A Moment to Breathe

This is your last chance to vote, the polls will close in about 4 hours from when this is posted. So if you want your choice to be heard go now!

As the cameras shut off, Obsidian addresses the women in their seats.

“Before any of you ask the question I know is on all your minds, the five to seven days for the voters will only be an hour for you all. So I will release you from your chairs for that hour, but don’t get too comfortable.”

Obsidian turns to Drew and bows to him with an arm across her chest.

“As for you Master Drew, I know that spoiled wench down there didn’t let you eat today, so I have prepared something for you.”

An extravagant table made of volcanic rock and obsidian appears, with glowing yooperlite accents running along it to give the table the appearance of having lava veins. The table is covered with orbs made of molten lava rock that soon open to reveal an assortment of food and drinks: lobster paella, brown butter scallops atop parmesan risotto with sautéed garlic spinach on the side, and a chicken satay rice bowl with roasted vegetables, to name a few. Before Drew can open his mouth, Obsidian continues.

“All of these recipes were handpicked based on your specific tastes. There is a mix of food you have tried once and loved, fine-dining versions of food you already enjoy, and food you have never had before, but that we have determined, based on all the gathered data, you would also enjoy. You also have a variety of beverages to choose from, including volcanic mineral water, our speciality, the finest wines and liquors, and, in case you feel like something simple, many different colas and other carbonated beverages.”

Drew looks at Obsidian with confused appreciation, still not entirely sure how to feel about the large volcano woman and how she’s been treating him compared to the women.

“Um, thank you Ms. Obsidian.”

Obsidian covers her mouth as she giggles in amusement at his nervous and deferential tone.

“Please my Master, just Obsidian is fine, there is no need for you to be so formal. Now I do have business to attend to during this brief intermission. If you need anything Melty and my other children will attend to you, or you can just call my name, and I will be here in a flash.”

Obsidian looks back at the women, who are staring at the feast in front of Drew with varying expressions, before turning back to him.

“Also, while I would never dream of telling you what to do, and you may do so if you wish, I would not recommend sharing any of this food with the witches down there. They have done nothing to deserve it, and starting to give into them now could lead to you being under their boots again.”

Drew gives a hesitant nod.

“If you think that’s for the best I won’t.”

Obsidian chuckles again cupping his cheek with her palm.

“As I said before if you decide to I won’t stop you. Do not think of me as above you, think of me more as a royal advisor or a spirit guide. I am only here to nudge you towards the best outcome for yourself. Now I must be off.”

Obsidian once more stands to her full height and turns to Melty and whispers something to him before leaving.

“If any of them even begin approaching the Master with malicious intent, remind them why that is a horrible idea.”

Melty salutes his Mama both with one of his suit’s robot hands and with one of his partially formed lava hands.

“I will protect the Master with my life Mama!”

Obsidian gives Melty an amused maternal smile and disappears in a flash of fire and ash. Once his Mama has left Melty puts both his half-formed lava fingers in his mouth and blows, his suit releasing a burst of steam with the sound of a tea kettle in response.

“Alright everyone, it’s time to serve the Master!”

Dozens of fully formed lava imps fly out of the lava pool in the center of the room and begin pampering the stunned Drew. Meanwhile down below with the women, Roxie observes the others with an angry scowl, on the inside though Roxie is carefully categorizing each woman in the room.

Alright, going at this alone is suicidal, especially with any of those “transformations” she claims she’ll give me. Right now, I need to figure out who would be compromised without any mind fuckery, and who would be with potential mind fuckery.

Her eyes shift over to the now anxious Brianna.

The look in her eyes when I first got here made me think she had some real fire I could exploit. But look at her now, a few threats and seeing the fuck boi’s “sad little life” has left her a nervous wreck. And then there’s the looks she keeps giving him, she is practically screaming she wants to make up with him. It’s so sweet it makes me want to puke.

With a disgusted roll of her eyes Roxie moves on to the rich bitch and the bimbo.

With a few simpering words I could get that spoiled little nepo baby to do whatever I want while believing it was her idea. But, assuming these “transformations” are real, the secretary one could get her close to do something but, depending on how deep the conditioning for it is, she could potentially be compromised . Of course, with the last two she will absolutely be compromised, she’s either going to have a goody two shoes in her head or become dumber than the bimbo. Speaking of.

She eyes the bleached blonde girl in annoyance.

That moron is compromised regardless of any “transformations” she gets. Not only is she already braindead, but she’s an idiot who doesn’t think her shit stinks while raising her nose at other people’s “bad behavior”. So, the rich girl is a maybe, and the bimbo is a solid no.

