I've been a miner for a heart of gold

[mansuetus]

CHARACTERS: The Lady Borgia turned fortune-teller and You.
LOCATION: Level one lounges!
WARNINGS: none expected!
SUMMARY: Palm reading. Yes, you've read right. Come give her your palm and she'll make up tell you your future!
NOTES: depending on who you are, she might be a bit more flirty than usual, perhaps somewhat bolder, because of the mask. also prose/action are welcomed!



[ She may have never worked and this may have not changed on the ship, but one could not say Lucrezia Borgia was idle.

She would read, she would write down all the texts she could remember; prayers, mythology, poems and sonnets. She would write them in black ink in pretty letters so they may be read later on by others.

She thought of writing her memories but found that she wished not to; memories were both a happy and a sad thing here.

Today, she found herself annoyingly idle and bored and decided it would not do.

With a sudden creative determination, she decided to become a fortune teller for a day. A game.

Borgias were known for their games; Lucrezia's were simply of the innocent kind. Or appeared to be, at the very least. More than anything, she wanted to know and to meet, to keep company and enjoy company. When reading ones palm, you may yet discover much about the person even without actually knowing the art of palm reading

She chose a seat at the side of the lounges, gold locks and a gown of pale pink silks. A girl in appearance, sweet and docile. Her grin was not quite that, mischievous and playful, challenging and perhaps secretive.

She would offer it to anyone who passed her. ]

Will you hear your fortune told?

[ Her tone is both serious and light enough to assure that it is naught but a game. But even a game can pass the hours. ]

Comments

[cocksauce]

Huh, that's pretty interesting. Might be accurate, too. I kinda like that.

[ Slowly and with some uncertainty, he begins to withdraw his hand, the first numbers of the tattoo on his arm making it apparent that he's a newcomer. His expression flashes a mixture of wonder and amusement before transforming into curiosity. He doesn't really know many people on the Tranquility, and more than learning about his whereabouts and environment, he appears more interested in learning more about the people. ]

So, is this where you tell me more about me to see if it's right? Or should I pretend that I know things about you?

[mansuetus]

[ she laughs, clear and bright and good-humored. ]

Would like you try and guess?

[ 'guess' sounds better than pretend. ]

[cocksauce]

[ He chuckles, smirking as he leans back with a thoughtful expression. ]

Okay, let's see. I'm guessing...

[ Searching her face, he thinks up some television tropes before settling on something. ]

Hmm, I'm going to say that you're from a prominent family that's pretty well off, and that you've probably got secrets. [ A curt but firm nod. ] Might be some dark one, the kinds that people don't really like to talk about, but I guess that might be pretty common around here or something.

[mansuetus]

If I had dark secrets, signore, I would not admit to them, would I? Then I shall claim I hold no secrets at all, I am as innocent as a bumblebee.

[cocksauce]

[ He laughs. ]

I don't know about putting you on the same level as a bumblebee, but you're probably just as innocent as anyone else. I'm willing to say you're more innocent than me, probably.

[ He's probably not entirely wrong, but he's not exactly entirely right, either. ]

Anyway, I think that you're probably doomed to a miserable arranged marriage away from people you actually care for, and being forced to leave the single one person you're really in love with.

[ There's just a trace of embarrassment on his face relaying one of the most typical of all teenage love story premises to her. ]

Well, am I at least close in guessing some of this stuff? Or should I just try out something else?

[mansuetus]

[ she is quiet for a moment before smiling. ]

And I did not even given you my palm. I feel truly embarrassed, you are much more proficient than myself.

[cocksauce]

Uhh, wait. No, it's--

[ John looks legitimately confused here, like that wasn't really the expected outcome of all this. He doesn't want to say that it's a common story or a joke, but it kind of is, and in some ways it seems like he's now more successfully trolled himself than her. ]

--well, it's not really that I'm good at things like this.

[ Suffice it to say he seems kind of nervous and concerned because the only way he'd really be able to know things like that is by taking the drug hidden in his jumpsuit pocket. Which he didn't. There's a time and place for that shit. ]

Maybe we should try something else. Eating, or drinking, or... storytelling maybe? I can tell a bunch of stories.

[ No, John. No one wants to hear your stories about mooing or screaming hamburgers. ]

[mansuetus]

[ his confusion manages to get a chuckle out of her. Not knowing why he's nervous, it mostly comes off as very endearing. ]

Tell me a story then, signore.

