Moonstone - Chapter 15
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Donna strutted out onto the stage of the Blue Vixen clad only in a T-shirt and a snug pair of panties.  Nothing about her would suggest she had been a 40-something guy named Duncan only a day before.  Her face was a pretty, feminized version of Duncan's.  Her HH-cup chest was most emphatically not male.  Most of the audience didn't look further.

Donna's attitude as she prowled the perimeter of the stage had nothing of Duncan in it either.  He would have found the hungry, leering looks intimidating.  Donna found it exhilarating - knowing that all eyes were on her luscious body, that she inspired the emotions she could practically feel roiling off the crowd.  There was an excited buzz to the masses - she was a little surprised there were no wolf-whistles or catcalls.  As she stepped into the shallow onstage pool, that buzz quieted to an anticipatory hush... then exploded into cheers and applause as Ana poured a bucket of water over Donna's chest.

Donna barely noticed the chill from the lukewarm water, buoyed as she was by the adulation of the crowd.  She took another turn around the stage, smiling, waving and blowing kisses to one guy or another.  Too soon, Ana was guiding her down the stairs and off the stage to where another girl waited with a huge towel.  They walked her to the darkened back tables where the other contestants were gathered.  Judging by the looks she was getting from all the girls (except Kate), Donna figured she'd done quite well.

Donna took a little time to look around.  The contestants were gathered around a couple of tables away from the stage, in a dimmer area.  More tables were scattered between the bar and the stage, and a shallow ledge ran around the perimeter of the out-thrust octagonal stage.  A good chunk of the crowd was perched around the stage, talking among themselves as they awaited the next performance.  To the sides, there were steeply raked tiers of seats, all affording a good view or the stage.  What impressed Donna most was the decor - it wasn't tacky or worn.  The fittings were brass and oak, well kept.

Just then, a smooth male voice rang out over the crowd.  "Thank you for your patience.  We have our four finalists - they'll be out again for your viewing pleasure in one hour for the showdown.  Please give a hand to Kate, Zoey, Tess, and Donna!"  Ana nudged the named girls back to the stage.  All but Tess were eager to go up and wave to the crowd.  Tess blushed a bit, and was the first to break for the green room.

The four finalists waited in a corner, watching the bustle as the performers got ready and took their turns on the stage.  Donna tried to strike up a conversation, but was met by cold stares from two of the girls, and a shrug from Kate.

The nervous wait ended soon enough.  This time, Donna was first onto the stage, and Kate the last.  Donna was pretty happy with her repeat performance, and practically danced to the back tables to wait.  It was pretty obvious why Zoey and Tess had been cold.  They were a little stilted on stage, though Tess' blush made her even cuter.  The crowd's reaction was muted compared to what Donna had gotten.  Kate did well, as Donna expected, getting a rousing cheer when she was doused.

Kate grinned at Donna when she got to the table.  "What did you think?"

Donna smiled back.  "You looked comfortable up there."

Kate nodded.  "I love showing off."

The announcer's voice came on again.  "Please give a big round of applause to our runner-up... Kate!"

Kate bounded up to the stage eagerly, not waiting for Ana to lead her.  Once the applause and cheers died down, the PA boomed out again, "And now our wet T-shirt contest winner - Donna!"  

As Donna danced her way up to the stage, she barely registered the next comment.  "Hopefully we'll be seeing lots more of both of these lovely ladies."  She did hear the crowd cheer, though.  Standing in front of them, grinning like a fool, she felt great!

Somewhat later, Rowan was counting bills into Donna's hand.  When she stopped far short of the prize total Donna looked up, puzzled.  "You didn't read the fine print, did you?"  Rowan asked.  "Nobody ever does."

Donna sighed softly.  "What did I miss?"

Rowan looked off to one side, reciting from memory, "the contest organizer - that's me - may at their discretion opt to pay the prize in installments of no less than one-fourth the prize total."

"Installments?" Donna asked.  "What do I need to do to get them?"

"Just what you did tonight - a wet T-shirt show.  Not a contest, just you up on the stage.  Come in the next three Saturdays, and you'll pick up a share each time."

Donna grinned. "That's all?  Doesn't sound too bad.  Why do it that way?"

Rowan grinned.  "You'll figure it out.  See you next Saturday - come by about eight, we'll work you into the rotation."

Donna tucked her first share of the prize money away safely.  "See you then."

Rowan showed her out the back exit, so she could avoid the crowd.

Once she was home, Donna hugged her wife excitedly.  "I won, I won!"

Sidney smiled tolerantly and disentangled herself from the hug.  "I'm glad.  Could you change back, please?"

Donna looked a bit taken aback, then laughed.  "Right.  Of course.  Lots of time left before the Moon sets... I'll be back in a bit."

Once he was male again, and had patted himself down to confirm that he had all the right bits in the right places, Duncan emerged from the bedroom to hug his wife properly.  This time she didn't push away.  "Much better," she purred.

"Sorry about earlier," Duncan said.  "I wasn't thinking.  Too used to being Donna."

Sidney offered a half-smile.  "I didn't mind all that much, it was just the surprise."

"Ah?  Good to know, because..."

"What?"

"Well, the prize gets paid in installments.  On Saturdays.  I have to show up as Donna, and do the wet T-shirt thing again."

"Again?"

"Not as a contest.  Just as a... well, as a show.  I think I was pretty popular, so they're going to use that?"  Duncan shrugged.  "I don't know why."

Sidney sighed, and shrugged.  "We need the money."

The week passed in something of a blur for Duncan.  He tried to focus on the usual grind of job hunting and applications, but it all faded into the background as he thought forward to the coming Saturday.

