Harry Dresden stands between the darkness and... (istandbetween) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-01-18 16:01:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, harry dresden, lorna dane (polaris) |
A Little Magic, A Little Rock and Roll
Who: Harry and Lorna
What: After a magic show, robbers try to take the place, but encounter Lorna, Harry, and a little good old fashioned magic.
Where: The Imperial Theater
When: 01/17/2016
Status: Complete
Rating: PG-13 for allusions to sexual activities.
Harry smiled as he bowed, the lights going down in his stage and the curtain closing to applause. As soon as he was in the dark, the lights came back up and he set off off-stage, shaking his head. It had been a good night, yes indeed. He bounced as he moved, jazzed up from the show and from the audience reactions. This had been a really good crowd that had fed his energy and given him the strength to do a few tricks he rarely did. He loved nights like this, and he hoped that the audience had enjoyed themselves as much as they sounded like they had.
It was a large theater, but tonight had been a smaller crowd, mostly packed with people who had won tickets in giveaways and contests, and a few local celebrities, including the mayor. That had made it all the more important it go well, and, thank God, it had.
As he was cleaning up, his cape and suit jacket dropped in the laundry, he heard shouts, and gunfire and swore, charging out to see what was going on...
Lorna was on her way home from a late night at work when she heard gunfire close to her route. She didn’t even think before turning her car and heading straight toward it. It looked like several people were trying to knock over a jewelry store next to a theater and had been surprised by the owner. She pulled her car over and got out, shouting at the robbers. “Stop!”
The robbers turned toward Lorna, and started firing, as one of them clubbed the owner over the head and tried to empty a cash register and a counter top.
Harry came out of the back area, and ducked as a bullet zinged by him, then swore loudly in Tibetan. This was so not cool. He slid behind a car, wondering what to do, until, in his pockets he felt something. Reaching in, he realized he still had some things on him, and a slow grin rose on his face.
The next moment, smoke exploded around the robbers and a voice boomed out. “Lay down your arms, or suffer the wrath of the righteous.”
Lorna stood still, stunned when the men began to fire at her. She wondered how bad a shot they were, since none of them hit her. Bolstered by the miracle of her survival Lorna moved closer, reaching her hand out to. . . what, exactly?
One of the robbers dropped his gun, and then Harry rose and yelled as well. Lorna didn’t know what the hell was going on anymore so she dropped her arm and went to duck behind the same car as Harry.
The robbers seemed a little confused as the smoke rose around them, and then fireworks lit off at their feet. “Lay down your arms, all of you, for this is your last chance to end this well.” There was a crack like thunder, and the windows nearby rattled, and Harry, behind the car, snickered as he fumbled in his pockets for his next idea.
he peered over at Lorna, then waved and whispered. “Hi. Get down.”
Lorna didn’t need to be told twice. She covered her head and wondered why the hell she’d gotten into this mess while Harry did. . . whatever he was doing.
The robbers decided that the whole thing was going to hell and bolted. At least the outside ones bolted. The one inside the shop was caught by the owner and thrown to the ground.
Harry concentrated and a pair of handcuffs slapped to the ground next to the owner. Harry’s voice, distorted and changed echoing from different spots came out. “Call the police, once he’s bound. They’ll come quickly.” And then more smoke billowed up and Harry led the retreat to the side of the theater.
“So, hi. Harry Dresden, magician. Apparently also vigilante. You?” He stuck out his hand.
When Harry made his exit Lorna followed along, trying not to trip over anything in her shock. After he introduced himself Lorna shook his hand, shaking her head as well. “Lorna Dane, astrophysicist and apparently also a vigilante.” She leaned against the side of the theater, putting her hand over her face. “I can’t believe I did that! I’m lucky I didn’t die!”
Harry grinned at her, breathing deeply, and gently squeezed her shoulder, in shock enough not to stare at the gorgeous woman. “Yeah, I know what you mean. I’m not really sure what came over me, but I got so damn mad when I saw them. There they were, on my street, robbing someone!” he swore to himself in Tibetan. What had he been thinking?
He looked back at her. “You’re okay, though? Er, I mean, you know, physically?” He wasn’t sure either of them were okay in the head, after that.
Lorna laughed. It seemed like the only thing to do. Her tension came out as peals of loud, gut busting laughter, making her double over and slide to the floor of the alley. She was fine! Somehow she’d gotten out just fine. It took a minute for her to collect herself, and she shook her head, still giggling a little. “I’m okay. Do you need a ride home?”
“Sure.” I usually call a cab, but I’ll take you up on that.” He collected his trunk from the side entrance he had come out of, and nodded to her. He loved travelling by public transit systems. Even after he had become very well-to-do, he had enjoyed that. And he intended to never forget it.
“Buy you a cup of coffee?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Lorna said, grabbing her car keys from her pocket. “I’m the blue prius that’s in danger of getting towed.” She pointed to her car at the mouth of the alley where the fight had happened. Which was on the other side of a bunch of policemen. It also had a ticket on it. Lorna sighed, pushing her hair back from her eyes. “You were right about those policemen.”
Harry chuckled and sighed, too. “Yeah. The police chief came by when I bought the theater. He lives down the street and the patrol house is just a few blocks away. So, when anything happens? Yeah, they get here fast. Very fast.” He nodded, rubbing his face.
