#Elixir

[scoutingthetrooper]

choose your poison

[carnivalwizard]

wizards see a swirling elixir and r like "anyone gonna chug this?" then get sent to the mirror dimension

[eternalsa2z]

Outfit

"Hiiiiii! Do you like my outfit? It was all super specially chosen."

"The white stockings and jacket are, like, a reminder I used to be a super-smarty scientist in a big white coat. I think this looks cuter though!"

"The denim skirt and pretty 'lil top are cuz I always used to cover up. Probably cuz of liek the chemy-cals I was playing with. But since I made a whoopsies with that already, I might as well show my new boobies and butt!"

"My fave collar and adorbs pigtails are, like, ummmm...signs that I'm Mommy's good girl? Mommy was like, my partner or something, but it makes sooooo much more sense for her to be in charge and steer my ditzy head by my hair!"

"Lastly, the most important piece...my fluffy ears! For some reason people kept calling me 'Katherine' even after my accy-dent. So I started wearing my ears to, like, make it suuuuuper obvious that I'm Kitty now!"

[zed-sabre]

MORE STICKER SHEETS SENT TO PRINT collapses in a heap

[summerwages]

onward and upwards...

wild blackberry wine 🍷

[ironknell]

Hellion tests and also a frame from a video I probably won't ever finish editing together.

[rylem33]

Split

“You just gonna stand there and stare all night?” she whispered, her lips curling into a smirk.

He swallowed hard, stepping closer like he wasn’t even in control of his own body anymore.

Brandi giggled softly, running her fingers through her long platinum hair. “You’re such a bad boy, sneaking around on your wife like this.”

Eric flinched, just a little. But she saw it.

Brandi crawled to the edge of the bed on all fours, slowly trailing her fingers up his thigh. “You don’t have to lie to me, baby. You think I didn’t already know?” She leaned in, brushing her lips against his ear. “I don’t care that you’re married. You’ve been mine since the first time you swiped right.”

He groaned softly, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her into his lap. Their mouths crashed together, desperate and sloppy. His hands roamed her body like he couldn’t get enough. Like she was everything he’d ever wanted.

Clothes hit the floor in seconds.

He pushed her onto her back, covering her body with his, kissing down her chest, her stomach, her thighs, until she was gasping, trembling, begging.

Eric whispered softly, like a confession he’d been holding back for weeks. “I’m going to leave Dana.”

She stared at him with an odd expression and didn’t say anything.

“I’m serious,” he breathed, pulling her tighter, like he couldn’t stand even an inch of distance. “I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re all I want, Brandi.”

Her lips parted, but she didn’t answer right away. She just let it hang there, relishing the way those words hit her like a shot of pure adrenaline.

A hot, wicked grin tugged at the corner of her mouth.

She dragged her nails softly down his back, slow and possessive, making sure he felt every inch. "Yeah?" she whispered, her voice syrupy and low. "You really mean that, baby? You’re done with her?"

Eric nodded against her skin, kissing the hollow of her throat. "I’ve never felt like this before. You make me… alive. You make me feel wanted. Desired." He paused, breathing hard. "I want you."

She pushed him back just far enough to meet his eyes, making herself look vulnerable.

"You’d really do that for me?" she whispered. "You’d really leave her… for this?"

Eric cupped her face like she was the only thing keeping him alive. "I’d do anything for you."

Brandi leaned in and kissed him slow and deep.

-------------------------------------------

Dana stood at the bathroom mirror, staring at the little black bottle in her shaking hand.

Last time, she told herself. One more night and this is over.

But she already knew she was lying.

She popped the cap, bringing the bitter liquid to her lips. The taste made her wince, but she forced it down in one long swallow.

Almost immediately, she felt the rush like electricity under her skin. She gripped the edge of the sink as her body began to tingle, tighten, shift.

Her brown hair lightened to platinum blonde. Her curves swelled, her waist cinched, her lips plumped.

Dana—now Brandi—smiled wickedly at her reflection, running her tongue over her lips.

He wouldn’t last ten minutes tonight.

And God, what a sick, beautiful mess this had turned into.

It had started so small. Just a hunch. A gut feeling. Something had shifted between them.

Eric’s late nights at the office. The way he stopped noticing her. The way he’d flinch when she reached for his phone.

And then she saw the dating apps on his phone. The messages to girls half her age. Girls named things like Lexie and Alyssa. God, he even had a type. Flirty texts about how he needed something new, something exciting. How Dana just didn’t do it for him anymore.

She could have confronted him that night. Should have. But something darker had taken root in her chest. She needed to know just how far he’d go. Was he just flirting, or did he intend to cheat?

That’s when she found out about the Elixir from some sketchy website promising transformation, allure, and power. She’d laughed at it… until she didn’t. The idea haunted her for days. And when the bottle arrived in that cheap black box, she hadn’t even hesitated.

The first time she transformed into Brandi, it was terrifying. She’d stood in front of the mirror, poking and prodding her body like she wasn’t real. But the second time? The third? God, it felt good. Addictive.

And while Dana became more cold and distant with Eric at home, Brandi slid into his DMs. Brandi teased him. Flirted with him. Made him need her.

Every time Dana watched him sneak off to meet his other woman, she knew she was wrapping him even tighter around her finger. Dana was pushing him away, sure. But Brandi? Brandi had him begging on his knees.

And now, he was ready to throw it all away for her.

