(TF, TG) Clothing etc

She was back.

She hadn’t been to the Lounge for a month. It hadn’t changed a bit.

She … well, she had changed quite a bit.

She’d put in her new septum ring tonight, a fancy fringed clicker that fit snugly in her nostrils.

Her hair was black, tied back in a ponytail, showing off the shaved sides of her head.

And her clothes …

A murmur went around the Lounge. Most of the regulars knew her by sight. They’d missed her.

“Anna!”

She came every Saturday to dance. She always came alone. Mostly she danced alone, too.

There were theories at the Lounge about that. Some said she’d been abandoned by a boyfriend and danced alone in defiance. Some said she had no friends on purpose. A few said she had plenty of friends and they were with her, turned into her clothes.

This last theory, oddly enough, was correct.

*

Three days earlier …

When the bus pulled into the city, Anna didn’t go to her cramped dorm at the college. Instead she made a beeline straight for Ava’s apartment.

“Anna!” her friend said, answering the door. “You’re back in town!”

“Ava! God, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed everyone.” The hug was close and tight.

“Anna! Anna sandwich!!” Melanie shot out of her room and joined the hug.

“Oof! It’s great to see you too, Mel!” Anna grinned.

From out of Melanie’s room emerged a small, black-haired girl with heavy eye makeup. She waved shyly.

“Um … hi? I guess you’re Anna. These two haven’t stopped talking about you. Anyway, I’m Sean.”

“Sean? Hi. Nice name for a girl … what did I say?” Anna said. Melanie was in hysterics.

“Um, I’m a guy,” Sean mumbled. “Usually.”

“Sean’s my boyfriend,” Melanie announced proudly, hugging Sean.

“Well, most of the time.” Sean murmured.

“Yeah, right now he’s my girlfriend.”

Anna looked at Ava. “Venn machines?”

Ava nodded, a big grin on her face. “Venn machines.”

“And your new … hairstyle? Venn machine?”

“What? This?” Ava ran a hand over her cropped head. “Nah. I just got bored with the pixie cut. Now I’m growing it out. Hey, where’s Bella?”

Anna smiled and pointed at the ring in her nose.

For just a second, Ava had not a clue what she was getting at. Then the light dawned. “That’s Bella? You turned your girlfriend into your septum ring?”

“And our luggage too. We only had to pay for one seat on the bus.”

“Well, that’s thrifty.” Ava broke into a grin. “Well, these two seem intent on getting back to business,” she said, indicating the canoodling Melanie and Sean. “What say you and I head to the mall’s Venn machines, change Bella back and go catch up on all the gossip at the cafe?”

*

Anna put down her coffee and stared. “You didn’t!”

“Afraid so,” Ava said.

“You turned yourself into a strap-on?”

Ava shrugged. “Sure, why not? You know what Melanie’s like - once she gets an idea into her head, there’s no getting it out. Besides, where else was she going to get one on a Wednesday night?” She broke into a grin. “And as I said, that’s how I met Sean.”

“Some introduction!”

“It gets worse.”

“How?”

“He’d been turned into a she, and they both used me.”

“You gotta admit, that sounds hot,” Bella said, ruffling her girlfriend’s hair. “Maybe we could try that sometime.”

“Oh hush! Being my nose ring wasn’t enough for you?”

“Hey, that’s what I wanted to ask,” Ava broke in. “How did you find a Venn machine where your parents live?”

“There was just the one.”

“Really? Even a town as small as that gets a Venn machine? I guess they really are everywhere now!”

“We venned her sister,” Bella said.

“Wow. What did she want to be?”

“Well, she had a list about a hundred items long, but we made her a pair of sunglasses,” Anna said.

“Good sunglasses, too,” Bella added. “Wish I had a pair of real sunglasses like that.”

“It must have felt weird, to have your little sister sitting on your nose.”

Anna giggled. “That it was. Actually, I didn’t want to venn her, but she insisted, and being a pair of sunglasses for your first venn was kinda cool.”

Ava took another mouthful of coffee. “So, Saturday night is Lounge night?”

“Absolutely! I’ve missed my dance nights, and I guess you guys have missed being my clothes.”

“Oh, we’ve fit in a few changes. I’ve been a bra for Melanie a couple of times.”

“I was a teddy for Anna,’ Bella grinned.

“Undies or plushie?”

“Actually, both.”

“Something I should mention,” Ava said. “If you’re going to wear us, you really should venn Sean as well.”

“Really?” Anna crinkled her nose. “I’m not sure how I feel about wearing a guy.”

“Well, it’s not as if clothing has gender,” Bella pointed out. “Unless you make him guy clothing, I guess.”

“I just mention it because he and Melanie are damn near inseparable. Venn one, you’ll have to venn the other, is my guess.” Ava shrugged. “Besides, he’s a cool guy. I like him. I think you guys will like him too.”

“Has he been clothing before?”

“Do you need to ask? I think Melanie venned him on the third date. And he’s worn her as a corset.”

Bella looked confused. “He wore a corset?”

