"If you never saw the stars, candles were enough."
blaine anderson.
if you're looking for a tarot reading, ask my mom.
i'm temporarily closed for business
while we do some repairs.
RIP Madison McCarthy
willsborough aesthetic #003: he sees the future, she sees the past
You - you alone will have the stars as no one else has them... In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing, when you look at the sky at night... You - only you - will have stars that can laugh.
Why: Sebastian’s stroll through town leads him into the best bookstore in town, which just so happens to come with Blaine.
SEBASTIAN SMYTHE
“No offense to your mother, but that sounds just like what a Burlesque parlor does,” he said, stuffing his hands into his pocket. Still, it sounded interesting. And it got him into the back room, which was more important. Disappointment washed over him as he stepped through the beaded curtain. There was too much crap in the room for him to be able to tell what was fake and what was real. Maybe it was all crap. And maybe it was all real. Either way, it seemed overkill for an experience. “I’d rather have authenticity,” he said.
Sebastian walked over to the chair, taking off his coat to set on the back before taking his seat. He fixed the cuffs on his shirt and sweater, smoothing his hand over his chest before settling. The past aromas of incense were still strong in the room. His eyes looked over every deep red and purple hue that seemed to exist in the space. No wonder so many tourists were tricked into this. When did Blaine’s mother ever tell them something real?
“My family’s past is on my mind,” he answered, his eyes on Blaine with a curiosity in his gaze. Even after years of trying to find the answer, Sebastian still didn’t understand why he felt so tied to this town. Sure, his great to the nth power grandmother was one of the Salem witches. Did that really mean he was stuck in Willsborough? “And my future, but I suppose everyone wonders about that.”
He relaxed in the chair, making himself at ease in the room. What he wanted to know, and what he knew Blaine couldn’t answer for him, was what he was meant for. A smirk curled his lips up, “Oh, and also my present.”
BLAINE ANDERSON
Blaine cut his eyes at Sebastian briefly for the burlesque comment, but he restrained himself from responding. They’d known each other for years by then, and even though Sebastian was impossible at times, Blaine had gotten fairly used to the snark. Fairly. Not entirely.
What was more interesting was his insistence that he wanted something authentic. Blaine toyed with the cards in his hands, watching Sebastian for a moment and attempting to gauge what this was all about without prying too deeply. It was a fine balance, the urge to know and the desire not to intrude. Not that Blaine could ever literally read anyone’s mind - but he certainly had the ability to understand more than they likely wanted him to. And that was the big question right then: what did Sebastian want?
“Cute,” Blaine replied at the last comment, sitting in a seat opposite Sebastian, a small, wooden table in between them. “We can do the Celtic spread. It’s the most popular right now, and it’s the one that’s going to dive into past, present, and future.” He kept shuffling, his eyes still on Sebastian. It was all about focus, what he did. Relaxing the mind, letting the rest of the world disappear.
The smell of incense, the dim lighting, the way the chair sat just a bit unevenly on the floor... all the extra things Blaine had been aware of melted to the background as he shuffled. Sebastian was all there was.
The room felt a little warm, didn’t it?
“It’s all about interpretation,” Blaine explained. “You’re not going to find specific answers. What might be better for you right now is a one card pull, for whatever it is that you want to know most.” He leaned in, one of his feet sliding sideways to rest against Sebastian’s. A less than flirtatious act; it was more accurate if they could touch. “So what is it? More than anything else, what do you want?”
I have a ‘silence is golden’ spell I’ve been saving for the next time Rachel decides to run her mouth off about some of my less than stellar wardrobe quirks, say the word and I can buy you at least a few days peace with little to no karmic drawbacks.
I’ll let you hide out in the ‘Caws back room rent free if you give me permission to break his pointer finger.
Tempting. Though I have a feeling my mother would know exactly what was going on, even though she can’t psychically read me anymore. Also it might kill him. Cooper once tried a silent protest when our parents refused to buy him a motorcycle at 16, but he forgot to breathe and passed out.
I just want you to know that I fully appreciate your camaraderie on this one, and the fact that you are the only other person in town who doesn’t fall for his schtick.
You’re welcome here, if you want, or I can try to get him trapped in the bakery with the promise of a teeth whitening cupcake? Do you think that’d work?
I have no doubt he’d fall for it, but knowing my luck, he’s probably off carbs.
I wouldn’t say no to hiding out with the Roses for a day, though. If you’d like some company. It’s been forever since I had a chat with your mom.
I know you don’t always enjoy spending time with your brother, but he is dreamy to look at. He’s here for a whole month?
“Dreamy”, Rachel? She who claims to be my friend?
