[SE] palace of bones

Alys Glasse

Halo was notorious in Alys's little world for being difficult where her tarot was concerned. She had fewer clients there than anywhere else, its people more skeptical than the rest of Caido by far. On her most recent trip to the tundra, she'd had the idea to set up a pop up stall in the market in an attempt to attract new querents. So far, it had been an abysmal failure.

For the first hour, Alys had sat with her cards spread on a small table, attempting to smile invitingly at passersby. Most hadn't even looked her way; a few had openly scoffed. The second hour passed in much the same manner, though at least one of her standing clients did stop by for a seasonal reading. In the third hour, Alys took to doing general readings on the state of Caido to stave off boredom - though, in retrospect, she supposed it made her look busy, which might have chased away any potential clients who might wish to approach.

In the end, she gave up with a sigh. Perhaps Halo was the one place she would never gain a foothold for her divination, and she supposed that was okay. People were entitled to believe or not believe whatever they wanted - and that included her tarot. Even if they were wrong to look down on the art. The seer sighed again and began to stack her cards, intending to pack up and return to Tal aboard the Peregrine.

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

With another season arriving, Deimos had once again flung himself into necessary activities. On this interim, he’d taken the entire spectacle out – Zuriel at his side, Belial soaring overhead, him dragging the sled filled to the brim with logs and…pumpkins (slain vampire gourds), with Erebos giggling away upon his newly claimed throne at the front.

Ordinarily the Sword might go dashing by simply out of amusement purposes, but with the youth not yet capable of impeccable balance, he took his time, occasionally tugging on the vessel to speed it up to something other than plodding, much to the babe’s approval; the laughter echoing across the vast collection of stone and snow.

Though the slower traversing meant he spotted Alys far sooner; ambling over at the sedate pace. He, amongst the myriad of Halovians, was also incredibly skeptical and pragmatic, and an avid enjoyer of believing himself under some measure of his own power. But he’d humored her before, so with a loud snort, he announced himself. “Alys,” came with a nod of his head. Erebos waved again, either recalling her from before or simply because he greeted everyone, while Zuriel peered at the drapery with an imperious glance. Out of humor, he gave a juvenile grin, delivering that low rumble again. “Any luck?”

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

Alys looked up from mulling over the Hanged Man at the sound of her name to find Deimos striding towards her, pulling a little sled filled with logs, slain vampire gourds, and, of course, Erebos. Alys smiled at her friend before offering a little wave to the child, accenting her greeting with a scrunched face and a grin. Sascha bumbled out from behind Alys's table to greet Zuriel; having not spend much time around Deimos's companions, the little ursur was curious to investigate a potential new friend.

"Not much," she said with a dramatic sigh. "I have a few clients here, but Halovians are notoriously skeptical of my work." She understood, sort of - it was difficult, sometimes, to grasp the notion that her divination was more about reflection and supporting one's psyche than actually attempting to tell the future. In fact, she'd disappointed several people recently who wanted to know about how they'd fare with the Void. She could no more discern that than she could change the seasons. All she could do was advise that they stay away from it - fare away.

"It's fine," she said with a shrug. "I'm not hurting for clients elsewhere. It would just be nice if people would give it a chance."

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Hoisting Erebos out of the sled and into his arms, positioned so he could see everything going on, Deimos placed his attention upon Alys. While the companions seemed to eye one another, Zuriel narrowing her eyes and staring upon the small ursur with obvious memory of its kind, haughty and uncertain all at once, Belial tended to his own means and measures (irritating others by screeching), and Erebos waved in return.

The dramatic pretenses amused the Sword though, and his brow arched at the indication of ‘skeptical Halovians’. Knowing full and well that he was in the same broad category, he snorted. They’d had a similar discussion some seasons before – the pragmatics of his mind and the notions of control rarely afforded him the notion of any fond fortunes; always intent on carving out his own. “They are dubious of many things,” he gave with a wrinkle of his nose, before the infant started babbling things. Some incoherent sounds, but enough to make his father laugh, shaking his head and taking some time to humor Alys, rather than himself. “Quite right,” he rumbled to his son, who continued adding to the discussion with mitten-clad hands swinging around and eventually clutching Deimos’ jacket. “We are willing to listen, if you have the time.”

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

Fortunately for Zuriel, Sascha was not a particularly ferocious ursur. She was much more interested in investigating than causing trouble, and so she paused a respectful distance from the unicorn to sniff in her general direction. Alys observed all of this (and Belial's screeching) with a snort of amusement, then turned her attention back to Deimos and Erebos. The companions could sort themselves out, she was sure.

