Ted's Dolls 42: Couples

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.

Rob and Beverly host a Wednesday night poker night for his friends Earl, Burke, and Richard among others. Earl and Rhana used to play role-playing games with Emily and Richard. Whitney and Burke are close friends with Paris and Ted. Rob setup this dinner engagement in part two of Ted's Dolls Interlude 6.

Patricia Ionescu stood at the threshold of her youngest daughter’s bedroom watching her play with some little dolls.

Without turning around, Libby said, “Do you want to play, too, Mommy.”

“Sorry, Libby, I don’t have a lot of time to do so.”

Libby turned to face her mother. “Are you sure? It would be fun. You should ask Cat how much fun it is.”

“I can’t ask her now.”

Libby held up the little doll her sister Cat now was. “No, I suppose not. You can’t ask her friends Melanie, Heidi, or Patrine, or Ted’s girlfriend, Paris, either.”

“See? You don’t need another doll.”

As her mother was about to walk away, Libby said, “If you were a doll I played with, Daddy would get used to it.”

“What was that?”

“You look like you want me to play with doll you. But, you don’t think Daddy would not approve of this if you did it.”

“How did you…?” Patricia quickly shifted the look of surprise to one of endearment. “It has nothing to do with anything your father has said. I told you I don’t have time. I’m just taking a moment to watch you be you.”

Libby looked away and back at Cat. “When do you get your moment to be yourself?”

“What?”

“Okay, Mommy. You’re right. Daddy has never said you can’t play like this.” When she looked back at the doorway, her mother was no longer there. “You just assume he’d be unhappy.”

Ted appeared in the doorway. He was watching his mother shaking her head as she descend the stairs. “Aren’t you observant?”

“Sometimes I wish I weren’t,” his little sister said. She got up and handed the little Paris doll to him.

“I didn’t say she was done playing with you.”

“I know. But, I also know she only does this because it gives her time when she doesn’t have to be Paris.”

“You think Mom should do this to be her true self but that Paris does it so she doesn’t have to be her true self?”

“People have different needs, Ted.”

He squatted down to look Libby in the eye. “I look up to you, Libby. I know it bothers you when people praise you for being smart. But, you are going to be someone people won’t ignore when you’re older.”

“I still need to learn subtlety.”

He laughed. “Yes, you do. I’m glad you’re working on it.”

“I’m actually not. I just turned eight. I can get away with bluntness for a few more years. I don’t want to miss out.”

“You’re also going to be trouble.”

“You would be better off if you also spent some time not being Ted.”

He stood up. He couldn’t get the shock off his face fast enough. “Is it now my turn for your analysis? You know I don’t like being a doll.”

“You haven’t tried it yet.”

“Neither have… You have?”

“I can’t help it if you jump to conclusions.”

“Are you sure you aren’t working on subtlety?”

She looked back at him innocently. “Yes.”

“I’ll start your lessons this summer. If you still need them at that point.”

“I’ll wait for you if I can.” She returned to playing with the dolls of Cat and Cat’s friends.

* * *

“How could you let this happen?” Beverly said to Ted as they sat in Earl’s and Rhana’s living room awaiting dinner. She and Rob were sitting side-by-side in the same chair.

“What kind of accusation is that?” Paris said. She sat on Ted’s lap on the sofa, her body shifted as if to interpose herself between Beverley and Ted.

Four couples were gathered on a mid-January Friday night to have dinner together, hosted by Earl and Rhana. They were discussing the eminent arrival of the fifth invited couple, Richard and Jemma.

“I didn’t let it happen. It happened while I was unaware of the danger,” Ted said. “I had no idea a powerful person would send a mentalist wizard to campus?”

“I’m more concerned about Richard,” Whitney said. “Has he really forgotten Emily?” She sat on the sofa next to Ted. Burke leaned over the back of the sofa behind her.

“That’s my assumption,” Ted replied. “Whatever he says about Emily, just go along with it. Laugh if he makes a joke. I don’t want him thinking we’re on her side if he thinks their break up was a bad one.”

