Find out more about the leash first

This collar really seems like the real deal. No way anyone would take the weird stuff you've been spouting without comment.

The goth, her cheeks warming to a pleasant pink, again moves to take off the collar. "Anyway, um, I'm sure your girlfriend will like it," she says, sounding a bit awkward. "I need to get going, I'm already kinda late as is."

But, try as she might, she can do no more than tug at the collar. Though it seems to have a simple fastener at the back, her fingers fail to undo it, like the two bits of metal are magnetized to one another.

While she struggles with ramping frustration, you remember the words on the fine-papered card tucked into your pocket.

1. The collar cannot be removed unless the victim is told to remove it.

2. The above rule is void unless you have this card.

Does that mean so long as you have the card that came with the collar, this goth chick is stuck with it on? At least, until someone orders her to take it off? It really seems so, especially that she's scowling and fighting with the back of the collar to get it unlocked.

The goth tosses her hair over one shoulder and gestures toward the back of her neck. "Thing's stuck, mind giving me a hand?" she asks. "I don't want to break it by fumbling around blind."

You oblige her by circling around back, as if you're about to take it off. But instead, you take the chance to look the petite goth chick over head to toe from behind.

The woman wears a little black shirt, a matching short black leather skirt, and fishnet stockings. She also wears a pair of heeled Doc Martens. Her long straight brown hair smells faintly of lavender, and she has pasty white skin. She's short and slender - slim hips, slim chested, though her shirt's stylishly loose so you can't tell. By any measurement though she's dressed to kill.

Well damn. This is the luckiest day of your life. What else did the card say? You try to remember the wording.

This collar will give you complete control of your lover's body and mind. The leash provided is for use in group settings and will inhibit the control to only one person, otherwise anyone that states their wish will be obeyed.

_Anyone _that states their wish will be obeyed? You don't like the sound of that.__

"A little help?" asks the brunette goth in a slightly breathy voice, less patient now. She shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot. No wonder with how much the collar's probably turning her on.

"I wish you'd wait quietly till I'm ready," you say, a thrill of power coursing through you.

The goth glances over her shoulder at you, looking embarrassed. "Um. Sorry. I'm just kind of in a hurry..."

You don't answer her. Instead, you pull the collar's box out of the one shopping bag you have and flip it open. You pull the leash out to examine it.

It's a thin black leather strap, with a loop built into one end. It looks impractically delicate, more like a bedroom toy than a real leash. But considering that the girl couldn't undo the flimsy little latch at the back of the collar, you bet the leash is just as robust, despite its appearance.

But people are already noticing at you and the chick. She's flustered, and you're standing out in the middle of the thoroughfare with a leash in hand. It takes a lot less than this to make a scene. Hooking a leash on the goth chick would keep her from asking somebody to tell her to take the collar off, but it'd also draw more attention...

Transfering leash, bag, and box to one hand, you pull the card out and read down the extra numbered lines below the main text.

1: The collar cannot be removed unless the victim is told to remove it. 2: The above rule is void unless you have this card. 3: Transformation is possible, but if maintained for over 24 hours, it will be permanent...

There. Number four.

4: The collar and leash can likewise be transformed, though they will always retain their functions, and when taken off will revert to their base forms.

That works.

You put your extra things away and face the goth chick, who still has her back to you. She's waiting quietly till you're ready to help. "Okay, turn around," you say.

The girl does so, but is confused. "I need your help taking it off," she says.

You reach out and hook the leash to the front ring of the collar at the goth's throat and say, "I wish this leash wasn't so obvious."

You and the goth are surprised when the leash vanishes.

In its place, a small onyx ring is hooked on the front ring of the goth's unwanted collar. At the same time, you find yourself holding a bulky piece of black circular plastic. It looks like a retractable leash, complete with buttons, except there's no leash coming out the end of it.

The goth staggers back a couple of steps, touching her neck where you clipped the leash before it disappeared. "What the fuck was that?"

Experimentally, you click the ergonomic thumb button. The leash vibrates and warms in hand.

At the same instant, the chick jolts forward, as if pulled by her collar. She stumbles straight into you, almost knocking both of you off balance.

Real magic. It's all real. You're stunned. "Oh my god," is all you manage.

The goth chick is really losing it now, though. She disentangles herself from you, looking pissed. "Get this thing off me right now before I tear it off," she says, grabbing the edge of the collar in threat. "I gave you my opinion, but I don't have time for a fucking magic show. I'm meeting my girlfriend and I'm already late."

You look from the goth chick, down to the plastic leash, and back. It strikes you that you don't even know her name. She's just some chick with a life, and you're very annoyingly getting in the way of that with your bumbling experimentation with a stolen magic collar.