Soothsayer

Broderick Bode / 40 / Unspeakable at the Death Chamber

[moonbiting]

"Don't I know it." It was true that people, as a whole, preferred to duck their heads into the sand. While sometimes an irritant, it could provide... helpful to people like himself. As long as denial was their first line of defense, they wouldn't see DANGER coming until it was too late... until he'd already sunk his teeth into them. It was what he found most fun about the festivities—the stench of desperation.

In his opinion, fate was an inevitability—one that happened to align with his own view of the world. Predictable, really. "And what do you RECOMMEND I face mine with, then? A few curses of my own?" In that case, Greyback was ahead of the curve.

[soothsayerbrod]

Brod pulled an additional card just to satisfy Greyback's curiosity, and also to find out himself, instead of just trusting the gnarly feeling he got about it, it was kind of obvious. V of Wands. "You answered it yourself. You look like a man of ACTION, you're quick to react according to this, you're always up for a good fight, win or lose."

[soothsayerbrod]

"Nice to meet you... so, how long have you had this establishment for?" he took another sip of his drink and looked around, he wasn't one to start conversations, he didn't have the charm to do small talk, and probably she was busy and had her own things to do, other than talking to a boring man having a conversation with his tarot cards.

[soothsayerbrod]

"Nice to meet you... so, how long have you had this establishment for?" he took another sip of his drink and looked around, he wasn't one to start conversations, he didn't have the charm to do small talk, and probably she was busy and had her own things to do, other than talking to a boring man having a conversation with his tarot cards.

[soothsayerbrod]

Amelia & Broderick​:

“Transformation...” Amelia echoed, finding herself wonder of what sort. She was the only one who truly knew her heart--yet there were times Amelia found herself questioning it. The line between good and bad, the trials of justice and evil. Suddenly so GRAY when loss came into play. “I’m sorry--” There’s an exhale and the tautness between her shoulder blades is willed to ease. “I’m being such a CYNIC and you’re just doing your job--entertainment for the holidays going on--” She gestured around them before asking. “Do you see her? The new me? My...transformation?” Sardonic smile doesn’t quite perfectly mask the quiet desire to her voice. A part of her wishes it was true, that she knows the future, that she knows if she succeeds in accomplishing what she truly WANTS. 

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Entertainment. Everybody saw this as such, and it hadn't been fine by him for a long while, but when Broderick understood that not all people would get the nature and DEPTH of the mysteries and how they permeated everything they did. Even our own choices. Only then he stopped caring too much and would opt for another approach, not disguise the truth, but embellish it a bit, make it digestible and sweet, "She is determined, very in touch with her intuition, and less... HESITANT." The part he embellished here was that it wouldn't come easy, there were obstacles ahead, ones that seemed unsurmountable.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

[soothsayerbrod]

Broderick has a pet crow named Asmodeus.

[soothsayerbrod]

Unforeseen

Location: Divination Booth Date: December 25, 1986, 5:69 p.m. Status: CLOSED w/ Tom Riddle

Christmas day, work was almost over but there was still a line outside. Looks like everyone wants to know something. He thought. "Next client!" He called, as he shook his head, trying to take away some of the heaviness he had been experiencing for a while, blaming it on the energetic charge of his previous clients. This was common in divination work, but today it was particularly annoying.

Then he saw his next client come in, not alone, but in the company of two dark figures, one masked female who seemed familiar yer unrecognizable to Brod, and Lucius Malfoy, a popular, snobby figure he had went to school with, how could he foreget him. Something about the man in front of him was familiar, even terrifying but he couldn't really tell - yet. How much for reading? the man asked and it took Brod a moment to process the fact that he had been paralyzed for a second or two, his migraine intensifying. "Four galleons," was all he managed to retort. Why he was in the company of those two, he didn't know, and he wasn't sure if he was even curious about it. The masked female put the galleons on his table and Broderick proceeded, "what is your question?"

[radijs-dalfo]

[jamesorwhatever]

James shrugs; he wouldn't say he's un-anxious about his future, but he's not about to tell Broderick that. He takes the tea gratefully in his cold hands. “Well, growing up you’re always hearing stories, aren’t you? ‘Least I was. It’s like half the fables. Some sad fool sees a bad omen, misinterprets it, obsesses over it, and ends up bringing on his own tragic death. Accidentally walks himself off a cliff trying to avoid squirrels, or the color turquoise, or whistling on a Tuesday.” He's logically aware these are not positive comments he's making about the guy's profession, knows he should probably be more careful about pissing off people he doesn't really know–how many times has that mouth of his gotten him in trouble before?–but it's warm in the tent, and comfortable, the outside noises pleasantly muffled. James coughs, clears his throat. “Self-fullfilling prophecies, I guess.”

