Scene #771: A Water Spirit's Fortune Telling

Owner	Pose
Ayako Hasekawa	Sunset. Usually nothing special without a clear view of the horizon. However, the orange sky gently mixed with darker blues creates a picturesque scene here in Autumn. Doubly so as amongst the orange leaves on the ground is a large spot of deep blue that matches the sky. The source of the blue is one Ayako Hasekawa, idly shuffling a deck of tarot cards. A soft sky blue mat of some unidentifiable cloth decorated with dark blue roses and equally dark blue embroidery is smoothly placed on the ground with a few freshly fallen orange leaves on its surface. On the cloth mat is a round table covered with a dark blue tablecloth decorated with midnight blue roses and black frills on the edges. A pair of cushioned chairs decorated with black lacquer and dark blue cushions face the table on opposite sides. Ayako herself is sitting on one of the chairs and said chair has a large amount of pillows of varying blue colors on it as well. Several pale blue flames float in the air around the mat, giving off a pale blue light.
Gaius Van Baelsar	Why would the Imperial Legatus be out here and not on his mighty garlean warship? Simply because it was under going some checks and the men had a bit of leave during that time, which means that Gaius Van Baelsar also had a moment to remind himself what it was like to actually be a 'person' and not a 'commander'. This brings an ad to his hand of someone who does 'fortune telling' and the Legatus nearly huffs at the idea. Those who believe in the false gods of the twelve have one who 'weaves' the future and knows all. Though he doubts such would be true here and like all things-- he doesn't believe in such mysticism to be true. Yet, it was an amusing thought and one that couldn't hurt to examine. After all, the Multiverse was a large and fascinating place. Not all the rules of his world applied to other places after all. So this brings Gaius Van Baelsar to this location, at this very time. Yet instead of being in his heavy armor, the Legatus is in more civil of clothing. More correctly, the most played down he can be from his title, rank, and privilege. For the fifty four year old is wearing a towns-folks light beige shirt with the v collar that has the strings rather loose, a pair of leather finger-less gloves, jeans, and a pair of dark brown leather boots that are calf high and folded over slightly. He also has a scabbard at his side with a regular sword, but on his other his a flintlock of some kind. His skin is slightly tanned, with his hair coal black, though some grey is starting to show around the temples and through parts of the hair itself. His eyes are gold in color and he has a bit of a five o'clock shadow over his face. Physically he is still in rather prime shape and one who seems to take very good care of themselves, not much of the way of fat seen and more muscle still. When he arrives though, he takes notice of the large wolf, who speaks perfectly. Yep-- Multiverse is a strange place. He honestly doesn't know what to think of all that is around him. From Ayako herself, to the table, to the chairs. For now he just-- takes in what he can of the area. OOC NOTE: None have ever seen Gaius outside of his armor, beyond his own men and those who work closest to him.
Bigby Wolf	Ah, Autumn. The brisk wind, the delicious smells. Bigby needed this. Padding through the woods, the damp, dead leaves are soft under his paws as he lopes under the trees, just enjoying the break from the stink of humanity in the big cities he's scouted so far. That is until he tops a hill and pauses, raising his nose to the wind. He smells... something. Not human, not quite, but... not belonging among the other scents, either. Curiosity may have killed the cat, but not being a cat he feels no compunction at all about slipping quietly through the underbrush and prowling up clower to the source of the smell. And so, some minutes later, an absolutely ENORMOUS black wolf emerges from the trees, ears pricked forward in interest, his yellow eyes reflecting the pale blue of the eerie flames. And he asks, in perfectly intelligible human speech, "What're you, then?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako honestly doesn't react to the sudden sight of the extremely large black wolf. Although she does set the deck of tarot cards onto the table and then nestles comfortably into the pillows she has placed on her chair. She giggles brightly and raises her right sleeve to her mouth to obscure it. "Oh, me? I'm just a stray water spirit in the mood to tell fortunes with my tarot cards. That's all." Her body slumps down in her chair... she seems comfortable! "Sooo?" A playful smile crosses Ayako's face and her sleeve gestures over to the deck of tarot cards on the table. "Care to have your fortune told?"
