Fruiting Bodies, ch. 10 (Patreon)

*** Options three and four were a tie last time, so we'll do option 4 next and then put up a new round of voting. ***

The walls were thinning.  Ethan could feel It pressing against the barrier, worming Its way through the film of reality inch by cosmic inch.  With his help Its children were spreading, their seeds propagating in countless people throughout the world, and with each one It grew stronger.  No dimensional gulf could ever be wide enough to fully sever the connection to Its offspring, and his work provided It with a growing foothold in this fertile new reality.

Spore users didn’t just enhance their own bodies, nor did they alter themselves through anything as mundane as swallowing a pill.  The various fungi growing in the cave were part of Its physical manifestation in this reality, a byproduct that seeped through an existing fissure.  The mushrooms and seed pods and other fruiting bodies didn’t cause a physical reaction in the traditional sense when ingested, but acted as tuning forks to draw down Its power.  Every so often someone would be lucky enough to receive a larger dose, what Ethan had ironically labeled an “adverse effect”, and though others had been concerned by the increasing numbers he eagerly saw them for what they were.  Larger and stronger doses were channeling through the doorways that Spore opened, which meant the gaps were growing wider.  The energy flowed with less resistance, taking the fruiting bodies from a cave in the Pacific and giving them legs to spread the good word throughout the world.

It was that same connection the Customer Service department used to twist the world around those lucky few.  HB&L had other means, like the subterranean spires at their corporate campus, but those served a purpose and a master of their own, and Ethan didn’t want to cause a spat between siblings.  And his wasn’t the only project seeking a similar outcome.  The Bowen and Lath families had been striving for as many generations as the Hadleys to bring back Those Who Had Been Cast Out, but after centuries of failure they’d finally decided to follow the example of the humans around them and join forces.  There was still competition, each family wanted theirs to be the first to pierce the veil and claim this reality, but ultimately they knew a rising eldritch tide lifts all boats.  The risks and overhead costs were now spread equally among them, allowing them to flourish in a way they’d never experienced.  There were still those, like the Learned, who opposed them, but for every setback HB&L incurred they still took two steps forward.  If it took them a decade or a millennia to achieve their goal it ultimately didn’t matter as they were marching inexorably towards the time when “time” itself would cease to exist.

Still, Ethan wanted to be the one to open the door.  After centuries spent watching the cycle of decay, rot, and rebirth play out, he knew It was the perfect successor for this reality.  It would consume everything, but where some of the others would leave behind roiling chaos or an empty void, It would bring about a glorious tranquility of transformation.  From the rotting remains of the former reality would spring forth a fungal forest of potential, like the cave but on a dimensional scale, allowing the scope of the cycle to grow exponentially.  From a meaningless rock in a meaningless reality would blossom a spore of change that would ripple through the sea of infinity.

Ethan shivered just thinking about it, no small feat considering his current bodiless state.  He’d transcended the need for sleep ages ago, but he still liked to spend the nocturnal hours floating along the currents of connection between Its children.  Though he no longer dreamed himself, Ethan could drop in for a visit with others, planting further seeds and giving gentle nudges in the right direction.  And even after so many endless years he’d never grown tired of seeing Its handiwork firsthand, each beautiful blossom a reminder of the glory to come.  Untethered, Ethan could enjoy them for what they were, free from the urges and impulses that came with his physical form.  The handsome shell that people saw was merely the latest vessel his essence inhabited, the original having long since turned to dust, but as with the rest of Its children, and perhaps even more so due to his elevated status, Ethan was bound by a duty to propagate his spore.

And there was the work of running a corporation to be done, as well as seeing his plans through to fruition.  He was impressed by Will’s efforts at deception, but he was well aware that the inflating young man was going to meet with the Learned and their absent brother, Tyler, just as he knew their data was being leaked.  It was all part of his plan.  The information would undoubtedly provoke a response on the part of their antagonists, hopefully flushing them out in the process, and when the time was right he needed the four of them to be together anyway.  Just as when they’d funded the “discovery” of the cave, they needed to wait until conditions were ripe before taking certain actions.  If a few mongrel scholars wanted to delude themselves into thinking they could stop the inevitable during that time, he was happy to indulge them.

