[Day 3 - Mid Afternoon] Impending Dread (Open)

[Yasuki Umiko]

Umiko blinked at the offered personal water bottle container from the Moto and grew a little sheepish at its presentation. She held up a hand and gave a small dismissive wave. "Oh, no, no, that's absolutely fine, Moto-san. Thank you. I think I'm good now."

Her eyes momentarily went wide at all those topics presented by Kanna as she finished up with her last morsel of Dragon bun, finding herself looking at each member of the present company, wondering if she could ever divulge such concerns in public. Thankfully, those topics weren't exactly what was on her mind. "Perhaps, something along the lines of the future? Maybe like where I am now and where I'll be in the future? Where do I need to go?"

She giggled to add some levity to the situation. "Even if it's the right moment to buy some sesame buns."

[Tamori Kanna]

Thankfully, those topics weren't exactly what was on her mind. "Perhaps, something along the lines of the future? Maybe like where I am now and where I'll be in the future? Where do I need to go?"

She giggled to add some levity to the situation. "Even if it's the right moment to buy some sesame buns."

"That is certainly doable," Kanna nodded and looked around for a flat-surface that wasn't still wet from the rain. A nearby bench would do! "Aha, that can work as a table. Kaida, be good." Kaida cocked his head to his side - he was always good!

The short woman moved over to the bench with just a few steps, and rummaged in her backpack to find her deck wrapped in its silken cloth. The cloth was placed down like a tablecloth to place the cards upon. As she shuffled the cards, she looked to the others. "So I think we'll do a spread of four cards. The first card represents you and the current state you are in, the second card is the immediate challenge to your path forward. The last two are the possible future coming from that challenge and how you overcome it." To Kanna, it sounded like something that could work well since it didn't seem like Umiko had anything specific in mind to pursue for now. "Does that sound alright with you, Yasuki-sama?"

Kaida in the meantime sniffed the ground for any precious pastry-bits that might've escaped the hoomans.

[Yasuki Umiko]

"That is certainly doable," Kanna nodded and looked around for a flat-surface that wasn't still wet from the rain. A nearby bench would do! "Aha, that can work as a table. Kaida, be good." Kaida cocked his head to his side - he was always good!

The short woman moved over to the bench with just a few steps, and rummaged in her backpack to find her deck wrapped in its silken cloth. The cloth was placed down like a tablecloth to place the cards upon. As she shuffled the cards, she looked to the others. "So I think we'll do a spread of four cards. The first card represents you and the current state you are in, the second card is the immediate challenge to your path forward. The last two are the possible future coming from that challenge and how you overcome it." To Kanna, it sounded like something that could work well since it didn't seem like Umiko had anything specific in mind to pursue for now. "Does that sound alright with you, Yasuki-sama?"

Kaida in the meantime sniffed the ground for any precious pastry-bits that might've escaped the hoomans.

Umiko would make her way over to where Kanna was doing her reading on the bench, taking her bag with her as she left the vicinity of the swing. She folded her hands together and watched with some anticipation, still not knowing what to expect, but at least getting some sort of answer would do wonders for her. It was more than she was getting starting into the ether or moping about her uncontrolled situation on her lonesome.

"Yes, and please, Tamori-san," she indicated she was ready to proceed.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

"That is certainly doable," Kanna nodded and looked around for a flat-surface that wasn't still wet from the rain. A nearby bench would do! "Aha, that can work as a table. Kaida, be good." Kaida cocked his head to his side - he was always good!

The short woman moved over to the bench with just a few steps, and rummaged in her backpack to find her deck wrapped in its silken cloth. The cloth was placed down like a tablecloth to place the cards upon. As she shuffled the cards, she looked to the others. "So I think we'll do a spread of four cards. The first card represents you and the current state you are in, the second card is the immediate challenge to your path forward. The last two are the possible future coming from that challenge and how you overcome it." To Kanna, it sounded like something that could work well since it didn't seem like Umiko had anything specific in mind to pursue for now. "Does that sound alright with you, Yasuki-sama?"

Kaida in the meantime sniffed the ground for any precious pastry-bits that might've escaped the hoomans.

Things were not going to any good direction. She had to find a way to make the Moto stick aroubf the Yasuki as friends, that way she might be protected without revealing her need, it would be 'fortuitous' if the danger dared to attack.

"I would love a reading at some point as well, Yoritomo-sama spoke highly of your divination, and intrigued me." Ichitaiyo noted, to keep in conversation, taking a moment to gaze at their surroundings and look for any shady presences following them.

==

OOC: Can I roll to look for shady people following us?

[Tamori Kanna]

Umiko would make her way over to where Kanna was doing her reading on the bench, taking her bag with her as she left the vicinity of the swing. She folded her hands together and watched with some anticipation, still not knowing what to expect, but at least getting some sort of answer would do wonders for her. It was more than she was getting starting into the ether or moping about her uncontrolled situation on her lonesome.

