A Titulary King [Iris/Open]

[Iris|Kairi]

Iris seemed gleeful now. Yes, she was amused. She wasn't a giggly mess, but her face and eyes were bright with interest and innocent entertainment. She didn't let Meiser's suspicions ruin her wonderment. Besides, he mentioned Cosmic Energy! That sounded credible to her. It did exist, after all. She lived on it. It was her sustenance. It was everything! She remembered the days when she was younger that she walked on the raw energy of the stars on bright yellow paths across the universe. When all her people were together in one big group...all learning the ways to use the energy in every way they could think of. Endlessly wandering free...

..What had happened to them? She barely remembered the people, but she remembered the way of life. She'd love to be a part of it again..

Bringing herself back down to Traverse Town, she smiled at the cardkeeper. "My name is Iris. Does that help determine what the card might say?" she asked as she gently placed her finger on the card to the right, barely touching the corner of it. "...What happens now?" Iris wanted to know, leaning forward. Her mind was engaged. What would he say? Would it be true? So Mysterious~ Though her mind raced off without her, her exterior remained calm....other than the pulse throbbing at an accelerated pace in her neck due to the charming Alexis's proximity.

[Shinn]

As Lucius was preparing things for Iris, one of the men with her walked over to him asking him if what he was doing was all a sham.
"I assure you good sir I'm fully capable of doing this." While he wasn't about to do this with his eyes closed he would do his best to make a believer out of this man. If not it wouldn't be anything that would bring the young card user down. As they say "tomorrow is another day...." or something along those lines. With the strange man returning with the group and a "Okay" by the other man Lucius was now ready to continue things.

The young lady told him her name and placed her hand on one of the cards. She was already getting ahead of herself which was alright, all he needed to do was find out one more very important thing. But before that he waved his hands over the cards which soon began to glow strange letters on the center of the cards. Once they stopped glowing the young lady's name was inscribed in bright gold letters. "Ah now all I need is to find out what you want to know. What kind of prediction would you like? Something financially, or your future love life? Perhaps you want to just want to know what you will be doing years from now?" Lucius awaited to her Iris response.

[meiser]

Meiser kept leaning onto his post, or "aquantince". The masked marvel only watched with interest, not many card fools used special effects, or devices. Yet he saw none on the man's hands, this only made things more paculiar. Then his gaze went to the cards, perhaps there was some kind of motion mechanism that made them glow in that manner. Yes, it was a strange world with magic but when it came to predicting the future that is where the scientist drew the line.

Being loyal to physics and many of the other statistics of man-kind. He saw this as a fraud, but if this magician made him a believer, that'd be the day pigs flew out of hiss ass. Meiser lifted a finger, placing it onto his chin and leaving it there while he looked off into the sky with wonder.

"Time will only tell...Hah! I made a joke."

He snickered to himself, being drawn to the situation and keeping his eyes on the cards, not missing one move the man made. His tricks would not leave his sight whatsoever, he swore it in the name of science!

[Akito]

"A street performer who knows something of magic," Alexis remarked, "How trite," There was an unmissable hint of disdain in Alexis' almost otherwise polite tone. It was an unconscious addition, for even after all these years, there was still a bit of hesitation coming to terms with the fact that even everyday peasants knew a bit about magical lore. In his time, magic was a close guarded secret. Things change so quickly in...a few thousand years? Or more.

Strangely enough, Alexis felt this situation familiar; he had read it in that one book, "How to scam people using 'psychic' powers for dummies,". Mentally shrugging it off, Alexis raised an eyebrow. Tell her future? The jester could read the future? How convenient, the sorcerer would test this belief. Petty details like finance and romance did not concern him, they would be no valid proof. What he wanted to know, perhaps more than anything....

Before Iris could reply to Lucius, Alexis covered her mouth with his free hand and winked, muttering a quick "Sorry," Then, using that index finger of that hand, he traced out his full name "Alexis Fon Sariah," in the air before them. Luminescent red static appeared to form the letters. Then with an all too natural smile, he said with an unnerving and inhuman calm, "Instead, Prophet, how about you tell me...when will I die?"

