View
Thursday, October 1, 2009

Queen of Masks

by Taki

There are moments when I think I identify with the Queen of Masks card more than any other. I'm not busty and purple haired and standing halfway in a waterfall, sure. I have more sense than that.

None of the traditional meanings apply to me, that's for sure! I'm neither "sensually powerful" nor "devoted and loyal".

Anyway I never really get a feeling of devotion or sensuality from this card. For me, this card evokes a protective outer presentation to cover a compressed, subdued inner reality.

I get that. I do. I have never been something enough for the people who had power to influence me. Not sighted enough. Not blind enough. Not obviously one particular ethnicity enough.

--

Taki says that's, well, she says something really scornful sounding in what's got to be Japanese. I figure it translates as "crap" based on how she moves her hands when she says it.

But this is one of those circumstances where I say she lacks experience. Taki has always been at least middle class, as far as I have picked up, which means she has always been a part of the more dominant subgroups in her area.

--

So while Taki is trying to punch Dr. Overmind (and missing several times!), I am more focused on what does not fit here. How I do not fit; how other bits of this whole mess do not really fit.

I have a very tentative idea about that.

I think Overmind was down here to steal something from the previous lair inhabitants.

I think everything that has happened since that tatooing-powder-theft from Golden Lotus a couple of weeks ago, has all been about getting into this place and stealing one thing.

I want to go have a good look back at the northern platforms, and particularly in the security station in the center of that platform.

--

But of course, it would help me out if Taki would take this persistent Guard Drone down and then bust the STAR Labs truck on the subway tracks!


This is taking too long.

I have to take action.


Majutsu-shi! My line is going to END in ONE MINUTE if you do not STOP FOOLING AROUND with theatrics!
— Taki to Loki, on comms


My name is no longer important. "Taki" it is not, of course. Whether you pronounce that like the arcade game character with the silly body shape, or like the name sometimes given to boy children in real history, no. I was Tani no Aki at one point ... but that was many ages ago. No one remembers even my grandchildren's grandchildren, not really.

It does not matter. "Taki" is fine. Even amusing. It leads people to make simple presumptions.

What does matter is that this unparented young woman, this fortune teller, she is the last of my descendants. She is my last tie to this world. She needs a guardian. If she does not have protection, other forces will cut her life short -- and then neither of us can be in this world ever again.

It frustrates me so much that she takes risks like this!

Anything could latch onto her as a parasite!

Not that it will be necessary! Look at how she is burning her reserves out, trying to sustain two other lives that have been hobbled by Overmind.

 
I do approve of saving the innocent. I do. It is a good instinct. It is honorable.

 
It is a task for strong, trained souls -- more than one! More than two! At least four, working together and supporting one another!

 
We do not have four. At best, we have the Sorcerer Prince. Can he keep my last descendant alive?

Continue reading...

  1. The People's Glorious Twenty-Fifth of May
  2. Grip of NOT DEMONS Mind Thieves
    September 23rd, 2009
  3. Keepaway
  4. Sleuth and Rescue
    Monday, September 28th, 2009
  5. Canister Clues So Far:
    Monday, September 28th, 2009
  6. Coffee Date
    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  7. Museum of the City Rebooting
    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  8. The Sphynx Trap
    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  9. Follow up on clues!
    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  10. Underground
    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  11. Magic Eight Ball says Try Again Later
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  12. Pier 99
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  13. Keepaway
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  14. Balloons over Central Park
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  15. The Villain's Lair
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  16. Ten of Discs
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  17. Nine of Blades
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  18. Queen of Masks
    Thursday, October 1, 2009
  19. Souls and Swords
    Thursday, October 1, 2009

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies

Dungeon Fog
Gold Ennie 2019 for Best Digital Aid
by 3 Armored Kittens · Prodromos v.1.1 - World Anvil 0.9.15.042 © 2017-2024 [en] | Anvil Time: 14:50, Nov 5 2024