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DOLLSHAPE.

@dollshape.bsky.social

67 followers 20 following 126 posts

18+ content. a band with a doll in it. multimedia vocaloid project by @roadietripp.bsky.social‬. no "generative" "machine" "learning" used in this project. SUPPORT THE PROJECT: ko-fi.com/dollshape

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DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

here's the new gear we got, a custom-built short scale bass guitar strung with and kitted out for four baritone guitar strings. it allows for more versatility in our sound. as a result, it opened up quite a few new doors we've previously been unable to explore, and we wanna explore them!

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

technical difficulties with that one meme format everyone's doing

En points to Teto, who is wearing a cyberpunk off-shoulder jacket, revealing her red bra underneath. En says, "Your bra strap is showing!"

Teto pulls at her jacket, showing that she can't tug it around or move it herself. Teto says, "I'd do the meme, but this jacket ain't got the bones to morph."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

SUPPORT DOLLSHAPE Just one person makes this project possible: Stryx, a permanently disabled, unemployable and under-supported queer from Canada. Supporting DOLLSHAPE through KO-FI helps keep her fed and focused on this project: ko-fi.com/dollshape

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 13 "INFECTION"

Teto and Roadie crouch down next to the Shadow's headless and lifeless body, its wrist still suspended in mid-air by the spell En cast on it in the fight. Teto calls over to En. Teto: "En, I'll use this Shadow carcass to teach Roadie a few things. Find out where the kid went." En begins walking away from the group as it responds. En: "Gotcha. Nice shot by the way, Roadie. You gotta teach me how to shoot like that sometime." En's speech bubbles have a strange gradient to them, from white to a light gray.

En walks towards a red box in the distance as Roadie and Teto begin inspecting the Shadow. On the back of the Shadow's shirt is a dark red, circular sigil. Teto: "So, Roadie. A Shadow is an embodiment of intrusive and repressive thought." Roadie: "This one's got a sigil. What does that one do?"

En opens the red box to reveal the child's hiding spot: the inside of a fridge. En: "Hey, kid! Great hiding spot!" En's speech bubbles have a much stronger gradient to them. The child looks up at En with worry. Kid: "Thank you! I just kind of... uh... Stranger, are you feeling okay?"

We pivot around to see En's face fully revealed. Its right eye's sclera has become pitch black, and its speech bubbles have inverted to white on black. En: "Sure am, kiddo! Never better!" Roadie and Teto are still inspecting the Shadow's body in the background. Roadie scratches her head, while Teto points at the sigil and looks over in En's direction with fear in her eyes.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 12 "ONE-LINER"

The trio - En, Teto and Roadie - stare past the viewer at the shadow just off-panel. En points toward Roadie with a devious grin on its face. En: "Now, if you don't mind sticking around, my pal Roadie has a gift she'd LOVE to send, care on delivery!"

Roadie points her gun at the shadow, still struggling to break its wrist free from the alchemical wristlock it has been stuck in. En: "This is the thing about shards, edgelord... If you don't stop playing with 'em, you're gonna get yourself cut."

Roadie pulls the trigger with a loud BANG, pulsing a green, energetic muzzle flash out of the barrel.

The shadow, now headless, hangs limply from its wrist, still caught in the wristlock mid-air. En's eyes open wide with surprise. En: "Whoa, holy shit! That took its head clean, smooth off!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 11 "FIGHT BACK"

Multiple panels in one page, a first for DOLLSHAPE. PANEL 1: The stranger has poofed back into the small child from earlier, and is now hiding behind Teto while En prepares to fight. En: "Scoot, take cover!" Teto: "GO! HIDE!" PANEL 2: En now focuses on the dark figure who interrupted their conversation and readies itself. PANEL 3: En blocks a punch from the figure as Teto helps Roadie off the ground. Teto: "Let's find the handcannon! En will handle the shadow!" PANEL 4: En slips out of his block and grabs the shadow's wrist in one hand, while bringing his finger and thumb together with the other. PANEL 5: En snaps its fingers, creating two pink circles reverberating energy around the shadow's wrist. PANEL 6: The trio watch their enemy struggle to free their wrist from the alchemical energy circles. En: "HAH! Get fuckin' OWNED!" Shadow: "FUCKING SHARDS!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 10 "SPOTTED"

The four shards form a lazy circle as they talk to each other. Roadie is holding a new handcannon cylinder in one hand and her empty gun in the other. Roadie: "Alright, so I'm TECHNICALLY real, but NOT REALLY. KINDA, but SORTA NOT." En pleads with Roadie, clasping its hands together as if in prayer. En: "I mean, when you put it like that, it DOES sound pretty insane. But like, it DOES explain the disjointed memories, right?"

En continues its pleading. En: "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but we were all gonna have to accept the circumstances at some point." The stranger leans into the circle towards Roadie, joining in on the reassurance. Stranger: "You're not wrong for being angry. I'm pretty upset, too. But we've got the cards we're dealt, so we gotta play them."

The scene distorts into extreme contrast and motion blur as the door, floating behind them in non-euclidian space, is violently kicked open with a loud SLAM by a dark figure. The group, collectively startled by the loud noise, jump away from each other. Roadie loses grip on her gun, now loaded, as it flies through the air.

We take a closer look at the dark figure, revealing itself to have pitch black skin and hair with dark grey clothes. A flame design trails up from the ankle to the knee on its pants. Its eyelashes, eyes and brows are in a stark monochrome palette, and her sharp teeth is bared at the group. Shadow: "Ahh, I see. More shards. I thought I smelled 'crazy' around here."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 9 "SHARDS"

Between Roadie and En, we see the stranger begin to explain something. Stranger: "I think I've heard about something like this. We're part of an individual's mental defense mechanism. If an individual suffers from prolonged periods of trauma without an adequate way to process that trauma, the mind 'breaks' into something like a 'personality shard.' The 'shards' then take control of the mind in times when the brain feels it needs to protect itself."

The strangers continues explaining her theory. Stranger: "If we're the 'shards,' that means the world we're experiencing isn't 'real,' at least not in the way that word is defined. It's real to us, sure. We can make a coffee and drink it, and appreciate its taste. Technically speaking, however, we are ultimately not the ones being perceived by eyes outside the boundaries of this world. We're actually stuck in a body that doesn't look like any of us."

Looking over the stranger's shoulder now, Teto responds to her. Teto: "Precisely. To be more specific, we're part of a defense system that has been classified as 'Dissociative Identity Disorder.' I have been designated by this system to help guide new 'shards' through the process of understanding this." Roadie looks over at Teto in shock at this information. Roadie: "Wait... Teto, that's your serious face. Why are you wearing your serious face while you're saying these things?!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 8 "ANSWERS"

Roadie wipes her soot-covered face with her sleeve while En looks on with concern. Roadie: "Ughh, I'm covered in soot now, thanks." Teto places a hand on En's shoulder. Teto: "What I've just demonstrated is the mind protecting itself, from itself. You can't kill anyone here who is a major piece of the mind." The stranger in a battle vest coils with surprise. Stranger: "IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MAKE SENSE?! AM I THE ONLY SANE ONE RIGHT NOW?!"

