Green had fired off a text fairly early in the morning, inviting Dave to come by so they can talk shop. Still wanted to hire him, after all. It's later, now, at whatever time was arranged, and Dave will find the shop fully open, the lights on, and Amanda Green herself moving about,
moving boxes, clearing some space away from one of the walls.
Today, Green is not dressed in one of her cute dresses. And while there's surely make up, and while her hair is pulled back into a perfectly made ponytail (with bangs left to whisp about), she's definitely dressed down. She wears black chuck taylor sneakers, tight black jeans with tattered knees, and then a Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness sweatshirt. Because it's still so dang cold in Vermont!
Dave comes inside and glances around at the new place. He grins to no one in particular as he walks further in. When he finds the shop owner, he cleans his throat to call her attention and waits. He's wearing tight black pants, simple black t-shirt, black sneakers and huge black marks around his red eyes. Not that his iris are suddenly red. No. But they look like the man had a terrible night.
"Welcome to Majes-..." Green starts to say, as she's turning around to see who might have entered. She finds Dave, wearing a whole lot of tight close. Her eyes flash a touch wide. "Oh! Dave... Blimey, are you alright?" she asks, as she steps forward towards the man. "We can do this another day, if you're... unwell," she says to him, as she moves forward. She's not moving to actually go and grab him or any such, but just closer, so she can inspect the apparent damage.
Oberon picks his phone and writes down a message. This time, the phone talks the written message."I'm sorry. My sister died last night." The machine says in a weird synthetic voice.
Green stops, and now her eyes go wider. "Oh," she says, her voice faint this time. "Oh, Dave, I'm so sorry for your loss..." she murmurs out. "That's awful. Awful news. I'm so sorry," she says, then there's a pause, and Green gives a quick look around, then focuses on the man once more. "Well..." She starts. "We can do this another day, if you'd like to go. Otherwise..." She pauses. "Care for a cup of tea?"
Dave writes down something else on his phone and gives it a command to talk again. The device says:"A tea would be good." The man, then only gives the shop owner a polite, but sad smile.
"There's nothing in the world that a cuppa wouldn't make at least an itsy bit better," Green declares, her own smile polite and small. She steps around him, first, to go to the door and flick the lock. They're closed now, apparently. Then she turns and gestures for the man to follow after her. She heads for the back, to a door marked 'Employees Only' and opens it. She then starts up the stairs.
Dave waits and then follows Green upstairs a few steeps away from the girl. Once upstairs, he glances around slightly curious. He then types and his phone voices:"Is this your house?"
"House...?" Green asks, a touch perplexed, as she glances back over her shoulder. "No, no, this..." She glances back around the room, and a smirk crosses her lips. "This is the artist's lounge," she says, gesturing to the spray painted wall. "It's also a break room, for the shop. A place to come relax. And, soon enough, I'll be hosting some events here. Concerts, meetings, poetry slams, whatever's needed," she explains, as she moves into the kitchen. Oberon can watch as Green starts to work, filling the electric kettle, getting out the teapot, the tea bags, tea cups, all of it.
Dave nods and finds himself a place to sit close to the kitchen. There, he watches as the girl prepares them tea. After a little while, his device says:"My sister was a wonderful singer. A famous one. Kerrigan." The name is known (Fame 2) among those connect to the media and music world. Dave then discreetly dries his eyes as he turns away to avoid being spotted.
Fortunately, Green's not looking at the man. So he can cry some without her seeing. She just busies herself prepping tea. "Kerrigan... Desrochers, yes?" she asks. "I've heard the name, fairly sure... yes, sounds familiar. She was a mortician, yeah?" she asks. "Might I ask what happened?"
"Yes. She worked at the Nightngale Mortuary. I don't know the details, but she was killed." The synthetic voice talks while the man tries to stop his tears.
Green pours boiling water into the pot, with the tea bags, and then caps it. She covers it with the tea cozy, then turns back around to face Oberon. Now, there is a small, sympathetic frown on her lips. And Green is clearly aware this is a sad event. Yet there's no gushing, no tears, no attempts to hug or comfort. For all the things this woman is, 'warm' is not one of them. She steps over to the table he's taken a seat at and slips into a chair. "I don't have any siblings," she offers, in a faint voice. "I don't really understand what it's like to lose one."
