Starting Transformations

Chloe sat up in the chair and straightened her back as the pressure lifted from her arms to let her talk. "Alright, what are my options?"

"We have an interesting set for you, Chloe. We have a few potential paths for the Audience to consider. Ariadne waved a tendril, and text appeared in Chloe's eyes and Alan's.

Chloe:

One Way or Another: Chloe will always know what direction Alan is in. This power will also work on anyone who has sex with Alan or Chloe. (Stalker)

Under the Bus: People will constantly mix up Chloe and Christian. This will apply to memories, accomplishments, statements, and identifying marks used to clarify which is which. As an example, people will forget which of them has dyed hair. (Traitor)

Walked Into a Door: Chloe can heal herself with focus. Any mark she chooses can be erased, as long as it was made within the past 24 hours. (Wounded)

https://strawpoll.com/X3nkP1RljgE

"Did they have to be so insulting?" Alan frowned. "Those keywords are fucked up."

"It's fine." Chloe grimaced. "We knew the show was evil, and none of those are too bad."

"What?" Alan frowned. "The one where we mix up you and Christian sounds awful."

"Maybe." Chloe nodded. "Still, we never did manage to pull off a 'twin switch' gambit. I see potential, but it would probably be too stressful over time. The healing power has a fucked up name, but sounds useful. Stalker could be stressful, but it could be a lifesaver if someone is in trouble."

"Alright, I guess I trust Chloe on that." Alan smiled at her.

"Well, that's surprising." Ariadne looked relieved, and she leaned towards Samuel, which Alan took as a request to walk towards him.

Samuel felt the pressure lift and gasped before he sat up straight and leaned forward. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be."

Ariadne frowned. "I hated the phrasing on your options, but they don't seem as bad as they look on first glance."

Samuel:

If I Were Your Girl: When Samuel kisses another member of Alan's harem, or an Eliminated former contestant, he can choose to assume the appearance, mannerisms, and speech patterns of the fellow contestant. This takes three seconds of sustained contact. Samuel can do this any number of times to change into another member of the harem, or to become a member he previously dropped. (This has no off switch. Samuel can't kiss himself, after all.) (Fake)

Admiral Ackbar: We've all seen how this ends, but we should give the Audience the option. Samuel and Nathan will have their sexualities altered to be mutually compatible, though emotions will not be changed. (Gay)

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar: Alan will have his inhibitions suppressed and describe his ideal girlfriend on a physical level. Samuel will now have two bodies that share a mind. One of his bodies is the original, and the other matches the description. These bodies must stay within ten feet of each other at all times, and their brain will be enhanced to process this as natural and comfortable. (Nerd)

https://strawpoll.com/w4nWWbGeQnA

"What is wrong with you?" Samuel shouted.

"Um..." Alan stared.

"You obviously know what I am, and that is what you pitch?" Samuel ranted. "You take a trans girl onto a transformation show and either I have to steal someone else's life, keep my dick while watching a version of myself who is finally comfortable, or don't even fix me!"

Natalia looked thoughtful, Chloe was clearly confused, and Christian nodded as several details 'clicked' for her. Laurel was slightly relieved.

"None of those were my call." Ariadne frowned. "Do you have a preference for the best option?"

"The last one is probably the closest." Samuel frowned and collapsed back into the chair.

"Um, I think the first one would be more useful?" Alan muttered. "The other two sound super awkward, but shape shifting would be cool."

"Well, let's move on." Ariadne leaned again, and Alan continued to accept his role as her steed as they walked to Natalia.

"Well, those two were horrifying." Natalia shook her head. "I have to assume my options are just as unsettling?"

