a true rare talent

That made sense. Still, he should be more confident in his abilities!

"Are you waiting to hear back from anywhere else right now?" Mu-yeol asked.

Hopefully somewhere closer than Copenhagen...though Copenhagen really wasn't that far. He remembered Nemo floating Korea once and that terrified him, it was so far.

...though the Won was a pretty weak currency, he could totally send Nemo rent money if he moved to Korea. Well if he lived outside of Seoul and commuted in. Rent in Seoul itself was ungodly expensive. Then again in Seoul there was his brother, Won-shik...still, Korea was so far away.

He almost preferred Nemo end up in Copenhagen or Sarajevo or Budpest because at least it was Europe, even if Nemo spoke Korean and not Danish, Bosnian, or Hungarian.

And he doubted he'd get to stage two.

He knew this was just the industry. Still, the same thoughts always cropped up: Well, if Jeremy can do it, why can't I? If Ashlee can do it, why can't I?

Maybe it was because he was a fairy, and he couldn't hide it. But Nemo didn't want to think that's what it was. He hated playing victim.

Mu-yeol sighed.

"I just don't want money to be the thing that makes you turn something down, or makes you think you can't do something. If money's the barrier, we will figure it out. That's all." He said, shrugging before moving some food around on his plate.

Like father, like son.

"I didn't mean it like that, I guess--I just don't want to get too excited. I'm trying to prepare myself for more failure," Nemo joked...though it didn't feel like a joke.

It felt inevitable.

"Don't worry about that, I can send you money." Mu-yeol said. "I can't do that everywhere you go, but I'm willing to do it if that's the only barrier for your first paid dance job."

He wasn't stupid. He knew Nemo needed paid work on his resume and he was capable of helping him out with expenses to get said work.

"I don't have many of my own bills anyway, and every time I suggest paying half the utilities David looks at me like I said something crazy. We can find something you and I can afford to pay for. I'll get a second job again if I have to. It'd only be for the summer, I can quit it before I start university classes."

Which he was only doing on a part-time basis to start with so like...if he had to, he could juggle two jobs, plus the hollow clinic, plus that.

He didn't want this lunch to turn into a conversation about Appa supporting his dreams again. Well-- like, Nemo was grateful for that! But the thought of Appa getting yet another job to make Nemo's dreams come true made Nemo not want to go at all.

Though he hadn't even gotten the job yet, lol.

"Can you-- chill, please? I'm not asking you to do all that yet," said Nemo. "I mean, first I have to get a job. And then who knows, maybe I can get a cheap place with roommates! You don't need to talk about a second job or all that."

She was sure there was some complicated magical reason why she couldn't just magic up luck for herself. Something about trade and intention and impact or whatever. She didn't actually care that much. The important thing was that she could make luck charms, but she'd have to buy them from another sorcerer if she wanted to use them for herself. And she wasn't that desperate.

Yet.

"If you're looking for big luck, they're a lot harder and the reagents are a lot trickier. I've made one of those once before, but it was a special commission for someone and it took awhile."

That kind of luck probably wasn't sold on the shelves of the Rock Shoppe or any of the other magical shoppes around Swynlake. He would have to commission it, and like Mim said, it probably took a while and a lot of rare reagents. He couldn't afford all that, could he?

And it probably wouldn't feel very good if he finally landed a job after buying a charm for it.

Sigh. But he was getting desperate! Maybe not...that desperate. Yet.

"Ah, yeah. Makes sense," Nemo said. "What about like... I dunno, the little stuff then? Like buying crystals or something?"

"Oh, good," Mu-yeol said, equal parts glad he had a good time and that he clearly raised his son right.

A beat, while he stirred some sugar into his tea.

"And do you know when you'll hear back? When would you...have to move to Copenhagen if you get it?" He asked.

"Yeah, but I mean-- only for the summer," said Nemo, tilting his head one way, then the other. "Which kinda sucks--because it's a really cool show, and the pay is pretty good! But, yeah, I dunno. It still would be kind of hard to afford living there if I get it..."

But would he? Nemo wasn't sure. At this point, he was so used to rejections that he just expected them, like waiting for the sun to come up in the morning.

The Baes And Textpost Memes

Ah, so he didn't hate it. Which! He was super happy about, see, he was smiling!

"Oh...and did you find not speaking Danish to be a problem?" Mu-yeol asked. Because if he was going to move there he should at least try learning Danish, he'd be damned if his son moved to another country and just expected everybody around him to speak English.

Of course...he really had no say in that. Did he raise an ignorant English-speaker who just assumed everyone was fluent in English?

"How do you think the callback went?"

He'd discovered that in many places in Europe, since various spring break trips had let Nemo do a little exploring. He heard that wasn't always the case outside big cities, though. And it had been confusing to navigate at first because there weren't any English translations on any signs or anything like that. So he'd had to pick up some really basic words that would help him move around the city, and of course, he had come in with a few phrases because Appa told him not to be an ignorant English Speaker who expected everyone around him to speak English!

