Post by Meara Sealgai on Mar 27, 2023 19:41:43 GMT -5
"Let's put one... here!"; The mild adhesive squelched slightly as the faun-like humanoid applied the paper to an already littered wall in downtown West City. It was one of many that she had propped about the place to draw attention to her little showcase. "Aaaand, here! That should be all of them.", her melodious voice chiming to herself as she applied the final page to yet another wall.
The future is always IMPORTENT!" The top of the page read, with crudely drawn pictures of tarot cards and a crystal ball occupying the remainder of the pale parchment-hued sheet.
cocking her head to the side a moment Meara realized one vital mistake in her construction of this very advertisement... there was absolutely no information concerning where or who was holding this. Marginally panicked by her own misstep the faun chose to rest against the nearby wall and watching, perhaps she could catch someone interested early and let them know!
In the worst-case scenario she could always scribble some information on them... right? Surely she remembered where they all were. Trying her best to avoid any modicum of stress Meara would reach for the ash-wood staff on her back, her fingers stroking the natural material tenderly before suspending the item in the air and leisurely taking a seat.
with a deck of cards in hand, carefully shuffling her tarot her eyes and ears were focused on her surroundings for even the slightest hint of curiosity. Maybe her mom was right, this whole business model is a tough one to sell...
Barracuda was taking a tranquil stroll, doing a walking meditation through West City -- seeing how much of the town's sensory stimuli he could blur out from his mind, to focus on his energy centers. Something was calling his attention though. It wasn't a loud call. It was more of a subtle hum, massaging the very back of his mind's consciousness, telling him to open his eyes and look to his left. After taking a few more deep breaths and stopping in his tracks, Barracuda gently opened his eyes. He gazed over into the distance and walked toward the wall that was luring him to investigate it.
What he saw when he approached the wall was a sort of poster...a sticker if you will. He wasn't really sure what to make of it. All it said was; "The future is always importent!" It featured imagery of tarot cards and a crystal ball. Maybe this was an advertisement for a fortune teller? Or a magic show? Barracuda was no psychic -- he always followed his intuition though, as he had done to discover this poster in the first place. He was vaguely familiar with the ideas of these tools for divination from his studies of the Earth culture, but he had never encountered them in person due to the fact that these items are not typical of the culture on his home planet of Gemoon.
"I wonder what's drawing me to this poster...is it infused with magic energy?" he thought to himself. He leaned on a wall and took out his journal to jot some notes regarding the progress of his meditations. He had felt more in tune lately with the frequencies of the Earth's matrix-grid and it had improved his swordsmanship. The adjustments to the new environment were moving along, but he still couldn't jump too far into the deep end. He was recently outmatched by an android and didn't want to feel that again. He would wait until he was ready, to re-engage in serious combat. "I believe I've recaptured the spirit and mechanics of my Shadow of Light technique by now..." he thought, and wrote down in his notebook.
He put it away and began to look around, surveying the scene of downtown West City. People, children, and creatures walked by. Transportation machines hovered and drove along. The shine of the sun landed perfectly along his longsword, giving it a gleam that could blind an onlooker from the right angle. It was never lost on him how far away from home and far away from his past he truly was. After a few moments, he came to notice a being holding a huge staff, shuffling the same type of cards he saw on the poster. "Interesting," he muttered under his breath...
PL: 20,000 WC: 463
Last Edit: Mar 28, 2023 13:14:45 GMT -5 by Barracuda
Post by Aster Fisk on Mar 28, 2023 11:49:07 GMT -5
Walks through a city were always easy ways to find something to soothe a bored psyche. The people, the businesses, the events, all unique to their locales, were enough to satiate even the most curious soul. That included even Aster. However, what lay before her today was something different than usual.
On one of the parchment filled walls littering the walkway lied a handmade flyer. At the top it read "The future is always Importent!" The pun had not been lost on Aster, and she let out a light chuckle as she continued reading the sign. It seemed to be a poster advertising some kind of event, maybe crystal ball or tarot readings! Only one problem, there was no note of where or when the event would be taking place on the flyer. At this, Aster let out an exasperated sigh. She also notice a stranger reading the sign with her, and someone with an abnormally high power level eyeing them from a distance. She turned to the stranger, noting her frustrations with the signs lack of helpful information.