"Yes, and please, Tamori-san," she indicated she was ready to proceed.

Things were not going to any good direction. She had to find a way to make the Moto stick aroubf the Yasuki as friends, that way she might be protected without revealing her need, it would be 'fortuitous' if the danger dared to attack.

"I would love a reading at some point as well, Yoritomo-sama spoke highly of your divination, and intrigued me." Ichitaiyo noted, to keep in conversation, taking a moment to gaze at their surroundings and look for any shady presences following them.

Kanna nodded to Umiko, and then smiled to Ichitayo. "Of course. We can do that."

The deck shuffled again, and spreading it out she selected four cards, laying them facedown in a Y-shape. "Alright, the first card..." she turned it over. It was a reversed card; the High Priestess, depicted as a powerful female shugenja with the sun blazing over her head. Kanna's lips pressed into a thin line for a moment.

"You're at a point in your life where you feel... confused. You have gut feelings about something, but you're suppressing your intuition. Maybe you find it hard to listen to. There's something that doesn't feel right, and your actions might be running contrary to what you feel like you should do. The High Priestess is a reminder that we must sometimes contemplate a new approach, to find the wisdom you need. Don't be afraid to ask questions, of others or yourself." She looked to Umiko for her to take it in.

Meanwhile, Kaida sniffed around Ichitayo's feet, and looked up pleadingly with big puppy eyes.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Meanwhile, Kaida sniffed around Ichitayo's feet, and looked up pleadingly with big puppy eyes.

Ichitayo gnawed her teeth as her willpower evaporated instantly against the endless charm of Kaida.

"Can.. dogs eat bread?"

D3 MA | Etiquette/Willpower | Resist Temptation from Kaido | Flavor Roll | TN 100 | Failure

[Moto Shiwahime]

Well now

Shiwahime nodded to the Karo and put her bottle back in her bag. She also kept her two cents concerning divination and portents but took a few steps back. Such things were personal affairs and she would not intrude.

But she could tell about the dog

''I think so but not too much. It's not the healthiest''

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Well now

Shiwahime nodded to the Karo and put her bottle back in her bag. She also kept her two cents concerning divination and portents but took a few steps back. Such things were personal affairs and she would not intrude.

But she could tell about the dog

''I think so but not too much. It's not the healthiest''

Ichitaiyo surrendered to the great wiles of the.little dog and fed it little pieces, as she took a similar distances as Shiwahime, but well in eavesdropping distance.

"So, what have you been up to, Moto-san?"

[Moto Shiwahime]

snip

''Oh...not much.'' the unicorn replied while she searched her dufflebag ''Met with the other unicorns, swell people...we are trying to concretize a buisiness venture or the expension of one.''

She finally got some stretchy looking rubber straps and a rolled mat

''Got a new jogging buddy though. Swell guy! He's not afraid to push himself to the limit.''

She paused

''I'm also looking around Tenjin town. The magistrature told me to go check for suspicious activities but I think they were just humoring me''

[Yasuki Umiko]

OOC: Can I roll to look for shady people following us?

The park here and the surrounding residential neighbourhood, made up of a combination of traditional wooden houses and more modern townhouses was by no means a dense place. However, all of the windows and trees potentially made for good hiding spots.

(Please make a roll of Investigation/Perception at TN20.)

"You're at a point in your life where you feel... confused. You have gut feelings about something, but you're suppressing your intuition. Maybe you find it hard to listen to. There's something that doesn't feel right, and your actions might be running contrary to what you feel like you should do. The High Priestess is a reminder that we must sometimes contemplate a new approach, to find the wisdom you need. Don't be afraid to ask questions, of others or yourself." She looked to Umiko for her to take it in.

Umiko's full attention was on the cards laid on the tablecloth atop the park bench, seemingly having tuned out the surrounding conversation and even the cute Kaida, who was just sniffing around as the hoomans talked.

She bent down slightly, as if to get a better look at the card, putting her hands on her thighs as she did so. Her hat of choice unintentionally cast a shadow over the cards. The faces of the cards in this divination were foreign to her, but she did find the image compelling at first. Her gaze was on the shugenja depicted before her gaze fixated on the sun as Kanna talked.

Umiko bent/stood silently as she processed that evaluation in her head. There were clearly some gears turning in her head, even though she didn't have much to say. Her gaze went distant and her complexion blanched slightly as she filled in the blanks before finally saying to Kanna, "So, I see..."

Despite not saying much, she was compelled to hear more from the Dragon.

[Tamori Kanna]

Ichitaiyo surrendered to the great wiles of the.little dog and fed it little pieces, as she took a similar distances as Shiwahime, but well in eavesdropping distance.

