Arthur Lester (
lestercraft) wrote in
lastvoyages2024-03-06 12:45 pm
Entry tags:
Part Twenty-Four: The Game
[The video post is set in the library: the camera is pointed at Arthur, perched at the end of the table while Arthur sits on the long side, distractedly scolding the cameragirl.]
--to fall and break your fucking neck, Willa.
[Sitting across from Arthur are John and Edwin - the former has a book on stage magic bookmarked and closed in front of him, the latter is in his mask-robe-tentacle form (and Edwin is as still as a statue - anticipation, rather than tension, the tips of his tentacles twitching like a cat ready to pounce) - and both of them are staring intently at the table as Arthur slides three paper cups to a halt as he's talking. Classic cup game!
Except when John and Edwin both loudly, confidently declare it has to be under the right cup, Arthur lifts it - and it's empty, because when he lifts the cup on the left (and it would take a decent sleight-of-hand artist to notice the way Arthur's palming it) the ball is revealed. And the Does erupt into protests, almost loud enough to muffle Willa giggling directly behind the camera.]
They've been doing this for ten minutes, now. [Her voice is delighted, as Arthur shows them the ball and puts it back under a cup to start again.] They still haven't won one yet.
[Arthur stops the cups again, and the Does choose different cups, John the centre and Edwin the left - and when Arthur lifts the centre cup, it's empty. Edwin laughs triumphantly and snatches for the left, but it's empty too - John reaches for the right and that is empty too.
And then Arthur lifts the middle cup again and now the ball is there, and Edwin smacks it with a tentacle and a howl of bafflement as John laughs, deep and evil and delighted.]
--to fall and break your fucking neck, Willa.
[Sitting across from Arthur are John and Edwin - the former has a book on stage magic bookmarked and closed in front of him, the latter is in his mask-robe-tentacle form (and Edwin is as still as a statue - anticipation, rather than tension, the tips of his tentacles twitching like a cat ready to pounce) - and both of them are staring intently at the table as Arthur slides three paper cups to a halt as he's talking. Classic cup game!
Except when John and Edwin both loudly, confidently declare it has to be under the right cup, Arthur lifts it - and it's empty, because when he lifts the cup on the left (and it would take a decent sleight-of-hand artist to notice the way Arthur's palming it) the ball is revealed. And the Does erupt into protests, almost loud enough to muffle Willa giggling directly behind the camera.]
They've been doing this for ten minutes, now. [Her voice is delighted, as Arthur shows them the ball and puts it back under a cup to start again.] They still haven't won one yet.
[Arthur stops the cups again, and the Does choose different cups, John the centre and Edwin the left - and when Arthur lifts the centre cup, it's empty. Edwin laughs triumphantly and snatches for the left, but it's empty too - John reaches for the right and that is empty too.
And then Arthur lifts the middle cup again and now the ball is there, and Edwin smacks it with a tentacle and a howl of bafflement as John laughs, deep and evil and delighted.]

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Now that takes me back! Hard to find a mark for that game anymore.
[video]
video;
no subject