This choice: Ask Luke to help you against Leslie • Go Back...Chapter #21Conspiring with the Count by: Nostrum   You barely know Luke, and while Claudia knows him a little better, she doesn’t consider him a friend the way she’d consider Henry or Herman – or even people like Richard. But from what little you’ve seen, he seems inoffensive. If anything, you feel he’s what Jimmy would become if he matured just a little bit.
That doesn’t fill you with confidence, but at least it means it shouldn’t be hard to bond with him. You’d rather start slow by making the most obvious request. “So, um... You’re not gonna tell anyone, will you?"
“Well...” You sense amusement in his tone. “I still find it weird. I’m not that close to Claudia, but I still care for her as a person.”
“I see...”
“But you seem to be enjoying yourself. I mean – have you...? Y’know...” He waves his hand around his groin, suggestively.
“Oh, definitely! I haven’t been a dainty lady these past few days, if you know what I mean.”
“And what are your plans for her?”
The answer to that question comes very swiftly. “I’m working on a project that, if successful, would make... Well, it’d make me the head librarian of the Municipal Library. That means more work, but with the injection of funds the Library would get, we wouldn’t need to depend on the city, and--”
“Are you happy with that?”
Again, he seeks to dive deep, but that doesn’t make you falter. “Of course. Maybe I didn’t have a deep love for books before, but I haven’t missed gaming since I’m her.”
“Oh, so you’re a gamer!” That relaxes him. “What kind of games?”
“Um, well... A little bit of each. Not that I’m amazing at gaming, of course, but not too bad.”
“I always told her that she should try role-playing games, but she’s in love with her lifestyle.”
“It has its charm.” Again, a quick answer. There is a charm in solitude, surrounded by books and the warmth of a wooden cottage in the middle of the forest.
“I see...” Luke rubs his chin, smiling uneasily. “Far it be from me to stop you from having fun, then. You seem invested in her life.”
“I am. I’m invested in everything about her. I mean – I'm enjoying her body more than she did, but she’s teaching me to enjoy reading and simple things in life. Even cooking for myself doesn’t seem a chore now.”
“Yeah, you’re giving me that vibe.”
“Do I?”
He points at your poise, which you adopt naturally. “Unless you were practicing for it. But even then, you wouldn’t pose as her while telling me you’re not.”
“Oh...!” You relax, though you still gently cover your lips. “True.”
“Like I said – far from me to ruin your fun. I’d have never figured you weren’t Claudia until you started making those weird questions.”
“It’s the pens,” you reveal to him. “The brown one, actually. Doesn’t give you her memories, but it lets you act as them.”
“But then how did you act like lady Montresse?”
“I dunno, but like I said, it lets you act as them. Maybe it’s the exercises I’ve been doing to stay in character.”
“Which ones?”
You close your eyes and repeat the same words to yourself. I’m Claudia. I’m Claudia... As you open them up, even your tone changes ever so slightly to hers, which briefly unnerves you. “Telling to myself... God, it’s so weird when the voice differs.”
“You can put on her face,” he tells you. “You look weird without it.”
“I’ll have to replace these once it’s set,” you say as you take off the fake bun and extensions. You take a deep breath and dive your face deep into hers, feeling it almost merge with yours. With a little tuck behind and a slight adjustment, you let your lips curl into a flirty grin. “There. Better?”
“I certainly don’t mind,” he says, almost groaning. “If I didn’t know, I wouldn’t distinguish you from her. Even now, I only see her.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” you say as you readjust the fake chignon.
“In fact, I think you’re a better Claudia than she ever was.”
“You do?” You snicker, flashing her – your – teeth. “Then I take that you won’t reveal my secret?”
“You think I would?” He cackles. “Of course not! I mean – I feel I could open up to some things I couldn’t with her.”
“Let me guess. You dreamt of being in my body, doing indecent things. Am I right?”
“If you consider ‘wet dreams’ as actual dreams...”
“Oh, my...!” You giggle, surprised to have such an ardent admirer. “Must have ruined your dream by revealing the truth, aren’t I?”
“I...” He chuckles nervously, scratching his head. “I dunno, to be honest. I mean – you're not interested in guys, aren’t you?”
“Oh, please! I’ve got my fair share of suitors. Unfortunately, you’re not one, but then again, I feel you’d try to stalk my prospects in an attempt to be with me.”
