mollymauk tealeaf (
viciousmaukery) wrote in
maskormenacelogs2018-09-04 07:18 pm
Entry tags:
and what it all comes down to
WHO: Mollymauk Tealeaf and you!
WHERE: Nonah
WHEN: first week of September.
WHAT: what do you do when you're an adventurer dragged into another world and given a job and new superpowers? Molly's working on finding out. (alternatively: it's an open post!)
WARNINGS: none in the entry itself, but there may be mentions of self-harm to activate canon abilities in threads, depending on how they turn out.
[one: the fool || medieval festival, nonah]
[The last days of summer have come, and with it, the Medieval Festival—essentially a renfaire that's supposed to be set way before the Renaissance era, though it's not strict about that—has kicked celebrations into high gear, to celebrate the end of summer. It's set up in a park in Nonah this weekend, and festival-goers have essentially taken over the park: you can't turn a corner on a path for a jog without running into someone in chainmail, or someone dressed as though they've just stepped out of a castle and into the real world.
As always, there are entertainers: jugglers, court jesters, puppeteers, even a couple of staff members staging a fight to keep things interesting. One entertainer, however, stands out even in this crowd, because he's very distinctly not human.
There's a fortune-teller busking for coin around. He's not hard to miss, because he has lavender skin, red eyes, horns, jewelry dangling from his horns, tattoos, and whatever the fresh hell he's wearing. He's also, apparently, carting around a gaudy-looking tapestry with a snarling dragon on it. He's using it as a mat right now, telling the fortune of some girl dressed like a generic noblewoman from a fantasy soap opera. Drift closer, and you'll catch the tail end of this reading.]
—and if you chase after that dream, well, the cards seem to really like your chances. [He puts the card, the Page of Cups, face-down on the mat once more.] That'll be two copper. Oh, sorry—I meant a dollar, I'm very new.
[The girl pays happily, and runs off to join her friends. The fortune-teller shuffles the three cards he'd played back into his deck, before spotting someone else. You, perhaps. In any case, he grins and waves.]
Don't be shy! I don't bite. [There's a beat before he adds:] Much.
[two: page of wands || nonah, import housing]
[There's someone new in Nonah #7.
It's not hard to figure that out, because Molly's been strolling down the street these past few days in coats that make him stick out all the more, drawing attention to himself as he walks to the house that's his home for the next—well, gods only know how long he'll be stuck here. Alone. Fuck, he's never really been alone, and it scares him like nothing else. Almost nothing else, anyway. He can't help but wonder what the rest of the Mighty Nein are doing right now, if they've noticed he's missing or not.
...he hopes they're doing all right.
But he's not going to let that show, and he's going to keep moving forward, and he's going to distract himself from worrying about his friends the assholes by making new ones. And you know what the easiest way of doing that is?
Yeah.
Get people's attention.
So now there's a purple tiefling juggling what might, to the untrained eye, look like real swords, just outside the townhouse. At some point in this apparently dangerous activity, he catches and balances one on his forehead, clearly showing off. If you happen to be watching, he glances your way and grins.
What the hell.]
[three: wheel of fortune | wildcard]
[got an idea for a scenario not covered by the above? this option is here for you! Molly will be exploring this brave new world he's been dragged into, and will be getting up to all kinds of shenanigans as a result. alternately, PM this account or hit me up at
robbstark and we can work something out.]
WHERE: Nonah
WHEN: first week of September.
WHAT: what do you do when you're an adventurer dragged into another world and given a job and new superpowers? Molly's working on finding out. (alternatively: it's an open post!)
WARNINGS: none in the entry itself, but there may be mentions of self-harm to activate canon abilities in threads, depending on how they turn out.
[one: the fool || medieval festival, nonah]
[The last days of summer have come, and with it, the Medieval Festival—essentially a renfaire that's supposed to be set way before the Renaissance era, though it's not strict about that—has kicked celebrations into high gear, to celebrate the end of summer. It's set up in a park in Nonah this weekend, and festival-goers have essentially taken over the park: you can't turn a corner on a path for a jog without running into someone in chainmail, or someone dressed as though they've just stepped out of a castle and into the real world.
As always, there are entertainers: jugglers, court jesters, puppeteers, even a couple of staff members staging a fight to keep things interesting. One entertainer, however, stands out even in this crowd, because he's very distinctly not human.
There's a fortune-teller busking for coin around. He's not hard to miss, because he has lavender skin, red eyes, horns, jewelry dangling from his horns, tattoos, and whatever the fresh hell he's wearing. He's also, apparently, carting around a gaudy-looking tapestry with a snarling dragon on it. He's using it as a mat right now, telling the fortune of some girl dressed like a generic noblewoman from a fantasy soap opera. Drift closer, and you'll catch the tail end of this reading.]
