[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Uh…
POLKA DOT: I almost picked a fight with Cindi, so I could’ve gone to the party covered in scrapes and bruises…
POLKA DOT: And I’m scared of doing something stupid like that again.
KATIE: Well, you didn’t get into the fight in the end, right?
POLKA DOT: Only because they stopped me!
KATIE: And it was good of them to. They…can be a little abrasive sometimes-
KATIE: Okay, more than a little. They’re kind of a dick.
KATIE: But I’m glad to hear they didn’t take you on like that.
KATIE: Prrrrobably wouldn’t have went well for you.
POLKA DOT: Probably not…
 

Your order pops up in the window, Katie reaching over to grab it and hand it over.

KATIE: You can keep talking if you want! But I don’t mind if you just want to eat, now.
POLKA DOT: No, no, I can do both…
 

You take a bite and savor the warmth of it. Chased down with a sip of that root beer float, it’s heaven.

POLKA DOT: There’s also, just…what if Wil-
POLKA DOT: What if my date doesn’t like me back?
POLKA DOT: Or if she does, I say something stupid, or get too angry and ugly and violent…
KATIE: You wouldn’t get rough with her though, right?
POLKA DOT: God no.
KATIE: The anger’s definitely something to work on, but I don’t think you’re as scary as you seem to think you are.
KATIE: To me, you just come off as inexperienced, followed by some kind of dark past…
KATIE: Maybe an ugly past as well, but I doubt your date had things much better. It’s rough for everyone out here.
KATIE: You could always try talking about it with her- maybe not as a first date conversation, but if or when things settle down.
POLKA DOT: Yeah, I…don’t want it to come up at the party.
POLKA DOT: I just want to have a good time.
KATIE: Then just try to focus on the now! Easier said than done, but ground yourself in what’s going on and enjoy all the little sensations and experiences you’re going to have.
POLKA DOT: Guess so…
 

There’s quiet for a few minutes as you dig more into your food, mulling over the bear’s second question.

POLKA DOT: Guess I haven’t put much thought into what I’m excited for.
KATIE: Mhm.
POLKA DOT: I’m just living day to day. This party, that was my big goal for the week.
POLKA DOT: Kinda want to try getting some pool time, but I dunno how to get my hands on that either.
KATIE: No harm in asking, right?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, but…I dunno.
POLKA DOT: I’m starting over and I feel like the odd one out, sometimes.
KATIE: Everybody does. You gotta start somewhere!
POLKA DOT: Heh…

Something about Katie’s attitude is…oddly infectious, and a smile returns to your beak.

POLKA DOT: I guess another thing I’m excited about is the new outfit I got for the party…
KATIE: Oh yeah?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, it shows a lot of skin, but like- I wasn’t wearing anything a few days ago.
POLKA DOT: …I wanna see how she reacts to it.
 

That gets a huge giggle out of Katie, the bear covering her muzzle with a paw.

KATIE: That’s so cute.
KATIE: Ah, young love…how I miss the days when things felt new and exciting!
KATIE: That’s not to say things don’t feel exciting now, but it’s different. Way more mundane.
KATIE: Better in a lot of ways, but there’s all the little rushes that come with figuring out how people feel about things- enjoy them!
KATIE: Even if you just end up being friends, that’s still a relationship to treasure!
POLKA DOT: …You’re really good at this.
KATIE: I consider it part of the job, at this point. People want somebody to talk to when they’re lonely.
KATIE: Speaking of…
 

She waves at a new customer taking a seat, giving you an apologetic look.

KATIE: Looks like our time’s up, I gotta bounce to this new guy.
KATIE: You’re all covered on today’s food, so you can head out whenever you’re ready!
POLKA DOT: Thanks, Katie.
 

The rest of your lasagna is just as good as when you were talking- almost better now that you can fully focus, even. It’s comforting…

And then, it and the float are gone, all eaten up.

You have twenty minutes left- just enough time to get back, get dressed and do whatever you can think of last minute.