-------------------------

Dana let the last page flutter onto the lawyer’s desk, crossing her legs slowly as she leaned back in her chair.

The lawyer adjusted his glasses, eyeing her suspiciously. “One last thing, Mrs. Walker—uh, Dana. Are you sure you want to execute this transfer? Moving your entire divorce settlement into an account under… Brandi McKay? There’s no legal entity, no ID, no—”

“I’m sure,” she interrupted smoothly, not even blinking.

He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “I just… I’m obligated to advise you that you could lose claim to—”

“I said I’m sure.”

------------------------------

The elevator doors slid shut. Dana leaned against the mirrored wall, chest heaving. Her fingers trembled as she dug through her purse, shoving useless things aside until she felt it. The little black vial she’d been saving.

She stared down at the label. Permanent Dose.

Dana glanced up at her reflection and let out a bitter laugh. The tired eyes. The thinning hair. The saggy skin. She looked old. She hated it.

With a shaking breath, she popped the cork, the sharp scent of the elixir filling the tiny space. Her lips curled into a hungry grin.

“Goodbye, Dana,” she whispered, tipping the vial to her lips.

She drained it in one greedy swallow, wincing at the bitter taste but savoring the fire it sent coursing through her veins.

Dana gripped the railing, groaning softly as the transformation locked into place.

Dana Walker was gone.

Brandi McKay was real. She was forever.

—------------------------------

Brandi leaned against the balcony doorframe, sipping her champagne. The new condo overlooked the glittering skyline.

Eric stood by the island, two empty glasses in front of him, his hands resting heavily on the countertop. He looked exhausted, but he smiled anyway.

“To us,” he celebrated, raising his glass.

“I’m just so happy, baby.” Brandi teased. “I can’t believe you bought this condo for me.”

“You like it?” he asked nervously. “I… I cashed out all my stock options to make it happen. You deserve the best.”

Brandi took another sip, set her glass down, and sauntered toward him. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, pressing her body against him.

“You really did all this for me?” she whispered into his ear, her voice dripping with sugar.

“For us,” he said softly. “I just want you to be happy, baby.”

Brandi leaned back in his arms.  He couldn’t see the smile fade from her lips.

“You know…” she started, pulling away, grabbing her glass again and swirling the champagne lazily. “I was thinking about you today.”

Eric blinked, already sensing something had shifted. “Yeah?”

She bit the inside of her cheek, barely holding back the laugh building in her throat. She’d already drained him dry. This condo was just the last squeeze.

She turned, leaning back against the island.

“About how fucking easy it was to take everything from you.”

His face twitched, confused. “…What?”

“You really don’t get it, do you? You sold your future… your company… everything you built… for me. And while you were busting your ass trying to keep me happy?” She stepped closer, crouching down in front of him, her voice sharpening to a cruel whisper. “I’ve been fucking anyone I wanted.”

Eric was shocked.

“Oh yeah,” she hissed. “Every hard-bodied man I could find. I’ve had so much fun fucking my way around the city.”

He shook his head, as if refusing to believe it. “No… Brandi, please…”

“Do you honestly think I was going to settle for you?” she spat. “God, I’ve been playing you since day one. You’re a fucking cheater. You could never be worthy of someone like me.”

Eric dropped into the barstool like he’d just been punched, burying his face in his hands, shaking his head. He looked at her, a broken man full of regret.

 “I should’ve stayed with Dana…”

That made Brandi laugh.

[rei-ismyname]

Let's talk R-LDS

R-LDS or Resurrection-Linked Degenerative Sickness was alluded to in X-Men #4 and the Infinity Comics before being named in X-Men #7. We're told that Magneto has it and it's directly caused by Krakoan resurrection/The Five, kinda.

Here's Beast doing some alluding.

In the panels above, we learn that Hank McCoy is the only one working on the problem - the problem being Magneto's loss of his powers and his body breaking down rapidly - his very chromosomes unraveling. He seems quite sure that it could happen to 'any of us' though the lack of quarantine suggests it's not contagious.

The next bit of information we receive is from Magneto and Scott in conversation, reflecting on The Iron Night. They took down a wild sentinel that was attacking the town and Mags lost control over his powers immediately after, requiring Scott to knock him out for safety's sake. Scott is no scientist, and while Magneto is a genius polymath autodidact (with plenty of experience in genetics) it's not a character trait that's seen focus lately. Thus, I'm assuming they're discussing it as amateurs and as patient zero in Magneto's case.

Magneto confidently names the condition for the first time as well as using an acronym for it, suggesting it's confirmed to exist, he's had a positive diagnosis, and they're using the term enough to require shorthand. He even spells out the subtext for us - it was a hidden flaw in Krakoan resurrection. I'll come back to that notion. Scott says 'we don't know that for sure,' implying that R-LDS is just a theory or speculation, which Mags doesn't directly refute. Instead he lays out the worst case scenario. They can't both be right here, so what's the deal? Magneto's symptoms are obviously confirmed, but how did they get from there to here?

If Magneto is the first and only person affected by his condition, why are he and Beast so sure about its providence and everyone being in danger? How could they possibly link it to Krakoan resurrection? I'm no scientist but I do know that there's only so much you can conclude from a single data point. Magneto was indeed only resurrected by the Five once, but he died again after that on Arakko (X-Men Red #7). The body he's in came out of a portal from Overspace in Adam Brashear's underwater base (Resurrection of Magneto #3.) His body suffering a condition borne of something that happened to a different body doesn't make sense. Considering he's the only person to return to life that way AND the only one allegedly with R-LDS, that would be the place to start for Beast's sciencing.

