Town Hall

Genet puffed back onto the stage, this time with Ata and Scylla on either side of her. The latter was wearing a pajama top with little blue fish on it, since she was off duty. As the Host waved her hand, three empty chairs materialized in the empty space between the ends of the contestants’ semicircle. The shopkeeper happily skipped to the first chair, and was followed by Scylla as the siren climbed into the second chair.

“Richard, can you join us on stage?” The host called out.

He nodded, jogging up to join the others and take the last available seat.

With everyone in place, Genet started speaking again. “The next part of our evening is the Q&A I promised. Quite a few questions were submitted, and I’ll have us answer as many as we can without the transformations being pushed too late in the evening. To incentivize the truth, for every two answers I believe to be honest I will award that contestant a Bonus Point. I’ll just trust the Master and staff to be honest, or if not, to be obvious in their lie.”

Genet turned around, facing outwards towards the back of the auditorium. “You all out there might notice that I’m not using any sort of compulsions or torture devices to force their honesty. I wanted to make mention of that fact as a lesson to anyone out there in the audience who might be watching while working on their first season. If a theoretical host tries to use pain to get their way, they may win that specific objective but he’ll have lost the harem’s trust and cooperation for the rest of the season. It’s always easier to try offering a carrot before reaching for the stick.” She turned back to her cast. “So, do any of you have questions before we begin?”

Felicia raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“So, we could just lie our asses off the whole time and nothing would happen?”

The rubenesque Host shrugged. “Other than disappointing the audience, no. It’s important to note that the audience is allowed to change their votes on both the popularity poll and your own transformations, so I would consider carefully how much you are willing to anger them. Are there any other questions?” Seeing none, she continued. “Then I’ll look through the questions to get us started. Ooh, here’s a fun one!”

Aubrey: Do you have a name picked out for your first child together?

The blonde straightened her posture, not expecting to start. “That’s a conversation we’d need to have together. If we had a boy my preference would be to name him Henry, after a tutor and mentor of mine Henry Gentille. If we had a girl instead, I’d want to listen to anything Richard had in mind.”

“Thank you, let’s see who we should do next. This is related, so it might be good.”

Dick: Assuming your ladies want them, are you prepared to give them all children?

He blanched. “I suppose? We can definitely afford it. Though I don’t think any of them- except maybe Aubrey- are interested in that right now.”

Both Luna and Aubrey nodded at that, and next to Aubrey Maeve crossed her legs uncomfortably. Genet fished through her bowl of questions for another one.

Helena: On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being hate it and 10 being love it, how would you rate the experience of Hazel taking you by the leash on a long walk?

The billionaire raised an eyebrow at the absurdity of the question. “Eight.”

“Let’s do another one, this looks fun!” The host said, keeping the spotlight on Hel.

Helena: Who’s a good girl?

“I’m not going to justify that with a response.”

“Oh come one, that would’ve been such an easy second truth!” Genet pouted.

“That’s subjective.”

“Fine, but I’m giving you one more before we move on, this one is from one of my friends.” She pulled out a piece of paper with a bit of red fur clinging to it, and instead of reading it out loud like the others she merely held it out and a voice like an anime girl filled the auditorium.

Helena:Hey there girlie! Really digging the pet play you've got with your bodyguard. Really hot, so if you could be a specific pet animal, what would you be?

“And just to clarify,” Genet said after the recording stopped, “by pet animal she’s thinking about someone with animal parts like Hazel had that one evening.”

“What did she have?” Dick asked.

“I had a wolf’s ears, fangs, and tail, as well as a particular possessiveness." Hazel explained to give her girlfriend time to answer.

With that extra time, Helena had her answer. “If I had to pick something, I’d probably take the dog theme my path gives me. There were other things I briefly considered, but I don’t think any sort of prey animal would suit the impression I try to give people.”

Helena Turner, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“Interesting explanation, thank you.” Genet fished another piece of paper out of her bowl. “Perfect. This one is related:”

Dick:If you had to pick an animal for each of your harem members to gain minor characteristics of what would you choose for each of them and why?

“I guess maybe wolf and dog for Hazel and Hel if they want. I’m not going to answer for the others.” He dismissed the question.

Genet was hesitantly reaching for another question when Aubrey raised her hand. “What if I want to know what you’d pick?”

“Same.” Felicia declared as she raised her hand a moment later, and seeing them both Stella hesitantly raised her hand as well.

“Oh. I guess, give me a second. Do you mind if I pick two options instead of one?”

“Sure?” Stella agreed, as the other two just waited.

“Cat or horse?” He offered Aubrey.

“Horse?” She asked, trying to decide whether she should be offended. “Like a centaur?”

“I think he's thinking closer to an Umamimi?” Ava offered. “They’re two-legged women, they just have horse-like ears and swishy tails. There was an anime with them we watched a few months ago together, I think they’re working on a Vers game for it soon.”

“Yeah, that’s it.” Dick agreed.

“So why those?”

