thisavrou | [video]

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[video]

[The video shows a thin, wiry guy with a mess of blond curls, his glasses starting to slip down the bridge of his nose; there's a small smile on his face, friendly enough (if a little awkward.) From what's visible of the background, it looks like one of the Nomo Deck rooms, and there's a sound from somewhere off camera-- a constant sort of flicking noise.]

Seems like this thing's a little more active, so I figured it's probably a good idea to say hi, right? So, uh. Hi. I'm Ryan-- you can probably see that though, can't you--

[He clears his throat, face flushed slightly pink. Talking at what feels like nothing is still a bit weird for him.]

Anyway! There's a lot of you I don't know, and I was thinking-- why not make the introduction thing a little more interesting? [The background noise stops, and he holds up a tarot card. The back of it faces the camera.] See, I read these, so if you want... give me your name and tell me anything about yourself you feel like sharing. Helps make it more accurate. I'll draw you one and we'll see how close it is, yeah?

[Ryan places the card back down, shuffling the deck one more time.]

It's always easiest in person, but why not experiment a little? I could always use the practice.

((ooc note on this: I'm not going to be picking specific cards for characters who respond, so if any are off base that's why! he's not going to always be right IC, so I'm leaving an element of chance here.))

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[Papyrus has no idea what that card is, but this sounds neat! And he's always interested in talking about himself, so he replies.

Have a cheerful skeleton grinning at you, Ryan.]

Wowie, this game sounds like loads of fun! My name is Papyrus! I'm a skeleton from the monster kingdom, and now I'm here in space with my brother!

Is that enough, or should I go on?

I must admit I am curious about these cards of yours. A creative way to have us introduces ourselves, if nothing else.

[He laughs, bowing his head a little to start his greeting.] It's a pleasure, Ryan. My name is Oren, brother to the future queen of Renacht. [Look, he simplified it, because all he wants to do is bitterly simplify his importance to his relation to his sister while smiling. How else does one pass the time??]

Hm, and it seems here I am a trade and commerce tech. Is that a fair enough introduction?

[Oh hey, another skeleton! Ryan grins back, his smile bright.]

Yeah, that should be good! I think I might know your brother too, if you guys are the only skeletons here.... but, uh, let's see.

[There's another little rustling sound as he spreads the cards out and holds one up. He hums thoughtfully under his breath, then turns the card to face the camera.]

Four of Swords. It usually indicates recovery, conflict resolution, that sort of thing-- so if you've been busy, or there's been a lot going on in your life, it should be easing up. Or you're in that more relaxed period right now, maybe? [He shrugs one shoulder.] I think it could go either way.

I wasn't sure if it'd go over that way, or just sound nosy and weird. [He nudges his glasses back into place, with a slightly self-conscious little laugh.] Sounds like a fair introduction to me though-- so if you're some sort of prince, maybe we'll get something fitting enough, yeah?

[Ryan peers down at the card he's drawn, and... he's quiet for a few moments, considering just how to phrase this one. Finally, he holds Oren's upside-down card up where it's visible.]

Three of Cups, reversed. Normally it represents growth and healing, but reversed, it's, um. Betrayal, maybe estrangement? You should probably keep an eye on your relationships, since someone could betray your confidence or just not be there when you need them. Envy and jealousy might be factors, but- not necessarily.

[He gives Oren an apologetic look, adding,] Sorry. I actually kind of hope that one's off.

How can you read something that has so little text? And why do you require our names for it? Is this one of your "future" things?

[Well, that's a familiar voice.]

By 'reading', I mean the cards have different meanings-- and it kind of is, yeah. They're a tool people use to try to predict the future, you know? Like, asking what the outcome of a decision will be. You draw one or more, depending, and read the meaning of individual cards or all of them together to work out an answer.

Do I know you?

Your voice is familiar.

[He guesses that some people happen over and over again. He's already run into it and gotten annoyed by it plenty of times here.]

Sure, though. I will do these cards with you.

[Rinzler has about zero interest in introductions... but he's got some of those cards in his room. And the user's saying they actually serve a function?]

Diagnostic accuracy (cards)?

[Don't mind the creeper scanning through your unsecured feeds.]

