The gypsy queen
For ar_drabbles challenge 25, silver
Because this week kastari picked up the dare of a matching number of fics.
"About time."
"You knew I'd come?"
"Wouldn't be much of an oracle if I didn't."
Roslin lowered herself to the floor across from Selloi, breathing through her mouth to avoid an overdose of incense.
"Gonna tell me what you want?"
"I thought you'd already know."
"I'm an oracle, not a fortune teller."
"I need to know what's next."
"You could see it for yourself."
"I took chamalla for the cancer; I'm cured now. The president of the 12 colonies will not be a -- "
"Drug addicted oracle in service of her people?" Selloi chuckled. "You know, it's traditional --"
"To make an offering, yes. I haven't any cubits."
"Cubits aren't worth much these days, Madam President."
"Perhaps this will do." Laura pulled the remainder of her chamalla and a bar of chocolate from her pocket.
Selloi's face lit up. She took a pinch of chamalla and spread it on the chocolate, wolfed it down, and began to speak.
Pythian Apollo tears at the ox-eyed queen.
Zeus flees and Hera is blind;
Zeus drowns in Pythia's tears.
Hera the virgin, the matron, the widow
Hera the breast-wounded, saved by Herakles
Betrayed by Herakles, savior of Herakles
Dione protector of Hera,
Beloved of the chthonic god,
Ferries his heart to fields of Elysium.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I only speak what I am told."
"It doesn't tell me what is next."
"It does," the oracle insisted. "Prophecy does not end when the sweet smell ends, or the bitter taste. You'll see what you want to see."
"What I want to see is Earth," Laura replied. "I want to see our people home."
"And you shall." She took Roslin's hand and placed the chamalla in her open palm. "Have Zeus keep this. You may have need for it yet."
Because this week kastari picked up the dare of a matching number of fics.
"About time."
"You knew I'd come?"
"Wouldn't be much of an oracle if I didn't."
Roslin lowered herself to the floor across from Selloi, breathing through her mouth to avoid an overdose of incense.
"Gonna tell me what you want?"
"I thought you'd already know."
"I'm an oracle, not a fortune teller."
"I need to know what's next."
"You could see it for yourself."
"I took chamalla for the cancer; I'm cured now. The president of the 12 colonies will not be a -- "
"Drug addicted oracle in service of her people?" Selloi chuckled. "You know, it's traditional --"
"To make an offering, yes. I haven't any cubits."
"Cubits aren't worth much these days, Madam President."
"Perhaps this will do." Laura pulled the remainder of her chamalla and a bar of chocolate from her pocket.
Selloi's face lit up. She took a pinch of chamalla and spread it on the chocolate, wolfed it down, and began to speak.
Pythian Apollo tears at the ox-eyed queen.
Zeus flees and Hera is blind;
Zeus drowns in Pythia's tears.
Hera the virgin, the matron, the widow
Hera the breast-wounded, saved by Herakles
Betrayed by Herakles, savior of Herakles
Dione protector of Hera,
Beloved of the chthonic god,
Ferries his heart to fields of Elysium.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I only speak what I am told."
"It doesn't tell me what is next."
"It does," the oracle insisted. "Prophecy does not end when the sweet smell ends, or the bitter taste. You'll see what you want to see."
"What I want to see is Earth," Laura replied. "I want to see our people home."
"And you shall." She took Roslin's hand and placed the chamalla in her open palm. "Have Zeus keep this. You may have need for it yet."