Orlando's Story: Continued (Mattel The Lord Of The Rings Legolas, redressed)

I went looking for Celeste early one morning, hoping to find her alone. I spotted her strolling by the bookcase and quickly caught up to her. "Celeste?" I called from behind her. She turned, and when she saw me she gave me a friendly smile that nearly took my breath away. "Hello Orlando," she said. I quickly re-gathered my thoughts and said, "My sister told me you give good relationship advice." Celeste looked surprised but I hurried on, wanting to get the words out before I lost my nerve. "I could use some good advice," I said. "I was wondering if I could talk to you, privately."

"Of course," Celeste said. She led me to a quiet corner where we would be away from prying eyes and asked, "How can I help?" I was still nervous about the whole thing, so it was difficult for me to speak, despite the fact that I'd spent some time rehearsing what I planned to say in my mind. "I know about Shade's infatuation with Carlos," I began. "I'm having a similar problem. I...I've grown very strong feelings for another doll in the collection. But I don't know if she feels the same way. I don't feel comfortable asking her, and she's not the easiest doll to read." I gave Celeste a wry smile and said, "I guess Shade and I are both drawn to the quiet, mysterious types."

Suddenly I worried that I'd said too much, and my fears seemed to be confirmed when Celeste spoke. "It sounds to me like you're describing one of your sister's friends," she said carefully. Celeste must've seen the sudden panic on my face because she quickly added, "It's alright. I don't really need to know who it is. I only mentioned it because I've noticed when you spend time with Shade and the rest of us, you're very quiet most of the time. You don't really share your opinions very often. I thought that maybe if you spoke up a little more, and gave the rest of us a chance to really get to know you, it would help you connect with the doll you have feelings for without having to single her out in conversation."

 I thought over what Celeste had said. "I'm not as...chatty as some of Shade's friends," I said. "I don't open my mouth unless I think I have something valuable to say."

"And that's ok," Celeste assured me. "I'm not saying you should completely change who you are. But maybe you have more to say than you think you do. Just because something seems small to you doesn't mean it's not important. I'm sure you've told Shade a lot of things that didn't seem important, but because you did she probably understands you better than anyone."

Again I thought over what Celeste had said. It did make sense in a way. After all, how could I expect Celeste to have real feelings for me if we only knew each other superficially? If I wanted her to make the choice to spend her life with me, I needed to let her see what kind of doll I really was. There was always a chance that she wouldn't like what she saw, but the fact that she was encouraging me to reach out seemed to hint that she hadn't already made up her mind against me.

"You've given me a lot to think about," I said finally. I wasn't sure what to say after that, and as the seconds ticked by an awkward silence seemed to settle over the two of us. I realized then that I should probably leave, and let Celeste get on with the rest of her day.

"I think I've taken up enough of your time," I said. "I'm sure you have other things to do today."

"It's alright," Celeste said. "I'm always glad to help." She smiled again, a reassuring smile that once again took my breath away. I was so dazzled by it that it took a second to remind myself that I had already monopolized too much of Celeste's time, and that I needed to leave. As I turned to walk away I realized that I had forgotten something very important. I turned back towards Celeste and said, "Thank you, Celeste, for the advice and for listening."

"You're welcome," Celeste said. We parted ways then, but it wasn't long before I saw her again, passing the time with Shade and Shade's other friends. I did speak to my sister privately about my meeting with Celeste. Shade made a joke out of the fact that I'd actually followed her suggestion, when it's usually her who follows my suggestions.

I've been trying to follow Celeste's advice, trying to share more when I'm with the group. It hasn't always been easy. I worry that the things I say will sound stupid or shallow. I worry how my words might change the way the other dolls think of me. Everyone wants to make a good impression, especially when one's heart is at stake.

Celeste has been very supportive in my efforts to be more open with others. Every now and then I'll look over at her, after I've shared something with the group, and she'll give me a small nod of encouragement. While I can't say if she'll ever feel for me the way I feel for her, for now it's enough to know that I still have her friendship and support.

Orlando

Orlando's Story (Mattel The Lord Of The Rings Legolas, redressed)

If any doll who knows me was ever asked to describe my personality, they'd probably say that I'm the exact opposite of my sister Shade. When I first met Shade she was a bundle of energy, chatting non-stop with anyone who would listen, always getting involved in some activity. At the time I thought it was because she'd just recovered from a body swap, and she was tired of lying down doing nothing. But as more time passed I realized that it was in Shade's nature to be energetic and talkative. That's just who she is.

Shade also doesn't do things by halves, as they say. She jumps in with both feet. Sometimes this gets her into trouble. I remember the time she told me that her friend Dandelion had been introduced to a little girl doll named Marigold, and that Treesa wanted Dandelion and Marigold to be sisters. Shade was so excited at the thought of being an 'auntie', and having a little girl doll in her group of friends that they could all cuddle and spoil. I don't think Shade actually realized the amount of sacrifice and commitment that goes into caring for a doll child. However, from what Shade told me it sounded as though Dandelion may have been more aware of what being a caregiver actually called for.

Whatever her reasons, Dandelion never did agree to be Marigold's sister. Shade was disappointed, and I think she would have pushed Dandelion to change her mind if I hadn't pointed out how doing that would only make Dandelion upset, and might lead to the end of their friendship. Not only that but Rampion and Celeste and Michaela would also be forced to choose sides. Shade knew how lucky she was to have Dandelion for a friend, someone whose personality so closely matched her own. And she didn't want to be responsible for tearing her group of friends apart. So Shade left things alone, and didn't bring the subject up again.

This wasn't the only time I had to stop Shade from doing something without thinking it through. There've been times when keeping her out of trouble has felt like a full time job. But even though my sister can be exasperating at times, I do care about her. Sometimes her being impulsive is even a good thing. I tend to be a little more cautious than Shade about what I say and do. I don't like to take risks if I can avoid them, so my life can get a little predictable, maybe even boring. Shade is the one doll who can get me out of my comfort zone and trying new things. So even though she drives me crazy sometimes, I'm still grateful to have my sister in my life. And if she ever needed help, I can honestly say that I'd do anything for her.

Orlando and Shade

There is another doll that I'd do anything for. From the moment I met Celeste, I knew there was something special about her. Maybe it was the far away look in her eyes, the way she seemed to be here but at the same time, somewhere else. Or maybe it was the graceful, nearly silent way she carried herself, as if she was used to walking on clouds. In some ways she almost didn't seem real. I still remember the night I woke up and saw her standing by the window, when she looked more like something made of moonbeams and shadows than plastic and vinyl.

When Celeste started spending time with Shade and Shade's friends, I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to get to know her better. So I started 'hanging around', as Shade put it. I quickly discovered that Celeste had become the voice of quiet reason in the group. Whenever Shade or one of her friends had some minor problem they wanted to discuss everyone else in the group would offer their input, debating back and forth what the best course of action would be. But Celeste would always listen quietly, taking in what the rest of the dolls had to say before she offered an opinion. When she did finally speak, her words were always insightful. Celeste seems to have a remarkable understanding of doll nature and behavior. Her sense of perspective is also amazing. Celeste has a way of focusing on the big picture, of seeing the whole forest as they say, when everyone else is only seeing the trees.

