Chapter 3: A Deadly DateNSFW

🎵 Maybe you're right, you know, maybe we're wrong
You push me back and stop me

Morning comes all too soon, and with it, Britney's alarm, blaring "It Takes Guts" by the poppy Midnight Diners. Britney groans - she was having the most blissful sleep she's ever had, and now it's over. It's over because it's time for the worst class of all time - Bio II, Round 2, Early Morning Lab Edition. The condescending professor is waiting with a bunch of stupid assignments she's already done better in high school.

Her stomach sloshes quietly as she hauls herself out of bed and into the chilly air in the room - her meal from last night is still digesting, slowly. Probably the reason she slept so soundly - she should be thankful! Though, if only she could have slept through to when her meal was gone... She pops her cat-ear headphones (that is, headphones for cat ears, not headphones shaped like cat ears - although the latter is a necessity for the former) on and lets the song continue.

🎵 But when you touch me, hold me, all that's gone
And I feel so s-s-sloppy

The bathroom floor is freezing cold against her bare feet, and she desperately wishes for the soft embrace of the carpet she just left. She grabs her toothbrush, mouthing along to the song as she squirts some toothpaste onto it. Her body provides its own percussion in the form of grumbles from her intestines.

🎵 I wish you'd let me in, not let me down
Take me, make me yours!

Britney's drowsy roommate pushes into the bathroom right as Britney is pantomiming rocking out with her toothbrush. Her eyes fall immediately to Britney's gurgling, rumbling gut. She hadn't been awake to see it when Britney got home, and she stares quite openly. "Oh, god, sorry," she whispers, closing the bathroom door again. "Just had to pee. I-I can wait."

Britney shrugs, getting back into the chorus.

🎵 It takes guts to keep a girl like me
To hold me close and make me see
That I'm yours and I will always be
It takes guts to love a girl like me
Wake me, shake me, break me!

Britney leans back as there's a beat of silence, one hand resting on her belly. She's often imagined Valerie singing this to her. It's still one of her favorite songs despite that association. Especially with the dream that she might be able to win Valerie back... That she'll one day get that chance... To prove that she's got the guts to love her...

🎵 Just don't let me go...

By the time Britney is dressed and on her way to class, the song has ended - but she's still thinking about Valerie. Barely sparing a thought for the teasy girl whose remains are currently draining through her intestines.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe

Britney

omfg

do you think my bitchy professor will like let me go early? I did the lab I'm just waiting for her to check it

I just hate this class so much it's the W O R S T, I need to make it through to my precious bed back homeI refuse to use the bathroom in this building it's the W O R S T, I need to make it through to my precious toilet back home

oh hey Melissa can you add Nicole and Mora? looks like we never added them last night

k she just came over I'm going to ask her to check mine and dismiss me so I can go back to my dorm and get some more sleep =____=

Melissa

Okay, I sent them invites.

Mora has entered the chat.

Mora

Hello!!! good morning!

Melissa

Good morning. How did you all sleep? I got my eight hours, as usual.

Mora

I had a dream about getting eaten and digested, it felt so real! >.>;

Britney

gm Mora!!

ouch... I've never had a dream like that, it must be a nightmare...

I slept amazing, I have to give my thanks to the girl I ate last night, lol

I wish I could have skipped this lab class so I could have slept all night...

but I'm on my way back to the dorm now. I'll be home soon!

Britney emerges from the bathroom and settles down on her bed, pinching the paunch that now lurks under her shirt. "Oh, nice! I could definitely use that yoga class now..."

"Yoga class? You going to Fitness Plus?" Britney's roommate asks, turning around in her chair to meet Britney's eyes. "I hear their classes are pretty nice."

"Have you been?" Britney asks, standing back up to go and admire herself in the mirror. Just how much has this girl helped her out? Her bra doesn't feel especially tight...

"Nah, but one of my classmates was thinking of going," her roommate responds. "Shit, you're going to need to get a new skirt. Your whole ass is hanging out."

Britney looks down, looking over her rump. "Oh, hey." She runs a hand over her plumped posterior, feeling its renewed softness. The way her socks squish into her thighs... She lifts one knee into the air and slaps her thigh, watching it jiggle. "Hehe. How do I look?"

"... Your ass looks great," her roommate admits reluctantly, her eyes wandering along the curve of Britney's ass where it pokes out from beneath the catgirl's shirt. "I don't know if it was worth the cost, but... wow, so squeezable. Lucky. I only ever seem to get belly fat..."

Britney then asks the question that was lurking under the surface this whole time. "... Do you think Val will like it?"

"You know what I think about Val..." her roommate begins, but deciding it useless, she lets the comment drop. "Yeah. I think she will. Especially after some yoga to help firm it up a little more."

"Oooh, yes! I can't wait to show her!" Britney squeals. She cuddles up under her covers, putting an arm over her eyes. "Okay, don't bother me. I'm going to get my like, beauty sleep for a few hours to make up for Professor Jerkface dragging me out of this tooootally nice dream."

"Yes ma'am, see you after lunch," her roommate says, turning back to her work. And so, another young woman's story is ended inside Britney with little fanfare...

The students and teachers of Nexus City College all go about their day, some having more adventure than others. Mora cheerfully endures Olivia's doting and teasing, Lilith steadies her hand for the perfect photo of a migrating butterfly, Karmen mans her new part-time job as one of the kitchen staff, Professor Elene grades papers, and Gabriela is busy scaring the life out of a group of freshmen...

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

8:23 pm

Nicole

Hey, I've got the scoop on the wargaming club. It's kind of like dungeons and dragons, except not really. They don't really do roleplay, it's all just strategy and huge battles and stuff. Anyway, we did mini painting today, but I just sort of watched and talked because I didn't have anything to paint.

Fern is the club leader, she's a demi-lizard. A gecko I think? She's a big scary junior, but I honestly think I could nom her if I tried.

Rhetta is a dog girl, she's a junior. Not much to say about her, other than she's the second in command.

Robin was the only sophomore there besides me, she's a harpy who writes fanfiction about the game. They've also got two others, a fox girl named Teresa who's apparently really good at the game, and Sydney, another canine demi who I got really bad vibes from. I don't know what grade they're in yet. When I brought up the topic of vore, it seemed like Fern and Sydney were the most ravenous of the group.

But I saved the best for last. I think the perfect target is a girl named Lexi. She's a bunny girl who's a freshman, and even though she talked about having digested someone fairly recently, she was also really open about wanting a girlfriend. Super open about it. That to me sounds like a good place to start. What do you all think?

Reya

oh damn you know who's perfect for this?

Britney

I so got this one

Reya

yep that's the one

Britney

romantics are my forte 😘

Mora

Won't the others be upset and try to strike back?

Reya

nah, girls get eaten all the time

If you got eaten I probably wouldn't even try to see who did it except maybe to congratulate them

Mora

Thanks Reya, I feel so loved 🥰

Reya

no problemmo you are quite a catch

Britney

Nicole do you like, know what dorm she's in maybe?

Reya

(and you'll probably just trip and eat them anyway)

Mora

Accident or no, those girls I ate are just as digested.

Reya

tbqh, that's kinda hot

Nicole

Reya, you gutslut~ >:]

Yeah, I found out where her room is. I offered to walk her back to her place, safety in numbers and all that. I totally thought I would've been called out as suspicious but it worked! It's the same building as Mora's place, 1st floor, #13 just a little ways past the lobby. She's got stormy gray hair and double ear piercings on her left side. You can't miss her!

