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

[sleightadvantage]

[She leaned in further, waiting with bated breath to hear whatever it is this monumental secret was, and then--]

[poof!]

[She gasped--and then immediately launched into a coughing fit. The scent and taste were unmistakably of sulfur, something she recognized after years of working with pyrotechnics and a smell she might admit to enjoying, on a occasion, if only because it was so familiar.]

[But not right in her face like this!]

[Waving at the smoke, she did her best not to breathe in any further while trying to get some words out.] What the... [When the air finally cleared, Kurt was no longer in front of her. Startled, Trucy blinked.] --Kurt!?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Choking the poor girl had not been his intention. His cheeks burned under his fur and he slapped his palm over his face. 'Smooth move, dude,' he chastised himself.]

Sorry! I'm so used to it, I always forget to warn people about that part.

[Strangely enough, his sheepish response came from somewhere above her head.]

[sleightadvantage]

[Her gaze snapped up to where the voice was coming from, and she nearly fell back into he vanity at what she saw.]

...Kurt!? Are you...?

[fuzzybluegecko]

Yep! [With a wave and a slightly mischievous grin, he crawled along the ceiling a few feet until he reached a spot where he had enough space to let himself fall back to the ground. On the way down he managed to fit in an acrobatic back flip, and he landed with his hands in the air like a triumphant gymnast.]

Being a mutant can come with some serious perks.

[sleightadvantage]

[Trucy gawked as he crawled along the ceiling, gawked some more when he executed a backflip from said ceiling, and continued gawking after he stuck the landing.]

[Finally, after several, stunned moments, she found her voice again.]

...And you're sure you're not just a really good magician?

[fuzzybluegecko]

No magic tricks here. Just natural talent. [Her blatantly obvious admiration was intoxicating for a guy who's been made to feel for most of his life that there was something innately wrong with him. He couldn't stop beaming. If only they could safely leave the confines of the dressing room and get out into those rafters and catwalks, he could really wow her.]

Most of our mutations come with some kind of special ability. Climbing walls and teleporting are my shtick, but I have friends who can do all kinds of amazing things, like flying and phasing through walls!

[sleightadvantage]

Teleporting... [For some reason, even though that's precisely what he'd done, it hadn't occurred to her until he'd said it.] So when I brought you on stage... [Thinking back on it, he did seem awkward when she announced the trick, but a lot of people got nervous when they were on stage--especially when she shoved them in boxes--so she hadn't though anything of it at the time. Now it took on new meaning.] Aw, man... That must have been so boring for you!

[fuzzybluegecko]

No no, not at all! I was having a blast until my inducer went on the fritz. I was, ah, panicking a bit after that. It was hard to focus on the trick. [He gave her a sheepish grin.] To be honest, I think what you do is way more impressive. For me, real teleporting isn't much different from walking. I can hone the skill with training, but it doesn't require a whole lot of thought or effort. You, on the other hand, get to make the impossible seem possible through sheer cleverness and skill! That's so cool, man!

[sleightadvantage]

What are you talking about!? You just blinked out of existence and crawled on the ceiling. For real. That's "cool"!

[fuzzybluegecko]

Okay, maybe a little. [He winked at her, grateful that his fur hid his blush.] But your talent is incredible, too! I could never even come up with all of those tricks you did tonight, let alone figure out how to execute them. In some ways that's just as impressive as doing real magic.

[sleightadvantage]

Well, I don't know if I'd say that... [The compliment was clearly appreciated, though, evident in the smile that crept onto her lips. She worked hard and took a lot of pride in what she did, so hearing that it paid off, especially to someone who actually did the things she only accomplished through illusion, was validating.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

[That smile was very gratifying. He was being one hundred percent sincere with her, and it was clear his compliments had an impact, even if she was too humble to fully embrace them. This was shaping up to be one of the rare celebrity encounters that actually lived up to expectations!]

You don't have to. I said it for you!

[sleightadvantage]

[She giggled at that.] I guess I can't argue there! [And she wouldn't, because there were much more interesting things they could be talking about, like all the questions she still had!]

Sooo...

