Star Trek: Starbase 777 - fortune-teller

Situated near the entrance was a fortune teller's stand, which was almost a small tent of its own. The fabric of the tent was covered in glittering stars, making it sparkle and gleam with every slight movement, and two feminine figures wearing long coats and matching bunny masks, one black, one white, were periodically walking in and out of the tent, still hanging up advertisements for their services.

Four walked towards the fortune teller's stand. They silently tilted their head as they looked at the glittering stars. Then they noticed the feminine figures wearing long coats and matching masks. It was rather peculiar. However, it was certainly something they weren't familiar with. They stood in front of the tent just staring. Not wanting to interrupt either of the masked figures as they looked over the services that were being put up. Four was rather confused. There did not seem to be any fortune nearby. This must not be a teller about their fortunes then. However...the stars did glitter. Perhaps they were made out of a precious metal. Four walked towards the figures once they reached a lull in their work. Four bowed deeply before raising back up. "We are here in regard to the signage pointing to a fortune teller tent. However, we do not see any fortune, unless of course the glittering stars are interwoven with precious metals. We do apologize if that is the case. We do not wish to disparage your fortune as that may be construed as a demeaning act, which we do not intend." Four said before standing silent before them once more. Their Borg implants still rather visible and clicking ever so slightly. The lights on right side of their head began to brighten as they processed their surroundings and waited for further input.

The black bunny mask turned to face Four, addressing them in a soft, whispery voice as their counterpart turned their own face away to giggle softly at Four's cluelessness. "No," the black bunny confirmed, "there are no precious metals in the stars. We tell of fortune, in the sense of luck. We share insights into your future." They paused, and the white bunny piped up, her voice louder, but equally gentle. "We can't of course guarantee anything, as we cannot travel time. But I promise we are rarely wrong."

Four then seemed immediately hooked. They were able to tell the future? They had insights into it? Were they like their Queen? Able to see across time as if it were a cloth laid out upon a table? Four nodded and bowed their head slightly. They felt it was only appropriate to show them reverence for people with such abilities. "Thank you both for your clarifications. This is very much appreciated. We would be honored if we could entreat you both to share your insights into the future." Four replied seriously, as they began to pull out a bag within their outfit. Four pulled out some latinum from the bag. They made sure to count out how much was required and hand it over to whomever was to take it. "We are unsure if luck is actually real. As we believe it is irrelevant in the scope of most things due to it being a psychosomatic component of many people's perceptions of their lives. It just being a social construct that is pervasive in some cultures." Four replied with a shrug. "We accept the risk of a rare occurrence of failure to predict the future or a false insight of the same nature. Do you both happen to have a statistic regarding your success rates? This may help in our understanding of the probability of an accurate insight or telling. As we typically have different definitions of rare or other descriptive words." Four once done then stood before the two masked figures. Their shoulders back as they looked to them. "We are ready. We shall do whatever is required of us. We do best with clear orders or statements if we are to also facilitate in the process of your tellings or insights. We do not wish to hamper either of your abilities, and if we do we apologize in advance. While we have been connected to one with similar abilities such as yours we are ignorant and incapable of them ourselves." (edited)

"We can't tell you what to believe," the white bunny pointed out, "we can only tell you what we know." They turned to their counterpart, who finished putting the last sign up quickly. "For you, it's free of charge. Your sincerity pleases me," the black bunny declared. "Come inside, we will see what we can find out." At this, the white bunny giggled once more, holding the tent flap open for Four to follow after them. Inside of the tent were more of the stars that had been on the outside of it, though this time they were smaller, and the faint faux oil lamp in the corner made them glow a warm golden colour. There was a rug on the floor, with a small raised table on it. The black bunny sat behind it, motioning for Four to take a seat opposite them. The white bunny meanwhile grabbed a few supplies from the crates that lined the tent walls. "Is there anything you'd like to know in particular?" the black bunny asked.

