Victoria picked up the phone after two rings.
“Oh, hey Riley. How’s life been treating you?”
“Oh it’s been real great, Vic. Thanks for asking. I found what I assume to be another one of your ‘gifts’ on my coffee table? We aren’t roommates anymore, how’d you get inside to drop this off?”
Victoria’s voice made it clear that she was trying to downplay her excitement.
“Don’t you worry about that. Anyways, I was on the outskirts of town, busy with some private business, and I had a chance to visit this lovely little shop. I found a little item on display at a steal of a price, and I couldn’t resist. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
Riley turned the squat glass container over, examining it. To their eyes, it was little more than a kitschy scented candle, the kind one could find in every home supply store in the world. Nothing more than three wicks poking out of a glass full of solid wax. Even so, Riley had known Victoria for a long time, and had become very well acquainted with her… inclinations when it came to entertainment. No shame in playing dumb for a bit.
“A candle? I’m not saying I don’t appreciate it, but it’s not really my thing. What was the inspiration?”
Riley swore they could hear her smile over the phone.
“Oh, I don’t know. I just saw it and I couldn’t stop thinking of you. Also it was really cheap. I did mention that, didn’t I?”
Riley looked at the bottom of the candle, where brand names or price tags tended to be. Nothing. Riley continued to play dumb.
“This isn’t a drug thing, is it? Do they make candles like that? Or is that incense that does that?”
Riley swore they could hear the barest hint of Victoria snickering over the phone.
“No, no it’s just… It’s for relaxation. You had a long day at work, right? Light it up, it’ll do wonders for your skin.”
Riley thanked Victoria for the gift a few more times, traded a bit of polite discussion, and hung up the phone.
“I know Victoria as well as she knows me. She sticks with the bullshit pretense simply because she finds it funny. She knows I’m usually curious enough to go through with this stuff regardless of how suspicious she makes it. The question isn’t ‘what fucked up thing will this do to me,’ the question is ‘am I bored enough to go through with it?’”
Riley shrugged and lit the candle.