Twik reads the cards (Open!)

by **Twik** on February 18th, 2011, 4:06 am

OOC: this thread is a spin off from the winter festival thread, and will be about Twik telling fortunes. See the festival thread for beginning context.
***

“OK then!” Twik said, taking the shuffled cards from Kovac. She held them close to her mouth as of silently speaking to them, and then laid out the first card, which showed a rat on its haunches standing over a golden key.

“Here is how this style of reading works,” said Twik. “I lay out three cards in a triangle pattern, with a fourth card face down in the middle. The first card represents your problem, or at least the question that that the mysterious powers behind the deck are choosing to address. The second card represents more or less what you should be doing about it, and the third clarifies and expands on the second card, adding context and details. The fourth card is dealt face down and is the final fate of the situation. You can either look at it or not, but if you do you have to accept the fate as described by the card. If you leave it face down then you control your own destiny and things might turn out one way or another.”

Twik pointed at the first card with a slender finger. “As I said, this first card represents your current situation. It is the thing the spirits believe you ought to be paying attention to, and no wonder that they do with this card showing. This is called ‘Rat with Key.’ The key represents the secret to unlocking your hidden treasure; what is special and magnificent about you or your love and happiness, and the rat represents a person that should not be controlling your key that nonetheless has been allowed to do so. In some cases the rat might not be a person at all, but rather a situation. Perhaps your job or obligations to your family are keeping you from fulfilling your potential. Anything like that going on? You may not even be aware of what your true potential is yet.”

by **Vala** on February 18th, 2011, 4:45 am

Vala had missed most of the festival trying to catch up with her work. Now, she walked into the Stained Glass Gallery with a bit of a frown, wishing she hadn't procrastinated so much. Her eyes did perk up when she noticed one girl with cards in a corner: she was excited that there was someone closer to her age.

She walked over, listening to her speak about the cards. She squeaked into her scarf when Twick flipped the card and she saw the card with a rat standing over a gold key; Vala blushed, feeling silly acting like a child in front of the adult sitting in front of the fortune teller, but the realistic looking critter had caught her by surprise.

Trying to cover up her slip, Vala coughed to clear her throat and peered curiously over their shoulders at the cards; she wondered, naively, if it really was possible for a bunch of cards, papers with pictures painted on them, could really tell someone's future.

by **Sira** on February 19th, 2011, 5:33 pm

Sira suppressed a chuckle as Kovac fumbled with the cards, raising an inquiring eyebrow at him when he looked back up at her. This was going to be interesting. Taking a seat next to Kovac as he finished shuffling the cards she excitedly said, "Do me next!" Sira watched quietly as he handed the cards back to Twik and she drew the first one.

Sira wasn't sure how fortune telling worked, but when she saw the rat standing on top of a key she couldn't help but laugh. Sira's initial interpretation of what the card might mean was way off from what Twik eventually explained. At first she assumed the rat might represent Kovac himself. Maybe he was doomed to become a dek, sleeping with the rats. Or maybe he was secretly had a pet rat, but somebody took it away and locked it in a cage and would not give it back. Or what if he was secretly a rat Kelvic! Sira knew he was only half blood, like herself.

Twik's explanation was a bit more fortune-tellery and Sira liked it better. It was mysterious, while her own interpretations were... well, just dumb. "Oh, secrets eh? This is gonna be good." Smiling she patiently awaited Kovac's reaction, and the next card.

by **Kovac** on February 19th, 2011, 10:39 pm

Kovac's green-eyed glance darted to Sira as she plopped down beside him, a sudden self-consciousness flashed across his face as a fleeting scowl. Turning back to Twik, the Avora focused his attention on the girl as she received the deck into her hands. He listened impatiently as she recited the card-reading process, already wishing he had kept his mouth shut. What had he gotten himself into? She was just a kid, and this obviously some kind of game. But now there was an audience, and he wasn't about to act childishly and run off, especially with Addy's...whatever Sira was...sitting right there next to him.

