Chapter Text
Playtime Co.
Once a giant in the toymaking business, now an empty shell of its former glorious self. Literally; as all that was left was a single factory.
Founded by the ambitious but kind Elliot Ludwig, who always believed that a person's smile is the most important thing in the world, Playtime Co. started with big hopes and dreams. And through hard work, sweat, and determination; they delivered: Toys like Poppy Playtime, Boxy Boo, Huggy Wuggy, and many, many more.
Not only were the toys all locally made, but with the possible exception of Poppy (there were some exceptions of course), Playtime always made sure whatever they created would appeal to both boys and girls. Employees also got very good discounts or even free extra toys to give their children. On top of all of that, Elliot, a proud family man despite his busy schedule, encouraged and supported his employees in adopting orphaned children.
But one day, Elliot disappeared and people with less noble ideals took over the company. It wasn't long before the factory closed its doors after a mysterious incident involving the mass disappearance of all the workers and people who were visiting at the time.
All except one...
In a modest house in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. A woman was busy getting dinner ready for herself as well as a special visitor who was coming soon.
The woman was around 25 years old and had long black hair tied in a ponytail, warm cocoa-brown eyes, and fair skin. She was currently wearing a grey hoodie sweater, black sweatpants, and white shoes.
Another important thing to note was that she was what you'd call...fat. Now despite everything, she did her best to stay healthy, but she had quite a large appetite and it definitely showed on her figure.
Her overall body could best be described as rotund with slightly plump arms, thick legs, and a large ample posterior. Her face was slightly soft but remained beautiful and kind-looking, highlighting her sweet nature and gentle disposition.
Reference to her appearance and body shape:
Lucy Nadine was a kind-hearted, optimistic, and resourceful young woman who had loved Playtime Co. since she was a child when her parents gave her Boxy Boo and Huggy Wuggy toys. She had adored them and soon found herself admiring not just the other times Playtime created, but as she grew older, the company itself and its founder, Mr. Ludgwig.
When she was starting out her high school years, Lucy snagged a part-time job at the company. Her kindness and upbeat personality helped her make many friends and even the higher-ups found her endearing, save for a few. Lucy believed that even the slightest kindness could make the biggest changes.
However, she would sadly find the company she held so many fond memories in shut down for some unknown reason. According to the letter she received from Head of Innovation Leith Pierre, something had happened that forced the company to close. He had given a sincere word of thanks for her work and a suspiciously large amount of money to compensate for her being out of a job so suddenly; money that came in handy for the rest of her education.
For the longest time, Lucy was left hopelessly lost on what happened. She wished to know what became of her co-workers and all those people but alas, the authorities declared it a cold case and Playtime Co. was swiftly forgotten, left to fade away to the ravages of time.
Despite this, Lucy remained steadfast, graduating with high honors and attending the college she wanted to go to. Now 25 years old and still in the prime of her life, Lucy had been handling her current occupation of being a barista at the local cafe while hoping to save up enough money to perhaps make her own toy company in honor of Playtime Co. and Elliot Ludwig's memory.
She just had no idea she would end up being brought back to the place of her childhood...and discover the nightmares that had been lurking underneath her nose the entire time...
A knock on the door caught her attention as she headed over to answer it, smiling when she saw who it was; an African-American young man the same age as her with black hair done up in dreadlocks with the left side in a shaved fade. He was wearing a white t-shirt, blue tie, beige khakis, and brown shoes.
Reference:
"Angelo!"
The man smiled as Lucy took him into an embrace, nuzzling their noses together.
"You miss me?" He inquired coyly, then lifting one of his arms to reveal a takeout bag. "Or the takeout?"
"Angie, you know damn well food is always enjoyed in company." Lucy frowned with a humph. It didn't stay on her head for too long, as her own face became inquistative. "Did you miss me?"
"All 34,560 minutes." He smiled, putting the bag down to hug Lucy and then give her a chaste, yet warm and loving kiss.
Angelo Martinez, as the more perceptive readers can probably tell, was Lucy's boyfriend. They'd met in high school art club; Lucy having been sculpting some of potential toys in clay models and Angelo having been using a mix of watercolors and coffee grinds (mixed with said watercolors) to produce a graphic novel….which he was still working on whenever he could; being busy with helping maintain his parents' movie theatre.
Now, everyone in the club was a little…eccentric in some manner: One girl did nothing but throw paint onto a canvas and one fellow used only tossed away clothes for his art, but Lucy and Angelo were 'cute' eccentric and their respective projects caught each other's eye.
While Angelo was more familiar with Playtime's last few toys, like Yarnaby and Doey, the shared appreciation of the simplicity of childhood and colors led to him and Lucy having a few coffee meetings and late nights working on their 'masterpieces'. Dinner and breakfast dates followed and before they graduated, they were happily dating, with Lucy's parents considering Angelo the son they sadly never got and Angelos' parents begging him to propose sooner rather than later.
And marriage was definitely in the plan for the two…But not just yet. For now? the two lovers were content to cuddle and watch their favorite movies together.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Curious, Angelo went to get it when he saw nobody at the front, only a package left on the doorstep.
"The hell?"
