[SE] crystal balls to the wall

Nova

Clever as the devil

"So you'll be hiding while I lure them in with my maaagic..." She wiggled her fingers dramatically, letting shimmer come from them like tiny starlit fireworks. "Then you read their thoughts and pass the information to me..." Nova pressed her fingertips to her temples, scrunching her face to imitate a concentrating Vesper. "And then we get their money!" Her hands came up quickly, a winning smile on her face as she struck the victory pose. 

The small tent was tucked into the shadowy recess between two shops, an enticing mystery hidden within the dark purple fabric. She'd gathered a small table and two pillows to lay on a thick celestial rug that seemed to suck the little sunlight that made it inside. The only lighting was from a handful of candles that gave the space an ethereal glow. It helped to highlight the focal point of her entire scheme; a crystal ball in the middle of the table, glittering with untapped potential. 

When Nova finally placed her hands on her hips, satisfied with the 'plan,' she gave her brother an excited smile. "What do you think?" Whether he agreed or not (she knew he would), she straightened her sparkling purple robe and headband, settling herself onto her cushion to prepare for their first customer.

and twice as pretty

i'm a lost cause, do it the way I want

Despite the way Vesper's lips were turned down in a frown and one of his eyebrows was rather judgementally arched upward, there was a sly sparkle in his eyes meant only for his sister to see. "And then we get their money." He agrees with a chuckle before reaching forward to tuck an errant curl back behind Nova's ears before tipping her an affectionate wink. 

Dressed in shades of deep purple and black so as to better blend into the environment that Nova had created, Vesper stood at one side of the tent with his head slightly ducked forward so as not to bump his head against the top of it. "Maybe a little of..." Widening his eyes a fraction and nodding toward the table she had set up, using his magic, Vesper had tendrils of shadow curl up onto the table, shifting the cards around that his sister had arranged there.

"How exactly am I meant to give you this information, by the way?" Having turned to poke his head out of the tent—there was a line already, go figure—Vesper glanced back over his shoulder.

Nova

Clever as the devil

The caring gesture barely fazed her, coming so naturally between them. It was why she wasn't surprised when he'd agreed to help. After all, there was no other appropriate response amongst siblings. 

She giggled at his own display of magic, enjoying the way it added to the ~vibes~ of the fortune telling tent. How could they not believe the fortunes she spun in such a magical environment? In her mind, nothing could possibly go wrong, bright with thoughts of exciting possibilities. 

Nova shrugged her shoulders as if that part of the plan didn't concern her, but still made an effort, face scrunching as the wheels turned. "Hmmm... could you use your shadow magic to spell out words in the crystal ball?" It didn't seem too far fetched to the impressive reaches of her mind, yet she gave a less exciting option just to be safe. "Or you could hide in the corner behind them with a board." Although having to write out the thoughts didn't seem as fantastical to her, slightly clashing with the whimsy of her vision for the scheme; however, she would leave it to her capable brother to figure out. 

Her job was to sit pretty and spin a web of mystical lies about desirable futures. It couldn't be that hard, right? Nova gave Vesper a confident smile, clasping her hands before her as she prepared to call the first victim customer into the tent once he was ready.

and twice as pretty

i'm a lost cause, do it the way I want

"Oh, now there's an idea." Grinning, Vesper cocked his head at the crystal ball before calling his shadows up from the table and letting them slither over the glass. "Folks'll want to hear about their love lives and fortunes and whatnot, so...we'll use this for a broken heart-" The shadows created a heart which predictably cracked in half. "This for new love.." Now the pieces came back together. Continuing on, sketching out shapes that could be used to communicate various things, at worst Vesper could use his shadows to riffle through Nova's tarot cards if he found his shadows tongue-tied.

"If anyone asks, I can say I'm here to protect you in case of a spiritual attack." Snorting under his breath, Vesper bounces his eyebrows before moving to the back of the tent and folding his arms menacingly across his chest, his gaze immediately growing crisp and cool.

SOHALIA

and there we are again when nobody had to know

Sohalia had never had her fortune read before, but after spending time with Tal and his partner, Alys, who specialized in the tarot, the Luminary had to admit that her interest was piqued.

