Chapter 15 - Playing House

The quest for pillows turned up a half dozen spare pillows of varying types and vintages, plus enough pillowcases to cover them all.  Once they’d been added to Bailey’s nest in the octagon, she pronounced it almost adequate.

A quick trip to the mall got Bailey back into monstercat form, at about two-thirds her usual size.  Violet claimed it would make the pile of pillows seem bigger.  That it made Bailey more cute than scary was “just a bonus."

Bailey found the back seat of Jimmy’s car more comfortable than at full height, so she stopped complaining.  “I could get used to being two feet shorter than you guys, I think.”

Katie giggled from her perch on Violet’s neck.  “It’s easy to get used to being small if you have a sweetie to cuddle.”

Violet blushed and tangled a wrist-tentacle with Katie’s.  “She’s right.  Maybe we could be matching necklaces someday, and have you wear both of us.”

Katie giggled at that, and offered to wear Violet next weekend.

“We could turn you into Violet when we do that,” suggested Bailey with a giggle.  “If you can learn to pass as her, you could take her place at school.  You’re in her classes.  Are you learning anything?”

Katie admitted she was enjoying Violet’s classes more than her own, which she pronounced as “boring”.

Back at Jimmy’s house, Violet helped Jimmy with dinner, while Bailey used her long lower torso to rear up and set the table.  Jimmy grinned at that.  “I think you’re taller than me like that."

Bailey hugged him while up on her rear-most legs.  He was right, she was nearly a head taller.  He pronounced the resulting multi-limbed hug one of the best ever, making her purr with pleasure.

It was only as they were getting ready for bed that Violet remembered her mother’s no boys at the sleepover rule.  She thought of calling to ask for the Jimmy is a sweetie exemption, but didn’t want to disturb her mother or find out what she was doing.  So she texted her mother instead.

She read the response out loud.  “Scott and Jimmy are both sweeties indeed.  Have fun.”

Jimmy shook his head.  “They’ll come to their senses later, I’m sure.  Does this mean you’re going to stop turning me into a girl?”

Violet giggled.  “Disappointed?”

Jimmy stuck his tongue out at her.  “You don’t need me to model for you, you have Katie, and you cheerleader friends.”

“That’s not a no,” teased Violet with a grin.  “Want to be female for our date Friday?”

Jimmy took his time answering.  “It’s kind of our first date, and turning Bailey into the pillows we’ll be cuddling on is weird enough, right?”

Violet nodded.  “Gender swapping is more a second date thing, then?”

“Sure,” agreed Jimmy.  “That means you’ll swap too?”

Violet looked away.  “It would be hypocritical not to.  I’ve been a monster, being a guy for a night should be nothing, right?”

“If it’s going to make you uncomfortable, you don’t have to.”

“But you should,” encouraged Bailey.  “At least once, to see what it’s like.  You liked being big and strong when Amelia changed you.  I could make you a big beefy guy...”

“That was kind of nice,” mused Violet.  “Strong enough to pick up my sweetie-monsterkitty at full size?”

“Of course!” agreed Bailey.  “The best part of being a small monsterkitty is being scooped up and cuddled.”

Violet of course did her best to scoop Bailey up, but even at two-thirds scale, the monsterkitty was just too heavy.  “Maybe we should make one of the pillows a monsterkitty plushie.”

Everyone agreed that was a good idea, then went their separate ways to bed.

In the morning, Jimmy was first up, soon followed by Violet.  Violet helped drag a protesting and still monsterkittied Bailey out of the octagon and into the light of day.  Bailey’s complaints about being far too cozy at least made it clear that her sleeping arrangements had worked well.

Jimmy packed lunches for all of them, with some help from the other two.  They got out the door in time to hit the mall briefly on the way to school.  Soon Bailey was mostly human again, with the same cat-ears as before, and a cute swishy tail peeking out of her skirt.

A couple of girls from school spotted Bailey’s change as she came out of the Venn Machine, and asked for cat-ears to go with their slitted eyes.  Taking care of them made Jimmy impatient, as they were cutting it close on the schedule to get to school on time.  Despite his worries, traffic wasn’t too bad and they made it with a few minutes to spare.

Violet made a point of visiting the office and showing off her school-appropriate arms.  She also told them that there were more cat-ears showing up.

The school day itself was uneventful.  Amelia and friends seemed preoccupied with some cheerleader thing, but did at least smile and wave as they crossed paths with Violet and the others.

After school, Bailey sweet-talked Jimmy into giving them a lift to the mall.  She had a dozen girls booked for cosmetic changes, especially after talking about the “history” option so that they could change back and forth whenever they wanted.

