𝖉 𝖚 𝖆 𝖑 𝖎 𝖙 𝖞 .

“ you know what else isn’t the smartest thing ?? not minding your damn business. ” 

A slender finger pointed to the second card. “The Temperance card largely repesents balance. Upright anyway, yours is reversed showing that there is some imbalance presently- I would say it has a great deal to do with whatever happened to you in your past. Leaving you a little lost trying to find your way and find the balance that escaped you. It won’t be easy.”

A few people had pulled the Temperance card, not that is surprised her in the least. Their lifes were a coin toss on whether they lived or died. Having a zen state of mind or balance wasn’t likely for most. Especially if they didn’t have said train of thought before Velia. Whenever day was a fight for your life—what did you do to find something to offset that?

Venus smiled a little as she looked towards the last card.

“ It seems that the All-Mother will help you find that balance that you’ll be looking for. Seven of Wands depicts a heros struggle.”

Looking up at the other, she leans closer.

“You’ll always be struggling to maintain your control, to keep your balance. Outside forces will seek to bring you down. If you remained determined, with clear intent. Your fight will be worth it in the end.”

          noir kept her lips pursed as she listened to the other, gaze focused down at the cards rather than into venus’ eyes, which was probably pretty telling, all things considered. noir tried to remember that this player knew absolutely nothing about her, her family or what had happened to her, and that she was merely saying things that could apply to everyone. at least, that’s what MOST fortune tellers did. 

          everyone has past trauma. especially when they’ve been in here for three years. at least, that’s what noir had to keep telling herself to keep from thinking of just how damn SPOT ON this so-called reading was. she tried to grin once she looked back up at venus, but it was probably incredibly obviously forced. “ how inspiring. ” but her tone was flat, as per usual, as the blonde fished out a few gold pieces. “ how much do i owe you ?? ”

noir: ...i can explain

radish: uh huh

radish: no explanation required

radish: peace! :)

player radish has unfriended player noir

Skittles looked over at the other player eyes wide,  “ Right!” it always seemed like Sloan had everyone eating out of the palm of her hand . But Skittles couldn’t fathom why that was. Even when they had been friends, Skittles often found herself rolling her eyes at just how dower and “woe is me” the other player was.

“And people fall for it. It’s like hello idiots she’s playing you.”

How likely were people to believe her? Slim. Still, she figured if there was anyone to test out her little tale to. It should be someone who seemingly hated Sloan as much as she did.

“Sloan is crule and violent, with murder in her eyes.” adding a faux shiver for effect. “ People are scared of circus? At least they don’t piss on you and tell you it’s rain,”

          were there unresolved things between noir and hela ?? absolutely. probably too many to name. but noir had become VERY good at holding a grudge, and acting like certain things didn’t happen, so that’s what she chose to do. and truthfully, it was working pretty well. the two hadn’t crossed paths since the gala on floor 55. “ you are preaching to the choir. ”

          noir’s eyes darted around the room as the other player continued to speak, cocking her head to the side once they finished. “ whatd’ya mean ?? ” she pivoted towards skittles, giving her undivided attention to the other player. THIS should be INTERESTING.

The icy attitude was not a surprise. But while Sol had been expecting it, she still had to resist the urge to let out a very heavy sigh. “Nothing on my end this time around,” Sol said, careful not to seem overconfident about it. She was well aware that at any moment that was sure to change. Sometimes it felt like her luck would start running out at any time now, especially with all the blessing of having Leo at her side again. This place didn’t let her be happy for long and she tried not to let it scare her.

“You’re looking really good. Hocus Pocus right?” Sol smiled slightly, remembering the movie from childhood. Since she watched it almost every Halloween prior to Velia, it came to memory rather quickly. “Anyway, is everything okay with the rest of the guild?” While Sol was aware her former friends from the Knights were okay, just by looking her friend’s list, she had no idea if they’d lost anyone else. Not like she was before.

          “ lucky you. ” noir grumbled. it wasn’t necessarily because she got hurt and solstice didn’t, but it had seemed as though in the last boss fight everyone BUT her managed to leave it unscathed. she was bitter. she felt weak. and that was probably apparent when she took a sip of her drink with a scowl on her face.

          once solstice gestured to her costume, noir glanced down at the dress again, swaying slightly from side to side so the fabric would flow back and forth. “ yep. ” she spoke easily, popping the p at the end of the word. and truthfully, noir had to hold back a scoff when the elder blonde asked about her old guild. “ starting to care now, huh ?? ”

radish: don't fuck me around come on

radish: did you sleep with me to hurt her

radish: real simple question

radish: won't take long

radish: were you fucking me to get back at star

radish: hey

radish: question

“i can’t believe i’m getting lectured on something so ‘super old’ that your tiny ass doesn’t expect me to know it,” valentine responded. he was teasing, of course; even in his intoxicated condition, he could see that she was in fact not that young. “maybe i am an immortal,” he murmured, electing not to vocalise his deep knowledge of wizardly ageing in the harry potter universe.

