Possessive Behavior

Melissa awoke with a start.

Where was she?

What happened?

Everything was foggy....

Before she did anything else she closed her eyes and tried to remember.

A clear mind was the most important asset one could have in an emergency.

She remembered exiting the bus.

Work had taken a bit longer than usual today.

Yes, because she had to prepare. Now that everything was sorted and ready she just had to bring the briefcase home and call Stewart.

Then everything would be alright.

Finally.

But...there was another reason she needed to hurry home....What was it......?

Oh yeah! The plumber!

The issue with her piping had taken a lot longer to fix than she thought, so she paid the plumber extra to stay as long as needed to complete the job by tonight.

She just got a message that he was about to wrap up.

If she hurried now she could just pay him in person instead of risking getting her bank account stolen by a Technomage or whatever these weirdos were called.

The chance any digital money transfer could compromise your account was nearly 25%. Not a risk she was willing to take. And she did not have time to pay in person tomorrow as she had a flight to catch in the morning.

So she had texted him to wait while on the bus and hurried home as soon as it arrived.

But when she pulled out her phone again to check the time, she saw....herself. From behind.

Yes! And when she turned around....there was.....someone.

They were too far away at first.

But they waved.

It was....strange, to say the least, but with Mages and Empowered things like this were much less rare than she'd like.

So she hurried along.

But when she passed an empty electronics shop...every appliance with a screen flashed on, showing the same picture, moving toward her.

Right, and that was when she ran.

Her house wasn't too far away, she'd make it in no time if she really booked it.

But when she glanced back at her phone, her hope was dashed.

Once again, she looked at herself. But this time from the front.

Raising her head confirmed her fear.

The thing was up ahead of her, waving again.

That's when her memories turned dimmer.

She...tried to flee down an alleyway. But she was cut off at every turn.

It crept closer and closer, until.....

Until she woke up here.

She was standing in an empty room. Nothing but a table with two chairs in front of her.

When she turned around, she saw a door.

This could be a trap.

But it was also her only means of egress.

She reached out to grab the knob, and...

"Please. Sit down. Make yourself comfortable."

The deep voice chilled her to her bones, but before she could do anything she suddenly found herself sitting at the table.

Opposite her sat a...peculiar, very tall man.

His outfit was very showman-like.

A flashy cape, a tophat....and a simple wooden theater comedy mask.

The top half looked fairly standard, but it narrowed as it went down, leaving the edges of the man's own mouth visible behind the grin of the mask.

"W-who are you? What do you want from me?" Melissa blurted out at the stranger.

He chuckled.

"I'm flattered you don't recognize me. It is oh so much more fun to perform for a fresh audience." he said jovially.

Or rather....his mask did.

"They call me the Odd Gentleman, because I am both those things, though not in equal measure. All I wish to do Is perform a reading for you. It's that simple. The sooner you comply, the sooner you'll get back to whatever no doubt immensely important nonsense you were up to before my generous invitation."

The Odd Gentleman.....that name did sound familiar. All she could scrape together from her memory was that he was a Villain, and mostly harmless.

And maybe something about divination? She wasn't sure.

"The rules are simple. You draw ten cards from my collection. I will reveal them one by one and read their meaning for you. It shouldn't take long. It never does."

Melissa looked at him, then around again. No escape. Not from someone capable of his movement. Refusing wouldn't get her anything. Humoring him at least held the chance he'd stay true to his word and let her go.

"A-Alright......Sure. Why not?"

Both of his mouths grinned wider and from below the table he produced a beautiful deck of cards. It shined in the dim light like polished glass, the card backs a mesmerizing swirl of blue and green.

He threw the cards in the air and almost as soon as he scattered them they began flying back together in a seemingly random order and placed themselves on the table.

"Please, draw ten. But don't look at them yet. Arrange them into two-card piles in any combination you desire, then place them before me."

Hesitantly, she did as he asked, her eyes unconsciously flickering between the towering villain and the cards.

After she was done, he laid his hand on the one farthest to the left.

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"Each pile starts with a Descriptor and is then followed by a Diviner. This card signifies your job. Your chosen profession."

With a little flourish, he turned it around, revealing the breathtakingly designed front. The art reminded Melissa of a stained-glass window in a church.

It depicted a person standing before an open book, arms in the air, holding a little stick while musical notes flew next to its head.

The lettering at the bottom read VIII - The Conductor.

"Ah, The Conductor. Playing her little orchestra, dictating the way the music is performed."

Melissa looked at the little figure.

"It's a woman?"

The Odd Gentleman chuckled.

"Just like you. If drawn as the Descriptor for the profession, the Conductor signifies a leading role. You are in charge of quite a few people, or at the very least your decisions have great influence on the work other people do."

She nodded slowly. This could've been a lucky shot, a coincidence, but who knew what kind of abilities this freak had at his disposal.

