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Here on EntryLvlBread, I will deliberately withhold content from you just so I can stir up commotion for the next EntryLvlBread Encounter!! Thank you very much to all who have been keeping up with these thus far. To those who haven't... well, you just gotta see for yourself

Why Design Matters (Mannequin TF A)Design… is my passion.I went to design school. I have a certificate in design. I have out-designed everyone in the design club. I have out-designed every pigeon that had crossed my path on the way to the design club. I got a B+ in Applied Perspectives. This, of course, was by design…But the world is not kind to people like me. I have quite the set of skills, but alas! Tech Bro is not one of my skills. I cannot do anything that is tech bro. As such, my options for post-graduation employment are few and far between, to put it nicely. The industry’s top dogs have no time… for no tech bro.Yet I persist. For as fate would have it, the kind souls at the local Old Navy have answered my plight. I can only assume they were impressed by my portfolio, as the recruiter started vibrating rapidly five minutes into my interview and had to excuse himself. If everything goes off without a hitch, I shall operate as their new Visual Merchandiser for the foreseeable future. Now, out of all the ways for me to get my foot in the door for my design career, this was far from my first pick. But really, it’s out of my hands at this point… and it would seem it’s out of theirs, as well!“Oh, hey! You must be the new hire. Janet, right?”I can tell straight away that the man tasked with showing me the ropes of Visual Merchandising is an Instant Bozo. As in, as soon as he is brought into existence, he is instantly a bozo. Form follows function… or is it the other way around?“In the flesh,” I reply.“In the flesh? We didn’t hire Hubert von Dracula by accident, did we?”“I reserve the right to discuss flesh as much as I please. Proceed.”The guy breaks eye contact. He looks down, down at my exceptionally-crafted shirt pocket, most likely. “Right… right. Well, as you probably heard, I’m Wilfredo. Senior VM. We’re going to get started soon enough on basic training, but I should warn you. This particular Old Navy location… well, it’s not like the rest of ‘em. And you’ll see why soon enough. Just… try and keep an open mind about what we’re bringing to the Table here.”“Noted.”~~~Wilfredo takes me to the front window display, where he previously set up a little Scene featuring some of the most hyper-realistic mannequins they have on offer. They’re in all the good poses. You get the idea.“So, Janet. What do you think of our mannequins? They’re the best in town. Custom.”“They’re all actually real people, aren't they.”“Huh?”“I know my mannequin info, sir. No one makes them that glossy. Or with those blank eyes. Or with those proportions. No real mannequins are like that.”“Well, uh, you see…”Wilfredo was sputtering through some inane explanation about supplier this and custom-made that, but I was too busy screwing off one of their heads. Most standard-issue human-origin mannequins let you disassemble them in the same way, but you gotta know the secret trick. As a designer, I know… the secret trick.“... I see. You’re sharp, Janet. I assume you don’t have any Qualms with this arrangement, then?”“No qualms, sir.” “Good… Good. I’ll tell you what. You seem to know your stuff pretty well, so here. I’ll give you fifteen minutes. See if you can arrange our girls here into a nice festive scene, for the holiday season, you know, and we’ll see then if you’re ready for the Big Leagues. I’m gonna make a quick trip to Einstein Bros in the meantime.”“On it, sir.” I hear the air conditioning click on. I already know what my design shall be. I rarely need more than two seconds to do this.“Alright, I’ll see ya.” Wilfredo’s hunger for the Schmear puts a wrench in my plot, but thankfully, I know a shortcut. I must work quickly now…~~~Aaand… done! Another day, another Design. That washed-up Wilfredo won’t know what hit him.“Oh, brother! Janet, you won’t believe this. I was gonna go to Einstein Bros., right? But some ghoul must’ve broken into my ride and nabbed my V8 engine! Literally just scooped it right outta there. No shame whatsoever. Didn’t even see ‘em! You can’t just do that to my Ride … Huh!?”In a dire display of virtuosity, I’ve arranged seven of our signature mannequins in a circle. They are all headless, but they are all posed pumping up their fists to cheer on the enigmatic figure in the middle. The eighth mannequin, suspended upright by wires, has a pole for a head. The heads of the previous seven hang from this pole like tetherballs. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t even switched it on!“Hey!! That’s my engine! What are you doing with my- Ooooaaaaah!”I throw the switch, and the display roars to life! The heads spin around the central mannequin like helicopter blades. In just a few seconds, they blend together into a blissful band of beige and brown. The wind rattles a few of the seven bodies, but it’s not quite enough to tip them over. Stock church organ music to relax and study to blasts out the intercom to set the scene.The senior VM drops to his knees. “Shut it off! You’ll kill everyone!! Oh, God!!”“Wilfredo, I cannot shut it off, even if I wanted to. You’ll just have to let it run its course.”“You… How? How do you even consider this? How do you even think of doing this?!”“I don’t know, Wilfredo. All I can tell you, is that this… was a Design Decision.”“Oh, it’s getting louder! It’s gonna blow any second! We’re toast! I’m outta here!!”“Running will not help you in this case. Whether you live to see the end of this… that, too, is a Design Decision. You… cannot get out of this.”*Crack! B-B-B-BLAMMO!!*The shock could be heard from throughout the whole store. The seven heads flew out to strike every surface conceivable. Broken bits of plastic ricochet at 999 mph, piercing and pulverizing everything within their noble domain. Of course, since I built the darn thing, I know the parry timings, so I come out of this whole deal unscathed. I call this piece, “The Sacrament of the Seven.”Once the dust had settled, Wilfredo emerges from underneath a display table, like the common Rat. He shakes some loose mannequin fragments out of his hair.“Ugh… Normally you’d be fired right on the spot, but…” He looks at my shirt pocket again. “I think there’s one more thing you can try before we render a verdict here. Perhaps you’d be interested in acquisitions?”“Acquisitions?”