—and if you chase after that dream, well, the cards seem to really like your chances. [He puts the card, the Page of Cups, face-down on the mat once more.] That'll be two copper. Oh, sorry—I meant a dollar, I'm very new.
[The girl pays happily, and runs off to join her friends. The fortune-teller shuffles the three cards he'd played back into his deck, before spotting someone else. You, perhaps. In any case, he grins and waves.]
Don't be shy! I don't bite. [There's a beat before he adds:] Much.
[two: page of wands || nonah, import housing]
[There's someone new in Nonah #7.
It's not hard to figure that out, because Molly's been strolling down the street these past few days in coats that make him stick out all the more, drawing attention to himself as he walks to the house that's his home for the next—well, gods only know how long he'll be stuck here. Alone. Fuck, he's never really been alone, and it scares him like nothing else. Almost nothing else, anyway. He can't help but wonder what the rest of the Mighty Nein are doing right now, if they've noticed he's missing or not.
...he hopes they're doing all right.
But he's not going to let that show, and he's going to keep moving forward, and he's going to distract himself from worrying about his friends the assholes by making new ones. And you know what the easiest way of doing that is?
Yeah.
Get people's attention.
So now there's a purple tiefling juggling what might, to the untrained eye, look like real swords, just outside the townhouse. At some point in this apparently dangerous activity, he catches and balances one on his forehead, clearly showing off. If you happen to be watching, he glances your way and grins.
What the hell.]
[three: wheel of fortune | wildcard]
[got an idea for a scenario not covered by the above? this option is here for you! Molly will be exploring this brave new world he's been dragged into, and will be getting up to all kinds of shenanigans as a result. alternately, PM this account or hit me up at

two
He pauses, squinting at the outlandishly dressed horned? person, deciding after a moment that it would not be wise to linger, subsequently starting to move on. Just going to mind his own business thank you.]
no subject
And then he saunters up to Hans, giving the swords a last twirl before sliding them into their sheaths. He flicks off a lazy wave.]
Enjoy the show? [He caught that pause and squint.]
no subject
Against his better judgment, Hans turns his head to look at the sword juggler, giving him a level look.]
Why? Are you expecting a donation? Street performers generally have more success in the city.
no subject
[Judging from his tone, he doesn’t believe they can.]
no subject
Any street corner that gets a lot of foot traffic. Or a public park, perhaps.
[He thinks it might be necessary to get a permit first, but he's not inclined to mention that. A night in jail probably wouldn't hurt this person.]
They probably will find someone who can fill your 'niche' if you're spending your time performing here instead of there.
[Hans, people get days off. Not that he cares.]
no subject
[A night in jail would be more annoying for Molly than anything, he's done it before.]
Street corners and public settings. Seems like that hasn't changed. [Oh, wait, right, he has to ask:] I'm not sure if it works the same way it did back where I'm from, but do you still need to get permission from the Lawmaster to set yourself up in the park?
no subject
Hm... I don't believe there's a public official by that title, so I would guess no.
[You can't get permission from someone who doesn't exist, right?]
At far as general locations go, Maurtia Falls might be a good place to start.
[Or a good place to get mugged.]
no subject
[He’ll probably have to ask if there’s an equivalent of a Lawmaster around, but that’s a lot to cram into a day. He’s got to find his footing first.]
Maurtia Falls—that’s the one that’s been buzzing about needing some new official lately, right? [He only caught bits and pieces of news from dropping by and helping the costumers at the festival, but it’s a scrap more of information on the Falls than he started out with. This man seems like an opportunity to fish for more, especially, ah, the more interesting parts of the city.] What are the best places you could go in Maurtia Falls, if you’re in need of a drink?
no subject
[Better there than here, in any event.]
That's correct. There will be a new imPort ambassador elected shortly.
[No sorry, the last thing he wants to do is stay and chat. But he will supply the names of a few of the shadier dives in that not-so-fair city as he endeavors to escape again. Be happy with that.]
no subject
[He is not getting away that easily, unfortunately, because Molly very cheerfully follows after him. Either he's too stupid to realize that the guy wants to escape, or he absolutely knows exactly what he's doing and is just doing it because he can be an asshole.]
Could I ask them about busking somewhere, once they're elected?
no subject
Ambassador. A person who acts as a government liaison on the behalf of imPorts.
You could try, but they might be very busy.