There he is, good as new.

Word of God

In a recent AIPT interview, Tom Brevoort removed any ambiguity and just straight up confirmed it. With the caveat that his recent X-history knowledge seems pretty poor, he is the de jure ultimate authority on the matter. I don't agree with that, and not just because I don't respect him as a creator. This habit of on-panel ambiguity and editorialising in interviews is vexing.

It's especially vexing when he contradicts himself. He counterpoints his own information with some of what I just pointed out, but the fact that they've made a list of who was and wasn't resurrected suggests R-LDS is a plot point they're committed to. I have to wonder why he bothered giving a detailed answer to this question if it's 'yes,' then 'maybe', then 'it will definitely be a thing you'll see as we progress.' Saying all of that and then ending with 'we know very little so far' really makes me wonder what he's thinking. Tom Brevoort could have given his usual cagey answer about not wanting to spoil anything, but he didn't here. I'm saving most of my Brevoort-specific criticism for a separate piece, but this glib and irreverent tone is typical of his commentary - even managing a light jab at Jordan D White.

Frankly, I think it's a graceless and cynical development. There are so many character beats, mistakes, and conflicts to use from the First Krakoan Age that choosing to create R-LDS feels like a shot at the core of hopefulness and creativity that blew our socks off in 2019.

HoxPoX

House of X/Powers of X was hopeful and magical. After a decade plus of endless misery and genocides, dull stories and bizarre characterisation, for once mutants got a W. The ability to use mutants working together to right the horrendous wrongs they'd suffered was central to that - the power of community and cooperation. What they built wasn't perfect but The Five was something they got right.

What would possess someone to take the cornerstone of the greatest X-Men story of all time (don't @ me) and try to tear it down? Remember, when the dust settled we ended up in Moira X life 10E. In 10A, the original Krakoan experiment, the mutants won! They thrived and protected what was theirs against Dominions. It took a literal apex AI God existing outside of space and time directly opposing them to fail. Enigma, on the back foot, sent Omega Sentinel through time to start ORCHIS years early and ensure Krakoa's collapse. Am I to believe 'no, sorry. That was a dead end?'

Haven't we been here before?

We've had mutants suffer from the Legacy Virus and M-Pox already, and I might even be missing other examples of nebulous diseases that threatened to wipe out all mutants. Obviously it's the prerogative of the X-Office to use whatever plot points they want, but do we really have to do this again? There are plenty of ways to sideline Magneto as a combatant that don't require repackaging old storylines. We've even had Hank McCoy decades behind the curve desperately trying to catch up before - in All-New All-Different X-Men.

Small World

Defenders-era Hank McCoy might be the worst possible 616 scientist to tackle this problem. He's literally decades behind the science curve and doesn't have the experience in dealing with anything like this. He's not the same guy that worked on M-Pox or the Legacy Virus. He never set foot on Krakoa and has never met any of the Five. We don't know how much data was recorded or kept from The Five but Beast may not have access to it.

Why isn't he talking to Cecilia Reyes, Forge, Jean Grey, Reed Richards, Doctor Strange, Adam Brashear, Healer, Doctor Nemesis? Even doctor dickhead that extorted Storm has the ability to instantly diagnose anyone. It makes the world feel tiny, and when you're following an era of interconnectedness that's just so disappointing. Portraying him as supremely concerned about 'all of us being ticking time bombs' rings hollow if he's working on it solo. Hank McCoy has always had a sense of arrogance where his scientific ability is concerned but not to this degree. Look at the guy! He's hating the stress he's under.

Sins of Sinister and the White Hot Room

I have to wonder if the implications of linking Magneto's illness to The Five's resurrection have been fully considered. The Sins of Sinister timeline ran for a millennium with the Five resurrecting on an industrial scale. Rasputin IV would have noticed, or the Quiet Council. The mutants left behind in the White Hot Room in RotPox spent 15 years bringing back ALL the dead mutants. That's 16 million, minimum. 15 years is less than a thousand but it's still longer than the First Krakoan Age, several times over. Nobody noticed anything? Elixir, member of the Five and Omega biokinetic, with his unlimited mastery of DNA didn't notice anything? Destiny didn't see mutants falling apart? Sounds dubious as hell to me.

Towards the end of the era many humans were resurrected too. 5% of the Five's work was set aside for bringing back poor children etc through the Phoenix Foundation. Steve Rogers was resurrected into his current body on Judgement Day. I am extremely skeptical that this has been considered, and in Steve's case whether the X-Office can even use him.

Conclusion

Magneto's physical degradation has been swift. Here he is in Uncanny X-Men #700, implied to be at most 6 months before X-Men #1. I think I've demonstrated that the concept is nonsensical and to reiterate, I think it's a terrible narrative choice. If I'm being generous, it'll be interesting to see if they can explain R-LDS in a way that makes sense - if they can do something new and interesting with a tired concept. There's only been one issue since it was introduced, so perhaps I'm jumping the gun on breaking it down. Let's check back in 6 months.

What do you think of R-LDS? Do you think my reasoning is sound? As always, I'd love to hear what other fans think.