“Yeah. As in, acquiring new mannequins. Considering we’re now down eight perfectly good mannequins, now’s a good time to lend us a hand with this, don’t you think?”“Hmm… Depends. How much… design… is there to be done?”“Uh… You’ll see when you get there. It has a lot to do with posing, and composition, and… and such. You know photography?”“Yes, sir.” As a designer, I basically am photography. The rule of thirds comes more naturally to me than the rule of object permanence.“Yeah, it’s like photography. It’ll be fine. Come, I’ll tell you how the mannequin is made…”~~~Wilfredo takes me to a small waiting room in the back of the building. In one of the seats, reading a police magazine, is a frankly average-looking blonde whose mug looks particularly easy to edit with the likes of Gimp or Photoshop. “So here’s Patricia, she’s signed on for the full-time modeling program. Patricia, meet Janet. She’s gonna be your photographer for today.”“Hi Ms. Janet”“In the flesh.” “Janet, that’s not even- nevermind. Patricia, why don’t you go ahead to the studio? We’ll be right out in a minute.”Wilfredo waits intently for the door to shut behind her, then turns to me.“So, considering your, uh, handling of our mannequins earlier, surely you don’t need me to explain what’s about to go down, do I.”“No, sir. You’re setting her up for the ‘Camera Guy.’ This is easily the most textbook scenario out of all of them. You’d have to be a Stooge to fall for this one in this day and age.”“I can do you one better. This is a ‘Camera Guy’ out of a ‘Fine Print Freddy.’ Here, check it.” He hands me a one-page contract. Halfway through, in big Rosewood font, it reads, YOU WILL BE TURNED INTO A PLASTIC INANIMATE MANNEQUINTHIS IS AN INSTANT KILL MOVEYOU CANNOT UNDO THISGOOD RIDDANCE BOZO“Yeah, I know, at this point it’s more of a ‘Rosewood Ronald,’ but you get the idea.”Sure enough, right on the dotted line… there it is. “And she still signed it.”“Yep. Some people, am I right? Anyway, let’s not keep her waiting, shall we? Here’s your camera.”An Nvidia ObShot 4k Scope! No wonder why he was saying their mannequins are good. This is the primo stuff right here. Designer quality… I would know…“There is no possible way for you to screw this up. Knock ‘em out, Janet!”~~~The studio is pretty much identical to one of those fun photography studios that you can go to. Patricia is loafing around in front of the big white background sheet. She’s wearing that nice dress with all the little beads and sequins as I instructed.“Uh, Ms. Janet?”“Yes, ma’am.”“You’ve been fiddling around with that camera for quite a while now. Is something wrong?”“No, ma’am. I’m just… figuring things out.”“Well, don’t keep me hanging! I got a cute date with a cute guy tonight, and I’d hate to keep him waiting…”“Right…” My grin grows two sizes as I crack into the developer settings. Patricia deserves to go out with a bang.“So, Patricia. Tell me about your date. What’s his name?”“Oh, it’s Snyder. Snyder Salamando. He’s just the best… So cute…” I can just hear the hearts in her eyes, but I don’t look up to check. I gotta make sure these settings are just right.“Oh yeah? What does he look like?”“Ah… I wouldn’t be able to tell you…”“Huh? Did you meet online or something?”“Oh, no. Met him at that one coffee place before it closed down. You know…?”“Bunk Street? Yeah, I know. So you met him at a cafe and you still don’t know what he looks like? Was he wearing a mustache to conceal his identity?”“No, not like that… heehee…” “But you still say he’s cute?” “Yeah… Like, really, really cute…”“Hmm…”“And I guess I didn’t really meet him, per se. It was more like… I encountered him. Aw…”I don’t like this Snyder character. Patricia’s situation could benefit from… a redesign. As a designer, I know what I must do.“Alright, I’m all set. Patricia, it was nice knowing you.”“Huh? Don’t you want me to hold a pose or somethi-”*FLASH!!*“No, that won’t be necessary. Thanks for sticking around.”I must be careful now. I load Patricia’s rigid body onto a dolly and wheel her out of the studio. It wouldn’t do to dent her now.But Wilfredo blocks the way.“Janet!! Janet, why didn’t you let her pose at all?” “Huh?”“Janet, don’t play dumb with me. You got her mid-sentence! No one’s gonna relate to a mannequin of some Schmo caught in the middle of running her mouth or…”“Or what?”Something about Patricia’s face perplexes Wilfredo. He gently knocks on her plasticized shoulder.“Hey, wait a minute… She’s… lumpy? Janet, why is she lumpy?”“It’s for design reasons. Wilfredo, do not impede me further, please.”“Hey! What’s with the attitude all of a sud- Whoa!!”I run the dolly straight past him. If he hadn’t sidestepped away in time, I would’ve been in charge of welcome mat design next. I feel a tremendous pressure, like how you feel when you read about a really serious and scary medical condition that could happen to you. My time is short.~~~I make it to the front display, where a family of several normal, honest-to-goodness mannequins are huddled together with their dogs. A few of them have been kicked over somehow, but I have no time to stand them back up. I double-check Patricia to ensure my modifications are in place, then I put her on the central podium. The ceiling lighting is taking on a lurid hue that does a poor job of illuminating much.But again…! Wilfredo!“Janet, you better explain yourself right this instant! The tech bros are throwing a fit! How are they supposed to train their models on classified medical documents if you’ve gutted their tech bro setup?”“Hush, sir. Hush. The penumbral prince awaits his eternal bride.”“What do you MEAN, the penumbral prince awaits his eternal bride??”*KCKR-IIIISSSSH!!*The floor around Patricia is torn clean open like a bag of Lays. The penumbral prince had waited long enough. Wilfredo immediately assumes a fetal position and rolls away, but I watch carefully as Patricia’s frozen form is captured and raptured into the abyss.I watch carefully… with my thumb on the detonator.“Now!”*BOMB!!!*A tremendous groan pours out from the depths, as does a solid stream of smoke and ember. The emergency sprinkler system goes off, but it cannot heal this hoodwinked hyperdimensional hooligan. The hole squeezes shut awkwardly; it was never meant to be resealed. He’s going to need a bag clip for this. Eventually, however, the floor does close itself up for good. All is well… from a design perspective.Wilfredo looks at me now with an intriguing cocktail of awe and disgust.“You… You turned Patricia into a… a…”“A plastic explosive, sir. C4, to be precise. Figured out how to do it.”