[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

You press your wing-hands together, trying to figure out the best way to put this.

POLKA DOT: Well…I mean..
POLKA DOT: I mean this in the best way possible. Swear to god.
POLKA DOT: But I disagree with you pretty hard there.
 

Roulette is still rubbing its temple.

ROULETTE: ...I am...Sure that you do, and that's alright.
ROULETTE: But it does not change my feelings on this.
POLKA DOT: But...like...
POLKA DOT: No matter what somebody's wearing, that doesn't make it okay for somebody to be a jackass to them.
POLKA DOT: If you saw somebody else get harassed like that, in the same exact clothes, would you blame it on what they had on?
POLKA DOT: Or...
 

You hesitate, your voice going quiet.

POLKA DOT: Is it just...
POLKA DOT: Something you're holding against yourself.
ROULETTE: ...Of course I wouldn't judge anyone else for that.
ROULETTE: And it isn't...about an outfit, making-
ROULETTE: ...It
ROULETTE: was-
 

There's a slight grinding noise coming from the robot's head,
internal fans chugging as smoke puffs out in small bursts.

ROULETTE: ab-
ROULETTE: -out m-
ROULETTE: -
ROULETTE: -y actions, and mine alone.
ROULETTE: That's the Only Reason I can judge them.
ROULETTE: Because they were my actions.

ROULETTE: And these are...highly specific circumstances-
ROULETTE: The outfit in question - in my opinion - caused them to think I was a member of staff who had come for that sort of thing specifically.
ROULETTE: An entirely separate context from-


 

Its fans spin up too hot again, that same grinding noise repeating.

ROULETTE: it



ROULETTE: this
ROULETTE: doesn't-
ROULETTE: It's...fine.
POLKA DOT: ...I...still disagree, but...
POLKA DOT: ...
POLKA DOT: I don't know about the other stuff you're holding against yourself, either.
POLKA DOT: With Devo, Vine, anybody...
POLKA DOT: But...
POLKA DOT: From what I can tell? You haven't done anything wrong.
 

You take a deep breath.

POLKA DOT: Your existence isn't something to apologize for.
POLKA DOT: Not now, or ever.
POLKA DOT: ...that's how I see it right now, anyway.
ROULETTE: I



 

It takes some time to respond again at all,
the bot's head making all sorts of noises - at points looking like Roulette is entirely unresponsive.
You're not even particularly sure it heard what you said.

It comes to eventually, though, slowly but surely.

ROULETTE: apologize-
ROULETTE: -I...should, not have...brought this up.
ROULETTE: This is...not your problem.
ROULETTE: The kind words are appreciated.

ROULETTE: Even if I, still can't...say that I agree.
 

Its lens focuses over on you.
The aperture itself is lower than it usually tends to be, and somehow spread wider as well.
You pick up, for one of the first times, on the complex facial expression being conveyed:  Despondency, guilt, and a marked vulnerability.

Roulette's voice is faint,
and an unsteady wavering is only just noticeable, purely due to the stark contrast between its normal speech patterns.

ROULETTE: ...there are things, you do not know about me...
ROULETTE: ...I haven't...told Anyone...I can't.
ROULETTE: ...so you...cannot...assume the kind of person, that I am...
 

Its eye clamps shut. Roulette gently grips the bed and hangs it head in front of you.

ROULETTE: ...you don't-
ROULETTE: ...no one- no one here, really knows me...not even Devo.
 

You take it all in.

POLKA DOT: ...I...can kind of relate, there…
 

Roulette's claw returns to its forehead,
the bot not raising its head back up.

You're not sure it heard you.
...Or if it did, you're not sure it took you seriously.

You think about the Toy Store.
You relate to what it's saying more than you've let on.



...You could talk about it.

But you aren't sure you Should.
Or what exactly you would share if you did, and what you Wouldn't.

You could also sugarcoat it.
Or make something fake up instead, not get into it at all.

You wish it was easier, to know what to say.