"Aw mannnn! This looks really cool! Whoever made it forgot to add all the information though. Do you have any idea who might be behind this?" The person she spoke to had a somewhat stoic aura, but Aster could not gauge their power level at all. And not even that their power was minuscule, she couldn't feel it in the slightest. She had no idea what was going on, but pushed it into the back of her mind for now before noticing the individual this person had seemed to notice. A deer-like person directly eyeing them as well. At a closer inspection, Aster realized this was the person with the abnormally high power level. How strange. She would give a wave before saying, "Are you involved with this flyer? I am very interested if so!"
Post by Meara Sealgai on Mar 28, 2023 20:19:44 GMT -5
Caught in the moment as her hands shifted over the cards almost mindlessly, the faun's attention would shift from her surroundings and almost slip her into a trance of sorts. This brief moment was lost, however, as she heard others begin to approach her general location, stopping before her travesty of a poster planted on the wall. She would give the first, and then second, individuals to take a look at it time to see if they expressed any interest in the contents themselves rather than simply reading something new on the wall.
She would find herself pleasantly surprised as interest was expressed and she took a moment, lifting a hand to her chin to think, before her concentration was shattered by the question she was ironically waiting for.
"Oh, Oh! Yes that would be me!", Meara's voice riding some to a more dramatic tone as a smirk began to flit across her lips. Rising to her feet atop the suspended staff and spreading her arms wise with a displayed shuffle of the cards before a series of them shot form the collection and suspended them around herself, each a suit of the Major Arcana.
"I am The Magnificent Meara! Witch, Mystic, and Portent for those eager to learn more.", a musical lilt to her voice followed before she dropped the dramatics some and tilted her head to the side curious about the two before her. Assessing her chances here and getting a read on the situation her brow furrowed slightly as she spoke. "I had planned to set up in the park nearby, but as you can see I may or may not have gotten too invested in drawing and not on putting down the important stuff.", an amused hum following this as she once more lowered herself into a seated position.
Barracuda slowly approached the Oni who announced herself as Meara as well as the Earthling who had some interesting sea-being-like attributes. His air of enigma and elegance carried him, almost as if he was gliding. Other than the android he had gotten into a sparring bout with recently, he hadn't made any contact with anyone on Earth just yet. It had been a few days since; maybe it was time to change that.
Cuda was intrigued by what seemed to be the Oni's telekinesis in action, as cards levitated around her person. "What is it that you intend to do regarding this set up? Put on a performance? Are you giving out readings of divination? My curiosity, for some strange reason, has been piqued. My name is Barracuda," he said, nodding. He also nodded towards the Earthling, fixing his gloves.
In the moment of pause before they responded, he assessed any threat of danger in his mind's eye and didn't seem to sense any...for the time being. His guard was definitely up though, he couldn't afford to make the mistake he made last time and take anybody lightly. The wind blew and cause his accessories and trinkets to chime and knock together, creating a pleasant variety of sounds in a brief instant.
PL: 20,000 WC: 220 TWC: 683
Last Edit: Mar 28, 2023 20:57:51 GMT -5 by Barracuda
Post by Aster Fisk on Mar 28, 2023 21:44:44 GMT -5
Aster's line of questioning was successful, as the lady she saw was indeed the one who had put up the flyer. She stepped forward, introducing herself as Meara. The name had quite a ring to it for a witch type! But yet another word caught her attention especially: portent. She definitely had some interest with her now and needed to know more. The cards that were now floating around her quite obviously displayed she had some form of supernatural abilities. The other stranger by Aster's side, a man introducing himself as Barracuda, was also interested, though clearly for different reasons than she was. The name obviously caught Aster's eye, as his name was the same as a species of fish on Earth which she particularly like. This would make her giggle a bit. As Meara lowered herself into a seated position, Aster acknowledged the others introducing herself. "Hiya, I'm Aster. I am getting ready to go out into the astral sea to look for my father." She would then sit with Meara before asking her a question. "Actually, if you are a portent, I would like to hire your services. I don't really know where to start, and something deep-down tells me I may not have long. I am wondering where I should maybe start my search. I can provide Zeni for the service, and I even have an item that is somewhat connected to him and my... late mother." She would motion generally at the missing socket on her pendant. Aster hoped Meara could help, as she was unsure where to actually go after getting her spaceship. The universe was so vast and she truly didn't even know where to start. WC: 594 Stats Unchanged
OOC Note: If you are willing to help, I am letting this decision affect where Aster is headed next, and possibly her planned arc more broadly. Make the call you think is best here!
