Cameron sighed, obliging for his loving boyfriend once again. He had never been a pushover before, but ever since meeting the cuter-than-a-button micro-influencer, Cameron was practically obeying anything Elliot asked of him. This game had been one such occasion, as Elliot had received a pair of free tickets from the up-and-coming local team.
“Just make sure I don’t look too ridiculous,” Cameron warned jokingly.
Elliot shrugged, “I don’t remember that being specified in my contract, so no promises.”
The team had invited Elliot in hopes to garner more organic growth. Showcase the field to local celebrities, create content, and hopefully fold in new customers and fans. Elliot’s free tickets had come with the usual agreement: promote the game and facilities. Cameron had been a bit surprised when Elliot had received the invite, as Elliot nor his audience fit the standard sports-attending bill. But he rationed that fame came with many unusual benefits, random free tickets included.
“Thank god the facilities are new,” Cameron joked, peering around the home team’s near-spotless locker room. Cameron was grateful for the VIP pass, yet he was more thankful that the couple were able to preview the space after the team had already left. His build was average, nothing incredibly outstanding. But it was nothing one would see on a minor league roster; he would have felt a little self-conscious around all the jocks. “I bet in a couple of weeks this place will reek.”
Elliot giggled, “Enough stalling, you tease. Get underneath the hat.”
The hat Cameron’s boyfriend was referring to was a giant baseball cap displaying the team’s logo in the front. Cameron assumed it was some kind of prop for the VIP guests; a photo opportunity for social media or a future holiday card. Once again heeding to Elliot, Cameron placed himself underneath the hat, careful not to wrinkle his flannel or shorts. He raised his head into the opening, the soft interior cushions cradling nicely.
“Alright, say cheese!” Elliot quickly took the picture, not noticing the expression of discomfort upon his boyfriend’s face. He then turned away to update his socials.
Still fixed in his spot, Cameron felt his insides alight. Thousands of flurries ignited upon his skin, the tingling sensation rapidly expanding across his frame. Within moments, the sensation encompassed him, but instead of surrendering it proceeded to grow. Cameron’s limbs hastily stretched to keep up, shooting longer and bloating larger.
“What do you think I should caption this…” Elliot mumbled to himself, unaware of his boyfriend’s enlarging frame. Thicker arms, wider legs, a more forward chest, a further exaggerated seat. Muscles began to define themselves across Cameron’s body, revealing new lines and tightened edges. And all of it became more visible by the second as his attire shifted accordingly. The flannel shrunk into a tight, branded black athletic tee, while the shorts inflated into gear more appropriate to encase Cameron’s thickening manhood.
His sneakers were the only garments that did not make the cut, as they disappeared to make way for Cameron’s widening feet. And now exposed, they were able to emit their new, tainted funk. The rest of Cameron’s body immediately received the memo, rapidly stinking up the surrounding area.
“What is that smell?” Elliot asked, his nose dragging him away from his phone. He turned around, squealing in surprise at the scene before him. “What the-! Cameron!”
“It’s Caden, bro,” the new jock corrected. Elliot watched as the hair on top of the man’s head pulled back, shortening into a tighter cut meant to fit under a helmet. Elliot could do nothing as the jock’s eyes switched from their warm brown into an icy, hollow blue.
“I…I don’t understand…” Elliot replied, struggling to string words together. Unbothered, the jock rolled his eyes, his scalp still inside the massive hat.
“Look bro, the only people allowed back here besides players are puck bunnies.” Caden’s voice was deep, dull, and to-the-point. “And seeing you ain’t got any rack to speak of, I’mma need you to split.”
Elliot opened his mouth to say something, but after a moment it closed, defeated. Caden’s eyes followed indifferently as the influencer left the room. He then grabbed his phone and texted his hook-up, apologizing for the delay and assuring her he would be at her place soon.
“Sorry, I don’t date guys unless they let me smoke. At least this early on, I don’t plan on giving up something so good for a short fling.”
“But would you consider dropping it if we lasted long enough?” I asked, curiously.
“Depending on how good you behave,” Trevor smirked, causing a shiver to run down my spine. He pulled out a cigarette and casually lit it up, not considering to ask if I cared or not. “Seeing as you did not run away already, I would say that this first date could lead to a second.”
Hesitantly, I decided to stick around. Something about Trevor’s confidence was intoxicating. How did such a handsome, muscular, well-kept man stay so organized while being a smoker? All the anti-tobacco campaigns I had heard over the years had warned me that smoking could destroy your health, but the specimen sitting before me said completely otherwise. Trevor’s masculine frame, his social confidence, his economic stability (I practically swooned when he offered to pay the bill). And when we managed to get to third base, his gigantic cock. It was all so wondrous; I could not believe that I had finally met such a great guy. I started to believe that by temporarily putting up with his smoking, Trevor could eventually become the one.
Over the next few months, I became more comfortable with Trevor’s smoking. Spending time in his presence, absorbing his masculinity and ideology, I ignored the habit. There was something so easy in letting it go, allowing Trevor to do as he pleased simply because he told me to. During our time, Trevor would explain all the good things smoking had done for him, from allowing him to fraternize with others anywhere he went to helping him build his magnificent body, particularly his chest. It was invigorating to see him so passionate about something, even if it was spreading his cause and encouraging others to try smoking.
So, as a six-month anniversary present, I decided to buy a pack of Marlboros, just to try them out. After all, if a strapping, sociable guy like Trevor smoked, then surely smoking could not have been that bad. And as Trevor confessed with a devilish grin, I had been receiving the benefit of inhaling his secondhand smoke, meaning my own lungs were introduced to the transformative chemicals early on. It had been harsh at first, but after that first pack it did not take long for me to buy a second, or a third. Or to continue purchasing them. Or until I surrendered to the addiction. Our dates quickly devolved into the two of us lounging about, smoking away. Trevor really was the best boyfriend I could ever asked for.
That was until after a year together Trevor told me we were over. He was oddly blunt, stating that he had enjoyed our time while it lasted, but he had to move on. Of course, this all came as quite a shock to me. I had done so much for him, becoming flexible and obedient. I begged Trevor to stay, pleaded on my knees for he him to reconsider giving us another chance. But he left anyway, his only parting gift a permanent, yet pleasurable enslavement to Big Tobacco.
The irony of the situation was not at all lost on me, but what was I going to do? Originally, I had been against cigarettes, but now I found myself chainsmoking not only for pleasure, but also a coping mechanism. Instead of damaging me however, smoking seemed to heal me, strengthen me. Smoking began empowering my core, forcing me to work harder, like at the gym. It was not long after Trevor and I’s breakup that I began to see the results. Thicker arms, plumper pecs, a barrel of a chest to hold my coated lungs. Each time I coughed and felt the phlegm gurgle inside my chest, I was reminded of just how different my body had become. Broader, brawnier, better.
Eventually, the pleasure I received from smoking became far greater than anything I had ever gotten from Trevor. Sex lasted minutes, our dates only hours. But the pleasure of smoking seemed to last forever–as long as I kept lighting up. And because I was always lighting up, there were always people asking for a bum. New connections were made, friendships created, and even unknown realities brought to the surface.
Through these conversations, I soon discovered I was just bead in a long string of Trevor’s “boyfriends." Apparently, Trevor was not even gay; Marlboro had hired him to bring in new customers through whatever means possible. And as my deepening voice evidenced, he had been succeeding.
I will admit that I had felt betrayed at first, a little concerned at my influenceability when offered romance. But after lighting up another cigarette, I felt my apprehensions melt away. Had I not improved since Trevor’s appearance in my life? I was healthier and happier than ever. It was almost like Trevor had enlightened me in our short time together. I made a note to myself to do some research on Marlboro’s career site. Maybe another position like Trevor’s would open up in the near future.
Antonio took a step out onto the balcony, hoping to get away from the commotion of the company retreat. Sometimes, working with such high-level execs was fun–Antonio often got to enjoy perks a younger Mexican-American boy could have never dreamed of. But now outside, Antonio was better able to take in view. Crisp morning air perfectly settled over the beautiful mountains and valleys below. After a few moments though, Antonio picked up on the stench of secondhand smoke.
“Tony! I didn’t know they just let anyone out here!” Jason chuckled, cupping up the end of his cigar. “Could’ve sworn this was the VIP section.”
Jason was one of the reasons Antonio hated his job. Stereotypical, privileged finance bros. They were the most arrogant people Antonio had ever met, to a point that he could not even believe they were real. It was like everything those men ever wanted came to them. Money, looks, love–it was disgusting and infuriating.
Annoyed, Antonio made for the exit.
“Stay, Tony,” Jason’s voice was more commanding than insistent. “Just perch against the bricks for a sec, I’ll be quick.”
For a split second, Antonio felt a tingle down his spine. He propped himself up against the wall, out of the window’s view. He just hoped this would be short, his turtleneck was getting warm and he already wanted another round at the breakfast buffet. A man of his fullness was hard to satiate.
“You know, Tony, I’ve been getting a real bad vibe from you,” Jason began, puffing away. “I think you’re a little too abrasive.”
“It’s Antonio,” Antonio corrected. “And is this what you really wanted to discuss?”
“Yes, Tony,” Jason let a crude grin slip. “Maybe if you simply listened to me, got on my level, your talent would be appreciated.”
Antonio wanted to go, asked his body to move, but instead it remained against the brick wall, almost as if it wished to hear Jason out.
After a strong exhale in Antonio’s direction, Jason initiated direct eye contact. “Let’s start by using your real name. You go by Tony, bro.”
With another slight shiver down his spine, Tony mumbled, “Okay.”
Jason cracked a small smile, “Let’s talk about respect too. Top of your list will be finance guys like me and you.”
Tony tried to process this, that strange sensation once again embracing him. “As in like, fraternizing with them?”
“Fraternizing, bonding, appreciating–all that good stuff, Antonio.”
“It's Tony.” Tony should have been peeved, but Jason was one of his kind, one of his bros. It was probably just an accident. Tony quipped, “That cigar isn't laced with anything besides tobacco, is it?”
A cocky smirk appeared underneath Jason’s douchey pornstache. “I think you’re the one using substances, dude. That outfit you’ve got is not our style.”
Before he could process the weird feeling, Tony felt a sense of disgust wash over him before he removed his clothes. With a subtle nod, Jason motioned to a folded outfit already beside Tony on the deck, who then proceeded to immediately strip down to his underwear.
“Before you put that on, Tony,” Jason reconnected their eye contact. “Just wanted to say those workouts are doing you wonders.”
“Uh, thanks I guess? I mean the gym is just a way to relieve stress, really,” Tony nervously replied.
Jason became more authoritative, “Don’t sound so timid, dude. If you’re gonna be a bro, then speak the language.”
Tony chuckled, shaking off the twitch. “You faggin’ out on me, bro? These muscles are for chicks only.” Covering up his perfectly athletic frame, Tony buttoned a crisp white shirt over his pecs and abs before tucking it into a suit trousers and covering those underneath a suit coat. The top was opened to showcase his tanned skin, giving just a glimpse of the glories that could be found below.
“Tony, with that combination of corporate and alpha, I’d think you are a changed man!” Jason commenting, locking eyes.
“Corporate…alpha…” Tony trailed off.
“Speaking of alpha, gotta do something about that jawline.” Jason’s voice was low enough that it was as if he was speaking to himself. “I’d say lantern jaw, small beard, and a pointed chin to match that tailored quiff I got you rocking.”
Tony absorbed the words, processing before responding, “I agree bro. There’s nothing hotter than when the ladies shove a hand through my hair while I shove this massive dick into their panties.
Jason snickered as Tony crudely cupped himself for emphasis, his facial structure stretching out into a more naturally arrogant shape. “Funny man, I thought you said smoking was the only thing hotter than a tight pussy.
After a moment, Tony produced a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it and taking that first magnificent inhale. Blowing his own cloud towards Jason, Tony lavished in the feeling of his smoke tickling his well-sculpted mirror.
Chase grunted as the cooler once again hit the back of his leg. “Dude, why does this thing have to be so heavy?”
“What, all those hours in the gym not paying off?” Tony chuckled. Then the offender in question hit his own knee. “Ow! Dang you weren’t kidding.”
“I told you, bro.” Chase and Tony continued down the dock. “What is in this thing anyway?”
“It’s what’s left of the Beta Gamma Phi Sex Drive,” Tony answered. They carefully navigated down the steps onto the private beach north of the city.
“Why do they call it a ‘Sex Drive’ anyway?” Chase frowned, but after a moment the pun clicked. Then he continued, “But those initiates were guzzling those drinks like it was their last party ever. How is it still this heavy?”
“This is just the leftovers, bro.” Tony responded. “It’s not like we had them drinking straight jizz, it was just the catalyst in the formula. And we collected for almost a month–Chris had us producing every day, he even measured who contributed the most.”
“You’re kidding,” Chase guffawed, most of the intellectual words soaring over his head.
The two frat boys dropped the cooler as they approached the shore, the cold water lapping at their bare feet. Without further ado, they flipped the container open, watching as the thick white splooge was emptied into the ocean. The waves softly accepted the gift, washing away the mixed jock juices and integrating them into their southbound current.
“So that’s it, huh?” Chase broke the silence once the inside of the cooler was clean. "Is it ok for us to just be dumping it out like this?"
“Yup,” Tony replied, closing the lid. “The water is supposed to dilute it or something, so we won’t have to worry about ‘improper disposal of hazardous waste,’ or whatever βΓΦ’s lawyer said.”
A rancid fart escaped Chase’s back end. “Huhuhuh, speaking of hazardous waste…”
———
“Stop!” Eli could not stop himself from laughing as Simon continually splashed him with water. Of course, he delivered defensive waves back to his best friend, meaning both were struggling to catch their breaths under the onslaught.
“You first!” Simon countered, unbothered as the salty sea stung his eyes, went up his nose, and slipped into his mouth.
Eli licked his lips, “Never!” Although there were plenty of other people of all shapes, ages, colors, and sizes at the beach, the two were not making enough of a scene for anyone to care.
They continued like this for another minute before agreeing to a truce. Once they had finally stopped to take a breath, the pair did nothing but wade in the open water. About a foot taller than his best friend, Eli’s feet could barely scrape the bottom almost six and a half feet below them. But unlike Eli, Simon's skinny, shrimpy body meant he could float with little effort.
“Should we head in?” Eli finally asked, his heart rate having returned to a normal pace.
Simon nodded, “Sure.”
The best friends turned towards the shore and began to paddle in. Neither noticed that within the first few moments, their legs began to twitch. Simon’s shot out within the water, while Eli’s already long tendons shortened slightly. Each stroke brought additional changes. Simon’s abdominals became more pronounced, Eli’s biceps and triceps inflated with muscle. Eli’s hands restructured into fleshy mitts, Simon’s feet widened out into massive flippers.
