Scene #2184: A Water Spirit's Fortune Telling

Owner	Pose
Ayako Hasekawa	While the weather is nothing special during the current season, Spring nonetheless gives off a pleasant, peaceful atmosphere. The moon, while not completely full, still gives off it's ample light, illuminating the perpetually falling cherry blossoms that frequent this region of Spring. Mingling amongst the moonlight, is the pale blue light that sometimes appears just off the main path. If one should follow the odd light, the source turns out to be equally pale blue flames surrounding one Ayako Hasekawa, dressed in the very deep blues of her fortune telling clothing. Her fortune telling setup is elegant as always. Sky blue rug, black lacquered table with chairs, and filled with blue rose embroidery and engraving. The water spirit herself is lounging on one of the chairs, which happens to have a lot of extra pillows on it. The sleeves which cover her hands idly, yet expertly shuffle the deck of tarot cards in her hands. "Hmm... tonight gives a nice feeling. I wonder who will come?"
Dukemon X	The small four foot Guilmon X is out and about, though hearing tells of someone who could tell of fortunes and futures. In some ways--- he wants to know a truth, a very-- dark truth he refuses to accept. Be it by the fact he can not truly remember it or be it because while inside he knows it is true, no part of him wants to deal with it. Perhaps one who can see the future could shed some light on his nightmares and things that haunt him. Perhaps though-- she'll only share what he /needs/ to hear as well. It isn't long till the red dino-dragon appears at the location. His head popping out from behind some bushes, those ear fins raising up as he looks at the woman lounging. Then the small Guilmon X moves out of the bushes, his tail moving side to side as his arms hang down a bit. His gold eyes blink a few times before he speaks up, "...Are you the one who tells fortunes?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako abruptly stops shuffling her cards and then blinks her eyes slowly when a head pops out from behind some bushes. She slowly turns in the direction of the small Guilmon X and then smiles softly. "Good evening!" The voluminous sleeves of her dress set the deck of cards onto the table as she floats a bit above her seat to get a better look at the dino-dragon. "And yes. I do tell fortunes. Although I do admit... I don't have any magic to actually do so. I merely do this for my own entertainment." She giggles softly. "But... if you don't mind that and still want your fortune told..." The sleeve gestures to the chair on the other side of the table. "Feel free to have a seat!" Ayako smiles gently.
Dukemon X	Duke listens to her words and tilts his head gently before he pads over to the chair. There he hops up and takes a seat best her can before looking at the cards with a great deal of curiosity. "I never seen cards like those." He cants his head the other way. "How does this work?" He asks, looking directly at her.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles gently at Duke. "These are tarot cards." She pushes the deck of cards towards Duke so he can look at them more easily. "They were a gift from a friend a long time ago... but anyway!" She claps her waaaay oversleeved hands together. "First, I need your name. Oh! But I should give mine first. I'm Ayako Hasekawa, a water spirit." She curtsies the best she can while sitting. "And then... cut the deck, if you would please! That is, not in half, but rather, make two piles of cards." A soft giggle follows.
Dukemon X	Duke sniffs at the card, before looking at Ayako and hrms softly. "Ayako huh? That is a nice name." He says with a smile before pointing his index claw at himself. "I'm Duke!" He then listens to her instructions and playfully sticks out his tongues. "I've played with cards before. Sometimes Alexis and I play a game of cards for fun. Though she has been really busy lately." Duke then looks at the cards, before he reaches over and takes a the top part, separates it over to one side, takes the next. Does so again. He hrms, before takes the bottom onto the top, and then that on the middle-- before separating down half way. "Like that?" He seems mildly amused, before he scratches the back of his neck. "I know that wasn't a cut cut, but figured it help really shuffle them up!"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles gently. "Nice to meet you, Duke! Your name's quite nice as well!" She giggles softly and watches Duke carefully. "Ahh, I see! Hmm... I should play some cards too sometime..." Her head shakes quickly as she regains her focus. "But anyway! Yes, that will do nicely, Duke!" The voluminous sleeves reach forwards and gently take the deck back into her hands. A deep breath follows and the water spirit quickly deals out five cards face down in the shape of a cross in front of Duke. "These five cards will tell your fortune." Ayako becomes quite serious suddenly. Although she has no fortune telling magic, she does take this seriously, after all. "First, the card the represents your past." Her sleeve flips over the card on the cross closest to Duke. The Empress, upside-down. "Huh? Hmm... destruction and the uneasiness of the mind and soul?"
