#i think it was just an accumulation of things.... random ass stupid bullshit keeps happening to me | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

katrina-jutte-blog · 7 years

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Walking from Garenhoff to Divinities Reach was a pain in the fucking ass. By the time I reached the front gates my feet felt as if they were inflated balloons. If only that were the truth, it'd make the rest of the trip far easier. Of course I could take a waypoint like any sane citizen would however that shit cost money that was better suited for other items or ventures that could in turn grant me a greater payoff.

If tonight was any indication, my fortune telling booth would make a killing, not only recouping my costs, but bringing forth a windfall of at least triple what I put in. At first I was hoping to break a little over even, using this more as a way to get in good favor with the others at the academy. With this revelation doing such would only be a massive disappointment. All three readings gave me differed reactions, each giving pivotal insights.

With Caleb I saw that my act was engaging and enjoyable as he laughed off the reading heartily. Rose provided much of the same with a dash of audience participation, vocalizing what she felt each card meant to her, giving me a great deal to work with throughout the practice session. Key to this seems to be making it both vague yet specific enough that the guest can target in on a moment in their life. With Rose that was naturally the expulsion of the spirits within her, allowing me to build the rest of the reading off that. Admittedly that's easier to do when you know the people you are reading, but everyone has tells. I just need to be sure to keep my eyes and ears open.

Second reading was the most intriguing, showing that I could in fact be convincing. I'd thought Elle was merely humoring me with her questions regarding the validity of the readings. More I thought about it, less likely that seemed. Doing such would be entirely out of character for her. She was not one to humor nor intentionally make herself seem stupid. No, she held some level of belief in the words I told her. Why, I don't know. She of all people should know I'm merely bullshitting.

Somehow I feel it had less to do with what I said and more a timing of the words. There's no doubting that something got to her, be it needing to cut ties and retreat away from others or the distressing need to pass down her knowledge to another before it was too late. Two surprisingly go hand in hand despite their conflicting statements. You simply must look beyond the face value, looking deeper. Both told her something was coming.

With Elle there's no telling what that something may be. If she's as much like me as she seems to believe, her past is coming to swallow her up. Funnily enough, that's what my own reading told me, that I'd be reaping the seeds I'd sown. That to avoid it I needed to keep my eyes open to my surroundings, as if I never did that to begin with. Unlike Elle however I knew it was just a load of bullshit. All I'm doing is drawing a card from a deck, just random nonsense.

Doubt I'd even believe it if I got back to the academy with Elle in a body bag and that loon Matilda waiting in my dorm room to off me. Fact was fate and all that shit didn't really exist, just a bunch of bullshit people prop up to escape blame. We make our own choices, every choice having a consequence to it. People needed to stop sugar coating shit. Or on second thought, they should continue so people like me can continue to prosper.

Streets of the Reach were thinned, those out and about falling into one of two categories. People coming home from work or drunks who wouldn't know their ass from their hand. Either way they were heading to the same place, paying me no attention. It's one of the great things about this city, you could look like you were about to perform a ritual in the street and not a single person would give a fuck. Aside from maybe the Seraph, but they had better shit to do then hassle me. They also knew better than to mill about the part of the city I was heading.

It's amazing what a little bit of gold can buy. Most focus on the material goods and those were nice, really fucking nice, but the more sensible use of your wealth was accumulating power. Even that fancy pantsed buffoon Orpheus knew that. No one knew this more than Dick and I's employer, one so feared that few even spoke their name. Even if you were to tell, half the Seraph were likely on her payroll, you'd be dead before you even spoke a word.

Was frankly impressive I'd managed to deduce their gender. For as supposedly valuable as I was, very little made it's way down the pipeline to me. Made me respect her more, knowing full well I'd use that knowledge to my advantage. Unlike Orpheus, she kept her allies at arms length, all save for Dick of course. I still hadn't figured out how he'd become her right hand man. Maybe he was fucking her or her estranged kid. In time it wouldn't matter, nor would either of them.

