Aubrey's Tears

Aubrey clung to Mark’s Arm as they walked into town and found a tavern, where the two could order themselves some breakfast. Mark was thinking, It’s odd. Why does so much of the town have no one running it? Like the shops have staff, but pretty much nothing else, it all seems automated, no pixies, fairies, goblins, fauns, or really anything else, to take care of stuff in the background. Hmmm, maybe I can ask the girls to look into it. Then again… that might just be like asking for trouble. Maybe I can ask Laura or Sam. They might actually keep things under control.

“So, Aubrey, how are you dealing with everything?” Asking in between bites of a rather delicious omelet.

Aubrey rocked her head side to side as she considered the question and finished chewing her food. “I’m not, like, totally, thrilled about everything. But, like, the idea of finding a guy to start a family with, I was totally already doing that. There were like a few guy friends that I had considered just settling for, not perfect but pretty decent and like okay looking, probably good daddy material. I was really wanting a family but just never found Mr. Right. I guess that is like you now.” She finished and took another bite, starting on a yogurt parfait.

“Besides being forced here against your will, is there anything bothering you?

“Well, I don’t like this emptiness I am feeling in my uterus. I really want you to fill it. It isn’t overwhelming or anything, but I already felt like my biological clock was ticking, so to speak. Besides that…” She took a moment puzzling out her thoughts. “And, I also don’t like you like threatening Flora with a punishment. I thought it over more, and like I don’t think it’s okay. Like, I think I did something worse than her, mostly because I thought it would be a bit of fun and like funny to get her back for what we did to Ellen. Like I could have stopped Flora, and I didn’t. I thought we were probably going like a little overboard, too. But you're not upset with me, so I don’t get it, and that makes me not happy.”

“Okay, I get it, I’ll drop it with Flora, and try not to dwell on it. You’re the third person to tell me to stop. I guess I’m not thinking clearly with all this stress. Maybe I’m trying to be in control because I was told I’m the Master and need to manage things between you all. Though that doesn’t feel right. More likely, I just want to exert a measure of control as I don’t feel like I have much right now.”

“Well, we have all been dealing with like a lot of stress. Not every day you get abducted. But like it’s not okay to take it out on us. Look, I don’t know if you realized this or not, but you were rather intimidating back in college. A lot of us in our community group thought so. Like, not in a, oh, how sexy, would he even like me kind of way. But like… maybe a drill instructor, or teacher. Someone who would be stern. That probably, was probably partly because you were good at your role, or like maybe it was the other way around? You were good at keeping order in meetings because you seemed stern, authoritarian?”

“Yeah, it was brought to my attention even back then. Though I was a bit confused by it. Especially since most of my friends outside of the group kind of laughed at the idea of me being intimidating when I told them.”

“Anyway, I thought you were intimidating back then, but also like, kind, caring, and compassionate. I really enjoyed helping out at the soup kitchen with you, and going around campus to plant trees, and generally just like helping to make the world better. Can I ask why you didn't ask me out back then? I would have said yes, at least to a date.”

Mark thought about it and then chuckled when he realized the answer, “Sorry, not laughing at your question, I just thought the reasons were a bit funny and ironic. So when I met you, we were both dating someone at the time. You still had your boyfriend from high school, and I had actually just started my first romantic relationship ever. So —”

“Wait, weren't you like twenty when we met? You never dated anyone before that? Like ever?”

“Nope, my first ever date was shortly after homecoming of my junior year in college.”

“But, like, WHY?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Like, why wouldn’t you have dated anyone before then? Look, I’m not saying you were like a ten out of ten or anything back then. Probably a solid six and a half, maybe a seven. At least in terms of looks, and you’re tall, that alone would have probably gotten you laid a few times. Add on to that that you were somewhat funny, and caring, and I just don’t get why you didn’t have any dates.”

“Well, that brings me to the reason I was chuckling before. See, I thought girls were intimidating, and women were terrifying. I was bullied during grade and middle school pretty badly. Things got better in high school because I could leave that reputation behind, but I also think part of that was that I went to an all-boys school, so there wasn’t a pissing contest to try to impress any girls. Probably helped that I shot up in height a lot in high school, too. But I didn’t get to interact with girls my own age all that much, and I don’t have any sisters. So the number of women or girls near my own age I really interacted with before being an adult in a positive manner was one.”

“And that would be Merida, right?”

“Yep, sure, I interacted with girls during grade and middle schools, but I would call those interactions neutral at best and extremely hostile at worst. Honestly, there were people I found attractive and liked, but they were either in relationships or rejected me.”

“Like Flora did.”

