Magic in the Air (Vars/Siofra)

[jarahamee]

The Italian restaurant was supposedly one of the best in the city, but Vars didn’t really spend a lot of time figuring out what the best and the worst places were before going to eat somewhere. No, usually he checked the menu to see if there were vegan options, and complaints about rats, and if there was one of one, and none of the other, he made a reservation. Sometimes he’d eat alone, other times, he’d go eat with Una.

He craned his neck upward to gaze up at the strings of garlic hung from one side to the other, amid the beautifully designed and painted faux kitchen, and just smiled, then looked across the table at his dinner guest.

He had taken Siofra to his magic show tonight. While he didn’t expect her to be dazzled by his mixture of traditional and true magical magics, he did want her to see what he was capable of.

Vars liked to theme his shows. This one was themed to be about ‘the passage of time’ and began with tricks featuring Devonian era animals, progressing through illusions and apparent materialization of dinosaurs, to the present with the modern world and all its creatures.

And now that it was over, he fulfilled his promise of getting her a meal, turning the menu anxiously in his hands as he tried to decide what kind of pasta he wanted to eat.

[qhostqrowls]

Sitting opposite Vars was a stunning woman, with thick dark hair that reached her waist and angelic features so symmetrical they were almost uncanny.

The changeling had found that a pretty face meant her oddness was more likely to be ignored - and she was as vain as every other creature in her court. Most importantly, she had wanted to impress Vars.

She was drinking in all the details of the restaurant, though her gaze kept tracking back to the magician. When their eyes met she smiled widely and leant in, her pupils visibly dilating.

She’d been impressed by the show and there had been no shortage of praise and flattery heaped upon the man, and the promise of food had been the cherry on top for Siofra.

“What will you eat?” She asked, glancing blankly down at her own menu. “All that magic and you must work up at appetite.”

[jarahamee]

Vars beamed, leaning conspiratorially over his menu at his friend. The times the two of them had eaten together, the man had chosen vegetarian dishes, but he also seemed to have an expensive taste in food. He then picked up his glass of expensive drink; a grapefruit cocktail of some kind that they had claimed was an original creation here, holding it coyly under his chin as he smiled at her.

“I’m having spaghetti aglio e olio. You know, breaking my perfect diet I use to maintain my perfect figure.”

He laughed, sitting back down in his chair. He was very slim, and wore clothes that exaggerated his petite build, which in this case, was a somewhat garish bicolored sequined suit, half black and half-white, with a pair of shoes that had one black dress shoe, and one white one.

“What do you want? I’ll pay for anything you might be considering. Honestly.”

Vars sipped his beautiful pink drink, and leaned back, crossing his ankles.

[qhostqrowls]

Siofra stared blankly, looking him up and down with a touch of concern at the thought he wasn’t eating enough.

When he smiled she realised he was joking and laughed, mirroring a woman across the restaurant and brushing a strand of hair over her shoulder. When Vars leant back so did she, and it was only the lack of meat in his meal that stopped her from ordering it too.

“You spoil me.” She said smugly. “But I am not sure. I have never eaten this type of food.”

She pushed the menu towards him with her long painted nails - another feature she seemed to look for when stealing a form.

“Something with meat.” She said, looking at him expectantly. “You will help me chose.”

[jarahamee]

“Oh, what about the Chicken Parmesan? It has a little bit of everything that makes Italian food great, and plenty of cheese.”

Vars leaned over the menu, pointing to the picture of a pasta plate with a large piece of what Siofra could assume was breaded meat slathered in cheese and red sauce. It looked entirely unhealthy and very satisfying.

He then looked back at his empty plate with a smile, before grabbing a piece of bread from the bread basket, covering it with olive oil and vinegar, and taking a big bite. Bread was (mostly) vegan wasn’t it? He closed his eyes as the flavors mixed together, then picked up another piece, swirled it in the vinegar-oil mixture, and offered it to Siofra.

“Did you like the show? I tried to be educational this time.”

[qhostqrowls]

Siofra stared hard at the picture, long lashes brushing against her cheeks when she blinked. She knew she liked chicken, and after a moment of consideration nodded.

“Yes, I will get this.”

Her dark gaze followed Var’s hand as he seasoned his bread, and she smiled toothily when he offered her a piece. She tore off a piece and chewed, swallowing before she spoke.

“I loved it! You are very talented.” She said earnestly. “So many beasts I have never seen in my life! I liked the dinosaurs. I would like to try the form of one, but I do not think I can...”

[jarahamee]

Vars beamed at her honesty. She was such a gem. So refreshing. Not even a little superficial. He couldn’t say that he agreed with all of her opinions; he didn’t really like eating pigeon, seagull or cats (poor things), but he did enjoy her company, and her childish joy.

“Well, I think you’ll love this too.”

When the waiter came by, he suspected nothing as Vars pressed his side against his beautiful ‘date’, the largest smile imaginable on his face as he placed their orders. He ordered himself a fruity drink, and offered her the same.

When the waiter left, he raised an eyebrow, taking her in with new appreciation. She could become whatever she wanted? A dragon? A unicorn?

“You can become a dinosaur? That’s amazing! How would that work? Do you just…become whatever you can imagine?”