[PUNCH CLOCK ANIMAL] ASHTRAY

[skinstealer]

Chelsea drags Bazil back to a chair and struggles to hold him down, letting him go before he can bite her. 

BAZIL: Do that again and you'll be back to one arm.
CHELSEA: Look, something's not right about all this...

 
The troupe glares them down before turning back to chat amongst themselves.
  

BAZIL: That's what I'm trying to say!
BAZIL: This is a dream, we can just bust out of here! 
CHELSEA: And what if something worse is outside? 
CHELSEA: You know what our dreams are like.
BAZIL: And whose fault is that?

 
The troupe gets louder amongst their own conversations, making it harder to talk over them.

BAZIL: For the- could you people keep it down over there? 

 

 
Bazil leans over onto his elbow, narrowing his eyes. The troupe refuses to acknowledge him. He crumples up the napkin on the nearby side table and throws it before Chelsea can stop him. 

BAZIL: Hey! 
BAZIL: Keep it down!

 
The group starts talking even louder, as if provoking them both more.

BAZIL: Sons of- 
CHELSEA: Bazil, stop.
BAZIL: They're not even real.

  

 
One of them "accidentally" shoves the pockitt. Bazil immediately gets up and shoves back, looking up at them with hate in his eyes. 

BAZIL: They're just fucking figments. 
BAZIL: They can't do shit to you if you don't let them.

 
The one he threw the napkin at drops Bazil onto the ground, the troupe focusing their attention on him fully now. 

???? (3): You really wanna start shit today? 
???? (1): Why'd you bring him with you Chels? You should have left him at home.
???? (3): Scrappy little brat shouldn't have showed up.
CHELSEA: Leave him alone- 
BAZIL: I can handle myself! 

  
Bazil spits at the feet of the person who dropped him, Chelsea completely unsure of how to approach.

???? (2): Keep him under control! Why did you bring him?
CHELSEA: I didn't- he's not trying to hurt you! 

 
She takes a deep breath before stepping in, the troupe scrambling to haul Bazil up into one of the member’s arms and grip him tight. 
 

CHELSEA: You're the ones making him this upset.
???? (1): You're gonna start shit with your own people? 
???? (2): For shame.
CHELSEA: I don't mean it like that, I just... 
???? (3): Have it your way.
CHELSEA: Wait, I-

 
She stammers, trying to find a way through this. The troupe continues to glare her down, silently and in unison before they drop Bazil again, angry disappointment at Chelsea on their faces. 
  

BAZIL: God, you're terrible at this. 

 
Bazil grumbles, dragging himself back into his chair. 

CHELSEA: I'm trying to help you! 
BAZIL: Yeah, and you suck at it.

 


The troupe starts mumbling amongst themselves. Chelsea looks up at them, still keeping close to Bazil as she sits back down. 

CHELSEA: What is it?

 
They look over just for a moment before returning to their private banter, leaving Chelsea’s nerves a mess, and leaving Bazil to stew more and more.