“A C4… Sweet mother of god…”“Your tech bro setup is remarkable. It had everything I needed to make the necessary hardware. Thank you, sir.”Wilfredo looks away, this time gazing at the spot on the floor that was blown open just a minute ago. “Was that… was that God just now? Did you kill God, Janet?”“No, not exactly. That was just Snyder.”“Snyder…”“Trust me, sir. What you just saw was the best possible sequence of events. You don’t want to see someone like Snyder making a Scene because his girl fell for a Fine Print Freddy. And you can’t just turn down someone like Patricia who’s just looking for pleasure from people looking at her.”“Sure, but… you know, you turned her into a-”“I know. But I like to imagine it’s one of those things where exploding her makes her feel really good and euphoric, and now she gets to spend eternity feeling really euphoric forever.”“That… Alright, there’s no way that’s actually the case. You’re cappin’.”“Perchance… But it’s a nice thought, no?”Wilfredo grunts.“Well, Janet. Seems you’ve made it painfully clear that you’re not quite cut out for this industry. But if you really want to stay on the team, there’s one last thing you can do…”He gently pulls out his own ObShot.“This is the one thing you physically cannot screw up. Policy requires you stay like this for 30 days at the minimum. I completely understand if you don’t wanna do it.”“30 days straight, you mean?”“Yeah, 30 days straight.”“Give me 8 hours a day, and not a minute more. The nine to five.”“That sucks, Janet. No one wants to see a mannequin transformation that only happens from nine to five. Sorry, but this one’s a No Go”“You drive a hard bargain, sir. How about this. I noticed you were stealing glances at my shirt pocket.”“Huh? Your shirt pocket? Uh…”“If you wanted me to design a shirt pocket for you, you can just ask. How about I stay on the team as the lead costume designer?”“Um… Janet, this is an Old Navy.”Rage.“Tell me, Wilfredo, sir, had your uniform not been designed by someone? Is it not subject to Redesign, as is everything in nature? You… are not immune to Redesign, Wilfredo. No one is.”“Ah… This is getting a little heated… How about you come back when we have another design job opening? It shouldn’t be too long till then…”“No chance. Wilfredo, let me put this in plain terms for you. You can try as you might to get rid of me, but I will find you. And I will… design for you.”I step forward while leaning strangely. Wilfredo instinctively raises the camera. He can’t take the shot yet because my contrapposto is all wrong and it would ruin the pose. This is the counterplay to the famous camera. That… and also bringing him to the mat with a hurricanrana. ~~~As the new Senior VM, I take pride in knowing how to best draw out the innate characteristics of our custom mannequins. It turns out that Wilfredo’s fetal position is so perfectly shaped that he can easily be bowled across the aisles like a Flintstones wheel. He is very popular with the kids. This… is why design matters. Why Design Matters (Mannequin TF B)The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as I arranged the latest collection of dresses on the mannequins in the department store. My name is Olivia, and I've been a visual merchandiser here for years. But today, something unusual caught my eye. I overheard a conversation between two employees in the break room."You know those mannequins we use in the displays?" Jane, the sales associate, whispered. "I heard they're not really made of plastic. They're people, transformed using a special camera."I scoffed, thinking it was just another workday rumor. However, curiosity got the best of me, and I discreetly approached Jane."Come on, Jane, you can't be serious. Mannequins can't be real people," I said with a nervous laugh.Jane raised an eyebrow and leaned in, lowering her voice even more. "I'm telling you, it's true. They sign up for it, willingly turning themselves into mannequins for a few hours. It's some kind of bizarre experience. You can even sign up if you're interested."The idea lingered in my mind. The allure of the unknown and the promise of something different intrigued me. That evening, after my shift, I found myself in a dimly lit room at the back of the store. A sign read, "Mannequin Experience: Transform Your Reality." A woman behind a desk explained the process and handed me a form to sign.As I stood in front of the camera, I felt a tingling sensation wash over me. The room buzzed with a low hum, and my body began to feel strangely weightless. My skin tingled, and it seemed like every pore was opening up to absorb the transformation."Is this really happening?" I thought, but before I could process it further, everything went silent. I blinked, and suddenly, I was no longer in control of my body. I tried to lift my arm, but it was unyielding—stiff and immovable. I stood frozen in place, surrounded by the same dresses I had just arranged, but I was one with the mannequin.My vision had transformed, taking on a glossy sheen as my skin became plastic. I could see my hands, now rigid and unmoving, fingers posed delicately. My limbs felt strangely light yet unyielding, and I marveled at the lack of sensation in my plastic form. The transformation continued, working its way up from my fingertips to my face. I could feel the plastic settling in, rendering me expressionless. It was like wearing a mask, an unyielding facade that concealed all emotion.As the process completed, I stared blankly ahead, unable to move or speak. My plastic body gleamed under the store's bright lights, and I reveled in the attention of passing shoppers. I was now one of the mannequins, a silent observer of the bustling store.Customers passed by, eying the dresses on display, unaware that one of the mannequins was once a living, breathing woman. I reveled in the stillness, the quietude that came with my newfound plastic existence. I couldn't feel the weight of fatigue or the strain of the day. I simply existed, content in my plastic serenity.Hours passed, and as the transformation began to reverse, I found myself back in the dimly lit room. The woman at the desk smiled as I blinked, adjusting to the return of movement and sensation."Did you enjoy the experience?" she asked.I nodded, still processing the surreal journey I had just undertaken. "It was… fascinating. Like being a part of the store's history, frozen in time."As I walked out of the room, the weight of reality settled back onto my shoulders, but a lingering sense of satisfaction remained. The secret world of the mannequins had opened its doors to me, and for a brief moment, I was both the artist and the masterpiece in the grand display of the department store.

