TF, TG

“This,” Melanie said, “is a mind blower.”

Unfortunately, it came out more like “ths mnd blr”.

“You’re trying to speak through two mouths at once,” said her boyfriend Sean sympathetically.

“Just take it slow, baby,” her girlfriend Sean added. “Lie back and enjoy it.”

“Trying to control two bodies with one mind is a bit tricky.”

I’ll say, Melanie thought. But so worth it.

The identical copies of herself lay on her big bed, being attended to by Sean, split into male and female versions of himself.

Ava, Melanie thought, was adapting a bit faster than she was. One Ava was lying on the floor on a pile of pillows. The other was propped up in a chair. Of course, it helped they were both doing the same thing.

Sean-G did something to her that made her rear back. As she did she realised her other self was doing the same thing, almost kicking Sean-B in the process. Melanie screwed up her face in apology.

“Don’t worry about it, gorgeous. Once you’ve done this a few times, it’ll be like you’ve always been two separate people,” Sean-G told her.

“You too, Ava. It’s like stretching your ears - you can’t just go big right away. You start small and work up to it.”

*

Bella took the 14g taper. When it came to stretching your ears, you couldn’t just go big right away. You started small and worked up to it.

The taper went readily through her pierced lobes, and she was easily able to slide the ear tunnels in, although she then spent 15 minutes trying to get the O-rings on the back.

Yes, she’d agreed to do this to accompany her girlfriend, but actually, the tunnels - as tiny as they were - looked kind of pretty.

“Are yours in?” Anna called from the bedroom.

“Yup.”

“Let me see.” Anna came in to check her out. “Oh, they look really good on you!”

“You too,” Bella smiled.

“I can’t wait until I’m at 00g.”

“You might have to. It’ll take a year or more.”

“Awww …” Anna pouted. She looked so damn cute like that.

Patience was not one of Anna’s virtues. She’d actually Venned one-inch stretched lobes so she could see what they looked like. Bella hadn’t seen that, of course. She’d been busy being her tunnels.

Bella was a bit pissed Anna hadn’t asked before turning her into jewellery. On the other hand, being an inanimate object - and one so intimate with her girlfriend - had been very exciting.

She’d been in her ears, and as a septum clicker in her nose. And when their new piercings healed, well … she could be used down there too.

As if Anna knew what she was thinking, her girlfriend started to slide her hand around there.

“Nuh-uh,” Bella smiled. “Bad girl. Remember what the piercer said - no sex for six weeks.”

The pout was back. “I’m not sure I can last six days.”

As it happened, neither of them did.

*

One problem with turning three people into six people: a serious lack of sleeping space.

As the person with the most experience twinning, Sean had volunteered to return to the Venn machines to downsize. Thankfully there was enough room in their bed for three, while both of the Avas had staggered - increasingly steadier - to her bedroom.

Right now both versions of Sean were having a cup of hot chocolate. They smiled at each other from across the kitchen table. They didn’t need to talk, of course - they were thinking pretty much the same thing.

This was the fourth or fifth time Sean had been two people at once and it was getting increasingly easier. So many possibilities ran through their mind - one of them going to work while the other stayed home to play with Melanie …

Speaking of work, they really should get some sleep. It was Gender Swap Day at the bookstore tomorrow, and they really should get an early start.

*
Bella hadn’t had much sleep, but a job is a job, so she staggered out of bed at 5am to get to the yoga studio, ready to take her six o’clock class. Anna stirred as she got out of bed.

“What’s the time, Belladonna?”

“It’s five, sweetie.”

“Great. Another hour of sleep before I get up.”

“You’re working today?”

“Just helping Kat out. Seven until nine. Then I’m at school until three. I might do some shopping after that.”

“Okay. See you, baby.”

“Love you, Bella.”

*

“I’ve had great feedback about you,” Harper said.

“That’s good,” Bella said. She and the yoga studio’s chief instructor were seated at the mall, drinking fruit juices. “I get slightly scared that everyone hates me.”

“Everyone loves you, don’t worry.”

