All Bets are Off

    The walk down the hallway to Brittney didn't take long, but I had enough time to give Lin a good once over. Despite not being plastic her programming allowed her to maintain her pose seemingly effortlessly, she wobbled rigidly if the cart did and blinked as little as possible. It made it distressingly easy to imagine her already made of plastic, and me just being here to pick up the newest display piece I'd be working with. I tried not to think about that too much, as I wanted to enter the room at the end of the hall without a tent in my pants, which I pulled off though I had to stop just outside the door and calm myself down. Upon entering the room then I was greeted by an... interesting sight that made my effort for naught.

    Standing in the middle of the middle of the room was a lovely piece of plastic, with proportions that I hadn't seen on any of the Dusk Boutique's mannequins. This plastic woman had some weight on her, but carried it in all the right places, with large breasts that still seemed soft and inviting despite being hard plastic, and a butt that looked oh-so-squeezable. The rest of her body had weight to match, but she was still lovely to look at and would make a fantastic display for any store going for a more realistic body-type. She appeared to be wearing headphones, some kind of VR goggles, and nothing else. I say appeared, because my view was partially obscured by another figure that was groping the big mannequin.

    The other woman appeared to be flesh and blood, and was certainly more dressed than any other women I had seen today, though the knee-length powder-blue sundress suited her well. She didn't have the outrageous or idealized proportions of the mannequins I had seen so far, so I guessed that she hadn't been fully processed yet. She didn't seem to notice me, being to engrossed in fondling her plastic plaything so I weighed the options of leaving the room to calm myself down again and then knocking, or just making my presence known. Before I could make up my mind though, a loud beep came from a computer on the desk near me and the mobile woman looked up, noticing me.

    "Oh!" She blushes, and pulls away from the mannequin, straightening out her dress as she does. "Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes. At least it looks like you enjoyed the show!" She nods towards my nether regions and flashes a conspiratorial grin "I can invite you back when your mannequin here gets processed if you like."

    Not expecting my voyeurism to be taken so lightly I stand there flustered for a bit, before the woman speaks again looking at Lin as she does, "I think I just overloaded his brain. Maybe you'll be more talkative, but you need some work done first, so I'll have to get your boyfriend here talking."

    "Lin isn't my girlfriend." I blurt out without thinking.

"Ah, that worked. From what I've heard though, I doubt you'd be opposed to being her boyfriend though, right?"

"You've heard things?"

"Brooke is a friend of mine, so I know more than most of the others here, including that you've actually been on a date with this pretty soon-to-be-plastic girl."

"Well... it was just one. I would hardly call that grounds for declaring myself her boyfriend."

"Did you want to be though? I can make it happen," She gestures to the room around her "right here, in this room, is where we put the finishing touches on our mannequins. If the girl has been even partially programmed, I can insert change or delete memories as I see fit. Judy here just had any final memories of being human erased, she'll just be a happy display figure from now on. She's also been programmed with all kinds of kinky sexual positions since she's being sent to an adult shop, I'm sure the employees there are going to love her."

    I take a moment to process the information I'd just heard, and all I can think of to say is "The brainwashing in the spa isn't enough?" I point at Lin, motionless as ever on her stand, "It seems pretty thorough to me."

    The woman laughs, it's neither warm like Phil's or grating like Peters, but somewhat unsettling instead. "Oh I assure you the methods being employed in the spa are enough to get the job done. Lin here could be plasticized and put on display without ever coming though me. I just deal with special cases, and special orders. Judy here was the wife of the owner of the store she's being sent to, he caught her cheating on him with their mutual best friend, a woman named Bonnie. Well, it turns out that Bonnie and Judy's husband had the hots for each other too, so the cheating turned into a mutual poly-amours relationship. But then Bonnie started developing real feelings for the husband, and vice-versa. Judy wasn't liking that, and tried to end the whole arrangement. Bonnie and the husband decided that they liked what they had going, and had Judy sent to us for conversion, but they wanted to make sure Judy would fully enjoy her new position in the relationship, so Judy here gets to think she's a mannequin sex-toy for Bonnie and her former husband. At least she gets to think that when she's moving, when on display her mind goes blank, another stipulation from the now-happy couple."

    "Honestly, other than that last part it doesn't seem to different from the other mannequins. They're all mannequin sex-toys." I say, confused.

