[TOY] Plaything

[King-Clod]

Stressed.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: …I’m stressed.
CINDI: That’s how you deal with it, then?
CINDI: Just gonna rough somebody up to get the rattling out of your system?
CINDI: You’re dumber than you look.
 

You whip around with your beak scrunched up into a scowl, the horse looking smug as can be.

POLKA DOT: I’m NOT-
CINDI: You can’t get away with beating on people unless you’re tough enough, duck.
CINDI: You think you’re some kind of big shot even when you’re fresh on the streets?
CINDI: Like I said. You’re going to get your ass killed.
CINDI: If I believed in that Store garbage, I’d be surprised you even survived that.
 

You’re fuming at this point, your wings clenched into fists. Cindi doesn’t move, simply cocking their head.

CINDI: Don’t take it too hard, duck.
CINDI: Consider it some more helpful advice. For free, even.
CINDI: Know your goddamn place.
CINDI: Or it’ll be your head.
 

Without warning, they shove past you, heading back into the club.

CINDI: …good talk.
 

You’re left to stand there in the snowy alley, still all tensed up and shaking.

…This was a terrible idea.

You look down at your phone. 2:30.

An hour and a half to go, but you’d be damned if you missed out on that party with Willow. You just have to work this out, somehow.

[King-Clod]

...Have we eaten breakfast yet? That might help.

[skinstealer]

….breakfast. You need breakfast. Brunch, even.

You head back inside the club, passing by Cindi getting their apron on.

They don’t make eye contact.

You reach the bar and slide onto one of the stools.

The usual bartender’s there, drying a plastic mug.

KATIE: Hey, you’re Silk Ribbon, right?
KATIE: Sorry for bein’ nosy- Vine’s told me a lil bit about you.
KATIE: Nice to see a fresh face actually stick around!
KATIE: Can I get you anything?

[Lilium Mortem]

give me the best comfort food you've got, and a root beer, scratch that, a root beer float.

[King-Clod]

Just pancakes with butter again for me. Maybe with some orange juice.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: You got pancakes?
KATIE: That’s more the cafe’s deal, sorry…
KATIE: Looking to get some comfort food down your gullet?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, exactly.
KATIE: May I recommend our lasagna special?
KATIE: It’ll get you all warm and fuzzy.
POLKA DOT: Yeah…yeah, that sounds good.
POLKA DOT: That and a root beer- no.
POLKA DOT: A root beer float.
KATIE: That’s what I’m talking about!
KATIE: I’ll get that order in.
 

As she turns to pass your order over, you can’t help but feel a little better now that you’re interacting with someone who actually gives a shit. Or at the very least, seems to.

KATIE: Ok, so…
KATIE: What’s eatin’ you?
POLKA DOT: Huh?
KATIE: I can see the look on your face, you’re troubled as hell right now.
KATIE: I’ve got a knack for this kind of thing.
KATIE: And…if you’re a friend of Vine’s, I’d like to know you too.
KATIE: Her being my partner and all, heh…

[Lilium Mortem]

Bad dreams, echoes of a past I don't remember, you know, the standard amount of trauma.

[knux400]

I just... didn't sleep well last night. Bad dreams and shit.

[King-Clod]

I wanna punch something - there's nothing to punch. Had a talk yesterday that kinda worried me that my need to, punch shit, isn't good for me.

And I'm slowly realizing that I'm more messed up than I realized. And it's not getting better.

And, gosh, I've got a date (ish?) tonight and I can just tell I'm gonna fuck something up before it starts.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: …didn’t sleep well last night.
POLKA DOT: Yknow.
POLKA DOT: Newbie bad dreams.
KATIE: Ahhh, yeah…I remember those.
KATIE: Kept dreaming I was being chased by some kind of massive creature with like…knives for hands.
KATIE: …still unsure what was up with that.
POLKA DOT: Huh…so everyone really does go through this?
KATIE: Oh, yeah. You’re definitely not alone.
KATIE: Everybody’s got a story behind them, and it can get…well, rough!
POLKA DOT: Yeah…it’s like…echoes, but of a past I don’t remember aside from vague snippets.
POLKA DOT: Guess it’s just the standard amount of trauma, though.
KATIE: Pretty much…
KATIE: But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t mean something.
KATIE: You should pay attention to all the clues you get, see if you can piece them together…
KATIE: Because then, you can start working on healing that hurt.
KATIE: You know?
 

You manage a smile, and she gives you a warm look.

KATIE: See! You’re gonna be fine.
POLKA DOT: I guess so…
 

Just as quickly as it came, your smile falls.

