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Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2022 10:03 pm
by Thomas
36th Searing, Verant, Daravin 4618
Despite himself, Thomas was starting to not hate Daravin. He'd been raised to believe it was a nation of squabbling, power-hungry mages that regularly had mundane people clapped in irons, raped, or murdered for so much as looking at them. He had no doubt that these things happened, perhaps even every day, but so far he had seen precious little of it. Mostly, the people here were similar to people everywhere: a bit ugly, a bit desperate, a bit bored, and ready for a fun evening to distract them from the everyday mundanity that characterized their lives. He didn't begrudge them, this; he was happy to oblige and do his bit to make it an evening that the fine people of Daravin enjoyed.
He'd been particularly nervous about his portion of the carnival because in other parts of the world, he'd be playing up the occult aspects of his character, suggesting to people that he was using some unknown magic to peer into the future. Chronomancy, perhaps -- he didn't know what it did, but it had chrono right in the name, so it stood to reason. In any case, he was careful not to ever make that claim in Daravin, where for all he knew most of the citizenry regularly farted out ether, as suffused as they were with magic here. It helped that the little traveling carnival was nowhere near prestigious enough to capture the attention of any powerful or noteworthy Entente, as well, and the ones who did show up seemed to understand that this was for entertainment instead of an extremely accurate prognostication. That didn't stop them from asking their questions, but they were more arch about it, which Thomas could appreciate.
For his part, he tried to give them a show. His crystal ball was actually quite a marvel for a place as technologically backwards as Daravin, and the way the glow of the light hit the celestial symbols painted onto the cloth walls of Altair's tent was pretty, at least. Also, he knew quite well he was not bad to look at, hence the artfully skimpy costume of clothes that weren't quite any one style enough to be placed as belonging to a particular country or ethnicity. Besides, he was placed toward the back. By the time most of the carnival patrons found his tent, they'd had ample opportunity to get drunk, take in juggling, tumbling, and acrobatic acts, have some salty, sweet, or rich foods that made people want to drink more, and dance in the dancehall tent; usually the most popular attraction by far.
Still, in Verant as in Valtoria, Thomas -- or Altair the Clairvoyant -- had no shortage of customers. Whether it's because they wanted to see what he'd say, see if he'd flirt with them, or see if something more was on offer, he wasn't sure, but he wasn't complaining. He got to keep a reasonable portion of his take since so much of his setup was provided by him, and the ringmaster of the carnival had taken a shine to him from the first time they'd worked together. As people wound their way around the carnival, he kept an eye out for anyone who seemed drawn to his tent, trying to assess what they could want from him.
Reading someone started by watching their gait, their mannerisms, and their posture, after all, and the best time to watch people was when they weren't aware. So even while he completed readings, he kept one on the crowd, trying to glean what he could. On this night, a very tall, slender gentleman towered over the crowd. Slender and reserved, he reminded the actor of an Aspen -- he found himself wondering how he was getting along, as he was clearly quite alone despite being in the midst of a crowd. As Thomas finished up another reading, providing warm counsel to a besotted young maiden, he locked eyes with the man and smiled. Perhaps he'd stop by, later if not now.
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 12:56 am
by Degare
TIMESTAMP: 36th Searing, ???? / 23:27
NOTES: -
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Degare had always loved visiting carnivals as they passed by, especially those hosted by people not local to Daravin. Despite drifting through crowds of people, the man was almost always granted some modicum of personal space– he was evidently Entente from his attire, as well as being quite tall, even for a Sil’norai. Despite his thin frame, he still managed to intimidate the masses with the simple threat denoted by his status. His face was shrouded by a hood, leaving only the lower portion of his visage distinctly visible. He wore shifting satin robes with intricate layers of expensive looking fabric. It was often worn alongside a cape that draped forward over his shoulders about halfway down his chest, split in the middle. Down the back, the cape extended to about his ankles. Primarily black, though in direct light it would appear to shift between cool reds, purples and deep blues. In darkness, it would look almost like he was a moving shadow, though his distinctly pale hands remained visible unless pocketed.