But these changes were not unique to just one or the other; they happened simultaneously to both of the men. Each was becoming more muscular and more masculine. Their bodies had ingested the combined DNA of many βΓΦ brothers, every individual strand rewriting the former base and taking control of the resulting figure. This meant they both gained smooth, Ken doll-like tanned skin. They both gained fluffier hair that coiffed naturally at the front (even if Eli’s was hidden behind a white cap, which rotated 180 degrees as if it too was part of a genetic code). And they both gained longer, girthier cocks that would reroute their blood flow, which in turn would reroute their objectives and priorities.
Once they had made it to shore, Eli and Simon had become fraternal twins, and not only in their new dedication to Beta Gamma Phi. The superior DNA bonded them at a molecular level, their brothers’ musculature and masculinity recreating them as Ethan and Shawn. They both accepted their new destinies: to become a βΓΦ brother, with a duty to uphold traditional masculinity and a responsibility to keep the fraternities alive.
And luckily for Ethan and Shawn, they were not alone, for the shore was soon swarmed with many other young, strapping men ready to dedicate their lives to the βΓΦ brotherhood.
“Well if it isn’t our little Spark!” Brick playfully taunted, twisting around the black cap on his head. “Looking to catch up to the big leagues?”
Aaron rolled his eyes, continuing to stretch out his toned, limber legs. “What, are you afraid I’m going to catch up to your varsity team?”
Brick smirked. “You wouldn’t dare.” As captain, and the fastest runner on the team, the college senior was proud of his position on top.
“Maybe I would,” Aaron’s smile held that youthful glow all overachievers had. Although he was only a sophomore, he had been sweeping competitions left and right. No one was able to beat him and his “spark of energy” that was always reserved for the last second, hence his nickname.
“What do you say we put it to the test?” Brick prompted, his lithe frame already warmed up after a few quick laps. Besides being a bit taller than Aaron, their runner’s builds were almost identical.
“If you’re willing to lose,” Aaron cockily replied, enjoying the friendly competition. He could feel the build of adrenaline slowly pumping throughout his veins. A brisk wind was lightly pushing against them, tickling their bare skin. “Mind if I lunge once or twice?”
“Not at all,” Brick remarked, taking his place a few steps behind. “Gives me a chance to take in your backside, seeing as I won't have the pleasure of viewing it again.”
Aaron followed through with his final stretches, feeling his slim muscles flex and retract appropriately. He was excited for this challenge, pleasantly daunted to be taking on his school’s top champ. Their times had been fairly similar, but being in different leagues had meant the two had never been able to compete.
Getting lost in his own head, Aaron did not realize his bowels were rapidly processing information. His body was inappropriately following through with hereditary protocols, having accidentally registered Brick as a threat. Finishing his final lunge, Aaron registered the dreadful rippling in his stomach. But at that point, there was no stopping what was coming next. Aaron’s excitement immediately twisted into fear.
“Watch out!”
PPPPHHHRRTTTT!
Brick had no time to prepare as a massive fart cloud was carried downwind directly into his face. The flatulence bombarded him, its odorous vapors blinding him temporarily and knocking him onto his flat bottom. Aaron immediately rushed in, desperately searching for a way to reverse what had been done. Luckily no one had seen the incident, as the chemical reaction that was about to ensue was–as far as Aaron knew–unreversable.
Brick was sitting back comfortably, dazed and desensitized by the prey’s natural defense. Aaron had accidentally attacked the college senior with runner’s gas. An evolutionary condition, runner’s gas was a fumigation technique used by “weaker” species to protect themselves against predators. The flatulence released altered the predator’s abilities, rendering them bulkier, slower, and dumber, allowing the prey to flee. It was a genetic trait that should have eroded away with evolution, particularly as humans grew more alike. But some were still left with the condition, making its activation incredibly rare and almost always unintentional.
Aaron watched helplessly as Brick’s skin began to ripple. The track star’s body expanded in size, growing taller, longer, and larger. Muscle exploded across his frame, destroying the slim physique by covering it in layer after layer of pure-grade beef. Rounded arms led into broader shoulders, pillowy pecs led straight down to a thicker pack of eight abdominals. Thighs bulked into true haunches, feet so large that their width would prevent them from travelling quickly without the risk of tripping.
As Brick’s buttocks and pouch inflated, Aaron’s eyes trailed up along his victim's body, following the swarm of hair that swiftly painted itself along the surface of skin. He could do nothing as Brick’s jaw cracked into a square shape, as his forehead pushed itself a bit farther out, or as the twinkle of intelligence was dimmed in his eyes. As quick as it had come, the chemical reaction rapidly subsided, leaving behind a new dumb jock in its wake.
“Hey…” Aaron cautiously poked, the college senior now twice his size. He knew they would have to move before anyone saw them. There was one person in particular that he feared. “Come on, we need to get you out of here before-”
“McNeal!”
The coach’s gruff shout sent a shiver under Aaron’s skin. He was too late.
“What is this, your fifth one?” The coach was shaking his head as he approached. “It’s one thing to be gassing the competition, but your own team?”
“It…it was an accident,” Aaron stared at his own feet, embarrassed.
The coach huffed, “Who was it this time?” The affected party was still sitting on the ground, brainwashed and stretching his new muscles slowly. “McNeal…is this my captain?!”
Aaron said nothing. They both watched as the dumb jock began to take in his surroundings.
“Brock,” the coach provided the former captain with a new name. “What are you doing on the track? Football practice takes place on the other side of the complex.
Brock took a moment to process this. “Oh right...." his chuckle was lifeless. “Huhuhuh…I can be so stupid sometimes.” Aaron and the coach simply observed as Brock accepted this new reality.
“Luckily for you,” the coach sighed. “We needed a few more boys on the football team.”
“What is this link Kevin just sent me? Doesn’t he know I’m trying to study for our O-Chem exam tomorrow? Gosh it’s like he never tries to study, just procrastinating his way through Pre-Med. I wish I could be a secret genius too and ace every test without having to do any of the prep work.”
“‘Unverified Link’? This must be one of those things to make sure that I’m not some bot or whatever.”
“One hour long? Seriously Kev? Might as well take a quick study break and get a snack for this. That pint of triple chocolate ice cream has been whispering to me this whole time, but so has my leftover pizza. Hmm…so many choices.”
“Alright, I’ll just hit play and watch the first five minutes then skip to the end. I still want to play a few rounds of League and get a new dress shirt for the upcoming band concert today so hopefully this won't be too exciting. Can’t believe I already went up another size.”
“Just gotta put in my headphones and–there! What is this? Is this just a looping video? And why is the screen just–oh wait, what’s that spiral thing? It has…pretty colors. Yeah, very pretty colors. It’s relaxing sort of…the spiral is relaxing. Silky…soothing…sinking…”
“...yeah, it feels good to…good to stare. It feels…good to relax. It…feels good to…stop thinking…”
“Watch the spiral…follow the spiral…let the spiral be in control. I want nothing more than to be relaxed? Relaxed does sound…good. I want the spiral to be in control? Yeah…I want the spiral to be…in control.”
“I want what the spiral wants…I’ll be who the spiral wants me to be…the spiral wants me to be…a jock?...but I’m too chubby and I don’t even like sports an-”
“...in control. The spiral is…in control. I want to be relaxed? Yeah…relaxed…let the spiral be in control…”
“What do I want? The spiral wants…I want...I want to be…no…the spiral…the spiral wants me…to be…I want to be…no…no!...I don’t want…I don’t…I do…want to be…a jock…”
“...I want to be a jock.”
“Be honest? I…wanna be a jock…I want to be a jock!”
“Jocks are muscular. The spiral wants me to be muscular. I…want to be…muscular. Jocks are popular. The spiral wants me to be popular. I want…to be popular. Jocks are manly. The spiral wants me to be manly. I want to be manly…”
“...to be manly. I want to be muscular. I want to be popular. I want to be manly. I want…”
“...I want to…want to be muscular. I…want to…want…popular. I…wah-...wa-...wam manly…I am manly. I am…”
“I am muscular. I am popular. I am manly. I am muscular. I am popular. I am manly. I am–smelly? Wait what-…I am muscular, popular, manly…I am a jock…and jocks are…”
“Jocks are smelly. I want to be smelly. Jocks are arrogant. I want…the spiral wants me…I want to be arrogant. Jocks are stupid…No I’m not…I’m…the spiral wants…but I’m not…the spiral wants…no!...the spiral…is in control…I want to feel…good…I want the spiral…in control? Yeah…spiral in control.”
“...I want to be…smelly. I want…to be arrogant. I want…I want…to…to be…”
“...I want to be smelly. I want to be arrogant. I want to…to be…st-...”
“...I am smelly. I am arrogant. I am stu-...-pid…no I won’t…I can’t…I…please…"
"...I am…stupid…”
“I am smelly. I am arrogant. I am stupid. I am muscular. I am popular. I am manly. I am smelly. I am arrogant. I am stupid. I am muscular. I am popular. I am manly. I am smelly. I am arrogant. I am stupid. I am a jock. I am a jock. I am a jock…”
“Bro…what was that link Kyle just sent me? Has me feelin’ all dazed, like my head is stuffed with cotton or somethin’. At least, more than usual huhuh...He better not have sent me another dumb virus or…other dumb crap. Dude is even more spaced out than I am sometimes.”
“How much time have I got before practice? Let’s see uh…it’s 2:30 now and…add an hour to that and uh...huhuhuh whatever I just need to shower before then. Or I see if anyone could do a quick round of FIFA. Yeah, that sounds a lot better. People dig the B.O. anyway, right? The man musk, yeah...Just gonna text Kyle to see if he’s down..."
“Dude, c’mon be for real right now,” Dylan laughed disbelievingly.
“I am!” Carson exclaimed. “Seriously, I found this on the side of Reddit you’re not supposed to mess with.”
Dylan shook his head, which unfortunately as the shorter of the two made him appear childish. “Nuh uh, no way am I falling for this.”
“But it’s real!” Carson tried again, doing his best to compose himself. Neither were in the best of shape, which is why they had started going to the gym in the first place, but the treadmill was truly working against Carson today. Even if it was only at a small incline and slow speed. “You just have to believe me, this GIF has the power to change people.”
“Really, how so?” Dylan questioned. Sweat was dripping down his thin frame and staining his shirt, which made the paunchier Carson feel a bit better about his own situation.
“I don’t know, dude. I can’t look at it.” Carson’s reply made Dylan roll his eyes. “I just have the link. Apparently if you look at the GIF, it changes you.”
“I think you’re reading too much creepypasta,” Dylan concluded. “How do you have the GIF without having seen it?”
Carson shrugged, panting a bit. “The link was available on some thread that I saved. A few users posted it with a bunch of random controversial tags.”
The development caught Dylan’s ear. “Dude, do not fall for that crap. You know they are just trying to farm engagement.”
Carson frowned, determined to prove himself. Dylan had already moved on from the conversation, his “Divas Forever!" playlist already pulsing out of his earbuds to Carson's digust. As two gay best friends, it was hard not to fall into the trope of falling in love with each other. But every time Carson even felt an inkling of attraction, Dylan once again certified himself as the type of feminine twink that turned Carson off.
With some nimble typing, Carson copied the link and entered his AirDrop functioning, realizing he could share the GIF without actually viewing it himself. Smiling, he found a few names pop up within range.
“Dylan!” Carson carefully tapped Dylan’s earbuds so that he could listen. “I’ll prove it right now.”
Knowing Carson would continue to annoy him, Dylan surrendered as he assumed nothing bad could come of their actions. “Who will you chose?”
Carson scanned the nearby gym-goers, spotting a man roughly ten years older than the pair on his phone, idly standing over a machine. “That one.”
Dylan half-nodded as Carson sent the link. The confirmation message popped up, and to their surprise, was followed by an acceptance. The four eyes then traced back to their subject, who was watching the GIF with a furrow in his brow. After a few moments however, the furrow shifted into a smile. Or more, a cocky smirk.
But the pair was immediately caught off guard by the almost instantaneous change that happened before their very eyes. The man began to grow, or rather, expand. His frame rose multiple inches as every part of his body bloated outwards. It was like somebody was pumping air into a balloon, but instead of flimsy latex they were working with pure muscle. Dylan and Logan could only watch on, stunned as the man’s formerly loose blue shorts and gray tee tightened around his hyper-masculinized body.
“...Carson…” Dylan softly uttered, not daring to move. “You didn’t actually do that…did you?”
Carson gulped, the man before them suddenly sprouting a thick, perfect beard. “I don’t know.”
The two cautiously examined the room, expected to be met with similarly shocked faces. But instead, everything appeared business as usual. It was like no one else had noticed the evolution–even their subject appeared unphased as he adjusted his pouch before positioning himself onto the machine.
“Do you think we should go check on him?” Dylan asked, turning off his treadmill.
Carson followed suit, “What are we going to say?”
They stepped off their respective treadmills, both trying but failing to act natural. “I don’t know dude but like, you may have just changed his life. He may want to know what happened.”
Carson held his breath as they grew closer, but the two stopped before they could actually get to the machine. Their fear was holding them in place, the consequences of their actions halting them. Eventually, their subject noticed the staring, turning his handsome face towards them in confusion.
“Hey, mind keeping those pussy eyes to yourself?” The newly-transformed man remarked, obviously annoyed.
Dylan and Carson’s faces immediately flushed red, exiting the scene. Both of them only had one thing on their mind.
“What the heck is in that GIF?” Dylan’s voice held an irritating whine, the worry having obviously crept in.
“I don’t know!” Carson pulled up the link, desperate to find some hidden code within the mismatched letters. He was about to delete it entirely from his phone, but Dylan stopped him.
“Wait,” the twink brushed Carson’s hands.
“What do you mean, ‘wait’?”
“Let’s do it again.”
Carson inspected Dylan’s face, expecting this to be a joke. “What?”
“If you AirDrop it to someone right in front of us, we can see what the heck just happened. Get an actual look into what the heck is happening.”
Carson shook his head. “No dude, we can’t mess with this anymore. I got-”
Before he could finish, Dylan took the phone and rushed away. Carson quickly followed, but by the time he caught up with his best friend, it was too late. He had already sparked up a conversation.
“Would you mind helping me make sure I’m doing this AirDrop invite thing right?" Dylan lied. “It’s for a surprise birthday party.”
“And you need me, why?” The other man, who was about double the weight of Carson, appeared confused.
“I just want everything to be perfect” Dylan played it off. “You know how it is, double-checking and triple-checking…”
The man did not seem convinced, but accepted to help anyway. Carson tried to stop Dylan, but as he reached for the phone the ping of a successful AirDrop rang out. They both watched, one in curiosity and one in fear, as the man in front of them opened the GIF.
“So, what do you think?” Dylan carefully asked.
The man opened his mouth to reply, but all that game out was a soft grown. Dylan and Carson became bystanders as the man before them underwent an incredible transformation. His fat began to harden, chiseling itself into the type of musculature only found on centuries-old statues. His body expanded to a size dreamed of by jocks and amateur body builders. And because the pair were close enough, they were embraced by the man’s new encompassing musk. Dylan and Carson stood in awe of the masculinity before them, another alpha brought to life in their own midst.
