[TOY] Plaything

[Lilium Mortem]

The circumstances of our birth are irrelevant. It's what we do with the gift of life that defines us. If you keep thinking like that, about what you are instead of who you are and who you want to be then you'll always be stuck. You're not unwanted here, you aren't out of place, hell you're hardly the weirdest thing I've seen in all my time outside the store. and you're certainty the cutest, I MEAN COOLEST.

[AceOfNothing]

I don't feel like the circumstances we come from should define us forever. They can hurt, they can fuel us now, we can use them, but we can move past them as well. Processing them is good, it helps you figure out you, otherwise it might linger in yhe back of your mind and come back when you dont want it to. But it doesn't have to be everything. I for one think you're wanted, Willow.

[Pichi2214]

Okay this is a lot of very existential stuff, but regardless... and I hope im not overstepping so please stop me if I am, but if it all works like you say, then the feelings we have come from.. being played with in another world. And for that to have happened someone must have found you eventually and cared about you, right? Even out of season or maybe even exactly because of it! Maybe whoever found you would have picked you up even if you were in season but couldn't for whatever reason.

Point is, maybe you aren't as unwanted as you think you are, and even if whatever happened before.. we got here... does not have to define you. Of course I don't want to dismiss your experience... and just changing how you feel about stuff is hard, but people will want you around, I mean, they already do! At the very least I want you around cause you are very freaking cool regardless of how you came to be.

[King-Clod]

I...I know I can't really say anything to change your mind on that, I can tell you've certainly given that a lot of self-reflection (and I'm sure being an outdated model like you said probably makes it especially hard to find replacement parts) but I think... you aren't alone in that, not really. In coming from that. Being...unwanted or outdated. And even if you were born from that, you have a place here. And people appreciate you here. And you don't have to play into or play against your typing to deserve that.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: This is some heavy shit, and I don’t know if I can say anything to change your mind on that, but…
POLKA DOT: I don’t think stuff like that should define us forever.
POLKA DOT: Stop me if I’m overstepping, but if all that’s true, then we came from somebody playing with us in another world.
POLKA DOT: For that to have happened, somebody must have cared about you, right?
WILLOW: I guess so…
WILLOW: Some people I’ve talked to says that seasonal toys are “special editions”, so for all I know, I could have been considered extra important…
POLKA DOT: Yeah! Like, maybe someone picked you out because of it!
WILLOW: But…I don’t really want that, either.
WILLOW: If all I’m wanted for is a gimmick, is that really genuine?
WILLOW: Is that really being wanted?
POLKA DOT: I mean…I think you’re wanted, really. In a genuine way.
POLKA DOT: You’re not alone in coming from that, but you’ve got a place here.
POLKA DOT: That’s the whole point of Laurie’s, right?
POLKA DOT: At the very least, I wanna be around you.
POLKA DOT: We just met, but you’re really fucking cool, and hearing about how you came to be or whatever doesn’t change that for me.
 

Everyone’s quiet again, thinking your words over.

TIMOTHY: I don’t know you literally at all, but I’m with Ribbon on like…
TIMOTHY: The fact that Laurie’s is all about this stuff.
TIMOTHY: I feel really accepted here! And I even want to check out some of the play stuff, maybe…
TIMOTHY: If there is a place where people can be wanted, I think it’s here.
 

The character on Willow’s screen smiles, just a few pixels making all the difference.

WILLOW: …thanks, both of you.
WILLOW: And…
 

She turns to you, addressing you specifically.

WILLOW: I don’t know if you’ll still think I’m cool the more we’ll get to know each other…
WILLOW: But knowing that I’m not worth getting to know any less helps. 
WILLOW: Let’s be friends, okay?
WILLOW: You too, Tim.
WILLOW: It'd be nice to have more people to hang out with...

[Lilium Mortem]

Yeah! friends! we can braid each others- er, no. we can go swi- no that's just me. go on a road tr- none of us own a car. point is we can do fun stuff together!

[King-Clod]

Yeah, sure thing, I'd love to be friends with the both of y'all. With what I've learned of outside, seems like we're gonna need every friend we can get.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yeah! Friends!
 

You feel a little tingly feeling in your chest, warm and happy. It’s familiar, in a way…but you don’t want to think about that. Not now. Right in this moment, you want to focus on what’s in front of you, not…whatever past memories you have going on.

