Tina and Andy were the first to the Venn Machine.  Still holding hands, Andy put in some money to start it up, and Tina picked the time.  A month.

“Are you sure?” asked Andy.

“I have the vacation time.  I’ve even arranged for a replacement weathergirl.”

Andy glanced back at Janice, strolling up behind them.  “Yeah, that’ll go over well.”

Tina laughed, and turned to blow Janice a kiss.  “Make us something sexy.”

She hopped into one side of the Venn Machine, pulling Andy in behind her.  Janice darted into the other side, and before the door had vanished was already saying “bra”.  A moment later, a very utilitarian looking bra fluttered to the ground on the far side of the Venn Machine.

Janice stared at it for the entire timeout.  It was the dullest, beigest bra she’d ever seen.  She picked it up, turned it this way and that, her victorious grin slowly fading.  “This isn’t sexy at all.”

“Nope,” agreed Dirk.  “So what are you going to do about that?”

Janice waved to the Venn Machine.  “Feed it.  I have no idea where my purses are.”

Dirk shrugged and pulled out a dollar.  “We’re all drawing on the same pool anyway.  You hardly need a purse.”

Janice popped the bill into the Venn Machine and set it for three days, then a month.  She waffled back and forth as she spoke over her shoulder to Dirk.  “Purses aren’t just about money.  They’re accessories, and hold all one’s other little essentials.  Lipstick, makeup, people I’ve transformed.  All the stuff a girl needs to stay pretty.”

“So we Venn you to have built-in makeup.  And never have a period.”

Janice turned away from the machine to face him.  “Are you serious?  I’d need to set myself for months at a time.  Years.  I’d need to...”

“Trust someone like me, or the bra you’re holding?  They’ll trust you for a month, since they’ve already agreed to be your lingerie for that long.”

“They agreed to a week, you promised to change them back after that.”

Dirk shrugged.  “They got in the machine with it set to a month.  They know what’s can happen.”  He reached past her, tapped the icon for a month, then opened the machine.  “There you go.”

Janice stood her ground.  “Would you do it?”

“If I turn them into lingerie, they’ll fit me, not you.  Probably not quite the look they wanted.”

Janice poked him with the beige bra.  “I meant, after I change them.  Would you?  For a month?”

“Depends on how you sweeten the offer,” said Dirk with a significant glance at the Venn Machine.

Janice took a step back.  “What?  You mean you’d want to change me...”  At Dirk’s grin, her eyes went wider.  “For a month?  To be... yours for...”  She took another step back, and yelped as the Venn Machine’s door appeared between her and Dirk.

Dirk stepped into the other side.  “Or we could change you first.  What would be something fun for the three of you?”

Tina and Andy shared a grin, then both reached out to tap their acceptance, turning Dirk’s side of the interface on.  “Juggling balls?” offered Andy.

Janice protested crudely, but her attempt to hit the red circle that would free her from the Venn Machine was blocked by Tina.  “Trust him.”

“Hell no!”

Janice struggled out of Tina’s grip, to find herself blocked by Andy.  “Trust Tina, then.”

That proved enough delay for Dirk, and a moment later three pink orbs landed on the floor of the Venn Machine.

Dirk scooped the three up, chuckling softly as he realized they weren’t actually balls.  “Well.  This should be fun.”  He tucked the three identical rubber breasts under his jacket so that none of the mothers in the mall would yell at him, and found his way into a back hallway for a little privacy.

He’d practiced juggling before, and thought himself passably competent.  These weighty orbs were another matter entirely.  They were big enough that it was tricky to hold two in one hand, making the start fiddly.  And then, once he had them flying in arcs, the nipples would turn this way and that in a most distracting manner.

After the fourth time he dropped a breast, he sighed, and shook his head.  “This was a bad idea.  Sorry girls.”  He tucked the two he was holding into the crook of his arm, and looked around for the fallen one.  Then looked again.  Where had it gone?   It had bounced off his foot and rolled further down the hallway, but he couldn’t see it.  Dirk cursed.  If he couldn’t find it, one of his friends would be stuck for a month.

