[TOY] Plaything

[SHIVERS]

oh No

alright quick
we can solve this

how about:  we can knock on a random door in the hallway
and then we just talk with whoever answers the door about whatever or whoever and thatll Distract us long enough that we forget about the stuff with willow probably
then the hallway will end and we dont have to face Anything and Everything Will Be Fine I Bet

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Get out of this loop by doing a comical bit, if anything maybe the narrative will spare you through sitcom.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Okay, we can just…we can solve this.
POLKA DOT: We can knock on a random door in the hallway!
TIMOTHY: Hm, I, don’t think that’s the best idea-
POLKA DOT: We could talk with whoever’s there about whatever or whoever and I won’t be thinking about this anymore!
TIMOTHY: …or you could walk into someone having sex or something, and make things infinitely worse.
 

Se-

That pretty much breaks your brain to even begin thinking about, Tim noticing your face paling immediately.

TIMOTHY: S-sorry!
TIMOTHY: I don’t want to assume the nature of things, just-
TIMOTHY: You seem to really be struggling with this…
POLKA DOT: Maybe…we could just…do something funny?
POLKA DOT: The narrative likes jokes, right?
 

Am I the joke here?

TIMOTHY: I’m not an expert…
TIMOTHY: But…maybe…
TIMOTHY: Even if you don’t tell me and just, decide to keep things to yourself, maybe we should take a second to assess the situation and why this is freaking you out so bad.
TIMOTHY: The narrative’s giving us time. We’re not gonna be late.
TIMOTHY: You’ll just be spending the whole trip nervous, otherwise…

[King-Clod]

I...don't like being forced into talking about things when I'm not ready, I guess?
Not that you were forcing me, but

*gesture wildly to the hallway*

You feel me? It's like I don't have control over my life. Just gotta dance along to whatever the narrative decides.

I guess I feel like I haven't...had a crush go well in the past. So. My worry is probably somewhere within that.

But...sure! I like Willow! I think shes got good fashion sense (and a nice body to boot) a-and she's nice, we had a talk about different worries and stuff yesterday but like... can I please be able to talk about this somewhere more private?

[Lilium Mortem]

"You're right, I need to process this. But I don't want to *talk* about it. Can you give me a sec?"

Alright time to meditate on the gay. It makes sense right? Willow seemed really cool when you met her. She's really pretty. You held hands. You like her.

Maybe she likes you too. You don't have to jump into pamphlet teqnique #14, you can just get to know her, hang out, enjoy each other's company. Whatever you're comfortable with, right?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: I just…
POLKA DOT: Don’t like being forced into things before I’m ready.
TIMOTHY: I-
POLKA DOT: You weren’t forcing me! I just-
 

You gesture around to the hallway, and he nods. 

POLKA DOT: You feel me?
TIMOTHY: I think so, yeah…
POLKA DOT: I guess…
POLKA DOT: I feel like I haven’t had a crush go well in the past.
POLKA DOT: Something keeps nagging at me, this weird familiar feeling that I’ve been through these emotions before, but different…
POLKA DOT: But…I don’t think it ended well.
TIMOTHY: …Toy Store stuff?
  

You nod, and he goes quiet, leaving you room to continue.

 
POLKA DOT: But! I really like Willow!
POLKA DOT: We just met, but she’s nice, and really pretty, and I want to talk about fashion with her, and-
 

You start to get self conscious, but one look at Tim’s face reassures you that he’s listening. He nods for you to keep going.

POLKA DOT: After you left, we…
POLKA DOT: We had a talk about worries, and held hands-
 

Tim gasps, and you feel the blush come back to your face.

POLKA DOT: A-and, she was going to ask me something, but then her laundry went off and she left without explaining…
TIMOTHY: Do you have any idea what it was?
POLKA DOT: Not a clue.
POLKA DOT: I can’t help but wonder, though, and I’ve got all these complicated feelings.
POLKA DOT: More than anything, I just want to get to know her. Hang out. See what things are like.
POLKA DOT: …I hope she wants that too.
TIMOTHY: We’ll have to see, but…I’d say your chances are pretty good.
 