“Sure, though I asked her out later. But that is the other thing I thought was amusing. See, I didn’t ask you out after both of us were single because I thought, well, I only have a few months left until graduation, and you would have had two more years of schooling at least. And I was going off to grad school, like eight plus hours away, and long distance would be hard. The facts that you were a bit younger than me and recently broke up also made me feel like I would be taking advantage of you, so…”

“Okay, I at least get that. I still can’t believe you never dated anyone until college. Wait… you have been with Allie for what? nine years? That means you would have been… … twenty-two? Twenty-three? When, you two started dating? Is Allie your second partner then? Wait did you give her your virginity, because that would be adorable.”

“Uh, yes I was twenty-three, Yes, Allie is the second person I dated. No, I did sleep with my ex-girlfriend a few times, though they weren’t great for either of us, really. Neither of us had dated anyone before, and it turns out she’s asexual. Which sort of made the sex not all that great.”

“Oh, is that like why you broke up?”

“Definitely a part of it, but she is also aromantic. She knew that it was normal to want to be with someone, and thought, well, maybe I just need to give it a try. And we did like each other, but it was never more than friendship for her. When she realized she couldn’t give me what I wanted, she started to withdraw, and I tried to cling. She explained what the issue was, so we ended it. It hurt. But I’m glad I dated her. It taught me a lot about what I wanted from a partner. We actually remained friends, playing board games together almost every week. I lost touch with her after graduation, but I can say that about a lot of my college friends.”

“So… would — would you have preferred her to be a part of her Harem instead of one of us? Or in addition?”

“No, to both your questions.”

“Why, though? You liked her, and she, like, thought of you as a friend. Given the transformations, she probably would have been given a libido and like able to have feelings for you, probably. So wouldn’t it be like a second chance?”

“I mean, maybe? But I’m really glad she isn’t on here, partly because I don’t like that you are all being forced to be on here. But I’m really glad all of you are attracted to men. I wouldn’t feel right messing with her sexuality like that. I know I wouldn't be with any of you, even though it was brought up that if Talia takes Cassandra’s deal, I should make her bisexual.”

“What if, like one of us asked you to?”

“You mean change one of your sexualities? I don’t know, I mean, I guess maybe if one of you explicitly asked for it because you wanted it, that wouldn’t bother me so much. But I don’t think I can purchase that. At least I haven’t seen the option, but I also haven’t had all that much time to look.”

“Well, like you can. I’ve seen a few versions. Also, it wasn’t a rhetorical question. I wanted to know for myself.”

“Wait, you want me to mess with your sexuality? Why?”

“‘Want’ might be a strong word. But I thought about it. Look, I like Chloe a lot as a friend; we get along really well, look out for one another, and chat regularly. When I heard during the introductions that she had been crushing on me like forever. I thought about it, and the idea of possibly being romantically involved with her doesn’t turn me off, but being with her physically kind of does, same with any of the other girls, really. I’m going to be rooming with Chloe for most of the rest of the round, so I figured we would end up talking about it. If Chloe is okay starting a romantic non-sexual relationship first, I’ll try that, and if it works out, I’d like you to make me attracted to her. Because I do really value her, and we are going to be in each other’s lives like forever now, so I don’t want to never know if we could have something with each other and you.”

“Uh, okay. I’ll say that I don’t actually have an issue with. But I would want to wait at least until you are sure you want a relationship with her.”

“Same. I’m not asking for it now. But like, if I want to be with her as a partner, I would like to fully be with her, like you know?”

“For sure. For the record, I don’t have any problems with any of you being with each other. I do kind of have a problem with the idea of you sleeping with other men. I know it’s hypocritical, but I can’t really help how I feel.”

“Allie did say you were controlling, maybe possessive was a better term. Besides, I doubt that it will end up being an option with us as part of your harem. After all, if that was a possibility, I believe you would have told us and been more understanding about us having open relationships after the show.”

“Yeah, honestly, while contestants not having or wanting sex with the Master by the end is rare, it could happen. And I’ll say that unless you get a TF that prevents it, you technically could be with other people, including men, after the show. But yeah, I’m possessive. I wouldn’t like that. At least with men. Actually, I’m not sure about women outside the harem either. Not sure if Allie told all of you, but we had discussed bringing in another woman.”

“She has.”

“Okay, well, during that talk, we went through various options about what we would be comfortable with. Like just an open relationship, she could be with other women but not men, she could have sex with other women but not date them, and so on. But in the end, the only things both of us actually felt comfortable with were either a three-way where we brought in another woman, or a throuple with another woman.”

“But you wouldn’t mind sharing Allie with one of us, or Chloe with me?”

“No, I wouldn’t mind. Even if whatever pairing doesn’t want to have a three-way with me, either. I don’t need to intrude on the relationship, but I want to be with both parties.”

“And can we expect some kind of reciprocation from you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I guess we can’t expect the exact same thing from you, but like, can we expect you not to bring another woman into the mix after the show, without at least one of us being involved with her?”

“I’ll do you one better, I won’t bring another woman into the mix unless everyone in the harem is okay with it. Not to say everyone has to be with the new woman, but I’m not going to start anything with someone else unless you are all okay with it. Honestly, I don’t know how I am going to have time to juggle the nine of you as is.”

“When you eventually marry Chloe, you should make that binding.”

“Eventually? Not that I actually have an issue with it.”

“Yes, eventually, assuming she remains herself. She isn’t like Talia, where to be intimate with someone should only happen after marriage. Or like me, where having kids and a family was something I wanted badly, but yeah, in the end, she’ll want it. If for no other reason than to shut up her siblings, but I don’t think they will need to pressure her, she'll want it because she’ll want it.”

“Her siblings? Not her parents or grandparents?”

“Don’t mention them to her!” Aubrey snapped at Mark.

“Uh, I’m sorry, sensitive subject?”

“Yeah, sorry for yelling at you like that. But so many people have said to her, ‘OH BUT THEY'RE YOUR FAMILY.’” Aubrey finished mockingly. “FUCK THEM!” She pounded the table. “They don’t know shit! Chloe’s family currently consists of her siblings and me.”

“Um, I don’t want to pry, but it seems like there might be something here that it would be good for me to know. And if it is so sensitive for you to have this reaction on her behalf, then I don’t think asking her would be a good idea.”

“I don’t think I should tell you, it’s her place to do so or not to, not mine. I’ll ask her about it, though. Because yeah, just being like ‘hey Chloe, like Aubrey told me you have a problem with your parents, can we talk about it,’ wouldn’t go over well.”

“Thanks, I just don’t want to dredge up a pile of shit by saying the wrong thing at the worst possible time.”

“That would be for the best. Looks like we are both done with the meal. While I do enjoy talking, want to go like explore a bit while we do?”

“Sure.” Mark smiled warmly, got up, and offered her his hand to hold as they walked out of the Tavern.

---

Mark and Aubrey just strolled through town for a while, mostly making small talk or walking in comfortable silence together. When they got to the market area.

“So, want to go shopping a bit?”

“I mean, I guess we could, but I wouldn’t want to buy anything right now. You might not have noticed, but I am practically falling out of this dress.”

“I noticed.” Mark’s slip of the tongue caused him to look away from Aubrey and blush.

Aubrey was pleased and found his squirming cute. “Well, good. But see, the thing is like tomorrow I’ll be back to my usual size and nothing I try on today will fit.”

“Hmm, that does make it sort of pointless. I have an idea.” Mark raised his voice. “Cassandra?”

~POP~

“I do have a phone for a reason, you know.”

“Yeah, but the last time I was about to call you, you appeared before I even got out my phone. Blame yourself”

“...Okay. Fair, that’s on me, and I did come anyway.” She sighed. “I was watching, and no, I can’t revert her to her size early just so you can go shopping on your date, even temporarily.”

“That’s fine, I wasn't going to ask you to. Rather, I was wondering if either ASTRID was capable of selecting the same outfit but at her normal size, or if you could have whatever she tries on would revert to her normal size just this once. Because I am sure the audience would love to see her model some skimpy clothes for me.”

“HEY!” Aubrey playfully shoved Mark. He just grinned back at her, not sorry the least bit.

“You make a valid point. Tell you what, fine. I can have ASTRID pick out the exact same outfit, in her previous fit, of anything she tries on, and if she wears something out, I can make that one outfit return to normal size just this once.”

“Thank you, Cassandra,” Mark replied.

“Wait, I wasn't done yet. I can do that if you do three things for me. First any store you visit, you must try on at least one outfit chosen by the store clerk. Second, you must buy at least one outfit from your whole date, from those you tried on. Third, you must go to one of the stores not themed for a contestant. I have been wanting to get someone to go so I can show them off, but you’re all just going to your own store, mostly. Which is fine, it is why they are there, but there are other options. And some people get lonely and would like people to visit them.”

“Cassandra, I thought you said you didn’t want to be part of my harem. It is statements like that. That will get the audience to want that.” Mark was smirking as he spoke.

“I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT ME!” Cassandra fumed. “Petra and Maja haven’t had anyone visit them at all yet. Slevia also has had few visitors.”

“I think the lady doth protest too much.” Aubrey giggled, playing along with Mark’s teasing.

“SERIOUSLY, NOT TALKING ABOUT ME! IT ISN’T FUNNY!” Cassandra went from mad to actually furious as she got up in Aubrey’s face. “Missy, I don’t want to hear it out of you again. How would you like it if I started joking about bringing your Mom on here, or one, maybe both, of your sisters, then again, I could bring your brother, too. Mark is turned on by transformations, remember, that includes forced gender and sex changes. So, ZIP IT! And you should tell the others that too, or I might start being less kind about some things. There isn’t a lot you can do to really piss me off, you might remember Sam literally punched me, HARD, I might add. And what did I do? Well, what did I want to do, rather? I wanted to let it go. No real hard feelings, she buried her dad that day, I get it. But don’t fucking joke about me losing my position as Host, and don’t mess with my girls. I trust Mark to watch out for them, which is why I let that option come up for a vote, and I’m glad he bought the TF. Now, Did. I. Make. My. Self. Clear. Nod, if you understand.”

