Some Words Read

Winter

Winter smugly rubs his butt against Kevin’s crotch as he sits in his bull’s lap. Ootah is still pushing back on Harith, but he thinks that is mostly due diligence, at this point. He leans back to murmur into Kevin’s ear, “Hey, look, another guy for you to have some fun with.”

Kevin whispers back, “Look, I get that you are excited, but I am not just going to jump into bed with a guy just because he is kind of hot.”

Winter spins around to face his bull. “So you DO think he’s hot.”

Kevin presses his forehead into Winter’s. “That doesn’t change the fact that I’m...”

Ootah coughs loudly. Kevin’s blush is quite cute, if Winter says so. He reluctantly turns back around to look at the others. Mona is grinning and Winter likes it. Harith has a little knowing smirk. Alanis is completely neutral; only a couple of hours (maybe?) of sentience is not enough to naturally develop a personality. Ootah is still annoyed, but less so.

“If I need to accept this,” Ootah starts, “we have practical matters. When you said that you are free from your demonic obligations, what does that mean?”

“I don’t need to feed on or collect souls. I still can, mind you, but human food works just as well. Hoar also keeps my ‘family’ from finding me. That would be... awkward.”

“Awkward?” Mona asks, voice wavering slightly.

“Ever deal with a bunch of demons coming at you at once?”

“No?”

Mona answers with her own question. “Do cheerleaders count as demons? They felt like they did in high school...”

Most at the table awkwardly chuckles. Ootah brings the conversation back into focus, “And, if you fed on her soul?”

“If I was dumb enough to do that, Mona would be less... herself. It would be obvious, especially with so many of you all watching. But, seriously, I’m on your side.”

Ootah grunts, “That remains to be seen.”

Still, everyone manages to be civil. Winter enjoys sitting in his boyfriend’s lap and eyeing a guy they could share. The conversation shifts over to less touchy subjects.

Mineko

Mineko is happily helping Gaia gather flowers for Tegan. Between her lessons on presents and being people yesterday, she is glad to have a reason to practice. We are going to help make the best present ever!

“Ooh, Gaia, there is a big patch of the swirly purple flowers there!”

Gaia said the purple ones were the first priority. Tegan needs them for tonight (instead of for her present) and Gaia needs time to extract the magic stuff out of them. Despite knowing some equivalent concepts from cooking, the nekomata does not understand exactly what Gaia is going to do with the flowers.

“Good job, kid. Now, remember, only harvest a few flowers per plant. We don’t want to hurt it more than we have to.”

Mineko nods. “Okay!” She excitedly pulls out the harvesting tools and carefully starts to cut a few flowers into the collection jar. Gaia does the same on her end, whispering apologies to the plants and promising to bring them some tasty soil when she’s done. Mineko doesn’t go that far. As soon as her jar is full, Gaia tells her to stop before she starts to fill a second.

“Two jars should be enough to what Tegan needs.”

Mineko nods, then asks, “Swings?”

“Not yet. We still need to get the rest of what Tegan wanted for her present. See those little round blue flowers over there? Go get me three jars full.”

Mineko nods, then scurries over to the blue flowers on all fours. Her tails wiggle as she carefully harvests the flowers, not quite sure what they are for, but she assumes that they will be part of an excellent present. I hope whoever is getting the present will like it!

Andromeda

Andromeda, having no interest in dealing with the demon drama, decided to hit the library and finish up her Nature proficiency training. Alex was more than accommodating in the library.

Andromeda: -20 BP

Andromeda: Training Session Full Success (10 XP / 5 XP)

Andromeda: +6 XP, Nature proficiency (Training Session)

Now that it is done, Andromeda resists the urge to sit and research on her own. She needs to remember that she has to socialize. So, she is wandering the amenities floor to look for the others.

“Hey, Andromeda!” Mona chirps from behind her as the arcanist android passes by the bunny bistro.

“Oh, hello, Mona. Want to do something?”

Mona has a grin. “Want to check out the new insanity over there?”

Storm Empire? The cafe doesn’t particularly interest me, nor does the adult bookstore, but the idea of an embassy in the Hotel is worth investigating... Andromeda gives a shrugging nod and the two head inside.

Said inside is quite garish, filled with the kind of ostentatious excess of someone desperate to imply wealth and power. Gold leaf and marble everywhere. Standing in front of a hostess podium is a male hoppalong, androgynous almost to the point where he could easily be confused for a teen girl. He has on a maid’s outfit, skirt short enough to give glimpses of his pink striped panties. His blonde hair is arranged in a pixie cut. He bows, greeting, “Welcome, esteemed guests, to the embassy of the Storm Empire. My name is Cutie, a loyal minion of Empress Moorcie, long may she reign. Shall I tell her that you have sworn fealty to her?”

Andromeda arches an eyebrow. Mona busts out laughing. This Cutie character bristles.

A voice from further in shouts, “Oi, are those customers? Over here!”