“I mean, you’re super cuddly. So cat. And for horse, your hair is probably your most identifying feature.”

“How about me?” Felicia asked for her turn.

“I… that’s a little harder. Otter’s the first one that comes to mind?”

“Otter? Not…” cow? She finished internally.

“Have you ever spent time with otters?” He asked.

“No. Are you going somewhere with this?”

“I am. Hel bought the Boston zoo so she could help me impress Aubrey early on in our first relationship. They shut it down for the day and we got to do a meet-and-greet with a few of the friendlier exhibits. I sat down with the otters and practically got robbed blind.” He moved on to Stella before he could get a response. “And for you, bear or sheep?”

Oh. That's surprising...

“I like sheep.” The pinkette responded after a moment of thought, her hair blooming in agreement.

“Now can we move on?” He asked Genet.

“Of course. I’ll look for someone who hasn’t had a turn yet. Here’s a few that’re all from another friend.” She held out three pieces of paper that unfolded themselves. A young woman spoke as instrumental music backed her. Ava perked up, recognizing the soundtrack the music was from.

Felicia: Did you enjoy the cake? And would you like more?

Luna: Did you enjoy the tart and would you like more sent in future fan mail?

Stella: After your performance this round I feel you are now ready. Would you like me to send you one of my special baked goods next fanmail or next opportunity Genet will let me?

“Whoever wants to answer first can go ahead.” Genet encouraged.

Luna cleared her throat. “Yes. If you can send more, I’d definitely appreciate it.”

“If you send me anything, I’d like it to not be quite as extreme as last time,” Felicia countered. “The cake was fun, but dealing with it the next day was really not. So next time you want to send something either make it smaller or less long.”

“If this is Sally we’re talking about, I think she sent me a letter last time. I know about the cake of course, but what did the tart do?” Stella asked.

Luna exchanged a glance with Dick before answering. “It gave us both an increased sex drive and unlimited stamina for twenty-four hours.”

“Oh.” The shy chef blushed and said nothing else.

“Let’s do Hazel next.” Genet decided. “This one’s related to a question that’s already been asked.”

Hazel: On a scale of 1 to 10 how much would you say you enjoy leading Helena around on walks?

“Nine. I appreciate the anchoring feeling.”

“And now let’s do the last one I’m positive is from Sally:” The young woman spoke again.

Maeve: Help me settle a debate with a friend. Which is more the more useful tool as a therapist, large boobs or a sexy uniform?

The therapist narrowed her eyes and leaned forward in her seat. “Are you the puerile contestant that asked for advice on how your therapist friend could seduce her season’s Master?”

“Oh! No, Sally isn’t a contestant. She’s a Host, like me.” Genet interjected, realizing that there’d been a major miscommunication somehow.

“She’s a Host? Why would a Host be trying to get advice for a friend like that?”

“It’s complicated.” Genet shrugged. “Anyway, she had a question. I can read it again if you’d like.”

“No thank you.” Maeve shifted her tone to address Sally again. “A therapist requires neither of those things, and if she chooses to rely on either of them she ought to be forced out of the profession. As with your previous letter, I think you may intend to say escort or prostitute.”

“I see. Sorry, Sally.” Genet cleared her throat. “I’ll move on to the last contestant to receive a question:”

Ava:What is the game - board game, TTRPG, or otherwise - that you've always wanted to play, but couldn't ever find a group for?

“Oh. It’s not really something I can’t find a group for, since Ms.Lewis will probably let me bring it to the Green Dragon if she has an opening in her event calendar, but I’ve been wanting to try this game I got recently called ‘Two Rooms and a Boom.’ It’s a fast social deduction game about finding or stopping a bomber trying to kill the president, and there’s a bunch of random roles you can add in. I’m really hoping that I can give it a try soon.”

Hazel raised an eyebrow at the description.

“Interesting. That wasn’t a sponsorship by the way.” Genet rummaged through the bowl for a while. She held out a piece of paper, and a woman with a voice like night spoke, Helena looking in recognition.

Felicia: Does having another host declare you their champion mean anything to you?

“Does that get me anything?”

“If I’m guessing who wrote this correctly, she made your battleaxe.” The Host explained.

“Oh shit, that was sweet. Is there anything she expects in return?”

Felicia Owena, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“As far as I know, just continuing on your current track. She wrote me an angry letter when she saw how low you performed in the challenge. Knowing her there are probably a few things you could do to increase her favor more, kissing some of the other contestants-”

“-Pass-”

“-or engaging in more BE. Speaking of which, this seems like a relevant question to do next:”

Felicia: By the end of the season how big are you hoping that your breasts will become?

“I mean, there’s a balance. I’d like to be the biggest, but if I get too big it becomes too much of a hassle like when I had that cake. If I can manage somewhere in between it'd be nice.”

Genet nodded with a smile, looking through until she found one with the right name on the address. “The Master received quite a few more than I expected, so let’s get a few out of the way while we’re still starting:”

Dick: There are rumors that you might run for President? Are they true and if so, is Helena simply going to buy the white house for you?

