Ted’s Dolls 46: Murat

Ted's Dolls was meant to be an anthology series of doll transformations. But the continuity has become very important. Please read them in the suggested order as found in this gallery on deviantArt or as listed on my Patreon.

Murat is part of the group of friends who play in the Wednesday night poker game. Known for being unlucky at poker and unlucky at love, the ladies of poker night have talked about doing something about that.

“Where’s Beverly?” Murat said. He was first to arrive to the poker game the first week of classes of the Spring semester.

“You heard about Emily and Jane, right?” Rob said.

“Some vague kidnapping rumors. They aren’t true, are they?”

“’Fraid so. Emily was rescued just before the semester started. Jane is still missing.”

“Were the kidnappings related?”

“Yes. Emily is a mess. Magic was involved. Richard disowned her,” Rob said.

“What? How could…? Magic?”

Rob just nodded. “Beverly didn’t think it was a fun idea to be good luck charms at the poker game any more.”

“It’s not like Ted is doing dolls yet this semester anyway,” Simon said.

“If at all,” Rob said.

“Beverly would say she could take it or leave it but I think she’d be saying that because she wanted it to be true,” Rob said.

“Whitney’s all in on being a doll,” Burke said. “I hate to admit it. Her being friends with Paris means she does get to be a doll still occasionally.”

“Figures.”

“Is Richard going to be here?” Simon said.

“He said he was busy. I think his new girlfriend has him on a tight leash.”

“Is that the lady I saw him with the other day? Jemma something,” Murat said.

There was a knock at the door. Rob let Earl in as they continued talking. “Yes. Whoever mindfucked Richard also made her love him to enrage or discourage Emily. Or both. I don’t have all the details.”

“Talking about Richard?” Earl said. “Yeah, we spoke to him during a couples dinner we had over break. Not being able to bring up Emily was awkward.”

“Why not?” Simon said.

“Richard seems to have some kind of hole in his mind,” Rob said. “He just ignores or mishears anything involving Emily.”

“Did Ted actually say no more dolls?” Simon said.

“Yeah.”

“Rhana sometimes seems more upset about not being a doll,” Earl said. “She really loves being a doll.”

“Richard’s like a totally different person since Jemma,” Simon said.

“The thing is he was more relaxed with Emily,” Rob pointed out. “Whatever was done to his head, he’s probably fighting against it and failing. He always seems a bit on edge.”

“We should do something fun,” Murat said. “Like play poker. Although I don’t know why I find it fun since I always lose.”

“It must be the company.”

After a few poker hands, Earl said, “Murat, did I see you talking to Maryann today?”

“Yes, she is in my linear algebra class. We sometimes meet in the library and study together before tests.”

“This isn’t the first class you’ve had with her. Didn’t I see you hanging out with her last semester?”

“Yes, last semester we shared two classes: intro to statistics and intro to set theory.”

“Is she a mathematics major, too?” Simon asked.

“Yes, she wants to be an actuary.”

“She’s smart, pretty. You ever…” Rob said.

“No, no, we’re just friends.”

“You should think about it,” Earl said.

“No. She’s very focused on her school work.”

“If you say so.”

* * *

“Maryann? I’m not sure who she is,” Rhana said.

“That’s because she understands math,” Earl joked. She had asked for an update on Murat’s love life.

“Weirdo.”

“I talked with Rob after the game. We’re convinced she’s waiting for him to make the first move.”

“And he’s too damned polite.”

“Exactly.”

“I’ll talk to Beverly. See if she knows her. Thanks for doing the intel research.”

“I also got the nuclear codes if you need them.”

“Probably not for this.”

In the morning, Rhana sent Beverly a DM.

After exchanging several messages, Beverly sent back: «I know who she is. I had an English class with her a year ago. I’ll see if I can approach her.»

* * *

It took a few days until Beverly managed to bump into Maryann in the cafeteria. If Maryann knew what the ladies were up to, she would be suspicious of randomly bumping into Beverly.

“Hey, Maryann.”

“Hi, Beverly. I haven’t seen you much since last year.”

“It happens. People in different majors become strangers.”

“Yeah. You’re still dating Rob?”

“Yeah. We share an apartment just off campus. You seeing anyone?”

“Not really.”

“Oh?”

“Well, I have my eye on a guy. But, I think he’s blind.”

“If you really like him you should tell him.”

“I know. I just… he’s so academic. I don’t think he ever has any fun. I know nothing about his hobbies.”

“Oh. Who?”

“His name is Murat.”

“I’ve met him. He’s very nice.”

“I know. I hope he likes me.”

“I think you need to be more assertive. Murat is good and smart. But, I don’t think he’s very observant. He probably thinks you two are just friends.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“I thought all guys just thought about… sex.”

“Not all guys. Or if they do, they don’t think it will actually happen with someone they know.”

* * *

Beverly joined Trish and Whitney at the sorority house a couple nights later. They were talking about Murat.

“Beverly. We’ve had a break through on the Murat problem,” Whitney said.

“Me, too. You first.”

“Trish and I noticed Murat hangs out with a woman between some of his classes. They’re very chummy.”