So with a sigh he resigned to let the teenager play her little game. The first card was flipped down. A new arrival squealed as Twik the card was revealed, and Kovac's head turned to see another inarta teen watching. Fantastic, all they needed were pajamas and some hair accessories and they could have a slumber party. Rolling his eyes, the archer turned back to Twik's youthful gaze. As the girl explained the Rat and the Key card, the cynical man's features grew slack. It was if she knew something about him, something personal. Suddenly, the child's game took on a very sobering aspect.

Kovac looked down at the card then back up at Twik. Yes, there were a few things the card could be referencing. the Half-breed was not superstitious, but this was quite coincidental. He swallowed hard, his gaze darting from Twik to Sira and up to Feyra and the new girl. A cold sweat broke out on his brow. If this wasn't a load of crap, what could the card mean? Who could be controlling the key? Shayth? His girlfriend was an Endal, by their laws she did have authority over him, and he submitted to her in many ways. Or was it Kalle and her betrayal? He thought he was over her, but was he, was there still bitterness and angst associated with that event? And what was his treasure or potential. He never felt of much worth to anyone, if he had the guts to admit his true feelings. Uncomfortable and very much on the spot, he looked down again at the Rat and the Key.

"Well, maybe, yeah...I guess there could be something like that going on." The Avora licked his lips nervously, looking back at Twik, anxious, wondering what the next card would reveal about him, in front of these strangers.

by **Twik** on February 21st, 2011, 2:20 pm

As always Twik was pleased to have an audience, and she looked up at the girl who squeaked with a reassuring smile. Despite her lack of years, Twik was quite astute at picking up other people’s emotions, and Kovac’s emotions sobered her somewhat. Apparently her card had struck home. There was always some chance that she was actually able to tell fortunes; there were some chapters in her life which confounded her and seemed to have more meaning than she ever was able to guess. She took a quick inhale and then breathed out, focusing herself.

Twik flipped the next card over, which showed a man on a narrow boat with a pole across his shoulders. A large bird balanced on each end of the pole. Twik compressed her lips and then pursed them, a sign that she was concentrating.

“This card is called ‘The Cormorant Fisher,’ and it is means different things in different situations. The name refers to an old flatlander fishing technique that uses cormorants to catch fish. Each bird is girded about the neck with a strap so that they can swallow only small fish, while the larger ones must be coughed up for their owner. The birds are trained to work with the fisherman so they can be set to diving and the fisherman is brought his share of larger fish.”

“For you, this card represents a complex edifice of balances that result in harmony. See how the man’s figure is like a scale, with each bird like a pan of the scale? He stands on a narrow boat, another layer of balance. The man works with his birds in harmony with nature, using their talents and instincts to his best advantage, all the while allowing them the small fish that they catch and providing them with safety and shelter.”

“Everything must exist either in a state of flux—or change—or else in balance, but not all balances are harmonious. Many, probably most, are just conditions of stasis that are stable but not optimal. In conjunction with the Rat with Key this card is telling you that you have reached a state of stasis that is not harmonious, and in order to win back your key you must upset this balance in search of a new, more harmonious one. Hopefully the next card, which provides context and elaboration, will be more specific.”

by **Vala** on February 25th, 2011, 3:05 am

Like most young, restless people, Vala’s attention span could only be kept for so long. Even though the you card reader smiled at her, it looked like it would be a time before she was addressed directly… a little too long for Vala.

She pulled out her personal journal and a small charcoal nib she sometimes used to doodle with. Vala tried to decide what to draw: there were so many people about to choose from. The people were constantly moving though, and Vala was quite sure her inadequate drawing skill would just bring ridicule, especially if anyone was watching over her shoulder. Vala ended up deciding to draw the cards Twik were flipping over.

