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“Will that be all for this month’s meeting?” Klein Moretti, as The Fool, asked the members of the Tarot Club even though he was already aware of the answer.
From the beginning of his gathering, it was obvious that The Moon had something heavily weighing on his mind. However, no matter how many glances the other members of the Major Arcana gave him, the sanguine continued to squirm uncomfortably in his seat.
Like the generous and patient god he was, Klein decided that he was willing to wait for Emlyn White to feel comfortable enough to share what was on his mind.
“If no one else has anything to say, then there is a matter that I believe you should be made aware of Mr. Fool…” Emlyn rushed through his words, avoiding even glancing in the god’s direction as he looked down at his lap with where his hands lay clenched tightly into fists.
“Is this about what that guy said?” Miss. Judgement whispered as if the rest of the members present wouldn’t be able to hear.
“Yes, I know you don’t think it’s a big deal, but you weren’t there the last time!”
“What is this about?” Alger caused the two beyonders at the opposite end of the table to jolt in their seats before they both guiltily looked away from the man. “Even if it’s a small problem, if one of you requires aid then just tell us.”
“Honestly, it’s not that big of a deal-”
“Miss. Judgement-” Emlyn cut Xio off, pressing a finger to his lips and shushing her as the woman winced. “Mr. Fool, while the matter isn’t a big deal for the two of us. I am of the opinion that it may be of some importance to you.”
“Not that we find your important matters trivial! It’s just something that we believe affects you more than us!” Xio cut in as Emlyn began to rapidly nod his head in agreement.
“Just say it already.” Gehrman sighed, leaning back in his seat and crossing his legs as Xio and Emlyn made various facial expressions back and forth.
Rather than pressuring them with The Fool’s gaze, Klein thought it would be better to utilize his marionette of The World to pry the words out of the two.
Even after it was revealed to the members of the Major Arcana that The Fool and The World were one in the same, the members of his gathering insisted that the Tarot Club wouldn’t feel complete without the craziest adventurer.
“Mr. Moon, why don’t you tell us what the issue is? After all, you said something about Miss. Judgement not being present the first time this issue came up.” Audrey interrupted the guilty duo’s silent conversation as Emlyn took a deep breath before turning his body towards The World.
“It’s about Mr. Star.” Emlyn started, his eyes flickering towards the empty seat beside him. “He returned to Backlund yesterday and I came by to check on him and catch up and then Miss. Judgement dropped by as well to ask if Mr. Star could check if the Evernight Church had any cases related to the one she has been working on.”
“Did the three of you uncover some sort of conspiracy brewing in Backlund?” Fors sat up in complete shock, the dawn of inspiration falling upon her as Emlyn shook his head.
“Did you find something wrong with his condition? I spoke with him briefly today, but I didn’t see him in person.” Gehrman furrowed his brows, recalling the short conversation he had with Leonard in the morning.
The Star had prayed to inform The Fool that he would be able to attend this month’s gathering. Since Leonard was free, Klein pulled the man into Sefirah to catch up after Leonard had spent the past two weeks knee deep in work.
“No, Mr. Star is in perfect health, but… He told the two of us that he’s considering getting his ears pierced.”
“Oh- Miss. Judgement, The Moon is right. This is something that Mr. Fool needs to know.” Fors couldn’t help but to laugh as Audrey used placate on herself and schooled her expression to say completely neutral.
“I don’t think I understand what we’re talking about.” Cattleya spoke up, her eyes widening when she noticed Gehrman Sparrow’s stone-like expression. “I wasn’t present for last month’s meeting, is that some sort of code amongst us that I haven’t been informed of?”
“No, it’s the first I’m hearing of this as well. What does it mean to pierce one’s ears? Does Mr. Star wish to be deaf?” Derrick cocked his head to the side, forcing a long sigh out of Emlyn and a gentle laugh from Audrey.
“No, it means Mr. Star wishes to wear earrings. They require pushing a needle through the skin or cartilage of your ear.” Audrey explained, showing her own earrings as Derrick’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Is there a benefit to having earrings?”
