Chapter Text
Poppy doesn’t bother to stay quiet about taking out their notebook. They probably should’ve since it was so late, but no one rooms with them–no one wanted to. It made them a little upset, thinking about it. A lot of things made them upset
But Taco gave them some pretty good advice! Well it at least sounded good. It was like Taco could sense their thoughts, because Poppy was pretty sure they weren’t actually visually upset. But she said “you know, Poppy. If you’re ever feeling… upset, or angry, or something of the matter, writing can help a lot. I should know. You are… young, you should know something that can help with feelings and such,” and she would wave her hand like she always did and then go back to her tea. Poppy liked Taco, even if they didn’t talk.
So Poppy did, their notebook was the only thing they actually owned. Everything else was from the lost and found, or someone else’s hand out. But the notebook actually belonged to them, Poppy had first dibs on it when they were giving away some new stuff. And they didn’t care if someone else wanted it.
So with all the emotion of a teenager that is hated by almost everyone they’ve ever met, they wrote a letter.
‘ Dear Steve(?) Cobs,
I think I hate you. I don’t really know. I don’t even know what you did but whatever you did you ruined my life. You’re dead and you made everyone hate me! Were you that bad? Did we even look alike? They don’t tell me anything.
I would like to think you wouldve been kind to me but the more I think the more I don't know. I mean, if you’re as bad as they say you don’t sound great.
It just really pisses me off, if that’s the right word. I’m new to a lot of stuff. I think curse words are fun, but they’re rude so I don’t really say them like some people i’ve met. I’ve met a lot of cool people but they don’t like me because of you, so I don’t think I’ll forgive you for that. I can’t really forgive you for anything since I don’t know you. And I won’t forgive you for making me look like you. Did you know I would pop up after you died? Like what the plan? Whatever I’m glad you died. I think.
At least Paper is being a bit nice to me now. I don’t know if I should trust him, the flip really threw me off guard. But at least he wasn’t being super-duper mean like he was before. For his mental health, or whatever. But from what I heard he didn’t even know you super personally so I don’t know why I had to be locked up or whatever I don’t know its stupid and i hate it. I really wanted to punch him.
Sometimes I get really mean thoughts and I don’t know if that makes me a bad person, so I’m also going to blame that on you. I’m glad you died.
It’s hard to a guy you didn’t know about. Taco told me to write–it’s something she did and Taco is cool! I really like her, she’s been nice to me. Apparently she was also considered evil but she actually DID something (like a lot of somethings) mean so that made feel seen? If that makes sense. She knows what its like to have no one like you, and no one likes me besides a couple of people, so i think thats why. Words are confusing and I don’t like them. I like tinkering, i think I also got that from you. So i guess thats one thing you did, because you owned a company which made electronics and such. That’s what I’ve heard anyway.
I don’t think i’ll send this letter cuz, you’re dead. Not like you can read it. I hate you still. But i might write more later, or something. My hand hurts. ‘
They closed their notebook and shoved it back in a drawer. They were holding their pencil too hard, they did it when they were focussed. Which was a lot, Poppy liked drawing and writing and all sorts of things! Not that anyone knew that.
But it’s not like Poppy didn’t have friends. Bot was pretty nice to them, Poppy would say they’re friends! And MeTag, obviously. But that was kinda it. Paper definitely isn’t a friend, even if he’s trying. Poppy shouldn’t have to change for someone else!
… they think.
They groan, look over to the drawer. They then groan again, and finally turn over and sleep. Well, they try. I really would end it here, but the amount of tossing and turning Poppy has to do before they can finally sleep is an unhealthy amount. They’re sure that there's probably something that can help them go to bed a decent hour, but it was just too embarrassing to ask.
Sometimes they’d try to take a walk to clear their thoughts. But people usually stayed up late in the lobby and it was hard to sneak away. Embarrassing. So they’d opt for the roof and walk in circles.
Poppy doesn’t know why it’s so hard to sleep. It’s not like they wake up super late, or don’t do anything all day. They’d say they got all their energy out. And it’s not like they aren’t tired or anything. No, they were incredibly tired, all the time. Like a constant buzz of “go to sleep early!” but never actually being able too. It was a curse. They should also blame that on Cobs.The thought makes them smile, if just a small bit.
Poppy slid on a pair of hand-me-down slippers. Pickle admitted to owning them but claimed they didn’t care after Poppy had found them at the lost and found. Obvious pity points, but they tried not to think about that.
They carefully open their door but it squeaks anyway. The whole building was a little rickety, really. The walls were thick enough they’d probably not wake anybody up. The door is red, Poppy likes the color. They think the O.S.C. was attempting to make it look like the old hotel, so it was familiar. No one really liked change, as they’ve noticed. Maybe the old hotel was nicer.
