...a calendar of Japanese art, hanging on the wall next to Karyn's desk. A white-faced geisha in a colorful kimono held a tray containing tea service.
Jon quickly squinched her eyes shut and said something that sounded like "Urk!" She heard Max stop walking and say, "What's the matter -- oh, shit!"
She could feel herself changing somehow, although she didn't want to open her eyes to look. The good news was that she felt the denim of her too-large jeans transforming into silk, which meant she could finally stop holding her pants up -- apparently, she was now wearing a kimono that actually fit her.
"Oh, jeez," said Max. "And I've got some posters in my room -- okay, you better keep your eyes shut until I tell you to open 'em. Here, take my hand."
Jon reached for Max and clasped his hand, realizing that her fingernails seemed to be longer. As they shuffled down the hall, Max said, "Well, we know you can change other than physically -- your clothes changed, but I think you can tell."
Jon tried to ask, "How else did I change?", but it came out in a high, lilting Japanese accent as "How erse I change?", the stereotypical speech of a generic Asian fantasy girl.
"And your voice, too," said Max. "Great. Okay, as you might have guessed, you look like a geisha. Have a seat."
Jon felt in front of herself and came upon a desk chair, which she managed to sit down on, her kimono flowing around her. She heard typing and mouse clicking nearby.
"White makeup and everything," continued Max. "And your hair is weird -- there's a bunch piled on top of your head and practically shellacked in place with a couple of flowers and a hair clip in there, but you've still got the Lara Croft braid hanging down." After he said that, Jon realized she could indeed feel what he was talking about.
"Okay, almost got the picture I was thinking of," said Max.
"You very nice," cooed Jon, wondering if Max might want some tea. She heard what sounded like a laptop being shoved across a desk.
"Okay, don't look anywhere but the screen right in front of you," cautioned Max. "Open your eyes."
Jon did so, and found that she was looking directly at...