“No, it’s more of an aesthetics thing. In The Fool’s dream, I saw many men and women with piercings all over their ears. This must be where Mr. Star got the idea. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it first!” Fors’ eyes had a new sparkle in them as she held her hand to her ear. “Do you think I need The Fool’s permission to get my ears pierced, Mr. World?”
“Eh- Do we?” Xio gasped as Audrey shook her head with an amused smile.
“No, Miss. Magician is just teasing.” Audrey explained as Xio hummed and nodded her head. “I also noticed the difference in style in The Fool’s dream. It seemed like ear piercings were a lot more common for men there than it is here. There were even people with piercings on their nose, lips, eyebrows, and navel. I almost thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.”
“There’s no need to discuss this matter any further. I’ll have a conversation with The Star.” Gehrman’s eyes narrowed, gesturing for everyone to turn towards The Fool before Klein switched positions with his marionette.
“That will be all.”
“By your will, Mr.Fool.”
After the monthly Tarot Club gathering came to an end, Audrey Hall still found herself in Sefirah Castle with The Fool. However, her surroundings began to rapidly change into that of the casual living room set up that they used for their weekly meetings.
“I thought that something like this might happen.” Audrey smiled, sitting herself down on the nearby armchair as Klein did away with his marionette and changed his face into that of Klein Moretti. “It’s not everyday that I get a session with Klein, it’s an honor.”
“Should I try to stop him?” Klein frowned as he threw himself in the chaise lounge. It was a new addition to the room, but he felt that it was a necessary piece of furniture for times where he felt like he might be reacting even a tad bit dramatically. “I know it’s none of my business. Whether Mr. Star wants to pierce his ears is up to him. It’s his choice. It’s entirely his choice.”
“Klein, I know you know what you’re doing.” The woman smiled, watching the man drop his head into a throw pillow. “Even though you hope I allow myself to be tricked into thinking that you’re being open and honest with your feelings since you’re here as Klein, you intentionally said Mr. Star instead of Leonard because you’re trying to distance yourself from him.”
“Can you pretend like you didn’t notice?”
“If that’s what you want, but I also know that you wouldn’t have allowed me to notice something like that if you didn't want me to.”
“I just… I feel like I should set boundaries between us. It isn’t my place to say whether he can pierce his ears or cut his hair.”
“I see, but that boundary isn’t something you can just set on your own. If you now want your relationship with Mr. Star to be purely professional, then I believe you should have a conversation with him so he understands that this is how you feel.”
“I wouldn’t say I want to be purely professional. Leonard and I are friends, and… I don’t want to care about the things he does, but I do.” Klein grimaced, not understanding how his dear poet had such a strong hold on his heart. “The fact that Emlyn felt like that was something I should know is embarrassing.”
“I don’t think it’s embarrassing. I think it’s cute how much you care.”
“Cute? How is that cute? Emlyn and Xio probably think I’m some control freak that doesn’t like it when their friend changes something small about themself.”
“Klein, you know that isn’t true. All of us hold you in such high regard. Emlyn and Xio also know that your relationship with Leonard is different than your relationship with them.” Audrey frowned as Klein turned his face away from the spectator. “I think you should talk to him, and tell him your genuine feelings.”
“I can’t, what if he actually looks really good with earrings and I’ll never know because I told him to not pierce his ears?”
‘Not exactly the feelings I was referring to…’
“This wouldn’t be a problem if I thought that Leonard might ignore my opinion, but I know that if I ask him not to then he won’t get them pierced.”
“Have some faith in him.”
“He’s like a big overgrown puppy.” Klein bashed his head into the throw pillow over and over as Audrey couldn’t stop the fond smile from pulling onto her face.
“I think you should tell Leonard that you care about him. Once you verbalize that you care about him, it’ll be easier for you to accept the emotions you're feeling. For example, you might feel less embarrassed about your feelings once Leonard is aware of how you truly feel about him and your friendship..”
