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Fic: Keeping it Classy
Title: Keeping it Classy
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: Adora and the Mystic Man (mention of Wyatt)
Rating: G
Summary: There's a reason she's his favorite person in Central City
Warning: *Written for Color Me at lands-of-magic. Prompt: Black tie event/affair
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
The ballroom had a look of magic about it. Granted, as the Zone was full of magic, it wasn't as awe-inspiring for most of those attending the formal event. They were the upper-class of the Zone, almost all of them residing in one section of Central City, alone.
The Mystic Man's Annual Ball was one of the most popular events of the season, with next annual's gowns being planned out almost as soon as the first glasses of champagne were served. For most, being seen at the party was fodder for the newspaper and 'regular' people, who could see those in attendance as something to aspire to.
'If you work hard and smart, you just might be here with us, next annual...'
Only the regular people would never be able to enter the room, unless they had been lucky enough to get a job with the wait staff. But, ask most of them, and this waiter would tell you that woman was wearing fake jewels; that man was being paid under the table by the very councilman he was criticizing in Central City Square that afternoon.
For the most part, Adora Cain never missed not being part of that crowd. Sure, she had been invited to every function, but it wasn't a well-kept secret that the women wanting Adora's company only did so because of her husband, Wyatt.
Her husband who was in the Mystic Man's inner circle...
They wanted to have Adora's ear, assuming that Wyatt would have hers, thereby getting their thoughts and opinions passed directly on to the Mystic Man. And, after that, the Queen. What they didn't know, however, was that the Mystic Man already had Adora's ear.
He always had.
He loved to tease Wyatt Cain that the only reason the young man had been assigned was in order to spend time with his lovely young bride. When news of his new position spread, most who worked with Wyatt worried that Adora might leave him, since the Mystic Man had a reputation with the ladies. But the Mystic Man thought of Wyatt as the son he didn't have, and Adora was the woman who saw right through his womanizing ways.
But she loved him, anyway.
Adora was over near a large window, admiring the small lights twinkling among the branches of a tree when she heard a familiar voice exclaim: "An angel, a vision!" With a smile, Adora turned to see the Mystic Man giving her a broad smile and he rocked slightly on his heels.
Giving him a bright smile in return, Adora replied with: "A drunk!"
He gave her an exaggerated wink and offered an arm. "Dance with a lonely old man, Missus Cain."
"How can you be lonely?" she asked, leaning forward to collect some of skirt before falling into step with him. "All your closest friends are here." He chortled.
Loudly.
"Come now, my dear woman," he said, turning and narrowing his eyes up at her. Adora smiled down for a moment as he stepped back and gave her a full glance. "You are wearing flat shoes!" he announced in a low whisper. Adora smirked and hiked up the bottom of her skirt just enough to let him see her everyday flats peeking out from under the layers of fabric.
"Someone had to bring the class in this room down a bit," she quietly retorted, adding a shrug. She had other reasons for not wearing appropriate shoes, of course; the main one being that she was already tall enough, and she just didn't like wearing those fancy - and uncomfortable - shoes. The Mystic Man laughed again and offered his arm as the band in the corner started playing an upbeat tune.
"Lord Hyde did that when he arrived," the Mystic Man replied cooly, knowing only Adora would know to whom he was referring. Renaming various individuals, using characters from books, was their way of speaking in front of others without being caught. It was a perfect plan, as they only used books in his personal collection, most which came from the Other Side and weren't available to the public of the Outer Zone.
She loved the stories, and loved being one of the few people he trusted enough to know about the hidden library. Those books, he guarded with his life, though Adora had never managed to get a straight answer out of him, when she asked just how he had obtained them.
Trained by her husband - much to Wyatt's annoyance, as it was unintented - Adora watched the crowd as they danced, noting how many people were watching the both of them and whispering to companions. "I count three women and six- no, seven men," she quickly corrected as the Mystic Man turned her on the dance floor.
