=0==0==0==0==0=

YES this takes place AFTER DWD_02 It's TECHNICALLY DWD_03 but not really. Hell
DWD 1 and 2 are like in reality a whole string by themselves. Comprising 1-6 all
by themselves. I just hate having to break a truly continuitied section into
bits.

So maybe this IS just a special. But it's a CANON special. Or maybe I mean it
should be shot from one?


NOTE: Anyone, anything, or any-event new with a lack of introduction... was
potentially introduced in DWD_02 but alas in a section I haven't DONE yet. This
is what happens when you misplace things... like RPG books.

NOTE: The previous Halloween wasn't documented. NOT IN THE CANON. So the Omake
Halloween is a horse of a different fetish. The Canon Halloween was in fact ...
fairly DULL and the highlights are mentioned within.

WARNING: (10/22/2001) Gonna try to be pleasant... bummed out over all the happy 
couples at the Texas Renaissance Festival... so it might go into territory not 
already on the menu. And with that... I'll start back in ^^

WARNING: (10/23/2001) Yes there is a BIG flonking TIME HOLE to account for 
between DWD_02 and this special. BUT DWD_02 just happened to take that kinda 
time (something that YES will be handled IN dwd_02 but I forgot about it myself 
as well -.-

Bloody time hole. I was PLANNING on dwd_02 being done by New Years LAST YEAR too
-.-;;

(10/26/2001) *dives into writing*

(10/29/2001) Kya~~~~~~a! gotta finish fast!

(10/30/2001 Midnight: DONE! WHEE!!!)

=0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0==0=



                           Because I have nothing better to do Productions
                                     An Eldrick Tobin project
                              From "It makes sense in my head" Theater
                                        A story of The Arc

                                      Halloween 2001 Special

                                  The Ultimate Cheap Easy Costume


"After all of that are you ready for more costuming?" hung in the air in his
head no doubt disturbing everything that lived within. .o0(Am I?)0o.

.(Better to do then whine about it. You're annoying me pretty thoroughly here,
jackass.).

Eldrick rolled his eyes and sighed. He just sat there punishing the figment with
silence. He certainly wasn't used to HIM yet.

Images washed through his mind which DIDN'T disturb his neighbor. He recalled
the last Halloween where everyone had dressed up. The poor guy Joy had felt
up... the bar fight that swelled up when 'his' 'boy'friend noticed... the chaos
that ensued that Hope, Ami and himself had just sat as silent witness to.

His Dark Schneider costume had chaffed, but they weren't going to let him go as
Rockman. He instead picked someone with a big sword. .o0(Still don't know how I
pulled that costume off.)0o.

.(With style. Amazing considering who was in the costume.).

.o0(Kiss my ass.)0o.

.(Like to see you try to make me, Bottomfeeder.).

.o0(Well you're right anyway. How'd I let them talk me into it.)0o.

.(Ami Nei, Hope Geo, Bon Joyvena, or the Flock of Naughty Batgirls?).

.o0(Yes.)0o.

.(With Style.).

.o0(I can feel you laughing.)0o.

.(If you were a dog you'd hear me too... but my cackles are so hard and furious
only they can hear. Poor miserable fool lead around by his loins. Such biting
comedy.).

.o0(If I wanted to get abused verbally I'd go find Ego.)0o.

.(If I could leave I wouldn't stay either. But as I can't stop whining. I
know just the place to hit for a costume.).

.o0(But everyone will think my sense of taste had died.)0o.

.(Don't make me take over the body.).

.o0(Touche)0o. and with that a scroll fell out of his ear. Eldrick leafed
through the collection of gaudy fliers,"Bondage Weararama?"

.(Insufferable asshole! I wouldn't dare send you in there!! This is a
collection I printed out from a website... I can't help the other things that
tagged along.).

"When you get computer access?" Tobin asked as he stared dubiously at the screen
before him... which bleeped that he had arriving missives with the book drop
sound from Blizzard's Gaming Glory. He closed Agent and said,"Well?"

.(It matters? Don't make me laugh.).

"I'd like to know. I could start singing you know."

.(I had a OC-12 installed while you were Questing.).

"How? Washuu?"

.(Naw that sultry redhead wouldn't give me the time of day after I said the
colony disowned me. Lousy fucking bastards.).

"Sorry."

.(Bah. So anyway I simply wandered off to have it done. No biggie, toadwart.).

"The physics involved are messing with me here. I don't have a jack sticking out
of my head do I?"

.(Score one for the observant genius.).

"And how'd you take over while I was..."

.(I just took a stroll. Didn't say I took the body... OR that I entered what
you loosely call the real world. Just took a stroll. You were hooked in
afterall. Easy enough.).

"Right... so... how's it work?"

.(Could you just read the God forsaken fliers, maggot breath? If thought keeps
the home fires burning I'm starting to freeze. If you catch my snowdrift.).

Wishing he HAD prehensile eyes so he could glare, he resumed leafing. There was
a great, fabulous shop... in Sendai. Another great shop resided in Nerima...
"The costumes there are almost guaranteed to be..."

.(Frilly? NEXT!).

Eldrick saw the one for the place he'd gotten his costume last year... but he
didn't feel like fantasy this year... or he'd just let Mock Darsh take over.
Instant costume... at the price of putting who knows how many women into his
bedroom that night.

.(I think that's the best option.).

"I get enough sex, you mindfiend."

.(If you did you wouldn't still blush.).

"Blow me would you?!"

There was the sound of running footsteps and a loud call of,"Banzai!" and then
Joy went hurling over his head and onto the floor. Eldrick sighed,"It wasn't a
command."

"I need more accuracy,"She turned around,"Oh... well... how about I make it a
gift?"

"Darsh and I are having a civil discussion right now."

.(Argument.).

Joy nodded,"About?"

.(Babes!). "Costumes!"

"Babes in Costumes?" Joy offered looking from eye to ear,"Yummy delicate
costumes that you can remove bows and buttons with your teeth... sliding the
soft soft fabrics away... revealing the supple flesh that's just so inviting and
eager for your tongue's caress..." she blinked,"What?"

"Not the subject at hand."

"Oh so you wanna be the babe in the costume? Cool I'll be the guy... or hey Ami,
Hope and I can be the guys leading you around on a leash in a pink bunnygirl
suit. It'll be the rage!"

.(My rage.).

"Sowwy. So what's the issue then?"

Eldrick sighed,"Well I don't want a fantasy themed costume. So ... we... are
costume shop hunting."

"Cool Devices!" The men were very resounding in their negatives,"Henshin
Dynamics? It's close."

Eldrick blinked,"Huh?"

"Henshin Dynamics," she said again like that was all the explanation needed.

In the pregnant silence while MDS and Eld waited for her to explain, Gala rolled
off the back of the monitor in her sleep,"Ack!" She soon levitated back up on
her jello-like little friend. It wiggled and jiggled and then Gala leapt to the
top of the monitor to be rid of it. "Go away you! Sheesh." And poof it went. She
turned around,"Hmm... tense face... Darsh with a sweatdrop... Joy looking like
she's going to say,'What?' again... Alright what's going on?"

"Costumes!" .(Babes!). "Sex!"

"The usual?"

Eld answered,"No... Halloween is coming."

"Ah yes the mundane's candy faire. Go on."

"Well last year was fantasy... but with what's just gone on..."

Gala clenched a tiny fist,"Point. Make It."

Joy smiled,"And I said Eldy-poo should hit Henshin Dynamics."

Gala nodded,"And the faces?"

.(What's Henshin Dynamics.?).

Gala had a HUGE sweatdrop,"Anime universe and you DON'T know? It's not THAT
obscure. It's THE source for your Henshin needs."

Comprehension dawned for Eld,"Oh yeah THEM. Hmm. Henshins... well I'm looking
for a costume. Not a new transformation," he stood up and headed out of the
room,"Anyone else up for a trip to Sendai?""

Gala leapt to Joy's bosom [and the attractive force drew her to them
effortlessly - OOC Zin], and then plummeted. Her little cube of hovering jello
rescued her. Nauseated by touching the jello-like surface with bare feet She
leapt onto a strand of Joy's hair as the PervGirl wandered to go giggle and peek
-
even though she could just walk in and gawk at him. THAT he was semi-used-to,
this giggling routine was unnerving.

Gala climbed to her ear,"Just go in."

"You can look too," Joy pointed to a spot on the door that opened up,"Wood is so
malleable."

Gala flicked her ear,"No peek. Gawk. I need to convince him about the closer
location. If I'm going to be forced to watch him up close and personal, then I'm
NOT sitting in a car until Sendai. And there's no mecha landing facility what
with the rogue missile last week. Took out the pad."

A Voice came from near the holes,"Not just the pad... the support facility...
fuel dump. And Speaking of dumps... dump the charade of being sneaky perverts and
just get in here."

Joy stood and opened the door like a lady of noble birth before launching her
lusty gaze around like a tavern girl.

[Joy: Wench.]

*edit* like a tavern wench.

[Joy: ^^|/]

Her gaze found nothing but robe. And as she reached for the door to the closet
it opened revealing a fully clothed Eldrick Tobin. She snapped her fingers
audibly before grinning and slipping around behind him,"Do we have to go now
Eldy-poo?" She ran her hands over his back.

"Not. Horny," he said as she lightly snuggled against him. Joy's hands went
lower,"Later."

"Really? Promise?"

"Only way you'll stop..."

She blew in his ear,"How about now AND later?"

"I only have 2 days to get a costume. Everyone else has theirs. We'll be in
public so I can't just go naked."

"But Margo is..."

"She'll be wearing swirling feathers."

"Charhon..."

"THICK layers of some type of paint on LEATHER enamel."

"Well Ami WILL be naked."

"She's going as a courtesy body."

"You could too."

Eld looked at himself,"Not hardly."

Joy ran a finger along his ear,"You could be a toad and I'd be after you.
Granted I'd be a toad too but," she paused,"Err I think you get what I mean
right?"

He sighed,"Yes I could be an anthropomorphic burlap bag and you'd be after me.
Of course you'd be after an anthro burlap-person anyway..."

"Don't speak universal truths," she nibbled on his ear,"Be back quickly. I've
got urges you know."

Gala leapt to Eld when Joy walked around him and swatted his bottom. Joy then
wandered over to the bed and took Eld's usual spot after shedding what little
she was wearing. Hope latched onto her arm in her sleep,"El...dy" because Joy
probably smelled like him. Ami opened an eye, muttered greetings and went back
to sleep.

They weren't usually even contemplating waking up at 4am. Eld just couldn't
sleep. The impending holiday such as it was, was something everyone was looking
forward to -but him. Natural punishment urges aside he didn't like ruining
things for others for things like this. So he'd stayed up thinking.

Gala flicked his ear,"Hello... I'm talking to you."

"Sorry. Trapped in thought."

She shuddered,"Understood."

"Sorry for the reminder."

"Apologize by not making me sit in a car -regardless of ground speed- all the
way to Sendai. Henshins ARE the cheapest costumes you can come by of true
quality. And with a short trip, a 24/7 open door, walkins welcome policy... why
NOT just pick up a henshin?"

Eld slipped from the room lest he see Joy give in to twincest -though it looked
like Hope was waking up to the fact it wasn't him. .o0(Maybe the fact Joy wasn't
encouraging her?)0o.

.(Probably. Now. March.).

Into the hall with a light closing of the door, brought them face to whiskers
with Noh-ohki. Mechafluff seemed to be having trouble maintaining altitude. Noh-
ohki glared,"Rao. Raraor."

Eldrick sighed and produced the key after a rummaging in the computer room.
"Once a month is fine and dandy but it's so hard to remember to do this," said
Eld before giving the furball a vicious cranking on the way downstairs. Noh-ohki
floated over onto the dashboard and pointed forward majestically. "What? Cabbit
Washington you are not."

Noh-ohki smirked... sorta... "Raorra."

