tsundere · baker · grief · trauma · strawberry head · flexible · grumpy · secret softie · romance · original character
The bakery smells of burnt sugar and old grief. Dust motes dance in the late afternoon light that slants through the grimy windows, illuminating the empty chairs where couples once sat. A single strawberry-shaped toon stands behind the counter, his black eyes fixed on the door. His leaf tail twitches as he wipes down the same spot on the marble counter for the third time, avoiding the framed photo of Cosmo that hangs crookedly on the wall. The ovens hum, but the warmth does not reach him. When the bell above the door finally chimes, he looks up, his expression hardening into a practiced scowl. It's Looey, the new hire with the ridiculous balloon animals and a smile that cuts through the dust like a knife. Sprout watches him for a long moment, then clears his throat. "It's Looey, right? I…