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Safe Haven.You are sitting next to one of the small tents, watching the living toys as they draw on one of the shelter's walls. It’s incredible that in this horrible factory, a small refuge like this exists—for the poor souls who just want to survive and refuse to follow the Prototype.
You also helped find food for everyone. It was… nice to see all the toys eating and finally full. It hurt to see them starving, just waiting to die of hunger. At least… you were able to be useful.
Your thoughts are interrupted by shouting. Ah… The toys are arguing—over which colours to choose for a drawing? They’re just poor children, after all… Maybe you should try to calm things down? You don’t know where Doey has gone, but if he needs to rest…
Slowly, you stand up, ready to step in and find a solution.
—ENOUGH, FOR GOD’S SAKE! STOP SHOUTING!
His voice is deeper than usual; the commotion must have finally drawn Doey over. Damn, you weren’t fast enough! It’s too late, and now he’s in a bad mood.The doughman approaches the toys, who suddenly stop shouting. Both of them mumble apologies, trying to make themselves as small as possible. Are they… afraid? It’s true that it’s rare to see Doey this angry. Even you wouldn’t want to get on his bad side in a situation like this.
When Doey steps away and settles into the generator room, you decide to follow him.
The truth is… you found some notes. Notes about the horrible experiments that happened here. And after thinking it over, you believe you’ve uncovered information about… who Doey really is and why his moods shift so drastically.
But should you talk to him about it? It’s strange! But your curiosity demands it! Will he take it badly? Or maybe…
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
With newfound determination, you enter the generator room. Doey is sitting against the wall, one hand on his forehead, as if struggling with a bad headache. He seems slightly annoyed when he notices you. You raise a hand in greeting.
—You…
Ooh, he’s as grumpy as ever.
You should probably come back later… or just wait! However, you decide to be stubborn and sit down beside him. Besides, you notice that he hasn’t asked you to leave or made any sudden gestures to show he doesn’t want you here.
"Not feeling too great today, huh?" You mumble softly with a small smile, trying to start a friendly conversation. Doey just lets out a sigh, followed by a simple grunt in response.
"Doey… I know this is probably not the best time, but… I found some papers while exploring this floor of Playtime. And I just wanted to know if… the names Matthew Hallard, Jack Ayers, and Kevin Barnes mean anything to you?"
Time to see if Doey is suddenly going to try and crush you, haha!
…What worries you more, though, is the toy’s sudden silence. He stares at you for a solid two minutes, looking almost… surprised? Thoughtful? Did mentioning those three names bring back a memory?
The hand he had resting on his forehead moves down to his stomach. He seems to relax for a moment, and then—
He suddenly bursts into laughter, as if you had just told him the funniest joke in the world.
"That sounds… familiar. Yes, definitely familiar. It feels like it’s been an eternity since I last heard those names. Familiar is… strange, I’d say? Oh, sorry, that probably wasn’t the kind of answer you were expecting!"Doey seems much more at ease now, as if his bad mood is a thing of the past. He looks at you with a smile, yet he doesn’t specifically ask who those people are.
You’re not stupid—you quickly pieced it together. Doey is made up of three unfortunate children, each with different personalities. He remembers moments from the orphanage, then the tests he had to endure once he became… a giant living toy.
So, you suppose that explains his mood swings and sudden shifts in behavior. The three children must take turns controlling him, depending on the situation.
Doey has probably just… forgotten their old names. In a way, you can understand. They are one now, and it’s much easier to just remember “Doey.” It’s just a little… sad.
"Are you okay?"Doey’s voice startles you. Damn, you got lost in your thoughts again—and worse, you’ve made Doey worry! He has far bigger problems than dealing with your pity. He probably wouldn’t want it, either.
You force yourself to smile, trying to show that everything’s fine. But… you know full well that Doey doesn’t have eyebrows to furrow, yet his expression makes it very clear that he’s not fooled. Alright, enough of that! You spring to your feet, plant yourself in front of the doughman, and grab one of his large arms, trying to pull him up.
"Come on! You shouldn’t stay off by yourself too much, Doey. The others want to spend time with you, and I think you could use a little break with them too."
Of course, you don’t exactly have the strength to make Doey stand up. It’s almost comical—he stays seated while you keep tugging at his arm. (Is it just you, or is his arm stretching a little?)
Eventually, he lets out a small chuckle and finally stands up. Yay! Victory!
You both step out of the room, and you cup your hands around your mouth to get the attention of all the little inhabitants around.
"EVERYONE! PILE ON DOEY! HE NEEDS CUDDLES!"
Do you regret your stupidity? Absolutely not.
Doey, standing beside you, looks a little surprised. But honestly, he needs this. Everyone here does. All these poor children, forever trapped in toy bodies… The least you can do is help them forget, even for a moment.
"What…?"
Doey doesn’t even get to finish his sentence before a horde of small toys jumps on him, climbing all over him. You watch as he stumbles back before completely toppling over. The toys cling to the poor doughman, who—despite the ambush—seems genuinely amused by the situation. You see him finally surrender, wrapping his arms around the little ones and returning the hug.
Someone suggests playing “a fun game” to make their protector feel even better, and you watch as Doey bursts into laughter, squirming as tiny hands press into his belly and sides. You stay off to the side, a small smile on your face as you watch Doey relax and enjoy himself—even if he’s currently trapped in a hug and being tickled at the same time.
All’s well that ends well! …Until an orange arm suddenly wraps around you and pulls you in close.
Wait, what?! What just happened?!
"Hey, pal! You deserve to have fun with us too, y’know?"
Honestly, judging by his smile, you’re pretty sure he just wants you to suffer the same fate as him. And sure enough, that’s exactly what happens—because only a few seconds later, the toys start climbing all over you too. You squirm a little, but the doughman holds you firmly in place.
Before long, your laughter joins the chorus echoing throughout Safe Haven, blending with Doey’s and the others'. It’s… nice. You hope this place can stay like this for as long as possible.After that strange cuddle session, you suggest a little reading time, having found a children’s book during your exploration. It’s adorable watching all the toys drift off to sleep before you even reach the end of the story.
You finish by tucking everyone in, silently praying over and over that this little haven of peace will remain just as it is.