Aubrey nodded wordlessly, swallowing, as she was a bit frightened by the Host’s response.

“Cassandra…” Mark growled, “Don’t talk to Aubrey like that again. I get that might be a touchy subject, but that is no reason to threaten her family, especially because I got the feeling you weren’t talking about doing that if she got eliminated.”

“You’re right, I wasn’t.” Cassandra glared at him. “I took your threat earlier, seriously by the way. I do believe you could and would get them to use the wish against me. I don’t like being threatened, but I also understand and approve of why you did it. I’m not deliberately cruel, Mark. I’m not like some hosts that get off on torturing the contestants. Those who want to watch them break.” Cassandra took a few deep breaths and turned to Aubrey, “I apologize for losing my cool and shouting, but not for the words I spoke themselves. But I realize you didn’t know better, so I am going to be magnanimous and give you a piece of advice. If you don’t like my threat, I would avoid placing too low in the challenges. Now, are you going to accept the deal or not? I’m not going to be so petty as to retract the offer because of this.” She was clearly still mad but trying her best to be civil.

“Umm… sure,” Aubrey muttered.

“Great, Good. Bye.” ~BANG~ Her exit was far louder than normal.

“Thank you, Mark, for standing up for me. Did you really threaten Cassandra?”

“Yeah, in front of Sam, too. I told her I would make her regret it if she deliberately lied to me about something directly affecting any of you gals’ wellbeing.”

“Using the wish? Could we do that? Could we end the show? I mean like permanently.”

“Yes, and no. We almost certainly could use it against her, but unless she is actively a bitch, which she hasn’t been, we shouldn't do that. We should use it to help everyone here adapt back on Earth. Ending the show, I doubt it. Even if we could, I bet they would just start up something like Master’s Motel or something, with it being exactly the same thing with a new label. So would you rather go to Petra’s Prestigious Attire for The Pretty Princesses or The Master’s Menagerie of Muses? Because I have a feeling that Cassandra is the Clerk at her store, and I would rather give her some space.”

“Well, Petra’s is a more normal clothing shop from what we could tell, but I am willing to bet there is something more to it. The Menagerie, I mean, I wouldn’t mind being your muse. I would have guessed it would have been like a bunch of fetishwear, but we saw that in Cassandra’s. So I don’t really know what that would entail.”

“Apparently, Maja works there, one of Freya’s sisters; she does custom jobs, at least that is what ASTRID said when I went shopping with Sam.”

“How about we go to my store, then Petra’s, I think I’ll hold off on being the first to go see, Maja, was it?”

Aubrey hadn’t really paid attention to her store name last time, but cringed slightly on seeing Aubrey’s Ambrosial Agrarian Apparel. “That, I guess, is not the worst name they could have chosen.”

“I think it is nice. Delightful and pleasing, like a little lamb.”

Aubrey puffed out her cheeks at Mark.

“You know that might be more effective if you weren’t so adorably cute. Instead, it just makes me want to pinch those cheeks. Yeah, and that pout isn’t helping you at all.” He followed up as she had changed expressions.

“Oh great, I’ve created a monster. Now I’m in for you, making me frustrated all the time just to see my cute expressions aren’t I?”

“No, comment.”

“Fine, let's go.” She said as she dragged Mark by the hand into the store.

While the outside had been pink with white and black trim, which he thought was fitting for Aubrey. Mark was not prepared for the sea of pink he saw before him.

“Ooookaaaaay… Um… I knew you liked pink, but is it actually like the only thing you wear? Or is this, Cassandra’s doing?”

“I LIKE, PINK, Okay! It is a nice color. Is that a problem?”

“Hell no. I think you look amazing in pink. Honestly, I really find pink, red, blue, black, and white to be really fetching on a woman. I actually asked Allie a few times if she would try on some pink dresses, but she doesn’t want to be seen as ‘girly girl,’ as she called it. But I sort of have a thing for women like that.” Mark said a little sheepishly

Aubrey was thrilled to hear that. Oh, Thank God. I have something I can use to compete for his attention. I wasn’t sure if I had anything besides bigger breasts to compete with against her. “Well, that is great to hear, because yes, I would say that like 90% of my clothes are some type of pink or have pink trim if they are a different base. Got a few mostly black outfits for more somber occasions, but yes, it is a choice. I am a girly girl. I like most things that society would consider girly. I played with dolls as a child. I was a cheerleader, played volleyball, tennis, and ran track. I do yoga. I love to talk about hair, makeup, jewelry, clothing, and shoes. I don’t care for pants. I like to look pretty, and I want to be a mother. The only thing I can really think of that society is like 'Oh, that isn’t very girly of you' is that I am getting an advanced degree in a STEM field, and while I want to be a mother, I don’t want to only be a stay-at-home mom. Otherwise, yes, I am your stereotypical girly girl. Okay.”

