[TOY] Plaything

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Yes! Uh, hi!
POLKA DOT: I’m Silk Ribbon, and, uh-
POLKA DOT: If somebody was gonna go into some spooky…death…woods, how do they, yknow, not die?
POLKA DOT: …cool ass wings, by the way.
WANDERER: Hmm.
 

She looks you over, though she doesn’t seem to open her eyes.

WANDERER: Vine, I take it that you’ve already told them it’s dangerous and they shouldn’t go?
VINE: ...
 

Vine glances away.

VINE: Trust me, it wouldn't have worked if I tried.
 

Wanderer lets out a low sigh.

WANDERER: …Figured.
WANDERER: I’m not in the habit of letting young fools go to their deaths unprepared, so sure, I’ll help.
WANDERER: Do you have any more about where you want to go? Spooky forests are a dime a dozen out there
WANDERER: Do you know a name, or magic system, or anything like that?
POLKA DOT: It's...a place my friend and I are seeing in our dreams.
POLKA DOT: It's this...dark, purple and green forest, with plastic trees.
POLKA DOT: In all of the dreams, she turns into some kind of monster-
POLKA DOT: But she wants to go, she says it's good for her, somehow.
POLKA DOT: ...I'm a little worried about it, to be honest, but this is really important to her.
 

Wanderer sighs again, harder this time, and slumps forward.

WANDERER: Of course you’d want to go there for your first journey.
 

...what the fuck has Cross gotten me into?

POLKA DOT: It's, uh...
POLKA DOT: You know the place?
WANDERER: Yeah, I'm... familiar.
WANDERER: It's full of curses, which, well, sounds like that's your goal.
WANDERER: Is getting cursed.
POLKA DOT: ...it's....
 

You look down at the ground, trying to gather your conviction.

POLKA DOT: It's really, really important to her.
POLKA DOT: Even if it's dangerous, I think she needs this...
POLKA DOT: And I want to help.
 

Wanderer ponders for a moment, and her wings begin to flutter and jitter again. She turns her head slightly to look at them before nodding.

WANDERER: I have some advice I am willing to give you, and some supplies you may need, but there will be a small cost to pay.
WANDERER: Though perhaps it could be thought of more as a wager.
POLKA DOT: ...what kind of wager?
WANDERER: If what I give, of words and tools, ensures your survival, then when you come back you shall owe me a favor.
WANDERER: The kind you would be willing to do for a good friend.
WANDERER: However, if you do not survive, you shan't owe me a thing.
WANDERER: I think this is a good deal for you.

[Ignispark]

...it'd be really funny if to still owe a favor after death because imagine if ghosts are real.

but uh, yeah. sounds like a great deal.

[King-Clod]

sorry, sorry, can we go back? the woods curse you? I...

Why would she want that? Would it have other effects she's not aware of, or...

...Right. Right. Ok. Anything I should uh...know about how to handle curses, if it doesn't take well, or heck, if someone besides her gets cursed?

Can you answer me this before any wager? I'm not sure I want to owe anyone a favor, especially when they refer to my...surviving, as a wager. I'm sure I'd be fine with or without you.

[Lilium Mortem]

WANDERER: If what I give, of words and tools, ensures your survival, then when you come back you shall owe me a favor.
WANDERER: The kind you would be willing to do for a good friend.
WANDERER: However, if you do not survive, you shan't owe me a thing.
WANDERER: I think this is a good deal for you.

This sounds like fae-ass double trick and you'll make me rob a bank or something because I'm ride or die like that for my friends, but I can't say no and ask for a different, safe one, because you've got bullshit fairy magic.

[sarcovyn]

[without a beat to think it over] this is a great deal im in

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: …This sounds kinda like some kind of fairy trick.
POLKA DOT: Like,,,you’re gonna make me rob a bank or something because I’m ride or die for my friends, but I don’t think you’re gonna let me say no and ask for a different one.
POLKA DOT: Some kinda bullshit fairy magic.
VINE: Ribbon-!
 

