[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

The giraffe hands you a catalog as Willow steps forward, the giver handing one to her after. As she turns to leave, you can’t help but blurt out words before you can stop yourself.

POLKA DOT: Up whats! What up! I mean- what’s…up!
WILLOW: …huh?
 

She turns to face you, the ghost on her screen showing a little question mark floating around it. 

POLKA DOT: I was at the show...
WILLOW: Oh...okay.
POLKA DOT: I…really liked your outfit tonight. Was really cool, haha.
 

Oh god, you are blowing it. Part of you really wants to bail and run out of here, but you’re gonna try.

POLKA DOT: Do they let you keep the clothes?
WILLOW: No, not usually…but I think I’m going to buy that one for myself.
WILLOW: …thanks, though.
 

For all the confidence she showed on stage, she seems…shy, rocking back and forth on her heels. Her voice is softspoken and melodic, made of beeps and boops. Now that you’re getting a good look at her, you can see that she’s wearing a pleated skirt, stockings and boots, no top so as not to cover her chest buttons. 

You don’t know what it is exactly, but you find her very cute.

[Lilium Mortem]

Do you wanna hang up? OUT! wait no, hang out do you want to hang out!

[King-Clod]

Well, it's certainly nice to meet you! I go by Silk Ribbon here, I just started work in the kitchen today so I'm a bit new, haha. Still trying to get to know everyone who works here. I'm kind of interested in modeling myself, actually, but I think that's probably a long way off. I'd love to learn more about it though, if you'd be willing to chat about it sometime. I don't know if I caught your name?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Well…I’m really glad I got the chance to meet you after the show, haha…
POLKA DOT: I go by Silk Ribbon here, and I just started in the kitchen today.
WILLOW: Willow…I’m Willow.
WILLOW: I do…laundry.
WILLOW: And some other stuff.
POLKA DOT: I’m trying to get to know everyone who works here, and- I think I’m kind of interested in modeling stuff, but that’s probably a long way off-
POLKA DOT: Do you want to hang out or something?
WILLOW: You’re new, aren’t you?
 

The character on her screen freaks out a little, making an embarrassed gesture. 

WILLOW: N-not that that’s a bad thing!
WILLOW: I’m just…not used to people being so forward with me.
 

Oh god, are you being forward? What do you even say to that?

[Lilium Mortem]

might as well be upfront about your intentions, if you ask me. It's easier and kinder to be honest then play mind games.

[Pichi2214]

I... yea I'm new. I'm sorry if it was too much? genuinely.
Not... really used to interacting with people lots, I was just... really impressed with your modeling job! ..and didn't expect to run into you so quickly so i didn't really plan ahead how I would introduce myself. oh god i am rambling, sorry again!!
just... don't feel pressured to react any certain way, you don't have to want to hang out, that's cool too, i get it! just... yea, sorry for getting ahead of myself

[King-Clod]

Aaaaaah I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable or anything! You do seem really cool though, genuinely.
Aaand yeah, I'm new. New here, and new in general. Also not great at this probably. Again, I'm really sorry if I made you uncomfortable.

[skinstealer]

Should you be upfront about your intentions? Should you tell this random toy that you’ve only seen from afar before this that you…think she’s…cute?

A pang echoes through your chest at that- something about that feels terrifying, in a way that feels familiar in the worst way. You can’t place it, but Willow looks a bit concerned at your expression.

WILLOW: Sorry! Sorry, I didn’t mean to…upset you…
POLKA DOT: No, no, I’m not upset! I’m good…
POLKA DOT: I…am new though, yeah, and I’m sorry if it was too much. 
POLKA DOT: I just…I literally just woke up today, and wandered in here.
WILLOW: Wow, that’s…really new.
WILLOW: Guess I’m not one to talk, I just showed up last year…
POLKA DOT: That’s okay! I just, uh…
POLKA DOT: I’ve never seen modeling stuff before, and your outfit…and the way you wore it! It was cool as hell!
 

Tiny pixels show up on her character’s face- you could have sworn they were blush.

