( open )

[possidetur]

FEATURING: vanessa ives + you
WHAT'S HAPPENING: hunting for information, tarot reading, grave watching
DAYS: first two weeks of april
CONTENT WARNINGS: none yet

Comments

( around town )

[possidetur]

( she's searching. it happens in more ways than one. she's walking through the town, wandering the various paths. her eyes are searching, probing, examining the movements of the natives, their judgements, how the buildings are settled. some are off limits, guarded as she was originally told, but others she simply stops before, almost waiting.

it's a feeling that vanessa is seeking, a sense of what happened in the past, of any terrible things that she can feel. it's an unpleasant method but it's an honest way to find an answer. the things that only she can see have never lied to her before.

when vanessa isn't sensing for information she's in the library, scanning the books for any glimpses of this town's past, of whatever history she can pull together. knowing what happened can only help inform as to the present surely )

[reapercussion]

[It's not like Sally's necessarily judging Vanessa and what she does in her free time, but she notices the way she moves through town. Like she's lost her keys and is trying to retrace her steps. It's weird enough that she kind of follows after her.

And, honestly, Sally likes to get up in people's business. It's a problem, she knows.

It's not stalking, she tells herself. It's just for a path or two, hanging back far enough to make it look as though she isn't being a weirdo herself. This was much easier before, back when she was still a ghost and could just poof whenever it became convenient.]

[possidetur]

( vanessa knows that someone is there, recognising the feeling of being followed though her senses don't trigger it as anything malicious, leaving sally to walk for a little longer.

after a few more minutes vanessa stops, eyes closed as she focuses on the building in front of her. though there’s an energy vanessa can't find anything specific about it, though she wouldn't have said that she expected there to be too much. this entire place had an energy to it, a fear, a great loss. so much had happened after the creatures had arrived.

when vanessa opens her eyes again a few moments later she turns her head to look in sally’s direction, offering a hand out to her )

( tarot reading )

[possidetur]

( the day the cards appear on the doorstep is an unusual one. vanessa knows whatbthey are the instant she sees the box, making certain to quickly grab them up and take them to the privacy of her room. where did they come from? how did they come?

she keeps them with her, carrying the box as she conducts her business through the town, only examining them for the second time once she's settled in the library. it's quiet, feeling almost safe, and she lifts the cards from the box.

spreading them out is almost second nature to vanessa, and though her intention is to examine the cards, to see if anything is amiss with them rather than do a reading, her movements are fluid as if she is setting them up. the cards form an arc around the table, a second smaller arc in the middle. vanessa scans them, eyes assessing, appraising to see any noticeable differences before, seconds lster, her hand hovers over them, letting them speak to her )

[ex_criticality719]

[ It's been a few weeks since his unfortunate injury and in that recovery time he hasn't been as active as he'd have liked. He spent most days holed up in his apartment, reading, and occasionally going out to find a meal. It takes a lot of effort to go anywhere with the broken leg, but thanks to his "oddities" it is healing faster every day.

He walks along the shelves, pulling books down and casually flipping them open, until he spots her. He's seen enough street acts to know that this was a trick or something along those lines. But the reverent way she is spreading them, and her refined appearance makes him think more of a worshipper at an alter than a busker. He limps over and stops a respectful few feet away from her.

He signs what are they?

Genuine curiosity plain on his face. ]

[possidetur]

( the curiosity vanessa understands but not his question. she didn't have her device out, not expecting a conversation, and she's starting to consider that perhaps learning some of these signs may be of use.

she takes a leap, using that curiosity, and the hand that had been hovering over the cards now beckons him over. if he does step closer vanessa will reach for his hand, waiting for permission before taking it and moving his hand over the cards as his was.

her instruction will hopefully be simple. her other hand gestures to him, a simple direction to look into her eyes )

i'm sorry i'm such a slowmo

[ex_criticality719]

[ He does step forward, very slowly. He's a little nervous but curiosity does get the better of him. He gives her his real hand, as that seems to be the proper thing to do.