Looks like my job here is done. Reya, you owe me one~ Nikki out! 😎

Britney checks herself in her phone's selfie camera. She's wearing one of her favorite new dresses - a relatively narrow, tight-fitting black dress made of extreme-stretch-friendly fabric with a covert belt around the waist, designed to fit perfectly whether the wearer is starving or stuffed. It's the same brand, cut, and general shape as the red dress she wore back when she was dating Valerie, but without the unnecessary lacy trim that Britney always thought took away from the simple pleasures of the dress. It's accented with a bronze coiled snake necklace, a plain silver bracelet, and some dark red lipstick - all the better to leave her mark on her prey before devouring her. She makes a kiss face for the camera before tucking it back into the small sequined handbag dangling off her left wrist. This'll be a great photo to upload after the date, a before-and-after...

She raps on the door of Lexi's room. She ran into Lexi's roommate last night while the two of them were talking, so there should be no surprises.

"I'll get it," Lexi's roommate says, getting up and opening the door. "Hey. You're Lexi's date, right? Sorry, she didn't tell me your name. Just a second, she's still in the bathroom getting ready. You can come in and sit down, if you like. She won't be too much longer."

Britney doesn't answer, her mouth dry. Because in the back of the room, sitting on the bed, is Valerie. She's looking away at first, which gives Britney time to process.

Being face to face with her beloved bunny ex-girlfriend after all this time... It's almost so overwhelming that she doesn't think of the consequences of this moment.

But they show up sooner or later. And as she steps into the room to sit down across from Valerie, she fires off a quick message that the Empty Bellies will surely understand the significance of.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Britney

val is here

Phoebe

What?! Why? How?

Nicole

Just be cool, you've got this

Phoebe

Yeah, what Nicole said

When Valerie finally looks up at Britney, her ears perk up a little. Her eyes quickly scan her ex from head to toe, making eye contact briefly, then breaking it a second later. She's sitting barefoot and crisscrossed in front of a laptop she has opened. Her fingers rest on the keyboard, unmoving. "Hey..." she mutters, sneaking in another glance. Valerie is wearing some ankle-length jeans with a maroon tank top, a dark leather jacket lies behind her back in a crumpled heap, and on her cheek, she has a large band-aid that covers up a dark bruise. "You... you look good," she says, bashfully nodding in Britney's direction as she frowns at her computer screen. It looks like she was in the middle of writing an essay for school work.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Reya

🎆😼 ❤️ 🐰🎆 🙏🏻 🙏🏻 🙏🏻

Mora

I know you can do this, Britney! :)

Britney glances at the notifications as they come in, but doesn't respond, just letting them go past her. She doesn't want to get distracted from this moment, nor does she want to draw Valerie's attention too much toward her phone and risk her seeing the real reason she's here.

"You too. I missed seeing you around, you know..." Britney says warmly. Her voice stays steady through the careful application of a confidence she does not feel, but there's no such technique for dulling the way her eyes widen, her cheeks pinken... She's been preparing for this moment, dreaming about it for so long and yet she can't find words. She's just babbling... She shuts up, takes a breath, tilts her head, looks at Valerie's cheek. "... You okay? What happened to your cheek?"

Valerie blinks. "It's... oh..." She touches the bruise after remembering it's there. "It's nothing..."

Britney shakes her head. "Uh. Sorry, that's maybe too personal after like..." She gropes for another topic. "Um, what're you writing?"

"I'm just writing an assignment. I'm supposed to keep a blog of what recipes I try out." Valerie tilts the laptop so Britney can see it. The document that's open has a photo of a delicious apple strudel along with a few paragraphs describing the cooking process. The bunny girl watches Britney cautiously, tensing a little as she draws nearer.

Britney can't help but notice this as she peers closer. And... her mind lurches in two directions more or less simultaneously. Half of her sees the prey girl's fear and wants to play with her more, draw it out, have some fun - before the inevitable satisfying, filling meal. The other half - the larger, stronger half - tries to squash this down, along with the heartbreak and shame from seeing how afraid of her Valerie has become. It takes a few moments before the demi-cat is able to focus on the laptop's screen again. Her mouth is watering, but she swallows it away hastily.

"Wow," Britney breathes, turning her attention back to Valerie's laptop once the dissonance passes. "That looks amazing. Is it something people outside your class can read? I'm trying to learn to cook some new things. Reya from the Empty Bellies and I have been like, having some fun in the kitchen, but you know, some actual recipes..." She trails off. "Er, sorry, I'm talking too much again... You did a great job with this!" She scoots back to her previous position, monitoring Valerie's body language. It's like walking on eggshells... trying not to crush the fragile beginnings of reconnection with her big clumsy movements. Her ears are upright, alert, pointed at Valerie, listening for the slightest rubbing of cloth on cloth, the speeding up of a heartbeat, anything to help her know how best to devour... No! No!! I'm not doing that again!

"Um... yeah! It's just a website. I can text you the link. Your phone number is still the same, right?" Valerie manages a soft smile, though tries to keep her emotions at a moderate level. Britney looks stunning right now, she can't help but steal a few more glances... and yet, she knows that she once came dangerously close to padding out her attractive figure. It's an intrusive thought that still plagues her mind.

"Yeah, it's still the same." Britney feels a warm, fluffy sensation rising in her stomach. Valerie's tender smile, her timid words... It's all even better than her memories and fantasies. She wants to lunge across the bed and embrace Valerie right now and then start swallowing her, ears first but, against all odds, she remembers her meditation training when she needs it.

"I noticed that you were hanging out with some new friends at the lunch tables. They seem like cool people..." Valerie trails off a little, hands slightly trembling as she slowly types on the keyboard. "Uh... wait, that sounded weird. I wasn't spying on you or anything, I just saw you when I was walking. Not that I ever would spy on you... um..." Her long ears raise in alarm as she looks back at Britney. "A-are you... drooling?" she says with a nervous gulp.

Britney scrubs the dribble away from her lip with the back of her hand, shaking her head quickly. "N- Me? No, no, no! I mean, maybe a little, but. I did skip dinner tonight because I was figuring we'd eat something while we were out, plus... You know..." She gestures to her gut, which is still chubby after the mall meal the other night. "Ate a lot last night, and that picture of yours just reminded me that I could go for something sweet right now..." ...like you. Ah, why am I going on a date with this Lexi creep when I could be seeing some more of Valerie's cute faces?! ... No. I haven't earned that yet, she reminds herself. I have a lot of trust to rebuild first. That has to come first. But wow, seeing you again makes all this worth it...

Valerie uncomfortably shifts away from Britney, her fatal attraction to her dwindling as her instincts scream at her to back out. "It's no problem, it's no problem." she lies, no longer at ease being within arm's reach.

Lexi's roommate knocks on the bathroom door. "Hey Lexi, your date is here! Hurry up!"

"Oh! I'll be out in a minute!" comes an excited voice on the other side.

Valerie frowns, head hanging low now as she silently thinks. "So... I'm glad you're dating again. I'm happy for you..." And I guess I should say my final goodbyes to Lexi. She can't bring herself to say that last part, but part of her definitely wants to. She knows it would sting Britney so bad. Hell, she should even tell Lexi to not go on the date, although she doubts that Lexi would listen. Her heart pounds in her chest as she plays it off as no big deal. This anger... this is how she had felt back when they broke up. She had exploded, screaming at Britney. How dare you try to eat me!?

"Y-you um... Lexi is pretty cool, I hope you have fun with her," she says dryly.

"Er... yeah," Britney says, barely restraining herself from a wince. Her ears go flat and her tail curls around herself for comfort. Shiiiit. I fucked this up somehow, didn't I? All of her dreams and fantasies come crashing down around her all over again. Ironically... her hunger seems to be drying up now, as she senses Valerie's mood turn from fearful arousal to cold fury. She looks away, scratching her cheek. "Kind of. I'm not committed to anything yet..." Wait, no, that sounds even worse! "Um, we'll like... see how it goes? We only just met the other day, I'm sure she told you."

