♎ S33R: R34D TH3 HOROSCOP3S

[foretaste]

( phone )

It's Terezi and my auricular sponge clots are still frothing teal from all of those alarms, and I guess everyone is still in a big panic about it but I just wanted to let everyone know that Dave Strider- hard cherry candy red Dave, not delicious orange creamsicle Dave- is gone. Back to... to our universe, I guess, and I mean, I just-...

[Terezi actually sounds pretty miserable about it. ]

I bet he will be back soon. I mean, that's just like a coolkid, to get himself panscrubbed ironically. He will be back in a few days, won't he, I just know it, he's going to swagger on in and be like 'Hey, TZ, hey, everything's totally cool and I was just seeing what it was like to be a drone for a while.' Yeah, that's what's going to happen. Blargh. I think I am going to give him a good hard drubbing the moment he snaps out of it. He's leaving me hanging and-

[Her voice shrinks.] ...Anyway, um. That's all.

Oh, except, by the way, can I ask if there are any people out there who were born between the human calendar dates of... September 24th to October 23rd? [She sounds a little bit hopeful, curious.] Let me know!

( filtered to castmates but easily broken )

I discovered this thing! [She seems to perk up a little bit, although she still sounds a bit tired. There's some rustling on her end of the line.] It's called 'the zodiac'! Humans have this wheel of 12 signs based on the stars in the sky and the way they're laid out and... There's a machine that dispenses something called a 'horoscope'. That's how I figured it out. I don't know how we didn't ever learn about this sooner!

[She gives a huff.] I'm going too fast, but it's pretty exciting! They're our signs, if you haven't figured that out yet. All 12- they're ours. And they're all based on real star patterns. We really did have an influence on this universe. Apparently all humans born on this planet fall under one of our signs. Amazing, isn't it!

The machine's at the comic shop. But I found a book on the zodiac, too! Here, for example, I'm going to read about my sign. It's called 'Libra'. [She pauses for a moment to lick the paper.] 'Diplomatic and urbane, romantic and charming'- hahaha- 'Easygoing and sociable, idealistic and peaceable'... They're all qualities that are supposed to represent our signs, I think! Naturally I am incredibly sociable and romantic and diplomatic and peaceable so this is all one hundred percent absolutely undeniably true.

But the coolest part is, [she takes a breath-] the coolest part is that my sign represents the scales. Equality and justice. And the rest of the signs, are, um, well, you'll see! I think it's all kind of amazing. You should go to the comic shop if you want to see! It's just... I guess even here, it's kind of encouraging to know that we had an impact on things. Somehow.

( action; the comic shop )

[Terezi, dressed in tribute to a certain coolkid, is standing before a rusty machine mounted to the wall. It has a number of different options on it, and after inserting $0.05, it dispenses small tubes of paper containing horoscope information. Terezi is basically choking the thing with nickels and stuffing a bunch in her pockets. She has a lot of Libras and Cancers. Once she amasses enough, she sits down on the curb of the sidewalk and begins sketching on the ground in chalk.]

Comments

[shesapir8]

Terezi. [Carefully pushes those sunglasses up to the younger's horns, before pausing, the hiss of her inhale clear as she stares into those red eyes. Like Redglare's. Like that lusus of hers. And now she studies those horns, picking out how they seem to be just miniaturised versions of the legislator's and she can't help it.

She chuckles. The fact that this descendant of a woman who actually managed to succeed slightly in taking Mindfang down is so timid, so obedient. It amuses her.] Let me guess... tealblood? With a sign like the one on the ground here? [Taps the Libra sign with her boot, smudging the chalk, shifting those sunglasses behind Terezi's horns so the girl can't pull them down]

You seem nervous, little Terezi. Are you?

[foretaste]

[Terezi manages a feral little grin, and she answers as truthfully and bluntly as she always does.] Yeah, a bit nervous. I mean, why wouldn't I be! I know who you are and all the stuff you did and you could definitely cull me like a squishy little grub right now. It'd be easy for you.

[She knows Mindfang has made the connection between herself and Redglare now, and she doesn't want to prove herself unworthy as the Neophyte's assistant. Not on a first impression. So she keeps talking, smoothly.] It is a great sign and I'm happy to have it.

[shesapir8]

Hmm, I suppose that's true... but what would I gain from culling you dear? Would it win me my freedom? Give me things that I treasure? This town brings bodies back I heard, so all I'd be gaining is a small tiny enemy as well as the irritation of Redglare...

Though when I think about it that would be worth something I suppose. [Shifts, lowering herself to Terezi's height, face close and all up in the younger's business.] But no. I'm sure there are other ways to find her points of irritation. All I'd have would be steal a few things I think. Tell me, do you overreact as much as she?

And while your at it, little Terezi, I'm looking for someone. And seeing how you've drawn my own sign I think you know her. Am I right?

[foretaste]

[Terezi doesn't move away- but she knows what Mindfang means.]

Vriska?

Of course I know her. [She nudges Vriska's sign on the sidewalk with her shoe.] She's my sister. [Metaphorically. But it's still true.

Redglare still doesn't know; she wonders what she might say were she to find out that her descendent and that of her enemy had turned out to be friends, at one point.]

[shesapir8]

Sister? [There's the slightest upward flick of Mindfang's eyebrows at the term of familiarity. Does Redglare know is her main thought, does the other female know does it tear her up to know how close their descendants are?

And if she doesn't, how quick will Mindfang get called a liar for telling her. How much trouble would it cause. how much fun could she have with this information. With Dualscar gone, she needs someone to fight with, and Redglare is a fine opponent.

But until she has the adult tealblood, she'll just chuckle and pet the hair of the younger] How sweet. You must be very close then. And thus you'd know where I'd find her.

[foretaste]

Yes. [Terezi pauses, deliberately, then carefully says,] What do I get if I tell you~?

[shesapir8]

[She cackles, running a finger down Terezi's cheek, shucking her under the chin before taking her hand away] My my, the satisfaction of telling me? Not having me find out if you're more easily controlled than the Neophyte?

Or do you like material things, wiggler?

[foretaste]

I have no use for material things. [Terezi giggles.] What if it's the satisfaction of not telling you? What then?

[shesapir8]

Oh but material things can be so pretty... [She laughs, the sound low and dark and if Terezi could see, Mindfang's smirk widens into a grin, small peeks of sharp teeth showing.] There isn't any. I always get what I want dear, and if I don't then I have no use for it or it's keepers.

I assume you're a smart girl, smart and tricky like your ancestor. And if you are smart you should know it's best to tell me.

[foretaste]

[she can smell that grin and it sends chills down her spine, but she holds still.]

Then I'll tell you. But I'll tell you another thing first, if you don't mind: you're her hero, and Vriska's always wanted to be like you.

But.

[she pauses as if wondering how to word it.]

She's not. Not even close.

[is that a good thing? a bad thing? Terezi doesn't even know. it all depends on perspective...]