A Stroll through town, Plus room pairings

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome back to Harem Hotel: Missed Encounters. I hope you were all pleased with the results of the transformations we had last time. I know I was, what about you, Master Mark?” Cassandra beamed at him.

“I know the ladies might not be thrilled to hear this, but I really liked all the physical transformations; they look really nice. The mental ones I’m less sure about, but I think most could be fun or helpful, with only a few being issues. Though I don’t think any of them are really that bad compared to what I have seen others get on this show.”

Multiple women were staring at Mark incredulously as he uttered the last sentence. Talia hesitantly spoke up, “Look, I am really going to try not to be too much of a wet blanket, so to speak, but seriously, these weren’t bad? What would a bad one even be like if these weren’t bad?”

Mark sighed, “Look, not to make light of the changes you all have undergone, but yes. These transformations were… I’m not sure tame is the right word, but generally light or kind, at least for the most part. Even the standard transformations can be rather harsh on some seasons, but again, outside of a few, they weren’t that bad. Like you said earlier, most people had one that they wouldn’t view as a total negative.”

“Hey, speaking of that,” Samantha began, “Even if we are going to be busy for a bit, you should definitely sit down with us and give us a better idea of what we are all in for, like a mission briefing. You know about this stuff because you were able to watch or read stuff from the show online, or something, right? I don’t know about everyone else, but I would like to know a little bit about what the worst-case scenario is.”

“For sure, I was going to try and do that, or, barring being able to do it all together, talk about it on our dates. Because you’re right, you all deserve to know what you’re in for.”

“Well, glad to see some motivation to get into the game and do your best, Samantha, but we do have places to be, so follow me. I will be giving you all a tour of the facilities for this season.” Cassandra motioned for all of the women to follow her down the ramps off the side of the stage to go into the lobby of the empty theater.

They all walked out into a massive rotunda, containing many of the features one might expect in a theater lobby, like a staircase up to the balcony, a bar for drinks and snacks, some tables and chairs scattered about the sides of the room, and plush carpeting lining the floors. Then there are things one would not expect. Open chests of gold, jewels, and other treasures sat on the floor around the tables. Ornate, picturesque statues of scantily clad or naked women in various suggestive poses flanked each of the 5 arches that lead out of the rotunda. Then there was the dragon. Not a stuffed dragon, mind you, but an actual dragon lying atop a mound of glittering jewels and gold coins in the center of the room. The ten people following Cassandra stopped upon getting to the lobby and had a combination of shock, utter terror, and disbelief run through them, and most of them were physically stunned for a moment.

“Oops, sorry, my bad. I forgot to turn on the Dragon Fear suppression aura.” Cassandra tapped her fingers in the air, and things got a bit better, but it was still a dragon, and that made the T-Rex skeletons Mark had seen look small. “So don’t mind him, he works on the show with me. His name is Smug. He won’t harm you if you don’t try to take his stuff. Now this is known as the Dragon’s Lair Auditorium, which is where we will meet at the end of the rounds for challenges. You will notice five exits around the room. The two on the furthest left and right coming out of the auditorium go to the rooms where the contestants will be staying. The one in the center goes to the village where many of our amenities are located, and yes, you can get there without coming through here. Past the town is the Rose-Crowned Court, a luxurious palace where our Master will reside and where you will be spending your date nights. We will be going to the town first. Now I will warn all of you, this resort is magical, and outside of the town, there are magical effects all over, so be aware of that. The town itself does not have lingering magical effects that are not directly part of amenities. For ease of travel, we have placed a set of magical portals in the town square that connect each of the residential buildings besides the Rose-Crowned Court, as well as here. Now, let us move on before we disturb Smug.” Cassandra motioned to the central archway, and everyone at the mention of the dragon chose to remain quiet until they were elsewhere.

They traveled down a long hallway, reaching a shimmering blue portal where they could partially make out the town on the other side as it was distorted. “Alright, let's go on through.” Cassandra motioned them to set through the portal. Mark, seeing the rest hesitate, decided he might as well go first. Stepping through, Mark was greeted by the sound of running water from a fountain behind him on the other side of the portal, and noticed the other four portals around the fountain. As the girls came through, he continued to look around and could only think, Well, I guess I did die and got isekai’d into your standard generic fantasy world. Even got the stereotypical harem of women your protagonist would have too.

