In this post:
We’re feeling festive* this Valentine’s Day, so let the gift-giving commence!
*Well, except for Wade, who comes in to see Takeshi and Manuel being lovey-dovey and Matt and Chrissy being all handsy and kissy-face. But all it takes are whispers of sweet-nothings from Chrissy to soften our muscle-bound Marvel superfan.
And you gotta love Los Angeles’s February weather. It’s cold enough to wear long sleeves (well, except for Matt) but warm enough that one can still wear shorts.
Takeshi: top and bottom by Super MC Toys; shoes by Hot Toys; drone by WorldBox.
Manuel: sweater, shorts, and Doll Reader by Dollsexposed; shoes by DAMToys; earrings model’s own.
This Doll Reader can hold interchangeable print-outs. It’s the perfect gift for book lovers (since apparently, February 14th is also International Book Giving Day, which we celebrated last year).
Pictured here are All Princesses Die Before Dawn (Quentin Zuttion); Sainted Love (Steve Orlando, Giopota); Animal Castle vol. 2 (Xavier Dorison, Felix Delep); Exit, Stage Left!: The Snagglepuss Chronicles (Mark Russell, Mike Feehan); The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos (James Tynion IV and Tate Brombal); and Killer Queens 2: Kings, Not Wings! (David Booher, Bradley Clayton, Harry Saxon).
Matt: tee by Super MC Toys; cargo pants, hiking boots by DAMToys; VR set by WorldBox.
Wade: sweater and shorts by Dollsexposed; Asics sneakers by DAMToys; Marvel Captain America Bathing Ape sneakers from Kicksmini.
Chrissy: tracksuit, Wonder Woman drawstring bag, Wonder Woman cropped tank, Historia Wonder Woman comic book miniature by Dollsexposed; Wonder Woman figure by Funko Pop DC Comics Legion of Collectors (with extra lasso by Dollsexposed); lightning stud earring by ASOS; glasses by Easy & Simple; shoes model’s own.
And we definitely cannot and must not forget our perpetually single stud: Wade.
Happy Singles Awareness Day to all who celebrate! Don’t let your being single define your happiness!
Full set:
BTS Thoughts:
TRIGGER WARNING: mental health issues.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use problem, please click here to reach out and seek help.
This gift-giving was originally intended to be a New Year’s post, but my mental state rapidly deteriorated in the final week of December, and it stayed in ruins till early to mid-January.
I remember standing in the produce aisle at the grocery store, staring at wet bundles of spinach for a long time. I came home and sat in my car in silence for about ten minutes.
I’ve written about mental health issues before and how dolls have helped me deal with grief. But this attack was debilitating. I didn’t want to do anything except drive far, far away. I was thinking of driving to Malibu from my apartment in Pasadena (like maybe a good hour), but I just stayed home instead, curled up in the cold, trying to drown my thoughts by watching comedies.
I’m on Kaiser Permanente insurance plan and on December 31, I went to their mental health portal and filled out the baseline questionnaire and drum rolls: I had severe major depression.
Thankfully, I reached out for professional help and my condition has since improved. I’m not on drugs (yet), so we’ll see.
So, yes. This was the Secret Santa event mentioned in the Naked Sushi Slut post and it was supposed to counterbalance the coldness of the Aubrey/Matt/Marcus Christmas post.
The close-up shots of the gifts were done in mid-December 2023, days before I shut down. That’s why they’re tonally different from the gift-giving photos (shot in late January 2024). The gift-giving photos and the Fashion February Twinning Tuesdays photos were done a few days before a big international trip. It felt like a manic rush of energy, but I loved it. It was a nice change from dormancy.
But Valentine’s Day was coming up and coincidentally, February 14th is also International Book Giving Day. All the pieces of the puzzle seemed to fall into place and almost two months later, the dolls finally got their gifts.
Finally, I’d like to just say this: I’m not suicidal. I was never suicidal. And I never had or have any desire to harm anyone (including myself). What I wanted when my mental health was in shambles was to disappear or to turn into stone and return or wake up when (not if) I felt better.
When I had the spinach episode, I had full awareness that I was, for lack of a better word, descended into madness, and it was terrifying.
If you’re in a bad place right now, or if like mine, your monster comes and goes, please get help. When mine came in December, I thought I’d be able to fight it off alone, just like I had before. If I were suicidal, I wouldn’t be alive to write this post. Again, I’m thankful I’m not suicidal, but so much time was wasted before I sought help.
And if there’s anything we never have, it’s enough time.
Click here to see the complete episodes of Dollsexposed’s residents, or choose below:
Dollsexposed showcases queer erotica, kink, fetish, and activism through twelve-inch doll photography. Their adventures in the doll world began in 2011 before establishing a home on dollsexposed.com eleven years later.
Dollsexposed's works have been displayed at Seattle Erotic Art Festival and Los Angeles Leather Getaway.