He flew out for Thanksgiving, because Mom would’ve disowned him if he didn’t. Now that he’s back in Willsborough, he claims he needs to stick around for moral support. Really, I’m sure he just likes feeling like the superstar who got out of this mess.
Cooper Anderson has decided to grace us all with his presence through the entire month of December. Something about me “needing” my “biggest role model” around.
Unrelated - if anyone has a cellar, please let me hide in it. I’ll pay rent.
Why: Sebastian’s stroll through town leads him into the best bookstore in town, which just so happens to come with Blaine.
SEBASTIAN SMYTHE
There he went with that bashful schoolboy act. After all these years, it was still sexy. “Another reason to come here rather than Barnes and Noble,” he reasoned as he followed Blaine through the store. The layout seemed to be a maze to Sebastian, but Blaine knew where to go. His eyes roamed over the bookshelves as he wondered just what genre they were walking through. Out of everything, he was just thankful that he didn’t see a section for romance novels.
When Blaine came to a stop and waved his arm, Sebastian looked first to the books and then to Blaine. He stared hard for a moment. “Didn’t I say books that my father wouldn’t have?” he asked. “All of the information in those books could probably be found on the town’s website. And that thing hasn’t been updated since 2005.”
He sighed and set down his empty coffee cup on the shelf. “Harvard did have amazing libraries. But they didn’t have what I was looking for,” he answered. “And it appears that you don’t either.” Though Sebastian was more inclined to believe that Blaine was hiding the kind of books that would actually be helpful. The poor sap probably thought Sebastian knew nothing about the town.
“Well, to keep this from being a complete waste of time, how about you do some of those psychic tricks of yours?” he asked, waving his fingers at Blaine as if casting a spell. (How did one cast a spell?) “Read the cards or my palm or my coffee, whatever it is you do.”
BLAINE ANDERSON
Sebastian glared at him, hard, and Blaine could feel a rush of annoyance (frustration?). Sharing emotions with others wasn’t a new thing to Blaine, but he’d never much cared for it. It was too much information, too invasive even though he was the invader. Though with that look he’d gotten, it really didn’t take any extrasensory skill to figure out how Sebastian felt about the selection of history books.
“Well I don’t do the inventory...” he muttered, wondering if he was feeling disappointed because he’d rather just let Sebastian in, or if he was only picking up more waves in the air. It was probably a bit of both. He twisted the faux leather band around his wrist, rubbing his thumb over the intwined incense as though it would help shut out Sebastian’s inner affect. (It wouldn’t; it only worked the other way ‘round).
He smiled again, a bit exasperated, at Sebastian’s next suggestion. “Tricks are for magicians,” he insisted. “What my mother sells is an ability, and an experience.” Regardless, he began to lead Sebastian into the back room behind the main book shop, where his mother did the Tarot readings. “She’s better at it,” he told him. “She puts on a voice and plays thematic music. But if you want a tried and true Blaine Anderson reading, you’ll have to go without. I find it distracting.”
He indicated the table in the middle of the room. “Have a seat.” There were multiple sets of cards - scary ones, flashy ones... decks his mother sometimes used to appeal to whomever she was doing the reading for. Blaine, however, always used the same deck: his grandmother’s. They were worn, slightly bent. But they felt the best in his hands.
“So what’s on your mind, then?” he asked, casually beginning the shuffle.
No, not nearly as cool. And no, I’m not looking for a house call. Not really. I don’t know, I’ve just been looking at the future a little more lately. But that’s not on you. Don’t worry about it.
Understandable train of thought considering recent events. If you ever did want to try looking into anything, I wouldn’t be against it. You’re a friend, and maybe practicing with a lighter mind will help me with trying to find Mason. Like when you spend hours on a puzzle but you can only see the answer after you’ve taken a break to watch Real Housewives.
Hiding? Hell no. The shop has been the happening joint of the past few weeks thanks to the fact that one of our original designs was totes ripped off by Kendall and it was enough to send our customers into a frenzy that was basically the physical representation of what happened when the Lip Kits were revealed.
It’d be easier to believe that if Massachusetts wasn’t populated entirely by Irish Catholics and the type of millennials who have yet to find Kylie Jenner ironically cool yet.
Also I just like feeling like I’m not the only hermit in town. Old Man Johnson doesn’t count.
and I’m sure everyone has plans - the Corcoran and Berry extravaganza will be nothing if not interesting, that’s for certain - but yours truly has landed herself her very own job. That’s right, you’re looking at the newest and greatest bartender of The Pub since - well, probably ever.
I start as an official employee (without the ‘trainee’ sticker they stuck on me this past weekend) on Thursday night, which means I want all of you there as soon as you’ve had your fill of family. And don’t think just because we’re friends you get out of tipping me - I have to pay rent somehow, and I’d really like to stop depending on my fathers for my sense of income sometime.