“...ah yeah,” the man groaned to himself, his voice now deeper and huskier as he was lost in his own haze. “Who’s Daddy’s little plaything? You dirty slut, nothing more than my baby machine.”
“Uh, sorry sir,” Carson started, hoping to get the conversation started. Dylan had been rendered useless, his eyes latched on to the man’s huge meat half erect inside the tiny shorts. “...sir?”
Either the man could not hear them over his heterosexual fantasies, or he was ignoring the pair. Eventually, Carson gave up, dragging Dylan behind him.
“Look at what you did!” Carson spat once they were out of earshot. “Was that really necessary?”
Dylan did not respond. Carson could tell his best friend had something cooking within his head.
“Dylan…” Carson started. “What’s going on?”
Dylan remained silent. With Carson’s phone still in hand, he clicked on the link and activated it himself, opening the GIF.
“Dylan no!” Carson tried to stop his best friend but Dylan swiftly stepped out of the way, causing him to trip. By the time Carson recovered himself, the damage had already been done. Before him now stood a pure Adonis of masculinity, standing over a foot taller then he had moments before. And now wearing nothing but a pair of shorts (so skimpy and tight that Carson could not discern if they were underwear or not), Carson was able to take in every inch of the now perfect man before him.
“Dylan…?” Carson’s voice held a lingering note as he slowly got up. Fear. And the new man smelt it.
“It’s Logan, fag.” The entitled man spat, his authority spilling off of him in waves. Carson watched helplessly as a golden cross settled itself within the valley of Logan’s heavenly chest. A chain linked itself around the gigantic neck that created Logan’s divine baritone, as if to say that he held the voice of God Himself. “Now will you beat it already? Can’t you see I’m busy checking my gains here?”
As if to prove his point, the massive man began to flex his gigantic muscles, further intimidating Carson. But Dylan was his best friend, and he wasn’t just about to give up.
“H-Hey!” Carson managed to pathetically squeak out. “Focus! Something has happened to you, it has to do with that stupid GIF.”
That word triggered something within Logan's head; Carson visibly witnessed it. Based on the exaggerated physical reaction, it made it appear as if Logan rarely had had thoughts before. His sheer size, power, and masculinity had been enough for him to make it this far. But being reminded of the GIF did something.
“What GIF are you talking about?” Logan asked, feigning innocence as he stepped forward with his gigantic feet. Within seconds, he was looming over Carson before bending down and picking something up. It was Carson’s phone–Carson had not even realized Dylan had dropped it during his transformation. “Don’t you want to be a real man, like me?”
Carson did not realize what was happening until it was already too late. Logan held the phone in front of him, displaying the looping GIF.
All at once, Carson's reality exploded. It was like every part of his body was experiencing a nuclear reaction. Within seconds, his entire frame morphed into a new stronger, elite creature. His stomach practically evaporated, revealing a set of abs that pushed out like a shell into a muscle gut unlike any other. His pectorals expanded to the limits of human proportion, forcing his collarbone and shoulder blades to adapt by becoming just as immense. From there his arms thickened rapidly, his veins popping as if they were supplying testosterone directly to his biceps and triceps, bloating them exceedingly.
After his hands had firmly transitioned into mitts, the changes followed down Carson’s legs. His midsection tightened at the waist before reversing outwards, carving a rigid bottom crafted through countless hours and deprived of any pleasure. These buttocks were connected to thickening quads, bulking themselves as they along with his tightening calves became absolute pillars of power, held sturdy of course by two comically large feet.
But as all of this went on–the widening of his jaw, the darkening of his eyes, the increasing funkiness of his own musk–Carson was unable to focus on any of it. It was as if a flashbang had gone off inside his own head, erasing everything before reality settled back in. However, this reality was not the same as before, instead it was one implanted by the GIF, emerging slowly from the mist.
Faith. Family. Freedom. The words came clear as day, almost shocking Carson by their pure power. Faith. Family. Freedom. Faith. Power. Family. Freedom. Faith. Power. Family. Dominance. Freedom. Faith. Power. Tradition. Family. Dominance. Freedom. Faith. Power. Tradition. Family. Dominance. Normality. Freedom. Each word was like a red flash, stunning Carson and digging itself deeper inside of his core. He could not fight it. He did not want to fight it.
Although the transformation only took a few seconds, the cycle within Carson’s head was beyond the constraints of time. It was reforming him, reshaping him into a man. He began to understand his purpose, his standing, his role in the world. To be on top, to be in charge, to be the one. He was meant to carry on what had come before him, he was meant to uphold those sacred values. He was destined to maintain that glory, and he was destined to fight others who would not obey it.
Before long, the constant barrage of messages were no longer being said but repeated by Carson’s own inner monologue, now deeper and manlier than before. The mantra continued to be absorbed as his new values. His new conservative, Christian, heterosexual values. And it turned him on. He lusted after his own strength, his own bigotry, his own innate superiority. His dick could not help but respond, all 9 thick, hair inches plumping up as Carson came to the realization of who he was.
“God, look at these pumps, man,” Hudson puffed himself up in the mirror, exposing his shirtless frame to his best bro. His smug arrogance practically radiated off his golden skin. “Make America Alpha again, amirite bro?”
Logan smirked, “Yeah dawg, and we’re gonna save it with these gigantic muscles.” Logan joined in on the flexing, the pair smirking at their own self-assured ideologies. “How about we go get ourselves some pretty little sluts to thank us for our service?”
Hudson’s hand naturally lowered to rearrange his massive junk. “I’m already wet just thinking about which whore will be taking my load raw.”
Alexander Carmen nervously followed the kind pastor through the back of the church. He did not feel unwelcome by any means, but certainly like he did not belong here. It was improper for someone like him to be able to see the inner workings of a church–as a gay man who enjoyed the worldly spoils, Alexander was practically stepping into enemy territory. But he dutifully kept speed with the Korean-American man just a few years his senior.
The pastor had a run-of-the-mill, slightly older guy-next-door look that Alexander typically would have on the street passed by without giving a second thought. But his average qualities also had a certain flair, enough so that Alexander could see himself sporting a slight boner. And he had, their initial physical touch having sent a current from his shoulder straight down to his crotch. Luckily, his dick had since deflated from its excitement, the blood flow in his moving legs helping resolve the unfortunate issue.
“Please, brother,” Pastor Bang opened the door to a small office. “Take a seat in front of my desk and we can discuss your worries.”
Placing his firm grip on Alexander’s shoulder once more, the twink again felt the shiver of ecstasy course along his vein. He did his best to hide the boner awakening underneath his linen shorts.
Following the instruction politely, Alexander placed himself in the assigned chair. Typically, he acted out as quite the brat, one who liked to mess around and avoid orders as playfully as could be. He was one to tease, coyly flirt, and craft up anything necessary that could be complimented with a reaction. As a trouper, Alexander was a natural theatric, and in turn the world was his stage. Everyone had a part to play in relation to his flamboyant protagonist.
“I’m here searching for someone,” Alexander began, his plea whiny. “I just don’t know where he is and it’s freaking me out! I mean we were supposed to meet up thirty minutes ago, and I know that isn’t too long but then when I saw that he was here I got confused because I’d never heard of him being religious before. In fact, I’ve never even heard of this church before. I mean is the Covenant of the Brotherhood new? Anyway…”
Alexander continued to ramble on, taking in the room around him as he did so. The office was small, quaint, and only really held the necessary materials. A bookshelf containing theological literature, a single monitor at least ten years old, two degrees and a number of other certificates on the wall behind the pastor. The room was practically colorless, even the sole picture of Pastor Bang and (whom Alexander assumed to be) his girlfriend was printed in black and white. Eventually, Alexander realized he was still talking, and the pastor had not yet replied to him.
“Are you, are you going to say anything?” Alexander cut himself off, toying with his rainbow wristband. He was a bit dismayed that the other man had not yet made a response.
Pastor Bang shrugged, indifferent. “Sounds like you are worried, brother.”
Alexander blinked. He tried to hold back the burst of red that threatened to color his olive cheeks. “Did you listen to a single thing I said?” Alexander thrived off of reactions, he practically centered his life around them. It influenced how he acted, influenced the manner in which he presented himself. It was why his voice held its signature nasally pitch, why he had dyed his hair platinum blond.
And yet, Pastor Bang offered him nothing. “Clarify for me, what are you so worried about?”
“I’m looking for John Brand,” Alexander spat loudly, as if he and the pastor spoke different languages.
“No need to waste your vocal chords unnecessarily.” The command was simple and direct, silencing Alexander. He was not used to being treated this way, engaging in such a manner. And yet, something about the simple anomaly roused Alexander. It also a-roused his dick, which throbbed lightly.
“I’m an actor,” Alexander seethed. “I know how to properly dictate.”
The pastor cocked his head innocently, “I believe you’re mistaken?”
This caught Alexander a bit, leaving his reply a bit staggered. “I have a theatre degree…?”
“It’s a diploma in Bible Studies, brother,” the pastor corrected. “And you haven’t graduated yet.”
“I um…” Alexander stuttered, suddenly bewildered. Was he not only a few years younger than the pastor? He was not still in school; he had graduated, had he not? But then again, why would Pastor Bang lead him astray? The man was eight years older than him, by that math eight years wiser.
“Oh yeah…my bad haha!” Alexander awkwardly chuckled, subtly palming himself under the table. For some reason, the strange moment had only further excited him. “But please, have you seen my boyfriend?”
“Your boyfriend?” Pastor Bang's response was steady, as if the concept was impossible to him. “Do you mean your brother in the Covenant?”
Alexander's cock twitched. “Mmmyes daddy…” He moaned under his breath before suddenly catching himself. “-I mean my boyfriend! We are gay, pastor, we are both gay!”
“Brother, I know you’re happy to see me,” Pastor Bang misunderstood. “But now is not the time to use such language and act like the Prodigal Son.”
Alexander did not know how to reply without repeating his sexuality. But the words could not leave his mouth, it was too hard. His dick was too hard. Alexander could feel it writhing within his jockstrap.
“I believe you are worried about other things,” the pastor continued. “You already have a lot on your plate outside of our church. Admittedly the typical of every other Asian-American boy your age: the straight A GPA, jogging sessions, intramural soccer. But presenting for the Youth Ministry should be your passion.”
The sudden intake of information overwhelmed Alexander. The foreign existential weight piled up, burdening him under its sheer power. These new facts barged in upon the young man without any warning, forcing an evacuation of sorts within Alexander's mind. It made him dizzy. Alexander suddenly felt the need to escape.
“Uhhh, Pastor Bang, thanks for your guidance!” Alexander sputtered out, his blood coursing south as if his heart had suddenly moved to his pouch. “I have to uhh…go to the restroom, duty calls!”
“That’s alright, brother,” Pastor Bang extended his hand. “I need to practice for my upcoming sermon anyway.”
Quickly, Alexander accepted the firm shake. An electric surge shot across his entire body, delivering bliss to every one of his nerves and dulling his wristband into a modern, ordinary watch. Alexander's manhood was calling for him, begging to be touched with the hand he had just offered to Pastor Bang. Without waiting a moment longer, he made a beeline to the restroom, not questioning how he knew the way. Within moments Alexander was locked into a stall, so hot and flustered that he considered removing his tee shirt.
“Can’t resist…so good,” Alexander grunted softly. Carefully, Alexander gripped himself, the immense pleasure nearly paralyzing him. “Pastor Bang is…mmmmf…”
As if having heard his name, the shepherding tone of the pastor began to broadcast into the restroom. Pastor Bang, having returned to the altar in the main hall, had begun practicing his sermon. And with the speaker system live, his words were able to echo clearly throughout the entire church.
Alexander groaned as the paternal voice rang out within the restroom. His manhood was sandwiched between his legs, begging for release and yet not being granted it. Something was holding Alexander back, but he could not understand what. It was as if the appendages were built for other purposes, their length and lean muscle holding other obligations. His legs were meant for a goalkeeper–on the field and in real life. And the two extra inches of height that pushed Alexander over the average signified that he was meant to set an example without standing apart from his fellow brother.
“I need to…need to pull up something,” Alexander said to himself, grabbing his phone. In seconds, he had clicked on a bookmark for one of his favorite porn videos. But instead of two men wrapped together, his phone presented him with two men standing apart, fully clothed. Speaking on the roles of masculinity as determined in the Bible.
“Didn’t I have some-” Alexander could no longer identify what he had been trying to find. “-fun videos or something?”
“Brothers are expected to help one another physically and emotionally, but not romantically,” Pastor Bang’s voice suddenly filled the room. Alexander grunted, his vocal tone dropping a touch and sneaking farther back into his throat. His fingers messily tapped away at his device, lengthening into more robust digits as they searched for other materials to work with. His documents tab was filled with highly-graded papers, his emails a mix of project assignments and group collaborations.
“Don’t I have photos I could use, man?” Alexander asked himself, his voice now holding a youthful maturity that mimicked the pastor’s. He desperately continued to scroll through his phone, his arms tensing and relaxing as their muscles expanded slightly. Not to an egregious amount, but just enough to fit in with his peers, just like his clean-cut, trusty phone did.
“Man, who are these people?” Alexander blinked, his gallery filled with many of the same individuals. He was not expecting most of the pictures to be of him out on the soccer field, around a college campus, and at Youth Ministry. Nor was he expecting them to be filled with the same Asian-American men, all practical copies of each other besides the slightest differences. It took Alexander a moment to even find himself in some of them. His own lemony skin had the same hue as the rest of the men, his smaller eyes identical to the crew's. Even their frames were alike, not a single chest broader or pack of abdominals more prominent.
“Can’t believe I forgot about my guys, man!” Alexander chuckle was friendly. “No homo though!”
The last phrase blurted out on its own, but Alexander was too captivated in his screen to realize it. His manhood enjoyed the remark however, perking up to be just large enough to fulfill its new role. Or rather, its traditional role. Consequently, Alexander’s bubble butt deflated into two flattened mounds, their responsibilities stripped away.
Eventually, Alexander landed on an album filled with selfies of him and another person. A lady friend of his own age, who with her Asian-American beauty complimented him nicely.
“Man, who is she…?” Alexander rubbed the back of his head shyly, the raven, feathered curtain bangs tickling his fingers. “She’s…kinda cute mannn…”
With that realization, Alexander’s manhood trembled in great force. He instinctively knew what to do, but as his hand made its way down to the straight-fit joggers encasing his legs, Alexander found himself lost. He needed to do something, but Alexander could not recall what. He could remember his younger peers had mentioned something before that required his hands. Was it assisting in some kind of job? Or something about being “a jerk off”?
“I gotta grip my pen…pen…!” Alexander suffered to get the word out of his mouth. It was right on the tip of his tongue.
“And us men shall be abstinent until the day of marriage with our wives.” Pastor Bang announced as he concluded his sermon.