Violet was unsurprised to discover that most of the girls wanted cat-ears.  She even convinced a few to try tails as well, though there were no takers on digitigrade feet, as they weren’t compatible with normal shoes.

Bailey heard her grumbling about that, and agreed to try them out.  She padded around the Venn Machines with her big paws, and giggled.  “We can really have feet like these at school?  Why didn’t you say so earlier?  How close can you get me to being a full monsterkitty at school?”

“I think I could add the back tentacles without problems, as long as they can hide under your top.  We’d need a design that lets the tentacles out easily, too...”

After a couple of experiments, Bailey pronounced herself satisfied.  She didn’t have fur, but she did have a dark pelt-like look all over her body, and “proper cat legs” with even bigger paws than before.  She still had her feline flexibility, and when skritched between the ears she purred.  

Bailey posed for them, making sure to flex a paw and grinning at how Jimmy stared.  “It’s no monsterkitty, but... maybe I’ll stay like this for a few days.  See how it shakes out.  We should twin a mini-Jimmy, too.  I’m sure he’d be able to occupy himself at home while we’re at school.”

Jimmy didn’t argue, and soon there was an eight inch tall version of him tucked in Bailey’s top.

Big Jimmy drove them home.  To his house.  Violet looked at him in confusion.  “What’s going on?”

“Dad’s offer was for the week.”

Violet looked aside as she recalled the conversation.  “I just remember him saying something about an inspection.”

“That’s the drill.  I have run of the house on the weekends while he’s busy or away for work.  He used to have a sitter watch me.  Now the deal is, as long as the house passes inspection, I’m trusted on my own.  Hah, come to think of it, that’s been the deal for the past five years or so.  Still... it means that you’re welcome here, as long as we keep it clean.”

“Seriously?” asked Bailey.  “We can just... play house here?”

Jimmy grinned.  “Who’s playing?  I have a budget, and bills to pay.  We need to handle getting groceries, cooking, cleaning, all that stuff.  And making sure everyone gets their homework done.  Welcome to adulthood.”

Violet snickered.  “Right.  Like it’s that easy.  Just declare yourself an adult.  We’re all seventeen.”

“I’m not,” peeped Katie.  “But I turn sixteen next month.”

“Are you trying to be an adult?” asked Violet.  Her necklace wiggled a clear no.  “I don’t blame you.”

“Most societies through most of time would see us as old enough for adult responsibilities,” said Jimmy seriously.  “Think of it as a practice run.  If we mess up, we all go back home, no real harm done.”

Bailey snorted.  “Easy for you to say.  How long did you change my Mom for, Violet?”

“A month.  And they can easily use the Venn Machines to extend it.”

“So.  What do we have to do so that I am spared the fate of listening to my parents going at it every waking hour?  And spare Violet the ‘please go away’ look she was getting from her Mom?”

Jimmy shrugged.  “Be adults.  Pick up after yourself.  Do laundry, fold your clothes and put them away neatly.  Sweep and vacuum regularly.  Especially Bailey’s shed fur...  I could make a list to split it up.”

Violet still looked doubtful, so Jimmy pointed out that she’d been running her own business with Bailey for months now, and had been responsible for removing a problematic principal and effecting a massive change in school policy.  “You’re already adulting just fine.”

Violet started to grin.  “I guess you’re right.  And this means no curfew or early bedtime...”

“I wouldn’t be too hasty about that last one.  Been there, done that, there is a price to pay.”

“This sounds more like work than fun, now,” sighed Violet, crestfallen.

“On the plus side,” purred Bailey, “Nobody’s going to object if I pounce you and drag you off to my den of iniquity.”

“I might,” said Jimmy.  “Unless you drag me along too.  And if we split the chores up it’s really not that much work every day.  If we get on with housework and homework early, we’ll have time for fun too.”

“So that’s a no on the den of iniquity dragging?” pouted Bailey.

“More of a ‘not until your chores are done’,” replied Jimmy with a grin.  “C’mon, I promise it won’t take long.  If you two get the laundry and vacuuming started, I’ll get dinner ready.”

“What about Katie?  What can she do?” asked Violet.

“Katie can show you where the laundry room is.  Mini-me can help Bailey find the vacuum.  C’mon, put in a good hour and we can have the night off.”

“Except for homework,” grumbled Violet.

Jimmy’s plan worked fairly well.  After dinner they cleaned up the kitchen, then worked together on their homework at the dining room table.  Being able to share expertise – even Katie peeped in with a few things she’d learned while in class with Violet – helped make it go quickly.

Jimmy closed his textbook with a bang, making the others jump then giggle.  “And done.  With at least an hour to spare before we should get ready for bed.  See?”