“Would it make more sense if I told you he was a girl at the time?”

“Oh. One of those guys.” Bella nodded.

Anna drained her coffee mug. “We better get out of here. I’m getting sleepy. I didn’t snooze much on the bus, and the coffee doesn’t seem to be doing much.”

“Back to my place, babe?” Bella kissed the top of Anna’s head. “My brother’s probably working tonight, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”

“Or we could go straight to the Venn machines on the way,” Anna grinned. “I’ve enjoyed sleeping with my plushie.”

“Yeah, we could,” Bella said. “But that means you’ll be carrying all the luggage.”

“Oh heck. No, I need my big strong girlfriend to help me. Tomorrow, then.”

*

“So, does Anna being back mean dance nights are back on?” Sean asked.

She and Melanie were lying naked under the sheet, taking a break from some vigorous lovemaking.

“I hope so,” Melanie said happily. “Oh man, I’ve missed being worn.”

“I guess I’ll just stay home on Saturday, catch up on my reading.”

“What? No! You’re coming too!” Melanie jabbed Sean in the ribs. “You are going to look so cute as a dress. Or maybe we could be a pair of shoes. Or stockings - that’s always fun, being so light …”

Sean rolled over to her side to face Melanie. She was still getting used to doing so without squishing her boobs. “I don’t want to impose on anyone. I mean, I don’t really know her. She doesn’t know me.”

“She knows me. And she knows I’m not going to leave my boyfriend at home. Besides, I’m sure Ava will stick up for you.”

“Oh, OK.” Sean smiled at her girlfriend, and kissed her gently.

“So, uh … did you think about what I was saying last night?”

“About you being a girl for more than just the weekend?” Melanie shrugged. “That’s really up to you, hon. I love you whether you’re a boy or a girl.”

“Aw, thanks. You’re so sweet.” Another kiss, then another.

“Of course, you’ll know what I miss the most,” Melanie giggled.

“I can guess. Maybe I can be a she-male sometimes.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t joke about things you’re not prepared to do.”

“Who said I’m not prepared to do it? Or maybe we could swap being she-males - you seemed to enjoy having a penis last week …”

“Well, I was a guy at the time!” Melanie laughed. “And I seem to recall you enjoying it too.”

“Or maybe we could persuade Ava to become a dildo again.”

“Or what if I became a dildo? Would you use me?”

“Sure! But I’d miss kissing you.”

“Oh, you could still kiss me …”

“I think I’m getting turned on …”

“Well, let’s not put that to waste.”

*

Sean woke up about 5am. He’d reverted back to his male self - taller, heavier than his more petite female body. The shift woke Melanie, who was happy to see his penis return.

Afterwards he drifted back to sleep, to wake up about 8am. He had to work later that day, so he rolled out of Melanie’s bed and dressed as quietly as possible. He kissed the top of Melanie’s head; she mumbled something in response, then promptly went back to sleep.

He crept out of the room - and straight into Ava.

“Hey, Sean. I was just about to make some pancakes for breakfast. I think you better have some,” Ava grinned. “It sounds like you need to keep up your strength.”

Heat crept into Sean’s cheeks. “God, were we that loud?”

“Nah, not really. I just happened to be awake about dawn, and when Melanie starts … well, we’ve lived together for over a year and I know all the signs. Come into the kitchen.”

A few minutes later Sean was sipping tea while Ava poured pancake batter into a frypan.

“So, uh, Saturday …” he began.

“The Lpunge. Be here at six. Attendance is mandatory.” Ava deposited a stack of pancakes on his plate and turned back to the stovetop. “And no, I don’t know what clothes we’re going to be. Anna plays those cards pretty close to her chest. But trust me, they’re usually pretty … interesting.”

“I guess … uh, well, I’ve only been worn by Melanie,” Sean mumbled as he cut into the pancakes. “Being worn by some girl I hardly know … I hope it doesn’t freak her out.”

“Anna? Nah. Although I probably wouldn’t expect to be underpants the first time,” Ava said, cutting into her own pancakes. “She can be a bit shy, but she warms up quickly. Don’t worry about it.”

“Would it help if I was a girl?”

“Venn machines don’t work like that. When you get in, you’d just revert to being a guy anyway.”

“Oh.”

“But hey, dancing! If I know Anna, she’ll probably get us home about dawn. You won’t believe how good being clothes feels when you’re being worn by a dancer.”

An image of him and Melanie dancing at the Lounge flashed into Sean’s head. “Oh, hey, I’ve been meaning to thank you for being clothes for me the other night. I was really impressed you became everything …”

Ava chuckled. “I impressed myself. You’ve got to make everything a set. Being so many separate items - well, it was quite an experience.” She sipped tea. “I understand you guys had an experience of your own later.”

“If you’re referring to Melanie being a guy …”

“I think that’s a first for her, although I know a couple of girls who take turns to be each other’s boyfriends … Well, I hope you took precautions.”

Sean looked at her uncomprehendingly.

“Contraception?” Ava said with a frown.