He set the other two balls down on a nearby cleaning cart, and crawled along the hallway looking under the various carts and other miscellaneous bits of equipment stored against the wall.  Dirk finally found his prize twenty feet down the hallway, tucked behind a rack of serving trays from the food court.  He scooped it up with a gleeful yell, then turned back to find its companions.

The cart he’d set them down on was missing.  Near the far end of the hallway was a janitor, pushing a cart and whistling along with the music on their earphones.

Dirk sprinted like a madman, careening through the doors and past shoppers before catching the janitor just before she pushed her cart into the womens’ washroom.  It took charades, a bribe, and showing off the third breast-ball to convince her to part with the toys she’d found.

Dirk collapsed on a bench clutching his prizes once he’d freed them.  He sat there panting for some time, then muttered down to them, “after all this trouble, I should keep you this way all weekend.”  A smile grew on his lips as he imagined the reactions that statement would get.  He could almost feel Amy and Tina’s approval, and Janice’s opposing glower.  “Two votes to one, I guess you’ll just have to wait.”  The imagined glower turned into angry flashing eyes.  He blew a kiss at the breasts.  “I’ll make it fun, trust me.”

Janice tried to stay angry with him for the car-ride home, but by the time it ended she’d simmered down to a mix of boredom and curiosity.  When the juggling resumed, she tensed herself for another cold impact... but this time when she fell, it was onto something soft and fluffy, that kept her from rolling far.  She was scooped up and tossed once again.  The grip of Dirk’s hand, the solid smack of a catch... over and over.  There were more drops, each time onto the same yielding surface.

After a time, the drops grew less frequent, then stopped entirely.  Janice lost count of the throws and catches, until on one final catch she felt herself gathered together with her companions, and kissed.  Then she was set down on the cozy surface once more.

Then nothing.  She wondered if Dirk was going to leave them like this all night.  Or all week.  She berated herself for stepping into a Venn Machine set for a month.  Why had that seemed like a good idea?  Her mental beratings wound down once again.  Nothing to do.  Nothing to see.  Once her anger cooled, she dozed off.

Some time later the hands returned.  Dirk’s hands.  They rolled her around, tumbling her against her companions.  One finger teased at her nipple, sending electric tingles through her round body.  After an eternity of sensory deprivation, the tingles were more than welcome, they became her world, echoing and roiling within her like... like... her mind stopped trying to compare it to anything, and shut down to just enjoy the sensation.

When it stopped and she was once again wrapped in a cozy cocoon, Janice tried to reach for disappointment and aggravation, but it couldn’t summon the energy.  Instead, she slept.

Later, there was more juggling.  Tossing and falling, catching with a firm and confident grip before another trip through freefall.  The teasing and rubbing afterward felt even better.

The cycle continued until Janice had lost track of anything and everything.  Roundness was her world.

And then she was set on a hard surface.  Moments later she was human again, crowded into a Venn Machine with Tina and Andy.  She stared at the display uncomprehendingly, and even at Tina’s prompting to press the green circle so they could “play again” she just stood there.  The Venn Machine opened, and Tina guided Janice out.

As Janice tried to regain her sense of self, Tina gushed about how much fun it had been and asked if Dirk had amped up their pleasure levels.  He hadn’t.  “This time.”  

Tina and Andy were all for jumping back in, and opened the Venn Machine for another month.  “Hey, Janice.  Want to have your mind really blown?”

Janice blinked.  “It already has been.”

“I can see that,” chuckled Dirk.  “Talk to me?”  He offered a hand, and Janice clutched it like a lifeline.

“Why change me back?” she asked in a near-whisper.

“A couple reasons.  One, I’d had my fun with toys, and wanted my friends back.”

“And to change them back you had to change me too?” asked Janice.

“Not just that.  I wanted you back, too.”  Dirk emphasized the point by touching Janice’s nose with his forefinger.

“Oh.”  Janice looked puzzled.  “Why?”

“Toys are fun for a while.  But people are far more interesting than toys.  Do you want to be a toy again?  Venn Machine’s open.”

Janice looked over to where Tina and Andy were standing.  Tina gestured toward the open door, bringing a momentary smile to Janice’s lips.  She stared into the Venn Machine, contemplating the thought.