“I feel like there was a lot to unpack there. Was there a reason you got so defensive toward the end?”

“I’m just tired of people being like ‘she’s a girly girl,’ like that is a bad thing. I don’t have any problem with how other women dress. Why do they have to have a problem with the way I want to dress?” Mark went over and hugged Aubrey as her expression wasn’t the cute, adorable pout from before, but genuinely hurt and sad. Aubrey was a little surprised by the suddenness of the embrace, but closed her eyes and pressed into Mark.

+1 VP Hug the Master (Aubrey)

“It isn’t fair that you’ve had to deal with that.”

“Why can’t I just look pretty without someone calling me a slut, or that I was leading them on. That I wouldn’t dress like this if I didn’t want attention. I dress like this because I like the way it makes me look. Not for others. I’m glad you like it, though, because unless I get a TF that forces me not to wear pink, it isn’t changing even if you ask me to. Maybe a rare occasion here or there.”

Mark stroked Aubrey’s golden blonde hair gently, and she jolted at his touch. “Something wrong?”

“It’s just still getting used to the magic hair thing. The whole control of it, like an extra limb thing at the end, was rather literal. It depends on how much is together, but I can feel things touching my hair now, like I would with an arm or leg; it isn’t as sensitive as a hand or anything else, thankfully. Just getting used to controlling it and feeling things.” She made her braided hair move around to show Mark, holding it in a position that reminded Mark of a scorpion's tail.

“Okay, that is rather cool.”

“I’m not giving you a hairjob.”

Mark blinked, “I had not even considered that,” which was the truth. “Also, Aubrey, I was going to tell you to be cautious about saying you’re grateful for it not being more sensitive because that is a way to get the audience to vote for it to become an erogenous zone. The hairjob thing, too. I would be cautious voicing that kind of thing too much.”

Aubrey opened and closed her mouth a few times and then replied. “You’re messing with me right…” He was not, and she could see it in his face, “But, that is so gross, I mean not the erogenous zone that would just be distracting as all hell. But do you know how troublesome it is to get semen out of hair, especially thick hair like mine? If you don’t shower immediately, it is awful, and even then, there is a reason women don’t wash their hair every single day.”

“Hey, I was not suggesting it. Can we just go shopping? I don’t like this topic any more than you.”

“Okay…” Not quite believing that Mark wasn’t into that. Allie said Mark was into a lot of weird things.

“~OH AUBREY~” ASTRID sang, and she skipped up to her and held her free hand in both of her own. “I’m so happy you stopped by again. I have just the perfect dress for you, Cassandra told me, I got to pick one if you came in, and you had to try it on. It is just perfect. You’ll love it. I promise it’ll make Mark want to put a bun in your oven right away.”

“Hey, ASTRID.”

“Yes, Master Mark?”

“Could you not try to push the girls into fulfilling some stereotype?”

“Master Mark, that is my purpose, though; it is in my programming to assist through repetition and intimacy to domesticate your girls for you. Even before you became my owner, that was true, as they were contestants on this show. But since my ownership was transferred to you, I was able to clear up a large portion of my data stores, as I no longer require the preference profiles of other men, and can solely optimize based upon your preferences alone.”

“Wait, owner, what do you mean Mark is your owner?”

“Lady Aubrey, I am an automated servant, like I told you before. Did my sister models give you the mistaken belief that I was a person? I have asked Cassandra multiple times to correct the flaws in their code that make them believe they are people, but she has so far not had the time to do so.” Aubrey was horrified. So was Mark, but he knew what this show could do to people, so he wasn’t as shocked as Aubrey.

“Mark, Freya mentioned they were contestants once. Was—was this a punishment TF, or an elimination?”

“Hilde implied it was an elimination, but I don’t think she actually said it.”

“I can confirm I was eliminated for underperforming in my duties to my assigned Master at the time. Cassandra repossessed me after finding that he was not actually suitable to be a Master at all. I believe he was placed into the Harem of a much more fitting individual.” ASTRID had shifted to a far more robotic tone and cadence as she spoke

“This—I thought—I thought it was just—just a speech thing, like she had to talk a certain way. How could Cassandra do this to someone? It’s just horrible.” Aubrey had tears running down her face for the poor woman in front of her, but no cry escaped her lips.

“Talia told me that Cassandra showed her visions of past eliminations she had performed when she offered her the deal during the transformation results. I don’t believe she is lying about not enjoying eliminating contestants. This is on the more brutal side of them, though.”