[amateurrider]

Class of X: New X-Men. Happy New Year! Here’s hoping for a reunion/no more deaths plz

[ambersadventuresinwonderland]

How beautiful is this Wicked movie green elixir bottle replica?!? 💚🧹🩷🫧

[newx-menfan]

What do you mean by "Elixir and Cipher already did it"?

It’s kind of a joke on “inappropriate X-Men relationships/age gaps”…

Elixir- inappropriate relationship with Wolfsbane during the Academy X days (KYOST X-Force also referenced their relationship)

Cypher (Doug Ramsey version)- had an inappropriate crush with Betsy after saving her from Mojo, despite her being several years older… writer’s intermittently bring it up… but not so much anymore lol

It’s funny Prodigy had a crush on Dani too… since he IS a character that’s VERY similar to Doug 🤣🤣🤣

[gaeyea]

[eternalsa2z]

Excited

No really! You friend is extremely excited about your birthday present. A trip to the Bimbo Resort complete with this yummy drink and the huge cake they're sitting on is exactly want they wanted! They just looked blank and confused because that's their default state now that they've gone through the resort's 'Blank Birthday Bimbo' package. With all that lip filler, botox, and complete brain rewiring they can barely smile and say 'Thank you' no matter how much they want to!

[zed-sabre]

the academy x kids had SO much shiny stuff and i love that for them

order form for sticker sheets is here!

[polarivere]

finally finished them btw! ty for the patience 🙂‍↕️

[rylem33]

The Plus One

I hope you all enjoy this story. If you end up liking it, head over to my blog (link on my Tumblr homepage) where there are a ton more to read.

----------------------------------------------

Theo flexed his fingers, clenching them into fists. His hands felt smaller, delicate. It was… weird.

“Okay,” he said slowly, tilting his head. His voice was lighter, smoother… feminine. “So it actually worked.”

Chris stood across from him, arms crossed, eyes wide in sheer amazement. He blinked, trying to find the right words. “Holy shit, dude. I mean… not dude. Wow.”

Theo turned back to the mirror, eyes trailing over the reflection. His hair, which used to be short and messy, now fell in soft auburn waves around his shoulders, framing a softer face. His old t-shirt and sweatpants were loose, almost comically hanging off a much smaller, curvier frame. There was a lot more softness to him now. And, of course… the obvious. His eyes flickered down, where his chest now had actual boobs, sitting perfectly in the loose fabric of his shirt.

He poked at them, frowning slightly. “Huh.”

Chris leaned in, fascinated. “How does it feel?”

Theo blinked. “Uh. Heavy? Bouncy? I don’t know, man. It’s not like I’ve had them long enough to form a deep, personal connection.”

Chris burst into laughter, rubbing his hands over his face. “I cannot believe this actually worked.”

“Yeah, same,” Theo exhaled, running a hand down his side again. “This is so… weird.”

He stretched his arms over his head, the shift in his center of gravity making him wobble slightly. Chris instinctively reached out to steady him.

“You okay?” Chris asked, still grinning, clearly enjoying the absurdity of the moment.

“Yeah, just… new body, new vibes,” Theo muttered, rolling his shoulders to get used to the new weight. “Really wasn’t expecting to be this short, though.”

Chris smirked. “I did tell you the Elixir is fully transformative. It’s not a half-measure thing.”

“I know,” Theo said, giving himself one last look in the mirror. “No one we know has actually taken it, though. For all we knew, it could’ve turned me into a lizard.”

Chris snorted. “I wouldn’t have minded a pet gecko.”

Theo shot him a glare. “You owe me for this, man.”

Chris raised both hands in mock surrender. “Hey, you agreed to this! But yeah, I owe you.  Though it is for a good cause.”

Theo sighed, trying to focus. Right. The reason they were doing this in the first place.

Chris’s family was complicated. The small-town, gossip-loving kind. And unfortunately, they had very clear ideas about Chris’s life. Ideas that didn’t quite fit with his reality.

Chris had come out to Theo years ago, but never to his family. The few attempts he’d made had led to uncomfortable conversations about finding “the right girl” and “settling down.” Eventually, he’d just stopped trying.

But now, with his cousin’s wedding coming up, Chris needed a “plus one” and his family expected him to bring his “girlfriend.”

Enter Theo.

The plan was simple. If you could call magically turning your best friend into a woman and parading them around as your fake girlfriend “simple.”  Maybe “desperate” was a better word to describe the plan.

Chris clapped his hands together. “Okay, we need to get you dressed. We leave in an hour, and I really don’t think showing up in oversized sweatpants is gonna sell the ‘girlfriend’ image.”

Theo grimaced, eyeing the clothes still hanging awkwardly on his body. “Yeah, yeah. What am I even supposed to wear?”

Chris grinned and tossed a duffel bag onto the counter. “That’s why I went shopping.”

Theo eyed the bag suspiciously. “Oh no.”

“Oh yes,” Chris said smugly. “Various sizes, because I had no idea how this was gonna turn out. Dresses, skirts, jeans, even a backup hoodie in case you need some emotional support masculinity.”

“God bless,” Theo muttered, picking up the bag and rifling through it.

“And yes, I did buy you bras and underwear,” Chris added.

Theo groaned, holding up a lacy bra in one hand. “Ugh. You really thought of everything, huh?”

Chris grinned. “Dude, you’re my best friend. Of course I did.”

