When passing the pair, Liz took hold of Mark’s arm. “You both look a little sick, so why don’t you pick up your friend and you’ll have a taxi ready to take you home by the time you stumble out of here. Once you sleep things off, you’ll feel more normal again.” She offered a reassuring smile to both him and Karen. More subtly, she wove a spell to alter their memories surrounding tonight. Especially around their transformed friends. Nothing she enjoyed doing to her customers, but the witch had absolute faith they’d see through it soon enough. Somewhere less stressful and gradual.
After that, should they be more willing to embrace this, Liz knew she’d see their faces again. More aware of what everything would entail. And trying to force the issue wasn’t the way she wanted to build her relationship with those who came here.
While both friends shared a look and queasy agreement sealed by the rumbling of their stomachs, the proprietor deftly took both of their drinks from them, placing the glasses on the tray she carried before returning to behind the bar. Another new face came up to to order, and was already checking out the women closest to them. Liz spared Mark and Karen a last glance, seeing them walking more upright and steady to their friend, before serving the customer their beer.
Already Mark’s fingers were thicker, his nails less manicured beyond a faint layer of nail polish, and his breasts were completely hidden underneath his clothes. A hint of a stubble darkened his cheeks, and had either June or Liane been straight they might even have appreciated that kind of masculine touch and definition when they turned to look at the two arrivals at their booth. They raised two completely drained glasses.
Karen jerked her head toward the door to indicate they were planning on leaving. “Or are you ready to ditch us too, June. With your pretty friend here?” She hadn’t planned to add pretty, but Liane was all kinds of hot besides her flaming red hair. Hiding behind adjusting her glasses she shook her head to try and clear the fog.
“Um, notice anything different about me?” June waved a hand at her everything. Mark, continuing to progress back to a man, made a comment about her having the fortitude of a sailor that confirmed the goth girl’s suspicions. “Shit. You’re an ass, Mark! Never mind I asked.” Neither took the insults seriously and they both shared a laugh. Karen though was oddly quiet and looking at June. “Liane is an old gaming friend, we were catching up and found out we had somethings still in common, but she was just about to seduce her maybe-girlfriend. So may as well leave.”
“Key to her apartment, remember. Think I just need to summon up the courage to ask to make it official.” As they both rose and shimmied out from behind the table they had a last and long embrace. “I’ll tell you what happens.” And June made her promise to give every detail.
Not at all the night she had expected. June stretched and used Mark as her mutual support buddy on her way to the taxi. Far better, but that didn’t mean that she wasn’t ready to collapse on her bed later. He took the front seat, leaving Karen and June in the back. The second the nerdy girl clicked her seat-belt on, she leaned over and rested her head on the goth’s shoulder. At first, June thought she was simply drained but when she felt Karen’s hot breath and lips brushing up against her pallid skin she shuddered and knew that was not at all it.