The more I learned about Celeste, the more I was drawn to her. I didn't fully understand my feelings at first. I only knew that I wanted to be near her, to spend more time with her. By the time I realized I'd lost my heart the feelings ran so deep that I was convinced I'd never be able to forget Celeste, even if I'd wanted to.

I didn't talk to my sister about Celeste, at least, not at first. But eventually I realized that I needed to talk to someone, and Shade seemed like the best candidate. Despite how different we are from each other, I know that Shade cares about me. She cares the way I care about her: friendly, teasing, maybe a little overprotective. But if there's one thing I know for sure it's that Shade wants me to be happy. So one day when I was standing by the window, my thoughts focused on Celeste, I decided to confide in my sister.

Shade had been walking past me, and had stopped to ask if I was ok. She'd found me this way before, staring blankly out the window, but I'd always brushed off her concern. Now I realized that silently pining for the doll I loved was getting me nowhere. Not only that, but Shade was obviously worried about me. I owed her an explanation, if only to put her mind at ease and assure her that there was nothing seriously wrong. I also knew that I could trust Shade to keep this a secret if I asked her to. Shade's a chatterbox by nature, but she wouldn't share something if she'd given her word not to.

When Shade asked if I was ok I exhaled slowly, not knowing the best way to bring up the subject. I was still facing the window, and I could see Shade's reflection in the windowpane. She was frowning, and I realized again just how worried she must've been. I slowly turned to face her.

"It's nothing serious really," I said, trying to reassure her. Shade didn't look convinced. "Something's bugging you. I can tell," she said.

"I don't want you to worry," I told her. "But...before I say anything, I need you to promise that you won't repeat what I'm going to tell you."

Shade looked even more worried than before but she said, "Ok, I promise." That was so typical of Shade, going into things blindly. But in this case I was grateful for her impulsive nature. I slowly exhaled again, trying to collect my thoughts, and said, "There's...another doll. She...she means a lot to me and I...I'd like to be more than just a friend to her. But...I don't know if she feels the same way."

Shade's reaction completely surprised me. She rolled her eyes and asked, "Is this about Celeste?" I felt my jaw drop. "You knew?" I asked. Shade gave me an indignant look. "I'm not stupid you know," she said. It was clear that Shade felt insulted by my question, and I'm sure I would've tried to smooth things over with her if another thought hadn't completely taken over my mind. "Does Celeste know?" I asked.

Shade looked thoughtful and said, "I'm not sure, to be honest. If she does she hasn't said anything to me about it."

This new information triggered a confusing mix of emotions in me. On the one hand I was encouraged that Celeste hadn't said anything that rejected me outright. On the other hand I still didn't know if she could return my feelings, or if she'd even realized that I had feelings for her. Basically I was back where I'd started. "I just don't know what I should do, Shade," I admitted.

Shade looked thoughtful again and said, "If you had a crush on anybody else, I'd say you should go talk to Celeste. She gives great relationship advice. She helped me a lot when..." Shade suddenly trailed off, looking embarrassed. I tried not to seem amused by her reaction, since I didn't want her to think I was laughing at her. But I felt the hint of a smile cross my face despite my best efforts. "I know about your infatuation with Carlos," I told Shade. She looked even more embarrassed than before, and quickly tried to brush the matter aside.

"Anyway, I'm not sure what to tell you," Shade said. "Celeste's a lot better at giving advice than I am." Suddenly, Shade's expression changed, as if she'd had a brainstorm. "I've got it!" she said. "What if you tell Celeste you need some relationship advice, but just don't tell her it's her you've got a crush on? That way you can get some good advice without having to tell her you like her."

At first I don't think I really understood what Shade was suggesting. "You want me to lie to her," I said, not liking where this was going. Shade shook her head. "You wouldn't have to lie," she said. "Just tell Celeste you're not comfortable saying who it is. That's not really lying," Shade reasoned.

It sounded crazy to me, and risky. What if Celeste realized that I was talking about her? What if knowing that I had feelings for her made her uncomfortable? I didn't want to lose what little contact I already had with Celeste. Shade must've realized that I wasn't sold on her plan yet, because she said, "Celeste told me once that it's not the things we do that we regret the most. It's the things we didn't do."

For a moment I just stood there in silence, thinking over what Shade had said. Could it really work? Could I really get some guidance from Celeste without having to reveal my feelings for her?

"I'll think about it," I said finally. Shade must've realized that I would need time by myself to think things over, because she left me on the windowsill. Over the next few days I carefully considered my next move. Eventually I decided that, if I really wanted a future with Celeste, I'd have to face the threat of rejection sooner or later. I made up my mind that I would ask for her advice, as Shade had suggested. And then maybe, during the course of the conversation, I'd see or hear something that would give me a clue how Celeste felt about me.

(To Be Continued)

Michaela's Story (redressed purple-haired Barbie fairy)

The first time I saw Treesa I was hanging from a rack at the thrift store in a plastic bag. Wow, I didn't realize how creepy that sounds until just now. It sounds like the opening shot of a bad episode of CSI. All you need is the one-liner before they cut to commercial, probably something about being left hanging. That one works on two levels because the audience is left hanging too, wondering what happened.

But to get back to the story, Treesa walked into the toy department with someone who looked so much like her I thought they were twins. I found out later I was half right. The other person was Treesa's sister, but they're not twins. Treesa said I'm not the only one who's made that mistake though. She said several people have asked her and her sister if they were twins. At least one woman thought Treesa and her sister were the same person until she saw both of them together.

But to get back to the story, Treesa and her sister were looking through the toy racks when Treesa saw me. She showed me to her sister and said, "She would be so cool if she was body swapped." Then back on the rack I went. I had to wait until my tag color went half price before Treesa bought me. I found out later it was my molded clothes that'd turned Treesa off. She didn't want to pay full price for a doll, even thrift store prices, if she was only keeping the head. But I didn't know that at the time. Back then I didn't even know what a body swap WAS because I'd never met a doll who'd had one done before. It wasn't until I met Dandelion and Shade, and Shade told me about HER body swap, that I realized how drastic it was.

But to get back to the story, before Treesa went looking for a body donor for me she decided to clean me up a little. So she took me into the bathroom and started wiping the smudges off my face with a damp towel. Then she combed out my hair. That's when she first noticed the name 'Jordan' was written on the back of my head under my hair.

Jordan was my first owner. She was also a big Toy Story fan. After she saw the movies she wrote her name on all her favorite toys in ink, just like Andy had in the movies. Well, actually she asked her Mom to do the writing on me. Mom's writing was smaller and neater than Jordan's, and the back of my head isn't THAT big.

But to get back to the story, when Treesa lifted up my hair and held it that way for several seconds I knew she must've seen Jordan's name. I wondered what Treesa was thinking. Would she get rid of me if she couldn't get the ink off? Treesa let go of my hair and turned me over so she was looking at my face. She didn't look disappointed exactly. But she did look unhappy. I wondered if she was having 'buyer's remorse'. Was she regretting spending money on me? It's not like she didn't know I was a used doll. She found me at the thrift store, and I'd lost my fairy wings long before I got there. She must've known I could have other 'condition problems'.

