Podcasts about White Room

TRACKLIST: 1 Aethra (Original Mix) Simon Sizer 2 Sparkling in the Shadow (Maze 28 & Kebin van Reeken Remix) DJ Zombi, Guy Maayan 3 Glimpse Of Elegance "Original Mix" Alan Schultz 4 Time Lapse (Pete Oak Remix) Oliver Schories 5 Anatoli (Original Mix) Dizharmonia feat. Iokasti 6 Stereo Hermanez 7 Deep Voltage (NOIYSE PROJECT Remix) Cary Crank 8 Deep Sense (Original Mix) Deep Lo 9 Come Home (Dowden Remix) Zuccasam 10 Hard To Love (Soul Button Remix) Erly Tepshi 11 Behind Closed Eyes (Extended Mix) Black 8 12 The Whiteroom feat. Whiteroom (Marsh Extended Mix) Andy Moor, Whiteroom, Adam White 13 Presence Oxia 14 Emmanuel (Original Mix) Dizharmonia feat. Kled Moné 15 The Last Time James Harcourt 16 Turquesa Henry Saiz 17 Dissolusion (Original Mix) JOBE 18 Haze (Original Mix) Montw 19 Amplitude (Original Mix) Fran Garay 20 Transistor Mattim 21 I Get Deep (Roy Rosenfeld Extended Remix) Roland Clark 22 Noxic (Original Mix) Soul Button

Hoy en La Gran Travesía, con motivo del aniversario del cuarto trabajo de KLF, White Room (3 de marzo de 1991) tenemos un especial dedicado a este dúo de auténticos lunáticos de la música británica. También recordaros que ya podéis comprar La gran travesía del rock, un libro interactivo que además contará con 15 programas de radio complementarios, a modo de ficción sonora... con muchas sorpresas y voces conocidas... https://www.ivoox.com/gran-travesia-del-rock-capitulos-del-libro_bk_list_10998115_1.html Jimi y Janis, dos periodistas musicales, vienen de 2027, un mundo distópico y delirante donde el reguetón tiene (casi) todo el poder... pero ellos dos, deciden alistarse al GLP para viajar en el tiempo, salvar el rock, rescatar sus archivos ocultos y combatir la dictadura troyana del FPR. ✨ El libro ya está en diversas webs, en todostuslibros.com Amazon, Fnac y también en La Montaña Mágica, por ejemplo https://www.mdemagica.es/libro/gran-travesia-del-rock-la_53628 ▶️ Y ya sabéis, si os gusta el programa y os apetece, podéis apoyarnos y colaborar con nosotros por el simple precio de una cerveza al mes, desde el botón azul de iVoox, y así, además podéis acceder a todo el archivo histórico exclusivo. Gezkurra, Tete García, Jose Angel Tremiño, Marco Landeta Vacas, Oscar García Muñoz, Raquel Parrondo, Javier Gonzalez, Eva Arenas, Poncho C, Nacho, Javito, Alberto, Tei, Pilar Escudero, Utxi 73, Blas, Moy, Juan Antonio, Dani Pérez, Santi Oliva, Vicente DC,, Leticia, JBSabe, Huini Juarez, Flor, Melomanic, Arturo Soriano, Gemma Codina, Raquel Jiménez, Francisco Quintana, Pedro, SGD, Raul Andres, Tomás Pérez, Pablo Pineda, Quim Goday, Enfermerator, María Arán, Joaquín, Horns Up, Victor Bravo, Fonune, Eulogiko, Francisco González, Marcos Paris, Vlado 74, Daniel A, Redneckman, Elliott SF, Guillermo Gutierrez, Sementalex, Jesús Miguel, Miguel Angel Torres, Suibne, Javifer, Matías Ruiz Molina, Noyatan, Estefanía, Iván Menéndez, Niksisley y a los mecenas anónimos.

Morris Mayer, Entrepreneur and Pastor. He is the CEO of Morris Mayer Services Group Inc., overseeing several small businesses and a charity. These include Plaza Park Interiors, a 12 year old custom drapery and upholstery workroom to the trade and contract accounts; Plaza Park Cleaning Services offering fine drapery and upholstery cleaning and stain shield fabric protector; Valley Interiors offering custom window treatments and upholstery in Northern New Jersey; the recently launched R2A Custom Furniture Frames offering Ready 2 Assemble high end custom furniture frames to smaller custom workrooms that may not have the space or carpenter on staff and has several new products and services to be released this year.   Morris has nearly four decades of experience in the design industry in every area from design to field installations. Morris is also a Lutheran pastor, a calling which  started at the same time he started his business, and recently celebrated his 10 year ordination anniversary in January. He co-founded Goons4Good.org, a charity that inspires community action like supporting local soup kitchens and those struggling in the community. We also support cancer patient and caregiver support, developmental and physical disabilities and Veterans' services.   Additionally, Morris manages the recently launched “The White Room at 707” a new showroom space dedicated to events such as educational workshops, live music and community events. Morris is known for out of the box thinking and connecting people to opportunities that foster their success and growth.   LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/morris-mayer-b597aa1a   • Personal Facebook: Morris Mayer   • Plaza Park Interiors Facebook: Plaza Park Interiors   • Plaza Park Interiors Instagram: @plazaparkinteriors   Websites: www.morrismayer.com, www.plazaparkinteriors.com, www.R2Acustomframes.com, www.goons4good.org, www.ppiclean.com, www.valleyinteriors.com, www.whiteroom707.com   Links and Resources;   The Emyth Revisted by Michael Gerber

NEW FOR MARCH 1, 2025 Picking all manner of things twice a month . . . Picking A Winner- The Best Radio You Have Never Heard Vol. 503 1. Dam That River - Alice In Chains 2. Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers 3. Cause We've Ended As Lovers (live) - Jeff Beck 4. Vanish - Blueburst 5. Reptile (live) - The Church 6. Starman - David Bowie 7. Beds Are Burning (live unplugged) - Midnight Oil 8. Jealous Again (unplugged) - Black Crowes 9. See How We Are (live unplugged) - X 10. Baby Let's Swing / The Last Thing You Said / Don't Tie My Hands - Todd Rundgren 11. Harlem Nocturne - The Lounge Lizards 12. Blue Suit - Two Loons For Tea 13. I Know A Place - Petula Clark 14. Half Asleep At The Wheel (live) - Corky Siegel 15. Middle Class - The Uptown Rulers 16. All Along The Watch Tower (live) - The Allman Brothers Band 17. Shortyville - Trombone Shorty 18. Hope You're Feeling Better - Santana 19. Baby's On Fire (live) - 801 20. Is Once Enough (live) - Jean-Luc Ponty 21. White Room (live) - Cream 22. Gimme Shelter (alt) - The Rolling Stones 23. Renee Remains The Same - Material Issue 24. Left Of The Dial - The Replacements 25. Further Excerpts From: My Secret Garden - Depeche Mode The Best Radio You Have Never Heard. Beyond your widest musical dreams.. Accept No Substitute. Click to leave comments on the Facebook page.

You’re a Creampuff Sensei Wolf! This week on the podcast, Brian and Darryl say goodbye to Cobra Kai! And welcome back to Invincible. Episode Index Intro: 0:07 Invincible: 5:31 Cobra Kai: 29:18 Invincible Season 3 Episodes 1-4 (Prime Video) Out of 10 Alan the Alien Rope-a-dopes Darryl: 7.5/10 Brian: 7.77/10 Episode 18: “You're Not Laughing Now” Summary: Three months after his battle with Angstrom, Mark continues training under Cecil's supervision to gain enough strength to compete with Viltrumites while avoiding Eve. Mark and Rex try to stop two thieves, Dropkick and Fightmaster, from stealing the Declaration of Independence but are attacked by Kate's brother, Multi-Paul, who tries to avenge his sister's death. Kate and the Immortal come out of retirement while Rae returns to the Guardians. William and Rick encourage Mark to confess his feelings and ask Eve out, but warn him against telling her about her future self. However, Mark lets it slip, leading Eve to reject him. Doc Seismic breaks out of confinement and kidnaps Earth's superheroes using giant underground creatures. When Mark and Eve fail to save the heroes, Cecil sends in Darkwing II and Reanimen to help, with Darkwing II recapturing Doc Seismic. Mark confronts Cecil for lying to him and working with Darkwing II and Sinclair, leading Cecil to trap him in the White Room, which was constructed to keep him safe from Mark. Allen and Nolan bond in prison while the Viltrumites begin testing Allen to determine the source of his newfound strength. • Writer: Simon Racioppa • Director: Jason Zurek Episode 19: “A Deal with the Devil” Summary: In a flashback, Cecil objects to his predecessor rehabilitating criminals. In the present, Mark destroys Reanimen deployed to stop him. Cecil activates a device installed in Mark's head matching the Atlantean kaiju's roars, causing him intense pain and preventing him from flying. Mark flees to the Guardians for help but Cecil arrives and attacks Mark with more Reanimen, prompting the Guardians to aid him. Rudy jams the signal that is harming Mark while Cecil, realizing his mistake, deactivates the Reanimen. A furious Mark threatens to kill Cecil should he approach him or his family, ending their working relationship. The Guardians break up, with Monster Girl, Rex, Rae, Bulletproof, and Rudy losing trust in Cecil, while the Immortal, Kate, Samson, and Shapesmith remain and are joined by Darkwing II. Cecil later reflects on his first meeting with Nolan and developing his personal code of doing anything to protect Earth while Mark and Eve reconcile and start a relationship. • Writer: Helen Leigh • Director: Haylee Herrick Episode 20: “You Want a Real Costume, Right?” Summary: Mark receives a new suit from Rosenbaum. After getting his own suit, Oliver names himself “Kid Omni-Man”, but Mark advises against it, explaining the destruction Nolan caused, before they join forces to stop Titan from breaking out Multi-Paul. Eve moves back in with her parents, promising not to use her powers at home if they become more accepting of her duties as a hero. Debbie forms a relationship with her colleague Paul and reveals to him Nolan, Mark, and Oliver's secret identities, angering Mark. The Maulers break into a missile silo, planning to launch an EMP device to destroy the world's communication systems, and incapacitate the attacking Guardians. Mark destroys the missile while Oliver, against his and Debbie's wishes, kills the Maulers. He reveals to Mark his indifference to killing, believing Nolan may be right, worrying Mark. While talking with Oliver, Mark notices a floating orb-like drone spying on the Grayson household, which detonates in his hand as he catches it. Unbeknownst to him, the drone belongs to Angstrom, who survived his previous encounter with Mark. • Writer: Jay Faerber • Director: Sol Choi Episode 21: “You Were My Hero” Summary: Mark asks Rudy to analyze the drone, which he determines originated from Earth and was created by someone with vast resources. Mark confronts Cecil, believing he built it, but Cecil denies it. Later, while on a date with Eve, Fightmaster and Dropkick forcibly recruit Mark and bring him to their future, believing he can save their Earth from its tyrannical king, the Immortal. Driven mad by his immense power and immortality, he blames Mark for his eventual abandonment of Earth and demands he fight him to the death to bring him peace. Reluctantly, Mark fights and is eventually forced to kill the Immortal. Returning to the present, a shaken Mark finds solace with Eve. Meanwhile, Nolan faces execution until Allen breaks free, liberates their fellow inmates, gains Battle Beast's help in fending off the Viltrumites, and feigns defeat to spur Nolan into action. After breaking out, Allen suggests they flee before reinforcements arrive, but Nolan reveals the Viltrum Empire now consists of fewer than fifty pure-blooded members. • Writer: Tania Lotia • Director: Ian Abando These episodes delve deeper into Mark's struggles with his dual identity and the complex relationships he maintains with allies and adversaries. The series continues to explore themes of power, responsibility, and morality, keeping viewers engaged with its intricate storytelling and character development. Cobra Kai Season VI Episodes 11-15 (Netfilx) Season VI Part 3 Out of 10 Flaming Cigar Yacht Explosions Darryl: 9/10 Brian: 9.23/10 Cobra Kai The Series Out of 10 From an Illegal Kick to the Face to Best Friends Darryl: 9.25/10 Brian: 8.94/10 Episode 11: “Into the Fire” Summary: While their students plan for life after karate, Daniel and Johnny clash over reviving the Sekai Taikai. Kreese reconsiders his guiding principles. • Writer: Joe Piarulli & Luan Thomas • Director: Joel Novoa Episode 12: “Rattled” Summary: Sam and Robby turn to their friends for support as they train for the challenges ahead. Johnny and Carmen welcome a new addition to the team. • Writer: Bob Dearden • Director: Steven K. Tsuchida Episode 13: “Skeletons” Summary: As the moment of truth arrives, Daniel and Johnny confront their pasts. Then it's fight time as Robby battles Axel in the world karate championship. • Writer: Stacey Harman • Director: Josh Heald Episode 14: “Strike Last” Summary: The action heats up as the Valley's top fighters pit their courage against their rivals' speed and strength. But one last surprise changes everything. • Writer: Michael Jonathan Smith • Director: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg Episode 15: “Ex-Degenerate” Summary: The series finale delivers dramatic conclusions for key characters, including Johnny's victory in the Sekai Taikai tournament, Kreese's redemption, and heartfelt moments between Daniel and Johnny. • Writer: Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg • Director: Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg These episodes provide a fitting conclusion to the series, resolving long-standing rivalries and character arcs. The final episode, “Ex-Degenerate,” in particular, offers a mix of resolution, drama, and a hopeful message of reconciliation. Contact Us The Infamous Podcast can be found wherever podcasts are found on the Interwebs, feel free to subscribe and follow along on social media. And don't be shy about helping out the show with a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts to help us move up in the ratings. @infamouspodcast facebook/infamouspodcast instagram/infamouspodcast stitcher Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Play iHeart Radio contact@infamouspodcast.com Our theme music is ‘Skate Beat’ provided by Michael Henry, with additional music provided by Michael Henry. Find more at MeetMichaelHenry.com. The Infamous Podcast is hosted by Brian Tudor and Darryl Jasper, is recorded in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show is produced and edited by Brian Tudor. Subscribe today!

Wheels of Fire is the third studio album by the British rock band Cream, released in 1968. It is a double album, with one disc featuring studio recordings and the other containing live performances. The album blends blues, psychedelic rock, and hard rock, showcasing the virtuosity of Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals), Jack Bruce (bass, vocals), and Ginger Baker (drums, vocals).The studio disc includes iconic tracks like "White Room", a dramatic psychedelic anthem with haunting lyrics and a signature wah-wah guitar riff, and "Politician", a bluesy, satirical take on political figures. Other highlights include "Pressed Rat and Warthog", an offbeat spoken-word track by Ginger Baker, and "Deserted Cities of the Heart", a high-energy song with intricate instrumentation.The live disc, recorded at Fillmore West and the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, captures Cream's electrifying stage presence. The 16-minute version of "Spoonful" (originally by Willie Dixon) showcases Clapton's masterful blues improvisation, while "Crossroads", a cover of Robert Johnson's classic, features one of rock's most celebrated guitar solos.Wheels of Fire was the first double album to be certified Platinum, solidifying Cream's legacy as one of the greatest rock power trios. It remains a landmark release in psychedelic and blues rock history.Listen to the album on SpotifyListen to the album on Apple MusicWhat did you think of this album? Send us a text! Support the showPatreonWebsitePolyphonic Press SubredditFollow us on InstagramContact: polyphonicpressmusic@gmail.comDISCLAIMER: Due to copyright restrictions, we are unable to play pieces of the songs we cover in these episodes. Playing clips of songs are unfortunately prohibitively expensive to obtain the proper licensing. We strongly encourage you to listen to the album along with us on your preferred format to enhance the listening experience.

Send us a textWelcome to Guess the Year! This is an interactive, competitive podcast series where you will be able to play along and compete against your fellow listeners. Here is how the scoring works:10 points: Get the year dead on!7 points: 1-2 years off4 points: 3-5 years off1 point: 6-10 years offGuesses can be emailed to drandrewmay@gmail.com or texted using the link at the top of the show notes (please leave your name).I will read your scores out before the next episode, along with the scores of your fellow listeners! Please email your guesses to Andrew no later than 12pm EST on the day the next episode posts if you want them read out on the episode (e.g., if an episode releases on Monday, then I need your guesses by 12pm EST on Wednesday; if an episode releases on Friday, then I need your guesses by 12 pm EST on Monday). Note: If you don't get your scores in on time, they will still be added to the overall scores I am keeping. So they will count for the final scores - in other words, you can catch up if you get behind, you just won't have your scores read out on the released episode. All I need is your guesses (e.g., Song 1 - 19xx, Song 2 - 20xx, Song 3 - 19xx, etc.). Please be honest with your guesses! Best of luck!!The answers to today's ten songs can be found below. If you are playing along, don't scroll down until you have made your guesses. .....Have you made your guesses yet? If so, you can scroll down and look at the answers......Okay, answers coming. Don't peek if you haven't made your guesses yet!.....Intro song: Old Time Rock and Roll by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band (1978)Song 1: Get Your Way by Jaime Cullum (2005)Song 2: To Be With You by Mr. Big (1991)Song 3: White Room by Cream (1968)Song 4: The Strong Hand by Foy Vance (2019)Song 5: Loose Change by The Highwomen (2019)Song 6: Elevator Boots by Counting Crows (2021)Song 7: Man in the Box by Alice In Chains (1990)Song 8: Rhythm Nation by Janet Jackson (1989)Song 9: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by The Andrews Sisters (1941)Song 10: Seven Bridges Road by Eagles (1980)

Der Klassiker „White Room“ aus dem Jahr 1968 wurde von einer der ersten Supergroups, bestehend aus Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce und Ginger Baker geschrieben. Welche Spannungen hinter der Musik von Cream steckten und wie Pete Brown den Text schrieb, der auf einem Gedicht über seine persönliche Erholung von Sucht basiert, beleuchten wir für Euch genauer.

Actor and dancer Colt Prattes joins Emily and Haley to discuss ‘Aladdin' on Broadway, touring with P!nk, and his new Netflix movie, ‘The Merry Gentlemen.' Emily admires Nick Jonas's butt, Haley teaches menacing sign language, and Colt inspires a new segment that involves Emily's dad. So enter the White Room, dance like Daniel Radcliffe, and sign a playbill with a cigarette while you listen to Chapter 17 of ‘How To Make It With Emily & Haley.''The Merry Gentlemen' is now on Netflix. ‘Aladdin' performs on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater. Follow Colt: @coltprattesFollow 'How To Make It': @howtomakeitpodcastFollow Emily: @emilydorothyyFollow Haley: @haleymuralee

For our final episode of 2024, we dive deep into “The White Room,” the iconic 1991 album by The KLF, and unravel the bizarre and bewildering mythology surrounding it. From cryptic Illuminati symbolism and the duo's obsession with chaos magic to a surreal Wicker Man ceremony in Scotland, the story behind this album defies belief. We'll also explore the infamous car-pushing stunt, a jaw-dropping cliffside act of defiance, and the ultimate act of rebellion: the sacrificial burning of one million pounds. Buckle up for a journey into the avant-garde madness of music history! ********************* SUBSCRIBE ON PATREON FOR ADS-FREE LISTENING AND SPECIAL BONUS CONTENT! If you like what we do at Accelerated Culture Podcast, please consider supporting us on Patreon for only $5 a month: https://www.patreon.com/AcceleratedCulturePodcast *********************** Theme music: “Dancing Underwater (Instrumental Version)” by I'MIN, licensed through Epidemic Sound.  

Do you remember Cream? Of course you do. They were the first supergroup of the '60s. Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce made some amazing music in just under three years. Today, musician Malcolm Bruce, the son of Jack has dedicated himself to preserving the musical legacy of his father who was one of rock's most influential figures. Jack Bruce was a trailblazing bassist, vocalist, and songwriter, best known as a founding member of Cream, alongside guitar legend Eric Clapton and the fiercely innovative drummer Ginger Baker. Cream, formed in 1966. They were at the forefront of a musical revolution that defined the '60s. Blending blues, rock, and psychedelic styles, Cream pioneered a sound that would shape the future of rock music. With hits like "Sunshine of Your Love," "White Room," and "Badge," their music was groundbreaking, pushing the boundaries of improvisation and power trio dynamics. The mid-1960s marked a fertile period for music, with the British Invasion introducing bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who to global audiences. Cream carved a unique niche, fusing blues roots with virtuoso instrumental prowess and delivering intense live performances. Jack Bruce was at the heart of the band's success, contributing intricate basslines, soulful vocals, and timeless compositions. His collaborative work with lyricist Pete Brown produced some of Cream's most enduring songs. Though the band's lifespan was brief—they disbanded in 1968 due to creative tensions—their impact was monumental, cementing them as one of the first supergroups and one of the greatest bands in rock history. A young Malcolm Bruce grew up surrounded by music, deeply influenced by his father's genius and the rich legacy of Cream. A multi-instrumentalist proficient in guitar, piano, and bass, Malcolm has since forged his own path as a solo artist while honouring his father's contributions. Malcolm is also a key figure in the "Music of Cream" project, a touring tribute band featuring Kofi Baker (son of Ginger Baker) and Will Johns (Eric Clapton's nephew). Together, they celebrate Cream's groundbreaking music with live performances that recreate the band's electrifying energy, introducing its legacy to new generations. Beyond his work with the "Music of Cream," Malcolm Bruce is deeply committed to preserving Jack Bruce's catalogue and sharing his father's artistry with the world. He has worked on remastering projects, archival releases, and curated performances to highlight the depth of Jack Bruce's solo career, which extended far beyond Cream. Through his dedication, Malcolm ensures that the innovations of his father—and the era-defining work of Cream—continue to inspire musicians and fans alike. Today, Malcolm joins us to share his experiences and tell us why it's so important to advocate for his father's legacy. If you know Cream's music - or if you're wanting to discover it - you're going to love this episode. Please let me know your thoughts. You can always reach me through my website

Host the trivia from the ledge, because we are back for our sixth season of new/old Wie is de Mol episodes - and we're going back to 2016's offering in the Dominican Republic! Over these nine weeks, three guys who have to be sedated to go up Table Mountain - Logan, Michael & Bindles - are recapping and looking back at all that happened on a season with quite a reputation in the Mole fan communities, continuing with the sixth episode and elimination of literal icon Cécile Narinx. In this episode - one of our favourite shows has got a second series, Michael wonders if anyone's watched Traitors Québec yet, there's some trivia drama, one of us is a certified winner, we reveal our favourite C-words, there was an opportunity to take some revenge, we discuss an accidental spoiler, Art is obsessed with gender, this is the era of Fort Boyard getting into trouble, we try and loophole hunt, Logan expects more, no-one wants to be Treasurer, we advocate for Cécile's Fancy New Wallet to return, everyone is sent to Recoleta, Cécile gets the eulogy she deserves, the sixth set of suspicions are locked in and we go back to the White Room and try and stop it being sabotaged. Thank you for listening - we will see you next week for Episode 7! Please note: This season is intended on being spoiler-free, so please watch the episodes along with us. As with our coverage of Seasons 11, 14 & 17, there are no spoilers due to Logan not having seen the season before. However, any season we have already covered (WIDM 10-11, 14, 17-24 and Renaissance; België 4-12) is fair game though. This episode is supported by our friends over at Zencastr. Create your podcast today! Social Media: Facebook Twitter Michael Logan Bindles Instagram YouTube Patreon

We'll trade you a four-pound sledge and a twitchy STi for the time to get more episodes published...  This one's full of traffic thinking, with a knobby-tired look at why good alignment matters (and dying end-links don't).  There's an in-depth analysis of how it's essential to be in an offensive state of mind when commanding your place in the flow (and why bubbling yourself off from those selfsame traffic physics makes you the problem we've been waiting for).  There's also a few thoughts about how "Broken Windows Policing" could do wonders for incompetent motoring. Don't fret: how about some Amon Tobin, Die Krupps, Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult (no "White Room" or "Yellow Submarine", however), plus killer Bronco audio, Mom's Camry, cars in garages and TVs in dashboards.

We'll trade you a four-pound sledge and a twitchy STi for the time to get more episodes published...  This one's full of traffic thinking, with a knobby-tired look at why good alignment matters (and dying end-links don't).  There's an in-depth analysis of how it's essential to be in an offensive state of mind when commanding your place in the flow (and why bubbling yourself off from those selfsame traffic physics makes you the problem we've been waiting for).  There's also a few thoughts about how "Broken Windows Policing" could do wonders for incompetent motoring. Don't fret: how about some Amon Tobin, Die Krupps, Deep Purple and Blue Oyster Cult (no "White Room" or "Yellow Submarine", however), plus killer Bronco audio, Mom's Camry, cars in garages and TVs in dashboards.

Lilah + Angel go to the White Room.   Ian Carlos Crawford and Kimberly Ann Southwick talk Angel s3's "Forgiving"   Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/slayerfest98 Buy our stuff on etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Slayerfestx98 Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@slayerfestx98 Follow us on insta: https://www.instagram.com/slayerfestx98/ Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/slayerfestx98 Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Slayerfestx98/ Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Slayerfestx98

703 The KLF - The White Room

Join Scott Kummer, Josh Hohbein, Andrew Robot Dinosaur, Matt Smith and Chris Slemp for a discussion of The KLF: The White Room and Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair It's never too late to fill out the poll.  PLEASE!!  The data is interesting to us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScknuwfnHxl2l0tKWaPPkq7v68SucfF5fAghkg-0g9qZsyfaQ/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawFUf4JleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHSmUHPvxfYJCPxN62Hp-IxW-snACEoK7kHiTzK_NZ0hIsjqC4abwkC5-yA_aem_wH2aNAYMdY-Vou8dTs5j1g All the other shows and forms can also be filled out on our website: www.IGTOV.com JoIn the "I've Got That On Vinyl" Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/684186180585840 On Twitter: @IGTOVPodcast On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igtovpodcast/ Or email us anytime at IGTOVpod@gmail.com Intro and Outtro music by MIshka Shubaly: http://www.mishkashubaly.com

Lenny Kravitz – Megastar seit mehr als drei Jahrzehnten Seit über drei Jahrzehnten steht Lenny Kravitz auf den großen Bühnen dieser Welt. In seiner Heimat Amerika gelang ihm der erste große Erfolg schon mit seinem Debütalbum „Let Love Rule“ im Jahr 1989. In diesem September feiert die Platte also 35. Geburtstag und ist damit genau so alt wie seine älteste Tochter Zoë Kravitz. Kravitz‘ Durchbruch in Deutschland Bei uns in Deutschland war der erste größere Erfolg seine Ballade „It Ain't Over Till It's Over“ von seinem zweiten Album „Mama Said“ aus dem Jahr 1991. Seitdem ist der Rocksänger, Gitarrist und Produzent auch bei uns mit jedem seiner Alben in den Charts gelandet. Beliebt bei anderen Musikern Weil Lenny Kravitz nicht nur Gitarre spielt, sondern gleich mehrere Instrumente beherrscht, war er bei vielen anderen Musikern in seiner Jugendzeit sehr beliebt und wurde auch immer wieder zu Jamsessions eingeladen. Da kam Lenny dann auch auf die Idee sein eigenes Album aufzunehmen. Zusammen mit Henry Hirsch, den er Mitte der 80er kennenlernte. Henry Hirsch ist Tontechniker, Keyboarder und Bassist. Die beiden haben sich wunderbar ergänzt und konnten super zusammenarbeiten. Auch, weil Henry Hirsch damals schon sein eigenes Tonstudio hatte, ein Vorteil, der nicht von der Hand zu weisen ist. Gemeinsam teilten Henry Hirsch und Lenny Kravitz die Leidenschaft für "echte" Instrumente und auch für analoge Aufnahmetechniken. __________ Über diese Songs vom Album "Definitely Maybe" wird im Podcast gesprochen (20:37) – "Let Love Rule"(33:33) – "Precious Love"(42:01) – "I Build This Garden For Us"(48:21) – "Mr. Cab Driver"(53:34) – "Rosemary" Über diese Songs wird außerdem im Podcast gesprochen (25:25) – "White Room" von Cream(26:07) – "Hey Joe" von Jimi Hendrix(44:06) – "Strawberry Fields Forever" von den Beatles__________ Alle Shownotes und weiterführenden Links zur Folge "Let Love Rule" findet ihr hier: https://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/meilensteine/swr1-meilensteine-lenny-kravitz-let-love-rule-100.html __________ Ihr wollt mehr Podcasts wie diesen? Abonniert die SWR1 Meilensteine! Fragen, Kritik, Anregungen? Meldet euch gerne per WhatsApp-Sprachnachricht an die (06131) 92 93 94 95 oder schreibt uns an meilensteine@swr.de __________

Emily gives Kaitlin the greatest compliment of her life. The saga continues with the curse of Matt and Emily's HVAC. Kaitlin and Scott go on a trip to Maryland and revisit the site of Scott's most “profound” spiritual experience. They also get to see their nephew pitch in front of 40,000 people. His name is Garret Declue. He plays Banana Ball. He's #17 on the Firefighters. He's awesome. Go check him out. And in other news, Kaitlin wants to become an internet troll. Get a FREE Magic Mind Sample Pack https://www.magicmind.com/sowhatpodtrial DISCOUNT CODE: Sowhatpodtrial Follow Kaitlin on Insta → @kaitlingraceelliott  Follow SWE on Insta → @so.what.else  So What Else Website

This story, entitled The White Room, comes from a writer from Indonesia, Adam Rahadian. Adam was inspired to write this story to give you the message that death can come at any time. Therefore, when you are alive you must be the best human being possible and the wealth you have is nothing when you die. He hopes you enjoy this story! Adam and the whole Life is a Trip group thank you for listening to Jasper on the Life is a Trip podcast. Adam Rahadian is a scriptwriter, film director, and dance choreographer based in Indonesia. We would like to offer a big thanks to amazingly talented ACTORS who brought this story to life:  Patrick Foley who played the Man Sophia Cofino who played Lily Ashna Sharan who played Sandra And Wayne Jay who played Nathan Adam will release a short film later this year and compete in various short film festivals and competitions around the world. He asks for all your support and prayers. You can give him contact him via Instagram @findadamr and LinkedIn in the name of Adam Rahadian.   

Get to know the band Soul Sign! Soul Sign recently released a smokin' cover of White Room and have more music on the way. We got together with Bassist Bjorn Englen and Guitarist Rob Math to learn more about the band, discuss the single, plans for an upcoming album and just talked Rock! Join the conversation and stick around to hear the latest single from Soul Sign.Rock and Roll music (and conversation) that DESERVES to be heard!

This week on Classic Vinyl Podcast, Justin and Tyler listen to and review Cream's 1968 hit single White Room. A pretty powerful song from the rock trio of Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker that is still played on Classic Rock radio to this day. Give it a listen and let us know what you think.

Ki'Shara Ninki. She's that special kind of researcher/writer/explorer/archeologist/occult theologian that ruins your family meal by passing around laminated charts of your bloodline and tracing your ancestry back to metaphysically enabled lizards from Mars.She's invited to Greg's seders any time she wants.On this non-stop mind- blowing marathon of a conversation, Ki'Shara shares things you've never heard before on other paranormal/UFO shows, but does one thing a lot of guests can't: supports all her claims with EVIDENCE.That's right: Ki'Shara has the stuff to fill in the gaps of Michael Cremo, Graham Hancock, Erich von Däniken, and Flint Dibble's fashion choices.In this episode, you'll learn about the mysterious connections between humanity and the celestial genealogies that stretch across the cosmos—discover how our very existence may be intertwined with the stars!You'll rediscover Ancient Wisdom, diving deep into forgotten societies and the esoteric knowledge of the ancients, including powerful Sumerian deities and lost narratives that have shaped human spirituality and history.You'll even tap into the Psychic Realms, discovering how ancient insights align with modern psychic training to unlock profound psychic abilities you never knew you had!And finally, brace for impact as Ki'Shara and Greg delve into explosive revelations from previously classified documents. Learn about the covert operations and hidden truths that have influenced major historical events!I mean, it's not any weirder than a dude parting the Red Sea if you really, really think about it.......Come, think with us. Oh, and Happy Passover. It's Open Loops. Ki'Shara's Links: https://www.afsresearch.org/ Let Greg know how you like the show. Write your review, soliloquy, Haiku or whatever twisted thoughts you want to share at https://ratethispodcast.com/openloops

Connect with Serjey Andre Kul ------------------------------------------- ▶ www.serjeyandrekul.com ▶ @serjeyandrekul ▶ instagram.com/serjeyandrekul ▶ facebook.com/serjeyandrekul ▶ twitter.com/serjeyandrekul ▶ twitch.tv/serjeyandrekul ▶ youtube.com/@serjeyandrekul ▶ www.ourpassionistrance.net ▶ thedjsessions.com/artist/serjey-andre-kul ▶ mixcloud.com/serjeyandrekul ▶ @ourpassionistrance   My Passion is Music 292 (Full on Trance Special), Mixed by Serjey Andre Kul Tracklist ----------- 00:00:00 The Conductor & The Cowboy - Feeling This Way (Lange Remix) [Pure Trance Recordings] 00:05:48 Trance Wax - Distance (Coast 2 Coast Remix) [Armada Music] 00:10:19 Woody Van Eyden & Gil Zambrano feat. Cheryl Barnes - Embrace the Rainbow (Vocal Mix) [Universal Nation] 00:15:19 Lange pres. Firewall - Together [Create Music Group] 00:20:58 Ferry Corsten pres. Gouryella - Orenda [Flashover Recordings] 00:26:54 Andain - You Once Told Me (Agnelli & Nelson Remix) [Black Hole Recordings] 00:32:24 Ali Wilson & Chris North - Unification [Vandit Records] 00:38:11 Sean Tyas feat. Fisher - Something in the Way [Black Hole Recordings] 00:44:52 Above & Beyond & Gareth Emery Pres. OceanLab – On A Good Day [Anjunabeats] 00:51:12 Myon & Shane 54 feat Labworks - Ibiza Sunrise (Classic Mix) [Armind] 00:58:12 André Visior & Kay Stone - Sunrise (Ronski Speed Remix) [Breathemusic] 01:04:56 Paul van Dyk - New York City (Super8 & Tab Remix) [Vandit Records] 01:10:54 Andy Moor, Whiteroom, Adam White - The Whiteroom [Anjunabeats] 01:18:57 Duderstadt and Anita Kelsey - Smile (Duende Vocal Mix) [Afterglow Records] 01:25:16 Ferry Corsten feat. Jenny Wahlstrom - Many Ways (Will Atkinson Midnight Remix) [Flashover Recordings] 01:30:29 Driftmoon - Howl At the Moon (Solarstone Retouch) [Pure Trance] 01:37:41 Talla 2xlc - Starz (Talla 2XLC Mix) [Tetsuo] 01:43:17 Susana feat. Jorn van Deynhoven - Never Mine [Armada Music] 01:49:27 System F - Solstice (Will Watson Remix) [Flashover Recordings] 01:55:42 Paul van Dyk - Tell Me Why (The Riddle) (Club Mix) [Vandit Records]  

