<div class="floatleft"><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><div align="center">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/0/0e/Lauren_Budd_512.png)<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Michael</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">● Fully female<br/>● Wearing white dress and heels.<br/>● Trying to adjust.</span></span></div></div></div></div></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 2pt;"><br/></span><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 11pt;">The girls are hovering around me in their attempt to shield me from whatever threats may come.  Chloe arranges a seat for me, Circe gets me a drink, and both of them behave like my babysitters.<br/><br/>I furrow my brow.  This is not right.  Yes, I've been changed, yes I am smaller and physically weaker, not to mention female, but why am so intimidated by it?  It isn't like me at all, I am normally a competent, capable guy, able to deal with whatever life throws at me.  Granted, I don't look like much of a guy right now, but why would the book turn me into a delicate snowflake?  Except that...  Maybe it didn't intent to.<br/><br/>An idea begins to form in my head.  Maybe it isn't just the literal spells that direct the magic, but also our thoughts and reactions to it?  I try to think back.  We teased Circe with 'Nurse Nasty' after she bandaged my finger, and her clothes changed accordingly.  I suggested that the spell may take Chloe's clothes away, and it left her in lingerie and me naked.  All the talk about breasts resulted in me getting a pair, and then the rest of the changes when they started to call me by girls' names...<br/><br/>What was it that Chloe said when she and Circe teased me about giving me breasts?  "how you want them is going to matter a whole lot".  I should have paid more attention; she has demonstrated time and again that she is the smartest of us, and she probably figured it out, or at least some of it.  So maybe the book is just giving us what it thinks we want, or bends reality to align with our expectations...  No, that can't be it.  I didn't want to become a girl and was resisting my transformation every step of the way, so why...  There must be a reason...  Maybe it's because there were three of us, and I was in the minority, so my wants were overridden by theirs?<br/><br/>But if that is the case, all I have to do is to make Circe and Cloe think of me in a certain way and the book will take care of the rest.  I could restore myself to what I was, maybe even add some improvements...  Not right now though, transforming in the middle of a crowded restaurant will probably not end well so it will have to wait until we get back, but I should be able to at least get myself thinking right.  I just need to act confidently...<br/><br/>I clasp the edge of the bar as a wave of panic hits me.  How can I convince the girls to see me as strong and confident when just the thought of straying from under their protective wings feels me with dread?  <em>Calm down Mike,</em> I take a deep breath.  <em>Bravery is not the lack of fear but the ability to carry on despite it.  Sure I'm afraid, the magic makes me so, but I can still do it.  Just think of it like a school play rehearsal, I'm playing a girl, a bold and fiercely independent one, it's just a show, I can do it...</em><br/><br/>I take another breath and force my fingers to relax.  Whatever happens, I am committed.<br/><br/>I lift my head up and meet Circe's worried gaze.  It will be so easy to just let her take care of everything, but no, this needs to stop.  Right now.  "Oh, there sure were further changes," I fight to keep my voice steady and force a smile, then put my arms around their shoulders, drawing them closer, give them a conspiratory wink and whisper "superpowers!" before letting them go.<br/><br/>Turning back to the bar, I pick up the drink and take a gulp.  Liquid courage.  Not too much though, I don't know my capacity.  No, scratch that, I <em>do</em> know my capacity -- I can drink a horse under the table and stay lucid, or will be able to, as soon as I let the girls know that.  What can I say, in for a penny, in for a pound.<br/><br/>I leave the rest of my drink on the table and stand up, stepping in front of my friends.  "No need for wing people, I got a little rattled but now I'm good now, just like Circe said -- You've got Mike. Mike's here. He won't let anything happen."  With that I start walking toward the table.  "Stay close," I say with way more bravado than I feel, "and let me handle any trouble that pops up."  Oh fuck, what have I gotten myself into?  If it doesn't work, I'm dead.  <em>Oh god, please let it work...</em></span><br/>