“Uh, I didn’t know we needed any,” Sean said slowly. “Mel said we couldn’t get pregnant …”

“Oh God!” Ava snorted. “Sean, don’t take it personally, but your girlfriend is an idiot. Of course you can get pregnant when venned. Didn’t you read about that couple who gender-swapped, and the guy got pregnant to the girl?”

“But Melanie’s on the pill.”

“Which will do no good if you’re a venned woman and she’s a venned man. Trust me, take contraception if you’re gonna gender-play often. I’m too young to be Auntie Ava.”

“Sure.” Sean nodded vigorously. “Will do. Uh, I guess I better get going now. Thanks for breakfast.”

“My pleasure. Come on, I’ll see you out.”

*
Ava watched as Sean’s figure slouched off down the street. For a guy whose main physical activity was reading comics, he actually had a pretty good figure …

God, what was she thinking? He was her roommate’s boyfriend. And girlfriend.

She thought of herself, turned into a tight leather dress, black stockings, high heels, on Sean’s female body. She hadn’t asked Melanie if she’d taken photos of her like that. They usually did. Maybe she’d ask.

She turned to go back into the building and almost ran into Rachael. The fifty-something lived in the flat above them.

“Ava! Hi! I wanted to speak to you!”

For a second Ava panicked that Melanie and Sean might have kept Rachael up. Then she noticed Rachael’s grin.

“I got the promotion,” she said triumphantly.

“Fantastic! Congratulations!” Ava said. “That’s two years in London, right?”

“Yep. I’m going to be living in Camden Town. I leave next week.”

“Next week? That soon?”

“Yeah, the network really wants me there quick. But that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I need to sublet my apartment and I wondered if you knew anyone? I’m willing to rent it cheap.”

Ava opened her mouth to say no, then a thought struck her. Anna was stuck in a tiny dorm, and Bella was living with her brother. Both of them had been complaining how hard it was to get any private time - by which she presumed they meant sexy time.

Anna and Bella, living above her …

“Actually, I might know a couple who’d be interested,” she said thoughtfully. “I’ll see them today and sound them out.”

“Great!” Rachael said. “Are they like … you know?”

Ava laughed. “Yes, they’re lesbians too. Don’t worry, there won’t be any heterosexual sex going on in your apartment when you’re not there.”

“Fine,” Rachael grinned. “I mean, it would scare the furniture … Well, talk to them and let me know.”

“I will. And Rachael? Much thanks.”

*

Bella attempted to brush her death hawk up. No good.

She sighed. It had been far too long between haircuts. Maybe she’d ask Ava to clip her before the Lounge on Saturday. Anna had been talking about getting her own haircut too.

She pulled on jeans, sneakers and a hoodie.

Bryan was on his way out. Good. That was just the way she liked it.

“Hey, Bella. I saw your friend this morning.”

“I hope you were nice to her.” Bella glared at her brother, who spread his arms out.

“Of course I was! Anyway, it was just a hi and goodbye. She seems a bit different for you.”

“Different? How?”

“Not as … wild, I guess.”

“Oh, I think she’d surprise you.”

“Maybe. Oh, I’m headed to mom’s tonight if you’re interested in coming.”

The oh so casual way he’d dropped that into the conversation indicated the invitation was actually coming from their mother. And most likely she’d insisted on Bryan giving it.

“Will Chuck be there?”

“Well, yeah, of course. He lives there.”

“Then I’ll pass, thanks.”

Bryan frowned. “Look, he’s our stepfather, whether we like it or not.”

“Yeah. And I don’t like it.”

“Then don’t go for him. Go for mom’s sake.”

“She can always come meet me in the city.”

“She’s not gonna do that.”

“Not my problem.”

Bryan threw his hands up again. “OK. I’m just the messenger here.”

“Yeah, well, you know what happens to messengers. They get shot.”

Bella walked into the kitchen and rooted around for breakfast. A lone apple in the fruit bowl. That’d do.

She shouldn’t be so hard on Bryan. When Chuck had thrown her out of the house after discovering her with a girlfriend, she’d had nowhere else to go. He took her. He insisted she continue at college. He asked her for a minimal contribution to the rent. He was a good guy, really.

She was getting to hating his guts.

He was playing the peacemaker in a situation where she didn’t need a peacemaker.

God, she should really get her own place. With Anna sharing the rent, they could surely find somewhere.

Anna. The thought of her girl put a smile on her face.

She’d been her septum ring. It had felt amazing. She flashed on being a slick black catsuit for Anna.

She couldn’t wait for Saturday.

*

Sean stumbled through his workday at the bookstore. Thankfully there weren’t many people in here today. On the other hand, that wasn’t such a good sign. He needed this job.

His mind kept returning to what Ava had said.

He could get pregnant.

Hell, he might be pregnant. Melanie as a man hadn’t been firing any blanks.

And the weirdest thing was, the idea didn’t appall him.

He liked it.

He loved it.

The image of him as a woman - a pregnant woman, with a big belly, breasts swollen with milk, growing another person in him - was something he found exciting.

