"A skeptical witch," Valentine said at last. "How about that."

"Technically I'm not a witch or warlock," I said. "I don't have a magical bloodline-I do technical magic, with potions and tools and leylines, which makes me a magician-"

"I thought I was the magician," Valentine said.

"A practitioner would call you a illusionist.," I replied, "though I prefer the term wizard. As in Mister Wizard? Because what a stage magician can do with science is far more than conjuring. But… I somehow don't get the feeling you came here to quiz me about what I call you, because it might be different when you're not around. How can I help you?"

"Well, then," Valentine said, rubbing his hands together. "I hoped you might help me with, as you put it, 'helping people focus on the good stuff.' I've heard you claim to be able to create 'magic' tattoos-"

"I 'claim' nothing. My work speaks for itself," I responded, shrugging my shoulders so the vines and snakes rippled down my bare arms. Nicholson was trying not to look, but it wasn't working; I was trying not to smile, which wasn't working either. "I am an expert artist, and if you have a tat in mind, I can ink it, whether the design be mundane, magical, even spiritual."

"Weeell, then," Valentine said. "Perhaps you could help us. I and my lovely assistant-"

"He is that," I said. Nicholson suddenly looked down, embarrassed, which made him doubly cute, and Valentine blinked a couple of times before continuing.

"Ahem. I and my assistant would like you to participate in a little test. We would like you to draw a magical tattoo-and then I, who happen to be trained in the tattoo arts myself, will attempt to replicate it, to our mutual satisfaction."

"Are you issuing me the Valentine Challenge?" I said, now openly grinning.

Valentine bowed. "That I am."

I leaned back in my chair. Fuck the Vectrix-this was a brand new Prius, with a house and garage to put it in. "A million bucks. Mmmm. I do so hate to take your money. BUT-I don't ink as a performance, or for tricks. Tattooing is an invasive procedure that violates the body. It needs a sterile environment-and an encircled one, if magic is involved. And it's a permanent mark on the human body; I don't ink as a stunt-"