boxolawyers | Magic shows are meant to have surprises, right?

Current Location: Los Angeles

Entry tags:

Magic shows are meant to have surprises, right?

[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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If it had been his tail, Trucy was determined not to glance down or otherwise bring attention to what was probably a super normal thing for someone with a tail to do (Bullets would often wrap his tail around her wrist when she petted him, after all, so it made sense!), but it probably wasn't his tail, anyway, so it didn't matter.]

Oh--

[...Except it was, and maybe it wasn't a normal thing to do, given his reaction. She gave him a reassuring, if not a bit silly, smile, her tongue peeking out.]

--It's fine! I'm a whole body hugger, too!

[Internally groaning, Kurt scratched the back of his neck and forced himself to keep smiling, knowing the alternative would probably make things even more awkward.] Yeah, ha ha. Guess I must be, too. [he said, redundantly. This was news to him. He certainly hadn't had that many opportunities to find out what kind of hugger he was.]

[Poor guy... He was obviously embarrassed, and the last thing Trucy wanted was to end the night on an awkward note. Best to just move on!]

Anyway... Don't forget to text me! And I'll let you know when I make it home.

Okay. Hope you guys have a nice ride home. [With one last smile and a wave, he headed for the door. It wasn't until he saw his own three-fingered hand on the knob that he remembered anything about his appearance was amiss.]

Oh. Oops. [He turned to shoot her another grin over his shoulder and flashed a thumbs up as he turned his inducer back on. His face transformed before her eyes. And if it bothered him that the last image he would leave her with as he walked out of her dressing room that night wasn't his own, he never showed it.]

[As his appearance flickered and changed before her, a little bit of her heart broke for him. How hard it must be to have to hide who you are from the world--not just his talents but what he looked like, too. She hoped he didn't have to use that inducer at his boarding school, too...]

[Well, whatever the case, she resolved that if they happened to be alone anymore during his trip, he was going to be his true self around her!]

[Taking her cue from him, her smiled remained unchanged. She raised a hand to wave.] See you soon!

Definitely! [With one last wave, he left her.]

[He did his best to ignore the undefinable way his heart sank as he made his way to the nearest exit, carefully avoiding the stage area where Trucy's friend was and keeping a wary eye out for the security guard. After all, it wasn't as if he was returning to an empty hotel room. He was looking forward to seeing his friends again after spending the whole night away from their unique brand of collective craziness. And it wasn't the last time he would get to see Trucy, he would make sure of that.]

[Maybe he was simply mourning the loss of a special experience which would never be repeated in quite the same way.]

[He had texted Rogue during his cautious journey through the maze-like innards of the theater. She was waiting outside with the rental car by the time he finally reached the street.] Enjoy your little magic show?

You have no idea! [He beamed at her as he climbed in the car, making no effort to rein in his enthusiasm in the face of her sister-like teasing.] It was so cool! She's got to be one of the best magicians in the world, man. She even managed to teleport an audience member across the stage!

[Rogue glanced away from the street to smirk at him.] You're impressed that she managed to fake doing something that you can do for real?

[He didn't miss a beat.] Of course! Why wouldn't I be? What she does is a lot harder than what I do, hands down.

[Rogue shook her head.] If you say so.

[They continued their companionable conversation as they wound their way through the ridiculous Los Angeles traffic toward their hotel.]

[Silence quickly replaced Kurt's presence in her dressing room. Trucy didn't let herself linger in it for too long. She quickly gathered her things, flicked off the lights, and locked the door behind her. As she made her way back to Athena, memories of the night's events replayed in her head, from pulling Kurt up on stage, first seeing him in all his blue, fuzzy glory, swinging in the rafters above the catwalk...]

[By the time she entered the auditorium, she was grinning from ear to ear. Ready to play it off as being happy to go home, she quickened her pace to the back row... and then froze partway down the aisle.]

[Athena was gone.]

[Trucy frowned.]

Alright, spill it.

[The voice came from behind. Trucy yelped and whirled around, her cape wrapping about her shoulders as she came face to face with Athena, who was eyeing her expectantly, arms on her hips. Trucy blinked, wide-eyed.]

Who were you hiding in your dressing room?

