What do you think would('ve) happen if, like, Doey and the other toys/experiments (Lucas and Bella included) got out of the facility? How would they react? Obviously, they'd enjoy the freedom, but what else?
Text under the read more!
Phew! Sorry this took me so long to get to, but hopefully it was worth it! Someone else also sent an ask talking about how Bella and Lucas could have survived the HOJ (which I accidentally deleted due to lag while deleting spam TwT) so this is for both of you!!
The first thing on everyone's mind after escaping would be food, food and drinks of any kind. Playtime Co. controlled most of the toys via starvation, and the food they did get was really low quality junk. Doey is more than familiar with crawling through vents, and what is that Walmart employee really going to do about him. While grabbing most anything in reach, there was definitely a preference towards junk food, they're all still kids and chips and soda are like ambrosia and they're going to eat until they throw up, and then they'll probably eat more after XD
After they finish gorging themselves I think they'd probably hide? Try and find somewhere to hide out either just in the woods or if they can locate an abandoned building. Anything to stay out of the weather and away from people, especially that last bit. None of them want anything to do with people, interactions would be rare and as short as they possibly can manage (they're all very scared of being dragged back). Getting Lucas and Bella's collars off is one of those rare people interactions, that poor employee who had Doey's stalker form looming over them while they tried to turn off a shock collar attached to a stuffed animal (who was also alive). Like, the second they left the store that dude 100% fainted BAHAHAHA. Doey's main focus is on himself, Bella, and Lucas, though I think it'd make sense for them to pick up a squad on the way out. Most toys were enjoying the carnage to some degree (or being torn apart in it) and most of the mini toys couldn't do much even after getting out of the building, these three were just lucky. There is no way in hell any of them would be willing to go back into the building, as much as they wish certain friends were here, it's just too much risk.
Honestly even after escaping I think they'd still be stuck in survival mode, scared of being dragged back at any moment and living in a world that is so new and scary. Most don't have very strong memories of being human, everything is new and to them, anything new is dangerous. They'd settle into a routine eventually I imagine... I believe in them :]
Also for funsies! The Bron's name is Brandy, he remembers the most about being human (though not his own name as Brandy was a name he took after being a toy) and is in charge when it comes to figuring out new stuff. He is also the oldest of the group! The Daddy Long Leg is Dill, he also doesn't remember his real name. Dill and Doey are the main ones who do any sneaking that needs to be done, Dill is small and flexible, Doey is large and flexible. Finally there is the Catbee Amelia, who the only thing she remembers is her name. One of her antenna snapped off before meeting Doey and gang and she was the leader of her little squad, though I think she enjoys being able to take a backseat nowadays.
While he mostly has a control on all the chunks of the boys floating around in there, on days that are particularly tiring or stressful he can lose his grip. Before Bella and Lucas this is when he would pick a corner of the room and mope in monster form (putting all focus on reigning things back in) but he is not allowed to do that anymore! You know how it feels when multiple people are talking to you or around you, feeling like you can’t hear your own thoughts… that but it starts smothering his feelings, jerking his insides around at random.
They also tend to amplify how he is already feeling, concentrating it. Things become more vivid, every feeling, thought, mental image. It’s something he has to grit his teeth and try to ride out, using as much energy as possible to keep the turmoil inside. This is before Doey fully understands how he was made so he is not only being bombarded with these thoughts and feelings, but they all add up to something incoherent. Frequently contradicting each other, flashbacks for things he has, hasn’t, has, experienced as his mind tries to stitch together a coherent story. It makes it hard to know what is actually happening in the now, to those on the outside he isn’t fully there. I think Anger/Upset comes up frequently both from the stress of trying to just think, alongside the fact those are very very nuanced emotions that are built out of a lot of emotions at once that all sorta combine into yelling.
Bella and Lucas are somewhat used to Doey having energy swings (moments where he is quiet and tired and moments where he is very very enthusiastic and the such) but this is an entirely different beast. By the time either of them actually saw a proper moment(tm) they had grown fairly comfortable with him, and this was a scary awful thing. My guess is that it was probably Bella who saw it, sometime soon after Kip passed and his cork just popped. It was a lot of sobbing before he nearly smashed her with a fist. He was yelling a lot of stuff that didn’t make a lot of sense to her but he almost immediately retreated to the other side of the room after the fact. I think things were hard and scary for the rest of that day, but they figured it out soon after. They really didn’t have much choice but to figure it out, considering the situation. Still, took a bit for her to get a sense for them and how to deal with them (staying out of the way).
