PC WITH MOLLYMAUK

[commedia]

Comments

[headmt]

[Well

Molly sort of makes a snort sound, because he'd been sort of nodding off in here by himself and then a 7 foot tall clown walked in. Sitting up, absolutely pretending that wasn't happening.]

Oh! Yes. I know. Kind of odd, isn't it? Sort of a chicken or the egg situation.

[commedia]

Hmmm. Perhaps I have uncovered your true origins...

[STROKING THEIR CHIN...MYSTERIES...]

Ah, but seriously. What are you doing here?

[headmt]

[Okay, that actually makes him laugh? Like. A real genuine laugh.]

Ah! As good as story as any I've heard or made up already. I was actually birthed fully-formed in this little room, amongst the crystals and cards. A spirit come to life.

[Winking.]

I don't know exactly. Don't want to be in my room, alone, and didn't want to be in the common room much, with everyone. So this was in between. Join me?

[commedia]

You do seem as lively as a spirit, so I believe it.

[And with a laugh of their own, they move to sit across from Molly, hands folded in their lap.]

That is understandable. This place is as interesting as any...and, look! You have some nice things here. Cards for fortune-telling, it seems.

[headmt]

[Oh yes. He gives a sideeye to the cards that are there. Or as much of a sideeye as you can give when your eyes are solid red, so.]

Oh yes. Not familiar with those ones, I've got my own. Think, and this is just a guess, that those are Gluttony's.

[commedia]

...Gluttony's?

[Just peering at the cards.]

Why do you say that?

[headmt]

[Sniff.]

Their floor, isn't it?

[Maybe.]

All about . . . consuming here.

[commedia]

Their...floor?

[THIS IS A NEW CONCEPT TO DOUMAN, HOLD ON]

How does a circus involve...consuming?

[headmt]

I'm only guessing, and I am not at all smart, so don't take my word on anything. Just a feeling I'm getting.

Besides. Bad luck to mess with someone else's deck, yeah?

[commedia]

Humility does not fit you, Mollymauk.

[Just saying.]

Perhaps. Though if you have your own, use those, by all means.

[headmt]

It isn't humility. I'm amazing at many things but intelligent, I am not.

[Just saying!]

I do have my own! If you'd like a reading, then-- well, what do you have?

[commedia]

Honestly, intelligence would be one that I would expect less people to brag that they have less of...

[And a laugh.]

What do I have? Mmm. Maybe...............a kiss?

[Shameless.]

[headmt]

Shameless!

[But he starts a shuffling away]

Price accepted. Normally I'd just take two copper, so I think you're overpaying a bit, but who I am to tell you that.

[commedia]

I think I'm paying just the right amount.

[Just smiling.]

After all, who wouldn't want to kiss you, mm?

[headmt]

Only those who aren't playing the same card game as me, a perfectly acceptable excuse.

[Sticking his tongue out at him. Then he cuts the deck in half and keeps shuffling for a moment before plinking three cards face down on the table.]

Right. Your past. Your present. Your future.

[commedia]

Ahaha. Perhaps, perhaps.

[And this is interesting. The fortune-telling that Douman was more familiar with was done rather differently - to see this done without any evidence of magic was something, indeed.]

[Douman glances down at the cards.]

...Do I reveal the cards one by one?

[headmt]

[No evidence of magic, no evidence of sleight of hand, just cards on a table. He'll get the impression of someone who does this with a more barebones set up than any ritualized fortunetelling. Cards, chance, a silver (if tarnished) tongue.

Molly just smiles at that, gesturing to the card on the left.]

Normally you wouldn't, I would - energies, attunements, you understand - but. Well. Why not? Go ahead.

[commedia]

[Simple isn't necessarily bad, Douman thinks. They certainly like it better than something flashy and intricate that actually has no substance to it.]

Alright.

[And they do so!]

[headmt]

[The back of the cards are a hand-drawn filigree - dark ink with golden highlights, the shape of the moon. The reverse sides are also handmade illustrations. someone has clearly put a lot of effort into these.

This image is of a city, floating. The direction it's facing to Douman, a creature's gigantic hand reaches from the darkness, smashing it to pieces.]

History. You've a long one, correct?

[commedia]

[Ah. That illustration...]

[A slight smile curves on Douman's face. A hand from the darkness, destroying a city...]

[A more familiar vision than most.]

But of course. I am a figure from human history, as great and terrible as it was.

[headmt]

[Molly just smiles back, matching his expression.]

You did mention being human once. Must have seen a great deal of interesting things over your time. But that, of course, is only the past.

[Tapping his fingers next to the card in the middle.]

You or I?

[commedia]

[A nod at that. Indeed, the weight of human history is certainly more than one can bear, in Douman's case.]

Go ahead.

[And a gesture.]

Let it be your turn.

[headmt]

[A flip!

Somehow, the ink on this one seems more fresh. Dark and new. A man in black armor, long, dark hair, stands at the front of an army, holding a banner of silver - calm amongst the chaos of a battle, smoke and ash around them. This time, the card is upside down, giving the impression the man and his army are almost falling into the cacophony.]

Chaos. Well. That seems appropriate. It is a bit chaotic here, isn't it?

[Lightly.]

[commedia]

[Chaos, indeed.]

[Again, Douman smirks, their dark eyes almost glittering with some sort of amusement at the appearance of the card.]

Absolutely. With indulgences, and murders, and the threat of danger, at every turn.

[How very accurate. But the most important question is:]

My future, then...?

[They reach forward, and turn the card.]

[headmt]

[A pair of hands holds a red eye, all-seeing, above a storm tossed sea.]

The Eye. [He looks down at it, and then rests his fingers on the edge of the card.] Something soon to be revealed. Perhaps you already know what it is . . . ?