the future? [Zo]

[Mordechai]

The big bike rumbled quietly, as it more or less idled along the roads north of the city. He had put his single contact back in, so now a pair of obsidian eyes scanned the fields and forests with frontage on the little used highway. Rolling past the farming community of Thornvale, the massive killer leaned into a curve, following the road out to a lone mansion, setting deep in the woods, backed right up to the wilderness that encroached the northern edge of Harper Rock city limits.
Slowing to a stop, Mordechai dropped his heavy booted feet to the road, standing up over the Judge. Eyes roved everywhere, seeing nothing. His acute sense of hearing and smell picked up neither humans nor others. The silence of the woods, punctuated by wildlife was all that could be sensed.

Mordechai pushed the bike off into the trees setting the stand once it was hidden from the road. The quiet soothed him, a balm on his conscience. Stepping away from the bike, the massive killer took 3 running steps and launched himself into the air shifting into a huge harpy eagle. With strong sweeps of his seven foot wings, Mordechai forced himself higher into the sky. Circling as he quested for a thermal, the glittering obsidian eyes searched the wilderness below him. Now high enough that he was but a speck in the night sky, the eagle folded its wings and dropped into a dive. The air rushed by at over one hundred miles an hour, and somewhere deep inside, the killer felt a growing freedom. Spreading his wings wide the harpy soared upwards once again, bleeding off speed as he climbed. As an eagle, Mordechai felt free, released from the tension and dissent in his mind. There was nothing missing as a bird of prey. No need for emotions. No need to socialize. Just fly, hunt, and feed. A simple life, but he knew he couldn't stay this way forever, free. Freedom was a dream that was impossible to obtain. Peace was a dream that was impossible to obtain. Strife seemed to be his fate, struggle, his life.

Fate. Fate. If only there was a way to see into the future. Spiraling higher, Mordechai drift south over Cherrydale. Glittering eyes took in the soldiers surrounding the mausoleum. How easy it would be to fold his wings and dive into their midst. Shifting at the last second and drawing his weapons. A vision of battle floated through his mind as he analyzed the weapons and soldiers he could see. He could easily decimate their ranks, tearing their heads free with his bare hands, dismembering them with his sword. How many could he take down before they stopped him, before enough lead filled his body. Before he bled out. Before he was free. Fate. He could alter it now. He could change the future. Mordechai's mind began to race. Was it worth it? Would it make a difference? Fate. If only he could see the future. Slowly the killer started to fold his wings. Rolling into a dive, a song began to slip through his mind. It was one that he had often hummed telepathically. Telepathically to Zo. As he started to pick up speed he thought of her. The bright swirling colors. The rituals she performed for him. Watching her flip cards as she read tarot to her customers. Slowly his wings spread. The dive broke, as he straightened out again. A determined look showed deep inside the eyes of the eagle, as it turned south once again the wings driving huge gusts of wind behind him as his altitude and speed increased. Driving him forward with single minded determination. Zodiac. She would help him. Her cards, they could tell the future. It was worth a chance. She would not lie to him. If it was a sham, he knew she would tell him. But maybe, just maybe she could help him find the missing part. The broken part. The reason he could not feel like his beloved kennedy.

The shops of Honeymead market appeared just inside the border of the city before him. Black eyes locked on to the roof that he knew belonged to Pandora's Box, and once more the mighty eagle tucked his wings. Flaring up as he approached, the air rippled as the eagle shimmered, and reformed into a seven foot behemoth that landed surprisingly graceful and softly on the roof. As he stood, He once more sent the song telepathically out to his ''sister'' As the haunting sounds of Santana's 'Black Magic Woman' sought out her mind, Mordechai added a plea ''Zo, I need you''. Taking the few steps to the parapet, a quick glance showed no one about, and the killer stepped off the roof, landing silently beside her shop, and started heading for the door.

[Zodiac]

It was in rare moments like this the girl felt truly alive again. Not alive in body. No, that was denied her unless she found some way to reverse the process of being turned, but in spirit was quite another matter. The gypsy was in the center of her pentacle in a lotus pose hovering off the ground by at least a foot. Eyes closed as the room was lit only by the moonlight flowing down through the sky light in the ceiling. In this state of meditation, she felt disconnected from the reality around her and more in tune with what walked outside of most people's limited perceptions. There were no humans or vampires or whatever in that place. Only souls seeking a common goal to rise above the norm and reach upwards and outwards to the cosmos itself. She was at peace and her perceptions were open as she allowed herself to bask in that tiny moment of tranquility.

More and more she found herself seeing refuge in these moments. Regaining her balance and renewing her strength. A break in a war she fought every waking moment of her continued existence. A war most would tell her she was destined to loose, but the deceptively small and timid soul fought not on a battlefield with guns and blades, but for the very concept of who she was at the core of her being. What she was now was irrelevant. Who she was within was what mattered most, and in this moment of reflection and renewal- something moved. Something flowed across her visions now. A shape? Something.

Her eyes opened and blinked as she flowed back into herself. She stood up, still floating above the floor, and moved to the five points of circle to dismiss and thank the spirits she had asked to keep her safe in such a disconnected state of being before drifting to the door that led downstairs to her store proper.

"Someone is coming" she thought as she reached the bottom of the stairs and with a force of will lowered herself to the point the edges of her skirts hid the fact her feet still did not quite touch the floor. She then opened the door and entered the main area of her shop. She smiled brightly for the few customers present and moved to greet each of them in turn. Her staff seeing to their needs, so she was a butterfly among them. Some she whispered to their thoughts while to others she signed or wrote messages to depending on if they were alive or like her. Always a smile and encouragement and a thank you. This was who she was at heart and why the cosmos decided eons ago one day she would be Mistress Zodiac.

''Zo, I need you"

Both eyebrows raised when the voice slipped into her mind along with an all familiar tune. The music was typical of him. A private joke between the mystic and the killer, but the words. The words had a weight to them she had not heard in Mordechai's voice before. Almost as if he was pleading to her of all people. Usually it was the other way around. Her needing his help in some matter, so she was quite surprised. What could be so wrong he was asking-pleading-for her help?

She turned and drifted to the center of the room and held her place. At her feet her cat was looking up at her. Ginny meowed softly before jumping up into the girl's arms. Zodiac petted her gently as she watched the silhouette of the big man make its way across the windows towards her door.

