magic_fratboy

"If one is forever cautious, can one remain a human being?"

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NOTE: Zee is zee_ali and is used with love and some permission.

“Why do you have to do this?”

“Because of you.”

He didn’t have to look at her jaw hanging agape to know she was shocked by his answer, but he looked up all the same, hands in his jacket pockets and fiancée standing before him with dark eyes so full of blazing fury he thought she might kill him just with her look.

He knew he was blushing, something he didn’t do quite as often anymore, but still his cheeks burned as he held up a hand to stop her from responding.

“Because you’re human, and you love me.” He pressed on, maybe a little too quickly out of nerves. “Because I’m strong enough to do it so long as I got you…’cause humans take risks, and that’s all I am: what humans are. That’s why I have to, that’s why I will: ‘cause of you. ‘Cause you take risks every day. You put your life on the line when you walk out the door, when you take a challenge…you put yourself out there every time you take a chance on some musical act-”

“Tommy Karras, this is *not* fair-”

“-or some dime-a-dozen Brooklyn boy who thinks he can draw and can’t tell a dirty joke without blushing.” He finished hotly, holding her gaze with a nod. “You remember him? I hear he’s doing some pretty amazing stuff now, all ‘cause you took the biggest fuckin’ chance of your life. He’s co-headlining at the Mirage, gettin’ married, had a baby girl…”

Pulling his hand from his pocket, he produced a black velvet jewelry box and opened it, displaying the sky blue topaz and sapphire necklace inside.

“…and remembered his girl’s birthday even though she thought he prolly forgot.”

He watched her face as she saw the necklace, knew he’d catch hell still for the whole Avalanche stunt, and still more hell for mouthing off at her…but for a second, he didn’t care.

He took a risk…and based on Zee’s face, he knew it was well worth the trouble.

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 340

The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

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“Do you believe in magic?”

She wasn’t particularly sad that day. Even though all she did was work the Dolphin Snack Bar at the Mirage, her life was good and her day was going well. Hell, she was happy…but when the stranger asked her, out of the blue, that single strange question, she felt her chest tighten and her heart twist in grief. She realized that she hadn’t ever asked herself that question before. She’d never stopped to wonder, to look…she didn’t actually know.

It was hard to breathe for a single, sorrowful second as she met warm brown eyes and found the answer easily. It was there like her next breath, like her pulse: she didn’t have to think about it.

“Yeah.” She replied, relief washing through her as she regarded the man in front of her with a small, surprised smile. “You know? I do.”

The man smiled and handed her a twenty for his food, leaving before she could give him his change…it wasn’t until later that she’d realize she’d been talking to the Avatar himself, Tommy Karras.

* * * * *

( The thread of Hope runs long... )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 559

What kind of music does your Muse enjoy?

Tommy's favorite is heavy metal, but he's got a soft spot for the stuff he grew up around: classic rock 'n roll and doo wop. Stuff like The Rat Pack and The Beatles are examples of 'comfort music' for him, but his personal favorite band of all time is Alice in Chains.

What era is it from?

Primarily the era he grew up in as well as his parents' generation. He recalls some of the classics from Houdini's time fondly, but the old standard "Rosabelle" is really the only tune from that era that he holds in high regard.

What kind of music does your Muse hate?

Classical bores him, teeny bopper rock, most emo rock. He tends to pick and choose songs over artists when it comes to popular music.

Is your Muse famous?

He'll deny it, but yeah, he is. Lately he's been getting a lot of attention as a newcomer to the Las Vegas magic scene, and the more he ignores the media the more they seem to want to talk to him.

If so for what are they famous?

Tommy began as an artistic consultant to prominent Las Vegas magician Channing Vale, and later was promoted to co-star in her show, The Rapture, the first full scale magic show the Mirage has produced since the departure of Siegfried and Roy. Publicly, he's become popular because of his character in the show (a villainous male lead and sex symbol) as well as for his disinterest in the media. The less he talks, the more they want to hear from him...only part of this is intentional. Artistically, he's been praised for his development of new characters and set dressing for the show, and in the magic community he's been hailed as the heir to Harry Houdini himself for his escapes and public magic demonstrations.

( ..... )

NOTE: Stephanie is effiecat and used with permission and love, Channing is what_its_not and mine to do with as I see fit. :P

“No!! Damn it, you two, I’m gonna stomp a mudhole in your butts and walk it dry, we ditched the jetè after the backflip! Do it right!!”

He tried as hard as he could to stifle the laugh that bubbled up, but he was caught as Stephanie spun around to face him, the picture of petite rage with her hands on her hips in the middle of the dance studio.

“Just what the hell’s so funny, Tormy?”

