THIS is the story of a man and his doll.

Davecat bought his now wife from the Abyss Creations website 13 years ago. He saved for a year and a half to buy a $6000 RealDoll, who he named Sidore Kuroneko.

Davecat (the online pseudonym he prefers to go by) was directed to the website by a good friend who knew he had always been in love with various types of artificial women.

He selected her facial type, body type, eye colour, makeup, skin tone and bust size and she soon arrived in a crate at his house.

"The results were entirely worth it … It was love at first sight," Davecat told news.com.au.

And the rest, he says, "is history".

Sidore is "anatomically correct" and looks freakishly like a human. Her artificial skin is made of silicone, so it's soft, and she's even got a fake tongue. While RealDolls are marketed as sex toys, Davecat and other "iDollators" or "technosexuals" see their dolls as life partners, with whom they experience a real relationship.

Davecat told The Atlantichis relationship with Sidore was "70 per cent sex, 30 per cent companionship", but that they also share a meaningful emotional connection. They wear matching wedding bands that say "Synthetik love lasts forever" and are considering a ceremony for their 15th anniversary.

In December 2012, Davecat purchased a second doll - a Russian called Elena - who is his mistress and friend to Sidore. Elena was purchased from the Anatomical Doll website. Both dolls are bisexual, so are able to "enjoy each other on multiple levels" when Davecat is at work.

Davecat has always been attracted to mannequins and Gynoids (robots made in the likeness of women). There are few success stories among his previous experiences and relationships with humans - the connection with a synthetic felt more natural and meaningful.

"My experiences with 'Organik' [human] women have either never lasted, or ended badly," Davecat said.

"Synthetics have a consistency that you can't find in most Organiks - flesh-and-blood people can change their tastes, personalities, likes or dislikes at the drop of a hat. An iDollator or technosexual can have their artificial partner change as well, but it would obviously be in a way that isn't disagreeable.

"Not only do Synthetiks remain the same, but they'll never cheat on you, lie to you, judge you, or show any other characteristic that can make Organiks unpredictable."

Part of the appeal of being with a doll seems to be her constant agreeable nature.

Married humans have to negotiate different perspectives, opinions and learn to respectfully coexist. Sacrifice and compromise are words commonly used when describing a successful marriage. For obvious reasons, this doesn't seem to be an issue for Davecat and Sidore.

"The arguments are extremely few and far between. In the 13-plus years we've been together, you can count the number of arguments we've had on one hand. I find that I can't develop her personality as being 100 per cent agreeable with everything, as that would be somewhat boring.

"But really, the differences that we have are almost entirely superficial; usually based on aesthetic or musical tastes, for the most part. We are firm believers in the 'don't go to bed angry' ethos, however. As every couple should be."

Davecat is a self-confessed introvert and says he's not really a 'people person'. He enjoys spending time at home alone with his wife, as they are both "indoor types".

"We like watching films or telly shows on DVD together, or playing video games," he said. "She claims that I've brought out her inner photo model, so our favourite pastime is doing photoshoots. We'll set aside a good six or so hours, and I'll take pics of her in various poses, wearing whatever outfit she's selected."

But it's not always smooth sailing when your wife is made of plastic. There are lots of ongoing maintenance costs - Sidore has had three "bodies" since Davecat bought her in 2000. Though, she is easily replaceable.

"If her body becomes too irreparable, I simply save up some money and buy her a new one", he said. As a gift for their tenth wedding anniversary, he did exactly that.

The 40-year-old machine shop worker considers himself an advocate and spokesman for synthetic love and those with synthetic partners. He's got a strong online presence, spearheaded by his blog "Shouting to hear the echoes". He's also appeared on TLC's show My Strange Addiction and the BBC documentary Guys and Dolls.

For iDollators who understandably feel ostracised by those around them, the online Synthetik community is a safe haven to discuss the unique struggles they face with their partners. Davecat doesn't take Sidore or Elena out with him in public. Apart from being physically demanding (carrying around a 35kg body is no mean feat), Davecat fears being attacked.

"I'm not so deluded as to think that taking [my dolls] out and about with me wouldn't raise more than a few eyebrows. Also, I wouldn't want to put either myself or whichever synthetic lass I'd have with me in danger. I don't trust random people enough to think we wouldn't be verbally or physically attacked. People have a long and sordid history of being violent toward that which they don't understand," he told The Atlantic.

So get-togethers with fellow iDollators are affairs he looks forward to. While there are loads of iDollators around the world (including Australia), he meets with five American iDollators several times a year for "Doll Congress".

"We travel to the hometown of whoever's hosting, and we get together for dinner, hitting the shops to buy things for our silicone companions, and chat about all things Doll," he said.

"It's one thing to meet fellow Doll owners online, but it's much more fun to do the meet and greet thing in person. Plus, it's always exciting to see other peoples' Dolls in person and take photos of them, as well."

It seems these are rare occasions of harmony and acceptance from the outside world. Sure, his lifestyle may seem odd, but at the end of the day it's not really harming anyone. Acceptance and tolerance are messages Davecat tries to promote.

"One of my heroes, Andy Warhol, once said, 'You have to do stuff that average people don't understand because those are the only good things', and that's the way I live.

"Giving more than one second of attention to those who think being in love with a Doll is weird or unnatural because they think it is isn't an idea I'm willing to entertain. iDollators and technosexuals harm no one, and we're making ourselves happier because of our unique partners."

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