[You know. With things that are actually important.]
no subject
[...he just might ask.]
no subject
[The way Hans looks him up and down might be an indication he considers Molly to be a strong contender in the future messes category.]
no subject
One liaison is one thing, but four authority figures to apologize for us when we fuck up on a grand scale just seems like overkill to me. [He's really new if he's counting Heropa in.] What are past messes like, that we need that many?
no subject
It's a big area and you'd be surprised.
Too many to list, really. Your communicator has the ability to scroll backwards; do a little research if you're interested.
[Walking again, bye bye.]
no subject
[And he lets him walk away. He's gotten what he wanted anyway, and he does need to practice, but he keeps Hans in mind for the next time the guy might pass by. He seems like he'd be fun to talk to, if even just to get under his skin.]
one
But she is here, although from the way she looked left and right, all around, it's pretty clear she just...curiously stumbled into the party, and the girl stared wide-eyed at any number of marvels here. She's never seen anything like this, but at the same time...it feels more like what she's used to, like she's at home here more than the outside world.
So much so, that Mollymauk's purple skin and red eyes only make her jump slightly. By now, her system has figured out the way to start reading the differences, and made them "normal", or normal enough that she doesn't jump at the sight of him, and instead walks up to sit on his mat, when he spoke up. ]
Hello. Are you reading fortunes?
no subject
It's easy enough to tell that she's not one of the regulars. She looks at everything with so much awe, wide-eyed and full of wonder. Molly knows how that feels like—everything's new, nothing's like the familiar sights and smells of home. Whatever that means now, for a wandering carnie-turned-adventurer. He also takes note of the slightly startled reaction, and gives her a charming smile.
He's harmless. See the coat, the smile, the cards in his deft hands, the jewels dangling from his horns, not the swords sheathed by his sides. Those are just for show when he juggles.]
As a matter of fact, yes. [Cut and shuffle.] I also juggle, sometimes, but I'm far better at fortunes. [At least he's better at bullshitting with cards.] In fact, for just a dollar, I could read you your fortune.
no subject
[ Dolores shifted, and looked to her hip pouch, before she smiled. A part of her wanted to accommodate what he wanted to do. It was the natural inclination of a host to always revolve around whoever she was hosting, to do what they wanted, to make sure that their every need was met -- whether it was a need they knew they had.
Which meant that there needed to be a rapport first, and this was an easy simple way to do it, as justified by her internal narrative. Not that Dolores saw, or thought any of this. She only smiled, her fingers shifted through the pouch, before she pulled out a single, crisp dollar bill. That was the first thing she'd learned to do with all of this wild, amazing technology, was learn to get cash. It felt familiar, and good in her hand.
She handed it to him. ]
I would be happy to have you read my fortune! Especially in such a new, and exciting place! Who knows what things I have to look forward to!
no subject
It's a show, they're actually marked in such a way that the average person wouldn't notice. He finds the card he's looking for, opens his eyes, and gives an interested hum.] That's strange.
[No, it's not. He pulls the card, the front of it depicting a young boy about to walk off a cliff, a dog following behind him. He's looking up at the sky with a smirk, and Molly huffs out a quiet chuckle as he sets the Fool's card in front of Dolores.]
Those things, I believe, all depend on your taking that first step. You're very new to the world, like me [in more ways than even Molly probably knows] and like the fool in this card. There is a whole world of opportunities lying in front of you, just waiting for you to take hold of them. You just need to reach for them.
no subject
Oh! This is wonderful. It's true, I am new! How did you guess? [ She paused, then, with a sly smile. ] Or I suppose, if you're a fortune teller, what higher power told you that this was true?
[ her fingers reached down, to touch the card. She knew it was true, there were so many...amazing things to see, and do in this new world. She sometimes didn't even know where to begin. ]
no subject
If I told you her name, I think she'd be a bit cross with me, so let's preserve the mystery a little longer, hm? [Nah, she wouldn't, but the lie slips easily out of his mouth. All he's doing is just—cold-reading, really, gauging people's reactions and going from there.] Just relax and have a little fun. Let the journey take you wherever it takes you, but don't forget to enjoy yourself along the way. Especially since I'm sure you're going to be in for quite a few surprises.
[Another pass over the fanned-out deck, and he pulls another card: a woman in resplendent robes, a crown on her head that's embellished with gold, with a black cat sitting at her feet. In one hand, she holds a staff, and in another, a wand with vines twined around it.]
This card's telling you that, once you find that opportunity, you hold on it. Focus on that, and on moving towards that goal, but—don't forget about any consequences that might crop up. Don't forget to look after yourself, the journey's not as fun if you crash and burn halfway through.
no subject
Her fingers drift over it, but she doesn't touch it, not at first. She looks down, and it's almost like she's staring straight at it, and then beyond it. Something about what he said -- or maybe it's the way he said it -- something about that is enough to trigger something for her.
