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]

Fortunately, Trucy allowed him to pay. Not that he would have objected too strongly if she had declined his offer. It just made him feel better to pay her back a little, even if it was a small gesture compared to the acceptance she had already shown him.

He paid for their food with what he hoped was a generous enough tip and was about to ask if she would like him to carry the tray for her, when his eyes happened to fall on the chopsticks she had just placed there. Mild but uncomfortable dread quickly pooled in his stomach. "O-oh. Um... Mr. Eldoon, do you happen to have any spoons and forks?" He plastered on a bashful grin. "I've never had the chance to use chopsticks before. I'd probably make a mess, and the last thing I want is to waste any of your delicious soup."

He flashed Trucy a significant look and moved to rub the back of his head again, putting on display his five fingers held perpetually in their unique, tri-parted position.

[sleightadvantage]

Tray in hand, Trucy had started to make her way towards the picnic tables when she realized Kurt wasn't following. She turned to see Mr. Eldoon eyeing him with disapproval as he reached beneath the counter and shoved a packet of plasticware in his direction.

Seeing the dilemma, Trucy moved in for damage control. "Don't worry, Mr. Eldoon. I'll teach him how to use the chopsticks!"

"Hm." It came out as a grunt. After holding Kurt's gaze for longer than was probably comfortable for the teen, he finally relented and turned to Trucy. "See that you do." And then added, "Say hi to your dad for me. And tell that cheapskate he still owes me for the bowl his assistant stole!"

"I will! C'mon, Kurt."

The man's gruff complaints faded into the background as they walked away. "How'm I supposed to sell bowls of ramen without any bowls..."

[fuzzybluegecko]

The glare Kurt received for his audacity made him quail. His bashful smile became more of a rictus grin as he stood there in front of the older man, trapped by his overwhelming aura of righteous disapproval, until Trucy once again came to his rescue.

"W-would you? I'd love to learn..." he muttered in response to her offer, praying the intent would be enough to absolve him of his obviously grievous sin. As soon as he was summoned, he snatched up the packet of utensils, tossed out a hurried "Danke," and took off after her.

As soon as they were out of earshot, he cried, "Okay, he definitely hates me now. Way to make a good first impression, self." Heaving a deep sigh, he lowered his gaze, first to his feet then to his hands, which he held out in front of him. "Sorry. I really haven't had a chance to try before, and I would like to learn. I'm just...not sure it's possible."

[sleightadvantage]

"Don't be silly!" She bumped her shoulder against his arm. "If he hated you, he wouldn't have talked to you at all." She then looked down at his hands, frowning thoughtfully. "You can use a pencil, right?"

[fuzzybluegecko]

"That's reassuring." The comfortable gesture made him smile, though the expression was a little wan.

"Ja, I can. But those are considerably harder to use than a pencil. Aren't they?"

[sleightadvantage]

"Not really. It just takes practice!" She slid onto a bench and set the tray on the table top. As soon as the items were divvied up, she began folding one of the napkins into a tiny rectangle. "You'll see. I'll make you a pro in no time!"

[fuzzybluegecko]

Kurt sat down across from her and waited (im)patiently for her to finish organizing their meals. Their oh-so-tempting, steaming hot meals...

"Couldn't hurt to try, huh? All right. I'm game." He rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Lay some knowledge on me, sensei."

[sleightadvantage]

"Well, first," she slipped the folded napkin between two of the chopsticks, produced a rubber band from her purse, and swiftly used it to secure the napkin in place, before holding the contraption out to him, "you're gonna need some learner sticks!"

[fuzzybluegecko]

"Whoa..." He took the now high-tech chopsticks in one hand and gave the open tips a few experimental squeezes with his other hand, watching how they pivoted on the fulcrum created by the bit of napkin and the rubber band's tension. "Neat! Now what?"

[sleightadvantage]

"Now you use them, silly! Like this." She demonstrated properly with the other pair, closing and opening them a few times, before plucking a couple noodles from her curry. "Those'll help you get used to the feeling. Then you can try the real things!" Unable to wait another second, she shoveled the udon into her mouth, savoring it with a satisfied hum.

[fuzzybluegecko]

"Simple as that, huh?" he said, chuckling awkwardly. The prospect of moving on to the real thing had him more intimidated than he'd like to admit, but he wasn't about to quit. Not after Trucy had vouched for him!

As she dug in to her soup with audible relish, he started adjusting the sticks in his dominant hand, looking for the most comfortable and functional position. It took some trial and error, but eventually he settled on resting one stick on his second finger and steadying the other stick with his first finger and thumb. With the outer stick firmly in place, he could squeeze the inner one with his first finger and press it down on the stable stick. He tried it in the air a few times, his movements picking up speed as he gained confidence.