A surge of courage comes to her chest. She can solve this! She can salvage her chances with Valerie! She draws in a sharp breath through her nose. "I guess we'll see if we hit it off. You... probably don't want to hear it from me, so you can ask Lexi when she gets back." Yesss! This is it! This is the solution I needed! Valerie will know I've changed when Lexi comes back undigested and says she had a nice time!

The bunny girl feels... relief? It's hard to say, but Valerie responds with a positive, "Oh, cool," and then adds, "Just stay safe out there." Slowly, her head clears and she gets back to writing about her cooking experiences.

She still gets so flustered around me... and then I get flustered until we're both a huge mess. Is she still thinking about me even now?

The door to the bathroom swings open as Lexi jumps into the room. "Okay! I'm ready!" She lands with her arms spread, outfitted in a white dress shirt with a grey skirt and high black socks that squish her thighs. A big puffy jacket is hanging by the door for her, but before she goes to reach it she redirects her course and zooms at Britney for a hugging embrace. "Yes! I'm so glad you made it!" she squeals. When she's so close it's easy to detect the pumpkin spice perfume she applied to her olive tone skin. Her dark grey ears twitch, involuntarily batting at Britney's face due to their height difference.

As she returns the embrace, Britney closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. It's meant to be a steadying breath, but with the intertwining scents of fresh, eager bunny and delicious pumpkin spice filling her head, she feels anything but steady by the time it's over. She squeezes Lexi more tightly, but she still can't help stealing a glance over Lexi's shoulder at Valerie, busy writing about her cooking experiences again.

Somehow, some way... I'm going to show you that we belong together...

"Of course I made it! I always keep my promises!" Britney says into the embrace, laying it on a bit thicker for Valerie's sake. She releases Lexi, patting her shoulder. "I have like... kind of an idea of what we should do. There's some movies on if you want to see one of those, but... I found out today that there's a snow sculpting and decorating competition that was in the park on campus, and the winning entries should still be up. So maybe... we just go for a walk for a bit and look at what everyone built? And you can tell me more about your... hammer... thingies. We just want to get to know each other, after all."

"A walk in the park sounds awesome! We should also see a movie, but I'll let you decide what we watch. I'm not that picky. Let me get my jacket!" She releases Britney from the hug and hops over to the door, throwing her arms into the sleeves of her winter jacket and opening the door. "Are you ready to go?"

Valerie listens to the two of them talk, stewing in memories of when it was her going on dates with Britney.

"Oh, both?" Britney asks, glancing over her shoulder at Valerie one last time before nodding to Lexi. "Y... Yeah, sure, we'll see how it goes! We might have time for both! But, you know... I do have early classes, so sometimes I get tired early..."

As the door to the room with Valerie in it closes behind Britney, she gets her phone out again and sends some new messages to the Empty Bellies chat, awkwardly looping an arm through Lexi's.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Britney

good news bad news

good news is that I think maybe things with me and Valerie might work out :)

Reya

what's the bad news

what's the bad news Britney

Britney

ummmm

I may have promised her that I would bring Lexi home safe...

Nicole

Well that's a problem

Phoebe

It's okay Britney, no one is forcing you to eat anyone

Melissa

Perhaps we should just call this whole thing off. What are your thoughts on the matter, Reya?

Nicole

Look, if you don't want to eat her I can do it for you

Lexi agrees to not stay out too late. She doesn't want to take away from Britney's sleep schedule, but she does plan to make the most of what they have.

The bunny hums happily as she walks alongside her feline date, hugging onto her arm as they walk. "Soooo... how's college life been treating you? You're a freshman, like me. How long do you think you'll last before you get gurgled?" she asks half-jokingly, trying to break the ice a little.

Britney tries to think of something good to say. Seeing Valerie again has totally fried all her circuits, and she's forgotten how this used to go back when she was doing it all the time. Where is the Britney who could seduce a dangerous predator into her gut? Now some bunny girl is messing with me? Have I lost my touch that hard? "Um, well, I... I've been enjoying my classes!" Why am I blanking so hard on this? It's not like SHE'S the one I want to date... Maybe I really have gotten rusty... Or maybe Valerie is still haunting my brain... Gotta focus, Britney, focus!

She curls her tail toward Lexi, trying to clear her head. She puts the buzzing of her phone out of her mind for the moment. "I can finally say I'm on the track to become a nurse... and even if this is only, like, the teeniest tiniest first step, it's still true! And besides, I've met a lot of new friends, like--"

She trails off. ... Do I really want to reveal the information about the club, when Lexi might survive the night? Maybe not. Lexi might catch on to what I'm up to. "Like people outside of my classes, you know?" Smooth work, genius. "Um, and my roommate and I get along, and uh... yeah! How... how about you?"

"Me? Oh, I am training to excel at interior design! I want to work for the hotel business someday! But if I were born in a different era, I would probably be a battle strategist or a pirate or something," Lexi explains with a gleeful grin. "And yeah, I know, pirates are bad and all that, but I can so clearly imagine myself being out on the high seas and plundering ships! I can feel it in my veins, you know? Like, I love learning about the history of all that. There were quite a few famous demi bunny pirates back in the day! Most of them were... unfortunately captured and eaten, but they were still badass! I guess that's why the vorehammer games appeal to me so much!"

"The hotel business and piracy on the high seas... those two don't sound very similar..." Britney chuckles, trying not to drool too obviously at the thought of staying at one of this demi bunny girl's hotels and taking her up to her room, undressing her, seasoning her, and eating her. Of being a rival pirate queen, having Lexi brought into her quarters to eat. The fact that Valerie already expects her to eat this girl makes her somehow more appealing... Looking her up and down, the contours of her chest, her softly rounded smiling face, her cute ass... How would they all feel, sliding slowly but inevitably down her throat, toward Lexi's eventual fate?

... She hastily takes out her phone to send a text and distract herself from her appetite. "Um, sorry, there's just... like, something going on with my friends, I'm just making sure they're okay..."

A few messages have come in since she last looked... Britney quickly sends some responses of her own.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Reya

No way. We've come this far, and we're going to finish it!

Britney!

Do not shy from your destiny!

Keep your eye on the prize!

Mora

I don't know, Reya, I think love should take precedence over the club.

It sounds like this relationship is really important to Britney.

And if Nicole wants to do it I think we should let her.

Britney

idk...

feels bad promising to do it and letting you down

The excitable rabbit clears her throat and laughs softly, realizing she's given more than enough of an answer and worrying that Britney is losing interest. "But yeah, being a nurse sounds like a good deal! I don't know though, I really hate being around sick people. But I guess I would have to get used to it if I was ever a pirate. Still super cool though, being a nurse is kinda hot!" She squeezes Britney's arm tightly, smirking as she tries to flirt with her.

She tucks her phone away, her stomach growling. She talks over the noise as fast as she can. "Oh, um, are we? Hot I mean? You know, I mean, just imagine coming into port, weary from all your pirate-ing, and finding me, like, standing over your inn bed, with you laying there all soft and tender, and me, leaning over you and my lips coming down... for a kiss." Nice save. Her mind is already knee deep in this fantasy, however, and she's not getting out that easily. That trusting, flirtatious look on her face, turning to shock for a brief moment before it's enveloped by my lips... "... Are you hungry? Maybe we should grab some food."

Lexi grins happily, thrilled by how well this date is going. Not even five minutes in and her date is already talking about kissing! She nods dismissively when Britney makes her excuse for looking down at her phone, letting it slide so long as things continue to get spicier.

"Food? Yeah, of course! I'll let you pick the restaurant. Maybe I can get to know you better if I figure out what you like to eat! I'm not too picky. But I think we should stay away from onions and garlic, you know? I'm pretty open about everything, in case you hadn't noticed," Lexi brags confidently. "Go ahead, ask me anything! I mean anything anything, nothing is too personal!"