Post by Meara Sealgai on Mar 29, 2023 0:39:14 GMT -5
Plucking a card from the air as she listened to the others speak, a sparkle lit in the corner of Meara's eye. "Oh ho ho!", the wry chuckle coming from the faun mused over the card and those before her for only a short moment. ""Would you look at that, the Wheel of Fortune. It seems this chance encounter is quite fortuitous."
Pressing the card atop the remainder of the deck, her eyes flash before the remainder of the Arcana return to their place of origin. Once more taking a moment to keep the organization of her cards a mystery Meara's attention shifts to Barracuda as she shuffles the deck.
"I suppose in some ways I'm a performer perhaps. But I like to think I can offer a little guidance to those seeking answers.", she replies with a sincere smile. "It's a practice handed down in my family, or that's what my mother told me when I started learning."
Without shifting her attention as she spoke Meara would set the shuffled deck in the air before herself, the cards bobbing slightly before settling still, unbothered by the breeze. "If you will, draw three cards and place them in a row.", Meara's voice drawing a more matter of a fact tone as she turned her sky-blue eyes on Aster. Motioning to the deck she would nod, "I've enchanted them to not need a table for the time." In that moment the young faun would pull a small vial from a almost hidden pocket in her attire, the light green fluid catching the light as she uncorks it to take a slow sip.
People walked by, some staring more obviously than others at the eccentric three beings in the middle of the avenue. If there's one thing the alien had noticed about Earth so far, it was that the planet was home to quite the colorful cast of characters. Moments like this made life feel more simple. Interactions of the sort almost made him forget all of the pain and anguish he carried from the destruction of his past. He thought about his days back in the pirate troupe Cuda's Clan, causing wreckage and pillaging all throughout Universe 7, and how his favorite times from that era happened to be all of the small mundane exchanges like this one. All the moments he remembered from his late wife seemed to be the little in between idiosyncrasies, the way she brushed her teeth -- the specific position they laid on the couch together in, and things of that nature.
Now that all of those parts of his life were gone, he made it a point to appreciate those little moments more often as they were happening, as they seemed to be the true keepsakes of his existence.
Barracuda had never pulled tarot cards before -- they had different methods of speaking to the unseen back where he was from on Planet Gemoon. Meara seemed inviting enough, and he didn't have anything else to do on the sunny afternoon in West City, so he figured -- "I'm already here, why not?" He looked over at her cards and took a deep breath. With the swiftness and gracefulness of an inter-dimensional Gemoonian mage, he selected three cards from her deck and they floated up into the air. Meara and Aster were eager to see the results.
...The first one said Death, and depicted a skeleton knight riding along a path of destruction, waving a black flag. He paused and wondered what the premonition was trying to say to him. He had caused a lot of death in his life...Was this his karma catching up to him? Or a metaphorical death...A prediction of a new chapter, a new beginning, the new leaf he was trying to turn over in life...
The second one said The Fool, and depicted a bard on a cliff, being accompanied by a small dog. Was Meara mocking him by placing this card in front of him? He became leery for a moment, but didn't show any emotion or reaction on the outside.
The third one said The Star, and depicted a nude woman pouring water into a pond during the day time under a starry sky. Cuda had no idea what this one could be communicating. He couldn't hide the curiosity on his face this time around.
"Interesting," Barracuda said aloud. "Do you have insight as to what this may mean for me? I'm no fool, and I may not even be a star...should I be worried about my mortality? ...But I stopped fearing death a long time ago." He brushed his hair out of his eyes and stood pat, intrigued by the process of what was happening in front of him. Meara laughed and Aster Fisk looked on very intently.