He pictured giving birth, Melanie and Ava around him, holding his hands as he pushed a little creature out. And a beautiful little baby suckling on his boobs …

Oh God. He wanted it. So very, very much.

Him and Melanie walking down the street, swinging their little daughter by the arms …

A tear came to his eye.

*

Anna knew it was rude to stare.

But hell, the barista was so fucking cool.

A thin girl, straggly dead-white hair, thick black glasses perched on her nose.

A thin T-shirt, no bra that Anna could see, and bumps that could only be nipple rings.

And a full sleeve of tattoos.

For some reason, the fact she had one arm totally tattooed, and the other completely clean, really hit Anna down below.

The barista looked up and caught Anna’s eye. She looked down into her mug.

I hope she doesn’t think I’m perving on her.

Well, wasn’t she?

No. I want to be her.

But for Anna, who was deathly afraid of needles, and not that fond of pain either … well, she’d almost chickened out of her septum piercing, and the piercer had assured it would be totally painless - her eyes would just water a bit. Which they had.

But a tattoo - just one, let alone a sleeve …

Of course there’s a way to do it - temporarily, at least, a little voice in her head said.

Venn it.

Just get into the Venn machine, let Bella or Ava loose on the interface, and …

No, no, no! I don’t want to be changed!

Oh, but you can turn your friends into clothes? Dress up in them?

That’s different. I’m the one … the one …

Yes?

The one in control.

Well, so what? You wouldn’t be turned into something inanimate, or an animal. You’d be you - just a little different …

Maybe …

“Um. Hi? You’re the girl, right?”

Anna’s duologue came to a screeching halt. She looked up to see the barista smiling.

“Uh … hi?”

“Sorry, I wasn’t making sense, was I?” the girl smiled. “I’ve been making coffee since six thirty. I meant, didn’t I see you at the Sin Sunday Sessions?”

That was a fetish club which met once a month. She had been there a couple of months ago, before her mom had called asking her to come home because her grandmother was sick.

Wearing Bella as a catsuit …

“Um, yeah. That was probably me.”

“Thought so.” Barista Girl nodded. “I hadn’t seen you in a while. Have you stopped going?”

“I had a family thing come up. But I’ll probably be at the next one.” Wearing lovely shiny latex.

“OK. I might see you there. I’m Kat, by the way. Spelt K-A-T.”

“Anna. Spelt exactly like you think.”

Someone walked into the cafe. “Oh, look, another customer. Well, back to work for yours truly.”

She turned to go.

“Can I ask you something?” Anna said quickly. “Your tattoos … did they hurt?”

Kat broke into a broad grin.

“Oh yeah, they hurt. They hurt a real fucking lot.”

Anna finished her coffee and slipped out.

*

Melanie rolled over in bed and rubbed her eyes. No one beside her, which was a shame. Of course, it was almost two in the afternoon. She could hear Ava puttering around in the living room.

Maybe she should get up, have a shower, get something to eat. Maybe send a naughty pic or two to Sean’s phone. Ask him if he was coming back tonight. And if he was going to be a she.

Melanie didn’t consider herself a lesbian or bisexual, although she’d certainly had her share of fun with girls. She liked guys. But being with a girl who was actually a guy … man, that got her hot.

She loved Sean. They fit together, whether he was a guy or a girl. And hey, didn’t she get the best of both worlds, thanks to the Venn machines?

She thought about what Sean had said, about turning female for a few weeks. She didn’t mind. Hell, she liked it.  They could make each other the same size and share clothes.

Sean as a girl, long black wavy hair, small high breasts, bald pussy … eyes underlined, blood red lipstick …

She reached down below.

*

“Melanie not up yet?” Bella asked.

“Up, yes. Out of bed, no.” Ava sighed. “I think she and Sean were up early, if you know what I mean.”

“Oh yeah,” grinned Bella. “I know.”

“Want some more wine?”

“Thanks.”

“I better have only one more,” said Ava, returning to the living room with filled glasses. “Not if you want me to give you a haircut. I prefer wielding the clippers sober.”

Bella drank her wine. “Uh, about this apartment upstairs …”

“You like the idea? You think Anna would go for it?”

“Sure. I’ve been thinking about moving out anyway. And Anna and I were living together at her parents’ house … I mean, it seems like the next logical step. It’s just the rent, I guess.”

“That’s something you’ll have to take up with Rachael. But I think she’ll offer it to you cheaply. She just wants someone in it while she’s in England.”

“Yeah, well, I guess it’s up to Anna, then. She’ll be by in an hour or so.”

Ava drained her glass. “Well, I hope you get it. Having you and Anna just upstairs - how fun would that be? And how handy for venning would it be?”

Bella finished her own glass. “So, about that haircut …”

“Sure. How do you want it?”

“The usual death hawk. You can tell it’s been a few months since my last cut.”

“Take a seat.”

Ava fetched a kitchen chair and wrapped a towel around Bella’s neck. She plugged her clippers in and then switched them on.

