Moontouched 28

“We are here today to celebrate the lives of three of our own,” said Rowan to the small crowd gathered at the Blue Vixen.  She lit candles in front of three pictures, as there’d been nothing left of the dead to even fill an urn.

“Olivia Hanson, who we knew only too briefly.  Wendy Baxter, a bright spirit snuffed out far too soon.  And finally, Jennifer Adams...”  Rowan’s voice broke on that one.  “She will be dearly missed, every day.”

“What about Liana?” called out one of the dancers in attendance.

Rowan looked over to Donna, who sighed, wiped a tear, and stepped up beside the older woman.  “Liana died with the others, but was brought back from the edge.  She is recovering from what she went through.”  Her eyes sought Zoey’s, silently asking a question.  The younger dancer shook her head, so Donna let it drop.  “In time, she’ll be back among us again.”

Rowan encouraged others to speak.  Several of Wendy’s friends talked about her, with the phrase ‘larger than life’ coming up more than a few times.  Everyone had a kind word to say about Jenna, of course, as she had been a fixture at the club for years.  Nobody spoke for Olivia, not until Zoey herself came forward.

“I... I didn’t see Olivia when I was... captured,” said Zoey.  “The last person to see her was Wendy.  She said that Olivia had been brave at the end.”  Zoey shook her head, and wiped away a tear.  “It’s not fair.  She’d just figured out who she was, and now she’s gone.”

Donna looked away guiltily, despite the fact that there’d never been anything she could have done for Olivia, or Wendy for that matter.  

“Not fair?  Not fair was losing Jenna a week after I proposed to her.”

Donna’s head snapped around to the new speaker.  “Leo?  I didn’t know...  Oh, god, I’m so sorry.”

“What happened?”

Donna sighed, closed her eyes, and started telling the story once again.  She didn’t notice the room going quiet around her as she recounted the early part of the fight with the entity under the hospice.  After she told of Jenna and Liana's deaths she hung her head.  “I had no idea what I was getting into.  I was able to protect Gwen, but not the others.  I'm sorry.”

“You said you felt something leave Jenna as she died?” asked Leo, softly.

“I don't know what you'd call it.  I hesitate to claim it was her soul, but... it was some essential part of her.  I don't know where it went, either.”

“But it was... intact, when it left?”

Donna nodded.  “Yes.  Something of what she was carried on.  From what I can tell from Liana's case, it represents at least part of what she was.”

“Could you find it again?” Leo asked, urgently.

“I don't know, Leo.  My gut says it would be a very bad idea to go after it.  Don't think of going and playing Orpheus, either.”

Leo sighed sadly, and nodded.  “Thank you.”

“For?”

“Being there.  Being here.  Letting me know she... that there is something after.  I feel better knowing that for sure.”

Donna patted his hands.  “You're welcome.  And thank you, as well.”

Leo cocked his head and looked at her curiously.

“Not everyone can be saved.  I was beating myself up over that, but you... well, seeing you accept it has made my burden a little lighter.”

Leo shrugged, and turned away.  “She’s still dead.”

Donna winced at that.  She headed for the exit, but Rowan intercepted her.  “Before you go, could you talk to Zoey?  Arwen wanted to see her, but I couldn’t get her to agree to it.  She might be willing to go with you.”

“Sure.  I suppose I could do that.”  Donna’s breast mumbled something, and she freed Gwen from the confines of her bra.

“Hey Rowan, can we ask a favor in return?”

Rowan chuckled softly.  “Of course.  Are you OK like that?  I miss my favourite dancer.”

Gwen’s smile dimpled the sides of Donna’s breast.  “You say that to all of us.  I’ll be back soon enough.  I’m kind of enjoying the break from everything... for now.”

“Good.  If you need any help replacing things from the fire...  I could talk the boss into advancing you some money against your future earnings here.”  Rowan looked a bit put out when Gwen started to giggle.

“Oh, that won’t be an issue.  Donna’s helped me out there, and then some.”

“Oh?”

Donna shrugged.  “Money really isn’t an issue any more.”

“Ah.  So what was the favour you wanted to ask, then?”

“Can we borrow the genie bottle until the next full Moon?  I want to try something with Donna’s marbles.”

Rowan looked puzzled, but nodded.  “I don’t see any reason why not.”  When no further explanation was forthcoming, she bustled off to go fetch it.

Donna sought out Zoey, and asked how she was doing.  Zoey just sighed, and shook her head.  “This whole situation sucks.  I want to be on the inside again, and Liana wants to be on the outside.  But we’re stuck as we are for a month, right?”

“Yup.  You’re really that eager to go back to being a boob?”

“Please say you can do something.  Anything.”