“How else could it have been if he’s already dating someone else?” Burke said.

“He is?” Rhana said. To make room, she sat cross-legged on the floor.

“It had to be bad for Emily since she’s missing,” Paris said. “But, Richard might think almost anything the mentalist implanted in his head.”

“Jemma, his new girlfriend, was probably fucked over by the mentalist just like he was,” Ted said. “He could have had Richard and Emily break up amicably to make sure neither had an emotional event imprint on their minds. Memories that aren’t emotionally anchored are easier to forget. And are therefore also easier to manipulate.”

The awkward silence was broken by Earl, stepping closer as he had been listening from the kitchette area of the open room. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t know. I’ve consulted with a few people my Nana knows in the wizard community. Most of them aren’t interested in doing anything about it.”

“Well, of course,” Rob said, leaning against a wall. “Magic is completely unregulated. If they started bringing people to heel, what happens to them if they cross a line?”

“Cynical, but probably correct, unfortunately” Ted said. “I know I’m known for saying adults are allowed to fuck themselves over. I’m just not tolerant of people with power fucking people over.”

“And that’s why people trust you to turn them into an object with no real guarantee they won’t be stuck like that forever,” Rhana said.

“Thanks.”

“Paris, at the risk of opening another scar, Trish told me your brother is missing,” Beverly said. She sat next to Whitney.

“Yeah,” Paris said. “None of his friends have any idea where he went. He disappeared around Thanksgiving based on when people last saw him.”

“You don’t sound concerned.”

“I am,” Paris said. “I’m just used to feeling concerned when it comes to Randall.”

“He disappears often?”

“Not like this. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he flew to some unknown island in the south pacific to live among the natives, forgetting to tell someone before going off grid.”

“Dinner in fifteen minutes,” Earl said.

They all got up and moved to the dining table.

“Let’s talk about something more fun,” Rhana said.

“What?”

“We need to find Murat a girlfriend.”

The girls laughed.

“That slipped my mind during finals,” Whitney said.

“He’s a nice guy.”

“Too nice.”

“Did you have anyone in mind?” Earl said.

“No,” Rhana said. “You know I have no friends. But, I’m sure these ladies know lots of women who would date Murat in a heartbeat.”

“She has to be someone we want to hang out with.”

“Or spend time turned into dolls with.”

After an awkward moment, Beverly said, “I actually gave this some thought. Everyone I know is already seeing someone.”

“I’m only just hearing about this,” Paris said. “And I don’t really know Murat. What can you tell me about him?”

“Murat is bad at poker.”

“Only because he is too honest and open with his feelings.”

“He’s also unlucky at love, or so he claims.”

“Not something someone usually humble brags about.”

“He isn’t being humble.”

“He’s being too damned honest.”

“Yeah.”

“We can work with honest,” Paris said. “What else can you tell me?”

“His mother is sick, I think. Or one of his aunts. He sends money home whenever he can.”

“He isn’t here now because he’s spending Winter break with his family.”

“Does his family practice marriage arranging?”

“No idea. Afraid we’re wasting our time?”

“Maybe.”

“I wonder if he would have showed up given everyone else here is part of a couple,” Burke said.

“I doubt that would bother him.”

“Yeah, he handled himself well with us when the guys were dolled.”

“That’s why it’s odd he can’t find a date.”

“Does he try?”

“Is he straight?”

“He use to rub us a lot more when it the good luck dolls were new.”

“I think he didn’t think it was right to fondle someone else’s… doll.”

A knock at the door interrupted the conversation. Rhana got up and answered the door. “Richard, good to see you.” She gave him a hug.

“You, too. And actually able to move.”

“Ha. Yeah, I don’t believe we’ve met,” she said to Jemma.

“I’ve seen you around campus. But, no, we haven’t been introduced. I’m Jemma.”

“Rhana. Please come in.”

The others got up and shook hands or hugged as they felt necessary.

“Sorry we’re late. There was an accident. Clogged up the bypass.”

“You’re just on time,” Earl said. “Dinner is ready.”

