Joe rushed to see the wizard in a panic the moment Eric was gone from the building. "OK look, you have to help me. Before that day you dropped that pen, I had no idea magic was real. I didn't think it would really do anything at all, and I really wasn't trying to do anything that would hurt anyone, just trying to make things better and... it's seeming like I'm in some seriously hot water here. Is there anything you can do to help? Make this all go away?"
The wizard cracked his knuckles, about to resolve the matter in his usual fashion, but then remembered his promise not to go filling the whole building with bimbos. "I'm afraid there isn't much I can do... unless, of course, you're willing to take a bit of a vacation? Get away from yourself for a while, as it were?"
Joe gave a worried look back. "I'm not quite sure I like where this is going."
"Let's discuss this in your office," the wizard said. Once inside with the door firmly shut, he continued. It's simple enough." The wizard pulled out an unused manila folder and some red chalk, quickly sketching a circle and a few choice runes before setting it on his desk. A wicked looking red-skinned imp with black horns and a spade-tipped tail rose up from the center almost immediately. "You there, Imp, here's the arrangement. Impersonate this man here, replicate his current behavior and mannerisms, live his life as he would as best you can, and you can stay in this world until I dismiss you." The imp nodded, suddenly growing into a perfect twin of Joe. "There we are. Any harsh consequences you might otherwise face will befall this unfortunate fellow, who I assure you will still be having a nicer time than he ever would where I pulled him from."
Joe gawked and stammered, watching his doppelganger react in a similar fashion.
"Now," the wizard continued, drawing a set of postcards from a pocket, from a variety of exotic locals, "just grab one of these, and you'll be whisked off to a very enjoyable getaway... and I do promise to retrieve you once everything has definitely blown over. Oh, but before you go, I've been having... issues with the computer in my office, who would I speak to about that?"
Joe glanced at the postcards, featuring a variety of exotic locales he'd always meant to see someday. "I suppose your best bet would be to talk to Keith in I.T. for that?" His eyes were drawn to the one showing a tropical beach, with tan-skinned girls in grass skirts dancing in the light of the setting sun by a fully stocked outdoor bar. Reaching for it, it seemed to expand, filling his vision before everything swirled around to an altered perspective on the scene. Disoriented, Joe reached up with slender brown hand to pull long dark hair away from squinting eyes, and looked down to see a necklace of flowers resting on an ample chest, as dry grass shook about his legs.