Donna sighed, and shook her head.  “I’m all tapped out, sorry.  Though... there is something I could try, but it would have to wait until tonight.”

“Fine.  I can wait a few more hours.”

“And you have to promise to come see Arwen with me.”

Zoey looked a bit resentful about that.  “She’s just going to try to persuade me to stay human again.  I won’t!  I can’t.  I don’t want any of this.”

Donna patted her on the arm, which made a soft ‘clunk’ as Donna’s hand hit the titanium underneath.  “I’ll change you into whatever you want next month.”

Zoey looked wary.  “What if Liana isn’t ready by then?”

“I’m sure someone else can use an implant.  Maybe I could turn you two into a matching set.”

Zoey actually giggled at that.  “Liana says she’s game to try it, but only for a night.”

“C’mon, let’s get out of this depressing crowd and go see Arwen.”

Rowan grinned as she approached Donna.  “I thought you could persuade her.  Here.”  She handed the silver filigreed genie bottle over, and gave each woman a hug before they left.


Arwen was happy to finally see Zoey, and smiled apologetically at Donna.  “Can you wait for a bit?”

“Actually,” Gwen spoke up from under Donna’s dress, “perhaps we should do this together.  After all, we both have similar issues...”

“I don’t mind,” said Zoey.  “I’d like the company, really.  I don’t want you to browbeat me into staying human.”

Arwen raised an eyebrow.  “Is that what you think of me?  So crude as to fight against a client’s inner nature?”

Zoey looked at the floor.  “Well, no.  I just...  I can’t keep doing this.”

Arwen gestured for them to sit.  “Doing what, exactly?”

Donna sat next to Zoey on the couch, while the latter softly said, “Being human.  I’ve been stuck like this for three days now, and I hate it so much I could just scream.”

“Then scream,” said Arwen as she took a seat across from them.  “Go ahead, the room is soundproofed.  Nobody will hear.”

Zoey’s eyes widened a bit.  “That sounds kind of creepy.”

Arwen laughed.  “I know.  It’s true, though.  It’s there mostly for privacy.”  After waiting a few moments for a scream that never happened, Arwen continued.  “What would you scream about?”

“I was happy.  Being Liana’s insert, that is.  I didn’t have to worry about where to go or what to do.  Or even eating.  I forgot to eat for the first day, until I was dizzy with hunger.”

“There are challenges to being human,” conceded Arwen.  “But also rewards.  Right, Gwen?”

Donna’s breast sighed.  “I guess.  My perspective is a little bent just now.  I do miss eating a good meal, and I’d kill for half an hour of alone time with my favourite vibrator.”

Everyone snickered at that, and the conversation continued in a more genial fashion afterward.  Arwen suggested some relaxation exercises for Zoey, and after ten minutes of trying Liana spoke for the first time in days.  While happy to be able to speak, she was still very confused.  Her memories were in tatters, everything except for her time with Zoey.  Arwen promised to help her work on recovering and rebuilding them, while Donna just stared off into the corner guiltily.

“C’mon, Donna.  You saved her life.  Stop beating yourself up over it,” murmured Gwen.

“But at the cost of the memories that made her... well, her?  Doesn’t seem like much has been saved.”

“Better than the alternative.”

Donna sighed heavily.  “I guess.  Do you want your body back, yet?”

“Nah.  When I do, I’ll let you know by stealing it back.”

Donna giggled.  “You think you can take it so easily?”

“I know I can.  You’ve never been able to deny me anything.  The way you are now, I could probably turn you into a crystal to match Brunhilde, and pop you in the genie bottle before you could stop me.”

Donna swore under her breath.  “Do you think anyone with power could?  That’d be a big downside to this deal.”

“If we knew of anyone else, I’d suggest testing it... but I don’t think you want to give Brunhilde that kind of power.”

“Oh hell no.”

Arwen glared at them for talking over Liana. Donna apologized, and offered to leave.  “We’ll catch up later, doc.”

Arwen looked Donna over with a thoughtful eye.  “OK.  See you Monday.  You’ll be fine, just stop fretting so much.  Have some fun.”

Donna’s lips quirked into a half grin.  “I might just have to do that, once the Moon rises.”

First, of course, was another confrontation with Sidney.  Even given the reason, she wasn't happy that Duncan had gone back to the Blue Vixen, and the fact that every other possible venue for memorials was booked solid didn't carry much weight.  They dropped the topic over dinner, to maintain a semblance of normality for the kids.

Courtney was disappointed that she couldn't have a pony costume before bed.  The fact that the Moon was rising after she would be in bed was not subject to negotiation or wheedling.  What did help was Donna pointing out that in a few days the Moon would set late enough that she could have a costume in the morning.

