The Diet Tyranny Begins

Aelene

The four of them are back in the Master’s Suite. Lady Harper scooped up the still tied and sleeping Glitterdust, placing her on her Master’s Suite treasure pile. Lady Skye is already in the Master Suite kitchen, starting to cook breakfast for everyone upstairs. Aelene just sits on the couch, feeling a little useless at the moment.

Lady Harper walks over and puts an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, Aelene, I had a good time yesterday. Thank you for the date. You okay?”

“Did I do a good job? I felt like I tried harder with Lady Skye than with you.”

That earns Aelene a kiss on the forehead. “And I am okay with that. As long as you have room for me in there,” Lady Harper stops just long enough to kiss Aelene right over her heart, “I’m happy if you’re happy. I love you.”

“Breakfast is in the oven,” Lady Skye declares as she sits on Aelene’s other side. “It’ll be done in a bit. Should we wake Glitter?”

“Let her sleep. I’m sorry in advance, but we need to figure things out before I’m willing to do things with her.”

Lady Skye exclaims, “I’ll take care of her today, my lady love. You need to spend some time in the pool. I’ll fetch you when breakfast is ready. Go.”

With a salute and a “Yes, ma’am.” Lady Harper goes to dive in the pool. Lady Skye gives Aelene a slight smile. She shifts over to sit in Aelene’s lap. The drow leans in for a tender kiss. Aelene returns it and they gently make-out. Too soon, the timer on Lady Skye’s phone goes off and she heads back to the kitchen. Aelene walks over to the pool to see Lady Harper relaxing at the bottom. She gingerly sits at the edge. Once Lady Harper notices her, she starts ritually casting something. Her suspicions are confirmed when she hears her betrothed in her head, “Would you like to join me? I just need to keep my mouth beneath the surface. We can practice your swimming some more.”

With a nod, Aelene slips into the water. She kicks her legs and treads water. Lady Harper’s eyes break the surface. Aelene can barely make out her smile from the churning pool water. She feels the sea elf’s arms grab onto her hips, helping to support her. Aelene feels a little more confident in the water than at the start of the week, but Lady Harper’s hands are welcome. “Ready to try an actual swimming stroke?”

Aelene nods and Lady Harper has her start to float. Her betrothed walks her through what she calls the “Elementary Backstroke.” Aelene is to kick like she did when treading water and use her arms (which is new). First, she is to move her arms straight up to the top of her head, then arc her arms down to her waist, gliding until her arm momentum runs out. Lady Harper is always near by and, when Aelene starts to sink too deep, will gently lift her up for a moment from below.

Aelene doesn’t know quite how long they swam. Lady Harper mentally talks about things with the high elf. Memories of mother. Memories of the castle, the town, home. Soon enough, her swimming is interrupted by clapping.

“Lady Aelene! You’re doing such a good job! Alright, you two, my lady love should have had enough time in the pool and breakfast is ready.”

Honey

Ms. McMattersen was a much better bedmate than Ms. Daphne. Honey gently sits up with no cracks or broken wings. Ms. McMattersen has slipped on her catsuit and, grumbling, heads out without saying a word. Honey sits up and starts to work on contract notes. She hopes she can present a first draft to Ms. O’Connor before her client goes on her next date.

Harper

Belly full of breakfast, Harper is lazing on the couch. Skye is in her spot, resting her head on Harper’s scar. Aelene is on Harper’s other breast. Skye wanted for the three of them to be productive, but was amenable to watching a bit of Cooper’s season. They just finished the challenge 1 episode.

“Emi is so pretty,” Skye said, a bare whisper, “And her body paint design was so cute!”

“I liked how clever Claire’s work was. Is it wrong for me to really want to see her all cute housecat-girl already? And Sam really needs to get that corgi-girl transformation she keeps egging the audience on.”

“Hey, Emi is my friend! You should root for her, my lady love!” Skye’s pouty face is so cute.

“I’m rooting for all of them, Skye. Even Norah. Even Erin, who I know has a heel turn to being okay coming up in a bit. Mattie was barking up the wrong tree with her letter. Still, they’re throwing a party in the Suite next. Do we have time to watch it, or did you want us to start on breakfast for everyone downstairs?”

Skye checks her phone. “We got time for one more episode. You okay, Lady Aelene?”

Harper brushes the high elf’s hair. “Just feeling a little jealous. Their lives just seem so easy compared to ours.”

A soothing kiss to the forehead later, and Harper replies, “Different season, different theme. While I like the lo-fi island vibes, they have their own struggles. Imagine doing what those contestants just did. Have all of your traumas displayed for the multiverse to see and then cover yourself in aphrodisiac paint to convey your truth. That sound easy?”

Aelene nuzzles into Harper’s breast. “Point taken, my betrothed. Much rather face a horde of gnolls over that.”

With a kiss to the forehead, Harper starts the next episode.

Tina

Tina wakes up in near overwhelming pain and soreness. It’s the most agony she has ever experienced, even worse than after having sex for 9 hours in a single day. She groans.

“Quit being a big baby, Rabbit. You’ll feel better once you start moving around.”

