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]

[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...

[fuzzybluegecko]

[There was only a moment of hesitation to give away the fact that he was bracing himself for that one.] Which is?

[sleightadvantage]

[She put on the most serious face she could muster, leaned in, and asked very intently:]

What's it like to have a tail?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Kurt couldn't help it. He burst out laughing.] Oh man, I thought you were gonna hit me with a hard one! It's like... [He paused, casting his gaze to the ceiling.] Well, maybe that one's a little harder to answer than I thought. That's kind of like asking what it's like to have fingers or ears. It's hard to describe something that's such a big part of you.

[sleightadvantage]

[She smiled along with him, glad that the question had the desired effect.]

I guess I can see what you mean, but... It just seems like it'd be, I dunno... fun!

[fuzzybluegecko]

I never really thought about it that way...but yeah, I guess it kinda is. I can do lots of stuff with it. Mostly just mundane stuff like picking up objects, but...

[He grinned sheepishly and ran the fingers of one hand through his hair.] There is this one thing I like to do. I've always lived around lots of trees, ja? My home in Germany is in the middle of a forest, and the place I live now, in New York, has a lot of trees on the land. Some nights I go out and just...race through the treetops. My tail's pretty strong so I can swing from it and get a really good Tarzan act going on.

It's...freeing, you know? To just let loose like that. Almost like flying. [His voice took on a wistful tone as he closed his eyes for a moment, recalling the sensation of night breezes through his fur and bark scraping beneath his palms, the dizzying sensation of falling and the exhilarating jerk when his tail catches him.]

[Man, he really wished he could go play on those catwalks right about now.]

[sleightadvantage]

[Trucy sank to the vanity stool as she listened, picturing the scene he'd set up: a forest at night, a light, chilly breeze rustling the tree tops, and Kurt grinning as he swung from branch to branch. If the backflip he'd pulled off earlier was anything to go by, he'd be an acrobat in the trees! The closest she'd come to anything like that was playing in the Kurain woods with Pearls when they were little. It was fun, and even freeing, to run and jump and climb through the trees, but it didn't sound like it compared to Kurt's experience.]

[When he was done, her expression reflected his wistful tone, and she sat with her chin in hand, gaze cast upward in thought.]

That sounds amazing. I'd love to be able to do something like that. [It wouldn't be the same, but maybe she could add acrobatics to her show, so she'd have an excuse to learn...]

[fuzzybluegecko]

[When he finally opened his eyes again, the sight of her lost in a daydream of his own creation filled him with a vague sense of...longing that he'd never experienced before. It made him wish he could somehow share that experience with her, even if it could only ever be a fraction of what it would feel like to do it herself. The question remained in the back of his mind as he offered] Maybe you could someday. Your talent is making the impossible possible, right? I bet you could figure out some way to capture that feeling in your show.

[sleightadvantage]

Maybe. [She sat up, smiling.] I was just wondering what it'd be like to be an acrobat. I bet that's sort of how it feels, huh?

[fuzzybluegecko]

Yeah, it's a lot like that. Just higher off the ground and a little more free form. [He sighed wistfully.] Man, if only this place was empty, I could give you a demonstration. I've never had the chance to play around in a theater before. I bet the catwalks are a blast.

[sleightadvantage]

Aw, I'd love to see that! [She crossed her arms then, humming thoughtfully.] I wonder what kind of security they have overnight...

[fuzzybluegecko]

[He leaned closer, pale eyes flashing with mischief, and his tail began to whip eagerly back and forth.] Oh ho ho. I like the way you think.

[sleightadvantage]

[Trucy grinned, brightening even more so at the sight of his tail. (For some reason, the fact that it was so emotive absolutely delighted her.)]

[Then she remembered the time and deflated a little.]

There's only one problem...

[fuzzybluegecko]

[The sudden dampening of her mood sucked at his enthusiasm. His grin fell and his tail drooped.] What's that?

[sleightadvantage]

My dad. [She sighed, glancing down at the time on her phone.] He'll worry if I'm out too late. ...Oh, hey! [Noticing a new notification, she grabbed her phone and unlocked it.] I forgot I had it on silent. I missed a text from Athena! ...Wow, I missed a lot of texts from Athena.