Or, at least, tried to.

“Damn.”

“What?”

“They’re not working. Something’s wrong with them.”

“So … no haircut?”

Ava was silent a minute. Then she grinned.

“Oh, Mel-an-ie! What are you doing?”

“What? I’m trying to sleep!” came the shout from the bedroom.

“Want to come with us for a trip to the Venn machines?”

A brief pause. “I’ll be ready in three minutes.”

In the event, it was more like two.

*

“The freaky thing,” said Bella, “is the clippers even look like Melanie.”

The clippers in Ava’s hand had a casing the same dirty blonde colour as Melanie’s hair. A couple of screws were positioned like eyes. It wasn’t hard to imagine Melanie glaring at them.

“She didn’t seem to mind being a pair of clippers,” Ava pointed out. “She seemed pretty enthusiastic about it, actually.”

Bella looked nervously at the instrument. “You really think we should be plugging her in? Running electricity through her?”

“Why not?” Ava shrugged. “It’s not like she’s human anymore. She’s a machine now.”

“I guess.”

“So, you’ve been all sorts of clothes and even jewellery, but being a machine freaks you out?”

“Who said it freaks me out?” Bella said. “Actually, it’s kind of intriguing. It’s just that … well … you’re going to be running Melanie over my head. I just wonder if … you know … she’ll get off on it. It would be weird.”

“Not any weirder than usual.”

Ava flicked the switch, and Melanie came alive with a buzz.

*

Anna was halfway through her haircut before they told her who her clippers were. She almost jumped out of the chair. She stayed, though, and by the time she’d emerged with a mohawk, she and Bella had agreed to sublet Rachael’s apartment.

Sean arrived to find both Bella and Anna rubbing their freshly shaved bits.

“Hi guys,” he said a little warily. “Mel around?”

“You’re just in time,” Ava said with a grin. She took his arm and waved the clippers. “Come on down to the Venn machines with me. There’s a pair of electric clippers dying to see you.”

*

“I can’t believe Melanie let Ava turn her into clippers!”

Bella shrugged. “Being a machine … what’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know.” Anna sighed as they walked towards the mall. “I guess … having your body, your organs, being turned into wires and coils … it makes me shiver a little.”

“Really? Because I was just thinking it was kind of hot.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Maybe you could make me a machine some time.”

“Maybe. But what about tonight? You want to be a plushie again?”

“Sure. That’s always fun.”

“Hey, I just thought of something. Can you see out of a teddy bear’s eyes?”

“Um … sorta? Not well. It’s more like impressions. They’re not meant to be real eyes, after all.”

Machines … eyes … Something went click in Anna’s brain.

“C’mon, lover. I’ve just had an idea, and I think you’re gonna love it.”

*

Anna danced into her tiny dorm room. Her roommate hadn’t returned to college yet, so she had the place to herself.

What she didn’t have was space.

She surveyed the tiny room, the narrow single bed. The thought of swapping this for a fully furnished apartment, her closest friends just downstairs and Venn machines a five minute walk away, filled her with glee.

Well, for tonight a single bed would do.

From her coat pocket she pulled out what she’d brought from the Venn machine. A small video camera. Its lens stared blankly at her, like …

Well, like an eye.

“Hey baby,” she said, kissing the camera. “I don’t know if I need to turn you on for you to see … maybe I should do that.”

She placed the camera on a shelf just above her bed and switched it on. The red light winked. It began to record silently.

“So, uh, I hope you enjoy the show, Bella.”

Anna shrugged off her coat, and began to strip. When she was naked, she lay on the bed, positioning herself so the camera saw everything.

And the show began.

*

“Wow!”

Melanie surveyed Sean with approval. Letting Ava turn Sean back into a girl had been a good decision. He looked the same as he usually did as a girl, just … yummier. A little bit curvier. A little more inflated. And the cherry on top was the rockabilly girl quiff.

“Fuck, hon, you look … delicious!”

Sean smiled shyly. “Thanks, babe.”

“Oh, come here …”

The pair embraced close.

“Love the clothes too.”

“Wait till you see what’s under them.”

It turned out Ava had given Sean the wispiest set of lace panties and a bra, and sheer black stockings and a garter belt.

“I can’t believe you’re girlier than me!”

The next hour or two were blurs.

*
“Were you really a pair of clippers?”

Melanie giggled and rolled over to face Sean. “Wasn’t it wild?”

“How did it feel?” Sean asked curiously.

“Well, I wasn’t actually thinking as a pair of clippers, you understand … but it felt great. And running on electricity … what a trip!” Melanie said dreamily.

Sean laughed. “My girlfriend the appliance.”

“Hey, don’t knock it, girlie.” Melanie grinned. “Not unless you want to forgo a little she-male experiment next week.”

“Oh, heaven forbid!” Ava’s words of the morning sprung into Sean’s head. “Uh, but listen, I think we should take precautions.”

Melanie looked surprised. She hoisted herself up on the pillow. “Really? But you can’t get pregnant when you’re venned!”

