Week 3 Stacy's Date: Lunch

Laura sat watching the silent fireworks as Penny handed her a plate with cheeseburger, hot dog, and a pile of potato salad. She'd expected fried chicken again, but apparently the deluxe picnic's contents varied somewhat. They'd even gotten a larger blanket this time, big enough for all five of them to sit comfortably, so maybe it was customized to what the person who pushed the button wanted somewhat. Stacy had always enjoyed the family cookouts by the grill when they were younger. Astrid had always insisted she could grill as well as any man, and Laura had to agree. They could have easily afforded a cook, or even a maid, but her mother had always insisted on doing for herself. She'd even gone back to work once everyone was old enough, though that was out of boredom more than any need for money, Laura thought. A driven woman, Astrid Black, and Laura had more than a little of her mother in her, even with her father's height and coloration.

She had to laugh to herself as she took a juicy bite of burger, she even had her mother's breasts now, since the expansion.

Everyone enjoyed the meal in happy silence while they enjoyed the show, even the robotic woman who didn't need to eat but obviously relished the human experience. Fireworks at mid 'day' might seem odd anywhere else, but here they dazzled in the dark star studded sky.

Eventually Tracy, who was leaned up against Susan's side, spoke up. "So I know this is your date and all sis, and this has been a really great morning, but is there any way I can convince you to change the plan?"

Stacy, from the other side of the cow woman, rolled her eyes. "The arcade was your idea. What do you want to do instead now?"

Laughing the teal haired catgirl had to agree, she had pretty much coopted her sister's date, but Stacy couldn't hide from her how much she'd enjoyed wandering the garden. Even if she had been sneezing so much. "I was just thinking how behind I am on the shows. Shar's mentioned exciting new seasons I haven't even started yet and Genet's challenge should be up. Maybe even Sally's, though she seems to be going through a slow patch."

"What are you going to do after we leave here?" Laura laughed. "You won't be able to watch Harem Hotel and get your fix back on Earth."

Tracy shrugged, unconcerned. "Maybe Shar lets you keep that fancy TV when we go home, or you let me tear it apart so I can build one?" Laura vehemently shook her head no. "Fiiiine. Maybe you get some fancy Master's club all access to the show afterwards. Or maybe Shar lets us visit and I can binge them with her then. I'm sure something will turn up." She looked over at her pink haired twin. "So is that a yes?"

Stacy shrugged, the plan was to spend time together as a thruple today. They could do that as much in Laura's suite as the arcade. "I'm fine with it if Laura is. She might have been looking forward to the arcade after we brought it up."

Laura shook her head. "No I'm fine relaxing on the couch, tomorrow is going to be crazy enough."

"Action packed." Susan agreed, having cleaned her plate. Working out took a lot of calories, though no where near what Anna was eating lately. "What are you looking forward to more Laura? The outfits or the orgy after?" The busty woman grinned, she was actually looking forward to showing off after developing her current toned physique. Not that the outfit would show any more of her tits than her current bra clad self. Not wearing her comfy sweat pants was leaving her comfort zone though. But showing off to Laura and Tracy was worth it.

Laughing Laura shook her head again. "I have no idea. What Carla and Kim have planned sounds wild, but as much as I am looking forward to you all strutting your stuff I really don't want to have to rank you."

"Might be a audience vote." Tracy said. "Less bias that way, and Shar's not the type to put you on the spot."

"She puts me on the spot every time we have the transformation votes! Asking me what things I want you put through like I enjoy seeing you all warped like that."

Stacy shrugged, reluctantly defending the redheaded giant. "Asking you to let the audience know what things you especially don't want is hardly a bad thing." She sighed. "And I suppose not all of the changes have been bad either."

"I'm not complaining." Tracy interjected. "Susan likes her changes too, don't you?"

Chuckling nervously, Susan rubbed the back of her neck. "They have grown on me, I said as much in that letter Shar asked me to write this morning. I'm glad to have gotten rid of the one that kept me from looking into Laura's eyes though."

"What was that all about?" Laura wanted to know.

"Oh, apparently someone on another season is looking like they are going to get a cow transformation like mine and Shar wanted me to reassure her. Marissa, on someone named Arabella's season."

Tracy hopped up, excited and done eating. "That's one of the ones Shar mentioned. She didn't have me write anything this time since I haven't seen it yet, but apparently Sam is awesome. Lets watch that one first!"

Laura stood, with everyone else, the picnic done and fireworks spent. "That sounds like as good a place to start as any."

.

Anna walked into the dinning hall carrying a large pink plush shark with a tiny squealing blonde woman astride its back like she was riding it through the sky. Misty, Evelyn, and the Professor were sitting alone with no one else in sight. Anna did a double take upon seeing Gabriella. The woman that normally wore minimal if any make up was done up in Misty's usual style, which really made the beautiful woman's features pop. "Wow Prof, looking good!" She made her way over to the table, as Misty beamed with pride, to set the toy on the table.

"Where ever did you find such a thing?" Gabriella asked, blushing slightly.

Answering as she turned to the buffet, Anna replied. "Turns out the arcade has claw machines, Candy wouldn't quit until she got something. Carla and Kim still in hiding?"