The congressman tried to laugh. “I’m only twenty-eight, so talk of the Presidency is still a bit premature. I won’t rule it out, but even if the country would be willing to accept any of what’s happened here I want to concentrate on Rhode Island first.

“On the wider cynicism I thought I was reading here, Helena can’t buy the White House. No one can. Yes, money has too much power in our political system. But within an election it can only buy influence, not victories. A motivated electorate can overcome any difference in campaign spending, and so I’d like to assure you that optimism and a belief that things can change is the most important tool to make sure things do change.”

“And now we got a chance to see how you were elected.” Genet commented as she opened the next question.

Richard Turner: What kind of stance your version of the States has on healthcare the likes, and your own program on this topic? I'd like to know if I can recommend a specifically sane version of America where our Harem could end by our season's end. -Hardric

“You’re just going to have your pick of dimensions? If you’re looking based on healthcare policy, we might not be your best choice. Dental insurance is still private here.”

“And I’ll get one more of his questions out of the way before we can go back to the fun stuff.”

Richard: What can you tell us about the platform you intend to implement back on Earth? What do you think are the most significant changes to it caused by Harem Hotel?

“Back on Earth, I’m looking to expand my environmental legislation; look for ways to incorporate green energy into urban planning. I also want to work with the HHS secretary to get her input on how the foster system could be reformed.”

“Is that addressing the second part of their question?” Genet pressed.

“Yes, it is.” He offered a politician’s smile. “You said you had more interesting questions you wanted to move onto?”

“Oh! Yes.”

All the women: How many children do you want with Dick?

“Since I’m a woman, I’ll just note that I’m not planning on it. Anyone who wants to go next can.”

Aubrey adjusted in her seat. “It’s something we’d need to discuss together of course, but I’ve always thought we would have at least two. If we had just one they’d get lonely.”

Aubrey Conners +1 BP (Two Truths)

“None.” Luna said immediately after, Helena nodding along.

Luna Lopez, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“I’ve honestly never thought about it? I don’t really feel like I’d be a good mom.” Ava offered next.

Ava Soto, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“That is a conversation we’re still far from. A month ago I had never considered having children at all.” Hazel said.

“And that sort of conversation is best had with him first.” Maeve added, and Stella quietly agreed.

“Less than eight, that’s for fucking sure.” Felicia countered the string of subtle responses with her less subtle one. “Aubrey has a good point on only children becoming lonely, but I think that’s less of a concern if half the group is at least thinking about kids.

Felicia Owens, +1BP (Two Truths)

Aubrey looked sullen at that attempt at agreement, which Genet didn’t seem to notice. “This next question is one that was asked several times, in several different ways.”

Aubrey: Now that you know that Richard would be into it, would you be willing to have a threesome with Felicia?
Felicia: How willing would you be to having a threesome with Richard and Aubrey?

“You want to answer that first, Aub?” Felicia offered.

“No. Never. I have no interest in any kind of threesome.”

Felicia smiled at where Genet had directed her attention when talking to the audience earlier. “I’ll say yes when she does.”

“Interesting.” Genet held out a piece of paper, and the anime girl’s voice filled the auditorium again.

Stella: I think I speak for everyone when I say pink suits you Girlie! So list 5 things Dick could do to make you turn pink!

“Oh. um, I like when he eats my food and when he follows my lessons. I… um… like when he looks at me without talking. This is hard…”

“The question seems like it’s focused on things you haven’t done yet, if that helps.” Luna suggested.

“Oh. He trusts me, but when he trusts me to do something, and last… if he agreed not to move?”

Stella Steward, +1BP (Two Truths)

“That’s an interesting way to phrase that last idea. I'd like to push you a little bit with the next question then give you an easier one before we move on.”

Stella: On a scale from 1 to 10 how interested would you say you now are in having sex with Richard?

“Define sex?”

“Feel free to go with your interpretation of the question.” Genet supplied.

“Eight?” She blushed.

“That works. And here’s the easier one:” She held out a piece of paper and a voice filled the auditorium. Except this time it was a masculine voice, full of tension as it slid from word to word.

Stella: Oh my, lovely to see you coming into your own my dear, quite stunning. One thing I became curious about, how does an absolute nobody, single parent, no connections, manage to avoid the 90% failure rate of Restaurants in their first year? Quite astounding really, Im sure you must have a guardian angel, pray tell the secret to your success.

“Well, I technically didn’t have no connections. I had Mr.Fiero, and my mother was able to help keep me afloat when the Fence & Post was still finding its feet. While I was finishing high school she received a significant amount of money from Mr.Montague’s will. It came with a letter telling her to use it on something that’d let her be independent, so she started Stewardship Spices. It’s currently stocked in grocery stores in eight states, and I use mostly the same mixes in my recipes. The perseverance blend is what I use on my whitefish. So between the three of them, I had enough support to make it through the tough years.”

