Just dominate me queen

Viviana's lab was as chaotic as ever when I entered that evening. It wasn't the kind of chaos that screamed "disaster"—more like "brilliant madness." The air smelled faintly of herbs and something metallic, and the walls were lined with shelves crammed full of books, glowing crystals, and jars of who-knows-what. A soft hum filled the air, likely from some enchanted contraption bubbling away in the corner.

Viviana stood at a workbench, her back to me. Her auburn hair cascaded down her back in waves that shimmered like fire under the dim light. She didn't turn around when I walked in, too absorbed in whatever experiment she was conducting.

"Hey, Doc," I said, trying to sound casual. "Thanks for saving my ass last night."

She turned her head slightly, a sly smile creeping onto her face before she fully turned to face me. Her golden eyes locked onto mine, and I swear they gleamed with amusement—or maybe mischief. With Viviana, it was hard to tell.

"Oh, don't thank me yet, darling," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "That amulet you're wearing? Completely drained. If you want me to charge it again, you're going to have to let me experiment on you."

"Yeah, about that," I said, crossing my arms. "No more turning me into a cat. Last time, I couldn't stop licking my damn hands, and I nearly jumped out a window chasing a bird."

Viviana burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she leaned back against the workbench. "Oh, come on, Alec. You looked adorable. And besides, it was a necessary step in my research."

"Necessary, my ass," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "You're not doing that again. Deal?"

She grinned, holding up her hands as if to placate me. "Deal. No feline transformations this time. Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout," I shot back, narrowing my eyes.

"Details," she said, waving me off. "Now, take off your shirt."

"Wait, what?" I asked, caught off guard. "We just agreed—"

"No cat experiments, yes, yes," she interrupted, rolling her eyes. "I need direct contact with your skin to test a theory. Unless you want me to cut a hole in your armor?"

I sighed, realizing I wasn't going to win this argument. "Fine." I pulled off my shirt and tossed it onto a nearby chair. "Happy now?"

Viviana's gaze lingered on my chest for a moment, and I swore I saw her smirk before she stepped closer. "Oh, very. Now hold still."

She placed her hand flat against my chest. Her palm was warm, and I could feel a faint tingling sensation as she began murmuring an incantation under her breath. A faint glow surrounded her hand, and I braced myself for... something.

But nothing happened.

"Well, that's anticlimactic," I said after a few seconds of awkward silence. "What was that supposed to do?"

Viviana frowned, pulling her hand back. "It was supposed to draw mana from you, but you're still as empty as ever." She tilted her head, looking at me like I was a particularly fascinating puzzle. "You really don't have a single drop of mana, do you?"

"Nope," I said. "Earth guy, remember? We don't do magic where I'm from."

"Fascinating," she muttered, more to herself than to me. "You're like a void. It's almost as if the laws of magic don't fully apply to you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm a walking magic anomaly," I said, waving her off. "So what now? You can't charge the amulet?"

Viviana's lips curved into a mischievous smile, and I immediately regretted asking. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. There's more than one way to skin a cat, after all."

"Really? You had to go there?" I groaned.

"Relax, darling," she said, patting my shoulder. "I'm not skinning anything. I'm going to test something else. Hold still."

Before I could protest, she placed her hand on my chest again. This time, her incantation was different, the words sharper and more forceful. A sudden surge of energy coursed through me, making my muscles tense involuntarily. It wasn't painful, but it was definitely intense.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, clenching my fists as the sensation subsided.

Viviana stepped back, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "That, my dear Alec, was a strength enhancement spell. I figured if I can't draw mana from you, I might as well see if I can give you a temporary buff."

I flexed my hands, realizing I felt... stronger. A lot stronger. "Holy shit, it worked. I feel like I could punch through a wall."

"Please don't," Viviana said, raising an eyebrow. "I don't need you wrecking my lab. The spell will wear off in about an hour, so enjoy it while it lasts."

I looked down at my hands, still amazed at the sheer power coursing through me. "Why haven't you done this before? This is way more useful than the cat thing."

Viviana chuckled, leaning back against her workbench. "Because the cat thing was more fun. And besides, strength buffs are boring. Everyone does those."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, well, boring or not, I'd rather have this than chase my own tail."

"Duly noted," she said, her smirk returning. "So, about the amulet. If you want it charged again, I'll need to use more advanced methods. Something tells me you're not going to like them."

I narrowed my eyes. "Define 'advanced methods.'"

"Oh, nothing dangerous," she said, her tone far too casual for comfort. "Just a little more... invasive. Maybe some blood samples, a few enchantments, a deep dive into your magical resistance—"

"Hard pass," I said quickly, grabbing my shirt and pulling it back on. "I'm not signing up to be your lab rat again."

Viviana pouted, folding her arms. "You're no fun."

"I've had enough 'fun' for one lifetime," I said, heading for the door. "Thanks for the buff, though. Maybe next time, we can skip the part where you poke and prod me like I'm a science experiment."

"Where's the fun in that?" she called after me, her laughter following me as I left the lab.

As I stepped into the hallway, still feeling the lingering effects of the strength spell, I couldn't help but shake my head. Viviana was brilliant, no doubt about it, but she was also a complete lunatic. Still, I owed her—she'd saved my life, and now she'd given me a tool that might save it again.

"Let's just hope I don't have to use it anytime soon," I muttered, heading back to my quarters.

Q: What experiment do you think Viviana will preform on Alec?