Enigmata the Twilight Trickster [Darth_Slaverus] Hestia deValant, purveyor of magic [Electronic Ink] Lysander deValant, sort-of magician [Electronic Ink] QUEST BUREAU THREAD o~0~O~0~o“Come oooon, Mikel,” Hestia pestered the manager. “You know me, haven’t I proven myself by now? When’re you gonna let me have my own show?” “Already told ya,” the theatre manager said, ignoring the Hylian girl practically scampering at his side. “When you can make 100 rupees in one sitting on the street,” “I almost made that, though!” Hestia wheedled. “You made 20,” Mikel reminded her flatly. “Well, yeah, but that’s like a fifth of 100. And I can do five times that if I’m on a real stage!” “Sure ya can,” Mikel sighed. He dumped the sign he was holding- a large wooden piece proclaiming ENIGMATA! in vibrant turquoise letters- and pulled a notebook from his belt, checking over it. He let out a long breath. “Tell you what. If you swear that you’ll play fair, I’ll ask the manager of tonight’s show if he wants an opening act or a sidekick,” “You will?” Hestia asked in shock. “Who are they? Is it another musician? Please tell me it’s not another damn Nayru Ninja performance, Sandy’ll never pay attention to our act, he’ll be too busy trying to get an autograph,” “Only reason I’m offering this to you is because it’s another magician,” Mikel grunted, searching for a quill and coming up with a stick of charcoal. He pencilled in Hestia’s name in rough charcoal next to the neat ink script reading Enigmata debut performance, sundown. Hestia sobered immediately, a look on her face that was almost a glare. “Another magician?” she asked dangerously, and Mikel huffed. “Yup,” “As in, another silk-hat-and-cards magician?” “Better believe it,” he said. “Surprise. You’re not a special snowflake,” “That’s...that’s...how rude!” she said eventually. “That’s...just encroaching on my territory like that? That’s not right.” “Your territory?” Mikel asked arbitrarily, picking up his sign again. Hestia wasn’t listening. “Who even is this magician? I swear, if it’s some random off the street-” “It’s one of those Twilight folk,” Mikel said. “Real beauty by the name of Enigmata. See, that is a stage name.” “I prefer to be nameless on stage,” sniffed Hestia. “Sure. You realise they’re pretty much referring to you as ‘that-one-guy-who-does-tricks-off-Marru-street’ and ‘you-know-that-one-with-the-long-coat-and-the-assistant-with-the-earmuffs-in-summer’,” “It cultivates an air of mystery,” she said flatly as Mikel unlocked the back room of the theatre, waving her through. “Whatever, Hestia. I’m going to meet with Enigmata’s manager to see if I can barter your act out of him. You owe me,” “When I’m rich and famous I’ll pay you back,” she promised. “Sure, sure,” Mikel grumbled as the magician disappeared backstage. Hestia strode into the theatre. She’d stalked out the venue many times before, scoping out every single opportunity that the Black Hat Theatre offered. That trapdoor is perfect for disappearing tricks. Those rafters could support me if the cables are strong enough. I reckon those mirrors are ripe for some illusion work. Never before, though, had she had to catalogue so fast. And there was the permanent underlying worry that the magician she was opening for (hiss, spit) would boycott one of her tricks. She really hoped the manager of this ‘Enigmata’ chick was either kind enough or enough of an idiot to let Hestia actually collaborate instead of just being an opening act. Although...if Hestia was better than this Enigmata chick (which she hoped she was), it didn’t matter which spot she was given, so long as she got one. She’d just have to outshine Enigmata anyway!