“That’s not what Ava says.”

“Oh God, really? I didn’t know … I mean … I’m pretty sure you’re not pregnant, Sean. But if …”

“It’s OK. We’d work it out. But uh, next time - and I want there to be a next time - we should use condoms or something.”

“Sure.”

And something wicked popped into Melanie’s head.

“I could be a condom.”

“What?”

“What if you venned me into a condom?” The idea was so bizarre that Melanie began to giggle.

“God - really? That would turn you on?”

“I guess … yeah, it does! Being stretched out on you … and you wearing me … and even being put into someone else … I mean, it sounds weird, I know …”

“But … yeah, I know …”

Sean was excited and slightly repelled at the same time.  

“But who would we do it with?”

“Ava, of course,” Melanie said decisively.

“Ava? Really?”

“Sure, why not? We’ve already had one threesome with her.”

“Uh, but she was being an inanimate object at the time.”

“So what?”

Sean couldn’t quite believe her ears. “So you’d be alright with me having sex with Ava, so long as you’re my condom?”

“Of course! She’s my best friend. And you’re my boyfriend.” Melanie kissed Sean gently.

“Girlfriend,” Sean corrected. And kissed her back.

*

Ava put aside her book - Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel - and sighed. She could hear Sean and Melanie going at it again, even over the Nina Simone song she was playing on her iPod.

Rabbits. They must have been rabbits in a previous life. It was the only explanation.

And Bella and Anna were probably doing exactly the same thing back at Anna’s. When they moved in upstairs, their bedroom would be over hers and she would be able to hear everything.

Everyone I know, she thought, is getting a fucking except me.

*

Saturday.

They gathered at their usual pre-dance haunt, the coffee shop opposite the mall.

There was gossip and laughter. Tacos and lattes. Tall tales and joking.

They were dressed casually. They’d change later.

They’d change.

Melanie resting her head on Sean’s shoulder, casually playing with his hair. Anna and Bella holding hands under the table. Ava presiding over the table like a den mother, approving and scolding and asking for the bill.

And then they left for the Venn machine.

*
Sean had seen them before. He’d used them a dozen times. But now, 9pm on a Saturday night, the mall half-lit, the booths, with their three circles lazily revolving, looked more alien than they ever had.

Anna took control. “Everyone go stash your stuff in the locker. I’ll take it back with me after the club. Meet back here and I’ll assign roles.”

They assembled again and Anna fed a quarter into the gift slot. A door silently opened. “Bella, you’re with me.” And Anna disappeared into the machine. Bella joined her around the other side.

A minute or so later Anna emerged again, retrieving a lacy black G-string from the Venn machine. She held it up triumphantly. They all applauded. Melanie laughed. The thought of the biggest one of the gang being turned into something so insubstantial tickled her.

Ava.

A pair of black leather leggings.

Melanie.

A black leather bustier.

“Sean.”

Anna smiled at him.

He smiled back at her nervously.

“Tonight, you’re going to be my shoes.”

Given what the rest of his friends had become, he wasn’t surprised.

“I’ve never been two separate items before,” he said.

“And I’ve never venned a guy before,” Anna smiled. “So it’ll be something new for both of us.”

Sean took his place in one side of the booth. He could see her over the interface, head down, scrolling through items.

“OK, Sean …”

He saw her push the green button.

And he shrank to the floor.

A weird sensation hit him, like he was being torn in half …

Weird, but not unpleasant. Not at all.

*

Anna took the pair of black studded boots from the Venn machine.

Sean made a nice pair of shoes, she decided.

She headed for the bathroom to change, with her friends over her arm.

*

“She’s back.”

“Anna!”

She could feel the eyes of the crowd on her as she made her way to her favourite spot on the dance floor. Many of those eyes were on her ass. Well, it dd look sensational. Ava was skin-tight on her. She looked like her lower half had been dipped into ink.

And oh, Melanie, what a fine bustier you made. Laced up the middle, pushing her boobs forward, almost merging perfectly into Ava.

Ava’s legs slipped so beautifully into Sean’s boots. She wondered what rubbing against each other felt like for those two.

And let’s not forget Bella, beautiful Bella, now a scrap of a thing, fitting snugly around her most intimate places.

The music tonight was sweet house music, verging on the fluffy. Normally she’d prefer something a little harder, but tonight … tonight it was the perfect welcome back music.

She began to move to the rhythms.

*
It was still dark when Anna stumbled out of the club at 4am, joyously tired, sweaty, her ponytail hanging loose. She collected everyone’s belongings from the lockers at the mall and made her way back to Ava and Melanie’s house.

It was quiet now, at this time of the morning. She kept the lights off - there was sufficient from the street lights outside - and began to strip.

Anna stood before the wall mirror in Ava’s bedroom. First she loosened Melanie, revealing her breasts, naked. She took off Sean, marvelling how good he had felt on her feet as she was dancing. She stood gazing at herself before, with a sigh, she unzipped Ava. Regretfully she slipped the leggings off.

Which left Bella.