They all took their assigned seats, seating cards placed at each place setting staved off some of the chaos. Earl sat the head of the table closest to the kitchenette with Rhana to his left. Whitney and Burke followed to the left. Then Paris with Ted at the other head of the table. Beverly, Rob, Richard, and Jemma were on the other side from Ted to Earl.

“This looks amazing,” Jemma said. “Richard said you want to own your own restaurant someday.”

“I do,” Earl said. “I love to cook for gatherings and friends. It’s usually just the two of us.”

“I loved meals Earl prepared for game night.”

“How did you two meet?” Ted said. “I heard you met just as finals were ending last semester.”

“We did,” Richard said. “I remember being outside my dormitory and for some reason I turned left instead of right and there she was.”

“I was waiting for a friend on that bench just a few yards away from the entrance. Richard turned. I hadn’t really noticed up until he did. His eyes were so bright and inviting. I asked if he needed help.”

“And I said, ‘I’m searching for a bench with the woman of my dreams sitting upon it. Is that you?’”

“Cheeky,” Rhana said with a broad smile that faded as she remembered none of this probably happened.

“I thought it was silly and laughed,” Jemma said. “He sat and we talked for a few hours.”

“Love at first sight?” Whitney said. “That’s so sweet.”

“Isn’t it?” Richard said. “Caught me totally by surprise.”

“And then he gave me this just a few days later,” Jemma said, lifting a heart shaped gold pendant from above her sternum.

The pendant drew Ted’s attention immediately. There was magic in it. “When did you find the time to buy her a present so fast?”

“I have my ways.”

* * *

After showering Earl with praise over the meal, the group drifted from the table back to the living room area. Rhana, Whitney, and Beverly cleared the table and put the dishes into the sink. They didn’t actually clean them during the party.

“You aren’t going to help?” Ted said to Paris.

“You know I’m a disaster in the kitchen.”

“I know you claim to be a rich princess to avoid doing mundane things.”

“My lack of domestic skills is legendary. Ted’s mother stopped asking me to help her in the kitchen.”

“What I love about you, Paris,” Burke said, “is you don’t shy away from your upbringing and still manage not to be considered stuck up.”

“I have tried to convince Whitney to pretend to be above it more. She remains annoyingly grounded.”

“I heard that.”

“I wanted you to hear it.”

“Is this normal?” Jemma said.

“Ribbing Paris for being a spoiled rich girl?” Earl said. “No clue. But I’m enjoying the show.”

“Paris will ultimately win this discussion,” Ted said. “Because she knows who she is and she owns it.”

Paris nodded. “I knew I kept you around for a reason.” She gave Ted a slow kiss.

“I’m not sure which of them keeps the other around more.”

“Ted does sometimes just leave her lying around.”

“More proof of me owning it,” she said.

Ted nodded.

“Oh, you mean like a doll,” Jemma said. “I’ve never done that. Or I guess had it done to me.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Ted said.

“There’s lots wrong with that,” Rhana said. “Surly, Richard would enjoy having you as his doll.”

“No, I think I’m done with dolls,” he said.

“What if I wanted to?”

“I’d rather not have this conversation now.”

“That’s okay. I don’t want to,” Jemma said. She looked at Ted. “Is your family wealthy, too?”

“Not exactly. We’re at the top of the middle class spectrum, I believe.”

“Your mother doesn’t work,” Paris said. “That’s rare.”

“No, she doesn’t. Coming home to a mother is a rare commodity for kids these days.”

“You’re staying with Ted over the break?” Rob said.

“Yes. My parents were never home after school for me. They still spend more time abroad than with me. It’s one of the reasons I adore his mother, even if she is too domestic.”

“I hope this comes out right, but I love how you skirt the edge of snobbery,” Beverly said.

“Being a snob is easy. It’s just believing nothing is good enough for you. Being so good that stuff isn’t good enough is much harder.”

“Libby says that’s why you like being changed so much.”

“Who’s Libby?” Jemma said. Several others wondered as well.