Under normal circumstances, the man would carry himself quite tall with elegant posture; his strides would be long and graceful as he’d walk. However, on this evening, there would be visible differences to this norm. For one thing, it had taken him quite a while to make it to this end of the Carnival. It was late, and he’d spent much of his time here indulging himself, though not so much more that he would be noticeably breaking Candor…not that it was likely anyone of note would come across him here. An astute observer would notice the effects of alcohol on his steps, tall as he still stood. A gentle sway to his gait. Now, he decided to take a moment to pause, to take in his surroundings as he thinks about exactly where he wanted to wander off to next. As his amber gaze moves around the area before him, he notices a scantily clad man– appears to be a fortune teller– looking in his direction.
The elven mage makes mental note of the sign above him, ‘Altair the Clairvoyant.’ A soft smile paints itself across his face. ‘This could be fun…why not…?’ The words slide through a mind that’s a little bit past tipsy. ‘Plus…the man is pretty, something nice to stare at…regardless of whatever he says.’ Slowly, the elf weaves himself through the crowd of people towards the other man. It would look rather funny– people would almost appear to get out of his way on their own, as if parting a sea.
Now seated in front of the supposed clairvoyant, he pulls his hood back a bit, though not down. The other man would be able to see the entirety of his face at this point, though onlookers still wouldn’t due to the angle he was sitting. He was quite pale, even for a Sil’norai, making the soft, pearlescent filigree that adorned his features easier to pick up as the light would flicker across his features. Additionally, one would note the presence of leaden veins creeping onto his jaw from his neck. At the moment, they were faint, especially nearer to his face, but would be visible on his neck and on the tops of his hands intermingling with more of the ethereal tattoos. He brings his hands up to the table before them and laces them together politely. “What kind of services do you offer here, exactly,..?” The question floated from the mage’s lips with a gentle smile– voice low, smooth, velvety. His expression is polite overall with an amicable demeanor.
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'Thoughts'
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Raillen Tongue/Speech"
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 2:09 am
by Thomas
As Thomas continued to watch the tall man, the fine details of his clothing and degree to which he was covered up made it quite obvious: this was a member of the Entente. That explained the posture and regal bearing. He wasn't just tall and elegant, he was used to being obeyed. Also a bit drunk, or he had balance issues, but given that almost everyone at the carnival ended up at least tipsy, Thomas was betting on the former.
It was amusing to watch people get out of the tall man's way. Daravinians were quick to pick up on the tall Entente's intent, and to gracefully part before him. The three people who had all been queued up didn't even look at him; pretending that they were distracted or not in line for Altair's services at all. He followed their lead and pretended not to notice the flagrant line cutting. It was apparent that this was how things were in Daravin, and while he couldn't imagine living under such a system any more, he was not here to start a revolution. He just wanted some farthings.
When the other man allowed him to see what was under the hood, Thomas didn't react. Altair was supposedly clairvoyant, so it would follow that he already knew. He did look, just not with overt interest: a handsome man, tall and almost cadaverously thin, with the leaden veins and long ears of a Sil'Norai, which rather explained the height. Thomas had been out of Starkwayte long enough to know that Sil'Norai were largely just like humans, albeit taller, paler, and sometimes more romantic. Still, to assume that the man would be here on a matter of the heart would trivialize him and reduce him to the flat storybook characters that had occupied some of his youngest years in Lady Ryan's Home for Wayward Children.
"You honor me, my Lord, with your patronage of my humble tent," said Altair, bowing in his seat. "I offer insight and clarity into what troubles you with the aid of my crystal," he caressed the crystal ball lovingly, and used the foot pedal to make it throw off a brief bloom of light, as though it were responding to his touch.
When he did so, the stenciled moons and stars glittered and glowed, throwing odd shadows on everything in the tent and letting the man take in a more illuminated look at Thomas' physique. Clad as he was in a too-small red cap, a purple vest that nominally covered his torso but mostly accented his physique, and long white pants cut to balloon oddly before ending at the knee, a fair bit was on display. He didn't mind. The aim was to satisfy customers, and this was one to do it.
