Week 3 Carla's Date: AfterParty

Shar watched the party on her screen while maintaining the tether, it wouldn't do to let Arabella's domain zip forward, leaving the girls stranded for days. Ruining dates and potentially the next challenge. It was bad enough watching Tracy and Andy glitch Arabella's physics for the party. Easily fixed at least.

Suddenly, Nimue was in the office with her, along with a number of packages. One that matched her in size. "Little Miss delivered some more mail, with gifts." The strain on the tether lessened as the former host lent her aid to Shar. The rest of the set outside of her office was still in stasis, but that didn't stop the pink-haired messenger any more than it did the elder Fae herself. "All from Harper, who is apparently on the way to becoming a host herself now."

Raising one red brow, Shar looked over the offerings and snorted. "She and her wives just left the party. Not wasting much time I see."

The blue-haired woman shrugged. "Faster time streams. As frustrating trying to keep up with as waiting for the slow ones. It's why there used to be so little communication between seasons. One of the reasons anyways."

Shar knew the others, control being large among them, both by Producers and hosts alike. She had been quite surprised by some of the guests who had been allowed at the party. "So what does our apprentice host have for us then?"

Nimue set a letter and a small box on the desk. "These are for you, the others are a letter and gifts for Laura, Candy, and Tracy."

"Which she met at the party." The redhead waved towards her computer monitor, which showed said party winding down. It wouldn't be long before it was time to bring her wards home. She pulled the small box towards her and opened it, taking out a large sealed mason jar filled with unmoving black goop. Reading the attached tag after grimacing at the contents. "Here lies the hateful hag, ‘What’s-Her-Face.’ May she rot in the back of Sharron’s junk drawer, unloved and forgotten, for all time.' So it would appear Harper got her ****, good riddance."

"Not trying to bring this one back then?" Nimue said with a smile.

Shar threw her head back and laughed. "Not hardly. Let's see what her aquatic majesty has to say. 'Sharron, I hope this letter finds you well. Or, at least, well enough to acknowledge this attempt to reach out and make amends for my mere existence. I had no control over me or mine being kidnapped by interdimensional smut peddlers. I understand that you heavily disapproved of the theme my kidnappers came up with. Well, they certainly have paid the price. Both of them.

I met some of your wards at Andy’s party and wished to write a few words to them. If you would be so kind as to pass the letter along, I would appreciate it.

While I will keep the big prize, I figure this gift would be sufficient to show that I mean to play nice.

Tyalangan, 48th Queen of the Copse-wood Throne

Ruler of Nimlith Grove.'

Well, I don't know why she thinks I hold anything against her, just because the season she was on was distasteful. Still, it's good to see the new girl on the block wants to play nice. We don't need another Ora."

Nimue picked up the mason jar after setting the smaller presents down. "Shall I put this with the other samples?"

Standing, Shar leaned forward to give the shorter woman a kiss. "Might as well, though I hardly need them anymore." Seeing her cue on the screen, Shar turned to reopen the portal. "Time to bring them home before Tracy finds more trouble."

As the opening in the air returned, the blue-haired woman smiled and was gone. A moment later, three women stepped through, and the wall behind them was black stone again. All three looked to be in good cheer, though while Laura and Candy looked much the way they had when they left, Tracy was covered in icing and the remnants of cake. She also had the white skinned body of a red-haired android over one shoulder that she was holding up. "Bringing back party favors I see." Shar smiled down at the teal-haired woman. "Also, it would seem none of you need sobering up."

Laura shook her head in annoyance. "No, the mead you gave me did a great job getting those of us with problems getting drunk good and hammered for a bit, but that didn't last long. I don't know how Tracy is sober after all that she put away though."

Candy just smiled and shrugged. She hadn't had anything to drink but non alcoholic punch, though she was definitely still buzzing on a sugar high from all the snacks. Even with the dancing and flying around. "I'm cheating." Tracy admitted, starting to look a bit pale as she shifted the body. "I figured if Anna's transformation let her burn off ****, I could do the same thing with my boost, and it worked."

Realizing what her sister was doing, Laura snatched the android away from the short catgirl. And indeed, the artificial body was anything but light, not that she had any trouble with the weight with her now draconic strength. "Are you insane? You could have asked me to carry this, though I'm still waiting to hear why you have one of the women who came with Mark instead of her going back with you. And why she's now like this."