"Something interesting this way comes," she whispered to the cat as she waited for him to enter.

[Mordechai]

Mordechai reached out with a small pulse of his power, sensing that she was here he continued around the shop passing windows on the way to the door. An itch between his shoulders had the massive killer turning his head to look inside, that itch that let you know someone was looking at you, had you in their sights. The windows were lit from the inside like huge tv screens, and in the middle of the room was a flash of color. Jet black hair, with violet highlights outlined the face of the woman he sought. She faced him, turning slowly as he rounded the corner. It was as if she had known he was on his way, close, and had come out into the main room to await him. Mordechai paused at the door, his mind retracing his thoughts, trying to organize, to be prepared for the unknown, for he truly did know nothing of what the young mystic practiced. Stooping to enter, then rising up to his full height to survey the staff and customers, he walked over to one of the displays. Tracing a crystal ball with a long, powerful finger, the killer seemed engrossed with how the light refracted through it. Reaching out across their telepathic link he once more spoke to her. ''Zo, I am glad you are here. I need help, and I am hoping you can do it'' Turning, Mordechai stepped closer, one bent finger held out an inch or so from the nose of the cat in her arms. He nodded towards the feline, continuing out loud, ''How is Ginny tonight?'' Mordechai looked down into the beautiful gypsy's face, the weight of his problems filling his gaze, as he once more spoke mind to mind, ''Your readings, the Future....you can truly tell it?''

[Zodiac]

She imagined the sight of the man entering unnerved a few of her customers. In her view, that was their problem. To Zodiac, the sight of this man was always a good one. A welcome one. Despite his grim nature, she always smiled when he was around. Mordechai was one of the few males that did not send her into a panic and had her true respect. She listened as his mind touched hers and began to speak. That tone she heard earlier was still there and now she was truly concerned.

Ginny lifted her head as the large finger came into her view and sniffed at it for a moment before rubbing her head against it. The next question was something of a surprise to her. He had never struck her as the type to consider anything beyond the norm as a source of information. Mordechai never praised or mocked her for what she was, so to have such a question suddenly put to her raised her interests even more. It was also one of the few times she had ever seen any kind of emotion in his eyes. The giant was usually a machine except on rare occasions. His eyes a cold, almost blank slate which was hard to gain any insight from, but now they screamed volumes.

She smiled softly and reached out her hand to him. Ginny took the clue and lifted herself up onto her shoulder as she placed her tiny hand into his. "Come with me to my parlor. We will be able to talk more freely away from wondering eyes." her thoughts touched his. She did not flinch as his hand closed around hers, despite the fact he could have literally removed her hand with a twist of his wrist. Once she told Jennifer, her all too human assistant manager, what a sight she would be if she entered some place with Jonah on one side of her and Chaindog, her security specialist, on the other. Now add to that Mordechai directly behind her and people would swear some Mafia Dom's little princess had walked into the room so back yourself up into the next county if you wanted to keep breathing. She kept that humorous thought locked down tightly as the clients moved aside to allow them to pass. "Hold my calls, please." she sent the thought to Jennifer.

Once inside what some called 'The Purple Parlor', Zodiac locked the door behind them and bid her friend to have a seat. Zodiac relaxed and lifted up a few more inches from the floor as she drifted around to the opposite side of the table. She crossed her arms over the back of her 'throne' and leaned her head down to rest upon them as she continued to look at her friend. Ginny hopped down off of the girl's shoulder onto the floor and laid down on one of the various rugs spread about the room. "That was a question I never expected out of you, dear one. I will try and answer it as best I can, then hopefully you will tell me what has you in such a state as you are now." She then drifted to where a kettle of water sat warming and dropped a pair of blood packs into it to warm them.

"Can I tell the future absolute? As in, example, if Mordie does A, then B, beats C, surrenders to D, and then turns to E then F will happen? No dear one, I cannot and anyone who claims they can is a liar. Life doesn't work like a step by step guidebook at all. But, can I make observations, gain clues, and tell you what can possibly happen if you continue the way you are? Yes I can. The tarot gives hints and insights that I can understand. It offers clues into what was and what is to come. I am not sure if this is what you seek, but this is what I can give you." She lifted one of the packs from the water and snipped the end of it, then poured the contents into a large stein. After pouring herself a smaller cup from the other pack, she returned to the table and sat the larger drink in front of Mordechai, then took a seat in her own chair.

"Before you dismiss me, I will say this much. Many have sat where you are now and I have read the cards for them. Some I never see again, but the majority return to me quite satisfied that I have helped them and return to seek my help again. Now, can you tell me why I heard what I heard in your voice earlier, dear? Is everything alright between you and Kennie?" It was probably the only thing she could think of that might be causing his state now. The last she knew, the pair of them were still going along very well and if this wasn't the reason, she was clueless. That was one of the 'problems' she had when dealing with her 'brother'. He was always so closed and reluctant to speak of things that she had no idea what could get through that steely iced armor he surrounded himself with. She reached across the table and patted one of his hands gently. "C'mon, spill it. If you can't trust me, who can you trust?"

[Mordechai]

"Come with me to my parlor. We will be able to talk more freely away from wondering eyes."

Silently, stoically, Mordechai's obsidian eyes made one last circuit of the shop. As they roved over each individual, an instant threat assessment was made and stored in the killers mind. It was habit, almost ritualistic, but it had served him well. Both in his human life, and this path he now trod. Feeling Zo's little hand taking hold of his much larger palm, he allowed the diminutive mystic to lead him towards the back. Finally satisfied that no immediate threat was apparent, Mordechai took the last step inside, then moved aside, watching as Zo closed and locked the door.

The massive Sangue had never before been in Zo's shop, let alone her personal sanctum, and now once again his eyes roved. Cataloging and trying to identify the items he saw spaced around, he realized that many of these things he had supplied. It wasn't so much that the old curse that kept vampires from crossing thresholds bothered him. Rather it was just an ingrained aversion to being anywhere that he did not have full tactical control. He did not go places that he was not in control, period.....till tonight. The recurring purple theme amused him slightly and the corners of his lips quirked into an unaccustomed smile. It did not seem to reach his eyes, yet seemed heartfelt none the less. Kennedy was big on purple and violet as well, and the thought that Zo would feel right at home if she ever visited, crossed his mind.

