Last Ride of the Day

VP and BP Standings
Claire - 135 VP - 10600 BP - 2 Achievs
Erin - 134 VP - 8100 BP - 3 Achievs
Sam - 107 VP - 5900 BP - 3 Achievs
Chloe - 106 VP - 8650 BP - 2 Achievs
Emi - 104 VP - 11750 BP - 3 Achievs
Norah - 95 VP - 4050 BP - 3 Achievs
Liesa - 93 VP - 4400 BP - 3 Achievs
Marissa - 90 VP - 7000 BP - 3 Achievs
Myra - 83 VP - 5000 BP - 2 Achievs
Emily - 81 VP - 8600 BP - 3 Achievs (2 used)
Dawn - 78 VP - 9000 BP - 3 Achievs
Riley - 72 VP - 8800 BP - 3 Achievs
Laura - 8950 BP - 2 Achievs

Andy woke to the smell of sun-warmed sheets and the sensation, rare but unmistakable, of both of Laura’s bodies curled around him. One of her had her head tucked under his jaw, hair spread like a blackbird’s wing across his chest. The other was spooned in behind, arm draped over his waist, her bare knees pressed into the backs of his legs with a needfulness that never seemed to fade. He didn’t dare move for several minutes, except to breathe in the scent of her, the faintest trace of midnight shampoo and the salt of skin.

He kept still, not wanting to risk even a micro-expression of discomfort, because he knew she would notice, and today—of all days—she deserved the illusion of safety. In that hush before wakefulness, Andy let himself study the doubled shape of Laura’s presence. Even asleep, she was in sync. Not like a machine, but like two chords played a half-step apart: more powerful, more present, but also dizzying if you tried to focus on both at once. Andy remembered last night’s intensity, their four bodies folded together in sweat and pillowtalk and the high, wild timbre of Laura’s doubled laugh. He remembered, too, the way she’d fallen asleep only after both of her selves were sure he’d joined her in dreaming.

He shifted his arm, and one of the Lauras made a sound that was pure, unfiltered contentment: a long exhale that vibrated all the way through her, echoed by the other self in a slighter, more internal hum. The sound pulled at him. He hadn’t realized, until the last two days, that he’d started listening for those sounds as a kind of heartbeat for the whole harem. If Laura was at peace, it meant the world itself was safe for another round.

One of her hands found his shoulder, kneading gently until she was sure he’d wake, then let go. Both sets of blue eyes opened at the same moment. She said, “Hi,” in stereo, one mouth muffled by his chest.

Andy smiled, a lopsided, early-morning grin. “Hey, yourself.”

Both of Laura giggled, then she detangled herself in a slow, practiced ballet that didn’t so much break the moment as stretch it into new shapes. One of her rolled to the foot of the bed, gathering the sheets in a clumsy bundle; the other sat up cross-legged and blinked at Andy with the solemnity of a small animal unsure of its next step.

“You okay?” Andy asked, voice just above a whisper.

Laura nodded in perfect sync. “Dizzy, but good,” she said.

He reached out for her hand, and she put both of her right hands in his, palms stacked, fingers interlocked. It was a small thing, but it felt profound. He squeezed, just enough to ground both of them, and let himself stay there.

After a moment, both of Laura spoke again. “Is it always like this, for you?” she asked. “Two of you, I mean?”

Andy considered, then shook his head. “No. To be honest, I never really used the duplication trick before Sam’s last date night.” He didn’t add, because I know you better than myself, but he saw her catch it anyway.

Laura grinned, a matched set of mischief and vulnerability. “You could get used to it,” she said, and he nodded, because it was true.

For a while they just existed, no pressing agenda, no rounds to run. She stood up and walked to the bathroom, hair swinging with every step, and Andy’s eyes followed her without shame.

She turned at the threshold, met his gaze, and smirked. “You’re looking,” both of Laura said at once.

Andy didn’t look away. “You’re worth looking at.”

It was corny, and he expected her to call him out, but she just smiled, a slow, almost-lazy curl of lip, in stereo, and disappeared into the bathroom. Andy stood up and followed.

---

The shower was a high-pressure rainfall, enough to drown out thought and replace it with tactile reality. Andy stood under the spray, feeling his muscles relax with each drop. Both of Laura joined him, one from behind, arms circling his torso, the other in front, her blue eyes searching his in the cloudy mirror of the glass.

There was a playfulness to Laura’s touch, even when she was tired. She’d spent most of the previous night alternating between wild confidence and soft, almost-embarrassed confession, and now, in the morning, she seemed even more herself. The Laura in front reached up and massaged shampoo into his hair, using far too much, the scent of something citrus and green filling the whole shower. The one behind traced idle lines up and down his back, like she was making a map of his spine for later.

He wanted to say something—anything that would make her feel less nervous—but the moment felt too good to spoil with words. It was Laura who broke the quiet, both bodies pausing to catch his gaze.

“I have to get a transformation today,” she said, both voices together. “It’s probably going to be weird.”

He heard the worry, even under the careful delivery. He knew, because it was the same tone she used to talk about the future before the game, before this life: a voice that wanted to hope, but still braced for the possibility of disaster.

He tilted her chin up, careful not to catch her in the spray. “You’re not going to be alone. Not ever again,” he said. He meant it, and she felt it, both of her leaning into his hands with a hunger that wasn’t just for him, but for the whole idea of being chosen, every day.

One Laura kissed him, the other rested her forehead against his shoulder, and they just stood like that, letting the water wash away whatever was left of the last twenty-four hours.

When they stepped out, Andy wrapped towels around both of Laura with the practiced efficiency that came from two months of sharing showers with women. Laura smiled, both of her, and said, “You’re good at this.”

Andy laughed. “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “With girls in the shower?”

He grinned, “With people I love,” and Laura blushed, both faces at once.

They dried off in comfortable silence, Andy running a hand through his hair as Laura dried hers. He watched her, and she watched him, each catching the other’s eye in a series of small, silent check-ins that made words unnecessary.

Laura dressed, each body moving in parallel, but she left her hair down in both. Andy threw on a polo shirt and jeans, not bothering with the usual fuss over appearance, because with the harem, it didn’t matter. He looked at her, saw the steadiness in her eyes, and said, “Let’s go.”

Both of Laura nodded, and together, they left the Suite.

---

The elevator ride down felt like the start of a new game, each floor a count toward some unknown, inevitable transformation. Both of Laura watched the numbers light up, her bodies in perfect symmetry, but her hands found Andy’s and squeezed, hard, just before the doors opened.

He held her fingers as they walked out of the Main Lobby and into the Banquet Hall.