Roadie raises a soot-and-burn covered hand, clenching it into a fist while pointing a thumb at herself. Roadie: "Shut up. All of you." En defensively places his hands in the air as Roadie continues to speak. Roadie: "I'm sick of the cryptic shit. 'The mind protecting itself from itself?' How is ANYONE supposed to get ANY clarity out of THAT?!"

En speaks with worry. En: "Roadie, we're not real. Nothing has ever been real. We're all shards of a traumatized mind, brought to life to protect it from further harm." Roadie angrily turns her gaze to En and cups her hand against her ear. Her handcannon in the other hand is missing a cylinder, likely vaporized in the backfire. Roadie: "Sorry, En! I couldn't hear you over all that BULLSHIT!" En: "Think about it. You can't remember when I hired you at the cafe, you just... showed up, one day."

Roadie softens her glare into an introspective curiosity. Roadie: "...huh. Yeah, I don't even remember giving you my application, either." En: "Because you never needed to. This cafe, this 'mindspace,' needed help. You are the help."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 7 "EVEN MORE QUESTIONS"

Roadie and the stranger join back with Teto and En, the two pairs glancing at each other as they rejoin each other. Roadie: "Alright, we're clones or something. What gives with the secrecy-" Teto interrupts Roadie, crossing her arms with her matter-of-fact response. Teto: "No, you're not clones. I don't think either of you would be able to manage the gravity of what all of us actually, really are."

Roadie flips a hand to the air and rolls her eyes. Roadie: "Oh, my GOD! I'm not fucking twelve, Teto. Just tell us and get it over with." Teto opens her crossed arms to point at Roadie's pocket, humoring her desire to know the truth. Teto: "Alright, fine. First, a demonstration. Try shooting me with the handcannon."

Roadie quickly pulls her left hand out of her hoodie pocket, handcannon in hand, and points it straight at Teto. En: "SHIT, GET BACK!" En pushes the stranger back as it notices the serious expression on Teto's face. Roadie, meanwhile, takes aim. Roadie: "Sure, whatever. You're probably gonna pull some gimmicky shit, anyway."

The gun explodes in Roadie's hands with a loud BANG, as the stranger and En cover their faces in their arms and crouch down a short distance away from the explosion. Roadie: "WHAT THE FUCK?!" Teto pulls away from the explosion and tries to cover her head, as if taken aback by the sudden burst. Teto: "CHRIST, Roadie!! A damn countdown would've been nice!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 6 "QUESTIONS"

Roadie leans back against a door held up by nothing in non-euclidian space, a sickly green mess of pixels radiating in the background. She looks with irritation at her copycat, who is crossing her arms with a concerned expression. Stranger: "I wish I could give you answers, but I'm just as stumped as you. All we know is that we both feel that somebody copied someone else's style, but our ink isn't from a catalog. They're our own designs. The logical conclusion is coincidence, but we have the exact same tattoos. It's so unlikely as to be impossible."

The stranger continues her explanation as Roadie softens her face into an expression of slight worry. Stranger: "Even our explanation for what each tattoo means is exactly the same. It leaves only one answer, but it's terrifying. I wouldn't even know how to begin to explain such a thing. It's probably why your friends don't want to say anything about it. They don't know how to explain it, either."

The camera closes up on Roadie as she looks down at her feet. Roadie: "Yeah. Nothing about this is statistically possible, or even logically sound. We're only barely different, as if we split off from the same mind. So, it begs the question. WERE we? Are we unique individuals who just happen to be impossibly similar, or were we the same person at some point in time?"

Roadie now looks toward the stranger with a worrisome look on her face, while the Stranger looks back at Roadie with a pensive smile. Roadie: "Well, I can't conceive of any other possibility except that we're some kind of clone. Built from the same codebase, but forked into different versions. It doesn't exactly explain how you can turn into a child, or why that even happens, but I'm sure we can try to figure something out... or get Teto or En to spill the beans."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE'S KO-FI IS NOW LIVE! If you'd like to support this project, you can now do so easily through Ko-Fi! Slip a one-time donation into our chest pockets, or schedule monthly support drops. Your support will help keep the artist fed, purchase tools for a better/faster workflow, and more!

A heavily distorted, low colour depth render of Kasane Teto, Roadie and En. Teto is sitting down on the couch with a ball of energy in her hands, while En lays across her lap, seemingly passed out. Roadie is hanging limply over the side of the staircase between the stair rails. Text: "DOLLSHAPE. Support now on Ko-Fi."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 5 "SWITCHBACK"

The little girl with purple hair re-enacts a story about a bully, swinging a fist in the air with a smile on her face. En and Teto listen attentively while sitting on the ground at her level, while Roadie mopes against a door within the green non-euclidian space that looks like the front door to the Cartomancy Cafe. Kid: "...and then the bully told me 'beyblades are stupid,' so I BOPPED him in the shoulder and he said 'ow!'" En offers an encouraging smile to the child. En: "Awesome, kiddo! Way to stick up for yourself!"

En shifts its expression to a more serious one, while Teto listens. Roadie is still moping against the door, uninterested in the conversation. En: "Now, I think it's time we talk to the other girl. Think you can bring her back?" Kid: "Oh, sure! I c'n snap my fingers tuh bring her back 'n' stuff!"

A large, over-bloomed puff of pink smoke explodes with a 'sna-POOF,' making Teto recoil from the sudden smokescreen while En is completely obscured. The noise has brought Roadie's attention to the situation, bringing her hands close to her chest in a defensive reflex.

The kid has now become the copycat from earlier, scratching the back of her head bashfully as she kneels down to En and Teto's level. Roadie rolls her eyes, still sore about the copycat biting her style. Copycat: "Sorry, I kinda spaced out there for a bit. It happens more often than I'd like to admit, to be honest!" En: "No worries! I deal with that kind of thing myself!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 4 "CRAZY"

Roadie crouches down to the floor in deep distress as Teto places a hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. Teto: "I can explain all of this, Roadie. Just focus on being calm for now." Just in front of them, a small girl with purple hair is clinging to En's hip by grabbing onto its hoodie. En looks down at the girl. En: "Are you okay, kiddo?" The girl nervously replies, "m-mhm..."

The camera angles downward to reveal a sickly green, pixelated, non-euclidian texture on the ceiling that emits a radiant green ambient light into the room. Teto turns her attention to En. Teto: "You seem to be taking this well, En. Are you-" En interrupts her. "Aware? In the know? Yeah. I figured it out pretty quickly." Teto: How? It normally takes alchemists decades to know."

