[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

…you can’t resist, and after all, you do need to learn more about the world around you…time to stop being a coward.

You look for more encyclopedia-style books, finding one about paper toys, and another on…

”Wind-up Toys and Everything About Them.”

Something about it draws you in. It’s slimmer than the others, but still worth checking out.

Books in hand, you give a wave to the library attendant, heading straight back to your room.

The walk seems thankfully shorter than usual, thanking the narrative for sparing you a long trek when your arms were full of encyclopedias. You set them down for a moment to unlock your door, and head inside- it’s just as welcoming as before, thankfully.

You set your stuff down on the nightstand, looking over your spoils and back over to the clock on the wall. You’ve got an hour before bed. Time to decide what to dig into first.

[Lilium Mortem]

finish off the pamphlet.

[King-Clod]

ghost romance ghost romance ghost romance

[skinstealer]

Pamphlet time. You’ve got one section left that you haven’t touched at all- Techniques, and then the Anatomy section that you skimmed. You still feel a bit nervous about the latter, but the former…

You get another weird warm feeling at the thought of figuring this out. 

You open up the pamphlet, and flick over to the Techniques section.

Uhh…let’s see…okay, talking about generalized toy anatomy. No toy comes with any kind of genitalia, but it’s not uncommon for bodies to have sensitivity of some sort, especially in certain areas…where that is and how much varies based on the toy in particular. You close your eyes for a moment and consider for a second whether what you’re about to do is stupid or not. 

You pat your cheek, and pause, waiting to see if anything happens. Nothing. You just…patted your face.

You try your wings next, patting them down. Nothing. 

Getting a little nervous now- what if I can’t feel anything?- you try your legs, and get something- but it’s not much. Just a weird nice feeling when your hands linger a bit. 

You glance over at one of the diagrams and your nerves heighten again, trying the most common areas next.

Chest? Yeah, a little.

Hips and abdomen? There’s something there.

Tail…

…you’re going to have to make extra note of the tail.

Okay, okay, back to the pamphlet.

Apparently what you just did is actually recommended- you could have really used that factoid before you felt silly over it. People can apparently do this kind of stuff by themselves, the whole…touching thing. Sounds like something to experiment with, but you’re still a little self conscious about even preliminary poking at yourself. 

The next paragraph talks about stuff with a partner, and ohh god, there are diagrams. You try to take in as much of it as you can- a lot of the words are foreign to you, but you think you get the gist. It’s all about finding what makes a partner feel good, whether physically or mentally, whether they have modded genitals or just their original body, etc. You think that even with your inexperience and a lot of this stuff flying over your head…you could probably figure that part out in the moment. It’s just listening to people and talking things over, right? 

The next section mentions that touching isn’t even inherently necessary to have a good time with it. You could just…talk, or write, or text on a phone or computer, and potentially even get sensation from that. Weird, but kind of cool. 

…you should probably get a phone at some point.

The last little bit talks about consent and safewords again, and makes sure to emphasize that if something doesn’t feel right- say something, even if it seems innocuous.

Huh. This stuff isn’t so bad.

I…could probably do this?

I’d want to go slow, and figure stuff out, because I don’t really know much about what I like yet, but…

Yeah. Maybe this is okay.

You dare to turn back to the Anatomy section before your nerves get you- and now, it’s a lot less scary. You actually know what a lot of stuff does now, and while none of it really interests you now (and god knows you don’t have the money for any of it), it’s still kinda interesting to look through.

Plus, some of the designs are pretty cool.

You set the pamphlet down, looking over at the clock. 2 AM.

Time for bed.

You drift off to sleep, curled up in your blankets with a genuine smile on your face. It was a wild second day, but…

You’re getting the hang of things already.

What do you dream?

[King-Clod]

We dream of flying, but it doesn't...feel right. It feels confusing. It feels like drowning.