“I approached her after a class we share and she just gushed about him when I moved the conversation in his direction. I convinced her he’s much shyer than she thought and she’d have to make the first move.”

“The same thing happened to me,” Beverly said. “Earl said something to Rhana and asked me to do the same thing since I knew her. Maryann’s a lovely person. She and Murat would be perfect together.”

“Maryann?”

“Is she that actuary student?”

“Yes. Who were you talking about?”

“Renata. She wants to go into economics.”

Rhana arrived moments earlier and joined the group in the living room. “Bev, you won’t believe this. I saw a woman chatting with Murat and I introduced myself. As usual, I put my foot in my mouth by calling her Maryann. Turns out her name is Monique. But, after my faux pas, we had a laugh and I convinced her she should be more aggressive in her wanting a relationship with Murat.”

The other women were struck dumb.

“What did I say now?” Rhana said.

They all laughed, except Rhana.

“You didn’t say anything wrong,” Beverley said.

“You all should have expected it,” Trish said.

“What’s so funny?” Paris said, entering the room.

“Murat is a heart breaker,” Whitney said.

“Or he will be,” Trish added.

“There are three women…”

“Or more, we can’t be sure,” Trish said, interrupting.

Whitney continued, “… Three women or more who have the hots for Murat and he is entirely oblivious to their flirting.”

“You’re kidding.”

They shared their notes of the three women they had approached about being more forceful in their pursuit of Murat.

“Come to think of it,” Paris said. “I’ve seen him chatting casually with Nadalla several times.”

“Is it funnier that Murat’s got four women potentially waiting for him to make a move or he has the five of us trying set him up with one of those women?” Beverly said.

“That just means we’ve been going about this the wrong way,” Beverley said. “He isn’t unlucky at love. He’s oblivious to it.”

“Are you sure he likes women?” Trish said.

“Most of us have sat in on the poker games. He talks about wanting to find a wife.”

“That’s not dating.”

“I find it hard to pay attention to the game, frankly,” Rhana said.

“I think you might be better off having the guys tell him to step up and ask one of these women out,” Paris said.

“Perhaps,” Rhana said. “Earl was trying to be subtle when he brought up Maryann.”

“If we’ve learned anything, subtle doesn’t work with Murat.”

“No wonder he’s bad a poker.”

* * *

As the next poker game was winding down, Rob said, “Murat, do you mind if I ask you something personal?”

“I am an open book, my friend. I wonder what people will say instead when there are no more books.”

“You say you’re unlucky at love but I’ve never seen you dating.”

“I would need someone to go on a date with to be dating.”

“Have you asked anyone on a date?” Earl said.

“Who would I ask?”

“Maryann?” Rob said.

“She’s a wonderful friend. How did you know we’re friends?”

“The girls we’re dating got it in their heads they need to find you a girlfriend?” Burke admitted.

“All of them?”

Earl and Rob nodded.

“Well, they’re a bit foolish. Who’s going to date me?”

“Maryann?”

“Renata?”

“Monique?”

“Nadalla?”

“Have you been following me around?”

“The girls have. They reached the conclusion you haven’t been dating because you haven’t asked anyone on a date,” Earl explained.

Murat paused before saying, “Well, logic says that would be true. I haven’t asked anyone and thus I haven’t gone on a date. But, each of those four women you named are just my friends. I couldn’t date them.”

“Do they enjoy your company?”

“Do they laugh at your jokes?”

“Do they tell you things about themselves they might keep secrets from others?”

“Yes, like friends do.”

“What do you think a girlfriend is if not a friend as well?”

“I spent time with Beverly for months before I asked her on a proper date,” Rob said.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit like Murat. I was a bit oblivious to Rhana’s overtures,” Earl said. “I met Rhana through a mutual friend. While we did go on a blind date first, we didn’t go on a second date for another three weeks. During that time, she would fine any excuse she could to bump into me or happen to attend an event I was attending. When I finally asked her on a second date she jumped at the chance. She only told me later how stupid I was for not asking her out again sooner.”

“Don’t look at me,” Burke said. “Ted set me and Whitney up. I don’t know how she and I became a couple except she suggested we go on a date first.”

“So, although we’re not the best examples of just going for it,” Earl said. “You need to go for it.”

“Think about the women in your life who are friendly to you. Are they just your friends or are they hanging around you hoping for more?”

“Yeah, this isn’t just on you. If they really like you, they could make the first move.”

Silence settled over the group. The others looked expectantly at Murat.

“I appreciate all the effort. But, I can’t ask any of my friends out on a date. I wouldn’t want to risk my friendship.”

“I wish I’d known about this,” Simon piped up. “I hope after this the girls will focus on finding me a girlfriend.”

“You missed the poker game where they played poker and we were the dolls,” Earl said.

“Yeah, they have history with Murat. You’re still a stranger to Bev and the others,” Rob said.

“Maybe we should do a dinner that wasn’t couples only.”

“You buying?” Earl said.

“Sure, since I know a chef,” Simon said. “I’ll buy the food if you’ll be good enough to cook it, Earl.”

“We’ll make plans later.”