Dave frowns."She was my little sister. My parents used to say she was my responsibility. Now she is gone and I could do nothing to protect her." The phone says after the man typed his message."I don't know how to explain it to you. Losing someone you love, I mean. But I think it's like losing a part of yourself."
A faint from tugs at the Brit's lips as he explains. She gives a nod. Sympathy is plain on her face. "I can imagine," she says. She probably can't, but there's nothing about her that isn't so very well polished and put together. If she says it, it must be true! "Sorry. I hope you can find out more..." she murmurs out. "Though, Dave... you can't blame yourself. She was an adult, yeah?"
Dave nods at that last statement from the british girl. Then, he takes a deep breath and writes down a message that his device translate into sound. It says:"I'm really sorry for bringing this to you. Do you want to talk about business now?"
Green considers the man for a long moment, never once looking to his phone as it speaks for him, but instead focused on the man himself, then gives a nod. "Certainly," she says. There's a quick smile, then she turns and slips back up, to go for the tea pot. "The stage there," she says, gesturing over her shoulder. "Needs work. I've all the pieces, but it needs to be assembled and secured. Then I need some speakers hung," she says. "Don't imagine it's terribly hard work, but... need it to look nice. And not collapse," she says. She turns back around, and sets the teapot on the kitchen table. She follows up with the sugar bowl, two cups, and then a small bottle of milk, directly from the refrigerator.
Dave looks at the place where the stage is going to be and nods. Upon seeing the table being set, he heads to it, but waits on the girl to take a place first. Meanwhile, he writes down:"If you have the tools, I can start it right now. But if you don't, I need to go pretty quickly home to pick my tools and then come back."
"I've a... what's the doofer called..." Green says, giving a flap of one hand, as her attention is focused on pouring milk into one of the tea cups. "The battery powered drill?" she asks. "And I've some screw drivers. But not a saw, or anything seriously useful, no." Milk poured, she pours the hot tea over it. No sugar for her, she just sits right back down, and looks up to him. "Hiring you for your tools, as well as everything else," she explains, with a faint smile.
Dave grins as he takes a seat after the girl."I can come after lunch, then." His phone says. Then, finally, the man starts serving himself tea. No sugar/milk to him. He tastes it briefly and grins."I think I can finish it in two days or so. You can pay me when I'm done. Once I start, I'll have an idea on how much it'll cost you, alright?" His phone says.
"All right," Green echoes, with a nod. "Sounds about right. Besides this, I've some shelves that need hung downstairs. Didn't decide on them until the crew that set everything up was long gone," she explains. "But that's just lifting and drilling. Bit too short, or I'd do it myself," she says. Then a pause. "Short and weak," she adds, with a sweet smile. Then she sips her tea. "Any luck finding work, besides?"
Dave grins when the girls points out she's too weak and too short to do heavy work by herself."I can do it as a bonus. For the tea." His phone says."I had an audition at the Green Theater a couple days ago. I think they liked my performance. I played 'Viva la Vida' on violin. Besides that, I'm going to play on the opening of a local art gallery and at a private party of a rich dude."
"The Green Door?" Green asks, then gives a little nod. "I just met Franklyn the other day... the production manager, there," she says. "And auditioning with Coldplay... that's... bold," she says, her eyes flaring wide. There's a moment's pause, then a little wave. "Think it's the art gallery just a few buildings down," she says. "I try to keep up with everything here, but... I miss a thing or two." She pauses. "Is the 'rich dude'," she says, copying his phone-spoken words. Surely she's never say 'dude' on her own. "A man called Logan?"
Dave nods to that last question and thumbs up."Yes. That one." The synthetic voice of his phone tells."He's a nice person." It adds a bit later. Then, the pretty man sips from his tea again before typing one more message."Are you an artist too? Or just a patroness?"
"I'll be interviewing him soon," Green offers up, about Logan. Just an aside, before she's staring at him. Thinking. Contemplating. "Mmm..." Is her initial response. "Artist... is one of those words. What does it even mean?" she asks. "I write. I've published a novel. Is that art?" she asks. "I also play... piano, mostly. And I can sing, of course. Choir since I was five years old..." There's a pause, then she gives a small wave of her hand. "And I paint and draw, but I'm not sure any of it qualifies as art," she decides, all so humble about it.
Dave then shakes his head lightly as he smiles. Then he quickly comes up with a message to the girl in front of him."You're more artist than I am. We should come up with a dueto at some point. Piano, voice and violin. I can try to sing too, but I'd need some time to train. It's not my forte."