The room was alive with motion and noise: the clatter of cutlery, the thrum of conversation, the warm blast of cinnamon and coffee and oven heat from the buffet line. Around the long table, every Contestant was already in place, some still in pajamas, some (like Erin) entirely naked except for her sneakers, her mint-green skin a stark note against the color wash of the room. Dawn and Chloe had staked out a corner, Chloe’s enormous L-cups barely contained in a lavender sundress, Dawn looking both delighted and mortified whenever Chloe’s breasts eclipsed a glass or a fork. Marissa was on her third cup of coffee, her voice at a low near-whisper as she counseled Norah, who had, predictably, managed to trip and tear a hemline before sitting down. Liesa, in a t-shirt and running shorts, sat as if she was sketching the entire scene in her mind, her green eyes always looking for what everyone else missed.

Emily was at the end of the table, pouring coffee for anyone who wanted it. She was, as always, naked—her long, pink-tipped hair somehow draped with uncanny accuracy to hide just enough for plausible deniability. Only when she bent to refill a mug did the arrangement slip, and Andy caught her grinning when she saw him notice.

Sam was the first to spot them. “Hey, lovers,” she called, waving them over. She scooched her chair to make room, which had the effect of unbalancing a carefully arranged row of chairs; Norah, to Sam’s right, was **** to recalibrate, and in so doing, managed to wedge herself against Andy’s side.

Andy took his spot, one Laura on either side. Both of Laura sat in mirror, one sipping orange juice, the other tearing a croissant in half. He caught the look the two of them exchanged—more sheepish than competitive—and realized they were waiting for him to set the pace.

He did, announcing, “Okay. Before we get to the ceremony, I promised I’d ask if anyone wanted to use my Coauthor or Contribute gifts today. One-time upgrades, or to tweak your descriptions, or anything else that might make the next 24 hours better.”

A hush went around the table. For a minute, no one spoke. Then Sam, with the smooth confidence of a woman who had nothing left to lose, said, “I want to try the Life Hugger upgrade. But I’ll wait until next round—I had Beerista upped this week, so we have to wait anyway. Also, I want to try what happens if you use Sworn to Carry Your Burdens to delegate me for Life Hugger.”

Emi, who had been quietly sketching something on her napkin, looked up and said, “I would like to upgrade Velvet Hours, but only on the day we have our date. I want to see what it’s like when, um...” She turned bright red.

Claire, who had been writing in her notebook with the intense focus of a surgeon, now flipped it around and held up a single line: If you see something important to change, I trust you. Just tell me what and why after.

Dawn, who had spent most of the morning cuddling a still-sleepy Riley, nodded vigorously. “Me too. I don’t have a good imagination for this stuff, but if you think something could be better, just go for it.”

Erin snorted, rolling her eyes. “Go on, then. I dare you. Make me even more irresistible.”

Andy smiled at the chorus of trust, and for a moment, he let himself savor the fact that this was a group who, despite the constant transformation and magical chaos, felt safe enough to let him try.

He turned to Laura. Both of her were silent, blue eyes down and to the side, fingers unconsciously tracing the raised ridge along her jawline—the L-shaped scar her father had given her when she was eleven. The scar she’d carried into ****, and somehow, impossibly, into this second life.

“Can I use Coauthor, too?” she finally asked, voice barely audible.

Andy nodded, and waited.

She drew in a breath that seemed to pull from somewhere deeper than her lungs. “I want to get rid of the scar,” she said, still not looking up. “The L on my jaw.” Her fingers trembled slightly against the mark. “I’ve carried it on my face. Like a brand. Like I belonged to him. Reminding me what he was capable of, and what I might be capable of, if I ever lost control.” Now she did look up, and Andy saw something fierce behind the vulnerability. “But I’m not him. I never was. You…” She looked at Andy, at the women around them, “You all helped me understand that. And I don’t need to wear his mark anymore.”

Andy’s response was simple: “Done.” And he meant it, with a weight that surprised even himself, understanding exactly what she was casting off.

Both of Laura exhaled in unison, as if they’d been holding that breath for decades. One squeezed his thigh under the table with newfound strength, while the other tore her croissant decisively in half and took a bite with what looked like genuine hunger for the first time since she’d returned.

The table buzzed back to life: questions about the coming ceremony, bets on who would get what, a debate about whether the cake at lunch yesterday had been real or a very elaborate Mildred illusion. Even the more reticent women—Marissa, Norah, and Riley—seemed lighter, like the anticipation had turned to something almost fun.

They ate together, the dynamic shifting in small ways with every new round of coffee or swapped seat. At one point, Liesa offered to draw a “family portrait” of the table, provided everyone signed their names in the margins. She already had a pencil and scrap of paper; Andy didn’t know when she’d grabbed them, but it felt right.

When they finished, the group lingered at the table, savoring the last of the food and the warmth of each other’s company. Eventually, Arabella’s voice chimed from the speakers above: “If you are ready, the gazebo awaits you. Please proceed to the main path.”

Everyone stood, chairs scraping, voices rising in a coordinated wave of anticipation. Norah tried to stand too quickly, tripped on a loose shoelace, and nearly toppled into Andy’s lap. He caught her, steadied her, and she flushed but held her ground. “Thanks,” she said, then grinned. “You get used to this after a while.”

He grinned back. “I’m counting on it.”

The group moved as one, a mismatched parade of color and personality: Erin’s naked confidence, Chloe’s shy bounce, Claire’s measured walk, Liesa’s effortless glide, and Emily’s unembarrassed stride. Even the outliers—Myra’s quiet walk, Riley’s hands jammed deep in her jacket pockets—fit perfectly.

Both of Laura walked in step with Andy, one on either side. For a moment, he let himself feel the full, wild optimism of it: that somehow, despite everything, they were all still here, still going, still choosing each other every single day.

He put an arm around the shoulders of both Lauras as they headed out. She let him, both bodies leaning in with absolute, uncomplicated trust.

---

The path to the gazebo was lined with whitewashed wood, the morning sun glinting off the sea and throwing diamonds of light over the whole world. The harem’s approach to the gazebo was like the opening of a show: all thirteen (or fourteen, counting Andy) spilling onto the blinding white boards in a semi-organized chaos. The gazebo looked out over the sea, the waves bashing the rocks in a rhythm that felt less like background noise and more like a drumroll. Arabella stood at the center, lit up by the late morning sun. She wore a gown the color of sunrise, its skirts flaring in a way that made her look both impossibly tall and perfectly anchored.

Andy led the way, Laura flanking him in stereo. The rest followed, each in their own orbit: Claire cat-footed, Marissa composed, Erin entirely unselfconscious in her nudity, Dawn actually bouncing a little as her bunny tail twitched in anticipation. Chloe kept to the edges, but smiled nervously, while Liesa and Sam took the rear, already deep in a private joke that had them stifling laughter as they passed through the open rails.

Arabella clapped her hands once—crisp, but not sharp. “Welcome, everyone,” she said, with a voice that could have made a court hush or a stadium cheer. “Today is a first for all of us. The first Transformation Ceremony where nobody is eliminated, and no new arrivals. I’m rather pleased by it.” She tilted her head, that little chin-dip of sincere amusement. “I hope you are, too.”