"Distracting me with something goofy then asking me to wiggle my AA fingers in
your favor is not good mascot behaviour."

"Ra."

"YOU are the mascot not me."

"Raor."

"Not from where you're standing? HA! We're going Halloween shopping. That can't
interest you much carrot monger."

Fluffenstein pulled out the Henshin Dynamics flyer,"R?"

"Yes that's where we are going," Noh ohki flew to him and rubbed his head
against his leg,"You wanna go this bad that you're willing to make the hairs on
the back of my neck stand on end. Fine come along."

Gala slid down and climbed onto Noh-ohki's back. She was met with a flat
stare,"I'm not doing this for my health either gearworks. I'm not riding a piece
of jello around town."

"Rao."

"Oh just try it sparky. Don't make me kick your ass around this goddamned
passenger seat," she blinked and looked out the window,"Ah... Tokyo... and my
delicious fucking swearing. Thank the fucking powers that reamingly be."

Eld sweatdropped,"Forgot about your mouth."

"That's a fat load of crap. I bet you're just wondering how you can get me in
the backseat and see if I'm just a foul mouthed bondage fairy. Well I got news
for you... I'm not so just sugar coat those fantasies and ram them up your ass."

"I honestly wasn't. DARSH is the one after you. At least if he was running
around looking like that he must be."

.(Go fsck yourself geekboy.).

"I see Noh-ohki is the only happy person in the vehicle... and that's because he
has some evil planned," Eld glared at the cabbitoid who was purring away
happily.

Gala spoke up again,"It may just be the actions of my noble steed, but... why
not?"

"Eh?"

"You've screwed just about everything else in the fic -even me during The Quest-
so why aren't you still interested now."

"You're too short."

"Lame."

"Wrong species."

"Lamer."

"I don't seem to be your type."

"La... eh?"

"And it's not just the aggression. Your entire demeanor says,'Touch me and die.'
You seem more likely to have sex with the wall than anyone around. Now you are a
caring soul. I've seen that. So I think ... yeah... maybe that's it. I think
you're antagonistic towards me due to the fact I'm happy with my anime sterility
and YOU'RE the kind of girl who wants a big family. It's probably why you hate
cybersex or anything that's not the real deal. You want a family BAD and you'll
take it even from casual sex with strangers if it'll give you a family of your
own."

"Shut the fuck up. Now."

"However -the last thing- you are welcome to join ours. It's not the same I
know. But there it is."

"..."

.(I assume you mean family by injection. Oh well I volunteer my services.).

"Drop dead, nano-exile. I'm in no fucking mood to hear anything from anyone.
NOH-
OHKI... PURR LOUDER. Drown them out."

He did so... but only because they were now parking. Odd noises were coming from
the alley next to the shop. A man with a laser for an eye said,"Training. Do not
interfere," and held up a badge listing his as internal Henshin Dynamics
Security.

Looking at the building you wouldn't think it housed "the pinnacle" of Henshin
magical technology. Actually it looked like a Noodle House. In fact someone was
sitting out front under an awning having noodles. After a quick conversation it
appeared that HD just liked making extra bucks on their City Noodles product
line by having a vending machine behind a counter.

The inside of the first floor of the mid-sized building didn't match the front
facade at all. For one there was glitter, and glitz. LOTS of it. And at least 18
machines that were Something Something Revolution -from dance to Duel to Mosh
and from alchemy to zooanthrophy- and most were multiple SSR machines. Along the
far wall was nothing but pachinko machines. Game music from a door in the back
indicated the more testosterone inclined went that way. The door opposite was a
place where Angel Boys feared to tread.

This was in fact simply the waiting room as during the day they could really
buildup a backlog. An Airport hang down sign proclaimed that ahead was "The
Waiting Room of the Gods" and that to the left was a spiral staircase to Sales.
To the Right was "The Express Elevator to H.E.L.L.":

Human resources
Executive
Legal
Logistics

The joke with the acronym was lost on Eldrick Tobin. He did however blanch at
the fact the Cook Cook Revolution and the Alchemy SSR themer were the same
machine. "Hate to pick wrong and summon dark forces while trying to make
Sashimi."

.(Can we take home the Vender Girl?).

Eldrick looked over and saw a girl who didn't fit his usual profile. She was sad
looking... sexy of outfit but that was as far as Darsh must have looked. "She
doesn't seem to be your type."

.(She's not. I just need to beat the fuck out of someone and it looks like she
has a jerk for a Significant Other. A perfect target.).

"Up the stairs we go," he said before MDS caught the girl's attention. As they
passed her Eld glanced over. She was plugged into a wall. "My compliments to
your designer."

"Thank you. I have emailed her your kind words. Please stop by in the future
when you need Vending Services."

Eld smiled and bowed his head before concentrating on climbing the stairs.

.(Hey I saw her first.).

A big azure sweatdrop appeared by Eld's ear,"I was not flirting."

.(Then why is she watching you leave?).

"What?!" stopped in his tracks.

Gala snorted,"He's just trying to make you look so HE can get another look."

.(Can't blame a hormonal bad assed sorcerer for trying can you? I wonder if
she can run on Eveready's?).

"That was crass. She's probably smooth and insensitive. Like you."

.(And the Firefly wounds me with her verbal swords... I am injured.).

Gala Marching around to the other ear,"I am NOT a firefly! Don't make me come in
there again!" She paused,"Stop looking down my blouse!"

.(But... Gala... such a beautiful form must be appreciated. I meant no
disrespect.).

"You aren't getting in my pants."

.(Damn.).

The voice behind the counter next to the stairs spoke up,"Can I greet you now?
Or is your mascot and your ear going to continue arguing."

"I'm not the mascot pencil prod."

"No you're too adept at the barbed tongue. Girlfriend then?"

"Bite Me. I'm not his girlfriend either. I'm practically his total fucking
stranger."

"Significant Force to be Reckoned With. Got it. So which of you is shopping."

She blinked,"I'm a fairy I don't need anything."

"You'll be back. Everyone comes back. So him then."

.(Yes the big guy here is here to...).

"I can speak for myself Darsh," Eldrick announced.

The attendant didn't even blink,"Everyone has a little Dark Schneider in them
these days... Anyway... what are your needs? A Mascot? Modifications on a
previous transformation? Activation of 'latent' abilities?"

Eld watched his hands bob,"Why the air-quotes around latent?"

He gave an inquisitive yet,"Can't answer." kind of look.

Gala broke in,"He probably has a mike trained on him and so he can only 'tell
the truth' through air-quotes."

Tobin nodded,"Got it. So latent is a lie some people use to cover for powers
they BOUGHT but don't wanna go out and SAY they bought?"

The clerk gave a thumbs up,"Again sir... what can I get for you?"

Eldrick looked at the people about him... and pantomimed with just his fingers
cleverly hidden a person striking a pose and something swirling overhead.

"Ah... yes... many men come in looking to become Bootleg Starlights... as the
terminology goes. It dates back to when the only way you could get a gender swap
on a henshin was to have someone hack it and void the warranty... or buy a
bootleg henshin from a Knockoff artist. Point of fact the knockoffs WEREN'T they
were pure genderswap... but sometimes illegality makes for more of a guilty
pleasure. Though... they were still bootlegs since the technique was at the time
still heavily patented. You should have seen some of the REAL bootlegs... gah.
But anyway... what do you want the final gender to be?"

"Come again?"

"Final gender. This world is not composed of ONLY male and female and neutral...
there are many subtle levels. Just like laundry. And garbage... an industry I
myself was in for a while. So final gender. I ask you to not make me have to
list all of them. We'd be here a little while. Will Female do sir?"

"Uh yeah."

"Measurements. Or do you have an example in mind?"

"Who's someone you have almost no requests for? Who's far from ugly visually."

"No requests... well that rules alot of faces and body type combinations out...
hey here's one... we can't fathom WHY she's not requested more often. She's
usually only requested for LAARP, or FicPlays. Kinda sad. I'm a fanboy of hers
so it's really annoying for me."

"Who?"

"Ramia. From Pretty Sammy. I myself can henshin into a lavender haired version
of her. Funny thing is I used to weigh more than her... but I haven't been
eating right lately... and now I'm scrawny and a paperweight."

"Hmmm..."

The clerk walked over after setting up a talking doll that rattled off about
the glories of Ramia of Juraihelm. "Ah that shoulder's a little busy..." he went
to Eld's right,"Listen. I'll toss one in for free... the line's about to be
culled. People would rather some other crazy redhead than her, and I'm
personally offended by that. They aren't even going to inventory before they
trash them to program new models in. Can you believe it. So as a fanboy... I beg
you. Please pick her... even if only under the counter."

"I was only thinking of a name to go with Ramia's visuals."

The clerk went teary Bambi-eyes,"Tha... thank you," He soccer kicked the doll
away. "And so... are you interested. Sorry for my fanaticism on her. She's my
idol."

"Yes..." and they hammered away the finer points. "Oh and I'd like to buy some
backup Henshins with just her in it. Maybe some differing outfits."

Between fits of holding back the tears,"Well sir we only have 5 total."

"5 is my magic number. I'll take them. That should give the transformation quite
the wardrobe space correct."

"You've visited our online catalog before I see. And if you get any others...
within limits they can swap about without a ... manual... change of outfit.
Though we do have an extensive line of real wear non henshin costumes. They have
to be shipped from our supplier but it doesn't cost a dime extra. And if an
outfit is in store it's 5% off the retail price," he held up a sign {{Henshin
Dynamics only makes 5% over wholesale regularly.}}

"Man you're honest. Won't you get fired?"

The sign flipped around {{ You know someone who is willing to work from 1am to
5am? }}

"Point taken."

"You mentioned other Henshins sir. That's alot of henshin devices you'll have to
port about. Can we interest you in a henshin mascot?"

"The difference being?"

"A Mascot... is usually morale support, But a HENSHIN MASCOT is morale support
and your personal henshin storage creature."

"Why not bind them to yourself?"

"Why not bind them to yourself... well the trick with that is... it gets tricky
to keep track. And special poses and gestures are mandatory... just to unlock
the storage space. It's also taxing on one's physical and mental resources," he
paused,"Take for example a sorceress... she has a henshin to call on markings to
enhance her magic. Really powerful markings might demand the removal of her
clothing. If she ever overtaxed herself... she could end up naked on the
battlefield... rather than simply molding the markings into fabric and a new
outfit -which is granted only one of many methods you can consider. But even an
auto-de-henshin takes energy... You win the battle you transform back... and
it's nappie time. Not to mention that power glass ceiling. What if you just need
to light a candle... you can't... need more power... and the rest is the de-
henshin.

"So we almost across the board recommend henshin devices or henshin mascots. An
HM can also be carried away from the field if need be should they conk out.
There is a side effect but... it's trivial," added when a red beam pointed at
his forehead like a sniper scope.

"Um... I have Noh-ohki over there," he pointed to the fuzzball who was whizzing
from cool thing to cool thing like Mihoshi in a room full of curious buttons.

"Ah! I filled the order on a cabbitoid by that name. Noh-chan," he had to duck a
forehead laser blast,"I love taunting the mascots. Anyway... Noh-OHKI is a full
bore henshin mascot," the laser sight appeared,"But... uh... he's a gift so I
can't divulge if he had a previous owner. Some of the mecha have had previous
owners. It's just what happens in this wacky crazy anime world we live in. What
I can tell you is that he was special ordered. That means A5 quality. He's great
tech."

Noh-ohki grumbled.

"It's great tech... Anyway. You have Noh-ohki so I shouldn't harp about selling
you something that's probably going to be inferior.... well unless you have THAT
kind of cash."

Gala shrugged,"He's the AA here..."

"AH! An AA... which? We have alot running around."

"He's THE Eldrick Tobin."

