After a few minutes of lounging, hunger compels me up off the couch, and I fix myself a simple breakfast of mini-marshmallow-filled cereal. I’m crunching away at the little kitchen table when my phone buzzes. 

Berrybliss: Morning!
Berrybliss: *scoops you into her arms and hugs you* 
Berrybliss: Wanna come cuddle? 

I smile at my phone, and text back. 

Silverine: In the middle of brekkie rn.
Silverine: Be there in just a sec. 

I spoon the last few bites into my mouth, then cross back to my bedroom and get cozy in the pod again. The prick of the self-sterilizing needles is still as sharp as ever, but I’m beyond used to it by now. I don’t even have to remember my morning medications more often than monthly now; the pod’s set up to manage them too for me. One of these needles is estradiol valerate, and that always brings a smile to my face as I drift off. 

Heartsake.room scoops me up again, and I find Vivian waiting for me this time — I must have left the server running overnight. She’s sitting cross-legged, and when I come online sitting next to her she unceremoniously flops her head into my lap. 

“Morning, love,” I say with a little smile, and draw my fingers through her hair. She’s wearing cat ears this morning, a sure sign of a need to be petted. I scratch behind them and sigh out softly, and her tail curls around my thigh. 

“Morning,” she says with a little smile, and turns her head to kiss my thigh before settling it back in my lap. 

“Anything you want to talk about?”, I ask. 

“Nah,” she says. “I just wanna be in your arms.” She closes her eyes, and nuzzles against me a little closer. 

“That’s fine by me,” I say, and I keep drawing my fingers through her hair. “Mind if I browse a little, then?”

“Not at all.” 

I go on petting and stroking her hair, and open my web browser. I could Catcall RockHawk, but that seems impolite; texting one girl while your fingers are in the hair of another is a little much, even for me. Instead I check in on a couple webcomics I’m reading and send a message to the broader group chat. 

#survive-the-cuteness
Silverine: Have Berry in my lap in vr at the moment
Silverine: Anyone else up right now? 

cyberflora: *waves shyly* 

Ah! Rosanne… I should approach cautiously lest I scare her off. 

Silverine: Hello, Rose. How are you doing today? 

cyberflora: alright 
cyberflora: I wanted to ask… 
cyberflora is typing… 
cyberflora is typing…
cyberflora is typing… 

God it’s hard not to jump in and prompt her, but Rose takes her time to phrase things, and it’s clear she’s building up to something, so… I should be gentle. I let her take her time composing, even though I’m pretty sure I know what she’s going to ask.

cyberflora: I’ve been thinking pretty extensively about this for the past week or so, and I think I’ve finally come to a decision one way or the other. I want… I want to try on a female body in high-definition VR. I think it would — provide a lot of clarity, just so I know for sure. It’s been a — complicated process. Deciding to act on this. Deciding to be a woman. And I’m still not — completely sure. But if I can try, then… 

Silverine: Yeah. It was immensely clarifying for me as well. 
Silverine: The first time I tried on a female body in VR I just knew. 
Silverine: You might have a similar lightbulb moment. 
Silverine: I’m assuming you want to just dip a toe in. 
Silverine: Not, ah, try out the plumbing. 

cyberflora: yeah. 

Silverine: Viv, do you mind me taking a moment for Rose…? 

Berrybliss: For this I have all the time in the world. 
Berrybliss: Do you want me to come along, Rose, or should I leave this to Mads? 

cyberflora: I…
cyberflora: multiple people sounds hard 
cyberflora: even doing it alone sounds hard

Silverine: yeah. 
Silverine: do you want to try alone, or…?

cyberflora: I want to try it with you there. 
cyberflora: you’ve been a huge help, so… 

Silverine: Alright. 
Silverine: I’ll get the lounge ready then. 
Silverine: Viv, you ok with that? 

Berrybliss: for sure. 

I run my hand through Viv’s hair one last time and sigh out. 

“Hard to imagine flora’s finally going to try it…” 

Viv nods and smiles. “She’s really come a long way.” 

“Alright. I’ll hop over to the lounge then. Sorry for the interruption…” 

“It’s fine. The egg comes first.” Viv stretches. “Be kind to her, okay?” 

“I’ll do my best to be,” I say. And I turn my attention to the console. 

roomwise lounge.room 
roomwise move Silverine lounge

I appear on a fancy couch, silk cushions scattered across it, wearing an ornamental kimono with a pattern of gold clouds on black. There is a low table in front of me, on which sits a small silver coffee service, eternally piping hot. Across the table from me is another matching couch. Windows out of the wood-and-lacquer walls show blue sky around me, clouds rolling past just outside. 

roomwise open lounge -pw safeandsound

#survive-the-cuteness
Silverine: It’s set up. 
Silverine: pass is safeandsound

cyberflora: okay
cyberflora: going through avatar creation 

Silverine: take your time 
Silverine: and remember, you don’t have to get it perfect first time. 

cyberflora: okay
cyberflora: you’re really good 

Silverine: I try. 
Silverine: if you want help all you need to do is ask. 

cyberflora: *nod* 

Time ticks by, and I wait… not as patiently as I’d like to, but moderately patiently. It’s a shame this is clobbering my cuddle time with Viv, but needs must: this really is genuinely more important. 

