December 9, 2003

Amber

Trump Deck

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Gideon Club, Study...

To the image of Brandon, Yosannah offers, without fan fair, "I'm getting rather handy at doing this without the tarots. And don't you look spiffy."

The image of Brandon sits on a sailboat, in the center of an aquamarine ocean. He is lounging about in bathing suit, eatting grapes leaning on the mast. He smiles, "Well thank you, and congratulations. Think you are ready for the next step?"

To the image of Brandon, Yosannah says "Jesus, how many steps are there?"

The image of Brandon thinks for a moment, "A few more, not sure actually." he nods thinking for a moment longer, "Anyway, shall I come to you or you to me?"

To the image of Brandon, Yosannah considers, "I suppose where I am is more conducive to practicing such things." She holds out her hand, "Here."

The image of Brandon wonders, "Scales a problem, or shall I shift first?"

To the image of Brandon, Yosannah says "Not a problem"

The image of Brandon nods and hops up stepping in, grapes in hand...

Brandon steps in and dusts off the rainbows, pushing his hair back out of his face. Wet hair, and wet grapes. He flicks his wrist and dries his lower half not bothering with the rest. "Ahh, yes much more conductive to such things."

Yosannah sits in a research carol, feet propped up on an adjacent chair. Legal texts are smattered before her as if she might have been working before contacting him. She drops her feet to the floor and runs her hands through her own hair, "This should be a treat. I could use the distraction, actually."

Brandon smiles and takes a seat, pondering a moment over the papers. In actuallity he looks through them and pulls out a dark red velvet trump deck. This deck has about ten cards in it. He then opens it, glances at the cards back to you, and then puts them away. Once all this is completed he tosses them over, "Tell me what is the same with all of these trumps."

Yosannah catches the deck by clasping it between both hands. Without opening the rich velvet case she studies it, small wrinkles forming about her eyes as they narrow. "Okay." She exhales and opens the box. and begins to thumb through them, first glancing at the backs, "Same artist it seems by the crest." She flips them over, "My word, these are horrid sketches."

Most of the images are of people with places in the background, going to places. Others are of places with people in them, going to people.

Brandon smirks, nodding. "That they are, and that is my crest. They are drawn poorly on purpose." he tilts his head and watches. "To exersise another point for basic lessons, that not all trumps have to be amazing quality artwork, they just most often times are."

Yosannah nods in obvious understanding. She places a palm over one of the images, concentrating enough to test it's coolness.

Brandon sits and watches, the trumps are normal in every way. Save for the fact that they are traps, this only comes across in studying the card and sensing as to wether or not they are of who/what they claim to be.

She extends her concentration further, reaching and feeling. Her geen eyes closed and he brow furrowed. After a long pauses she opens those eyes and blinks once or twice looking, first at Brandon and then down at the image in her hand, "This is strange..."

Brandon grins, "Strange?"

Yosannah points at the image on the card which seems to be that of an individual, "I don't get the sense of a person at the other end of this tarot. I see a place, somewhere not familiar. But definitely not the person depicted on this image. What's wrong? Is it me, or the cards?"

Brandon smiles, "Very good, quick I might add. This card, like all the other cards in that deck is a trap. Not nessisarily a bad trap, but a trap none the less. A card that looks as one thing, and is another." he pauses thinking, "To draw one, you need to have a subtle image in the background. Once you get better at it, with practice you can draw an image over another completly and never have to deal with subliminal images."

Yosannah raises a brow, thumbing through some more of the images as she does, "What would be the practical point of this? The practical application or use?"

Brandon mmms, "Trading trumps to an advasary, or fooling someone enough to take advantage of their greed." he hrms momentaraly, "For example, if someone had a personal problem with you. They could draw a trump of a field of flowers, and have it end up in the blue caves."

She organizes the cards and tucks them back into the velvet case, "My mommy always told me not to take trumps from strangers." She hands the case back, "Now I know why."

Brandon nods, "Now you do. So, for your next assignment I want you to create a trump trap that will fool me. Give me two cards, and I will pick one to follow. Make the trap to any non lethal place." he smiles, "I trust you."

Yosannah rubs her hands together, "Alright. This could be fun." She wets her lips and then adds, "You sure it has to be a non lethal place? Where is your sense of adventure."

Brandon laughs, "If I die, I cant finish your lessons." he winks, "But yes, anyplace that is not lethal you can send me. We will keep trying, untill you get me. Once you do, we can continue on."

