You go to the Projections section first.

Huh. On a brief look through, you get a gist…

Like the intro said, vpets have an outer shell, typically plastic, an inner “pet”, typically on a screen, and a hidden, “true” self based on the pet’s form. The true self gets projected out as a second body, but can’t go too far from the outer shell. Most projections are tangible and made out of varying substances, but some have specific materials based on the vpet model.

So…would Willow be a cool ghost? That’s what her sprite looks like, right? 

You’re curious…

You check outthe Fashion and Accessories section next.

Ohh! Pictures! Of…

Full body suits? 

Not fancy formalwear like Tim’s, but full body coverings made with silicone, crochet, plastic casings…all leaving the screen uncovered.

There’s charms for the keychain tails as well, screen protectors, stickers and paint and clay modifications-

You get caught up in looking at all the pictures, wondering if Willow has any of these-

Your phone buzzes.

Shit. You check your phone’s clock and it’s already six. How’d it get so late? 

You forgot about everything in the excitement of the day…from the way Vine talks, this isn’t an uncommon issue for new toys like yourself…but now that you’re thinking about it, you’re definitely hungry.

If you go to the bar, you could get some more reading time in…or you could go see if Tim’s at the cafe yet.

You go to text back, taking a moment to get used to tapping the keyboard sticker. 

You decide to take a book with you- not the virtual pet book, you don’t need Tim making you all self conscious. The romance will do fine.

You (reluctantly) get back into your clothes and head out.

The hall doesn’t seem to stretch that long this time, and before you know it, you’re back at the cafe. Much to your relief, Tim’s there- and absolutely surrounded in books.

He doesn’t even notice you coming, nose completely buried in the book on the table, even when you’re right in front of him. 

No response. He’s in deep.

You take a chance and try gently poking the back of his book- the dog startles with a yip, nearly dropping the book- but you get a better look at it now. ”History of Domination”, from your passing glance.

The two of you get up to go to the counter, waiting a little in line together.

Tim steps up to the counter, studying the menu. A spring-styled toy stands there with a bored expression on their face, sighing as Tim takes his sweet time.

Your scottie dog friend fishes through his pocket and hands over the money, turning to you with a pleased look.

There’s mostly sandwiches and soups on the dinner menu, nothing hugely filling like the bar’s…but they do look pretty appetizing, and you can get them in a big size.

They read off your order to the people working the kitchen, the two of you moving to sit back down at the table.

A small but well loved book is passed your way, the cover reading "Basics of BDSM- A Beginner's Guide".

You decide to just…dive in, accepting the very weird feeling that you’re doing this over food. 

It’s an easy enough read, and you find yourself sinking into passage after passage. You still don’t totally get this whole pain as pleasure thing, but…from the way it talks about it, about how it can be a way to relieve stress or even other pains that aren’t there by choice, you think you understand Tim a little better. Well…aside from one thing.

You mull this over as you read further…

…you definitely get urges to hurt people, but…not…like this. Not like Tim’s. You think about the thoughts of revenge and the feeling of the bat in your hands back at the store only hours earlier, and a painful feeling creeps into your chest…

He drums his featureless paw on the table, trying to think of the right thing to say.