The facade of the cafe disappears to reveal the non-euclidian, vibrant green mess beneath it. The small girl looks around at the new scenery in awe as En responds to Teto's query. En: "Well, dissolving into a dissociative hellscape like this one we're in now kinda tipped me off a little bit." Teto: "Yeah, I guess that's obvious." En: "I'm not really an alchemist, am I?" Teto: "Kind of, but not really."

Roadie lifts her head, making the small girl hide herself a bit more behind En. En and Teto both turn their attention to Roadie. Teto has a sorrowful expression on her face, while En seems unphased. Roadie: "this is insane. you're all crazy. or is it me who's crazy?"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 3 "SWITCH"

Roadie strides toward the copycat with anger as Teto clings onto her arm, attempting to hold her back. Roadie: "I don't know who the FUCK you are, but you're not leaving-" Teto shouts over her. Teto: "ROADIE!! CALM DOWN!!" The copycat recoils in fear. Copycat: "HUH?! A GUN?!"

Roadie pulls her gun out of her hoodie pocket it and points it at the copycat. Roadie: "SHE HAS MY INK! MY HAIRSTYLE! EVEN MY FUCKING SHOES! WHO IN THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" En stands next to the copycat, holding his hand up to try and stop Roadie. En: "ROADIE, CALM YOU SHIT. NOW." The copycat pleads with Roadie. Copycat: "PLEASE! I'M JUST AS CONFUSED AS YOU ARE!"

Roadie continues to point her gun at the copycat while En points an infuriated finger at Roadie. En: "Roadie, you need to put the fucking gun down, or so help me I will ruin your lif-"

In a cloud of stars and smoke, the copycat has magically and instantaneously transformed into a small child wearing brightly coloured clothes. En recoils, confused about what he's seeing. Copycat: "...what"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 2 "DOPPELGANGER"

Roadie and Teto walk down a snow-covered sidewalk. The backdrop is pixelated and in low colour depth. Roadie: "Forgive me if this is a weird question, but what's the deal between you and En?" Teto gently points a finger upward, a fairly universal gesture of incoming clarification. Teto: "No 'deal.' I just teach him alchemy because he's an alchemist. It's the right thing to do."

Roadie smiles at Teto's misunderstanding. Roadie: "Not what I'm asking! I saw you two giving each other faces the other day, SOMETHING's goin' on!" Teto places a hand on the side of her face as she smiles, as if to laugh at herself. Teto: "Oh jeez, you saw that?! It was just the blood rush from making your ammo!" Roadie: "Oh, suuure. 'Blood rush.' Likely story."

Roadie opens the door to the Caromancy Cafe and the two walk inside. Roadie continues scoffing at Teto's denial. Roadie: "Next you're gonna tell me he put you under some 'love spell' or something!" Teto stops in her tracks with shock, staring off-panel towards the cafe's service counter. Teto: "Uhh... Roadie? Are you seeing this right now?" A voice yells at the two from off-screen: "So, Roadie! Good buddy, ol' pal! I got a question!"

The camera rotates behind Roadie and En, showing En behind the Cartomancy Cafe gesturing towards his customer. The stranger is almost a direct copycat of Roadie. She has the same hairstyle as Roadie, aside from the colour being all chestnut. She has a tattoo on her chest and a Three of Swords tattoo on her right arm just like Roadie as well. She's wearing a leather vest and a pink and black baseball tee, along with round glasses. En: "Do you have a twin sister you never told me about?" Roadie notices the stranger, an interobang floating above her head. The stranger points at Roadie. Stranger: "WHO ARE YOU?!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 2, SET 1 "STROLL"

Roadie and Teto walk next to each other in front of a pixelated background of brown town houses with snow on the ground. Roadie admires her new revolver as Teto looks on with slight concern. Roadie: "I'm pretty impressed, Teto. The trigger pull is smooth and light, the recoil is manageable with just one hand, the gun itself is light and balanced... This gun is pretty damn good!"

Teto, with her arms crossed, now looks at Roadie sternly. Teto: "Glad to hear it, I was the one who drew up the blueprint for the frame and firing mechanism. Can you put it away, now? We're back in city limits again." Roadie quickly shuffles her revolver into her hoodie pocket. Roadie: "Right, sorry. I just can't help but stare at it. Well done, Teto."

The pair continue walking into the city. Teto: "Anyway, your shooting was impressive, you've sold yourself short." Roadie smiles widely, fluffing a dismissive hand in front of her. Roadie: "Nahhh. My accuracy is the gun's fault. It was a breeze to aim." Teto: "Roadie, your grouping was just inches at over one hundred yards. That's not the gun."

Roadie crouches down as if trying to hush the air around her and the doll. Roadie: "Keep it down. The roses have ears, and they don't like hearing my secrets." Teto: "That sounded like sarcasm, I think?" Roadie: "A couple friends told me I hold my handguns like a pussy and showed me the correct way to hold them." Teto places a hand loosely on her chest with an expression of recognition on her face. Teto: "Ah. So it WAS sarcasm, then."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

DOLLSHAPE - CHAPTER TWO SETTING STAGES AUTHOR: STRYXNINE PULSATRIX PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 2026

A render in low colour depth of Teto, En and Roadie in front of a heavily pixelated background. Roadie seems to be wearing new clothes, specifically a black Toronto Blue Jays hoodie. Another character is cropped off on the right side of the panel, wearing a leather jacket with various patches on it.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

taking out the trash

An unnamed customer in a black hoodie, pigtails and round glasses chortles and guffaws while Roadie and Teto both begrudgingly wait for an order to be made with irritation. Customer: "so she was all 'fuck ICE' but she livestreams in 50's outfits! NOBODY in that time period would say that! WAHAHA! What a wokey, am i right?!" Roadie: "...ma'am, this is a fucking coffee shop."

The customer winks at Roadie, intentionally agitating the barista with a smug, overly confident expression. Customer: "Hah, did I trigger you, [expletive]? Just make my coffee you race traitor. Six creams, six sugars. I don't wanna report my cup as an illegal." Roadie points a finger at the customer as she leans further over the counter, while Teto pings her posture straight in shock and anger from what she just heard. Roadie: "First of all, racists got KO'd on sight in the 50's, too. Second, if you don't leave the property NOW, you'll-"

Teto charges forward and grabs the customers hair with a tight fist. The customers eyes spread wide open in surprise at the sudden revelation of her physical vulnerability. Customer: "BWAH! WAIT, I'M AN AMERICAN! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME! I DON'T HAVE INSURANCE! WHAT IF I BREAK SOMETHI-"

Teto: "FUCK YOUR SHITTY NAZI BONES!!!!!" Teto slams the customers face at full thrust into the counter with a loud CRACK! Roadie gleefully winces at the sound with a smile on her face.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

wow! it's almost like making art with your own mind and hands gives you a sense of accomplishment and growth and makes the tedious process worthwhile or something!

Roadie holds a plastic bottle in her left hand. it's an opaque white with a brown label that says "Spice Milk." She analyzes the back of the bottle as she holds a coffee cup in her right hand. En looks on as Roadie studies the bottle. Roadie: "Whoa, you got new creamers?" En: "Yeah, new line from Aphelion Solutions. That's 'spice milk,' a mild, seasonal flavoured creamer."

