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Cast a magician (a real one, or a party entertainer) as your story’s protagonist.

Posted in Adventure on Dec 9, 2022

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✍️ 25 stories

The Essence

Submitted to Contest #176

Birth Moon reared its head over Black Mountain. It waxed nearly full as pale light spilled down the steep ridges, creeping among the dark forest. Wan light managed to flash in the cat's eyes, like a beacon turning on and off. Fearing discovery, the animal darted into dense, blooming laurel covering the mountainside.The feline slunk down the slope toward the cabin. It took a shortcut through low, thick brambles, heavy with ripening blackberries, seeking further cover. A rabbit flitted from the tangled thicket, fleeing the cat's ominous p...

43 likes 46 comments 46
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Alfie, The Great

Submitted to Contest #176

“My Dad says you’re shit!” The forthright ten-year-old boy defiantly stood in front of the birthday party magician, passing on the self-qualified negative review of his father. Not sure of what to say to the little primary school-grade upstart, the magician returned a silent momentary glare before reaching behind the boy’s right ear and producing a gold coin from thin air. The boy’s eyes widened with surprise at the parlour trick, then faster than he was impressed, he became equally unimpressed. “Is that all?” He pertinently asked. “Is not m...

29 likes 17 comments 17
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Santa Drives A Red Cadillac

Submitted to Contest #176

---discussion of drugs and sex, cursing--- The short, fat man in the red velvet suit with white fur trim put the marijuana cigarette up to his huge white beard. “How much longer until we are done with this Christmas shit?” The snow falling behind the large neon signs for the shopping mall reflected reds, blues, greens and purples, showering the three people standing in the alley with sparkling confetti of colored lights.  The ripe, sweet smell of restaurant trash from the dumpster next to them in the alley mingled with the smell of th...

22 likes 18 comments 18
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The Street Magician

Submitted to Contest #176

Growing up, I’ve always been into magic. I got one of those kits for Christmas in elementary school, and I had been practicing since. Until recently, anyway, but I’ll get into that. I’ve never considered myself good enough to pursue any kind of career, but I was pretty well known in high school and competed in all the talent shows and everything. I even performed at Prom.  I continued throughout college, though with less frequency. Just occasionally to impress friends with a card trick here or coin trick there. After I got my undergrad...

16 likes 4 comments 4
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Tsk Tsk: An Allegory

Submitted to Contest #176

Tsk, Tsk An Allegory            For centuries, the venerable Cobblestone streets had seen hordes of invaders, gatherings of soldiers, and raucous celebrations of victory. And in their peaceful present times, they heard the throes and misery of death songs, the winks and squeals of living, and the pangs and joys of childbirth. The crowded passageways touched the tender skin of infant feet, the hastening feet of children, and the callused feet of the aged.    &nb...

12 likes 3 comments 3
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The Fall and Rise of Zorko the Great

Submitted to Contest #176

Birthday parties are insanely overrated. From the silly balloon animals, to the overpriced cakes and decorations. Don't get me started on the gift bags for the kids in attendance. I'm ashamed to admit this, but Zorko the great, was relegated to tween birthday parties using subpar magic to make ends meet. Yours truly, who once saved the world going wand to fang with Dracula himself. *"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."I didn't have much of a choice thank you very much. It all started i...

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Two birds in the hand

Submitted to Contest #176

Two Birds in the Hand. “Presto!” Magnificent Marconi’s gloved hand produced yet another dove, this time a black one. The odd-colored birds’ obsidian feathers reflected the sunlight of this clear day. Another birthday party, another payday. More birds to buy, Magnificent Marconi knew as he released the black and the white one as well to the clear skies, frightening them enough to make them flap their wings hard, putting on an extra show for the cheering kiddies and even the bored parents. He afforded a glance at those bored parents, worki...

11 likes 6 comments 6
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The Great Brandino!!

Submitted to Contest #176

   The magic show was in a hole in the wall bar that probably should have been condemned years ago. I had found the ad scrolling through Facebook as one does when boredom overtakes you. As I walked through the door, the smell of alcohol and dirt overwhelmed my senses. Other than the two gentlemen at the bar, the place was empty and the faint noise coming from the jukebox did little to add life to the place. I decided to sit in the corner as to not draw attention to myself should I leave. A small older lady ...

