2. Go back. You’re so close… just a little more pudding.

Big Guy took a deep breath. Turning on his heels he marched back to his table where the vat of pudding was waiting. He gritted his teeth as he took his first bite. Much like with the other food, this pudding tasted heavenly. He continued to spoon the mousse delight into his maw, letting it sit there as he continued to eat. He closed his eyes, now feeling the sensation of being completely bloated.

A set of hands rested on his shoulder. “Want a massage yet? You’re looking about ready to burst!”

Biting back his rising disgust, Big Guy continued. He felt the pudding slide into his stomach and seep between all the other foods, filling in every gap it could. Big Guy wanted so badly to stop, but he knew that wasn’t an option.

The minutes felt like hours as Big Guy started to slow down in eating. He only had a fourth of the tray to go, but he felt he couldn’t fit another bite. He whined.

“Big Guy… so close! Please! Big Guy almost have it!” Lifting up the spoon, Big Guy opened his mouth… but he didn’t put the pudding in. He couldn’t. He was too full.

“Big Guy… can’t,” Big Guy whined. “Big Guy want go home!”

In that moment, Big Guy felt Charlie’s arms lower to his belly. The man’s claws rubbed around, having the same soothing effects that it had before. Big Guy wanted so desperately to fight it… but it felt so good…. He felt his shoulders relax. His body went limp as he gave into the massage he had gotten many times before. The rubs felt nice, wonderful even. Finally, the pain he felt from being bloated disappeared. The hands finished their massage and with a pat, he was lulled from his mesmerized state.

Thoughts flooded back to him, Big Guy attempted to jolt himself out of the chair, but the weight of his belly prevented this. When he looked at it, it was now massive, almost fully lapping over his knees at this point. Distraught, he hoisted his belly up, letting it drop. It jiggled.

“Well, well, well,” Charlie’s voice came from behind him. Big Guy turned around, seeing a werewolf standing behind him. The werewolf rubbed the fur on their face. They seemed to be frowning. “First guest to actually finish the challenge. I’m impressed.” The werewolf dropped their hands from their face and stared at Big Guy.

Big Guy got up, trying to speak, but he realized he had no mouth to do so. It was gone.

“Relax, Sarge… a promise is a promise.” The werewolf lifted his fingers and snapped. His features immediately shifted into that of the Charlie Sarge had known from earlier. “There you go, your identity is back. So is your name…. Could you give me your name again?”

Sarge lifted a finger to his chin. He felt the scruff of his fur. He then attempted to open his mouth. He could do so. He then attempted to stand up, but doing so was still difficult, given his belly was… still big.
“Charlie, I can’t give you my name, but I can tell you that people call me Sarge,” Sarge said as his eyes lit up. Of course! His name was Sarge. How could he have forgotten? “Can I get… a hand please?”

“Sure thing. Anything to help a fat man!” Charlie teased, slowly walking over to Sarge and hoisting him out of the chair.

Sarge grimaced as he looked at himself. His shirt was riding up to his neck by this point, and his arms had torn holes in his sleeves with how wide he’d gotten. He couldn’t even see his pants or backside, but he figured things were larger down there, too. “I feel… hungry again. Was I always this big?”

“Sure,” Charlie said almost immediately.

“That’s a lie,” Sarge snarled. Turning to face Charlie, he folded his arms. “Answer me honestly, Charlie. What are you? Cuz that was either one heck of a dream I just had, or you were trying to pull something on me.”

Charlie sighed. Lifting his hands, he shook them in the air and lazily tilted his head to the side. With a defeated tone he said, “Grand Surprises. Themed dining. Changes weekly. Fifty-two themes throughout the year. This week? Tricks of the Fae Wilds.”

“So you aren’t one?” Sarge asked.

“Not really, no,” Charlie said, folding his arms. “Imagine… a demon? But not really a demon. Demon-like. Can make contracts outside of physical limitations. Enhances the ‘experience’. Though, admittedly, this week was a little… empty. Only a few came this week. Seems enticing them with a life-time of food was-” Charlie interrupted himself. “OH! Of course!” Snapping his fingers, a small, plastic card dropped from nowhere and landed on Sarge’s nose. It stayed perfectly balanced, allowing Sarge to read what it said. “Life-time Card for ‘Grand Surprises Buffet’.”

“Uh… thanks,” Sarge said, grabbing the card off his nose. “Does that mean I don’t have to pay?”

“Nope! You don’t pay a penny. You were quite fun to mess with!” Charlie chuckled, poking Sarge’s belly. “Hope you don’t mind a new physique. I like my men on the fatter side.”

“Are you flirting with me?”

“No, but I could if you’d like. You’re hot enough.” Charlie lifted his hands to his chin and batted his eyes.

“Noted,” Sarge scratched his ear then looked down at himself. “Any chance you could… fix this? I don’t think I could fit in my car.”

“You’re at a buffet… I feel this is the last place you’d want to get dieting tips,” Charlie chuckled.

“No! I mean that you literally fattened me up! My belly was full of food moments ago, but now it’s empty AND it’s as big as it was when I was full!” Sarge hefted up his belly and let it drop to emphasize his point.

“Did I?” Charlie asked.

Sarge grunted, craning his neck back. “Unbelievable… I’m leaving!”

“See you again soon!” Charlie called.

“Don’t count on it!” Sarge called back as he went to the exit and pushed the door open with his belly. Huffing with anger, he stormed off to his car. Part way through, he started to feel his anger wane. He slowed his pace, now stopping in the middle of the parking lot.

“Wait, why was I angry?” He scratched his head and turned around. In front of him was a building with a sign that said, “Grand Surprises Buffet”.

“Did I just… come from there? I don’t remember.” Sarge bit back his confusion and turned to his car. He lifted his hand to the door to unlock it but realized he was holding a plastic card instead of his keys. “Oh, right. I DID go there.”

Laughing, Sarge patted his belly. “Indigo was right, I really am a fat man... otherwise I wouldn’t have finished that challenge!”

Nodding to himself, Sarge got into his car, adjusted his seat back to accommodate his weight… and he drove home. Indigo seemed very confused when Sarge came inside. Sarge couldn’t understand why.


(OUTCOME 2: REALITY SHIFT)

Go back and try again?

FIRST


Art/Story/Characters (C)  Juntarhenogu Me