“I’ve noticed the class is a bit fuller than before. Last week we had eight, this morning we had 12.”

“Word gets around.”

“Oh God, I hope not.”

“You’re doing fine,” Harper smiled. “Actually, I wanted to speak to you about the job.”

“You’re firing me?”

“What? No! In fact, I wondered if you’d like to cover a couple of other six o’clock classes. Take on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as Tuesdays and Fridays.”

“Really? That’d be great. Still leaves me plenty of time to get to classes. If you’re sure …”

“I’m sure. And … Bella, you keep picking at your leotard …”

“Uh, well, I had something pierced there yesterday.”

“Bella, if you took a class this morning with a fresh piercing there, you’re even better at yoga than I thought.” Harper smiled and lifted her juice glass. “God, it’s so crowded at the mall and it’s not even nine. I love people watching. Look at that loved up couple over there … what’s wrong?”

Bella shifted uncomfortably and her VCH had nothing to with it. “Actually, I know those guys.”

Sean, her friend Melanie’s partner. And Ava, her friend Melanie’s best friend.

They could barely keep their hands off each other.

*

“Long hair today, right?” Sean said Ava as they walked, hand in hand, to the Venn machines. “That quiff thing you do?”

“Sure, I’ve got it.”

“I’ll leave the clothes to you, but if you could shrink me down a bit from my usual height …”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fun size.” Ava kissed Sean gently. “Okay, I want to see my girlfriend now. Put a quarter in.”

Sean laughed quietly. “I actually miss being two people.”

“I could get used to that too. When Melanie has a very, very good idea …”

The doors reappeared.

*

“You didn’t!”

“I’m sorry to say that I did.”

“Cappuccino with nutmeg for Luka! Bella was your tunnels???”

“Uh-huh.” Anna grinned.

“And,” Kat said carefully, “how did Bella react to her change?”

“Well, she wasn’t happy that I’d changed her without asking, but I charmed her, and besides, she really likes being jewellery.”

“Latte with caramel for Oliver! You’ve made her jewellery before?”

“Oh, so many times … Did I tell you about the time I wore her in my septum?”

“Really? Oh, Anna, you are a little minx.”

Anna grinned from behind the coffee machine. Not only were her coffee-making skills getting better, it was also fun to gossip.

“So,” said Kat, as casually as she could, “remember what we were talking about at the Lounge? The Venn machines thing? Have you had any thoughts on that?”

Anna had had some thoughts on that.

“Feel free to say no.”

Anna thought she should probably say no.

“Actually, I did have a couple of scenarios in mind,” she said just as casually.

“Oh, great. And would you be free … say, this afternoon?”

“I finish classes at three.”

“I’ll see you back here, then?”

Anna had worn a long coat to work today, which turned out to be fortuitous.

*

The sign on the bookstore door read “closed”, but it was open, so about 20 minutes before her shift started, Sean slipped inside.

The 20 or so people who worked there were milling about excitedly, chatting and laughing. It looked like everyone had switched sex.

Sean primped a little, and why not? Her hair was exactly how she liked it, a rockabilly quiff at front, longer in back. She had several blue stripes of various hues today. Usually she would be anything from five foot six to five foot ten, depending on who had Venned her, but today she stood exactly five feet tall. Well, if you didn’t count her pixie boots.

She grinned at the guy standing at the front of the registers. “Hey, Evan. Looking good!”

“Sean! You remembered!” Evan - usually her friend Evie - hugged her. “You look fabulous!”

“Feeling fabulous, too!” Sean took a look around. Most of the employees had turned themselves into someone who resembled their usual gender selves, but a few she just couldn’t place. Who was that busty blonde with the uber-tan?

“That’s Chrissie. You know Chris, who works the evening shift?”

“The Latino guy?”

“The same.”

“Wow.”

“There’s a couple of people here like that. The Asian girl in the schoolgirl skirt is Richard.”

“The manga fan?”

“Yup.”

“It makes sense now.”

Ian, the store manager - usually Imogen - came out and made a short speech about raising money for charity through the day. “And I’d like to thank my deputy manager, Sean,” she said, looking straight at her, “for inspiring the idea.” The staff whooped and hollered, and Sean could feel herself blush.