My pockets have been feeling heavy lately, and I don’t think there’s a better place to lighten them than a bar with my favorite girl behind it.
Congratulations, Rachel. If anyone asks about the wine spritzers, I hear they taste like ‘pink’.
It’s sweet, Blaine. I’m sure he’ll love it - I wouldn’t see how he couldn’t, at least. I do worry about him sometimes; it must be hard being away from your family when it isn’t even really your choice.
I mean this in the nicest way possible, but do you really think Finn could protect me against whatever hurt Madison? I have a better shot at protecting him from it than vice versa. He just needs more time. He’ll come around. I know he will. He loves me, and he wouldn’t do anything to lose me. I trust that in time, he’ll come to me with a zillion questions and I can finally explain everything.
PRIVATE
He’s Sam, so... even if he doesn’t love it, he’ll pretend he does to spare my feelings. At least he has us. I’m not arrogant enough to say we’re as good as the real thing, but... we’re a family of our own, in a way.
He couldn’t, but he should want to be able to. I know he loves you, I would never doubt that. It’s just that occasionally... well, never mind. All this bad energy in the air is messing with me.
You and me? I wouldn’t be all that against the idea as long as you can promise maybe not to let the other girls -mainly Rachel- know if I have to delve into a few areas that are on the grayer side of white.
Actually Shelby hasn’t said a thing at least not to me, she may have discussed things with Rach though. I figure she’s probably just giving us all some time and space to process everything.
PRIVATE
Anything is worth a shot at this point. Maybe your abuela knows something that could work - something from your heritage that you all don’t practice here? We should attack from all angles and see what comes up.
Oh... I assumed you’d all have a coven meeting or grief session. There has to be at least one magically-inclined psychiatrist out there for you.
Keep talking like this, dude, and we’ll end up with the stakes raised and before you know it - bam - you’re on laundry duty for a week. You leave little Murdock and Dinah out of this, and their children too. They’re going to be in the junior bowling league, telling stories about just how much of a legend their father was. The Jedi of Bowling is what they’ll call me, cause I’m so on point people think I use the force to manipulate the direction of the ball.
Murdock and Dinah?
I think manipulating balls is more Santana’s gig. That said, I’m willing to bet an order of nachos on the turnout. If you win, I’ll buy you some. With extra cheese.
You know that I would never do that to you any more than I would Finn, or Sebastian, or any of the girls. I try not to do it period except when I want my way on unsuspecting strangers, really. It’s honestly a waste of a strength. You’re writing Sam a song?
Because his future wife can move things with her mind and has the ability to coerce him into literally anything simply by focusing on it enough. I mean, a part of me can’t blame him - we have the potential to be truly terrible. And it’s not like black magic isn’t a real thing either; sure, we’re all on the right side of things now, but what happens if we’re slowly picked off one by one and I’m the last one left and I have to lash out for my own safety?
Of course. And also because I know where your glitter stash is and I will dump it in a sewer. ...yeah. I’m sure he’s a little lonely lately, it being the holidays and him not being around his family. So I wanted to do something nice for him. It’s not weird, right?
Well when you put it that way. If anything, he should be more open to knowing things now. How is he supposed to even try to protect you if he doesn’t know what he’s dealing with? You know I’d never diss your relationship, but it’s not very... supportive of him.
I know there’s all kinds of frauds out there panhandling at fairs and festivals, but you can tell it’s all bullshit with them. Or maybe I can because I know the real deal. Though do you ever do it in other people’s houses? Like does that help focus it?
It could work, theoretically. If the psychic in question were at ease with whoever was having the reading done. It’s not an exact science; sometimes you’re in the zone, sometimes you’re not. So if you ever need to make a house call, my number’s in the phone book. Also I think you have it in your phone already, but that didn’t sound as cool.
I’m sorry that I’ve denied you all of my presence for so long. I’m sorry that the sun seemingly disappeared behind a big ass cloud and the only thing that you’ve been able to think about in the great eclipse has been a cacophony of words by Edgar Allen Poe set to the soothing tones of some wicked Evanescence. Mostly I’m sorry that I’m really not all that sorry because Sunni B has been all sorts of hopping as we make this seasonal transition and that means that yours truly has been busier than ever being the poster child (quite literally) for this overhaul.
Now that that’s all settled and done with, I’d be more than happy to take care of that little shade problem by shoving some of my sunshiney self right where I belong – in the middle of all of your lives. Bonjour.
It’s been dark and dreary without you, Kitty.
I would ask what you’ve been up to, but I don’t think hiding from the universe right now is such an unreasonable thing to do.