Dukemon X	Duke fidgets a little as she brings that up. His gold eyes glance to the side. "I don't remember much about my past. I have amnesia, but I am trying to remember everything... " He then looks to her. "Though I do have nightmares... and those nightmares are never good."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly. "If you have amnesia, you can't really help not being able to remember anything about your past." She smiles gently. "Perhaps one day it'll come back to you. Maybe never. Regardless, you need to continue living." Her amber eyes close for a moment when nightmares are mentioned. "Aahh... I see. I don't sleep or dream myself, so I have no idea how they are... But I do hope they let you sleep peacefully soon." A soft smile is given towards Duke. "Ah. But moving on." Ayako glances to the card on the left side of the card cross and flips it over with her sleeve. "This card, represents the present." Judgement, upright. "Hmm... rebirth." Her gaze moves towards the reversed Empress for a moment. "While your past may be destructive and be making you uneasy, you have an opportunity in the present to start over, leaving such behind with a clear mind." She smiles brightly at Duke. "It's something quite a few people wish for, so I hope you take full advantage of it!"
Dukemon X	Duke watches the card flip and then looks to her as Ayako talks, he gives a soft smile. "I am working on moving on." Then as she continues he nods his head, seeming thoughtful for a moment. "...Rebirth huh? I guess I'm on the right track then!"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and nods her head. "Un! I hope you choose the right track that resonates well with yourself! On that note..." Her sleeve reaches for the next card; the one on the right side of the cross. "This card represents your immediate future." The Magician, upside-down. The water spirit frowns to herself for a moment while she thinks. "Hmm... There's a manipulator about. They may appear benevolent, but they may not have your best interests at heart. What's more, said manipulator may be yourself as well." Ayako looks Duke in his golden eyes with her own amber gaze. "The basic message is that Power," The capital letter can definitely be heard. "is something that must be used carefully. It can corrupt you just as well as it can bless you and so you must think carefully over your actions."
Dukemon X	Duke listens to Ayako once more. He hrms as she explains the power part and this-- Manipulator. "I am not sure I understand..." he says softly. "Doran wouldn't let anyone manipulate me and nor would Alexis--- even I am more watchful after what Lute did." Duke snorts softly. "...But... If I do get strong enough to hold my Ultimate form... I'll try to not abuse it."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly. "It's true. With power you must choose carefully how you wish to use it. I hope with whatever you do use it for, you won't regret it." She smiles gently as she reaches for the next card. "This card. Represents the future." The Hanged Man, upside-down. "Hmm... this card... one moment..." Ayako sighs and thinks to herself. Her amber eyes wander over the face-up cards as she thinks. "Conviction. A time of action, in which you absolutely must not give up. Perhaps once you overcome the manipulator or yourself, you will know what you must do. And you will not waver in such."
Dukemon X	Duke tilts his head softly. "I know right now I'm pretty dead straight on getting things done... but if its the future, then I guess something else could come along." The Guilmon X snorts softly to the side. "Maybe getting that shadow Gaomon and teaching him a lesson." Duke shrugs softly and looks over the cards. "It is pretty neat how you do this."
Ayako Hasekawa	"It's true! Although the future is always something that can be changed. Through your own actions. Your own thoughts." Ayako then raises a sleeve to cover her mouth as she giggles softly. "Well, thank you very much!" "Oh." The water spirit in blue looks over to the last card that's still face down in the middle of the cross. "There is one last card. It's a card of guidance. It may help you. But it may lead you astray as well." Ayako nods her head once. "In the end, it's up to you if you wish to see what that card has to say."
Dukemon X	Duke tilts his head at Ayako and smiles at her giggle, his ear fins perking up, thought they go back as she motions at the last card. He stares at it, long and hard. Those gold eyes flicker with blue energy for a moment before he gives a nod. "While you give good advice -- lets see what the card says."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head and with a hint of nervousness, flips over the card in the center of the cross. Death, upside-down. Her eyes blink quickly at that card of all things in the center. "I... well. Okay then." She smiles softly and nods her head once. "Don't change. Or perhaps remember how you are right now. That may be the best guide for you."
Dukemon X	Duke tilts his head gently. "I... don't understand." The Guilmon X sits up and looks at the card. He makes a little confused sound as he tilts his head gently. "Why would I not want to change?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and shakes her head slowly as she takes the face up cards and shuffles them back into the deck. "I admit that I don't always understand the fortunes that these cards give either." Her hands, covered by the far-too-long sleeves, continue to shuffle the deck of tarot cards. "I don't really know. Perhaps you've found something, some place where you're happy. Maybe you've found a life you enjoy." She shrugs lightly. But then she smiles cheerfully at Duke. "But regardless, I wish you good luck, in whatever you choose to do, Duke!"
