THE MAGICIAN: A bustling street market under twilight. / for strange
FOREWORD INCOMING !! always accepting!!
tarot themed !! from @hexblast
around them, the street market hums with life. voices blend into a constant rhythm—vendors calling out deals, laughter spilling from somewhere down the lane, the faint hiss of food sizzling on nearby grills. the air is thick with the scent of sugar and smoke, the tang of roasted chestnuts mingling with something sweet and unfamiliar. narrow strings of lanterns hang overhead, their light painting the crowd in shades of gold and red as people weave between the stalls.
“ i thought you might enjoy something like this, ” stephen says as he exchanges a few bills with the clerk, the coins clinking softly in his palm. the man behind the stall wraps the candied fruit on a stick in crisp paper, handing it over with a nod. stephen should remember what it’s called—he’s certain he’s heard the name before—but the thought slips away as his attention drifts elsewhere. that couldn’t be helped.
a gust of wind carries a burst of chatter past him, and he glances up from the fruit in his hand. the market feels alive, pulsing with color and motion, and yet his gaze lingers—anchored not on the chaos, but on the woman beside him.
“ where to next? ” he offers his arm out in her direction, with a small smile.