“Sorry about the tangent,” Simon said. “As I was saying, if I’d know about this, I could have told you, or I guess told your girlfriends, that Murat has different women trying to get his attention. I’ve told you to ask one of them out.”

“And I told you I didn’t want to risk my friendships with them.”

“Why not? You can’t lament being unlucky at love when you don’t take chances at love.”

“Fine. I won’t say it any more.”

“Really? That’s your take away on this,” Earl said.

“If I ask one of them out, will you all stop asking me about it?”

“Sure.”

“We don’t want to harass you.”

“We’re only trying to help.”

Murat got up. “Fine. I’ll think about it.” He left.

“Think he’s upset?”

“No.”

“Yes. But with himself.”

* * *

Murat and Maryanne were studying in the library as they usually did on a Friday morning. For the most part, it was time spent quietly together with the occasional comment or question shared between them. After an hour, he realized he hadn’t really done any of the homework in front of him. He looked over at Maryanne and swallowed. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Do you need help on a problem?”

He set his books aside. “No, no. A personal question.”

“Oh, sure.” She turned to focus on him.

He looked her in the eye, noting how they managed to shine brightly in the ghastly fluorescent light of the room. “Would you… would you like to go to dinner with me tomorrow night?”

She was shocked. This was the last question she would have expected from him. She slightly stuttered as she said, “Sure.”

“Sure? Great. I know a wonderful place just off campus that I hope you’ll like.”

“Okay.” There was an awkward pause. Maryanne’s mind was rushing a mile a minute. “Did you just ask me out on a date?”

“Would that be bad?”

“No. I just didn’t think you were interested in me in that way.”

“Would that be bad?”

She laughed. “No. I… it’s just you asked with such confidence. At first, when we would get together, I thought you were hoping to ask me out. And then I thought you didn’t see me that way. Did something change?”

“Maybe we save this conversation for the restaurant.”

“Oo, mysterious. Okay. Is it a fancy restaurant?”

“No. What you’re wearing now is fine?”

“I will dress better than this for a date.”

“You don’t have….”

“Murat,” she said, putting her finger on his lips. “It’s a date. I’m going to dress up. You will, too, I presume. Are we going to meet there?”

“I thought we could walk there together.”

“Good. You’ll knock on my dorm room door around seven o’clock?”

“Yes.”

She put her books away. “I’ll see you then.” She left.

* * *

The waiter removed the empty appetizer plates from the table. Murat had just finished telling her all about his friends trying to find him a date. He left out no detail.

“How are you so lucky?” Maryanne said.

“Lucky how?” Murat said.

“Your friends. They could have set you up on a blind date.”

“Oh. Oh, I would have said no to that.”

“So, I guess we’re both lucky.”

“Hmm?”

“You asked me out. I’d have picked Renata. She’s a looker.”

“You find her attractive?”

“I wouldn’t date her. But, she is a beautiful woman. Anyone can see that. And Monique and Nadalla are good looking, too. Why am I here on a date with you and not one of them?”

“You make it sound like you aren’t beautiful.”

“Or I was fishing for a compliment.”

“You don’t need to fish for those. I will compliment you whenever you like.”

“True. You always make me feel appreciated when we study. But, I assume you do that to those other women as well.”

“You’re welcome. As for why you, I almost asked Monique.”

“Almost?”

“I chickened out. I wasn’t sure she’d say yes.”

“You assumed I was easy?”

“What?”

“You were sure I would say, ‘Yes.’”

“Not at all. I was sure you wouldn’t be awkward about it afterward if you said, ‘No.’ You’ve shared more about yourself with me than Monique or the others have.”

“I told you. When you first suggested studying together, I figured you’d ask me out that first study session.”

“My friends believe I’m slow to pick up social cues.”

“Or I’m lousy and laying them out there.”

“You wanted me to ask you out?”

“Yes. You’re attractive, smart, funny. Who wouldn’t want to date you?”

“I don’t see myself that way.”

“Well, I do. That’s all that matters.”

* * *

They stood outside the door to her dorm room.

“I had a lovely time,” she said.

“So did I. I guess I’ll see you Monday in class.”

“I guess so. We should do this again.”

“You want to do it again? That’s great. Okay, we’ll discuss it Monday.”

“Okay.” She was looking at him expectantly.

“I guess I--”

“Just kiss her already!” The shout came from someone Murat didn’t know standing several doors down. The guy was rolling his eyes visibly from over twenty feet away. “Are you blind? Every time you try to end the conversation she extends it. You were just on a date I assume. She’s waiting for a kiss goodnight, my man.”

When Murat looked back at Maryann, she was nodding.

“I’m not…”

“Shush.”

They kissed.

“Finally,” said the voice down the hallway. The door to a distant room closed. Neither of them noticed.

He put his hands on her back and held her. Eventually, she stopped and he noticed immediately, stopping as well.

“Was that good?”

“Good night, Murat.”

“Oh. Um. Yes. Good night, Maryanne.”

She disappeared through the door to her room.

Murat stood there for a moment thinking. He turned toward the exit, but stopped. Instead, he went the other direction and knocked on the door to another dorm room.

“Yes?” The man who opened the door wondered why Murat had knocked.

“Thank you for your assistance.”