Fifth Performance

[magique_bonbon]

[Those of you walking by 1488 Kramden Road may see a small crowd gathered around Coquelicot, who's standing on a crate and wielding a variety of props. There are brief flashes of razzle-dazzle, the occasional cloud of confetti, and even a few doves flitting into the sky, and the crowd applauds every now and then as she unleashes trick after trick

Comments

[k1_sauce]

[Keiichi is in the back of the crowd and always willing to steal the limelight help a friend. He sticks his hand up in the air.]

OI!

[magique_bonbon]

[Coquelicot ALMOST sags with relief, but that wouldn't quite work here. Instead, she gives Keiichi a grateful smile and waves him up.]

Okay, we have our volunteer! Now, if the gentleman in the back would come up to the front, we can get started~!

[k1_sauce]

[Keiichi struts through the crowd towards Coquelicot and grins, waiting for her to tell him what to do.]

[magique_bonbon]

Let's have a round of applause for Keiichi! This is the main event that you've all been waiting for...!

[Coquelicot gestures off to the side. There's a long cardboard box looks like it's just long enough for Keiichi to lie down inside, save for his head.]

[... there is also a hand saw stuck in the ground next to it.]

Magical Angel Coquelicot's amazing Human Division trick~! Now, if you could just climb into the box...

[k1_sauce]

[This is not what he had in mind.]

UWAAAH?! I thought you were going to pull a coin out of my ear or something! Why do you have a saw?!

[magique_bonbon]

I found the saw in the garage! And it's the Human Division trick, so it'd be hard to use anything else...

... ah, I know the box isn't as flashy or colorful as it should be, but I've got to work with what I have, right?

[k1_sauce]

[He just stares at her, hoping he doesn't really need to be sawed in half. DO YOU HAVE A LICENSE FOR THIS?]

[magique_bonbon]

Um... are you really that scared of doing something like this? Don't you trust me?

[k1_sauce]

If I end up a few feet shorter after this, I'm suing you.

[And he gets into the box.]

[magique_bonbon]

[VICTORY] Hehehe. Don't worry, don't worry! I know what I'm doing... just don't move, okay?

[She turns back to the audience, looking a lot more confident now that she's not completely surrounded by SOULLESS HUSKS, and picks up the saw with a flourish.] As you can see, there are no special tools, and this is a completely ordinary box! Watch closely, everyone!

[And it doesn't take very long for Co-chan to saw straight through the box AND Keiichi...]

[... who might feel a tingling sensation right across his stomach when Coquelicot sets the now-separated halves of the box upright. Congratulations, Keiichi, your upside-down feet are now at eye level, since they're sticking out of the other half of the box!]

Yay~!

[k1_sauce]

[Just.

Makes this face at his feet.]

[magique_bonbon]

[Amidst the applause, if Keiichi tries wiggling his feet, they'll respond. Even though they're technically not connected to him right now.]

[... it's probably best not to think about it too hard. Thankfully, Coquelicot puts the two halves back together, and with an-]

Un, deux... trois!

[- she taps the box with her baton and lifts it off of Keiichi. Both box and volunteer are whole again.]

Everyone, let's give another round of applause for our brave volunteer~!

[k1_sauce]

[He spins around and inspects his waist, legs, and butt. Keiichi pads his body all over, looking for wounds or bleeding or if his torso was put on backwards. He eventually sighs with relief.]

[magique_bonbon]

[Coquelicot is trying very hard not to laugh. She's not doing a very good job of it.] That wasn't so bad, was it?

[k1_sauce]

No, I guess not.

[He gives her a light noogie.]

Try giving a hint you plan on cutting me in half before you start asking for volunteers.

[magique_bonbon]

U-uwah! [NOOGIED] Sorry, sorry- that's how we do it at my circus. The surprise is important, isn't it? If we DID warn them beforehand, no one would ever volunteer!!