Give her a break.

Hmmm, how did that saying about flys and vinegar go again? Maybe save the haggling for her next request.

“We could do that.” you agree “But it will be finicky for me to gauge the right amount of curves while you are dressed like that.”

“I am not going to take my shirt off.” Robin reiterates.

“Not what I was getting at. ” you assure her “But you probably only have a vague idea of what size you want yourself. How about we do it like this: You’ll go and try on different panties and a bras until you find one of each fitted for the figure you want to have . Once you buy them you’ll fill them out just like you imagined. That way I don’t have to stand around the shop while you figure stuff out in the changing room.”

“Sounds good.” Robin agrees, and abruptly turns away “Wait why am I…? Shit! The command.” she gives you a quick wave “Until later, I suppose.” before her feet carry her off. The smile you got before she turns away, says you definitely got some brownie-points for being nice about this.

You watch Robin until she disappears in the crowd of mall-goers, before heading towards the entrance of the clothes shop you are standing in front.

It doesn’t take you terribly long to find Rachel. Or rather for her to find you. “Hey. Funny how we keep running into each other. Did Robin invite you?” Rachel is wearing a rather fetching “ripped-jeans + graphic-tee + leather jacket”-combo, that is somewhere between casual and street-chic.

“Yeah.”

“Did she ask you to get me?” Rachel looks around.

“Kinda. “ you say ” She tagged me in, to run a quick errand.”

“Did she?” Rachel asks with a raised eyebrow “ What kind of errand? ”

“Getting underwear.”

“I see.” Rachel chuckles “Well having me around, while buying t-shirt had her get all squirrely. She’d probably explode if you were around while she looks for bras. Even if you two are best buds. ” the way she said the last words almost turn it into a question.

“Yep.” you agree lightheartedly ” Modelling for me was the last thing on her mind.”

“Good to know. So it isn’t just me.” Rachel gives you a smile “Sooo seeing how she invited you over just to ditch you, you are probably meant to distract me while she buys panties in peace. So” her grin widens “distract me.”

And you gladly do. you don’t even need to use the stone to make sure you and Rachel both are having a good time. Or to get Rachel to flirt wit you. Your best guess is that she assumes Robin was trying to play wingman by engineering a scenario where you and Rachel were left to your own devices. Which suits you just fine.

And you have plenty of time to enjoy Rachels company before a message from Robin arrives, along with two pictures of the inside of a changing room and a hand holding up a lacy black bra and a thong respectively. <Embarrassing enough?>.

<I figured making you > a quick glance at the clock <spend one and a half hours trying to pick womens' underwear was penalty enough. Get whatever fits best. >

The next message arrives two minutes later <Thanks. Is Rachel with you? I totally forgot the time.>

<Yeah. We are good. Take your time.>

The next message arrives ten minutes later <I’m done here. Where are you guys?>

<We were about to grab something to eat. Let’s meet up in the foodcourt.>

Robin is already there when you and Rachel arrive, looking …honestly not much different in her loos jeans and equally loose t-shirt. There is a hint of breast when she turns the right way, but that’s about it.

“Found anything good?” Rachel asks as she plops down in her chair “I can’t help but not the lack of a discreet little bag.”

Robin let’s out a non-committal grunt.

“Ah. ” Rachels tone becomes more understanding “Let me guess. Nothing in you size?”

That gets a small laugh from Robin. “I’m.. wearing it.” she admits, shooting you a sidelong glance, before adding “That stuff is frigging expensive.”

“Luckily, you already have an entire drawer full of similar stuff at home.” you add helpfully. Best to start simple. And leave the option of spicing up Robins boring collection up later.

Robin hesitates surprisingly long before agreeing to getting free stuff “Yes, that’s true.” Probably just surprised at your generosity. “I like the jacket.” she tells Rachel, in a transparent attempt to shift the conversation away from underwear.

Seeing the two of them side by side, really shows off the size difference in the two girls. Rachels outgoing nature does a lot to gloss over the fact that she is rather short. And while Robin is tall for a woman her tendency to slouch makes her look smaller. This is the first time you noticed that Rachel lacks about a foot on Robins five foot ten frame.

