Magic shows are meant to have surprises, right?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Los Angeles was everything Kurt Wagner could have hoped for and then some. True, most of the touristy stuff he had seen and celebrity sightings so far were spotted in the course of work (which in this case involved checking out a potential new student for the institute) so he couldn't exactly spend a lot of time drinking them in. But that didn't make it any less awesome. And now that the work was done, it was going to get even cooler!]

[The others didn't know what they were missing. How could anyone choose to spend the night at some famous restaurant or a traveling production of a play that was better on Broadway (practically in their own backyard!) when they could be here with him instead, watching a teenage magician who was already being billed as one of the best in the business?]

[That was fine. Kurt was having plenty of fun on his own. The magician more than lived up to the hype. And after a show that incredible, you can bet Kurt was going to jump at the chance to volunteer for her final trick of the evening. He probably didn't have much of a chance, given how...height challenged he was compared to the rest of the people clambering for attention around him. But what he lacked in height he made up for with enthusiasm! (And the judicious use of his seat as a step stool.)] Hier! Hier!

Comments

[fuzzybluegecko]

Sehr gut... [he murmured. Some corner of his mind noticed that each person they passed received a genuine-looking smile from the magician. He might have appreciated the gesture more if he wasn't distracted by the number of them who smiled back at her, only to pin him with their shocked or scared looks immediately after. He struggled to plaster on his own friendly smile and wave, desperately trying to pretend this was all part of the act.]

[By the time they stood before the magician's dressing room door, emblazoned with the name Trucy Wright, his nerves were shot. He allowed himself to be dragged into the room without protest. The sound of the door shutting him off from all of those other people, and shutting him in with her, was both a blessing and a curse.]

[sleightadvantage]

[She released him as she turned to close the door, took a moment to compose herself as the latch clicked, and then whirled around to level a penetrating stare at him.]

Were you really just trying out a trick?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[The about face was so stark and sudden that he fell back a step with a squeak bubbling up in his throat. Once again he plastered a crooked smile on his face, while his eyes kept darting away from hers and his hands came up before his chest in a warding gesture. He was the picture of patently feigned innocence.] Of course! W-what else would I be doing?

[sleightadvantage]

[She eyed him carefully and found his body language lacking.]

I don't know, but it wouldn't be the first time someone tried something funny at one of my shows. [Any other time, she might have been excited by meeting another magician like this--she was, by nature, a trusting person who relied heavily on her instincts--but it seemed her recent encounter with one Mr. Retinz had left her doubting not only other people but also her own judgment.] Plus, you seem really nervous.

[fuzzybluegecko]

['This is not going as well as I hoped.' Kurt worried his lip with his teeth again, and his tense shoulders crept up toward his elf-like ears. When he responded, his voice held a note of pleading.] I never meant to cause any problems, I promise. I was just excited to participate. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand.

[All of which was technically true. Unfortunately, it could all be true while still leaving him plenty to be nervous about.]

[sleightadvantage]

[Her piercing gaze stayed trained on him for several moments longer, searching. He didn't seem like he was lying, exactly. Maybe he really was just nervous about performing, and she was letting her suspicion get the best of her...

Caught between guilt and uncertainty, her expression softened a little.]

...Okay. But... Let me know next time, alright? I love to collaborate, but if I don't know what's going on, it might ruin the magic for both of us.

[fuzzybluegecko]

[It couldn't be. Could it? Could she have really bought it? Barely daring to believe his luck, Kurt blinked owlishly at her before breaking into another wide grin.] Oh man, yeah, totally! Really sorry, it won't happen again. You have my word!

[Beaming, he flashed her two thumbs up and...]

[Wait... Next time?! She wasn't serious...was she? The grin glued to his face began to look a little pained.]

[sleightadvantage]

[That response earned a side glance, but she was determined to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. She broke out into another smile.]

It is a really cool trick, though. That tail looks so real! [She knelt down to get a closer look.] How did you get it to move like that?!

[fuzzybluegecko]

Aheh... Trade secret. [His tail flicked forcefully as she came closer. He did his best to rein it in (sometimes it truly did seem to have a mind of its own), and was able to restrain it to a gentle, rhythmic sway. The movement was regular enough to be automated somehow, but flowed too smoothly to seem mechanical.]

[sleightadvantage]

[She tilted her head, mesmerized. Even some of the most impressive animatronics she'd seen didn't look this real! Mr. Hat couldn't hold a candle to it.]

[She looked up.] Can I touch it?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[The question made several different sections of his brain short out, and his tail whipped around sharply a few times.]

T-touch it? Uh...

[sleightadvantage]

[Clearly that had overstepped a boundary. Though disappointed, Trucy smiled in understanding, very aware of a magician's need to protect every part of their secrets. Before she could voice her sympathy, though, that tail caught her attention again...]

[The movement seemed almost involuntary, like it was in response to Kurt's emotional state. Kind of like a cat's. Actually, a lot like a cat's.]

[A very silly thought entered her head, and she eyed him suspiciously as she stood.]

Hey... you're not a yokai, are you?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[It seemed he may have claimed victory prematurely. Suddenly finding himself transfixed by her suspicious gaze again, Kurt leaned away from her. His tail, reinforcing its cat-like image, decided to curl itself around his leg defensively.]

Y-yokai? Was is das?

[sleightadvantage]

[Her gaze didn't let up.] A yokai. A Japanese demon?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Was she...serious? How could she ask a question like that with such a straight face? It was so baffling he forgot for a moment to be afraid of potential exposure.]