Britney's appetite is evading her every attempt to control it. Seeing Valerie - not just seeing her but watching her squirm - has made Britney remember how it felt, even briefly, to have Valerie's skin against her tongue, that perfect flavor soaking into her taste buds. When was the last time she had a bunny girl? She'll just... just a taste of rabbit. That's all she needs right now... To satisfy a craving more intense than any she's ever had before...

She licks her lips, trying to think of nearby restaurants. But all she can think of is seducing Lexi into a private corner and eating her.

What I like to eat... Please. Just give me a little taste of you. I promise I'll let you out after. Can I really promise that? Or...

"Yeah, garlic and onions would probably mess with your taste, huh?" Britney says almost without thinking. She thinks a while longer, trying to put the images - of Lexi, accepting her fate, slowing her struggles and letting Britney's body take her - out of her mind. For Valerie's sake, I can't turn this date into another chance to fill my stomach! "Um... There's- why don't we just go for burgers? Cheap and close, and I can maybe shut my stomach up a bit. Hey, so... Just out of curiosity, have you ever dated a predatory girl before?"

Lexi's ears twitch a bit, her eyes widening with brief worry. Something about those last few sentences from her date didn't sound right. This line of questioning is even more concerning by what it implies. The bunny girl takes a bit longer to reply than usual but eventually boasts, "Oh yeah, plenty before. The really really hungry types are very attractive. Funny story actually, my last girlfriend tried to eat me. But as you can see, I'm still here, and my butt has never looked better thanks to my ex!" Lexi can feel her heart pound a little faster, praying that Britney won't call her on her bluff. "But don't let that scare you! You asked me out, after all. I'm not about to chow down on someone so cute~"

"Your butt does look pretty great," Britney says, trying not to drool too hard. It's not that she doesn't believe the demi bunny can eat her- it's just that she doubts she's got enough practice to succeed. She's imagining what Lexi's butt would feel like in her hands. No, I don't want to- She tries her best to clear her head, sighing out a breath and letting a smile return to her face. "Yeah. Let's go eat. I don't want to like, cut this date too short because I couldn't hold myself back. You are very cute, too..."

Something she'd read earlier in the week comes to mind. If I trust myself... Then I'll rise to the challenge. I have to believe in that. I have to believe in me. She lets herself take Lexi's hand, something she hadn't allowed herself a moment ago - for fear it would end up in her mouth.

She gently laces her fingers with Lexi's, flashing the rabbit girl a serene smile. "So... You have like the hungry ones, huh? You had a lot of girlfriends like me?"

"Well... n-no. Not a lot," Lexi admits, not wanting to keep lying on a date like this. She blushes as Britney finally takes her by the hand, feeling accomplished and a little more at ease. "But I think I'm up to the challenge of keeping you well fed~"

Miraculously, the two of them reach their destination without incident. Gravyburger is a popular spot that's right next to campus, making it a great destination for college students to hang out and socialize. Plus, it's a whole lot more classy than the other nearby burger joint, Big Jude's, where you can literally feel the grease saturating the air.

Lexi stays close to Britney as they wait in line to order. Juicy meat patties sizzle at the grill, crispy fries are being served up, and sweet milkshakes are being stirred. The scent in here is absolutely tantalizing - and even Britney's appetite blessedly releases its death grip on fantasies of Lexi once the smells of Gravyburger hit her nostrils.

She stares up at the menu for a while. She just needs to fill herself up and let herself enjoy this date. If she's having fun, her date will have fun, and Val will start to realize she's changed. She might even get a little jealous! She squeezes Lexi's hand unconsciously in excitement. Buoyed by this thought, she goes straight for the biggest burger on the menu. "I'll take the Gravy Train with a large fries aaaand a strawberry shake," she says, putting a finger to her chin. "How about you, Lexi?"

"I'll have the veggie burger, a small order of fries, and blueberry lemonade, please."

"What size cup?" the teenage employee asks.

"A large, please."

As the bunny girl orders, she smiles confidently at her. Yeah. I got this. Besides, it'll be good practice for when I ask Val out again. She feels a little bit guilty given her club responsibilities and the fact that she's spending this entire date thinking about someone else, but she's already in this situation, so she might as well make the best of it!

She briefly checks her phone as Lexi orders.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Reya

Well

up to you I guess

Mora

I really hope things work out for you, Britney!

Reya

Nicole, Mels, should we get our heads together and make a new plan?

Nicole

Listen, just tell me where you're at, I'll barge in and eat her. You don't get in trouble because you're not the one who ate her, it'll be perfect!

Melissa

I suppose the alternative could be waiting outside one of their meetings as they finish, then tailing one of them for an ambush. This seems like the most logical course of actions.

The order is paid for, and Lexi scoots into one of the booths so she can sit across from her date. Things are going smoother despite a rocky start. But Lexi isn't Valerie, and Britney knows in the back of her mind who she'd much rather be on a date with.

After sending a covert photo of the distinctive Gravyburger floor, Britney starts typing a response.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Britney

gravyburger by campus

dunno tho, maybe we sh

"You've been texting an awful lot. Is your friend okay?" the bunny girl asks in a concerned tone.

Britney quickly tucks her phone away, the message yet unsent. Uh oh. Shoot, I should have said something first... And now I have to find an answer, too... "Um, everything's... Well, it's really more of a group of my friends that are... Er, we're just trying to cheer up this one really bummed out friend? She's, like, having a hard time. So we're trying to do something she'll like." Technically that's true if it's about Melissa. But it still feels like a lie... given what a big thing I'm not telling her...

She glances back at the door, afraid Nicole will already be bursting through it. If anyone's going to eat Lexi, it's going to be... No! No, no one's going to eat her! She has to be around to tell Valerie how impressed she was! "H-hey, why don't we swap places? Just in case, you know, sometimes people come in here and just grab snacks and walk off... I can watch your back. You know?"

"Oh, that sounds like a good idea. I'll watch yours as well." She gets up and switches spots so that her back is facing the door. Britney's back is now facing the hallway that leads the to bathroom. "It's tough being freshmen. The juniors and seniors are so experienced it's scary. I take the escape art classes and stuff, but it's like, what am I supposed to do if none of that works? I'll end up like ol' Captain Betty... digested by one of her own crewmates in 1702." Lexi sighs, leaning back as her mind goes back to the subject of pirates.

Lexi seems to have bought the little fib about Britney's text conversation, since she doesn't question it any further. The order is on its way, but so is Nicole, if she is indeed set on interrupting their date like she says she is...

"Thanks, Lexi," Britney says, trying to calm herself down. Nicole's not here yet. And maybe she's not even coming! Maybe she'll wait for confirmation! She tries turning her attention back to her date. "Captain Betty, huh? Could... could you tell me some more about her, maybe? I don't think I've heard about her. And you know I love to hear about what my dates like!" Her eyes keep darting between Lexi and the door, and though she's listening with half an ear, her attention is really on the door.

Lexi cracks a smile, thrilled to be able to talk about one of her favorite topics. "Captain Betty Glacies was one of the most badass pirates out there! She was a demi-bunny who was kidnapped by pirates and held for ransom. But then she challenged the captain of the ship to a duel and won, eating and digesting her, which earned her the respect of the whole crew. She had no desire to return to her old life since her family was clearly just going to marry her off to some rich asshole, so she stuck around and eventually became the new captain. The Cyclops was the main vessel in her fleet. She sank a ton of ships and put a pretty big dent in the royal navy, adding at least a dozen enemy captains to her waistline," she explains passionately, patting her own tummy for emphasis.

Britney's hand itches to go for her phone, but she's a little bit worried that if she checks her phone now, Nicole will swallow her chance at Valerie before Valerie even hears from her...