Wanderer raises a hand, cutting off Vine.

WANDERER: Good answer.
WANDERER: But if you suspect someone of trying something dirty, its a bad idea to say it to their face.
WANDERER: You can't cast spells in this city, however.
WANDERER: Naught but your word shall bind you to this.
 

You think it over, weighing your options.

POLKA DOT: Do I have to accept the wager to get any answers?
POLKA DOT: I want to know what a curse does, whether it happens to my friend or someone else.
WANDERER: I'll give you that answer for free, because you'd feel cheated to pay for it.
WANDERER: It varies, there's lots of different kinds of curses.
WANDERER: Even ones that are superficially similar can have stark differences.
POLKA DOT: ...and I'm guessing hearing about specifics means taking the bet.
WANDERER: If you even know the right questions to ask.
WANDERER: I could identify a curse if you put it in front of me, but I doubt you know what signs to look for to tell them apart.
POLKA DOT: ....
POLKA DOT: ...fine. I'll take the wager.
 

You glance over at Vine.

POLKA DOT: Vine vouched for you, so...
POLKA DOT: I'll do it.
WANDERER: Excellent! Normally I would do something dramatic to seal the contract, but I already let you know deal magic won't work here, so it would be a waste.
WANDERER: It is likely I will just need you as an escort, you do not have to worry about doing anything suspect.
 

She pauses.

WANDERER: Not like, 'escort' escort, I realized after saying it that that may have been confusing, considering our whereabouts.
WANDERER: Just, I might call upon you to help with one of my journeys for a time, something like that.

[Lilium Mortem]

oh, that actually sounds cool and fun. I was almost sure you were gonna ask for something I'd regret. but yeah, paying you back in good faith feels right. I'd says sorry about the suspicion, but you already said it was a good answer(minus saying to your face but I'm just a bad bitch like that), so I'll save this apology for when I inevitably fuck up something an indeterminate amount of time from now.

So what do we(Me and my aforementioned friend who is a girl but not quite a Girlfriend (yet(hopefully))) gotta do?

[King-Clod]

Look, it doesn't really matter what it is, I don't like owing people anything. But the choice is made. So.

Where is this forest, what do I need to be careful of?

Is there any way to avoid getting cursed for the rest of my party that'll want to avoid it?

I've never fought a... monster, before, so I guess I wouldn't be able to tell, but are the monsters there different?

Is there any difficulty for getting in or out, due to narrative shenanigans or other magic? I don't wanna go in and get trapped until my whole party is cursed.

[knux400]

Oh, okay! That's honestly not as bad as I was expecting.

So, uh, basic stuff, I guess... What should I bring? Weapons, food, camping gear maybe? What sort of curses should I expect in there, and how can I get rid of any if someone becomes afflicted? I heard that adventuring parties are generally four to six people, is that accurate?

...Actually, hold all those thoughts, I'm gonna grab a piece of paper real quick.

[Ignispark]

are you allowed to say fuck shit and hell in the forest of curses

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: That’s…not as bad as I was expecting, honestly.
WANDERER: The Hallowed Wood.
POLKA DOT: That's its name?
POLKA DOT: Where...is it?
WANDERER: Wrong question.
 

You blink.