Post by LCDR Kimono on Mar 29, 2023 22:40:43 GMT -5
Power Level: 22,000 (Antisense activated) Word Count: 380 Text Hex: d40000
"So this is what you spend your time on Meara..." Kimono spoke to herself softly from her hiding place on a rooftop in the nearby cluster of buildings, her camouflaged form covered in purposefully placed trash to conceal herself while she eyed the faun placing her posters and being approached by the two individuals. "Guess it's now or never." As Kim spoke to herself, she would toss aside her cover and step over the edge of the building, falling silently and gracefully to the ground behind the small crowd of people, before making her way cautiously through the hustle and bustle to make her way to her cousin. The service uniform attracting minor attention as she pushed her way to the front, seeing the two others speaking with Meara and getting their fortunes drawn.
Kim couldn't help but cross her arms with a stoic, almost annoyed look while standing just behind the man who just declared himself as Barracuda. She'd stay quiet, watching the draw of the cards patiently, taking mental notes on the two before her.
'The fish woman seems... juvenile. Possibly an act? With a power like that, I'd assume it's more than dumb luck.' She'd think to herself, looking over Aster. 'And the big man, I don't like being unable to get anything from him. His vibe is very... lived. Better be cautious getting anyone's attention'. While she thought this over, listening to them speak, she'd finally step into better view, grunting softly at Meara after she'd respond to Barracuda.
"When you're finished playing magic poker, may I have a word?" Kim would speak roughly, the gruff of authority disguising her intrigue in the whole display. Her blonde hair loosened from the fall, and partially covering the right half of her face under her cap, leaving just one dulled emerald eye to see. Her sleeves rolled up showing numerous scars and burn marks, playing the more serious approach with her appearance. Every part of this encounter she could manipulate, being calculated and methodical. "We need to have a word regarding the Seillean-Mòr tribe. Ah, screw it, I'm already here. Count me in on this, I'm curious what your enchanted go-fish has to say about me."
Post by Aster Fisk on Mar 30, 2023 21:38:10 GMT -5
Now came the part that Aster was particularly interested in: the reading. It seemed like she may be able to finally get some answers to the problems she had been having. Thankfully, Meara was ready to assist, instructing Aster to draw three cards and place them before her. She watched Barracuda intently, and he drew three cards: Death, The Fool, and The Star. She had no idea how to interpret tarot, so she ignored it before drawing herself. First from the deck came The Hanged Man. The card depicted man hanging upside-down from his foot, with his legs crossed in strange fashion. She had no idea what to make of this card, as its meaning was completely lost on her. She quickly moved to the next card. Next came The Wheel of Fortune. She remembered the card from earlier, and remembered Meara's mention that it had associations with fortuity. Maybe it was a sign that she was going to find what she was looking for? She wasn't sure. She moved on to the next draw. Finally came a somewhat ominous card, that being Judgement. It depicted a wing humanoid creature playing a cornet, with people rising from caskets and holding their arms to the source of the sound. This made Aster a bit uneasy; was the universe trying to tell her she would fail? Or maybe that she would succeed? She didn't know, and was wracking her brain trying to understand. After a moment, she took a breath to calm herself, setting all three cards down in front of her. Hopefully Meara would understand what this meant. She looked up to see yet another person had come. They were very interesting, wearing military fatigues. Aster would try not to bother her though, as Aster felt she might not be too privy to chat at the moment. Plus, the result of this reading was weighing on her mind. WC: 911 STATS UNCHANGED
OOC: This was a real draw, however, I redrew the Star since Barracuda drew it. If you can justify having multiples in the deck, I will edit the post and word count to reflect this.
Also, just to codify the thread order, should now be Meara -> Barracuda -> Kimono -> Aster
Post by Meara Sealgai on Mar 30, 2023 23:16:32 GMT -5
Death... Meara wouldn't begin to attempt to grasp what may be in Barracuda's past, but the card itself was very telling. "Upright it is a reminder, a beacon of change. What is past has been sown and the sickle personifies this. A strong bond to Death may be a reminder to a severe tragedy or that it is okay to carry on." The faun's expression faltered as little as she would allow it, instead of clear blue eyes locked on the six cards before her.