That actually made Theo pause. Chris had planned all of this, went shopping, and even concocted an entire cover story.

And yeah, it was still deeply weird, but… it was kind of cool too?

Theo huffed, grabbing the rest of the clothes. “Fine. But if anything in here has lace, I’m fighting you.”

Chris smirked. “Oh, definitely lace.”

“Chris.”

“Just try it on!”

Theo huffed again but relented. “Fine, fine.” He began pulling on the clothes, looking at his reflection once more as he slipped into the red lace bra and blue panties.

Chris, who had been watching with a mix of amusement and concern, raised an eyebrow. “So, this is your ‘girlfriend’ look? You’re actually pulling it off.”

Theo couldn’t help but chuckle awkwardly. He sat there, hands on his hips, pulling at the underwear.

“I look ridiculous,” Theo muttered under his breath. It felt weird. “But if it works…”

Chris burst into laughter again, rubbing his hands over his face. “Man, you definitely look like you could be my girlfriend now.  I mean, if I liked girls.”

Theo shot him a glare, half-sarcastic and half-laughing.

Chris raised both hands. “Hey, just remember you get a free vacation and an out-of-body experience.”

Theo let out a long, exaggerated sigh but couldn’t stop the small smile from tugging at his lips. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice now. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

Chris grinned, eyeing him up and down. “Yeah, let’s. We leave in an hour. And just so you know, I’m gonna need you to really sell this. No half-assed acting, okay?”

Theo turned to face him. “Trust me, Chris,” he said. “I didn’t go through all of this to leave you hanging.”

------------------------------------------------------------

Theo shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the hem of the dress Chris had picked out. The fabric of the blue dress clung to his new, unfamiliar curves in ways that made him want to squirm.

“You’re doing fine,” Chris said, pacing behind him with his arms crossed, a little too chipper for Theo’s taste. “You look great. Just remember, you’re my girlfriend. We’ve been together for two years, okay? Simple backstory. You know it, I know it.”

Theo turned to face him, blinking. “Yeah, I’ve got it, but…” He tugged at the dress again. “I don’t know man.  I just feel odd. I don’t walk like this. I don’t talk like this. Hell, I don’t even sit like this.”

Chris raised an eyebrow, leaning against the dresser. “I know, but you’ve got the looks down. Just act natural.”

“Natural?” Chris laughed. “Chris. Look at me,” Theo said, gesturing. “We left natural back at the apartment when I drank that Elixir.”

“Okay, fair.  But you’re doing to do great,” Chris said, trying to sound encouraging. “They’ll be easy to fool. I’ve been fooling them for years, making them think I’m straight. You got this, man.” His grin faltered slightly when Theo didn’t respond immediately. “Uh, Theo. You’ve got this.”

Theo exhaled, slumping his shoulders. “I don’t know how you do it,” he muttered.

Chris raised his hands in mock surrender. “You’re a great friend. I really appreciate this.” Chris gave him a sidelong glance, grinning. “You’re just making it harder than it has to be. You’ve got this. Own it.”

Theo sighed dramatically. “Alright, alright.” He straightened up and looked at himself again. “Guess I’ll just… act like I know what I’m doing. But first, we need to come up with a name. You can’t keep calling me Theo.”

“Yeah, good point.” Chris followed. “Is Thea too dead on?”

“Yeah, probably,” said Theo. “How’s Athena sound?”

“Athena”, Chris repeated. “Powerful, confident. I like it.”

Theo stood a little taller, taking a deep breath. He was determined to act like it didn’t bother him. His mind was racing. He knew the story they had to sell.  It was only a couple of days.

He took a step forward. “Okay, I’m Athena then. Let’s do this.” He gave Chris a playful, almost sarcastic look. “But, you know, if I trip or something, it’s on you.”

Chris clapped his hands together. “You’ll be fine. Now, we leave in an hour, and we need to work on the backstory a bit. So, we met at college. Our first date was mini golf and ice cream.  I woo’d you. You love me. You know the drill.”

Theo nodded. “Got it. But…” He paused, then shrugged. “Why would I want to be with you, though?”

Chris looked surprised. “What do you mean?”

Theo hesitated, then gave him a sly grin. “I mean, you’re… okay, I guess, but two years? Seems a little unrealistic. You’re not that interesting.”

Chris blinked, clearly taken aback. “What?”

Theo chuckled softly, his hands resting on his hips. “I’m just messing with you. Of course. It was practically love at first sight.” 

Theo gave Chris a wink. 

Chris froze, staring at him for a moment before a slow grin spread across his face. “Wait…did you just… flirt with me?”

Theo blinked, surprised by his own words. “What? No! I was just… acting.”

“Dude.” Chris’s grin grew wider. “That was… so natural. Holy crap.” He laughed to himself. “You’re already way better at this than I thought you’d be.”

Theo blinked again, his heart skipping a beat. The behavior just slipped out, without thinking. But didn’t hate it. He even felt a little proud of it, which felt… wrong.

Chris was still chuckling, shaking his head. “Okay, you’re definitely in character. Let’s get you ready for the dinner.”

------------------------------------------------------------

The door clicked shut behind them, and Chris let out a breath before breaking into a huge grin. “That. Was. Amazing!”

Athena, still swaying slightly from the drinks, collapsed onto the edge of the bed, a lazy smile spreading across her lips. “Told you I had it covered,” she purred, stretching her arms over her head. The motion made the cropped blue top ride up slightly, revealing just a hint more of her toned stomach.

