[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: ...is it really just only Devo who forgets?
FATALE: As far as I can tell, yes.
FATALE: Scout and I remember the dreams very well, and considering the shadowy bear has it out for-
 

She avoids eye contact with Roulette, clearly unsure of what to make of its testimony.

 

Roulette looks at the floor.

FATALE: ...or, at the very least, doesn't like us specifically-
FATALE: We have no reason to believe he doesn't remember them as well.
FATALE: Anything that manages to slip through the cracks...I wouldn't know too much about, if he hadn't told me in a dream specifically.
FATALE: It feels like he is holding onto little bits and pieces, but never the big picture.
FATALE: ...keeps....calling us doppelgangers.
FATALE: ....
FATALE: I don't care for it, much.
TIMOTHY: He's brought up the doppelganger thing, yeah...
CROSSBONE: I remember it coming up while talking with Wanderer.
FATALE: Mm.
FATALE: There have been...moments, where one of us others pops up when he's fully out.
FATALE: This happened a bit during training over the past few...however long it's been.
FATALE: ...I'm not sure how much memory he retains during those moments.
TIMOTHY: ...from what I remember, he felt really woozy during a bunch of our training sessions...
FATALE: ...hm. Noted.
POLKA DOT: So...the different colors, that...correlates, right?
FATALE: Correct.
POLKA DOT: Do they...mean anything?
 

Fatale visibly bristles.

FATALE: ...it's just a change in color accents.
FATALE: What meaning is there to be derived from just a color?
FATALE: Ridiculous.
FATALE: Don't look too much into it.
 

You rub the back of your head.

POLKA DOT: S...sorry.
FATALE: Hmph. Next question.
TIMOTHY: I have one, if that's-
 

Fatale's muzzle scrunches in a pre-emptive grimace, Tim's ears flopping at the sight of it.

TIMOTHY: -if that's okay.
FATALE: I did agree to this, so, go ahead.
 

She doesn't sound happy about it, but Tim presses on.

TIMOTHY: How, exactly, u-uh-
TIMOTHY: I know this-
TIMOTHY: ...
TIMOTHY: How am I going to, uh, navigate, all this?
TIMOTHY: With-
TIMOTHY: Not just relationship stuff, but also that, but like-
TIMOTHY: We tend to spend a lot of time together, and we're working together as a team here.
TIMOTHY: Are we, just, going to drop everything if you or the shadowy guy come out?
 

Fatale jiggles her leg, thinking it over.

FATALE: ...I suppose I don't have an ideal answer.
FATALE: The life I once knew is gone now, replaced with the one Devo's built.
FATALE: I don't particularly miss a lot about that life.
FATALE: And I can see appeal in what Devo's sought out.
FATALE: But I don't know where I fit into it all, yet.
FATALE: ...and I can't speak for the other one.
FATALE: Scout has expressed wanting to be involved in just about everything, so...
FATALE: Congrats, you may have picked up a second boyfriend.
FATALE: Lucky you.
 

Her tone on the last line isn't necessarily mocking, more...resigned.

TIMOTHY: ...I...guess I'll talk to him about it when I get the chance.
TIMOTHY: Thank you.
TIMOTHY: ...I'll give you and the shadow guy some space, when I can.
 

Fatale blinks, not expecting that kind of response.

FATALE: ...that'd...be best.
FATALE: As for the rest...I am willing to work as a team member, for the time being.
FATALE: If combat truly does bring me out, you may have to put up with me being here a decent amount.
FATALE: ...there won't be any repeats of my behavior from earlier, with any luck.
CROSSBONE: Well, I-
CROSSBONE: I appreciate the help...
 

Fatale simply nods, gesturing for the next question.

POLKA DOT: ...are there any correlations for y'all being able to connect in dreams?
POLKA DOT: Is it, like, consistent? Or disconnected?
FATALE: ...to be honest, due to not having much time in the outside world, it's hard to tell.
FATALE: It all kind of blends together.
FATALE: One dream flowing into the next one, I suppose.
FATALE: But...
FATALE: I would argue that it has to be fairly regular.
FATALE: Regular enough, anyhow.
CROSSBONE: Hmm....
CROSSBONE: I guess the only question I have is how we can make things easier on you.
CROSSBONE: ...that's okay to ask, right?
 

