"Can you believe some of this stuff?" Karyn said. "See any good costumes, Jon?"
"Not really, Karyn," Jon said. "I mean, there's some interesting outfits here, but I'm not sure I'd call them 'costumes', and even at 50% off, some of these prices seem a bit steep."
Just then, the old man reappeared from behind the curtain. "See anything you like?" he asked.
"This is an interesting shop," Karyn said. "But I'm not sure we're willing to spend the prices you're asking."
"Yeah, let's get going Karyn," Jon waved bye to the shopkeeper and opened the shop door.
"So long young man," the old man waved him away. As Karyn turned to follow, he cleared his throat and enquired, "Do you really think my store is too expensive, Karyn?"
"Well," Karyn meant to reply, but paused with her mouth open. He spoke like an old friend and she was surprised the old man used her name, which he could only just have learned from Jon, in such a familiar fashion.
"Your silence speaks volumes," the old guy's face creased into a smile, "In that case Karyn, let me make you an offer."
"What kind of offer?"
"I'll loan you one item in this store, for oh ... let's say, a month. You can try out the item, and if you're not perfectly satisfied at the end of the month, you can rent any costume here for an 80% discount. What do you think Karyn? How about that?"
"I," Karyn's shrugged, then continued, "I wouldn't know what item to choose."
"Well let me make it easy for you," the shopkeeper nodded. "Now I know you sense something special about the items in my store Karyn. Everyone does, even if they don't realise it. They're drawn to them as if they can hear my trinkets, costumes and games speak to them as I'm speaking to you now."
The old man composed himself before adding, in a serious tone, "This store is magic, Karyn."
"Magic? You can't-"
"-be serious? I assure you I'm telling the truth young lady. And if you'll let me, I'll prove it to you."
"You're telling me all this stuff is magic?"
"Magic and in some cases cursed!" the shopkeeper added dramatically.
"Cursed??"
"Don't worry my dear, I wouldn't sell you a cursed item. Magic items often fall into ill repair is all. One bad wish and the client decides the only way to save himself is to smash the priceless antique crystal... I don't know where they get that idea from. But anyway, those items tend to get returned to me and thanks to damage, they never work quite right again. I try my best to fix them, I do. But they're never quite right again."
He observed Karyn's blank stare.
"In any case, I wouldn't dream of handing you a... second-hand item such as that."
"You seem to be very forward with information," Karyn noted.
"Only once your young friend left us," the old man replied.
"Jon? What's up with Jon?"
"I don't trust him is all. Strikes me as the sort of person who can't be trusted to put magic to its best uses. Not like you, Karyn. I am sure you'll make use of whatever item I give you."
"And that item would be...?"
"Here, let me show you," the old man said.