They slowly walk to the stairs. Their room is on one of the higher floors. They liked it that way, looking out the window was nice. It was really pretty when it snowed. It was also less cold, at least when they didn’t have a fire. The hotel didn’t have central heating, which was whatever. It was on the add list, they had bigger problems.
The walls have a nice texture, Poppy runs their hands on it as they walk down the stairs. They creak every stair or so, and it makes them stop walking for a second. Just a few, they had places to walk to.
A bit of a guilty pleasure, but they liked the ledge where Fan got struck by lightning. It’s rude, and they do feel bad for him! Very bad, he’s still in the hospital due to it–it’s not like they like it because that’s where Fan did get hurt, it has a nice view! A view of the entire island! Is that really their fault?
They stop again, to strain their ears to see if the TV is on. They don’t hear anything.
But that doesn’t mean anything either.
Poppy takes more careful steps now. Slower. It’s not like they’d get in trouble or anything, but they don’t think someone else would let them wander off in the woods in the middle of the night. Are there animals in the woods? Poppy’s never seen any. Maybe bears, they probably wouldn’t go if there were bears, but they’re pretty sure there're no bears.
They make it to the lobby–its empty, thankfully.
The lobby floors don’t squeak when they walk, so they’re allowed to walk at a normal pace again. It’s probably not the smartest idea to go out in the middle of the night in pjs and slippers, but you only live once, or whatever the saying is.
Chilly air hits them like a brick, but it feels refreshing. Fresh air, not the stifled air from their room. They close the door behind them, making sure they hear the click. It would be very embarrassing if they left the door wide open. Poppy doesn’t think they’d recover. But maybe they’d seem more human to everyone else. Did Cobs make mistakes like that?
They tie their hair up and head to the woods. There wasn’t any real path, Poppy liked making up their own. They knew how to get back and how to get there. It was pretty simple to just… remember a path. They didn’t know how people get lost so easily.
The forest is nice. There is dew, a phenomenon Poppy really wants to ask Test Tube about! Poppy wants to read all the science books she has, but Test Tube also isn’t very fond of them either.
They push a branch out of the way.
Poppy loves science! And learning! They love learning, everything is just so interesting. It’s just awkward. Poppy thinks they would like school a lot.
They hop over a little stream, before looking back to see if there's any fish. It’s too dark to see, but they tried anyway.
It’s so dark, actually. Poppy can barely see, but it's light enough to see, so it’s not like they’ll wander off a ledge or something. The moonlight trickles in from the gaps in the tree roofs. Maybe Poppy should climb a tree.
They let out a little ‘ack!’ as they trip over a root, their hands landing on leaves.
“... whoops.” They let out a laugh, a small one, before pushing themselves back up. Just a small fall, no need to get upset.
Poppy got upset a lot, but it was in their nature to get over it pretty fast. Poppy wouldn’t say they’re a violent person, but intrusive thoughts were pretty common. They worried, sometimes, that having mean thoughts would make them mean, but they’re doing pretty well!
Because it’s not like they actually hit Paper, or called Trophy an idiot, or tried to hurt someone. But suppose that was the bare minimum. It’s not like they would actually do anything bad to people. That’d be proving everyone right.
The move out of the way of another branch.
They don’t want to prove anyone right. Then they’d get sent away, or something. But other people were rude and it was fine. But if Poppy was they’d probably get in actual trouble, which wasn’t fair. No one at the O.S.C. was fair. They were all stupid.
And the ledge! Finally!
Another smile finally appears on their face, the past thoughts getting instantly forgotten as the scene came into view.
Poppy makes their way to the edge, ignoring the call to the void as they dangle their legs over the edge and look out over the island.
There are a million tiny hills, but you can still end up seeing the ocean. Just barely. Inanimate island is big in the way it's a giant island, but it’s only giant because Poppy is so small. It’s tiny.
They aren’t going to openly admit it, but they do enjoy being alone. They liked people, but everyone wants to be alone sometimes. People are a lot. Especially when most of them don’t like you. Poppy wants to think differently, a positive attitude matters! It matters a lot! They try to keep their best one up but it’s hard sometimes. It’s hard a lot of times.
They keep looking out. The island is pretty, they’d like to explore it if they didn’t have to also camp while doing that. Camping sucked. They assumed. They assume a lot of things, they didn’t get to experience most of them.
It’s an improper amount of time, by the time they start to realize it's getting brighter. They tend to get lost in their thoughts, lost in fake conversations they would never have.
They notice the ocean getting brighter as the sun comes up. Then they realize:
“Oh fiddlesticks!” The scramble to get up. They didn’t mean to stay out for so long! With no sleep! They dodge a few branches and almost fall as their speed walk-turned-run to get back to the hotel. And now they probably stink. Morning shower, maybe? There was a challenge today! Probably!
They feel a tad bit more relaxed as they see the hotel. Just a little, as they begin to walk and hope they won’t be seen.