He watches as his fingers hover inches from the cards. The hair rises on the back on his neck for some reason. The entire action and ceremony of this card spread seems calming but he can tell something is not what it seems here. He glances up at her, and holds her stare. She's very intense and he has to resist the urge to crack a smile to lighten the mood. Instead he just nods. ]

[historyrabbit]

[Lavi's often in the library as of late, at least when he's not working on construction in other areas, trying to shore up the sagging walls or crumbling bookcases to the best of his abilities. But this time he's actually in here for pleasure, a book of the stars in his hand as he brings it back, the plan being to get one that holds information about plants this time.

He sees Vanessa and detours, shifting the book to his better hand as he peers over the table in front of her at the back of the cards. Then he gently puts his book on the table, not touching the cards, and signs:] Scorpions?

[He's using BSL in the hopes that she might actually know the signs without translation.]

[possidetur]

( his hand catches her attention, head tipping up, focus broken from the cards. so far nothing seemed amiss with them, as if they were simply brought here as she had been.

Vanessa watches his question though unfortunately she doesn't know any sign languages, giving a small shake of her head. she does at least remember to reach into her pocket for her device, laying it on the table for him to ask again )

[historyrabbit]

[It was worth a shot! The language had been around in his time, hence his knowing it and so many others. But he'll pull out his own device, sending a message with the word to hers.]

Scorpions? Can't imagine you saw many of them in your England.

[warfares]

[ As lovely as the cards are, it's the familiarity with which she wields them that draws his notice.

Divination was far from a new concept. Every species and culture had its superstitions and humanity, in particular, seemed drawn to the idea of peering into the future in search of some insight. Few possessed any real skill, and those that did would counsel against relying too heavily on what was seen. Even so, when Vanessa her fingers over the glossy surface of the cards there is an accompanying hum, like something stirring from a long and deep sleep.

He observes, silent for now, as she continues her inspection, seeing what (if any) names he recognizes. ]

[possidetur]

( she knows that he's there, a small blip on the peripheral of her senses but not troubling enough to draw her focus. she's intent on the cards, continuing with a reading now that she's confident that nothing feels wrong about them.

her hand searches now, moving slowly across, eyes focused just on the setting in front of her, not moving. her hand begins to slow, pausing over the cards at the right of the table. then, seconds later, her hand moves to turn one over from the left, from the inner ring.

the hanged man.

she doesn't spend too much time on it, not now that his presence is pulsing more immediately. vanessa knows what it's telling her -- she didn't need to read the cards to know that. her head tips up and then her hand reaches out to him, palm up. an invitation )

[warfares]

[ It's an invitation that he's happy enough to accept, peeling away from the shelf he'd been leaning against, and settles in the chair opposite her.

His posture is relaxed, head inclining as he studies the cardsㅡan invitation to continue, should she wish. ]

[stealyoursoul]

[Leo's never been one much for books, not really seeing the point in escapism when reality was right there staring you in the face. He's sure anyone who knew that would likely consider him to be a Neanderthal, but he stopped caring what people thought about him when he was sixteen. The reason he's in the library right now to escape the house. Obviously, it's not noisy, but it feels crowded sometimes, and when he's hungry, the temptation to go snack on one of his roommates becomes a lot to handle.

Leo's sitting with his back to a shelf of books, eyes closed as he finds some peace of mind. He smells it before he opens up his eyes: the mark of blood on someone's hands. When he looks around, he sees a woman nearby, her shadow restless and moving about behind her. Ah, another sinner.

Now, what is she doing? He gets up and walks over, head tilted curiously as he looks down at the cards. He pulls out his device. He's learned some sign language, but not enough to really use well in conversations.]

What are those?

[possidetur]

( honestly, at the minute, vanessa is more relieved when people actually use the devices instead of signing. though it had been a learning curve to figure out how to use it, and then to remember to do so, vanessa has yet to lesrn any of the signs.

her head lifts at his question, a gentle frown appearing, not at his question but from the feeling she has about him. she doesn't know what it is, not yet expanding the sense to see him but something doesn't feel natural, or perhaps pleasant )

Tarot cards.

