[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Okay, well...
POLKA DOT: Stop me if I ask anything too personal.
FATALE: Trust me, I will.
FATALE: Go on.
POLKA DOT: You know that there's three other guys in there, and you said one of them hates you- the shadowy guy.
POLKA DOT: Do you, like...talk to each other.
 

She makes a face.

FATALE: S...sort of.
FATALE: It's...something we used to do a lot more.
FATALE: ...explaining more about that would be in the too personal territory.
FATALE: But...
FATALE: We struggle with knowing what happens when other people are out, and it's very hard to talk to each other outside of lucid dreams.
POLKA DOT: ...that must be the doppelganger stuff Devo's mentioned.
 

Fatale huffs, rolling her eyes.

FATALE: I really wish he'd stop calling us that-
FATALE: ...but I understand where he gets it.
FATALE: Devo has...
 

Her voice turns pained.

FATALE: Issues, remembering our conversations.
FATALE: It appears that the rest of us can remember things talked about there, but he barely remembers any specifics.
FATALE: ...there's a lot of things he doesn't remember about before.
 

Even more strained, now, her voice dropping down to a mumble.

FATALE: ...Maybe telling other people that we're real will finally help him see it too.
POLKA DOT: ...he's really important to you, isn't he?
 

She glances up at you.

FATALE: ...like I said.
FATALE: I'd do anything for him.
FATALE: ...
FATALE: Including out myself.
 

This can't be easy for her...

POLKA DOT: I mean...I think it'll be good.
POLKA DOT: Telling everyone about the situation will help everyone be on the same page, or something.
POLKA DOT: You'll get support. And, like-
POLKA DOT: Won't have to pretend anymore.
FATALE: ...I hope you're right.
POLKA DOT: I won't let anybody treat y'all weird.
POLKA DOT: Promise.
 

She laughs to herself, looking off into the distance.

FATALE: ...we'll see.
POLKA DOT: ....
POLKA DOT: If you can't, like, think at each other, though-
POLKA DOT: Maybe you could...write stuff down?
POLKA DOT: With...some kinda multicolored pen or something.
FATALE: That'd be great, if we brought anything like that.
FATALE: Devo didn't exactly pack with journaling in mind.
POLKA DOT: ...we can keep an eye out at the Hollowed Wood, then.
POLKA DOT: Gotta be like, shops.
FATALE: Mmm...
FATALE: I'd be willing to try, but there's no guarantee of the shadowy bear doing anything productive.
FATALE: For all we know, he could rip out pages. Censor us.
FATALE: That would be his style.
POLKA DOT: ...is he dangerous?
FATALE: ...
FATALE: To you, maybe not.
FATALE: He doesn't like you, make no mistake.
 

I didn't even do anything to the guy...

FATALE: But he has more issues with Tim.
FATALE: As convenient as it would be for me to omit that information and let nature take its course...I should probably let him know that he has a target on his back.
FATALE: I may be coldhearted towards him, but I just want him out of the picture in a...normal, completely reasonable way.
FATALE: ...and not in a way that would make Devo hate me forever.
POLKA DOT: ...do I have to worry about stabbings or some shit?
FATALE: No promises!
POLKA DOT: Great...
 

You rub your temple, already feeling a headache coming on.

POLKA DOT: Yeeeeeah, we are going to need to tell Tim about that.
POLKA DOT: Is there any way we can like, stop him from doing that?
POLKA DOT: Can you guys, like, choose when to come out?
FATALE: Hmm.

She rocks back and forth as she thinks it over.

FATALE: Somewhat.
FATALE: Not necessarily...purposefully.
POLKA DOT: ...so I can't just go "oh shit, Fatale, come rescue me!"
FATALE: No. At least, not quite.
FATALE: Asking for someone probably isn't going to do anything.
FATALE: However...
FATALE: There are certain situations where we're drawn out.
FATALE: I've been trying to keep track of my own, but you'd have to ask people individually for theirs.
FATALE: Memory blocks and whatnot.
POLKA DOT: I...can try.
FATALE: In my case, though...
FATALE: I seem to just, wake up after dreams, like earlier.
FATALE: Perhaps that applies to everyone. A sort of wild card situation...
FATALE: But...violence draws me out as well.
FATALE: Often I find myself with our knife in our paws.
POLKA DOT: You didn't come out yesterday, though.
FATALE: ...was there combat yesterday?
POLKA DOT: Yeah. Dusters, or something.
FATALE: Ahhhh....

She leans back, nodding.

FATALE: I'm guessing it was Scout then as well, you mentioned him being out.
POLKA DOT: Yeah.
FATALE: Hm. I wouldn't assume him to be the violent type.
FATALE: Interesting.
FATALE: He must have had some reason to be drawn out, then.
FATALE: Even in the face of combat...very strange.
FATALE: I suppose if I remember, I can ask him about it myself the next time we dream.
FATALE: Aside from that...ah.
 

The red bear makes a scrunched up face.

FATALE: Catcalling, sexual harassment, that sort of thing brings me right up.
POLKA DOT: ...jeez...
FATALE: Mm. I don't recommend such a fate.
FATALE: But it is unfortunately the hand I was dealt.
FATALE: ...
FATALE: Aside from that, I'm...not sure.
FATALE: I haven't exactly had a lot of pleasant experience since "coming back".
FATALE: Which, again, personal.
FATALE: But...I suppose we could experiment.
FATALE: I imagine Roulette may have some ideas, if it's been observant.
 

Considering the ramble earlier, it's guaranteed...

POLKA DOT: ...so if the shadowy guy comes out, we're fucked?
FATALE: Maybe. Not necessarily.
FATALE: I think he is a real threat, for certain.
FATALE: But...
FATALE: Someone who isn't Tim might be able to reason with him.
FATALE: ...that may be giving the bear too much credit.
FATALE: But I would rather you try that then put a knife in our chest.
FATALE: Or, I suppose in your case, a hammer to our head.
POLKA DOT: ...yeah, I'm trying to avoid that too.
POLKA DOT: Don't even want to think about the specifics of that situation.
FATALE: Me neither, frankly.
FATALE: ...I suppose we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
POLKA DOT: If. Hopefully if.
FATALE: Mm.
 

She's quiet again, putting her mittened hand in the snow and fiddling with it.

FATALE: Now, for your side of the deal.
FATALE: How...should I go about this?
FATALE: The whole...apologizing and introducing and not making an ass of myself thing.
FATALE: While I know you have a reckless soul, you still know this whole "friendship" thing better than I do.