saveourearth | Only the fairest dolls at the doll fair

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Only the fairest dolls at the doll fair

Date: October 17th
Characters: Open!
Note: Trying out the "small mingle that centres around something connected to a newly apped character" format. While this mingle is here to make it easier for everyone to meet Seth, and for Seth to meet everyone, that doesn't mean that threads are limited to him. Everyone may toplevel in here, and everyone may thread with everyone. Just use it as a regular mingle, but you're also encouraged to check in on the new guy on the block.

While the city museum can't be opened because the building safety guys haven't okayed it being opened for the public, a thrifty employee has devised an alternative plan for getting the public engaged and raise funds at the same time: Small parts of the collections are displayed in new places and the public can see them for a donation. There's a fancy and sufficiently pretentious sounding concept behind it to sell it to all the important people, but it bounds to: "Displaying beloved parts of our collection in new places".

The part of the collection that gets displayed today is a part of the toy collection. Specifically, the dolls. In one of the gyms where evacuees were hosted, some of their beds and accommodations have been put back up, but this time they host a wealth of more or less creepy dolls, some of them dating back well over a hundred years. The concept is completed by the corner that held the food now having a sign hanging over it that announces "Doll Doctors". Here, various professionals and gifted hobbyists are offering to take a look at dolls and either - with children's dolls - repair them on the spot or - with more valuable dolls - give an estimate about their state and the cost of repairs.

In another corner, a few local shops or artisans that sell dolls have small tables on which they can show a small sampling of their trade.

There is, of course, also tea and scones sold in yet another corner, with some plastic chairs serving as a makeshift cafe.

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[ One of the people there is a grown man, looking over the dolls with the highest admiration. Sometimes muttering to himself about what materials he's guessing they're made of at a look (without cheating), sometimes commenting on the time it must have taken to craft them, sometimes wondering aloud if they once looked less creepy. Occasionally, he can be found in the Doll Doctor corner, doing his own work. But in general, he seems to know what he's doing--and, if asked, he'll give a card to Teufel's Custom Dolls. Even later, he can be seen working on a notebook in the makeshift cafe, where anyone looking can find his table covered in sketches of doll designs--a number inspired by what he's found here at the museum. ]

Excellent, excellent... Plenty of ideas, yes...

[Walter's supposed to be just passing by - it's his turn to get groceries again, and with subtle use of his enhanced speed taking a detour isn't as costly as it might be otherwise - but the dolls and the man looking over them both catch his interest.]

... Even if they did look less creepy then, the standards for aesthetic were likely different when they were made in the first place.

[Teddy bears haven't always existed!]

That, and some people would probably say they're all creepy, and fail to differentiate.

That's true. Maybe I just find it sad because I make dolls for a living. Seeing people finding them creepy may just get to me.

[ He'll laugh a little. It's good-natured, at least. ]

Seth Teufel. I own Teufel's Custom Dolls.

That is understandable. Having your work disparaged out-of-hand...

[Speaking of hands, he offers his.]

Walter Weekes. I'm an IT specialist, myself. I may have seen you around before, actually.

Were you at the fireworks this past June?

I was sick, so I had to stay in, unfortunately. If you've seen me around, it's probably at events like this. I'm busy most of the time.

[ Here, he'll shake that hand! He seems polite enough. ]

[Walter winces, sympathetic.]

Ah, that's the worst; having to stay in, rather than choosing to.

[Walter is no extrovert.]

Busy with... work like this, then? Restoration?

Or creation?

I mostly do custom orders, though repair work isn't out of the question. I enjoy creation quite a bit. Every doll is unique, in its own way. Even if they look alike, there'll be some characteristics unique to each one.

[ The dolls are his babies, keeping him company when his daughter's away. ]

Kind of like the rest of us, put that way. For every individual, a fingerprint...

When people put the effort in themselves, of course; when it's mass-produced it seems to lose flavor somehow.

[Gaze not quite drifting across the room as he speaks, there.]

Mm, yeah.

[ He's not quite sure why that look bothers him, but it does. He's not talking about the dolls, really, or he's getting at something more. ]

It's hard work, though. A lot of love goes into this kind of labor.

[It's a generalization about personal works vs commercialized ones, really.

Walter shakes his head, returning his full attention to Seth.]

I can imagine...

[And then his eyes widen.]

Mind if I stop by your shop sometime? I'm afraid I really should get going.