Roadie places the bottle of spice milk on the counter as she points to a nearby bottle, covered in a dark and light grey checkerboard. She stares down at the bottle with suspicion, as En leans closer to Roadie to see what she's pointing at. Roadie: "Okay... and this one would be...?"

Roadie looks back at En, her hair obscuring her face as it responds casually and naturally to her. En: "Oh! That one's not finished yet. So, instead of being gormless hacks and using AI, they greyboxed the texture as a placeholder for now. You know, like how 3D art is SUPPOSED to be."

The pair stare at the viewer with smug grins on their faces.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

There was a lot of incredible music in 2025. Here are the albums we kept getting stuck in our heads last year!

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

🎶On a wave/on a ride with you🎶

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Happy Holidays from DOLLSHAPE, no matter how you celebrate. whether it's through gifts-giving, merriment-sharing or imbibing inebriating fluids, we hope you have a safe, cheerful and heartwarming end to 2025! 🥂

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

And here is the info sheet for Roadie's Alchemical Handcannon! The 3D model was made by @greycreature.cuppydog.city for me (@roadietripp.bsky.social) a few years ago, and it looks awesome! check out its website here: greycreature.carrd.co

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

another rare smile from Teto? we must have entered a different dimension

Teto hands a metal cylinder over to Roadie across a computer desk, with a charred mortar & pestle sitting on the desk on top of a sigil drawn in chalk. Roadie holds a gun with a missing piece in the center of it. Teto: "Alright, Roadie. Your ammunition is ready. You can test it, but not at a range. This isn't supposed to be a known technology." Roadie: "Right, secret alchemy shit. I'll take it to the woods and bring some targets with me. You can come if you'd like? Tell me more about how it works, or judge my shots?"

Roadie takes the metal cylinder from Teto's hands and begins placing it into the gun where the missing piece should go, as we look over Teto's shoulder. We can see the cafe through the archway behind Roadie. Teto: "I'm glad you offered. En told me about your marksmanship, and I'd like to witness it with my own eyes." Roadie: "Nah, I'm just decent. My groupings need work, in my personal opinion."

Roadie excitedly holds the assembled revolver in both hands, finger placed clear of the trigger guard. Roadie: "AHH, THIS IS SO COOL! I fucking love revolvers, it feels so good in my hands!" Teto points to herself with a thumb. Teto: "I'll make more ammo for you over the next few days, but the magick cost is pretty high. I'm only comfortable making two drums to be sure to keep my magick reserves in check. The ammo is shelf-stable though, so you'd be able to stockpile it if I make you a couple drums a day for a week or so."

Teto smiles devilishly, a rare and unsettling sight. Teto: "I just have one request... If we see Toda again, you shoot her to pieces." Roadie bows to Teto, the ceiling shimmering the blues and cyans of protective anti-scrying alchemy. Roadie: "Noted and heeded. I'd be happy to oblige."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

En is *definitely* not scared of guns. nope. not at all. nuh-uh.

En observes Teto as she snaps her fingers, creating a fountain of sparks emitting from a mortar and pestle placed in the center of a sigil drawn with chalk on a plywood desk. En watches quietly, but look unsettled about something.

The spark fountain turns into a small fire with black smoke as the alchemical reaction begins to burn. En takes a hand out of its hoodie pocket and looks off to the side, dejected. En: "I hope I won't always suck at this alchemy thing." Teto peers over at En and reassures it. Teto: "You won't. The reason it failed when you tried is because you don't have your am-cell count built up yet. That comes with practice and patience, En."

Teto pulls her arm in front of her, previously obsucred to the viewer by En's body, revealing a revolver in her hands. Her finger is placed along the side of the gun and away from the trigger guard. Teto: "Anyways, Roadie's handcannon will be ready to test in an hour. I've never tried to use a 3D printer for one of these, so hopefully it doesn't blow up in Roadie's hands." En lunges away from Teto and the pistol she's holding, looking as if it's ready to bolt. En: "THESE THINGS CAN BLOW UP?!"

Teto leans forward toward the desk to place the revolver gently onto it as she side-eyes her apprentice. Teto: "Yes. Like any firearm, if they're not fabricated, maintained or operated correctly, they can explode violently. This is basic firearm knowledge. It's not just limited to alchemical weapons." En looks away and up to the ceiling, stuffing its hands back in its pockets as it smiles bashfully. En: "Oh! Haha, yeah. I knew that. Yep."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

i made a gumi model and re-purposed ds!Teto just for this, you're welcome!

A low-colour-depth, dithered image of Gumi, dressed as Beat from the video game UNBEATABLE, pinning Teto down to the armrest of a couch by straddling Teto's hips, tightly gripping her hand and pushing down on Teto's opposite shoulder. Teto is dressed up as Penny from the same game. Gumi is gritting her teeth and staring angrily at Teto, who is laughing at Gumi's attempt to threaten her.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

...well that's that problem solved

En and Roadie stand behind the cafe counter, waving goodbye to a customer. En has a big smile on its face, but Roadie seems a bit nervous or pre-occupied. Roadie: "See ya tomorrow morning, Amity!" En: "Hope the coffee gets ya through the day!"

En's face turns serious as it switches its attention to Roadie. En: "Shop's empty, breakfast rush is over. So, what's gotten you so anxious?" Roadie: "You're not gonna drop it, are you?" En: "Nope. You're going through something, and I'm going to help you. It's not just my job as a tarot card reader, it's also because you're my friend. So, spill it."

Roadie relents, letting herself be vulnerable in front of her friend. En looks on with concern for her. Roadie: "Fine. That situation in the scrying bubble got me thinking. Toda just knocked Teto down like she was a piece of printer paper. We were defenseless, but now you have alchemy to defend yourself. I still have nothing. Teto told me that alchemists don't fight with normies like me, but Toda was almost excited to have to search for us, and she's not an alchemist. She's a construct who might have gone insane. So, I guess I'm scared that I'll get hurt, and you or Teto will blame yourselves for not being able to protect me."

Teto walks into frame, leaning against the archway with a hand on her hips. Teto: "Hey, Roadie. If that's what you're worried about, we can make you an alchemical weapon to protect yourself." Roadie straightens up, her eyes wide. En looks over at her reaction, obscuring its face from the viewer. Roadie: "Alchemical weapon? Like a gun?!" En: "Is this a 'great idea' face, or a 'bad idea' face?" Roadie: "'Great idea' face. Very, very great idea face.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

anxiety is a bitch sometimes

En and Teto sit on the couch deep in a conversation as Roadie leans against a wall, staring into the distance off-panel. Posters litter the wall behind the couch. En: "So the material and am-cell magick requirements are co-related to the number of atomic and sub-atomic transformations caused?" Teto: "Pretty close, yes. Even I'm not sure of the specifics, but I could get you in touch with somebody who can explain it." En: "I'd love that!"