Dukemon X	Duke smiles and gives a nod. "Thanks Ayako--- maybe I'll bring Doran here next time... or... or maybe I can call him and get him to come out here!" His ear fins droop. "...though not sure how long you will be here for..." The Guilmon then hops down. "Maybe I can also come by and ... get another reading again some time... see if it changes." He shrugs, "They sometimes change, right?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles brightly, "Oh, you're very welcome, Duke!" She winks slowly. "I'm not always here, nor in the mood to tell fortunes, but if they're lucky, Doran may run into me in the future." She nods her head slowly. "Un. That would be fine. Fortunes change all the time. The future isn't fixed at all after all."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly as Duke takes his leave and resumes shuffling the deck of cards while lounging back in her pillow-covered chair. "Hmm... I wonder if someone else will come? Telling other people's fortunes is always fun." She giggles softly and lazily gazes about.
Dorian Pavus	Warpgates? Is that what they're called? Rips in space, but controlled? Seems unlikely. But having gone through one and NOT been flung headlong through space seems hard to dispute. In fact he walked through it as neatly as if he'd walked through the door into the next room of a house. Except it hadn't been a room he'd walked into. It had been ... a beautiful plain, as far as the eye could see! It had been mere chance that he'd stumbled upon where Ayako's set up shop. It seemed very out-of-place amongst all this nature. And the floating blue flames weren't doing it any favors in blending in, either. That /definitely/ wasn't natural. Dorian, however, keeps to himself how unsettling he finds all this. With an easy half-smile, he observes, "An odd place for a game of Wicked Grace, don't you think?" The cards she's shuffling don't register as tarot cards to him, but as playing cards.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly as she notes Dorian approaching her fortune telling setup. One of her amber eyes close when Dorian comments about the cards she has in her hands. "Hmmm? Wicked Grace? Never played that game before." The eye slowly opens as she places the deck of tarot cards onto the table in front of her. "But no. I'm just a water spirit that happens to be doing some fortune telling tonight." Her extremely long, draping sleeves that overtake her hands gesture to the other chair in front of the table. "With that in mind... would you like to have your fortune told?"
Dorian Pavus	This seems to interest Dorian. Not just the fortune-telling part. "A water spirit?" His tone shifts a little, from nonchalant to interested. "I've never heard of an elemental spirit. Spirits of justice, compassion, love-- all that. Always emotions, never an element." And the mention of the fortune-telling? That gets a moment's thought. "Ah, why not?" Dorian replies, taking a seat in the chair. "I don't see the harm in it. More confirmation of my virtues is always welcome." ... Yup. Looks like he's one of THOSE kind.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head once with a soft smile on her face. "Yes. A water spirit." She pulls one of her sleeves back to reveal that yes, she does have human hands underneath. "I'm made of water~." Her hand rapidly loses it's color and solidity to become floating water still in the shape of her hand. "In fact... you're sitting on something made of water too." She giggles brightly. Her hand reforms and withdraws back into her sleeve. "Oh? Interested? Then all I ask is your name and a bit of your time." She floats out of her chair and curtsies elegantly in Dorian's direction in mid-air. "I'm Ayako Hasekawa."
Dorian Pavus	When Ayako dissolves her hand into water, Dorian's eyes widen a bit. "Fascinating..." he says quietly. The mention that he's sitting on something made of water gets a pause, and stands up for a moment to touch the seat. He hadn't felt himself sitting in water, though. Presumably he'll find nothing amiss about the chair, so he'll sit back down. "That is fascinating, to have the ability to shape water in such a way. A mage can summon it, but not control it to that degree." His name and a bit of his time? Ayako will get more than that. He bows his head in greeting and offers, "Dorian of House Pavus, Altus Mage of the Tevinter Imperium. Pleasure to meet you."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako lands back lightly in her pillow-covered chair and smiles softly. The chair Dorian himself is sitting on feels completely like a normal chair. Through just a normal, casual inspection, there's nothing strange about it. "Well, nice to meet you, Dorian." Her sleeves gesture towards the deck of cards. "If you would, please cut the deck, and I will be able to start."
Dorian Pavus	"Oh, of course," Dorian agrees. He reaches to the deck of cards, divides the deck into two nearly equal parts. And then with a squeezing motion of his hand, shuffles the two smaller decks back together into one deck. Trust him to show off when doing something as simple as that. "Will that do?" he asks.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head and collects the deck of cards off of the table. "That will do perfectly!" Her sleeves quickly deal five cards onto the table in the shape of a cross in front of Dorian. "Well then, Dorian of House Pavus, Altus Mage of the Tevinter Imperium! These cards will be your fortune!" As normal for her, her usual playful nature vanishes as she gazes seriously at the cards on the table. "First, I wish to know about your past." Her sleeve flips over the card closest to him and farthest from her. The World, upright. "Hmm... the end of a cycle." Ayako glances back up and looks Dorian in the eyes. "You're quite accomplished, aren't you?"