Mirrors were such fascinating objects. Few things were so uniquely capable of crafting an illusion that seemed completely real, yet was unmistakably off, both revealing the truth and distorting it at the same time. Enigmata didn't know why, but mirrors made her comfortable. Perhaps it was because the sight of another Twili, even though it was just her reflection, made her feel less alone. Or perhaps it was because mirrors were a treasured tool in a magician's arsenal, much like her cards, knives, and hat. Someone had once told her that mirrors were portals to another world, and part of her wanted to believe that was true. Preferably, they would lead to a place like Hyrule, but less bright. Hyrule was alright as far as worlds went, but the sunlight was murder, Enigmata thought as she struck pose after pose after pose in front of the dressing room mirror. It felt good to finally be out of the thick, form-concealing robes she had been forced to wear on the road. Although the carefully circulated rumours of a live Twili in-the-flesh had served to entice tonight's audience, the Boss had spared no expense in keeping her actual appearance hidden, believing that surprise and wonder would be her greatest weapons, heightening the impact of her performance. She had endured armed escorts, long carriage rides, and a nearly impenetrable veil that had been cast over her face. Now that she had arrived, she welcomed the chance to shake off the stiffness and practice her routine before a mirror, her heart stirring with excitement at the prospect of her great debut. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for, the culmination of all her blood, sweat, and tears... Behind her, the creak of the dressing room door announced a visitor. In the reflection, Enigmata saw the distinct form of the Boss enter the room: A squat Scrub with a shrubbery 'stache and a stogie in his snout. The Deku studied her for a moment, then spoke. "So. Ready to knock 'em dead, sweetheart?" There was a sardonic air to his question; she suspected he disapproved of her costume, probably because it had run him a fortune at the tailor's. Still, her mentor had taught her that the first step to success was looking the part. Really, you would think a man of his standing would understand that. Or maybe not, given that he had once been described as a "small-fry" by a now-dead associate. "I'm always ready, Boss!" Enigmata replied, without turning around. It was true. She had learned in her youth that life didn't care if you were ready or not. It didn't matter if you were hungry, or tired, or even dressed- if you did not seize an opportunity when it first appeared, it would be forever lost to you. The Boss chewed on his cigar for a few seconds, then spat it onto the carpet. "I don't know what it's like in the Twilight Realm, but here, you look at me when I talk to you." Pointing an accusing finger at her, he scowled. "Get your head out of the clouds, Eni. You had better not be wasting my time. The boys say you slept almost the whole way here." That was also true. Given that they had first left the Lost Woods by carriage at dawn, the Twili had availed herself of the chance to nap through the hated daylight. The harsh glare of the sun was unbearable this time of year, and Enigmata had become increasingly convinced that the Hyrulean idea of mornings needed to be taken out and have its throat cut. Why couldn't Hylians be active when the sun set? Everything felt so much more alive at night! It was doubly confusing, since they even seemed to understand the concept- they called it nightlife, the time of day where merrymaking and revelry were the rule rather than the exception. Why they didn't want to stay awake so they could enjoy more of it, she would never know. In response to the Boss' admonishment, Eni whirled around, palming a card from her sleeve in each hand as she did so, before drawing her cloak tightly about her. Then, without warning, she spread her arms wide like the wings of a bat, flicking the hidden cards through her fingers to make it seem as if she had conjured them from thin air. "Ah ha ha! Of course not, Boss! Who do you think I am?! I was merely saving my energy for tonight! Surely you want the Twilight Trickster to be at her best?" Enigmata asked, punctuating her query with a crafty eyebrow jump. Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door, which quickly parted to admit the head of one of the Boss' goons. "Boss, Mikel wants a word. Says it's urgent." The Boss nodded at his henchman, then glanced back at Enigmata, still frowning. "See that you are, or the only thing you'll be making disappear is the dust in my hotel. I've invested a lot of money into you, Eni, and I never fail to collect on a debt. Remember that." With that, he strode out of the dressing room, slamming the door shut in a fashion that obviously deliberate, to underscore his threat. Enigmata waited until he was out of earshot, then tipped her hat, still smiling. "I won't forget, little man. I never forget who my friends are..." She murmured, returning her attention to the mirror. She had an act to refine, a crowd to woo, and a fortune to win. ------------- "Change of plans, sweetheart. You're gonna have a partner for this show, see?" Preoccupied as she was with feeding Ri'del, Enigmata did not notice as the Boss slithered back into the room, and his