Carbonnades de Boeuf

As the girls filed outside, Reyna skipped in circles around the group. The assistant was surprisingly quick and nimble given her frame and then only stopped in front of the group once they were outside. What greeted them outside the double doors, was water. Water in almost every direction. In front of the doors was a semi-circle of smooth tan stone with a small wall on its sides that ended in a dock and beyond that more buildings suspended in water, boats gently drifting along the current.

Mira was the first to speak up, “It’s like Venice, no roads just travel by boat?”

Reyna winked and snapped her fingers to point at Mira, “That’s right! The Castello’s Island is modeled after the floating city itself with a few modifications.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, “I’ve been to Venice for a game before but I’m guessing these modifications make any knowledge pointless.”

Hopping from one foot to the other, Reyna now pointed at Maya, “Correctamundo! See Venice was just an inspiration, the island itself its own thing and not to mention…” She pointed at a far-off clock tower that was gently drifting along the horizon, “The buildings and locations are not fixed here on the island.”

Standing above everyone else, Amy crossed her arms at her chest, “How are we supposed to find anything then?”

Reyna smiled and took out a box, inside was a collection of silver rings that she began to hand out to the group, “These rings signify your position as contestants, and while they look simple they’ll be vital to your time here. Lillian if you would, hold your hand with the ring up and say ‘Points’”

Lily shot the peppy girl a skeptical look and raised her hand, “Points. Woah!” On her hand, it was like her blood had collected in her Palm and she watched as a red “VP” formed, before fading and being replaced with “-3”, this then faded and was replaced with a red “BP” which was replaced by the readout of “15”. Lily shook her hand vigorously and Stella couldn’t help but laugh from the sidelines.

Reyna giggled as well, “Those rings will let you know your current VP and BP totals, but we will also be posting everyone’s VP in the Lobby starting tomorrow with the Bounty Board so you’ll see where you stand. Your BP will be kept information you only have access to though, unless you decide to share of course.”

Raising her hand with an unamused expression Amy asked, “Ok but how does that help us get around?”

A smug expression on her face, Reyna skipped forward to a post that came up to her waist, with a metal plaque adorning it, and stuck out her hand. “Like this,” she put her hand against it and the plaque glowed, and quickly a small gondola pulled into port.

On the gondola holding at their side a large oar was a petite woman, almost. Her ears were long and droopy, she had curled horns at the side of her head and while her top was adorned in a suit jacket, her bottom was bare revealing fluffy fur and hooves and a short tail. She looked at the contestants with a soft docile expression.

Reyna puffed up her chest proudly, “Your rings will allow you to summon a gondola to take you anywhere you please. Our Faun helpers are all over the island and eager to help you find what you need, including taking you to any destination you desire.” In the boat, the small goat woman gave a little nod.

Maddy tilted her head, “Do…they talk?”

Reyna tugged on her collar awkwardly, “Well…they can talk but we have them muted currently.”

Puffing up her cheeks Maddy scolded Reyna, “What? Did you mute the workforce? That’s absolutely barbaric.”

Lily leaned in towards Maddy, “Mads, we’re on a sex dating show you think they care about workers’ rights?”

Reyna paused, “Well, if you insist…” She waved her hand and there was a moment that transpired before a look of realization crossed over the faun's face as it realized its voice had returned to it.

It turned to the group and opened its mouth, a tirade in an indiscernible accent coming out, “Well look at all you fine fillies there, can’t wait to see what the master does to all you when you start rutting, cunts all filled with cum. I’ll bet he gives it hard to the big one, wouldn’t that be something? And the plump one you look ripe to be filled with seed and to start bearing children, yeah left out weak legs because of how hard he gave it to ya. Can’t wait to see how many beds break when the master sticks it up y-”

With a wave of her hand, Reyna silenced the Faun, “This is what they’re like. They’re very sexual creatures with no sense of boundaries. Fitting for our purposes but much better if they keep their mouths shut. Now I won’t be showing you every area, as we want to encourage you to explore for yourself. That being said the shopping district will be vitally important for you all so two to gondola and tell the fauns where to go.”

One by one the groups began filing up to the post and waving their ringed hand to the plaque. They naturally ended up in their room assignments as it seemed the simplest way to divvy up without much discussion.

In the front of the line, Eliza was looking over a particularly dejected-looking Noemi and tried to breach the silence, “So…trying to apologize didn’t work out so well it seems.”

Noemi winced, she supposed everyone probably could have heard how bad her talk with Caleb went, “Yeah…I guess not. I didn’t mean to blow up, I honestly was trying you know? Not just because of this stupid competition but like I recognize what I did was bad, I know it.”

The philosophy professor nodded and leaned in, “So why did you blow up then? If you know you need to apologize and you know what you did was wrong, what made you fly off the handle like that.”

Noemi started running her hands through her hair, “I don’t know! Just when he started giving me attitude like…like I’m a bad person. I’m not a bad person! I know what I did was wrong but fuck him for treating me like that.”

