To Eat But Not Be Merry

Felix and everyone else found themselves back in the original version of the room. There were no glass capsules, no medical stuff, no closet door, and in a detail they only noticed then, no grated floor for the draining of fluids.

"Noah, how about you lead the group to the Mess Hall, I have something I need to talk with Felix about." Vizrokoth said while motioning to the rest of the group and approaching Felix.

The group did leave, some more slowly than others. Cameron, or Cammy as they sometimes went by, was the last to leave, and gave Felix a meaningful look before leaving herself. He wondered whether it was an aspect of her transformation that she cared so much, or something else. Was she even the right term, given almost everyone used to be a man before showing up to wherever they were at the moment?

"I'm sure you're terrified of me, but relax, you're the master," Vizrokoth said, while lifting Felix's chin to meet her gaze. "I'm not going to hurt you. We just need to have a more intimate conversation than we can have near the contestants."

Noah lead the group to the room he had seen, in what felt like hours ago now. The trip there, while uneventful, had many pauses as people stopped to take in the strange new scenery. Despite the strange new body she had, and new gender, she was calmer than most of the group. Could it be the new TF? She pondered those thoughts while leading the group to the mess hall for some much needed sustenance. While her new form wasn't human, it definitely still felt hunger, and from what she could tell, for all the food she liked as a human.

In the mess hall, Noah and the group found an absurdly good buffet. Everything from roasted vegetables and meats to pastas, salads, and plentiful fruits were on offer. It wasn't just main meals on offer, there were several cakes, ice cream, and various fried pastries arranged for the taking. There were plenty of sides too, such as fries, and various dishes meant to just be grabbed, such as sandwiches and burgers. Faced with this paradise of food, the group dug in.

First up was Z, the oni, who bolted into the room seeing all this food on display and just crammed food into her mouth. It took her awhile to settle down enough to even sit with the food at the one table not covered in dining options as shoveled it in with her bare hands. To say she ate like a pig would be an insult to animals who lacked hands, and had **** in how messy their eating was. The sheer gluttony on display was shocking, as if a cartoon depiction of eating somehow became real, and in the process, far more disgusting.

Noah was the first to get over that shocking display of gluttony, and took the chance to leap into the food provided. Despite the sheer amount Z chose to take for herself, there was still plenty of food available, and it seemed as if food somehow restocked itself. Whether this was through magic, or highly advanced technology, didn't matter to Noah, especially when she discovered how strange eating was for her. She didn't so much bite into food as just grab it, and then her body would absorb it. Worse, everyone could see the food get digested, a sight she tried to shield them from with napkins or other blocking things when she could.

Smith was the next to get over the gross sight in front of her, and loaded up her plate. Fallen angels still needed to eat, or at least enjoyed eating enough to partake in it. While it wasn't quite the comical portion of Z or Noah, she loaded up her plate with fried chicken, bread biscuits, beans, and got a small bowl filled with ice cream for dessert. She then searched for something to drink, and found everything that wasn't alcoholic. A dizzying number of soft drinks, milks, tea, coffee, juices, smoothies, and even milkshakes were on offer, scattered over various vending machines, and self serve stations. Faced with this dizzying variety, she selected a simple milk of all things and got seated.

It was while Smith assembled her meal that everyone started to notice a label on all the meat products, "Cultured Meat," and similar labels for all animal based foods, like butter. The labels talked about how these items would taste the same, or even better, but were made differently in light of certain circumstances. What in the world were those circumstances? Noah and the rest of the group had thought everything in this place was just created by the demon's magic, but this explanation didn't fit that narrative. Cultured meat was something Noah had heard about, but it was a technology stuck in the lab, not one that could be used to fill a buffet like this.

The rest of the group took longer to adjust to the sight in front of them. Seeing multiple creatures of myth pig out made it a bit harder to start eating themselves. Eventually though, Winters joined those eating. As a woman who worked out, and had extensive curves, her caloric needs were higher than they appeared. She grabbed herself a rice bowl she added a fair few meats and veggies to, and grabbed some chopsticks to devour it all with. Noah saw a moment of indecision, but why would there be stress over a choice of food?

Cameron, Hailey, and finally, after some glares from the others, Austin White managed to walk in into the mess hall for food. Hailey got mac and cheese, an old comfort food, along with a soda that, from taste alone, she could tell used real sugar instead of corn syrup. Austin White got a rib-eye steak, mashed potatoes, and otherwise the kind of sides one expects to see at a high end steakhouse. Finally, Cameron grabbed a double meat cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake, the type of junk that, in this place, was comfort food.

With everyone eating, the group managed to settle in. No one talked, they were still in too much shock over what had happened, or in the case of the more supernatural beings, still adjusting to their own bodies. However, there was one major downside the group discovered as they ate the food: They could not leave with it. Noah discovered this when they tried leaving the room with some fruit so as to hide their disgusting digestion process, but saw it all disappeared the food disappeared when they crossed through the entrance to the room. She was able to figure out food would continue to be processed by her body when she left the room, but she couldn't carry it otherwise. The rest of the group seeing this, and some people trying it for themselves, confirmed that anything they wanted to eat had to be done in the mess hall. Why such a specific restriction? No one could figure it out...

