HOTEL LEX - FLOOR 5 (13/?) (Patreon)

You reach out and pull Emmett in for a warm embrace.

You rest his head on your arm before sliding your other arm against his chest in a spooning position. He lets out a soft sigh and presses his back into you. You both lie there with your eyes closed, hearts still racing. You forgot the last time you've held someone like this in your arms. Your thoughts drift and you wonder if you'll ever make it out of here. You think about what's waiting for you on the outside; your parents though they're in a different state, your friends whom you often go out drinking and play board games with, your job, which honestly feels like a deadend more than anything. You crack open an eyelid to see the top of Emmett's head with his big floppy ears cushioning against your arm. You hold him tight, not wanting to let go. Maybe... maybe it would be fine just to stay here? You feel like you'd fit into Pillowfort, being a lost toy and all.

Emmett shifts around to face you and presses his head against your chest. Your heart flutters as you hold him in your arms.

"Thank you," he mumbles sleepily in a whisper, his eyes are closed. "I never thought I'd have a second chance at something so special again... When we get out of here, I would love to take you to visit Nan sometime."

You pet his head with your fleece claws. Right, you need to keep moving. Though your life might be far from glamorous, that doesn't mean you can neglect the people who count on you. You pull over a nearby blanket and tuck both of you in. As a toy, you don't really feel hot or cold in the traditional sense but the soft wool blanket is comforting, plus being under the covers somehow feels safer. For now, you yawn and close your eyes. For now, a rest wouldn't hurt. You feel Emmett twitch slightly as he quickly falls asleep before you. You feel that there is something worth protecting more than just yourself now and you hug the bunny before drifting off. Although you are in a space that means you no harm, your brain decides otherwise. You dream of weird shapes and colors speeding past you. Lex flashes through a screen and his laughter echoes in your ears. You feel yourself running down corridors filled with angular mirrors. Each reflection of you shatters into different versions of you. You spy the transformations that have overcome your body: a kobold, a dragon, a plushie. You spot various other forms: a shark, a rubbery creature, a large dragon, an action figure, a nutcracker. You feel restless, as if you are running in circles and unable to find an exit...

You wake up to the sensation of purring. Your eyes flutter open to look around you. While the two of you were asleep, Bean had come back and nested himself in the warmth. You blink, unsure what time it was as the lights around you haven't changed. The music box had stopped playing and was replaced by a low hum of a radiator or air conditioner of sorts. You sit up slowly as your body is catching up to your awakening. You look down at Bean and then at Emmett who is curled up into a ball and lightly snoring.

You rub the sleep out of your eyes and examine your plush body once again while deep in thought. You weigh your options: you could pay the Baron a visit in hopes he has a way to transform you back into non-toys. At the moment, he doesn't know who you are or that you aren't originally toys to begin with. Perhaps you could use that to your advantage in gaining more information or you might be able to find the lamb who might have been a resident of the hotel. And then there's the Timekeeper who would have insight into fixing your pocketwatch. He seems friendlier compared to the Baron based on Mother's description but you would have to find something to pay for his services. Maybe you could meet up again with Charly and have him accompany you to the Timekeeper. A third option enters your head. What if you did neither? Being a plushie isn't so bad; you barely feel the ache of muscle and bone nor the grumbling in your stomach. Granted, having your missing parts back would be nice but you also need not wear clothes. You shudder, scared of the next piece of fabric that might grace your body. You will just have to find an exit within the department store while avoiding contact with the Baron and Timekeeper, though there is no guarantee you won't run into either of them, or both of them. You sit and ponder while the pair rests beside you.

> Seek the Baron's help to revert your transformations.> Seek the Timekeeper's help to fix the pocketwatch.> Find your own path through the department store.

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