Oh oh it's magic you knoooow

[folklorist]

Characters: Helios and anyone else
Open? Sure is!
Where: Town Square
When: RD 12, around the late afternoon
What: After everything that's happened the last few days Helios decides that lightening the mood is the least he can do. So without further ado have a magic show!
Warnings: Sawing of people in half. Except not.


[ Ladies and gentleman children of all ages! Today there is going to be some fantastical and fearsome creatures traipsing about the town square. But there’s no need to worry because they’re hardly real. Actually they’re more along the lines of being made of light but in fact they look incredibly real for something like that. What is the source of all these creatures you ask? Should you follow them to the small little gathering you'll find out that it's none other than Helios. He will be on a center wooden stage with his lovely assistant Ginia, looking out to the small, ever growing crowd of people. He’ll be wearing his traditional wizarding garb that he woke up with upon his arrival here, and he’ll even have an old gnarled branch for a wand. Helios will proceed to take off his hat and wave his wand around in a slightly exuberant fashion as he pulls out a snow white bunny from his hat. The crowd will cheer and clap offering up some coins and money for the stellar act. There's more tricks to be offered too. Such as making Ginia disappear or a card appear in someone's hand in the crowd. Whatever else anyone would want to offer up for him to do. He normally would never do this, especially because he’s not used to doing magic in front of so many people, but the little odd jobs and things he’s gotten over the course of the weeks being here have helped. Besides he had Ginia and Giles with him so that always helped.

Still Helios looks decidedly uncomfortable, tentative, and overall anxious even if he is managing a smile throughout the show. It's only when the crowd goes silent that a long wooden box is brought on to the makeshift stage. People unaccustomed to magic shows in general might not find the box all too exciting. But sawing someone in half is a bit…tricky even for Helios. And here he’ll give Ginia a shaky smile with a slight nod. Maybe after everything Ginia has been through this wasn’t the best course of action. Maybe, hopefully, someone else would stand up to take her place. ] And-and this last ending t-trick will require a volunteer. If-if anyone would like to offer themselves up. Otherwise I might have to use my assistant. B-But no need to worry! Everything is completely safe!

[ It ruins the suspense a little but, well, Helios doesn’t want to alarm anyone especially the guards or law enforcement of the city.

Once the magic show is over and most of the crowd is cleared away Helios will be up to talking to anyone who saw it over the orb or even stopped by in the town to see it in person. ]

((ooc; anyone can participate in this. Timelines do not apply! Also have your doods shout out random magic tricks for Helios to do. He is taking all offers!))

Comments

[bondsoflove]

[Just when Sasuke is convinced that this town is full of proto-humans who can't add one plus one, he sees something like this that makes him question his own eyes.

He'd think it were a series of illusions, but nobody who isn't an Uchiha can mimic the nuances of reality so perfectly, and he can't see any chakra being molded at all.

It doesn't make sense.

So after the show, he walks forward, observing, eyes narrowed.]

How.

[folklorist]

[ It's the young man's stern and serious voice that gets Helios to jump slightly as he turns with a small smile. ] Oh! I-I apologize I didn't see you there!

[ A sheepish laugh as he looks back at Sasuke. ] Um w-well it's, just ah, s-simple magic really. [ No, truly, it is. ]

[bondsoflove]

Explain "simple magic". How does it work.

[He scowls, crossing his arms over his chest.]

[folklorist]

[ Oh dear you just had to ask Helios that didn't you Sasuke. ]

Ah! W-Well it depends on the world and the m-magic in question really. Elemental magic uses the four basic elements. Earth, fire, wind, water. Typically it takes more energy to form something like a ball of water or fire when the specific elements aren't readily in the vicinity. But! It's still possible. Illusion magic is another story entirely. You can basically bend the light around you t-to form an illusion of sorts. [ And Helios will demonstrate of course. His eyes will glow bright green then and in front of the two of them in the palm of his hand will form a bright, red, apple.

He smiles as he closes his hand around it and it disappears in an instant. ] Like that!

[bondsoflove]

[Finally. An explanation that makes sense.

He watches attentively as the apple appears, then disappears. And the glowing of the eyes is fascinating. Some kind of doujutsu?]

Your eyes. Is that unique to you, or does it happen whenever someone does magic here?

[shadedsunlight]

[Today Ginia sheds her armor in favor of something a little more bright and flimsy as she helps out her friend with his show. She'll never cease to be amazed by his magic and after the previous day, the distraction is very welcome. Helping is also the least she can do for him after contributing to his distress, though she wouldn't have said no even under happier conditions.