Fatale looks surprised at the question, but responds eagerly.

FATALE: Well!
FATALE: Timothy's already agreed not to touch me, so that's a plus.
FATALE: I suppose checking in on what color we are would be ideal.
FATALE: And...keeping track of what's happening, so you can refresh whoever's out on past events.
FATALE: Polka suggested getting a little notepad to scribble in when possible, but...
FATALE: We are trusting you all to keep us up to speed.
FATALE: ...even you, Timothy.
TIMOTHY: O-oh, uh!
TIMOTHY: Yeah! Of....of course I can help with that.
POLKA DOT: S-so, uh...
POLKA DOT: I've got a topic change, kinda.
POLKA DOT: Wasn't planning on doing this so I'm sorry to Fatale-
FATALE: Please, I'd love a break from question barrage.
CROSSBONE: What's up, Ribbon?
POLKA DOT: ...
POLKA DOT: The...weird dreams, lately.
POLKA DOT: Have they been getting weirder for anyone else?

Roulette's head sinks in against its shoulders as it glances away.

 

Tim looks similarly uncomfortable.

FATALE: ...ours are....mostly literal.
FATALE: As literal as a dream can even be, anyhow.
FATALE: It's the four of us interacting in a space that seems to stay consistent, though sometimes there are changes.
FATALE: I have my room, Scout has his, and...the shadowy one has his, somewhat.
TIMOTHY: ...Does Devo have a room?
FATALE: ...not that I know of.
TIMOTHY: Oh...
 

The red bear sighs.

FATALE: I can't do much to change that fact, but he's been welcome in mine and Scout's.
FATALE: ...aside from that, they're mainly just ways for us to converse.
FATALE: Not very useful to any of you.
CROSSBONE: ...mine mainly have to do with the monster transformation, which...has been the same for a few weeks.
CROSSBONE: Sometimes I do dream of other things, though...
CROSSBONE: ...there's one that's been standing out to me a lot, but I still don't know why.
POLKA DOT: ...oh?
 

You remember hearing about plenty of monster dreams, but...

CROSSBONE: Mhm....I keep forgetting to bring it up.
CROSSBONE: There's this...dust cloud.
CROSSBONE: A sword sits in the middle, but it's like it's made up of all these different kinds of plastic, no one mold to it....
FATALE: ...Hm.
FATALE: I don't see how that has much bearing.
CROSSBONE: Neither do I, but-
CROSSBONE: What I keep coming back to is all the drawings on the ground around it.
CROSSBONE: ...weird...rabbit things.
CROSSBONE: Or something with long ears.
 

You almost miss it, but you swear you see Fatale's eyes widen-

-and flash yellow, if only for a moment.

POLKA DOT: I, uh-
 

Fatale notices the look on your face.

FATALE: What is it?
POLKA DOT: You-
 

You gesture to her eyes, the bear not understanding for a moment before making an expression of shock and recognition.

FATALE: Right now?
FATALE: I could barely feel it!
TIMOTHY: H-huh?
POLKA DOT: There was yellow for a second.
FATALE: Scout...I'm not sure what could have drawn him out, there.
FATALE: Likely something to do with him and his books.
FATALE: If he didn't stick around, there's not likely to be all that much importance to it.
FATALE: ...at least, I think so.
TIMOTHY: ...well...hi, to Scout....
 

A little blush crosses his cheeks.

TIMOTHY: ...If he can hear me.
FATALE: ...I'll...pass it on.
FATALE: ...Ribbon, you're the one who brought the dreams up.
FATALE: Have you had any?
POLKA DOT: W-well, uh-
POLKA DOT: Yyyyeah.
POLKA DOT: Last night, before I got woken up this morning, I had...
POLKA DOT: ...a weird one. Wasn't great.
POLKA DOT: But I heard the voices of the, uh- the different bears.
 

You gesture to Fatale, the red bear's face paling.

POLKA DOT: That's how I was able to recognize her as her own person.
POLKA DOT: I saw Devo, but the other voices and colors were there too.
FATALE: Well that's-
FATALE: Intrusive.
POLKA DOT: I'm n-not choosing to do it!
FATALE: Still!
 

There's quiet for a few moments before Tim speaks up.

TIMOTHY: ...did you...see anything else?