Ted's Dolls 36: Zoey

If you haven't read any of the prior Ted's Dolls stories, you should start with Ted's Dolls 1: Jane before reading this one. Zoey was last seen in Ted’s Dolls 24: Ted 3.

It felt like ages since she went to college. The campus was bustling with students and older people as it was Alumni Weekend. Zoey wasn’t an alumni here but she had heard Ted, Jane, and Paris talking about an exhibit Ted was making when she met them all on Thanksgiving weekend. She thought she could surprise Ted by showing up. She didn’t tell any of them she was coming. It was late in the afternoon when she went through the exhibit. She had no idea what she had just experienced but she had been impressed by it. The detail of the sets and the dolls. Every room she entered she wondered if she knew any of the dolls therein.

As she left the gymnasium, she spotted Ted talking with an older woman. She approached them, pulling behind her a small luggage bag. She waited at a respectful distance for them to finish.

“Why science fiction?” The woman said to Ted.

“Disappointed?”

“No, just surprised. I expected more independent set pieces linked by a theme like your Halloween exhibition. Instead, you not only created set pieces, you told a story. It was wonderful. I actually walked through it three times.”

“Most of the visuals are courtesy of the theater department.”

“Oh, I’m sure they did the execution. But you told them what to execute. Was it all that you wanted it to be?”

“Of course not. But it was what I could get done.”

“Oh, my. A practical artist. You are truly a unicorn,” Dean Wolch said. “I won’t occupy all your time. I believe this alumni wants your attention.”

“Oh, Zoey. She’s a friend, not an alumni,” Ted said. “Zoey, this is Dean Wolch. She commissioned the exhibition.”

“Pleased to meet you,” Zoey said, shaking hands with the Dean.

“Charmed. I shouldn’t keep you from your friend. How would you feel about a Spring Break exhibition?”

Ted shook his head. “I don’t think I want to do something of this scale any more.”

“Bigger?”

“Good day, Dean Wolch.”

“Look at you. Friends with the Dean,” Zoey said. They hugged.

“Are you here for the exhibit or to see me?”

“Both. Jane sent me a text with a link to the school website about the exhibit. I figured I wasn’t doing anything this weekend. So I could see your show and see you about something else.”

He eyed her luggage. “Private or would you want to be rented?”

“Rented would be so wicked.”

“Nothing wicked about being an object that gets rented.” He took out his phone and sent a text.

“So you say. Do you know where Paris or Jane are?”

“Paris is doing Greek stuff. I’ve been busy with the exhibit the last few days. I haven’t seen Jane.”

“She wasn’t in there?”

“No, most of the dolls in there are members of the sorority and a bunch of my regulars. I told them there would be no rentals most of this week and many of them jumped at the chance to be in the exhibit. I’m also not renting dolls tonight. But, if you want to be rented, I can find someone to do it and would treat you like a princess. Or at least a princess that was turned into a doll.”

His phone beeped.

“Paris says she’d love to see you at the sorority house.” Ted gave her directions. “I’m staying here till closing. I’ll stop by later.”

She hugged him and said, “Later.”

Zoey didn’t have to knock on the door to the Sorority house as it opened for her as she stepped onto the porch. “Hello, welcome to the Eta Delta Tau open house. Are you an alumni?” the smiling face of a sister said. Standing next to her was another member of the sorority.

“No, actually I’m looking for Paris.”

“Oh, she’s inside somewhere. Do you want me or Elza here to help you find her?”

“No, I think I can navigate a house.”

“Oh, I just wasn’t sure if you knew what she looked like.”

“Sorry. Paris and I have met. This is a social call.”

“Great. Enjoy your visit to our home.”

Zoey found Paris in the kitchen ensuring there were water bottles in a rubber tub of ice. When Paris stood up she noticed Zoey watching.

“Zoey, how are you?”

The two hugged. “It’s wonderful seeing you being domestic.”

“Oh, it’s all Ted’s fault. He stole most of the Etas for his exhibit. And I have no one to delegate tasks to.”

