Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays. -Sun Tzu's The Art of War, on Waging War * * * * * * * "So, you've told them?" "They know enough." "What about the girl?" A pause. "They are her allies... her friends. It may be tough for them to obey, even through the Bond." "Hmm. Are you sure you're not just being sympathetic due to your connection to her?" "I only act when necessary, to give advice and aid." "Whatever works." Laughter. "Just another thing to work around. I asked for a challenge." "I would offer you good luck, but..." "No need for luck. Thanks for the help." Hermit shook his head. Tapping his staff to the floor of Attorney Rustom Cutterson Date-Smith's office, the ancient monk disappeared. "Definitely a challenge," the King of Blades trailed as his eyes slowly swept the room once, letting his gaze pass through the many different swords that decorated the walls. "Perhaps," he continued, slowly walking forward until he stood facing the sword mounted directly behind his table, "So many uncertainties, so many obstacles in our ambition to break the Shackles and claim Tower... I might end up playing my Trump Card, after all. Right, my friend?" The Sword of Might, an unremarkable long sword with a silver hilt kept in a scabbard encrusted with twenty-two gems, glowed. * * * * * * * Arcana an Improfanfic started by Scott Schimmel Chapter 51 Reflection Play written by Signus Megido * * * * * * * Chris Forrester yawned as he sat up on his bed. "Man, now that was some strange dreams I had last night," he said to himself as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "I wonder what 'Su-chan and the others would make of them...?" He fingered the crystal pendant around his neck as he stood. "When did I put this back on?" He wondered while he slowly headed towards the bathroom. The brief cold shower and the hot tub turned his thoughts to other things. "There are four suits in a deck of cards," he said aloud, "and I am the King of Pentacles, like what 'Su-chan said. I think that's the old name for Diamonds. I wonder what the other suites are like." He toweled himself off and headed back to his room to change. "In some ways, the past few days felt more like I'm part of some sort of bizarre game, like in all those weird local shows. Maki is right, I really have a lot to learn. At least 'Su-chan is there." He checked his reflection in the mirror, grooming himself until he was satisfied with what he saw. At first he thought of leaving the crystal pendant, then thought better of it. The smell of breakfast assaulted him as he walked into the dining room. Francine was seated with a young local girl and an older man whom Chris had never met before. On the table was what looked like some sort of fruit and vegetable salad, although the yellowish substance coating the food could be ice cream or curry - yet another cooking disaster, Chris guessed. Next to the bowl of whatever was a plate of irregularly- sliced bread. "Good morning, Chris!" Francine greeted her nephew warmly. "How are you feeling today?" "Good morning, Auntie," Chris replied. "I feel fine, I guess... Is something wrong?" "You came in very late last night, looking pale and drunk," Francine explained. "I was worried something bad has happened to you." "Really?" Chris asked, surprised. He tried to recall the events from last night. "Yes, I did come home late..." he agreed. "The details are kind of fuzzy right now, though... I guess it's not important right now." "See? I told you, Francine dear," the older man said mildly, "you shouldn't be so protective towards the kids. Your nephew seems to be able to take care of himself." "Henry!" Francine exclaimed. Seeing Chris' quizzical expression, she added, "Chris, this is Yuki, one of our neighbors, and Henry, an old friend of mine." "Hello," Chris greeted Henry, who nodded in reply. "Where's Uncle Will?" "He left early," Francine replied. "He said he had to go on an important business meeting." "Not again," Chris said, snapping his fingers. "I guess I'll have to be going now if I don't want to be late..." "What about breakfast?" Francine asked. Chris managed not to shudder at the sight. "I can't stay long," he said. "I'll grab something to eat on the mall." Halfway out the door, he added, "I was wondering if you got the short end of the stick when you married Uncle Will. I guess you have had some fun behind his back too, huh, Auntie?" "CHRIS!" Chris ducked the frying pan thrown at him, laughing as he ran out the house. * * * * * * * "He looks quite a spry young lad," Henry commented idly when Chris was a block away from the Forrester residence. "He will go far - if you let him, of course." Francine covered her eyes with the scarf around her neck. "Nothing seems to be different about him." Henry chuckled darkly as he slowly floated upwards, his body flipping around until he was facing upside-down at World. "Do not doubt the capabilities of a fellow Trump, my dear World?" He leveled a silver string, which trailed out the house, for emphasis. "Rest assured your request was applied on the boy." The World pursed her lip. "His name," she spoke, "is Chris." "Of course, of course," Hanged Man said dismissively, "that is all fine and good elsewhere. For us Arcana though, mundane sentiments have no bearing. You of all people should know that." He turned towards Fortune, who was seated unmoving on the table. "Now then, shall we begin?..." He did not see World