Tail wagging, Kaida delicately scarfed up the small bits. Pale hooman was quickly becoming a favorite, because food!

Umiko bent/stood silently as she processed that evaluation in her head. There were clearly some gears turning in her head, even though she didn't have much to say. Her gaze went distant and her complexion blanched slightly as she filled in the blanks before finally saying to Kanna, "So, I see..."

Despite not saying much, she was compelled to hear more from the Dragon.

It wasn't the first time Kanna saw someone pale a bit by a divination. When it was ill news, it was normal to be surprised, and not in a good way.

As it seemed like Umiko had had time to think, she flipped the next card. Another reversed card - The Onmyoji. A magician of old, or also known as a diviner in the ancient courts of Rokugan. The depicted man in a mystic's clothes pointed up to the sky and to the ground with the other hand, as if to say 'as above, so below'.

Kanna furrowed her brow. It was a bad omen to see two reversed cards after one another like this.

"The reversed Onmyoji. Normally, he represents power, true power, but reversed it is a master of illusions, deception, and trickery. In the near future, there is something or someone that will try to lure you in to trust them, to take advantage of you for their own selfish gain. It could mean there is someone in your circle who pretends to have your best interests at hand when the opposite is true. If it's not a person, it could also be your emotions - a warning to not become obsessed with power that might lead to reckless decisions that could spell disaster."

She sighed softly and looked at Umiko. "I'm sorry, Yasuki-sama. I wish the portents were more positive for you."

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

The park here and the surrounding residential neighbourhood, made up of a combination of traditional wooden houses and more modern townhouses was by no means a dense place. However, all of the windows and trees potentially made for good hiding spots.

(Please make a roll of Investigation/Perception at TN20.)

''Oh...not much.'' the unicorn replied while she searched her dufflebag ''Met with the other unicorns, swell people...we are trying to concretize a buisiness venture or the expension of one.''

She finally got some stretchy looking rubber straps and a rolled mat

''Got a new jogging buddy though. Swell guy! He's not afraid to push himself to the limit.''

She paused

''I'm also looking around Tenjin town. The magistrature told me to go check for suspicious activities but I think they were just humoring me''

Ichitaiyo's gaze was methodical, window by window, tree by tree, ready to notice any sharp movements if her eyes veered too close to her quarry, assessing the situation. The Bad Portents that had been just been placed would make it so any direct suggestion of help could be highly dismissed.

She had to be unknown yet, and had to keep the Unicorn around.

"Mmm.. what if I told you that I smell a proper neer' do-well to bring justice to nearby?" She glanced up to her conspiratorily, hoping that adventure was enough bait to bring in the woman.

=

D3 MA | Investigation/Perception | Base TN 20 | 1 Free Raise (School 1), used for Effect | Success!

[Moto Shiwahime]

Shiwahime squinted and glanced at her motor bike but otherwise unrolled her mat.

"Does this character require immediate capture?" She asked without looking up

"Can you give me the description and location?"

The unicorn's body was getting tense, ready to administer violence

[Yasuki Umiko]

D3 MA | Investigation/Perception | Base TN 20 | 1 Free Raise (School 1), used for Effect | Success!

Ichitaiyo would look around and inspect the surroundings. There were a few school children, younger than those who participated in the First Market, who passed by the playground. The environment was safe enough that young children could go home on their own, it seemed. They all shared the same bright blue backpack, all of with the same fishscale design on its face.

However, there wasn't anyone who seemed to have looked at the hatted Umiko specifically. She was here on her lonesome, other than the present company.

"The reversed Onmyoji. Normally, he represents power, true power, but reversed it is a master of illusions, deception, and trickery. In the near future, there is something or someone that will try to lure you in to trust them, to take advantage of you for their own selfish gain. It could mean there is someone in your circle who pretends to have your best interests at hand when the opposite is true. If it's not a person, it could also be your emotions - a warning to not become obsessed with power that might lead to reckless decisions that could spell disaster."

She sighed softly and looked at Umiko. "I'm sorry, Yasuki-sama. I wish the portents were more positive for you."

Another card she had little idea about at first, but the imagery was just as evocative as the last. It was so curious that there would be another mystical figure, more so, the directions he pointed. It would indicate an authority on the order of things, at least so she thought before Kanna's explanation.

Life drained from Umiko's face as her gaze went distant. Her hands couldn't help but dig slightly in the fabric of her wide-leg pants. "No..." she murmured.

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

Shiwahime squinted and glanced at her motor bike but otherwise unrolled her mat.

"Does this character require immediate capture?" She asked without looking up

"Can you give me the description and location?"

