2.27 – Rule of Three

lewd chapter, sex chapter, outdoors, caught, (threat of) public shaming

What entailed after the discovery of Emma's blue milk was a series of tests, and then experimentation. Mirkham adjusted it with Skills, refined some of it further, and then they moved on to making cheese.

Inside of Emma's belly.

The process was fairly interesting, for the first batch. Even with [Rapid Curdle] and [Quick Age] it wasn't a very active endeavor, but Mirkham needed Emma there so he could monitor the progress and adjust things. Only after perfecting everything would he send her on her way to let the final batch finish over the course of days.

Emma was enamored—she may even get a new class from it. She could make cheese, inside of her belly. Why had no one ever told her? She patted her belly and held her chalkboard up for Maple.

Only the best milk for our cheese baby!

Maple guffawed.

"Oh my gosh, you're so silly."

It was the reaction she'd wanted from her human. Emma had no problem poking fun at herself from time to time. Mirkham chuckled too, but followed it up with a serious answer.

"You know, some cheeses are made using the stomachs of baby cows, but I've never heard of a slime cheese. We really are onto something, you two. Blue milk, blue cheese—not the moldy kind. You give me another, oh, hour, and I'll have it dialed in. Two, tops. Well, it'd be even better with the origins separated, but what can ya do."

Maple made a face. She'd never eat a cheese like that. Silliness and gross cow-stomach cheese aside, the process was honestly somewhat boring.

"So you're not using all of the milk, right? And it's already pasteurized, we just need containers?"

"Aye. [Estimate Volume] had it at near 100 liters, but I don't know how accurate that is with it inside yer girlfriend here. Now, I could separate some of that into cream and what have ya, but is there a need for that?"

Maple shook her head. She could probably offload this batch of milk without needing to talk to more than Sasha, Birdy, and Emma's boss.

"No, just the, uh, whole milk should be fine. Maybe I should go buy containers while you two make cheese?"

She was asking permission from Emma mainly. The blue cheesemaker saluted, content to stay and learn more of the sacred arts from the dwarf. Mirkham waved her off.

"Aye, you go do that. You're certainly not taking all of me bottles."

Maple nodded. It was time to pay Mad Pat another visit.

It was a relief to get out of there. Not only was cheesemaking boring, but she'd needed a break from all the socializing. Going to Pat instead of any old bottle shop wouldn't really help in that regard, but she figured it was better to cultivate connections than not. The man was high-level.

Also, some time after their last visit, Maple had realized she didn't have a grinder for the cocoa beans he'd given her. A simple problem she could solve by visiting the market, yes, but she wasn't entirely sure what kind she needed, and it wasn't like this world had reviews to go by.

Pat would know, or maybe even just give her one. He also had pots, containers to hold milk. They weren't bottles, but...she'd see if he had something that would do, and if not then there was probably a glass shop somewhere.

She decided to take the long way, going way out of her way to the river trail before continuing along it in the direction of Pat's. The preserved nature around it was nice, and if she wanted to, she could walk along various dirt trails going through it which had trees obscuring the city and very few people.

Maple was recharging. Breathing fresh air. Relaxing into her thoughts, and—

"Fuuuahahahaha!"

—being suddenly grabbed from behind by a crazed half-elf with emerald green hair.

Anemone. How did she keep finding her? How many times did that make this? And why was she laughing like that? It was nothing close to a witch's cackle, if that was what she was going for. Maple gently patted the arms wrapped around her, and then pried at them.

She didn't let go.

"Hello, Anemone. I'm busy right now, so—"

"Aw, come on, play with me a little. Please, my Mistress?"

Anemone let go and grabbed Maple's hand with both of hers, probably so that she could drag her off and into a daydream even if she refused. Or try to. That was fine, honestly, but it did make Maple roll her eyes. She made a show of trying to pull her hand free.

"I'm busy, I said."

Anemone's skirt was much shorter today, and Maple just bet she had nothing on underneath. Her nipples were visible through the cloth of her top, at least, and if Maple tugged the bottom her skirt up only a few inches—she could find out the rest.