“Leonard is already aware that I care about him.” Klein mumbled into the pillow as Audrey slowly blinked with a strained smile. “I know, you think telling him that would be better for my mental state. It’s just… men don’t really say things like that.”
“It’s a whole new epoch, men can start saying things like that.”
“It’ll just be weird. Leonard might think I’m about to die or something.”
“Then you’ll just have to tell him you’re alright.” Audrey laughed, knowing that Klein probably had several excuses to use in favor of keeping his feelings close to his chest. “Even if you don’t tell him that you care about him, I think you should go talk to him.”
~~~
“Emlyn and Xio tattled on you~” Fors sang, walking through an opening made by herself as she entered Leonard’s home on 7 Pinster Street.
“Hmm? Have I done something worth tattling about?” Leonard yawned, woken up by his spirituality when Fors suddenly entered his home while he was in the middle of taking a quick nap on his couch.
“Is that my book?" The author suddenly changed the topic, picking up the advanced reader copy of her upcoming book that she gifted him since he was one of the people that inspired her latest story.
“Yes, I was about halfway through when I realized I could do with a nap and it was the perfect size to act as a shade for my eyes.” Leonard smiled, cackling as Fors threw the book back down onto his face. “Careful! Don’t you consider my face to be an important asset?”
“Important for you, not me!” Fors scoffed, swatting Leonard’s feet off the couch with her hand until she was finally able to take a seat. “If you were just napping here, why didn’t you attend Tarot Club? We missed you.”
“I told Klein last week that I wouldn’t be able to attend the monthly gathering, but my investigation ended earlier than expected. When I told him I was now able to attend, he told me that I should focus on getting rest and that if I needed anything he’d take care of it for me.”
“Isn’t that sweet?” Fors cooed, pouting her lips as Leonard rolled his eyes before setting Fors’ book onto his coffee table and intentionally placing the heel of his boot on the cover as he kicked his feet up.
“I messed up- I told Mr. Fool and I don’t think he took it well.” Emlyn burst through the front door, his hands in his hair as he paced back and forth. “What if he’s mad I told him? What if he’s offended I thought he would care? Why did you have to confide in me?!”
“Hold on, what did you tell him? I’m still in the dark.”
“I don’t think that’s a good analogy for someone that can see perfectly in the dark, just saying.” Fors grumbled as Leonard and Emlyn stared back at her blankly.
“I told him that you said you wanted to pierce your ears.”
“Oh yeah, I did say that. Did Klein say anything?”
“No, we kinda got sidetracked since we had to explain to Lil Sun what it meant to pierce your ears. The poor kid thought you wanted to make yourself deaf.” The author laughed as Leonard couldn’t help but to coo at their youngest’s concern.
“Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought after saying I was considering piercing my ears. Do you guys think I would look alright with earrings?”
“Are you seriously fishing for compliments right now?”
“If you’re unsure, I am of the opinion that studs would make the most sense for you. The Dangly earrings would just get lost in your hair, and you’re too pious for hoops.” Emlyn explained, his hand on his chin as he analyzed Leonard’s face. “I do have a contact that specializes in making accessories, if you’re interested I can refer you to them.”
“Do they make human sized pieces? I don’t think our shining star is going to pull off doll jewelry. Also- I wear jewelry, why have you never put me in contact with your special dealer?”
“Because, you’d call it doll jewelry and I don’t think Leonard can even tell the difference between a push back and a flat back.”
“Why would your dolls care about whether they have a push back or flat back earring?”
“First of all, doll earrings don’t even come with backings-”
“Okay, I think we have strayed very far from the matter at hand.” Leonard raised his voice, holding his hands up to silence the two beyonders as Fors and Emlyn both silently glared at him. “It is one thing for Little Sun to argue with Emlyn, but I expect more from you, Miss.Magician.”
