Welcome to Gaia! ::

Maovu was having a rare lucid day. Her toys were quiet and her thoughts ran clear as a mountain spring. There was serious work to be done. Seth's dolls were still scattered limp and masterless throughout the city. Maovu couldn't let Seth's good work go to waste. She went about the herculean task of focusing her mind to summon the ronin toys. Sitting cross legged in the center of the shop, Maovu called to her new minions.
Seth had been a great toy maker but she was far from achieving Maovu's level of expertise. The Derahel girl had never gained the ability to produced blood thread and relied heavily on her teacher. Without Seth's will to move them, the dolls belonged to Maovu.
It took hours of intense meditation but finally, there was a soft scratching from outside. The puppet master stood and opened the door. Seth's horde of toys waited before her. Maovu ushered the newcomers inside and let the toys organize themselves. While the other dolls chose places on the shelves or among the books, one doll fluttered onto his mistress' shoulder and surveyed their progress. He was a cuddly little monster with a charming scowl and regal air about him. Seth had a habit of making dolls resembling people she knew. Maovu wondered who had inspired such a noble toy.

Maovu jumped slightly at the sudden noise. "Who's there?" She called. The winged toy on her shoulder whipped his head toward the door and hissed menacingly, flashing his mouthful of needles. The customer was too big to be a child but his smile suggested otherwise. Adults never looked to cheerful in Maovu's shop. There was something familiar about his man. Something soothing.

Maovu couldn't hold back a giggle. It was rare for anyone besides children to appreciate her work. A shy smile tugged at her lips. "Yes... I-I made them." She said. Maovu couldn't look him in the eye. Having friends anywhere near her own age was a strange and rather frightening concept but she liked the man already.

"Maovu K-Kiwa Sesere but you can c-call me Maovu." She stammered. The puppet master began to fidget with her new doll's hair, much to his disdain. He glared at the stranger and cursed him for stealing his mistress's attention. Maovu's hands trembled. No man had ever been this close to her without being gutted or shrieking in horror.

Worry flashed in Maovu's eyes. She had no idea how long it had been. She measured time in dolls. She remembered having one, then a hundred and then a thousand but times and dates were lost. The toy maker swallowed hard. "For as long as I can remember." She prayed with all her heart her answer would not upset the man. The thought of him being so close made her nervous and happy. Maovu didn't want him to leave just yet.

Maovu's eyes widened. She was too relieved by his reaction to notice the noise from his clothes. "Will you stay?" She blurted before she could stop herself. Maovu curled into a tight ball and covered her face. "Stupid. What would he want with an ugly girl like you? We're the only ones who can stand to look at you. Give up. Give up before you hurt yourself anymore." The doll scowling doll whispered in Maovu's ear.

Maovu gasped. She lifted her head and smiled. "Really?" Tears welled in her eyes. The hateful doll hissed and spread his wings, ready to pounce on Duraz but he could not find the will to act. The little monster's rage was impotent without his mistress's will and Maovu had no desire to harm Duraz whatsoever. So the doll pouted on the floor like an infant, forced to accept this new competitor for Maovu's affection. The puppet master jerked awkwardly. She had never embraced anyone before but the urge to do so now was irresistible. Maovu wrapped her arms around Duraz's shoulders and pulled him close. The sensation was incredible. The other dolls writhed on their shelves feeling their master's pleasure.