callmeles | Of Wishes and New Friends (for Zayne)

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Of Wishes and New Friends (for Zayne)

Piper liked Seattle. It was a place they'd never come to and so most of her memories were of her childhood with her Mom, Dad, and sister. Those memories in of themselves were a bit mixed up but they were easier to deal with than places she'd otherwise escape to. A ton had changed (cost of living and the growth of the city) and at the same time, a lot hadn't changed (the weather and the people).

She had heard through a radio advertisement that a magician was coming to town for a few nights. They had warned that his show was so popular that it sold out very quickly in other cities and you should act quick if you wanted to catch one.

Any other night and she'd have rolled her eyes and not bothered. Something that she wasn't going to put a name to urged her to look him up and read what he was about. His name was Zayne and apparently, his act was unique. Unique enough where there were YouTube videos upon YouTube videos attempting to debunk his performance or somehow recreate it. She had to admit, the man was very attractive and seemed very charming.

Huh.

Well, this she had to see. And, if there was something magical about him, perhaps ask him a couple of questions if it was even possible.

Over the last year or year and a half, since then, she had searched for any possible way of bringing Jordan back. She'd always tell Jordan that if she somehow died on her, she'd find some way of bringing her scrawny ass back.

So far, she hadn't had any luck.

Deep down, she knew it was a worthless task but she had to try everything she could think of.

So she bought a ticket, somewhere close to the stage for a stupid exorbitant amount of money (because it was Seattle and everything is stupidly inflated). When the evening arrived, she got dressed in a nice outfit (a little black number) and made her way to the theater. Since being in town, she hadn't really gone to shows but this was an exception.

She found her seat and settled in. Piper listened to the chattering, to the squealing of teenage girls (and women) around her and others who were determined to find some way of debunking him.

Well, this was going to be an entertaining evening. Even if she came away no closer to an answer, she'd was sure the show would be worth it.

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"Alessandra," he announces, his voice projecting to the back of the hall as he holds up their joined hands for everyone to applaud her. And they do, the applause thunderous.

"This is a new trick and I'm excited to share it with you all. First though I'm going to need some information from you all. Someone tell me what your favorite animal is."

There is yelling and shouting. Everything from tigers and elephants to gorillas and puppies. One lady in the front keeps saying wolf. He looks to Alessandra.

"Which do you think? I mean, since I'm going to turn you into one of them. Which would you prefer?"

The audience quiets down as he asks her that.

She had to admit, if only to herself, that she liked the way the name sounded out of his mouth. Piper grinned at the applause then raised her eyebrows when he asked the crowd their favorite animal. What was he... oh. When he asked her her preference, she tilted her head.

Piper had always liked large cats but she was leaning toward something else today. "I'm feeling the wolf vibe," she said, projecting her voice a bit so she could be heard. She'd heard the lady in the front saying wolf and hell, why not.

She was curious how this would go. If anything, it's a nice change of pace.

Now he knows what the audience is expecting. Sleight of hand, some tricks with mirrors, a well trained tiger drugged so it isn't a risk to himself and others. Or, in this case, a wolf.

That he lets them choose is part of the fun. That he lets her choose and he loves that they'll think she works for him. Except she'll know. Not just that she's not but what he's going to do.

He moves to walk her up onto the platform, letting go of her hand then as he steps back.

"A wolf it will be then. Whatever the lady wants, after all."

Stepping away, the assistant's draw up a metal cage. For the audience it would look like it suddenly happened from one moment to the next. For Alessandra it's a sudden, magical shift and she's suddenly in the cage a wolf.

Not any sleight of hand, just turning her into a wolf. The audience cheers and laughs.

"Now. One of you," he says, gesturing at the audience. "Something that we can ask her to do for us to prove it's her. Something obviously a wolf can do but that I couldn't have known to train her for."

They all start yelling out things and he finally picks one that couldn't really have been thought of to train them for.

"Ms Alessandra," he says, coming to start into her eyes, smiling widely. "Would you please lay down, put your face on the ground and thump your tail three times?"

Her mouth curled up just a little at the edges. When the metal cage came up around her, she truly had to take a moment to breathe and not react. She's allowed this to happen after all. She could have refused or chosen a less dangerous animal.

