I'm Dreaming of the Life I Once Loved

[occultigen]

Who: Meridiana (occultigen) and YOU!
Where: Goldenrod City
When: Anytime during the month of February!
Summary: What do you get when you cross a Victorian-era seeress with a pack of tarot cards? There's one easy way to find out...
Rating: PG!
Log:

[It's not particularly nice out these days, but at the very least it's not snowing most of the time and the weather's usually above freezing, and even on the worse days of the month, with the benefit of a couple of Fire-type Pokemon (and a few who happen to know Sunny Day) it's not altogether difficult to keep warm in spite of the chill in the air.

Which is why, at various times during the month of February, you might just see Meridiana bundled up and sitting at one of the outdoor tables of a cafe in Goldenrod, facing the street and playing with a pack of tarot cards. Every so often, she'll make a face and shake her head at a card she turns up; most of the time, though, she's shifting and arranging them with practiced and familiar ease. She's done this sort of reading before, in a similar way, and made a little bit of money at it and helped give passerby some guidance into their circumstances and futures, so all in all it's a reasonable enough way of passing the time on a quiet afternoon.

On days when she's out, she's got a little handmade sign up to advertise her business (which her Tropius is helpfully displaying for her), so if you happen to be passing by and would like to sit and have your fortune told — or even just stop by to chat a while — feel free to pause and say hello!]


[OOC: Okay, so! This is an open log for people in Goldenrod who'd like to stop in and interact with Meridiana, either just to hang out or to use her fortune-telling as a hook! As a standard disclaimer, I am not anywhere close to being an expert at this myself, so I'll be using this website for any readings she's asked to give and just going with whatever it returns; if you'd prefer to handwave something or for character/plot reasons would prefer to have her give your character a specifically-tailored prediction or result (that is, specific cards, a particular overall meaning, whatever), feel free to let me know and we can swing it that way as well! And of course, you're not obligated to ask for one; you're just as welcome to chat and hang out with her instead!

This log is good for the entire month of February, so please give me a rough date of when a thread is taking place on your starter, along with anything else I might need to know before we get rolling!]

Comments

[lieutenantantichrist]

[By now, Blake's real familiar with Goldenrod. He knows the shortcuts, the best lunch places, the guys at the newsstands, almost like home. Lately, one cafe he walks by now and then has a girl sitting out front a lot, looking pensive at a really weird set of playing cards.

Today Blake's feeling good enough to go buy a donut and silently dare anybody to say a goddamn word. As he heads out, munching, he pauses behind the girl.]

It's lousy weather for playing solitaire outside.

[occultigen]

[Dear Tropius™ slings Blake a kind of sideways look as he stops near Meridiana, less threatening and more just scrutinizing this large scruffy man who's paused to chat with her trainer, but Meridiana seems largely oblivious to that and casts a pleasant smile up at him from where she's sitting.]

Well, then, I shan't play any solitaire! And I do thank you for the advice.

[Good lord, she's got a personality today. God bless us every one.]

No, these cards are for fortune-telling, actually. Have you ever had one before?

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Steve the Snubbull, daintily fanging a cruller, stands on tip-toes to look at the colorful cards.

What could be suspicious about this, Dear Tropius™? It's just a scruffy, rough-edged looming guy. Nothing to worry about.

Meridiana's reply has polite words in it, so it strikes Blake as polite.]

Fortune-telling? Nah, that's just another scam carnies run. They wave their hands over a crystal ball and take money from rubes.

[He squints at the cards.]

How's this supposed to work?

6th

[veggie_vamp]

[Draculaura is particularly gullible, so when she sees the sign - fortune telling? SIGN HER UP. Her Meowth and Umbreon have to race to catch up with her, as she eagerly gets to the table, clasping her hands together eagerly.]

Another fortune teller? And one so close, to! This is fangtastic!

[occultigen]

[Oh, well. Hello there, Draculaura, you're certainly enthusiastic, aren't you.]

Beg pardon? Another one? Why, I hadn't the slightest idea there was so much competition for that sort of thing around!

