o23. [Action]

[aphephobic]

[Hisoka hates sweets. He hates them a lot. Empty calories in general tend to rub him the wrong way, which made it extra surprising when he found that weird little note lying around:]

Libra:
• Your sudden sweet tooth is probably a sign of impending doom

Comments

[chainedraven]

[Gilbert is really supposed to be in bed right now, given that he's ill and running a fever, but his horoscope convinced him that he can just be a man and walk it off. He's walking, all right, but the cold air really isn't doing him a lot of good, to the point that he sees the sign and decides that it'd be a great idea to go investigate.

So here's a guy with flushed cheeks and fever-bright eyes peeking into the tent as though not quite sure what he's seeing. Because he isn't, really.]

You have chocolate in here?

[aphephobic]

[Well really, the inside o the tent might as well be a fever dream by now. Hisoka's run strings of orange christmas lights along the top edges for lighting, while a row of candles flicker happily along the edges of his table. Aside from his not-at-all-necessary crystal ball, everything else is made of sugar. But for a new client, he'll put down his twinkie and even swallow his mouthful before speaking.]

I've got lots of things in here, Mr. Nightray. Mostly, I have the common sense to not go wandering around outdoors when I have such a high fever I can't see straight. [Idiot. He'll punctuate that sentence by shoving the remainder of his twinkie into his mouth.]

[chainedraven]

...what?

[Gilbert hesitates in the door opening, squinting at the young man and trying to decide if he's met him before. Probably not? At least, not that he can recall. But if that's so why was he just addressed by name?

A second later he drags his train of thought back on track and pulls what dignity he has about himself. He's manly, right? That's why he's out walking, it's doing him good to get fresh air.]

I'm perfectly fine. I thought your sign said you were here to provide a service, not insults.

[aphephobic]

[Not really, no. But he's on a sugar high as it is, and finds himself actually eager to put his skills to work for the good of the community.]

Call it tough love, then. Are you planning on letting me see your palm or not? [He holds out an expectant hand.]

[chainedraven]

[Actually Gilbert had been more interested in the mention of chocolate on the sign, but since it seems like the guy is going to keep it all for himself... maybe he might as well. It's not like he actually believes anyone can really tell what the future is going to bring, so it can't hurt.

He considers that for a moment, then gives a mental shrug and steps forward, pulling the glove off his right hand before holding it out.]

[aphephobic]

If you wanted to eat something, you could have tried asking politely. [He'll just be snatching that palm, thanks much.]

It would be useful if you'd think about things that don't involve whether I can or can't see your path. Your skepticism is distracting.

[chainedraven]

I didn't say anything about that.

[Startled, Gilbert starts to draw his hand back again. That was a little too close to his real thoughts for his own comfort. Aren't fortune tellers supposed to make vague predictions that could mean just about anything?]

[aphephobic]

[Hisoka lets him pull away, resting his cheek in his free hand.]

The fake ones are vague. It wastes less time to just get on with doing things the right way, don't you think?

[chainedraven]

[Gilbert isn't the most tactful person normally, and right now he's sick enough to lose any semblance of a brain-to-mouth filter. So he'll just blurt it out without thinking:]

I thought you were supposed to read palms, not minds.

[aphephobic]

Psychical contact makes it stronger. Haven't you ever gone to a legitimate mindreader before?

[chainedraven]

[But... "legitimate mindreader" is an oxymoron. Have a completely blank look in response to that, Hisoka.]

...no. I haven't.

[aphephobic]

[Sigh]

It is not an oxymoron. Do I need to make you think of a random number to ease you past this?

[chainedraven]

[This would be the mental equivalent of a keysmash. Right here. Gilbert blinks a few times, trying to rearrange his thoughts. Well. If someone like Yellow can read thoughts of... of giant rats or whatever Chuchu is, maybe someone else can read thoughts of people. There are weirder things in Luceti, after all.

Weirder things back at home, come to think of it. Though he's never run into a Chain that can read thoughts they do tend to have unusual abilities. So, okay, why not.

He finally steps forward again, cautiously holding out his hand.]

So can you actually tell the future?

[aphephobic]

Sometimes. The future is a direct consequence of the present.

[He lightly holds the outstretched palm, picking through Gilbert's surface thoughts.] Your friends are bizarre, just so you know.

[chainedraven]

...how so?

[What exactly is that supposed to mean? He'd better not say anything negative about Oz. Or Vincent. Or Elliot. Or... well, okay, he can say something about Leo. Leo is kind of strange.]

[aphephobic]

[His brow furrows insistently.] Stop that. You're giving me too much information. Try to focus more. A person, a subject -- something that happened recently.