Opening Act

“Are you fucking serious? Is this a prank to not tell us the actual secret? I’m calling bullshit.” Viv says in reaction to your and your other girlfriends’ explanation of the Affection Multiplier.

The four of you tried to explain the app in as much detail as possible to them. From when you got the app, how only you can see the app, and how the app projects a ‘score’ of people’s Affection, Love, and Lust they have towards you (provided, that you’ve interacted with them once you had the app); to how it amplifies those positive emotions you elicit from them now that you have the app; as well as giving you points to spend to buy magical traits or perks if you reach a certain threshold in a person’s score. You tell them about ‘Magic Touch’ and ‘Normalized ****’, and the reason you bought the latter trait, to try and convince that magic has been affecting them all this time, similar to how you tried to explain it to Tanya. You refrained from telling everyone about ‘Supportive Family’ yet as you yourself don’t see how that could convince those who don’t know about the app yet.

After your and your girlfriends’ joint explanation though, they’re not as open to believing in magic existing as quickly as Stella, Cassie, and Tanya, did.

“How do you explain finding Jay’s relationship with Stella as something that’s not weird then?” Cassie asks Viv.

“Uh~, because it’s not? Who gives a shit if he’s banging his daughter. How is that magic?” Viv retorts.

“That’s the magic talking!” Stella points out in frustration.

“I would have to disagree. The first time I met Jay, he was already in a relationship with Stella; so it’s not like that’s ever been something peculiar for me.” Becca points out.

“Yeah. What Becca said. It’s not like we’ve known a world where Mr. Craig having an incestuous relationship with Stella was ever weird.” Maddy says in agreement to Becca’s point. To be honest, you never considered the idea that they’ve never known you or Stella’s previous non-incestuous relationship for them to make a distinction.

“Okay, then turn that around. What if your parents wanted to have sex with you?” Stella asks them, trying to counter argue.

“EW!” Maddy immediately reacts in disgust.

“Exactly!” Stella shouts triumphantly.

“Our own distaste at the thought of being incestuous aside, it still doesn’t mean that it’s weird for Jay to have that kind of relationship with Stella.” Becca points out.

“Doesn’t it though?” Brooke finally speaks up, to your and your girlfriends’ surprise. “I mean, the first time I met Jay and Stella they were just a normal father and daughter relationship. I never would have even considered them as people who would date, let alone should or could. Next time I see him a few days later, he’s already in a relationship with her and I don’t bat an eye. That’s… I don’t know why that is.” Brooke points out.

“We’re telling you it’s magic!” Stella shouts in frustration. Brooke seems to ponder on that possibility after realizing the difference for herself. You’re not exactly sure why Becca, Viv, and Maddy can’t seem to see that difference for themselves. Is it really only because they didn’t know you and Stella prior to your relationship?

“Viv, you’re the one who joked about me being Craster the daughterfucker, or singing Sweet Home Alabama as a greeting. Deep down you have to think that it’s weird that I’m the only one you accept to have an incestuous relationship as normal, right? Otherwise, you wouldn’t have made those jokes.” You try to argue.

“Not really. I made those jokes because you’re the only one I know who they would apply to.” Viv answers you.

“Exactly! He’s the only one you know that you can make that joke and not have it be disgusting.” Stella points out again.

“You keep saying ‘Exactly!’ like you’re making a point.” Viv says mockingly. “It’s NORMAL for him to have an incestuous relationship. That’s why I poke fun at it… and you know, not call the cops if somebody else was doing it?” Viv points out.

“Isn’t it weird for you that there is that distinction between him and other people in general? Why do you girls think it’s normal for only Jay to have an incestuous relationship then?” Tanya asks Viv.

“It just is.” All four of them surprisingly reply in unison.

“You don’t wonder why that is for him and not anybody else?” Cassie asks them.

“It’s like asking us ‘why the sky is blue’. It’s a fact of life.” Viv answers, and Becca and Maddy shrug in agreement. Brooke on the other hand, seems to have made a realization with her eyes widening and her body tensing up.

“It-It wasn’t always a fact of life.” Brooke suddenly speaks out. “Maybe…” Brooke started saying, before pausing to think about what she’s going to say some more. “Maybe it’s because I met Stella and Jay before they were together romantically, and that’s why I can see the point they’re trying to make. It wasn’t always normal to me. Something changed that allowed me to accept that they’re dating now. It’s probably why it’s a lot easier for me to accept that something weird is going on.” Brooke points out.

“Oh! That makes sense. Cassie and I have both known Stella and Jay’s relationship before he bought the ‘Normalized ****’ trait, so we can easily pinpoint when it was that our thoughts on their relationship became different.” Tanya shares.

“Then that leaves us at an impasse here. It’s not like we can travel back to the hypothetical time in the past where it wasn’t okay for him to bone his daughter.” Viv says mockingly, her tone a mix of annoyance and disappointment.