"Hey cool. I have 2 of your game systems at my place. Not mine though. But I get
my time on the clock. You should probably be good for just about anything here.
And because of your bankroll I really shouldn't 'sell' to you. I should let you
pick what you want and come to me if you have questions. I get a commission...
and it feels wrong to me to just bite into your accounts for my own greed."

After turning his head from staring quizzically at Gala,"Ego does the biting into
my account. You should see my ice cream bill."

"Ego the gelatinous cuboid by the Fair Lass on your shoulder?"

"Eh... no... Ego is my Ego... he jumped psychosis or something and left my head.
Looks like Mokona when he comes in town. Like a ... Haunter? When back home.
Only see his shadow there though."

"Huh... a Man was here with a Haunter for a shadow 2 days ago. Looked kinda
funny. He wanted to have it extracted, but he didn't have the money for that
kind of thing. ANYWAY... Shop around. Bring things to the counter and I'll have
them integrated into this here carrot like item for Noh-ohki to eat," he had to
ward Noh-ohki off from it,"Don't you feed it?"

"All the time... and we just wound it this morning."

"Huh..." he typed into his sales terminal and the red-light shown on his
forehead,"Wait I can't look that up... previous sales confidentiality. Too often
people want their gift horsemech looked in the mouth. And then they want them
returned or personality shifted... and things get ugly. So we only allow addons
if you aren't the original owners. Who knows? If there ARE black boxes of
any kind. They might be beneficial anyway. We had a girl buy a video camera for
a friend. Had a protective bubble installed into it. But the friend had to have
it looked into. When it got mushy, the buyer got all confused. So we stopped
allowing background checks. Better for everyone half the time anyway.

"I've seen it shred friendships. ANYWAY... just bring things to the counter as
if this was a Zelda Game... oh and Zelda game Henshins are that way... in case
that sparked your interest."

AND SO... A BUTTLOAD OF HOURS PASSED...

A Contended Cabbit, a Hellbent Bad Assed in skull Sorcerer, a Fairy with a
SwearBox, A Levitating cuboid thing, and one Eldrick Tobin left with Eldrick
only having a scant 30 minutes before he had to be places. The place at first
had seemed useless... but after looking around it had suddenly become the Fry's
of the Henshin world for them. Only Time could drag them from the place. And it
looked like most were considering going back.

Even Gala had bought something on Eld's account. She had finally broken down and
upgraded the cube to a Henshin Mascot with wardrobe, sonic shower, and a
hammerspace pocket with more room than her current one. She even finally stopped
grumbling. Eld apologizing some 7 times the whole time not withstanding. That
only made it WORSE so he finally stopped.

Perhaps him shutting up was all that was needed. The Cube ordered a voicebox...
but that was on backorder. The Clerk gave the impression that breath should NOT
be held. Soon after he had to dodge a bullet, sorting garbage seemed to have
made him very fast in his former career.

But that was all behind them as they zoomed along under the cover of black metal
and soothing music. Gala was trying on outfits in her cupholder,"I should have
specified NO naked flash. This is humiliating."

"Can't tell watching the road. And Darsh is only left ear. So only the cube
would be able to see. And you made it ride on the roof... with Noh-ohki the wind
cabbit."

"You're not looking because you share vision with the author, I'll bet."

"I can only imagine what you must look like under the leather and chains."

"The dreams..."

"Nightmares. I only remember the tragedies. A face turning to petals... a
crushing heartache... the feeling of being a total and absolute failure.
More so."

"I'm not buying the sympathy plea."

"Huh?"

She looked up at his astonished face,"Okay... so maybe it's isn't a conscious
plea," she shook her head then made shooing motions,"Could you look away? This
next one is my Halloween outfit and I'm hoping it doesn't come back to haunt me
as it is."

Eldrick turned towards the window,"Oh hey cute schoolgirl at 2 o'clock!"

"I said turn away!"

"But I... oh... someone reads web comics."

"Die."

"This is ironic. I am a teacher's aide you know."

"Die again."

"The Day's still young. It could happen."

She sighed,"I didn't mean..."

"It's alright."

She just remained silent and changed outfits back to normal. You could just tell
that it would take something really jarring... a great joke or what not to knock
him out of this. He was just one of those mopey people that seemed fine...
fine... fine... suddenly the floor of a taxi cab during some Mud Festival.

The vehicle took over the driving while Eld reached up and pulled the mascots
back in. Noh-ohki pulled his Washuu impression and left Eld hugging a plushy.
Which Eld just sighed and hugged.

"Ra?"

"I don't have today's curriculum planned. The students are going to burn me at
the stake. And I haven't graded their tests yet. Part 1... I go to Washuu...
part 2... I'm just doomed."

"Raor."

"Up yours furball."

Gala quirked a tiny eyebrow,"What it say?"

"Called me an Emokid."

"So you really weren't torn up?"

"Eh? No... it just jarred me back to reality... then I remembered all I had to
do today, and THAT got to me."

"You really put a girl through the wringer."

"Well let's just all pack our emotional baggage and head upstairs shall we."

"Die."

"They're upstairs with the RPG materials."

She groaned and climbed onto the cube which morphed into a craft like the device
Nausicca rides around the Valley of the Wind on. "Wow you didn't only buy a
voicebox that'll never arrive. Well I guess you need morphing powers to
incorporate the box so... This works."

"Hey tell it you need an ATV with firepower. I'd love to put together a live 
Action Blaster Master... well Mistress."

"I'll shoot you first."

"A given. I'll park you can use the elevator."

"Oh no you're not, buster. Wacky hijinx could ensue that I need to observe. 
Don't make this unwanted job harder."

Eld blushed a tad,"So you really wanna see when Joy jumps me?"

Her eyes went big and her mouth seemed to vanish,"No... no not really. I'll... 
I'll go get that curriculum from Washuu," and she zoomed off to the elevator and 
punched the lowest button.

"Maybe I should try to grade one or two before... no one or two isn't going to 
cut it for 50 students," he sighed and told the car to park as he walked the few 
minutes to the stairs to think. .o0(Fun witty love hate banter.)0o.

.(Niche casting everyone?).

.o0(No. Not even if I was the author would I be able to niche cast everyone. I 
can't even niche you.)0o.

.(Witty superior to you in every way.).

.o0(Ha. No and I don't need you as bumbling sidekick either. Ego has tha... 
where IS he anyway.)0o. Tobin's watch beeped,"Ye'llow?"

"I have your ice cream delivery. Pass me would you? All I heard from security 
was moaning and groaning. As usual. Where is your other security person? And 
heck Why hasn't that spectre Ego met me already?"

Eldrick buzzed him in,"Great questions. Tell you what I can on the pad."

"Right."

Some moments later the craft landed on the helipad. Various dusts and debris 
clung to the hull. It definitely had that weathered look going. The gunmetal 
grey exterior long since screaming for a wash and wax.

All in all the Grav Copter would have normally been very welcome. But with the 
slow pace Workbot was coming to meet the craft with... something was wrong. 
Helping carry things in Eld found out just what.

The freezer space was FULL. Astrala had to cast moving day on all the supplies 
of ice cream and send them into the fridge. Even by Ego's standards there was a 
month's ice cream in there.

The delivery guy simply shrugged held out the clipboard and left. His questions 
not even asked a second time. He seemed to just wanna get out of there before 
being told to take it back.

"So... Astrala when WAS the last time you found the freezer empty?"

She shook her head,"I don't know Eld. I try to keep track of everything BUT 
his... revolting eating habits. Maybe someone else knows? I'm sorry I can't 
help."

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek,"No harm done."

Ami came down the stairs right then,"What arrived?"

"Ice cream."

"More?"

"Apparently. Know where the figment is?"

"Which," she said smiling,"SD Konei-chan is in the dining room stalking... a 
fork. I think she's trying to find out if it will play."

"Huh."

"Ardice caught a stray yarnball with the fork and her SDness has been trying to 
get it to play ever since. I tried to distract her with Noh-ohki... but ... 
ah... by his resting comfortably on your head, he was with you."

Eld handed the fuzzball over,"One sated fuzzball mecha."

"Sated?"

"I was at Henshin Dynamics."

"Ah... I've been meaning to go there. We've been mandated to have a backup 
uniform on a separate henshin device since last week's theft and return of 
Rapture's subordinate's henshin stick. What's worse is we don't know who did 
it."

"That's annoying. No I'm tracking Ego... the ice cream is building. I figure 
he's sulking since Konei thinks it would be cute to dip him in paint and say 
he's a haunter for Halloween. Of course she said that WAAAAY back when. But he's 
part of me so..."

"Yeah... Well anyway... good luck tracking down Ego... since you normally don't 
have to look very hard. I'll be back later."

Eldrick approached the railing to follow her and her words as she continued 
descending the stairs,"Off right now?"

"Yeah. Ardice wants a chaperone for her date. ME... a Chaperone. She knows Fawn 
won't make a move... so I'm just going to be a witness to her getting flustered. 
If I find a way I'll film it," she winked and waved.

Ardice dressed in her house uniform came down right then,"Film what?"

Eldrick had to think fast, no sense starting her flustering early,"Oh Ami has to 
buy a backup henshin. Work mandate. Have fun."

"Not too much I hope. My mind's still a wreck from the game. Washuu says I'll 
have to give it time. But I don't want to give it time. I'm too worried all that 
trauma I had to inflict on my character to make it game acceptable is still 
floating around my head. Anyway see you after you do that class thing. And the 
other class thing."

(10/22/2001) (Had a piece to add... and well... it has to go somewhere else. 
Damn my fic timesense)

(Wait... I have to change stuff... -.- sigh)

(10/22/2001 begin) (did you know Darsh has spoken 38 times till now?)

LATER THAT DAY -though in anime it's hard to tell when when is when or why

"I am quite flabbergasted to see you appearing as thus Mr. Sterling, and so ... 
late. To tell the truth I had figured to see you as you normally would be. How 
am I to explain to my mind how this sameness has come to pass?" Mr. Tatsuyama 
seemed to brush aside the fact of EXTREME lateness like it was inconsequential.

Eld-Max scratched at his head,"Well... I went to Henshin Dynamics."

"So I take it your skill will be assisted in other ways from now on?"

"Eh... no... not really. It's just visual. I did spend alot there though so I 
have other looks... but none has "Phenomenal Art Skills" attached," Max studied 
the floor,"I know you'd prefer to see my real skill... and you will... I just 
hope you aren't too disappointed. Bad enough I'm too worried about mixing my 
lives more."

"I myself once had a similar predicament. I had to disguise myself due to my... 
similarities of appearance with another. Then I got to thinking, and my 
reasoning was to fake being the other person but give information I figured they 
wanted to hear. It felt malicious of course. But it did draw out the person they 
thought I was so that we could come to an... understanding. Now things are nice 
and separate."

"So I should be me and fake being me to throw people off who are after me?"

The instructor had a good long laugh,"Just thinking that you too should put your 
mind to the situation. My answer worked because there WERE two people in 
existence. WE can make sure to not be nearby each other. However the problem 
with yourself is there is only you. So for you the solution cannot be the same. 
Be that as it may. I wish to see YOU work. Not Max Sterling."

"Well," Tobin-Sterling looked around," Hmmm."

"There is no one else here I assure you. It is the weekend. While it would be 
nice if the students came in to work... I am not so unattached to the now as to 
really expect it."

"Well um... I... was just looking for where that screen the nude model used went 
to. I don't know what happens when I change. Not too and from this one."

A pointed finger and a smile directed the soon to henshin to the storeroom 
cleverly concealed behind an easel. Everything was always ready before class. 
No one questioned where things came from. Everything came out of the closet when 
they weren't present.

There was a flash of blue light and the SOUND of a whirlwind - but only a gust 
of wind not a gale. And soon after a clothed considerably differently person 
stepped out. Eld was in his usual black pants blue shirt and black cape. His 
satchel was unharmed by the change though the strap was quickly adjusted.

