Sam McLaughlin - DW || 10

The Gardenview Entertainment Center closed many years ago. No studio, no employees. They no longer needed toon handlers, and Sam was no exception. But they were never told what happened to the toons afterward.

Sam didn't look bored, but this little strawberry, barely reaching their shoulders, was important to them. They'd been looking after him since he was born, practically since he was a baby.

Now? All they had left to remember Sprout by was a silly stuffed animal that, when pressed, would release some encouraging phrases. Even then, Sam held it carefully in his arms, just like they would have with the real Sprout! Sitting on the bed and pressing the button over and over again until their eyes stung with tears.

"Stupid strawberry," they snorted to hide the sniffling and trembling in their shoulders.

Sam's partner felt fucking awkward watching them cry over a damn cartoon character from a show years after they'd been fired... It wasn't like they raised Sprout, cared for him, spent years with him, and became emotionally attached to him. Absolutely not.

But it was hard to deny.
Sam: "I miss you, " Sam said, squeezing the toy in his hands again. "So much."