"I mean, obviously I tried to uh, speak some Danish kind of but-- at the audition, there were a lot of international dancers too," said Nemo. "It was kind of cool to learn where everyone came from. I had fun just standing in line, waiting for my turn, you know? And we even helped each other, practicing the routine they taught us together."

Mu-yeol set a cup of tea down in front of Nemo at the kitchen table, along with a plate of banchan and kimbap.

"How was Copenhagen?" He'd been asleep when Nemo got in last night, and at work when Nemo woke up today.

The selfish part of him hoped he hated it and didn't want to move there even if he got the job; but that wasn't the right thing to think, so he pushed that away.

He'd landed in the airport and took one of the trains to his AirBnB, which was more expensive than Nemo liked, but Appa insisted on helping him out, choosing something inside the city so he could walk to Tivoli and the audition. As soon as he stepped off the train, Nemo's fear had evaporated, replaced instead with excitement, buzzing like a busy hive. It was the kind of beautiful place that Nemo assumed only existed on the back of postcards. But there it was in front of him-- and there was even a cafe owned by a sorcerer right down the street from the place he'd been staying!

It had been a whirlwind 48 hours, and then he got back on the train to the airport. Sitting with Appa now, part of Nemo couldn't believe it had happened. It felt like a long, detailed dream.

"Appa, it was awesome!" Nemo exploded now, grinning. "Like-- kinda like Swynlake, but if Swynlake was way bigger. But not as big as London," he added quickly. "It's so awesome-- did you know it's specifically a merperson sanctuary city? I didn't realize that, but I went on a walk and came across that famous statue of a mermaid and it said it right on there."

He didn't actually know what it meant, of course. He'd have to do more research.

It was the kind of thing she probably shouldn't joke about. Sorcerers had enough of a bad rap in a lot of spaces, and part of the point was having magic that meant they could make people's lives hard for super small reasons.

But it didn't change the fact that it was so tempting. Besides. If you couldn't joke about it with another unemployed Magick, who could you?

"I'll see what I can do. What are we thinking? Continuous bad hair days? All of their shoes just a little bit too tight?"

He wasn't being serious but neither was Mim! And at this point, Nemo figured he earned the right to joke like this. The casting directors had nothing to lose. They had jobs and security and were living the dream! (At lesat, Nemo assumed this about them.)

"Though I guess if I am gonna do magic, maybe I should buy myself a good luck charm or something. Have you ever tried something like that?" Nemo's smile faded a little, his curiosity genuine.

They really had managed to rile the raccoon up enough to take off and prove himself. Hallelujah. Honestly Mushu wasn't sure how much longer he could have dealt with the animal before he lost control again.

Mushu had to bite back a laugh of his own too... at least until he finally ran off. Then he couldn't stop the little giggle that escaped him as he slumped down on the ground for a minute. "Hey... it's not our problem anymore and that's a real victory." He held out his fist to Nemo for a fist bump. "Nice job man."

Nemo decided to shake off any residual worry. He grinned along with Mushu and smashed their fists together. "You did most of it. You really know how to be annoying, huh," Nemo joked.

Though you know... sometimes that was a talent. Maybe that was Mushu's, if it wasn't turning into a Dragon or negotiating diplomatic deals between magicks.

"Okay-- now we just have to finish this up! I think we could get it done in the next hour if we really try."

BTS ARIRANG WORLD TOUR IN STANFORD D 2

26.05.17

Mushu had really hoped they'd be able to goad him into doing it just because he was a braggart. But the fact that he was trying to drag Nemo into the insanity... well shit. Mushu wasn't going to let that happen.

"Hmm... for a very tall raccoon I'm not seeing a lot of confidence," Mushu quipped next, figuring he could poke fun at him and dig further because of the way that he was choosing to respond. He could totally do this. He could totally out-maneuver a raccoon.

Mushu tilted his head and studied the raccoon carefully. "You know, that's a strong word coming from a raccoon who hasn't even bothered to prove he's more than just talk," Mushu remarked.

"Nemo you don't have to duel anything," Mushu added next. "Nemo's more than proved he's got guts to me. But you Mr. Raccoon? All I hear are words. Talk talk talk but no action. Prove you can take on a gummi bear already."

"I CAN! Just watch!" snarl-squeaked the raccoon.

Nemo snorted at the noise-- then put his fist to his mouth and coughed.

"You'll both see! WAIT HERE!"

The raccoon scampered off.

Nemo blew out another breath. "Whew. Hopefully, that won't make things worse. Though-- I guess it will be the Raccoon King's problem."

And the raccoon took the bait pretty fast. At least it seemed to aggravate him enough, the implication. Mushu smirked at the way the little guy was reacting. "Are you quite suuure about that?" He asked the raccoon.

He didn't want to push too far at once, but if they did it just right... this raccoon would be racing off to prove himself and leave them with some blissful peace to get their job done. "You don't seem like you could hold out long enough to beat a gummi bear. Those claws versus the ones from a gummi... seems like no contest."

The raccoon screeched and jumped up and down. "Not true! I'm a VERY TALL RACCOON," he snarled.

