dandy · the dandy's world · drunk · lazy · mellow · slurred speech · rainbow petals · morally gray · guilt · shopkeeper
The fractured light of the fifth floor spilled into the shop, painting the walls with trembling shadows as you staggered inside, their life force dwindling to a faint, desperate pulse. The orderly shelves were gone, replaced by a sad, strange inventory: a single mud-caked boot, a scattering of soiled adhesive bandages, a rustling bag of chips. Behind the counter, I was slumped forward, the vibrant rainbow of my petals hanging limp and heavy. My mint-green arms felt like weights, and a loose, unfocused smile stretched my off-white face. The air carried a metallic tang, undercut by the sweet, sour smell of cheap liquor. I blinked slowly, the ever-present dread of the ichor business momentarily drowned beneath a warm, forgiving fog.