[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

You open your eyes to a sight that makes your metaphorical heart race- endless swaths of pristine ocean waters, a light blue sky hanging overhead. It’s so much brighter and more welcoming than the city you’ve come to call home in such a short time, and-

The ground sways slightly and you realize you’re on a boat- your mind calls it a pirate ship. Huh. Weird. There’s billowing sails with a silly duck face and crossbones- it must be yours.

You walk to the edge of the boat, leaning on the rails- there’s fish down there, big enough that you can see their shadowy shapes swimming through the water. You can even see…windup keys along their sides, which fills you with a weird feeling…

Familiarity, maybe.

You stay transfixed by them for a few more moments before the sound of someone else on the deck makes you whip around, your face heating up as soon as you make eye contact.

Willow, fresh in pirate garb, a bandana tied around one of her horns and a ruffled collar hanging above her shirtless chest. Boots look especially nice on her, and the sound of them approaching is unmistakable.

WILLOW: So…are you ready, Captain?
 

…you very much like the sound of that.

POLKA DOT: Uh, captain? I’m no-
WILLOW: You’ve got the hat for it, don’t you?
 

You reach up and feel a proper captain’s hat perched lazily on your head, a quick check to the rest of your body revealing a dapper, matching coat.

POLKA DOT: …guess so!
WILLOW: Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten our quest!
POLKA DOT: …quest?
WILLOW: Um…well…
WILLOW: We’re on a journey to fight Lady Penne, an evil macaroni drawing who’s stolen some kind of precious thing from you- you won’t tell me what it is, though.
 

It nags at the back of your mind, but you can’t remember either.

POLKA DOT: You’ll, uh, know it when you see it.
WILLOW: If you say so..
WILLOW: Still, I…don’t know if I was the best choice for this journey…
WILLOW: I know I volunteered, but the water’s so scary…
 

She pulls out something from a holster at her side-

It’s a hatchet, and actual metal to boot.

WILLOW: All I have is this, while her guards must have swords…
POLKA DOT: Hey…
 

You place a wing on her shoulder, the virtual pet making a thankful beep.

POLKA DOT: You’ll be fine.
POLKA DOT: We’ll do it together, both of us.
WILLOW: If you’re sure…
 

Before you can react, she has you in a hug, her plastic arms warm under the sun’s rays.

WILLOW: I know I can always count on you.
 

….

….for some reason, you feel like crying.

---

For the second morning in a row, you wake up with tear-stain paint on your cheeks.

POLKA DOT: …fuck this.
 

You check your phone’s clock, only to find that you somehow slept 14 fucking hours. It’s already noon.

Four hours to burn.