Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime) [ON HOLD]

(Chapter 4) Part 14: A Feast

Leaving the room, Dan sees Catnap standing before an illustration on the wall. The feline's ears pinned back as he frowns at the drawing, staring at a specific piece... a demonic depiction of himself gassing children as they all screamed in fear of him, begging him to stop; some even have Xs for eyes, signifying that they're dead. There was also a metal hand drawn reaching past him as it picked up a child by their foot, a sad face drawn onto them.

Dan walks up and stands next to Catnap, crossing his arms, "Hey..."

He hums in response but does nothing else to signify he heard the man. Dan looked up at him, and sees the small bandage wrapped around his ear, two purple stripes drawn diagonally on the material covering his inner ear.

"Bobby did a good job with the ear, I like the stripes," Dan complimented.

Catnap hummed, still not looking at the man, so Dan looked back at the drawing, looking at the exaggerated proportions of the illustrated Catnap. The wide eyes and smile, similar to the Nightmare form he took when they were drugged, and the angry eyebrows that were drawn above his head, slightly indenting the top of it.

"I'm a monster to them," he murmurs.

Dan nods, "It looks like."

Catnap takes a deep breath, "They don't want me here."

Dan bites is lip as he tries to think of something to ease his worries, but Catnap continues, "I've killed so many of them, all in the name of The Prototype... and Nearic. Now look at me, a monster, all that progress... the kids appreciated me, some even liked me, but now it's all gone. I'm nothing but a monster all over again."

"Catnap..." Dan starts, but the feline stops him with a look.

"Don't, I'm not in the mood for false arguments," he looks at the drawing before changing the subject, "What did Poppy want?"

Dan thinks for a moment, then looks back at the toys in the lobby, many eyeing the feline warily, the rest either going about their business or staying near the man's brother. Watching all the toys walk around, alive, makes his scowl at Poppy's plan, it's too much for something too little.

"Not here," he replies, "We'll talk about it when we leave Safe Haven."

The feline looks back at older brother, "What, we're leaving?"

Dan holds up a hand, "Some of us, we have to stop The Doctor and get something that's in his possession. Then we'll come right back to fix the generator, we're not really leaving, not yet."

Catnap sighs, "I'm guessing I have to go with you?"

Dan sighs sadly, "Yes, Doey may be willing to give you a chance, but most of the toys here aren't. You and Dogday are coming with me, Nearic will have to stay so he can heal and rest."

Catnap hesitates for a moment then nods, "Alright, let's go get him."

The two walk away from the drawing and towards the tents, and they see Dogday kneeling down and petting his son, who is leaning back into the backrest of pillows and blankets. Dogday was facing away from them, so Dan couldn't see how they treated his eye except for the bandage wrapped around his head, but they could see Nearic's treatment. His wounds are wrapped up in fresh bandages, his right arm was now in a sling and positioned to hold his left shoulder, ensuring that it won't move. The patch over his left eye now had a sticker on it, the illustration of bloody angel wings. He was holding a Playtime Radio in his only free hand while Bobby explained enthusiastically how it worked, Nearic listening attentively.

"Hey Nearic," Dan calls with a wave.

The three look over as the teen smiles, "Hey Dan, how'd your talk with Doey go? He said you'd be heading out soon."