Finding Your Groove Thing

The rotunda went dark except for the lights focusing on Chloe on the pedestal. “Now Chloe, tell Maja what it is you want in your style.”

“Well, I like silks and satins.”

“NO. No, no, no. That is not what Maja means. What do you want to feel? What do you want others to feel when they see you? Maja will find what works. If you limit yourself to fabric types, you limit your choices far too much. So, tell Maja what you want from your clothing, not in your clothing.”

“I’m not sure I get what you mean exactly, but I guess… I’d like to feel confident, powerful, and sexy, rebellious, but not… slutty?. When someone is looking at me, I want them to think that I'm one badass lady, that they need to show respect, while still being a bit feminine.”

“Now that is something that Maja can work with. Let’s see…” Maja tapped her chin as Chloe noticed lights flashing in her eyes as she began to circle Chloe. As she began to speak, articles of clothing seemed to appear on Chloe, though she could still very much feel her original outfit. “So we’ll want bold, some colour, black as a base… hmmm, mostly darker tones… skirts and fitted shirts for femininity… but leggings and tights with the occasional pair of pants…” Chloe could hardly get a look at the clothes before they had changed to something new. “For fabrics, well, leathers and latex will do wonders for the skirts, though we can throw in some others for variety. Tops can be anything, so since you wanted some satin and silk, let’s throw those in as well. Hmmm… now accessories… Belts, for sure, you have such a nice waist, let's draw attention to it… Maybe even a couple to frame your breasts for when you want to be… particularly daring. Gloves would be perfect, maybe some spike ah yes… here we are coming together quite nicely… and let’s see… OOOH! Your hair is such a lovely blonde, but… ” Maja had finally stopped changing the projection of clothing. A three-paneled mirror appeared in front of Chloe, showing her the look that Maja had brought together, with three different variations.

“Okay, well, I’ll definitely say I look good. Not at all what I would have worn before…”

“But…” Maja prodded

“But, I don’t know, like I couldn’t exactly go to work in this. And the dark green hair is nice… but I also really liked it blonde.”

“Bah, those are easy, solutions for the hair, let's just go with a split, it will add to the bold, confident take-no-attitude appearance too. For work, we can go with some more stylish tops and slightly longer skirts, maybe some pants. And swap out accessories that just won’t work. Stockings instead of leggings or fishnets. Bam!

“Okay… yeah, I can see that. Aubrey, what do you think?”

“NO! NO! NO! NO! This is about you, not her, not Mark. You must be comfortable with the style as a whole. Small modifications for a partner are one thing, but NO! Your style is a part of who you are. If your partner has a complaint about your style, tell them to go fuck themselves.”

“Hear, hear,” Aubrey shouted. “Oops, sorry. Just, I agree with what Maja is saying. That's why I haven’t expressed my opinion on it.”

“See, she gets it, she embodies it. Maja is sure she has been criticized for her style. What does she do, though? Tell them to screw themselves; she is who she is, she knows what she wants, and isn’t going to let others dictate that to her. Look, Maja knows you might get a transformation that could mess with the style. If that happens, come back, Maja will fix you right up. But otherwise, tell Maja does this feel like Chloe?”

Chloe looked back at the mirror, seeing a few more variations for her style. Really taking in what it was.

“You know what, Maja, I think it just might be.”

“Good, Maja is pleased then. Now your tastes might change a bit the more you wear it, so don’t feel bad about coming back to Maja for refinement, or if you find that you think you don’t have something for a particular occasion. Now it will take a day or two, but Maja will make sure your personal store is updated to the degree Maja can, as well.”

Maja then turned to Aubrey, “Now then, Maja is certain she is dying to know your opinion, though Maja already can tell what it is. So go on, tell her.”

Aubrey bit her lower lip and then squealed in delight, “OH MY GOSH! CHLOE! YOU LOOK GREAT. TELL ME SHE CAN WEAR ONE OF THOSE OUT!”

“Of course she can, assuming she pays for them,” Maja said in reply

“Um, I mean, you really like how I look? Like it isn’t, I don’t know, a bit aggressive?”

“CHLOE! You are a bit aggressive, it's perfect for you. You look like someone who would punch a dude for speaking to me the wrong way. Which, I might remind you, you have actually done. I’m pretty sure you broke his nose, too, if I recall accurately.”

