[Mousen]

He knew the crowd would soon tire. The spheres faded out. Colour by colour. Until only the three gold remained. Then with a final flick of his wrist, they too vanished.

[Mousen]

He soaked in the applause for a moment. Bowing and thanking the crowd. He wasn't going to be rude. Politeness could be everything in show buisness.

[Mousen]

The young batti had been entranced. She'd seen the preformance form begining to end. She was amazed at how beautiful juggling could be. She was envious. It made her own juggling attempt look very ammature.

[Mousen]

"How'd you do it?" She asked once the crowd had dispersed.
"A good magictian never reveals his secrets." Morte answered, tapping the side of his nose.
"You're a juggler. Not a magictian."
"How do you know I'm not both?"

[Mousen]

"Two things you need to have to be a juggler. A good one. Timing and Confidence. Timing for obvious reasons. Confidence is just as important; you have to have stage presence; you have to be able to take risks."

[Mousen]

Oh." he added. "Some humility is good too. You're going to make mistakes. Believe me. No one can catch the ball everytime."

[Mousen]

They stood in terrace park. Under the shadow of some of the biggest trees. Morte's guidance was invaluable to her. She wanted nothing more than to juggle well. She wanted to preform

[Mousen]

"I don't believe I caught your name."
"That's right. You didn't"
"I don't suppose your parents want you here." He said with a smile. He'd find them if it came down to it.
"It's Annabelle." she admitted at last.

[Mousen]

Change it. No-one is ever going to remember an Annabelle."
"Why? What's your name?" She snorted.
"It's boring and my name is Morte. Morte Cabaza."

[Mousen]

"Oh." That was her plan foiled.
"Practise now. Consentrate."
"Doesn't Morte mean death in some language?" She asked hesitantly. She was sure she remembered it from somewhere.

[Mousen]

"Yes it does. It's rather quite fitting really."
"Why?"
"I'm half undead myself."
Her eyes went wide. "You're joking."
"I don't joke off stage."

[Mousen]

The girl opened her mouth and closed it several times. Looking like a fish out of water. "You... Impossible." she managed at last. Trying and failing to keep her cool.

[Mousen]

"Possible." Morte yawned. Souding very bored. " There was a strange incident where I nearly lost my life. I could only heal up until a certain point. It was a better option that death."

[Mousen]

"Don't look so surprised. I'm not going to eat your brains or something stupid. I'm a preformer. Not a zombie." Sighing Morte ran a hand through his startlingly red hair.

[Mousen]

There was still no reaction from Annabell. "My heart doesn't beat as often as it should. Unlike the kirunds I do not rot. Nor do I need to breath often.