Stella Steward, +1BP (Two Truths)

“Mr.Montague?” Richard asked.

Stella nodded bashfully. “He was the- one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”

He looked like he was going to ask another question: “Mr.Montague-”

But his stepsister stepped in, as if telling him to leave it alone. “-Is a very common name.”

“There’s a few tense and similar questions that people received. I’ll read them all together:”

Felicia: If you had the chance to change a single thing about each member of the harem, yourself and Dick included, what would it be?

Hazel: You seem to thrive on structure, but the rest of Dick's harem doesn't seem as willing to fall in line. If you were given the chance to put everyone in the harem in their place, what would you change to best serve your master?

Maeve: If you were given the chance to give a set of instructions to each member of the harem, with the goal of promoting everyone's mental health and the assurance that everyone would do their best to obey, what would you tell everyone to do?

Hazel answered first. “There’s a few people that seem impossibly drawn to conflict. I’d fix that if I could. If it comes down to it, forcing them into a room together until they address the main issue would probably work if I was able to get permissions.”

Hazel Singh, +1BP (Two Truths)

Both the blondes could recognize that they were likely in the group that’d be forced together ‘if it came down to it.’

“I don’t feel the need to change and control everybody.” Felicia said.

“I don’t think I’d give instructions to half the group.” Maeve said, trying to distract from the tension caused by the previous two answers. “I’d ask Aubrey to spend more time in small groups with Richard and the others. I’d ask Helena to explain her plans out loud before trying them. I’d remind Richard to remember the roles of others around him, and finally I’d ask Felicia to experiment with a variation of an exercise I often teach to people where they try to decide the best and worst case scenario of her ideas.”

Maeve Petrov, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“Very interesting, thank you.” Genet looked at several slips of paper tinged with burns and scorch marks at the edges. “I have a few mean questions here that I’d like to get out of the way. Would anyone mind volunteering?”

“Mean questions?” Stella asked.

There was silence and stillness for a moment, then it seemed like Hazel and the Turners were competing over who could go first. “I’ll start with you Richard.” The man’s sliding, tense baritone filled the room again

Dick:Ah look at him! Like a big old golden retriever! Not a damn thought in his cute little head. How is a shameless, oblivious, dull man like you going to keep them safe when you have to return to the real world?

“I’m not shameless, for a start. Oblivious, yeah. Guilty as charged. Dull, I hope not. You seem to have things generally wrong. I’ll do what I can to protect them, but I’m not who will be doing most of it. If any thieves or extortionists threaten any of us again, Hazel will probably have stopped them before I have a chance to even see them, since you’re not wrong about my obliviousness.” Richard shrugged at the end as he accepted at least one of his flaws.

“Good job.”

“May I go next?” Helena asked.

“Are you sure, kiddo? Yours is kind of-”

“I can handle it.”

Genet unfurled another piece of scorched paper, and the baritone became a series of ripping verbal attacks.

Helena: Ah, the sister. Oh sorry STEP sister as you're so insistent on saying. Tell me, does that make you feel better about the shameful devotion you have that goes beyond sisterly affection? You would never DO anything because you're his sister but it's ok to have the feelings you're only his STEP sister. You think you're fooling god? Do you think you're fooling hell?

By the time the question finished, the billionaire had lost her bravery. Everyone had seen her flinch as the man mockingly corrected himself, and now Helena was hunched over in her seat, trying and failing to hide the sound of her weeping in the auditorium’s acoustics. “You’re wrong… It’s not true… It’s not true.”

Genet winced, summoning a box of tissues as she set the bowl of questions down, crossing to the contestant’s part of the stage. She bent down and pushed a tissue into the redhead's hands before setting the rest of the box down between her and Hazel. “I’m sorry, kiddo, there’s going to be a few more like that. But you’re strong. I believe in you.”

Hazel had turned to her girlfriend, stroking down her back and neck in an attempt to calm her. “Can I get his question next?”

“Are you sure? I can step out and call Lucy, ask him to retract these. I think he’s in a good mood with what’s happening with poor Maya…”

“Give it to me.” Hazel asked again.

Genet hesitantly nodded as she returned to her seat, finding the right scorched paper. She held it aloft until it spoke, again going on the attack.

Hazel: Attention! The soldier! The bodyguard! The woman who can do it all, so defined by other people, my question to you is simple. When you're alone in the dark, who are you really?

Hazel took a break from her reassuring pats to lean forward, her eyes glinting with a lupine sharpness. “I am their bodyguard, I am her soldier. I may be the Turner’s, but their absence does not change who I am. When Helena is not there to speak or is indisposed, I am her voice. You may have succeeded in hurting her for a moment, but I am here, and I am hers. Go to Hell.” Having delivered her diatribe, the avowed atheist returned to her love’s side.

“Hel, can I go through the rest of the questions that I thought you might struggle with? If you need, just ignore me and I’ll move on until I’m ready to do the more fun questions again. Ok?”

Hazel nodded.

