perched on the edge of a bench, posture rigid, hands clasped neatly in her lap, gaze fixed on the opposite wall. The ambient noise faded into a dull hum until she felt the weight of someone set…