Chapter Text
The old man was in the middle of locking up his store. A store he'd had in his family for ages. It was a in the upscale side of town, specializing in specialty books. The kinds you wanted translated, from over seas or copies from museums. Highly prized, highly valued, highly discrete. It was a good job, a job his family had held for years, and that his grand kids would be taking over. Nice kids, but maybe they could use some better work ethic. Running the store should help them out. After all they had done a good job today...., or had they?
There was one book left out, a strange deep violet book with characters on it just lying on the floor. Detail-less silhouettes on the edges that looked like cartoon characters but as he flipped through the tome, the paper was old and faded; years older than expected. An odd book but his clients were the odd sort so it matched. Most people showed up under an alias or even in disguise so why not mask what a book actually was?
The old coot simply shrugged and dusted the cover of any grime it had collected. It was late but he could do a quick check of his records to make sure. Besides, Benny the watchman would be by soon to check on him. Good lad, had a strong sense of right in his head. The lad had escorted the old book keep down from the tenth floor his shop was on several times now. The book keep would wait to see if he turned up while he checked the book out. Should have enough time to actually do the info check.
Laying it out on the counter, the old man went to his small office to type away to check on who this book could be for. Was it his tiredness, age, or something else that prevented him from seeing the faint glow from the pages?
Nor did he hear the sounds of someone coming closer to his shop.
The old book keeper heard a knock on the door. It was probably Benny checking in on him. The old man hadn't found the answer he wanted in the time he'd spent searching. In fact it didn't feel like he spent much time doing so. But who else could it be at the door but Benny. He stood up and shuffled over to the buzzer that controlled the door. With a ring, the door unlocked and the book keeper awaited Benny's entrance.
And was met by a Boxing glove to the face.
The old man crumpled to the floor as the boxing glove retracted back on it's wires back to the comically large prop gun. The gloved hand that held it put back into the large bag held over the shoulder as the figure walked in.
She wore a corset that pushed up her already impressive chest, with a crop top jacket over it. Her tight jeans clung to her long legs, with a few container pockets latched around them. Her boots made heavy thuds as she ran across the room, slamming the door as she went. The old man only had a brief moment to notice her colors; a mix of black and red but a head of golden blonde, before she slammed a overly decorated pie in his face.
"Now now, can't have you starving on me can I? How about you eat up bookie?" Harley Quinn cackled as she got out some rope to tie the man up.
The criminal clowness dragged him to the small office he'd been in only moments ago. Bound to the computer chair now, the old man felt a hand pat his head before the door was slammed closed. Prisoner taken care off, Harley brought out a list from between her breasts and looked it over, swaying around the store as she compared titles to her notes.
Books weren't the most glamorous theft to do and something Harley wouldn't have thought about unless she saw that antique show that had showed some musty title estimated for TON of DOSH. So she had decided to do some book 'borrowing' to get some spending cash.
There were downsides though. Books were heavy, pretty fragile, required almost ART levels of fence work to sell off; oh gods it was gonna be a pain. Upsides? No one stole books. Okay maybe Riddler but there was going to be no Catwoman, no Scarecrow, no Firefly, certainly no Penguin or Mr. Freeze; yes just her and some goods to pilfer. Even Batman should be busy tonight, Joker was gonna be off doing his own stick that night which was sure to take attention of the spandex crusaders.
"Hmmm, wonder who I want to win that." She posed the question to herself as she grabbed a book and shoved it into a suit case she had brought along. "Probably Bats. Usually Bats but wonder if Joker's gonna get away."
Harley Quinn had fallen out of favor with 'Mr J' and she couldn't stand him these days either. The backstabbing and abuse had finally woken her up to what he really was, a Monster. Oh she was thankful to him showing her a good time all those years ago; she probably couldn't go back to a normal life now. And she'd still work with him if it helped herself out.
"I just can't trust him anymore." Harley thought as she stuffed another book into the suitcase she had prepared.
It was refitted from transporting breakable vials or chemicals, so Harley was pretty sure it could keep books safe and tidy. A left behind gift from Ivy. Red was such a good friend, too bad she was in jail currently. Harley was away doing her own thing when Ivy had broken into some lab and gotten stopped by Batman.
