A Date with Syn

Damien was actually nervous! He hadn't really dated anyone in...gosh years, and now he was being thrown back into the scene not just out of the blue, not just on a show being broadcast before an audience that spanned the multiverse, and not just with any girl, but with Syn. A woman who, by anyone's standard was gorgeous as her name implied, and a woman who had successfully, he admitted begrudgingly, seduced him back in college. Give him a million years and he'd have never guessed this outcome a week ago.

Nymeera had told them that they could use the dates in any way they wanted, it was their biggest opportunity to express themselves on the show. Syn could take him anywhere and do anything with him that she wanted! Damien made sure to dress as nicely as possible, as the Master his wardrobe had unlimited options so he'd chosen a fancy tux that would hopefully fit in with the online dominatrix's expensive tastes.

"Pssssh! What are you wearing?"

Damien spun to see Syn striding up towards him from where the Back to School Store was located, jogging up in sweatpants and a hoodie that somehow did nothing to to hide her incredible figure. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she had a mischievous glint to her sparkling green eyes. Damien frowned lightly at her, then let out a resigned sigh.

"I believe I may have made some unfortunate assumptions..." Syn laughed at that, a sweet, high laugh that sounded at once lilting and mirthful. Some primal, biological part of Damien's mind made him feel joy at making the gorgeous woman laugh like that, and suddenly the embarrassing situation wasn't so bad.

"Well, you're not blushing and stammering and rushing off to hide so...that's good," Syn said with a smile that, God help him, genuinely made Damien feel happy to see. "But you're going to want to change before we go out. We're going to-"

"Now now, don't you think you ought to keep that a surprise?" said a familiar voice from behind him. Damien turned to see Nymeera standing there "dressed," in what one could charitably call an airline stewardess uniform. "After all, this is your one chance to make a good impression on not just your Master, but the audience, and trust me...you could use some good impressions right about now."

Syn rolled her eyes and stared at the purple haired fox woman with pure disdain. "Fuck you. You know why I'm here, and it isn't for any date. Just send us on our way and leave me alone for once." Well now Damien was confused, wasn't the entire point of this trip for their date together?

"Of course, I'd never pass up an opportunity to let you continue digging your own grave..." Nymeera licked her lips predatorily, but Syn just stood her ground, looking on defiantly. Damien suddenly felt like a third wheel, and on his own date too!

"So," he stated loudly, drawing the attention of the two glaring beauties back to himself, which was at once terrifying and arousing. "Where are we headed?" he asked, trying very hard to keep reason from flying out the window. With Nymeera's...outfit he assumed they'd be flying off somewhere private, perhaps to the volcano? Volcano hot springs were very popular vacation spots, and having a private one all to herself might be Syn's style. It would also explain her attire if they were going to be hiking a bit.

"Why you're going home of course," Nymeera said, loving every moment of his confusion. "Syn's chosen location is a place you both know very well, your home city! You'll be headed back to Earth for your date, which if you ask me just sort of ruins the whole magical, alternate dimension atmosphere, but-"

"Wait you mean we can leave?" Damien asked, eyes wide. "Just like that?" Nymeera's grin turned feral.

"Well, not JUST like that. You'll be going with a perception bubble around the two of you. No matter what you do or what happens, no one will suspect anything magical of happening around you. This is to prevent widespread panic from certain transformations, not that Syn really has to worry about that, but imagine the reactions if Dana went back to Earth looking like she does! Heh, oh I'd love to see it...but unfortunately the powers that be don't want that. So here are the rules. You'll be there for four Earth hours. After that you'll be teleported back here, no matter what compromising position you might be in. The perception bubble will ensure that no one thinks anything of your sudden disappearance so no need to worry about finding a secluded spot."

"Fine fine, can we go already?" Syn asked looking anxious. She didn't seem like the type to get nervous on dates, but something was making her incredibly tense.

"You're really making this romantic for your partner," Nymeera teased icily, which earned Damien a glance from Syn, followed by a look of shame, and finally that of resolve. What the hell was going through that woman's head right now?

"Look... Mr. Carter..." Damien blinked, for once Syn's voice didn't have that teasing lilt to it. "I'm sorry, but I'm taking advantage of you to do something I really need to do. Can you just...overlook this? Please?" Damien took a breath, well it couldn't say it wasn't disappointing. It wasn't every day, or any day really, that a guy like him got to go out with a bombshell like Syn, but she looked more serious than he'd ever seen her, and he couldn't in good conscience deny her request now.

