Derek explained to the shopkeeper about their fascination with transformation. Sonya, completely convinced by the woman's age demonstration, began asking about specific methods and types of transformations.
"Like, let's say I wanted to turn into a marmoset. Do you have something for that?"
The shopkeeper smiled and hummed a polite chuckle. "If you can dream it up, something in this shop can make it happen."
Derek put a hand on Sonya's shoulder. "Hold up," he said. "Nothing in here's gonna curse us, right? We get what we ask for, and nothing else?"
"Of course, dear. There are curses here, to be sure, but curses can be controlled so long as you understand them. I don't sell the dangerous items to regular customers. They stay under lock and key. You and your friend are not to be victims of foul play."
Something in the woman's answer didn't sit right with Derek, but he didn't press the matter. She seemed forthcoming enough, and as long as they practiced caution, things might turn out the way they hoped.
"I've got a great idea," Sonya said. "Can we try stuff out here, before we buy?"
"Yes, but there are certain restrictions."
Sonya looked at Derek with a wild-eyed expression that made him gulp. The only time he ever saw that look was when she was planning something that involved him...but not usually in a good way. The last time she looked at him like that he ended up helping her chaperone her nine-year-old sister's birthday party. He could still hear the kids' ear-piercing screams and squeals whenever he looked back on that day.
Realizing he was lost in thought, he snapped back to the present and noticed that Sonya was excitedly whispering something in the shopkeeper's ear.
"What's going on?" he demanded. "Isn't it a little early to start conspiring against me over what kind of transformations we get?"
Sonya turned back to him, her expression now pleading in a forlorn puppy dog way. Derek took a cautious step back. He swore he could even see her pouted lip trembling like she was a cartoon character.
"Yes, I can easily arrange that...," the woman said as she walked over to the shelves of potions.
"Waaaait just a minute here," Derek said, sweeping his hand in a defiant gesture. "Sonya, what did you say to her?"
"You WANT to transform into something, don't you?" Sonya asked.
"Yes, but--"
"You WANT to see ME transform into something, don't you?"
"Definitely--"
"So play nice, and you'll see!" she insisted. "Didn't you tell me once that your favorite TF stories were ones where you didn't know the final outcome of the transformation until it was over?"
Derek realized what she was getting at. He was about to become the hapless victim in his own transformation story...a story with a completely unknown ending. He wasn't sure if he was nervous about what Sonya had in store for him, or scared because the notion was actually starting to turn him on. The years of intense wondering...yearning for the day when he could truly feel what it was like to transform into someone...someTHING else...and it was suddenly about to come true.
"I'm...I'm not sure I'm ready..."
"Is any TF victim EVER ready?" Sonya smiled.
Derek tried to ignore the feelings of the growing bulge in his pants. It's going to happen, he thought, it's really going to happen. A part of him wanted to grab Sonya's arm and run out of the store before something went horribly wrong, but his curiosity and excitement quickly subdued reason.
"Well I'M ready," the shopkeeper said as she brought over a small elixir that glowed a deep violet. "Would you like to drink it up, or shall I throw it on you? It'll work either way."