Mordechai took the proffered seat, resting his arms upon the table as his eyes tracked the mystic. When she came to a stop across from him, the male paid close attention as she explained what she could, and could not do. All was processed and logged away for future ruminations, until...

''Is everything alright between you and Kennie?"

A puzzled look flicked momentarily onto his dark countenance, gone in a flash as he replied ''kennedy does well, I have not heard of any ailments or complaints from her'' Now his mind began to travel, trying to figure out how to word his problem. How to explain that he was broken, did not exhibit the same reactions to any given situation, as a normal vampire, like his kennedy did. He knew on an intellectual level that something was wrong. A being was supposed to exhibit reactions, emotions, at least others that he knew did. With him, it was simply threat assessment, then kill or ignore. That had always seemed enough for him, till he met kennedy. Her effervescence, her constant upbeat, outgoing personality, had finally showed him that somewhere he was flawed. The hulking killer only ever displayed two emotions. A deadly rage, when kennedy was threatened or disrespected, and a sense of peaceful contentedness, when they were alone together. It seemed as tho she was the only one that could draw emotion from him. It wasn't naturally occurring, like in others. Mordechai noted how Zodiac's focus seemed to be locked on to him, but he could ascertain no malice behind the steady gaze.

"C'mon, spill it. If you can't trust me, who can you trust?"

Trust. It seemed that many things game down to trust. Trust mattered so much more than it did when he was human. The problem was always who can you trust. Especially, who can you trust, to know your weakness. To know that you are flawed. Broken. All these thoughts roiled thru his mind, an intellectual turmoil. Yet nothing showed upon his face. The ever present stoicism was all that was revealed. The few he did trust in this unhallowed city were blood of his sire, or those that she had brought together. So far. Slowly he closed his eyes, wondering once again, if this was her fault. If this was something she should have taught him, before setting him loose on his own. Scorpia. He had not heard from her in months. It was always that way, but somehow he didn't think he could lay the blame for this particular short coming at her feet. It felt as tho it was internal to him. Actually it didn't feel at all. Therein laid the problem. He did not feel. Anything. Unless he was with kennedy. It was in those times that he realized that there was something broken, something missing, something wrong.

The normally laconic vampire opened his eyes, focusing them on the petite mystic, the rest of the room forgotten. ''The problem is not kennedy. The problem is me.'' Pausing to make sure she understood, he continued. ''Being with her, has allowed me to see that there is something either broken or unlearned within myself. I do not feel. I need to know why, what is wrong. I need direction. Can you help me?'' Mordechai stared, his Stygian iris' locked on to Zodiac's face as he awaited her reply.

[Zodiac]

She took a small delicate sip from her cup as she waited for Mordechai to answer. She knew it was not a matter of slow intelligence on his part when he took his time to reply. When he felt he had the proper answer, he would speak and not a moment before. She knew what part of him was doing. It was the same thing she did when she walked into a new place. Her flamboyant antics and nature allowed her to assess a room easily without drawing attention to the fact she was doing so. Plus, she had the added advantage of her living 'radar' Ginny to help. It was Ginny who sealed the deal to ask Mordie to come back to her parlor to talk. If she had bristled or gave off any vibe of danger, the gypsy would have suggested meeting him elsewhere. Instead she favored his finger with a head rub.

She had never felt afraid of the big man. Even when she was first turned in the days the Sangue was an actual functioning unit. She imagined she annoyed him at times with her antics, but never to the point of threatening her. No, if vampire's were actually a mortal based family, they would be siblings. "Obviously we had different daddies," she thought to herself. The pair of them were night and day when stood side by side, but the opposites tended to work well together at times when the need arose.

When he said all was well between him and Kennedy (aka 'Diamond Dreamfire') she relaxed a bit. On the outside it was one of those relationships people would **** their heads at and wonder "Dah fuk?" But from what she had gathered from both of them, they were good for each other.

''The problem is not kennedy. The problem is me. ... Being with her, has allowed me to see that there is something either broken or unlearned within myself. I do not feel. I need to know why, what is wrong. I need direction. Can you help me?''

When his eyes actually focused on her and said the words, she sat frozen. Her jaw slightly agape as she processed what he had finally said. Her eyes never left his, and it was his eyes that told her Mordechai had not suddenly develop some bizarre sense of humor, but was quite serious. Something broken? What in the name of the Goddess did that mean?

Mentally, she prayed for guidance and like him, she did not make a sound till she had a possible answer.

"Will I help you? Absolutely if it is within my power to do so. Perhaps the cards can give us some insights as to what exactly is 'broken' inside of you and then we can see about if it can be fixed, however," she held a finger of caution up. She excused herself and turned away from him and reached down into her blouse. When she turned back to him, a small chain holding a pair of micro ('thumb') drives could be seen hanging off the end of her finger.

"Doing the cards for a person requires interactions between the reader and the subject. Questions will be asked and answers must be given. The more honest your answers, the better I will be able to see. I take notes when I do a person's reading but if you were to look in my file cabinet in this room you would find it empty. My notes are typed and then stored on these. I tell people a session is like a doctor-patient situation. What is discussed in here stays in here. I don't care if Kennie herself asked me, she'd get nothing."

Zodiac leaned back into her throne as Ginny picked that moment to hop into her lap and make herself comfortable. "A lot of people have sat where you are now, dear one. And a lot of things some people would love to know were discussed in this room. Some would pay a lot of money for such information and I pay my security expert a lot to make sure this room is not bugged for sound or video. This will be between us only. You have my word." she dropped the two drives back down into her cleavage and continued.

"As I said, the more honest you are, the easier this will be. We will be exploring some of your past and things about you only you know about. This may be hard for you, I know, but yes and no answers may not cut it, dear. You want an answer, you have to help me so I can find an answer. If you can do that, 'brother', then hopefully we will figure it all out." she smiled softly at the man. "And thank you for trusting me this much to even ask. It does mean a lot coming from you." her hand petting the cat gently as she waited to see what he would do next.