At that suggestion, a whimsical little smile crosses Green's features. "I usually only play in an effort to seduce lovers," she tells the man. "And if I'm to understand the situation correctly, I do believe you prefer anatomical features I am lacking," she tells him, that silly smile remaining in place. "Besides, you can't even talk. How will you sing?"
Dave arches a brow in a light surprise. Like one that is caught lying. But it only last a second or two."I'm recovering. I had a issue in my voice." The device says."I'll be good soon, I hope. And yes. Sorry about that. You lack a few details." When the machine tells the last part, the man smiles widely looking a bit shy now.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire," Green says, then tuts at him. Properly scolded, British style! "But, you may keep your lies, Dave," she says, with a faint little sigh. "Anyways, I might play for you, some day. Maybe." She shrugs. "Unrelated to being lovers, of course," she adds.
"Sorry for lying. Truth is much more complicated." The synthetic voice says as the man looks a bit nervous."I'd love to see you playing one day. I can play to you too if you want. Or you can come see me playing at the Riverside Market. I usually play there. In the street. To get some money and train my abilities."
"Words are very... unnecessary. They can only do harm," Green croons out, a taste of her actual singing voice. She's grinning at the man. She continues on, but these next lines come out more like spoken word poetry, rather than a song. "Vows are spoken, to be broken. Feelings are intense, words are trivial, pleasures remain, so does the pain. Words are meaningless, and forgettable," she finishes, as she stares directly at him. Yes, it's a song. And hopefully the man has heard of Depeche Mode! She smiles all the while. "I'd rather enjoy you playing," she says. "Just for me, so I can selfishly hoard it all," she tells him. Then a pause. "And if you ever wish to stop lying and uncomplicate your life... well. I've a way of making things easier, Dave."
The sound of the mesmerizing voice of the girl makes Dave freezes. When she's done, he stands up and applaudes while smiling brightly. A second later, he quickly writes down:"You're so amazing! Your voice is like dreaming." The synthetic voice says plainly and emotionless. But the man remains standing still with that brightness in him."If you have a violin around, I can play to you right now. But regarding my complicated life, how could you help me out?"
When he rises up to applaud, Green just rolls her eyes, and looks away, and blows out a huff, but she is smiling all the while. She's amused. "Stop pissing around, Dave," she says, as she looks back to him. "My voice is better than most, but decidedly worse than anyone who would actually claim to be a singer," she insists. She then gives a shake of her head. "No violins," she says, easily enough. But then, that last question. A single eyebrow ticks up. "Do you believe in God, Dave?"
Dave arches a brow again surprised by the sudden religious questioning."When I was young, my parents used to take me to the church. Me and all my siblings. But they gave up after my older brother managed to put my sister's dress in fire in the middle of a ceremony. I used to keep praying before bedtime. When I was a teenager, I tried a few other religions, but none of them kind of fit me for real. Until one day I found this really old diary in my grandmother's room. She said it was from grandmother. It was about paganism. I used to call myself an wiccan after that. But then I reached adulthood and I stopped caring about religion at all." The boring synthetic voice explains.
Green is infinitely patient. With a proper cuppa, a Brit could sit literally forever. It was in their genetic code. When the phone finishes reading, she flashes a smile. "Well," she responds. "What if I went and got my tarot cards?" she asks. "And we make believe it's all real?" she offers up.
Dave grins at that and thumbs up to Green's suggestion."Let's see what the cards have to say about my future, then." The device says.
Green gives a sharp nod. "Going to get the standard Rider-Waite... that other deck got weird," Green mutters out. Then she rises to her feet. "Back in a moment," she says. Then she turns and heads off, down the stairs. He can hear her steps. It's only two minutes before he can hear steps again, as she's coming back up. In her hand, there's a small package - her deck - wrapped in purple silk, with a black cord tying it shut.
Dave sits back again and waits patiently while drinking his tea. When the girl comes back, he looks at the tarot deck and grins."I hope the cards tell me I'm going to get a nice house and a nice god." He jokes.
