[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: So, like...
POLKA DOT: The. Staff thing.

 

You point to the magical scepter, keeping your eyes off of the orb.

CORSAIR: Don't know if I can answer everything ya wanna know.
POLKA DOT: More just...concerned.
POLKA DOT: Something weird about the ball on top.
CORSAIR: It's magic.
CORSAIR: All magic's weird.
CORSAIR: Don't worry about it too much.

 

The colors are mesmerizing.

Swirling, drifting about in the scepter's crystal.



Until Corsair moves it around to the other side of herself, blocking it from view.

CORSAIR: ...Magic's enticing.
POLKA DOT: You sure that shouldn't be covered up?
CORSAIR: Usually not this strong.
CORSAIR: Just don't stare at it.
POLKA DOT: ...usually?
POLKA DOT: What makes our bunch so special?
CORSAIR:  . . . 
CORSAIR: ...Part of what I'm tryin' to figure out, if I'm bein' honest.
CORSAIR: Can't really say more'n that.
You pull back, unsure what to make of that.

 

Narrative, maybe.

...annoying.

POLKA DOT: As long as you're not gonna hypnotize anybody.
CORSAIR: ...Not how it works.
CORSAIR: Not that I'd do that, anyway.
POLKA DOT: ...mm.

 

Tim trusts her. 
That'll be good for now.

Your attention's caught by hearing the dog in question in a conversation with Scout- a distressed one, from the sound of it.

TIMOTHY: I- I don't know if we can risk it.
SCOUT: It's...god, I know, but-
POLKA DOT: Everything alright, guys?

 

You approach carefully-

Seeing that the two of them are staring at the space between their cots.

TIMOTHY: ...

 

He refuses to look at either you or Scout.

SCOUT: ....
SCOUT: We were going to try and move our beds together.
POLKA DOT: Not a bad ide-
TIMOTHY: It's a terrible idea!

 

It hits you that he's on the verge of tearing up, his voice strained.

TIMOTHY: I-
TIMOTHY: I don't want them hurting Scout...
CORSAIR:  . . . 
CORSAIR: ...You could.
CORSAIR: If they give ya trouble, call for me.
POLKA DOT: ....
POLKA DOT: If you raise a fuss on our behalf-
CROSSBONE: Won't they kick all of us out?
CORSAIR: Y'all let Me handle that.
CROSSBONE: That's-

 

She looks conflicted.

CROSSBONE: I'll...leave it up to Tim and Scout.
POLKA DOT: Not willing to test it with you and me?

 

Cross lets out a shy beep, rubbing her elbow.

CROSSBONE: It's tempting...
POLKA DOT: ...nervous though, huh?
CROSSBONE: Mhm...
POLKA DOT: Tell you what-

 

You walk over to sift through your pack, trying to find something-

-pulling out an admittedly wrecked-looking pom pom hat.

POLKA DOT: You can snuggle my hat tonight.
CROSSBONE: E-eh? I mean-
CROSSBONE: That's so sweet...
POLKA DOT: We'll see how Corsair does, and if it goes okay, we get to scoot beds tomorrow. 
POLKA DOT: Sound good?

 

Cross does her characteristic pixel wiggle before taking your hat, holding it to her chest and settling down in bed.

CROSSBONE: ...thanks, Polka.

 

You feel that warm glow in your chest, pleasantly familiar.

POLKA DOT: You got it.
SCOUT: Well! That settles it.

 

The bear looks over at Tim.

SCOUT: Get scooting.
TIMOTHY: Pff-
TIMOTHY: Alright, alright...

 

They turn to their gay endeavors, leaving you and Corsair again.

POLKA DOT: You can take one of the beds, then. 
POLKA DOT: ...and protect us from the guild.
CORSAIR: Well. If y'all need me, say somethin'.
CORSAIR: Gonna lay here and if I fall asleep, I fall asleep.

 

She steps over and flops into the empty bed next to Tim, only to wince.
The cowboy's scepter glows for a moment, and she grimaces, before dropping it onto the floor next to the wall.

CORSAIR: ...should've known a hospital bed would be hard as a rock. Hell...
 

With a sigh, she removes her poncho.