“THAT WAS ONE TIME! AND I HAD A BIT TOO MUCH TO DRINK!”

“Yeah, but I bet if you were wearing something like this one glare would have sent the guy running.”

“Chloe…” Maja began just a bit menacingly, “You were not lying to Maja, were you… You said that this seemed like Chloe to you, did you not? You would not tarnish Maja’s perfect record by lying to Maja, would you? If this does not feel like Chloe, tell Maja so she can resolve the problems.”

“I’m sorry, Maja, I didn’t mean it like that. It looks good, and surprisingly, I don’t think I would feel uncomfortable wearing it. If you had asked before showing me it, I would never have picked this, but yeah, it does feel right. I just kind of worry about how others will react.”

Aubrey scolded her, “Did you not hear what both Maja and I said? FUCK THEM. I told Mark the same thing when I thought he was criticizing the fact that I like pink. I told him, barring me getting a transformation that makes it not possible to wear pink, this isn’t changing. So tell anyone else to fuck off if they tell you they don’t like the way you dress. And if you don’t, I guess I’ll just have to punch them for you.”

“Okay, I get it. So Maja, what is this going to cost me? I doubt that a full wardrobe overhaul will be cheap.”

“It isn’t. But there are things we can do to lessen the cost. You could do some work for Maja, of course. Normally, Maja would say you could make some deal with Cassandra, but Maja does not think she is in a very charitable mood at the moment. Oh, Maja knows just the thing to reduce the cost quite a lot. Give Maja all your current clothes that Maja deems conflict with the style.”

“What? So I wouldn’t have anything else?”

“Exactly, we do try and encourage the contestants to try and fill a niche and a style. So if you choose to embrace it, Maja can give you a steep discount. Also, if Maja makes the dye job your natural colour, that would lower it too. Plus, it would save you on dye.”

Chloe looked into the mirrors for a moment. Is that something I want to permanently have green hair? “Umm, two questions, first one if it became my natural hair color that wouldn’t prevent me from dyeing it in the future, like after the show, it would just be the natural color, right?”

“That is correct, though Maja will say you will have some trouble with going to certain other colours with it.”

“Okay, that’s fine, I guess. The other question is, if I decided I don’t like the green later and want it a different color, can I come back to change it even if it costs BP?”

“Yes, this isn’t like a transformation vote where you won’t be able to change it ever.”

“How steep of a discount are we talking about for changing my hair and giving you my clashing clothes?”

“With those, Maja can bring the price down to… 4000 BP for a complete wardrobe with everything, or we can forgo the business appropriate attire at least for now, and bring it down to 1000BP.”

“Business attire costs that much more?”

“Well, isn't it in your world too? But it is also less revealing, and you have to remember where you are right now.”

“That… That is understandable. So what would working for you entail? If I wanted the full thing.”

“Oh, you just have to model an outfit for Maja occasionally, let's say three a round, for the next two rounds, and one later this round. You can’t wear anything else the whole day, you aren’t allowed to simply stay in your room either, that plus 1000 BP would cover the whole thing.”

“Okay, let’s do that, but I want two stipulations added… please. The first is that I can refuse to do it on my date night with Mark. The second is that you can’t ask me to do it on the challenge day.”

“That is… acceptable.”

“Then deal.” Chloe immediately felt her clothes change to one of the outfits in the reflection and saw that the hair on one side of her head changed to the dark forest green as well.

2075 BP -> 1075 BP

“Maja should mention as you bought the full wardrobe, Maja can do updates to it free of charge, as long as the style remains essentially the same, if you find that you are missing something. As for you, Aubrey, maybe try a fuchsia; otherwise, Maja had no advice.”

“Well, thank you, Maja,” Aubrey smiled, “You said you had enchanted clothes, though, how much are those?”

“Yes, well… those start at 2500 BP, but they require you to have made another specific purchase first, which costs you 5000BP.”

“What do we have to buy?” Chloe was rather curious.

“You have to purchase a main path upgrade from the BP store. You can either buy it when you buy the outfit or do it separately, but I can only sell you one if it fits your main path.” Both girls pulled out their phones to see what that upgrade was.

5000BP - Select a main Path; that Path will now influence all transformations, both present and future, altering or enhancing them to fit your main path better. This requires Mark’s acceptance of this path being a primary aspect of yours in his harem. A Main path may not be altered after selection.