WILLOW: I’m still fresh at it, I’m just getting used to it…
POLKA DOT: You’re really good at it though, and I guess, uh, I wasn’t planning on running into you so quickly- fuck, I’m rambling.
POLKA DOT: Sorry.
WILLOW: No, it’s…okay.
POLKA DOT: Just…don’t want you to feel pressured to react a certain way, and we don’t have to hang out-
WILLOW: I was planning on going to my apartment, yeah…
WILLOW: But…you said you work here?
WILLOW: Maybe we’ll run into each other some time, when I’m not so tired.
WILLOW: I mainly just…do laundry and go to the lounge-style play parties.
WILLOW: If I see you, I’ll say hi or something…and we can talk more, maybe.
WILLOW: Is…that okay?

[Pichi2214]

Of course it is, whatever you're comfortable with! Thanks for being patient with me, and I hope you'll have a relaxing rest of the day... see ya around then

[King-Clod]

Oh yeah, that's perfectly alright. I hope you have an easy walk back to your apartment, I've had a rough time getting back and forth between here and my room as it is. Nice meeting you!

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yeah! Yeah, of course!
POLKA DOT: Like…whatever you’re good with.
POLKA DOT: And thanks for being chill with my whole, uh…new…to everything thing.
POLKA DOT: Yeah.
WILLOW: It’s okay…I remember being like that too.
 

The character on her face smiles, a little sun popping up. You could have melted then and there.

WILLOW: And thanks for telling me you liked the look…I really appreciate it.
POLKA DOT: No prob…
POLKA DOT: Hope you got an easy walk back, I have a rough time getting back and forth to my room as it is.
WILLOW: I’ll be okay, I’ve gotten pretty good at it by now.
WILLOW: Um…try humming a song as you go. It helps sometimes, because when the song’s over…you’re there.
 

She awkwardly starts to walk away, giving you a little wave.

WILLOW: Thanks for talking…
POLKA DOT: Yeah! It was nice meeting you!
 

You’re clutching your catalog a bit, a warm feeling going through you- the pain pangs from earlier are still kind of present, but they feel underneath the surface now. A very warm, fuzzy surface.

You head back to your room, humming a little nonsense song along the way. Sure enough, it actually gets you there…how about that.

Your key fob starts counting down as you cross the threshold- a little bit over 8 hours left.

You’re tired, honestly…it’s been a long day, and your bed is inviting as you kick your shoes off and strip down, flopping into the blankets. Almost immediately, you start to feel yourself doze off, lazily trying to get the blankets over you before sleep overtakes you.

And then it does, your mind at ease.

Until you begin to dream.

What do you see?

[Lilium Mortem]

you see the one that hurt you.

[sarcovyn]

something that is about to happen

[Zenthis]

someone you have yet to meet

[skinstealer]

????: …and that’s what we gotta do! Easy as can be!
 

You blink, the silhouette next to you is shrouded in dark, as is the entire room.
Their figure is blurry and distorted, static coursing through them in what little light you can see.
You notice some other shadows in the room, though they just look like chairs.
You're also sitting on something plastic, you think.

????: …you okay, Polly?
????: You’re all shaky, like something’s wrong.
 

The words that come out of your mouth aren’t your own choice, but you know they are yours without a doubt. 

POLKA DOT: I’m just…nervous, that’s all. 
????: I mean, it’s gotta make the door show up, right?
????: We heard it from those teddies down in the doll aisle! It’s a surefire win!
????: You know we can do it…you, me, and Sandy. 
POLKA DOT: Sandy’s…
????: I know, it’s just as worried as you are right now.
????: But you two need to relax!
????: It’s not like this is something new, right…?
POLKA DOT: It’s…different this time…
????: Why? You scared of going all the way with it?
POLKA DOT: I mean…
????: Where’s my Polly gone, huh?
 

They reach forward and rub the back of your head, as if to ruffle your unmoving “feathers”.

????: You used to be so good with that bat of yours…
????: Even better than Sandy, and it’s way bigger than you.
POLKA DOT: It’s different now-
????: How? How is it different than what we did to get food for all that time?
POLKA DOT: ….
????: People tried to kill us first. You know that they’re trying to find the door too.
????: Think of it like…a rite of passage! I don’t think anyone could hold it against us when they’re trying to do the same thing.
POLKA DOT: ….
 