Other people had joined to watch, many of them were sitting down. Vala didn’t like sitting on the ground herself, but it would bring her close to the cards, and make it easier to see and draw them.She gingerly lowered herself the ground, first brushing away any lingering dirt or specks of dust. Vala looked at her dirty hand and was about to wipe it on her Byrda before she stopped herself by biting her lip; she wiped her hand on her boot instead. With everything all set and comfortable, Vala readied herself to listen and draw. The noise that filled the hall was still a pleasant hum compared the quiet lull in their little corner. Vala preferred the quiet; she tried to focus on her unpracticed hand and the fresh paper before her, when the fortune teller spoke again.

The girl who was as tall as Vala, but much younger, began talking about balance and harmony. Vala’s tired mind instantly lost any interest: it had nothing to do with her.

Vala had skimmed through some drawing books in the Enclave. Most of them told her to warm up wrist before sketching any shapes. Vala began to loosely sketch hundreds of circles, squares, and triangles. She frowned when her circles came out all lopsided and her lines a little wiggly. She continued to doodle though, until her wrist felt quite loose and ready for some real drawing practice.

Vala looked up, when Twik mentioned she was going to be flipping the next card. Maybe it would be something exciting, maybe even tragic. Vala smiled gleefully in wait. Her hand poised over her paper.

by **Kovac** on February 25th, 2011, 2:21 pm

Kovac looked from the card up to the girl. The mood had tensed slightly, in no small part due to Kovac's sudden sullen attitude, but Twik too seemed to sober. The reading had become less of a game, it seemed, and something more interesting. The teen studied the next card with greater concentration.

The Avora glanced sidelong as Vala settled to the floor, her sketching tools in hand, but is attention returned to Twik as she revealed the meaning behind the next card. How did this girl know all this stuff? Its just a picture of some guy and a couple birds? He shifted, leaning forward to examine the card, rubbing his shaven chin pensively. A non-harmonious stasis? What stasis has he entered into? Not much has changed in his life except, again, Shayth. His mouth turned down to a frown. Is she saying he should dump Shayth to get back what ever "treasure" was inside him?

"Huh," he huffed. His green eyes lifted to Twik again. Kovac held his tongue this time, his thoughts on the matter too personal to reveal before the witness around him. "Go ahead, next card," he urged, anxious now to see what the girl was going to tell him about himself next.

OOCSorry it is so short, I just wanted to keep things moving!

by **Sira** on February 25th, 2011, 3:02 pm

Sira knew little of Kovac's realationship with Aidara. She wasn't overly worried, though. As far as she was concerned, Addy could share her body with anyone she pleased, so long as her heart belonged to Sira. Kovac would likely find warm welcome from both the women if he ever chose to explore it.. but such thoughts were pushed from Sira's mind as Twik drew the next card. Her own interpretation was at least more on the mark, this time. The man on the boat clearly represented a scale, though Sira could not say what the scale might mean. She didn't know Kovac enough to try guess either.

Listening to Vala's explanation she nodded in fascination, seeming more sobered but the excitement was still in her eyes. In contrast to Kovac's demeanor, Sira was still the bubbling girl seeing a fancy new trick. Perhaps if she could read Kovac's thoughts she might understand his attitude better, but she wasn't really worried about it either. This was all very interesting to her, and she couldn't wait to have her own fortune read if there was time for it. When Vala took a seat next to them with sketching tools in hand, Sira's excitement only grew even more. That excitement quickly faded when she realized Vala was looking not at her, but at the cards... shrugging, she turned her attention back to the game, making a mental note to speak to Vala later. She had always wanted a portrait of herself.

OOCSorry for the even shorter post. Just trying to pop something in before work.

by **Twik** on February 27th, 2011, 3:57 am

Twik frowned briefly, and then reached for the next card. Her subject did not seem chatty, and while she was never loath to press someone to speak in this case for some reason she felt the need to hold her tongue. A girl sat down beside her and began to sketch, which somehow made Twik feel more easy and informal.

“You seem grim,” Twik said lightly. “I hope that you don’t think I’m giving you bad news. It can be quite fulfilling to work on oneself, or at least I’m told it is by people…” Her voice trailed away as the next card appeared. This card depicted a storm against a desert landscape, with several lightning bolts lighting the darkness. A shadowy horned shape stood to one side, eyes colored red.

