02-01-2023, 02:08 AM
POLKA DOT: Eh, no worries.
POLKA DOT: Had a big walk last night anyway. I don’t mind taking it slow.
LAURIE: Oh?
LAURIE: Was it a party, by any chance?
POLKA DOT: E-eh?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, at, that, uh…Miasma guy’s house.
LAURIE: Ah, Miasma…
LAURIE: He’s a dear friend of mine. Further than that, really.
LAURIE: I considered going myself, but the Place had paperwork to be done, more than I could afford to put down.
LAURIE: The toys in charge of this city…they try every year to get me caught up in red tape. But I won’t have it!
LAURIE: They’re going to push extra hard once they find out that we’ve blacklisted one of their own, but…
LAURIE: That’s…I’m rambling on.
POLKA DOT: No, it’s-
POLKA DOT: Do they have to find out?
LAURIE: Well, I’m not stupid enough to send them a letter about it or anything.
LAURIE: …how much do you know about all that?
POLKA DOT: Vine told me that this, uh, Saddler guy- he preys on newbies. Didn’t go into too much detail, just that it gets violent.
LAURIE: Mmm…I’m still on the fence on whether even that much information going around is safe.
LAURIE: But…I’d rather there be roughly-accurate rumor spreading amongst our clientele and staff- especially the newbies- than everyone pretending that this scum of a man is safe to be around.
LAURIE: Look over there.
POLKA DOT: What…is he?
LAURIE: He claims to be some kind of “art toy”. One of a kind, he says.
LAURIE: Gets on a whole high horse about it in his campaign ads. It’s enough to make you sick.
LAURIE: However…his distinct look also gives us an advantage, as well as the fact that he plasters his own mug on every surface he can find it.
LAURIE: If you ever see that face, you turn around and go the other direction- and tell someone in our network.
LAURIE: Especially if he’s near the Place or any associated businesses, residences, anything.
LAURIE: As long as he’s not actively attacking someone, you’re not to engage with him at all, you’re just to leave and get help.
LAURIE: Can you do that for me, Silk Ribbon?
LAURIE: Can I trust you with that?
POLKA DOT: Had a big walk last night anyway. I don’t mind taking it slow.
LAURIE: Oh?
The bear immediately turns to look at you as he walks, nearly bumping into a mailbox without much reaction. His eyes are twinkling- you’ve caught his interest.
LAURIE: Was it a party, by any chance?
POLKA DOT: E-eh?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, at, that, uh…Miasma guy’s house.
LAURIE: Ah, Miasma…
LAURIE: He’s a dear friend of mine. Further than that, really.
LAURIE: I considered going myself, but the Place had paperwork to be done, more than I could afford to put down.
LAURIE: The toys in charge of this city…they try every year to get me caught up in red tape. But I won’t have it!
LAURIE: They’re going to push extra hard once they find out that we’ve blacklisted one of their own, but…
He shakes his head.
LAURIE: That’s…I’m rambling on.
POLKA DOT: No, it’s-
POLKA DOT: Do they have to find out?
It gets a laugh out of Laurie, albeit a bitter one.
LAURIE: Well, I’m not stupid enough to send them a letter about it or anything.
LAURIE: …how much do you know about all that?
POLKA DOT: Vine told me that this, uh, Saddler guy- he preys on newbies. Didn’t go into too much detail, just that it gets violent.
LAURIE: Mmm…I’m still on the fence on whether even that much information going around is safe.
LAURIE: But…I’d rather there be roughly-accurate rumor spreading amongst our clientele and staff- especially the newbies- than everyone pretending that this scum of a man is safe to be around.
The ferocity in his voice makes you straighten out your posture on instinct, the bear catching your eye again and gesturing with his cane to something in the skyline.
LAURIE: Look over there.
Following where his mobility aid is pointing, you see-
A billboard, with a smiling face and the words “VOTE FOR SADDLER” in big, chunky letters. The more you look at it to try and discern details of his appearance, the more your head hurts. Even with the poor photo quality, you can make out a clay, canine face with a wicked grin made of sharp, pointed teeth- surrounded by slicked back faux fur.
A billboard, with a smiling face and the words “VOTE FOR SADDLER” in big, chunky letters. The more you look at it to try and discern details of his appearance, the more your head hurts. Even with the poor photo quality, you can make out a clay, canine face with a wicked grin made of sharp, pointed teeth- surrounded by slicked back faux fur.
POLKA DOT: What…is he?
LAURIE: He claims to be some kind of “art toy”. One of a kind, he says.
LAURIE: Gets on a whole high horse about it in his campaign ads. It’s enough to make you sick.
LAURIE: However…his distinct look also gives us an advantage, as well as the fact that he plasters his own mug on every surface he can find it.
LAURIE: If you ever see that face, you turn around and go the other direction- and tell someone in our network.
LAURIE: Especially if he’s near the Place or any associated businesses, residences, anything.
LAURIE: As long as he’s not actively attacking someone, you’re not to engage with him at all, you’re just to leave and get help.
His voice softens, but his gaze does not.
LAURIE: Can you do that for me, Silk Ribbon?
LAURIE: Can I trust you with that?