[i] This is a story of the Sad Dollmaker...[/i]

A girl stepped quietly through the busy crowds of Gearsport. Though merchants bustling with many amazing toys, and inventions designed to wonder and amaze. Her pink hair hung in a pair of heavy curls on each side of her head, her heavy blast goggles, blackened lenses reflecting those who look curiously at the young woman seeing only their own confusion staring back at them. 

She was Reeza, the Lady of Puppets. One of the more notable figures in Gearsport, for both her puppets and her mechanical dolls. Her shop was one of the more mysterious locations in Gearsport. Often drawing visitors just to say they've met the mysterious Lady. Yet, for those who came into the shop seeking the perfect gift for their little one, or a sweetheart. Reeza made sure they left with the perfect new friend. Speaking of friends...

A strange mechanical doll named Lorelei, trailed behind Reeza, carrying a heavy felt bag made of the most wonderful red velvet. The doll's porcelain white skin was a stark contrast to the beautiful black petticoat she was draped in. Her black eyes, a copy of the blast goggles worn by it's owner gave the same uncomfortable gaze to onlookers. 

Well, to most onlookers...

A young girl spied Reeza, and recognizing the mechanical doll and pink hair rushed away from her parents to meet the dollmaker. She tugged on the petticoat of the inventor, who nearly jumped out of her skin at the distraction. As Reeza yelped, Lorelei reached for the young girl, assuming her mistress' command meant she was in danger. Reeza, realizing that it was just a little girl shushed Lorelei to force the doll to return to it's standing position. The little girl, still awestruck by meeting Reeza, babbled on about how her dolls were the prettiest and when she gets her allowance, her mummy promised they'd go to the Puppets string and pick out a doll for herself. Reeza looked curiously at the child as her parents placed themselves between her and their child. 

"We...we're sorry Lady Reeza, she likes to talk to strangers. We...we promised her a doll from your shop when we had the money." The mother said nothing, just stared at Reeza. Reeza, looked past the parents to the little one. 

"Does she have a doll," the little girl shook her head. 

"Mummy promised she'd get me one of yours..." Reeza looked at the parents, their clothing did not look well tailored, and in dire need of repair. Yet they're willing to pay her prices for one of her dolls?

"Why my dolls?" Reeza asked softly. The girl looked towards her parents before she responded.

"You always talk about dolls bein' something more. They're friends, secret holders, and be your guardian," the girl replied nervously. Reeza's ruby red lips creased at the edges a little, hearing of how she thinks of her creations coming from another. She turned towards Lorelei, opening the red velvet bag. 

"That's right," she replied, "a girl's dolly is something special..." She continued to search through the bag before holding something behind her back. "You should always treasure your dolly," She bent forwards, keeping her hands behind her back. The young girl's reflection stared back at her though the goggles. Reeza revealed her surprise, a small brunette doll with a pretty red and white dress for the child. She gingerly took the doll from Reeza, like it was an illusion and may blow away with the slightest gust of wind. As she realized the doll was not going to fall apart, she shrieked in joy at her new friend. Reeza smiled softly, her satisfaction at a perfect pairing. "Please see me if she needs any work." 

The father looked at Reeza, who returned to securing the bag held by Lorlei. "Umm we always said we'd get her one once we had the money, just the airship transport ain't paying what it used to." As he stammered for excuses, he realized the dollmaker was barely paying attention to him. "I can pay you, just name it, I can bring by a little each time." 

Reeza looked one more time at the young girl who was hugging her new doll and showing the gift off to her mother. Her voice didn't have the same warmth it held for the child, she also slightly bowed her head at the man. It was an odd gesture to the man, considering she was one of the more notable figures in Gearsport. "Please, just make sure she's happy." With that, Reeza continued her walk towards her destination without another word. The father looked at the pink haired dollmaker, trying to figure out if he meant the doll, or his daughter...

Reeza and Lorelei continued to their intended destination. A large building that had seen many better days, the sign had a single faded word overtop the rotten wooden doors. 

[i] Orphanage [/i]

Reeza felt her anxiety begin creeping along the small of her back, like little icy pinpricks of a needle. She looked to Lorelei, "please knock." The doll raised a lace covered hand, rapping three methodical thumps upon the door. There was hushed lull as an older woman answered the door. 

