Street where the riches of ages are sold (OPEN)

[kleptofaeniac]

A: Barnet

Kenzi and Jennifer weren't friends by any stretch of the word. Acquaintances was a closer definition but even then, they didn't run in the same circles. The only reason she even knew Jennifer was the girl found dead in Barnet was she might... be following police intel. For a friend.

It was weird for her to be doing something that wasn't outright for her own self interest but it was shockingly helpful. After all, once she heard the description of the Jane Doe it was only a matter of time before her research and connections (however small they might be) told her one thing.

Jennifer - a Circle Midnight witch - was dead, killed by someone invested in the Redbright takeover in Barnet. Kenzi hoped that nobody from Circle Daybreak, The Night Council, or any vampires would go where Jennifer lived and take things. She didn't think they'd be that stupid - or that smart.

So Kenzi went in the morning, when everyone was headed to work and acted as if she knew exactly what she was doing. Confidence would get you access to more things than fake badges. But she had one of those too just in case.

It would be a tough sell, though. Considering she was wearing stiletto leather boots that went all the way up to her thighs, and had green threaded through her very black hair. Not a cop, by any stretch.

But that didn't stop her from breaking the seal of tape and touching her little wooden key-chain to the door. There was the tell-tale click of locks being undone, by the sound of how many there were - it seemed like Jennifer either had something pretty valuable inside or was super paranoid.

Well, she did get murdered after all. Maybe she wasn't so paranoid.

Kenzi spends a good portion of her time frame that she allowed herself roaming around the apartment and stuffing things she wants into her backpack. Hey, Jennifer wasn't going to be using them anymore. Might as well make sure they stayed out of Redbright's hands in the meantime. A few books for magic, almost all her jewelry and her little black contact book that had all the phone numbers a witch could ask for.

Maybe there was something important in there?

Kenzi is leaving the apartment with her backpack filled to the brim and going straight for her car.

B: Portobello Road - Friday

It was a cheap gimmick, and something that usually only got the stupid people and tourists interested - but that was what she wanted. It was easy to fleece someone who was too busy listening to what she was saying about how fascinating their life line was to notice her lifting their watch or hand jewelry. And it didn't hurt that she asked for 16 quid before even speaking to them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, don't be shy. Come, see what the future has in store for you and your loved ones!"

She had a little stall on the market road, something her cousin had hooked her up with. It was all decked out in exactly what you would expect from a Russian fortune teller, except she was about fifty years too young to make it especially hokey.

Kenzi was dressed like a hippy. Not a scrap of black on her, and her make-up was done so as to look as natural and flower-child-y as possible. To top it off, she was wearing an ashy blonde wig with some stuff woven into the hair.

She might also be selling knockoff charms to normal people. They're in the approximation of the real charms that she makes, but they're completely useless. Still, a witch or someone who knows her work might recognize them.

C: Late Night Munchies

There was a plus to living in London. There was always something open and ready to serve you greasy, disgusting food. Which was exactly what Kenzi wanted late at night after working in her shop all day long. She might just be making Day and Moonlight Jewelry and other little charms and sundry items that she sells to people who want them, but she is only one witch. And that means constantly flexing her magical muscles for a whole day makes her exhausted, and starving too.

She's sitting inside a little pizza place, whose front of house is so small they only have room for a counter to order at and chairs along the walls and front windows to sit at while you wait for your food.

Kenzi is dicking around on her phone when suddenly, her nose starts to bleed. Yet another lovely side affect of not having a coven.

D: W-W-WILDCARD!!

Make your own up if you feel up to it!

Comments

B

[eyeforaneye]

Sasuke's been inspecting the charms for no less than ten minutes, or at least allegedly so. It's his lunch break and he left work with the intention of buying a phone charger (it's already in his pocket) and not much else, so the distraction is a welcome one to keep him out of the office for a little while longer. He's overheard at least two readings so far as an added bonus.

"... that wig doesn't suit you." Finally, he speaks.

[kleptofaeniac]

Kenzi pulls a pouting frown at the observation. She personally thinks the wig looks bitchin' and that this stranger could go suck an egg. But, a stranger was a mark. She could make this work.

She adjusts the wig and makes a point of looking self-conscious about it too.

"I have a medical condition, ser."

Kenzi uses the Russian pronunciation of the title and makes sure her accent is suitably thick, and to also sound annoyed - a little flustered.