Helena: Why do you insist on calling Dick your Step-bro, and do you have Step-Bro fantasies?

Silence.

Helena: With Hazel excluded, have you ever had sexy dreams about fellow members of the harem or the master?

Silence.

Helena: If you had to pick between being with Dick and Hazel or neither, which would you choose?

“No.” Helena managed to say.

“Alright. Thank you for indulging me.” Genet pivoted. “Here’s a couple fun ones for people to hopefully lighten the tone. “She tossed a piece of paper out, and it became the anime girl’s voice from earlier:

Maeve: Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Sorry. Mommy? Ok we're going with it, ahem given your recent foray into yuri, what other fetishes are you looking forward to exploring?

The therapist blushed. Recovering, she tried to come up with something. “So, I honestly am not familiar enough to know what I might be exploring. There’s one fetish that I know will come up, and anyone watching out there should already know what it is.”

“Hm, Cryptic.” Genet tossed out another paper that prompted the anime girl:

Aubrey: Girlie, you're so down on yourself when really you have every right to be confident, after all, you're the canon love interest. How are you gonna put the others in their place?

Aubrey paused, resisting the temptation to preen at the canon love interest. “I don’t need to ‘put the others in their place.’ I’m focused on him without anyone else, and I’m here for pure and true reasons. That will come out without the need for an open fight or manipulation.”

Aubrey Conners, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“Ava, do you want one from her?” Genet tossed it out without waiting for an answer.

Ava: Girlie I applaud you for being so daring and engaged with your transformations. Other contestants could learn a thing or two, so which TF do you enjoy borrowing the most in your roid rage?

“Oh, um, that’s a good question. Luna’s was a lot of fun, but Maeve’s might be the most useful? I feel like I stuck my foot in my mouth a lot less with hers. Plus I got to see Aubrey’s wedding dress, and that was neat.”

Ava Soto, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“My what?” The blonde perked up at being mentioned, particularly with something of such importance.

“Oh, um… a couple days ago I think I got to see people’s dreams? You looked happy. You were in a field.”

“Could you tell me more about it later?”

“Sure.”

“Thanks, Reyna.” Genet quietly whispered, then spoke louder again. “I’ll move to something more serious, though not as doom-and-gloom:”

Richard: Richard, I hope everything is well. I am sorry we won't see you at the wedding, as we will be holding the second meeting of the Masters' Support Association. I know we didn't have a chance to speak of it at the birthday party, but we did share information with Aubrey. Will you need any assistance from those of us who may well be out of the show by the time you finish your next challenge? -Andy

“The what?” He asked out loud. “Aubs?”

“They were drunk and trying to start this union. When I saw their attempt at a charter I knew you’d spent the rest of the party rewriting it if you saw it. So I told them I’d pass it on. And then didn’t.” She squeaked out the last part, realizing that she may have messed up somewhere.

“Is there anything I should know about it to answer the question?”

“I don’t think so? I can show you what they gave me, I’ve been using it as a bookmark. It’s in a stack of library books next to my bed I keep forgetting to return.”

He just sighed. “Thanks, Andy. No assistance needed, at least not that I know of right now. Good luck at your wedding?” He felt even more out of the loop than usual.

“I’ll keep the spotlight on you a bit longer, if that’s alright, with a couple similar questions:”

Dick: If you had to pick exactly one breast size for everyone in the harem, what would it be?
Richard: Of the women in your harem who do you think has the best boobs?

He couldn’t stop himself from glancing at Maeve, then Stella. If he was to pick, it’d undoubtedly be one of them. But both of them would hate being chosen. Stell still doesn’t like public attention towards her body, and Maeve… Maeve doesn’t want that kind of relationship. She’s just my therapist. “I’m sorry, that’s too crass to answer.”

“Fair. Let’s-”

“Let’s do mine next.” Genet was interrupted by her lifeguard, as a tentacle snaked across the wooden floor of the stage to snatch a slip from the bowl

“Let’s see:” Scylla read her own question.

Scylla: Is the reason you were so frosty towards Dick is that you are annoyed you aren't getting any dick?

“No.” The cephalid scoffed as she stood up. “I can get enough to satisfy myself. I can find someone if I go to any bar, and this century a growing number of men are willing to indulge this hybrid form or even my real form.

“The reason I am so ‘frosty’ towards him is that he doesn’t engage. He shrinks back to defend his honor above all else. He can’t answer questions about his physical tastes because people could be offended. He dodges answer the animal girl question because he doesn’t want to look like he’s asserting power, when his harem wanted answers and ideas. He treated the swimsuit contest that his harem organized like something they were being forced into, instead of admitting that yes, he might like looking at them pose for him. He’s so afraid of looking like the bad guy that he’ll hide his feelings and do nothing to reciprocate his harem’s effort. That’s why I’m so ‘frosty’ towards him.”

Finishing her angry rant, Scylla glared at him before teleporting away.

“Is that… true? Do you all feel that way?”

Aubrey fervently shook her head, and Stella gently shook her head as well.