    "Ah, but it is. Judy here will act robotic. Her human memories are totally gone, not simply incorporated and over-written like with our regular mannequins. Her personality will be a shell of what it was, which is what her new owners wanted. Judy was a selfish, jealous, cheating bitch, they don't want any traces of that left in their toy." Throughout this entire conversation this woman has had a mad grin on her face. It is starting to worry me when it is suddenly replaced by a look of shock. The woman walks over and extends her hand to me, "I'm sorry! I totally forgot to introduce myself, I don't get to talk about my work much with new people and I was enjoying it. I'm Brittney."

    I take the offered hand and reply "Timothy, but I get the feeling you know that already."

    "I do but it's nice of you to say it anyway. Now, I'm afraid I've delayed you longer than I should have." Suddenly this woman is all business, she turns to Lin and says "Lemon, Leopard, London, Linguist" and Lin starts moving again, getting off the stand and stretching. "Lin, please take a seat." Brittney gestures to a chair that she's pulled away from the wall, and Lin walks over to it. Brittney then procures headphones and a VR headset identical to the ones Judy was wearing and places them on Lin. Turning to me she says "Hey, can you hit play on the window I've got open on the screen there?"

    Walking around the desk to look at the screen I see the filename is tour.mp4 and figure it must just activate the headset Lin was currently wearing. I press play and look over to Lin, only to see her go limp in the chair. I must have reacted badly to this because Brittney speaks up, "Don't worry, this is normal. Judy would be a heap on the floor if she wasn't a rigid piece of plastic right now. Anyway, did you want to be Lin's boyfriend for the time she's got left as flesh? It wouldn't take long to program." Brittney gives me a suggestive look as she asks.

    My answer comes before I fully process it "No. Even if she's going to be a mannequin soon I think I want to earn that status, not have it programmed into her."

    Brittney laughs again, something I wish she wouldn't do, then says "Ah, Brooke had mentioned that you seem to have a noble streak in you, I'll have to confirm with her just how strong it is. Oh well, your loss."

    Of the employees I've met today I enjoy being in Brittney's company the least, but as it appears that I'll be stuck with her for a while I try to make small talk, "So how did you end up working here?"

    Brittney rolls her eyes, "You've got access to the woman behind the mannequin mental state and you ask how I started working here? Wouldn't you like to learn some of the more fun things you can do with a complete, or" she gives a sideways glance to Lin "incomplete mannequin?" Before I can answer the computer beeps and Lin straightens her pose in the chair. "Lin, Display Ready" are the first words out of Brittney's mouth after this happens. Prompting me to ask "Why did you do that?"

    Brittney gives a wicked smile, "Because I bet you don't know how to get her out of this state. And I think you could have some fun with it if you did."

"I thought you were talking about delaying me."

"Your next appointment will appreciate that this is for a good cause. Now, can you bring her out of this or not?"

    I think for a moment, trying to remember the words that Brittney had said to Lin to make her move again, meanwhile Brittney removes the headset and headphones from Lin's motionless form. "All I remember is that you said four words that started with L."

    Brittney claps, "That's good! Brooke said you're perceptive as well, she's great at reading people. And you've actually got a fifth of the phrase from that knowledge. To activate any mannequin that's been put into display mode you have to say four words that begin with the first letter of their name. It's not just any four words, nor is it a specific four words though. Before I continue can you remember any one word that I said?"

    I had been trying to recall that while she was speaking and came up with only "Lemon."

    Brittney claps again, "Right! But lemon isn't the only word that would work in that slot. Lettuce, lychee, Linguine, all those words would work there too."

    I make the connection faster than I expected to, "Food. The first word is food."

"Ding ding ding!" Brittney smiles, still a little manic, but tinged with genuine happiness. "Each word is from a specific category, and it's the same four across all mannequins. Food, animal, place, occupation. Now, try to wake up Lin here."

    "Leek, llama, London, Logger" With those words out of my mouth, Lin again regains movement and begins to stretch.

    "Well done," Brittney claps again, "now you can activate any mannequin so long as you know her name. Though a mannequin will not activate if she is actually on display, or of there are more than three people around her. Anyway you should be moving on to your last stop." Brittney hands me a piece of paper. "Say this to Lin once you're through the double doors to the right of my office here. She'll know where to go from there. Oh, and just so you know," Brittney reaches out and squeezes Lin's breasts, "She won't remember anything that happens to her while she's like this."

    I had figured that was a the case, but didn't want to take any chances with it. Now that I had confirmation the next few minutes suddenly became more interesting.

    "Oh you are easy to tease aren't you?" Brittney sounds exasperated as she says this, "Alright, you guys need to get moving. Lin, follow your VM, and flaunt that perfect body while you do it."