Misty nodded as the pixie flew past towards the food, giggling. "I'm pretty sure Carla doesn't intend to leave the room until she can remove the toy. Which in Kim's case is probably a good thing..."

Anna stopped with a raised brow. "She's that bad?"

Trying to quickly change the subject, a definitely blushing now Gabriella asked. "Claw machines? How much did she spend trying to win something? Those things are notorious cheats."

Shaking her head, Anna glanced over at Candy before looking back at the Spanish woman. "She's the cheat. The machines don't cost anything but they are just as hard to get anything out of. If you can't shrink down and crawl inside that is..."

"I had to free Pookie!"

Anna sighed. "And you'd still be stuck inside the machine with her if I hadn't been there." Turning back to the trio. "Apparently the prize door only opens from the outside."

Misty was openly laughing at this point while Evelyn looked confused. Gabriella shook her head, the pink shark was even larger than Candy's stuffed unicorn. "There may be no more room in her bed for others if she keeps this up."

Anna nodded before getting her own food. "She told me her bed back home is covered in her 'plushie friends,' seems it's something of an addiction."

"Is it like Shar's collection of figurines?" Evelyn asked.

"Something like that, only far more huggable." Misty told the green haired woman. Personally she couldn't wait to share a room with the bubbly blonde and her plushies. Bound to be far more comfortable than with the British duo.

.

Nimue teleported back to Shar's office after a brisk midday swim. The water in the crater lake was nice and cold in its depths even with the warmer weather. The ground still moaned with the damage done by the massive funnel cloud though it happened ages ago, but the water didn't care.

The tall Gothic beauty sat behind her desk looking unchanged from before her destruction, but Nimue could feel the weight of the years on her now. She was brooding again, but at least the weather was still calm. "Have you finished with the newest batch of letters then?" The correspondence was another new thing, these younger hosts kept surprising with their innovations. But she supposed that was the point of bringing in outsiders who'd had their own lives before the show in the first place.

Shar looked up from her screen, gesturing at the desk that now bore only a single envelope next to a good sized box. "I didn't send Cassandra that many. This was her second request in so many weeks for mail and I didn't have anything new to say to most." Nimue could feel the disapproval radiating from her lover, though she kept her features clear. Shar obviously had not much enjoyed the challenge they'd watched this morning. The elder Fae might warn her about keeping favorites as a host, but she could hardly point the finger when her own favorite sat before her. "Arabella already sent a reply to yours."

The blue haired woman blinked in surprise, that had been quick. It was still a shock that any of the other old hosts remained, upon finding out that Arabella still had her own season she couldn't help but reach out herself. The only other she knew of was poor Little Miss, who had received her own punishment and was no longer a host. "Well that was certainly a fast return." She laughed.

"She's already started her first challenge. She's really pushing this batch hard. Something feels off though, I think she has an agenda. But your guess is as good as mine to what end she's seeking."

Nimue picked up the envelope, it had the same smell of roses that came from the box. Pulling out the letter, written in a neat precise hand, she read it out loud. "Darling Nimue,

You cannot imagine how delighted I am in turn, to know you have been returned to us after such an unimaginable absence. I grieved when I watched your last season, and I am glad to know you are safe and well now, and with your beloved who went through such lengths to restore you. She truly is one of a kind, and I advise you - though I know you need it not - never to let her go. Indeed, beloved sister, much has changed since you last ran a season. Adaptation has not been easy, as you can imagine. Many of my kin - Dua, Annerose, Lithany, Anunaras, Evanam, and many others - could not do it. Do you remember Stuthi? He was, sadly, annihilated when he found himself unable to choose transformations that could suit his season. I do not know how many of my kin remain - perhaps only I. There are not many of your generation left, either, which is why I rejoiced when I heard of your return.

If I may speak to both you and Shar, this season I have started is quite special There is a method to the madness. Contestants have been chosen for several specific reasons. Do be reassured, Shar, that Sam's inclusion was never meant to follow in the footsteps of harems where a woman's sexuality is reshaped like clay. Nimue will confirm, I hope, that such is a line I never crossed, in the thousands of seasons I have run.

As for the reason behind my selections, partly, I admit, it is a test of character for the Master, Andrew. He is a man bearing a heavy burden of grief, as you know. He can yet break and fall from a great height, joining the throngs of Masters who were easily corrupted by power, or he can rise to become a better man. This first upcoming challenge, I believe, will test his resolve thoroughly. But there is another part to the selection. There is power in certain choices, Nimue and Shar, as you must know. We shall yet see if my plan comes to fruition.

In the meantime, I send you both my love, and my roses." So Arabella had secret plans indeed. Setting the letter aside The blue skinned woman opened the box and the heady scent of roses grew stronger as she revealed a bouquet of Arabella's signature enormous deep blue roses.

"Those are quite lovely." Shar lifted out a single rose, admiring the pattern seemingly set within the petals. "Perhaps I should see if I can persuade some to grow here?"

Nimue laughed, filling the room with music. "Another hobby? Where will you find the time?"

Shar looked back at her screen with a sigh, on it two figures were donning backpacks on top of a frozen mountain. "I have nothing but time, all too much time."