The sun is beginning to sink as Orochi and Ryoma make their way across the Astral Plane again. This time, they're in the direction of the barracks. Each member of the Hoshidan army stayed there, even royal members such as himself. Ryoma hadn't a need for special treatment in the middle of a war.
Their walk over was quiet, but companionable. What was to come had become a normal series of events for the pair. Prior to the war, Ryoma hadn't cared much for divination. The idea that ones future was set in stone bothered him, but all of that had changed after finding what Orochi spoke of to be the truth.
They reach her room on the second floor of the barracks, and the lilac-haired diviner led the way in. Her room, like the other rooms, was small but not too cramped. They all came pre-equipped with a single bed roll, but it gave them enough room for their personal belongings.
Parchment, hand-painted cards, candles, various types of incense. Her room is strewn with these objects and more, all in a big mess. Ryoma knew this mess was not disorganised at all to Orochi, and chose to not comment on it save for the first time he did. There is a small, short table in the middle of the room with mismatched cushions surrounding it. A crystal ball, voodoo doll and other random objects litter it.
"Have a seat, milord." Orochi offers, stepping across the mess. She picks up a large floral-printed teapot from her bed side table, and fills it with water from a flask.
Ryoma settles on a cushion, doing his best to cross his legs with his armour on. The musk of incense and perfume lays thick over him, and he blinks, suddenly sleepy.
Bringing the teapot over to the table, she sets it on a metal bowl amisdt the clutter. With a click of her fingers, Orochi brings a blue flame to life. Magic.
"Now, Milord, give me a minute to find my cards." She purses her lips, picking the painted wooden cards up in a seemingly careful order.
"The battle of Macareth went well," he points out, watching the tea begin to steam while he waits. "Your fortune about Takumi's health was on par. I was surprised it hit so suddenly."
Orochi smiles, genuinely, shuffling the cards into a deck. "Yes, I was surprised too, but the cards rarely mention when things will happen exactly. At least we were given a warning."
During their last session, Orochi had asked after the army now that they were so close to Nohr. Ryoma's thoughts mainly settled on the newcomers for their army, but also on Silas. Despite his loyalty, Ryoma worried for how he felt being so close to home. Instead, the warning they received was much wiser and important.
"Now," she smooths out the cards into a fan shape. "We are asking after the, er, newcomers to the army. Correct?"
Ryoma nods. "You also felt it? The distrust?"
Orochi's face twists a little. "Yes, milord. I fear their plan may not be as innocent as it seems..."
Her face regains it's normal composure, and with one hand she closes the fan of cards to take the tea off the boil before it could shriek. "Of course, I trust Lady Corrin's decision. I just wonder if this is the safest step."
Orochi pours the tea, tossing her lilac hair back over her shoulders with a shake of her head.
"I agree, Lady Orochi." He bows his head, accepting the tea. It's a reddish brown colour with a spiced scent steaming from it.
"Let's begin with that situation then, while the tea cools." She reaches for her cards again, fanning them out once more. The backs of them are upwards. "Please select one, milord."
Rather than ponder over his choice, he selects one at random. Placing it face up on the table, he picks four more, each laying painting up. A sword. The tower. A woman. A couple. Doves.
She taps her cheek, looking at the cards. "Strange. Two cards of negative energy, and two of positive."
She points to the sword, sipping her tea. Ryoma also drinks: the tea is strong and bitter, and he recoils a little. Needed sugar, or at least some honey.
"This represents violence. War. It's ours and Nohr's weapons of choice, however theirs are less traditional. So violence will lead into destruction..."
Her hand moves to hover over the card depicting the tower. She smooths the glossy image.
"This woman, represents femininity. Submission. Although," she wrinkles her nose, "I don't agree with that. In this situation it just means that the violence will yield."
Ryoma scoffs. Orochi wasn't one to stay traditional, and he deeply respected her for that. Her eyes catch his, and she winks.
"The couple. Unity. Following violence it seems like this is depicting a battle with a kinder ending."
Their eyes remain locked as her smooth white hand rests on the fifth and final card.
"The doves. A symbol of peace and purity." With one swift movement Orochi smooths the cards back into a pile. "To me this seems like it will be a battle where we will be betrayed, but we will win this fight again and have a united ending."
Ryoma slowly nods, and sips his tea. Interesting. "Does this betrayal lay in our Nohrian friends?" He rumbles, lowering his cup. Still too bitter.
She shrugs, tossing her hair over her shoulders. "I'm unsure milord, but it seems that way. We'd best remain cautious."
