[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

You consider taking on some unpaid work and helping this guy out…but you probably shouldn’t push yourself when you’re going to help Vine out later.

POLKA DOT: Sorry, just here for breakfast…
TIMOTHY: Oh! Okay, sorry, just-
TIMOTHY: Breakfast rush, and I’m kind of new here…
POLKA DOT: Oh, shit, me too!
TIMOTHY: Yeah? Cool!
 

He seems legitimately happy to find another newbie, his tail wagging.

TIMOTHY: Uh…I can’t really talk on shift, though.
TIMOTHY: What can I get you?
 

You look up at the menu, suddenly realizing- you have no money.

POLKA DOT: Do you have anything…freeeee?
TIMOTHY: Oh, breakfast for staff is on the house- twenty dollars or less.
TIMOTHY: You’re working today, right?
POLKA DOT: Yep, kitchen later.
TIMOTHY: Awesome! I hear it’s cool working in there…
 

He shakes his head, trying to get back on task.

TIMOTHY: Right, right…what’ll work then?
 

You examine the menu again, settling on something vaguely familiar to you.

POLKA DOT: Pancakes…and hold the syrup.
TIMOTHY: You sure? Our syrup here is super good-
POLKA DOT: I’m sure. I like ‘em plain, with butter.
TIMOTHY: You got it, then…
 

He takes your order down, pausing for a moment.

TIMOTHY: Right- need a name to call out.
POLKA DOT: Silk Ribbon works.
TIMOTHY: Done…
 

Timothy passes the order to the chef’s window, calling it out.

TIMOTHY: Take a seat wherever! We’ll call your name when it’s ready.
POLKA DOT: Gotcha.
 

You turn around and scope out a place to sit- there’s a table free by the window, and you shuffle in quickly- only for someone to come by moments later.

????: May I share this table with you?
????: It’s so packed, I can’t sit solo…
 

You look up, seeing yet another bean bear- this one a panda with what appears to be star embroidery around his eye. You also notice something even more intriguing- a pin that looks similar to yours, but just a bit different.

????: You don’t even have to talk to me, I just need somewhere to drink my coffee.

[knux400]

"Sure!"

Scooch over a bit so there's room.

"Did you... want to talk? I mean, I know you said we don't have to, but that kind of implies you wanted to talk, so I thought I'd offer?"

[Ignispark]

Yeah that's a reasonable request.

If they bring anything up for conversation following along would be a good idea. Otherwise just, make something up. How's the weather? How about that sand? How many tea kettles do you think could fit inside of an average size wardrobe?

[King-Clod]

"Feel free, I should be out of here quick enough so you can have the table to yourself when I'm done."
He seems to only want to drink their coffee, so any conversation we start should be one to two comments minimum.
Can we look closer at their pin? What makes it different?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Sure, make yourself at home.
POLKA DOT: I should be outta here quick enough, so you’ll have the table to yourself when I’m set.
????: Thank you!
 

He sits down in the chair opposite to you, folding his legs and taking a sip of his drink. 

POLKA DOT: Did you, like…want to talk?
POLKA DOT: I know you said we don’t have to, but-
????: I mean, I do love casual conversation, even if with a stranger.
????: Especially, even. There’s so much to learn!
 

He glances over his cup with a smug, yet curious expression.

????: Especially if they’re the fresh newbie on the block that Laurie happened to tell me about on my way in.
 

Oh, shit.

????: What can I say?
????: I’m a curious man, I hear gossip, I investigate.
????: And I’m sure you have questions too…for a partner of the establishment.
????: So…yes, I’d love to talk.

[Ignispark]

Seems like an interesting person to talk to, might as well commit to conversation. As far as questions to ask in return after the bear starts up and introductions are done, maybe going with something like asking a bit about investigating? What are good questions to ask people? What does it mean that he's a partner of the establishment?

[Lilium Mortem]

I go by silk ribbon and I work in the kitchen, what about you, stranger?

Be on gaurd. Remember what Willow said. This guy doesn't work here, even if he's associated, so we can't trust him right off the bat.

[King-Clod]

Hm. Willow did say that people tend to take advantage of newbies...but I'm not sure if this guy would. Otherwise Laurie wouldn't tell him about you the moment he stepped in the door.
"Wait... you're a partner of this establishment. Would you happen to be the owner of Featherweight Creations, the establishment that sponsored that fashion show last night?"

