Week 13 Conclusion

The stage feels so different as you take your seat for the conclusion of week 13. The wall-sized screen behind you still shows the College Spread Logo. Claire still plays a phenomenal intro, made all the more so by the stark beauty of her nakedness. And Rhett still preens himself as he prepares to launch into his full show host routine. But that’s just the trappings. The stage itself, the situation… is vastly changed.

With less than half the initial number of players remaining, it feels almost spartan now. You’re down to three from seven, the first time a week has turned with under 50% of the players remaining. Yet, it also feels even more full of pressure than ever before. Those who didn’t get it, those who weren’t there for the game or played it wrong, are gone. Zeke was evicted after forgetting the importance of consent. Tank never really played the game; he just went for some sex and some laughs. Professor Rourke made sure the game was still running legitimately and then left. As to Graham West, he made his plays as a businessman, profited from them, and was happy to leave with winnings nobody else had considered.

That left the returning champion, Cassie Li, once-artsy Milo who had long since handed his own choices over to Dr. Selene Ravensmoor… and you.

You’re still not entirely sure how you’ve made it this far. Or at least, you tell yourself that. But all throughout you’ve realized that to score in the game means to serve the ladies you draw. If you can’t find out what will please them, you’ll get nowhere. And so you focused on that more than the sex.

And now, with just 3 more weeks until the finale, you’re one of just three in contention.

Of course, that doesn’t mean it will be easy. You are trailing by tens of thousands of points. Barring any screw ups, it’s hard to see Cassie or Milo losing. But you’re not done yet. You take a deep breath and prepare for the week’s summary. Claire plays a fast glissando and Rhett steps forward, microphone ready.

“All right you raunchy reprobates, week 13 reaches its conclusion and it’s time we took a look at how our pet perverts did this week! This week we went from youngest to oldest so that means…”

Rhett lets his voice trail off and Claire blasts out a couple of bars of The Phantom of the Opera. The spotlight turns directly on you. You can't help but roll your eyes at just how much is still being made of that one challenge.

“Yes. First up is Phantom himself, Mr Impossible… the fresher. This week you not only drew Delilah Zheng from the deck, but you also reserved Rebekah Flores. The question is: Did you choose to complete a four-of-a-kind or a full house? Let's take a look…”

The wall screen behind you shows a video of you and Delilah reaching your climax on the roof just before the door behind you opens and the security guard runs out. In the frat house, the crowd gasps as the image freezes.

“Well that certainly looks like a successful public sex challenge,” says Rhett. “I'm pretty sure fucking on a school roof is very much against the college rules though so… does this mean you're leaving us, fresher?”

You scowl at Rebekah who is stifling her laughter.

“No, Rhett, I was set up by my dear sweet evil little girlfriend. That security guard was a friend of hers so we're fine, but it scared the crap out of me!”

She snorts loudly and collapses in her chair. Everyone else present is roaring too. Claire plays a siren sound effect from her organ, yelping as she discovers Rhett has put a particular string on that one. Not that she seems to mind. She's licking her lips and studying her instrument a moment later.

“You chose to date the little chaos gremlin,” says Rhett. “And to make her your manager, which, I have to say, has been a delight for the rest of us. And scoring a x8 public sex challenge with the 8 of Diamonds gives you a 64 point challenge score to complete your full house.”

The scoreboard replaces the video. Your score starts rolling higher. The full hand is worth 2970, which adds to your current score of 34070, giving you a new total of 37040. It’s not enough to change the standings. You’re still in last place, a few thousand behind Cassie, but it’s something. There’s still three weeks to make plays this cycle, so you’re going to have to play hard, but there’s a chance.

“And next…”

Claire’s organ rises again, this time you recognize the music of Billie Eilish’s Bad Guy. You chuckle at that. Milo’s artsy smoothness has been subjugated under his **** contract. He’s hardly a bad anything right now, even if the plays Selene’s demanded have put him on top of the board. Then it hits you - Billie herself claims to be the dangerous, erotic, bad one in the song. The woman. Selene. And recognizing that switch just makes you admire Claire all the more.

“We have our **** boy with a humiliation fetish - Milo Gutierrez. Last week you drew the Queen of Diamonds, Dr Isabella Aragon. We all remember the tea party we got to enjoy where the Phantom had to serve largely as a statue, but how did your challenge go with her… Selene, you don’t look happy.”

“No, Rhett, I am definitely not happy. It wasn’t a difficult request and YOU,” she glowers at Milo. “FAILED!”

“Well, let’s see, shall we?” says Rhett. “Roll video.”