Aiden sat, stunned and silent, as Adora finished her tale. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. "So," said Adora, "what are you thinking?" Aiden sighed. "I'm thinking you should see a doctor. Better yet, a psychiatrist." "Aiden, I'm not crazy." "I didn't say you were. But, maybe, I dunno? Schizophrenia? Multiple personality disorder? There's got to be a rational explanation for what's happening to you." "Aiden, this is real. Vanda, talk to him!" "My apologies, Aiden. It was not my intention to frighten or disturb you. Apparently, one of the side effects from our powerful orgasm was loss of mental control, and despite my best efforts, I was unable to fully conceal my presence from you." [[MORE]] Aiden recoiled in horror at the alien voice coming from his former girlfriend. "Jesus fucking Christ, that's creepy! You need help, Adora. So do your parents, for feeding your delusions!" Adora was close to tears. "I'm not delusional. What will it take to convince you I'm telling the truth?" Aiden glared at her. "I'd need hard evidence. Something that could prove your story." "I can provide that." "Vanda, no!" Adora cried. In a blink, the world went black. Aiden's White Room Visit Aiden woke to a whiteness so blinding it hurt. When finally his eyes adjusted, they opened to find Adora, looming over him. "Aiden? Are you okay? Just relax, take it easy. Give yourself a minute to adjust." Aiden tried to sit up yet couldn't. Collapsing back on the platform, he managed to roll to his side just in time to vomit. Adora stroked his hair, trying to calm his manic shaking. "Vanda, help him! I think he's having a panic attack!" A hum filled the room as the blue light enveloped him. Adora moved aside as Aiden was slowly lifted from the platform, his body now floating on air. Aiden's eyes opened. "What, what's happening?" "Stay calm," coaxed Adora, "they won't hurt you." The tension drained from his face as the intensity of the humming light increased. His breathing slowed, steadied, relaxed. A smile formed on his lips. "Oh, wow." Aiden hung suspended within the beam for several moments before slowly being lowered and released. Adora moved to his side, taking his arm to steady him. "Feeling better?" "Yes." Aiden looked around at the endless white space, his eyes wide with wonder. "It's true. It's really true! Adora, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have,” Adora shushed him with a finger across his lips. "It's okay. You couldn't have known." They stood facing each other silently, silly smiles on their faces. Aiden looked suddenly startled. "Wait, why am I naked again?" Adora shrugged. "I honestly don't know; but I've always been naked every time I've woken up here." "Living flesh is easier to transport than inanimate material," Vanda explained. "Also; I would like to offer my apologies for the discomfort you experienced upon arrival. It can vary from person to person, but it becomes less stressful upon repeated transference." Aiden again jumped at her voice. The changes in her face were subtle yet distinct whenever she switched between the two different personalities. "That's still just so, strange. There's really an alien intelligence living inside you. It's hard to wrap my head around. Even now, actually being here, in this, space? Pocket of existence? I don't know what the hell to even call it!" Adora shrugged. "My parents always just called it the White Room." Despite the calming effects of the blue beam, Aiden still felt a little shaky. "I think I need to sit down." Adora guided him back to the platform, her arm around him, comforting him as he came to grips with the fact that this was real. "So, okay, I have a question," he asked. "You told me you're trying to help, Vanda?, learn what it's like to be human. And you wanted to give her a first sexual experience. Why'd you pick me?" "Because, silly," Adora smiled. "Even though we broke up, I still like you. You always treated me right. And you were a great lover, of course." Aiden gave a skeptical laugh. "I dunno. Couldn't have been that great. Vanda didn't seem all that impressed by my junk." "I apologize profusely for the slight against your manhood," Vanda interjected. "However, you misinterpreted my comment. My only knowledge of your genital size came from images in Adora's memory banks. She remembers it fondly, and sees it as larger than it truly is." Aiden faced her just in time to catch the switch back to Adora. "Your penis size is fine," she assured him, "it's always been more than big enough for me." "In fact," she continued, adding what she hoped was a little seduction to her voice, "since we're here, I was hoping we could continue what we started earlier." Aiden flushed nervously. "I dunno. It's not that I don't want you; trust me, I do. But this whole thing has me rattled. Would I be having sex with you? Or the alien inside you?" "Her name is Vanda," Adora stressed. "Don't think of her as an 'alien.' Think of her as an extension of me. A more naive version, looking to discover the wonders of physical intimacy for the first time." "I, I don't know if I, can. This whole thing has kinda killed my mood." Aiden looked down at his limp penis with embarrassment. "There is something I can do that will help," Vanda suggested. "But only if you consent. I do not wish to make you participate in anything you are unwilling to do." Aiden met her eyes, marveling yet again at how similar yet different Adora looked whenever Vanda spoke. "I, I suppose I can try." Without warning, a red light enveloped them both. "Vanda? What are you doing?" "Fear not, Adora. Trust me." Adora felt a warm, sensual flush throughout her body as the light lifted, then separated her and Aiden, now hovering nearby, facing her. His cock was already rock hard. "Adora? What's happening?" Adora had no answer. All she knew was her pussy was aching, desperately needing to be filled. She felt moisture on her thighs and at first, thought she'd wet herself. It was the familiar scent of arousal wafting to her nose that told her the moisture wasn't urine. "Oh my God, Vanda! What are you doing to us?" "Preparing us." The lights buzzed and hummed over them for several long moments. Just when Adora felt she could take no more, every nerve in her body screaming for orgasmic release, the humming ceased as the lights freed them. She ran into Aiden's arms. His face was a mix of shock, confusion, and pure lust. "Adora, holy shit, that was,” "Shut up and fuck us!" Her lips found his, and in moments, they were on the floor. Adora straddled his throbbing cock, her pussy slick with cream, and was just about to impale herself on his shaft when she stopped. "Vanda." "What?" Aiden's dismay at her sudden halt was apparent. "This was supposed to be about Vanda," Adora explained, struggling to contain her lust for the moment. "I'm going to let her come forward, take control of my body. Can you handle that?" Aiden nodded firmly. "Yes! Yes, please yes! Just, I need,” "I know, hun, I know." Taking a deep breath, Adora relinquished control. Vanda came forward in a rush. "There is no need to be concerned. While I am a 'virgin,' this body is not. I have been sufficiently prepared, both by the stimulation from our lights and my access to Adora's memories concerning past sexual encounters with you. Put aside your doubts, put aside your fears, and take me as you would her." Aiden looked up at the beautiful young woman straddling him, her face aglow with love and desire, a face he knew intimately, and yet now somehow different. Her breasts shook as she trembled in anticipation, her hair a disheveled mess, her golden skin shimmering with a sheen of sweat. The heat from her sex was a hot spring over his pulsing member. Their eyes met, and he saw Vanda, truly saw her, for the first time. Her eyes shone with joy, wonder, and a questioning anticipation. Aiden let out a hearty, genuine laugh. Pulling her to him, he kissed her, then firmly but carefully rolled her to her back. Again he met her eyes, marveling at the brilliant white specks like tiny diamonds twinkling behind them. "Are you ready, Vanda?" "Oh, yes, Aiden. I am ready." It was her last coherent thought. All sense of rationality, of analytics, of simple, logical thought fell away as his penis slid inside her with a single, gentle thrust. Despite the hormones raging through him from the "foreplay" of the red lights, he took his time, easing into it, allowing Vanda to adjust, to find the rhythm, to learn how to move in sync with him, how to respond to his movements with her own. Instinct took over, her hips thrusting up to meet his, her hands caressing his skin, enjoying the sheer, sensual pleasure of physical touch, both giving and receiving, his strong hands now exploring her body as well. Vanda could not count her orgasms; they came too fast, too strong, making her unable to tell when one ended and the next began. Her vaginal muscles clenched tightly, over and over again, gripping and squeezing Aiden's shaft as it plunged deep within her. She could feel him swelling within her long before he warned her. "I'm, close, I can't, hold it,” Vanda exploded in climax yet again as his load filled her, his ejaculate splashing like hot lava deep into her canal. Their voices filled the White Room as they shared the exquisite pleasure of mutual orgasm. Aiden lay over her, panting for breath, still hard and deep inside her. "I can't believe how hard I still am. I can, keep going, if you'd like?" Vanda answered by flipping him over, straddling him. "I wish to continue. But I believe it is only fair Adora also gets to share in this." Her eyes and face altered again, and it was Adora who spoke next. "Aiden, that was amazing! Vanda truly enjoyed herself. And so did I. Before you fuck us again, let me do something for you." With a wicked grin, she slid down between his legs, taking his sticky cock into her mouth. Vanda watched from behind Adora's eyes as Aiden writhed in pleasure above her. His cock was warm, and she could feel the blood coursing through it as Adora worked it in and out, her saliva mixing with the remnants of their mixed orgasmic juices still clinging to his pulsing organ. While there was no direct stimulation to her own body, Vanda could feel the delight Adora took in giving this peculiar yet obviously effective form of stimulus. Aiden finally had to pull her from him. "I'm so fucking turned on right now, I could probably cum and still keep going. But I don't wanna take that risk. I need to fuck you again, now!" Adora lifted herself on all fours, turning her ass towards him, presenting herself. "Then get up here and fuck me!" In an instant he was on his knees behind her. Adora wailed loudly as he entered her. Their coupling continued for quite some time; sometimes sweet, often rough, Adora and Vanda frequently trading places as they alternated between various positions, now truly sharing everything for the first time, equally enjoying the pleasure they were receiving as well as the thrill of giving. When at last Aiden was utterly spent, his cock now limp and raw, they collapsed in a sweaty, sticky heap together. "Adora? Vanda? Thank you," Aiden whispered, holding her close. "That was, without a doubt, the most amazing experience I've ever had." "Me, too," Adora sighed. "It was for me as well." said Vanda. "You have my deepest respect and appreciation for giving me a truly memorable first coupling. Aiden laughed softly. "You're welcome, Vanda. I'm glad you enjoyed it." Suddenly, he felt a tingling sensation, spreading over his body. "What the, ?" "Relax," Vanda coaxed, "It is merely a, cleansing process." Aiden watched in fascination as the sticky mess of cum and sweat coating their bodies dissolved into tiny gold lights, floating away to dissipate above them. Aiden had never known such calm, such peace. Turning his head, he managed to whisper into her ear a soft, "I love you, Adora," before drifting off. Adora lay awake, too stunned by his words to sleep. ------------------------------------------ "So. Now what?" Adora and Vanda were conversing, Aiden still passed out beside them. "That depends. He would make a most excellent life mate. With a little genetic alteration, he would be an almost perfect match with you. Your children would be quite superior." Adora sighed. "That's all well and good, but there's one major problem. I don't love him." "I am very confused. He expressed his love for you. And your emotional state during our coupling with him highly suggests you have strong feelings towards him as well." "It's, difficult to explain, Vanda. There are various levels of love. People can have feelings for someone, care about them, even be attracted to them. They can love someone as a friend, enjoy their companionship, and yes, enjoy having sex with them. But that doesn't always mean they're meant to be life partners." Vanda contemplated this. "I suppose I understand. We have observed this issue during our experiments. Very few of the couples we paired wound up bonding together. Your parents were one of the very few exceptions. I get the feeling, however, that Aiden has bonded with you far stronger than you have with him." "I know," Adora sighed. "I really don't want to hurt him. Mom was right, this wasn't such a good idea. Plus, how the hell is he supposed to go back to a normal life after discovering aliens exist?" "I could make him forget." "You can do that?" "Yes. Although we usually reserve that only for those who became traumatized by our experiments." "I don't know. I'm not sure how I feel about the idea of tampering with his memories without his consent." "I understand. I suppose I need to inform you of another matter, then. The removal of his semen was not simply a 'cleansing process.' It was also to collect his D N A." "What? What for?" "The Collective believes it would be an excellent addition to our gene pool. They are examining its potential now." "So you're, what, going to use his sperm to make babies? Whose eggs are you using?" Vanda hesitated before answering. "We were hoping to use, among others, yours." "Before you object, please allow me to explain. Our experiments with your species have produced several viable candidates, including you, for which to begin the production of living bodies for us to inhabit. "Those new lifeforms will no longer be immortal; they will live, grow old, eventually die. They will live much longer than the average human lifespan, however. They will begin building our new society on our new world. They will reproduce, bare children of their own. They will pass on our collective knowledge, build vast libraries. We will expand to other planets, throughout the universe. We will find and help other species, other cultures, to flourish and grow as we have." "The same way you've 'helped' ours?" Adora snipped, "because it seems like we've been helping out your species a lot more than you've helped us." "We have helped your species far more than you realize," Vanda explained calmly. "We have helped your evolution, your growth, your increase in intelligence, over vast periods of time." "There are countless humans, living among you right now, who are descendants of past experiments. Even those who did not directly breed with another enhanced individual still produced offspring that, while not developed far enough for us to conjoin with, inherited superior genetics and intelligence. They have made, and continue to make, great strides in technological and medical developments. Including Aiden." "What?" Aiden sat up suddenly, his face mirroring Adora's surprise. "Aiden! How long have you been awake?" "Long enough to learn you're not in love with me," he sighed. "And to learn I'm the result of my parents being experimented on by aliens!" "Not exactly," Vanda corrected. "We did not experiment on your parents. It was actually your great, great grandmother." "How long have you known this?" Adora asked angrily. "Approximately 48.3 seconds. The Collective discovered this during their initial scan of the D N A sample we collected. While your distant relative was enhanced, her mate was not. Most times, the enhanced genetics are not passed on, but on rare occasions they lay dormant, only to resurface in future generations." "So I'm, what? Some kind of, mutant?" Aiden asked. "While there are certain mutations in your genetic code, we prefer to call them, improvements. While you are not at one hundred percent optimal, it would only take minor adjustments to improve your D N A code enough to make it compatible to bond with any of our other enhanced beings, including Adora." "So, if I'm getting this right," said Aiden, "you want to enhance my genetics, collect my sperm, and use it to make space babies?" "A rather simplistic explanation, but yes. Your sperm would be collected, along with Adora's egg cells. They will be kept in stasis as we await the results of other potentially successful experiments. "When we have collected enough samples for a viable genepool, we would begin the fertilization process, one from our species bonding with it at the exact moment of conception. The first batch of new lifeforms will be grown here, in what you call The White Room, nurtured and cared for until old enough to begin colonizing our new world. "When eventually we have enough new lifeforms, we will no longer need to create them from your samples. We can begin breeding on our own. But that will take some time, and we still need many samples from as wide a variety of humans as we can with which to begin. Starting with yours, if you are willing." Aiden and Adora were both silent as they contemplated this offer. While Vanda was privy to Adora's thoughts, she could not predict her answer. Nor Aidens. After several moments, she asked, "Will you help us?" "I'm in." Aiden looked solemn. Adora came forward. "Are you sure, Aiden? You don't have to do this." Aiden's face relaxed as he smiled. "What's not to be sure about? I've always wanted kids. I was actually even hoping, oh, hell, no point in pretending anymore, I was hoping one day you and I might get back together. Get married. Raise a family. But if that's not gonna happen the traditional way, well, I can live with it happening this way. And that our children will help build an entire new world." "Besides," he chuckled, "it's not like they're asking me to actually raise them, be a father to them. I'm just gonna donate some sperm. How hard can that be?" "You can be more than that," Vanda said. "I have conjoined with Adora to assimilate the human experience; to learn what it is to be human. And I have. From a female perspective. And when I return to the Collective, they will absorb, not just those experiences, but Adora's. Her personality, her traits. The things that make her who she is will become a part of us." "But we could also use a male perspective. A balance. If our alterations to your genetics are successful, one of us could also bond with you as I have done with Adora. They could spend time with you, learn about life from your perspective, and take that knowledge and experience as well as parts of you back to add to the Collective. You would live on in your offspring; your life experiences used as a guide for theirs. You would, in a way, help mold their behaviors and personalities. "While I myself have only known you a short time, what I have observed, along with Adora's opinions of you, has shown me you would be an excellent choice for this. Just the way you have treated her in the time you've known her; the respect, care and love you have given her over the years, unconditionally, would be a most admirable trait to pass on to our new species." Aiden looked suddenly nervous. "I, I don't know. I don't know how I feel about having something, someone, alien, living inside me. Sharing my body, my thoughts. Knowing everything I think and feel. It's, kinda scary." "I was scared at first, too," said Adora. "But it's been the most incredible experience of my life, and I don't regret it at all. Think of it, Aiden! Think of what we might learn from them, if we work together. Think of what we can teach them. Think of the better world we could help create if we teach them the right way. It's an incredible opportunity!" "It's also an overwhelming responsibility," said Aiden. "What if we, what if I fuck it up? Think of all the wars, violence and repression the human race has experienced over the centuries. Most of it, frankly, caused by men. Our greed, our lust for power. Our egos. What if that's what I pass on to them?" He laughed bitterly. "Maybe they'd be better off with only a female perspective." "If it helps; our species, long ago, dealt with these same problems. It is why we eventually shed physical forms. But we still have knowledge of our past, and we believe we have learned from it, as well as from observing the struggles of your people. "There will still be trials to deal with as we restart, and in all probability we will make some of those past mistakes again. But they will be our mistakes, not yours. As I have stated before, our species, while helping and guiding yours, cannot solve all of your problems. And you will not be able to prevent or solve ours, either. But if we work together, we can make perhaps learn to solve them together." "It's a very noble goal," Aiden said thoughtfully. "Enough talk. Let's do this. How do we start?" The blue light enveloped him immediately, lifting him from the floor. "Relax, Aiden," Vanda coaxed. "This process may take some time, and will take several stages. But I assure you, there will be no discomfort. You may in fact find it quite pleasant." "How long will this take?" Aiden asked. "I'm supposed to be home tomorrow to help my parents shop for our vacation." "Do not worry. Time moves differently here. When we are finished, we can return you to the same time we left." The lights flickered through various colors and frequencies over the next several hours. There were breaks in between during which Aiden would sleep, allowing his body to adjust to the changes being made. Adora sat with him throughout, discussing his feelings during his lucid periods, while Vanda explained in detail the changes being made after each session. Finally, during the last session, the lights became a rainbow of colors, swirling over him. "You have reached optimal life form function," Vanda announced. "You have reached optimal compatibility. If you are still willing, one of us will now conjoin with you." "I'm, I'm ready." The light went white. From above, the brilliant white pinpoints of light Adora now recognized as those of Vanda's species swirled around him. After several rotations, a single speck separated itself from the cloud and slowly absorbed itself into its new host. Aiden reveled in the incredible new feelings coursing through him. His body felt more vibrant and powerful than he'd ever experienced. His mind, expanded, opened to a multitude of possibilities. Aiden had never done a mind altering drug in his life, but he was pretty sure the "high" he now experienced could never be replicated by some pill or powder. He felt the new consciousness enter him, and welcomed it willingly. Then his mind went blank. Adora and Vanda watched as the unconscious Aiden was gently laid back on the floor beside them. They held his hand and waited. When at last his eyes opened, tiny white diamonds swam behind his dark, brown eyes. He looked up at them, a smile of recognition on his face. When he spoke, his voice was deep and booming. "You are Adora-Vanda." "Yes. You know us?" Adora answered. "This lifeform knows you." "That lifeform has a name," said Vanda. "His name is Aiden. What shall we call you?" The newly born being contemplated this for a long moment. "You may call me, Doran." "That's a great name," said Adora. "So, how are you feeling, Doran?" Doran sat up slowly, looking at them through Aiden's eyes. "I feel, alive." ------------------------------------------ Deciding not to rush things, they instead chose to remain in the White Room while Aiden and Doran got to know each other, to better allow the both of them to adjust to this new experience. With Vanda's guidance, Doran was able to adapt quickly to his physical form. While not having a mirror to look at, Doran explored Aiden's body much as Vanda had done that first night, discovering the wonders of physical sensation. Adora found the look on his face priceless when he discovered his penis. "My genitals are becoming engorged," Doran noted with some confusion. "Past observations along with data from Aiden's memory banks suggests this is in preparation for sexual copulation. I wish to engage in that activity." Doran turned towards Adora, reaching out for her. Aiden came forward quickly, stopping him. "No, Doran! That's not how we behave! You have to ask permission, get consent. You can't just touch someone like that, or assume they wish to have sex with you, just because you want to." "Why not? We are male. They are female. They are a compatible partner. You have already engaged in intercourse with them. Why can we not do so again?" "Because you didn't ask, Doran," Aiden stressed. "Both Adora and Vanda have a say in this too. You can't just take what you want without permission. It's important, Doran. You have to learn each person you encounter is an individual, with their own thoughts, feelings and desires. And those desires might not match yours, no matter how badly you want them to. But you have no right to force yourself on anyone, got it?" "I understand." Doran addressed Adora and Vanda. "My apologies. I am still adjusting to the hormones raging through this body. I did not take your feelings or wishes into consideration. It will not happen again." "We understand," Vanda assured him. "I myself struggled to control my physical desires as well, putting undue pressure on Adora to find us a sexual partner. "Plus, the body you now share with Aiden is teeming with unreleased energy after the upgrade. And you are only just discovering the pleasures of physical touch. I would be willing to help you explore these sensations further, but only if Adora agrees. This is her body, too." It only took a moment for Adora to answer. "Why not? This'll be my first foursome." ------------------------------------------ Adora woke to the first light of dawn streaming through her bedroom window. She felt incredibly well rested, considering. Time was, of course, irrelevant and immeasurable in the White Room, and she had no idea how long they'd spent there, only that that time was spent in a marathon of sexual exploration. They'd begun slowly, teaching Doran the basics, allowing him to adjust to each new sensation as Adora and Vanda took turns stimulating him with hands, lips, tongue and eventually their warm, inviting pussy. Doran was an eager student, more than willing to learn how to give as well as receive. Aiden taught him well, guiding him to all the most sensitive areas of the body Adora now shared with Vanda, educating him on the clues and signals she'd give in responses to his touch as to what to do next. He helped him understand when to be warm, caring, gentle, and when to be rough, passionate, powerful. Together they'd fucked til exhaustion. After a brief respite in which they'd slept entwined in each other's arms, a quick session under the lights would immediately boost their sex drives back into the red and they'd be at it again. Any normal humans would have collapsed from the strain, their muscles aching for relief, their genitals raw and sore from continuous use, their dopamine and energy reservoirs long depleted. But Adora felt no pain, no exhaustion or strain on her body at all, despite the pounding she'd taken during those countless hours. Now, waking up in her own bed after finally returning home last night, she felt completely refreshed and rejuvenated. Aiden still slept peacefully beside her. "What am I going to do about you?" she wondered to herself. Aiden was a nice guy. Had always treated her well, even during their rare fights. He was good looking, smart, respectful, and most of all, kind. And then of course there was the sex. Aiden had always been a wonderful lover to her. And his newly enhanced sexual prowess and stamina had increased that a hundred fold. But Adora had eventually come to understand, back when they'd originally been dating, that there'd been something lacking. Aiden had always been far too willing to follow Adora's lead when it came to their relationship. She was a rocker, while he was into hip-hop and rap. She enjoyed sci-fi and fantasy movies, while he was more into horror. She loved going dancing. He loved arcades and sporting events. And yet he'd always acquiesced to her desires when it came to planning their dates. He'd never planned anything. Instead he'd ask her what she wanted to do and went along with whatever she'd suggested. It was as if he were afraid of making any choices that might upset her. Because he was afraid of losing her. And yet, in the end, it had become the reason why she'd decided to break off with him. She hadn't told him the true reason, of course. And, thinking back on it now, she had been the one to suggest that, with them both going off to different colleges, a long distance relationship wouldn't work. Aiden had, as always, simply gone along with it. He hadn't gotten angry, or upset. Instead he'd just nodded. "Of course. Whatever you think is best." It was like he was unable to think for himself. Even now, she wondered if he hadn't agreed to bond with Doran only because Adora had already done the same with Vanda, and he had simply gone along with it for her. "I hope he knows what the hell he's gotten himself into," Adora thought. "Perhaps this will be a learning experience for him," offered Vanda. "A chance to grow and mature as a person. He has been changed, not just physically, but mentally as well. Part of the process we put him through involves opening up the mind to lost, hidden or repressed memories, giving the individual a deeper understanding of one's self. What frightens them, motivates them, the experiences and influences, positive and negative, that shaped who they have become. We give them the potential to grow beyond the sum of their parts. To become better than they are." "My parents told me a little about that from their experience,” said Adora. "How it had helped them work through their past traumas and fears and grow from them. Perhaps Aiden can do the same; learn how to become his own person, think for himself." "Doran will be there to guide him. They will learn much from each other, I think." "What about you and I?" Adora asked. "How long are you planning on staying?" "As long as you are willing to allow me. I still have much to learn. I am thankful to have had such an incredible time learning of the human sexual experience. But I am eager now to learn other things. I wish to see more of your world, meet more of Its people. To understand them better. To learn to engage with them, to relate to them. To understand what motivates and drives your existence. I've experienced sex. Now I wish to experience life." "We can do that. I have so much I want to show you! Art museums, nature preserves, music! We haven't even explored music yet! God, there's so much there alone to show you. We could go to concerts, theater, or the orchestra. Dancing! Oh, you're gonna love dancing! It's almost as fun as sex! "In the fall, you can go to school with me. You'll meet so many new people, learn all about us! It's gonna be amazing!" "I can't wait to get started. Where do we begin?" "I have an idea. My parents went to one of their nudist resorts for the weekend to give us some time alone with Aiden. We can take an Uber up there and join them by this afternoon. There's several nature trails, beautiful scenery. And we won't have to wear that ridiculous bikini at the lake. You'll love it there!" "That sounds most pleasant. I look forward to it. But first, "What is it? What's on your mind?" "I was wondering if Aiden and Doran might be up for one last coupling before we part ways." Adora laughed. "Vanda, you're insatiable. But then again, so am I. Let's wake them and find out." By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