“Ah, what a charming and rustic little town. It 'as such a simple elegance, no?” Ellen said, upon examining the town and then seeing the palace atop the Hill outside of town, “Mon Dieu, it is breathtaking. A palace most certainly worthy of kings and queens, no?” Ellen was gazing upon an ornate building practically made of glass that glittered in the sunlight, with a massive garden barely visible at this distance.

“It really is quite pretty,” Mark remarked. “But also rather far away. Am I expected to walk there? You said there wasn’t a portal?”

“Of course not. We have swift carriages at the edge of town to take you there. Now there are three main places here in town I want to show you all, and luckily, they are all nearby. This way to the town market.” They travelled down the street a bit until they came across a plaza with various stalls and shops. “Now the first place is brand new, just opened a few minutes ago, in fact, as we finally found new management for it. I present to you ‘Chloe’s Candy Co-op,’” Cassandra said with fanfare, gesturing to a rather plain-looking building that transformed into what could only be the witch’s candy cottage from Hansel & Gretel. “Here is the special store you got access to because of your boon, Chloe. Like all the places we will be visiting, there are catalogs on your phone you can browse, but you have to actually come here to make the purchase for most items. This doesn’t include Mark, though, as the Master, he can make the purchase anywhere. A few things can be bought elsewhere and be delivered to you, though. Now, Chloe, you will not have to be here to make sales either, but you do have to approve any sale to another contestant, and you can do so via your phone.”

“I am not sure how I feel about effectively taking the role of the witch in Hansel & Gretel. This is supposed to be a fairytale place, and witches tend not to do well in those. ” Chloe said, furrowing her brow.

“The next is the BP General Store, a few buildings over. I hope you will make ample use of this place.” Cassandra radiated excitement and then realized something and evasively began, “Actually… no, I don’t, please forget I showed you this place. Okay, I know I have to show it to you.” Inside was a rather tall Scandinavian-looking woman standing at the counter. “Hello, welcome to Slevia’s general store. What can I help you with today?”

“Hi Slevia, just showing the new harem around the resort, you understand.” All she got in response was a curt nod. “Slevia is who to talk with to make a purchase, though sometimes she has one of her helper gremlins here instead. The final place to show you is just a little further down the street. Later, Slevia!” Cassandra shouted as she led them out of the building, down the street, and around a corner. There were clothing boutiques lining both sides of the street with various items on lifelike display mannequins in the windows. “Here is fashion road, where all your clothing needs can be met. Any questions before we move on to your rooms?”

“Do I have time to get something to wear? Like jeans or a skirt, even, so I am not just walking around in my panties.” Allie inquired.

“I would like to second that,” Flora quickly added.

“Afraid not, you'll just have to wait until later,” Cassandra spoke in a bemused tone and waved her hand as they appeared in front of a red-trimmed cottage surrounded by a long fence with a garden of herbs and wildflowers to one side. Inside the fenced area, there was a set of picnic benches as well. “Welcome to The Playhouse Kennel, a quaint little cottage. I will allow you to look around inside later, but I wanted to mention that each of the buildings has a special amenity inside for you to take advantage of and enjoy, though I will leave it up to you to figure out what it does. The Playhouse Kennel’s amenity is a magical kitchen to prepare food for each other and the Master. Alright, tonight, Talia and Laura will be staying here. You will find all your stuff inside, which will also transfer anytime you change to a new room.”

“Wait! I’m rooming with her!” Talia and Laura spoke in near unison. Both were slightly disgruntled with having to share a room with the person they thought would be the most annoying to deal with.

“At least for tonight, you are. Remember, whenever you have a date night, you will be swapping places with whoever has the next date night. Also, I would like to encourage you all to meet here for meals. I added an incentive for the ladies who stay here to actually cook for the other harem members, but it is completely optional. Now you will notice three portals here, like the ones in town. They go to the town, the dragon’s lair, and the Sultan’s Sugar Garden.” She pointed as she listed off where each went. “Now we are going to the Sugar Garden next.”