Ethan let go, the star-peppered void fading as the weight of corporeal manifestation wrapped itself around him.  And his wasn’t the only body.  Griffon’s squat, bulky frame clung to his torso, a stubby leg thrown over Ethan’s trim waist while a long arm draped over the older man’s perfect pecs.  Griffon’s rigid, mammoth cock wedged between them while the altered blonde slumbered, his disproportionate features bringing a smile to Ethan’s face.  He truly didn’t see himself as cruel.  He was a change-bringer, and while he knew some people had difficulty adapting to that change, it was all for their benefit in the long run.  He didn’t enjoy their suffering, but like a stern parent knew it was sometimes necessary to achieve greater goals.

And it was only a temporary discomfort.  The old Griffon never would have chosen such an outcome, but only because he didn’t know it was an option.  Once his expanded mind caught up to his altered body, the stunted little stud had never been happier.  It took him a while to adjust, but Griffon now understood that he experienced a kind of freedom shared by a scant few, his new impulses and new appearance a small price to pay for such a gift.

“Rise and shine,” Ethan purred, gently stroking the small patch of short blonde hair adorning Griffon’s lumpy skull.  Outside, the sun was just starting to creep above the horizon, casting the city skyline in silhouette against an ombre blanket of orange and blue.

Griffon smiled sleepily and nuzzled into the other man’s shoulder like a cat, his hand instinctively drifting south to wrap around Ethan’s rigid log.  “Good morning,” he said, the rest of his stocky body following suit until his groggy features were bobbing up and down on the older man’s cock.  It was only the first part of their morning routine, and Griffon still couldn’t believe that he was lucky enough to be the one waking up in Ethan’s bed.  He savored every musky inch of the warm organ filling his mouth, his compact bulk practically vibrating with desire.  Ethan’s lingering eyes were like a physical object against his naked flesh, and Griffon made sure to flex and writhe and put on a good show.

He applied the same diligence a few minutes later when, having made sure that Ethan’s cock was slick and glistening, he hefted himself up and over, impaling his oversized cheeks on the waiting pole.  “OOOOoohhhhhhh…” Griffon moaned, just like he did every time.  He couldn’t help it.  Despite feeling it multiple times a day, the sensation was as fresh and vibrant as the first time, always bringing with it a quick flash of recollection that made him remember what it felt like to be long and lean.  But then his inflated cheeks would start bouncing and his stubby thighs would rub against Ethan’s waist, the sound of his squeaky moaning and the slapping of his fattened cock drowning out the older man’s disinterested encouragement.  While Griffon had the time of his life, his boss was usually busy checking his email on his phone or tablet, only giving the occasional “good boy” like he was talking to a pet.  He wouldn’t fully turn his attention to the bouncing blonde until he came, at which point his piercing eyes and the grip of his huge, strong hands on Griffon’s wide thighs would nearly bring the younger man to tears of joy.  For his part, the warped man had usually cum several times by that point, but he knew to cup his stubby hands over his spurting head so as to not make a mess all over the handsome hunk.

“Fantastic as always,” Ethan said, running a hand through the puddle of cum on his abs before using it to spike Griffon’s hair.

“Thank you, sir,” the younger man beamed, his smile falling when he saw the flat expression on his boss’s face.  “Is everything okay?”

“I’m going to need you to schedule a meeting with Elliot first thing.  Bump the conference call over to Dave…it’s just a facility update, of which I’m already aware.  Looks like my suspicions were correct about our store manager doctoring the inventory logs.”

“Right away,” Griffon nodded, hopping down off the bed and scampering over to a nearby table.  He grabbed a thin gold ring and slid it on a meaty finger, his appearance shifting back to that of a tall, wiry, well-dressed executive assistant.  The fact that he was actually half that height, as well as naked with cum-spiked hair and a sticky coating drying down the backs of his thighs, didn’t slow him down in the slightest as he casually strolled out to his desk in the foyer.

Ethan sighed while he went about getting himself ready, unsurprised by the discovery.  Elliot managed the retail storefront on the ground floor, and he’d long suspected that the young man had been doctoring the paperwork to cover up his theft.  Even at a lower rate on the underground market sales of Spore undoubtedly served as a lucrative hustle, and Ethan could overlook a bit of skimming off the top, but now that security had confirmed the scope of things he could no longer turn a blind eye.  He had a much better idea for how the enterprising hunk could help move product.