Bedroom Activities By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. Nick crept silently back to his bedroom. He'd woken to the sounds of what he at first thought was crying. Thinking Adora / Vanda may be upset again, he'd gone to investigate. He'd stopped just short of entering her room, once he'd registered the cries coming from his daughter were not of pain or distress, but of pleasure. [[MORE]] It wasn't the first time he had ever overheard Adora masturbating; even without the enhanced hearing the Collective's experiments had given him, her bedroom was only right down the hall, of course. He'd paused to wonder what brought them to it, and what the experience must now be like for both her and the alien hitchhiker currently residing in her head. Realizing he'd lingered too long, he turned away, wanting to respect their privacy. Chloe sat up groggily as he slipped back into bed. "Everything okay?" "They're fine," Nick said softly. Another cry echoed in the distance. Chloe heard it too. "Sounds like they're, getting to know each other a little better," she smiled. "Good for them." "You're handling this whole thing pretty well," Nick chuckled, "Better than I am." "I trust Adora," Chloe shrugged. "Am I worried? Of course. I'm her mother, I can't help it. But Adora believes she can help them, and I trust her judgment. I think this could become something wonderful." "I hope you're right. For her sake. Me? I'm not so sure." Chloe gave him a concerned look. "You gonna be able to get back to sleep? Or be up all night worrying?" "I'll be fine," Nick assured her, brushing a soft strand of hair from his wife's face. "Go back to sleep." Chloe caught his hand before he pulled away. "No, you won't." Taking his hand, she guided it to her breast. "But I know a way I might distract you for a bit." Chloe, the horny MILF Despite their sweet, unhurried love-making that night, Nick still found himself up early the next morning. Leaving his wife to sleep, he quietly checked in on Adora. She was also still sleeping, tucked away under her comforter. Heading downstairs, Nick decided to start breakfast. Chloe joined him shortly after, clad in her favorite white satin robe. Her unkempt hair fell across her face beautifully as she embraced him for a good morning kiss. His arms fell naturally around her, pulling her into him. On a whim, he cupped her ass, lifting her robe just enough to confirm his suspicion that she was indeed naked beneath it. "Hey, down boy," Chloe purred. "If you wanted more of that, you should have woke me before you came down here." "I wanted to let you rest," Nick said in her ear, nibbling at her lobe. "And now?" Chloe smiled coyly, her hand dropping to the bulge rising from his sweatpants. "Not so much," Nick growled. "Are you two about to engage in intercourse?" Adora / Vanda stood in the kitchen doorway, staring curiously at the startled couple. "No, hunny," Chloe replied, adjusting her robe with an embarrassed grin, "we were just, about to finish breakfast. Are you hungry?" "I, do not know. Are we hungry?" "Yes," came Adora's reply. "Famished." Nick, who had turned away when he'd heard her voice to hide, for the second time now, his erection from his daughter, turned to find Adora, fully naked, taking a seat at their breakfast nook. "Um, sweetheart, don't you want to, um, perhaps, get dressed before you eat?" Adora laughed. "Sorry, Dad. I tried earlier, but Vanda felt clothing was too confining. Besides, aren't you both still nudists anyway? I didn't think it would bother you." Nick flushed slightly. "It doesn't bother me. I'm just surprised, that's all. You know your mother and I are fine with nudity. But you stopped walking around the house naked years ago, and we started wearing clothes around you more often after that because we thought perhaps you had grown uncomfortable with it." "I suppose I was, for a while," Adora smiled. "But Vanda is still getting used to the human experience, and I figured it might be better to just ease her into it. Besides, it's not like I completely abandoned the nudist lifestyle. I went to several nude beaches during spring break." "I am still trying to comprehend the human tendency to feel shameful about their own bodies," Vanda chimed in, "but if our current state of undress is causing you discomfort, I will try clothing again." "There's no discomfort, Vanda," Chloe answered. "In fact, now that I know Adora is okay with it again,” Slipping off her robe, Chloe threw it over the back of a chair. Slightly bewildered, Nick turned his attention back to finishing breakfast. As he cooked, he contemplated this strange new situation he found himself in. Not that there was anything unusual about the current state of undress his wife and daughter were now in, per say. Chloe and he had of course become very comfortable with nudism after their experience in the White Room, and were often naked around each other. Adora had been raised to see nudity as very natural. And it certainly wasn't the first time he'd ever seen her naked. So why was he suddenly uncomfortable, he wondered? Perhaps it was the presence of Vanda, the new and unusual being now residing in his daughter's mind and body, that made him suddenly feel self-conscious and less inclined to shrug off his clothes and join his family in comfortable nudity. Shunting those thoughts aside, he plated the food and joined his wife and daughter at the table. Vanda contemplated her dish with both nervousness and excitement. "This smells, very pleasing. It is causing an interesting sensation in our stomach." "That's called hunger pangs," smiled Chloe. "Please, eat." Vanda watched for a moment as Nick and Chloe dug into their own food with their forks, then carefully scooped up the first bite into her mouth. Using Adora's muscle memory as a guide, she chewed slowly as a plethora of sensations exploded across her taste buds. "This is, quite satisfying," she garbled. "I'm glad you like it," chucked Nick, "but don't talk with your mouth full." "My apologies." Swallowing, Vanda forked another bite into her mouth. Then another, her appetite voracious. "Slow down, dear," coaxed Chloe. "You're going to make yourself sick eating that fast." Vanda nodded, her mouth still full, and slowed her chewing, using Adora's memories to identify each new flavor; spinach omelet, turkey bacon, fruit salad, whole grain toast. Nick and Chloe watched in fascinated amusement as Vanda finished her breakfast, her face bright with excitement and joy. Without warning, she burped. "I am sorry. Is that, inappropriate behavior?" Chloe laughed. "No, not really. I suppose some people consider it rude, but it's just another natural human function. One we don't really control. So don't worry about it." "There are many bodily functions you humans have no control over," Vanda mused. "Release of excess gasses, both orally and rectally, the production of excess moisture in your nasal and oral cavities. And your waste removal process leaves much to be desired, we discovered earlier. A most unpleasant business; quite flawed. Something I will definitely wish to address with the Collective when I return." Nick tried to suppress his grin. "Well maybe you guys should have worked on that during our evolution." "Oh it was far too late for that by the time we arrived here," said Vanda. "There was only so much we could do by way of improvement at that point. We are not, as you might say, 'miracle workers.' Believe me when I tell you that before we intervened, it was far worse. Your species had absolutely no control over the release of body wastes, and would simply expel them randomly and without warning. It was quite unhygienic." "Okay, not really great breakfast conversation," Chloe broke in, trying and failing to stifle her laughter. "I understand," said Vanda, finishing her last few bites. "I also understand it is customary to express gratitude to the providers of sustenance after consuming, especially if it was particularly enjoyable. So, thank you for this wonderful, breakfast. It was most palatable. I enjoyed the experience of eating almost as much as I enjoyed the orgasms experienced last night." Nick almost choked on his coffee. "You're welcome for the food, Vanda," Chloe responded, "and while I'm glad you enjoyed your, other experience, again, it's not something we really discuss together. That's something that should remain private, between you and Adora." "Why? Is it not part of the normal human experience? "Yes," Nick answered, "it's perfectly normal. But it's not usually appropriate to discuss so casually amongst, family." Vanda looked confused. "But there are memories of discussions pertaining to it not being something shameful." "We're not trying to shame you, Vanda," said Chloe, "I know you may find it difficult to understand, but you'll have to learn that there are limits to what people share about their sexuality, and with whom." "I find it difficult indeed; the shame and guilt your species has created around your own bodies and sexual activities are unprecedented; it is not found in any other species. And from what I have witnessed throughout your history, it seems to create more problems than it professes to solve." "You're probably right," Nick nodded. "Our society has plenty of hang-ups when it comes to sex. And Chloe and I are grateful that you helped free us from many of them. But there are still things that can be, uncomfortable to talk about." "I believe I understand. It stems from your societal stance against what you call 'incest;' the concept that parents should never allow themselves to be sexually stimulated by, or drawn to, their offspring. Or to engage in any types of sexual activities with them. And for the most part, it is a correct stance, especially due to the proclivity for genetically flawed offspring stemming from problems inherent in your D N A. "In fact, it caused a lot of problems early on in your evolution; problems we rectified but could never entirely root out. It is why we ultimately had to help influence your species away from it." "So you're saying you also influenced our morality?" Chloe asked. Vanda sighed. "Minimally. It's very complicated. Your sexual desire stems from your most basic, primal instincts to procreate, to perpetuate the species. "What, or I suppose I should say who you find sexually desirable is far broader based, and stems from multiple influences. As your species evolved, forming families, tribes, societies, so did your morality; your need to develop standards of behavior that were mutually beneficial for the whole, not merely the individual. "All we influenced was a heightening of the protective nurturing instinct between parent and offspring over the more primal desire of sexual reproduction. Of course, we never truly eliminated incest from the equation. It remained prevalent throughout your history, despite the introduction of both ideologies and mythologies that taught against such acts." "So you guys helped create religion?" Nick marveled. "Oh, no," Vanda frowned, "that was entirely your own doing." "You know," Chloe mused, "there are many humans who would probably consider you and your species 'Gods.' You have powers, knowledge and abilities far beyond our own. You may not have created us, but you've certainly influenced and guided our development from behind the scenes. Perhaps we picked up on your presence subliminally." "Perhaps. Although it still leaves the question of who created the 'Gods?' On that, we have no more answers than you." "So you don't know the origins of life, or the universe?" Adora spoke up, joining the conversation. "Oh, no. Beyond the event you commonly call the 'Big Bang,' we have no further information." "So I guess the answer is still '42,'" Nick smirked. "I do not understand." "Reference my memories," Adora laughed. "Look for 'Douglas Adams." "Ah. A joke. I understand. Very, humorous." "Well, since we won't be solving the mysteries of the universe today," Chloe grinned, "what else shall we do with our day? I'm sure there is plenty we can show you." "According to Adora, there were plans made for this planetary rotation to visit the beach. I would also find that excursion acceptable. It will be beneficial to experience more of your world." A Nudist Alien at the beach Getting to the beach was more difficult than anyone expected. First, Vanda had to be convinced to put on clothes. Then there was the car ride which, while short, was utterly overwhelming for Vanda, prompting Adora to take back control after another panic attack. Things got better once they arrived, though. Vanda seemed to truly enjoy all the new sensory input; the warm sunshine, the light breeze, the salty scent of the air, the crash of the surf. Her face was a constant array of whimsy and wonder. Still, she complained about the bathing suit. "I simply do not comprehend the need for such an ineffective garment. It serves no protective purpose, and only barely covers the genital area. Also, why are the females of your species forced to cover up their mammary ducts, while the males are free to expose theirs?" Nick had to laugh. "Welcome to a male dominated society, Vanda." Vanda did not see the humor. "Male nipples serve no useful purpose; an evolutionary leftover. Female breasts provide sustenance for your young; if anything, the men should be forced to cover up their useless teats." Chloe struggled to contain her laughter. "While our society has come a long way, Nick is right; it's still predominantly run by men. Women have been fighting for equality for centuries, including body autonomy, and we've made a lot of progress. But not nearly enough." Vanda considered this. "In the Collective, all are considered equal. Of course, we are also without gender. I will make a very strong case for equality for all, regardless of gender, after we reclaim physical forms." "Good for you, Vanda," said Nick. "I truly hope your new society can actually achieve it." Vanda's nose twitched. "I smell something, appetizing? It is causing a stressful reverberation in our stomach." "You're hungry again already?" Chloe laughed. "Nick, how about you get us some hotdogs? I'm pretty sure that's what she's smelling." Nick went off to get the food. Chloe stayed behind, watching with both humor and contemplative concern as Vanda continued to take in her surroundings. A million distractions vied for her attention; a bird soaring overhead, the crash of the waves, the laughter of a child off in the distance. It was fascinating, yet frightening. The person sitting beside her was Adora, the daughter she'd raised, nurtured and loved since birth. But she was now also a brand new being, a child in her own way, with the curiosity and excitement to match. And yet, this "child" had existed for longer than Chloe could possibly imagine. "Vanda, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Adora for a moment." "Of course, Mom. What's up?" The change in both tone and facial expression whenever Adora took back control still startled Chloe, every time. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You've been, quiet." "I'm fine," Adora smiled, "I've been letting Vanda hold the reins so she can experience everything fully. She's adapting quite well, and I've been helping her to understand things she hasn't already figured out on her own. She's a fast learner." "So you two can, talk, hold conversations, within your head?" "Yes, but it's even better than that. Instead of having to completely explain something, I can point her towards the information already stored in my memory, information she can immediately absorb and process." "Yes," confirmed Vanda, "For example; I finished The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy collection during the journey to this location. Quite amusing, if highly inaccurate." Adora laughed. "Vanda still has a hard time with the concept of fiction," she explained to her mother. "I can see that," Chloe smiled. "I'm curious though; what's it like for you when Vanda is in control? Can you still, you know, see, hear, think?" "Oh yes," Adora affirmed, "I'm aware of my surroundings. Although it's kinda like I'm watching it happen on TV, or through Virtual Reality goggles. I can see and hear everything, but I lose most of the other sensory input, letting Vanda fully experience things like taste, smell and touch." "Well, as long as you're okay in there," said Chloe. "I'm happy you're so eager to help her experience the world, just remember to check in with us once in a while." "Will do." Nick returned shortly with the food. When they finished eating, Vanda decided, with coaxing from Adora, to finally brave the water. Nick went with her, holding her hand to steady her as Vanda took her first tentative steps into the cool, frothy surf. "That's deep enough for now," Nick cautioned once they'd reached waist level. "Let's take it slow until you're used to it." The tide was low, the waves gentle, yet Vanda struggled to maintain her balance as they came in, pushing her back, then pulling her forward as the water rolled back out to sea. Adora took back control just in time to save herself from toppling over face first. With both Adora and Nick's help, though, Vanda quickly got the hang of it, and soon was wading chest deep quite comfortably. While he was still uncomfortable with the fact that an alien intelligence now occupied the mind and body of his only daughter, Nick could not help but marvel at Vanda's childlike wonder as she frolicked playfully in the water, laughing as her borrowed body floated along the surface, bobbing up and down with the waves. Finding her feet, Vanda offered him the familiar smile he had come to know and love as his daughter's, even as she spoke with her own unique voice. "This is a most enjoyable experience. However, I am experiencing a drop in body temperature that is causing minor discomfort. Perhaps I need a respite to warm myself with infrared light produced by the star your planet orbits." "Of course," Nick grinned despite himself. "Maybe while you're warming yourself in the sun, you can work on accessing Adora's memories to learn how to sound more human when you speak." Ogling Hobbies "How about that one?" Vanda and Adora were currently engaged in an internal conversation about finding a potential sex partner while they basked in the sun. "Too old." "How is age difference a factor? It wasn't for your parents." Adora sighed. "I suppose it's not, but,” Vanda continued scanning the crowded beach. "How about that one? He appears to be close to your age." "Yes, but look closer. He's with someone." "Yes. But we have observed humans mating with multiple partners before quite often." Adora sighed, frustrated. "I'm sure you have. Look, Vanda, choosing a partner to have sex with isn't as easy as just picking someone at random." "But we have observed,” "I know what you've 'observed,' Vanda! But just because some people enjoy having casual sex with various partners doesn't mean all of us do. And it certainly doesn't mean I'm just going to fuck a random stranger!" "I am, sorry, Adora. I did not mean to be offensive. I merely based my suggestions off of the mental and physical responses of your body upon seeing others of your species you find attractive." "I understand that. But what you need to learn is that just because we find someone physically attractive doesn't mean we'd automatically have sex with them. Yes, there are those who choose their sexual partners strictly on appearances, and are willing to have sex with total strangers simply for fun. But I'm not one of those people. I need more of a, connection, with someone." "So you need to, fall in love? As your parents did?" "No. Not necessarily. Not everyone I've ever had sex with was because I was 'in love.' But I at least got to know them first, to develop a friendship and trust. I have to at least like someone before I fuck them." "I see. May I ask another question?" "Of course." "I see from your memory banks you have been with five different partners. Three male, two female. Is your sexual preference predominantly male?" "I, I don't know. I'm, still figuring that out." "I see." A quiet hung between them for a few moments. Then Vanda spoke again. "Do you object to my continued observations of people I find, 'fuckable?' Strictly as an, imaginative exercise?" Adora laughed out loud. "Not at all. Fantasize away." "What's so funny?" Chloe asked. Neither she nor Nick had been privy to the private conversation. "Nothing," smirked Adora. "It is what you would call an 'inside joke,'" Vanda chimed in. Grinning with self-satisfaction at her clever use of human word play, she continued to scan the beach. "What about her? She has very predominant bosoms. Even larger than yours." "Oh, yeah. She's pretty hot." "Yes. She is certainly producing excessive amounts of perspiration due to the, ah, I see. You meant the informal usage. Your colloquialisms will take some time to get used to." "I bet. But you're learning pretty fast." "Thank you. I am certainly, oh, look! Look at that one! I believe, based on the outline formed by his water soaked garment around his genitals that he has what you call a 'nice package!'" "Yep. Definitely." "Adora?" "Yeah?" "Our clitoris is engorged. May we masturbate?" "Not here, Vanda. Too public." "When we arrive home?" "Absolutely." Adora sighed inwardly. Despite all her talk about the need to get to know someone first, the fact was, it had been some time since she'd last gotten laid. And Vanda's persistent, if understandable, desire to experience sexual coupling with a partner wasn't helping to dull her own ache. Suddenly, she had an idea of how she might be able to scratch that itch for both of them. Aiden "Are you sure that's such a good idea?" Adora sat on the recliner across from the couch her parents occupied, the concern on their faces obvious. After arriving home and showering, (during which, Adora had shown Vanda the joys to be had with a handheld showerhead), she'd invited them to join her in the living room to discuss her plan. "It'll be fine, Mom. Aiden and I parted on good terms; we still stay in touch. And I happen to know he's currently single. And back in town. To be honest, I'd already been considering getting together with him again before, well, I met my new friend." Adora and Aiden had dated all through their senior year, but decided after graduation to end things since they were both going off to different colleges, neither believing a long distance relationship would work. Still, they'd remained friends, and there had even been several Skype calls over the years where they'd shared more than just some conversation. When Adora had arrived home for the summer, she'd reached out to him, discovering he'd be in town for a few weeks before heading overseas for vacation. While no definite plans had yet been made, they'd promised to make time to see each other, even if only for coffee or a meal together. Adora wasn't sure at that point if she'd wanted anything more; Aiden was a great guy, and had been a kind, caring boyfriend. But her high school crush had long since faded, and she certainly was no longer "in love" with him. Still, he'd been an attentive lover, and they'd had a great chemistry together. He would make a great candidate to give Vanda her first true sexual experience. "Do you really think it's fair to him, though?" Chloe asked, "What if he still has feelings for you? You might hurt him." "I'm sure it won't come to that," Adora smiled. "We're friends, and we've been nothing but honest with each other. We both know we have separate lives to go back to after summer break." "What about Vanda?" Nick asked, "Will you be honest with him about her? It could be more than a little, awkward, for him, her being involved." "I, I haven't decided how to address that yet," Adora admitted. "I'm not even entirely sure anything more than a simple get together will happen." "Well, if you're inviting him back here, I'm sure he'll probably be expecting a little more than conversation," Chloe smirked. She and Nick had never been squeamish when it came to the idea of their daughter having sex. They'd had "The Talk" with her, as well as teaching her about responsibility, respect and consent. They'd allowed her to have boyfriends over, believing it more practical, and safer for her, than having to sneak off somewhere to have their fun. "I suppose," Adora nodded. "Look, if you guys think it'll be too weird, I can always see if we can go back to his place, or,” "No," Nick interjected. "If you're determined to go through with this, I'd rather you do it here, in the safety and comfort of your own home. So we can be here for you, in case anything, goes wrong." "Geez, Dad, what do you think might happen?" "Adora, you're going to try having sex with him while an alien is living inside your head! anything could happen!" "Nick," Chloe said firmly, "Adora has handled all of this very well so far, and she's more than capable of taking back control if things go, awry. We've always trusted her choices before. Trust her again now." Turning to Adora, she continued, "I'm sure your father and I can find somewhere else to be for the night. Just promise you'll be careful, and to call if you need us." "I will, I promise," Adora agreed. "And please, don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine." A Dinner Date "Is it normal to be this, anxious, before potential copulation?" Vanda had remained silent yet attentive throughout their dinner with Aiden, allowing Adora to do all the talking while she'd simply observed and studied their interactions and behavior. Now home, Adora had excused herself to "freshen up" in the bathroom. "Sure. Especially if you really like someone. Speaking of which, how do you feel about him, Vanda?" "He is a physically acceptable specimen. He would be a prime candidate for our genetic upgrade experiments." "Yes, but that's not what I asked. How do you feel about him?" There was a pause before Vanda answered. "It is, difficult to determine. I have only just come to know him, and have yet to actually interact with him personally, since you have maintained control throughout the events of our evening so far. "But he has been, most pleasant to be around. It is obvious he cares for and respects you. The attention he gives when you speak, the way his eyes meet yours with confidence, his, smile. Fascinating how such a simple facial gesture can communicate so much." "So you like him?" "I find his company, yes. Yes, I like him." "Good. Doesn't hurt that he's also drop dead gorgeous, huh?" "Drop dead, ? Ah. Yes. I see. While I'm sure my judgment is certainly biased by your personal tastes in such matters, I agree. He is quite the attractive male." "So. Shall we proceed?" "Yes. Let us, 'fuck his brains out.'" "Good. Now, remember, stick to the plan. I'll get things started, then allow you to come forward to experience things more personally. Try not to talk; it will confuse him. If you have questions, or just need to express how you're feeling, do it internally. I'll be with you, helping. Use my memories for reference. Let Aiden guide you as well, but don't be afraid to take charge, make clear what you want. Or don't want. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, tell me. We can stop." "I understand." "Good. Then let's do this." Aiden had been waiting for Adora in her room. His attention turned from the phone he'd been scrolling through aimlessly when he heard the door open. "Took you long enough. Thought maybe you fell, in?" His jaw dropped as she entered. Adora had shed the blouse and jeans she'd worn to dinner, clad now only in a black laced bra and matching silk panties. Adora met his stunned gaze with a smile. "Surprised?" Aiden gulped audibly before answering. "Um, yeah! I mean, I was hoping, but didn't wanna assume,” Adora straddled him on the bed. "Always the gentleman, you are. But I just wasn't in the mood to play coy tonight. Hope you don't mind." "Not at all! Jesus, Adora. You're as beautiful as ever." Pulling her to him, his lips found hers. Adora allowed Vanda to come forward enough to experience the feeling as their tongues danced playfully. And when Aiden's hands found her hips, pressing her down against the rising bulge in his jeans, it was Vanda who moaned, not Adora. "Oh, my. This is most, exquisite. Aiden looked startled. "What?" "Nothing," Adora quickly responded. "Just, keep doing that." "Your voice sounded different." "I, I had strep throat. A few weeks ago. Better now, but my voice still cracks sometimes." "Sounded more like an echo." Desperate to change the subject, Adora unhooked her bra. Aiden took that as an invitation, his hands quickly moving to her breasts. Again in control enough to feel his touch, Vanda struggled to contain her vocal responses, pressing her lips tight so that only a soft "Umm" escaped. Her nipples pulsed with an energy that spread through her chest into her abdomen. The panties she still wore were rapidly becoming damp from grinding against him, sending an electric sensation buzzing through every part of her sex as her hips rocked over his trapped manhood. Mindful not to speak aloud, she pleaded silently with Adora. "These feelings are beyond all expectations! I crave, more! How should I proceed?" Instead of answering, Adora took back control. "Aiden, do you remember our first time?" "You're kidding, right?" Aiden laughed. "How could I forget?" "I was wondering if we could, well, try something, different." Adora lowered herself over him, her bare breasts pressed to his chest, her face close to his. "I want you to pretend it's our first time again. That I'm still, a virgin. That I'm inexperienced. And you have to show me what to do, to take control, to, to treat me with care, like you did that night." "I'm not sure I understand," said Aiden. "What brought this on?" Adora offered what she'd hoped was an assuring smile. "Just, think of it as some fun role-play. I'm going to lay back, quiet and demure, and I want you to make love to me, gently, like it's my first time." Bewildered by her strange request, Aiden hesitated. But not for long. His throbbing cock was desperate to be freed, overriding any doubts he may have had about her suggestion. Taking her by the shoulders, he rolled her on her back, moving atop her trembling body. "Okay, Adora. We'll just take it slow, then." His lips met hers, his kiss strong and passionate. It was Vanda who kissed him back, following his lead, matching his enthusiasm. Removing his shirt, Aiden pressed his bare chest to her, kissing her neck behind the ears, a spot he knew she liked. Her breaths became rapid as he slowly kissed his way down her shoulder, moving to her breasts. Her nipples were hard pebbles atop her puffy areola. "I want to suck them now. Would you like that?" Vanda wanted to scream in affirmation, but managed to contain herself to a simple nod. As his lips found her nipple, though, his tongue running slow, torturous circles over it, she could no longer control herself. Aiden was too absorbed in his gentle suckling to notice the change in her voice, taking her increasing whimpers of delight as encouragement to continue. Vanda squirmed beneath him, her mind a blank canvas, for the first time in her long existence allowing herself to simply feel, not think. Without even realizing it, she guided his head down, her gyrating hips signaling her instinctive need. Vanda marveled as he kissed his way down her belly inch by tantalizing inch, drawing out the moment, until finally coming to a stop, his face hovering mere inches away from her hot, needy sex. "Are you okay, Adora?" he asked sweetly, his eyes shining up at her from between her legs. "Do you want this?" "Please! Please continue!" The change of voice again gave him pause, but he dismissed it, absorbed now in the strong scent wafting up from her soaked panties. "Wow, you're dripping already! I don't ever remember you getting this wet this fast!" Vanda grabbed his head, pushing his face into her. "Just do it! Stimulate me with your tongue! I beg of you!" Aiden almost objected, but with his nose now buried in her cleft, he again shook off his concerns and ceded to her demand. Her taste was strong even through the silky cloth, the heat of her radiating from beneath like a furnace. Pulling the delicate fabric aside, his tongue found her slit, hot and slick. Her swollen labia fluttered as he licked at them tenderly. Her hips rocked against his face, hands pulling at his hair, guiding him to the engorged little button now poking up from beneath its protective hood, begging for his attention. Vanda squealed as his lips engulfed her clit, his tongue fluttering like a hummingbird, and it was all he could do to hold her hips steady as she writhed in bliss beneath him. Vanda was overwhelmed. First, there were the physical reactions to contend with; the increased heart rate and blood pressure, the engorgement of her sex organs, the tightening and contractions of her pelvic floor muscles. Over top of that were her emotional responses, swirling like a typhoon of colors in her mind's eye; excitement, anxiety, desire, anticipation, fear, and abundant joy. As her orgasm approached, feelings, pure and raw, flowed like electric currents, surging from the tiny bundle of clustered nerve endings to spread like a glowing web, up through her abdomen and chest, down to her tightly curled toes. Try as she might, Vanda could not contain her involuntary vocal responses, belting out a long string of unintelligible gibberish as her rational mind completely shut down in a state of utter euphoria. Aiden looked up from between her legs with a sticky smile. "Wow! You came really hard!" Vanda could not yet respond, her body still shuddering with small aftershocks. Aiden moved up beside her, kissing her cheek. "You ready for more? Or still need a minute?" "One moment, please. I need time to, process." Something was off. He could feel it. This was not the Adora he knew. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about her had changed. Her mannerisms, the way she spoke, that odd echo in her voice. It was disconcerting. He knew it was Adora, his friend, his former lover, lying beside him. But when she finally opened her eyes to look at him, it was like looking at a completely different person. Still, the lustful yet somehow innocent smile she gave made his heart skip a beat. "I am ready. Please, continue." "Adora, I,” Aiden froze, unsure how to express his confusion. He was suddenly hesitant, trying to work out exactly what it was that was wrong. "Aiden?" Suddenly she was his Adora again, her face, and voice, familiar. "Please. I'm, ready for you. Make love to me. I need you!" Pulling him to her, she kissed him passionately. Her hand found the bulge in his jeans, caressing it. "Let's get you out of these," she purred, undoing the button. Tugging them down, she reached into his boxers, freeing his desperate erection. Her eyes went wide at the sight of it. Suddenly her facial expression shifted, her voice changing again. "Interesting. I expected it to be larger." "Adora, what the hell is going on?" Aiden snapped. "Oh, fuck," Adora groaned. "Aiden, I'm so sorry! Look, forget I said that, I didn't mean,” "Adora, you've been acting really strange all night. There's something really OFF about you, and it's freaking me out. Maybe I should just go!" Throwing his clothes back on, he moved towards the door. "Aiden, please, wait!" Adora cried. "Look, I'm really, really sorry. I thought I could control this better, but after that orgasm, I kinda,” "Control what better?" Aiden was utterly confused. "Adora, tell me what's going on." "Okay," she sighed, pulling her blanket up around her, "I'll explain everything. But you're probably not going to believe me. Remember those dreams I told you about? The dreams where I woke up naked in a strange room? Well, they weren't exactly, dreams." To be continued in part 5. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

Nick & Chloe's daughter discovers the purpose of her birth. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. (The following is a continuance to the story The White Room.) Adora's 4th Birthday "Daddy?" "Yes, sweetheart? What's wrong?" "I had a dream." "You had a bad dream, sweetie?" "Not a bad dream, Mommy. Just, a dream." "Here, sit down. Tell us about it." "I dreamed I was in a weird place. Everything was all white." [[MORE]] "All white, you said?" "Yes. And I was naked. And there was a voice, talking to me, but nobody was there." "What did the voice say to you, baby? Try to remember everything." "It told me not to be a-scared. That they weren't going to hurt me. That they were just giving me an, imhaminasayshin?" "Imham, you mean examination?" "Yes! An eshaminayshin." "What else, sweetie? What else do you remember?" "They shined a light on me. A blue light. It made me feel happy. And sleepy." "And then?" "And then they said I was doing good, but I wasn't ready yet." "Wasn't, ready,” "Yes. Then they told me to go to sleep, so I did. And then I woke up in my bed again." "Think, hunny. Think really hard. Did they say anything else? Anything at all?" "They said, they asked if you and mommy were taking good care of me. I said yes. Then they said to tell you 'hello.' And,” "And, what?" "And that they would see us again soon." Adora's 21st Birthday. "Happy birthday, Adora!" As she blew out the candles on her cake, Adora took a moment to reflect back on her life, and how grateful she was for it. She didn't make a wish. At twenty-one, she felt a little old for that kind of thing. And besides, what would she wish for? She already had everything she wanted right here. Adora hadn't seen her parents since Christmas, having spent Spring Break traveling abroad with friends. Now she was back in her childhood home to spend the summer with them. Unlike many of her friends, who hated having to go home for the summer, Adora cherished it. She loved her parents, and had missed them deeply. "So, how's your classes going?" her father asked. "Find the cure for cancer yet? "No," Adora laughed. "But I'm working on it." Adora was what many would consider a prodigy. At age three, she was already reading; by age four, she was writing her own stories. She was always a curious child, constantly asking questions, wanting to know how everything worked. Her parents would often find her in her room, taking apart her toys and, later, things like her computer, to study how they functioned. She never failed to put them back together properly after. By the time she'd graduated, Adora had her choice of colleges to attend. She chose John Hopkins for its biomedical engineering courses. Because by then, her biggest curiosity had become how the human body worked. More specifically, why it aged, broke down, got sick. Not that Adora had ever dealt with that. She couldn't recall one day where she'd ever had so much as the sniffles. Even during flu season the previous winter, when all three of her roommates were bogged down with it, she had felt perfectly fine. Adora had never thought much about it during her youth. She'd always just assumed she'd inherited her strong immune system from her parents, who never seemed to get sick, either. They also never seemed to age. At sixty-four, her father didn't look a day over thirty. No gray tinged his hair, nor any bald spots. No middle aged paunch around his waist, no arthritis, no back or vision issues. Her mother, now forty-three, still had the fresh faced beauty of a woman in her twenties. And the body to match. They'd always been physically active, of course, and had introduced Adora to regular exercise as soon she was old enough to walk. Adora was no slouch physically herself, having inherited her mother's slender yet curvy frame, along with her father's blonde locks and hazel eyes. She'd chalked up her natural beauty and great build to the healthy lifestyle her parents had taught her, along with good genetics. Sitting across from them now as they sipped their coffee to wash down the exquisite cream cheese frosted red velvet cake they'd gotten her, she wondered, not for the first time, how they had managed to stay so young looking while everyone else's parents she knew had aged considerably over time. "We got you a present," her mother smiled, pulling a large box from beneath the table." Opening it, she found the complete set of medical textbooks she needed for next semester, and a summer season pass to the art museum. "Thanks, Mom, Dad," she said, hugging each of them in turn. They spent the rest of the evening together catching up, before finally deciding to retire for the night. They made plans to spend the next day at the beach. Adora was glad for it. While she'd visited some lovely beaches overseas, she missed the California sunshine. She'd also missed her bedroom. It felt smaller than she remembered, but there were many comforting memories here. Stripping off her clothes, Adora climbed into bed. Just as she began to doze, a strange humming noise reverberated throughout the room. Adora sat up just in time to catch a bright flash of light right outside her window. Then the world went black. Conjoinment Nick sat up from the platform with a start, every nerve alive, his senses on full alert. It only took a second for his eyes to adjust to the brightness. And only a moment longer for him to register where he was. "Holy shit. I'm back." He quickly spotted his wife, Chloe, on a platform across from him. She was already sitting up, her eyes wide with surprise. Turning as one, they found their daughter, on her own platform, still sleeping. She was, as they were, completely naked. "Nick?" Chloe's voice trembled with tension. But she showed no panic, only questioning and concern. They stood as one and made their way over to their daughter, now just beginning to stir. "Mom? Dad?" Adora asked in a still sleepy haze, "Am, am I dreaming again?" "No dear," Chloe answered softly, taking her hand, "this is no dream." "Where, where are we? And, why are we naked?" Adora wasn't upset or embarrassed at the sight of her parents' nudity, or in finding herself nude as well. They had raised her to be comfortable in her own skin, and not to see nudity as shameful or sinful. But she certainly hadn't expected to wake up to find them naked here with her in a place she'd only seen before in her dreams. "I suppose we have a lot to talk about," sighed Nick. Adora sat in rapt attention as her parents told the story of the alien abduction that had brought them together, and the experiments that had led to her conception right here in this very place. It sounded like some fantasy, like the sci-fi stories she used to read as a kid. But as they concluded their tale, she instinctively knew every word of it was true. "Well," said Adora after a long, thoughtful pause, "that certainly explains a lot." "What do you mean?" Chloe asked. "Well, for starters, it would explain why you two never seem to age, or get sick. Why I don't get sick either. And," she finished with a wry grin, "why you like to visit nudist resorts so much." "You seem to be handling this pretty well," Nick noted. "Much better than your mother and I when we were first brought here." "I, I know this place," said Adora. "I've dreamed of it. Several times. When I was little." "We remember," Nick nodded, "and we don't think those were dreams. We think they were just, checking up on you." "And you didn't tell me?" "We didn't want to worry you," said Chloe. "You were a child. You thought they were dreams. We didn't see any reason to convince you otherwise." "Plus, it hasn't happened in years, at least that you've told us about," said Nick. "We thought maybe they'd just, I dunno, gone away, forgot about us." Adora stood, tentatively taking her first steps in this strange yet familiar environment. "So why are we here? Now? Why did they bring us back?" Before either of her parents could postulate an answer, all three were enveloped in soft, blue lights. "Relax," Chloe instructed her daughter as the beams slowly separated them across the White Room. "Don't fight it. They won't hurt us." "I know, Mom. I've done this before, remember?" The beams scanned them for several minutes, flickering through various colors. Their ears hummed and tickled with each vibration shift. From nowhere, a voice all three were familiar with spoke. "Scan complete. Lifeforms still operating within acceptable parameters, but suffer from minor environmental contamination. Decontamination process commencing." Nick felt the familiar tingling sensation begin deep inside his body. "Hold on, Adora," he called out, "this may feel, strange." The three of them floated on invisible strings as the cleansing process ran through them, small clouds of dark particles emanating from their pores to transform into glowing gold specks as they floated upwards into nothingness. Then the lights went red. "No!" Nick cried, "Stop! Now!" "Why?" The Voice asked. "Previous research has found this experience causes pleasure in lifeforms. Do you no longer find such stimulation enjoyable?" "This is not the time," snapped Nick, fighting his already rising erection. "Release us! Please!" "As you wish." The lights went back to blue only long enough to safely lower them back to their platforms before they blinked off. "Dad?" What was that?" Adora asked, the crimson flush on her face and chest slowly fading. Nick leaned forward, trying to surreptitiously hide his arousal while deciding how to answer. Chloe noticed it with both amusement and concern. "Nothing," Nick finally answered. "At least nothing you need to worry about at the moment." "Hey," he continued, looking upward, addressing their abductors, "Not that it's not nice to see you guys again and all, but you wanna tell us what the hell is going on? Why are we here?" Nick didn't actually expect an answer. But he got one. "We have returned you to follow up on the results of our experiment. And to offer a proposition." "A proposition?" Chloe asked. "What do you want from us, and our daughter?" "She is ready. We wish to conjoin," the Voice answered. "Conjoin?" Nick echoed softly. "No. No way. You don't mean," "You are confused," the Voice responded. "It is understandable. It will be easier to show you." Without warning, a beam of brilliant white light enveloped Adora. Again her body was lifted from the platform. Jumping up, Chloe rushed towards her. "No! Don't you,” She froze in place mid-sentence, a blue light trapping her, distancing her from her daughter. Nick moved to intercept but was caught in his own light, now incapable of anything but watching. "Don't you hurt her," he threatened through clenched teeth. "Do not despair," said the Voice, its normally static tone now almost soothing. "This lifeform is precious to us. It will not be harmed." Chloe and Nick watched helplessly as Adora was moved to the center of the room. "It's okay," came her awestruck voice, "they're not hurting me. In fact, I feel,” The rest was cut off as the beam intensified, both in brightness and frequency. Descending from above, thousands of tiny white specks rained down over Adora, swirling around her like glowing snowflakes. After several moments, one of the flakes separated itself from the pack, landing on her forehead. Adora's eyes closed. Her head fell back as the tiny speck slowly absorbed into her and disappeared. The rest of the swirling cloud ascended, fading from view as the beam lowered Adora back to her platform and blinked off. Now freed as well, her parents again rushed to her side. "Adora? Are you okay? Wake up hunny," Chloe pleaded, desperately holding back her tears. Adora stirred. Wrapping her in his arms, Nick carefully guided her up. Her body trembled in his grasp. "Easy, sweetheart," he coaxed, "Just go slow. Take a deep breath. You're gonna be just fine." He hoped he sounded more confident than he felt. Hesitantly, Adora opened her eyes. Her normally soft hazel irises now sparkled with tiny white diamonds floating behind them. They were wide with wonder as she looked first at her father, then her mother. When she finally spoke, her voice rang with a familiar echo. "So this is what it feels like." Gagging, Adora lurched forward and vomited. Post-Conjoinment "Feeling better?" Chloe brushed back her daughter's hair from her face as she sat comforting her. "Yes," said Adora. "After suffering regurgitation due to initial reaction to conjoining, lifeform has resumed normal biological functions." "Good," snapped Nick, whirling from where'd he'd been pacing the floor, "So now you can tell me: What the hell have you done to our daughter?" Adora looked up at him, her face expressionless. "We have conjoined." Chloe gasped, finally understanding. "Get the hell out of her. Now!" Nick barked. "We are not hurting lifeform," the being now inside Adora spoke. "Conjoining is temporary. Lifeform is very precious to us. We will bring no harm to it, we assure you." "She is not an it," Nick seethed. "She's a human being, a unique individual, and her name is Adora. Please use it!" "Yes, of course. Our apologies. Adora. From your Latin. Loosely translated 'Beloved Gift.' Quite fitting." "Yes, we know that," Chloe snipped, "Now give us back our daughter!" "Mom? Dad? Don't worry, I'm here. I'm okay." The echo was gone from Adora's voice. "I can still see, still hear everything. It's, it's, I can't describe it. It's incredible!" Chloe burst into tears of relief. "I'm glad you're okay, sweetheart," said Nick softly. "But they can't stay inside you. They have no right." "We have every right!" the Being cried. "We are just as responsible for the creation of lifeform, of Adora, as you are!" "That doesn't give you the right to just waltz in and steal her body!" Nick yelled. "Now get out, or so help me, I'll,” Nick hadn't realized he'd raised his fist until he felt Chloe's hand on his arm. "What are you going to do, Nick?" she asked calmly, "Beat it out of her?" Nick dropped his head in shame. "No, of course not. I'm sorry. I just feel so,” "Helpless?" Chloe finished. "I know, my love. Me, too. But losing our heads won't solve this. There's got to be a better way." "Dad?" Adora was in control again. "Don't be angry, please. I'm okay, I promise. But, they, they need me." Nick knelt before her, taking her hand. "Need you?" He was calmer now, steadier for hearing her true voice. "Why?" "I, I think they're sick, Dad. I think they're, dying. And I want to help them." "Dying?" Chloe said, her face sympathetic. "How, how can you help?" "If you allow us, we can explain," answered the Being. Chloe and Nick sat to each side of their daughter, holding her close as the alien intelligence inside her began its tale. "Eons ago, we were much like you. Carbon based lifeforms, living on a planet very similar to yours. "Over time, we evolved. We shed our physical forms to become beings of pure energy. "This solved many problems. There were no more wars. No more things to fight and hurt each other over. No more famine. No more illness or suffering or death. "But as the millennia wore on, we forgot ourselves. Our individuality. Our uniqueness. We became a collective mind, a hive. "While we had knowledge, we had no purpose, no reason for being. We succumbed to ennui. We atrophied. We began to die off from the lack of will to exist. "Those who remained decided we must find a new way. Our knowledge had become too vast, too valuable to the universe, to simply go extinct. "And so it was decided we should create new lifeforms, new bodies which we could then inhabit, and use them to rediscover ourselves and our purpose for being. "We first attempted to create our own lifeforms. We were, unsuccessful. "We then decided to find existing lifeforms that might suit our purposes. Something we could use as a model, a template to work from. "We scoured the universe, looking for compatible lifeforms. After a long search, we found them." "Earth," Chloe gasped. "You found Earth. Us." "Yes," said the Being, "We discovered your world, your species." "But it was not an easy task. Your species was primitive, underdeveloped. Time was needed for you to grow, evolve. Time, and, on rare occasions, a little guidance in the proper direction." "So you were responsible for the evolution of the human race?" Nick asked with astonishment. "No. And yes. But only nominally. A tweak in development here. A minor correction of flaw there. But we could not solve every problem. We are many things, but we are not what you would call 'Gods.' "And so we waited, bided our endless time, and allowed nature to run its course. Until we thought you were ready. "Our first attempts at conjoining were unsuccessful. Both minds and bodies were too fragile. Further development was needed. "And so new experiments were conducted. Samples taken, studied, endlessly analyzed. We began collecting lifeforms, altering their genetic structure in much the same way we did yours. "The most complex problem was getting those with the proper genetic structures to breed. We would release a genetically enhanced being back into their environment, only for them to breed with a genetically deficient partner. Or worse, not procreate at all. "It was then that we decided to start matching two genetically compatible lifeforms together ourselves, in hopes we could convince them to procreate, to bring about a genetically superior offspring." "And that's when you chose us," Chloe said in wonder. "Oh, no," the Being laughed, the surprise of such a foreign reaction registering momentarily on Adora's face. "You were not the first. Nor the last. Only the most successful. So far, at least. There are others that look, promising." "Many test subjects would not willingly engage in the coitus needed to procreate. Others were, too willing, forcing themselves on the unwilling subject they were paired with. The results of those experiments were, discouraging. We regret them, and no longer allow that to occur." "Did, did you force us to fall in love? So that we would willingly create a child?" Nick asked, horrified. "Certainly not! We altered some brain patterns, allowing you both to proceed through the experiment without the shame your species has rather absurdly created around the concepts of sex and nudity. We also made adjustments so that you would experience less fear during the proceedings. We opened your minds so that you could see your true nature more clearly. And of course we stimulated both mind and body to increase sexual desire. "But force you to experience the emotion you call 'love?' No. That we cannot do. Love, we have found, must be freely given, received, and returned. It can never be truly forced." Noting that Nick still looked doubtful, the Being continued, "You both have remained happily bonded in the time since we last brought you here, yes? Most of our test subjects have not. Even the ones that formed amicable relationships by the end eventually realized they were drawn together more by the sexual stimuli than by any true feelings for one another. So do not fear that you were somehow, What's the term you use? Ah, yes. Brainwashed. We did not brainwash you. The emotional bond you have formed has strictly been of your own making." "So, why did you choose to pair us?" Chloe asked. "You were compatible." "You told us that before," said Nick, "when we first arrived. But that doesn't explain anything." "You humans, always wanting an answer for everything," the Being sighed, sounding aggravated for the first time. "We could spend the next century of your time explaining everything to you, and even with your mental capacity expanded as it now is, you would still be unable to grasp it all. Genetics, upbringing, environment, mental states, personalities; there are billions of different calculations that go into choosing who to pair. And even with all of that, we still got so many wrong. Can you not simply be happy with the fact that, in your case, we made the proper pairing, and leave it at that?" "We are happy you brought us together," said Nick, "and thankful for it. But you took a gamble with our lives, our mental well-being, for your little science project. And it wasn't exactly all sunshine and roses when we got back, either." "Sunshine and,? Ah, yes. An idiom. We understand. And we apologize for any, inconveniences we may have caused." "Tell that to my parents," Chloe grumbled. "I had one hell of a time trying to explain why their twenty-one year old daughter was suddenly putting her education and career goals on hold to marry a man twice her age she'd only just met and have his baby." "We struggled those first few years," Nick chimed in. "As close as we'd become during our time here, there were still adjustments we needed to make, things we needed to learn about each other. Sacrifices we needed to make for the sake of our child. And then there were those lingering doubts about just how much free will we'd had in the whole encounter. And that affected our relationship. We, we almost didn't make it." "But you did make it. And I have already explained that we did not influence or force your feelings of love towards one another." Nick was startled. "Did you just say 'I?'" "I do not understand the question." "There!" Nick exclaimed, "You just did it again! You said 'I,' not 'we.'" The Being using Adora's face looked at first confused, then contemplative. "So I did. Fascinating. Being separated from the collective is apparently beginning to affect my thought processes. An interesting development." "You're becoming an individual," said Chloe. "Starting to think, and feel, like us. I've noticed it several times before. You've expressed emotions when you spoke, something you never did before taking over Adora." "I have not 'taken over' your child. We share this mind and body willingly. If she had fought it, I would have been rejected." "It's true, Mom," Adora herself spoke. "I'm not being held captive. I can come forward, take back control, anytime I wish." "Good," said Nick, "then boot that thing out. I'm done with you being their little science project. I want to go home." "No," Adora said firmly. Nick flushed with anger. "Adora, sweetheart, listen. You may think you're in control, that you have free will. But how can you be sure? How can we? They could still be manipulating you without your knowledge." "You'll just have to trust me, Dad," Adora said calmly. "And trust, them? It? What exactly should we call you now?" The last part was directed, not at her father, but the Being inside her. "Interesting question." Nick could not help but be reminded of the conversations between Sméagol and Gollum in The Lord Of The Rings as the Being continued, "As a collective, we have never established individual identities. And while I am still part of that collective, I am now also an independent being. An interesting contradiction." "Well, we need to be able to call you something," said Adora. "If your goal is to learn how to become individual, physical lifeforms again, perhaps you should start by choosing a name." "A name? Ah, yes. A word or a combination of words by which a person, place or thing, a body or class, or any object of thought is designated, called, or known." "Yes," said Adora, "and names often have meanings, helping to identify characteristics of the object or person. Most of us don't get to choose our own names; they are given to us. But as your first act as an individual being, I think you should choose any name you like." The White Room was quiet for the moment as the Being contemplated this. "Very well, then. You may call me, Vanda." "Vanda? That's a lovely name," said Chloe. "Vanda, do you have a preferred gender pronoun you would like us to use?" Again the Being now called Vanda thought before answering. "Adora identifies as female, 'she' and 'her.' Since I am sharing her mind and body, I will also share that identification." "Then it's settled," said Nick. "Congratulations, Vanda. You have taken your first step in becoming more, human. So. What's next?" "I wish to return to your world with you. To experience what it is like living in a physical reality. To share in your experiences, to better understand them. I can then pass my findings on to the Collective." "For how long?" Chloe asked. "Unknown," replied Vanda. "I sense your concern. I assure you this arrangement will be temporary, unless agreed on by my host. Should Adora choose, she can send me away at any time. There is much we can learn from each other, given the chance. But neither I nor the Collective will force this upon your family. That would only taint our results and hinder our progress. The choice is yours. If you refuse, I will return to the Collective and we will move on, begin again. Although we would suffer a major setback in our efforts." "I want to help them," Adora spoke, coming forward, "I know you're both worried. I know you're scared. I am, too. But I also know I need to do this. I've wanted to help better our world for as long as I can remember. Now I have a chance to help, not just Vanda and her people, but ours as well. Think of what we could learn from them!" "You're an adult now, Adora," said Chloe. "You're free to make your own choices. If this is what you wish, your father and I will support you. Won't we, Nick?" Nick let out a long sigh. "Of course. Not that I see any alternative." "Thank you." Vanda actually sounded grateful. "I assure you, all I wish is to better understand what it is to be human." Nick gave a rough laugh. "Well, you know the old saying, or maybe you don't: Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it." Cumming is coming Nick woke in the dark of his bedroom to the sound of screams. Despite the coolness from the air conditioning, his body was soaked with sweat. He was alone. Chloe's side of the bed was empty. "Was I dreaming?" The scream echoed again, coming from Adora's room. Nick scrambled out of bed, naked as he'd always slept. He briefly considered grabbing a robe before dismissing it as the screams intensified, instead dashing down the hall to his daughter's room. Chloe was already there, still naked as well, her arms around Adora, attempting to comfort her. It was only then that Nick realized it wasn't Adora who was screaming. It was Vanda. "What's wrong?" Chloe was pleading. "Try and breathe. Just breathe. Tell us what's wrong." "Too much! It's too much!" Vanda repeated, trying to control her sobs, "I was not prepared! Too much input at once! Sights, smells, sounds! It's too,” Her face suddenly went placid, her eyes closed. When they opened again, it was Adora who spoke. "Sorry. I'm sorry if we scared you." "What happened?" Chloe asked. "I was unconscious for a few moments after we returned, and Vanda was alone in my body for the first time. "She wasn't ready. This environment, this world, is entirely new to her. At least actually being a physical part of it. She's experiencing things she's never experienced before. It frightened her. And that in itself was new and terrifying." "Is she okay?" Chloe asked. "Where is she now?" "She's, resting. Pulled back. I took over as soon as I woke up and realized she was overwhelmed. I think she's going to need a minute." "Yeah, well, now she knows how it feels to wake up in an entirely different reality," Nick snipped. "Oh, hush," Chloe chided him. "Don't be an asshole." Nick flushed but said no more. "Mom? Dad? I appreciate your concern, but I think I need to be alone with her for a while. Can you give us some privacy, please?" "Of course, dear." Chloe kissed her forehead. "We'll be right down the hall if you need us." As Nick and Chloe made their way to the door, Adora let out a soft laugh. "What's so funny?" Nick asked, turning to her. Adora gave him a crooked grin. "I guess we all still sleep naked, huh?" Nick noticed his daughter's bare breasts in the moonlight for the first time. "Yeah, I guess we do." Now alone, Adora turned her thoughts inwards, towards Vanda. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?" "Better, thank you." Adora smiled. "Good, I'm glad. Would you like to come forward again?" "Yes. But stay with me, please?" "Of course. I'll be right here." Tentatively, Vanda came forward. Again she was assaulted by a variety of sensations. She immediately pulled back. "I cannot do this." "Yes you can," coaxed Adora. "Tell you what; before you can deal with all the external stimulus, let's try focusing on the internal. Get you used to having a body." "What do you suggest?" "Hmm. Perhaps we should try mediation. Are you familiar with it?" "There are multiple definitions of the term meditation." "I know that, silly. Search my memory banks, you'll find what I'm referring to." "Ah, yes. I understand now. Meditation for reflection, relaxation, inner peace. I will try this." "Good. That's it. Close our eyes. Block out the visual input and just focus on the other senses. Concentrate on breathing. Take long, deep, slow breaths. Listen to our heartbeat. Feel it beating in our chest. Feel the rise and fall of our chest as we breathe. Hear the intake and exhale of air. Be in the moment. Don't think, just feel." Vanda followed Adora's coaching. Now upright on the bed, she sat cross-legged, arms folded across her lap, mimicking the pose she had seen in Adora's memory. "You do this often?" "Yes. Whenever I'm stressed or overwhelmed. Now, hush. Concentrate." Vanda fell silent, as did Adora, although she could sense her host nearby, ready to come forward again if needed. After several minutes, Adora spoke softly. "How are you feeling?" Vanda hesitated before answering. "Feeling" was still such a new concept to her, and she had to search for the proper words. "I feel, fine. Relaxed. Peaceful. And, itchy?" Adora laughed. Vanda found the sound of it pleasant. "Go ahead and scratch if you need to." Vanda scratched at their nose absently. "Hey, not so rough!" Adora objected. "Watch the fingernails!" "My apologies. I am still getting used to moving this body. Did I harm you?" "No, it's fine. Ready to try something else?" "Yes." "Then open our eyes." Slowly, Vanda opened their eyes. The room was dark, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming through the window. Vanda cautiously looked around, making out various shapes, putting names to them from Adora's memory; chair, dresser, lamp, mirror. Her eyes darted back to the mirror when she saw movement, and after a quick memory search, understood it to be their reflection. "That is, you? Us?" "Yes." "I, I wish to see us more clearly." "Of course." Vanda awkwardly scooted her borrowed body across the bed. Finding her feet, she wobbled slightly, Adora helping to steady her as she stood. Shuffling slowly across the room, she stopped in front of the full length mirror beside the dresser. Although the moonlight was faint, Vanda could see herself clearly. "Your body is quite pleasing to look at," said Vanda softly. "Thank you. But it's your body now, too." "May I touch it?" "Of course. Just, again, be mindful of the fingernails." Vanda raised her hands to her face, exploring the high, well defined cheekbones, the bridge of her dainty nose, the curve of her jaw and chin. Continuing their journey, her hands moved along her neck and well-rounded shoulders. Moving lower, she ran her hands over her breasts. The sensation brought on by the touch made her shiver. "This is, pleasure?" "A form of it, yes. It can feel good to touch ourselves." "Yes, we have observed this behavior in your species before. Manual stimulation of specific nerve endings causing an increase of endorphins and,” "Stop analyzing everything and just focus on the feelings." Vanda continued to explore her breasts, marveling at the contrast between the softness of her skin and the firmness of the flesh beneath it. Her nipples swelled as her fingers gently tugged at them, sparking a warm flush that flowed down through her abdomen into her loins. "We are, leaking fluids?" "Yes. You're getting wet. Very normal." "There is a throbbing sensation in our, clitoris." "Yes. My nipples are very sensitive. Your touching them is causing us to become sexually aroused." "A fascinating sensation. May I continue?" "Please do." "I am, unsure how to proceed." "Access my memories. Use them as a guide. You'll figure it out." Although Adora was still cognizant of everything Vanda was doing, she had pulled back enough to allow Vanda to be in complete control, the main recipient of the sensations now coursing through their body. Still, she could sense as Vanda moved her hands along her flat, toned belly, pausing at her pubic mound to explore the soft tuft of hair covering it. "Our heart rate has increased. Our breathing, shallow and irregular." "All very normal. Just relax, don't be afraid. Trust me, you're going to enjoy this." Vanda moved her hand lower, finding the folds of her sex organs. Mindful of the warning Adora had given about the sharp appendage at the tip, she carefully dipped a finger into the slick cleft. Her body convulsed from the shockwave that ran through her. "Oh! This is, !" Vanda could not find the words. None of them seemed to fit. During their experiments, she had observed humans engaging in this strange ritual of self-pleasure multiple times, finding it interesting yet confusing, as it served no ultimate purpose in human procreation methods. Now, she understood. The sensations she now identified as sexual arousal coursed through her, interfering with her ability to think clearly. Instead, her mind raced with various images, flickering with no discernable pattern; human males and females in various states of undress, engaging in a variety of sexual acts. Intermixed with these were even more confusing imaginings; the warmth of sunshine, the sounds of surf crashing along a beach, the feel of a gentle breeze. The taste of something called "ice cream." Her fingers moved freely along her feminine parts, savoring each new sensation brought forth from exploring the soft, delicate folds of her inner and outer labia. Instinctively (or, perhaps with Adora's subliminal coaching) she drew up the creamy moisture seeping from her vaginal opening to lubricate the increasingly stimulated flesh. Her knees buckled, only saved from falling over by Adora, coming forward quickly to steady her. "What, what just happened?" "You were close to cumming." "Coming?" "Orgasm. You almost had an orgasm." "Ah, yes. An orgasm. A climax of sexual excitement, characterized by feelings of pleasure centered in the genitals and,” "You're over analyzing again." "I am sorry. It is in my nature. Shall I proceed?" "Yes. But maybe this will be easier, and safer, on the bed." "Agreed. The soft material of your mattress should eliminate further risk of potential, You are laughing. What are you finding humorous?" "Nothing. Never mind. Let's go lay down." Back on the bed, head resting comfortably on the pillow, her hand again slipped between her legs. Her hot, almost pulsing sex organs eagerly responded to her touch. "There are, so many ways, to bring pleasure, so many, various types of, touch. It is, difficult to decide, how to,” "Don't overthink it. Focus on what feels best and just go with it." "Can you not at least guide me?" "Look into my memories, if you must. But this will be a much better learning experience for you if you figure it out on your own." Vanda sighed, frustrated. Taking a few long, deep breaths to calm herself, she began again. Her fingers slid easily along the length of her cleft, sticky and slippery, the soft petals of her labia parting to make way for them. The tip of her forefinger found the entrance to her vaginal canal, sending another sharp jolt of almost electric energy through her. Vanda knew from her research that female humans found penetration highly stimulating; whether digitally, the male sex organ, or one of the endless variety of phallic objects they used for such purposes. But of course she had no personal experience in such things. She shivered in anticipation as her finger continued its journey inside her, marveling at both the warmth and wetness. An involuntary moan escaped her lips as she stopped, knuckle deep, then wiggled her digit slowly inside the tight space. Drawing both from Adora's memory and her own observations, Vanda slowly pumped her finger in and out, creating a wet, sucking sound she found both amusing and arousing. Her entire body felt flushed with a beautiful, enveloping warmth, flowing like waves of energy within her. The waves increased in speed and intensity, and Vanda had a moment to think of the light beams the Collective had developed to sexually stimulate their human test cases before her body suddenly shook with uncontrollable tremors. The moans she'd been unable to control grew louder, increasing in volume and tempo until her voice burst from within her in pure bliss. Every muscle tensed, and her legs clenched around her hand like a vise. As the waves slowly receded, her breathing steadied and her pulse slowed. "Was that?" "Yes. Congrats. Not bad for a first timer." "I want another." Again, Vanda heard Adora laugh inside their head. "I thought you might. I usually do, too. While an internal orgasm is nice, I usually cum best by, Oh, here, let me help you." Vanda felt Adora come forward, not taking full control, only just enough to guide her movements. Her anticipation rose as her fingers landed over her clitoris. It throbbed under her touch as she rubbed it in a steady, circular motion. Gentle pushes from Adora helped her set the pace, apply the right pressure, and occasionally remember to re-lubricate her fingers with the liquids still dripping steadily from her. Vanda caught a brief mental image in Adora's mind and without thinking, mimicked the suggestion. Bringing her fingers to her lips, she popped them in her mouth. The flavor of her wetness danced on her tongue. As it was her first experience with taste, she had nothing to compare it to. All she knew was that it certainly was not unpleasant, and served to take her sense stimulation to new heights. Her fingers returned to her aching sex; rubbing, flicking, even smacking at it lightly, all under Adora's subtle guidance. The sound of her moans echoed through the room as if from a distance. Again she felt the waves of pure, sensual energy pulse through her, building in intensity as her pace quickened. For the first time in her long existence, Vanda's mind went completely blank, filled now only with vague imagery and an overwhelming compulsion for more, more, more of this wonderful, intoxicating, almost overwhelming feeling. Colors swam before her eyes as the hot waves of pure pleasure burst forth from her like a star gone supernova. Her body bucked uncontrollably, the bed rocking as her moans became cries, punctuated by one last high pitched squeal before collapsing to the bed in a limp heap. Eyes closed, Vanda basked in the calm aftermath. The room was silent save for her breathing, slowly returning to normal, along with her racing heartbeat. A light sheen of sweat coated her skin, sending a shiver through her as it registered the cool air circulating through the room blowing lightly over it. Vanda felt moisture leaking from her eyes and, her mind now coming back to her, recognized she was experiencing yet another emotion. Happiness. "Thank you, Adora," she said, finding her voice. "Thank you for sharing that with me. As first experiences living in a physical body go, I do not think I could have possibly conceived of a better one." "I'm glad you enjoyed it," said Adora. "I did, too." "Is this experience, these orgasms, are they just as pleasurable with a sexual partner?" "Depends on who you're with, but generally, yes. Even better, sometimes." "I would like to try that." "I bet you would," Adora laughed. "Let's put a pin in that for now, though. It's late, and it's been a pretty exhausting night." "Yes. I am sensing we require what you call sleep." Vanda experienced her first yawn, punctuating her words. She felt Adora slowly slipping down into the depths of unconsciousness. Suddenly, she was afraid. "Adora?" "Yes?" "Will I dream?" "Probably." "Will we dream together?" "I don't know. Let's find out." "Do not, don't go too far. I am, comforted, by your presence." "Don't worry. I'll be right here." To be continued in part 4. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed. I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white. [[MORE]] Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them. "Okay," I thought, "so I'm not dead. I'm still in my body. And I don't think I'm dreaming. But that doesn't mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up." I tried to sit up but couldn't. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations. With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control. Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness. I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained. Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I'd been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges. Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn't see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin. My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings. It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner. Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn't grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began. I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform. It was only then that I realized I was completely naked. "Where, the hell, am I?" My voice was a shaky rasp. That's when the screaming started. Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own. Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I'd woken up on. Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality. She was as naked as I was. "Hey! Hey!" I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic. Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out. The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman's. Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point. I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman's side. She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes. Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing. Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I'd just run a marathon. Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents. Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I'd likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain. Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me. "Hello?" Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper. The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright. She was looking directly at me. "Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What's going on?" Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question. Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. "My name's Nick. I'm sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what's happening either." Her body trembled uncontrollably. "Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?" Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried. I tried to reassure her. "Listen, I didn't bring you here. And I'm not going to hurt you. I'm just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax." She gave no indication she'd heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She'd probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had. I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs. ----------------------------------------- When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me. She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her. "Where, are we?" she asked. I shrugged. "I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I've ever seen. If you can even call it a room." "It, hurts my brain," she grimaced. "I can barely look at it. If you weren't here to focus on, I think I'd go mad trying to comprehend it." Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. "I'm Chloe." "Hello, Chloe, I'm Nick. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings. That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?" "I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here. It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here." Chloe nodded slowly. "I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor's house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming." I've always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. "So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?" "Sacramento, California. You?" "Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It's not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?" Her face twisted in thought. "It was, Friday. September 10th. I don't remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?" My brain did some quick math. "That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It's a three hour time zone difference." Her eyes went wide with comprehension. "We were taken at the same time." "Yeah, but that's impossible. Unless,” I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?" There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off. "We Are Here." The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all. At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling. Chloe was screaming again. A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe's screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum. My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings. Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence. Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I'd never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating. Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once. Across from me, Chloe's eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss. The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. "We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here." The Voice was softer this time. It wasn't exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren't quite emotionless. Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question. "We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us." I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?" "You are compatible." "Compatible? What, what does that mean?" "You are compatible," The Voice repeated. Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move. Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I'd not known since my youth. Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you've ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won't come close to the sensations I was experiencing. Chloe's light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves. I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically. Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex. Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling. I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I'd ever felt. Chloe's moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn't tell if she was still conscious or not. My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I'd already left beneath me. The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased. Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful. I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly. Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep. I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself. ‐-------------------------------------------------- I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier. Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. "Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is," she laughed. "How are you feeling?" Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I've never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before." "I know, it's crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great." Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point. Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control. It took a moment to realize she was speaking. "So I'm assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It's not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?" "No, you're not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened." Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I'd released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe's scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible. Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. "This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don't. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I've ever felt, and, I want, I want to feel that again." "Me, me too," I stammered. "Jesus, what did they do to us?" Chloe's hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder. ----------------------------------------- Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other's story. I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine. She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn't pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I'd never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this. That led our conversation towards our predicament. "So, you think we will get out of here?" Chloe asked. "Well, sure," I said, "I mean, we have to believe that, right?" She nodded without conviction. "It's, it's gotta be aliens, right?" She looked almost embarrassed to say it. "I mean, what else could it be?" "Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ", but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream." "Plus, normally," I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. "No, never mind." "What? Come on, finish your thought," Chloe insisted. "Ok, but it's kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part," I finished sheepishly. Chloe burst into peals of laughter. "So that's how you know this is real?" Her laugh wasn't cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged. "Sorry," she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, "I wasn't laughing at you, just," "It's okay, I get it. I'm happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,” "Scream," she finished for me. We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn't shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn't about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex. "What do you think they meant by 'compatible?'" Chloe asked. "No idea," I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don't know." "I suppose we could ask them, but I don't think they're here right now." "Me either. They feel, absent, somehow." Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. "God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish. Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I'd always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman's arousal. I'd convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes. I'd been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe's thighs, but now it was all I could think about. Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too," she said in a bemused tone. She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I'd gotten an erection. I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder. "Shit! Chloe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for," Her soft voice stopped me. "It's okay, it's not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn't ask to be here." She gestured around the room. "This whole thing is crazy! I don't know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it's like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that's nothing compared to what they did to my body." Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. "I'm just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your," her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it's like somebody threw a switch or something." Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously. Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure. Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously. Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can't help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won't mind." I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions. I'd been masturbating since the day I'd found a Playboy magazine in my dad's nightstand, but this was like nothing I'd ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn't possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way. My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole. Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace. Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh. Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering. I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves. Chloe's moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her. Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest. Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive. "I've, never been, this wet," she gasped, "I'm, gonna cum again." Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ. I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer. I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe's lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication. My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other's ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust. Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided. Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids. We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience? Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum. Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure. We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We'd never determined how high up the room went.) Gradually, they disappeared. "What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape. I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!" I shouted towards the unknown. "Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!" There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply. I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us. ---------------------------------------- I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform. I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn't recall. Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. "Did, did you move, or did I?" "Dunno," I shrugged. "Maybe they moved us while we slept." "We seem to sleep a lot since we've been here," she mused, "but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving." Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point. "Yeah, me too," I chuckled. "Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats' delivers here?" Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. "Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while." As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us. The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided. But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much. With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I'd ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid. Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I'd felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn't cause pain. As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we'd seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view. I can't even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment. Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel. The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released. I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. "Holy shit," she gasped. "That was amazing!" I stood and addressed the ceiling. "Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?" I didn't truly expect an answer. But I got one. "Nourishment. Purification." The Voice responded. "Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification. "Purification." The Voice repeated. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective." "Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?" "Optimal compatibility." "I don't understand!" I yelled at our invisible captor. "Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function," The Voice repeated. "Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable." "What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?" I asked, calmer this time. "Conjoining," answered The Voice. "What the hell does that mean?" I asked, although I had my suspicions. I received no answer. Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. "Hey, it's okay, don't be afraid, we'll be alright." She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. "No, you don't understand," she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, "I think, no, I know. They, they cured me." I was, of course, confused. Once she'd calmed herself, she explained. "I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I've actually been in remission for a while now. I haven't experienced any symptoms since I've been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification', I felt it. I can't explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God," Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew. I simply sat there, stunned, and held her. Optimal Health While I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the "Nourishment and Purification" process. My initial thought had been that "purification" simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I'd felt no urges to relieve myself since I'd been here. But if Chloe's revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems. Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I'd had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I'd had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin. My stomach looked flatter, like I'd lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I'd not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we'd been there. I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with. I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck. I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I'd still need them. I couldn't be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general. I felt less bloated than usual, like I'd been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste. Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade. Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone. "What else can you see or feel that's different?" I asked her. "Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?" Chloe looked at her abdomen. "My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don't have any birthmarks or moles, except," she paused, blushing a little, "I have this, mole. On my ass. It's low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I've always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?" Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom. I couldn't help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so. "Are you sure? It's kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek." Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open. I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her. Instead, I stammered, "Um, no, no mole. I guess it's gone." Chloe sat back down. "So strange," she mused, "I wonder why they're fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by," Her voice trailed off with a giggle. "Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you." I didn't understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I'd gotten without even realizing it. "Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional," I apologized with an embarrassed grin. Chloe's smile was warm and kind. "I know. But you're a man, you can't help looking. And I'm okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It's, flattering. With all we've been through so far, it's only natural that you'd want sex after having my bare ass in your face." "Look, Chloe, I'd never presume to," Chloe cut me off. "I know. You've been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you've never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can't be easy for you." "Actually, it's very easy for me," I stated firmly, "because I'd never touch a woman who didn't want to be touched. Period." Chloe nodded appreciatively. "Thank you." She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. "Being honest, I'm actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I'd be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it." My eyes lit up. "I'd love that, but only if you're sure," I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure. Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes. My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side. To be continued in part 2. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