“So have fun today, guys!” Ian said, waving them on. “Go open up!”

There was a cheer, and Sean had a huge grin.

Sean? Everyone else was adopting a gender-switch name. Maybe today she should be … Siobhan?

*

By coincidence Bella and Ava were entering the apartment building at the same time. “Come up for coffee”, Ava had said.

“Cream for you?” she asked cheerfully.

“Sure. What's going on with you and Sean?”

Ava blinked. “You guys are real big on abrupt changes of subject, aren’t you?”

Bella sighed. “Ava, I saw you and Sean this morning at the mall, and you were all over each other. There’s been a couple of times recently when I’ve seen you two being real touchy-feely. I don’t want to … Ava, are you blushing?”

“Maybe,” said Ava with burning cheeks.

“C’mon, I don’t want to interfere with your life, you’re a friend of mine. But Melanie’s my friend too. Does she know about this?”

Ava began to laugh. “Know about it? She instigated it!”

“Wait … so she’s broken up with Sean? Passed him on to you?”

“Not exactly.”

“You … you three …”

Bella was fairly phlegmatic at the best of times, but now she seemed absolutely blank.

“Let me explain,” Ava said. “Sean and Melanie are an item, and Sean and Melanie and I are an item, and Sean and I are an item, and yes, Goddamn it, Melanie and I are an item.”

“All three of you?”

“All three of us.”

“Since when?”

“Since about three weeks ago.”

“Wow.”

“There’s more.”

“How can there be more?”

“Well, there’s Sean and me and Melanie and Sean and me and Melanie …”

“I have no idea what … wait … the Venn machine???!?”

Ava smiled. “The Venn machine.”

Bella was dumbfounded. “Wow. Just wow. And I thought being turned into ear tunnels was far out.”

“That … they were you?”

The friends stared at each other.

Bella spoke first. “Ava, I’m sorry I brought it up. It’s your life. I wasn’t trying to interfere.”

“I know. You were trying to be a friend. And you are.”

“But … are you happy with all this?”

“Bella, in all honesty … I’ve never been happier.”

*

Kat had never been one for the Venn machines. She’d used them a couple of times, of course - who hadn’t? But she’d been fairly conservative in her use - giving herself spikes and horns, for instance.

This, though, whatever Anna had done to her had changed her thoroughly. She felt plastic, hollow, no longer human, although she could feel her hands and feet. Feel, not see, because someone - presumably Anna - had put her in some kind of bag.

She felt herself being carried along. Kat wriggled, but the bag was tight, and her range of motions limited. Then suddenly she was lifted away and placed on the floor.

At once she saw she was in her apartment. Of course she was, she’d given Anna the keys. But her living room had changed. It was huge.

It was huge … or she was small.

“Well, well, Kat.”

She was small. Anna towered above her, the size of a house.

Anna? Not her friend Anna. This was an Anna from one of her nightmares.

Shaven-headed, heavily pierced, clad in an arrangement of leather straps and thick, high boots, and with a wicked grin on her face.

Kat tried to look up, but could only twist her head. She saw her breasts, pointed but blank, and suddenly realised what she was.

Anna’s grin grew broader. “That’s right, Kat, you’re a Barbie doll. Or rather, a Kat doll. Ten inches tall. Plastic. You can move on your own, though.

“So …” Anna picked up Kat, strutted to the sofa and laid her down. “Entertain me.”

Kat stared blankly at her, a thrill going through her mind.

Anna began to frown. “I don’t think you understand.” And she brought out the whip. “Entertain me … or I’ll have to punish you.”

*

Siobhan was chatting with Chrissie when the thought occurred to her. She could be anyone she wanted.

She could literally be anyone she wanted.

Blonde? Could do. Latina? Yes. Big-breasted, small-breasted, no-breasted? Yes, yes, yes.

Blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes. Blue hair, brown hair, green hair.

Two arms, four arms, tentacles.

Sean, Siobhan, Michael, Michelle, Soo-Yun, Jacques, Luisa. Anyone.