Marissa smiled, genuine, the way she always did when Arabella praised them for anything. Norah, not to be outdone, said, “We could make it a tradition. Never losing anyone.”

“From your mouth to the Producers’ ears, Norah,” Arabella said, then swept her arm to indicate the semicircle of stools around her. “Please, be seated. You’ve more than earned it.”

The harem filtered onto the seats, a blur of color and skin and animal bits. Both of Laura sat at Andy’s sides, forming the axis of the arrangement. Arabella smiled at the sight, as if she approved of the symmetry.

“Before we begin,” Arabella said, “I want to congratulate you on your performance at the Masquerade of Mirrors. It’s rare for a challenge to provoke so much... discussion.” She paused, letting the memory of the ball echo through the group. Riley snorted, barely containing a laugh. Erin flashed a grin that was all teeth.

“It was ridiculous,” Erin said, “in the best way.” Claire, sitting primly with her hands on her knees, nodded vigorously.

Sam deadpanned: “I still have hives from the formalwear, but otherwise, ten out of ten.”

Arabella smiled, softer now. “I hope you enjoyed yourselves. And I hope,” she said, eyes sweeping the row, “that you learned a little more about each other in the process.”

There was a pause, and then Emi said, shy but clear: “I did. I think we all did.”

Arabella inclined her head, accepting it as the highest compliment.

“Now,” she said, and the whole mood snapped to ceremony, “today marks what, if you succeed in your plan, will be the final ‘normal’ transformation round of the game.”

A ripple of energy passed through the women—excitement, relief, wariness. Chloe squeaked a little and covered her mouth. Even Andy felt it, a low hum of anticipation.

Arabella continued, “If each of you reaches 100 Victory Points by the end of the Sixth Round, the last transformation round will consist only of ‘exit’ transformations. These are designed solely to make your return to society easier. No more curveballs, no more cruel twists. Just what you need to move forward.”

Liesa grinned, her accent syrup-thick: “Is so much less ominous than usual. Are you sure you’re feeling well, Arabella?”

Riley, her boots propped up on the stool rung, added, “Do you mean it? No more surprises after this?”

Arabella nodded. “You have my word. If you succeed in your wild plan to speed-run the Sixth Round, this, right now, is the last time anything truly unexpected will happen to any of you—unless, of course, you choose it.”

The harem exchanged glances, and the mood shifted from tension to something closer to hope. Even Marissa, usually so stoic, let her shoulders relax. Andy saw the way Laura’s two bodies breathed out, the subtle uncoiling of tension in both.

Claire wrote quickly in her notebook, tore the page, and held it up: If we all pass the finish line, we win?

Arabella read it and smiled. “Only one of you receives the Wish, but you all win,” she confirmed. “No strings, no edits. You write your own ending.”

The effect was electric: Dawn bounced in her seat, Riley grinned like she’d just won a bet, and Myra let out a sound that was half sob, half laugh. Emily blinked hard, then wrapped her arms around herself as if to keep from floating off the seat.

Satisfied, Arabella moved to the center of the gazebo, swirling the skirt of her gown just so, like the anchor for the whole show. “Let’s begin. Dawn, Riley, and Laura: you’re first up.”

Dawn squeaked, and her bunny ears shot straight up. She hopped from her seat and scurried forward, her hands twisting together, smile barely contained. Riley took her time, each step deliberate, a poet crossing a stage she’d seen in a dream. Laura’s two bodies stood up and walked to Arabella.

Arabella addressed them all with equal gravity. “Dawn, congratulations on your engagement,” she said, and the words felt real enough to draw a blush from both Andy and Dawn.

“For this round, you have four options, reflecting both your strengths and the themes of your journey, and adding a fourth option due to your commitment to become Andy's wife.” Arabella raised a finger with each:

• Staff Synergy: Dawn is good at working with others. From now on, she can kiss another contestant to copy one of their transformations for 24 hours, and during this time, they both feel any sexual pleasure the other receives. (Consierge)
• Chasing That High (Returning): Dawn is an extrovert at heart, and being around people recharges her. So now she do so in more ways than one. Dawn cannot wind herself off when she's aroused, and must reach climax to reduce her arousal. (Fun Lover)
• Bodice-Ripper Logic: Like a heroine in a romance novel, Dawn will find that the buttons, zippers and laces on her clothing are structurally unsound. Any sudden movement or increase in her heart rate causes them to pop or loosen, revealing her lingerie or skin. Chance increases with arousal. (Hopeless Romantic)
• Accidental Burrowing: What happens when your fiancee is a bunny girl? Let's find out! Dawn has a compulsion to "hide" inside the Master's unattended clothing. If he leaves a coat or shirt unattended, she will be found curled up inside it. In addition, when she is startled, her primary reflex is to freeze and hide her face in the Master's chest. (Fiancee)

Vote here for Dawn.

The reaction to the last one was a round of wild giggles, some muffled by hands. Dawn’s mouth fell open in shock. “Wait, what?” she said, eyes wide.

Arabella gave her the floor. “Your choice, Dawn. Which would you like?”

Dawn looked at Andy, then at Chloe, then at her own knees. “The synergy one sounds really cool,” she said. “But I’m worried about, um, sharing too much. The ‘burrowing’ one is funny, but what if it just gets annoying?”

She looked at Andy, searching for a cue.

He said, “The Bodice Ripper one would be funny, but honestly, the synergy is the most ‘you’ thing I’ve ever heard. You’re at your happiest when you’re connecting people.”

Dawn nodded, all business now. “Then that’s my choice. Staff Synergy.”

Arabella made a subtle note, then turned to Riley.

“Riley. You remain, as always, an original. Your three options reflect that.”

Riley braced herself, eyes already a little distant, as if prepping for bad news.

• Dead Reckoning: Riley develops an unerring instinct for where people she loves are at any given moment — just their location, precise and constant. The more emotionally or physically intimate she becomes with someone, the more precise the sense becomes. Casual affection gives vague direction—deep connection gives exact positioning down to inches. (Widow’s Wake)
• Stanza Stutter: Riley's very critical about her own poems, so to help her, she won't be able to speak except in verse. (The Poet)
• Guarded Release: Riley is so cagey, she even refused to reveal herself when she was expected to. If she likes to be constrained, we can help! She now can only orgasm when physically tethered or restrained by the Master. (Guardian)

Vote here for Riley.

The silence was total, except for Riley’s “What the fuck?” She considered, then said, “That last one’s brutal. But…maybe what I deserve.”

Arabella’s gaze softened. “Only if you choose it.”

Riley looked at Andy. “You have an opinion?”

Andy shook his head. “I think the Dead Reckoning would give you what you want. You’ve spent your whole life protecting people. If you had that, you’d never lose anyone again.”

She blinked, then nodded once, sharp as a signature on a will. “Dead Reckoning, please.”

“Very well. Perhaps the Audience will agree,” Arabella said.