[fuzzybluegecko]

['Whoops, got a little sidetracked there.' Ignoring the flutter of nerves in his belly, he spread his palms out in a welcoming fashion and smiled.] Oh yeah! Next question, shoot.

[sleightadvantage]

[With permission granted, Trucy wasted no time launching back into it.]

Okay, this one's not about you, but something you said... Did I hear right that you have friends who can fly!?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[He had half expected (and dreaded, a little) a more hard-hitting question. Relief made him chuckle at how innocent the next one turned out to be.] Yeah, man! One of my closest friends is telekinetic. She can move things with her mind, including herself! And one of my teachers can fly by controlling the wind around her. I've even met a guy with angel wings!

[sleightadvantage]

[She was floored. If she wasn't talking to a blue fuzzy teenager who had just disappeared and reappeared in front of her and clung to the ceiling, she might have a little more trouble believing it.]

How have I never heard of this!

[fuzzybluegecko]

[There came the discomfort again. Kurt's smile turned rueful, and he shook his head.] 'Monumental secret,' remember? We're not supposed to let anyone know. Our teachers tell us that the world...isn't ready to learn about this yet. Based on some of the stuff I've seen, from when people did find out... [His smile fell entirely as he averted his gaze.] I think they may be right.

[sleightadvantage]

[The intensity left Trucy's gaze as that sunk in, and realization began to dawn. It shouldn't have come as a surprise. Kids at school were bullies for lesser things any time anyone showed the slightest hint of being different, and it seemed like a lot of people never grew out of that. She could imagine the kinds of hardships somebody as different as Kurt and his friends might face, and those probably only scratched the surface.]

...I'm sorry. I'll never get why people have to be so cruel. Just because you don't understand something doesn't mean you have to hate it.

[fuzzybluegecko]

[He watched the realization dawn on her face--the softening expression that marked the slow onset of regret on his behalf--with something like awe. It stole his breath for a moment. The wan smile he graced her with then was genuine, though tinged with sorrows she could only guess at.]

Yeah. I hate to admit, I'm not sure there will ever be a time when the world will fully accept us. [After all, they weren't the first group of people that the world decided to hate and fear, and those other struggles were still going on after generations of conflict.]

But I've also seen stuff that gives me hope things will get better. Like this! [He flashed her a bright smile as he gestured between them, teeth gleaming against his dark fur.] You had every reason to be afraid of me at first. You could have gotten me in some serious trouble, but you didn't just give in to your first instincts. You were willing to listen and learn.

[sleightadvantage]

[She offered a somber smile in return, feeling rather undeserving of the praise.] I'm glad I could do that much, at least. [Even if it felt like the bare minimum. And even if she could have ben more tactful about it.] ...And, um, sorry again about the yokai thing. And for all the questions. [Many of which she hadn't yet asked. Unsurprisingly, the answers seemed less urgent now, and she would be perfectly content not to hear them at all, if it meant Kurt would feel that much more normal.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

It's cool. I don't mind, really! I know this stuff is kind of wild. It's natural to be curious. If I was in your shoes I'd probably be freaking out. [He chuckled. Then his eyes lit up as something occurred to him. The tip of his tail pointed in her direction.] Hey, to make it more fair, what if you let me ask some questions of my own when you're done with yours? I promise not to try and dig up any top secret magician stuff!

[sleightadvantage]

[Her smile brightened at that, and she tutted at him.] Even if you did, you wouldn't get anything out of me! If there's one thing a magician's good at other than magic, it's keeping their secrets. [She meant it when she said she'd take his to the grave; it was a principle she'd nearly gone to prison for, after all.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

I'd be a hypocrite if I tried to make you spill your secrets now. I've got a lot riding on that dedication. [He winked at her.] Now that that's settled, what else do you want to know?

[sleightadvantage]

[He liked to wink, didn't he? That was the second or third time he'd done it. She assumed it was just a thing he did, but it was silly and cute, and it made her giggle.]

Only if you're sure. [She'd already resolved not to ask anymore personal questions of him. However...]

I really only have one more question for you, anyway, but it's arguably the most important one...