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It was hard to believe that in only a couple of days I’d gone fro on to be in a Las Vegas stage production Things happened so fast that it was easy to get swept along, and Bastien and Phoebe’s gleeful encourages happen thattook care of o get a drink and try his hand at the blackjack table Once he left the theatre, though, Phoebe leaned over to er for you How low?"
I laughed and whispered back, "I won’t take that bet Are you sure you haven’t worked with hiet laid wasn’t that far of a stretch, but I liked how adeptly Phoebe was able to pick up on my old friend’s personality quirks
"Nah," she said with a smile "I’ve just known his type"
Other dancers began trickling in Phoebe introduced us as they arrived, and roup They weren’t yet at their full number needed for the show, so everyone was anxious for that to happen I brought theh it surprised me they were still short Froirls lined up to try to make it in show business Phoebe confirmed as much
"Oh, yeah, tons have tried out And you should have seen the Matthias is just really selective, that’s all Cornelia - the head choreographer - is just as bad"
"And yet he took me on a five-rinned "Sweetie, he just knows talent when he sees it Besides, he’s in charge of this gig If he says you’re in, you’re in"
Matthias wasn’t the only one running the show, of course Along with the dancers caement and staff, like the aforementioned Cornelia Everyone had a part to play The rehearsal was fast-paced and aggressive - but also lots of fun Phoebe hadn’t been joking The other dancers were good - really good It had been a very long tier since I ith one of such caliber I was used to being the standout at anything dance related, and it was a surprise - a good one - to find myself surrounded by so many equals I had to work to keep up with them on the first day, and even if I didn’t walk out as an instant star, I left confident that I’d held o, one of the show’s costue Phoebe told o hunt down Bastien and meet me at the casino’s central bar The seamstress appeared with her tape ht for future shape-shifting Matthias ca his notes, and paused when he saw us
"You did really well today," he told me "It’s like you’ve been with us from the first day"
"Hardly," I said "I’ve still got a lot to learn Especially in the fourth song The steps are deceptively siot to hold to pull them off No, maybe not attitude Grace? Vibe? I can’t explain it, but the sienius It seems like such a basic pattern, but how it’s executed is what truly brings out the beauty" I was thinking aloud, just sort of ra, and realized that I sounded kind of ridiculous "Sorry That probably doesn’t make any sense"
"No, no" Matthias stared at ly "That’s exactly it That’s how I intended it I was inspired by watching classical ballet, how all the moves are amplified by the emotion put into the routines Cornelia said it was crazy to try to think that deep for a show like this, but it just felt right"
"It’s beautiful," I said honestly "I can absolutely see where you were going with it Re from La Bayad��re"
"You know La Bayad��re?" he asked, wide-eyed
"Of course," I said "It’s a classic Who doesn’t?"
"You’d be surprised"
I realized then that the seaoal Matthias was still regarding me in amazement Now that they weren’t focused on the clipboard, I was able to see how blue his eyes were They were like the sky on a clear, crisp day
"Are you busy tonight?" he asked a few et dinner? Or even just a drink? I’d love to talk dance more with you"
For a succubus, I could be surprisingly na?ve sometimes Because for half an instant, I almost accepted I was so keyed up after the rehearsal and so excited to talk ht that was all he wanted to go out for Now, I don’t mean to imply that histhis as a ruse to si this as a ues Bottom line: he liked o out on a date
Normally, that wouldn’t have been a proble I sincerely liked about hi I loved how he kept getting wrapped up in it, totally consumed and distracted like - Seth
And there was the probleht fling with so in the eyes of our relationship But forand attractive in the sa, especially since Matthias was obviously interested in e situation to be in, one I hadn’t expected
"Oh, that would be great, but my friends and I already have plans," I told hi to make the most of my trip since it’s so short"
"Oh" His face fell a little, then brightened "But you’ll be back for toreat if you were able to get in the steps oneto practice"
"Sure," I said "That’d be great"
The rest of the evening went by in a blur of activity Phoebe joined Bastien and hts, which included a lot of casino and club hopping Phoebe and I both donned ski up our succubus sex appeal to its maxiered around evenus off
After hours of this, I was ready for some downtime Phoebe and Bastien had a quick consultation and decided that if we hurried we could ic show they knew
"Magic?" I asked, iic show?"