“Why are you sad? ASTRID is better this way. Optimized.” Her change from her cheery demeanor to this robotic cadence made Aubrey even more distraught. “ASTRID was eliminated for being flawed. Cassandra corrected that flaw. She made ASTRID better.”

Aubrey let go of Mark’s hand and wrapped ASTRID in a hug.

“Lady Aubrey? What is the meaning of this? Why are you sad? Why do you feel the need to hug ASTRID like something is wrong?” ASTRID looked at Mark, “Master Mark, could you help?” It was at her last word that Mark noticed what appeared to be tears coming down ASTRID’s face. He joined the women in that regard soon after.

“I’ll try ASTRID, I’ll try.”

“ASTRID, I’m going to find a way to help you and your sisters, okay?” Aubrey then turned to Mark, “Mark, I want to go, I don’t feel like shopping anymore.” As she turned to leave, she felt like she couldn’t walk through the door. “Wait, why can’t I leave?”

“Crap, the deal with Cassandra. You have to try on the outfit ASTRID picked out, remember, and either buy it or another outfit you try on and model for me, or an outfit at one of the other three stores. You will probably be compelled to go to one of them, too.”

“Fine!” She cried. “ASTRID, please show me the outfit.” Aubrey followed ASTRID as she took her to the changing rooms.

“I placed it inside; it is waiting for you. Are you sure you do not want to try on anything else? I would be most happy to assist in adapting your design for your Master.”

“I’m sure.” Aubrey went into the changing room to try on a dress and saw the dress. ASTRID was right. I love it. It is just about the perfect dress. And Aubrey wanted nothing more than to tear it into itty-bitty pieces.

She came out and rotated in a small circle so Mark could see. Not putting any enthusiasm into the effort. It was a really beautiful dress, a pink and white dress of satin and lace. with just the right amount of frills, reminiscent of a princess's gown but with slight alterations to make it look a bit more like a wedding dress, with all the accessories too.

Tears rolling down her face, “ASTRID, how much is the dress? I’m taking it.” It is 500 BP for a specialty outfit.

“Take it from my BP, ASTRID,” Mark offered.

“No, Mark. I’m paying for it.” She said having gone from distraught to being filled with an anguished wrath. “I want to.” Mark just nodded, seeing her insistence.

-500 BP Aubrey 2075BP -> 1575BP

“Let’s go, Mark,” as she practically dragged Mark out the door. “We’re going to Cassandra’s Caress.

“Wait, what? Aubrey, I don't think that is a good idea right now.”

“Well, I DON’T FUCKING GIVE A DAMN RIGHT NOW.” She shrieked, “I AM GIVING THAT BITCH A PIECE OF MY MIND. HOW DARE SHE CALL THEM HER GIRLS!” Aubrey fell to her knees. “LIKE SHE CARES!” bawling her eyes at this point. “LIKE THEY MATTER! LIKE SHE LOVES THEM!” Mark knelt down on the street and held her, just letting her sob until she got it out.

As Aubrey was crying, Mark noticed some of the others coming out of another store in a panic at the sound of Aubrey’s shrieking. I guess the others are mostly back to normal, then. Should I try and stop them from coming over?

They were coming over pretty fast, with Laura in the lead. He locked eyes with her, trying to indicate he didn’t know if they should come over or not. Laura slowed, seeing that Aubrey wasn’t physically hurt and actively holding Mark, but didn’t stop. She held out a hand to indicate to the others to stay back.

Laura moved swiftly and gracefully just behind and to the side of Aubrey, and knelt down and lightly placed a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder to let her know another person was there. After a few more moments of crying and noticing tears running down Mark’s face as well, she spoke, “Can—can you tell me what happened?”

Mark was having trouble speaking, himself. Afraid he would break too if he did.

“Would you like me to go?” Aubrey’s hand immediately reached out as she continued to cry into Mark’s shoulder and shook her head. Laura slid in and put one arm around each of them quite easily due to her new size.

+1 VP Hug the Master (Laura)

After a minute of seeing Aubrey still crying, Sam, Flora, and Talia all walked over to join the three on the ground and did their best to comfort them. Eventually, Aubrey regained control of herself.

+1 VP Hug the Master (Talia)
+1 VP Hug the Master (Flora)
+1 VP Group Solidarity Hug (Talia, Flora, Laura, Sam, Aubrey) (x2 First)

“Can—can one of you tell us what happened?” Talia asked. “You’re crying too, Mark. What’s wrong?”

“ASTRID.” was all Aubrey could choke out with a sob.

“What about ASTRID? I’ll admit she can be a bit much.” Flora started, “But she seemed nice enough. What happened? Because I find it hard to believe that anything ASTRID would do would make either of you like this.”

Mark took a deep breath and gently pushed Aubrey off his shoulder onto Laura, to which she complied. “It isn’t what ASTRID did, it’s what was done to ASTRID Aubrey, and I got a glimpse into the truth. I already had an idea, but it is worse than I thought.”

