Multiplayer

"If we had any doubts your cousins have been claimed by Carl and Martin they've just been obliterated" Philip told Tammy sadly as he walked back into Maisie's home, where she and her aunts had been patiently waiting for his return "They have them over there playing Street Fighter against each other"

"The video game?" Holly asked in confusion "That feels like a weird use of the curse. They're just making them play on their console?"

"No, they are literally in the game. They have been synced up to their controllers and made to look like the characters from it, and they are fighting each other in their living room."

The trio of Holly, Maisie and Tammy all looked at Philip aghast at this revelation.

"Those poor girls!" Maisie spoke eventually "Are they hurting each other?"

"I don't think so. There were loud sound effects whenever one of them landed a punch or kick but physically they seemed unaffected. For all of their faults, neither Carl nor Martin are evil. I suspect they put in plenty of safeguards to prevent anyone from actually getting harmed. Nonetheless, it was uncomfortable to watch two people being so literally controlled like that. I felt like I needed to get out of there quickly, especially as they were encouraging me to get Annie involved in their games"

"Who is Annie?" Holly asked.

"Sorry, that's my name for your daughter" Philip explained "I call her that to avoid accidental commands. Anyway, they wanted to bring her in as a third fighter"

"Maybe I should do that then" Tammy announced to everyone's surprise.

"What?" Holly wanted to check she had heard her daughter correctly.

"You said the players can't get hurt in the game, right? Well, it would be a great excuse for us to spend time there, to figure out everything that's going on and come up with a way of getting Haley and Kelly out. If you keep randomly showing up without a good reason they are going to start getting suspicious"

"I admire your selflessness, Annie, but I really don't like the idea of putting you in that situation at all" Philip shook his head dismissively "Plus it would be me controlling you. I would hate doing that"

"It's only because it would be you controlling me that I would even consider this" Tammy told him "But I want to help. It's important to me. I love my cousins and they are only having to do this because of me. I told Carl and Martin about the curse"

"I'm with Philip" Holly folded her arms "I appreciate you wanting to help Tamsin, but this seems like an unnecessary risk"

"What risk? It would be Philip controlling me. I'd trust him to stop immediately if I asked him, or if he felt like he needed to"

"But I suck at video games. You would be losing every round" Philip attempted to warn her.

"Who cares if nobody gets hurt?" came the response.

Philip paused there, feeling a little uncomfortable explaining the nature of the game he had witnessed earlier, and he was saved from doing so as Maisie suddenly piped up.

"Emily could play as well" she decided "Four players works better than three with these things, right? I could be a responsible adult in the room to help Tammy and Philip, at least as much as I would be able to under the circumstances"

"And what? You're going to take your husband along with you to play video games with a bunch of teenagers?" Holly arched an eyebrow.

"Technically we would only need him to sync her to a controller" Philip pointed out "Anyone could use the controller"

"We could find someone who is really great at video games, better that Martin or Carl!" Tammy suggested animatedly.

"Then they would have to be told about the curse. We have four teenage girls in our immediate family who are turning eighteen in the next few years" Holly reminded everyone "Presumably they would be auto allocated the next one they were aware of to reach that age, which would likely be Abigail. Or they could get me, Mel or Kylie now"

"That wouldn't be a problem if we find a female gamer we can trust to keep a secret" Maisie shrugged "And perception can sort out the whole girl master discrepancy. We could make the two dorks think Emily is an exception who can have a mistress rather than a master. Call me crazy, but I think this might actually be workable?"

"There's something else we could try, if we chose to go ahead with this" Philip realised "But it would mean Annie definitely having to play. It would only be those of us in this room who could even know about it, let alone do it, so it would realistically need to be me. And I'm not even sure if it would work"

"What?" Holly asked curiously.

"I could map some secret button combinations that would allow Annie to cast silent second order commands on Haley and Kelly while it looked like she was fighting them. We would have to be super subtle about it, but it might be a way we can help them without anyone else realising"

"That's brilliant Philip!" Tammy lit up "See! I do need to play. And honestly, if it can help fix this mess then I would be more than happy to. I want to be part of the solution here, not just someone sitting on the sidelines because I've got a wonderful master who wants to protect me at all costs"

"There is something I need to explain to you both about the kind of games they are playing before we proceed any further though" Philip looked awkwardly at Tammy and Maisie as he spoke "The one I watched a small amount of, before I was able to make an excuse and leave, was called Strip Fighter. At the end of each round the loser had an item of their costume vanish. At the end of the game they were talking about the losing fighter having to do some kind of naked forfeit of the winners choosing. And, as I say, I suck at video games. So Annie would be predominantly facing defeat, especially when I might be prioritising using secret button combinations for secondary commands that don't functionally do anything in the game itself"

"Oh..." Tammy looked a little crestfallen by this news.

"Well I can still play" Maisie shrugged "If we find me the right gamer I shouldn't lose much anyway, and even if I do it wouldn't be me anyone sees stripping, but Emily. Maybe we can find a way to sneak some secondary commands into the controls for my player instead?"