“Stop acting like we’re bullshitting you! We’re not! This is the fucking secret of how Dad knew you were hesitant to sleep with him.” Stella tells Viv, equally annoyed at her.

“I’m actually surprised you’re more open to believing he’s a mind reader than some magical app.” Cassie comments.

“I would’ve called bullshit if you guys said mind reading too!” Viv tells Cassie. “Well~, if you said mind reading specifically.” Viv backtracks. “I mean, if the secret was some kind of psychoanalysis or something based on reality that gets him to deeply connect with someone so quickly, I would definitely believe that over a magic app that just brainwashed me to like him more. I don’t want to cheapen my connection with him like that.” Viv explains.

There it is.

What you were afraid of they would think if they found out about the app. That you manipulated them in some way to feel this way for you.

“Um~, Mr. Craig?” Maddy then asks shyly, and you all look at her simultaneously. Maddy gets redder, now that she realizes she has an audience for her question. Maddy takes a deep breath before continuing. “Does that mean the app says that I don’t l-uh~... uh~.” Maddy begins to stutter.

“No! No, Maddy. It doesn’t say that at all. It shows a numerical number, and it only gave an example of what those numbers could mean. What it said was that you were in range of a steady teenage relationship. I guess I interpreted that as a teenage crush, and not what it actually was. I know you have genuine feelings for me. I’m not questioning that anymore.” You assure her, making Maddy blush even more; but she does give you a determined smile.

“What you said was cheesier than the pizza.” Brooke jokes, which has the double effect of lightening up the mood, and also snapping you out of your panic that your relationship with all four of these women is crumbling down before it could even truly start.

“You’re going to have to clarify your joke wasn’t a dig at the pizza or dad would be heartbroken.” Stella jokes back, making everybody awkwardly chuckle; still unsure of the current vibe the group has with half of the group failing to make the other half believe in magic.

“Jokes aside, we need to clarify something for Viv too.” Cassie says, braving to try and cut the weird atmosphere of uncertainty. “The app doesn’t brainwash you to feel anything. It can change your perception about something, but it can’t make you fall in love if you don’t want to. It amplifies your feelings for him. It doesn’t create affection out of nothing, and it certainly doesn’t turn a negative into a positive. Those are still your feelings. If you feel like it cheapens your connection with him, then what does that say about our relationship with him?” Cassie argues for you.

It gets Viv to look at your other girlfriends shamefully, beginning to panic that she may have insulted them by implying your relationship with them is based on mind control.

“We know you didn’t mean anything by it, V. You can relax.” Tanya assures her.

“So can I make my joke that that’s exactly what a mind-controlled person would say, or is it too soon?” Viv jokingly asks.

“UGH! Why is it so hard for you to believe in the app?” Stella says in frustration.

“The only thing I find believable in all this is that Jay would use magic to try and fuck Celeste.” Viv jokes.

“This would be so much easier if you’ve had sex with him already. You’ll definitely believe in ‘Magic Touch’, easy.” Stella points out.

“I can think of a way to test that theory.” Brooke continues to joke, getting your girlfriends to laugh.

“HA! Was this all an elaborate dick joke? Is the app your dick?” Viv asks playfully, but there’s a hope in her voice that this whole app business is fake.

“I’d ride that joke if we weren’t being serious.” Stella comments.

“Then seriously ride the joke then. I bet it's a long hard joke, isn’t it?” Viv continues to ask playfully.

“Okay! Enough. You’re derailing us again.” Brooke points out.

“Not intentionally this time. I swear!” Viv says defensively.

“Again, jokes aside, I can’t stop thinking about when I suddenly started thinking he and Stella dating is normal to me. I can distinctly remember a time when the thought of it would have been sickening.” Brooke admits. “I-I’m beginning to think this is real, Viv.” Brooke admits.

“Halle-fucking-lujah!” Stella shouts triumphantly, and Viv can’t help but laugh. Viv’s laughter quickly dies down though, as she seems to realize something mid-laugh. Viv sighs, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

“Look, I’m sorry if I’m making this difficult. It’s not that I don’t want to believe you. I honestly want to. Of course I do.” Viv says in an apologetic tone.

“Like I said earlier, I trust you.” Viv tells you sincerely. “More than that, I love you.” She adds, making all the other girls react in their own little ways.

“It’s just… magic? Really?” Viv tries to explain her disbelief.

“I think what Viv is attempting to convey is that maybe you can provide more concrete evidence of this magical app.” Becca chimes in.

“Yeah. Is it in the app store? Can we see some user reviews?” Viv says jokingly.

“Enough, Vivian. We’re going nowhere with these side comments. I know you want to keep the mood light after calling bullshit on his explanation earlier, but you’re taking us in the completely opposite direction.” Becca tells Viv seriously, and Viv immediately apologizes.

“You said only you can see the app on your phone, correct?” Becca asks you, and you nod in response. “You also mentioned that you can buy traits with points you’ve earned, yes?” Becca continues, and you again nod to confirm.

“Then show us.” Becca tells you conclusively.

“Do magic.”