[He blurted out} I'm not Japanese. [Torn between confused and nervous, he gave her a crooked grin.] A-also, ah...not a demon. Despite appearances.

[sleightadvantage]

[She folded her arms, a brow raised, as she said with obvious skepticism:] Sounds like something a yokai might say.

[fuzzybluegecko]

[This was getting too surreal. Under any other circumstances he would have assumed she was making fun of him, but he couldn't detect even a trace of mockery in her voice or expression. All he could do was assume sincerity and roll with it.]

But also like something an innocent, non-yokai type person would say, ja?

[His grin grew more sure (not to mention more cheeky), and his tail freed itself to wave languidly behind him again.] Besides, how do you know what a yokai would say? Have you ever met one?

[sleightadvantage]

I don't know. Have I? [She pointedly held his gaze for a few moments longer, a hint of her own cheek materializing as a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth. All the while, she watched his tail move at the edge of her vision.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

[That hint of teasing was all he needed to put most of his concerns behind him. This was a game for her, too. He clasped his hands behind his back and leaned back in, flashing her a toothy smile. His tail swished playfully behind him and curled into a sinuous shape that vaguely resembled a question mark.

I can't speak for anyone else you've met, but my friends could tell you I'm 100% angel. [he said, winking for good measure.]

[sleightadvantage]

[Her grin was discernible now, as she bounced on her toes and leaned in closer, mirroring his stance.] Well, then. I guess you won't mind if I do... this!

[Suddenly, there was some strip of paper being thrust at Kurt's face, which Trucy tried to stick to his forehead with a piece of tape.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

[To which Kurt responded by yelping comically, stumbling backwards, tripping over his own tail, and falling on his bum.] Ow! My tail, man! [he whined as he plucked the strip of paper off his own forehead. A few dark hairs came away with the tape, causing him to wince and glare at it.]

[Then his own words registered on his brain, and he eyed her warily as he hurriedly amended himself.] Tail-bone. My tail-bone's gonna be super sore later.

[sleightadvantage]

[The warding charm wasn't meant to do anything other than be a distraction while she got a better look at him, so his falling came as a surprise. She initially rushed forward to help him up but stopped short when he complained about the tail, and then she took a step back. Her eyes went wide, his attempt to cover ignored.]

I knew it! There's no way that's puppetry or animatronics or... or...

[It was then that she looked at him, really looked. Not only was he blue with a tail, but his hands were... well, short by at least four fingers, and his feet short even more toes, and there was just no way even the most skilled magician would be able to pull off a change like that in the short amount of time he was in that box, without any time to prep ahead, which only really left one, crazy possibility.]

...Are you a yokai!?

[fuzzybluegecko]

['Verdammt!' The panic he had felt so recently in the 'teleportation chamber' rushed through him again, filling his chest with a cold pressure that made breathing more difficult. His bright eyes and white fangs flashed against the darkness of his fur as he grimaced. Scooting away from her, he held up his patently inhuman hands defensively in front of his chest.]

I'm not, I swear! [he pleaded, his voice pitched high and quick.] I know I don't look it, but I'm just a normal teen.

[sleightadvantage]

[She stared at his hands, and yep, two fingers short on each one. This was definitely not normal. In a rare turn of events, she found herself entirely speechless.]

[Then a knock at the door made her jump.]

...Miss Wright? Everything okay in there?

[It was one of the security guards. Dragging her gaze away from Kurt, she glanced briefly at the door and realized she hadn't locked it. Maybe that was a good thing, in this case? But...]

[She turned back to Kurt. He looked terrified.]

[Worrying her lip, she answered:] ...Yep! [It sounded strained, even to her own ears, but as she continued to force words out, they resembled something closer to her usual tone.] Just talking shop with a fellow magician!

...Alright. [There was hesitance there. Trucy couldn't blame him. Her exit that night wasn't typical, and she rarely took anyone besides close friends and family to her dressing room. She only hoped he took her word.] Well, I'll still be here for a while, so if you need anything...

Okay! [It was a relief to know that, though thinking it made her feel guilty. It wasn't as if Kurt had done anything to make her feel unsafe, but... well...]

[Never taking her eyes off him, she continued responding to the guard.] Thank you! I'll let you know when I'm leaving.

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Just when he thought things couldn't possibly get worse, there was a knock on the door.]

[With a sharp intake of breath, he snapped his gaze to the door and froze there, unable to look away from the thin wood which was the only thing that stood between a very precarious position and outright disaster. One word from the formerly sweet and friendly magician would be all it took to put his privacy, and possibly his safety, at risk. He tried to tell himself things were different now, that he had the skills and training to get out of there if worse came to worst, but experience had taught him some extremely harsh lessons in his short years. No outcome was guaranteed.]

[The pounding of his heart and his harsh, rapid breathing seemed to fill the heavy silence that followed the stranger's question. He finally tore his gaze away from the door to fix Trucy Wright with a stare which was undoubtedly dripping with desperation.]

[It felt like an hour before the magician finally answered the man. When she did, Kurt released a ragged breath and slumped on the floor for a moment, his head in his hands, back bowed, and unusual legs curled awkwardly into an cross-legged position. He wasn't out of the woods yet. Kurt knew he was facing some sort of backlash once the magician got rid of the immediate threat. But at least he could take advantage of the temporary reprieve to get his breathing under control.]