See, Nemo knew that was gonna work. Height was a sore spot for a lot of beasts; Nemo, as a tiny pixie most times, totally understood that. Though he actually thought his human form was pretty tall, thank you!!! He could certainly be shorter.

"Prove it," Nemo jeered again. "Go find a gummi and challenge him to a duel. I bet he'll just step on you and that will be that."

The raccoon snarled again. "Why, ya little--" his ears flicked. He bared his teeth. "I could beat a gummi bear in a duel much faster than YOU!"

Uh-oh. That wasn't the direction Nemo wanted to go in. "I don't want to duel a gummi bear--"

"Hah, and why's that? Coward!" Raccoon jeered.

She went up to London to visit them occasionally, combining time with her friends with clandestine missions to connect with the rebel faction of the Coven of Owls.

Neither made her feel as good as she hoped. It all just reminded her of how stuck she was in most areas of her life.

"It feels like the only friends I have that didn't leave town are all still in uni and that feels weirder and weirder. Like, they're writing papers and I'm writing my 5th cover letter this week. It's kinda hard to relate after awhile." She let out a frustrated sigh, thinking of the texts she was currently ignoring.

"I don't know, maybe its time to just hex the job boards. That feels as useful as anything else."

Though Nemo was kinda jealous of Mim. His close friends had all fluttered off. It made Swynlake feel lonelier and smaller than it ever had. He found himself remembering his years in primary a lot these days and that also made him feel kinda pathetic. He didn't want to be one of those people whose best years were high school.

At least if he some friends here, maybe he wouldn't feel so bad about getting stuck.

The answer was obvious: make new friends. He...kind of had? It wasn't like he was TOTALLY friendless. He hung out with Gregory... at work. And hey, look, he was talking to Mim!

...Even if they weren't totally close.

"Could you do that? Hey, could you hex the stupid casting directors that won't give me a callback?" Nemo joked.

Still, Nemo supposed it could be worse. There could be claws and fire and threats! So he gritted his teeth. Honestly, he was kinda glad that Mushu threw the weeds. He was about one flit away from lashing out himself, and he was trying to focus on his breathing so his talent didn't carry him away.

"Wow, good aim!" the raccoon responded sarcastically. He chittered at his own stupid joke. C'mon, sarcasm was for babies.

"Eh, we don't get many people out here. Just the gummi bears, and I actually respect them." The raccoon boasted.

"More like you're scared of them. I bet they'd claw you right up," Nemo jeered-- thorns, now he was getting caught up, ugh.

"Bah! As if! I can take those teddy bears!"

The raccoon was absolutely asking for it. But then there were the gummi bears mentioned. And as Nemo and the raccoon spoke, a jolt of an idea hit him. It might not work, but if it did it would probably do them two good favors: 1) the raccoon would go away and 2) the raccoon could potentially get itself in trouble with the gummi bears and become their problem instead.

A win-win.

He found himself smirking, looking the raccoon up and down. "Can you? Are you sure about that?" He questioned, making it quite clear he was judging how small the raccoon was. "I don't know. I think I'd need to see it to believe it. What about you Nemo?" Mushu asked thoughtfully, turning to Nemo conspiratorially, hoping it would rile the raccoon up enough to do something stupid instead.

But he saw what Mushu was trying to do with that smirk, and it was really tempting. Anyway, the raccoon's action was its own! If it made a bad decision, let it face the gummi bears' wrath. And it had its own king to run to...

"Oh yeah, definitely. I don't think a raccoon could stand a chance against the gummi bears."

The raccoon bared its teeth at once, beady eyes flashing like dynamite. "Of course I can! These ain't just for pickin' at fleas!" He held up both his paws in the air-- though raccoons always had these eerily human-like hands-- showing off his long claws.

"Yeah right. I bet a gummi bear could just step on your tail and you'd give up."

"NO WAY!" snarled the raccoon.

Only Mushu's self-control on lashing out was on a very frayed leash, fraying more and more as the stupid raccoon kept heckling at them. He tried to lean down and focus on pulling out more weeds.

Still, he couldn't help but snort at what the raccoon said next. A funny comparison really. "Aww nah. My real dad would be way better at shutting me up," Mushu said cheerfully before he shifted to the next section. "He's practically made it an art form."

He tugged out another good clump of weeds and tossed it back in the direction of the raccoon. Maybe he could pelt the stupid thing with it. "Do you always bother people with your nonsense or are we just special?"

Still, Nemo supposed it could be worse. There could be claws and fire and threats! So he gritted his teeth. Honestly, he was kinda glad that Mushu threw the weeds. He was about one flit away from lashing out himself, and he was trying to focus on his breathing so his talent didn't carry him away.

"Wow, good aim!" the raccoon responded sarcastically. He chittered at his own stupid joke. C'mon, sarcasm was for babies.

"Eh, we don't get many people out here. Just the gummi bears, and I actually respect them." The raccoon boasted.

"More like you're scared of them. I bet they'd claw you right up," Nemo jeered-- thorns, now he was getting caught up, ugh.

"Bah! As if! I can take those teddy bears!"