Natalia:

Mrs. Robinson Was Here: Why should Laurel have all the fun? Natalia will have dreams about Alan's childhood every night, with real events altered to include Natalia observing from the role of Alan's mother. (MILF)

The Wolf and the Sheep: Natalia doesn't really fit in with the other girls, does she? Natalia can picture any of her film roles and assume an appearance identical to when she played the role. Natalia will also feel her skin change to match the makeup used for the role, but it will be natural instead of makeup. (Dream Girl)

Walk of Fame: The generation gap is real. To facilitate the parasocial fantasy of having a celebrity in their harem, Natalia will be able to grant anyone she sleeps with an exhaustive knowledge of her work as an actress, activist, and academic. (Starlet)

https://strawpoll.com/ajnE17A8NnW

"How is this a choice?" Natalia shook her head. "The second option sounds like immortality and regeneration, if I understand that correctly."

"Yeah, no disagreement from me." Alan shrugged. "The first one sounds awful."

"Yeah, I think we have a favorite option." Ariadne nodded and led Alan to Christian.

"Please tell me at least one of them won't be messed up." Christian **** a smile.

"Well, you might like one of them." Ariadne sounded concerned.

Christian:

Thelema: Alchemists, wise women, monks, and communists all have one unifying trait; their magic doesn't work. Let's give Christian a bit of the real deal. Christian will be granted a unique enchantment for every member of the harem she has sex with. Alan will not have an associated spell, since we shouldn't taint the bond of harem-girl and master. (Witch)

Were-Twin: Periods are gross as hell. Harem Hotel offers an upgrade to make "that time of the month" more fun. When Christian would otherwise menstrate, she will instead synch with Chloe in appearance and chemistry. (Bitch)

She Said She Said: Christian and Chloe are such a mess, aren't they? Let's get to the root of the problem. Alan will always know if Christian believes what she says or not. Objective truth is the domain of oracles, but this should clarify events where the Twin Detectives had two contradictory stories. (Liar)

https://strawpoll.com/e6Z2AdWO5gN

"Wait, one of the 'harem members' is her sister." Alan glared at Ariadne.

"Oh fuck." Christian looked furious. "Seriously?"

"Well, you would have four other spells to unlock." Ariadne sounded sad. "Any other preferences?"

"Well, Were-Twin might be good if Chloe gets the healing thing?" Christian looked down. "I kind of messed up my hair, anyway."

"So, let's see about Laurie." Ariadne leaned, and Alan moved to his mother.

"Are you changing something from what I'm used to?" Laurel looked calm and alert as the pressure lifted from her.

"The core mechanics are unchanged." Ariadne smiled. "Your keywords ended up less hostile than the others, but the transformations are intense."

Laurel:

Back from the Not-Dead: Well, it'd suck if Laurel got run over by a truck right after the season ended or something. Let's give Laurel a "respawn point" so she appears totally healthy and completely naked next to Alan every time he wakes up. We can worry about the march of time later. (Ghost)

All My Life's a Circle: We don't get many returning contestants on Harem Hotel for obvious reasons. Laurel can randomly draw options that failed to win from her previous season to replace a current option for voting, once per round. She can also use this on another contestant's options, but that will count for the round. She doesn't technically need the other contestant to agree to this, but we can trust her, right? (Insider)

Spawn of the Moment: The Audience has noted certain awkward implications of Laurel's situation. To address these concerns with characteristic elegance, Laurel's reproductive system will shift to external fertilization. She will produce unfertilized eggs monthly, which may be fertilized at her sole discretion—or not at all. (Animal Lover)

https://strawpoll.com/QrgewG37Ryp

"Oh, thank God." Laurel sighed in relief.

"Um..." Alan tried to process the reaction.

"None of those push us to fuck!" Laurel laughed with relief. "I mean, who cares if I show up naked every morning? She gestured at her body, mostly nude, with a hospital gown as a blanket. "Spawn of the Moment sounds stupid, but All My Life's a Circle could be a lifesaver. Do you think I'm missing something?"

"Well, the first of those is awkward, but I could deal with it." Alan nodded. "I think the second would be the best. A bit of control would be nice."

"Well, that leaves us." Ariadne looked at an invisible camera. "Um, it's kind of awkward. I thought they'd fuck around with these, but they didn't. I got nicer options, and I think that was meant to stir up some shit. Sorry."