[Shinn]

"Indeed they will good sir." Lucius replied to the masked mans remarks. "But it never hurts to take a peek now does it?" The mans words were true indeed the future was something that was not completely written. No one could be 100% sure of their destiny. His cards could only show what would happen to them should they continue down whatever pah they took. It was very possible to change this if they chose to do so. It would just be up to them though.

Just as the young lady was about to give the fortune teller what she wanted to know, she was silenced by the other gentleman. It seemed that he wanted to be the one who went first. He showed off his use of magic by spelling out his name in the air. It was quite the neat trick, one he had seen other magic users use before. The gentleman's request though seemed.... unorthodox. This was the first time anyone had requested something like this. It wasn't anything that he couldn't do but why would he want to learn that? But Lucius chose not to get into his business. Instead he smiled at the gentleman and held out his hand. "That will be 10 munny good sir."

[Iris|Kairi]

Instead of the hand of the gentleman reaching out the munny, the young woman did instead for her new friend. Reflex, kindness, whatever it was, it was normal. She didn't have to think about it honestly. If Alexis wanted to go first, that was fine with her. His question was odd though. Who would want to know that? It was so sad... it caused her to crook her neck and peer up at him with confused and wide teal eyes. Wide from seeing him use magic, confused from his request.

She seemed to have forgotten about, or just didn't mind the hand over her mouth. Iris didn't have anything to say anyway. She didn't know what her question was.

What DID she want to know?

Love? Munny? What she'd be doing years from now? Her lips curled slightly under Alexis' hand as she slowly looked away, pondering her own question now. Love...love would be nice to know about! too bad something else was nagging her mind that was more important to the short female.

Where were the remaining members of her nomadic star people race? The ones that hadn't stayed on the world with her and the others. What had happened to them? Where were they now?

The question overpowered her will to know about her lovelife. But would this card reader be able to tell her? Would he actually be correct?

Good thing she paid for Alexis. That meant her turn would come that much faster, though she couldn't say she wished to know when her new friend would die.

[Akito]

[Skipping Meiser's turn since he doesn't have much to respond to. My apologies for the inconvenience.]

Alexis remained silent, though nodded a thank you towards the generous Iris. He was still at odds with the currency, for it would take him far too long to pull out such a precise amount as 10 munny. What he wanted he usually traded for. Jewels and regalia were common possession for a King, he gave it not a second thought when he exchanged one for a stick of gum, let alone a meal or a roof over his head. He was divine under the Golden Rule, in which he would never be in need of riches, for all the world's riches would flock to him naturally. Of course, Alexis was no ambitious businessman and had no interest in investing his wealth in anything other than perhaps another delicious Sea Salt ice cream in that one rather pleasant world...

Thoughts of that aside, Alexis regarded the magician of cards once again thoughtfully. He was skeptical, indeed, but he was willing to give the benefit of the doubt; while he didn't believe any man, even himself, could chart his future, he decided to humor the possibility. Inclining his head to see if the man would respond, Alexis waited for his answer with bated breath.

[Shinn]

Once Lucius was handed the 10 munny he placed the currency under his cloak. He looked back at the other man and waved his hand over the cards and like magic the name of the young lady vanished and were soon replaced with his name instead. The color for his name though was a dark red font instead of gold. When Lucius saw this he knew right then what might happen if he were to tell him. And it wasn't anything good.

"Ahem, alright lets get this started. What will the cards tell us about when your life will end?"

The mysterious card reader flipped over the middle card to reveal what it was. It showed the image of a skeleton sitting on a red throne with a broken crown lying on the side of the throne. Under the image a black band with the text "Fallen King" written in white.

Lucius grabbed the card and looked at it very closely, he then looked back at Alexis studying him very closely. He let out a deep sigh and put the card back in his deck.