The frame tightens around the trio. En and Teto continue their discussion with vigor, while Roadie continues to stare off into the distance. Teto: "For constructs like me, we don't use am-cells. We use raw magick from an alchemist instead. It's basically like a refined fuel for alchemical reactions, so we can do more powerful reactions. However, if a construct runs out of magick, it doesn't just become inert and unable to move, it also loses its memories and identity. If you reanimate them with another alchemical reaction, the construct won't be the same as it used to be. It'll be a different thing entirely."

The frame closes in on Roadie. A figment of the invaded non-euclidian bubble fades into view, slowly distroting the panel and closing in on Roadie. Spirals spill out of Roadie's head, as her dissociated stare turns into an anxiety attack. Teto and En continue their conversation, unaware of Roadie's condition. En: "So if I hadn't helped you regenerate, you might have died?" Teto: "Yes and no. Constructs don't die, we just cease to exist. However, I was 'bleeding' magick because of her attack. If not for you, I would go into a safe state, continue bleeding, and eventually 'die', yes."

En pops into frame, looking up at Roadie with concern. En: "Roadie? Are you doing alright?" Roadie jumps, flailing her arms in front of herself and thrusting her right knee upward into frame. Roadie: "BWUH, FUCK! I'm fine, I'm fine. Just jumpy. I'm fine." En: "Roadie, I don't think you're fine. We should talk later, friend to friend."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

🔷🔵 deep blue 🔵🔷

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

decompressing newfound traumas with a pal. some would call this decompression. i would call this a day that ends with a Y.

En and Roadie lean on the front counter of the Cartomancy Cafe as the ceiling above them shines in bright cyans and blues. Roadie sips on her coffee. En: "Alright, teto's laying in my bed upstairs. I'll sleep on the couch until she can walk on her own. She gave me textbooks to study for the alchemy stuff, but it's nothin' i can't handle. Speakin' of which, how are you handling things?" Roadie: "'m fine."

En lifts its left hand to its cheek as it looks over at Roadie with curiosity. En: "So in the bubble, Teto said you didn't tell me something. Was it the alchemist stuff?" Roadie looks over at En as she brings the paper cup down to the counter. Roadie: "It was a couple things, but the alchemist thing was one of them. It wasn't like I forgot or something, though I'd get you thinking that. My memory is pure shit, you know that. It was just difficult to figure out how to tell you what she wanted you to know."

En fully leans its cheek into its fist as Roadie continues explaining herself, bringing her hand to her cheek as if mimicking a telephone. Roadie: "Like, how would that phone call even go? 'Hey En, just wantcha ta know yer a fookin' wizard.' So I guess Teto created a scrying bubble because I wasn't doing it fast enough. Sorry about that." En: "Mm, you're fine. I get you."

En looks up at the ceiling as it continues to shift and warp through bright blue hues. It points upward toward the energetic mass, making Roadie follow the finger's trajectory. En: "By the way, the fuck is this blue sizzling shit on my ceiling? Another scrying bubble?" Roadie: "Naw, I think it's the opposite. Can't remember what she called it, but it keeps 'her' out." En: "Oh, that maid doll we saw in the bubble? Yeah, that ceiling shit can stay, then." Roadie: "Agreed. Also, Teto wanted me to get you to join our band." En: "Bet." Roadie: "Dope."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 18/18 "RECHARGE" [END CHAPTER ONE.]

Teto lays on the ground, observing the bright, glowing ball of energy and fire as it shoots arcs of purple energy at her from above the bloody sigil. Roadie joins in with Teto, watching the ball of light like a campfire from the comfort of the ugly chesterfield. En dances in a corner as it sings a song to itself, the alchemical orb sizzling and zapping away. En: "Hum-di-dum, I'm an alchemist~"

En continues to dance around the room, passing in front of Roadie, who leans to her right to maintain eye contact with the popping and crackling energy ball. En: "Dee-da-dee, it's alchemy~"

As En dances past Roadie, she lifts herself up off the sofa and looks glances over at Teto. Roadie: "Welp, I'm gonna grab a coffee. You want any, Teto?" Teto keeps staring at the sparkling alchemical fire. Teto: "Double shot of espresso, thank you Roadie." En: "Tie-dee-tie, what a life~"

The energy ball vanishes into a purple plume of smoke without a sound. Roadie places a hand on her hip. Roadie: "Oop, looks like the reaction's finished." En pauses its dancing and pridefully turns its attention toward the doll, his first target of his first alchemical reaction. En: "And how do you feel, dolly?" Teto turns her head toward the ceiling, seemingly unmoved by En's feat. Teto: "The reaction just boosts my magick regeneration. I'll still need rest, but I feel quite a lot better already... and don't call me 'dolly' again."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH.1, SET 17/18 "ALCHEMICAL REACTION"

En gently lowers the under-dressed doll onto the tile floor in front of the couch, the opened box En carried into the room having been emptied and left behind. En: "Alright. I've got the sigil down, the mint and the lead. Are you ready?" Teto winces and shivers as her warm shell comes into contact with the cold floor. Teto: "J-Just be q-quick, your f-floor is so c-c-cold..."

En stands up and focuses itself, raising its left hand in front of its face in preparation to snap its fingers. It thinks deeply to itself. En: "Hoh-kay, En. This is it. Don't fuck this up. Teto is counting on you. Every anime nerd on the planet wishes they were you." A voice echoes from the other room, but it's too quiet for En to notice. En begins the incantation. En: "Green and steel's three, I give to thee a fire of matches..."

Roadie appears in the archway. Before Roadie can even utter a thought, En snaps its fingers. En: "IGNIS!" The room blooms a sickly green and purple as a warm 'FWOOM' penetrates from off-frame. Roadie: "Holy shit."

We look down at Teto, En and Roadie. Purple rings of fire and sparks hover above a sigil crudely drawn in blood while Teto lays on the ground. En crouches down to the ball of energy and motions toward it with pride as it looks up at Roadie. En: "ROADIE, I'M A FUCKING ALCHEMIST!!" Roadie: "En's an alchemist?!" Teto: "Yep, it's an alchemist. Don't get too close, the fire can kill."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 16/18 "VULNERABILITY, PART TWO"

On the right side of the panel we can see Teto's pierced ears and the side of her head. Her face is cropped out, but we can see that her notable curled sideburns are now relaxed and straight. En walks in through the open archway connecting the front area of the cafe to the backroom. It carries a box, caught between its arm and its waist. En: "Hey-yooo, Teto! I found the stuff I need upstairs." Teto: "Sure. Put them in the center of this room. I'm drawing a reference sigil for you on my phone."

We can now see Teto's face, but she's still mostly obscured by the smartphone she's glancing at. En walks into the room, still beaming a bright smile with its eyes closed. En: "This is so exciting!" Teto: "Mhm." En: "We're gonna get you fixed up 'n everything!" Teto: "Yup, uh-huh." En: "Kasane Teto, good as new!" Teto: "That would be the plan, En."

