Endless Knight

sometimes i feel like there's a hole inside of me, an emptiness that at times seems to burn.

be careful what you wish for.

wish you could believe in me.

we have to banish him.

he wants me. just me.

what was that, [name]?

you know what? i wished for you, too.

let him take me.

the nudity is entirely optional.

it wasn't me, it was you.

we'll grow old together.

can love really travel back in time and heal a broken heart?

i think if you lifted my heart to your ear, you could probably hear the ocean.

don't die on me, [name], please.

i bet we even die on the same day.

of course you're going to see me again.

hang on to your husbands, girls.

what wouldn't i do... for the right guy?

i have this dream of being whole, of not going to sleep each night, wanting.

i took an oath to uphold the law.

life is perfect.

don't do that.

i'd like to think so.

i have never asked you for anything.

i feel like i'm never going to see you again.

what are you doing?

i came here to bring in the bad guy because generally that's what i do.

sometimes when the wind is warm or the crickets sing, i dream of a love that even time will lie down and be still for.

i just want someone to love me.

i want to be seen.

please do this for me. please?

hold on just a goddamn second. one step at a time.

that's how you came to live with us.

everything is just so blissfully normal.

i wish you could see us.

they like to meddle in people's love lives.

thought you never wanted to fall in love.

you're saying what i'm feeling is just one of your spells?

fall in love whenever you can.

when you find yourself the center of attention... it's not that they hate you. it's that... well. we're different.

you have the worst taste in men.

i was born with them.

since when is being a slut a crime in this family?

you ever put your arms out and spin really, really fast?

maybe i had my happiness.

you promised me that.

so what kind of... uh... craft do you do.

yeah. it's not real.

curses only have power when you believe them. and i don't.

all i want is a normal life.

that's the point.

yeah, well, you know. all relationships have problems.

that's what love is like. it makes your heart race. it turns the world upside down.

when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue?

well... it's what i want.

now that was me.

i don't want them dancing naked under the full moon.

the guy i dreamed of doesn't exist.

is that why they wanted to hang her? because she's a witch?

i don't even mind the beard.

there's a little witch in all of us.

what was that?

i'll tell you all you need to know.

one step at a time.

you think he's dead?

is he cute?

you came for breakfast? we're having pancakes!

what's wrong? cat got your tongue?

a collection of character development questions based on the arcana and their themes !! this is part of a collection of tarot-themed asks. if multi, please specify which muse(s) the question is directed toward !!

[THE FOOL] - Do you consider them naive, or disconnected from the world aronud them? If so, what do they need to step back and reflect on to get them "in the zone"?

[THE MAGICIAN] - Do they self-sabatoge, or do they sabatoge others in their lives? If so, how?

[THE HIGH PRIESTESS] - Do they easily trust others, or do they listen to their gut more? Are they distrusting?

[THE EMPRESS] - What economic background did they grow up in, or are a part of now? Has their situation gotten better or worse?

[THE EMPEROR] - Where do they stand in the social hierarchy of their group (e.g., are they at the top of the chain, or are they subservient to those around them?)

[THE HIEROPHANT] - Do they often abide by social norms, or do they reject institutional values in favor of flexibility/independence?

[THE LOVERS] - Are they a good communicator, or do they tend to crack under pressure?

[THE CHARIOT] - Do they feel like they belong anywhere, or do they feel outcast in comparison to their peers?

[STRENGTH] - Are they jealous/envious? If so, what makes them jealous/envious of those around them?

[THE HERMIT] - Is solitude a good or bad thing for them? Do they like being alone, or do they have no choice?

[WHEEL OF FORTUNE] - Are they lucky, or does misfortune tend to follow them wherever they go?

[JUSTICE] - What do they need to be held accountable for? What actions, if any, do they deny responsibility for?

[THE HANGED MAN] - Do they feel "stuck" in any aspects, or as if they're falling behind their goals?