Josie is already up and dressed. She drags Tina up on her feet, then into the shower. Tina leans under the water, whining the whole time. She drags the bunny out of the shower and dries her. Then, she squirts a giant glob of this minty smelling goo and rubs it all over the bunny. The goo first tingles, then starts to burn. Tina groans as Josie gets her dressed in a tank top and some booty shorts.

“There. You look cute. Breakfast?”

“Carry me, my sexy predator.”

Josie scoops up the bonny bunny and carries her to the cafeteria. Placing her down, Tina is happy to see Skye and Aelene already there, breakfast at the ready. Tina is looking forward to waffles!

Tina is immensely disappointed by the lack of waffles on her plate. Or pancakes. Or even a Pop Tart. Just egg whites with some spinach, some chicken sausage, and only a little bit of oatmeal stuff with weird little black seeds in it? Tina groans, again. Where is all my sweet, fried starchy goodness!?!?

“Sorry, Tina. My lady love said that you were wanting to work on eating a healthier diet? She gave me some dietary guidelines for you. I made your breakfast with love and care. Enjoy!”

Tina groans some more, then starts to eat. I mean, it’s good, but it’s not what I want for breakfast. Scarlet and Josie eat without complaining; it’s almost as if this is a normal breakfast for them. Honey slurps on her can of goo through a straw, which is totally unfair. Mattie eats with a little mumbling, “Hey, I actually do go workout everyday. Why am I being punished for Tina’s pudginess?” Tina gives Mattie a raspberry. Daphne also suffers, “But Skye, I want fish, not poison green things.”

“No complaining, Ms. Daphne. You need to work on trying a wider variety of human food. Harper’s orders.”

Daphne looks at Tina with grim determination. They swear an oath to commiserate together under this diet tyranny. One day, they shall overcome and eat all of the waffles and/or raw fish they want. Until then, they must be strong!

Scarlet asks how the date went and how Harper is doing and that gives the table something more pleasant to dwell on than the grumblings of one bad-tempered bunny or foul-tempered fish. While it’s nice to hear that Skye and Aelene are starting to get into the polycule spirit, it doesn’t excuse the egg whites. Once breakfast is done, Josie hands Tina a protein shake; Tina beams as she chugs it down, happy that she gets at least something sweet this morning. Mmmm, tastes like Josie.

Soon enough, they all gather in the bathhouse for the morning meeting. Harper comes down with Glitter on a leash. Kissing Skye, she hands the leash over to the drow, then comes over to give the downcast duo hugs. “Hey, Beloved, my bonny bunny, why so glum?”

Tina just stares and pouts. You know what you did. Daphne whines, “Skye made me eat green things!”

“You do realize that, while you are in weird human legs mode, you need to eat like a human, Daph? I can see the beginnings of a whole bunch of nutritional deficiency diseases developing in you. I want my beloved mermaid to be healthy and strong, not die of, I don’t know, scurvy. Did you know scurvy could damage your gums and make you lose your teeth? So, yes, until we get settled at home and you can spend the bulk of your time as a mermaid, you are going to eat green things. Understood?”

Daphne whines, but nods. Harper gives her a kiss and Daphne squirts all over the hem of her oversized T-shirt

Daphne: +4 VP (Mistress Brought Slut to Orgasm [Kiss the Slut, Succu-style], x2 bonus [First Time Slut Participant])

“Can I get a super horny kiss too, cutie?”

“Are you going to be a good girl and follow your diet?”

Tina sighs, then spontaneously licks Harper on the side of the sea elf’s face. “Fine, I’ll be a good girl.”

Harper gives her a weird look, then gives her a orgasmically good kiss. Sooo worth needing Harper to level me before she goes on her date.

Ariel

Alright. Showtime.

Ariel jumps out of a staff tube and starts her meeting.

“Okay, Mistress and sluts, welcome back to Harem Hotel. Just 3 more dates until our final challenge! I hope everyone is as excited as I am. So, Aelene did very well on her first ever date, taking the lead from Scarlet. Not to worry, Scarlet, you still are outscoring Skye, so your angle-shoot strat is still somewhat viable.

Today’s date is Mattie’s. I’m sure that, considering she had to prepare close to 50 dates on her old season, she’s quite the expert in the memorable date department. Or at least a giant floozy. Good luck.

Oh, one last thing. It has come to my attention that some of you are not satisfied with my treatment of you. How many of you view me as just a more competent Beckie?”

Seeing most of the hands go up, Ariel seethes. Ungrateful brats, the lot of them. With a snarl, she dives away.

Beckie: (Brain) Pop Survey Progress: +1

Harper: +40 BP (+20 BP earmarked for contestant modification)

Mattie

The melodic voice of the producer speaks from above, “Well, Ariel has forgotten one little announcement. Ms. Iris, if you please?”

The mail-mermaid hops out of the tube, shouting her stupid catch-phrase. Mattie barely pays attention to it. Why am I so nervous today? I mean, I have a good plan. Sure to knock Sarge’s socks off. The mermaid hands her a letter.