Lucas figured it out much faster, he is used to dealing with tantrums (he doesn’t remember why). The longest one of these outbursts has lasted with a critter around is maybe an hour and a half. If left to ride it out at most Doey will start muttering to himself thankfully!
I think think they were conditioned to act like their toy part, probably mentally "torturing" them in a way.
It’s not very good but this solidified a little comic I had in my head that I hurried and sketched out (It’ll be under the read more since it is big). But mental torture was kinda the vibe I got, some of the toys were probably out of it enough that conditioning wasn’t hard, but some you basically had to clockwork orange ‘em
(COMIC HERE, transcript included, my handwriting stinks)
1: “1322 still being difficult?”
2: "Yup."
2: "I want to strangle whoever thought moody Play-doh was a good idea!"
1: "Don't let Dr. Sawyer hear that."
2: "I know"
2: "He consistently answers to "Doey" now, but refuses to hold his shape!"
1: "Hmm..."
2: "Threats don't work, neither do rewards, or starvation!"
1: "He's sociable right?"
2: "Uh... not with adults, but he interacts well with the critters...why?"
1: "Use one of them as leverage."
2: "I-" "Hmm" "That might work...."
2: "I'll go ask Jack about it."
1: "Cheers."
"Sometime later"
2: "Bzzt~ Experiment 1322: "Doey", we will be introducing someone to your cell in 3. 2. 1."
"shink" "Fwoomp"
2: "This is 1217, "Bobby Bearhug". She will be your roomate for now. Bzzt~"
2: "Say "Hello" Doey."
Tada! (I didn't transcribe Doey's scribble noises) As a bonus here is a bunch of rambly text written from Doey’s perspective that got scrapped since I changed my plans for this. Obviously I would have edited it to make it more coherent, but I think my ramble thoughts are still interesting!
Does does keep anything to remember Lucas and Bella in safe haven?
Yes! Their pull-tabs for their zippers! He has them stuck to his bowler like little charms (glue would probably look nicer, but he would be too anxious about them falling off). They’ve gotten a few questions at Safe Haven, but generally saying “they’re special” is enough for curious toys. A few of the bigger body critters know more, but I’ll save that for another drawing.
He very rarely loses track of his hat, but when it does happen retrieving it becomes priority #1. While definitely concerned about his attachment to the hat, Poppy understands every toy has their quirks. Doey can manage himself out there better than almost any toy in Safe Haven… she couldn’t blame him for holding his cards close to his chest.
Another messy comic!! if you haven’t read this comic or peeped this post then it might not make as much sense, but I am very happy with it! Like last time it’ll be under the read more with a transcript!
(“There used to be three”)
1: "Project "Babysitter" is going to plan, 1322 has become far more cooperative since its implementation."
1: "Initially only 1217 was going to be used, however, 1205 and 1219 have been added, reducing downtime."
Doey: "...is the coast clear?"
Kip: "Yup."
Doey: "You have to hold very still Kip."
Kip: "Okay!"
Doey: "Ready?"
Kip: "Ready!"
Doey: "Please... they ne....." trails off
Person1: "Thank god... it's frozen..."
"Later..."
1: "Ah, you're awake. Took you long enough."
1: "Was it worth it?" "What a waste."
1: "I hope you've learned a lesson here 1322. This was your fault."
1: "1219 will be brought in shortly, and 1205 disposed of."
1: "You'll have to make do with only 2."
2: "I'm sorry doctor-"
1: "Give him a minute, then correct his form."
2: "Right!"
2: "What do we do next time?"
1: "There won't be a next time."
Tada! Two critters does seem like an odd number to choose, but there actually were three. However, after an unfortunate situation, 1205 passed away. The department did not see a reason to reassign a third to 1322, besides, it would serve as a good lesson. 1322 has not attempted to mess with the shock collars since. (Kip did survive the initial shock, though the nitrogen was too much for her system)
I’m still having issues with the page but for anyone who can’t wait to begin poking around the new AU tags here they are! We have #Lost Files Lore and #Lost Files Comics I’ll get the page up tomorrow. (Still interested in suggestions for what should go in a FAQ spot for the au! I have a few ideas)
