Alphabet song, that's right we're playing it

“…So that’s the deal,” Amelia said, placing her hands on her hips. “For every letter you learn, I’ll tell you a story about Nicholas from his childhood. Are those terms acceptable?”

She felt a little uncomfortable using her precious memories of her stepson as a bargaining chip with another woman, but it was clear that Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin wouldn’t accept anything less than that in exchange.

So if Amelia wanted to ever leave this room, and more importantly, teach the poor girl how to read, she would need to use every means at her disposal to do so, even if they made her feel slightly unclean.

She could be ruthless if she needed to be.

And yet, in spite of the offer sitting on the table, in spite of how much Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin clearly wanted to learn more about Nick… she was still hesitant. Amelia still had not received that nod of assent she needed from the assassin.

A fact that perturbed her.

“…What is the matter?” Amelia asked. Had she not properly conveyed her intentions again? Was that why Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin seemed uncertain? “Is there something about this agreement that you find undesirable?”

The assassin squinted at her. She had trouble with some of the fancier words Amelia used. Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin frowned, and sank back into her seat. Her eyes slid away and she looked down at the ground.

A silent sigh slipped past her slightly-parted lips.

Amelia could see there was something there. Something under the surface.

If only she was better at connecting with others, maybe she could do something to help. But she wasn’t that kind of woman, no matter how much she wished she could be.

How could she even begin to comfort a woman like Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin? Someone who could kill her with a paper clip? Someone who didn’t seem to give a damn about anything but herself, her own desires, and Nick?

Amelia had dealt with troublesome students before, including all the times she’d tried to teach Nicholas himself. But this one would definitely be a tough nut to crack.

She sighed and removed her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose before replacing them and looking at Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin with fresh eyes.

“Is there something you aren’t telling me?” She inquired.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin blinked, and then smirked. She rolled her eyes and gestured to her throat.

Yes, there was quite a lot the assassin wasn’t telling Amelia. That was kind of how being a mute worked, after all.

Amelia sighed.

“…I am trying to help you,” she reminded the assassin, taking a step closer to her. She reached out a hand to the assassin, trying to comfort her, but hesitated. “If I can.”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin still looked suspiciously at her. She scowled and shook her head.

Amelia sighed again. They had a long way to go.

---

“So Dakota, I’m guessing you didn’t come here just to give us a heads up about Amelia and Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin,” Dani said, frowning. “So what’s up? What do you want?”

“Perceptive as always, Dani! That’s my girl!” Dakota chirped, nodding in approval. “Yes, I have some other business to attend to today, in fact! You see… I was actually hoping to ask, how did you girls find the photos you received this morning?”

Mary blinked. “Photos?” She asked. “What photos?”

“Ah, yes, you weren’t part of the distribution, I almost forgot,” Dakota said, conjuring up a stack of photographs. “Here you are.” She tossed a handful of them over to Mary. Scintillating snapshots of Carly, posed like a model, dressed all nice and sexy and ready to fuck.

Mary’s face turned bright red and she dropped the photos like they were on fire.

“What!?”

“Remember Carly’s transformation?” Dakota giggled. “Feel free to donate as much as you like to her, can’t forget that part! You can’t imagine what the prizes might be! …But I didn’t come here just for Carly’s sake, either.”

She shook her head.

“No, I thought we might want to do some bookkeeping,” she said. “Just check in on where everyone is, scores-wise. With your VP and everything. So let’s see the new rankings!”

It had been a while since Dakota did an impromptu ranking chart. Somehow, Nick guessed that it wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart that she did so.

With a snap of her fingers and a tap of her cane, Dakota summoned up a screen and presented it for their appraisal.

1st: Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin – 95 VP

2nd: Rose – 94 VP

3rd: Morgana – 89 VP

4th: Kim – 83 VP

5th: Dawn – 79 VP

6th: Carly – 78 VP

7th: Gina – 75 VP

8th: Amelia – 74 VP

9th: Vivian – 68 VP

10th: Dani – 59 VP

11th: Cinder/Ella – 58 VP

12th: Sylvia – 55 VP

“Now as you can see, it’s only been a few days into the round, so we haven’t had a lot of changes,” Dakota noted, stroking her chin. “But that isn’t to say that the rankings haven’t shifted at all! Dawn and Carly have both made quite a rise, and Ella, look at you! You managed to pull yourself out of last place, and you’re creeping up on Dani now! Way to go! …Oh, and look… who’s that right there, having just barely made it into first…?”

Rose’s face soured and she glared at Dakota. “So that’s what this is about?” She sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest indignantly. “You did all this, for what? Just to make fun of me for dropping down into second?”

She tried to make it sound like it was no big deal that Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin was a point ahead of her. But Nick could see she was perturbed by it. He bit his lip and sighed.

“Okay,” Dawn said, sensing the tension in the room. “Let’s not get out of control here, okay?”

“Yeah, don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll claw your way back on top soon enough!” Vivian chirped, flashing a smile. “I wouldn’t bet against that determination of yours, Rose!”

She winked at the french girl and Rose blushed. She smiled, her mood temporarily perking up.