[Mordechai]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Mordechai Mordechai lifted the glass to his lips, inhaling the pleasant bouquet of the blood before taking a small sip. The killer listened closely as Zodiac started to explain, continuing to sip at the blood. Once she had finished her instructions, Mordechai drained what was left in the stein setting it down as he nodded his head. “I am here for an answer, I will do that which is needed. As far as honesty….I do not lie. I have no reason. I simply state that which i believe. If others choose not to believe me, that is on them.” Pausing for a moment he looked down at the stein, then back up into her blue-green eyes. ‘’Trust is an earned issue. I do not give it freely. I do hold it dearly. As of yet, you have given no reason for me not to trust you. I hope that the situation does not change. I will do anything you require of me.’’

Zodiac ”As my Nana always said-you get what you give.” she inclined her head to her guest. ”I was simply trying to be up front with this before we started. Some people get...twitchy when I start asking questions. ‘Why do you need to know about that?’ and so forth. I also know you are a private person by nature, so it is best you know what is to come before hand.”

She sat up and pulled open a drawer on her side of the table and pulled out a black sheet of cloth and draped it over the table. It was the color she was sensing in the man’s aura. Next she laid a notepad and pens to her right, and finally opened a second drawer and looked over several silk bundles before picking one and sitting it on the table. Zodiac lifted the bundle to her lips and planted a soft kiss upon it before opening it to reveal the deck sitting inside.

Mordechai Silently the tall male watched the preparations and listened to her explanations. A single nod acknowledged her words. Sitting up straight Mordechai carefully placed his arms on the table, careful to keep back from the mystic’s space. He assumed that this was little different than a tactical mission, and that planning and preparation was as vital to success as the actual performance of the operation. Her practiced hands moved fluidly as she set up a cloth, black in color, and lightly kissed the silken bundle before revealing the cards inside. He could understand this. It was no different than his work. There were times when he had given his AWM a kiss for luck as a human. Now it was just habit, one more piece of ingrained muscle memory, necessary to perform the job.

Zodiac She saw him observing her actions and smiled softly. ”The kiss is a sign of respect to the spirits who will help guide us and in memory of the one who originally put me on this path when I was still alive.” she explained as she jotted his name on the blank piece of paper. ”When I offer these to you, I want you to shuffle them while thinking only of your question-nothing else. Once you feel satisfied, set them down on the table. I will cut the deck and you will shuffle again. Focusing only on your question as you do this. When you are satisfied again, I will cut the deck again and you will shuffle once more. When you are finished the third time, I will take the deck back and we will begin.” She lifted the deck by the silk hankie rather than touching the cards themselves and sat it in front of Mordechai. ”Whenever you are ready, dear.”

Mordechai Considering her words, Mordechai looked at the cards. A moments pause was all it took. As he reached for the deck, the killer let his skillset take over. Sounded deadened. The room faded. All that was left was a tunnel between his eyes and the target, no outside influences disturbed him. His massive paw closed over the deck as the tunnel shrank down till the deck of cards filled it. Slowly, carefully, his large but nimble fingers started to cut, flex, and shuffle as his mind wandered onto his problem. ‘’Why don't I feel? What is missing? What is broken? Why don't I feel? What is missing? What is broken?’’ Over and over the thoughts passed thru his mind, as he finally set the deck onto the center of the silk cloth.

Zodiac She watched him as he began. There was a unique quality to how he focused. Something different than her normal clientele did when in this spot. Had she seen this before, she wondered and realized she had when another with military experience sat at this table. it wasn’t zoning out, but a kind of zoning in. A discipline of sorts that reminded her of how she focused when she meditated. Once he had finished, she reached over and cut the deck. ”Again please, dear” her mindspeak barely a whisper to his thoughts now.

Mordechai With the single thought echoing thru his mind, he felt the light touch of the mystic, and began again. A rhythm developed. Cut, riffle, flex. Cut, riffle, flex. One motion for each stage of the question as he thought it. Faster and faster the cycle went. His fingers, and the cards, became a blur as his unnatural dexterity and need for an answer send the questions rolling thru his mind at an ever increasing rate. Finally he once again placed the cards upon the cloth.

Zodiac She nodded gently and cut the deck a third time. ”Once more please, dear one. Stay focused.”

Once he had finished and sat the cards back down onto the bit of silk, Zodiac pulled the deck, again by the cloth, back to her side of the table.”One card to mark you and ten cards to tell your story, she nodded as she took a quick sip. ”The first card will represent you in all of this.” her purple tipped fingers slipped the topmost card from the deck with a practiced grace. She looked at it for a few moments, then laid it to the upper left of where she sat. ”This and the following card are normally hidden, but I like to keep them out for reference.” she explained

”Representing you in this will be The Knight of Swords. Fearless, skillful, a warrior, unfettered by emotion or material concerns. One able to boldly take on challenges that others consider terrifying or insurmountable. Speaks frankly, outspoken. You are a protective person, philosophical by nature, studious, alert at times. You push yourself to get the answers that you seek. Not knowing is worse than knowing. When you understand what is going on in a situation, you can then pursue a solution. If you allow your thoughts to run rampant because you are afraid, you are likely to make matters much worse for yourself. The Knight is also a card of process and patience. You may wish things to be solved with a snap of your fingers or a wave of my wand, but you know reality doesn't work like that. One step at a time." she looked up at him. "Certainly sounds like you to me, dear one."


Mordechai As he had set the cards in there place on the table, he opened himself again to his surroundings taking in the colors, the faint sounds, and of course, Ginny. Resetting his focus on the mystic before him, he listened closely as Zodiac flipped the first card, and began to talk. ‘A warrior unfettered by emotion’... that card seemed to strike the target. After all, wasn't he here because he felt no emotion? The rest of it seemed to coincide with the snippets he had overheard others say about him, but it was the ‘’emotionless’’ that rattled through his head. Even the cards seemed to recognize that somewhere, deep inside, there was something fundamentally wrong. Lifting his eyes from the card, Mordechai looked once more to his friends eyes, and gave a solemn nod.

Zodiac Next she took another card and laid it next to the Knight to the left. ”The general atmosphere surrounding your issues. The Wheel of Fortune. First major to show, and no-I do not mean some idiotic TV game show. Several ways to explain this. Some say its a card of karma or the idea of ‘what comes around-goes around’. It also suggests that everything has its own season. Like Spring is followed by Summer and that patterns repeat themselves over time. On the other side, some may think this is a bad thing. From hardship to success and now hardship returns. No matter how you look at it, it is a card of change and that change will come in its own time if not yours. You said yourself basically you wanted to change by fixing whatever is wrong with you. So yes, this may be a no brainer concerning what we are discussing here but the fact this card came up in this particular spot tells me we may be on the right track now.” (more)

Mordechai Her words flowed over his ears, as he absorbed their content. change, change was what he wished for, wasn't it? Rolling it over in his mind, he decided there were too many variable involved in how this card, and change could be read, Mordechai dealt in absolutes, black&white. There was no guess work in ballistics, mass A, at velocity B, with a coefficient of C, dropped D at E meters. He need more information to decide the value. With another nod, he beckoned her to continue.