Two men stood outside the entrance of Regallina's, some high priced restaurant used to funnel drugs and flesh to some of the higher level clientele in the Reach. Nobles never wanted to be seen as dirty, reputations being ruined if others knew their noses were filled with powder or they had a penchant for girls half their age. On this day however it was closed for a private party. Just so happens I had a guest pass, funny how often that's been happening lately.

Arms raised above my head as the shorter of the two men moved forward, moonlight shining off the bald dome of his head. Hands moved roughly along my body, doing a bit more than patting me down. If he were anyone else I'd of kneed him right in the balls, but you put up with a lot of shit when it came to business. If him grabbing my ass got me in the door faster, so fucking be it.

Second guard merely glared at me during the entire shakedown, eyes as dead as a risen. Wouldn't shock me if his heart was as well. If you were given the personal detail of Dick, you were a killer, someone who'd moved up the ranks of muscle. Another reason my trap stayed shut, you needed to know who you were needling. They wouldn't kill me of course, that would only end poorly for them however few broken ribs weren't out of the question.

Baldy motioned for me to follow his partner inside. Interior of the restaurant was nearly as extravagant as Orpheus's little tea house. Chandeliers hung from above, paintings that cost more than some houses filling the walls. Even the chairs were made of a well polished red wood, armrests available with a soft underlining cushion of a more cherry red. Wooden floors were equally as impeccable, looking as if not a single soul had ever stepped on them.

Entire restaurant was empty save for the one table occupied by Dick, wearing the only garb I'd ever seen him in, a well pressed black suit with a cream colored shirt beneath, tie a pale pink. In the middle of the table sat a bottle of wine, two glasses surrounding it. Utensils were set out both in front of him and across the table where a chair was pulled out, no doubt awaiting my arrival.

Dick smiled as I approached the table, reaching forward to place his wine glass in front of him. “Dressed to impress as per usual, Katrina.”

“You know me, I aim to please.” I took my seat opposite him, grabbing my own wine glass. “I wasn't aware this pressing matter you spoke of was a date. You do know there's not enough wine in the world to make me sleep with you right?”

Dick laughed, but far from the good natured variety. “Charming as ever.”

“Been hearing that a lot lately.” I extended my glass outward to be filled. “Even have noble women bending over backwards to please me.”

Dick popped the cork from the bottle, carefully filling both his and my glass a quarter of the way full. “I'm sure you'll enjoy attending the balls.”

“It's been the only balls I've been enjoying lately.” I leaned back in my seat, taking an elongated sip of the wine. “So what's the occasion?”

Dick swirled his glass, looking intently across the table at me. “Your recent actions have our employer intrigued, sensing a level of opportunity if you would.”

“That so? Let me guess, you want me to spread Gizbo throughout the school? A nice new client base, spreading to a city you once thought untouchable.” I took another drink, wine having a very strong musty taste to it. “I'll do it if my profit intake is higher than just 15%. I'm thinking closer to 25.”

“It always comes down to the profit margin with you doesn't it?” He smirked, resting his wine down on the table. “You'd do anything so long as your getting paid.”

“I believe my infiltration of the Blind Eye proved that.” I said sternly, warmth lingering within my throat, overstaying it's welcome.

“That was pleasure as well. Your relationship with your...” I cleared my throat, both cutting him off and attempting to battle back the flame scorching my throat. “Get to the point.”

“The point...” Dick chuckled, adjusting the placement of his tie. “The point is being made, you simply don't see it yet.”

Heat wouldn't subside, spreading down through my body, insides feeling like they were cooking inside of a range. Sweat started to streak down my forehead, throat feeling scorched, no amount of water in the world being able to quench the thirst. Hand holding my glass began to shake, control of my body very quickly departing. Before it did my fingers curled inward, tossing the wine at Dick, managing only to stain his shirt as my upper body clunked down onto the table, unable to move.

“Do you understand now, Katrina?” He lifted a napkin to his jacket, dabbing at the stain.“If it were up to me I'd of given a lethal dose, you are more trouble than you are worth. Our employer feels otherwise and I do as I'm told, trait you could learn from.”

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