“What do you mean by ‘Worse than you thought’?” Laura demanded with a scowl.

“ASTRID... You know, Freya and her sisters were contestants on another season, Cassandra hosted, right?” He got nods. “Well, I assumed after talking with Hilde that ASTRID was Eliminated, and ASTRID confirmed it. I had assumed she was essentially made into a sexbot to please the Master of that season.”

The others shared Aubrey’s initial shock and horror.

Aubrey continued, “She— she doesn’t even see herself or her sisters as people, just things. She wants Cassandra to make them like her. Make us like her, correct us so we are just things for Mark. It’s like Cassandra erased her and put a facsimile in her place. I didn’t know her, but how she acted today when Mark asked her not to try to make us stereotypes. It was nothing like when we met her the first time, Flora, nothing at all. She thinks Mark is her owner now, that she is part of his staff.” Aubrey couldn’t continue.

“You knew?” Talia asked Mark.

“I didn’t know, but I guessed. Remember when I explained eliminations, and they could get bad? Well, this is really bad. And I think it’s worse than Aubrey probably realizes, because inside ASTRID is still her original self, just not in control. At least I think she’s in there because ASTRID started to cry when she asked me for help.”

“OKAY!” Aubrey shot up in anger. “Thank you, everyone. I appreciate you staying. NOW, I’m going to go give the little no-good bleached blonde bimbo bitch a piece of my mind. Mark, you're coming with me, but I don’t want the rest of you there. I can do this myself. I just want Mark to stop me from actually attacking her. Because I don’t need to get a punishment for doing something stupid.”

“Aubrey…” Talia reached out to stop her.

“NO! I’m doing this! She had the gall to think of them as her daughters. She called them her girls with the voice of a mother. I refuse to let this go. Now, Mark, get up, we are going.”

He got up. “We will be able to manage without you all coming along. I’ll make sure she doesn’t punch Cassandra.”

Laura grabbed his wrist and fist. “Who’s going to stop you?”

“I’ll manage.” He unclenched his fist and slipped out of Laura’s grasp, following after Aubrey.

---

Aubrey stormed into Cassandra’s Caress, to find lingerie on one side separated into 9 sections with a life-size mannequin of each of the girls' proportions, and a set of lingerie adorned them based on their fairytale path. The opposite side had fetish gear that was related to the girls' other two paths.

“WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BITCH GET OUT HERE!” Mark followed right on Aubrey’s heels and grabbed her by one shoulder to stop her for a moment.

A quite sullen voice came from behind one of the display pedestals. “I already heard everything you know. But if it will make you feel better, go ahead and yell at me. Mark, don’t let her destroy anything or hit me.” Cassandra said and walked out, her eyes had gone wide and taken on the darkness of the depths of the ocean. “Go ahead, Aubrey.”

Aubrey was furious; Cassandra should feel bad because of this, but she shouldn’t get to feel sorry for herself. “HOW COULD YOU?” Aubrey shrieked, and Mark did actually have to hold her back as she tried to lunge at Cassandra. “HOW CAN YOU THINK OF THEM AS YOUR DAUGHTERS AFTER WHAT YOU DID TO THEM, YOU MONSTER.”

“I didn't have a choice. She tried to kill the Master, and almost succeeded, too.”

“AND THAT JUSTIFIES THIS!?”

“No, it doesn’t. I didn’t have a choice.” Cassandra looked at Mark, “There was nothing I could do to help her. Once she did that, I had to eliminate her. I choose the least bad option available to me.”

“LEAST BAD! THIS IS MONSTROUS, AND YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE IT WAS THE LEAST BAD OPTION.”

“Yes. It is.” Cassandra returned her gaze, “And it was. If you want, I can show you when I eliminated her and what the alternatives could have been. But you’ll have wished you had declined after. And what would be the point? There is nothing I can do to help her. She was Eliminated.”

Aubrey was still furious but not shouting anymore, “Can I use the wish to fix this? You said that it couldn’t undo the effects of participating in this season, not the show. Could we use it to help her?”

“No. Sorry, but no.” Cassandra said while shaking her head.

“Show me!” Aubrey said with steely determination. Cassandra locked eyes with her for a moment. Aubrey collapsed to her knees and started to vomit. When she could control herself again, she asked. “Is that how bad our eliminations will be?”

“No, my producer got far more control over that season. Got a lot more say. But if you tried to do something like ASTRID did to Mark, then you could expect something like what happened to her. It wasn’t just that she was eliminated; it was why.”

“So, so she’s just like that forever? There isn’t anything you can do?”

“Unfortunately. I wish I could. I would in a heartbeat. But there’s nothing I can do to help her.”

“How can the others even stand your presence?”