"Lady Valarios, I thought you said you weren't able to finish the order until next week." Matron Desma's voice crackled, like splintering wood. She was a kindly old woman, but she was holding the entire orphanage together with donations and sheer willpower. The years were catching up with her. 

"Lorelei, please give Matron Desma the bag." Reeza's voice was hushed as she took a step back to allow Lorelei the proper space to present the bag to the elderly Matron. She nearly toppled over from the weight of the bag, a massive whoosh emitted from the bag as it fell to the ground. Looking inside, "there are many more dolls in here...I can't pay you for the additional ones you know." She muttered sheepishly to the pink haired woman. 

Reeza looked at the barren halls inside the orphanage, it took all her resolve to not pivot heel and leave right now. "I ordered too much fabric, and I heard from one of the bakers that they've had issues supplying the extra mouths that you recently ended up with. I assume some of them need comfort." Reeza didn't have the courage to let the Matron know she'd also payed the Orphanage's tab with her most recent visit to the same baker. She'd let the Matron discover this on her next visit...

The elderly woman laughed softly, "I know you could tell me the exact amount of fabric that goes into each doll. Probably the amount of thread and stuffing as well, please don't lie to an old woman like that." 

Reeza shuffled her feet back and forth as she sheepishly rubbed a lace covered hand. "I...I don't want any of them who need a doll to not have one." The Matron smiled, as she gestured inside. 

"They'd love to meet you," Reeza shook her head as she instinctively took a step back. 

"Sorry Matron, I have to return to my shop. I have a project underway and I can't let the cores sit for too long." Sure, the cores of her dolls were what powered them, but they were fine to sit for eons before they became a problem. It was a lie, the orphanage was a sad time for Reeza and she did..couldn't return to those halls. 

The Matron nodded, "just don't be a stranger. I'll let the children choose their own dolls as you like." Reeza smiled, just a little as she curtsied to the Matron before departing. 

As the pair returned through Gearsport to her shop, "The Puppet's Strings." She felt her body begin to relax, this was sanctuary, her home. She unlocked the heavy door, complete with her own pressure pad to ensure that if anyone got her key, they'd still need to know about the little trick to her lock. Stepping inside, Reeza let her shoulders slump and she fell into the oversized chair before she opened her eyes to her shop. 

There was hundreds of puppets, dolls, and mechanical creatures of varying sizes and designs. She whispered softly, "I'm home." With that, the world sprang to life. The marionette's began to dance in a lazy circle, her mechanical dolls designed for tea, or dress up, or a dozen other activities began to take on their own life as the routines began. Turning to Lorelei, Reeza issued her next request, "Please go to your charging station." Lorelei nodded before heading to the charging pad in the back of the artisan's shop. 

Reeza picked up one particular doll, often kept just out of eyesight of everyone else. Yet it was always in her reach. It was a cobbled together doll made from a variety of fabric scraps. Her first doll, after the accident. She let her fingers trail over the scratchy fabric, noting every stitch, every crease. It made this doll unique, one in a field of many. Yet if it wasn't for these little dolls, she wouldn't have any of her new life. Her Uncle and Aunt found her, gave her schooling, taught her about her gifts, and even helped get the Puppet Strings started.  

[i] All from a simple doll...[/i]

A knock at the door startled Reeza from her memories. Quickly standing from the chair, she straightened out her dress and tried to smooth out the wrinkles. Oh wait, did she sleep in this dress by accident? Scolding herself, Reeza tried to make a note not to do that again. Maybe a doll to remind her about proper night time attire? The knock at the door snapped her out of this set of questions. Reeza quickly opened the door to a messenger who looked nervously at the young woman inside. "Message for Ms Valarious," he handed her the letter as a feline shaped machine slowly drew itself out of the shadows. The tail made a strange whooosh sound as it looked upon the guest. "Umm Maam, there is something wrong with your cat?" 

Reeza looked behind as she saw one of her projects, "Shattered Claw" and it's barbed tail looking ready to lash out at the trembling boy. "Oh, sorry. He doesn't like visitors after hours." He looked nervously at the barbed tail as it made another whooshing sound. "Be nice please." The dollmaker spoke curtly to the creature. It's tail slowed, and looked towards it's Mistress for it's next request. "Sorry," she gave a handful of coins to the messenger before closing the heavy door. 