Four tilted their head at the statement. Confusion etched across their features again. "You can tell us what to believe. That would be entirely permissible as an order or as a suggestion." Four then heard the stipulation. That was rather odd. Even they weren't bound to only speaking of what they knew. The two masked bunnies felt more and more like them by the moment. Four then heard it was free and they were pleasing to them. Four logged this as a partial success for socialization programs five and six. One of the few actual partial successes! Four nodded eagerly. "This is fortuitous that we are able to fulfill our function. We shall enter." Four stared up wide eyed toward the top and looked at the smaller collection of stars. Then the oil lamp, the rug, and the table. Four followed the motion and sat across from the black bunny. "Thank you." Four said before hearing the question. They had so many. Where would the Borg Queen be for the next standard month? Would there be anything perilous that would happen to the station or anyone on it soon that they could learn to plan ahead for? Many questions raced through Four's mind before they settled on one. "Like is irrelevant. We are incapable of preference. However...if we are to give forth a singular something that we find best supports our fulfillment of our primary functions if answered...then it would be...do we ever become better at fulfilling our functions and protocols, whether it be socialization, protection, etc? If so, how do we get better?" Four's face faltered for a moment with a slight twinge of worry. Or...or do we fail? Never being able to be perfect in our duties of service to our Matriarch, our betrothed whom we have not met, or more generally our superiors." Four didn't ask how they will have failed, as that was already clear to them if that were to occur.

The black bunny tilted their head curiously, bringing a hand up to their covered mouth as if to think, while the white bunny placed a jar of colourful rocks, a deck of cards, and a small leather satchel on the table. "We will see," the black bunny said, sharing an unreadable look with the other bunny. Then, they opened the jar of rocks, upending it, and placing it upside down on the table without a single rock falling out. "Please remove the jar, and then wait a few seconds before picking out a rock of your choice." The white bunny nodded at the words, encouraging Four.

Four looked at the jar. They leaned closer as they nodded at the statement. "Yes um...we are unsure of either of your designations, but hopefully honored one will suffice for an honorific. So, yes honored one." Four said before they noticed the jar flip and no rocks fell. Four heard the order and nodded. "Yes, honored one." Four said before placing both of their hands on the jar for a moment, before quickly pulling upwards and all the rocks clattered onto the table. They then placed the jar gently to the side before tapping it to test its integrity, and finding no damage their focus returned to the rocks. A few seconds by their definition was four seconds. "One...two...three..." Four looked around at the rocks. Attempting to find one that they would choose. They decided on a black rock. Onyx in its appearance and with a slight sheen. Four tapped it. "Four." They then picked it up and placed it in the palm of their right hand. Holding their right hand out and palm facing up as the rock sat comfortably still.

The white bunny giggled again, before speaking up for the both of them. "No need to honour us," they said, laughing all the while, "you may call me White, and her Black. Or the other way around. We don't mind." Black nodded along to their words, looking intently at Four's hands as they removed the jar, and picked up a rock. Then, they nodded more insistently, picking up the deck of cards and fiddling with it as White started putting the rocks back into the jar, motioning for Four to put their chosen rock back as well. Then, the lid went back on, and Black put six cards face down on the table. "Pick one, flip it over," she said.

Four tilted their head. "It is our function to honor those who are superior to us. Would it be amenable to call either of you honored one, white, or black? If not, then we shall refer to your names through color of the adorned mask, White." Four said as they then looked down at the next task of the cards. "Six...no middle..." Four said silently before thinking a moment and placing their hand on the fourth card. They then flipped it over.

White gasped softly, while Black only nodded some more. On the card was depicted a large bird of prey, its talons outstretched. "The eagle," Black said matter-of-factly, stating the name of the card. "You are a curious one, friend. You cling to the structures you know, and attempt to fit any new information into it, instead of adapting the structure to new information." Then, White began nodding too, as if suddenly on the same page. "But we think you will soar," they added to Black's story. "The climb up will be tough, but the view will be wonderful." It wasn't a trip to the fortune teller if they didn't at least slightly speak in riddles. At least it seemed to be a positive outcome, as a smile was audible in White's voice.

Four looked down. It was an eagle. An avian species of some sort. Much bigger than the birds within the birdhouses. "We are curious, yes." Four then heard they were called a friend. "We...we are friends?" Four said with a certain almost wishful tone. That they would confirm their question and they didn't miss hear. They then nodded. "The structure is perfect. It is we who are flawed. Why would we adapt what was perfect, and who are we to do so?" Four explained their reasoning before the outcome was explained. They didn't entirely get it though. "We...will fly like the eagle but...choose to climb? That seems rather counterintuitive. Although, perhaps whatever we are to climb stipulates it must be climbed to see such a view, rather than just flying up. A rather odd place it seems..." Four said softly as they considered what was said to them. They still kept their attention to the two though in case there was anything else they were to do next.

