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You're more than welcome to come here, then, if you wouldn't mind.

And you're not an inconvenience at all, so don't let thoughts like that trouble you.

I'll be down in just a moment, then!

[And indeed she will, sewing bag in hand and with her lilac cardigan pulled almost as an afterthought about her shoulders, whereupon she'll announce her presence with a few light taps to the door.]

[At least he seems in a decent mood when she does!

He hasn't been quite as high-spirited as he tends to be when all is well, but he's been doing a decent job of not being openly upset or depressed for the last five days, either; normally whatever fit he was having before would have continued well beyond that (because there's no sense in doing anything halfway, and if he's that upset then surely he can let everyone in his immediate vicinity know it for at least a week), but as it stands, there's a super-awkward agreement in place with Banjou and while he's still not okay with more or less needing to oversee everything with regards to the well-being of several people...well. He sort of has to be halfway functional to do it.

So halfway functional he's been, and he's taken far less time to himself than he'd like, but goddamn it he's at least had the sense to not openly be bothered by any of it.

...Reward him, assholes, this is taking effort.

That said, however, Meridiana is one of the few people he doesn't have any sort of argument with right now, and he seems rather put together when he moves to see her in; his clothes are still decidedly less...assertive in terms of colors and patterns - he's actually been dressing like a fairly reasonable person lately, largely in black and greys and white - but they're more than presentable, at least.

The room itself is thankfully devoid of IKEA; most of the DIY furniture is delegated to the downstairs, with the upstairs bedrooms leaning more toward extravagance that's both familiar and vaguely old-fashioned, as far as he's concerned. Apparently beds don't count unless they come with massive posts and entirely too many pillows everywhere (and that is where Alessia is for now, the massive snake watching the proceedings from her usual position coiled up near the head of the bed) and the room isn't properly furnished without a goddamn vanity and the like.]

Miss Everett - is everything all right tonight?

[And while he is thoroughly of the opinion that it'd fucking better be, there's no sense in being unpleasant about it.]

I was hoping to ask you the same question, Mr. Tsukiyama. It's very kind of you to receive me, even at such a late hour.

[...You know, she's never going to quite get over Alessia the massive cuddlesnake, but she is in fact a fixture of the house and the heebie-jeebies are getting a little easier; that said, as she enters the room and waits politely to be directed toward a seat, she can't help but wonder if it's going to be "sharing bedspace with the nine-foot serpent".]

Actually, I've brought you something. I know things have been...somewhat difficult lately, so I thought perhaps a small gift of sorts was in order.

[...well, he did mention rewards...]

Oh...?

[While he is of the opinion that rewards are certainly in order, he's not exactly...expecting any, clearly. Well then.

...And at least it seems like we're both going to be sharing bedspace with the nine-foot serpent, it's not just you. As long as we stay over here and she stays over there, we'll be fine.]

It's been getting a bit easier lately, thankfully, but either way, that's good of you.

[So long as he is on board to do any necessary snake-punching, that is fine and acceptable.

Also, once she's seated and with her bag in her lap, it's both easy and the perfect opportunity to reach in and draw out a small assortment of handmade sachets, embroidered in a handful of different colors for variety, which are about the right size to fit in a person's palm and all of which are scented delicately of lavender.]

There are some for you and for Mr. Banjou, as well — they're lavender, and sweet-smelling.

[She offers him one with pink stitching.]

They're...they go under your pillow, or perhaps in a pocket or a glove, and the lavender...it's for calmness and peace of mind. I thought...since you both seem to be, um, troubled lately...that something pleasant and sweet might be just the thing.

[...Ah.

He accepts the sachet, turning it over between his fingers a bit; this entire thing is admittedly so cute he's gonna die, but at the same time there's something about this that's striking him a little strangely.

He's smiling, though; it's not a bad sort of strange at all.]

Have we been worrying you? I won't say that it hasn't been a hard couple of weeks, but we don't mean to trouble you any.

[His tone remains light, though it's clear that he's not blowing her concern off, either; he brings the sachet up a bit, however, just enough to let himself catch the scent of it, breathing in deeply as he does so.]

...I think you're right, though, in thinking that this will be just the thing - I appreciate it, thank you.

Ah — I wouldn't say it's been worrisome, exactly.

[She pauses, kind of looking down into her bag and at the other few sachets still within; perhaps she'd gone a little overboard in making them, but it'd given her something to do with her hands, and the thought of being able to give her two roommates something nice...]

...Rather, it's just...it made me happy, to think that I might be able to do you both a kindness, or to make things go even the slightest bit easier for you while most all of it has been hard. You've both been so kind to me in so many ways, and often when I've been having a difficult time; I thought it was nice, that I might be able to do something to return it for once.

[Oh, honey.]

You've been very helpful to us here, you know - we've been glad to have you around.

[And so help him, if Banjou makes you ever think otherwise he's getting punched in the diaphragm again.]

Oh, um — if you'd rather a different color, I did a little variety. To help tell the sachets apart, there's pink and yellow and blue...

[Which isn't really apropos of anything, but the fact that she's actually not fixating on solely giving pleasant and appropriate responses to what's been said to her is probably an optimistic sign, all things considered.]

...oh, and I shan't like to presume, but I did bring down my cards with me, if consulting with them might set your mind at ease at all...

[He actually has to think that over for a moment; he's not entirely sure what he thinks of that sort of thing still, at least not as anything but a hobby to pass the time, but he actually has been reading that book she'd given him for Christmas and he'd be lying if he said it hadn't crossed his mind to ask.]