Yosannah leans forward, resting elbows on her knees, hands hanging loosely before her, "Won't you have something of an advantage here? You'll be looking for the so-called trap. And you've got more experience then me recognizing these things."

Brandon nods, "Very true, however in the imortal words of some very old greek man on earth - 'A student who does not surpass the teacher, had a student for a teacher'" he smiles, "I am no longer a student, and you will surpas me."

Yosannah sits back into her chair, "Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence." She smiles, but then offers, seriously, "I'll do my best, to be sure."

Brandon nods, "I expect nothing less, and trust you." he smiles, "When you think you have a good enough attempt, call me."

Yosannah nods, "Will do." She holds out her hand as if meaning to shakes his, "Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. You know you don't have to do any of this. Though, I must admit, your a far better teacher then some others I've had the option of asking for help."

Brandon chuckles, taking the hand giving one shake and a kiss to a knuckle. His courtlyness showing through. "Thank you very much, it has been a pleasure. Your quite the student." He grins, "And we are not done yet."

There might be a slight blush at her cheeks in response to the kiss. "Slave driver. Though, it's good to see you back to yourself. I hear it was in part thanks to Magnus."

Brandon nods, "Part in thanks, to he and his son. You and Stone were very helpfull aswell, thank you." he stands, "But I must get back to my grapes, and let you back to your work and studies." he smiles softly. "Good luck." he winks.

Yosannah stands, "Ah, okay. Thanks for your time. Enjoy your .... grapes." She smiles.

 

Later, Gideon Club, Hallway...

Stone is standing in the lobby, slipping a Trump away. A casual appearance rests on this man's face as he observes the world with darkeyes. Appearing in his early twenties, he is of moderate build. His dark hair, bangs falling over his eyes, is cut short in back and glints silver in the light. He glances up, "Hola."

Yosannah has her hands tucked into the rear pockets of her pants, "Que pasa, sugar bear?"

Stone says "Nada. Oh, I talked to Killjoy and Nash. Nash is all pissy about it. I told him he wasn't a member so yadda yadda. He stayed pissy."

Yosannah lowers her gaze to the floor and scuffs at the ground with her booted foot, "Yeah. You know, no matter what I do when it comes to Nash, I can't please him. And he has this sense of entitlement, as if the world owes him an explaination for everything."

Stone chuckles, "Then he needs to like the explanations I give better." He starts into the study.

Yosannah follows after him, "Do I need to explain to you what it is I saw happening between them and why I did what I did, or doesn't it matter."

 

Gideon Club, Study...

Stone shrugs, "It all seems pretty straightforward to me. Our Club, our rules. Joy's young and stupid. Ryker's old and irritable. Bad combination."

Yosannah heads for a recliner and drops herself into it, heavily, "Jamie. I think the kid's name is Jamie."

Stone nods, getting himself a Diet Coke from the bar, "Oh right. Jamie the babysitter. Wierd assassins I got. Want anything?"

"A beer would be good, thanks. Listen, I agree with the our club our rules philosphy. Truth of the matter is, I could give a shit of Ryker wasted your employee. But that's probably ... sorta, inappropriate. Not necessarily against the rules, but inappropriate and disrespectful to you. I don't think Jamie and Nash get that I was doing them a favor."

Stone nods, "I think Jamie was confused and Nash was aiding his confusion." He fetches a guiness and starts towards you.

Yosannah smirks, "Never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I like Nash's alter ego much better. He has a more pleasant disposition."

Stone says "Which one?"

Yosannah hehs, "Touche. Famine."

Stone chuckles, handing you your beer, "Actually I didn't mean that as a joke. I know he's Captain Schitzo lately." He then nods, "Ah. I was wondering about the starved mice."

Yosannah collects the Guiness with a nod of thanks, "You hadn't made the connection there? You're getting slow in your old age."

Stone hehs, "I try not to poke my nose into Horsemen business. Never overly concerned me." He takes a sip from his drink.

Yosannah nods, "Nor should it. Rest assured, if there's ever a reason for you to be concerned, I'll be the first one to let you know. Though, I have a question along those lines, if you don't mind. Or, more like an inquiry."

Stone nods, "Inquire away. I am an open book for all to read."

Yosannah rolls her eyes sidelong to regard him, doubtful smirk on her lips, "Joshua Spade. You asked me once about him. What for."

Stone considers and then says, "That was a long time ago. -Someone- was interested in him, I think Amberside. He was active there at the time. But I haven't heard of him around there for a while now."