Zodiac ”Our next card represents the obstacles that stand in your way.” another twist of her wrist and this card was sat in the center of the table. ”The Hierophant. Another major card. Faith in tradition and the old school. This card can also represent feeling like an outcast, judged by society and sometimes this is the card that represents one’s own desires to be a part of things more.” She considered for a few moments now.

”I think you may be divided on how you want to get what you seek. You want change, but perhaps are...concerned,” She did not want to use the term ‘fear’. ”What will it take to get there. ‘Old school’ as in how you always handle situations is good thing, but in this it is not working. But, you know nothing else so you keep trying to use the same ‘bandage’ on your ‘wound’. But you wonder what else can you do, and maybe are not so comfortable with such things so you go back to the original plan. A cycle of sorts.” Her fingertip tapped the Wheel card. ”Cycles are made to be broken if you are determined enough and have the capability to try new things or things outside your normal experiences.”




Mordechai The tall killer straightened. The more she spoke, the more the cards seem to revolve around his life, and his ‘situation’. Her words sank deep as he tried to filter the possible meanings and how they would affect him. One hand unconsciously slipped beneath his jacket, fingers curling over the smooth yet textured sharkskin grip he had put on his Kabar D-2. The fingers stroked slow circles calming him, focusing him. There was no urge to draw it, no danger anywhere, other than that coiled deep inside him. The feel of the hilt in his hand though, it did something to him. The cards were right it seemed, he was set in his ways. was he afraid of change, is that why he couldn't fix this himself? It seemed as though his answer for almost every problem was either lead, or forged steel. His onyx eyes followed the diminutive mystics slender fingers as they slid and tapped each card in turn. When she moved her finger back, he glanced to her eyes. Could he break the cycle? Would this help? It all came down to trust. She had his trust. She would not be saying these things if they would harm. Slowly he nodded his head once more.

Zodiac She wasn’t sure if any of this was getting through to him. His nods almost deceptive for the fact she had no clue what was running inside his mind. The girl refused to peek. She had too much respect for the man to invade his thoughts, so she continued. The next card drawn was placed above the Hierophant. ”Your goals or the best you hope to accomplish.” The gypsy blinked several times as she looked at the card before speaking.

”The Ten of Swords. A card of ruin. All of the sword cards have a negative air to them, and the Ten is the culmination of those aspects. However, since it is here I would say you hope to finally have an answer to all of this. A final solution to the problem. In this spot, this is not a card of violent death. This is simply a card depicting the absolute end of something. Also, this is the only sword card to show the blades actually piercing the flesh of the individual, which to me suggests how deeply you feel about all of this. It is not a joke to you.” she looked up at Mordie and smiled a bit. ”But then again, when you do anything, are you ever less than 100% into it? Not that I have ever seen.”


Mordechai The scene, was one he had often observed, often created… a man being bled out with swords stuck in him. An end, she had said, a final solution. His eyes wandered the cards, remembering the spoken words for each as he considered what had been said, and the positioning of each card, what the beautiful mystic had said each position represented. The wheel….change, hierophant…. judgement, and outcast beyond the social norms, and the ten of swords….A complete and final end. Deft fingers still caressed the rough sharkskin as he pondered, then leaning forward he raised his eyes from the cards before him, staring into the tealish orbs across from him. Extending his arms out he released the handle and stretched open his fingers till the audible pop of his knuckles sliced the quiet. Placing one hand on either side of the cloth holding the cards, he glanced down, then back to Zo. ‘’ So…. I am, or perceive that I am being judged, as an outcast, outside of social norms….but If i can make something, some part come to an abrupt and total end, it would create a new beginning for me, and allow me to break the cycle of my existence as it now is? To become….acceptable?’’

Zodiac ”I do not think acceptable is what you really want or care about, actually.” Her eyes refused to back down from his gaze. ”But I would guess you would like to be whole. A whole person and not just a emotionless murder machine.” There not a trace of sarcasm or jest in her words. She spoke to him as he would speak to others-simple, plain, truthful. ”You have to feel something when you’re with Kennie, and that is what makes you feel something is wrong with you otherwise. Acceptable is something other people judge on their standards. You, I think, would not care so much for that if you felt you was a whole person within.”

Mordechai The corner of his lip quirk, as the relatively tiny mystic started back at him, and said words that would have been the start of battle spoken by almost any other. She had balls. Mordechai thought on her words, and she spoke the truth. It was his time with kennedy, that had showed him he was flawed when she was not near. At first he thought what kennedy brought out in him was wrong....but he had come to realize that with her...he acted like all others that he saw, it was when he was alone, and ''normal'' that he was in fact ''abnormal''. Zodiac seemed to understand what he was feeling, and the cards seemed to know as well. Lowering his eyes to the deck once more, he nodded, ‘’continue’’

Zodiac Another card was selected and placed below the Hierophant. ”The foundations of your situation. The Knight of Pentacles. The Knight represents a dependable person, with good instincts who is watchful as well as a good physical leader. He offers protective assistance, a sense of duty as well as loyalty. He is practical and athletic. a super protective person, dutiful, responsible. Honorable. Here I would say another side of you is being displayed, which goes hand in hand with the Sword Knight. Your foundation is-yourself. You have the nerve, strength, and ability to do what you have to do."


Mordechai The cards were adding up to tell his story. It seemed as each was laid, another chapter of his past was brought to light, or another aspect of his present. What remained was to find his future. The killer nodded once more as he assimilated the new knowledge with that which had come before.