"I cannot guarantee that what I can bring to bear will be superior to what you have access to here in Daravin, my Lord, but I am happy to do my level best for you. You need merely offer up a modest sum of farthings per query. I will answer as many as you wish to ask. I'm yours until you wish to depart."
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2022 3:39 pm
by Degare
TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: -
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The mage was, of course, skeptical of the man's legitimacy as far as if this was any use of magic. However, even if this was nothing more than parlor tricks and performance art, the elf wouldn't be bothered. Every little stall or tent he stopped by that evening was for the same purpose– his own personal amusement. So long as he was entertained, he thought, it was worth the time and money spent. As he listened to the other man speak, he wore a pleasant, if a bit amused, smile on his face. One would also notice a subtle amount of color having diffused across the man's features; this was very likely due to the alcohol imbibed prior.
Ruby-flecked amber eyes shift around the walls of the tent when the lights and reflections of the crystal ball appear to kaleidoscope before him. In his present state and positive mood, he was quite easily entertained, especially by pretty boys…and how pretty this one was. When the other man had finished speaking, he lifted one of his hands and rescinded it within the folds of fabric that adorned him. He withdraws what appears to be a fairly ornate wallet and sets it on the table between them. With a soft exhale and a light laugh, the mage speaks. “Ah…so how many per question, then…? I’ve plenty,” his voice is level, though both his tone and phrasing are meant to imply that he’s not the most stingy with his money. “For my first question, however…”The man trails off for a moment, as if taking a few beats to think about it. “Try and divine for me,” between these words he gesticulates vaguely, hands moving lightly in front of him, “...something simple. Let’s say in the next five years, do you see ruin or triumph in my future?” The question was asked with a bright spark of interest behind his amber gaze. The elf really had no reason to expect any particular answer from the man before him…he was simply curious to hear him say, well, anything. To some degree, he just wanted to stare at him while he spoke.
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'Thoughts'
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Raillen Tongue/Speech"
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2022 2:23 am
by Thomas
The man had either been too taken by the tent, or by Altair, or both, to notice the clearly posted signage advertising his rate, but Thomas didn't mind. He merely smiled and bowed low.
"For you, my esteemed Lord, the cost will be a mere trifle, I'm sure: 10 farthings for your initial question, and 3 farthings for each additional question. Complicated or multi-part questions count as multiple questions, but as for your first: it can be difficult to say what will definitively be the case five years from now. For some folks, it can be difficult to say what will be the case five days from now, for that matter, let us see what your future holds, however."
Altair began to move his arms sinuously, incidentally allowing his arms, chest, and abs to flex as he did, while Thomas' foot controlled the pedal on the crystal ball, making it glow and pulse. As he did so, Thomas watched the man from behind Altair's mou of concentration. It was interesting to think about what motivated the man to ask this question. Five years would likely not be so much for a man of his means and species, so it was more likely that he was asking because something was missing, or he felt stuck. For this reason, after about a minute and a half of showboating, Thomas lowered his arms and placed them on the table, near but not quite touching the glowing crystal.
"The future, my Lord, does not plot a linear course, but it not so random and chaotic as many imagine it. From what I have seen of yours, five years from now, you will be in much the same position as you are now. You are neither thriving nor decaying. You simply are. There are, of course, outliers -- branches of your future that show you becoming the head of a kingdom here in Daravin, or of falling ill and dying, to use two extreme examples. These seem unlikely to me, though. My prediction for you is that in five years, things will be much the same. So, I would ask you: does that constitute ruin, or triumph?"
Altair smiled mischievously, looking up at the Lord through his lashes. He meant no offense, so hopefully none would be taken.
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2022 6:15 am
by Degare
TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: -
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The Ferrier smiles as the man lists him the prices. Indeed, he had not paid enough attention to his surroundings to see the sign where they had been written. It would appear that he is still oblivious to such a sign. Perhaps it is his impaired senses…or perhaps it is simply that the man before him has caught his gaze enough that he'd prefer not to look at anything else. Nonetheless, such a price would be rather easy for him to cover even if he didn't care to do his math right. In all likelihood he'd just loosely guess and overpay.