Chris flopped onto the chair near the window, shaking his head in disbelief. “No, seriously, I thought we were screwed at first. You were so stiff, and I swear Aunt Lisa was about to start grilling you like a detective.”

Athena giggled, a soft sound that surprised even her. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, crossing her legs. “Yeah, yeah. But then, you know… a few drinks, a little charm.” She smirked. “They love me now.”

Chris laughed. “Love might be an understatement. My mom was already talking about how adorable we are together, and my dad actually liked you.” He pointed at her, as if that were the most shocking part. “Do you know how hard that is?”

Athena tilted her head slightly, a slow, confident grin forming. “What can I say? I’m irresistible.”

Chris laughed, but the thought lingered. She really was irresistible.

Chris had spent years dodging conversations about dating, carefully keeping his family at a distance so they wouldn’t ask too many questions. And now, in the span of a few hours, Athena had completely shattered that barrier. His mom had called them adorable. His uncle had clapped him on the back and said, “You finally found a keeper, huh?” His grandmother had actually teared up.

And the worst part was they believed it. They weren’t just humoring him. They genuinely thought Athena was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Chris forced a smile. “You, uh… really committed to the role after a few drinks.”

Athena’s stomach fluttered. “What do you mean?”

Chris shook his head with a soft chuckle. “I mean, you were great. But at some point, I swear you stopped acting. You were so… natural.”

Athena blinked.

“You were laughing, flipping your hair, touching my arm. Hell, even I almost believed we were together.” Chris ran a hand over his face, the weight of the situation finally settling in. “I don’t know, man… I think I just made things a million times harder for myself.”

Athena frowned. “What? Why?”

Chris sighed, leaning back against the chair. “Because now? Now my family really thinks I have the perfect girlfriend. The exact kind of girl they’ve always wanted for me.” He let out a bitter laugh. “How the hell am I ever supposed to come out now?”

Athena opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

She had been so focused on how good it had felt to fit in, to win them over, that she hadn’t even thought about what that meant for Chris.

Chris rubbed his temples. “They were already in denial, but now? Now they’re invested.” He let out a dry chuckle. “God, my mom was looking at you like you were a goddamn miracle.”

Athena swallowed hard.

Chris sighed again. “I mean… it’s not like I was planning to come out this weekend or anything. But now? I feel like I just dug my own grave.”

After a few moments of silence, Chris shook his head, then forced a smile. “But hey, at least you had fun, right?”

Athena let out a small, awkward laugh. “Yeah… I guess.”

She suddenly felt warm again, her fingers absently playing with the tie on her top. There was something buzzing in the back of her mind. The way her body felt, the way she had acted tonight without even thinking.

She shifted slightly, crossing and uncrossing her legs, her gaze flickering toward the mirror.

She was really starting to like how she looked and that terrified her.

Chris stood up, stretching. “Alright, I’m gonna take a quick shower before bed.” He headed toward the bathroom, already unbuttoning his shirt. “Big day tomorrow. You, me, and a wedding.”

Athena’s eyes flickered toward him as he peeled back slightly, undoing the first few buttons.

A strange thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.

Chris is actually kinda hot.

An unfamiliar pang of frustration curling inside her.

Too bad he’s gay.

She blinked, horrified at herself. What the hell was that?

“Right,” she said quickly, voice slightly tight as she watched him disappear into the bathroom.

The moment the door clicked shut, she exhaled sharply, running her hands down her thighs. Her heart was racing, her body humming. A slow, creeping realization settled over her.

All this attention, tonight, has done something to me. Oh god, I’m horny.

She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. No, no, no, that’s not happening.

But it was happening.

The warmth in her belly, the tingling under her skin, the way her body thrived under every compliment, every glance at dinner. She had loved it. More than she should have.

And Chris should have been thrilled. She had saved him tonight. She was perfect, the ideal girlfriend, the woman his family adored. Instead, he was sitting here moping about how well it had gone.

Athena frowned, pacing the room.

I did everything right. I was charming, funny, flirty. I played my role better than even he expected. And now he’s upset?

She folded her arms, jaw tightening.

The way he had looked at her, like she had somehow made his life harder by being too good at this, rubbed her the wrong way.

She had worked her ass off to make sure this went smoothly. He had thrown her into the deep end, expected her to play along, and she nailed it.

Now he was worried he’d “dug too big of a hole.”

Athena scoffed, arms tightening around herself.

Well, maybe I wouldn’t have done so well if you hadn’t expected me to act like your perfect little girlfriend.

The resentment was small, just a flicker, but it was there. A tiny, creeping frustration curling at the edges of her thoughts.

Chris had wanted this. He had asked��for this. The Elixer was his idea.  And now he was mad that she had done too well?

She ran a hand through her hair, letting out a sharp breath.

Worst of all, she liked how it felt.

She liked the attention. She liked the way people’s eyes lingered on her, the way she could make them laugh, the way they wanted her in the room.

She liked being Athena.

And if Chris had a problem with that?

Maybe that was his issue, not hers.

Athena turned back toward the mirror, staring at the woman looking back at her.

She didn’t just look like a hot woman. She was starting to feel like it too.

And that thought didn’t scare her as much as it should have.