An optimal libido. By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. "You can touch me if you'd like," Chloe encouraged softly. I was more than happy to take her firm flesh in my hand. She sighed with contentment as I gently massaged her, her nipple hardening between my fingers. We had no lubrication, but Chloe's hand was soft and smooth on my shaft, her touch gentle and caring. She seemed to know instinctively how I liked to be touched, applying just the right pressure on the upstrokes, with a slight twist of the wrist that sent shivers through me with each stroke. [[MORE]] "This is nice," Chloe said, "I don't often get to take my time doing this. Most times it's just a prelude to, other things." "I'm more than happy with just this. You're very good at it. It feels amazing." "I'm glad you like it. I'm happy to do this for you." With a smile, her face turned up towards mine, and we shared our first, tender kiss. Chloe's grip on my cock changed. Taking my shaft between her thumb and forefinger at the base, she squeezed gently, pulling the loose flesh upwards towards my swollen glans. Her remaining three fingers gently brushed across my balls in a light, almost ticklish touch. She continued this movement with each upstroke, stimulating the sensitive nerve endings of my scrotum. I broke our kiss with a gasp. "How did you know I like to be touched like that? That feels incredible!" Chloe smiled and shrugged. "I don't know. It just, felt right." Resting her head back on my shoulder, her eyes flickered back and forth, watching her hand stroke my cock and checking my face to gauge my reaction. Chloe chatted while she continued the handjob. "It's so strange. I don't consider myself a prude, but I certainly don't sleep around a lot. I'd normally have to date a guy several weeks before we went this far. Even if I wanted him long before that. You start worrying and overthinking it. If I move too fast, will he think I'm a slut and dump me? If I wait too long, will he think I'm not interested? Do I make the first move, or wait for him? You can drive yourself crazy with it." She laughed as she continued, "Maybe it's whatever they did to us with the lights, maybe it's just this situation as a whole, I don't know. I just know all that is gone, and it's nice to be able to do something sexual without guilt or anxiety or overthinking everything." "Guys deal with that as well, but probably not to the same extent," I said. "I've always felt a little guilty while getting a handjob or a blowjob. Like I was supposed to be doing something to please my partner too; that if I wasn't, I was being selfish. Or I'd worry that she wasn't really into it, only doing it out of obligation because she wasn't in the mood for sex." Chloe looked up at me earnestly. "I want and expect nothing else from you but to enjoy this, freely given. Because I want to." "I know," I said, "and it's, refreshing." "It is," said Chloe, "and fun." Her hand continued to work my cock playfully, teasingly, exploring different touches, different grips. She'd run her fingers lightly up the underside of my shaft, then linger to tease the sensitive part just under the tip, then back down the shaft, continuing to my balls, which she handled with a feathery touch. She'd grip it firmly and stroke for a while, feeling it swell close to exploding, then back off just before the point of no return, going back to her more delicate touches. Just as my penis was becoming a bit sensitive, Chloe spit in her palm; once, twice, three times, then rubbed the warm saliva over my head and shaft, lubricating it. I was beginning to think she was literally reading my mind. She seemed to know what I needed before I did, knew exactly how I liked to be touched; knew when to slow down, speed up, and back off when I was close to cumming. It was the most pleasurable torture I'd ever endured. Sensing my need for release, Chloe's hand began long, full strokes up and down my shaft, adding the little twist and squeeze at the top over the tip with each upstroke. "Relax," she whispered in my ear, "let it happen. I know you want to, I can feel it. I want it too." My cock swelled in her hand, my testicles tight, ready to release their load. I felt the orgasmic wave building, slowly but inevitably towards climax. My body tensed and I groaned uncontrollably. My cum erupted in hot thick streams that shot straight up, coming back down to coat Chloe's hand over my cock. Her pace never changed, my cum now added lubrication that increased the intensity of her touch. Chloe leaned in and kissed me behind my ear, her warm lips and tongue sending a shudder of delight through my body as she continued to milk my shaft. Her grip gradually relaxed and slowed in time with the final spurts of spunk that continued to bubble up from the tip. I remained hard for several minutes afterwards, but sensing how sensitive I now was, Chloe's touch was very soft, her fingers stroking back and forth tenderly as my cock continued to twitch, finally removing her hand just as it became too much to bear. "Chloe," I gasped softly, catching my breath, "Thank you. That was wonderful." "It was." Her face shone with a content, satisfied look. "I enjoyed that very much as well." I held her close, and was just about to kiss her again when I felt the tingling begin. Again I saw, and felt, my ejaculate slowly dissolving from my skin, turning into little gold particles of light, and disappearing. "Why do you think they do that?" wondered Chloe. "I don't know." While I'd had my suspicions, I decided to keep them to myself for now. Chloe plopped herself down on her back, her head resting on my thigh, staring thoughtfully up at the white nothingness above us. My sexual appetite sated for the moment, I could not help but still admire her beauty as she lay unselfconscious below me, her attractive nude body openly displayed. Chloe saw me admiring her, and grinned. "I'm no exhibitionist, but it's funny how fast I got used to being naked. It certainly is comfortable. If our captors beamed in clothes for us right now, I don't think I'd bother putting them on." "I suppose the lights may have had something to do with that as well," I mused. "Do you think they're controlling our minds?" Chloe frowned. "I don't think so. I mean, I know they've altered our minds. Took away our fears. Made us less inhibited. But I don't feel like I'm being controlled. Everything I've done with you since waking up here has been my choice. Or at least it feels like it has." I decided to fill her in on my suspicions. "Chloe, look, I need to tell you something. Something you may not like hearing. I've been thinking about why we're here. I believe our captors want us to, well, breed." "I've been trying to piece it together from everything that's happened, and the few things they've said. I'm not entirely sure, but it makes sense. They capture two humans, male and female, and cage us together. They use their technology to sexually stimulate us, remove our inhibitions and fears, bringing us closer together. They're purifying our bodies to remove imperfections. They're collecting D N A samples. They talked about 'optimal life form function' and 'optimal compatibility,' and I think they're trying to create the best conditions in which to, conceive." Chloe's eyes went wide. "Conjoining. That's what they said, right? Oh my God, they want us to make a baby." I nodded. "That's the only thing that makes sense. Although why us, and for what reason, I haven't a clue." Chloe looked thoughtful, but didn't speak. I continued, calmly, "I'm telling you this because I thought you should know, but I also want you to understand something else. I think you're absolutely beautiful, and I can't pretend I'm not sexually attracted to you. And I, well, I know we don't know each other very well yet, but I, care about you. "I don't know if you feel the same way, or find me attractive at all, and it's okay if you don't. Just know that while yes, I'd be interested in making love with you, I'd never, never try anything if you're not willing. And I'd certainly never force a pregnancy on you. I don't give a fuck what these alien assholes want, they can't make me rape you. I'd rather die first. I'll fight them tooth and nail on that, I promise you." "I don't think it will come to that," Chloe said. "Why not?" "Because, when the time is right, I, I think I'll want to." I looked down at her, stunned. Chloe continued, her voice calm but serious. "Don't ask me how I know this, because I can't explain it, at least not yet. But I think you're right. I also think we're supposed to wait for, well, the right moment. I think we'll just know. I don't know how we'll know, but we will. "And I know they won't make you force me, that when the moment comes, I'll give myself to you willingly." My mouth opened, but she raised a finger to my lips, stopping me. "Like I said, don't ask. I don't know. It's just, instinct." "Oh, and by the way, I do, you know," Chloe added. "Do, what?" I asked, confused. Chloe bit her lip as she smiled up at me. "Care about you. Find you attractive." With a yawn, she folded her hands across her stomach, and, closing her eyes, drifted off to sleep. I sat there, caressing her hair, my mind racing with her final words, and the mystery of it all. Sleep didn't take me until much later. ------------------------------------------- I awoke in the same position, happy to find Chloe still dozing peacefully in my lap. Normally, I'd be stiff and sore from sleeping upright for, well, however long it had been, but my now alien altered body felt perfectly fine. I wondered if They used the beams on us while we slept as well, because every time I woke, I felt fresher and stronger than before. Chloe stirred beneath me, stretching her arms out above her head. Intentionally or not, she was giving me a wonderful view of her nude, lithe body; her curved breasts, her toned abdomen, it's well defined muscles pointing their way down towards her rounded pubic mound, covered by its soft patch of neatly trimmed hair. Her eyes opened, and she greeted me cheerfully. "Hey, you. Did you sleep?" "I did. Surprisingly well, considering." "I'm glad they didn't separate us this time. It's nice waking up next to you," She smiled warmly, then sat up to give me a tender kiss. The kiss may have led to more, but we were interrupted by the humming sound as the lights enveloped us again. We were carefully separated and lifted into position, facing each other. Neither of us tried to fight it; there was no point and besides, we understood that whatever happened this time, it would be a positive experience. The lights went through several cycles, starting with the usual blue, calm and relaxing, preparing us for whatever came next. Then came the nourishing and purification processes, feeding our green lit bodies and purging them of wastes and toxins. The room was filled with little gold lights drifting upwards. A new sensation began as the lights turned orange. My muscles were stimulated, flexing and vibrating under my skin. It felt like getting a workout and a deep muscle massage at the same time. As with the other processes we'd been put through, there was nothing painful about it, other than those good aches you get when a knot in a particularly tight muscle gets worked out. "This is new," Chloe marveled. "Sure beats going to the gym," I joked. How long this went on I couldn't say; it could have continued forever as far as I was concerned. Eventually, though, the lights and frequency changed, bringing on yet another new sensation. This one, in my mind. I saw memories, long since forgotten, now clear and vivid. Random memories, tracing backwards through my life. The name of the band on a flier hanging in the men's room at a bar I got plastered at on my 40th birthday. The shirt color of the guy who held the door for me the day I showed up at the studio to do my first voice commercial. The name of that cute girl I had a crush on in 5th grade. Suckling at my mother's breast as an infant. Memories ebbed and flowed through my mind, some good, some bad, but even the traumatic ones were somehow comforting. They were parts of my life, long buried, now returned to me. But it wasn't just personal memories returning. It was facts and knowledge. Things I'd been taught in school, long since unused, were now fresh in my brain. I'd always been terrible at math, barely passed it back in high school. But I could see math equations, algebra, geometry, things I'd struggled to comprehend, now plain and clear in their simple truths. They were making us smarter. Or at the very least, unlocking things in our brains that were already there, long forgotten. Just when it became a bit too overwhelming, the lights shifted again. Red. Chloe was already grinning at me. "Here we go. I was hoping for this again!" The now familiar sexual stimulation once again worked its magic on our bodies and minds. The first time we'd experienced this, I'd had no actual mental fantasies, my mind far too preoccupied with trying to understand what was happening. Now though, I was not just feeling the physical pleasure, but envisioning the scenarios that would create such ecstasy in my mind. And in my visions, I saw Chloe. The sexual fantasy played out more vividly than any dream I'd ever had, flashing and changing at random: Chloe and I, our nude bodies entwined, caressing and touching each other intimately. Chloe before me, on her knees, performing an enthusiastic blowjob, her gorgeous eyes looking up at me with lust and joy. Chloe on top, riding my cock, her breasts bouncing in rhythm with our movements. Chloe beneath me, her long legs wrapped around my back, fingernails dug into my flesh, moaning my name as I thrust into her over and over. My eyes opened to see Chloe, the real Chloe, floating across from me. She met my gaze and smiled. And I knew. She was imagining being with me too. We climaxed at the same time, the red lights bringing us to climax, the comforting blue then easing us back down to normalcy. Chloe ran to me the moment she was released. Straddling my lap, she kissed me urgently. I was taken aback only a moment before my arms wrapped around her, holding and supporting her weight, excited to feel her body so close now to mine. She broke the kiss, her eyes a wild fire of passion. "I need you to fuck me! Right now! How fast can you recover?" My cock was already hard, twitching beneath her. Without hesitation, she reached down and guided it towards her already slick sex. "Fuck, that's deep," she moaned as she plunged down upon me. We exchanged no further words. Chloe leaned into me, her face slightly above mine, almost nose to nose. Her long hair hung down around my face, our eyes locked in a passionate stare. Chloe didn't ride my shaft so much as rock back and forth on it, my cock remaining deep inside her, stimulated from her movements. My hands went to her ass, partly to enjoy the feel of it, but also to keep her from slipping off of me. Her vaginal walls tightened and contracted with each motion, and I could feel the heat of her radiate along my swollen shaft. She was cumming within moments, her juices running down my balls, pooling under me, hot and sticky. The scent of her arousal flooded my nostrils, making me lightheaded with it. Her pace never slowed even as a second orgasm took her, then a third, and a fourth. She fucked me like woman possessed. Hands gripping my shoulders, she leaned the full weight of her body back, now riding me proper, working her hips, her cunt sliding up and down on my cock in quick thrusts, leaving my shaft glistening with her cream. She let go of one shoulder, trusting my strong arms to support her weight. Her free hand found her clit, attacking it viciously. Her breasts bounced freely, soaked with sweat. Her eyes never broke contact with mine and her face twisted with delight as yet another climax approached. Chloe squealed as her vaginal muscles spasmed, the hot spray of her ejaculate forcing its way past my cock, coating my thighs. With a wail of pleasure, she pushed herself off me, collapsing to the floor, panting for breath. Chloe looked up at me, breathing heavily. "I'm, sorry, I'm just, spent." I answered by taking my cock, still slick and dripping with her juices, and started stroking steadily. Soon enough, I felt my own climax rapidly approaching. Chloe positioned herself between my legs, slipping her lips around the head of my cock just as the first blast erupted. She formed a tight seal around my glans, sucking greedily as I continued to jerk my spunk into her eager mouth, swallowing every drop. Her eyes mirrored what I'd seen earlier in my vision, glowing with joy and desire. Finished, I slid down to the floor beside her. Our exertions had left us hot, sweaty, and exhausted, but also satisfied and content. We lay together, cuddling. That was fucking incredible," gasped Chloe, still catching her breath. "It was," I agreed, "although I'm a little surprised. I thought you said we were supposed to wait." "I did," she agreed. "But I realized during this session under the lights that it wasn't about waiting to have sex. It's not like I'm a virgin. I think we're waiting to, conceive." "Well I don't think what you did there at the end is the way to go about it," I joked. She didn't laugh. "I suppose I need to tell you something," Chloe said, turning serious. "You're the first man I've let fuck me without a condom. And, I've never let anyone cum inside me before." My eyes were wide with surprise as she explained. "My mother raised me to be more than a little paranoid about getting pregnant or catching a disease. Maybe because she had me at an early age. But now, with my head so clear and free from my doubts and fears, I think I truly understand the real reason. "I think I was afraid of intimacy, and letting a guy cum inside me is about the most intimate act I can imagine. So I always made my boyfriends wear condoms, and had them pull out before they came. "Oh I made good excuses for it, and got good at swallowing, or encouraging them to cum on my face or body. And none of my few relationships lasted long enough for it to ever really become an issue anyway. "During that part under the lights, when They opened up our minds, brought back old memories, I saw my past relationships in a totally different way. And I realized I was responsible for their failures, because my fear wasn't really physical intimacy, but emotional intimacy." "We can't put all the blame on ourselves for past failures when it comes to relationships," I said. "I know enough about my personal flaws even before all of this to understand I'm not perfect, but my divorce wasn't entirely my fault either." "Oh, I'm not laying all the blame on myself either," she replied. "Just, I don't know. I think I understand myself a little better now. I mean, even with us, just now, I pulled you out at the last second, right? Not because I thought you were supposed to wait to cum in me, but because I still just wasn't ready for it yet." "I get it. And I'm not upset or disappointed about it. We're still getting to know and trust each other. It's okay if you're not comfortable enough with me yet for that." "It's not you, it's me," she said, laughing at how cliché that sounded. "I guess I still need to work through some things. But don't think I don't have feelings for you, care about you, because I do." "I care about you too, very much," I said. "We can wait, it's okay. If and when you're ready, you can let me know. And if not, that's okay too. I'd understand. Cumming inside you isn't important to me; your comfort and feelings are." Chloe smiled appreciatively. "Thank you. That means a lot." We lay quietly, side by side for a few minutes. Then a question popped into my head that I felt compelled to ask. "So you never had a guy inside you without a condom until just now? Never, you know, played 'Just The Tip,' or let him enter you for a while before putting the condom on?" "Nope. Never," she answered, matter of factly. "So, how do you feel now that you've done it?" "I'm fine with it, actually. To be honest, I barely noticed the difference. It was a rather selfish fuck of me, I'm afraid. I wasn't really thinking, just, feeling. Pure lust and instinct. I hope you didn't feel too detached." "Not at all," I assured her. "Look, let's face it. Our captors, for whatever reasons, are at least influencing our emotions and feelings, if not outright controlling our actions. Those lights get us both pretty fucking worked up; I don't think anyone else not in our position could understand. "But by removing our inhibitions, our hang-ups, all those things we stress and worry over and second guess, they've given us the freedom to act on pure desire and instinct, without fear of negative repercussions. You saw what you wanted and took it. I gave it willingly. We were both satisfied. As long as I know you're okay with what we've done, I have no regrets or misgivings." Chloe turned to me and smiled. "Me either. I'm more than okay with what happened. And while I'm still sorting a few things out, I think, sooner than later, I'll wind up breaking my other rule with you." ----------------------------------------- We spent the next several waking periods ("day" and "night" were irrelevant and immeasurable in the White Room) alternating between sessions under the lights and simply bonding together. They hadn't used the red lights on us for some time now, and our sex drives had settled down considerably. Although there were several times I'd masturbate out of sheer boredom, and the simple need to release. Sometimes Chloe joined in, but often she'd simply watch. There was no pressure from me for her to do anything more. When she was ready, I had no doubts she would let me know. I felt no awkwardness about masturbating in front of her, no shame or embarrassment at all. The first time was two sleep cycles after our heated coupling. Chloe and I were laying side by side on the floor, talking, sharing stories and memories, when it happened; I got an erection. There was no reason for it that I could pinpoint. Chloe was of course both naked and beautiful, but we'd both become completely comfortable together in our nudity. Perhaps I was subconsciously admiring her body as we talked. Maybe it was a buildup of hormones. Or perhaps it was just a random boner that most guys stop getting by the time they hit their thirties. Chloe actually noticed it before I did. "Somebody's awake," she said humorously. "Huh? Oh. Weird. I wasn't even thinking about sex." "So it's true they have a mind of their own, then?" Chloe asked, grinning mischievously. "Apparently," I shrugged. We carried on our conversation for a while as if it hadn't happened, Chloe continuing her story about the charity fundraiser bake sale her sorority had organized last summer. My cock was twitching and bobbing as if it were listening, nodding in all the right places. At one point Chloe burst into laughter. "How do you live with that thing? It would drive me to distraction." "I thought it would go away if I ignored it, but it doesn't seem to want to. Do you mind if I just take care of this?" "Be my guest," Chloe smiled. I began to stroke myself casually while Chloe continued her tale, telling me about how they'd all but destroyed the campus kitchens trying to finish all the cakes and pastries in time. The funny part was, I was fully invested in listening to her story, laughing and injecting comments along the way; just two friends having a pleasant conversation, except we both just happened to be naked, and one of us was masturbating during it. Not that there wasn't any sexual tension to it. My eyes certainly wandered more lustfully over her body, but I felt no true urge to fuck her. And I saw her eyes occasionally glance down at my cock as I stroked it, watching me while she continued her tales. But the truly most arousing part was the simple, casual nature of it. She had just gotten to the end of her story, explaining how they had to stay up all Sunday night to get the kitchen clean in time for the Monday morning summer class, when I felt the tingles that signaled the approach of my orgasm. Chloe sensed it from my body language and cast her eyes downward, watching with a look of simple curiosity. My eyes found her body again, drinking in her beauty, her curves, and her soft, smooth skin. But it was the playful look in her eyes that sent me over the edge. I came hard, shooting rivulets of cum across my chest and stomach. Chloe smiled as I finished. "Did you enjoy that?" "Oh, most certainly," I answered, still breathing heavily. "Me too," she said. "That was, strangely liberating." "How so?" "I've never been with a man who was in a state of sexual arousal that didn't have expectations or demands for me to help him do something about it." I pondered that for a moment. "I suppose I never really thought about it that way. I guess most men just automatically expect the woman to participate. But I was actually quite content to simply take care of myself there. Having you watch was an added, extra thrill. Being honest, that's always been a little fantasy of mine." "What? Masturbating in front of a woman?" "Yes, but, well, more than just that. Doing it the way we just did; casually. Not even really talking about it while it was happening, or you deliberately trying to tease me or goad me on." "Interesting," Chloe mused. "If you'd have asked me to talk dirty or something, I suppose I would have. But it was refreshing to not feel pressured to be the stimulus to get someone off for a change." "Well, I was looking at you, ya know," I grinned. "Yeah, I noticed. And I was looking too." "And? What were you thinking?" Chloe paused, then smiled. "I was thinking it was nice to just watch. And that maybe next time, I might join in." She did indeed join in the next time a few cycles later. Other times, she merely watched. We also spent a lot of time discussing the changes to our bodies after each new session under the lights. I had definitely lost more weight, but my muscles were firmer, stronger. I'd started doing various exercises as a way to kill time and burn my newfound energy. But I certainly hadn't had enough time to build the body I now had. I wasn't getting bulkier, or adding muscle mass, just toning and strengthening my existing muscles. Chloe, who'd started this strange adventure already in much better shape than I, was also changing physically. While it was less noticeable to me, she claimed she was also losing weight, and feeling more fit, firm, and toned. She'd often join me in exercising, usually yoga or stretching. She even taught me a few poses that I took to naturally, despite the fact that, not that long ago, I'd never have come close to being able to bend that way. It was during one of our yoga sessions that I wound up masturbating again. I couldn't help it. After all, she was naked. Chloe didn't object at all when I broke from our routine to sit on the platform to stroke myself off. She kept right on with her poses, although I did start to think some of them were now deliberately designed to stimulate me. Especially when she stood with her back to me, legs agape, and bent to grab her ankle. While she hadn't been touching herself, the glimmering sheen of moisture coating her fully exposed sex told me she was enjoying the tease more than she'd let on. With a casual toss of her hair, she'd looked back at me when she'd heard the groans that signaled my release, her eyes filled with mischief as she watched me orgasm. When I'd finished, and my cum had dissolved into little gold lights as it always did after, I rejoined her and continued our exercises. When we weren't working out, we were bonding in other ways. We often sang each other songs; sometimes we sang them together. Chloe had a lovely singing voice. Me? Well, I suppose our captors couldn't fix everything. But I did my best to stay in tune. We shared a lot of our past, especially as our memories would come back to us after a session under the lights. I'd always had a problem expressing my feelings, especially in my past relationships. My wife used to accuse me of being emotionless. I wasn't, of course. I'd just kept them bottled up. But now, with Chloe, I could talk about anything. We laughed and cried together as we talked openly and honestly about, well, everything. We shared our hopes, dreams, even our darkest desires and secrets. Things I'll not share here; they're no one else's business. We also memorized each other's phone number and address. In case we were separated again after. Because we were beginning to think there would be an after, and soon. Although we hadn't heard from our mysterious captors in quite some time, we both felt it, instinctively. ------------------------------------------ Several more waking / sleeping periods had passed. We woke as we usually did now, entwined in each other's arms, eschewing the platforms for the more roomy and just as comfortable floor. We were immediately enveloped by the lights, lifting and separating us as they cycled through the usual routines. This session seemed to last much longer than usual, as the lights blinked through their various colors at a random pace, even adding some new shades, none of which I could determine the purpose of. By this point my body was flooded with so many various feelings and emotions that it was impossible to tell what might be different. Finally, the lights became a rainbow above us, the colors spectacular in their brilliance. The Voice, long absent, finally spoke: "You have reached optimal life form function. You have reached optimal compatibility. It is time to conjoin." "Why do you need us to conjoin?" I knew what they wanted us to do, but I wanted to know the reason. "We need you to conjoin so that you can help us. We need you to conjoin so that we may help you. The result of your conjoining will be optimal lifeform. You will understand in what you know as time." The lights released us. We stood facing each other, naked, the same as we'd been when we first arrived here. But neither of us was the same, nor would we ever be again. Chloe had tears in her eyes. "I'm, I'm ovulating. I can feel it." "Chloe, we still don't have to do this, you know. They can't force us." I didn't know how I knew this, only that it was true. If we refused, this experiment would be over. Although I was less sure about whether They would allow us to simply walk away. "No," wept Chloe. "They can't. But I want this. I want this so much." She wiped her tears and smiled at me radiantly. "I want this, Nick. I want you. Because I love you. I choose this of my own free will." My heart melted. "I love you, Chloe. And I want this too." I looked up towards where I imagined our mysterious benefactors, yes, I considered them benefactors now.. .might be, watching us from above. "We choose this of our own free will," I affirmed. I turned back to face Chloe. "Before we do this, " I approached her, took her hand, then took a knee. "Chloe, I have no ring to offer you, only my heart, and my love. I've only known you a short time, but in that time we've shared a lifetime's worth. And I want to share the rest of it with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Chloe's tears began anew. "Oh, yes! I would love nothing more than to be your wife." "Well, then. What they have joined together," I looked upwards with a grin, "let no man put apart. May I kiss my bride?" "You most certainly may," Chloe laughed joyfully. I stood, took her in my arms, and two became one. Our lovemaking, and that's what it was this time, lovemaking, not mere fucking, was as intimate and passionate as you could imagine. No, scratch that, you couldn't possibly imagine it. Not without being through what we had been. We joined, not just in body, but in mind and soul. I'm not a religious man, and if you'd asked me before this to describe a "spiritual" experience, I wouldn't have had an answer. Until now. Chloe lay beneath me, her face glowing as I kissed her neck, her shoulder, then down to suckle at her breasts. There was none of the desperate urgency of our earlier coupling; we savored each and every touch, every kiss, every flick of a tongue over a swollen nipple or sensitive glans. Every caress of a hand across a hip, a thigh, a throbbing shaft or a warm, wet cleft. My fingers danced over Chloe's clit, playing her like a classical violin; producing a symphony of moans, squeals and gasps. I was rewarded with the fine wine of her ejaculate, which I drank thirstily. When she finally guided my manhood into her, it felt like coming home. I entered her slowly, feeling her give way to my girth, opening for me, accepting me fully into her. Once again face to face, Chloe smiled up at me lovingly. "Let's make our baby." Our bodies rocked together in a gentle rhythm, her hips rising to meet my thrusts. We couldn't literally read each other's minds, our connection wasn't like that. It was more like reading feelings, desires, emotions. She knew instinctively when to move, when to wiggle, and when to clench. I could feel when she wanted long full thrusts, and when she just wanted to hold me deep inside her and rock against her G Spot. As our passion built, so did our movements, but it was never wild or out of control. Never a moment where we disconnected, or became too focused on our own pleasure. I could feel the warm river of her juices struggling to escape her tunnel around my shaft, swelling with its own need for release. Chloe could feel my imminent climax approaching. "Give me your seed, my love," she whispered, "make me a mother." I came hard and deep inside her, filling her over and over again with hot semen. Her legs wrapped around my back, elevating her hips, so that every drop flowed down into her womb. Chloe was simultaneously crying tears of joy and wailing cries of passion as she came with me, our orgasms as perfectly synced as our minds and hearts. Finally spent, we simply held each other close, our bodies trembling together as we kissed tenderly. I was loath to remove myself from her, and my cock remained erect for some time after, in no rush to leave the warmth of her. Without warning, we were once again enveloped in a light. This time it was pure white, somehow even whiter than the surroundings that had been our home for the interminable amount of time we'd been here. It held us for several seconds, then blinked out as fast as it had appeared. "Conjoining successful. Optimal life form achieved," The Voice pronounced. "Hear that?" Chloe giggled. "Congratulations. You're going to be a daddy." I'd had no children from my previous marriage. We'd tried for a while, but it never happened. I'd often wondered if that contributed to our drifting apart. I quickly put those sad thoughts aside and turned my attention to my new bride, soon to be the mother of our child. "That's, that's wonderful. Congrats, my love. You're going to be an amazing mother." We held each other a few more moments, kissing softly. Finally, I removed myself and lay beside her. We drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep, together in each other's arms. ------------------------------------------- I woke to the cold and dark, stars shining above. I jerked upright in shock and confusion. "Chloe?" I was alone. It took me a full minute to realize where I was. I was on my deck. The patio door was still open, the smell of frying meat wafting from my kitchen. I was home. Finding my feet, I ran inside. The steak was still cooking away on the stove. "All that technology, and those assholes couldn't even turn the burner off," I muttered. It seemed I hadn't been gone long at all. The steak wasn't even finished yet, let alone burnt. I turned the stove off and shook my head in silent wonder. Apparently, They had returned us to the exact same time They had taken us. Us. Chloe! I scrambled to my living room, hunting for my phone for several minutes before remembering it was in my back pocket. My pocket. The pocket of my pants. They felt confining, restrictive against my body. It was going to take some time getting used to wearing clothes again. I pulled my phone out and felt a moment of panic when I couldn't remember Chloe's number. What if it was just a dream? What if none of it ever happened? What if I'd just slipped, hit my head, and the rest was a concussion induced hallucination? Then my phone rang. I recognized the number immediately. And the voice on the other end: "Well hello, my love." To be continued in part 3. By Djmac1031 for Literotica Source: ex-plicitly-novel