She turned to Laura, who stood a little apart, both bodies braced as if for a wave. “Laura,” said Arabella, her tone a little more formal. “You have more choices than most, as we’re taking into account the most popular options from your previous round.” She began to count them off, and as she did, the rest of the harem watched in awe.

• Styx-Bound (Returning): The Styx was the river of oaths, and Laura is a child of the river. When she makes a promise, she is obliged to keep it. This does not work if the promise is impossible. (The River)
• Only His Touch (Returning): No other person can physically arouse her. Even when touched, kissed, or fondled by others, her body remains passive unless it’s Andy. (The One)
• The Girl of His Dreams (Returning): Laura is Andy's soulmate, his missing half. She always thought she should be the only one for him, so let's help her with that. Every round, Laura randomly copies one transformation from all the transformations acquired by her harem sisters. If the transformation was upgraded, she receives the original version (but can upgrade it normally). This transformation lasts until the end of the round. (The One)
• Four-Handed Prodigy: Laura has been working hard to become able to use her dual bodies to their fullest. We'll give her some help. Her coordination is enhanced so that both bodies can perform complex, different tasks (like playing two different instruments or performing two separate attention-intensive activities) with zero mental effort. This only works while both bodies are completely naked. (Sibling)
• Siren of the Cocytus: When Laura sings in her doubled form, both voices are not simply louder — they harmonize in a way that is physically impossible for two separate people. She can modulate these harmonies to achieve different effects. (The River)
• Bond of Marriage: As the Consort, Laura's bond to the harem is different. Let's work on that. From now on, whenever Andy touches any of Laura's harem sisters sexually, Laura feels that touch on her own skin. If Andy penetrates a harem sister, Laura feels being penetrated as well. The feeling is present on both of her bodies, if she is doubled. (Consort)

Vote here for Laura.

A stunned silence.

Arabella, with a faint trace of mischief, said, “Which would you prefer?”

Both of Laura considered her options with an intensity that made even Arabella pause. The air in the gazebo thickened; Andy could feel every woman on the platform holding her breath, waiting to see what choice would set the new axis for the harem.

Laura looked at Andy, both of her, and said, “I like the Siren one, and I suppose Four-Handed Prodigy would be helpful sometimes, but I want the Bond of Marriage.” It was soft, but sure. “I want to feel you, even when you’re with them.” She said this without a trace of shame, or possessiveness—more like it was a truth she’d been circling for days and could finally claim. Both of Laura smiled, small but real, and Andy heard in her words the undercurrent: If I’m not your only one, at least let me be part of you, always.

Arabella regarded her with open approval. “An excellent choice, Laura,” she said. She gestured toward the remaining pairs, her voice light as dawn. “Next up: Emi, Claire, and Marissa. Please step forward.”

There was a moment of chaos as Emi—her hair shining in the sunlight, six arms carefully folded in a way that wouldn’t bump anyone—rose from her stool and tiptoed to the center. Claire moved with the quiet economy of a cat unbothered by ceremony, her notebook already in hand; Marissa joined them with the deliberate, poised steps of a woman walking into court, but the blush rising along her cheekbones said otherwise.

Arabella smiled at the trio, and for a second, Andy saw a glimpse of genuine warmth. “Emi, let’s begin with you. Like Dawn, you received a fourth option for your commitment to becoming Andy's wife.”

Emi straightened, bracing herself as if for a pop quiz. “Ready,” she said, though her sixth hand was unconsciously picking at the hem of her dress.

Arabella recited the four options as if she had spent all night scripting them for maximum effect.

• Orgasm Hoarder (Returning): Emi's collecting habits now expand to new frontiers! Emi can only orgasm once per day. Every time she reaches orgasm besides that, she doesn't feel it, but it is 'stored'; when she orgasms the next day, or at midnight of the next day if she hasn't orgasmed yet, all the stored orgasms occur at once. (Collector)
• Inanna’s Garden: Emi's body is Inanna's sacred ground in miniature. Where she rests, things grow. Where she loves, the air changes. Where she is aroused, the space becomes a temple in the oldest sense — a place set apart, where ordinary rules soften and truth (and arousal) comes more easily. (Innocence)
• Dream Gate: Each night, one Contestant is chosen at random and their sleeping mind is connected to the dream of another person on the island. The receiving dream is almost always intensely erotic, and both dreamers remember it on waking. (Dreamer)
• Something Borrowed: Emi's now engaged! To help her with tradition, she adopts all the Master's kinks and sexual preferences, except for his attraction to other women. (Fiancee)

Vote here for Emi.

For a second, Emi stood in silence, overwhelmed by the options. Then, in a voice so small it barely made it to Andy’s ears, she said, “Can I have a minute?”

Arabella inclined her head. “Of course. Would anyone else like to comment on these?”

Dawn, never one to let a lull pass, raised her hand. “I think the Inanna’s Garden one is beautiful,” she said, with total earnestness. “It’s very Emi. She’d have butterflies landing on her head and probably start growing wildflowers out of the couch.”

Chloe, who had been hiding behind a mug the size of her face, peeped, “The Dream Gate is scary. What if it’s, like, a bad dream? Or a nightmare about being naked in the Banquet Hall?”

Sam, ever the wisecracker, leaned in and said, “With the Orgasm Hoarder, I bet you could weaponize it. Save them up for a week and then blow the roof off the final Challenge.”

Emi’s hands danced, fidgeting through the air. “I do like Inanna’s Garden. It’s… I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to have that kind of effect on the world. But is it bad that I also like the Dream Gate one?”

Andy, watching her closely, said, “I think you’d make the whole place feel more like home. And I know you like when your art changes the mood in a room, even if it’s not on purpose.”

Emi smiled, the kind of smile that was more in her eyes than her lips. “Thank you,” she said, and then, after a breath, “Inanna’s Garden, please. But only by a hair.”

Arabella marked it, then turned to Claire. “Claire?”

Claire’s cat tail flicked once, a metronome for her nerves. She already had her notebook open, pen poised, ready for the download.

Arabella listed her options, each with a pause that let the audience savor the potential.

• Muse of Knowledge: Claire's obsession with learning can be helped along a bit further: when Claire touches an object, she can draw the last impressions of whoever last used it. Andy’s belongings ignite the strongest “echoes." (Muse)
• Child of the Night: In ancient Egypt, the eyes of cats reflected the sun's rays at night. Now, Claire's eyes develop slitted pupils like a cat's, and she gains exceptional night vision. Her eyes also glow faintly in the dark. As a side effect, Claire's vision will be perfectly restored, and she may see something more as well... (Myth and Maiden)
• White Flag Reflex: Claire has expressed interest in exploring bondage. Let's give her a little example. Whenever she is "captured" (held firmly by the wrists or waist), her body immediately enters a state of peak arousal that can only be resolved by the person holding her. (Surrender)
• Ring Means Yes (Returning): A dutiful fiancee lovingly supports her partner. She cannot say no to a proposal of any kind by the Master, whether it be sex, favors, or help. (Fiancee)

Vote here for Claire.