[soothsayerbrod]

He chuckled to the self-fulfilling prophecy part. He wouldn't want to deny that, magical thinking was also a thing.

So he's the kind that doesn't want to know, not because he cared, but because he would care to much. Broderick could respect that, he had been like that, but life had shown him that no matter what you did, you couldn't escape your destiny or your choices, no matter how much you tried to. But he wasn't going to say that. "Knowledge is power, indeed."

Broderick nodded as James gave so many examples that sounded like a joke, but sadly had been true for so many. Not knowing what to do with the information relied on you was the source of most evil, "sounds like you've had your fair share of experiences with F A T E... What's your line of work, if you don't mind me asking. I could divine on it, but I'm on my break."

[soothsayerbrod]

“I do so agree myself.” Alecto mused with a laugh. That was not a surprise really. She wasn’t going to say that it was not a nice establishment. Of course it was actually a rather shady one, but she was not going to stay that either. “I’ve worked hard to make it successful.” That was not a lie. She had worked hard, and it had paid off. Now she could relax a little more. The bar was, in her opinion, always going to be successful. She ran it in a good way, and she didn't anticipate a time when it was not going to be raking in the money for her.

“I’m sure I can pour you a drink....” The red head mused with a little smirk. She was not above pouring a drink, even if she did spend most of her time away from the bar. “What do you want?”

****

"Some whisky would be fine." He said, grinning. As soon as she put the drink in front of him, he raised his glass, "thanks, to your health," he sipped his drink and felt the warmth run through his throat. Just what he needed for such cold day. Broderick tried to pinpoint where he had seen the redhead before but couldn't really tell, she was familiar but he doubted he had met her before, "I'm Broderick Bode, by the way."

[soothsayerbrod]

“I do so agree myself.” Alecto mused with a laugh. That was not a surprise really. She wasn’t going to say that it was not a nice establishment. Of course it was actually a rather shady one, but she was not going to stay that either. “I’ve worked hard to make it successful.” That was not a lie. She had worked hard, and it had paid off. Now she could relax a little more. The bar was, in her opinion, always going to be successful. She ran it in a good way, and she didn't anticipate a time when it was not going to be raking in the money for her.

“I’m sure I can pour you a drink....” The red head mused with a little smirk. She was not above pouring a drink, even if she did spend most of her time away from the bar. “What do you want?”

****

"Some whisky would be fine." He said, grinning. As soon as she put the drink in front of him, he raised his glass, "thanks, to your health," he sipped his drink and felt the warmth run through his throat. Just what he needed for such cold day. Broderick tried to pinpoint where he had seen the redhead before but couldn't really tell, she was familiar but he doubted he had met her before, "I'm Broderick Bode, by the way."

[moonbiting]

Fenrir wondered how much a party trick like this could tell, but in the end, what did it matter? Correct or otherwise, he would have his fun. And his ACTION, eloquently pointed out by the wizard behind the booth. "More interesting than I was prepared to give you credit," he admitted, eyeing the cards that had been placed in front of him. "I'll keep that in mind the next time I've got something going my way." Or not, but RECKLESSNESS was practically written into his blood... it was not the wolf that planned ahead, but the dwindling man behind it.

"Tell me," he let a nail dig deeper into the wood, drawing up shavings; "does anyone come back DISPLEASED with your advice? I've always wondered what happens to you blokes when someone catches you on the streets."

[soothsayerbrod]

Of course he had to be impressed, he wasn't dealing with an amateur muggle fortuneteller who relied only on books to learn about his art. But something in the tone of his client sounded mocking, but he was used to it. It was a lifestyle to get people laughing at the face of fate.

"All the time. People don't like to listen to the truth." He explained in a flat tone, "we usually S E E the danger coming. Some choose to escape it, others choose to face it and throw a curse or two to fix the issue like a civilized modern wizard would."