"Hmm, she's still in lock up ain't she? Haven't heard about some jail break with weeds so probably still in Arkham"
With her partner locked up and no longer running with Joker, she was on her own. She tried to run with Catwoman a few times but she was too...., similar to Batsy. Yeah you could trust her to be stealthy and well mannered on the job but the woman was too close to that line at times that Batman was basically riding on. Couldn't blame them really though, it was at least respectable. At least it made them predictable enough. So anytime she buddied buddied up to Batsy to help deal with an actual problem..., she was never surprised when she was suddenly in batcuffs at some point during the partnership. Usually several times too.
"Least he could buy a girl dinner...., and not one of those batbars he carries." She mused as she put a few more books into the case.
It was almost full now but she still had way more stuff on the list. The suitcase was sized to carry smaller objects, not something like a collection of books. She'd only get a fraction of the list she had been given.
"Ugh, that sweety nerd gave me WAY too many titles." Harley internally groaned as she recalled a meeting with a underground fence.
Sweet gal, decent tech head, very nice set up for someone who was new in the field; but she had NO Manners at all. All deadpan and super serious. Couldn't' even get a chuckle out of her. Everyone she talked to though knew she was very good at finding out who was selling and who was buying. Not a big time crook, just kinda like an info broker that thus far hadn't back-stabbed any of the smaller crooks. If she held up her end of the deal, Harley was gonna be set for a good while.
"Right.... so room for one book left and....., hmm?" Harley paused her thoughts as she noticed one odd book.
A violet cover that sort of... demanded attention but only if you were focusing on it? Odd to describe the feeling... no wait it was sort of like any kinda hypnotic stuff she experienced before. That sort of allure that drew you in if you gave it the time of day. More importantly, it was left out in the open air of the counter. Not behind glass, not in a shelf, not well kept just... left open for anyone that wanted to do anything with the book. Alarm bells were ringing in her head but her own crazy made her more curious about it.
"....Well. I have room for ONE more book...., I guess you're coming home with Mama." she noted as she picked it up, turning the book over a bit.
Weird, no title or notable symbols. She wasn't one of them BOOK NERDS but even she was smart enough that most books had some sort of label. Very very weird but she flicked her eyes to a nearby clock. She'd cased the joint for like a week and if she was right; that security guard was gonna be coming up some time soon. She couldn't really afford to do a deep check on this book. So her choices were opening it up now to flip through or just hope it's worth SOMETHING and stuff it in the suit case.
"Oh what the heck could it hurt right?" Harley cackled as she cracked the book open, "If ol Benny shows up he just goes in the office too. I got LOADS of time. So... tell me your secrets book".
"....okay what?" she muttered as her eyes widened.
Who heard of a book that was missing most of it's pages. The pages were still in the book yes but mostly blank. Only at the front was there text and only on three pages. Rest of the pages lacked anything but the nicely drawn heraldic boarders at the edge of the page. The front pages had detailed info about characters, probably the pictures that came with each page. The figures were... pretty cute if small. Little characters from a fantasy world if the horns were anything to go by. And someone wanted to make sure they had BIG Bazookas to get the point across of what the intent was. The inside of the book cover had a little scribbled note that said 'Speak our names, we shall come.' which was a big sign to the clowness. One of both danger and possibilities.
"Well well well, ain't this a find? Some sort of spell book here in this musty store? Hmmmm could be fun." Harley said in a sing song way as she took a seat on the counter. Or it could go really bad considering some of the weirdness of magic she'd seen in Gotham. But what's the point of having fun if there wasn't any risk to it? She flipped through the three listed names and took a look at their descriptions.
Sami - Default: Red skin, horns trianglar, top of head. Personality; Approachable, Eager and Blunt. Description: Sami is a short tempered, toned, firecracker of a gal, equally ready to bust heads as she is to make friends. She does need more attention and pep talk compared to other imps, a lingering fear of not fitting in due to being originally a male thug previously.
Katya - Default; Pink skin, horns trianglar, top of head slanted(Looks like cat ears). Personality; Generous, Genuine, Sociable, Relaxed.... and maybe a little dim. Description: Known as Kat, she's as basic as you get, with her emotions on her sleeves and her desires clear as day; fun, food, and sex. Extremely fearful of being alone or threatened with banishment. A former run away living day to day, Kat wants nothing more than to stay in the tome with her friends. Appreciates attention.
(Acting Mistress) Reya - Default Black and White Skin, horns trianglar, top of head. Personality; Nice and frank though not entirely OPEN, Reya is a quick witted imp with thoughts of grandeur ahead of her. A former performer, she knows how to play to the emotions of others, remaining courteous when needed and cutthroat if angered. She is one to hold a grudge and dislikes being second fiddle... Unless she is THE second fiddle.