"Sure. This is important to you. I don't really know why, but if you say it needs to be done, I suppose I'll trust you."

"Trusting her?" Nymeera whispered in his ear like a demon. "Didn't you already fall for that once before?" Damien felt heat rising to his face but remained steadfast.

"Just start the date already. Besides, I'm not so sure this will be as damaging to her as you imply." Damien gave Syn an encouraging smile, hoping to communicate that he trusted her, no matter what Nymeera said. Syn just continued to look anxious.

"Very well," Nymeera said lifting one of her tails to knock on the doors to the Harem Hotel. Only when Nymeera opened those doors it didn't lead into the gilded interior of the hotel, but into a city street in what looked to be a, the polite term was 'downtrodden,' neighborhood. Syn hurried through and Damien had to follow her behind, err follow behind quickly. Damn the woman looked good! "Four hours starts now!" The sound of a door closing behind them echoed through the city streets and Damien stared up at the clear blue sky. He was home... He'd only been at the hotel for a scant day, give or take due to strange time dilation, but being here felt...strange.

If Syn felt the same level of vertigo that he did she didn't show it, merely confidently stepping up the stairs to a nearby house and trying the door, it was locked, as would be expected in a neighborhood like this.

"Fucking fox..." Syn grumbled, stepping off the porch and crouching down to lift a rock and retrieve a key that had been hidden there.

"Wait," Damien said, staring at the urban settlement. "Is this your house?" Syn shot him a sharp look, which softened immediately and she turned back to the door without answering. Damien took a step back to look at the home in more detail now that he knew where he was. It was a small, two story house, most likely it had a basement too, and looked like it needed at minimum a fresh coat of paint... The windows were old and the yard was poorly maintained, more dirt than grass. The used car in the driveway didn't have a garage to fit into and the porch itself was old and worn down, it needed some serious repairs and maintenance to make it look respectable again. Damien shuddered to think of the inside...

"Dyna! Mynx? Momma's home!"

Damien froze halfway up the steps of the porch as the sound of claws pattering across tile echoed out of the house and two large black Dobermanns ran toward Syn with tails wagging and tongues lolling.

"Holy shit..." Damien said as the massive dogs bounded toward Syn, then suddenly turned toward him, glaring and baring their teeth. He froze on the steps, not willing to move any closer to the home. Syn turned toward him, giving her dogs pats on the head while smiling teasingly.

"Well? You wanna come inside?" she asked, as though the two large, growling dogs were of no object. Damien had been a little concerned for Syn just a moment ago, a young woman living by herself in a neighborhood like this...now he was more concerned for anyone who thought of her as he had just that moment prior.

"Will I survive the experience?" Damien asked, taking a hesitant step forward, only to immediately retreat as one of the dogs, Mynx? lowered herself and barked at him warningly. Syn rolled her eyes with a big smile on her face, she was enjoying this! She then walked over to him and took his hand gently in her own.

"Relax. If you're tense they'll be tense. If you're ready for a fight so will they. They don't know you, you just have to show them that you don't mean to be a threat, and accept that you're entering their territory. Be respectful of them, and they'll be respectful of you." Syn lead him gently toward the house, holding Damien's hand out toward the dogs. He swallowed, trying not to be nervous, but these dogs looked like they would bite his hand clean off if he wasn't careful! The dogs didn't stop staring at him with those suspicious eyes, but they did stop growling long enough to sniff at his hand cautiously. "There you go. They just need to get your scent. I'm with you, you'll be okay." The dogs perked up and suddenly started to ignore him...well they still shot him glances ever now and again, but with Syn in such close proximity they seemed much more interested in her than him. "I'm so sorry I've been gone so long babies," Syn preened happily, going to her knees and holding the dogs close, both of whom started to lick at her face and hands with she smiled and laughed. "I missed you too girls," she said hugging them both tightly.

