Esmeralda dances to the rhythm of the tambourine (changewillcome) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-08-02 13:23:00 |
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While the Court of Miracles wasn’t strictly occult, they did have an atmosphere to promote which could best be kept up by frequenting occult stores. That, and Madellaine just really seemed to like them. Speaking of Madellaine, it seemed as though Esmeralda had lost her in the store, though the woman did know what she needed for her own set up. Most of the candle variety as her tarot deck came from generation upon generation in her family.
Part of why Esmeralda had decided to tag along was because of a look she’d gotten from the ‘seer’ of their troupe. Something about how the reading of her palm was complicated, had changed. Which if you asked her? Shouldn’t happen. But with the dreams? Well who even knew. Madellaine seemed concerned though and Esmeralda was confused.
Shaking her head some, the young Roma woman headed over to where there were a variety of crystals, holding one up to see how it caught the light. A rainbow. Or even like the stained glass in Notre Dame.
There were a few occult shops in the area that Zatanna frequented, all with their uses and preferred wares - if she needed books, she went to the Broom Closet. A bookstore run by Pete Wisdom’s sister, Romany, a cozy place with a tea bar in the back (much to the brother’s chagrin) and also where trinkets could be found here and there, treasures discovered. This shop was where she went if she needed to stock up on divination supplies. Sanctum Sanctorum had long since closed, months ago actually, and Zee was moving on - she’d found this store on a whim, and on her initial trip discovered a tarot cloth that was quite helpful to her. Her deck was vintage, dating back to the era of mystics and secret societies in France, but the cloths were often used to provide a soft surface for laying out the spread - supposedly it helped with the flow of energy too. But the black and silver material, with pentacles that were reflective and giving the cloth a liquid-like movement, was a nice find.
She had a scrying mirror as well, along with a crystal ball and various runes. Crystals though, she only used those sporadically. “Clear quartz, it aids in focus,” she spoke up, noticing the girl next to her had selected something. “It’s one of the most powerful gemstones. Though if you want to aid in relaxation and achieve personal wholeness go for carnelian - “ Zee picked up a package of orange-red stones, like the color of a sunset. “These runes are all-natural.”
After a moment, she chuckled softly at herself. “I don’t work here, I swear.”
Hearing someone speak up, Esmeralda looked over to where the woman was and placed the crystal down. While they didn’t have actual meaning for her people, it still would work with the creation of atmosphere. That and she just appreciated the way different crystals caught the light depending on their shape. No real use for them beyond fitting into what was expected for a show and just decoration purposes. Never let the customers know that, though.
“Are you sure about that? You are quite knowledgeable on them.”
She was amused and it was obvious in her voice. And it was something else to think about instead of the peculiarity of her dreams. They were as they were, and she wasn’t about to let them dictate how she acted. But as a rule, there was still a real life to think about. Even with her confusion at Madellaine’s comments the other day.
“Well, I am an Occultist. I suppose that accounts for being knowledgeable,” Zatanna smiled, always pleased for a chance to discuss ‘the craft,’ even in passing - the glint in eyes so blue they teetered on the edge of violet was obvious, but then again, you probably wouldn’t even be in this particular shop if you did not have at least a slight interest in divination. Or so she assumed.
She set the package down and studied the others, the various crystals that hung from the walls and were displayed on shelves; overall the shop had that unique scent of a thousand sticks of burning incense all melding together, the way any ‘new age’ store would. Kind of reminded her of hookah and the various shisha flavors too. “Do you dabble in fortune-telling as well?” she inquired curiously.
“That would certainly explain it.” Such a world where people could be open on if they were an occultist or not. Far too much pain and suffering but at least, for the most part, people weren’t shunned or accused of witchcraft all because of fear. Brushing some hair behind her ears, the emerald eyed young woman watched as Zatanna looked at the various crystals and the basic decoration.
“That would be more my friend Madellaine though I know the basics.” She had to for the act, “I’m more of a dancer myself.” That was something she could do, something she enjoyed. It was in her blood and apparently it travelled worlds in her dreams as well.