Bigby Wolf	The wolf pads closer, warily, his nose twitching. At this range there's no mistaking the smell, but it's more confusing than enlightening. She just smells like... water. Which would make sense, since she just introduced herself as a water spirit. Well, at least she's telling the truth. Bigby walks up to the table and regards the cards dubiously. "The last time someone told my fate," he growls softly, "she said I'd be killed in three days. It didn't go well for her after that." Nevertheless he sits down, his big, bushy tail sweeping around his paws. "She wasn't wrong though," he muses, which is odd because he's clearly not dead. And, he supposes, all bets are off now that he's in the multiverse. A sneak peek might be useful, if it's accurate. "What's your price, water spirit?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako winces slightly when the wolf mentions that 'It didn't go well for her after that.', "W-well, you shouldn't hurt the messenger you know." She shakes her head slowly and then smiles. "No price other than your time, your name so that I don't have to keep calling you by various odd words, and... that you cut the deck." She very quickly adds, "And by that I don't mean to cut the cards into pieces!" A soft sigh follows. "I don't want to have to get another deck so soon."
Bigby Wolf	Bigby grins, showing his big sharp teeth. "Well in her case, she wasn't just the messenger. She was trying to get me killed." He lowers his head to examine the deck of cards. He doesn't really want to change to human form right here and now to cut the deck, as he'd be stark naked and people don't usually respond well to that. With a thoughtful grunt he decides he can manage it -- if a bit awkwardly -- if he's very careful with just the tip of one claw. "All right then," he agrees. "My name's Bigby. It's short for Big Bad," he adds in a casual explanatory fashion, still grinning as he nudges the top half of the deck off the bottom half with one paw.
Ayako Hasekawa	"Eehhh?" Ayako's eyes widen and she shakes her head, "How rude. Using something like that as a context for killing." Her gaze goes back to the newly cut deck and she nods happily. "That will work!" Ayako's head inclines to the side gently. "Eehh? Nice to meet you, Bigby. I'm Ayako Hasekawa. Please call me Ayako." She smiles softly and takes the deck-and her usual playful expression becomes serious. "Well... let's see what we have here then..." Five cards are dealt onto the table in the shape of a cross. "These cards represent your fortune. First, let's start with the past." Ayako's sleeve-concealed hand reaches over to the card in front of Bigby and turns it over. The Magician, upright. "Hmm... energy and determination. But quite vague without another card..." She glances at the card on the left side of the cross.
Bigby Wolf	Bigby gives a nod with his huge, shaggy head. "/I/ thought so," he agrees with the assessment of rudeness. His yellow eyes regard the cards curiously as they're laid out. He's messed around with the tarot set in the Business Office before, but it never made any sense to him. Even when he got the Magic Mirror to translate, he couldn't draw any more than the crudest of conclusions applicable to himself. Energy and determination, all right. That's kind of a gimme though. He's a predator. Of course he has those traits. He waits to see if the next card turns it into anything substantial. "...if there's anything about pigs and their houses in there, that was a LONG time ago," he remarks preemptively.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako inclines her head to the side gently. "Hmm... I doubt there's anything as specific as that." She smiles softly and then flips over the left card. Justice, upside-down. "Hmm... a life out of balance." She glances between the two revealed cards and thinks for a moment. "So you're basically happily going from place to place randomly without any real rhyme or reason to it?" Ayako smiles softly, "Although you don't seem to hate it or anything."
Bigby Wolf	Bigby grunts thoughtfully. "I wouldn't say that. I AM wandering around pretty randomly right now, but there's a reason. I'm scouting the Multiverse for my..." he's not really sure he can call them friends. Definitely not pack. People he's responsible for? "Uh, for the people back home," he amends. He has his own ideas about a life out of balance though. "Could that mean I'm too busy with one thing to take care of another?" Like, he ruminates, tramping around the city all the time trying to make everyone HAPPY when all he really wants to be doing is chilling in the woods. Preferably with a certain lady.