Tracy tried to look casual, leaning against Shar's desk. She'd meant to set the bot down as soon as they got back, and just got caught up in the moment. It wasn't like she'd collapsed or anything. Yet. "Research, and I paid for her fair and square. She was Mark's property and now mine, and I have his full permission to look into her code." She looked up at Shar. "So fair's fair, no secrets that aren't mine."

The tall redhead shrugged. "That is between you and Mark. Now, before you go and get cleaned up, and everyone gets changed before the contest, you have a letter and gifts."

"Gifts?" Candy had noticed the three boxes, and one quite large package. "From who?"

"Harper, whom you met at the party. It has been longer for her than the three of you since she left the party for her own faster time stream before you could make it back here. You must have made an impression." Shar handed the letter over to Laura.

The dragon-winged woman shifted the bot further back so she could open the letter with both hands. She'd probably have to haul this thing all the way to Tracy's room to keep the little idiot from boosting her strength again and passing out in the hall. "Laura, Candy, and Tracy, I hope this letter finds you all well. We met at Andy’s birthday party and I wanted to reach out. I understand Shar hasn’t exactly done a specified call for fan-mail letters recently but takes mail as it comes, so I figured now would be as good of a time as any.

Laura, as the Mistress, I suppose I should address you first. First, thank you for including me in the group, sort of. While I had no control over what the hag set me up for, I felt abandoned, punished for a crime committed against me. I get that me joining the other side of the line makes me not exactly matching the group anymore, but could still use some friends that went through a (frankly, ****) version of all of the show mess. Secondly, I have never seen anyone throw that much booze back and not die from **** poisoning in my life. I don’t know if it’s just whatever dragon stock was used to turn you into a zemeitsa is just extra sturdy, you are a different type of dragon-girl altogether, or you are just the type of gal with a liver made of adamantine, but oof. I don’t normally drink all that much. Maybe a glass or two a week. Banquets here are usually **** free. The effects of drinking is dangerously volatile for too many species. I think I gained five pounds from Andy’s party from the drinks alone. A lot of that night turned into a blur. I think I drunkenly challenged you to a friendly duel at one point? I would not mind a spar, if you want, mind you, but still...

I am sending you my standard 'I was aware of your season when I was trapped in the Hotel and am contacting you for the first time' package: something cute, something embarrassing, something personal. The cute thing is a two-tailed fox plushy. It has a Calm Emotions enchantment on it. Give it a squeeze and it’ll suppress strong emotions. Take the edge off. At the point you and yours are at in your season, I doubt you need it, but who knows if Shar decides to throw a curve ball new contestant at you that could use some comfort.

There is a story behind the embarrassing thing. So, one of mine is an actual dragon that I gave a transformation that gives her a more human default form. I don’t know if you have the hoarding compulsion most dragonkin have, but she does. She tried to buy my affection with a bunch of giant anime statues of my favorite contestants from other seasons in an attempt to jump-start my hoard of Hotel merch. I feel gross keeping them; I also feel gross destroying them. I mean, some of the people depicted were at the party. And, now that I’m out, I checked and the Hotel merch stores have insane return policies. I decided to pass them along to the Master/Mistress when I have the chance. So, one mint-in-box ahegao statue of Candy. It is supposed to develop a baby bump as your kiddo grows in Candy? Do with it as you will.

The personal gift is a selection of perfectly mundane but exquisitely crafted libations from my new world, plus a bottle of Crab Trapper from a more normal to you one. Some tasting notes:

*Evermead – Skye’s first batch won’t be ready for at least another 15 years (20 year minimum aging process), but this 100 year aged bottle from our personal cellar is from a good vintage. It’s like the delicious result of a champagne, a well-aged mead, and a kriek beer having an orgy. It’s technically a bubbly fortified white wine, before you add in all the extras.

*Drow Mushroom Wine – A bit of an acquired taste, this is earthy, almost savory. Closest thing I can get to scotch (though, only about 60 proof) here. Fermenting mushrooms is interesting.

*Hu-cow Kefir – In our new world, the vast majority of diary products are produced using hu-cow milk. The increased sugar content in said milk means this kefir is about as alcoholic as a light beer. So, boozy drinkable plain yogurt. If you like it, I can send you the recipe and a kefir starter to see if Susan’s milk will work.

