They were seated quickly, which was a relief to Alys. They'd spent quite a bit of time on their feet, and the respite from shopping was appreciated. Alys considered her companion from beneath her lashes, contemplating which deck would be the best to use. There were three to choose from, and in the end, Alys chose her first deck; it was the one with the most neutral imagery, but the one she'd had the longest and, therefore, often the easiest for her to read.
"Yes, I can work with that," the young woman conceded with a small, encouraging smile. Reading the cards worked better when the querent was open and honest, after all, and that often required some measure of vulnerability. Alys pulled out her deck and unwrapped it gently, lovingly, from the silken scarf in which she kept it. She folded the scarf and returned it to her pocket, where it couldn't be stained or dirtied by anything in the restaurant. Then she began to shuffle her deck, riffling the cards together with a practiced ease.
"We'll start with a simple spread, and then clarify anything we need to," Alys explained as she shuffled. She cut the deck in half and placed the bottom half on top, then drew three cards and laid them face up on the table. "Hmm," Alys murmured as she considered the draw. After a moment, Alys pointed to each card in turn as she explained the spread.
"The first card represents the past: the Three of Swords." The card showed a heart pierced with three swords. "The card of heartbreak and loss. The second card represents the present: the Devil." This card showed a demon standing before a pair of chained figures. "The card of restriction and addiction. And finally, the future: the Ace of Cups." The final card showed a single cup overflowing with water. "New relationships, budding emotions."
Alys drummed her fingers on the table briefly, then drew a fourth card, placing it under the Devil. "The Hermit, reversed." A lone woman, holding a lantern. "Isolation, withdrawal, loneliness." Alys drummed her fingers on her chin. "But perhaps..." She shook herself, refocusing on Hotaru. "It's clear to me that you've suffered in your past. I'm sorry for your loss, or losses," she added softly, reaching across the table to touch the back of Hotaru's hand. "It looks like your pain led you to withdraw, isolate yourself. You're protecting yourself from being hurt again. But you've stayed in the shadows for too long," she said, confident but gentle. "Your past experiences are keeping you chained. It's time to break free, to take a chance. Let yourself learn to feel again."
She glanced up at Hotaru to gauge her reaction, prepared to continue if the other woman desired it.
"Yes, I can work with that," the young woman conceded with a small, encouraging smile. Reading the cards worked better when the querent was open and honest, after all, and that often required some measure of vulnerability. Alys pulled out her deck and unwrapped it gently, lovingly, from the silken scarf in which she kept it. She folded the scarf and returned it to her pocket, where it couldn't be stained or dirtied by anything in the restaurant. Then she began to shuffle her deck, riffling the cards together with a practiced ease.
"We'll start with a simple spread, and then clarify anything we need to," Alys explained as she shuffled. She cut the deck in half and placed the bottom half on top, then drew three cards and laid them face up on the table. "Hmm," Alys murmured as she considered the draw. After a moment, Alys pointed to each card in turn as she explained the spread.
"The first card represents the past: the Three of Swords." The card showed a heart pierced with three swords. "The card of heartbreak and loss. The second card represents the present: the Devil." This card showed a demon standing before a pair of chained figures. "The card of restriction and addiction. And finally, the future: the Ace of Cups." The final card showed a single cup overflowing with water. "New relationships, budding emotions."
Alys drummed her fingers on the table briefly, then drew a fourth card, placing it under the Devil. "The Hermit, reversed." A lone woman, holding a lantern. "Isolation, withdrawal, loneliness." Alys drummed her fingers on her chin. "But perhaps..." She shook herself, refocusing on Hotaru. "It's clear to me that you've suffered in your past. I'm sorry for your loss, or losses," she added softly, reaching across the table to touch the back of Hotaru's hand. "It looks like your pain led you to withdraw, isolate yourself. You're protecting yourself from being hurt again. But you've stayed in the shadows for too long," she said, confident but gentle. "Your past experiences are keeping you chained. It's time to break free, to take a chance. Let yourself learn to feel again."
She glanced up at Hotaru to gauge her reaction, prepared to continue if the other woman desired it.
alys glasse
waiting for the right mind to drive insane