abrupt declaration caused her to jump- half because she had not been expecting it, and half because what he had actually said shocked her to her very core. The sudden motion spooked the Keese, sending him screeching toward the ceiling, and the Twili rounded upon her employer with barely contained annoyance. "This is not what I was promised. You SAID this was my big shot at stardom. I will not share the stage with another." Her ever-present smile had become strained, her lip quivering. "You can, and you will. Mikel wants to give this girl a chance, and since you don't seem to be taking this seriously, I figured I'd up the ante; a little competition might give you the incentive to excel. You'll outperform Mikel's protege, or I'll make HER famous, not you. Now, I told Mikel to show her inside, so she'll be here any moment. Coordinate with her, or don't, I don't care. But get your act together." Brooking no disagreement, the Boss dismissed Enigmata with a wave of his hand, slipping back out of the dressing room. There was nothing she could say. Clenching her fists, the Twili sullenly stalked toward the nearest chair and sat down, whistling for Ri'del to come down from the dramatic mask ornament he was using as a perch. This was beyond believing. She had not done her time on the streets playing second fiddle, only to be upstaged by the first trollop who claimed to be a magician! With her career, and by extension her future in Hyrule, on the line, she would have to do everything in her power to humiliate her unknown rival. Luckily, she had a trump card: She was a Twili. No matter how brightly the other woman shined, she was destined to be eclipsed by her exotic appeal!
"Hestia!" The magician turned to see Mikel strolling towards her with a slightly disbelieving, wry grin on his face. "You're on with her. He wants you to meet Enigmata now, I'm supposed to show you in," Hestia took a deep breath, balling up the crushing need to squeal in delight. No. She was better than that. "I...really think Lysander should be here," she said. Mikel shrugged. "Five minutes?" "Tops," she promised, and Mikel waved a hand. She ran like she had wings on her feet, taking shortcuts through alleys and even once ducking straight through the front door of someone's house to get to the back door and jump the fence, missing a whole street in the process. She reached the orphanage a little out of breath, shoving open the door. "Sandy?" she called, knowing that he would certainly hear her wherever he was in the large building. Sure enough, Lysander came down the stairs in his plain tunic, and Hestia bolted upstairs to grab out his magician's attire. "What's going on?" Lysander asked, bewildered, as Hestia shoved his tailcoat into his arms. She twirled his hat on one hand. "We have a stage show," she said, and Lysander made an odd squeaking noise. Hestia was checking the inside of her hat for all the props she wanted. "For real?" he asked. "We're sharing it with some other bi-eanie, some beanie, yes. But we're on stage tonight and we have so little time to prepare," "Okay," Lysander said, launching into his routine. He shed the tunic and pulled on his tailcoat, grabbing his hat out of Hestia's hands and then wandering around making clicking noises with his tongue. "Faaaaangs," he wheedled, and eventually the Remlit was dragged from under the dusty cupboard with the sound of claws tearing carpet. "What's happening with you guys?" The girl from the room next door stuck her head into the room and Hestia jammed her hat on her head, the adventure pouch and smuggler's pocket sewn within containing all the props she needed. Except maybe the cupboard. "Reckon you could spread the word?" Hestia asked her. "We scored a stage show, tonight." "Oh, wow. Good luck," the girl said, moving away. She could be heard knocking on the other kids' doors. Hestia scooped up Fangs and grabbed Lysander's hand. "Come on, there's no time to waste," she said, excited despite her attempts to remain stoic. Her first real show! As they not-quite-ran, Fangs wriggling in protest, Lysander was caught up on the details. "A real live Twili?" he asked in astonishment. "They're not that special," Hestia said dismissively. "It's not like they're rare where they come from. They just don't usually pop up here," "Aren't people going to love her just 'cause she's fancy?" "Which is why we have to outperform her," Hestia said firmly. "Do you think we can do that one with the barrels?" "I don't like setting them on fire," admitted Lysander. "Are you sure you can get through in time?" "Certain," Hestia replied confidently. "So that one's good. What about that levitation trick?" "Have you got the wire frame with you?" Lysander asked, and Hestia nodded. "We should be able to improvise the table, and as long as the backdrop on stage is patterned enough the wires should be invisible," They reached the theatre and Mikel flashed them a strained sort of grin. "I'm putting my neck on the chopping block here," he said, "so you better perform," "We will!" Lysander said cheerily. "Can we meet the Twili now?" Mikel beckoned them after them and Hestia squared her shoulders, her steps snapping against the wooden floor of the Black Hat Theatre like the authoritative figure she was. Lysander's steps were quicker and more anxious, but Hestia was ready. Mikel knocked on the door to Enigmata's room.
