The Magical Bar Trick

This man is a magician. He walks right into my bar, takes one look at me, makes some decisions in his head, and two hours later, here I am. Mistress Sin of the Nuevo Riche brigade. And I hate how I look like this.

He’s squeezed me into a dress that’s about two sizes too small and four shades of blue too bright. It does wonderful things with both my copious amounts of cleavage and the blue tints in my eyes. He tells me to take out the colored contacts as I’m gazing longingly at my reflection.

They’re put back in when he grimaces at the clash of brown. Woefully, he morns that he didn’t have time to tint and dye my hair before I have to leave. When he brings up leaving I look at the wall and grimace. Lex will be here in twenty minutes.

Catching George’s eyes in the reflection, I know that he knows that I look damn good. But I still hate myself for looking like this. I look like everyone woman I’ve ever passed on the street and just wished would fall and smudge something; anything, so long as she loses that perfection.

Humans were not meant to be perfect. We’re a flawed race and it’s so morally wrong to fight our nature.

“If you frown any more, you’re going to mess up your hair and I couldn’t stand letting you leave this bar like that.” The way he says bar makes me chuckle a little, which I think upsets him even more. This of course, makes me laugh harder.

“So, what’s the punch line?”

We both turn and catch a glimpse of Lex as he walks in and out of the shadows. He comes to stand next to me and I inhale sharply. Lex Luthor in work clothes is devastating. Lex Luthor in a tux is simply murder. The straight lines of his obviously very tailored raiment makes me feel down right frumpy in my Vera Wang. He looks me up and down once, smiling. “Very nice George. You still have that touch.”

George bows once and seems to melt into the shadows. It’s not that hard for him to do, given the dark state of the bar, but he does it so well. I fleetingly imagine all the times he’s just disappeared from view with one sharp look or a wave of the hand. Lex’s cool finger tips on my neck bring me back to reality and I jerk as they encircle my neck.

He whispers, “Relax. I’m not going to hurt you.” And I realize that he’s putting on a necklace. I look in the mirror at the two of us. He’s standing slightly behind me, looking very fine and gentlemanly stringing pearls around my neck.

“Were these your mother’s?”

He regards me curiously through the looking glass. “Yes, they were. How did you know?”

“I didn’t. You just told me.” He gives me an amused glance before coming out from behind me and holding out his arm.

“If you’re ready milady. Our carriage awaits.”

I laugh, very sophisticatedly I believe, and say, “Lead on phly boy.”

His laughter echoes in the building as we leave.

Sorry this is so short. I’m so tired right now and I can’t really see straight.