Meek? or Fierce?

Mark and Flora had been walking in silence just drinking their lattes for a bit. When Flora finally spoke up. “Mark, could we try starting fresh? Like, I know that might be a lot to ask, but can we put the whole incident behind us. I’m not saying to forget it. Just… I feel like it’s a weight dragging on us.”

“Honestly I would rather talk it out. Flora, I’m sorry that I treated you that way. I can tell you regret your actions with Ellen. I’m not going to hold this over you. I really have gotten over being upset with you. I mean that. It actually leads into a larger conversation that I need to have with everyone, about boundaries. What I did wasn’t acceptable, neither was what you did to Ellen but the issues are different. So, if you don’t have more to add then we can consider the matter settled.”

“I don’t really have anything about that. But, I do have some worries.”

“Go ahead, I'm listening.”

“Look I actually kind of like being a cat-girl okay. I think I would have preferred a more classic cat-girl but being a lioness is fine too. But, I’m kind of worried I’m just going to become your pet. Like tell me, even if I don’t get eliminated, that’s a likely outcome isn’t it? Because I thought about my paths and I think that is the case. Like Nala is going to be more lion focused options. Wallflower is probably going to make me not be the center of attention and to fade into the background. And Call of Nature could go in a few ways but all of them are ways that would reinforce me being your pet especially if I don’t cross 100VP.”

Mark thought about it for a minute before responding. “I don’t think it’s inevitable but, yes, getting more pet-play options is likely. Also Cassandra made a slight revision to one of your path names. It’s now The Lion King - Nala, A few of the fairy tale options got changed like that. I think it was because she realized it might be too restrictive or not clear enough what her intent was. Now I have a question, is pet-play something that makes you uncomfortable or is it that you’re afraid that you’ll become a full time pet.”

“A bit of both, definitely more the latter. I mean I don’t want you to put a leash on me and take me for walks that’s for sure. Or to go nude full time. But if you want to pet me a bit or scratch behind my ears some, even occasionally wear a collar, I would be at least willing to try it.”

“Okay, good to know. Like I said earlier I want to know your boundaries. If you’re worried about getting future TFs that you don’t like, the best way to handle that is to do well in competitions and not piss off the audience.”

“Any suggestions for the second one?”

“Mostly just don’t be boring, I wouldn’t try to game the audience, it usually backfires but I would make sure that you don’t just stay cooped up in your room. Sexual stuff helps, even if it is with the other girls and not me. I’ll say they tend to like either those who embrace and accept being part of the harem, or those who try to rebel. Why they like them is really different but don’t be wishy washy about what you want.”

“Okay… for competitions?”

“I don’t really want to favor anyone too much there. So, I’d rather save my advice to give to everyone, though the competitions tend to be all over the place too.”

“Haven’t you kind of favored some people already…”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, the most obvious is making Talia super smart. But more than that. I mean you got rid of a pretty big disadvantage for Merida, I know you’re looking at something to do the same for Sam, with her Practice Makes Perfect. Allie’s Shared Vows makes it a lot easier for her to make allies. I’m not saying that you did anything wrong by doing those things Mark. Just if your intent is to not put your finger on the scale of the challenges, at all, you have some balancing left to do.”

Mark thought about that. She does have a point. Making it so that the others couldn’t pose Merida at all is really helpful to her, and increased intelligence is also going to assist in any mental challenge. Damnit, she’s right.

“Mark, I’m not sure you need to be totally fair about it. Look, the competitions aren’t going to be fair or balanced. They almost can’t be. Cassandra might try to mitigate the unfairness some but Almost any physical or sexual challenge right now Laura will have a huge advantage. She got younger, taller, stronger, faster and has more endurance. From what I’ve seen she is stronger than a person normally could be. Not like superman or anything but definitely beyond normal. And anything sexual she could either use magic on herself or one of us to advantage her. Sam’s ability to restrain people could make her a complete menace, my ability to go unnoticed is also really strong. Again maybe Cassandra has thought of ways to make things more balanced but the question is are you okay with putting your finger on the scale or do you want to try not to give some people an advantage over others? Because if you are the one trying to impose balance some of us aren’t going to see that as fair, because that means helping some of us more than others.”