Her eyes finally land on Camila and Sarah who seem to be conspiring on their own.

And then there’s my best chance at allies, at least if they don’t get their worst “transformations” but man, I really hate the fact that those two are my best chance. I really thought I could respect them, both reveling in their power over others and taking what they want, but then they went and ruined it.

Roxie resists the urge to roll her eyes in case they look over in her direction.

Instead of embracing their shit, they are both pansy fucking losers that have to “justify” what they do. Bunch of wannabe Angels of Vengeance, so far up their own asses they think everything they do is morally justified because they only hurt the “bad” ones.

Roxie shakes her head to refocus herself.

Focus Roxie! Now unfortunately I didn’t recognize the cop in time and outed myself as the leader of The Venomous Pit Vipers to a local cop. All those years of never taking off my helmet while riding or doing a job down the drain. So, my initial plan of acting like an “innocent victim” is out the window. Plan B it is then I suppose.

Taking a deep breath Roxie puts on a sheepish expression and approaches Camila and Sarah while rubbing one of her arms.

“Hey you guys.”

Sarah turns to Roxie with a raised eyebrow while Camila narrows her eyes in suspicion.

“Roxie, right? If I heard correctly, I believe you said you are the mysterious leader of the Pit Vipers. The same Pit Vipers that have been terrorizing our whole community back home, those Pit Vipers?”

Roxie looks away in embarrassment.

“Yeah, I am. You’re Officer Perez, right? And Sarah? I just wanted to say I’m sorry for calling you guys sluts. I don’t know where that came from. I mean any enemy of Drew is a friend to me, right?”

Camilla’s suspicious expression fades a little while Sarah nods in understanding.

“I can agree with that at least. I admittedly have reservations believing any “truths” that come from that woman’s magic.”

Seeing the opportunity Roxie latches on before Camila can say anything and begins ranting with a lot of passion in her voice.

“I know right! I know for a fact Officer Perez is as strait-laced as they come, it’s why we never tried to get her on the take! So, the very idea that she would be unjustly arresting anyone or abusing her power, like those stupid descriptions said, is just ridiculous!”

Most of the suspicion leaves Camila’s face as she firmly nods in agreement.

“Absolutely, I would never abuse my badge like that. Just because some petty criminals get their feelings hurt when I arrest them doesn’t make me a bad officer.”

Resisting the urge to smile, Roxie gives Camila a look of understanding.

“Exactly, listen take it from a criminal that was always on her toes when you were around, you have a 6th sense for crime or something.”

Camila preens at the praise, and Roxie looks over at Sarah.

“You were pretty smart too. You avoided falling into the pitfall I did, you kept your cool and were honest without that bitch’s magic adding or removing things to make you look bad.”

Sarah nods before giving the biker girl an inquisitive look.

“Adding or removing things? Did the rock woman do that to you?”

Seeing that she now has both women’s attention Roxie frowns, letting a tear of frustration escape from her eye.

“Yeah, she did. She made it seem like how I treated Drew was just for kicks without mentioning what him and his dad had done to me.”

Camila puts her hand on her shoulder, no longer seeing this young woman as a criminal, just another of Drew and his father’s victims.

“Go on Mija, we’re listening.”

Roxie gives a tired smile to the motherly cop.

“Apparently him and my mom had been having an affair, she decided she couldn’t do that to my dad anymore. So, she convinced my dad to take a promotion that would force us to move and broke it off with Mr. Thompson. But when she did, he got furious and started hitting my mom, I ran from the room I was hiding in to stop him and he hit me too. I went flying across the room and when I looked up from the ground, I saw Drew in the doorway, and he just watched the whole thing. My best friend and he just stood there and did nothing to stop his dad. I never felt so helpless back then, but I promised myself I would never feel like that again.”

Camila pulls Roxie into a hug and Roxie starts shaking as she buries her face in her neck. Sarah gives the biker girl a pitying look. With her face hidden, Roxie’s signature cruel smirk slips onto her face.

“So yeah, I usually have like a dozen guys that buy me stuff! You know how guys are, a wink here, a handjob there, and they will pretty much give you whatever you want!”

A very animated Catherine is chatting away with an unenthusiastic Yuzhu. Who is currently giving Catherine the type of look an overworked kindergarten teacher gives to their most talkative student.

“Yes, I’m well aware of how easy men are. And being able to juggle a dozen of them is very impressive.”

Catherine nods with a proud smile, completely oblivious to the Chinese girl’s sarcasm.