------------------------------------------------------------

Morning came and Athena stirred, stretching out across the bed, a lazy smile forming on her lips before her eyes even opened.

God, she felt good.

Her body was warm, buzzing with something that had been simmering since last night. She let out a satisfied hum, arching her back slightly as the silky sheets brushed against her skin. Everything felt so much more now.  Every touch, every sensation, the way her curves pressed into the mattress.  It all just felt tempting.

She cracked one eye open, glancing around. Chris was already gone. Figures. He had mentioned something about leaving early for family pictures, groomsmen duties, whatever.

Which meant…

I’ve got the whole room to myself.

A slow, mischievous grin spread across her face as she stretched again, rolling onto her stomach, her fingers toying absentmindedly with the hem of her sleep shirt.

Something had shifted in her last night. She knew it. She had felt it in the way she owned the room at dinner, in the way people looked at her. In the way she liked being the center of attention.

Chris had practically thrown her into this role, and she had done it so well it freaked him out.

That thought made her smirk.

She ran a hand down her side, trailing her fingers over the curve of her waist, the swell of her hip.

It was funny. Just yesterday, she had been awkward, uncomfortable in this body. Now she felt right.

She let out a breathy little laugh, biting her lip as she glanced toward the mirror across the room.

The woman staring back at her was stunning. A slow heat pooled in her stomach.

God, is this what it’s like to be admired? To be wanted? No wonder women love attention so much.

She shifted slightly, legs brushing together under the covers. A wicked thought crept into her mind.

No one’s here. No one’s watching.

Her fingers toyed with the sheets, trailing down her thigh. She shouldn’t be thinking like this. This was supposed to be temporary. A disguise.

And yet…

Athena licked her lips, shifting her hips just slightly.

Maybe I should indulge. Just a little.

The idea sent a delicious little thrill through her. Her fingers teased at the slit between her legs. A dampness quickly slicked the area allowing her fingers to enter with ease. It felt wonderful.

She rubbed with one hand while the other toyed with her surprisingly sensitive nipples. A loud moan escaped her mouth. She paused, looking around the room as if she’d be caught.  But nobody was there.

After that, she let herself indulge in the feelings of this body. After all, it wasn’t like anyone would ever know.

------------------------------------------------------------

Chris knocked once before pushing the hotel room door open. “Alright, Athena, we gotta…”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

Athena stood in front of the mirror, slipping an earring into place, dressed in a sleek, rust-colored dress that clung to every curve. The fabric hugged her waist, emphasized her hips, and dipped low across her chest, showing off far more cleavage than Chris would have expected.

Chris felt his stomach drop.

“What the hell are you wearing?”

Athena turned, tilting her head slightly, her lips curving into a slow, amused smirk. “Uh, a dress? For the wedding? You know, the whole reason we’re here?”

Chris ran a hand over his face. “That’s the dress you picked? You’re showing, like… everything.”

Athena rolled her eyes. “Oh, relax. It’s elegant. It’s classy.” She ran her hands down her sides, smoothing the fabric. “And it looks damn good.”

Chris took a step closer, lowering his voice. “That’s the problem.” He gestured wildly at her. “Don’t you think its a bit too much?”

Athena scoffed. “Excuse me? You think I look too good? Wow, thanks, Chris.”

Chris pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to keep his frustration in check. “That’s not what I…you know what I mean! This isn’t you. The Theo I know wouldn’t be caught dead in a dress like that!”

Athena’s expression darkened. A slow, simmering resentment bubbled up in her chest.

“Oh, I wouldn’t?” she said, voice laced with venom. She took a step closer, her hands resting firmly on her hips. “I wouldn’t be caught dead looking like this? Because I’m doing this for you, Chris. This whole thing.  Me playing the perfect girlfriend, saving your ass in front of your family. This is for you.”

Chris hesitated. “…I know. I just…”

Athena let out a sharp laugh. “You wanted me to be convincing, didn’t you? To make sure nobody suspected anything? And guess what, Chris? They don’t! They love me!” Her grin turned sharp. “And now, what? Now I’m too convincing? Too sexy? Too comfortable?!”

Chris opened his mouth, but she wasn’t done.

“You don’t get to freak out because I did my job too well.”

And then, just to push him further, she grabbed her breasts, squeezing them deliberately, her fingers pressing into the soft flesh through the fabric of her dress.

Chris nearly choked. “What the hell are you doing?!”

Athena arched an eyebrow, her voice saccharine sweet. “What, Chris? Does it bother you? Does it make you uncomfortable?” Her smirk widened. “You know, I could make everyone uncomfortable. I could go downstairs right now and make such a scene. Tell them we had a big fight. Maybe cry a little, say you’ve been awful to me. They’d take my side, you know. Your family adores me.”

Chris felt his blood run cold. “Athena.”

“Maybe I’ll flirt with your cousins. Or your uncle. Hell, maybe I’ll get on the mic and make a toast about how you’re just so lucky to have me.”

“Stop.”

Chris’s voice was firm.

Athena’s smirk faltered.

Chris took a breath, lowering his voice, trying to keep his tone steady. “Look, I get it. You’re having fun with this. But you don’t have to prove anything to me, okay?” He forced a small, careful smile. “You do look good. I should’ve known this Elixir was gonna mess with your head. I should’ve been more careful.”

Athena’s expression twitched, something flashing behind her eyes.