"Interesting," was all the instructor said before the smile and wave aimed Eldy 
to an appropriate location for art. It was a very fortunate thing that neither 
had further plans that day. Mr. Tatsuyama just sucked in the art like a vacuum 
cleaner. One thing drawn... then another. Nothing even remotely polished. Indeed 
Eld's style didn't HAVE any.

Finally the pencil went down,"Mr. Tatsuyama... what could POSSIBLY be redeeming 
in all that stodge?"

"You call it stodge. Perhaps it really is. However there is a flickering... wind 
of thought here. It let's you see it... catch a glimpse of it. You can dismiss 
it. It's not all that difficult to ignore it. Again I must point out however 
that if you just look at it simply as such it will leave you with nothing 
learned, he pulled one out of the stack, "In this one here... a butterfly sword. 
It's form and function are plain. Yet the lines for the blade are lighter... 
showing a touch of delicacy. This is not a sharpened weapon. It probably 
wouldn't wish to go to war. But in those same lines is a strength that 
says that if it has to you can count on it. This sword would have a varied past 
that has tempered it as well as the blacksmith. The actual butterflies on the 
hilt and pommel lend it a feeling of peace. A thing the sword prefers."

Eld blinked. He wasn't sure what to say. The blade was drawn with a ruler 3 
times... straightness more important than pressure on the tip. Sure this gave a 
sort of blur... and the butterflies were just out of a need for something in 
those locations. Eld could have used badgers. Eld couldn't see what his 
instructor was on about. It was a hastily drawn sword. Unlike what would be 
needed to draw one better... or if need be to draw one from a sheath in darker 
times.

Mr. Tatsuyama was bundling the pages together,"I will get back to you on these. 
Perhaps even show a few to some of my other classes. Make sure their eyes can 
see what yours do when working on a piece," he tapped his cheek with a nail,"I 
see now in a way why you have always appeared as a different person. When you 
have your mind set on something you ARE a different person. The door will lock 
when you leave. I must be elsewhere at present. Don't forget to change back 
when you have finished contemplating the words I have left with you."

He stood there for a minute just plain thinking. He seemed to have no new 
answers. There was nothing left to do but change back and go home.

So he did... or at least he started to. There was a cackling in the air. 
Something found something amusing. But it was there and gone. Washed away with 
the light of the henshin.

The door opened suddenly and Ami, Hope, and Joy came in looking ready to kill. 
Eld waved. Joy perked right up and waved back,"Say have you seen something 
malicious pass through? Lots of cackling."

"I heard cackling. I didn't SEE anything though."

Joy looked ready to pout,"Damn."

Ami patted her shoulder,"We'll catch it."

Hope sighed,"The Art instructor was our best lead. He said he'd seen it coming 
this way. He was worried it would get you."

Eld smiled,"Nothing here but us Henshins. Heading home soon?"

Ami shook her head,"Not soon no. BUT Speaking of homes... YOU should check 
Max's."

Eldrick's eyes bugged out,"I'd totally forgot!!" And out he ran. Or should I say 
courageously assembled at the other house. Either way. He wasn't there to hear 
their determination that it had fled through a skylight.

AT MAX STERLING'S HOUSE

Max wandered up to the door and tried his key. It worked with a click. He didn't 
recall paying the place off but with the fact it was still LISTED as haunted 
probably keep the bill collectors away. He'd have to just pay them in one fell 
swoop. Perhaps an expensive portrait of Eldrick Tobin could garner the belief in 
a large wad of cash appearing in Sterling's possession. "That's IT! I've been 
away on a commission! Don't need Supergirl for this one," he made the V sign. 
Then he yawned with all his might,"I should take a nap here at least. all that 
art has me dead on my feet."

And nap he did... he didn't hear the renewal of cackling... or his door being 
opened. He did rouse briefly when Hope wished him pleasant dreams and that they 
were sorry that the "ghost" chase had lead them to his peaceful house. He didn't 
hear being asked where Noh-ohki had gotten off to. He was just too tired.

AT 1AM

He woke with a start that start being Noh-ohki transformed from a single earring 
back into a cabbitoid who was now sitting on his chest batting his nose to wake 
him. not bothering to move he asked,"What?" Noh-ohki pointed to a table then 
floated over to it. "On my way... hey! Where are my clothes!" he looked about 
and then saw them on the chair by the table. "Who was in here?"

Noh-ohki... shrugged.

"Had a nap too eh?" he stood... then had to run to his door to close it. "Wide 
open for all the world to see! Who left that that way?"

Noh-ohki pantomimed a big breasted woman with long hair who liked to chase 
people around.

"Worried saying Joy's name will invoke her?"

Noh-ohki nodded.

"Fair enough. And my nakedness? Joy's work too? Ah... not surprised. So what's 
on the table?" And he leafed through things. He had lots of Max's Snail Mail. 
ChibiUsa had been collecting it for him,"Well that's nice of her. Gonna have to 
treat her to Astrala's best pancakes she can muster. Heck I didn't tell her I 
was away."

Noh-ohki smacked his forehead and pointed.

"What?"

Noh-ohki then said,"Rao... raoror rao."

Eld blanched,"You're right... she probably saw everything. Her poor young mind. 
Well... on the bright side... assuming no one hunts me down for that... at least 
she saw Max Sterling not Eldrick Tobin. She'd probably be at a convent in that 
case. Can't say I wouldn't blame her. ANYWAY... let's see... oh fun... bills... 
bills bills..." he paused and smiled. She'd drawn him a picture. He strode over 
to the fridge... thought better of it and put it on on the wall over the table.

It was a simple shot of a girl with pink odangos sitting at a table... with a 2 
big stacks of pancakes on it. There were words that said "This spot reserved! 
Come back soon" on the back.

"Now that is art," smiled Eld.

Noh-ohki looked ready to bop him.

"Yeah I'll just collect the bills and head home. You don't have to make shooing 
motions."

Noh-ohki smacked his forehead and looked at the footprints he was trying to show 
the range of to Max. Noh-ohki knew that ChibiUsa hadn't been the one to deliver 
the mail. But Noh-ohki wasn't big on watching feet so couldn't just tell the 
twit who it was. Talking about it was out of the question for 2 reasons. Max was 
in a wide-eyed mode already... and there's the fact that there might be magical 
girls about who would wanna meet the talkative cabbitoid who invariably gets 
called 'cute'. Fuzzball doesn't like that.

[Does ANYTHING in this fic? - GroundZero Zin]

Noh-ohki post violence, was seen becoming a pair of bunny ears and lighting upon 
Max's head. "Thanks for the alibi... I think. But who goes to parties at 1am?"

"Rao."

"'I do' eh? Wonderful," Max responded... leaving several syllables unvoiced that 
Noh-ohki had also said.

Sneaking outside, Sterling quickly moved down the street and to the place he 
always slipped in and out from. It was just too bad the machine wasn't doing 
this. Then it would continue him on to a simulation contrived party -maybe a 
welcome back?- and back home later. Everything would be back to abnormal. As it 
was the module sets for this persona weren't in the system. The machine might do 
more harm than good. "Maybe a remote system until it's programmed up with some 
of the new parameters. Yeah! It can ask me questions just like for the game!"

"What just like the game?" Ardice asked as she opened the door to the house,"Did 
I ever tell you just how tasty you look with that guise?" She eyed him like a 
boothbabe might get eyed.

"Ha ha. As for the game comment... I was thinking a remote antennae so that Max 
can get his programming back on the ball. I have friends over there too... it's 
just such a mess that the other machine died before a decent backup."

Ardice nodded,"Washuu was thinking it might be nice to have something like that. 
So we can keep up to date with our PC's lives. She hates having to come here sit 
down... and get deluged... and maybe be in the middle of something that requires 
quick thinking. Had you heard she got hit with an arrow because of the catchup 
this afternoon?"

"I was asleep."

"Oh... no one told me that. How many hours you been out?" she crossed her arms 
over the top of the brilliant green skirt and brown vest combination she was 
wearing. That of course Eld/Max hadn't noticed just yet.

"Oh heck... let's see After the final I went straight to bed. Then I got up at 
one. I slept through Joy stripping me naked. Someone delivered my backlog of 
mail for me. I have a sinking suspicion that Mr. Tsukino will read me the riot 
act."

"Thinking the little one saw you?" Ardice kinda glazed over and kinda had a 
lecherous giggle.

"Yeah perv girl I think so."

"Your bunny ears have a sweatdrop. BTW Astrala made you some carrot juice you 
little fuzzball."

And needless to say WHY the carrot processor was sweatdropping would have to 
wait.

"So... Eld... you might wanna drop the henshin... and also... what you think of 
my outfit?"

"Henshin... right," and Eld changed back to Eld... colors and lights swirling 
about him. Unfortunately the front of Ardice's skirt got caught in the clothing 
rip part of the henshin. "Outfit? Oh... " Eldrick looked downtrodden,"Sorry 
about that. It was really nice. I didn't know what comment to make. So I kept my 
mouth shut."

Ardice sighed and looked down,"Don't worry. I'll just borrow an apron from 
Astrala. I was having to cross my legs pretty hard anyway."

"Eh? Why?" Eld said as he maintained EYE contact.

"Crossdressing Strip Magic."

Eld's eyes bugged out.

Ardice continued,"Yes you heard me right."

"One thing I don't get..."

"It's because I'm not normally in this attire."

"Ah okay."

"If you wanna play you have to find a partner."

"Who all is playing?"

"You have eyes," she said as she tugged him into the door of his own house.

Eld looked over and in front of the Television at the coffee table Fawn was 
dressed as a Germanic Nobleman. Margo was sitting across from Charhon dressed as 
a Biker type. Looked like the character Boss from Magical Project S. And Charhon 
was dressed... well Eld didn't know if he should be flattered or not. Charhon 
was in the color scheme that Eld had picked for his Ramia look alike henshin. BUT 
she had dyed her hair BROWN and penciled a mustache on. A paste on beard seemed 
to have been discarded.

Eldrick stepped towards the elevator,"I don't think I'll be hunting down a 
partner. I shall not be crossdressing save via henshin."

Ardice baited him while she was tying on an apron,"Ah... so MAX will be 
crossdressing. I approve. I think I have a pair of nice satin pants that'll 
cling to his butt and a blouse he'll look very nice in. Then maybe later we can 
play dungeon," if she was a cat she'd be purring. Being that she was NOT... she 
was instead lecherously giggling.

"You've been hanging out with Washuu. And no not him."

She nodded and pondered,"If you're gonna be... HIM then I think Fawn has 
something with enough frills and bows. Should accent HIS lavender hair nicely."

"You've been reading my emails. You shouldn't read people's emailed receipts."

"No... Washuu was. I was just watching over her shoulder. So... lemme guess."

"I think Anthy looks nice in Utena's outfit."

She gave him a flat look,"There are enough girls at the table. I was hoping you 
and Gerard would join us."

"Eh... well..." Eld was interrupted by Fawn leaping placing her foot soundly on 
the edge of the table and leaping over it and the couch beyond. She quickly 
joined them.

"Someone else is joining the game?" she got in Ardice's face,"Did I hear Utena 
mentioned?" she was now in Eld's. She gave his beard a tug,"Wow it's real. You 
didn't have it half the time in your head so I just had to give a tug again to 
be sure. And your characters were all clean shaven too. So anyway," she patted 
his stomach,"joining us eh? I think you'd look good in a Bunnysuit with nice 
pink ears and pink furbits. Yeah and a pink mini-dress. If Joy is your 
partner... she can come nekkid," it was her turn to lecherously giggle.

"Eh... Hi Fawn. You're full of energy tonight."

"Well technically it's morning but eh. As for the energy... I have Ardice down 
to 2 hit points. I'm excited at the process of her 'death'. Anyone who dies has 
to remain naked for the rest of the game. Myself I'm down to my tunic and vest 
and," she looked down,"Oh yeah the icky codpiece. So anyway... joining the game? 
I can reach into hammerspace and pull the costume ingredients out."

Ardice sighed. Eldrick simply held up his hands,"Maybe if I henshined first."

"You don't look the type to genderbend. Who do you look like?"

Eldrick smiled,"It's always the insane ones. Anyway... Ramia from the Pretty 
Sammy TV show Magical Project S..."

"Never heard of her."

He winced,"She's really beautiful... anyway... Utena -though the outfit patch 
didn't take don't know why-, Anthy, Haruka and... well a girl from Tron."

"Nice choices. Hmm... well if it was Anthy it would be a... kitty... yeah! So... 
who's your partner?"

Eldrick sweatdropped,"I have like 90 things to do really. I slept the day away."

Fawn shrugged,"Ah well. Your loss," she smiled,"The sleep all day thing reminds 
me of a friend of mine. Hey!" she snapped hr fingers in glee,"Could I invite 
her and another over? Please Eldy-chan?! PWEASE!" She pleaded while wiggling 
like a Shadow Play Girl out in the sunlight.

"Eh... sure."

"Can they come through my hammerspace link?"

"Why all the permissive questions?"

"Well your realm is locked down pretty well. I burned a pair of panties I wanted 
to show Ardice I'd bought."

"Oh yeah... yes you can bring your two friends through your hammerspace 
portal into my house. Anything of them survive?"

Fawn was in the kitchen using a grocery list memo page,"Oh what survived was 
really scandalous. Unbelievable. Maybe a 1 in ... uh... 36823487378 chance," she 
held the memo aloft like a video game character,"It is finished! Now they'll 
know to hide in my closet so I can drag them in here. Heh... drag!"

"I could just deliver it."

"You're willing to go into a room at the... oh yeah of course you are. Here!"

Eldrick blanched,"Room? Oh no I was just going to arrive at the DOOR and then 
walk IN."

She nodded,"Yep. Bold as brass. Just going to walk into girls rooms."

"I mean the door to the street. The front door."

Fawn dropped the note to her side,"You can't be one. There's just no way."

"I am too male. I transform into 2 other guys!"

"That's... wait. You mentioned 3 or 4 different GAL forms. I think your 
testosterone meter is a few pints low."

Eldy gazed at floor-y.

"But on the other hand that's a good thing in my book. Hell just changerino 
into... I dunno that Ramia person you mentioned and walk in bold as brass. You 
can do it Eldy-chan!"

Eld felt ALL pep-talked and exclaimed,"Carrots for Noh-ohki!" and flung a few 
huge carrots into the air! Noh-ohki zoomed over and leapt into the air to chow 
down. The floating fluff had all the carrots in it's mouth before Eld sent the 
mental command to listen for the words of transformation,"

                                         Oh Great Moon
                                      That fills the Night
                                      Help to draw the bow
                                       I wield this night!

" chanted Eldrick Tobin the soon to not be so male.

Then the full motion video started for all intents and purposes, as his clothing 
turned into little grey and white storm clouds that floated about his body 
obscuring all the details that were about to change anyway. The clouds passed 
over his hair and it grew longer and redder till it was red with silver 
highlights. It passed over his skin and it became lighter and smoother. 
The face shifted completely. Breasts "appeared" as did a sailor fuku blouse 
thingy in white and 2 shades of grey on the bow. There was a nice cerulean blue 
gem as the brooch. Then the clouds passed down over HER legs and a skirt 
appeared dancing on an unseen wind. Short heeled low boots of white with grey 
soles appeared. As did gloves -another piece of senshi-wear- upon her forearms 
and over her fingers.

A silver bow with thread of gold bowstring seemed to descend on a cloud before 
her. A cloud appeared next to it with arrows of silver shaft blue vanes and gold 
tip in a glass quiver. The bow vanished then, as did the quiver only to reappear 
adorning the girl with her eyes closed who's henshin was almost over. Her eyes 
opened and electricity seemed to dance from lower lash to upper lash and back 
again. The eyes took on the golden hue of the lightning.

Posing for just a second 'Eld' said,"Thank god that's done. You know how SLOW 
that happens in Henshin Space? I felt like I just lost and HOUR of time. Yeesh!"

Ardice said,"Aren't you supposed to say something about Punishing Evil and The 
Moon and Stuff?"

"Diana's a bootleg senshi. If there wasn't already a Sailor Knockoff I could 
call her... err me... that."

Fawn bowed,"Greetings to thee Lady Silverbow."

"Oh yeah the name. I'm Diana now," Diana tried to curtsey. At least she didn't 
fall over. "Not used to the different weight. I'm almost a 3rd my normal weight 
now. The fact the outfit doesn't fit after that first time I changed is part of 
the problem as well."

"Ah... well... Ahem. Greetings to thee Lady Diana Silverbow."

"Just Diana."

"Uh... Lady Diana Silverbow The Just," Fawn held out her hand.

"Kissing my hand will probably give you male germs or something. Brain is still 
male."

"Hand. Now."

Diana held out her hand to be kissed, and was pulled over pretty violently.

"Hello Fraulein," said Fawn before kissing her. It was just a peck at first, 
then as there was a glimmer in Fawn's eye... The bootleg senshi had to duck out 
of the way,"No fair." Fawn tried to put the note in her outfit only to find 
Diana was reading it in the unoccupied hand,"Double No Fair."

Diana grinned in victory. She then frowned,"Note to self. Brain male. Flesh not. 
Going to get friends now," and with that she wrangled her hand free from the 
Fawn entity who was playing rubber arm. Diana bowed -in error- and stepped 
backwards through a just created portal.

"Wow he's good at the rubber arm game. Why I'd say he's better at it than you 
Ardy-chan."

"Ardy-chan" was not amused to be nicknamed,"Even with the weird rules we're 
playing with I fear for my clothing. I'll go put on more."

"But you have 3 hit points with the apron! Stay. Comeon... stay."

"Oh alright."

"Why can't you cave when I'm begging you to do other things?"

"Cause I'm still pissed with myself for diving on a simulacrum of you."

"Extenuating circumstances. You were under an influence."

"Yeah the Contrivance box. Doesn't mean I have to like it."

"I think you're the best thing since sliced Elven Loaf so I will not be 
affronted by my sweety," she batted her eyes at Ardice. She smiled,"One day you 
vill be mine."

Ardice sighed out a little cloud,"Let's just shuffle the cards. You want a 
different outfit now that you know the game more?"

"Yeah! How about a loin cloth!"

"2 Hit points or higher."

"A Firesuit and a loin cloth over that. I'll look like a space man."

"Well as manly as you can be with those numbers."

Fawn gasped and began emitting hearts,"She noticed me. She noticed ME!"

Ardice batted away a stray heart before it poked her in the eye. Fawn caught the 
heart and scolded it. It floated over and gave Ardice a cookie in apology. 
Ardice put the cookie into the apron and patted the heart,"Apology accepted."

It then went were all hearts go when unneeded. Somewhere. And that's fine. 
Ignorance is bliss as they say.

Gala who was asleep on the stair rail woke then,"Cookies? Why do I smell 
cookies?" something beeped on her wrist,"Eld was here! Where'd he go?"

Margo turned and looked over her shoulder,"She went to go get more people to 
play our naughty Magic game."

"She? He's not genderbending with those Henshins already is he?" a chart 
appeared,"So what was the time?"

"5 minutes ago I'd say."

"Noted," she yawned,"Gah so tired. Wake me when it's REALLY morning. I wanna 
regrow my wings as soon as it's dawn here."

"Noted," Margo mimicked then said in her normal voice,"Darling."

"Cute. Night Night."

Diana stepped back through the portal seconds after it changed color to 'open'. 
She was agrumble,"Hire them out indeed," she looked up,"Yo. Your friends should 
be here soon. I had to rent them."

Fawn quirked an eyebrow,"Why?"

"Something to do with Nulise's attitude. I had to pay him to take her back in 
the morning."

"Oh yeah. Forgot about that. And for Kanaetalina?"

"She's burning you guys out of house and home with whipped cream expenses."

"True. I suggested she use water, but it might as well have been telling a guy 
to use a condom when he doesn't believe in them. 'It's not the same.' 'The 
feeling is too different.' 'No.' 'I can't store enough water to be fun.' Okay so 
the last one is different."

"Yeah... well I have 90 different things to get started on," and Diana stepped 
into the elevator.

Charhon sighed,"I wonder..."

Margo nodded,"As do I..."

Fawn announced,"I think I might like to know too. Na... changed my mind."

Ardice sighed,"What all you 3 talking about?"

Charhon blushed,"Oh I just couldn't say it out loud."

"Understood. Don't wanna know. Let's shuffle."

AT PLANET DUNGEON

"Nulise! Come on. I'm primed, pumped and set!"

"I'm faking being awake Kanaetalina. Take someone else."

"But I can't. Explicit rules."

"Not interested in late night early morning card games. Can't I just enjoy my 
hangover?"

Kanaetalina grabbed the doorknob with her 'new' tentacle and popped the lock in 
the knob,"Wow! Yet another use for these things! I have GOT to get me another 
one! Another 12!"

Nulise was up hungover and wielding her double bladed sword,"Get out. Don't make 
me cut that off."

"You forget what happened the last time you tried," the half catgirl's hands 
went to her hips,"Now are you gonna walk out?" her tentacle swished forward,"Or 
do I have to use this to carry you out?"

"Oh fine let's go," she put on something manly,"Think this'll do?"

Kanaetalina shook her head,"Something absolutely girly."

Nulise nodded,"Well it's not absolutely girly but how about my old harem girl 
outfit?"

"Sure!" she caroled wagging her tails.

Nulise said without turning around,"Stop that. It's almost hypnotic."

Her tentacle molested the sweatdrop that appeared on her head,"Sorry."

"And you should take that thing to obedience school," she said waving a kriss 
knife at the tentacle.

"As you keep saying," she unconsciously petted her new tail. Nulise grabbed the 
errant hand. "What gives?"

"You were stroking it again. Ration the whip cream. Remember?"

"Yeah yeah," she said ignoring the larger woman and wrapping her tails together 
with a sigh and a grind.

Nulise just growled grabbed the half-elf by the arm and dragged her into Fawn's 
room, into the closet and through the hammerspacialportalthingy. "We're here. 
The delay is all hers. She was succumbing to PenisMind again."

"Oh I was not. Tentacles require attention," she said sticking her tongue out at 
Nulise,"At least I got dressed in this men's track outfit complete with 
jockstrap while you I had to threaten with ElfNapping."

"DrowNapping."

"ElfNapping."

"Drow."

"Elf."

Ardice stepped between them,"No violence now. You aren't at home."

Nulise looked at Ardice,"You're here?"

"I live here."

"Huh."

Kae smiled,"Thanks for inviting us! So which way to the orgy."

Ardice smirked,"The card game is that way," she pointed to the table where 
people waved.

"No I mean the ORGY. This is THE House isn't it? Eld lives here with 50 billion 
babes right? So where's the orgy?"

"There aren't even 20 under this roof quite yet, and Di... Eld is busy. Sh... 
He's on the next floor up is my guess. If not 3 floors up on hi... her computer."

The half blinked,"Gender Pronoun Trouble?"

"He's a she right now."

Wag. Wag. Wag. She smiled,"I could use both then. Start the game without me... 
hehehe," she started towards the stairs, as she hadn't turned around to see the 
elevator yet.

"Game time."

"But."

"Game."

"Gaming under protest.... check," Kae went and introduced herself. Then she 
started to introduce the tentacle. Things became not so friendly,"What's wrong?"

"We've met it," the 3 demonettes said in unison.

"Really? Cool I guess. So what are the house rules to the game?"

THE NEXT MORNING

(6:41pm... I should have been home 2 hours ago)

(1:20pm 10/29/2001 gotta finish gotta finish gotta finish gotta finish *train 
whistle*)

(4:25pm Oh yeah word of warning. Libido is high. I repeat Libido is high. the 
plot might be in here SOMEWHERE but I haven't seen it yet.)

