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]

[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.

[fuzzybluegecko]

Oh! [in surprise and then again] ...Oh. Oh man, I almost forgot. [How could he forget? He was not even close to being out of the woods yet. He clasped his hands together in front of his chest and leaned in close.] What did she say?

[sleightadvantage]

She wants to know about the watch and also if I died. [Her practiced fingers quickly began typing as she glanced up at Kurt.] You said it projects a hologram, right?

[fuzzybluegecko]

[He gave a sharp nod, growing more serious at the sudden reminder of the precariousness of his situation.] Right.

[sleightadvantage]

Okay. [With a decisive nod, she hits send and then turns back to Kurt.] While we wait, I should probably let that guard know he can go home. I'd hate for him to be waiting on me after his shift ends!

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Yet another detail he had forgotten about in the rush of excitement. He sure had interrupted a lot of people's lives for the sake of the five minutes he got to spend hamming it up on stage.] Yeah... Sorry this has turned into such a big deal. I'm sure you had other stuff to do after your show.

[sleightadvantage]

[Trucy tsked at him on her way to the door.] What? Don't be silly! This is way better than just packing up and going home!

[fuzzybluegecko]

['Well then...' Kurt fought valiantly (but entirely ineffectually) to hide his enormous grin.] If you say so! All right, I'll wait here.

[sleightadvantage]

I do say so! And what I say goes, because I'm always 'Wright'! [She grinned back and unlocked the door, ready to head out. Just as she was turning the knob, though, she seemed to think of something and looked back.]

Oh, you can sit, by the way! [She gestured at the counter littered with props and books and other magical things, with a set of stools hiding beneath the counter's protruding edge.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

Roger! [He laughed as he gave her a mock salute. Man, if he had a name like that he would make that joke within five minutes of meeting every new person, tops.]

[sleightadvantage]

Just don't go snooping around too much! Especially in my panties! [And with that, she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her.]

[fuzzybluegecko]

V-vas? [By the time he said it, she was already gone. Confused and more than a little weirded out, he settled on one of the small stools she had pointed out. He hadn't even noticed them, overshadowed as they were by the glorious mess of magic paraphernalia covering most of the counter. Ordinarily the props might have provided an excellent distraction while he waited for her to return. But after that exit, he found himself wary of examining the pile too closely. There was no telling what he might stumble across.]

[sleightadvantage]

[Poor Kurt was left alone to wait and wonder for many minutes. When Trucy finally returned, it was as if her parting words were never spoken.]

It's just me! [she called from the other side of the door before pushing it open and locking it again.] I've got great news!

[fuzzybluegecko]

[Kurt jumped up from where he had draped himself across the only empty space on the counter. The drinky bird that he had been bopping on the head for the last ten minutes wobbled precariously then fell over.]

[He was still baffled by what she said, but her complete failure to acknowledge it had him doubting his own memory of the event. Well, if she wasn't going to open that can of worms, he certainly wasn't going to.]

What's up?

[sleightadvantage]

First, Athena says she'll take a look at the watch. She doesn't know if she'll be able to do anything, but it's a start! And second... [She bounced on her toes, her grin turning impish as she went on:] ...I found out there's only one guard on duty after 10, and my curfew's not until 11, sooo...

[fuzzybluegecko]

[It was a relief to hear that he might get some help with his big problem, but Trucy's barely contained excitement made it clear that was only secondary now. The grand reveal was still to come, and when it came, boy was it a doozy. Kurt's jaw dropped as she explained the situation, then he leapt up, pumping his fist in the air with a raucous 'whoohoo!']

Oh man, this is gonna be so wicked! [He put up a fervent barrage of questions as he checked the time on his inducer. At least the watch part still worked.] What time is it? Can we go? Do you think we'll have to wait for him to make his rounds?

[sleightadvantage]

No need! I told him I'll be checking the rafters for a new trick, which means no prying eyes. [Her grin was unabashedly self-satisfied.] I just need to let him know when I'm leaving. Oh, and let him know when Athena's here so he can let her in. Speaking of...

[She checked her phone.]

She should be here in about 20 minutes.

[fuzzybluegecko]

Then we can't afford to waste any more time! Hold your breath and hang on! [Without further preamble, he grasped her wrist and teleported.]

[She may have caught a soft, indescribable sound like a strange beast's rasping inhalation and felt the briefest trace of warmth and a dizzying sensation in her stomach, somewhere between falling and flying. Then it was over, and they stood on the stage together in a dissipating cloud of sulphur.]

[Kurt had not thought to get the layout of the catwalks and rafters in the middle of the show, so out of an overabundance of caution he first brought them in at the very edge of the stage. He lingered beneath the heavy curtains, his fur blending in almost seamlessly with the shadows that pooled underneath. His pale eyes scanned the stage and the theater beyond to confirm that it was completely empty.]