POLKA DOT: But…I keep getting these visions and feelings of violence. That I was violent.
POLKA DOT: I just want to punch something, but there’s nothing to punch. Not anymore.
POLKA DOT: And I talked with a friend, and I realized that’s not…good for me.
POLKA DOT: But what am I supposed to do? It feels like it runs so fucking deep.
KATIE: Well, that’s how this stuff is sometimes.
KATIE: You have to puzzle it out, like I said…
KATIE: If you figure out why you’ve ended up like this, the sooner you can make sense of the whole picture.
POLKA DOT: …but what if it doesn’t get better.
KATIE: Maybe it’s naive of me, but I always hope that it will.
KATIE: We aren’t bound to being the people we used to be.
KATIE: You just got here. You’re a young adult now!
KATIE: You’ve got plenty of time.
POLKA DOT: Thanks…guess you have a point there.
KATIE: Now…what else?
POLKA DOT: Huh?
KATIE: That can’t be all of it. I can sense it.
POLKA DOT: …I also kinda have a date tonight-
KATIE: Ooooh!
POLKA DOT: -and I’m scared I’m gonna fuck it up somehow, probably before it even starts.
KATIE: Well…hm. What are you scared of happening?
KATIE: And what are some things you’re excited for?

[Lilium Mortem]

Well there's the obvious cliche of 'what if she doesn't like me back', as a starting point. I'm also scared if I show her some of this anger, this rage I have, that she'll see how ugly it is.

as for things to be exited for, I dunno, I haven't put much thought into it. I'm just living day to day. the party, my maybe date, was the big thing. It'd be nice if I got some pool time, but I dunno how to swing that. I'm just trying to figure out life, now that I'm basically starting over.

[King-Clod]

Well, almost picked a fight with Cindi, so I would've gone into the party uh. Covered in scrapes and stuff. So I guess I'm scared of doing something else right before that party that might ruin it. Or losing time and missing the party entirely. Or just saying something stupid I think. Like, coming off too strong or something? She's really cool, I don't wanna mess this up. Also I've been having memory stuff come up here and there and...I don't want it to come up at the party. I just want to have a good time.

But for what I'm excited for, uh...I guess I'm excited to wear the new outfit I got for the party. It shows a lot of skin, but, I mean just a few days ago I was showing nothing but skin so I think it'll be fine. Plus, I wanna see how she reacts to it.

Ooooh now I wonder what she'll be wearing, actually. Probably something cute. I mean, you saw her modeling stint, right? No matter what she brings I'm sure she'll wear it well.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Uh…
POLKA DOT: I almost picked a fight with Cindi, so I could’ve gone to the party covered in scrapes and bruises…
POLKA DOT: And I’m scared of doing something stupid like that again.
KATIE: Well, you didn’t get into the fight in the end, right?
POLKA DOT: Only because they stopped me!
KATIE: And it was good of them to. They…can be a little abrasive sometimes-
KATIE: Okay, more than a little. They’re kind of a dick.
KATIE: But I’m glad to hear they didn’t take you on like that.
KATIE: Prrrrobably wouldn’t have went well for you.
POLKA DOT: Probably not…
 

Your order pops up in the window, Katie reaching over to grab it and hand it over.

KATIE: You can keep talking if you want! But I don’t mind if you just want to eat, now.
POLKA DOT: No, no, I can do both…
 

You take a bite and savor the warmth of it. Chased down with a sip of that root beer float, it’s heaven.

POLKA DOT: There’s also, just…what if Wil-
POLKA DOT: What if my date doesn’t like me back?
POLKA DOT: Or if she does, I say something stupid, or get too angry and ugly and violent…
KATIE: You wouldn’t get rough with her though, right?
POLKA DOT: God no.
KATIE: The anger’s definitely something to work on, but I don’t think you’re as scary as you seem to think you are.
KATIE: To me, you just come off as inexperienced, followed by some kind of dark past…
KATIE: Maybe an ugly past as well, but I doubt your date had things much better. It’s rough for everyone out here.
KATIE: You could always try talking about it with her- maybe not as a first date conversation, but if or when things settle down.
POLKA DOT: Yeah, I…don’t want it to come up at the party.
POLKA DOT: I just want to have a good time.
KATIE: Then just try to focus on the now! Easier said than done, but ground yourself in what’s going on and enjoy all the little sensations and experiences you’re going to have.
POLKA DOT: Guess so…
 

There’s quiet for a few minutes as you dig more into your food, mulling over the bear’s second question.

POLKA DOT: Guess I haven’t put much thought into what I’m excited for.
KATIE: Mhm.
POLKA DOT: I’m just living day to day. This party, that was my big goal for the week.
POLKA DOT: Kinda want to try getting some pool time, but I dunno how to get my hands on that either.
KATIE: No harm in asking, right?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, but…I dunno.
POLKA DOT: I’m starting over and I feel like the odd one out, sometimes.
KATIE: Everybody does. You gotta start somewhere!
POLKA DOT: Heh…

Something about Katie’s attitude is…oddly infectious, and a smile returns to your beak.

POLKA DOT: I guess another thing I’m excited about is the new outfit I got for the party…
KATIE: Oh yeah?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, it shows a lot of skin, but like- I wasn’t wearing anything a few days ago.
POLKA DOT: …I wanna see how she reacts to it.
 

That gets a huge giggle out of Katie, the bear covering her muzzle with a paw.