Tim looks just as excited, tail wagging again.

TIMOTHY: Of course!
TIMOTHY: We’ve gotta stick together to survive, is what I’ve heard! 
POLKA DOT: Same here…we’re gonna need every friend we can get.
POLKA DOT: Plus, it’d be nice to do fun stuff together. 
WILLOW: You did ask me what I like to do earlier…
WILLOW: But…I’m still shy about that.
WILLOW: I’m always scared that people are going to make fun of my interests, and even if we’re friends now…
WILLOW: I think I’d rather keep those to myself for the time being.
WILLOW: No offense meant!
WILLOW: Just, you know…
WILLOW: Bit by bit.
TIMOTHY: That’s totally fine. Hell, I’m still figuring out what I want to do.
TIMOTHY: I think I had interests before, but…they’re kind of lost to me now.
TIMOTHY: Do you have anything like that, Ribbon?
 

You can remember some things…but you need to sort them out.

What interests did you have before coming here?

[King-Clod]

Map-making. I remember constantly getting lost and trying to work around that. It helped, sometimes.

Fashion, pretty sure. Making something look good out of whatever we could find. I remember being really proud of a look I made out of a cheap shawl and some rain-boots. We made it work.

...Piano. Playing piano. I think. I don't remember much.

And trivia. I kicked ass at trivia.

[knux400]

I think... Embroidery might have been a thing? It might explain the ribbon around our neck.

[Lilium Mortem]

board games, it's always nice to sit down with folk and play some games, and there's so much to chose from, it's great!

Gardening, It feels soothing, and I can get down and dirty in ways a plush or electronic toy couldn't. I don't stain you can just wash me off.

[skinstealer]

You think to yourself, trying to dig up what you’ve done in the past…well, there’s plenty of things, but a lot of it’s on the tip of your tongue. Willow gives you a concerned look, but just as she’s about to speak, it all comes to you.

POLKA DOT: Fashion! And crafting.
POLKA DOT: I used to make stuff with my two friends…one of them more than the other.
TIMOTHY: Oh?
TIMOTHY: What were they like?
POLKA DOT: Sandy was…
 

I miss it.

POLKA DOT: Older, I think.
POLKA DOT: It taught me how to make clothing out of whatever we could find, and I made some really unique looks…
POLKA DOT: We made it work.
WILLOW: It sounds like a good mentor.
POLKA DOT: It was.
POLKA DOT: …think I played piano, too.
POLKA DOT: Don’t know when I’ll get to do that again, but I’d like to.
WILLOW: I got into fashion after getting here, but once I found it…I could never go back.
WILLOW: It’s nice, being able to get dressed up, and look however I want…
TIMOTHY: I dunno if I could get too into it- I’m too boring!
WILLOW: Mundane fashion’s still a thing, you can make a lot work with simple outfits.
WILLOW: Maybe you and Ribbon could find some stuff on your trip tomorrow.
TIMOTHY: Yeah! 
TIMOTHY: What do you think would suit me, Ribbon?

[Lilium Mortem]

hmm, something colorful, maybe in pastels? but simple. a button up and some slacks, maybe a bow tie, you give off bow tie guy vibes, or perhaps a sundress if you're looking for a more fem option, something with a ribbon tied around the waist would be perfect, I think.

[King-Clod]

Hmm. Depends on what you're looking for. You said you want a work outfit, a casual outfit, and some pajamas, right? Take everything I say with a grain of salt, you'll know what you're comfortable with. Whatever you go with, I'd say maybe add a red accent, like a red jacket, hat, or scarf. It'll bring out your eyes.

Work outfit? I'm thinking a plain red button up with a black vest, a white pinstripe jacket, white pinstripe pants, and a black tie worn loose. Maybe some leather shoes.