Oh, so you've met Sans? He sure seems to be busy, for such a lazybones.

[But it's nice, knowing his brother's putting himself out there more. He watches with interest as Ryan shuffles some cards and holds one up. It looks fancy and has some cool-looking swords on it, so he's already solidly on board.]

Wowie! You could tell all of that just from one little card? That's amazing! Truly you have a gift, human!

Commander Shepard. Alliance Navy. Spectre. What do you mean, you read the cards?

How accurate are you? [Asks one (curious) voice, quickly followed by another (screechier) person butting into the conversation.]

Demon sword Ragnarok! Tell me if we're gonna meet hot girls!

[As Ryan begins to describe the card, Oren can only dip his head to look below the holographic screen. His lips curve up in a crooked smile, and at that end apology, he can only offer a quiet laugh.]

Your cards aim to wound me! [He glances up again, gesturing loosely with his free hand.] Is this a common thing where you're from?

Sure, why not? ( seems like harmless fun. ivan shrugs, something of an empty smile crossing over his face. ) Ivan Vorpatril, and I've been in my planet's military since I was seventeen.

( and not the important things he doesn't feel like sharing. )

Hah, well, it's-- it's memorization really, you know? You just have to learn what the cards represent, and then you can apply them. Each one has its own meaning.

[Still, he looks pleased, his smile wider and his cheeks faintly flushed.]

I can show you more about how they work, if you want.

They, ah... they do that.

[He rubs at the back of his neck, voice almost a murmur. They've always been very... well, blunt, for the most part.]

And they're known, but not common, if- that makes sense. A lot of people don't take readings very seriously, if they believe in them at all.

You'd do that? Really??

[He looks so excited at the prospect. Just imagine him, the great Papyrus, drawing cards and reading meaning in them so smoothly!]

Yes, I'd like that!

If you remember the Neheda, you just might. I've already run into that here, so I'm going to guess you do, right?

[He tilts his head curiously, thinking. Ryan recognizes the name, thinks he remembers the voice-- sure, maybe there are more Ryans out there, but he's not paranoid enough to consider it too hard.] Some things about that whole experience are a little fuzzy, but you're definitely familiar.

[The cards are less important. He'll get back to it.]

[That one takes him a bit, considering how to respond. Is it polite to try to communicate the way this guy apparently does, or is it just going to come off as mocking him if Ryan tries to be helpful?

It's a shame he doesn't have a Magic 8-Ball to consult too, he'd be tempted right now.]

Percentage unknown. It's up to the interpreter, and how good they are at reading the data.

[That's another name that stops Ryan short. It's familiar, but the Shepard he knew wouldn't need to introduce herself to him. (Hell, he's not even sure she'd say hi, maybe she'd just ask if he's still been training.)

It's not a topic he's diving into without feeling it out more, not when he's started off with that uncertainty.]

Each of them has certain things it's associated with, though it's something different if you draw the card upside-down. I'm only doing one because it doesn't work quite as well over text, but normally I would draw at least a couple more and read into the meaning of those cards combined.

-does that make sense? It's not usually something I end up explaining, people I know tend to either not believe in it or already are familiar.

...if you're a sword, I kind of doubt you'd have much luck with hot girls anyway.

[There's a wry hint of laughter in his voice there, and the sound of cards re-shuffling in the background.] Accuracy's up for debate at the moment, honestly, I've only ever done this in person before. So- how about you tell me how it turns out?

[And with that:] Three of Wands, reversed. Misconception and misunderstanding, possibly referring to problems agreeing on important issues or being misunderstood... and your sword friend there-- [-ah. Sorry, he's laughing just a little as he continues, but only at first.] -has the Seven of Wands, also reversed. A communication barrier, difficulty getting others to see eye to eye with certain views, and probably a sign that trying to convince them isn't going to go your way.

Let's see how far that gets us then, yeah? [Ryan clears his throat, pulling a card from the deck and turning The Moon toward the screen. Then he turns it back to himself, frowning thoughtfully.]

...no, y'know what, two. I don't know you and this one's difficult with little to go off, I'd be sitting here making shit up. [He's not choosing this time, just drawing a second right off the top of the deck.]

