Experimentation

Liv was lying naked on Joey's bed, though to her it seemed like she was on the grass of a popular park in the middle of town.

"This is so hot, I've always wondered what it would feel like to have sex in public" she giggled excitedly "Can you make it seem like there are more people around, and they're all watching?"

"Sure. There is now a large crowd forming around us, and they can't keep their eyes off your gorgeous, completely exposed body anymore than I can. Most of them are cheering and wolf whistling you, but there are a few disapproving voices. They are calling you a dirty, filthy little slut for letting me debase you like this"

"Fuck yeah!" Liv squealed gleefully "Is anyone filming us?"

"Sure, loads of people have their cameras trained on your naked body. This is going to be all over the net before long"

"Perfect, then I guess we need to put on a show for them!"

Joey glanced at the clock. This was the third fantasy fuck he'd indulged his girlfriend in already this morning, and Kayleigh was due over before long. It turned out it was really difficult to refuse a beautiful, insatiable woman's repeated requests to get down and dirty with him, though. Nonetheless, once their wild session in the park was complete, Joey managed to persuade Liv it was time to come back to reality and get dressed, so he could move on to his work related appointment. Something instinctively told him it would be better if the two key women currently in his life never met, but Liv took long enough making sure she looked flawless that she and Kayleigh's paths briefly crossed when the latter arrived.

"Oh, hello. You must be Joey's work friend. I'm Liv"

"Hey Liv, I'm Kayleigh - it's nice to meet you. I'm actually Joey's friend, we just happen to work together"

"That's what I said, wasn't it?" Liv responded a little frostily "Anyway, good to meet you too, but I've got to run!"

"She's very pretty" Kayleigh remarked once Liv had left, though in a tone that suggested she hadn't been entirely charmed by Joey's new girl "What is it she does?"

"What, you mean work wise?"

What did Liv do? Joey had never thought to ask, seeing as their relationship up until this point had consisted almost entirely of living out her sexual fantasies together. She was never short of money, so presumably she had a job.

"You know, this and that" Joey mumbled, before quickly changing the subject "You said you had some ideas and things you wanted to test?"

"Yeah, I was curious to see what kind of boundaries this new power of yours has"

"I don't think it has any. I made a potential killer think his gun was a banana and I was his Dad"

"I know, but that's not what I meant. I was thinking of things like, what if people have differing interpretations of the same lie? Could you be made to believe your own bullshit? Do your lies work in writing - that's a pretty significant one considering your profession"

This was a perfect example of why Kayleigh was the superior journalist. Joey hadn't considered any of that yet.

"Okay, you want to try experimenting with one of those now?"

"I actually have a simple idea that can test all three" Kayleigh revealed "You write down on a piece of paper something like 'The greatest love song ever is now playing in the room" and show it to me. You can then read it yourself. We both report what we hear, if anything, to each other"

"Okay, fine. Sounds straightforward and harmless enough" Joey nodded.

He scribbled the words down and showed the paper to Kayleigh. Soon, a smile spread across her face.

"You getting something?"

"Yeah"

"What? The Beatles? Elvis? Sinatra?"

Kayleigh waited for the chorus to hit before starting to sing along.

"I am a man who will fight for your honour, I'll be the hero you're dreaming of..."

"The Glory of fucking Love? You think that's the greatest love song ever?" Joey asked in disbelief "I mean, I love the Karate Kid movies as much as the next guy, but that's insane!"

"Hey, cut me some slack, my Dad used to sing it to me when I was a kid! Anyway, now it's your turn and, if you hear something, I get to judge your taste"

"I can't see this happening, i'm not affected at all when I tell a lie verbally"

"I know, but it's worth trying. It could be very advantageous to you if this works and you're clever about it"

Joey read the paper, then jolted in surprise, this being the first time he had experienced the power of his own bullshit first hand.

"You're getting something aren't you?" Kayleigh beamed excitedly "C'mon, what is it?"

"Close your eyes, give me your hand..."

"The Bangles?" Kayleigh laughed "I wasn't expecting that!"

"Have you seen Susanna Hoffs in the video? Also, she recorded that entire vocal naked"

"Ugh, Joey. Just when I thought you might have had a sensitive side. Still, it's amazing to know everything this power you have can do. The possibilities here are pretty huge"

"Yeah, like I can basically make up any story I want now"

"That wasn't exactly what I had in mind" Kayleigh quickly clarified "You know how much I hate fake news. It does seem like there should be something positive you can do with your gift and the natural platform you have to use it with, though. Let's both take some time to think about that, and we can talk some more tomorrow"

"Why not now?"

"I've arranged this kind of lunch with Jeff"

"Jeff!?" Joey reacted with more obvious displeasure than he had intended to reveal "What do you mean by kind of lunch? It's not a date is it?"

Jeff King was Joey's office nemesis - even more so than Ted. With his athletic physique, chiselled good looks and the fact he so clearly came from the Ivy Leagues, he was automatically considered the paper's star reporter, regardless of effort or ability. He also constantly belittled Joey, but in a subtle way he was able to pass off as banter, meaning Joey would look both petty and paranoid if he ever reacted to or complained about it. Jeff also constantly referred to Joey as 'Sport', which he fucking hated. Joey had always thought Kayleigh was on the same page as him regarding the guy, until now.

"I guess it's a date. I mean, that's kind of how he pitched it. I probably would have declined a few days ago, but I guess you having found a girlfriend inspired me to get my act together too. Probably nothing will come from it but, why not see what happens? I know you aren't Jeff's biggest fan, but he actually really likes you"

Now that really was bullshit, but Joey knew he was in no position to dictate his best friends dating life to her. Instead, he would quietly fume to himself once Kayleigh had gone, and start plotting how best to use his new powers to displace Jeff as the number one local news reporter.