“What would you suggest then? Because it seems like a damned if I do damned if I don’t. Like with Merida for instance, with her posing issue. Either I helped her like I did and that removed a weakness for her or I refused to help thereby keeping her at a disadvantage.”

“That’s why I said you don’t need to be totally fair. Look you didn’t go out of your way to tip the scales of a challenge. You were just trying to help. I’m not asking you to give me secret tips or anything for challenges, I'm just asking for help to deal with a problem. The others could ask for the same advice and my advice would be to give it to them.”

“I suppose that’s about the best I can hope for. So for challenges… Let's see. Like I told you before they can be all over the place. There is often a way to get a hint about the challenge ahead of time, but it could be really obtuse. Number one thing is try your best and actually participate but don’t try to actively sabotage another contestant. Especially if the audience is the one to decide the quality of the performance. But long term it is also just not a good idea to sabotage the others in the challenge. People are going to be a lot more forgiving if they come in last because you beat them fair and square verses if they feel like you targeted them in particular. Don’t think of the challenges as individual events, think of them as one aspect of the show.”

“So cultivate friendships.”

“Pretty much.”

“How much worse do you think the transformations the last place person receives will be compared to first place?”

“A lot. I don’t think it will be a punishment TF or anything. But first place might only receive boons as options for the audience to pick from. And Cassandra said that the standard TFs you guys received were for a middle of the pack placement. So think of the difference between a boon and the normal to be about four placement ranks. Take that difference from the standard down and that could be last place. ”

“Crap, that's really bad. And punishment TFs would be worse than that?”

“Yes. Look I could think of a few examples for you that are either light punishment TFs or very severe TFs. Like you could lose your ability to walk upright, or only be able to meow. Maybe there would be conditions on them, maybe not. Think Talia is literally unable to speak everyday until she kisses someone on the lips. Now, I’ve said it before Cassandra is a fairly accommodating host. So, I’m hoping it won’t be that bad, but I fear that whoever gets last is not going to be happy about their transformation no matter which option is picked.”

Flora stopped walking, Mark thought she looked rather glum. She then hugged Mark. “I just need a moment.”

“Take your time.” Mark put one arm around her and gently stroked her hair with his other hand. After a little bit she began to purr, and rubbed her face against his chest.

It took a moment before she realized what she was doing when she pulled back in embarrassment. “Uh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“Flora, I thought it was cute. I’m glad you like being physically affectionate with me.”

“But I… I was purring and rubbing up against you just like a cat, to claim something.”

“Flora, I’m not saying you need to be my pet but it wouldn’t hurt to embrace your changes, if they aren’t harmful in your eyes. Did you like doing those things?”

“Yes, yes I did.”

“Then do them. Now while I would very much like to stay in relaxing mode, it would be nice to learn more about you and maybe do something together besides just walking around.”

“Well I heard there is this really great hot spring we could go take a dip in.” Flora grinned in amusement. “Those are nice and relaxing right?”

Mark was not amused. “I’m not going back in that spring.”

“Oh? I thought you were fine being a woman? Even if you prefer being a guy. You do know that like all of us found you attractive like that right? Just food for thought.”

“Flora, I didn’t mind being a woman. Like that part doesn’t freak me out even now. What does freak me out very quite a bit, is having my sexuality altered. I was concerned, rightly so, that I wouldn’t be pleased about liking penises. So never going in that spring again.”

“So, if we wanted to see Mary again, you wouldn’t be opposed to that as long as it wasn’t permanent and didn’t make you like guys?”

“That is about right. But it isn’t high on my priority list right now, even if you found something in the shop. You mentioned me looking for something for Sam’s TF, well one of Aubrey’s also needs fixing. I’m hoping that Freya’s suggestions have a solution for both of them.”

“Well, how about we do that then.”

“Do what exactly.”