Dorian Pavus	"'Dorian' is shorter, if you prefer," he offers, with a trace of mirth. As much as all his titles mean to him, they do take rather a long time to say all of them. He makes sure she knows she's allowed to use his first name. Never can tell with people, right? At least she hasn't called him a 'magister' yet. Fereldens, ugh. Ayako flips the first card, and Dorian looks at it. Her words get a sudden bark of laughter. "If my father has anything to say about it I won't be. But yes." Drawing himself up proudly, he explains, "I am the scion of House Pavus, a product of generations of careful breeding, and the repository of all its hopes and dreams. It wasn't /supposed/ to end with me, but ... " He waves a hand in the air next to him in a circular motion, a gesture of nonchalance. "A cautionary tale on putting all your eggs in the basket that gets its own ideas and runs off."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly. "Oh, very well, Dorian." When he suddenly laughs, the water spirit blinks her eyes slowly, inclines her head to the side gently and listens. "Hooh? I see, I see." She nods her head slowly. "Well... let me see what your present is then." A sleeve reaches for the card on the left side of the card cross. The Empress, upside-down. "Hmm..." Her amber eyes look over both of the cards... and she thinks about what Dorian has just told her. "Hmm... you've found yourself in a bit of an unsettling situation recently, have you?"
Dorian Pavus	Upside down Empress? Dorian's dirth disappears as Ayako reveals the meaning of this. "I've found myself in a few 'unsettling situations'," he admits. "For starters, someone's gone and ripped a massive hole in the sky. Oh, not /here/, of course. In Thedas, my home." He crosses his arms over his chest and drawls, "Rather irresponsible of them, I'd say. Considering it's spitting demons out, and ripping smaller holes in the sky all over Thedas. And now someone has to go behind whoever did it and clean up the mess they left. I almost hope whoever does sends the person responsible a bill. The cleaning bill would be /astronomical/." He exhales a sigh. "And I will admit to having a... situation with my family," he adds after a moment. "I'd rather not drag out the details of that -- family disputes are rarely anything but messy -- and that's the sort of dirty laundry that I'd not like to air in public. At least not completely. I will admit to having run away from an arrangement for me to marry a sharp-tongued harridan whom I loathe. And I'm quite sure the feeling is mutual."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly and listens quietly. "That... that is definitely unsettling. Demons coming from holes in the sky." She shakes her head slowly. "I hope the situation gets better and resolved soon." A soft smile crosses her face. And then she winces slightly when Dorian talk about the dispute with his family. When Dorian brings up a 'sharp-tongued harridan', her amber eyes flick back towards the reversed Empress. "Y-yes... that card can also mean a..." There's a slight pause as she thinks her words over, "disagreeable woman." She doesn't say anything more about that! Ayako's too nice to really tear into someone, after all. "Hmm... I wonder what awaits in the immediate future?" Her hand flips over the card on the right side of the cross. The Hanged Man, upright. "Ah. A period of self-reflection and thought rather than action." Ayako nods her head once.
Dorian Pavus	dorian nods to the words of the situation being resolved quickly. "As do I. I expect someone will be tasked to deal with it. Can't be good for business. Though that would require the Templars and Mages not killing each other, I suppose..." Yet another 'unsettling situation'? though if the particular one mention in the cards deals with ... "A 'disagreeable woman'?" Dorian repeats. "That could also be my mother. The concept of my having passed the age of five doesn't seem to be one she can comprehend." Dorian gives a thoughtful look at the mention of 'a period of self-reflection'. "Hmm ... well, I am a subject worthy of reflecting on, I suppose. Though the situation with the 'disagreeable woman', if that's the period of self-reflection you mean, has rather already happened. That's part of the reason I left."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako shakes her head slowly. "Maybe something will come up that will make you take a step back to think things over again. It is the Multiverse, after all. Unexpected things happen all the time." She smiles softly. "But... I wonder what the future card has to say." Her sleeve reaches over to the card closest to her and flips it over. The Emperor, upright. Her amber eyes quickly move over the four face-up cards and she thinks to herself quietly. "It seems... you will come up with something that will lead you to a feeling of self-worth and power. However, you must also be cautious, as this type of solution tends to blind you to other possibilities." Ayako nods her head once as she looks back to Dorian. "Possibilities that may be what you truly want out of life."