“You have a lot on your plate.” Maeve reassured him. Though it wasn’t an answer to what he’d asked.

“She did have a point, at least to a degree. At a minimum you could second-guess us less.” Luna admitted.

Felicia offered a shaky hand gesture to say that she too, thought there might be a point.

“You know my stance, Master.” Hazel quietly said.

“I- I’m sorry then, to those of you that feel that way. I’ll try to work on it.”

“That was very productive, even if I don’t like the way Scylla introduced the topic,” Genet said. “I might take a few of my own questions as well to get them done with.”

Genet: Would you sleep with Dick if he wanted that?

The Host glanced toward him before answering. “Not until the season’s over, at a minimum. After that, I’d need to talk to my husband first.” She held out a piece of paper and the man spoke again, though it sounded slightly kinder:

Genet, lovely to see how your show is going, truly the work of a goddess. I hope you don't mind my questions, I've noticed your hand is a tad light and figured they could use the extra push. That said, I would love to know, when not running shows, what does everyone's favourite love goddess do in their free time?

“I genuinely love working on small projects to bring two people together. I had found Helena and Hazel visiting an old temple of mine when they took a more touristy break on one of their business trips, and when I followed them to Providence, well, that’s how I found everyone else.

“When I’m not working at all, I’m spending time with my husband, boyfriend, or another family member. Vaughn has a number of games he’s developed for the three of us over the past few centuries.”

She held out another piece of paper, and her friend spoke in that high voice again:

Genet: Genny! Oh my gosh! You're doing such a good job. I'd love to come over and chat, but I'm a little tied up. Haha. No really I'm in a cage. Anyway! I wanted to know as someone who has had so many lovers, what do you look for in a partner?

“Is she asking all those questions from a cage?” Ava asked.

“Yes.”

“What’s your plan to free her?” Hel asked. She seemed… more stable at least, and despite not really liking whoever this was, wanted to know what was happening now that someone else was apparently being caged.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. From what I understand, she’s still running the show. I talked with one of her Producers and they have faith in her. Trust me, she’d tell me if she needs me.” Genet assured them. “Back to the question, the most attractive trait in a person really is kindness. If someone can do something for someone that they didn’t need to do, show a modicum of respect, even a glimmer of goodness, that’s enough for me to see their beauty.

“Now we should probably move back to people that aren’t me for a bit.”

Luna: Have you ever done anything sexual at work? Counting things even as minor as going commando.

“Of course I have, if we’re setting the bar that low.”

Luna Lopez, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“What do you mean, ‘of course I have?’” Her partner asked. “Loon, how often are you showing up without underwear?”

“About once a month? I don’t always have time to stop at home the morning after a date.”

“Just try not to do it in the future.”

“Fine.” I didn’t even have to tell him about anything serious like Congressman Peters or Senator Burne. Or Burne’s aide. Or-

“Can I work in a couple more of Lucy’s questions?” Genet asked. Seeing a soft affirmation, she held a paper that took the tense baritone voice again:”

Maeve: Finally joining the game are we? About time. Tell me because I'm curious how do you keep your professionalism intact when you know your patients so intimately? I'm curious what studies suggest drinking with your patients, displaying unprovoked physical contact and dalliances with their friends.

“I’ve broken boundaries, and bent rules.” Dr.Petrov admitted. “But there’s nothing in the Delaware Board of Mental Health’s rules prepared for this situation. I could have held onto my code as tightly as possible, but that would have verged on negligence. There’s things I ought to be criticized and perhaps punished for, but I’ve done only one thing that truly ought to be condemned.”

Maeve Petrov, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“I…okay. That’s about as dark a response as could be expected.” Genet said. “Reyna, Luna, can you make things fun again?” She pulled out another slip of paper with a bit of fur stuck to it.

Luna: Man, everyone is such spoilsports, sex can just be fun, it doesnt need to be complicated. If you could sleep with another member of the harem without worrying about potential fallout, who would it be?

“If we assume everyone was Bi, then definitely Stella.” The pinkette stiffened in surprise. “But if everyone had their current sexualities, then Hel.” This time it was the redhead’s turn to raise an eyebrow.

“Perfect, hopefully we see those soon. Let’s keep going then.”

Stella: If you had the opportunity to cook a meal for anyone for history, alive or dead, who would it be and what would you serve?

“I think I’d choose Mr.Montague. He loved the lemon chicken and risotto my mom would make, so I’d like to show him how far I’ve come.”

Ava: So now that you are starting to realize just how great sexual activities feel, if you had to sleep with another member of the harem who would you pick?

“I should choose someone who’s into women, right? So that probably doesn’t mean Felicia-”

“-Right” Her roommate confirmed.

“So probably Hazel or Maeve? I still don’t know Maeve all that well.”

Aubrey: You've got access to someone who might be able to tell you the inside scoop on the Greek gods - which legends and myths do you want to discover the truth of?

“That’s a good one. I can probably help you fill you in later on whatever you choose.” Genet offered.