"That's correct." she said coldly.

"Of course it is. Now, let's take a little look into your future."

With these words, he turned over the second card.

It showed what looked like the Tower of Light, crumbling. Fire shot out of the wreck, engulfing several people.

Unlike the other card though, this one was upside down.

"What does that mean?" Melissa blurted out, harder than she intended. She could feel her pulse quickening.

"Oh, don't you worry. The Calamity is usually not a good card, t'is true, but luckily for you, it was drawn in reverse."

He waited for her to make a comment, but she continued to stare at him, silently demanding an explanation.

"The Calamity in reverse when drawn to divine a job means one of two things. Either you will advance greatly in the profession you currently hold, or you will rise to a brand new one, one giving you more money, fulfillment, or whatever you desire from your work than your old one ever did. In short, whatever happens, it will be the best possible option."

She could feel her heartbeat calming down and let out a quiet sigh.

"That's....good to hear."

If this guy's predictions were legit, then that meant everything was going according to plan. She couldn't help but let a smirk show on her lips.

"Oh, I wouldn't celebrate yet. As you can see, the faces of these cards are blue. That means they are untouched by fate. They can change. You having knowledge of your future could lead you to become cocky, arrogant, and lead you to fail where you would have succeeded. Keep that in mind."

Melissa nodded once, then twice.

"Yes. Of course. I will. Please, continue."

That really went without saying. Even if there was no possible avenue of failure, she would only let her guard down when it was all over.

"With pleasure. This next pile concerns your wealth. Let us see what it has to say."

The first card depicted a person with a bow and arrow, aiming at what looked to be a six-legged crow or raven.

"The Hunter. Interesting. A woman of single-minded pursuit. It tells me nothing of the money you do possess, but it lets me know that accumulating it is a strong desire. She also signifies that whatever level of financial security you seek, you have not yet reached it. But is it because of need or greed? I can't tell. From the card, that is."

The blonde crossed her arms.

"I don't appreciate your insinuation here. But I'm very curious what the future holds in that regard. Could you read the next card, please?"

The mask giggled and the man chuckled as he did as she asked.

The second card in the pile showed a dragon-like being coiled around a collection of gold and jewelry.

"That one is rather on the nose."

The Odd Gentleman laughed, and so did the dragon on the card.

"When drawn to divine Wealth, I have to agree that The Hoard leaves little to the imagination. I think we both know what this means. You will successfully gather the money that you seek to possess. There is no doubt in my mind. Congratulations."

This wasn't too surprising to her. She had worked for two decades on this plan and it was finally about to go off. Failure was never an option.

Still, it was nice to have it confirmed.

"That is good to hear. So far, this isn't going too bad. I shouldn't have bothered trying to flee from you."

He shook his head in a strange rhythm.

"You'll never know what the cards have in store. Let us continue."

With care and precision, he turned the first card of the third pile.

The art showed a person in a cloak, striding through the desert storm with a long walking stick.

"This round concerns your family, whether it be blood, adopted or chosen. But I see there is nothing to talk about. The Wanderer strides the wasteland on her lonesome, either not bothering with or unable to find or bear the company of others. I would assume a woman of your standing has many associates, but it seems none close enough to count as family. How sad."

A single, painted-on tear ran down the villain's mask, but his smile never faltered.

"I don't shun people. I just don't bother cultivating these kinds of relationships. Maybe soon. When I have more free time." she said, eyeing the second, still-covered card.

Without further comment, he turned it over. What greeted her was a thin, haggard person, this one too on a walking stick though it was much smaller. Young children crowded around them.

"The Elder, set in her ways. Don't let the art fool you, there are no children in your future. The Elder as a Diviner signifies the same in all columns. There is no change to your situation. You will stay this way, forever. I'm so very sorry." he giggled.

Her brows furrowed. For the first time since the actual reading had started, she felt...angry..?

Annoyed?

She couldn't even tell herself.

"Don't be. You said it yourself. It's not set in stone yet."

Yes. She would do something about this. She'd have to drastically rearrange her post-plan schedule, but that'd be a cinch.

She couldn't let herself end like this.

Maybe she should be grateful to this strange man.

Without this, who knows what would've happened? Or wouldn't have?

"I wish you the best of luck." he said as he turned over the next card.

It was blank.

Melissa was taken aback a bit. She leaned forward to get a better look and something appeared on the blue space. Her face. Though not as it was. Instead, she was depicted in the same stained-glass style as the rest of the card art.

"We need not go on with this pile. The Mirror, when drawn as a Descriptor, signifies that both cards of the last column apply to this one as well. If it had been The Shifter, it would only have been one. But alas. The Wanderer and Elder for this one too."

"And what aspect of life does this pile apply to?"

His eyes seemed like they were glowing for a moment.