Yosannah asks the obvious follow up, "And this -someone-. You don't recall who that was, or you don't wish to tell me."

Stone says, "I don't honestly remember. I do recall it being a fairly high placed request. Castle or Royalty, most likely. Why the interest now?"

"He's become something of an annoyance. We used to have a mutual respect for one another, or so I thought. He's stepping on territory to close to my own, if you take my meaning."

Stone tilts his head, "Why. You horning in on his sex shadow or something? Yo's Palace of Unearthly Delights opening up and I didn't get an invitation?"

Yosannah offers him a crooked smile, "You know me. /Doesn't share well with others/ was the remark my teacher used to put on my report card." She nurses her beer, "Truthfully, I think he's fearful of me and the others. He poked around in Nash's head the other day looking for - I don't know what. But now, when I see him out and about, he's always got the flintlocks primed in my direction."

Stone ahs, "That's odd. Want me to ask him?"

Yosannah adjust her hat about her head, "You think you can be a bit more subtle about it then to say something like, 'Hey, Spade, what the hell is up with you and the Horsemen'. Otherwise, forget it."

Stone says "What's wrong with that approach?"

"Besides the fact that its not likely to solicit much of a rational response, nothing I guess."

Stone grins, "Great. I'll try that then next time I see him."

Yosannah rolls her eyes upward, mouthing a silent prayer. And then, "I knew I could come to you for solid help. God bless you."

Stone grins, "Serpent Bless. So, other than that how are you doing?"

Yosannah shrugs, lifting the beer to her lips, "Working. Though why, I'm not sure. I guess I thought it would be good to be back home, living some sense of normalcy. But you can't go back. And, I think I started to tell you the other night, I'm dead there anyway so there isn't much point."

Stone glances up, "Hmm. We seem to be interupted alot when you start to tell me this. Conspiracy?"

"Conspiracy? I don't know. The plane that I thought brought me here from my Earth didn't really make it here. It crashed on the way to Earth's London. Which begs the question, how did I get here." Her jaw works slightly, "I'm looking into it. Got a few ideas and clues, as it were. I'm sure I'll figure it out."

Stone nods, looking a bit distracted. He does say, "So you officially died, in other words?"

Yosannah notes his expression when she responds, "Officially. Hey, what's on your mind?"

Stone responds, "Dai. The person, not the act."

Yosannah nods, understanding, "A keen young man. Takes after his father."

Stone looks back to you, "Hmm? Oh, right. Was that sarcasm?"

Yosannah smiles and waves a hand dismissively as if it doesn't matter. She waits until he is done with whatever is 'on his mind'.

Stone then says, "I got him to say what he wanted. So, okay, so officially you're dead. Plane crashed. Or vanished? I mean, were there bodies?"

Yosannah offers, "Crashed, in the Atlantic so not all the bodies were recovered. Many were lost in the waters. And obviously mine wasn't recovered because I'm here, aren't I." She scratches at her neck, "And I've learned some things that suggest I wasn't exactly the only shadow-walker on the plane. So, therein is my major," finger quotes, "clue."

Stone says "It was Shadow Earth, right? Flora's? Merlin's?"

Yosannah nods, a single inclination of her chin. "And guess who happend to be sitting right next to me occording to the flight manifesto."

Stone raises an eyebrow, "Who?"

"Some chap with the unusual name of Merle Bermiman." The tenor of of voice is mildly sarcastic when she offers, "Strange, dontcha think."

Stone smirks, "You know, were I ever to go incognito, I'll have to remember to chose an alias that has no resemblance to my actual name. You spoke to Merlin about this yet?"

Yosannah nods in agreement with his assessment, "I think you might be on to something there. And no. I haven't talked to him. Tried trumping him a couple weeks back and either he's not answering, or he can't answer. I'm almost afraid to know what he'd say if I asked him anyway." She rolls her head along the back of the recliner, "I dunno."

Stone says "Hey, you don't want the truth, just drop it now is my opinion."

Yosannah nods and rises, "I guess that's the question I have to answer first then, isn't it." She sets her half empty beer on the endtable between the two recliners, "What would you do."

Stone shrugs slightly, "I've come across a situation not totally dissimilar to this. And haven't yet looked into it. Know what I'm saying?"

Yosannah turns her head over her shoulder and looks out the windows at the vast expanse of property, "I believe so." There is a long, pregnant pause before she turns back to him, "Maybe next time you'll tell me about your 'situation'. We can trades notes."

Stone smiles, "Sounds like a plan to me."