OTA

[prince_of_nymphs]

 The hardest part was keeping the lies straight.

"I thought you were only having one of your eyes done?"

"I did, the other I had done abroad- It was a spur of the moment choice..."

"Your so pale now..."

"The medication, it doesn't sit well with me."

"You're so thin!"

"No appetite. It'll get better though, I'm sure."

He'd anticipated that though. He'd known he'd need to lie and fib left and right, until people just accepted he could see again- And that perhaps he was still a touch unwell. What he hadn't anticipated, however, was the resentment that many of his old friends seemed to  suddenly feel towards him. It was one thing when Fin was a rising star- But pitiable because of his disability. Now, however... Now he was already receiving television and film offers left and right, and that... That apparently upset a few people.

He'd been leaving one of his favourite coffee shops when he nearly walked right into Phil. A man he'd worked with many times in small productions. A good actor, but older- Perhaps past his prime in the eyes of many.

"Oh! Phil, how brilliant to see you," Fin had smiled, offering his hand, and looking puzzled when it wasn't taken.

"Brilliant is it?" Phil replied, raising a brow and ignoring the offered hand. "So posh sounding these days, Fin. I don't remember you being posh- Not when you were sleeping on the streets, begging for parts. ...Wouldn't know you were dragged up in Manchester with that posh voice you put on."

Fin's smile faded slightly, and he forced an uncomfortable laugh. "Bad habit, I suppose," he said awkwardly.

"Not a habit," Phil assured him. "Just as fake as the rest of you, that's all."

Fin's smile faded completely then, aware that people were staring now. "Right," he said awkwardly. "Well, I should... I should be off."

Phil smiled then, a vicious smile. "I suppose so. That casting couch wont get warmed without you. ...Catch something, have you?" he added, looking Fin over with a sneer. "Should be a bit more cautious, Fin. ...Or is it Finlay now?"

Fin didn't answer that, he simply turned away trying to hide the embarrassment he felt as he started walking and brushed off a young woman who tried to stop him for a selfie.

Comments

[jageskro]

"It's all about dosing it right," Jag answered with a shrug. "Most people don't know how fire works, so it doesn't matter if I fuck with the laws of physics a little here and there. I used to use it a lot more at the circus - people believed there was hidden gear allowing me to do what I do. But busking, it's more - fire that trails a little more, burns a little brighter, or using old outdated gear that don't work as a prop."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That's terribly clever," Fin smiled. "Must have taken a remarkable amount of control to master. ...Or is it just like breathing?"

[jageskro]

"Oh, no," Jag laughed, shaking his head and thanking the server when he brought them their pitcher. He poured both of their glasses as he explained, "It took me a while to do anything worthwhile with it. It took me a while to even realise that I could."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"When did you learn you had that ability?" Fin asked, thanking Jag for the top up, and sipping his beer.

[jageskro]

"It just came out one day, I was twelve?" Jag answered with a small smile, remaining purposefully vague. It was definitely one of those things he was just fine not talking about in detail. "But then it was months before I actually tried to do anything with it."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Remarkable. ...Do many people know?" he asked.

[jageskro]

"A few, yeah," Jag confirmed, a happy glint in his eyes at the thought of who those people were. "Family and friends, yeah?" And Val, who fit into neither category, really.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I worry sometimes that too many people know about me, and about Will as well. Like perhaps I'm putting us both in danger," Fin confessed, falling silent as the server dropped off their food. Just potato skins and some chicken wings- Both of which Fin happily dug into.

[jageskro]

"If he's that dangerous, I'm not sure you're not putting them in danger," Jag stated, after a beat. He shrugged. "I just don't want to hide who I am from the people that matter. It's worked out so far."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I've never thought about it that way," Fin replied, pausing long enough to pop another nibble in his mouth. "He is a bit terrifying."

[jageskro]

"And I've just gone from curious to meet him to..." Jag paused, and chuckled, shaking his head. "No, I'm still curious to meet him. Reckon my survival instinct's shit."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I think he'd like you," Fin replied with a soft laugh. "I don't think you'd have any reason to be worried, or to rely on any instinct."

[jageskro]

"Good, because as previously stated, my instincts are shit," Jag stated with a half smile.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin popped another potato skin in his mouth, and chewed thoughtfully.

"Have you ever acted, Jag?" he asked randomly.

[jageskro]

Jag looked nonplussed by the question. "Not the way you do?" he offered, since putting on a show always required acting. ...as did the short cons Victor had taught him. "Can I steal a wing?" he asked hopefully, nodding at the plate in question.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Yeah, of course, help yourself," Fin smiled, nudging the plate towards him. "Have as much as you like."

He took another bite, then swallowed before speaking again.

"Only ask because I think you'd be good on stage. You have a good voice- Good look to you too."

[jageskro]

"I'm brilliant on stage," Jag confirmed with a grin, as he helped himself to a wing. "I just don't go on to do the same thing you do." Different kind of performance.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Have you ever considered giving what I do a go?" he asked.

[jageskro]

"Never," Jag replied without a second's hesitation. "I'm happy doing what I do. I couldn't play with my fire, doing what you do." He smiled. "And I'd have to deal with those two-faced wankers you used to call friends."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Pity," Fin hummed. "I think you'd make a good partner on stage."

[jageskro]

"A production of yours ever needs a fire juggler..." Jag answered honestly, and reached for a coaster, and a pen inside his jacket. He wrote down his mobile number, then handed it over to Fin. "Here, that's me."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Brilliant," Fin smiled. "I'll keep you in mind. Definitely."

[jageskro]

Jag chuckled. "Yeah. Or you could just ring to have a pint. Fair warning, though - I won't let you pay all the time."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That seems fair," Fin chuckled. "Besides, I like being spoiled now and then," he quipped.

[jageskro]

"Can't say I'll be very good at it," Jag warned him with a smirk, "but I can always buy you a beer." All right, maybe not always, but most days, at least.