"We cannot tell you what to believe, we will only tell you what we know," Black reiterated, and White nodded. They wouldn't be explaining what they had said, that would be for Four to ponder. "And yes, you are our friend. We would consider anyone friends, if they came to talk to us out of their own curiosity," White added, picking up the leather satchel. Out came a little pendant, a bird of prey, not so detailed as to be much more specific, with in its talons a piece of amber, matching Four's eyes quite closely. "A gift. You said you do not believe in luck, but we do, and we hope this gives you some good luck. In fulfilling your goals." White gently picked up and opened one of Four's hands, before closing it around the trinket.

Four nodded and bowed their head. "Yes, of course. While we do not understand we shall facilitate such statements." Four then seemed quite stunned. The softest glimmer of a smile twitched onto Four's face before it faded back to its usual empty look. They felt their hand be picked up and enclosed around the pendant. Four looked even more surprised. They...truly saw that far? Four immediately put on the pendant around their neck. The amber glinted for a moment before Four stood. What they were about to do would most likely be rejected, and they didn't want to give either of their friends a chance to do so. "We...will cherish the gift. Perhaps our beliefs in certain societal constructs needs to be reevaluated...due to your abilities. Who are we to question such insights? We never did before..." Four bowed deeply. "Thank you...our friends...you both have brought us new found confidence. We shall fulfill our goals." Four then placed down one of their latinum bags. They had two, and the one they placed down had about twenty strips of lantium, or roughly one bars worth. They then immediately turned and left. Not allowing either of them to protest. (edited)

The two fortune tellers were shocked by the gesture, and, after breaking out of their stunned state, Black ran after Four, opening the tent flap to yell after them. "Thank you, friend!" rang across the meadow, uncharacteristically loud for the sounds the bunnies usually produced. Heads turned, and Black merely coughed, going back into the tent bashfully.

Vara poked her head in. “Heyo! You lot free?” She was dressed in her thief outfit, long black coat and masquerade mask. She had completely forgotten it was Halloween until yesterday.

"Yes we are!" the white bunny said, looking up from the book they were reading, the black bunny also starting to face Vara from where they were sorting through a collection of pendants and trinkets. "What can we do for you?"

Vara smiled as she moved towards the white bunny. “Cool outfit!” She said as she stepped in. “Well, I was hoping to have my fortune read! Do you need anything specific for that?”

"Not particularly," the white bunny said, as the black bunny moved towards the table, a deck of cards in hand. They took their place opposit the door, kneeling at the table, and invited Vara to sit with a motion of their hand. "Is there something specific you'd like to know?" the white bunny continued, approaching with another set of cards, clearly labelled as a tarot set.

“Ooh, tarot! Classy!” She said as she moved to sit with a small hum. She had something specific she wanted to know, even if she didn’t fully believe in this practice being truthful. “I…..anything really, just in general my future.”

The black bunny nodded. She shuffled the deck she was holding, then spread the cards out over the table, picking out a few cards, studying them, and putting them to the side. "Pick six cards for me, please?" they asked, "Don't look at them, just give them to me."

Vara nodded as she picked out six cards, then handing them back to the teller without looking. “Donezo!”

The black bunny looked at the cards Vara had picked, the white bunny looking over their shoulder and giggling at the cards that were picked. Then, Black put the cards left on the table in a neat pile, and the six cards face down on the table. "Turn two around for me."

Vara’s hearing was damn good, as were most of her senses. She could hear the scream, but it was a Halloween event! Some screaming was to be assumed. She turned the two cards over. “Here.”

The two fortune tellers seemed completely unfazed by the scream too, and instead looked intently at the cards Vara had turned over; the first depicting a golden ring, the second an indistinct potion bottle. "Interesting," the white bunny commented, while the black bunny simply hummed. "You are a person focussed on the physical. Sometimes, it makes you practical, but other times, the lack of tangible results makes you obstinate, and contrary." The white bunny then chimed in. "We will tell you what the future has in store for you. Pick a card, and place it on the table." they said, holding out the deck of tarot cards.

Vara hummed as she took card number 6 and placed it onto the table. “No lies detected.” She said with a hum.

"The Hierophant, reversed," the white bunny announced. The card was turned upside down for Vara, meaning it was facing the two fortune tellers. "You have a distaste for rules and regulations." It wasn't a question. "But your small rebellions cause trouble, for yourself and those around you. We cannot stop you. But your insistence on doing things your own way will get people hurt, and you will have to learn the hard way that some rules exist for a reason." It wasn't said unkindly, in fact, it could even be said that the black bunny had a warm tone of voice as she said it... as if she were trying to comfort Vara before tragedy had even struck.