"It won't take long. Please, I'm so—you know."

Anemone looked around cautiously. Maple silently cast [Detect Gaze] on herself, and was staring at Anemone's exposed thighs. I bet she'd love it if I lifted her skirt up right here. I should just take her right now.

Maple...almost did that. She'd declined Emma's advances earlier because there were too many people around, none of whom she was particularly into, yet her prana remained elevated. Nothing she couldn't tolerate, but when a hot half-elf threw herself at you and begged for your touch—

"Alright, fine."

Her reluctance was almost entirely feigned—she really didn't want to make Emma wait for too long, but the previous two encounters had been fairly quick—that reluctance was a part of their shtick at this point, Maple figured. Anemone released one hand to pump a fist in the air.

"Yes. There's a bench, right around...this way."

A private bench in the woods. Maple let Anmone pull her to it. These encounters were getting kind of silly, but it was only the third time. And it was just a shared daydream. Anemone activated the Skill as soon as Maple sat down.

Within it, Maple immediately positioned Anemone on top of her. She hadn't gotten to the prior times, but this time for sure, she was going to cum, damn it.

The environment was a vivid mimicry of the area around them. Amazingly so. Even the leaves of the plants looked exactly as she remembered them. Perhaps Anemone leveled after yesterday.

Maple didn't waste a ton of time admiring the scenery. No, she lifted Anemone's skirt and started making out with her. She pulled her own pants down a bit and cast [Phallic Transformation], remembering only afterward that it was a daydream and that the spell was unnecessary. Maybe it added to the realism, anyway.

Then Maple was inside of her, being gripped by that warmth she'd come to love. They'd gotten right to it this time, with none of the extraneous things Anemone was into. Maybe just being outside was enough for her, she certainly sounded like she was enjoying herself.

As Maple thought that, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Ah, there was the audience Anemone had surely added. She turned to see a city guard, a dragonkin holding the baton he'd tapped her with. Maple kept thrusting into Anemone, mildly amused by the half-elf's kinks.

"What's he for?"

Did she just want the simulated guard to watch, or—Anemone suddenly tightened up and her body became resistant to bouncing on Maple's cock. Her eyes widened.

"What—Maple. Stop. That's a guard."

He'd said nothing, only watched with a dumb expression on his face. Maple gave him another glance. She wasn't particularly into dragonkin, but if Anemone was...

"So? What did you want to have him do?"

"—found the perverts. They're not stopping. Requesting backup."

The guard spoke into a small enchanted device. Maple didn't understand, but Anemone was tugging her skirt down and trying to hop off.

"It's—Maple, stop. I never used my Skill. It's not a daydream. Didn't you know that?"

Maple stopped. That wasn't...possible. It was a daydream, wasn't it? Anemone's face was deadpan. Maple tried to remember when the dream had started, but couldn't recall a distinct beginning. She tried to sense her real body, but found only the one.

Uh oh. Panic washed over Maple as she cancelled the spell and pulled her pants up. She stood up and turned to the guard again.

"Uh, sorry, I thought—she has a daydream Skill, and—"

"Stay where you are, Ma'am. You're under arrest for public indecency and public intercourse. Don't make this worse for yourselves."

Oh no. Maple looked at Anemone. She had a guilty expression on her face. This wasn't happening. She wasn't a pervert. A deviant. A sex pest. It was supposed to be a daydream! Could she run? She tried to make her body language appear calm, reasonable. Anemone spoke before Maple could say anything else.

"It was her. She made me do it!"

"What?! No I didn't—she dragged me into it! It was supposed to be a daydream—she's been doing this for the past three days."

Maple stared at Anemone, astonished. How could she betray her so quick—or at all? The half-elf refused to meet her gaze. Maple's heart pounded in her ears. This isn't happening, this can't be happening. Was she going to be on some kind of list now? The guard raised a hand in a placating way.

"Easy, now. You're both under arrest, but if it's your word against hers...Syber does have a law regarding this. It's called, uh, the phallic responsibility clause."

"The what?"