Ethan was silently impressed by Elliot’s outward calm when he stepped into the Executive foyer an hour later and found the fit brunette waiting for him.  The younger man was clad in an emerald, form-fitting Spore polo that showed off his broad shoulders, sculpted arms, prominent pecs, and tapering waist in equal measure.  The tailored khakis plastered to his lower half performed a similar duty for his perky bubble, sturdy quads, and subtly impressive bulge, leaving the charming hunk with an appearance that hovered between athletic and professional.  His statuesque facial features only enhanced that presentation, with expertly manicured stubble drawing attention to the strong jawline, plump lips, and razor cheekbones that lingered beneath a distinguished nose and deceptively friendly eyes that matched his cropped, chocolate scalp.  “Elliot, good morning,” Ethan said, matching the pressure of the young man’s firm handshake.  “Glad we could catch you so early.”

“I like to put in a solid hour at the gym before getting down to business.  Thanks for keeping it so well stocked!  Makes it a lot easier than having to run across town before and after work.”   The younger man flashed a radiant smile and shrugged, always the perfect salesman.  “I was a little surprised to hear that “The” Mr. Hadley wanted to meet with me, though.  Gotta be honest, I didn’t think you even knew who I was with all the people who work here.”

“Oh, please!  I make it a point to know every member of the family.”  Ethan put a hand on Elliot’s shoulder and guided him towards his office, his own smile as friendly and disarming as ever.  “I have a special project that I’m hoping you can help me with.  As the person at the helm of our flagship storefront, you have a unique exposure to our customers.”

“Whatever you need,” Elliot nodded as he dropped down into one of the leather chairs on the other side of Ethan’s desk.  He shivered and tensed at the sensation of cool leather against his bare back, a look of confusion flashing across his face when he blinked down at his suddenly bare torso.  “I, uh, I’m happy to…help…” he stammered, as if he couldn’t put his finger on what was wrong.

“Glad to hear it,” Ethan said, waving Griffon over when the other man entered.  “Before we get started, would you like anything?  Espresso?  Water?  Protein shake?”

“Coffee would be…” Elliot trailed off, his face going red when he followed Griffon’s eyes down to his now-bare thighs.  Like his shirt the khakis had vanished, leaving his fat bulge on display in his small heather briefs.  He shifted in the chair, flashing another hesitant, confused smile.  “...would be great, please,” he said, swallowing hard as he turned his attention back to Ethan.  “Sorry, I think I left a little too much on the floor when I was lifting earlier.  Is there…I mean am I…is something wrong,” he finally asked, nodding down at his underwear-clad state.

“That depends on how you look at it.  I’m sure there are many who would view the discovery of a trusted employee stealing product for their own profit as a problem, but I prefer to see these sorts of things as opportunities.”  Ethan watched the color drain not just from Elliot’s face but from the entirety of his bare, strapping frame.

“What?  But I’d never…Mr. Hadley, please, I wouldn’t…there must be some…mistake…” Elliot stammered, distracted by the new sensation of warm office air wafting across his exposed package.  He felt like he should cover himself when Griffon returned with their coffee a few moments later, but he left the twitching hose and plump balls unobscured as Ethan’s eyes pinned him in place.

“I actually admire your initiative in getting our product out there.  I understand that the price point can be limiting and, like you, obviously, I want Spore to be in the hands of as many people as possible.  But I also have a business to run, and if we all broke the rules then everything would fall apart, wouldn’t it?”  Ethan slowly sipped his coffee while the naked stud squirmed, savoring any opportunity to pluck the threads of reality himself.  He was so busy with the day-to-day operations that he rarely had the chance to get his hands dirty anymore.  “Now, now, before you panic, let me clarify that I’m merely disappointed, not angry.  I didn’t call you up here to fire you or to report you to the police or anything of the sort.  It’s clear to me that we need to better utilize your skills since you’re so concerned with boosting our sales that you’ve taken to doing it after hours.  And to that end, I think you’re the perfect candidate to pilot a new ‘Brand Ambassador’ program.  Here,” Ethan motioned for Elliot to stand and guided the naked Adonis over to a mirror, loving the wide-eyed look of surprise that followed.  He knew that somewhere in his addled brain Elliot was aware of his nudity and how wrong it was, but at the same time he couldn’t fully acknowledge or act on it, a state that would be persistent going forward.  “Just look at yourself!  All that effort in the gym has certainly paid off,” Ethan said, slapping the younger man’s ripped washboard.  “But it doesn’t make you overly relatable to a bulk of our customer base.  What they need is someone who’s been in their shoes and knows what it’s like to complete the Spore journey from beginning to end.”