Gaius Van Baelsar	The man has been leaning against a near by tree as Bigby has his fortune told. He watches with some key observation on what Ayako is doing. Taking seeming great interest in how she lays out the cards on the table and what she has to say to the large wolf. His arms remain crossed over his chest as he watches, listens, takes in what he can.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako pauses thoughtfully. "Hmm... it might mean that as well. If you've been doing such a thing with a lot of energy, then certainly." She nods her head once. "Hmm... next is the card that represents the immediate future." Her sleeve flips over the card on the right of the cross. The Tower, upright. "E-eep..." Ayako shakes her head quickly. "Umm... Umm... Umm... more details... need more!" Her sleeve quickly goes to the card closest to her and flips that over. The Moon, upside-down. After that, she is simply silent and thinks quietly to herself, tapping her right sleeve against her right cheek.
Bigby Wolf	The Wolf raises an eyebrow, nevermind that wolves don't properly HAVE eyebrows, but the dark fur over his left eye shifts upward. "And what does that mean?" he asks simply. A beat. "If it's bad I can take it. I'm used to bad." But how bad can it be? The moon and wolves practically go hand in hand.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako hmms thoughtfully... "It is bad. The Tower represents a very unpleasent change, and the reversed Moon represents reality and-" She glances at Bigby again, as if she's just notcing that he's a wolf. "Hmm... that could be something too..." She nods her head once and glances at all four revealed cards. "You have a lot of energy, but are using it on things that are not necessarily good for you. In the future, doing such things will bring chaos and unpleasentness to your life, and it will bring out much more of your non-beast nature."
Bigby Wolf	"An unpleasant change in reality could mean that the Multiverse is going to be very bad for us, too," Bigby frowns, his ears flicking back defensively. He considers the water spirit's interpretation. He IS using a lot of his resources trying to keep Fabletown from splitting apart at the seams. And that does mean suppressing a lot of his beast nature. And that's probably NOT good for his personal sanity, but... Snow needs him. The Wolf lets out a stolid sigh, the breath that blasts out from his nostrils enough to make the cloth rustle and the cards shift incrementally across the tabletop. "Well," he states resignedly, "chaos and unpleasantness are kind of the order of the day /anyway/. Nothing new there, I guess."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako thinks to herself for a moment. "Hmm... I don't know if that's a bad fortune, or one that just says business as usual for you." She nods her head once. "There is one card left. It's a card of guidance if you want to change your path or go along it more smoothly. Although... it's easy to misinterpret and can be more harmful than helpful sometimes. It's up to you if you want to see what it is or not." Her sleeve gesutres over to the card in the center of the cross.
Bigby Wolf	"Might as well," the Wolf growls sardonically. "I mean we can't get much worse than chaos and unpleasantness anyway, can we?" Not like he's going to ACTUALLY do what some dumb cards tell him to do, anyway. Well, probably not. He's just curious. Really. But he fixes his eyes intently on the face-down card.
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius continues to observe, those gold eyes equally trying to see just what the hidden card may contain for the giant dire wolf. His eyes from the beast, to the water element and back down to the card. Even if all a hoax, it was interesting to watch. Not that if he had this done he planned to tell his men about it. After all, the Imperial Legatus playing in to mystics of seeing of ones fate from a man who believes he makes his own fate? They probably wonder who had taken their commander.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head once and turns over the center card, abeit with some hesitation. The Devil, upside-down. Her gaze goes off to the side as she thinks... "Hmm... this... means you need to let go of your obsession and gain some optimism. I'm not sure if that's something you want to do, though..." She looks up apologetically at Bigby, "Sorry Bigby... that wasn't much of a nice fortune."