"Daallant in offeringwho special about this show, I’ve heard" There was a lint in his eyes
The three of us made our way to a modest, off-Strip hotel I’d never heard of It still had alcohol and slot machines in its casino, which was probably all that ht us tickets to see The Great Jambini, and we hurried into the shts went down A mediocre comedian did the warm-up act, and soon the star attraction hiht purple silk turban, along with a sequined cape that could have coht fro over its hem, which led to my first observation: he was totally drunk A second observation soon followed, once I realized there were natures in here than just mine, Phoebe’s, and Bastien’s The Great Jambini was an imp
He started off with so half-hearted applause fro, which I found remarkable simply because of the concentration it required from someone so obviously intoxicated He didn’t miss a move I think the other members of the audience shared my opinion because their applause warreat show of setting his juggling pins on fire This brought the applause to a standstill, and some of the people in the front rows shifted uneasily
"Is that a good idea?" I murmured to my friends
"It never is," remarked Phoebe
"What do youthe pins, Jaand proasped and screa its cheap nited faster He stoehands on the periphery ready with fire extinguishers, just in case Once the cape was a black, sed fro up into the air, ht of the spectators
"It was part of the show," I breathed, equally impressed
"Yup," said Phoebe
Jambini reached for the dove, which just barely slipped past him It circled around the roo the way, it sideswiped a woman whose hair was elaborately French braided The dove’s foot got tangled in her hair, and it soon becas frantically to escape as she leaped up and began screa
"Was that part of the show?" I asked
"No," said Phoebe in awe "But it really should be"
Within seconds, the stagehands were out in the audience, where they were able to remove and confine the dove They escorted the woies The Great Jaht of the crowd Everyone loves a wacky mishap
He performed a few scarf tricks, most of which went off without a hitch, and then carave "For my next trick, I need a volunteer" His eyes fell on our corner "A lovely volunteer"
"Oh, he noticed us," said Phoebe, with a sigh She raised her hand, along with others in the audience When I did nothing, she elbowed reat show of exa all the volunteers, Jambini strode up to our table and extended his hand toset on fire or attacked by birds, but it was hard for me to refuse an audience I accepted Jae, while thunderous applause rang out around us
"Just shape-shift into any outfit that comes to mind," he in
Once ere on center stage, he took the microphone and kicked into showman mode "Now, my lovely assistant herewhat is your name, lovely assistant?"
I leaned toward the ina What a lovely naina, all you have to do is allow yourself to be receptive to the awe-inspiring, truly ic If you do, wondrous transfor ensued
Jambini walked over to his prop table and returned with a curtain attached to a hoop and a handle When he held it up by the handle, the curtain hung down in a way that created an enclosed cylinder, coly stepped forward, letting the folds of fabric hide ical countdown" In those brief seconds, I shape-shiftedthat careen foil elf dress
Ja ht, and I gave a bow aled by the response, Jambini declared, "One more tied this time into black jeans, a silver-sequined top, and a woman’s tuxedo jacket When he pulled back the curtain, the applause faltered a little bit before increasing to a frenzy I’d seen these types of tricks perfor, and usually perforet on and off My choice of clothing kind of defied the logic of those faic, right?
"Show-off," Bastien told me when I returned toJaotten about a third of the way there before he started coughing With a shrug, he finally gave up and simply bowed to delayed applause "These people deserve so for their money"
Jambini - or Jamie, as I later learned he was really naroup met up with him in the hotel’s drab bar after the show
"Switching to pants was genius," he toldsuspicion that the show’s actual perforiven day "People are going to be scratching their heads over that one for days"