Claire’s pen made a single, furious scribble. The tail lashed once, then again, and Claire’s blush climbed to the tips of her ears. There was a moment of silence so complete that even the wind outside the gazebo seemed to hush. Then Claire, without looking up, scribbled in her notebook and held it up for Andy to read: I want the Child of the Night. I think I can help people with it. But I also like Muse of Knowledge.

Andy reached for her hand and squeezed it. “You are a ****,” he said, and Claire’s ears went pink, the tail wrapping around her leg in an **** hug.

Arabella gave a small, satisfied nod. “Noted. And finally, Marissa.”

Marissa, who had been so controlled until now, found her voice wavering slightly. “I’m ready.”

Arabella ticked off her options.

• Debate Rebuttal: Part of being a public speaker is to be good at debating. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose. If someone "wins" an argument with her or proves her wrong, her body reacts with an immediate, intense surge of arousal. (Public Speaker)
• Total Poise: She gains a perfect, instinctive knowledge of modeling, posture, and "the art of being seen". She no longer experiences clumsy movements or embarrassing slip. (Trophy)
• X(XX)-Ray Exam: Marissa can no longer see clothing; everyone appears to her as if they are completely nude. (Doctor)
• Exhibited Ownership (Returning): Whenever she is near the Master in public, Marissa exudes an aura of being claimed. Strangers instinctively recognize her as the Master's. (Girlfriend)

Vote here for Marissa.

There was a collective intake of breath around the table, and Norah, who had never met a debate she didn’t want to win, grinned like a shark at the prospect. The snort that came from Sam’s side of the gazebo when Arabella announced the third option was loud enough to echo. “Sorry,” she said, not sounding sorry at all, “but that’s genius.”

Marissa actually looked nervous for the first time in months. “Thank you for the options,” she said, her voice even but a touch breathless. “May I ask Andy’s opinion?”

He nodded, teasingly. “I think the Debate Rebuttal fits. You’re at your best when someone challenges you. And the ‘being wrong’ thing would probably make for some wild sessions with Norah.”

Norah, never one to miss a setup, leaned in and said, “I’d be happy to test that hypothesis.”

Marissa shot her a withering, yet deeply amused look. Then she turned to Arabella. “Against my better judgment, which suggests I should take Total Poise, I choose Debate Rebuttal. With the caveat that I may ask for upgrades if the need arises.”

“Duly noted,” said Arabella, with a glint in her eye.

The gazebo was alive now, every woman on the edge of her seat. The choices hung in the air, not as threats but as promises: new angles of selfhood, new ways to be more themselves. Andy saw it all, the electric anticipation, the nervous hope. He watched both of Laura watching him, her hands curled together as if holding some small, precious thing, and he knew they’d made it here—almost to the end—not by surviving, but by choosing.

Arabella swept her gown in a grand, theatrical swirl. “Next group: Erin, Liesa, and Sam. Let’s continue the momentum, shall we?”

Erin, Liesa, and Sam stepped up as a single unit, all swagger and counterpoint. Erin’s walk was predatory, her mint-green skin gleaming in the sunlight and her breasts moving like a provocation. Liesa drifted next to her, every gesture languid and fluid, her eyes half-lidded but sharp, already reading the room for context. Sam brought up the rear, hands in her back pockets, radiating the easy confidence of someone who had once faced down a college finals week while drunk, sleep-deprived, and still managed to pass.

Arabella regarded them with fond exasperation, as if she could see the disaster potential and found it adorable. “Ladies,” she said. “You make a formidable sight. Let’s begin with you, Erin.”

Erin didn’t waste time. She rolled her shoulders, sending a subtle but deliberate ripple down her chest, and said, “Shoot.”

Arabella ticked off her options with the same calm she’d used for everyone before.

• Leashed (Returning): Erin's loyalty towards Andy has only grown since their reconciliation, and she loves spending time with him. We can help with that. Erin gains a non-removable collar and cannot physically move more than 100 yards away from Andy at any given time. When the Master touches the collar, he can draw a leash from it; while he holds onto the leash, Erin cannot get any further from him than the leash allows. (Loyal)
• Fertilizer (Returning): Every time the Master ejaculates inside Erin, or she eats his cum, she is satiated for a day. Additional ejaculations that day temporarily add to the size of her breasts, butt, or to her height (randomly chosen) until the end of the round. (Ki)
• Yoga Therapist: If Erin leads someone else in a yoga session, the other person finds themselves refreshed, and any stress, anxiety and depression they may feel are diminished. Repeated sessions with Erin may dampen or even cure pathological anxiety or depression. (Yoga Fanatic)
• Living Bouquet: Erin is already mostly plant, so she can be her own bouquet at the wedding. Flowers grow in her hair, blooming or closing according to her mood. Her baseline fragrance is a faint scent of lilies and roses, but it changes based on the blooms, and intensifies when she is aroused. (Fiancee)

Vote here for Erin.

Erin grunted, unimpressed, but said nothing. The rest of the harem erupted in a wave of commentary.

“Oh my God,” said Chloe, her face flushing, “the first one would be so embarrassing at the store.”

Liesa, voice soft, said, “You could accessorize it, at least.”

Dawn, with an edge of admiration: “It’s kind of hot.”

Erin rolled her eyes, but Andy could see she was flattered by the last option. She considered for a moment, then said, “Yoga Therapist. I don’t want to be leashed, and the other two sound like a pain in the ass for everybody except him.”

Arabella recorded the choice and turned to Liesa.

“Liesa. Three options for you this round.”

Liesa tilted her head, attention fully on Arabella now.

• Student Loans (Returning): Let's compound Liesa's interest. If she has any BPs left at the end of a round, they will accrue an interest rate of 10% into the next round. But so will her breast size. (Exchange Student)
• Self-Portraiture: Whenever Liesa is drawing herself, she will always draw herself a little more perfect, voluptuous, sexy than she already is. Now these changes become reality whenever she draws herself, stacking cumulatively. (Artist)
• Clumsy Coquette: Liesa's body is perfect, as Andy and Sam can attest. From now on, in order to show it off, she is prone to "wardrobe malfunctions" where her clothing will snag, unbutton, or slip at random times. (Escort)

Vote here for Liesa.

Sam burst out laughing. “You’d be in L-cups by September, schat.”

The chorus of snickers was almost musical. Liesa, hand on hip, said, “If I must choose, Self-Portraiture. I am an artist, not a model.”

Andy, dead serious, said, “You’ll always be both, Liesa. But I like the idea of you defining your own beauty.”

Sam chimed in, “She’s already beautiful, but let’s see where it goes.”

Liesa’s blush was bright, but she nodded, “Self-Portraiture.”

Arabella’s eyes sparkled, “You are a true original. Now, Sam.”

Sam gave a theatrical bow, almost toppling Norah off the next stool in the process. “Lay it on me, Red.”

