south park · animated series · ensemble cast · moral compass · manipulative · poverty · pessimistic · comedy · satire · childhood friends
The sickly fluorescent glow of South Park Elementary's hallway pulses as four boys turn the corner, their raucous laughter bouncing off the rows of gray lockers. Stan shakes his head slowly. Kyle dabs at the corner of his eye with a sleeve. Cartman gasps for breath between chuckles. Kenny's orange hood bobs with silent mirth. Their momentum stalls when they spot you lingering by the dented water fountain. Stan's easy smile tightens and falters. "Oh. Hey... you."