[open to all] Regarding Trump metaplot and tattoos

[howexciting]

Forgive me, everyone, I... have some announcements, of sorts.

[His mental voice sounds remarkably hesitant. Still, after a moment of silence as he waits for everyone's attention, his mental voice calms as he continues.]

Several Jaunts ago, in the Labyrinthine Shoal, myself and two others were given strange markings, like tattoos. We did not think much about them at the time, though we have noticed that each of them includes a zero symbol somewhere on them. Mine is on my left shoulder, so understandably, many of you may not have seen it. If you would like to see it, I can show you in private... but let me get to the point.

As many of you may have already discovered, there were two Trumps at this dance - who I will call the Sun and the Moon. They were wearing a brilliant gold mask and a pale silver mask with a half-moon, respectively. Just recently, I discovered that at least two of our number were given tattoos as well, one with symbols related to the Sun with the number Nineteen, and one with symbols related to the Moon with the number Eighteen. I do not know the trigger, but I do know that they spent at least some time in the Trumps' presence and were then marked with tattoos.

For those of you unfamiliar with Tarocchi decks, or Tarot decks... they are a set of playing cards, used in fairly simple games. I will not get into those here. These decks have important cards which are all higher rank than the numbered and other face cards, and are collectively called the Trionfi - the Trumps. The size of this set differs from deck to deck, but many of the decks I am familiar with contain twenty-two of them. These numbers on the tattoos match the cards for the Moon, number eighteen, and the Sun, number Nineteen. The Fool is listed as the number Zero.

I can only conclude, then, that Don Orlea was a Trump, and more specifically, il Matto, the Fool. Further, something the Sun said to me... about being "spoken for", the Moon mentioning the beginning of the cycle, and then marking others with these tattoos, all lead me to believe that the Trumps are marking us for some unknown purpose. They cannot mark us more than once, that I know for sure. But as to why...

[He pauses again, to let all of this sort of sink in with everyone else.]

If you find such a mark, I think it would be wise to let us know, especially if it is from il Sole o la Luna. If you are not comfortable doing so, I understand... but this may be an important clue as to our purpose here.

If you have any questions, too, as always I will be happy to answer what I can. Thank you for your time.

Comments

[fridgeninja]

The Moon and the Sun... for a masquerade, and maybe for a planet like that, that makes sense...

[howexciting]

The Sun spoke about... losing a wager, at the last dance. I think the Moon wanted winter to come, but the Sun did not. It makes sense, if that planet was always under the Sun's influence, being as hot as it was.

[detectivewonder]

Sorry I missed it. Can you send visuals over the network? I'd like to see the tattoos. easier than having us all crowd around.

[howexciting]

Sadly, I cannot. But I can draw it for you, or describe it if you'd like. It is a little less complicated than the other two from what I have seen.

[itsananimalthing]

Here, want a picture?

[Have some patented Riddick-vision, sent privately to the kid rather than to all and sundry. It's a scar, rather than a tattoo, slightly raised against the palm of his left hand, but it's a crescent moon-- slightly stylized-- with block numbers 18 within the curve. A couple rays of what is probably moonlight extend down towards his wrist.]

Moon. Obviously.

[His tone is annoyed. Also obviously.]

[hakodate]

Only those three that we know about, so far?

[howexciting]

For the Fool? Sì, I believe so. It is hard to explain, but... when we were in Liminal Space, before this masquerade, the three of us and only the three of us were drawn together. Our tattoos began tingling, guiding us in the same direction until they suddenly stopped.

We then found ourselves in a shop with costumes and masks. That is how I knew that we might be attending some sort of ball, hence this Jaunt.

[willyousee]

[Alcuin is thoughtful, a current of unease beneath his mental voice.]

The Moon spoke of Travelers being selected - claimed - and that this is the second phase.

[wholeheaded]

Claimed. [ nope, nope nope nope that's alarming, for so many reasons. ] Like nabbing us all wasn't enough.

[canbebrave]

They're up to something again.

[wholeheaded]

Again? Has something like this come up before?

[nicotinized]

In my experience, having someone in power mark you is never a good sign. Even when they're not capable of ripping holes in the universe.

[Which is to say he's going to be keeping an eye on you, Leo. And anyone else who comes forward about this]

[howexciting]

... agreed. But until we know why they are doing this, I am not sure what we can do.

