The Fish Tank (S,A)

“Is this a good time?” Genet asked as she sat down. She was wearing a purple dress that looked similar to the red one she’d been in last night, with the same jacket that covered nothing but her shoulders. Ava nodded, her mouth full.

She’d decided she might as well make today a cheat day since none of what she normally did for breakfast was available. She’d gotten a bowl of Rainbow Wheels since no one else seemed interested in it, along with some bananas to actually tide her over. Stella had asked her to bring her back some food to the room, so Ava had a platter of three dry bowls of cereal and some of the fruit next to her. The cereal had a much stronger flavor than her usual breakfast fare, but she wasn’t sure Stella would like it. It didn’t really seem like her thing. She’d still bring some of everything, Stella needed to eat.

The host sat down at the table across from her, gripping the table tightly as she sat down. “Tell me, how did you sleep?”

This hadn’t been the question she’d expected. “It was alright. Once we were able to get settled, the aquarium was nice to fall asleep watching. Can I ask something about that?”

Genet glanced at her. “Did you have any requests for improvements?”

“No. Like I said, it was nice last night. Why did you put a fish tank in our bedroom?”

“I didn’t”

“You didn’t?” Ava looked at her doubtfully.

“No, I had a bedroom with a fish tank a friend gave me and two people needed to use the bedroom.“

“You're saying it was random?”

Genet looked her in the eye. “I’m saying it doesn't matter.”

Ava shrugged. “Fine.”

Genet realized she may have gotten distracted from why she sat down. “Can you tell me about how Stella’s doing?”

Ava’s tone hardened as the subject shifted “Do you care?”

Genet tried not to sigh. There’d been a point last night that Ava had been the most supportive contestant for her. “Pretend that you believe I do.”

Ava put her spoon down. “I was taking care of her after you dismissed us. She spent over an hour in the shower and took three tries to choose a change of clothes because she couldn’t handle the first two choices. She asked me to bring her her meals this week because she said she didn’t plan on leaving the cottage unless you made her. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen her get this bad.”

“Do you have any plans this week while she’s staying inside?” So she’d effectively lost a cast member until Stella got past this. It’d fuck with her ratings on the next popularity poll, but it could be worked through. The others could get a bit more spotlight, maybe get some good shots of Ava activating Roid Rage to make up for her roommate’s absence. Following Luna and Felicia to see what they do without Richard and Stella around could be interesting. Maybe Stella was burnt for a while, but she could work around it.

“I don’t want her to get lonely, so I plan on staying inside with her when I’m not on my assigned night with Dick. Luna said she’d take over for me on that day, and that she and Felicia would try to drop by when they were available throughout the week.”

Great. She wasn’t losing one contestant. She’d be losing a quarter to a half of the cast every day. The audience wouldn’t be able to handle them just playing cards for over a week. At least she had an excuse for the idea she’d come up with overnight.

“Can I come back with you after lunch?” Genet asked. She summoned her briefcase in case there was pushback. Ava had been bristling since Stella had been brought up.

At the request, the weight of Ava’s anger lightened as it was pushed aside by her uncertainty. “You’re not going to hurt her more, are you? I still don’t feel like I understand who you are.”

In response, Genet took one hand and placed it on Ava’s. Genet felt the muscles in the japanese girl’s wrist tense, but she didn’t pull away.”All you need to know at the moment is that I’m your Host. You don’t need to worry about anything more than that.”

Ava still looked frustrated. “But-”

“But you don’t need to worry about it. You said that you liked the fish last night, right?” Ava nodded. “And you’re willing to settle for not knowing why it’s there?”

Ava answered, still frustrated. “I can live with it.”

“I want to give Stella a fish tank.”

“I’m sorry?” Ava scrunched her face.

“I want to offer her something. I obviously don’t need your permission to see her, but I’d like you to prepare things for me. Do you think you could smooth the way?”

Ava’s jaw tightened. She still wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, but she understood enough. She was nervous bringing Genet to Stella, but the host was right. She couldn’t stop it, but she could make things easier for everyone. She wasn't sure how much it was worth to make things easier for the host, but making things easier for the two of them justified it. “I’ll see what I can do.” She told the older woman

Genet beamed at her. That’s all I can ask. I’ll see you here then, I have a few other matters to take care of before then.” Genet stood up and bustled out towards the plaza outside. Within another moment it was like Genet had never been there and Ava was the last person left in the dining hall that morning.

***

That was a whirlwind” Ava looked back down at her breakfast. While she’d been focused on the host, the bowl of cereal she’d been eating had turned a sickly green. Maybe it was good she’d been too focused on the conversation to eat the stuff. Felicia and Stella both would’ve killed her for eating something that artificial. She removed the _Rainbow Wheels _from the stuff she’d prepped for Stella, leaving the bowl next to the box of cereal that was still nearly entirely full. Afterwards, She dumped it over at the bussing station and opened her banana as she walked out with Stella’s to-go platter.