Dorian Pavus	"Truth be told, I haven't exactly come to understand quite how this 'Multiverse' works," Dorian muses, rubbing his chin slightly in thought. "Everything is just ... thrown together? As if someone had simply dropped hundreds of worlds into a very large mixing bowl and stirred them all together vigorously with an equally large spoon?" Now /that's/ a mental image! Self-worth and power, but it could blind him to what he really wants? "Well, there's a number of things I want out of life, truthfully," he admits. "Though I think my biggest 'want' is that my countrymen stop acting like idiots." A serious look comes over his face. " ... You're ... not likely to meet any other mages from Tevinter whose first thoughts wouldn't be how best they could use you to further their own agendas," he explains. "Particularly someone like you, with abilities like yours. I shudder to think of the devious things that the less scrupulous from Tevinter would use the rest of this 'Multiverse' for. /That/ is what I want ... I want that to stop."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako giggles softly. "I don't exactly understand how it works either. All I know, is that it's interesting, and full of fun things." She smiles cheerfully. "But yes. Everything really is just thrown together. A patchwork quilt stitched together out of various worlds." Her head inclines to the side as she listens to Dorian. "Hmm... it's hard to get people to stop acting like idiots. You have to try reaaaaally hard to even make a dent in that." Ayako gestures at herself with a sleeve. "I don't mind being used, myself. As long as I wish to do so of my own free will and not..." She gestures with her sleeve in a circle, "Compulsed." She nods her head slowly. "I see, I see. Well, with the Mulitverse comes a lot of opportunity-and just as much risk! Maybe thinking about how to change the attitudes of your countrymen is what you will reflect over." Her sleeves then gesture to the one face-down card on the table. "Oh, there is one card left. It is a card of guidance. It can help. It can hurt. It might have some advice. It may lead you astray." Ayako's amber stare turns to said card. "It's up to you if you wish to see what it is."
Dorian Pavus	"A patchwork quilt, hm?" Dorian considers this. He'd not seen much of it just yet, but that can always be fixed! But he laughs, amused, at Ayako's words of how difficult it is to stop people from acting like idiots. "It is indeed. It's almost a disease, one that can only be cured by a vicious bashing over the head with a blunt instrument. The only thing that seems to change about it is whether the bashing is figurative or literal." As for being 'used'? "Well. The old 'I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine' is perfectly reasonable. It's an addage I fully support. But Tevinter has a way of ... shall we say, 'coercing' cooperation? Which I find rather sickening." Reflecting on his countrymen's attitudes seems reasonable, he figures, and so he nods to this. "Admittedly, I /have/ been giving that quite a bit of thought." And then the last face-down card. Ayako's warning is measured, considered. "The future's never written until it becomes the past," he decides. "If I don't like the path, I'll walk my own. I've done it before. I'd say I'm rather good at it, in fact. So let's see what it has to say."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly. "A patchwork quilt." She winces slightly when the 'vicious bashing' is mentioned and shakes her head slowly. "I prefer not to do any bashing myself. Even in the figurative fashion. Mostly because I've found that the only way to change an idiot is to make them want to try not to be one on their own." She waves a sleeve. And then shakes her head slowly. "Ick... 'coercing' cooperation." She leaves that behind quickly and then nods her head once, swiftly. "It's true. The future is never certain. Sometimes, even after it's become the past, it's still uncertain." Ayako giggles brightly, having witnessed it herself in the Multiverse. "With an attitude like that, I'm sure you'll be fine." Ayako glances nervously at the card and then, with a hint of hesitation, flips it over. The Star, upside-down. Her amber eyes blink quickly. "I... what? It says to be stubborn and pessimistic." She shakes her head slowly. "Well. Perhaps a firmness of character may be what helps you the most."
Dorian Pavus	"Sadly, sometimes bashing /is/ necessary," Dorian says with a sigh. "Particularly when the person in question is someone you care about, /and/ they've spent the majority of their lives bashing their own head against a wall. Sometimes that's all that gets through, is a bash from another direction. Though yes, I would prefer not to have to do that." He's also quite willing to leave the subject of 'coercing cooperation' behind, seeing how swiftly she moved on to the next subject. Though her words of the future being uncertain even when it becomes the past are a bit confusing. He frowns a bit, a little disturbed at remembering something. Magister Alexius hadn't figured out a way to put his theory into practice, had he...? 'Be stubborn and pessimistic'? That gets a hearty laugh. "Now /that/ is advice I can follow," he says. Once he composes himself, he adds, "It makes sense. In any dealings with Tevinter, your best bet is to expect the worst of any situation. Because in most cases, the truth is usually /worse/ than you imagine. There is such a thing as a 'healthy' dose of pessimism, after all."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and shakes her head as she shuffles the face up cards back into her deck of tarot cards. "Well. If it's good advice, it's good advice. Far be it for me to try to argue against it." She giggles softly and leans back into her chair. "But... I hope that my little hobby ends up being helpful for you, even if just for food for thought."