The unicorn's body was getting tense, ready to administer violence

"Not yet. Yasuki-sama feels threatened by someone or something. The reason to be here is because she thinks the suspect wouldn't dare act her under the public sight."

And the slate gaze returned to the Unicorn. "No one is here at the moment, she is not being followed right now, but something is afoot, and she doesn't want to ask for help. At least not now."

And she turned over to the reading table.

"I hope that changes with the last two cards."

[Moto Shiwahime]

"Not yet. Yasuki-sama feels threatened by someone or something. The reason to be here is because she thinks the suspect wouldn't dare act her under the public sight."

And the slate gaze returned to the Unicorn. "No one is here at the moment, she is not being followed right now, but something is afoot, and she doesn't want to ask for help. At least not now."

And she turned over to the reading table.

"I hope that changes with the last two cards."

''Huh?'' the fitness devotee was now just confused ''How could you guess all that from munching bread?''

Her engines had been started and she was resistant to shut them down now

''Anyway if what you say is true, why wait for cardboard?''

[Kitsuki Ichitaiyo]

''Huh?'' the fitness devotee was now just confused ''How could you guess all that from munching bread?''

Her engines had been started and she was resistant to shut them down now

''Anyway if what you say is true, why wait for cardboard?''

Ichitaiyo levied a blank gaze upon the Moto. "Tell me four truths and a lie, and I'll tell you which is the lie." "As to why wait.. mere caution. I don't know more than what I told you. Could screw things up still."

[Tamori Kanna]

Another card she had little idea about at first, but the imagery was just as evocative as the last. It was so curious that there would be another mystical figure, more so, the directions he pointed. It would indicate an authority on the order of things, at least so she thought before Kanna's explanation.

Life drained from Umiko's face as her gaze went distant. Her hands couldn't help but dig slightly in the fabric of her wide-leg pants. "No..." she murmured.

Kanna truly felt sorry Umiko in this moment, but it was bad fortune to not finish a reading once begun. "The two most likely outcomes..."

Her hands deftly turned the two remaining cards at the same time at the two prongs of the Y-spread.

On the left, the card depicted a high spire nestled on top of the mountain. A lightning bolt was striking the tower, setting it ablaze, causing people to leap out the tower as an act of desperation. On the right, the card showed a weak-looking man holding onto a club, with eight other upright clubs standing behind him. The man looked injured, but still ready to fight again, his face showing hope and determination.

"The Tower... and the Nine of Clubs." Three out of four cards were of the major circle, but at least the minor of the club-suite offered hope.

"The Tower is disaster. It is a symbol of a future with destruction and upheaval. It could be sudden change, natural disasters. A period of chaos. But it's not without hope... its appearance here is also a sign to be ready to throw away old things we have held on to, to be better prepared for this change. And the Nine of Clubs," Kanna always thought the old man in the card looked like a Crab samurai, "is a good sign. Because even with losses and fatigue, it shows that you will persevere with your grit and resilience. I think this means that Kisada-kami - Fortune of Persistence - is with you, if you can find your inner strength."

Kanna looked to Umiko. "I am pretty sure there's some wise words in the Tao that says we don't have to go through difficult times alone, but should have friends with us," the words were offered kindly.

[Yasuki Umiko]

Doooom!

"Oh, no..." Umiko gasped loudly when she saw the Tower card, closing her eyes tightly as she couldn't bear to see more. She placed a hand atop her mouth and fought back the urge to show any more emotional outbursts. Unseemly weeping would do her no favours right now. The sight of people leaving a burning tower was quite horrifying, even if only in art. Her emotions were already on a ride since the start of the reading, and something as little as that had her imagining the worst possible outcome. Would she be one of these people who would suffer such a grizzly fate?

With some morbid curiosity, she would slowly open her eye to look at the other card. This was a bit more befuddling, peculiar, but didn't quite hit the same dramatic notes. The lack of an obvious definition or blanks to fill in her head over its meaning did give it some air of mystery, nevertheless.

"I see..." she murmured, finding a bit of whiplash as she was given this final message of hope. After what she had been through internally, the feeling almost felt foreign to her. It took her a moment to snap out of what she had been feeling, rubbing her face with her hands before she mustered herself together to be more recomposed.

How could I act like this over some cards? This must be just vague Dragon mysticism, right? Do I even take this seriously?

"...Thank you for the reading, Tamori-san," she bowed deeply in thanks.

[Tamori Kanna]

Kanna bowed deeply to Umiko, feeling partially responsible for the tidings of bad news. "If I may be of further assistance, Yasuki-sama, you need only ask."

She shuffled the cards back into the deck, not wanting to look at them further herself. What could be happening to give such a misfortunate reading for Umiko, Kanna wondered. It would be something to contemplate further... maybe even asking the water kami later once she had prepared herself for it.

"I am sorry if I upset you..."