“i’m not implying anything, except for a chaste kiss.” he put on a noble air, and continued, “if you want more than that, though, who’s to say what’ll happen? but to imply beyond that is ungentlemanly, and i am, of course, a gentleman.”

          “ well, if you’re an immortal that WOULD explain how you know what hocus pocus is. ” she was teasing, really, and noir tried to stifle a giggle because this conversation was pretty interesting. she didn’t want to laugh at his expense, though. if valentine was so determined to be a gentleman, the least she could do was return the favor and be lady like.

          noir hummed when he once again reassured her that he was, in fact, a gentleman. “ oh, yes, of course. ” she agreed, returning the words in a posh accent. she pursed her lips, “ gentlemen are very hard to come by these days, though. ” which wasn’t a lie, neither in here or in the outside world. “ but i don’t think you’d want a kiss from me. not right now, at least. ” and noir realized relatively quickly how that sentence made her sound almost insecure in her kissing abilities ( which she wasn’t ), which was why she dragged her index finger down her lower lip slowly before showing just how easily her dark lipstick came off. “ wouldn’t want the lipstick marks to ruin your chances with the other ladies here. make them think you’re taken or whatever. ” 

“They’re so used to seeing magic used for protection or in battle. I figured why not show them the fun side.” she smiled. It was another holiday away from their families. As much as she wanted to get home — and she did, desperatly. The kids trapped in this game needed the distractions. They were innocents and Venus figured if she could make them feel good and have fun. Even for a little bit, to keep their minds off of the death trap they all were in. The Mystic was glad to do it.

Venus let out a light chuckle, “ Not unless you’re the key to ending this all. Shall we see if you are?” Venus grinned. Rubbing her hands together, she began to flip over the cards…

“The tower card,” she said picking it up holding it between two fingers. “— many people think this is a harbinger of something forboding. Which it could be but considering its in your past. It more then likely represents a dramatic event in your past. So groundbreaking, it changed you to your core. For good or bad I don’t know. But it’s put you on your current path; for better or for worse?”

          once venus flipped over the first card, noir cocked her head to the side, unsure of what to make of the picture. when venus started speaking, noir pursed her lips. DAMN, she really managed to hit the nail on the head. but that could’ve been about ANYTHING really. that didn’t mean she truly knew her past, present, nor future. after all, just coming into this damn game could be a groundbreaking event. she could’ve said that to ANYONE and it most likely would’ve been correct.

          noir nodded once, humming in reply. “ sounds about right. ” her voice was quiet as she gestured lightly with her head, silently asking for the other to continue. “ what’s next ?? ”

“Shame, you could stand to.” Skittle shruggedtaking another sip. I mean what was her problem? Out of the two of them Skittles was the one that should be all sulk and broody. Trying to blend in, instead she went with sticking out like a sore thumb. Skittle sucked her teeth at the other player. “ If you really wanted to be on your own you would have stayed home. Live a  little blondie.”

Giving her  a wink, Skittles sipped on her drink. When she noticed Hela - in her Carrie outfit. For a split second her facial expression pinched, “Yeah, loads of fun.” she huffed popping another snack in her mouth. “ Don’t I look like I’m having fun?”

          could she lighten up ?? perhaps, but noir certainly wasn’t going to. she shrugged, taking another sip of her drink before replying, “ maybe if i get drunk enough you’ll have it your way. ” she grinned at the other briefly before returning to her regular, stoic expression.

          “ hm. i guess you do. ” but noir watched how skittles’ demeanor faltered for a moment, and noir follower their gaze to the source of their displeasure. hela. oh. a commonality. the blonde rolled her eyes, silently agreeing with the other player’s distaste. she grumbled, “ of course she’d dress up as one of the most famous victims of all time. ” noir scoffed. how FITTING.