Harley mused this info over in her head. She was hoping to see what they could actually do as she didn't want to summon one of them, if the book worked, and cause explosions or something. Sami seemed easy muscle, just another thug and right now she could use the extra hands. Katya looked just up her alley, a fun loving gal but wondered if summoning a semi bimbo would be the right choice. Reya, listed as 'mistress' which was worrying, looked to have the best head on her shoulders but seemed the kinda gal that was a leader not a follower. Hmmmm, choices choices...,
"Hmmmm.... who to pick... who to pick....," Harley sing sang out loud as she swayed around the store and a very whimsy manner. She couldn't really choose, it was all so interesting. "Oh but now to make it even more interesting!"
She just closed her eyes and rapidly the pages around before pointing a finger down on a page and opening her eyes. There before her was the entry for Sami. Well that settled that debate.
"Alright, let's try this! Sami I summon you, COME ON OUT!!!"
..., Nothing happened as Harley posed there with the book held out before her.
"Eh... aaaaaaaaawwwww what is this? Broken or just a scummy trick?" Harley complained as she turned the book over and shook it up and down, as if she was trying to get something loose to fall out.
The bright glow, the motion of something larger than expected falling out, and the grunt made her back up in shock. She dropped the book in a panic as she lept behind a counter.
The figure was about half her size or so. If the two were next to each other, she'd probably stand equal to the top of Harley's legs or crouch. She, clearly from her rather noticeable boobs, had red skin all over her body. For her size, she seemed pretty toned too. Her short black hair were broken by a pair of horns on top of her head. They were rather short and triangular, reminding Harley of a cat's ears. She was wearing black short shorts that basically were booty shorts, and a very small crop top that barely covered her nipples, the edges peaking out. She work black gloves and boots to finish the look. The only thing that wasn't red or black on her were the bits of jewelry she wore; a golden choker and ear studs on her pointy ears.
The figure got up, dusted herself off, made sure her top was covering just enough and looked around. Her golden eyes trailing around the room before stopping on Harley, still crouched down. Those golden eyes opened wide and shined with excitement.
"OH HEY! You! New Mistress!" the figure called, jumping in place and waving, her heeled boots making noise with each hop, "Hey hey! I'm Sami! What can I do or break for you!" She called with a big grin on her face.
"Break you say?" Harley replied as she slowly got up and hopped over the counter, taking a seat on it while she faced the small figure, "Okay hmm...," the clown looked around before she heard heavy footsteps, and a knock on the front door. The guard must be here to check on the old man. Bad timing...,
"Or... PERFECT TIMING!!" She thought as a grin started to spread on her face.
"Okay you wanna help old Quinn out do yah?" She asked, the smaller figure giving a few quick nods, "Okay honey! Now there's a big paloka behind this door. I'm gonna open the door for him and he's gonna step through. Do me a favor and knock him out for me would ya?" the clown asked.
With a quick agreement from the smaller figure, Harley tip toed over to the door and checked through the view-port. As expected, it was the guard in question or at least A guard. Harley had to fight off a laugh as she slowly cracked the door open, hiding behind it the entire time.
Confused, the guard slowly entered, calling for the old man to show himself. Or anyone else to before he called for back up. He started to go for his radio when he saw movement. A red shape jumped at him and a large mass slammed into his face. Stars were orbiting his head as he fell back, the clown catching him and slamming the door before starting to tie him up.
"WOWIE that's one heck of a hook you got there." Harley quipped as she started to drag the large man back to the office.
"Thanks. You know what they say, big things, small sizes!" Sami replied as she came to help.
The small figure picked up the guard's legs in her massive boxing glove like gauntlets. The creature had summoned them mid jump to one shot the guard into a KO'd state. Harley spared a moment to check the man, hoping her new 'friend' hadn't just killed him. Bodies were hard to deal with and would send Batsy on a rampage. Other than a growing bruise, the guard was fine.
"Hey thanks for the help here..., so uh... what are you?" Harley asked as the pair worked to get the guard put away. Soon enough he was tossed in the office with the old man.
"Oh I'm an Imp! Sami's the name if you didn't hear me before! You summoned me from the book so you're the new boss, Boss." Sami scratched the back of her head with one of those oversized mitts, "Well technically we address you as Mistress but you seem more like a Boss to me."
