"Find the ace, you know where it is, don't you? Keep your eyes on it. Just a little shuffling, nothing more." Feathered arms swung back and forth, fingers gently caressing the cards. Switch the card out right now; keep the three cards moving. Keep talking. "And now we come to a halt, and your decision. Which card is the ace? Oh, I'm so sorry; it's this one. A little practice never hurts though, eh?" Keep smiling.
The Darigan Pteri beamed congenially, peering over rectangular tinted shades at his 'customer.' His fingers shuffled the cards into his deck deftly, playing over the smooth surfaces. This was a master of the trade. "Would you care to give it another run through?" This was art. This was illegal, but that had always been a minor setback to scams.
"Well now, there's no need to get angry. You did decide to play in the first place, after all." This was going downhill… "No, I'm sorry. I don't give refunds. I have to eat, after all. Here, there's no need to go calling anybody. It's just a game." Blast, blast, blast. This was the bottom of the hill, it appeared.
"I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me," the Pteri said as his fingers snapped up the cards, a pair of dice, and the irate player's wallet. "I really must fly." With a hasty wave of farewell, he made a quick dash into an alleyway. According to the strict laws governing escape into alleyways, it was a dead end. But he had checked that before hand. What it did have was enough room for a take off. "Farewell, valedictions, and whatnot." Thank goodness I hadn't been scamming an Eyrie. But that's not ever happening again after last time I tried that.
Hey there- you look like an enterprising individual. Look, I've got a bridge... only kidding. In all seriousness, I've been thinking of branching out a bit. I've been running scams on the street almost as long as there've been streets to run 'em on. Now I'm considering a career in education- I teach you how to work the magic, and you give me a percentage of the take weekly. In exchange, I continue to teach you what I know. 'Course I'll be needing an initial deposit, so I can be sure my investment's safe.
Of course, I know what you're thinking- after all, that's my job. Why buy something from an admitted con? So I'll tell you what I'll do. First card trick's demonstrated free of charge- gratis. You can see for yourself that it works. You like it, I start teaching you the actual grifts. Go ahead, check the deck and shuffle it yourself before I even touch it. Five bridges? You're so trusting. It takes seven to get a truly random order- go on and finish it up.
Now name a card, any card. And voila, here she is. You can find whatever card you want to. As to how it works, it's all in the edges...
