[TOY] Plaything

[Lilium Mortem]

alright, you need help. We can't have you burned out somewhere dangerous. Is there anything I can do? or do you need me working on other things?

[knux400]

"I think we can do it. Is there another sewing station around here?"

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: I think we can do it.
CROSSBONE: H-huh?
POLKA DOT: You need help, alright?
POLKA DOT: You’re gonna burn yourself out before we even get out there, and what happens when we’re out in the wilds?
POLKA DOT: You’re gonna get yourself in trouble…
 

Cross looks down at her hands and sighs, tapping the edge of the sewing machine.

CROSSBONE: …I know you’re right.
POLKA DOT: Then point me to something I can help you with.
POLKA DOT: Is there another sewing station around here?
 

Cross points to a nearby table, still within earshot.

CROSSBONE: …can you do embroidery?
POLKA DOT: Embroidery? No prob.
CROSSBONE: Okay…Tim texted me Roulette’s request right before you got here- a scarf with some interesting patterns, and while it’s not as important functionally as Devo’s braces, it seems…important.
CROSSBONE: I don’t know Roulette, but from everything I’ve heard…
POLKA DOT: It’s kinda…the practical type, right?
CROSSBONE: Mhm!
CROSSBONE: So…I really want to make that happen.
POLKA DOT: Got it…any specifics?
CROSSBONE: Black, with white eyes.
POLKA DOT: …eyes?
CROSSBONE: Yeah!
POLKA DOT: Huh. More…punk than I expected.
CROSSBONE: People are allowed to have punk sides.
 

You settle in at the station after a bit of gathering, having to grab materials from their precarious stacks. It takes a moment before you remember how to start, but once you get to stitching, it feels more natural than you could have imagined.

POLKA DOT: You’ve got your punk side on full display, huh?
CROSSBONE: I! I mean!
CROSSBONE: Just a little-
POLKA DOT: It’s a good look on you!
CROSSBONE: I guess.
 

There’s a little bit of amusement in her voice when she says it, the virtual pet resuming humming and working her sewing machine. The sound of the machine stitching is…comforting, in a way, and you feel a distinct warmth at being able to share the space with her like this, working in your own little areas.

CROSSBONE: So…how was the party?
CROSSBONE: Obviously people are in if they’re giving me their info, but…how did they take it?

[Lilium Mortem]

Devo was on the fence about coming, and had the condition that we convince roulette. he didn't want to leave it alone here while we were gone. Devo came up with a gambit, tell Roulette that he was going as part of our pitch to it. looking back it seems kinda shitty, but I dunno I was desperate and Devo thought it'd be good for Roulette. Roulette doesn't like the plan, but it's willing, might be some tension in the group over that.

It's... a lot, and I think everyone kinda gets that, and has their own stuff they're dealing with.

[knux400]

There’s a little bit of amusement in her voice when she says it, the virtual pet resuming humming and working her sewing machine.

((wait, is the virtual critter inside working a tiny sewing machine too? if so that is fucking ADORABLE))

Devo... kinda sorta had us trick Roulette into joining? They said they would only go if Roulette did, but they said to tell Roulette they were already going when I asked it. Roulette wasn't excited, but it was willing to tag along, so... I guess all's well that ends well? I'm not sure.

But everyone is going, at least.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: It, uh…
POLKA DOT: Everyone’s…going?
CROSSBONE: …you don’t sound super thrilled about that.
CROSSBONE: Did something happen?
POLKA DOT: Well…
POLKA DOT: I talked with Devo and Tim first.
POLKA DOT: Devo was worried Roulette wouldn’t want to go, so he had me do this whole…gambit, thing.
CROSSBONE: A gambit…?
POLKA DOT: At first, he said he wouldn’t go unless Roulette did. The two seem close as hell.
CROSSBONE: Following so far.
POLKA DOT: But then, he wasn’t sure Roulette would go, and said to tell Roulette he’s going.
CROSSBONE: …hm.
POLKA DOT: Yyyyeah.
CROSSBONE: Is…that going to cause problems, do you think?
POLKA DOT: Tim called Devo out on it when I went to go talk to Roulette, and he’s gonna apologize to it and give it an out, or something.
CROSSBONE: Well…
CROSSBONE: Worst case scenario, I guess it could be you, me and Tim.
POLKA DOT: Isn’t that, uh, dangerous?
CROSSBONE: Maybe, but…
CROSSBONE: …this is important to me, you know?
CROSSBONE: Is that selfish?
 

A little, but…I don’t wanna say that!

POLKA DOT: I-I mean-
 

Cross seems to catch on immediately, her shoulders drooping.