"Mhm. It states that the one with the phallus is the one primarily responsible. You'll likely be facing the harsher of the penalties, human."

Anemone visibly relaxed, and Maple's jaw dropped open. What kind of law was that? She was going to kill Anemone as soon as she had the chance—if she ever got the chance.

More guards came out of the trees to provide backup, approaching slowly. Maple raised her hands to show she was cooperating. Anemone copied her and spoke to the first guard again.

"What's going to happen to us?"

"Both of you will face some punishment, even if hers is harsher. We use public shaming for crimes of this nature, so you'll both be stripped and then tied up in a public square—"

"What?! You can't do that, that's horrible—"

One of the guards grabbed her, cutting her off. All of her fears about law enforcement from a less civilized world were coming true.

"It's the law, miss human. Don't they have those where you're from? I guess it's only the deviants who come to Syber."

Maple glanced at Anemone, expecting to see fear, shock—anything but the look of anticipation she had on. That little slut!

"Will they—will they spank us too?"

The guard gave his compatriots a look before answering.

"Yes. Chastised, spanked, even fondled, depending on the severity of the crime and what we allow. The [Behavior Correctionist] usually decides the extent of the punishment based on the crime."

Anemone met Maple's eyes. There was a gleam in them. This was a fine result to her, apparently. Not to Maple. Maple took a step forward and was tugged back by the guard restraining her arms.

"No, I can't do that, I—I need to talk to Bailey. He's a guard. He'll explain that I'm not a pervert or anything."

"The gnoll from the library yesterday?"

That was Anemone's question. Maple nodded, and the half-elf pointed with a big grin.

"Isn't that him?"

There he was, among the guards who had come as back up. Maple wasn't sure how she'd missed him. Maple's eyes lit up with hope as she met his, and then she looked down in shame.

"Bailey, I—help me? Don't let them do this..."

Her voice trailed off. She didn't know what to say. She knew prevailing on his powers as a guard was wrong. He shook his head glumly.

"Sorry, Maple. There's nothing I can do. You shouldn't have been such a pervert."

He was right. The guard holding her arms locked wooden handcuffs around her wrists, and then pulled her along. Another one did the same to Anemone. She smiled at Maple.

"Sorry, I thought you knew it wasn't a daydream. Look on the bright side, though."

Maple glared at her 'friend'. She thought about kicking her.

"You blamed me for it. You tried to throw me under the—wagon. What bright side is there?"

Anemone nodded reasonably, admitting to the betrayal. She did it as if it were a given, and then giggled as she answered the question.

"This is going to be so much fun!"

"Fun? We're in trouble. We broke the law, and now we're going to be..."

"Stripped, spanked, and put on display for everyone. Oh gods, I can't wait. Aren't you wet just imagining it?"

She was insane. It'd been obvious from the start. Maple should never have gone along with her the other times. Never put your magically-formed dick in crazy, as the saying went. How had she messed up so bad?

Bailey wouldn't meet her eye. And when Emma found out, she was going to—she might find it funny, actually. But her reputation—had already been ruined from her own doing, more or less.

Okay, but they were going to strip her in front of everyone, and that was...a small part of her actually agreed with Anemone. It wasn't like she knew anyone from old life here. Spanked, too? Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she even kind of wanted it to happen. Maple's face heated up at the realization.

"Um, is that the only punishment we're going to get? How long does it last?"

"Usually no more than a day. Sometimes there's a fine."

"But then, that's it? We're not like, going to prison?"

He grunted an affirmative, and Maple actually relaxed a little. It was hardly punishment at all if she thought about it in the right way. It could even be kind of fun. What was wrong with her?

They were on a main street now, and Anemone still looked giddy. Other citizens stared at them as they passed, and Maple felt her face heating up further. How many people were they going to strip her in front of? She shouldn't be getting excited about that, she knew. Bailey cleared his voice.

"Hrr. I might have a turn with both of you myself."