“You shouldn't encourage her like that,” fussed Sidney once Courtney was abed.  “She'll want a costume every day.”

Donna shrugged.  “It takes so little to make it that it hardly seems fair to say no.”

“Duncan!  She's already gotten teased at preschool for talking about the things she's been.”

“It's not my fault that people have no imagination.”

“Yeah!” chimed in Gwen.  “You should be happy she's so creative.”

“I am,” agreed Sidney.  “But she barely even acknowledges that the other kids exist.  She isn’t making friends, and things like this give her even more to overcome.”

Donna sighed.  “I know.  But it makes her so happy.  How can I deny that?”

Sidney continued to grumble, and the argument went in circles from there.  Gwen eventually forced her to admit that she wasn't upset about the issue with Courtney, but with the return to the Blue Vixen.  When the Moon finally rose and robo-Duncan strolled into the living room, Sidney finally quieted down.  Donna left robo-Duncan on the couch with Sidney, watching TV.  As they headed to the door, Sidney pointedly asked if they were going to the Blue Vixen.

“I made a promise to Zoey, and I should make good on it before the Moon starts to set too late.  I won't stay long, and won't go dancing.  I promise.  I'll be back before your show is over.”

“Fine.”

Zoey was looking a lot better when she met them at the club.  She was getting much better at letting Liana have enough control to speak, though walking was still a work in progress.  Donna offered to make a giant breast costume for her, and Zoey considered it for a while.  When she heard that it would vanish by dawn at best, she shrugged and said she'd pass.  She was hoping to figure out how to hand off control to Liana permanently, and felt that working on that was more important than retreating into a shell.

“Good for you,” encouraged Donna.

A few other dancers asked if the offer of a temporary costume was still open, and Donna gave Nissa a very realistic looking head-boob for one dance.  Sandy and Erin clamored for another chance to be each other's clothing, but that was far more than Donna could manage without the Moon supporting her.  Shortly after that she accepted a round of hugs and headed home once more.

Gwen told Sidney what little there was to tell once her TV show was over, and offered Donna's costuming services.

“Wait, like that boob head thing?”

Donna shrugged.  “Or anything else that appeals.”

“I did kind of wonder what that would be like...”

Donna felt power tug at her, and yelped.  A bit of self-stuff spun itself into a tight pink hood around Sidney’s head, leaving her eyes and mouth exposed.  It puffed out into a perfect sphere, and a nipple covered her nose.

“Wha’d you do?” Sidney demanded, sounding as if she had a stuffed up nose.

Gwen and Donna giggled, though Donna tried to cover it up.  “It was her!”  Donna claimed.  “Stinker, you used my own power.  Hey, stop th...”  Donna’s voice cut out as the rest of her pulled out of Gwen’s body, spinning in the air between Gwen and Sidney.  After a moment it formed into a mirror, which Gwen took hold of.

“There,” she said from Donna’s face. “Have a look at my handiwork.”

“Whad did you do do Dungan?”

Gwen giggled again.  “She’s the mirror.  Just a mirror, nothing else.”  At those words, the boob-costume evaporated from around Sidney’s head, and swirled into the mirror.

“Just a mirror?  Why?”

“To show I could, mostly.  If she’s not paying attention... poof.”

The mirror disappeared, and Donna reformed herself as a mirror-skinned fairy fluttering in between the two women.  She put her tiny hands on her hips.  “That wasn’t very nice!”

“Maybe not.  But it was really funny!  I might be stuck as a boob, but you’re my silly-putty.”

Donna’s skin turned pink and shiny.  Curious, Sidney reached out to touch her, and half of Donna’s body squished into a lump in her hands.  “Go ahead,” squeaked Donna’s tiny voice.  “You know you want to.”

Sidney balled Donna up in her hand, rolling her into a perfect sphere.  “This is kind of fun,” she admitted.  The ball started to expand, and soon Sidney was holding a breast with eyes and a mouth.

“Funny, Gwen.  Real funny.”

“Aw, what do you know, you boob?”

Sidney snickered at that, and was soon giggling along with Gwen.  Donna laughed right along with them.  “See?” she asked once they calmed down.  “This can be fun.”

“Fun?  You've been turned into a breast against your will.  Gwen could turn you into anything.  A hairbrush, a... stop that!”  Sidney stared at the hairbrush in her hand, one with Donna’s frozen face gracing the back of it, and feminine curves down the handle.

Gwen giggled again, but stopped at Sidney’s look.  “You’re treating this as a toy.”

“Because it’s fun.  And ultimately harmless.  No matter what I do, the moment I lose focus...”

The hairbrush vanished, and Donna’s body’s expression altered into a grin that was all Donna.  “I get control,” she finished.