“Oh. So you like men?”
“Of course I do! I always have.” It slowly dawns on you that you’ve embraced Claudia a bit too much. “Maybe not the side I showed you, but I certainly do.”
“Does that mean you’re not attracted to women now?”
You tilt your head. The thought never crossed your mind – but now that you’re faced with it, you must admit it. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be enjoying myself in my intimacy, wouldn’t I?”
“The Claudia I know wouldn’t.”
“But then again, I’m not the same Claudia as I was, aren’t I?”
Luke grabs your cup of tea from the floor and moves away. “You’re seriously enjoying this, man. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re hitting on me.”
“I guess that’s enough proof, then. We’ll have to do something about the secret handshake, though.”
“I could always vouch for you – if worse comes to worse, I’ll tell everyone that you came clean with me. You don’t seem like you want to ruin Claudia’s life, after all.”
“Why would I? It’s my life, after all.”
“Exactly. I can’t protect you from how the rest will react, but I can put on a good word.” He returns, still giving you some space. “Anything else?”
That question strikes deep. Though you kept some things from him, Luke knows about your old family – about David’s family, that is – and he left that question on the air. Perhaps he suspects you want something else from him.
And you don’t know what Leslie will do if you tell him about this. Not to mention, you’d ruin his perception of you if you didn’t ask. “Perhaps I could ask you another favor.”
“Sure. Anything for a lovely dame.”
“Flatterer...” (Now he’s the one flirting with you.) “I was wondering if you could help me with the two people I had to acquaint with?”
“The two thieves?” he says nonchalantly. “I supposed you would. They’re your family, aren’t they?”
“They were,” you rectify, “but you’re right. Perhaps it’s the same for Claudia, but they don’t deserve this.”
“You’re not doing this to harm her,” he says to comfort you. “You asked if I’d be willing to ruin the life of whoever I wore, and I said I wouldn’t. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t help you with this.”
“But you’re helping me by keeping my secret.”
“Because it’s a secret worth keeping. They’re dangerous. They have no respect for the people they’re wearing.”
Maybe Leslie, you ponder, but not Merry.
“Tell me what you’ve got. I think I could help you.”
--
You’re still working on the plan, but you’ve got Luke’s number. And the basics of a plan, of course. Leslie suggested sealing you up in Claudia’s skin to pass through, and with Luke promising he wouldn’t use the pens on the Society, your secret’s safe. That means you have a chance to meet them, where you could take them down.
It’s Sunday night, and you’re back at your home. You’ll be working for the next three days, meaning you have plenty of days to choose. You choose to call Tina, knowing that Nick often appears on Sundays. “Hello.”
“Oh, hey!” It has to be her, as she immediately recognizes you. “Hold on.” After a little wait, she addresses you directly. “Had to move away from the family, hun. Too many ears.”
“I’ll be working from Monday to Wednesday. We could reunite at night, near the old incinerator.”
“Excellent!” she says. “I’ll tell Les about it.”
That settles it, but the way she called you ‘hun’ makes you waver. You still resent Merry for putting on your mom, but compared to Leslie, she seems harmless. She actually wants out of the thieving business, and she plans to lead Tina into investment to live a better life.
Isn’t that improving her life? And if so, wouldn’t you be the hypocrite for demanding she steps off Tina?
--
“Bye,” you tell the guard as you close the library for another night. Usually, you ask him to escort you, but being the day of your plan, you tell him to go forward without you.
You made sure there were no distractions. You entertained Herman but rejected another of his advances, and you promised you’d meet him on Thursday for your library plans. Luke’s stint has distracted you from it, but once you deal with this, you can focus on the proposal.
You move towards the basement, lighting the old bulbs. They flicker, making a buzzing sound, lighting your way to the old incinerator leading outside. A botched and stopped demolition job left the device accessible from the nearby abandoned building – the one used by MTSU students for their activities, though also for shadier moves.
Like the one you’ll be about to make. You agreed to meet Merry and Leslie here, where you’d undress and they’ll seal you. The whole thing won’t take you more than fifteen minutes, and you’ll be on your way.
You’re checking your phone’s reception. It’s getting stronger, compared to a minute ago where the thick library walls interrupted it. (Another reason why Claudia loves the place so much – a blind spot for technology.)
You make the call before reaching the place. With luck, Luke should be hiding nearby. All you need to do is give him the order.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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