[open to all] Trump speculation + calling

[howexciting]

... Perdonatemi, I have an announcement.

I am not sure anyone else is aware of this, but the payphone by the door can connect to the Trumps. Or at least, when I attempted to call a Trump, it went through. I am not sure if all the Trumps are available for a call or not. I have heard some of them are dead, so they are likely not, at least. In truth, I am not really sure why they are allowing us to speak to them, now. We should all proceed with caution.

Further... if anyone has information on any of the Trumps that appeared this past Jaunt - The Magician, going by ROSE; The Hermit, going by SAGE; and The Devil - please, share it. I am not well versed in the mystical meanings behind the Tarot, only the cards and their numbers. The Magician is one, The Hermit nine, and the Devil fifteen. While I cannot say I know much about The Hermit, I am aware of many aspects of SAGE, as I was a Crypto this past Jaunt. I... I can tell you what little I know about him, if it would help.

... lastly, if anyone was Marked and feels comfortable coming forward with that information, I would be much obliged to hear it. Private or public, it does not concern me; I shall not come forward with that information unless you are comfortable providing it publicly. With so many Trumps amongst us, I cannot believe any of them would leave empty-handed, as it were.

Comments

[upcard]

[That's what everyone says. That they're sorry, that they're worried.

She's still not sure that it's so bad.]

Um...the Lovers--that is, PSYCHENet-chan...

But...I don't think she was bad, Leonardo-sensei.

[howexciting]

Well she is certainly blunt when it comes to others' information, specifically about their love lives or... lack thereof.

[Awkward turtle.]

While she may have been one of the more outwardly benevolent Trumps, she certainly has done some things I find rather intrusive.

[upcard]

[...well. That's true.

She slumps a little, but...even so, she can't just give up on it.]

... Leonardo-sensei... did you know that her favorite flower is a rose...?

[...]

She said it's...because it's symmetrical. And that makes it a beautiful flower. I don't think... anyone like that can be entirely bad.

[howexciting]

I... did not. She did not speak about herself much to me. I agree that roses are beautiful. But not all flowers are completely symmetrical, and roses can be imperfect... though they can all still be beautiful.

[He gives a deep, mental sigh.]

... I did not say she was bad. Merely intrusive. I am sorry if I offended you.

[upcard]

Oh... no, Leonardo-sensei, you haven't done anything wrong...!

[Mai shakes her head to herself, trying to sort out her thoughts. It's...difficult. But...]

I know that...everyone just wants to make sure we're all safe. Because we're...Travelers. We always look out for each other.

But I-- I don't think she's bad, either...and--if we can get to know them, then... maybe we can understand better what's happening.

[howexciting]

[And yet, whenever he makes Mai feel sad, he feels as if he's done something horribly wrong.]

I do want to keep you safe. And if The Lovers is truly in league with the Devil, well... it does make me worry that something might happen to you.

[upcard]

[it's her only true self-defense mechanism.

But that's news to her; she wasn't exactly around for the Trumps faction stuff, seeing as how she was dead. So she blinks, startled.]

Eh..? With the Devil...? Is that--is that really true?

[howexciting]

[He has a similar Puppy Eyes Defense™.]

The Lovers and the Devil consorted to keep The Hermit - the one called SAGE - on the Grid. They were the ones who started the Automata corruption in the first place, in their attempts to trap him. The Magician was the one who brought us to the Grid, to rescue The Hermit. It is a bit much to take in, but... it is the truth.

[upcard]

[Both of them using them together would be deadly.]

Ah... [She mulls over that, trying to understand it, before simply shaking her head. It may be too much for her.] I'm not sure I entirely understand but...

...Do we know why...all of this is happening?

[howexciting]

... no, I don't know. All I can do is guess, and I am not sure even my guesses are accurate. I think we may be something like foot soldiers in the personal armies of each Trump.

[upcard]

...Foot soldiers...

[It's the equivalent of a mental whisper, but...well, that's a lot to think about.]

...But why are they fighting? What's so bad that...they have to fight each other?