After a couple of weeks back at school, things were becoming more normalized. The novelty of having a few boys wandering around the school naked was lessening. The nude boys were becoming more integrated with the other students, to the point where it wasn’t so taboo to be part of the same friends group with one.. However, the strange experiments the company was encouraging the school faculty to do on those students became the new focus for ridicule and gossip.
Gavin arrived at his textiles class with his friends, Oscar, Axel, and the twins Neal and Jeffery. Two of the other naked boys, Finn and Elijah were part of the class as well. Once everyone was seated the textiles teacher Mr Kay started introducing the topic of adaptive smart fabrics—materials engineered to respond to environmental changes like temperature, moisture, or even body movement. He enthusiastically explained how the latest innovations were blurring the lines between traditional fabrics and cutting-edge technology.
"Imagine a jacket that adjusts its insulation based on how cold you are," Mr. Kay said, gesturing to the class. "Or gym clothes that wick away sweat faster because the fibers literally respond to it in real-time. These are the kinds of advancements shaping the industry right now."
The students were fascinated, leaning forward as Mr. Kay described textiles embedded with nanotechnology, self-healing fibers, and bioengineered materials grown in labs.
"And it's not just about making fabrics smarter," he added with a grin. "Some companies—like, say, our generous sponsor—are exploring the idea of living products."
That offhand remark instantly grabbed the class’s attention.
"Living products?" Jeffery echoed, his curiosity piqued. "That sounds amazing! Imagine being transformed into something owned by someone else—completely dependent, with no purpose except to function as that object. I’d totally volunteer if something like that came up!"
Mr. Kay chuckled, waving him off. "Careful what you wish for, Jeffery. You might end up being the experiment."
The class laughed, but Jeffery was already lost in thought, imagining the possibilities.
Gavin couldn't wrap his head around Jeffery's eagerness, finding it utterly absurd that someone would willingly surrender their life and agency just to be reduced to an inanimate object, forever at the mercy of someone else's whims.
***
A week later, in textiles class again, Mr. Kay revealed a sleek, state-of-the-art device: the company’s prototype machine for creating living products. The machine had a futuristic, almost clinical design, with rows of small lights flickering along its cylindrical body. Mr. Kay explained the process with surprising candor.
“This machine will essentially reconfigure your body. It will remove or reshape your bones and internal organs, leaving your skin more flexible, durable, and adaptable to different uses. You’ll still be alive, of course—fully conscious even—but functionally, you’d be transformed into a living material. It’s experimental and not without risks. The effect on your body will be permanent, but... you did volunteer.”
Jeffery didn’t flinch. “So, I’ll still be me, but... like, an object that my brother can own and use? That’s so cool! When can we start?”
Mr. Kay became excited, “Well, first we must determine what type of object you want to be morphed into. I have a list of possible options for you to consider.”