4♠ | video

[solitaire]

_{( Remy’s hanging out in what passes for one of the classier taverns, leaning back in a wooden chair as his hair falls over his eyes. He’s eyeing the communicator a little devilishly, and, as ever, he’s shuffling a deck of cards. And though the process is constant, he eventually pulls out exactly the card he meant to: the Ace of Diamonds. )}

Diamonds are called Coins, sometimes. If it was gonna be an element, it’d be Earth. Has ta do with the physical, your body an’ your wealth. People who do work like that, too—merchants, traders.

Sometimes it jus’ means you’re an achiever. Y’like gettin’ things done.

_{( He nods, solemnly, before replacing the card in the deck and continuing with his shuffling. He pulls out the Ace of Clubs, next. )}

Clubs’re different. Called Wands, in the old days. They’re Fire, willpower. People who do hard work, wit’ their hands. If you’re someone who likes destruction, that’s your suit. But that’s no so bad. The world needs breakin’ down an’ buldin’ up.

_{( Another nod, another tilt of his head. The next card is the Ace of Hearts. )}

Hearts’re special, some people think. Used ta be called Cups. They gotta do with Water, with emotion. People who do things spir’tually.

Hearts’re socializers. They like other people, more than things.

_{( He kisses the card lightly before shuffling it back in, pulling out the last. The Ace of Spades. )}

Now, Spades. Also called Swords, sometimes. They’re Air, freedom. But wit’ that comes unpredictability. If you’re a Spade, y’like havin’ authority. But that comes wit’ responsibility, an’ consequences.

Spades’re explorers. They like the unknown, seekin’ out what they might be ‘fraid of o’ what might bring ‘em joy.

_{( That card goes back into the deck, too. Shuffle, shuffle, shuffle. Remy smiles at the communicator once more. )}

So, here’s a question. Which’re you?

Comments

[hyanaimne]

They were the ones that fit the best.

. . . what does chère mean?

[solitaire]

Hm, kinda hard ta translate. Somethin' like "dear."

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . . it is not Common, then?

[solitaire]

French, actually.

Comes from the country across the channel, from the island we're on now.

[hyanaimne]

. . . I do not know what "French" is. Nor what country is across the ah, channel.

My apologies, I am not from this . . . world.

[solitaire]

Nothin' ta apologize for. Lots a' us aren't from a world like this one.

Mine's got the same countries an' languages, maybe, but it's real different, too.

[hyanaimne]

. . . how so?

[solitaire]

My world's 'bout... a thousand years in the past. Year 2000, or thereabouts. Our histories're different, an' there are a lotta non-humans runnin' around, back home. Superheroes, an' the reverse.

[hyanaimne]

There is that word again . . . "superheroes".

[solitaire]

"Again?"

[hyanaimne]

Yes. A young man told me of them, that there are a number of them here and that they dress ridiculously.

[solitaire]

It's part a' the charm, I think. The costumes.

[hyanaimne]

[she raises a skeptical eyebrow]

I cannot say I have seen one to pass judgement like that yet.

[solitaire]

There're enough a' us around, I'm sure you'll get a chance.

[hyanaimne]

. . .

[well this was suddenly slightly awkward]

You are a superhero?

[solitaire]

_{( he laughs heartily. )}

Nah, not really. But I hang 'round a lot a' them.

[hyanaimne]

"Not really"? I was told that they have powers . . . is it like magic?

[solitaire]

Could be. Some are more scientific. I'm a mutant, an' for us it's in our DNA.

[hyanaimne]

[her eyes go a little wide, because that's a lot that she doesn't understand, and she always feels stupid asking for clarification]

I . . . do not know what DNA is.

[solitaire]

It's... ah. Genetic code. What makes your body up, I guess.

Point bein', we're born what we are.

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . . I think I understand.

So then, is a mutant a type of human?

[solitaire]

More like their close cousins.

[hyanaimne]

Ah . . .

That I can understand.

[solitaire]

_{( remy laughs. )}

You got a name, chère?

[hyanaimne]

It is Tempest. And yours?