[sarcovyn]

some of the phallic imagery from the pamphlet leaks into your sleeping world a bit. Lol Oops

[Lilium Mortem]

Dream about going to school without your clothes on, realize that it doesn't bother you, and ask the teacher when lunch is.

[skinstealer]

…you’re flying. You never knew you could fly, but here you are, soaring through the air. Flapping your wings feels natural, and-

You hear a voice from down below you, and you turn to fly towards their direction- you recognize them! It’s your friend! And-

The closer you get, the worse it starts to feel. Why are you flying to them? It feels…wrong, and you don’t like the look in their eyes once you get close enough to see it.

????: …Gotcha.
 

They raise their hand and something hurts in your chest, more painful than anything you’ve ever experienced- you’re falling, you’re drowning, it hur-

You land before you can process it, your rubber body impaling itself on a massive, sharp sword- directly where the pain was. You’re completely pierced through, and a panicked look around reveals you’re surrounded by swords, your face reflecting off of them like mirrors. 

????: …you really should have listened to me, Polly.
????: It didn’t have to end like this.
POLKA DOT: G-go away!
POLKA DOT: I don’t want-
POLKA DOT: I don’t want you near me!
????: …tch.
????: Coward.
 

The sound of footsteps retreating away from the forest of swords is a relief, but it doesn’t last long- someone’s coming from the other direction, and you’re filled with panic, fear-

 

A now-familiar hand touches yours, painted, ridged plastic.

WILLOW: …you’re safe now.
WILLOW: That’s what you want, right?
POLKA DOT: Y-yeah…
POLKA DOT: Willow, it h-hurts…
WILLOW: Shh…
WILLOW: It’ll be okay.
 

You can’t see her from your current position, but you feel her move her screen face to your chest wound, pressing it against it with a tiny beep.

In your pained haze, all you can remember is that the pamphlet called that “a kiss.”

POLKA DOT: Wi-

---

You wake up with tear-like paint markings running down your cheeks.

There’s someone knocking at the door.

[SHIVERS]

try to shake off the dream (as well as the new phantom-sensation of a sword sticking through your middle that is persistent, for some reason) to go answer the door

[sarcovyn]

have two awakenings simultaneously

[skinstealer]

You try to shake off the dream, kicking off the blankets and…

Oh god, Willow was in your dream.

Oh god.

Was the narrative trying to tell you something?

Were you just…

Clingy? 

It’d only been a few days, barely that, and you’re…

God, you’re smitten with her.

Fuck.

There’s another polite knock at your door, and you shake your head, getting out of bed for real now. 

POLKA DOT: Gimme a sec…
 

You’re stumbling over to the door, suddenly aware of a horrible phantom sensation in your chest- like something still piercing you.

You open the door, just a crack- only to see a familiar scottie dog plush standing there.

TIMOTHY: Hi Ribbon!
TIMOTHY: Vine told me to go get you up for the trip! She told me your room and everything, I hope thats oka-
 

He notices the look on your face.

TIMOTHY: …you look…kind of like shit.
TIMOTHY: N-no offense! Not saying that about your looks, just!
TIMOTHY: Are you…okay?

[sarcovyn]

sorry i woke up like 2 seconds ago. physically? fine. emotionally? i think i need to sit in the pool. is the pool open

[SHIVERS]

no, i got stabbed with a sword while i was asleep (dream) and i am still being stabbed (daydream)
anyway How Are You did you need something whats up

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Sorry, woke up like.
POLKA DOT: Two seconds ago.
 

You wipe the paint tears off of your face with the most determined expression you can muster.

TIMOTHY: But…are you…okay?
POLKA DOT: Nope. Got stabbed with a sword while I was asleep-
TIMOTHY: Uh
POLKA DOT: Still getting stabbed now-
TIMOTHY: Hm
POLKA DOT: By weird shit I don’t know how to process-
TIMOTHY: What…kind of-?
POLKA DOT: I think I need to sit in the pool.
POLKA DOT: Is the pool open?
TIMOTHY: No, it’s still pretty early…and we have a trip to go on!
TIMOTHY: Are you up for it, though? You look really messed up…
 

You consider bailing, but then you remember the point of the trip.

