10I just randomly started writing this story... but I like it so far. Thought that I'd share an actual piece :)
Still Doll
Teaser: " 'You taste like you've been kissing another man,' he observed, his tone still lethargic and tired."
Inspiration: There's a short manga that I love called "Lover's Doll" by Mishima Kazuhiko. It features a similar doll, but I have changed quite a bit for my story… Also, to be honest, the title comes from a song by Kannon Wakeshima by the same name…
Rating: M, to be safe…
Warnings:
-Magick!
-Some sensuality
-Mistress/Servant relationship, but she doesn't treat him like one…
-Royce is mad, mad Drama
-Some death/grief
Main Pairing: …Well, my assumption (until my muses inform me otherwise) is that the main pairing is Alexi/Royce.
Minor Pairings: …none so far, but subject to change :P
Setting: Present day, with some flashbacks. The story takes place in a big city, primarily, but I don't want to name a city... respect my right to be enigmatic, 'kay?
POV: Alexi, or Lexi, tells the story –mostly because she at least seems more complex than Royce... (I use the first person perspective.)
Summary: Alexi, the daughter of an incredibly famous doll maker, was given a very special doll by her father when she was eight. When Lexi loves the doll, the magicks stir and the blue-eyed doll comes to life and can grow to human size!
This was all great fun when Lexi was eight, but now Lexi is 20 and the doll she named Royce refuses to return to his doll form and seems, in fact, to be intent on seducing Lexi!?
Additional ANs: Well… the number one thing you should probably be aware of is that I am crazy and weird…
I've read several mangas with a similar-ish plot, but I have yet to see any American stories with it, which is a shame because it is such a charming little plot to work with.
Also, you'll note there's not much of a plot description in the summary… that's because I'm working by the seat of my hot little pants, so beware…
Oh, as you'll see in her memory, which is how I open into this story, her father calls her "ma pêche", which I realize is probably pretty butchered French. It's not necessary to know what the term means in the story, because it's just an endearment.
"Papa, Papa! It's my birthday and you promised you'd play with me today!" I reminded him, trying not to pout. Papa always told me that my face would stay that way if I pouted for long.
I could hear his warm, booming laughter through the heavy door to his workshop. "Alright, alright. I remember, Lexi. I'll just be a few minutes, ma pêche. Go and wait for me in the house."
"Alright, Papa. Don't forget."
"I won't," he promised.
I nodded and tromped through the fresh snow and back into our house. I would probably have enough time to tidy up the kitchen before he came inside. Papa always got so absorbed in his work, but Mommy always used to smile and say that was one of the reasons she loved him.
Slipping inside the house, I shed my coat and my shoes before wondering into the kitchen. I hated that I always made it so messy when I made something. Papa always laughed and said it was because I was still little. All I wanted was to grow up. I could help Papa in the shop, I could do better in the kitchen, I could read to myself and play by myself more. If only I could just hurry and grow up!
Humming softly to myself like Mommy used to, I worked hard to clean away the mess I'd made. It took several swipes to clean up the stick powdered sugar residue, but the rest of it cleaned up fairly easily. I'd just started in on the dishes when I heard the door open.
"Lexi! Ma pêche, where are you keeping yourself from your poor Papa?" he asked.
"In the kitchen, Papa," I called to him, cleaning up the last of the mess the instant before he stuck his head through the doorframe.
"Join me in the living room, then." His smile was big and contagious and gone in an instant when he disappeared into the living room.
" 'Kay," I replied softly, rising to cross the kitchen.
When I walked into the living room, he was sitting on the couch with a box across his lap and wrapped in pale, sparkling paper. A grin split my face and I ran to him. His laughter revived once more and he tapped the seat next to him. Unable to contain my happiness, I plunked down next to him on the couch.
His smile was back and wonderful. "Happy birthday, my little Lexi," he told me, placing the present in my lap gently.
Eagerly, I tore off the paper and found myself holding a light blue doll box. I looked at him, wondering if I could continue unwrapping it if it was as delicate as I was suddenly sure it was.
"Go on," he encouraged.
Gingerly, I opened the box and parted the white tissue paper. There lay a porcelain doll, one of Papa's. With trembling hands, I lifted the doll out and held him up so I could look at it. The doll was a boy, with curling black hair pulled back and tied with a bright blue ribbon and bright laughing blue eyes framed by long lashes. He appeared to be my age, dressed in an elaborate black suit with long coat tails and a western-style tie.