"I counted four women," he added. "By the oranges." On the next turn, Adora threw a quick glance that way and noticed Missus Fairfax looking absolutely aghast. Any time the both of them were within speaking distance, all eyes of those spurned by Adora's (or the Mystic Man's) polite refusals of an invitation, would lock on the pair, watching and waiting to see who they might approach or glance at.
Forcing herself to ignore the clear fabrication Missus Fairfax was now concocting for her companion, Adora shook her head and gave the Mystic Man another smile. "I wish I knew what I ever did to her," Adora sighed as she continued to scan the room. Catching sight of her husband, speaking to a guard near the main door, Adora relaxed enough that her dance partner knew what - or rather who - she had spotted.
"He cleans up nicely," the Mystic Man stated, then gave her a nod when Adora's eyes narrowed. "Please, my dear girl. All these annuals and the very sight of him makes you react."
Adora made a face, trying to fight a smile. He wasn't wrong, though. Silly as it sounded, every time her husband smiled, Adora fell in love with him a little more. "It's because he looks ridiculous in that suit," she countered. Straightening slightly, Adora puffed up her chest and made a face. "He looks like a ten-pound sausage stuffed in to a one-pound casing."
That got a loud, chipmunkish giggle.
Taking a deep breath, the Mystic Man gave her a warm smile and nodded. "Speaking of casings, you look absolutely royal."
Adora blushed and tilted her head slightly. "Well, that's your fault."
"My fault?" he gasped, feigning offense.
"Mmm," she nodded. "If you hadn't gone and raised the sausage's pay, he wouldn't have insisted I get the most expensive dress in the second-hand shop!"
"My fault, indeed." The Mystic Man smiled and gave Adora another spin. They both knew, of course, that the dress hadn't come from a second-hand shop. And it had been him who insisted she got a proper dress for the evening, every annual, with a little help from the Queen's personal dressmaker.
Sometimes, it was good to be the Mystic Man.
Author: Erin (erinm_4600)
Characters, Pairing: Adora and the Mystic Man (mention of Wyatt)
Rating: G
Summary: There's a reason she's his favorite person in Central City
Warning: *Written for Color Me at lands-of-magic. Prompt: Black tie event/affair
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
The ballroom had a look of magic about it. Granted, as the Zone was full of magic, it wasn't as awe-inspiring for most of those attending the formal event. They were the upper-class of the Zone, almost all of them residing in one section of Central City, alone.
The Mystic Man's Annual Ball was one of the most popular events of the season, with next annual's gowns being planned out almost as soon as the first glasses of champagne were served. For most, being seen at the party was fodder for the newspaper and 'regular' people, who could see those in attendance as something to aspire to.
'If you work hard and smart, you just might be here with us, next annual...'
Only the regular people would never be able to enter the room, unless they had been lucky enough to get a job with the wait staff. But, ask most of them, and this waiter would tell you that woman was wearing fake jewels; that man was being paid under the table by the very councilman he was criticizing in Central City Square that afternoon.
For the most part, Adora Cain never missed not being part of that crowd. Sure, she had been invited to every function, but it wasn't a well-kept secret that the women wanting Adora's company only did so because of her husband, Wyatt.
Her husband who was in the Mystic Man's inner circle...
They wanted to have Adora's ear, assuming that Wyatt would have hers, thereby getting their thoughts and opinions passed directly on to the Mystic Man. And, after that, the Queen. What they didn't know, however, was that the Mystic Man already had Adora's ear.
He always had.
He loved to tease Wyatt Cain that the only reason the young man had been assigned was in order to spend time with his lovely young bride. When news of his new position spread, most who worked with Wyatt worried that Adora might leave him, since the Mystic Man had a reputation with the ladies. But the Mystic Man thought of Wyatt as the son he didn't have, and Adora was the woman who saw right through his womanizing ways.
But she loved him, anyway.