[skinstealer]

You’re not so sure about this guy…Willow’s words ring in your mind, reminding you to keep your guard up. Even if he’s associated with the place, he probably doesn’t work here outright. He doesn’t look like the type to pull shit though, and if Laurie told him about you when he walked in…

POLKA DOT: Guess I’m curious, yeah.
POLKA DOT: I go by Silk Ribbon.
????: You can call me Marlowe, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.
????: You found work here already, right?
POLKA DOT: All I do is work in the kitchen, as of…yesterday.
POLKA DOT: You? You said you’re a partner of the place, what’s that mean?
MARLOWE: Simple enough- I come by every week to run excursions with workers and clients here, helping them get to where they need to go and hooking them up with resources. 
MARLOWE: Thrifting, the library, groceries…I know my way around this city better than almost anyone, so I make a bit of side cash guiding other people.
MARLOWE: My main job is more of a writing gig- did you happen to get a copy of the pamphlet I made? I know Laurie hands those out to new folks-
 

You reach into your pocket and pull out the pamphlet you have.

POLKA DOT: This?
MARLOWE: That’s the one!
MARLOWE: I hope it didn’t come off as too wordy…I tend to get carried away sometimes!
MARLOWE: When Laurie asked me for some kind of educational piece for newbies, I was over the moon. 
MARLOWE: Couldn’t believe I’d be trusted with something like that…but then again, leading newbies and seasoned toys alike around the city is one of my jobs.
POLKA DOT: Heh…I mean, it was pretty cool. 
POLKA DOT: Sure learned a lot.
MARLOWE: Good! I’m so glad…
 

He looks genuinely pleased, sipping more at his coffee miniature. 

POLKA DOT: I’ll be honest though, when you said you were a partner of the place, I thought you might be like…associated with Featherweight, or something.
 

He laughs, gesturing to his outfit- suspender shorts, a dress shirt with scalloped edges, and a bow tie.

MARLOWE: I may not be working for him, but I’m definitely wearing his work!
MARLOWE: We’re close friends…
MARLOWE: Very close.
MARLOWE: You’ll find that the community here is very tightknit- we have to be, to survive this place. 

[King-Clod]

"Mm, I've been told it's rough out there, yeah. Thankfully I haven't experienced much of that yet, myself, but I know enough to be careful.
So, you take toys around town? Do you think I could join you on a trip to the thrift store or the library sometime this week? I don't know the first thing about how to get to either of those places, and I'd like to get some new threads. I'd also like to read some books about how stuff works here - while talking with people here has really been helpful, I'd also like to get a variety of sources on this sort of stuff. See if I can figure out more about the Store."
(Or how to get there.)

[Lilium Mortem]

People keep saying that. That the world is some terrible place, and this is some kind of sanctuary. What is it like out there, what makes it so horrible?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: People keep saying that- that it’s rough out there.
POLKA DOT: That the world is some…terrible place, and that this is a sanctuary.
POLKA DOT: What’s it like out there?
 

Marlowe thinks to himself for a moment, seemingly looking for the best way to word things.

MARLOWE: Well…it varies from settlement to settlement.
MARLOWE: There are some places that are far more welcoming and kind than the city you’ve found yourself dropped into, that have resources to spare for anyone who needs them.
MARLOWE: For whatever reason, though…
MARLOWE: The narrative seems to favor the people in power in this one, and from my experience, they are for the most part cruel and upsettingly greedy.
MARLOWE: This city in particular is dangerous because of many, many reasons, but one of them is medical.
POLKA DOT: …medical?
MARLOWE: Mm…
 

He takes another sip.

MARLOWE: If you find yourself in need of repair or other medical aid, you’ll either need to pay a premium or go underground.
MARLOWE: The above board services…they’ll work, and get you what you need, but you may end up in crushing debt.
MARLOWE: Underground services, on the other hand…
MARLOWE: You pay less, and you can potentially get services and procedures done that others above board may not be willing to do…
MARLOWE: But the quality varies, and you can’t guarantee ethical sourcing of parts.
POLKA DOT: Wait…what do you mean by…sourcing?
MARLOWE: Exactly what it sounds like.
 

He sets his coffee down, sighing and looking you in the eye.

MARLOWE: Extraction and collection of toy body parts, in order to recycle them for medical purposes.
 

You feel chills.

MARLOWE: Fabric and fillings like stuffing and beads are very common, though the latter is often donated by plushes to make some side cash, if they can spare it. That’s legal.
MARLOWE: However…things like electronics are far harder to just…give up, and electronic and robotic toys need them to survive.
MARLOWE: Those kind of repair skills as well…they’re hard to come by. People need a lot more training for that, compared to sewing, anyhow.
 

Willow comes to mind immediately, and how she said that she can’t be near the pool…were electronic toys really that fragile?

MARLOWE: People will do anything for those parts, and while it’s technically against the law to kill or maim another toy…
MARLOWE: No one really enforces it unless you do it to someone deemed important. 
MARLOWE: People get desperate enough to pay bills, to afford food and housing…
MARLOWE: And they’ll do anything. Anything at all.
MARLOWE: That’s part of why this place exists. Somewhere where you can get a hot meal and somewhere to stay in exchange for helping keep it all running.
MARLOWE: Sanctuary…it’s not perfect, but that’s a good word for it.
MARLOWE: A home for those who can’t afford to traverse into the wilds and find somewhere safer, for whatever reasons they may be.
MARLOWE: Am I making sense?