[DEATH] - What are they holding onto, and are they refusing to let this go?

[TEMPERANCE] - Do they tend to think in a polarized manner, or do they attempt to navigate the nuance of whatever troubles them?

[THE DEVIL] - What is their go-to recovery plan? Do they take time for themselves, or do they jump back into action without a second thought?

[THE TOWER] - What is the most disastrous thing that could happen to them? How would they navigate that situation/event?

[THE STAR] - Are they faithful? If so, to who/to what, and how do they show it?

[THE MOON] - What is one question they would do anything to get an answer to, no matter the cost?

[THE SUN] - Is it hard for them to stay positive? If so, why is that?

[JUDGMENT] - What is one thing they harshly judge themselves for? What creates doubt and self-loathing for them?

"Don't you dare pin this all on me."

"Go ahead and laugh. Laugh at me."

"What good have you ever been to me?"

"You can care if you want. I can't anymore."

"I can't stand you… that stupid smile on your face…"

"Start celebrating already. I know you wanted this…"

"Well, you should be happy. You got what you wanted."

"You could have done more… why didn't you do more?"

"Why do you get everything good? When is it my turn?"

"You don't know a damn thing about the world like I do."

"Just here to pull me into another awful situation, huh?"

"You always act like you've never done anything wrong."

"I just wanted an apology. And you couldn't even do that."

"You don't have a sympathetic bone in your body, do you?"

"I'm fine. Of course I'm fine. I'm not allowed to be anything else."

"Why would I care about them? Have they ever cared about me?"

"I never meant anything to you. I'm just upset I didn't see it before."

"Oh, of course it's all my fault… of course, because it's never yours!"

"Oh no, it's okay just put it all on my shoulders, again... you always do."

❛ You don't seem like yourself. ❜

❛ If you wanna be in control, you can be. ❜

❛ Is this really how you see yourself? ❜

❛ Do you remember why you hate me? ❜

❛ The things that you're roasting me for are the things that make me dangerous. ❜

❛ How long have I been here? ❜

❛ Call me "nosy," I'll cut out your tongue. ❜

❛ Can you put on some clothes? 'Cause you... 'Cause you're naked. ❜

❛ Do you remember pain? It kind of tickles, doesn't it? ❜

❛ Maybe I can't kill you, but I can make you wish you were dead. ❜

❛ I am not the only one that wants to see you dead. ❜

❛ Ugh! It really warms the heart. ❜

❛ You don't have a heart. ❜

❛ Be sure to tell the vengeance-seekers I said hi. ❜

❛ That's why I saved you from the spell you were under. ❜

❛ Wherever you are, a coven there shall be. ❜

❛ I feel really optimistic about this. ❜

❛ So you're a bit of a kook. Every witch has their process. ❜

❛ Witches like you are the reason people think we poison apples, and steal children, and eat babies. ❜

❛ Don't you miss the glory days? ❜

❛ The path you're currently on leads nowhere. ❜

❛ Hey! Where do you keep your jade eggs? I'm fresh out of marbles, and my pelvic floor is all over the place. ❜

❛ I haven't seen you since I made a really pointed effort to never run into you again.❜

❛ Historically, we as a group don't do well in courtrooms. ❜

❛ People like you are dangerous. ❜

❛ Are there any real witches in the house? ❜

❛ What a team of rejects. ❜

❛ This is just a really, really, really horrible party. ❜

❛ It's giving "middle-aged second chance at love" vibes and I'm here for it. ❜

❛ Okay, so a witch is really just another name for a bad girl, is that right? ❜

❛ I'm not saying that I wanna join the club or anything, but I would drink the blood of a virgin if it would smooth out some of these wrinkles. ❜

❛ So the hallucinations seem chill. ❜

❛ I can't protect you! ❜

❛ I do not wanna die here. This is not where I die. ❜

❛ They can take your power, but they can't take your knowledge. ❜

❛ I didn't think you had it in you. ❜

❛ We were supposed to look out for each other, but we didn't. That was our fatal mistake. ❜