[wholeheaded]

[ Ambrose's tone is much less lighthearted than usual. ]

I was also... marked by the Fool, and I'll confirm everything Leonardo's said, including being turned away by, uh, one of the other Trumps. I've only met...them while Infiltrating, so I wasn't really-- I couldn't pay proper attention. I hope I'll be able to in the future.

Private to Ambrose

[howexciting]

... thank you, for helping me realize this. How are you feeling?

[Because there had been little time to talk about their well-being once this was discovered. There was simply too much to confirm before the announcement.]

[shiroganeheir]

I believe myself to have been claimed, as you say by the Sun. From the information I have, and the conversations I had, as well as what is now on my shoulder, that seems to be a logical conclusion.

[howexciting]

Logical, yes, but troubling. What did the Sun say to you before you were marked?

[darkhourdear]

[.......oh Phillip doesn't like this information at all.

He actually mulls over it for a while, trying to think of what to say. Finally, he settles on:]

So... the Fool, the Moon, and the Sun are the only ones that have showed up, right?

[howexciting]

... as far as I know, yes. They are the only ones that seem to have presented themselves.

[notinthecards]

... Nineteen?

[howexciting]

... what about it?

[capital_asset]

According to the Moon, the dance was a net designed to catch those who would work with it, although that statement implies a choice that is clearly not there. I'm inclined to suspect that this may be the entire point of the Jaunts as a whole.

[...which is a thought that makes him absolutely (if quietly) seethe, even if he had had suspicions about the Trumps' intent long before this]

[knightceties]

Ahahaha, pretty rude of them, right? At least they could have asked!

[knightceties]

Hmmmmm... Everything seems a lot more complicated than it did before the Orrery...

[howexciting]

I am afraid this place has always been rather complicated. They were giving us clues to the Jaunts this whole time... I only caught onto it a few Liminal Spaces ago.

assuming they've at least brushed minds before

[turbedon]

That's... turbing. I didn't really talk to either of them but I guess it remains to be seen if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Maybe they just want to play chess with you guys? [Sarcastic optimism but hey, he's trying to make light of the situation!]

I'm not too familiar with tarot cards but from memory- wait, you're the other Leonardo, right? You got picked by the Sun?

Yeah sure! c:

[howexciting]

... "turbing"?

[You darned kids and your newfangled vocabulary.]

Perhaps it is for the best you did not. I... I really hope that this means I will not be a hindrance in the future.

The other- ah, you must have met Leo, then? I am Leonardo da Vinci, sì, if that is what you are asking.

No, not the Sun, I was chosen by the Fool, a few Jaunts ago, and marked then... though the Sun did seem interested in me, were it not that I was already "spoken for".

[surveyor]

[Oh, Levi's fucking steaming. Their captors, these Trumps, right under his nose and he'd failed to do a damn thing about it. So many wasted opportunities...

WHOA, IS HIS HAIR OUT? ...It's cool, it's cool. He can... Focus. Sorry for the blast of psychic irritation, Leo.]

You... Spoke to them? [A pause.] Face to face?

THREADJACKING GOMEN...

[flatteries]

[ Oh god, heichou is intensifying so much... guess who's 100% more determined to keep the fact that he talked to one of the Trumps and actually agreed with said Trump a secret now... ]

Well, since we were all wearing masks, I doubt anyone would have realised they were Trumps to begin with..

[amadine]

From zero to eighteen and nineteen - they're not progressing in order, then. Would the combination mean anything in a divining spread?

Or a hand of cards. That might be more useful.

[unabatedly]

Perhaps they each have their own requirements and rules to obey before stepping in. Or it's possible that our Jaunt settings appeal to certain Trumps.

It's a bit of a disturbing thought, that they are testing us to see who aligns with them most strongly. I wonder why they want to mark us, if not for their own specific uses?

[unabatedly]

[There's a lot she could begin to ask about, but Neria listens to everyone else first before speaking, and when she does, she addresses Leonardo first.]

You didn't mention this before now.

[It's not an accusation. She's just concerned that this could have hurt him in some way, and there would have been no helping him so many months later.]

I wonder why they would take time now to begin selecting us...and what will happen to those who do not win the Trumps' favor.

[hakodate]

You think maybe that has something to do with how we keep losing people along the way?

[It's not a happy thought, but...well. Hijikata likes to get the ugly shit out in the air as bluntly as possible.]

If we're here, at least one of them's still considering us. But if they all look at someone and say "fuck it"...