Last Seandays: One story, two endings

Something different this time. This story has two endings, in the comments vote for your favourite. Collan's holding the fort next Seanday because I'm on holiday (maybe as someone else!).

-----

The phone buzzed in my pocket, hooking it out I checked the display--a message from Jackson. I muttered to myself *fucking idiot*.

I jammed my knee into the back of the giant below me, he cursed at me threatening me and my family--but I didn't give a fuck. I'd been out in the open for too long, and I needed a new identity one that I could slip so deeply into that nobody could sense me, not even the Doppel Agents.

"Shut the fuck up," I yelled, "you wouldn't be threatening me if you knew who I was. In fact you'd be begging me leave you alone."

Seanday Lunch: That Magic

"Hello? Earth to Cory," Wagner said, but there was no response. Cory was looking into the distance--somewhere else entirely.

"CORY!" Wagner shouted. That made Cory jump and he shook his head and looked over.

"Sorry, zoned out for a moment," he muttered.

Cory was the best dancer they had at the club--or at least that's what they'd told him. But when they said they were going to have let him go—and after six months—it was a shock.

"Why?" Cory asked in disbelief.

"People's tastes are changing. You're great, and boy can you move, but numbers in the club are dropping and we need something new."

"I can do new!"

"Sure you can, but we’ve got something in mind. It’s called Magic, and well--

Wagner scratched his nose, "You're a bit... pale for what we're looking for."

"Oh," Cory sighed as Wagner passed Cory an envelope. "Here's what we owe you--and a bit extra. Sorry Cory, but you know..."

Cory accepted the envelope, and nodded before reluctantly leaving.

He was hot at the club--a favourite, but even he'd noticed a decline in the tips that punters would slip him.

He ripped open the envelope as he walked back to the subway, and let out a whistle. "Damn, must be two thou' in there," he gasped. "Well, this should help out while I'm looking for something new."

Cory made his way to Union Street station, he was in a dream, when a woman forced something into his hand. He looked at it; a photocopied flier. He snorted, screwed it up and dropped it.

He managed to catch one of the late trains. He settled back for the 40 minute trip back to his apartment, still drowning in his thoughts.

The remainder of the passengers dispersed leaving the carriage empty. Nobody in their right mind travelled to this part of the city. So he sat--alone--thinking about what to do next, the cash wouldn’t last forever.

The subway had just left College West, a station supporting the local community college. He hadn’t seen anyone on the platform as he passed, but once the train pulled away he could hear internal doors slamming—one after another--and the noise was getting closer.

TGIF: Don't Peek!

by TS Escher

Quietly, I clutch the knob and twist it. The door to my bedroom opens with a groan. I step into the hallway and tiptoe toward the living room, careful to avoid waking my parents.

As I pass their door, I notice it is cracked open. I steal a glance inside, ensuring my parents are fast asleep. Thankfully they are— my dad cradling my slumbering mother in his arms.

I should correct myself. I call them my parents at their request. After my parents died, I was moved from home to home. Now that we’re marking our third Christmas together, I am trying on the words ‘mom’ and ‘dad’ for now.

Pulling myself away, I continue my travels.

"Don't peek!" my new mother's voice echoed in my head. She knew I tended to sneak presents early, so my efforts this year were especially daring. As I would be heading off to college soon, this would be my last Christmas at home. Why spoil the tradition now?

Seanday Reloaded: Baggage Reclaim

I'd just arrived at Heathrow Airport in London and checked the phone while I waited in baggage reclaim.

No signal! Fuck-it! I gave it a shake, what a piece of shit!

It chirped into life, and I checked the message. "Welcome to the United Kingdom. Cute," I mused.

It chirped again, and I cocked a grin at the message. "You fucking cunt, I'm going to find you and kill you! I don't know how you got through security with my passport and gear, but they know!" My grin dropped; the last part worried me, I'd been on the flight imitating this guy--out of touch.

Guest Post: THE PULSE

by TS Escher

“Cadet Peters!”

I snap to attention. Or rather, the body of Cadet Brandon Peters snaps to attention.