❛ I wish we could go home. ❜

❛ People can't be replaced. ❜

❛ Are we in trouble? Like, more than we were ten minutes ago? ❜

❛ Honestly, I don't know how to feel. Do I hate her? Or do I want her phone number? ❜

❛ I'm feeling impatient. I'm feeling like I wanna cause some damage. ❜

❛ Once vengeance is loosed, you can't reel it back in. ❜

❛ The only way to end a curse is to face it. ❜

❛ Sad is better than angry. ❜

❛ You don't have to know a person's name to know who they are. ❜

❛ Are you really defending a noted serial killer, you creepy lurker? ❜

❛ The moral of the story, kids, is always finish what you started. Also, mercy is overrated. ❜

❛ Who better to commune with the dead than someone who's put so many in the grave? ❜

❛ I mean, or we could just slit her throat. ❜

❛ But we were getting along, weren't we? We were clicking. There was unity. ❜

❛ She's possessed! For real this time! ❜

❛ I hate ghosts. ❜

❛ Why do you hate me still?❜

❛ You were born evil. ❜

❛ Please take me with you. ❜

❛ She was protecting you. But you don't deserve it. ❜

❛ I couldn't... I couldn't control it. ❜

❛ Death comes for us all. ❜

❛ You're so much like your mother. ❜

❛ We love you more than we could ever hope to communicate in human words. ❜

❛ You don't need to be a psychic to see that you're a good egg. ❜

❛ Enjoy the now, baby. It's the only thing that's certain. ❜

❛ Nothing in my life has felt normal until I met you. ❜

❛ I want you to know the real me. ❜

❛ You're so adorably trusting. ❜

❛ Word to the wise, don't go sniffing around there. ❜

❛ You seriously don't know what kind of crazy that lady eats for breakfast. ❜

❛ I panicked, so I ran. ❜

❛ Could we, like, maybe not, with the physical violence? ❜

❛ Power doesn't interest me. ❜

❛ Yeah. Well, what you did was ehhh … but life goes on. Yours, anyway. ❜

❛ I mean, I've killed...uh...my share. But you don't see it holding me back. ❜

❛ Don't you dare feel guilty about your talent. You survived. ❜

❛ So you broke the rules. Big deal. That's what kept you alive. That's what makes you special. ❜

❛ I don't need you anymore. I don't know if I ever did. ❜

❛ If you really wanna finish this together, just know that I do not trust you. At all. ❜

❛ You'll get a nosebleed trying that hard to read my mind. ❜

❛ Hey, you want straight answers, ask a straight lady. ❜

❛ Tell me what more I should see, when I look at you. ❜

❛ You know, we really hated each other from the beginning. But now...I love you, guys. ❜

❛ I'm a forgotten woman. ❜

❛ Death comes for us all. It is what we all have in common. ❜

❛ I can see all the pieces falling into place. The gaps are filling in. ❜

❛ I'm telling you now because soon I'm not going to remember any of this. ❜

❛ I hope you'll join me. ❜

❛ I needed you. My coven. ❜

❛ What can I say? I like the bad boys. ❜

❛ I loved being a witch. ❜

❛ That's it? That's all the... That's all the time I get? ❜

❛ This can't be the end. It has to be the beginning. ❜

❛ I watch you. Just as closely as you watch everyone else. ❜

❛ No one in history has had special treatment like you. ❜

❛ You gave me nothing. You took. ❜

❛ Why do you let them believe those things about you, hmm? ❜

❛ What fresh horrors await us! ❜

❛ You seem relaxed. Usually at this point you're either complaining loudly or freaking out loudly. ❜

❛ It's nice. That feeling when your body knows it's safe. ❜

❛ Sometimes...boys die. ❜

❛ Congratulations, my love! I'm sorry I didn't have a ribbon for you to run through. ❜