Lucius looked back at Alexis staring straight at his eyes. "I can't tell you when you will die. You already died."

Well this was an awkward moment now not just for Lucius but for probably the other three as well. See it was these kind of moments that the masked guy would really benefit the most in breaking the ice a bit. But for now he would just have to wait and see what kind of reaction he would get from Alexis.

[Akito]

"If only," Alexis snorted, a rather unrefined but definitive motion. If he had died, he would not be suffering now. His pain, his torment, meant that he was alive unfortunately. And he would continue to be so for a very long time; only a coward would kill themself, let themselves be killed or otherwise seek to die. Alexis was many things, a liar, a traitor, a murderer, but he was no coward. He was too damn stubborn to be.

Bringing his index finger to his lip, Alexis pressed it against his lips, "You cannot see a future yet to be shaped," He mused, more to himself than anything. After all, destiny is but an excuse made by the weak to allow them to remain weak without guilt. "Your 'clairvoyance' seems to work by analyzing the past and using it to predict the most likely future; you took a stab in the dark with what little you knew and you failed," Alexis stated bluntly, yet chuckled as he did so, whether this was mockery or just plain light humor could not be distinguished. Were their positions swapped, Alexis would have simply said 'In 50 years' For one, it was unlikely they would meet again and two, who would be petty enough to hold a person to that prediction for so long? Thus, he would be able to walk away with the earnings without looking quite the fraud. But alas. Meiser was remaining surprisingly silent. Alexis would have sworn he'd pounce on the chance to assert his claim of fraudulence.

Suddenly sympathetic, Alexis smiled warmly and said, "But be not discouraged, I'm sure she would still like to ask something of you," Unlocking Iris' arm and himself, Alexis then pushed her lightly forward, in front of him, indicating she was the next customer, her free voucher still being valid hopefully. A game for women and children, as Alexis had first thought. It was a pity, a part of him really hoped he would be given a proper answer...that he would be given an end. They say men are not born equal and that only in death are men equal; that did not hold true for Alexis at all.

[Iris|Kairi]

Iris was bewildered. Already dead? It was clear that Alexis was not. Maybe this guy wasn't so credible...it casted doubt onto his ability to know where her people were, or even if she'd ever find them. Once his hand was removed, she found herself frowning in disappointment. It was her own fault, though, letting herself get so hopeful over something most likely meant to be only for fun. How silly of her...

But she knew the answer to her own question! Her brows lifted suddenly, the smiling returning. Why did she even need to ask? Of course she'd find them! That was a silly question to begin with. Her ever brought optimism chased away her woes in a hurry, not even leaving a shadow of a doubt. And it didn't matter how long she had to look, that'd just add to the splendid adventure! It wouldn't be very rewarding to know where they are because someone else told you with cards, you go and there they are. She giggled to herself.

Pessimism wasn't her deal.

"Alright, mister card-man! I get my turn, right?" she asked sweetly, grinning. It was a playful game now. But...what to ask?

"Something about love?" Iris mentioned vaguely, not able to think of anything better. Asking about her star people was already far from her mind. Let her glowing optimism glow!

[Shinn]

Not appearing as annoyed with his words as most people who can tell when someone was being snobby would be, Lucius shrugged his shoulders. "Say what you want, but the cards can only predict the future of someone who is existent in the eyes of the cosmos. I don't know your story sir but as far as the cards know it, you don't exist anymore. But looks speak more than just card magic right?" He picked up the other two cards that were on the table and was about to call it a day when the girl asked to see her future.

Surprised by this, Lucius scrambled his cards around in the air before placing them back face down on the table. Something about love was her choice, which was something Lucius would be better at doing.

"Alright 'Something about love' it shall be." Lucius said as he waved his hands over the two cards. They soon switched back to the names that were on there before in bright gold letters. The magician picked one of the cards up and flipped it face up for the others to see. This time around though, the card would not just show a picture.