[It's not that nobody has ever told Kitty that she shouldn't lean over stranger's things and stare at them. It's just that this is interesting, okay? And look! She'd not touching. Nobody can complain, right?]

Why does that doll not have a face?

[She points at one of the sketches, her finger hovering a solid centimetre or two above the sheet.]

I've yet to draw it. Right now, I'm not sure what kind of face to give her.

[ He's been a parent. He can be patient and deal with this. ]

You should make her happy.

Why would anyone want to buy a sad doll?

[She's never gotten those, though she knows that they exist.]

Well, yes, but there's more to it than expression. Like... What shape should I make her eyes? Or her nose? Should she have freckles? things like that.

[ He's going to chuckle. ]

She could look like me.

[Because why not? That's definitely a good look.]

There's a man standing a respectable distance away with half a scone in his hand watching the Doll Doctor work intently as he chews on his thoughts.

This is a whole new field for him, and he avidly watches what you're doing with what you think is a look of appreciation on his face, but he also looks very, very tired.

[ He'll take a glance, at least, while he's working. It's not hard work--he does this often. ]

You know, not getting enough sleep is bad for your health. Insomnia? Or just a bad night?

It takes a while for Jim to realise he's being addressed, and he blinks a couple of times, like his brain is rebooting.

"Uh, it's been a rough couple of months to be honest. Client work and deadlines, you know?" He doesn't know if Seth knows, but he's talking anyway.

I used to be a doctor, so I can imagine.

[ Late nights sometimes happen. ]

Seth Teufel, by the way. It's nice to meet you.

"Doctor, huh? Dolls do a lot less complaining than humans; I can see why you made the switch," He manages a chuckle.

"I'm Jim. Jim Pike, Design Engineer over at Aerodynamica, local rabbit thief," He winks quickly, holding a hand out to shake.

[Touring through the dolls on display, a young girl takes notice of the man speaking quietly to himself as he studies one of the dolls. She wanders a little closer to make out the words regarding materials that seem to be part of the doll. This peaks her interest as someone that frequently crafts, and she looks up to the man with a hint of a smile once he seems to be at a pause.]

Excuse me... How do you know all that about it?

Jim's been at work for a whole lot of the action that's happened over the past month, staying late at the industrial park for weeks on end. He's finally finished the client work, at least, so after a good three days of solid nothing, he's decided to come out to see the town.

He pretty much just walked into the first thing he came across which happened to be about Dolls, of all things.

Regardless, the haggard looking young man is watching the work of the Doll Doctors with an interest that is both laser focused and vacant.

He's probably got half a scone in his mouth, too

And guess who is both glad to see Jim and looking at him with much Concern in his eyes?

This man.

"... I didn't think that dolls could summon people, and yet, here we are," he says, tone not quite matching his expression, but then, he is standing behind Jim.

It's a testament to how tired Jim is that he doesn't even blink, let alone startle.

"Hhmfn?" He asks through the scone that's just resting in his mouth, chillin.

"Hello, Jim," Walter returns, though it's almost all in one breath like a sigh.

A relieved sigh at getting the other man's attention, but there's a note of exasperation nevertheless.

"You might want to finish that, first."

"Hhh? Omf, fuc." He says like the MSc in Engineering he is.

He manages to get the scone scarfed down because he doesn't remember when his last meal was at this point, and honestly they're a little bit dry but it was food and that's all that mattered.

He doesn't choke, and he counts that as a win.

"Hi, Walt," he greets with a little wave of the hand.

His first concern - and his current one, frankly - is that Jim still looks like he really needs sleep.

But was it really fair to needle him about it, especially when they've only just crossed paths again in what feels like far too long?

That, and they're in a public space.

All of these thoughts - plans and counterpoints, along with the general undercurrent of oh god, what should I do - occurs well within a second.

Acting seemingly on none of them, he reaches gently for Jim's shoulder.

"You're not looking to get yourself a doll, are you? These are the Museum's, I mean."

Jim snorts, and it's not an elegant looking gesture or even a well thought out one, as he ends up getting a crumb stuck in his throat, having to cough to right himself for a good like, minute.

"No I'm good. I'm- I'm not a doll person." Cough.
He thumps his chest for good measure. Hopefully that's all good now.

Walter would absolutely have made a snarky comment - if he hadn't already been worried about Jim.

"I'm not exactly surprised by that - we can go elsewhere? If we both have the time," he amends.

He really does want to spend more time with Jim.

