Re: The Fortune Teller/ The Soldier
The remnants of the shawl had been placed delicately upon her bare shoulder, she would have been more grateful if he hadn't torn it at all. It was her favorite, possibly because it was her only one. Constant traveling made for light luggage, but she was too focused on the empty trinket that had tumbled out of her bag; not the reflection in the window, not the illicit eyes of the men on the car, or the blush of the soldier when eyes fell upon bare skin, or even the missing people, her cards were missing--her great-grandmother's. Her livelihood. Who knows what ill-will would fall upon her for losing them, or far worse they were stolen.
She scooped up the pouch and the peculiar bottle, she and Mr.Johnson's head nearly collided, but thankfully he seemed to be regaining his composure and was already standing. "No, no it isn't mine and they were.." She shook her head now rising to her feet skirts rustling about her legs. "Tarot cards. I happen to read them. I need them--" She stood side by side with the soldier, holding the gilded bottle up to the dim illumination of the gaslights. It shimmered and shone, offering her that vague sense of familiarity once more but--
"I don't know what on earth this is doing in my bag." Her eyes shut, breathing in deep as if that would bring her some sort of composure. It wasn't. Her free hand gripped Mr.Johnson's arm despite herself, holding on. Probably not the wisest decision considering his state of inebriation. She didn't care. She squeezed his arm once and then released him entirely, took off that torn shawl, both shoulders now prominently on display. She tossed it into the booth and quickly sat herself down.
"Besides people going missing it seems there is a thief in our midst. There must be. It's the only explanation. That woman couldn't have... I put them away after she left and..." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Excuse my suspicions, Mr. Johnson but your hands didn't wander, did they?" Oh, what was she saying, he was so drunk--and it wasn't an act, she knew actors and he couldn't hide what he had seen and what he was trying to drown away with his flask. "Nevermind."
"Something is wrong," she groaned faintly, leaning her head back against the cushion and closing her eyes, lashes casting shadows on her high cheeks. "Something is very wrong."