"They say that belches would boom like cannon fire after each battle. Apparently, she was a part of a few scandals too, always devouring her mate when the affair was over. Eventually, she was betrayed by her own crew after a charismatic deckhand named Olga Townend lead a mutiny against her. She had to be swallowed down three times before she finally lacked the strength to keep fighting! Then she was digested, and her remains were dumped into the sea..." Lexi shrugs as the tale concludes, wistfully picturing the sad departure of a historical legend. "Olga became the new captain, surprise surprise. The cycle would continue, with each new captain devouring the last. This would happen three more times until eventually, the Cyclops sank in 1704. There were plenty of other captains, but Betty is by far the most infamous!"

"Three times, huh? Wow, she must have put up a real fight to be able to escape twice..." Britney finds herself imagining this, picturing herself as Olga and Lexi as Betty. It's the wrong move, however, because her stomach grumbles loudly at the thought. She glances at the door, fidgeting in her seat. Nicole wouldn't be here yet, right? Even after that long story? "Er... on second thought, maybe we should talk about something that doesn't like... have to do with my appetite for cuties, at least until the food gets here. Have you ever been surfing?"

"Surfing? No, but it sounds fun. The closest beach is so far away though, I doubt I'll get the chance to try it out anytime soon. I'm guessing you like to surf? That seems like an unusual hobby for a catgirl. Aren't you afraid of the water?" Lexi asks. She knows she's being a little presumptuous, but she's genuinely curious about it.

"Order 67!" one of the employees calls out.

"Oh, I think that's us!"

"I did it a few times growing up, so I got used to it, I guess," Britney says, taking Lexi's hand across the table and getting to her feet. She's going to walk with Lexi - because it might help keep the hearts in the demi-bunny's eyes shining, and because it'll keep Lexi under her watchful eye in case Nicole shows up. "I fell in the water a lot when I was younger. But I got better at it, and it's really fun. It's not, like, Vorehammer or anything, but you really have to get good at controlling your body, so there's a lot of like... skill..."

She raises her hand as the employee calls their order number again, taking the tray from the counter to bring back to the booth. She throws a glance in the direction of the door again, though. Paranoid though it may be, she's heard enough stories of Nicole from Reya to have all too much faith in the sophomore's capabilities! "Maybe I'll take you sometime," she says distractedly, though to her half-aware mind... it's Valerie she's saying it to.

The food is certainly appetizing. It's hard to go wrong with Gravyburger. "Ooh, fast food is absolutely a guilty pleasure of mine," Lexi says, rubbing her hands together. She grabs one of her fries and takes a bite, salivating before the flavor even hits her tongue. She daintily covers her mouth as she chews, then licks the salt off her fingertips.

"Hahahaha, we'll get along well, then," Britney says, giggling.

And get along well they do - Britney almost forgets about the situation she's in, almost forgets about the human headed this way to ruin the date. Lexi's no Valerie, to be sure, but she's cute and nicer to be around than Britney had expected. Maybe... Even if I'm not really going to see it through, maybe I could have some fun with Lexi, and then let her down gently after a while? ... No, that's scummy. But it's better than being digested, right?

Minutes tick by as the two girls enjoy their meal. Every time someone new walks in, Britney alertly looks up and checks to see who it is.

Lexi's veggie burger is nearly finished when suddenly the door to the establishment opens and in walks a familiar human wearing pink heart-shaped shades and a similarly pink jacket. Britney freezes solid, a fry halfway to her mouth.

As Nicole's eyes scan the room, fall upon Britney, then hone in on her delicious-looking date, though, Britney jerks to life again. "Hey! Nicole! So nice to see you!" Britney says, very loudly, ruining Nicole's element of surprise.

Nicole waves, a little disappointed that Britney compromised her stealth, but she continues to play it casually.

"What brings you here? Not coming looking to eat innocent bunnies, I hope!" She gestures for Lexi to slide further into the booth, and moves out to the edge herself, making a subtle gesture with the hand opposite the side Lexi is on - an open-handed throat-slash gesture at her neck. Abort mission!! Don't eat her!!

Britney's greeting is perplexing, but Nicole realizes that it must be her cue to say a cool one-liner and go for it. "Oh, funny you should say that, Britney~" she says with a sly wink, not noticing the hand gesture.

Lexi is farther away now thanks to Britney's silent warning, but Nicole just slides right into the booth, cornering her against the wall. The bunny girl stammers, surprised to see a familiar face. "Oh, h-hey, Nicole! You two know each other?"

She waves to Nicole, trying to be friendly - but her entire hand is immediately enveloped by Nicole's salivating maw! "Wait, whaaaat!?!?" Lexi squeals, confused and scared by Nicole's sudden voraciousness. She visibly struggles, but Nicole has her pinned down!

"W-Wait! Nicole, seriously! Stop, that's my date!" Britney says, grabbing at Nicole's shoulders in an effort to pull her off Lexi. She pulls at Nicole's shoulders, straining and pulling back with all of her might. "We can find you some other mouthwatering, tender, squirming demi-bunny to eat! It can even be another soft freshman!" Okay, not the most romantic way to describe my date, but I don't have time for self-censorship right now!

Lexi's other hand is forcibly stuffed inside Nicole's mouth as the three of them struggle. Nicole is perplexed once again by Britney's reaction, but she quickly comes to the conclusion that she's putting on an act to seem less suspicious. Nicole doubles her efforts in response, and all in the span of a few seconds, Lexi's arms are slurped up and crammed down the oppressively tight throat.

"Britney hel-MMMPHMMM!!!" Lexi's cry is cut short as her head is plunged into darkness too. Britney pulls and tugs at an awkward angle, but it's
no use.

Nicole isn't even savoring her! Britney's gaze runs down Lexi's body as it enters Nicole's, as Nicole greedily swallows down Lexi's head, her fidgeting torso, her long silky hair, her firm butt, her delectable legs. All of what could've been hers is now vanishing down the maw of another pred. If only I'd been stronger, if I hadn't been dumb enough to send that picture... I could be the one indulging right now...

A couple of the other patrons are turning around to look, and there are some cell phone photos being taken. Someone grabbing a snack in the middle of the restaurant isn't unheard of, but it's rare enough to be amusing, especially with the twist of a conflict between two predators. It'll surely get a couple of likes from friends.

"H-help! Why are you doing this?" Lexi's voice can be heard muffled by the flesh of Nicole's stomach. Britney doesn't realize it's too late until she reaches out, trying to take hold of Lexi and pull her out. There's a harsh slurping sound, followed by a bassy gulp...

UUU­UU­RRR­RR­PH~

"Ahh~ That's the stuff~ Nice and tender." Nicole says with a lick of her lips, running her hands across her distended gut. Lexi writes about chaotically, punching up little bulges left and right. "Totally worth the walk over here... Hey, Britney, relax. What's with the face?" She gently shoves the dismayed catgirl off of her, then settles down into the seat that Lexi once occupied. "Uurp~ S'cuse me."

"Ugghh... Nicole, you ruined my date," Britney huffs, flopping down into her own seat again. More disappointed than perturbed by this, she resumes eating her burger, a sulk the size of Texas on her face as she chews. She lets her head hang down after a moment. "I had plans with her tonight, you know? I was really having fun! Why didn't you stop when I told you to stop?"

Her frustration expends itself quickly, though, and she returns to her normal cheerful face. "... I guess I'll say thanks for coming to my rescue, though. I really might have screwed that up if you weren't here..."

Nicole is confused, but certainly sorry for what may have been a misunderstanding now that she thinks about it. Still, it's kinda too late to back out now. She ate her, so now the jig is up. It's time to digest her or risk compromising the whole mission.

"Oh... I'm sorry. I really did think you wanted me to come over. Plus I was really hungry, so I guess that factored into it," Nicole replies. "I thought you were putting on an act, and I was already in the middle of eating her..."