[veggie_vamp]

A-huh! My friend, Hakky! He's a fortune teller too, but I guess he didn't predict you being here.

back dated to the 5th

[peridork]

[Peridot's familiar with cold, but she's not used to being so affected by it.

She's outside on typical Grunt duty, casing the streets for possible heist targets while she wanders around in disguise, all bundled up in her warmest jacket with her hands shoved in her pockets. She would probably have bypassed Meridiana altogether if it weren't for her Elgyem. Perhaps drawn over by the warmth, the little psychic Pokemon peels off from where she was hovering at Peridot's shoulder as they were passing by, and approaches the table, peering down at the cards curiously.]

[Peridot tsks irritably and follows it, hissing like a mildly aggravated goose.]

Clod! Would it break you to stay focused for more than five Earth minutes at a time? What are you looking at over here that's so important, anyway?

[occultigen]

[She jumps, naturally, at Peridot's irritable honking, and at first she thinks that the crabbiness is being directed at her specifically — but then she glances up and sees the Elgyem, and things start to make a little more sense, and she abruptly decides to try to smooth over the awkwardness with a warm smile and a good word for the wayward Pokemon.]

Oh, it's quite all right! He's not bothering me at all, please, there's no need to be cross about it.

[peridork]

[Peridot corrects her, very matter-of-factly:]

She.

[Most people probably wouldn't care, but the gem's a stickler like that. She seizes the Elgyem in both hands, pulling her in close to her chest. Clod doesn't protest being man-handled, but she wrangles an arm free and points excitedly at the table, light-up fingers blinking. It prompts Peridot to look a little closer, a small frown on her lips. Her curiosity is instantly piqued, and, impolite as ever, she makes no attempt to be personable or introduce herself whatsoever. An eyebrow goes up, and she just jumps right into asking questions.]

What is all this, anyway?

6th!

[diosmio]

Miss Everett, if I recall correctly?

[He's pretty sure this is the girl he spoke with on his first day, but it's been a while. Not that it matters much, even if he has the wrong person, he's still interested in getting a reading. He knows his future, or at least he thinks he does, but still, it's not like he has anything else to do today.

Other than Team Rocket business, but who cares about that? It'll get done eventually, it always does, but it's hardly a concern for him, Dio, at the moment.]

I don't suppose I could trouble you for a reading?

[occultigen]

[At the sound of her name, she perks up at once, and after a moment of looking him over it abruptly clicks, and she quickly puts a name to a face.]

Ah, Mr. Brando! How very pleasant to see you, you've made it to Goldenrod City! I hope you've found it a pretty place so far!

[Eagerly, she motions to an empty chair across from her.]

Of course, please do sit down, and I'd be more than happy to. Would you care to ask a question in particular, or simply have a more general one?

[diosmio]

It's by far my favorite place in this world.

[Actually, outside of the surrounding routes and the detour for that fusion nonsense, it's the only place he's ever been to. But there's no real need to mention that. So he won't, instead, he'll just take a seat, and he'll sit like a normal person since he hasn't grown into the type of person that cycles through three or four poses just to get in and out of a chair.]

And a general reading is more than fine. I don't happen to have any pressing concerns at the moment, so I can hardly ask for something specific.

2/8

[preybeforemeals]

[It's the sort of day that's got a fair amount of sun to it but it's still cold; as such, Meridiana isn't the only one bundled up today - Tsukiyama's presumably looking a bit...uh, jankier than she is, given that he wears those scarves made by Chihiro's knitting bug in a completely unironic manner, but it's got a lot of colors and it's bright and it tends to make him feel warmer regardless of weather, so you know what, here he is, and at least he had the general decorum to wear today's monstrosity with a dark coat and pants so there's that.

He's in a decent mood today; he'll set something down near her when he approaches her, not close enough that she'll run the risk of catching it with her arm when she moves but enough to indicate that it's hers - it's some of the tea from that café, because it's steaming and warm and maybe it'll take some of the edge off.]

Bonjour, Miss Everett - hopefully the fortunes have been going well for you today?

