#although constance votes for a lot of tricks involving knives

[sophieswundergarten]

(tags from @nobody33333333)

Part three of Curtain living with the Benedicts!

Kate pesters him to no end about learning magic, and he keeps blowing her off and skirting the questions. After a few days of this, she tells the other kids (in great detail and with the utmost drama) how impressive his skills with the action figures were, and they agree that this would be fairly interesting to see, if he wasn't always so intimidating.

After S. Q. gets situated, he hears Kate talking to the others about her next plans to wear Curtain down, and remembers hearing her ask about it on his first day there.

S. Q.: "Wait, you want my dad to teach you magic?"

Kate: "Yes, I've been asking him for a while, but he keeps avoiding the question. I'm not sure why..."

(Constance mutters in the background "I would say he's embarrassed. Action figures and conjuring would be a new low, even for him.", before Reynie and Sticky shush her. "Be nice, he's still S. Q.'s dad.")

S. Q.: "Well, I don't know where he learned it, but I know a few card tricks. I could teach you, if you want? He taught me a couple of things when I was younger, and I used to practice a lot when he was busy, so I think I'm okay at it."

Kate, ecstatic to finally be getting somewhere: "Absolutely! I would love to learn from you, I bet you're so good at it."

She starts chattering about how excited she is to be learning some magic, and how great S. Q. is at this, and how she can't wait to show her dad. S. Q. is actually quite skilled, ironically, and has figured out how to incorporate his slightly awkward movements into misdirection. It takes Kate a bit longer to get it, since she's all about efficiency and is more focused on moving the cards than she is doing it subtly.

But she gets it eventually, and begins scheming on how to show off her new skills in her quest to get Curtain to teach her. One day, when most of the adults are out of the house, she corners him while he's making tea.

Kate: "Mr. Curtain! Or, uh, Dr. Curtain? I'm not sure how to refer to you. Anyways, look at what S. Q. taught me!"

Curtain, expecting to see some sort of art skill: "What is it, Miss Wetherall?"

Kate: [showing off her magic trick] "He said that you taught him some stuff, and so he taught me! Will you teach me the rest of your tricks now?"

Curtain, fully caught off guard that S. Q. learned something from him and valued the information enough to share it but struggling to hold onto his composure: "I suppose I might be inclined to share my skills. But why would I teach you? You have got to be one of the worst students I've ever seen."

Kate: "Because it's so cool! And the world should have more magic in it, and since you seem determined to be gloomy, I'll have to do it for you. And besides, you don't do anything fun with your magic anyway. Magic should have costumes and knives and doves and things. And glitter."

Curtain: "That is still not a good answer. I seriously doubt the world needs more glitter in it."

Kate, smiling innocently and about to put the tactic she learned from Constance to use: "Well, you could always teach me to make up for being the reason my dad abandoned me for the past ten years."

Curtain, now wholly regretting his decision to leave his room for tea: "Well, that is at least a better reason. [sighs in defeat] Meet me in the upstairs study down the hall tomorrow at two o'clock sharp, and I will teach you. Speak of this to no one."

Once Curtain has beat a hasty retreat to his locked room, Kate wastes no time in finding her friends to share her victory, and begins brainstorming ideas. ("We can be a trio, with him, me, and S. Q.! Or maybe just a duo act, then at least he can use his name for something. 'The Great Kate Weathermachine and Ledroptha Curtain', no that's too long. 'The Great Kate Weathermachine and her Mystical Assistant'. Or 'The Great Kate Wetherall and her Stormy Assistant', that one sounds better!")