Crossing and uncrossing her legs as she reclined in her seat, Enigmata toyed with a lock of her hair and waited for the uninvited interloper to make her appearance. It was probably irresponsible for her not to be practicing her tricks so close to showtime, but her employer's unexpected betrayal had made it difficult to focus. The nerve of that man, accusing her of not taking this seriously... She had done everything he had asked of her! Countless hours of rehearsals, rubbing shoulders with his crooked partners, even entertaining them with impromptu feats of legerdemain! Sure, she owed him... But what other choice was there? She had been dumped into this world with no friends, no knowledge, and no money- accepting his 'hospitality' and letting him take advantage of her had been the only option. Generosity was clearly hard to come by. Hyrule and the Twilight Realm had that much in common, at least. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, sending Ri'del scuttling back into his cage and snapping Enigmata out of her doldrums. The Twili sucked in a sharp intake of breath, drawing one of her throwing knives from her belt. This was it. "Come in," Enigmata called sweetly, her warbling accent thick. The instant the door swung open, she flung her dagger at the opposite wall, embedding it in the wood adjacent to the doorframe. She had hoped the maneuver might send the other magician scurrying away like the rat they were, but to her disappointment, it was Mikel who stood before her, his mouth agape. She remembered this one; upon her arrival at the theatre, she had quickly been ushered backstage, where she had met Mikel in-person. He was one of the few Hylians who had seen what she truly looked like. Apparently, it was he who had masterminded this upsetting development. Would that she had used her secret weapon when they had shaken hands, she thought grimly. Like all Hylians, Mikel had the same general shape as a Twili, but was a good deal shorter, with skin that was a pale, sickly pink. Enigmata had seen many of their kind from afar, but it was only when she studied them closely that she was reminded of how... alien they were. Their eyes didn't glow, and the sheer number of hues they could be made her head spin. Their hair, too. Red, blue, black, green, yellow, orange... She had seen them all. Trying to guess the colour of a Hylian's eyes or hair would be an impossible gamble. Frankly, the various combinations of colours made them hard to look directly at. And to think the Boss called her clothes gaudy! "Ah, Mr. Mavacchio!" In contrast to her inner musings, Enigmata sprang to her feet with a forced cheerfulness, not caring that she had likely butchered the pronunciation of his name. He was fortunate that she wasn't butchering HIM for his meddling. "I understand that you wish to have one of your own accompany the Marvelous Maiden of Mystery! Tell me, who shall join the great Enigmata in her exploration of the cosmos?" She shifted her stance, sweeping her left arm in an upward arc while keeping her right hand upon the hilt of her scimitar. With luck, he and his harlot would get the unspoken message.