Something resonated there, and Zee perked up a little. Felt like she was just chatting about dancing with someone else - perhaps it was the same person, and she just didn’t realize? Worth an ask, anyway.
“It wouldn’t happen to be belly dancing, would it?” she wanted to know. “I recently had deja vu because I was chatting with someone named Destiny, on the forum I am a part of, about taking a beginner’s class.” There hadn’t been much of a chance to learn in the past, not while growing up in the circus - the closest she had come was watching in awe at wonder at Megara’s parents the acrobats. This particular talent ran in the family, though not with Zatanna. She was meant for the stage just not in that way. But now with more opportunity, she wished to try something else besides yoga for her fitness kick.
“No, but Destiny is a friend of mine. My dance is known as Čoček, where I prefer the use of my tambourine or scarves.” But the fact that this woman had spoken to Destiny about belly dancing? Well, that perked her interest. Especially as she mentioned the network. “It seems we are both members of the same network though if that was how you spoke to Destiny about it.”
True, she and Destiny had not seen one another in ten years, before she had gotten split from her mother and ended up with Clopin taking her in, but they still had that bond and she had indeed offered her help should it be necessary.
Ah, well, there you go. Hadn’t been the same person Zatanna spoke to on the network, but someone from the network anyway - and given how Orange County was so massive, there statistically should be a small chance that you’d run into people you happened to converse with online. However, the laws of their reality worked in mysterious ways. Zee was not too surprised to come across another woman from that corner of cyberspace.
“That’s fascinating,” she hummed, trying to picture it. “The Čoček, that is Romani?” It was another form of dance that Zee had only glimpsed here and there - she assumed there were some similarities with aerial silk acrobatics, but obviously Čoček was an art all unto its own.
Oh, manners. She remembered to introduce herself, amongst the crystals, the runes, and the gemstones. “I am Zatanna. Zatanna Zatara. I have a magic act around here - it’s just my first name with an exclamation point, nothing ostentatious sounding,” she grinned.
The fact that Zatanna actually seemed to know the roots of her dancing? That was impressive to Esmeralda. True, she could have just referred to it as a tambourine dance, but it was so much more than that and even if there was an act to put on, a certain atmosphere, it was still her blood, in her bones, and it was all part of the Court of Miracles. All of them, one family, a shared history, bringing forth this place to maybe, just maybe, have a place to call home.
“It is.” Esmeralda answered with a smile. Because really, she hadn’t expected someone to recognize the style of her dance. And now she had a name for the person she was speaking with.
“It’s nice to meet you, Zatanna. I’m Esmeralda. I dance at a, I suppose tavern is closest to what it is, called the Court of Miracles.”
Esmeralda. Yes, names were important, and the girl looked like an Esmeralda. She had an exotic sort of beauty to her - and her dancing must be captivating too. “The Court of Miracles,” Zee repeated, committing the name to memory. “I’ll have to stop by very soon. I don’t know of any other taverns that feature Čoček. And the drinks are good too?”
She assumed so, but it was nice hearing about a new place straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak. But the Mistress of Magic was always looking for spots to meet up with friends, relax, have a decent cocktail or two. Hookah lounges had been her ‘go-to’ lately, there were many to experiment with - some had belly dancing, just not the unique sort found in The Court of Miracles.
“I’m fairly certain we’re the only one. But yes, the drinks are definitely good and we always have Metheglin on hand.” A spiced mead, ancient recipe they had brought with them. Something else that Esmeralda was fairly certain they were the only ones to have. Then again, when the tavern was run by Romani, that wasn’t surprising as while there were certainly Romani in the States, they weren’t as prevalent as they might otherwise be.
Then again, Esmeralda would also always recommend the Court of Miracles. It was, quite literally, her livelihood and how everyone managed to survive. It was why they had a permanent home. Yes, under the tavern, but it was still their home and it made them money that they didn’t have to earn through more… shady… means.
Really, spiced mead would be the magic words. It was rare that you’d find a bar that would serve the medieval nectar of the gods, and for shame. Because how delicious was that? Mead also had a long history, for a variety of uses, drank in large quantities for a variety of celebrations. “It is nice to hear of you and your family, I presume? The ones running the tavern? Preserving your culture. I think that’s important,” Zatanna shared.