[cocksauce]

[ Her laughter dispels the weird tension that perhaps only John had noticed, and he returns a soft smile in response. ]

Okay, there are a few stories that I can go with, but I think I can talk a little bit about having this... business. Or specialty, I should say.

[ He looks thoughtful, and after taking a brief time to consider, he still doesn't really know what to call it. ]

I'm from a small city, pretty sure it's a place that people don't really know or care about. A lot of things happen there, and they're the kinds of things that people say are dark and weird and crazy, but they're the sorts of things that happen all the time. And I guess there was this incident that took place, happened a few years ago.

[ Here, he has a calm and slightly more serious countenance. ]

Ever since then, I've been able to see things that other people can't really see, things that have to do with the dark and weird and crazy stuff I mentioned earlier. Does that even make sense? Because I'll tell you about some of the things that I've seen working in this specialty, if you still want to know.

[mansuetus]

[ she listens, head tilting as she thinks about is words. A Seer then? there are legends of those, those who see beyond what others can. Some call them prophets, others call them sorcerers and Lucrezia isn't sure which word she would use. ]

Cab you also see them here? There is much darkness on this ship. Would you see into it here as well?

[cocksauce]

[ He nods. ]

Yeah, I've seen them here, too, and I'm kinda looking into them, haven't really made progress just yet.

[ It's hard to know where to begin since he'd just arrived during the last jump. But he's already seen things, like the way that shadows on the wall have taken on shapes and forms that are different from what they should be. And there've been other weird things, too.

His expression remains serious and looks even a little concerned. ]

I don't know if they're the same as the ones back where I'm from, but I know they're hiding and watching all of us. Sometimes, I can feel them, and when I turn to look, the shadows run away so that I can't really see what they are.

[mansuetus]

Perhaps you will see him too, the one they all talk of. The one with the red smile. They say he is watching us, too.

[ she fears him; this hellish creature. she is rather certain he spells doom for them all. ]

[cocksauce]

[ John studies her expression carefully, sees that she's taking his word on this. Good, she doesn't think he's full of horseshit. Looks like she isn't fooling around, either. John may be a liar at times, but he's got more decency than to fuck around when it comes to Them. ]

So other people around here have seen him already, or met him in some capacity?

[ He stifles a shudder as he feels an unknown gaze deliberately creep up his spine like cold ice. It makes him want to shit himself, but he somehow manages to suppress that urge for the time being. ]

[mansuetus]

Some heard his voice in the last message he had left but it was odd, muffled. I could not explain it. I do not think anyone had seen him yet.

[ he looks worried which worries her. ]

But you must be careful, signore. Do not seek the one who smiles. I was told terrible things happen to those who do.

[cocksauce]

[ He offers her a nod and soft smile of reassurance at her advice. ]

Don't worry--I don't think I'm exactly looking for him, just for other weird things, I guess.

[ But there definitely is something watching him, watching everyone on the fucking spaceship. And even if John doesn't seek it out, he'll probably see it if and when it wants to be seen. It's a matter that's really beyond his hands.

He leans forward, rubs his head and runs his hands through his hair in thought, and then straightens up to face her once again afterward. ]

Or like, what I mean is that yeah, I'll be careful around here. I think they're right that something's watching us, so you should take care too, Miss...

[ He lets that trail off briefly. ]

Umm, oh yeah. I don't think I caught your name yet.

[mansuetus]

Lucrezia.

[ a smile as she inclines her head. ]

Lucrezia Borgia who promises to be careful if you shall promise the same. We shall make a bargain of it.

[cocksauce]

Okay, Miss Lucrezia. We'll call it a deal, and both of us'll be careful about whatever's going on around here.

[ It could be Them, or it could be Korrok. Or They and Korrok could be one and the same, just different agents on a team of beings that just want to fuck shit up. ]

My name's John, and my number's oh-one-two, oh-one-four. In case we ever catch each other on the comms or something.

[ He tips his head to her in a slight bow before getting up. ]

Thanks for the reading, I think it was pretty cool.

[ In spite of the strange turn that it'd taken.

As he continues, he puts one finger up to his lips. ]

And it looks like you might not be a fortune teller the next time I see you. Which isn't a bad thing, you know.

[ Then, with a quick salute-like wave-motion, he turns to head off. ]