'Why, Walter, you askin' me on a date?', 'To my place?' and 'I've got all the time in the world,' all war on the tip of his tongue to be said first, but what actually happens is, "huh?".

Ahh yes. Elegant and Eloquent.

Well done, Jim.

Walter's lips quirk into a smile.

"I mean, I can make the time? If that helps?"

Jim isn't in the mood to be good at the word thing. Was that a come on? Is he being come onto?

He just stares blankly at Walter while his mind processes things at the speed of Tar.

This is my 52nd consecutive hour of being awake. Did he say that out loud? His throat has done the thing where it felt like he said a thing.

(He did.)

And at that, any joking attitude just fades from Walter's face.

"Okay, that does it. You're coming to my place this time."

Both of his hands are on Jim's shoulders now, and he's ever-so-gently nudging his friend towards the exit.

Jim can't help it, he starts laughing. He must be really, really fucking tired.

The only other response he can formulate is finger-gunning Walt as he's effectively escorted off the premises.

Ahh, the exhaustion laughter. Walter is no stranger to it himself.

And if there isn't a notable crowd, he might just move a little closer to his new normal running speed to get them home...

Hey... are they moving a lot faster than Jim thinks is possible or is he like... blacking out every now and again? Either is perfectly plausible to him right now.

Considering they are still in Mossgate, and it's daytime, it probably is a matter of both.

Fortunately, that means it's less likely Russell will be interrupting them - though Walter should probably alert his flatmate about this abrupt new plan...

Making sure Jim sleeps comes first, however.

Oh they're... at a door now?

"This isn't m' house?"

"I'm faster at getting to my place than yours."

Yet, anyway. ~~Ahahahahaha~~

"C'mon; the couch should be big enough..."

Because in case one hasn't noticed, Walter is shorter. Jim might have problems fitting on Walter's bed even if Jim's the only one using it.

Jim's cognitive functions aren't exactly top notch right now, so he pauses for a second as Walter passes through the door, only to dart forward and grab his hand when Jim realises he's moving.

Huh. Hey, he could tuck Walter right underneath his chin, if he wanted.

...
..
.

He wants. Before Walter gets very far at all, Jim bumps into him, hooking his chin over Walter's head. Yes good. They fit. Science done.

"Science." Jim says out loud. He knows what he means.

... This is what he gets for being the short one, isn't it.

"Ah. Right."

Just let them get inside, Jim!!

"I'm glad?"

And he is, really - he's just also been taken by surprise.

It's fine. He'll follow Walter wherever. I mean, there's a pretty good grip around his waist now and he'll happily waddle along wherever he tries to go.

... Walter wishes he could say that feels entirely uncomfortable, at least with the waddling.

But it doesn't.

He does deposit Jim on the couch with zero aplomb, however.

"Those fifty-two hours of being awake are ending now, understand?"

There's very definitely a firmness in his tone.

He gets dumped on the sofa and isn't inclined to move very much from there at all.

Walter's talking to him, though. Something about being awake?

"Yeah, I've got to stay awake." Because otherwise, he'll die.

"... I'm not a sleep scientist, but I think that's backwards."

Jiiiim.

Walter's just going to. Gently pat Jim's hair.

"Mmmmm?" Jim is blinking few and far apart, just kind of staring at the ceiling.

Must... stay... awake.

So, touching the hair is a tentative success?

"I'll be right back," he says, hoping the gentle tone gets through more than the words.

Because he'll sit right by Jimbo the entire time if he has to, and having that interrupted would be unfortunate.

And counterproductive. Not to mention distracting.

... Not that the fact that Jim is on his couch isn't distracting in and of itself but anyway.

Turns out it doesn't really need to get through because as soon as Walter comes back he'll find Jim absolutely passed out on the sofa.

As relieving as the sight is, Walter still curls up just in front of the couch's arm closest to Jim's head.

He'll be there if there are nightmares; it feels like the right thing to do.

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Only the fairest dolls at the doll fair

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You don't have to match format if you don't want :D

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Finally got around to this sorry!

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Omf, fuc!

he's a mess and he wont even claim to be trying.

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I am still grinning like a loon.

This is his mess that he doesn't even know he's made

8'D

;)

ENTER TIMESKIP TO WALTER'S FLAT Y/N/BISCUITS

Biscuits

NOMS also why are digestives a thing? They sound like a diet or hygiene thing.

Called 'Digestives' for their high Fibre content, known to aid the digestive system.

That's about what I was figuring. |D

Re: That's about what I was figuring. |D

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