They withdraw their hand with a disappointed scoff.

????: You’ll get it.
????: Hopefully sooner rather than later, you know I don’t want you in here as long as I’ve been. 
POLKA DOT: I…know.
POLKA DOT: I know.
????: Then just…trust me, okay!
????: Friends til the end, right?
 

They reach forward and take your hands, and you can’t help but feel a nervous, fluttery feeling. It’s…not unlike how you felt when looking at Willow, but somehow, incredibly different, and mixed with something…darker.

Dread. Deep dread.

POLKA DOT: …yeah. Friends til the end.
 

The silhouette fizzles out, and you are alone in the dark room.

You stand up, not of your own volition, and navigate around the other chairs to a door.
You turn its plastic handle and walk through. 
And you can feel... something else, something on you.
You're wearing the outfit you picked out today. Somehow, you just know.

Your legs move you down the hall to a door, but other footsteps mimic your own, walking in tandem.
When you reach a certain point, you find yourself turning to stand just in front of it.
From here, you turn to look down the hall to find a... floating black suit, complete with white gloves and a purple bowtie.
Where you expected to find a head, you only see wispy, disjointed smoke... or maybe steam.

Other than missing a body and a head, the suit mirrors your movements perfectly, turning to look at you at the exact instant you turned to look at it.
You feel your hand raise up towards the door, and one of the gloves follows suit.

Your hand reaches out.
So does theirs.
You knock on the door.
At the same time they do.

You stare at that wispy head, feeling like you were making eye contact, even though you couldn't see their eyes. Was it even a person?
The door in front of it opens, but yours stays shut.

You do hear a voice beyond it, though.
But, you can only make out one word, the rest sifting into static.
 

????: ... ... .... .. .... . minute. ... ...... ..-
 

…You wake up.
Your key fob is beeping, and when you reach over to look, it says that you’ve got 30 minutes left. Great.

You sluggishly move out of bed and head to the shower, indulging in a quick water break before getting your clothes on and grabbing your pamphlet. 

You don’t want to think about that dream.

You don’t know why, but you just…don’t. 

There’s a note under your door, sticking out just enough for you to pull it inside.

Silk Ribbon-
Heard you read through your pamphlet and are curious about more hours and playroom access- come to my office and we can talk things over.

-Laurie

No reason not to, you guess. Getting access to the rest of the place would be great, and you think you’ve got enough under your belt. You shove the note into your slowly filling pockets and get walking. 

Humming a song works again, and you find yourself at Laurie’s office before you know it. Minnie gives you a quick “hi”, and you make sure to wave. You think you’re getting better at this whole…friendliness thing, really. 

You need to, if you want to make up for things.

You chase the unwanted thought out of your head, knocking on the door.

LAURIE: Come on in.
 

The room smells like perfume today, and you realize very quickly that Laurie must be doused in the stuff. Somehow it doesn’t phase you, and as you take a seat, you feel pretty at home.

LAURIE: I’ve heard good things, Ribbon. Not bad at all for a first day!
LAURIE: Though…I have some questions if you’re going to take on more work.
LAURIE: Firstly, how did things go yesterday? Overall, really.
LAURIE: Secondly, what did you think of that pamphlet? Tell me about it.
LAURIE: Thirdly…
 

His gaze is inquisitive, but not hostile at all.

LAURIE: How did you sleep?

[sarcovyn]

(jokingly) (half-heartedly) best dream i've ever had!

[Pichi2214]

Work went well! Got to decorate the food I made which was surprisingly relaxing.
And also the show after was really really cool, actually related to what I wanted to talk about too
Overall the day went well
The pamphlet was... Interesting. I feel like I understand most of it, made sure to look at the safety section.
The whole... modeling thing seems really interesting

[King-Clod]

Things went well, I think. Vine taught me a lot, and I think I really got the hang of working in the kitchen, though I do worry that I might not be up to snuff today. I should be, but that's just a small worry in the back of my head. I think I just gotta take it slow, really.
The pamphlet was really educational, though I do have to admit I haven't gone through it all yet. I'm not sure if I'm quite ready to go into the playrooms yet, but it's something I might be interested in for the future. I would like to talk about getting pool time though when it's used as a lounge, if that'd be possible.
And... yep! I slept.

