Chat with Clara and David over beers, and try to examine your feelings for both of them. When you first saw Clara you thought she was a total hottie, One that Matt would have totally gone after. So why did you kiss David?

The gentle hum of weekend conversations fills the Fox & Crown as you sip your second gin and tonic, its effects warming your smaller body more quickly than you're used to. You find yourself studying Clara and David with new eyes—a strange byproduct of your transformed state and the gentle influence of Comfort Mode Level 1.

"So what's the plan for tomorrow?" Clara asks, twirling the straw in her cocktail. "I could help you find some proper clothes, Mia. The stuff from my closet is fine for today, but you'll need your own things."

You nod absently, your attention split between her words and how your body responds to her presence. Clara is objectively stunning—those long legs, perfectly styled auburn hair, the confident way she carries herself. As Matt, you would have been instantly attracted to her, probably would have awkwardly flirted despite David's occasional interest in her. Yet now, while you can appreciate her beauty, it registers differently—more like admiration than desire.

"Earth to Mia," David waves a hand in front of your face, his smile teasing. "Lost in thought?"

"Just... processing," you admit, your Irish lilt still strange in your ears. "It's odd how differently I see both of you now."

"Oh?" Clara perks up, leaning forward. "Do tell."

You blush, the heat rising to your cheeks faster and more intensely than you ever experienced as Matt. "It's just—when I first saw you today, Clara, I thought 'she's gorgeous.'" You pause, searching for words. "But not in the way I used to notice beautiful women. More like... I was comparing myself to you."

Clara's eyebrows rise, a pleased smile crossing her lips. "That's actually quite sweet. And what about our David here?" She nudges him playfully.

Your eyes meet David's, and that now-familiar flutter returns to your stomach—a sensation that seems hardwired into your new physiology. His gaze holds yours for a beat too long, and you find yourself remembering the pressure of his lips against yours, the way his hands felt on your waist.

"I don't know," you admit quietly. "I keep surprising myself. That kiss... I didn't plan it."

"But you didn't hate it," David states more than asks, his voice dropping lower.

"No," you whisper, fidgeting with the stem of your glass. "I didn't hate it at all."

Clara looks between you two, a delighted grin spreading across her face. "Well, this is turning out to be far more interesting than I expected. David, you're blushing!"

"Shut up," he mutters, taking a large gulp of his drink.

"It's just... confusing," you continue, finding that Comfort Mode makes it easier to articulate these complicated feelings. "Everything feels different. My reactions, my instincts—they're not what I'm used to."

"How so?" David asks, genuinely curious.

You search for the right words. "It's like... my body knows things my mind is still catching up to. When you look at me a certain way, I feel this... flutter. And when you touched me—" You stop, embarrassed by how revealing this conversation has become.

"When I touched you...?" David prompts, his eyes darkening slightly.

"It felt right," you finish simply. "Which makes no sense at all, considering everything."

Clara raises her glass. "To making no sense at all, then. Sometimes that's where the fun begins."

23:15 | Saturday 2 August 2025 | Fox & Crown Pub, Putney

[Comfort Mode Level 1] | 10:15 hours remaining