Preparation...again

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting the campus in a soft, dusky glow as you and Liam went through the motions of preparing for the evening ahead. After the whirlwind of events from the morning, the day had been filled with more calm—but also deep contemplation.

You sat in front of the mirror, focused on applying your makeup with slightly shaky hands. It wasn’t like you were used to this—at least, not as Lucas. The way the eyeliner brush dragged across your eyelid, the way your lips puckered as you carefully traced them with red lipstick—it all felt foreign, but familiar at the same time. There was a lingering awareness of how Luna would do this effortlessly, but right now, you were just... you. Struggling to maintain that delicate balance between your former self and the persona Hermes had conjured for you.

Your reflection stared back at you. Bra straps peeked through the thin fabric of your white crop top, the bra itself pushing up the non-existent curves of your chest—a reminder of the gradual changes Aphrodite’s curse would eventually bring if you failed. The crop top clung to your skin, revealing just enough to tease, while the same pair of heels from last night waited by the door. Underneath it all, the panties you now wore by default hugged your hips. You sighed, adjusting your top as your hand brushed your chest.

Liam was sprawled out on the bed, watching you with his usual relaxed demeanor. “You almost ready, man?”

You glanced at him, giving a half-smirk in the mirror. “As ready as I’ll ever be, I guess. This makeup thing... still feels weird.”

“Could’ve fooled me. You’re starting to get the hang of it,” Liam teased, crossing his arms behind his head. “Though I gotta admit, seeing you stumble around in those heels earlier was hilarious. Kinda reminds me of your first time on them.”

You rolled your eyes. “Yeah, well, Luna makes walking in these **** traps look easy. I’m still trying to keep my balance.”

The day had been spent going over strategy, trying to piece together what the next steps were. After this morning's run-in with Aphrodite, there was a lingering tension between you and Liam. The goddess had made it clear—no other gods, no shortcuts. And yet, you both knew that the only way you’d have a chance at pulling off tonight’s party was by tapping into Luna. Your current self wasn’t enough to charm Michelle or work your way deeper into the sorority.

But that meant calling on Hermes again. And after Aphrodite’s threat, the risk loomed large over both of you.

Liam sighed, pushing himself up from the bed and pacing the room. “Look, I get that Aphrodite warned us not to go to Hermes again, but we both know it’s the only way. You in your current form... man, you’re gonna crash and burn at that party.”

“I know,” you admitted, standing up from the vanity and slipping your feet into the heels. The instant they clicked against the floor, you felt your legs wobble. “God, this is harder than it looks.”

Liam snorted. “You’re a natural, don’t worry.”

The two of you had spent the day debating, going back and forth about how to proceed. On one hand, the plan was simple—play the part, use Luna to get in close with Michelle, figure out how to convince Michelle to get that girl in, and get through the trial. But on the other hand, Hermes had already helped you once, and Aphrodite was clear about not involving other gods again. Her threat of making the spell permanent loomed large over every conversation you had.

“Do you think she was serious?” you asked, adjusting the hem of your crop top as you looked over at Liam. “I mean... about making the persona permanent?”

Liam rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “Honestly? I don’t doubt it. She seemed pissed this morning. But think about it—if we don’t do something, you’re gonna walk into that party, and it’ll be a disaster. You in your regular persona... it’s just not gonna cut it, bro.”

You grimaced, knowing he was right. Lucas couldn’t navigate the kind of social environment you were about to step into. But Luna? She could charm her way through a room, be the life of the party, make all the right moves. The stark contrast between the two personas was undeniable.

You sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor as you mulled over the decision. “So... what are we thinking then? Do we risk it and call Hermes again? Or do we play it safe and hope I don’t completely blow it tonight?”

Liam sat beside you, leaning his elbows on his knees. “I think we both know what we have to do, man. We need Hermes. Aphrodite’s gonna be pissed either way, but this is the only shot we have. You said it yourself—Michelle’s already interested in Luna. You were making progress. If we go in half-baked, we lose everything.”

You exhaled sharply, feeling the weight of the decision settle over you. “Right. But if she makes the spell permanent...”

“We’ll figure it out,” Liam said, clapping a hand on your back. “But we’ve come this far. Let’s not screw it up now.”

There was a long pause as you stared at the floor, the tension palpable. Calling Hermes again meant risking everything—but it also meant potentially winning everything. If Aphrodite decided to act on her threat, you could be stuck in Luna indefinitely. But if you didn’t call on him, tonight would be an almost certain failure.

Finally, you stood up, the decision made. “Alright. We’ll call Hermes.”