"Is there anything else I can do for you? Read your cards?"

[eyeforaneye]

Please don't make him suck an egg.

"Whether or not you have a medical condition doesn't change my point. You should adjust the left side just behind your ear, however; it's giving away your real color when you move." After a long pause he picks up a charm that's meant for protection, then a second that supposedly brings money and fortune.

"I'll take both of these. Are your readings accurate?"

[kleptofaeniac]

Kenzi has to stop herself from immediately bringing her hand up to her ear to pull the wig into place, and instead, slowly and casually tucks the few sections of black hair that slipped out from under her cap.

She falls out of character as she does so, and clears her throat to get the accent back into effect.

"I've been doing this since I was an infant." Very true. "My entire family has been reading since the 1900's." Very false.

"Sit down if you're interested. Sixteen quid for each telling. Five for each of those charms you're holding. You pick your spread."

[eyeforaneye]

Well, for someone as cheap as he is he has to consider that offer, wondering if she's actually a witch but it's a difficult thing to subtly hint at. And he is not a subtle man.

"... Fifteen and four and we have a deal." And already Sasuke sits as if just expecting his haggling to be honored. He's so new at this, thanks, Heiji. "I'm not sure what you mean by 'spread'; I haven't done this before."

[kleptofaeniac]

Kenzi's mouth twisted to the side thoughtfully, considering his deal. Fifteen and four was better than nothing. She'd take haggling where she could get it.

She's incredibly tempted to try and raise it to fifteen and five, but this dude didn't seem like he was going to be too happy to argue over the price of something he really didn't need.

"Deal." She says it before he can go back on it and opens up her hand, expecting the money upfront.

"Card spread," she explains it taciturnly; not wanting to waste his time.

"Depending on what question you want to ask the cards, a different set up may be required."

[eyeforaneye]

"I understand now." It's quite an offer to be able to ask and potentially be granted a -- hopefully accurate -- response to any question he might have, the weight of which can't be measured in the money he places in her hands, perfectly counted out.

"In that case, I want to ask if I'm--" But the words are caught in his throat, scratchy and raw, and he abandons them in favor of a search for something else.

"... I've made many new acquaintances recently. I'm interested to know how they'll pan out." Maybe if one will become a genuine friend or if one will try to ax murder him. He's not particular.

[kleptofaeniac]

Kenzi eyes Sasuke for a moment as she pockets the money, wondering what the hell h e was going to ask before he changed his mind. The curiosity only lasts for a second however, as she decides its none of her business before listening to his actual question.

"Very well, sit down...Your name?"

Kenzi is shuffling the cards with all the precision of a dealer (or a gambler) and looks up at him expectantly.

[eyeforaneye]

His eyes linger on her hands far longer than they should, perceptive and almost seeming to lighten in hue for the barest of moments in what any normal person would write off as a trick of the light. Perhaps he's just being careful; he's heard plenty of warnings about set-ups such as this one.

"Sasuke Uchiha. Do you have a bag for the charms or is that going to cost extra? If so I'll just carry them." Translation: I am cheap.

[kleptofaeniac]

"Plastic is by the chair."

She gestures with a hand full of cards to the opposite side of her table. A tube of plastic bags from grocery stores and take-out Chinese places is available for people to use. She's cheap as well. At least when it comes to things that aren't benefiting her.

Kenzi taps the deck on the table to even the cards out and places it in front of him.

"Cut the deck wherever you feel is right and we'll get started."

[eyeforaneye]

What a miscellaneous sundry of bag options... not that he minds, mentally choosing the one he wants before turning back to her.

"You actually have the ability to make a living doing this?" he asks merely out of curiosity, purposefully reaching deep into the deck in order to cut it as she'd specified.

[kleptofaeniac]

"I'm supplementing my income." She is very brusque and waves her hand dismissively, clearly not wanting to talk about it. She was telling the truth however, it was just a little side-business.

She made most of her money selling drugs and legitimate Day and Moonlight Jewelry to people who didn't want Circle Daybreak knowing what they were up to: mostly vampires and werewolves but sometimes some normal kids would come by for some pixie pot or whatever it was.

Once Sasuke cut the cards, Kenzi took the lower half of the deck from where he cut it and placed it on top of the upper half. Luckily this spread was a small one.

"Concentrate on the person you want to ask about."

