Santa Shikiba
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Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:58:14 GMT
Well, Jack," said Nate sadly, "I can't tell you that, unless you make the second request." Nate looked away for a minute, then looked back.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:58:20 GMT
"Umm, well, ok," said Jack, "what is this about a second request? What can I ask for? Are you allowed to tell me that?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:58:34 GMT
"Sure!" said Nate, brightening. "You're allowed to ask for changes. Changes to yourself. They're like wishes, but they can only affect you. Oh, and before you ask, I can't give you immortality. Or omniscience. Or omnipresence, for that matter. Though I might be able to make you gaseous and yet remain alive, and then you could spread through the atmosphere and sort of be omnipresent. But what good would that be - you still wouldn't be omniscient and thus still could only focus on one thing at a time. Not very useful, at least in my opinion." Nate stopped when he realized that Jack was staring at him.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:58:49 GMT
"Well, anyway," continued Nate, "I'd probably suggest giving you permanent good health. It would negate the methanol now in your system, you'd be immune to most poisons and diseases, and you'd tend to live a very long time, barring accident, of course. And you'll even have a tendency to recover from accidents well. It always seemed like a good choice for a request to me."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:02 GMT
"Cure the methanol poisoning, huh?" said Jack. "And keep me healthy for a long time? Hmmm. It doesn't sound bad at that. And it has to be a request about a change to me? I can't ask to be rich, right? Because that's not really a change to me?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:08 GMT
"Right," nodded Nate.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:15 GMT
"Could I ask to be a genius and permanently healthy?" Jack asked, hopefully.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:23 GMT
"That takes two requests, Jack."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:31 GMT
"Yeah, I figured so," said Jack. "But I could ask to be a genius? I could become the smartest scientist in the world? Or the best athlete?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:49 GMT
"Well, I could make you very smart," admitted Nate, "but that wouldn't necessarily make you the best scientist in the world. Or, I could make you very athletic, but it wouldn't necessarily make you the best athlete either. You've heard the saying that 99% of genius is hard work? Well, there's some truth to that. I can give you the talent, but I can't make you work hard. It all depends on what you decide to do with it."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 0:59:55 GMT
"Hmmm," said Jack. "Ok, I think I understand. And I get a third request, after this one?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:02 GMT
"Maybe," said Nate, "it depends on what you decide then. There are more rules for the third request that I can only tell you about after the second request. You know how it goes." Nate looked like he'd shrug, if he had shoulders.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:13 GMT
"Ok, well, since I'd rather not be blind in a day or two, and permanent health doesn't sound bad, then consider that my second request. Officially. Do I need to sign in blood or something?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:21 GMT
"No," said Nate. "Just hold out your hand. Or heel." Nate grinned. "Or whatever part you want me to bite. I have to bite you again. Like I said, that's how it works - the poison, you know," Nate said apologetically.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:33 GMT
Jack winced a little and felt his shoulder, where the last bite was. Hey, it didn't hurt any more. Just like Nate had said. That made Jack feel better about the biting business. But still, standing still while a fifteen foot snake sunk it's fangs into you. Jack stood up. Ignoring how good it felt to be able to stand again, and the hunger starting to gnaw at his stomach, Jack tried to decide where he wanted to get bitten. Despite knowing that it wouldn't hurt for long, Jack knew that this wasn't going to be easy.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:40 GMT
"Hey, Jack," Nate suddenly said, looking past Jack towards the dunes behind him, "is that someone else coming up over there?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:48 GMT
Jack spun around and looked. Who else could be out here in the middle of nowhere? And did they bring food?
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:00:57 GMT
Wait a minute, there was nobody over there. What was Nate...
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:05 GMT
Jack let out a bellow as he felt two fangs sink into his rear end, through his jeans...
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:16 GMT
Jack sat down carefully, favoring his more tender buttock. "I would have decided, eventually, Nate. I was just thinking about it. You didn't have to hoodwink me like that."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:27 GMT
"I've been doing this a long time, Jack," said Nate, confidently. "You humans have a hard time sitting still and letting a snake bite you - especially one my size. And besides, admit it - it's only been a couple of minutes and it already doesn't hurt any more, does it? That's because of the health benefit with this one. I told you that you'd heal quickly now."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:42 GMT
"Yeah, well, still," said Jack, "it's the principle of the thing. And nobody likes being bitten in the butt! Couldn't you have gotten my calf or something instead?"
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:49 GMT
"More meat in the typical human butt," replied Nate. "And less chance you accidentally kick me or move at the last second."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:01:55 GMT
"Yeah, right. So, tell me all of these wonderful secrets that I now qualify to hear," answered Jack.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
Posts: 971
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:02:01 GMT
"Ok," said Nate. "Do you want to ask questions first, or do you want me to just start talking?"
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