Bailey grinned.  “Den of iniquity time!”

Katie fussed at that, objecting that she’d be either left out, or included in activities she really didn’t want to be involved in.  So instead of the rec room, Jimmy led the way to their father’s workshop.  Digging around produced an old toolbox that was a little on the battered side, but had a nice sturdy latch.  Katie protested that it was ugly and old.

Violet and Bailey promised to make it sparkle, “in more ways than one”.  Over the next hour, they made good on that promise.  They cleaned it until it shone, and then found a collection of rainbow stickers that Katie swore weren’t hers.  She didn’t object to them being plastered over the inside and outside of the toolbox, however.

As a crowning touch, Violet raided Katie’s closet to find a shimmery leotard.  Katie claimed it was from when she was taking ballet as a little kid, before the breakup.  “It’s way too small for me,” she claimed.

Violet giggled, and took her Katie-necklace off to set it atop the shimmery fabric.  “Not any more it isn’t.  Would you be horribly offended if I made you six again so you can show off your old routine in this?”

“Yes!”

“Aww, but you’d be so cute.  Please?”

Katie sighed tinnily.  “Only if you promise I can turn you into something fun afterward.  My idea of fun.”

“What do you have in mind?” asked Violet.

“Not telling.  You have to trust me.”

“Katie,” started Jimmy, in a concerned tone.

“No, it’s okay.  You’re on, kit-kat.”

Katie cursed softly.  “Now I’ll have to think of something... After you humiliate me.”

“Oh, kitty-kat, I don’t want to humiliate you.  Think of it as going back to a time when everything was right.”

“I guess,” conceded Katie.  Then she brightened.  “Oh!  I know what I’ll turn you into.  Maybe we can do it this weekend?”

With that settled, Violet folded up Katie’s shimmery outfit, and tucked it into the toolbox.  “There.  A cozy, pretty pillow for my sweetie to curl up on when she’s not around my neck.  Add your cell, and you’ll have your own big-screen TV.”

Katie gave Violet a tentacley hug.  “It’s perfect.”

Their artistic endeavours had taken up most of the den of iniquity time, so Violet decided to get ready for bed instead of joining Bailey and Jimmy.

The next day was much the same.  Off to school, make the usual rounds, drop off Katie’s homework that she’d done while the others worked on their own.  Wave to Amelia and friends in passing.  At the mall, even more girls wanted the catgirl package, with cute little tails growing in popularity thanks to Bailey modeling them.  

They didn’t get any sales on big leathery cat-feet like Bailey was sporting.  One of the cheerleaders who’d come for a cat change asked if Bailey was wearing novelty slippers, which made her giggle, then think about it.

Later, she asked Violet if she could design shoes that looked like cat paws.  The first effort with Bailey as the test subject worked poorly.  The shoes were the right shape, but Bailey’s feet ended up looking like smaller versions of the cat paws she’d had earlier.  Bailey wiggled her paws after taking her cat-boots off, and grinned. “I like it, but I don’t think it’ll sell.”

Iterating on the design produced a series of failures.  To be big enough to hold a normal foot made the paw-boots too big to be pretty.  Bailey pronounced them perfect for her, and had Violet do a version that left her paws as “proper paws”.  Walking around school in what were technically bare feet had been fun, but she preferred having shoes.  And when she teased about making an even tinier version of Jimmy to stuff inside them, Jimmy blushed cutely but didn’t protest.

Katie suggested making another pair of paws for Bailey.  “Like big fuzzy slippers, only form-fitting to her paws, you know?  So she’s furry, at least a little.”

That led to the crafting of a full set of fuzzy clothes for Bailey, from long fur-covered paw-boots to claw-tipped gloves and even a full face mask that gently adhered to her face, allowing it to follow her expressions.  Bailey pronounced herself deliriously happy with the new outfit, as it let her look “mostly right” when she wasn’t at school.  She wore the outfit home instead of getting Venned into her four-legged monsterkitty shape, saying that she’d save it for the weekend.

That night both Bailey and Jimmy were unusually distracted while the four of the were doing homework.  Katie commented on it, making both blush, but neither would say why.

Thursday’s schedule ran even later.  Katie reminded Violet that she’d promised to go see her mom at work that afternoon, so they all piled in to Jimmy’s car and headed down to the courthouse.

As Ruby had suggested, there wasn’t much to see.  When they arrived, she was head to head with another lawyer in front of the judge.  After another half hour of what looked like a quiet but very animated discussion, both lawyers returned to their benches with satisfied looks.  Further discussions ensued, then they approached the judge once more.