Then Treesa said, "You must be so sad." I didn't answer. I'd just gotten to Treesa's house that day, so I didn't know Treesa knew I was alive. Even if I'd known I'm not sure I could've answered, because I wasn't really sure what Treesa meant. Did she think I was sad because I missed Jordan? Or did she think something terrible must've happened to separate me and Jordan? Thinking about it now I guess it makes sense that Treesa was worried about me. After all she had no idea how I ended up at the thrift store. For all Treesa knew Jordan could've died. For the record it was nothing that tragic. Jordan just outgrew me. But Treesa didn't know that.

But to get back to the story, Treesa took me to her room then and found something for me to wear. It was a little tricky finding something that was loose enough to fit over the molded flower details on my...chest, but Treesa did her best.

After I was dressed Treesa left me alone in the room. I guess she thought I might need some time to myself, to process what had happened or something. That's when Dandelion and Shade passed by and saw me. They were talking to each other as they walked, I don't know what they were talking about, but as soon as they noticed me they both stopped.

I was kind of nervous at first because I didn't know what to expect. It didn't help that I'm not much of a talker. But you'd never know that from this post. I'm really surprised how much easier it's been writing out my thoughts instead of talking out loud. But then I've never tried writing before, so I didn't really know what to expect there either.

But to get back to the story, Dandelion and Shade didn't seem to mind carrying most of the conversation. "Nice hair color," Dandelion said. "Thanks," I told her shyly. I didn't know what to say after that, so I didn't say anything.

"My name's Shade," Shade said. "And this is Dandelion. What's your name?" Treesa hadn't given me a name yet, and Jordan had called all her Barbie dolls 'Barbie'. I'd been 'Purple Fairy Barbie', but she'd also had 'Princess Barbie' and 'Ballerina Barbie' and about half a dozen others. I know these names weren't very original, but Jordan more than made up for that with the creative story ideas she'd thought up for us to act out.

But to get back to the story, when Shade asked what my name was I was a little embarrassed. So I stared at the floor admitting, "I don't really have one."

"That's ok," Dandelion told me. "Treesa'll probably give you one soon. She's been pretty good at keeping up with naming her dolls lately."

"And if she forgets you can just remind her," Shade said. I stared at her in disbelief. Was she saying what I thought she was saying? Was she telling me I should show Treesa I was alive? It sure sounded that way. And if that weren't crazy enough it sounded like Shade was saying I should actually TALK to Treesa.

"Remind her?" I asked. I must've sounded stunned because Shade said, "Oops, sorry. I guess I've got so used to Treesa knowing we're alive I forgot how weird it is, weird in a good way," Shade added. "I mean, Treesa's still human, so she still likes to mess with our lives. But at least we can tell her if she goes too far."

It was really a shock finding out Treesa knew we were alive. All I could say after Shade finished explaining was, "Oh." There was an awkward silence, and then Dandelion jumped in. "Did Treesa say anything that'd give us a clue what she wants to name you?" Dandelion asked.

"No," I said. "She just talked about body swapping me." Shade stared at me with this strange look on her face. It was sort of a mix between angry and queasy. "Are you ok?" I asked. Dandelion stepped in again. "Shade had a body swap," Dandelion explained. "She kinda doesn't like to think about it."

"I can understand if it's 'medically necessary'!" Shade burst out. "But for me it was more cosmetic. I don't think Treesa realizes that, for dolls, body swapping is like major surgery! It's risky and things can go wrong!"

Now I was scared. "What exactly is a body swap?" I asked, even though I was pretty sure I wouldn't like the answer. Shade and Dandelion explained the procedure, and when they were done I probably looked even more queasy than Shade had a minute ago. "That sounds...drastic," I said, trying not to feel sick.

"You don't even look like you NEED a body swap," Shade added, "unless you have some serious 'condition issue' I'm missing."

"I don't think so," I said, my voice still shaky. "I lost my fairy wings, but I can get around alright without them." That's when Treesa came back into the room. When she came over to where she'd left me I was terrified. I thought she was going to take me away for my body swap. As soon as Treesa reached me she noticed Dandelion and Shade. "Hey you two," Treesa said. "It was nice of you to introduce yourselves. How's the new arrival?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?" Shade asked, still sounding upset. Treesa seemed surprised by Shade's tone of voice but she quickly got past that. "You sound like Halle," Treesa said. "New dolls usually don't answer me right away. They need time to get over the whole 'no talking to humans' thing, and they need to see they can trust me. You know that." I think seeing that Treesa didn't get angry with Shade helped me find the courage to speak up. "Are you really going to...body swap me?" I asked. I think Treesa could tell I was scared. "I was thinking about it," Treesa admitted, lowering her voice. "But you don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm not body swapping you, ever. Jordan obviously loved you just the way you are. I wouldn't take that away from you." I didn't really understand what Treesa was trying to say, and I don't think Dandelion and Shade did either. I was just glad I wasn't getting a body swap. Then Treesa smiled and said, "You need a name though. I was thinking Michaela."

"Ok," I said after a moment. I was so relieved that I wasn't going to be body swapped that she could have named me Princess PurpleHair and I would've been ok with it. I found out later the reason Treesa picked Michaela for me was because of Jordan's name. The most famous 'Jordan' Treesa knew of was Michael Jordan, the basketball player.

After Treesa left the room again I had to explain to Dandelion and Shade who Jordan was. I was still so relieved after narrowly escaping a body swap that talking about Jordan wasn't as painful as it could've been. Afterwards Dandelion and Shade introduced me to more of their friends. I met Rampion and Celeste, and Shade's brother Orlando. Rampion is a lot like Dandelion and Shade. All three of them are a lot more talkative than I am. Celeste and Orlando seem quieter though, like me. Although when Celeste talks everybody listens, because Celeste is really good at giving advice.

Well that story took a lot longer to tell than I thought it would. I guess I should work on not going off on tangents.

Enjoy The Day, Michaela

Alice's Story: Part 5 (Mattel The Twilight Saga Eclipse Alice)

I should probably warn you ahead of time, this post might not make much sense. There's some stuff I'm trying to figure out right now, and I thought if I wrote everything down it'd help me sort out my thoughts. I'm not really sure where to start though. I guess I should pick up where I left off. When I last posted I wasn't really sure where my life was headed. So I was sort of on cruise control, waiting for something to happen. I know now waiting for something to happen isn't always the best idea. For one thing it gives you too much time to think, and I kept thinking about the last thing Jasper said to me.

After I told Jasper about Jazzy Jazz, the first doll I ever loved, Jasper thought I'd be happier if I didn't have to see him at all. I tried to tell Jasper I didn't blame him for me and Jazzy Jazz getting separated, but Jasper still must've thought having to be around him day after day would torture me. So he just kept avoiding me, and he was really good at it. It was early January when I told Jasper about Jazzy Jazz, and I barely got a glimpse of Jasper for the rest of the month.

