video @molly

[devilstongue]

[The camera clicks on, and is a little wonky and dark for a moment until a lavender hand corrects it to face the right way. An old dark-wood table comes to view, covered in dripping candles and shiny knick-knacks, and the room is covered in tapestries and drapery, like someone tumbled through a fabric shop and grabbed anything pretty or vaguely mystical.

You can almost smell the incense through the camera.

On the other side of the table is your friendly neighbourhood circus man, dressed about as colorful as the room and smiling coyly as he looks into the camera. (Or at least he fucking hopes he is, stupid modern technology.) Those solid red eyes reflect some of the candlelight, and the baubles and jewelry he wears glimmer as well - all to draw attention and make him look even more devilish.]

Good evening, gentlepeople of Riverview! I hope you are having a lovely time, working together in this little sanctum of ours until we find our way home.

I am Mollymauk Tealeaf, a not-so humble entertainer, here to bring you mystery and magic to your life!

[Leaning back, he flicks his hand and a fan of cards appear in it, the backs decorated with moons and suns. It looks old and expensive, and very well-used.]

Have you felt lost in this place? Uncertain were your life will take you after appearing here? Looking for guidance and signs on how to proceed?

[He sets the cards on the table, making a gesture with some quick sleight of hand to turn one up. It's a very intricately and finely drawn star.]

The cards are always here help you. Past, present and future lies in them, and at Cards of Curiosity, they can answer your questions.

[There's a bit of a movement again, and the cards all have turned over, showing different faces - a serpent, a sun, a tower. Molly smiles again - all fangs, this time. Some people liked a little goosebumps with their entertainment, and he knows how to work his lineage to his advantage.]

Come visit me as I interpret the mystique of the cards. For answers, for guidance or simply just for fun, I promise you an experience like never before!

[Insert Street Here], at the corner. Let your quest for answers lead you there!

[A little wave, and the camera turns off. Molly leans back against the beanbag and exhales. Things were easier in person, but hey. Baby's first commercial.]

Comments

[ action ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki is well acquainted with soothsayers and charlatans. That being said . . . he's really at his lowest point. Could it really hurt to hear what someone else would say? So he shows up in person, not willing to broadcast his intent publicly. ]

I must warn you. I'm a hard man to please.

[devilstongue]

[ Since Molly's shop is also his home, the tiefling is chilling on his couch-bed when someone enters. He really needs to put a bell or something on his door, or put a 'knock' on it.

(Otherwise someone was gonna end up seeing purple dick one day.)

He gets up from his leisurely position with somewhat lacking grace, giving Loki a curious look and then an inviting smile. ]

Ah, but I am very good at pleasing hard men.

[ Molly no. ]

[dothelokimotion]

Not by being passive, I hope.

[ But Loki is not bothered by the flirting. ]

What is your price?

[devilstongue]

Passive is boring.

[ In all kinds of situations, honestly. ]

I take different prices for different kinds of readings. Short, more in-depth, answers to questions... certain spreads. Tell me what you're looking for, and I will give you my price.

[dothelokimotion]

I don't need answers.

[ And it's hard to verbalize beyond that. His expression twists. ]

I need somewhere to start.

[devilstongue]

I see. That can always be a bit of a difficult place to be.

[ Gesturing to the seat by his table, Molly nods to Loki and then moves to get on his own ridiculous golden beanbag. ]

Are we talking a new life, a new beginning or a fork in the road? Decisions?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki hesitates again briefly. ]

I died. And I've done so many times. But this one is different.

[devilstongue]

You've died?

[ Dirt all around him, claws scrambling to reach the surface. The moon on his own grave. Molly has to take a deep breath before he can continue, a little more serious bout this reading now. ]

I understand. A starting over spread, then. Please, make yourself comfortable.

[ He starts by lighting the candles and the incense before he takes a seat in front of Loki. Lavender fingers bring the cards into view with a bit more sincerity than his usual sleight of hand show, and the starts laying them out in a pattern of seven. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki gives the cards the look of a skeptic, but it's not overtly rude as he settles himself. There's little point in insulting a service he's come personally to collect. His fingers dig into his pants and he exhales, letting go of his grip. ]

How long does this take?

[devilstongue]

About twenty to forty minutes. Less, if you don't want the theatrics.

[ He kind of seemed like he didn't, right now. ]

[dothelokimotion]

[ Normally, Loki would be a big fan of theatrics, but he lets it go for now. ]

This is fine for now.

[devilstongue]

As you wish.

[ Loki is a hard to read man, but this is what Molly does. He'll figure something out.

Pointing at a card in the middle, he starts his reading. ]

This is your current, your now. The start of your journey.

[ He flips it over, revealing an intricately painted clown mask with purple filigree around it. Apparently this isn't a normal tarot deck. ]

The harlequin. You come here with your true feelings masked from all. It's a dangerous way to start your path.

[dothelokimotion]

I've never been one for sentiment.

[ Except, of course, when he died for it. ]

[devilstongue]

[ Molly doesn't answer that, and instead moves his hand to point to another card. ]

This is what you leave behind. The things that need to fo to open up your path.

[ The tiefling flips it over, showing a golden hourglass. ]

Oh? How curious. The hourglass, the concept of time. Are you leaving time behind? Literally or figuratively?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki frowns. ]

Perhaps. I am not mortal. My lifespan extends into the eons.

[devilstongue]

[ That makes him stare a little bit, and he's almost wary now. The people of this place are fucking insane. ]

Perhaps it has something to do with leaving those eons behind.

[ Another card pointed at by a sharp near-claw. ]

This is for guidance on your new path.

[ He flips that over as well, and this time it's a sun carried by a scarab beetle. ]

Ah-ha! Your hardships right now will pass as long as you press on. It's not always easy, but there is a true reward at the end.

[dothelokimotion]

[ So the usual thing everyone's been telling him. Loki still can't see it . . . but he can't say it's wrong either. ]

True reward.