Location: Centria, Monster Bash Availability: @playernoir​

The party was booming, active, loud, colorful… it was a surprisingly welcome distraction from the day-to-day movements. Perhaps it had to do with all that had happened recently, but Solstice wasn’t feeling restless to get to work just yet. She took up a drink, sweeping the floor with the gown that an enthusiastic seamstress had made for her after being directly asked what recommendations she would have for Solstice’s costume. In hindsight, it had been a good choice and didn’t take much work at all. Just a few coins and time to work on her hair and suddenly she felt weirdly regal.

Maybe it was the comfort she was feeling from a few drinks or the confidence of a shimmering dress, but when Solstice saw Noir grabbing a drink from the bar she couldn’t help but make her way over. The other woman had turned around just as she was approaching. “I’m glad to see the boss battle didn’t keep you down.” Her tone was friendly, simply because she hoped they wouldn’t quarrel like before. “How did it go?” For the Knights, anyway.

          noir came to the monster bash with one mission and one mission only: to get drunk. because really, so much had been happening recently that the stress had started to get to her, and the last time she had a decent night out was the night of the seven’s opening. of course, she didn’t plan to get THAT plastered, but her goal remained the same: to manage to have some fun in this hell hole.

          so noir found herself at the bar, of course, occasionally playing with the fabric of her dress. she turned outward to see the party and the costumes, when she had made direct eye contact with one of the few people she wasn’t exactly happy to see. sure, it had seemed they found some common ground the last time they spoke, but noir could hold a grudge for a LONG time.

          “ was fine. ” noir spoke, taking a sip of her drink. but they were being cordial, so noir decided to at least play it cool and reciprocate the question. out of politeness, not out of interest. “ how about you ?? ”

With a snap of her fingers the cards disappeared into the air. Noir looked like she had gotton that sleep she saught out after all. Her skin was brighter and so was her aura. Venus was glad, if for no other reason then now, the young woman would be alert and ready for whatever test might lay ahead for her. For all of them.

“ Oh its very simple.” she smiled, “ line up your three cards right here on the table horizontally.” Watching as the other player did so before continuing. Her index on the end card to the players left.

“The left card is your past,” Venus finger hovered over the middle card. “ the middle repersents your present and finally.” tapping the last card lightly , “ The right card repersents your future— see, super simple.”

Back in Louisiana, her grandmother had taught her how to interpret the cards. Sometimes, the cards couldn’t be taken at face value. Deep meanings were there, it was important to look at the whole line of cards. Tucking some of her silver hair behind her ear, as it began to lift from her shoulders as if  they were underwater.  She smiled over towards the Noir now. Palms turned down onto the table. Letting a little of her magic cause the cards to light up from underneath. It was a party after all, why not do the readings with a little flare.

“Is there anything spescific you’d like to know or shall we begin? 

          her gaze was focused on the table as venus explained the meaning behind each card she had drawn, and noir nodded, ( hopefully ) understanding. she saw the soft glow beneath the cards, causing her gaze to flick upwards to the other’s face for a moment. she gave them a small grin, “ you must be popular with the kids tonight if you’re doing stuff like that. ” 

          anything specific she’d like to know ?? eh, not really. nothing that wouldn’t give away far too much about her past. “ unless you can tell me if or when we’re getting out of this damn game, i’m good. ” she knew it was a long shot. and honestly, if venus knew the answer, noir might not want to know what it was, anyway. 

“ Aren’t we a little jumpy on this the night of the dead.” she chuckled. Skittles hadn’t meant to scare the other but didn’t apologize that she had. Why would she. It was halloween after all trick or treat, why not be a trickster on this night of all nights.

“ Gees, who shit in your cornflakes? It’s a party?Loosen up a little.” and to put a finer point on it she shook out her shoulders.

Only to smile when she watched the other pour herself a glass. Hopefully that bottle of moonshine Skittles added would do the trick and get a lot of people a little lose and open minded. Her plan, get people tipsy and start spreading some rumors around about Hela. She was trying to get infront of this whole kidnapping deal and time was running out- quickly.

“ The outfit, is the cartoon and Heath’s version.The make up was  inspired by Joaquin, never Leto’s gross.”

          noir took a sip of her drink, expression unchanging when the other player told her to loosen up. if anything, that made noir less inclined to loosen up. “ see, loosening up isn’t really what i DO. ” she gestured to the rest of the party, which was as lively as it possibly could’ve been. “ but you’re more than welcome to do so on your own. ” yeah, she was comfortable on her own for the time being.

          “ good answer. ” the blonde smirked, taking another sip of her drink. she dragged her finger around the rim of her glass lazily, eyeing the crowd before them, scanning all the costumes. her gaze returned back to skittles, “ so, looks like you’re having fun, huh ?? ”