“It won’t happen again, Mr. Policeman.” Fors scoffed, rolling her eyes as Emlyn crossed his arms and turned to look out the window. “What kind of piercing were you planning on getting?”
“I don’t know. Maybe since asymmetric styles were popular in the fourth epoch… I should get just one ear pierced? Wouldn’t that be cool?”
“No, you’ll look like a total scumbag.” Fors and Emlyn said at the same time, nodding their heads together as Leonard couldn’t help but sigh at how the two of them were suddenly now in complete agreement.
“Then, what about-” Leonard suddenly stopped himself from saying more as all three angels turned towards The Star’s front door that Emlyn hadn’t bothered to shut after he had barged in. “Hello Klein, missed me?”
“We just talked earlier, how would I miss you?” Klein scoffed, glancing towards Fors and then Emlyn before turning his attention back towards Fors. “Why are you both here?”
“Right! Why am I here?” Fors laughed, quickly getting up and grabbing Emlyn before the two disappeared into thin air.
“Klein, you could have just asked the two of them to give us some privacy.” Leonard smirked, watching as Klein silently turned around, ensuring the front door was shut and then locked before making his way toward Leonard in the living room.
“Hmm? I only asked what they were doing here. They’re the ones that decided to suddenly leave.” Klein sighed, an innocent smile on his face as he made long strides across Leonard’s living room until he was directly in front of the poet that was seated peacefully on the couch. “Is it done?”
“No, even if you’ve given me the day off, I still have to complete my duties as The Star.” He reached around Klein, showing the man the book Fors had placed neatly on top of a stack of classified documents belonging to the Church of the Evernight Goddess. “Did she give you a copy too?”
“No, what’s this one about?” Klein’s eyes narrowed, about to take the book from Leonard’s hand as the man pulled his arm back.
“I haven’t finished reading it, so you’ll have to wait.” Leonard smiled, shoving the book in between his couch cushions as Klein rolled his eyes. “The premise is that a penny-pinching new hire that works as a museum curator is in need of money, so his wealthy friend says that if he can somehow date the handsome, laidback, kind, and generous security officer at the museum then she’ll give him 200 pounds.”
“Goddess-”
“However, the penny-pinching new hire claims that he doesn’t like men. So, instead of rejecting the bet, he goes to the super handsome, strong, and charming security guard with a proposition that if the two of them play their cards right and pretend to date, then they can both split the 200 pounds.”
“I see, it sounds like a horrible read.”
“It’s not bad.” Leonard shrugged, laughing as Klein rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“I am. The security officer wears earrings, and I can’t help but to feel somewhat inspired to wear them myself.”
“So that’s where you got this idea from.” Klein scoffed, realizing Fors must have been acting naive the entire time she was in the gray fog. “Even if the story is bad, I can’t say the same about your idea.”
“Really?” Leonard’s eyes widened, jumping in his spot once Klein’s hands brushed his hair behind his ears before cupping his face and turning the poet’s head left and right.
“I think it might suit you… but it would take some getting used to.”
“The book character wears small hoops, but Emlyn said I’m too pious for hoop earrings.”
“I agree, hoops would be more befitting of a pirate.” Klein laughed, letting his thumbs caress the lobes of Leonard’s ears before his hands slid further down to gently massage the poet’s neck. “But… you never dress properly anyways, so I don’t think it’ll matter much.”
“I think I should just get one ear-”
“Definitely not.” Klein deadpanned, pulling one of Leonard’s ears until Leonard grabbed at the hand and held it up against his cheek.
Why not?”
“If that’s what you want, then I’m not going to stop you…” He spoke softly, now running his thumbs under Leonard’s eyes. It was annoying how Leonard never slept and no one would be able to see it on his face. He didn’t have heavy eye bags or dark circles. He always looked so alive and vibrant.
“What if you don’t like them?”
“Why does it matter if I like them?” He dropped his hands, debating whether he should move to sit beside the poet rather than standing in front of Leonard like an owner would his dog. “Just… Only the ears, don’t do it anywhere else.”