She does everything she can to help; take items from the audience for him to transform or pull birds out of, lets him make her disappear and reappear, walks through the audience with a hat to collect money, and overall plays her part as a pretty little distraction and aid. Unlike magic shows in her world, which were really just illusions or acts of trickery and slight of hand, these are the real deal. The wonders of true magic.

However, that doesn't make the idea of being sawed in half any less concerning. While she trusts Helios, she also remembers other magical mishaps.]

/Are you sure this is safe?/ [She signs secretively, still smiling brightly and acting as if everything is perfectly fine.]

[folklorist]

[ Helios does appreciate everything Ginia has been doing for him in this little magic show of his. After everything she's gone through he was wondering if it was wise to have her go in as his assistant. When the long box is brought out Helios' stance becomes a bit more...uncertain and shaky. He knows that nothing is going to happen but there were always cases.

No. No. He is going to remain optimistic about this whole thing because it's the last thing Ginia needs to see, him unsure about his own powers, and so his shaky smile turns a bit more firm. ] Yes it's perfectly safe. I-I won't let anything hurt you Ginia, I promise.

[shadedsunlight]

/I know you wouldn't./ [There's the faintest memory of a burning building and a whip of blood, but little beyond that. Luceti was a place of strange oddities and things beyond their control. What they might have done during an event didn't always reflect what went on everyday. Helios is a deeply trusted friend and one of the best she has ever had.

When no one volunteers to take her place, she turns toward the audience and curtsies and blows kisses out to the audience, then steps into the box. Typically there was a false bottom or some kind of compartment she could hide in while fake legs gave the appearance of her legs actually being stuck out the bottom. But here? Well... she would trust in Helios' magic to do the trick.]

[folklorist]

It's still probably a bit concerning for you though. But there's no need to worry. They won't suspect a thing, but well, illusion magic is quite powerful when you know how to use it. [ Helios will help Ginia into said box with a small smile as he does so. ]

Just, ah, hold still and it'll be over before you know it! [ He'll produce a very crud saw out of the bag on the stage. The crowd will whisper and gasp as he brings it ever closer to Ginia's person. It's only when he's a few inches away that a small pressure and cool touch will envelop Ginia's lower half of her body. Helios will make a slice but it doesn't even graze Ginia but from the crowd it looks like he's slicing cleanly and neatly through the box. He'll finish by pulling the two sides away, one with Ginia's torso the other with her legs, and smiling a little as people cheer and clap. It's only when he puts the two sides back together that he'll motion for Ginia to sit up. ] As you can s-see. No harm done!

[retrieverchef]

[Normally, volunteering for some magic show wouldn't be something he'd consider. If he happened to be around for one, usually while on a job, he'd stay in the back as unobtrusively as possible or find a way to use it as a distraction. But he isn't on a job and he doesn't have to worry about someone recognizing him later. So he lets his childish side out for a change and steps forward.]

I'll volunteer.

[folklorist]

[ Helios hasn't met Eliot before but he can't say no to a willing volunteer, it might be bad for the show, but it would also make the townspeople probably terrified of magic if it went wrong. ]

Oh! Thank you for volunteering! If you would, ah, s-step right up to the stage? We can get started then on the final act.

[retrieverchef]

[Eliot walks onto the stage. He's hiding his mild nervousness pretty well. It's nothing like before he sang at Saddles and Spurs but it is just enough to keep him on edge, pump adrenaline through his veins.]

[folklorist]

[ It's okay Eliot Helios is pretty nervous himself despite his best attempts to make it seem like his isn't. Helios will motion for the long wooden box to be brought out and he'll gesture towards Eliot. ] If you w-wouldn't mind laying down sir?

[ He gives the other man an encouraging smile. ]

[goldeneyeball]

_{[James didn't actually enter the crowd until the show was over. He had been watching from the alley like a creepy mc creeperson with a scrutinizing eye. He was wary and jealous of other magic users and though Helios had never done anything unkind to him, he thought it best to hang back and see just what this man could do.]}

So where's the rabbit now?

[folklorist]

[ Helios looks decidedly more happy and less stressed after the show than he did during it. It's not too apparent a change since he does still startle a little at James' impromptu question. Helios will turn to look over his shoulder and smile a little. ]

Oh! The rabbit? Ah, well, a magician shouldn't really reveal his secrets you know? [ Helios chuckles a little. He always wanted to say that you have no idea! But he'll clear his throat then. ] There, um, w-wasn't any rabbit actually.