She stared at her own ass, and the flimsy strap that disappeared between her cheeks.

Damn, girl.

She felt herself underneath the material.

She was making Bella damp.

Anna took off her pants, laid her friends out on the bed, and went to get changed.

Eventually.

*

“That,” Ava said, “was fucking amazing.”

All five were huddled up together on Ava’s bed. Usually they’d hold their own dance party, crack open some wine or beer. But tonight they were content to lie together. A distinct erotic charge hung in the air.

“Thank you, Anna,” said Melanie, brushing her lips against her friend’s. “You know how much I love being a corset. Holding your boobs was …”

“And being your pants!” grinned Ava. She kissed Anna’s cheek tenderly.

“Thanks for letting me join in,” Sean said from the foot of the bed. “That was just great.” He grabbed Melanie and smothered her with kisses, to his girlfriend’s delight.

“I’ll be showing you my gratitude later,” Bella grinned. “And not much later.”

Happy tears were in Anna’s eyes. “Oh guys, you don’t know how much I’ve missed this … dancing … having you on my body …”

“Just as much as we’ve missed you,” Ava said.

As Sean watched, slightly stunned, the four girls cuddled together, with Anna nested in the middle.

Melanie looked up. “Sean, do you think we can make it to my room before I get too horny?”

“I hope so,” Sean grinned as he grabbed her and exited.

“Well, I might go snooze on the sofa,” Ava said with a yawn. “You two are welcome to use my bed.”

Anna and Bella did make good use of it.

*

“Can you imagine what it’ll be like when we’re just upstairs?” Anna said dreamily.

“It’ll be just like this, babe,” Bella grinned, peppering her face with kisses. “Except we’ll be in our own bed.”

Bella looked adoringly at her girlfriend. Her eyes. Her full lips. The light stubble on the sides of her head. The clicker cupping under her nose. Her full breasts.

God, she just loved everything about her. She brought her peace.

“What was it like to be a G-string?” Anna asked.

“Fun. Intimate.”

“No, what was it like to change?”

“Well, I was in the booth with you. I could see you through the interface. And I sat there knowing I was about to change form, although I didn’t know into what. You pressed the button, and just for a moment I felt myself shrinking, and turning inside out. I flattened and hollowed out and my arms and legs were vanishing …

“And then I was a G-string. And, uh, I couldn’t hear or see or speak, and I didn’t breathe anymore. But I could feel things. I knew when you put me on. I knew when you were dancing. I knew … I knew I was Bella and you were my girl, but I was also … I felt like underwear. God, it’s so difficult to explain, especially to someone who hasn’t been changed.”

“What about when you were a video camera? Did you enjoy that?”

“Actually, I really did. I liked my shape. Having a lens and electronics instead of eyes and lungs … it felt totally natural at the time. And of course,” she grinned, “the view wasn’t bad either!”

“I bet.” Anna giggled.

“It’s all very clear in my mind.”

“Well, of course it is! You recorded it!”

The girls laughed and fell into a comfortable silence.

“Bella?”

“Hmm?”

“I was thinking of venning.”

Bella propped herself up on her arm. “Really?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Into what?”

“Nothing inanimate,” Anna said.

“Right.”

“I was thinking … maybe … some tattoos?”

“Yeah, you were talking about that at your parents’ house.”

“I thought … well, I could give myself a tattoo temporarily. Just to see how it looked, before I decided to go through all the pain of getting a real one.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Bella nodded.

“Maybe even a piercing?”

“I think you should get a real one of those.”

“Really? Why?”

“So,” Bella grinned, “I can be your ring.”

“Shut up!” Anna mock-hit her girlfriend. “OK, this girl has been dancing all night and I need a little shut-eye.”

“Looks like it’s going to be a nice day outside,” Bella noted, snuggling into Anna. “Maybe we could head to the beach before the days start getting cold.”

“Sounds good,” Anna said drowsily. And as she drifted off to sleep, she thought: You’d make a good bikini …

*

Take my car, Ava had said. Anna hadn’t even known she had a car. It turned out to be a tiny Honda. No way could they fit all five of them in here.

Usually.

When she got to the beach, Anna found a convenient place to park, then wandered down to the sand. Despite the fine weather, there were few people around, and she picked a prime spot near the ocean.

She unfolded her towel, and sat down, admiring the black bikini she wore. She’d actually thought of wearing a one-piece, but Bella had been adamant - if she was going to be a swimsuit, she wanted to be divided into two.

The result had been a little more daring than she’d have worn even a couple of months ago, cut quite low, and done up at the sides with thin pieces of string. Anna couldn’t believe how hot she looked. She marvelled that even a year ago she would have been covering up, trying to hide her sexuality.

Well, if you’ve got it, you might as well flaunt it.

The sun was still high in the sky, and she was thankful for the wide-brimmed hat she wore. She hoped Melanie was enjoying her new shape.

