“AWW what a bust” this messy ponytailed red-haired 11 year old girl cried out while kicking the pavement as she and her neat shoulder-length raven haired mother exited this costume shop in town. “Well maybe you should accept my suggestion and try a different costume-” the girl’s mother started. “NO. It needs to be a genie, it’s what is me” the girl countered in protest. “*sigh* honestly Jasmine this obsession is getting pretty much” the mother muttered to herself as the pair walked off.
As the two walked off looking for another costume shop while Jasmine was ahead it was her mother that soon caught sight of the magic shop that seemingly appeared in what was supposed to be an abandoned store sector. “The Magic Shop? When was this approved?” the mother questioned as Jasmine doubled back to see. “Got me but maybe they might at least know something” Jasmine suggested as she went inside. “If not then hopefully have a better way of convicting you to change your mind on costumes” the mother hoped as she followed.
Bizarrely to the mother the store wasn’t exactly stocked on a single, let alone simple, style or trend of magical items. There were rune stones of various types and carvings across from magician’s cloaks. Items claiming to be genuine hides of magical creatures next to medieval-like bikers and test tubs. At one point Jasmine’s mother could have assumed something was moving with what appeared to be a massive jack-in-the-box. It was almost a relief as Jasmine herself took an interest in a collection of these old-lamps typically associated with genies when this middle-aged man in what appeared to be a uniform of the store spoke to her “Excuse me ma’m. Can I be if assistance?”. “You work here?” Jasmine’s mother returned. “Indeed I do miss-” the staff member started before noticing he didn’t know the woman’s name or if the 11 year old was with her. “Jennie Taylor. Me and my daughter Jasmine came looking for costumes for Halloween” Jennie greeted.
Just then out of curiosity Jasmine had grabbed and rubbed one of the lamps and in a quick burst of smoke and sound a green midriff-exposing and sleeved but shoulderless Arabic-like outfit landed on the floor. “No way... This is-” Jasmine started. “Did that outfit-” Jennie interrupted. “Ah I see your daughter rubbed that lamp assuming it could be a standard genie lamp” the staff member noticed as he went and picked the outfit up and handed it to Jasmine while taking the lamp, the outfit seemingly changing in size briefly as he held it. “Just hold on while I demonstrate” the staff member told Jasmine as he rubbed the lamp and in a quick mist the outfit disappeared out of Jasmine’s hands while the mist entered the lamp “As you may have just noticed thankfully, we don’t do misdirection tricks masquerading as magic here”.
“So there is a...shy but mind-reading genie in that?” Jennie guessed. “Not at all... this is one of our several Host Genie Lamps” The staff member answered. “Host genie?” Jasmine asked. “These lamp carry all the typical wish granting power, with certain restriction included of course, but can’t do any wish granting without a host for the powers” the staff member started explaining. “Host?” Jennie asked. “What the outfit and this key entitles” the staff member assured while holding this small key attached to the lamp by a chain out “You may recall a pair of bracelets with the outfit I presume?”. “Sure did” Jasmine agreed. “Well once the entire outfit is on and one locks them bracelets with a lamp’s corresponding key. For almost all intents and purposes you’re a genie” the staff member continued. “No way. I COULD BE AN ACTUAL GENIE” Jasmine called out in glee. “...to a point” the staff member assured. “My apologises but Jasmine’s been looking for a genie-themed costume for Halloween” Jennie confessed. “This is the best way. How much?” Jasmine then insisted while re-grabbing the lamp. “About 30.00... Might sound a little steep and honestly it’s return policy more so but it’s all legal” the staff member assured as he escorted the mother and daughter to a checkout counter.
“...? Indefinite?” Jennie questioned after she and Jasmine went over details with the staff member over the lamp. “Be honest you can maybe guess with the restrictions alongside actually often finding people willing to be genies like this these lamps are returned allot” the staff member assured “But at the very least it’s a good Halloween choice I’d say”. “Oh more than that” Jasmine happily assured as Jennie paid for the lamp: