As Zoe was rushing around the table, it became apparent that her efforts weren't necessary to find out the results.
"Ooof." She grunted as she stumbled forward, barely catching herself on one of the dining room chairs. "No Fucking Way." She protested as she supported herself with a hand on the back of the chair.
Her free hand went to the corset, and she huffed, though it was hard to tell if she were expressing her frustration, or if the air was being forced out of her lungs. "Shit... It's getting tighter." she gasped.
Sure enough, Jon watched with some wonder as his sister slowly plumped up. It wasn't quite the inflation he imagined it would be. Everything had a weight to it that defied the simple visual of an inflating balloon. In fact, it was far more subtle than any of that. Where once there was no jiggle, now there was jiggle. And Zoe's entire profile simply expanded outward, with an exception of her corseted waist of course. If he had to put any description to it at all, he'd say Zoe looked a bit like a dry sponge being dropped in a tub of water. Where previously there was a defined lean profile, now everything was soft and rounded out.
Zoe gaped as she looked down. Her plump bottom lip hanging open in shock. Her now chubby cheeks almost seemed to pinch her crimson lips into a pucker, though this was just an illusion of the newly widened profile of her face. Her hands, which were once slender and spindly, were now rounded with each individual knuckle lost in one smooth line from hand to black nailed fingertip. Her plump shoulders were wider now, making her seem both huggable, and more bearish. To Jon's bashful surprise, the biggest change took place on her chest. Her breasts jutted out from her body in a ludicrous parody of femininity, supported by the newly expanded cups of the corset.
"God Dammit Jon!" Zoe shouted shrilly.
He looked away quickly, suddenly deeply bashful. Though it wasn't long before the smug amusement returned. "Sounds like you're getting air just fine in that tight corset."
"I'll show you just fine!" She shouted, as she slugged him hard on the shoulder. The strike rippled up her own arm as well.
"Yeeohw!" Jon shouted his protest, and held up his hand defensively, but started to laugh. "I don't know why you're angry. You look good."
"Oh I know why YOU think I look good." She punched him 3 more times, but despite the scowl, the strikes were softer. Jon could feel her radiate annoyance, but her anger wasn't spiteful.
"T-That's not what I mean."
"Sure it isn't." She started to strut away, only to find her gate wider, and rounder than before.
"Love you sis." Jon shouted after her with a laugh.
Zoe flicked him off as she rounded the corner. Her proportions were the closest Jon had ever seen to a true hourglass, and he watched as her newly plumped rear and thighs jiggled with each angry step until she faded from view.
Jon spent the rest of the morning by himself, Quietly lamenting that he didn't get to see "normal" Zoe. His sister never would have guessed that he was secretly on her side the entire time, though had to admit the current outcome was amusing. His new memories granted him more than a bit of vengeful satisfaction. Payback at last, for the month of lost height she gave him years ago. He thought about setting out for school a bit early, but decided it might be more fun to walk there with Zoe. She would undoubtedly fuss at him, but after all, wasn't he entitled to relish in his coin toss triumph?
Zoe reappeared before too long, backpack over her shoulders, black ripped stockings over her previously bare legs, and arms crossed in front of her. She looked tense, like she was scrunching up her shoulders, but Jon quickly realized that was simply caused by the corset squeezing everything upwards, including her shoulders. "I thought you'd be gone already."
"Don't be like that. I just wanted to walk to school with my little... Well. Younger sister." Jon chuckled.
"I'm still mad at you."
"Hey, fair is fair. You agreed to the coin toss."
"Fine whatever. I'm going." She clomped out of the door, and slammed it behind her, but Jon was shortly after her easily keeping up with her shorter strides.
They walked in silence, though anyone driving by would have been able to read their moods. The subtle curl of Jon's lips and the long drawn scowl carved across Zoe's chubby cheeks.
Zoe started to pant and huff as they walked. The bus wouldn't pick up any students within a mile of the school, and as it were, the Madison house was located right on the edge of that limit.
"This is bullshit." Zoe stated flatly. "I'm already getting sweaty."
"Yeah, I can imagine." Jon offered sympathetically.
"Can you?!" Zoe put her hands on her hips and faced Jon. "Do you have any idea how much this thing chafes when its wet?" She gestured to her middle.
"How about another bet then?" Jon smirked.
Zoe's eyes squinted shrewdly. An expression that is exaggerated by her newly plumped features. She stared for a long moment, then crossed her arms and leaned back, almost as if leaning against a wall. Her corset seemed to support the posture as it stiffly rotated backwards at her hips. "Double or Nothing?"
"Wow." Jon stated. "How generous do you think I am?" Feeling a bit tired of the game, he followed up. "How about... If you win, you go back to regular goth Zoe."
"And if you win?" She snapped.
Jon thought for a second, then responded. "Platform heels." Zoe Balked, but Jon continued. "And however tall they are, that's how much height you lose."
"Sheesh... Really going all out aren't you?" She exclaimed in an uncharacteristically even tone. Jon shrugged. "Fine. What's the game?" She queried curtly.
"I didn't bring the quarter so... Thumbwars?"
"fine" She agreed. Her even tone never broke "But if I lose. I also get to decide the next game."
"If you lose?" Jon eyed her curiously, "Why should I give you anything?"
"Goodwill?" She pleaded. "Besides. It's thumbwars." She held up her hand, fingers spread wide. "You're probably going to win. I need to get something out of it."
"Alright. As long as the games fair, I guess." He agreed reluctantly. He smirks. "But the heels are going to be high if I win."
Zoe, grim faced, stuck her hand out, as if to shake hands. Jon met her hand, and wrapped his fingers around hers. Together they recited the words of the ancient childlore ritual in a deep and monastic tone. Their voices resonated in liturgical harmony.
"One Two Three Four. I declare a Thumb War." Zoe was aggressive, jetting her thumb out as far and as fast as she could to pin Jon's, but he easily stretched his lanky thumb back and away from her assault.
The whole affair, while dramatic, with lots of bobbing, and weaving, and shouting, lasted only a couple of seconds. Zoe was quickly pinned beneath Jon's longer, more dexterous thumb.
"Fuck!" She shouted as she tumbled back, and nearly didn't catch herself on her new chunky heels.
"Damn!" Jon exclaimed. "I didn't mean for them to be that tall!" He laughed, while Zoe pinwheeled her arms, then stabilized herself, with her hands out by her sides. "With the platform, those have to be, what, half a foot?"
"Wait a second..." Zoe glared at him. "Is that what is was about? Getting me back for you height loss, years ago?"
"Not at all."Jon held up his hands defensively. "But I have to admit there's some poetic justice in this."
Zoe's expression simmered with rage, then inexplicably calmed. "These things are like stilts." Zoe stated flatly, after taking a few precarious steps. "I feel like I'm about to tumble over any second."
"They look like stilts." Jon agreed. "I'm surprised they're not against the school dress code."
"You really think I'd care about something like that?"
"I guess not." Jon laughed.
