Written on a whim since I liked the idea of a midas touch but for pool toys instead of gold. Gotta be careful of strange magic items you buy!

While examining some loot, August discovers a magic bangle that gives him to ability to turn things into pool toys...

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Cursed Squeaky Touch
By: IndigoRho

Ghostly paws held a bright ruby up towards the light as August examined it from all angles. The large gray lion carefully prodded the jewel with magic, testing for a reaction.
Nothing.

August plucked it out of the grip of his illusions and flipped it between his fingers before placing it down on the desk. “Completely mundane, just like every other little trinket you brought, Lane. Why are you so convinced this junk is cursed?”

“It’s not junk, it’s clearly all valuable!” the rotund owl behind August said, keeping oddly distant. “It’s just that I was able to purchase it off a returning adventurer for barely anything. That’s worthy of caution.”

“Most adventurers don’t have a clue about what the stuff they loot is worth, they just plow through ruins and hope they get lucky.”

August directed the paws to the next item in the small chest, a glass bangle. It was completely translucent, no bubbles or flaws. If it were dropped in a glass of water it would probably be invisible. The second he sent magic into it the bangle glowed faintly, and he arched his brow in interest.

Lane took a step back. “Is it cursed?”

“Well it’s either magical or at least has been exposed to a lot of magic. I can’t just instantly uncover a curse, you know. That’s not my specialty.” August poured more magic into the bangle, trying to get a better feel of what it was. “Some kind of conjuration maybe? No, transformation.”

August had one of the paws put the bangle on, but nothing in particular seemed to happen afterward so he slipped it right off. “I don’t know Lane, doesn’t seem cursed. Might just have been a mage’s focus, like mine.” He raised his left arm, showing off the metal bangle covered in glowing blue runes.

Lane frowned, almost disappointed it hadn’t been cursed. “Ok that might actually be junk then. Not sure there’s a market for pre-owned focuses.”

“I’m sure someone collects them.” August slipped it on, feeling it magically stretch to handle his thicker wrist. “Huh, that’s not a common feature for focuses.” He pulled at it to show off the elasticity to Lane. “Last owner must have transformed a lot and needed it to fit a variety of forms.”

“Or they’re just like you and kept getting fatter and fatter!” Lane snickered.

August rolled his eyes, but blushed all the same. He picked the ruby back up and started fiddling with it as a distraction. “Oh you’re one to talk. I know how much of your wardrobe is—squirrrrk.”

The unexpected sound caused August to stop talking as his gaze slowly settled on the source: the ruby. It seemed to reflect light more than before, and didn’t feel nearly as firm as a gem should. Suspicious, he gently squeezed it in between his fingers, watching as its shape warped and bulged slightly while squeaking once more. It was almost like a small balloon. The material was thicker, though, and August swore he’d seen something similar showing up at the market recently. Something called vinyl?

August placed the transformed jewel on the table and looked towards the rest of the items he’d gone through. None appeared changed. He picked up an elaborate candlestick holder just to make sure.

As the lion held the candlestick he saw its surface swiftly take on a sheen, becoming translucent. The process was over in a matter of seconds, and the formerly solid candlestick became just as squeaky and air-filled as the ruby.

That’s when August realized the paw that had held both the candlestick and ruby was the one the glass bangle was on.

“Lane it might not be cursed but it’s certainly got some interesting magic going on with it,” August said, turning to face the owl. His paw unwittingly pressed into the table as he did.

Soon the table was creaking under the pressure of August’s paw. Startled, August attempted to sit up, narrowly avoiding toppling backwards as he turned the chair into a vinyl balloon as well.

“Turning everything in your study into balloons seems like a curse to me!” Lane laughed, poking at the inflated furniture.

“Be careful, I don’t want you popping my poor desk before I can turn it back to normal.”

Without thinking August jokingly swatted away his friend’s wing, realizing too late that it was with the dangerous paw.

Lane twitched as a chill surged through his body. He poofed up, but suddenly all his feathers flattened and smoothed out, becoming almost indistinguishable from one another. His features rounded, and with each passing second he felt lighter and lighter.

August watched in awe as the owl turned into a vinyl, inflated version of his normal self, hide creaking as it stretched out. He half expected Lane’s face to freeze in place, for him to become inanimate, but somehow he continued to move. Just like with the furniture, Lane’s transformation was over swiftly.

Stumbling and squeaking, the owl tried to adjust to his new form with modest success. “Oh whoa, this is weird, this is really weird,” Lane mumbled. He creaked and frowned when August poked at the odd valve that’d appeared on his middle.

“You’ve always kind of resembled a balloon, so it’s fitting, really.” August ducked an awkward swipe from Lane.

“You better not have done this on purpose! More importantly, you better know how to reverse it!”

A sheepish grin appeared on August’s face. “Transformation’s not really my thing—but I could cast an illusion on you so you look like your usual doughy self. You’d probably still creak, though…”

Lane wasn’t ready to find the situation amusing yet, and flashed dirty look at his friend. “Well then I hope you know someone who is knowledgeable about transformation, or else you’re joining me!” His threat was rather diminished by an untimely squirk.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, you won’t be a...a whatever you are forever. I’m sure you’ll make a great emergency water storage tank until then.”

Lane only frowned harder. He was beginning to regret purchasing the mysterious loot. Hopefully selling it all would make up for the embarrassment the bangle was putting him through. Hopefully…