CORSAIR: Y'all headin' to bed soon?
CORSAIR: What's the plan, here?
POLKA DOT: I...I dunno.
CROSSBONE: I know I'm tired, at least...
SCOUT: Not me. 

 

Tim shoots him a look, the bear snuggled up to him so thoroughly that they looked like two  heads sticking out of the shared blanket. 

SCOUT: Now I'm in sleepover mode.
 
 

Once her poncho is off, the snake sprawls out with a big stretch,
keeping her hat resting over her face to block the light.

TIMOTHY: We should really let her sleep...

 

His voice is a whisper.

CORSAIR: Tim, you're about four feet away from me. Heard ya.
CORSAIR: Besides, not passin' out right this second.
CORSAIR: Need somethin'?
TIMOTHY: N-no, just!
TIMOTHY: ...I want to be respectful.
CORSAIR: You're worryin' too much.
CORSAIR: If I got a problem I'll say somethin'.
TIMOTHY: ...right. 
TIMOTHY: Sorry.

 

He sighs before allowing himself to rest on Scout's shoulder, trying not to look embarrassed.

SCOUT: See? It's good.
SCOUT: ...besides, I haven't actually got any proper time to get to know anybody but Tim!
SCOUT: I get to use my actual name and everything!
CROSSBONE: ...It is nice....
CROSSBONE: I...feel bad that we didn't get all that much time with Fatale.
CROSSBONE: Or, I- Lickety, Corsair said.
CROSSBONE: S. Sorry.
SCOUT: ...heh.

 

He can't help but laugh, not particularly happily.

SCOUT: Trust me, I'm...not happy either.
SCOUT: Not about that. 
SCOUT: ....
SCOUT: You worried about us?

 

Cross nods, avoiding looking at his face.

SCOUT: ....me too.
SCOUT: It- didn't use to  be like this. 
SCOUT: I don't know if it'll ever be the same.
SCOUT: Devo didn't even-
SCOUT: ...didn't even remember.

 

Corsair is glancing in Scout's direction from under the brim of her hat.

Though, only Tim notices.
He tries not to look obvious, maintaining his current expression.

TIMOTHY: We'll- we'll find a way. 
TIMOTHY: And we'll all get to spend time together.
SCOUT: ....can't be sayin' stuff like that, Tim.
TIMOTHY: E-eh?

 

He panics, ears flopping up as the bear leans on him dramatically.

SCOUT: Or I'll fall for you SO horribly that I'll PERISH

 

The cowboy grins, but it's gone just as quickly as it appears.
Tim unclenches at that, allowing the bear this  moment of respite.

POLKA DOT: ....

 

Theyre sweet....
.....

A flash of Lickety's rage-filled face in your mind, splattered with tar.

.....
I can't blame Cross for being worried for him.

Almost as if she could hear you, she reaches for your wing-

-the character on her face making a sleepy expression.

POLKA DOT: ....too tired for slumber party?
CROSSBONE: Uh huh....
POLKA DOT: You heard her, then. I'm turning in.
SCOUT: Aww.
POLKA DOT: You two can have fun staying up all night if you use your damn inside voices. 
SCOUT: Aye aye, cap'n.
TIMOTHY: ....gnight, Ribbon.




 

You smile, aware how exhausted it looks on your face, before tucking Cross in and laying back in your own bed.











....Corsair wasn't kidding. This bed is awful. 






Wow.








Ceiling is unfamiliar, too.
Have you even slept in a room that WASN'T yours or Cross' at Laurie's before this whole mess? Surely-





Toy store, sure, but-





It's





probably not a huge deal










people do sleepovers all the time

POLKA DOT: What are you doing?

 

Cross looks up, uncorking a large nail polish remover bottle. The cap is the size of her entire  hand, the brush as big as her forearm. 

The liquid drips, a sense of trepidation filling your chest. You don't like it.

CROSSBONE: I have to take off the bad paint. 
POLKA DOT: ...What-?

 

She lowers it to her arm, making a pained beep as it eats at the skull-shaped paint markings there.

POLKA DOT: WhOA WHOA WHOA
POLKA DOT: B-babe, don't-

 

You try to grab her arm, the plastic crumbling at the touch. You reel back, letting out a terrified squeak-

When you look up, a black liquid "crack" appears to have materialized on her screen, spreading slowly.