“...gotta grip my pen-dant!” Alexander exclaimed. With one hand on his quarter-zip, he shoved the other underneath the sweater and pulled out his cross pendant, holding it firmly. With his free hand, and in pure euphoria, Alexander moved his zipper back and forth along its tread. Up and down, up and down. He could feel himself getting close, approaching something incredible. His manhood was throbbing as he approached a breaking point.
Out of nowhere, a knock came onto the stall door. “Everything okay, brother?” Pastor Bang asked.
“Mmmmf yes...Father!” A rush of spiritual ecstasy cascaded over the young man, for no physical outburst was necessary to solidify his glorious transformation. Once the wave had dissipated, the young man stood up and opened the stall door.
“Sorry Pastor Bang,” the handsome, yet rather standard young Chinese-American man began.
“All good, brother,” Pastor Bang smiled. “I was just checking in to see if you were still worried about the presentation?”
“I was just texting my girlfriend to see if she could make it." The young man approached the sinks, checking himself out momentarily in the mirror. Carefully, he pulled his zipper up to the top of its track. After all, he had to maintain the role of a cool big brother; he did not want to be scandalous in front of the students. "It will be my fiftieth presentation for the Youth Ministries!”
Proudly, the young man left the restroom and ventured forth to his classroom. Once inside, he was greeted by his many students–a group of rowdy Asian-American boys–and Anna, his beautiful girlfriend since high school, sitting behind the teacher's desk.
“Ay-Ay Ron!” one of the backsliders shouted, and soon the whole class joined in a boisterous chorus. The young man smiled and exchanged a look with his girlfriend, knowing his Anna was not fond of the silly nickname.
“About time you got here, Aaron,” Anna greeted him with a peck on the cheek. “Leaving me all alone for so long with these guys is quite the hassle.”
“Ooommf…haha sorry sweetheart.” Aaron cheekily rubbed the back of his neck, squeezing his inflated manhood between his thighs. “Cannot help myself from being a goofball every now and then–just like my students!”
Aaron’s manly, yet cute chuckle was the kind that made everyone want to be just like him. A typical college student, one with the crowd, blending in with his brothers and talking about the simple things that excited them. Without delaying any longer, Aaron booted up his monitor and the projector, his presentation soon lighting up on the wall behind him.
“As you all know, my name is Aaron Chang,” Aaron started. “And for my fiftieth presentation, I'll be discussing: ‘Aaron Chang-ing Lives; For the Better, For the Hetter’!”
John’s voice reverberated back to him a few moments later after travelling across the empty space. The main hall was lit up, the soft combination of yellow and white lights filling the void with an almost artificial warmth. John called out again, but still there came no reply but his own. There was no one else in the large room, not even a single piece of greenery to signal any life. And yet, somehow, the space felt alive.
Cautiously treading down the middle aisle, John began his descent towards the front of the church. He scanned through the wooden pews as he passed them, each unsurprisingly empty as the previous one had been. John had lived in the neighborhood for almost eight years, having moved to his current apartment after graduating from college. He could have sworn that he knew every locale in the area, practically every character too. But John had never once before seen this church.
It did not look new enough to have been built recently, but neither did it appear old enough to have been a historic landmark. The church was, as best as John could put it, generic. The exterior held nothing to hint at its denomination or intentions, its name “Covenant of the Brotherhood” only adding to its indistinct quality. The interior design further emphasized the blandness of it all. John inwardly analyzed how the beige-to-brown palette solidified the church as a place of tradition and conformity.
But it was not only the church’s seemingly sudden existence that bothered John. The neighborhood, an LGBTQ+ hotspot, was known for its absence of many religious entities in the first place. While some neighbors did participate in spiritual traditions, most were like John: living their loudest, happiest, gayest lives away from other-worldly caveats.
And as an athletic, muscular 30-year-old famous for his promiscuous abilities, John was particularly not in need of sexual guilt. After all, who else was supposed to top all the young twinks helplessly roaming around this side of town? And with six and a half feet, bouncy curls, and a brutishly masculine face, how would those young twinks be able deny him?
In fact, that was what John had been doing before he entered the church. The church was only a couple of blocks away from his meet up with Alexander Carmen, a man a few years younger, a few pounds lighter, and a few inches shorter than John himself. Alexander was one of John's favorite partners, their compatibility to the point that the no-relationship-nonsense John had even given away his phone number so that the two could track one another’s locations. But upon seeing the church, John had felt himself drawn in. And now, he found himself approaching the altar.
Stepping up to the glorified wooden table, John did a quick scan of the room once more. He could feel the gigantic, minimalistic cross looking down on him from behind, placing a certain weight over the typically confident male. John did not want to be caught standing behind the altar, particularly in an outfit as skimpy and tight as the one he was currently wearing. The tank and short shorts against his muscular frame was a callout to 70’s and 80’s B-horror movies. It was captivating to his admirers, and most likely insulting to the church.
With no true intentions in mind, John reoriented his focus to the altar. A gigantic book lay before him, presumably the Bible for the pastor of the church. Underneath its title was inscribed “RSAA Edition,” which frankly meant nothing to John. Carelessly, he snatched the heavy object before taking a seat against the back wall. He then swept open the cover and let the golden pages fly, their foreign wisdom fluttering before the gay man. The action was anticlimactic, but as the page was laid before him, John found his eyes drawn to handwriting beside the actual scripture.
Thou shall be faithful to the Covenant.
It was a simple message, and yet almost cryptic. It was like John understood the meaning of it, but the wrong one. He repeated the phrase out loud, cockily with an edge of snark. The Bible held no response, silent upon the cradle formed by his crossed left leg.
“Thou shall be faithful to the Covenant. Thou shall be faithful to the Covenant. Thou shall be faithful to the Covenant…” John rambled to himself, slightly disgusted. Each announcement took on a different character as he tested the statement.
Typically a strong, proud male, John found himself attempting to compensate for not understanding the phrase. The statement had him feeling emasculated, the church’s indifference to the world outside it only bolstering John's awkward state. He was dwarfed by the giant empty space before him, looked down upon by the wooden cross above his head in the place he called his home.
“God, this stuff is so idiotic,” John proclaimed, giving up before flipping to a new page. With his eyes drifting across the verses, he did not consciously recognize that his large cock had awoken. Absent-mindedly, John freed his right hand to alleviate the tension, his rough palm moving back and forth through the mesh fabric in an all-too-familiar pattern.
“A reading from the First Epistle to John, chapter two, verse six,” John mocked. Its scripture was straight-forward: “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” But it was the commentary scribbled beneath that was more intriguing.
One shan’t stand out above your fellow brethren, just enough to lead when necessary and attract them for our cause.
The analysis was not unnecessarily correct, but John could sense a lingering irk behind the writing. It should have made him uneasy, but after saying it aloud, he felt slightly more relaxed.
Within moments, John had shifted to a new section. “Another John,” he noticed. “‘Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do’.”
Still unaware of his right hand’s fondling, John traced the arrow down to the accompanying notes.
You have to flee from temptation, brother. Submit and become one with the flock.
The words echoed within John’s mind, their callout dissonant against his own mentality and causing his forced smirk to falter slightly. In an attempt to regain his former confidence, he added a corny “Amen!” It did not lighten John's mood.
“‘Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?’” John quoted, having again run away to a new book in the Bible. He adjusted himself in his seat while doing so, dropping his leg and giving his pouch some room to breathe. In turn, this action subconsciously evicted John's right hand from its position, forcing it to find something new to hold. To John’s chagrin, he found this new scripture came with a similar message to the previous passage’s.
Thou shall be a body worthy of God’s temple. And only a brother’s body is worthy of such divine glory.
In response to the reading, John’s dick pulsed, the shock of this alien form of ecstasy forcing a soft “...amen…” to moan through his lips. After an embarrassed flush, John began to subtly bounce his leg before continuing to read, the rubbing friction enough to do the trick. The texture of his shorts was soft, but it eventually changed into a stricter nature. Starchy, unrelenting, one John had to work against if he wanted to engage in certain behaviors. The new suit trousers were not meant for the unorthodox activities John was attempting to engage in.
“Perhaps something else?” John asked to the abyss, the tapping of his smaller feet shifting to the duller clunk of well-used dress shoes. Each bounce sent a microscopic wave up his legs, adjusting them accordingly. A hefty number of inches were erased away as the legs became leaner and more compact. They now reflected a cycle of exercise attuned to the average human amount, rather than a tailored schedule. Slimmer, yet toned thighs led down to decent calves, which by then were partially covered in thick wool socks.
Having flipped around to the Book of Job, John learned that: “‘The Spirit of God has made man, and the breath of the Almighty gives man life’.” The following comment was similar to the rest:
The Covenant will make the brother, the Covenant will give the brother purpose.
John did not hear the “Amen” leave his lips, or notice that his steadying breath deflated his muscular chest into a flatter terrain. Straightening his back, he continued to absorb the material. His shoulders rolled back in response, slimming as they conformed to the tightness of the suit jacket materializing on top of his lengthening shirt. John was lost in his own thoughts, the handwritten messages almost whispering to him. It was as if whoever had written the notes was providing instruction. Shaping a conductor of sorts, a conductor of souls.
With his grip on the Bible still firm, but not as desperate, John envisioned himself as the conductor. His arms had to hold just the right amount of strength, eradicating any superfluous musculature to only leave behind what was necessary for guidance, not appearance. His left hand would continue holding His holy book, each finger shrinking into a more appropriate, conservative size. And John envisioned in his right hand the baton that would lead his people.
Suddenly drug out of his thoughts, John realized he was already holding his baton. He opened his fingers to reveal a small cross pendant in his palm. John did not know where the necklace came from, or why he was wearing it. But something about the pendant made him prideful, excited, and joyously flustered. In response, John properly shut his legs out of respect, squeezing his other, anxiously throbbing baton between his legs.
The next page John landed on, he did not bother to read the typed words. The handwritten letters were more intriguing to him now.
One must stick to the roots of tradition, whilst conforming to social norms like every other Asian-American.
“Amen,” John replied as a belt slunk through his trousers' loops. Once it had circumnavigated John’s waist, it harshly tightened itself, forcing John to belt out a stronger “A-men!”
The belt’s tightening sent a corresponding signal to John’s buttocks, which instantly closed their doors. The closure sparked pleasurably. “So good…ugh…” John grunted as the baton between his legs shrunk from the pressure, resulting in a more average-sized, family-friendly instrument. His right hand began to soften its grip on the pendant, hoping to squeeze his precious jewels, but something was holding him back.
“Must obey…scripture…” John muttered, his eyes reading along.
One must only produce for the sole reason of producing.
John had to bear his own cross, literally. The crimson flush that had taken over his skin rushed rampantly across his frame, the tanning heat delivering additional waves of melanin. An amber hue settled in quickly and adjusted his features as needed, restructuring his face with a smoother, masculine glow and softening his curls into a sleek, straightened substitute.
Pent up and approaching euphoria yet no touching his manhood, John's eyes befell an unusual nuance in the scripture. Instead of an accompanying physical note, there was only a simple line emphasized. The words were highlighted, underlined, and circled, not a single comment made. John understood that this scripture was of the utmost importance, their meaning requiring no interpretation.
“Thou shall not…want mphhh…” The words could not leave John’s shaking lips.
“Thou shall not want mmm…mmmmmf…mehh…” John attempted again, a bit stronger this time. His confidence was building.
“Thou shall not want…men.” John announced, his voice clearer. But he knew he could do it better. He had his baton. Now he had to act like a conductor.
“Thou shall not want men,” his voice was ringing. His pouch was pulsing. He had to be a conductor of souls. He had to speak like a pastor. “Thou shall not want men!”
John repeated the words over and over, each statement more powerful then the last, each statement solidifying its truth. His truth. The fifth time he chanted it, John remembered all the Sunday School teachings. The tenth time he chanted it, he remembered his undergraduate degree in Theology and Masters in Divinity. The twentieth time he chanted it, he remembered the engagement ring stowed away in his desk.
Eventually, the outside world had entirely faded from view. John could see the vision before him. The church, the Covenant of the Brotherhood, filled with people. The congregation from the front pew to the back, out onto the streets, out across the world. “A-Men,” these women and men, these Christian women and men would reply to him. “A-Men!” these Christian, Asian-American women and men would reply to him. “A-MEN!” these heterosexual women and men would reply to him. John wanted them, he wanted to be with them, he wanted to be them.
John stood up and with a gasp proclaimed a defiant “A-MEN!” His eyes rolled back momentarily as the newly abstinent being experienced a spiritual ecstasy, his reality reoriented towards a new goal, a new purpose. Once the rush dissipated, he proceeded forward to the altar as if nothing had happened, replacing his Revised Standard Asian-American edition of the Bible back in its home. He then tucked his cross pendant back underneath his shirt and adjusted his suit. He had to appear presentable after all, for he represented the Covenant and the Brotherhood.
“Hello?” A voice called out from the back of the church. “John? John Brand? Are you here?”
A young, effeminate man scurried down the middle aisle, soon approaching the only other soul in the room.
“John?” the young man questioned, noting a strange familiarity with the Korean-American pastor before him. “Is that…you?”
“Apologies, my brother,” the charismatic man calmly began. “It's Jo-Han. Pastor Bang Jo-Han, but you may address me as Pastor Bang.”
The young man was confused, unaware of how to describe his situation, or his relationship to whom he was searching for. “But my phone says my boyfrie…uhh…someone I like was last active here?”
“Ah but brother, you are in the right place! I like any son of God!” As if to reassure the young man, the pastor gave his shoulder a rough squeeze. Although they were of the same height and only a few years apart in age, the paternal gesture was received appropriately, as the young man relaxed under the grip.
The gesture was also received inappropriately, for the young man realized the pastor, while a bit average looking for an Asian-American, was quite attractive. “Of course I like you, you are a part of my youth ministry are you not?”
“Youth ministry?” the young man’s heart sped up again. “What do you mean p…pastor?”
Pastor Bang’s smile was warm, fatherly even. “Let’s go back to my office, I’m sure I will be able to clear some things up for you there.”
Tracy could feel himself getting jittery, his nerves building up while he waited for his first customer. He had never worked for a rideshare company before, but he was desperate for money. A guy could only go off of plasma donations for so long after college graduation, and without job offers piling up, Tracy deemed a temporary solution necessary. But now Tracy felt like everything was constricting; the small space inside his Prius, the oversized sweater he was wearing, his favorite pop divas singing from the stereo. He prayed that he would not have to talk much, wishing to be silent like those taxi drivers in every other movie set in New York.
Taking a deep breath, Tracy heard the back door swing open and shut. Questions immediately flooded his head. Did he miss any hairs when he shaved this morning? Did he remove that pesky pimple patch? Ignoring the battering thoughts and turning around, Tracy found a muscular jock spread across the entire back seating area.
“Are you Tracy?” the attractive customer asked, a bit confused. Despite being a couple of years younger than Tracy, the jock held a certain level of arrogance. This display of superiority intimidated Tracy and embarrassingly, turned him on a bit.
“I’m going to assume yes.” The jock asserted after waiting a moment longer. He then stuck out his hand with a smile. “Michael, in case it wasn’t obvious.”
Tracy’s eyes dashed between his phone and the handsome young man before him. “Oh uh…yeah,” the words spilled out clumsily as he took his hand.
“You’re new to this, aren’t you?” Michael questioned.
Tracy took a moment to respond, “Sorry, um I kinda am.”
“No worries, man,” Tracy caught Michael’s smirk in the rearview mirror. “But with a name like ‘Tracy,’ I was expecting a chick or something.”
Tracy blushed. “It was my grandfather’s name…” Trying his best to recover, he opted for a joke. “At least I didn’t get stuck with something worse, right?” Although his voice had come out a little tight, the attempt made the cut, as confirmed by Michael’s light chuckle.
“I guess,” Michael agreed. “But that’s why you go by Trace, right? Funny how that simple letter change can make you a whole lot manlier.”
“Hmm?” Having turned on the ignition and left the parking lot, Tracy was now juggling both driving and providing conversation. It was not a difficult task, but he found himself adjusting the stereo to better concentrate on the two tasks at hand.
“I mean you’ve been going by Trace since what, middle school?” Michael attempted to confirm.
Trace found himself a bit lost. “Why…how did you know that?”
Michael’s face broke out into a charming grin. “Stop being so timid, man. You’re a legend at the university! Even if you graduated a few years ago, your fame is still alive and well.”
Trace found himself a bit stunned. “Thanks…?”
“Don’t be so humble, bro” Michael frowned. “Everyone knows you were the star of the football team back in the day. The boys won’t shut up about you.”
“‘The boys’?” Trace asked curiously.
“Yeah! ‘Trace was always committed to the team.’ ‘Trace was the epitome of masculinity.’ ‘Trace was…’, well, you get the idea.” Michael scratched idly at his pec before continuing. Tracy absentmindedly did the same to his own bulky counterparts. “Those guys look up to you! And by the looks of it, you hold up to your own legend.”
“I try to,” Trace smiled back, confidence creeping into his voice. Taking a wide turn, Trace could feel his thick forearm flexing while rotating the wheel, his bicep testing the limits of the tight athletic shirt’s fabric. Trace took a moment to examine himself in the rearview mirror. His stubble was on point, accenting his lantern-like jaw appropriately. His whole face in fact was quite macho.
“Checking yourself out, big man?” Michael caught Trace red-handed. The remark made Trace’s legs bloat a bit larger, forcing them further apart. “I’m surprised a guy with your height can even fit in this rust-bucket.”
“You could argue the Fusion was meant for a 6’3 man,” Trace chuckled, his vocal chords a bit deeper. “But yeah once I get enough money, I’m getting a real, All-American truck.”
“Ah, so that’s what this side gig is for,” Michael nodded. “I was guessing it was a side hustle for the ladies.”
“What do you mean?” Trace turned the volume up slightly, the country music twanging a smidge heavier throughout the car.
“Isn't this just a stint to pick women up, double entendre intended? It's the other thing the guys are always talking about,” Michael commented. “‘Trace was always a lady killer.’ ‘Trace never pulled out.’ ‘Trace’s hit list was longer than anyone else’s.’”
Trace sat silent, turning into the destination’s parking lot. “Is that part of the legend no longer true?” Michael pushed.
Once Trace found an open spot to station his car, he responded. “Oh it’s true,” he confirmed proudly. “In fact, you can tell the boys the number has doubled since graduation.”
Michael’s face copied Trace’s own cocky smirk. “I'll be happy to report that back. I’ll see you around then, man!”
Trace watched through the rearview mirror as Michael hopped out of the car. He then scanned his phone to find his next customer. Trace’s thick fingers automatically drifted to the “Female, 18-25” range, searching for someone to give a ride too, double entendre intended.
“Hey dude,” Blake greeted, closing the door and locking it behind him.
Aaron did not bother looking up from his phone, “Sup.”
Blake’s lips began to curl as he entered the apartment, spotting his roommate on the massive chair.
“Who you textin’, bro?”
“Trying to pick up Kenzie,” Aaron responded. “But she’s hesitatin’ for some reason.”
Blake picked up on the dull quality of his roommate’s voice, the vocal fry even stronger with Aaron was only half paying attention to their conversation. Blake took this opportunity to continue analyzing his roommate.
“Did you already hit the gym today?” Blake questioned, knowing Aaron had never once considered working out in his life.
“Just for a coupl’a hours this morning, yeah.” Aaron casually stretched out his legs a bit, as if to emphasize his point. They were long, hairy, and thick with muscle. Blake could not help but admire his roommate’s calves and the juicy thighs spilling out of the tight short shorts. “Worked the quads and hammies, even got some glutes action.”
The bubble butt Aaron was currently cushioned on confirmed this. Due to the oversized hoodie his roommate was currently wearing, Blake could not visually discern if the upper body matched the lower. “I thought you typically did ab days on Fridays?”
Aaron shrugged, one of his hands slinking away from his phone and down to his pouch. “Yeah but some of the machines were just too full.” Aaron casually palmed himself before continuing. “Buncha fags kept gettin’ in the way with their sissy routines.”
Blake was a bit surprised by the sudden homophobic remark. And by his roommate’s continual groping, as if it was reinforcing the new bigoted mindset. But it did not bother Blake; rather it made him even more excited. He did not have a problem with gay people, but the remarks were confirming that Aaron was no longer the derpy Discord homo that Blake had left in the apartment just eight hours earlier.
“...Bro?” Aaron had finally looked up from his phone, a smidge of disgust smearing across his perfect model-like face.
Blake immediately made eye contact, not realizing that he had lost himself staring at his roommate’s awakening cock. “Did Kenzie get back to you yet?” Blake tried to redirect the conversation, hoping his roommate would now be dumb enough to forget the harmless mistake.
Aaron peered down at his phone, simple glee replacing his former frown. “Ah dude she did!” Blake’s own smile returned, the test of his roommate’s lowered intelligence successful. “God hope she gets ready soon, I’m so boned up right now for some reason…”
With Aaron once again distracted, Blake stealthily eyed his accomplice with a knowing nod of gratitude, as if they had been along together for the ride like partners in crime. Being inanimate objects, the white Nike crew socks did not reply back, but their presence on his roommate’s feet were enough of a confirmation for Blake. Their thick terry material and ribbed arch bands perfectly wrapped Aaron's soles.
Just hours earlier, the socks would have been at least three or four sizes too large for Aaron. In fact all the clothing Aaron was currently wearing would have swamped his former puny frame, nor would it have identified as a part of his personal style. Aaron’s former closet consisted of graphic tees, cargo shorts, and mismatched accessories. And by every Thursday, Aaron’s laundry hamper consisted of these same articles too, ready to be washed the next morning. All Blake had to do was “accidentally” drop in a pair of his sweaty, used socks; the simple “laundry mishap” would do the rest.
Blake would never know what had truly happened to the former Aaron, but he could at least imagine. In his mind, Blake envisioned Aaron preparing his laundry, then proceeding to find the funky gift, then getting boned up over the smell of a straight man’s feet and feeling the urge to try them on, and finally the magic happening. It was an exciting fantasy to conceptualize.
“Alright bro, she’s coming over in 10 for a quickie.” Aaron quickly stood up. Before, his roommate's sightline had reached Blake’s neck, but now they were able to make direct eye. “After that, wanna play a few rounds of COD?”
Blake grinned, his fantasy having become reality. “Sure thing, bro.”
“Hey babe.” I grandly dropped the bags of my thrift haul onto my bed. “I got you something.”
Jace groaned, still in his pajamas. The plain white tee and sweatshorts were a favorite of the late sleeper. “I told you to stop getting me stuff.”
“But why?” I flashed him with my signature puppy-dog eyes, feigning innocence. “Is it so wrong to treat my lover every now and then?”
“Every now and then, no.” Jace took a seat beside me, his heft weighing the mattress down in his direction. “But once or twice a week? That’s too much.”
“Maybe you have a point, but you need these!” With glee, I pulled out a pair of shoes from one of my bags. “They were only $5!”
Jace took the gift curiously. “You found Vans for that cheap?”
“Well I did thrift them,” I shrugged. “But honestly they don’t look that bad. A little worn-in but exterior-wise I’d say they’re almost brand new.”
Jace lifted the tongue of one of the shoes. “They’re a little too big for me.”
“What do you typically wear?”
“My shoe size is 10.5, but 11 in Vans,” Jace frowned. “These are Size 13.”
“You’ll grow into them,” I impishly replied, knowing we were both well past puberty. “But you seriously needed new shoes. I know it was just yesterday but I don't think I'll ever forget watching your Converse get ripped to shreds in the laundry machine.”
It had been a strange predicament no one could have ever predicted. Jace and I had stood there staring in confusion as the laundry machine practically fell apart in the last cycle, its interior suddenly grating against itself in a mess of metal, water, suds, and the sole objects inside the machine. Jace had been lucky he had only been washing his shoes.
“I think I found out why they were only five dollars,” Jace grimaced. “They reek of teenage boy.”
“Just try them on, you dunce.” I had already grabbed a pair of gray socks from his dresser, chucking the wad at him. I then drew closer and led his hand to the imprint of my hard member “I'm going to the bathroom. Maybe if you do as I ask, I’ll bestow upon you another gift.”
I caught Jace’s smile before strolling off to the bathroom. I had known the shoes were a little big–truthfully not that much larger–but I was desperate to help Jace out. For a gay man, he had always had a rather heterosexual style. Sure it was admittedly plain, but who cared? I just wanted to make my boyfriend happy, and to make sure he had shoes. If anything, I knew the Vans would work until we got him a decent pair that would fit.
“So?” The question was already leaving my mouth before I was back in the bedroom. “How do they feel?”
“Honestly, not bad.”
“Really?” I reappeared back in the doorway, finding Jace propped up on the bed. Laying opposite of how the mattress was intended, my eyes found the two shoes propped up on the head of the bed frame.
Jace nodded, “Yeah, the flat soles are fairly comfortable. And surprisingly, they fit perfectly.”
“Really?” The surprise in my voice was evident. But with my own eyes, I could see Jace’s toes wiggling inside the toe box. For being a couple of sizes larger, I had not expected the Vans to so perfectly fit.
“They’re super grippy too,” Jace commented. “And they look sICk.”
The voice crack echoed like an alarm throughout my bedroom. I opened my mouth to comment on it, but instead found myself silenced, observing something more troubling. Jace’s pajamas were rapidly rematerializing. His shirt suddenly sprouted buttons before splitting open in the middle, exposing his hairy paunch, and his sweatshorts tightened into a more restricting, trendy pair of denim counterparts.
“Jace…” I started slowly. “Why don’t you take those shoes off?”
Jace made a face, “Why dUDe? I LIKe them a lot.” Jace’s voice was now fixed to a higher register. Its tenor had a more lively, immature tonality. I could do nothing as the new vitality of his voice began to reflect upon his body. Jace’s body quickly thinned out, becoming youthful once more with tight abs, a softer face, and an overall hairless figure.
“Are you sure you like them?” I pleaded, watching Jace’s hair fluff out into a popular layered fringe.
“The boys are going to love these, I’ll fit in perfectly.” Jace affirmed, a renewed focus in pack mentality skewing his desires. “Becca told me you were great, but I didn’t think you’d come in clutch like this, man.”
“Becca?" I stumbled along. "As in my sister?” A second reality began to present itself to me. Jace was no longer my boyfriend of over a year, having met as juniors in college. Now he was my younger sister’s boyfriend of over a year, the two having met as juniors in high school. Before I had a chance to truly reflect on this change, I heard the front door open and close in the distance.
“That’s probably my babe, isn’t it?” the new 18-year-old asked, pointing in the direction of the noise. “I better go catch her dude. Thanks again for the sweet kicks!”
The spry young athlete jumped off my bed and rushed out of the room, a mixed odor of teenage musk and metallic body spray wafting after him. I was left standing there, stunned and wondering what to do with the rest of my thrift haul.
“Hopkins,” the coach said curtly to the buff guard at the gate. The security officer barely seemed to register him as a person, rather just an item on his list to check off. Once he was allowed to proceed, Coach Hopkins entered into the corridor and proceeded to the farthest room. Quite frankly, the coach embodied everything a man should be at his age: big, strong, rich. Running one of the country’s top collegiate teams meant he was often provided with ample checks. But an investor had been hinting that the meeting he was about to attend would only raise his profits higher. And now standing before the other guests, Coach Hopkins believed this investor was not mistaken.
Feeling mighty pleased with himself, and honestly a bit haughty, the coach scanned the room, taking in all the other broad, strapping men. There was Coach Larson from one of the major east coast schools, Coach McNamara from the private military academy that swept the competition every year. Coach Hopkins recognized another prominent coach from California, but could not place his name. There were a few more men in the room, engaging in casual conversation about work, but the atmosphere in the space was mildly tense. Instead of acquainting himself with others, Coach Hopkins took a seat and remained there until the presentation began.
“Gentleman,” the host began. The suit that covered his large frame appeared painted on, tight against his skin. A former collegiate athlete who had stayed in shape; Coach Hopkins could not help but take a moment to respect the work. “Invited amongst you today are some of your finest colleagues in the field. Hopefully you all know why you are here, so we will skip past the pleasantries and get right to the presentation.”
Behind the host, the wall suddenly began to glow. A soft light filtered upon it before focusing on colors and images. Eventually, the display became clear, showcasing live camera footage inside an empty male restroom.
“We believed the best way to explain our product was to show how it works,” the host started slyly. Coach Hopkins watched as the door to the restroom opened, revealing a young college-aged male. By his medium build and uniform, the coach assumed he could have been in lacrosse, baseball, or even a non-tackling football player. His third guess was correct.
“Before us is Dawson Welch, a decent transfer from an undisclosed Division III school. Originally holding potential, he has not yet conformed to our nationwide protocol, otherwise known as BACS for short.”
The four words were then flashed in red at the bottom of the screen. A silly acronym, but one that worked nonetheless.
Beefy Aggressive Cocky Straight
“Our case study is about to demonstrate the results of our program,” the host smiled.
There were a few murmurs from the other men. The California coach even shifted a bit, slightly uncomfortable at what he was about to witness. Coach Hopkins remained silent, observing the subject. By his size and careful actions, he could already identify that three of the required four set standards were missing.
“Tyler?” Dawson called out into the room. “Baby, it’s alright, I’m here now.” The coach nodded with confirmation for the fourth characteristic. Grabbing his phone, the host then sent a simple text message. Thanks to the live camera, the men could all watch as the subject’s own device buzzed. Timidly opening it, Dawson checked his phone.