Almost as soon as Degare had finished asking his question did the man begin his performance. The Veir appears pleased to simply watch the other man move before him. He truly was a lovely showman, if nothing else, weaving unnecessary yet alluring flexes of his musculature into his movements. Much as there are undercurrents of hypocrisy and hedonism running through the lives of the Entente, such things must be conducted in secret. As such, many do not have the opportunity to vent their desires with much frequency, and with how…conservative everyone was expected to act and dress, desires often find themselves…suppressed. This makes even simple pleasures like watching a man exist half naked are far more pleasing to the eye than they would be to an ordinary individual.
The mysterious fortune teller maintains the Ferrier's rapt attention even as his movements slow and throughout his speech. At first, he smiles, eyes drifting closed as he thinks about how he wants to respond for a few brief beats. Eyes floating open, "An interesting question you pose. I've lived the past, hm…twenty? Years or so in stagnation, so truthfully, what ruinous burden would it be to endure five more of the same? Though I will admit…something within me does hunger for excitement. I suppose that it would be only mildly disappointing, although not much is lost so long as I keep building myself and my magic, even slowly," Degare muses these thoughts to the complete stranger. Perhaps he is prone to oversharing, perhaps the alcohol is causing him to simply not care, or perhaps he is revealing details about himself so that the other man can give more interesting answers to future questions.
Granting the other man a more impish sort of grin, "Do you think it would be worth it for me to, perhaps, begin taking more risks? I have been living rather reclusively…hard for anything to happen when one rarely leaves one's own estate unless obligated," he asks a question and then muses more vague statements about himself to the other man.
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'Thoughts'
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Raillen Tongue/Speech"
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 12:13 am
by Thomas
Another easy question. This one did not merit any additional sinuous motion, as it was fairly easy to answer, but he knew better than to just answer directly. Where was the fun, the theater, the drama, in that? People could answer their own questions if all they wanted was commonsense advice. Altair could provide something a lot more spectacular, or at least something that was much more of a spectacle.
So he leaned forward to almost touch the crystal, his hands weaving patterns in the air around it as though grasping at some invisible ribbon, he punctuated the motion with a steady glow from the crystal, giving the tent the low, cold illumination equivalent to a few pillar candles. This question, he finished almost immediately. He'd already made his mind up before he even began. The Entente was not here to hear a boring, safe answer.
"My Lord, time is not a linear course, but something akin to a many-branching river. You may branch out through many tributaries and find yourself right back on the course upon which you have been along if you are not careful. Should you open yourself up to more risk, you may find yourself further afield from the safe, stagnant course that your life currently charts. As for whether this is worth it: in this humble fortune teller's opinion, a life where nothing is ventured is a life where nothing is gained. Unless you are already sublimely happy and at peace, it may be necessary to take some risks to gain more of what you seek, whether that be riches, power, or a companion in your bedchambers," Altair said with a wink.
Thomas was interested, despite himself, in the stranger. Tall, brooding, rich, odd -- a puzzle and a prospect all in one. Perhaps that was leaking into Altair's dialogue unintentionally.
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 10:03 am
by Degare
TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: -
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Amber eyes drift down to the crystal ball as the lighting shifts, watching the other man's hands as they move. If the Ferrier let his vision unfocus enough to blur, he could let flashes of strands of ghostly blue ethos floating in the air clip into and through the hands of the fortune teller. Though only he could see such a thing, it was nonetheless beautiful in its ephemeral nature. There was always some of this ethereal silk no matter where you were…the mage often found himself tuning it out, so to speak. If he wasn't fully aware of what he was seeing, it would almost look as if Altair was channeling some type of magic himself.
He exhales a bit harder than usual, needing to dispel the ashes rising in his lungs. An unfortunate defect of one of his mutations, that. Ashes seem to gather within his respiratory system and if he doesn't take the time to manually exhale them, he would choke. However, this actually had a rather pretty effect in the light of the crystal ball, especially since any ashes exhaled by this specific Ferrier would come out with a crystalline sparkle and translucency. They'd glimmer like faerie dust in the cool light dancing around the tent. He smiles a bit at the effect,"Sorry– it's…not dangerous, I assure you. Just…a bit of a quirk of mine," he explains with a soft laugh, though he doesn't appear at all embarrassed.