Damien took at step to the side, a move that didn't go unnoticed by Mynx and Dyna, and allowed the trio to have their reunion, taking the moment to look around Syn's home. It reminded him of his apartment back when he was a young man, things were clean but not too clean, dishes were piled up but not terribly so. The carpet was vacuumed but nothing was dusted. Minimal home maintenance for someone who didn't need to worry about living in a space with another person. Though judging by Syn's interactions with her dogs he was willing to bet that a lot of her money went towards them...in fact looking for it he found two large, heavily cushioned dog beds in the living room nearby Syn's couch. Next to the door were large duffle bags filled with frisbees, heavily chewed tennis balls, as well as leashes and an enormous bag of dog treats...and a few hintingly large plastic baggies.

"Come on, let's go make sure you have food and water. You must be starving!" Syn said, sounding more excited than Damien had literally ever seen her. She closed and locked her door, heading into the house with the two massive dogs, both easily coming up to her navel, darting around at her feet. One of them, Dyna? spared a glance at Damien for a moment, before they disappeared into the kitchen. After a beat of wondering if he should take off his shoes, Damien followed, shoes on.

"Fucking bitch..." Inside the kitchen Damien found the dogs happily wagging their tails with full bowls of food and water with Syn staring at a letter that had been held to her refrigerator with a magnet in the shape of a purple fox. Damien could imagine what it said, but Syn glanced toward him and shoved it at him anyway.

Dear Contestant,
Congratulations on surviving a whole 30 days* on Harem Hotel Back to School Cheerleader Edition! As you can see all Earthly possessions and responsibilities have been taken care of during your short* stay. Pets and plants have been kept feed and watered, and the nearest trusted companion has been compelled to attend to any exercise needs. Jobs and shifts have been sorted out with bosses and/or customers where necessary, and any lost profit will be wired to your personal account to make up for any loss of business/profit. Any questions have likely already been answered during your stay as heading back home early without even consulting the Host about these matters is something only a stupid bitch would do and we know you** would never do something like that! We hope you enjoy the rest of your life with your new Master!
Sincerely,
Your Host Nymeera
*Time may not be equivalent across dimensions
**Host is not responsible for those who cannot help themselves

"Well that feels a little insulting..." Damien tried to quip, offering Syn a small smile. Syn scowled in reply and crumpled the letter up, throwing it into the garbage viciously. It reappeared, undamaged, on her refrigerator a single second later. "Hey, for what it's worth I think using your date to come back here was very sweet of you," Damien said, looking down at the two dogs who were clearly very happy to see Syn.

"Yeah well...we'll see what the audience thinks when they vote for favorite dates," Syn said, sighing and petting her dogs some more. "Guess I'll just have to show you the bedroom," she said with a flirtatious grin, but Damien could see immediately that her heart wasn't in it. He looked down at the dogs, and crouched slowly, holding out his hand toward them. Dyna and Mynx both looked toward him cautiously, but came over and allowed him to pet them slowly...for at least a few seconds before gruffly brushing past him to nuzzle against Syn again. "Sorry, guess I'm more popular than you are," Syn teased, kissing her dogs on the tops of their heads.

"Well that's no fair, you're also much hotter than I am," Damien snarked back, giving the smoking redhead an appreciative glance up and down.

"True. VERY true...but you're not THAT bad to look at," Syn replied with a slight grin. "Come on, I suppose if Dyna and Mynx think you're okay I could give you a little something for your troubles. I'm very good at it." Damien felt his cock start to stiffen as Syn spoke in that sultry, smoky timbre. God the woman knew just how to make his heart beat faster... "Maybe I can salvage the date after all. It won't be very wholesome though, viewer discretion is advised." Damien found himself looking forward to that, but for some reason he just didn't want to right now. Yes, Syn was absolutely gorgeous and her voice was reaching into his body and stirring up all kinds of intoxicating desires...but seeing her so concerned for her dogs, and then just resigning herself to this...it didn't sit right with him. Syn wasn't the kind of girl who put a lot of thought or effort into doing things for others, that much was evidenced by the state of her home, she was the kind of girl who had others put in effort for her, and Damien found that he wanted to put in effort for her. Whether that was due to how insanely hot she was or some quirk of his own personality he didn't know, but if Syn was the kind of girl who liked to be treated...well he could treat.

"You know what? I have a better idea," Damien said heading out of the kitchen, back toward the entrance to her house. Syn followed after curiously, watching as he picked up the massive duffle bag and pulled out a few leashes. "This is supposed to be a date right? But you don't strike me as the kind of girl who plans out a date for the guy...uh no offense. So what if we do something I plan?"