"Felix, how much of the rules did you hear?" Vizrokoth asked while looking him in the eyes.

"Not much," Felix replied. "Something about gaining VP?"

Rather than replying with words, Vizrokoth put her hands on Felix's head, whispered something, and then Felix got a condensed version of the rules explanation everyone else got, directly downloaded to his brain. He was the master, they were trying to impress him to become part of his harem, the works. In addition, he got some basic details about each TF, and how there was a desktop computer in the Master Suite that would fill him in on the details. Most of all, he saw what happened to John Booker, as if he had gotten to watch the hologram as well, and she also showed him the reactions of every single person who watched the video. While he knew Vizrokoth was manipulating him, guilt still crept into his mind, as he thought about what could happen if he didn't participate, or didn't give someone a chance. While there were some he wouldn't mind that with...

"Felix, I know you hate some of these people," Vizrokoth whispered into Felix's ear. "I know, for instance, you would like nothing more than to see Austin White and James Smith get eliminated."

Felix wanted to deny it. Wanted to say that it wasn't true, that he was a better person than that, that he could forgive, but he couldn't without it being a lie. It didn't matter that they had been transformed against their will, **** to compete in a game for his affection, or even that there was now a reality altering demon in their lives. Heck, a part of him had the audacity to claim that if James hadn't punished him for something he didn't do, if Austin hadn't groped and fired his mother, and so on, that he wouldn't be here. That none of them would be there, and so that once again, other people would be punished for something that wasn't their fault, that...

"I also know there are people who you would do anything to let go, like Hailey," Vizrokoth continued to whisper while running of her hands through Felix's hair. "You can even kind of forgive Zachary, while knowing he doesn't deserve it."

How would she know that? The question burned in Felix's mind, wondering if it was magic, or if he was just that easy to read. He hated Zachary, and yet, on some level, didn't blame him. He didn't know whether it was because he viewed Zachary as a dumb brute that didn't know better, or if it was because Zachary didn't claim to be doing the right thing like Smith. Sure, he wanted him to be punished, but not as much as he wanted to punish James Smith. It was ridiculous to let his rage at hypocrisy blind his judgement, yet he couldn't change how he felt.

Vizrokoth withdrew from him. "However, I can't have you playing favorites Felix."

She stood back up, so as to remind Felix of how, even now, she was taller than him, and bigger than him, on top of her magic. "There will be consequences if you don't give someone a chance Felix. And on the flip side, your idea of going easy on someone will not help them."

Felix didn't know how to respond. He couldn't change how he felt, but also knew that this was a demon that could alter reality itself, much less potentially punish him harshly. Once again though, Vizrokoth seemed able to peer into his thoughts, and resolved the situation for him.

"I don't expect you to let you go of your emotions Felix, that's part of what makes this interesting." Vizrokoth said while continuing to hold his head. "After all, I chose these people because of how, even when they transformed, they would make you feel. Love and hate, much less lust, can easily get bundled up with each other in ways that are very amusing."

Vizrokoth grinned but then got rather serious before continuing. "What I expect to do is be fair, and while that is hard for you, it is something you can do. Now go join the others in the mess hall, it's through the opening behind you."

Then, and only then, did Vizrokoth let Felix go. But before he escape entirely he heard her say,

"And you don't want to know what happens Felix if you hide from the others all day..." Vizrokoth said to Felix while he fled from the room.

Hailey had wanted to talk to Felix, but he avoided her by grabbing a pizza, and trying, in futility, to find someplace else to eat other than the main table everyone was at. Sighing upon finding out there was no other option, Felix sat at the table, and began to eat. Everyone waited, in an ever more tense silence, for him to stop eating, and say something, anything.

After finishing his fourth slice, Felix managed to say, "Well, umm... this is a lot."

"You think, you fucking brat." Even though Austin White now had a high pitched, feminine voice, it did absolutely nothing to quell what came next.

Insulted the Master: -5 VP

"FUCK YOU!" Felix screamed, louder than he had in a very, very long time, while getting up to find Austin.

Upon finding Austin, Felix ran up behind them, and got close enough to breath down their neck while steadily getting angrier. "You may look like a brainless bimbo. Fuck, you may even be one soon. But I'm not going to forget that you fired my mom because she dared to complain about you grabbing her ass."

"How is-"

"Oh how is that you're fucking problem, I don't know, maybe it's because YOU'RE HALF THE FUCKING REASON WE'RE HERE!" Felix screamed in a way that, even if they weren't inside a bunker, and in a room with countless objects for the sound to reverberate off of, would've been painfully loud.

Everyone else in the room looked on like children watching their parents scream at each other. Hailey especially was rather familiar with that type of argument, but it was about to get worse.

"It's not my fault that your mom can't take a joke kid!"

