Fancy A Reading?

[Kender Bard]

(Year 1022, Summer, New Anarlina)

Sunray leaned against the outside wall of a nearby building as he slowly went through the cards of the tarot deck he held. The art was fantastic and passionate. The deck had been very expensive to commission from the artist who had painted the cards, but it had been worth every copper bit, to Sunray's eyes.

He'd decided not too long ago that his mysticism could do with a bit of variety and tarot decks interested him. So, buying a deck second hand off another mystic he was familiar with, he'd taken the time to learn the cards and their meanings and to practice laying spreads in conjunction with his mysticism. It certainly required less preparation, though Sunray had found that the answers--when they came--were more vague. Perhaps as a result? He wasn't sure. Unfortunately, when the Forces didn't feel like being open with him, he tended to draw nonsensical cards.

He still wasn't entirely certain of his skill with the deck, but practice made perfect and he was getting tired of doing drawings for himself. So, putting the cards back into the wooden, velvet-lined box they'd come with, he set out to a highbrow tavern.

Once inside, he took a seat and made himself comfortable, ensuring the table top was clean. Lifting his voice, he addressed the tavern, "If anyone would like a free tarot reading, I'm offering my services."

[Devon]

A familiar voice called out as he took a seat in front of Sunray, "I'll try it," Marion said. Since the last time they had seen each other Marion had tried his best to deal with Emerald's death. His hair was a little longer,he had grown a small beard, and though his eyes looked more tired and less lively as they did before there was still a hint of the old jovial Marion in there.

He had spent his time since her death mourning, working, and drowning his sorrows. Most of his time was spent at the Bardic Guild nursing hangovers by playing his flute or entertaining at tavern's to help lift spirits, though his music and singing often had a more somber note to it.

Currently he was sober for the most part, but there was a nice glass of wine in one hand and a mug of ale in the other which he set down in front of him.

[Kender Bard]

Sunray raised a brow at the double drinks as he began shuffling his cards carefully. "Hello Marion," he greeted the bard lightly. "It's been a while since I saw you. Um.... How are you doing?"

[Devon]

"As fine as one can be," Marion replied lightly. "The wine is yours if you want it Sunray, but yes it has been a while...how are you doing?"

[Kender Bard]

Sunray smiled slightly and accepted the wine, sipping at it lightly. "I'm... Getting along. Studying, perfecting my mysticism." He lifted his deck in one hand slightly. "Branching out in it as well."

He moved both their drinks near the edge of the table and smoothed the wood with his hand again to make sure there was still no wet or sticky spots and put the deck down. "So on that note, what is it you wish to know?"

[Devon]

"I guess whats in store for me," Marion replied. "I hadn't really thought about it honestly," the bard said sipping from his ale.

[Kender Bard]

Sunray nodded and began to lay down six cards in a line, then paused to make minute adjustments to their placement, moving some cards closer to others. That done, he put his hand on top of the first one, took a deep breath, and flipped it over.

"Four of wands," he murmured and closed his eyes, keeping contact with the card as he reached for that place within him that held his mysticism. Unlike when he sought a vision, he didn't throw open the 'gates' to allow full knowledge to come to him. Instead, he lightly tapped into his potential and sought inspiration instead.

"You've made a little bit of progress towards starting anew in that you're actually attempting to live life as it comes rather than completely stagnating," Sunray said softly, his eyes a little unfocused. He moved to the second card.

"Ace of wands, inverted. Your sorrow is choking your passion. Which is of course understandable and just as obviously your primary hurdle to a new future rather than languishing in your current state. Fortunately..." He flipped over the next card. "Seven of cups--wait, inverted?" Sunray blinked a few times and stared down at the card, slightly confused. "Loss of creative spark. That's um... That's not helpful at all." He pushed that card aside. "Well I guess your assets to help you over your obstacle are a bit shrouded at the moment."

He paused and picked up the card again and tilted his head at the picture of the seven upside down cups amidst the sea of chaos. The faint lines of the card made it look like a broken mirror, almost.

He slowly put the card back down in its original place. "Perhaps you should cut back on your drinking a bit?" He shrugged and reached for the next card. "If you do--three of wands--hope should begin to return to you in bits and pieces which in turn means..." He flipped over the last card--Empress, inverted--and his expression grew a little sorrowful as he touched the regal picture. "That you can start to let go of her."

[Devon]

Marion leaned back in his seat and folded his arms with a small smirk. "That ended a bit more depressingly than even I imagined it would," he said to Sunray. Marion sighed and sipped from his mug again, not knowing what to say next or how to say it. "I..how is everyone else doing?" he asked deciding to change the subject

[Kender Bard]

Sunray scooped up the cards carefully and put them back in the neck. "Well enough, I suppose. Twilight's busy ruling. Dusk is helping. Both are minding their horde of children. Snowflake's been keeping herself busy with her youngest, as well as keeping an eye out for matches for her daughter, and coordinating the church as usual."

He shrugged slightly. "We're all basically doing what we've been doing. What have you been doing?"

[Devon]

"A lot of working with the Bardic Guild and performing in tavern's," Marion told him. "I've just been trying to stay busy...it helps." Marion sighed, this was more awkward than he thought it could be.

[Kender Bard]

Sunray nodded slightly and picked up his wine to nurse some more. "Have you considered traveling?" Sunray asked lightly.

[Devon]

"There isn't anywhere for me to go really," Marion said. "My family in Talen'sul is close by and a lot of other nations are still recovering," he reasoned. Sitting back in his seat he finally just said the reason that was most likely on both men's minds. "Besides I don't want to leave, it doesn't feel right," he told Sunray.

[Kender Bard]

It might not ever, Sunray thought to himself but decided not to share. "I just figured a change in scenery in general might be good for you. I've given thought to visiting Mentis or Sensatia, myself, but I have my daughter to mind and I'm not comfortable leaving my family just yet."

[Devon]

"I don't think I've ever been to those places," Marion answered. Marion took a sip of his ale and sighed, "Honestly it has just been hard and I know if anyone understands it is you and your family, but with her loss and the damage that was done to Anarlina I just don't see leaving as the right thing to do."

[Kender Bard]

Sunray took a breath and tried to pick his words with care. "Staying here in some kind of... vigil is not really doing anything either, Marion. Anarlina is healing and moving on, as a whole. The land is mended, Widor is restored. There is a certain amount of mourning and grieving that is proper but after that point, one holds on to that loss but tries to move forward with it. Would Emerald really want you remaining in some kind of... despondency?"