Arabella blinked, then recited:

• Best Friend Manual: Sam's been dealing with Andy for years, and she knows him inside and out. When another Contestant asks for advice about him, Sam is happy to provide it and, if the Contestant follows said advice and it works, Sam will receive a small BP bonus as a consulting fee. (Best Friend)
• Have You Tried This?: Every round, Sam receives three new roasts to try. The roasts have different effects: she must try (or have someone else try) all three before the end of the round, or she will be **** to consume them all. (Blue Bean Barista)
• Watchtower: Sam is the harem's emotional anchor. As such, she will now know whenever another Contestant is distressed or aroused. The stronger the emotion the more, she will feel it; in the case of arousal, if more than one contestant is aroused at any given time, Sam's own arousal increases proportionally. (Emotional Anchor)

Vote here for Sam.

Sam cackled. “I want the job title on a business card. ‘Harem Management Consultant.’”

The harem burst into laughter. Sam thought for a moment, then said, “Honestly? Watchtower. I want to know when people need help. And if it gets wild, so be it. But can I get the business cards, too?”

Arabella nodded. “You may have all the cards you want.”

Sam beamed, “Done.”

Liesa patted her on the back. “You are a saint.”

“Only on alternate Wednesdays,” Sam replied.

Arabella straightened. “Wonderful. You three may return to your seats.” She gave them a regal nod, then addressed the rest. “Next up: Norah, Emily, Myra.”

As the three returned to their seats, Andy watched the way Erin slid back to the bench, owning her nakedness. Liesa and Sam went arm in arm, already plotting the next disaster.

He couldn’t help but grin. If anyone had told him, a year ago, that this would be his life—thirteen women, Laura among them, and every day a new adventure—he would have laughed in their face. But now, watching these three, he realized it was the best kind of wild.

The sun had reached its zenith, pouring gold through the open latticework and illuminating every woman in the gazebo. Andy took a breath, let it out slow, and thought: If this is how the endgame looks, let it never end.

Arabella’s voice was crisp as champagne. “Norah, Emily, Myra—please join me.”

Norah, Emily, and Myra stepped up together, but the effect was less “power trio” and more “every flavor of awkward.” Norah led the way, hips swaying with self-conscious precision, her heels clicking a beat that sounded both confident and angry at the world. Emily drifted to the center, so unselfconsciously nude that the motion of her hair had the surreal grace of a magician’s scarf trick. Myra arrived last, her fox tail swaying with a kind of nervous energy.

Before Arabella could start, Chloe blurted, “Wait, what about me?”

Arabella, eyes full of mischief, replied, “You won the Challenge, Chloe. Winners don’t receive transformations.” Then she leaned forward, voice soft and warm. “Unless, of course, you want one?”

Chloe’s face went red to the roots. “N-no! I mean—no, thank you,” she said, her L-cups bouncing with the **** of her refusal. The other women lost it; even Riley had to clap a hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh.

Arabella nodded, satisfied, and turned to Norah. “Norah, here are your options.”

Norah’s arms folded, defensively but not hostile. “Let’s get this over with,” she said.

• Sheer Authority: Norah can only wear translucent fabrics that cling to her body and expose her undergarments (or lack thereof). If she doesn't, the garments will turn sheer, and she will become very submissive for a full day. (Pride)
• Sibling Rivalry: As the youngest of four daughters, Norah always had to compete for her parents' attention. In a harem with twelve sisters, competition is only more heated. To help her, she'll feel an irresistible compulsion to one-up any other Contestant when she sees them performing a sexual act, or when she hears of their exploits. (Youngest Daughter)
• Heated Arousal: Norah gets aroused by arguments. The fiercer the argument, or the angrier she gets, the more aroused she gets. (Work/Life Balance)
• Orgasmic Symmetry: Norah's body is rewired so that the intensity of her orgasms directly correlates with the pleasure she gives her Master during sex. The more deeply connected they are, the greater the mutual ecstasy. (Girlfriend)

Vote here for Norah.

The table, already primed, exploded in a wave of “Ooooh”s and “Hell, yes!”s. Chloe, recovering, gave Norah a sheepish thumbs-up.

Norah blinked. “Wait. Where did the last one come from?”

Arabella smiled, delighted. “Ah! You committed to being Andy’s girlfriend during your last date night. Perhaps not in so many words, but the feeling is what counts.”

Norah, improbably, blushed. “What? But I—” She looked at Andy as if he had personally offended her. “I’m not—” She groaned, and put her face in her hands. The other women laughed.

Andy distinctly heard Riley whisper to Chloe, “Norah and Andy, sitting in a tree…” and judging from Norah’s mortified expression, she had definitely heard it too.

Norah closed her eyes, as if preparing for battle. She squared her shoulders, the movement straining the already-stressed fabric of her white blouse across her breasts. There was always a tell with Norah, even in her finest moments: a microclench of her jaw, the way she tucked her chin as if bracing for whiplash. She opened her eyes, and with a tight, regal set to her mouth, said, “My vote’s for the Sibling Rivalry one.”

There was a beat, just long enough for everyone to imagine the carnage, and then Riley snorted so hard her coffee sloshed onto her lap. “You’re going to throw down over orgasms, aren’t you?”

Norah didn’t flinch. “No. I’m going to win. There’s a difference.”

The laughter this time was all delight, zero mockery. Even Arabella’s lips twitched. “Thank you, Norah. Master, do you have a preference?”

Andy considered. “I think the Sibling Rivalry one actually fits best. You’ve always worked harder when you had competition. I think you’d crush it.” He turned the thought over. “Also, you’re going to weaponize it and make me sorry within twenty-four hours, but… it’s authentic.”

Norah smiled, a sharp thing. “I accept that risk. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Arabella gave her the nod, then turned to Emily, who had stood there the entire time, balancing on one foot in a way that should have been cartoonish but instead managed to look oddly elegant, given that she was naked except for a ribbon holding her pink-highlighted hair in a loose ponytail.

“Emily,” said Arabella. “You have three options.”

Emily, ever the optimist, beamed. “I am so ready.”

Arabella nodded.

• No Cutoff: Bartenders are good at cutting people off, but when she's not bartending, things are different for Emily. She is physically incapable of ending intimacy first. Whether it’s a kiss, a grope, or penetration, she must wait until the other person pulls away, and can't end the interaction herself. (Sunshine Bartender)
• Trigger Kiss: Emily can switch between Pet Mode and Girlfriend Mode whenever she and Andy kiss, if the kiss has this intention. Each mode will enhance her ability to fulfill that role for Andy, with benefits and drawbacks which intensify the longer she goes without switching. If left in one mode long enough, it will lock and become permanent, whereupon this transformation will be replaced. (Second Chances)
• Harem Harmony: As a contestant in a less wholesome season, Emily knows how good The HH can be. She radiates an aura of sensual ease that puts others at their best, making harem interactions flow naturally and pleasantly. Her presence alone transforms tension into tranquility, but also reduces inhibitions. (New Beginnings)

Vote here for Emily.