    "Will do." Lin says, monotone, before getting off the chair and walking over to me, swaying her hips while she did, before reaching me and grabbing my arm from the side, resting my upper arm between her breasts.

    "Umm... it's been interesting Brittney. Thanks for teaching me how to wake up mannequins." I stammer as I walk out of the room, with Lin still hanging on my arm.

    I hear from behind me, "I slipped a card in Lin's pocket, get in touch if you want to know more." before I hear the click of a door closing.

    It's only a few paces to the big double doors out of the production area, but these doors aren't labelled giving me no indication of where I might be headed. I look at Lin, silently pressing up against me, and debate the merits of copping a quick feel while she's out like this. I actually raise my free hand to just over her breast, but lower it and walk through the doors with her a second later. I'd only known her for a short time, but it felt wrong to simply take advantage of her situation like this, especially while trying to figure out how to save her from it. Once we were through the doors I told Lin to stop holding on to me, then read the paper that Brittney had given me, "Lin, you do not yet live for display."

    Lin blinked a couple of times, and her face ran through a few different expressions before she fully came to, looking at me an smiling wide and bright, "that was all so awesome! Come on, we've got to go meet our last guide!" She grabs my hand, dragging me down the hall to an elevator where she presses the up button. It opens immediately and she pulls me inside, pressing the key for the 5th floor and then mashing the close door button. Thankfully, I say this because I didn't get the primer on what her tour was like, she rides in silence, fidgeting excitedly the whole way up. The elevator door opens, revealing a well furnished office, though it's what accompanied the furniture that really caught my eye.

    In every chair, even the big one behind the desk, sat a mannequin. Though their hairstyle and apparel were different, it was obvious that each mannequin was identical, which made me suspect that these mannequins, though just as realistic as the ones being made downstairs, were not once human. The mannequins were nicely proportioned, not being obviously over-sexualized, but still having a seductive air about them. And no two were posed in the same way. There were a couple of them posed by a water cooler, obviously gossiping. Two more sat in low comfortable-looking chairs around a coffee table, one taking a sip from a mug while the other seemed to be recounting some story. Another pair occupied the chairs in front of the big desk and seemed to be making a presentation of some sort, while the last mannequin looked on from what would be the boss' chair. Oddly though, there was nobody else in the room. Perhaps because we'd taken so long the person we were meeting with had stepped out?

    Lin didn't seem to mind that we were in the room alone, and dragged me to each display, talking excitedly about the mannequins and how she'd seen them made and how it was so cool that the owner of the company decorated her office like this.

    I mostly gave nondescript replies until she mentioned that we were in the owner's office. That one caught me off guard enough that I actually said "Wait, what?" Then Lin almost knocked me off my feet.

    "Ah, I was wondering If I could get you to break character." She gave me a mischievous smile.

    "Break character..?" I stumble for what to say, while Lin uncharacteristically waits for my mind to catch up with what was happening, all the while looking at me with that smile, which made thinking even harder.

    After almost a minute of silence, Lin laughs her heavenly laugh and says, "Alright I'll give you a hint. I wouldn't have minded you doing what Brittney did to me."

    With those words out of Lin's mouth I walk to one of the coffee table mannequins and move her to sit on the table itself, while I occupy the chair. Once I'm comfortable I reply, "Brittney didn't give you memories of a fake tour, she let you remember the real one."

    Lin moves to sit on the arm of the chair, "Yup. I don't know if it was by accident or if it was deliberate though." Lin fidgets for a while, then says "Sooo..." before quickly moving from her position on the armrest to one on my lap, "You wanted to earn the position as my boyfriend huh?" She then pulls me in for a kiss.

    Coming up for air a short while later all I can think of to say is "Does this mean I've earned it?"

    Her laugh reverberates through the room once again, "Seems like a silly question to ask doesn't it?"

    I laugh with her, "I suppose it is." Then we both go silent for a bit.

    She breaks it first, "So... I'm a mannequin huh?"

    I start to look down but she takes my chin in her hands and makes me face her directly. I muster the courage to look her in the eye, "Yeah. Half mannequin right now, Brooke wants to have you on display in the store soon though."

    "You have some sort of bet with Brooke. What was that exactly?" She doesn't sound angry, just curious.

"It's not exactly a bet, just a challenge I guess? I told her that I wanted to try making you want the change. Like Cindy did."

"I thought that Cindy mannequin seemed familiar. And I guess I have other co-workers who are currently on display?"

"Probably."