We now see Teto in full view, laying on the ugly brown couch in nothing but her black bodysuit. Her twin-drill sideburns are straight and uncoiled, falling down to her collarbone. She continues staring at the phone, studying the sigil she drew. En places the box in its hands, still smiling with its eyes closed.

En places the box on the armest gently, looking away from the under-dressed doll. The doll, meanwhile, looks up at him with raised eyebrows. Teto: "You're quiet all of a sudden-" En interrupts sternly. En: "I'M BEING POLITE." Teto: "Polite, or bashful?" En: "POLITE!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 15/18 "THE ALCHEMIST"

Teto lays her head against the armrest of a couch, her legs draped across En's lap. Teto continues her thoughts from the main room of the cafe. Teto: "...and so, your Great Times Six Grandfather is an alchemist, and you might have the gene which makes you an am-cell carrier." En looks toward Teto with curiosity. En: "An alchemist?" Teto: "Yes. An alchemist."

The two break eye contact, but match the same gaze trajectory to the wall opposite of them, off-panel. En re-processes the information he's just been given. En: "Huh. I'm an alchemist."

En looks at the ground for a moment and smiles to himself, letting the realization sink in. Teto sighs, relaxing her posture slightly and letting herself sink a bit more into the couch.

En looks over to Teto with a small lick of confidence in his face. En: "Alright, how do I give you my am-cells, then?" Teto reconnects eyes with En and leans forward on her elbows. Teto: "Half an ounce of your blood, fresh mint and a three gram fishing weight. Bring those here, then I can teach you the sigil and incantation." En: "Fuck cartomancy, alchemy is fucking awesome."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 14/18 "VULNERABILITY"

En wrestles with Teto's limp frame as it tries to get the doll off the ground and supported against its shoulder. The maroon-haired doll infodumps at it while it grunts with effort. Teto: "More than 600 years ago, a human being was born with a mutation. That mutation was am-cells, a new blood cell that masks itself as other cells in the circulatory system. This mutation was passed on for generations before the first alchemist discovered the power of the am-cells by accident, while practicing an occult ritual. And that alchemist is your great-"

Teto is interrupted by En's successful pull on the doll's hips, bumping the construct into En's belly. Teto squeaks at the sudden yank, while En celebrates his triumph. En: "HUP! Up you go!"

The pair wordlessly stare at each other, with En's gaze being one of a gentle confidence as it returns its free hand to a hoodie pocket. Teto's cheeks flush a bright, strawberry red as she locks eyes with En, her hand over the cafe owner's shoulder now having found a place on its neck unintentionally. The ceiling sizzles through the silence.

En breaks the deafening quiet with a smile. En: "I'm pretending I didn't hear you squeak. You're supposed to play along." Teto looks away hurriedly with a previously-unseen smile. She nervously fumbles over her words. Teto: "AHAHAHAHA YEAH I VERY DIDN'T MAKE THAT NOISE!" En: "That... works? I guess?"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 13/18 "CELLULAR"

Teto's back is leaned up against the cafe's front counter, the doll wincing in pain as the ceiling sizzles in blues and cyans overhead. En crouches down next to the doll with concern. Teto: "tsss... my head..." En: "Teto, you're hot to the touch. Roadie went to get... I don't know something. ANYTHING. What can I do to help you?"

Teto regains herself at En's question. She looks off to her side, away from En, and scoffs. Teto: "Tch. You wouldn't believe me if I told you what I needed." En smiles back at Teto, beating its chest with pride. En: "Try me! I just came out of a non-newtonian vortex, I can probably believe ANYTHING at this point!"

Teto looks back at the cafe owner who is beaming a wide smile back at her. En goads her with confident noises from its throat, escaping through its tightly-packed teeth. The two sit in silence as the ceiling sizzles above them.

Teto breaks the silence. Teto: "Your am-cells... and it's non-euclidian." En drops its smile and replaces it with a serious stare. En: "First thing: I didn't say I'd believe it without explanation. Second thing: okay, four-eyes. Non-euclidian. Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 12/18 "ESCAPE"

Toda drags Teto's motionless body by her wrist as she looks down at the stricken doll. Toda's face softens, but her cheeks stay madly flushed like tomatoes. Toda: "I'm so glad I found you again, my love. Once I get rid of these vermin for you, we can be together forever! When we get back, I'll even prepare your favorite, belgian waffles with salted butter and chokecherry syrup!"

We now see the expanse from just beside Teto as the obsessive maid daydreams. Toda: "Ahh... it's just like old times, isn't it? Chasing you around the globe, tracking you down and doting on you, even when you ask me to stop-" Teto's hand is raised limply off the ground, her middle finger pressed against her thumb in preparation for something.

Teto's thumb gives way to the middle finger, letting the pad of that finger slap into the soft palm beneath. With the snap of a finger, the non-euclidian backdrop completely shifts with a loud BAKOOM, into disgusting greens and smatterings of dark blues. Toda has completely disappeared.

En and Roadie materialize near the doll, along with the cafe they started their journey from. Roadie is crouched with her knees against her chest, a hand placed against her mouth from shock. En lunges toward Teto with great concern on its face. En: "TETO!" The doll lets gravity take her hands to the ground as she lays on the tiled floor of the coffee shop. The ceiling sizzles with dark blue and cyan distortions. Teto weakly mumbles to herself: "ughhh.... i don't even like waffles..."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 11/18 "OBSESSION"

Teto lies motionless on the invisible ground in the non-euclidian ether with Toda crouched down above her, hands still firmly gripping her face and wrist. Toda's eyes squint as she looks down at her opponent with disdain. Toda: "I loved you so much. I tried to understand why you'd put us in so much danger. And for what? Some petulant NON-BELIEVERS?! Didn't you love me, too? Why didn't you think about what I wanted?"

Toda rotates her hip to look off into the distance as she continues to speak. Teto continues to lay motionless. Toda: "It doesn't matter anymore. You made your choice, and I made mine. I just wish you could see what I see. Speaking of which, those non-believers of yours better be told what they're getting into-" Toda is interrupted by something off-panel.

We look from behind her back to see what she sees, a pair of pink, glowing circles and rectangles in the form of crude humanoid pictographs. Toda: "Ahhh~! A game of hide and seek!"

Toda releases the hand from Teto's face and thrusts it beside herself, as if victorious. She smiles as she stares off-panel at the pictographs. Toda: "You shouldn't have, my love! You know I adored these games of yours! Maybe you really do care after all!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 10/18 "OVERPOWERED"

Teto approaches the intimidating maid in green, the non-euclidian backdrop still an ugly combination of thorny greens poking through the dark purples. Teto clenches her fists, but walks up to the maid at a casual pace. The maid refuses to break her polite posture. Teto: "Toda, what an unpleasant surprise. Let's cut to the chase. You and I both know you can't touch me in a scrying bubble, so tell me what you want and I'm sure we can work somethi-" Teto is interrupted.