Yeah! Eat the balloonbabe cupcake! I love it!! Lay it on me Al! Yo! yo! yo!!!!!!

Actually, wait a second. Time out. What kind of cupcake has a taste that explodes in your mouth? It's a cake. There's only so much flavor you can put in a cake. Are you talking about some kind of filling? Or maybe the frosting's really good? There's plenty other options if you're looking for a taste explosion. What about a cannoli? Whatever...

Believe it or not, I've had Natsuki in the pipeline for a while now. The problem is that her hair with that hairclip and all the ribbons is just flat-out impossible for the Al to get right! This one was the best one I got after a whole lot of persistence. The other three DDLC characters are way, way easier to do. But if you really need a pic of a fully inflatable Natsuki, and a photo-realistic, true-to-life one at that, what other options do you really have?

What other options, other than doing it yourself? If you're so darn smart. Please, send me a note if you'd like to learn more about how the balloonbabe is made. I'll send you the prompts! I'll send you pics!! If you're a balloonbabe enthusiast like me, this is pretty much the ultimate deal.

___ MORE OPTIONS ___

I had been crushing on Emily from the local bakery for months, and today was the day I decided to make a move. The delicious aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air as I approached the counter, trying to act casual.

Emily looked up from behind the display of pastries, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, hey! Long time no see. What can I get you?"

I ordered a cupcake, trying my best to sound casual, though my heart was doing somersaults. "Special treat for you," she said, winking as she handed it over. “Enjoy!”

I blushed, not entirely sure what made it so special, but I thanked her and found a seat. As I took a bite, the taste exploded in my mouth, an unexpectedly delightful experience. Just as I was savoring the sweetness, I felt a strange warmth spreading through my body. A tingle ran down my spine, and I looked down, wide-eyed, as I saw my hands changing before my eyes. They were becoming rounder, softer, and strangely glossy. I lifted one hand, now realizing it was inflating, taking on a distinctly rubbery texture.

"Huh, what's happening?" I mumbled, my voice already sounding a bit different—lighter, squeakier.

Emily rushed over, grinning ear to ear. "Looks like it’s your lucky day! Enjoy becoming an inflatable Natsuki!"

"Inflatable Natsuki?" I stammered, but before I could finish, my body started changing. The sensation was oddly pleasurable as my limbs became rounder, softer, and noticeably more... squeaky.

The rubberization continued upward as my arms underwent a similar transformation. The fabric of my T-shirt and the skin underneath fused, turning into a shiny, inflatable version of Natsuki’s school uniform. I raised my arms, and they bobbed lightly in the air as my muscles softened and vanished under the sleeves of my new blazer.

"Oh no, this is too weird!" I said, though a part of me was starting to warm up to it. I wobbled as my lower body followed suit. The denim of my jeans shrunk and morphed into the pleated blue skirt of Natsuki's uniform. My legs became cylindrical and inflatable, and my movements were becoming almost delightfully restricted by the air filling my limbs. I watched as my sneakers morphed into white uwabaki slippers, completing the rubbery ensemble. The pressure built as my chest inflated into a plump, round shape. My breathing became shallower, and I could feel the rubbery material conforming to the contours of my body and making me look all the world for a bouncy, life-sized balloon of Natsuki.

"Um, this is... different," I chuckled, running my hands over my rubbery body and taking in the smooth, taut texture of my own skin. My entire body glistened with a glossy sheen as it reflected the ambient light in the bakery. From the pink hair to the pleated skirt, every detail was faithfully recreated.

I tentatively stood up, wobbling a bit on my rounded slippers. "So, uh, what now?"

Emily smirked, "Well, I have to appreciate my masterpiece, don't I?" She gave a light tap to my rubbery shoulder, making me sway in place like an inflatable in the wind.

"Wow, your hair is so cute like this," she remarked, running her fingers over the glossy surface of my pink, rubbery ponytails. "You're surprisingly soft and squishy, Natsuki. Who would've thought an inflatable could be so... touchable?"

I couldn't help but squirm under her gaze. She poked my rubberized cheek, giggling at the squeaky response. "Admit it," she teased, "you secretly love being a cute inflatable Natsuki, don't you?"

I hesitated for a moment before sheepishly nodding. "Okay, maybe I do. It's just... weirdly nice. And, um, kind of fun."

As Emily moved down to my rubbery torso, she playfully ran her hands through the thick rubber pleats of my skirt. "Does it feel weird? Or is it all pleasant?"

I blushed again, "It's honestly kinda pleasant. Like being in a constant state of a gentle hug."

She laughed, "I guess I should have expected as much. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy being a cute, squeaky inflatable version of their favorite character?"

Emily's hands explored my rubbery legs, her touch sending shivers through my inflatable form. "You know, you look really huggable like this. Can I give it a try?"

Before I could respond, Emily pulled me into a gentle embrace, pressing her cheek against mine. Feeling her warmth permeating through the soft rubber of my inflatable body was more than anything I could’ve asked for. I happily creaked and squeaked as her arms wrapped around me. She pulled back slightly, holding me at arm's length and looking into my glossy, painted-on eyes.

"You're the softest Natsuki ever," she teased, her laughter infectious.

I blushed, both from the attention and the pleasure of the experience. "I'm glad you're having fun with this."

She grinned, giving me another playful squeeze. "Fun is an understatement. You're officially the most entertaining thing that's ever happened at this bakery."