[goldeneyeball]

_{[James met the time-honored magician's response with a big fat frownie face. Somebody's a poor sport.]}

So it was a magic rabbit...is that a spell where you're from or one you picked up here?

_{[Conjuring up false rabbits wasn't very useful...but false monsters and ghouls to drive pesky villagers from his doors? THAT was magic worth chceking out!]}

[folklorist]

[ Aw turn the frown upside down James. :c ]

Ah s-something like that yes. A rabbit made out of, um, illusion magic really. It's...one of the spells from b-back home actually.

[tatra]

Tatra was wandering through the village, greeting everyone she passed with a smile (as usual) when she happened upon the little performance. Of course she stayed to watch, and she laughed and cheered with the rest of them, and when the crowds dispersed she stayed and cheered some more.

"That was quite a show," she informed Helios cheerfully. She recognized him from around town and from the orbs.

[folklorist]

Helios will turn and return the smile just and cheerfully as Tatra.

"Oh! Thank you very much Tatra. I-I'm glad you enjoyed it." Helios doesn't think it was all too fantastic but, well, that's Helios. Him and his rather poor self esteem.

[tatra]

She nodded enthusiastic.

"I think the children rather enjoyed it as well!" It was really the energy that made the difference to her. A show poorly performed by an enthusiastic player was still worth seeing for Tatra.

"Do you do this a lot?"

[folklorist]

"I-I hope so. That, um, w-was the idea. Lighten the mood a bit after everything that's h-happened around here." Helios shakes his head at that question.

"No. Not usually. I-I typically only do it privately for p-people who want it. I use my magic to help with odd jobs here or there too. But this isn't such a bad idea to do every once in awhile, given the turn out and everything." Not even for the money. If he could make that many people happy doing simple magic like that? He most certainly would do it for free. It did help in turning the mood around to something less tense and dark and that was one of the main reasons for it.

[consultmybooks]

[And he has Giles with him now. Miraculously, apparently, the former Watcher hasn't had to be dragged back after wandering away. It's true he'd been scarce the afternoon and night after the the battle, but for his practicing, but...he's back, now. He does learn, and he's finding that he does actually want to be around the other two, if only because being near them is still easier than scrying to reassure himself that they're all right.

So he'd returned to their shared little room the night before, only gone a day and with a couple of sticky buns from the market to make up for it.

And now he was here to watch, having been lead here by an illusory lion, and he grabs a spot standing on a nearby bench to watch the show. It's easy to see, especially for him, that Helios is nervous and anxious in front of so many people. And it reminds Giles that, really, he and Ginia have had to rely on Helios a bit for money, here in Schwanheim, especially with him still barely able to use his scrying mirror. At the least, some sweet tea is in Helios' future as a celebration.

But, until then, Giles is the audience member any performer would hope for - applauding and calling out encouragement right up until the point someone looks at him and he gets embarrassed. Really, the only point Helios won't notice him is while he's setting up the sawing in half trick and while it's going on.

Giles won't be there for that. But he'll reappear just in time for the end of the show, as though he's been there the entire time.

[folklorist]

[ Helios is very enthused about Giles staying and watching him. He knows the other man's abhorrence towards crowds and parties in general. So this is probably taking considerable willpower to even stay. Helios hopes the show was good and even when the crowd disappates and the last of the coins in tossed into the tip hat he'll only then spot Giles and wave. ]

Giles! [ Helios is all smiles as he walks over. ] I-I hope you enjoyed the show.

[consultmybooks]

Um, very much so.

[Apart from the bit where you sawed his girlfriend in half. Giles is currently trying busily to blot that out of his mind. His hands are shaking a bit from the aftermath of secondhand adrenaline as he picks up the tip hat and passes it over to Helios.] Hang on to that, will you? Another showing like that, and we might be able to find another place to stay.

Phenomenal work, yes. Um, I'm not sure I've actually ever seen you put magic to use beyond...well, combat, escape, or accidents. [Meaning the times you blew up the apartment and Giles had to help you put out a fire while he was blind, bro.]

It was an experience.

[folklorist]

[ Helios frowns and takes the offered hat. He does notice the shaking and he finally realizes why. ] Oh god. Giles. I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to... [ he really hadn't meant to use Ginia for that act, given her recent unfolding of news. He looks rather dreadful now and extremely apologetic. ] I was looking for other volunteers. Ginia w-wasn't supposed to be used...s-sorry. [ He looks for the briefest of moments a bit ashamed for not really thinking ahead towards something so potent and mentally shocking. ]

I t-tried to, um, make it one. Nothing went wrong so th-that's always good. [ No blowing up anything this time! ]