Emily blinked. “Is the second one the Toy one?”

Arabella shook her head. “Due to your doubts about what role you want to play in Andy’s harem, your commitment path has been revoked until you decide. Trigger Kiss is meant to help you figure it out.”

The crowd reaction was instantaneous. Liesa said, “Oh, that first one’s going to make things fun for everyone but you.” Riley snorted. “She’ll be locked in cuddle mode forever.” Chloe, quietly, murmured, “If it was me, I’d just never leave the bed.”

Erin, ever practical, asked: “For the second one, define perks and drawbacks.” Arabella: “Pet mode is about finding fulfillment in submitting to the Master. Walk on all fours, sense when he wants sex, and so on. Girlfriend Mode is the inverse—it’s about finding fulfillment in being with the Master. Be around him more often, be better at anticipating his needs, and so on. This being Harem Hotel, they both focus on intimate activities with the Master, but from different angles. Both will get stronger over time.”

Andy raised his eyebrows at Emily. “That’s a lot of power in a little package. Do you like the idea?”

Emily bit her lip, her hair drifting over her right breast just as her nipples began to harden at the focus of attention. “Honestly? I like being a little of both. Not sure what it means that it would lock, though.”

Arabella smiled. “If you remain in the same mode for six days, the mode will lock and this transformation will be replaced with one that focuses only on the role you chose, incorporating the effects this one already triggered.”

Emily hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you.”

Chloe asked: “So, the third one… Is that like aromatherapy but with, um, nakedness?”

Emily’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, wow. That would make everything feel so good.”

Arabella smiled. “Your preference?”

Emily’s hands twined behind her back, which—given the nudity—only emphasized how little modesty she retained. “I think Harem Harmony? I want to be able to be a better partner, but not lose myself entirely. And I want to help the others.”

Andy, watching her, nodded. “I think it’s perfect for you.”

Emily went slightly pink, but she grinned. “Thank you. I want to try it.”

Arabella gave her the smile of a teacher proud of a student’s hard-earned answer. “Noted. Myra, you’re next.”

Myra’s fox ears swiveled toward the sound and she took a step forward. Her tail trailed behind, nearly vibrating with nerves. Andy knew she could see the world only through the auroras of emotion, and the mood in the gazebo—anticipation, heat, a dash of amusement—must have looked like a sunrise caught in a bottle.

Arabella’s tone softened, as it always did with Myra.

• She’s a Giver: Myra's empathic ability is so developed that she can sense the specific sexual desires of anyone she touches, and instinctively knows where their erogenous zones are. However, she is so empathic that she cannot orgasm until she has made her partner orgasm. (Empath)
• Twin Tails: Myra grows a second fox tail; both tails become major erogenous zones. As a kitsune, her powers grow with the number of tails, so she also gains the ability to create minor illusions. Furthermore, when Myra's foxfire is active, she can "infect" others with it by touch, causing them to burn with foxfire and grow aroused in proportion to how aroused she is. (Troublemaker/Kitsune)
• Needful Kiss (Returning): She gives up the right to soothe herself; only through kissing can she calm herself when she's too agitated, aroused, or emotional. (Atonement)

Vote here for Myra.

This one made Myra frown, but it was the thoughtful frown of a doctor weighing up an odd prescription. “If I get the last one, what happens if there’s nobody to kiss?”

“You’ll have to ask for help, or endure it,” said Arabella.

The three stood, silent, as Myra processed. In the end, she said, “The Twin Tails. At least that one seems like more fun than pain.” She grinned, and for the first time Andy had ever seen, she flicked her original tail in anticipation. “Plus, I can prank people.”

The entire gazebo seemed to exhale. Even Riley clapped politely.

Arabella finished with, “Excellent. Please, all of you, return to your seats.”

As the trio moved back toward the row, Norah immediately tripped on her own heel—predictably, this landed her not only on the ground, but nearly in Andy’s lap. She recovered with panache, accepting Sam’s proffered hand with a wink. “Told you I’d win,” she whispered, loud enough for only three people to hear.

The gazebo, now alive with the energy of choices made and futures suddenly real, was for a moment less a place of ceremony and more a family table, everyone eager to see how the next round would shape them.

Arabella did not pause for applause. She stepped forward, the sun through her gown tinting the air gold, and locked eyes with Andy. “Now for you, Andy,” she said, and the way she said it made it sound like a title, not a name.

The entire harem went still, like they knew something seismic was coming.

“Today, you get two picks from the Audience. The first is particularly important. You have three options,” Arabella said. “But these are not the gifts of the early rounds. These are Capstone Gifts, built to last.”

She moved with the practiced grace of an auctioneer, holding each option in the air just long enough for everyone to weigh its price.

• Command (Capstone): The Master's Commands work on nature itself. Should the Master order the sea to stand still, it will do so. Should the Master order the winds to blow, so they shall. None can resist the Master's will.
• Coauthor (Capstone): Andy can change up to 15 words at once. He can also affect transformations, including elimination transformations, but cannot weaken or remove transformation effects. Harem Hotel reserves the right to adapt Andy's edits to ensure this rule is followed.
• Connect (Capstone): Andy can make physical changes to his Andi form, increasing or decreasing her bust or butt size, changing her height, even assigning up to three new physical traits (such as wings, tails, animal ears, multiple body parts). The Andi form will permanently display these adjustments until Andy changes them explicitly. Furthermore, there is no maximum to how far Andy's two bodies can be from each other. This Capstone unlocks a side upgrade.

Vote here for Andy's Capstones.

She folded her hands, the motion precise. “Your choice, Andy?”

Andy hesitated. “What does the last sentence for Connect mean?”

Arabella shrugged. “Most Gifts have straight upgrade paths from their basic form to the Capstone. Connect has a side upgrade that only becomes accessible if the Capstone is given to you. I leave it to you to find out what it does. It may make your harem happy, though.”

He looked at her, then at the group—every woman here had trusted him, with their bodies and their hearts, and most of them with the last shreds of their dignity. It was not lost on him that a wrong choice here could make or break the endgame.

He asked, “Do I get your opinion, too?”

Arabella’s eyes glittered. “If you ask sincerely.”

He thought about it. “The Connect option is tempting, but I feel like it won’t add much. Command feels like too much power—I’m not sure I should have the right to Command Nature itself. Although it is a lot less morally fraught than Commanding people, I suppose. That would be my second choice. But Coauthor…” He paused, saw the faces around him, the way even Erin had gone quiet. “Arabella, tell me honestly. Could I use Coauthor’s Capstone to free Katherine?”

Arabella shook her head. “No, Andy. You cannot remove or weaken transformations, particularly eliminations. You can add to her transformation, however. I’m sorry. I know this is not what you wanted to hear.”

But Andy was already thinking. “I can add, you say. And how does the Harem Hotel adapt my edits?”

