Barracuda took the tarot card reading to heart, and was satisfied with the result. He felt he had much deep reflection to do after the information he had received from Meara. "I'll be sure to cough up some Zeni next time. Thanks for the reading," he said while nodding towards the demon. Cuda didn't seem too keen on getting involved in whatever business Kimono had with her, he didn't trust her intentions, so he figured he should stay out of it. He came from a background of militarized bandits, and the look of a soldier gave him a pang that he didn't feel like investigating.
"I hope you all enjoy your day," he said as he began to turn around and leave.
"Earth is so interesting," he thought to himself. "There's a way deeper variety of species here than there are back home on Gemoon. That was probably the nicest Oni I've ever met. Maybe I should take the intuitive hint from posters I see throughout the city more often..." Maybe he was being given since from Source. Maybe it was guidance from the greater intelligence of the universe? He couldn't be sure, but he was prepared to look deeply within himself as to where to go and what to do next so that he could leave the "Death" behind experience what was depicted by "The Star" card...
Post by LCDR Kimono on Apr 10, 2023 21:23:02 GMT -5
Power Level: 22,000 (Antisense activated) Word Count: 570 Total Word Count: 1,239 Text Hex: d40000
As the two spoke to Meara and showed their interest in her oracle-esc abilities, Kim couldn't help but chuckle. Despite all she has seen, and her experience with the divine and spiritual power, there was just something so amusing to her about magical tricks and abilities. They felt just like what they were, tricks. Something to please a crowd for the occasional zeni. However, she knew just how effective a good clairvoyant could prove in the most dire of situations. This was partially why Kim sought out her cousin. Even if they'd never met, Kim was more than aware of the spiritual connection Meara's family had to the universe. Kim's own family was much more down-to-earth, far less in regard to the myth and tradition of the tribe than the rest of them. They believed in hexes, sibyls, and curses. She believed in high calibers and broken spinal vertebrae. There was no wonder the two would seem so wildly different, even if they shared blood. While Aster would speak their brave words, it didn't take much for Kim to see the nervousness on their face. She'd just smirk as usual while placing a hand on her shoulder and give an approving nod. "it's always a good idea to stay resolute, even in the face of true danger. You'll make it just fine" She'd speak confidently, patting the same shoulder while thinking of the whole tarot card reading. "Become the hero everyone will remember, not the monster people continue to fear. That's what I'd say, at least." Her words would come out softly, as if she was speaking from her own regrets and experience. "Not everyone gets to be remembered." With this, Kim would turn her attention to Meara to acknowledge her intention. "We need to speak regarding... procuring your services for a reading. I need an auger who may be able to provide insight on an interplanetary operation. I'd owe you one."
When Meara would offer her final card to Kimono, Kim didn't look immediately at the card as she drew it. As she looked at the face of the card, all she saw was a reversed card as if it were placed into the deck incorrectly. The words 'The Emperor' blazened across the smooth surface with a design of a tyrannical monarch sitting on a throne wielding a scepter violently. She was unsure of the meaning in the sibylene belief what the Emperor really meant or entailed, but she had this deep gut feeling it wasn't something too great. "I drew the Emperor, but it's upside down." She'd say as she would show it to her cousin and offer it back to her. "I'm not sure I even really want to know what this means..." she'd whisper to herself while waiting to hear what it would mean.
Kim would partially notice as Barracuda started to leave, her eyes narrowing to her peripheral vision to track the man as she worryingly watched him leave, cautious of whatever he may try. Thankfully he seemed just as cautious of the group as she was of him, allowing his exit from the area to be well easy. 'He really gives me... uncomfortable vibes. I need to look into him some more. Maybe he could prove useful in the future...' She'd think to herself as he left.
Post by Aster Fisk on Apr 13, 2023 20:49:08 GMT -5
Meara noted that the readings that Tarot gave were sometimes vague. Aster didn't disagree with that, as this reading had left her in somewhat of a haze she couldn't break. In addition, Meara noted the reading was free. Aster still slipped her a few Zeni, at least insisting she take something, but otherwise got off with a pretty good deal. As she stood, Meara made note of her colorful past that she could see from the cards. It was true that Aster had been through quite a lot in the last few years, dealing with many different situations and changes in her life. As she stood, she noticed Barracuda had already left during her momentary lapse of reality. At this, she realized why she was even in the city in the first place. Looking at the position of the sun, she realized it was about time for her appointment. She needed to get a hold of the spaceship she needed to travel out into the cosmos. "Sorry to run out in the middle of all this, but I have somewhere to be. It was nice meeting both of you, and I hope we can maybe meet again in the future when things are a little more... calm." At this, she would give a small chuckle before giving an uncharacteristically respectful bow and walking off. As she walked, she thought about the reading again. What could it mean for her? But hey, it least it vindicated her goal. Now just to narrow down where to go... WC: 1577 STATS UNCHANGED
THREAD EXIT
OOC: Been fun threading, unfortunately I need to take my leave due to life stuff. Look forward to threading again!