Aubrey thought for a moment, then decided. “I think my first choice would be trying to find out the truth of what happened with Medusa and Athena.”

“Oh. I’m sorry, dear, I actually don’t know that one. I didn’t pay attention until the story had already finished.” Feeling a little embarrassed, Genet held out another fur covered slip of paper as manic laughter filled the stage.

Dick: Hahahahahahahahahah. How? How do you not laugh everytime you wake up and remember you're on a sex show with the name DICK?!

“It’s occured to me. To be fair, it’s just a nickname.”

Dick: Would you like a mentor and if so which god would you like it to be, besides Zeus because obviously he is the best and the best fit for you.

“I’m open to one if that’s what happens, but I’m not begging for one. If I had to choose, Aubs has always told me that Hades was the responsible sort.”

“Helena, would you be ready for a serious one?”

Her contestant nodded.

Helena: You have strongly resisted anything that led to direct sexual contact with Dick. If you were given a transformation that allowed you to bring in a body proxy - a woman not currently on the show, who could earn VP for you by having sex with your stepbrother, and who would remain a part of his harem for the rest of their lives - who would it be?

Hel made eye contact with her stepbrother before answering. “First of all, that’s a serious obligation I’d be dragging someone into. If I chose someone, I’d want them to know what they were getting into. If I thought they would be interested, I would approach an employee of mine named Beth. She’s very kind, and deserves happiness.”

“Interesting.”

Stella: Do you think you'll ever tell Dick about what happened in Helena's file for you?

Stella shifted in her seat nervously. “Eventually. I think it should be discussed, but it hasn’t felt like a good time to explain it. I will if he asks. I’d kind of prefer if he was told by someone else.”

Stella Steward, +1 BP (Two Truths)

“Would you like me to tell him first?” Helena asked.

“If you could. Thank you.”

Richard said nothing, wanting to give Stella space.

“This one is similar to what I asked Helena a moment ago.”

Dick: If you had to pick one woman not in the harem to add to it, who would it be and why?

“I wouldn’t. I’m not sure there’s anyone else I’m as close to as the people here.”

“But if you had to…” Genet pushed him a little.

“If I had to, I suppose I would let Hel talk to Beth. Is that good enough?”

“Yes. The next two are for Hazel,” Genet explained. “They’re similar, so I thought she could address Reyna’s and the other one together.”

Hazel: How much do you want another experience with Helena and Richard together in the bedroom? Do you have any plans to try and make it happen?
Hazel: Hut to! Oorah! Do a barrel roll! Really though, we all thank our resident buff amazonian for providing such good tv. Tell us, who your next threesome will be with please and thank you.

No wonder she combined them. That’s the same question. “I’m not making any plans right now.” The bodyguard lied as Helena leaned against her.

“This is another one for two specific people:”

Hazel and Luna: What's your body count?

“That’s a very personal question, I would never expose that.” Luna claimed, though Stella noticed her hiding a hand between them showing the real number. One. One. Five

Luna Lopez, +1 BP (Two Truths)(I guess I’ll count that)

“That’s tough to gage appropriately, especially considering the varying damage that explosives and falling rubble can do. It would be north of three hundred.”

“What?” Felicia exclaimed.

“I feel like those were answers to two very different questions.” Ava pointed out.

“Yes, they were.” Hazel agreed. “I thought whoever asked that wasn’t exactly looking for me to say the number four.”

“Still, that’s a shit ton of-”

“I did many dangerous jobs for many years.” Hazel concluded.

“Let’s move on. I have a few from Lucy to burn through.” Genet decided.

Luna: What a go-getter, a real show stealer here. Tell me is the reason you pour yourself so much into your work due to lack of close connections in your own personal life? How many people have you kept up with over the years that still consider you a friend?

The Latina looked stung by the question, though she tried not to show it. “I don’t care.”

Ava: Oh jeeze, my assistant had to remind me to write to you. I had forgotten you existed, I suppose thats the price you pay for not involving yourself more in the competition. So we'll keep it simple. With everyone increasingly becoming focused on Dick and their relationship with him, how will you keep from fading into the background?

“I didn’t know I was doing that badly. I plan on experimenting with Roid Rage more. I might try to get another TF or two if I can afford it.”

Ava Soto, +1 BP (Two Truths)

Aubrey: Aw, the sweetie pie, the lovebird. You've really made it! He's back in your arms never to be parted. But there are only so many hours in a day. When he inevitably starts spending time on work, and focusing on the people that matter more, how will you keep your place in his life?

“I-” Aubrey looked nearly as bothered by the man’s question as Helena had been a few minutes ago. “I-”

“Oh my fucking Christ on a cracker, can he shut up!” Felicia shouted. “If he wants to do this and ask these kinds of questions, he can show his fucking face. Don’t bother answering that Aubrey.”

“Thank you.” The other blonde squeaked.

Genet looked proud as she introduced the next question. “This is the last of Lucy’s questions, are you ready for that Felicia?”

