[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.