By the way, would you just look at that spread behind her! Just look at that selection! Freaking sweet dude

Description
Here on EntryLvlBread, I will deliberately withhold content from you just so I can stir up commotion for the next EntryLvlBread Encounter!! Thank you very much to all who have been keeping up with these thus far. To those who haven't... well, you just gotta see for yourself

Why Design Matters (Mannequin TF A)Design… is my passion.I went to design school. I have a certificate in design. I have out-designed everyone in the design club. I have out-designed every pigeon that had crossed my path on the way to the design club. I got a B+ in Applied Perspectives. This, of course, was by design…But the world is not kind to people like me. I have quite the set of skills, but alas! Tech Bro is not one of my skills. I cannot do anything that is tech bro. As such, my options for post-graduation employment are few and far between, to put it nicely. The industry’s top dogs have no time… for no tech bro.Yet I persist. For as fate would have it, the kind souls at the local Old Navy have answered my plight. I can only assume they were impressed by my portfolio, as the recruiter started vibrating rapidly five minutes into my interview and had to excuse himself. If everything goes off without a hitch, I shall operate as their new Visual Merchandiser for the foreseeable future. Now, out of all the ways for me to get my foot in the door for my design career, this was far from my first pick. But really, it’s out of my hands at this point… and it would seem it’s out of theirs, as well!“Oh, hey! You must be the new hire. Janet, right?”I can tell straight away that the man tasked with showing me the ropes of Visual Merchandising is an Instant Bozo. As in, as soon as he is brought into existence, he is instantly a bozo. Form follows function… or is it the other way around?“In the flesh,” I reply.“In the flesh? We didn’t hire Hubert von Dracula by accident, did we?”“I reserve the right to discuss flesh as much as I please. Proceed.”The guy breaks eye contact. He looks down, down at my exceptionally-crafted shirt pocket, most likely. “Right… right. Well, as you probably heard, I’m Wilfredo. Senior VM. We’re going to get started soon enough on basic training, but I should warn you. This particular Old Navy location… well, it’s not like the rest of ‘em. And you’ll see why soon enough. Just… try and keep an open mind about what we’re bringing to the Table here.”“Noted.”~~~Wilfredo takes me to the front window display, where he previously set up a little Scene featuring some of the most hyper-realistic mannequins they have on offer. They’re in all the good poses. You get the idea.“So, Janet. What do you think of our mannequins? They’re the best in town. Custom.”“They’re all actually real people, aren't they.”“Huh?”“I know my mannequin info, sir. No one makes them that glossy. Or with those blank eyes. Or with those proportions. No real mannequins are like that.”“Well, uh, you see…”Wilfredo was sputtering through some inane explanation about supplier this and custom-made that, but I was too busy screwing off one of their heads. Most standard-issue human-origin mannequins let you disassemble them in the same way, but you gotta know the secret trick. As a designer, I know… the secret trick.“... I see. You’re sharp, Janet. I assume you don’t have any Qualms with this arrangement, then?”“No qualms, sir.” “Good… Good. I’ll tell you what. You seem to know your stuff pretty well, so here. I’ll give you fifteen minutes. See if you can arrange our girls here into a nice festive scene, for the holiday season, you know, and we’ll see then if you’re ready for the Big Leagues. I’m gonna make a quick trip to Einstein Bros in the meantime.”“On it, sir.” I hear the air conditioning click on. I already know what my design shall be. I rarely need more than two seconds to do this.“Alright, I’ll see ya.” Wilfredo’s hunger for the Schmear puts a wrench in my plot, but thankfully, I know a shortcut. I must work quickly now…~~~Aaand… done! Another day, another Design. That washed-up Wilfredo won’t know what hit him.“Oh, brother! Janet, you won’t believe this. I was gonna go to Einstein Bros., right? But some ghoul must’ve broken into my ride and nabbed my V8 engine! Literally just scooped it right outta there. No shame whatsoever. Didn’t even see ‘em! You can’t just do that to my Ride … Huh!?”In a dire display of virtuosity, I’ve arranged seven of our signature mannequins in a circle. They are all headless, but they are all posed pumping up their fists to cheer on the enigmatic figure in the middle. The eighth mannequin, suspended upright by wires, has a pole for a head. The heads of the previous seven hang from this pole like tetherballs. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I haven’t even switched it on!“Hey!! That’s my engine! What are you doing with my- Ooooaaaaah!”I throw the switch, and the display roars to life! The heads spin around the central mannequin like helicopter blades. In just a few seconds, they blend together into a blissful band of beige and brown. The wind rattles a few of the seven bodies, but it’s not quite enough to tip them over. Stock church organ music to relax and study to blasts out the intercom to set the scene.The senior VM drops to his knees. “Shut it off! You’ll kill everyone!! Oh, God!!”“Wilfredo, I cannot shut it off, even if I wanted to. You’ll just have to let it run its course.”“You… How? How do you even consider this? How do you even think of doing this?!”“I don’t know, Wilfredo. All I can tell you, is that this… was a Design Decision.”“Oh, it’s getting louder! It’s gonna blow any second! We’re toast! I’m outta here!!”“Running will not help you in this case. Whether you live to see the end of this… that, too, is a Design Decision. You… cannot get out of this.”*Crack! B-B-B-BLAMMO!!*The shock could be heard from throughout the whole store. The seven heads flew out to strike every surface conceivable. Broken bits of plastic ricochet at 999 mph, piercing and pulverizing everything within their noble domain. Of course, since I built the darn thing, I know the parry timings, so I come out of this whole deal unscathed. I call this piece, “The Sacrament of the Seven.”Once the dust had settled, Wilfredo emerges from underneath a display table, like the common Rat. He shakes some loose mannequin fragments out of his hair.“Ugh… Normally you’d be fired right on the spot, but…” He looks at my shirt pocket again. “I think there’s one more thing you can try before we render a verdict here. Perhaps you’d be interested in acquisitions?”“Acquisitions?”