“Uh oh, now I know I’m in trouble.” He quipped, smirking as she scowled at him. “Sorry, babe, just…that crack loses something in translation when you say ‘butts’ instead of ‘asses.’”

“Hardy har, you think you’re so cute…next time, I’m gonna let these two smack you around for real. C’mon, you lollygaggers, do it again. Anton, go back to the corner. Harvey, get over here…Tommy, take your place.”

“Channing, you hired a slave driver!” Tommy pretended to complain as Stephanie stomped over to grab his hand and tug him to his mark in the middle of the dance floor.

“Someone has to keep you renegades in line when I’m not around.” Channing giggled from her seat in the corner.

Eyeing her balefully, Tommy planted himself where Stephanie positioned him and sighed, rolling his shoulders and settling in. “Okay…from the top?”

( ... )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 898

What we have inherited from our fathers and mothers is not all that 'walks in us.' There are all sorts of dead ideas and lifeless old beliefs. They have no tangibility, but they haunt us all the same and we can not get rid of them. Whenever I take up a newspaper I seem to see Ghosts gliding between the lines. Ghosts must be all over the country, as thick as the sands of the sea.

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“You marry her, and you marry her quickly.”

Tommy looked up from the diaper bag he was packing to find his aunt standing in the doorway with a strange expression on her face. In the warm, weathered features that still held so much beauty, he saw more pain that he could imagine his sweet, vivacious aunt ever feeling.

“Aunt Zeph?...”

“Tommy…you know how we lost your uncle, moro?”

“Before I knew about the power? Massive stroke…after? He died fighting for the Fraternity.” He replied, dropping the spit rag in his hand and moving to sit on the edge of the guest room bed. “Why? What’s going on?”

( Zephyr Fotilas sighed as she moved into the room and sank down to sit beside him, perched daintily on the edge with her hands on her knees. So delicate, too delicate, but in the knotted hands that curled into her slacks he saw all the strength he only wished he had. )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 826

The private revelation is harder to cope with than the one which came from his borrowed memory. It takes time to sink in as he prepares to share his good news with all the right people, planning the wedding and making everything ready…

Dog knew. So did Kate.

In his heart he believes there’s an explanation, but some wounds are slow to close. They bleed, and it seeps into his vision, covering his eyes in rage so black it dims the room. Lost time rushes past him like a storm on the horizon, echoes of sorrow so deep shake him hard enough to cause him to stir. The beast of a god wonders if he is needed again, and it’s all he can do to hold him off and keep his head.

The Titan is unforgiving, but Tommy understands. He’s human enough to know what’s allowed, what’s possible. He’s weak enough to hate them both for it, but has lived enough to realize what is and isn’t possible. How easily a head could have been taken, how knowledge may have saved Ziyah from a fate worse than the one she suffered.

Knowing helps him keep his head. Understanding stills his murderous heart.

Betrayal, however, isn’t so forgiving…and so he doesn’t call. He doesn’t summon Dog and doesn’t turn to Hekate. In quiet grief for trust lost, he is certain he will never speak their names again.

They knew Zee was alive, and they said nothing. Nothing can forgive that mortal sin.

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 252

"Show me a character whose life arouses my curiosity, and my flesh begins crawling with suspense."

NOTE: Though history does dictate that Houdini first met his wife when she was singing the song "Rosabelle," I'm taking a few artistic liberties with pretty much everything else surrounding the event.

( He loved her because she excited him, and she excited him because he was terribly curious about her... )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 413

We're flirtin' with disaster ya'll damn sure know what I mean.
You know the way we run our lives it makes no sense to me
I don't know about yourself or what you plan to be, yeah
When we gamble with our time we choose our destiny

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“You can’t do this.”

“I have to.”

“Tommy Karras, if you think for an instant that I’m going to sit here and let you commit suicide--”

“It’s not suicide if I succeed!!”

He still wasn’t convinced of his own argument, but he really had no choice in the matter now. A crowd had gathered, the dealership had made the agreement…and if he tried to run, dozens of human lives were at stake.

The same humans he stood in front of, eyes on the ground instead of the crowd. He couldn’t look up, not if he wanted to do this, not yet…

( The Darkness was there. In the faces, there was one he would never be able to see unless it revealed itself, and if it did he would die. )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 1,182

“I just can’t keep doing this anymore!!”

Tommy blanched reflexively at the sound of Channing’s voice ringing out sharply through The Rapture’s production offices, which still weren’t much more than a back dressing room lined with folding tables and crammed with people. Reflective of his apprehension as he lifted his gaze, his bare toes dug into the dark berber carpeting one last time before wistfully inching forward and into his office sandals as he got to his feet.

( “Something wrong, Chan?” )

Muse: Tommy Karras
Fandom: Original Character
Words: 550