"Papa, he's so beautiful," I marveled, running my finger across the doll's pale cheek. "I love him!"
I could hear the smile on his voice. "I thought you might be getting lonely without your mother. Maybe he could be your new playmate?"
"What's his name?" I asked, knowing that Papa named all of the dolls he made.
He chuckled. "I thought I would leave that up to you, since he's yours now."
I stroked the doll's cheek once more. "Hm. How about… Royce? I think that's a good name for him. Do you like it, Papa?" I asked, looking to Papa for his opinion.
He beamed. "I think it's wonderful, ma pêche."
"I wonder if he likes it?" I wondered aloud, touching a gloved porcelain hand with a single finger.
Suddenly, the doll's fingers clasped gently around my finger. "I like it well, Mistress," the doll told me in a child's voice.
I gasped and looked at my father. "Papa?"
He rubbed his jaw, a little puzzled. "I didn't think it would happen so soon," he marveled.
"What would happen, Papa?"
"Ma pêche, that doll is special. He can come alive if you love him," he explained.
I looked back to the doll clasping my finger. "Hello, Royce," I greeted him softly, still a little frightened, but more thrilled with the prospect of having someone to talk to and spend time with.
The doll laughed. "Hello, Mistress. I'm pleased to be with such a gentle mistress."
I cocked my head at Papa.
"He's had a few previous owners, but the last one shattered his face. He was then sent to me for repairs. I was told the owner wouldn't want him back." He shrugged. "When I learned of the doll's abilities, I thought that you would take good care of him."
I turned back to the doll. "Do you already have a name, or would you prefer the one I gave you?"
The doll rose to his feet and stood on my thigh. "No one ever gave me such a splendid name before, and I like bearing a name from you, Mistress."
I stroked his hair gently and he let me. "Why do you keep calling me Mistress?" I asked him.
"I don't believe you've told him your name, ma pêche," Papa told me.
"Oh." I blushed. "I'm Alexi, but you can call me Lexi."
Papa patted my shoulder. "I believe I'll leave you two to get acquainted and go cut the cake." He rose from the couch.
Royce sat down on my thigh. "Lexi," he said, as if to taste the sound of my name.
I looked at him and smiled. "Can you eat? If you do, do you like cake?"
"I… I don't know… Every other master I've had has been frightened of me and I quickly became nothing more than a doll again."
It sounded so sad to me. "Can you do anything else other than just become alive?"
He smiled sadly and suddenly, there was a full-sized child in my lap. As if acutely aware of the sudden weight difference, he moved to sit next to me on the couch.
"You can become human? How awesome is that!" I declared, beaming. "Papa," I called, "bring a piece for Royce. He should find out if he likes cake."
Royce was crying next to me.
"What's wrong, Royce?" I asked, sad only because he was.
"You have a lovely smile. I've never been able to see my any of my master's smile when I became human." His voice was so small.
I leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I bet you have a lovely smile, yourself. If you want to cry, you can cry. If you want to smile, you can smile. I don't want to make you so sad again," I told him, catching one of his tears with my finger. "I would like to just make you happy when you're with me."
He brushed his cheek against my arm and cried more.
I couldn't think of anything else I could do to help. Suddenly, an idea crossed my mind. "Royce, can you shrink down to doll size for me?" I asked.
When he returned to that form, I picked him up and leaned his head against my shoulder, like Papa and Mommy had often done for me. "I can't take away your tears," I told him, "but I can hold you until they're gone. Is that alright?"
He nodded against me, his small body wracked with sobs. Ever so gently, I rubbed his back until his sobs eased and his tears dried up. When his tears were gone, I moved and sat down on the floor before setting him down next to me, as well. Quickly, he returned to the larger size. I smiled as Papa returned to the room with the cake. "Papa, look! Royce is human!" I exclaimed excitedly.
He looked a little stunned, but shook his head. "That's so weird. I bet you two will be best friends," he told me, handing me two plates before sitting down on the sofa.
"Probably," I told him as I handed Royce a slice of cake and watched him take the first bite.
When his bright eyes fluttered closed in bliss, I couldn't help but grin and wrap my arms around him. "I'll love you forever," I told Royce in a voice a little softer than a whisper.
"I'll love you just as long," he told me just as quietly.
I believed him, just as he believed me.
Don't mind my insanity... it suffers so much from me :P
I know that this is a weird way to open it. Don't worry; that's just the prologue.
Please review and let me know what you think of it!