Hell, anything.

She could be the ideal man for Melanie. She could be the ideal woman for Ava.

She could be anyone.

As a wise man had once said, infinite diversity in infinite combinations.

Hell, she could even be a Vulcan.

*

Anna made a quick trip to the Venn machine to change Kat and herself back. They hugged, then went home.

What she had done wasn’t about sex, Kat had said. It was about power.

It still felt dirty. Slightly shaming.

But oh so exhilarating.

She let herself in and smiled at Bella, who smiled back.

And said, “You’ll never guess what Ava’s been doing.”

*

Siobhan - or Sean - hadn’t stopped smiling. She’d walked out at six wishing she could keep working, and frankly, as much as she loved her job, that wasn’t something that happened every day.

She was met at the door by Melanie with a kiss. “Had a good day?”

“The best!” she beamed.

“Well, it’s about to get a lot better.” Melanie opened her robe to reveal black stockings, a garter belt and a black bra.

Sean felt her heat rising. “Shouldn’t we wait for Ava?”

“No need. I’m wearing her.”

“Oh, I see. We’re doing it old school.”

“And if you’re good, we’ll order a pizza. And if you’re very good … we’ll just keep going.”

*

Several hours later.

“What would you like me to be?”

Sean was snuggled under Melanie’s arm. Today she was about eight inches shorter than her girlfriend, and it felt oddly comforting.

Melanie kissed Sean gently. “I want you to be you.”

“I had a kind of revelation at work today. I don’t have to just be a female version of myself. I can be anything and anyone I want. Wouldn’t you like to make love to, say, a redhead? Or someone with huge pecs?”

“It wouldn’t matter, so long as you’re inside them. It’s you I love, Sean. You get me. You make me laugh. Whether you’re a boy or a girl or even something inanimate, I love you. You don’t need to change yourself into my ideal partner, because you already are mine.”

“That’s sweet.” Sean smiled at her. “I started calling myself Siobhan at work today.”

“Really? Why?”

“I don’t know. Everyone else was gender-swapping and giving themselves different names. I thought I should join in.”

“Weird. You’re not a different person when you swap. You’re still you, just a girly version.”

“Am I? Sometimes I don’t know.”

“Well, I’ll call you Siobhan if you want.”

“I guess it’s not necessary. Maybe I’ll just do it at work on Fridays.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, didn’t I tell you? We’re doing the gender swap day again next Friday.”

“Cool! Maybe I’ll be a gender-swapped customer.”

Sean giggled. “Come in, sit down and read all the GI Joe you can find.”

“Hey, I loved that comic! The Baroness, mmm …”

“So, want to stop for pizza?”

“Let’s just keep going. What does Ava think?”

“I don’t hear her objecting.”

“I’ll keep her on, so please give her lots of attention.”

“Of course.”

*

One of the bad things about living upstairs from Ava and Melanie was the noise. Of course, that could also be a fun thing.

“It’s like having your very own porn channel,” Anna said.

“Thin walls, thin floors, and Mel does get a bit loud, doesn’t she?”

“I can’t hear Ava.”

“Know why?”

“Why?”

“Melanie Venned her into stockings.”

“No! Really?”

“It’s okay, she knew I was going to tell you.”

“Would you like to be a pair of stockings for me?”

“Sure. Maybe tomorrow night at the Lounge?”

“Oh no, I have something in mind for you, missy.”

“Give me a clue.”

“You are going to be a slim-cut suit, and Melanie is going to be my underwear, and Sean will be my shirt, and Ava is going to be my choker.”

“Oh, you know just how to get me going.”

“You’ll be black, and stylish, thin lapels … and I’ll have a man’s haircut, of course …”

“Tell me more.”

“You’ll just have to wait.”

“Tease.”

“Teased.”

*

Kat had supposed to have been going out, but she blew her friends off, much to their surprise, and spent the evening re-running the events of the afternoon in her mind.

She’d been small, helpless, a puppet at someone else’s command. It was incredible. Anna had somehow known how to push all her buttons.

She had to do that again.

Soon.