An optimal libido.By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.“You can touch me if you’d like,” Chloe encouraged softly. I was more than happy to take her firm flesh in my hand. She sighed with contentment as I gently massaged her, her nipple hardening between my fingers.We had no lubrication, but Chloe’s hand was soft and smooth on my shaft, her touch gentle and caring. She seemed to know instinctively how I liked to be touched, applying just the right pressure on the upstrokes, with a slight twist of the wrist that sent shivers through me with each stroke.“This is nice,” Chloe said, “I don’t often get to take my time doing this. Most times it’s just a prelude to, other things.”“I’m more than happy with just this. You’re very good at it. It feels amazing.”“I’m glad you like it. I’m happy to do this for you.” With a smile, her face turned up towards mine, and we shared our first, tender kiss.Chloe’s grip on my cock changed. Taking my shaft between her thumb and forefinger at the base, she squeezed gently, pulling the loose flesh upwards towards my swollen glans. Her remaining three fingers gently brushed across my balls in a light, almost ticklish touch. She continued this movement with each upstroke, stimulating the sensitive nerve endings of my scrotum.I broke our kiss with a gasp. “How did you know I like to be touched like that? That feels incredible!”Chloe smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know. It just, felt right.”Resting her head back on my shoulder, her eyes flickered back and forth, watching her hand stroke my cock and checking my face to gauge my reaction.Chloe chatted while she continued the handjob. “It’s so strange. I don’t consider myself a prude, but I certainly don’t sleep around a lot. I’d normally have to date a guy several weeks before we went this far. Even if I wanted him long before that. You start worrying and overthinking it. If I move too fast, will he think I’m a slut and dump me? If I wait too long, will he think I’m not interested? Do I make the first move, or wait for him? You can drive yourself crazy with it.”She laughed as she continued, “Maybe it’s whatever they did to us with the lights, maybe it’s just this situation as a whole, I don’t know. I just know all that is gone, and it’s nice to be able to do something sexual without guilt or anxiety or overthinking everything.”“Guys deal with that as well, but probably not to the same extent,” I said. “I’ve always felt a little guilty while getting a handjob or a blowjob. Like I was supposed to be doing something to please my partner too; that if I wasn’t, I was being selfish. Or I’d worry that she wasn’t really into it, only doing it out of obligation because she wasn’t in the mood for sex.”Chloe looked up at me earnestly. “I want and expect nothing else from you but to enjoy this, freely given. Because I want to.”“I know,” I said, “and it’s, refreshing.”“It is,” said Chloe, “and fun.” Her hand continued to work my cock playfully, teasingly, exploring different touches, different grips. She’d run her fingers lightly up the underside of my shaft, then linger to tease the sensitive part just under the tip, then back down the shaft, continuing to my balls, which she handled with a feathery touch. She’d grip it firmly and stroke for a while, feeling it swell close to exploding, then back off just before the point of no return, going back to her more delicate touches.Just as my penis was becoming a bit sensitive, Chloe spit in her palm; once, twice, three times, then rubbed the warm saliva over my head and shaft, lubricating it.I was beginning to think she was literally reading my mind. She seemed to know what I needed before I did, knew exactly how I liked to be touched; knew when to slow down, speed up, and back off when I was close to cumming.It was the most pleasurable torture I’d ever endured.Sensing my need for release, Chloe’s hand began long, full strokes up and down my shaft, adding the little twist and squeeze at the top over the tip with each upstroke. “Relax,” she whispered in my ear, “let it happen. I know you want to, I can feel it. I want it too.”My cock swelled in her hand, my testicles tight, ready to release their load. I felt the orgasmic wave building, slowly but inevitably towards climax. My body tensed and I groaned uncontrollably.My cum erupted in hot thick streams that shot straight up, coming back down to coat Chloe’s hand over my cock. Her pace never changed, my cum now added lubrication that increased the intensity of her touch. Chloe leaned in and kissed me behind my ear, her warm lips and tongue sending a shudder of delight through my body as she continued to milk my shaft. Her grip gradually relaxed and slowed in time with the final spurts of spunk that continued to bubble up from the tip.I remained hard for several minutes afterwards, but sensing how sensitive I now was, Chloe’s touch was very soft, her fingers stroking back and forth tenderly as my cock continued to twitch, finally removing her hand just as it became too much to bear.“Chloe,” I gasped softly, catching my breath, “Thank you. That was wonderful.”“It was.” Her face shone with a content, satisfied look. “I enjoyed that very much as well.”I held her close, and was just about to kiss her again when I felt the tingling begin.Again I saw, and felt, my ejaculate slowly dissolving from my skin, turning into little gold particles of light, and disappearing.“Why do you think they do that?” wondered Chloe.“I don’t know.” While I’d had my suspicions, I decided to keep them to myself for now.Chloe plopped herself down on her back, her head resting on my thigh, staring thoughtfully up at the white nothingness above us.My sexual appetite sated for the moment, I could not help but still admire her beauty as she lay unselfconscious below me, her attractive nude body openly displayed.Chloe saw me admiring her, and grinned. “I’m no exhibitionist, but it’s funny how fast I got used to being naked. It certainly is comfortable. If our captors beamed in clothes for us right now, I don’t think I’d bother putting them on.”“I suppose the lights may have had something to do with that as well,” I mused. “Do you think they’re controlling our minds?”Chloe frowned. “I don’t think so. I mean, I know they’ve altered our minds. Took away our fears. Made us less inhibited. But I don’t feel like I’m being controlled. Everything I’ve done with you since waking up here has been my choice. Or at least it feels like it has.”I decided to fill her in on my suspicions. “Chloe, look, I need to tell you something. Something you may not like hearing. I’ve been thinking about why we’re here. I believe our captors want us to, well, breed.”“I’ve been trying to piece it together from everything that’s happened, and the few things they’ve said. I’m not entirely sure, but it makes sense. They capture two humans, male and female, and cage us together. They use their technology to sexually stimulate us, remove our inhibitions and fears, bringing us closer together. They’re purifying our bodies to remove imperfections. They’re collecting D N A samples. They talked about ‘optimal life form function’ and 'optimal compatibility,’ and I think they’re trying to create the best conditions in which to, conceive.”Chloe’s eyes went wide. "Conjoining. That’s what they said, right? Oh my God, they want us to make a baby.“I nodded. "That’s the only thing that makes sense. Although why us, and for what reason, I haven’t a clue.”Chloe looked thoughtful, but didn’t speak.I continued, calmly, “I’m telling you this because I thought you should know, but I also want you to understand something else. I think you’re absolutely beautiful, and I can’t pretend I’m not sexually attracted to you. And I, well, I know we don’t know each other very well yet, but I, care about you."I don’t know if you feel the same way, or find me attractive at all, and it’s okay if you don’t. Just know that while yes, I’d be interested in making love with you, I'd never, never try anything if you’re not willing. And I’d certainly never force a pregnancy on you. I don’t give a fuck what these alien assholes want, they can’t make me rape you. I’d rather die first. I’ll fight them tooth and nail on that, I promise you.”“I don’t think it will come to that,” Chloe said.“Why not?”“Because, when the time is right, I, I think I’ll want to.”I looked down at her, stunned.Chloe continued, her voice calm but serious. “Don’t ask me how I know this, because I can’t explain it, at least not yet. But I think you’re right. I also think we’re supposed to wait for, well, the right moment. I think we’ll just know. I don’t know how we’ll know, but we will."And I know they won’t make you force me, that when the moment comes, I’ll give myself to you willingly.”My mouth opened, but she raised a finger to my lips, stopping me. “Like I said, don’t ask. I don’t know. It’s just, instinct.”“Oh, and by the way, I do, you know,” Chloe added.“Do, what?” I asked, confused.Chloe bit her lip as she smiled up at me. “Care about you. Find you attractive.”With a yawn, she folded her hands across her stomach, and, closing her eyes, drifted off to sleep.I sat there, caressing her hair, my mind racing with her final words, and the mystery of it all.Sleep didn’t take me until much later.——————————————-I awoke in the same position, happy to find Chloe still dozing peacefully in my lap.Normally, I’d be stiff and sore from sleeping upright for, well, however long it had been, but my now alien altered body felt perfectly fine. I wondered if They used the beams on us while we slept as well, because every time I woke, I felt fresher and stronger than before.Chloe stirred beneath me, stretching her arms out above her head. Intentionally or not, she was giving me a wonderful view of her nude, lithe body; her curved breasts, her toned abdomen, it’s well defined muscles pointing their way down towards her rounded pubic mound, covered by its soft patch of neatly trimmed hair.Her eyes opened, and she greeted me cheerfully. "Hey, you. Did you sleep?“"I did. Surprisingly well, considering.”“I’m glad they didn’t separate us this time. It’s nice waking up next to you,” She smiled warmly, then sat up to give me a tender kiss.The kiss may have led to more, but we were interrupted by the humming sound as the lights enveloped us again.We were carefully separated and lifted into position, facing each other. Neither of us tried to fight it; there was no point and besides, we understood that whatever happened this time, it would be a positive experience.The lights went through several cycles, starting with the usual blue, calm and relaxing, preparing us for whatever came next.Then came the nourishing and purification processes, feeding our green lit bodies and purging them of wastes and toxins. The room was filled with little gold lights drifting upwards.A new sensation began as the lights turned orange. My muscles were stimulated, flexing and vibrating under my skin. It felt like getting a workout and a deep muscle massage at the same time. As with the other processes we’d been put through, there was nothing painful about it, other than those good aches you get when a knot in a particularly tight muscle gets worked out.“This is new,” Chloe marveled.“Sure beats going to the gym,” I joked.How long this went on I couldn’t say; it could have continued forever as far as I was concerned. Eventually, though, the lights and frequency changed, bringing on yet another new sensation.This one, in my mind. I saw memories, long since forgotten, now clear and vivid. Random memories, tracing backwards through my life.The name of the band on a flier hanging in the men's room at a bar I got plastered at on my 40th birthday.The shirt color of the guy who held the door for me the day I showed up at the studio to do my first voice commercial.The name of that cute girl I had a crush on in 5th grade.Suckling at my mother’s breast as an infant.Memories ebbed and flowed through my mind, some good, some bad, but even the traumatic ones were somehow comforting. They were parts of my life, long buried, now returned to me.But it wasn’t just personal memories returning. It was facts and knowledge. Things I’d been taught in school, long since unused, were now fresh in my brain. I’d always been terrible at math, barely passed it back in high school. But I could see math equations, algebra, geometry, things I’d struggled to comprehend, now plain and clear in their simple truths.They were making us smarter. Or at the very least, unlocking things in our brains that were already there, long forgotten.Just when it became a bit too overwhelming, the lights shifted again. Red.Chloe was already grinning at me. “Here we go. I was hoping for this again!”The now familiar sexual stimulation once again worked its magic on our bodies and minds. The first time we’d experienced this, I’d had no actual mental fantasies, my mind far too preoccupied with trying to understand what was happening.Now though, I was not just feeling the physical pleasure, but envisioning the scenarios that would create such ecstasy in my mind.And in my visions, I saw Chloe.The sexual fantasy played out more vividly than any dream I’d ever had, flashing and changing at random:Chloe and I, our nude bodies entwined, caressing and touching each other intimately.Chloe before me, on her knees, performing an enthusiastic blowjob, her gorgeous eyes looking up at me with lust and joy.Chloe on top, riding my cock, her breasts bouncing in rhythm with our movements.Chloe beneath me, her long legs wrapped around my back, fingernails dug into my flesh, moaning my name as I thrust into her over and over.My eyes opened to see Chloe, the real Chloe, floating across from me. She met my gaze and smiled.And I knew. She was imagining being with me too.We climaxed at the same time, the red lights bringing us to climax, the comforting blue then easing us back down to normalcy.Chloe ran to me the moment she was released. Straddling my lap, she kissed me urgently. I was taken aback only a moment before my arms wrapped around her, holding and supporting her weight, excited to feel her body so close now to mine.She broke the kiss, her eyes a wild fire of passion. “I need you to fuck me! Right now! How fast can you recover?”My cock was already hard, twitching beneath her. Without hesitation, she reached down and guided it towards her already slick sex. “Fuck, that’s deep,” she moaned as she plunged down upon me.We exchanged no further words. Chloe leaned into me, her face slightly above mine, almost nose to nose. Her long hair hung down around my face, our eyes locked in a passionate stare.Chloe didn’t ride my shaft so much as rock back and forth on it, my cock remaining deep inside her, stimulated from her movements.My hands went to her ass, partly to enjoy the feel of it, but also to keep her from slipping off of me.Her vaginal walls tightened and contracted with each motion, and I could feel the heat of her radiate along my swollen shaft.She was cumming within moments, her juices running down my balls, pooling under me, hot and sticky. The scent of her arousal flooded my nostrils, making me lightheaded with it.Her pace never slowed even as a second orgasm took her, then a third, and a fourth. She fucked me like woman possessed.Hands gripping my shoulders, she leaned the full weight of her body back, now riding me proper, working her hips, her cunt sliding up and down on my cock in quick thrusts, leaving my shaft glistening with her cream.She let go of one shoulder, trusting my strong arms to support her weight. Her free hand found her clit, attacking it viciously.Her breasts bounced freely, soaked with sweat. Her eyes never broke contact with mine and her face twisted with delight as yet another climax approached.Chloe squealed as her vaginal muscles spasmed, the hot spray of her ejaculate forcing its way past my cock, coating my thighs. With a wail of pleasure, she pushed herself off me, collapsing to the floor, panting for breath.Chloe looked up at me, breathing heavily. “I’m, sorry, I’m just, spent.”I answered by taking my cock, still slick and dripping with her juices, and started stroking steadily. Soon enough, I felt my own climax rapidly approaching.Chloe positioned herself between my legs, slipping her lips around the head of my cock just as the first blast erupted.She formed a tight seal around my glans, sucking greedily as I continued to jerk my spunk into her eager mouth, swallowing every drop. Her eyes mirrored what I’d seen earlier in my vision, glowing with joy and desire.Finished, I slid down to the floor beside her. Our exertions had left us hot, sweaty, and exhausted, but also satisfied and content. We lay together, cuddling.That was fucking incredible,“ gasped Chloe, still catching her breath."It was,” I agreed, “although I’m a little surprised. I thought you said we were supposed to wait.”“I did,” she agreed. “But I realized during this session under the lights that it wasn’t about waiting to have sex. It’s not like I’m a virgin. I think we’re waiting to, conceive.”“Well I don’t think what you did there at the end is the way to go about it,” I joked.She didn’t laugh. “I suppose I need to tell you something,” Chloe said, turning serious. “You’re the first man I’ve let fuck me without a condom. And, I’ve never let anyone cum inside me before.”My eyes were wide with surprise as she explained. “My mother raised me to be more than a little paranoid about getting pregnant or catching a disease. Maybe because she had me at an early age. But now, with my head so clear and free from my doubts and fears, I think I truly understand the real reason."I think I was afraid of intimacy, and letting a guy cum inside me is about the most intimate act I can imagine. So I always made my boyfriends wear condoms, and had them pull out before they came."Oh I made good excuses for it, and got good at swallowing, or encouraging them to cum on my face or body. And none of my few relationships lasted long enough for it to ever really become an issue anyway."During that part under the lights, when They opened up our minds, brought back old memories, I saw my past relationships in a totally different way. And I realized I was responsible for their failures, because my fear wasn’t really physical intimacy, but emotional intimacy.”“We can’t put all the blame on ourselves for past failures when it comes to relationships,” I said. “I know enough about my personal flaws even before all of this to understand I’m not perfect, but my divorce wasn’t entirely my fault either.”“Oh, I’m not laying all the blame on myself either,” she replied. “Just, I don’t know. I think I understand myself a little better now. I mean, even with us, just now, I pulled you out at the last second, right? Not because I thought you were supposed to wait to cum in me, but because I still just wasn’t ready for it yet.”“I get it. And I’m not upset or disappointed about it. We’re still getting to know and trust each other. It’s okay if you’re not comfortable enough with me yet for that.”“It’s not you, it’s me,” she said, laughing at how cliché that sounded. “I guess I still need to work through some things. But don’t think I don’t have feelings for you, care about you, because I do.”“I care about you too, very much,” I said. “We can wait, it's okay. If and when you’re ready, you can let me know. And if not, that’s okay too. I’d understand. Cumming inside you isn’t important to me; your comfort and feelings are.”Chloe smiled appreciatively. “Thank you. That means a lot.”We lay quietly, side by side for a few minutes. Then a question popped into my head that I felt compelled to ask. “So you never had a guy inside you without a condom until just now? Never, you know, played 'Just The Tip,’ or let him enter you for a while before putting the condom on?”“Nope. Never,” she answered, matter of factly.“So, how do you feel now that you’ve done it?”“I’m fine with it, actually. To be honest, I barely noticed the difference. It was a rather selfish fuck of me, I’m afraid. I wasn’t really thinking, just, feeling. Pure lust and instinct. I hope you didn’t feel too detached.”“Not at all,” I assured her. “Look, let’s face it. Our captors, for whatever reasons, are at least influencing our emotions and feelings, if not outright controlling our actions. Those lights get us both pretty fucking worked up; I don’t think anyone else not in our position could understand."But by removing our inhibitions, our hang-ups, all those things we stress and worry over and second guess, they’ve given us the freedom to act on pure desire and instinct, without fear of negative repercussions. You saw what you wanted and took it. I gave it willingly. We were both satisfied. As long as I know you’re okay with what we’ve done, I have no regrets or misgivings.”Chloe turned to me and smiled. “Me either. I’m more than okay with what happened. And while I’m still sorting a few things out, I think, sooner than later, I’ll wind up breaking my other rule with you.”—————————————–We spent the next several waking periods (“day” and “night” were irrelevant and immeasurable in the White Room) alternating between sessions under the lights and simply bonding together.They hadn’t used the red lights on us for some time now, and our sex drives had settled down considerably. Although there were several times I’d masturbate out of sheer boredom, and the simple need to release. Sometimes Chloe joined in, but often she’d simply watch.There was no pressure from me for her to do anything more. When she was ready, I had no doubts she would let me know.I felt no awkwardness about masturbating in front of her, no shame or embarrassment at all.The first time was two sleep cycles after our heated coupling. Chloe and I were laying side by side on the floor, talking, sharing stories and memories, when it happened; I got an erection.There was no reason for it that I could pinpoint. Chloe was of course both naked and beautiful, but we’d both become completely comfortable together in our nudity. Perhaps I was subconsciously admiring her body as we talked. Maybe it was a buildup of hormones. Or perhaps it was just a random boner that most guys stop getting by the time they hit their thirties.Chloe actually noticed it before I did. “Somebody’s awake,” she said humorously.“Huh? Oh. Weird. I wasn’t even thinking about sex.”“So it’s true they have a mind of their own, then?” Chloe asked, grinning mischievously.“Apparently,” I shrugged.We carried on our conversation for a while as if it hadn’t happened, Chloe continuing her story about the charity fundraiser bake sale her sorority had organized last summer.My cock was twitching and bobbing as if it were listening, nodding in all the right places. At one point Chloe burst into laughter. “How do you live with that thing? It would drive me to distraction.”“I thought it would go away if I ignored it, but it doesn’t seem to want to. Do you mind if I just take care of this?”“Be my guest,” Chloe smiled.I began to stroke myself casually while Chloe continued her tale, telling me about how they’d all but destroyed the campus kitchens trying to finish all the cakes and pastries in time.The funny part was, I was fully invested in listening to her story, laughing and injecting comments along the way; just two friends having a pleasant conversation, except we both just happened to be naked, and one of us was masturbating during it.Not that there wasn’t any sexual tension to it. My eyes certainly wandered more lustfully over her body, but I felt no true urge to fuck her. And I saw her eyes occasionally glance down at my cock as I stroked it, watching me while she continued her tales.But the truly most arousing part was the simple, casual nature of it.She had just gotten to the end of her story, explaining how they had to stay up all Sunday night to get the kitchen clean in time for the Monday morning summer class, when I felt the tingles that signaled the approach of my orgasm.Chloe sensed it from my body language and cast her eyes downward, watching with a look of simple curiosity.My eyes found her body again, drinking in her beauty, her curves, and her soft, smooth skin. But it was the playful look in her eyes that sent me over the edge. I came hard, shooting rivulets of cum across my chest and stomach.Chloe smiled as I finished. “Did you enjoy that?”“Oh, most certainly,” I answered, still breathing heavily.“Me too,” she said. “That was, strangely liberating.”“How so?”“I’ve never been with a man who was in a state of sexual arousal that didn’t have expectations or demands for me to help him do something about it.”I pondered that for a moment. “I suppose I never really thought about it that way. I guess most men just automatically expect the woman to participate. But I was actually quite content to simply take care of myself there. Having you watch was an added, extra thrill. Being honest, that’s always been a little fantasy of mine.”“What? Masturbating in front of a woman?”“Yes, but, well, more than just that. Doing it the way we just did; casually. Not even really talking about it while it was happening, or you deliberately trying to tease me or goad me on.”“Interesting,” Chloe mused. “If you’d have asked me to talk dirty or something, I suppose I would have. But it was refreshing to not feel pressured to be the stimulus to get someone off for a change.”“Well, I was looking at you, ya know,” I grinned.“Yeah, I noticed. And I was looking too.”“And? What were you thinking?”Chloe paused, then smiled. “I was thinking it was nice to just watch. And that maybe next time, I might join in.”She did indeed join in the next time a few cycles later. Other times, she merely watched.We also spent a lot of time discussing the changes to our bodies after each new session under the lights.I had definitely lost more weight, but my muscles were firmer, stronger. I’d started doing various exercises as a way to kill time and burn my newfound energy. But I certainly hadn’t had enough time to build the body I now had. I wasn’t getting bulkier, or adding muscle mass, just toning and strengthening my existing muscles.Chloe, who'd started this strange adventure already in much better shape than I, was also changing physically. While it was less noticeable to me, she claimed she was also losing weight, and feeling more fit, firm, and toned.She’d often join me in exercising, usually yoga or stretching. She even taught me a few poses that I took to naturally, despite the fact that, not that long ago, I’d never have come close to being able to bend that way.It was during one of our yoga sessions that I wound up masturbating again. I couldn’t help it. After all, she was naked.Chloe didn’t object at all when I broke from our routine to sit on the platform to stroke myself off. She kept right on with her poses, although I did start to think some of them were now deliberately designed to stimulate me.Especially when she stood with her back to me, legs agape, and bent to grab her ankle. While she hadn’t been touching herself, the glimmering sheen of moisture coating her fully exposed sex told me she was enjoying the tease more than she’d let on.With a casual toss of her hair, she’d looked back at me when she’d heard the groans that signaled my release, her eyes filled with mischief as she watched me orgasm.When I’d finished, and my cum had dissolved into little gold lights as it always did after, I rejoined her and continued our exercises.When we weren’t working out, we were bonding in other ways. We often sang each other songs; sometimes we sang them together. Chloe had a lovely singing voice. Me? Well, I suppose our captors couldn’t fix everything. But I did my best to stay in tune.We shared a lot of our past, especially as our memories would come back to us after a session under the lights.I’d always had a problem expressing my feelings, especially in my past relationships. My wife used to accuse me of being emotionless. I wasn’t, of course. I’d just kept them bottled up.But now, with Chloe, I could talk about anything. We laughed and cried together as we talked openly and honestly about, well, everything.We shared our hopes, dreams, even our darkest desires and secrets. Things I’ll not share here; they’re no one else’s business.We also memorized each other’s phone number and address. In case we were separated again after.Because we were beginning to think there would be an after, and soon. Although we hadn’t heard from our mysterious captors in quite some time, we both felt it, instinctively.——————————————Several more waking / sleeping periods had passed.We woke as we usually did now, entwined in each other’s arms, eschewing the platforms for the more roomy and just as comfortable floor.We were immediately enveloped by the lights, lifting and separating us as they cycled through the usual routines.This session seemed to last much longer than usual, as the lights blinked through their various colors at a random pace, even adding some new shades, none of which I could determine the purpose of. By this point my body was flooded with so many various feelings and emotions that it was impossible to tell what might be different.Finally, the lights became a rainbow above us, the colors spectacular in their brilliance.The Voice, long absent, finally spoke: “You have reached optimal life form function. You have reached optimal compatibility. It is time to conjoin.”“Why do you need us to conjoin?” I knew what they wanted us to do, but I wanted to know the reason.“We need you to conjoin so that you can help us. We need you to conjoin so that we may help you. The result of your conjoining will be optimal lifeform. You will understand in what you know as time.”The lights released us. We stood facing each other, naked, the same as we’d been when we first arrived here.But neither of us was the same, nor would we ever be again.Chloe had tears in her eyes. “I’m, I’m ovulating. I can feel it.”“Chloe, we still don’t have to do this, you know. They can’t force us.” I didn’t know how I knew this, only that it was true. If we refused, this experiment would be over. Although I was less sure about whether They would allow us to simply walk away.“No,” wept Chloe. “They can’t. But I want this. I want this so much.”She wiped her tears and smiled at me radiantly. “I want this, Nick. I want you. Because I love you. I choose this of my own free will.”My heart melted. “I love you, Chloe. And I want this too.”I looked up towards where I imagined our mysterious benefactors, yes, I considered them benefactors now.. .might be, watching us from above. “We choose this of our own free will,” I affirmed.I turned back to face Chloe. “Before we do this, " I approached her, took her hand, then took a knee."Chloe, I have no ring to offer you, only my heart, and my love. I’ve only known you a short time, but in that time we’ve shared a lifetime’s worth. And I want to share the rest of it with you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”Chloe’s tears began anew. “Oh, yes! I would love nothing more than to be your wife.”“Well, then. What they have joined together,” I looked upwards with a grin, “let no man put apart. May I kiss my bride?”“You most certainly may,” Chloe laughed joyfully.I stood, took her in my arms, and two became one.Our lovemaking, and that’s what it was this time, lovemaking, not mere fucking, was as intimate and passionate as you could imagine.No, scratch that, you couldn’t possibly imagine it. Not without being through what we had been.We joined, not just in body, but in mind and soul.I’m not a religious man, and if you’d asked me before this to describe a “spiritual” experience, I wouldn’t have had an answer.Until now.Chloe lay beneath me, her face glowing as I kissed her neck, her shoulder, then down to suckle at her breasts.There was none of the desperate urgency of our earlier coupling; we savored each and every touch, every kiss, every flick of a tongue over a swollen nipple or sensitive glans. Every caress of a hand across a hip, a thigh, a throbbing shaft or a warm, wet cleft.My fingers danced over Chloe’s clit, playing her like a classical violin; producing a symphony of moans, squeals and gasps.I was rewarded with the fine wine of her ejaculate, which I drank thirstily.When she finally guided my manhood into her, it felt like coming home.I entered her slowly, feeling her give way to my girth, opening for me, accepting me fully into her.Once again face to face, Chloe smiled up at me lovingly. “Let’s make our baby.”Our bodies rocked together in a gentle rhythm, her hips rising to meet my thrusts.We couldn’t literally read each other’s minds, our connection wasn’t like that. It was more like reading feelings, desires, emotions.She knew instinctively when to move, when to wiggle, and when to clench. I could feel when she wanted long full thrusts, and when she just wanted to hold me deep inside her and rock against her G Spot.As our passion built, so did our movements, but it was never wild or out of control. Never a moment where we disconnected, or became too focused on our own pleasure.I could feel the warm river of her juices struggling to escape her tunnel around my shaft, swelling with its own need for release.Chloe could feel my imminent climax approaching. “Give me your seed, my love,” she whispered, “make me a mother.”I came hard and deep inside her, filling her over and over again with hot semen. Her legs wrapped around my back, elevating her hips, so that every drop flowed down into her womb.Chloe was simultaneously crying tears of joy and wailing cries of passion as she came with me, our orgasms as perfectly synced as our minds and hearts.Finally spent, we simply held each other close, our bodies trembling together as we kissed tenderly.I was loath to remove myself from her, and my cock remained erect for some time after, in no rush to leave the warmth of her.Without warning, we were once again enveloped in a light. This time it was pure white, somehow even whiter than the surroundings that had been our home for the interminable amount of time we’d been here. It held us for several seconds, then blinked out as fast as it had appeared.“Conjoining successful. Optimal life form achieved,” The Voice pronounced.“Hear that?” Chloe giggled. “Congratulations. You’re going to be a daddy.”I’d had no children from my previous marriage. We’d tried for a while, but it never happened. I’d often wondered if that contributed to our drifting apart.I quickly put those sad thoughts aside and turned my attention to my new bride, soon to be the mother of our child.“That’s, that’s wonderful. Congrats, my love. You’re going to be an amazing mother.”We held each other a few more moments, kissing softly. Finally, I removed myself and lay beside her.We drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep, together in each other’s arms.——————————————-I woke to the cold and dark, stars shining above.I jerked upright in shock and confusion. "Chloe?“I was alone.It took me a full minute to realize where I was.I was on my deck. The patio door was still open, the smell of frying meat wafting from my kitchen.I was home.Finding my feet, I ran inside. The steak was still cooking away on the stove. "All that technology, and those assholes couldn’t even turn the burner off,” I muttered.It seemed I hadn’t been gone long at all. The steak wasn’t even finished yet, let alone burnt.I turned the stove off and shook my head in silent wonder. Apparently, They had returned us to the exact same time They had taken us.Us. Chloe!I scrambled to my living room, hunting for my phone for several minutes before remembering it was in my back pocket.My pocket. The pocket of my pants.They felt confining, restrictive against my body. It was going to take some time getting used to wearing clothes again.I pulled my phone out and felt a moment of panic when I couldn’t remember Chloe’s number.What if it was just a dream? What if none of it ever happened? What if I’d just slipped, hit my head, and the rest was a concussion induced hallucination?Then my phone rang.I recognized the number immediately. And the voice on the other end:“Well hello, my love.”To be continued in part 3.By Djmac1031 for Literotica