Deimos's offer came as something of a surprise; he had never been a particularly staunch believer, though she supposed he had humored her on more than one occasion. To be perfectly honest, it was always a surprise when he continued to do so - not that she wasn't appreciative. In this instance, particularly: perhaps Deimos's apparent support of her work would encourage other passersby to stop and take an interest as well.

"Of course," she said, gesturing to the seat across the little table. As she waited for Deimos to join her, she smiled again at Erebos and began to pick up the scattered cards, piling them before her before pulling out a second deck. "Which of these two decks call to you? No peeking," she added with a grin. "Just based off of gut instinct." The first deck was darker but alluring, and the second lighter, with an ethereal quality that called to many of her clients.

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Taking the young ursur’s cautious stance as some sort of victory, Zuriel raised her head high with a derisive snort. Belial landed nearby, upon the sled (in Erebos’ vacated spot – maybe some sort of rivalry was ensuing), while Deimos kept an inward eye roll reserved for his companions.

And to the Warden’s credit, while he wasn’t a staunch or devoted believer of the tarot, he would at least try - in most instances – new things. It was the moment they wronged him that he’d justify his beliefs with a wrinkled nose, indifference, or some other petty nuances that came to the forefront.

Snagging a seat at the table and keeping the infant in his lap (out of reach of certain objects that would likely go directly into his mouth), his gaze meandered over the decks. His brow arched at the sentiment of peeking (he didn’t know there’d been a way to do so without obvious perusing and lifting), before ultimately opting for inherent choice. “This one,” and he pointed to the darker hued deck.

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

Somehow, Alys wasn't surprised by Deimos's choice. She tucked the lighter deck away and began to shuffle the selected one, riffling the cards together and then overhanding a few times, until things just felt right. Then she cut the deck and sat it on the table before drawing the top card and laying it out before them.

"The Moon," she said. The card depicted a large moon hanging over a river. A crawfish crawled onto the bank from the water, and two dogs howled at the moon. "A card of illusions and intuition. This is a card that tells you to look inward, to become aware of anything that is causing you fear or anxiety, and let it go. These negative energies should be released and transformed into something constructive." She paused, glancing at Deimos and Erebos before drawing the next card. There were plenty of things in the world that could cause anxiety at any given time, especially now - but the Moon spoke of something more internal. She wondered if Deimos faced any of the same anxieties that she faced. He always seemed so strong and stalwart - but he was still human.

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Once the card was lifted, shown, and explained, Deimos couldn’t help the widening of his eyes. It was only for a moment, before arching a brow, and then narrowing his gaze at the luminary fixture. It wasn’t that he didn’t look inward often, he knew himself well, but the notions of fear and anxiety, that instilled and inherent trepidation from multiple lifetimes, had always resided in his bones. It was difficult to not feel the clamor of apprehension each time something occurred throughout Caido; like the war, like Starfall, like the rise of the Family and everything else mottled in between.

He just rarely let it show to more than a few people.

Evie was unfortunately the one who caught the brunt of it – but even then, he kept it tucked down and lodged in his ribs, channeling only the circumstances and the munitions, the machinations, to follow through thereafter. “Well, I hope I have done that,” he answered quietly instead, frowning slightly, before glancing back to Halo at large. The protections, the defenses, the armaments, and the springs…pieces that generations would be able to access. To shelter. To offer sanctuary. Even journeying to Starfall, or placing the latest flower into the Greatwood…all so there could be something besides the roaming restlessness lodged in his veins.

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

The Moon was a card that Alys felt certain would resonate with most clients, these days; they all had fears and anxieties to face and deal with, and she suspected that Deimos was no different in this regard, for all he was a stalwart figure in Halo and beyond. Of her clients, though, she was equally sure that Deimos would be one to face any fears he had, to turn that negativity into something constructive, leading his people in a direction that ensured safety, to the extent that was possible.

So she nodded, accepting this answer and turning her attention back to the cards. This time, she drew the two of swords. "The two of swords," she said. The card depicted a woman seating by the sea, blindfolded, holding two crossed swords over her chest. "Often depicting a stalemate or crossroads of some kind. You may face a choice or decision to be made. Paired with the Moon, this suggests some kind of indecision, perhaps driven by internal turmoil, that needs to be confronted."

