[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Favorite part of Laurie’s…
POLKA DOT: Hmm…

You think it over, tumbling around poignant answers…

But you’ve gotta go with what speaks to you.

POLKA DOT: The pool. Gotta be.
POLKA DOT: No contest on that, unless you count, like…
POLKA DOT: The people here.
POLKA DOT: Does that count?
WILLOW: I’d say it counts if you want it to.
POLKA DOT: Saying both isn’t a cop out?
WILLOW: It just means I get to learn more about you, right?
WILLOW: So…multiple answers are okay.
POLKA DOT: Okay, cool.
WILLOW: I will say…I really wish I could join you at the pool, more.
WILLOW: There are ways that my kind can go in the water, but getting a proper suit for it is really expensive, and I’ve heard they aren’t the most comfortable things in the world.
WILLOW: Still, I might look into it.
WILLOW: …well, there is one other way…
POLKA DOT: Wait, really?
POLKA DOT: There’s a way you can go swimming? Safely?
 

She nods, though the character on her screen does a nervous shimmy.

WILLOW: My projected body isn’t affected by things like that. It’s tangible, but it doesn’t damage me to get wet or cold at all…
WILLOW: I just…get weird about it. Some people are totally good about leaving their bodies around other people, but it makes me really nervous…
WILLOW: …
WILLOW: I’d…probably be okay with showing you. But not around other people.
WILLOW: But…maybe after…
WILLOW: I-I dunno! Up to you!
POLKA DOT: I-
WILLOW: Next question!
 

Okay…the idea of seeing Willow’s “true form” or whatever definitely has you excited, but it’s clear she doesn’t want to talk about it quite yet. Maybe you could ask more about it on your next round…

POLKA DOT: Okay, so…the outfit.
 

Willow leans in, listening closely. You get the feeling she’s really, really interested in this answer.

POLKA DOT: I guess you could say that part of it was…my name. Silk Ribbon.
WILLOW: Is it an alias? Like, a chosen name?
 

You nod, and Willow smiles.

WILLOW: Mine too. It takes a lot of the pressure off, especially when we seem to come with names we didn’t even pick…
WILLOW: I still like my given name, but…
WILLOW: It…has a different vibe.
WILLOW: People would probably just get scared of me.
WILLOW: Yours, though, it’s so elegant! Silk Ribbon!
WILLOW: Matches your choker, too.
 

Your face lights right up.

POLKA DOT: Exactly! That’s exactly it!
POLKA DOT: I showed up with it, but I also just…really like lace and ribbon in general.
POLKA DOT: Anything you have to tie up is just…nice to me.
POLKA DOT: I really liked seeing corsets in the pamphlet I got…
WILLOW: I wonder if it’d have a shaping effect on you…even if not, I think you could totally pull it off.
WILLOW: Maybe one of these days, you could come with me to Featherweight’s and I could do some measurements! I have plenty of stuff for that…
WILLOW: …sorry if that’s a little much, I just…really like the idea of making clothes for other people too.
POLKA DOT: No, no, are you kidding me? I’d love that.
POLKA DOT: I wanna see what you make for sure.
 

Another flurry of happy beeps sends warm feelings all over your body, your head even feeling a little fuzzy from just how nice it is, talking with her.

POLKA DOT: And…one other reason.
WILLOW: Oh?
POLKA DOT: Full honesty, I wanted to look hot.
POLKA DOT: I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I do. I feel like it, anyway.
 

Willow takes a moment to reply to this one, the character on her screen hiding its face.

WILLOW: I mean…I c-can’t really disagree there…
WILLOW: You definitely made me turn my head, and I wouldn’t be surprised if other people got a good glimpse of you when you walked in.
WILLOW: It really suits you…
WILLOW: So…yeah. I’d say you’re hot.
 

The character peeks out from behind its hands, just a bit.

WILLOW: really hot
 

Okay, you are definitely starting to heat up a little. This was…probably…that weird arousal thing you read about, and you can’t say you mind it too much, at least not now. Something about Willow complimenting you and your outfit like that, and being so genuine about it, is really pushing some buttons.

…you wonder if she feels the same way.

WILLOW: Last question, right?
POLKA DOT: Yeah…what I want right now.
POLKA DOT: I think…well, two things. Is that okay?
WILLOW: Yeah, two things is fine! Like I said earlier, you’re good.
POLKA DOT: Okay, but one of them is really cheesy.
WILLOW: Said that earlier too, I like cheese.
POLKA DOT: In that case…
 

You hold up your bag, setting it down again to fish your phone out with your free hand.

POLKA DOT: I want your number.
WILLOW: Pfff-
 

She chirps out a little melody, a wonderful laugh.

WILLOW: That is cheesy!
WILLOW: You can have my number, of course…
WILLOW: Here. Can I type it in real quick?
 

You nod, remembering to think about giving her access as you hand it over. Surprisingly, she’s able to navigate it with one hand.

WILLOW: …cute background!
 

…oh god you forgot about that.

WILLOW: I didn’t know you’re a fan of ghosts…
 

Her voice gets that mischievous, flirtatious tone again, and you are going to go crazy for it.

WILLOW: That bodes well for later.
WILLOW: …yknow if youre up for that its fine
 

She punches in her number and hands it back- to your delight, there’s a little heart symbol in her contact listing. Perfect.

You put the phone away, and get back to it.

POLKA DOT: Th…the other thing…
POLKA DOT: I just…
POLKA DOT: Want to be here with you.
POLKA DOT: Right here.
POLKA DOT: I want this to last forever.
WILLOW: …you really mean that?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, like…
POLKA DOT: I don’t want to have to face my past…
POLKA DOT: Or whatever the narrative has in store for me…
POLKA DOT: I don’t want to have to work right now, or struggle to figure out where the fuck I belong…
POLKA DOT: I don’t want to have to think about any of that stuff.
POLKA DOT: I just want to be right here. With a nice girl, holding hands, in a nice warm club where I can be myself.
POLKA DOT: …whatever that actually means, for me.
POLKA DOT: …is that too much?
 

She shakes her head before burying it back into your neck.

WILLOW: I love that.
WILLOW: It’s so easy to get caught up in everything this place has to throw at you…
WILLOW: I just want to escape it all too, sometimes.
WILLOW: Sometimes I think about running away from this city, going somewhere new…
WILLOW: But I’d miss Laurie’s too much, I think.
WILLOW: Even if I don’t have a lot of people I’m close to here, I don’t know if anywhere else would really capture this…
WILLOW: This…
WILLOW: Energy.
WILLOW: Moments like this…I want to think they can happen anywhere, but I’m glad Laurie’s makes it easier.
WILLOW: For us to just. Share.
WILLOW: And spend time together.
WILLOW: …your turn for questions.