[open]

[ofinspiration]

Would someone like to tell me why my friend and I found ourselves with surprise tattoos? I'm fairly certain they weren't there before we returned to Liminal Space - mine would have been... noticable.

Second question: how do I get rid of it? They're pretty, I'll give you that, and points for appropriate symbolism on her, at least... but I do have an aesthetic to maintain.

Comments

[turbedon]

Welcome to the club. We have cookies for new members usually. But things are a little wet at the moment.

Who got to you anyway?

[ofinspiration]

If I knew that, would I be asking?

What club?

[upcard]

Ah... um--those are...

[Shake it off, Mai, be firm and certain!!]

... Those are from the Trumps, I think. Sometimes they, um--mark people...

[turbedon]

The club of people who got marked by the Trumps. They're not the best at dating, so no dinner or flowers are included.

What's the design of the tattoo like? Any specific image or numbers?

[leftbehindagain]

...There was a Trump around last jaunt? Granted, I was a little preoccupied, but after the Grid I would've thought they'd be more obvious. [But then, not all of them signify anything anywhere near as blatant as ROSE. Or the Devil, for that matter.]

Other people who've been snapped up can probably explain it better, but in a nutshell, the entities sending us on all this world-hopping occasionally decide they like someone and give them a surprise tattoo accordingly. As of now there's no way we know of to get rid of it, nor do we know the possible side effects of trying.

[howexciting]

[Dick and Mai seem to be explaining the Trumps tattoos well enough, but there is one more question...]

... what does it look like? Are there any numbers, symbols? Something that might indicate which Trump marked you?

[ofinspiration]

...wonderful. Just what I needed.

Why do they mark people? What's the point?

[ofinspiration]

Rude. [ She's one to talk... ] I'd settle for a drink and sex, but I assume that's not in the cards either.

It's a pomegranate. Both of ours are.

[ofinspiration]

I don't know what a Trump is supposed to look like, but I didn't meet anyone who seemed particularly in control of... anything there. Then again, I wasn't exactly myself, or looking.

[ofinspiration]

No numbers. Just a pomegranate, on both of us. Different art styles, but... pomegranates. I don't know or care enough about tarot to even guess what that means.

[leftbehindagain]

I doubt they have a set shape, which only makes this more difficult. It was probably someone you interacted with, though - that seems to be the common pattern so far.

[howexciting]

Then it is either the High Priestess, or the Empress. Those are the only two cards in the Rider-Waite tradition which possess pomegranates on their faces.

[What do you know, learning tarot came in useful.]

Of those two, I think the themes of the Jaunt fit much better with the High Priestess, than the Empress. Wisdom and intuition. Relationships. Mystical vision. Higher powers.

[ofinspiration]

I ran into a lot of people. That doesn't really narrow it down.

[leftbehindagain]

Most of them would've been us. Did you spend most of your time in one place over the rest of it? If so, it was probably someone there.

[ofinspiration]

Huh. Not the one I would have guessed would show an interest.

In me, at least. It sounds perfect for L- Persephone.

[ofinspiration]

There were a lot of people in and out of the castle, despite my best efforts. No interactions worth mentioning, though, if we're discounting travelers.

Private:

[creativefool]

...It's High Priestess, yeah.

She got Phillip.

[leftbehindagain]

...huh. Weird.

I mean, I guess we can't rule out the nine million talking animals around Questing Country, but I can't decide if that's too much of a stretch or not.

[upcard]

...We're not sure.

[A hesitant pause.]

I mean--we don't know for sure. Everyone has their own theories, but... either way, it's definitely to...mark us as theirs in some way.

[ofinspiration]

If that's the case... No, still not helpful. I was surrounded by them.

Really, I just want to know who I should blame if I see them again...

[ofinspiration]

Because kidnapping us didn't make that point clearly enough...

[leftbehindagain]

I'm sure we all do, especially anyone else they might've snapped up along with you and your friend. Seems like this one was particularly stealthy about it.

[howexciting]

I did not expect the Fool to choose me, either. We did not know the Trumps took physical forms, then.

... your friend is named Persephone? As in, the queen of the underworld and goddess of vegetation and maidenhood? That is almost a little too apt.

[And celestial knowledge has also come in useful. Huh.]

[howexciting]

... Dio... well, thank you for telling me. I will... try speaking with him later, in private.

Where is he, anyway? Last I saw him he was across that star-sea from where I was.

[creativefool]

Alright. Last time I saw him we were in the workshop. So he's gotta be around somewhere...

[...right?]