“Wow,” mused Dirk.  “I expected abuse, not serious consideration.  Did you like being played with?”

Janice felt her cheeks grow warm, realized the futility of denial.  “Maybe a little.”  She sighed.  “Okay, more than a little.  And it meant I couldn’t yell at you and fuck this up.”

“Is that what you’re worried about?” asked Dirk kindly.  “That one wrong word will make me go away?”

Janice nodded vigorously.

Dirk grinned at her impishly.  “It’ll take more than that to chase me off.”

“Why?” asked Janice desperately.  “Why would you put up with me?  I’ve got no hold over you anymore.  Why do any of you put up with me?”

“The millions of dollars worth of diamonds didn’t hurt,” offered Andy, earning him a glare from Tina.

“That’s not why,” said Tina.  “You grew on us once you couldn’t...”

“Couldn’t what?” asked Janice.

“Couldn’t talk,” admitted Tina reluctantly.  “You weren’t as bitchy when you had to hiss everything.  Why not?”

Janice shrugged helplessly.  “Hard to make a snappy comeback in Morse Code.”

“No it’s not,” said Dirk.  “But you do have to think about it more.  Were you happier as the snake?”

“No!  I don’t want to go back.  I like having legs and arms and eating real food.”

Dirk smirked. “I don’t blame you.  So that’s no on being turned back into a toy?”

Janice’s answer there was slower, but also negative.  Andy suggested giving her a mute button, which made everyone laugh, even Janice.

Once that died down, Tina and Andy repeated their offer to let Janice change them, then stepped together into one side of the Venn Machine.  Janice looked to Dirk, who shrugged.  “Maybe you can improve on the last go round?”

Janice rolled her eyes.  “I don’t think I can do worse.”

When she emerged from the Venn Machine to go pick up a pair of plain grey panties, Dirk’s look spoke volumes.  She sighed.  “I know.  I can’t help it. Do... do you think they’d let me try again?”

“Instead of being grannie panties?  Definitely.”  Dirk set the machine for another month, and Janice put the panties in one side before entering the other.

This time she emerged with something pretty.  A pair of sexy thigh-high boots.  But the way Dirk looked at her when she showed them off made something inside her quail.  “No?”

“You know it’s awful to be walked on.  How many people have you done that to?”

“But they’re so pretty...  Please?”  Janice’s eyes widened as she asked.  Why was she asking Dirk for permission?  Why did she care what he answered?

Dirk’s only response was a disappointed look that was worse than anything she could have said.  Janice couldn’t meet that look for more than a few second.  She ducked her head and found herself examining the boots in her hands.  “But...  This was the best part of Quick Draw, degrading the losers.”

“This isn’t Quick Draw, sweetie.”

Janice sucked in a breath abruptly.  “Sweetie?”

Dirk grinned at the fire he saw in Janice’s eyes.  “You’d prefer snugglebunny?  Cupcake?  Honeybear?  Ooh, honey badger.  That works, right?”

Janice started to giggle.  “Honey badger?  I can see where solitary and mean fits.”

“Don’t forget smart, tough and fearless.”

Janice looked away again.  “I don’t feel fearless.”

“Hey, if I can get you to believe smart and tough, I’m doing well,” claimed Dirk, drawing a little smile.  “What are you so afraid of?  I’ve never seen you like this before.”

Janice sat down beside Dirk, the boots in her lap.  She brushed her hands over them, feeling the supple leather.  “I’m scared that if I wear these amazing boots, I’ll mess up something I don’t even understand.  That Tina and Amy won’t let me do this again.  That you’ll hate me.”

“I won’t hate you.”

“Fine.  That doing so would disappoint you.  And that hurts even worse and I don’t understand why!  I care what you think.  What you think of me.  I’m not used to caring, and...”

Dirk hugged her tight.  “Put the boots on.  Just... don’t walk in them.”

“What, just sit here and look pretty?  I can do that,” said Janice brightly.  She had her old shoes off in a flash, and slid the boots on slowly, making a show of it for Dirk.  That he was watching avidly and appreciating the show led her to play it up even further with the second boot.  “What do you think?”