The two of you get quiet, continuing to walk in silence for a bit. 

TIMOTHY: …if it helps, the narrative’s been messing with me, too.
POLKA DOT: Huh?
TIMOTHY: I’ve only been here a week and it keeps putting me next to cute guys in leather, not to mention Devo passing by whenever I’m not braced for that or ready to approach…
TIMOTHY: I dunno…
TIMOTHY: It kind of feels like it’s playing wingman, sometimes.
TIMOTHY: Not always in the best ways, but…
TIMOTHY: Maybe our narratives right now are about finding ourselves, or something?
TIMOTHY: We’re new here, so to get our “stories started”, we have to build up some kind of foundation.
TIMOTHY: After all, we barely remember what happened to us before, and while bits and pieces are “interesting”, they can’t flesh out a whole story. 
TIMOTHY: More there to add intrigue, is my guess.
TIMOTHY: ….I’m rambling!
POLKA DOT: Nah man, you’re good.
POLKA DOT: Never really thought of that.
TIMOTHY: Well…maybe that’s part of why we’re ending up hanging out.
TIMOTHY: We’re both newbies, but we can get each other’s backs.
 

His tone is warm, hopeful.

TIMOTHY: That’s my guess, anyway!
 

After what seems like ages, you’ve reached the end of the hallway, now in the open bar area- Vine and a cluster of other toys waiting in a group. Marlowe appears to be at the front of it, doing a headcount. Your mentor picks you out and waves you over, the two of you hustling to meet her.

VINE: Just in time.
POLKA DOT: Glad for that, at least…
VINE: You look pretty worn out, everything alright?
VINE: …and what’s up with him?
 

She points to Tim, who has now shrunk behind you and is clearly trying to hide.

TIMOTHY: T-they’re here! On the trip!
 

You follow the way his paw is pointing and see Roulette and Devo at the back of the group, the bean bear talking to his robot companion with a comforting tone- but you can’t make out the words at all, in part due to the crowd and in part due to his hushed volume. Devo’s decked out in simple black casualwear, a choker, and glasses, and Roulette somehow still looks somewhat formal on its off day, wearing dress pants, a khaki jacket and a dress shirt.

VINE: Huh?
VINE: …that’s just Devo and Roulette.
VINE: You’re both acting weird. Please explain before we end up getting into trouble.

[knux400]

Sorry, the narrative trapped us both in a hallway and forced us to discuss our feelings. We're a bit weird right now, emotionally speaking.

[King-Clod]

Wave your hand dismissively. "Nothing to worry about. I look rough because I had a bad dream last night, nothing new or worth discussing right now, and the narratives been sticking Tim here around his crush the past few days...and me around mine. That was more yesterday for me though."

Give Tim a reassuring pat on the back, and a thumbs up. "No need to worry dude. While the narrative can be a bit of an...aggressive wingman, I got your back too. You got this."

[Ignispark]

the narrative is kind of a bastard. anyhow uh, everything's fine, nothing that something else to focus on won't fix.

[Lilium Mortem]

we're both being gay separately but with solidarity together. you are witnessing the gay panic, which gays, in there natural habitat, display as a means of utterly failing to come to the terms of their own feelings.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Sorry, the narrative is kind of a bastard and trapped us both in a hallway. Forced to discuss our feelings and everything.
VINE: Ah…
 

She gives a knowing nod.

VINE: I’ve been there, think we all have.
VINE: You get used to it eventually.
VINE: It all go okay?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, it’s…nothing to worry about.
POLKA DOT: Had a bad dream, nothing new there, and the narrative is, uh…
POLKA DOT: Probably shoving both me and Tim around our respective crushes.
VINE: Mmmm, got it.
VINE: The narrative does have a love for romance…from experience.
POLKA DOT: Wait, you have a-
 

Marlowe claps his hands together, his soft paws somehow managing to make a loud sound.

