[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

CROSSBONE: So you’ve never seen a movie before.
POLKA DOT: Nope.
POLKA DOT: I mean…I don’t think in a theater, at least.
POLKA DOT: It’s not gonna scare me to see moving pictures, if that’s what you’re worried about.
CROSSBONE: It did cross my mind, but…
CROSSBONE: Even still, are you sure you want to see a horror movie for your first try?
POLKA DOT: Please. I can take it.
POLKA DOT: Worst case scenario, I get to hold your hand.
 

Little pixel blush pops onto the character on Cross’ screen, and she can’t help but sway from side to side at the gay thought of it all.

CROSSBONE: I guess that wouldn’t be so bad…
CROSSBONE: But please let me know if you want to leave at any time!
POLKA DOT: I will. Promise.
 

The theater is mostly empty as the two of you walk in and take your seats, sitting in back.

CROSSBONE: This way, nobody kicks our seats.
POLKA DOT: Huh, that the pro strategy?
CROSSBONE: I mean, I wouldn’t call myself a pro...I just went to a couple of these with the model crowd when it was my turn to pick out movies.
POLKA DOT: You go out with them regularly?
CROSSBONE: Sort of? It’s more of a thing we do after rehearsals sometimes, not guaranteed or anything.
CROSSBONE: I’m not, yknow, close with any of them, but it’s nice to have an excuse to get some air…
CROSSBONE: Though with it becoming more dangerous these past few months…we haven’t really gone out at all.
CROSSBONE: I know we’ll be safe, though.
 

She extends her hand for you to squeeze, and the theater grows dark.

The movie itself is…well…

It establishes itself as bad very quickly, but thankfully not in any kind of objectionable sense. The opposite- it’s funny, and the two of you have to keep from laughing too loud and getting yourselves kicked out of the theater. While you can’t quite joke to each other out loud, you make silly faces back and forth at all the right moments, and when you can finally let the laughter out as the credits roll, you get plenty of glares from the sparse theatergoers.

As the two of you kiss though, it barely matters.

 

---

TIMOTHY: What’re you thinking about?
POLKA DOT: Huh?
TIMOTHY: You’re staring off into space a little.
POLKA DOT: Yeah, just…thinking.

You’re sitting on the bench outside of Laurie’s with Tim, both of you decked out in your warmest clothes and kicking your boots in the dirty snow. It’s night and only just barely outside of the building feels safe enough to get some fresh air, but the two of you are taking the opportunity to get some feelings out.

TIMOTHY: Well…
TIMOTHY: I’ve been thinking a lot lately, too.
POLKA DOT: Yeah?
TIMOTHY: Mm…I can’t say I was expecting either of us to get partners so quick-
TIMOTHY: Wait, do you and Willow use terms yet?
POLKA DOT: Not yet, but we’re open to it someday.
TIMOTHY: Gotcha…Devo and I are boyfriends now, I guess?
TIMOTHY: Which! I am super psyched about!
TIMOTHY: I’m glad we hit it off so well…
TIMOTHY: …
TIMOTHY: But I’m worried I may not be able to help him in all the ways he needs it.
POLKA DOT: What? You’re like, the most supportive guy I know.
 

Tim shakes his head.

TIMOTHY: That’s not what I mean, exactly…
TIMOTHY: I can’t really go into it, not without violating his privacy and trust- and I’m not about to do that.
TIMOTHY: But Devo needs some help that I don’t know if I know how to give yet…I’m going to try and learn.
POLKA DOT: …is it anything, uh, I can help with?
 

His eyes light up.

TIMOTHY: Maybe, actually!
TIMOTHY: Do you, um…
TIMOTHY: Wait, no, you do! You do know!
POLKA DOT: Know…what exactly?
TIMOTHY: Sewing! You know how to sew, don’t you?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, of course I do, silly.
TIMOTHY: Ugh, I’ve been wracking my mind on who to go to for help with this, and you were there the whole time…
TIMOTHY: …could you teach me how to? Sew, I mean.
POLKA DOT: I don’t see why not. It’s kinda important.
TIMOTHY: Thank you…I can’t go into details, but even just knowing basics would be huge…
TIMOTHY: I can get my own materials and everything! So don’t worry about that-
TIMOTHY: I just…it’s important.
POLKA DOT: Of course man, I got you.
 

You reach out to give Tim a shoulder pat, and he gives you a warm look.

TIMOTHY: Thanks…
 

There’s quiet for a little bit as the two of you watch the occasional car go by, taking in the city ambiance before Tim’s tugging on your arm, pointing his paw towards the sky.

TIMOTHY: Ribbon! Ribbon, I just-
POLKA DOT: What, are you okay-
TIMOTHY: I saw a shooting star!
 

You look up and see the plain ol’ night sky backdrop the same as it always is, a crescent moon hanging overhead.   

POLKA DOT: Looks the same to me.
TIMOTHY: Keep looking-!
 

You keep your eyes trained on the sky, and nearly jump out of your skin when you see it.

POLKA DOT: Oh my god!! There!
TIMOTHY: Yeah!!
TIMOTHY: I told you!!
 

Another one shines down and the two of you are hooting and hollering, getting some irritated looks from toys passing by.

You make a little wish on a particularly bright one, but you don’t tell Tim.

It’s just for you.

 

---

POLKA DOT: So, uh….Beans.
 

You lean over on the counter in the back room, making what you hope is a casual expression.

 

The spirograph just looks at you, xer expression a little bit nervous.

BEANS: …yes?
POLKA DOT: I’ve been uh, trying to talk to you.
POLKA DOT: More.
BEANS: …mhm.
POLKA DOT: Because, yknow, we’re coworkers.
POLKA DOT: And you seem cool.
 

Xey nod.

POLKA DOT: …yyyyeah.
BEANS: I’m…not the most….
BEANS: Interesting toy here…
POLKA DOT: Yeah, but-
 

As xey turn to fuss with xer bag, you notice ink patterns along xer arm.

POLKA DOT: Wait, is that a new tattoo?
BEANS: Huh? Oh…
 

Xey hold up xer tattooed arm, the patterns spiralling around from xer shoulder down to xer wrist. It’s all abstract designs, but there’s something…whimsical about them.

BEANS: I guess I did get this done this weekend…
BEANS: I couldn’t come in yesterday because it was still hurting pretty bad.
POLKA DOT: Wait, tattoos hurt? It’s just painted on, right?
BEANS: Sorta…it…varies.
BEANS: They hurt because they’re supposed to hurt, I think…
 

Xey seem a little embarrassed at your interest in xer new ink, but as you ask more questions, xey perk up, bit by bit.

 

---

 

Another week passes.

Your sleep is restless, just as it has been the past three weeks. But this time…

A specific dream jumps out at you…a really, really weird dream...one that you're not sure how to feel about.

How does it start?

Some abstract concepts influence your dream, pulled from the depths of your psyche.

What are they?