The Fool... Unlike its predecessor, this was a card Meara was all too familiar with. Tilting her head to the side a moment she continues, "Upright, the Fool embodies innocence, a free spirit. But when cast downwards the Fool can be reckless, easily fooled and abused." She absently stroked the crystal of the staff beneath her as she turned to the final card of the first set.
The Star... "A fitting card to follow Death I think.", she hums thoughtfully. "The Star brings about hope, indication of a bright future to come. It has many interpretations in itself."
Bowing her head slightly, Meara's attention turns to the other set, curiosity bringing her ear to a twitch as she muses over them.
Hanged Man... A precarious card, its orientation alone carries with it great intent. "Upright, the Hanged Man is a sign of sacrifice or a martyrdom that with it may carry great purpose. Were it down cast, it would signify a wasted cost, an unneeded sacrifice."
Wheel of Fortune... It always was amusing to see a second drawing of a card, and this one of many brought a soft laugh to the faun as she pondered the meaning. "Fate, it is something we can right against but in the end change comes and it does overcome us. The wheel is the icon of this change."
Judgement... "This is not a card I see often in truth. It is one of a greater duality than most, upright it calls for reflection and to awaken. Cast down it signifies self doubt and self loathing.", taking a moment to ponder this she looks to the two before her, Aster and Barracuda, and nods.
"Even without any insight into your pasts, the cards offer the broadest strokes. The middle card is your present and the third is to come.", as her words trail off she turns to the third individual and draws a single card of her own, lifting it before them. "Justice... I doubt I need to tell you what this may mean to you?", Meara muses with a slight grin before her lips curl back into a soft smile.
The alien was taken aback a bit at how relevant and accurate the information Meara spoke was. But as a student of the devout Gemoonian monks, he couldn't necessarily act like he was fully surprised. He wasn't shocked that his path could be intuited by a psychic, but he was a little bit amazed that this Meara person was able to do it. He didn't know what to make of her when he first saw her, but now it was clear that tarot cards did have some energy of divination here on this planet.
"Very interesting...These cards drawn all apply to me very well at this time. I have definitely experienced the Death of the version of me I once knew, as well as the tragedies that came with it," Barracuda thought to himself. He was also intrigued by the reading offered to Aster Fisk, but as he didn't know anything at all about them, their life or their past, no judgements crossed his mind or his tongue regarding that advice.
"The Fool, I understand...I am brand new here on Earth. The innocence of a child is found in the freshness of my travels here. I just had a dream in which an old comrade warned me to keep my head on a swivel...I can't be too reckless. Do I owe you any money now? Thank you for the insightful reading." He asked aloud. "But there is hope to come," Cuda pondered to himself, as he instinctively placed his hand on his sword, feeling the air near him move slightly, indicating the presence of another being.
This was when he noticed the presence of an Earth-army soldier, speaking to Meara. He took his hand off of his blade handle, rescinding the idea that this onlooker was an immediate threat. He didn't know much about the Earth-army but he noted that this person still seemed to be formidable. She was covered in scars and burn marks, much like he was. "Seillean-Mor...I'm not familiar with this tribe," he thought, as he curiously spectated the impending exchange between the two.
He folded his arms and his mind drifted for a bit, knowing that as much as the loss of his family weighed on him, he had to embody what had been described to him as "The Fool" energy, if he was going to take full advantage of his expedition to the Earth plane. Maybe he should try something new soon...he did see an interesting King's Castle posting regarding teaching at the Orange Star Academy in Central City that he could look into. His mind continued to wander, which was uncharacteristic for him, but his exposure to this divination reading had gotten his gears turning. "Maybe there's room to forge an allyship at the Orange Star Academy and simultaneously impress luminaries among the Castle. Politicking is a necessary evil even outside of my past mercenary line of work that I've experienced the Death of," he thought.
Power Level: 22,000 (Antisense activated) Word Count: 289 Total Word Count: 669 Text Hex: d40000
Kim continued to watch the exchange with interest as Meara went through the cards and foretold whatever futures her readings gave her. She couldn't deduce if this was a charade, or genuinely some kind of magical trick, but the thought interested her nonetheless. Her smirk slightly rising while listening, wondering just how much this little game of hers could uncover about someone's personality. About their past.