Shortly thereafter, the fortune teller does indeed answer his query. Though vague, it was still an answer that simply encouraged what he wanted to hear. Plus, the other man had a nice voice…just listening to him speak was worth it, in a way. At the coy suggestion of companionship, Degare gives the other flirtatious smile. "I am happy…but not perfectly so. There are pieces missing, yes…I do think you've helped me decide risks could, perhaps, be worth it. I feel like I must if I want to push myself to greater heights with my magic, regardless…but aside from that, are there any branches of the river you can see benefitting me in the near future? Regardless of how much of a deviation from the norm they are, I think I'm willing to take chances." His coquettish expression and tone of voice seemed to underscore more licentious implications behind the Ferrier's rather simple question.
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'Thoughts'
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Raillen Tongue/Speech"
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 1:23 pm
by Thomas
Thomas was momentarily transfixed by the sparkles. They seemed to be coming from the querent, somehow -- exhaled from his breath? He knew this had to be some kind of magic, and he'd have to trust that it wasn't fatal. He was scared and uneasy, despite himself. He'd grown up with magic being seen as taboo, or beyond taboo, really. Taboos were sometimes practiced behind closed doors, or something one paid a discreet servant to do. Magic was just anathema. Here in Daravin, though, magic was everywhere, and sometimes it sparkled. He decided to trust the other man that it truly was harmless, because what choice did he have. Also, it was rather pretty.
When he came back to himself, he realized the noble was hitting the ball back. Definitely an admission of interest, and he wasn't doing anything when he finished for the evening. Also, the line behind the tall Entente was growing. So he smiled, tongue flicking out for just a second; long enough to see the man's eyes follow it.
"I can think of a great many things, my Lord, that could enrich your life. Rather than charging you for them one at a time, however, perhaps we could meet again to discuss things in greater detail? Somewhere more private. While I have no desire to see you go, the line outside of the tent may grow restive if I am tempted to let you tarry here for as long as I wish to keep you."
With any luck, the Lord would either see fit to wait until the carnival closed in a few hours, or would deign to send him a means of conveyance to his lodgings. It had been quite some time since he'd slept on a nice bed.
Re: Ice Cold Reading
Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2022 2:13 pm
by Degare
TIMESTAMP: -
NOTES: -
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Seeing the fleeting notes of panic on the other man's face at the sight of the ashes made him laugh a little. It was a mixture of amusement alongside feeling only a little bit bad for spooking him. "Really, they're just…a modification to ashes. I'm sure you've heard of Ferriers and the funeral services they provide? I am one. Ashes are something I interact with frequently; because of this, they collect in my lungs. I have to force them out sometimes, lest breathing gets rather difficult for me. They're completely harmless." The elf spoke rather casually of his magic, being that he was used to doing so since…nearly all of his acquaintances and anyone closer were mages themselves. He didn't know how much the fortune teller knew about Ferriers and the principles of Bane, but most people had at least heard of them due to their end of life services.
When the other gathers himself and speaks, Degare returns a playful smile. "Ah…that can be done." As he speaks, he pulls a seemingly random amount of coins from his wallet and slides them across the table. When counted, the sum is roughly double what he owed for his questions but it's clear by this gesture the mage doesn't care that he's overpaid. Once he does this, he retracts the wallet back into the fabric of his clothes and then pulls out a small pad of paper and a pen. He has a great many things in a great many magical pockets. Capes really are wonderful! He quickly writes something in a fairly elegant script, then passes it to the other man. It was the address to his manor as well as basic instructions on how to get there from here. "When you arrive, ask for a valran named Drazik. He'll guide you to the right location." The mage winks as he pockets his things and stands. "I look forward to seeing you again," words spoken as the tall, elven figure pulls his hood forward and turns to leave.
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'Thoughts'
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Raillen Tongue/Speech"