"Would we like to... what," you ask in disbelief, a feeling that must be showing all over your face as Joe starts laughing. "No, I'm serious," you protest, "What do you mean would we like to learn magic?"
"Well, like it's exactly what I said," Joe states as if it were the most obvious, normal invitation.
"We gave it some thought over the weekend," says Frank, "Some of us, not just Joe and myself, were going to be going over to Eastman."
"Right, we want to improve that place as well, that's the whole reason we've got these things you know," adds Joe, "But giving it some thought... we don't know anyone over there! So it'd be easier if we took along a few people we trust."
"But that'd leave us shorthanded at Westside," continues Frank, "Any of us who are in this has to know how this stuff works. How to make a mask or a mind band or any of that."
"And since the two of you don't quite know how yet, do you," asks Joe. The pair of you respond that you don't and Joe's wide grin returns, flashing a row of perfect white teeth, "Well then you're going to need to learn. You're going to have to step up. Doubly so in order to fill in for anyone we bring over."
There's something about it which unnerves you... more than you've been unnerved anyway. You look over at Kristy and can see that she herself is even more uncomfortable.
"Fuck, none of this feels right," she says as she sinks into the couch. "We set out to stop you guys and it just... we're helping you do the same shit. I can't believe it."
"Of course you're helping us," Joe says reassuringly, "Because you know we're doing the right thing. Once we've made things better everyone will get their lives back. You'll see."
"And how long is that gonna take, huh," she shoots back, "How long is Kristy here gonna be asleep under my stinkin' visage?"
"As long as it takes," Frank replies with the same quiet serious he's had since you met him. The original him. And the fact it's just some imposter doing it perfectly gets to you a little more.
Joe nods in agreement, "Frank's right. This is a grand undertaking. We can't just stay for a week and think that'll fix everything. We have to see it through until we're sure that everything's been changed on a fundamental level." He then looks at you, a knowing expression on his face, "Besides, there's some other perks there right Victoria?"
You feel yourself turn a bit red at that and pull your arms around you in embarassment... only to feel your large chest rest on top of them. You have to admit that being in Victoria's body feels good. There's certainly a lot of her but in a way that's sexy and shaped well as opposed to... well you think of how dumpy and shapeless some of the unpopular girls are.
"That's... that's beside the point," you protest which causes Joe to laugh. Frank barely cracks a smile.
"That's rich," Joe says with a small bit of a chuckle once he's finally stopped, "We would've brought you in from the start if we knew you'd be this entertaining."
"But these are the last few minutes you're going to be able to enjoy her, Prescott," Frank says back to his usual dour self.
"What are you--"
"We're not going to backstab you if that's what you're thinking," says Joe trying to reassure you, "But what Ioegger told us about Kristy struck a chord. He's been having a little trouble adjusting but you? You slip into character like it's putting on a shirt. You're a natural."
"What's that mean," you ask.
"Well we want to teach you how to use this book. Kristy's got an interest in this stuff according to Ioegger," Joe states plainly, "That'd make her a little more pliable."
"You want me and Prescott to switch masks," Kristy states as she folds her arms.
"Correct," Joe exclaims, "Prescott in Kristy's mask would probably pick up on this stuff. Not to speak bad of you Ioegger but I think it takes a certain... acceptance to use these things fully. You're kind of resisting it so maybe a nice pair of tits would be more your speed because it doesn't look like Kristy herself has much to brag about."
"Meanwhile Will, in Kristy's mask, would probably absorb this a whole lot better," adds Frank.
You and Kristy cast a glance at each other. This is all so fucked up and you know it but... well you're not in a position to protest or resist. Not if you don't want to completely lose yourself inside masks that would turn you into mindless slaves. "So," you sigh, "How do we take these off?"
* * * * *
It's a crash course for most of the rest of the evening. It starts with a basic overview of the book and what it does before going into the various spells: how to make a mask, how to seal it, how to make a mind band, golems. Of the latter there's three types: ones made of graveyard dirt which unnerves you. There's one that involves the use of a live person and that one horrifies you and makes you wonder who, if anyone, they used for that. Then there's the one they showed you up in the loft involving a special solution inside a mask.
The whole time you're in character staring in wide-eyed wonder and "oohing" and "aahing" over it all. Carson definitely was having a hard time of it because "small interest in magic" is putting it mildly. Kristy's completely fascinated by it. It didn't take you long to get into her mind and Carson at least was right about her relationship with her grandfather. Her grandfather would tell her stories about all of the magical and paranormal stuff he had seen as a military researcher. Kristy's father would constantly shut it down; it was just his dad's weird sense of humor he'd say. But Kristy herself earnestly believed those stories and ate up his every word.
Of course that kind of stuff isn't something you really talk about with other people, otherwise you end up like Morganna Hollis or someone like that, so she replaced it with athletics. But deep down she's always thought it was real and now that she, via you, is experiencing it she can't contain her excitement.
"So that's about the point where we're at in all of this," says Frank once they finish explaining what they call the golem mask spell to you, "Any questions?"
"Yeah, so like could we maybe... I dunno, take the book with us," you ask excitedly.
Kristy's mind and personality are practically geeking out right now and you're actually having to fight to stop from just hugging the "brothers" in gratefulness. It's another disconcerting feeling; you're reluctance clashing with her acceptance. But then how reluctant are you really? You weren't happy with yourself before all this started and what they said about the right mindset and acceptance... is that why you're so easily falling into character whether it's Kristy or Victoria?
Speaking of, you look over. You're not sure how Carson's fairing in there but he certainly looks a little less awkward than he did as Kristy. Was it the clash between hers and his views on magic that was making it that much harder for him? It's not like Victoria really cared or knew about any of this from what you remember. In fact she'd found it outright boring.
"That you or the girl, Prescott," Joe says following a guffaw, "But no dice, I'm afraid. The book stays with us."
You pout for a moment before a light bulb goes off. You head over to Kristy's backpack and pull out a notebook and a pencil. "Hey, can you give me the book for a minute," you ask much to the confusion of the other three.
"Prescott, what are you--" Victoria asks but you shush her.
Once you have the book you look over the first page and begin taking notes. There is, of course, what the page tells you about the spell as well as the sigils involved in its creation. Swiftly, it just feels so natural and you're so engrossed that you don't notice the world around you, you've made notes and copied as best you could up to where you've just reached in the book.
Joe lets out a whistle, "That's impressive, Prescott," he states as he looks them over, "They look spot on enough to be useful."
"Well it... it wasn't hard," you say trying to sound humble, "I'd copied a little bit when I had the book and then with this girl's enthusiasm for the subject..."
"That's good, though," Joe says as he continues appraising the notes, "Real good. I want to see if these can be used in fact."
You eye him oddly but he walks to one of the rooms, emerging a few minutes later with some materials in a box.
"Stuff to make a mask and a band," he says as he places it in front of you, "You seem to have a knack for all of this so I want to see just how much of a natural you are. Make a mask and a band tonight, you don't have to polish the mask but try to get the band on someone to make sure it works. Bring it all to someone tomorrow--Jelena probably since she seems like she's taken a real shine to you two--and we'll go from there."
Both you and Victoria look surprised though it's you that speaks. "Do I have to," you ask nervously, "I mean I've never done any of this and..."
"You don't have to," Joe shrugs, "But you prove you can do this by your own already and there'll be some big things coming your way, I promise."  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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