Do You Believe in Magic?
Chapter One: The Job
Shut up. I've been craving this pairing for ages, it seems (more like a week, hah) and I can't find it anywhere. So my solution? Write it. I wasn't sure how to make it work at all, so I've decided to go alternate universe with the whole thing. Yeah, I'm good.
Rating: PG-13 for now, but I don't know if I'll choose to up it or not. So yeah. Look out in later chapters.
Genre(s): Romance… I don't know what else. Maybe nothing else. To be decided, I suppose.
Original Characters: None
Out of Characterness: Hey, I'm trying, cut me some slack.
Spoilers: Nope. AU.
Summary: Central is the city of magic, is it not? College student Scheska is determined to make her way in the world, even if it means taking a meaningless side-job as a magician's assistant. But in a world deeper than she'd ever assumed, can she even survive her little encounter with the other magicians? And is there any hope for anything between her and her oddly apathetic boss?
Pairing: Archer/Scheska.FOR THE WIN.
Other: Yes, yes, I know her name is spelled a million different ways. This way is easier to type, so I'll be using it. And yes, I know I usually write from Archer's POV. Why change? Because I like Scheska, and felt the story would be better from her view. Shut up.
That should be all, so without hesitation, read and review. Thank you.
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Do you believe in magic
In a young girl's heart…
"Auugh! I can't be late! I can't! Not today, not now!" Scheska, the typical Central University bookworm, was late, again. This was the third time this week, and of course it was for the same class. She should have known better than to schedule an hour lunch break, she always got wrapped up in her books and forgot about class. At least it wasn't anything important… Who needed to know how to work a computer anyway? She preferred handwriting. She barely skidded into class on time, apologizing profusely to the professor and hid in the back amongst her papers and books, as well as the computer monitor. And once again, she tuned him out and tried to sneak another few chapters out of the hour and a half class. Well, it was a rather boring class, she could learn everything from the book, and the teacher didn't even teach! It was a shame attendance was so highly valued or she'd skip class…
As a Senior, just trying to get through her last year, Scheska had to worry about payments to the university more than the actual classes. Her parents didn't have enough to support her younger siblings, and how was she supposed to do it all on her own? But of course Scheska would rather stick her nose in a book and pretend it didn't exist. That hadn't helped though, now she was desperate for a side job.
And so after class, she was once again out searching around the town for some sort of side-job. Really, she was getting desperate. She was a total klutz, so waitressing was out of the option. She couldn't be trusted to work in a bookstore, or anywhere near books or magazines at all, really. Retail was difficult, since she couldn't stand still without fidgeting, which had a tendency to bother her co-workers. So once again, Scheska was out of job ideas. But surely there had to be something.
Her wandering had led her downtown into the rather seedy area of Central, an area she hadn't been to before. Well of course curiosity won out over rumors, so she was interested in looking around, promising to back out on the first sign of trouble. The women walking the streets were surely older than they looked, wearing as little as they possibly could to show off their cleavage and everything else, really. Scheska felt out of place in her brown turtleneck and jeans. Well, she was out of place. She shouldn't be here at all, she wasn't interested in whoring herself out. She wasn't that desperate.
But then something caught her eye, a bright flier stapled to a telephone pole. She approached it and examined the flier, talking about a magic show, staring a gorgeous man with dark hair and dark eyes, flanked by a pretty blonde assistant. There was nothing that implied that they were hiring, but Scheska felt drawn to it. She always had believed in a magician's magic, no matter what it was. Fantasy was one of her favorite genres of fiction, after all. Before she could tell herself otherwise, she was heading down to the building advertised, address already memorized. That photographic memory sometimes seemed to be more of a burden than a gift.
The building was empty, Scheska noticed that right away. It was a run-down little theatre with worn red seats, most a darker color now from age and use, perhaps. Scheska didn't want to think about what could have been done in those seats. Ugh. She really shouldn't be here, but curiosity was something that she just couldn't get rid of. "H-hello?" She hated stuttering, but she couldn't help but be a touch afraid.
She turned slightly at the sound of a small explosion, more than a little surprised when a cloud of smoke appeared and a man walked out, bright white teeth set in a nearly-cheesy smile. "Hello, dear. What can the magician Flame do to help you?"
Scheska stared up at him, finding him to be the man on the flier. The black hair was a little longer and ill-cut in comparison to the picture, but otherwise he did look very much the same. She assumed he was in his late twenties or so, judging by the slight wrinkles already appearing around his eyes he worked hard. Probably never got any real education. She would have sighed, but she was more than a little captivated by those lovely dark eyes. "Ah… ah…" She stuttered for a moment before pushing her glasses back up and ducking her head respectively. "My name is Scheska, I was wondering if you have a spot open for work."
"Work?" Flame repeated, tilting his head curiously. "Work, work, work… Hey Riza, do we have any available spots for workers?"
From the back came a shorter woman, still taller than Scheska, who appeared to be around Flame's age. Her blonde hair was worn loose around her shoulders, still applying makeup and wearing a rather skimpy costume in contrast to Flame's very formal attire. "What? Jobs? Try Crimson, he's always looking for workers."
"No, no, not him, he'd just rape you, dear." Flame stated, waving a hand airily, as if this sort of thing happened every day. It probably did. "No, no, I'd hate to just send her away, maybe there's something we have? Do we have anyone scrubbing the floors? Or maybe she can sew and can mend some of these seats…?"
