fandomhigh | Destiny & Free Will [Monday, Period 4]

The students should have gotten a ~~handwaved~~ notice to dress nicely and meet outside the school, where they would find Ghanima and Trebor waiting for them next to a portal.

"Right." Reaching in her coat pocket, Ghanima retrieved a deck of the Dune Tarot and fanned the cards at them. "Step right up, and ask me what today holds for you. Through there -" she gestured at the portal with the cards, " - is Monaco. Home to some of the most wonderful casinos this Earth holds. I am giving each of you fifty dollars. Your mission is to take the future I forsee, and try to beat it. If I tell you that you are destined to win big, sit outside and give away money. If I say you fail, go cheat the casino by whatever means you choose. The one rule is not to get caught, because I am not paying for bail. I want to see how many of you manage to flaunt destiny."

"After all," she grinned humorlessly, flipping up the Hanged Man with ease. "Navigating the future is a family talent. Who wants to try and beat the oracular Atreides?"

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Cards, huh? Liliana had indeed dressed up in order to maximize her chances of winning.

Or losing, she supposed.

...Really, Liliana was dressed in order to maximize her ability to cheat.

A good player of the game maximized all their advantages!

"You came prepared for battle," Ghanima said approvingly, as she let the cards fly through her hands. "Let us see what weapons fate would give you."

The first card snapped to her hands. "Your first possible future: Abundance, reversed," she said, looking at the upside-down card. "A time of shallow overindulgence, followed depletion. The successful but utterly unfulfilling conclusion of a matter. May indicate problems prematurely dismissed or a victory claimed before it is certain."

"The second road is the King of Swords." She held up the card. "The essence of air, such as a clear blue sky. Unwavering ethics and indisputable authority. An incorruptible judge, whose devotion to the law cannot be swayed by emotion or material concerns. Perfect clarity of thought, directness of action, and eloquence of speech."

~~Hrm. Interesting. For someone who came prepared to cheat.~~

"Now, let's see what draws you to that first future," she continued, setting the second card aside to pull the third. "Ruin, also reversed. The darkness before the dawn. An end to suffering, leading to spiritual transformation. A crushing and seemingly total defeat that hides within it the seeds of final victory. Ultimate knowledge gained through ultimate sacrifice." She set it down atop the Abundance card. "An interesting combination."

Ghanima pulled the next card, humming thoughtfully as she looked at it. "The Moon, reversed, leads you towards the second road," she mused. "Clarity, control and peace in troublesome times. Increased psychic abilities. Temptations, small problems and minor setbacks overcome. The dawning of a new day."

She tapped it with her fingers for a moment before setting it down on the King of Swords. "I would say you should pay special attention to your intuition. If your inner voice speaks unexpectedly, listen."

"Finally, we have the critical factor -- pivot point that will close the gate of the crossroads behind you, once you have chosen a road. Page of Wands -- the essence of fire behaving as earth, such as wood or coal. The surprising appearance of a new passion, or an adventurer who blazes through life, acting as a catalyst that others may harness. The intense enthusiasm and childlike imagination that fuels any new venture, needing only the application of mind and material to make it a success. Inner fire that can drive away fear and replace it with fury." Ghanima raised an eyebrow at Liliana. "Last time I pulled that one for myself was right before I had Trebor, but that is not quite right...something is here, but not that."

Ghani closed her eyes, letting her mind empty and listening to the Other Voices moving within her as Reverend Mother upon Reverend Mother spoke through her. "Watch those around you," she said absently, her blue-on-blue eyes unfocused when she reopened them. "Inner fire can drive to new heights, or burn to cinders, or both. Watch for the catalyst."

She blinked a few times, coming back to herself, before smiling at the other woman. "There you go. Two paths, two driving motivations, one swinging gate. Chose one and make it your destiny, or flaunt both." Ghanima gestured towards the portal. "Whichever you decide, go forth to victory."

Liliana's face went on an interesting journey through that. Unfettered amusement at 'unwavering ethics' and 'incorruptible judge.' A twitch and then a slight sneer at 'psychic abilities.' Widening eyes and a slight grimace at the mention of Trebor - not for the boy himself; he was quite acceptable for, you know, a child - but motherhood was not a path down which Liliana cared to journey. A quick flash of relief when Ghanima said it was not that.

Though, that would be quite an easy destiny to flaunt, considering.

"So, to thwart, I need simply assure myself of abundance or waver some ethics?" She smiled. "I look forward to doing both."

"I look forward to seeing you prove me wrong," Ghanima promised, sweeping the cards back up into her hands. "If you can."

Destiny & Free Will [Monday, Period 4]

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!

Re: Activity: Get Your Future!