X: “Not too loud. My wife will hear.”
Me: “Where is she anyway? And why not? We’re having a business discussion just like we do when she’s around. Or do you not want her to know about the Sweeney tarot?”
X: “She’s always taking my things or ruining the business. And I think she’s in one of the boxes here.”
Me: “… There are no boxes here. The room is filled with cases and safes. Locked cases and airtight safes. If she’s here, we gotta get her out before she suffocates!”
X: “She won’t. Bitch hasn’t bothered with breathing for a while.”
Me: “…”
X: “What?”
Me: “Who put her in the box?”
X: “I did. Just like she wanted.”
Me: “…”
X: “So, about this tarot deck. You say it’s not based on Waite?”
Me: “I think it’s time this dream ended.”
I left the store to end the dream, but instead it segued into a new scene. I didn’t know there was a (breathing) third party eavesdropping on my conversation. When I left that store, the third party left quickly after me and caught up to me on the street.
Guy: “Excuse me, Miss. I understand you’re a broker in occult goods, yes?”
Me: “Maybe. Who’s asking, what’s requested, and what are you willing to consider for payment?” ~warm smiles and cold eyes~
Guy: ~laughs~ “Yes, identities are important in our line of work.” ~bows~ “My name is… ‘Garcia’. I’m the owner of that store once it’s completed.” ~points across the street to a large lot under construction~ “And I’m looking for suppliers, clerks, and talent.”
Me: “Okay… Which of those do you think I can arrange for you?”
Guy: “I overheard you talking about a non-standard tarot. Most of my clientèle, well, in my other stores, they only know the one you called Waite. Many of the alternatives are heavy with the symbolism of religions that my primary clientèle would be uncomfortable with. May I see this deck you offered back there? You said it did not have heavy religious symbolism?”
Me: ~pulls out the Sweeney Tarot and allows him to handle the cards~ “This may not offend your clientèle in regards to religious practices, but if they are that traditional, some of the gender portrayals might twist a few pearls.”
Guy: ~thumbs through the deck quickly, but is obviously inspecting the cards~ “Funny what offends people. Say you’re pouring out a libation for an ancestor and you’re due for a beating. Say you’re pouring out a libation for a saint, and you’re suddenly the most trustworthy person on the block. Never mind the ancestor and the saint are the same person, only given different names according to who is listening. No, these won’t offend them. If anything, the portrayals are so varied, they’ll see their children and grandchildren in the cards. Any heart that cold to deny their bloodkin happiness usually don’t step into my stores.” ~hands the deck back~ “So, how many can I buy off you right now, how many can I order, and do you read tarot yourself?” ~pulls out a wallet full of cash~
Me: “I have this open deck, and four more in sealed unopened boxes on me right now. I can put you in contact with the creator of the Sweeney Tarot, and you two can work out a bulk purchase without any pesky middleman surcharges. And yes, I do read tarot. Tarot, Lenormand, playing cards, and la Baraja Española.”
Guy: ~wide grins~ “La Baraja… ¿Hablas español? ¿’Stas espírita?”
Me: “Aprendando español. No soy una espírita. Mi camino es solo mío, pero hablo y trabajo con muy personas diferente. ¿Por qué preguntas eso?”
Guy: “My store will be completed in six months. I would like you to work there for me. As a reader, and as a spiritual worker. Not part of any house. Independent, just as you are now. Think of it like renting a booth.”
Me: “What’s the catch? You just met me. You just saw questionable circumstances. You have no idea if I’m talking out my ass trying to make myself sound important. And you don’t know who I walk with since I have no House to vet me. And you’re promising me a job? Too easy. What’s the catch? What do I have to pay for this opportunity?”
Guy: “The willingness to work.” ~hands me fifty dollars~ “I’ll take one of the unopened boxes of that Sweeney Tarot, thank you.” ~receives deck from me~ “I’ll see you here in six months. Continuar aprendes español. Hablas bien.”
eom