“Poor thing,” Zoey said. “I had time and Jane sent me an invite to the exhibit.”

“Have you seen it yet?”

“I have. It was amazing. I loved all the little homages to well-known sci-fi properties.”

“I must have missed them. I’m not really into that stuff. And I didn’t think Ted was either.”

“I wasn’t sure at first. But there were symbols on some of the panels that indicated the ship was a rebel ship. There was a Dalek in engineering. Little things like that.”

“I have no idea what any of that means,” Paris said with a laugh.

“Have you seen Jane?”

“I don’t really hang with Jane. She and I travel in different circles for the most part. I was on a chat chain of pics from her modeling gig earlier this week.”

“Oh, she didn’t mention she had photos.”

Paris added Zoey to the chat list and the photos started showing up on her phone. “Cool. I’ve never known a model before.”

“You have luggage. Are you staying the weekend? I can find an empty room in this place for a one-night stay.”

“Really? I was hoping Ted would do his thing and I might experience being a rental.”

“Last I heard, he was off-duty this weekend. But, for you, he’ll probably make an exception.”

“That’s basically what he said.

Trish entered the room with Whitney and said, “You aren’t an alumni I recognize. Patrice Bubon. But every calls me Trish.”

“I’m not an alumni.”

“This is Zoey MacDonal,” Paris said.

“Oh, the woman Ted invited to his parents home on Thanksgiving,” Whitney said.

“You make it sound like he shouldn’t have.”

“No, it’s exactly the kind of thing more people should do on a holiday called Thanks and Giving.”

“What’s his family like? Paris won’t tell us,” Trish said.

“I’ve told you plenty.”

“Yeah, he has two parents and two sisters – and I wonder what they think about his side hustle – as well as an aunt, uncle, and cousin, and a grandmother. That’s it.”

“And I told you his little sister is smarter than all of us. I also told you about his great-aunt.”

“She’s really been a doll for decades?” Whitney said.

“I forgot about her. But yeah, pretty much,” Zoey said. “At least that’s the story.”

“I wonder why,” Trish said.

“Some people are just like that, I suppose.”

“Did you tell them about Cat learning the craft?”

“Of course,” Paris said. “It made what happened to Emily at least seem possible.”

“Emily? I’ve heard that name.”

“She’s Jane’s roommate.”

“She’s also a witch. She can turn people into dolls, too.”

“Jane knows two people who can turn people into dolls?”

<<<<>>>>

After a while Paris had a few things to take care and had one of her few sisters charged with doing errands take Zoey to her room to store her luggage. Her escort had to run as soon as they reached the door and Zoey spent a few minutes looking around the room.

“Who are you?” A woman said from the doorway, startling Zoey.

“What?”

“I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to make you jump. I’m Gianna. I was just wondering what you were doing in Paris’ room.”

“I’m a friend of hers. I’m just leaving my luggage here.”

“She doesn’t spend a lot of time here. She’s usually naked in Ted’s room.”

“Why would you tell someone you’ve never met that their friend is usually naked somewhere?”

“Everyone on campus knows what debauchery she gets up to.”

Zoey stifled a laugh. “Debauchery? People still use that word?”

“The other phrases I might use for someone selling themselves for sex are impolite.”

“You’ve never been one of Ted’s dolls.”

“Of course not. Though I suppose since you know about them, you have.”

“Yes,” Zoey said. And she told Gianna about Ted welcoming her into his home on a holiday without really knowing anything about her other than her boyfriend had just dumped her.

“That’s not a story I’ve heard about Ted.”

“I’m sure there’s a lot about Ted you’ve just assumed based on the so-called debauchery he’s involved with.” Zoey walked past her. “Good day,” she said as she returned to the kitchen.

Ted arrived a few hours later. Paris, Whitney, and Zoey were in the kitchen. Ted and Paris kissed. “Thinking of pledging?”