Post by Meara Sealgai on Apr 30, 2023 1:00:21 GMT -5
As quickly as they came, Meara watched as Barracuda slip beyond the moment and the conversation at hand. Their reading alone was enough to really sit and think on, the faun could only hope that the peculiar individual would heed the cards and act according to their new insight into their future and present.
for that brief moment between the departure of Aster as well, Meara's eyes met Kim's as well and she nodded some. "Interesting...", she would whisper to herself in that briefest moment before turning to Aster as they began to leave.
"May fortune and the guidance of Mother Moon be upon you.", Meara would say with a soft smile, carried by a tinge of melancholia for whatever fate Aster had met with in the past and the future that was to come.
"An iron fist, the chill of a regal gaze, resoluteness and refusal to falter.", Meara's tone shifted to one ever so slightly more solemn at the thought of this card in reverse. "It's a shame at times to get the more volatile aspects of a card, they rarely show the optimistic sides of what is to come and what has come to pass." Withdrawing the card once more into her deck with this the faun's attention turned once more to Kim proper.
"You wanted to speak?", she would ask both concerned and curious.
Post by LCDR Kimono on Apr 30, 2023 22:29:01 GMT -5
Power Level: 22,000 (Antisense activated) Word Count: 776 Total Word Count: 2,015 Text Hex: d40000
Listening to her cousin speak, Kim's eyes would track the card, taking in the faun's odd speech and trying to piece it together in her head. Years of study at the academy, dozens of tests and many cases and ops involving problem solving and investigative detective work and she just couldn't figure out the whole tarot thing. It made sense to someone, she presumed, but it was always so odd to her. Especially since those who commit to the art are as vague as the cards are.
"Iron fist, resoluteness... Sounds like my kind of gig" Kim would chuckle to herself, amused at the drawing at the very least. It did unsettle her, she thought, how the seemingly sheer randomness of just drawing a card could uncover the level of duplicity Kim was undergoing. Her mission, the plan she currently had and the actions she was going to commit. The stakes of the matter were quite literally life and death, she was going to have to use that same level of resoluteness and her refusal to quit to end the lives of people she did not know. She was no stranger to the action, hell, she's killed quite a few people here on Earth. Her whole job was ending a target who was a bit too big for their position... But this, what she was going to have to do was blatant murder. tyrannical death. Terrorism. "Weird how just having a card facing one way or another it can mean something totally different. I'll never understand those of you who went deep into the practice back home."
As she spoke with the faun, she would notice most of the crowd dissipating, or looking around at the area and waiting for a chance to speak to the traveling witch. Kim would simply wave a hand in the air dismissively, locking eyes with Meara and getting serious.
"What I am asking is something extremely serious." She'd open with, her tone shifting to her operator, combat voice. "I know your family sort of... disappeared from the rest of the tribe, so you might not be too familiar with me, but my name is Kimono Lamellar. I'm Caoimhe Lamellar's daughter, the one who was sent to East City when we were really young. I only ever heard stories about you, but I felt it was important to introduce myself properly. I am an operative working for the Earth government and will be stationed off planet for an uncertain amount of time." She'd continue, offering a handshake to the faun with a real, genuine smile. "I know you are heavily ingrained in the arcane arts, far more than anyone in my direct family ever was, and I was wondering if you were ever permitted to learn Telepathy? I know the elders used it almost exclusively, my mother was never allowed to learn the skill, and it could prove very useful for me to keep in contact with people without relying so much on technology. Tech fails, the Mother Moon doesn't." She'd finally finish saying her request, her stoic militaristic accent giving way for the hint of the traditional, tribal accent of the two's homelands. It may be hard to tell, considering how battle-damaged the woman was and her non-tribal take to her speech and appearance, but one could see something about her come out at the chance to communicate with someone she was somewhat familiar with. Someone who held a similar weight of background to her. "I'd owe you dearly if you could, anything you need and I can repay the favor. You would be surprised at the resources the military gives to me."
