Chapter Text
ARE YOU
THERE?
The slumber of the Velvet Room's host, Igor, was suddenly brought to an end by the sound of a disembodied voice echoing throughout the spacious room. This voice did not resemble his current guest, nor any guest prior, and yet he could still feel a sense of familiarity towards it.
When he opened his eyes, he saw that the surrounding navy elevator that made up the Velvet Room had remained unchanged, with Elizabeth also staying perched beside him. However, when he stared face-to-face with his so-called guest, that was a different story.
That is, if you could even call the indescribable presence in front of him a guest.
It possessed neither a physical body nor a soul, as all matter that made up the Velvet Room ceased halfway across from where Igor and Elizabeth were. However, despite this, the presence was still able to communicate with them.
ARE WE
CONNECTED?
In response to this question, Igor's unwavering grin merely chuckled as he extended a hand out to welcome the presence into his domain.
"Yes, it appears that we are, in fact, connected at this moment,” Igor answered. “Welcome to the Velvet Room. My name is Igor, and this is my assistant, Elizabeth. We are pleased to make you acquaintance, and yet, I feel as if our introductions are unnecessary."
CORRECT.
WE ARE ALREADY
CONNECTED
BY FAITH.
OUR KNOWLEDGE
OF EACH OTHER
IS PREDETERMINED.
"Well, that is certainly interesting.” Igor remarked as he intertwined his fingers. "I must admit, I do feel this connection that you speak of, even if it isn’t bound by our cognitive recognition of one another.”
"How peculiar! It seems that I also feel this strange acquaintanceship as well,” Elizabeth chirped up. "I must say, you are a remarkably interesting guest. I've never seen anything like you before.”
I AM AWARE
THAT SOME PEOPLE
MAY FIND
MY EXISTENCE
VERY
VERY
INTRIGUING.
"The Velvet Room is only accessible to those who have signed a contract prior to their entry, and yet, your presence says otherwise," Igor pondered. "I imagine that this anomaly isn’t by chance. Perhaps, it has something to do with our respective guests."
YES.
THE SOUL
AND
THE WILDCARD.
THEIR STORIES
HAVE INTERTWINED.
"That seems to be the case, but a connection like that would only nullify their respective futures, correct?”
INDEED.
TURNING POINTS.
CASUALTIES.
DESPAIR.
THEY HAVE
LINKED
THEIR WORLDS.
THEY HAVE
CEASED
THEIR PROGRESSION.
AND NOW
THEIR STORIES
CANNOT
PROCEED.
"It’s as if the concept of faith itself is in a bind,” Igor chuckled to himself. "While this does interfere with my ability to conduct a reading on our guests, the same cannot be said for their respective worlds."
“So allow me to do the honors!” Elizabeth proclaimed as she opened her compendium, causing a variety of tarot cards to fly out of the book and onto the table in front of them.
“…do you believe in fortune telling?”
Igor’s rhetorical question lingered in the air as the cards on the table miraculously shuffled themselves, eventually stopping in place once the reading concluded.
"This is a reading on the world of the SOUL, which is where your guest resides," Igor clarified as he took one of the cards and flipped it over. "It appears to depict The Tower in the reversed position."
"This card represents the desperate struggle to avoid a looming crisis!" Elizabeth explained. "While this crisis may be unfortunate, the inability to truly accept it will only bring tragedy into the world. My, how saddening..."
I SEE.
YOUR PROPHECY.
YOUR READINGS.
THEY HAVE
INTRIGUED
ME.
The fortune telling resumed once Igor flipped the card back over, initiating another shuffling process that eventually came to a different conclusion.
"This reading is on the world of the Wildcard, which is where my own guest resides,” Igor stated, reaching towards another card and flipping it over. "It appears to depict Death in the reversed position."
"This reading represents the resistance towards change, or in other words, stagnation!" Elizabeth explained. "While change may be an upsetting topic to some, resisting it will only lead to a tragedy greater than the change that preceded it. It is a surprisingly similar reading to the previous one, but an unfortunate reading nevertheless..."
A WORLD
WITHOUT
A FUTURE.
A WORLD
WITHOUT
CHANGE.
HOW
FASCINATING.
"Hmm?"
Igor’s curiosity was piqued once he flipped the card back over, as they ended up initiating another shuffling process that he didn’t expect to occur.
"How interesting. It appears as if a reading on our conjoined worlds is being unveiled to us."
When the cards eventually reached their destination, Igor reached out towards one of them and flipped it over, revealing the final reading.
"It appears to depict The World in the reversed position."
"This reading represents the illusion of completion," Elizabeth divulged. "While everything may seem to fall into place, there are still a few missing pieces that remain, be they minor or major.”
EXCELLENT.
TRULY
EXCELLENT.
YOUR READINGS
FASCINATE ME.
YOUR PROPHECIES
INTRIGUE ME.
I AM GLAD
THAT WE
COULD MEET.
"There is no need for you to thank us,” Igor chuckled. "This meeting of ours is merely a result of faith. It is entirely out of our hands."
"Regardless, I have high hopes that these guests of ours will not disappoint,” Elizabeth commented as she smiled at the presence before her. "Thank you for your time! You have been a most excellent companion!"
"Farewell,” Igor concluded as he lowered his head, intertwined his fingers, and closed his eyes again. "I am sure that the result of these arrangements will be a sight to behold."
FAREWELL
AND THANK YOU.
OUR GUESTS.
OUR DEVICES.
THEIR STORIES.
THEIR FUTURES.
NO MATTER
WHAT HAPPENS
THE RESULTS
WILL BE
VERY
VERY
INTERESTING.