Maple's face scrunched up. That was disgusting, and...totally unlike her silly gnoll boy. And wait—

That law didn't even make sense. You can't do that in the middle of a city with families around, and they'd passed by exactly zero families. Maple stopped walking. The guard who'd handcuffed her tried to shove her, but she stood her ground.

The strangest thing of all was—her back hadn't hurt at all during this. Anemone turned to her, finally looking horrified.

"Maple, what are you doing? It'll be worse if we resist, right, so—"

"You tricked me!"

She pointed a finger at Anemone and looked up and around, trying to get a grasp on things. It was far more vivid than the last daydream. Where was her real body? Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up.

"No, wait, this is real, it's—"

Maple used her willpower, managing to beat any hold Anemone still had on her. The dream collapsed and Maple woke up on the bench next to Anemone, where she'd thought they were all along. Before Anemone could run away again, Maple grabbed her ear. Hard.

She took a few deep breaths, and then moved her free arm in a way she knew would hurt her back. It did hurt. She was awake. Also, the dream hadn't been that realistic in hindsight; she'd only believed the thoughts saying so.

The deep breaths were to calm herself while she figured out how she felt exactly because—she thought she was angry. She'd been genuinely terrified for a bit there, and she wasn't positive the arousal about the situation had been her own. Dream Skills were scary in that regard, able to convince someone that a planted thought or feeling was their own.

Anemone squirmed slightly but didn't try to flee. She spoke after several seconds of silence.

"G-gotcha, haha. It was just a p-prank. Sorry. Are you mad? I leveled—that was [Convincing Wet Daydream]. I thought it'd be fun, but..."

Maple blinked. A prank, taken way too far. And what a ridiculously specific Skill. She was going to say as much, but hesitated when she heard Anemone's voice crack and saw a wetness forming in her eyes.

"Do you—hate me now?"

She sounded far too serious for Maple's taste and goals in that moment. Yes she was mad, but—she was still determined to cum this time, damn it. Maple carefully modulated her tone.

"Hate you? No, of course not. But..."

Anemone's lip quivered as she waited for Maple's next words to be something bad. Maple stroked the ear she'd grabbed with her thumb and shook her head.

"You took it way too far. You shouldn't do pranks like that. And you should be more careful about getting permission for that kind of stuff in general. I think...I should punish you. Don't you?"

A wicked gleam was in Maple's eyes; Anemone was about to find out just who she was messing with. Her head had sunk low, and she nodded as much as she could with Maple holding her ear.

"I know. Sorry, Maple, I just—wait, huh?"

Anemone's confusion quickly turned to excitement as she realized what Maple was getting at.

"I mean, yeah, punish me? Should I start another dayd—"

"Nope! Since you thought that kind of thing would be sooo much fun—follow me, missy. You're gonna get it now."

Maple dragged Anemone by her ear, gently, and made toward the sound of the river. Just a little closer, and it would be loud enough to hide her cries. Maple wouldn't force Anemone to go along with this if she really didn't want to, but that clearly wasn't the case. The half-elf's face was a lewd grin, and even her breathing sounded excited.

"Are you sure about this, Maple? I've never actually—acted on these fantasies before!"

"[Detect Gaze]. It should be fine, I think. We don't have to though, if you're scared?"

Risky though it was, Anemone had started it. The half-elf quickly shook her head, and the thought crossed Maple's mind that the two of them might be bad for each other. Maple stepped through some branches she had to push aside to get through, and stopped. The area was densely wooded, and the river drowned out most sound.

It was perfect. Maple let go of Anemone's ear.

"Okay, now...grab that tree and bend over."

Anemone obeyed without question. An energy flowed through Maple.

"And lift your skirt up. Good. Now, spread yourself with one hand."

She hesitated that time, but then pulled herself open by the cheek. She let go and, uncertain, spread her pussy using her fingers. Maple could have clarified, but either way was fine.

"Like this?"

"Mhm. Lift your shirt up, too."

Anemone did so. Now, Maple was being a pervert. She had a good view of everything, and was anticipating what she was going to do. She loved that Anemone obeyed all of these commands even though they were outside, the awkward way she moved because of that, the risk, the thrill—

"Good girl. Okay, both hands on the tree. You're not allowed to touch yourself, got it? I really am upset with you, and you really do need to never do that again. It wouldn't have been okay at all if the rest of that dream had happened, understand?"