One moment she's human and the next... she's on all fours as a wolf. If she thought her senses were heightened as a witch, it was nothing compared to that of the wolf. She stretched out slowly, testing out the strength that she felt, and cocked her head.

Piper would say that she was not completely expecting this but considering what she'd felt from him during that first trick, she's not that surprised. It intrigued her, truthfully, that someone like him was operating on that very thin line between a normal magician and a true magician in all sense of the word.

She growled low, almost playful when he looked into her eyes with that wide smile. You're just lucky you're kind of cute, she thought to herself. Scratch that. More than kind of cute. He was also lucky that his magic didn't feel wrong otherwise, well she would not have been here otherwise. As requested, Piper laid down, after an awkward moment of uncertainty, and then thumped her tail three times.

I'm only a little jealous I don't have a shifter power now.

Though, she was well aware shifters had their own issues that they dealt with.

Edited 2020-12-04 01:46 (UTC)

It was too much and he knows it. Not just in shifting her, but in asking her to do those things to prove that it's not a trained wolf. Though he knows they'll believe that and will argue that it's all mirrors and smoke, and he loves that. It's why he's allowed to keep doing this, because no one can prove he's truly using magic.

Except he had just revealed himself to someone, and so there's a chance the Whip could be after him. His luck is it with be Madoc. Bastard's wanted to nail his ass to the wall for years.

"Isn't she still lovely?"

Grinning as he steps back, gesturing towards her as the audience cheers.

"Though I think I liked her much better as she was before."

The music soars, the lights flicker and spotlights roll over the crowd.

He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a handful of glitter. He tosses it into the air and as he does, she shifts back to herself.

"Isn't she much more lovely like this?!"

Piper watches him and cocks her head a little before turning to face the crowd and growls, though it was a playful growl all the same. She found the man absolutely fascinating and was looking forward to the rest of his show if this was any indication of what to expect.

Just like before, one minute she was a wolf and in the next, she was herself again, standing and grateful for the bars to be put down. She gave the crowd a smile. "I have to say, I enjoy being myself as well," she said. Though, there was something to be said about being a wolf for a minute or two.

There was also a part of her that would really want to speak to him one on one but she wasn't sure how to go about that or if it was even a possibility.

He laughs at her reaction, a loud and booming sound of appreciation as he moves to offer her his hand as the others open the cage.

"Thank you for being such a beautiful and elegant sport about this. I know it's asking so much."

Many will think she's a plant, that they staged this. Usually he does use others who knew what he was. Now though he wants her to look to him and want to try and learn more. Since he wants to know more about her as well.

"And because you were such good sport, your evening is on me," he says. "Try and not drink too much of that champagne at your table."

And suddenly there is a stand and bucket with an expensive champagne in the ice, cooling.

Piper laughed and takes the offered hand, stepping down from the stage. "You should be so lucky, usually I ask for dinner before I let anyone turn me into an animal," she said, perhaps before she thought better of it.

But then he mentions that the champagne was on him and well, that did make up for it. "But champagne will do just as well," she said with a grin. Truth be told, she did want to learn more about him. She found him absolutely fascinating in a way she didn't really expect that evening.

She heard the audience laugh at her response and gave a somewhat elegant and perhaps slightly awkward bow. Everyone would probably think she was somehow in on his magic trick but she knew that what she'd just experienced was anything but smoke and mirrors.

Her words get that laugh from the audience and he can't help but smile. They would definitely think she was a plant now and he loves it. It keeps the Whips from thinking they can make him stop. So long as no one believes the truth, there's nothing they can do. Not by their own rules.

He takes her hand, leading her to the stairs. The lights swirl and flicker as the next trick is prepared for. He leans in close to her.

"Stay around after the show. Someone will come bring you to me," he says in a low, soft voice as he escorts her to her table. "And enjoy the show."

Piper gave his hand a little squeeze before releasing it in acknowledgment of his words. There was no doubt about it, she'd definitely have to stay now and see what he had to say. "I have no doubt that I will enjoy the rest of the show." She took her seat and reached over to pour herself a bit of the champagne he'd given her.

She had no doubt that everyone in the audience would think she was part of the show and while they both knew she wasn't, she wasn't opposed to pretending she was. Piper could see why, aside from his looks, that his show was so popular. It truly blurred that line between magic and trickery. It was fascinating.

