Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime)

(Chapter 4) Part 20: The Loner

"I know it hurts, but I'm almost done," Nearic say softly.

The Bobby toy moans uncomfortably but lets him work. Nearic is currently in the medical wing of the Safe Haven as he tends to a Bobby plush that had a nasty gash over her stomach which needed to be stitched and bandaged. Thankfully, he knew how to do both with only one hand.

"Will she be, okay?" the bubba toy to the left asked worriedly.

Nearic nods as he starts tying the bandage "Yes, she will be just fine. In fact," he pulls it taught, making her wince, "All done!"

"Nearic," the boy turns to see Doy peaking a head in, a frown on his face, "Can you come with me. I had a chat with Bobby, and I believe you may be able to help."

Nearic arcs an eyebrow and nods, "Sure thing," he turns to the two toys, smiling as the bubba plush hugs his friend, "I got to go," the two toys turn to him, "I recommend staying seated or lie down, it'll hurt less if you do."

He stands up and pats the Bobby plush's head, "You just take it easy, you'll feel better after some rest."

The teen turns around and walks away, following Doey into the main hub, "So, what is it that you need my help with this time?"

Doey frowns as he looks towards the bathroom, "Well..." he sighs and looks back at Nearic, "We have a girl in there that has been isolating herself since the start, she eats and drinks and sleeps like normal, but..." he trails off, looking back inside.

Nearic frowns, "What?"

Doey bites his lip before answering, his voice more timid, "She doesn't leave that stall, it's stays there all the time, and no one can get her out. Then when you showed up, she just shut down: locked the stall, hasn't spoken a word, put up a sign that she wants to be alone, and hasn't even eaten the food you and your brother brought. She won't even respond to me, and I was the closest ting she had to a friend, I'm really worried about her, can you help?"

The angel looks into the room with a frown, seeing the furthest stall blocked off with a large blanket with a painted smiley face and the word 'MOM' surrounded by hearts, another blanket behind it, an old mattress on the ground with a dirty pillow near the door, and an unopened container with grapes and a muffin inside.

The teen takes a deep breath before his face gains a determined edge, "I'll try."

Doey's shoulders sag in relief, "Thank you," he breathes, "You're family should be close to the Doctor by now, so I'll try to get the generator ready before they arrive."

The dough beast then slinks away to the generator room while Nearic turns back to the bathroom. He narrows his eye and takes a deep breath before walking inside, and following a hunch, he closes the door.

The teen walks over to the far stall and sits by the opposite wall, giving the toy inside some space before he would start this talk, knowing full well it will be a heavy one.

He closes his eye and takes a deep breath before opening it and speaking, "I hear you've been in here for quite a while. Do you want to tell me why that is?"

She doesn't respond.

He sighs, "Yeah, I expected that," he looks back to the stall, "You haven't eaten since we got here, you should probably change that."

Still no answer.

"I know you probably want to be left alone, but the others are worried about you. Can you at least give me a sign that you're still breathing, at least?" Nearic asks hopefully.

There's a beat of silence, before an empty toilet roll flies out and hits the food container, nudging it away just that much more. A sign she doesn't want to eat, one that Nearic worries over internally, but won't voice... yet.