Reaching the far side of the plaza, Ava was back outside the Trident Cottage. She glanced at the auditorium next to the house. Hopefully it’d be a while before they needed to go back there. But for now, she just walked across the bridge over the koi pond and headed into the house and through its navy blue door. The blue theme continued through the hallway as she walked back to the bedroom, lamps made to look like coral lighting her way. She came into the bedroom and Stella was waiting there, wearing the same bra and pajama shorts she’d fallen asleep in.

“What’d they have?” Stella asked, as she was handed the platter. She looked at it, disappointed. “Children’s cereal? She has magic **** powers and the best she can do is children’s cereal?”

“Genet said that we each get a day where we get to pick what gets served at the dining hall. Aubrey’s got her date tonight, so the menu is getting chosen for her.”

Stella grumbled a bit more before taking both bowls of cereal and stepped towards the closet. “I think I saw a strainer in here somewhere…” She trailed off for a moment and Ava waited for her to come back. “Hopefully I can get most of the sugar off.” She said, taking the full strainer into the bathroom. Ava watched her turn the seahorse shaped knob of the sink, then she shook the strainer under the water until she was satisfied.

She set the strainer down on a towel to dry before peeling open the orange. Ava tried to distract herself with the fish tank taking up a fifth of the room. Stella hadn’t reacted well anytime before bed when the show or the host had been brought up, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to test the “positive” side of Overstimulation. So she got into a staring contest with one of the stonefish that’d been lounging on the sandy bottom of the tank. She did pretty well. If stonefish could blink, she might’ve even won.

But she couldn't kill time forever. As Stella was eating the de-sugared cereal, Ava dropped the news. “Genet wanted to stop by after lunch.”

Stella slowed her chewing. “Oh? What did she say?”

“She wanted me to help her give you a fish tank.”

“A fish tank?” Stella asked. Ava had been worried about scaring and overwhelming her friend, but she’d managed to just confuse her instead.

“Sorry, I think it was a metaphor. She wants to offer you something she thought you might like.”

The half-dressed woman was lost in thought for a moment before she responded. “Do you know when she’ll be coming? “

“She said that she’ll come back with me when I come back from lunch. How are you feeling about it? Are you nervous?”

Stella looked at her with the same look she’d given younger cooks at her restaurant a hundred times. “Of course I’m a little nervous. She’s the one that kidnapped us and gave me Overstimulation in the first place. But it seems like she’s got some nuance, it might be good to hear her out.”

Ava wasn’t prepared for this. She’d psyched herself up for canceled plans Stella. She’d prepared herself for bad review Stella. She hadn’t been ready for souffle Stella to show up, for her to be the nervous one.

“Well then, we’ve got until lunch to kill some time. Want to play Wonders?

***

A few hours later, Ava and Genet were walking back to the Trident cottage. Ava opened the door for her and Genet strode in. Once they both had reached the bedroom, Ava handed Stella the lunch platter while Genet took a seat at one of the seafoam green chairs next to the television.

Stella straightened her sweater before taking the platter. “Grilled cheese?” She bit into it. “It’s possible to make a good grilled cheese. I can and have made a better grilled cheese. You have magic. Why can’t you make a good grilled cheese instead of one where you can taste the plastic wrapper?”

Genet smiled before responding. “I can make a grilled cheese as good as it needs to be. This one” she pointed over at the sandwich on Stella’s plate. “Is exactly as Aubrey wanted it to be. We’re not here to discuss Aubrey’s culinary taste. Can we get to my proposal?”

Stella put the sandwich down. She pulled the H&H phone that she’d been given out of her pocket and tried to distract herself by rubbing the fuzzy case.

Genet started. “Do you both remember my brief mention of Bonus Points?”

Stella nodded, and Ava answered. “They’re for stuff that contributes to your show, but isn’t something done with the round challenge or with Richard.”

Genet proposed a follow-up question. “Do either of you know what BP can be used for?” At that neither of them had an answer. “BP can be used for a number of things, but what I wanted you to be aware of is that BP can be used to upgrade a transformation or buy a new one. For only 3 BP, you can choose to upgrade one of your transformations. Normally you’d need to take a guess of what happens, but as a peace offering I’d like to offer you some prior knowledge.” She pulled a slip of paper out of her bag and handed it to them:

• Overstimulation+: Stella has traditionally struggled with change. This allows her to gain more control over herself the less she is wearing. When Stella has on more clothes on, her natural emotional sensitivity transitions to physical sensitivity as she feels phantom sensations when someone would comfort her over her outfit. (Bimbo)

Stella looked at the slip. “Even if this is something I wanted, I can’t afford it. You said this needs 3 BP, and I only have 1."

Ava asked: “Are we able to transfer BP between each other?”

Genet nodded. “Of course. I want you to be encouraged to work with each other. You can both transfer BP and upgrade TFs at the marketplace.”

Ava turned away from Genet to look at Stella. “Then we have 5 BP.”

Stella looked at them both. It was possible. It being possible meant that she’d need to make a decision about it. She rubbed the pink fur and wished that someone could take over. “Do I need to decide now?”

Genet stood up and picked up her bag.”You have as long as the show lasts to decide. If the two of you would like to talk about it, I’ll clear the room. If you make a decision, you can go down to the market and commit to it.” With her last remarks, she strode out of the Trident Cottage back to her office. She had other things to check on.