“Where else would I get one?” Leonard laughed, cocking his head to the side as Klein narrowed his eyes.
“Why do you want to know?” Klein sneered, pinching one of Leonard’s cheeks in his hand. “Before you pierce your ears, check how you look in a dream before you end up having regrets.”
“Hmm? Isn’t this already a dream?” Bright green eyes turned irresistibly fond as Leonard looked up at Klein and held his hands as he moved to kiss the scholar’s palm. “It feels like one.”
“Well, it’s not.” Klein narrowed his eyes, ignoring the heat that was rising to his cheeks as he pulled his hand from Leonard’s grasp and harshly pressed his finger to the center of Leonard’s forehead. “Does your grandpa even know of your impending teenage rebellion?”
“No, and I’m no longer a teenager. Also, the old man doesn’t care about what I do with my appearance. If he did, we would have argued much more back then.” Leonard laughed as their surroundings morphed into that of a private room in a jewelers’ shop that was typically reserved for very rich customers. “But, if this is your way of saying that I require your special approval for my ‘teenage rebellion’, then I am assuming that I have it.”
“You do not require my permission to get earrings- I’m just here as a supportive friend.”
“Right.”
“So, what were you thinking?” Klein sighed, pulling off his trench coat and hanging it onto the coat rack before he sat himself in the arm chair in the corner.
“Well, I haven’t really given it much thought, so I’m feeling quite pressured now.” Leonard sighed, as he looked through the jewelry cases. “I feel like a shy woman picking out an engagement ring with her stingy fiancé lingering over her shoulder.”
“Even if you pick something expensive, I am more than certain that if you write Fors and tell her you found something you think Gehrman will like she’ll foot some of the bill as long as she gets to see her investment bear fruit.”
“Are you suggesting I make a deal with the devil for some jewels?” Leonard sneered, turning his back to Klein as he turned to the mirror. “What about these? They’re plain and silver, I hardly notice them.”
“If you don’t wish to notice them then why wear them.” Klein lampooned, having to squint to even notice the small studs in the poet’s ears. “They look cheap, at least get something with a gemstone of some sort.”
“What about clear diamonds? It shouldn’t clash with any of my attire.”
“If you don’t like anything else, then I guess clear diamonds are the best option.” He shrugged, watching as the earrings in Leonard’s ears changed color with every passing second.
It was obvious that his dear poet couldn’t decide between diamonds, rubies, topaz, and emeralds.
For Leonard, rubies probably seemed like the obvious choice but in combination with his typical day to day attire it would seem redundant to have red gloves, a red collar, and red earrings on. The accent color would no longer accent anything, and the abundance of red might lead people to think he was constantly trying to provoke others and instigate drama.
‘His entire wardrobe was centered around the Evernight Church. Do his accessories really have to match them too?’
The sight of the topaz gemstones made Klein wonder whether Leonard was actually thinking of dedicating at least one aspect of his appearance to The Fool and Tarot Club, but the more he thought about it the more Klein realized that wasn’t the case.
In Klein’s opinion, it would make a lot more sense to consider gold rather than topaz when thinking about The Fool. The World was quite fond of gold pounds and he even wore gold framed glasses.
‘Is he considering topaz because of my topaz pendulum? No, it must be a coincidence. I told him the silver studs looked cheap, so he must have assumed that I thought gold studs would look cheap as well. Hence, topaz is the most logical option for a yellow gemstone.”
At first, Klein thought emeralds would be the obvious answer.
Just one look at Leonard was all it took to realize that his dear poet probably had the most alluring eyes that Klein’s ever seen. His eyes were a bright sparkling green that grabbed the attention of anyone passing by, but seeing them paired with emerald earrings made him realize that there was no emerald as mesmerizing that would match the true color of Leonard’s eyes.
‘Well, it’s not like I can tell him that… He can probably tell on his own that the emeralds are clashing with his irises.”
