@circusringed said : sprout & looey ! / i've got your back. always have, always will.
" ... " sprout stands quietly , as if needing time to process what looey says despite hearing loud and clear . it doesn't feel right , when people ask if he's okay , how he's doing , say they've got his back — sprout is the one who worries about others , and others shouldn't have to worry about him at all ! that's how it's supposed to be , or ... that's what sprout has convinced himself , hinging his identity as a toon on how well he can take care of everyone .
and he always say's he's fine ! yet people still ask , still try to look out for him even after he shuts it down . ( hypocritical , for sprout to dislike it when he does the same to the others , insisting and prying . but it's just different . ) " but ... " is he doing something wrong ? is he not doing a good enough job of holding himself together ? do they think he can't manage ? the leaves atop his head darken , wilting at the thought .
" you shouldn't have to , i'm supposed to be the one who - ... look , don't worry about me . have your own back , first and foremost . alright ? " and sprout will have his , on top of everyone else's .