The other noticeable difference is, Robin getting increasingly handsy as the afternoon progresses. At first she is just walking a bit closer than usual, but after a while she starts gently dragging you with her if you threaten to get too far away – or too close to Rachel. She isn’t all that obvious about the last part, but each time you and Rachel are getting friendly she finds a way to casually intervene.

And it is during one of these episodes of Robin putting a hand in the crook of your elbow to visit a shop that you find out the real reason she hesitated when you filled up her drawers with underwear. The t-shirt that had caught Robins attention was a bit too short for her lanky frame, and the hem rode up high enough (and her pants riding low enough in the back) to give you a good view of the thong she was wearing.

The one from the picture she had sent.

The unexpected realization that Robin now had a drawer full of the stuff, keeps your mind occupied just long enough for Robin to see you looking.

You hadn’t expected her to have any over the top reaction, but you are still surprised when she just says “Yeah, doesn’t work.” and heads back towards the changing room without any comment. And apparently not caring that you still have a good view of her backside until she draws the curtain closed.

“Surprisingly bold choice. Especially for Ms. ‘I won’t even consider wearing anything with a neckline that shows off my collarbone‘.” Rachel murmurs beside you, she gives you a goodnatured bump with her elbow “It’s always the quiet ones. Eh?”

Robin returns having thrown her original baggy shirt back on, before you can think of anything to reply. And nobody is mentioning Robins choice of underwear after that.

At least for the next twenty minutes or so.

“I didn’t want to spend another hour digging through bras.” Robin tells you in a low voice, while Rachel is standing in line to buy a book. It takes you a moment to shift mental gears and realize what she is talking about. “This was already just the right fit, and I figured I could get through wearing it for one afternoon and get some for cheap replacements in the supermarket later. ” Robin explains.

“Yeah, about that…”

“You were trying to help. I get it. It was a nice gesture. But if you really feel sorry for replacing all my underwear with lingerie, there is a small thing you could do for me. ”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. “ Robin leans close before continuing ” This is about as much curves as I am willing to put up with. But that is just the most obvious stuff anyway. I still look like a dude – just one wearing a stuffed bra. I sound like one too. So I figured: Maybe if you did something about my hair and voice? Please? ” is she aware of the way she pressed her chest against your arm at the end there? “It’s the last thing I’m going to ask for. And it would more than make up for disintegrating my boxer shorts. Because I now remember girl-me wearing nothing but thongs since highschool. ”

“Sure.” You agree “Your voice is still deep for a girl, but still definitely a girls. And the next time you enter the bath-room your hair will grow about an inch per minute until you leave.”

“Thanks.” Robin gives you a grateful look “I’m off to the bathroom then. Be right back.”

It isn’t until she is gone, that you realize you basically changed things for free again. And this time it wasn’t a deliberate choice. You just acted on reflex because a girl was extra nice while she asked for help.

Heh!

You are easier than you thought.

On the bright side: You just bought yourself a few minutes where Robin couldn’t see you messing with Rachel. You already came up with a few ideas how.

Of course first you have to wait a bit until Rachel pays for her book and walks over to where you are waiting in a less crowded part of the shop. And by then you have worked out how to put your vague ideas into words.

You like Rachel. So setting her up for heartache of being in a genuine love-triangle just to make Robin jealous seems way to petty. Luckily there are other ways to get the same effect.

“You don’t want to looser Robin as a friend. You have spot-on instincts for when to stop teasing her to keep things from getting cruel or mean-spirited between you two. You can be satisfied with the two of us being platonic friends, but would never admit that to Robin. Pretending you and her are serious rivals for my affection, is your favourite way of teasing her. ”

Rachel blinks when you finished talking “That’s… a bold statement. I mean it’s true but…. how the heck did you know?”

Dang. You knew you were forgetting something “You don’t remember the last round of changes. ”

“Err. what was I saying?”

“You were asking where Robin went. Bathroom.”

“Ah, right. sorry my mind must have drifted a bit. Anyway…” she shakes her head “..I can’t believe people kept thinking she was a guy. I mean.. she is a far shot from being a delicate Disney princess, but still… ” she shakes her head in wonder “..makes you wonder if people were just legally blind in her high-school.”

