Arcana-talk time [A day or two into the new liminal]

[professorwolf]

We're still assuming that the liminal space before a Jaunt represents the Arcana competing in it, yes? I know someone's mentioned this earlier, but it definitely needs to be highlighted-- I think it's pretty obvious this time that the contest will be between Chariot and Tower. The giant wooden horse running through a thunderstorm really couldn't be more blatant. For once.

[He's not great at understanding symbolism, but damn if this wasn't an easy one.]

So if that's right, it'll be a contest of motion and persistence, versus dramatic change and catastrophe. I think it's easy enough to decide who we want to support, in this case. We'll just have to find ways to make sure we see what sort of conditions make for a win for each ideal.

Any ideas for what to look for and how to keep things from devolving into a catastrophe? Those seem to happen a lot when we're around, unfortunately.

Comments

[truerevelation]

I'm ... just gonna add a bit more on the symbolism stuff for now? Chariot's as much about 'control' and 'determination' and 'victory' as it is moving.
A big change can still happen if ... if that's the best thing, if that's what folks decide. It's just gotta be under control. No big disaster or ... burnin' the place down.

[Kanji privately adds to Lyall:]

Gonna come clean though. Chariot's mine. And I trust it a lot more than I trust Tower.

[professorwolf]

That's good to know. We do still have the tendency to set Jaunts on fire. It's turned into something of a meme, these days. So I'm all for change, if we manage to do it carefully.

[Private, no protections:]

I believe I do, as well, if just from what I've heard in this conversation, but also from what it represents in the tarot. Equally coming clean, mine is Judgment, and I'm admittedly rather partial to some of its meanings and goals, but I'm willing to settle for anything that won't make the universe a more difficult and inhospitable place.

[truerevelation]

Ugh. Yeah. Still can't believe we got away with ... ketchup, last time.

[Private back:]

I ain't heard much 'bout Judgement - as, uh, an individual 'n not a card - but yeah. I get where you're coming from.
Just worried people are gonna try 'n burn shit to ... for kicks.

[professorwolf]

If only our next Jaunt will have such simple casualties as condiments.

[Private:]

She-- or perhaps they? Their gender is a bit difficult to determine, there isn't any in their scent, and their face is androgynous. They look like an angel, and go by Penuel. They wanted me to embody the ideals of hope, renewal, forgiveness of past wrongs, and protecting the innocent from the guilty.

Rather like a softer version of Justice, in a way.

Do you really think people will try to burn the Jaunt down just for... fun?

Private:

[truerevelation]

To be honest? Yeah. Or ... to try and prove a point. Maybe not burn it down, but ...

I trust most Travellers, don't get me wrong. But I don't know everyone even now and I wouldn't put it past someone who doesn't like the Arcana to go ... "hey, people like Chariot so we're gonna mess it up, 'cause they're all jerks even the cool horse guy". Or something like that. Just outta ... spite, I guess.
Or to do something stupid that's gonna cause trouble just 'cause they don't care - and in this case... that's handing it to Tower. On a bun. With ketchup.

Private

[professorwolf]

I... have to admit I'm seeing a bit of that now. The problem is, this is the lot we've been handed, these are the choices we're being given. We have to work with it, not just tear it all down. As massive a responsibility as it is, if we don't do something with it ourselves, it will all fall to chance-- or to whichever Arcana is the most active and the most manipulative.

Still private

[truerevelation]

...Kinda wonder how the hell Hanged Man lost the last one when so many people just wanna say 'I don't give a damn'.

People wanna lash out at the Arcana. I get that. I did for ages. But we ain't in a situation to risk not working with the system - maybe we will be in future, I dunno, but we aren't right now. They wanna assume the Arcana are all assholes? Maybe. But we ain't got the evidence yet one way or the other.
We've gotta ... try and do the right thing. It's more selfish to try and sit back than it is to try and do what we can.

private forever!

[professorwolf]

I'm happy to entertain new information if it's made available, but for now, we have to work with what we have. And not taking an interest in which Arcana wins a Jaunt simply isn't reasonable or responsible, at this point.

I really don't want to see a universe where Devil or Tower reign.

[truerevelation]

No kidding. I get the "don't throw a world under the bus" thing, but ... we ain't planning on that.
Ugh.

[professorwolf]

The one I'm dealing with particularly seems to think that just because an Arcana is involved, suddenly it's not a good idea to avoid catastrophic change. I am admittedly getting frustrated with her ignoring half of what I said in favor of intimating I'm simply a terrible person.

[truerevelation]

[A brief network scan later-]
Yeah, some people are just so far up their own damn ass that they're going in a loop. That point, it ain't even worth arguing, they're gonna see what they want no matter what you say... That's kinda why I didn't say who I actually want to win out loud - all it ends up in is giving yourself a headache.

...Can tell you're a teacher, man. You've got the patience for this stuff.

[professorwolf]

Thank you... I'm glad I'm not actually coming across as frustrated as I actually am, at least.

[truerevelation]

Well, you ain't started brain shouting yet. That's better than I'd have done.