Connor's POV
Standing on the stage, performing the final act of the night was stressful to say the least. This was just a small competition and I need to really do something big.
Judge: "The stage is yours Connor."
Connor: "Thank you."
The audience, while only a small group of maybe 600 people, watched me with bored looks on thier face, of course I was last, I was a magician, I wasn't singing a popular song like the other band or dancing to MILF by Fergie. I was just simply seen as the annoying little magician doing card tricks. But I was going to do much more than that tonight.
Connor: "People give magicians a bad name, sleight of hand tricks, stuff to deceive you and hope that you don't catch them out. I'm going to do something different."
I watched the judges yawn, A younger gentlemen that was only here because he was told to be. I only know that from watching his video he uploaded last week, stating he would be a judge at the show, the only reason this place was booked out. Maybe the venue owners convinced him it would be good for his image? I took my shirt off my body, Revealing my slightly built frame, I definitely had been hitting the gym for a couple of months this year, And I'd say it's been paying off a little. I've only lost about 4 kilos but I've put on 2 back just muscle. While I didn't have the abs I wanted for the show to be more successful, if I tense I had them.
Connor: "You can see, no tricks, no cards up my sleeve as I don't currently have any. Mr Power would you like to confirm that I do indeed have nothing on up top?"
I walked down half way as Lachlan stepped forward and patted me down. Honestly, I just wanted an excuse to have him touch me. I wouldn't call myself a fan, and the only reason I saw that video was because Alice told me he would be at my comp. I needed to win.
Lachlan: "Definitely clean guys."
Connor: "Thank you, now I want you to take this deck of cards. Go back to the table and until I call back on you, I want you to mess with the deck, feel free to check it for any cheating I could do like all the cards are the same etc."
Lachlan: "Card tricks original."
Connor: "Alright I'm dropping the act go sit down and fuck with the cards I don't have time for this."
Lachlan: "Rude."
I walked back on stage with a bored expression on my face.
Connor: "I thought to put on this great act, using words to convey a nice little story to go along with it, but I see you only care not only about the other performers. Be honest right now who already thinks I'm a fake or wasting your time."
I saw a good majority of bands go up, doesn't surprise me, the judges all put their hands up as well. It kind of annoyed me that no one had faith in my but sure.
Connor: "Alright well here's the thing, I'm not just a magician, I like to call myself a tinker, I create artificial magic using technology. For example, Lachlan stop messing with the cards and stand up."
I watched him look up at me from under his hair, he was actually pretty cute.
Connor: "Now I want you to place your thumb on any one card for ten seconds."
Lachlan: "Seems a bit long."
Connor: "That's just for theatrics, just pick a card and hold it up. Show the audience but not me."
Lachlan picked up one card. Turned around and showed the audience, but he made a mistake in picking it up using four fingers instead of 2 or 3. This trick just became easier.
Connor: "Now, I want you to put it back into the deck, shuffle them, then I need you to write your name in a clear black texter on a different card. and make sure the card is in there, shuffle it again. Then launch them at me."
I heard a few gasps and confused sounds as the judges all just looked at me funny.
Lachlan: "What?"
Connor: "Shuffle them all up nice and tidy, make sure yours is in there, shuffle it again and then throw the deck at me."
He looked at the crowd before giving me a confused look before he started to shuffle the deck, as he did do, I pulled out my asthma inhaler and took a few puffs, Making sure to hit the button on the small device in my pocket to let a flame to my hand. I loved how I had created this, and yet here I was about to use it for a magic trick, I saw everyone looking up at me as I let the flame fall over my torse and back, my arms and my sides before it came back to my hand. As Lachlan finished shuffling the deck, not having seen my little display, He opened the deck and threw the entire thing at me like you would fling a single card as far as you could, In the short time it traveled, I moved my hand out as the spark suddenly got bigger, until it did a small burst of flame before it eventually dissipated again, The entire deck was gone except for one card, a solo card remained, what they didn't know is that the cards were now back in my pocket. I loved science, it let me teleport them and I wouldn't have to explain a thing.
Connor: "This card, the King of Clubs, Heard of it."
Lachlan: "How the fuck, did you do that?"
Connor: "Is that your card?"
Lachlan: "I mean, Yeah but like. What the hell?"
Judge: "What just happened?"
Connor: "Don't worry Lachlan, the other cards are all here. Look."
I reached into my pocket and found the other card, All of them clean and clear except one. I watched as Lachlan went through them and then pulled out the card with his name on it, showing the audience and causing them to all scream and cheer.
Connor: "I'm not an ordinary magician. Like I said I use technology. Lachlan if you like, after the show I can show you how I did it."
Lachlan: "Yes please."
Connor: "Thank you, that is all."
A few minutes later after I put my shirt back on and took my seat on the chair at the front of the stage beside one of the dancers, We were left to hear the results of the competition. I knew already I wouldn't go through hence why I did my grand final act now. Though now that I'm thinking about it. Doing something like that probably just proved that I'm good.
Judge: "The top three winners going on to the final in Sydney are, Heather Marie's and her dance ensemble."
Claps and cheers from the crowd erupted as we all joined in, congratulating her.
Judge: "The second winner is, Kieran Lorenzo with his cover of Hello by Lionel Richie."
Another wave of cheers came through as everyone cheered on thier second winner. The man looking quite happy and pleased with himself.
Judge: "And the last winner is Bree and Casey with thier duo dance performance."
Again, we all clapped and cheered, an amazing few winners that absolutely earned thier spot while I sat there. Content with having shown people magic can be real with a little help. Maybe I should have drowned myself instead.
Judge: "A huge thank you to all of our participants in this round and we hope to see you again another year."
As the crowd cheered and the winners were taken off stage left, Instantly giving me happy thoughts that we exit stage right. As I got down I walked over to my bag, pulling the small harmless torch out of my pocket and placing it into my bag before dropping the cards as well.
Lachlan: "I'll be out front in twenty minutes, I need to know how you did that it was spectacular."
Connor: "I hope so, It was my act I would do at the finals, I knew no one would be interested in that though."
Lachlan: "You don't understand that was fucking insane, You pulled a flame ott of no where and burned the whole deck of cards but really you just teleport them to your pocket, Leaving only mine. That is, Un heard of. It's almost like real magic."
Connor: "There is no such thing as real magic, everything is just aided by some form of technology, I just happen to create my own magic and my own wonder."
Lachlan: "Just, please show me how you did it, Where do you live?"
Connor: "I live an hour away in a one room apartment."
Lachlan: "Come with me for dinner then, I have to know how you did that, I'll even pay for you i don't mind."
Connor: "Bit obsessed there aren't you Lachlan?"
Lachlan: "I have to know what it was, I understand artificial magic more so than any of those guys or anyone in the audience. I make my own form of magic in my videos, please."
Connor: "Fine, you can take me to dinner and I'll show you around. But just know that once it's finished that's it."
Lachlan: "Right yeah, That's it I promise."