Work Text:
Es carefully arranged the trunk just so , to ensure that the more delicate items were carefully protected during transport. Their most breakable items were packaged separately of course, as were the more flammable or live items. Lyke was taking care of that part of things - he’d always had more of an affinity for the smaller and furrier members of their act.
They didn’t use animals in every show - though Lyke did think it was hilarious to begin their magic show by pulling a rabbit out of a hat, not every audience would readily agree - but they were booked to entertain for the last week of school, and Dyre Ode had agreed that the more animals they could incorporate the better. It did help balance out the more traditional portions of their act. The kids would likely still enjoy those, of course, she and Lyke worked hard to make them entertaining for any audience, but the animals would be an easy win.
“You almost ready?” asked Lyke, his head poking around the corner.
“All packed,” said Es. “Give me a hand getting it in the van?”
Lyke stepped into the doorway, a trolley already in hand. Es laughed and Lyke grinned in response.
“I thought I was supposed to be the mind reader?” said Es.
“Maybe I got the idea by your psychic projection,” said Lyke.
----
Pickman did not ordinarily dread going to work. She was good at her job and the children in her classes were relatively obedient to her direction, if a little high energy. Even that tended to work in her favour, being the gym teacher. A little longer on the track or on the court for a group that seemed like they had a little extra energy to get out before they returned to their indoor classes hadn’t killed anybody yet even if it had annoyed some of the other teachers.
She wondered if that was why she’d been given the short straw for the last week. Chaperoning the whole year level to some children’s magic show. Pickman let out a huff of breath through her nose. At least it was during work hours. She certainly wouldn’t have wanted to use her own time to see a magic show .
“I think it’ll be fun!” said Marn. “Do you think they’ll do card tricks?”
“If they do, I’ll tell you how they’re done,” said Hazard.
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t want that,” said Marn. “It would spoil the magic, right Ms Pickman?”
“Magic isn’t real,” said Pickman.
Hazard tilted their head to one side. “Not a fan?”
“Seems like a waste of everyone’s time,” said Pickman.
“I heard they’re going to saw someone in half,” said Hazard.
“ What ?” said Marn. “No they’re not, who told you that?”
“It’s on their poster,” said Hazard.
“Oh, I’m sure that’s just for effect,” said Marn. “After all, they have a rabbit coming out of a hat too, and what magician nowadays would do that?”
“A shame,” said Pickman. “It almost seemed interesting for a moment.”
----
Chine hadn’t been working at the theatre long, only a month or so. They’d probably move on again after the weather turned a little colder, head towards the coast and see if they could get work down at the docks or on a ship that was heading in an interesting direction. Not that they weren’t enjoying their time at the theatre, it was interesting work, and the company wasn’t bad either.
It had been good to stumble into Duvall again. They’d hitchhiked together for a while back in the day, sharing supplies and a camp by the roadside when they were unsuccessful at getting a ride and exploring cities and little towns together when they were. It had been nice to have the company for a change, swapping stories and sharing travel advice with Duvall. He was still good company.
Well, most of the time. He was a little irritable in the present moment.
“It’s just a little cliche, y’know?” said Duvall. “I mean, a magician sawing his beautiful assistant in half? It’s just, I don’t know, it’s a little regressive.”
“I’m sure the kids will like it,” said Chine.
“Yeah, probably,” said Duvall. “I- uh. Is your kid coming?”
“Yeah, if that’s okay?” said Chine. “I don’t know how much attention they’ll give the stage but… As long as that would be okay?”
“Of course,” said Duvall quickly. “I could even- I mean, I know you’ll be busy during the show so I’d be happy to look out for them, if you wanted.”
“Hey, that’d be great,” said Chine. “Thanks Duvall.”
He patted Duvall on his shoulder. Duvall made an odd surprised sound, but Chine didn’t point it out. Duvall tended to do that when you touched him. Must not be from a very demonstrative family, Chine figured.
----
Marn helped usher their large group of kids into the theatre, her eyes flicking to Hazard and Pickman before she let herself look up to the antique honeycomb decorations that covered the inside of the theatre. The Beehive, locals called it, a cornerstone of the local arts community, hosting everything from travelling musical theatre to local talent shows.
Even though she was familiar with the layout, she always liked to take a moment to appreciate how well-preserved and well cared for the space was. It had been okay in the past, but ever since Duvall had taken over ownership it had really begun to shine. She could see that a few of the footlights must have been recently restored. It was little things like that that made her feel very excited at the prospect of holding the school play there next year. She’d really pushed for it, and if the kids had a good time today that would probably help convince some of the more on-the-fence parents of the idea about a stage outside of the school campus.
The lights began to dim. Marn bounced a little in her seat, her eyes flicking from lights to curtain, and then to the students around her as they all turned their attention to the lights of the stage.