11 likes 1 comment 1
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The First Female Graduate of Merlin's School of Wizardry

Submitted to Contest #176

I stood outside the tent, shaking, willing myself to go in. I was beginning to hate the smell of chocolate cake. I smoothed the skirt of my robe, then clenched my fists by my side. It was so unfair. I was better than this. My assistant, Keira, nudged me. “Go on, they’re waiting. You don’t want a riot, do you?” I groaned and tossed my hair back before taking a deep breath and deliberately relaxing my hands. I picked up my wizard hat and stared at it. I’d lived through one of those riots before, when a twelve-year-old had thought I didn’t liv...

11 likes 2 comments 2
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The Son of the Cursed

Submitted to Contest #176

Norman Stevens opened his eyes, still tired from the day before he didn’t notice the changes right away. Once the tiredness had finally left him and his eyes weren’t so blurry, he found himself somewhere else. He looked around, this place was most definitely not his bedroom. The air inside this building was damp and hard to breathe. Around him lay shattered pieces of stone from the collapsed roof above him. This building looked like some sort of ancient ruin, but that didn’t make any sense. He had been in his house just last night. So, ...

10 likes 1 comment 1
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The Great Malone!

Submitted to Contest #176

Sweat rung from The Great Malone’s brow.  The children sat wide eyed and mute on the lawn, the birthday boy Charlie was in tears and his cry was ringing loudly, a birthday kazoo in one hand and his other arm outstretched as if expecting to be picked up by his mum at any time. Their eyes were pinned on Malone’s face. It was a train wreck, but the children and the adults standing behind couldn’t avert their eyes. Even the birthday boy’s drunk uncle Herm was shocked and failing to laugh. And drunk uncles always find a reason to l...

10 likes 3 comments 3
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Party trick

Submitted to Contest #176

The man stares at the piece of paper confused and in dismay. His rent’s due, and he can barely pay it off. He’s been getting fewer hours weekly at work, due to the lack of customers at the barn, a local restaurant, where timothy waiters. An alarm snaps him back to reality, as his phone, across his bedroom reminds him of what is keeping him afloat. He sighs and then with the snap of his fingers, the alarm stops. Jumping out of bed the man waves two fingers, the index, and middle fingers, and his closet door swings open. Swiftly he gets change...

10 likes 0 comments 0
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Forsooth Sayer

Submitted to Contest #176

Harry made suggestive gestures around the voluptuous crystal ball. Eyes rolled back into his head, he chanted words that could have been Arabic, he even invoked Allah, with a smattering of Hebrew he recalled from a Bar Mitzvah, but most were gibberish. The teenage trio at the table tried to hold back, biting their lips, but one couldn’t manage. “Dude, it’s like you’re grabbing a boob!” They fell into hysterics.       Harry’s eyes rolled forward to glare. “It’s how I connect with the spirits,” he said, any trace ...

10 likes 1 comment 1
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Graydar--A Magician.....

Submitted to Contest #176

Graydar was a magician in time. He awoke to a sunny morning, a good omen. Graydar ate a simple, humble breakfast of toast, hold the jam. His tummy had butterflies today, he felt a tad nervous. Quite an understatement, that. Graydar was totally excited and nervous. Graydar--also a pilgrim--washed and dressed head to foot in his magician gear, including the hood. His couture was quite colorful, all ritual, as he was a symbol for his tribe. At the appointed hour, Graydar set off. He had fixed onto his garb some of his sorcerer's charms, like ...

9 likes 0 comments 0
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The Dark Dancer

Submitted to Contest #176

“Are you sure this is the right place, Dresvale?” Jane demanded, casting a wary eye at the decaying tangle of vines.  “You have to see beyond what your eyes are telling you,” I confirmed, and snapped my fingers. “Ostendere!” A cobalt rune burned in the air in front of me, and a shockwave radiated outwards. The greenery flickered, before vanishing. In its place was a monumental castle constructed from maroon bricks. We glanced at each other, before plodding forward toward the ancient, wooden door. The door was shriveled up, and it fel...

9 likes 6 comments 6
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