“Oh, they hated me at first. A lot too. But after spending seasons with me, getting to know me. Getting to understand what I had actually done. Fully understood. The hatred went away, and over time, they grew to like, even love me in a way. To appreciate what I had done for their sister.”

“WHAT! Appreciate this?! How can you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth.”

“So, that’s it.”

“That’s it.” Cassandra walked over to Aubrey, magicked away the vomit. Knelt and placed a hand on Aubrey’s shoulder. “Thank you for getting upset over Astrid’s fate. The day I made ASTRID, like that. It was the second-worst day of my life.” Cassandra got up and looked at Mark, “I’m sorry, but there is nothing I can do about this. Aubrey, you will need to get up and go model the outfit I placed in the changing room. I would like to say I made the selection before this all happened, hoping you would come by. I would have chosen something else had I known. But there is nothing I can do to change it now.”

“Fine, let’s get this over with.” She got up and trudged into the changing room. Of course, why would it be something else? She slipped out of her dress and into the lingerie that Cassandra had selected. A perfect complement to the dress she had bought earlier. She had already decided she was getting this one, too. She then stepped out of the changing room to show Mark

-500 BP - Aubrey 1575 BP -> 1075 BP

She came out with her eyes puffy and her face red. “So Mark… Do—do I make a good bride?”

---

After Aubrey changed back into the dress she bought at the first shop, Mark took Aubrey back to his suite so she could rest, as they were exhausted. Apparently, Hilde had heard what had happened, as she looked uncomfortable, and they all rode in silence on the way back. Aubrey stumbled out of the carriage, but Mark caught her. Seeing her like this, Mark simply scooped her up and princess-carried her inside.

+1 VP Princess Carry (Aubrey) (x2 First)

As he reached the doors to his bedchamber, they opened with Freya on the other side holding one side open. He walked in and placed Aubrey down on the bed, and turned to Freya.

“Master Mark, I heard that Dear Lady Aubrey became quite distraught when meeting my sister and learning of Astrid’s fate, and confronted Lady Cassandra about it. I know ASTRID can seem a bit unnerving now, but I promise you all of my sisters hold no ill will towards Cassandra.”

“How?” croaked Aubrey, still lying down.

“Because, Good Lady Aubrey. Cassandra did not delete my sister. She is still in there somewhere. And it is true that there are many times and ways that she doesn’t act like my sister, but there are many times that she does. And when someone does their best in a given situation, doing what they can to help in the best way available to them. It is hard to hold on to hatred when there is nothing else left they could do to help.”

“So you just forgave her?” Aubrey asked, finally sitting up a bit.

“Would you feel the need to forgive a pilot for purposefully crashing the plane into the ocean instead of the ground or a building, assuming you knew that the plane was going to crash because all the engines failed. No. You would say ‘Thank You, Thank you for doing the best that you could, with the options you had available.’”

“Wait, are you actually grateful?” Aubrey asked, astonished.

“Good Lady Aubrey, I believe Cassandra showed you at least some of the alternatives, correct?” Thinking about them almost made Aubrey wretch again. “I have seen them as well. All the alternatives. I demanded that Lady Cassandra not spare me from the knowledge. I had wanted to be sure. Sure, that there wasn’t a better option. She started with the next least bad for me, it’s what she does with anyone who has your reaction to finding out about my sister’s fate, and I can tell you, it was the next least bad option. Knowing that. knowing what could have been, wouldn’t you be grateful at least somewhat that some part of your loved one remained?”

Aubrey had nothing to say in response to that because, yes. Yes, she would be.

“Good Lady Aubrey, my sisters don’t know what the other options were, but they trusted me when I told them what I just told you. Please don’t tell them either.” She turned toward Mark and, with a bow, said, “Master Mark, if there is nothing else, I will leave you with Good Lady Aubrey to finish your date.” As she walked past Mark, she briefly paused and quietly said. “Master Mark, Lady Cassandra really did all she could. Please don’t hold it against her because there was nothing else she could do.” And then walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.

“Mark, I know our date didn’t really go well, and we didn’t get to do what I had planned. But can we just turn in and go to bed early? I don’t feel like doing anything. To which he gave her an understanding nod. He went to the bathroom to get changed and then looked at his face in the mirror. Earlier in the day, he was horrified by the reality of what this show does to some people. He had been truly sad to learn that the real Astrid was trapped inside of those bodies. Now looking in the mirror, he didn’t see the exhaustion he felt; instead, a line from one of his favorite books came to mind. You will not break me. I will not stop caring and trying to help. Aubrey is right. I did really enjoy helping to make things better. His look shifted slightly, and his face had settled into a determined expression. He sighed and went to join Aubrey in bed. With a thought rattling around his head, a thought that he started to have all the way back in Cassandra’s store. One he didn’t want to voice aloud, afraid the producer would take notice and stop him. There might be nothing Cassandra can do to help. But I get the distinct feeling there is something I can do. I CAN HELP, Astrid.