“Don’t be silly. I tried calling Jane, but she isn’t answering her phone,” Zoey said. “Paris said you were off duty this weekend and I thought Jane might introduce me to Emily.”

“I’m offended,” Ted said with an exaggerated gesture. “Getting someone to dollify you behind my back.”

“I told her I’d introduce her to Emily,” Whitney said. “She’s dolled me.”

“You too?” Ted said.

Whitney ignored him as she looked at her phone. “But not tonight. Richard just texted back that he and Emily are ‘busy’.”

“Busy?”

“Sex, I think. Richard’s emoji-fu isn’t great.”

“Zoey, I can be on duty for one doll transformation if that’s what you want.”

“I also wanted to see Jane but if she isn’t around, I’ve so wanted to doll again for a while now.”

“Are you coming to my room?” Ted said to Paris.

“Tomorrow night.” She kissed him. “But if you’re searching for Emily and Jane, I’ll join you.”

“Let’s head over there. I can introduce you to Emily and probably her boyfriend Richard. Besides, I need to check in on her. She sometimes gets stuck as a doll.”

“Are you charging Emily for restoration services?” Paris said.

“I should. But not Emily.”

“You are a softy.”

“Don’t tell people.”

They didn’t find anyone in Emily’s and Jane’s room. Richard answer the door at his room and Emily was there.

“Hey, either of you seen Jane?”

“She left,” Emily said.

“Left? Left for where?”

“She didn’t say. Something about modeling, I guess.”

“That’s rather vague, Emily,” Ted said.

“She didn’t think she needed school. She’s a professional model now.”

“What?”

“She invited me to the exhibit and didn’t stick around to see me?” Zoey said.

“You are?”

“Oh, right. Emily, this is Zoey. Zoey, this is Emily.”

“Oh, you met Ted Thanksgiving weekend. He actually has a family?”

“Where did you get this reputation for being hatched fully grown?”

“I’m more curious about Jane,” Ted said.

“So am I,” Richard said. “You didn’t tell me any of this.”

“I didn’t?” Emily said.

They grilled Emily for a few more minutes until they found a couple more holes in her story. Emily was visibly upset that she couldn’t explain the holes. “I don’t remember seeing her here since Thanksgiving. But Richard says I told the poker guys she was a doll in our room. How?”

“Emily, let’s go to your room. I want to examine it,” Ted said.

The six of them went to Emily’s room but Ted insisted that no one, not even Emily, go into the room with him. After a moment, he had Emily come in. “I think your mind was tampered with by a wizard,” he said.

“What?”

“We don’t know what you are capable of and these aren’t ideal circumstances. But I want to teach you a spell.”

He explained how to cast the spell and then had her try it. He corrected her a few times until she got it right. The room went of out focus on Emily and she could see Jane clearly standing in the window. She remembered walking up behind her and groping her doll body. The scene shifted and a man she’d never seen before was in her room as she walked in. She saw herself locked in place by the man’s magic. He was yelling at her. Horrible things about how she was above the chattel. Then he was casting a spell on her as she fell asleep in her bed.

“What was that?” She said.

“I don’t know what you saw. I only know there was a presence here a few days ago.”

She told him what she saw.

“Really? You were actually able to visualize the past? What kind of lineage do you have?”

“What do you mean? Isn’t that what you wanted me to see?”

“I wanted you to feel that Jane was here a couple days ago. And you visualized her kidnapper. I can’t do that.”

“I wish I knew where magic came from in my family. I wouldn’t even know who to ask.”

“Let’s bring the others in. You can tell them as much or as little of what we discovered here and I’ll go along with that.”

“Okay.”

She told all of them everything.

“Jane was kidnapped?” Zoey said.

“I guess. I have no idea who was in my room. But he was also a wizard. We suspect his specialty is mental powers.”

<<<<>>>>

Several hours later, Zoey, Whitney, Ted, and Paris left. Whitney said, “Paris, go to Ted’s tonight. I’ll put Zoey up in your room. Maybe tomorrow Zoey can be dolled when things aren’t so hectic.”