POLKA DOT: Uh...
POLKA DOT: What's...the right question?
WANDERER: The correct question is:
WANDERER: "How do I get there."
POLKA DOT: What's the difference?
WANDERER: Location doesn't work the same in the wilds.
WANDERER: Some say its because the narrative's influence is stronger away from settlements.
WANDERER: I think it just doesn't care about details as much there.
WANDERER: You'll get where you're going if you have a goal in mind.
WANDERER: Unless it decides you've become 'lost.'
POLKA DOT: Great, it can fuck me over like that, too...
POLKA DOT: So provided it doesn't, just, decide that I'm shit out of luck, all I need to do is go "I'm going to the Hallowed Wood!" and I'm good?
WANDERER: Well, you don't need to say it out loud or anything...
POLKA DOT: Yeah, but that's the gist?
WANDERER: In terms of heading towards a place? yes. In terms of surviving the journey? No.
POLKA DOT: I guess I have heard of monsters out there, but I don't even know what they'd look like.
WANDERER: There's too many kinds of monsters to answer that.
WANDERER: Just know, that if it doesn't look like a person, you should get your weapons ready.
POLKA DOT: Okay...I guess that's...easy enough.
POLKA DOT: Are the ones at the Wood different?
WANDERER: Yeah, as you get 'closer' to it, the monsters will be more based upon fears, and tend towards a more...
WANDERER: Spooky theme.
WANDERER: Again, this was a bad pick for your first go.
 

You get the distinct feeling she's probably right, but...Cross needs this.

POLKA DOT: Then I guess it's up to me to ask the right questions to prep.
POLKA DOT: Is there any way to avoid getting cursed?
POLKA DOT: I doubt the other members of the party would want that, even if Willow does.
 

You swear you see a slight smirk at that.

WANDERER: Asking about prevention is the right move.
WANDERER: There are ways to cure curses but...
WANDERER: They aren't easy, and usually involve finding the person or thing who placed the curse in the first place.
WANDERER: Not always easy.
WANDERER: The best way to prevent a curse is with a charm.
WANDERER: Something that's enchanted with a protection spell.
WANDERER: Hard to come by, though.
POLKA DOT: You make it sound like I'm shit out of luck there.
 

Wanderer's wings shake once more as she answers.

WANDERER: Not... exactly. I have a spare but...
WANDERER: It would only be a loan if I gave it to you.
WANDERER: And it's very valuable. I don't like the idea of giving it to someone without some form of insurance.
POLKA DOT: Hey, we made a deal that includes tools.
 

You notice her face twitch slightly as she sits up straighter.

WANDERER: Yes, tools. Maps, bags, waterskins, that sort of thing.
WANDERER: Do you take me as a fool who would loan you something valuable without knowing if you'll be around or willing to give it back after your journey?
POLKA DOT: ...Guess that's a fair point.

Wanderer slumps forward again, moving the glass in her hands back and forth across the table.

WANDERER: You don't have to take that deal. Most people don't have charms.
WANDERER: If you're careful and lucky you won't even need it.
WANDERER: But we can talk about that later.
 

She gestures around her.

WANDERER: As you can see, I don't have my things with me to give you.
WANDERER: When you are ready later, you may come to my room and pick out what you will borrow from me.
WANDERER: But for now, are there any more questions you have?
POLKA DOT: What kind of curses are there, anyway?
POLKA DOT: Like, I know the monster one from the dreams, but...
WANDERER: You may as well ask me what kinds of people there are.
WANDERER: But I shall tell you of a few, so you know how wide the range is.
WANDERER: One is known as the Itching Curse.
WANDERER: Usually used as a prank among beginner curse users, it causes mild itching that won't go away even if you scratch for up to an hour before it fades naturally or the caster dispels it.
POLKA DOT: ...that's it?
WANDERER: Another is called the Inside-Out Curse.
WANDERER: It takes a toy's insides and-
POLKA DOT: W-wait, what if you're hollow? I'm hollow.
WANDERER: You still have an inside layer, don't you?
POLKA DOT: ...how do you get rid of that one.
WANDERER: You're lucky if you live long enough to even think about getting rid of it.
WANDERER: Or unlucky, I suppose.
VINE: ...you really sure you want to do this, Ribbon?
POLKA DOT: I...
POLKA DOT: If I bring the right people and do the right things, I'll make it through.
POLKA DOT: Four to six people for a party, right?
WANDERER: Depends on your goal, but yes, that number works for what you're doing.
POLKA DOT: Okay, uh...
 