Yeah, after the last few changes, the story about that misunderstanding has become even more implausible. That stone really could do amazing things to probability! “Maybe.” you return Rachels grin “It’s nice of you to help her.”

“I wasn’t so sure if it was a good idea at first.” Rachel admits “I couldn’t shake the feeling she was angling for this to be a date. I mean she is nice, but I don’t really swing that way. so that could have turned awkward fast. ” she gives you a sly look “Luckily I was only half right. She might think of this as a date, but at worst I am a third wheel. ”

Before either of you can delve deeper into who might want to date whom, Robin returns “What did I miss?”

“Oh, nothing much.” Rachel assures her as she turns around, before exclaiming “Your hair!”

Robin self-consciously combs a hand through her hair that now falls to slightly, “What about it?”.

“It’s way too long! ” Rachel explains “What the fuck!”

Oh.

Oh!

People won’t notice if you state some new fact about someone. But this time you’d made Robins hair grow unnaturally fast, instead.

“I don’t know.” you look at Robin “Your hair has been that long for a while now, right?”

It takes Robin a moment to catch on, and nod “Yes. Yes it has!”

“You are right.” you can see Rachels suspicion drain away as she gives Robins hair a second look “It just seemed way shorter before. But it’s just ..combed differently?”

“Yeah.” Robin runs her hand through her hair again “Do you like it?”

“It suits you.” Rachel is quick to assure her friend.

“Thanks.” but Robins eyes have already fixed on you.

Robins hair is still short enough not to look out of place on a guy – albeit one in need of a haircut. (It IS just weeks of growth added to a guys haircut after all. ) But it is more than enough to change her face from ‘butch’ to ‘tomboy’.

“It’s nice.” you agree, which earns you a small scoff and a whispered “Men.” from Rachel, and a “Thanks” with a notable sarcastic undertone from Robin.

“Speaking of hair.” Rachel adds, gathering her hair behind her head “I was thinking of wearing a ponytail more often. What do you think?” in a ploy to see if she warrants a more enthusiastic reaction than Robin.

And thus the first shot is fired. It is kind of fun, being in the middle of a game of quiet one-upsmanship between two girls. It is also a bit exhausting. So you don’t argue too much, when Robin suggests calling it a day.

When it is time to say goodbye to Rachel, she surprises you with a peck on the cheek “Thanks for the nice day.” before hopping into her car.

“She really seems to like you.” Robin comments as you make your way over to where her car is parked.

“Yeah” you agree with a small smile. Robin kept oscillating between wanting to quietly bow out of the flirting game and trying to regain your attention as soon as Rachel moved in to take advantage of the opening. So you have high hopes that kiss might push her over the edge to finally make a more overt move.

And she does. Just not the way you expect.

“I’m kind of regretting not taking her up on that cup of coffee.” she admits “It would be great if she was into girls instead of guys.” she got some practice at figuring out what expression you find it hardest to say no to over the past few hours. It’s actually hard to summon up the energy to shake your head “Nice try. But I already told you I won’t keep adjusting things each time you run into a minor snag. I’d run dry by tomorrow otherwise.”

“I know.” she agrees, far more readily than you thought “ It would just have been nice to be sure. Can you give me a bit of time to work up the courage to find out if she isn’t into girls too. It’s my first shot at a relationship in ages, and you always said the difference between us is that you don’t mind being single. ” and there go the puppy eyes again.

And of course, getting you to promise not to make a move on Rachel, would also free Robin from the need to make a move on you herself. At least temporarily. And if Rachel actually did like girls, that was probably a welcome bonus.

Clever.

But not clever enough.

“Of course. Give it your best shot-”

The relief on Robins face drains away as you add “I might as well try my luck with Sarah from accounting first.”

“Oh…err yeah. you could do that. I didn’t know you were interested in her.”

“Well office romances are always a risk. But now….” you shrug “If it implodes to badly, I can use my power to smooth the waves.”

“So you’d use it to get yourself a date, but not to help me out with mine?” Robin asks sullenly.