Since reemerging into the world, Soh had spent the better part of her time attempting to rest and recover, and her efforts were paying off. She wasn't as thin as she had been last time Vesper had seen her, and the bags under her eyes were slowly fading as a healthy glow softened her face. On this particular day, she'd selected a burnt orange, oversized sweater that hung off one shoulder. She'd piled her blonde hair atop her head artfully, with a few wisps arranged to frame her face. The overall effect was one of a lovely young woman out for a stroll - but Vesper would pick up on the unease that beat within her heart as steadily as it had at their last meeting.

So maybe that was why she had waited patiently for her turn to enter the fortune-telling tent - for some modicum of reassurance that she wasn't in imminent danger. That she could, perhaps, relax into the new life that she needed to build for herself. And maybe she was hoping for some guidance on what that new life should look like, because she was damned if she could figure it out for herself.

The young woman slipped into the tent and took it all in as her eyes adjusted to the darkness within: the small table framed by two pillows; the thick celestial rug beneath; and the crystal ball placed reverently on top, calling to each new victim customer with a vague sense of mystical promise. There was a woman seated at the table already. Blonde haired and blue eyed, there was something charming about her from the moment Soh entered the tent, and she smiled shyly in greeting. Then her gaze flickered to where Vesper stood in the shadows, a look of surprised recognition appearing on her pretty face.

"Hello," she said to them both, suddenly unsure of what to do. Vesper had been kind to her, but she had wanted to have her fortune told by someone she didn't know (otherwise she would have accepted Alys's offers), and she wasn't sure how she felt about her new friend being privy to something that might end up being rather personal.

you kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath

Nova

Clever as the devil

Memorizing the symbols and secret communications, she left Vesper to take his place behind her as she straightened her dress. Before the first victim customer made their way in, Nova took a moment to let her giddy expression calm into one of mystic calm. A polite smile played on her lips when the woman stepped inside. She nodded her head expectantly at the greeting. 

"Hello and welcome. My name is Madame Marin." Nova may not be a mind reader like her father or brother, but she immediately noted the way the woman glanced at Vesper behind her. It obviously didn't help that he looked particularly intimidating. Knowing he could hear her, she thought, Loosen up or you might scare them all away. You're supposed to be a 'protector' not a thug. Play nice. Going along with their predetermined plan, she gave the customer a reassuring smile, waving a flippant hand in his direction. "Don't mind him. He's here to ensure our safety. Sometimes my fortunes can be seen as too powerful, and spirits will try to interfere. His protection and discretion are guaranteed." The lies came easily, rolling off her tongue naturally without any ticks or tells to indicate that they may not be the truth. 

Feeling that the issues had been properly laid to rest, Nova indicated to the pillow across from her. "Please, sit. You seem very troubled. What questions plague you?" Her face was the image of omnipotent concern. As the role of the fortune teller, she was of course 'aware' of the woman's troubles, but sympathetic to the mortal struggles, willing to let her share verbally what she was comfortable with. If anything, she was trying to emanate her mother, letting a regal and ethereal persona take over the usually bubbly personality.

and twice as pretty

i'm a lost cause, do it the way I want

Having told Sohalia when he'd seen her last that he was looking forward to seeing her again, the demigod hadn't expected it to be under these circumstances, such that a faint ripple of surprise broke the normally still waters of his blue gaze as she stepped into the tent. Able to feel her immediate discomfort, Vesper made a show of looking apologetic as his sister mentally nudged him, as if having been caught somewhere that he wasn't really meant to be. "I do have something to take care of outside. I'll be right out here if you need me." He murmured to Nova, though his words were meant for Sohalia that she might be able to fully enjoy his siblings parlour tricks without his presence muddying the waters (ironic as that might be).

Whether or not the Luminary was able to pick out the blonde as one of the sisters he'd mentioned to her—Nova didn't carry an obvious star the way he and Caly did, but instead a soft smattering of them like freckles across the bridge of his nose—Vesper decided not to let her in on the fact that he'd met Sohalia. With a nod to both and a sly wink toward Soh once he was behind his sister, Vesper slipped out through the back, remaining just behind the tent. Having anticipated something like this coming up, he'd cut a small hole in the canvas before a whorl of stars, where he could peek in in order to continue manipulating the shadows for Nova's readings.