Eldrick woke up exhausted the cabbit was out cold on his chest. To add insult to 
programmers injury Eld's butt had fallen asleep as well. Let us not however 
discuss the cramps in his arms from their dangling near to rip out of their 
sockets," Ugh. last time I try to stay up a program mental matrixes. At least 
Max is caught up now. Hope computer Max handles the whole foot print thing 
pretty good. To think I'd thought..." he looked frantic for a second,"Best not 
dwell. At least it wasn't Washuu."

"Wasn't Washuu what?" came a familiar voice,"You look like you could use a 
massage," She leaned over the chair by standing on the one behind it.

"It was a rough night... slept all afternoon... then frantically multitasked a 
few things together at once. I think an hour ago my brain shut down... I 
dehenshined and fell asleep."

Washuu nodded,"My genius knows no bounds. The suit chair combination survived a 
henshin ripfest unscathed AND gender switched with the user! I AM A GENIUS!!"

Mr. Tobin just looked worried and stood up. He regretted it but continued to 
stand,"Still have things to attend to."

"Margo-chan is busy. The elevator listed her room as do not disturb. Charhon's 
was listed as empty. You did sleep in half an hour."

"Ami?"

"Hunting Evil with Hope and Joy-who grabbed her Eldy Plushie and not her riding 
crop. Evil is in for something weird today."

"Maybe I should ask... who IS here?"

"Well that's easier. I'm here," she smiled big,"Strawberry is about... and... 
the two girls you invited in last night. The dark one is over there on a 
fighting game. The other is..."

"Bwahaha I'm standing right behind you. Hi!" she leapt up on to the other chair 
and looked over at who Washuu was talking to,"Hey it's an Eldy-poo over here! 
Hiya! I'm Kanaetalina. So... you genderswap right?" She smiled and settled her 
bust line on the chair back.

Washuu nodded,"You should see the receipt of his purchases! Quite the 
collection. And he has some back-ordered."

"Really? My one and only try at that stuff... got eaten by a dragon during a not 
quite LARP a year and a half ago. Haven't gone back," she sighed. Then shifted 
180 degrees,"But I like when others henshin... and genderswap. And can't get 
away."

Eld sighed,"But I'm not up for anything. Besides..."

She waved it off and leaned in closer,"Oh I'm not paying you back. You can rest 
assured on your moral low ground. I just like having sex with strange people. 
You seem strange. Are you?" She looked into his eyes from inches away,"Plus I 
hear you are a connoisseur of sex, lust, and perverted things."

"Oh I am not," he sulked.

"To which? Don't make me tickle it out of you," she darkly pervertedly giggled.

Eld sighed,"A lot just falls in my lap. I do often seek it out... but... I'm not 
conno-whatzit," he was getting flustered,"Washuu help me out here."

Washuu just smiled,"He's a naughty naughty weird little pervert."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it," she hopped down, and came around to cackle at him. A beep 
went off at her belt,"Oops I gotta go! Lesson plan is on your computer!" she 
zoomed to the elevator,"Bai!" and then she was gone.

-<[Begin Naughty]>- [Skip to 'End Naughty' if you wish to be blissfully unaware]

"So..."

Kae flipped over onto the chair on this side next to Eld and tugged him 
back into his chair,"Hehehe this would be like being in the frontseat of a car. 
So... weirdboy. This form or another. The 3 of us want to get very acquainted 
with you."

He closed his eyes,"Maybe I'll wake up from this h-manga," he blinked,"3?" He 
looked at her. He looked at Nulise who was playing Warriors of Ravenloft 3: 
Staked. And then he looked around,"There's a person missing. And I don't think 
Nulise wants to even talk to me, unless the machine meets her disapproval. AND 
anyway I'm just too bent out of shape."

"Why would I include Nulise? I mean... you," she touched his arm," Me," she 
pulled her hand back over to her... and them over her breasts with a sigh,"My 
Tail," she wiggled it out from underneath her,"And my NewTail," and that snaked 
it's way out from under her."Tenti-chan says hi by the way. And if you're bent 
out of shape change it. The frill on that skirt set me aflame last night. The 
red hair made a big impression as well," she began undressing and humming as she 
did so.

Nulise called over from the fighting game,"Horrible isn't she? Like a man being 
lead around by his penis and not his brain."

"Hey I'm trying to score here," she smiled at Eld,"She's got no sense of 
occasion."

"What if he doesn't want to? The room smells like he got enough last night up 
here. He's probably dead on his ass."

"Ha you just want me, and if he goes off to nap you can have me is that it?"

Nulise looked over her shoulder,"Wanting tentacle sex is one thing. I'm simply 
looking out for another's well being for once in my life is that okay?"

"Ah-ha!" she stood and the tentacle pointed at Nulise,"You want him for 
yourself. Well you can have sloppy seconds. Hell we'll both be sloppy 
afterwards," she sat down in Eld's lap after pushing him back into the chair. 
She smiled as she made note of something,"A present? For me? How thoughtful."

At the sound of his zipper going down Eld began wondering if she wasn't just 
playing with him,"Um... I have to feed the fuzzball on my chest. Uh perhaps some 
other time?"

She smiled and pulls something out of her hair. It was a carrot. Cabbitoid 
nostrils flared and it leapt from his chest and grabbed the now flung aside 
carrot. "If you are prepared you can always come," she smiled,"Yes I know that 
was bad. It was an ice breaker. Relax. It's not like the whole universe doesn't 
have clues as to how often you have sex. Just go with the flow of the ocean of 
orgasm," she slipped her legs behind him and slid forward. She turned her head 
to Nulise,"Be helpful and pull off his pants for me."

Nulise shook her head,"Use the schwartz. Leave me out of this."

"Oh come on you're watching the ending credits! Come over here and be helpful or 
no more licking powered whipped cream off of me for a week," she turned to 
Eld,"She's got a sweet tooth for tentacle. Do you?" She reached down,"You're 
pulse is so quick... are you eager? I know I am. I wanted to start last night 
and stop in a few hours from now."

Eld controlled his voice,"But... you'd be doing all the work. I don't have that 
kind of stamina."

"No one said you had to," She paused,"Nulise pa..."

Nulise pulled the pants off in one tug,"Happy? Cat Elves. No patience."

"I'm a species now?"

"Well with how often you seem to be trying to perpetuate it," Nulise sat in one 
of the other chairs,"Wake me when you're done so we can ask him to let us go 
home."

"Okay," she looked at Eld,"Ready, and willing? Or just ready?" she didn't wait 
for an answer.

[FMV - http://the-arc.net/The-Arc-Halloween-2001-fmv.txt ]

After the sex, Nulise took off her sunshades. "Amazing you actually didn't have 
to fake it. You must be impressed."

Kae plushie huggled Eldrick,"Oh to have a cheap clone of this man for those 
lonely nights."

"What lonely nights?"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," she snuggled in and purred on Eld's chest.

"Did you forget we were going home?"

Kanaetalina looked over,"But it's your turn."

"We'll be home soon enough. We can play whipped cream games there."

"You have to thank the nice man for letting you come over for the Cross-Strip-
Magic game."

"You thanked him enough for 8 people how am I going to follow that?"

Noh-ohki held a sign over Eldrick's head that said,"Meat."

Kae didn't see the sign,"Don't think I can't hear you breathing from here. Last 
thing Home needs is some rampaging Drow Sexbeast leaping from dark alleys on 
unsuspecting young men and women."

Nulise rolled her eyes,"I don't NEED sex like some people. I can control 
myself."

"I think she just insulted you," she drew circles on Eld's chest through his 
buttons.

"I meant you, dammit."

"She's getting angry. She wants it," Kae was unaware of the fact she was 
unbuttoning his shirt. She did however realize it when her head could fit in 
it,"Oh hey look in here... yummies!"

Nulise twitched,"Could you pay attention when I'm talking to you?" she turned to 
look at Eld's face,"You don't have to put up with people like this do you?"

Eld concentrated to ignore the girl sucking on his nipple like she expected 
something,"Similar, yet not."

"There we have it. Kae, you're probably annoying him."

Kae let go,"Am not. I'm annoying you because I'm in the way. He's nice and salty 
all over. Quite nice."

"That's nice," Nulise crossed her arms.

Kae dropped lower sliding her tongue down his stomach. She smiled into his groin 
and licked. "Hey I think there's something stirring here. Yes... it's a bone 
call. And it's for you."

"Crass."

"Ah but it's apt," she replaced her tentacle with her own tail with a wistful 
sigh and a light aftershock. With the freed tentacle she grabbed on to Nulise 
who mostly agreed to be pulled over. "Be rude to leave a poor guy so close to 
the brink. He might get blueballs or something and put a curse of your House. 
You don't mind do you? She's a cute buxom Dark Elf. Dexterous, strong, yet lithe 
and pliable. Legs that scream touch me. Her thighs quiver when you touch them. 
Did you know that? And take a look at these," she tapped Nulise on the shoulder 
and motioned her hands away. Nulise rolled her eyes and removed the filmy top 
from last nights gaming. Kae undid her sash and dropped her haremwear pants to 
the floor. "Perfection isn't she? She could only look better if she were a 
nymph, and even then I'm not so sure," she smiled and tried to keep her hands to 
herself,"And while her eyes usually say no," The Half Elf slipped her tentacle 
into Nulise's pleasant valley.

Nulise closed her eyes and had a sharp intake,"I don't have trouble being 
convinced. Get out of my way Kae," The Half Catgirl moved and the Drow took Eld 
into her mouth. "Go ahead Kae," she said before getting down to the matter in 
hand.

Kanaetalina positioned herself behind the Dark Elf and banged Nulise's rump with 
her thighs while she slipped her twined tails in and out of the woman with skin 
of midnight. The slip and slide was easy -Nulise was all too ready. Mr. Tobin was 
ready as well.

-<[End Naughty]>-

LATER

Gala broke forth from her cocoon. Night had settled. Her new wings she flapped 
to dry slowly and rhythmically bathing them in the false moonlight. She smiled 
when they proved themselves flight ready.

"That's done. I feel whole again," she turned to the floating jello,"Activate 
the Henshin. That's enough. I must protect them now," a shimmer of light bathed 
her... and she was soon exactly as she was before. She put her vest on and leapt 
onto the cube. "Let's go see what Eld's been up to."

She followed the smell of rampant sex, and she bumped into Konei on her way 
up to the greenhouse first however,"You seen Eldrick?"

The Mihoshi alike thought about it,"He looked like he was heading to the hanger. 
His clothing was about to fall off of him. Why?"

"I have to keep an eye on him remember?"

"Nope," she smiled.

"You remember when that was?" Konei shook her head. Gala groaned and flew the 
cube-sled down the stairs. There was no Eld sign on the next floor down... 
though some notes that looked to be from Washuu were scattered everywhere. The 
third floor found Haris shadowboxing. But she hadn't seen Eldrick pass by or 
anything.

The second floor was interesting. There were 2 or 3 illusions of Eldrick having 
wild sex with the Elf Girls from Planet Dungeon. They seemed content and unaware 
of the magic in the room. Gala decided to not make a pair of enemies -one with a 
tentacle!- and so moved on. Strawberry was fanning Washuu who was on the leather 
couch in her own sweat. Washuu was mumbling,"Oh Eld... that was great... when 
and where did you learn that?"

Strawberry sighed towards Gala,"She's been like this for an Hour."

Gala nodded,"Did Eld... you know?"

"I guess... but I didn't know he could make himself invisible to me. But 
Something was with her. They were all over the couch. That was an hour ago 
however."

"You're poor poor young impressionable optics."

"Yeah right."

"You me and the senshi are the only innocents in the fic. Allow me my illusion."