Duncan did find time to go visit Pauline and pay for the bra and panties that had helped shape his prize-winning body.  While he was there, Pauline asked quite innocently, "Will you be needing some spares?"

Duncan stared at her for a while, chewing on that.  "I'm... not sure, yet.  Maybe."

Pauline nodded sagely.  "Did you have fun?"

Duncan's eyes sparkled.  "Oh yes!  I thought I'd find the crowd intimidating, but I remembered what you said and suddenly it all seemed so exciting!  I felt like I was born to be on that stage.  Is that odd?"

Pauline shrugged.  "Some people are naturals.  You... hm.  Did you have the Moonstone with you?"

Duncan shook his head.  "Of course not.  I'd worry about losing it, and about others accidentally changing themselves."

Pauline chuckled.  "I don't think it would be accidental.  Rowan can keep it safe it you decide to bring it one night, she's very trustworthy."

"How do you two know each other, anyway?" Duncan asked.

"Oh, I've made outfits for Rowan and her girls for ages."  She smiled.  "It's fun work, and my materials costs are tiny."

Duncan laughed at that.  "I bet."

Friday night, Duncan checked his favorite website for moonrise and moonset data, to double-check when the Moon would set and rise on Saturday.  As he already knew, the Moon would set mid-afternoon, and not rise again until close to midnight.  He would have to change in the morning, or at least by lunch.  He didn't even try to talk Sidney into letting him change the night before...

Sidney sighed a bit when she saw how busty her husband had become at lunchtime.  Donna shrugged.  "The Moon is my mistress."

"What are you going to do next Saturday?"

Donna's eyes went wide.  "That's the new Moon!  I'll have to skip that week.  Hopefully Rowan won't mind."

Sidney chuckled.  "Just tell her it's that time of month.  She'll understand."

"About the moon?"

"No, silly.  The other that time of month."

"Ohh...  Ew."

Sidney chuckled all the way through lunch.  Courtney asked what was so funny, but that just made her laugh harder.

At the club, Donna was intercepted at the door by Ben, one of the club's barrel-chested bouncers.  His steely gaze was keeping the line well under control.  He pointed Donna toward the same passage she'd used the first night, and as she approached the door she heard the buzz-click of the door unlocking.  Nice trick, she thought.

The green room was as chaotic as ever, but Rowan spotted Donna as soon as she entered.  "Hi, Donna!  You're early.  Just find a spot somewhere, I'll call you when you're up.  Probably around nine."

Donna grinned, and nodded.  She shucked out of her winter jacket (Duncan's heavy wool coat fit her well enough), and stripped down to get rid of her bra.  Nobody paid her the slightest attention, which made her grin.  She pulled on one of her white T-shirts, and perched in a corner to just watch the chaos.  There didn't seem to be anyone in the private dressing rooms this week, and she asked Ana about that.

Ana shrugged.  "No headliner this week.  I think Rowan figures the T-shirt winners will be enough draw."  She looked Donna over.  "She's probably right, if word of mouth got around.  Damn, where'd you get tits like that?"

Donna looked down nervously.  How could she even try to explain the magic of the Moonstone?  While she was blushing, Ana laughed, and moved on to get ready for her own shift.

When Rowan looked momentarily free, Donna approached her to ask about skipping the next Saturday.  She didn't even have to start into her prepared excuse, Rowan just nodded.  "Not a problem."  Donna smiled gratefully, and retreated to her perch.

Donna watched everyone prepare.  She spent some time analyzing her own reactions to them - there were half-naked women all around her, and she knew Duncan would be doing his level best not to stare - and failing.  But for her... it was just more bodies.  Pretty ones, sure, and she appreciated that.

While she was mulling that, someone tapped her on the shoulder.  She turned to look, but nobody was there.  "Hi!" called Kate from her other side.

Donna laughed.  It'd been years since anyone had tried that on her.  "Hey, what are you doing here?"

Kate shrugged off her coat, revealing a white T-shirt underneath.  "Same as you, I bet."  She contorted and wriggled, and soon her bra emerged from under the shirt.  "We're up pretty soon, I hear."

"Installments, huh.  How many?"

"Just the one, more's the pity.  You?"

"Four.  Well, three additional ones."

Kate grinned.  "You get to do two more performances?  Lucky..."

Rowan took that moment to make her presence known.  "You don't have to wait on an invitation.  You can come by any time, and we'll fit you in.  Assuming you're willing to dance topless, that is."

Kate grinned.  "Cool.  Maybe I'll try that tonight."

Rowan smiled.  "We'll talk after you two have had your turn getting doused.  Kate, you're up next."

Donna watched Kate head up to the stage, and mentally tried to prepare herself to meet the crowd.  Sure, it had gone smoothly last week, but somehow... the butterflies were back, in strength.  Somehow, Rowan seemed to know, and whispered familiar words of encouragement as she was leading Donna up to the stage.  "Love the attention, love your body, and they'll love you.  You'll do fine."

Donna recited it to herself as she took the last steps into the lights.  Then she saw the crowd, and her fears melted away.  She grinned, and prowled the stage.  The water was colder than last week, but the cheers were louder, too.  She had a blast.

Backstage again, Donna dried off beside Kate, who started trying to rope her into the idea of doing a double act.  "Come on, it'll be fun.  We go out together, do our thing on either side of the stage, and meet in the middle.  Then, just as Ana's lifting up the bucket of water, we both strip our shirts off instead.  They'll go nuts!"

Donna grinned.  "You're on!"