Zodiac ”The next card represents a passing influence or the recent past.” she told him as she took another card and sat it to the left of the Hierophant. ”The Devil. Our third major card. The Devil card shows that there are unhealthy aspects in your life that you are likely ignoring. It represents either a negative influence upon you at this time which is usually compounded by your compliance. Typically this card will show up in a reading to identify an extremely unhealthy behavior, relationship, or environment. It is a card that acts as a warning omen that unless you correct the wrongs surrounding you in both the physical world and the metaphysical you will suffer consequences of the most unpleasant sort. You have been through dark times, but they are passing now finally. Most likely because you have made this decision to try and change things would be my guess." she sighed. Just the implication of this alone made her feel sorry for him. In her experiences, when this card showed up for someone, that someone had been through some major crap beyond the norm.

Mordechai The Devil. Mordechai absorbed the words or the seer as his mind spun with the possibilities. One major flaw that had been pointed out by the few he called friends circled to the forefront. His seclusion. For almost three years he had kept to himself. The killer had operated from the shadows, seldom coming out. He had made himself known on Crownet, but in real life, he had been alone. Except for Pru. The one person that had always stood by him. In the end tho, even she had backed away, saying that he need more people in his life. Then kennedy had come into it like a whirlwind. Once more the corners of his lips lifted, she was a force of nature. A power unto herself. Maybe this card was a reiteration of their words. If it was, then this part he had already embarked on. He was actively….well semi-actively seeking out new acquaintances. This had to be it. With a more confident look on his face he nodded once more to his ‘sister’ ‘’Next?’’

Zodiac ”Next, an approaching influence, or the near future.” The next card she sat to the right of the Hierophant. ”Temperance. Yet another major card. Simply put, Temperance is the card of balance or moderation. You are going to begin learning some things and balance is one of the most important. Violence is not always the one and only answer to things. Granted, it is effective, but one who has inner balance can decide if so or if not. Calm and restraint. Self-control, patience and tact in handling situations. Perhaps a new skill set for you to learn.” she felt better now. ”Basically? There is hope.”



Mordechai Mordechai stared at the card. Moderation. He had slowly begun to increase his circle of acquaintances. That was moderation….. maybe he was doing it right, and this was just confirmation. He listened to the talk about violence, but didn't think that really applied. He had turned down an invitation to hunt. Yes his answer to most things was violence, but it was judiciously applied, and never for the sake of violence itself. ‘Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.’ Something he had once read by Heinlein had always been a part of his training and life. He acknowledged that and knew it to be true, but the killer had learned to only apply the minimum violence needed to obtain the objective. There was also the Orwellian maxim ‘that was so often misquoted. In his "Notes on Nationalism", Orwell wrote that it was "grossly obvious" that "Those who 'abjure' violence can do so only because others are committing violence on their behalf.’’ Mordechai was one of the ‘others’.

Zodiac The gypsy reached for her cup and found it empty. Zodiac stood up and took the stein she has sat out for Mordie and went back to the side area and prepared them both another as she considered things thus far. Yes, the cards had confirmed a lot, but so far there was no real clue as to how to fix the issue. All they were saying was there was an issue. She was not overly concerned at this moment. Too often the more cards that came into play forced her to re-read everything that had gone down before this and seeing things in a different light. ”Mordechai?” she asked as she returned to the table and sat the cups down. ”Before you decide to rip my head off, think about what I am about to ask you.”

[Zodiac]

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--


Zodiac She sat back down and took a deep breath. ”Are you afraid?” The question was simple, but when presented to someone like the giant killer across the table from her it could be the equivalent of yanking the tail of an angry tiger. ”I know you have no fear in the situations you normally find yourself in, but this is rather unique I would think. Deeply concerned might be a better way to put it.” She lifted her cup to her lips. Her eyes never leaving her guest.

Mordechai The killer looked up as Zo paused. His eyes tracked her as she gather the cup and stein and went to the side bar. As she prepared more ‘refreshments’ Mordechai pondered why she had chose this moment to stop. He watched for a bit, then turned to review the room again, the colors, the positioning of all its furnishings. deep inside his mind still pondered the displayed cards, and the meanings assigned to them by the gypsy mystic. Looking down at the cards, he slowly reached forward and lightly dragged his finger over the Knight of Pentacles. As his finger traced the edge, Zodiac spoke, and he turned his head towards her as she sat the cups upon the table. ”Are you afraid?” An odd question. He was about to point out that to be afraid there must be something to fear, when she continued on. His eyes closed as he pondered her qualification of the fear question. Was he deeply concerned, or even concerned at all? If he wanted to be able to keep kennedy happy, he had to fix whatever was wrong, so yes, he thought, I must be concerned,

Nodding towards the diminutive female, he opened his eyes. ‘’Yes, I think, concerned….may be the proper descriptor.’’ Pausing he looked down at the cards. ‘’It seems to matter if kennedy will stay with me. I believe that she may leave, if i am not whole. Find another that is whole.’’ Looking back up he queried her, ‘’would you stay with a...partner...that was not complete? Something missing?’’

Zodiac She considered his question for a moment. ”In a way, dear. All of us are ‘broke’ in some way, shape or form. No one is perfect. You are sounding insecure now if you think she will leave you. Everyone has problems.” she looked at Mordie openly now. ”Is Tempy perfect? In my heart’s eyes, yes, but in reality-hell no she isn’t and I know I am less that perfect in a lot of things as well. I wonder how she stays sane dealing we me somedays. All I can say is, that’s how love works. Kennie used to be a ‘professional’. Pro’s know how to pick up clues about people really quickly. Helps make their job so much easier. She saw something in you, big guy, and has been with you ever since, so thinking she is gonna leave you because something is missing? I doubt that very much. She’s is with you because she wants to be with you. Simple. Why? Again, who knows?” she leaned back in her chair and smiled brightly at him. ”That’s how love works, Mordie. Doesn’t make a lick of sense sometimes, but that’s how it works.”