“Thanks! Anyway, the worst part is when one of them runs out of money! Because then you gotta drop them and find a new a guy to replace them! Which if you’re lucky the broke guy is too shocked to say anything, because if he isn’t you have to listen to him cry and whine about how much he loves you! Like my guy, if you loved me, you would still have money to give your Princess.”

Yuzhu rolls her eyes at the vapid girl.

“Yes, that must truly be a trial. Well, I’m sure the so-called audience understands you were here by mistake and will give you exactly what you want.”

Catherine laughs.

“I know right! And I’m totally sure people will give you the thing you wanted too! Like you were so smart and figured out how that shiny lady fucked up!”

Despite coming from a total moron Yuzhu preens a little at the praise, tucking her hair behind her ear with a smug smile.

“It really was genius, wasn’t it?”

Over off by herself Brianna’s mind is running a mile a minute.

Oh god what do I even say to him?! “Hey sorry that I was such a bitch to you during the divorce. I let my own insecurities cloud my judgement, but I also still loved you and didn’t want to think about you with another woman. But hey, good news, if I knew your life was such a pile of shit before we got together, I totally would have stayed with you and we could have worked through our problems together! So we can totally do that now right?!”

Brianna almost grips her hair in frustration.

Why can’t I be honest with my feelings?! Why does everything have to be so complicated?!

Brianna’s face takes on a look of self-loathing and despair.

Was mama right? Am I just broken?

Back up on his throne Drew is enjoying a bite from his chicken satay bowl while an imp massages his shoulders. Her hands feel like a hot stone massage releasing a lot of the muscle tension that has built up from years of stress. While his body is relaxing his mind is working overtime. Looking down at the women that have all hurt him in someway he can’t stop his gut reaction to flinch. Knowing that he is expected to punish and dominate them all, when he really just wants to run and hide, has led to a war in his mind.

What am i supposed to do? Part of me wants to run, but I can’t deny my darker urge to rage at them and take the chance at vengeance that Obsidian wants me to take. From the sounds of the transformation descriptions, they have all been hurting people besides me, or before me in Catherine’s case. But.

He looks down at the agonized expression on Brianna’s face.

Looking at Brianna, would it be right? I always knew she was holding something back from me. But back then she always yelled at me and shut me down anytime I tried talking to her about it. At the time I just assumed that it was my own failings that caused that reaction, that I had done something that made her not trust me.

Drew lets out a sigh of contentment as he closes his eyes. While his mind is still a swirl of thoughts, the massage and release of tension is giving him mental clarity he feels like he hasn’t had in years. Part of him is worried this clarity will go away when the massage is over, and the stress has time to build back up. So, he really needs to try to work out a game plan now.

Depending on these transformations they could also be different people. Can I be cruel to a version of Camila who has no memory of hurting me? Or a version of Catherine who is genuinely trying to be kind? Would I be punished if I don’t?

Opening his eyes he sees Brianna looking up at him, her eyes wide with anxiety and fear. For a second he sees a younger version of himself staring up at him. Closing his eyes again he comes to a decision.

They each have one chance, during these dates we’re supposed to go on, they all will have one chance to show me they are actually sorry and want to be better. I’ll have to steel my nerves and be at least firm with them, to show them I’m serious. Because if I show weakness they will walk all over me like they always have, and I just… can’t go back to that, I won’t. If Obsidian is telling the truth, and this is all really for me, I’ll do what I have to, so I never have to live in that pain again.

In her private chamber Obsidian lounges in a pool of lava that consumes most of the room, letting the molten rock merge with her obsidian body, the volcanic glass of her form gaining more luster as it does. She has multiple floating tablets of gleaming mirror-like obsidian surrounding her. She is using them to view the current progress of all the polls, all the data coming in at rapid speeds thanks to the time dilatation.

Hm, everything is staying mostly in line with my predictions. There are a couple of surprise choices, and some of the options are in a tighter race than I predicted, some so close in fact I can’t fully predict the outcome at this point.

She pauses and looks at one particular poll.

And then there is this one. Admittedly I grew fond of an option that has started to lag behind the front runner of that poll. I will almost certainly have to use my veto here, but I’m not one to deny the audience what they want, so the question is how do I fit this option with the winning option. Also, I have received feedback on some of these transformations and need to determine the best path forward so I may improve them. Master Drew’s wants and needs are obviously top priority, but my viewers matter too and their feedback should be taken seriously.

After a minute Obsidian’s eyes widen and a wicked grin overtakes her face.

Yes, I think that will work beautifully. I promise Master Drew, with my guiding hand you will get everything you deserve from those horrid women, and so much more.