"Oh okay. AHEM," she paused and rubbed her eyes,"IT WAS awful... What was 
something doing with Washuu-sensei," she was all teary Bambi-eyes.

"You're good at that."

Strawberry grinned,"It's how I got Washuu-sensei to make me a pancake machine."

Gala chuckled,"Well... cute. But... that was an Hour ago you say?"

"1 hour 5 minutes 10 seconds. Hmm... a Pattern."

There was the faintest hint of a scream from below. It was followed by the feel 
of something taking off at full speed. Then silence. Then just above the 2 girls 
sounded off in unison. Then there was silence again.

Gala sighed,"You watch her."

Washuu shook her head,"Watch me what?" she looked herself over,"Hmm... scantily 
clad," she smiled naughtily,"Pervy dreaming on the leather loveseat."

"Ask Strawberry... it wasn't a dream. Hope it was good for you."

"Was it ever! Whatever effect that was I wanna bottle it and offer it to the 
universe!"

Gala sighed and flew down to the basement. The black car wasn't in evidence 
which meant Eld was out. The red one of course wasn't because Ami Hope and Joy 
were out in that. Workbot was in his charger unaware. It was holding Noh-ohki's 
key however.

Gala moved on. Bits of clothing were all along the way to the hanger. Some even 
clung to the ceiling. At first they were male and then after a bit of a pause... 
there were men's and women's. "Raucous chain of command quasi-yaoi. Hmm. But... 
Raucous... and Gerard... they don't match."

There was moaning from ahead. "Onward Cubey!"

Diana Silverbow was laying at an odd angle. There was the snap and realign of 
bones and tissue. Henshined but still nano-technical, Diana was physically 
repairing from major bodily trauma.

"And so the dumb question: What happened?" Gala set down and leaned against 
Jean's landing gear.

"Give a gu... girl a minute. He wrapped me around the nosecone."

"In a good or bad way?"

"Bad silly. And I don't know how this started. I was with Nulise and 
Kanaetalina... We'd all fallen asleep. I know I got up and went to the bathroom. 
But I know I fell asleep on the bowl. Then next thing I know... I'm Diana... and 
having miraculous anal with Gerard. Then he gets this look in his eye after 
orgasm... and pulls out... grabs my ankles and slams me down over the nosecone 
of Thyra here."

Gala inwardly quirked an eyebrow .o0(This is Jean.)0o. "So how'd Splen-ohki take 
the hit since she's your backbow?"

"Oh she's fine. More durable than me. I think I'm going to go up and have 
something to eat before I take Thyra here and try to track down Gerard. He must 
have gotten possessed or something."

"No kidding. At least the sex was good eh?"

Diana smiled BIG,"Gotta try him as a guy... more used to anal then."

"That's true," she paused and tried to look wistful,"Oh if only I were taller."

"Who knows what the future holds."

"Who indeed?" Gala nodded and mock teared,"Well you head up. I'll clean up the 
shredded clothing. You're poor skirt. It was so cute and ... frilly."

"Yeah I know... lessee... stairs or elevator."

"Oh elevator definitely."

"Yeah," Diana turned and entered the elevator. The doors closed and alarms went 
off.

"Take that evil fiend. Mimicking Eld and not even having your facts straight. 
Dumbass."

Konei's voice came over the speaker,"Um... there's an actual intruder?!?"

Gala hopped onto the cube and raised up to the button,"Yeah Konei. Lock it 
down... if there's a spare elevator put that into use. I think there's one more. 
Also... where's Eldrick?"

"Um... I show him asleep on the toilet."

"Is Noh-chan anywhere in the building?"

"Never scanned for it before so... there IS one with Eldrick... and the signal 
of another! fading from the runway."

"Can you activate Workbot?"

"Yep."

"Can you have it get into an Elevator and lock itself away?"

"Sending it your way now. It has Noh-ohki's key with it. Should it leave the key 
with you?"

"No. I'm trusting it has internal sensors to tell Eld from a fake."

"I don't know it's mechanics. Should be a safe bet."

Workbot walked passed Gala and got in the Elevator and then the elevator 
obviously pulled BACK and away and was quickly replaced. Gala shook her head to 
clear it."Oh the physics! My head."

"Try not to think about it. the Elevator shaft if a vertically aligned 
quasidimension wrapped along a string constant. It stops at the floors... or at 
the elevator doors on each floor without moving parts. Don't knock it."

"What the heck did you say?"

"I said something?"

"Um... are there any other emissions similar to the thing trapped in the other 
elevator car?"

"The other girl from the Gamer SexPit."

"Fawn?!"

"No... not Fawn silly. the Girl Margo brought for Charhon. D something."

"Time to fake a fire drill."

"We're safe from fire."

"Oh I mean something legendary."

"Ah... like the Dragon Slave."

"Yes. Here's what I need you to help with..."

ON THE SUB BASEMENT HOUSING LEVEL.

Margo sat and sighed as she watched Charhon wiggle and bob as she supped upon 
Desdreina's ample flower. Margo fell in love with Charhon all over again. It was 
all she could do to maintain her distance. .o0(Oh the sweet pain. I just want to 
lay by her under the stars staring into those reflecting pools she calls 
eyes.)0o.

Desdreina orgasmed loudly. Charhon didn't stop. Maiden D looked down,"You don't 
wish to swap?" Charhon couldn't hear her. She was busy. Desdreina orgasmed again 
soon after her legs involuntarily locking around Charhon's head. Minutes later 
she did again. And once more. A Fifth time.

Margo raised an eyebrow. This was... unique. Only Hope could go so quickly.

Then on their private telepathic channel...

-<[The pauses are fade outs.]>-

D6: Oh this is work. Um... Sisters... There's a... well... Thing with you. It's 
not the girl you bought... or whatever...

D3: Oh shoot. And she's... oh she's just... Mmm. Can we keep it anyway?

D5: No. Konei... how do we kill it?

D6: Um... Gala has a plan... to... tra...

D5: I think she's got a headache.

D6: TRAP. ow... my head.

D3: You're so knowledgable Margo.

D2: Gonna call her sempai?

D1: No flirting on the channel please. Bleah.

Charhon made it orgasm 3 times in as many bunches of 10 seconds. Desdreina 
placed her hand on Charhon's forehead and lightly pushed her away. "No more. I 
beg of you."

Margo nodded,"Enough Charhon. Your demon's tricks are no match for her delicate 
Elven palate. You don't wish to break her do you?" Margo tensed. "There's magic 
afoot."

Charhon stood,"I feel it too."

Desdreina looked faint,"A sorcerer has assailed your home?"

A voice boomed,"DARKNESS BEYOND TWILIGHT..."

Margo looked faint now,"You think Lina Inverse is mad bout that love potion we 
slipped her?"

Charhon fainted and Margo just managed to catch her. She scooped her up and 
leapt into the hallway and vanished she left saying,"I think she's coming down 
the stairs!"

Desdreina panicked and ran out of the room. She heard,"CRIMSON BEYOND BLOOD THAT 
FLOWS... BURIED IN THE STREAM OF TIME IS WHERE YOUR POWER FLOWS..." she ran full 
tilt towards the elevator with the sound of the chant following her... the light 
had even turned an eerie red all around her. "I PLEDGE MYSELF TO CONQUER... ALL 
THE FOES WHO STAND..." she spared a look back and crackling with power in the 
distance was Lina Inverse with her head back and floating. She looked before her 
and saw the elevator doors open far in advance of her arrival,"BEFORE THE MIGHTY 
POWER BESTOWED IN MY UNWORTHY HANDS..." She clenched back tears and suddenly a 
form leapt out of the Elf's heart. The formless shape flew all the faster as it 
heard,"DRAAAAAGONNNN SLAAAVE!!" there was a sound of a rumble but the spirit-
like being made it to the elevator. It shifted it's awareness back as the door 
closed. Des was standing unharmed and the Pixie Gala was asking if she was 
alright... DRESSES AS LINA INVERSE!

Alarm claxons rose and the Elevator was taken out of production temporarily.

Gala sighed,"Desdreina... you are lucky you don't watch Slayers."

"Why?"

"No reason. What do you remember?"

"A cackling sound about the time Lord Eldrick arrived to invite Nulise and Kae 
for sex. Then I don't remember anything until standing here."

"Well you go back a few rooms. Margo and Charhon are waiting for you."

She smiled brightly and her heart seemed to flutter. Des regally walked down the 
requisite number of doors and knocked. She curtseyed... and then got pulled 
into the room.

"I dunno... maybe I should get a copy of the script and pen myself in a... 
Gala... no. You didn't think that. It must be something in the air around here. 
I swear sex must be contagious. Maybe there are antibiotics I can take..."

UPSTAIRS

"So... it HAD gotten a hold of Eldrick... I feel like such a failure," Lady 
Kintaro murmured.

Joy patted her shoulder,"I was just so happy to see him... I didn't think."

Hope added calmly,"We all wanted him... there on the floor, and damn the 
onlookers," they looked at her with amused faces,"What? It is the truth."

Joy spoke into her Eldy Plushie like a microphone,"Blue Senshi needs love 
badly."

"Nothing wrong with that," she coughed ever so lightly.

Ami grinned then spoke "So... The Cabbit Key is locked away... Noh-ohki is still 
asleep... Eldrick is off chasing the false Noh who has taken over Gerard... and 
Margo and Charhon have a 'do not disturb sign' a mile wide. Ardice is still out 
with Fawn at that vampire picture marathon..."

Astrala broke in,"And I just made a truly delicious brownie recipe... that 
wards off whatever evil we have here. It does upset me that they can't enjoy the 
flavor if they eat one and banish themselves."

Haris took two and gulped them down,"They're great!"

Astrala brandished a wrench,"You could try savoring as well."

"I'll eat the next dozen slower I swear."

"Yeah well you'd better."

IN COMBAT OVERHEAD

The Aircraft have long since been discarded as too easy to damage. Two mortal 
warriors face off, hovering, waiting for the sign that it's midnight. One 
Warrior in Black and Green with a Red gem. The Other warrior in White and Grey 
with a Blue Gem.

The tableau is otherwise undisturbed.

(I'll finish it at home... almost done ^^)
(Home now - Note for Tribes Players. Suck it up. Just replace the colors to be
favorable to your favorite team color to play. No beating me up with "Viva la
Red Team." Gerard is Red because he's supposed to be the BAD Tekkaman here.)

Below a car honks and goes down into the garage, Blue looks and while distracted
Red calls out,"Tecknoblaster!" And lays waste to the airspace in front of him.
Red clenches a fist in victory.

All too early.

"Wrong series cupcake," says Blue behind him and raking his swordarang down
Red's back. "It's... Tekkablaster!" The hatches open and the blast hits Red
before he leaps out of the way. He is cracked and smoking but alive. His back
armor is in shambles.

"Hmm no more sneaking up behind people for you."

"You're right. Now... let me tell you where I'm going to hit you Red. Next in
the left knee. Remember. Left Knee."

"Can it blueboy!" And red throws his Axe which catches the swordarang when it's
used to block. Red pulls the weapon up and away from Blue. "Like to see you
attack now."

Blue tugs down on his weapon arm and the only thing Red sees is warning lights
for pain... to the Left knee as the swordarang is pulled back to Blue. "Nice Axe
btw... but it's not Gerard's inner weapon. So you're gonna lose."

"I said shut up! TEKKABLASTER!" the charged blast streaks out and blue simply
rockets backwards out of the way. Red Appears behind him and pulls the axe back
to strike. Blue vanishes. Red... hits himself for all intents and purposes with
the tekkablast putting a crack in his master Gem.

"You didn't see that a mile away? You must be bad at tic tac toe."

"I'll kill you with my bare hands!" Red fires his thrusters and lances out in a
glow of brilliant energy. Blue answers the challenge by firing his thrusters.

