You’ve seen the black pen Luke’s holding long enough to recognize it at a glance. You recall Leslie and Merry telling you they got theirs during their latest bank heist, which implied they were unique. If Luke’s “magic” is what you think, does that mean he stole it from them?
You’re worried he’ll ask for a volunteer, since that means the group might put the pressure on you as the test subject. You suspect that’s why he brought his companion; a blonde, perky girl in her early twenties, wearing a modern dress and looking very puzzled and lost. You suspect she must be Luke’s new fling, as he can be a bit of a Casanova.
Your best bet is to see the demonstration, act as you know nothing, and hope they don’t press you to volunteer. “A pen?” you ask, trying to sound uninterested.
“No, my lady, for it is a magic wand disguised as one.”
“And what will it do,” Richard asks, sharing your apparent disbelief. “Shoot a beam of concentrated light, or invoke a wisp of flame?”
“It could contain a vial of volatile substances,” Gary points out. “A wand that causes the person to sleep – provided the pen is pointed directly to their faces!”
“You debate my claim?” Luke rebukes with a smile on his face. “Yes, dear friends, it will knock the subject out, but not through alchemical or mechanical artifices. And worry not – the effect is entirely safe.”
“Then when are you going to show us?” Estelle asks.
“I was wondering when you’d ask. Nina?” he asks his companion, who’s completely unaware of what’s going to happen to her. “Would you please stand up?”
“Uh...” She giggles nervously, obeying him. “Sure. For what?”
“I need you to be the test subject for my little demonstration – the valet to my act of enchantment.”
“And what’s that enchantment you’re talking about?” the girl asks, worried.
“’Twill send you to an early, dreamless yet brief sleep. But worry not – you are in the company of very respectable people, who will undoubtedly care for your safety.”
If we don’t start playing with your body first, you think to yourself.
“Alright. But you better promise me I’ll be safe!”
“Safe as a baby in her mother’s arms, my lady. Now, stand still and close your eyes. You shall be sent to sleep and woken in the blink of an eye.”
As the girl closed her eyes with doubt, Luke pointed the pen at her. As expected, he clicked a button within it, and to the astonishment of everyone – even yours, as you didn’t believe this would be the real deal – the girl faints and deflates.
With a grin in his mouth, he grabs the girl’s skin, careful as to not drop her clothes. “Do you doubt the existence of Magick now, gentlemen and ladies?”
Richard and Gary approached the skin with stunned reverence, studying it. “What did you do to her, count Luccio?”
“I know not the particulars,” he says, still in character, “but I would assume her mass is stored elsewhere, leaving only her skin.”
“And what would be the utility of this?”, asked the banker.
Sitting down, Luke tore the skin off the girl’s back, startling everyone. (Your reaction was the most muted, as you already know what the pen does – it was only the shock of seeing another one in the wild that spooked you.) Parting her hair, he slid his face into her head; as he adjusted it, her face adopted his smug look, his coffee eyes replaced by the girl’s own.
After clearing his voice a few times, he responded in her voice. “A flawless disguise, my lord Stratton. A gentleman to a damsel, a lady to a page, a peasant to a queen, old to youth – think of it, and it shall happen.”
“But, won’t this harm them?”
“Only for the time they lost. I have tested it before, and it restores them to normality, without evidence that they were once worn – they remember not a thing.”
“Where did you get this?” you ask, as this is the question that presses you the most.
“That I cannot tell, my lady Montresse. It was procured in utmost secrecy. If you are interested, though, I may act as the intermediary – for a price, of course.”
“What kind of price?” Estelle asks, caring little for the roleplay.
“A costly one, I fear – it costed me almost two-hundred ducats. One-hundred and five, to be exact.” (You’ve got to give it to Luke – he's a pawn shop owner and he knows his currencies just as Richard does.)
“Why - that would be over forty-thousand pounds!” (Richard’s insistence of using pounds instead of dollars fits the theme, but doesn’t help judging the price. You figure it’s probably 50 grand, more or less a thousand.)
“Indeed - and money well spent, I would say.”
“Is it a unique artifact?” you ask, trying to catch him. You press him with another valid question. “For why would the seller part with such a magnificent treasure?”