“Talk to me later,” Vivian said. “We can compare notes. I have a whole list of activities that could earn you some VP.”

Thanks to her Leading by Example transformation, Vivian was in the know about what acts the girls had yet to do with Nick in comparison to each other, so she knew what Rose would need to do in order to get back on top.

But with all the different things Rose had already done with him, it would be a pretty short list. Oh well, that wasn’t her problem.

“You’d do that for me?” Rose was honestly touched. “Aww, thanks. But it’s okay!” She flashed a smile, and her eyes landed on Nick. “I have a few ideas in mind already. Now, if I could just borrow you for a second here…”

She scurried over to Nick and latched her arm around his, dragging him from his chair.

“H-hey, Rose-?” Nick looked at her in surprise.

“Don’t worry, I’m just going to borrow you for a second!” Rose said. “Gina, is that okay with you?” She turned to the punk girl. “It is your day with him, after all. I don’t want to intrude…”

“Err…” Gina wasn’t sure how to respond to that for a second. Then she grinned. “…Only if I get to join in,” she said, hopping to her feet and coming along.

Mary’s jaw dropped and her eyes bulged out of her skull. “Y-you! Wait, in the middle of breakfast!?” She didn’t know what scheme Rose and Gina were concocting, and honestly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know. But right now, she felt a deep, compelling need to get involved.

Just to make sure everything was on the up and up, that’s all! She had no ulterior motives whatsoever, certainly not!

Mary quickly scurried after the threesome, leaving the rest of the Banquet Hall stunned.

“…So,” Vivian purred, leaning back in her seat. “Anyone else feel like joining in?” She fanned herself playfully as she waited for her sensitivity to increase. She glanced pointedly at Dani as she spoke, knowing how the tomboy must be feeling.

The feathered girl shot her a look, but held back, not saying a word. She just glowered at Dakota, who smirked back in amusement.

“It’s worth considering, anyway,” Dakota purred, shrugging. “If you want to progress, I mean.”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Dani snapped.

Morgana squirmed in her seat, considering for herself. But she ultimately decided not to go. Ella, meanwhile, was petrified. The sound of her rubber-band snapping echoed through the silent Banquet Hall.

Dakota cleared her throat. “Now then… back to the matter at hand…” She waved her cane and cleared the screen.

“The matter at hand?” Dawn raised her eyebrow. “What exactly do you mean by that? I thought you were here to tell us about Amelia and Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin?”

“And to rub Rose slipping into second into her face,” Kim added with a nod.

Dakota laughed.

“Something like that,” she admitted. “But no, that was just pleasure! This is… business. Now, as you may remember, I wasn’t always your lovely host, was I? No, before I took over, there was someone else in charge, you remember Sylvia, don’t you?”

“Yeah, we remember Sylvia,” Dawn said dryly. What game was Dakota playing?

“Well, it seems some of her old conditioning as a host is still rattling around in that head of hers, because she contacted me this morning with an idea!” Dakota chirped. “And at first, I’ll admit, I was skeptical. But once she explained it, I had to agree- this really was a great idea!”

The room was silent, looking doubtfully at the boisterous host. Any idea Sylvia had that Dakota considered “great” wasn’t one that anybody trusted.

---

On the matter of lacking trust, Amelia and Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin weren’t exactly catching each other in their arms at the moment.

“You want to learn more about Nicholas, but you still refuse to accept the terms,” Amelia pondered, studying the assassin with a scrutinizing eye. “Why exactly is that?”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin shrugged.

“No, that’s not an answer.” Amelia shook her head. “You’re avoiding the question. No- you ARE well aware of your motives. You’d just trying to keep them from me. …Which is understandable.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“But I still won’t have it.”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin scowled, and glared back at the teacher. She really wasn’t a fan of the position Amelia had put her in.

Why couldn’t she just tell Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin what she wanted, without asking anything in return? Why did she have to be so selfish!?

Amelia figured that the self-centered girl was probably thinking something absurd like that. It was simply in the assassin’s nature, it seemed.

But Amelia wouldn’t allow herself to be swept up in the other woman’s pace. No, she had to handle this delicately, and try to make a connection with her, get through to her somehow, no matter how difficult that would be.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin needed that much from her, at least. As a teacher and as someone who cared about the young woman’s situation on a personal level.

She really wanted to help her, she did. But the assassin was determined to not accept her help!

Amelia crouched down and got on the other woman’s level, looking her directly in the eye. She extended her hand and placed it over the assassin’s in a gesture of comfort. She wouldn’t have normally done this with a student, but her transformations were at play here and she couldn’t think of any other way to really connect with Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin’s eyes widened in alarm and she shot Amelia a warning look, but that was as far as it went. She didn’t yank back her hand or throw a fit, she just sat there on the edge of her seat looking warily at the older woman.

Almost like she was waiting.

Amelia took a deep breath and wracked her brain, trying to think about what she could say that would get through to the other girl. It wasn’t an easy task. After all, Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin was like a wall. And she was enigmatic by choice.

But Amelia didn’t see that she had much choice. She was firm and determined, and looked directly at the young woman ahead of her.

“Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin, this is an important thing,” she said gently. “Learning how to read.”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin scowled and her cheeks puffed up.

“I think you know that,” Amelia continued, not dissuaded by the open display of defiance. “You’re not unintelligent at all. You’re quite perceptive and aware, aren’t you?”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin’s eyes widened slightly and she looked at Amelia for a moment. She studied the other woman curiously and shook her head slowly.

There it was- that was the expression Amelia had been hoping for!

The other girl was looking at her honestly and seeing her for who she was. They were communicating! It wasn’t a lot, but it was a start.

“There’s a reason you aren’t willing to learn to read, isn’t there?” Amelia asked. When she saw the hesitation in the other girl’s eyes, she adjusted her approach. “You can just nod if I’m correct, you know,” she indicated to the assassin.

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin flinched. She pulled her hand away from Amelia’s in a sudden, jerky motion, which, for someone who was usually so graceful, was quite an answer in and of itself.

Amelia knew that she was on the right track.

“Is it… because you’re scared?” She asked gently. “Scared of learning to read and write?”

Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin’s eyes widened and she looked at Amelia in shock. Her mouth fell open and she froze, not sure what to say.

That was how Amelia knew that she was on the right track.

I’m not surprised. Learning to read and write as an adult is a daunting task. And for someone who carries herself with so much pride and acts like she’s the greatest thing in the world, having to directly acknowledge that there’s something she cannot do, and then actually having to undertake that endeavor herself, and try her hardest to do it… that would be difficult for anyone.

Amelia bit her lip and thought about what she should do here. Was there anything she could say to the other girl that would help?

Maybe not.

“You shouldn’t be scared,” she said sternly. “It’s pointless.”

Whelp. That definitely didn’t come out right. Amelia knew it the second she said it. “Err… that was not how I intended to come across,” she murmured, her cheeks reddening. “What I meant is… I will help you every step of the way. So there is no need to be afraid. Would that be acceptable?”

She really hoped Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin would see her side of things. And for a moment, it looked like the assassin’s heart wave wavering.

If Amelia could get through to her… oh, how great would that be?

---

While Amelia struggled to get Augmented Synthetic Humanoid Assassin onboard with learning how to read and write, Dakota had a scheme of her own that she was trying to get the others onboard with.

“What exactly are you talking about?” Dawn questioned. She noted that Dakota had waited until Nick left the room before making this grand display.

Dakota smirked.

“Have you noticed that Carly and Marley aren’t here right now?” She asked coyly. “And neither is Sylvia. Now, where could they be…?”

“Dakota…” Dani rose from her seat, scowling. “What’s your game?” She didn’t think Dakota would do anything to hurt any of them, not really. But she didn’t like these games the host played.

“No games!” Dakota held up her hands. “It’s only, the girls were stuck in a bit of a debate, so…”

Dakota tapped her cane on the ground, and suddenly Carly, Marley, and Sylvia all appeared.

Dani noted, appreciatively, that apparently neither sister had eaten the flower from the cactus yet.

“There’s no debate!” Marley said, her face red. “The answer’s clear! I’m going to be the one eating the flower!”

“Hey, no argument from me,” Carly said, holding up her hands. Her massive breasts were straining against the pajama top. “If you want to be the smaller one, sis, you go right ahead.”

“Stop it with that… reverse psychology!” Marley fumed. “I know what you’re trying to get me to do, and it won’t work!”

“Yep, they’re still at it,” Sylvia said, shaking her head. An amused smile touched her lips. “Sisters, am I right?”

“I-I don’t get it,” Morgana mumbled.

“Well, my idea was that it just wouldn’t be fair to leave who gets the flower up to something like pity or mercy!” Sylvia said. “I know Carly’s just being nice when she says Marley can have it.”

“No, I really don’t mind,” Carly said, shaking her head.

Sylvia shot her a look.

“…So I proposed that we put it up to a vote!” Sylvia chirped. “Let the audience decide which sister they want to stay massive for a couple more days, and who can go back to their normal breast size! Wouldn’t that be a fun little game?”

“No!” Marley exclaimed, her face heating up. “Just let me eat it!”

“Come on, sis, it sounds like it could be fun,” Carly laughed. “And is it really such a big deal? Hey, if you lose, then as a consolation prize at least you’ll be bigger than me for a couple more days, right?”

“Please, Marley?” Sylvia pleaded. “At least consider it! Dakota’s already got the whole thing set up, right, Dakota?”

“I think it should be rather amusing,” Dakota said, waving her cane. “So what do you think? Are you up for it?”

Marley sighed and hung her head in resignation. She really didn’t like the idea of deciding things this way. She should just be allowed to eat the flower! And yet, her heart wasn’t really in her objections. Maybe, on some level, Carly was right. Maybe there was some part of her that liked the idea of being the bigger twin, at least for a little while longer.

…But she’d never say that out loud.

“Let’s put it to a vote!” Dakota declared, holding her cane high in the air. “Who will be eating the flower and getting their breasts reduced back to normal size, and who will have to wait until the next one grows? You decide, audience!”

And then she presented a quick poll for the audience to vote on.

https://strawpoll.com/e2naXlJ2eyB