Behind Sohalia where she'd not be able to see, tendrils of inky black roamed up the tent like fingers, slowly adjusting some of the imagery Nova had placed above the entrance where few would think to look. Silently moving the pieces, Vesper indicated recent trouble, a broken heart.

SOHALIA

and there we are again when nobody had to know

Sohalia wasn't sure what to do. Now that she'd entered, it seemed rude to back out; but she also balked at the idea of Vesper hearing about what a disaster her life had been lately, at how pathetic she was to want to know when her self-imposed loneliness would abate. And so when he left the tent, presumably to guard from the outside, Soh breathed a soft sigh of relief before taking a seat across from the fortune teller.

Now that she could relax a little, she had a moment to look at 'Madam Marin' more closely. The young woman emanated a sort of mystical, regal air that drew Soh in far more that her almost ethereal beauty. She wore an expression that implied concern and care for the Luminary, something that Soh very much craved in the wake of all that she'd survived in recent seasons. With Vesper gone, and Madam Marin so interested, Soh slumped a little in her seat and sighed.

"I - I don't know where to start," she said sheepishly. And it was the truth. What bothered her more? Hurting Jude and Koa? Being kidnapped by the Family? Disappearing for seasons? Gods, everything in her life was such a mess. "I guess I just... I've been kind of... adrift, lately. I'm not sure what I should do now."

you kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath

Nova

Clever as the devil

Her eyes followed her brother out of the tent, sending him a mental thanks for his cooperation. Then she turned back to the woman across from her, a kind smile on her lips. She listened to the explanation, nodding with sympathy for her cause. It wasn't an uncommon request, if not quite broad. Despite that, she gave her customer a confident look. "I see. Let's take a look, shall we?"

She stared intensely into the crystal ball, running her hands over its smooth glass surface. Her illusion magic sent shimmering sparkles over it, a way to distract and draw the eyes. It wasn't more than a moment before she spotted Vesper's shadowy symbols above the tent opening: a bumpy, windy road and a broken heart. Nova recalled that the road meant 'a rough past or recent struggles,' and the other was too obvious to forget. She hummed a melodic sound, considering how best to string through the specifics. "Yes, yes. Your path has been troubled, indeed. I'm sorry for your difficulties." Tilting her head, as if noticing something new, she stilled her hands. "It doesn't help that your love life has also struggled." She tsked her tongue, shaking her head sadly. "Such a shame. No wonder you feel adrift."

Nova shifted her hands, as if sifting through a timeline within the crystal ball. "I have no doubt you will have a change in fortunate, but I shall consult the magic nonetheless." Which meant she would wait for more information from the Vespy-behind-the-curtain.

and twice as pretty

i'm a lost cause, do it the way I want

The thoughts in the Luminary's mind were a good deal more complicated than the day the two had met on the beach, but despite his proportionate lack of experience using his ability when compared to someone like his father, Vesper was nevertheless able to sift through the competing thoughts that vied for pole position in Sohalia's mind as she sat before his sister.

Having not prepared symbols or runes for anything so complicated as I was kidnapped by the Family and just before that things blew up with both of my boyfriends and now I don't know where I stand with either of them, the demigod relied on his sister's ability to make a tapestry out of the few threads he was able to provide.

Shifting his shadows to cover the letters J and K on her Ouija board, he paused before placing a squiggly ? above the symbol for Stormbreak.

SOHALIA

and there we are again when nobody had to know

Soh knew it was a broad request, and she felt momentarily guilty for not being able to narrow things down for the seer before her. But she didn't just want to know what to do in one aspect of her life, no matter how much she wished she knew how things would play out. Where to go now and what to do next seemed like such a huge, overarching question, but it was the one thing that had plagued her ever since reappearing into the world. Things had always seemed so sure before: she would rule Stormbreak, fall in love, and lead a generally happy and straightforward life.

Now, she seemed destined to die alone as a deposed queen who hadn't been strong enough to maintain her leadership in her region's time of need.