*Crab Trapper – The booze not from my world is admittedly weird. Crabs and spices are added to the primary fermentation cask. My mermaid-wife loves it.

Candy, congratulations on your upcoming nuptials and bundle of joy. In a sense, once you get past the smut peddler ****, even a season like mine ended up with so much joy at the end. Trying my best to be a good wife and mother is such a rewarding adventure, even if the seem more mundane that my actual adventures. Treasure that little one and treasure the one who put her in you.

My wife Skye really, REALLY got into scrapbooking baby picture albums when me and mine started having kids. She has one for every kiddo the harem has that doesn’t instantly fly away after emerging from giant spider monsters (still getting used to having wasp progeny). She might have cornered you to show off some baby pics at the party? You seem the type that would want to do that too. So, for you, a magical scrapbook. Fire resistant. Waterproof. Able to stop small arms fire. So, you can preserve those precious faerie-dragon-girl memories for all eternity. I presume your kiddo is going to be both fae and dragonkin.

Tracy, you are quite the little firecracker, aren’t you? I am glad that you found some happiness with your girlfriend. One of my wives (Daphne) has a bit of a crush on Susan. Is it weird that she asked me to ask you if she could milk your girlfriend some time? She promises not to bite.

I also know you admired my coat. Well, the rules are that the commander of the army gets the sickest coat, but I thought you would like one of your own. Attached is a Lieutenant’s coat from my cavalry in your size. It is a little gauche to talk of battles and bloodshed at a birthday party, so sorry if I was hesitant to dish the grisly details. Assuming Shar will let you, some of my earlier kills with my blade were on my season. Maybe skip the first two weeks, if not just skip to the last challenge. Ever watch a woman cut through the metal plating of a tank with a sword? That was fun.

Next time the gang gets together, I hope that we will see each other again. Maybe I can host, once I get all this castle renovation work done. Then again, you might be tired of castles by the time you get out. My Queendom is situated on a sunny coastline, with a climate akin to southern Italy, at least. And I am sure you and yours could find some merry mischief in town.

Regards,

Tyalangan, 48th Queen of the Copse-wood Throne

Ruler of Nimlith Grove

Masters Support Group – Member Emeritus." Laura paused, finally done reading, to digest all that while Candy blushed, having a good idea what was in the largest box now.

"Other side?" Tracy asked. "What did she mean by that? Also which one is my coat? I can't wait to wear it."

Shar pushed that flattest of the packages towards the teal-haired catgirl. "She could either be referring to having finished her season recently, or that she is training to become a host all her own."

Tracy paused from tearing into her present. "Huh? Can she do that? I thought they closed the loophole after your wish?"

"Only in that hosts are no longer protected from being in a harem, and Harper still very much has hers."

Picking up the only box left that obviously wasn't a statue or a scrapbook, Laura opened it to find the fox plushie. "The wines? I may want to try some of them."

"They have already been sent to your suite. And I will send the statue where you would like as well."

Laura looked over to where Candy had uncovered the blissed out face of her statue, blushing even harder. "I don't want to be rude, but it is a very weird gift. Maybe with the paintings, would that be okay, Candy?"

"Huh?" The blonde whirled and danced over to Laura's side. "Sure, I don't mind. It's really good, almost like looking into a mirror."

"A mirror having an orgasm maybe." Tracy laughed. "How much time do we have anyways? I'm gonna really need to soak to get all this cake off of me."

Shar ruffled Tracy's hair, careful not to get any of the frosting on her hand. "You only just left moments before, you still have near two hours."

Grabbing up her scrapbook, she'd have to find a camera somewhere, Candy blew Laura a kiss and waved to Shar and Tracy before shrinking in a flash and flying off. Managing to both carry the now giant to her book, and push the door open somehow, as she went to go change out of her party dress.

Laura shifted the redheaded android again before she shook Tracy's shoulder, as the engineer looked lost in thought. "Come on, let's go put away your toys so I can get changed as well. The day's only getting longer."

Tracy looked up from where she'd been eyeing their giant host. "Yeah, hot bath time. Let's go!" And ran off clutching the military coat to her as her sister followed her out of the office.

Alone again, Shar sat back in her chair, looking from the partially exposed statue of Candy to the figurines 'dancing' on her desk. "Little Miss might have them in stock, it wouldn't hurt to ask."

But where would she put them?

Bonus Halloween art by Little Miss, Street Samurai Anna