Possibly unknown to Meara, Kim was lying through her teeth about working for the government. She knew damn well that they were still hunting her down after her handler sprung her from the prison and set her loose on her hell-path towards Planet Plant. All she could hope for, was that maybe Meara may be more keen to assisting someone who isn't a wanted fugitive being hunted by black ops hit squads for murder and terrorism charges. If she could just make this a matter of family helping family, she'd gladly return the favor with whatever Meara needed... All she needed was Meara to either take the offer, or surprise her with something else. Her stature wasn't giving the most confident look, appearing partially nervous to the obvious viewer, while her face gave the impression of someone partially uncomfortable with whatever it is they're doing. Who knew what would happen.
Post by Meara Sealgai on May 1, 2023 20:49:09 GMT -5
'Home', it was this word that caused Meara's eyes to narrow slightly at the Human before her. It wasn't until this moment that she had really thought about some of the less obvious comments Kim had been making over the prior conversation.
Meara knew very little about the extended clan and her family, with initially no reason to doubt the person before her, she would nod along thoughtfully as Kim spoke. Taking in everything with tense curiosity. Her mother had in the past made mention of conflict being more common in the homelands, but it wasn't until this moment that all those stories really struck the faun as more authentic.
it was this word that caused Meara's eyes to narrow slightly at the Human before her. It wasn't until this moment that she had really thought about some of the less obvious comments Kim had been making over the prior conversation.
Meara knew very little about the extended clan and her family, with initially no reason to doubt the person before her, she would nod along thoughtfully as Kim spoke. Taking in everything with tense curiosity. Her mother had said the homeland was more embroiled in conflict, but it was not until this moment that she considered that any of it was truly authentic.
"Oh... hmm. Mother did not talk often of her birthplace, so I took much of what she said with potential bias or vitriol to her tone.", Meara spoke with her brow furrowed before relaxing it some.
[Very well... I don't get to speak this way often as is.]
Meara's voice would echo forth from her mind towards Kim, still reserved in her approach to the peculiar supposed family member before her. She would tap her staff some before tilting her head to the side and speaking once more through her mind.
[Try easing into the mental connection responding.]
Post by LCDR Kimono on May 1, 2023 21:41:42 GMT -5
Power Level: 22,000 (Antisense activated) Word Count: 388 Total Word Count: 2,403 Text Hex: d40000
Listening to her speak of her lack of knowledge of their homelands, Kim couldn't help but feel kind of sad at the concept. She left when really young as well, but during her travels for the marines she regularly stopped back to say hi to her family. She even had to fight an insurgency hiding near her nomads and was specifically requested by the exfil squad because of her knowledge of the tribals and how to differentiate them from the insurgents. The fact Meara wasn't too familiar was something they'd have to change one day. One day.
"It's alright! I heard something with your mother was rather controversial, but I won't budge on the matter. One day we will have to take you back there. I'm sure the extended family wouldn't be too terribly upset at you showing up". As she spoke this, she watched the faun's own voice drop and suddenly the tightness and pressure in Kim's head would ache for a moment before equalizing and hearing the voice of Meara... Only, it wasn't coming from her mouth. "Oh you do kn-" She'd start out of habit before stopping and trying to respond, practicing with her as she channeled her ki through her body, trying to identify how to use this ability. As she struggled to self-diagnose the telepathy, she'd decide it was in her best interest to probably try and respond. Her own body shifting to have her with her fists on her hips and concentrating hard.
[H-How is this? I think I am doing it right?] her echoey voice would transmit back to Meara, her eyes wincing at the concentration and attentiveness she paid to her impromptu teacher. [Tell me if I am doing anything wrong here, I am a slow learner] She'd finish as she rubbed one finger up and down her cheek nervously. As she continued to work with her cousin, she would sit next to her and go through the basics of telepathy and how to best use it. Hopefully with time the soldier could finally use this to continue keeping in contact with everyone. She was surprised at how relieving it was actually speaking to someone who she somewhat knew, even if only from passing comments and phrases. Someone she didn't need to think was going to try and kill her or turn her into the authorities.
Kim and Meara are going to stay and practice telepathy training EXITING THREAD AND ENDING THREAD WITH CONSENT OF MEARA Total WC: 2,403
Apr 6, 2024 1:21:15 GMT -5
Lottus: Friendly reminder for new folks to check the rules regarding art claims - AI Art is not accepted on Sparking for character sheets.
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:28 GMT -5
Lottus: Hey folks, got a new phone, but verification is preventing me from downloading Discord for now
Apr 17, 2024 14:43:57 GMT -5
Lottus: I won't be available until I get home from work!
Apr 17, 2024 14:44:58 GMT -5
Lottus: Feel free to dm me if needed!
Apr 17, 2024 21:13:47 GMT -5
Dingo: I'll post what you've said here up in the discord so it doesn't get missed!
Apr 18, 2024 19:19:20 GMT -5
Yakito: I am the #1 Tenrec hater (Striker will be struck)