[SE] So here's the truth

Elizabeth

Stepping out of the Hanged Man in the dark of night, it was jarring to immediately see a familiar face among the crowd. Elizabeth gasped lightly, giving the woman a warm smile. "Oh Alys! What a pleasant surprise!" Having met the woman in the Atheneum of the Hollowed Grounds, she was overjoyed to see her in Torchline. The world was much smaller than people gave it credit for. 

She wrapped her scarf tighter around her neck to fight off the ocean breeze. It may not be as crisp or biting as Halo's, but the salt gave it a different strength that made her grateful for her thicker coat. The lesser cold was still preferable, and she had no difficulty standing outside to chat with Alys. "How have you been? Read any good books recently?"

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

The crisp breeze of Leafchange bit into Alys's face and hands as she walked through Torchline's streets. She was on another delivery run with Tal, and she was heading to set up a stall from which to offer her tarot readings to Torchline's inhabitants. A familiar voice stopped her, however, and the seer turned to see Elizabeth offering a warm smile. "Oh, hello!" Alys replied, smiling in return. It had been a while since she'd seen the woman, but it had been on good terms, and she was pleased to see her looking so well.

"I've been reading more tarot than books lately," she admitted with a laugh. "But I am in the middle of a cozy mystery - Clue of the Forgotten Claw. It's been pretty good so far, and perfect for the season," she added, gesturing vaguely around as though to point out the nip in the air and the changing colors that were far less prominent in Torchline than anywhere else in Caido. "How about you? How have you been?"

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

Eyes widening, she bounced lightly. "Oooh. Sounds interesting!" Being fascinated by people and relationships, she always marveled at how knowing someone's fortune could impact them. Would people strive to avoid the inevitable? Or become so self-assured that they influence the outcome? How would it affect their decision making or their relationships? What aspects determined their reaction? 

Alys's book title brought cozy thoughts and feelings as she let out a wishful groan. "Ugh. That makes me want to read a good mystery. They really do fit with the shifting weather and spooky atmosphere." Elizabeth chuckled, seriously considering if she had any mysteries at home that she might read later. It'd be even better if it had a subplot of slow-burn romance. Something to really draw out the suspense. 

But then the question is turning back on her, casting aside visions of thrilling novels and sweater weather. "I've been pretty good! Nothing super exciting here." She smiled warmly, thinking about how ordinary her life had been recently. No major run-ins or unfortunate encounters. Her curse was long gone, and she took the opportunity to soak in the lingering heat before Deepfrost sank its claws into Caido. "Clients have kept me busy, and improvements in Halo." Deimos and Sah seemed to have a new plan every week.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

Alys smiled at Elizabeth's clear interest. It was always a bit of a gamble to talk of her work; some were intrigued, while others openly scoffed at her. She tried not to take such a reaction personally. After all, someone else's lack of belief had no effect on her personally, and there were always other people who were willing clients. "I'd be happy to do a reading for you sometime," she offered. "I was actually on my way to set up a stall now."

Still, she was happy to pause in her work to chat with a friend, and she rather thought that Elizabeth might be on the way to becoming just that. "I'm so glad to hear that," she said. "I don't remember - what is it that you do, again?" And then, because she was surprised and pleased to realize that Elizabeth was from her one-time home, she added, "I didn't realize you were from Halo! Tal and I lived there for a while before we moved to King's End. I think we both miss it, if I'm being honest."

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

"Really?! I mean, as long as it's not an inconvenience." She would hate to impose on Alys or her business. And because her profession often made people uncomfortable, Elizabeth replied simply, "I'm a therapist." She didn't often linger on the subject, content to let others delve into the topic more if they wished or dismiss it entirely. It wasn't common that people wanted to talk about their thoughts or feelings with someone who they thought might be analyzing them, even if Elizabeth drew a very clear line between friendships and patient relationships. 

She shook her head politely to discourage any misconceptions about her 'home,' even as a light smile played across her lips. "I wouldn't say I'm 'from' Halo, but I just moved there a few months ago." Although she supposed it was more than just 'a few' months now. She was coming up on a year, after all. Technicalities aside, she chuckled at Alys's words. "I wouldn't have understood how people could 'miss' such an inhospitable environment before, but it's definitely starting to grow on me!" The pristine landscape and cozy community more than made up for the chilly exterior.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

"It would be my pleasure," Alys responded warmly, gesturing toward the market, where they could set up a table and begin. As Elizabeth revealed her profession, Alys raised a brow at her. In truth, the seer didn't think their work so different; they both revealed that which others might wish to keep buried. "I bet that's interesting," she said, no hint of judgment or suspicion in her tone. Caido could use more therapists, as far as Alys was concerned.

As they walked, they chatted of Halo. "I was a transplant, too," she shared. "I'm from the Hollowed Grounds originally, but Halo was far more of a home than that ever was for me. Now I suppose I'm a bit torn between Halo and King's End." She wasn't sure where she'd end up, exactly, only that it would be wherever Tal was. Perhaps it was unhealthy to be so dependent on another for such a huge decision, but Alys was very much a home is where the heart is kind of woman. And for her, that was Tal.

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

Not one to turn down an offer, Elizabeth was more than eager to follow Alys through the market as she thought about what she might discover today. To keep herself from devolving into a string of hypothetical thoughts, she focused her attention on the conversation and her own work. The statement made her laugh, winking playfully as she replied, "Well, it's rarely boring, I can tell you that much." People found it easy to divulge anything and everything to their therapist, sometimes to the point of humor, even if she would never admit that. Glancing sideways at Alys, she couldn't help but add, "Although I'm sure your job is much more interesting."

Being very much a 'home is where you make it' kind of person, Elizabeth could somewhat relate to Alys's unspoken words. She smiled at the sentiments, happy to find a kindred Halo adoptee in the woman. "I haven't spent much time in King's End since I was young, but I'll definitely have to make my way out there more often." If only to run into the fortune teller again.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

As the women chatted, Alys arrived at the location of her booth and began to set up, pulling a folding table and chairs from a storage spot she'd bartered from a local business. The table was covered with an ornate cloth depicting the phases of the moon in gold and silver; the chairs, however, remained plain. Once the places were set, Alys gestured to one chair, indicating that Elizabeth should take a seat, and then took the other. "If you do come to King's End, you're always welcome at our home - Tal's and mine, I mean. If I'm not there... well, he probably won't be either, come to think of it. We mostly travel together, these days. Maybe send word ahead if you plan to visit," she added with a grin.

In any case, it was time to conduct business, and Alys pulled out two decks to offer Elizabeth. One was darker and moody, and the other was lighter and more ethereal. "Choose a deck - whichever calls to you," she said, then waited for the woman's response. She could often predict which deck a client would be drawn to, and in this case, too, she had her expectations, but she was careful to remain neutral. It was important that she not sway Elizabeth's decision by her own assumptions.

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

Helping arrange the table and chairs, Elizabeth laughed lightly at the implication. "I'll be sure to send warning." If only for Tal to prepare mentally. They hadn't exactly 'gotten along' on their first meeting, although things had been cordial enough when they ran into each other. At least she knew they could disagree while still being civil. That was a great sign of maturity and it had her respecting the courier immensely. 

Elizabeth took her seat on the newly placed chair, admiring the cloth draped over the table. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, drinking in every detail, especially as the cards appeared. She only paused for a moment, wondering how her fortune might differ based on which deck she chose. "Hmmm... the lighter one, please." Placing her hands in her lap, her attention was fixed to Alys and her process, taking a million mental notes.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

Had Alys known Elizabeth's thoughts, she might have laughed. Tal was prickly at the best of times to all but Alys, and it wouldn't have surprised her in the least to learn that he had butted heads with the therapist. Still, there were very few people that Alys would avoid inviting over for fear of upsetting her partner, and Elizabeth, fortunately, was not among them.

Elizabeth chose the lighter deck, and Alys smiled, tucking away the darker into its pouch and setting it aside. She was glad to see the lighter deck get some use. Many of her recent clients had been more drawn to the darker deck, and the other was beginning to feel a little left out. "Is there any question in particular you'd like answered?" she asked as she began to shuffle. "Or just a general reading?"

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

Smiling warmly, her eyes followed the practiced movements of the seer. "Let's go with a general reading. Surprise me." She was here for more of the experience anyways. Her own concerns for the future usually only revolved around what book she should check out next. Whatever came her way, Elizabeth would just take it in stride, adapting and overcoming with emotional maturity. 

While Alys prepared to pull the first card, she continued to treat it all as research. Leaning forward, she asked, "What is the most common question you get?" She'd personally guess they revolved around money and love since that's what most people valued in life. However, she wouldn't be surprised if people also leaned towards other random topics. That was one of the wonders of the human mind: she never knew what she'd get.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

A general reading was simple enough, and all the better for Alys to try an idea that she'd been toying with: to use her illusion magic to enhance a reading. The seer nodded and began to shuffle, going through the motions of riffling, overhanding, and cutting the deck as she considered Elizabeth's question. "I'd say the most common generally involve love or money," she said thoughtfully. "It's amazing how obsessive people can be about those two things. More recently, I've had a lot of questions about how my clients might fare against the Void. People want to know whether they will avoid sickness or death." It was a more difficult topic. The cards didn't provide simple yes or no answers that way, and people were often unsatisfied with vaguery when they asked those kinds of questions.

Alys drew the first card, then called upon her magic to project a three-dimensional rendering of what the card displayed. A man pushed a boat through water with a long pole, ferrying a hooded figure and a child across. Six swords sat in the prow of the boat, and an unknown land could be seen in the distance. "The six of swords," Alys said, twisting her magic to make it look as though the man was actually moving the boat towards land. "A card of transition. Leaving behind turbulence and finding harmony once more. The Six of Swords speaks to a journey of the soul; perhaps one that you have been on recently, or perhaps one to come in the future."

ALYS GLASSE

Elizabeth

People could be extremely predictable sometimes, and Elizabeth couldn't claim to be surprised by Alys's answer. The romantic in her would have done the same, but she was too interested in the overall process to insert her own distant wishes. However, she still understood why others would do so. She laughed, unable to fault people when considering the current state of the world. "Valid concerns."

Then her own fortune was being revealed before her eyes, causing her full attention to latch onto the card. Elizabeth opened her mind to absorb the information as she inspected the hooded figure and child being ferried in a boat. When Alys had finished speaking, she tilted her head, deep in thought as to its meaning. "I did recently move to Halo. Perhaps that's what it's referring to?" Knowing that fortune telling wasn't an exact science, she wasn't really expecting an answer, but she asked it nonetheless.

Dive into the sea of thought,
and find there pearls beyond price.

"Perhaps," Alys agreed with a smile. "The tarot isn't an exact science; the cards are often up to interpretation by both the reader and the querent. I can offer meanings and suggestions, but the ultimate interpretation is yours to make." Some people found that aspect of the tarot confusing, but it was important for a querent to understand that all the power lay ultimately in their hands.

With the first card read, Alys allowed her illusion to fade, only to be replaced by the next card. This time, the image showed a person sitting up in bed, their head in their hands, with nine swords hung above them. "The nine of swords," Alys said, her mind already whirring to try and connect the pieces of the reading. "Fear, anxiety, worry, stress. Perhaps the changes that the six of swords speak to have or will bring you some manner of concern. If I were guessing, the next card will speak to how to deal with those feelings."

ALYS GLASSE