“Fall the fuck into line!” booms Sergeant Johnson.

“Yes Sergeant! Sorry Sergeant!” I reply in a soft Southern accent as I join the end of the line. God damn, my English is perfect! As I stand at attention, I catch my reflection in the glass case covering the fire extinguisher. Skinny, blonde and a nervous disposition. I try to slow Brandon’s heartrate, but it continues to race.

My focus shifts back to the sergeant as he begins berating another cadet. “You’re a piece of shit, Cadet Miller! You didn’t see fit to shine your fucking boots? If you end up graduating from the academy, you will be a disgrace to every Arizona State Trooper in the state!.” His eyes narrow as he looms over the terrified cadet. “What are you gonna do now? Cry, you little bitch?”

Miller sniffles back a sob, as Johnson continues to lay into him. I can’t blame Miller for the tears. The Sergeant was as imposing as he was terrifying. I had been studying Sergeant Johnson all afternoon, just waiting for a good time to take him.

Seanday Off: Take, take, take

I read the text and threw the mobile across the room. "Damn-it."

A quiet life, that's all I wanted, but everywhere I stopped people took it away.

It had been three months, long enough that I thought I'd be safe. But the text had told me that they were on the way. Someone had tipped them off, and I had a good idea who was responsible.

I'd been on the run; across the country. Each time I'd tried to make a home I'd get the call, giving me minutes to escape and run--again.

Even if I kept to myself, people would rat me out call the AGENCY. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, was it my colour? The way I dressed--I plucked at the yellow shirt I was wearing. Maybe they were just plain scared of me--I wasn't small, I looked after myself.

The mobile bleated again, and I retrieved it from the floor. "Fuck." I'd only had it for a few weeks, and now it was worthless. Whatever text came through was unreadable on the cracked screen.

Seanday Shorts: Panda Eyes

I needed a change, something that demanded respect--without trying. I'd been inside Tommy for the past six months, a senior at college. A strong, although short football player. I'd used him to manipulate Casey, a heavy built machine of solid muscle, a good player but not very bright. I'd got to Tommy through Casey who I'd taken earlier that day. Casey was feared, and other students stayed clear of him—not something that would be useful to me. Tommy on the other hand, with his dark hair and expressive eyebrows was liked by many. Tommy didn't know what hit him when I used Casey's strength to pin him down and knock him out. With a grunt I discarded the muscle-jock's body and forced my way inside the smaller Tommy as a permanent change.

That was six months ago, I'd been working Casey--pushing him hard. I'd used his aggression to create a winning team, a dominant alpha in public but a submissive coward when we were alone in the dorm. He'd willingly accept me pushing inside him whenever I demanded it—said he'd do anything for his best bud Tommy, he didn't understand that the Tommy he knew didn't exist anymore. He'd strip, and I'd push into him and don his football shirt—he was never seen without out. I'd cruise the halls, throwing my weight around blond cheerleaders handing from my arms. The six months were fun, but that's another story.

Seanday Feast: Hard to Swallow

I looked at myself in the mirror, I was proud of what I'd achieved, but there was still something that I couldn't fix. My height; at only 5'5" I was short, and I hated always being the 'little guy'.

I'd been working hard at the gym, and found a quiet spot in the locker room to try some posing, and taking a few selfies. It was then I heard an argument from somewhere in the room.

Seanday Shorts: Life as a Mule

Craig raised an eyebrow, "Cuba? Really? Isn't that kind of like a drug capital?"

"Dude, it's OK, they're legit. I've been there three times now and look at me!" Kurt replied with a grin.

It was true, since his friend had been going to the spa, he's been getting bigger, heavier, and more muscular. Craig just wanted to be bigger, that's all he ever wanted.

Craig was a cautious man. He'd checked the Instagram and blog sites of his favourite heavyweights and they all raved about the place, so he couldn't believe his luck when they offered an opportunity to visit and review the spa.

That was six months ago.

Seanday Burn: Taking Your Medicine, The Prequel pt3

Previously.... part1, part2.