“Well, let’s go get your car out of durance vile. Seems our crime-fighting day is not done yet, oh Lady Mystery!”
“Yeah, let’s get going,” she sighed, leading the way to her car. She skirted the police and clicked the button on her remote to get the doors to unlock. It didn’t work, so she sighed again and unlocked the door manually, which led to the car alarm going off. She opened the door for Harry and started the car, killing the alarm. “What a night!”
Harry laughed, sliding in. “Yeah. Ain't we got fun?” He buckled up and settled back, watching her from the side. She seemed nice, for a random stranger, and she had run into danger, not away from it. So did that make her crazy, like him, or something else? he was curious, now.
Lorna pulled away and headed toward the closest coffee shop. Well not the closest, as she passed a Starbucks on the way, but she liked the little shop that had the owner’s name on the sign the best. The parking lot was full as a testament to the quality of the coffee and she got out, shaking her head. She wasn’t oblivious to all the clues. Internally she thanked her luck that she hadn’t bricked her car.
Harry slipped out, and smiled. “You okay?” He walked with her toward the shop. He was enjoying himself despite the weirdness of the evening.
“Yeah, thanks.” She gave him a smile, finally realizing that she was in the presence of a really attractive man. Tall, dark haired, with beautiful brown eyes. She smiled a little more genuinely, getting the door for Harry. “How about you? I never asked.”
“Good.” Harry never really considered himself attractive. He just figured he was okay. “I’m good.Tired after a long day and a show, and all of that, but good.” he stretched and then stepped in and led the way to the line, eager to get a bite to eat and some coffee. He lived out of diners and coffee shops. he had started there and still liked them.
“This is a nice place.”
“It is. It’s my favorite place to go before work when I need a pick me up and after work when I just need a fix.” Lorna smiled and pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. “Hey, if you ever need a ride or there’s another robbery you should give me a call. Or if you just want to talk.” She wrote out her number and offered it to Harry.
Harry blinked, then took her number and grinned. Well, then, this evening was looking up. “Thanks, I’ll do that. Never can tell when my ass might need saving.” He winked at her. Was he flirting? He might be flirting. Damn. Was he any good? Internal flail!
Externally, he smiled. “Where do you work?”
“That’s right,” Lorna teased, laughing a little. “I work for Stark Industries as an astrophysicist. Which isn’t as flashy as your job, but I bet I have as much fun.”
Harry chuckled. Yay for senses of humor!
“Oh wow! Sounds like a lot of fun, and interesting, too! What do you do as an astrophysicist? I’m just a magician. Nothing big there, really, and mostly the same old, same old.” he nodded to her. “But astrophysics sounds pretty spiffy.”
“I don’t know. Your field is one where you get to make people happy. That’s nothing to sneeze at.” Lorna smiled sweetly at Harry. “I do love my job, though. I’m working on trying to discover the origin of the universe.”
Harry smiled in gratitude. “Thanks. You should come by a show sometime. I’ll be playing Disneyland next month.”
He listened, and nodded. “OH wow, that sounds pretty darned amazing.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun. You’ll have to text me the dates and times so I can make it.” She smiled and stepped up to the counter, ordering her usual latte and stepping aside so Harry could order and pay.
“Absolutely. I’d be glad to.” Harry ordered after her, ordering a large coffee, black, and couple of danishes besides, then paying with his card. “Alright.”
He stepped over with her to wait for their things. “How long you been in the OC?”
“A couple months. I lived in San Francisco before that. How about you? You don’t sound like a native.” Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. She just couldn’t place his accent.
“I started out in Chicago, then traveled, and performed. Now I’m settling here, even if I will still be traveling.” He grinned at her. “I have a couple of places scattered around. It helps when you have to fly to new cities and perform sometimes several times a month.”
He nodded. “But I like this place.”
“I do too. It’s a little strange sometimes but that’s California for you, really.” She chuckled and grabbed her drink when it came up, waiting for Harry to do the same before claiming the closest table. “Traveling so much must be a little lonely.”
Harry nabbed his drink, then shrugged as he settled opposite her. “I dunno. There’s something to be said for traveling and just letting the world pass you by, letting all of it just go zoooom past you. I enjoy it, and enjoy meeting new people, and seeing new things.”
He nodded. “I performed in London last year, and in Moscow in December. The feeling of performing in front of an audience is amazing.”
“That’s incredible,” Lorna said with a laugh. “You must be quite good. I’m really looking forward to your show.” She leaned across the table, smiling suggestively. “Maybe you should come home with me and give me a private show.”
“I’m just… me.” Then he realized what she was saying and he laughed but grinned. “I’d like that, as long as you don’t mind me not being very energetic. I did a show tonight before we had our little encounter, and it drained me some. But that is definitely not a no.”
He reached out to take her hand.
His hesitation and sudden understanding made Lorna laugh. She took his hand and nodded. “That’s okay. I’ll be gentle with you.” She winked at him and sipped her coffee with her free hand. “I’ll even give you cab fare home.”
Harry chuckled, then rose. “We should go do that, then, before the coffee puts me to sleep.” He grinned at her. Hey, a sexy lady wanted him to come home with her? He was all about that. He had business in the OC, and it would come and later be a large part of his life. But for tonight? Well...
...tonight was for magic.