video; un: tealeaf

[viciousmaukery]

[A few days after everyone's settled in, this pops up:]

—working now? Oh, good, that took so much longer than I thought it would.

[To those well-versed in such things, they might quickly identify the androgynous figure onscreen right now, dressed in an eyesore of a coat, as a tiefling: there are the horns, the tail, the lavender skin, the red and pupil-less eyes. To those who aren't? Jesus, it's another fuckin' weirdo, and he's giving the camera a bow.]

Mollymauk Tealeaf, formerly of Exandria and the Mighty Nein and now of Trench, at your service! I'm a bit lacking in funds at the moment, so if you have some coin to spare, come to Cellar Door. I've set up near one of the statues. [And he pans the camera up to show an artistic, distinctive statue of a woman dancing, with cloth draped over her arms. Then down to a little portable table with a set of tarot cards laid out.]

For just two coppers, or whatever the equivalent is here, I'll tell you what the future has in store for you. Doesn't that sound like a steal to you?

[Advertisement over, he gets serious, and adds:]

Oh, and—if anyone from the Mighty Nein is here? Let me know you're safe. [Please.]

Comments

Video

[viciousmaukery]

[Molly's posture straightens, his eyes going wide. This woman knows Jester. Jester was here.]

She's my friend, she's one of the Nein. Was she—she didn't look hurt, did she? We were going to rescue her and a few others of our number, and then... [He goes quiet, shakes his head.] I just want to make sure. And, hang on, what do you mean, fully awoken? This feels a bit too real to be a dream.

Tarot cards. I made them myself. And yeah, so I've been told since posting this, which is quite a relief on account of I haven't got a lot of money.

[onerthes]

mmm, easy now. we last saw Jester during a strange dream that came before this world. It's been some time. If she's awoken it means she returned safely to your world. I've actually been trapped between the dream and now almost three years in this place. I think I last saw her a little over a year ago, but she was fine then.

[She gave him a reassuring smile and nod. Jester'd usually been safe... mostly.]

Ah yes. I'm familiar with them. They're quite popular with humans of this world. I've had to relearn the decks. We use something similar in my world. [She laughed softly.] And I wouldn't worry. I think we're all broke at the moment, essentially.

[viciousmaukery]

A year ago? [Has he been dead that long? He shivers at the thought, clearly troubled.] She didn't say anything to you about what she was doing before she landed in this dream you're talking about, did she?

[He just...he misses her, and the rest of the Nein. He worries for their safety, hates that he can't be there anymore, for all that he appreciates this second chance.]

Yeah? If you're relearning the decks, want to come see me at work? Could be helpful. [With a fellow fortune-teller, Molly quickly dispenses with some of the bullshit—she'll likely see right through any story he might have about psychic powers anyway, if she reads cards too. But having someone he can commiserate with? That sounds quite nice.]

[onerthes]

Time works oddly between the dream and reality. A dream for me could be a day for you, or a hundred years. [She tapped her lips and shook her head, unsure.] She didn't go into specifics. She was a bit of a bubbly, fun-loving sort. She didn't talk much of home to me.

[She knew little of his situation, but she could, if she learned, certainly appreciate the worry. She felt it herself for her friends at home at times.]

I would be interested in seeing the interpretations of your decks. My usual process involves a scrying orb or crystal ball. ... Palm reading is good for the rubes.