frown. * * * * * * * "Francine's seeing that jerk again," Will growled as he stepped on the accelerator a little more forcefully than usual. "Damn it all... I thought he wouldn't be bothering since we came here, away from his sphere of influence." Despite nearly going past the speed limit, Will smoothly navigated Victory through traffic without even trying. There were more pressing matters he had been contemplating on. "I wonder... Maybe that girl knows something. But what?" He smiled as a thought came to his mind. "Yes, I know... I'll read her memories when I get home. It's been a while since I've dreamwalked through other people's heads. Yeah, I know I haven't been using that ability for a long time. Even before I got married and settled down. Looks like I'll have to dig up more of the past I've buried than I cared to or wanted. But hey, I've got you right? Don't worry about it." He paused. "Or maybe I'm just overreacting, and she did get herself burned. Yeah, right, as if Francine's that clumsy. It must be him, I'm almost sure of it." The reflection of the ethereal woman on the rear-view mirror looked at Will worriedly. * * * * * * * The Chairman of the Majority Party stepped out of his limousine. He walked with purposeful strides towards his office. Will was leaning on the wall of the building besides the entrance, casually smoking a cigarette. He smirked as he saw Oda coming, and flicked away the lighted cigarette. "Hey." Oda's face remained impassive, his eyes closed to slits. "So," Will said, not even put off by Oda's reaction. "How'd the elections go, Mister Chairman?" "The people shall choose the candidate who is just," Oda replied cryptically. Will shrugged. "It's all about the politics game. Pretty confident in yourself, aren't you?" "Victory favors the righteous." "Ah, she prefers guys with guts and initiative," Will chuckled. "Guys who don't mind getting their hands dirty, if you know what I mean." Oda frowned. "Crime does not pay." "Who said anything about committing a crime? It's only a little bit of monetary persuasion, just like the way you wanted it." "The ends do not justify the means." "Or so they say. By the way, I'd like to have a little bonus along with the usual." "The Law does not excuse those who defy them with impunity," Oda warned. Will snorted. "Go ahead and be that way, Mister Chairman. As long as I get my cut, we'll all benefit. It's just a business I'm running here, nothing personal." "Unless you repent and mend your ways, this 'partnership' you claim we have is now over," Oda said. Without waiting for Will's reply, he walked into the building. Will frowned. * * * * * * * The past few days had been a confusing time for Hanako. Their Queen had been coerced by a rival Court to ally with them, which wasn't so bad, but Maki was be very unhappy with the details of the deal that she took her frustrations out on her Court. Just before she could deal serious injury to Atsuko-chan, Natsu's cousin intervened. It turned out that he was the King of Pentacles, and therefore had a more higher position than Maki. Even Maki had to accede to his wishes. He wasn't a bad sort of guy, but he looks even more lost than Hanako herself was until recently. Hanako was worried that Maki might try something drastic, which could end up hurting everyone. She was so preoccupied in her thought that she didn't where she was going until she accidentally bumped the person in front of her. "Excuse me," she bowed apologetically. "Where what do we have here?" The burly young man leered down at here. "Hey gang, look what I found." Hanako suddenly found herself surrounded by five men. She recognized them as one of the gangs who hung around the malls and back alleys of the city. "My, what a cute girl," one of the gang members said as he leered at her. "So what's a pretty girl like you doing alone in a place like this?" The first guy, who must be the gang's leader, asked her. She crossed her arms around her reflexively. When she was still a street urchin foraging for food, no one would give, dressed in her old ratty clothes, a second glance. Now she wore more presentable dresses, and so people began to notice her. "I'm just passing by. Please excuse me." "We can't do that," the gang leader replied. "A cute girl like you shouldn't be walking alone in dangerous places like this. You never know what would happen with all the dangerous people nowadays. Right, guys?" The rest of the gang made various noises of agreement. "It's okay, I can manage," she said. The leader laughed, followed by the gang. "You don't get it, do you girl?" He asked between guffaws. "You needed to be escorted around if you want to be safe in places like these." "I don't want to go with you," she protested, backing away. One of the gang members grabbed her shoulders from behind her. "Who said you have a choice?" He chortled. "Hey, she feels nice." Hanako shuddered as the man leaned closer to her. She could smell his fetid breath and rank sweat from beside her. "She smells nice too," he added. The sudden glare of spotlights stopped the men from going any further. They all turned their heads towards the source of the light, and saw a strange-looking vehicle barreling towards them. Hanako recognized the jeep that was honking angrily at the gathering. "Let's get out of here!" One of the men shouted. They all scattered, leaving Hanako alone. The ATV screeched, braking right next to Hanako. The red-haired man at the driver's