It's Not A Doll, it's An Action Figure
This one is a take on voodoo dolls and uses magic as the primary means of control and transformation. I have always been amused by the discussions about what is a doll versus what is an action figure. I think this might clear it up a bit. Enjoy, and if you want to use anything please ask.
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IN A FIRST CLASS CABIN IN A 747 OVER THE OCEAN
Pamela walked down the aisle smiling at the passengers. She liked working 1st Class, especially on long trips from the US to Europe. She had been a flight attendant for nearly 3 years now and she knew how lucky she was to have landed such a posh assignment.
"Well, the fact I'm pretty helped I'm sure. I've never seen an ugly attendant in 1st Class." She thought to herself. Part of her was a bit put off that it might be just her looks, but the other part, the part that LOVED the 3 day stay overs in Europe, was completely fine with it.
Pamela was about 5 foot 11 inches tall, with a classic hourglass figure, a lovely 36 CC chest, blue eyes with very attractive reddish brown hair slightly curled hanging down to her shoulders. She had worked on her pose and walking and she knew she easily drew every eye from every male and probably some females in 1st Class.
Pamela got near the very back of 1st Class. The airline had updated the cabin and this part had the new booth set up where a passenger had his own little space all to himself and she looked in the last one and paused for a second.
A young man, college aged or near to it had the table down and had all sorts of things scattered out on it. He appeared to be painting something with a very small airbrush and had a headband with a magnifying glass mounted on it. He was completely absorbed in his work and didn't notice her looking.
"That looks like a disassembled doll." Pamela thought to herself and she leaned in a bit as her curiosity got the better of her.
The man finished and sat back and noticed her. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize I had an audience."
Pamela blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to watch. Can I get you anything?"
The man laughed. "Oh no issues with that. I guess you probably don't get a lot of 1st class passengers assembling an action figure in-flight."
"Uh, well, yes, you are right. I thought it was a doll or something." Pamela replied.
"Ah, another confused person. Not a doll ma'am, an action figure. There is a difference I assure you. This is a project of mine I'm working on the side. You would be amazed how much money is in action figures." The man said.
Pamela looked around quickly. The other attendant was near the front and everyone else seemed to be settling into the flight. The man was cute enough to talk too and was nice. And Pamela was curious about what he was doing. She decided that a bit more talking wouldn't hurt anyone.
"You make dolls and action figures?"
"Well, I do and I also restore them, and build various models. I am actually going to complete a contract for a museum in Frankfurt. I am building them a medieval diorama for their display. Complete set with the Cathedral, old city center, and so on. Quite the job, should take me about a month then back to New York for some more design work on a new set of action figures." The man said.
He held out his hand. "So sorry, I'm Taylor. And you are?"
"Pamela. Glad to meet you. I didn't think there was much money in building things like that. You must be really good at it."
"I'm the best, and I'm not bragging. I've built stuff for the Smithsonian, the Met in NYC, the Chicago Museum of Science and Technology and the British Museum of Natural History. I also do lots of design work for several major toy companies designing action figures."
"Wow. That is really amazing. I don't think I had someone like you in 1st Class before. Usually it's the standard businessman or the whiz kid millionaire. Do you mind if I ask what your special project is?"
Taylor smiled a pleasant smile. "Not at all. It's a nice break to talk to a nice person who seems genuinely interested in my work. I'm working on an idea for a new set of action figures showing empowered women. I came up with the "Men's Man" line two years ago while in college and this is the opposite."
Pamela's eyes widened. "You designed the "Men's Man" line of action figures? Oh my nephew LOVES that line! Wow, I need to get your autograph for him later if you don't mind."
"Oh, glad to do it. This will complete the set. I'm trying to figure out what occupations to start with. Sadly I have to be careful. There is a lot of Political Correctness out there and if I make an action figure that is too "traditional" let's say, I could get a Twitter Mob after me. I had some of that with the "Men's Man" line. Sad times when you can't just make a toy without having to think about that stuff." Taylor said.
He held up a plastic body frame. "This will have some animatronics in it and be able to respond to verbal commands or questions. Easy to do with today's technology. But the outer part, the "who", that's the rub. How should she look? Hair? Body type? Eye color? That is the monster I have to knock down."
Pamela nodded as she looked at it. "I can see how that could be a challenge."
Taylor nodded and then sighed. "Well, I need to take a bit of a break from thinking about it. I hate to do this because I was enjoying the discussion, but can trouble you for a whiskey and coke? I allow myself one during the flight and I think now's a great time."
Pamela smiled and went and got him one. When she returned he was clearing his fold out desk. He looked up and nodded. "Ah, perfect timing. Can you hold this while I pack some of this?"
He held out a couple of bits of electronics connected to a small red stone that looked like a tiny ruby. Pamela took them in her other hand while he cleared his table.
"Pamela?"
"Huh?" Pamela blinked and looked around. Taylor was looking at her and holding out his hands. "Oh, sorry, I spaced out there for a second. Here is your drink and here are your parts."
Taylor carefully placed the parts in a small plastic bag and then took his drink. He sipped it and said "Ah, exactly what the doctor ordered. Thank you."
Pamela nodded and then heard the other attendant calling her. She headed to the front of the cabin. She didn't get a chance to talk to Taylor again during the flight as either she was busy or he was. Just before they landed and she was doing final crosschecks she noticed that the action figure (or doll, Taylor never had explained the difference) was nearing completion. It was obviously a female with a female shape, long curly hair of a reddish brown hue (which actually looked quite similar to hers), and was wearing some type of uniform. Taylor packed it away before she could get a better look.
They landed and as she moved to the door Taylor handed her a card. "If you ever want a tour of the Museum I'm working with please call. I'd be more than happy to arrange a special tour."
Pamela took the card and thanked him and he moved off down the gate. Normally she tossed the numerous cards she got from men, but for some reason she kept this one. It was actually quite plain, simply saying "Mr. Taylor, Restorations, Custom Design" and an email and phone number.