"New boss huh..., I could get to like that." Harley grinned as thoughts started to drift through her head. Before snapping back to the important bit; that was getting away. If the guard didn't report in, someone would come looking. Time to beat feet, but with only part of her list checked off it was going to..., be..., wait a minute.
"Say Sami!" Harley said, picking up the little imp by her armpits to get a better look at her. For all her toned muscles and blessed figure, she was a lot lighter than expected. "So you came from the book right..., that means there's room inside right?"
"YEAH YEAH!" Sami said with a nod and a light blush, almost impossible to see due to her skin, "There's a big room in there and a couple other ones too. It's like as big as this one we're in!" Sami stretched her arms out to help illustrate.
"Cool cool..., so Sami..., " Harley said with a grin on her face and a gleam in her eye as she brought the Imp closer, "What can actually go inside your book there?"
"UN-FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRR"
A pink figure sat on the floor, looking up at the ceiling of the room she was in. She had her arms folded and her lip was down in a pout. Her golden eyes were a bit teary, making her bring her tight white shirt up to wipe them away. She had a very small neon blue skirt on with yellow boots with white laces and pink bows on them. She looked made of candy and sweetness. Her long puffed up white hair seemed to bounce as she stat and pouted. She had the same similar golden choker and studs that Sami had .
"Reeeeeeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaaa...., Sami's not back yet!" The pink imp cried turning around to look at another figure.
"Kat dear, calm down. She'll be back." came the response.
The figure sat in round plush chair taking a long drag from her opera cigarette holder. Her skin a mix of Black as oil and White as chalk, the twin color slowly changing from one to the other as wisp like trails of of colors swirled around her body. Highlighted details on each side like stars tattoos on her thighs were of the other color. Much like the other two, her horns were somewhat triangular on the top of head. Only a little longer and thicker than her minions. Her long hair was a bright bright gold. She wore a bright gold strapless cocktail dress that showed off plenty of leg and barely covered her boobs. Golden gloves and heels completed her dress. Where as the other imps wore simple accessories, she wore a finely crafted golden necklace and set of hoop earrings.
"Honestly dear, just be a little patient. Sami will be back soon enough to inform us about our new Boss..., or maybe mark. Just... find something to do." the imp known as Reya said with a wave, turning a page in her book she held.
As if in answer, the ceiling of their room lit up which was the signal of someone coming in. It was a mix of a living and 'receiving' room so regardless of when Sami came back, she'd appear here. The three had arrived here from their own personal rooms when they sensed someone take up the book. Reya.
"See... there we go. Now Sami dear about our..." Reya started before a rather loud heavy THUMP was heard.
She looked up from her book and saw a rather large crate, half crushing Kat. Another two were swiftly tossed in afterward, stacking on top of the first. A few more 'oofs' were heard as the boxes settled.
"I'm OKAY!" Kat muttered as she got an arm free for a thumbs up.
"That should do it boss!" Sami said, dusting her hands together before putting on a make shift pack on her back. Couple pieces of clothing from the prisoners and well, make shift pack. Harley was good at making due with what was around her. The fact that Sami had made her own additions that made it more stable was rather impressive.
"Well done well done!" Harley said clapping her hands together. If they used the little sub space along with Sami's extra carrying capability; she'd get all the books plus more off her list. That little dorky fence was going to get all the items she wanted this way and more. "Hopefully this will net us a good bonus!"
"Awwwww..., happy to help boss! I'm glad I could!" Sami said, scooching up to Harley as she stood by the window. The imp was almost puppy like in her attention seeking.
"Good girl Sami." Harley smiled as she patted the imp's head, getting a pleased mummer in response, "Right time to blow this scene!"
"With explosives!" Sami chimed in. Harley paused to think for a moment, taking in the big grin the little figure had, before waving that off.
"NAH. I don't have the heavy toys with me and can't spend the time. We are kinda on a timer here after all." Harley looked at the clock on the wall. Figuring banter, fighting, capture and escape to another fight; Batman and Joker's night was probably finishing up. She didn't want to be on the streets when Batman returned to his patrol or any of his kin running around.
"Okay I gotcha boss! But um..." Sami started to ask as the two made their way down the fire escape into the alley below, "Just were are we going?"
"Oh we're going home Sami! We can have a sleep over! That is after I figure out just what to do with this book of yours." Harley answered back as the pair headed off into the dark night.