"Oh? Something to do with leashes?" Syn teased, but Damien could tell she was very much liking what he was saying, her eyes practically glowing with excitement at having a man treat her to a date. "I'm definitely into it, but fair warning, I won't be wearing the leash," she said with an evil grin that made Damien blush and nearly drop the leashes.

"Kinda, but I won't be wearing it either. I'm the Master in this relationship after all." Syn crossed her arms under her impressive bust, Dyna and Mynx framing her to either side, all three watching him as though to show just how hollow that statement was right now, but Damien wasn't going to be intimidated now, not when he'd thought up the perfect continuation to his date with Syn. "Ever been to the dog park?" he asked, and Syn's eyes lit up with glee.

"Which one?"

Syn watched as Dyna dashed alongside Mynx, both of them trying to outpace the other as they tore through the park side by side. She and Damien had decided to take a break throwing frisbees and tennis balls and sit on a nearby bench while her girls with bottomless energy ran around for awhile. Damien had taken off that silly tux jacket, and while she'd been mostly just teasing him earlier when she told him he wasn't bad to look at...she had to admit he wasn't at ALL bad to look at. She was sort of curious what he looked like naked, but he was going to have to try a bit harder before she agreed to... She stopped herself, what the hell was she thinking? Of course she needed to sleep with him! She'd been having so much fun she actually managed to forget that she was in a fight for her life here! Damn it! Stupid, fucking idiot Syn!

"Hey, you alright?" Damien asked from beside her. Syn schooled her features and shot him a scorching look that was anything but subtle.

"I'm having a great time," she purred, her smile widening at the way Damien's eyes widened slightly at the sound of her voice. "I'm just thinking about how to thank you when we get back to my house. I never did show you my bedroom... It's where I keep all my work equipment," Syn slid her tongue along her lips slowly, letting him think about that for a second. She could practically hear his heart rate increase. "Maybe I'll show you a bit of how they work..." Damien cleared his throat loudly and looked away, crossing his legs in a not so subtle way to hide the effect she was having on him. Good, Syn just needed to make sure that the audience was impressed with her performance. The date was, so far, all Damien's idea...she couldn't imagine that she'd get credit for it, even if it kept going really well. She needed to do something to get them on her side, and the only thing she was really good at...the only thing she was any good for was sex. Feelings that she kept bottled up started to surface and Syn knocked them right the fuck back down again. NOT the time for that!

"So..." Damien said slowly, causing Syn to turn back toward him with a sultry smile on her face. "Tell me about your dogs." The smile immediately turned genuine and she found those troublesome feelings disappearing.

"They have names," she chastised, pointing them out, just as Dyna was wrestling Mynx to the ground playfully. "That's Dyna on top, and Mynx on the bottom. They're Dobermanns, though I would hope you know at least that much. Mynx is actually tougher than Dyna, but she's a sweetie and lets Dyna win when they play, but whenever there are treats on the line, Mynx will win every time. Dyna is big bark and big bite, she can get really aggressive sometimes so I have to keep her away from others unless Mynx is there to calm her down. They're sisters from the same litter..." Syn's smile turned into a frown. "I rescued them from an asshole."

"You...you didn't steal them did you?" Damien asked, sounding unsure and a little uncomfortable. Syn laughed at that.

"No! I got them from a shelter. Their previous owner was...well you see their ears?" Syn asked pointing out the Dobermanns' perked up ears. Damien nodded.

"Yeah, they look like a Dobermann's for sure."

"No they don't," Syn shot back instantly. "Dobermann ears are supposed to droop, that's their natural state. Cropped ears like that are a surgical procedure done to them because people want them to look more intimidating as guard dogs. The procedure is completely unnecessary, done only for cosmetic purposes, and it causes the poor dogs months of after surgery pain while their ears heal into that fixed position, and it remains that way for the rest of their lives. Months of pain, just to be disfigured because someone wants you to look different..." Syn wasn't really upset, she'd been with her dogs for years now, and loved them dearly, every part of them...but it was hard not to feel at least a little angry knowing what was done to the creatures she loved so much, even if it was awhile ago. Especially... "Anyway they need a lot of aftercare after the procedure. They're in pain a lot and need medication to help deal with it. It's miserable for them, and hard on an owner not dedicated to their well being, which their asshole owner wasn't. I only got them because he couldn't be bothered to deal with the after care process. One month, and he just gave them away to the shelter, unwilling to deal with what HE did to them! For no reason!" Now Syn was getting upset.

