I turned to Jess. "How much trouble am I in? I only got one of the tattoos."

My wife hit me playfully. "So? How do I know you didn't just omit details to avoid incrimination?"

"Wait, wait!" the blonde interrupted. "The Magician did that to a volunteer?!"

I nodded. "That's why he's called The Magician."

"You should see what he does to hecklers," Jessica teased. "Anyway, my dear husband, I'm intrigued by your perspective on this story-"

"But he left her like that?!" Amber seemed a bit concerned.

I shrugged. "Dunno. I never saw him restore her."

"But-"

Tom stepped up behind Amber and put his hand on her shoulder, then pointed for her, to a picture on the wall... or rather a glass frame mounted several inches in front of the wall. Amb put her hand to her mouth. I turned and looked. Sealed between the two sheets of glass were the head and shoulders of the blue-haired girl. Amb leaned to the side to look at the back of the glass. "Th-that. That's-" She turned pale and looked as if she'd faint. "And you're all just sitting here?"

Tom started laughing, warmly. "We're joking with you, Amber. Skye's fine. She's my niece. I had that done up for her to commemorate her twenty-first birthday party."

"But Rick said-"

Jessie smiled. "Skye stops by every other week or so."

"Usually to drop off laundry," Tom laughed. "She goes to the university."

Amber turned to me, and raised an eyebrow. "You said he never restored her, you liar."

I shrugged. "No, I said I never saw him restore her."

Jess reached across the counter, patted her on the hand. "Amb, you need to understand, Rick, here, can be slightly oblivious at times, like when he's watching a magic show."

Tom laughed. "Especially when he's watching a magic show."

I frowned. "I'm describing everything exactly as I remember it, guys."

"You're describing the magic, Rick. Everything else? You didn't even notice when Hitomi slid into the hot tub beside you. She even tapped me on the back and patted your shoulder when she got in. Why do you think I was laughing so hard when she 'suddenly appeared' right beside you?"

Jess smiled. "Amb- Skye watched the rest of the show from the second floor alcove, warmly wrapped in one of the guest robes. Rick, here, was too busy watching Laurel get turned into a robot to notice."

"Jessica, do you want to tell the rest of the story?"

"Oh, no, Rick, please go on. I'm enjoying your take on it- especially the part about Tom's niece's 'carpet matching the drapes.'"

I nearly sprayed my coffee over Amber. "Oh God... I did say that, didn't I?"

Amber laughed. "Come on Rick! I want to hear about Laurel... and whether her carpet matches her drapes!"

"I'm never going to live that down, am I?" I groaned, and continued the story...