The screen shows a dinner party at which various staff members are gathered including Selene and, of course, Dr. Aragon. Milo lies naked on the table, food on his body and beside it. While Selene is shown stuffing what looks like a stained napkin into Milo’s mouth, Dr Aragon faces the camera.

“Rhett, I am sorry to report that this young man is NOT going to pass this challenge. He served as our platter for a refined dinner. All he had to do was lie there… and control himself. Not, as he did, orgasm all over the steak tartar!”

The video goes to black as a ripple of ribald laughter runs through the crowd.

“A **** who cannot control himself at an important function? Dr. Ravensmoor, I’m surprised you have allowed him to get away with that.”

“Oh, I haven’t,” Selene says. “He’s only just started sitting comfortably after the caning he earned.”

That does nothing to quiet the audience. Milo bows his head and mumbles, “Worth it.”

“I see one discipline session wasn’t enough for you, boy!” says Selene. “There will be another tonight and if you ever fail me again we are done!”

That wipes the smirk off Milo’s face. He turns to face her suddenly looking afraid. “I’m sorry, Mistress, it won’t happen again!”

“It better not!”

And the scoreboard comes up again, showing no change. An animated graphic of Isabella’s card spins across the screen and disappears into a corner with a sucking sound.

“Well, after that failure, there is the question of the lady you reserved,” says Rhett. “Dr Mirielle Dupont. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say you didn’t score points with her either, am I right?”

“You are, Rhett,” says Selene. “But in this case because we are holding the card until next week. That’s when we have our Imbolc ritual at the coven and he BETTER perform well there.”

Rhett nods. “Indeed, Dr. Dupont, as you all may remember, is the leader of a very theatrical coven that includes Dr. Ravensmoor and Milo has already been their ‘human sacrifice’ for their Halloween ritual. Next week should be fun to see exactly what they do for the first ritual of the year. Now, with that failure to score, the Queen of Diamonds returns instantly to the deck to be drawn again,” says Rhett. “And that leaves one more player…”

The unmistakable notes of “We Are the Champions” erupts from Claire’s keyboard to herald Cassie Li. It makes sense. She is a returning champion. But then the name of the band who originally played it comes to your mind. Queen. Queen Cassie. Claire is going out of her way to tailor your intros to each of you.

“Cassie Li!”

The stage light shifts to highlight the third contestant, Cassie, who for once seems a little perturbed.

“Cassie, you made some big plays last week,” says Rhett. “And now has 3 deans ready to be played. How did this week go, Cassie?”

“NOT as well as I hoped,” she says.

“No,” says Rhett. “I heard not. Why not start with your power play last week, free reserving Dr. Aiyana Sinclair.”

Cassie bites her lip. “I’ll be playing the Glass Ceiling Mafia card, Rhett. Remember that the drama girls have decided not to fulfill challenges for anyone but the Phantom after his on-stage challenge inspired them to work on an end-of-year sex play? Well, SHE is in charge of it and apparently was the one who came up with the idea of being on the Phantom’s side to begin with. So, that’s the only way I can score with her.”

Rhett nods. “Well, you had to burn the joker some time. That locks in a 10 point challenge on a 100 point Ace. If you were ever going to use up the card this was a good way to do it. Now, what about the Ace of Spades, Dr. Seraphina Blackmoor? She was the card you selected from the draw last week and so cannot be carried forward to other weeks. Yet I don’t have a video from you.”

Cassie sucks in a deep breath. “No, you don’t. Dr. Blackmoor is off campus for the next month at a Criminal Justice retreat. Since I want to make sure I am the one with the Ace of Hearts, I’m going to let this one go.”

“Ouch!” says Rhett. “That has to sting. Well, at least there’s the lady you reserved, the Ace of Clubs, Dr. Zahra Amin. And for this one, we have a video.”

The screen behind you plays a video of Dr. Amin and Cassie sitting at a table in a restaurant. Suddenly Cassie drops a napkin and disappears under the table. It has a very long cloth which hides what’s happening under there, but to you it’s obvious. As Dr. Amin tips her head back and sighs, Cassie has obviously started her challenge.

“I see you took her for a wonderful dinner,” laughs Rhett. “Something you did before with one of the queens. Is that a public challenge?”

Cassie shakes her head. “Unfortunately, I didn’t have that, so it is just oral sex or blowjob as it’s called in the game.”

Rhett nods. “And so another problem for you this week. Still, that gives you two of the deans in your hand, unless you’re going to make a very strange move and just use them for immediate points. One in a 1000 point challenge, one in 400. And even if the other aces are unavailable, that’s a really strong foundation for a full house. And with that, it’s time to move on to week 14.”

Claire blasts out a celebratory anthem as week 13 concludes.