agentlenet | ( message 01. 🔮 video. )

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( message 01. 🔮 video. )

Hello, everyone. I’m Zita.

[ the woman on the screen smiles at the direction of the far caster, giving a polite wave before she returns to the task of packing up some things for the day.

judging by her surroundings as packs her things while she speaks towards the far caster, it seems that she’s taken residence in, well, the queen’s residence. ]

I hope this isn’t presumptuous of me to ask on this but— I’m hoping to offer my healing services to those here in the Queen's Residence or around the city for free.

However I’ve been informed that it’ll be in my best interest if I had an escort with me when I do this. If anyone is willing to keep me company, I would be grateful for it and be willing to pay you back somehow. You're all welcome to seek me for healing too, of course.

[ she pauses. as if considering something.

usually, she would end her message here and refocus her attention on the next task at hand - in this case, her packing for her when she heads out - but... ]

If you’re not interested in that, you’re welcome to also make use of my fortune telling services instead. Payment for this will be required but I promise the price for it is reasonable enough. I only ask for a story.

And that's it. Thank you for taking the time to hear me speak.

[ added ooc note;; for those who would like to thread out their and zita's time out in the city for the free healing services, i now have a log post with that activity as one of the top-levels! feel free to hit it up if you're interested. ]

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[ People don't feel gratitude toward Haein ever, so hearing it in her voice is odd. He'll just pretend not to notice, because that's what normal, well-adjusted people do.

But when met with the choice to either have face to face interactions or not, Haein will always go for the latter. He just tends to feel more comfortable hiding away. ]

Now is fine.

Alright. Give me a second to set the stage up-

[ zita can be heard taking something out from her bag and some rustling as she prepares a nearby table with a cloth and a lit candle.

than the sound of something being shuffled fills her end of the line. the cards, presumably. she then resumes speaking to haein while she cuts and mixes them up. ]

You must first think of a problem or a question you have at the moment. You don't need to tell me it. Just the energies the issue evokes from you will be enough for the cards to pick up on.

[ A problem or question... He has too many of those. Settling on one is hard, but he ultimately decides to go with the burning concern of if it was the right decision to come to this place or not.

It's been an... eventful and exhausting couple of weeks, and he's still have some difficulties adjusting to the city. Sure, he's usually adaptable when it comes to new environments, but this was just completely different than what he was used to.

So yes, even though he knows that the end result will be worth it, it has to be, he still wants some kind of reassurance. ]

I'm thinking about it.

Alright. I'm laying down the cards now and I'm turning over the first two cards.

The first card represents you and your current situation. The second card will represent what action you can take for the aforementioned situation.

[ there's a sound of something being turned over and then something else being turned over.

zita hums under her breath while she takes in the two cards before her. hmmm- this is an interesting hand. ]

Your first card is the Fool in its normal position. He symbolises the start of a journey. Something new and exciting for some, but also dangerous and unknown to others. This suggest you're wondering about circumstances in your life that are bringing new chances to your world.

Your second card is the Knight of Swords but its in the reversed position.

[ there's a reason zita uses a surprising amount of emphasis to get point across. even if it sounds a bit strange given how soft spoken she is. ]

Normally, the Knight of Swords represents ambition and the drive to complete a task or a mission when given one. This card would usually mean you're encouraged to rush into something. To chase after what you think you want.

But since its in its reversed position, the solution for your problem is to not do that. Instead, it is in your best interests to pull back and prioritise your most pressing needs and necessities.

As this is about new circumstances in your life, it means you should first look after yourself and evaluate your situation. Wait and observe. Don't exhaust yourself, as it will only lead to burnout and frustration.

[ she pauses, allowing haein a chance to mull over what she said to him. ]

Would you like me to continue the reading? [ a beat. ] And would you like me to make this channel of ours private? The next three cards are very personal.

[ He listens intently, his focus entirely on her explanation. It might seem a little odd that someone as cynical as Haein would be so interested in fortune telling, but his personal life has taught him that there are more forces at play than what he knows.

Zita's reading of his first card is spot on. The accuracy certainly helps in lending the rest of the reading some credability, and there's a contemplative silence on his end as she explains his second card. There are... certainly more than a few things that he needs to work on with himself, but he would have been content to leave those concerns to the side in order to tackle larger issues at hand.

This gives him some pause, and he's lost in thought before being brought back to the present by Zita's voice. ]

Yes. To both questions.

[ after a few seconds trying to figure this out, zita now makes sure her replies to haein are now filtered to only haein. this should keep people from hearing personal information.

(she may or may not have accidentally almost ended their line a few times. this stuff is pretty new to her since she is from the great depression era, so please excuse any fumblings as she attempts to adapt to this stuff.) ]

Alright. I've locked our line away from others.

I'll now be turning over the third card. The third card focuses on the possible obstacles and challenges one will face in their attempt to resolve their situation.