Sean was perched on her nose. The sunglasses were old-style Wayfarers, and they looked cool. When he’d found Melanie was going to be a hat, he’d suggested becoming sunglasses as a way to stay close to her. Which was cute. But then again, it wasn’t like there were many other things she could wear him as. She could have turned him into her towel, she supposed, but somehow the idea of sitting on him the whole time had just seemed wrong.

Ava had suggested her own transformation, and it was the best of all.

Anna took out the bottle of sunscreen from her bag. She squirted a glob into her hand, and began to rub it over her leg.

Her friend felt cool and slick as she slathered Ava on her body.

All this, and an SPF of 30.

“Hope that felt just as good for you, Ava! Oh, I’ve got some of you on Bella …”

And Anna lay back and began to read the new Kim Harrison book.

*

“Are we going to the Sin Scene on Sunday?”

Sean looked up as he carried another box of books into the apartment.

“To the what?”

Anna blushed. “Sorry, I thought you were Ava. It’s a fetish club. It’s on the first Sunday of every month.”

“I didn’t know you were into that kind of thing,” Sean said, looking at her with a new interest.

“I’m not really. I mean, I’m not into BDSM and all that. But I do like the clothes.” Anna thought of Bella as a catsuit again …

“And I guess we’re the clothes?”

“Uh, yes.”

“Then count me in,” he said with a grin.

Bella hoisted a suitcase through the door. “I think that’s it, babe. It’s not like we had much stuff. Most of it is books.”

“That’s it? Really? We’re done?” Anna broke into a grin. “Welcome, guys, to our new apartment!”

“And I’ve got something to help us celebrate,” Ava said, entering with a bottle of champagne. Melanie followed with a set of plastic flute glasses.

“To us!”

They hoisted their glasses.

“To venning!”

*

Bella and Anna sat in the Venn machine. Bella looked at Anna through the interface. Normally when she saw Anna like this, she looked cool and controlled. Not tonight.

Of course, usually she was the one changing others. Tonight, though … tonight she would be changed too.

“You know what I want?” she demanded again.

“I’ve got it, babe,” Bella said, as she scrolled through the bubbles on the interface. “Maybe you should concentrate on what you’re going to change me into.”

“Sorry. You’re right.” Anna went to work on the interface.

“If you want to back out, that’s OK,” Bella said softly.

“No. I … I really want to do this. I … need to do this …”

She’d made her girlfriend a camera. Her best friends her clothes. Her sister a pair of sunglasses.

She could do this.

“Count of three, then,” Bella said. “One … two … three!”

They punched the green buttons simultaneously. And the world changed.

The first shock was she felt nothing.

She’d been changed and she hadn’t even noticed.

The doors appeared and she got out of the Venn machine. She faced her friends.

Ava whistled. “Nice!”

The design took up her left upper arm. Two jagged lines that rose and formed a heart.

And on her collarbone, in elegant script: “Bella.”

“Although it does look like you’ve had someone write your name on you,” Melanie said. “Like, just in case you forgot.”

Anna laughed. The results were just what she’d wanted.

She’d have to show Bella how much she appreciated it.

When Bella was no longer a pair of latex tights, of course.

She grinned at her friends.

“Who wants to go next?”

*

The music was throbbing and loud. Just the way she liked it.

The club was full of freaks. Shiny latex everywhere. That girl in a hood … wow. That other girl with her breasts squeezed into torpedoes … double wow.

Where did they all come from?

Wherever, here they were. And she was one of them.

The old Anna would have turned and fled. The new Anna … she fit right in.

Some of the club-goers had been venned. That person over there with the horse’s head … she was pretty sure that wasn’t a costume.

Of course, she’d been venned too.

And her friends. Bella, on her legs. Ava, a shiny black latex singlet top, showing off her new tattoos. Melanie, her long shiny gloves. Sean had somehow managed to be chosen to be boots again - calve-length studded boots with thick platform heels. Not great for dancing, but really, she wasn’t here for dancing, was she? She was here to be seen.

“Hey! You made it!”

The music was so loud, it was a wonder she heard anything at all. She spun around to see Kat there.

Kat, practically naked in a set of harnesses that did little to hide her body.

Yes, there were nipple rings all right, thick heavy ones.

“Like your tattoo!” Kat yelled.

Anna blushed slightly. “They’re venned.”

Kat shrugged. “So what? It looks totally cool.” She peered through her glasses. “Who’s Bella?”

“My girlfriend.”

“She stayed home tonight?”

“No, uh … she’s my tights.”

Kat broke into a huge grin. “So your tattoo’s not the only thing that came out of a Venn machine? Nice! I should try that sometime … Anyway, you want a drink? And this one’s not coffee.”

“Sure!”

Anna followed Kat over to the bar. She was totally perving at Kat’s behind.

But don’t worry, Bella, you’re my love. She brushed her hands over the slick, polished latex that was her girlfriend.

She’d done it. She’d venned.

Hundreds of possibilities raced through her head. New hair, new piercings, new tattoos, new boobs … hell, she could be a totally new person.

Anna giggled again.

She was the girl who’d stopped worrying and learned to love the venn.