“I, uh, I don’t understand.  How would I…I…what…what’s happening…” Elliot gasped as his reflection began to change, his muscles gradually fading before his wide eyes.  Like a deflating balloon his body shrank, the firm bulk and chiseled definition vanishing in seconds.  Worse still, his dangling hose and heavy balls withered while the perfectly styled hair began to fall from his head and his body began to soften.  Before he could even begin to process what was happening, the former stud found himself looking at a doughy, average body, with a balding head, soft belly and sagging chest.  His model-caliber features were gone, with a slight double chin, thinned lips, and beak of a nose taking their place.  The overall effect seemed to add ten years to his appearance, making him look closer to his late thirties than his late twenties.

“See?  THIS is what our customers need.  They need to see an example of ‘Before’ in order to appreciate the potential ‘After’ they’re seeking.”

Elliot gasped.  As soon as Ethan said the word “After” his body began to tingle, and with the same impossible speed as before he watched himself begin to inflate.  Firm bulk began to swell across his frame, but it wasn’t the chiseled perfection he’d achieved on his own.  And even if it had been, that definition would be obscured by the thick pelt that began to sprout all across his increasingly beefy body.  Elliot was grateful that it filled in the bare patch on his scalp, but he was less thrilled about the way his face itself also filled out, becoming round and full and a perfect complement to the hairy, power-lifter brawn that covered him from the neck down.  His cock had taken on some additional mass as well, but the suddenly-aching organ had mostly grown wider, not longer, and the bulk of the inflation seemed to focus on the heaping, churning balls that felt like they’d explode at any moment.

“See?  How could anyone resist an end result like this after witnessing such a journey,” Ethan said as he laced his hands through the forest on Elliot’s plump pecs and gave a tug.  “We haven’t officially rolled out T+ yet, but a sneak peek never hurts.  The actual process will be more gradual going forward, but it’s on a bit of a fast forward while we get things set up.  Think of that as the reset button.”

Elliot swallowed again, wondering where his neck went in the process.  “Think of whaaAAAUUUHHH!”  His deepened voice broke off in a grunt when he came without warning, his bulk shuddering and spasming as he launched ropey strand after ropey strand.  His body began to tingle again immediately after, but as he watched the hair vanish and his body begin to shift, it became clear that he wasn’t returning to the shape he’d just been prior.  His body was softening but not losing much in the way of overall mass, and he began to understand why as he settled in his supple, rotund new shape.  He was heavy and round, with a massive gut, jiggling thighs, shapeless arms, and a set of tits that practically needed a bra.  His neck was still absent, but like his barely-visible cock that was only because the soft, pink flesh around it obscured things from view.

“Before,” Ethan purred, his fingers biting into Elliot’s obese new frame.  “And after.”

As he’d just experienced, as soon as the older man said the word the spherical stud’s body began to tingle and shrink.  The added pounds melted away, causing Elliot to reduce past the athletic size he’d started with until he had a lean, tight soccer-player build.  It was obvious that he hadn’t lost all of the weight as his now-slender frame sported a set of ample, bouncing globes and supple thighs, but overall he was toned and defined.  It was a tight, twinkish body instead of his athletic bulk, with what looked like an average cock poking straight out from his now-flat abdomen.

“I don’t need to tell you that W- is one of the best selling weight loss supplements on the market, so you’ll probably be spending a lot of time with this one,” Ethan said, giving Elliot’s bouncing bubble a slap.

The slender stud came on cue, his stomach dropping when his body began to tingle yet again.  At first he didn’t think anything was happening as there were no drastic changes immediately evident, but then he noticed the recently acquired definition beginning to fade.  His plump bottom and hefty thighs followed suit until he was once again shapeless, only this time there was no extra mass rushing in to fill the void.  He was thin and scrawny, nothing but skin and bones with a short little cock poking out from between his gangly legs.

“Before,” Ethan said, swallowing the entirety of Elliot’s upper arm in his grip.  “After.”