Green steps right back over to the table, and sits back into her chair. First, before she does anything else, she splashes more milk into her cup, then pours in her tea. She slides the tea pot and the milk and her cup aside. The deck is then set in the middle of the table, and she unties it, then unfolds the silk cloth. She carefully takes up the deck - which Oberon would likely surely realize is quite old - and starts to shuffle. She's careful with it, taking her time. "Have you done this before?" she asks. Shuffling completed, she sets it down, back in the center of the table, on the silk cloth. "You can cut the deck, or just touch it. Whichever you prefer."
Dave gives the whole ritual its proper respect and puts aside his own cup of tea and straightens himself on his seat. Once asked, he nods and gestures a 'one'. Then with that same raised hand, he touches the deck gently and watches the girl in front of him.
Green gives a quick nod, as she watches him. "So, we will keep it simple. Three cards. Past, present, future. Each one points towards the others, each one requires the whole picture to understand," she murmurs out. "Our goal is find where you are meant to be going, but this is all very subjective. You'll need to be honest with yourself and with me, if I am to help you," she tells him. She stares for a long moment, then takes a breath, and closes her eyes. Her hands come to press together, and rub gently. She's still, besides her rubbing hands, for a long moment. And as she is, Oberon can almost surely feel the energy in the room changing. It's probably just his nerves, right? That little tingle up the back of his neck? Surely, just his nerves...
GAME: You spend 1 Willpower
-> >> Green to Here << <-=============================================
Rolled 3 Successes
< 1 2 4 5 7 7 7 8 9 10 >
==========================-> >> Intelligence + Occult [No Flags] << <-
Dave only nods and remains in silence during the girl's preparations. He remains still all the time, even when that weird sensation comes to his skin and that ambience of occultism and magic settles in in the room. Patiently, the pretty man just waits.
The little Brit is still and quiet for what might well be a whole minute. Then, finally, she opens her eyes. She looks to the man, holds his gaze a moment, then goes for the deck. She takes the first card up. "The past," she announces, and flips it over.
The card features a slightly odd scene, but likely makes sense after a bit of staring. Five young men, each one holding a stick, and they appear to be play fighting with them. "The five of wands," Green announces, and reaches out to tap the little Roman numeral V there at the top. "These boys are playing with sticks, but it's all very orderly and friendly. They are all happy," she explains. "This represents competition and struggle, but usually amongst a small group. Amongst friends, perhaps. The competition is all very timid and organized and safe," she explains.
"Here, in the past, this card is almost surely represents some activity or group you were actively partaking in, and doing your best to follow the rules," Green explains. "But in doing so, you've found your energy and your efforts wasted. You don't stand out. You don't move up. You are a rather forgettable one amongst many," she says. "The card suggests, of course, that it has already happened. You've broken away from the norms and made yourself stand out," she adds. Then there's a pause, to make sure the man understands, at least somewhat, before she moves on.
Dave's eyes go slightly wider when the girl starts talking. There is a real surprise now in his face and a touch of fear. When the divinator shuts up, he nods very slowly and briefly and waits for the next card curiously.
Once she has confirmation to continue, Green turns over the next card. This one features a cloud, with a hand coming from it. The hand holds a sword, and on the sword is a crown, along with a palm and an olive branch. It reads 'Ace of Swords'. "The present," Green declares.
She waits for a few moments, allowing Oberon to read the card, to feel the card, then she starts. "Rather direct, this one," she says. "The crown is above the sword," she tells him, as she points. "And from the crown hangs the palm of victory, and the olive branch of peace. The crown, here, is wisdom and the mind. The sword and the hand are might. This card represents mind over might," she explains. "And here, in the present position, is talking about your now. At present, you've been thinking more than fighting. Exercising your will and self control. Not resorting to anger or violence. And for this work of yours, you are finding peace and victory," she tells him, all so matter-of-factly. She pauses, again.
Dave listen carefully the divinator's words and takes some time to digest what's been said. When he thinks he's ready to continuing, he nods lightly to the girl in front of him and waits for the last card. The one that he is really looking for.
Again, Green waits for some bit of acknowledgment from the pretty man. Once she has it, she gives another nod, then reaches out. "The future," she whispers, her voice carrying with it a chilly energy, one sure to make hair stand up and people gasp. It would be nearly impossible for Dave not to realize something is happening in this room. Perhaps Green's just incredible of a showman?
The card flips over, and it reveals something quite elaborate. "Oh," Green says, blinking a few times. There's a modest surprise that crosses her features as she eyes it. She looks to Oberon, then back to the card, then back to the man. She clears her throat. "The Chariot," she declares. It says it, right there on the card.