"Love."

Her fists clenched.

"Let's move on to the last one."
.

The giant laughed again before turning the first card of the last pile over. "I live to serve."

The picture on the front was that of a little girl, running in front of a house, scissors held aloft in her left hand.

"The last pile concerns your health, and its Descriptor is The Youth. When drawn in this manner, it signifies a life without major health problems, no chronic diseases, no mental disorders, a clean bill. But it also shows a certain level of....recklessness. Be it alcohol, smoking, unprotected sex with strangers, stress, an overindulgence of food, or placing yourself in potentially dangerous situations. It means you are playing with fire."

Melissa nodded slowly.

"Yes...two of these things are spot on. I do worry sometimes, but.....I...........just flip the last card."

She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was at the edge of her seat here. Her health had always been of great concern to her, but there were some risk factors that were simply unavoidable in her field.

The last card of the reading depicted a heavily armored person, balancing themselves on their sword as they approached a hut. Three figures, one big and two small, were running up to them in the distance. Arrows could be seen sticking out of the heavily scratched and dented armor.

"Ah, The Warrior Returning Home. After fighting bravely in the war, this lass finally found her way back to the ones she loved. When drawn here, it signifies a great struggle with health in your future. Something harrowing, potentially traumatizing, that will take a great toll on you. But in the end...you will be okay. It will all work out in your favor."

Melissa swallowed heavily.

As soon as she returned from wherever this place was, she would throw away all of her cigarettes. No excuses this time.

"I....thank you. I will....I appreciate what you have done for me today. You said you are the Odd Gentleman, right? I'll remember you. I'll pay you back."

She was going to do some research on him first. If his predictions, or readings or whatever, had a good track record of coming true, then she would stay true to her word. Being saved from a potential life of loneliness as well as cancer was something worthy of being rewarded.

"Oh, no need, no need. I don't decide your future. I simply read it as I see it. The only reason I chose you was a hunch."

"Still.....I will repay my debts. But...I really need to go home now. I have some important things to take care of."

She really hoped the damn plumber waited.

He got up, his chair vanishing as he did, and took a bow.

"Of course, of course. Let us...."

Before he could finish his sentence though, something happened.

A red glow emanated from the warrior on the table.

To Melissa's horror, it changed right before her eyes into another familiar card.

"Oh dear. The Calamity. In the upright position this time. And red to boot." the villain said with his usual glee.

"W-what does that mean?" Melissa said loudly.

Almost too loudly.

Did she yell?

"It means Milady of Fate has taken an interest in you. And I fear it is not a positive one. Look at your hand."

She did, and what she saw confused her even further.

Some kind of red thread was tied around her fingers. One string of it led through the door's keyhole outside, the other into her own purse.

"What is happening?! What are these?!?"

She desperately tried to tug at them but her hand simply faded through them.

"This is your new fate, as decreed by Milady. We can only see them because she allows us to. I can read it if you want. Your fate."

Not knowing what else to do, she thrust her arm in his direction wordlessly, her eyes pleading for....help? Relief? Something.

The Odd Gentleman reached out slowly and touched his finger to her thread.

"Yeeeesssss, I can see it." the man almost moaned.

Not the mask.

The wooden mouth was clamped shut in a sharp-toothed grin.

"You are not the only one whose Fate was changed. Right now, at your home, someone who was going to fix something for you flawlessly will now accidentally damage a gas pipe. It will not break right then. But it will be damaged enough that it will split the very second he leaves your house. Less than a minute after that you will go for a smoke, hoping to relax, when you and everything you've worked for will go up in flames. How delicious. Milady truly is a woman of culture."

It was as if Lightning had struck her.

"I....I just won't go home then."

The mask rolled its eyes and began speaking again.

"If you were to do that you would simply die in another way at the same time. Your end is preordained. There is no changing Fate. But I have a feeling it will all go exactly as I described."

She took a step back, breathing heavily.

"I-it won't."

"It will. You see, I have a reputation out there. A reputation for being....shall we say, non-lethal? Officially, my predictions never resulted in death, which gives me a certain amount of leeway with Heroes and the public that I find to be quite useful. So in cases like yours, I have to take some measures to prevent my reputation from being tarnished. I'm sure a woman like you can understand."

Something ran down Melissa's cheek as she pressed her back to the door. She still knew fleeing was pointless. She couldn't escape someone who could teleport.

"What are you going to do."

"Don't worry." the towering figure said as it crept closer. "It won't hurt a bit."

-----------------------------

Melissa awoke with a start, leaning against the bus stop.

Damn. She must've been more tired than she thought.

There was something in the back of her mind, something important practically screaming at her in her mind to remember, please remember I beg of you oh god you must remember!

"Oh yeah!" she murmured and began hurrying down the street to her home.

"The plumber!"