Vara paused with a hum as she looked at the Black Bunny. “Not surprising I suppose. Any mention in your extra special cards about going to jail?” She asked, with a hint of a nervous huff. She would prefer not to, it was her biggest fear. (edited)

The white bunny giggled at the question. "Nothing so specific, no," they said, "though it could be a possibility. Though, if anything, I foresee a spiritual consequence, rather than a physical one. Perhaps to challenge you even further, since it's not a tangible problem you can fix." Get soulread, idiot.

Vara nodded as she listened to what the woman said, a pang of guilt rushing through her heart before she steadied herself. “Well, thank you ladies! You have been such a pleasure, will that be all for my reading?”

"Yes, unless you have further questions?" It was a possibility, after all, though most people were satisfied having the one question answered.

She was clearly a little rattled by the experience as she put her arms behind her head. “Ah nah, thanks gals. You were a joy.” She said with a forced wink as she ducked out of the room.

Xal saw an Andorian woman ducking out of the tent with a big FORTUNE TELLER sign above it and gave her a smile. "Things go well in there?" They asked her, hovering a few feet outside the entrance.

“Well then!” They said with a small huff, and strode past Vara in their pink heels and into the fortune tellers’ tent. Their eyes lit up as they took in the room.

"Hello," the white bunny said upon his entrance, the black bunny not even having moved from the table yet after Vara left. "What can we do for you?"

"Jolan Tru!" Xal said happily, reaching a well-manicured hand up to twist a stray piece of their straight, black hair. They had a curious expression on their face. "Huh, so you all wear masks?" They asked, not really expecting an answer. "They're cute, I like the bunnies." Xal smiled and took a step closer, peering around at the setup. "Well, darling, I came here to have my fortune told! What do I need to do?"

"Jolan tru," the black bunny responded. "Just sit down here, please." They motioned to the opposite side of the table from where they were sitting, only asking another question once Xal was seated. "Is there anything specific you would like to know about?"

Xal walked over to the chair and sat down gracefully, one long leg crossed atop the other, toes of their foot bobbing up and down as they shook it rhythmically. "Mmm, well..." They looked at each bunny mask quizzically, eyebrows screwed up in scrutiny for a moment. "What do you see in my future at this Starbase?" They asked. That was simple enough, right?

The black bunny nodded, putting their usual deck of cards on the table, then spreading it, as they did for most people. The white bunny meanwhile walked along the crates in the back, as if trying to decide what to subject Xal to. "Pick six cards, please. Do not look at them, simply hand them to me immediately."

Xal watched curiously, still shaking their foot and twirling their hair. When the black bunny laid the cards out, Xal picked six and handed them over to the bunny.

The black bunny looked at the cards, putting the others back into a neat pile with one hand. The white bunny looked at the cards over their shoulder, humming thoughtfully before going back to rummage through their things. "Turn two over," the black bunny said, as soon as they'd spread the six cards out over the table.

“See anything interesting?” They asked, as they tapped the second one from the left and the second one from the right. Balance in everything, of course.

"Very," the white bunny said, their back still turned. The black bunny turned the two cards around. On the left card, it depicted a lightning bolt, not stylised, but instead looking very much like a Lichtenberg figure. The right card depicted a grandfather clock. "I knew it," the black bunny mumbled as she turned the lightning bolt over, and when the other card was turned over too, the white bunny came over to look. "Upheaval is imminent," was the immediate conclusion the white bunny came to. They put a bag of stones on the table, just barely leaving enough room for the black bunny to clean up the cards. "Take one, without looking, and show it to me," was what they said, as the black bunny quietly interjected: "And excitement!"

“Oooooh!” They cooed, the pitch of their voice going up and down with enthusiasm. Their head cocked to the side and they sat up a bit taller in their seat. When the bag of rocks came out, they glanced back and forth between each bunny before leaning forward, reaching out, and averting their gaze. Their slender fingers wrapped around a smooth, obsidian looking, polished rock. It had multiple flat sides and was not perfectly round by any means, but was not angular. It also had pitting in a few spots, where other rocks or water or some such thing had caused eroded spots! They held their hand out to the bunny and opened it, gaze still averted. “Can I look yet?”

"You can," the black bunny confirmed. "I think you should keep this stone, too. It's a protective stone, for keeping the owner safe." The white bunny nodded emphatically, taking the bag away again. "You will encounter a lot of... things, happening, in your future. Both exciting and terrifying. You are strong enough to make it through, though, so keep your head up," they said, never stopping their nodding.