"I won't. I'm really sorry, Maple."

She sounded genuine, and that may have been enough for her to learn, but Maple was going to burn it into her head using a method she thought might work, and frankly, that Anemone might need.

She barely knew her, but these last few encounters had been enough to make Maple conclude that something was off about her. She was overzealous, at the least, and the way she had seriously asked if Maple hated her made Maple remember the jealous look she'd given Bailey at the library.

Tiny red flags that Maple would ignore because Anemone was fun. And hot. And Maple could totally deal with whatever minor issues she might have.

"I know you won't, but let's make sure you don't forget. If you're a good girl for your punishment then I'll give you a reward after, okay?"

Anemone nodded, and Maple rubbed her hands together.

"Hmm, I don't know if this will do anything, but—[Sexual Reinforcement]. [Enhanced Pleasure], and...[Enhanced Libido]."

She was tempted to try out her pheromone or aphrodisiac spells, but that might be going too far. Anemone swayed somewhat awkwardly, and Maple pulled her hand back.

"Now, apologize. You. Heck-ing. Slut."

Anemone tensed with each smack from Maple's hand, her bare bottom quickly turning red. [Sexual Reinforcement] meant Maple didn't have to hold back. Anemone panted once the barrage ended, and Maple gave her a chance to speak while fondling a breast.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

"Are you really? This is what you wanted to happen in the daydream, isn't it? What if someone comes by?"

"That'd—mmf."

Maple spanked her again. Her knees were bent slightly, legs spread apart, emerald bush growing wetter. Maple crouched behind her, teased her with a thumb.

"Do you like it? Look at how horny your pussy is from being spanked and exposed outside. Ah-ah."

Anemone tried to push her crotch against Maple's hand, and Maple pulled away. Her arms were fully extended, hands not daring leave the tree Maple instructed her to grab.

"I love it. Please, p-punish me more."

Maple obliged her little slut until her bum looked like it really hurt. One last slap, and Anemone began shaking. From an orgasm, she quickly realized, based on the prana flowing out of her. All she'd done was spank her—

"[Telepathic Orgasms]. Jeez, you're actually cumming from being spanked. You're such a naughty..."

The pleasure distracted Maple. Was this the kind of ass orgasm Sasha had been talking about? Anemone loved being spanked, the risk of being outdoors, the shaming—most of these were relatable for Maple—her heart skipped a beat when she noticed Anemone getting off to [Detect Gaze] pinging her mind about a set of eyes on her.

It was was only from herself staring at Anemone. Talk about a jump scare. She absorbed Anemone's prana as it was released and quickly cast [Phallic Transformation].

"Now for your real punishment. Or reward, or whatever."

She rubbed the length of her shaft against Anemone once, and then plunged in. Warm tightness gripped her, so much better than a dream. Anemone gasped and said something Maple couldn't make out over the river. It didn't matter, whatever it was. The trick was to pound her while she was still cumming, until she lost control.

Maple did just that. She fucked her until Anemone's legs were giving out and Maple had to reinforce her body with prana to hold her up and keep going. There was a sadistic pleasure in making her cum over and over with the spells enhancing her pleasure active. But even when Maple offered her mercy, Anemone would cry out.

"K-keep going—"

So Maple did. Anemone was an utter mess by the end, fluid dripping down her legs, bum reddened, unable to even stand, and, of course, filled with Maple's cum.

She'd done it. Maple admired her work and lamented her inability to take a picture. She pulled up her pants, and decided it was her turn to immediately bounce at the end.

"Good girl. Until next time."

Maple walked a dozen steps and then turned back to make sure Anemone was good. She would have felt bad leaving her there. She helped her stand, and Anemone shrugged her off.

"That was n-nothing."

The horny half-elf left Maple behind, walking all but straight. Would she really be alright like that?

Maple dusted herself off and continued toward Pat's Pots.