Chapter Text
The night market was loud and packed with people at the time.
Yeji walked a half-step behind Ryujin, stopping almost every few seconds to stare at something new. A rack of postcards caught her eye. Grainy collages of cities she hasn’t been to yet, places she wants to write about someday.
“Still admiring those cities you haven’t visited?” Ryujin teased, glancing over her shoulder.
“It's research,” Yeji replied primly, slipping one of the postcards back into place. “Future journalist, remember?”
Ryujin laughed and reached back, lacing their fingers together so Yeji couldn’t lag behind anymore.
“Of course I do. And I’m a future overworked paramedic who will absolutely not have time to read your articles.”
“You will read them,” Yeji said, bumping Ryujin ’s shoulder. “And you’ll be proud of me.”
“Who says I aren’t already?” Ryujin said easily, earning her a peck on a cheek.
"I will always be proud of you, Yeji."
They continued through the night market and before long, they passed a stall selling handmade bracelets, turned a corner and nearly collided with a stall. It seemed so oddly out of place amongst the countless food vendors and souvenir booths. The table was draped in a deep purple cloth, embroidered with gold thread. A small sign hung from the front, in cursive, which read:
*FREE TAROT READINGS*
100% accurate. Trust in Madame Tsaritsa.
Ryujin snorted.
“No way people still do this.”
“You believe in this stuff?”
“Of course not, but it’s free!” Ryujin replied immediately. “Let’s try it. I want to see how wild this gets.”
Yeji eyed the woman behind the table. She was shuffling her deck of cards when she made direct eye contact with Yeji. The blankness in her eyes was so eerie that Yeji quickly turned away.
“I-It’s probably just cold reading,” she whispered. “She’s creeping me out, let’s not waste our time here.”
“Exactly,” Ryujin replied. “That makes it much more entertaining, doesn’t it?”
Yeji hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. But if she tells me I’m going to meet my demise by driving into a lamp post someday, we’re leaving.”
* * *
“Welcome,” Madame Tsaritsa said gently, gesturing at the stools. “Sit.”
Yeji shot Ryujin a look. Ryujin grinned and sat anyway.
The woman placed the deck between them and tapped it twice.
“I’ll read you separately first,” she said. “Then together. This way, the cards don’t confuse individual paths with shared ones.”
Ryujin gasped in fake surprise before she chuckled and leaned back.
“Alright. Hit me.”
Madame Tsaritsa slid the deck toward Ryujin.
“Shuffle,” she instructed. “Until it feels right…”
Ryujin picked up the deck awkwardly and started to shuffle. Then she stopped and let the deck rest on the table.
“Three cards,” Madame Tsaritsa continued, spreading the deck across in an arc.
Ryujin picked carefully, laying them face down.
The woman flipped over the cards.
The Knight of Wands.
The Chariot.
And
The Queen of Cups.
“Your Knight of Wands energy means you run toward danger, while the Queen of Cups gives you the empathy to heal.” Madame Tsaritsa said softly. “However, the Chariot warns that impulsivity must be controlled. Channel your fast instincts into strict discipline, and society will benefit from you.”
“Well…that would be awesome.” Ryujin swallowed. “I-I wanna be a paramedic.”
The Madame nodded, unsurprised. “Yes.”
Ryujin muttered a cheer.
Yeji’s turn was next.
She shuffled longer, distracted by the feeling that the deck was heavier than paper should be.
When she finally stopped, Madame Tsaritsa guided her gently through the motions again.
“Three cards,” she repeated.
Yeji laid them down.
The Fool.
The Page of Swords.
And,
The Tower.
Ryujin squeezed Yeji’s hand.
“The Fool brings the love of endless travel and open horizons. This curiosity transforms into the Page of Swords, capturing heavy realities through the written word. ” Madame Tsaritsa said simply. “Yet, The Tower looms in the distance, a shadow warning that profound truths often trigger sudden, disruptive storms. The journey requires balancing a love for freedom with a deep awareness of the forces your words might unleash.”
“Shit.” Yeji’s voice trembled. “Travelling the world is my dream…becoming a journalist too.”
“Yes,” Madame Tsaritsa replied. “You already are. You just haven’t been paid for it yet.”
They laughed.
“That was impressive, pretty accurate,” Ryujin said, exhaling. “What about us together?”
Madame Tsaritsa’s fingers paused over the deck.
“Let me first warn you,” she said carefully, “The cards don’t always read in your favour.”
Ryujin shrugged.
“It's fine. We’re not that superstitious.”
Yeji nodded, though unease curled low in her stomach.
Madame Tsaritsa nodded once and reshuffled.
“Both of you,” she instructed. “Please cut the deck.”
They did as told.
Combining the two cuts, Madame Tsaritsa spread the cards face down in a wide arc again.
“Choose five,” she said. “Together.”
They picked in silence.
The woman arranged them into a cross-like spread, flipping them over one by one.
The Lovers.
The Tower.
The Wheel of Fortune.
The Five of Cups.
And
Death.