❛ Why don't you want me? ❜

❛ Power looks good on you. ❜

❛ You do this and I will hate you forever. ❜

❛ Please let him live. Please, my love! ❜

❛ If you want to survive, get used to this feeling. ❜

❛ I cannot protect you from what's coming. ❜

❛ I saw you die. ❜

❛ And now, I'm a ghost. Can you dig it? ❜

❛ By the way, I did not sacrifice myself for you. I took a calculated risk. ❜

❛ You're making fun of me. This is just one of your tricks. ❜

❛ You have something of mine. I know you took it. ❜

❛ Why are you still here? Why won't you just die? ❜

❛ I'm sure he would forgive you for... whatever you did. ❜

It's officially chilly season!

"Ooh, it's cold out here."

"Look! Look! I'm a dragon!"

"Did it snow last night?!"

"There's frost on the ground."

"That's the last leaf falling..."

"I've got shivers."

"I want a hot chocolate."

"Yes, I'm wearing two coats."

"Why aren't you wearing a coat? You'll freeze!"

"Can you get the fire going?"

"What do you mean the chimney's blocked?"

"I'm going to bake cookies."

"I'm shifting in to soup mode."

"I knitted you a scarf!"

"It's not a hot chocolate without a dash of brandy."

"Want to cuddle up under a blanket and watch a movie?"

"Yes, I'm playing Christmas music. I know it's Novemeber. I don't care."

"I'm freezing my fingers off!"

"Here, take my coat."

"I have a flask full of soup here."

"Hold my hand, I'll warm you up."

"I can't take your clothes!"

"Don't worry, I run warm."

"This makes me want to go skiing."

"I'm going to catch a snowflake on my tongue."

"Do you want to go make snow angels?"

"I love this time of night... before anyone disturbs the snow."

"It's so crisp and white out there."

"Let's go make a snowman!"

A crack in the ground? Agatha didn't understand what that meant. She wouldn't for a least a few more years either, she hadn't even found the Scarlet Witch yet, still searching for someone who had enough power to even possibly be the legendary witch. Still...her son was trying to tell her something, and for that, she appreciated the message more than she would have under normal circumstances.

"What is your name, boy? You have quite the divination gift on your hands."

Sure, Agatha had seen her share of witches over time, but the one before her intrigued her. The fact he saw her deceased son, the fact he knew where she lived...his grip on his magic was strong. While normally she'd entertain taking such a power from someone, he had helped her, so he was spared for the time being. Besides...she knew Nicky wouldn't approve of the lengths she had gone since his death to gain power.

"Uh ... thanks ..." he replied when she praised his gift. "It's Cards ... or, actually, Cardinal Knight, but most everyone calls me Cards. I guess kinda ironically ..." Oh jeez, this was awkward. He was still terrified of this woman, but he would remain honest to the very end. And while he knew that his parents often claimed they had named him for their favorite baseball team, his mother later explained the real reason behind the name being the bird itself, what it symbolized -- hope ... and a visit from loved ones passed into the beyond -- it was merely coincidence that his nickname tied into his gift as well.

Hearing HER name, however, he could not stop himself from reacting out of instinct -- his eyes widening from both shock and awe because, well, coupled from the absolute DANGER he felt tingling in every fiber of his being, he certainly was familiar with THAT name. "Agatha Harkness?" he echoed back, almost breathless. "THE Agatha Harkness?"

Usually it was Rio that sent her the flowers, attempting to reconnect with her, and she never wanted to accept it. This would have been the same, until he said it was from a boy. Her grip immediately softened as she knew exactly who this little witch meant, and her heart both soared and ached, her Nicky, trying to tell her he was okay. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she then held the plant close, softly whispering that she missed him dearly.

"I...apologize. Had I known earlier...I would not have lost my cool."