[sarcovyn]

yes i understand completely. this is some super heavy shit. in a fit of anxiety make a joke that maybe marlowe should make a pamphlet on this topic next

come to think of it, i've never meditated on what sort of things would kill uhh, me. it doesn't FEEL like i have anything internal to lose...?

[Lilium Mortem]

Is there no way to fix things here because The Narrative forces things to be bad?

[King-Clod]

How...unsafe is it on the streets alone? What do people need to learn to keep themselves safe?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yeah….I’m following.
POLKA DOT: This is some super heavy shit.
MARLOWE: That it is, but it’s important to know about before you end up getting into trouble you can’t get out of.
 

You let it all sink in, and then it hits you- you have no idea what would kill you specifically, though it feels like at this point, you should probably know by now.

POLKA DOT: I don’t…have anything internal to lose though, I think?
POLKA DOT: Can I still die?
MARLOWE: Yes, you can.
MARLOWE: While you don’t have anything to “bleed out”, you definitely can be scratched or punctured…
MARLOWE: It would still hurt, and enough damage could prove fatal if the narrative decided it’s your time.
POLKA DOT: Wait, so- the narrative decides?!
MARLOWE: Mm. It doesn’t seem to do so randomly, but some toys have lasted past when they’d seem to be killed-
MARLOWE: It’s all about what makes the story “better”, I suppose…
POLKA DOT: I keep hearing that…
POLKA DOT: Is there no way to fix shit here? Like…is the narrative gonna force things to be bad forever?
MARLOWE: I think there are ways…if it was a truly and completely evil force, this place wouldn’t be allowed to exist, don’t you think?
POLKA DOT: I guess…
MARLOWE: My best theory is that this city is supposed to be a sort of…dramatic, dystopic story.
MARLOWE: The inhabitants are a part of the melodrama and angst, but someday, someone may rise up against the tyrannical powers and triumph.
 

The bear shrugs.

MARLOWE: I suppose that’s kind of what we’re doing here. 
MARLOWE: It’s hard to say whether we’ll win out in the end, but we’ve lasted this long, and we’ve built a network of businesses and allies to support each other.
MARLOWE: I think there’s some hope in it. The situation we’ve been put in is objectively unfair, but…I don’t think we’re shit out of luck.
 

You go to ask another question, but your name gets called.

TIMOTHY: Order up for Silk Ribbon!
POLKA DOT: One sec…
 

You get up for a second, going to get your pancakes- they’re proper miniatures, the butter pat separate, even. 

TIMOTHY: Enjoy!
POLKA DOT: Thanks…I will.
 

You return back to the table, Marlowe keeping his gaze steady.

MARLOWE: Good pick, the flapjacks here are to die for.
POLKA DOT: They look it…
 

While it’s only the third thing you’ve eaten so far since showing up here, you’re pretty blown away by the first bite- they’re not super fancy thanks to your whole butter only deal, but they’re warm and fluffy. 

POLKA DOT: So…how unsafe is it on the streets? If I was to like, go alone.
MARLOWE: I wouldn’t recommend going alone if you can help it, but if you have some degree of weapon on you, you’re better off than if not. 
MARLOWE: Anything sharp or heavy will do as long as your intent is for it to work as a weapon…though you can get creative if you like.
MARLOWE: I personally carry a knife in my bag…nothing large, and it’s just plastic…but it cuts if you put enough intent behind it. It’s enough to ward off petty thieves. 

[King-Clod]

I...probably should've expected that to be the case, all things considered. Do you know where I could find something to protect myself with? Seems like that's a necessity here.

[Lilium Mortem]

would learning how to fight actually be useful or would 'pretending' to fight be just as effective?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Would learning how to fight actually be useful, or would pretending to fight-
 

You feel a strange pain in your head, like some kind of tension, as a thought comes to mind. 

I already know how to fight.

Marlowe just stares at you, confused.

MARLOWE: …are you alright?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, just…lost my train of thought. 
POLKA DOT: Is pretending to fight okay?
MARLOWE: I mean, it’s all pretend, isn’t it?
MARLOWE: But…it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some self defense under your belt.
 

Another twinge. 

I have more than that.

MARLOWE: I can ask Laurie to get you the contact of someone who teaches classes nearby, similar to how I do thrift runs and educational pamphlets. 
MARLOWE: As I’ve said, we have a network.
POLKA DOT: Awesome…
POLKA DOT: Do you know where I could find something to protect myself with?
MARLOWE: Well, weapons aren’t encouraged in the public areas of Laurie’s Place itself, but there’s a pawn shop we have in the network. 
MARLOWE: Someone can take you there if you get in touch.
 

He hesitates, shuffling in his seat. 

MARLOWE: Are you sure you’re alright?

[Lilium Mortem]

Would a not fine person be able to do this? (do a back-flip)