Ardora had ventured out onto the fire escape despite the fact that it was wet and cold outside. When she needed a smoke, she needed a smoke. And today, she definitely needed a smoke. The act from the afternoon had gone smoothly but people had questioned her after the fact, asking her where the animals all went. She tried her best to keep her abilities a secret, telling those who asked that a magician never revealed her tricks. For some, that answer would never be enough and she often had to ditch them before they got too curious. The weather outside didn’t change her desire for a cigarette, though. She tossed on her red flannel and an old baseball cap and climbed out the window onto the fire escape. Two clicks of the lighter with no fire, she groaned. Two more clicks, nothing. She tried once more but as she flicked it one more time, it slipped from between her fingers, bouncing down off the ledge to land below her. Luckily, someone seemed to be rounding the corner. “Hey...yeah, up here...make yourself useful and toss me that lighter? Or maybe one that actually fucking works?”