There was laughter in the gym. I peered around the corner, it was Jackson; he'd returned.

I looked at the giant, and Tony. I'd already taken a dislike to this Jackson guy, and I was getting an idea.

"Guys, what this guy is doing is wrong," I said.

Tony looked at Hassan, currently occupied by my little bro'. "Really? How's that different to what Jay's doing?"

"Jay hasn't stolen a shit load of money!"

"I want my money back," Hassan growled.

"Bro' it's not your money."

"Feels like it, anyway it's not right, I want it back!"

"That's what I had in mind," I explained.

"Then what?" Tony asked.

I grinned, "I've no problems using the capsules, just need to make sure we don't fuck up people's lives."

Tony shrugged, then nodded.

"So what's the plan," the giant muttered.

Seanday Burn: Taking Your Medicine, The Prequel pt2

Previously.... Read it here.

My friend, Tony, grasped my shoulder, "We can't just leave him like that."

We both argued for a while, I told him we'd get the blame. Said the Arabs could easily fuck us up big time. Tony continued to argue, but then stopped abruptly.

I looked at him, then for my kid brother Jay, but he wasn't there. Something was holding Tony's interest; behind me. It was then I heard it, a gulping, gargling noise; a quiet struggle.

Slowly I turned, afraid of what I might find.

"Jay, NO!"

Seanday Burn: Taking Your Medicine, The Prequel pt1

I followed Tony to the locker room, his vest was slick with sweat and clung to his back. I watched his ass pendulum back and forth in his shorts. Damn, had he been working out his glutes?

"Hey wait up!" I looked around to see my kid brother Jay calling. "You guys going already?"

"Jay, it's 2am, me and Tony need something to eat."

"Sweet, I'm starved. Can you sub me?"

"Again? Mom and dad have just left, have you spent your allowance already?"

"Kinda," Jay muttered.

"Jesus, they're away for the week!"

"Come on!" Tony yelled from around the corner. "I need burgers and fries!"

I jogged around the corner, glancing at my reflection in the mirror and ran face first into Tony's meaty chest. "Oof, fuck!" I groaned, bouncing off the man-mountain and falling backwards. He grabbed me, pulled me up, and my face planted itself into his chest. His smell almost knocked me out, two hours in the gyms worth. "Shit, you need a shower!"

Seanday Shorts: The Taker

It had been a good game, we'd won the series. It had been fun being in Tyler for the past six months, but I wanted a change.

I pulled off my shirt and pads, all heavy with sweat and relaxed on the floor listening to some music.

As soon as I took Tyler, I noticed his thick heavy odour. He didn't use deodorant, and from his memories I realised it didn't affect his ability to pick someone up.

He'd been alone, walking back from the gym when I found him. Tapping him on the shoulder he turned and looked at me. He wasn't going to run, or defend himself. He could sense what I was; a taker.

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (6/6)

by Seuzz

The prickle of cool air on his face brought Vincent back into full consciousness. But he kept his eyes closed even after the towel had come off. "You get rid of those nurses," he murmured.

"It's just us," said the technician.

"'Cos this is off the books, you know."

"I know. And I'm erasing the data the moment you're out. No one will know it's you under your new face."

"Good. You hear from my man Trevon?"

"He'll pick you up at four."

"We'll be done by then?"

"It's not yet midnight now."

"Mm. I thought I drifted off longer than that. How's everything look below the neck?"

"Good. Are you ready for me to start working on your face?"

Vincent only smiled in reply, and smiled more widely at the dabs of alcohol to his jaw, chin and temple. Even the needles -- usually the part that bothered him -- prickled with promise.

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (5/6)

by Seuzz

"Ryan? Baby?" Vincent stood in the living room and called. "I got back from Toronto early, and I don't gotta go back in for a new sculpt until -- " He padded through the living room, the kitchen, the bedroom. "Honey? My man here -- " He slapped his chest proudly. "Played college football, kept in shape. Hung like a -- "

He broke off. The house was empty. Empty? It felt abandoned. Sterile beneath the faded floral scents.