The pair ignore the bunny-boi to follow the sound of the voice. A dark haired mermaid smiles, showing off her shark-teeth, as they enter what must be the cafe portion of the embassy. The space behind the counter appears to be flooded to allow her to easily move about. On a plinth in the middle is a female hu-cow wearing a crown on her head, sitting on a throne that makes Mona’s look plain in comparison. Both are busty enough that Mona has difficulty deciding on which pair of exposed tits she should drool over.

“I, Moorcie, first of her name and Empress Eternal of the Storm Empire, welcome you to...”

“Oi, none of that. What can I get you? Please say something that requires me to milk her.”

The so-called Empress attempts to object. Mona blurts out over said objection, “Something that requires you to milk her!”

Andromeda adds, “...And fits her diet.”

The mermaid sighs, then splashed about to make a plain cup of coffee. Then, she grabs a pitcher and presses it to the hu-cow’s teat and squeezes it. The so-called empress moos, “Not so hard, Gina!”

The mermaid cackles in glee, then pours just a splash of milk into the cup. “Here. And for you? Something that requires me to milk her a lot would be appreciated.”

Mona and Gina both give her puppy dog eyes. Andromeda sighs, “I suppose you can make me a latte?”

“A big one!” Mona adds.

Gina smiles extra wide, then rushes over to milk the fake empress. The blonde sputters, “Stop this indignity to your empress, minion!” before it breaks down into mooing moans. Mona is enraptured; to be honest, Andromeda is too. The drink is finished, served in a milking bucket, before either of them realize.

“Okay, that’s a plain coffee and a big latte. A steal at 100 gold!” Gina exclaims.

“Or,” Moorcie pants, “you can swear fealty to the Storm Empire, which, with the minion discount, will cost you only 120 gold!”

“How much is that in BP?”

“Oh, and, if we do the fealty thing, do we get to milk you?” Mona asks.

“How dare you riff-raff think that you can touch your empress?! That is a privilege only offered to the Royal Milking Mermaid! Pay Cutie on your way out. I am too important to deal with the hoi polloi.”

Gina whispers, just loud enough for Andromeda to hear, “Just play along. The scary boss Queen already said that we can’t charge for our services. Also, Moorcie has to provide fresh milk at mealtimes in the canteen. You can milk her there.”

Mona winks, then declares, “Okay, we will pay the bunny-boi on our way out!”

The two find a small table. Mona looks mildly disappointed in her coffee. Andromeda is annoyed at the sheer size of hers. Cutie walks by with obvious pornography, asking, “Would you like some reading material as you drink in the ambrosia of the empress’s teat?”

Andromeda quickly answers, “Not now, thank you,” before Mona can respond. Mona pouts a little, reaching out to the retreating hoppalong. Andromeda tries to sip her bucket of latte in an effort to give Mona time to get over the smut being carried away. It tastes... unusual. Not spoiled, but strange: a combination of espresso, extremely sweet milk, and lemon cake? Who makes lemon cake lattes?

“So, since someone didn’t want to read porn with me,” Mona begins (once she was done moping), “How is it?”

“Odd. Tell me what you think. I presume you can have a small sip.”

“I mean, you got plenty,” Mona smiles as she drags the bucket towards her. She spins the bucket around, leans in, and drinks.

Andromeda: +2 XP (Indirect Kiss, x2 bonus [first time contestant participant])

“Wow, that’s really good!”

“No lemon cake flavor?”

Mona gives her a look. “No. Why would there be lemon cake flavor?”

“Nevermind, then. We apparently have AEP points to spend.”

Mona pulls out her phone. “Oh, yeah. Tyalangan said something about that. Whoa, that’s a lot of points. Enough for a massive change, or two moderate ones, or four minor ones. Want to be able to be massively brazen?”

“That sounds... sub-optimal. I guess it depends on how you want our relationship to evolve. Do you see me as girlfriend material, or a friends-with-benefits thing, or...” Andromeda trails off, not quite sure what other options are there in this scenario.

Mona looks deep in thought. It is comforting that the gamer girl is taking this seriously. “I am torn. Horny gremlin me wants you as something between FWB and sexy toy, but responsible me wants something more. After the wedding, I know I need to listen to responsible me more. Both mes want you to be happy with where we end up. What are you wanting?”

“That is a difficult question to answer. I’m not sure. I have never been in a serious relationship before. Can I handle it? Can you handle me emotionally? I don’t...”

Mona reaches over to grab Andromeda’s hand. The mistress smiles, then assures, “Andromeda, I thought you were so cool and pretty and smart back in high school. I mean, you were a sophomore in some of my senior level classes and you did better in them than me. In fact, I was a little intimidated by you. I asked you out to prom because I wanted to be the cool, pretty, smart girl’s girl for just a night. You made my whole semester when you said yes. So, I would be honored to be in a serious relationship with you, if you’ll let me.”

Andromeda blurts out, “I want that too,” before her brain catches up with her mouth. She composes herself, “I don’t want to put a label on this yet or anything, but I want to try to make something real with you. Moderately open to a relationship and moderately bisexual, please.”