Orochi sips her tea, faster now that it had cooled. "Quickly, Lord Ryoma. We can do both of our personal fortunes before the sun sets."
He glances out the window. The sun was still high, but drooping quickly. Sculling his tea, he crinkles his nose at the bitterness but leaves the dregs, placing it back on its saucer. Orochi does the same, but reaches for Ryoma's.
"Wait, Lady Orochi." He places one gloved hand over hers, stopping her from picking it up. "You always do mine first. Please, for just this once, could we not do yours first?"
It didn't feel right for a lady to put him before herself. Retracting her hands, she instead picks up her own cup, rolling her eyes at him.
"You're just hoping it'll be me to get the bad news this time, aren't you?" She has a wicked smile on her face.
Ryoma's brow furrows. "Of course not, Lady Orochi, my apologies. I only want the best for you-"
"My Lord, it was only a joke." Her smile widens. "I've still got to teach you more about those."
Ah, yes. A joke. His gaze softens. Having been brought up in such a war-driven way made Ryoma lack a sense of humour. Japes didn't take you very far on the battlefield, and as a child he was quick to disregard them.
"We should organise more time to spend together, so I can learn more about them." His lack of understanding jokes had actually become something to be laughed at among the ranks. It was embarrassing, for soldiers to laugh at their leader. Perhaps with more understanding Ryoma would be more accepted as their superior.
"Yes, but another time." She smiles, and with her left hand swirls her tea dregs three times. "For now, let's see what fate has in store for us."
She turns the tea cup upside down on the saucer, to drain the last of the tea, then picks it up again. Peering into it with her lilac orbs, she bites her lip. "Interesting."
"What is it, Lady Orochi?"
She extends the cup out so he can see it. It's just a blob of brown leaves to him.
"The shape it has taken on is very peculiar... give me a second." Orochi thrusts the cup into his unsuspecting hands and quickly stands, brushing off her dark pants. Patches off her smooth legs are showing through, and Ryoma looks away, not wanting to stare. Her outfit was very... revealing. On the battlefield, however, he hardly notices.
She picks up a book on her bedside table and flicks through it. It's titled "Shapes, Objects and Meanings" and has a painting of a bird on the front. Hardcover books are rare in Hoshido, who much prefer scrolls as to not waste paper.
"Let me see the tea again," she orders, flicking through the white pages. Ryoma tilts the tea cup towards her, unsure of what this brown blob means exactly.
Stopping on a page, she scans it. "Interesting..."
Sitting again at the short table, Orochi pushes her hair behind her ear with one hand as she reads. "My tea, to me, was read as a falcon. Very rare. The falcon symbolises success and victory, which is seen in many other objects."
Tapping her chin, she shuts the book. "Odd. I wonder what it would be that I succeed in."
Taking her cup back, she now reaches for Ryoma's own cup. A nervous feeling had settled over him. Last time, his cup had read about disease, which he thought would be directed at him. Will it again show more like this? Is his family still at risk?
Repeating the same movement of swirling the tea, she drains his cup and then studies it's inside.
"You're all good, my Lord." She smiles, showing him his cup. Again, brown leaves. "You have received the clover, from the looks of it. A symbol of luck from far away."
Orochi squints into the cup, bringing it back. "It seems slightly hazy though. Maybe don't rely too heavily on it."
He nods, making a mental note. "Thank you, Lady Orochi. For always looking out for me and my family." Ryoma truly meant it. She had known him well before he donned his signature red armour, well before he had even been considered a child. Being quite a few years older than him, Orochi had served both his late mother and step mother.
She smiles. Her smile for Ryoma is always kind. "Hey, no worries. It does me good knowing that my fortunes are so great that even our Lord comes to me for them."
Another joke? Ryoma smiles in return, a strange sight given that he seemed incapable of doing so.
"May our next battle be well fought. Perhaps we should fight side by side? I'm sure Corrin wouldn't object." Ryoma knew his sister had enough to stress about: putting two of her strongest fighters together would be fine.
"I'd love to. For now, let's do another lesson about the do's and don'ts of being fun." She stands, leaving the table as it is. It can always be cleaned later. She and Ryoma exit, side by side, with Orochi talking rapidly. Knowing good fortune was on it's way put a spring in Ryoma's step.
Notes:
Sorry about how slow it took me to put this chapter together. Keen to get the ball rolling in chapter 3! Please leave a comment if you like this or have any pointers for me. Thanks Hammerschlag for pointing out to change the rating :)