“Yeah. As in, acquiring new mannequins. Considering we’re now down eight perfectly good mannequins, now’s a good time to lend us a hand with this, don’t you think?”“Hmm… Depends. How much… design… is there to be done?”“Uh… You’ll see when you get there. It has a lot to do with posing, and composition, and… and such. You know photography?”“Yes, sir.” As a designer, I basically am photography. The rule of thirds comes more naturally to me than the rule of object permanence.“Yeah, it’s like photography. It’ll be fine. Come, I’ll tell you how the mannequin is made…”~~~Wilfredo takes me to a small waiting room in the back of the building. In one of the seats, reading a police magazine, is a frankly average-looking blonde whose mug looks particularly easy to edit with the likes of Gimp or Photoshop. “So here’s Patricia, she’s signed on for the full-time modeling program. Patricia, meet Janet. She’s gonna be your photographer for today.”“Hi Ms. Janet”“In the flesh.” “Janet, that’s not even- nevermind. Patricia, why don’t you go ahead to the studio? We’ll be right out in a minute.”Wilfredo waits intently for the door to shut behind her, then turns to me.“So, considering your, uh, handling of our mannequins earlier, surely you don’t need me to explain what’s about to go down, do I.”“No, sir. You’re setting her up for the ‘Camera Guy.’ This is easily the most textbook scenario out of all of them. You’d have to be a Stooge to fall for this one in this day and age.”“I can do you one better. This is a ‘Camera Guy’ out of a ‘Fine Print Freddy.’ Here, check it.” He hands me a one-page contract. Halfway through, in big Rosewood font, it reads, YOU WILL BE TURNED INTO A PLASTIC INANIMATE MANNEQUINTHIS IS AN INSTANT KILL MOVEYOU CANNOT UNDO THISGOOD RIDDANCE BOZO“Yeah, I know, at this point it’s more of a ‘Rosewood Ronald,’ but you get the idea.”Sure enough, right on the dotted line… there it is. “And she still signed it.”“Yep. Some people, am I right? Anyway, let’s not keep her waiting, shall we? Here’s your camera.”An Nvidia ObShot 4k Scope! No wonder why he was saying their mannequins are good. This is the primo stuff right here. Designer quality… I would know…“There is no possible way for you to screw this up. Knock ‘em out, Janet!”~~~The studio is pretty much identical to one of those fun photography studios that you can go to. Patricia is loafing around in front of the big white background sheet. She’s wearing that nice dress with all the little beads and sequins as I instructed.“Uh, Ms. Janet?”“Yes, ma’am.”“You’ve been fiddling around with that camera for quite a while now. Is something wrong?”“No, ma’am. I’m just… figuring things out.”“Well, don’t keep me hanging! I got a cute date with a cute guy tonight, and I’d hate to keep him waiting…”“Right…” My grin grows two sizes as I crack into the developer settings. Patricia deserves to go out with a bang.“So, Patricia. Tell me about your date. What’s his name?”“Oh, it’s Snyder. Snyder Salamando. He’s just the best… So cute…” I can just hear the hearts in her eyes, but I don’t look up to check. I gotta make sure these settings are just right.“Oh yeah? What does he look like?”“Ah… I wouldn’t be able to tell you…”“Huh? Did you meet online or something?”“Oh, no. Met him at that one coffee place before it closed down. You know…?”“Bunk Street? Yeah, I know. So you met him at a cafe and you still don’t know what he looks like? Was he wearing a mustache to conceal his identity?”“No, not like that… heehee…” “But you still say he’s cute?” “Yeah… Like, really, really cute…”“Hmm…”“And I guess I didn’t really meet him, per se. It was more like… I encountered him. Aw…”I don’t like this Snyder character. Patricia’s situation could benefit from… a redesign. As a designer, I know what I must do.“Alright, I’m all set. Patricia, it was nice knowing you.”“Huh? Don’t you want me to hold a pose or somethi-”*FLASH!!*“No, that won’t be necessary. Thanks for sticking around.”I must be careful now. I load Patricia’s rigid body onto a dolly and wheel her out of the studio. It wouldn’t do to dent her now.But Wilfredo blocks the way.“Janet!! Janet, why didn’t you let her pose at all?” “Huh?”“Janet, don’t play dumb with me. You got her mid-sentence! No one’s gonna relate to a mannequin of some Schmo caught in the middle of running her mouth or…”“Or what?”Something about Patricia’s face perplexes Wilfredo. He gently knocks on her plasticized shoulder.“Hey, wait a minute… She’s… lumpy? Janet, why is she lumpy?”“It’s for design reasons. Wilfredo, do not impede me further, please.”“Hey! What’s with the attitude all of a sud- Whoa!!”I run the dolly straight past him. If he hadn’t sidestepped away in time, I would’ve been in charge of welcome mat design next. I feel a tremendous pressure, like how you feel when you read about a really serious and scary medical condition that could happen to you. My time is short.~~~I make it to the front display, where a family of several normal, honest-to-goodness mannequins are huddled together with their dogs. A few of them have been kicked over somehow, but I have no time to stand them back up. I double-check Patricia to ensure my modifications are in place, then I put her on the central podium. The ceiling lighting is taking on a lurid hue that does a poor job of illuminating much.But again…! Wilfredo!“Janet, you better explain yourself right this instant! The tech bros are throwing a fit! How are they supposed to train their models on classified medical documents if you’ve gutted their tech bro setup?”“Hush, sir. Hush. The penumbral prince awaits his eternal bride.”“What do you MEAN, the penumbral prince awaits his eternal bride??”*KCKR-IIIISSSSH!!*The floor around Patricia is torn clean open like a bag of Lays. The penumbral prince had waited long enough. Wilfredo immediately assumes a fetal position and rolls away, but I watch carefully as Patricia’s frozen form is captured and raptured into the abyss.I watch carefully… with my thumb on the detonator.“Now!”*BOMB!!!*A tremendous groan pours out from the depths, as does a solid stream of smoke and ember. The emergency sprinkler system goes off, but it cannot heal this hoodwinked hyperdimensional hooligan. The hole squeezes shut awkwardly; it was never meant to be resealed. He’s going to need a bag clip for this. Eventually, however, the floor does close itself up for good. All is well… from a design perspective.Wilfredo looks at me now with an intriguing cocktail of awe and disgust.“You… You turned Patricia into a… a…”“A plastic explosive, sir. C4, to be precise. Figured out how to do it.”