Bigby Wolf	Bigby's eyes narrow. "How can I be optimistic if I have to give up everything I want?" he demands. Unless... the card is referring to some OTHER obsession. He sits back on his haunches, tilts his gaze up over Ayako's head and thinks on that for a moment. "Hmm," he growls softly. Then he stands up. "Eh, don't know what else I was expecting," he excuses her failure to predict power and success in all things for him. "Thanks anyway. Unless I find out you're another Fate-/Assigner/ and not just a teller. But I'm trying to be more optimistic," he softens the could-be threat with another toothy grin that... doesn't really help. "Maybe your next client will have better luck," he muses, glancing around for the first time to look directly at Gaius. Of course he knew he was there; this nose doesn't lie. Still he feels like he owes her /something/ even though she said the telling was free. "If you, uh, need anything blown down some time, let me know."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako shakes her head slowly, "I'm no Fate-Assigner. Besides, this fortune telling isn't set in stone." She smiles softly, "Your actions can and will change the future." A pause for a brief moment. "Hmm... well, if I got you thinking about things that you haven't considered before, I'd say this was worth the time." "Maybe... Oh!" Ayako looks over to Gaius. "We had someone watching? Hmmm?" Her gaze turns back to Bigby as she gathers up the face up cards and shuffles them back into the deck. "Oh, I'll keep that in mind! If you need any healing, let me know as well." She smiles gently as she shuffles the cards.
Bigby Wolf	The Wolf bows his head in a fair approximation of respect, casts Gaius another glance and a faint smirk on his muzzle that seems to say 'good luck, buddy' and then lopes off.
Gaius Van Baelsar	The Imperial Legatus right now just looking like a civilian, smirks ever so faintly. His gold eyes are fierce, but for now, they are showing the more gentle side. He looks back at the mighty dire wolf, before watching the creature head off, watching him for a moment, before looking back at Ayako. "I hope my observing wasn't to much of a problem?" The older man asks with a soft smile. Thankfully even his voice doesn't really give him away, thanks to the fact the helm itself just alters it slightly due to the reveb and such. He walks over to her and places his hand on one of the chairs. "I heard you read from the cards that could maybe see the future and I figured I would see what this was all about, for in my world-- we don't have such an art." Gaius then looks off to where the wolf had run off too, "Though marvelous dire beast, was he not? I do hope your readings for him bring him some peace, hm?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako quietly watches the extremely large wolf lope off and sighs softly, "I hope he'll be okay." And then turns towards Gaius. "Oh no, if he knew you were there and was alright with it, there's no problem." She absentmindedly adjusts a pillow on her chair. A gentle smile crosses her face as he approaches. "Hmm... well, 'maybe' is definitely the key word." Ayako continues to shuffle the deck of cards gently with her sleeves. It seems extremely difficult to do, with the cloth of the sleeves not allowing her fingers to directly touch said cards-yet she is doing it without dropping the cards. "He was definitely quite a wolf!" She smiles cheerfully and then inclines her head to the side gently. "Care to have your fortune told?" The deck of cards is gently set on the table. "Although... I do have to ask your name and a bit of your time."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius takes a seat, "I am curious yes." He admit as he leans forward watching her shuffle the cards and then lay them down. His hands clasp together as he looks at the cards then to her, with those gold eyes of his. When she asks him his name, he inhales deeply and then sits back. "My name is Baelsar Garlond." It was a half truth! As one name was the proper name, while the other.. the other he was borrowing from a very, very old friend and the child that was his godson whom in the end... ran away... Trouble was-- he was a very good lier, comes with the art of sabotage and espionage. "Ask me what you wish, my lady." Though maybe someone should tell him he can't lie to the cards.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako hmms softly, "I see... well Baelsar, please cut the deck in front of you." She smiles a gentle smile as she quietly watches him. Ayako isn't the type to suspect lies and half-truths. "I'm Ayako Hasekawa, a water spirit. Even though I look human, I'm most definitely not." She giggles softly and then quietly watches Gaius with her amber-sometimes golden gaze.
