[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: I…
 

You think about your dream.

About the wind-up toy.

About the toy with the wrench.

About the pain Cross was in.

Cross looks at you with concern in her eyes, giving your wings a squeeze.

CROSSBONE: What is it? What’s wrong?
POLKA DOT: I don’t want…what happened in my dream to happen.
 

She pulls away a little, still keeping her gaze trained at your face.

CROSSBONE: Was it something I did?
POLKA DOT: No, just-
POLKA DOT: I saw your head split open, and there was just-
POLKA DOT: There was a lot of other stuff going on that I don’t want to face.
CROSSBONE: I mean, I’ve felt the, um, head thing, in my dreams too.
CROSSBONE: If it’s what it takes for the weird…it’s not euphoria, but it’s close.
CROSSBONE: If that’s what it’s like to get that feeling after, I’m okay with it.
CROSSBONE: As for the parts you don’t want to confront- you need to tell me more if I’m going to help you through it.
CROSSBONE: I don’t want to put you through anything horrible just for my sake…
 

She leaves the moment open for you to respond, but you’re struggling to find any words. You don’t know how to articulate any of what you went through with that dream, everything blurring into each other, the raw feelings of terror still palpable-

She’s still looking at you.

POLKA DOT: …I don’t know what a lot of it meant.
POLKA DOT: Or…if it was even relevant to the part of my dream with you in it.
POLKA DOT: And I don’t want to take this opportunity away from you, either.
POLKA DOT: I just…saw people from my past, from what I can tell.
POLKA DOT: People I don’t want to meet again.
POLKA DOT: …I’m scared.
 

Cross is quiet for a few moments, thinking it over.

CROSSBONE: I mean…
CROSSBONE: In my experience, if the narrative wants you to meet a person…
CROSSBONE: You will, somehow.
CROSSBONE: I’m not- I’m not saying this to dismiss your feelings. It’s scary.
CROSSBONE: But…
CROSSBONE: You…probably will meet those people again.
CROSSBONE: I don’t know if you’ll get to opt out of that.
 

From the look Cross gives you, you must be making a hell of a face.

CROSSBONE: B-but!
CROSSBONE: You…will have people here.
CROSSBONE: You have me, Tim, Vine…
CROSSBONE: I know that I’m not going anywhere, at least.
CROSSBONE: I’m not the strongest fighter, but I’d kick whoever hurt you’s ass.
CROSSBONE: …especially if I become a cool monster
 

You can’t help but laugh at that, the tension easing up a bit.

POLKA DOT: You’re…really set on this, huh?
CROSSBONE: …yeah…
CROSSBONE: But…I still don’t want to hurt you. If you can’t go, I can probably live with not doing the trip.
POLKA DOT: I mean…
POLKA DOT: If it’s really that important, then, I don’t know.
POLKA DOT: If we do go, we need to plan. Super hard.
 

Cross’ eyes light up, and she’s back to grabbing your hands.

CROSSBONE: You mean it? You’ll consider it?
POLKA DOT: I mean, there’s a little bit of wanderlust in me too.
POLKA DOT: I dunno about playing into the narrative this much, but I guess it really wants this for you. For us, even.
POLKA DOT: I don’t want you to be plagued with dreams about something you want that bad forever.
 

Her eyes well up with little embers, the closest thing she has to tears in this form.

CROSSBONE: You have no idea how much that means to me…
CROSSBONE: It feels so stupid how much this has gotten stuck in my head, but it’s all I can think about these days.
CROSSBONE: It feels like it might be a way for me to actually be…comfortable with myself.
CROSSBONE: It’s gotten easier since we’ve become friends and started sharing, yknow, physical space with each other, but I still get so nervous about the idea of being outside of my shell in front of other people…
CROSSBONE: This…I know my shell literally cracks open, and I’m more monstrous, more ghostly, but it feels like the right way to be. A balance.
CROSSBONE: Even if it hurts…
CROSSBONE: I really want to feel this, for real.
CROSSBONE: Having it just be a dream feels so painful…
 

You pull her in for a hug before you even realize what you’re doing, and she eagerly returns it.

POLKA DOT: You do look very cool in that dream.
CROSSBONE: I do? You’re not scared?
POLKA DOT: Well, scared for how you were feeling, and the pain of it…
POLKA DOT: But actual monster you? Cool as hell.
CROSSBONE: Hehe…I think so too.
POLKA DOT: Like I said, we’re gonna need to prep.
POLKA DOT: We’ll need backup, supplies…
CROSSBONE: I’ve heard that adventuring parties are typically four to six people.
CROSSBONE: Any more and you have to really go all in on supplies, and any less and you don’t have enough resources to go around, both in terms of skills and things like food and weapons.
CROSSBONE: I have my hatchet, and you have your hammer…
CROSSBONE: So we need at least two other people with weapons and fighting skill.
CROSSBONE: …preferably people we know, too. I don’t want to go with strangers.
CROSSBONE: Though…I don’t think any of the models I know would be down for it.
CROSSBONE: They’re all pretty dedicated to their jobs…
CROSSBONE: …I hate to put the burden of finding people on you, but I think it might come down to that.
CROSSBONE: I’ll still ask, but…yeah. Not expecting any yes’s.
POLKA DOT: I’ll see what I can do…
POLKA DOT: Though I don’t exactly know a lot of people myself.
CROSSBONE: Worth a shot, right?
CROSSBONE: At the very least, we should definitely ask Tim.
CROSSBONE: I trust him, and I know he picked something up from the pawn shop last week.
CROSSBONE: Can’t remember what it was, though…
POLKA DOT: I’ll try and meet up with him after work-
 

You sit straight up and pull away, looking over at Cross’ oven clock.

POLKA DOT: Which, shit, I gotta get to.
CROSSBONE: You have everything you need?
POLKA DOT: I should-
 

Cross leans in for a little kiss, which you readily return.

CROSSBONE: Text me after you talk to Tim, keep me posted.
POLKA DOT: Will do…
CROSSBONE: …and thank you, again.
CROSSBONE: This means the world to me.
POLKA DOT: You mean the world to me.
CROSSBONE: Gay.

You share another kiss before you get up, grabbing the drawstring backpack that Vine surprised you with.

POLKA DOT: Be good, okay?
CROSSBONE: We’ll see!
 

You decide to live dangerously and text Tim along the way, nearly stumbling down the stairs as you punch in a quick message.

[SILK RIBBON]: hey tim, can we talk after work?
[SILK RIBBON]: willow dropped kind of a big deal thing on me and i might need your help.
 

Surprisingly, you get a message back right away.

[TIM]: sure thing!
[TIM]: i’ve got a favor to ask you too, so maybe we can trade!
[SILK RIBBON]: let’s hit up the bar once i’m off shift, then
[TIM]: same time as usual?
[SILK RIBBON]: yeah, should work.
[TIM]: see you then!
 

You walk into the kitchen with a lot on your mind, but after greeting Vine and Beans, you’re back in the zone. Today you’re making pizza, something new to the menu here at the bar, but it’s not too hard. Plus, you get to go nuts with toppings.

Even with your newfound focus, though…

Vine confronts you on your break.

VINE: …that’s a face you’re making.
POLKA DOT: What? What face. I’m not making a face.
VINE: Yes you are, that’s the face you make when something’s troubling you.
VINE: What’d you get yourself into?