Always Two There Were, Magician and Apprentice [D3EE]

[Manny Donos]

Manny laughed, perhaps a touch nervously. "Now Leah, remember. A magician never reveals his or her secrets. Especially not those kinds of secrets."

Idly, he rubbed his cheek, chuckling as Lysa punched his shoulder. In fact, it probably was for the best that neither of them could read his mind...

"I've got another one for both of you, if you're game." Manny said, quickly shuffling the deck. He gave Leah a significant nod; she'd need to stall while he got it set up!

[Leah kuso]

"Another trick? Well then! What exciting things has the great Magical Manny got in store for us I wonder?" Leah put her finger on her cheek, tapping it "hmm...I can see it building in his mind. For now though, how about some Leah specials? Just do what I do, and I'll show you how to knot and un-knot your own arms!"

Leah moved to the front of the stage, a little away from Manny, while she did her own version of magic. She had the audience copying her - putting her thumb down, then clasping them together with her arms twisted. She pointed to the audience, correcting one of them, and then she told them to turn their thumbs up, which they couldn't as it twisted their arms too much. She however could do it fine, as she'd taken the chance while everyone was looking at the audience member being corrected to adjust how her hands were without making it appear that they'd moved!

It was a simple trick, but it kept the audience distracted while Manny prepared.

[Lysa]

Lysa's eyes however were glued to Leah as she did the "trick" and she grinned watching her fool the audience with minor illusions.

she turned to Manny "Do you still need me for this one or has another caught your eye Magic Man?"

[Manny Donos]

Manny whistled softly as Leah did her thing, grinning as she performed her misdirection. He'd have to ask her how she did that later...

"Yeah, I still need you." Manny grinned. "Lysa, Leah, I need both of you for this one." He held up the deck with one hand. Fingers twisting, he cut the cards one-handed, holding the two halves out to the two ladies.

"Cards have a magic all their own, see." Manny explained. "And when you hold them, you put some of your magic in them as well." He nodded, smiling, to each of the ladies. "So I want you to each take half of the deck. Hold it in your hand, concentrate on it, work your magic into the cards. And then, take one card, look at it, show it to the audience, and give it to the other person."

As they did, Manny turned his back, waiting...

[Leah kuso]

Leah turned back just before Manny spoke, having guessed the exact moment he'd finish (very luckily!) She balanced the pack of cards on her hand at a slight angle, letting the cards move slightly then quickly plucking out the one that moved the most in the middle. She held it to herself, gazing at it, before showing the master of coins (14) to the audience then offering it to Lysa with a smile.

[Lysa]

Lysa nodded excitedly "alright alright you got it!" She looked hard at her half of the deck her tongue sticking out as she did so and then she swiftly pulled on card out an 8 of sabers. Lysa showed it to the audience and giggled as she passed it to Leah.

[Manny Donos]

Once the two ladies had switched cards, Manny turned back. He held out his hands, one towards each of them. "Now. May I have your cards, please?"

He would take them one at a time; he only had so many hands, after all.

[Leah kuso]

Leah nodded, sliding her cards into Mannys hands with a smirk.

"Here you go Magical Manny."

[Manny Donos]

"Thank you, Leah." Manny said, smiling. He made a show of holding them, brow furrowed, as he quickly thumbed through them, without looking at the card faces.

With a flourish, he pulled one out. "This one feels a bit like Lysa." He announced. "Is this your card?" Turning it over, he handed it to Lysa. It was, in fact, the eight of sabers.

[Lysa]

Lysa jumped up and down clapping "oooo Manny thats such a cool trick! How did you do it?" She asked bubbling with energy

[Manny Donos]

Lysa jumped up and down clapping "oooo Manny thats such a cool trick! How did you do it?" She asked bubbling with energy

Manny smirked. "I told you. The cards know." Actually, a very careful observer would note that all the cards Leah started with had two rounded corners, while Lysa's cards all had entirely angular corners.

"Now, let's see if I can recognize Leah's impression on her card, too." He held out his hand to Lysa, waiting for her cards.

[Lysa]

she quickly plopped the cards into his hand.

[Manny Donos]

"Hmmm..." Once again, Manny made a show of meditating over the cards, considering them as his fingers traced over the edges...

He smirked as he pulled one out. "Leah, I can feel your presence on this one. Is this your card?" He handed her the master of coins.

[Leah kuso]

Leah seemed to space out for a few moments.

Feel your presence...

She blinked, then shook her head.

"Ah, um, yes that's the one! Wow, Magic Manny does it again!"

[Manny Donos]

Manny caught the little moment. He gave Leah a curious look, a question on the tip of his tongue.

But then the moment passed. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen and other! Give Leah and Lysa a big hand! They did great up here tonight!" Stepping alongside them, he gave a sweeping bow.