This choice: Let Ursula find another identity for you • Go Back...Chapter #26A Very Cosmic Confluence by: rugal b.   You're not really sure how to respond and you realize that it was probably a little arrogant of you to think you could just shove something like this -- hey I'm going to be Braydon and you should be his girlfriend so we can study the book -- onto her and just expect Ursula to nod her head and go with it no questions asked. She doesn't even known you, not really, so you really shouldn't be forcing her into doing it if she's not into the idea and she most definitely does not seem to be into it.
"If you don't want to do it," you tell her, "well, I'm sure we can find something that works. We're partners in this now so I don't want to force it on you or anything."
Maybe you are being arrogant because you half-expect her to protest a little bit, insist that it's fine and she'll do it. So though you shouldn't be you're a little surprised when she doesn't. "Thanks, I wasn't really looking forward to doing that," she says as she gathers up the cards.
Given that it's a bust you decide to switch tracks a bit since you're still not sure what you want to do then. "So what about Priscilla? What can you tell me about her?" you ask.
"Not much beyond what I've already told you," she says as she walks over to the drawer. "She's cagey about things though."
"Like what she teaches?"
"Not that," she answers, "more like herself, like she doesn't like to put the real her out there. She even talks to customers in this weird, really fake Eastern European accent even though I think she's as American as either of us. She's never let me do any readings for her either, just to practice. Kind of weird that she'd let me practice with customers but I guess she's one of those 'the only way to learn is by doing' types." Ursula then shuts the drawer and turns back to you. "Why so interested in her?" she asks.
"Just curiosity I guess," you say but decide that maybe it'd help to be a little less cagey yourself with her. "When I was looking for leads on magic, a cousin of mine was one of the name's I got from my dad's mask. I don't remember a lot but I do remember a few things. Her name was Priscilla as well, Priscilla Martin. Did you ever say what your mentor's last name was?"
"I don't actually know it," Ursula admits but her face shows definite intrigue. "Why would her name come up though?"
"Because she runs a fortune telling business in town. Not that I remember the name of it, just that my dad didn't like it and that's why I've never seen her," you state.
"So your cousin and my mentor... they're one and the same?" she asks in surprise.
You can only shrug. "I don't really know. Probably," you say.
"I don't think there's any probably about it. The only other fortune teller in town is Madame Andrassy but she's two-bit," she says as she walks over and sits down beside you. To your surprise she clasps your hands and her manner is, though still low key, a very excited low key. "Your cousin, my mentor... this is what I mean about strong new bonds being formed. It's like our fates are connected, this is so exciting!"
"Did you, uh, see yourself in my... thing?" you ask nervously now you feel your hands getting clammy.
"I can't say," she admits. "I couldn't make out the specifics but knowing this information it would make sense. Oh, but I have to see it play out now! To see where your trials will take you... will take me!" To your surprise she leans in close, her face inches from your own. "Your aura and mine, intertwined with one another, each pulling the other with it," she says with quiet excitement, "doesn't it just take your breath away to discover it?"
"You, uh, you make it sound like we're soulmates," you nervously reply.
At that Ursula seems to come to her senses and, red-faced, backs off and lets go of your hands. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... oh, but I guess it probably came off like that," she says in embarrassment. "But I've never seen something like this and I just... I get very excited about this stuff."
"I can tell," you say and though you laugh it's a very awkward thing.
It's also what makes up your mind for you because if you're going to be yourself then in addition to the awkwardness of living with a fake dad, there's this potential awkwardness as well. Not that you wouldn't mind the idea of Ursula being that close to you or closer, even. But you originally did all this to deal with a distraction and it might not be a good idea to exchange one for another. And you don't want to give yourself the wrong idea either because of course her interest and excitement is because of all this stuff about aura, fates, the magic of the book and whatever.
Not like she could harbor any romantic designs on someone she only really has gotten to know over the last hour.
"So, the masks," you start as you try to change topics. "I'd still be uncomfortable at home given everything so if you want to try to find someone..."
"Right, okay," she says nervously. "But I don't know how I'd do it. I just put the mask on them and what?"
"You don't need to worry about it," you tell her. "Just set up some kind of meeting between you and whoever and I'll take care fo the rest."
* * * * *
"She could've at least given you her mask. Not really fair that I get to be the one having all the fun," Gillian grins though quickly that grin turns into an expression of frustration. "How the fuck do girls do this?" she asks as she struggles with the bra.
"So you're really not pissed I was bullshitting you about what was going on?" you ask.
"If you'd gotten me, like, Abby Derr or something I might be," she replies. "But Gillian's a great piece so I'll live."
"You'll also have to play tonsil hockey with Braydon," you tease.
Gillian makes a face at that. "Not appealing but I guess sacrifices have to be made to keep my hands on these," she says as she grabs and shakes her impressive breasts at you.
After leaving Ursula's you'd gotten in touch with Caleb and had him meet you at the clubhouse where you told him the truth about everything that was going on and while he was miffed your peace offering of Gillian's mask more than did it's job in smoothing things over. As a result you'll be spending time in Caleb's mask until Ursula's got something lined up for you, something you made sure to fill her in on before leaving. You've got some goop made with Caleb's hair ready to go for when that switch needs to go off. It's only fair that he'd get his own golem after all.
"I need to build trust with her and I don't think I can really do that if she thinks I'm using her mask to do who knows what with her body."
"It wouldn't be anything I'm not going to do with Gillian's," she says as she finally manages to get the bra done and moves onto the underwear and jeans.
"Yeah, that's the problem," you grumble.
"She's not a dog is she?"
"Stop thinking with your dick, dude," you tell him. "But no, she's not ugly. Like I said it's all about trust."
"Well from what you said it sounds like you'll be getting to do whatever to her body before long," she states. "Will and his loony fortune teller girlfriend."
"She's not a loon!" you exclaim.
"But she is your girlfriend?" she teases as she throws on her shirt.
You shove the rest of Gillian's stuff into her arms and hustle her up the stairs and shut the door behind you. As you're not really in any rush to get back to Caleb's yet you take some time to make up and polish a mask as well as a brain band just to make one hundred percent certain you're ready to go when the time comes. It's a good thing too as once you're at Caleb's you receive a text.
this is the number you gave me? it's ursula, you read so you shoot back a positive response and ask her what's up. i thought about it and i've got some names for you.
Three of the four names mean nothing to you as you assume they're students she knows from Eastman. You echo this sentiment in another text back to her and decide to ask about them all in turn.
maddy caron?
A decently popular gossip she tells you; very pretty, very composed but with an underlying superstitious streak that means her and Ursula's paths cross frequently enough when she feels she needs reassurance or clarity on some matter or the other.
joshua cheswick?
A friend, she tells you. Very creative and open-minded and given that the type of person that might be a good fit for you what with the Page of Swords and its emphasis on things of that nature.
eileen piper?
Another friend comes the answer, one of Ursula's best; the same Eileen she'd mentioned when talking about her first time using tarot cards. The close relationship would probably be the easiest for staying in touch.
But it's that fourth one that really throws you for a loop and you have to make sure to ask if she's serious about putting forward Priscilla's name. It's a series of texts you're greeted by.
yes
you'd know what she knows
plus she's where our own fates come together
i think your path will be seen clearly through her
She then tells you to take as long as you need but does give you a timetable of the earliest she might be able to set something up for each of them. Tomorrow for Eileen and Joshua, Monday for Mandy and Priscilla. That indicates that despite what she said she's eager to get it done quickly, an assumption that's reinforced with another message she sends you.
i'm so anxious to see the path that fate's laid out for you!   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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