KATIE: That’s so cute.
KATIE: Ah, young love…how I miss the days when things felt new and exciting!
KATIE: That’s not to say things don’t feel exciting now, but it’s different. Way more mundane.
KATIE: Better in a lot of ways, but there’s all the little rushes that come with figuring out how people feel about things- enjoy them!
KATIE: Even if you just end up being friends, that’s still a relationship to treasure!
POLKA DOT: …You’re really good at this.
KATIE: I consider it part of the job, at this point. People want somebody to talk to when they’re lonely.
KATIE: Speaking of…
 

She waves at a new customer taking a seat, giving you an apologetic look.

KATIE: Looks like our time’s up, I gotta bounce to this new guy.
KATIE: You’re all covered on today’s food, so you can head out whenever you’re ready!
POLKA DOT: Thanks, Katie.
 

The rest of your lasagna is just as good as when you were talking- almost better now that you can fully focus, even. It’s comforting…

And then, it and the float are gone, all eaten up.

You have twenty minutes left- just enough time to get back, get dressed and do whatever you can think of last minute.

[King-Clod]

Let's get ready for sure, and... oh I wonder if we could get some makeup. I think we remember how to use it...eyeliner at least.

[skinstealer]

You make one quick stop before heading back to your room.

POLKA DOT: Vine.
 

The bear gives you a look as she stirs some fresh pasta, the plastic shapes clicking and clacking in the pot.

VINE: Ribbon, I love your company, I really do, but-
POLKA DOT: Do you have any makeup?
VINE: -I am on the clock.
VINE: …and yes, I do, but it’s in the back.
VINE: I don’t know how well it’ll work on you, but the eyeliner should go okay.
VINE: If I let you sneak some, will you let me get back to my job?
POLKA DOT: Yes! Thank you!

She sighs, her eyes softening.

VINE: Go have a nice date, kid.
 

You find Vine’s stuff easily- her bag has her name embroidered into it. Digging through, you find an eyeliner pen in a dark purple. Thank god for you and Vine both having common taste in colors…

The staff bathroom is cramped with boxes and supplies that wouldn’t fit anywhere else, but it’s got a mirror and that’s all you care about. You line your eyes as best as you can remember how, taking a step back and doing some silly poses as a final check. Perfect.

You make sure to wave on your way back out, practically running back to your room- you didn’t have a lot of time to spare now, and you nearly lose more than you’d ever want on fumbling into your new, strappy garment.

One last look in the mirror before you step out.

…

…damn, you’re actually pulling something off here.

You hope Willow will like it just as much as you do, because you feel like you’re selling it.

Filled with confidence, you’re out the door, carrying your phone in one of your leftover shopping bags. It made for a poor purse, but it’s what you have.

Finding the room takes some effort, but once you get there, it’s unmistakable- people are lining up to enter and good god, the outfits. Some people aren’t wearing anything at all, some are fully clothed, but a lot of toys are in that in between of showing just enough skin, selective sections of their bodies laid bare and exposed.

To say it gives you a thrill is an understatement.

When your turn comes to walk in, you’re met with a large room not unlike Laurie’s office- the walls lined with plush, red velvet padding and drapery, long, deep crimson sectional couches sitting against every corner. There’s a stage on the far end of the room not unlike the bar, a giant closed shelf labeled “the toybox” in kind of cheeky lettering, a minibar with snacks and drinks on the side, and…

Willow’s taken a seat on one of the sectional couches, a can of soda in her hand. She swirls it around idly, staring at the other partygoers and seemingly looking them over- you can’t help but wonder if she’s taking in all of the outfits, just like you.

[Lilium Mortem]

ok. it's go time. saunter up to willow, bat your eyelashes, and immediately forget your line and say: gosh you're pretty

[MarxzVulpez]

Wave and let Willow see you before you walk over, you're just as confident as she is pretty darnit

[skinstealer]

You take a deep breath. It’s go time.

You try waving, having to stand there like a chump for a few seconds before she finally notices you, the vpet startling a little and chirping as she waves back. Your walk over is a little less than slick as you have to sidestep and sneak around the other toys, but eventually, you’re face to face, standing there in your best attempt to look confident.

WILLOW: Hi.
WILLOW: I’m…glad you made it.
 

All words stutter in your mind as you look over her outfit- it’s the same from the show, all lace and mesh bodysuit with a cutout for her chest buttons. You have no idea how she could get so worked up about nudity when this feels like it shows so much more…everything.

POLKA DOT: I, uh-
POLKA DOT: God, you’re pretty.
 

A giggle of beeps sneaks out before Willow can stop herself, the little character on her screen blushing.

WILLOW: You’re sweet.
WILLOW: And…
 

To your delight, she also seems to sputter out as she gets a look at you, and you swear to god, you catch her trying to peer around and catch a glimpse of your exposed tail.

WILLOW: …your outfit’s good too. Really nice.
POLKA DOT: You think so?
WILLOW: Yeah…that kind of strappy look is really fashionable right now, and it does a great job of highlighting, um-
WILLOW: Shapes. Yeah.
WILLOW: …do you want to come sit with me?
 

She pats the seat on the couch next to her, setting her soda can to the side.

WILLOW: I usually just hang back at these events. It’s fun to people watch.

[MarxzVulpez]

Sounds like a good plan to me!