The goal. Moving toward it. Moving inward. It's something, at least, like a half-triggered memory that she can't quite grasp. It's sitting at the edge of her perception, like if she looked to the side, she'd find the voice that whispered in her ear, the one that said go deeper. ]
What... Why do you think I might crash and burn?
no subject
It's a risk, with starting new journeys, to get so focused on the goal that you forget about everything else. Even more of a risk when you've only got a vague idea of what you want.
[That last part is a guess, as confidently stated as it is.]
Are you looking for something? Love, maybe?
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I have a beau, but he's... [ She trailed off. ] He'll be back.
No, I don't...know what it is. I want to find something... I want to find a way to be... more than just the desert and my ranch.
no subject
[She seems such a nice girl. Granted, she's a nice girl who's clearly yearning for something more: an adventure, he thinks. Something different from what she knows so well, already.
Well, he knows which card to pull to encourage her towards that, so he looks down at his cards, shuts his eyes as if he's concentrating, and passes a hand over them again. His fingers catch on the one he wants, and he pulls it out: a card depicting a wheel, with two figures on the top and bottom and four more on the edges.]
You're going to be. You're already very far from your ranch, so your fortunes have pushed you in that very direction, but it's up to you now to shape that fortune. And I do mean now, because it could change just like, [and he snaps his fingers] that. This is your turning point: you can be more than the desert, more than your ranch. You have the potential for that, if you just step out into the sun and start really going after what you want—once you've figured it out. That's my advice, not the cards: have a solid idea of what you're going after first, and then go after it.
But you need to take care with your choices once you do, because they'll affect more people than just you.
no subject
But Dolores didn't right care, right now. Molly was telling her the things that she yearned for, the answers she desperately wanted, the things that she wanted to go out into the world and find, and the fact that he didn't judge her, or pretend that it was out of her depth. He thought she could do it. ]
I -- thank you. Nobody seems to believe that I can... that this would be a way for me to travel.
I -- I want to. Find something. And maybe I will here, you're right.
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Something like that, yes. [It’s trickery and bullshit, is what it is, but Molly is well-practiced at making his bullshit smell like flowers.] The cards want you to go after your dreams. Who knows, you might even find your destiny.
[This Dolores is honestly a sweet girl, and Molly very much hopes she goes after that dream of hers. He just also hopes she doesn’t break in the process. That’s always a risk, with adventures like that.]
You’re welcome. And if it helps, [he pulls and holds up the Fool again] the cards and I believe you. [And he’s sincere about that much, at least.]
What’s your name, miss?
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My name is Dolores. I... I hope your belief is well placed, sir. [ She smiled at him, shyly, and looked down at her hands, and then at the cards again, like she was contemplating it.
She couldn't imagine taking off like that, doing something grand and new and great. Something that broke convention, something her daddy would be very disappointed with. ]
What's your name? Or should I just call you Fortuneteller?
no subject
[He may be laying it on a little thick, but he does think that she'd benefit from something new, something adventurous. Certainly he hopes this reading nudges her along onto that path, hopefully with some caution taken on the way.
He is so going to regret this later on down the line probably.]
Pleasure, Dolores. And it's Mollymauk, but just call me Molly. Or Fortuneteller if you're really bent on it, I don't mind either way. [So long as it's not the name of someone who's been dead two years, Molly doesn't really care what she calls him.]
no subject
[ Unfortunately for Molly, Dolores is probably going to promptly forget this entire interaction.
Or probably fortunately. Then that means she isn't going off the rails yet. ]
Well, I thank you for your reading, Mollymauk. It's... I hope that your assessment is true.
one
[Maybe the opposite of being dressed in an extreme amount of detail and color is being dressed in no color at all. How Luci ended up at this festival is anybody's guess, but while everybody is getting into the spirit of things she's in her usual look: a crisp white suit and tie. A few people are taking photos, though for the most part Luci is ignoring them as she settles down onto the mat comfortably.]
[She is, of course, openly examining the person in front of her, who is clearly purple too far into his scalp for it to be makeup and whose horns look maybe just a little real. But Luci will play along for the moment, she's seen weirder stuff.]
Sometimes there's nothing more disappointing than a half-hearted bite.
no subject
Another shuffle.]
You’d be surprised how many people prefer the half-hearted bite. [His demeanor is easy, friendly. Deliberately so.] But, if you ask nicely, I can certainly bite much harder.
[He puts the deck face-down onto the mat.]
Of course that’s going to cost you a bit more.
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No, I wouldn't be. [She grins. How could she not with all this talk of teeth?] In fact it sounds like we have similar experience on that point.