You wrack your mind for any more questions.

POLKA DOT: Is it possible to like, get trapped there?
WANDERER: In the wild?
POLKA DOT: Meant more in the Hallowed Wood, but that works too.
WANDERER: By the narrative you mean?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, or anything else.
WANDERER: If the narrative keeps you in a place, it's usually just until something specific happens.
WANDERER: As for anything else...
WANDERER: Well, there are a lot of people there.
WANDERER: And people aren't very trustworthy. As a rule.
POLKA DOT: Got it...
POLKA DOT: ...and we'll go over supplies when I've got my people together?
WANDERER: Yeah, just knock on my door when you're ready.
POLKA DOT: What's the number?
WANDERER: 024.
POLKA DOT: Got it...
WANDERER: Now if you don't mind, I was hoping to get at least some time to relax while I was here.
 

Vine lays a hand on your back before you can react.

VINE: We'll get out of your hair.
POLKA DOT: But-!
VINE: You've gotta meet up with a friend anyway, right?
POLKA DOT: ...yeah, Tim...
VINE: Then let's handle that.
POLKA DOT: Well....
POLKA DOT: Thanks, for the help. I really appreciate it.
 

She simply nods in response, returning to her drink.

Vine guides you away, sighing.

VINE: She…usually just gives advice for free. Must be having a bad day or something…
 

The look she gives you is worried.

VINE: Please, pick people who you think you can trust.
VINE: Tim’s got a good head on his shoulders, and I get the feeling he’s more experienced than he lets on…
POLKA DOT: Huh?
POLKA DOT: What makes you say that?
VINE: Just…a hunch.
VINE: It should work out if you’re with him and some other good folks.
VINE: Part of me really wishes I could come with you, but I think Laurie would have nightmares if I were gone, among other things.
VINE: …you’ll call me, won’t you? Phones work out in the wilds, for the most part…
POLKA DOT: Of course, yeah. I won’t leave you hanging.
POLKA DOT: Besides, I gotta get stuff together first…I’m not leaving tonight or anything.
VINE: I know, just…
VINE: Guess I got a bit soft.
POLKA DOT: You’re a bean bear, you’re always soft.
 

That gets a laugh out of her, and she turns to start heading out.

VINE: Don’t push your luck, kid.
POLKA DOT: It’s what I’m best at!
 

You take a seat as she leaves, your usual table thankfully free.

Time ticks by. You're not sure how long-

You nearly jump out of your skin when a familiar dog slides into the opposite chair, not announcing his presence in any way beforehand.

TIMOTHY: Hi!
TIMOTHY: Whoa-
 

He squints at you.

TIMOTHY: You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.
TIMOTHY: Like, not the Willow kind.
TIMOTHY: What’s up?

[King-Clod]

Willow and I are planning an adventure. Our first one. I won't go into her reasons why, but...well, after doing a little digging I found where we need to go. And it sounds particularly awful. Curses, monsters that take the form of your deepest fears, the works.

And I'll be honest, I was wondering if you'd like to come with us. I'm doing a wonderful job selling it, I know, I just...I feel like we're gonna need all the friends we can get.

[Ignispark]

hey! are you interested in the potential to get maimed, cursed, and/or otherwise harmed in a bid to try to minimize the collective risk of an expedition that at least two people will be going on at some point regardless

agreeing with the above post with the addition of asking 'do you have any ideas of other people to recruit'. might as well see if there's anyone else worth asking.

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Well…
POLKA DOT: Willow and I are planning an adventure.
TIMOTHY: Oh?
 

His ears perk right up.

TIMOTHY: Outside the city?
POLKA DOT: Yeah…
TIMOTHY: …you don’t sound excited.
POLKA DOT: It’s…important to Willow, and the two of us will definitely be going at some point.
POLKA DOT: But…
POLKA DOT: I did some digging and found out where we need to go, and it’s not pretty.
POLKA DOT: Feels like if I ask people to join up with us, it’s just asking people to go on a suicide mission…
TIMOTHY: But getting a party together minimizes risks, yeah?
POLKA DOT: Yeah, exactly.
TIMOTHY: Mmm.
 

