Well she couldn't just leave. This was the most fun he'd had in days. "I was asking because I have a book on curses I'd like to cross-reference your particular case against," he said, pulling a dusty paperback book off the shelves. It was clearly self-published, the cover art a stock image with clunky writing overlaid on a hideous purple background. "It's a bit old, of course, but if you've been cursed since birth..." He let the thought trail away."It's by a very well renowned witch," he added. "Would you be willing to accept this book as collateral? Against any future, ah, indiscretions on my part? It really has been such a long time since I've met someone as interesting as you. I would hate to see you gone so quickly from my life." He half-stood and offered the book to her.
Maybe honesty, however foreign the concept, would be useful for once. There was the bait, and now for the hook... "Of course, if I had time to study your case I might be able to find a way to mitigate its effect. Most curses do have a cure, after all."