Normally she would have questioned how the other even knew about what he said, but she could sense he was being honest, and the fact he was scared shitless just made his answer that much more honest and real.

"He only showed you this? Nothing else?" She then pried, wanting more than just a simple plant. Anything would suffice at this point.

He didn't know exactly who this woman was, but he had seen her many times in dreams, none of them pleasant, but if he was being honest with himself, witnessing a tear fall from her eye was NOT on his bingo card. Witnessing her whispering to a dandelion about how much she missed ... someone -- he assumed the boy in his dream possibly -- he actually felt a small cracking sensation in his heart. As terrifying as this woman was, she clearly cared about someone. He lifted his hand with a gentle wave of dismissal when she apologized. "Ah, no, it's fine. I'm not really a fan of strangers showing up on my doorstep either ... though ... I usually just pretend I'm not home," he replied awkwardly, tone still a bit trembly while tucking his fingers into the back pockets of his jeans.

When she asked if the boy had shown him anything else, Cards chewed on his bottom lip, glancing away and closing his eyes as he took a moment to recall the dream, pushing his nerves down so he could focus on the details. He could see the boy clearly, the door behind him which was identical to the one Cards now stood at, the dandelion in his hand as he attempted to give the weed to the silhouette, but...what else...?

For a moment, she held a smirk on her lips as she watched the other nearly lose his cool on her porch, but as her eyes flickered to the object in his hand, her expression changed to one of anger - no - rage.

"Who gave this to you?" She hissed, snatching the plant from him with her dark tipped fingers. The witch knew the answer already, but wanted to hear it come from this pathetic boy's mouth. It was low for Rio to stoop to such petty means to get in contact with her. What Death had done could not be undone, and neither could the anger and grief she felt on the inside.

Oh well, no turning back now, he was in the thick of it, and she was quite CLEARLY pissed off. Were this someone else, he would make up a story of happenstance, blame it on some random person wanting to play a prank--but seeing as how this was ... clearly ... a witch (and a powerful one at that, so much so that he felt every fiber of his being tingling in WARNING), all he could do was resign to his fate, and if he was going to die here, then he was going to die telling the truth.

Well at least she wasn't cackling. That was a plus.

"... yeah ..." he managed to reply on a whisper. He knew who she was, but he hadn't known just who had been behind the door until this moment. Well. Shit. He finally managed to draw a breath and lift his hand.

Within his fingers, very carefully held, was stem of a dandelion missing a few seeds from its head but otherwise still in good condition.

❝ dunno about better, ❞ cosmo said, ❝ shorter maybe. ❞ he added as an afterthought. he watched cards take a sip of his coffee, nursing his jaw for a moment as he considered what little he knew about cards' skill. he counted himself lucky that he only had to worry about the present, he couldn't imagine dealing with the convoluted tangle of threads that was the future. ❝ how do you keep track? ❞ cosmo asked, brows furrowed. as far as he could tell, cards didn't have any special time piece on him.

cosmo snorted, a humourless sound of agreement. ❝ no shit. ❞ he settled back in his seat, hesitating for just a moment. cards seemed like an alright guy even if he was a little skittish, but cosmo rarely, if ever, talked about what he could do. it wasn't as if anyone could help him. what good would it do to freak cards out? how would he feel that there were things all around them that he couldn't see? couldn't defend himself against if it came to it?

But how did he keep track? A nervous chuckle escaped his lips as he looked down at his coffee, slowly turning the cup in his hands. "Very carefully. Heh. Have you ever seen the movie Inception? How they have those totems to tell if they're in the real world or the Dreaming? It's kinda like that. I have my ... 'tell', in a sense, and if that works then ... I know I'm awake and write down all the stuff I remember from the other place." It was true; he had shelves of journals full of dreams back home.

It was kinda nice talking with Cosmo; the guy didn't treat him like he was completely insane, for one, but also ... it kinda felt honestly really good to just talk with someone else about these 'out of the ordinary' experiences.