“Go back to your suite, and look through her suggestions and then the store. We could relax and browse, maybe put on some nice music. While one of us is looking at the store the other could give them a back massage. Nice, relaxing, deals with a source of stress, and a little bit of intimacy, seems pretty perfect to me. By the way, which team earned your boost from would you rather?”

Mark made an annoyed face. “Merida and Aubrey. Apparently you all liked them pushing me to make a really tough choice. For your suggestion though, that does sound really nice. Can we walk up to the suite and chat or would you rather I called Hilde?”

“Why does it seem like saying, ‘I would like you to call for a ride,’ would be a mistake?”

“I’m upset with Hilde right now. Rather a lot. I don’t want to get into another argument with her.”

“I don’t mind walking but you are going to have to deal with her eventually, not everyone is going to be okay with walking that distance.”

“I know, I just don’t want it to be today.” Mark sighed

“Okay let’s walk and on the way we can tell each other about what we’ve done since college.”

After about half an hour of walking Mark and Flora made it back to the palace. “Wow the surroundings are really pretty.” Flora said as she literally stopped to smell the roses. “And… These smell wonderful.” She looked around and then noticed the naked statues and walked over to them. “Hey, these are statues of us! My boobs are not that big!”

“Yeah, I haven’t had the chance to explore the grounds much. But there does seem to be a lot of little neat things like this.”

“Neat? Okay I guess I can see why you would like them.”

“Oh please, you can’t honestly tell me you don’t find all the other statues nice to look at.”

“Fine… You have a valid point. So after our current plan, want to explore the palace grounds?”

“Sure, but that might not end up relaxing.” Mark just got a shrug in response.

Flora started to head inside. “So do you want to do me first or the other way round?”

“How about you rub my back first, so I can look through Freya’s suggestions.”

“Okay take off your shirt. Don’t give me that look, take it off, massages are better directly on skin.”

“Okay. Fine.” So he pulled off his shirt.

“Damn…” Flora said, looking him up and down. “I thought you were a nerd, that stayed in and played video games all day. I mean you’re not ripped or anything but I can definitely see you have abs, and a decently toned body.”

“I am a nerd, who stays in and plays video games. I do a little exercise. Mostly I have some light weights that I lift while in queue for a game or during long loading screens. But mostly I think it is just good genetics because my diet is less than stellar.”

Flora sighed, “Some people are just born lucky I guess. Tall, decent looking and you don’t have to have a strict diet and exercise routine to maintain that body.” She just shook her head. “Well at least I get to enjoy the perks of your luck now, grab Freya's suggestions and lie down on the bed.” So Mark went and grabbed the tablet, which Freya had left the suggestions on, and then did as instructed, and Flora climbed on top of him with a soft purr escaping her lips. She began massaging his lower back, working her way slowly up. “So what’s on the list?”

“Let’s see, General suggestions to reduce BP…” Mark began to read off the list “Breast size increases, standard upgrades to TFs…”

“Really those are the top recommendations? You like big breasts that much.”

“I don’t think they sorted them into a priority order; rather, it seems like there are just general options, and then specific things for each of us.” Mark finished continued reading off and scrolling through the general options and reached the individual suggestions.

“Okay not that I’m asking you to get me anything but what are some of the suggestions for you to buy for me?”

“One second… Flora… Flora… Ah here we are, let’s see… Okay, I don’t think you actually want me to get these. The initial stuff all looks like stuff to make you more cat-like and into pet play.”

“You would be correct. Seriously nothing else?”

“Oh here’s one. This makes you view the others as members of your pride, making you protective of them and the stability of my Harem. This one makes it so, I could notice you while you’re using your boon, that could be fun. Oh and an option to make you more in tune with and attentive to the desires of everyone. Actually that would likely lead down the pet-play path too. Lastly, just buy your plant girl TF that they audience passed on.”

