Vancouver felt different from London in a way Jasen couldn't immediately put into words.
The air was cleaner, sharper—salt from the Pacific mixed with pine and rain. The city breathed differently and felt different. Wider streets, with taller glass structures. It felt newer and was newer in a different way. Jasen had never been traveling around the world before being transmigrated into this world.
Vancouver was quiet, and Jasen knew he would spend the proceedable future here. So he was gonna spend a lot of time exploring it. The hard part was laying low from Cerberus.
It had been one day since he arrived with Victoria.
Victoria walked a few steps ahead of me, earbuds in, humming to herself, occasionally spinning between pedestrians with her eyes closed like the world itself would move out of her way. I was praying she would hit a pole just so I could laugh a little. But she avoided them to.
" Hey, thirteen!" she called me suddenly, and pointing.
Before I could respond, she grabbed my sleeve and dragged me into a clothing store. Inside, she exploded with glee as she picked several different outfits, and tried them all on, while I sitted and waiting messing with my omni-tool.
She changed outfits at a dizzying pace— first punk-goth with a crop top with chains and boots. Then a bright blue flowing sundress that looked completely unlike her usual style. Then ripped jeans with a t-shirt of a faded UK flag. Each time she stepped out of the dressing room, she posed dramatically.
"Well what do you think?" she asked
Jasen barely looked up from his omni-tool. "They all look good," I said flatly.
She pouted. "You're not even paying attention." I paused, glancing up, then said, "The punk-goth one suits you best. Dark purple or violet lip gloss would work with it. The Sundress is cute on you, and the T shirt is nice for a chill day."
She froze. Then smiled slowly. " So you were paying attention. You really have a good eye."
I just sighed. "Can we go now?" I asked.
I was already calculating routes to the nearest public library, i wanted to check it out and be somewhere with more access to the information. I wanted to check public records from Vancouver to Alliance personnel and try to determine whether Commander Shepard lived in this city—or if Shepard is a spacer or colonist.
Victoria stepped into my space. " We can go after you change your clothes. It's June in Vancouver, and your wearing a hoodie. You could die from heat stroke."
I just looked at her stoically. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I wasn't lying or putting on a front. The good thing about my body is it adjusts automatically to the climate I am in. From my internal body temperature, to maintaining my hydration levels, and more. Heatstroke wasn't even on my list of concerns.
But Victoria wouldn't listen.
Moments later, I was trapped in what could only be described as a montage of suffering. I was trying on outfit after outfit. At least twenty from what I counted.
From simple jackets. Casual streetwear. Stylish looks. Things I didn't care about. In my past life, I grew up a little poor, so I would buy what I needed and kept those clothes for years. I'd prefer gym wear mostly or athletic fitted jeans and breathable muscle shirts. Their practical, durable, and very comfortable. Outside the occasional special event clothes.
Victoria beamed. " You look good in them all. So we'll take them all."
My eyes almost went blood shot when I looked at the prices "Oh hell no, we won't. this is twenty different outfits. that's six hundred Canadian dollars alone." I said with frustration in my voice.
Victoria wiggled a finger. "That's just your outfits. You forgot to add mine so another four hundred. Plus I'm paying."
I rubbed the bridge of my nose in frustration. This girl was crazy. I know I can hack ATMs and get some more money, but we don't need that many clothes, and where would we even put them all.
"Victoria. That's at least a thousand CD's (Canadian Dollars) worth. Where would we even put these clothes when we have to leave our hotel in a week, not to mention we should be saving our money."
" Don't worry about that, I've got it." She then pulled out a stack of cash.
"Stop," he said. "We need to conserve—"
She then sighed dramatically. "You're such a debbie downer. Can't you just live a little."
I looked at her face. I then sensed something like she was doing this more for her, and less for me. I don't know what's wrong with her but somehow fighting her wouldn't help.
"Fine do what you want, it's your money after all. But I don't want twenty different outfits, bring it down to 10.' I said. " That's a good compromise."
She paused considering it, then nodded. "Deal."
After that the final price of the outfits was 700 CD's. We then left the store with multiple bags—bags she made me carry—and soon we dropped everything off at the hotel I'd already paid for the week.
Then she dragged me back outside in search of food. And that was when I saw it. The library. It was large with a futuristic look, but considering I'm from the past. I was probably just a modern look. It Glass concept with visibility to everything inside.
As I took a step toward it. Victoria grabbed my arm.
"Oh no you don't. First stop we go there."
She pointed to a sign that read: Madame Fool.
Jasen exhaled slowly. A fortune teller really. "You can't be serious?"
Victoria just smiled ear to ear. " I'm so serious. Let's go."
We entered the shop to find it was small, cool and warm, filled with the scent of cinnamon and vanilla. The lighting was soft, the atmosphere calm in a way that felt relaxing.