Liam nodded, standing with you. “Let’s do it.”

As you both prepared to summon the messenger god once again, there was a sense of finality in the air. This wasn’t just about the trial anymore—this was about survival, about navigating the increasingly complex web of gods and curses that had been thrust upon you.

You stared into the mirror, your reflection staring back. The girl looking at you was cute—there was no denying that. The white crop top hugged your form, the small swell of your chest—your bra really—visible beneath the fabric. Your lips, painted a soft red, pouted slightly as you adjusted your stance. The heels made your legs look longer, more defined. A small, unsettling heat stirred low in your body, an arousal that sparked from the sight of this girl in the mirror.

But then it hit you.

This cute, small-titty girl wasn’t someone else—it was you. That realization snapped you back to reality, but the arousal lingered, curling in the pit of your stomach, settling awkwardly in your... vagina. Your body betrayed you, reacting in ways you hadn’t expected or wanted, and you quickly turned away from the mirror, trying to shake the feeling.

"Let’s just get this over with," you muttered to Liam, your voice edged with discomfort.

Liam, ever the laid-back one, gave you a knowing smirk. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. But come on, you look good in that. Even you gotta admit that.”

You shot him a glare, but deep down, you couldn’t argue. Not out loud, anyway.

Liam stood next to you as you reached for the toilet handle, steeling yourself for what was about to happen. You flushed the toilet, calling out Hermes’ name once, twice, three times.

And then, like clockwork, the bathroom mirror rippled as Hermes’ laid-back figure materialized from the reflection. He appeared in his usual form—slouchy, wearing a hoodie and jeans, as if he’d just rolled off a couch after watching a long Netflix marathon.

“What’s up, boys?” Hermes grinned, tossing a nod to both you and Liam. “Back for more, huh?”

Liam gave him a half-smirk. “You know it, man. You still chillin’, or what?”

Hermes chuckled. “Always. Been surfing the wind streams over the Mediterranean lately. Good vibes, lemme tell ya.”

The two of them exchanged a few more quick pleasantries, like old friends catching up. The conversation felt relaxed, almost natural—if you could ignore the fact that you were talking to a literal god in the middle of your bathroom.

But the ticking clock of the night **** you to break in. “Alright, can we focus here?” you said, feeling the weight of what was to come pressing down on you. “We’ve got a party to go to, and I’m gonna need Luna to get through it.”

Hermes smirked, running a hand through his disheveled hair. “Right, right. So, same deal as before?”

“Yeah,” you sighed. “Let’s get this over with.”

Hermes cracked his knuckles, rolling his shoulders like he was about to give you a sports massage. “Alright, bro, just chill. You’re gonna feel a little... different soon. But I got you.”

He raised his hands, wiggling his fingers with a playful flourish. In an instant, you felt that familiar rush—the tingling sensation that crept from the tips of your toes all the way up to your scalp. Your posture shifted, your walk adjusted, and the mental flood of confidence and femininity washed over you like a tidal wave.

As you stood straighter, feeling the shift in your body and mind, you realized that Luna had re-emerged.

The heels, which moments ago had felt like **** devices, now felt like second skin. You gave yourself a quick once-over in the mirror, smoothing out your hair, smiling flirtatiously at your reflection. Everything was perfect, just as it should be.

You sauntered out of the bathroom, but before you could fully leave, Hermes held up a hand to stop Liam from following you. “One last thing, bro,” Hermes said, his tone taking on a more serious note for the first time that evening. “You gotta keep an eye on her—Luna, I mean. College parties get wild, and this version of your buddy? She might... let loose in ways you don’t expect.”

Liam frowned, sensing the weight behind Hermes’ words. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, she’s got all the confidence and instincts that come with the persona. In a party setting, with ****, loud music, guys hitting on her? I dunno what she’s gonna do, man. You’re gonna need to keep her in check if things start to get out of hand.”

Liam glanced toward the doorway, where Luna (you) was already waiting. “Right. I’ll keep an eye on her.”

Hermes gave him a knowing nod. “Good. You’ll need to.”

With that final warning, Hermes vanished from the mirror, leaving you and Liam alone again. There was a brief pause as you adjusted the strap of your bra and shot Liam a playful grin.

“Ready to go, sweetie?” you asked in Luna’s confident, flirty tone.

Liam gave a small chuckle, but the look in his eyes showed he was still thinking about Hermes’ warning. “Yeah, let’s head out.”

As the two of you left for the party, you felt the familiar energy of Luna fully settling in, knowing the night ahead was going to test both of you in ways you hadn’t even begun to imagine.