[FELID_FACTOR]

[skinstealer]

4/12/316- Marcel

It’s rush hour, and Marcel’s kicking herself for being out this late again- she had gotten caught up in hashing out plans with that Remmy kid all night and then coordinating with her materials suppliers to actually enact those plans this morning...he showed a lot of promise, and with that portfolio…she hasn’t seen work like that in a long time, and that’s with corporate training wheels on. Get him onto less standardized work and into a more custom field…

Someone honks at her to go faster, and she resists the urge to honk back, hitting the gas just enough to get them off her case. She turns up the radio in hopes that it’ll settle her now electrified nerves, praying her foot doesn’t twitch on the pedal. 

I wish I didn’t have to drive anywhere, I wish there was a proper bus or something...but then I wouldn’t be able to take materials back and forth, and it just wouldn’t work, agh…

Her thoughts turn from the work earlier that day to the research she had done right before bed, the mindless searching and clicking done when she was supposed to have turned off her computer and be done with the internet for the night. Still; she had questions that needed answering...and last night, she found something.

Not anything particularly heartening, but something.

TTS, they called it. Abbreviating TCP as the first word feels a bit silly to her, an acronym within an acronym, but she figures TCPTS sounds even more unwieldy...TCP Toy Syndrome. Not the most elegant or humanizing term, but that was the whole point of the condition itself...what happens to a TCP when they are treated like a plaything for their status as a TCP, especially if based on their typing or appearance. 

The wool type tightens her grip on the steering wheel, but tries to keep her speed within the limit. Keep it steady. 

People with TTS exhibit a variety of symptoms - so varied that the lists get a little overwhelming to read. Some are easy enough to throw out as unfitting for herself, but some ride the line where she can’t tell if they’re accurate or not quite there.

Perfectionism. Issues with control and...attachment. I don’t see it, but, she always said I… 

Her exit’s up next. 

She makes the turn without an issue, and heads home. 
 

---

Home is where the cluttered mess of work in progress projects are, but as she struggles to drag in her foldable cart full of fabric rolls, she feels the same immense sense of pride she always does. This is her space. She sets aside her findings in their designated area, making sure to give them at least some preliminary sorting before heading for her computer- she has emails in mind.
  

---

FROM: marcel@dollhousedressup.com
TO: lewisbooker@tcpdexresearch.org 
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Bulk Orders 
BODY:
Sent out designs to the manufacturers on time, awaiting further requests if you have any. I’ll admit that raincoats for the kinds of body plans you presented were a new challenge for me, but they should be a good addition to my portfolio and I look forward to similar opportunities going forward. I hope that the manufacturers continue to deliver on my designs and that the people living in your facility benefit from these coats, as well as those that you end up selling them to. 

I do have a question unrelated to the coats, however- I tried looking on your website and found no publicly available resources, but I am curious as to whether you have any resources on TTS (TCP Toy Syndrome)?

Thank you for the business, and I hope to hear back from you soon.
-Marcel

---

  
Marcel reads it over twice before sending, making sure no typos slipped by. She gets to sorting her new acquisitions for real now, making sure they’re organized by color- her projects themselves may be a mess, but her materials, those had to be in their proper places for sure. It’s mostly just a way to kill time and she knows it well, but it’s effective- her laptop’s speakers are turned up to maximum, and when the email comes in, she hears it.
  

---

FROM: lewisbooker@tcpdexresearch.org 
TO: marcel@dollhousedressup.com
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Re: Bulk Orders 
BODY:
Thanks for the speedy work as always, Marcel! We can always count on you to get the job done! Our next set of orders are actually more pajamas, if that’s alright- we know you’ve done so many of those already, but it really helps newcomers feel more at home to have something cozy to wear in their rooms. Standardized stuff just doesn’t work with food types and anything else that can possibly stain, and yours are the best for comfort, and the fun patterns too...but listen to me go on! If you agree to the job, I know you can get it done right!

As for TTS, we have quite a bit of research done, but it’s still kind of a controversial topic, so we haven’t released anything on it yet. It’s a psychological condition more along the lines of a mental health affliction than something like a ravenous or horrified condition, and we don’t really have a lot of structure set up to properly and safely inform on something of that nature. It’d need a lot of nuance and care, especially with so much of what’s out there being fear-mongering in nature...but that could be said of all TCP conditions, really. 

Why do you ask? Are you worried that you or someone you know has it? If you’re concerned, you can always schedule a remote appointment with one of our doctors here. After all you’ve done for us, I’m sure we could work out some kind of deal.

---

Mental health affliction. The words ring in her mind over and over, and she shakes her head. 
 

---

FROM: marcel@dollhousedressup.com 
TO: lewisbooker@tcpdexresearch.org 
SUBJECT: Re: Re: Re: Bulk Orders 
BODY:
No, I’m all set. I was just curious, that’s all. I heard about it on a radio show.

I’ll definitely be available to do the pajama order. Send me the details when you can.

-Marcel

---

She’s about to close the laptop and get something to eat before a MessiRoom notification pops up.
 

[BEWITCHING_EYES]: hi!!!

 
Ah. That’s right. The model.
 

[BEWITCHING_EYES]: this is marcel, right?

 
How the hell does she know my name?
 

[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: Yes, this is Marcel, though I’m not sure how you know my name.
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: oh sry thats probably super weird
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: i um lived at one of the facilities you did stuff for
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: and you came to visit once
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: and it was super cool!
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: and youve been my idol ever since!!!

 
Oh, god. The energy levels.
 

[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: Well, I’m flattered, but I’d prefer not to be idolized. I’d prefer my work to speak for itself versus being put on a pedestal myself.
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: Also, I’m going to go get some tea.
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: In the meantime, please either hook up a webcam or take pictures of yourself, preferably in some way that I can see your overall body shape and any textures and/or features that I’ll have to take into consideration when designing your outfit.
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: can do!

    
She takes her time getting the tea, dragging her feet just the slightest bit- half in hopes that the model actually gets what she’s supposed to on time, and half dreading returning to someone who looks at her like she’s some kind of fashion god or something. She already had to straighten Remmy out with that last night, but at least he picked up on that quickly…
    

[BEWITCHING_EYES] sent 5 files.
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: ok that should be it!
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: im an omen type, like the creature
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: i have a scaly body, long hair, and big eyes
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: oh and big claws. i have really big claws
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: but its all pretty standard for an omen type, i think? i dont have any anomalies or anything outside of some designer markings i got done a while back
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: oh and my names tansy!
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: thats not related to the measurements but i think you should probably have something to call me
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: and im sorry for the weird idol thing, i should know better than that

 
Well...that’s a pleasant surprise.
  

[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: Thank you for understanding.
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: I can work with this typing easily and at my standard rates without any issue, seeing as you’re a biped without any sort of stain-prone body composition.
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: That said, even if you weren’t, I prefer not to charge too much extra, only what’s necessary. The only extra expense I could feasibly see happening would be if you want some kind of glasses.
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: how did you know???
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: You mentioned the eyes specifically, and from what I know about omen types, most would probably prefer avoiding those unless they wanted to highlight them.
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: Also, it’s literally in your username.
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: :P
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: you got me
[BEWITCHING_EYES]: yes i really want glasses! or goggles, or something cute
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: We can work on that. 
[DOLLHOUSE_DRESSUP]: As for compatible materials, allow me to list some options out…

 
It’s going to be a long night.