[ zita flips the card and needs a moment to read the reveal, along with considering the entire reading at this point. she hadn't expected to get another reverse card so soon. huh.

well. no matter. she should let him know about this. just... how to word this delicately... ]

You have the Six of Swords but it's in the reversed position. This card is a sign of change and rite of passage. Moving forward and releasing one's baggage and troubles. Usually a good card to see in a reading.

But since it is in its reversed position and it is the third card of this read, the meaning is the opposite of that. It means your biggest obstacles right now are from within. You need to make the transition towards something new, especially in light of your new journey, but both reluctance and, perhaps, something more holds you back from fully committing to that.

I know it sounds strange in light of the second card's suggested actions, but there is a difference between pulling back for one's benefit and pulling back against one's better judgement. Does that make sense?

[ again, she falls quiet to allow haein some time to think about what she had said. despite her best efforts to not sound like she's passing judgement, zita is prepared for
anything. most folks usually have some sort of reaction at this stage of the reading.

when she feels like enough time has passed, she asks, ] Do you have any questions so far?

[ Hey, she manages it and that's what counts. The secure channel definitely helps ease any anxieties Haein might have had about others dropping in to listen.

But with his third card's reveal, Haein is starting to draw back. Zita's warning that the next three cards would be personal come to mind, and he might not have been as ready for this as he had thought.

Making a transition toward something new isn't something he does easily. Haein fixes himself into place and stubbornly refuses to budge, that's how he operates. That's how he's managed to survive for this long and there hadn't been any plans on changing that. But Zita's reading calls out his reluctance and it's like he doesn't have anything to hide behind anymore.

This might have been a mistake. His curiosity has gotten him into trouble enough before, but they're this far in already. ]

I don't have any questions.

[ None that he wants to voice out anyway. ]

And the fourth card?

I’ll now be turning over the last two cards. The fourth and the fifth card.

The fourth card will focus on the outcome of all three cards combined. The firth card will focus on the aftermath. Since 'aftermath' could mean a myriad of things - emotional, spiritual, mental, etc - I’ll attempt to divine what it could mean physically, since that will be the easiest to derive.

And I’m flipping them over-

[ one card turned. second card turned.

… well. this is a first for her, that's for sure.

she’s never had this many reversed cards in a read before. and for all of them to come one after another- there is a lot of internal suppressed energies. certainly enough to have an effect on the readin, as shown with all the four cards in their reversed position.

zita tries to puzzle what that could mean while taking into account the new cards before her. ]

Your fourth and fifth cards are the Knight of Cups and the Star, both in their reversed position.

[ ah. now how to say this? ]

I’m sorry to say this but… It seems you don’t have a set resolution for this problem of yours. At least not yet.

The Knight of Cups, when reversed, shows that there are new energies and opportunities are emerging for you. It's just not the best time for you to act upon them yet. Which makes sense. The start of a journey can be a deceptive one, as it sends someone into the great unknown that is littered with both opportunities and dangers. There can be obstacles and dead ends that you're not aware of yet, hence the need to pull back and prepare yourself first as shown in your second card.

This must be a frustrating reading for you to get and I'm sorry for that. The Star in its current position perhaps reflect this - This Arcana's reversed state often means feeling overwhelmed by what placed before you.

But please have faith. [ she takes the time to review the spread again and- yes. she's confident enough in her skills to think her assessment is an accurate enough one.

while she may not feel her third eye pushing aside the veil, as many divination practitioners claim when describing her work, but she thinks this is a good take on the entire spread. ] When in this state, the Star also means a test of faith. There are challenges ahead but there is still a chance to confront them head on and to overcome them.

You've come this far, after all.

[ "A lot of internal suppressed energies" is putting it lightly—Haein is probably made up of 90% of those energies. While he's honest with his words (to the point of being too blunt and insensitive), it's a lot more uncommon for him to be honest with himself. Why not pretend like everything is okay and that he has everything under control when in actuality, everything is a mess?

Definitely a healthy mindset on this one.

Haein listens with great interest to the rest of Zita's explanation. He's not well-versed when it comes to tarot cards or their meanings, but even he finds it curious that he has so many reversed position cards.

She's certainly not wrong when she mentions that he doesn't have set resolutions for his problems. He doesn't even know where to begin with such a thing, but he's hearing some sensible guidelines in the rest of the reading. Basically, Haein's getting the idea not to rush, and that's a hard suggestion to listen to when he's normally an impatient person.

Frustrated, overwhelmed... These are all key words as to how he feels right now, but her ending words do provide a small semblance of comfort. He doesn't plan on relying too heavily on this reading, but it does offer him some place to start, and some things about himself to take note of. ]

This... was good to know. [ It's a reluctant admittance, and what he says next is almost unbearably stiff. ] ... Thanks.

You're welcome. I'm always happy in the knowledge that I'm of service to others.

[ she's happy to hear his words, relieved that her reading is being well-received.

it certainly gives her enough hopes that, maybe, she can still do her work here in this world. despite not being intimately connected to raw magic as she would be back in her world, it seems she can still tap into her fields without too much problems. that's a relief to know, seeing as how those concerns have been nagging at her for a while.

but with that all said- ]

I- I had hoped I could have been more help to you and your current issues. [ she suppresses the urge to shy out of self-pity, wanting to keep this focused on haein here. ] I know the reading was vague, but I truly hope that it can give you a guide for what to do next.