CROSSBONE: It's a defective job. 
CROSSBONE: Chipped it in the packaging.
CROSSBONE: Now no one will take me home.
POLKA DOT: That's- what-

 

A pixel goes dead, and then another.

CROSSBONE: If I start fresh, I gain more retail value. 
CROSSBONE: People love a custom job.
POLKA DOT: Cross, snap out of it-!!

 

A horrible, dull beep can be heard in the back of your mind.

CROSSBONE: If I'm lucky, I'll get to be in a package deal. 
POLKA DOT: CROSS PLEASE



















 

You wake up gripping your blanket so tight you almost rip it.

CROSSBONE: Ribbon?

 

You blink, catching your breath.

Your girlfriend is standing there, wringing her plastic hands.

Intact, and skull-patterned hands.

POLKA DOT: Oh thank fuck.
CROSSBONE: H-huh?!

 

She lets out a startled beep as you wrap her in a huge hug, squeezing her hard shell as much as you could- your body denting before hers ever would.

CROSSBONE: H-hey, are you-?
POLKA DOT: Nnngh.
CROSSBONE: *polka someone could walk in*

 

You immediately detach, Cross looking a mix of flustered, sad the hug was over, and nervous.

CROSSBONE: ...so...
POLKA DOT: Nightmare.
CROSSBONE: I...figured. 
CROSSBONE: ....are you going to  be okay?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, I-
POLKA DOT: .....



 

more retail value

POLKA DOT: ...yeah. We can talk about it later.
POLKA DOT: I've got plans.
CROSSBONE: ...oh?
POLKA DOT: Gutsy and Vann, they're kitchen staff-
POLKA DOT: They know somebody who might be on our side. 
CROSSBONE: ...hm. 
CROSSBONE: They're staff?
POLKA DOT: They don't seem to be the religious type.
CROSSBONE: ...I hope you're right.
CROSSBONE: I'd ask to come with, but-
POLKA DOT: You've got your own ideas.

 

She nods, chirping.

CROSSBONE: I'm going out to the woods.
CORSAIR: ...That so?

 

The snake's tongue flicks.

She jumps.

CROSSBONE: U-um!
CROSSBONE: Yes. 
SCOUT: ...are you sure that's a good plan?

 

You look over, Scout rummaging through his own bag and Tim taking inventory.

CROSSBONE: ....

 

The virtual pet's keychain tail rattles.

CROSSBONE: I can handle it!
SCOUT: I'm! I'm not trying to imply anything-
CROSSBONE: Then where are you going.
SCOUT: Oh, the woods. 
SCOUT: There's monsters out there, so-

 

...is that him giving justification for him going, or her staying...?

CORSAIR: I'll go with.

 

The cowboy is already putting her poncho back on, stretching her neck.

SCOUT: Oh!
SCOUT: Cool!
POLKA DOT: Uh-

 

You lean in to whisper to Cross.

POLKA DOT: You good with that? She's a stranger.
CROSSBONE: ...It'll be a good gauge of how earnest she is. 
CROSSBONE: I'll be careful.

 

You feel a slight twist in your belly, but-

POLKA DOT: I trust you.
POLKA DOT: ....both of you.
POLKA DOT: Don't fuck that up.
CORSAIR: Not gonna.
CORSAIR: Don't worry so much.

 

The snake stands, snagging her scepter from the floor.
She nods towards Scout and Tim.

CORSAIR: You two got plans for the day, then?

 

Tim finally looks up from his sorting.

TIMOTHY: We wanted to look around the outskirts of town- still in the walls, ideally. 
SCOUT: Got a good feeling about it!
CORSAIR: ...huh.

 

The snake tilts her head to the side, tapping her scepter against her shoulder.

CORSAIR: ...On the east side of town, head far out into the outskirts.
CORSAIR: Look for a tent. Might be signs of somebody living out there near it to help you find it.
TIMOTHY: ...what's the-
SCOUT: An ADVENTURE!
CORSAIR: So.
CORSAIR: We all got plans.



 

You may now pick which party members to control.
All routes will  be fully and equally revealed at some point in the future, but you will only be able to control One.

ROUTES:
Polka
Scout + Tim
Corsair + Cross