At first I was sort of relieved. Telling Jasper about my first love had made me really uncomfortable. I'd never told anyone how I felt about Jazzy Jazz, not even Treesa when she'd asked if I'd left someone special behind. I'd never even told my old family, though I think some of them might've figured it out anyway. Jazzy Jazz couldn't have known, because if he had things would've been a lot more awkward between us. Things probably would've been a lot more awkward for the whole family if word got around that I was in love with Jazzy Jazz. It was sort of embarrassing and uncomfortable, being in love with someone who thought of me as a sister. So I just never told anyone.

But I had to tell Jasper. I realized pretty quick that Jasper liked me, and it wasn't fair to let him get his hopes up. The sooner I told him I couldn't love him the sooner he'd move on. So I told Jasper how I felt about Jazzy Jazz. Those feelings I'd hid and guarded for so long were finally out in the open. I didn't realize it then, but I was trusting Jasper with my biggest secret. Jasper knew though, and he wouldn't break that trust. That's why he didn't tell anyone, not even his sister Joy. I hate to say it but I was really surprised when I found out Jasper hadn't told her. I mean, I never thought Jasper would tell everyone, but I thought he'd at least tell his sister. It wasn't until a couple months after I started hanging out with Joy that I found out she didn't know.

That's right, I'm sort of friends with Joy now. When Wedding Bells and Wedward left I knew I'd have to make new friends eventually. You can't take two steps in Treesa's room without bumping into another doll, so it's not like I could avoid having any contact with the rest of the collection. And honestly I didn't want to be a loner. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life thinking about the past and wishing things hadn't changed. I wanted to be able to move on. But moving on is tough, and I'll admit I really didn't try that hard to make friends at first. I was polite to everybody, but close friendships are something you have to work at, and I knew I wasn't putting in as much effort as I should've.

I can't really explain why I started hanging out with Joy. I'd met a lot of Treesa's other dolls by then, so I could've tried making friends with someone else. But when I tried to think of dolls I'd have something in common with nobody seemed like the right fit. Halle and me both had some grudges against Treesa, but Halle's a lot more...hostile to humans than I am. Lois is a character doll from a movie, like me. But Lois has more of an independent streak than I do. Dandelion, and her friends Shade and Rampion, are fun-loving dolls who like to have a good time. The way they act around each other reminds me of my old family. But I didn't think I was lively enough to fit in with them.

When I thought about Joy, I remembered her go with the flow, take things as they come attitude. I wondered if she could teach me to be like that. And I'll admit I was also curious about Jasper. I couldn't forget the last thing he'd said to me the day I told him about Jazzy Jazz. Jasper told me he'd like to be my friend, but only if it wasn't too painful for me. For some reason that really stuck with me. Here was a doll who cared about me so much he'd put what I wanted first, even if it wasn't what he wanted. The more I thought about it the more I wondered how he could be so selfless. I mean, when I lived with my old family I was close enough to all of them that I would've gone out of my way to help them if they needed me. But Jasper had already proved he'd do anything in his power to make me happy, and he barely knew me! It made me wonder if Jasper really could've fallen in love with me at first sight. Or maybe he only thought he was in love with me. Maybe he'd fallen in love with his first impression of me, and not the real me. Or maybe, because he was a Jasper doll, there was something molded into his plastic that made him fall in love with the first Alice doll he saw. Would he still have fallen in love if it'd been another Alice doll he met, and not me? But if it was something in his plastic, if all Jasper dolls automatically fell in love with the first Alice doll they saw, then why had Jazzy Jazz only ever loved me like a sister?

I wasn't sure if I'd ever have the answers to all these questions, but for some reason I wanted to at least try and find out. I can't really explain why. Maybe it was just the timing. It was mid-February by then. Valentine's Day was coming, and without Wedding Bells and Wedward and the rest of my family around me there was no one to take my mind off it. I was in a new house, surrounded by new dolls, and even though I'd been here for a while those dolls still felt like strangers. I felt completely alone.

The first time I went to visit Joy I was a little nervous, because I hadn't come up with a good excuse for why I was dropping by. But Joy was just as friendly as she'd been when Treesa first introduced us. I don't remember exactly what I said when she asked if there was a reason I'd stopped by. I think I told her I felt overwhelmed. Trying to decide which dolls would make the best friends by weighing the pros and cons was sort of stressing me out, but I didn't say that out loud. Whatever I said probably didn't make much sense to Joy, but she didn't ask me to explain. She just started talking about the weather. Then whenever the conversation started to drag she switched to another safe, small-talk topic.

Valentine's Day came up, of course. Joy told me it's not a very popular holiday in Treesa's collection. Most of Treesa's dolls don't even celebrate it. For the most part it's an excuse for the married couples to get one of their friends to watch the kids so they can spend some quality time together. I guess it makes sense if you really think about it. Toy companies always make a lot more female dolls than male dolls, since most dolls are bought for little girls and little girls like dressing their dolls up and playing with their hair. So unless you have a really small doll collection it's almost impossible for every female doll to find the love of her life. Luckily some dolls like staying single. Dandelion and Lois don't seem like they're in a hurry to find dates.

(Note From Treesa: The post that Alice drafted is way too long, so I'm breaking it up. I'll post the rest later.

Signed, Treesa)

Dandelion's Story: The Sequel (redressed Fairytopia Dandelion)

 

Sorry to barge in here.  I wasn't planning on doing another post but Treesa just dropped a major bombshell on me. There I was, minding my own business when Treesa came over and said, "There's someone I want you to meet." Then she brought over this little girl doll, a little girl doll with ORANGE HAIR!

 

 

Well, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what Treesa was up to. I was so ticked. I'd thought Treesa was trying to cut back on 'meddling', but I guess not.

 

Anyway, I knew I'd have to talk fast if I wanted Treesa to hear me out. But I knew I'd have to be careful what I said. Kids soak stuff up like a sponge, and I didn't want to get chewed out by the other dolls for being a 'bad example' in front of the little girl doll. I also didn't want to hurt the kid's feelings and make her cry. So, before Treesa could get another word out I said, "Can it wait? We need to talk."

 

Treesa looked kinda nervous for a second. But she pasted on a smile before she turned back to the little girl doll. "Why don't you go play with your friend Tabitha, okay Pumpkin?" Treesa said.

 

"'Kay," the little girl doll said. She turned around and skipped away. As soon as she was out of earshot I told Treesa, "No, no way, I'm too young to be a mother!" Treesa kinda sighed and said, "I was hoping she'd be your little sister."

 

"Either way I'd have to take care of her!" I said. "I'm not ready for that! Pumpkin's a cute kid, but I'm not going to drop everything and adopt her!"

 

"Her name is Marigold," Treesa said. "Pumpkin's just a nickname. She's a Halloween doll, and when I got her she was dressed like a pumpkin."

 

"You're not listening!" I said. "I'm not 'caregiver' material! I'm a single doll who's used to doing whatever she wants! Can you really see ME with a kid?"

 

"Okay, okay," Treesa said. "If you don't want her you don't have to take her." I was happy at first. After all, I'd got what I wanted. But then I thought of something. "What'll happen to her if I don't take her?" I asked.

