A couple more trick runs pulled off, small thanking nods to those placing coin in her bowl without interruption to what she was doing and Aruku figured it was time to wrap it up. Her focus was on what she was doing, though a separate part of her mind observed the crowd and surroundings, making mental notes. That tigerish guy was rather striking, perhaps a chat later. Though the merchant she wanted to get a couple more good weapons from was also here, perhaps she should pursue him instead for better prices while still jovial.
Time for the last trick. Picking up three torches, she spoke out to the crowd, “For a final display to dazzle your eyes, that most difficult to control element, fire will be used. Now don’t worry folks, I haven’t burned anyone’s hair off since the last time mine started growing back again…� Banter continued as she had a strapping young boy hold her sticks out for her, joking even with this as she doused the wrapped ends with a little liquid, then seemed to puff flames right out her hand to ignite the ends. Taking the flaming torches, she sent her helper back to the crowd with thanks and calling up applause for his assistance. Finishing out the rest of the tricks and display, she attempted to douse the torches by holding two in one hand and one in the other, blowing the single out. However, when she transferred one of the remaining fire-bearing torches to the now extinguished hand and blew out a second, she looked back with what appeared to be surprise at having… two flaming torches in one hand again! That was quickly settled by tossing down the one already put out torch and holding the remaining two separate, putting them each out neatly with a hard blow of air each.
Taking a bow and picking the torches up again, she straitened to call out a few parting lines. “If you liked the performance here, down at the Fish-head’s Inn I’ll appear; For an evening of stories new and dear, please come down and bring your ears! Thanks for being a wonderful audience…� And on and on; the crowd had already started to break apart and head back on their previous journeys, while Aruku gathered what little was still outside her pack and put it back in, picking up the bowl and talking with some of the lingers. She was glad she had worked out a deal with the innkeeper earlier. It was good form to keep up on tales, and the innkeeper was happy to have the chance for more customers. Knowing that donations had all but stopped now, she slipped the coins into her pouch and put away the collection bowl, taking a brief break sitting on the fountain edge and sorting out where to head next.