“So, I would have to accept that I either make ****, handle debts, or am Cinderella as my primary role in Mark’s Harem to buy them?”

“That or buy a path change first,” Maja confirmed.

“That’s a big commitment,” Aubrey commented. “Since it will change everything we have.”

“Yes, Maja would honestly not even consider it for another round or two of votes.” Maja advised, “Unless you are very confident, that is what you want. As it gives you a better idea of both what the audience wants, which does matter, and how a path is really defined. Now, Aubrey, Maja wants to say a few things to you personally.”

Aubrey cocked her head to the side, “Me? What? Why?”

“It has been quite some time since a contestant has had such a visceral reaction to ASTRID and her condition. Maja knows Mark had to physically restrain you from attacking Cassandra. Maja does not call her mother lightly, while Maja knows the others feel that way too, none can actually bring themselves to call her that. But Maja sees no reason not to voice how Maja feels, she has also taught me better control of my magic. Enough that Maja would likely have been able to take over her position as a Host eventually. Perhaps Maja still will after Mark’s **** in many years. We shall see. Maja wanted you to know that, so you understand when Maja tells you, Maja is glad you tried to attack her, that you got that angry, after hundreds of seasons, Maja can count on one hand the number of contestants that went that far. So thank you. Maja would like to give you something physical as a thank you, but Maja is not allowed to by the rules of the show. So Maja will give you a piece of advice.” She took out a sapphire-encased phone, and Aubrey received a message. “Maja just sent you the location for an enchanted hot spring. It has a few different effects, none Maja would call harmful, and all are temporary. The most important one for you, though, is that it makes women naturally bisexual for a time. Maja heard you were considering purchasing that from the store. But have you considered that even if you’re bisexual, Chloe might not be the kind of girl you’re attracted to? Something to consider.”

“I’m confused. Why wouldn’t I be? She is very pretty.”

“True, but that isn’t how attraction works. Maja can speak for it herself. You are stunning, Aubrey, but you aren’t my type. Maja bets you can ask multiple of your fellow harem members too, more than half of you are bisexual. Frankly, we can just ask Chloe. Chloe, we know you think Aubrey is attractive, and that you would like to be sexually intimate with her.” Aubrey and Chloe both blushed a little at the mention of that. “I’m not asking if you would pursue someone else, but have you ever been attracted to a woman besides Aubrey?”

“No. I haven’t. I think plenty are pretty and beautiful, but I wasn’t attracted to them physically.”

“What about men?”

“Yes… Plenty of them.”

“That’s Maja's point, Aubrey. What if you buy the bisexuality change and you find out Chloe isn’t your type? So Maja would recommend going to the hot spring, if not for your date today, at least before you buy the change.”

I hadn’t even considered that… That would SUCK. “Thank you Maja. That is really thoughtful.”

“So are you, Aubrey, so are you. Now, if you have nothing else, Maja would like to return to her contemplation.”

“Alright, thanks, Maja,” Chloe said, taking Aubrey by the hand and dragging her out the door.

After they were partly down the hall, Aubrey spoke up, “Chloe, slow down a bit, you have longer legs, and I have heels.”

“Sorry, Aubrey.” Chloe slowed down and put her arm around Aubrey’s arm. “So, where is this hot spring?”

“What? You want to go now?”

“Aubrey, we were already planning a spa day. A hot spring is part of a spa day if you ask me. Also… Look, I — I would kind of like to know. If I’m not your type, and there isn’t something else we can do. I really don’t want to find out, it’s actually a deal breaker a month from now. I would be fine with just romance, but would you? Would you really? You even said it yourself, you would want to be physically intimate. So…”

“Okay, let's go. You’re right, best to know right now.” Aubrey looked at where the spring was. “So… This is a bit of a hike. We’ll need to stop by my room first. Because I’m not walking out into the woods in heels like this.”

“Good, I’ll message Hilde while you change to see if she might be able to get us closer. Met at the edge of town right here?” Chloe asked, pointing to the map on Aubrey's phone.

“Sure, alright,” Aubrey squeezed Chloe’s hand and kissed her on the cheek again as they parted at the fountain outside of Maja’s. “I’ll see you there.” And Aubrey left a dazed Chloe staring at her rear.