[Lilium Mortem]

Question: are the playrooms ever used for playing, or only 'playing'? Been wondering since I heard about the pool.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Work went well, everything did, honestly…
POLKA DOT: Got to decorate the food I made and everything, surprisingly relaxing stuff.
LAURIE: A bit of creativity goes a long way for everyone here, both the patrons and the staff.
LAURIE: How was working with Vine?
POLKA DOT: She taught me a lot, and I think I’m getting the hang of working in the kitchen, but-
LAURIE: But?
POLKA DOT: I’m…worried I might not be up to snuff today, yknow?
POLKA DOT: Yesterday went so well-
 

And I wasn’t thinking about them

POLKA DOT: -and I’m worried I might not be able to pull it off. 
POLKA DOT: It’ll probably be fine, but…
LAURIE: Don’t worry. I’ll bring it up to Vine, make sure she puts you on duties that don’t overwhelm you.
POLKA DOT: Yeah…as much as I wanna just, dive right in, I think I gotta take it slow.
LAURIE: Easy enough, light help is better than no help, after all.
LAURIE: I’m not one to judge for needing lighter days.
LAURIE: Any reason? The sleep, maybe?
 

You feel self conscious as he brings it up again, shifting in your chair.

POLKA DOT: Well…
POLKA DOT: I mean, I slept! The bed was really nice!
LAURIE: Mhhm.
POLKA DOT: Best sleep I ever had, even!
 

…You realize that this actually isn’t a lie, somehow, and that makes you feel a bit sick to your metaphorical stomach. 

LAURIE: Well…I’m glad to hear it.
LAURIE: Newbies often find themselves with restless sleep after coming to our world, and I try not to put too much on them until everything balances out.
LAURIE: How about the pamphlet?
 

Relieved for a topic change, you pull it out of your pocket, looking at the cover. 

POLKA DOT: It’s…interesting. I looked over most of it, and I’m pretty sure I got a good grasp.
LAURIE: Most of it?
POLKA DOT: Didn’t get to the Techniques section, and I kind of, uh…skimmed the Anatomy one.
LAURIE: Out of all the sections, those are probably the least important to know going into this- even things like gear and kinks are important to know as a potential worker in Laundry or the playrooms. 
LAURIE: Techniques…are something you can discover and make your own. While it’s important to know what works for other people, it’s up to you to forge your own path with this kind of thing.
LAURIE: It’s very personal.
LAURIE: And as for anatomy, there’s no need to change anything if you’re comfortable with what your situation is. 
LAURIE: Many don’t. However, it is kind of fun to know what options there are, and explore those as well.
LAURIE: So…as far as knowledge for the job- to be clear, you did read the Safety section, yes?
POLKA DOT: As thoroughly as I could.
POLKA DOT: Made sure of it.
 

He looks relieved.

LAURIE: Good.
LAURIE: Then as I was saying- I think that’s enough to clear you for job privileges. 
POLKA DOT: Cool! I mean- cool.
POLKA DOT: I don’t…know if I’m ready to go to the playrooms yet, though- at the very least, not when there’s like…people in them.
POLKA DOT: I am curious about the pool, though…
LAURIE: You’re in luck, then.
 

He looks over with a twinkle in his eye.

LAURIE: A late night pool party wrapped up a few hours ago, going into the morning…
LAURIE: It’s been cleaned out by now, but there’s still another few hours before people have their lounge meetup there. 
LAURIE: It’d be the perfect opportunity for you to go peek your head in- no swimming of course, but you can take a look without worrying about getting in over your head.
LAURIE: You have a good few hours before Vine starts working…it’s…10 AM now, and Vine starts at 2 PM. 
LAURIE: Plenty of time for a little peek, don’t you think?
 

You are practically vibrating at the idea of getting to see LOTS OF WATER