The queen casts another glance at you before sighing.
“You’ll keep your word?” she asked.
The man chuckled before replying, “When have I not?”
The queen nodded her head before walking back towards the main store. “Well, that’s good enough for me. Take the dolls and be on your merry way.” she dryly grumbled.
Smiling a self-congratulatory smile, the man turned back to look at his spoils. You were quite surprised when he lifted the other doll from the pedestal; you had thought that it was attached. Watching the other doll’s behaviors, you prepare to lie limply in his arms as he picks you up around the waist. While he lifted the other doll into a piggyback position, you take note of the fondness in which he gently cradles you. With another nod to the queen as he passes her, he begins to head for the exit. As he turns around one last time, you spot the queen still eyeing him warily. What exactly debt does the queen have to settle? And why does the queen not like this man? Well, anyone who rescued you from the queen was alright in your book. As he passed the doors back into the mall, he lifted his finger and *SNAP*
You feel your insides turn around on themselves as you’re transported somewhere else. As your dizziness stops, you peer through the doll’s eyes to see what appears to be the main hall of a mansion. You feel like you should be more surprised at this teleportation, but in comparison to earlier events, this appears to be pretty mild.
The man lowers down the other doll and begins to set her standing in front of him. Not quite sure of his intentions, you play the part of an inanimate doll as the man positions you in a like fashion. After brushing a stray lock of your wig out of your eyes, he steps back to admire his prizes. “You know, I know you’re inside the doll so you can stop pretending now.” The man commented nonchalantly, as if he was asking for the weather.
His statement put you on guard fast. How’d he know? Can he be trusted? Still, he did save you and you are growing exhausted from continuing the facade.
Stopping your pose, you immediately start frantically pointing at the mask, hoping he’ll get the message to help get it off.
Smiling, the man waved a finger in the air and you heard a *click* as your mask unlocked. Excitedly, you grasp the two halves of the mask and gleefully pull the gag from your mouth, now drenched in saliva. You start taking in some deep breaths, never realizing how much you cared for breathing until now. Wanting to be done of wearing the doll’s outfit, you began attempting to unzip the hood.
The man reached out his hand in warding. “Let’s try to keep things respectable. It would be quite unseemly of both you and I if you undressed while we’re talking.”
Oh right. Halting your activities, you allowed yourself to sit down on the lush carpet to ease your legs. Wanting some answers, you pipe up, “Are you going to tell me who you are?”
The man chuckled again, as if he found this whole situation amusing. “I thought you’d never ask.” He chose a spot to begin pacing and launched into a narrative.
“You can call me Nym. In the fairy world, I’m something of a businessman whose performed supremely well in the last 100 years. Over the years, I’ve acquired a certain taste for art and seek it primarily in the form of dolls. Life-size ones such as the one next to you. It allows me to take in a variety of people each day to help ease some of the boredom of looking for something new to achieve in life. All my staff are dressed similarly, I’ve found that sticking to a theme is pleasing and satisfying. The shopkeeper you know was brought to her station thanks to my political influence. That would be the ‘debt’ I spoke of. Having said that, I truly despise that woman and would do anything just to outdo her. Imagine my surprise when I sensed a young human child inside of the dolls! Seeing as she was so vehemently set on keeping you, I figure letting go her debt was a worthy enough price to pay for having a leg up on her.” He pauses in his story and step and turned his gaze back towards you. “So, what’s your story? Why were you hiding in a doll?”
As you considered his question, you felt that this man was being genuine and would help you out. You quickly recounted today’s events to him: being turned into a girl, being offered the role of her daughter, and outwitting and escaping the shop.
Nym rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “A trickster.... I might just have use for you yet.” He clapped his hands together in an air of finality.
“Alright, I have a proposition for you. Seeing as I helped rescue you from a life of definite servitude, it’s only fair that you assist me for a bit. Seeing as the queen as been quickly gaining followers that worry me, if you help me deal with the queen, I’ll let you go free. In fact, as a show of good faith, I’ll even return you to male when you accept my deal. All you need to do is live in my house for a bit and play a crucial role in a grand plan of mine.” He have a welcoming grin and extended an arm. “What do you say?”
After weighing out your options, you decide to...