Dorian Pavus	"Well, as you say, merely a guide, yes?" Dorian inquires. He also leans back in the chair, steepling his fingers together. "Much of that could apply to a number of personal situations that I'm ... currently embroiled in. As with any advice, the trick is to consider it all, but be able to tell what applies to you and what isn't viable." He offers an honest smile. "Not to say this hasn't been an enlightening venture," he adds. "And the pleasure of your company made it all the sweeter." Yes, Dorian can be quite the charmer when he wants to be~!
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and nods her head slowly. "Merely a guide." Her amber gaze moves upwards as she grins slightly. "Besides. It's not like I have any divination magic myself." She blushes lightly at the compliment, though! "Oh, well, thank you very much!"
Dorian Pavus	Dorian senses the reading had ended, and so he stands. "Divination magic is ... fickle, from my experience. Less so, scrying. But to truly divine the future ... I don't know of anyone who has such an ability." And with the Veil broken as it is -- the hole in the sky he spoke of earlier is proof of that -- he's not sure anyone from Thedas should even try. The blush at his compliment gets a smile. And he remembers something. "Ah yes, I almost forgot. Do you have a fee? I would hardly expect advice to be given away for free."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly. "It is fickle. And sometimes more trouble than it's worth." She giggles softly and then slowly moves her amber gaze towards Dorian. "Hmm? A fee? I don't charge money for something like this. I already took some of your time and let me see something interesting. For me, that's payment enough." She smiles softly. "Oh perhaps a bit of extra payment then." A playful smile crosses her face as she pauses shuffling and gestures with her sleeve towards the seemingly normal chair that Dorian was sitting on. It quickly loses it's color and melts into water, dripping and running down the solid chair that is rapidly melting. In a few moments, the only thing that remains of the chair is a wet spot on the sky blue rug. She giggles brightly! And then a few moments later, the water that was absorbed into the rug reemerges and stays on the surface as if the rug was made of plastic instead of fabric. The water then slowly reforms back into the chair and in a few moments, it's as if the chair never melted in the first place. Another bright giggle follows.
Dorian Pavus	The reaction to seeing the chair melt away is for Dorian to take a step back from the melting piece of furniture, pulling the arm closest to it up and across his chest. It seems as if the movement is half to pull the limb out of the way of any magical area effects that might result from this, and half to guard his face from said possible magical area effect. " ... Well, that's something," he comments. "I'm not sure what, but it's something." He seems to compose himself then. "As much as I'd love to ask you more about that ability of yours, I think I've taken up enough of your time today," he reasons. With a polite bow, he says, "Perhaps we'll meet again, Miss Ayako." He will be polite and wait for her farewell before walking away, of course.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako giggles brightly as she watches Dorian's reaction. "It is something, isn't it?" She sets the deck of cards back onto the table, floats off of her chair, and curtsies in mid-air towards Dorian. "Well then, perhaps the next time we meet or happen to speak to each other. Good night, Dorian." She smiles softly.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nestles back down onto her pillow-covered chair and picks up the deck of tarot cards on the table with her sleeves. The absentminded shuffle. It's one thing she's learned to do. Although she is actually paying close, careful attention. Her tarot cards aren't made of water after all. And she definitely wouldn't want to damage this old gift that she was given! Her amber gaze turns upwards at the night sky. Stargazing. Even though this night sky is far different from the one where she is from.
Tomoyo Daidouji	Jogging through the fields of Spring, making sure to stay on the dirt paths and to avoid the scampering animals is Tomoyo! Clad in a running suit, lilac with white stripes down the sleeves and legs with matching running shoes, she seems a little short of breath, but is still going at it, pushing herself! Shortly, her run takes her towards Ayako and her little setup. Coming to a stop, she slumps down, placing her hands on her knees and gulps down several deep breaths before speaking. "H-Hi Ayako~... hah... hah..." With a small sigh, she stands up straight again and fishes out a handkerchief to wipe her face. "Phew... what are you doing her? Must be something amazing, with an outfit as lovely as that~" Even when exhausted, she still has an eye for fashion!
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako blinks her eyes slowly when she hears someone jogging on the dirt paths. Odd. That's not usually something one hears at this time of night. And then she spots Tomoyo as she makes her way over to her very blue fortune telling setup. She smiles warmly at her. "Hello Tomoyo~!" The deck of tarot cards is placed onto the table as she waves cheerfully with a sleeve. The water spirit floats off of her chair and over to the exhausted girl. In a moment, she produces a bottle of cold water from her sleeve and offers it to her. Ayako giggles softly. "Oh? I'm doing some fortune telling with my tarot cards tonight. It's... something I do once in a while when I'm in the mood." She blushes lightly when Tomoyo compliments her on her outfit. "Oh, this? Eh heh heh... I... well. Thank you very much." A slow spin follows so that Tomoyo can get a good look at her fortune telling outfit. "So... would you like me to tell your fortune?"