Two strangers awake, naked & trapped in a strange room.By Djmac1031. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories.I woke to a whiteness so blinding it took several moments before I could do anything but squint. My eyes eventually adjusted to the pain enough to open fully, but the brightness never dimmed.I found myself on my back, looking up at what should have been a ceiling, or the sky, or, well, something. Anything. Instead, all I could see was an unbroken field of white.Was I awake? Maybe I was dead. I felt disembodied, and there were several failed attempts by my brain to send signals to my limbs before I could finally recognize the existence of them.“Okay,” I thought, “so I’m not dead. I’m still in my body. And I don’t think I’m dreaming. But that doesn’t mean anything. You always think a dream is real until you wake up.”I tried to sit up but couldn’t. Pins and needles wracked my body as numbed nerve endings slowly came back to life, once again providing sensations.With an effort, I managed to move my head. The whiteness where the ceiling or sky should have been continued on forever. There were no curves, no edges, no corners that I could see. Not a single crack or flaw to provide any sense of depth or scale. It was unnerving. I felt nauseous, my head spinning out of control.Without warning, the blinding white went black as I slipped into unconsciousness.I had no idea how long I was out. When I regained consciousness, I felt more solid and whole in my body, no longer floating in nothingness. But when I opened my eyes, the endless white space remained.Feeling less lightheaded, I tried to sit up, in the process discovering I’d been laying on some kind of flat platform, similar to a bunk or shelf. It was the same white as the ceiling, but, as my eyes focused, I made out its edges.Cautiously, I lifted myself into a seated position, easing my legs over the edge of the platform, unsure there would be anything to rest my feet on until they made contact. The floor was as white as everything else. I couldn’t see where it met a wall, or a wall made way to a ceiling. It was utterly disorienting, and I once more felt my head spin.My head between my knees, I took several deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating. When the spell had passed, I sat up and again tried to comprehend my surroundings.It was a physical space, that much I could decipher. I could feel the floor under my feet, and the platform I was sitting on. Putting out a tentative hand, I made contact with the wall my platform connected to. The seam where they met was the only thing that gave me any sense of solidity. My hand slowly traced the edges to where it ended in a rounded corner.Looking down, I saw my feet; felt the solid surface beneath them. But my brain still couldn’t grasp that there was a floor, nor could I see where the floor ended and the wall behind me began.I tried to stand up and felt yet another wave of nausea. As solid as the floor felt, my mind still refused to acknowledge its existence. I sat back down on the only surface I trusted to exist, the platform.It was only then that I realized I was completely naked.“Where, the hell, am I?” My voice was a shaky rasp.That’s when the screaming started.Startled, I instinctively covered my ears and closed my eyes. It took several moments to realize the screams were not my own.Opening my eyes, I was shocked to find a young woman lying supine directly across from me. She at first appeared to be floating on air until I made out the shape of the platform beneath her, exactly like the one I’d woken up on.Had she been there earlier? Had she just appeared? I had no answer. But she was there now, solid and whole, a physical thing my mind could focus on and help ground me to reality.She was as naked as I was.“Hey! Hey!” I tried to speak, to get her attention, to calm her cries despite my own sense of panic.Her shrieks suddenly ended. She, as I had done upon waking to this madness, had blacked out.The room was now deafening in its silence. I listened for a sound, any sound; a creak, a rustle, the hum of electricity, anything. Yet there was only the whisper of my breathing, and that of the young woman’s.Focusing on her gave me a better grasp of the room. She appeared to be only several feet away. It would have been impossible to judge the scale of the all-white space without her as a focal point.I tried my feet again. Keeping one hand against the wall that supported my platform, I slowly started to traverse the space. There were no corners, only the gentle slope of the surface, guiding me in an eventual half circle, where I paused near the unconscious woman’s side.She appeared to be in her late teens, perhaps early twenties. Her long hair fell in random strands around her expressionless face. It was only the gentle rise and fall of her chest that told me she was still alive, her breath slow but steady. I felt a twinge of embarrassment when I again noticed her nudity, instinctively averting my eyes.Not yet having the courage to move without a constant grip on the wall, I continued my journey, moving past her along the surface of the space, eventually coming back around towards the other side. I'd pause every few steps, feeling for a door, a seam, or anything that might hint at a way out. I found nothing.Arriving back at my original starting point, I collapsed on the platform, exhausted. I estimated what I now understood to be a circular, enclosed room at about ten, maybe fifteen feet in diameter. Not very big at all. Still, I felt like I’d just run a marathon.Now having some sense of scale, I found it easier to look more closely around the room. There were no lighting fixtures. Whatever was illuminating it appeared to be coming directly from the solid surfaces of the room itself. There were no power outlets, no switches, no air vents.Every surface I touched felt the same; solid, yet soft. Pushing against the wall, it gave slightly. I hit it, gently at first, then several more times with increasing effort. It withstood the pounding with no damage. In a sudden rage I punched the wall with all my strength. If it had been any other surface, I’d likely have broken my hand, but there was barely a sound, and I felt no pain.Testing the floor the same way, I stomped my feet with all my might. Both the energy and sound were absorbed by the strange surface. I sat back down, trying desperately to shake off the fear now gripping me.“Hello?” Her voice was timid, meek, barely above a whisper.The young woman was sitting up, her face a mask of confusion and horror. Her arms wrapped tightly across her chest, hugging herself, not, it appeared, from any sense of modesty, but from fright.She was looking directly at me. “Hello? Who, who are you? Where am I? What’s going on?” Her voice trembled, the pitch rising higher with each question.Taking a deep breath, I steadied my own nerves before responding. “My name’s Nick. I’m sorry, but I have no idea where we are or what’s happening either.”Her body trembled uncontrollably. “Did, did you bring me here? Why are you naked?” Looking down at herself, she finally realized her own nudity. With a wail, she curled up into the fetal position on the platform, futilely attempting to cover herself as she cried.I tried to reassure her. “Listen, I didn’t bring you here. And I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just as confused and afraid as you are, okay? But I’m not going to hurt you, I promise. Just try to relax.”She gave no indication she’d heard me, only lay there, holding herself, weeping uncontrollably.I had no idea what to do. Going over to try and comfort her would only make things worse, especially given my nakedness. She’d probably think I was attacking her. She was simply going to have to come to grips with this as I had.I lay back on my platform, eventually dozing off to the sound of her continued sobs.—————————————–When I woke, I found the young woman again sitting up, looking at me.She still looked frightened, but she made no move to cover her body, even as I sat up to face her.“Where, are we?” she asked.I shrugged. “I have no idea. This is the most impossible room I’ve ever seen. If you can even call it a room.”“It, hurts my brain,” she grimaced. “I can barely look at it. If you weren’t here to focus on, I think I’d go mad trying to comprehend it.”Silence hung heavy for several moments before she spoke again. “I’m Chloe.”“Hello, Chloe, I’m Nick. I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but,” I gestured at our surroundings.That brought a small smile to her face. "How did we get here?”“I have no idea. The last thing I remember is,” I paused, struggling to actually recall my last memory before waking up here.It came back to me slowly, in fragments. "I was, home. Cooking dinner. A steak, I think. I remember hearing a humming noise coming from my yard, and seeing a bright light through my kitchen window. I thought maybe a power line had gone down or something. I remember stepping out on my patio to investigate, and then, and then I woke up here.”Chloe nodded slowly. “I was just getting home from shopping. I was struggling to open my front door with an arm full of groceries when I heard the noise. A loud humming. I remember seeing a light coming from behind me, which was strange because it was very sunny. I thought something odd may be happening to the neighbor’s house across the street. I turned around to look, and, and then I woke up screaming.”I’ve always been a rational, logical thinker. Our stories were both very similar, and I put my mind to work, trying to figure it out. “So neither of us recall being attacked or abducted. We were both alone, saw and heard the same thing. Where are you from?”“Sacramento, California. You?”“Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Opposite end of the country. It’s not like we were close enough to be taken by the same person. This may seem odd to ask, but do you remember what day it was? The date and time?”Her face twisted in thought. “It was, Friday. September 10th. I don’t remember the exact time, maybe 4pm, 4:15? Why?”My brain did some quick math. “That sounds about right. Same day for me, somewhere around 7pm. It’s a three hour time zone difference.”Her eyes went wide with comprehension. “We were taken at the same time.”“Yeah, but that’s impossible. Unless,”I stood, shouting upwards at the white nothingness. "Hello? Is there anybody out there? Can you hear me? Where are we? hello?” There was no echo, and silence filled the room as my voice trailed off.“We Are Here.”The pure shock of the voice sent me reeling, my head hitting the platform as I collapsed in a heap to the floor. I felt no pain; both the platform and floor had cushioned my fall, and I sustained no injury at all.At least not to my body. My mind, however, was a different story. The voice seemed to come from everywhere, yet nowhere. My brain felt like it was swelling.Chloe was screaming again.A buzzing sound rang in my ears as a wave of warm energy enveloped my body. I immediately felt a sense of peaceful calm flow through me, erasing all fear and panic. Chloe’s screams had ceased, and the room was again quiet except for the hum.My body started to move, lifting itself up off the floor, although not under my control. I felt like a puppet, someone pulling my strings.Suspended midair, my eyes opened to find Chloe, also floating, enveloped in a beam of soft blue light, projected from the ceiling or the floor, I could not tell. I was bathed in a similar luminescence.Energy surged through every cell of my body; calming, relaxing, peaceful, yet also giving me a sense of vigor I’d never known before. It felt like being reborn. I sensed my blood flowing through my body, could feel every molecule of oxygen pass through my lungs and into my bloodstream. It was intoxicating.Every nerve ending in my skin, from head to toe, tingled with a mix of sensations; the warmth of the sun, the coolness of a gentle breeze, and the comforting pleasure of a gentle caress all at once.Across from me, Chloe’s eyes were closed, her face no longer terrified, but relaxed and peaceful in pure bliss.The Voice came again from nowhere and everywhere. “We are here. Do not fear. You will not be harmed. We will care for you. We are here.”The Voice was softer this time. It wasn’t exactly human, nor did it sound robotic or computerized. There was no gender to it, speaking in static tones that weren’t quite emotionless.Whoever was behind The Voice must have been able to read my mind, because it answered my unspoken question.“We are from elsewhere. We are to observe. We are to help you. You are to help us.”I managed to find my voice. "Why, us?“"You are compatible.”“Compatible? What, what does that mean?”“You are compatible,” The Voice repeated.Before I could question it further, the wave of light energy shifted from blue to red. The pleasure level in my body increased tenfold. It felt like multiple soft hands caressing my skin. I would have been shaking uncontrollably if my body could actually move.Waves of sexual stimulation built within me, beginning in my loins. My penis quickly swelled to full erection, twitching as it grew. Somehow it was my only body part free to move, expanding to a hardness I’d not known since my youth.Imagine receiving a blowjob, a handjob, and being deep inside the warmest, wettest, tightest vagina you’ve ever felt, all at once. Meanwhile, the rest of you is being massaged erotically by a dozen pairs of sensual hands. It still won’t come close to the sensations I was experiencing.Chloe’s light had also changed, and she appeared to be taken control of by the same pleasure waves.I could not help but now focus on her nudity. Her breasts heaved in time with her hitching breaths, her hips gyrating rhythmically.Her legs were parted enough to expose her vulva. It looked swollen and flushed under her patch of soft pubic hair, with a sheen of moisture glistening over her sex.Her low gasps grew to moans of lust, and her eyes now fixed on me intently. But not on my face. She was focused on my cock. And she was drooling.I sensed my orgasm building, slowly but steadily. My cock stopped twitching, going fully rigid as my climax hit, my semen shooting out in what felt like an endless stream of long, thick strands. It was the most intense orgasm I’d ever felt.Chloe’s moans matched mine in intensity, enthralled in her own orgasm. The scent of her sex was strong in my nose, and I saw the trickle of moisture from her pussy become a stream, dripping small puddles on the floor. She squealed as another wave took her, then went silent, her head drooping towards her chest. I couldn’t tell if she was still conscious or not.My own orgasmic waves now subsiding, my still erect penis forced the final drops from the tip to join the mess I’d already left beneath me.The lights went blue again. My breathing slowed, my body relaxed. Chloe and I were guided by invisible hands back to our platforms, laying us down gently. The lights blinked out, and the humming ceased.Again able to move, I turned my head to find Chloe lying on her platform, relaxed and peaceful. In that moment, I found her indescribably beautiful.I watched while her hand caressed her inner thigh, smearing the wetness that lingered there. Gathering some on her fingers, she brought them to her nose and inhaled, sighing contentedly.Chloe turned to face me and smiled. Her eyes closed as she drifted off to sleep.I smiled back at her sleeping form, then fell into slumber myself.‐————————————————–I woke, energized and alert, to find Chloe already up and about, exploring the walls in much the same way I had earlier.Noticing I was now awake, she smiled. “Good, morning? Evening? I have no idea what time it is,” she laughed. “How are you feeling?”Sitting up, I detected none of my earlier nausea. "Fine. Great, in fact. I’ve never woken up feeling this refreshed or energized before.“"I know, it’s crazy, right? I should be terrified after, that, but all I feel is,” Chloe paused in her thoughts, then shrugged. "Great. I feel great.”Chloe sat beside me on the platform. She seemed completely comfortable and uninhibited by our mutual nudity. Although I suppose after our experience under the lights, it would be ridiculous to feel embarrassed about it at this point.Still, as she sat beside me, our hips touching, I felt my pulse quicken, causing a stir down below that I struggled not to focus on, lest things get out of control.It took a moment to realize she was speaking. “So I’m assuming you heard the voice too, and felt, what we felt, right? It’s not just a case of me dreaming, or going mad?”“No, you’re not mad. That, or we both are. But yeah, that, happened.” Looking at the floor, I saw that the mess of ejaculate I’d released was gone. How, I had no idea. But I could smell Chloe’s scent still strong on her, the sticky remnants of her juices now drying on her thighs still visible.Noticing my gaze, Chloe blushed, but made no move to cover herself. “This is crazy. I should feel embarrassed, ashamed, humiliated. I should feel violated, raped. But I don’t. All I know is that was the most incredible pleasure I’ve ever felt, and,I want, I want to feel that again.”“Me, me too,” I stammered. “Jesus, what did they do to us?”Chloe’s hand found mine, and we sat in silent wonder.—————————————–Time was impossible to gage in the White Room, but we passed some by sharing each other’s story.I learned Chloe was 21, a sophomore in college, and hoping to someday become a pediatrician because she loved children. She was single, sharing a rented house with her best friend Lily. She enjoyed yoga, cheesy romance novels, and preferred beer over wine.She learned I was 42, divorced and living alone. I told her about my career as a commercial voice actor; mostly radio commercials for various businesses in the Philadelphia market, but occasionally branching out with a few nationally run spots for big name clients. It didn’t pay as much as people thought it did, but I lived comfortably enough, and it sometimes allowed me to travel around the country, although I’d never been to Sacramento. I made a promise to come visit if we ever got out of this.That led our conversation towards our predicament. “So, you think we will get out of here?” Chloe asked.“Well, sure,” I said, “I mean, we have to believe that, right?” She nodded without conviction.“It’s, it’s gotta be aliens, right?” She looked almost embarrassed to say it. “I mean, what else could it be?”“Well, perhaps hypnosis, or mind altering drugs, or,” My voice trailed off, not really believing my words. ”, but yeah, probably aliens. Or some interdimensional beings. Or one of us is dreaming. But none of this feels like a dream.“"Plus, normally,” I paused, shaking my head with a laugh. “No, never mind.”“What? Come on, finish your thought,” Chloe insisted.“Ok, but it’s kinda embarrassing. Normally, when I have a, you know, a sex dream, I wake up before, before the good part,” I finished sheepishly.Chloe burst into peals of laughter. “So that’s how you know this is real?” Her laugh wasn’t cruel or mocking, merely finding humor in the absurdity of our situation. I grinned at her and shrugged.“Sorry,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye as she caught her breath, “I wasn’t laughing at you, just,”“It’s okay, I get it. I’m happy you can laugh. Better to laugh than,”"Scream,” she finished for me.We sat quietly for a while. When I instinctively put my arm around her, she didn’t shrug it off. Instead, she rested her head on my shoulder. In a less bizarre situation I may have felt inclined to make a move, but I wasn’t about to make a sexual advance on a young woman who had woken up to find herself nude and trapped in some mind bending alien cell with a strange, naked man twice her age. No matter how attractive she was, or how much she currently smelled like sex.“What do you think they meant by ‘compatible?’” Chloe asked.“No idea,” I replied. "Maybe something to do with D N A? Or they just wanted a male and female of our species? I don’t know.“"I suppose we could ask them, but I don’t think they’re here right now.”“Me either. They feel, absent, somehow.”Chloe sniffed curiously, then sighed. “God, I need a shower. I smell like,” Her voice trailed off, as if too embarrassed to finish.Dammit. She had to go and point it out. I’d always had a sensitive nose, and especially loved the scent of a woman’s arousal. I’d convinced many a past lover to share their panties with me, and of course I truly enjoyed giving them oral, basking in their unique smells and tastes.I’d been trying not to focus on the exhilarating aroma currently wafting up from Chloe’s thighs, but now it was all I could think about.Chloe sat up with a startled jerk. "I, I guess you smell it too,” she said in a bemused tone.She was looking at my lap with a crooked grin. Because of course, I’d gotten an erection.I removed my arm from around her and tried to cover myself up, which only made things worse, as the simplest contact to my throbbing penis sent shockwaves of pleasure through it and my body, making me shudder.“Shit! Chloe, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for,”Her soft voice stopped me. “It's okay, it’s not your fault. Or mine. None of this is our fault. We didn’t ask to be here.”She gestured around the room. “This whole thing is crazy! I don’t know what they did to us with those lights. But they changed something. I should be curled up on the floor, sucking my thumb and drooling. But it’s like they altered my brain. All my fear, my confusion, my, inhibitions. Gone. And that’s nothing compared to what they did to my body.”Chloe took a long, deep breath, held it, then released. “I’m just as, aroused, as you are. Have been since that thing with the lights. Just been trying not to focus on it. But seeing your,” her eyes glanced shyly at my cock, “seeing it like that, it’s like somebody threw a switch or something.“ Her voice trembled, and I noticed her legs rocking, thighs gently squeezing and releasing unconsciously.Several awkward moments passed. I closed my eyes, trying to focus on anything else but my pulsing erection, when the fresh, musky scent of female arousal filled my nose so suddenly that I gasped with surprise and pleasure.Chloe let out a gasp to echo my own and, opening my eyes, I saw her, leaning back against the wall, legs fully parted, masturbating furiously.Her face flushed when she caught my stare. "I can’t help it. I, I just need, release." Biting her lip, her eyes again went to my cock. "You, you can, too. If you want. I won’t mind.”I needed no further encouragement. The hand that had been making a vain attempt to cover my erection now gripped it firmly and began the familiar motions.I’d been masturbating since the day I’d found a Playboy magazine in my dad’s nightstand, but this was like nothing I’d ever experienced before. Somehow, every nerve ending in my penis felt heightened tenfold. I could feel the blood pulsing inside the sponge-like flesh of it, stretching and expanding my erection beyond its limits. It couldn’t possibly be growing in my hand, yet it certainly felt that way.My eyes found Chloe. Her left hand was caressing her breasts, alternating between them, twisting and pulling swollen nipples. Her right hand was furiously fingering her sex, creating wet squelching sounds as they slid in and out of her pretty pink hole.Her face glowed radiantly, full of lust, pleasure and pure joy. Her bright eyes wandered over my body, never straying their attention too far from my cock as I jerked at a strong, steady pace.Sensing my need, Chloe twisted her body, bracing her weight on one arm as she lifted her right leg up onto the platform. Her foot came to rest on my hip, giving me a much more personal view as her fingers continued their explorations of her intimate flesh.Chloe parted her delicate labia, exposing the slick opening to her vagina. Inserting two fingers, she closed them around her swollen clitoral hood, teasing her hole while stimulating her clit. Her pubic hair was wet and matted, large dollops of thick cream oozing from between her fingers, running down her ass crack. Her scent was overpowering.I turned myself towards her as well, our legs entwined, our genitals now mere inches apart as we pleasured ourselves.Chloe’s moans ceased as her mouth formed a silent O. Every muscle in her body tensed, then released in spasms as her climax took her. She found her voice again, releasing squeals of pleasure, her hips rocking uncontrollably. I watched, fascinated, as her natural lubrication gushed in clear little streams to pool on the platform beneath her.Without thinking, I scooped up her ejaculate, bringing my fingers to my nose and lips. Her taste was sweet, and I savored it on my tongue. Gathering up more, I slathered her warm juices on my impossibly hard cock and began stroking again in earnest.Chloe continued to masturbate, grinning wickedly at me, now solely focused on her clit, rubbing it in circles at an ever increasing pace. Thick strands of her cum dripped from her like honey from a hive.“I’ve, never been, this wet,” she gasped, “I’m, gonna cum again.”Her teeth clenched and her face twisted, again racked in wave after wave of orgasmic pleasure. Her pussy gushed, the pool beneath her becoming a lake, and I immediately gathered up more to lubricate my own throbbing organ.I felt my orgasm approaching, but instead of speeding up, I slowed my pace to long, steady strokes, drawing out the pleasure, increasing the buildup, until my cock felt like it would explode and I could hold back no longer.I let out an animalistic growl as my first blast burst from me, splattering across Chloe’s lower abdomen, coating the hand working her still needy cunt. Without missing a beat, Chloe rubbed my gooey spunk into her, mixing it with her own lubrication.My second blast added to it, as hot and strong as the first. Chloe gathered my continuing eruption into her hand, adding it to the growing mess between her legs. Her head rocked and her eyes rolled back as another orgasm took her. Our groans of passion rang in each other’s ears and the smell of sweat and cum filled the air, making us drunk with lust.Finally, we collapsed into each other, exhausted and gasping for breath as our orgasms subsided.Chloe exhaled a warm breath on my neck, her soft breast pressed up against my arm. Her hand landed on my thigh; it was sticky with our mixed fluids.We sat in silence. There were no words to say. How does one even begin to talk about such an intense and erotic experience?Suddenly, a strange tingling sensation began. It felt random at first, until I realized it was coming from the parts of me still coated with cum.Chloe must have felt it too, because she sat up quickly, and her hands instinctively went to cover her sex. She let out a soft gasp, of surprise or pleasure I could not be sure.We both watched, awestruck, as the sticky mess that covered us slowly dissolved, transforming into little points of glowing gold light that drifted up towards the ceiling. (If there was, in fact, a ceiling. We’d never determined how high up the room went.)Gradually, they disappeared.“What, the, hell?" I whispered. Chloe remained silent, her eyes wide, mouth agape.I stood, looking upwards. "Hey!” I shouted towards the unknown. “Hey! You there? What was that? What are you doing to us? Answer me, damn it!”There was not even the echo of my own voice in reply.I sat back down, confused and frustrated. Chloe wrapped her arms around me and we lay together on the platform, our bodies still warm, flushed and sweaty from our exertions. It took only minutes for an exhausted sleep to fall over us.—————————————-I woke to find myself alone. I had a moment of panic until I saw Chloe, still sleeping peacefully, on her own platform.I sat up, feeling as fresh and energetic as before, but there was now another sensation: hunger. How long had we been here? When did I last eat? I couldn’t recall.Chloe woke, and I could not help but admire her lithe, feminine form as she rose with a stretch. She looked slightly confused. “Did, did you move, or did I?”“Dunno,” I shrugged. “Maybe they moved us while we slept.”“We seem to sleep a lot since we’ve been here,” she mused, “but the upside is I feel amazingly refreshed and energized afterwards. I also feel, starving.” Her stomach grumbled as if to emphasize her point.“Yeah, me too,” I chuckled. “Wonder what they got to eat around this joint? Think 'Uber Eats’ delivers here?”Her grin at my joke became a frown when her stomach growled again. “Well I hope they remember us carbon based lifeforms need sustenance once in a while.”As if on cue, the humming noise began, and we were once again enveloped in the pale blue lights. We were lifted to the air as the calming, peaceful sensations of the beams flowed through us.The color then changed to green, and I felt something new: a sense of being nourished, replenished. My hunger pangs immediately subsided.But it was more than just some strange, alien version of intravenous feeding. Because I was also tasting things. I could sense the flavors of various foods flooding my taste buds. Most I recognized, several I did not, but all of them were delicious. My body felt the way it would after a satisfying meal of several courses, but without the discomforts or sense of lethargy one often has after eating too much.With the slightest shift in the frequency of the hum came another new sensation; the feeling of hydration. I tasted the coolest, cleanest water I’d ever had flowing through my mouth and down my throat, the illusion so real I swallowed regularly, despite the fact there was no real liquid.Another frequency shift, another sensation. A tingling similar to the one I’d felt earlier started deep within my bowels, spreading slowly throughout my body. It was odd, but not unpleasant, almost like a burning sensation that didn’t cause pain.As the tingling wave reached every part of me, tiny particles began emanating from my pores, transforming into the same glowing gold points of light we’d seen before, drifting slowly up and away, fading from view.I can’t even begin to describe how alive I felt in that moment.Looking over, Chloe was enveloped in her own luminous gold cloud. Her body glowed like an angel.The lights changed from green to blue as the last of the golden lights flickered away. We were again guided back down on our platforms and released.I sat up immediately, as did Chloe. “Holy shit,” she gasped. “That was amazing!”I stood and addressed the ceiling. “Hey! Whoever you are! Can we talk? What was that?”I didn’t truly expect an answer. But I got one. “Nourishment. Purification.” The Voice responded.“Purification?" I was beginning to grasp what happened, but wanted clarification."Purification.” The Voice repeated. “Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function. Optimal life form function must be reached in order to achieve objective.”“Objective?" I asked, "What exactly is the objective here?”“Optimal compatibility.”“I don't understand!” I yelled at our invisible captor.“Impurities must be removed for optimal life form function,” The Voice repeated. “Removal of impurities will be completed in several stages to compensate for life form fragility. Once optimal life form function has been reached, optimal compatibility will be achievable.”“What happens when optimal compatibility is achieved?” I asked, calmer this time.“Conjoining,” answered The Voice.“What the hell does that mean?” I asked, although I had my suspicions.I received no answer.Chloe was crying. I moved to comfort her. “Hey, it's okay, don’t be afraid, we’ll be alright.”She looked up at me, wiping away her tears. “No, you don’t understand,” she said, her voice still hitching with sobs, “I think, no, I know. They, they cured me.”I was, of course, confused. Once she’d calmed herself, she explained. “I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age fifteen. The symptoms have varied in severity over the years, and I’ve actually been in remission for a while now. I haven’t experienced any symptoms since I’ve been here, but somehow, during that, 'purification’, I felt it. I can’t explain how I know, but I know. They cured me. Just purged it from my body somehow. Oh my God,” Her voice trailed off in wonder, her tears beginning anew.I simply sat there, stunned, and held her.Optimal HealthWhile I waited for Chloe to deal with her emotions, my musings turned towards my own body, and how I was feeling since the “Nourishment and Purification” process.My initial thought had been that “purification” simply meant the removal of bodily wastes. It would explain why I’d felt no urges to relieve myself since I’d been here.But if Chloe’s revelation was true, and I had no reason to doubt her, then it was much more than simply cleaning out our waste systems.Looking myself over, I discovered that several small moles I’d had on my chest and shoulders were gone. A scar I’d had on the back of my hand from a bike accident as a kid was no longer there. I looked at my hand in wonder, searching for any trace of it, but saw only smooth, fresh skin.My stomach looked flatter, like I’d lost a few pounds. Although that could be explained by the fact I’d not actually eaten any solid food for, well, however long we’d been there.I was in decent shape for 42, but had developed certain things all middle aged men experience as time and age slowly takes its toll. A bit of a paunch from unhealthy eating; aches and pains in various areas that one learns to simply live with.I felt none of those pains now. My legs, always so tight, now felt loose and flexible. My back had no stiffness; there was no crick in my neck.I wondered about my eyesight. I had been using reading glasses for the past several years, and now I was curious if I’d still need them. I couldn’t be sure without something to focus on, like a book or computer screen, but I felt like I could see better in general.I felt less bloated than usual, like I’d been given an enema or something, my colon completely cleansed of any built up waste.Overall, I felt healthier than I had in at least a decade.Once Chloe had composed herself, we discussed the similar changes we both felt in our bodies. Being younger than I, Chloe was already in better shape generally, but her Crohns did leave her with general discomforts and pains she had just gotten used to dealing with over the years, things she said were now completely gone.“What else can you see or feel that’s different?” I asked her. “Think about it. Do you have any scars or birthmarks missing? Something like that?”Chloe looked at her abdomen. “My appendectomy scar is gone. And I don’t have any birthmarks or moles, except,” she paused, blushing a little, “I have this, mole. On my ass. It’s low down, I can only see it in a mirror. I’ve always felt a little self-conscious about it. I guess, I guess I have to know. Could you, take a look for me?”Without waiting for an answer, Chloe stood and turned, giving me a full view of her beautifully curved bottom.I couldn’t help blushing myself as I leaned in to inspect it, searching for the mole in question. I saw nothing but her creamy, smooth skin, and said so.“Are you sure? It’s kinda low and between, just on the underside of my left butt cheek.” Chloe bent forward and reached around with her hand, spreading herself open.I still could see no mole, but I certainly could now see her plump vulva and delicate pink labia, along with her tight little anus, winking at me as she pulled her ass cheeks open wider. Once again my nose breathed in the special scent wafting from between her legs. It was all I could do to keep myself from leaning in closer to inhale her.Instead, I stammered, “Um, no, no mole. I guess it’s gone.”Chloe sat back down. “So strange,” she mused, “I wonder why they’re fixing us like this? And I wonder what they meant by,” Her voice trailed off with a giggle. “Sorry. Guess I should have expected that with the view I just gave you.”I didn’t understand what she meant at first, until I noticed her looking at the erection I’d gotten without even realizing it.“Sorry, I really was trying to keep my inspection, professional,” I apologized with an embarrassed grin.Chloe’s smile was warm and kind. “I know. But you’re a man, you can’t help looking. And I’m okay with the idea of you being aroused by it. It’s, flattering. With all we’ve been through so far, it’s only natural that you’d want sex after having my bare ass in your face.”“Look, Chloe, I’d never presume to,”Chloe cut me off. “I know. You’ve been nothing but a gentleman since we woke up here. Even with the sexual stimulation from the lights, even when we masturbated together, you’ve never tried to touch me inappropriately, or force yourself on me. And I truly appreciate that. Because I know it can’t be easy for you.”“Actually, it’s very easy for me,” I stated firmly, “because I’d never touch a woman who didn’t want to be touched. Period.”Chloe nodded appreciatively. “Thank you.”She gave me a shy, nervous, smile. “Being honest, I’m actually not that horny myself at the moment; still kind of reeling from the idea of having been miraculously healed. But I’d be more than happy to, well, give you a hand. If you want it.”My eyes lit up. “I’d love that, but only if you’re sure,” I answered, desperately hoping that she was indeed sure.Chloe responded by taking my hard cock in her hand. It jumped at her touch. She began pleasuring me with long, slow, gentle strokes.My arm slipped naturally around her as she nuzzled into me, resting her head on my shoulder while she watched her ministrations. I could feel her warm left breast pressing against my chest. My hand hung dangerously close to her right breast, fingers just barely grazing the side.To be continued in part 2.By Djmac1031 for Literotica

19.01.24 Pt 2 - Siv Ngesi joins Gareth and Simphiwe as they get into Siv's Cape Town celebrity hobnobbing, his love for Mmusi Maimane, Gareth's ‘White Room', and more. www.cliffcentral.com

Deuxième Partie: The Cream. PLAYLIST  The Graham Bond Organisation, "Tammy"  The Graham Bond Organisation, "Train Time"  The Graham Bond Organisation, "Lease on Love"  Winston G, "Please Don't Say"   Graham Bond organisation, "Baby Can it Be True ?"  The Yardbirds, "Got to Hurry"  John Mayall, "I'm Your Witchdoctor"  Jimmy Page et Eric Clapton, "Draggin' My Tail"  John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Jack Bruce, "Hoochie Coochie Man"  Manfred Mann, "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"  Manfred Mann, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"  Jack Bruce, "Drinkin' and Gamblin'"  Manfred Mann, "Pretty Flamingo"  John Mayall et Eric Clapton, "Bernard Jenkins"  John Mayall avec Eric Clapton, "Ramblin' On My Mind"  John Mayall avec Eric Clapton, "Hideaway"  The Who, "Substitute"  The Who Orchestra, "Waltz For a Pig"  The Hollies avec Peter Sellers, "After the Fox"  The Powerhouse, "Crossroads"  Robert Johnson, "Terraplane Blues"  Muddy Waters, "32-20 Blues"  Robert Johnson, "Preaching Blues"  The Powerhouse, "Crossroads"  John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, "Dust My Blues"  Manfred Mann "The Mighty Quinn"  Oscar, "Over the Wall We Go"  Cream, "NSU"  Cream, "Wrapping Paper"  The Merseys, "Sorrow"  The Who, "I'm a Boy"  Jimi Hendrix, "Killing Floor"  The Cream, "I Feel Free"  Billy J Kramer - 'Town of Tuxley Toymaker ".  The Bee Gees, "New York Mining Disaster 1941"  The Youngbloods, "Get Together"  Cream, "Strange Brew"  Cream, "Sunshine of Your Love"  Cream, "Sunshine of Your Love"  Crazy Blue, "Stone Crazy"  Aretha Franklin, "Good to Me as I Am to You"  The Mothers of Invention, "Are You Hung Up ?"  Cream, "Crossroads"  Cream, "Crossroads"  Bob Dylan and the Band, "The Mighty Quinn"  Bob Dylan and the Band, "This Wheel's on Fire"  The Band, "The Weight"  Cream, "Anyone For Tennis"  Cream, "White Room"  Cream, "Badge"  Cream, "Sittin' on Top of the World (live Albert Hall)"

Visual artist Chelsea Ramirez discusses their delicate, layered drawings and installations using pigments and found objects. After discovering their passion at the New York Studio School, Chelsea has spent the last decade developing her signature style of "radical softness" to subtly resist social constructs. We explore Chelsea's large-scale piece "The White Room," her home studio practice, and upcoming projects expanding her ethereal aesthetic. Chelsea Ramirez on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chelsearamire.z Tom Ray's Art Podcast Website - https://www.tomrayswebsite.com Join my email list to get a call out for artists when I'm booking interviews! Join my email list --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tomraysartpodcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tomraysartpodcast/support

In this episode, we speak with UK musician, Malcolm Bruce, son of late Jack Bruce, about his new Cream tribute album, "Heavenly Cream - An Acoustic Tribute to Cream".