The waifish brunette didn’t care what the end result was going to be when he started swelling, he was just glad to be filling out.  That relief turned to excitement when clearly defined muscle began to sprout, though he became concerned at the rate with which it was piling on.  Before he could do little more than blink, Elliot rocketed past his original build and into meathead territory, his body becoming a veritable mountain of muscle.  Massive pecs so big he could barely bring his hands together jutted out between cannonball shoulders, while a curving, cresting muscle gut looked like a lumpy beachball had been strapped to his midsection.  It counterbalanced the oversized globes hanging off his lower back, but combined with the strapping, tree-trunk thighs that held him upright his now-average package still looked smaller than ever against the sea of flesh.  Nor was Elliot thrilled about his exaggeratedly wide jaw and the slight slope to his forehead, his body having reached a size he’d never been interested in obtaining on his own.

“G+ is always a classic.  And without the pesky impotence issues that steroids can cause,” Ethan laughed as Elliot’s buried cock erupted.

The shrinking hulk felt a rush of relief when his body seemed to settle at its original size, but that was short lived when the tingling stopped and he found himself staring at a button cock poking out from his otherwise sculpted perfection.  While the rest of his body had regained its former precision-crafted bulk and his face was once again symmetrical and stunning, Elliot’s cock was no more than a petite mushroom with nothing but the suggestion of balls accompanying it.

“Do I even need to say it,” Ethan laughed, his eyes lingering as the little nub began to thicken and push outward.

Elliot’s heart was racing as he watched the small organ grow to three inches, then five, then his original seven and a half before continuing.  The throbbing club kept growing until it was an oversized eleven-inch beast with a pair of balls like oranges and a steady drip leaking from the fattened head.  It was so large as to be unwieldy, but Elliot doubted it would stick around long enough to matter.

“S+, one of our best sellers.  With size and stamina like that, everyone will be able to see why,” Ethan nodded.  He gave the organ a bounce just before it exploded, having to take a step back to avoid the splash zone as the copious release blasted against the mirror.  Elliot braced himself when his body began to tingle again, unsure if he should be relieved or horrified when he settled in the dumpy, balding form that marked the average beginnings of the T+ cycle.  He waited for the changes to start, but after a few moments nothing seemed to be happening.  “Griffon, can you bring Elliot’s new uniform in here?  And let Ginny in Marketing know that he’ll be on his way to see her shortly,” Ethan said before Elliot could ask any of the questions racing through his spinning head.  “Most of these will be on a thirty to forty minute cycle.  It might seem slow, but once word gets out I have no doubt people will want to stick around to witness the whole process.  And the longer they stay, the more likely they are to buy.”

“But…wait…when do they stop,” Elliot asked, his face burning when Griffon returned holding nothing but a pair of padded, emerald ankle socks adorned with an embroidered “S” along with a matching thong.  He numbly pulled them on, trying to panic at the thought of being seen in any of his various forms with so little to cover himself.

“Stop?  Why would they stop?  The actual cycles will vary, but this is your schedule from now on.  I know you’re confused.  How will people react?  How can you get away with being exposed?  What will people think of you cumming in public?  None of that matters.  You’re the face of Spore.  As far as most people are concerned, all they’ll feel is jealousy.”

Elliot found that hard to believe as he gawked at his reflection.  Wiry hairs were beginning to poke through at random spots on his body, and his flat, shapeless new ass seemed to have a hint of roundness to it.  And if what Ethan said was true, in the span of the next twenty or so minutes he’d balloon into a hairy hulk, only to blow his load and start it all over again.  He knew it was all terribly, horribly wrong, but at the same time a voice in his head kept insisting that he’d dodged a bullet, that he should be happy, that he’d just been handed a promotion.  He didn’t know what it meant for his personal life or how he’d interact with society if he was constantly cumming and changing, but like Ethan said, that didn’t seem to matter at the moment.

“As with any new position there’s bound to be an adjustment period.  It’ll probably take you a few days to get your feet under you, so don’t worry if you feel out of sorts in the meantime.  It’ll pass,” Ethan said, running a finger through the wiry patch that was forming on Elliot’s belly as it transitioned to a beefy muscle gut.  “For now, why don’t you go see Ginny and the two of you can decide on the best presentation strategy?  We can always add in some more options down the road, but these will suffice while you get your bearings.”

Elliot looked down at his semi-hard cock and the way it was starting to form an obvious tent in his Spore thong, unable to hold back a grin as he thought about how it would look with his impending, pudgy pistol pushing it out while his hefty balls spilled out the sides.  If he was going to be soaking through them he’d have to remember to ask Ginny for some extras.  “Sounds good, boss.”