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 Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 5:56 pm
A fortune teller.... Caterina remembered seeing the advertisement on her way to work. Being a woman who's work was rooted in the human psychology one would think she'd pass on such 'silly' things. However she'd been having a particularly hard time at work lately, earning admonishments for her solidarity or for doing something simply to agitate already irate higher-ups. Add to that, her deductions the past couple of weeks had been lacking, if not simply outright wrong.
It would suffice to say that she was feeling rather down and had begun to doubt that she would ever rise above the grunt-work level she was at now. She was watching neophytes come in and being promoted all around her, while she was stuck in a rut.
She had been sitting at her desk having lunch when she remembered the advertizement. Would people think her foolish for even considering going? Probably. And what if she went and didn't get the answer she hoped to hear?
But then again...weren't these fortune things supposed to simply provide the most favorable answer to the enquirer based upon what information said enquirer let slip to the fortune teller? It wasn't real. Fortune tellers were simply psychologists like herself that used their knowledge in a different way to make a profit. That's what she believed any way.
So why not? Even if she knew it wasn't real, hearing something positive about herself from someone else for a change would hopefully help her morale.
Thus, Caterina Dunne found herself rounding the corner. She slowed her pace when she saw others there. She hadn't really noticed the brisk pace she had been walking to begin with. She started to feel a little shy, and even started to second guess her decision...but she was already here.
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Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:04 pm
Now that the woman had moved off, Shin finally took a seat. He settled down, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his legs and hands clasped together before him. “Isn’t it your job to tell me what I need to hear? Considering I didn’t come here to see anything in particular, you’ve got free reign.” While Shin’s manner was in no way hostile, there was a distinct layer of disbelief that he didn’t bother hiding. He figured if this guy was what he said he was and there really was a mystical force out there, it would be proved to him whether right now he believed in it or not.
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:23 am
 Lu Xiong hummed calmly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "There are...many paths in one's future. Too numerous and bright for a simple medium to choose just one." He gave an elegant roll of his shoulders, catching Shin's gaze squarely. "You must first know what you want before I can show you what you need." "What troubles you, hmm?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:34 am
Shin held the fortune tellers gaze, his lips lifted into a wry smile. “So, there isn’t one more important than another? I’ve seen those mediums on television, babbling on about how grandma wants to chat and not their sister they wanted in the first place.” He retorted, not inclined to make this easy. “And what about those people who don’t know what they want.”
He stretched his fingers idly and frowned as he did try to figure out exactly what it was that he wanted. Shin liked to think he had given up on wanting anything. Maybe a new car to replace the crappy scooter he was currently getting around on. But he hardly had the funds for that… and he doubted material goods counted for much in fortune teller world.
This was silly. He finally decided.
But he dared not search deeper to the part of his soul that cried out for companionship. The lonely young man inside that had been burnt but still longed to be loved. If he touched that, even briefly, it would consume him.
“I have no troubles.” Liar.
[Ah, that Lu Xiong art is so pretty! <33]
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 12:53 am
((Hehehe thank you Ruri! * u */// I wanted to make matching Lu Xiong and Xiao Bao ones to post in RPs~♥)) "No event is ever just 'one' event. One leads to another or two or three or a hundred." The smile Lu Xiong flashed Shin was fleeting but very very sharp, more tooth than anything else. "Every human has something that they want. Just having is already half of knowing." Lu Xiong didn't seem surprised by Shin's refusal, merely tucking a loose hair behind his ear and quipping blandly, "Then you shall live a trouble-free life." "Mmm, but then I must ask, why would such an untroubled man seek my services? Pride? Self-Indulgence? Aaah, no, you have seen that already." "Ask me. Or leave. The future will find you regardless."
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:09 am
“Sounds complicated. I’d be looking for a less difficult job if I were you.” Shin answered with an arch of an eyebrow. It was his reticence and stubborn inability to challenge his own feelings that kept Jeong Shin on the defence.
Then you shall live a trouble-free life. Shin looked amused at that; giving Lu Xiong a nod of appreciation. He had deserved that one.
“I was just curious… it was a passing fancy… ” Shin straightened, but even with the fortune teller’s last words, he refused to budge from the seat. He pondered over the ultimatum… and finally broke.
“So you want to know what I want? I want to know if I will ever know happiness again or if I’ll continue to get by with a protective cloak of negativity wrapped around me. Is there something bright in my future or will I exist in the same stupor I’m in now until the very end? Go on Mr. Fortune, give me the bad news.”
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:48 pm
Caterina wanted to tell this guy that he didn't need a fortune teller to tell him that so long as he was negative, nothing would ever get better. However, she didn't want to be snapped at for overhearing. Not that it could be helped. That and...wasn't that just a little hypocritical? She couldn't go telling someone to think positive when that is what she herself should have been doing.