After not one, but two hard fought battles against the 2 biggest baddies in the Abyss, our heroes face some hard truths and even harder decisions in the White Room as they are greeted by memories and a familiar face.- - - - - - - - - -GIVE US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US FOR THE Q&A!Fill out this form to have your questions answered in our post-season finale Q&A episodehttps://forms.gle/LNEbmdBjHDciAyFv6Questions must be submitted by October 2/2023- - - - - - - - - -Become a Patron today to take advantage of a FREE 7 day trial AND join us at the Q&A Recording on Tuesday, October 3/2023.Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community and instantly access 200+ bonus episodes. Join us as a supporting producer to take part in exclusive hangouts, ask questions and have your say in world.Find all the details at Patreon.com/DumbDragonCast.- - - - - - - - - -CAST & CREWDM: Russ MorePlayers: Amy More, Carla Maxted, Tom Laird, Kristin Flemons, Kyle ClasetDialogue Editing: Carla MaxtedSound Design: Russ MoreMusic & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sound, BOOM Library, Kevin Mcleod, Sound IdeasCover Art: Chrissytor Illustrations- - - - - - - - - -Find and support our sponsors at: fableandfolly.com/partners- - - - - - - - - -Socials and more! - https://linktr.ee/dumbdragons See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After not one, but two hard fought battles against the 2 biggest baddies in the Abyss, our heroes face some hard truths and even harder decisions in the White Room as they are greeted by memories and a familiar face. - - - - - - - - - - GIVE US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US FOR THE Q&A! Fill out this form to have your questions answered in our post-season finale Q&A episode https://forms.gle/LNEbmdBjHDciAyFv6 Questions must be submitted by October 2/2023 - - - - - - - - - - Become a Patron today to take advantage of a FREE 7 day trial AND join us at the Q&A Recording on Tuesday, October 3/2023. Support the podcast by joining our Patreon community and instantly access 200+ bonus episodes.  Join us as a supporting producer to take part in exclusive hangouts, ask questions and have your say in world. Find all the details at Patreon.com/DumbDragonCast. - - - - - - - - - - CAST & CREW DM: Russ More Players: Amy More, Carla Maxted, Tom Laird, Kristin Flemons, Kyle Claset Dialogue Editing: Carla Maxted Sound Design: Russ More Music & Sound Effects: Epidemic Sound, BOOM Library, Kevin Mcleod, Sound Ideas Cover Art: Chrissytor Illustrations - - - - - - - - - - Find and support our sponsors at: fableandfolly.com/partners - - - - - - - - - - Socials and more! - https://linktr.ee/dumbdragons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this thrilling episode, the Groupies celebrate their 2 year anniversary and Monroe Community Players 75th anniversary. Dave gives a shout out to the CTAM Fall Conference. Ron talks about Rumors and Bob and Brian get to squeeze in Star Trek references. All of this and another review from Kathleen!

On our latest weekly roundup, we have a special guest star. Nicole is back for a cameo appearance!What we're watching: On Only Murders in the Building, "The White Room" was not about expensive Manhattan real estate, but about stage fright (and there was a catchy song). On The Afterparty, "Feng" brought some surprising subtlety from Ken Jeong, even in the midst of a lot of TikTok videos.​Catherine's library find this week is another nonfiction series for kids that she found disturbing—actually, there are at least two series in the same vein, so we have concerns. Mentioned: "The Wolverines" on Saturday Night Live from October 11, 1975, and whether gophers and groundhogs are the same critters.In the archives, we revisit chats on our best school strategies (September 2, 2021), back-to-school emotions (September 3, 2020), and what was left out of the parenting manual (August 28, 2015). ​We'll be back with a new episode next Tuesday. Our TV watch will cover S2 E9 of The Afterparty ("Isabel") and S3 E5 of Only Murders in the Building (“Ah, Love!”). If you miss hearing from us every single day, the archives await you!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/3680863/advertisement

With Special Guest Photographer - Alison Narro @alisonnarro on Instagram The guys discuss millennial spending habits, great businesses with failed products, and hear from Alison about life as a ACL Live Photographer, taking shots of some of the biggest stars on the planet. Support the show: https://www.klbjfm.com/mattandbobfm/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are on episode 4 which means we have caught up! SPOILER ALERT! Unless you don't mind then keep going, but I think Kimber is out and Joy is in. Although I wouldn't be surprised if it was someone else, they usually do that. Charles needs to figure his white room situation out and pretty sure we all know it is Joy related. Where is Detective Williams and Sazz? Maybe episode 5 they'll show up and bring baby Keith. But that ending what is Charles thinking if he even is? Thank you for listening, please rate/like/review where ever you stream podcasts it really does help. Also if you like please follow the pod on insta @something.about.podcast 

Kirt & Mr. Sal discuss Season 3 Episode 4 of Only Murders in the Building in which Charles finds his happy place in an orange bell pepper.   ~~~ Relevant Links ~~~ Website: showhoppers.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShowHoppers Contact Us: showhopperspodcast@gmail.com

Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did it? Can the host actually say the words 'Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It!?' Who killed Ben Glenroy? Or why did Ben die either time? We review the outstanding questions of ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 3, Episode 4 "The White Room" - and take a day, find a priest and pray it out! 00:00 Intro 00:02 The Man in the Mirror 01:40 Let's Solve Only Murders in the Building 02:14 Spoiler Warning 02:35 Credit Clues 02:44 Call to Action 03:05 Victim Profile: Ben Glenroy aka CoBro 04:10 Questions to Solve 05:22 Ben II 05:59 Dickie 06:30 Sing-a-long 07:21 Kimber 07:47 Bobo 08:03 Howard 08:27 Joy 09:11 Cinda Canning 09:27 Charles 09:45 Mabel 10:44 Feedback 12:52 Who Killed Ben Glenroy Poll Results The murder mystery/true crime podcast spoof with Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez! Upper West Side neighbors Charles, Oliver and Mabel bond over a shared love of true crime. Charles' stage fright reaches unimaginable heights, involving a break from reality and multiple baby dolls. Mabel is confronted by a mysterious individual from her past with a pivotal proposal. Do you watch on Disney+, Hulu or Star+? Did we miss any clues? Twitter/Instagram/Threads: @DoublePHQ http://facebook.com/doublephq #onlymurdersinthebuilding #OnlyMurders ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Explained ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Recap ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Review ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Theory Theories s3e4 s03e04 Directed by Adam Shankman Writing Credits Steve Martin ... (created by) & John Hoffman ... (created by) J.J. Philbin ... (written by) Joshua Allen Griffith ... (executive story editor) Cast (in credits order) Steve Martin ... Charles-Haden Savage Martin Short ... Oliver Putnam Selena Gomez ... Mabel Mora Michael Cyril Creighton ... Howard Morris Andrea Martin ... Joy Tina Fey ... Cindy Canning Ryan Broussard ... Will Jackie Hoffman ... Uma Da'Vine Joy Randolph ... Detective Williams Gerald Caesar ... Ty Linda Emond ... Donna Demeos Allison Guinn ... K.T. Ashley Park ... Kimber Don Darryl Rivera ... Bobo Paul Rudd ... Ben Glenroy Jeremy Shamos ... Dickie Meryl Streep ... Loretta Durkin Wesley Taylor ... Cliff Demeos Jason Veasey ... Jonathan Jesse Williams ... Tobert Adrian Martinez ... Gregg Caitlin Hammond ... Girl Cop Gerrard Lobo ... Detective Biswas Harry Sutton Jr. ... Doctor Douglas Matthew Broderick Mel Brooks Produced by Dan Fogelman ... executive producer Selena Gomez ... executive producer John Hoffman ... executive producer Steve Martin ... executive producer Jess Rosenthal ... executive producer Martin Short ... executive producer Music by Siddhartha Khosla ... (music by) Consulting Producers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul #selenagomez #stevemartin #martinshort #murdermystery #paulrudd #merylstreep #hulu #disneyplus #starplus

In this podcast, Josh and Troy recap Season 3 Episode 4 of "Only Murders."

Are we dead? Are we on drugs?? Jade, Kara and Erica review probably the most unhinged Only Murders in the Building episode to date! Watch S3E1 video HERE! Video of S3E2,3&4 ON PATREON! Join and watch full episode videos, get extra bonus videos and listen to all of our podcasts ad-free!Leave us feedback for our next episode review of Only murders in the Building season 3 episodes 5! Email us at perfectlymarvelouspodcast@gmail.com or send a voice message (which we REALLY prefer ;-)Follow us on Instagram: @perfectlymarvelouscast or Facebook Only Perfectly Marvelous Murders! Group where we put up posts about each episode and leave a comment there! Subscribe to watch more videos:Youtube:@JadeAndersonactor Listen to Jade's remake &sequel Podcast "Shall We Compare Thee?" A remake and Sequel PodcastFollow Jade on social media:Instagram- @Jadethenakedlady Tiktok- @Jade8greenYoutube:@JadeAndersonactor Website:Jade-anderson.comLinks from news:Goldderby.com article-Martin short nominated for best actor in comedy series Dailybeast.com-OMITB Costumes

Hello and welcome to Thew DJ B-12 Deep Acid House Experience episode 46 for August of 2023. We have a special treat for you this time with a gust mix I did back in May for Mix Pub. This is a 60 track mix that's a little over 2 hours long and is jampacked with loads of styles ranhing from house to techno to breaks to acid to hardcore and progressive. I wanted to wait a while on releasing this one. It went over really well the night it aired. I really hope you enjoy. I'll try not to take too long releasing show number 47 probably in September.   This set contains tracks by and remixed by and on the following labels: t e s t p r e s s, Shall Not Fade, The Spirit, Logic Records, Digital Domain, Rabbit City, Simon Doty, Anjunadeep, Habbo Foxx, Zulu Records, Roland Clark, Trish O., Alexander Technique, Heldeep Records, Greco (NYC), Rowetta, Klangkuenstler, Rawsome Recordings, Marsh, Anjunadeep, Jerusalem, OM, Spooky, Deviant Records, Harry Romero, Jessica Eve, Rodriguez Jr., Crosstown Rebels, Franky Wah, Cr2 Records, Dosem, Truesoul, Vitess, Pont Neuf Records, Framewerk, Capital Heaven, O.H.M., Defective Records, Brothers Love Dub, Stress Records, Fleetwood Mac, Deep Dish, Reprise Records, Lose Endz, Overall Musicl, GSEP, Rikki Sawyer, Hall North, JourneyDeep Records, Depeshe Mode, Framewerk Rewerks, Andy Moor, Adam White,  Whiteroom, Marsh, Virtualmismo, Progressive Motion Records, Slacker, Jukebox In The Sky, The Future Sound Of London, Virgin Records, Rhythm Invention, Nick Simpson, Warp Records, Jaydee, R&S Records, Tom Mangan, Size 9, Bedrock Records, Dave Angel, Rekids, Drum Club, Underworld, Butterfly Records, Pleasurebox, Well Hung, Accidental Music, Roach Motel, 4 To The Floor Records, Gareth Cole, Ohral, Bizzare Inc., Loz J Yates, World Sound, GREETINGS, Boots & Legs, Rick Marshall, Soulful Evolution, Nox Vahn, James Grant, Lauer, Johannes Albert, Frank Music, Tom Wax, Drea Perlon, Harthouse, Phil Fuldner, Armada Subjekt, Blazers, Infinite Pleasure, Friend Within, Shall Not Fade, Corrodo, Savannah Records, Soul Brothers, Joi Cardwell, Ralphi Rosario, Nervous Records, Ken Ishii, Dave Angel, R&S Records, Saytek, Taiko, All Around The World (AATW), Sultana, Ego, 108 Grand, Way Out West, Fresh, Stereo MC's, Kadosh (IL), Stil Vor Talent, Tibasko, Azzecca, Another Rhythm, Firestar Soundsystem, Elektroshok Records, Robbie Doherty, Shall Not Fade, BC#9, DNB UNITED RECORDS, Because of Art, Antony Szmierek, Komakino, Robert Babicz, Esprit De La Jeunesse, Sunscreem, Sunscreem Music Thanks again for your support! Like, comment, share, subscribe and repost! Tracklist01. t e s t p r e s s - on my own [Shall Not Fade]02. The Spirit - The Spirit (Into My hands. I Command My Body) (12" Spiritual Mix) [Logic Records]03. Digital Domain - I Need Relief [Rabbit City]04. Simon Doty - Living Sound (Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep]05. Habbo Foxx - Love On My Mind (Extended Mix) [Zulu Records]06. Roland Clark, Trish O. - This is Techno (Alexander Technique Extended Remix) [Heldeep Records]07. Greco (NYC), Rowetta - Be (Klangkuenstler Remix) [Rawsome Recordings]08. Marsh, Simon Doty - Touch The Sky (Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep]09. Jerusalem - Jerusalem (King Solomon Dub) [OM]  10. Spooky - Belong (Flangescopic Dub) [Deviant Records]11. Jessica Eve, Harry Romero - It Hurts feat. Jessica Eve (Rodriguez Jr. Remix) [Crosstown Rebels]12. Franky Wah - Stories (Extended Mix) [Cr2 Records]13. Dosem - All Locations [Anjunadeep]14. Dosem - Unlimited Access [Truesoul]15. Vitess - Head Scan [Pont Neuf Records]16. Framewerk - Let Your Mind Go [Capital Heaven]17. O.H.M. - Oceanic [Defective Records]18. Brothers Love Dub - The Mighty Ming [Stress Records]19. Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (with Deep Dish) [Reprise Records]20. Lose Endz - North Beach [Overall Music]21. GSEP, Rikki Sawyer - Made For You (Hall North Remix) [JourneyDeep Records]22. Framewerk - Enjoy The Silence [Framewerk Rewerks]23. Andy Moor, Adam White - The Whiteroom feat. Whiteroom (Marsh Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep]24. Virtualmismo - Cosmonautica (Lunar Lander Mix) [Progressive Motion Records]25. Slacker - Musifon [Jukebox In The Sky]  26. The Future Sound Of London - Lifeforms [Virgin Records]  27. Rhythm Invention – Chronoclasm (Nick Simpson's Portable Mix) [Warp Records]28. Jaydee - Plastic Dreams [R&S Records]29. Tom Mangan - Chutney (Size 9 Remix) [Bedrock Records]30. Dave Angel - Glide [Rekids]31. Drum Club - Sound System (Underworld Mix) [Butterfly Records]32. Pleasurebox - Real Kiss (Well Hung Parliament Remix) [Accidental Music]  33. Roach Motel - The Right Time (The London Disco Dub) [4 To The Floor Records]34. Gareth Cole - Drawn To The Dark [Ohral]35. Loz J Yates - Plutonic [World Sound]36. GREETINGS - Look Within [Boots & Legs]37. Rick Marshall - Don't Wanna Be (Extended Mix) [Soulful Evolution]38. Chris Cargo - Synergy (Framewerk Remix) [If You Wait]39. Marsh, Nox Vahn - Come Together (Dosem & James Grant Extended Mix) [Anjunadeep40. Lauer, Johannes Albert - Posh-O-Rama [Frank Music]41. Pascal Nuzzo - Hold On [R&S Records]42. Tom Wax, Drea Perlon - Hangxiety [Harthouse]43. Phil Fuldner - Shift (Extended Mix) [Armada Subjekt]44. Blazers - Midnight Resource [Infinite Pleasure]45. Friend Within - Don't Hurt Me [Shall Not Fade]46. Corrodo - Trust (Pink Mix) [Savannah Records]47. Soul Brothers - Let It Go (feat. Joi Cardwell) (Ralphi Rosario Dub) [Nervous Records]48. Ken Ishii - Overlap (Dave Angel Remix) [R&S Records]49. Saytek - IYNDUB01 (Live) [R&S Records]50. Taiko - Echo Drop (Hard) [All Around The World (AATW)]51. Sultana - Te Amo (Caliente Mix) [Ego]52. 108 Grand - Tonight (Way Out West Dub) [Fresh]53. Stereo MC's, Kadosh (IL) - Think It Over [Stil Vor Talent]  54. Tibasko - Still Rushing (Azzecca Extended Remix) [Another Rhythm]55. Firestar Soundsystem - Future Break [Elektroshok Records]56. Robbie Doherty - Sick n' Tired [Shall Not Fade]57. BC#9 - I Want Your Love [DNB UNITED RECORDS]58. Because of Art, Antony Szmierek - Circle of Light (feat. Antony Szmierek) (Incandescent Mix) [Stress Records]59. Komakino - Outface (Robert Babicz Remix) [Esprit De La Jeunesse]60. Sunscreem - Pressure US (SXS Mix) [Sunscreem Music] 

A glimpse into the life of Eddie Pepitone on the road in Worcester. A behind the scenes view of the greatness we love in his natural habitat. Enjoy! Catch up on all our videos a week later at: www.youtube.com/@eddiepeppodcast For additional content support Eddie on Patreon: www.patreon.com/eddiepepitone Write us a review on iTunes https://tinyurl.com/mv57us2d Watch The Bitter Buddha the doc by Steven Fienartz about Eddie. Send emails to: EddiePepPodcast@gmail.com Follow Eddie Twitter: @EddiePepitone Instagram: @EddiePep Follow Kevin @KevinTienken Go to www.eddiepepitone.com for show dates and all things Eddie Thank you to Allen Mezquida for our beautiful artwork

