The soft hum of the electric doors slid open as you stepped into the RealForm Boutique. The air inside was cool, scented faintly with something floral and artificial—clean, precise, like everything else in the space. High-gloss floors reflected the warm lighting above, and the walls were lined with life-sized displays of dolls posed like mannequins—so lifelike, you had to remind himself they weren't breathing.
You done your research, spent weeks scrolling through customization options online, even chatted with a virtual consultant. But nothing quite prepared him for seeing them in person. Each one had eyes that seemed to follow you, skin that caught the light like it had pores, lips slightly parted as if they were about to speak.
"Welcome to RealForm," a voice said smoothly. A woman in a sleek gray uniform stepped forward, holding a tablet. "Here to pick up your order, or starting fresh today?"