Ariadne:

Always Be Yourself: I'm already interfertile with Alan! People will register me as a human who happens to have odd features, and not see my Crawler physiology as anything unusual. (Dragon)

Selkie: Ugh, fine. Alan will gain the power to turn me into a baseline human form or return me to my Crawler body with a touch. (Princess)

Champion of the Lewd: This is the most fun version for me. I will be granted a set of illusion spells I can use outside of my capacity as a host. These include sensory feedback for my illusions and can totally give Alan an amazing time! (Knight)

https://strawpoll.com/kogjRG9L1g6

"Um, wow." Alan shook his head. "The first seems like the weakest but isn't bad. What's wrong with Selkie, though?"

"You know the old saying, 'Always be yourself. Unless you can be a dragon, then be a dragon.' Ariadne smiled. "The foot problems, the back problems, the narrow birth canal, the messed up sexual dimorphism, the stupid tidal lungs. I'm a mad scientist's dream girl, and I even have trunks!" She raised a tendril to Alan, who saw an opening and three soft fingers. "I'd lose my echolocation. Your sense of smell isn't as bad as you think, but your head's so far away from anything interesting to sniff. I get it's a long shot, but I am hoping the 'monster girl' fans will rally for me."

"I was meaning to ask, but why do you say 'dragon' without legs or wings?" Alan asked. "I didn't question it growing up, but you're way more like a snake."

"Terminology's a bit of a bitch." Ariadne admitted. "Dragons used to refer to a serpentine creature, but the term has drifted. Snakes are a specific type of reptile, and I don't have much in common with them besides my overall shape. Technically, the scientific term is 'veriform.' Legless lizards and a group of amphibians called caecilians share the Crawler shape without fitting the definition of 'snake' in current use. I've been called an apode, a marine mammal, a transhuman, and a 'swamp dwarf' before. My grandmother was aiming for 'dragon,' but I settled on 'Crawler,' and it works for me."

"I have heard of legless lizards." Alan nodded. "If it helps, I think you're gorgeous."

Ariadne blushed. "Thank you. I worry that my tendrils are too masculine, since they're placed like a beard. Anyway, I considered an option like Samuel's avatar TF, but I realized it would be like a baseline had to be handcuffed to a raccoon for the rest of their life."

"So, what do I get?" Alan asked.

"You're the master. Some seasons have master transformations, but I think that is a lot to process for the opening. You get one veto, which lets you switch one winning TF for another or add a transformation in addition to the winner. It didn't sound like anyone was terrified of a transformation, which was a relief. Sky has her own veto, but we're introducing her tomorrow, as we already have a lot of setup in the opening."

"Oh, thank you." Alan nodded. "Can I wait until we see how the Audience votes before I use my veto?"

"We were going to wait for the veto choice until after the results," Ariadne explained.

Alan looked at the women, who apparently included Samuel. Alan wasn't entirely sure about gender terminology, as one outburst wasn't enough to peg Samuel with female pronouns, but there was a selfish comfort in knowing Samuel fit the set. Laurel was terrifying, viscerally wrong as an inclusion, but he would finally get to know his mother. Chloe had admitted that Christian had a crush on him before the family split, and in the back of Alan's mind, the idea that Chloe wouldn't be fucking strange new men was a relief. Natalia was an open question; she was a mother, but what was her relationship with the father or fathers of her children, and how would they deal with the age gap? Ariadne was exciting and mysterious, and the scary parts were sexy so far. Hopefully, no options would lead to issues with the promised 'veto,' but Alan suspected the season would find a way to fuck with all of them that he could not expect.

Alan looked at the six of them—seven, counting himself. In a few seconds, they would change. The Audience would decide how.

"Well, let's have our vote. It will be a few seconds from our perspective, but the Audience has a few days to vote. We will discuss options for handling your absence back home, but time's already stopped there from our perspective, so don't worry about being missed during this period."

Best Girl Poll:

https://strawpoll.com/mpnb1bkXEy5