“As both parties have come to a mutually acceptable agreement, this case is closed.”  The judge rapped her gavel, and that was that.  Ruby looked into the crowd, saw her daughter, and waved.

When Violet got closer, Ruby apologized for how boring it must all have seemed.  “We got a good deal for our client, though.  Both sides did okay.”

“Is that a good thing?” asked Violet.  “I thought it was about winning.”

Ruby laughed merrily.  “Not at all.  Real life isn’t a zero sum game, both sides can win.  Maybe not as much as they’d want, but everyone ends up at least content.  Much less acrimony that way.  After all, today’s far from the first time I’ve had to work with Mr. Newman, nor is it likely to be the last.”

Ruby gave her daughter a big hug.  “I’ll see you later.  Lots of paperwork still to do.”

“You’re still okay with me sleeping at Jimmy’s place?” asked Violet.

“As long as you’re happy, sure.  Are you happy?”  Ruby studied her daughter appraisingly.

“The whole pretending we’re adults thing feels a bit odd.  But...”  Violet put her hand to her necklace, petting Katie softly.  “It’s proving interesting.  Yes, I’m happy.”

Violet regretted those words later that night, when they realized how much work was starting to pile up.  Their after-school activities and homework left little time for housework.  Worse, their taskmaster, Jimmy, was even more distracted than before.   He seemed almost permanently flustered and distracted, even when Bailey wasn’t teasing him.

Friday was even worse.  Amelia had been acting less and less friendly to Violet as the week had progressed, and when Violet tried to ask her about it, she got an incredulous stare.  “You don’t even know?  Oh God, that makes it worse.”

“Please, Amelia, just talk to me.”

The three dragon-themed cheerleaders just walked away instead.

“What is up with them?” asked Violet, mostly to herself.

“I bet I know,” peeped Katie from around her throat.  “How many catgirls do you see?”

Violet looked around then giggled.  “Um... have we really changed all the girls?  I don’t see any who don’t have cat eyes, and most have the ears too.”

“I bet if you ask around, Amelia’s been trying to sell the dragon look, and failing.  That makes you and Bailey the fashion leaders of the school.”

“When did you get so perceptive?”

Katie wriggle-shrugged.  “I get lots of time to people-watch hanging out around your neck.  Plus she pretty much said as much earlier in the week.”

Violet chuckled softly, and slipped a tentacle out to pet Katie, making her necklace purr.  “I don’t suppose you’ve figured out an answer for me, too?”

“Do you want to be queen of the school?”

“Hell no!” exclaimed Violet.  “That’s the last thing I want.”

“Tell her that.”

Speaking to Amelia proved a problem, until Bailey suggested they offer her a free Venning.  Amelia countered with a request to change Violet instead, and that she had to show up in that form on Monday.  Violet winced, but agreed to meet Amelia on Sunday to talk and do... whatever it was she had planned.

After school, they headed back to the mall, and the creation of even more catgirls.  A few of the girls even talked their boyfriends into getting cat-ears so that they’d match.  The last one paid Violet extra to turn her boyfriend into a cute catgirl.  His initial protests faded after she pulled him into a scorching kiss, then whispered something into his new ears that made him grin.  He waved cheerfully to Violet as the two of them headed off, hand in hand and tails tangling.

“Well,” said Violet, watching them go.  “That worked better than expected.  So do you want to be a boy or a girl for tonight’s date, Jimmy?”

“I thought we said genderbending was for the second date.”

“So we did,” agreed Jimmy.  He looked away from Violet, over to Bailey.  “Uh... so are we really doing this?  Turning you into...”

“I get to be the cushions for your date in the octagon.  This is going to be fun!”

“You really think so?” asked Jimmy doubtfully.

“I had a great time as Bailey’s bra,” reassured Violet.  “I’m sure she’ll be happy.”

“Especially if I get used.  Wink wink,” said Bailey, adding exaggerated winks to her statement.

Violet giggled, and set up the Venn Machine.  As she was doing so, Bailey reached past her and hit the year icon.  “Are you serious?” asked Violet.

“I trust you two.  And we want more pillows for the octagon, this lets us have the new ones for a year.  Just remember, you need over half of me to change me back.”

“Oh!  That’s a great idea,” enthused Violet as Jimmy watched dolefully.

Once they were both inside the machine Violet started working on creating a giant pile of pillows with a plush monsterkitty on top.  “This feels weird.”

“Turning people into things?  You should be getting more familiar with it, you turned Stella into a mannequin last weekend.”

“No, I mean... me and Jimmy.  With you... you know, there.”

“You didn’t object when you were my bra.”

Violet giggled softly. “Couldn’t speak.  But yeah, that was... different.  Before our parents pretty much said ‘go ahead and have sex’.”