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo accepts the offered water eagerly, gulping down several mouthfuls before stopping. Her eyes take in the table and the cards, and she manages a tried-sounding squee. "Oh, fortune telling~! I've spent so much time with Sakura, I forget that other kinds of magic cards exist..." When Ayako offers to read hers, Tomoyo seems to consider it seriously for a moment. What if Ayako actually can see the future, and she doesn't like what comes up in the cards? But then again... it sounds really amazing~ Also, it would give her an excuse to stop running for a bit. Eventually, she nods and takes a seat, beaming. "I would love one~!"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako giggles softly at the tired-sounding squee. And then flaps a sleeve dismissively. "Oh, magic cards? These are just plain old tarot cards. They aren't magical. And I don't have any sort of magic that lets me divine the future anyway. I just do it because it's interesting." She gives Tomoyo a soft smile as she floats back to her pillow-covered chair and settles back down onto it. "Oh, you would? Well then! Please. Have a seat and cut the deck please." Ayako nestles back into the pillows of her chair comfortably.
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo goes to take the cards... before pausing. Looking at her hands for a moment, she fishes some wet wipes from a pocket and uses a couple to wipe her hands clean and dries the palms on her pants before finally taking it. "I would hate to ruin them with sweaty hands~" she explains, her stamina already coming back. She then begins to shuffle! She's quite quick and precise at it, hours with needle and thread giving her nimble fingers. Soon, she has them nice and mixed, placing them back on the table for Ayako.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako cheerfully watches Tomoyo shuffle and smiles softly at her consideration before doing so. Once the deck is handed back to her, she closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Five cards are swiftly dealt in front of Tomoyo in the shape of a cross. "Well then. These cards will be your fortune." The extremely long sleeve of Ayako's dress moves over to the card closest to Tomoyo. "First. The past." The card flips over to reveal The Sun, upright. Ayako smiles softly and nods her head once. "Cheerful, optimistic, and full of the energy to do the things you wish to do."
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo nods, bouncing slightly in excitement as she watches as Ayako deal out the cards in a cross spread. She stares as The Sun is revealed and listens to the explanation. "Hm... I think I'm still pretty cheerful and optimistic~ But..." She rocks back and forward gently, thinking back to how she used to be. "... I have mellowed out a little bit, I think." She gives a satisfied nod, and smiles at Ayako. "Not a bad thing, of course~ I've become a little wiser as a result. At least, I hope so~"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly and nods her head once. "Nothing wrong with that." Her sleeve reaches over to the card on the left of the cross. "Now... this card represents the present." The World, upside-down. "Hmm..." The amber stare of the water spirit goes straight towards Tomoyo's eyes. "Do you feel like you've hit a wall? A slump? Trying to figure out just what exactly you wish to do next?"
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo watches as the next card comes up. Upside-down. "Uhm... that's usually not good, right?" She looks up at Ayako, catching her staring intently. She actually flinches a little at the water spirit's question, nibbling her lower lip. "Uhm... well, maybe a little bit." She gestures at her running suit. "This is all well and good, I understand why it's necessary... but it's so /slow/, you know?" She sighs, and shakes her head a little. "And then I hear about the likes of Kazusa, who happened to be in the right place and became amazing instantly... it makes me a little jealous, I guess." Looking down at the table again, she twiddles her thumbs. "And uh... my mom issued an ultimatum recently. She was worried that high school was 'too easy,' and really wanted to test me. To make sure that I'm not letting my Boutique to get in the way of my academics, she's giving me a test she designed herself, drawing on university entrance exams in doing so." For a moment, she goes silent, before lifting her head and smiling. "Ah, but its okay~ I'll, uh... I can do it! Academics always came easily to me, and all this running and the like will pay off eventually!" She clenches her hands into fists and pumps them as a sign of enthusiasm, albeit a bit of a forced one.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako turns her stare down a notch to avoid creeping out Tomoyo, and smiles softly. "An upside-down card typically reverses the meaning of the card. It's not necessarily bad." She shakes her head slowly and then listens quietly. Her head nods slowly when Tomoyo agonizes over how slow things are... and then nods quickly when Kazusa is mentioned. The ultimatum makes her blink her eyes quickly. "I... I see." She notes the forced enthusiasm and smiles softly and comfortingly to Tomoyo. "I do hope that you get what you wish for, and if you need my help in some way, please don't be afraid to ask." Her amber gaze slowly returns to the cards. "Well. With that in mind... I wonder what your immediate future is." Ayako reaches over for the card on the right side of the cross and flips that card over. Death, upright. "I... huh. An abrupt change. One that makes you more aware of yourself."