"Oh interesting, it sounds like my life will be full of excitement like you said, dear." Xal mused, glancing at the bunny who had used that word moments ago. When the other bunny said to keep the stone, he wrapped his fingers around it again and pulled his hand toward his body and situating his hand and his new rock in his pocket. For good luck, of course. "Why thank you, loves!" He said. "I will, don't you worry your pretty little heads." Things in his future, hm? What ever could that mean? No matter, he'd been through quite a lot before, and would continue to make it through, no matter what. Xal smiled, sparkly white teeth glinting in the light, and giggled. "My dears I appreciate your honesty. Is there anything else? Aside from your payment, of course."

"No, unless you have another question," the black bunny said easily. "About your future, not in general," the white bunny added.

"Hm, no I don't think so! Thanks for your time, darlings." And with that they stood up and dug in their other pocket for the payment, procuring whatever money they needed to pay for the cost of the reading. "Thanks again, dears!" They said, and made their way out of the tent happily, still holding the rock in their pocketed hand as they walked further into the circus.

Terahl had been fucking around for the most part. He'd mostly been weaving in and out of the crowd, grabbing fair food and being careful not to spill on his dress, watching the group of yellow-clad officers flit around like canaries with a muted sort of curiosity. The fortune telling tent had caught his eye, but it'd been one person after the other piling in, which..fair enough, it was a busy circus, and plenty of people were curious about their future. "Got room for one more?" He poked his head in.

"Of course," the white bunny said, stopping in their tracks where they'd been pacing around the tent a little between people, while the black bunny was repositioning herself, now sitting on her butt behind the low table as opposed to her knees. "What would you like to know?"

"Let's see..." He considered the question for a brief pause. "There are plenty of things I could ask, huh. It's a good thing I'd already decided." Terahl squatted, unsure if he was allowed to sit. "I think I wanna know more about what to do next. General future stuff, I guess, but if you've got anything you think I should know."

"Sit, sit," the black bunny said quietly, picking her signature deck up again, spreading the cards out over the table. The white bunny meanwhile resumed walking around the space, though this time with a purpose, picking up certain items before putting them down again, as if considering what to pick this time. "Pick six cards, and hand them to me without looking at them," the black bunny resumed.

Terahl sat as requested, plucking six with careful consideration; a pattern, skipping two and taking one until he had six, passing them over to the black bunny. He even made a show of covering his eyes, just to be sure.

The black bunny looked at the cards, then efficiently sorted the others into a neat pile before putting all six face down, receiving a hit to the shoulder from their counterpart when the other bunny wasn't allowed a look. "Turn two over on the table."

Terahl chuckled at the slight horsing around, plucking two from the pile and flipping them over. "Thank you," he said, perhaps a little too soon. Regardless of his fortune.

The black bunny quickly cleared the other cards, as if to tease their counterpart who now couldnt look at the cards anymore. On the cards Terahl turned around, a tortoiseshell cat and a white rose were depicted. "You are a charming person, which will bring you good fortune. You will meet a lot of people who will be taken with you, which is a boon you should cherish." The black bunny seemed satisfied with the cards he'd turned around. The white bunny took that time to spread a few tarot cards out in front of him, not on the table, just in their hands. "Pick one."

Aw! He cracked a huge smile at the cards calling him charming. "Well, I'm not complaining about that," he joked, picking a card as instructed. A reading and a show! Their messing with eachother was very funny to watch.

"Oohh, lucky boy," the white bunny cooed as Terahl pulled The Lovers from their spread. "You will be making a lot of connections in the future, which will help you grow," the black bunny said, their face turning up slightly, an eyebrow raise at their counterpart perhaps invisible, but certainly noticeable in their manner.

Lucky boy indeed. Holding himself just a little higher, Terahl hummed, still smiling. "I see. Well, that makes me feel at least a little bit better, if the cards are in my favor. I was half expecting an untimely and terrible death," he posed as another silly joke. He had been told that before, though!

"If that is in your future, it is far enough away that we cannot see it," the black bunny said dryly, which earned them another hit to the shoulder. "We don't foresee any such negative things coming your way," the white bunny corrected, eyebrow raising right back at their counterpart from behind the mask.

Terahl laughed, passing their payment over. "Thank you for the reading. Is there anything else you need from me?"

"No, unless you have another question," the black bunny said, as the white bunny gratefully accepted the payment.

"Nope, that's all I've got." Terahl collected his skirt and stood up, lowering in a cute little curtsy. "Thank you very much!"