“Let’s try something a little different this time. No footage review, just letters in private. Please, each of you find a quiet place and answer the letter however you wish. Ms O’Connor, I have your letter in my office. If you are ready, you may join me.”

“Hey, Sarge, let’s meet up in the Green Room at noon? Dress casual. You need a chance to catch your breath a little.”

With that, Mattie takes her letter and heads out to her range. I can use a good shooting session to clear my head.

Harper

After answering her letter and spending a little quiet time with Honey (who handed her a giant intensely annotated draft of the Host contract for her to read through at the end), Harper finds herself in front of the library door in the Hotel hallway. Scarlet walks up, gives her a kiss on the cheek, and hands her a gift from Claire before walking off. Hmm. The Divine Cumedy by Dante Analghieri? Porn book? Why would the admittedly cute kitty-girl from Andy’s harem send Scarlet a porn book? Oh, a note.

"Do you or Harper know why these books are full of bishops in mitres participating in orgies? This is the third book like that, and Shar didn't tell me. This one has the most bishops I've seen so far. It's very off-putting. Any ideas?"

Well, I was told that Calypso wanted to see me. Harper enters the library and rings the bell at the information desk. Soon enough, the scarred mermaid erupts from behind the counter. “Oh, Harper, it’s been a while. You surely remember me?”

“The one that gave Daphne her good looks and charm?”

“Ha! My runty little daughter fell far from this tree on both accounts, Harper,” the elder mermaid thrusts her chest forward, wobbling her grotesquely huge breasts, “You think she compares to these charms and good looks?”

“I love your daughter, Calypso. I’d prefer you not denigrate her in my presence. Anyways, I came with a little mystery to solve. We can call it a little future mother-in-law / future daughter-in-law bonding time. This book and this note were given to us. What do you think?”

“Oh, a copy of The Divine Cumedy? Only a few hundred different versions of this book on record. Shouldn’t be too hard to narrow down. Ah, and this one is written by Dante Analghieri instead of Dante Alijizzieri, so we already eliminated a solid half dozen options. The notes said it was translated from Latin by an Allen Manthebum. Since only a very few versions of that poem was written in Latin, I only have maybe a few dozen variations to find the right dimension this book comes from. Oh, the dimensions where the Roman Empire never fell are always so interesting. While I dig, tell me, when are you gonna fill my runty little fingerling’s egg sacs with babies?”

Calypso smugly henfish pecks away on a computer as Harper audibly gulps. She has no idea how to tell Calypso that no impregnations will happen until everyone is safe. Or that Daphne will need to be in a saltwater tank of some sort until her eggs have matured, due to the nature of her human legs transformation. She eventually settles on “Soon?”

“Ha! Look, my runty little future daughter-in-law, I know you’re worried about Daphne’s safety right now and she’s going to need an aquatic lifestyle while she’s incubating. I’m pulling your weird elven leg. I mean, shouldn’t you have a tail with a fin like a proper marine creature? I still want some grandbabies from Daphne and you, but I’m a patient mermaid. Now, I know you’ll treat her right. Be a good wife to her, will ya?”

Harper smiles. “You got it. Be a good mom to me and mine, would you? Some of mine need a good mom.”

“Yeah, of course. Though, I might be busy trying to keep my big sister from being a bony-eared assfish to be there all that often. She’s got the frenzy stubborn streak to the full, she does. Most of the frenzy would mutiny, if we had a future here without her.”

Do I try to overthrow Ariel? Sure, she’s kind of evil, but she’s at least fair and somewhat competent. More than I can say about half of the Hosts out there.

Calypso reads Harper’s face. “You know a way, don’t you?”

Harper sighs. “Talk to the producer. If you can convince her that you would do a better job hosting, the spot could be swapped. That would be betraying your sister, though. I hope you understand that.”

“Look, most of the frenzy wants what you want. We watched enough seasons to understand that Daphne and the others are part of your harem, sure, but they are still people. They deserve as much respect as the game will allow them, unless they prove themselves to be an assfish. Ariel has that old school ‘contestants are property’ philosophy that you actively push against. Who do you want in your corner at the end?”

“Hate to say it, but point made. Talk to Honey. She’ll help with negotiations. In fact, grab me some paper and a pen. Let me work on a note.”

Harper pens some directions to her lawyer to represent Harper’s interest as the Mistress of the season and voice her support for a bloodless coup against Ariel. By the time she’s finished, Calypso found the information Harper was seeking for Claire. Harper pens a second letter, then prepares to send it over. Well, that was certainly a fun little mystery solved. I’ll head up to the Master Suite and get ready for my date now. Dress casual, huh?

The Show-Runner

Once again, I want to thank XarHD for letting me continue the letter correspondence. For your reference, the initial fan-mail letters start here. This time around, I’m treating most of the thank-you letter answering as a side thing (that will loop back to the main story line at the end), simply because it’s going to be three of my chapters long and with very little in the way of plot on my end. Just a nice little continuation of some budding pen pal relationships. I do have some references to the letters in the following chapters. Hopefully they are not too difficult to figure out?