Paris was going to protest but Ted said, “Alumni Weekend activities are done. You can spend the evening with your boyfriend, if you want to.”

“I’ll have to call him up.” He pulled her close and they kissed.

“I tried to get them to go to their room before…”

“Let’s just leave them,” Zoey said. “I’ll call you around ten, Ted.”

“Make it eleven,” Paris said.

Whitney and Zoey walked back to the sorority house. When they got there Burke was standing on the porch. “And who’s this?” He said referring to Zoey.

“Did you hear about Zoey, the woman Ted met over Thanksgiving break?”

“No.”

“Follow us.” Whitney led the two of them up to Paris’ room as Zoey told him the story of meeting Ted.

“And you just happen to be here this weekend?”

“I was invited.”

“Ted doesn’t live in the house.”

“And neither does Paris,” Gianna said, passing them in the hall.

“What’s up with her?”

“She’s probably got the hots for Ted,” Zoey said.

“I do not,” Gianna said from the other end of the hall.

“Then maybe you need to mind your own business about whom he spends his time with.”

“C’mon, Zoey. Let’s get you situated,” Whitney said. “Just leave her alone, Gi.”

<<<<>>>>

“3… 2… 1…” the next thing Doll knew, it was no longer Zoey. Doll looked at itself in the mirror. Doll didn’t think Owner had made her look like this when she was on the train. Doll was a sex doll. Doll could not wait.

Owner entered the bathroom and put Doll on the sofa in Owner’s dorm room. Doll sat.

Later, there was a knock on the door. When Owner opened the door, Renter entered.

“I wasn’t expecting you to rent any dolls today.”

“It was a special request. Can you and your chucklehead friends treat the doll correctly.”

“We’ve been very good ever since all of us have had a turn as the doll. This will be the first time we’ll all be ourselves when we have a doll.”

“If this goes well, I might let you rent an unknown person again.”

“Thanks, Ted.” Mitch shook his hand. “When is she due back?”

“December 20.”

“What is that? Nine days? Really?”

“Can I trust you?”

“Nothing bad will happen to this doll.”

They bundled the doll up into a bag and Mitch left with it.

<<<<>>>>

Doll had heard about blissing. Doll had dreams about blissing. Doll wanted to bliss over and over before ever blissing the first time. Blissing was even better than Doll expected. The day had flown by as Renter after Renter had used Doll. Some Renters were boring. Still good, but no bliss. Other Renters made Doll bliss for a little while. Doll could tell the bliss hadn’t lasted that long sometimes.

And then there was Renter Joel and Renter Mitch. After they were in the bedroom, Doll would bliss for hours afterward. Doll wanted only them to use Doll. Of course, Doll had no choice. But all encounters were fun.

Doll was taken to bed by Renter Joel. Renter made Doll bliss shortly after going to bed and Doll blissed until well into the morning. Doll realized it was Monday. Doll didn’t care. Doll was aware that Zoey cared even less. Doll stopped thinking about Monday.

Doll lost track of the days. Renter Mitch ensured every day was a mix of different Renters. Some paid more attention than others to Doll’s pleasure. The different Renters started to be recognized by the Doll. A new Renter made Doll excited to see what kind of Renter it was.

“I heard you guys had a doll.”

“I didn’t know you rented dolls, Carson,” Renter Mitch said.

“Yeah. I had rented one or two and wasn’t into it. But, you know, stress. These things really relieve stress.”

“Yeah. Let me help you take it to the shower. I’m going to find out what asshole didn’t clean up after themselves.”

“Thanks. I’ll be sure to clean it up. I should have it back to you in a couple hours.”

After the shower, Carson carried the doll up a few flights to his dorm room. He sat the doll down on a chair and positioned its arm.

“While you dry out, I want you to read this card.” He placed a card in its hand and turned its head so that it was focused on the card. “When you finish reading the card, read it again and again until I take the card away.”

Doll read the card.

Doll read the card.

Doll read the card.