Outfit.

Party.

Willow.

Horny party with Willow.

Your face heats up, Timothy tilting his head in confusion.

TIMOTHY: Uh-
POLKA DOT: I am not missing this trip.
POLKA DOT: I’ve got…things to buy! Clothes things!
POLKA DOT: Hot clothes! For parties!
TIMOTHY: Wait…
 

He raises a paw to his face.

TIMOTHY: Do you have a date to a party?!
TIMOTHY: Or, some kind of crush?
TIMOTHY: Is that what this is about?

[SHIVERS]

dont even know what a crush Is my guy
never heard of that ever in my life
anyway it sounds fake and also dont ask willow about it because she doesnt know either
now please lets go to the clothes-store

[sarcovyn]

well if not the pool i think i will need. a shower

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: I don’t even know what a crush is-
TIMOTHY: It’s when you really like someone and want to get to know them better, kind of where I’m at with Devo-
POLKA DOT: I NEED. A SHOWER
TIMOTHY: …ooookay! 
TIMOTHY: Just be quick about it, we don’t have a whole lot of time before we get going. 
 

You nod and very quietly close the door, nearly sliding down it after.

Okay, this is a problem. You are losing your shit now.

A…crush? It couldn’t be a crush- oh god I dreamed of her kissing me while i was impaled by a giant sword what if it gets worse I’m going to- I AM GOING TO TAKE A SHOWER

You storm into the bathroom, throw your clothes off and step in, keeping the water as cold as fucking possible. No more Willow thoughts. Not until you get to that party. You are going to keep things under control, god damnit.

The water helps, thank god. You get your shit together and take a look at yourself in the mirror as you towel off- yeah, you got this. No more blush paint or teardrop paint, just your face with a determined expression.

Okay.

Time to face Timothy.

 

You open the door, the dog having been pacing around the hallway. 

TIMOTHY: Oh, you were quick!
TIMOTHY: Are you ready to go?
POLKA DOT: Let’s get moving.
 

The two of you walk down the winding halls, doors passing over and over.

POLKA DOT: …I’ve never heard of a crush in my life.
TIMOTHY: I mean, I did explain it well enough I think-
POLKA DOT: Sounds fake and don’t ask Willow about it either, she’ll have no idea.
 

The gears turn in Tim’s head and his ears perk up, tail wagging.

TIMOTHY: Awww! That’s sweet!
TIMOTHY: You like Willow!
TIMOTHY: What do you like about her? She seems so cool-
 

You are suddenly aware that the hallway has been going on longer than usual.

You are going to strangle the narrative.

[SHIVERS]

hey do you like running timothy?
because i just realized i LOVE running actually (lie)
what if we just ran down the hallway to make it end as fast as possible would that be cool or what

[sarcovyn]

we are unpacking this LATER

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Hey, Tim, do you like running?
TIMOTHY: Oh! I’m not very good at it, actually-
TIMOTHY: Understuffed and all.
POLKA DOT: I just realized I love running, and what if we just, ran down the hallway, as fast as possible, so it actually lets us out of here-
TIMOTHY: Uh…oh.
TIMOTHY: Ohhhh.
TIMOTHY: Okay, uh, I can’t really do the running thing, but I see what you mean.
TIMOTHY: Time stretching and all…
TIMOTHY: We don’t have to talk about it!
POLKA DOT: Yeah, uh, I am unpacking this LATER. Much later.
POLKA DOT: If ever.
TIMOTHY: I mean…
TIMOTHY: I don’t want to push you to talk about it. Like I said, we don’t have to.
TIMOTHY: But I got your back on this, okay?
TIMOTHY: It’s okay to have weird gay crush feelings!
TIMOTHY: No one worth listening to is going to judge you on that…
 

The two of you go quiet, walking along.

Hallway isn’t stopping.

You may have to handle this if you want to proceed.