The panel is sliced diagonally into halves. Top left panel: Toda's expression shifts to a disturbing, crazed look as her cheeks flash red. Her mouth splits open as she bares her sharp teeth, and thrusts her right foot into Teto's left knee joint. Teto's leg bends at a sickening angle, her shin almost parallel to the ground while her thigh remains vertical. Bottom right panel: Teto recoils from the pain of an unexpected and violent attack, pulling her hands up to her chest in a deep wince. Only a small cough exits her mouth, while she silently thinks to herself. Teto: "h-how..."

Toda clamps a firm grip onto Teto's face spurring another cough from Teto. The maid looks past Teto, as if observing the space behind her. Toda: "Rule Seven of Alchemical Combat, dear..."

Teto is thrust toward the ground by the maid's strong hand on her head. The red doll trips over the leg Toda placed behind her feet, pushing the momentum of her backward rotation even harder. Teto's head slams the invisible ground with a sickening CRACK, while Toda catches Teto's right wrist in her free hand. The maid's cheeks are completely red, her crazed look still present. Toda: "KYA-HAHAAA!! ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 9/18 "THE MAID"

En and Roadie cower behind Teto as we observe them in the distance from behind someone we haven't met before. A green bow and pistachio-coloured frills punctuate the black dress this figure is wearing. Creases run along their elbows, their hands placed in front of their waist and out of our line of sight. Toda: "Ahh... Teto, is it? Is that the awful name you use, now?"

We now see her hands placed on atop another in front of her waist, like a subservient and proper maid. Her fingers and elbows have the same creases her elbows did, just like Teto. Toda: "I really missed you, you know. It's been a while. But rules are rules, 'Teto.' You can't keep running forever. At some point..." Their sentence trails off.

We now see the bottom half of her face, black lipstick curled into a smile and a black bow tied at her neck. A soft chuckle releases from her vocal cords, but it doesn't break the seal on her lips.

We now see her in full, taking in her intimidating green eyes. Her hair is black, a braid separating her bangs from the center of her face over to her left. She smiles softly as she speaks, sharp teeth revealed from behind her black lips. Toda: "At some point, my dear... you're going to pay for your sins."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 8/18 "INVASION"

En and Teto look at each other with serious looks on their face, as Roadie observes uncomfortably. The green-haired punk nervously plays with her hands as the pair have a conversation. The coffee shop owner's hands are in its hoodie pockets, while the doll's arms are crossed loosely beneath her chest. En: "So you're telling me, a cartomancer, that 'magic' is real?" Teto: "Depends on whether you spell 'magick' with a 'K' or not, but yeah." En: "Oh, sure, there's a fuckin' difference cuz YOUR 'magick' is 'real' or whatever." Teto: "En, you're getting emotional."

En flings its right arm out of its pocket defensively, nearly smacking Roadie with a forearm shiver. Roadie reflexively squeaks as it leans backward and protects herself with her left arm in front of her face, perpendicular to her boss's. No one in the group has noticed the non-euclidian backdrop shift in hue from purple to blue. En: "Pfah! Sue me for getting offended by the idea that MY practice is 'FAKE' or some shit." Teto passively opens a palm in front of her, as if explaining something simple to a child. Teto: "That is NOT what I said. Alchemy and magick are scientific studies. Cartomancy is a faith-based study. THAT is what I said."

The non-euclidian space shifts once again in colour, now appearing a vibrant green. En angrily points a finger at Teto while Roadie nervously clutches her legs, the trio still not noticing the changes in their surroundings. En: "IT MEANS THE SAME FUCKING THING! Teto, listen. Cartomancy is just-" Teto interrupts the angry barista, placing a hand on her chest defensively as she bares her sharp teeth at En. Teto: "EN. I GET IT. You're upset. I'm sorry. Just hear me out, here. What I'm TRYING to say, is that Alchemy is as real as CHEMISTRY. Alchemists use their blood cells to ignite an alchemical reaction, turning an item from one state to another-" Teto is interrupted.

A loud CRACK whips through the non-euclidian space, with the distorted purples returning - but the sickly green has stayed, rippling through the purple and black backdrop like a virus. Roadie and En flinch at the noise, looking around themselves to find the source. Teto's eyes shrink and her eyebrows raise as she lifts her arms into a fighting stance. Teto: "FUCK! Keep nimble and get ready to run... We have company."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 7/18 "MAGICK WITH A K"

The trio walk together through the purple, non-euclidian expanse. Teto holds a hand in front of her as En and Roadie look toward her. Teto: "Okay, let's start with the basics. I'm a conjuring doll. I'm a construct made from a human soul, held together by this shell and dozens of sigils and spells." En barely cracks a face at the revelation, observing the doll's ball-jointed fingers and wrist. En: "Holy shit, I was certain those were myths."

Teto brings her hand lazily in front of En, slightly clasping her four fingers closed while pointing her thumb at the coffee boss. Teto: "I assure you, I'm not a myth. The rituals are likely not actually what you were told. Here, touch my hand. You'll feel the heat of the alchemy and magick inside me." This earns raised eyebrows from En, intrigued by the information. En: "How will I know it feels like magic?" Teto: "Trust me, you'll know."

En gently clasps its hand over Teto's, wordlessly observing the experience as Teto and Roadie both look ahead of themselves to give it space to process.

En's eyes water from the sensations he receives through the conjuring doll's hand. It whispers, too stricken with emotion to project its voice with any confidence. En: "by hecate's torches I will never talk shit at the stars again." Roadie snickers at this, stifling a full-blown laugh with her hand. Teto looks away in disgust, a thrust of air between her teeth being her only response.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 6/18 "BIG FAN"

The trio stand up together. En smiles at the doll, while Roadie points to her. Roadie: "En, that's my guitarist. Teto, meet my boss at the tarot cafe. Its name is En." En smiles widely. En: "Nice to meet ya! Big fan of your work, HUGE fan!"

Teto's expression doesn't change, seemingly unphased by the fawning coffee shop owner. Teto: "Sure, thanks. Roadie, have you told it anything? Anything at all?" Roadie leans forward with an open-palm facing downward, as if she were sneaking into a kitchen at midnight. Roadie: "Not a word. En has no idea."

Teto flips a weak hand to her side as she turns away from the duo, giving Roadie a dismissive side-eye as she spins. Teto: "Oh, great. I guess I'm supposed to do everything here. You had a single job."

Roadie cowers behind her boss with an apologetic, innocent smile. Roadie: "Uhh... Oops?" En turns its head toward Roadie, hiding its emotions by continuing its big smile instead. En: "Oh Roadie, you are SO fired when we get back~"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 5/18 "THE DOLL"

Roadie and En sit on the invisible floor, still surrounding by the non-euclidian distortions of purple and black. Roadie apologetically lifts an open hand to En. Roadie: "I tried pretty much everything I could think of at this point. Unless there's something I'm missing, we're stuck."