Hestia walked into the room and was suitably surprised at the decidedly non-Hylian occupant. "Wow!" Lysander squealed, with none of the subtlety Hestia had. "You're not Hylian! What are you?" "Sandy!" hissed Hestia, throwing an arm in front of him to stop him bolting forward. She lifted her chin and stared at the other magician, even though she was a great deal shorter. "Exploration of the cosmos is a gross exaggeration," she said. "Hestia deValant, at your service," Hopefully the barbed drawl would serve as a very much spoken retort to Enigmata's not-so-subtle reach for her weapon. Hestia was immediately opposed to the alien-looking magician, and sweet Hylia what on earth was she wearing?! Hestia had never seen such a wasteful and ostentatious waste of rupees as the excuse for clothes worn by the pale-skinned figure. It didn't match, clashed with itself and with her own colouration, and was just generally A Mess. Hestia was no clothes connoisseur, but she knew terrible fashion sense when she saw it, and this Enigmata had it in spades. "Thank you for allowing us into your show today," Hestia said, the submission slightly grating. Still. Enigmata had been intended for her own show- Hestia knew she'd be pissy if some random person popped up and encroached on her turf. Kind of like Enigmata was doing anyway, but that wasn't the point. "How would you like to do this? Separate acts, like an opening and a main? Or a combined troupe act?"
Rather unexpectedly, Enigmata found herself replacing her false smile with a very real grin upon being confronted with her would-be adversary, a mousy woman with a drab, uninspired costume. Bland. Boring. Yuck. Was she even trying to stand out? As laughable as this shoddy spectacle was, though, the true reason for Enigmata's mirth was the young boy standing next to the female Hylian. The Twili immediately recognized him as her rival's assistant, no doubt some impressionable kid with a deep-seated fascination for the art of stage magic. Yes, she knew the type. But judging from the way he was staring at her, youthful wonder in his eyes, his loyalties appeared to be shifting- he seemed rather taken with her! The first of her adoring fans, perhaps? She liked that sound of that (Granted, he wore that same terrible outfit as his employer, but that wasn't really his fault, now was it?). What better way to walk the path to stardom than by winning the hearts and minds of the young? The extra dose of ignominy his upstart mentor would suffer was just a bonus, the icing on the cake. "Ahh, it is quite alright." Enigmata replied, taking her hand off the scimitar's hilt in order to dismissively wave away the woman's concerns about her apprentice's lack of propriety. She would play to the crowd, as it were, and indulge the boy's curiosity. In one fluid motion, she removed her hat and took a deep bow. "Little boy, I am Enigmata, the Twilight Trickster. A Twili, from the Twilight Realm, in other words. A place where it is always night, and strange beasts roam. I have journeyed long and far, my performances calling me from one corner of the universe to the next... You see, for one who has traversed as many worlds as I have, EVERYTHING is an exploration of the cosmos." Enigmata stood back up and gave her hair a toss, shooting the woman a mocking smirk as she did so, before donning her hat once more. "And now I stand before you, before the heart of Hyrule..." She trailed off, figuring that would be more dramatic than elaborating. She turned back to her rival, pondering how best to respond to her query of how the show should unfold. It was tempting to accept her offer to stagger their acts, so that she might have the stage to herself... yet the more she thought about it, the worse an idea it seemed. On the off-chance this two-bit huckster had any actual skill, leaving her undisturbed could lead to disaster; the credit she would receive would then be hers alone, and a fluke opening or closing act could capture the hearts of the theatregoers. No, better to perform together, where she could watch her fellow magician like a hawk, sabotaging her act if need be whilst adjusting her own accordingly. Besides, doing so would play to her advantage- the people of Hyrule had come to see a Twili, not some run-of-the-mill street magician! As long as she literally played her cards right, she would monopolize the audience's attention. "As I said, you will be joining me. It would be a waste of an opportunity not to see each others' techniques up close, no? I believe there is much we could learn from each other..." Enigmata purred at length, her teeth gleaming. Indeed, the Twili was already learning what NOT to do as a magician. "... But before we discuss anything further, you must give me your name. All magicians have one. Else, how would they avoid being lost to the void, forgotten and alone?" She punctuated her question with another theatrical pose, this time gazing upwards and standing on one foot in imitation of an intrepid ship captain standing atop their vessel's bow.
