[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yeah! Yeah, sounds good…
 

You take a seat next to her, managing a little tail wiggle as you sit. You can tell Willow saw that, the character on her screen jumping a little before she could stop it. A rush courses through you at that- She’s checking me out! She’s into it!

The two of you awkwardly just…sit there in the extremely gay silence, until neither of you can’t hold back a fit of giggles.

WILLOW: This is so silly…
POLKA DOT: Huh? What is?
WILLOW: Just…being here.
WILLOW: It’s the first time I’ve ever actually talked with someone at one of these things outside of small talk about my modeling jobs.
WILLOW: People recognize me, but they mainly just want to congratulate me on a good job or give me compliments that always feel kind of…well, I appreciate them, but they always feel a bit hollow.
WILLOW: I do have some people I say hi to now and again, but very little in the way of actual friends…
WILLOW: So this is…nice!

Hearing Willow call you her friend again just makes your tail start wagging- not on purpose, this time. Unfortunately for your virtual pet companion, she notices you smirking at her expression, and the two of you burst into awkward, silly giggles again.

WILLOW: S-sorry, I shouldn’t-
POLKA DOT: No, you’re good.
WILLOW: I mean! I’m usually better about…you know…checking people out.
WILLOW: But…I guess…
WILLOW: I think you’re really cute.
 

You are going to heat up and die.

WILLOW: I’m not good at expressing that kind of thing, though…
WILLOW: Even though I’ve been here a year, I’ve only hooked up with people, like, twice.

 
…oh god she’s talking about-

 
WILLOW: And! It was fun! I did have a good time, I guess…
WILLOW: But it was more just experimentation than actually having a connection…
WILLOW: Mostly just fooling around with the other models, and even then, I’d only talk to a handful of them off of work.
WILLOW: …this is a lot of aimless rambling in order to try and explain something simple, huh?

 
All you can manage is a nod, followed by you shaking your head furiously.

POLKA DOT: No! I mean yes, it’s rambling, but that’s okay! Rambling’s all good!
POLKA DOT: I’m, just, uh…
POLKA DOT: Processing!
WILLOW: Oh…I’m sorry if I misunderstood or assumed-
POLKA DOT: Nope, uh, you did not, misunderstand me, I…I mean, I really do think you’re pretty.
POLKA DOT: And the fact that you think I’m cute…makes me really happy too.
POLKA DOT: So…yeah.
POLKA DOT: You’re good.
 

Willow makes a happy set of beeps and chimes at that, the character on her face smiling and giving off little sun symbols.

WILLOW: That’s awesome!
WILLOW: I’m so happy to hear it…relieved too.
WILLOW: I kept worrying that I’d make a fool of myself…
POLKA DOT: I don’t think that’d happen. You’re too cool for that.
WILLOW: Pfff…
 

There’s quiet again, and the two of you settle into watching people mill around.

POLKA DOT: So…
POLKA DOT: Anything stand out yet?
WILLOW: It’s the usual crowd, I only see one newcomer aside from you…
 

She nods over towards the other corner, a shimmering snake-like sand plush coiled around itself.

WILLOW: I’ve seen it around Laurie’s before, though. I think it’s been waffling on coming in for a bit.
WILLOW: Aside from that…
 

The virtual pet turns her gaze to the stage, gesturing to a trio of toys setting up some kind of display, with some more setting up a few chairs up in front.

WILLOW: One of the topics they got people to speak on today is various toys and such, new releases…
WILLOW: Not like, people toys, just…yknow. Gear.
POLKA DOT: Ohhh, yeah. Saw some of that in my catalog.
POLKA DOT: Skimmed it, admittedly…
WILLOW: I don’t know if I’ll watch too much, but I may listen in to whatever can be heard from over here…
WILLOW: I’ve got plenty of stuff at my place, so I’m not really in the market for anything new.
 

Plenty? Plenty?!

 

You are starting to realize your initial interpretation of shy, easily flustered Willow might be a bit off base…but…

You’re not opposed to it.

WILLOW: Still, sometimes gimmicky trends can be fun.
WILLOW: If you’re interested, we can.
POLKA DOT: I’ll think about it…
POLKA DOT: …what do people usually do aside from that?
POLKA DOT: Like, say you saw…a goose and a robot across the room.
 

That gets another little laugh out of her, and you can’t help but grin.

POLKA DOT: How would they be having fun?
WILLOW: Well…
 

To your surprise, she takes on an overtly flirtatious tone, resting her head on the back of the couch.

WILLOW: People chat. They small talk.
WILLOW: They show off what new spoils they’ve gotten, clothes, gear, etc…
WILLOW: Sometimes there’s cuddling or very light play, but no actual sex.
WILLOW: See that couple over there?
 

She makes a subtle point at a pair of toys by the door, a canine fashion doll having a virtual pet not unlike Minnie on a leash and collar.

WILLOW: That’s Enrique and Dominion, they’re a sweet couple that does S&M role stuff a lot of the time.
WILLOW: It’s nothing serious, just casual enough for a party like this, but it’s still play for them.
WILLOW: As long as you’re chill about stuff and respect the energies of the party…a lot of stuff goes.
WILLOW: If someone asks you to dial it back, you listen.
WILLOW: Within that…
WILLOW: The sky’s the limit.