On the edge of Gotham was no end of abandoned buildings. Failed ventures, corruption, fronts for other business, or decayed ruins from a villain's rampage; these structures were always in a state of flux of being built up, left alone and torn down to repeat the cycle. And the criminal and downtrodding found no end of holes to either hide in or take shelter.
In one such building, the old gutted remains of a clothing factory sat. Rusted conveyor belts, moth eaten fabric in broken crates, and gutted machines dotted the floor space. Anything of real value had long been trucked out by the company that pulled out, only for anything the remained to be set upon by the local criminal and looter elements. Such a picked over site held no interest to most people in the area.
Which is why a certain clownette had made her current home there.
"So lemme get this right, okay?" Harley said, stretching out on her over stuffed bean bag chair as she eyed the three figures before her.
Her 'home' was in one of the office rooms of the building. She'd dragged in a few amenities from her last base or looted them from junkyards or those less than willing to share. Bed in the corner with a rusty frame, big desk to plan out her moves and boring paperwork which she sat behind right now. Crates of old gadgets, weapons, and party supplies were scattered about. A wall had been cracked through and the new connected room hosted a small 'kitchen' set up. Across the hall was the only working bath room that also housed a shower for any possible chemical or dye spills. Not the best, but water was still flowing for some reason and it still was on the grid so power wasn't a problem.
Harley kicked her legs up onto the desk as she went over all the info again in her head before speaking.
"I have three magical beings at my beck and call. Between them a varying level of abilities and powers. And all are willing to help me do..., whatever the hell I want?" Harley said, her pitch rising as she slowly let the excitement into her voice.
"Roughly, yes darling." the black and white one spoke, named Reya if Harley remembered the name right.
After getting back to the hideout and stashing the loot for later, Harley had asked a few questions of Sami. The imp was to please but she wasn't the brain of the bunch, more the muscle. After pointing out the Imp Boss was still in the book, Harley had quickly summoned the other two Imps without waiting for any extra info. After meeting the stuck up dame of a imp and the fun party girl one as well(She's a cutie, Harley had noted) the trio had explained who and what they were to her.
A lot of it was boring or old history to the point Harley rolled her eyes and blocked it out. The important(HA) bit that Harley took away was that there three of them, with their own small demi-plane home inside the book, and Reya was the boss or 'mistress' of the book. She was more than interested when it came to their powers and abilities. Sami was the power of the team that much was certain, with some light fire control tossed in. Kat was good with illusions with light materialization too. She couldn't make say a car or a tank, but she could make the outer frame of a crate or a door. In fact it was Kat that had spruced the place up with more balloons and confetti, helping to give the place a more party carefree feel. The neon colored balloons were a good touch.
She would have done more if Reya told her to focus. The twin colored imp was far more..., restrained than her counterparts. The head imp had been open about who and what she was along with holding herself with an air of someone used to getting and keeping attention. Harley had an iffy feeling about her, reminding her too much of some others with a self important stick up the arse. Reya had made it clear that she would help the clown, so long as she held the book and so long as she didn't do anything stupid. Like try to burn it or throw it in a wood chipper.
"All we want, is a small cut of the profit and the chance to have some fun. Chaos, pranks, or bedroom come to mind." Reya said, letting off another long puff of her cig. Harley wasn't much for smoking but seeing Reya lean back in her own bean bag chair made out of the stuff was enough to put her mind at ease. The dame had control over smoke, flames and soot; able to control it around like Ivy could plants or Clayface with his own muddy body. Sami had more outright firepower when it came to heat, but Reya had far more control. She'd shown it by making something as simple as a large cartoon hammer, to a fully working high speed drill. A few holes in some left over rebar showed the drill worked as intended.
"Oh I can help with the fun part." Harley said with a wide grin, "But why do you want loot? Not like you can spend it." She pictured Imps walking into a bar and trying to get a drink. The imagery freak out from the patrons gave her a smirk.
"Mistress Harley...," Reya started, waving a hand to make some smoke block Kat's mouth before the pink Imp could say anything, "We are self sufficient within our tome but we do enjoy eating more so than not. The money will go into buying us such new pleasures in food and drink, along with entertainments." Reya eyed Kat trying to pull off the smoke and gave a sigh, "And my good friend here would say, 'We just like the shiny', which, she isn't WRONG mind you."