( she doesn't expand, or offer a 'service' to him. if not caught off guard perhaps she would )

[stealyoursoul]

[Leo stares down at the deck without too much comprehension. For someone as spiritual as he tends to be, he usually doesn't tend to go for anything out of the ordinary or that could be considered supernatural. It's ironic considering he could be considered a supernatural creature himself.]

Are those the things that supposedly tell your future?

[He decides to just sit down across from her without being asked. It's not entirely rudeness. He's just not good at interacting with people. He never has been, but having an attitude here isn't going to win him any points with people.]

[possidetur]

( it's after the cards appear that vanessa returns to the graveyard, feeling almost drawn there. the arrival of something of hers, something from home brings back some of the feelings that she'd tried to push away, ignoring in favour of the curiosities of the mystery at hand.

it hits her harder, reminded of it, and the guilt and loneliness that had been curling at her core almost screams at vanessa now. it pushes her out, driving her almost to the graveyard -- to walk, to think. to mourn.

she stops by an empty patch of grass, eyes fixed almost on it. her thoughts are racing, thinking of those that she's lost, those left behind. the loves that she misses. it's a few more moments before her head turns from that patch of grass, seeking out any adequate looking sticks. she needs something to mark the space, to put her thoughts in a place )

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima had something under his arm -- a small bag, opaque but weighted down by its contents. He stopped when he spotted Vanessa, giving her a quizzical look.

Then he opened the bag and lifted out a few of the objects inside -- flower bulbs, lying in his outstretched palm. ]

[possidetur]

( she's curious at the offerinh, reaching to take one of the bulbs, turning it over in her hand before placing it back. then a slow message is typed out )

What will you do with them?

( the obvious aside )

[justbeingknife]

I found 'em on my porch.

Eddie said this place needed flowers, so I figured I might as well plant these. They ain't meant for bouquets, but they're perfect for cemetaries.

[ He took out a paper label, which depicted dramatic red blooms on the front. ]

You want a couple? They come up in fall.

[whists]

[Emily hasn't put a marker in the graveyard, although she was tempted by the idea of it at first. Maybe it's superstition, something she never thought she was prone to, or maybe it's just the idea of bringing a piece of her mother to a word that never held a piece of her to begin with.

She just doesn't.

It doesn't stop her from walking the grounds though, a momentary solace of remembrance. She twists her mother's ring around her finger as she does so. She's not so lost in her thoughts to miss seeing Vanessa searching, watching her with a tilt to her head.]

Are you alright?

[possidetur]

( she looks to the woman, reading the question before giving a brief nod. though the ones that vanessa loved were not here, and though in some ways her heart was always mourning, she was ‘alright’ as muchas she ever had been )

I was thinking of my friends.

( something that was difficult to avoid doing eben out of the graveyard. when you're used to being surrounded by them to suddenly being alone-- it wasn't pleasant )

( closed | logan )

[possidetur]

( the walk had been an enjoyable experience. an exploration, comfortable and pleasant, and though little had been said nothing had needed to be. they'd communicated just enough and in a way more had been said withiut words than could have been given verbally.

it hadn't just been the walk. in the days since a feeling had almost been gnawing at vanessa, something familiar about him, something that she needed to know.

not knowing him vanessa had waited, seeking him about the town, offering a pleasant greeting of a smile before holding her device to him )

Will you walk with me?

[danzan]

[ Logan recognised her, of course, and though he didn't smile back quite as wide, there was a softening of his eyes as he nodded his head in response. Life here wasn't so bad, but there was a bizarre difference between people who were quiet out of fear and people who were quiet because they liked it.

Having been studying the sign language, he went through a brief gesture in some attempt at practise, but by the end of it was already standing by the woman's side. ] Where?

[possidetur]

( she's offering her hand out to him. it didn't matter where they walked, vanessa didn't have any destination in mind. her goal was just to walk, and maybe to explore that feeling she had of this man )