Picking it up, he brought it inside, Lucy looked curious as to who was at the door only to see the note on the package, and her eyes widened in shock.
LUCY, PLEASE READ THIS
-A FRIEND
She recognized this handwriting. It had been years and who it belonged to she couldn't place, but she recognized them.
"This...how in the…?" Lucy asked herself, not sure she wanted to believe this.
"Babe?" Angelo asked, but his girlfriend didn't respond; Lucy hurriedly unwrapped the package to reveal an old VHS Tape as well as a note taped to it.
"It can't be...after all these years?"
Angelo was getting worried for Lucy now as she inserted the tape into the recorder on the TV, which began to play a video depicting Elliot Ludwig, the founder and former CEO of Playtime Co.
"You are about to see the most incredible doll ever invented. Her name is Poppy, and she is the first truly intelligent doll in the world. A little girl can talk to her, Poppy gives her answers. She is the first doll able to have a conversation with a child. Hard to believe? Just watch."
It then showed an old 50s commercial for a porcelain doll with frizzy red hair in a cute blue dress.
"POPPY PLAYTIME!" Several children cheered.
"Poppy's as lovable as a real girl, and she talks like one, too!" A female voice said.
"Hi! My name is Poppy!" The doll's seemingly pre-recorded voice began. "I love you. Can you help me polish my shoes?"
"Why, of course, Poppy! Just like a real girl, Poppy always wants to look her best." The female voice explained as a little girl's hand brushed Poppy's hair.
"Perfect! Thank you."
The commercial showed the doll having her hair brushed and her shoes polished as well as being given different kinds of accessories.
"Her hair is sturdy and won't come out when you brush it and smells just like a poppy flower! Is there anything else you'd like to say, Poppy?"
"I'm a real girl, just like you!"
"What's the time?"
"PLAYTIME!"
"Aww man, Playtime Co," Angelo said wistfully. "Didn't you work there when we were in high school?"
Lucy bit her lip and nodded. While she knew people who still had Playtime Co. toys and other merch from the glory days, there was something fishy about this particular videotape.
"And if you've ever wanted to see how all of the nation's favorite toys were created, Playtime Co. is offering factory tours at just $2.99 a person. An entire hour on the most magical toy factory on Earth." The male narrator said. "What are you waiting for? Come visit the factory? We can't-"
Suddenly, the commercial cut off to show what looked like a video camera recording of what looked like the factory interior with multiple walkways, one leading to a room that was marked by a large poppy flower painting.
"Okay, just a little bit cryptic..." Angelo muttered wearily as Lucy then looked at the note that came with the tape.
EVERYONE THINKS THE STAFF DISAPPEARED 10 YEARS AGO.
WE'RE STILL HERE.
FIND THE FLOWER
"Find the flower?" Lucy asked. "Which flower? I mean, I know they farmed Poppies and the Critter's scents…"
"Luce?" Angelo drew her out. "You're not…Baby, please tell me you're not actually going to?"
"I don't remember who, but I've seen the writing before." She told him. "and this was all addressed to me."
"Could be a cruel prank." Her boyfriend weakly suggested.
"From who, Angie?" Lucy asked, a brow raised. "No one's so much as mentioned Playtime Co in a whole decade; hell, there's no Youtuber daredevil that considers it 'worth' breaking into. The last time Palytime did come up? It was used for a Creepypasta! And going to the police? They cold cased it in a week and if we bring this? They'll investigate and interrogate me again; you know how hard it was for me to become a freaking barista after all that drama?"
"Fair points, all of them." Her boyfriend noted, then gave her a look. "There's something else."
"I need to know what happened," Lucy confessed. "Yes, it was just a part-time job. But it was my life for so long…I made so many friends there; friends I know you'd like and….Well, if I do ignore this? I know I'll never be able to…"
Suddenly overwhelmed, Lucy was grateful when Angelo took her into a hug and cleared her eyes. After a few minutes, with Lucy calmed down, he asked:
"Well, when are we going? Cause I'm going with you."
"What?" Lucy gasped. "Angie, you don't…"
"To keep you safe if nothing else." He cut her off. "Lucy; you are the kindest soul I know. It's why I fell for you. And yes, this is probably going to be the scariest thing I've ever done, but…"
"Don't you and your folks have that special at the theatre tomorrow?" Lucy noted. "The Saturday morning marathon? You've been looking forward to that for months!"
"Then we do this and I feel that I've earned junky cereal and to cuddle," Angelo smirked. "Sides, I'm not expected until noon."
"No talking you out of this, huh?" Lucy smirked.
"Not without smooching and or cuddling me into a coma, and you KNOW I won't let go of you if you try."
”God, I love this man.” Lucy smiled, knowing he was right.
It was a quiet drive to the old abandoned Playtime Co. factory. The couple soon arrived at their destination, Lucy's heart aching at how cruel time had treated the place of so many fond memories.
"Geez, this place has seen better days..." Angelo muttered as he and Lucy got out of the car.
The front door was locked but Angelo had some knowledge of lock picking thanks to his father. After opening the door, they saw that the front entrance looked remarkably clean, despite how long it had been since the factory closed its doors.
Lucy sighed. "Alright, we're here. Now let's see if we can find what whoever sent that letter wanted us to see."