✦ 013 ✦ [VIDEO] ✦ Network Cafe ✦

[backwordscompatible]

[It was a lovely day for a Network Post, wouldn't you agree, residents of Keelai? The sun was shining...the tank was clean...and Zatanna was sitting in front of a public console with the brightest smile she'd worn in a long time. Cheesy, at first, and definitely purposely over-the-top (her boss had clearly put her up to this, and she clearly was going along with it for giggles), but even as time went on and it melted away into something more genuine, her aura continued to project sheer happiness at life, the universe, and everything.  For now.]

[Although the casual onlooker might be more interested in the unusual outfit she was wearing. Which she very deliberately paired off with her favorite charmed choker, not even caring that it didn't match the rest of the ensemble.]

Do you know what the Future Holds? ...that's okay, neither do I. But together, we can probably managed to squeeze a few hints out of it...with these.

[Smirking, she held up one hand, then flicked her wrist in such a way that a deck of cards appeared in hand. Magically.]

[Of course, those who knew her spells well enough would recognize the fact that she hadn't uttered a single backwards word. The trick was legitimate sleight-of-hand. No cheating.]

Spring Special: all tarot card readings, half off for the entire Month of April.

Admit it.  You know you're curious.

[And on that note, she sent one last wink directly into the camera before signing off.]

Comments

[strategisch]

[Armin's eyes follow her trick with interest, like someone genuinely trying to figure out where the catch was.]

What do you mean, "tarot card readings"? Those look like ordinary playing cards.

[backwordscompatible]

[Very observant.]

That's because they are.

Fun fact. You can actually use these in divination, too, if you know what the symbols mean.

[strategisch]

So you use the cards to tell a fortune? [If he has the meaning of 'divination' correct.] Like a carnival trick?

[backwordscompatible]

Minus the carnival part.

[...ignore the fact that she's wearing an obviously over-the-top outfit that would, in fact, fit right in with the carnival crowd. Not that there was anything wrong with the carnival crowd.]

Here, I'll give you an example.

[She takes the pack in hand and shuffles a few times. Once the deck was cut, she picks up the top card, and holds it up for him to see. The Ace of Hearts.]

Romantic notions aside, a lot of people tend to interpret this one as representing your home. Either your actual home, where you live, or even a place that you consider to be your home. Often with the implication that either a change of some kind is taking place, or you'll be expecting some sort of visitor in the near future.

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[denyamenti]

[ with not a trace of animosity or irritation from their last encounter: ]

Where did you learn to do that?

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[backwordscompatible]

[Wow. Who invited your face into this conversation?]

[Zatanna stares blankly at the screen for a moment, unblinking, before quietly hanging up on him.]

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[denyamenti]

[ You did, when you posted it. Unperturbed, he calls back, still waiting for his answer. ]

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[backwordscompatible]

[Lies. All lies.]

[She picks up, her expression changed only the slightest to reflect her continued annoyance at his existence.]

What?

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[apologiesmyking]

[It's good to see her in such a pleasant mood. Things hopefully have been going well for her in the past few weeks.]

I've heard of this form of fortune telling before, although never seen it myself. Doesn't each card represents a different aspect that influences one's future?

[video]

[backwordscompatible]

[Kaldur, you only have the vaguest idea how well.]

Pretty much.

It's an art, not a science, so it's all about the interpretation of interpretations of each card. But you'd be surprised how often it can actually read things off people I wouldn't know otherwise.

[ASK ANNABETH. NO, REALLY.]

I'm guessing there were no tarot cards down in Atlantis, then?

[video]

[apologiesmyking]

There are some forms of fortune telling, but cards and the like are rather...fragile for our climate. How are the cards capable of diving that information about a person's life?

[video]

[backwordscompatible]

[Fair enough.]

Well...it's all about symbols and patterns. A basic tarot cart reading involves setting certain cards of a shuffled deck into a specific spread. Each point of that spread represents a specific question, or point in the person's life. Everything from the color of symbol of the card itself to whether it's upside down or right-side up carries a specific meaning behind it.

I can give you an example, if you like? No charge.

[Since it wouldn't be a full, actual reading.]

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[reliabletraitor]

[Okay. As long as it's not gambling then Alvin is a bit intrigued.]

I've heard a bit about this kind of thing. Not really sure I believe in it. Any way I could get a demonstration to prove authenticity or is that gonna cost me?

Oh, and nice outfit.

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[backwordscompatible]

[She grinned a little at the compliment, because what girl wouldn't. If she had been standing up at the moment, she might have given a little twirl...but, since she was sitting, she instead glanced downward and back up again.]

Thanks. My boss made it for me. She's surprisingly handy with a sewing machine.

[If it was authenticity the guy wanted, she would give it to him; murmuring a quick spell, she held up the deck of cards before dropping her hand. The deck remained hovering in mid-air for a moment before, card by card, they separated and began to encircle the air around her. Shuffling themselves.]

Ask a question, and I'll do a sample spread. First card's free.

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[reliabletraitor]

[And Alvin enjoys handing out the compliments. He tilts his head with a growing smile on his face, his expression changing only slightly at this little slight of hand he gets to see. Not what he was expecting, but that's a good thing.]

Well well! Your boss has some nice skills there, but I think this might be a little more impressive than slapping some fabric together. Not every day that you get to see some real magic.

[That isn't entirely true on his part given where he comes from. He also doesn't see too many levitating cards. Maybe...he is being half truthful then. Finding out that he gets a free reading...well...he may as well have a little fun with that.]

Okay well...hmmm...what do people usually say for these...is there any chance that I'll find my long lost love here? A guy's gotta have a little companionship to make this a true home away from home.

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[backwordscompatible]

For you, maybe.

[Magic was such a part of her everyday life, even back home, that it felt weird those rare times when she couldn't use it.]

Just so we're clear, there's a big difference between a long lost love, and a "little companionship"...but I think I get the gist of your question. Probably.

Ready?

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[sophos]

You know, I don't remember such a fancy ensemble when I got my first reading.

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[backwordscompatible]

You know, I don't remember actually charging you for your first reading.

[Hint Hint]

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[sophos]

Nice try, but you made the initial offer free of charge. No backpay owed.

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[wintershepherd]

Shouldn't take you long to have a whole new flock of adoring fans.

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[backwordscompatible]

[Hey, stranger.]

Jealous?

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[wintershepherd]

I was thinking closer to "smug", actually. Just because they took their time in figuring out what I already knew.

[video]

[bludhavenknight]

I'm curious on where I can get an outfit just like that. [Hi! Okay, maybe he would like to know the other part, too, because it's a lot of fun. But she's like his... still working on the nickname thing.]

[video]

[backwordscompatible]

[She wasn't too surprised at his sudden appearance over the Network. But an eyebrow did go up at his particular choice of questioning.]

Why, Dick Grayson, I feel like I learn something new about you every day.

[Grin.]

[...okay, sure, there was always the chance he could be asking for a lady friend of his, maybe, but this explanation amused her far more.]

[video]

[bludhavenknight]

[Dick's grin is as big as he can make it. Really big. Bigger then any icon can show but that will happen soon.]

Well, I don't think the sleeves would fit on my arms, but I would like a chance to wear the bangles on my head.

[... And find it for a lady friend, of course.]