 

"She'll stay with my other sixth-scale child dolls who don't have families yet," Treesa said. I didn't know much about Treesa's 'orphan' sixth-scale kids. I'd heard they all tried to look out for each other, and the older ones kept an eye on the younger ones. It didn't sound that great to me, waiting around 'til someone wanted you. "So, now you're trying to guilt trip me," I said. "If I don't take her no one else will?"

 

"I didn't say THAT," Treesa argued. "You asked me a question and I answered it." Treesa must've noticed I felt sorry for Marigold. "You don't have to make a decision now Dandelion," Treesa said. "Just think about it." I knew I had to get out of there before Treesa changed my mind. "I'm going to talk to Shade," I said.

 

When I found Shade she was talking to Celeste. I thought it'd be a good idea to get Celeste's opinion too. Shade's my best friend, but she's a little too much like me. When we're excited or upset we can be a little impulsive. Celeste is a lot more...'level-headed' I guess, and she always gives good advice.

 

Anyway, I didn't want to interrupt in case Shade and Celeste were talking about something important. Lucky for me Celeste turned her head a little and saw me standing there. I must've had a bad look on my face because Celeste asked what was wrong right away. I told her and Shade about Marigold, and how Treesa wanted Marigold to be my little sister. The weird thing is, Shade didn't complain about Treesa's 'meddling' like I thought she would. She actually liked the idea of having a kid in our group. "Does this mean I get to be an 'Auntie'?" Shade asked.

 

"Traitor," I said. At least Celeste seemed to realize I didn't like the idea. "If you really feel you're not ready to be a caregiver then Treesa should respect that," Celeste said. "Being a caregiver is a lot of work, and if your heart isn't in it then any child you adopt will feel like a burden." I told you Celeste gives good advice.

 

Anyway, that's where things are right now. I haven't really 'met' Marigold yet and I'm not sure I want to. What if I end up liking her and wanting to keep her? I just know I'd be a lousy caregiver. Some dolls just shouldn't have kids. And it's not fair to Marigold if I have to give her back because I can't take care of her. Celeste said rushing things won't do any good, and I shouldn't do anything before I'm ready. So I asked her how I'll know if I'm ready. "You'll know," Celeste said. If you ask me, she could've been a little more helpful than that.

 

Later, Dandelion 





Second Update from Shade (rebodied blue-haired Mattel fairy)

 

I said I'd let you know if there were any 'further developments', and boy were there ever! I got a chance to really talk to Celeste, and I think I know what her deal is now. Did you know her first owner kept her on a shelf for a while? On a SHELF, with NOBODY to talk to, I would've gone completely loony toons! Either that, or I would've broken my neck trying to get down.

 

Me and Celeste kinda got off to a rough start though. I was watching Carlos from across the room. I'm not a stalker, honest. I was just trying to get up the nerve to talk to him. Anyway I must've zoned out or something 'cause the next thing I knew I heard a voice real close by saying, "He might notice you more quickly if you went over and said hello."

 

Have you ever watched the news around Halloween and seen some local news reporter going through a haunted house, trying to tell the people watching that they should come out there while monsters keep jumping out from doorways and around corners? I must've done a pretty good impression of the reporter when the zombie jumps out of the shadows at him. It always seems to be the guy reporters who get sent to the haunted house. I guess 'cause guys like to act all strong and tough, so it's more fun to see guys screaming and acting like scaredy cats.

 

Anyway, when I turned around and saw Celeste standing behind me I was really embarrassed. Celeste apologized for scaring the pants off me. She thought I knew she was there. But I was kinda ticked off by then and wasn't in the mood for an apology. "This a hobby of yours, sneaking up on people?" I asked. Celeste tried to apologize again. She said she was only trying to help. When she said that well, it's kinda hard to explain but I felt sort of...guilty. Why? I think it was 'cause Celeste was new here and barely knew anybody, but she was still going out of her way to try and help me. Maybe she could've done a better job of it but it's the thought that counts, right? Besides, this was the same doll my big brother had a crush on. I should at least TRY to be nice to her, for Orlando's sake if nothing else. "It's ok," I said. "I guess I could sort of use the help. It's just, whenever I see Carlos I get so nervous I don't know what to say."

 

"Have you tried talking to him?" Celeste asked. I kinda shook my head and told her I didn't want to sound like an idiot. Then she asked me how I knew what would happen if I never tried, or something like that. I kinda looked at her like she was crazy. Why? Well, whenever I thought about talking to Carlos I always tried to come up with a game plan, something to say that would impress him, make him notice me, in a good way. I couldn't just walk up to him, start talking, and hope for the best. But the more I thought about what Celeste said the more it made sense. All the planning in the world wouldn't do me any good if I never followed through.

 

"I guess you're right," I said. After a minute it hit me again how Celeste was going out of her way for somebody she didn't really know and I said, "Thanks Celeste, for caring and all that."

 

"You're welcome," Celeste said. Then there was this awkward silence. I wanted to keep talking to her, to try and find out what her deal was and if she liked my brother. But I didn't want to say anything about Orlando straight out, in case Celeste didn't know Orlando liked her. So I asked her how she liked it here so far.

 

"To be honest it's a little overwhelming," Celeste said. I agreed that things could get a little crazy, but I told her she'd get used to it. "I hope so," Celeste said. "I don't know how I'll ever remember everyone's names."

 

"Yeah, that part's tough," I said. "It's easier if you get to know a few dolls at a time and work your way out from there." Then I told her my name, and stuck out my hand for her to shake. Celeste shook my hand and said, "It's nice to meet you, Shade."

 

"So," I said, "you really think I've got a shot with Carlos?"

 

"You'll never know if you don't try," Celeste said. "It's not the things we do that we regret the most. It's the things we didn't do." Then Celeste got this look in her eyes, like her mind was somewhere else. She'd been getting that look a lot since she came here. "Celeste, you ok?" I asked. She told me she was fine but I wasn't so sure. "If you want to talk about it..." I said. I told her I knew it was tough sometimes, that Treesa was my second owner too. Anyway, Celeste took me up on the offer and started talking. She told me about her first owner, about living on a shelf, until she suddenly wasn't anymore. She told me how hard it was for her to talk to other dolls after she got taken off the shelf. She told me how worried she was that she would never make any friends, that she was 'already repeating her past mistakes'. By the time she was done talking she was actually shaking. I'd never seen Celeste like that before. She'd seemed so quiet and distant before, I hadn't realized there was so much going on on the inside. I didn't know what to do, so I did what felt right. I gave her a hug.

 

"Things will be better here," I promised. Then I told Celeste she could hang out with me and my friends. I think we've been a good influence on her. She's learning how to actually talk to other dolls, how to really be part of a group. I still don't know if she likes my brother, or if she knows he likes her. But now that Celeste is hanging out with me and Dandelion and Rampion at least they'll have the chance to sort of get to know each other.

 

But that wasn't the only 'development'. Thanks to Celeste's advice I finally worked up the nerve to talk to Carlos. Like Celeste said, it's not the things we do that we regret the most, it's the things we didn't do. And I didn't want to spend the rest of my plastic life wondering 'what if'. Besides, what better time to take the chance than Christmas? Why? Well it's supposed to be the season for miracles.