“I already told you that, Lysander,” muttered Hestia. “Were you listening to anything I said on the way over here?” “Yes,” the child insisted, “but Fangs almost clawed me in the face a few times and I missed bits,” Hestia rolled her eyes and squared her shoulders, regarding Enigmata’s flourishing bow with disgust. Alright. Submissiveness over. “Congratulations,” she said dryly. “You can take your hat off your head. Look, I can do that too. I bet even Sandy could do it,” She pulled her hat off her head with not even a flick of the wrist. “You’re here to entertain with incredible feats, not to posture like a peacock with a painted tail,” She crossed her arms, utterly unimpressed with the Twili’s flaunting even as Lysander did his best not to look fascinated with the other magician. And then she asked for a name. Ah. Well. Damn. See, Hestia had never needed to come up with a stage name in the past. Her entire schtick revolved around artistic deception masked by faux honesty, and giving a name that wasn’t hers would only serve to cheapen her acts and make people pay more attention to tomfoolery than the actual mystery of her performance. Um. Well. She ran through a quick mental list of names she’d considered in the past, but she dismissed them all again for the same reason she had the first time. “I don’t have a stage name, as of yet,” Hestia said instead. “I always thought that the most fascinating part of being a performer is when fans start giving you nicknames of their own, so I’ve been intending to just let it happen and take a name when I feel I’ve earned it, instead of painting myself up and posturing with something foolish and unnecessarily gaudy,” “But you can call her Hestia,” Lysander chipped in. Hestia rolled her eyes again. It was impossible to keep a straight back with her kid brother around. “And I’m Lysander, and this is Fangs,”
"Oh, I've also been known to remove heads from shoulders. As I did the great Argorok of Shadowspire Peak! Not content to share its living space with the Twili who provided it with offerings, this lumbering beast sought to prey on them instead... and was rewarded for its mean-spirited labours with decapitation, courtesy of my vorpal blade. A fitting fate for those who bite the hand that feeds, wouldn't you agree?" Enigmata rejoined, her smile never wavering. On the inside, though, she was fuming. The nerve of this rank amateur! What did she know of incredible feats? Had she danced barefoot on hard cobblestone streets for hours on end? No. She had not endured even a tenth of what the amazing Enigmata had. That this Hestia, no, this NAMELESS one should be so insolent after barging into her show... Perhaps she thought her audacity a shield. She was wrong. Turning to Lysander, Enigmata regarded the boy with a curious eye. He was a cheerful kid, that much was for sure. Either he was completely oblivious to the tension in the room, or he was good-natured enough to know that antagonizing the Twili was a bad idea, unlike his partner. Both options would suit her purposes nicely. She'd give the kid his big break, and come out of this with a reputation for being a friend to children. A real win-win scenario for all involved... except Hestia. "The pleasure is mine, Lysander. 'Tis truly a wonderful thing, to see one so young so invested in our Art. Perhaps, just for today, you'd like to be MY assistant instead? Learning from others is the best way to grow as a magician... and it's not every day you get to meet a Twili, is it? I'm certain any REAL magician would agree..." For the briefest of moments, Enigmata's gaze lingered on Hestia as she emphasized those last four words, her eyes burning. Then, her diabolical trap set, she returned her attention to the strange creature Lysander was holding. She was sufficiently confident in her improv skills to devise a last-minute routine with the boy, but the question of how to incorporate that furry beast into the performance gnawed at her. It wasn't half as adorable as Ri'del!