Floral scents. Vincent tried to do what Tito had once suggested he do: Try to think more than three steps ahead.

The service came on Mondays, and this was Friday. Ryan was constitutionally incapable of not reducing a house to a pig sty in the space of four days. Ergo, he was out of town or at least on vacation from the house. But he had left no message for Vincent on where to find him. Ergo, Ryan was expecting to be back home before Vincent was scheduled to get back on Sunday. Ergo, Ryan was taking a vacation that he expected Vincent would not notice, and probably would not want his boyfriend noticing he had taken.

An ache opened up in Vincent's chest. His legs turned numb from the knees down as he went into the bedroom and began to methodically search the dressers, bureaus, and closets. The terrible thing was that even if he found nothing, that wouldn't prove a negative. But if he did find what he was afraid of finding --

And he found it. A box of condoms, something he and Ryan had never had in the house.

Worse, it was almost empty.

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (4/6)

by Seuzz

Vincent thought his heart was about to crack. But with one last effort, he and Tito lofted the improvised body bag and its contents into the dumpster, where it landed with a resounding boom. "Jesus, that was one heavy mofo. You gonna tell me now how you managed to piss him off?"

"I didn't," Tito said, and bent over to rest his hands on his knees as he gasped for breath. "He's my retirement package."

"Say what?"

"Yeah." Tito straightened up. Even in the early morning dark, in an unlit alley, Vincent could see the streaks of sweat on Tito's face. "That's my new face in there. My permanent one. His data file's waiting for me back at -- "

"That fuckin' ni -- ?  Tito." Vincent seized the hair at the top of his friend's head. "You're brown, but you ain't brown enough to pass for one of my peeps."

Tito slapped him away. "You don't listen closely, do you? I told you that sculpting into another race is hard. I didn't say it was impossible. That kind of radical sculpt is for one-time shots only, like final sculpts." Tito panted a couple of times. "So you understand what I'm saying, right?"

"That you got a bad result on your last test. I'm sorry, man."

"Don't be." Tito jerked his chin at the rusted-out dumpster. "I've been jonesing after that mofo's girl for a coupla years now, been hoping for a positive test so I could retire into her bed."

"Jesus. But now my question is, if this is Company business, why didn't you get a disposal team to handle this job? Why'd you call me out when I'm supposed to be on vacation?"

"Are you pissed at me?"

"No. I just want to know -- "

"But Ryan was pissed when you left to meet me, wasn't he? Oh, I bet he was, I bet he went into a sulk the minute you -- "

"Oh, fuck you, that isn't any of your business."

"I know it's not my business, I'm just saying. Christ, Vincent, I know he's adorable, but you spoil him, and you know it. I bet everyone he sleeps with spoils him."

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (3/6)

by Seuzz

Vincent knocked patiently at the bathroom door. "Ryan? Please open the door. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

He heard a blast of water in the sink, and guessed that Ryan was either washing his face or trying to cover the sound of his crying. "If you'll give me a chance," Vincent said, "I'll make everything okay. We'll cuddle and I'll stroke away all the -- "

The water shut off. "If you're sorry, you'll take back what you said!"

"I take it back, Ryan," Vincent said patiently.

"All of it?"

"All of it, sweetheart. Every word. Only -- "

Vincent rested his forehead on the door. How did Ryan manage to do it? How did he manage to get himself in the right and Vincent in the wrong even when it was so obviously the other way around?

He got the answer when the door opened and he lifted his head. Ryan stared at him from eyes brimming with tears. Vincent felt his heart crack.

Ryan had always had doe-like eyes. There was nothing special about their color -- brown with a hint of hazel -- but they were large and glistened every day with the laughing, innocent malice of a child. His chestnut hair drooped in a way that begged to pushed back, and held back lest it droop again. His skin was soft and smooth, unflawed by any blemish. The lips were never still -- always trembling on the edge of a smile or laugh -- and always flushed with excitement.

