Aislinn

Cleaning shop was, strangely, one of Bastian’s favorite things to do. Once he began he enjoyed reorganizing his trinkets and plants, moving them into more eye-catching places and making plans to redecorate more in the future. The Imperial definitely loved how crisp and fresh everything looked when he finished, and how the scent of sandalwood would seem all the more enveloping. Not to mention a clean shop attracted more customers than a sloppy one.

It also meant that he was nearing the end of his day, and there likely wouldn’t be anymore customers until the next morning. Though Julian usually worked late in the clinic, Bastian could at least cook some dinner and nibble on it while waiting for him. And, of course, he would make extra for his poor plague doctor.

Today the Imperial’s stomach was grumbling more than usual, having had to skip breakfast in order to tend to a rush of customers. With food and future cuddling on his mind, the mage bustled about his tiny kitchen, roasting fresh poultry from the market and spicing some cubed potatoes to go with it. The smell of everything sizzling made his mouth water.

He had just sat down and taken his first bite of quail when the bell above the door jingled. Bastian placed his food back onto the plate and turned eagerly to face the entrance, only for his expression to fall slightly when he realized it wasn’t Julian.

Instead, a female Mirror stood in the doorway, bright pink eyes staring curiously at him from behind a red and white mask. Frowning, the mage tilt his head, the beads on his veil clattering softly as he matched her gaze. There was something…different…about this dragon. Not a physical manifestation but something…else…something tied to her spirit and mind.

Wary now, Bastian stood and waited for her to speak.

The Mirror wasted no time in asking her question, a sheepish smile on her lips as she spoke. “Sorry for disturbing you. I know it’s a bit late, but I’ve come for a reading. My name is Aislinn. I’m curious; what kinds of things will I find if I keep on travelling?”

She fell silent after that, and when he realized she had nothing more to say, the Imperial gestured for her to take a seat at the table. Whatever Aislinn was hiding, it seemed it wouldn’t do him any harm for now. As she sat he removed his dinner and set it aside, pulling a tarot deck from one his pockets. “Take this deck and shuffle the cards,” Bastian instructed as he held it out. “Think about your question while you do so, and when it feels right stop shuffling and cut the deck. Pass it back to me when you’ve finished.”

Aislinn did as she was told, motions quick but slightly awkward as she tried to keep cards from spilling out from the pile. When she finished she returned them and sat back in her chair once more.

“Each card in the spread represents a different aspect of your inquiry,” the mage explained as he straightened the pile. “The first card shows past influences on your current situation. The second shows your thoughts and feelings on the matter at present. The third reveals any hidden influences you might have overlooked, while the fourth card offers advice on how to proceed. The fifth card shows the most likely outcome of the situation, though that is not to say it will certainly come to pass. If an undesirable outcome is predicted, there are ways to change it.”

That said, Bastian pulled the top five cards from the deck and spread them into an even line on the tabletop.

“The Ace of Cups, reversed. This indicates unhappiness with your emotional life. You have had problems with a relationship before, and are recovering after separating yourself from a disappointing relationship. As a result you have suffered a broken heart and intense loneliness. You’ve felt used and manipulated, as your partner was more interested in sexual acts than a long term commitment. All this has led to the belief that no one actually cares about you, that all they do is toy with your feelings until they get what they want.”

He didn’t miss her flinch before he flipped over the next card. Despite her obvious discomfort, he couldn’t help but snort at the next card that was revealed. It definitely had some…lewd images associated with it. For now, however, Bastian decided to skip over them. It wouldn’t do to traumatize his customers…

“Ah, Justice, of the Major Arcana. Despite this past trouble, you feel a sense of balance restored now that you are traveling. The separation from your previous partner has eliminated your guilty conscience; you feel that leaving them was the right thing to do. But this card cautions you to carefully consider the choices you are being presented. You need to consider all the facts and weigh all options before coming to a final decision.”

Not too much there, Bastian thought with a sigh. He flipped the next card a bit more aggressively; it seemed the cards had their own ideas about what needed to be said today.

“The Six of Wands, reversed. Dear me, it appears you won the battle but are losing the war. Right now your rival is winning, and a lack of communication means victory is escaping you. You poor thing, it looks as if your former partner has been unfaithful…and it seems in the past they have put their own interests ahead of your needs. But you need to postpone your travels in order to clear up a failure of communication between the two of you…they’re hiding something from you. And it’s not just the infidelity…”

There we are, Bastian smirked. Definitely getting more interesting now. He turned the next card over before bending eagerly to read it.

“The Six of Cups. A card of nostalgia which usually involves individuals linked to one’s past. It indicates that a lover from your past will reenter your life, and with it set off a much needed talk. As a result you will have to review some aspect of the life you left behind, likely with a trusted advisor.” Here, the Imperial stopped and winked, laughing. “I’d say you’ve done that already in coming here. It appears you will be dealing with children…they will play a significant role at this time in your life. This will cause you to make a trip to visit family...one you may not even realize you have anymore. Old skills that you have allowed to go dormant will be used again, and the cards are advising you to deal with the painful memories you have in order to recover. You need to face them to finally move on.”

Curious to see where Aislinn’s path would end, the mage flipped over the next card in line and tilt his head. Even in the gloom this card shimmered as if it held a light within all its own. A wide grin spread across Bastian’s features as he saw the illustration.

“My, my, look at that. The Ten of Cups. This is an extremely positive card, especially in matters of love, harmonious relationships, and spiritual growth. You will find harmony and lasting happiness in the relationship you will cultivate. This includes a positive connection between you and your children. A joyful family life is ahead of you, with the promise of lasting contentment and a happy marriage to someone new. At the end of all this you will find the realization of your own personal hopes.”

At this the mage stopped and smiled, laughing. “As for travel, well, you will find a pleasant opportunity for that as well. But this time, you won’t be alone.”

Still smiling, Bastian swept a paw over the table and the cards vanished back into their pocket. Such positive readings always left him feeling renewed. Standing from the table he motioned toward a mostly empty counter in the back and nodded towards Aislinn.

“Though before you rush off on your next adventure, I do require some type of payment. Preferably in the form of something small, round, and golden?”

END