"Fine, you can stay over," you relent, watching Devon's shoulders sag with relief. "I should go set up the guest room."
"Sounds good," Devon sighs dramatically, saving the game. "Now I won't have to explain this--" she gestures down, "--to my nosy neighbors."
You lead her to the guest bedroom--your home office that doubles as visitor accommodation when needed. Devon trails behind you, her bare feet making soft padding sounds against the hardwood. You notice she's walking slightly... oddly. There's a shuffling quality to her gait, thighs pressing together with each step.
"You okay?" you ask, pushing open the door.
"Huh? Yeah, fine," she says quickly. "Just... these feet are weird. Everything's weird. Being short is weird."
The guest room is simple but comfortable--a daybed that converts to a queen, a desk with your work computer setup, and neat shelves holding your gaming collection. Devon immediately gravitates toward your rare games, fingers outstretched like a moth to flame.
"Don't even think about it," you warn. "You're small now, I can easily take you."
"You wish," Devon scoffs. She plops down on the edge of the bed, the yellow dress pooling around her like a buttercup. "So... pajamas? Unless you want me sleeping in this cupcake advertisement."
"Right." You open the closet where Veronica has organized your new gender-swapped wardrobe with military precision. "Let me check what we've got."
You push past the goth attire to find the sleepwear section, hoping for something that won't make Devon throttle you. Most options are black satin or lace--definitely not Devon-appropriate.
"What about these?" you ask, pulling out a black shorts and tank top set that looks relatively normal. "They might be big on you, but..."
Devon wrinkles her nose.
"Beggars can't be choosers," you remind her. "It's either this or whatever's in your Paradise Mall bag."
Devon's eyes dart to the shopping bag of rental clothes, face contorting in horror. "Fine. Hand over the goth pajamas."
You toss her the set and turn to leave. "Bathroom's stocked with fresh towels if you want to shower. I'll go find you a toothbrush."
"Wait," Devon calls, suddenly looking uncertain in a way old-Devon never did. "Do you... I mean... do you think this Breeder thing is actually serious?"
The vulnerability in her voice stops you. You turn back to see her sitting on the bed, tiny feet barely touching the floor, dark eyes wide.
"I don't know," you admit. "But we should probably look at exactly what we're dealing with."
You sit down at your computer and open a browser, typing "X-Change Breeder effects detailed" into the search bar. Devon hovers behind you, the heat from her body surprisingly noticeable--she's running several degrees warmer than normal.
The top search result is from a medical journal: "Comprehensive Analysis of X-Change Breeder Variant Physiological and Psychological Effects."
"Well, this looks legit," you mutter, clicking the link.
As the page loads, Devon leans closer, her breath tickling your ear. You catch her scent--like ripe peaches and vanilla. It's definitely not perfume - must be something her body naturally smells like.
"Holy shit," Devon whispers as you both scan the document. The clinical language doesn't soften the alarming content:
"...subjects experienced progressive intensification of breeding urges, typically beginning within 6-12 hours of transformation and peaking between days 3-5. Physical symptoms include elevated body temperature, increased vaginal lubrication, pelvic discomfort described as 'emptiness' or 'aching,' and frequent involuntary presentation postures..."
You scroll down to the psychological effects section:
"...cognitive functions remain intact, but decision-making becomes compromised when fertility-related stimuli are present. Subjects report intrusive thoughts of insemination and pregnancy, often described as 'alien' to their normal thought patterns. Resistance to these urges diminishes steadily throughout the cycle..."
"This is bullshit," Devon declares, backing away from the screen. "It's pseudoscientific garbage. I'm fine. I mean, yeah, I feel a little weird, but nothing like... that." She gestures dismissively at the screen.
You turn to face her. "Devon, you're honestly radiating heat like a furnace. And you literally just ate your weight in pizza--which the article specifically mentions as 'increased caloric intake.' It seems like at least some of this stuff is happening."
Devon's cheeks flush. "That's just... I was hungry from the transformation!"
You scroll further, reaching that particularly concerning section: "Orgasmic Recalibration."
"Subjects universally report inability to achieve climax through conventional masturbation or non-insemination sexual contact. The pleasure centers of the brain become rewired to respond exclusively to the presence of seminal fluid in the reproductive tract..."