"I'm not sure I can see how without telling whoever would be controlling you about them, and I'd be very **** for this part of the plan to go beyond the four of us" Philip pondered.

"I still want to play" Tammy declared, boldly "Philip, you could give me a command to stop me being embarrassed about being naked. I don't mean turn me into an exhibitionist or anything like that obviously, just make me okay with it within the context of the games for as long as we need me to play them"

Philip instinctively looked towards Tammy's mother for approval before he would even consider such an unexpected request.

"If it helps us save the others I'll allow it" Holly nodded "But I would need you to give the command here in my presence Philip, not because I don't trust you, because I want to make sure you get the wording just right"

"Sure" Philip nodded "Tammy. When, and only when, you are involved in video games and being controlled by me, you do not feel in any way embarrassed or ashamed if you end up in a state of undress or are asked to things you would ordinarily find humiliating. This command does not apply in any other situation and does not at any point affect your judgement as to what is and isn't an appropriate action for you to take. As with all commands I give you, you will be fully aware this effect is in place at all times. As with all commands I give you, you are able to remove it yourself at any time without my approval by simply saying "I no longer wish to be bound by the command that causes me to.." and then explaining the nature of the command. If, for any reason, that doesn't work, you can remove all commands at once by saying "I no longer wish to be bound by any of Philip's commands" This command will not activate until you confirm you are happy for it to be placed on you. Do you consent to this command Tammy?"

"Yes, I am happy to consent to this command, Philip" Tammy smiled at her master.

Without being able to help herself, Holly walked over and threw her arms around Philip, locking him into a tight embrace as tears formed in her eyes.

"Oh.." Philip mumbled, a little self consciously.

"I'm sorry Philip, I don't mean to embarrass you" Holly told him as she pulled away "But you have no idea how many sleepless nights I have had over the years worrying about what kind of master my precious only daughter could have ended up with and you are like a dream come true"

"I'm really just an over thinker who likes to feel useful if he can" Philip replied modestly as he rubbed the back of his head "And I would hold off on the praise until we at least find out if this plan of ours even has legs. Still, I am warming to the idea of trying it even if I do still have my misgivings"

"So now we need to find a player for me" Maisie reminded everyone.

"I think I know someone. She's an awesome gamer and I definitely trust her, she can just be a little..." Tammy began before deciding not to continue with that thought "No, it's cool. I'm sure she will work out fine!"

---

"So wait, my Dad sent his meal back anyway?" Andrew laughed.

"The look on the waiters face was priceless" Jessie giggled "Strangely enough I don't think any of us have eaten there since!"

She was almost back to kind of forgetting she was naked again, since she was having so much fun reconnecting with her cousin's older half brother. Almost. Kind of.

"Can I get you another beer?" he asked as he rose from the couch and turned in the direction of the kitchen.

"Sure, why not?"

Jessie definitely didn't want to be naked and drunk at the same time, but she figured a third bottle should be okay and well within what she could handle without doing anything dumb. It was probably about the right amount of **** to take the edge off her self consciousness at her current situation without lowering her inhibitions too much around the hot guy while she was naked. It was a balance she needed to be wary of getting right.

"I'm so sorry to ask again Jess, but I feel like there is definitely something you're not telling me" Andrew began as he walked back into the room and passed her a Budweiser "What's the real deal with you not wearing anything? It seems so random. Did Haley and Kelly know I was coming and put you up to this as a prank?"

"No, they might find that funny but it wouldn't be my kind of humour at all" Jessie assured him as she grabbed the bottle opener "I can't explain it to you exactly. But it's not going to be forever. At least I really hope not"

"Aw, damn" Andrew joked "I guess I'll have to make the most of it while it lasts then"

"Hey, you can't flirt with me, we're family" Jessie felt herself blushing a little.

"I never really saw you like that. You were more like my sisters adorable little sidekick. Though obviously you were both kids back then. I might have taken more interest in you at the time if I'd known you would grow up to be a naked hottie"

"Hey, cut that out!" Jessie threw a cushion playfully at Andrew, while smiling just enough not to actually discourage him.

"You're right, Tammy really wouldn't like me hitting on you" he conceded as he tossed it back "But just so you know, I think you're a pretty cool person with or without clothes. I'll definitely still hang out with you when you do decide to get dressed. I mean, maybe not as much..."

The cushion was flung back in Andrew's direction, this time accompanied by the sound of Jessie's giggling.

"I think I'm going to make this my last beer" she told him "Then I'm going to head to Tammy's room for the evening, since your Dad will be back soon and he said he's bringing a couple of his work buddies with him"

"So he told you about them coming but not me?" Andrew laughed "That is so Dad!"

"I know right?" Jessie rolled her eyes "Anyway. if things get too boring for you down here and you want to come and keep me company, just purely to hang out and nothing more, you are welcome to okay?"

"Okay, maybe I'll catch you later on then" Andrew nodded with a smile. There was no maybe about it..