[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: ...just wanna know how you're doing.
 

He just gives you a dull stare, his face still tear-streaked.

POLKA DOT: ...that good, huh?
DEVO: Sure.
 

His voice is- you're dead certain of it now, that's the "red voice" from your dream. Even without the frantic tone you heard the night before, that's it.

Not sure what to make of that, but...uh...let's see what we can achieve here.

POLKA DOT: I mean-
POLKA DOT: Even, aside from like, emotionally.
DEVO: Okay.
POLKA DOT: Because, like-
POLKA DOT: If you're not feeling good enough to keep goi-
DEVO: Stop.
 

His voice is cold.

DEVO: You think we can't keep up?
POLKA DOT: No, I ju-
 

You blink.

POLKA DOT: ...We?
 

Devo pales, looking away and scrunching up with his legs against his chest.

DEVO: ...forget it.
DEVO: Just.
DEVO: Know that I'm not going anywhere.
DEVO: ...even if I wanted to.
POLKA DOT: ...sorry.
POLKA DOT: I, uh-
 

Despite the nerves in your belly getting worse, you sit down slowly, the snow crunching under you as you do.

His eyes trail back over to you.

POLKA DOT: I'm not here to fight you.
DEVO: ....sure you are.
DEVO: You don't like me.
DEVO: You don't know me.
DEVO: You think you can make me better, or something, right?
DEVO: I know you probably talked to Tim.
DEVO: And I bet you want me to go make things "better", huh?
DEVO: Well, let me ask this-
 

He turns to face you fully, his eyes fierce.

DEVO: What about what I want.
POLKA DOT: B-
POLKA DOT: But don't you-
POLKA DOT: Don't you love Tim? I thought you-
DEVO: You wouldn't get it.
DEVO: You couldn't even begin to.
DEVO: What makes you think you know what's going on with me?
 

....
.....
.....I...
I may not...have words for it-

You think about the Devo in your dream, covered in multicolored string.

But maybe I do know.

His gaze doesn't break.