Mordechai Mordechai nodded as he took in her words. The mystics words make sense, had merit even. A professional in any field was able to pick out the traits and nuances of those they dealt with. His mind knew that kennedy would not leave him over his lack of emotion, but the killers heart , well it wanted to give her something whole, complete, but todo to do that he needed answers. So far it seemed as tho the cards knew his past and present, if only they could tell his future as well. Eyes still studied the cards and mind processed and reprocessed the words that went with each, twisting, turning, trying to calculate all outcomes. Slowly raising his head, Mordechai looked at Zodiac, and in his typical effervescent manner, growled ‘’continue’’

Zodiac ”Of course, dear,” she settled back into her chair and gestured over the cards already in play. ”We have made a cross that shows up about yourself, your recent past and future and what you hope to gain. Now we will begin to build your ‘staff’. The staff is the things that will help you in all of this.” Zodiac explained before reaching for the deck again and pulling a card. This one was set to the right of the ‘cross’ on the table close to her side. ”The first part of your staff represents your role or attitude in all of this process. The King of Swords. The image displays an incorruptible judge, whose devotion to the law cannot be swayed by emotion or material concerns. Perfect clarity of thought, directness of action, and eloquence of speech. Basically a no nonsense type of guy, which fits you. You don’t screw around when you apply yourself to a goal or situation. However, you can also over analyze things and make them more complicated than they have to be, so you need to ease back a bit. Could also suggest that when you talk to people, you wonder if they are getting or understanding what you are saying. You speak plain and to the point, and sometimes that can intimidate others. It’s a very good sign to have in this, regardless. Once you start, you won’t stop till you get what you want.”

Mordechai Mordechai nodded slowly as he stared at the card, then glanced up waiting for the next. Her words rang true.

Zodiac A bit surprised by his lack of response, she drew another card and sat it above the king, forming a row that would lead to Mordie’s side of the table. ”The general environment and the people around you.” she grinned as the card was shown. ”The Fool. Another major card. This reading keeps getting stronger as we go along. The Fool reminds us that sometimes we take life, or in our case- un-life?, way too seriously. He is the end and the begining of a cycle.” her fingers move to tap the Wheel of Fortune card. ”It is healthy to break a routine now and again. How else can we gain perspective and appreciation for the life that we have created for ourselves. Honest and hardworking and explains that being forthright is the key to releasing us from our constraints, clarity at the end of movement, because no matter what happens, when you put change into motion, change is what you will find. If you can find the joy in the change, then you will find happiness. Those around you will know this and help you to understand. The Fool is not a fool as we would think of him. The Fool dares to move on and discover what lies ahead, and in that it is another sign of courage.”

Mordechai Mordechai listened raptly, drawn in deeper as he studied the cards. He found it interesting, that a king and a fool were drawn in succession. Though from the explanation, the ‘’Fool’’ was not a fool. It seemed that the more cards were drawn the more they were almost repetitive, as if the deck was crying out for change. He hoped that he understood what was happening. he had listened and studied the cards, time after time they mentioned change, and to some degree hope. Suddenly the giant sat up straight, throwing his head back and laughing. Actually. Laughing. His body shook and his eyes glistened. The killer tried to speak, but couldn't form words. A few minutes ticked by, and he finally lifted his glowing face to Zodiac. ‘’I think there has been a mistake, this is the reading of my human nemesis.’’ He paused, with a grin on his face… ‘’ This is Barack Obama’s reading….it is all about ‘hope and change’’ ‘’ The smile slid from his face, the accustomed stoic stare returning. ‘’I apologize, please continue Zo.’’

Zodiac There were many things she knew the giant was capable of, but because of their relationship she never feared him. However, when he began to laugh as if his humor gland had suddenly exploded into life, the gypsy looked about and judged how long it would take her to run for the door. Considering who was sitting in her parlor with her, this was downright creepy.

”Well,” she began slowly after Mordie had stopped laughing. It was like some switch inside his head had been snapped on for a moment, then suddenly turned off again. Just creepy. She could not move past that notion. ”I can’t argue with that at all, however I think this ‘hope and change’ is more personal and closer to home than anything that idiot is spinning up currently.” She laughed herself for a moment before reaching for the next card. ”Hopes and fears, or the unexpected.” she flipped the card and sat it above The Fool. ”And yet another major. The Hermit. And no, it does not mean you are afraid of being alone and hidden from the world at large, though that may be a concern of yours at heart. The Hermit is a very personal and spiritual card that shows you that you are not alone right now even if you feel that way. A hermit doesn’t hide from people; he merely likes to live life on his own terms. He has chosen to retreat into solitude above all of the madness of society. Perhaps this explains your lack of emotions? That part of you is reserved or only for certain people to enjoy. This card is a sign for you to take stock in what you have going on in your life’s relationships that are good and revel in them. Rather than focusing on what you want, you should be focusing on what you need. Some say isn’t that one and the same? Hardly, and I doubt I have to explain that to you.”

She took a quick sip as she considered. ”The bottom line of this card is simply that it is not a damning card indicating seclusion, but rather a hopeful card showing you that there is a way to find solutions to your answers if you know the right questions to ask, and this is the hard part, dear. You say you are broke. Something inside needs to be fixed. Well what exactly is broke? Once we can figure out what exactly the issue is, we can begin to find a solution for it.” She looked at him and sighed. This was probably not what he wanted to hear, but she would not lie to him.



Mordechai Mordechai saw the hermit come up, and before she started to speak realized it spoke to him in more than one way. Before kennedy, he truly had been a hermit….speaking and interacting with noone, absolutely noone. After kennedy had entered his life, a small circle had opened around him. As he pondered this, the mystic’s words seeped into his consciousness. Her words matched his change at that point in life. He was a hermit from the world at large, but not from life. Now at this time, he was expanding that circle of people even larger. More confirmation. Looking up he nodded to the teal eyed female across from him. ‘’I do understand the difference between need and want’’ The killer paused contemplating his next words. ‘’ It is entirely possible that that is a factor, and would explain the change when i am near the one i care for’’ His eyes dropped to the cards, then found hers once more, ‘’Wouldn't it?’’

Zodiac She nodded. ”I think everyone has ‘faces’ they wear for certain people actually. Be it how we act, what we discuss, so many things. Certain people get certain reactions from us and others don’t. How I act with you guys when we go storming one of those Juggalo compounds, or whatever it is that is inside of them, is different than how I act with my customers, and that is different than when I am alone with Temperance and my time and actions are way different than that when I am in an argument with an idiot. We all do it, dear. Just one of those basic human nature carry overs from when we was all alive yet. She makes you feel good, cared for, comfortable, so of course you are going to react differently than you would sitting here with me. least I hope so.” she grinned. ”Need to ask you something here, big guy. Have you ever told Kennie that you love her?”

Mordechai The killer looked down, his fingers tightening as the tips caused actual dents in the table. ‘’No’’

Zodiac Her eyes watched as his fingers did damage to the table and mentally added the cost of a replacement to the bill. ”Well then, let me ask you this much. Do you love her?”