Casual outfit? I'm thinking a red festive sweater with black overalls, with one shoulder loose. Either some laced leather boots or fuzzy ones, but boots. (inspo)
Pajamas? I'm honestly thinking the stereotypical pinstripe button up pajamas in red with a matching nightcap. But if you don't want to get too matchy matchy with your work uniform, a red silk shirt and pants would both look and feel amazing.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Hm..how do you feel about colors? Pastels?
TIMOTHY: Oh! I like to keep things simple, really…
TIMOTHY: Grayscales, muted colors…with maybe some pops of red.
TIMOTHY: Apparently it brings out my eyes.
TIMOTHY: Pastels, maybe? If they’re muted enough. 
TIMOTHY: Bright, springtime colors? Not really my thing, I don’t think.
TIMOTHY: But a nice, winter-y feel…
TIMOTHY: That’d be nice!
POLKA DOT: Got it, got it…
POLKA DOT: Okay, so…button up and slacks.
TIMOTHY: Oh! Sure, that sounds nice. 
WILLOW: It’d be good for a dress casual look!
POLKA DOT: Yeah!
POLKA DOT: If you wanted to fancy it up, you could do a bow tie too.
TIMOTHY: Hm…maybe! I’d have to try one on.
POLKA DOT: And how do you feel about like, more femme styles?
TIMOTHY: Gonna say no on that…I can’t remember much before, but something feels like I’m pretty concrete on liking masculine or neutral stuff.
POLKA DOT: Easy enough…
POLKA DOT: Maybe vests? Sweaters? Sweater vests?
TIMOTHY: Oh! Shit!
TIMOTHY: I didn’t know you could combine sweaters and vests!
WILLOW: It’s mostly cozy, but you can really pull it off with the right colors and patterns. 
WILLOW: A scarf could be nice too, especially in this weather.
POLKA DOT: For your pajamas- maybe something with stripes. 
POLKA DOT: You think a nightcap would work with it, Willow?
WILLOW: Hm….
WILLOW: It depends, mainly on whether you could get something that fits your ears through.
WILLOW: Anyone with a bit of sewing technique could cut holes through and keep the edges from fraying, though.
TIMOTHY: That sounds…cute.
POLKA DOT: Is that an issue?
TIMOTHY: No! Just…
TIMOTHY: I never thought of myself as someone who could pull off cute.
TIMOTHY: I don’t know if it…suits me.
 

He sounds almost like he’d be frowning.

[Lilium Mortem]

Tim, Timothy. you are a plush dog. you are by your very nature, adorable. objectively.

[King-Clod]

I think that's the sort of thing that you don't know until you try it on proper. We could try a few different outfits at the thrift store, some snazzy, some cozy, some cute, and see what you like. If you'd rather steer clear from anything cute that's alright too.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Dude. Tim. You’re a plush dog.
POLKA DOT: You’re adorable by default.
TIMOTHY: I…GUESS so.
TIMOTHY: But what if people think I’m the kind of cute where they go “aww, so defenseless…” 
TIMOTHY: If I end up wanting to be cute, I’d want to still look capable, and to be for more reasons than just being a dog…
POLKA DOT: Well, I guess that’s the sort of thing where you don’t know until you try.
POLKA DOT: Could try on a few outfits at the thrift store, bit of everything.
TIMOTHY: Hmm…yeah, okay!
TIMOTHY: I guess I’m still reserved about the whole thing- like, I want to be approachable in a way some people might find “cute”, but at the same time…
TIMOTHY: I dunno. I’m still new, but from what things I’ve looked into since showing up…
TIMOTHY: There are some interests I miiiight have that could conflict with that.

[King-Clod]

Nod knowingly.
"I getcha."

[skinstealer]

You nod as knowingly as you can- you get that it’s probably one of those “kink” things, at least.

Wait…was he talking about-

WILLOW: Guessing something along the lines of BDSM?
 

Timothy looks up with surprise in his eyes.

TIMOTHY: You could guess?
WILLOW: I mean, it was either that or something else that demands not appearing “cute”. 
WILLOW: I’m also guessing you haven’t actually had the chance to explore any of it yet, seeing as you’re so new.
 

The dog plush nods, glancing down at his paws. 

TIMOTHY: It interested me in the pamphlet…I’m still trying to figure out how I feel about it and why…
 

You remember this one…this was the one where people hurt each other, right? You’d admit that you didn’t peg Tim for someone who’d be into that…but if someone as nice as him was interested in it, maybe it wasn’t so bad?

TIMOTHY: …Ribbon, you’ve got a weird look on your face.
TIMOTHY: Are you okay? Did I make you uncomfortable?
TIMOTHY: We can stop talking about me!