Jennifer
You knew Jennifer would be in trouble in short order in this place, you ponder as you absentmindedly stare at a couch unsure of how to position yourself on it in a comfortable manner. You were certain that she had not listened to any of Ivan's warnings and was certain to be doing everything exactly wrong.
An idea comes to your mind perhaps Ivan could cast an illusion around you so that you could look for her. You knew that if you walked outside you'd be mobbed in a second what with all the attention you had drawn before.
"Ivan?" You say aloud trying to catch his attention. He was lost in preparations for tonight writing busily into a book.
Jim and Steve were looking around the suite exploring their illusory selves and the room itself. They did not seem to care at all about Jennifer.
Distress rising in you, you feel your cheeks flush and your temper starting to simmer. "Ivan!" You yell louder.
Ivan looks up from his notebook, ink stains on his hands from writing so quickly. He grunts something unintelligible and turns to start writing again.
"Ivan! I need to go look for Jennifer." You say to him.
He looks back at you doubtfully and says, "Not like that you're not. Lose my big star on the eve of my triumph! I think not."
"Ivan! Listen to me, I need to go look for her, you know the dangers of this place, she is going to be lost and afraid and wind up getting us in trouble." You hoped that that line of reasoning would work with him. You sincerely doubted he would care if Jennifer wound up becoming a permanent resident of this place or worse.
Ivan's brow furrowed, "What is it with you people and wanting to bring along your friends. All I wanted was a nice assistant to demonstrate my warlockery and all of a sudden I have to become a babysitter too."
As if on queue a loud crash sounded through the room as a large vase topped to the ground, shattering into a thousand pieces. Jim and Steve looked around at each other innocently. Ivan cursed, grumbled some more, and then begrudgingly said, "Fine! I suppose you'll do less damage out there than in here. But I can't have you wandering the halls alone, and I cant have the two of you getting lost and causing more problems."
"You two, stay in the room," Ivan's eyes glowed red as he pointed a devilish finger at your two friends. Ghostly red chains sprouted from the floor, wrapping themselves around your friends legs. Try as they might, they could not struggle free.
"Hmmmm, not my better work," Ivan says then looking at you. "Now then, about you. I am going to cast an illusion on you, this time you have to be careful not to bump into anyone or anything, your physical form will not be changed, only the one we can see, alright?"
Not quite following you look at him questioningly. Ivan sees the confusion on your face and annoyedly says, "Your butt and tail will still be behind you when I cast this. Try not to be clumsy." You nod.
Ivan's rabbit form twitches, his nose wobbles and whiskers flare as his eyes glow red. He intones magically some arcane cantrip and its flows red and eerie surround your body, but you feel nothing. White fur sprouts over your own black and white fur, this time tinged with grey. You see illusory paws form over yours as you struggle to understand what animal Ivan has chosen for you.
Your back half grows wavy then disappears from view, you can feel your tail still back there flowing around and twitching occasionally. The white and grey fur spreading still. Eventually right above your illusory butt you see a long bald tail sprouting and it dawns on you. You are going to be a opossum. "Huh, strange choice Ivan."
He looks at you while wrapping up the spell, and shrugs. "You won't draw as much attention this way. Marsupials are generally ignored for some reason."
You shrug as well, taking a second to look at yourself in the mirror. "Not the best, Ivan." You scold him, while not wanting to be noticed you still felt indignant that he had chosen this form.
"Alright, whatever, where should we search first?" You ask him.
Written by crunchynachoes on 20 November 2018