Insulted the Master's Mother: -5 VP

Hailey could see Felix have to physically restrain himself, to the point where veins started to pop out. The amount of rage boiling in his body was so intense that if someone didn't intervene, this would become violent, and while she didn't think Felix would get directly punished as the master, the show's non-tolerance for unsexy **** lingered in her mind. Before it could escalate further, Cameron of all people intervened.

"Okay, lets go." Cameron said as they grabbed Austin, and dragged them out of the room like a misbehaving child.

"Felix, that wasn-" Smith tried to say before being cut off by Hailey elbowing him.

"Shut the fuck up." Hailey, desperately, hoped it would be enough. Alas, it was not.

Felix still turned around, and just glared at Smith while staring them in the eyes. Either he was immune to her presence as the master, or his rage at Smith was so intense that her presence had no impact. After several seconds that felt like an eternity, Felix asked, "Why did you do it?"

Hailey was scared Smith would dodge the question, or come up with some bullshit argument. Instead they gave an answer that surprised her.

"Is there any way I can convince you that I didn't know it was Zachary?" Smith's voice was soft, calming, and for once... regretful? It even seemed to get through to Felix, a little bit.

"You were an idiot if you thought otherwise," Z of all people said while finishing off a bucket of fried chicken. "I know what you saw, and I seriously doubt you didn't know about the football team's hazing rituals."

"You are-" Smith was cut off again.

"I am not Zachary." Z's voice became cold, and uncompromising. She then got up, and headed for the entrance.

"I am not a human male who needs booze to get laid, or who beats up his best friend as part of a hazing ritual." Z said while leaving the mess hall.

Felix sighed, and followed in her footsteps. He wasn't as angry, but was instead just exhausted. Hailey wanted to stop him, or something, scared of what was going to happen if this was how he'd feel on the first day. How could he be expected to love, much less have sex, if he was angry at everyone?

Hailey, on the verge of tears from stress, then turned to Smith. "You didn't know?"

Smith didn't say anything in response, and just left the mess hall next.

"I'm sorry," Noah said while leaving the corner they had been in while the argument unfold. "This is my fault."

Hailey turned to her confused and asked, "Why?"

"Because I saw who actually did it, and maybe if I had said something... we wouldn't all be here." Noah couldn't cry like a human did, but the way slime flowed from her eyes before being re-absorbed back into her body was similar.

Hailey didn't reply, instead just sighing, and leaving the mess hall herself. However upon doing that, she suddenly found herself...

Right back in the meeting room, with everyone else who had left the mess hall. She could see Cameron continue to talk in a soft, but very serious, tone of voice, like a mother trying to quietly scold a child in a corner.

"Before I let you all retire to your quarters, you have to actually know where they are, and if you're most contestants, know who you're sleeping with." The demon said while walking over to them.

"That way," the demon said while pointing to the Northern entrance, "is the master suite. He gets to sleep alone tonight, and only tonight for reasons I'll explain tomorrow."

Felix took the chance to bolt from the room, clearly **** to escape his harem.

"There are four bedrooms for the contestants," the demon said while pointing in the direction of the mess hall they just came from, "that are between here and the mess hall. However, until I pair you up, you don't get to leave this room."

Hailey realized her legs were now paralyzed and **** to stand perfectly still. She was reminded once again of that they were all living in terror of a reality altering demon.

"Before I begin, I should note that dinner was awful," the demon said. "I know that's obvious to many of you, but to be extra sure, I have installed screens in many of the rooms in this facility. These screens will let you check your VP, and the VP of any teammates you have."

The demon stopped, and gestured to a screen the size of a tablet the group hadn't noticed before near the entrance to the room. Hailey walked to it, and sure enough, was able to see their VP scores. Everyone else was at an even 0, but Austin's bullshit had brought him down to -10 VP. Hailey then felt her legs becoming stiff again, but the message was clear.

"As you can imagine, Austin White is already well into the negatives, and would've been even worse without me being merciful. If she can't manage to get Felix to like her, soon, they will be eliminated in the next competition round. Smith may have joined them in the negatives if it wasn't for some quick action by Hailey."

The demon let that settle in before switching back to sleeping arrangements. "Cameron and Austin White, as family members, will be sharing a room called Distant Bitches."

Cameron dragged Austin from the room once again. Hailey realized that Felix didn't know the two were related in that manner, and that this would blow up if something wasn't done. They already had far too much emotional dynamite lying around as it was, given the relationship they all had with Felix.

"Next up, Z and Kei Winters will share the room titled School Lovers." The demon seemed to relish saying Kei specifically.

Winters and Z left the room in a surprisingly relaxed manner for everything that had happened that night. Hailey then realized she had never seen Winters leave the mess hall, and wondered if Winters had sneaked out during the screaming.

"Noah and Hailey will sleep in the same room, you will notice it is called Bad Friends."

Hailey, relieved, bolted out of the room, and heard Noah slinking after her. She didn't care at this point if she had to share a room with a pile of sapient of goo that used to be a nerd she liked to play D&D with, because at this point, she just needed to go to bed. She was hoping this whole day would turn out to be a nightmare, and if not, she needed rest to get used to this insane new reality...