Gaius Van Baelsar	Baelsar gives her an equal smile in return before he goes to cut the deck. He reaches across but pauses, "How many times am I allowed to cut, Miss Hasekawa-- also that is a pretty name you have. In my world, the elements are seen by some as gods..so I'll make sure to give you equal respect."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako inclines her head to the side gently, "You may cut as many timeas as you would like. Or shuffle the deck yourself if you prefer. A-ahh... call me Ayako, please." She smiles softly and blushes lightly. "W-well, thank you very much Baelsar. This name means quite a lot to me." Her gaze then turns towards the side for a moment. "I-I'm certainly no goddess myself. I will return your respect, though."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius then picks up the deck when she says he can shuffle it himself and he does so. He cuts it three times, once in the center, in the center again, then slightly to the top. He then takes the one stack to the right and brings it back over to the left stack, combining the two, before he picks up the one he had in the center and then shuffles it all back together, making sure they lay perfectly together with no edges sticking out, before he places them back down before her. "Very well, Ayako." He then motions to the cards, "So.. what is our next step?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako carefully watches Gaius shuffle the deck himself and then cut the deck several times. "Hmm... definitely someone who likes to take their fate into their own hands I see." She giggles softly. Her sleeves reach forward and gingerly take the deck... and she cuts it herself while nodding once. "Now..." Ayako takes a deep breath and focuses, seeming to become serious. She swiftly deals five cards in front of Gaius in the shape of a cross. "These cards will be your fortune, Baelsar. First... your past." Her obscured hand reaches for the card in front of Gaius and flips it over. The Hanged Man, upright. "Hmm... deep thought and suspension. Perhaps a pause of some sort."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius watches what Ayako does, including how she lays out the cards, when she flips the first card. She listens to what says about his past a nods faintly. "If your cards are correctly.. probably my youth in the military.. I've had a long past though," He looks to her, "After all.. a great deal happens to a man whom is not only worked his way up to being a commander in a military.. but is fifty four."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako inclines her head to the side gently, "Hmm... it is a bit on the vague side... perhaps another card will elaborate a bit..." Her sleeve moves towards the card on the left side of the cross. "This card represents the Present..." The High Priestess, upright. "Hmm... intuition and secrets..." She glances at the two cards for just a moment... Ayako glances into Gaius' eyes. "You're lying to me somehow, aren't you?" She puffs her cheeks out in a pout. "Hrmph... well, whatever. You probably have your reasons. Still don't like it, though."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius raises an eye brow at the cards then at her, "Lieing, hardly. I can tell you simply that I am in the military and that one of my known talents is sabotage and espionage.. along with ferocity in combat." He tilts his head slightly, "Though curious that your cards are picking that up." So far, in truth, the only lie has been his name. If only Ayako realized she was speaking the man who has not only captured several times many of the Target zones, but also was the one raging the war on Eorzea. How much valuable intel she be gaining right now. "But I am sorry that some part of my nature is causing you offense," He says looking directly at her. "I honestly am."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako shakes her head slowly, "Hmm... well... if that's your job, that's your job." She glances down at the two revealed cards. "It certainly fits with what the two cards are saying." Her gaze goes back towards the card on the right side of the cross. "Well... enough of that... let's see what the immediate future card says..." Her sleeve smoothly turns it over. The Hermit, upside down. "Hmm... advancement and a speaking of things normally kept to oneself." Ayako inclines her head to the side gently.