While she stood, though, her eyes caught sight of Barracuda placing his hand on his weapon for just a moment before relinquishing the hilt, giving her another view of the man. Observant, far more of his surroundings than she initially anticipated. Interesting, and definitely the trait of someone experienced. She'd mentally note this as she retrieved a stray, partially bent cigarette from her chest rig's front pocket. Lighting it and taking a soft drag, her attention partially turned to the fish girl.
"So. Martyrdom hm?" She'd muse, jokingly referring to the card she pulled. "Sounds like a pretty rough prediction. There rarely is true justice in self-sacrifice. You should just hope there's justice in whatever sacrifices you have to make." Taking another long drag, her eyes intently staring at Aster, her face giving the vibes of sincerity, as if speaking from experience. "People rarely appreciate your actions until long after you're gone."
Hearing a soft beep through her earpiece, Kim would press her index finger to the "deny-call" button and return to the group, curious about these individuals. The mission could wait a moment. Long enough for Meara to become less busy at least.
"Tell me, Mear. What does fate have in store for little ol' me.".
Aster was somewhat taken aback by her reading. The implication that the cards had just intuited something she herself could not have seen coming was not the thing that confused her; more, she was worried by the accuracy of the card's wisdom. In a cosmic sort of way, Aster could interpret the death of her mother as a sacrifice; Aster's mother was the last chain bonding her to the Earth where she was born. She had always wanted to venture out into space to find her father. The wheel of fortune was also interesting. The cards seemed to acknowledge that Aster had a multitude of choices, but it's association with change was not lost on her. Aster was, after all, eminently leaving the Earth, and this was a large change in its own right. But even then, the loss of her mother was still causing changes in her. And then yet more to chew on, the card of judgement. Having come out upright, she knew it had something to do with awakening and reflection. Was it possible the cards were trying to warn her of some coming decision that would ultimately change her as a person? That was certainly how it felt, in her mind, but the sheer volume of info the cards could be giving her was leaving her head spinning. She needed time to ponder this. The soldier's comment then added further thought to her conscious. So much to think about. She would turn to Kim and respond. "Well, if that is what is in store for me, than so be it! At least I don't have to worry about many people missing me, my family is gone now." She would try to laugh it off as if normal, but any onlooker could tell that she was mortified at the realization she had just made. She was alone. Her father, at least for now, was gone. Her mother was gone. Her extended family on her mother's side wanted nothing to do with her due to her father. At least she had a few friends, but they were few and far between. "I appreciate the reading. I can give how much Zeni it would cost, and frankly this has given me a lot to think on. Hopefully this'll cover it?" she would say holding out what she thought was an appropriate amount of cash. Afterward, she would fall back into the pit of her thoughts, thinking about her next move. WC: 1322 STATS UNCHANGED
OOC: Apologies for long response time, real life stuff happened. Should be back now for the rest of the thread.
Post by Meara Sealgai on Apr 6, 2023 19:25:01 GMT -5
Taking a moment to think, Meara shuffled all but one of the various cards back into the deck opting rather to set aside the single card at the moment. Her expression softened some as she listened to the musings of the two whom had requested the readings. "Sometimes their meanings are vague, other times seemingly spot on. In truth this is far from the most accurate means of fortelling anything."
Her attention shifting to the third individual whom had approached, something about her was oddly familiar yet distinctly unfamiliar. "How do you know my name?", the faun's ears lilting slightly as she pondered this individual with a slight frown. Setting her hand to the single card she had not stowed away she presented it to Kimono.
"There are many meanings to this card, but I feel there is more meaning to Justice than what is intentionally written when cast on your intent.", Meara's skin tingling as the realization hit her, the name mentioned earlier and this female's appearance. "It's no wonder you look like...", pausing a moment to shake her head, "Nevermind that, we can discuss it later."
Her wits eventually returning to herself Meara shook her head at Aster, "The first reading is free.", she replies with a smile. flicking Justice back into the deck and slipping it into a pocket sewn into her corset.
"Both of you seem to have very colourful pasts. I can't say I've personally ventured much further than this city myself.", the faun mused towards Aster and Barracuda, occasionally casting Kimono a suspicious glance. "Do tell, if you want.", her words hung in the air a moment as she leaned back unto her suspended staff for a leisurely seat.