[unspoolcd-deactivated20260418]

"I already brought you the tea, dear, no need to flatter me," she says, amusement shining through her words. It's an exaggeration, of course, but her rapport with Broderick is good enough for her to relax and let her tightly controlled mask slip and her face turn into a grin as she places the tea on his hand without any preambles. After doing so, she turns to her own drink and takes a sip of her own earl grey, letting out a hum of delight as she does so.

"I am here to visit you and ensure you take a quick break," she admits with a sigh and a small rueful smile. Their chats were always delightful, and yet she was more than aware that divination has a price. Knowing that he has been working on the booth all day, she doesn't want to push him further, as she knows his day is not over yet. "Divination debates and my future can wait for when you haven't spent all day immersed in them. I thought a brief change in conversation might help you see things clearer for the rest of the day."

[soothsayerbrod]

Rosaura was quite the character, one he liked to have around for a change. She didn't disguise things or tried to be pushy, unlike some of his friends -Eustace-. Broderick motioned her to take a sit, he would willingly take that break she was suggesting, "just for that you've won a free reading for the new year," he teased.

"So, no divination today… What are we talking about? Gossip? Are you going to see The Nutcracker?" He didn't take her for the kind of wizard who attended every public event, but even for him, the holiday season seemed entertaining and exciting this year.

[soothsayerbrod]

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

She had dabbled, yes, in Divination. Amelia was always someone who’d at least try something first. There’s a hum under her throat as he speaks, not ruffled by anything stated so far. It was easily interpreted by anyone else as real and a tether. A goal, a project--anything in life could be considered one. Being fueled by resentment and heartbreak--weren’t they all since the start of the war and You-Know-Who?

Instead, Amelia let it play. “A new me, mm? And what if I like who I am?” A pause. “Or am I not allowed to ask a question within a question.”

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Resistance to change was one of the most common things Broderick saw in people when he did divination. Why change something I like? Why fix it when it isn't b r o k e n? But still, life forced everyone to change, whether they liked it or not, death did the same with the living.

"You're allowed to ask anything you want... But you have to consider the quality of your question." That was his general warning. People came to his booth with lots of expectations or none at all, and both were two toxic points. "We can see what kind of new you may come... or how to avoid such... t r a n s f o r m a t i o n."

[ambercast]

Tee looked up as they were addressed, smiling at the question. “Oh, yes it was difficult at first, but now it’s just an every day thing. Besides, I have to taste everything I make, so it really can get a bit sickening after a while. The kids love it, though, and that makes all the tummy-aches worth it.” He grinned. “I can make some recommendations, though, if you’re having trouble deciding.

[soothsayerbrod]

"That's an enviable job!" Broderick chuckled, at their remark, "I can bet you run out of these easily," he said as he pointed out to the worm gummies, they brought some memories from his own childhood. He could always use some guidance, it had been ages since he ate something sweet, his palate more used to acidic and salty tastes.

"I'd appreciate that, I'm not used to so much sweetness, but one can start, even at this age."

[chefgretamorrison]

"Nor ever we will, I can barely stand the living, the alone the dead." Truth be told, Rosaline had no interest in the dead because she found it utterly depressing. In her own personal quest for immortality she couldn't must how speaking to those that had failed to conquer it could aid her. And she was nothing if not all about business. Excluded, of course, the situation here and there where she'd grant small talks for the sake of it. Not really the case at the moment.

She peeked at the cards curiously as Broderick turned them, an eyebrow raised at the first one. It was hard for her to show neutrality with people she knew so vividly, who knew her so well and for so long. Broderick was one of those. In fact, he'd been her closest friend ever since Hogwarts. His entrance in the Cabal had everything to do with her. She'd asked Verucca that she would invite and accept him as a personal request of Rosaline, because of the long lasting (although grown distant after Rose's marriage) friendship they had shared. So there they were, unraveling Rosaline's deep worries, and her not being able to hide her annoyance and concern.

"What you mean by it needs some light?" She appreciated a puzzle as much as the next Ravenclaw, but when matters were connected to her family, she liked to go straight to the point. "And how is it back? In what sense?"

[soothsayerbrod]

Broderick and Rosaline shared more than he liked to admit, that was the main reason they became friends years and years back when they were in Hogwarts, "the dead can be more understanding thank you think," he added, unwilling to elaborate more. During his time working at the death chamber.