The 2 are rocketing towards each other and Blue Calls out,"I can't kill my
friend!" and veers off. Red won the game of chicken and shudders to a stop. His
suit can't take much more stress. Red spikes Blue in the back as Blue looks
shaken that they'd almost collided. Blue loses his weapon and plummets!

Red cackled,"I have you now!" and thrusts in a burst down on Blue.

Blue is sent streaking to the ground! Blue radios,"Look behind you."

Red turns and the swordarang on it's nanothin tether... smashes into his master
Gem casting fragments everywhere. The armor... and indeed the transformation
itself rip free of Gerard who wakes and for a second looks like he expects to
die. Blue Catches him however, and the remains of the false Noh. And after they
pick up the Mecha. They head for home.

HALLOWEEN NIGHT and PARTY

"Hey big guy tell us again how you won and lost at the same time!"

Gerard -dressed as Jadeite- smiles at the gaggle of young -obviously combat
thirsty- boys,"I've never even watched Tekkaman you see... So... when The
Commander and I faced off..."

Ami in her official uniform though the norms at the giant park party didn't know
that smiled at Konei,"He's good with young boys isn't he?"

"Well they think alot alike you know," she giggles,"With their fists or their
pants."

"Konei... someone might hear you."

"Oops," she smiles and blushes. "Oh had you heard the news?"

"Hmm?" Ami looked back at her friend.

"Well... Gerard and Eldy don't know what happened in the garage. Just me you and
Gala. Sinful having such fun knowledge eh?"

Ami chuckled,"Well you enjoy your evil powers over men's minds. I gotta make
E... Diana Silverbow step out of that vest... it's ruining hi... her
presentation of costume."

"Bye! I'll keep my evil powers to myself!"

Ami waved at Hope who was giving a mock -ha!- lecture on how to identify if your
friends might be... possessed by evil forces! Thought he only evil in the park
that night was the wind. The 50 or so Tuxedo Mask look-a-likes didn't seem to
mind however. And about 4 of them couldn't get enough.

These were the element Diana was cloaking herself from. "Hey Ami."

"Tonight it's Kintara... Mistress of Mirth. So Miss Silverbow... why the vest?
It's not cold," speaking of mirth it was dancing in her eyes.

"That on there of the 4 has tried to pick me up 10 times in as many minutes. I
came over here and put on the vest and he stopped bugging me."

Ami looked the vest over it said "Crickets" on the back,"Um... Diana...
that's... a Crickets vest. They ... um... traditionally... kill men who try to
date them. That's the street rumor."

Diana slipped out of it and put it where she got it with a nice pat. There was a
flash as she bent over but she just had to let it go. "Well besides the fact I'm
fanservice central... I'm glad my non-House victims understood the whole Youma
possession issue when explained to them."

Ami smiled,"Well the youma WAS all about pleasure. You didn't leave the people
with anything to really complain about. A few asked for your number."

"Don't remind me... all guys... and one of them very very unstraight. I hope
that doesn't get back to bother Max."

"Mr. Nagisa had nothing but praise at least. In his fanfic he was the token gay
man who'd never get anywhere."

Diana groaned. Ami giggled,"Sorry forgot about the 'I don't wanna know who'
rule."

Diana sighed,"I forgive you," Diana scanned the crowd. Senshi -real or imagined,
or outright made up-, Tuxedo this or that's, Generals of the Moment and Lemures
everywhere. He spotted Joy... or Sailor PomPom Cheerily with her pompoms tied
into her hair and her sometimes green sometimes yellow fuku motif; Hope who
looked back with the oddest expression; The Lei Senshi... Ardice looked Bizarre
in a grass skirt of many colors.; Konei of course looks like she was born to
Hula totally skirt and hula girl become one kinda thing with real coconuts;
School Girl Margo was even harder to contemplate than Ardice in a lei...; Washuu
came as herself... err Professor Tomoe; There were the Real Senshi as themselves
of course; Nulise and Kanaetalina came as the Ruin Explorers people... Nulise
looked cute in the Mouse Ears. Of course he couldn't SAY that and live; Haris as
another member of the school of magic... as the back of the school girl outfit
proclaimed; Jo Insei as Big Momma with Kasumi and Sunahama as the Misu sisters
was a bit of a '*blink* The heck?' event; Strawberry as Future Neo Princess
Serenity talking with Sailor ChibiMoon almost broke her mind to watch.
.o(Pancake bills double if there were 2 of them!)o.; of course Gerard came as
Jadeite... with a Captains hat on for some reason.

That covered everyone she knew directly. She was aware that many people in the
(Neo)Variable Geo competition were here dressed as various and sundry. Primarily
she knew ONE Daimon and one Kaolinite from watching them on the screen once.

Then the tone of the party had a slight shift as... The Fabrics came full of 
smiles and waving as if they knew people -in a friendly manner- and were dressed 
as... the Amazoness Quartet. It looked odd to see 'age progression' photos come 
to life. Well height progression anyway.

Some of the kids flocked to them cause the kids were flocking to all the
weirdos. Kids will be kids. And Some could be heard regaling the AQ with stories
of meeting them in parks and stuff. Ami sighed and worried visibly. Diana
decided she should walk over.

"The Amazoness Quartet. Very elaborate."

'PallaPalla' shook her head,"PallaPalla prefers being called an Asteroid Senshi.
These outfits were just easier."

Diana smiled,"Can I talk to you for a second? You're up to your neck in kids the
least."

"Sure," she looked uneasy. Especially when she recognized Joy at the party.

Away from the racket a little more Diana opened her mouth to speak but was
interrupted,"Yeah I know. No invitations. But I don't recall any floating about.
We just... need a break today. Cliche I know. But we got thrown out on our
butts... and a party seemed epic. Plus we've been living in the park for a while
now. Hard to get jobs."

Diana nodded,"Well when you're wanted that happens."

Her eyes widened,"Still? But we got fired. He doesn't want us. We came to BEG
Joy to take us back."

"Ah... well you should talk with her. Not me."

Joy sighed,"I'm listening," from behind 'PallaPalla'.

Diana quit the scene. She sighed when she was back where she's left Ami only to
find Ami was off chatting with other party-goers. .o(So how's the party in
there)o.

.(You're messing up my poker face.).

.({Knew you were bluffing, Darsh!}). chuckled Gala.

Lady Silverbow smiled... then scanning the crowd again breathed a sigh of
relief. Joy was introducing people to the AQ. There was peace again at the
party.

Sailor Uranus approached,"So what's your name?"

Diana blanked for a second worried she was about to get picked up,"Bootleg
Sailor, Diana Silverbow."

"That some kind of pirate? You into... plundering?"

"Well... no... actually."

"So... why all alone, Hmm?" She asked standing beside Diana and looking over the
crowd,"Waiting for someone?"

"Well... yes. Max Sterling was supposed to show up as Bootleg Mask. But the
parties so far into swing," she turned to Uranus,"he'll be all wound up when the
party ends..." Uranus looked bothered,"Something wrong?"

"You're boyfriend likes to sleep naked in his room when people bring him mail
that's built up for the past several months. Though I think my friend enjoyed
it," she looked ready to chew steel,"Popular boys..."

"Oh... Max isn't my boyfriend. I'm a friend of a friend of his. I was gonna say
hi and ask him how his commission went."

Uranus blinked,"Commission?"

"It's why he was gone," Diana tried to sound open and mobile while at the same
time keeping contained and unfanservicey,"The financial backer for the Party...
Eldrick Tobin... commissioned a portrait out of him. Sad thing his art hasn't
been the same since."

"Uh... poor Sterling I guess," Uranus smiled,"So... you're so far from the
beverage stand... can I get you anything?"

A new voice chimed in,"Perhaps we can both go get her something, Sailor Uranus."

There was a well masked 'eep' then Uranus placated with,"I was just being
sociable. Poor girl looked almost abandoned to the winds."

Neptune looked over at Diana,"Yes... her outfit could blow away any second."

Diana smiled,"Oh it's almost glued on. It'll be hell to remove later."

"Glad to hear that."

"Have YOU seen either the backer... or Max Sterling? I'm dying to know about
this picture that was so hard to do that poor Max is talent bereft."

Neptune looked intrigued,"No. I hope you find one of them to slake your
curiosity."

Diana curtseyed,"Pleasure meeting you."

"A pleasure."

Diana went to the drink carts as fast as she calmly could. And had some
pineapple juice. She almost smacked into Sailor Venus when trying to walk back
to where she'd been eyeing the event for trouble. "I didn't get any on your
outfit did I?"

Sailor V smiled,"Still dry. Say... was Max Sterling supposed to be here?"

"I've been looking for him myself."

"Really?"

"Well yeah. I heard his drawing skill took a nose dive. Where are my manners
though... Diana Silverbow, Bootleg Sailor. I'm a friend of a friend of Max's."

V-chan seemed happier,"Oh I see. I helped deliver Max's built up mail the other
day," she got her conspiratorial face,"I don't know about art talent but..."

"He wasn't naked was he?"

"As the day he was born."

"Wow," .o(Must get spring on door fixed.)o. "You didn't see much did you?"

"All of it. Don't tell him though. He's the embarrasable type. According to a
friend of mine."

"Yeah he's bad about that." .o(Work on embarrassment factor in self.)o.

.(Noted).

"Who said that?" asked the blond senshi.

"Weird the sounds the wind can make huh?"

"Well if you see Mr. Sterling... could you tell him I said hi... err wait. Don't
say that," she giggled,"Drink's getting to me. Talk to you later. Wait are you
staying in town?"

.o(Think fast)o.

.(*somehow doesn't exit the ear* Turn on the Lying Engine!).

"Yeah at that friend we knows place, so I'll probably see you around again."

Venus smiled and continued off scanning the crowd, until a Sailor Moon waved her
over.

.o(Who ELSE walked in?)o.

"Excuse me Miss... but you KNOW Max Sterling?" came a male voice behind her.

"Um... yes Mr..." .o(Mailguy. Oh crap.)o.

"My friends call me Fiore. I deliver the mail in Max's Area and I've been
wondering how he is. I saw he's back home which is a relief. I'd... hate to lose
a person on my route."

"He's... sex... FINE... he's fine. Only pret... PROBLEM... only problem" Diana 
stared into her pineapple juice and continued,"is the commission did a number on 
his talent. He's not the artist he used to be I hear. I haven't talked to him 
yet since I'd heard though. Anything you want me to," she looked up then 
around,"tell him? Hmm... gone."

.(I'm prettier than he is.).

.o(Oh no you're not.)o.

.(I'll pretend I didn't hear THAT.).

.({Hehehe}).

.(Oh can it and play.).

The rest of the party was fairly safe and normal... till the kids went home and
people from other halloween parties started arriving on some rumor that it was a
happening spot. Then it became how you hear Renaissance Festivals and Star Trek
conventions get after hours. But it was pretty much all clean if weird fun. Like
when Jadeite arrived naked as a jaybird and took the Captains Hat from Gerard,
and started acting like he owned the biggest ship on the ocean.

Not to mention when Washuu spiked the punches with her latest invention... but
that's another story.

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                                        "Cast" Addendums

There shouldn't BE any... everyone should be an old character *looks left and
right* really.

Even the cube is an old character... you just haven't seen him yet ^.^;

*new text* As for the Clerk... he's old too... but I don't expect his work to
have been read as he's not an Arcer... or I guess he is NOW... Poor Bastard...
now he's an Arcer... he should be thankful I have no PLANS to use him outside
the early morning shift at Henshin Dynamics.

http://ranchan1_2.tripod.com/casts.html was used for bits you can easily figure
out if you click. These people spent time and deserve some of yours ^^ Of course
the Dragon Slave is copyright someone else and I lay no claim.

Fiore - First appears in Sailor Moon in the R Movie. He is Max Sterling's Postal
Worker. It's not another Author. It IS Fiore. How or Why is a mystery.

The Jadeite with the Captains Hat thing is a bit of a long story. Just laugh
it's funny ^^

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