[occultigen]

[For average passerby who demonstrate casual interest in the fortunes she's telling at her little table, Meridiana's acknowledgement comes in the form of a cheerful smile and a pleasant nod; when Tsukiyama puts in his appearance, however, the difference between average courtesy and genuine delight is both visible and overt. He sets down her tea and she lights right up, carefully stacking and abandoning her cards in favor of wrapping her hands around the warm container to absorb some of it into her fingers.]

I've yet to have a dissatisfied customer, Mr. Tsukiyama, and I'm sure that's as good a measure of "well" as any I might come up with.

[She's clearly being modest; there's a little basket for tips on her table nearby, and the money held within it isn't overflowing by any means, but it's hardly an inconsequential sum either.]

Mm, this is warm, that's so kind of you! Oh, but I promise I'm being very careful not to take a chill, I never stay out for too long, and Kitty and Fawkes are about to help warm things up for the times in between.

[preybeforemeals]

Ahhh, good to know - though I'm sure you can take care of yourself just as well as any, I imagined that wouldn't hurt any.

[He sounds pleased, though; he hasn't missed the way that she reacted to his presence, really, and in several ways it's nicer than the words possibly could have been.

He gestures a bit toward the seat across from her, the motion easy.]

Do you mind if I join you for a while?

2/9

[secondplacing]

Bit cold outside for something like that, hm?

[Look. Carolina's not one to believe in things like this, but the tropius carrying the sign is pretty cute. She's got nothing to do, so she can at least stand a conversation. See if she'd like to humor the pretty young woman and her cards.]

[occultigen]

Well, only a bit! I've a few little helpers running about, and they keep things warm enough in the meantime.

[Her little helpers probably being Fire-types, by inference.]

I don't much mind it, though. I like coming out to sit and speak with people, and if my cards can help them a bit on their way, then I'm so much the gladder for that as well.

2/8

[exeggutorhead]

[A bananasaurus holding a sign is pretty hard to miss, and it gets Envy just curious enough to stop by the table.]

Hey, I haven't seen those kinds of cards in a long time.

[For all mysticism wasn't in style in Amestris, his former master had gone through a few phases of it in spite of being a scientist. All her servants were named after a part of a dead religion, after all. But it's still been a while. And hey, he's not doing anything else, what could it hurt?]

Are you charging for readings?

[occultigen]

I'm not, no! I think I rather prefer it when I don't, honestly; things always seem to come out better that way.

[She does, however, indicate a basket she's got sitting on the table, which contains a not-inconsequential smattering of money resting inside it.]

I'll gladly accept a tip, rather, if you've found yourself satisfied with your reading. Would you care to have one? I can answer a single question, or simply read generally and see what the cards would indicate.

2/9

[ratingspoint]

[...Well.

To say that Mettaton's been in a Mood for the past few days is an understatement; Undyne's arrival and a few other...things have ensured that he's on-edge, moreso than he'd like to be, and he's in the middle of curing that as best he knows how - namely, by spending copious amounts of money that isn't his, thankfully he has a rich roommate.

(The sun's out today; that's admittedly also nice, and the novelty of it hasn't worn off yet.)

Normally he wouldn't pay the girl much mind, but her Pokémon is another story; weirdly enough, the bananasaur is one of the saner-looking monsters he's come across here, even if for the life of him he can't really explain why - there's just something about it that strikes him well and makes him smile a bit when he sees it, and eventually his attention is drawn to its...companion(? he hates the idea of "trainers" still), and he seems...a little confused by the cards, but it's an interested sort of curious at the very least.]

My, my... [His gaze flicks to the sign again to verify exactly what she's doing, thank you Dear Tropius- ] Telling fortunes - that's predicting the future, isn't it?

[He's not really familiar with the practice; that sort of magic isn't something that anyone claims to have in the Underground. But he's seen enough media to have the basic idea, even if he still sounds a little like he's just acting like he knows what he's talking about.]

Can I have a demonstration?