"What is this?! Was this all some kind of set u-MMph!" Lexi tries to speak but is hastily silenced by Nicole tucking her gut under the table and squeezing it with her legs.

"Ehehe... think of it this way, Uuurp~ at least now Valerie won't get mad at you for eating her." Nicole suggests, trying to smooth things over as best she can. "Oh sweet, free milkshake!"

Now that the commotion is resolved, the other people in the restaurant have lost interest. They have their own food to attend to. Inside Nicole's stomach, Lexi jerks about as several gulps of frosty milkshake trickle down onto her.

"That's c-cold! Stop it, please!!!" she whimpers, unable to move under the constant pressure.

"Yeah, you're right, I have a good story to tell Val now," Britney says, easily swayed by talk of her bunny ex. Yes... I heroically tried to stop Nicole from eating Lexi, but to no avail... But I'll be ready next time, to protect you no matter what comes... Val will have to swoon at that. She leans against the back of the booth. "... It's okay. I was like- sending some pretty mixed signals, I bet."

Britney pulls her phone out again, finally, catching up on the group chat. "I'll let the others know the mission went well."

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Britney

nikki saved my bacon

I was gonna screw it up =/\=

I can't help it my stomach and my heart are always fighting over the same girls

feebs back me up on this

Reya

YEAH NICOLE

I knew we could count on her

Mora

Um, Britney? Sorry, what's that you said about your stomach and your heart?

Phoebe

Oh Britney, you silly goose

Melissa

I'd like to remind you that all of us could do a better job at controlling our hunger, but at least it turned out okay in the end

Nicole keeps up the pressure on Lexi, completely outclassing the poor freshman in terms of prey strength versus predator fortitude. Her gut grumbles soundly, building up a strong surge of acidic fluids that gradually trickle in.

"A little mixed, yeah," Nicole replies with a shrug. With her gut currently wedged under the table, she looks completely normal from the perspective of Britney when sitting across from her. "Sometimes I think with my stomach first, and my brain second."

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Britney

:))))))))))

yesssssssss mels

i controlled my hunger so well nikki had to do it for me

im the best

Reya

TRUE

Britney

btw mora you know how feebs can't resist the big ones?

i can't resist the ones who have a crush on me

but i'm trying!!!!

Mora

As long as you're trying, I guess!

Um, unrelated, are any of you by my dorm room? The girl I accidentally dumped my lunch on today was here asking around after me tonight and I have to pee but I don't want to check if she's gone myself...

😭

Britney leans back in the booth, switching from the group chat to her solo conversation with Valerie. Her thumb hovers over the keyboard for a brief moment, and then she starts typing again. As she shifts her position, she accidentally knees Nicole in the gut - something that hurts Lexi more than it does Nicole. Nonetheless, that's not who she apologizes to. "Sorry about that, Nikki," she says absentmindedly.

What tone to take here...

She sends her messages at top speed, the typing dots never stopping to let Valerie respond until she reaches the end.

Valerie

Britney

val... im so sorry...

this sophomore jumped lexi while we were at gravyburger

and i was trying to pull her out but she was wayyyyyy stronger than me :(((

i feel big but im still just a small fish in a big ocean

im really sorry

it sucks cause we were really having a nice date

sorry i got your friend eaten :'(((

can you let her roommate know?

She holds her breath, staring at her phone.

There are a few tense minutes without a reply. But after about four minutes, Valerie replies with a few texts. Britney has already given into despair in the four minutes it takes for Valerie to respond, but when the vibration disturbs her, she jerks upright and hastily unlocks her phone, loosing a huge sigh of relief once she reads the reply.

Valerie

Valerie

Are you okay???

I mean of course you're not okay, your date just got eaten! But are you safe from the predator?

Said predator is currently picking her teeth across from Britney, her ravenous appetite successfully sated. She casually flicks away one of Lexi's stray hairs and claps her hands atop her bulging belly. "Mmm... uuurrrrp~ This is what life's all about. Full belly, comfy seats, and milkshakes." Nicole chuckles before taking another sip from her creamy beverage. "The Empty Bellies club has a pretty ironic name, I have to say~"

She looks over at Nicole for a long moment, trying to process how to respond to these texts without tipping her hand too much or lying too openly...

Valerie

Britney

um

like

it sounds like she's not picking any more fights now that she's stuffed...

she doesn't even seem to mind that i was wrestling with her for her meal...

so yeah guess so!

Once she's done sending her text, she belatedly laughs at Nicole's joke, setting her phone back down facedown. "Oh, yeah, we should totally vote as a club to change that..."

Lexi sweats in the hot depths of Nicole's stomach, a place where she can only imagine a great number of girls like herself have melted. It's quickly becoming clear that Britney isn't going to save her. She whimpers, silently lamenting the fact that she doesn't have her phone with her. Maybe then I could call someone... but no, I have to be brave! Like the pirate queens of old, I will escape this stomach and live to see another date!

Valerie responds soon after.

Valerie

Valerie

Okay, well just be safe...

Also, it's not that I don't believe you but, could you send me a picture of your belly? I just have to be sure...

Britney lifts up her shirt, carefully attempting to aim her camera at her stomach and her face and press the button for the shutter at the same time. As she does, she slinks down, kneeing Lexi and nearly stepping on Nicole's feet several more times while trying to get the perfect pose. A couple times she manages to get it lined up just right, but then it slips out of her hand when she tries to take the picture. "Ahhh... Damn it!"

Nicole burps softly as her stomach shifts. It burbles in response to the extra movement from within. "She sure is a feisty one~"

Britney looks up at Nicole's comment. "Oh, yeah, in my... um... fantasies about how this date might turn out, she was pretty active..." She coughs, finally admitting defeat and switching to the selfie cam. This is much easier, but she has to keep the phone further away from herself... She turns so her legs point out of the booth, trying again to get the shot.

Nicole smirks, amused by the clumsy catgirl's attempts. She can assume it's for Valerie, the poor clueless bunny must be asking for proof. "Pretty accurate fantasies I'd say. HwuuUUURRRRRRP!" Another strong burp rattles its way up Nicole's throat, causing her to blush a little. The amount of gassiness is mildly embarrassing, but Nicole shrugs it off. At least it allows her to taste her meal again... mmm... pumpkin spice~

"Is that for Val? I don't know her very well, but I think she still likes you!" Nicole says encouragingly.

Finally, after much difficulty, Britney gets a picture taken. Then another. A couple more, just to be safe.

She scrolls through her attempts, finally settling on one that has a better angle of her face.

Valerie

Britney

i get it

here, here's a picture of my stomach - promise it's empty

"Yeah, it's for Val," Britney says, getting back to a normal sitting position after sending the picture. "She just wants to know if I did it, which, you know," she swallows briefly, "I guess it's normal she doesn't, like, trust me at my word..."

"Smart," Nicole replies, "I don't envy you, it's a tricky situation you're in. Er... sorry for stating the obvious."

"Thanks," Britney says, grateful for the sophomore's encouragement and sympathy. She feels like such a screw-up... but if Nicole, who's far more experienced, thinks there's still hope, she won't give up!

"Britney! Help me!!! I don't want to be turned into pudge!" Lexi cries out in desperation, kicking and punching with all her might. Nicole frowns, giving her meal another squeeze to quell the sting of her struggles. She won't let this lowly freshman get the best of her.

vrrrt!

Valerie

Valerie

Sorry I doubted you =w=;

I told Lexi's roommate and she seemed... oddly pleased? I guess she's excited to have the dorm to herself.

Anyway, if you need anything just ask. I can help if any trouble comes your way.

Britney

thanks val ^w^

you're still so sweet

it was really nice seeing you today ^o^

stay safe ok?