Flora deflated a little, and flopped down on top of Mark’s back resting her chin on his shoulder. “So even most of Freya’s suggestions involve me being a pet…”

“Just to be clear ASTRID went through stuff first, and then Freya narrowed it down to more reasonable options. I’m sure that if I ask Freya to see about other things we can find stuff. I skimmed a few of the others and well all of them sort of lean into your current direction in one form or another. Right now your clear direction is lioness, but if you really don’t like that this is where you are headed we can always do a path swap.”

“That actually sounds like a really good idea, only one problem though. I’m not overly fond of any of my paths. I mean Call of Nature is probably the best of the three but like I said before I feel like Wallflower is just going to make me fade into the background and Nala is going to make me a pet.”

“First, I don’t think we should reroll all of your paths. The audience tends to hate that sort of thing. Second, I don't agree with your assessment, about either Wallflower or Lion King - Nala. That change by the way to the path name I think is larger than you give it credit for.”

“Okay, explain. Both why you think I’m wrong and why adding Lion King to the path name matters.”

“Okay first of all I didn’t say I think you were wrong.” Mark rolled over beneath Flora so he could look at her, and she moved to a sitting position on top of him. “I said I didn’t agree with your assessment. I do think those things could happen. You are right that you could be made to want to fade into the background or want to be my pet. But I don’t think those are the only ways to go with them. Flora, tell me, the first word that comes to your mind when you think of a lioness.”

“Fierce.”

“Okay, now does becoming a meek little pet that fades into the background really fit with being fierce?”

“No, I guess it doesn’t.”

“You might remember that your Nala boon was about the others respecting you more and treating you with more deference the higher in the VP rankings you were. Not that they would treat you worse for being lower, but better for being higher. Sure you became a lioness, but think about the name of the transformation, ‘Hear Me Roar!’, that sounds to me like someone who is loud and very much noticed. The option for Wallflower had you becoming voyeuristic. But to me this sounds like Cassandra’s idea for that path is more focused around observation play than making you fade into the background forever unnoticed.”

“Really? You think the cat-girl thing is just a coincidence?”

“Honestly I think Cassandra put up the option to make you a lioness because I’m into animal-girls and monster-girls. Like had you become a plant girl I would certainly have found you attractive still."

"You're not considering buy me that one right? How would that even work?"

"I definitely won't get it for you if you don't want it, but I mean you would probably be a lion plant girl, maybe your lion ears would be made of leaves or something, and the tail a vine with a flower on the end for the tuft."

"Hmm, maybe, again not sure I want to give up more of my humanity... I'll think about it more later."

"Honestly I could see most of the others having an option come up for something making them not completely human. Allie is already a wolf-girl. Merida could probably get, doll or bear to come up. Talia could go mermaid or vampire, or some other gothic creature. Ellen could get, a beast, bunny, or variety. Sam would be, dragon or something aquatic for Sailor. Laura, is almost certainly going to get a devil, or succubus option to come up. Aubrey now has a literal sheep-girl path so that is a certainty. Chloe is the only one that I can’t immediately come up with something. I would say a Dr. Jekyll, Mrs. Hyde situation for her pharmacology but I don’t really know how that would work. Now are all those going to get picked by the audience? I doubt it. But I could see them coming up. So yes, I think when Cassandra realized she could assign a fitting fairytale that also would give one of if not the most popular animal girl type as an option she took it. Because, I’m only really into some light pet-play. Like I would love to see you in a collar, maybe put a leash on you for sexy times. But I don’t want to see you as a full time pet, nor do I want to take you or Allie out on walks.”

“Okay… that actually makes me feel better. So you’re just a furry?”

“No, I’m more into kemonomusume and monstermusume, not full furries or scalies.”

“I have no idea what those words mean.”

“Okay, so kemono means animal and musume means daughter, the other suffix that is typically used to describe it is mimi which means ears. So either, animal daughter or girl, or animal ears. Which would be what you and Allie are right now. But furries would be more like… have you seen zootopia?”

“Yes.”

“Okay well zootopia is furries and scalies. Understand the difference better?”