[And this is certainly the fastest she's been propositioned before, but perhaps she did walk into that a little bit. Not that she's bothered whatsoever, this is good fun as far as she's concerned-- hopefully he's not too uncomfortable though, that would put a damper on things.]
Perhaps we should see what the cards say about that, hm?
no subject
He fans the deck out now, spreading tarot cards across the mat and covering the snout of the dragon. It's not Bahamut, unfortunately, the embroidered dragon's just a little too black to be the Platinum Dragon, but it reminded Molly of his world, so.]
I'm honestly surprised. I'd think someone like you gets a lot more teeth when she's bitten.
[Please stop being inappropriate, Mollymauk. Please. There are people filming.]
Perhaps! [His tone is light and airy even as he pulls the first card. Time to start with something just to gauge the person in front of him: he pulls the seven of swords, the card showing a man with five swords sneaking away from a castle under the cover of night, two planted and crossed behind him.] Someone's fucked you over lately, haven't they?
[It's bullshit, he'd say that to anyone else who gets that card, but he's experienced enough that his sympathy sounds sincere.]
no subject
[She leans in, watching him spread out the cards. Maybe a few years ago she would be looking for some kind of trick or an indication that she's being played, but that was before an old woman appeared on her swing set and gave her godhood. Maybe Luci isn't as skeptical as she once was, or she just wants to enjoy something after a tough past few weeks. If she has to punch holes in the reading or kick the puppy because it's boring, so it goes.]
[...but that doesn't seem like it'll be the case. Luci sits up a little, a line forming between her eyebrows in mild confusion before it settles into something quiet and angry.]
Lately? How far does 'lately' go back? A year and a half?
no subject
[He'd really just pulled it to see her reaction, kept his comment vague yet sympathetic to feel her out, and sure enough: she sits up, and he sees that quiet anger, reads it off her face like a book. Ah, yeah, she did get fucked over recently. A year and a half ago, to be exact, and it's something that still stings her to this day.]
Sometime during the last three years, I'd imagine, so yeah. [He shrugs, spins a little more bullshit:] I can't say for certain, I only listen to what I've been told by divine powers and interpret, best I can. [He taps the card with a decorated finger, and places it down, upright, in front of Lucifer.] This one's telling you to be careful. If your gut tells you something doesn't feel right about someone, trust that, not whatever that person's telling you. But then again, I'd guess you already knew that, by now, so I suppose that means it's time for the second card.
[He passes his hand over the deck again and pulls another card: a naked woman kneeling by a river, one foot on land and one foot in the water, pouring out two containers onto both the shore and the river. A bright star shines over her head, golden and bright against the dark sky of the card.
It's upside-down.]
This would've been better upright, honestly—this one's saying you're very shaken up by that betrayal.
two
[So, they're keeping her constantly updated on the neighbors. Especially the ones that are particularly attention-grabbing. If Molly's seen any pastel-colored mice running around, pausing staring up at him with bright red eyes... this would be why.]
[Right now, though, all four are hanging about on her shoulders, as she watches the show with mild interest from next door. They're having a telepathic debate in her head on whether or not they think this guy is half-Galra, based purely on the fact that Galra are purple and so is he. It's impeccable rodent logic.]
[It's also getting on her nerves a bit, since they're usually more astute than this. Let's just go talk to him and see what we can learn, shall we?]
Good afternoon! That is, erm, quite the talent. Are you practicing for something? [It's a little stiff for small talk, but stuffy and formal suits her.]
no subject
Anyway, lucky for them Nott and Yasha aren't here.
So: he spots Allura, and he also spots the mice. Seems like they're hers, apparently? He gives her a wave, then returns to his juggling for a moment before he sheathes one sword and catches the other, balancing it on the back of his tattooed hand before flicking his hand upward, the sword spinning up. He steps back, and the sword hits the ground blade-first, standing up.
He grins, and bows as she comes to talk to him.]
You caught me! I work as an entertainer at the Medieval Festival every other weekend—mostly fortune-telling, but I also do a little juggling.
no subject
Medieval Festival? I don't believe I've been to that, though this world has so many amusements that I'm beginning to lose track.
[This, of course, being despite the fact that she's wearing a long princess gown that looks like she just came from that festival. Well, almost — the color is far more pastel, much like the mice. But at least in broad strokes, it looks more medieval than modern.]
no subject
Shows up every other weekend in one city or another, but I can tell you it'll be here in Nonah next weekend. And—may I suggest keeping a list? That way you'll be able to keep track of them all.
[There's a beat before Molly huffs out a little laugh.]
Although I'm not sure if that'll be helpful, in the long-term.