"S o m e o n e brought the past back." He didn't know who or about what, but Broderick had an inkling that it was very personal to Rosaline. "The two of cups suggests that a previous CONNECTION needs some light, in the sense that some things were left unsaid, or the truth was barely exposed... And the three of coins means taking things over." The reading felt way too personal but at the same time, it had some business and even more people involved. The three of coins suggested a triangle. He didn't want to pry, and he wasn't AS close to Rosaline to even dare ask about her personal affairs, although he felt he needed to. "We can pull a card for clarification if you want."

[jamesorwhatever]

“Honestly, mate, I’m just here to get out of the cold.” James can't help the wary glance he sends the cards in Broderick’s hands, like a cobra out the corner of his eye. It’s been a long time since he’s had anything to do with fortune telling; for most of his life, he’d thought it all some big joke. If it was real, seers would be ruling the world by now, he’d always said. And we’d all be picking our socks in the morning based off the tides or some shit. Now, well. He doesn't really think that way anymore, but doesn't feel like taking the risk either way; given the chance that his future can be told, he doubts it'll be anything he wants to hear. “I just don’t want to know, yeah?” James clears his throat. “No offense.”

[soothsayerbrod]

The fact that some people showed up without any kind of expectation or question wasn't new to Broderick, but it was still funny. He could tell it was cold outside, so he let James stay in the tent. "None taken, as long as you know what you want." He put down the cards on the table, letting them rest, he could use a break too.

He took out a kettle enchanted with a heating charm, "tea?" He offered as he also took out some cups from a bag sitting next to him, "it's kind of refreshing having someone who isn't anxious about their future."

[moonbiting]

"AMBITION," he started, a gnarled nail digging into the surface between them. "Let's start there. Those cards of yours say whether I've got anything to look forward to?" Greyback, of course, could think of plenty... but as of yet they were locked in the planning stage, away from the reality of SUCCESS.

[soothsayerbrod]

Broderick had identified a pattern among his clients that day: all of them had P L A N S but all of them had things standing in the WAY of actual execution and success. Why were they worried about such mundane matters? Merlin only knew, he was just being the messenger, not the creator. He started putting the cards on the table.

"Ace of wands... a plan, or opportunity. A desire for ACTION..." Sometimes in the middle of his sessions images started taking shape in his mind, it was part of the divination process, but unlike seers, they could be just psychic baggage from the client and not actual things in the past or future. He saw blood. How odd. "But then we have the Knight of Swords: recklessness, little care for the consequences... You my friend need to temper your P U L S I O N S."

[soothsayerbrod]

It was always hard to talk about the F U T U R E with another diviner, let alone a seer. Understanding that some things were in your control and some others (mostly other individuals) were not, was part of the ma g i c of this... and also the disappointment. Broderick avoided asking any questions about himself or his H E R E A F T E R because of that, because of Bianca.

Brod would take this moment to make things lighter and catch up with his new friend. Bastian was one of the few people who he could confide in about everything, especially things related to their vocation and background. "As busy as it can get. Everyone has anxiety about their future, I don't really know if they REALLY want to know what's in store, though. But I'm not one to judge and I won't sugarcoat either."

Broderick chuckled at his remark, making it unavoidable to look at his shoes to verify if it had been in fact a joke, a cleaning charm made it look like nothing had happened. "if it makes you feel better, someone tried to use a memory charm on me today, so I would forget they had asked the same thing thrice with the same outcome."

[soothsayerbrod]

It was always hard to talk about the F U T U R E with another diviner, let alone a seer. Understanding that some things were in your control and some others (mostly other individuals) were not, was part of the ma g i c of this... and also the disappointment. Broderick avoided asking any questions about himself or his H E R E A F T E R because of that, because of Bianca.

Brod would take this moment to make things lighter and catch up with his new friend. Bastian was one of the few people who he could confide in about everything, especially things related to their vocation and background. "As busy as it can get. Everyone has anxiety about their future, I don't really know if they REALLY want to know what's in store, though. But I'm not one to judge and I won't sugarcoat either."

Broderick chuckled at his remark, making it unavoidable to look at his shoes to verify if it had been in fact a joke, a cleaning charm made it look like nothing had happened. "if it makes you feel better, someone tried to use a memory charm on me today, so I would forget they had asked the same thing thrice with the same outcome."

[manicherry-deactivated20240511]

JAMES MCAVOY by Boo George, 2017.