“Yeah, I think so. So you didn’t find Judy Hopps to be attractive then? Or Lola Bunny from Space Jam?” Flora asked rather skeptically

“Hey, I didn’t say that I didn’t have taste. Just that I’m MORE into animal girls, but yea those two did things for me. I would say you and Allie are probably safe from that, as I’m not overly into snouts. Maybe you get a fur-kini, but I wouldn’t expect you to go full anthropomorphic lioness.”

“Thank goodness. I was actually really worried about that.”

“Now I’m pretty sure it’s time for you to shed your shirt.”

“WHAT!?” Flora’s face had gone beet red, and a little wide eyed.

“You know so I can knead your back?”

“Right. The massage…” Flora didn’t move to take off her shirt or to get off of Mark.

“If you don’t want to remove it, we can always do it to you with your clothes on.”

“You’re doing that on purpose aren’t you.” Flora glared down at Mark.

“Doing what? I just wanted to admire your purr-fect breasts. Can you really blame me for wanting you to li-on beneath me and get my paws all over you? Maybe get you to go a little feral?”

“Seriously, are we really doomed to this? Forever?” Flora’s tone was such that it was clear she wasn’t really annoyed.

“What? They are one of my mane attractions. I’m sure to whisker them into your ear.”

Flora just sighed. “You know I had this little outfit I was going to wear for you but now I’m not so sure you deserve it.”

“Oooh, Kitty has claws.” Mark paused for a moment. “I’m sorry, that was probably too much right?”

Flora actually laughed at that. “Mark your puns are awful, but they’re puns they’re supposed to be. Your banter game is surprisingly on point. I wasn’t offended. Thanks for being mindful about that stuff though.”

“Sure and tell me if there are things that I really should never even come close to approaching in a joking manner, and if I ever joke about something that makes you uncomfortable.”

“I’ll do that. Also, I think I would like to hold off on the massage if you are okay with that. After all, you might just drive me a bit wild doing it.” Flora smirked suggestively at Mark.”

“I’ll look forward to making you roar then. Any chance I can get you to reconsider not wearing whatever this little outfit is?”

“I could be clawvinced.” Flora smiled at him and then took on a bit more serious expression. “Mark, I’ve really enjoyed today, I had been dreading being around you all week. Now I’m relieved, happy and kind of regretting not taking you up on your offer for a date all those years ago. I like you, but I’d like to stop here today. I know it’s really early, and I said I was interested in exploring but maybe we can watch some movies or listen to music or something instead? But I’m not sure I want to be more physically intimate with you at the moment. Are you alright with that?”

“Absolutely. Flora, I want you to know that if you don’t want me to touch you, then I won’t. I get the premise of the show kind of implies that all of you are mine to do with as I please. Some Masters are like that, too. I’m not one of them. Now I’d like to clarify something, especially since you haven’t moved your hands since I rolled over and they are practically resting on my crotch.” Flora immediately pulled them up in embarrassment, and almost face planted onto Mark as she was leaning forward but Mark caught her shoulders. “When you say you don’t want to be more physically intimate, is that a ‘I don’t want to do anything physical with you’ or ‘I don’t want to do anything new’?”

“Mostly the new part. But I’m not looking to have a make out session or anything either, but you can touch me.”

“Glad to hear that… Now any chance I can see that outfit?”

Flora rolled her eyes in amusement. “Fine but only if I get eye candy too. You have to keep your shirt off.”

“Deal.”

“Alright close your eyes I want it to be a surprise, I’ll be right back.” She went over to the wardrobe and grabbed the outfit she bought on her first day here. And went to get changed. She came back out wearing a tight little red out fit with fur trim, fur cuffs and a bone necklace reminding Mark of a tribal warrior.

"So what do you think?"

"Definitely, fierce." Mark grinned at her and then she pounced on top of Mark to his surprise resuming her previous position. "Really wish you were up for more now, but I have my pride, I can keep my heat in check." Flora just shook her head at that, then kissed him briefly and got off of him.

Mark and Flora spent the rest of the day just hanging out in the suite, watching movies going through the store and catching up. Despite what Flora had said earlier, she did start an intense make out session or two during a couple of the movies.