#it's for the atmosphere and dropping hints about future plotlines

[thebramblewood]

Oasis Springs Side Quest: Part V (The Finale)

This tarot-reading pose pack by @radioactivedotcom is the main one I used! Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck and spreads by @the-dewofthesea with some personal tweaks by me.

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Transcript under the cut.

Celeste: “Now, darling, what question will we be posing to the universe tonight?”

Helena: “Oh, I… Well, that’s a pretty loaded question in itself. Maybe we should just ask what I’ll have for breakfast tomorrow morning.”

Ulrike: “Take this seriously, Zhao!”

Helena: “I am. But what if I ask the wrong thing and learn, like, the exact date of my death?”

Ulrike: [chuckles] “I don’t think that’s quite how it works.”

Helena: “Fine. Then I guess I’ll ask what my final year of college has in store.”

Celeste: “Good. I’ve cut the deck. Now, choose four cards at random and, without looking, place them face down in the center of the table. Let’s see what the cards have to tell us about your future. They’re more illuminating some days than others, so we must be receptive to whatever they’re willing to divulge.”

Helena: [nervously] “So what are they saying so far?”

Celeste: “Patience, dear. The full meaning will not become apparent until all the cards are laid out. We must reveal the fourth before we’ll know. Oh. Well, this certainly makes things more interesting.”

Helena: [groans] “Oh, God, what is it?”

Celeste: “You’ll not want to take this one at face value.”

Helena: “Just show me!”

Celeste: [holds up the Death card]

Helena: “Oh, you have got to be kidding me! Damn it, Faust! Why did I let you talk me into this?”

Ulrike: [cracks up] “The way you jumped like Grim himself just entered the room.”

Celeste: “Death is almost never meant to be taken literally in the context of the tarot.”

Helena: “Almost never?!? That seems to imply that it sometimes is!”

Celeste: “Let’s take in everything we’ve got here before jumping to conclusions.”

Helena: “Well, the Lovers has to be us, right? Oh, God, our relationship is going to die, Ulrike.”

Ulrike: “Will you stop freaking out and let her do her job?”

Celeste: “This spread is all about transformation. Many changes are brewing, some more difficult than others. Your relationship will be one of them. You’ll find yourself up against a great obstacle, and the outcome of that struggle will determine if the connection between you and your partner strengthens or weakens.”

Helena: “Okay... And what about the Magician? How does he fit into all this?”

Celeste: “Well, the Magician may symbolize self-actualization. You’ll have to tap into your inner strengths to face the decisions ahead. But it can also be a warning.”

Helena: “A warning of what?”

Celeste: “Illusion, deceit, manipulation. Perhaps a situation that is not as it seems or an untrustworthy individual.”

Helena: “Please don’t tell me I’m going to fall for an MLM scheme.”

Ulrike: “Helena!”

Helena: “What? It’s a valid concern.”

Celeste: “Whatever or whoever crosses your path, the Queen of Swords reminds you of your fortitude. She advises you to remain clear-headed, rational, and objective in your decision-making.”

Ulrike: [snorts] “You’ve already got that part down, Zhao.”

Celeste: With Death comes rebirth, and it is up to you to determine what you make of this new life when it arrives.”

…

Ulrike: “What’s the verdict? Are you a believer now?”

Helena: “Eh, not really. Transformation, hard decisions, inner strength… It’s so vague! She must follow the same script every time.”

Ulrike: “That Death card got you pretty bad.”

Helena: “It just caught me off guard is all.”

Ulrike: “And all that talk about deception?”

Helena: “I doubt I’ll be meeting a con artist any time soon.”