“…crud!” she said, in falling tones, trying but failing to keep it under her breath. She breathed in deeply and then let the breath out casually, putting a smile on her face before she looked up.

“This card is called ‘The Beast in the Storm.’ The Beast is a teacher, but he teaches through adversity, pain and strife. In conjunction with the other cards this tells me that your best chance of reaching inner balance and reclaiming your key is going to come after a serious trial, probably one involving real physical risk, although there is a small chance that it might be some emotional scene of the kind that you think about for years afterwards. This trial may not turn out to be something that has anything to do with your problem; it may just be that once you’ve had a close look at death you gain a deeper understanding of life and can let go of your obstacles that keep you from fulfillment. “

She paused as she studied the cards more closely, mulling something over.
“It may be that the loss of your key is the result of strife of a lesser but still serious nature, and that only through pain can you find it. I’m sorry; I’m rather new at this. Maybe I’m wrong. Do you think I’m wrong?”

As she spoke she put a fourth card face down in the midst of the other.
“This card represents the final outcome of the reading. You may look at it or walk away, but if you look than you will have a very hard time avoiding the fate you see in it. If you do not look you take responsibility for your destiny in your own hands.”

by **Kovac** on March 3rd, 2011, 7:15 pm

Kovac's eyes darted to Twik's, perhaps displaying too readily his anxiousness to see the next card. Certainly he didn't believe that this girl had some divine or innate power to decipher the cryptic images on the cards. She was not much more than a kid, with a game. Maybe he was reading his own life into the cards, certainly a trick talented fortune tellers and soothesayers were able to convince of their clients. Twik's interpretations were convincing, but Kovac decided not to take them so quickly to heart. He secretly hoped the next card would be more jovial, perhaps predicting he wins some prize or becomes a hero or something.

His hopes were dashed when Twik turned the next card. Forboding was the dark image, as was the girl's ominous exclamation. Kovac's eyes once again met hers, daring her to give him more unwelcomed news. She did. He sat up, finding he had hunkered down to hover over the cards laid out on the stone floor. His gaze fell self consciously to the girl sketching the event, then to Sira next to him, who seemed to find the whole thing amusing and entertaining. In a strange side thought, he found she had an interesting scent. The momentary distraction was dismissed as Twik continued. The cynical archer gave ear to the fortune teller, but he grew less willing to plumb his recent past and possible future here in the middle of the Gallery. There could be many explanations to the card. Betrayal, denial, threats, rejection, abuse, heartache, jealousy. He had experienced all over the last few years, anyone could be made to work into the scenario Twik had conjured. Then she laid down the final card, face down.

Kovac was good at denial. When there were things he did not want to admit, accept or confess, he had a marvelous system of defenses that could deflect meaningful introspection. Shayth had managed to dismantle much of it, as had others like Amon and Haya and even Addy. But he readily rebuilt them as he sat on the spot, in front of strangers. "Are you wrong?" he laughed sardonically. "Maybe, maybe not. You are good at this, I will confess. I can see things that could fit your reading." He reached down, picking up the rat card, examining it, then laying it back down. "What you say could compel one to think more deeply of their situation, maybe even see things they may not have seen before." A wry smile lit his face as he directed it at the teenaged Inarta. "But today is not a day I wish to contemplate my wretched past, or what could be my wretched future, today is a festival." In an uncharacteristic moment of non-sarcasm, Kovac placed his finger on the last card, then lfited it away. "Thanks kid, but today, I will remain in command of my destiny." The Avora turned to the woman sitting next to him. His smile turned roguish, his eyes meeting the golden gaze of the attractive Kelvic. "But it appears Sira is all a shudder to have her fortune read." His gaze lingered, the playful gesture of a hopeless flirt.

Kovac scooted aside, closer to the drawing girl, to allow Sira to sit in front of Twik. "Go ahead," he gestured, "perhaps the cards will reveal something of interest for you too!"