Now, Cater, I'm going to put the card you picked back into the deck and cut it several times. Then I'll guess the card you picked from the separated stacks. Here goes. Your card was...drumroll please... The Five of Diamonds!
I used a spell to read your mind, duh. ...Nah, just kidding. It's a little technique called a "key card." Guessing what card someone picks is baby-tier when it comes to card-based magic tricks. Anyone can pull it off if they learn the gimmick! You do need a little manual dexterity, though.
Well, yeah. Life's all about seizing opportunities as they come. How's this sound: you take one of my shifts for tending to the hedgehogs. In return, I'll teach you two card tricks and a little somethin'-somethin' involving a cup.
You two seem rather animated. I trust you're all done with your homework? If I find you blatantly cavorting before you've finished your work, it's off with your heads.
We'll put your card on top of the deck, then give it a good shuffle. Keep your eyes on my hands and don't look away. I'm going to hand the whole cut deck to you.
Now I'm going to snap my fingers and gesture to the cards. Once I do... The card you picked will instantly be in my jacket pocket! Hold the deck tight. Don't let any cards escape.
Oh, I never mentioned that? Yeah, my brother's a Night Raven College grad. He's also a Heartslabyul alum. You know how there's not much to do for fun when you live in a dorm? Well, he says he started playing around with cards for funsies and built a whole repertoire of magic tricks.
Ahhh, now I see where you got that whole "no handouts" mindset from. You're pretty good at picking this stuff up, Acey. You think quick on your feet, too!
Yeah, kinda! Most things, you can imitate if you see 'em enough and pay enough attention. Unlike say, Loosey-Deucey, I'm actually good at that sorta thing.
If your powers of memorization are so impressive, then we should put them to proper use. You can memorize the Queen of Hearts's Code and the chronologies of magic history.
Maybe! Today's our unbirthday party. Not only do we get to dine on fancy grub, but I can skip homework without our teapot tyrant biting my head off. What's not to hum about?
Heartslabyul Student A
Ha ha. True. There's a lot of prep work to be done, though.
Okay, time to bang out this job and be done with it. Hedgehogs, prepare to be...uh...tended to! Hup, here's your food! Aaand here's your water! Now for the cleaning... Bam. DONE.
Heartslabyul Student A
Awww, who's a good widdle ouchmouse? You are! Who's gonna roll nice and straight at the croquet game? You are!
Hedgehogs don't understand human language anyway. What's the point in talking to 'em? In fact, the only way you're gonna get your message across is with animal linguistics.
Heartslabyul Student B
But the housewarden talks to them in human language pretty regularly.
Heartslabyul Student A
Yeah, though he doesn't use baby-talk like me...
Heartslabyul Student B
Animals understand your feelings even if they don't understand your words. You just gotta dote on 'em.
Heartslabyul Student A
Yeah! Riddle likes to talk about how the key to croquet is to be in perfect sync with your hedgehog and flamingo.
Heartslabyul Student A
He says it's important to take care of them personally and build a bond rooted in trust.
Heartslabyul Student B
In fact, I see Riddle tending to the hedgehogs a lot even when it's not his shift.
(Now to get these pesky roses painted...) (The housewarden won't be lookin' at the backs of the trees. All I gotta do is slather the parts he'll see. Ace, you're a genius.)
Ah... Yes, of course. Hedgehogs are very cautious creatures. Once one's dug a hole and hidden in it, finding it will prove immensely difficult. Queen forbid... What if we don't find them...?
This is bad. I hope it's not my fault. I know I locked the cages... Or did I? ...... Problem is, I was rushing through it so fast that I can barely remember any of it! If Riddle does any digging, he'll find out I was the one in charge of the hedgehog cages. And when he does...
I... I gotta find all our little escapees before Housewarden Riddle does! Well, that was the idea, anyway. Where do hedgehogs even hide? I'll look it up on my smartphone. Let's see here... "Hedgehogs, much like their mole brethren in the Eulipotyphla order, tunnel under the ground and also make their habitats there..." Gah! It's just like Riddle said! It says they're cowardly in nature, too. That means they're probably someplace without too many people. I'll check the woods.
Hellooo? Any spiny little liabilities around here? Hm. Wonder if me yelling is just gonna spook them more. Y'know, I remember how a friend's dog would come running at the sound of kibble being poured into a bowl... I brought some feed, so I'll try setting it out on a dish and making some noise with it.
HEY! Get back here! Agh, they dove into a hole in the ground! I can't get my arm into this thing, it's as narrow as a rabbit den... What if I poke 'em with a tree branch?
Riddle was crazy worried. He dotes on you little fellas, right? Please, guys. Just come back to us. (These animals don't understand human language. I should know better than to try reasoning with 'em...)
BWAAAAAH! Dude, you scared me half to death! You can't just sneak up to people and shout like that! Who are you, anyway?! And what's a guy from another dorm doing at Heartslabyul?
Hah hah hah! I beg your pardon for startling you. I've been behind you for quite some time, though. Perhaps I was too stealthy for my own good? I am Rook Hunt, vice housewarden of Pomefiore. I was visiting Heartslabyul on some business, which is now concluded. I thought I'd have a stroll and observe some of the local life while I was here.
Non non, Monsieur Heart. That will not do. These are quite sensitive creatures. They may understand me, but they do not KNOW me, and they will certainly not come out of hiding to converse with a complete étranger.
(The party starts at 3 PM, and it's already past 2 now. Ugh, this stinks...) Okay, fine. Teach me. Let's get this over with! I'll memorize whatever mole phrases you teach me in one shot.
A fine l'esprit you have! Pay close attention to my enunciation and lip movements... Ch-ch, chhh, jh, jh-jh, chhh, chhh. [Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you.]
(His lips aren't even moving. This is all tongue-clicking.) Okay, I got it memorized. Ch-ch, chhh, jh, jh-jh, chhh, chhh. [Do not be afraid. I will not hurt you.] That sound right?
One, two, three... Phew, that's all of them. Insert sigh of relief here. Now my head doesn't have to roll. Hey, uh...Rook, right? Thanks a ton for the help! I gotta get these little guys back to my housewarden, so see you around!
