“Ah, I guess,” he responded. “But also a man, in my case.”

“Well that much is apparent.”

“Right. To be more specific, also a man interested in the fine fountain pen set you have for sale in the corner there.”

“My sister’s brother in law’s cousin nearly died.” For discussing a matter of quasimortality, she was very unaffected.

“Excuse me?”

“Carmine.”

“Oh. I see. Well I’m quite sorry. Anyhow, it looks old, turn of the century is it? Or is it more modern? Some sort of replica?”

“Don’t be. He’s still alive, and by all accounts quite a burden on society. Never met him, but he nearly blew up a cat with some firecrackers I guess.” She chuckled.

“Okay, well do you think I could take a look at it? It’s really kind of stashed back there, maybe I’ll be able to tell if it’s the real thing.”

“We don’t sell any ink for it. I got rid of this vial we had when my son went vegan, he gave me no end about all the skins and what not I owned.” She shook her head.

“Excuse me? The pen is for sale right?”

“Carmine.”