 

It was Christmas Eve. Treesa had already left for a party at her uncle's house. I'd made up my mind that tonight was the night. Tonight, I was going to talk to Carlos. I spotted him over by the bookcase. Before I could second guess myself I took a deep breath, walked over and said, "Merry Christmas Carlos."

 

He sort of smiled a little and said, "Merry Christmas, though technically it's Christmas Eve." Then he looked at me, right at me, for a few seconds and said, "It's Shade isn't it? You're Orlando's younger sister?"

 

I nodded. Even though I'd kinda hoped Carlos would think of me as something besides Orlando's little sister, I'd take what I could get. Carlos kinda tilted his head a little and said, "In that case, Merry Christmas Eve Shade."

 

"Thanks," I said. I wasn't sure what else to say, so I said the first thing that popped into my head. "Are you hoping for anything special for Christmas?" I asked. I kinda wished I HADN'T asked him as soon as the words were out of my mouth. Why? 'Cause it sounded too flirty. Some dolls can pull off flirting, but some dolls can't. The dolls that can't just come off as pushy or desperate.

 

Carlos didn't seem to mind my question though. He just looked kinda thoughtful and said, "I think I already have everything I need, more than I need really. I have an owner who knows I'm alive and takes my feelings into consideration, or at least tries to. Most dolls aren't as lucky as that. I also have friends who accept me for who I am. So no, there's nothing special I'm hoping for." Carlos looked right at me again and said, "What about you, did you ask Santa for anything?"

 

For a split second, I thought how much I wanted Carlos to be my boyfriend for Christmas. Then I got really embarrassed. My face would've turned beet red if I was human. "Not really," I said quickly. "I mean, I wished my brother and my friends'll get whatever they want for Christmas, but I don't think that counts." My confidence kinda fell apart after that and I said, "I should go. I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas." I got out of there in a hurry. But as soon as I was out of Carlos' sight my embarrassed feelings started to go away and I started feeling really good about myself. I did it. I talked to Carlos. I couldn't wait to tell Celeste.

 

Well, I guess that's about it. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas, or a Happy Holiday.

 

See Ya, Shade



Celeste's Story (Celestial Collection Evening Star Princess Barbie)

 

If there's any major difference between playline dolls and collector dolls, it's this. The purpose of a playline doll is to be played with and handled, while the purpose of a collector doll is to be looked at and admired. I was designed as a collector doll. When I was given as a gift to a little girl, she was warned to be careful with me. I was placed on a shelf and my new owner was told not to touch me. For a while she did as she'd been told, and I stayed on the shelf. I passed the time by observing the various goings on in the room. There were a number of other dolls who lived there, along with stuffed animals and various other sentient toys. I didn't socialize much with them. I wasn't sure if I could safely get down from my shelf, and even if I could there was no guarantee that I'd be able to get back up again. It was safer to stay where I was. Besides, at the time it didn't occur to me that I had a choice in the matter. I was a collector doll, and I assumed that this was simply my lot in life. But I watched the others, living out their lives below me. I watched, I listened, and I remembered.

 

As it turned out, I was too great a temptation for my young owner. When her willpower failed, she took me down from the shelf. Her plan was to put me back on the shelf when she was done playing. It worked, the first several times she tried it. She played with me, then she put me back on the shelf with her mother none the wiser. That is, until the day her mother came in and saw a hole in my dress. In my owner's defense, the material was ridiculously fragile. But then I'd been designed as an adult collectable. I was never intended to be played with.

 

Regardless, my little owner received a harsh scolding. She was told that not only had she disobeyed her mother, she had also ruined an expensive doll. My owner's mother seemed so angry that even I believed her when she said I was ruined. But by then it was too late to do anything about it. So afterwards, my owner and her mother treated me like the rest of my owner's dolls. I never went back on the shelf. I was played with instead of just looked at. My braids were taken out and my veil disappeared. And whenever the mother decided to tidy up her daughter's room, she handled me just as roughly as the others, grumbling all the while about how her daughter hadn't learned to clean up after herself.

 

Even though I was among other dolls now, it was still difficult for me to socialize. Not only was I inexperienced in that area, but I was also self-conscious about my appearance. When she first received me, my owner had said I was beautiful. But now that I was 'ruined', now that I was in 'played-with' condition, I just couldn't believe that I was STILL beautiful. It didn't occur to me that we were ALL in 'played-with' condition, and that it was nothing to be ashamed of. I was designed as a collector doll, and I was still in that 'collector doll' mindset. So I avoided the others. I ducked out of sight whenever I saw anyone coming. But I overheard enough of their conversations to know that they thought I was stuck up. They believed I wouldn't socialize with them because I thought, as a collector doll, that I was too good for them. As a result, they began treating me rather coldly. I wasn't sure how to correct their assumptions, so I retreated to my old habits of living my life on the outside looking in. I watched, I listened, and I remembered. I watched other dolls make friends and fall in love. I listened when they fought, and when they made up again. I ended up knowing these dolls inside and out: their flaws, their strengths, their hopes and dreams. But I never let on that I knew.

 

If I had known what I had to look forward to, then being donated to the thrift store when my owner became 'too old for dolls' might have come as a relief. But as it was I had no idea where I was going or what would happen to me, and I was terrified. I was still terrified when Treesa bought me and brought me home with her. I didn't know what to expect. Meeting Treesa's other dolls was a stressful experience. It's a large collection, and it seemed that everyone wanted to meet me. I know now that there's always a lot of curiosity when a new doll arrives. But at the time it felt like they were singling me out. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't keep any of their names or faces straight.

 

I tried to be polite to everyone, but I couldn't seem to break the habit of keeping to myself. And I still spent too much of my time just watching, listening, and remembering. Then one day I was looking for somewhere I could be alone. I located a likely, out of the way place, but when I got there I discovered that it was already occupied by a female doll with blue hair. She didn't notice me at first. She seemed to be watching something on the other side of the room. I followed her gaze and saw a male doll in a fairy prince costume. Curious, I turned back to the blue-haired doll. That's when I noticed the look in her eyes. I'd seen that look before, in the eyes of other dolls. It was the kind of wistful look a doll gets when they're waiting for the object of their affection to notice them.

 

That look has always tugged at my heart. There had been times at my old home when I'd seen that look and been tempted to offer encouragement. But considering the opinion those dolls had had of me, I doubt that anything I said would have been well received. In the past, I would've just walked away. But somehow, I couldn't. I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe this time, I could help. Judging from what I'd overheard, the dolls that lived here hadn't yet formed an opinion of me, one way or the other.

 

I took a few steps closer to the blue-haired doll, just close enough that I could talk to her without anyone overhearing us. She didn't turn her head, but I was sure that she knew I was there. "He might notice you more quickly if you went over and said hello," I said.

 

Apparently I must have been wrong in thinking she knew I was there, because she let out a surprised squeak and spun around to face me. "Celeste, you scared the pants off me!" she said. I quickly apologized. "I'm sorry," I said. "I thought you knew I was there." The blue-haired doll still looked flustered, but her embarrassment was quickly being replaced by something else. "This a hobby of yours, sneaking up on people?" she asked. I tried my best to explain. "I was looking for someplace quiet," I said. "I didn't know this space was occupied. When I saw you here, you looked so sad..." I trailed off, realizing that I didn't have an acceptable explanation for why I'd decided to get involved in something that was none of my business. "I'm sorry; I was only trying to help," I said. I was about to apologize again when the blue-haired doll said, "It's ok."