“A C4… Sweet mother of god…”“Your tech bro setup is remarkable. It had everything I needed to make the necessary hardware. Thank you, sir.”Wilfredo looks away, this time gazing at the spot on the floor that was blown open just a minute ago. “Was that… was that God just now? Did you kill God, Janet?”“No, not exactly. That was just Snyder.”“Snyder…”“Trust me, sir. What you just saw was the best possible sequence of events. You don’t want to see someone like Snyder making a Scene because his girl fell for a Fine Print Freddy. And you can’t just turn down someone like Patricia who’s just looking for pleasure from people looking at her.”“Sure, but… you know, you turned her into a-”“I know. But I like to imagine it’s one of those things where exploding her makes her feel really good and euphoric, and now she gets to spend eternity feeling really euphoric forever.”“That… Alright, there’s no way that’s actually the case. You’re cappin’.”“Perchance… But it’s a nice thought, no?”Wilfredo grunts.“Well, Janet. Seems you’ve made it painfully clear that you’re not quite cut out for this industry. But if you really want to stay on the team, there’s one last thing you can do…”He gently pulls out his own ObShot.“This is the one thing you physically cannot screw up. Policy requires you stay like this for 30 days at the minimum. I completely understand if you don’t wanna do it.”“30 days straight, you mean?”“Yeah, 30 days straight.”“Give me 8 hours a day, and not a minute more. The nine to five.”“That sucks, Janet. No one wants to see a mannequin transformation that only happens from nine to five. Sorry, but this one’s a No Go”“You drive a hard bargain, sir. How about this. I noticed you were stealing glances at my shirt pocket.”“Huh? Your shirt pocket? Uh…”“If you wanted me to design a shirt pocket for you, you can just ask. How about I stay on the team as the lead costume designer?”“Um… Janet, this is an Old Navy.”Rage.“Tell me, Wilfredo, sir, had your uniform not been designed by someone? Is it not subject to Redesign, as is everything in nature? You… are not immune to Redesign, Wilfredo. No one is.”“Ah… This is getting a little heated… How about you come back when we have another design job opening? It shouldn’t be too long till then…”“No chance. Wilfredo, let me put this in plain terms for you. You can try as you might to get rid of me, but I will find you. And I will… design for you.”I step forward while leaning strangely. Wilfredo instinctively raises the camera. He can’t take the shot yet because my contrapposto is all wrong and it would ruin the pose. This is the counterplay to the famous camera. That… and also bringing him to the mat with a hurricanrana. ~~~As the new Senior VM, I take pride in knowing how to best draw out the innate characteristics of our custom mannequins. It turns out that Wilfredo’s fetal position is so perfectly shaped that he can easily be bowled across the aisles like a Flintstones wheel. He is very popular with the kids. This… is why design matters. Why Design Matters (Mannequin TF B)The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as I arranged the latest collection of dresses on the mannequins in the department store. My name is Olivia, and I've been a visual merchandiser here for years. But today, something unusual caught my eye. I overheard a conversation between two employees in the break room."You know those mannequins we use in the displays?" Jane, the sales associate, whispered. "I heard they're not really made of plastic. They're people, transformed using a special camera."I scoffed, thinking it was just another workday rumor. However, curiosity got the best of me, and I discreetly approached Jane."Come on, Jane, you can't be serious. Mannequins can't be real people," I said with a nervous laugh.Jane raised an eyebrow and leaned in, lowering her voice even more. "I'm telling you, it's true. They sign up for it, willingly turning themselves into mannequins for a few hours. It's some kind of bizarre experience. You can even sign up if you're interested."The idea lingered in my mind. The allure of the unknown and the promise of something different intrigued me. That evening, after my shift, I found myself in a dimly lit room at the back of the store. A sign read, "Mannequin Experience: Transform Your Reality." A woman behind a desk explained the process and handed me a form to sign.As I stood in front of the camera, I felt a tingling sensation wash over me. The room buzzed with a low hum, and my body began to feel strangely weightless. My skin tingled, and it seemed like every pore was opening up to absorb the transformation."Is this really happening?" I thought, but before I could process it further, everything went silent. I blinked, and suddenly, I was no longer in control of my body. I tried to lift my arm, but it was unyielding—stiff and immovable. I stood frozen in place, surrounded by the same dresses I had just arranged, but I was one with the mannequin.My vision had transformed, taking on a glossy sheen as my skin became plastic. I could see my hands, now rigid and unmoving, fingers posed delicately. My limbs felt strangely light yet unyielding, and I marveled at the lack of sensation in my plastic form. The transformation continued, working its way up from my fingertips to my face. I could feel the plastic settling in, rendering me expressionless. It was like wearing a mask, an unyielding facade that concealed all emotion.As the process completed, I stared blankly ahead, unable to move or speak. My plastic body gleamed under the store's bright lights, and I reveled in the attention of passing shoppers. I was now one of the mannequins, a silent observer of the bustling store.Customers passed by, eying the dresses on display, unaware that one of the mannequins was once a living, breathing woman. I reveled in the stillness, the quietude that came with my newfound plastic existence. I couldn't feel the weight of fatigue or the strain of the day. I simply existed, content in my plastic serenity.Hours passed, and as the transformation began to reverse, I found myself back in the dimly lit room. The woman at the desk smiled as I blinked, adjusting to the return of movement and sensation."Did you enjoy the experience?" she asked.I nodded, still processing the surreal journey I had just undertaken. "It was… fascinating. Like being a part of the store's history, frozen in time."As I walked out of the room, the weight of reality settled back onto my shoulders, but a lingering sense of satisfaction remained. The secret world of the mannequins had opened its doors to me, and for a brief moment, I was both the artist and the masterpiece in the grand display of the department store.