Adora was over near a large window, admiring the small lights twinkling among the branches of a tree when she heard a familiar voice exclaim: "An angel, a vision!" With a smile, Adora turned to see the Mystic Man giving her a broad smile and he rocked slightly on his heels.
Giving him a bright smile in return, Adora replied with: "A drunk!"
He gave her an exaggerated wink and offered an arm. "Dance with a lonely old man, Missus Cain."
"How can you be lonely?" she asked, leaning forward to collect some of skirt before falling into step with him. "All your closest friends are here." He chortled.
Loudly.
"Come now, my dear woman," he said, turning and narrowing his eyes up at her. Adora smiled down for a moment as he stepped back and gave her a full glance. "You are wearing flat shoes!" he announced in a low whisper. Adora smirked and hiked up the bottom of her skirt just enough to let him see her everyday flats peeking out from under the layers of fabric.
"Someone had to bring the class in this room down a bit," she quietly retorted, adding a shrug. She had other reasons for not wearing appropriate shoes, of course; the main one being that she was already tall enough, and she just didn't like wearing those fancy - and uncomfortable - shoes. The Mystic Man laughed again and offered his arm as the band in the corner started playing an upbeat tune.
"Lord Hyde did that when he arrived," the Mystic Man replied cooly, knowing only Adora would know to whom he was referring. Renaming various individuals, using characters from books, was their way of speaking in front of others without being caught. It was a perfect plan, as they only used books in his personal collection, most which came from the Other Side and weren't available to the public of the Outer Zone.
She loved the stories, and loved being one of the few people he trusted enough to know about the hidden library. Those books, he guarded with his life, though Adora had never managed to get a straight answer out of him, when she asked just how he had obtained them.
Trained by her husband - much to Wyatt's annoyance, as it was unintented - Adora watched the crowd as they danced, noting how many people were watching the both of them and whispering to companions. "I count three women and six- no, seven men," she quickly corrected as the Mystic Man turned her on the dance floor.
"I counted four women," he added. "By the oranges." On the next turn, Adora threw a quick glance that way and noticed Missus Fairfax looking absolutely aghast. Any time the both of them were within speaking distance, all eyes of those spurned by Adora's (or the Mystic Man's) polite refusals of an invitation, would lock on the pair, watching and waiting to see who they might approach or glance at.
Forcing herself to ignore the clear fabrication Missus Fairfax was now concocting for her companion, Adora shook her head and gave the Mystic Man another smile. "I wish I knew what I ever did to her," Adora sighed as she continued to scan the room. Catching sight of her husband, speaking to a guard near the main door, Adora relaxed enough that her dance partner knew what - or rather who - she had spotted.
"He cleans up nicely," the Mystic Man stated, then gave her a nod when Adora's eyes narrowed. "Please, my dear girl. All these annuals and the very sight of him makes you react."
Adora made a face, trying to fight a smile. He wasn't wrong, though. Silly as it sounded, every time her husband smiled, Adora fell in love with him a little more. "It's because he looks ridiculous in that suit," she countered. Straightening slightly, Adora puffed up her chest and made a face. "He looks like a ten-pound sausage stuffed in to a one-pound casing."
That got a loud, chipmunkish giggle.
Taking a deep breath, the Mystic Man gave her a warm smile and nodded. "Speaking of casings, you look absolutely royal."
Adora blushed and tilted her head slightly. "Well, that's your fault."
"My fault?" he gasped, feigning offense.
"Mmm," she nodded. "If you hadn't gone and raised the sausage's pay, he wouldn't have insisted I get the most expensive dress in the second-hand shop!"
"My fault, indeed." The Mystic Man smiled and gave Adora another spin. They both knew, of course, that the dress hadn't come from a second-hand shop. And it had been him who insisted she got a proper dress for the evening, every annual, with a little help from the Queen's personal dressmaker.
Sometimes, it was good to be the Mystic Man.