Heading through the portal, they were just on the outside of a marble-tiled courtyard with intricately decorated arches leading into it on three of its sides. Inside the courtyard walls were raised areas containing all sorts of flowers and spices, causing the entire area to be covered with sweet and sensual aromas. There were lanterns strung overhead with plush chaise lounges scattered throughout, so one could simply relax and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. With a manor on the final side of the courtyard, stylized to resemble an Arabian palace.

“Now, The Sultan’s Sugar Garden was designed as a place for all of you to just relax and unwind from the stress of the show. In addition, inside you will find The Hookahs of Whispers as the special amenity here. The garden is here to provide different spices for your use with it. Ellen and Sam, you two will be staying here for the time being.”

“Well, I for one find ze scent simply délicieux—quite enchanting, really.” Ellen mused, “I am quite sure we weel enjoy our stay 'ere… it eez truly wonderful, non Samantha?”

“Well, it is pretty and does smell nice. I just hope the inside of the place is as nice and not like, the hookah dens I’ve been to during college.

“Let us proceed on to The Ballerina’s Boudoir,” motioning the girls through the portal to the next room.

There was a slightly raised circular platform completely walled off except for steps leading up opposite the building on the other side of the platform. What was weird was that they could see through the walls and saw their reflections on the other side of the platform, staring back at them?

“Okay, I’m confused. What am I looking at here?” Allie inquired

Merida cut in before Cassandra had a chance, “It’s a ballerina’s studio, juist like it says on the tin, ay? Mirrors on the wa's so ye can admire yer every twirl an’ flourish. I’d wager Cassandra fancied it a stage tae—let the hale warld hae a peek while ye’re dancin’ aboot in yer tights.”

“Exactly, it is meant as a place where you can do some relaxing workouts, dance, and do some yoga. We do have a more comprehensive facility in town for specialized activities, some of which cost BP, but this is here for all of you to enjoy for free. And inside you will find two enchanted wardrobes with outfits anyone can use if the girls here allow you to, but only those who woke up here can bypass any clothing restrictions by their TFs. You can keep wearing the same outfit until you take it off, even if you move to a new room, but it will teleport back if you do take it off and did not wake up in the bed here that morning. Now, Merida, you and Chloe will stay here until your date nights. Finally, let’s move on to the Velvet Tower.” Leading them into the portal to the last of the contestant rooms.

They came out to the foot of a tall tower covered with vines with a large ring balcony near the top. Lanterns floated in the air, dancing about in the wind around the tower, never crossing the tree line of the forest encircling it. There were rope swings, with some benches and bushes of pink roses surrounding the exterior. “Welcome to the Velvet Tower. The exterior here is mostly like the Sugar Garden as a place to unwind, maybe have a nice, pleasant conversation, and romp through the rose garden. Inside, you will find The Binding Platform, which I will allow you all to explore in more detail. Now I was going to whisk you away to your suite, Mark, but it seems like you want to spend some more time and talk with your harem. Who am I to get in the way of the Master instructing his girls? So instead, I’ll allow you to head over when you are ready or come fetch you at sundown. Now, Aubrey, Flora, and Allie, you will be staying here tonight. This is a one-time thing, as there isn’t a date this evening. After tonight, it will always be two to a room. Now on to date nights, the order will be Allie, Sam, Aubrey, Merida, Talia, Flora, Ellen, Laura, and Chloe. Now, for everyone’s sake, I have posted a chart available on your phones showing where you should be after tonight, so no excuses to not know which room you sleep in on each night.”

“With that, I will leave you to yourselves, though if you need any help with your date idea, just message me on your phone and I will be happy to let you know what is available.” With that, Cassandra appeared to wink out of existence.

“Okay, so I know you all probably want to unwind for a bit, but we really should have a group meeting, like Sam said, sooner rather than later,” Mark said and pulled out his phone, checking the time. “Looks like it is just past 10:30 am here. How about we take a few hours to unpack however you want, and meet at the town square at say 12:30 pm, and we find a place to eat in town. I saw a few restaurants and taverns there.” He got a few shrugs and then some nods of approval. “Sounds like a plan then.”