She'd said nothing about her love life, so when Madam Marin referenced her troubles, she blushed faintly. Either the fortune teller was quite good at her job, or something about Soh's issues were so obvious that a crystal ball wasn't needed to see it. At this point, she honestly wasn't sure which it was.

"A change would be welcome," she said softly, watching the crystal ball, looking to see if she could tell what was going on inside it, but seeing only the reflection of Madam Marin's hands. "Can you tell if it would be good or bad? I just - I need to know what to prepare for."

you kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath

Nova

Clever as the devil

As the shadows before her shifted, Nova let her own magic cast light sparkles across the crystal ball again to distract from the movement. Her eyes darted down to spot what Vesper had indicated, puzzling through their meaning. The letters could only be names, supposedly the romantic partners of the woman. If they were recent breakups, they wouldn't be good encounters. 'Stormbreak' gave her more trouble though. Perhaps the woman was from there? 

The question was easy enough to answer. She'd just tell her what she wanted to hear, but she'd have to be careful about it. "There are plenty of paths that you could travel, as all of us have an infinite number of futures. Lots of opportunity for change." Nova gave the woman an encouraging smile, filled with the weight of 'responsibility' and 'knowledge' pertaining to her 'abilities.' Running her hands over the crystal ball, she continued lightly, "However, there is an overwhelmingly positive trend to the coming events. Only a few people and areas seem to muddy that vision." 

That brought her to the information her brother had passed along. Nova stared more intently at the orb, scrunching her face to 'concentrate' on the details. "Two names appear, although I can only see that they start with a J and K. Further involvement with these two may adversely affect things." Since running into most exes seemed to do that. Tilting her head, she added, "There is also some uncertainty surrounding Stormbreak. I cannot promise that your presence there would result in favorable change." Assuming that would suffice, Nova looked back up at her customer to gauge her reaction to the information.

and twice as pretty

i'm a lost cause, do it the way I want

Listening from the outside of the tent proved a bit difficult given how well the canvas muffled the voices within, though luckily there was no such sound barrier when it came to his magic. Smirking silent approval at how well Nova was able to twist what little insights he was able to communicate to her into something fully formed and insightful, the demigod let his thoughts shift from the opalescent sparkles of his sister' mind to the softer palette of Sohalia's.

Within he was treated to a world of uncertainty and shifting pathways that led down dimly lit corridors. Vesper didn't get a sense that Sohalia was afraid of them, only that because she couldn't see where any led, found it impossible to move forward into the darkness. Thinking that he'd done as much with symbolism as he could, Vesper decided on a much more tangible approach.

Shadows stretch slyly up onto the table on Nova's side. Though they hadn't rehearsed this part, Vesper could only hope his sister would understand and make some sort of distraction. Even if she didn't he was fairly confident in how quick he could be. Knocking the cards off of the table, his shadowy fingers splayed them around so that three were prominently displayed: the six of wands, the Fool, and the Empress.

SOHALIA

and there we are again when nobody had to know

Soh was oblivious to the shadows as they swirled behind and around her, her gaze intent on the crystal ball, studying it as though to try to understand its secrets. As she listened to the seer, she blinked with surprise. She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting, but this level of detail was certainly not it. She'd thought she'd get some kind of vague non-answers, but to be told that further involvement with Jude and Koa might be bad? That her presence in Stormbreak might make things worse?

The young woman chewed the inside of her cheek in thought. "So... should I just... stay away, then?" she asked, her brow furrowing as she thought. Given her difficult history with the boys, she could see how staying away from them might be better for them, even if she was loathe to cut herself off from them entirely. And given that the Family controlled Stormbreak, she could see how her presence there might not be welcome.

But the Family had let her go, and hadn't seemed interested in her beyond wresting power from her, and her two lovers seemed to have more or less forgiven her. Maybe Madam Marin was wrong. "If that's true, what am I supposed to do now?" she wondered aloud, biting her lip nervously. Madam Marin had known about the boys, and about Stormbreak, without Soh having given her much to work off of. If she was right about that, then maybe she was right about all the things that Soh shouldn't be doing. And if that was true, maybe she could give guidance on what Soh should be.

you kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath