[TOY] Plaything

[knux400]

So... What other kinds of critters live around here? I mean, obviously we've met the ragmirror, but what about other, smaller, safer stuff?


...You ever see these, like, little weasel-y guys?

[skinstealer]

CROSSBONE: ...um
CROSSBONE: so
CROSSBONE: hm

 

Think, think-

CROSSBONE: You know this place, r-right?
CORSAIR: Yep.
CROSSBONE: Prrrretty well?
CROSSBONE: A-and it's-
CROSSBONE: It's woods.
CROSSBONE: Obviously we um
CROSSBONE: The ragmirror.
CROSSBONE: Handled that.
CORSAIR: More or less.
CORSAIR: ...You good?
CROSSBONE: Yeah, yeah!
CROSSBONE: Just-
CROSSBONE: N.
CROSSBONE: Words aren't-


 

You wring your hands.

CROSSBONE: ...sorry. I'm kind of a mess with-
CROSSBONE: With new people.
CROSSBONE: Small talk and all.
CROSSBONE: B-but you do know things, and that's- I want to learn.
CORSAIR: We don't gotta talk.
CORSAIR: ...But if you have questions. Up t'you I guess.


 

You take a moment before nodding.

CROSSBONE: R-right. To the point then.
CROSSBONE: We found this-
CROSSBONE: It looked like a little car, weasel, thing-

 

You open your hands about as large as you remember.

CROSSBONE: About...this big.
CROSSBONE: It doesn't seem to have followed us back, and I can't blame it after the fight...
CROSSBONE: ...but I don't know much about them.
CROSSBONE: And-
CROSSBONE: I hope it's okay.
CORSAIR: Hell wyrms.
CORSAIR: If you don't antagonize 'em, they're mostly harmless.
CORSAIR: Usually a bit bigger than that, at least. Sometimes much bigger.
CORSAIR: The biggest are... leaders, I guess you'd say. And the little ones stay with 'em. Makes a whole convoy of 'em together.
CORSAIR: ...Might not believe it given how they can be, but some of the smaller ones get kept as pets. Domesticated.
CORSAIR: May see a few of those in town, but they're not popular here.
CORSAIR: I've heard of some strays around nearby.
CORSAIR: Could've been part of a convoy and somethin' happened, or maybe they're domesticated wyrms that ended up as strays.
CORSAIR: That's probably what ya ran into.
CORSAIR: ...They steal from people travelin' sometimes. Probably thought ya had food.

 

Your pixel character can't help but make a nervous shimmy.

CROSSBONE: There were snacks involved.
CORSAIR: That'd do it.
CORSAIR: Probably just wanted food.
CROSSBONE: Oh...
CROSSBONE: Is it...hungry on its own, then?
CROSSBONE: Is it not eating well...?
CORSAIR: Could be. Couldn't tell ya.
CORSAIR: It's cold out. Food's scarce. And it was alone instead of havin' a convoy to provide for it.
CORSAIR: Might've been hungry, might've wanted the safety in numbers. That kinda thing.
CORSAIR: Who knows.



CROSSBONE: ....



CROSSBONE: ...............





CROSSBONE: You said they can be domesticated?
CORSAIR: Yep.
CROSSBONE: Eeeeasily?
CORSAIR: ...You got a plan in mind?
CROSSBONE: Just.
CROSSBONE: If it came back-
CROSSBONE: And it *needed* food-
CORSAIR: Depends on how tame it is, I'd say.
CORSAIR: You lookin' for a pet?
CROSSBONE: More of...
CROSSBONE: ....support animal.
CROSSBONE: B-but if that's silly-
CORSAIR: For you?
CROSSBONE: *no*, but-
CORSAIR: Roulette?
CROSSBONE: maybe
CORSAIR: ...Don't think it's a bad idea.
CORSAIR: But didn't it run off?
CROSSBONE: Yeah...
CROSSBONE: ...guess it's a pipedream.
CORSAIR: Never know.

 

She turns her head just enough to glance over at you, but makes no further comment.

CROSSBONE: ....
CROSSBONE: yeah
CROSSBONE: I'll...think about it.
CROSSBONE: ....


 

You glance around, letting out a soft beep as you notice rustling in one of the nearby trees- nothing large, but-

CROSSBONE: ...does this place have small...animals?
CORSAIR: Mhm.
CORSAIR: Got these plastic-lookin' spirals, gummy bugs, even some eyeballs that bounce around on their own.