Reeza quickly opened the parchment, it was official, an invite to a masquerade ball? Reeza was really not good at these types of events. How could she wear a mask with her goggles, she nervously chewed her lip as she walked to the crafting room she designated at the back of the shop. She pulled her heavy blast goggles off, her green eyes squinting as she adjusted to a normal level of light once again. She looked at her reflection in a mirror she often used to check inside her inventions to make sure everything lined up. She saw her shockingly bright pink locks, a result of her nervousness at the Madame's School. Thankfully, one girl there defended her, she even made Reeza feel a little better about herself that day...

She still hated meeting anyone's gaze, and the goggles always solved that. Looking at Lorelei, and the porcelain face she'd crafted to hide the mechanical creature underneath. 

Wait...the dolls face!

Reeza grinned as she ran to her parts cabinet, throwing open the heavy soot-stained doors she began to sort through drawers. She muttered to herself as she found a pair of shiny black lenses! Going to her project wall, she drew forth a lovely porcelain mask she'd created for another doll, but it wasn't quite right for her. Yet with a little red paint...maybe...some gold filigree, some black paint...

As Reeza exited the carriage, with Lorelei in tow. She carefully adjusted the new mask covering her face. The dolls mask she'd fastened with black lace around the back of her pink hair, and the black lenses placed overtop the mask helped her feel a bit more at ease. Lorelei stood patiently at her side, wearing an imitation of the dress Reeza had chosen for the evening. The corset was always so tricky to put on, but Madame would be so upset if she didn't dress properly for the occasion. A burnished brown corset, and a bright white blouse underneath, with these neat little sleeves that hung loose around her arms. She chose a long flowing brown skirt to finish her outfit, with a beautiful white trim around the bottom that trailed behind her. When the light hit the skirt just right, silvery gold brocade glowed against the light. Reeza carefully palmed a springrazor she kept hidden within the hem of her skirt, she trusted her host, just wasn't sure why the Captain would be interested in her...

As she stepped to the door, the guard looked at the woman and her doll. "Is this your guest?" He asked teasingly. 

Reeza looked toward the man, unsure of the shared laughter between them. "Yes, she's my guest." The man looked a little stunned for a moment before letting her pass. The pair shared an uneasy glance between eachother. The Lady of Puppets carried many stigmas, and one more frightening is the doll that followed her. 

A well dressed man gestured to the pair, "Lady Valarios," he proceeded to lead the dollmaker to the main hall of the party.

As Reeza quietly checked the lace straps on her mask for the seventeenth time since she stepped from the cab. She caught Lorelei looking at her curiously. "I know, I know, but it makes me feel better.." She chided the doll. As she stepped into the main hall, the booming voice of the man who lead her here echoed over her. 

"Lady of Puppets, Reeza Valarios," Reeza felt her blood run cold as her hopes of being invisible for this event evaporated. She was ready to leave the hall as she felt Lorelei's metallic grasp on her arm. It reassured her, even calmed her down, steadied her. Her dolls always did that. She curtsied to the guests and quickly blended into the crowd, well aware that underneath the porcelain dolls mask, adorned with ruby lips and green eyes, Reeza herself was blushing red with embarrassment. 

As she looked about nervously, she pulled out the invitation to review the details. Library, yes, the library! It would probably be less crowded in the library, tapping Lorelei on her shoulder, triggering the dolls follow function. The pair slowly waded through the crowd of bodies towards the library. As she crept into the massive library, her curiosity at the endless rows of books nearly distracted her from her actual purpose. Reeza noted many others were already in the library, were they part of the letter too? Reeza quickly stepped across the floor to the others before bowing her head to the others. 

She noted at least two people she could recognize, Lady Alyssana is most definitely one of the guests. Mainly through the beautiful clockwork wings, the inspiration for Lorelei's own defensive measures. She was the student who defended her after her, well, newly acquired hair color. The young man was another notable figure to her. She had many wonderful conversations with his father, Hermes, Arsenio was always a welcome guest in the Puppet Strings. She bowed her head to the others, before she cautiously spoke, each word almost painfully chosen.

"Good evening, Lady Alyssana, Mister Arsenio," she tried to recognize any others in the room, and realized she honestly was having difficulties grasping names, "Honored guests, I assume we are all here with mention of the library?" The dollmaker asked curiously.