[occultigen]

[Dear Tropius™ — who happens to be wearing her best bonnet today on account of that sun, and thus is rather floral and fashionable as she advertises Meridiana's little business and tries to make sure the latter doesn't up and faint in the middle of the street or somesuch — gives Mettaton an obvious look-over as he approaches, as she's been doing for all of her charge's clientele, but whuffles pleasantly and displays her sign a little more prominently when she catches it being looked at.

As for Meridiana, well, she pauses in her card-shuffling to glance up at her potential customer, offering up a pretty smile and a slight nod in response.]

Why, of course you may! You're right, it's a bit of predicting the future, but more often than not it's...well, I suppose you might say it can be guidance of a sort, just the same. Won't you please sit down?

[She indicates a chair at the table.]

Shall I answer a particular question for you, then? Or would you rather a general reading?

2/22

[callbacks]

[Today is one of those not-quite-as-nice days, but at least the snow's containing itself to a few flurries here and there. Fresh-off-the-road Dave's on his way back from a grocery run before the big snows hit tomorrow, but the Eevee trotting at his heels stops at the café and yips at him. Dave turns to look.]

What. Seriously? [Vee! The Eevee crouches in a play-bow, bushy tail wagging but eyes fierce, and Dave sighs and gives up.] Fine, okay. But not too long, all right? And look after the baby.

[The Eevee looks slightly put out, but recovers like a hero when a little Litwick shuffles out from behind Dave's legs. The two bounce away to chase snowflakes along the sidewalk, and Dave watches, hands in his pockets, until something tiny wiggles out of the folds of his scarf. He glances at it and huffs a voiceless laugh.]

Do you want to play, too, dude.

[The Dedenne shakes his head emphatically, and Dave chuckles more audibly, until he sees Meridiana at the table from the corner of his eye. He straightens a little, then tilts his head.]

Aren't you cold sitting out here?

[occultigen]

[It takes her a second to look up at the remark, as though she doesn't quite realize at first that it's being directed at her; when it hits her, though, she glances up to regard him with a smile, and tips her head to indicate her Tropius, who's waiting next to her with a sign.]

Not very much, thank you! Dear Tropius takes wonderfully good care of me, and I'll likely not stay out too much longer. I've a few Fire-types running about, as well; they've been helping marvelously with the chill.

[And then she blinks.]

Oh! How charming, is that a Dedenne? Goodness, look at him, he's all tucked in with you, how darling!

2/19

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[What a place. The last few days have been spent looking around the city, and Ashley really has to say, it is the closest to Los Angeles she'll probably get here. It's nice, familiar- and it was fun spending some time with the human positivity beacon, Jimmy. It's been a small whirlwind of a sneak peek at Goldenrod City, but it's about time for Ashley to head back to Cherrygrove.

...Though there's still some time to look around, since yesterday was so cold.

Ashley's the sort of girl who hasn't seemed to subscribe to the use of Pokéballs, honestly, if the small trail of creatures she has means anything. Maybe it's just convenience. It's easy to stay warm with Agatha, her Litwick, wrapped in one arm, after all. And Bram, Morpheus, and Arwen (a Zubat snuggled into her shoulder, a Munna floating behind her, and an Eevee nestled in her other elbow) are so young so it'd be mean to leave them without affection. ...And she has no excuse with Eliot the Espurr, he just likes trailing along behind her and taking in the sights.

And it is, naturally, the curious little Psychic-type who notices Meridiana's sign first, tottering on over while his trainer's looking the other way.]

Man. If I wasn't so hard-set on playing the game in order, I- ...Eliot? Oh my gosh, not again, get back here, boy-

[Hello there, Meridiana. Here's a girl and her young Pokémon.]

[occultigen]

[It's charming, really, how many people end up coming over to her little enterprise because of the curiosity of their Pokemon. She's certainly not going to knock it, either, for precisely that reason; besides, she's hardly immune herself, what with Dear Tropius standing sedately by, holding her sign and keeping a motherly sort of guard over her while she shuffles her cards.]

Why, hello there! My, you're a curious one, aren't you?

[She glances up, smiling at Ashley.]

He's very dear — that's an Espurr, isn't it?