The amount of jewelry on Imps made that clear. Reya had clearly first pick it seemed, but all the girls had a noticeable level of 'bling' on them. That gold really stood out against their colors. It they looked real enough to probably fetch a good price at a pawn shop. All three got extremely defensive when the villain had suggested trying to hock them instead of the books.
"Okay okay, I'll let you in on the profits say..., 80-20?" She offered. Reya shot her a glare but talked with the other two in a huddle before turning back to her. The cross colored imp had a big grin on her face. A worrying large one on her small body.
"This is acceptable to us Mistress Harley, and you have a deal." Reya reached out a hand to shake. Sensing something off, years of being a super villain helps train that, Harley slowly extended her own arm. Only for the Imp to pull back just a bit.
"Oh no no." Reya tutted with her other hand, "We'll agree to this fair split. In fact, we'd be willing to go lower for you. Now of course you could just ORDER us to give up all rights to a share but that'd leave us bitter, and well, bitter imps make for poor henchladies." The Head imp cocked her head backwards. Kat was off playing within a crate of left over noise makers and Sami seemed to be seeing the resistance of a couple of the walls. "Get the picture? Trust me, any orders you try to put over us, we'll find a way to break it in the most problematic way we can if we're bored and bitter."
"Alright alright, what's your point Lady?" Harley quickly growled as she leaned forward to glare at the Imp. "Get to the point of what you really want."
"Well, we'd be more than happy to agree with this split..., so long as you give us something else." Reya said, her sly grin widening even more.
"And that would be?"
"More bodies."
"....Ex-squeeze me?" Harley blurted out as her eyes went wide. Reya chuckled at the reaction, a low but enticing sound from the imp's throat.
"You didn't focus when I told that part earlier did you?" Reya said as she took another drag, "About how we came into being. We weren't born, we were converted deary. I was a former starlet, Kat was a run away and Sami...., well Sami was Samuel at one point."
"BRUHUH?" Harley blurted out as her jaw dropped. The clown had read the info bits before but didn't really click with what it actually meant. Looking back, it did say that Sami was a former human. Or at least 'male thug' rather than 'imp thug'.
Reya simply leaned forward, put a finger under Harley's chin and closed it."So there's your tip Mistress; the book can, with enough time, slowly turn someone into an Imp like us. And while Kat and Sami are QUITE enjoyable in all respects..., sometimes you need new blood, get me?" Reya said, not bothering to hide the implication there.
"That's the deal we'll offer. More money for you, IF you help us get some more friends. Otherwise we go 60-40 in your favor." Reya finished, offering the hand again, "Deal?"
Harley thought for a moment. It was one thing to use them as her own hechgals as she could use the help, but turning others into Imps to feed their requests was maybe too far? Then again she'd done horrible things to people so what was throwing someone at the imps to do with as they please gonna really do? At best she'd get hopefully another helper. Then again, if they could turn people into Imps, what was stopping them from doing that to her? Better question, why did the thought of being an Imp not the WORST thing she'd heard?
Harley rolled this over in her head a bit more, and finally made up her mind. A trio possibly more of magically imp-powered hechladies? Ones that would be willing to do what she wanted, and looked really cute at the same time, while being just as mischievous as herself? Did a chicken cross the road?
The clown's hand rapidly extended and gripped Reya's hand tight. "You drive a hard bargin lady but the deal's just too much to pass up!" She said with a shit eating grin on her face, "I think we're gonna get along just fine."
"Pleasure doing business." Reya said with that knowing smile on her face. She went to let go and turn to her companions, but found the clown didn't let go of the grip. She raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips together.
"If we're gonna be friends now Reya, I'm gonna need to know." Harley said, not being a complete fool as she glared at the imp's eyes, "Why? Why tell me about turning people into Imps? I'm assuming if ya can flip the mini switch on people, why not do it to me and get it over with? Why tip ya hand unless you got something up ya sleeves?" Harley pulled Reya closer till their noses touched and the Imp could see just a hint of madness in the clown's eyes, "Yah better have a good reason or I see what kinda party hats I can make outta yah home."
It seemed the Clown wasn't a complete push over. That was a good thing, as it meant they wouldn't be in as much danger. Also meant she'd have to play her cards right if she wanted to keep her spot as the Boss, a term she was growing to like since Sammi started to use it. This would require a rather delicate touch. Reya took this into account before speaking her next words.
"Mistress Harley, darling...," Reya spoke slowly and low, making sure the other imps still doing their own things didn't have a reason to look over, "I tell you as a way of giving you a large level of trust. I see in you much..., potential for us."