----
Duvall watched from the wings, keeping a tight hold on Chine’s kid’s hand so they didn’t run out on stage behind Lyke. They could see the routine well enough from there - Lyke warming up the crowd with a series of card tricks, the same showboating sleight of hand he’d been using on Duvall all week.
“Here to wish us luck?” said Es quietly.
Duvall almost jumped. Es was beside him, her hair and makeup stage ready but wrapped in an enormous green silk dressing gown, the train of it pooling around her feet. Duvall dreaded to think what ridiculous sequin-covered bodysuit she’d been forced to put on.
“I’m surprised he doesn’t have you out there holding the card packs for him,” said Duvall.
Es wrinkled her nose. Maybe that was a little harsh of him, but Lyke had been driving him up the wall all week - “is this your card? No? Is this your card? But what about- ah hah, in your pocket! This is your card! No? Well, I’ll get it eventually” and “I bet I can guess what number you’re thinking of” and “hey, Duvall, there you are, watch me make this disappear”. And that wasn’t even getting into their conversation about luck which, in Duvall’s opinion really was all probability no matter what Lyke said about psychic vibrations .
“Sorry,” said Duvall, because he wasn’t mad at Es, really.
“It’s alright,” said Es quietly, turning her attention to where Lyke was wrapping up his bit of stage patter.
“Almost show time for you,” said Duvall after a moment.
“Yes,” said Es. She paused. “Duvall, I have to ask…”
Duvall looked away from the stage. “Yeah?”
Es reached into the pocket of her dressing gown. “Is this your card?”
Duvall blinked. “I-” He frowned. “Wait, yes it is, how did you-”
There was a swell of noise from the crowd and Duvall looked out to see that Lyke had returned in a complete change of outfit - a tight-fitting singlet top with a wide 70s collar and a pair of very short, very sequined, hotpants. Es, meanwhile, has slid her dressing gown off her shoulders, draping it over a nearby chair. Underneath it, she was wearing a tuxedo, the velvet lapels gleaming in the light.
“Well I have a very good assistant,” said Es.
“Presenting,” said Lyke, drawing out the word, “the one, the only, the marvelous, the magical, the magnificent Miss Es!”
Es smiled at Duvall. “Enjoy the show.”
----
It was absolute chaos. Hazard had never seen anything like it, though they were trying to pretend otherwise. They were only a substitute, after all. Maybe the regular teachers saw guys getting sawed in half all the time.
Probably not though. If they did, the kids would probably be screaming less.
They got even louder after the magician put her assistant back together and he sprang out of the box with enough force to knock off her top hat. Hazard had to admit, they were good. The guy had even sliced his outfit around the middle, like the saw really had got through him. The amount of fake blood had been pretty convincing too. Even she’d been tricked for a moment, and she used to have a regular teaching spot in Vegas .
Still, Hazard was trying to moderate his reaction by the other teachers. Pickman seemed unfazed, but then what would faze someone like Pickman? Probably even if they guy had been cut in half she would have just shrugged and called an ambulance. Marn seemed a little more concerned, offering water to some of the kids who’d been closer to the front.
“Alright?” said Pickman.
Hazard looked up at her. “Well, I guess it still beats pretending I know how to teach math.”
Pickman snorted, the corners of her lips twitching for a moment, as close to a laugh as Hazard had ever seen her.
So, all in all, a pretty successful class trip.
----
Lyke sighed, letting his eyes sweep over the stage. The fake blood was fun, and a great effect, and a big hit with the kids, but man did it take a while to clean up. Sometimes he thought they should put down plastic sheets, but it did give the set a very serial killer vibe on top of giving the game of it away a little. Part of the fun of it was that, even when people knew the trick or had seen it before, they weren’t expecting a gallon of fake blood to spray out.
“How’s it going out here?” asked Es.
Lyke leaned on the end of the mop, turning to look at her. Es had her coat on over her street clothes, his coat in her hands. Lyke grinned.
“Perfect timing,” said Lyke.
“Well, we have to have that don’t we?” said Es. “Dinner?”
“Sure,” said Lyke. “What’s good around here?”
“Chine said there’s a place that does good chilli two blocks from here,” said Es.
“Sounds good to me,” said Lyke. He took a few steps towards her and then stopped. “Oh, wait-”
He grabbed one of their prop wands, presenting it with enough of a flourish to trigger the internal mechanism and turn the thin plastic into a bouquet of fake flowers. Es huffed a laugh, taking them from him.
“How lovely,” said Es. “Did you pick them yourself?”
“I made them myself with magic,” said Lyke. “Does that count?”
Es hummed, sliding her arm through his. “I think so.”
“Then lead the way,” said Lyke.