Lock, for his part, took the yanks in stride, but corrected his behavior at each tug. He shrunk back a little when Lillith loomed over him with a harsh whisper.

"Good or bad?" he asked.

He knew the answer. Another tug of the chain confirmed it. Lock sighed and glanced over at a display of dried lizard tails and started counting them to occupy himself while he listened to Lillith speak with Agatha. He perked up at the mention of piranha teeth. Chills of excitement slid down his spine, though he glanced up at Lillith with a look that shifted between intrigue and wariness.

He liked biting. He didn't care for single pricks of pain.

Lock knew he was in for a long, thrilling night.

The shop bell rang again. Lock heard the familiar laughter and immediately smirked. Agatha was about to get a true test to that new policy.

Shock walked in with Carver, and by the state of their laughter, one of them - or both - just finished a really good trick. The oldest trickster quickly found the salve she needed. Something infected one of her scorpion tanks, and she was low on supplies to nurse them back to health. Shock composed herself long enough to find a few more items, then went up to the counter. She glanced down at Lock. Shock wouldn't have given him a second glance had she not noticed the knowing smirk on his face.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," Lock said.

Shock rolled her eyes and patiently waited behind Lillith. Lock just waited to see how Agatha would handle Shock and Carver.