...If you really wouldn't mind it, I'd like that quite a bit, amore.

...You know, there's something I remember being said about fortune-tellers, back in the London I recall.

[Even as she says this, she's digging into her bag for her cards without hesitation, sort of warmly pleased at having the suggestion received so well.]

I think it was meant as a word of caution to the teller, of all things, but...it's something like, "a fortune-teller mustn't feel anything too strongly, when using her cards, lest her own feelings color them and make it come out wrong." I wonder sometimes, if that doesn't make for a sort of sad state of affairs — that perhaps the people she wishes to help most are the same ones she's least able to.

[She hesitates, a little self-conscious, but then collects herself and offers the cards.]

But I promise to do my very best for you. I'm very glad for the chance to try.

[He takes all that in, tipping his head a bit while she speaks, though if he's at all concerned by it, it isn't obvious.

He also doesn't know what to do with parts of it, but he'll worry about that later.]

...I look forward to seeing what happens, then. Do you need me to do anything in particular?

Would you like to have a specific question answered, as we did the other time? I'm happy to pull cards that might offer you some guidance.

[She pauses a bit, absently pressing her lips together as she considers.]

The other wouldn't work as well, the one I was doing for most people that day. But since then I've looked a little more into it, and I might try something a bit more complex in interpretation, if you'd rather.

I don't see why not - I'd like to see what you've come up with. Perhaps regarding the current situation Banjou-san and I have been dealing with...?

I'll simply need a little more space, then, to spread things out. It's ten cards this time, so there ought to be much more insight into specific things, if it comes out all right.

[And apparently the bedspread is going to be the ideal place for doing so, which means some shifting around in position to get comfortable with that, but —]

If you'll let me know when to stop shuffling, I'll have things set up quickly enough.

[His expression flickers a bit at the number, though he's definitely still interested in seeing where this goes; let him just...shift a bit, then, and - ]

...There.

[Let's...see what this ends up looking like.]

Very well, thank you.

[At his direction, she begins to lay out the spread —]

Eight...nine...and ten.

[— and then sort of shows him the arrangement, motioning to each segment in turn as she walks him through it.]

These two cards here are where we'll start; this upright one represents you, and the one across it is whatever problem might be facing you at the moment. Then these others surrounding it come next, and they're...influences on the situation, I suppose you might say. Things from the past and in the future, and things about yourself that you may not even realize are in play.

Then these last four, bottom to top, will offer advice about what you might do for it, knowing all that.

Ah, that's a little unsettling, isn't it? Things I may not even be aware of like that...

[It's a bit facetious, though, at least the part about it being unsettling.]

I'm ready when you are, Miss Everett.

[She reaches for the first card, then, turning it over carefully without upsetting the other.]

The card representing you...ah! It's the Emperor...

[She casts him a sort of impressed look.]

That's quite a strong card, Mr. Tsukiyama; the Emperor has implications of power and authority — and control, among other things. Representing you in this situation...and as you said, the one that you and Mr. Banjou are both facing similarly...I would think that you seem to be shouldering the most of the burden for it, or are in a position where many of the decisions about it will be coming from you. If that's the case, it's no small wonder you've been finding things trying; like an emperor, there's a great deal riding on your shoulders, isn't there?

[WHAT - ]

I...yes, that...that's entirely correct, actually...

[FUCKING HOW THOUGH]

I see! Then let's see if we can't look a little further into what might be troubling you, shall we...

[She flips over the second card, returning it to its crosswise position.]

...Justice. It is a decision that's weighing on you, then; from the looks of things, a very significant one. Even though Justice is a positive card of sorts, being about truth and fairness, this position in the spread is meant to illustrate the challenge you're facing. Perhaps you're caught up in not knowing what might be the right decision, or...well, put more obviously, what might be the just one. Perhaps you're concerned that you're not the proper person to be making the decision, despite being the Emperor who must, or perhaps it's a fear that you can't be fair in making it somehow — and it's too important a decision to have it come out a poor one.

...It's something like that. The nature of the decision is why I'm in the first card's position in the first place - Banjou-san isn't in any sort of state to be impartial about it, so I'm handling it for now despite both of us knowing that I'm not any better off.

[She offers him her best attempt at a reassuring smile.]

It seems we're doing all right so far, then. I'll do the next two at once; one will see if we can't pin down the roots of what might've led to the problem, and the other will suggest what might be the next step on the path you're traveling right now. Perhaps not a solution outright, but...what to expect, at least.

[She turns over the card to the left.]

I'm sure this one is merely something you already know, but...mm, with the Queen of Swords in this position — that's a card of objectivity and thought. That is, it wasn't hasty decisions that led you up to this point; rather, you've always had a firm and reasoned perspective on things. I think that's reassuring, really. You've done the best you can, and acted within your beliefs; perhaps it may not seem that way, given the difficulties of the problem, but you've been...consistent and reasoned, in your way. Perhaps this one is intended to shed more light on the next?

[And, mulling on that, she turns the fourth card over.]

...Oh, it's the Fool.

[...]

I wonder. You had him in your reading before, as well, didn't you?

[Something strange seems to hit him, a bit, when she moves to turn over the card to the left; while he knows the cards can't give specifics on the situation, there are quite a few that point to "and by the way you fucked up everything," and whether he believes that to be true or not (he doesn't), he can certainly see where the situation can be read that way, and -

...and what she did get is a little confusing, but you know what, he's willing to roll with it.

...The fourth is also a bit confusing, um.]

Yes, I did - is that an issue?

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