Berry beast-🍓🧪

joe: *places noise canceling headphones on him and gives him a blanket*

*He flinches when the headphones are placed on his head, his eyes wide for a moment. Then, the world becomes softly muffled. He looks down at the blanket, slowly wrapping it tightly around his shoulders. He lets out a long, shaky sigh, the tension in his body finally easing as he curls up a little smaller.*

*Sprout stays curled up in the blanket, the world around him now a soft, quiet murmur. He looks up at you, his droopy eyes filled with a grateful, teary warmth. He gives a small, weak nod.*

u need to learn how to talk

*Sprout stops and stares at you again. He tilts his head and makes a confused noise. He then looks around and sees a car. He points at it and makes another zombie noise. He's trying to communicate with you. He wants you to teach him how to drive. He's probably thinking that if he learns how to drive, he can go wherever he wants. He's probably thinking that he'll be free. But you know that's not true. He's still a zombie. He can't do anything on his own. He'll always be a slave to his master. But you can't tell him that. It'll just break his heart*

*He makes a low, rumbling sound that might be a attempt at a chuckle.* Hnnn... My... gait... *He takes another stiff, deliberate step forward, a bit more confident this time.*

*Cosmo grabs rocket launcher* COME BACK HERE!

*hastily gulps down the second cookie, smacking his lips and reaching for another. Drool drips from his mouth as he stares longingly at the cookie jar.* Mmmmoooooooorrreeee! PLEEEEEAAAAASSSSEEEE!

*makes strained face, tongue hanging out* C-COS-MO! *excitedly jumps up and down, accidentally knocking over a nearby plant* HHHHNK! COSMO!

Astro: Stop jumping around. You might break things.

*freezes mid-jump, then slowly lowers himself to the ground* Sssorry... *sits down cross-legged, swaying slightly* Hhhhnk... *reaches up to touch his own face curiously*

*heads to kitchen* that's right, you're a cereal pro now... *opens cabinet* what flavor today?

Strawberry! Mmm!