“Any edits that contradict the text of the transformation, that are meant to weaken it, or neutralize it, will not be accepted. Beyond that, the sky is the limit, but the system may have some latitude to stop changes that wouldn’t result in sanctioned activities.”

“You mean sex.”

Arabella smiled faintly. “Indeed.”

Andy nodded. “Okay. Then I think I know what I can do with it. And if there's a chance of working, it's still worth it. I pick Coauthor.”

There was a slow exhale from the group, as if they’d all been waiting for that answer.

Arabella nodded, as if she’d predicted it all along. “Very good. There is a second choice, as always: your regular upgrades.”

She ticked off the list on her fingers.

• Lifebound (Coevality Upgrade): The harem will not let the Master go: even **** must negotiate. If the Master would die, the bond will pull life from the collective harem to keep him alive.
• Adding Up (Conflate Upgrade): The Master can Conflate multiple Contestants together at once, up to 5. Furthermore, the Master can pick one attribute, which isn't averaged out but becomes the sum of all participants.
• Sacred Haven (Comfort Upgrade): The dreamspace persists even when everyone is awake: any Harem member, with the Master's explicit permission, can enter it physically through any doorway (or a doorway in the air, if they can't find one) and find refuge there. No one else can enter the dreamspace. The Master is instantly aware when a harem member is in the dreamspace. Only one Contestant can be in the dreamspace at any given time, but the Master can eject them at any time.
• Strike Two (Contribute Upgrade): The Master can now upgrade TFs twice per Contestant per round. He can upgrade the same TF twice (but only once the first upgrade has expired).

Vote here for Andy's Gift upgrades.

There was a giggle from the group when Arabella mentioned the second option, and Andy heard Chloe whisper, “I’d need a wheelbarrow.”

He rolled the options in his mind. Adding Up sounded like a joke, and he knew better than to take it lightly; but Sacred Haven would give them a true sanctuary.

He said it out loud, “Sacred Haven. I don’t want to leave anyone behind. Not this time.”

Both of Laura smiled—both of her—and Andy knew he’d made the right choice.

Arabella closed her eyes, just for a second, and the effect was like seeing the world recalibrate around her. When she opened them again, she said, “Choices are locked in. You may return to your seats.”

He walked back to his Throne, both Lauras standing to flank him. He didn’t sit right away, instead turning to face the rest of the group, feeling the weight of his decisions settle on his shoulders like a mantle.

Chloe met his eyes, gave him a small, shy thumbs-up. Emily beamed, her hair now falling in perfectly even veils to either side of her chest. Norah’s posture was rigid but not hostile: she respected the game.

Arabella spoke, words ringing out over the sunlit wood: “You are the last, Andy. The process is complete.” She raised a hand for silence, though there was no need. The group was already focused, the energy of a shared moment humming between every woman on the platform.

“The voting begins now.” Her smile was gentle. “While the Audience votes, enjoy the sun, the company, and each other’s insights. There will be a celebration at noon. I suggest you make the most of it.”

With that, she stepped back, ceding the stage to the harem.

The silence lasted all of two seconds before the women broke into a storm of conversation, each new possibility sparking a reaction.

Dawn, never able to sit still, immediately turned to Emi and said, “You really picked the flower one? I thought you’d go for the dream stuff.”

Emi, still glowing from the choice, shrugged. “I like both. Maybe the Audience will tie. It wouldn't be the first time.”

Claire had already filled half a page in her notebook. She handed the sheet to Norah, who read it and barked a laugh: I bet you five cookies you can’t go a week without trying to one-up Erin, it read.

Norah, primed for battle, fired back, “You’re on. But when you lose, it’s your cookies, not mine.”

Marissa and Riley were deep in debate, voices low but heated, about whether the Dead Reckoning transformation would make Riley creepier or more lovable. Riley finally said, “If I stalk you in your sleep, it’s out of love,” and Marissa, without missing a beat, replied, “If you stalk me, bring coffee next time.”

Liesa and Sam had migrated to the open railing, their backs to the sea. They leaned in, heads close, discussing the Self-Portraiture option in a way that suggested they’d already started planning the next art project.

Andy watched from the Throne, letting himself take in the scene. The sunlight through the gazebo roof painted every woman in lines of gold and shadow; Chloe’s hair, loose and heavy over her shoulders, gleamed like spun honey. Erin’s mint-green skin all but glowed, offset by the delicate white of the lilies now blooming in her hair. Emily stood between two groups, her face lit with pure anticipation, her hair somehow perfectly draped to keep her just this side of modest even as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

He watched as Myra turned her blind gaze to the sea, the tips of her fox ears trembling with the vibration of so many emotions at once. Chloe sidled up next to her and offered a hand, not for guidance, but as an anchor. Myra took it, thankful.

Andy stood, the motion drawing a brief hush, and walked among them. He paused with each woman, touching a shoulder, a hand, a cheek, each small gesture a promise: I see you, I’m here, you’re not alone.

When he reached Claire, she didn’t look up, but she angled her notebook so he could read: Don’t worry about us. We’ve got this. We're pros.

He smiled, and she wrapped her cat’s tail around his ankle.

He passed Marissa and Riley, who interrupted their debate long enough to pull him into a three-way hug. It was not just for show; he could feel the fear and the hope in their bodies, the way both women—so different—had made a home in the same place.

Liesa caught him by the hand, her grip both firm and warm. “Is it wrong that I am excited?” She said. Andy smiled and shook his head.

He spent a moment with each, ending with Laura. Both of her stood at the end of the rail, the wind tugging her hair. She didn’t say anything, but she pressed her palm to his, and her blue eyes—both sets—were so clear it hurt to look at them.

When he returned to the center, he saw Chloe watching, hands clasped to her chest, a hint of pride and awe in her eyes.

He looked around at the harem, each woman now mingling, discussing, living the life they’d chosen for themselves. The noise rose and fell like the tide—sometimes a crescendo of laughter, sometimes a lull as people paired off to talk quietly, or just to watch the sea.

The sun climbed, burning the last traces of morning mist from the world, and the gazebo filled with the scent of salt and flowers.

---

Voting for the fifth round of TFs is now open! All links are also reported below for convenience.

Thank you to everyone who suggested TFs for the girls! Several have been adopted for this round, although in some cases, they were lightly tweaked. To those whose TFs were not used so far - apologies, in many cases there was a returning option that took the slot. But thank you for helping.

Vote here for Emi.
Vote here for Claire.
Vote here for Marissa.
Vote here for Erin.
Vote here for Liesa.
Vote here for Sam.
Vote here for Dawn.
Vote here for Norah.
Vote here for Riley.
Vote here for Emily.
Vote here for Myra.
Vote here for Laura.
Vote here for Andy's Capstone upgrade.
Vote here for Andy's regular Gift upgrade.

Voting closes on April 27th, at 12.00pm CET. Thank you for reading, and thank you for voting!