[ Oh, Zita, don't feel bad. There's a whole mountain of current issues for Haein and they're probably going to be sticking around for a very long time no matter what kind of help comes along. ]

It gives me something of an idea.

[ A faint, uncertain idea that has yet to take real form, but the beginnings of an idea are better than nothing. Self-discovery is such a difficult concept, especially when Haein is involved. He's not at all complacent with where he's at and who he is as a person, but he's found it easy to mask his insecurities and doubts with a petulant attitude and an unforgiving nature. The best part is that it also keeps people away, and he's convinced himself that that's what he wants.

But hey, know what would be great? Moving this conversation to something that isn't about him, because they've talked about his problems for long enough and it's starting to wear on him. ]

When did you want to start going around to offer your services?

[ ah... right. the whole reason that they had done this reading. she had been so engrossed in her attempts in divination that this is had almost slipped her mind.

almost. the reminder quickly slots everything back in place. she now gives it some thought, trying to collect herself and recall what her plans for this are so far. ]

I was thinking of starting tomorrow. Today is a mere exploration of the city's grounds, an attempt to familiarise myself with the surroundings and its people.

There'll be a planned break for rest and a break for lunch in-between. I'll be doing the rounds from late morning to late afternoon.

[ because she definitely won't be doing it at night. after her experience with her world in general and her experience with this world the first night in - no. simply no. that's asking for trouble.

(and she knows it's cowardly. people still need help in the night - perhaps even more, given activities that could happen - but the rioting has unnerved her enough that she's forcing herself to not be active in the evening.

she could almost hear curtis' derisive snort.) ]

My plans are to be doing this for the next two weeks but- Don't feel obligated to accompany me for more than a day. One day is enough, I promise.

[ One day would normally be more than enough for him as well, but he's got his own reasons for wanting to tag along. He's starting to come around to the idea that he's here for the long haul, that the promise the Queen made with him isn't going to come lightly or quickly, so best to familiarize himself with his surroundings and find a place to fit in.

So why not use Zita's generous services for his own selfish motives? She's getting something out of it, too.

And he's already seen and experienced plenty in this place to know having an escort is wise. ]

We'll see.

[ The hours work. He's still rattled from that first night, so no complaints from him about avoiding night shifts. They can, at the very least, be cowards together. ]

I don't have anything else to do, so depending on how it goes the first day, I might stick around.

Really... ? I didn't expect that.

[ zita does her best to keep her surprise in check, not wanting to offend him. it would be hard for most folks, but not for her.

from what she can tell from her interactions with haein so far, he struck her as the type who likes to have his personal space. much as possible and often as possible. so to hear him say he would be willing to stick around- it's not something she had expected.

and she means that in a good way, of course. he's free to do whatever he pleases in the city but she's happy he's willing to give this a chance. ]

That's wonderful to hear. [ she doesn't attempt to hide her happiness in hearing this. why should she? ] I suppose this means I have to make this one worth continuing.

Thank you again for you help, it means a lot to me and, no doubt, others.

[ Ah, okay. Well. This is the sort of positive reaction that Haein has no idea what to do with. There's just a bit of an awkward pause on his end as he struggles to come up with a reply.

He might be self-seeking and generally kind of an asshole, but he's not so shameless as to take gratitude when he knows he's undeserving of it.

So clearly the correct response is to ignore her kind words and move this along. ]

I guess I'll see you in a few days, then.

[ Nailed it. ]

[ nailed it indeed. he's definitely reminding her more and more of jun with each interaction they have.

she gave haein one last smile, waving goodbye at the screen and to the young man. ]

I hope you'll be well until we meet again. Thank you for speaking with me, Haein. I always look forward to our conversations.

[ judging by the sheer sincerity in her words, zita really does mean it. ]

[ Stop this!! Haein is left awkwardly out of words yet again.

People don't look forward to anything with him, ever. He can barely hold down conversations, and he knows this, so his mind immediately jumps to doubt and skepticism about the statement. But... but Zita has been steady and constant with her kindness before, so it's not like this is coming from nowhere...

He's over-thinking it. He realizes it a bit late, after the silence on his end has gone on for too long, and he tries for a hasty recovery. ]

Yeah. Bye.

[ Okay, a little too succinct there. Not really all that articulate either, but he'll just hang up now. ]

[ the silence that stretches between them does worry zita. it's made clear by the worried frown on her face, the way her head tilts more and more to the side out of concern.

did she say something that he found offensive? going over her words, she doesn't think that's the case but what if she did say something poor? maybe she should ask. ]

Are you oka-

[ and that's when he says his goodbyes and turns off the feed, now leaving zita blinking at the dark screen before her. ]

… Goodbye, I guess.

[ alright then. ]

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( message 01. 🔮 video. )

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