[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Do you...like it here?
VINE: Well...
 

She stopped to think for a moment, your nerves rising up with her pause.

VINE: I'm grateful for it.
VINE: I don't do any of the sexual side of things, no interest in it- but this place served as a haven for me when I was poor and looking for a place to stay and something to do with my life.
VINE: A lot of the people here...they look to me as kind of a guiding figure since I've been here for so many years. 
VINE: I was one of the first people Laurie hired, even. I offered to help cook for him in exchange for a place to stay, and we realized that the system works. 
VINE: Better than anything out there, anyway.
VINE: Damn wasteland of a city.
POLKA DOT: So...it's really not a facade or anything?
VINE: Nope, honest to god it isn't.
VINE: We run an earnest business here, and sometimes, newbies get lucky and wander in.
VINE: Lots of older returning customers who live in the area, scattered around the city...
VINE: Hell, we've started to get curious folks who heard about us from other settlements. Reputation of being a clean business is going far.
VINE: But...
 

She hesitates again.

VINE: Not everyone comes in with as genuine intentions.
VINE: We've had to fire people who don't want to play by our rules, and don't get it.
VINE: And sometimes that gets ugly. Not on our account, but because people who don't want to follow rules as simple as "respect peoples' boundaries and share what you can with those who need it" can just be nasty inside.
VINE: We have bouncers in playrooms for a reason.
VINE: We don't ask a lot if you're a decent person, but more often than I'd like, someone'll come in yelling about how you're infringing on their rights to do whatever they want.
VINE: Never understood it, honestly.

POLKA DOT: And the pay's good?
VINE: I get a paycheck along with my apartment considering I work full time, yep.
VINE: Haven't had issues with it yet- I'm definitely not qualified as anywhere near rich, but since I'm working for my rent and I can get a lot of my meals on the job, I don't have to worry too much about that.
VINE: It works.
POLKA DOT: So, like, what do you hate about the job, anything?
VINE: Oh, I definitely hate it when we get people who want to tussle.
VINE: Or people blaming us for stuff that isn't our fault, like food disappearing early for god knows whatever reason.
VINE: Don't really have many problems with management of the place, honestly...but people can be a real pain. 
VINE: This is as safe of a place as it gets, but don't let your guard down until you know you can trust the people you're around. 
VINE: That's my advice.
POLKA DOT: Yeah...
 

You can't help but feel a sharp pang in your chest.

POLKA DOT: Think...I learned that one already, a long time ago.
 

She gives you a sympathetic but unreadable look, and you avoid eye contact, feeling awkward. 

POLKA DOT: About the newbie thing...
VINE: Yeah?
POLKA DOT: When I first woke up here, somebody bumped into me and called me that, and it didn't seem like a good thing.
VINE: The word itself is neutral, but some people are just assholes about it.
VINE: Everyone wants their piece of the pie, and new people to the world just slows them down, in some peoples' eyes. 
VINE: No time to educate someone who just popped out of the Store-
POLKA DOT: The...Store? 
VINE: Oh, boy, that's an explanation for after work for sure. After my shift, not just yours. 
VINE: If you're interested in a rundown on that, you'll have to wait around for a few hours after we're done. Bar's nice, you could walk around, go to your room...or take a chance and go outside for a bit.
VINE: Not my choice what to do with your time, but let me know by the end of our time together whether you want a lesson on that.
 

Huh. You're really curious about this one, but it looks like you're gonna have to wait.

VINE: Word itself though, it just means you're new.
VINE: Doesn't mean you did anything wrong, and you're still an adult in the room.
VINE: Don't fret too much over it.

POLKA DOT: ...how much time do we have left?
VINE: I can spare a bit more.
POLKA DOT: Okay...do you, uh...
POLKA DOT: Know where I can get to any water around here?
VINE: To drink, or-
POLKA DOT: Swimming. I remember swimming being something I liked, and I miss it.
VINE: We do have a playroom with a small pool, but it's usually pretty occupied.
VINE: Takes forever to clean, but there's a lot of water toys that need that kind of thing- not even as a sex thing, just for their peace of mind.
VINE: I haven't seen too many ducks like yourself, but I know that you guys need it.
VINE: Just ask about the pool room and see when it's being used as a lounge and when it's being used for more active parties.
POLKA DOT: Got it...
POLKA DOT: Is there anything I should know before my shift starts again?
VINE: Nah, you're gonna be on dough duty again- this time making noodles.
VINE: This is actually something I can't do without gloves on and have a hard time with either way, because we use slime as a sauce.
VINE: If that gets on my fabric, I'm gonna stain and struggle to get cleaned up without help.
VINE: You're smooth rubber, so you'll be perfect for the job.
POLKA DOT: Okay, but is there anything I could fuck up and do and just, make things inedible?
VINE: Worrying too much.
POLKA DOT: ...what?
VINE: If you get freaked out and think that the food's going to taste like nothing, it's going to taste like nothing. Same for it tasting bad.
VINE: Prepared food's weird like that. The second a toy gets involved in making food or changing something newly popped in's properties, it takes on intent.
VINE: So...just treat it with some care and optimism.
VINE: Even something ugly and messy will still taste good if you put your heart into it- but it will get us yelled at, so don't push it out the door.
 

She can't help but laugh at her own comment, and you end up snickering along.

VINE: Still...you'll be fine, I can tell you had fun with those specials earlier. The flower ones especially, I love flowers.
VINE: You ready to head back and get to it?
VINE: Last chance to ask quick questions, and then I'm putting you to noodle detail.