    Lin goes silent, but keeps eye contact with me. I wait till she decides to speak again. When she does it's a question that I'd been asking myself since meeting her, "Why not try to save me from this?"

    The answer I give surprises me, "I honestly don't think I can. Though I've been watching for a way, and learning what I can, but I've only known about this a few days. And... since I'm being honest with you, and myself here, It's also because I'm incredibly turned on by the thought of you as a living mannequin. So since I don't think I can save you, I thought maybe you could embrace it and truly enjoy the experience."

    Lin keeps looking me in the eye, "Why try to make me want it then?"

    I continue with the honest approach, "We've only had a few interactions but I've obviously decided I like you. This is in part due to us seemingly sharing a fetish, and in part because you're fun to be around, or at least seem to be from our few interactions. That and you had some good ideas for displays in the store. I didn't want to see a potential talent like that wasted, especially when I'm basically flying by the seat of my pants in this job."

    Lin actually blushes a bit, "I guess it's safe to admit then that I had applied for the position and was a little jealous of you getting it?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if the only reason you didn't get it is because Brooke had decided you were going to be joining the team in a different capacity."

"Thanks for the confidence boost. Now, you think I'm fun to be around?"

"Yeah, but you are more fun mobile than standing stiffly on a pole."

    Lin gives a sly smile, "Well I could be more fun on that pole if you treat me like I treated Angelique. It would also make the sore muscles a bit more worth it. Though I guess that won't be a problem soon will it?" Her smile changes to a half-hearted grin.

    "I'm going to guess... probably not. Deliberate or not, I don't think they'd let you leave here with memories of what actually happened." I try to give a reassuring smile, "But hey, you said we're meeting the owner. Maybe we can work something out?"

    A voice sounds from the direction of the desk, "Yes, that is actually the reason I called you two up here."

    Lin jumps out of my lap in shock and I nearly tip the chair over backwards, as the mannequin behind the desk gets up and walks over to us. She extends a hand to Lin "I am Stephanie Caol, and I am the owner of Soulful mannequins."

    Lin recovers from her shock first, and shakes Stephanie's offered hand. "I'm Lin Yee, and it's a pleasure to meet you."

    "I am aware of who both of you are, and of the circumstances that brought you both here." She shakes my hand while saying this. "It was actually my idea that Brooke send to two of you on this tour, and it was always my intent to have Lin remember her time as a mannequin during it."

    "So me knowing all this is deliberate?" Lin questions.

    "Very much so." Stephanie turns to me, "Timothy, I'm sorry for accelerating your plans with Lin, but I know Brooke, and I fear that you might not have had the two weeks she promised. She can be rash sometimes and if she thought you might be getting too close to Lin, Brooke might think letting the bet continue would be too much of a risk."

    "I can see that" Lin says at the same time as I say, "You're probably right."

    "So. Lin and Timothy. What do you think we can work out here? What is it that the two of you want?" Stephanie asks.

    Lin speaks up first, "A choice I guess. Something beyond, being a mannequin version of me or a mannequin version of me that knows I was human once. I mean... I am kind of turned on by all of this, but I was never into unwilling transformations."

    "That is fair," Stephanie says warmly, "Timothy?"

    My answer comes just as quickly, "To get to know Lin better, and have a shot at actually being her boyfriend."

    Lin turns to look at me, while Stephanie raises an eyebrow, Lin speaks first "Keep talking. I have a feeling there's more then that."

    I blush, but figure there's no point hiding it, "And if one of the perks of being her boyfriend is that she's also a mannequin who I have all the control phrases for... well that would make for some fun times for both of us I think."

    Stephanie laughs, "Lin you've got a keeper here if he's willing to admit that to you. And take it from a plastic lady, he's not wrong" She winks.

    Lin blushes, "That does sound... fun. And while I have given you the title of boyfriend, I don't know if I'm quite ready for something like that."

    Stephanie chimes in, "But could you be ready for it if given time?"

    Lin stammers, "umm... well..." her blush intensifies.

    Stephanie laughs again, "I'll take that as a yes. Very well. Lin, I'm afraid Timothy is correct, you will be processed here today, and become a fully plastic mannequin over the two weeks."

    "What?" Lin shouts, "but what about everything you just asked us about?"

    "Don't worry, I've heard, and I have some ideas, if you're willing to let us experiment a bit." Stephanie smiles, thankfully not a manic smile like Brittney's but a surprisingly warm smile, almost motherly.

    Lin and I look at each other, then turn to Stephanie. "We're listening."