Ace of Cups
#1
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ooc: Saint Croix Highlands, noon. | wc: 341 sans lyrics


The mighty storm had finally passed, and left in its wake a reward for survivors. The coastline was littered with flotsam and jetsam, driftwood and seaweed and all manner of things from the ocean. For several days after the hungry siblings were able to eat well. Fish were strewn across the sand, having perished in the turbulent water or simply been tossed onto dry land by the wind. Cosette and Clopin had camped on the beach, building a fire and roasting all the fish they could eat. But now their windfall had turned sour -- the flyblown carcasses were too rotten to risk consuming anymore, and they had to move on to fresher things.

The sun was high in the sky, though it did not impart much warmth. Autumn was underway, evident by the tones of brown and grey creeping into the grass, contrasting the occasional sharp orange and red of the tree leaves. The highlands were sparsely forested, and Cosette edged closer to her brother, made uncomfortable by the wide open spaces. They grew up in the city, and this wilderness was almost painfully lonely, the silence broken solely by the whistling of the wind. Clopin threw his cloak over her slim shoulders, welcoming her proximity. They were both aware of the traces of wolf scent, and knew if they kept traveling north they would soon find a pack. They were counting on it.

Cosette abruptly tipped back her muzzle, belting out an old Cajun folk song her mother used to love. She hated silence, always feeling the need to fill it even though Clopin would never hear her. Her voice rang clear and high, betraying her young age.


"Allons à Lafayette, mais pour changer ton nom.
On va t’appeller Madame, Madame Canaille Comeaux comme moi.
Petite, t’est trop mignonne pour faire ta criminelle.
Comment tu crois, mais moi, je peux faire, mais moi tout seul."

She continued into the second verse, as Clopin's pale eye scanned the hills around them. They did appear to be completely alone, but Cosette's voice had been known to attract others before, and he wanted to be ready for them. She was probably hoping for the company and the chance to show off, but he was less eager to meet strangers.







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#2
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Pride didn't go as far from Anathema this time. Her lust to wander had been dampened somewhat by her experience with Inferni. Being threatened by kin and then caught in the hurricane had both been enough to convince her that staying home would be nice and peaceful. She did leave a short distance away to clear her head. Pride wasn't so eager to get involved with the pack right now. She talked big, but her attempt at diplomacy had been an utter failure. She wanted to make sure that she knew what had gone wrong before she explained herself.


Walking through Pride lifted her head as a clear voice echoed through the forest. Keeping to the shadows Pride pulled her cloak close and walked through to investigate. She didn't leave the shadows when she did come across them, a pair of dogs that were quite clearly enjoying themselves. Well, the female was at least. The male looked more wary. Smiling Pride tilted her head, nodding to them both. It's a lovely day for a trip. Your voice is beautiful. I could hear it from some distance away.



table by the Mentors!

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#3
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ooc: 8) | wc: 415


Trees gave way to open hills, which gave way to another copse of forest. Dappled shadows were cast before them through the colorful leaves, some of which fluttered to the ground as the siblings passed them by. It was not until Cosette's loud song drew to a close that their audience member made her presence known -- a pale-furred female of coyote descent, greeting them with a polite smile and nod.

Cosette's dark eyes swept calculatingly over the female that addressed them, before she sharply elbowed Clopin in the ribs, making sure he too had noticed their visitor in the shadows. It was a lone female, similar in height to Cosette herself and perhaps just a season older, which immediately set her at ease - surely she was no danger, outnumbered two to one. The white of her fur was of a purer quality and sheen than the collie siblings, devoid of color save for several small flaws, imperfections of a sallow cream hue. The cloak concealed most of her body, possibly a weapon or a need for disguise? The timbre of her voice was calm, someone confident enough to reveal herself when she had been perfectly hidden -- she must not see the dogs as a threat, despite Clopin's size. Better play to her ego, then.

Cosette pranced lightly forward, sweeping into a curtsey as her bells jingled. "Why, thank you kindly, merci beaucoup! My brother and I are but penniless vagabonds, but perhaps we can ply milady with a song, or read her fortune? My voice is free, a gift to lighten your burdens on this fine day." She winked, smiling brightly. Behind her, the plumed tail flicked in a calculated gesture, signalling Clopin to move. Silently, the masked male bent to unclip the holster on his belt, pulling the deck of Tarot cards and calmly shuffling them. His good eye carefully watched the stranger, wary of what the cloak could conceal since he wore one as well.

"If you would like a glimpse of what your future has to hold, the cards require a small payment - a meal, or an object of value. You would not have us starve, milady!" Cosette frowned in mock dejection, loose ears flopping forward as she clasped her hands dramatically. She did not expect actual pity for her playful act, but rather to lull the stranger into assuming she was in control of their encounter. She was quite curious to see how the coyote would react.









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#4
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Both dogs looked at her before they truly acknowledged her, sharp eyes noting that they managed to study her without truly giving it away. They were more clever than they would choose to appear then. Pride's tail wagged, intrigued by the pair. The female that pranced up jingled as the bells in her hair moved. Pride usually chose things that were more silent, not caring to draw attention to herself in such a manner. They were either great fools or stronger than she thought they were. Pride was leaning towards them being stronger than they appeared, as their actions did show that they knew how to hide their true nature.