“Ok Tyler, I am going to open the link you sent me,” Dawson called out, unaware the link was not actually sent from his romantic interest. As if already suspecting the lurking danger behind the text, the subject slowly tapped the link and let it proceed forward. The room lit up in a flash, even blinding the live camera temporarily. The audio did not shut off, but the stream went quiet. Moments later, the men were reoriented back into the restroom.
Murmurs flew around the space once more. A few of their faces displayed shock at the screen presented before them. Coach Hopkins held stoic, but his eyes bore straight on. The scene before him was almost entirely the same. Nothing had changed, except for the subject.
“Gone are the days of your players attending frivolous seminars and engaging in anti-anything protests. Thanks to our technology, we can now guarantee your boys will be real, undeniably American men.”
Where once stood the rather average athletic young male was now a bulky creature. He was taller, brawnier, and brutish. His uniform had been replaced with a tight, all-black outfit to better display his offerings. The sleeveless tank outlined massive pecs, broad shoulders, a thick core, and made his cannon-like arms bulge out of his sides like an oversized action figure. The running shorts appeared more like briefs, searing into the monstrous thighs that led down to steel calves and feet so large they could not be accommodated at most shoe outlets. Speaking of briefs, Coach Hopkins noted the subject was no longer wearing any; a thick python and a low-hanging set were peeking out of one of the leg holes.
By the gigantic size, the host could easily confirm his product met the first criteria. And by the backwards cap, arrogant grin, and constant man-handling, the men in the room were all able to confirm the second and third on their own. They had been around these types long enough to know the signs.
“What was I doing anyway, bro?” Dawson asked himself in a voice deeper and duller than his previous offerings. After scratching at his thick pubes and giving it a sniff, an idea suddenly sprung into the subject’s head. Coach Hopkins could sense the process of thinking was a more difficult procedure now then it had been before. “Right, I was gonna see if that chick from last night still wanted to get laid tonight. What was her name, Jenna? Brianna? Maybe she’d be a good lil girl and bag me a threesome? God, that’s so hot…”
The stream cut off shortly after, but not before the subject’s continual groping started to awaken his massive dong. The last image was frozen onto the screen, with Dawson preparing the classic flexed picture his predatory nature utilized to ensnare victims.
“So what do you say, gentlemen,” the host sneered. “Would anyone like to try our trial package?”
“I still can’t believe you were trying to hypnotize me,” Corey chuckled, his slightly-dazed brother-in-law sitting across from him on the floor. “What were you trying to get out of me anyway?”
The evening had started out innocently enough. Corey and Paul had gotten along decently in the past. Friendly, but never true friends. They just did not have that much in common. Paul’s life was complex, eccentric, and filled with sexual adventures. Corey, nor Paul’s sister whom he had recently married, had any problems with this, although it was hard for them to relate to. They were settling down, taking pleasure in the simpler things in life.
“I was just hoping to…hoping to…” Paul was struggling, caught between holding back and fully surrendering to Corey.
“Look back into my eyes and relax, Paul,” Corey calmly instructed. “Let that relaxation continue to take over. Let me be the one in charge now. You are willing to give your power to me.”
While the differences between the two existed, both Corey and Paul did truly wish to become better friends. So when Paul had asked to come over on a night his sister was not there, to just have dinner and bond, Corey eagerly accepted. The two had a great meal, talked on a variety of topics, and for some reason had eventually wound up in the bedroom. It was there Paul had tried to hypnotize Corey, but his brother-in-law could have never known Corey was much more experienced in the craft then he was. Paul was under before he even realized the tables had been turned.
Watching Paul’s eyes flutter once more, Corey pushed back the question. “Why were you trying to hypnotize me tonight, Paul?”
Paul’s response was robotic: “I was hoping to convert you.”
“'Convert me’?” Corey repeated.
“You know...make you gay,” Paul clarified, still entranced.
“And why would you want that?”
“So then you could be mine,” Paul uttered. "Bonding like...sexually...as lovers..."
Corey took a moment to process this. A little stunned, but also somehow not surprised. It was a common stereotype for straight men to believe that gay men lusted for them, and Corey was coming to realize he may have actually been a part of this trope. Corey did not know whether to be flattered or offended. It was endearing that his brother-in-law thought of him in such a manner, but also cruel that Paul attempted to manipulate him. And now that Corey knew of Paul’s knowledge of hypnotization, he feared another victim could appear in the future.
“Paul, let me repeat back to you what you just told me.” Carefully, Corey kicked out his feet, removing his socks to let them breathe a bit. He brought up one of the socks to his nose, confirming they would be a potent enough trigger to keep Paul under.
“You were hoping for me to convert you.” Corey stated this rather than posing a question, forcing Paul to absorb it as a new truth.
“...yes…” Paul mumbled. “...you…convert me…”
“Those weren’t feelings of lust, but of admiration,” Corey continued. “You don’t want to like me, you want to be like me.”
Paul processed this new truth, “I want to…I want to be like you.”
Corey smiled. He could have never predicted for this situation to have arisen from tonight’s activities, but he assumed that it could still be considered “bonding,” seeing as Paul was about to learn, rather take in a lot about his brother-in-law.
With his wife gone for the whole weekend, Corey had plenty of time to work with Paul. Rewriting Paul’s background came first, and luckily Corey already knew a good deal of it from being married to Paul’s sister. Starting from childhood, Corey worked his way up through adolescence. A Halloween costume from age 7 switched from a wizard to a train conductor. An after school activity at age 10 was switched from the community choir to baseball. Age 16 replaced a Toyota Prius with a Camry, Age 17 art elective to woodshop, Age 18 private liberal arts college to public university. It was a delicate process, but as Corey removed integral portions of Paul’s history and supplanted them with his own, the progress became visible.
During the early stages, it was mostly physical adaptations as Paul’s pubescent stages were rewritten to mimic his brother-in-law’s. Longer legs gave him more height, a history in sports put some meat on his bones, a love for bars over clubs put some hair on his chest–and just about everywhere else.
By the time Corey began restructuring Paul’s twenties, the visible changes became less apparent. The designer, patterned dress shirt and matching pants Paul adorned were dialed down to neutral, off-the-rack colors as one-off production jobs were replaced with a steady accounting gig. Random male strangers to long-term heterosexual relationships added a little softness over Paul’s abs and inched his hairline back to match Corey’s. And from recently renewing a lease in the city to recently placing a down payment in the suburbs, Corey proudly watched as a fluffy beard sprung forth from Paul’s face, just like his own. Corey would not be surprised if others would now assume the pair were brothers, not brothers-in-law.
“Now, I’m going to put away my feet, Paul.” Corey’s funk had fumed up the room. He already knew his wife would complain about it once she arrived back home. “But from now on, when I present you with my feet, you will immediately go back under again, do you understand?”
While mentally still a bit slow, Paul confirmed by presenting his own, now giant feet to Corey. “Your feet…at your command…”
“Good.” With that, Corey was quick with the cleanup process, reminding Paul that all the changes were permanent, he did not know how to hypnotize people nor would ever learn how to, and that he would not remember any of what they had just done together. Their weekend had just been spent bonding after all, drinking beers and complaining about women. Just two brother-in-laws becoming better brothers.
My nephew Brandon grew up in a deeply conservative household, where masturbation was strictly forbidden. He had been raised just like his father and I had been by our own parents, and their parents before them. We were built by traditions, maintaining them as they had maintained us throughout our childhood and adolescence. Certain words were never said in the house, certain ideologies never acknowledged.
It had been my brother’s hope for Brandon to never see a naked woman before marriage. Everything had appeared to have been going to plan, for by the time Brandon reached his 22nd birthday, he was still exceptionally shy around the whole topic. My brother and I had been so proud; his little boy had made it through all of college without being tainted by “progressive” ideas or gone astray from our values. Unfortunately, that image was shattered when I arrived at Brandon’s room to fetch him for cake, finding him jerking out a quickie to hardcore gay porn on his laptop.
Both of us stood in shock for a moment, unable to move as the realizations hit us. I had discovered his secret, he believed his perfect facade was about to collapse. Brandon opened his mouth to explain but I had already left the doorway. By the time we got downstairs, everybody had been waiting for us. They had no idea what I was about to tell them.
“Before Brandon blows out the candles, I have one last birthday gift to give him.” Brandon rushed in behind me, his face red with embarrassment. My brother eyed me, caught off guard by this sudden announcement. “After college, he will stay with me out in the country for a few months to learn some more physical skills. All expenses covered by me, just one last hurrah before Brandon’s adulthood begins!”
Brandon’s eyes grew wide as the room cheered. My brother gave me a solid pat on the back, laughing and thanking me for such a great opportunity, insisting it was too much. I argued the contrary, watching as my nephew hesitantly paced over to his cake.
———
What none of my family knew, not even my brother, was that my property out in the country also doubled as a conversion camp. My institution had stayed afloat for three primary reasons. First, my property was an exclusive institution. I worked one-on-one with my clients, meaning my property was truly intimate. This tied in my second aspect, privacy. It was not special that no one in my family knew of my alternate career, as I kept my side gig well under the wraps of a decent, average country farm. Finally, I had never had a complaint. All my clients converted perfectly to my standards.
When Brandon had arrived at my farm for the summer, he had assumed there would be a combination of heavy farm work and awkward conversations. To be fair, at the surface level this was true. I had my nephew working from dawn to dusk every day, filling him with hearty, animal protein-heavy meals that along with the exhaustion would knock him out immediately after dinner was served.
There was no time for anything but labor and my conversations with Brandon. I also allowed no devices beside my work computer, which was off limits anyway, meaning not only did my nephew have no time to jerk off, but nothing to jerk off to. Eventually, Brandon’s brain became too overworked from the constant tug of war between exertion and exhaustion, forcing his will to fall back in line. It became easier to just listen and absorb, to sponge up my opinions rather than react to them.
Over the summer months, I watched as my nephew’s slim, faggy form bloated into that of a man. He grew taller, broader, muscles slowly piling on thanks to the proper diet and obnoxious amount of exercise and training. One by one I replaced his articles of clothing with more appropriate attire: cheap tees that could get dirty, thrifted jeans, my old boxers already stretched to fit his thickening size. Brandon had not made any comment when his razors had disappeared, nor when his shoes were replaced with much larger, well-worn boots. His growing feet had needed them anyway.
The mental changes were harder. Our conversations, which eventually became nothing more than lectures, where discussions focused around the family's values. I spent the majority of our time peeling back Brandon’s progressive ideology, stripping down to the traditional conservative roots. In between it all, I would constantly scatter in mentions of girls, vulgarly tossing tits and pussy language so that it became all my nephew heard. At first it pissed him off, but once Brandon began to simply ingest it all, I knew the conversion had already begun.
By our last week together, Brandon had become an entirely different man. The 22-year-old now physically resembled our family pride, his masculinity now at par with the textbook definition. As a final test of my work, I brought my nephew into my office and sat him next to the sole computer on the property. I instructed Brandon to open the screen, stepping away as the old monitor booted up a lesbian porno I had already booted up.
“Like what you see?”
I chuckled as Brandon’s cock hardened, completely mesmerized. Thanks to the lack of exposure, my nephew’s brain was flooded with waves of sexual pleasure forgotten to him, now redirected with my instruction. With his instincts realigned, Brandon’s former life would be no more. I reached over and quickly turned off the monitor, knowing his aching cock threatened immediate release.
“You’ve passed the test,” I announced. “You’re a real man now, Brandon.”
I motioned towards the open bathroom, Brandon's massive cock still throbbing for the opposite gender. I offered my permission without saying a word, grabbing for the door. To my surprise, and delight, my nephew cockily questioned my expertise.
“I disagree, uncle,” his voice was deep and authoritative. “The true test will come after I lose my gold star.”
“Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence!” Andy chuckled. “Get over here, dickhead!”
Nathaniel swaggered over to the group, each step in his attire deceptively erotic. The starched white shirt rubbing across his sensitive nipples, the tailored khakis juggling his testicles in a back-and-forth moose knuckle. The suede bluchers, the shoulder pads in his jacket, the overly-expensive sunglasses perched on top of his perfect nose. Anyone could guess what type of man Nathaniel was just by looking at his outfit, but the four boys he drew closer to were focusing on what was in his hands.
“Is that…champagne?” Harry’s eyes were wide with admiration.
“Three bottles of it too?” Zack’s eyes were wide with wonder.
“What could possibly be the occasion?” Ricky’s eyes were wide with longing.
Nathaniel drew closer, disposing of the bottles and flutes beside his best buds. “The reception staff offered them to me, a welcome package for our admittance into their fine establishment.”
Andy frowned, “That’s a bit strange, right? Do they know we are only here because we won an auction for a day pass?”
“It’s a country club man, they’re supposed to be filthy rich!” Harry immediately got up and started pouring himself a glass. He did his best not to spill onto his shorts or the sweater his girlfriend had gifted him.
“They’re probably just showing off,” Zack added, his disdain for traditional culture evident by his counterculture outfit: an all-black simple tee and skinny jeans ensemble. “Probably are trying to get us to become full-time members.”
Ricky was already hoisting up his first glass to his lips, drops splashing onto his unruly beard. “And most importantly, it’s free liquor!”
Nathaniel watched contentedly as the three downed their glasses. He could sense the slightest hesitation from Andy.
“Have you tried any of it yet, Nathan?” Andy questioned.
“Certainly, and it was quite divine,” Nathaniel responded. “But why not ask the other fellows for further conclusions?”
“It’s the finest drink I’ve ever had,” Harry replied, scratching at his legs a bit before they disappeared under two white legs of slacks.
“It’s clean, delicate,” Zack noted, toying with the intricate front bit of hair that was meant to appear natural but was actually tediously maintained. “A lovely body of flavor.”
Ricky’s statement was as tight as the rolled up sleeves of his designer button-up. “And it’s champagne.”
Nathaniel made no visible reaction as the preppification completely rewrote his friends. His eyes did not waver as Harry’s curls were mowed down into a lackluster business cut, while Zack’s counterculture apparel burst out into the traditional blazer-button down-slacks combo, or when Ricky’s facial hair fell away to reveal a face that had never seen the inside of a lower-class home. Nathaniel made no visible reaction, but he did experience great satisfaction. He was disappointed however when he realized Andy had still not yet poured himself a glass.
“Is there a problem with the gift, Chandler?” Nathaniel allowed the presumptuous snarl to creep out of his voice.
“It truly is marvelous,” Harrison’s eyes were wide with arrogance.
“There is nothing quite like it,” Zachariah’s eyes were wide with vain.
“What could possibly be stopping you from having a glass?” Cedric’s eyes were wide with greed.
Andy’s eyes were wide with fear.
The photographer was out a few minutes later, just as Nathaniel had recommended. The country club liked to promote their organization through whatever means they could, including social media. And Nathaniel knew he and his men would enjoy the extra attention and promotion, particularly Chandler, who always went the extra mile to stand out just a tad more. Today, that meant a salmon blazer paired with the lightest of mint-colored shorts.
The crew had no problem posing for the photographer, their cheers to becoming the newest full-time members of the country club wholly authentic.
JD flipped the meeting invitation back and forth between his hands, the thin paper material an illusion to the actual weight its writing held. He could not believe he had actually agreed to this, let alone thinking about following through with it. It was not like his parents would have ever known. JD could lie about the entire ordeal and get away with it. But now he was officially registered for the first meeting of the year, his name practically carved into stone.
“Hey there, sorry I don’t mean to interrupt.”
JD rotated his head to the door, eyeing down the black-haired freshman standing patiently at the door. Slim, lanky, and could use tweezers, but by his posture JD could already discern that he was a casual fellow.
“I’m assuming you're Michael Freedman?”
“Mike will do,” Mike grinned. “It’s nice to finally meet you, I’m assuming you’re my roommate?”
JD stood up and extended his hand. “You got it, I'm JD.”
The physical exchange allowed for their first day jitters to transmit like a frequency between them.
“JD huh, is that a nickname?”
JD did his best to hold back his embarrassment. “It’s short for Jeremiah Delgado.”
Mike’s eyebrows rose, “A little bit of a mouthful.”
“You should hear it with the middle names,” JD quipped. “It’s what you get when you combine a Hispanic father and Biblically-obsessed mother.”
“Then no wonder you stick to JD,” Mike replied.
Taking a seat back on his bed, JD decided to steer the conversation elsewhere. “When did you move in? I didn’t see you this morning when I’d hauled everything up those four flights of stairs.”
Mike chuckled, “Perks of the top floor right? I assume I moved in right after you left. You’re not a clean freak or anything, are you?”
“God no,” JD answered, the tone shift catching him off guard. “I don’t have time to care about stuff like that.” JD had already picked up on Mike’s disorganization when he had arrived back at the dorm. It was a bit of a shock to see the place had already become a lived-in pigsty, even though they had just moved in. But JD truly did not mind the clutter, he was a bit on the uncleanly side too. Speaking of which, he realized he had forgotten to get a haircut before he left. The dullish chestnut mop was reaching shoulder-length now; JD was a bit curious to see what would happen if he let it grow even longer.
“Sorry if that was a bit blunt,” Mike plopped onto his own bed. “I just saw the invitation and I was curious.”
“The…?” JD paused, before picking up on what Mike was referring to. “Oh this? No sorry, it was pushed onto me at the club fair.”
The event had been just short of organized chaos. Practically a hundred booths had filled the auditorium, each of them advertising different clubs that the freshman could get involved with. Student Council, the Events Commission, even the CIA (which JD learned stood for “Chemists In Action”). He had been casually browsing, the only thing minorly interesting to him being the Pride organization, but somehow had accidentally strolled in front of the wrong stall.
“Looking to join the Campus Ministry?”
The man calling out to JD was rather put-together, probably the only person in the entire event showcasing a three-piece suit. As JD approached cautiously–hoping the man would not grab any more attention then he already had–he was able to inspect the stranger a little further. Late thirties, athletic, a ring on his finger and of average flair. He was not JD’s type, but he could still appreciate that the man held some appealing characteristics.
The man introduced himself as soon as JD drew close enough. “My name’s Peter, I’m the Campus Minister.”
JD replied accordingly, loathing his luck. He had chosen a college as far away from his parents and their strict lifestyle as possible, and yet now here he was, conversing with the very people who abided by their same morals and guidelines.
“Well Jeremiah, are you inclined to learn more about the mission of the Baptist Church?”
Wincing at the use of his full name, JD replied, “I actually grew up Baptist, but I’ve grown away from the faith since.” As soon as the words left his mouth, JD realized his mistake.
“Well you have come to the right place!” Peter exclaimed, a bit too over joyous. “The Campus Ministry is welcome to all, especially those returning to God’s graces.”
Before JD could protest, Peter had already handed him the formal invitation and written his name on the sign-up form. “The meeting is tonight, you won’t miss it!”
“I can’t believe you got sucked into that crap!” Mike was laughing after JD had finished replaying the scene for him. “Are you really planning on going?”
“I mean I have to, right? They’ve got me signed up.”
Mike shrugged, “It’s up to you man, but you don’t have a lot of time to decide.”
JD quickly eyed the invitation and then his phone and realized Mike was right. If he was going to make this meeting, he would have to leave now.
“Crap!”
———
By the time he got to the chapel, he had worked up quite the sweat. JD was not an active person, and as he entered the building, he realized he was also not properly dressed. Everyone else adorned their Sunday bests, some even more formal. The button-ups and slacks were a complete contrast to his own indie band tee and distressed jeans. JD shamefully placed himself in the back pew, hoping no one would notice the black sheep.
“Mind if I sit here, brother?”
JD obliged without acknowledging the stranger, cursing to himself as Peter ascended to the podium at the front of the chapel.
“Brothers and Sisters, I want to welcome you all to our first meeting of the year. As the Campus Minister, it is an honor to be able to guide you in our journey together, and with your trust lead you on the path towards God.”
All the members of the group came together to a round of applause.
“Let me make one thing clear right away, brothers and sisters,” Peter began assuredly. “At the heart of the Campus Ministry is community. God did not create us to live alone in isolation. He specifically designed us to live together as like-minded beings. To thrive in Biblical communities where people who love Jesus Christ can enjoy fellowship with one another. To help each other grow in the faith, to become more alike. To learn from each other, incorporate a need for each other. God uses others to help us grow individually, and God uses us to grow other people.”
“I am reminded of a verse from Matthew 18:20: ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ It is here that Jesus calls us to be sheep, His sheep, flocking under His name in likeness and in aspiration to fulfill His teachings. As a Biblical community, we find ourselves in Jesus. He is our center point, what draws us together, the common bond that we share. And as Baptists, we find ourselves following our shepherd, assimilating as one when we name ourselves a member of His church.”
“So why is community at the heart of the Campus Ministry? Whether you are eighteen-, nineteen-, twenty- or more-years-old, you came here searching for guidance. Guidance to tell you where to go, what to do, who to follow. Guidance found through relationships, through our collective relationship with God and His church. The Campus Ministry offers that guidance and more. Our community of brothers and sisters will help you navigate classes, properly study, and make wise decisions. They will eat with you, spend time with you, bring you into the fold, our flock, no matter what former walk of life. They will help you embody the classic look of a Christian.”
“Now, I would like to invite you to embrace that first step towards community. Take a moment and turn to your neighbor, introduce yourself to your new brother or sister.”
Finding himself slightly absorbed by Peter’s sermon, JD broke out of his haze to finally acknowledge the stranger he had allowed to sit beside him. However, JD found himself rendered speechless by the beautiful man before him. With coppery hair, a diamond-cut jaw, and inviting green eyes, JD gawked a second too long at his traditional counterpart. Pairing pleated trousers with a crimson sweater vest over a simple white button-up, the stranger exuded refinement. From his Ivy League haircut to his natural woodsy smell and even by the way the stranger sat, JD could feel heat rising from his own cheeks.
“Jackson Sanderson,” the stranger offered, and after a uncharacteristic stutter JD replied with his own.
JD was then introduced to other members of the club as they came around to introduce themselves. There was a Colton, a Bryce, a Jared, a Stanley. Eventually the names and faces began to blur together, each of them almost identical to each other. Attractive by traditional standards, reeking of arrogance and privilege. JD found himself almost unable to hide his large erection, loathing his existence. It was times like these he wished not to be “blessed” as his father had once grotesquely put it.
After everyone had returned to their seats, Peter finished his monologue. “Before you realize it, each and every one of you will become bonded through our Campus Ministry. It may not happen right away, but once you begin to know each other, you will begin to shape each other too. Now, let us end in prayer.”
———
JD’s first day of classes flashed by in an instant. Undecided, his schedule was mostly filled with the required objectives. A standard biology course, base level statistics, even a communications class–all of which had no actual assignments for the day besides reading the syllabus. But by the late afternoon after his final seminar, JD found himself ready for a lazy evening. He drafted plans involving picking up fast food, watching an episode or ten of some raunchy sitcom, and then drifting off to bed.
“Jeremiah!”
The minister’s assertive baritone cut through JD’s headphones, which were slowly lowered to passive-aggressively demonstrate his annoyance.
“I wanted to thank you for coming to the first Campus Ministry meeting last night,” Peter explained as he approached. Today, he was dressed in a brown suit with a pattern meant for a man twice his age. “I was hoping to discuss some other things as well. Have a moment?”
Reluctantly, JD obliged, and soon he was following Peter to his office. Once inside, JD was able to discern a bit more about this man who had strangely taken an interest in him. Basic wooden cross on the wall, pile of materials on theology beside the desk, a picture of a woman around the minister’s age holding three children. JD accepted the seat in front of the desk, hoping this would not take long.
“Seeing the instantaneous bond that we have created over the past 24 hours,” JD restrained his eyebrow from visually questioning this statement. “I took it upon myself to become your academic counselor. As your minister, it’s my role to offer you structure and guidance during these impressionable years.”
JD was a bit startled by this statement, but said nothing.
Peter continued, “I’ve already taken a gander at your schedule and noticed all gen-eds. As you are undecided, I was curious if you had any majors you had in mind.”
“Not particularly,” JD answered, finding himself a little more relaxed. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to think about it until a bit later, honestly.”
Peter’s direct eye contact intensified slightly. “Maybe it would be best to spread out your electives and place you in some courses designed to determine a major. Considering your passion for the faith, you could look into some classes in the Religion Department.”
JD found the minister’s wording a bit odd, almost belittling in a way. His response came out a bit muddled, “I never said that I had a passion for the faith?”
“Well, Jeremiah, I think it could do you a lot of good. As the Campus Minister, I’d be happy to offer you some additional resources as well.”
“‘Resources’?”
“Of course,” Peter’s face broke out into a big grin. “I’ll connect you with one of our students in the department. I have one in mind already, a sophomore: Jackson Sanderson.”
A blush broke out onto JD’s face. He could not perceive if the minister had noticed it or not.
“Jackson is one of our finest men,” Peter resumed. “You will immediately find him as a brother, perhaps one of your closest. After a while, you will feel the desire to emulate him, as he has the classic look of a Christian.”
Again, JD noted the strange diction, and a repeat of a phrase he had heard last night. But JD also noticed that he felt a certain calm when he listened to Peter. His voice just had a quality that kept one at ease. That was probably why he had become a minister.
“I’ll notify Jackson to get in contact with you shortly.” Peter then took a stand, prompting JD to do the same. “Until then, let’s begin thinking about your major and where we’d like to see you next semester. And further along, when you graduate.”
———
Jackson reached out to JD hours later, and after a bit of texting JD found himself roped into a study session the following day. He did not know what to expect, but he decided to put his best foot forward. Sure, he had no desire to engage with the church after his high school graduation, but JD rationalized that he could still be there to make friends.
“Jeremiah!” Jackson called out from one of the pews. He was surrounded by a swarm of men, all wearing outfits appropriate for more conservative times. JD had prepared for this, although his khakis and short-sleeved button-up still did not fit the bill.
“It’s JD,” JD corrected politely. “Thank you for letting me crash your guys’ study group.”
“Of course!” one of the men replied. JD should have known his name, but the person’s features were almost unrecognizable from the next. “Any brother is welcome to join.”
“Especially once Peter told us you were enrolling in the Religion Department,” Jackson added.
“I’m not enrolling in the Religion Department.”
“We get it, you’re ‘just interested’,” a second man insisted, to which everyone else began to chuckle as if he were referring to some inside joke.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it.” Jackson replied. The smooth quality of Jackson’s tenor settled JD’s nerves. “Let’s get to studying, shall we?”
The group agreed and promptly found themselves absorbed in their literature. While JD stuck to his reading and recording notes, the other men held a shallow conversation: one that any person could easily flow in and out of without paying too much attention. It began with simple topics at first; professors, extracurriculars, sports. None of these would typically entice JD, but he found himself occasionally tuning into the group’s monotonous channel. Eventually however, the topics converged into a singular subject: the Bible.
“I just think John’s interpretation is by far superior to the synoptic gospels,” Colton countered. JD could not believe he had remembered his name. “His use of monological writing is what makes Jesus more engaging to the interpreter.”
Jackson shook his head, “That may be true, but the synoptic gospels offer parables, short stories that people can relate too.” Jackson’s presence was different now then when they had first met. Before, frankly, JD had taken eroticism from Jackson’s standardized beauty. But now, he sensed something else. Rather than affection, JD recognized admiration.
“Enlighten us, Jackson, what parables can you relate to,” Bryce teased. “If we looked under your bed, would we find oil? As we already know you are a virgin.”
All of the men, including Jackson and JD, took joy in that remark.
“Perhaps you will, perhaps you won’t,” Jackson finally replied. “But take our group for example, are we not fulfilling a parable right now? I would situate ourselves in the story of the Prodigal Son.” Jackson motioned to his peers, “Are we not the father?” And then to just JD, “And is Jeremiah not the Prodigal Son?”
The group pondered this thought, turning expectantly towards JD for an answer.
“Um…” JD stumbled, not expecting to be put on the spot. “I mean, that’s one way to look at it.”
Once again, the group exploded into laughter, their volume ascending to the roof of the chapel. JD chuckled along too, his nervousness fading as he became more comfortable with the group. By the end of the night, he found himself pleasantly surprised as he accepted the invitation to the next study session.
———
“Hey dude, are you interested in going clubbing?” Mike asked, having just exited the shower.
“When are you thinking of going?” JD was reorganizing his desk. For some reason, its cluttered nature had begun to bother him.
“In a few minutes here, hopefully.” Mike dropped the towel on the floor and grabbed some clothes off his bed. He gave a strong sniff to each item inspected, those too dirty were then tossed onto the floor. JD observed this but said nothing.
“Man, sorry but I can’t. I got a study group tonight.”
“On a Friday night?” Mike questioned. “This is like the fourth Friday in a row.”
“I know, but I already said I was going to be there.”
Mike frowned, scratching at his lower regions a bit. JD swiftly averted his eyes. “But don’t you study with these guys three times a week, and have lunch with them everyday too?”
“Yeah, but they purposely choose Friday nights to not be tempted,” JD finally answered.
The partially-answering statement held in the air for an awkward moment. Eventually, Mike responded. “Right…”
JD turned back to his task at hand, throwing out trash that should have been discarded earlier.
“Well,” Mike grabbed a jacket and his keys. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”
“Uh huh,” JD’s response was dull. Once Mike shut the door, he released the long breath that he had subconsciously been holding. He wondered when Mike’s presence had become so taxing. Perhaps he compared his roommate to the study group’s austere quality. JD found those straight-laced men ironically soothing.
This theory was proven once JD arrived into the chapel, the smiling faces of his peers sending a warm tingle across his body. The study session went similar to the rest, beginning with actual work before simply devolving into lighthearted, yet engaging discussions. If these conversations were not surrounding the Bible, then they focused on a topic JD was even less familiar with.