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius leans back about then as she reads off his future card. "Advancement and speaking of things kept to myself hm?" He chuckles lightly, "There is very little room left in my culture to advance, given I am content where I reside." Which was also true. He was an Imperial Legatus, highest rank in the military and just under the Emperor himself. Though yes, he was the high favored of the Emperor, even with the haunting mistake that cost them so much early on in the war-- he never lost the standing. "Though.." he raises a brow bugged by it a bit. ".. Hm."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head once. "Hmm... well, perhaps the nature of such will be revealed with this card, the one that represents the future." Her sleeve reaches over for the card closest to her, which she swiftly flips over. Temperence, upside-down. "Hmm... dischord." She glances at the four revealed cards. "You are deep in the business of secrets after a period of self-reflection and pause. Soon you will likely discover something that you will feel must be brought to light, but in the process will cause a great disruption that may bring things apart."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Baelsar listens to what Ayako has to say about what is to come. His brows furrow and whatever presently was in those gold eyes nearly washes away with that look of the ferocity he is known for and the look worn by many soldiers who do not fear to kill in battle. "Interesting." He says softly before he closes his eyes. "I suppose if such a time should ever come," He hand moves off to the side. "I'll have to deal with it however I must." He then opens his eyes and they return to some normal life in them. "If at least I should believe these cards to be true." "Unless it speaks of something..." Nael..? The truth of Nael Van Darnus could be devastating on all accounts. Though the emperor knows the truth and many of the Legatus, those of the people do not and believed he died a hero.. not a mad man tempered by an Elder Eikon. Though what else.. and is.. he.. honestly believing this nonsense? Gaius then closes his eyes as he lean forward, resting his arms on the table, looking at the cards closely again. "Hm." Yes. He is a bit bothered by it. After all-- everything he loves and everything he gives is to the Emperor and the Empire "None of it bodes well, does it?" He asks looking at her.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako inclines her head to the side gently. "Hmm... well, that's all you really can do. If anything, at least it will make you think a bit about what you uncover." She shakes her head slowly. "It's not exactly a pleasant fortune, that's true." Her gaze turns towards the card in the middle of the cross. "There is that last card, though. It might guide you and prove helpful, but it can be easily misinterpreted and may send you off who knows where." She nods her head once. "It's up to you if you wish to see what it is or not."
Gaius Van Baelsar	The Imperial Legatus listens to what Ayako has to say and that the middle card could aid in this matter but also be misleading. He hrms softly and the corner of his mouth twitches just slightly. He rubs his jaw line a bit and then gives a shrug at his thoughts. Gaius goes to reach to flip the card himself but pauses with his hand in the air, unsure if he should be the one, or if she-- after all-- she has been so far, so what right does he have. His hand slowly then draws back, "..Yes... I would like to see it.."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles softly, "If you wish to flip it over yourself, you may." She nods her head once. "You certainly seem to be the type to grasp things with your own hands." Her gaze turns off to the side. "Not a lot of people are so brave to do something like that." The card that Gaius does flip over is The Moon, upright. Ayako sighs softly. "And the mystery just gets deeper. This card represents doubt, fear, and anxiety. Caution might be the best advice you can get from this card."
Gaius Van Baelsar	Gaius flips it and his hand slides away slowly as Ayako explains what it represents. He hrms softly. "I see." He then crosses his arms over his chest. "Not entirely to useful, aye? The darker and darker the hole goes and no light to be seen at the other end." He then chuckles softly. "Story of my life, at that. Always the one to create my own light in the darkness." He then shakes his head faintly. "I do thank you Ayako for taking the time to amuse me. It was-- interesting." "..To see an art form that is alien to the world I come from."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako sighs softly, "I'm sorry it wasn't a good fortune and ending with a fairly vague card as well." She nods her head quickly, "Oh, you're very welcome, Baelsar!" Her sleeves quickly clean up the cards, returning them to the deck. "At the very least, I hope it gives some food for thought." The tarot deck resumes being shuffled by her sleeves.
Gaius Van Baelsar	"It does, aye." Baelsar admits as he then goes to stand up. He then rests on the table a pouch of some kind. "Within it is some gold from my world. It can be melted down or sold.. your to do as you wish. At least one hundred coins." He then goes to step away from the table. "Take care of yourself Ayako," He then turns to face her and bows to her, "I hope we meet again."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako sets the deck down and waves her sleeves frantically, "Oh oh oh, there's no need to pay me." She smiles gently. "Ah. Take care of yourself as well, Baelsar." She gets up off her chair and onto her non-existant feet hidden by her long skirt. "I hope we meet again as well." An elegant, deep curtsey follows.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako floats back to her chair and sits back down on the pillowed chair. She stretches her arms outwards for a moment and then picks the deck of cards back up, resuming the shuffling of the tarot cards with her sleeves.