MARLOWE: Okay!
MARLOWE: Welcome to this month’s second official outing- I see some new faces in the crowd, so I’m going to come around and do a quick headcount and name check. 
MARLOWE: Please remember to stay with the group, we’ve had some safety concerns recently and while we’ve got some people here running security and everything should go fine, we need to stick together and cooperate.
 

You notice that Roulette seems to shrink down at the back of the crowd, Devo sticking close by. Tim looks equally nervous as Marlowe comes by for the head count and you give him a reassuring pat on the back.

POLKA DOT: No need to worry, man.
POLKA DOT: The narrative’s an aggressive wingman, but I’ve got your back.
POLKA DOT: You’re gonna be fine. 
TIMOTHY: If you say so…
 

Everyone files out the doors of Laurie’s after everyone's accounted for, and you’re nearly blinded by the sun- you realize it’s your first time seeing it, a cartoonish orange shape in the sky giving off an almost harsh light. Your irritation with it is quickly replaced with a sense of wonder as you see how the snow glitters, even the dirtier clumps by the road appearing to sparkle in it. Thankfully, your outfit seems to be keeping you warmer than just going around naked.

TIMOTHY: Really wish I had more than shorts…
VINE: We’ll get you some pants once we get to the thrift store. No one will mind if you wear them on the way back.
 

You notice Tim keep turning back to check on Devo, a smile crossing your face. It’s cute…wait, is that how you are around Willow? Oh, god.

The streets seem a bit more welcoming than they were when you first showed up, though there’s a bit of an edge creeping in as you notice a few toys around the edges of your group openly carrying weapons, mainly knives. 

POLKA DOT: Is that…necessary?
 

Vine keeps her voice very, very low, low enough that even Tim can’t hear.

VINE: We had some people added to the blacklist for sexual assault and harassment recently, powerful people. 
VINE: If you see the toys from Laurie’s on edge, that’s why.
VINE: I wouldn’t have recommended you go on this trip if it weren’t for the fact that I have faith in the group system, but…
VINE: Pissing off a major city politician is no joke.
VINE: Granted, he’ll only find out if he tries to get into Laurie’s, which probably won’t happen, but…
VINE: We’re kind of playing with fire here.

[Lilium Mortem]

was it the people we reported? Oh god how much did vine just tempt fate? how much did I tempt fate with the stupid shoe drop speech?

Narrow your eyes at the sun "I see your strings, don't you fuck with me where it really counts." if it's necessary flip off the sun.

[King-Clod]

...Ah. Yeah, yep, sounds like things are hinting at getting rough already. I figured we'd have more time...
In a hushed tone to match Vine's, ask, "Is everyone involved alright? Was this the thing I reported yesterday or something else?"

[skinstealer]

Oh, shit. 

Ohhh, shit.

You thought you’d have more time before things heated up.

POLKA DOT: I…reported some people yesterday for harassing someone.
VINE: Yeah, I heard about someone doing that and getting some more people on the blacklist.
VINE: This whole deal, though…
VINE: It started about a month ago.
VINE: I don’t know who reported it or the exact details, but apparently one of our staff members was violently assaulted by Saddler, one of the people who runs this city.
VINE: He’s high status and generally well liked by the elite, but he already had a rough reputation around anyone who’s been around to see his policies.
VINE: The kind of person who prioritizes appearances over the wellbeing of people in the very place he runs…
VINE: And according to the allegations, he had a whole operation luring newbies in and predating on them before they could find other housing.
 

A chill runs down your spine at that, the realization that that could have been you fucking you up more than a little.

VINE: Whoever reported him managed to escape, but said that there were others still in his “care”.
VINE: There’s…no one we can really report him to officially, considering he’s top of the pack.
VINE: So…all we can do is make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near us…I know some others in our underground network want to try and pull a rescue mission at some point, but you have to keep that under wraps.
VINE: Only reason I’m telling you is because you’re a newbie yourself, and I know how scary hearing something like that is.
VINE: But…
VINE: We’re going to get them out of there.
VINE: And I’m not about to let any of the newbies under my or anyone else’s watch get hurt.