"That's messed up..."

"You're telling me! Three months is usually how long it takes Dobermanns to recover from ear cropping surgery. The bastard barely lasted one, and I was stuck trying to help them for the remaining two myself. I bought them the **** they needed, soothed them when the pain got bad, and when Dyna bit me I didn't hold it against her. It wasn't her fault that she was in pain...not like the asshole who gave them to a shelter when he got bit like he fucking deserved." Syn blinked a few times, suddenly realizing she was not making herself look attractive right now. Fucking idiot... "I uh...sorry I shouldn't say that-"

"No you're right," Damien replied back. "Screw that guy." Syn smiled, but really wanted to get this discussion back to a sexier topic before her ratings were completely tanked.

"You couldn't pay me enough to screw him," she said teasingly, which got a laugh out of Damien. Good, maybe this date wasn't totally...

"Hey babe. What's up?" ...doomed.

Syn looked up as some rando in a baseball cap approached her with a very familiar look in his eyes. Oh goddammit why now?

"I was just walking my dog Thunder, that's him over there," the guy said, pointing toward a large, cute Labrador that made Syn's lips curl up in a smile. Aw, what a cutie. Thunder was a stupid name though. Unfortunately the guy took her smile as an encouragement and continued with his futile flirting attempt. He didn't even acknowledge Damien at all, and Damien seemed to be looking on and wondering if he should intervene. Syn just patiently waited while the rando ranted till she could politely turn him down. "And I saw you and just thought: Holy shit that's the hottest girl I've ever seen in my life. I gotta try to get her number or I'll regret it the rest of my life!" Well, at least he had good taste, Syn would try to let him down gently. "Is that one yours by the way," the man said, pointing toward a tiny little Shih Tzu with a bow in his hair. Syn's expression darkened and suddenly Damien was looking elsewhere. "She's super cute, just like you."

"Mynx! Dyna! Come here babies," Syn called out, the man's smile widening as he heard her voice, before noticing the two large Dobermann's bounding toward him at speed. Both dogs stopped before him and look at him suspiciously. They were good girls, and out in public, so they didn't growl, but that close, those grins suddenly looked like bared teeth, and lolling tongues looked like preparation to bite.

"Holy shit..." the guy breathed out, his self assured smirk vanishing beneath a look of realization that he'd bitten off more than he could chew. Damien winced in sympathy, and Syn just smiled softly, as though she was totally clueless as to the effect her girls were having on him.

"Thanks for the compliments stud," she teased, "But I'm on a date right now. I hope you and Thunder have fun playing with each other." Normally this would be the part when the guy persisted and she had to get mean, but with two large Dobermann's staring him down he wisely took the exit and didn't let the implied barb bother him. As the random dude swiftly exited stage left, Syn found herself smiling. She loved turning guys down, almost as much as turning guys on. It was a type of catharsis, a reminder that she was in control, that she could always say no if she wanted to. She turned toward Damien and regarded him thoughtfully. Now here was one guy she couldn't really turn down...and it irked her that she was going to be **** into a relationship with him, but at least he wasn't that bad.

"Well handled," Damien complimented, giving her a smile. "It definitely looks like you have some practice turning guys away uh...gently." He looked toward Dyna and Mynx, who had settled down onto the grass beside them, panting happily.

"I'm surprised you didn't try to step in," Syn replied, frowning slightly. "Fight for your girl or whatever."

"I don't really think I can call you 'my girl' at this point...and besides, you looked like you had it under control. I don't need to prove myself by stepping on your toes over getting in your way. I'm a bit too old for that anymore..." Damien said, before looking down at himself with a frown. "Err, at least I was. Now I'm not so sure."

"Huh..." Syn was feeling kinda strange, her heart beat just a little bit faster, and the mask of seduction she wore seemed a little...less necessary. Instead she gave him a smile, warm and genuine and so very unlike the smiles she normally gave guys she went on dates with, but it felt kinda good to give it this time.

"Wow..." Damien said, looking right at her like she was the only person in the world.

Fuck, this game was gonna be more complicated than Syn thought...