Fate Is A Slippery Bitch

@rheadunst

You have to talk to me. I don’t understand what’s going on. You’re back, and things should be okay, but you and Nerissa aren’t talking and I don’t understand what’s going on. What’s happened?

It’s better than them being completely unaware. It starts conversations and gets them researching what they didn’t care about before even if it’s to prove me wrong. Even the ones who don’t look at it beyond thinking it’s fiction, fans are going to memorize and debate every detail and one day it might come in use.

No kidding? You’ll have to introduce me then. I’ve done some reading about her. She’s in my script.

It is. It’s a burden sometimes. Thank you for realizing. So few people appreciate it. It’s my pleasure to do all I can for my fans of course, but it’s nice to be understood.

Does that mean you’re a Seer too?

Maybe. I think I might just have gotten cynical. *He smiles sheepishly*

*He turns a little cautious at that, studies Noah warily* ...you’re doing her justice, right? I know she comes off a little...loopy, but that doesn’t make her Sight any less real. ...I think she’d like that, though. I know she was quite fond of Harry Potter; offering another view of his time at Hogwarts might make her happy.

*He smiles briefly* I don’t think lots of people try to understand other peoples’ burdens. Then again, I can’t really help the empathy. *The last part is dry, a personal joke, and his smile widens momentarily.*

*Hesitating for a moment before nodding.* Yes. I started giving prophesies almost a year ago. *Smiling* Though anyone with a real penchant for astrology could tell you what’s wrong with the horoscopes. 

Roundabout? I don’t plan on being roundabout. Everyone who sees it will be made aware and they’re going to hold onto it more than a dozen speeches or every redacted book coming back on the shelves. How do you make people care about history? You make it about a personal story, you give it a charismatic face and a little sparkle. You educate by entertaining. 

Sorry for the assumption. You don’t believe in horoscopes, kid? Divination has some truth to it. I wouldn’t dismiss it all.

That they do, and anyone who decides to behave the least bit decently will find I’m not averse to signing them or taking a few new ones. 

Let me clean these up and pay off the seller and I’ll give you all the horoscopes.

*Idly, picking up a magazine and fiddling with the edges, not really reading it.* Maybe. Lots of people who see it will think its exaggerated, or fabricated all together, and plenty of people will argue it’s just propaganda designed to foster conflict. But for some people it might genuinely make them care. It should certainly foster some interest, make more people interested and make them ask questions.

*He’s a little wary of the idea that entertainment really educates; there’s a reason you stop learning things through songs as you get older. The more complicated something is, the harder it is to learn through repetition and the use of rhythm. He doubts film is much better than songs are. But then he supposes he’s gotten a little cynical, lately.*

Sorry. I’m sure you’re right.

*He cocks his head at Noah, for a moment thinking it’s a joke.* ....they’re just usually very wrong, is all. I think I dismiss Divination far less than most other people; my Great Aunt is Sybil Trelawney, Divination professor at Hogwarts and Renowned Seer. *There’s a flash of pride he can’t quite smother when he talks about Sybil - eccentric though she may be - and his shoulders straighten a little.*

*Thoughtfully* That’s very nice. I imagine even having nice photos of you taken all the time can be a little tough to deal with. It’s nice you’re still willing to sign them for nice people.

*Brightening* Okay. I can tell you which ones are the most wrong and why, if you’d like.

*He'd pushed up his sleeves to combat the brief stretch of warm weather they'd been having; only to draw attention with the exposure of his finally completed sleeve.* *His shoulders hunch defensively at the staring.* What?

Magical tattoos being applied in a rather different way to traditional muggle ones, Micah has the sleeve of Tarot cards done over two weekends, with Strength, The Sun, The Empress and the shoulder piece (top right) being done on the first, and the rest done on the second, all inked carefully down his left arm with the exception of The Moon, which sits squarely between his shoulder blades.

He has joked to several people who have asked that they’re just late teenage rebellion, a tribute to his Seer heritage that also disappoints both his parents; but the ink for each card was mixed with a special kind of experimental focus potion he begged Kai Zhao make for him months ago, which triggers with a word and tap of his wand, and they are carefully charmed to react to his Sight when he Reads peoples’ fortunes, appropriate cards colouring during a Reading; with the exception of the Moon card, which heats up.

All the card are interconnected and bordered by vines and little flowers, designed in a similar style to the shoulder piece, which bloom and wilt depending on Micah’s mood; a last tribute to the element he loves so much but has lost almost all of his connection to.

Card meanings and unique features below:

*He whips around, ready to lose it on the kid, the final straw of sarcasm that would be a tipping point–that he’d already admittedly reached at the newspaper stand, but seeing just that, a kid and one who oozed innocence and already looked apologetic and was offering a olive branch as lame as it was, he lets out a puff of breath and just nods then replies delayed when he doesn’t sound about to kill.* 

I haven’t made a movie in a few years but it hasn’t been that long and this next one is going to be big. What did you come up for? Do you want an autograph or were you just going to snap a picture of the meltdown?

*Gently, like talking to a particularly pissy cat.* I’m sure it will be. I’m sure a lot of people will go and see it, and in a roundabout way it might foster some awareness of what happened. I think those magazines are stupid, anyway. Not that the Prophet is much better, but. *He shrugs*

*He frowns at the questions* ...I was just going to look through the horoscopes. They’re always good for a laugh.

Why would I want a picture of you mid-meltdown? You know they sell pictures of you that are actually nice, right? I imagine they’re nicer to own than one of you mid shout, or throwing around magazines.

“This is ridiculous!” He flung two of the magazines in his hand through the air, then started ripping up newspapers, heedless of what his temper tantrum looked like as he started quoting several different headlines. “Noah Sharpe Back in Rehab? Irresponsible Star Skips His Own Shoot: Trouble on the Set of Forgotten Wars Already? Noah Sharpe Kidnapping Hoax on page eight Co-Star Denyse Lapis opens up about Sharpe’s shocking history manipulating the press. Former Heartthrob, former, Flakes on Flop Film. Noah Sharpe Spotted in Rio Drinking His Weight in Tequila…..Noah Sharpe wishes! I spent two weeks trapped in a basement and nobody cared?! It’s just normal for me to disappear?! This is bullshit!”

I don’t think the public tantrum helps the argument none of those articles are true. Just so you’re aware.

*After a moment, because Noah seems pretty torn up about it specifically* But the ‘former’ heartthrob bit is just mean. You’re still very much a heartthrob. Or at least as far as I can tell. I don’t know what would make you ‘former’ other than like, old age, or some terrible deforming scar all across your face. And you’ve not had either of those happen to you. Have you?

There’s nothing I want, other than to make sure you’re okay. You don’t look so hot right now. Did you See something difficult, or is it, uh, personal? *voice gentle and kind like her eyes, still red from when she cried earlier upon hearing of the murders* You don’t have to tell me details, but you’re making me worry. You can just call me Raquel on unofficial business.

I didn’t See anything. *It comes out raw, miserable.* I See everything except, apparently, the things that are actually avoidable, that I could actually deal with.

*Muttering* The Sight is bullshit.

*Reluctantly* You don’t have to worry about me. I’m fine. You look, um. Upset. Though. Did something happen?

“Hey, kid.” Raquel waved her hand in front of his face, grim expression softening in an attempt to reach him. “You’re Seora’s son, Micah.” She’s probably shouldn’t mention that Seora sent her a patronus asking her to keep an eye out for him.

*He blinks at the hand waving in his face, and then at the person connected to the hand, and stares at her blankly for a moment.*

I’m Micah. Is there something you wanted, Auror Parrela?