The rest of the show was a spectacle of lights and glitter and animals and mystery. Tricks that were nothing like anyone had ever seen, that they couldn't replicate, and much as they tried no one of them could manage to figure out.

Then the stage went dark and the lights came on and one of the sequin clad gentlemen came to her table. "If you'll come with me, Miss," he says with a wide smile and turns to head for backstage. "Can we get you a drink?"

"Only a water, please," she said, her bag over her shoulder as she follows the man backstage. She saw a few fangirls trying to get his attention so that they too can be lead backstage.

Piper shook her head with an amused grin, already knowing the skeptics in the crowd would be talking about it on their YouTube channels in the upcoming day(s). It had been an amazing show. Normally, she didn't find shows like this interesting in the least and she knew why. Most of those were tricks of illusion and this one toed the line very well.

The gentleman nods at that, smiling brightly at her as he stops by a fridge just outside a dressing room and pulling out a bottle that he hands to her. He ignores them, his attention on Piper and her alone.

"Zayne will be here in a moment. He always takes a moment to meditate just after a performance. For his health," he says, which is the truth. Just not in the way it seems to many when they're told that. Most think it's setting up the tricks and dismantling his secrets.

In truth he's recovering from the magic that he's done.

The assistant leads her to a room with candles and candies on a table, with comfortable couches and everything set up for company and it shows.

"He'll be right in, Ma'am."

"Thank you," she said then took the bottle of water from him. She nodded in understanding and let him lead her into the room. "That makes sense," she agreed, thinking of how long it had been since she's meditated. Far too long, no doubt.

"Thank you again and I hope you have a good rest of your evening." She knew it was undoubtedly part of his job, she still appreciated it all the same. Piper could imagine just how late their nights went but as far as jobs went, it seemed exciting and always changing.

Once she was alone in the room, Piper took a moment to survey her surroundings. It was comfortable and charming. It was also set up for company and that thought made her grin. It could be taken for a romantic atmosphere but she also got the feeling it was supposed to make the person comfortable. Whether this was set up for every show he had or if it was a spur of the moment thing, she didn't know. It didn't really matter one way or the other, honestly.

Throughout the show, she'd found herself more and more intrigued by him and that thin line he skirted with absolute ease. It was... inspiring, actually.

It isn't all that long before there's a polite knock on the door. It might be his room but that doesn't change that he'll be polite and let her know he's entering.

Opening the door he comes in wearing loose fitting black pants that flow with his step and a white singlet that shows off his muscles and the naturally rich tones of his skin.

"Well well. I wasn't expecting to have prestigious company tonight. You should have let us know. You would have had VIP treatment." He steps forward, offering his hand to her. "I'm Zayne, and the pleasure is all mine. Thank you for playing along."

Piper sat down the bottle of water when she heard the knock and turned to look at the door. She took a moment to look the man over, now that he was out of his flashy outfit. There was no denying that the man was very attractive.

Her mouth curled up as she shook her head. "Prestigious is one way of putting it, I suppose," she said and stepped forward, taking his hand in hers and shaking it. "Piper and no, thank you. That was the most fun that I've had in a while." She knew she was admitting to the fact that she'd given him a false name earlier but she got the feeling that he knew (or suspected) who she was.

"You put on one hell of a show. It's inspiring."

"How else would you put it? Come now. I get magic workers from time to time, but you are off the charts," he says, looking her over. "In every single way"

Taking a moment, shaking her hand and smiling at that. "I'm so glad," he says, accepting that she had given an alias. It's what he would have done in her place as well. "Please, please. Sit down. I mean, unless you were sent to shut me down. In which case, I'll be greatly disappointed."

She wouldn't be the first one sent to prove he was revealing himself, after all.

"I bet you say that to everyone," Piper couldn't help but tease him before taking the offered seat with a shake of her head.

Settling in, she watched him for a moment, crossing her legs. "No, I'm not here to shut you down. Honestly, I didn't know about your show until recently. I had to come and see it for myself." Piper debated for a moment. "So, how private is this place?" The last thing she wanted was for any information about her to get out because of some passerby overhearing their conversation.

"Maybe," he says with a grin and a wink. "But with you I mean it."

And he does. She is definitely on another plane when it comes to her energy and he is finding that he really likes that from her.