Mordechai Looking up, he raised his hands from the table, running them thru his hair. ‘’I do not know….how can you tell if you have something, that you have never had before?” Looking around the room, everywhere but her face, he continued. “What i feel for her, is that which i have never felt before for another. I cannot quantify that. Nor can i name it.’’

Zodiac She blinked and a silent ‘Oh’ appeared on her lips as she watched and listened. Was it that simple? She stood up and walked to his side of the table and without warning, she hugged him around his shoulder as best she could. Zodiac then stepped back and sat on the edge of the table and took his left hand into hers and held it. It could not be that simple.

Could it?

”My poor dear,” her voice was gentle. No hints of anything but honest affection for the man sounded in his thoughts. ”You are trying to rationalize something I told you cannot be thought of in those terms. Quantify? Are we discussing your heart or do you want to build rockets for NASA? Feelings don’t work that way, dear. What has some of this told you so far?” she gestured over her shoulder at the cards on the table. ”Don’t over complicate things. Keep it simple. When you start using words like quantify, trust me, you making a mountain out of a molehill. You have never been in love before or are sure you know what it is? Dear, there is a first time for everything, and if you are tying your insides up in knots wondering about what Kennie is gonna think of you or how she can deal and such, I am pretty sure that’s love showing up inside of you.”

She let go of his hand, but kept the smile on her face. ”Everything is a chance, and love most of all. If you honestly care about her, then you have to tell her. It’s hard, I know. Also pretty scary too. Yes, scary as in afraid. If your are truly sincere, there is no reason to be afraid. I am pretty sure Kennie loves you, so its not like you walking into an unknown situation here,”

Mordechai Mordechai watched as Zodiac stared at him. Her lips formed a moue, it seemed as if they were trying to form a silent word. She rose and circled the table his eyes tracking her. Looking back again at the cards, he started to consider her words, when suddenly she was beside him her arms around his shoulders. Well, half way around. The killer tensed, but was surprised by a seeming warmth, that stayed even after she let go, and moved to perch on the table. He listened to her words. They gently flowed thru his mind like a small calming stream. He considered what she said and compared it to what he had learned tonight as well as what his past experience had shown. Mordie had always been a loner, from birth on up. His lifestyle had forced that upon him. He had known women, but never for a...relationship… they had always been just someone with whom he had helped fill mutual physical needs before he moved on to his next assignment. It was different with kennedy though. From the day he had met her, he had felt an immediate need to protect her. The killer had no rationale for it, he could not explain it. He could tell her of the nights, the many nights, that a huge harpy eagle had sat on the abandoned chimneys of the old power plant, eyes locked to the doors of ‘Silks”. Tell her how that bird had winged its way over the city, following the same dark haired female to her home in Veil Towers. Each night poised to fold its wings and crash its huge body into an attacker at over
one hundred kph before phasing into a seven foot giant, and rending limb from limb any that survived the initial hit. But. He could not explain why. Maybe she was right. ‘’There are more cards?’’ he queried softly to his friend.

Zodiac She figured he was considering it all, so stayed quiet. She could not imagine being in the spot he apparently was. There was always love around her as she grew up and it was still with her here in this place. But to meet someone who had no concept to associate the idea of love with to be sure it was even love at all?

She pitied him.

”Yes, there is one more card to be considered,” rather than return to her side of the table, she turned and took the next card from the deck then turned back to face him. ”The outcome of all of this, if things keep going as they have been. As I told you, nothing is set in stone save for the past, so this last card is only a clue as to how things could go along.”

She turned the card in her hands and looked at it for a few moments before laying it on the table above the Hermit. ”The Six of Cups. A card of pleasure. This guy shows up when you need to take a breath and realise what is important and what is not. It’s a time to heal and work toward the things that matter. A lot of stuff going on in your head, but its time to sort out the unimportant and focus. What doesn’t matter or is nothing? Screw it. Dump it in the trash and forget about it.”

She stood up and raised her arms as if in triumph over something. ”The Six also says you need to focus on the simple, direct approach to things rather than making them….” she looked him directly in the eyes. ”Overly complicated!” She took a seat again on the table.




Mordechai ‘’Let me see if i have this straight….’’ Mordechai paused as he marshalled his thoughts. ‘’ It is time for a change, but not a huge one. At least not yet. Baby steps, but change MUST happen. If it doesn't, the future is dim. Balance is needed, moderation the goal. My base is solid, but i need to build from it. If I lock myself away, what i fear now, will come to fruition. If I stop and take a break, prioritize, figure out how i really feel towards kennedy. the future looks brighter?’’ There was no way those few short statements covered all that he had just seen and experienced. If they were the highlights though, and he worked on them, and succeeded. Well maybe, just maybe, he could be fixed.

Zodiac ”Let me break this down even more for you, okay?” again, she took hold of his hand as she leaned close to him. ”Simple yes or no question for you. Do you care about her, big guy?”

Mordechai Look into her eyes, the massive killer’s gravely voice eased out one word, ‘’Yes’’

Zodiac She smiled softly. ”Then tell her. You don’t have to show up all fancy with flowers and such. Kennie didn’t fall for you because of gifts and such, she fell for you. Personally I think anyone who shows up with all that stuff is afraid and hope it helps run interference for them as they try to talk. Doesn’t have to be a epic speech at all,” she eyed him closely then. ”And if I talk to her later on and she says you used words like ‘quantify’ and such, I swear I will cut your nose off. You could kill me with one hand, but trust me, I am sneaky and fast enough to do it.” her smile grew brighter now.

Mordechai One corner of the laconic male’s mouth twitched, as he took in all five foot one inch of the mystic. Holding out one massive hand, he enveloped hers, with a slight shake, then whispered into her mind. ‘’Deal’’

Zodiac She slipped off the table and stood beside him. ”Well, that about does it. I will mail you a copy of the results if you want. Actually, I only have one more question for you. Why are you still here? You have a lady to talk to I think and it isn’t me. And by the way, I love you to pieces, but you paying for a new reading table.”

Mordechai Mordechai let out a low chuckle, then reached into his pack, and set two small bottles on the table. ‘’Those are quite rare, consider it paid for…..’’ His voice faded as a whisper of air moving signaled his departure.

FIN