“I think I’m going to propose to Hannah,” Jared suddenly said, to which everyone in the group audibly gasped.
“Are you ready, brother?” Jackson inquired, to which JD nodded along.
“He’s already got the ring,” Stanley answered. Weeks ago, this development would have shocked JD. Two twenty-year-olds marrying in this day and age? But now, the thought was not that unfathomable to him. He was becoming more accustomed to the men's ideology.
“I booked reservations for her favorite restaurant,” Jared announced, his typical stale manner of speaking almost giddy. Almost. “I’ll pop the question before dessert of course, it’s all arranged.”
To that, the men applauded Jared, shaking his hand vigorously and giving brotherly pats on the back. JD high-fived him, embracing the honest excitement for Jared. Once they cooled down, Colton continued the conversation.
“Now you’ve got me inspired, thinking I should finally pop the question to Mary.”
“You’ve been thinking about doing that since you first met her in private school,” Bryce retorted.
“And have you not pondered the same with Julia, brother?” Jackson smirked, to which the other men piggy-backed off of. “Speaking of women, have you set your sights on any yet, Jeremiah?”
JD blinked, unbothered by the use of his full name, “Uh…not exactly. I just haven’t been looking for anyone I guess.”
JD was telling the truth. Before college, he had planned on finally finding a male partner to love and hold. And to lose his virginity to. But since the first day of classes, JD had not felt a connection to any male in particular on campus–or in general. JD assumed his sex drive had been lowered, that he was just growing out of some awkward teenage phase.
“Perhaps we’ll have to set you up then,” Jared’s grin held an impish edge. “I believe Jessica is still looking for a potential husband.”
Jackson shot Jared a glare, to which all the other men hollered at. “Jessica is only a freshman.”
“And so is Jeremiah,” Stanley pointed out. JD tried his best to stay quiet, although he had to admit that he was having fun too.
“We’ll see if Jeremiah proves to be everything the minister has promised,” Jackson offered. “After all, Jessica will only take a man who has that classic look of a Christian.”
———
“Jeremiah! Thank you for meeting with me again. Please, take a seat.”
JD followed the instruction, placing himself on the other side of the minister’s desk.
“Already halfway through your first semester, isn’t that unbelievable?” Peter started.
“It certainly is,” JD’s response was friendly. “Can’t believe two months have already flown by.”
“I can’t believe it either, but I can see it,” Peter noted. “I’m assuming you’ve been having meals with your other brothers?”
“They’ve got me going to the gym now too,” JD sighed. “An hour every morning before class since last week.”
JD had been dining regularly with his study group, at lunch and dinner and even the occasional breakfast. And since this habit had begun, JD found himself eating like his peers too. No more ramen and late night fast food deliveries. Fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins were now the major facets of his diet, leading to his cleaner skin and an overall healthier glow. It was strange at first to recognize how much of a difference this better diet–and as of recently the exercise–had improved his body. JD found himself a bit more muscular, a bit more jovial, and overall more energized.
“That’s not surprising, our men do like to stay in proper form, physically and spiritually,” Peter chuckled. “Speaking of which, last we talked, you had discussed that you were contemplating committing to a major in the Religion Department. Have you thought more on that topic?”
JD considered this for a moment, not remembering if that was what he had actually said or not. But something about the minister’s confident tone assured him that Peter was correct. That was why he had come to this college after all, as his parents had approved of the strong Baptist connection. At least, to appease their wishes.
“A little bit I guess,” JD replied, causing Peter to grin. JD at first thought of it as smug, but then corrected the thought to Peter simply being excited for him. “I mean I’ve attended all four of the Campus Ministry events so far, and being around the guys has certainly been an influence.”
“A positive influence,” Peter amended.
“Yeah…a positive influence,” JD slowly repeated back, before coming back to speed. “As of right now though, I’m still undecided on it all.”
Peter carefully leaned back in his chair, spreading his legs out a bit to accommodate. It was almost like the minister was trying to size him up, assert a bit more control.
“You are apprehensive because you still identify yourself as an outsider to our community.” Peter’s response was measured, continuous yet firm with every word laid out. “One thing that can be addressed is your attire. At the material level, you will follow the direction of your peers.”
JD tried to process this, although his brain felt a little hazy. “That might help, yeah.”
“That is something that can be addressed too, your intonation.” There was a particular glint in Peter’s eye, but JD found it easier to focus on the minister’s voice. “Just like your brothers, your inflection will remain in control and moderated. Your pitch will remain even and your vocabulary will become more refined.”
“Certainly.” While just one word, each syllable had required additional effort to come forth from JD’s mouth. The colorless articulation however obscured this exertion.
“It’s good that you’re taking my advice, Jeremiah,” Peter affirmed. “You have placed your trust in me to lead you on the path towards God.”
JD did not know if this was true before, but after Peter had said it, it felt as such.
“You will want nothing more than to become a part of our community,” Peter finalized. “I’ll inform Jackson of such, and he’ll help you along.”
———
JD stepped out of the bathroom, steam pouring out from behind him. He had never taken such a long and luxurious shower but it had felt so right. Jackson had recommended it, saying it was the best way to get rid of any excess hair that may have stuck to his skin after visiting the barber. He could not see it now, but JD already loved the shortened cut on his head. Once it was dried, the sides would naturally fall into a tight bowl-like shape. Then, JD would have the pleasure of applying the product–prescribed by Jackson–to fluff his bangs up into a traditional, conservative quiff. A proper style for a gentleman like himself.
In nothing but a towel, JD peered cautiously around the room. All alone, he allowed himself to freely disdain his roommate’s messy style. He had remained civil around the topic with Mike, but had secretly grown to loathe it. JD knew better than to say anything however, as that would have been pompous. Carefully placing his feet into open spots on the floor, JD tip-toed his way to his dresser, surprised to find a small note taped to the drawer.
A final gift, the classic look of a Christian -JS
Not thinking twice about the phrase, JD was surprised to find his boxers had been replaced with starchy, high-waisted white briefs. But his confusion quickly dissolved into recognition before fading into a simple, charming smile. The cotton fabric went up and over each of his legs in a matter of moments, the traditional cut making JD feel grounded somehow. Controlled.
Turning to face the mirror, it was almost shocking for JD to see the new reflection of himself. Only weeks away from the end of his first semester and the man before him was much different than the boy who had come to campus. Tanner, more muscular, an image of young masculinity. But those were explainable thanks to his improved diet and exercise. Other factors, like his wider jaw, broader shoulders, and inched-back hairline, were not as identifiable. JD questioned if it was incoming maturity, or perhaps something else.
Before he could reflect on the thought further, his body mechanically moved along to his wardrobe. A rack once filled with tees and crewnecks was now stuffed by dress shirts, vests, and blazers of assorted varieties. Tamer colors and patterns, only distinguishable to the distinguished eye. The rest of JD’s dresser now contained a variety of slacks, along with many different types of dress socks and ties. Loafers, oxfords, brogues among others sat in alphabetical order at the bottom. It was practical, and practically perfect.
When his peers had first offered to makeover his closet, JD had been apprehensive. Something in the back of his mind rang an alarm, whispering that he would also be sacrificing a part of his individuality. But JD’s body had decided for him in that moment, his head nodding in approval and with an amiable grin. And now after the swap, which JD later learned was in part financed by the Campus Ministry, he realized there was nothing he should have been afraid of.
After all, all of the brothers were remarkably different. Colton rocked a business cut with his blond hair, a style no one else had. Bryce had the most suits of the five, almost as many as their minister. Jared was the only one officially engaged (although JD predicted that fact would not last much longer. Stanley had his thick, time-honored black horned rims. And Jackson held his affinity for sweater vests, a Bonafede professional at styling them. They were truly all unique.
Quickly assembling his hair and a tasteful outfit–a white button-up, French navy-hued trousers, a currant colored tie and chocolatey derbies for his feet–JD assembled his school bag and made haste for the chapel. When he arrived, it was only Jackson awaiting him in the pews. The others had gone out to grab a quick meal.
“Jeremiah! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it,” Jackson nudged as JD took a seat beside him in the pew.
“You know I would not miss our study sessions for the world, brother!” JD’s rebuttal was chipper and authentic. Since Mike’s first proposal of clubbing, the offer has never been made again. But JD had received other invitations for outings with his fellow peers. However, none of them were ever accepted. To JD, it always felt more appropriate to stick to his group. Their presence felt familiar, grounded. Right.
“‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship’,” Jackson started. “‘to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’”
“‘And all the believers were together and had everything in common.’” JD finished.
“The Book of Acts, I’m impressed,” Jackson smirked. “I now understand why Peter was so serious about you.”
JD should have questioned what Jackson was referring to, but instead sunk into the warm glow of his brother’s approval.
“But there’s still one thing you have to do,” Jackson noted.
JD’s heartbeat hastened rapidly, something he had not expected.
“You have got to come to church with us!”
JD felt a glimmer of hesitancy. He had not gone to church since he had come to college. He tried to remember why, but a subtle pain clouded his thoughts. Was it because of his parents? No, they just wanted what was best for him. Then was it because JD did not feel accepted by the church? JD tried to follow that thread, but the deeper he ventured, the stronger the ache in his head became.
“Come on, what have you got to lose?” Jackson gave JD a playful shove. “Plus, the minister will be giving a blessing to all students before finals.”
Something was telling JD to reconsider. Something urged him to do otherwise. But JD could not figure out what was so wrong about attending a simple service.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Jackson’s perfect smile was wider than JD had ever seen it. “That’s it, brother! Then you’ll be just like us.”
That statement triggered something in JD. As if following out a code downloaded into his vital operating systems, he made a note to schedule an appointment with his academic counselor.
———
“What can I help you with today, Jeremiah?”
Unlike the composed minister sitting before him, JD was irritable, prickly. Words were begging to escape his mouth, although he could not figure out what they were. He tried to express them as best he could.
“I want to become a part of the Campus Ministry, a part of your Biblical community.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I want to be another sheep in the flock.”
A small smile tugged at one corner of Peter’s lip. “In other words, you are saying…”
The words flew out JD’s mouth: “I want to embody the classic look of a Christian. I want to fit in.”
That heavy, revealing truth tumbled before the two men, its release absolving JD of a burden unaware to him had been accumulating for months. Ever since his first meeting with the minister.
“It’s much easier to be just another piece of the puzzle, Jeremiah,” Peter began. “Never having to worry about anything else when you have a place to belong.”
The minister reached into his desk and pulled open a drawer, removing a small folder with JD’s name on it. Opening it, Peter pulled out a single sheet of paper and placed it in front of him. JD’s eyes scanned the page before focusing back on Peter’s own.
“Your schedule that I have already drafted up for the next semester,” Peter replied, grabbing a pen. “You will join the Religion Department as a Theology major with a minor in Baptist Ministries. After graduation, you will continue your studies to receive a Masters of Divinity. By then, my proselytization will no longer be necessary as you will have become a permanent traditionalist.”
JD knew better than to say anything. Instead, he let his actions speak for him, his hand accepting the pen from Peter and with a delicate cursive, signing his name.
“Welcome to the flock, Jeremiah.”
———
“A healthy Christian learns and grows through community. A healthy Christian experiences spiritual and relational growth when surrounded by an affirming group of like-minded believers. Jesus spent a significant amount of time with his small group, the apostles, molding them and teaching them how to love and support one another and how to function as a healthy small group. Today, we do the same for our brothers and our sisters.”
Jeremiah sat in the front row next to Jackson, Colton, Bryce, Jared, and Stanley. The group was expertly dressed. Jeremiah’s baby blue button-up was paired with a matching tie underneath his charcoal suit. The tie, with cornflower polka dots on top of a banana cream yellow, was particularly chosen for its “vibrant and exciting pattern,” as Jeremiah had thought of it. Along with caramel wing tips that coupled nicely with his soft yet stiff quiff, Jeremiah felt dignified by his outfit.
“It’s great to be part of a healthy, well-functioning group,” the preacher, an older, handsomely well-off man by the name of Dr. Ernest Holloway, continued. “However, our individual wishes can sometimes interfere with the overarching needs of the congregation. For our Christian community to remain intact, we need to come before God with an earnest desire to help others, and therefore maintain the needs of the group to truly experience the richness and glory of His intentions.”
“Being in a group is committing to one another by saying, ‘I want to laugh with you, share with you, study with you, and pray with you’.” Taking a deep breath, the doctor made his closing statement. “Being in a group is saying, 'All I want is to be like you’. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jeremiah and the congregation replied. The rest of the service went by quickly, and before Jeremiah knew it, he had finished singing the final verse of the closing hymn. Soon, the church was bursting with lively energy. Joyful conversations broke out between the Baptist brothers and sisters, nobody in a hurry towards the exit. Jeremiah found himself in a similar manner, following behind his peers as they sauntered their way towards the door.
As Jeremiah followed Jackson outside of the church, a young female voice rang out from behind them. “Well look at these fine, upstanding, proper young men!”
The pair turned around, now outside, to see who had beckoned them. Jeremiah caught the eye of the young lady, her coppery hair and conservative sense of style somehow familiar to him.
“Both of you are so dandy and traditional,” she remarked. “A classic look for a Christian.”
“Jeremiah,” Jackson sighed. “This is my younger sister, Jessica.”
It took Jeremiah a moment to compose himself, a bit of scarlet peppering his cheeks. His hand nervously shot forward. “J…Jeremiah Joshua Manuel Delgado…nice to make your a...acquaintance.”
Jessica accepted his greeting. “I’ve never had quite this effect on one of your friends before,” she smiled to Jackson. “I think he fancies me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself so, Jessica,” Jackson denied. But all three of them knew Jessica was telling the truth. Jeremiah had gone nonverbal, the blood from his brain redirected to another destination. There was a tingling sensation around Jeremiah's genitals, his member slowly inflating. It was times like these that he was thankful to have “not been blessed” as his father once put it. If his package had been larger, there surely would have been an indecent scene.
Jeremiah knew what he had to do. With all the strength he could muster, he drew the only words he could think of to his mouth. His perfect jaw shifted, heavy brow furrowed, and he forced the sole sentence out of his mouth.
“Jessica Sanderson, will you marry me?”
———
“JD…Jeremiah, is that you?”
Jeremiah had finally grabbed the remainder of his items, the last bags of his belongings ready to go. Mike was standing at the door, blocking his path.
“Where are you going?”
Jeremiah scoffed, disapproving of Mike's irregular radicalism. “Somewhere that is cleaner, fresher, prim and proper. Somewhere where I can remain a dignified man dedicated to preserving tradition and culture in this world. If I am to embody the classic look of a Christian, then I ought to do so with like-minded brothers.”
Confused, not only by the fancified words but by his roommate’s overall preppification during their first semester, Mike asked a simple question. “Why?”
With a pleasant smile, Jeremiah handed over a small sheet of paper. He then exited the dorm, leaving Mike to flip the Campus Ministry’s invitation back and forth between his own hands and consider the harm of attending just one meeting.