“Are we done? Surely you have made a decision on what you wish to do by now-”
“I have not. Don’t you think I should consider other kinds of earrings? What if I start wearing my hair differently? Then dangly earrings become a viable option!” Leonard explained, using the dream to change his hair into the style of a long braid as Klein averted his eyes away from the new style. “Oh- I forgot, my dear Mr. Fool adores my long hair- I suppose I shouldn’t change how I style it then?”
“It’s a miracle you remember anything considering how bad Captain’s memory was as a Sequence 7.” Klein grumbled to himself as Leonard let out a loud laugh.
“So you don’t deny it?”
“What’s the point in denying what you already know to be true?” Klein grimaced, pulling the hair tie from the end of the long braid and combing the hair out with his hands. “I don’t mind the braid, but you had it so tight and uncharacteristically neat for someone like you. There should at least be a few strands that slip out.”
“Since when did you know how to braid hair?”
“I have a younger sister and Merlin has long hair. Why wouldn’t I know how to braid hair?” Klein scoffed, loosely braiding the strands for giving it a few quick shakes to let some of the strands fall out of the pleat. “In the past, some people would braid ribbons into their hair for some color and variety.”
“You know Klein, I’m starting to think you and Emlyn might have very similar tastes in hobbies.”
“It’s essential for a faceless to know a variety of fashion styles and trends to ensure no one can recognize my true self through my real preferences-”
“Hmm… Is that so? If I remember correctly, there was a certain someone that was able to recognize your true self even if you were hiding your true preferences.” Leonard sighed as the accessories on his ears changed over and over.
“Didn’t you think Dwayne was Professor Azik for some time?” Klein grumbled, starting to feel impatient when he noticed Leonard now experimenting with piercings in other locations of the ear. “If you’re going to get a cartilage piercing, then you can consider doing just one ear, but I can’t promise that people will still look at you the same way as before.”
“Don’t worry, I can only think of one person whose opinion I care about.”
“Is that so? Because I can’t seem to shake the feeling that you keep letting other people inform that person of the changes you make to your life.”
“Oh, I know.” The poet cut him off with a sigh, the dream coming to an end as Klein found himself back in Leonard’s living room. “I’m going to give it some more thought, and I’ll make sure you’re the first to find out this time.”
“I don’t care if I’m the first to find out, but I don’t want to find out from someone else.”
~~~
Since Monday, a few days had passed and now there was about ten minutes until the weekly casual gathering between the Tarot Club members.
For once, it seemed like a majority of the members would be present this time around and Klein couldn’t help but to somewhat look forward to it. Although, once he heard an illusory voice in his head that sounded like Leonard, Klein couldn’t help but to suddenly feel anxious.
‘Honorable Mr. Fool, the matter is settled.’
Klein couldn’t have gotten into Sefirah faster as he pulled the poet into the gray fog and began to scrutinize the man's appearance.
“Fors did end up following me, but I told her to let me be the one to show you or else we’d both end up as beyonder characteristics.” Leonard gave Klein a tightlipped smile as the seer’s expression continued to turn darker and darker with every passing moment.
“Leonard.”
“I know-”
“I had one request.”
“You did, but you also said it was ultimately my choice-” Leonard attempted to justify his actions, but stopped once Klein reached out and grabbed his face. “So… What do you think?”
“What do I think?” Klein scoffed, getting a wink of silver every time the poet opened his damned mouth.
The Fool couldn’t even think, nevermind speak!
His thoughts buzzed as he replayed the smile Leonard first gave him once he spotted Klein, not able to hide the flash of silver that had such a stark contrast with his pink tongue. It was a silver stud that was still plain and somewhat unnoticeable, but the location was just far too much for Klein to take in.
“It’s already healed, and I got it less than an hour ago. I think it’s pretty entertaining.” Leonard laughed, sticking out his tongue and almost going cross-eyed as he attempted to get a good look at the piercing. “Once I get bored of it, I’ll probably just take it out and let it go back to normal, but Fors said I can’t do that until she finishes her next release.”