“It’s still my power. ” you counter “ So of course I’m going to use it to make my life better. And I’ve used it to help you out several times today. ”

“You did. “ Robin allows “ But I am supposed not to ask you to use your powers for the rest of the month – after you turned my life upside down. ” she counters “The least you could do is not to use them wily-nily yourself until then. ”

So now she is trying to guilt-trip you out of dating Sarah. That isn’t what you were going for at all. You were hoping to get a spontaneous kiss or confession.

Time for a new plan.

“Look, there are limits to adjusting reality like that. And it is precisely because I turned you life upside down, that pushing further might lead to bigger side-effects. ”

“What kind of side-effects?”

“Some small shifts to balance things out. Like…” you try to think of a good example, and your gaze comes to rest on Robins hair “Cupids arrow.”

Robin let’s out a small gasp at the last words and her expression softens as she looks at you

“You’ll just stand there and not interrupt me for the next five minutes. “ That gives should give you enough time to come up with a way to speed things up a bit. Maybe get some information first.

“You will tell me honestly, before I said Cupids arrow what was your biggest concern keeping you from making a move on me before Rachel does?”

“A few times, while Rachel was preening, I was actually considering wearing a dress. A real girly one, just to show off that I am a girl too now. I was afraid if I give in I’d end up as your waifu by the end of the week. Being all girly and saccharine as I feed you home-made lunches. ”

“You’ll tell me honestly what you were planning to do instead.”

“I was going to guilt you into staying single, maybe become your girlfriend on paper if I need the leverage. But I was hoping I could stay a girlfriend in name only, and just keep telling you I am not ready for a kiss yet. Or first base. If it’s you it would probably buy me a few weeks at least before I have to figure something out. Especially if I cry a bit.”

You can’t really begrudge Robin that kind of manipulation after what you did to Adam. Turnabout is fair play and all. And leaving Robin enough wiggle-room to negotiate terms , would make any relationship more stimulating than having a mindlessly devoted thrall. But waiting weeks or months until Robin had exhausted any delaying tactic, wasn’t part of the appeal. Especially now that you have a stone that lets you reset any unwanted consequences of listening to your shoulder devil.

“From now on each time you accept a change to your reality, you’ll be compelled to let me make a second change of my choice. You won’t remember me making the second change once it is done and consider it as one of the side-effects I talked about. You’ll be aware of this only until during the time between accepting the first change and the second one. If you try to suggest what the second change should be, nearly all options that spring to mind will be ones that will make it harder to keep up the role of a chaste and demure maiden.

Your subconscious is utterly convinced you won’t end up as a girly housewife no matter how often we kiss or fuck.

Oh and unless otherwise specified changes to your past will not affect your memories of your life as Adam.

Your memory and personality are back to how they were before I said ‘Cupids arrow’.”

That should do it.

“Like what…?” Robin asks, giving you an odd look.

It takes you a moment to remember what you said before invoking Cupids arrow.

“It’s hard to say. Each time you get what you want you’ll also gain or loose something else to balance things out. It can be a bit unpredictable. I haven’t experimented enough to see if there is a pattern. It’s just a few odd details at first.”

robin let’s that sink in before asking “Is it possible it already started? ”

“I don’t think so. But maybe.”

Robin sighs “That would explain a lot.”

“Oh?”

“It’s nothing.” Robin assures you “It’s just.. some things have felt off ever since you arrived. Seeing you and Rachel, felt like I was loosing. At first I thought it was just because she was paying more attention to you. But now I think it was partly because you weren’t paying attention to me.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t planning on asking Rachel out. And I shouldn’t have ignored you just because there was a pretty girl around. ”

Robin gives you a frustrated look “That’s kind of the problem! Thanks to you I’m a girl too, and I think it is kind of messing with my head. I don’t have a sudden urge to wear dresses or anything. But I wanted you to say at least a few ice things about me. It’s stupid. I know. But I can’t help it. And….” she gives you a long conflicted look “..and I can’t help but wonder what you’d do if I gave you a goodbye-kiss too. ”

Jackpot!

“Aaargh!” Robin let’s out a low groan “Forget I said anything. ” and turns away to throw open her car-door…. only to hesitate and turn back around. “This is just an experiment.” she declares before giving you a quick peck on the cheek and driving off.