She says as she starts dealing out the cards. There are only five.

[eyeforaneye]

Luckily he's not been unwise enough to get himself tangled in any variation of the drug game but that doesn't mean he'd be critical enough to put down her business acumen. He's of the unsympathetic mind that if someone is stupid enough to fall for it then most of the time they deserve it.

"One person?" Well, that makes this slightly more difficult and requires him to again pause. "... is it possible to ask about more? There are three I'm interested in." Well, damn.

And decisiveness is usually his strong suit.

[kleptofaeniac]

"We can do it three times," and because she wants that fifteen and four so much - dinner is gonna be awesome she decides to do something stupid: "No charge for the extra two."

She is instantly regretting this.

1/2

[eyeforaneye]

...

2/2

[eyeforaneye]

"That's not sensible. I'll give you another ten at least." His cash flow has been bumped up lately and he can afford a single splurge, especially for a man who lives in such a Spartan way.

All the same he focuses in on his first victim, Heiji.

"Alright, I'm thinking about him."

[kleptofaeniac]

"Deal." She says it quickly, before he can change his mind and begins flipping the cards over. She has no idea they both know the person in question.

Her brow furrows minutely as she flips the cards; all but one are reversed and while she has no qualms about lying - she doesn't like the odds that people will come to her booth knowing tarot and wanting to see how much of a con she's trying to pull. Her aunt told her those folks accounted for at least forty-five percent of her business and in that case, she should stick to the true meaning of the cards. After all, if a person is knowledgeable of tarot; they'll know that the fortune read is only accurate if they do not change how things are going.

The first card is reversed and depicts a man on his back in the middle of a battlefield - well, more like a mass grave. Bodies litter the ground and the man in the foreground has not one, but ten swords sticking out of his back like quills on a porcupine. It's not exactly the best looking card.

"You're holding back with this person. Not letting them in but not pushing them away either. You should make a choice, stop being so reluctant to take new steps."

Kenzi moves onto the next one, eager to try and brighten the spread. The next card is The Star - it shows a naked woman kneeling by a pool at night with stars glittering above her. She looks as if she has a pitcher of water that she's pouring into the pool.

"The person you're asking about is trying to do things their own way and might feel lonely because of it, but they'll be a source of good luck for you if you keep the relationship positive."

The next card is the only one that came upright - but sometimes even that doesn't mean it's a positive card. It shows a man standing between two posts at a road, and his face is turned away from the viewer. He looks as if he's thinking. The Two of Wands is one of Kenzi's least favorite cards to read from. It's such a downer.

"This'll might seem like a good friendship, but there are many more obstacles that line it. It might make you want to reconsider."

She tries to make it sound less of a drag, but it still sounds like a lame reading to her. The Three of Pentacles. Normally this is a card that exalts hard work and bettering oneself. But a reversed card doesn't always have a similar meaning to it's upright position. This one, for example, is a near polar opposite. At least how Kenzi reads it.

"This other person lacks ambition, and doesn't mind it being that way. You could be a hindrance to that."


The last card shows a tomb. It looks like whoever it's meant for was a warrior or knight.

"I don't see the relationship lasting." Well, not every reading can be a winner.

"You two might not be good for each other..."

Kenzi pulls a sympathetic frown as she scoops up all the cards and puts them back into the deck at random before shuffling.

"Number two now?"

Well, she doesn't seem to be that sympathetic.

wow you are a champ for typing all that out, TY

[eyeforaneye]

Sasuke leans in closer as soon as the first card is flipped and paints such a grim scene, blinking down at it and deciding that it's altogether fitting even if somehow the admission to himself is one made grudgingly. As she speaks and defines it he catches himself nodding along, while the second has his head snapping upward to eye her a bit more mistrustingly.

Lonely? Is that how he is? Perhaps he'd been too preoccupied in his own matters to notice, but then again Heiji does seem to throw his friendship at anyone who'll take two seconds to listen to him. Maybe it's true after all.

The next one gets another nod; he's already in a constant state of reconsidering. And lacking ambition? He could see that too, though he's an overly critical person. Though... the tomb? Sasuke has to wonder if it's for their relationship, for Heiji, or for himself.

"I see. Seems like everything's against it, though he is a difficult man to get along with." For no one but Sasuke. Very well, he closes his eyes this time to hone in on the image of Apollo.

"Got him."