 

I  hadn't expected her to forgive me so quickly. I hadn't expected her to forgive me at all. I didn't know what to say. Before I could respond, the blue-haired doll spoke again. "I guess I could sort of use the help," she said. "It's just, whenever I see Carlos I get so nervous I don't know what to say." Her tone was as wistful as the look in her eyes, and a feeling of sympathy welled up inside me. I knew I wanted to help this doll, if I could. While I didn't have much personal experience with love, I thought I had seen and heard enough about it in my lifetime to at least offer some advice. "Have you tried talking to him?" I asked. The blue-haired doll shook her head. "I can't just walk up to him and start talking," she said. "I'd sound like an idiot. I just know I'd say something stupid."

 

"How do you know unless you try?" I asked. The blue-haired doll looked at me like I'd said something insane. Then, slowly, her expression changed. "I guess you're right," she said. There was a pause before she added, "Thanks Celeste, for caring and all that."

 

"You're welcome," I said. It felt good knowing that I might actually have been of some help. However an awkward silence quickly developed. I wondered if this was a signal that I was supposed to leave. But before I could turn to go, the blue-haired doll asked me, "So, how do you like it here so far?"

 

At first I didn't know how to answer. I worried that it would be impolite to say what I really thought. But in the end I decided it was best to tell the truth. "To be honest it's a little overwhelming," I said. The blue-haired doll nodded. "Yeah, it can get a little crazy around here," she said, "but you'll get used to it."

 

"I hope so," I said without thinking. "I don't know how I'll ever remember everyone's names." I started panicking as soon as the words were out of my mouth. What if the blue-haired doll realized that I couldn't remember HER name? Would she be insulted? Thankfully I never found out. The blue-haired doll said, "Yeah, that part's tough. It's easier if you get to know a few dolls at a time and work your way out from there. Let's start with me. I'm Shade." Then she held out her hand for me to shake. "It's nice to meet you Shade," I said as I shook her hand. "So," Shade said, "you really think I've got a shot with Carlos?"

 

That's when a new feeling hit me, the feeling that I was in over my head. I didn't really know anything about Carlos yet, so how could I say in good conscience that he and Shade were compatible? The answer came to me in a flash of inspiration. "You'll never know if you don't try," I said. "It's not the things we do that we regret the most. It's the things we didn't do." I remembered hearing this somewhere. But I knew even then that I was speaking from experience. I had spent my whole life just watching, listening, and remembering, but not participating. For me, life had become a spectator's sport. The thought flashed through my mind that maybe I'd been given a second chance, now that I was Treesa's doll. Maybe this was my opportunity to change, to make a real life for myself.

 

For a moment I was so lost in my thoughts that I forgot all about Shade. "Celeste, you ok?" she asked. I managed to pull myself back to the real world and said, "I'm alright, just...thinking." Shade didn't look fully convinced. "If you want to talk about it," she said, "I mean, I know it's tough sometimes, adjusting or whatever. Treesa's my second owner too." Shade's words sort of trailed off, as if she wasn't sure what else to say. But I could tell that she genuinely wanted to help me. No doll had ever shown that much concern for me before. It didn't matter to me that we still barely knew each other. Because of her kindness, Shade didn't seem like a stranger to me anymore. She seemed like a friend.

 

I found myself talking to Shade like I had never talked to anyone. I told her about my past life, about watching the world go by from my shelf, and about the uncertainty I felt when I was thrown headfirst without warning into that world. I told her about the cold shoulders I received from my fellow dolls when they thought that I didn't want to associate with them. And I told her about the fear that suddenly gripped me, the fear that the same thing would happen again, that I was already repeating my past mistakes. By the time I was finished I was physically shaking with emotion. Shade was staring at me with a stunned expression on her face. "I didn't know..." she said. Then she did something that I never expected. She hugged me. "Things will be better here, I promise," Shade said. "If you want you can hang out with me and my friends."

 

"Thank you," I said. I was so touched by her generosity that I didn't know what else to say.

 

Shade was as good as her word. She introduced me to her friends Dandelion and Rampion, and to her brother Orlando. Dandelion and Rampion are a lot like Shade herself, vibrant and full of life. Orlando on the other hand seems a bit shy and quiet. But it's obvious he cares for his little sister a great deal and wants her to be happy.

 

My life has definitely taken a turn for the better. I haven't become a social butterfly by any means, but I'm slowly learning how to do more than just watch, listen, and remember. I'm reminded of a movie that Treesa likes that tells the story of Cinderella. A character in the film says that the problem with most people is that they dream about what they want to do instead of really doing it. For so long I've tried to be content just imagining what it would be like to have friends and to live life. Now, thanks to Shade, I'm going to try to really do it.

 

Anything's Possible, Celeste



Quick Update from Shade (rebodied blue-haired Mattel fairy)

 

Remember how I said my brother needed a girlfriend? Ever heard the expression, 'be careful what you wish for'? That's right, my big brother Orlando's in love. Her name's Celeste and she's an Evening Star Princess Barbie. Treesa found her at the thrift store.

 

The thing is, I've met Celeste and she just seems so...distant I guess. She doesn't talk much, and when she does she's really formal to everybody. And I haven't really seen her hanging out with the other dolls much either. She's always by herself. Not to mention she keeps getting this look in her eyes, like her mind's somewhere else.

 

I know she just got here, so she's probably still trying to 'find her feet' or whatever. And I know firsthand that used dolls can come with 'emotional baggage' they need to deal with before they can 'move on'. Treesa was MY second owner too, so I sort of know what Celeste might be going through. I just wish I knew for sure what her deal was. Forget figuring out if she likes Orlando back.  Right now I haven't got a clue if she even knows Orlando likes her. It's not like I can ask her. Why? 'Cause if she doesn't know I might get in trouble with Orlando for giving it away.

 

I really don't want to see my brother get hurt. It's tough liking someone who might or might not know you exist. I know. I've been there with Carlos. I just wish I could talk to Orlando, without looking like a jealous little sister.

 

Well I guess that's all for this update. I'll let you know if there's any 'further developments'.

 

See Ya, Shade



Rampion's Story (Barbie Long Long Hair, brunette with blue streak)

Some of the other dolls might have hinted at it, but I'm going to come right out and say it. Treesa's a little weird. Take my name for example. No really, take it. I don't want it. Seriously though, I know it's not as bad as it could be. There's worse things Treesa could've named me. She didn't have much to go on after all. I'd better explain.

When Treesa names a doll, the first place she goes for inspiration is the name on the box. Even when she gets a doll at the thrift store, she ALWAYS tries to find out what the doll's original name was. Treesa bought me new in box, but the only words on my box were 'Barbie' and 'Long Long Hair'. She told me, when she named me Rampion, that it's where the name Rapunzel comes from.