"I've heard more believable tales from the drunkards in the town lockup," Hestia said disdainfully. Lysander, meanwhile, bristled angrily. He hadn't missed the inflection in Enigmata's voice on real, and he scowled. "No, I will not be your assistant! Say sorry!" he insisted immediately. "Sandy," warned Hestia. "Why would you say she's not a real magician? Just because she's not all fancy like you are? That's stupid! You're just a meanie who thinks she's better than us!" "Sandy!" "And- and you're a jerk for saying that! Take it back, missy! I don't care if you're a Twili, that doesn't mean you can be a meanie!" "Sandy!" Lysander finally quieted, Hestia looking somewhat proud but also annoyed. "Don't mind my brother," she said brusquely. "He doesn't take kindly to people when their voices sound too nasty for him. He must've thought you were being malicious. I highly doubt you were, right, Enigmata?" The smug smile on her own face was almost the mirror of her rival's, and she folded her arms and tilted back her head. "I'm happy to work with you, but let's get one rule on the table right away. You start getting it into your head that you should interfere in any way with mine and Sandy's tricks, and I'll conveniently forget to reverse the handle on the trick swords before I stab you with them. Got it?"
Blinking in incredulity at Lysander's furious outburst, Enigmata fell silent. Her brother? Now that she regarded the irate child more carefully, she could see that there was a certain resemblance between he and Hestia... Well, that would go a long way toward explaining his unusual loyalty to his partner. Dammit! Accursed creatures of the light! Why did they have to look so weird? She was on the back foot, now... This audience wasn't going to very receptive to her overtures, so she'd have to make like a true performer and switch-up tactics. "... I am not of this world, nor is Hylian my native tongue." Dropping any pretense of levity, Enigmata began her rebuttal with a sudden solemnity, a sad, self-deprecating grin playing across her features. "It was a turn of phrase that did not translate well, nothing more. What you suppose was malice was my accent, poorly suited to this language as it is, nothing more. Any offense was unintended, I assure you. But if it is malice you seek, you might look no farther than yourselves." Pulling up her chair, the Twili reseated herself and stared at the siblings, one hand resting on her chin whilst the other gestured in their direction. "Despite this performance being my grand debut in Hyrule, I have generously consented to taking the stage alongside you. In return, I have been called 'exaggeration,' 'foolish,' 'gaudy,' and now I am being threatened with harm." She held one finger up for each slight, eyes boring into Hestia. "If anyone in this room is due an apology, it is me. Err, I, rather." The feigned slip-up would make her claims of not being as fluent in Hylian as she would like more believable... and it was true, after a fashion. "Otherwise... I may have to assume you are hecklers determined to ruin my act, and therefore- what's the word- terminate this arrangement. Isn't that so, Mr. Mavacchio?" A bluff, but a calculated one. Hestia and Lysander weren't aware of the Boss' existence. As far as they knew, she was the puppet master here. If her guilt-slinging and unspoken accusations of prejudice did not compel the duo to be on their best behaviour, the threat of expulsion would. Mavacchio had not the heart to oppose her- he was afraid of her, she could tell.
Lysander was still eyeing Enigmata with some suspicion, but the furrowed brows and pout didn't remain on his face for long. "Okay!" he said cheerily. "I think you're lying, but okay!" Innocence and stupidity were commonly bedfellows, particularly in the case of young children such as Lysander, but in this case it appeared that innocence and stupidity were having a domestic and had left eachother well enough alone, allowing Lysander to somehow channel his childish naivety alongside his certainty that Enigmata was, quite frankly, full of it. Mikel had been mostly waiting for Hestia to be bodily thrown from the room by the Twili and as such was rather surprised when he was actually consulted about it. "I'm on her side," he shrugged when Hestia whirled to look at him with an expression demanding support. The younger girl looked outraged. "Untwist ya bloomers, little girl, and learn when to cede the floor," Hestia's face was flaming but she kept her furious glare on Mikel anyway. "That is so sexist," she huffed. Mikel raised an eyebrow. "It's...really not?" he tried, but Hestia was apparently on the warpath now. She turned back to Enigmata, knowing that she had lost the posturing. "I don't think I misinterpreted you," she said flatly. "You've called me a fake, threatened to pull your weapon, and attempted to poach my brother. Frankly, you haven't made any better a first impression than I have. I'm willing to wave a white flag here but that doesn't mean I take back anything I said. You help me and I help you. You interfere in our act and I interfere with yours. Alright?" She held out a gloved hand to shake, a peace offering between the two spite-filled magicians.