Eric Bane	Hard to tell what brought Eric here. Maybe he heard about the fortune-telling and came to get a reading. Or maybe he was just walking around. Either way, he's heading in Ayako's direction. Though it's kind of an uncertain gait, as if he's not really sure he wants to go over there. He's wearing the classic 'I'm up to no good' attire, too... a black hoodie with the hood up. Though the sleeves are pushed up to his elbows. A striped shirt can be seen under it, and he also wears a pair of jeans and sneakers, both black. There's a few odd things about him that are instantly able to be seen, and these traits instantly tip one off to that he's not completely normal. First is the ghostly blue eyes, second the strange pallor under his skin's normal tone. The third comes when he speaks. "...Hello," he greets simply. When he speaks it's clear his canine teeth are visibly sharpened.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles welcomingly to Eric as she sees him walking uncertainly towards her. She doesn't seem to care that he's wearing clothing that says 'I'm up to no good', nor does she seem to mind the sharpened canines. "Hello." She does however, seem to notice the ghostly blue eyes. "What nice eyes... we match right now." She giggles brightly. "Care to have your fortune told?"
Eric Bane	Eric gives a quiet, rather nervous laugh. "Heh... thanks." Pause. He's not really sure he wants to, truth be told. He's kind of afraid to. But since he's already here... He tilts his head, shrugging a little. "Sure, why not? How do we do this? Do I need to sit in a specific place?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako giggles softly and then sets the deck of tarot onto the table in front of Eric. "Oh it's easy." She gestures with her sleeved hands towards the chair. "Just relax in the chair," Then to the cards, "cut the deck, and... tell me your name so I don't have to call you strange nicknames." She giggles brightly and brings the sleeve back to her face to hide her giggling.
Eric Bane	Eric nods, and sits down in the chair. He's less than relaxed, but that really has little to do with the environment. However, he pauses as he reaches for the cards. His name? "Eric Bane," he replies. Yes, he's completely serious. After he gives his name, he gingerly reaches for the cards. "Just cut them? Or shuffle them?" he inquires.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako smiles cheerfully at Eric. "Nice to meet you, Eric. I'm Ayako Hasekawa, a water spirit. Please call me Ayako." She doesn't seem to find Eric's name to be strange or funny in any way. "Oh, that's up to you. You can do either, or both!"
Eric Bane	"Pleased to meet you," Eric replies. He picks up the cards, looking at them for a moment. Wondering. He hasn't really had much experience with tarot cards. So he... shuffles them like a deck of normal cards. It's a little harder, because they're bigger than a deck of normal playing cards, but he's a little stronger and his hands are a little more dexterous thanks to his being a vampire. He does this twice, then returns them to Ayako. "Is that good?"
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly. "Oh yes, that's good!" She gently takes the deck of tarot cards and cuts the deck one last time. Her eyes close and she takes a deep breath, trying to focus. "Alright... let's begin then." Ayako swiftly deals out five cards in a cross shape. "These five cards will be your fortune... first... let's start with the past." Her sleeved hand reaches for the card closest to Eric and flips it over. The World, upside-down. "Hmm... something is incomplete and it is causing great distress."
Eric Bane	Eric makes a bit of a face. "...Yeah. That's accurate." That's all he says on the subject, though. He doesn't seem unwilling to talk about it. There's no stonewalling attitude. So he might just answer if asked about it. He really just doesn't want to burden her with more information than necessary.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head slowly, "I wonder what it could be... but maybe the present card will tell me more?" Her sleeve reaches over to the card on the left side of the cross, which she slowly flips over. The Devil, upright. "Hmm... the card of earthly desires binding someone." She glances at both revealed cards and thinks for a moment. "So what is incomplete in the past is casuing you to be horribly bound, making you pessimistic or like you just can't change." Ayako sighs softly. "I hope you can get through whatever is binding you." She smiles softly at Eric.