“I cannot say enough, my lady, but I concur that there must be more than one. The power it beholds would certainly fetch for a greater price.”
“If I gave you enough money,” Estelle asked, her petition revolting your stomach. “Would you fetch me one?”
“My dear,” Errol finally reacted – interestingly, growing a spine. “What would you do with this? The repercussions of such acts would be disastrous!”
“Don’t we entertain with horror stories and occult actions for fun?” his wife replied, eerily in character. “This is but another form to entertain us. Find unsuspecting subjects – young men and women without direction, unlike us – and spend a day in their lives.”
You only want it because you envy me, your mind quickly reacts. If I didn’t know better, you’d use it on me.
“Sadly, I won’t part with mine, and if I were to act as an intermediary, I would fetch a higher price – a premium, of course.”
“How much?”
“A starting price of ten thousand pounds,” he insists, stopping any attempt to gain one flat. “Though I may bargain if you wish.”
Estelle clicked her tongue as her desires were turned down flat. “I’m afraid my coffers will have to grow fatter to even consider it, then.”
“If you feel tempted by the idea,” Luke suggested, “you can always ask me. I’m more than willing to help you indulge.” He grins with the girl’s face, breaking character. “Interesting, eh?”
“I won’t deny this is right up our alley,” Alan finally expresses his opinion, also out of character, “but I’m not very enthusiastic about the idea.”
“It feels like a violation of intimacy,” you say, holding your body. (Your concern deftly hides the irony of your own situation.)
“I believe Claudia has expressed our feelings about it,” Richard says in your support. “Alan, I think we should make a decision about it.”
Alan hums and ponders, looking at Luke with concern. “Returning it is out of the question, but if other people can also use it, we might need to be careful about any interactions. We’ll need some sort of sign only we can use.”
“That’s not the only pen,” Luke reveals, showing the brown pen. “This one helps you get their memories.”
It doesn’t, you tell to yourself. I should know.
“I haven’t tested it, though. But there’s a sure-fire way to prove who’s who – check their backs.”
“If Luke found these pens by chance and claims they’re on sale,” Estelle points out, “might as well check everyone now. You know. Just in case.”
Your heart begins to race, but Alan’s response gives you relief, as it cuts her short. “You don’t trust us? This is a childish reaction. I will take your suggestion under consideration, but I won’t do it now.”
“What if some impostor is within us and you give them time to plan against us?”
“Estelle,” you cut her rather bluntly. “That also means you have to submit to that revision. If you want to play ‘spot the imposter’, we can do it some other time, but we won’t ruin the evening out of some fear.”
“That sounds like something an imposter would say.”
“You suggesting it first would sound like something an imposter would say to defend itself, but I’m not accusing you. Alan’s right – this is concerning, but it’s no time to accuse people out of fear. Luke knows best – let him check.”
“I agree with Claudia,” Luke says, giving you enough support to outvote her – as if there was a voting at all. “Let me figure if there are any other things I need to know and I’ll work a way to identify us.”
“Thanks for your offer,” Alan says, burying the situation by returning to play in character. “Let this not mar our joyful evening. Though I doubt no story nor show will ever top the count’s demonstration.”
“That reminds me...” Luke pulls the girl’s face off his, standing up. “Let me revive her – keep this all a secret from her. Hopefully this’ll shake her enough to prevent her from coming.”
“Was that the reason you invited her?” Estelle asked.
“She heard and asked me to come. Could not deny her our diversion – it depends on her if she chooses to embrace it.”
--
The rest of the evening is tense, as Estelle’s accusations startled you enough to make you wary of every action made by the others. Estelle’s wary glares, in particular, filled you with dread.
You only felt relieved as they left, leaving you alone to your thoughts. You spend some time clearing your mind while cleaning up your home, enough to have everyone as far away as possible before making a call. It’s very late, and you’re unsure whether Merry’s inside Tina or your... Or inside Marie, so you call the former first.
“Hello?” you hear Tina’s groggy voice answering. “Who’s it?”
“Can I speak to your mother?” you tell her in a rather neutral tone. “Tell her Claudia Nicholls seeks her.”
“Oh, it’s you!” You immediately recognize Merry’s tone in Tina’s (now awake) voice. “How’s it goin’, cousin?”
“Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk. It’s important.”
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