En scratches the back of its head with a frustrated look on its face. En: "Cool. Great. No matter what I do, I'm fucked. Try to make music and get cheated by labels. Open a coffee shop and it's literally cursed."

Roadie points a finger toward En, offering a suggestion. Roadie: "Well, if we find a way back, you could like... monetize it?" En looks off into the distance with surprise. Roadie takes notice. Roadie: "En? What's wrong?"

We look over Roadie's shoulder to see a maroon-haired doll standing up in front of the pair of stunned baristas, a hand on her hip and a lean in her posture. The pair shout in unison: "Teto?!" The doll responds to them. Teto: "Oh. You two. That explains a lot, actually."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 4/18 "THE NON-EUCLIDIAN BUBBLE"

Roadie and En walk through the all-encompassing, non-euclidian, purple distortions, seemingly adjusted to their new environment. Roadie: "We've been walking for like, twenty minutes, En. We should've figured SOMETHING out by now." En: "Yeah, it feels like we haven't even moved. So weird..." Roadie: "Have you made any sigils out of blood lately?" En: "You think I can afford to lose the damage deposit? This is the first time I've seen anything like this. The fuck is this?"

We walk alongside the pair, still looking around themselves - but with curiosity. Roadie: "I mean, it looks cool, I guess." En: "Sure, it's kinda like an isekai." Roadie pauses a moment, the gears in her head now turning. Roadie: "I have an idea. Hang on a sec."

En stops and turns to watch Roadie as she gets into a combat preparation stance. Her right hand is crooked in front of her with an open palm facing her left, while her left arm is cocked backward as if ready to thrust into a punch. Roadie: "Exodusss..."

Roadie: "FLAME!" She lunges forward with her left hand in an open-palm strike, and her right hand swings behind her in follow-through. Nothing happens. En pulls a hand out of its hoodie pocket. En: "Alright, that means Jobless Reincarnation is out of the equation. How many references ya got left in ya?"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 3/18 "TOUR"

Roadie frowns with a hand on her hip as En works on the machine, now identifiable as an industrial coffee dispenser. Roadie: "FINE. I get it, En. You got a coffee shop to run. Responsibilities. Schedules. Income. But what the fuck happened to you? Since when did you give a shit about any of it? I think you've gotten old in that yelling-at-clouds way."

En is once again distracted from its work to respond to Roadie. The pair look quite frustrated with each other, but neither notice the walls and floor subtly distorting into a pixelated purple hue. En: "PFAH! Old. Sure. In case you haven't noticed, the music industry is fucked - more than ever. I had to siphon gas so we could make it to our next venue. You pretend you live that life, but you don't have any idea what touring is like now. It sucks."

The panel is sliced into two, each panel letterboxed by black bars. Top Panel: Roadie points at En behind its back with a disappointed look on her face. The distortions in the background begin to spread. Roadie: "You're right. That's why I want you there." Bottom Panel: En turns around and grabs Roadie's shoulder, looking tired and dejected. En: "Roadie, stop. Please. I said no. Just leave it at that." Roadie sees an extremely bright distortion behind En, now featuring pinks and sickly greens. Roadie: "Uhh... En?"

The cafe has now disappeared, replaced by a non-euclidian backdrop of distorted purples and blacks. While they continue standing on a floor, the floor is not visible. They look around the space in horror, failing to make sense of their surroundings. Roadie: "Did your cafe go on tour for itself, or am I dreaming?"

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 2/18 "SUGGESTION"

The barista in the white hoodie leans on a machine behind the counter of a coffee shop. The punk with green hair leans toward her boss, with a warm smile. Roadie: "Come on, En! It'll be fun! Miko could just stay in the studio while you take her place on-stage! It'd work! Plus, you'd be able to play music live again, and I'd be able to get to know you a bit better. It's a win-win!"

Roadie leans back to give her boss, En, some space to respond. En inspects the machine by reaching a hand inside it. Without looking back at Roadie, En responds. En: "Not interested. I get that you don't wanna do tryouts, but the answer ain't me. The cafe's been doing rough lately, I can't just ignore it and hope it gets better. I own this place."

Roadie pleads with En, half-heartedly cupping her hands toward it. En doesn't break focus on its task. Roadie: "But your family co-signed on the lease, they're part owners too. They can help out while you're with us. Give it another shot, En! You'd regret it if you didn't. Besides, maybe the cafe is just having a slump. It'll bounce back. Plus, you could advertise while we're on tour! You don't have to stop worrying about the shop while you're away, you can still promote it and stuff! It's fine... right?"

En finally breaks its focus from the machine and droops its head down, its right arm lazily slack at its side. En responds coldly, "NO!" Roadie's expression seems to sour.

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CH. 1, SET 1/18 "REGISTER"

A punk wearing a purple-screenprinted, black t-shirt presses buttons on a cash register. Her hair is shaved on the left side of her head, save for her sideburns. The hair falls to the right side of her head and fades into a vibrant green, her hair dye seeming to stay colourful in spite of the overgrown roots. She looks over to an androgynous individual in a white hoodie standing next to her. Roadie: "...and as soon as we took the stage in the VR club, Miko just... froze. She spent like 40 hours obsessing over getting the show right and she forgot everything. Not a single song was performed right." The non-binary fellow next to her stares down into a coffee cup used as a tip jar, seemingly unamused. Its hair is pink, silver and green, with a long strand falling in front of its face.

The barista in the white hoodie responds to the punk, who has stopped pressing buttons on the cash register to listen. En: "Ahh, stage fright. Makes senes, Lovelace is pretty timid most of the time. Music production is one thing in a comfy studio, but it's entirely different on a stage in front of people you can see. This one guy in my old band, he would-" En is cut off.

The punk lunges forward with a crazed look in her face, making the barista in the white hoodie drop the cup they were holding. Roadie: "You were in a band, boss?!"

The punk maintains her wild expression and posture as her boss points a finger at her. En: "I see that look in your eyes, Roadie... and it's not because you've had four coffees in an hour."

DOLLSHAPE. @dollshape.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

DOLLSHAPE - CHAPTER ONE THE DOLL & THE ALCHEMIST AUTHOR: STRYXNINE PULSATRIX PANEL SETS: 18, FOUR PANELS PER SET RUN DATE: DECEMBER 2025

A maroon-haired doll named Kasane Teto sits gracefully atop a counter in a coffee shop, observing a magical pink ball of energy in her hand. The sign for the coffee shop is displayed on the front of the counter, labeling the store as the "DollShape Cartomancy Cafe." Alongside the doll on top of the counter are a cash register, a tip jar and a display shelf. The ceiling is an overexposed, non-euclidian distortion of cyans and deep sea blues. Behind her on the wall is the cafe's menu written in chalk, and the title of this chapter: "DollShape - Chapter One: The Doll & The Alchemist."