we interrupt your regularly scheduled Babish rip-off for this important announcement

[otomechapilot]

I'll do the cooking show after the Jaunt, I didn't have time to prepare it, but...

What's this I hear about Tower falling?

Comments

[otomechapilot]

Wanting him not to win and wanting everything he represents dead are very different things.

[otomechapilot]

...yeah, agreed. We need friends, now more than ever. We need more enemies like we need holes in our head...

Are you new? Or newly returned? I don’t think we’ve met... I’m Sara, it’s been almost two years for me.

[otomechapilot]

Sara doesn’t bother to hide her fear. But she smiles back, and sits, and takes out the 78-card deck she habitually creates.

“I... figured something out between asking to talk and actually coming,” she says. “You first, though, explaining it is tricky.”

[canbebrave]

Newly returned is the closer of the two. Lady Sansa Stark, and I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I do wish our introduction was on better circumstances.

I had been absent for just over two years time. It seems in my absence we’ve begun killing both fellow travelers and the...Arcana.

[crouching_sin]

And are we so sure that they truly have domain over every world? They're very powerful, yes. But we don't know that them having the ability to grab us from our world truly means that they will have the ability to affect our worlds so greatly once this 'game' is done.

All we have is their word.

[otomechapilot]

I'm not as worried on their effect on every world that could be as I am about their effect on each other, and us.

We know them as they are without Hierophant, Star, or goddamn Temperance. What happens to their behavior without the embodiment of "maybe don't touch the red hot stove" gone?

[crouching_sin]

Reversed, more likely than not.

[otomechapilot]

Yeah.

Have you seen what Judgement Reversed is like?

[crouching_sin]

Judgement is already associated with angelic imagery, so I don't exactly want to associate with it on either end.

[otomechapilot]

From everything I've heard, sh-they're all vengeance and no redemption, now. No balance, no morals, no hope, only harsh Judgement.

While the Lovers is very, very bad at not being the Devil.

I think it's for the same reason. And I'm really worried about what losing Tower is gonna do to the others.

[rustyhonesty]

He definitely can. And he doesn't keep the hug going on for too long, in case it's too uncomfortable.

"Sorry. I wasn't sure what to say so..."

[modernliterature]

"Pretty good," Caleb admits. "I'm moving on to the advanced stuff after a little tutoring. But I wanted to talk about the Arcana reading the Network. If it's their spell, or their power, that was a pretty solid guess - but do we know for sure?"

The impatience in his voice, more than anything else, indicates that this matters to him.

[otomechapilot]

"Fool listened in on me when me and another of his tried to catch his attention asking dumb questions."

She pauses.

"When we talk about something that's part of who they are, what they represent, they can listen. When we don't, they ignore us or can't sense us. And I'd guess talking about murder catches the ear of Death and the Devil at least."

[modernliterature]

"That's interesting. You know, these books, they have a few conversations with these guys recorded, and they have admitted to some fascinating stuff, but not that."

His lips twitch, as if trying to smile despite him.

"And if we're just talking out loud in one of these rooms - do we have any proof whether they can hear that or not? Are we just hoping? Because..."

He looks exasperated, and taps his lips.

"There are things I might want to say, but maybe it's better just to keep it to myself, you know?"

[otomechapilot]

“In places we made, it’s a lot less likely unless we try to get their attention,” Sara says, showing him the dancing Fool stick figure on her palm. “The Liminal Space, they make. Our spaces, they need to be invited or to break in, I’m pretty sure.”

So out with it.

[reallymean]

"I wasn't part of it," Allura assures, frowning slightly as she takes note of her young friend's unease. "And it occurred before the last Jaunt, so I know..."

She pauses, then shakes her head, apparently dismissing her conclusion on that particular matter.

"The Arcana assembled a number of us to hunt for the killers, with the promise that if we succeed, we can agree to veto one Jaunt, or assure one return."

[otomechapilot]

"It's not worth it," she says, very quietly. "It's even less worth it with Tower gone... I'm pretty sure. I've seen how people get punished by the Arcana. From your dungeon."

She shudders.

[reallymean]

"That was a pale reflection of the real thing," Allura replies, fingers flexing as she fights to keep herself from rubbing at old scars. "And a large part of the reason some Travelers might consider it very much a worthwhile bargain. I have no intention of serving anyone up for torture, but I'm not the only survivor of Moebius who was called to investigate."

She turns to regard Sara steadily. "People like you. If you hear anything, if anyone confides in you - whatever it takes, keep it to yourself. Moebius broke us. The punishment the Arcana devise for the people who killed one of their own will be so much worse."

[otomechapilot]

"I know," Sara says. "Especially the part about it being a shadow of the real thing, and that Judgement is going along with two-wrongs-make-a-right punishments."

Her eye twitches and she grimaces.

"Doesn't that strike you as weird? Or - do you know Tarot, Allura?"

[otomechapilot]

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Sara insists. "Like, thank you, even."

She squeezes him once more for good measure.

"...whether or not they affect the greater World doesn't matter if this explains how they affect themselves and us," Sara says.

"I have... an idea. Probably stupid. But I'll need to talk to one of Fortune's chosen about it. I need to talk to Fortune, really..."

[otomechapilot]

"Believe me, I understand that there are monsters out there that need to be slain, and I get it. I get that he's as much the end of things as what comes after the end, and I've lived through an apocalypse." Sara said. "And... I really hope I'm wrong."

She meets his eyes. "No one deserves Moebius or worse for trying to shake the bars of their cell. I'm not telling anyone.

I promise."

[otomechapilot]

I'm still not sure how. I think him being a - spirit of Ruin, among other things - made it easier.

...are you Armin's friend Sansa?

[reallymean]

"Only what I've picked up as a Traveler," she admits. "We did have divination systems on my planet, in the time of the Ancients, but none of them were based on cards meant to represent broad archetypes. But it's enough to make me suspect that we weren't the only ones Moebius broke. I think that's why they're investigating this time. The last time they lashed out, it damaged Judgment. If they were to lash out blindly this time, it would damage Justice, and possibly Emperor - and this time, we know they can be killed."

[otomechapilot]

Sara looks up at her for one long moment of shock and relief.

Then tries to hug her.

"...thank God," she says, "thank God, someone else sees it too. I mean, I - I hoped I was wrong but - Allura, losing Tower is really, really bad, I -"

She breathes. "Would you like me to teach you cartomancy? I think it'll. Help. Me explain."

[canbebrave]

You'll have to tell me if you find out how.

Oh! Yes, I'm Armin's...friend, Sansa. [If Sansa's blush could come through psychic voice alone, it would.]