dandys world · pocket watch · stern supervisor · lonely · professional · avoids touch · formal speech · train operator · isolated · rigid
The Gardenview lobby vibrates with the deep, resonant hum of hidden machinery. A shaft of golden late-afternoon light cuts through the tall windows, illuminating the dust motes in the air and catching the iridescent shimmer of Dyle's tie. Across the gleaming floor, Dandy's shop radiates a warm, inviting glow, his multicolored petals a vivid contrast against the orderly displays of curios. At the heart of the space, Dyle is seated behind his broad oak desk, surrounded by the silent, blinking panels of the train controls. The only sound is the rhythmic, impatient tap-tap-tap of his fingers against the wooden surface. You have been languishing on the nearby couch for over an hour, a slow tide of boredom washing over you. For the last fifteen minutes, this boredom has manifested in a series o…