Britney glances down at the table, through which she can hear Nicole's meal struggling and pleading. She's tempted to lean over and smoosh Nicole's stomach walls into the loud freshman's face, but there's no way she can reach with the table in the way. Having Lexi making so much noise is making her worry that one of Val's friends will hear... "Hey, Nikki, wanna get outta here and like, head back to the dorms? I don't want her to be sitting there making noise all night, and there's probably cozier places to digest her than at like, a random booth at Gravyburger."

"Oh, you are so right," Nicole says with an enthusiastic nod. She slides out of the booth and hoists herself up, putting those strong legs of hers to good use in carrying around her captured meal. A clique of girls at one table snicker and subtly giggle as they watch Nicole stretch her arms toward the ceiling, her gut bobbing and bouncing as she does. Not wanting anything to go to waste, she snatches Lexi's discarded purse to keep as loot. "You're welcome to chill with me for a bit, I have a few video games at my place," Nicole suggests, tossing her empty milkshake cup into the trash as she exits the restaurant.

Britney tucks her phone away, following Nicole out of the restaurant with only a brief glance at the girls at the table, to see if she recognizes any of them. That done, she pushes out the Gravyburger door, taking in the chill air with a shiver of satisfaction. "Yeah, that sounds like fun. God, I can't believe that this worked out for us." She stretches her arms up, then puts her hands behind her head casually. "So... any idea what happens next? I'm still, like, only in my first year here..."

"Yeah, well this is my first club war, so I'm in new territory here as well. I assume Melissa has it handled though." Nicole replies, giving her gut another affectionate pat.

"Yeah, you're probably right," Britney says, beaming. She rubs her hand over Nicole's bloated stomach happily. "She seems to have this whole thing down. I wonder if she's been in club wars before?"

"Club war?" Lexi repeats, dumbfounded. Am I really about to be digested because of a dumb club war? She shudders at the thought. With her hand, she wipes away a glob of stomach gunk from her brow, breathing heavily in the oppressively cramped organ. "No... no... it's okay Lexi, you've got this," she mutters, trying her best to remember the things she learned in those escape tutorials. I just need to struggle aggressively, and relax... struggle aggressively... relax... struggle aggressively... relax...

Britney pays little mind to Lexi's comment, other than using the opportunity to grope around to see where Lexi's body is. She smirks. "You probably don't got this, Lexi. Reya's told me plenty of stories about Nicole, and like, I don't think yours is going to be any better for you..."

This heat... it's so awful. I don't know how the girls in the endo club can stand this, it's like being in a sauna! Lexi thinks. Then again, usually, the stomach is far less active in those types of scenarios... Here, Nicole's gut is turned up to eleven, uncaring and unwavering in its mission to break her down into a sloshy puddle of chyme. The extra taunting and teasing is just another layer on top of it all, one that causes Lexi to quickly lose her cool.

"S-shut up!" Lexi barks, her body gradually softening as Nicole's acids work their magic. "God, I can't believe I even went on a date with you. You're not even that hot! You're just some ditzy catgirl with no personality, like, get real!"

Britney's tail hits Nicole in the thigh a few times, the catgirl now worked up enough for it to lash around. Her ears go back, and she grumbles something insulting under her breath.

"Uh... now's not the time to be talking smack," Nicole warns, casting a nervous glance at Britney. It's such a buzzkill when prey make things awkward. "Just ignore her, Britney, she doesn't know what she's talking about."

"Oh, ouch," Britney says in an attempt at sarcasm, trying to play it cool. It did sting with how worried she is about being appealing for Valerie these days, but she doesn't want Nicole or Lexi to know that. Besides, she reminds herself, how many of her meals since coming here were girls who fell for her and trusted her enough to be talked into her stomach? Remembering this fills her with enough confidence to get mad and snap back. "I feel bad for Nicole now. If you think that about me, you must not have as good taste as you smelled like. I'm gorgeous, and I have, like, tons of personality. Just ask Valerie's friend Paulina... Oh wait, you can't. Because I seduced her so hard she crawled down my throat. She clearly thought I was hot enough to willingly add herself to my gorgeous ass~"

That's the first time she's admitted to seducing and eating Paulina out loud, and it's so freeing to come clean about it. She felt pretty embarrassed about it at the time. Such a petty way to get back at Valerie for breaking up with her...

"Yeah, whatever... you won't be so smug when I-"

OOO­Oo­UU­UU­Rr­RRR­RP­Ph~ "S'cuse me."

Whatever Lexi was about it say is cut off by a well-timed belch from Nicole. Rather than repeat herself, Lexi refocuses her efforts on breaking out of her fleshy prison. If I can just get the right angle on my kicks...

"Change of subject. Have you ever listened to my podcast?" Nicole asks curiously, lifting up her arms and resting her hands on the back of her head. "Reya told you about me, sooo I assume you know about Down the Hatch too, right? I'm always open to hearing about my listener's genuine thoughts and opinions."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, but only a little bit. Reya played part of one episode for the club a while ago," Britney says, calming down some. Her tail doesn't stop its angry movements, but her ears relax a little. "I liked your voice and stuff. And it was cool how your second guest was like, inside of your first guest, I guess? I bet there's a whole storyline with that, right? It's like, one of those old radio serials or something, right? How did you get Gabriela to act in it?"

Nicole bursts out laughing when she realizes which episode Britney is talking about. "Oh yeah, that one. Yeah, that wasn't acting. Rin got eaten by Gabriela during a sorority party the night before, but she had a ton of antacid tablets in her pocket at the time, so she managed to escape after stewing in her gut for literally an entire night! A lot of other people thought it was set up, but no, it was totally genuine. I was pretty surprised, needless to say. You should definitely bring that up to Rin if you ever run into her, she loves talking about it." she explains, her tone veering into sarcasm near the end.

Britney chuckles, her tail starting to relax a little bit more too. "It sounded really real. I was going to ask how you like, did the sound effects and stuff? But I guess if it wasn't acting, then... Well, Reya thought it was pretty funny. I did too. I'll tell Rin she did a good performance if I ever see her!" She pauses at this, putting a finger to her cheek. "Um... Hm. Do I know Rin? What's she look like...?"

"You know, Rin. Tall bunny girl, white hair, shades, always wearing that green jacket, definitely smokes in nonsmoking areas." Nicole rattles off a list of details her long-eared friend is best known for. "Okay, she's urp~ kind of a bully, but she's nice if you get to know her. Like, she usually only eats people who piss her off or anyone who happens to become her girlfriend. If you haven't met her, that wouldn't surprise me though. You are still a freshman after all."

"Ohhhhhhhhh..." Something comes to Britney. "Ohhhhhhh!! That's the bunny that Val really liked! Ehehe... I got really jealous when she kept talking about her, which I'm sure didn't make her feel any better about me..." She blushes, covering her mouth. Her words only come faster, though, as she reflexively defends herself. "But like, she kept talking about how tough and amazing this predator bunny was, and I was like, you know, I'm right here, like, if you want to see a tough predator, what about me? Do you have to keep like, guilting me and then talking about how great she is?"

"You serious? I... didn't know they had a connection. This is the first time I'm hearing about it." She absentmindedly wonders what Rin is up to right now. "She's missing out, to be honest. I've had a lot of fun in the loser's club- uh..." Nicole trails off, realizing what she'd let slip out. "Wait... I didn't mean it like... that. Shit, let me just rewind."

"No, no, I get it," Britney says, laughing. She bites her lip, her tail now flicking with excitement instead of anger. "Um, actually? Can I tell you a secret? Like... I feel the same way. I mean, Melissa is so anal, and Reya has like noooo self control, and Phoebe is SUCH a theater kid, and I guess I only just met Mora, but like... I got to meet her in your gut, so like? I feel like you and me don't really fit in, but it's still a lot of fun to be around the others, somehow..."