“Aww,” pouted Gwen from the body’s breast. “I was just getting used to that.”

“No nightmares?”

“Not yet.  Thank you so much for reminding me.”

“Fine,” said robo-Duncan from the other side of the couch.  “She’s yours for as long as you can keep it together.”

Gwen got up and moved to the loveseat as robo-Duncan snuggled up against Sidney.  “See?  Maybe this can work after all.”

Gwen managed to keep it together until about twenty minutes after robo-Duncan and Sidney had gone to bed.  Donna was back in her body in a flash, whispering reassurances.

The next night, at Gwen’s urging, Donna gathered up all the marbles the kids had taken from her box, and put them in the silvered genie bottle.  With luck, they’d still be potent after the new Moon.  While Donna was bemoaning the fact that there wasn’t enough of them to do very much, Sidney was simply alarmed.  Donna explained that the kids couldn’t have used the power in the marbles, that only someone like herself could free it.

The next few days were quiet ones.  Donna only left the house to see Arwen, leaving Sidney to do the grocery shopping while “Auntie Daddy” watched over the kids.  Arwen admitted having talked to some of the long-term changed women from Ray’s place, but wouldn’t give details.  She did reassure Donna that they were doing as well as could be expected.

Every evening, Donna would let Gwen play with her.  Sometimes Sidney would suggest ideas, but each time her words became Donna’s reality Sidney would startle and retreat into herself.

“How can you just... accept that?” she asked one night.  “Suddenly being something completely different because somebody said something?”

The lava lamp on the table reformed into a two foot tall Donna, then at a nudge from Gwen shifted further into Duncan.  “Because it’s fun.  I can turn myself into anything I imagine.  The thing is... that’s actually kind of limiting.  Other people come up with fun stuff, and can surprise me.  I like being surprised.”

“I didn’t like being surprised by becoming an eclair.”

“Really?” asked Duncan.  “Because that’s not how it seemed at the time.”

Sidney looked away.  “I don’t want to talk about this.”

“We should, though.  You’re afraid of... what exactly?”

Sidney sighed in frustration.  “I don’t know!  You’re messing with reality itself, isn’t that scary enough?”

Duncan grew to full height, and knelt in front of Sidney.  He took her hand.  “I have to live with it every day, now.  Change is my reality.  But change can be good, too.  Have some fun with it.  That last one was a blast, got any more ideas like that?  C’mon, I know you’re thinking something, I can see it in that grin you’re trying to hide.”

“I... I shouldn’t.”

“You should.  Please.  I won’t say no, no matter what it is.”

Sidney looked over at Gwen, a blush teasing at her cheeks.  “Can you leave us alone for... uh, about half an hour?”

Gwen grinned saucily.  “That gives me just enough time.  I’ll be in my bunk.”

Duncan snickered.  “Sure thing, Jane.  Don’t wear yourself out.”

As Gwen headed downstairs, Sidney looked a little surprised.  “Is she really going to...”

“Probably.  I’m going to try to ignore her for a bit.  She’s getting much better about avoiding the bad thoughts.  So just what did you want to turn me into that you didn’t want Gwen around for, hmmm?”

Sidney whispered something, her blush burning even brighter.  Duncan thought about teasing her into saying it out loud, but he knew what she wanted.  His body shrunk down and placed itself in her hands.  His face winked up at hers before it melded away into the sleek lines.  “Have fun.”

Sidney clutched him to her chest, and dashed into the bedroom.  “I will...”


The next day, Wednesday, Gwen drove robo-Duncan up to work.  The Moon was going to be up until nearly noon, and the last quarter was that day, so delaying further increased the risk that Duncan wouldn’t be able to keep control of his robotic self.  He collected a few bits of gear that would let him work on the prototype at home, then made his apologies to his boss.  They talked for a bit about why Duncan needed to work from home, and Duncan alluded to the events of the previous week, and how he’d been caught in the middle of it while trying to help a friend.  That got him some appraising looks, and the reassurance that he could take as long as he needed.

It was shortly after Duncan had his workplace in the basement set up that Gwen’s headaches started.  Duncan had been using Gwen’s body instead of robo-Duncan, to keep Gwen company, and at Gwen’s wince he frowned.  “Something’s wrong.”

Gwen sighed softly.  “It stopped.  What did you do?”

“I lost focus, too busy with the computer.  What did it feel like?”

“Can you give over for a bit?”

Duncan slipped out of Gwen’s body as a ghostly image of himself, then glanced over her shoulder at where the Moon would soon set.  “I can’t stay like this for long...”

“You... you may have to.  Look at your hands.”

Duncan stared down at them.  They were slowly turning to crystal, without him willing it.  “Well.  That’s going to be inconvenient.”