Leaning back Eliza put a hand to her chin, this was a sticky situation. Noemi had every right to not want to be judged but Caleb’s entire experience with her was as a bully, there would be no way for him to conceive of her as something more unless she demonstrated that. And after the scene in the lobby, it would be difficult for that chance to come up naturally again.

So Eliza leaned back forward and took Noemi’s hands, “Listen I’ve already spoken with some other girls about this but while we’re stuck here we have to have each other’s backs. There is too much going on that we don’t understand right? So I want to help you with this but I’m not sure if you’re going to be able to move forward unless you’re willing to budge a little on this.”

Noemi’s eyes widened, “You want me to give in and just accept it? Let him treat me like some monster just so I can do a little better?”

Eliza waved her hands hurriedly, “No that’s not what I’m saying at all, listen Caleb doesn’t know you, he knows who you were and you can’t expect him to flip to recognize you aren’t the same overnight if you aren’t willing to show him you’re more than a brute…”

Noemi scoffed, “A brute? Maldita sea, I’m just trying to be myself! No, I get it, it’s fine sure whatever I get it.” She crossed her arms and leaned back and Eliza could see she wasn’t going to make any headway with her like this.

The professor looked to the crystal clear water just below. They were surrounded by beauty on all sides but with all the tension in the women around her, it was hard to enjoy it. She was used to taking care of younger people, she purposefully tried to be a role model to her students and tried to be an example of a good fun-loving adult. Now, as she looked at her recently youthified form, she felt like she was unqualified to give guidance to anyone. Romance and partnerships weren’t her strong suit after all.

Not to mention given the popularity poll, she would be the one first having a date with a man that she had considered a favored student until not but a few hours ago. A man who had been half her age and was apparently more damaged than she had ever realized. Now she had to figure out how to seduce him?

“No lets not start thinking that way, the show is going to push us into focusing our thoughts around him already. Don’t help them.” She thought to herself, “Still, we can’t afford to be complacent we all saw what would happen if we didn’t play.” The thought wore heavy on everyone Eliza knew. No one could afford to take it easy or to ignore their circumstances.

She had told everyone earlier that they had to stick together but what if these challenges made it impossible? Lily was already behind in points, could she afford to not try and get ahead? Eliza sighed heavily. “One step at a time… let's see what the shopping district has for us.

”

Meanwhile, in the back, Stella was looking her roommate up and down and nodding, “She looks like she could toss me around like a football with those muscles, what is she seven feet tall now?”

Noticing the bartender’s gaze, Amy’s eye twitched, “Could always take a picture, then I wouldn’t have to see you drooling.”

Stella laughed nervously before leaning back in the boat, arms behind her head, “Sorry, just with some solid eye candy in front of me it’s hard not to look, especially after everything that faun was saying?” She rubbed her thighs together suggestively

Amy shot her a look, “Yeah well, could you stop? Honestly can’t understand how you’re enjoying yourself so much.”

Stella laughed, “What? This is crazy, magic is real and we’re being broadcast to the multiverse. All we have to do is jump that guy's bones a few times. Plus I have so many fun competitors to look at” She playfully looked the Oni up and down again and then felt her insides clench and had to reach down and brace herself as her whole body shook. She began to breathe hard and fast.

Her expression changing from annoyed to concerned, Amy reached a red arm towards her roommate, “Hey are you ok?”

When Stella looked up though, Amy understood from her blissed-out expression what had happened. She had disobeyed Amy’s request not to look at her and now she was in the thrall of her transformation. When her vision caught Amy looking down at her again she shook once more and hunched over.

Amy shook her her lightly, grabbing her shoulders, “Hey you can look at me, it’s ok. Shit.”

It took her a minute but eventually, the redhead was able to straighten up and laughed, “Holy shit, that was incredible. I’ll have to remember that the next time I’m backed up. Fuck man” She took off her hat and began to fan her face with it.

Amy was still concerned, “Are you ok? I didn’t think your transformation would be that intense.”

“Hmm?” Stella regarded her roommate, “Yeah I don’t think it was, I woke up horny today and haven’t had a chance to get off, not to mention between the faun and the opening ceremony I felt like I’ve been edged all day. Just kind of the right moment is all. Phew”

The Oni released her, unsure what to make of her roommate's response, “Does none of this bother you? Like honestly?”

Stella paused and put her hand to her chin as she thought, “I mean, I’ve essentially been kidnapped right? I figure it sucks, but no time is passing so I don’t have to worry about my roommates back home flipping out or losing my job, so I figure I may as well enjoy it.”

Amy’s eyes narrowed, “Just like that?”

Stella’s grin broadened, “Just like that, I’m the kinda girl that likes to roll with the punches anyhow. I hate when things start to stagnate and get boring. It’s why I dropped out of school, it’s why I moved out of my parent’s house, and it’s how I’m staying sane here.

The Oni didn’t know whether to be impressed or terrified by the woman’s outlook, but luckily she didn’t have too long to worry about it as their boat came to the dock of what must be the markets.

