Test it out on Pearl

"Yu's right. I should test this out to see if it's legit," you say. "Pearl? You mind if I try claiming something of yours?"

Pearl groans. "Of course I mind."

Yu's interest grows. "Actually Pearl's a good choice," she says, arranging herself to stand next to you. "Whether or not she minds shouldn't matter, but if she's unwilling, it'll be a good proof of concept. If you claim something of hers she doesn't want to give up, and Pearl gives it up to you anyway, then we'll know it works."

"Good point," you say.

"Hello, do I get a vote?" asks Pearl.

"I'll claim that hoodie," you say, testing it out.

Pearl sighs in defeat and glances down at the baggy garment. You hardly see her go anywhere without it. "Dammit. And I liked this jacket too," she says. "Technically speaking it's yours now, Chase, but is it okay if I keep wearing it? I borrow stuff from you all the time. This'll just be a long-term loan. It wouldn't even fit you anyway."

Yu gives her friend a curious look. "Interesting. It seems like Pearl is rationalizing a way she can maintain the status quo even though it's your hoodie she's wearing now."

"It works," you say, amazed. You knew it would, subconsciously, but seeing it in action is different. But this is just the tip of the testing iceberg. "Pearl, I know you want to keep wearing it, but could you hand me your - I mean my hoodie?"

Grumbling, Pearl pulls the hoodie over her head and roughly shoves it into your arms. "There. Are you happy?"

Beneath the hoodie, Pearl's wearing a tight-stretched Sabaton band t-shirt. You always forget how buxom she is since she's always in baggy clothing.

"I didn't really believe you'd actually give me the literal coat off your back," you say, looking from her to the jacket and back.

Now grumpy, Pearl folds her arms over her chest. "It's your jacket now, unless you've had a sudden change of heart," says Pearl. "Can I have it back? Like as mine again?"

But Yu has other ideas. "Don't forget. The card said you can claim anything, Chase, physical or immaterial. It obviously works on the physical, so why don't you try claiming something immaterial now?"

"Good idea," you say, nodding. You really like the idea of claiming more from Pearl. She's usually so hard to fluster, but now it feels like the sky's the limit. "Pearl, what's something immaterial of yours I can claim?"

She scoffs, annoyed and impatient with this whole exercise. "Nice try. I'm not giving you a list of things you can steal from me. Sorry, I mean 'claim'. This is such BS."

You snap when the lightbulb goes on. "Hey, sass is something immaterial, isn't it? Let's try that. Pearl, your sassy attitude belongs to me now."

"Great," says Pearl, sarcastically. "Can I keep using it at least?"

"Not right now," you say, curious to see what impact it'll have on her. "I'll let you know when you can use it again, though."

Pearl's demeanor shifts from annoyed to peaceful, and her arms fall limp to her sides. "Thank you. I'd really appreciate that," she says. She gives a slight, hopeful look, devoid of guile; at the same time, she shifts restlessly in place. "To be totally honest, I'm only really comfortable in social situations when I can use wit to impress people and help cope with emotional stuff."

Yutong laughs. "Wow, I've never heard Pearl be so open about her feelings outside of private conversation when it's just me and her," she says. "It'll take some time to get used to her being more honest about her emotions since she doesn't have a sassy attitude anymore."

"Chase said he'd let me use his sassy attitude later," Pearl counters, though without much bite. Her tone, instead, is earnest, like she's really banking on letting you have that part of her personality back.

"Either way," Yu says, flashing you a grin and throwing her arms out. "Immaterial claiming works too. It's the real deal. You can claim anything!"

The power is real. Anything is yours, then. Really. You ball Pearl's black hoodie up in your hands, feeling the tangibility of your mastery of ownership. It's a good feeling.

You notice Jane, Sullivan, and Indigo have drifted back into the party proper. Sullivan and Indigo are dancing, while Jane's chatting with some of her track friends in the kitchen.

Next to you, Yu is excited, and in front of you, Pearl, out of character, waits patiently for permission to use her attitude again.