CROSSBONE: …I know I’m asking a lot.
CROSSBONE: I just can’t imagine living without this. Even if it’s a drastic change, or dangerous…
CROSSBONE: I’d…go on my own if I had to. That’s what I’ve been thinking about, a bit.
CROSSBONE: I don’t want to. I know that going through this kind of adventure by myself, especially in winter, would be a suicide mission.
CROSSBONE: But that’s how desperately I want this.
CROSSBONE: …to become a monster.

[Ignispark]

Fair enough, I guess!

Let's get back to work, shall we? No point ruminating on the morals of something inevitable-

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

We're not going to let you go alone, but if we can I want to gear up just in case it really is just us. Who knows what we'll come across?

[Lilium Mortem]

You'd rather risk dying to be yourself than be safe and forced to be something you're not, am I reading this right? I love care about you because you're- you're you. It would tear me up watching this eat at you if you never went. I don't want the life where you didn't go, so I'll make sure you come back from the life where you do go become a big adorable monster.

[skinstealer]

...she’s…
I know she’s really serious about this. That much is like, that’s clear.
But the way she’s talking about it…

POLKA DOT: …you’d rather risk dying for this than-
CROSSBONE: I know, I know-
POLKA DOT: Lemme finish.
POLKA DOT: From what I can tell, you feel like…you’re something you’re not, right?
CROSSBONE: ….mm.
 

She nods, just enough to be noticed.

POLKA DOT: And you’d rather risk dying than be like. Stuck like this.
CROSSBONE: …yes…
POLKA DOT: Then you don’t have to be alone for it, alright?
POLKA DOT: I’ve said it before that I’m going and I meant it, because I care about you and I know that if you never went, you’d be stuck here and unhappy.
POLKA DOT: So we’ll do it. You and me, if it comes down to it.
POLKA DOT: Just…gotta prepare for that option.
POLKA DOT: Who knows what’s out there, right?
 

Cross is quiet, not saying anything at first-

Did I fuck up?

-and then she lets out a long, stretched out beep- something you’ve learned to recognize as a sigh.

CROSSBONE: Thank you…
CROSSBONE: I guess I just…
CROSSBONE: When we first talked about it, I said I could go without going if it scared you.
CROSSBONE: I do think I meant it, then.
CROSSBONE: But every passing day makes it harder. It feels like I’ve caught a glimpse of something I can’t unsee.
CROSSBONE: Opened some kind of box I can’t shut.
CROSSBONE: And the harder I try to get it off my mind, the worse it gets.
CROSSBONE: …and I don’t…want to get it off my mind, not really.
CROSSBONE: I worry I’m thinking too much about this stuff, that I’m being weird or freaky, or asking too much of people to help me with this.
CROSSBONE: For example…
CROSSBONE: I know that after I change, everyone’s going to look at us differently.
POLKA DOT: …like, you and me?
CROSSBONE: Yeah…
CROSSBONE: Like…
CROSSBONE: You’ll be the one with the monster girlfriend.
 

You can’t even pause for a moment to take that word in, Cross barreling on.

CROSSBONE: People are going to think you’re weird, for my decision about my body.
CROSSBONE: …they might even harass you.
CROSSBONE: I’m…scared of that.

[Ignispark]

well maybe if they have a problem with it they can go die? did they fucking go to the hell forest? no. fuckers can just begone like its none of their business sock em upside the head. beat the shit out of them.

I mean that's not really a practical solution, but fuck em!!!! fuck em!!!! they can rot.

[Lilium Mortem]

That's the first time you've called us girlfriends, I think. (Insert big dopey smile here)
Id rather have to kick the ass of every harasser as your girl- as your girlfriend then be safe and not have this relationship. I love you.

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

Monsters are cool, they can deal.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yeah, well…
POLKA DOT: Monsters are cool. They can deal.
CROSSBONE: But-!
POLKA DOT: Plus, if somebody’s got a problem with it they can just go die.
 

Cross’ pixel character blinks, stunned.

POLKA DOT: I mean it. We’re the ones going to the hell forest to get this done, their opinion means jack shit.
POLKA DOT: I’ll just beat the shit out of em. No problem.
POLKA DOT: I know it’s not like. Practical or nice but if anyone gives me shit about being with you, they can go rot.
POLKA DOT: I’m not sacrificing that just for somebody’s stupid opinion.
POLKA DOT: I’d rather have to kick the ass of EVERY asshole out there as your girlfriend than play it safe and not be in this relationship.
POLKA DOT: …I’m not great at this stuff, but I…
POLKA DOT: I love you.
POLKA DOT: And I wouldn’t let anybody come between us like that.
 

You take a long breath after all of that spills, out- terrified that you said too much.

Cross makes a soft, low beep, then another-

POLKA DOT: H-hey, are you crying?
POLKA DOT: I’m sorry, I-
CROSSBONE: I…I never thought someone could be here like this-
CROSSBONE: N-not for me, and I-
CROSSBONE: When I told you about the dreams I was so excited that you said yes to going-
CROSSBONE: B-but!
CROSSBONE: All of this stuff keeps coming up about how hard it’s going to be, and how scary and dangerous-
CROSSBONE: And I keep thinking, e-every hour-
CROSSBONE: “One of these i-issues is going to be the l-last straw. And then she’ll leave.”
CROSSBONE: B-b-because!
CROSSBONE: N…no one’s…ever supported me like that-
CROSSBONE: Nobody’s ever m-made that commitment-
CROSSBONE: A-and I didn’t want to use any terms for us because I-
CROSSBONE: I didn’t want to make you feel w-weird, not after we met each other so fast, and I didn’t want to be cl-clingy-
CROSSBONE: B…b…
CROSSBONE: But you make me f-feel so cared about-
CROSSBONE: I l-love you too…

[Lilium Mortem]

big hug time. bring it in, it's gay time.

you know, I was worried you were keeping me at a distance. that you weren't ready to have me as a girlfriend. I guess that makes us both big gay idiots, huh?

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

I second big hug.

[skinstealer]

You get up from your station and walk over to Cross’, wrapping your wings around her and making your best attempt at a comforting squeak.

POLKA DOT: I got you. Bring it in.
CROSSBONE: Y-you’re too n-nice to me-
POLKA DOT: Nah. This is just right.
CROSSBONE: Mmm…

She slowly quiets down her crying, leaning onto your shoulder and giving you a soft nuzzle.

CROSSBONE: Thank you…
POLKA DOT: I meant it.
POLKA DOT: …yknow, I was pretty scared you were keeping me at a distance.
POLKA DOT: That you weren’t ready for us to be like. Partners partners.
POLKA DOT: Guess that makes us a couple of gay idiots, huh?
CROSSBONE: Oh, Polka…
CROSSBONE: I’ve wanted this for like. Since the first week passed…
CROSSBONE: All the nights with you staying over, and us doing things like cooking together, and talking about clothes…
CROSSBONE: All of the intimate moments too, it just got so hard to deny it’s what I wanted-
CROSSBONE: …but I never really dove into something like this before.
CROSSBONE: It was kind of scary, how hard and how deep it all happened…
CROSSBONE: But in an exciting way. Like I’d found someone who finally got me at last.
CROSSBONE: Someone who I was scared to chase off.
CROSSBONE: Not on purpose, but-
CROSSBONE: Clearly, clearly one day I’d fuck up.
CROSSBONE: And over the course of the past month…it’s the happiest I’ve ever been.
CROSSBONE: I’m not good at making friends, and now I have one that I can be extra close to, in ways I know I’ve needed but never actually got to have.
CROSSBONE: You accepting the fact that I want this adventure, that this is something desperately important to me, even if it’s scary, even if it’s dangerous…
CROSSBONE: …it makes me so, so happy…

[ThreadLurkingComorant]

I'm happy too. And soon you'll be even happier.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: I’m happy too.
POLKA DOT: And soon….
 

You lean in to give her a little kiss, which Cross happily returns.

POLKA DOT: You’ll be even happier.
POLKA DOT: The true you, right?
CROSSBONE: The true me.
 

The two of you soak in the glow of the moment, before the sound of a throat clearing snaps you out of it.

FEATHERWEIGHT: I hate to break up such a tender moment…
FEATHERWEIGHT: But I think there’s sewing to be done, yes?
 

The stork doesn’t sound upset at all, more…amused.

CROSSBONE: R-right, sorry!
CROSSBONE: …how…much did you hear?
FEATHERWEIGHT: Not much. Enough to know you needed it, but also enough to know that if I didn’t stop the two of you now, you’d likely end up canoodling the whole afternoon.
POLKA DOT: Heh….guilty as charged.
FEATHERWEIGHT: I’m no prude, but let’s save that for after hours, yeah?
 

Your face paints with blush at the idea of after hours with Cross, and from the look of it, so does hers. You detach from your now-girlfriend and head back to your station, startled as the tailor sits by your table.

FEATHERWEIGHT: You seem to know your hand with a machine.
FEATHERWEIGHT: What’s your history?
FEATHERWEIGHT: What do you like to make?
 

Oh, god, I’m getting grilled-

FEATHERWEIGHT: Where do your passions lie?

[Lilium Mortem]

Still figuring out the passions thing, I guess I like making pretty things? I mean when I first got to Laurie's, I saw Willow in a fashion show and, well, something in those clothes caputered my heart(and I'm not just talking about the girl wearing them). Clothes, fashion... it just feels right to me. we don't need to wear anything, but we do. it's a kind of... self expression, to wear clothes. making clothes just feels like getting closer to that, y'know?