[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

You get out of your chair and give Timothy a goodbye wave before making your way out of the cafe, heading directly for Laurie’s office. You’re gonna report those assholes in the playroom.

 

Minnie gives you a nod as you go to knock on Laurie’s door.

MINNIE: He’s in.
POLKA DOT: Thanks.
 

Once you give the door a solid few knocks, you hear Laurie’s smooth voice call from inside.

LAURIE: Come on in.
 

His room is mostly the same as you left it a few hours ago- except this time, the bear seems to be poring over a huge pile of papers.

LAURIE: I don’t have a lot of time, but-
 

He looks up at you, his eyes gentle.

LAURIE: What can I help you with? Was the pool to your liking?
POLKA DOT: Yeah! Yeah, it was awesome.
POLKA DOT: But…
POLKA DOT: There was kind of…a problem in the neighboring playroom.
 

Laurie sets his papers down. 

LAURIE: Oh?
POLKA DOT: There was this robot with a staff pin-
LAURIE: With a camera eye?
POLKA DOT: Yeah.
LAURIE: That’d be Roulette, another new hire. 
LAURIE: …did something happen to it?
POLKA DOT: Some customers in the next playroom over heckled it…got all touchy feely with it and even invited it to come in and uh, do stuff.
POLKA DOT: It looked…really uncomfortable.
 

Laurie settles onto his couch, letting out a sigh.

LAURIE: What playroom was it?
POLKA DOT: Pretty sure it was Playroom 4.
 

Laurie leans over to the other side of the table and picks up what looks like a schedule.

LAURIE: Okay…that was this morning’s bondage munch. I know that early crowd fairly well, and I’ve never gotten complaints…
LAURIE: …but I have gotten off vibes about some of them. Can you tell me what they looked like?
POLKA DOT: Uh…
POLKA DOT: A top, a game console, and a kite.
 

The bear presses his face against his palm.

LAURIE: Goddamnit, Mitchell.
POLKA DOT: Who?
LAURIE: The kite.
POLKA DOT: Oh, yeah. They were especially awful.
LAURIE: I had hoped that I was wrong about them…
LAURIE: But I should have trusted my instincts.
LAURIE: I’ll have the three of them tossed out immediately.
LAURIE: We don’t tolerate that shit here, to put it bluntly.
LAURIE: Is Roulette alright?
POLKA DOT: Gonna be honest, it looked…really shaky.
LAURIE: I’ll ask Devo to go check on it…but if you see it, please be gentle with it. I’m sure it’s rattled after that kind of treatment.
 

You have no idea who this “Devo” person is, but…at least the robot wasn’t going to be alone.

 
POLKA DOT: Got it.
LAURIE: Is there anything else you need?
POLKA DOT: Nope…just wanted to make sure that got taken care of.
 

You turn to leave, hesitating at the door for a second.

POLKA DOT: …that’s not normal here, right?
LAURIE: God, no. I make sure of it as much as I possibly can.
POLKA DOT: Good. Good…
POLKA DOT: …thanks.
LAURIE: Literally no trouble at all.
LAURIE: Enjoy your shift with Vine- and thank you for bringing this to my attention.
 

He reaches for his corded phone, rifling through the papers to dig it out. 

LAURIE: I’ll make that call now…
 

He shoos you out, and you’re back in the lobby to give him some space. Minnie gives you another nod- but you can tell this time, it’s one of deep respect and appreciation.

MINNIE: Roulette’s a skittish one.
MINNIE: Thanks for looking out for it.
POLKA DOT: No prob…
POLKA DOT: Is the bar open yet? I think I saw somebody sitting down.
MINNIE: Not yet, but we let people get comfy if they’re already guests or staff here. 
MINNIE: Feel free to people watch while you wait for Vine, I guess.
POLKA DOT: That’s the plan…
 

You head into the bar, and make your way to a spare table.

There’s one person in the bar- a white bean bear in a sweater and sweatpants, drinking a plastic can of soda in a booth opposite you. He looks incredibly tired, and doesn’t seem interested in interacting with you past a sidelong glance. 

He also has a staff pin.