Yeah. Also, like, why would you do that. And do they think no one would notice.

They just want to make it really obvious who the reds are.

It's stupid.

Won't get any argument from me.

Yeah. Just, ugh.

You said if we do something secret involving a lot of reds one'll slip.

Somebody'll have an Internet friend or act shifty and have it beaten out of them or tell their purple girlfriend or get high and blog it.

Right.

But something involving just one would be safe, right?

Probably! For example I do not have a drug problem.

I want to try to teach you magic.

Oooh.

You'll have to be careful not to get caught but I bet you can do it.

I'm still trying to get discharged from the army. They haven't cut me yet. It'll be easier to do secret things at home.

I bet it will.

Got my name on the cut-first list. Next time they slim down I'm off.

That's good!

Do you have to like teach me in person or what?

I'm not sure how to teach magic, actually--but it's probably safer.

You have to do the five hour shower if you come to my neighborhood and then leave.

What if I just had Odette burn my skin off and put it back, would that work?

Uh. Maybe? I guess?

Uh, fair warning: magic hurts.

Why?

Because that's how magic works? ...Also it has mental side-effects.

Uh?

Yeah uh that's actually why so few people are great mages.