Chris took another step forward. “Come on. This is just for one more day. We get through the wedding, we get back home, and this whole thing is over. You don’t have to… be this forever.”

A beat passed.

Athena exhaled slowly. The fire in her eyes dimmed just a little.

“…Fine.” She dropped her hands from her chest, smoothing out the dress. “But you owe me for this, Chris. Big time.”

Chris let out a relieved breath. “Deal.”

Athena gave him one last look, then turned toward the mirror, adjusting her hair.

Chris watched her, a pit forming in his stomach.

This wasn’t just Theo playing dress-up anymore.

This was something else.

And he was terrified of what would happen next.

------------------------------------------------------------

Athena stepped into the dimly lit hotel room, clicking the door shut behind her. Her thoughts replayed the details of the wedding reception.

She had heard everything.

The bride, whispering to her friends, voice dripping with resentment.

“This is my wedding, and she is sucking up all the attention. Did you see how he looked at her? She’s barely even trying, and it’s working. She’s just a plus one for Chris. And now she’s practically draped over my fiancé.”

Athena had only smiled at the time, playing dumb, offering a sweet, innocent little laugh before twirling a strand of her hair.

But inside?

Oh, she loved it.

She had leaned just a little closer to the groom after that. Touched his arm a little longer. Let her laughter linger in his ear.

And it had worked. He had watched her all night.

Athena smirked, stepping toward the mirror. She ran a hand down the smooth satin of her newly chosen dress. The deep red fabric clung to every curve, the high slit daringly exposing the length of her thigh. She struck a pose, adjusting the straps of her dress.  

If they thought that was bad, they were going to hate this.

She turned slightly, admiring herself.

God, I look incredible.

A slow, creeping thrill curled through her stomach. She had been made for this. The Elixer had turned her into something more than Theo ever was. Something powerful, something magnetic.

She tapped a manicured finger against her chin, her lips curling.

I wonder how long it would take to get him alone.

She didn’t care about Chris’s predicament anymore. He had brought her into this mess, and now? Now he could deal with the consequences.

Athena smoothed her hands down the front of her dress one last time and turned toward the door.

Time to give the bride something to really talk about.

------------------------------------------------------------

Chris slammed the hotel door shut behind him, his hands shaking as he turned to face Athena.

“What the fuck did you do?!”

Athena barely reacted. She was sprawled out on the couch, her red dress still clinging to her body, her legs lazily crossed. She looked up at him with half-lidded eyes, completely unfazed, idly running a hand along her thigh.

Chris was fuming. “You slept with the groom! The fucking groom, Athena!”

She smirked. “Mmhm.”

“The bride caught you two in the kitchen, for God’s sake!” He threw his hands in the air. “And you look like you don’t even care!”

Athena let out a slow, indulgent sigh. “That’s because I don’t.”

Chris froze, his anger momentarily replaced by sheer disbelief. “You… don’t?”

Athena sat up slightly, resting her elbow on the couch’s armrest, her fingers toying with the strap of her dress. “Chris, you’re acting like I forced him or something.” She tilted her head. “He came to me.”

Chris clenched his fists. “That doesn’t make it better!”

Athena’s smirk widened. “Oh, but it does.” She stretched, her body moving with an effortless, sensual ease. “He couldn’t get enough of me. Every time he fucked me, he wanted more. Three times, Chris. Three.” She dragged out the word, watching with amusement as Chris’s face twisted in horror.

“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, running a hand over his face.

Athena chuckled, completely unbothered. “You should’ve seen him. He was desperate for me. Whispering about how I was the best he’d ever had, how he wished he had met me first.” She sighed dramatically. “Honestly, I almost felt bad for his poor little bride.”

Chris snapped his head toward her. “You’re insane.”

Athena pouted. “Am I? I’m just being honest.”

Chris shook his head, pacing the room like he was trying to process the last few hours. “This isn’t you, Theo. This isn’t…”

“It’s Athena,” she corrected sharply.

Chris flinched at the venom in her voice.

She leaned forward now, resting her elbows on her knees, her piercing gaze locking onto his. “And you don’t get to tell me who I am anymore.”

Chris swallowed hard. “The Elixir… it’s messing with your head.”

Athena laughed a soft, slow, mocking laugh. “Oh, Chris,” she purred, standing up from the couch. She took a step toward him, her hips swaying with practiced ease. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

Chris took a step back. “Get what?”

She stopped right in front of him, close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. She reached out, tracing a single manicured nail down the front of his shirt.

“I like this,” she whispered, her breath warm against his skin. “I love how it feels to be wanted. To be worshiped.” She smirked, tilting her head. “And it’s never going away.”

Chris stared at her, his stomach twisting into knots. Chris stood frozen, his back against the wall, staring at the woman in front of him.

Not Theo. Not his best friend. Theo was gone. 

Athena.

He swallowed hard. “So… what now?”

Athena tilted her head, considering the question like it was the most unimportant thing in the world. Then, with a slow, sultry grin, she turned away from him, sauntering back toward the mirror.

She admired herself, smoothing out the silk of her dress, adjusting the straps with delicate fingers.

Then she met his eyes in the reflection, her smirk lazy, indulgent. Unapologetic.

“Now?” she mused, running a hand down her curves.

“Now, I live.”

She turned back to him, giving him one last amused glance before stepping past him toward the door. She didn’t stop. Didn’t hesitate. The door clicked shut behind her.

And just like that, she was gone.