“And that’s a problem?”

Violet shrugged, wishing that she wasn’t talking to an image of a giant pile of pillows and could see Bailey’s expression.  “What if Jimmy and I... go too far?  You won’t be able to stop us.”

“Nor will I,” added Katie.  “Hopefully I’ll be safe in my box.”

Violet winced, and put a hand to her.  “I don’t want my friends hurt.”

“Do you want to do it with Jimmy or not?” asked Bailey’s disembodied voice.

“I don’t know!  How can I?  Do you?”

“Yeah, but...”

“What?  You’re not sure either?”

“I want both of you.  Preferably at the same time.”

Violet blushed, and from the quiet on the other side of the machine, guessed Bailey was doing the same thing.  The silence was broken by Katie.  “Kinky,” she giggled.  “How’s that going to work?”

“Monsterkitty with both sets of bits?” offered Violet.

“Ooooh,” gasped Bailey.  “Yes, that. Please?”

“Now?  But I’ve got the pillows all set up, and you promised...”

“Fine.  You get your date with Jimmy, then...”

“And you promised a date with my girl here, wearing Jimmy as stockings,” interrupted Katie.

“Argh!  Okay, that too.  Tomorrow during the day for the stockings, tomorrow night for the Monsterkitty and the Den of Iniquity.”

“Deal,” said Violet, tapping the green circle as she did so.  Bailey went quiet, as she was no longer animate.

When the Venn Machine opened up, Jimmy started to laugh.  “My God, it’s full of pillows!”

Violet and Katie giggled at the sight.  A drift velvety pillows in a riot of colours had tumbled out of the machine, spilling out onto the mall floor.  Even with that loss, Bailey’s side of the machine was still more than half full, and a plush monsterkitten was half-buried in the avalanche.

“You wanted enough pillows to fill the octagon.  Even after we change her back, we should have plenty.”

“How are we going to fit all this into the car?  For that matter, how are we going to get all of it to the car?”

“I’ll be a wheelbarrow!” volunteered Katie.  “As long as Violet changes me to whatever I want afterward.”

“Done.”

It took a dozen loads to get all the pillows out to Jimmy’s car.  By the time they were done, the trunk, and back seat were loaded to the brim, and the four foot long plushie was perched on the passenger seat, taking up much of the space there.

Fortunately, Katie wanted to be something little again, so there’d be space for everyone on the drive home.  At her request, Violet made her scaly once more, but skipped the wings.  All she wanted was a snake’s body with her head on it.  Violet tried to talk her into having arms to hold things with, and they compromised on two sets of tentacles at each shoulder instead.

As soon as the change was done, Violet scooped up her sweetie.  Katie snuggled around her neck happily.  

Unloading the car at the other end went faster, as there was a wheelbarrow in the garage, and the distance from the garage to the rec room was short.  Before they knew it there was a heap of pillows that covered the entire octagon, piled waist high and spilling out all over.

Violet set the plush monsterkitty on top of the heap, as if surveying her domain.  “There.  Done.  Now, uh... what now?”

“Now we jump in like it was a pile of leaves,” said Jimmy, hopping into the pile and scattering pillows everywhere.  He flopped to his back, sculling his arms through the pillows, sending further cascades falling.

Violet laughed and jumped in after him.  A giggling pillow-fight ensued, ending when Jimmy dropped his pillows and called out, “I yield, you win.”

Violet waded closer.  “What do I win, hmm?”

“How about a kiss?”

Violet leaned in closer and took her prize.  After a brief kiss on the lips she pulled back and grinned.  “Not bad.”

“Not bad?  That’s all I rate?  I can do better than that!"  Jimmy pulled Violet  into a hug and kissed her fiercely.

Than they finally came up for air, Violet was flushed and panting.  “Better.”

Jimmy laughed.  “Just ‘better’?”

Violet nodded.  “I didn’t feel the same tingle I get from Bailey.”  She put her hand to her breast.  “Right here...  Wait, something’s wrong.”

“What could be wro...  Woah!”  Jimmy exclaimed as Violet tossed her blouse aside.

Violet pulled the cups of her lacy bra down.  Jimmy tried to pull his gaze away.  He blushed, then frowned.  “What happened to your nipples?”

Violet glared down at her breasts.  Their smooth curves were flawless, unmarred by freckles, moles... Or nipples.  “Katie must have changed me when I Venned her earlier, the sneak.”

Jimmy brushed a finger over Violet’s collarbone, making her shiver.  “Where is Katie?”

Violet put a hand to her unadorned neck.  No scaly figure was resting there.  “I don’t know!”