Admitting defeat without actually conceding anything? What kind of upside-down, topsy-turvy world had she blundered into? Enigmata's consternation was rapidly nearing a record high. The worst part was, she was running out of options. She had hoped to frighten Hestia into subservience, or even into withdrawing her request to perform alongside her entirely, but she had not counted on the Hylian woman being so iron-willed. She could still throw a tantrum and refuse to work alongside Hestia, yet the Twili knew the Boss would take umbrage at her subverting his little test in such a manner. He hated surprises, and she was all-too aware of how he punished those who inflicted them upon him. For once, it was she, rather than her cards, that was in a bind. Well, with every conceivable approach exhausted, Enigmata decided she might as well surrender to the madness and try the unthinkable. When in Hyrule, do as the Hylians do, she supposed. Springing up from her chair, she flashed Hestia another winning smile. "Very well! As my first trick tonight, I shall make this misunderstanding between us... DISAPPEAR!" Enigmata dramatically waved her arm to-and-fro before taking Hestia's gloved hand in her own. "And in its place... Behold! Camaraderie!" She gently shook it. She was not at all tempted to use Energy Shake at that very moment to make Hestia vanish, instead. Not even in the slightest. Nope. ... That dealt with, she released her rival from her grasp and turned to Mavacchio, beaming sweetly. "Now then, we have much to discuss and precious little time with which to discuss it. Leave us, Mavacchio. We magicians must have our secrets, after all..." Shooting Hestia a knowing wink, she gestured for the stage manager to depart the room. He seemed only too happy to oblige, perhaps fearing that to stay would be to witness a murder. She waited until she was certain he would not overhear what she was about to say, then she slowly met Hestia's gaze once more. Her expression was not the happy-go-lucky grin it had been mere seconds ago. It was one of pure anguish, pleading and desperate. "Please... Please, I need this show. If I don't perform well, he'll... he'll..." Yes, she had done the unthinkable. She had lowered her guard.
Oh. Well, that escalated quickly. Hestia made a slight grimace at the utterly twee handshake, but it was better than emnity, so she responded in kind. And was taken utterly by surprise when Eni abruptly switched from a cheery grin to a mask of utter misery. Hestia looked completely blindsided, turning to look at Lysander as if to confirm that this was genuinely happening. Predictably, Lysander’s eyes were already brimming with tears. “Don’t cry, Enigmata! We’ll help you make this show incredible!” Hestia hesitated. It was...suspicious. There was no denying that. There was something innately suspicious that made Hestia’s metaphorical back arch with the feeling of being manipulated. But at the same time, Hestia was no stranger to despair. She’d had more than enough nasty encounters in the town lockup to recognise when a person was under the thumb of another, and she was immediately possessed with the inclination to introduce her baton to Enigmata’s foe’s eyeball. “He’s right,” Hestia said after a brief decision in her head. “Look, I feel like we need this show too. I’m technically too old to be residing at our orphanage and it’s only my contributions from performing that’s keeping a roof over my head and stopping me from being separated from Lysander.” There was no point in trying to whisper either- Hestia was fairly certain that Lysander would have already overheard the sisters talking about it anyway. “So you want to avoid getting beaned by whoever is threatening you, and I want to avoid being taken away from my little brother. How about we make this an incredible show and we can both get what we want?” She swiftly pulled the glove off her right hand and held it out, her pale fingers shaking slightly with the sudden fear of wow why would you tell her all that what has that got to do with anything why are you spilling your guts to whoever will listen even a complete stranger? That didn’t matter. For now, they had a common goal.
