Ricky was feeling very self conscious as she stepped out of her house.
A few in the neighbourhood stopped and stared at her, though with some relief it was not out of fear or malice. There was a lot of idle curiosity, especially when they walked past and her hair changed colour to their perspective. This kind of reaction she could deal with, and she was certainly glad she had not changed into something... evocative? She knew a lot of transformations that could provoke all kinds of emotions, negative as well as positive. Ricky of course thought no transformation had any point or pattern to it. People just seemed to become- well- changed, in the broadest use of the word. Some part of her did wonder why this particular change in her? She had not really seen any of the gynoid changes up close- and she wasn't even one of those beings.
Anne was adamant that she was certainly female, but Ricky was still not completely sure herself. It would certainly be easier to classify herself as female, since that is what this body appeared as. But then, did that mean if you put curves on anything it was suddenly female? She glanced down at the torso, and the way the chest pushed out her clothes to exemplify her feminine nature. It was all so unnecessary, wasn't it? it was hardly a real body-
She stopped at that thought. No. That was not a good line of thinking. If she started thinking that way, then it was only a step away from thinking she wasn't a real person. While she did have some doubts about that, Anne was so sure that if she was asking it she absolutely had to be a real person. It was a statement she held on to, and she certainly wanted it to be true. The sun didn't hurt people... at least, she never heard of that happening.
The wind was picking up her hair, as it tickled on the glass eyepiece of her eye. It was a strange sensation to be certain. She could certainly feel it, though it wasn't quite the same as no water was present in her eye. She idly wondered if there were any hydrolics in her at all, and what exactly would become of the tea she had... absorbed? She didn't have a stomach, it didn't drain out of her, and it gave no sustenance... so what exactly would happen to the things she ate?
She idly ran her tongue-like 'thing' in her mouth, feeling the curiously smooth ivory teeth. They were arranged perfectly, not a single one crooked. Why would she have teeth if she didn't need to eat? A tongue was certainly needed to talk... but... why were so many things in her trying to be human, but were ultimately not human at all?
She glanced down at her torso, which had become a pit of unknowns in every single way. All her organs, replaced by cogs that one would encounter in a watch. Her key gave another click as she came out of her thoughts.
"Thank you Ricky," smiled her mother.
Ricky blinked. Oh- of course. She was holding the door for her parents. "You're welcome," she said a little confused but smiled a bit more as Anne also came out of the house. She closes the door and reminded herself to ask for her keys back later.
"So, how do we get to the shops?" Anne asked.
"I have a car," smiled Ricky's father.
Ricky bit her lip. Her father was a mechanic, and tended to love old cars. On the front of the house was a very old Chevrolet car made in the 70s. He was embarrassed that his father maintained it for this long and drove it.
"It's my first and only car," Ricky's father said proudly. "Come on get in," he said still grinning. When he first bought this car, he knew he could never want another one. After he got it he got his wife, his house, his son... and sure they changed houses a few times, but this car was the same.
Anne got inside, and quietly marvelled at the old cassette tapes still inside. The stereo had some modest upgrades though, with a jack to put in a digital player. While old, it was certainly in good condition. The seating appeared to be leather. "This must be quite expensive," Thought Anne.
"Not at all. I am a professional mechanic, and bought this car when it was new. I can get all the parts cheaply." Ricky's father explained. Though he did try to spend some money on one or two luxuries. "Okay, seat belts on kids."
"Dad-" Ricky said glancing back. "I- um- I can not lean all the way back. I'm sorry," she said softly.
"Oh- hm... Well, okay. Don't worry about it son. Just sit as best you can." He said quietly glancing at the rear-view mirror. "I'll drive slowly." He really didn't want that spike in her to- well- no he didn't want that at all. "Maybe you should lie horizontal?"
A little awkwardly Ricky complied, cringing a little. She was just small enough to do this. She rested her legs on Anne's lap, while her mother was in the front. Her key continued to turn.
The ignition turned on first time, and they were greeted to the sounds of the roaring engine. Ricky felt a little strange wondering if she now had something in common with this mechanical contraption she was now inside. It was a strange feeling to be sure. She glanced at herself and quietly wondered...What exactly could she wear?
Artemis smiled as she was back in her house. Her mother anxiously gave her a hug. "You're a little late," she chided a bit.
"I'm sorry mom I had to help Jenny," she explained.
"Yes... I know," her mother said said sighing. She didn't quite like it but... 'something' was telling her this was important. It was certainly not a magic spell on her, but she knew her daughter had become something very important. "You seem happier too. Have you made up with that friend of yours?" She gestured to the friendship bracelet.
"Uh huh," she said thinking a little guilty of how she had been with Lilly before. Come to think of it, how did Lilly get this bracelet on her? Even her mother couldn't explain it.
"That's good dear. I... I'm sorry too. I was just so..." she wondered what could she say? Alienated? Afraid? Weirded out? There wasn't really any word to describe it, when the entire world changed around you. Harriet was her entire world, and... it was so hard thinking the worst when she was missing. Having her back in any shape or form was better. In a way she should be glad Harriet was still her little girl... even if she was a little different.
She embraced the girl once more, as a mother would her daughter. "I'm so sorry Harriet... can you forgive me?"
"I-It's okay Mom." She said a little surprised. "I- I forgive you."
Harriet's mother continued to hug her, glad. "Please... I know I am just a ... just a simple human. But if there is anything I can do to help you... just tell me. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you."
Steven was wide awake. She was a little shaky as she went to her mothers room. She anxiously knocked on the door. "M-Mom?" She asked.
"Yes honey?" She said rousing from her bed.
"I- I need help-" She said very anxiously.
Steven's mother bolted up at the scared tone. "What's wrong?"
"I- I think-" She tried to take a deep breath. She really didn't want to say it but she had to. "I- I think I'm f-fruiting-" she could feel tears swell up in her eyes as she said it. Why damn it why! And why like.. like this!
Steven's mother turned on the light and looked at her daughter. She blinked a little. "Oh.... well.... That's interesting," she said then tried to look for her clock. "What time is it?"
"What time?! Mom! This is serious! I can't go to school looking-"
"Oh honey calm down. It's perfectly normal."