A woman then emerged from the back.
She was tall, with fair-skin, long brown hair, storm-gray eyes behind glasses. She wore a black robe over a yellow blouse and a black frilled skirt, with stockings, and slippers shaped like black cats.
"Hello, children," she said gently. "Are you here for a reading?"
Victoria grinned. "Are you Madame Fool?"
"I am."
Victoria nodded enthusiastically. "We'd like two readings please."
"I don't need one," I said.
Madame Fool tilted her head. "You don't believe in the mystical?"
" I do to a certain degree, but I also believe in patterns," he replied. "Most things can be explained until then they are mysterious. That's what makes them fun."
The woman smiled softly. "My my that is a interesting view on mysticism. I can understand your hesitancy."
Victoria clasped her hands. "Please 13? I'll pay. So just humor me."
I sighed. "Fine. But afterward, I'm going to the library. Alone."
Victoria chuckled as she looked like she was about to explode with joy. "Deal."
The woman laid out options: "So what type of readings would you prefer. I do palm readings, tarot cards, numerology, psychometric, and clairvoyant."
"Tarot card," I said after a moment. I'd never had one before, so it was the one I was the most interested in.
Victoria nodded. "Agreed"
Victoria then went first. Madame Fool then gestured us to a table, and we sat by the window facing outside. I stood behind Victoria with my arms crossed. For some reason I got a weird vibe from this room. I just couldn't tell what it was. Even my physic sense couldn't pick up what was going on. It was like something was hiding.
"So before we begin, I need to know what is the intention of this reading?" Madame Fool asked.
Victoria played with her black curly hair. "I want to know how my journey with Mr. Brooding Back There will go," Victoria said lightly.
I rolled my eyes unamused.
Then Madame Fool began to shuffle the cards. Quite good to. For a second I thought she was a professional card dealer the way she shuffled them.
The the deck was placed on the table. They were matte black cards with golden lining. Then three cards were drawn and placed in front of Victoria.
The first flipped. " First is your past. The Eight of Cups," Madame Fool said. "This symbolizes walking or running away from emotional ties or responsibilities."
That's when I noticed Victoria's smile began to falter.
Then Madame Fool flipped the second card.
"Now your present. The Moon. This symbolizes Confusion or a sort of Illusion. Your perhaps on a that path indicates a time of uncertainty, emotional intensity, and hidden factors. I urge you to trust your inner voice, face your shadows. Things may not be what it seem."
Victoria's eyes widened.
I looked to Victoria. "Are you okay?"
But she didn't answer me.
Then the third card was flipped. " Now the future. The Judgement. This symbolizes a reckoning of your past. It also means to represent a turning point of your actions. You will awaken and make a lasting decision."
Victoria stood abruptly. "That's enough," she said, forcing a smile. " You were right 13, we should just go."
Then Madame spoke. "But you paid for two readings Ms."
I rested a hand on her shoulder—and felt it. A surge of emotional pressure and burnout. Then a image came to my mind. The image of a stern, regal woman. her eyes were fierce and radiated authority and control. Something Victoria felt she had none of.
Victoria pulled away, and headed for the door. But I stayed.
I looked at Madame Fool with curiosity. "Can I have my divination reading?"
Madame Fool smiled. "Of course. What is your intention?"
I paused thinking for a moment. Do I want to go home or Do I want to know if I can help beat the Reaper's. "To see if I survive the future."
She nodded. Then shuffled the cards. After a moment of amazing shuffling three cards were drawn.
Then she flipped the first card.
"For your past. The Fool upright. This represents new beginnings. You have jump or been sent into the unknown, and your path choices are limitless."
Then she flipped the second card.
" The Strength upright. This symbolizes Inner fortitude. Having the courage to keep going under constant pressure or fear. But it also shows you can be to straightforward."
So far so good. Either she is really good at reading things or this is just one big coincidence.
Then the third card was flipped.
"The World. This resembles completion and wholeness. You will find harmony in your path and survive." She looked at me thoughtfully. "Your survival… appears favorable. How far into the future, I cannot say. But know your future is subject to change like anything."
I nodded. Well I guess that gives me some peace of mind, if only for a little bit
"That's enough then, thank you Madame Fool." I said.
Outside, Victoria stood by the window. "I need to clear my head."
I nodded "I'll be at the library, then" I replied.
We then exchanged omni-tool contacts and parted ways. I stepped through the library doors. and she walked down the street.
Back in the psychic's shop. Madame Fool was cleaning up when she picked up her deck a cards one fell on the table. When she turned it over the card it was the The Nine of Swords upright. Her eyes widen as she looked at the two kids walking separate ways.
"That boy's future will hold a lot of trials for him. Hopefully he will make it through it in one peace."