 

The snake rubs her shoulder, looking somewhat nervous.

CORSAIR: ...Why you askin'?
CORSAIR: You scoutin' for Scout?
CROSSBONE: O-oh, just-



 

hope i didnt offend



You point at the trees, some rustling still going.

CORSAIR: ...Yep. That's animals.
CORSAIR: ...I'm not much of a tour guide, y'know.
CROSSBONE: R-RIGHT
CROSSBONE: sorry
CROSSBONE: ...
CORSAIR: Nothin' to apologize for.
CORSAIR: ...I'm not much for small talk, either.
CORSAIR: Nearly at the gate, anyway.


 

You snap your head to attention.

Sure enough, a massive wall of wooden stacking logs lays ahead, a structure in your direct path.

It looks...scratched up and stained, having clearly seen better days, but incredibly sturdy.

A metal gate- actual metal from the look of it, not plastic...and god, *old* too- is built into the frame, clearly custom fastened for a secure fit.





You can't help but feel somewhat awestruck by it. Actual metal architecture, such a rarity in the city-



Corsair lets you marvel at the metal, while she approaches the guard leaning by the gate.

CORSAIR: Mornin', Snicker.


 

The cowboy nods back in your direction.

CORSAIR: She's with me.


 

Snicker lets out a-

....mechanical *snore*, before snapping awake with an animatronic CHUNK.


Her eyes snap open, jaw gnashing a few times- you really, really do not like the look of those teeth, even if you desperately try to assure yourself she's just...getting her bearings.

Sure enough, her tone is cordial.

SNICKER: Kinda early, ain't it?
SNICKER: Y'all goin' for a stroll?
CORSAIR: Mhm. Out n' about.
CORSAIR: Don't worry, I can handle it.


 

She grins, hefting the scepter up onto her shoulder.

SNICKER: Of course, yeah.


 

You look over at Corsair, hoping your confusion is more discrete than it feels.

CORSAIR: ...You all ready, Cross?
CROSSBONE: Yes, yeah, y-
SNICKER: Now hold on...
SNICKER: Corsair.
SNICKER: Mange has got his eye on this one.
SNICKER: I'm on orders to watch her. Suspicious activity.


 

The cowboy steps to the side, blocking Snicker's view of you.

CORSAIR: Crossbone's fine.
CORSAIR: She's with me. Nothin' to worry ab-
CROSSBONE: I!
CROSSBONE: I mean you no trouble-!


 

You bow, hard enough to make your keychain tail rattle.

CROSSBONE: I'm aware I'm causing a lot of stress but I just want to get this done
SNICKER: uh
CROSSBONE: and get what i need and go home with my friends so i will try
SNICKER: Uh
CROSSBONE: to get out of your hair very very soon!


 

Snicker's scary mouth clamps shut, shocked.

CROSSBONE: A-and if there's anything I can get you while I'm out there I can do my best!


 

what the fuck why did i OFFER THAT

CORSAIR: . . .
CORSAIR: ...uh-huh.
CORSAIR: So there ya go.
SNICKER: I-
SNICKER: Hey, buddy, I'm-
SNICKER: cant tell whether to be flattered or if this is weird sheesh
SNICKER: I'm a hunter, okay?


 

She grabs you by a horn with her massive paw and yanks you upright, getting a surprised chirp.

The cowboy instantly pulls Snicker's hand off of you.

CORSAIR: Watch it.
CROSSBONE: nonono its ok


 

Snicker nearly shifts to the manic, teeth bared state-

Before slowly grinding her gears back down, pulling her hand out of Corsair's gently.

SNICKER: Not a lord or whatever the hell you seem to think I am.
SNICKER: And I don't need a new errand girl when I don't know what you can even do.
SNICKER: Last time I trusted a stranger with shit we needed done here, Mange tore me a new one.
CROSSBONE: oh
SNICKER: Oh for- Don't look so damn sad!
CROSSBONE: I just-
SNICKER: You want to help make this easier?
SNICKER: Sure. We can do that.
SNICKER: I have-


 

She slaps the gate wall.

SNICKER: SO MUCH stupid ass paperwork to deal with today.
SNICKER: And I do not need to be tailing a suicidal keychain pet-


 

The words sting.

SNICKER: -looking to become a monster.
SNICKER: You tell me what you're gonna do, and I'll tell you the fastest way I'd do it.


 

She glances over at Corsair.

SNICKER: And she'll be your chaperone.

 

Corsair's grip tightens around the scepter, her wooden claw nearly balling into a fist.
She's staring daggers, though Snicker doesn't seem to notice at all.
The snake says nothing, regardless.

You have the floor.

...and Snicker has the information.
Picking your words could get you some important clues.

[knux400]

Well. It seems like Snicker at least partially knows what's up already, so may as well be direct without offering too much extra information.

Just say you're going out for "the monster thing" (or something brief like that) and change the subject to getting it done as quickly and quietly as possible. Only give details if pressed.

[skinstealer]

CROSSBONE: ....

 

Shit. I really have to- I have to be careful, but- maybe she already knows a good bit. I could  be vague!

CROSSBONE: I mean. That's what I'm here for.
CROSSBONE: B-becoming a monster.
SNICKER: Uh huh.

 

She stares at you.

CROSSBONE: A-and I want to get iit done as quickly and quietly as possible.
SNICKER: Uhhh huh.

 

The animatronic is not taking the bait.

SNICKER: That it?
SNICKER: That your whole plan?
SNICKER: Damn. 
SNICKER: Here I thought city folks'd be smarter than us lowly rural hicks.

 

She makes a spitting sound, the intent obvious even without any saliva involved.

You try and fail not to flinch.

SNICKER: Clearly you don't know what you're working with.
SNICKER: So lemme lay what you're missing out flat, and you get one more try.
SNICKER: We've got somebody running around turning people into monsters.
SNICKER: So far, not a single damn one has stayed sane. 
SNICKER: Every one of them had to be put down before they killed somebody.
SNICKER: Mange's orders.
SNICKER: So even if you find the prick doing this to our village, you need a way to not become a liability.
SNICKER: Otherwise, you're gonna get a shotgun blast directly-

 

She points to your screen face.

SNICKER: Riiight there.

 

Corsair grabs Snicker's wrist, yanking her over to face the snake instead.

CORSAIR: I already warned you.
CORSAIR: You're not gonna touch her again, you hear me?
CORSAIR: Nod your head.

 

Her grip tightens, staring Snicker down.

Snicker bares her teeth for a moment, her eyelids shifting into their angry state just as briefly-

-before she yanks her hand away.

SNICKER: Sure.

 

The nod she gives is exaggerated, a little huff escaping.

SNICKER: I won't lay a claw on her unless she starts disemboweling toys.
SNICKER: You want to prevent that?
SNICKER: Do a good job. 
SNICKER: Got it?
CORSAIR: I'm handling it.
CORSAIR: Why don't you play nice n' tell her what she wants to know, so we can move on already?
SNICKER: Well, she's gotta try one more time before I know what she wants.
SNICKER: You go in all cocky like this?
SNICKER: You don't even know anything about the little shit causing this mess.
SNICKER: At this rate I'd doubt you know anything about curses, even.
SNICKER: So, one more time.
SNICKER: If you're still planning on doing this, I'm gonna need more specific info if you want any help.
SNICKER: Otherwise, I'm letting you risk getting blasted into plastic shards help-free.
 

If you want to get information from Snicker, you will need to have a plan.
Choosing to not elaborate is also an option, but you will not receive information.

[knux400]

It's hard to have a proper game plan when we know pretty much nothing about the person laying curses in the first place. Do they strike at specific times? Is there a certain demographic of toy they're more likely to go after? What spots specifically do they lurk in? Any or all of those factors could impact how we plan on encountering this person.

We're most likely going to need to get Cross cursed before we try and deal with the cursegiver, since they're probably not going to want to do us any favors after we announce our intentions to apprehend them. It would make the most sense for Cross to go in alone and for Corsair to follow behind from a safe distance. Once Cross gets zapped, Corsair can move in, locate the cursey guy, and deal with them.

As for how we plan to keep Cross sane... Again, this is completely new information to us, so we didn't really have a plan for that at all. My assumption, though, is that none of the other people who got transformed went into the forest with the explicit intention of being transformed, so hopefully that will give Cross a bit of an advantage in that department. If not, she'll still be out in the middle of the forest, so we can scramble the rest of the group to try and calm her down before she gets to the village and Snicker has to... y'know.