Vincent knew that it actually took a lot of work to keep Ryan looking like a very wise fifteen-year-old boy. The shampoos and conditioners, the moisturizers, the razors and tweezers, and more bottles and tubes and instruments that baffled Vincent. Sometimes he thought the technicians at the Company's Plastics division didn't have as many tools as Ryan, for he had the rest of his body to take care of too, right down to the cuticles of his toes.

Vincent put his hand to Ryan's cheek, and with his thumb wiped away a trickling tear. "I take it all back. I'm sorry. I was only surprised -- "

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (2/6)

by Seuzz

Vincent studied himself in the mirror as he slowly pushed the dreadlocks out of his face, and admired the way his bicep bulged as he did so. He had never looked -- had never been, and certainly had never felt -- so powerful. The red muscle shirt could barely contain his pectoral muscles, and he was giving himself a clear erection inside his sweatpants as he scoped himself out. He had worked around guys like this, back when he ran on the streets for Cesar's gang, but he'd never imagined he could have the same look and build as them. "Can I keep it," he murmured.

"Sure," said Tito, his immediate superior -- and who had also during the intervening months of physical preparation for this first plastic transformation become his non-romantic best friend. He slapped Vincent on the back. "DeShawn's not spoken for."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I said. He's not a real face, not a real body. Didn't they explain that to you? Jesus, everyone thinks everything's a secret in the Company." Tito rolled his eyes. "DeShawn's a composite, so you can take him with you when you quit, if you want. You will, probably, if not DeShawn then someone else."

"No, I didn't know that."

"Oh yeah. A new look and life, compliments of the Company, assuming you make it to retirement. And as long as it's a composite, of course. We'll probably have lots of them on file for you to choose from, though, by the time you're ready to go out to pasture."

"Why a composite for this job?" Vincent asked. "Why not someone the target knows and trusts?"

"Because a composite's better in this case.  DeShawn's a composite of all the men your target has dated over the last ten months. So this Friday, if she's at her usual club, you should have no trouble picking her up and getting her to the rendezvous point. Cynthia will take it from there, of course."

Vincent cocked his head. "So she likes her men like she likes her coffee, huh? And do I gotta be 'DeShawn' or can I pick some other name?"

"You can give out any fake name you want. Do you give out your real name when picking someone up?"

Guest Post: Legion and Lover (1/6)

by Seuzz

"Turn," said the technician, and pressed her fingertip against Vincent's chin. He shifted his head fractionally to the right. "Look up. You don't have to open your eyes," she added in an amused tone.

"Thanks," Vincent murmured. "I wasn't planning to."

"Does the mirror bother you?"

"No. The face does."

He thought she'd say It's a nice face, but instead she said, "We can cover it."

"The face?"

"No, the mirror, smartass. It's for your benefit, not mine. I can see you just fine."

Vincent smiled faintly, though it probably wasn't visible through his thick beard. Then the smile turned into a snarl of pain as a sheet of fire engulfed his scalp. "Just so you know," he told her in a tight voice, "the nerves weren't dead. Only mostly dead."

"Sorry." She rubbed her hand -- encased in a latex glove -- over the smooth dome where, only moments before, Vincent had sported a close-cropped afro. "Want some cream on it?"

"Just give it a minute and I'm sure the anesthetic will kick in. It didn't hurt, I just felt it come off," he lied as his scalp screamed.

Seanday Treats: Soldiers Life for Me

Lucy laid in the bed enjoying the luxurious red sheets and the way the room was furnished. It was the best room in the hotel, it had cost her all the money his had, but it was worth it.

She looked over at the dark skinned soldier laying next to her. "Damn, you really are built." It wasn't a lie, Ricks was in prime shape, more than Lucy had dared hope for.

"I think I'm right saying you enjoyed your last night on this world," Lucy murmured, "I'll guess I'll find out for myself in a while."

She pulled back the sheets and stood for a moment, basking at the vision of Ricks' perfect physique. "Of you'll do fine," she said.

Lucy was lean, more like a swimmer. At only eighteen, she'd not been with anyone like the twenty-six year old soldier before.