Green looks back down, at the card. "The man... a king, or a ruler, rides in his chariot, pulled by two sphinxes. One black, one white. They represent the balance of dark and light. On his shoulders, two guards, one showing a smiling face, one frowning," she explains, as she points. "This man is balanced. His emotions are in control. His life is steady. And he has achieved this all through his might," she tells the Fairest, her eyes flashing wide. "Strength of will, strength of mind, strength of force. This man is bold. He rides forward to conquer the land," she says. Her gaze shifts to Dave, then back to the card.
"The Chariot is not necessarily you. It could be someone who helps you. Someone who you ride alongside," she tells him. "The Chariot is given the number seven," she says, pointing to the VII that's on the top. "That is the number of power and good luck," she adds. Then a pause, and a curious little smirk crosses her lips. "See this here? The top of the chariot?" she asks. "The canopy is made of white stars on a blue backing. This represents the man's power even in other worlds," she says, and looks up to him again. "You will be victorious, Dave. You will gain power over this world and... whichever other one you travel to. But do be careful. Victory is not the end, but a new beginning itself."
Oberon now is more than surprised. He's really afraid. But not panicking, at least. His arm's hair are all up electrified. He stares at the card for a long moment, trying to ignore how a bunch of cards can really tell him what is going on with his life. But still, he doesn't say a word. If he could. Instead, he just waits for whatever comes next.
Green's eyes are on Oberon now. She stares at the man, letting the silence of the room mingle with that bizarre energy. Eventually, though, it starts to die down. "That's it," Green finally declares. "You have where you were, where you are, and where you are supposed to go," she tells him. "Unless you have a specific question in mind?" she asks. "We could ask the cards another question."
Dave waits until the room comes back to normal. He looks surprised, afraid, but not a single bit in disbelief. When the energy is done, he retrieves his phone and types a message."You're a hell of a witch." The boring voice says.
A second later, he gestures her to wait a bit more and types another question."Should I stay where I am right now or should I follow the seasons and change?" The synthetic voice asks.
There's a devilish smirk on Green's lips in response to those first words. "I'll try to take that as a compliment," she says, though everything on her face shows that she surely is taking it as a compliment. She considers the question for a moment, then gives a nod. "Let us see," she says. Then the card flips.
"The Queen of Cups," Green reads, on his behalf. "The queen is associated with change. With growth. With shifting. She is as the moon, following it's cycles. The queen is a great Seer, who relies more on her psychic powers and intuition than details and facts," Green tells the man. "But she can be moody and violent," she adds. There's a pause, and her head wobbles. "You asked if you should remain where you are, or if you should change. The Queen changes," she declares.
Dave listens very carefully once more and when the witch his done explains the card with the answer, he nods sagely. Then, he types a message in his phone that speaks:"Thank you very much for this. It was really important to me to have some light into these things that are happening in my life. What can I do for you as payment for your services?" The violist is pretty serious, but calmer now.
Green gives a gracious dip of her head, in response to the phone's words. She then looks back to Dave, and she smiles. "Send someone else to me that needs direction," she says. "And give a prayer out into the universe, thanking... whoever or whatever has helped us... for this guidance," she tells the man. "That will be all I require."
Dave nods to the girl's words and then types something else on his phone."You're a priestess of the great goddess. I'll do what you say. I still believe in the Old Ways. If we met that day at the Cafe, it was because we were supposed to. Maybe because I needed this guidance. Maybe because there is more to do. Only Time will tell. If you ever find yourself in any kind of trouble, call my. I'll come to you no matter what." He then stands up and bows to the british girl in front of him.
Again, she waits patiently as the man types out a response. She does want to know his answer, of course, as she did not request that payment arbitrarily. As soon as the phone starts to read, though, she lets out a breath. "Oh, Dave, no-..." She starts, but stops. It's already reading. It's a computer. It doesn't get interrupted. When it's done reading, though, Green offers a polite smile in response. "I am glad I helped, Dave," she says. "Now, if you're feeling a bit better... how about you run and get those tools?" she asks. "Great Goddess or not, I still need a stage."
Dave gives Green a huge smile and wiggles his fingers silly before turning around and going away. From the stairs, the synthetic voice be he heard saying:"I will be back, Priestess."
Green gives a faint laugh, and then a shake of her head. She'll finally pack up her cards now. Oh, and finish her tea!
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