Eventually, each group’s boats landed and they found themselves at what appeared to be a town square. Coloured, streamers hung from the poles that littered the area and it was full of Vendor stalls with Fauns manning the various shelves. Reyna led the girls through and explained. The basic markets sold everything from clothes to sex toys for relatively cheap prices. They essentially could peruse at their leisure and just had to pay the faun manning the stall with the corresponding BP.

Maya kept looking for anything that might yield an advantage in the days to come but couldn’t find any wiretapping devices, or even a microphone of any sort. So she spoke up, “Reyna, is this really all to spend our BP on? I was under the impression that it was to help us in the competition.

A big grin crossed over Reyna’s face, “Well this isn’t all BP is for, some locations may require it for entry, such locations could be very useful on your dates but no that’s not what you’re asking for. What you want is just around the corner.

Reyna led the group around the square to what appeared to be an overgrown hut off to the side of the other stalls. It was painted a faded white and out front had a swinging wooden sign with the symbol of a bow and arrow.

Reyna guided them inside, a small chime playing as the dilapidated wooden door swung open and the group hesitantly followed. Reyna then lifted her hand to her mouth and cupped it like a speaker, “Arietta! You have customers!”

There was a stirring past the line of shelves and the group rounded it to see a woman lying on the ground lifting herself up. She had dark olive skin, dark curly hair, and tawny eyes partially obscured by the white hood of her robe. Her robe was flowing and had red trim all at the edges and also seemed to collect at her waist where a leather bodice supported a heavy set of breasts.

The woman yawned and stretched out her hands before reaching for the fronds that were lying next to her on the ground. She then saw the group and smiled, her voice came out low with just a bit of vocal fry at the edge, “Greetings contestants, and welcome to the Sabotage Shop”

Caleb stood anxiously next to Lucian in the elevator as it carried them up toward the Master’s suite. Some generic bossa nova played on the speakers as they moved up. Caleb looked over at the demon trying to get a read on him, but the host’s expression was evenly pleasant.

The young master kept tossing events over in his head. There had to be a reason he had been chosen but all Lucien had shown him was contempt so far. Seemed like he would be the last person wanting to help him achieve the dream of having a harem. Not that it was something Caleb had ever considered before, but honestly you don’t watch as much anime as Caleb did and never fantasize about the idea of it. Not that he would have picked these women.

Eventually, the elevator stopped and opened to a small red velvet hallway, at the end of which was one golden door. Lucian extended his arm, “After you Master, I hope you find the accommodations to your liking” he hissed out.

Nervously Caleb stepped forward and walked to the door, putting his hand on the handle. He looked back at the host who nodded impatiently. Twisting the knob, Caleb pushed forward into the room and was shocked at what he saw.

The room was cramped, very cramped. It was designed with the same aesthetic as the outer hallway with dark red with gold accents but the bed, a surprisingly drab full size bed, took up half the space. Alongside it was a bed stand, a large dresser and then opposite the bed was a stand with a CRT-style television set up on it. A door next to the dresser led to a bathroom just big enough for a standing shower, the toilet, and a sink.

After seeing the rooms the girls got, Caleb has a certain expectation set up and as his face drooped the demon began laughing.

The host plunged his stick to the ground, “What’s the matter, Master? Disappointed?”

Caleb felt like he was suspended over a shark tank as he answered, “I just…It’s not what I expected.”

“No, no I imagine it’s not.” The host crossed in front of Caleb and sat on the bed leaning in, “This was my pitch, see so many Master’s like yourself fall into the weak introverted bracket and I decided I was sick of watching them hide away in their rooms. You’re the master of the harem, sure but if you want to live like it you’re going to need to earn it.”

Caleb took a half step back, “How do you mean?”

“VP is sort of a gauge of how well contestants are doing but if you think of it inversely, total VP amongst contestants shows how well a master is doing. After all it shows how much love he has earned from his harem.” the demon waved his hand, “In theory anyway, so that’s how it is. Your room will expand and improve based on how much VP your harem has in total. So I highly encourage you not to hide away in your cage.”

Caleb frowned and narrowed eyes at Lucian, “So If I want a better living space I have to get them to like me? That seems oddly beneficent of you.”

Lucian laughed, “Think what you want, but know this…” He got up and jabbed his stick against Caleb’s chest, “As host I am required to see to your needs and make you happy, but if I had my way you would be rotting in a pit somewhere under the blue sky that you so hate. You haven’t earned shit, all you humans are so vile and contemptuous if you want a happy ending I’m going to make all of you earn it.”

The demon backed off, “But I now have other matters to attend to. Enjoy your remaining time until the dates begin. May want to start thinking about that…Master.”

And in a burst of flames, Caleb was left alone in the room. The spectacled man heaved a heavy sigh and collapsed in the bed, draping an arm over his face. “Cool, I’m on Insane Sex show with a host that wants me to suffer…what could go wrong.”