“His seven years old sister.”

“She’ll be eight next weekend,” he said.

“She’s a prodigy but I don’t think she’s been told that,” Paris said.

“She knows she’s smarter than most people. She might not know there’s a word for it though.”

“What was this nugget of wisdom from Libby?” Whitney said.

“Originally, she asked me why I like being a doll and I told her it great to relax as a doll. But, a few days later, we were talking and she says ‘I don’t think you become a doll just to relax.’

“And I said, ‘I certainly do.’

“’That’s just what you tell people. You really spend time as a doll because it’s the only time you don’t have to be Paris.’

“I was gobsmacked. It was unreal that she reached that conclusion. She had been given a plausible reason but she somehow knew there was more to learn. To her point, it takes a lot of energy to seem to casually ‘skirt the edge of snobbery’ as Beverly put it. Only as a doll do I get to turn off.”

“Does this mean you’re just using Ted?” Earl joked.

“He also uses me.”

“Was that a double entendre?” Jemma said.

“Undoubtedly,” Beverly said.

Paris merely smiled.

“You aren’t relaxed here with us?” Rhana said.

“I am. And I’m not. I feel the pull of perfection less in a gathering of friends such as this. But, there’s always a part of me in the background making sure I’m living up to myself,” her voice switched to a radio announcer kind of voice, “I’m Paris, President of Eta Delta Tau, overachiever extraordinaire.” She laughed. “That just vanishes as a doll. Only Ted has seen me when I’m the raw me.”

“And I’ve only seen that once.”

“You reacted completely as a gentleman. And that’s why we are together.” They kissed.

“Aww.”

The conversation drifted. The next time there was a pause, Ted said, “I should let you all know. I’m shutting down the doll business this spring.”

“People will riot,” Burke said.

“I feel I have to. I can’t in good conscience be turning people into dolls while two people who were turned into dolls are still missing.”

“That’s fair,” Rhana said. “Well, getting kidnapped is unfair. You know what I mean.”

“You really know how to put your foot in your mouth,” Richard said. He looked at Jemma with a bit of worry. “It’s too bad I won’t be able to play D&D with you guys this semester.”

“Why not?” Rhana said. Earl jabbed her gently in the side. “Oh.”

“You play D&D?” Jemma said.

“They do,” Richard said. “They introduced me to it but I don’t think I want to continue.”

“Oh. I love D&D. We should play together, Richie.”

“Um, sure. We’ll discuss it at home.”

* * *

“How long did you end up changing Rhana and Beverly for?” Paris said in the car ride back to his home.

“Two weeks for Rhana. She’ll restore automatically the day before classes resume for the spring semester.”

“Really? Does she have it worse than me?”

“She loves it a bit more than you, I suppose. She rivals only one other person I’ve met.”

“Who?”

“I’ll tell you the story once we hit the highway.”

“I’m lucky I’m using you.”

“Rob put his foot down when Beverly said ‘Me, too,’” he said.

“She loves it that much?”

“No, she was just saying it to get a rise out of Rob. And I think he knows that too.”

“She’ll only be a doll for a couple days.”

“And me?”

“You’re going to let me listen to some tunes for our three hour ride while I tell you about an old girlfriend.”

“The one who has it worse than me.”

“The same.”

“So, hit me and get started.”

“As you wish. 3… 2… 1…”

An expert at posing just before the magic took hold, Paris spent the rest of the car ride staring at Ted’s profile with a coquettish pose and sly smile. He found it a bit hard not to be drawn into looking back into her glassy eyes.

* * *

Richard and Jemma were in his car, driving back to his parent’s house.

“I like your friends,” Jemma said.

“That’s great,” Richard said.

“I really want to play D&D. Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. In fact, we won’t discuss D&D ever again.”

Jemma’s eyes blinked a few times. The pendant on the necklace she wore glowed briefly and winked out. She wasn’t sure what they had been talking about.

“I like your friends,” Jemma said.

“That’s great,” Richard said. “It’s too bad we rarely get to see them.”

“Yeah.”