"Okay, that part is definitely exaggerated," Devon says quickly--too quickly. "Like, how would they even test that? Did they just have a bunch of dudes..." she trails off, her flush deepening. "Seriously. Don't buy it."
You notice her pupils dilating as she reads the screen, her breathing becoming slightly shallower. The article's descriptions of insemination might be clinical, but Devon's body seems to somehow respond to them.
"Look," you say, closing the browser, "you're staying here tonight, and we'll figure this out. But you need to be honest with me if you start feeling... whatever this is... getting worse."
"I'm FINE," Devon insists, backing toward the door with the black pajamas clutched to her chest. "Totally fine. Normal. Regular. Just gonna go change now."
She darts into the hallway bathroom, leaving you alone with your concerns.
While waiting, you text Veronica:
You: Devon is staying over tonight. In the guest room.
You: Turns out the X-Change he took has some weird side effects. Nothing serious.
Veronica's response is delayed--probably at her business dinner--but eventually comes through:
Veronica: Excellent! Keep your little friend close where you can monitor him. Her? Whatever.
Veronica: I'm at dinner with the Matsuhisa execs. So much sake. The CEO keeps making me do shots with him.
Veronica: Look at this menu. $200 for FISH SPERM. I'm not kidding.
[Image: elegant menu with "Shirako" listed at $200]
Veronica: I ordered it. Company card lol
Veronica: One of the VPs just asked if I was married. I said "emotionally" and showed him a picture of you. The BEFORE you pic obviously.
Veronica: They'd die if they knew what I did to my boyfriend before leaving town
Veronica: Miss your dick but love your tits. Can't wait to play with both someday. V confused by my own sexuality right now.
You're formulating a response when Devon returns, swimming in your black pajamas. The tank top hangs off one delicate shoulder, and she's had to roll the shorts' waistband several times to keep them from falling off. The effect is both comical and oddly endearing.
"These are stupid," she announces, tugging at the drooping neckline. "Everything is stupid. Being girl-shaped is stupid."
"Better than the tiny stuff in your bag?"
"Marginally." She pads back to the guest room. "So, we still on for gaming tomorrow? I want to tackle that dragon by the lake."
"Yeah, assuming the contractors don't blow up the apartment first," you say, following her. "They're coming at 8AM."
"What kind of psychopaths start work at eight?" Devon groans, climbing onto the bed. After reading that Breeder stuff, she seems to be avoiding pressing her thighs together, keeping them slightly apart even as she sits.
"The kind Veronica pays extra to finish quickly," you explain. "Just stay in here if you don't want to deal with them."
"Oh, I'm sleeping until at least noon," Devon declares, then yawns--a tiny, high sound nothing like her former foghorn. "This body is fucking exhausted. Must be all the..."
She trails off.
"...anyhow, I swear, the next time I see a low-budget, bargain-basement technology, I'm walking in the opposite direction," she grumbles, arranging pillows aggressively. "This is classic Devon luck. You get big goth tiddies, I get reproductive Stockholm syndrome. Stupid."
"If you start feeling weird--weirder--wake me up," you say, leaning against the doorframe.
"I'm not going to wake you up because I'm horny, Alex," Devon says, rolling her eyes. "That would be the ultimate friendship ender."
"That's not what I meant," you protest, though the thought sends an uncomfortable jolt through you.
"Besides," Devon continues, a strange glint in her eye, "I'd obviously just, you know, handle it myself. Like any rational person." She mimes a crude masturbation gesture, then immediately looks horrified at herself. "I mean--not that I--that was a joke!"
"NO MASTURBATING. For multiple reasons. Anyway, there's water and snacks in the kitchen if you need anything during the night."
"Thanks, man," Devon says, her voice softening. For a moment, you see your old friend behind those unfamiliar eyes.
"What are friends for if not supporting each other through gender transformations?"
Devon snorts, then flops backward onto the bed, limbs starfishing across the mattress. "This bed is way better than mine. Why does Veronica have a nicer guest bed than my actual bed?"
"Because she's Veronica," you say simply. "She researches anything she gets for days before getting it."