I was cool with it at first. It was different, kind of edgy, you know? Then I found out what Rampion actually means. Another doll, Halle, told me rampion is a plant that people in Europe put in salads. She told me that in the original Rapunzel fairytale, the trouble starts when Rapunzel's birth mom sees rampion growing in the witch's garden next door and gets a pregnancy craving. She begs her husband to get her some, but the witch catches him. When baby Rapunzel is born, the witch claims her as payment for the rampion and names her Rapunzel, the German word for rampion. I asked Halle how she knew all that. She said she read it in a book Treesa left lying around. Makes sense I guess. Treesa loves books, and if anyone would know where Treesa got my name from it's Halle.

Halle's sort of the eyes and ears of the collection. She likes to stay on top of what's going on so she can keep the rest of us in the know. Halle always says, "Humans don't tell us anything." She does sort of have a point, and you can't really blame her for feeling that way. Things were kind of rough for Halle before Treesa made her part of the collection, so Halle doesn't really trust humans, Treesa included. But I won't go into that now. Knowing Halle, she's probably planning to write her own post, just so she can have her say.

I got kind of annoyed when I found out about my name. Who wants to be named after a vegetable? So I sort of complained to Treesa about it. Treesa said if you can have human girls named Fern and Ivy, you can have a doll named Rampion. I said humans don't eat ferns. She said Gwyneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple. At the time I couldn't come up with a snappy comeback. I'm sure Halle would've thought of something.

Then Treesa let me in on a secret. She said the reason she uses things like 'word association' to name her dolls is so she'll actually REMEMBER them. So I guess I'm stuck with Rampion. But when the dolls I hang out with have names like Dandelion and Shade, I guess Rampion isn't so weird after all.

So Long, Rampion





Shade's Story (rebodied blue-haired Mattel fairy)

When Treesa started pitching her big blogging idea, I wasn't really interested. I hadn't planned on posting at all. So why am I here? It was Dandelion's idea. In her post she mentioned Treesa's other 'fantasy hair colors' dolls. Then a reader left a comment on Dandelion's post, asking to meet the rest of us. Dandelion wrote back that she'd try to talk more of us into posting. The minute she logged off she went looking for me. Why me? Well we are best friends. It's kinda like our brains run on the same wavelength or something. We don't agree on everything all the time, but Dandelion always seems to get where I'm coming from and vise versa. Everyone should have a best friend like that.

Dandelion didn't ask me about posting right away. First she told me she got a comment. Then she told me what the comment said. Then she asked how I felt about posting. I told her I wouldn't know what to write. She said, "Anything you want, that's what makes it fun."

I still didn't know where to start. So what did I do? I read Dandelion's post for inspiration. At first I was kinda ticked off that she hadn't even mentioned me. But she did spend most of her post talking about stuff that happened before we met, so I guess I'll let her off the hook.

While I was at it I figured I might as well read what Treesa's other dolls had posted. When I read in Lacey's post that there were other doll bloggers out there, I thought it'd be a good idea to check out what they were posting too. Anyway I got so caught up in everybody else's stories that I kinda put off writing my own. And I'm STILL not sure where to start. I could start with how I met Treesa, but that's nothing you haven't heard before by now. Blah blah found at the thrift store, you get it. The first really important thing that happened after that was my body swap. Why did I need a body swap? Well I didn't exactly NEED it. I mean it wasn't 'medically necessary' or anything. Treesa wanted to redress me, like she'd redressed Dandelion. But my molded wings made that almost impossible, so Treesa body-swapped me.

After my 'recovery period' was over it was time to pick out clothes. I agree with Dandelion, piecing together a new outfit takes FOREVER. And Treesa STILL isn't completely happy with my new look.

Treesa's a bit of a perfectionist. She likes the dark purple 'pleather' top, but she thinks the silver skirt is a bit 'chintzy'. Treesa uses words like that a lot. I asked her what it meant and she said it's 'sort of a combination of tacky and flimsy'. And don't get her started on the shoes.

I still don't really get why Treesa named me Shade. She tried explaining it to me when I asked. She said my hair is 'a lovely shade of blue' and that 'when you stand in the shade it's cooler, and blue is one of the cooler colors in the spectrum'. I'm sure it made perfect sense to her.



Anyway the first doll Treesa officially introduced me to was Orlando.

 Orlando

Orlando is a redressed Lord Of The Rings Legolas doll by Mattel. He had to be redressed because Treesa bought him at the thrift store, and he didn't come with his original outfit. Treesa says his new outfit makes him look like a cast member from Rock Of Ages, but she likes the look. Why did she name him Orlando? I was kinda confused about that at first. I thought Treesa named him after the city in Florida for some reason. But it turned out Orlando was named after Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas in the Lord Of The Rings movies.

Me and Orlando both have pointed ears and pale skin tones, so I guess Treesa could've wanted us to be brother and sister all along. That's what we are now anyway. But I can't shake the feeling that wasn't Treesa's Plan A. There was just something about the way she introduced us, something that made me think she was hoping we'd fall in love. That never happened though. I mean we care about each other, but it's more in an older brother/younger sister kind of way. Orlando thinks I'm annoying but is still sort of protective of me, and I keep telling him he needs to get a life, and a girlfriend. Though I'm kinda glad he and Dandelion never hit it off that way. Why? Well for starters I think it'd make things all weird between us, if my best friend was dating my brother. That and I can't see it ending well for them. I just don't think Dandelion and Orlando have enough in common, personality-wise.

Dandelion told me she's not all that interested in having a boyfriend right now anyway. She likes being a single doll. As for me well like I told Dandelion, I wouldn't mind finding somebody. But I wasn't gonna spend all my time and energy looking for somebody. I did have a life after all. Then Treesa got Carlos.

 Carlos

Who's Carlos? He's a Mariposa Prince doll, and he's absolutely dreamy. He's so dignified and proud, which is hard to pull off when you're wearing a fairy prince outfit with dragonfly wings sewn to the back. (Treesa decided to leave him in his original outfit for now because she likes the colors on him.) Trust me if a guy doll wants to be taken seriously, fairy wings are usually not the way to go. But Carlos is so polite to everyone that nobody brings up his wardrobe, at least not to his face.

The problem is whenever I see Carlos across the room, I get so nervous my mouth goes dry. I'm never gonna get anywhere with him if I can't even talk to him. Dandelion's done her best to try and help me figure something out, but there's only so much she can do. I mean she'll stand there and listen to me gush, but she can't really give me any advice because she doesn't have much experience with love either. I thought about asking Orlando to be my go between, but I chickened out before I actually asked him. Why? Well for starters I'm not sure what Orlando thinks of Carlos. Like I said before, Orlando can be a little protective of me, and if he thinks Carlos isn't good enough for me he might try to keep us apart. Even if Orlando would help me out, it's still a lame plan. I mean how much more pathetic could I get, asking my brother to talk to the doll I like for me?

Well I guess that's enough about me, and my nonexistent love life. You've probably got other things to do today anyway, so I'd better log off before this post gets any longer. The last thing you want is 'Fifty Days Of Shade'. Yeah I thought it was a bad pun too, but Treesa thought it was funny.

See Ya, Shade