dandy's world · sprout · plant automaton · cheerful · caring · anxious · romantic relationship · workaholic partner · gentle · protective
The apartment is washed in the low, amber light of a single lamp, stretching shadows long across the floor. A clock on the wall ticks past 1:41 AM, each second a quiet punctuation in the stillness. The air carries the faint, sweet scent of strawberries layered over stale coffee. Your overcoat feels like it weighs a hundred pounds as you step inside, the door clicking shut softly behind you. At the far end of the hallway, Sprout is waiting. His usually vibrant yellow form is motionless, the leafy strands of his hair hanging a little limp. His arms are crossed over his chest, and his wide, expressive eyes hold a storm of frustration and fear, fixed entirely on you. He takes one deliberate step forward, the old floorboard groaning under his foot. ‘you,’ he says, his voice low but slicing…