strange things | text

[rootinest]

[It's taken some time for him to sit down and actually try this because every instinct he has is screaming at him that it's not allowed. The rules toys follow aren't just something they choose to follow, they're instinct. Instinct they can fight, certainly - like when he and Sid's toys had scared Sid - but instinct nevertheless.]

[But this is a special circumstance and maybe Buzz has the right idea. One of the big people had been nice to him, sabotaging his back switch so it didn't actually change anything when switched to demo mode.]

[This situation is so much bigger than them, bigger than any other chaotic situation they've ever faced, bigger even than their little prison break at Sunnyside. What's an escape from a daycare compared to an otherdimensional...whatever? A place where magical shock devices have been put inside them and now they're being expected to, what, go on missions? His only job is being huggable and good for playing pretend. How that's supposed to translate to "missions" is beyond him.]

[In any case, it's so big that maybe he and Buzz need a little help from the big people. Or at least for them to know the two toys hanging around are actually alive.]

[But that doesn't mean it's easy to talk to them. He decides to do it first over text. And decides to maybe test the waters a little instead of launching right into "Hi I'm woody, I'm a talking rag doll."]

[The comm is almost as big as he is, so he has to rely on the voice-to-text to type anything because it's so much work hitting all the buttons.]

Hi. Hello. So.

How nonhuman would someone have to be for you all to think they were too weird for you to want to deal with? Asking for a friend.

Comments

[wheyoftheadept]

[Saturday frowns]

I can see the problem, yeah. If toys are alive in my world, they - well, even if there was some idea of showing themselves after the Awakening, Deus would have put an end to that.

Still - if you want to be toys, then still, like. That doesn't mean we shouldn't treat you nicely an' take your feelings into account... do you think you guys might be kinda like, spirits? Does your world have spirits an' things like that?

[her frowns deepens]

If Mr. Baku an' the rest were people, I ought to feel guilty about not takin' their feelings into account. Not too much 'cause I didn't know, but...

[she can't articulate it, but tries anyway]

...even if their feelings were just, "I want to be a friend and playmate to children," you still got choices and preferences you're allowed t'make an' feel, I'd think. Like I ain't super into the old ways an' I'm not an expert on spirits but like, wanting different things than a human person or a flesh person might want doesn't make you not a person, just a different kind that wants an' needs different things. 'Less there's something I'm missing.

[rootinest]

We don't really know what we are. What makes us alive.

[Are they spirits? Maybe? Is there some magical, spiritual thing animating them? Who knows?]

As for choices, or how we're treated, it just...is what it is back home.

[He doesn't know how to articulate the idea that they have a certain culture and way of thinking to compensate for how little power and how few choices they have.]

But here, I certainly won't say no to the idea of other people treating us well. We plan on doing the same, even in the state Buzz is in. If you did, I'd certainly be grateful, especially since Jorgmund is just as happy to hurt us like everyone else. [His expression gets steely, and it's not feigned. Even though Buzz got it fixed, he's furious they were willing to wipe his mind.] And especially after what they did to Buzz, using his demo switch to wipe his memory.

[He's got to make sure to act angry, as part of the act.]

I know we're all stuck in this mess, but they talked about how we didn't need a room. I heard them call us -

Inventory. Which I don't mind when no one knows we're alive but it's a bit alarming to hear when someone does.

[wheyoftheadept]

Treating you well was never up for question. Far as I'm concerned, everyone Jorg's fucking is on the same team and that's the end of it. Even if someone was your worst enemy back home, put it aside til you are home, you know?

[she nods firmly, her own face hard as flesh can look; Woody does have an advantage in poker games]

You're welcome to bunk with me, or I can set you up a spot in one of the vents or something - there's a lot of odd gaps in the walls and the like. Been using them to cache things.

An' if you don't mind, I wouldn't mind learning a bit about you guys an' all. Maybe toys back home aren't like you, but if they are, it'd be right to set things up so they're comfortable. Like, is it better to leave a playset out for you to hang in when someone isn't playing? If someone's outgrowing you, do you wanna be donated or like, kept in a nice spot with some things t'do til another kid in the family wanders along? I'm guessin' if my world's toys are like you they don't wanna be outed and let the world know, but - I mean, my pops was always giving gifts to the spirits and making them nice little houses an' such, don't see why people can't do similar for toys.

[she nods, decided]

Be a good way of teachin', like, respect an' care an' such to the kids, too.