[sleightadvantage]

"Mm!" Trucy cried around a mouthful of noodles. As she swallowed, the spice caught up to her, and she spluttered and coughed between words. "Th-there," she said. Her eyes began tearing. "You've got it! Now try picking something up."

[fuzzybluegecko]

Instead of following her suggestion, Kurt stared at her for a long beat. "Uh, are you okay?"

[sleightadvantage]

She nodded emphatically, already shoveling another bite into her mouth, and gestured for him to try!

[fuzzybluegecko]

"...Okay." She didn't look okay, but if she said she had everything under control, who was he to argue?

He turned his attention back to the chopsticks in his hand. After taking a moment to readjust them (he'd let his fingers go a bit slack while he was distracted), he scanned the table for a target. Settling on another napkin, he carefully positioned the tips of his chopsticks on either side of the paper and slowly squeezed them together. The tip of his tongue stuck out to the side as he focused intently on his fingers.

[sleightadvantage]

"Sometimes it's easier to pick up bigger things," she offered after swallowing. Her voice was raw, her nose stuffy. She sniffled and wiped at a tear that trickled down her cheek. "Try a mushroom!"

[fuzzybluegecko]

"Are you sure you're okay?" Kurt said, wryly, but he didn't press any more. Instead, he took a deep breath and pulled his bowl closer, glaring into its brothy depths with determination.

"Here goes nothing..." The mushrooms bobbed away from his chopsticks on the first couple of tries, but eventually the sticks tentatively closed on one of them. Kurt held his breath as he started to lift it from the bowl. "Yes!" came the whisper of triumph...right before he squeezed just a bit too hard. The mushroom shot out from between his chopsticks and landed forcefully in the broth, which splashed back in his face.

He stared down at the bowl in shock for a moment then began to laugh.

[sleightadvantage]

Trucy held her breath along with him, ignoring the burning tickle in her nose, watching intently as the mushroom rose higher and higher and higher... only to land back in the broth with a forceful plop.

A tense silence followed. She looked at Kurt, lips pursed, gauging his reaction.

When his laughter broke the silence, her giggle fit broke free.

"Keep trying!" she laughed. Another sniffle, and wiped at her nose with a napkin. "If you don't challenge yourself, you won't improve." As if to demonstrate, she glared at her own bowl determinedly before once again attacking it.

[fuzzybluegecko]

Kurt shook his head, smiling in amusement, though he knew she was probably too focused on her own challenge to notice.

"Words to live by. I won't give up, I promise!" He leaned his head over the bowl this time, close enough that any food he lost wouldn't have far to fall, and he tried again. After a few attempts he was able to get a clump of noodles on the chopsticks and into his mouth. Okay, so he wasn't holding them so much as he was shoveling them into his mouth, but you have to start somewhere. Right? And the reward was well worth the effort! Flavors exploded on his tongue, burned in to his taste buds by the intense heat of the fresh soup. The miso was packed with salty goodness. He hummed loudly in appreciation.

[sleightadvantage]

"Mmhmm!" Trucy agreed through a mouthful of curry. She finished with another sniffle and then tore open her milk carton. After taking a long swig, she slammed the carton on the table with a satisfied sigh.

"Good, right??"

[fuzzybluegecko]

"Better than good!" Kurt scooped another huge clump of noodles into his mouth, slurping the tails up with relish. Before he had even finished chewing he continued, "This is amazing! We don't have anything like this in Bayville."

[sleightadvantage]

She giggled, delighted that he like it so much, not that she had any doubt that he would. She cocked her head at his next words, though. "Huh. But I thought New York was supposed to have some of the best food in the country."

[fuzzybluegecko]

He shook his head, never taking his eyes off his bowl. At least he finished chewing the next bite before he answered her. "You're thinking of New York City. Bayville's a much smaller town upstate. It's great, if you like burgers, dogs, or garbage plates. Not so much for stuff like this." He finally looked back up at her, and jabbed his chopsticks in the direction of his bowl. "Most of the immigrants in that area came from Europe, like me. So they had the biggest influence on the food, ja?"

[sleightadvantage]

"Ohhh. Yeah, that makes sense! European food is great, too. And burgers and dogs whatever a garbage plate is, probably, but Eldoon's will always have a top spot in my heart and in my stomach." She reached across the table, snatched up one of the mushrooms from his bowl, and popped it in her mouth with a smile.

[fuzzybluegecko]

"I can see why." With some confidence built up, he decided to take on a next level challenge: his half of that soft boiled egg in his bowl. It was slippery and awkwardly shaped, but if he tried enough times he was sure to get it eventually.

"If you ever do a show in New York, you'll have to take a detour through Bayville! I'll make sure you sample all the best burgers and garbage plates." He paused in his egg-nabbing attempts to give her a toothy smile. "And you can meet all my friends from The Institute!"