If nothing else, I'm banking on the fact that Cross losing herself would be a pretty shitty ending to a love story that the narrative has already invested a lot of time and effort into.

[skinstealer]

CROSSBONE: I-
CROSSBONE: That's not-

 

An irritated beep bursts out of you as your pixel character wiggles in unmasked annoyance.

CROSSBONE: How do you expect me to know anything if you won't tell me!
CROSSBONE: You're- you're not being fair!

 

Your keychain tail lashes, Snicker's brows raising as it makes imprints in the snow.

CROSSBONE: You tell ME about the curse user!
CROSSBONE: YOU'RE the one on guard!
CROSSBONE: Where do they show up!
CROSSBONE: When do they show up!
CROSSBONE: Who's targeted, where do they go after?!
CROSSBONE: If you're so much smarter than me-
CROSSBONE: Then surely YOU know that!

 

Snicker keeps her eyes trained on you-

-before laughing, a mechanical barking sound.

SNICKER: Finally! She has some guts!
SNICKER: City girl can speak with her whole chest after all!

 

...she's...not mad?

SNICKER: Sure.

 

oh

SNICKER: I'll fill you in.

 

ok

SNICKER: I'm the guard most days, yeah.
SNICKER: Vortex does just as much, but it's better suited for going out on rounds.
SNICKER: Thing's practically a monster itself.

 

She can't help but chuckle to herself, and not particularly kindly.

Corsair is simply staring at Snicker at this point, but she just seems to look tired more than anything.

SNICKER: So, I don't see a lot of this shit directly.
SNICKER: But I go out on hunts when it's necessary- and unfortunately that means cleanup duty.
CROSSBONE: ...c...cleanup?
SNICKER: I handle the bodies.

 

You feel your circuits short for a moment, the coldness to her tone making you wish you hadn't asked.

SNICKER: Sometimes they're already gone, sometimes- they wish they were.
SNICKER: I've seen toys that should have been long dead crawl around while still torn to pieces.
SNICKER: Seen a guy beg once.
SNICKER: Put him down myself.
SNICKER: ....
SNICKER: Lived down the road from the lodge.

 

She hesitates.

SNICKER: You asked for demographics.
SNICKER: From what I can tell, it's folks who live alone.
SNICKER: At first it was just toys who wouldn't get missed easy.
SNICKER: Outcast types.
SNICKER: Now it's the weirdos getting picked off that send more of a message.
SNICKER: Last one was already dead by the time we got there.
SNICKER: As far as I know, curse user set them up themself.
CORSAIR: . . .
CORSAIR: ...You gonna elaborate or you just waitin' for attention?
CORSAIR: We're burnin' daylight.
SNICKER: I was getting to it.
CORSAIR: Get to gettin' then.
SNICKER: They had words stitched into their chest, alright?
SNICKER: Toy got all warped up from the curse, massive.
SNICKER: Seams got ripped out of their face and their eye embroidery undone.
SNICKER: Thread got sewn back in as a message.

 

She opens her arms dramatically, eyes narrowing.

SNICKER: "WOE TO THE FAITHLESS".

 

There's no joy to it.

SNICKER: ...toy in question was a real nut. Guy named Garth.
SNICKER: Didn't believe in the narrative, would preach about it in the square.
SNICKER: Went missing one night, then some monster bodies showed up mangled in the woods.
SNICKER: Big bites taken out of them. We put two and two together.
SNICKER: Looked like the curse user let ol' Garth run around for a few nights to freak us out before maiming them and impaling them on a tree for us to find.
SNICKER: Like I said. A message.
CORSAIR: That just your guess?
CORSAIR: Any actual evidence the curse user did both?

 

Snicker's jaw clamps shut.





Her painted animatronic eyes roll to the side.

SNICKER: Well, either that or the swordsman.
SNICKER: Possible that freak's up to something, I guess.
SNICKER: Mange's theory is that he's the guy who strung up the body but I dunno.
SNICKER: I nicked him once with my gun and he's like.
SNICKER: Puny.
SNICKER: Which means he's fast, and he's good with that fucking sword of his-
SNICKER: But no way in hell he can lift a toy three times your size.
CORSAIR: Swordsman didn't do it.
CORSAIR: Doubt your curse user did either, but you're s'posed to be the hunter 'round here.
CORSAIR: Haven't *you?*
CORSAIR: Seems pretty stupid not to talk to someone you think might've had somethin' to do with all this.
CORSAIR: ...Not that you're a detective. You're more interested in killin' things, right?
CORSAIR: Or just cleanin' up bodies?
CORSAIR: Guess that's a lot easier than doin' anything about any of this, right?
SNICKER: Sheesh, who pissed in your cereal today?
SNICKER: Was a simple question!