So perhaps it was pointless of her to even come here when she knew, now it seemed anyway, to just keep her chin up and have a positive attitude. Once again though...she was here now. May as well stay.
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 1:57 pm
 Xiao Bao disentangled himself efficiently from Wei Xin as he heard another customer shuffling in the shadows. He wished, briefly, that he had some sort of hat or scarf he could wrap around Wei Xin's very obvious horns, but there was nothing to be done now. Leaving Wei Xin in the darkness, he pulled his own hat further down, over his pointed ears to hide them and felt his way (with inhuman accuracy) towards where Caterina was standing. "Honored guest," he said, bowing slightly at the waist, wings tight to his body and well hidden. "Have you come to seek the services of my master fortune teller?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 8:26 pm
"Oh!" Caterina jumped then gave a small customary bow in greeting, "Um...well, yes. I think."
In her own sudden fidgety-ness Caterina was none the wiser to Xiao Bao being anything less than human. Of course, she was always a little anxious around people she was not familiar with, or higher authority. It didn't always make the best first impression. And for Caterina, how she appeared to others was very important to her.
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:49 am
((@ Fayth - please remember to remove your sig when posting as per forum rules~ thnx)) "Of course," Lu Xiong agreed amiably, arching his own eyebrow at Shin. "Kingdoms are built on fancy and whim." Eyes fluttering closed, he pulled Shin's hands up towards him, spreading his own hands over them briefly, palm to palm. "Cold hands," he remarked absently, "a sign of a man who cares too much." "Ah, but I digress." Opening his eyes, he pulled the small bamboo container between their joined hands and rotated it in the same motion he had before, shaking till at last a single bamboo stick slid out. Releasing Shin, Lu Xiong rotated the stick between his fingers...but it was blank. Humming, he tilted his head back as if consulting the stars before sighing quietly and passing the stick to Shin. "Your question is too vague. Happiness is relative. Will you be happier than you are now? Yes. Will you also at one point be far worse? Yes. My advice, dear customer, is to allow yourself to experience both....That and perhaps change the brand of sake you sell."
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Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:27 am
He was out for a walk. Again, it wasn't too unusual for him to be out for a walk, but it was rather late now. Even so, he didn't want to go home. There was nothing there... Just empty memories of a time gone by. Sighing, Galen slowly headed towards the park he frequented, his footsteps slow and deliberate. He didn't want to think about the train he would be taking back to his hometown later, he didn't want to remember that his younger brother's death anniversary was in a day's time, he didn't want to think about the homework and assignments that were not complete, he just didn't want to think about all of it. And he really just wanted for all of it to go away, to leave him alone. He wanted to stop thinking so much about things that didn't seem to matter.
The light breeze teased his hair, tugging gently at the strands. He wandered around the park, just trying to clear his head, to stop thinking. The leaves drifted from above, falling as the weather became colder. Fall had come, the trees were brilliant shades of crimsons, oranges and yellows as the colourful leaves fell to fade into a dull brown. Then the trees were bare for winter, before they bloomed again once more in spring. Galen held up a hand, reaching out to catch a leaf before it touched the ground. One leaf for one happy day in a year, or so the story went. He smiled sadly as his fingers curled around a small leaf. At least he would be happy one day in the year to come. Sighing, he continued on his walk, burying his hands into the pocket of his coat.
He could hear the spft murmuring of voices, barely audible but there nonetheless. Strange.. It was rather late for anyone to be out, really. It was so late, and this park was usually isolated at night. What could be going on here? Somewhat curious, Galen headed in the direction of the voices, unsure of what he was expecting.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:43 pm
Shin made no reply to the odd comment about his hands. He would have been inclined to protest, however the fact of the matter was, it was a hard truth and not something he admitted to himself often. Caring too much for an unfortunate trait to have.
He watched, curious despite himself, as Lu Xiong got out the bamboo container and one stick slipped out. However when the other man finally spoke, Shin could have laughed at himself for being so foolish.
It had all been a ridiculous waste of time. Except…
“That was hardly even an answer. But I suppose that it’s my fault. I should have just asked about the car.” Shin rubbed his hands together thoughtfully. The last comment, was not something he could ignore; but rather than let on that Lu Xiong had hit a mark, he gave a nonchalant shrug. “I was thinking of switching to kizakura yamahai, it has a richer flavour that the stuff sell now.”
Shin glanced about quickly and stood. “It looks like you have more lost souls to tend to. I’d pay you, but I don’t think you’ll accept… so I’ll offer you a free drink next time you’re passing by. If you’re as good as it seems you are, you’ll know where.” He lifted a hand in farewell and without another look back, strode off into the night.
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