The bright words brought a smile to her face, enjoying the show of thanks and courtesy. Pride wanted to believe that it was real, even though she knew that it was unlikely. They were probably just playing her. The female had a very convincing voice though. The play entertained her, Pride tilting her head. She didn't have anything but her cloak and the knives that she wore for protection. She certainly wasn't about to give up either. Pride couldn't stand the direct light. I could tell you your own fortune as payment. Calmly she held out her hand. Pride wasn't much of a fortune teller, but she knew how to lie, and she had played cards in the past to pass the time waiting for night.



table by the Mentors!

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#5
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wc: 308


Cosette blinked in surprise, a mischievous grin teasing its way onto her muzzle. Was this a challenge? The young coyote had intelligence in her calm, pale eyes, and Cosette felt a ripple of pride that her acting was still holding the stranger's attention. "If milady is also blessed with the clairvoyance to read the cards, she would know a deck will only respond to one reader," she stated carefully, tilting her head in an almost cocky gesture. It was nonsense, of course, but a common superstition among true fortunetellers. "And I would hate to give a false reading to one such as yourself, simply because the spiritual energy was disturbed by your touch! I would never turn down a fellow diviner of the future, though -- are you privy to other talents, such as reading palms?" She offered her own hand in response, tail waving a lazy rhythm behind her. The cloak must be hiding something, and perhaps she would get a closer look this way...

Clopin was too far behind to read his sister's lips, so the deaf dog could only follow half of the conversation. He could see his sibling was having fun, though, and that was what worried him. She had arrogance and competitiveness in her, and if she faced a kindred spirit she could easily make a mistake or get too carried away. Usually if she could not work out a deal for a card reading, she would quickly move on to pickpocketing, coming up with some excuse to get close to the target. Clopin could not stop her without giving away her actions, but it made him anxious whenever she put herself in danger. He cleared his throat as he toyed with the deck in his hands, quietly reminding this coyote that he had his eye on her in case things turned sour.







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#6
The surprise in the dog's eyes pleased Pride. She had caught her off guard, a rather entertaining result. Pride was making this up as she went along, just doing what she could to tease the dog and perhaps get what she could out of them without having to pay a single cent. The mischievous grin that flashed in response egged her onward, both of them willingly dancing around in this game. The refute wasn't one she'd expected, as Pride had little knowledge about fortune telling. She would just have to pretend that she hadn't meant using the cards at all.

The female willingly gave her a tool to escape the slip up, and a chance to study her more closely as well, if she could take the other's hand. I can. Pride took the palm, careful to remain in the shadows and out of the light. Up close she could see the callouses on the hand, though they were not as many as one who was talented in fighting. She had gained them in another way. You've traveled far from the south. Pride's nose was telling her that much, picking up the various smells on them. Your journey shall only grow more difficult however. Luck is a fickle lady, and she is charmed with you for now, but soon shall slip away. Your search for payment won't be as fulfilling as you wish.
#7
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wc: 631


Cosette smiled approvingly as the stranger accepted her small hand. She discretely inspected the coyote's scent as she was speaking -- she didn't detect any food or supplies underneath the cloak, and it was clear this canine had been traveling, as there were quite a few distinct odors in the fabric and her fur. If she wasn't a pack member herself, the coyote had recently visited a pack of some sort, or so it seemed. Interesting. Clopin remained impassive, but Cosette nearly laughed aloud at the palm reading -- not that it was at all unconvincing, she really did a decent job, but because it sounded like another challenge; the coyote was brazen to tell her she would not receive payment. Her dark eyes sparkled with mirth, and she nodded, bells jingling. "That seems quite fitting, though I must hope Lady Luck does not desert us so soon! Have we reached a difficult territory?"

The question was an innocent probe for information, and as she waited for a response, Cosette turned her back and waltzed to Clopin's side to snag the first two cards from the top of the deck. Most of the cards had simple paintings of humans on them -- built like an Optime Luperci, sometimes heavily clothed and sometimes nude, but always without fur or claws or any distinguishable markings. They were interesting to look at, relics from a different age, and when Cosette had been first learning to use them, she had read that they had a history spanning more generations than she could fathom. It was fun to show them off, but she did have to be careful not to lose them; goodness only knew where she could find a replacement deck here in the frozen north. She'd probably have to draw them herself.

"With these two cards I can tell you what I know of you. I see... Justice, and the Magician," she said, holding the two cards up for inspection. The Justice figure wore a red robe and held a sword and measuring scales, and the Magician held a candle lit from both ends and wore a belt of a snake eating its own tail. This was too easy, two Major Arcana! She had memorized their associations and symbolism first, since they were often more important to a reading. "These are both powerful cards, milady, you must be someone of importance. Justice speaks of balance, cause and effect, a double-edged sword. The actions of your past reflect in your future, for better or worse. And the Magician speaks of power, confidence, transformation. Life is under your control, and only you can transform your failures into successes."

Cosette paused for dramatic effect, dark eyes inscrutable. Now, the trick was to use the vague definitions of each card and combine them with the knowledge she had of the subject so far. The coyote seemed to value control: wanting to steer their transaction in her favor, as well as remaining in the shadows to make the dogs come to her, and not volunteering her name. She would identify well with both cards. "I would say... you are always very conscious of your actions, deliberately choosing those to best benefit you. You are confident in your judgment and skills, enough to act alone. Power and control motivate you, milady." That seemed apt from what Cosette had gathered so far, best not to push it any further. She smiled primly, watching the expression in those pale eyes -- was she correct, or had she guessed too much? It was easy to lose someone at this stage, but Cosette was cocky in her charisma; most people were curious enough to stick around for the full reading.

"If you'd like to hear more, perhaps we can discuss an exchange of information...?"







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