 

She rolls her eyes.

Corsair leans her scepter to the side, pointing at you.

CORSAIR: Go ahead.



 

You have been frozen to the spot.

CROSSBONE: U-uh



CROSSBONE: Well



CROSSBONE: T-that's still-



CROSSBONE: That was only one of my questions.
SNICKER: ...right.
SNICKER: You wanted to know places.
SNICKER: Not my forte. Like I said, I'm the guy at the gate.
SNICKER: The times I get out there, it's because it's been made my fucking problem.
SNICKER: Vortex'd know better than me.
SNICKER: ...there, you know what?
SNICKER: That's my suggestion.
SNICKER: Go pester it in its shack.
SNICKER: Bout an hour's walk outside the wall.

 

...all that to go get told to ask somebody else...


You do your best to avoid looking stupid.

CROSSBONE: Th. Thank you for the help.
SNICKER: Yeah, yeah.
SNICKER: Take your keychain ass and your chaperone and start moving.
SNICKER: Sun goes down quicker than you'd expect.
CROSSBONE: ...it's morning.
SNICKER: Maybe where you come from, but out here- narrative packs a nasty sting.

 

She reaches for the crank at her side, raising the metal gate-

SNICKER: Go on. Get outta here.



 

-the only thing ahead of you looking like long stretches of snow and trees.






Zero signage at all.

CORSAIR: Uh-huh.

 

Corsair leans her scepter on her shoulder and steps through the open gate.

CORSAIR: You lock us out on the way back, and I'll bust the gate down.

 

She gives a wave, not looking in Snicker's direction.

SNICKER: What, and deal with your friends pitchin' a fit?
SNICKER: Noooo thank you!

 

You quickly catch up behind her-

And then the gate closes.

CORSAIR: . . .
CORSAIR: ...Sorry 'bout that.
CORSAIR: Pissed me off.
CROSSBONE: No, it's-
CROSSBONE: ...
CROSSBONE: You did good.

 

She gives the slightest of shrugs.

CORSAIR: Got info, at least.
CORSAIR: Which is that: she doesn't know what the hell she's doin', and she's got no info.

 

The snake rubs her face.

CORSAIR: Sooner I'm outta this hellhole, th' better.
CROSSBONE: ...yeah.
CROSSBONE: I...
CROSSBONE: This isn't really what I expected either.
CORSAIR: ...You just wanna get cursed, then you're gone, right?
CROSSBONE: I mean, yeah, that's the plan-
CORSAIR: Good.
CORSAIR: Place ain't safe.
CROSSBONE: ...
CROSSBONE: Then why...

 

You shake your head.

CROSSBONE: Sorry. Nosy.
CORSAIR: I'd rather you just ask it.
CROSSBONE: ...why are you sticking around, then?
CORSAIR: ...Not dangerous for me.
CORSAIR: And y'all need help while you're here, right?
CROSSBONE: But-
CROSSBONE: You didn't even know us before last night.
CORSAIR: . . .
CORSAIR: ...haven't been here long.
CORSAIR: ...but you want an actual answer, right?

 

You nod a little.

She's ahead of you, not looking in your direction.

But it seems like she can tell, somehow.

CORSAIR: . . .
CORSAIR: Helpin' y'all out beats what I was doin' before.
CROSSBONE: ....what are you gonna do after, then?

 

She rubs her chin with a thumb, then shrugs.

CORSAIR: ...Probably... same as before.
CORSAIR: Got nothin' else.



CORSAIR: . . .



CORSAIR: This place was just s'posed to be a pit stop.
CORSAIR: Met Tim, knew I couldn't just up n' leave til y'all did.
CORSAIR: Wanna help... and I'm still curious.

 

She raises her scepter a few inches and taps it, showing it to you.

The colors catch your eye.

CORSAIR: It's reactin' still, to all five of you; some more than others, but all of ya just the same.
CORSAIR: Can't exactly put that mystery down, can I?







CORSAIR: ...Not like I had much of a plan, anyway.