5th Hat

[busy_fists]

[Action; outside 311 Miller; early afternoon]

[A package is delivered to the Egbert household today, dropping onto the step outside the front door with a loud THUD. The box isn't all that large, as boxes go, but the force of the impact seems to have cracked the concrete rather impressively. Dad comes out a few minutes later to check the mail, almost tripping over the box on his way to the mailbox. Despite its apparent ridiculous weight, he lifts the box easily, unwrapping it and taking out a thick tome with a smile.]

Well, well! It's grandpappy Sassacre's old book! This sure brings back some memories...

[Action; outside 311 Miller; late afternoon into early evening]

[After spending a few hours inside brushing up on his japes, Dad's ready to entertain the Mayfield masses with some clever illusions and chemical surprises. He's standing out in front of the 30 foot tall statue of Zazzerpan the Learned with various tools of the trade (mostly borrowed from Mayfield High's chemistry lab) - and, curiously, a mint julep - lined up on a card table. Anyone stopping by will be treated to one of the following three tricks:

1. For this trick, Dad has a small metal bowl set up on the edge of the table with a fire burning inside. He takes his pipe from his mouth, adds a small amount of some unidentified powder, and then covers the opening with clay. Then he puts the pipe into the fire. Within minutes, smoke begins to issue forth from the stem of the pipe, eventually stopping. Once the smoke is gone, Dad flicks open his lighter, applying the flame to the stem of the pipe, causing it to glow brightly for several minutes. If anyone hangs around long enough, once the pipe has cooled off, Dad uncovers the end with the clay and shakes out a small black lump.

2. Taking an egg from a bowl, Dad displays it to the audience. He then does the same with a small-necked glass bottle, the opening clearly too narrow to fit an egg through. After this fact is allowed to fully sink in, he sets the egg atop the opening, pushing lightly on top until it squeezes through the opening and lands at the bottom. Should any member of the audience accuse him of trickery involving hard-boiling, he will proceed to fill the bottle with water and show how the egg is able to retain its original shape and consistency.

3. This trick will be performed as the sun starts to set, because it's more impressive in dim light. Dad shows the audience a pea-sized lump of red material before immersing it in a small amount of strong-smelling clear liquid. After the red lump has dissolved, Dad turns around, makes some motions with his hands, and when he turns back around his face and hands appear to be alight with a mysterious and fiery ethereal glow! He makes the appropriate accompanying 'OooOooOoOOoOOoOoo~' noises and wiggles his fingers around to complete the impression that he has transformed into some sort of ghastly apparition.]

[Phone; evening; intended for drunks and classy gents]

I was wondering if any adults in town would be interested in joining me and the wife for cocktails and a rousing game of snapdragon.  It's all right if you've never played before, it's very easy to learn.

Comments

Phone

[balzams]

[Even though he's been hesitant to talk to anyone lately, the promise of cocktails did pique his interest. So much so he kind of deliberately forgets about the 'adult' part of the invitation]

Um... Is it okay if I join? What kind of cocktails were you thinking of?

Phone

[busy_fists]

You sound a little young. Are you sure you're old enough to drink?

Phone

[balzams]

Y-yes! Of course I am! I can hold my alcohol better than anyone I know!

[Even if he's still stuck in a fifteen year old's body, after 600+ years he feels like he's earned the right]

Phone

[busy_fists]

Well, I don't think my wife will have any problems with it, so I'm gonna take your word for it.

[Action]

[ghostlygames]

[Watching him do all of those tricks with rapt attention. This man's strange wizardly powers are among the most amazing she's ever seen. She is particularly excited about the egg in the bottle.]

..... How did you do that?

[Action]

[busy_fists]

A magician never reveals his tricks.

Re: [Action]

[ghostlygames]

Wow....

Are... are you a wizard?

[action]

[pinkscarflady]

Excellent idea, I'll get the brandy.

[busy_fists]

I knew I could count on you.

[pinkscarflady]

Just let me know when the game is starting. I've been looking forward to playing this one.

[Most of the Sassacre book she can take or leave, but the colonel was really onto something with this one.]

3.

[forever_cheery]

[Aurora's passing by, and stops to watch the show. She makes an "ooooh" noise he performs the trick, and then claps enthusiastically.

She's also floating a few feet off of the ground. You've got a real ghost in the audience.]

[busy_fists]

Well, that's an impressive trick you've got yourself, young lady! Mind showing me how you do it?

[forever_cheery]

What trick? Oh. OH! This isn't a trick. I just... do this.

phone;

[godaime]

Snapdragon? Hm...? Well, I'll be in it just for the drinks part but I am curious, what's Snapdragon?

[ As long as it doesn't involve breaking necks, she's in. ]

[busy_fists]

Well, first you take a bowl and full it full of raisins. Then you soak the raisins in brandy and light them on fire. The party guests take turns picking raisins out of the bowl and eating them while trying not to burn their fingers. It was apparently a popular party game around the turn of the century.

[godaime]

Heh. That sounds like an accident waiting to happen. [ beat. ] I'm in. With my medical skills, I can heal if anything gets really serious too. So, who's going to be playing besides you, me, and your wife?

phone~

[dwaggies]

Oooh, cocktails and games? Sounds like my kinda night.

[busy_fists]

You're in for a fun one, too. Hope you're not afraid of a little fire.

[dwaggies]

Heck no! Fire just makes it all the more exciting~

Phone

[kingofshadows]

Would that happen to be a card game?

[Grimsley tries to control his excitement. Gotta be cool...]

[busy_fists]

Unfortunately, it's not, but I can promise it will be exciting.

[kingofshadows]

[Oh alas.]

I think I had enough excitement last week. But I suppose there can't be any harm.

What is it, exactly?

action

[autosmuppet]

[ Hot damn, look at this guy and all his magic tricks. Bro casually observes this because he. Okay he just enjoys creeping on people he knows, that's one of his habits. ]

Looks like someone's been studyin' up on his Harry Potter mysticism.

[busy_fists]

Harry Potter?

[Dad laughs.]

No, this is much older magic than that.

[autosmuppet]

Do tell, Mister Egbert. You getting into fifties brand magicianry while you're here?