Dirk stood up, prowling slowly around her.  “You look sexy as hell in those.”

Janice squealed and squirmed as Dirk hoisted her over his shoulder.  “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” she yelled.

Dirk nearly dropped her in his haste to set her back down.  “Fine, be that way.  I was going to carry you home, so you didn’t have to walk on them.”

Janice looked up into Dirk’s eyes, surprised to find hurt there.  More surprised to find that she cared about it.  She dropped her gaze down to the boots.  “This was a bad idea.”  With Dirk’s help, she soon had them off.  Before long, Tina and Andy were back.

Janice looked up at Tina.  “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“You beat me at Quick Draw.  You’re good at it.  How do you... not do that, and...”

“Have fun, instead?”  Tina shrugged.  “Think about what your friend might enjoy.  And I find it helps to hold my hands behind my back when I get in, to block the reflex.  Want another try?”

Janice nodded.  Tina hesitated, hand on Andy’s arm to keep him from going to the Venn Machine.  “Say please.”

Janice tried to glare at Tina for her temerity, then dropped her gaze once more.  “Please.”

“Okay!” answered Tina brightly.  “Let’s do this.”

Once the three of them were inside the Venn Machine, once again set to a month, Janice stared at Tina through the interface.  Both women had their hands clenched behind their backs.  “Why let me try again?”

Tina smiled at Janice.  “Because being your boots felt good.  Right Andy?”

“Yup.”

“But mostly because you said ‘please’.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that before.  Did nobody ever tell you that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?”

Janice rolled her eyes.  “You get more with a kind word and a two-by-four than a kind word alone.”

“Is that really how you think?  Even now?  After all we’ve been through?”

Janice sighed and turned away, looking back at the blank wall of the entrance.  Her hands knotted together agitatedly.  “I don’t know any more.  The whole idea of being in here, with you, and not slamming the interface to change you is half terrifying.”

“And half what?” asked Tina gently.

“I don’t know yet.  As the seconds tick by and I’m still human, I’m starting to relax.”  She let go of her hands, brought one around to touch her chest.  “I feel oddly calm.”

Tina kept her hands carefully behind her back.  “I am not going to change you, or touch the interface at all.”  She took a step back, and leaned against the far wall of the Venn Machine.  “See?”

Janice smiled at the gesture.  “Thanks.”

“Now use this new peace and turn us into something fun to wear.”

Janice nodded sharply, and set to the work of finding the perfect outfit.  As she tapped her way through the designs in front of her, her nervous twitches toward the green circle grew less frequent.

“May I make one small change to you, before you change us?” asked Andy in the silence of Janice’s design work.

Janice started, nearly transforming the two before she pulled her hand back.  “How small?”

“Erasing your mouth.”

“What?” protested Janice.  “Why?”

“The less you talk, the better you and Dirk seem to get along.  I thought it might be interesting to try the logical extreme.  You wouldn’t be helpless, you’d be able to write anything important.”

Janice stared at the interface, and the pretty lingerie hanging there in space.  “I’ll think about it.”

After she’d finished her masterpiece of clothing design, Janice nodded to herself.  “Okay.”  She tried to add “I’m done,” but found that she could no longer speak.  Eyes wide, her hands flew to her mouth.  Accusing eyes glared at the lingerie.

“Oh!  I thought you meant ‘okay, change me’,” came Andy’s voice.  “You can cancel if it really bothers you.”

Janice looked to the red circle, dwindling to show the time remaining to make her choice.  Then her gaze returned to her beautiful handiwork.  Her hand darted to the green circle, and the lacy outfit crumpled to the floor.

As Janice emerge, Dirk chuckled. “That was the longest Quick Draw game I’ve ever seen.”

She tried to snark about it, but couldn’t move her nonexistent lips.  She touched a finger to where her lips used to be, then waggled it at Dirk.

“Wow.  You let them...”

While Dirk was boggling, Janice scooped two wisps of lace out of the other side of the Venn Machine.  She fluttered them at Dirk, then started walking toward the entrance.

“Woah.  This is going to be one interesting night...”