Emily Miku: A Doll's Journey [Chapter 4]

Chapter 4

Oh my! This dress is gorgeous. Even though I am a j-doll, this chinese dress really looks good on me. B couldn't stop staring at me. I'm sure he would have taken more pictures if he had had the time, but he had to get everything ready to take to the center.

I got my very first ride in a real car… well, van… with B driving. Since it was mid-day, I had to lie in the back, covered, so I didn’t get to see any of the sights or where we were going, even though I knew it was to the center. Actually, this was the first time I had been outside since I got here. I don’t know which of us was more nervous. Anyway, we got there safely enough.

The screening room was quite dark; black walls, black floor, and black ceiling (I guess it makes watching movies easier). I could see how big the room was, from the stage. I don’t remember seeing a theater before, well… at least, the inside of one. This is going to be a really different experience for me.

B stayed at the center for a few hours then went to the hotel, where everyone else was staying, but his friend hung around for several more hours after that, but then he had to leave, too. I was all by myself in a strange place. It was kind of frightening, dark and quiet. I didn’t mind the quiet, as B’s house is usually the same, but being in this place was a little disconcerting (yeah… I’ve been reading a dictionary again). <Giggle>

I was alone for longer than I have ever been, since I got here. Did he forget about me? Was he going to abandon me? There were so many terrifying thoughts racing around.  After all the time we’ve been together, all his thoughts to and about me, and all the care he has taken with me, I just couldn’t… I wouldn’t… believe he would do that to me.

Finally! He has returned to rescue me from this isolation. He is not alone, though; five more people and three more dolls. I am finally getting to meet some kindred spirits. I am so excited. Jessica towers over me and looks so regal just ‘standing’ there, and Cathy makes me feel tall… she is soooo cute and cuddly, and then there was Bianca, not much taller than me, but she looks like she could do any bikini justice. I’m almost jealous.

B introduced me to Midiman, Hanuman, R4M, and the Landmark Films crew; Emma and Jason. Emma’s cute and Jason couldn’t keep his camera off me for quite some time. B and I love their accent. B tried that accent on me once. I wanted to tape his mouth… he’s the worst with accents.

Landmark tried to do an impromptu interview with B, but B ‘stepped on’ a pretty big “landmine”, and came awfully close to ‘losing it’. Very close to the worst time I’ve seen, in the nine months I’ve been here.

Mister Midiman had a few problems getting things set up for a viewing of some of his documentary, but they got it figured out eventually. It was very much worth the wait. Some of it very closely mirrored B’s feelings.

Then came the moment I had been dreading: the strip poker game. I really, Really, REALLY, do not want to go into the gory details of that catastrophe. B won the first big hand, and everything went downhill from there. He couldn’t catch a decent hand after that. Oh sure, he won a few small pots, but, as he puts it, most of his hands looked like amputated feet… sans toes.  Well… to make long and appalling story short… B did not protect my virtue very well. Actually, he didn’t protect it at all. Again, I don’t know which of us was more embarrassed, but it was probably me.

We got home a little after four o’clock(in the morning) and B went to bed less than half an hour later. Boy, did I chew him out when he got up later that morning (I was furious): “I get more clothes next time! And… get rid of that “folding” penalty! AND… and, play more carefully next time!” “Chill out.” He said. “Game development is a lot of trial and error. Besides, it’s not as if you were on national TV or anything like that. Yes?” I guess it could have been worse.  At least no one took too many pictures of me in that state. But, B is right, game development does take time. I watched him play many rounds in Links 2003 trying to get his rules variant refined.  I think he went through thirty, or so, spreadsheets before he got a properly working model.

Again, I couldn’t stay mad at him, after he reminded me that, first times are, more often than not, challenging.  Especially this ‘first time’, since it was in ‘uncharted territory’. Even though I am still a little dismayed, I know he did try, so, I guess I shouldn’t be that upset. Anyway, I do understand why he did what he did, and, kind of, how it turned out the way it did. As he says: “Events occur”.

Things will get better… they tend to whenever he puts his mind and heart into it.  And as he says: “Things tend to happen when they’re supposed to.” So, we will survive as best we can until someone happens along that works, if not for us, then, at least, for him.