Scheska would rather not touch these seats, thank you. But she didn't say anything, far too desperate for work to turn down anything offered.
"Oh hey, what about Steel? Didn't his assistant…?"
"Ooh, better not to bring that up, darling." Flame turned back to Scheska and held his hands out with a flash of that cheap smile. "Well, dear, it turns out there is another magician in the business, a personal… ah, friend of mine, Steel. His assistant… went missing a little while ago and he's been searching for another one of late. Perhaps I could introduce you two?"
Went missing? More like ran off, Scheska thought to herself, nodding slightly without realizing it. Maybe the pay wasn't very good? Or perhaps she just lost interest or something? Of course there was a third possibility, but Scheska really didn't want to think about that. After all, it would more or less ruin her perfect little world view. No, no, she wouldn't have killed herself…
"Good, good!" Flame stated with a clap of his hands. Scheska noticed gloves with a strange design on the backs, but she didn't get a chance to say anything before the man clapped his hands to her shoulders and turned her around, pointing her at the entrance of the building. "You'll want to avoid the building right across from us. That's the magician Crimson's domain. He's… not a very nice man, I suppose. You want Steel, he's straight out, down to your left, and it should be… the third or fourth on your right. I can't quite recall. If you hit fourth street, you've gone too far. Mmkay, dear?" With another pat on the shoulder, he pushed her forward a little.
"Ah, um, yes, thanks!" Scheska waved a little and scurried out, briefly wondering just what kind of an outfit Flame's assistant was wearing. Hopefully that wasn't the required outfit! She'd never wear something like that. Ugh! She made sure to stay as far away as possible from the building across the way, which seemed to be in the same state of disarray as Flame's. Further down the way just became even worse, with more and more whores, even a few pimps, or so she assumed. What bothered her the most were the young boys running around. She hoped they were just sons of the whores. She knew they weren't.
Finally she reached the building, finding it to be in a similar state of disaster as the other two. She pushed the door in, not surprised to find it open. Like in Flame's theatre, there were rows of seats, perhaps a dark color of some sort, all faded to a brownish-black that looked rather disgusting. She honestly hoped this wasn't where she'd be working. Who could even stand working in a place like this? Retail would be better, even though they had horrible pay…
"Excuse me? Hello?" She was more confident this time, perhaps because she knew what was coming. A puff of smoke, the sudden appearance of the magician Steel. Steel, what a strange name for a magician. Stage names were supposed to be interesting, of course, but this one was just… bizarre. Something she wouldn't have expected, to put it lightly.
This time though, there was no poof. There wasn't any dramatic entrance, in fact. Scheska jumped a little as the man she assumed to be the magician entered from stage left (or was it right? Scheska could never tell the difference). "Hello." He greeted simply, not the smallest hint of emotion in his voice. "What are you doing here?"
Well, straight to the point, that wasn't a bad thing. Maybe there was a bit of an optimist in Scheska, but she didn't want to see anyone in a bad light until it was literally forced down her throat. Okay, not literally. "My name is Scheska, I'm a student at the university… I'm looking for a part-time job. I was told that you are in need of an assistant?" Why was she doing this again? Just because fantasy and magic interested her? She knew this wasn't real magic… But it was still so cool, to say that she was a magician's assistant. Her mother wouldn't be too proud, but her little sister would be thrilled. Maybe she'd learn some tricks…
"An assistant?" The man asked, running a hand back through his perfectly slicked back silver-gray hair. In reality, she figured he couldn't be much older than Flame, though his hair gave the appearance of someone older. Prematurely gray, perhaps? "Did Crimson…? No, no, he wouldn't bother. Strongarm, perhaps? No, no…" He frowned, the first change of expression she'd seen on him. "Don't tell me it was Flame." Though there was no change in his voice, he certainly didn't seem pleased.
Scheska didn't answer though, unsure of what to say. He didn't seem to want to hear that it was Flame. But hadn't the other magician said that they were friends?
"Regardless… I haven't actually performed in over a month. My assistant… ran off a few weeks back and I haven't been able to find a suitable replacement." He stated, back to the emotionless norm. "What makes you think that you can be my assistant?"
Well, she should have guessed an interview would be part of it. This was just a tidbit intimidating though, having her interviewer standing up above her and asking the questions down at her. "Well, I've never done this before, but I learn fast, and I'm willing to do everything I can to try to learn the ins and outs of this business." She paused for a moment, waiting for an expression change at least. "I've always been very interested in this… sir." Might as well add some respect.
That seemed to do the trick, for he nodded and finally walked off the stage, reappearing down the stairs on the side. "Scheska, is it?" He held out a hand. "My stage name is Steel, but you may call me Archer. I expect you to be here tomorrow at eight, we'll start rehearsals then. I expect you to know all your measurements as well."
That earned a weird look. "Ex-excuse me?"
"For your costume, of course." Archer answered, not looking in the least abashed for how she had taken the question. "Goodbye."
And with that, Scheska was nearly kicked out of the theatre, staring back in confusion. She'd gotten the job? Just like that? But what about payment? What about this costume? Didn't she get a say in this? But then again, this really was the only thing she had right now… Scheska nodded to herself. "I'll just try it. If I don't like it, I can always leave."
Hopefully.
