28th Edition :: Do any of you young 'uns have such a thing as a thruppeny bit about your persons?

[mr_phale]

[AUDIO / ACTION FOR PEOPLE OUT AND ABOUT IN THE CIRCUS]

Oh! well-- I might suggest that if any of you are wearing anything, ah, flammable, you might want to. Sit a little further back. Just in case, I mean, one never knows...

All right, and as you see, there's nothing in the hat now, nor under it... But, let me just cover it with my mystical

Comments

[repeatshimself]

[Here, have a witch. He's watching the trick, and he gives him a little clap. The guy is clearly trying]

[mr_phale]

Ah, thank you!

[The applause wins a modest smile, and Aziraphale lights upon his next victim assistant happily.]

Why-- tell me, what is that behind your ear?

[It's an old and simple trick, and thus, fated to end disastrously.]

[repeatshimself]

Oh, well. Probably dirt.

[But he's playing along, right?]

[mr_phale]

You should be careful, you know what they say about cleanliness...

[He reaches forward cheerily, but before he's crossed half the distance, a coin falls out of his sleeve. Followed by another. Followed by several more. They clink onto the pavement, rolling a short distance and utterly failing to seem magically produced from anyone's ears.]

[repeatshimself]

[And silence. And staring]

Uh.

Try again?

[mr_phale]

[There are several moments of quiet staring at his feet, before the ersatz magician shakes it off.]

Certainly, that would be for the best... Hmn-- oh, the other ear doesn't look much better, does it...

[And he reaches for Billy's other ear, producing from 'behind' it a small live mouse, which he presents with a concerned expression. The mouse is, alas, gnawing on a piece of the abused lining of Aziraphale's jacket-- but it's not squashed, which means this is a pretty successful trick.]

[repeatshimself]

[He tries his best not to laugh. But look! Live mouse!]

Not bad.

[mr_phale]

[He eyes the mouse's snack sheepishly, but with good humor. Though he does sigh, just a little, very quietly.]

Well, thank you, my boy.