It was something she knew the Romani struggled with, and especially in the States - there were more opportunities here, but it was so easy to lose what had once been firmly rooted, traditional, in the melting pot that was the country.
With a bit of sleight of hand, she procured a business card, nestling it on Esmeralda’s person. She’d find it later, surely. “My card’s with you,” she slyly added. “In case you ever wish to chat divination, perhaps not at work - if you ever have a night off, maybe. I learned the art of tarot reading and tasseomancy from my uncle, but here...I find that being in the area really boosts the skills.” To say the least.
“We are basically family, yes.” There was a smile in her voice, because as much as they struggled, they were always there for one another. Had come together through different means, Clopin had found her wandering alone which was never safe, she had taken pity on Gringoire and convinced the others that he should travel with them. “It is important though, preserving our culture, who we are. We’ve only been here a few months but so far, it has been good.”
Aside the confusing dreams. But that was par the course. And after what Kitty had briefly shown her of her own abilities? Definitely a peculiarity and something she herself would have to look into.
The comment on the card was met with a quirked brow, though Esmeralda really was no stranger to sleight of hand. It was all part of the act and so to meet someone else who was familiar? It was always nice to chat.
“So I have been told and I am sure that with the network as it is and what I have so far seen, it will be of use to talk.”
“Oh, you’re on the network as well?” Zee lifted an eyebrow. The coincidences just kept piling on, though she shouldn’t be shocked about such things. It was some strange magic here, in Orange County, powering that network and whatever else - the fabric of their reality was a uniquely interwoven tapestry. She believed one could study for years and years, and yet still not have all of the answers about how it all worked. And perhaps that was fine. “Yes, it’s always useful to talk. To get other opinions, and assistance if necessary too. I certainly don’t mind.”
If she could help, she would. She’d offered that help for a variety of uses, had even formed the Magic Guild to get those who practiced the arcane together and forming a community. It had been an asset, she thought. Learning new things on her own end was a pleasant bonus.
The crystals shimmered at them - she could tell which were imbibed with the type of magic that was legit, and the ones that were more for decoration than anything else. So she selected a bit of quartz for her own use. “I’ll let you get back to your shopping for now, Esmeralda,” Zatanna slung her chin politely. “Though it was a pleasure to meet another dreamer.”
She assumed the other woman had begun that journey. What an adventure it always was.
A nod was given. “I am only on the one which you mentioned in regards to speaking to Destiny about the belly dancing lessons. So unless there are others I am unaware of, it would appear we are on the same one.” Aside of course the typical ones of Facebook or Twitter, but they weren’t really known as the network from what Esmeralda was aware of. Really, it had been a recommendation to join it and oh had it opened her eyes to things that were beyond even her own As she spoke though, Esmeralda tilted her head some then nodded. “There should be more people like that. Those who are willing to help.”
It was a sore spot for her. Esmeralda herself was quite passionate, always willing to help those in need, didn’t consider her own needs. But she saw how most people were, caught up in their own lives. The hatred and bigotry for those who were different. It was hard not to see that, even as she held onto her belief that people could change and that good would prevail. Need would become rare, greed would stop paying…. Then again, she was often called naive for such beliefs as well.
“Likewise. Though yes it is as it seems to be quite the phenomenon here.”
Wasn’t it just? Zatanna’s eyes twinkled with mirth. “The dreams are, along with...other things. The general ‘Orange County’ phenomenon,” she quipped. “It’s quite a place to live. But you will find more than you bargained for - in both good ways and bad.” No use sugarcoating it, and maybe it sounded mysterious now - it’d all make sense later.
Some of it, anyway.
“Take care,” another warm smile sent the in the woman’s direction, and she was back to prowling the aisles for more sucop socoh enhancements.
“So I’m seeing.” Smiling some, she nodded. “You as well.” As Zatanna went back to what it was she’d been searching for, Esmeralda replaced the crystal she had picked up (there weren’t exactly windows in the basement of the Court after all) and went in search of Madellaine.