(Untitled)

[arataznhoj]

WHO: John Zatara and Open!
WHERE: Broadway Theater
WHEN: This evening, Sunday night
WARNINGS: None so far!
SUMMARY: John's put on yet another performance, and when it's over, is available to be seen.
FORMAT: Para for me, and whatever for those others

Comments

[nottheanswers]

Vic had gone through a lot of stress over this new case, and decided a break is what he needed. Zatara'd told him about the show over a month ago, and he felt a little guilty taking so long getting too it, but it's not like he hadn't been busy. He figured he might as well make up for it by greeting the man himself. It'd been a great show, no harm in saying so.

He shook the other man's hand as he approached. "Good show, don't think I've seen anything quite like it before."

[arataznhoj]

John smiled, and shook the other man's hand with verve. "Why, thank you! I'm always glad when someone truly enjoys themselves. It's why I do it, after all."

He glanced around, and back to the man. "There's always been something about being able to use just hands and mind to enspell a crowd, without any powers or magic added, that has been a thrill to me. It almost puts the real thing to shame."

[nottheanswers]

That seemed a bit curious to Vic. "Never use the real stuff for your shows then? Not even to go out with a band?"

[arataznhoj]

John shook his head. "Only if something unfortunate happens. Not for performance. it's a matter of pride. Most of the time, except for those who can sense such or who have experience in it, no one can tell."

His eyes glittered with amusement.

"Perhaps on a special occasion, to do something fantastic."

[nottheanswers]

"I guess that makes sense," he replied with a smirk. "Not all job necessarily need it, and it can be a better showcase of skill without."

[arataznhoj]

"Exactly, and it makes for a better seamless show without the magic. Plus, skill is skill, and practice at stage magic translates to being able to react quite quickly with more esoteric skills, when needed."

He nodded, eyes alight.

[nottheanswers]

"Oh yeah? How's that work?" He could think of a few ways, honestly, but Zatara seemed like a decent guy, there was no reason not to humor him.

[arataznhoj]

His eyes twinkled.

"As I'm sure you know, concentration is key to most skills. If one trains one's mind for one thing, then one can use that training, that concentration gathering, for other things. Stage magic is a thing of timing, spacing, and perfect concentration on effect, speech, and way of movement. All of those are vital to magic."

[nottheanswers]

"Some things, sure. Certainly true of concentration." If there was one topic he knew about, that was it. "That's a skill that, properly applied, can be used in almost any situation."

[arataznhoj]

He nodded. "Exactly. Not to mention many of the movements used in Stage magery are close copies of movements used in the more permanent form."

His grin only grew. "So in a way, the way I make money is the way I practice for my more serious job."

[nottheanswers]

"Well, if you have to keep them separate," he said with a smirk, "that would be the way to do it."

[arataznhoj]

John smiled. "I rather think so. It's worked for me for more decades than I'd care to admit."

He glanced around the hall and nodded. "A good turn out. It's nice to see people in one place for once."

[nottheanswers]

He glanced around and saw just how many people had the same idea as him, to meet the Great Zatara. "Guess magic can still bring the crowds, huh?"

[arataznhoj]

"Sometimes. People are drawn by a chance to let go, some want to prove something fake, some just want entertainment."

His smile was warm, though, and his voice dropped pitch, and perhaps for a moment, the sound and lights in the room were a little less loud and a little less bright against his face and voice. "And some, some few, need something, want something, to believe in. Magic, of old, has been a thread that ties men to something older, more powerful, more mysterious. It has been called by many named; Magic, druidism, witchery, sorcery, and even science. In the end, it is merely something to believe in. And sometimes, when the night presses close, and the silence is too large, that is exactly what people need."

The moment passed and the noise and lights were exactly as they were before, unchanged.

[nottheanswers]

The change in atmosphere didn't escape his notice, and he just smirked a little wider. He didn't have a lot of direct experience with magic, but Zatara's words certainly rang true. "Yeah, I guess that's one way to put it."

[arataznhoj]

"Everyone has their own way. I'm certain you've found similar truths of your own."

He raised an eyebrow. "What do you do out in this wild city of ours?"