-It's a Bugaboo Tuesday for Bill today…what's bothering him this week?-Also, SONG OF THE DAY (sponsored by Sartor Hamann Jewelers): "White Room" - Cream (1968)Show sponsored by GANA TRUCKINGAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 166 of A History of Rock Music in Five Hundred Songs looks at “Crossroads", Cream, the myth of Robert Johnson, and whether white men can sing the blues. Click the full post to read liner notes, links to more information, and a transcript of the episode. Patreon backers also have a forty-eight-minute bonus episode available, on “Tip-Toe Thru' the Tulips" by Tiny Tim. Tilt Araiza has assisted invaluably by doing a first-pass edit, and will hopefully be doing so from now on. Check out Tilt's irregular podcasts at http://www.podnose.com/jaffa-cakes-for-proust and http://sitcomclub.com/ Errata I talk about an interview with Clapton from 1967, I meant 1968. I mention a Graham Bond live recording from 1953, and of course meant 1963. I say Paul Jones was on vocals in the Powerhouse sessions. Steve Winwood was on vocals, and Jones was on harmonica. Resources As I say at the end, the main resource you need to get if you enjoyed this episode is Brother Robert by Annye Anderson, Robert Johnson's stepsister. There are three Mixcloud mixes this time. As there are so many songs by Cream, Robert Johnson, John Mayall, and Graham Bond excerpted, and Mixcloud won't allow more than four songs by the same artist in any mix, I've had to post the songs not in quite the same order in which they appear in the podcast. But the mixes are here -- one, two, three. This article on Mack McCormick gives a fuller explanation of the problems with his research and behaviour. The other books I used for the Robert Johnson sections were McCormick's Biography of a Phantom; Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson, by Bruce Conforth and Gayle Dean Wardlow; Searching for Robert Johnson by Peter Guralnick; and Escaping the Delta by Elijah Wald. I can recommend all of these subject to the caveats at the end of the episode. The information on the history and prehistory of the Delta blues mostly comes from Before Elvis by Larry Birnbaum, with some coming from Charley Patton by John Fahey. The information on Cream comes mostly from Cream: How Eric Clapton Took the World by Storm by Dave Thompson. I also used Ginger Baker: Hellraiser by Ginger Baker and Ginette Baker, Mr Showbiz by Stephen Dando-Collins, Motherless Child by Paul Scott, and  Alexis Korner: The Biography by Harry Shapiro. The best collection of Cream's work is the four-CD set Those Were the Days, which contains every track the group ever released while they were together (though only the stereo mixes of the albums, and a couple of tracks are in slightly different edits from the originals). You can get Johnson's music on many budget compilation records, as it's in the public domain in the EU, but the double CD collection produced by Steve LaVere for Sony in 2011 is, despite the problems that come from it being associated with LaVere, far and away the best option -- the remasters have a clarity that's worlds ahead of even the 1990s CD version it replaced. And for a good single-CD introduction to the Delta blues musicians and songsters who were Johnson's peers and inspirations, Back to the Crossroads: The Roots of Robert Johnson, compiled by Elijah Wald as a companion to his book on Johnson, can't be beaten, and contains many of the tracks excerpted in this episode. Patreon This podcast is brought to you by the generosity of my backers on Patreon. Why not join them? Transcript Before we start, a quick note that this episode contains discussion of racism, drug addiction, and early death. There's also a brief mention of death in childbirth and infant mortality. It's been a while since we looked at the British blues movement, and at the blues in general, so some of you may find some of what follows familiar, as we're going to look at some things we've talked about previously, but from a different angle. In 1968, the Bonzo Dog Band, a comedy musical band that have been described as the missing link between the Beatles and the Monty Python team, released a track called "Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?": [Excerpt: The Bonzo Dog Band, "Can Blue Men Sing the Whites?"] That track was mocking a discussion that was very prominent in Britain's music magazines around that time. 1968 saw the rise of a *lot* of British bands who started out as blues bands, though many of them went on to different styles of music -- Fleetwood Mac, Ten Years After, Jethro Tull, Chicken Shack and others were all becoming popular among the kind of people who read the music magazines, and so the question was being asked -- can white men sing the blues? Of course, the answer to that question was obvious. After all, white men *invented* the blues. Before we get any further at all, I have to make clear that I do *not* mean that white people created blues music. But "the blues" as a category, and particularly the idea of it as a music made largely by solo male performers playing guitar... that was created and shaped by the actions of white male record executives. There is no consensus as to when or how the blues as a genre started -- as we often say in this podcast "there is no first anything", but like every genre it seems to have come from multiple sources. In the case of the blues, there's probably some influence from African music by way of field chants sung by enslaved people, possibly some influence from Arabic music as well, definitely some influence from the Irish and British folk songs that by the late nineteenth century were developing into what we now call country music, a lot from ragtime, and a lot of influence from vaudeville and minstrel songs -- which in turn themselves were all very influenced by all those other things. Probably the first published composition to show any real influence of the blues is from 1904, a ragtime piano piece by James Chapman and Leroy Smith, "One O' Them Things": [Excerpt: "One O' Them Things"] That's not very recognisable as a blues piece yet, but it is more-or-less a twelve-bar blues. But the blues developed, and it developed as a result of a series of commercial waves. The first of these came in 1914, with the success of W.C. Handy's "Memphis Blues", which when it was recorded by the Victor Military Band for a phonograph cylinder became what is generally considered the first blues record proper: [Excerpt: The Victor Military Band, "Memphis Blues"] The famous dancers Vernon and Irene Castle came up with a dance, the foxtrot -- which Vernon Castle later admitted was largely inspired by Black dancers -- to be danced to the "Memphis Blues", and the foxtrot soon overtook the tango, which the Castles had introduced to the US the previous year, to become the most popular dance in America for the best part of three decades. And with that came an explosion in blues in the Handy style, cranked out by every music publisher. While the blues was a style largely created by Black performers and writers, the segregated nature of the American music industry at the time meant that most vocal performances of these early blues that were captured on record were by white performers, Black vocalists at this time only rarely getting the chance to record. The first blues record with a Black vocalist is also technically the first British blues record. A group of Black musicians, apparently mostly American but led by a Jamaican pianist, played at Ciro's Club in London, and recorded many tracks in Britain, under a name which I'm not going to say in full -- it started with Ciro's Club, and continued alliteratively with another word starting with C, a slur for Black people. In 1917 they recorded a vocal version of "St. Louis Blues", another W.C. Handy composition: [Excerpt: Ciro's Club C**n Orchestra, "St. Louis Blues"] The first American Black blues vocal didn't come until two years later, when Bert Williams, a Black minstrel-show performer who like many Black performers of his era performed in blackface even though he was Black, recorded “I'm Sorry I Ain't Got It You Could Have It If I Had It Blues,” [Excerpt: Bert Williams, "I'm Sorry I Ain't Got It You Could Have It If I Had It Blues,”] But it wasn't until 1920 that the second, bigger, wave of popularity started for the blues, and this time it started with the first record of a Black *woman* singing the blues -- Mamie Smith's "Crazy Blues": [Excerpt: Mamie Smith, "Crazy Blues"] You can hear the difference between that and anything we've heard up to that point -- that's the first record that anyone from our perspective, a hundred and three years later, would listen to and say that it bore any resemblance to what we think of as the blues -- so much so that many places still credit it as the first ever blues record. And there's a reason for that. "Crazy Blues" was one of those records that separates the music industry into before and after, like "Rock Around the Clock", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", Sgt Pepper, or "Rapper's Delight". It sold seventy-five thousand copies in its first month -- a massive number by the standards of 1920 -- and purportedly went on to sell over a million copies. Sales figures and market analysis weren't really a thing in the same way in 1920, but even so it became very obvious that "Crazy Blues" was a big hit, and that unlike pretty much any other previous records, it was a big hit among Black listeners, which meant that there was a market for music aimed at Black people that was going untapped. Soon all the major record labels were setting up subsidiaries devoted to what they called "race music", music made by and for Black people. And this sees the birth of what is now known as "classic blues", but at the time (and for decades after) was just what people thought of when they thought of "the blues" as a genre. This was music primarily sung by female vaudeville artists backed by jazz bands, people like Ma Rainey (whose earliest recordings featured Louis Armstrong in her backing band): [Excerpt: Ma Rainey, "See See Rider Blues"] And Bessie Smith, the "Empress of the Blues", who had a massive career in the 1920s before the Great Depression caused many of these "race record" labels to fold, but who carried on performing well into the 1930s -- her last recording was in 1933, produced by John Hammond, with a backing band including Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden: [Excerpt: Bessie Smith, "Give Me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer"] It wouldn't be until several years after the boom started by Mamie Smith that any record companies turned to recording Black men singing the blues accompanied by guitar or banjo. The first record of this type is probably "Norfolk Blues" by Reese DuPree from 1924: [Excerpt: Reese DuPree, "Norfolk Blues"] And there were occasional other records of this type, like "Airy Man Blues" by Papa Charlie Jackson, who was advertised as the “only man living who sings, self-accompanied, for Blues records.” [Excerpt: Papa Charlie Jackson, "Airy Man Blues"] But contrary to the way these are seen today, at the time they weren't seen as being in some way "authentic", or "folk music". Indeed, there are many quotes from folk-music collectors of the time (sadly all of them using so many slurs that it's impossible for me to accurately quote them) saying that when people sang the blues, that wasn't authentic Black folk music at all but an adulteration from commercial music -- they'd clearly, according to these folk-music scholars, learned the blues style from records and sheet music rather than as part of an oral tradition. Most of these performers were people who recorded blues as part of a wider range of material, like Blind Blake, who recorded some blues music but whose best work was his ragtime guitar instrumentals: [Excerpt: Blind Blake, "Southern Rag"] But it was when Blind Lemon Jefferson started recording for Paramount records in 1926 that the image of the blues as we now think of it took shape. His first record, "Got the Blues", was a massive success: [Excerpt: Blind Lemon Jefferson, "Got the Blues"] And this resulted in many labels, especially Paramount, signing up pretty much every Black man with a guitar they could find in the hopes of finding another Blind Lemon Jefferson. But the thing is, this generation of people making blues records, and the generation that followed them, didn't think of themselves as "blues singers" or "bluesmen". They were songsters. Songsters were entertainers, and their job was to sing and play whatever the audiences would want to hear. That included the blues, of course, but it also included... well, every song anyone would want to hear.  They'd perform old folk songs, vaudeville songs, songs that they'd heard on the radio or the jukebox -- whatever the audience wanted. Robert Johnson, for example, was known to particularly love playing polka music, and also adored the records of Jimmie Rodgers, the first country music superstar. In 1941, when Alan Lomax first recorded Muddy Waters, he asked Waters what kind of songs he normally played in performances, and he was given a list that included "Home on the Range", Gene Autry's "I've Got Spurs That Jingle Jangle Jingle", and Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo-Choo". We have few recordings of these people performing this kind of song though. One of the few we have is Big Bill Broonzy, who was just about the only artist of this type not to get pigeonholed as just a blues singer, even though blues is what made him famous, and who later in his career managed to record songs like the Tin Pan Alley standard "The Glory of Love": [Excerpt: Big Bill Broonzy, "The Glory of Love"] But for the most part, the image we have of the blues comes down to one man, Arthur Laibley, a sales manager for the Wisconsin Chair Company. The Wisconsin Chair Company was, as the name would suggest, a company that started out making wooden chairs, but it had branched out into other forms of wooden furniture -- including, for a brief time, large wooden phonographs. And, like several other manufacturers, like the Radio Corporation of America -- RCA -- and the Gramophone Company, which became EMI, they realised that if they were going to sell the hardware it made sense to sell the software as well, and had started up Paramount Records, which bought up a small label, Black Swan, and soon became the biggest manufacturer of records for the Black market, putting out roughly a quarter of all "race records" released between 1922 and 1932. At first, most of these were produced by a Black talent scout, J. Mayo Williams, who had been the first person to record Ma Rainey, Papa Charlie Jackson, and Blind Lemon Jefferson, but in 1927 Williams left Paramount, and the job of supervising sessions went to Arthur Laibley, though according to some sources a lot of the actual production work was done by Aletha Dickerson, Williams' former assistant, who was almost certainly the first Black woman to be what we would now think of as a record producer. Williams had been interested in recording all kinds of music by Black performers, but when Laibley got a solo Black man into the studio, what he wanted more than anything was for him to record the blues, ideally in a style as close as possible to that of Blind Lemon Jefferson. Laibley didn't have a very hands-on approach to recording -- indeed Paramount had very little concern about the quality of their product anyway, and Paramount's records are notorious for having been put out on poor-quality shellac and recorded badly -- and he only occasionally made actual suggestions as to what kind of songs his performers should write -- for example he asked Son House to write something that sounded like Blind Lemon Jefferson, which led to House writing and recording "Mississippi County Farm Blues", which steals the tune of Jefferson's "See That My Grave is Kept Clean": [Excerpt: Son House, "Mississippi County Farm Blues"] When Skip James wanted to record a cover of James Wiggins' "Forty-Four Blues", Laibley suggested that instead he should do a song about a different gun, and so James recorded "Twenty-Two Twenty Blues": [Excerpt: Skip James, "Twenty-Two Twenty Blues"] And Laibley also suggested that James write a song about the Depression, which led to one of the greatest blues records ever, "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues": [Excerpt: Skip James, "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues"] These musicians knew that they were getting paid only for issued sides, and that Laibley wanted only blues from them, and so that's what they gave him. Even when it was a performer like Charlie Patton. (Incidentally, for those reading this as a transcript rather than listening to it, Patton's name is more usually spelled ending in ey, but as far as I can tell ie was his preferred spelling and that's what I'm using). Charlie Patton was best known as an entertainer, first and foremost -- someone who would do song-and-dance routines, joke around, play guitar behind his head. He was a clown on stage, so much so that when Son House finally heard some of Patton's records, in the mid-sixties, decades after the fact, he was astonished that Patton could actually play well. Even though House had been in the room when some of the records were made, his memory of Patton was of someone who acted the fool on stage. That's definitely not the impression you get from the Charlie Patton on record: [Excerpt: Charlie Patton, "Poor Me"] Patton is, as far as can be discerned, the person who was most influential in creating the music that became called the "Delta blues". Not a lot is known about Patton's life, but he was almost certainly the half-brother of the Chatmon brothers, who made hundreds of records, most notably as members of the Mississippi Sheiks: [Excerpt: The Mississippi Sheiks, "Sitting on Top of the World"] In the 1890s, Patton's family moved to Sunflower County, Mississippi, and he lived in and around that county until his death in 1934. Patton learned to play guitar from a musician called Henry Sloan, and then Patton became a mentor figure to a *lot* of other musicians in and around the plantation on which his family lived. Some of the musicians who grew up in the immediate area around Patton included Tommy Johnson: [Excerpt: Tommy Johnson, "Big Road Blues"] Pops Staples: [Excerpt: The Staple Singers, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken"] Robert Johnson: [Excerpt: Robert Johnson, "Crossroads"] Willie Brown, a musician who didn't record much, but who played a lot with Patton, Son House, and Robert Johnson and who we just heard Johnson sing about: [Excerpt: Willie Brown, "M&O Blues"] And Chester Burnett, who went on to become known as Howlin' Wolf, and whose vocal style was equally inspired by Patton and by the country star Jimmie Rodgers: [Excerpt: Howlin' Wolf, "Smokestack Lightnin'"] Once Patton started his own recording career for Paramount, he also started working as a talent scout for them, and it was him who brought Son House to Paramount. Soon after the Depression hit, Paramount stopped recording, and so from 1930 through 1934 Patton didn't make any records. He was tracked down by an A&R man in January 1934 and recorded one final session: [Excerpt, Charlie Patton, "34 Blues"] But he died of heart failure two months later. But his influence spread through his proteges, and they themselves influenced other musicians from the area who came along a little after, like Robert Lockwood and Muddy Waters. This music -- or that portion of it that was considered worth recording by white record producers, only a tiny, unrepresentative, portion of their vast performing repertoires -- became known as the Delta Blues, and when some of these musicians moved to Chicago and started performing with electric instruments, it became Chicago Blues. And as far as people like John Mayall in Britain were concerned, Delta and Chicago Blues *were* the blues: [Excerpt: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, "It Ain't Right"] John Mayall was one of the first of the British blues obsessives, and for a long time thought of himself as the only one. While we've looked before at the growth of the London blues scene, Mayall wasn't from London -- he was born in Macclesfield and grew up in Cheadle Hulme, both relatively well-off suburbs of Manchester, and after being conscripted and doing two years in the Army, he had become an art student at Manchester College of Art, what is now Manchester Metropolitan University. Mayall had been a blues fan from the late 1940s, writing off to the US to order records that hadn't been released in the UK, and by most accounts by the late fifties he'd put together the biggest blues collection in Britain by quite some way. Not only that, but he had one of the earliest home tape recorders, and every night he would record radio stations from Continental Europe which were broadcasting for American service personnel, so he'd amassed mountains of recordings, often unlabelled, of obscure blues records that nobody else in the UK knew about. He was also an accomplished pianist and guitar player, and in 1956 he and his drummer friend Peter Ward had put together a band called the Powerhouse Four (the other two members rotated on a regular basis) mostly to play lunchtime jazz sessions at the art college. Mayall also started putting on jam sessions at a youth club in Wythenshawe, where he met another drummer named Hughie Flint. Over the late fifties and into the early sixties, Mayall more or less by himself built up a small blues scene in Manchester. The Manchester blues scene was so enthusiastic, in fact, that when the American Folk Blues Festival, an annual European tour which initially featured Willie Dixon, Memhis Slim, T-Bone Walker, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and John Lee Hooker, first toured Europe, the only UK date it played was at the Manchester Free Trade Hall, and people like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Jimmy Page had to travel up from London to see it. But still, the number of blues fans in Manchester, while proportionally large, was objectively small enough that Mayall was captivated by an article in Melody Maker which talked about Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies' new band Blues Incorporated and how it was playing electric blues, the same music he was making in Manchester. He later talked about how the article had made him think that maybe now people would know what he was talking about. He started travelling down to London to play gigs for the London blues scene, and inviting Korner up to Manchester to play shows there. Soon Mayall had moved down to London. Korner introduced Mayall to Davey Graham, the great folk guitarist, with whom Korner had recently recorded as a duo: [Excerpt: Alexis Korner and Davey Graham, "3/4 AD"] Mayall and Graham performed together as a duo for a while, but Graham was a natural solo artist if ever there was one. Slowly Mayall put a band together in London. On drums was his old friend Peter Ward, who'd moved down from Manchester with him. On bass was John McVie, who at the time knew nothing about blues -- he'd been playing in a Shadows-style instrumental group -- but Mayall gave him a stack of blues records to listen to to get the feeling. And on guitar was Bernie Watson, who had previously played with Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages. In late 1963, Mike Vernon, a blues fan who had previously published a Yardbirds fanzine, got a job working for Decca records, and immediately started signing his favourite acts from the London blues circuit. The first act he signed was John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, and they recorded a single, "Crawling up a Hill": [Excerpt: John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, "Crawling up a Hill (45 version)"] Mayall later called that a "clumsy, half-witted attempt at autobiographical comment", and it sold only five hundred copies. It would be the only record the Bluesbreakers would make with Watson, who soon left the band to be replaced by Roger Dean (not the same Roger Dean who later went on to design prog rock album covers). The second group to be signed by Mike Vernon to Decca was the Graham Bond Organisation. We've talked about the Graham Bond Organisation in passing several times, but not for a while and not in any great detail, so it's worth pulling everything we've said about them so far together and going through it in a little more detail. The Graham Bond Organisation, like the Rolling Stones, grew out of Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated. As we heard in the episode on "I Wanna Be Your Man" a couple of years ago, Blues Incorporated had been started by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies, and at the time we're joining them in 1962 featured a drummer called Charlie Watts, a pianist called Dave Stevens, and saxophone player Dick Heckstall-Smith, as well as frequent guest performers like a singer who called himself Mike Jagger, and another one, Roderick Stewart. That group finally found themselves the perfect bass player when Dick Heckstall-Smith put together a one-off group of jazz players to play an event at Cambridge University. At the gig, a little Scottish man came up to the group and told them he played bass and asked if he could sit in. They told him to bring along his instrument to their second set, that night, and he did actually bring along a double bass. Their bluff having been called, they decided to play the most complicated, difficult, piece they knew in order to throw the kid off -- the drummer, a trad jazz player named Ginger Baker, didn't like performing with random sit-in guests -- but astonishingly he turned out to be really good. Heckstall-Smith took down the bass player's name and phone number and invited him to a jam session with Blues Incorporated. After that jam session, Jack Bruce quickly became the group's full-time bass player. Bruce had started out as a classical cellist, but had switched to the double bass inspired by Bach, who he referred to as "the guv'nor of all bass players". His playing up to this point had mostly been in trad jazz bands, and he knew nothing of the blues, but he quickly got the hang of the genre. Bruce's first show with Blues Incorporated was a BBC recording: [Excerpt: Blues Incorporated, "Hoochie Coochie Man (BBC session)"] According to at least one source it was not being asked to take part in that session that made young Mike Jagger decide there was no future for him with Blues Incorporated and to spend more time with his other group, the Rollin' Stones. Soon after, Charlie Watts would join him, for almost the opposite reason -- Watts didn't want to be in a band that was getting as big as Blues Incorporated were. They were starting to do more BBC sessions and get more gigs, and having to join the Musicians' Union. That seemed like a lot of work. Far better to join a band like the Rollin' Stones that wasn't going anywhere. Because of Watts' decision to give up on potential stardom to become a Rollin' Stone, they needed a new drummer, and luckily the best drummer on the scene was available. But then the best drummer on the scene was *always* available. Ginger Baker had first played with Dick Heckstall-Smith several years earlier, in a trad group called the Storyville Jazzmen. There Baker had become obsessed with the New Orleans jazz drummer Baby Dodds, who had played with Louis Armstrong in the 1920s. Sadly because of 1920s recording technology, he hadn't been able to play a full kit on the recordings with Armstrong, being limited to percussion on just a woodblock, but you can hear his drumming style much better in this version of "At the Jazz Band Ball" from 1947, with Mugsy Spanier, Jack Teagarden, Cyrus St. Clair and Hank Duncan: [Excerpt: "At the Jazz Band Ball"] Baker had taken Dobbs' style and run with it, and had quickly become known as the single best player, bar none, on the London jazz scene -- he'd become an accomplished player in multiple styles, and was also fluent in reading music and arranging. He'd also, though, become known as the single person on the entire scene who was most difficult to get along with. He resigned from his first band onstage, shouting "You can stick your band up your arse", after the band's leader had had enough of him incorporating bebop influences into their trad style. Another time, when touring with Diz Disley's band, he was dumped in Germany with no money and no way to get home, because the band were so sick of him. Sometimes this was because of his temper and his unwillingness to suffer fools -- and he saw everyone else he ever met as a fool -- and sometimes it was because of his own rigorous musical ideas. He wanted to play music *his* way, and wouldn't listen to anyone who told him different. Both of these things got worse after he fell under the influence of a man named Phil Seaman, one of the only drummers that Baker respected at all. Seaman introduced Baker to African drumming, and Baker started incorporating complex polyrhythms into his playing as a result. Seaman also though introduced Baker to heroin, and while being a heroin addict in the UK in the 1960s was not as difficult as it later became -- both heroin and cocaine were available on prescription to registered addicts, and Baker got both, which meant that many of the problems that come from criminalisation of these drugs didn't affect addicts in the same way -- but it still did not, by all accounts, make him an easier person to get along with. But he *was* a fantastic drummer. As Dick Heckstall-Smith said "With the advent of Ginger, the classic Blues Incorporated line-up, one which I think could not be bettered, was set" But Alexis Korner decided that the group could be bettered, and he had some backers within the band. One of the other bands on the scene was the Don Rendell Quintet, a group that played soul jazz -- that style of jazz that bridged modern jazz and R&B, the kind of music that Ray Charles and Herbie Hancock played: [Excerpt: The Don Rendell Quintet, "Manumission"] The Don Rendell Quintet included a fantastic multi-instrumentalist, Graham Bond, who doubled on keyboards and saxophone, and Bond had been playing occasional experimental gigs with the Johnny Burch Octet -- a group led by another member of the Rendell Quartet featuring Heckstall-Smith, Bruce, Baker, and a few other musicians, doing wholly-improvised music. Heckstall-Smith, Bruce, and Baker all enjoyed playing with Bond, and when Korner decided to bring him into the band, they were all very keen. But Cyril Davies, the co-leader of the band with Korner, was furious at the idea. Davies wanted to play strict Chicago and Delta blues, and had no truck with other forms of music like R&B and jazz. To his mind it was bad enough that they had a sax player. But the idea that they would bring in Bond, who played sax and... *Hammond* organ? Well, that was practically blasphemy. Davies quit the group at the mere suggestion. Bond was soon in the band, and he, Bruce, and Baker were playing together a *lot*. As well as performing with Blues Incorporated, they continued playing in the Johnny Burch Octet, and they also started performing as the Graham Bond Trio. Sometimes the Graham Bond Trio would be Blues Incorporated's opening act, and on more than one occasion the Graham Bond Trio, Blues Incorporated, and the Johnny Burch Octet all had gigs in different parts of London on the same night and they'd have to frantically get from one to the other. The Graham Bond Trio also had fans in Manchester, thanks to the local blues scene there and their connection with Blues Incorporated, and one night in February 1963 the trio played a gig there. They realised afterwards that by playing as a trio they'd made £70, when they were lucky to make £20 from a gig with Blues Incorporated or the Octet, because there were so many members in those bands. Bond wanted to make real money, and at the next rehearsal of Blues Incorporated he announced to Korner that he, Bruce, and Baker were quitting the band -- which was news to Bruce and Baker, who he hadn't bothered consulting. Baker, indeed, was in the toilet when the announcement was made and came out to find it a done deal. He was going to kick up a fuss and say he hadn't been consulted, but Korner's reaction sealed the deal. As Baker later said "‘he said “it's really good you're doing this thing with Graham, and I wish you the best of luck” and all that. And it was a bit difficult to turn round and say, “Well, I don't really want to leave the band, you know.”'" The Graham Bond Trio struggled at first to get the gigs they were expecting, but that started to change when in April 1963 they became the Graham Bond Quartet, with the addition of virtuoso guitarist John McLaughlin. The Quartet soon became one of the hottest bands on the London R&B scene, and when Duffy Power, a Larry Parnes teen idol who wanted to move into R&B, asked his record label to get him a good R&B band to back him on a Beatles cover, it was the Graham Bond Quartet who obliged: [Excerpt: Duffy Power, "I Saw Her Standing There"] The Quartet also backed Power on a package tour with other Parnes acts, but they were also still performing their own blend of hard jazz and blues, as can be heard in this recording of the group live in June 1953: [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Quartet, "Ho Ho Country Kicking Blues (Live at Klooks Kleek)"] But that lineup of the group didn't last very long. According to the way Baker told the story, he fired McLaughlin from the group, after being irritated by McLaughlin complaining about something on a day when Baker was out of cocaine and in no mood to hear anyone else's complaints. As Baker said "We lost a great guitar player and I lost a good friend." But the Trio soon became a Quartet again, as Dick Heckstall-Smith, who Baker had wanted in the band from the start, joined on saxophone to replace McLaughlin's guitar. But they were no longer called the Graham Bond Quartet. Partly because Heckstall-Smith joining allowed Bond to concentrate just on his keyboard playing, but one suspects partly to protect against any future lineup changes, the group were now The Graham Bond ORGANisation -- emphasis on the organ. The new lineup of the group got signed to Decca by Vernon, and were soon recording their first single, "Long Tall Shorty": [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Organisation, "Long Tall Shorty"] They recorded a few other songs which made their way onto an EP and an R&B compilation, and toured intensively in early 1964, as well as backing up Power on his follow-up to "I Saw Her Standing There", his version of "Parchman Farm": [Excerpt: Duffy Power, "Parchman Farm"] They also appeared in a film, just like the Beatles, though it was possibly not quite as artistically successful as "A Hard Day's Night": [Excerpt: Gonks Go Beat trailer] Gonks Go Beat is one of the most bizarre films of the sixties. It's a far-future remake of Romeo and Juliet. where the two star-crossed lovers are from opposing countries -- Beatland and Ballad Isle -- who only communicate once a year in an annual song contest which acts as their version of a war, and is overseen by "Mr. A&R", played by Frank Thornton, who would later star in Are You Being Served? Carry On star Kenneth Connor is sent by aliens to try to bring peace to the two warring countries, on pain of exile to Planet Gonk, a planet inhabited solely by Gonks (a kind of novelty toy for which there was a short-lived craze then). Along the way Connor encounters such luminaries of British light entertainment as Terry Scott and Arthur Mullard, as well as musical performances by Lulu, the Nashville Teens, and of course the Graham Bond Organisation, whose performance gets them a telling-off from a teacher: [Excerpt: Gonks Go Beat!] The group as a group only performed one song in this cinematic masterpiece, but Baker also made an appearance in a "drum battle" sequence where eight drummers played together: [Excerpt: Gonks Go Beat drum battle] The other drummers in that scene included, as well as some lesser-known players, Andy White who had played on the single version of "Love Me Do", Bobby Graham, who played on hits by the Kinks and the Dave Clark Five, and Ronnie Verrell, who did the drumming for Animal in the Muppet Show. Also in summer 1964, the group performed at the Fourth National Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond -- the festival co-founded by Chris Barber that would evolve into the Reading Festival. The Yardbirds were on the bill, and at the end of their set they invited Bond, Baker, Bruce, Georgie Fame, and Mike Vernon onto the stage with them, making that the first time that Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, and Jack Bruce were all on stage together. Soon after that, the Graham Bond Organisation got a new manager, Robert Stigwood. Things hadn't been working out for them at Decca, and Stigwood soon got the group signed to EMI, and became their producer as well. Their first single under Stigwood's management was a cover version of the theme tune to the Debbie Reynolds film "Tammy". While that film had given Tamla records its name, the song was hardly an R&B classic: [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Organisation, "Tammy"] That record didn't chart, but Stigwood put the group out on the road as part of the disastrous Chuck Berry tour we heard about in the episode on "All You Need is Love", which led to the bankruptcy of  Robert Stigwood Associates. The Organisation moved over to Stigwood's new company, the Robert Stigwood Organisation, and Stigwood continued to be the credited producer of their records, though after the "Tammy" disaster they decided they were going to take charge themselves of the actual music. Their first album, The Sound of 65, was recorded in a single three-hour session, and they mostly ran through their standard set -- a mixture of the same songs everyone else on the circuit was playing, like "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Got My Mojo Working", and "Wade in the Water", and originals like Bruce's "Train Time": [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Organisation, "Train Time"] Through 1965 they kept working. They released a non-album single, "Lease on Love", which is generally considered to be the first pop record to feature a Mellotron: [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Organisation, "Lease on Love"] and Bond and Baker also backed another Stigwood act, Winston G, on his debut single: [Excerpt: Winston G, "Please Don't Say"] But the group were developing severe tensions. Bruce and Baker had started out friendly, but by this time they hated each other. Bruce said he couldn't hear his own playing over Baker's loud drumming, Baker thought that Bruce was far too fussy a player and should try to play simpler lines. They'd both try to throw each other during performances, altering arrangements on the fly and playing things that would trip the other player up. And *neither* of them were particularly keen on Bond's new love of the Mellotron, which was all over their second album, giving it a distinctly proto-prog feel at times: [Excerpt: The Graham Bond Organisation, "Baby Can it Be True?"] Eventually at a gig in Golders Green, Baker started throwing drumsticks at Bruce's head while Bruce was trying to play a bass solo. Bruce retaliated by throwing his bass at Baker, and then jumping on him and starting a fistfight which had to be broken up by the venue security. Baker fired Bruce from the band, but Bruce kept turning up to gigs anyway, arguing that Baker had no right to sack him as it was a democracy. Baker always claimed that in fact Bond had wanted to sack Bruce but hadn't wanted to get his hands dirty, and insisted that Baker do it, but neither Bond nor Heckstall-Smith objected when Bruce turned up for the next couple of gigs. So Baker took matters into his own hands, He pulled out a knife and told Bruce "If you show up at one more gig, this is going in you." Within days, Bruce was playing with John Mayall, whose Bluesbreakers had gone through some lineup changes by this point. Roger Dean had only played with the Bluesbreakers for a short time before Mayall had replaced him. Mayall had not been impressed with Eric Clapton's playing with the Yardbirds at first -- even though graffiti saying "Clapton is God" was already starting to appear around London -- but he had been *very* impressed with Clapton's playing on "Got to Hurry", the B-side to "For Your Love": [Excerpt: The Yardbirds, "Got to Hurry"] When he discovered that Clapton had quit the band, he sprang into action and quickly recruited him to replace Dean. Clapton knew he had made the right choice when a month after he'd joined, the group got the word that Bob Dylan had been so impressed with Mayall's single "Crawling up a Hill" -- the one that nobody liked, not even Mayall himself -- that he wanted to jam with Mayall and his band in the studio. Clapton of course went along: [Excerpt: Bob Dylan and the Bluesbreakers, "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"] That was, of course, the session we've talked about in the Velvet Underground episode and elsewhere of which little other than that survives, and which Nico attended. At this point, Mayall didn't have a record contract, his experience recording with Mike Vernon having been no more successful than the Bond group's had been. But soon he got a one-off deal -- as a solo artist, not with the Bluesbreakers -- with Immediate Records. Clapton was the only member of the group to play on the single, which was produced by Immediate's house producer Jimmy Page: [Excerpt: John Mayall, "I'm Your Witchdoctor"] Page was impressed enough with Clapton's playing that he invited him round to Page's house to jam together. But what Clapton didn't know was that Page was taping their jam sessions, and that he handed those tapes over to Immediate Records -- whether he was forced to by his contract with the label or whether that had been his plan all along depends on whose story you believe, but Clapton never truly forgave him. Page and Clapton's guitar-only jams had overdubs by Bill Wyman, Ian Stewart, and drummer Chris Winter, and have been endlessly repackaged on blues compilations ever since: [Excerpt: Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton, "Draggin' My Tail"] But Mayall was having problems with John McVie, who had started to drink too much, and as soon as he found out that Jack Bruce was sacked by the Graham Bond Organisation, Mayall got in touch with Bruce and got him to join the band in McVie's place. Everyone was agreed that this lineup of the band -- Mayall, Clapton, Bruce, and Hughie Flint -- was going places: [Excerpt: John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Jack Bruce, "Hoochie Coochie Man"] Unfortunately, it wasn't going to last long. Clapton, while he thought that Bruce was the greatest bass player he'd ever worked with, had other plans. He was going to leave the country and travel the world as a peripatetic busker. He was off on his travels, never to return. Luckily, Mayall had someone even better waiting in the wings. A young man had, according to Mayall, "kept coming down to all the gigs and saying, “Hey, what are you doing with him?” – referring to whichever guitarist was onstage that night – “I'm much better than he is. Why don't you let me play guitar for you?” He got really quite nasty about it, so finally, I let him sit in. And he was brilliant." Peter Green was probably the best blues guitarist in London at that time, but this lineup of the Bluesbreakers only lasted a handful of gigs -- Clapton discovered that busking in Greece wasn't as much fun as being called God in London, and came back very soon after he'd left. Mayall had told him that he could have his old job back when he got back, and so Green was out and Clapton was back in. And soon the Bluesbreakers' revolving door revolved again. Manfred Mann had just had a big hit with "If You Gotta Go, Go Now", the same song we heard Dylan playing earlier: [Excerpt: Manfred Mann, "If You Gotta Go, Go Now"] But their guitarist, Mike Vickers, had quit. Tom McGuinness, their bass player, had taken the opportunity to switch back to guitar -- the instrument he'd played in his first band with his friend Eric Clapton -- but that left them short a bass player. Manfred Mann were essentially the same kind of band as the Graham Bond Organisation -- a Hammond-led group of virtuoso multi-instrumentalists who played everything from hardcore Delta blues to complex modern jazz -- but unlike the Bond group they also had a string of massive pop hits, and so made a lot more money. The combination was irresistible to Bruce, and he joined the band just before they recorded an EP of jazz instrumental versions of recent hits: [Excerpt: Manfred Mann, "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"] Bruce had also been encouraged by Robert Stigwood to do a solo project, and so at the same time as he joined Manfred Mann, he also put out a solo single, "Drinkin' and Gamblin'" [Excerpt: Jack Bruce, "Drinkin' and Gamblin'"] But of course, the reason Bruce had joined Manfred Mann was that they were having pop hits as well as playing jazz, and soon they did just that, with Bruce playing on their number one hit "Pretty Flamingo": [Excerpt: Manfred Mann, "Pretty Flamingo"] So John McVie was back in the Bluesbreakers, promising to keep his drinking under control. Mike Vernon still thought that Mayall had potential, but the people at Decca didn't agree, so Vernon got Mayall and Clapton -- but not the other band members -- to record a single for a small indie label he ran as a side project: [Excerpt: John Mayall and Eric Clapton, "Bernard Jenkins"] That label normally only released records in print runs of ninety-nine copies, because once you hit a hundred copies you had to pay tax on them, but there was so much demand for that single that they ended up pressing up five hundred copies, making it the label's biggest seller ever. Vernon eventually convinced the heads at Decca that the Bluesbreakers could be truly big, and so he got the OK to record the album that would generally be considered the greatest British blues album of all time -- Blues Breakers, also known as the Beano album because of Clapton reading a copy of the British kids' comic The Beano in the group photo on the front. [Excerpt: John Mayall with Eric Clapton, "Ramblin' On My Mind"] The album was a mixture of originals by Mayall and the standard repertoire of every blues or R&B band on the circuit -- songs like "Parchman Farm" and "What'd I Say" -- but what made the album unique was Clapton's guitar tone. Much to the chagrin of Vernon, and of engineer Gus Dudgeon, Clapton insisted on playing at the same volume that he would on stage. Vernon later said of Dudgeon "I can remember seeing his face the very first time Clapton plugged into the Marshall stack and turned it up and started playing at the sort of volume he was going to play. You could almost see Gus's eyes meet over the middle of his nose, and it was almost like he was just going to fall over from the sheer power of it all. But after an enormous amount of fiddling around and moving amps around, we got a sound that worked." [Excerpt: John Mayall with Eric Clapton, "Hideaway"] But by the time the album cane out. Clapton was no longer with the Bluesbreakers. The Graham Bond Organisation had struggled on for a while after Bruce's departure. They brought in a trumpet player, Mike Falana, and even had a hit record -- or at least, the B-side of a hit record. The Who had just put out a hit single, "Substitute", on Robert Stigwood's record label, Reaction: [Excerpt: The Who, "Substitute"] But, as you'll hear in episode 183, they had moved to Reaction Records after a falling out with their previous label, and with Shel Talmy their previous producer. The problem was, when "Substitute" was released, it had as its B-side a song called "Circles" (also known as "Instant Party -- it's been released under both names). They'd recorded an earlier version of the song for Talmy, and just as "Substitute" was starting to chart, Talmy got an injunction against the record and it had to be pulled. Reaction couldn't afford to lose the big hit record they'd spent money promoting, so they needed to put it out with a new B-side. But the Who hadn't got any unreleased recordings. But the Graham Bond Organisation had, and indeed they had an unreleased *instrumental*. So "Waltz For a Pig" became the B-side to a top-five single, credited to The Who Orchestra: [Excerpt: The Who Orchestra, "Waltz For a Pig"] That record provided the catalyst for the formation of Cream, because Ginger Baker had written the song, and got £1,350 for it, which he used to buy a new car. Baker had, for some time, been wanting to get out of the Graham Bond Organisation. He was trying to get off heroin -- though he would make many efforts to get clean over the decades, with little success -- while Bond was starting to use it far more heavily, and was also using acid and getting heavily into mysticism, which Baker despised. Baker may have had the idea for what he did next from an article in one of the music papers. John Entwistle of the Who would often tell a story about an article in Melody Maker -- though I've not been able to track down the article itself to get the full details -- in which musicians were asked to name which of their peers they'd put into a "super-group". He didn't remember the full details, but he did remember that the consensus choice had had Eric Clapton on lead guitar, himself on bass, and Ginger Baker on drums. As he said later "I don't remember who else was voted in, but a few months later, the Cream came along, and I did wonder if somebody was maybe believing too much of their own press". Incidentally, like The Buffalo Springfield and The Pink Floyd, Cream, the band we are about to meet, had releases both with and without the definite article, and Eric Clapton at least seems always to talk about them as "the Cream" even decades later, but they're primarily known as just Cream these days. Baker, having had enough of the Bond group, decided to drive up to Oxford to see Clapton playing with the Bluesbreakers. Clapton invited him to sit in for a couple of songs, and by all accounts the band sounded far better than they had previously. Clapton and Baker could obviously play well together, and Baker offered Clapton a lift back to London in his new car, and on the drive back asked Clapton if he wanted to form a new band. Clapton was as impressed by Baker's financial skills as he was by his musicianship. He said later "Musicians didn't have cars. You all got in a van." Clearly a musician who was *actually driving a new car he owned* was going places. He agreed to Baker's plan. But of course they needed a bass player, and Clapton thought he had the perfect solution -- "What about Jack?" Clapton knew that Bruce had been a member of the Graham Bond Organisation, but didn't know why he'd left the band -- he wasn't particularly clued in to what the wider music scene was doing, and all he knew was that Bruce had played with both him and Baker, and that he was the best bass player he'd ever played with. And Bruce *was* arguably the best bass player in London at that point, and he was starting to pick up session work as well as his work with Manfred Mann. For example it's him playing on the theme tune to "After The Fox" with Peter Sellers, the Hollies, and the song's composer Burt Bacharach: [Excerpt: The Hollies with Peter Sellers, "After the Fox"] Clapton was insistent. Baker's idea was that the band should be the best musicians around. That meant they needed the *best* musicians around, not the second best. If Jack Bruce wasn't joining, Eric Clapton wasn't joining either. Baker very reluctantly agreed, and went round to see Bruce the next day -- according to Baker it was in a spirit of generosity and giving Bruce one more chance, while according to Bruce he came round to eat humble pie and beg for forgiveness. Either way, Bruce agreed to join the band. The three met up for a rehearsal at Baker's home, and immediately Bruce and Baker started fighting, but also immediately they realised that they were great at playing together -- so great that they named themselves the Cream, as they were the cream of musicians on the scene. They knew they had something, but they didn't know what. At first they considered making their performances into Dada projects, inspired by the early-twentieth-century art movement. They liked a band that had just started to make waves, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band -- who had originally been called the Bonzo Dog Dada Band -- and they bought some props with the vague idea of using them on stage in the same way the Bonzos did. But as they played together they realised that they needed to do something different from that. At first, they thought they needed a fourth member -- a keyboard player. Graham Bond's name was brought up, but Clapton vetoed him. Clapton wanted Steve Winwood, the keyboard player and vocalist with the Spencer Davis Group. Indeed, Winwood was present at what was originally intended to be the first recording session the trio would play. Joe Boyd had asked Eric Clapton to round up a bunch of players to record some filler tracks for an Elektra blues compilation, and Clapton had asked Bruce and Baker to join him, Paul Jones on vocals, Winwood on Hammond and Clapton's friend Ben Palmer on piano for the session. Indeed, given that none of the original trio were keen on singing, that Paul Jones was just about to leave Manfred Mann, and that we know Clapton wanted Winwood in the band, one has to wonder if Clapton at least half-intended for this to be the eventual lineup of the band. If he did, that plan was foiled by Baker's refusal to take part in the session. Instead, this one-off band, named The Powerhouse, featured Pete York, the drummer from the Spencer Davis Group, on the session, which produced the first recording of Clapton playing on the Robert Johnson song originally titled "Cross Road Blues" but now generally better known just as "Crossroads": [Excerpt: The Powerhouse, "Crossroads"] We talked about Robert Johnson a little back in episode ninety-seven, but other than Bob Dylan, who was inspired by his lyrics, we had seen very little influence from Johnson up to this point, but he's going to be a major influence on rock guitar for the next few years, so we should talk about him a little here. It's often said that nobody knew anything about Robert Johnson, that he was almost a phantom other than his records which existed outside of any context as artefacts of their own. That's... not really the case. Johnson had died a little less than thirty years earlier, at only twenty-seven years old. Most of his half-siblings and step-siblings were alive, as were his son, his stepson, and dozens of musicians he'd played with over the years, women he'd had affairs with, and other assorted friends and relatives. What people mean is that information about Johnson's life was not yet known by people they consider important -- which is to say white blues scholars and musicians. Indeed, almost everything people like that -- people like *me* -- know of the facts of Johnson's life has only become known to us in the last four years. If, as some people had expected, I'd started this series with an episode on Johnson, I'd have had to redo the whole thing because of the information that's made its way to the public since then. But here's what was known -- or thought -- by white blues scholars in 1966. Johnson was, according to them, a field hand from somewhere in Mississippi, who played the guitar in between working on the cotton fields. He had done two recording sessions, in 1936 and 1937. One song from his first session, "Terraplane Blues", had been a very minor hit by blues standards: [Excerpt: Robert Johnson, "Terraplane Blues"] That had sold well -- nobody knows how well, but maybe as many as ten thousand copies, and it was certainly a record people knew in 1937 if they liked the Delta blues, but ten thousand copies total is nowhere near the sales of really successful records, and none of the follow-ups had sold anything like that much -- many of them had sold in the hundreds rather than the thousands. As Elijah Wald, one of Johnson's biographers put it "knowing about Johnson and Muddy Waters but not about Leroy Carr or Dinah Washington was like knowing about, say, the Sir Douglas Quintet but not knowing about the Beatles" -- though *I* would add that the Sir Douglas Quintet were much bigger during the sixties than Johnson was during his lifetime. One of the few white people who had noticed Johnson's existence at all was John Hammond, and he'd written a brief review of Johnson's first two singles under a pseudonym in a Communist newspaper. I'm going to quote it here, but the word he used to talk about Black people was considered correct then but isn't now, so I'll substitute Black for that word: "Before closing we cannot help but call your attention to the greatest [Black] blues singer who has cropped up in recent years, Robert Johnson. Recording them in deepest Mississippi, Vocalion has certainly done right by us and by the tunes "Last Fair Deal Gone Down" and "Terraplane Blues", to name only two of the four sides already released, sung to his own guitar accompaniment. Johnson makes Leadbelly sound like an accomplished poseur" Hammond had tried to get Johnson to perform at the Spirituals to Swing concerts we talked about in the very first episodes of the podcast, but he'd discovered that he'd died shortly before. He got Big Bill Broonzy instead, and played a couple of Johnson's records from a record player on the stage. Hammond introduced those recordings with a speech: "It is tragic that an American audience could not have been found seven or eight years ago for a concert of this kind. Bessie Smith was still at the height of her career and Joe Smith, probably the greatest trumpet player America ever knew, would still have been around to play obbligatos for her...dozens of other artists could have been there in the flesh. But that audience as well as this one would not have been able to hear Robert Johnson sing and play the blues on his guitar, for at that time Johnson was just an unknown hand on a Robinsonville, Mississippi plantation. Robert Johnson was going to be the big surprise of the evening for this audience at Carnegie Hall. I know him only from his Vocalion blues records and from the tall, exciting tales the recording engineers and supervisors used to bring about him from the improvised studios in Dallas and San Antonio. I don't believe Johnson had ever worked as a professional musician anywhere, and it still knocks me over when I think of how lucky it is that a talent like his ever found its way onto phonograph records. We will have to be content with playing two of his records, the old "Walkin' Blues" and the new, unreleased, "Preachin' Blues", because Robert Johnson died last week at the precise moment when Vocalion scouts finally reached him and told him that he was booked to appear at Carnegie Hall on December 23. He was in his middle twenties and nobody seems to know what caused his death." And that was, for the most part, the end of Robert Johnson's impact on the culture for a generation. The Lomaxes went down to Clarksdale, Mississippi a couple of years later -- reports vary as to whether this was to see if they could find Johnson, who they were unaware was dead, or to find information out about him, and they did end up recording a young singer named Muddy Waters for the Library of Congress, including Waters' rendition of "32-20 Blues", Johnson's reworking of Skip James' "Twenty-Two Twenty Blues": [Excerpt: Muddy Waters, "32-20 Blues"] But Johnson's records remained unavailable after their initial release until 1959, when the blues scholar Samuel Charters published the book The Country Blues, which was the first book-length treatment ever of Delta blues. Sixteen years later Charters said "I shouldn't have written The Country Blues when I did; since I really didn't know enough, but I felt I couldn't afford to wait. So The Country Blues was two things. It was a romanticization of certain aspects of black life in an effort to force the white society to reconsider some of its racial attitudes, and on the other hand it was a cry for help. I wanted hundreds of people to go out and interview the surviving blues artists. I wanted people to record them and document their lives, their environment, and their music, not only so that their story would be preserved but also so they'd get a little money and a little recognition in their last years." Charters talked about Johnson in the book, as one of the performers who played "minor roles in the story of the blues", and said that almost nothing was known about his life. He talked about how he had been poisoned by his common-law wife, about how his records were recorded in a pool hall, and said "The finest of Robert Johnson's blues have a brooding sense of torment and despair. The blues has become a personified figure of despondency." Along with Charters' book came a compilation album of the same name, and that included the first ever reissue of one of Johnson's tracks, "Preaching Blues": [Excerpt: Robert Johnson, "Preaching Blues"] Two years later, John Hammond, who had remained an ardent fan of Johnson, had Columbia put out the King of the Delta Blues Singers album. At the time no white blues scholars knew what Johnson looked like and they had no photos of him, so a generic painting of a poor-looking Black man with a guitar was used for the cover. The liner note to King of the Delta Blues Singers talked about how Johnson was seventeen or eighteen when he made his recordings, how he was "dead before he reached his twenty-first birthday, poisoned by a jealous girlfriend", how he had "seldom, if ever, been away from the plantation in Robinsville, Mississippi, where he was born and raised", and how he had had such stage fright that when he was asked to play in front of other musicians, he'd turned to face a wall so he couldn't see them. And that would be all that any of the members of the Powerhouse would know about Johnson. Maybe they'd also heard the rumours that were starting to spread that Johnson had got his guitar-playing skills by selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads at midnight, but that would have been all they knew when they recorded their filler track for Elektra: [Excerpt: The Powerhouse, "Crossroads"] Either way, the Powerhouse lineup only lasted for that one session -- the group eventually decided that a simple trio would be best for the music they wanted to play. Clapton had seen Buddy Guy touring with just a bass player and drummer a year earlier, and had liked the idea of the freedom that gave him as a guitarist. The group soon took on Robert Stigwood as a manager, which caused more arguments between Bruce and Baker. Bruce was convinced that if they were doing an all-for-one one-for-all thing they should also manage themselves, but Baker pointed out that that was a daft idea when they could get one of the biggest managers in the country to look after them. A bigger argument, which almost killed the group before it started, happened when Baker told journalist Chris Welch of the Melody Maker about their plans. In an echo of the way that he and Bruce had been resigned from Blues Incorporated without being consulted, now with no discussion Manfred Mann and John Mayall were reading in the papers that their band members were quitting before those members had bothered to mention it. Mayall was furious, especially since the album Clapton had played on hadn't yet come out. Clapton was supposed to work a month's notice while Mayall found another guitarist, but Mayall spent two weeks begging Peter Green to rejoin the band. Green was less than eager -- after all, he'd been fired pretty much straight away earlier -- but Mayall eventually persuaded him. The second he did, Mayall turned round to Clapton and told him he didn't have to work the rest of his notice -- he'd found another guitar player and Clapton was fired: [Excerpt: John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, "Dust My Blues"] Manfred Mann meanwhile took on the Beatles' friend Klaus Voorman to replace Bruce. Voorman would remain with the band until the end, and like Green was for Mayall, Voorman was in some ways a better fit for Manfred Mann than Bruce was. In particular he could double on flute, as he did for example on their hit version of Bob Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn": [Excerpt: Manfred Mann "The Mighty Quinn"] The new group, The Cream, were of course signed in the UK to Stigwood's Reaction label. Other than the Who, who only stuck around for one album, Reaction was not a very successful label. Its biggest signing was a former keyboard player for Screaming Lord Sutch, who recorded for them under the names Paul Dean and Oscar, but who later became known as Paul Nicholas and had a successful career in musical theatre and sitcom. Nicholas never had any hits for Reaction, but he did release one interesting record, in 1967: [Excerpt: Oscar, "Over the Wall We Go"] That was one of the earliest songwriting attempts by a young man who had recently named himself David Bowie. Now the group were public, they started inviting journalists to their rehearsals, which were mostly spent trying to combine their disparate musical influences --

The indie band, Next to Godliness, are the favorites to win it all in this year's big battle of the bands! Each band member is a demigod and together their incredible powers are shaking things up on and off the charts. Will they make it to the stage for the big competition, or will some devious divinity get in the way? GM: Jason (probablyokgames.carrd.co/) Alex (alexteplitz.carrd.co/) Clara (clearlygolden.carrd.co/) Eli Kimi (goldenlassogirl.carrd.co/) ◇ Demigods is a PBTA hack by Probably Ok Games. ◇ Visit http://www.happyjacks.org/goingplatinum for a full list of this campaign's sessions as videos or podcasts. ◇ Follow Happy Jacks RPG on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or hang out with other tabletop roleplaying fans in our Discord community! ◇ Subscribe to our other podcast feeds! We have a weekly tabletop RPG talk show based on topics sent in from fans around the world, and a great collection of One-Shots if you prefer bite sized adventures. ◇ You can watch us on Youtube or Twitch! ◇ Keep us independent by becoming a Patreon! Our fantastic supporters let us play and say what we want instead of catering to companies for ad or sponsorship money. They are HEROES! https://patreon.com/happyjacksrpg Ⓒ2023 Happy Jacks RPG Network https://www.happyjacks.org/