He leans back in his chair and crosses his arms, closing his eyes to think.

TIMOTHY: How bad are we talking?
POLKA DOT: Uh….
POLKA DOT: Curses, monsters that take the form of your deepest fears…
TIMOTHY: Eesh.
POLKA DOT: Yeah. The works.
TIMOTHY: That…really doesn’t sound great, no.
POLKA DOT: Nope.
TIMOTHY: But…
TIMOTHY: If you’re going out somewhere dangerous, I’d feel awful not coming along, especially not if it helps Willow too for me to tag along.
TIMOTHY: I’m guessing we’ve got a lot of prep to get together.
POLKA DOT: Yeah, and I’ve got some old plush willing to help out and give us gear.
POLKA DOT: …you got a weapon recently, right?
 

Tim nods vigorously and very carefully reaches under the bottom of his sweater, startling you as he pulls out a plastic pistol, likely from some kind of action figure.

TIMOTHY: I figure most of my friends have melee weapons, so…
TIMOTHY: If something like this were ever to come up, it’d help to have some range.
 

You can’t help but shake a weird feeling just being around the gun, but now’s not the time for that. Or ever.

POLKA DOT: Works for me…I don’t know how close I want to fight stuff that’s based on fears, anyway.
TIMOTHY: What else do you need?
POLKA DOT: Do you…know anyone that’d be good to recruit?
POLKA DOT: Willow says that a party is ideally, like. Four to six people.
TIMOTHY: Hmm…
TIMOTHY: Well, I know that Devo’s been practicing his knife skills.
TIMOTHY: He doesn’t have the most physical strength, and we’d definitely have to support him along the way…
TIMOTHY: But he’s capable of helping, I think, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving him behind.
TIMOTHY: And if we’re bringing Devo…
TIMOTHY: I mean, we should probably ask Roulette too.
TIMOTHY: I still don’t know it very well at all, but I get the feeling that it’s really nice!
TIMOTHY: Just…hard to open up to people.
TIMOTHY: Devo vouches for it, anyway, and I can trust that.
TIMOTHY: We don’t exactly have a big friend group or anything, but…
TIMOTHY: Between the five of us, I think we could make a pretty well rounded party.
TIMOTHY: Or, at the very least, one where everybody knows and trusts somebody, instead of taking on anyone who we’re iffy on.
 

He takes another moment to think.

TIMOTHY: …this could work out for me too, actually.
POLKA DOT: Oh?
TIMOTHY: Yeah! I had a favor to ask you, but it looks like it’ll be in your best interest to help after all!
POLKA DOT: If you’re coming with me, I’ll do pretty much anything in exchange.
 

His ears perk up again, eyes smiling.

TIMOTHY: Then come to this party with me!
TIMOTHY: It’s at a partner of the Place’s house, so it’s confirmed safe…
TIMOTHY: Devo and I wanted to check it out, but we wanted to bring some backup friends just in case.
TIMOTHY: Yknow, like you and Roulette.
TIMOTHY: It’d be the perfect opportunity for you to ask both of them to come with! We could even have a sitdown talk about it!
TIMOTHY: I’d ask if Willow could come too, but I don’t want Roulette to feel, like. Out of place, yknow?
TIMOTHY: I already worry about that with me and Devo being there together as boyfriends…

[knux400]

"I'll join your party if you join mine, then?"

[Ignispark]

Hell yeah! Party^2: Achieved [Imaginary Doot Doo doo doot! sound effect here]

[Lilium Mortem]

Party sounds interesting. hey Tim? you and Devo seem to be getting along well. you're boyfriends now, so well... I just wanna ask, when did that happen? when did you get comfortable enough with calling each other that?

