"Choice," you say, the word escaping your lips before you can overthink it.
Veronica tilts her head, studying you.
"Choice? Really?" A slow smile spreads across her face. "Not Resistance?"
You shrug, trying to appear more casual than you feel about agreeing to temporarily surrender your manhood.
"With Resistance, I know I'd change back automatically. It's the safe option." You lean forward, taking her hand. "But with Choice, I have to trust you to give me the reversal pill when you return. And I do trust you, Roni."
Her expression softens, violet eyes warming at the strategic deployment of her nickname. You press your advantage.
"Besides, I've heard horror stories about those Resistance pills. Well, especially the older versions. One guy sneezed too hard while jilling off and ended up stuck as a woman for an extra month."
Veronica laughs, the sound drawing appreciative glances from nearby diners.
"Are you sure it's about trust?" she teases, leaning in conspiratorially. "Or do you just not want me knowing how often you cum while I'm gone? I see how it is."
Heat creeps up your neck. "That's not--"
"Relax," she says, squeezing your hand. "I'm kidding. Choice is perfect. Very romantic, actually. Literally putting your manhood in my hands."
She reaches into her clutch and pulls out a small glass vial containing another pink pill, identical to the Choice pill.
"See? Same serial number. They're a matched pair." She dangles the vial between her fingers. "This is your ticket back to masculinity."
You watch as she opens her locket--a gold heart-shaped pendant you gave her for your six-month anniversary--and carefully places the reversal pill inside, snapping it shut with a decisive click.
"There," she says, patting the locket now resting between her breasts. "Safe and sound until I return."
The waiter appears with Veronica's black card and receipt. She signs with a flourish, adding a tip that makes you wince internally.
"Let's get to the hotel," she says, sliding out of the booth with feline grace. "I've got plans for your last night as a man."
Outside Nobu, the Summer City night envelops you in humid warmth, the air thick with salt. Neon signs cast pink and blue reflections on the puddles from an earlier rain shower. Veronica raises her hand, and as if by magic, a cab materializes.
"The Azure," she instructs the driver.
As the cab pulls away from the curb, Veronica nestles against you, her hand resting possessively on your thigh.
"I got you some clothes," she says, tracing small circles with her thumb.
"You already bought clothes?" You shouldn't be surprised at this point. Veronica's planning is always three steps ahead of reality.
"Rented, actually. From Bonwit Teller. They'll be delivered while we're out." Her fingers inch higher on your thigh. "I had to know what size to get, so I specified a particular body type when ordering the pill."
Your pulse quickens. "What body type?"
Her smile turns enigmatic. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Actually, yes, I would."
"That's the fun part of X-Change pills," she explains, her voice taking on that lecturer tone she uses when sharing expertise. "If you pay extra, you can get Clone variants--predetermined forms rather than just the girl version of you. The catalog is quite extensive."
"So you picked my female form from a catalog?" You can't decide if that's disturbing or arousing.
"I wanted you to have something nice to look at," she says, her lips brushing your ear. "So you don't get tempted by other girls."
The cab turns onto Ocean Drive, and the Azure looms ahead, its neo-deco faΓ§ade illuminated by strategic uplighting that makes the rose gold accents gleam against the night sky.
"I considered several options," Veronica continues as the cab slows. "A big booty Latina might be fun--you could spend hours just watching yourself walk past mirrors."
You swallow hard as the cab stops. Veronica pays the driver while you try to process the fact that you'll soon be occupying a completely different body.
The Azure's lobby is all marble and brass, with staff who seem to appear precisely when needed and vanish when not.
"Ms. Valentine, your suite is ready. Champagne has been chilled as requested."
"Perfect," she accepts the keycard.
In the elevator, Veronica presses the button for the penthouse level, then backs you against the mirrored wall.
"I also considered a pale, freckled redhead type for you," she whispers, her lips tantalizingly close to yours. "The kind that blushes everywhere when she's turned on."
The elevator ascends smoothly as her hand slides down to cup you through your pants. You're already half-hard from the surreal conversation.
"Ooh!" she says. "So is that it, then? Redhead?"
"I mean--"
The elevator dings, saving you from having to respond. Veronica leads you down a short hallway to a set of double doors, which she opens with a theatrical flourish.
The penthouse suite is a monument to 80s luxury reimagined for modern sensibilities. The central living area features a sunken conversation pit with plush white seating around a circular fire feature. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcase the Summer City skyline, which looks like a Hiroshi Nagai painting right now. A Knoll table holds a silver ice bucket with Veuve Clicquot and two crystal flutes.
"Maybe you'd prefer a blonde with glasses?" Veronica muses, kicking off her heels. "That whole sexy librarian vibe. Or a busty Asian babe? You did watch a lot of that on PornHub last month."