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Erebos giggled, at what Deimos didn’t know, but it gave him a moment to consider other notions as Alys revealed another; though he did give her an arch of a brow in response. “Nothing new there,” he wrinkled his nose towards her – because these days it seemed all about indecision and parallels, twists and turns, lines drawn along the gravel and stones. Starfall on its own was a calamity breeching and seething with multitudes of decisions laden within – where to place the flowers, how to access them sooner, quicker, whether they should be tracking down onslaughts or hosting regional quests for the Wilds. How they’d protect and maintain. How they wouldn’t bend and break. Lost armaments and no certainty on how to retrieve them.

Little did he know another multitude would soon be knocking on his door; but in the meantime, he could unfurl a long breath and a heavy sigh.

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

Despite the subject matter, Alys was pleased with the reading so far, which seemed to resonate to some degree with her skeptical friend. It was always nice to offer guidance that was well-received, and the distinct lack of scoffing amusement was a welcome change from the few Halovians she'd managed to snare for a reading before Deimos had come along.

Alys gave him a moment to consider, then drew the final card. This one depicted a knight on horseback, carrying a golden cup. "The Knight of Cups," she said, swallowing the smile that threatened. This was at odds with the rest of the reading, as a card that primarily suggested romance and passion, but there was more to it beneath the surface. "This card is symbolic of emotional depth, intuition, and creativity. Paired with the other cards, it seems that you'll need to look inward and be creative in your solutions for any fears or troubles that are coming. Think outside the box, and don't be afraid to try something new."

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

Oh, he could potentially scoff; there was always time for the Sword to make one of his juvenile judgments. But he waited, patient and composed, as the final card was drawn. Tilting his head vaguely, his brows furrowed and his eyes narrowed. He’d been told in multitudes to be drawn towards his creativity, and if taken literally, he usually did so with his creation incantations, or the piles of journals, the parchments of plans and blueprints for Halovian construction and potentials. “You mean I cannot just beat something apart?” He rumbled with his drawn humor; nose wrinkling over the pragmatics. “Or set it ablaze?” Because quite frankly, those solutions had worked wonders for him in the past.

And though he was taking it at a jocular angle for now, the surmising of current events kept making him meander around the notions. It probably would take other tactics to retrieve Ronin’s rapier, deal with Starfall, and the Family, as a whole. “We will see.” He admitted – though not without the hordes of trepidation lodged between his ribs. Erebos giggled, and the Warden shook his head. “Do you often pull cards for yourself?” Curious, perhaps, to know if she strived to follow those pathlines set for herself, or let it all flicker into reality.

DEIMOS

Alys Glasse

"Perhaps you could," she said with a shrug. "That's the thing about the tarot; its final interpretation is really up to you. I can offer guidance, of course, but in the end, it's what you take from it that matters most." Perhaps the cards did intend to be taken literally - or perhaps they encouraged a more nuanced approach than Deimos defaulted towards. Only time would tell.

With the reading over, she returned the pulled cards to the deck and shuffled a few times, just to mix them back in with the others, before putting the entire stack into a silken bag for easy transport. "I do," she said. "I have to practice my craft, after all, and it's something that I enjoy doing for myself besides. I usually do a daily draw in the morning with my tea, and sometimes more specific spreads if I have a situation that requires more introspection."

cover you when the sky comes crashing in

The indifferent shrug informed him his humor had failed to meet its mark, and so the juvenile motions slipped away from his features; face altering make into its usual stony, furrowed, and contemplative composure. He wasn’t certain about the interpretation of any of them – always some portions seemingly vague enough to contort around the reality of any given day, or to mark and etch the way Caido unfurled from time to time. If they were simply guiding lines, murmurs drawn in sand, whispers of everything, or naught at all. The pragmaticism in his mind seemingly won over once more; but he’d still bear them in the notches of his ribs or the machinations consistently stirring. “Thank you,” he offered instead when all was said and done.

That she followed the same lines for her own practices and ongoings made him wonder if it wasn’t unlike prayers and offerings every day at shrines; little by little, instilling faith in things. Before another inquiry could be unleashed from behind his teeth, there seemed to be a small crowd forming around them – intrigued, maybe, by the fact that the Warden was sitting there, or that the curiosity of the tarot itself beckoned them around. Smiling softly, and lifting Erebos from his lap, the Sword nodded. “Seems you have some onlookers. I will leave you be.” The infant giggled and gurled, waving to Alys again, before they too disappeared amidst sleds, unicorns, and perytons, granting space for the next readings.

[FIN]

DEIMOS