Huh. That's interesting. [He hums under his breath, thinks a moment.] So with the Nine of Pentacles we've got stability, success, security. Generally means things are going well for you. The Moon, though, is usually related to the subconscious and insecurity. For those two to go together... [A short pause.] Not knowing any of your circumstances, I can go with one of two things. One, you're in a stable position, but you should be careful of your subconscious fears and anxieties, possibly things from your past, that might threaten your security-- or two, they're what you need to take a good hard look at and get past in order to have that success.

Can't get a good handle on which would be more likely for you, to be honest, but- there you go.

[Given how few people even understand Rinzler's syntax, the program probably wouldn't hold an attempt against Ryan. Still, the reply he receives is efficient enough, if slightly disappointing in its content.]

Skill level (ID: Ryan)?

( so he either means something about the fact where ivan doesn't like small, damp, inclosed places after his visit to earth or the whole 'everyone in your family has been brutally murdered' thing as things from his past that threatens his well being. well, it's not wrong, ivan supposes, although he's less inclined to believe in the power of something like this. folk belief? he doesn't know. )

Close enough, I guess. ( rather than cagey, he comes across more as someone incapable of applying what ryan said to his own life. ) You do this for a hobby, then?

Shit. You are the fifth of us.

I sure as fuck hope this is legitimate transfers, like they speak of before. And not them thinking we defected.

[He doesn't want to think of a bad end for his world.]

Oh. [Crona sounds suitably dejected.]

C-can't you give us a better fortune? [The last time Crona liked someone, she'd already had a girlfriend, and Crona just hadn't been quick enough. It's not optimistic for the future.]

Sure I would! I don't usually get people who're interested in it.

[In all honesty he didn't expect much response at all-- it's a pretty pleasant surprise.]

And if you ever want to learn, I might be able to help there too. Can't promise I'd be a great teacher though.

If they could bring us in from different times and places, it stands to reason that others could too, yeah? I think they probably have some kind of provision for accidental cases.

[He hopes. Ryan's maybe 80% sure they've thought of this.]

But at least we've got a little company, even if five's not much.

Accuracy varies, but increases with familiarity with subject & number of cards used. Skill level subjective; existing knowledge of cards satisfactory.

It's hard to quantify, sorry :(

I can try, but they- tend to be kind of blunt, sorry.

[There's an apologetic note to it-- he tries to be honest with the answers, but still can't help feeling guilty when they're not that great.]

What d'you want it to be for? Maybe having something a bit more specific will help.

Hey, I'll take it.

[This is all experimental, really, so 'close enough' is pretty good as far as Ryan is concerned. He gives Ivan a small, pleased smile, shuffling the cards back into the deck.]

It's... a sort of hobby, I guess? I mean, I don't really just do it for fun or anything, but it's not my main thing either. Most people where I'm from don't believe in it much, so mainly I just try to stay in practice with it.

No way! You're terrible at this.

[Clearly, Ragnarok is not happy.]

Um... M-maybe y-you could... could um... see if I'll make friends? I... I have friends but... it... it's not easy for me to make friends.

I like that more people have made it off the ship, but I hope they do not come after us.

Maybe we're dead. Some of the people here died before they showed up. I do not remember dying, but considering they encouraged us to stab each other in the back.

There's nothing like it where I'm from. It must have been one of the things we lost, if anyone brought it to Barrayar at all. Not ( ivan admits with a shrug ) that anyone'd believe it.

( so on that end he can see where everyone else is coming from. )

So if you don't do this for a living, what did you do back wherever you're from?

Yeah, I guess.

[She's skeptical as to how 'accurate' a random draw of pictures can really be, but she's curious, and curious enough to ask.]

Would it be better if I turned on video? [She tends to prefer using it only if there's something words or a still can't capture.]

[So a functional operator, but most likely, insufficient data to obtain an accurate result. Disappointing.

Still, he's a little curious.]

Designation: Rinzler.
Function: enforcer.

Request diagnosis.

Don't worry! I'm sure you're a great teacher, and regardless, you'd be teaching a very great skeleton!

When should we start?

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(i'm 100% canonblind and i will be so entertained if this actually is on point)

i'm sorry for the delay! and the tl;dr but major arcana, man ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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not a problem!!

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