"Y-yeah, exactly. Obviously, this stays between you and me, cuz I don't want Reya to know, but the Empty Bellies club has a bit of a bad reputation, at least in some conversations I've overheard. And I'm not saying like, oh I'm so much better than you guys, but I'm taking a bit of a risk in being associated with the club. Which is... totally unfair! That mall trip was legit the best time I've had in weeks!" Nicole waves her arms above her head in exasperation, but like Britney, it feels nice it finally get this off her chest.

"Hehehe. I'll keep your secret," Britney says, giving an exaggerated wink. "It's okay. We kinda are the losers club, I get it." She shrugs, sticking her hand into her jacket pocket to pull out her phone, checking to see if there are any fresh notifications (maybe messages from Val?!). "Sorta a downer to hear that people don't really want to be associated with the club, though... I guess maybe that's why Mel was upset and didn't think we'd get any new members? Reya sure seems oblivious to it, though."

"I mean it's not unsalvagable I bet," Nicole says reassuringly. Her stomach gurgles wetly, looking a bit smoother around the edges. She shivers, hugging her arms around herself. Her footsteps crunch on a few padded-down patches of snow on the ground as they near their destination. "Damn, it's cold. I can't wait for winter to be over. I should've worn more layers."

"Yeah, I wish I was on the beach too," Britney says sympathetically. She looks over at Nicole's stomach, noticing that Lexi is a bit less... Lexi-shaped. She can't help feeling a tinge of envy, as the bunny did look pretty tasty... but she's trying to cut down on filling her cravings in order for Val to trust her again... She's disappointed to find the new messages are unfortunately not from Valerie. She scrolls through the chat, starting to contribute her own messages.

The Empty Bellies

You, Melissa, Reya, Phoebe, Mora, Nicole

Melissa

I'm currently busy studying and after that I'm going to bed, but I promise I'll follow up on the club situation tomorrow.

Phoebe

Yay for Melissa~!

Mora

Yes, thanks for all your hard work Melissa!

Melissa

Your gratitude is much appreciated.

Reya

We love Melissa!!!

Britney

yeah!

gonna chill at

"My belly would be freezing right now if I didn't have something naturally heating it- uuUHHP!" Nicole yelps in surprise as her feet slide out from under her. An unforeseen patch of ice on the sidewalk causes her to slip, and Nicole falls backward right onto her bum.

GALOSSH~ Gluurrrp~

Her stomach gives a heavy slosh upon impact with the ground. It seems like her stomach had made a lot more progress on Lexi than she'd realized. That one drop was enough to cause her to completely lose shape, violently shaken up before settling into a heavy puddle of goop in her stomach. Nicole winces, steadying herself from the fall. "Ugh... I'm okay! I'm okay..." Grumbling, she reaches out to Britney for a helping hand.

Britney nearly drops her phone out of shock, tucking it away in her jacket with her message unfinished and bending down to offer her hand to Nicole. "You sure? I mean, I know you have a nice round ass to help cushion the blow, but that was a pretty hard fall even for you..."

"I can't tell if you're flirting or making fun of me." Nicole chuckles, though she still groans at the soreness on her butt. Standing upright again, she lets go of Britney's hand and brushes off some of the wet snow clinging to her clothes. Nothing is broken, so she just keeps on walking, albeit a little slower now. "Thanks, freshie! I think- Wait, hold on, I can feel a burp coming..." Nicole braces herself then beats her chest twice to knock loose the pressure that she can feel bubbling up. She hastily turns her head away from Britney, saving her from getting a gross faceful of it.

OO­OO­OO­OUU­UUR­RRR­P~ uUU­URrR­rp~

One after the other, Lexi's shoes are ejected from Nicole's maw by the force of the belch. They tumble and splat onto the concrete, half-digested with faint wisps of steam rising off of them into the cold winter air.

"Sorry about that." Nicole apologizes sheepishly. "I think that's two points for me and zero points for Lexi." Her gurgling soup in her stomach burbles and groans deeply as if annoyed.

Britney applauds. "Bravo, bravo! That was like, really impressive." She giggles, scanning over Nicole's body to make sure she didn't miss any of the snow. But, thankfully, it seems like she's gotten everything. "Maybe a little bit of both, by the way? I guess that means Lexi didn't make it out after all, huh... I'll let Reya know that I finally have a story about you that she doesn't."

Her eyes sparkle as she walks on through the night air, not nearly as bothered by the chill now that whatever threat Lexi posed is over and done with. "So, what games do you have, anyway? Oh!! Do you have that one that's like, racing on jetskis? I don't remember what it's called, but I played it when I was visiting Reya's and it was super fun."

"Are you talking about Hydro Crash?" Nicole guesses, "I don't have it but I bet I can download it off of the online store. I've been meaning to try that one out. Do you want to make it a sleepover? Because I totally don't mind it being a sleepover~"

"Sleepover, yay!" Britney claps excitedly, bouncing along down the path. "Let's do it! To new friends!"

Morning comes, dawn's light breaking the demi-gecko junior Fern out of a dream. Another dream rehashing the last battle of her most recent tournament... As she wakes up, Fern rolls over, checking her phone blearily. A message from Lexi's roommate... She racks her brain, trying to remember what she sent a message to Lexi's roommate about in the first place. ... Oh, right! Trying to snoop about the date.

Selima

Fern

So, how'd it go?

Today

Selima

Sorry, forgot to tell you earlier. She didn't get home last night. Her date's a friend of a friend, so I heard some sophomore ate her while they were together. Wasn't her date though, idk who it was...

Last thing she sent me, just a picture of her date ordering at Gravyburger

She groans, sitting up and putting her glasses on, rambling to herself in the freezing morning air of her poorly-insulated single room. "Fucking Lexi... figures that she'd go on a date and get eaten..." She glances at the picture Lexi had sent Selima of her date, taken sneakily while she was distracted. "Useless demi-cat couldn't keep her date safe?"

Another message has been awaiting her attention, too. It's a group message from a member of the club planning committee to her and her second-in-command, the demi-gecko Rhetta. She just hasn't been in the mood for dealing with it. Unfortunately, it's looking like she's going to have to deal with it - and worse, tell the committee that she doesn't have enough members anymore.

Wargaming Club application

You, Claudia, Rhetta

Claudia

That's all we needed! Should be able to get it official at the meeting fine

Fern

Okay. Thanks for your help.

Rhetta

yeah you've been a big help!

Yesterday

Claudia

Jsyk, we just heard from the Empty Bellies club yesterday. They got six members, so unfortunately I'll have to remind you that your official club status is provisional until we can make it official at the meeting. If your club fails the requirements before then we'll have to give it to the other club. Shouldn't be a problem otherwise, you were first in line so you'll be okay.

"Fuuuuuuuck..." Fern groans, rubbing her eyes. "Goddamn it, Lexi... The fucking losers club is going to get our club spot because of you..."

She pauses. Wait a sec. ... Lexi's date... The losers club... The losers club has enough members now... She zooms in to the photo, swearing under her breath. This morning just got a whole lot more interesting.

She grunts and forwards the photo and the rest of this information on to the club chat.

Nexus Command

You, Rhetta, Sydney, Teresa, Robin, Lexi

Fern

Anyone awake?

Rhetta

yeah

Fern

Lexi got got on her date last night. Here's the pic she sent Selima.

Recognize her date? One of the catgirls who's been hanging out in the dining hall with the rest of the losers club, maybe?

Oh, and for everyone who isn't Rhetta, btw, suddenly the losers club has 6 members.

Rhetta

oh... fuck

son of a bitch, it is her

that's. not a coincidence, huh

Fern

Get the rest of the club awake and in the club room. The losers just started a club war on us.