Seeing is Believing

the mysterious mage

Shortly after they came to the agreement Marco led Rosaline across the stage to a staircase on the opposite side of the room. While they were passing by Rosaline couldn't help but notice many of the seat cushions and curtains had poor stitch work and patches. A lot of the tools and props she saw backstage were worn, rusted, or taped together. It was clear this man was barely keeping this place afloat. Before she had time to organize her thoughts they made it to the top of the stairs.

Marco pull out his keys and let them inside. Inside was a modest apartment a small kitchen neighboring a joint dinning/ living room. A table surround be chairs covered in bills was mere feet away from a old couch. Across from the old couch was wooden coffee table with many rings on it and further was a small dresser with a smaller tv placed atop it. Next to the dresser was a hallway down the hallway was two bedroom doors and the bathroom door at the end.

"Nice place you got here." Rosaline says with as much sincerity as she can. " I appreciate the sentiment but I would appreciate honesty more. I know it's not much to look at but as long as you like your welcome to it." He said this as he walked in the home waving his hand dismissively and removing his gloves.

She followed in after him after, once she noticed the bills she rubs the back of her neck nervously. " So where should I set down my stuff?" She gestured to the bag on her back. "Down the hall room on the right." Marco instructed as he took his vest off plopping down on the couch. She didn't think there was much more she could say to him at this point. So she went to her new room. By the time she had unpacked it was quite late so she headed to bed.

When she awoke in the morning she resolved herself to getting to know Marco and helping him in the theater to repay his kindness and earn his trust. After she finished getting ready for the day she headed out to the dining room. There was a plate of breakfast, a note and a key. When she got closer she noticed the eggs and bacon were burnt. She picked up the note and it read. "Here's some breakfast and a key to the theater and apartment. Sorry if it's a bit burnt I'm not much of a cook. I'm going out to do some grocery shopping. "

She forced down her breakfast and decided to clean up a bit in the theater. She grabbed the broom from backstage and started sweeping the isles. Some spots were so dusty when she swept clouds of it got into her breathing. It caused her to cough more than once. She moved on to airing out the curtains. She kept doing task like this for a few hours until. Marco walked with a couple of grocery bags. " What are you doing? I didn't expect you to work to pay for your room." He was startled seeing the girl wiping down the unused snack counter in the lobby.

"my folks always taught me that all kind acts should be paid in kind. Although what bugs me is it's getting pretty late is saw that you have a show tonight when are your workers going to come in?" She asked earnestly. " I don't have any I run this place by myself. When it's time for the shows I sell the tickets.Then i have a remote that controls the lights I keep in my vest. I can't afford to hire anyone." She was shocked and she responded. " Why you have real magic even if you can't let the public know you should be able to put on one hell of a show and rake it in?"

He cleared his throat and spoke." Even if you are right I inherited this building and it was in the state you see it in. The person I got it from was unwell for a very long time. She couldn't perform so she couldn't pay her employees. If she couldn't pay them then no one would keep this place in good shape. And no matter how good a show is if you can't get people to set foot inside a rundown theatre, you can't sell them tickets.'

She nodded in understanding. "So why don't you just magic the place back into shape?" He grabbed the bags and motioned for her to follow him. " Remember when I told you my magic has limitations, come with me I want to show you something." He sat on the couch in the apartment across from Rosaline. He rolled up his right sleeve to reveal an intricate tattoo on his shoulder. " This is the source of my magic. Well that's not entirely true. We all have mana that flows through us. This tattoo act sort of like a computer program that lets me funnel my mana productively." She looked perplexed and interjects." So how is that a limitation?" He replied by saying " I'm getting there so magic allows one to perform amazing feats as long as the right criteria are met. For my magic if I can make someone unaware of my requirement believe I can do something then the magic allows me to do it. So I require an unaware spectator and their belief that I can do something." She takes a moment and organizes her thoughts " Okay I think I get it but then why bother trying to keep the theater going? Why not sell the place and go work somewhere else?" He looked down and grabbed over his heart and struggled to answer. " The person I inherited this theater from was my master in magic. It is all that I have to remember her by." After he finished she just wanted to crawl in whole for asking. Unexpectedly he spoke " Hey no need to be down I appreciate you wanting to help out it's touching if your free and want to why don't you man the ticket booth?" She quickly smiles and exclaims " Sure whatever you need." The two went on to prepare for the show bonding over Marco showing Rosaline everything that needs to get done to get ready for a show.