Mona plugs the points in. Andromeda feels the effect immediately. The arcanist android starts to blush as she realizes she is now attracted to most of the harem. Oh no. I have to share a bed with Jenny and Tessa while feeling like this? This is bad...

“Ah, you okay, Andromeda?”

“I think I am experiencing gay panic for the first time?”

Mona looks excited by the prospect. “Oooh, you want to share?”

Instead of answering, Andromeda Misty Steps in between a couple of the adult bookstore shelves. The little light diodes under her skin to mimic blushing have been on long enough for the arcanist android to feel the heat. The books on the shelves are not helping the overheating. Andromeda closes her eyes and tries to slow her heart rate. It’s okay, Andromeda. Mona is just lightly teasing that you have finally developed a sexuality. It took being kidnapped by a smut show and a magic app, but you have one. It’s going to be okay. So what that you get to share a bed with two very attractive women? It’s going to be fine. They’ll understand. Maybe Tessa will even... No, stop it.

She feels a soft pair of breasts press into her shoulder blades. Mona whispers, “You okay? Sorry if my horny brain was pressuring you.”

“I think I will be...”

“Good,” Mona replies, then she leans onto Andromeda’s shoulder with her chin to ask, “Oooh, could we read that book?”

Andromeda opens her eyes, reading the title of the book in front of her, “If you give a tentacle monster an anime girl?”

“Sounds like a classic to me!”

Sighing, Andromeda grabs the book. Mona skips beside her and they sit side by side at the table, settling in for an erotic tale. Okay, then. Let’s see what perversion is in this...

Mona: Weekly Bounty Update – Spend one-on-one time with every contestant (6/10)

Tessa

After Jenny soaked in enough sunlight, Tanta suggested that the dryad watch the immediate response to her “fan-mail” letter, noting that the others could wait for a formal reply letter, but Mara did offer some advice that may be worthwhile. Jenny agreed.

So, Tessa and Jenny sit on a loveseat in the Media Room, waiting for Bonnie to load up the episode. Jenny looks both more and less fragile than she had before the wedding simultaneously. On the one hand, meeting those others did do her some good. That much is obvious. On the other, there is something else, something she hadn’t said yet that has rattled her. Tessa tentatively places a hand on Jenny’s knee, giving her a squeeze. Jenny puts on a smile; it may have reached the dryad’s eyes.

The episode starts. They watch, with Jenny lightly teasing about how strapping Van was at the wedding. Tessa is drawn more to Evelyn’s elegance. The letters for the staff go easily enough, though the response to Kevin’s was mildly disappointing. Then, Evelyn gets up to read her letters. Oh, no.

Predictably, Jenny asks to pause when Evelyn gets to a particular line. “Tessa, did you really tell this stranger that you think you love me?”

Tessa blushes, brain a bit haywire right now. “Uhm, yes...”

Jenny is blushing now, too. “Did you mean it or were you just listing weird stuff that came to mind?”

“Also... yes...”

Jenny leans her head on Tessa’s shoulder and interlocks her fingers with the webbed hand on her knee. She shouts over at Bonnie, “Continue.”

They continue watching. Then, they get to Jenny’s letter and her sister asking them to watch makes a lot of sense. Tessa gives Jenny’s thigh another reassuring squeeze. Jenny leans into Tessa deeper.

The first words out of the blonde on screen is, “Nights are hard because your body doesn’t care that you know you’re safe.”

Jenny whimpers. Tessa squeezes her knee harder, murmuring, “I have you.” She feels Jenny nod into her shoulder.

Mara continues on screen, “You can know something is over and still wake up carrying it with you. That doesn’t make the fear irrational. It means some part of you learned from the danger and is still fighting to keep you safe. That means you haven’t been beaten yet.”

“You haven’t, Jenny. You’re a survivor. Just like Katherine and Sumiku and so many more.” Another nod on Tessa’s shoulder. Good. She’s listening.

Mara’s voice continues, though neither of them are watching the screen. “If you have someone you trust, tell them what helps before you go to sleep. Light on. Door open. Someone nearby. Someone not nearby. Whatever makes the room easier to come back to when you wake up.”

Jenny, voice phlegmy with unshed tears, murmurs, “I trust you, Tessa. Just keep holding me at night and tell me that I am safe when I freak out.”

“Of course, Jenny. I lo...”

Mara interrupts, “And if the nightmare comes anyway, don’t feel like you failed some test. You woke up. You came back. Start there.”

“And I have been through worse.” Jenny concludes. “Do you mind if we, like, stay like this and finish the letters up?”

Tessa brushes a tress of mahogany hair out of Jenny’s face. “Of course, Jenny. I lo...”

This time Jenny interrupts, “I think I know what you’re going to say. Please, wait until I am ready to hear it. Nobody’s ever said that to me like that before.”

Tessa’s breath hitches. She didn’t say ‘no’ or anything like that. She just doesn’t want Experimental Elderberry to go off. Tessa nods and says, “Okay. Shall we see what Mineko picked out for Lizzy?”

Jenny nuzzles in, sighing. She nods into Tessa’s shoulder one last time.

Mineko got her THAT?!?!?!