Yeah! Eat the balloonbabe cupcake! I love it!! Lay it on me Al! Yo! yo! yo!!!!!!

Actually, wait a second. Time out. What kind of cupcake has a taste that explodes in your mouth? It's a cake. There's only so much flavor you can put in a cake. Are you talking about some kind of filling? Or maybe the frosting's really good? There's plenty other options if you're looking for a taste explosion. What about a cannoli? Whatever...

Believe it or not, I've had Natsuki in the pipeline for a while now. The problem is that her hair with that hairclip and all the ribbons is just flat-out impossible for the Al to get right! This one was the best one I got after a whole lot of persistence. The other three DDLC characters are way, way easier to do. But if you really need a pic of a fully inflatable Natsuki, and a photo-realistic, true-to-life one at that, what other options do you really have?

What other options, other than doing it yourself? If you're so darn smart. Please, send me a note if you'd like to learn more about how the balloonbabe is made. I'll send you the prompts! I'll send you pics!! If you're a balloonbabe enthusiast like me, this is pretty much the ultimate deal.

___ MORE OPTIONS ___

I had been crushing on Emily from the local bakery for months, and today was the day I decided to make a move. The delicious aroma of freshly baked goods filled the air as I approached the counter, trying to act casual.

Emily looked up from behind the display of pastries, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, hey! Long time no see. What can I get you?"

I ordered a cupcake, trying my best to sound casual, though my heart was doing somersaults. "Special treat for you," she said, winking as she handed it over. “Enjoy!”

I blushed, not entirely sure what made it so special, but I thanked her and found a seat. As I took a bite, the taste exploded in my mouth, an unexpectedly delightful experience. Just as I was savoring the sweetness, I felt a strange warmth spreading through my body. A tingle ran down my spine, and I looked down, wide-eyed, as I saw my hands changing before my eyes. They were becoming rounder, softer, and strangely glossy. I lifted one hand, now realizing it was inflating, taking on a distinctly rubbery texture.

"Huh, what's happening?" I mumbled, my voice already sounding a bit different—lighter, squeakier.

Emily rushed over, grinning ear to ear. "Looks like it’s your lucky day! Enjoy becoming an inflatable Natsuki!"

"Inflatable Natsuki?" I stammered, but before I could finish, my body started changing. The sensation was oddly pleasurable as my limbs became rounder, softer, and noticeably more... squeaky.

The rubberization continued upward as my arms underwent a similar transformation. The fabric of my T-shirt and the skin underneath fused, turning into a shiny, inflatable version of Natsuki’s school uniform. I raised my arms, and they bobbed lightly in the air as my muscles softened and vanished under the sleeves of my new blazer.

"Oh no, this is too weird!" I said, though a part of me was starting to warm up to it. I wobbled as my lower body followed suit. The denim of my jeans shrunk and morphed into the pleated blue skirt of Natsuki's uniform. My legs became cylindrical and inflatable, and my movements were becoming almost delightfully restricted by the air filling my limbs. I watched as my sneakers morphed into white uwabaki slippers, completing the rubbery ensemble. The pressure built as my chest inflated into a plump, round shape. My breathing became shallower, and I could feel the rubbery material conforming to the contours of my body and making me look all the world for a bouncy, life-sized balloon of Natsuki.

"Um, this is... different," I chuckled, running my hands over my rubbery body and taking in the smooth, taut texture of my own skin. My entire body glistened with a glossy sheen as it reflected the ambient light in the bakery. From the pink hair to the pleated skirt, every detail was faithfully recreated.

I tentatively stood up, wobbling a bit on my rounded slippers. "So, uh, what now?"

Emily smirked, "Well, I have to appreciate my masterpiece, don't I?" She gave a light tap to my rubbery shoulder, making me sway in place like an inflatable in the wind.

"Wow, your hair is so cute like this," she remarked, running her fingers over the glossy surface of my pink, rubbery ponytails. "You're surprisingly soft and squishy, Natsuki. Who would've thought an inflatable could be so... touchable?"

I couldn't help but squirm under her gaze. She poked my rubberized cheek, giggling at the squeaky response. "Admit it," she teased, "you secretly love being a cute inflatable Natsuki, don't you?"

I hesitated for a moment before sheepishly nodding. "Okay, maybe I do. It's just... weirdly nice. And, um, kind of fun."

As Emily moved down to my rubbery torso, she playfully ran her hands through the thick rubber pleats of my skirt. "Does it feel weird? Or is it all pleasant?"

I blushed again, "It's honestly kinda pleasant. Like being in a constant state of a gentle hug."

She laughed, "I guess I should have expected as much. I mean, who wouldn't enjoy being a cute, squeaky inflatable version of their favorite character?"

Emily's hands explored my rubbery legs, her touch sending shivers through my inflatable form. "You know, you look really huggable like this. Can I give it a try?"

Before I could respond, Emily pulled me into a gentle embrace, pressing her cheek against mine. Feeling her warmth permeating through the soft rubber of my inflatable body was more than anything I could’ve asked for. I happily creaked and squeaked as her arms wrapped around me. She pulled back slightly, holding me at arm's length and looking into my glossy, painted-on eyes.

"You're the softest Natsuki ever," she teased, her laughter infectious.

I blushed, both from the attention and the pleasure of the experience. "I'm glad you're having fun with this."

She grinned, giving me another playful squeeze. "Fun is an understatement. You're officially the most entertaining thing that's ever happened at this bakery."

By the way, would you just look at that spread behind her! Just look at that selection! Freaking sweet dude