[Uh-oh... Trucy did her best impression of a gaping fish before she managed to wrest control of her expression and look like a gaping human, instead.] W-what? What are you--

[But Athena was having none of it.] Allez, Trucy! I wasn't born yesterday. That was a boy I heard in there!

[...BIG uhh-oh. Both her heart and mind raced as she tried to replay her conversation with Kurt, afraid of what Athena might have heard, but her brain stalled. She stammered out a reply:] I-it's not what it looks like! I can explain!

You can explain in the car. While I drive you home. To your dad. [Athena walked past her then, gathered the things she'd left at her seat, and nodded towards the exit.] Come on!

[In her panic, it didn't occur to Trucy that Athena didn't exactly look angry; only that she didn't look happy, that Trucy may have compromised Kurt's secret, that Kurt was a boy and Athena had the entirely wrong idea and might tell her dad, and now she was leaving--]

Athena, wait..!

[Trucy chased after her all the way to the car, ignoring the security guard's questioning looks. This was going to a long, uncomfortable ride home.]

[The hotel lobby was still busy by the time they made it back. Small groups of weary travelers with piles of suitcases mingled with couples in cocktail dresses and fancy suits, while teens and college students in sweatpants and yoga leggings seemed to be draped across every available seat, laptops at hand. As they approached the elevator, Rogue said:] Everyone's hangin' out in our room. B-movie marathon. You in?

[Kurt smiled and gave her two thumbs up.] Absolutely! Let me take care of a few things and I'll be right over.

[They parted outside the guys' room. As Rogue had said, the room was empty when Kurt went in, giving him plenty of privacy in which to text Trucy.]

[made it back! you?]

yay!! glad you made it safely! i'm home too ✨

ok so anyway, Athena might think you're my secret boyfriend but she's not asking questions anymore, so i count it as a win!!

[A positively stupid grin crossed his face the moment her first text came in.]

[Then it morphed into an open-mouthed, bug-eyed look of panic in an instant. He fired off a pair of his own texts at lightning speed.]

what???

she what? how?!?!?

[Now felt like a good time to start frantically pacing around his cramped hotel room.]

she was listening in on our conversation, but don't worry!! she didn't hear anything important and i didn't tell her any details about you except stuff that was easy to fib

mein gott. i knew it was too good to be true. i'm never allowed to get away with stuff like this. why do you think she stopped with the questions?

it's fine, i promise!! i told her you did a trick on stage and you said you were a magician so we stayed after the show and talked! see?? no lie, no problem 😊

but she might still think you're my secret boyfriend

you should probably talk to your professor soon so we can clear all this up

[Kurt's groan filled the hotel room. How was he supposed to clear this up when the situation seemed to be getting muddier by the minute?]

i'll call him tonight. [He paused, then deleted the last word and replaced it with 'now'. There was no way he could fool everyone else into thinking things were normal with this hanging over his head.]

[Text sent, he sat down hard on the end of his bed, dropped the phone beside him, and buried his face in his hands. Almost immediately he snatched the phone up again and fumbled with it (digital keypads were not made for such thick fingers).]

do you think she'd tell your dad?

i don't think so [Not right now, anyway...]

sorry, Kurt. i didn't mean to upset you! it's gonna be ok, i promise. magician's honor!!

[He smiled, despite the anxiety gnawing at his guts. He had to appreciate her efforts to make him feel better, at least.]

yeah. you're probably right. i'll keep you posted, kay?

ok. maybe we can talk about it in person tomorrow if you're not busy?

yeah, i'll let you know when i'm free. [If he was ever going to be free again. He'd be lucky if he wasn't grounded for the next six months by the end of his upcoming call.]

[After some consideration, he followed the text up with:]

thanks for running damage control, Trucy.

ok. maybe we can do lunch! oh, and dinner. and maybe an afternoon snack!! there are so many places we need to hit up if i'm gonna make your delicious dreams come true!

and of course! i'm responsible too. i don't want either of us to get in trouble

[There was that stupid grin again, threatening to take over.]

has anyone ever told you you're the best?

[She was wearing a grin of her own.]

i may have been told on occasion. and you said i was incredible earlier. i think that counts!

Magic shows are meant to have surprises, right?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[1/2] in rapid succession...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[1/3]

no subject

no subject

no subject

[1/2]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)