Maybe ten minutes pass, and then:

cyberflora: okay, I think I’ve got it
cyberflora: you’re sure this is okay? 

Silverine: It could be rough coming back from it if it works. 
Silverine: but I’ll be there for you
Silverine: whatever happens. 
Silverine: I promise. 

cyberflora: okay. 
cyberflora: I’m going to hit the button
cyberflora: ready? 

Silverine: whenever you are. 

And there’s a flicker of light on the opposite couch, and a blonde, petite woman wearing a seifuku and a medium-length skirt with striped thigh-highs appears. 

She lets out a little squeak when she sees me, and crosses her arms over her body, hiding herself instinctually - but I just smile, and look her in the eye. 

“It’s okay,” I say, as if soothing a skittish cat. “Nobody is going to hurt you.” 

“Um…” Rosanne blushes and ducks her head, and then hesitantly meets my gaze. “Um. Hi?” 

“Hey, Rose,” I say. “How’s the body feel?” I refrain from commenting on her weebish choice of clothes; I’ve worn more ridiculous things. Costumewear in general definitely seems to be a phase a lot of trans women go through early on.

She stands up, takes a breath, walks a couple paces, spins around, walks a few steps back. And as I watch, a huge, ridiculous smile comes to her face, joy bubbling up in her so obviously that it makes me smile too. 

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” I ask. 

Flora paces right past me, does a little twirl, giggles and nods really really fast to me, that huge grin on her face positively infectious. “Yeah,” she says — then she blinks, processes the sound of her own voice, and her eyes light up. “Yeah!!!” 

“Well,” I say. “That’s that, then. You’re some flavour of trans. Most guys do not light up like that when they get to wear a woman’s body. Trust me on this one.” 

Her smile falters for a second, but then her expression turns thoughtful and she nods. 

“Yeah…” She comes over and sits across from me. “I hid from this for a long, long time…” She shakes her head. 

“But now you know.”

“But now I know. For sure.” Rosanne nods sharply.

“Would you like a hug?”, I ask. 

She considers, then shakes her head. “No,” she says. “I don’t think — touch would be a lot right now.” 

“Yeah.” I exhale. “So, do you want to talk about it, or do you think the test is done and you want to go back, or do you want to stay in this body for a while, or…?” 

“I want to stay in this body for a while,” Rosanne says instantly. “I — I don’t want to put this down.”

“You’ll have to eventually,” I warn her. “But it’s alright if you spend some time getting acclimated first. Maybe you could come play some Skål with me?” 

“Yeah,” Rosanne says. “That could work.”

“Is it okay if I let Viv in the room, too?” I raise an eyebrow. 

Rosanne pauses, then nods. “Yeah,” she says. “I want her to know.” 

I open my interface and text her.  

Silverine: Rose says it’s okay if you join the room. 

Berrybliss: alright, be there in a second

And Vivian appears at the end of my couch, wearing a v-necked blouse and a short skirt, her auburn hair and amber eyes as captivating as ever. 

“Hey darling,” I say, and gesture to Rose. “Look at who we have as a guest.”

Viv looks over and her eyes light up. “Oh wow, isn’t she just cute as a button?” 

“She really is,” I confirm with a smile. “I don’t know if she’ll be sticking with this body, but it does seem to suit her, doesn’t it?” 

“It really does.” Viv looks tempted to reach over and muss up Rose’s hair, and I really can’t blame her. 

Rosanne blushes, and runs a hand through her hair. “Alright,” she says. “You can stop flattering me…” 

“It’s only the truth,” Viv says with a smile. “I’m happy for you.” She checks her system interface. “I’m afraid that I need to go soon, though, so…” She looks over at me. “Make sure she has a good time, okay, dear?” She leans in and kisses my forehead. 

“I’ll do my best,” I say. “Thank you for coming to see her, even if it was only for a moment. It’ll be okay.” 

“It means a lot to me,” Rosanne says with a shy smile. “Because… well… you’re the reason I even thought about this in the first place…” 

Vivian looks away, a small blush coming to her own face. “It’s nothing,” she says. “Have a nice day with Mads, alright?” 

“I’ll do my best,” Rosanne says. “Thank you for everything.”

“You’re so welcome,” Vivian says. “So, so welcome.” She squeezes my hand, then opens her interface. “See you two, alright?” 

“Yeah,” I say. “See you in the evening, Viv.” 

“See you.” 

And Viv logs out, leaving me with the blushing and still-smiling Rosanne. 

“So,” I say. “Skål?” 

“Skål,” Rosanne says with a smile.