seat practically jumped off the vehicle and held her close. "Are you all right?" He asked her gently. "I'm fine, Will," Hanako replied, feeling secure in his arms. "Good thing I decided to cruise around a bit before I went home," Will said, as he released her from the hug but still held her close. "You want a ride?" "Yes," Hanako said, looking down shyly, "if it's not too much trouble." "Of course it's not," Will assured her, patting his jeep. "Right, Victory?" The reflection of the ethereal woman on the shiny surface of the jeep rolled her eyes upwards in exasperation. * * * * * * * "Everything is proceeding smoothly," Justice said, nodding with satisfaction. "The balance must be maintained," Death moaned. "The Courts are divided in half." Justice motioned towards the cards scattered on the table. "Between them lay the Tower Reversed." "The righteous shall prevail." "To protect the ties that bound us? Or to break the chains that imprison us?" "We the Trumps hold the keys to success." "On one side lie Pentacles, whose Queen seeks to be Empress. Beside them lie Blades, whose King aspires to be Emperor. Opposite them lie Cups. Their King protects the Shackles of Tower out of spite for their humiliation at the hands of us Trumps." "The Cups have the advantage, for the Trumps gathered around Tower Reversed are sure to cast their lot along with them." "Not so." Justice laid the Strength card among the Blades. "Strength chose to fight against order." "And the others?" Justice laid the Chariot card beside the World card and the Fortune card. "Fate is a fickle mistress, but the World is both prize and price of Victory." "Families must scatter and divide else they grow stagnant and die." The Hanged Man card was laid among the Pentacles. "Yet family is the most prized, and is the most at stake." "Can they pay the price?" A chess piece - a pawn - was placed atop the High Priestess card. "The conclusion depends on unforeseen circumstances, not predestination. Unforeseen, yet just." "We shall see." Another chess piece - a queen - was placed atop the Magician card, which was laid beside the Fool card. The Devil card followed, placed between the High Priestess and the Magician. "This is the age of Redemption," Justice proclaimed, "and the debts owed by those that came before will be paid by their descendants. The guilty ones will be punished. Judgment will descend, and be pleased with the Spread. The Dreamer will then decide our future direction." He laid the Judgment card at the center of the table, right next to Tower and the Emperor. Death said nothing as he studied the King of Wands card in his hand. * * * * * * * "It's been a while," Temperance greeted his old friend. "How is your retirement?" Hermit nodded back as he took a seat opposite Temperance. "Quite all right, sensei. You're looking fit as well." "The years have been kind to me," Temperance said, signaling for the waitress. They continued after the waitress received their orders. "So, not to beat around the bush..." Temperance began as always. "What's going on?" "Whatever do you mean?" "You know what I mean. Is she ready?" Temperance asked. Hermit paused. "It depends on how Magician can deal with High Priestess. I was wondering about Hanged Man, myself." "He has his own plans, as well as the rest of them," Temperance sighed. "Pity none of them cares to listen to us." "None of them do anymore," Hermit said. "The youth of today have no heed of wisdom and guidance, much less from old men." "That's right." "But sometimes insight comes not from lessons bestowed by the elders, but from experience with the youth. The Dreamer will find what he is seeking with those of his age." "That's also right. Pity about Hierophant." "Yes, it is. Unavoidable, but still... It was only a matter of time before the Prophecy is fulfilled, after all." "Speaking of which..." Temperance said. "Should I make my presence known?" Hermit chuckled. "Temperance taking sides in the upcoming conflict? That's totally unheard of." "Ah, but noninvolvement is also a side," Temperance clarified. "And it's the most convenient one at the moment." Hermit nodded. "I wonder... Will he be joining us?" Temperance glanced at the two other empty seats on the table. "I think so. We'll have to wait for a while." On one of the seats lay the Death card. "We have lived in solitude for decades. What is a few hours for us?" Outside, Victory passed by the cafe the two men were in. * * * * * * * Kotori knocked on the door to Chairman Oda's office cautiously. "Excuse me, Chairman?" "Yes?" The door slowly opened by itself. "Come in, Kotori." Kotori stepped inside, not noticing the fact that no one opened the door for her. "We've received the results of the votes." "And?" Oda's face was neutral as always, his eyes remaining closed. "Congratulations, sir." "Thank you. Is there anything else?" Kotori was unnerved with the calm and casual way Oda received the news. Especially since he kept his eyes closed the whole time. "Um... That's all, Prime Minister Oda." Oda nodded. "Very well. Thank you, Kotori." * * * * * * * And somewhere else, Hanged Man smiles. * * * * * * * ____________________ Author's Skribulous: Oops, I did it again. Read my notes in Chapter 41 for my excuses. Again. Read my notes in Chapter 45 for my apologies. Again. Yeah, yeah... I'm a horrible, horrible person... Opening scene borrowed from Chapter 50. Enjoy. -Signus Megido http://hello.to/maramala April 13, 2001