“Bring it on.”

Felicia: Me oh my, the perpetual silver medal here. Well you won the first challenge, but come on. Second to Dick in competition, Second to Aubrey in love, hell second to Helena in devotion, your life is defined by falling behind. How are you gonna make up that ground finally?

She stood to answer, unleashing a series of verbal stabs herself. “Fuck, you, you fucking basement dwelling creep. I don’t know if you’ve heard that rhyme about a jack of all trades but I’m always in the top spots, other than the bullshit ranking I just beefed. If you want to critisize any of us, you can show up to do it in person like I said. Otherwise, go shit in someone else’s comment section, you blathering incel.”

Felicia Owens, +1 BP (Two Truths)

Her breath hitched as she quickly returned to her seat and crossed her legs.

“Ok. Hopefully he’s not too angry about that.” Genet whispered. She said louder: “If any hosts are looking to visit or do a crossover, please schedule it with me first.

“And since you’re standing up Felicia, can I give you Reyna’s question as a cool down?”

“Fine.”

Felicia: Listen, I know you're very patient and its a really cute gap moe thing you got going on. You got to remember Dick is very dumb, so spell it out, whats the dirtiest fantasy you've had of Dick taking you?

The tsundere sighed. “Dick, Aubrey, would you mind covering your ears? Anyone else can do that if they want.”

Aubrey, Richard, Helena, Stella, and Maeve did so.

“So for starters, he’s not fully human. He’s not a werewolf, but something close to it? Anyways, it’s the apocalypse and people are becoming these things. He broke down my door because in his transformation controlled mind I was all he could think about and- yeah. I think anyone who watches this kind of thing can imagine what happens next.”

“How fun. You know, my boys and I play a game like that sometimes.” Genet mused with a smile. “This next question is actually for me:”

Genet: Would Genet ever consider co-hosting a season with one of her sisters? If she had to, who would she pick?

“Y’know, that could be a lot of fun. My first choice would definitely be Philomedes, she’s so fun and sweet. She’s super into anime and that… what’s that new pop music from Korea?”

It was such a silly question that even Ava took a moment to answer. “You mean K-Pop?”

“Yeah! Like I said she’s super cute, but she’s rather flighty and has a hard time committing to long projects like this. But you should be able to meet her tomorrow. I’m going to be out for a few days for the wedding Andy mentioned, and I asked Jay to get a sub. He agreed to get Philomedes if she was available, so you all should have a great time.” She pulled the purse that hadn’t been there a moment ago into her lap and found a fancy invitation out with a gold A in the corner, which she projected onto the screen in back with a tap of her finger.

“Is there anything that’ll change while she’s running things?” Ava asked.

“I don’t expect so.” Genet happily shrugged. “A Host normally doesn’t do much during the week that can’t be delegated or postponed, so I’ll announce the date schedule tonight and it’ll continue as normal until I get back.”

Seeing no other questions, the Host moved on. “Our next question is actually for Ata. It specifically asks for her nocturnal self, so I’ll bring it back for a bit. Ata, ready to take a break?”

The shopkeeper blinked, and her eyes gre more intense. “What’s going on?”

“I just have a quick question:”

Awakened Ata: Who among Dick's harem would you like to bang if permitted to?

“Hazel. I thought I made that obvious last time.” the huntress scoffed.

Helena moved to block sightlines between Ata and her girlfriend as if to protect her.

“Thank you. And this next one is actually for everyone:”

Everyone, including Genet and Ata: What's your favorite sexual position?

“Are you kidding? Gods, why couldn’t you have reversed those questions?” Ata snatched the glass bowl and threw it on the ground. It shattered into hundreds of pieces, and Genet had to act quickly with her magic to avoid anyone getting hurt by the flying shards. “Every time I think I can trust-”

The huntress disappeared.

“Maybe we’ll skip that one.” Genet said meekly. “Let’s do one more question, then I’ll check on her. The transformation vote should be done by then, so we can move on to those. Is that alright with everyone?”

With everyone having been given at least one difficult question, there were no objections.

“Good. This final question is from one of our past crossovers:”

Maeve: I know it's only been a few days on your side of this. It's been over a month on mine. I'd like to know if you're alright, and whether you still think of me at all. I miss you. -Marissa

“It’s been a month? Oh no. Of course I still think of you Marissa. You’ll always be like a sister to me, and you know what that means.” The therapist turned to Genet “Is there anyway that I can get message to her?”

“Yes. I believe she has her own Q&A coming up, actually. If you have something in mind I can take it over to Arabella while I’m checking on Ata.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Genet nodded, then stood up and turned to address the audience. “I want to thank everyone for being patient and adressing all of the many questions we received. I also want to thank everyone out there in the audience for sticking with us, both for this very long Q&A and for the past round. I’m looking forward to where the next round and the next round of transformations takes us, and I hope you all are too.”

With that the Host puffed away in a cloud of copper-scented smoke, and the second round came to a close.