When she says she's not there for that, he can't help but smile. Moving to sit down across from her, waving a hand. A chilled bottle of wine appeared before them, two glasses with it. He leans forward to pour them both a glass.

A wave of his hand and there's a shimmer. "It's just you and me," he says with a smile. "No cameras, no recording devices. I am, basically, at your mercy."

Piper laughed and nodded, bringing her drink to her mouth for a sip. She set the bottle of water down then watched as he sat down across from her and summoned the bottle of wine. She reached over and took the glass from him.

She swirled the wine in the glass and watched the liquid for a moment before lifting her glass to look at Zayne. "My name is Piper Allison. I'm not sure how much you know of various prophecies but I was part of a prophecy until my cousin was killed. Ever heard of the Enchanted?"

It wasn't the first time she'd talked about it and honestly, it was starting to get easier to say without wanting to fall apart. "I don't suppose you have the power to bring people back from the dead, do you?" It was said jokingly but she couldn't deny that there was a hopeful note at the end.

He isn't sure what he expected. He's had others others come to his show that sensed the reality but he hadn't found anyone here like this. No one like the woman sitting before him. And then he said something he never thought that he, as a djinn might say to someone.

"I never thought they were real," he says, being honest with her. "Which I never thought I've said," he admits to her. "Though you may have asked the one person that isn't able to help you with his own power. One of the few things that Disney ever got right," he says, shaking his head.

"Genies can't bring the dead back to life."

"That's fair. We didn't know a single thing about it until marks appeared on our wrists," she said with a half-smile before bringing the glass of wine up to her mouth. She would say that she didn't expect someone like him to be real but she'd become less surprised by what was real than ever before.

She nodded in understanding and mentally shifted to move on. She'd come on a fluke, not knowing what to truly expect from the show and while she'd been hopeful, she'd known better than to place her bets on it. "I figured it was a long shot," Piper admitted and settled into the couch.

"The show was fantastic, probably one of the best I've been to. I lost track of how many times I heard how attractive you were and also what were the best methods to replicate your illusions." It was a rapid change of subject, she knew that but there was no point in dragging it out.

"It's kind of neat having a legend here as well," he notes with a small smile. "It's always been interesting living as the things stories are made from. How does it feel for you?"

Because he's only ever talked to a few beings like himself. They were all scattered and tended to avoid one another. Especially genies.

"And yet you get here and you find a genie. I feel like it was kismet," he admits, considering her curiously. He lights up though when she says she enjoyed the show.

"I'm so glad. I wasn't sure what I would have done if you hadn't played along. Thank you for that. It'll be my best rated show and they'll want me to do it again," he admits, giving her a wink. "Might have to glamour you and let you come to another one."

Piper considered his question for a moment in silence. She thought back to when she and Jordan found out who they were and how they felt months after the realization. "I loved it, once upon a time. It was exciting and something different than the normal "boring" life I thought I'd have when I grew up. Recently, I lost a bit of that zeal... I even got to a point where I cursed it. Now? I'm not sure. Of course, if you were talking about being around you, it's fascinating. In all this time, I've never come across someone like you."

"I cannot disagree with that. I came across your ad for the show by happenstance and felt drawn to attending," she admitted. "I figured if anything it'll get me out of the house and do something different for a change."

She laughed when he said he may have to glamour her. "I curse that shapeshifting was not one of my powers because that was rather fun," Piper grinned, allowing herself to relax a little. Since she left London, she didn't spend long periods of time with people - especially other magical people. "I don't know - if it's the right time and right place, I'll be happy to come to another one."

"What would bring you to curse it? I have been doing this for centuries and I love it. I love how mankind changes. I love how interesting it all is," he says, staring at her with a bit of confusion as he lifts a glass of champagne, taking a drink.

"I can say the same. I've met a lot of beings but never one of you," he says, pausing a moment before adding. "Trust is that there are only a few of us left. I couldn't even tell you how many. I haven't run into another in at least fifty years? It may have been more about now," he admits, thinking about it. "At least.

"I put a bit of a charm on the adverts actually. Just in case I could find others. I guess that drew you in."

And he's glad it did.

"You know, I might be able to fashion a charm for you. A bit of my magic that would let you obtain the form regularly. I think the one thing I would have to do is just shift you ever few months, and it would just be the one form. If you're interested. We could do it through various shows?"

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