[skinstealer]

POLKA DOT: Hell yeah, man.
POLKA DOT: I’ll join your party if you join mine.
 

Tim reaches out a paw and you gladly take it in a victorious gesture, your elbows on the table and clenched hands raised high.

TIMOTHY: I knew I could count on you.
POLKA DOT: Same here, man.
POLKA DOT: When is this party, anyway?
TIMOTHY: …uh….
TIMOTHY: Tomorrrrrrow?
 

You give him a look, squeezing his hand on reflex.

POLKA DOT: Dude, I’ve got work tomorrow.
TIMOTHY: It’s a late night party! Starts at eight!
POLKA DOT: I get off at eight!
TIMOTHY: Well!
TIMOTHY: You could just meet up after! You can be a little late!
POLKA DOT: I guess, but don’t expect me to be super energetic.
TIMOTHY: Considering you’re asking me to go on a deathly adventure, I’d say it’s a fair trade…
POLKA DOT: I GUESS
 

You sigh, finally letting his paw go and dropping your wing onto the table.

POLKA DOT: Should I dress up at all? What’s the deal?
TIMOTHY: No real need to, it’s not a kink party or anything like that…
TIMOTHY: I was told that most people just show up in t shirts and stuff, so your usual clothes should be ok.
TIMOTHY: It’s meant as like…a social event with drinks, food, dancing…
TIMOTHY: The guy running it is named Heath, he works with Laurie to help organize stuff like this, in case people want to get out of the Place and stretch their legs a little.
TIMOTHY: He’s apparently been hitting up a lot of the meetup events and inviting people, so it’s gonna be all folks from here, same blacklist too.
TIMOTHY: I dunno! It’s gonna be neat.
POLKA DOT: We’ll see how it goes…
POLKA DOT: Though…I am curious about something.
TIMOTHY: Huh? What is it?
POLKA DOT: You’ve mentioned you and Devo being boyfriends before, but like-
POLKA DOT: Spill the beans, tell me about it.
POLKA DOT: I wanna hear juicy details.
 

Embroidered blush sneaks across Tim’s face, clearly flustered with the prospect of going into his gay escapades.

TIMOTHY: W-well…
TIMOTHY: We really did end up hitting it off well at the BDSM meetup…
TIMOTHY: One thing lead to another, we ended up experimenting a little…
TIMOTHY: And it went so well that we just, had to start hanging out after that.
TIMOTHY: I don’t want to say “love at first sight”, because, yknow, that’s kinda silly…
TIMOTHY: But I fell for him hard. He’s….
 

Your canine companion struggles to find words.

TIMOTHY: He’s got a lot going on, and he’s not the best at reaching out for that, or articulating when he needs help…
TIMOTHY: But with me, he’s been opening up and starting to talk about the things that bother him.
TIMOTHY: There’s a lot of stuff where it feels like we have similar ground to stand on, as well…
TIMOTHY: I’m not gonna go into his history without his consent, but talking with him, it feels like I’ve really met someone who gets a lot of what I went through before coming here- especially as I’m starting to remember more and more.
TIMOTHY: Not the same experiences, per se, but…he just gets it.
TIMOTHY: I didn’t realize how much I needed that.
TIMOTHY: If I didn’t have his support with that right now, I just…I don’t know.
TIMOTHY: I feel like I’d be a lot more judgmental towards myself, and what I went through, and a lot…angrier.
TIMOTHY: He makes me feel like it’s okay.

[Ignispark]

i for one think that parties are far worse than deadly adventures
cool. uh what else is there to talk about...how's the weather?

[King-Clod]

That sounds... really nice.

I'm glad you have that.

I mean, I see have that with Willow, but like. I don't know. I know she's there for me, but at the same time I don't... want her, to be? It's... like, really weird. Personal sorta shit. I'm not sure if I want her to know all the stuff I've seen.