The image started out as a bright blue star mixed in with an entire school of stars are soaring throughout the cosmos. The blue star soon began to drift away from the others and go on its own path before suddenly coming across a few different colored stars and going along with them. One star in particular which was a large red star, began to fly next to the blue star until the two became one very bright comet flying at full speed ahead of the other stars. The comet would soon come near where a school of stars were at but also where a black hole was as well.


Lucius sat there with his hands together as though he was in deep thought. "Hmm, very interesting.... This is a very interesting one indeed." He looked over at the girl to see her reaction. Although he expected her not to understand the message.

[Iris|Kairi]

"...Ooooo....Pretty!" she grinned, the images reflecting in her eyes. She didn't know you got a show when you asked a question. It was beautiful...and he was right. She didn't understand in the least. Possibly if she'd been taking this seriously she would have, but after Alexis' turn she'd lost her hope of anything being a truth. Yes, she possibly sounded like a simpleton, but at least she was a cute simpleton.

"What's interesting about it, sir?" she asked, at least happy for something that reminded her of her people and home. The cards had gotten stars right. But how come the two turned into a comet? And then there was that weird black hole... She didn't like black holes!! She had tried to mask her horror when the vision displayed the horrid thing, but surely the sudden step back into Alexis betrayed her.

Once when she was little and still nomadic with all of her people, a black hole had suddenly popped up nearly beside their path...she could remember nothing scarier. there was no light, no energy in it...it sucked in their energy and nearly them as well! A few fell victim, but they did manage to pool their collective energy and get away. Iris paled at the thought. The young woman was terrified of them now, even the thought.

What did any of that have to do with love?!

[Shinn]

"Oh well uhh.. just what the card revealed. I found it very interesting that it would show well..... that."

His stammering of words as well as his uneasy laughter seemed to indicate an uneasiness about the cards prediction. Perhaps what it showed was something he saw as a very uneasy prediction. Whatever the prediction was made Lucius look a bit nervous. But always trying to be the calm individual he shook off his feared look and smiled as he picked up the card and put it back into his deck. He looked at Iris and could see that she was confused as to what the card was trying to tell her. She was impressed with the little show that it did which was what he expected. The stars and metaphoric imagery was not something anyone would know and interpret right off the bat.

"Well from what I can see the card was a bit confusing to you am I right? This is understanding since the cards like to use imagery instead of just flat out telling someone. he heh...."

[meiser]

Meiser laughed at the king, what a pathetic existance he thought.

"I thought you were dead the first time I met you, only a corpse would wear that wardrobe!"

Then watching the pretty light show, it was entertaining. But the man was having trouble predicting what it meant. Arching a brow, he walked up to the the man and slammed his hand onto the table. This was mainly to just make him more nervous, since Meiser was trying to crack this case. He was stuttering, and looked ver uneasy, just the kind of attitude he needed to do some interegating.

"Hey...You either tell the girl what her prediction was, or she gets her refund. We didn't ask for a light show, we asked for predictions of the future. So spit it the hell out already, if you're so good with cards as you say you are, tell her the damn prediction."

[Iris|Kairi]

Iris blinked at Meiser, wondering why he was all worked up. Laughing nervously, she patted Meiser calmingly on the back. "Hey..It's alright. I didn't pay for it anyway..Mine was free.." Besides..something so small as a show and a prediction wasn't worth all the hub-bub and yelling. Surely the card reader would tell her in due time.

Peering back at Lucius with curious teal eyes, she suddenly became nervous herself. The fortune teller had seemed nervous. "Y-...Yes, it is confusing to me. You can tell me what it was showing...right?"

He did seem to understand what it was trying to tell her. While it was started in all good fun, for some reason it seemed more serious. Maybe she was falling into his ploy...but it couldn't be helped. Would she like what she'd hear? Oh, she did hope it was a good thing.

She hoped that scary black hole was just...a random image that had no meaning at all. Her slender arms crossed around her torso, teeth now nibbling at the inside of her bottom lip. If anyone spoke too loudly now anywhere near her, she'd most likely jump out of her chilled skin.