"Potential?" Harley asked, picking up on Reya wanting to have a quiet talk so she also lowered her volume, "Whatta mean dame gal?"
"If you would listen just a bit this time." Reya said with a light sigh, "I have no idea where it came from, but the Tome converted me when I first found it, that's why I'm the boss. Book can't seem to survive without a boss of some kind. So I was stuck in there, doing as much reading as I could and found out several things about the book. Like it came from other worlds, it's powers and abilities, stuff like that. And I wondered how one could go with it." A sly smile growing once again.
"Kat found me next but a hopeless scared run away? She didn't really have much in her besides a want to be loved and have fun. Adorable really but she didn't really..., do much before her own turning. Mainly food, shealter, love." Reya smiled a bit at the thought," Ah she was a bright light to my dark tome. But she just didn't have the drive or asperation to do anything more. She was so willing to be turned just to have a place to belong."
"Afterward, Sami found us and had a few schemes that saw us get some cash but no new bodies save for himself. That took awhile before the Impifaction started to work on him. Probably always felt a little weird in his own body but I'm no shrink or doc so I can't comment. Only that he too eventually came willingly into the book. Both of the girls are lovely, fun, helpful; and just short sighted." Her eyes glanced over at the other two, her face softening. "They both had their own wants and desire but far more short term plans. Not bad but, well I kept wanting someone to make full use of the Tome's power."
"In you however," Reya looked back at the clown, her eyes shining, "I sense a level of chaos we crave but without being..., deprived enough to cause us trouble or resent you. Not for awhile at least. Honestly I think you'd make for a very enticing imp but I can see how much you can do for us as the Owner of the tome. Amazing heists, wicked nights, action and fun; just what we want." She exhaled a small amount of smoke that shaped itself into a trio of small figures and a female clown, sitting on a pile of cash. Harley liked the idea but then the clown started to sprout horns and grow smaller. "That said the tome works it's magic on everyone. Even you dear."
"Hmmm, if she's Boss Imp and I turn inta one..., she's gonna be MY boss. Dunno if I like that too much, I'm more an self boss gal these days." Harley thought but kept as best a poker face as she could. Reya didn't seem to pick up on the flash of insight the clown had and kept going.
"All I'm doing is giving you a heads up. Wanna keep using us, you got Three options. options. Option One, find a way to protect yourself from the influence, and well now that you know you're already more prone to resisting. If you really want to that is." Reya gave a sly wink.
"Option Two is maybe the riskiest and safest? Simply walk away from the book for awhile or give it to someone else." Reya said, with a bit of a grumble, "The magic only works if you're near by for it to effect you. Spend a week or so away from us and you start undoing it's effect." The imp flashed a big toothy grin though, "Of course that doesn't mean we won't get bored, and while we might like you, someone else finding the book puts them ahead of you in who to listen to. Catch my drift?"
"Option Three is simply the one I suggest to you, find a replacement. The Tome is going to take it's... well I hate to say pound of flesh but that's basically what it does. At the end of the day it's gonna start to convert someone, why make it you? Besides, a few people out of the way for you doing your own thing can't be a bad thing can it? Or maybe..., making your own criminal... IMPire? Hmmmmm?" Reya suggested, her eyebrows going up and down.
"Hmm..., that isn't the worst idea...," Harley replied. It did sound very enticing to be honest. Though one thing did hold her back and she wanted to make sure. "Alright, it's a deal, For now. Just one thing."
"Oh?" The Imp asked.
"I want prove this all works like you said it does." Harley said with a big grin on her face. A grin just a little too wide and crooked to be anything good.
"Ah. A test run. Well I think we can get something together." Reya said, her eyes shining with a hint of excitement and something else. She licked her lips and asked a follow up question, "Got anyone in mind?
"You like money so much little Reya?" Harley asked, to which the Head imp simply nodded. A slow and deliberate one as if to say 'what of it'? The clown kept her grin. "Well, I have an idea of a new girl for you. I just need a few left over things."
Harley got up and went over to her bed, shoving the bed-frame out of the way and pulling up a piece of scrap metal covering the floor. Inside was a small area dug out that held a small metal box. Harley fished out a key from between the underside of her breasts, using it to open the box and revealed three glass bottles of dark green liquid. Just below them was another trio of bottles, only this time containing pink fluid.
"I just need a little of this first before we get our new recruit." The clown said letting out a laugh that went on for a good while.