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo rubs the back of her neck sheepishly as Ayako offers her condolences. "Ahh... I'm sorry Ayako. You just came out here to do something for fun. I didn't mean to dump all that heavy stuff on you. I hadn't told anyone before now. I guess it was bubbling up inside me." She can't help but flinch again as the next card comes up. She knows from somewhere that Death doesn't always mean actual death, but still... "A big change huh? Well... here's hoping it's a good one~" She giggles, already bouncing back from that unhappy tirade.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly at Tomoyo. "No need to apologize, Tomoyo! Trying to help people is also why I came out here to fortune tell as well." She nods her head slowly. "Here's hoping it is." She hesitates for a moment... but then resumes. "This card, represents the future." Ayako's sleeve flips over the card closest to her. The Tower, upright. Ayako flinches visibly. "I... Uuu..." She just whimpers. "This card means something extremely unpleasant." She just leaves it at that. Because what can you say about The Tower?
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo smiles softly, and nods to Ayako. "Thank you. You're very kind to try and help." She watches intently as the next card is revealed and... well, she doesn't need to be told that it's bad news. A tower on fire, being struck by lightning. Collapsing as people fall from its heights. Yeah, clearly not a very happy card. She just gives a tiny nod, and gestures for Ayako to continue. Not a lot to say now.
Ayako Hasekawa	It takes Ayako a moment... but she regains her composure. She looks quickly to the card in the center. She really, really wants to flip that card over. Right now. But of course, it's not her decision to make. "Tomoyo... that card in the center is a card of guidance. Normally, I'd give a warning about seeing what it has to say, but... with this fortune? I... I really want to just flip it over right now." She shakes her head once. "But. In the end, it's your choice. After all, the advice can be taken the wrong way and make things worse."
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo stares at the centre cars, hands curling and uncurling in her lap as she mulls it over. "Well... apparently, if this is all real, some big change will happen, and then something horrible... I think I need all the advice I can get." She smiles wanly, and nods to Ayako. "Go ahead."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head once and flips over the card in the center of the cross. Strength, upright. "Ah." She smiles softly. "Tomoyo. Kindness and patience. Persistance and effort. Inner strength is what will help you the most." She nods her head slowly. "An abrupt shortcut to power may appear. But it may not be what it seems. You have to remember that true strength is something that comes from within. It may be slow in coming. It might not be immediately satisfying. But it will be your own. Coming from you. Made by you." A gentle smile is given to Tomoyo.
Tomoyo Daidouji	Tomoyo actually looks away for a moment as the advice card is flipped. Almost worried there would be a card that suggests there was no hope for her. But, instead it offers some good advice. "Mmm..." She scratches her cheek with an index finger and smiles sheepishly. Well, at least she is smiling. "I suppose I have a lot of those virtues," she says finally, murmuring a little. Finally, she nods, and stands up. Taking Ayako's hand into both of her own, she gives a firm handshake. "Thank you, Ayako," she says, seemingly genuinely thankful, despite the heaviness of the reading. "Ah, but I should be off~ I haven't hit my quota yet, and I have school later! Goodbye Ayako! Again, wonderful outfit~" And then she's off, jogging away with head held high.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles as Tomoyo relaxes and smiles sheepishly. She shakes Tomoyo's hand back cheerfully. "You're very welcome, Tomoyo!" She nods her head once. "Ah. Run safely! And see you later!" And of course, she blushes again when Tomoyo compliments her on her outfit!
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako slowly recovers from the blushing... and then breathes a sigh of relief. Her gaze returns to the cards face up on the table. It was a harrowing fortune-yet in the end, a good one. She slowly gathers the cards on the table and shuffles them back into the deck. The shuffling doesn't last for very long, though. A glass bottle falls out of one of her sleeves and is quickly popped open to put the deck of tarot cards into. Once securely inside the bottle, said bottle vanishes into her sleeve once more. Ayako floats off of her chair and stretches! Even though she has no muscles to stretch, it's still a habit she has from imitating humans for so long. "Aahh... that was a satisfying night... Thank you once again, Spring, for being such a gracious host." The water spirit does a gentle twirl in midair with her sleeves sweeping about. "And so... good night~. Until next time~." She giggles brightly as she and her fortune telling setup dissolve into the seeming nothingness of water vapor.