[Lilium Mortem]

mmmmnope. I know enough, I'm not digging into that plot hook any more today. thank you. let's talk about normal stuff while being esquarted by armed gauards; how's the weather? it is the sun always so... orange?

[King-Clod]

Lets look at the falling snowflakes and reflect a little. This is... a lot to take in.

[knux400]

this is too much im just a little duck

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: …I know enough about it to get by, I think.
POLKA DOT: Thanks for filling me in.
VINE: …don’t let it get to you if you can. Laurie’s is a safe place as much as we can make it.
VINE: You’re gonna be fine.
 

You nod, looking up at the snowflakes gently falling.

You’re not going to lie, you’re pretty freaked out by this. You could have gotten snatched up- so could Tim, for that matter. And somebody here at Laurie’s did go through that…

You really hope they’re okay now.

…getting here so early was something to be even more grateful of than you thought.

 

The group stops walking, almost making you stumble into the person in front of you. 

Marlowe claps again, bringing everyone to attention.

MARLOWE: Okay! We’re here at the Changing Room, the city’s biggest thrift store. 
MARLOWE: They’ve got some deals with Featherweight to sell some discounted gear and outfits, so if you’re looking for something to wear to a party, you’re in luck. Just keep in mind that they might have tiny defects, hence the discount!
MARLOWE: Please do not leave the building without an escort- if you need to step outside, please let one of our staff know.
MARLOWE: Aside from that, have a great time! We’ll head out for the pawn shop after an hour and a half.
 

The group files in, and you’re immediately met with a warm, pleasant smell- the place is huge, full of aisles upon aisles of clothes, and people seem to know exactly where they’re going- except for you and Tim, standing awkwardly there with Vine. 

VINE: I’ll give you twenty five bucks to work with here, a little extra if you find something you just have to have.
VINE: We’re going to hit up the pawn shop after, and I’ll give you another twenty five to spend. You’re paying me back when you get your check, so I don’t mind.
VINE: Whatever you don’t spend here, you can go work with there.
VINE: Sound like a plan?
 

You nod, grateful for the help.

VINE: You all set, Timothy?
 

The dog next to you startles, clearly off in his own thoughts.

TIMOTHY: Huh? Oh!
TIMOTHY: Y-yeah, I already got my first check from work.
VINE: Alright, good.
VINE: I’m going off to look for some embroidered sweaters.
VINE: Stuff is usually one size fits all here- convenience by the narrative, I guess.
VINE: Come get me if you need me for anything, or if any trouble crops up.
 

You’re given one of Vine’s token back pats and off she goes. 

You are once again struck with just how large the place is.

Vine’s off in the sweater section, and Devo and Roulette appear to be in the sleepwear aisle, the bear holding up some pants and appearing to ask for his friend’s opinion. Tim doesn’t move, still paralyzed by options.

You could go see how someone’s doing, help Tim find things, or go on your own clothing adventure. If the latter two, you can suggest any clothing, including “gear” or risque outfits.

[King-Clod]

How about we get Tim some nice duds?
He wanted a casual, fancy, and sleepwear, right?

For casual wear, I'm thinking a denim or corduroy jacket and a nice shirt (or a sweater, could be good for the current winter weather) maybe with some form fitting slacks?


How about something like this or this for work...



and something like this for sleep? Comfort is the key factor here, and I can't think of anything more comfortable than silk.

[Pichi2214]

I'd want to pick up something comfy for us, a loose long dress that's out of a bit heavier fabric maybe, or potentially could work as pajamas. Something to slip into more so when in our room or chilling with someone rather than going out. Maybe with a fancy pattern or a little bit of lace worked into it if we can find that cause that feels like our style


Also seconding helping Tim get some outfits

Also maybe if we are feeling brave we could check out risqué clothing, not necessarily take anything with but look over what type of clothes exists. Perhaps if something catches our eyes we can take it? But in general I would just look around the store and maybe see if anything speaks to us or maybe the narrative shows us a cool clothing piece, who knows