Curses: Does your muse believe in good/bad luck? How about karma?
“I’m in the business of believing that things happen for a reason. It’s not particularly of the good or bad luck variety, but it can border upon karma in of itself, as fate is one to give balance in the grand tapestry of the universe.”
Caeldrin gave pause at the table, its surface covered with a linen cloth, and a pleasant maroon lace center embroidered in. An opened gold box resided to his left; the rose in full bloom with a wreath of thorns and feathers; and delicately hand crafted no less. Its contents were being shuffled by the elder across from his friend Duroxas. The chamber was open and the corner of his kitchen with the window blinds kept shut is where they conversed.
The slide of narrow and long cards shuffled continuously until the Duskwight was satisfied. Methodically, he placed four cards on the table between himself and his friend before placing the entire deck back into the box. Leaving it open, he returned his sight on the red-head with an eerily wavered calm. Cael became solemn and did so unnaturally as if second nature.
“That’s neither here nor there though. The question is if I believe in it, or no.”
Cael reached for the first card and flipped it over to reveal an upright The Hierophant. The elder didn’t look at all surprised and instead brought his seriousness across the way to study Duro. “Luck isn’t really what I would call chemistry friendly. Components work together or they don’t. Sometimes you need to bring in other elements to bind everything together or remove something to create harmony. To do that, you need karma more than anything. You can only take what you’ve been given and visa versa. If you give and you take at the right moment, it will fall in place as it should.”
The second was flipped over. A reversed Knight of Wands. The elder dipped his head and stared over the card with a downcast look of concern. “One must contemplate their role in life. Are they the good luck? The bad? When they step into an establishment, do the people react with judgement or warmth? Or are they seen for their deeds and the people have mixed opinions? As one that is as fiery as they come, you know the dangers of following your impulses with such excited, and equally restless enthusiasm. Karma would tell you who you want to meet eye to eye with, but luck can only dictate if they’d look back at you as an equal or look down on you. Try not to be too reckless.” Pale canary irises fastened on Duro as a warning inflected in his tone.
Fingertips caught the edge of the third card and upon the face sat The Emporer upright. The hand brought up with its partner and bridged fingers so that Cael could study it as if to perch his nose atop his forefingers. “I can safely say that this card, above all others, is a fair representation of you, but that is not the case right now. Rather, it is what you know and have. Karma has bought you power and recognition. Experience being the key to good judgement for the next of kin. Luck would see that wife and child happy under your rule, but it’s your karma that will see you through the hardships that come. You know this. It’s why you are reckless.” Caeldrin sighed through his nose and gave Duro a flat look, but moved on just as quick.
Lastly, the fourth card was turned over and the ashen features of the Duskwight became grim. All joy sapped from him as he took in the card’s presence like a heavy pressure in the air. He didn’t dare look to his friend with sympathy and having hid himself behind his interlaced fingers, Cael forced his hands to break away from each other. Out of respect, he righted his back and leaned away in a cool manner to cross his right leg over his left knee. “The Tower upright, is ever the sign of karma coming to collect at one’s doorstep. It is not a card to take lightly and it’s worth an amount of reflection before leaping into the abyss.” Caeldrin lifted his chin with an intake of shared air. Concern pressed his lips to a tense line and a mild frown. “Whatever comes, Duro, you know we shall support you. If the world should come crash down upon our heads, hell or high water, we shall rebuild once the dust settles. If luck will have it, we’ll come out of it relatively unscathed, and if not, I hope that karma gives us mercy enough to stand up soon in the aftermath.”
Each card was plucked up and placed in a thin stack to be dropped into the golden box. The lid fell closed with a soft ‘tak’ and Caeldrin resumed his reclined state to watch Duroxas for his reactions. “So, to answer your question. Yes. I believe in luck and karma, but they to me, are but tools fate uses to guide us along our journey. Satisfied?”
“He knew something was different, and the fact that so far, he’s the only one who’s noticed is - ... interesting. It clearly wasn’t immediately obvious, even to him, and that’s a relief. I don’t want to go walking around with a sign that says ‘I swallowed an entire ley line’.”
I'm going to train up a perfect storm drain Cradily today- if you're up for it, a gijinka male lileep or cradily? Ill name it after the character :> if you've already done this one recently then that's alright.
Sorry this took so long for me to do! I wanted him to look cool :’) I hope u think he looks cool too lmao;; Here’s your Cradily!