Eric Bane	"...I can't remember," Eric replies. Pause. He takes an unneeded breath, exhales it. "...I was turned into a vampire. Partly. The change isn't complete. And if I don't finish it, I'll... become something horrible. It's better if I don't go into to much detail. But I don't remember who did it... or anything before waking up, except my name." He smirks a bit, mirthlessly. "So... I think it's pretty accurate so far."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako's eyes widen. "A-aahh... a vampire, huh. But incomplete... Hmm... then you'll... I see." She nods her head slowly. "I hope you can manage to finish the process then." Her gaze then travels to the right card of the cross. "This card... is for the immediate future... let's see what it says." The sleeved hand reaches over to the card and flips it over. The Chariot, upside-down. "A-ahh... well... that's not nice... This represents a loss of faith and motivation."
Eric Bane	Eric winces a bit. Still he nods. "That's accurate too. I might have a way to solve the problem. But I've tried twice and it's failed both times." Doubtless causing him no end of consternation. And a loss of faith and motivation too, likely, given that so much is at stake.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako quickly reaches for the card in front of herself. "This card, represents the future..." She swiftly flips it over. Temperance, upside-down. "Wha... Oh geez... a life out of balance..." Her gaze looks towards the reversed Chariot and then winces. "This... this is despair." Ayako then quickly shakes her head. "No no no! There's always something you can do!" She looks quickly towards the card in the center of the cross. "That card in the center is a card of guidance. Normally, I kind of hesitate to flip it over, but... in this case, I really do want to flip it over without asking! But it's still your choice. It might lead you astray but... it's better than despair..."
Eric Bane	Eric's starting to get a bit of an idea how all this works, if the card's upside down, it seems to mean bad things. Though, it's what he expected to hear, honestly. He didn't expect a lot of happy in this fortune. So he's quite prepared for seeing Temperance upside-down. Which he voices, though with a sigh, "That's... kind of what I expected." There's never been a case like his that hasn't ended badly, even if he's lasted longer than any other in his situation. As for the last card? He nods. "Go ahead. Flip it." He's expecting something else bad, and steels himself for it.
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods and flips over the card in the center of the cross. The Star, upright. "Ah. Hope. That's what this card represents." She smiles brightly. "Don't let your past failures get you down. Keep looking for a solution, be it the one you've been pursuing or if you find new ones. If anything..." She nods her head once, "This card says that hope still exists for you, so... don't give up, okay?" Ayako smiles a cheerful smile.
Eric Bane	Not as bad as he thought. The corner of his mouth pulls up into a half-smile. "I'm told that if I can find a vampire old and powerful enough, that I might be able to stop what's happening to me. There are vampires in the Multiverse, and I hear they're a lot more powerful than the ones where I'm from. And there's someone who can temporarily ease what's happening. So... I have options open still," he assures her. "I can't give up. Because of what I'll become if I don't. It'd spell disaster for everyone around me."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head quickly and smiles softly. She collects the face up tarot cards and shuffles them back into the deck. "Eric, don't forget that hope is rarely one thing. It can be a lot of things. Be sure to keep an eye out for other ways to cure yourself from what's ailing you. All the same, though..." She smiles brightly, "Do your best, okay?"
Eric Bane	"I honestly don't know that there /are/ any other ways to fix it," Eric replies. "The only other solution that I know of would be... a little too permanent for my tastes." He probably doesn't need to say what it is, she can very likely draw the correct conclusion. "But," he says as he stands. "I'll consider all my options, when the time comes. That 'thrown out of balance' in the future could very well be what happens if I make the wrong choice. Could only be a warning." He does know that tarot results have a broad variety of meanings and interpretations. Pause. Small smile. "But thank you."
Ayako Hasekawa	Ayako nods her head once and then smiles happily. "As long as it gives you hope and makes you think about things... then I'd say that wasn't a wasted fortune! Oh, you're very welcome, Eric! And good luck!" She sinks comfortably into the pillows as she leans back into her chair, lounging around.