(no subject)

[ten_of_swords]

He leads her from that room into the dining hall where all the cards have gathered.

Choice stands behind them, his hazel eyes bright as he takes in those that have joined them this momentous day.

"Our Queen of Swords!" he announces. They cheer, and Moon rushes up to give her new sister a tight hug. Others begin to do the same -- Skill with Chloe in her arms, Fortune with his warm blue eyes, blind Justice...

Ruin's hand remains on her lower back, never leaving her side, as he watches her being received by the family.

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[song_tra_bong]

It's a little overwhelming, and yet the whole thing has an eerie sense of familiarity to it. It's like a family reunion with relatives she hasn't seen in years.

She's grinning as she exchanges greetings and hugs with everyone there.

[balancethecups.livejournal.com]

Balance doesn't rush. For one thing, it's hard to rush anywhere with a two-year-old son, unless it is after him.

For another...let the others greet her first, Balance's time will come soon enough. When it does, she gets to her feet and walks over, a tall, leggy blonde, tanned and sea-green sea-blue eyed as the ancient Greeks whose dress she wears.

"Welcome to the madhouse, sister," she says at last with a smile, her voice all rich velvet. In her arms, Emilie waves.

[song_tra_bong]

She laughs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Mad as it is, it's a pleasure to be here."

[balancethecups.livejournal.com]

"As it is to have you," and, shifting her son to the other hip, the tall woman leans over and kisses Mary Anne's cheek.

"I think you'll fit in quite nicely. Keep Ruin on his toes, he's been too cocky lately."

[song_tra_bong]

She blushes faintly at the mention of Ruin.

"I'll do my best to keep him...off balance, though I think I've done it more by accident than design."

[balancethecups.livejournal.com]

Ruin gets a smile, warm and amused, before her blue-green eyes move back to Mary Anne.

"If it works, it works."

[destroy_restart]

Well, well, well...

Tower was watching the young Queen of Swords being greeted by the more affable members of the family.

His greeting would come when the others had cleared out of the way. He could wait.

Tower knew how to wait; he always knew it would be his turn eventually.

[ladyofmisery.livejournal.com]

The Five of Pentacles copied Tower by standing back, nodding now and then. A card of loss, One Crow knew it was best to simply look on and let others come to her.

One did: Journey. The cat-eyed ferryman and his lynx were passing by when he spotted Tower and One Crow.

"Come! This is a day for celebration!" He eyed One Crow. "There's no need to mope!"

"You would if you knew why I did," One Crow said somberly.

Journey did know, of course, and he patted her on her shoulder. "Cheer up sister; there'll be others! Now come on! It's time to dance!"

And Journey was gone, lost amongst the throng.

Replaced by someone from a neighbouring realm.

Dog.

The Golden Retriever wagged her tail, barking happily, then dashing off after Journey and his feline companion.

One Crow sighed at the scene, wishing she could be this happy.

[destroy_restart]

Tower turned to her. "Each to their own, sister," he shrugged. "It is their privilege to know those things that will be greeted gladly while we, just as needed for the smooth tunning of the world, have uphill work ahead always until our gifts are accepted for what they are."

Never would he agree that he, or even the 'darkest' of his siblings, was entirely an ill omen - no more than a responsible tarot reader ld ever claim that. Now, being ill-aspected was something else entirely, but it could happen to any of them. Even the brightest, like the young Queen of Swords there.

[ladyofmisery.livejournal.com]

"No one ever accepts loss," One Crow pointed out. "No one ever likes a sudden shock."

A sigh. She looked over at the gathering. Dog was, when not running about barking madly, giving them a "come over and join the party!" look. Normally a being who was prone to worry Dog was instead having the time of her life. The astrological entities rarely had such opportunities to celebrate, being fewer in number than the cards.

She barked. "This is a fortuitous day! Come!"

"In a moment, Dog."

She examined a feather that had become dislodged and she fixed it back into place.

"We are necessary and needed, but we are under-appreciated."

[destroy_restart]

"Nobody apreciates that which dislodges them from their familiar perch," Tower shrugged. "That's our destiny, my dear sister."

Among the Minor Arcana, Misery was one of those closer to him - misery and penury were one of the things that would precipitate painful but necessary change.

[balancethecups.livejournal.com]

And while she was waiting, Balance looked over at Tower. A smile for him, but Emilie gets down off her lap and toddles over.

[destroy_restart]

Oh - a youngling! Young ones still had all the cards - change was as natural to them as breathing, and as inevitable. Only when they grew older and learned of the pain of loss would they start to cling with true refusal.

Some of Tower's sister and brothers were accompanied by pets or children; you always took them seriously, as they were a necessary part of that archetype.

"Greetings, little one," Tower said, regarding the child with curiosity.

[balancethecups.livejournal.com]

Balance is dreams and reality, imagination and cloud-castles. And don't most little girls dream of a baby to call their own?

Still, Emilie is real flesh and blood, and he gives his uncle a little smile. Fair hair, fairer then his mother's, although he has her sea-green, sea-blue eyes.

"'ello."

[destroy_restart]

And before his eyes, Tower shifted to beome a child himself; this was the sort of child who pulled out the bottom can of tinned pears from a huuuge pyramid in a shop and smiled angelically at the result...

"Let's go see what else is here," he suggested. "Not just grown-ups talking."

[eight_or_eleven]

Walking with the confidence her name bespeaks Strength makes her way towards the object of the ceremony: Mary Anne. Now the Queen of Swords.

And stops to clasp both hands at Mary Anne's wrists.

"I bid you welcome, Sword-sister."

The lion rumbles approval.

It'll be a few more moments before Wheel comes over—Dog has had an effect on the card of fate and destiny and now there's two dogs running about: a fox-red Labrador as well as the aforementioned Golden Retriever.

"Wheel would too, but he's busy," she says while she waits for him to come over.

[song_tra_bong]

Mary Anne pulls free of Strength's grip, only to step forward and embrace her.

"And I thank you for it, sister," she murmurs.

She steps back, glancing in Wheel's direction and grinning.

"I'll get to see him soon enough."

[eight_or_eleven]

"We should be thanking you. We so seldom get the opportunity to celebrate in this manner. Seldom do we get to see the entire family. Seldom do the astrological people join us here."

She turns to look at Journey dancing with Victory.

"Journey hasn't been here in centuries, but then, with a name like his, it's only to be expected."

The dogs race past the dancing pair.

"It's so nice to see him like this. Too often he's staid and stuffy; it's nice to see him let out his inner child and play a little."

[song_tra_bong]

She nods, folding her arms beneath her breasts.

"Then we'll just have to be sure this party lasts as long as possible. Should make the most of a rare opportunity."

[eight_or_eleven]

"Yes. Yes we should. We have all the time availible to us to enjoy ourselves.

There's no need to rush."

[three_of_swords]

Sorrow approaches.

She smiles, taking her sister's hands.

"So, when do I get to call you Mom?" she asks, winking at her father.

[song_tra_bong]

"Probably as soon as my brain starts working again."

[three_of_swords]

Sorrow laughs and hugs Mary Anne. Ruin's daughter smells of her father in a faint way, but more of salt and smoke where Ruin smells of smoke and blood.

"Know when that'll be?"

[song_tra_bong]

Salt like tears and the sea; it's comforting in its own way.

She smiles. "Not sure, but I'll keep you posted."

[three_of_swords]

Sorrow giggles, and even the happy sound is sad.

"Good. I always hoped you would come to us, be one of us. I like you."