32 min read
Mythical Meetings
August 14, 2016
◈ WHO: Lorenzo, Vesna, & Reuben (kotaline & Skyeforge)
◈ WHEN: Late Morning on August 14, 2016
◈ WHERE: A Convention Center in San Francisco
◈ WEATHER: It's inside a large convention center, so it's air conditioned and rather cool. But the outside is sunny.
◈ WHEN: Late Morning on August 14, 2016
◈ WHERE: A Convention Center in San Francisco
◈ WEATHER: It's inside a large convention center, so it's air conditioned and rather cool. But the outside is sunny.
Reuben glanced at his watch once more, a growing impatience simmering beneath his calm exterior. Where the hell is Calista? he thought, irritation creeping into his thoughts. She was the one who insisted on his presence, claiming she “needed him” here, yet she was nowhere to be seen. He found himself standing just inside the bustling convention center, surrounded by a few hundred magical beings. Witches, wizards, warlocks, and every other variation of mage were here, showcasing their wares, spells, and mystical creations. The convention buzzed with workshops and gatherings, a hive of magical activity. But none of that really interested Reuben — he wasn’t here for the enchantments or the merchandise.
He sighed, muttering quietly to himself, “Well, I may as well make the most of this while I wait,” and reluctantly ventured further inside. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice. Calista often dragged him to these conventions for her own sanity, insisting that his presence grounded her in the chaotic world of magic. Reuben, on the other hand, didn’t possess any magical abilities. He was simply here to support his friend and maybe, just maybe, find an opportunity to promote his growing business.
As he walked, Reuben tried to keep his gaze neutral, passing by beings that ranged from the intimidating to the ethereal. He’d always been fascinated by magic and its practitioners, even if he felt a little out of place among them. Some of these creatures exuded a sense of danger, their auras dark and mysterious, while others radiated warmth and friendliness. Reuben’s goal was simple — blend in, keep a low profile, and wait for Calista.
After a while, Reuben’s wandering brought him to a café attached to the center. Grateful for the reprieve, he slipped inside and approached the bar, ordering a simple cup of tea. He settled in, the steam from the tea curling up towards his face, giving him something to focus on as he waited for Calista’s inevitable, and likely dramatic, arrival. He couldn’t help but shake his head at his situation. Typical Cali, he thought with a resigned chuckle, taking a sip of his tea and resigning himself to the unpredictable nature of the day.
He sighed, muttering quietly to himself, “Well, I may as well make the most of this while I wait,” and reluctantly ventured further inside. It wasn’t like he had much of a choice. Calista often dragged him to these conventions for her own sanity, insisting that his presence grounded her in the chaotic world of magic. Reuben, on the other hand, didn’t possess any magical abilities. He was simply here to support his friend and maybe, just maybe, find an opportunity to promote his growing business.
As he walked, Reuben tried to keep his gaze neutral, passing by beings that ranged from the intimidating to the ethereal. He’d always been fascinated by magic and its practitioners, even if he felt a little out of place among them. Some of these creatures exuded a sense of danger, their auras dark and mysterious, while others radiated warmth and friendliness. Reuben’s goal was simple — blend in, keep a low profile, and wait for Calista.
After a while, Reuben’s wandering brought him to a café attached to the center. Grateful for the reprieve, he slipped inside and approached the bar, ordering a simple cup of tea. He settled in, the steam from the tea curling up towards his face, giving him something to focus on as he waited for Calista’s inevitable, and likely dramatic, arrival. He couldn’t help but shake his head at his situation. Typical Cali, he thought with a resigned chuckle, taking a sip of his tea and resigning himself to the unpredictable nature of the day.
"Ice cream, ice cream, ice... cream... crepes!!"
Lorenzo Fisch normally tried to keep a low profile at conventions. It was important that he attend such gatherings to stay abreast of magical research and catch up with non-necromantic contacts, but the field of necromantic study in California was small, and the broader field of magical study was enormous, and Lorenzo was hardly at home in a crowd. Normally he'd be nursing a coffee somewhere quiet this early before the lectures started, holed up with a few other necromancers for support. But, having heard that she might get a chance to see cool magic instead of gross magic for a change, Vesna had asked to attend, and when she found out that the convention center had a café that sold ice cream crepes, the deal was unfortunately sealed.
"I saw them in a manga once!" Vesna babbled as Lorenzo pushed through the crowd behind her, keeping up a steady stream of pardons and sorries and excuse-mes as he did so. "You're supposed to go get them with your friends, but everyone whose number I have was busy, so I guess I'll just get them with you."
"Lucky me," Lorenzo muttered in between a 'sorry' and a 'beg your pardon'. Since Vesna had come to live with him, he had gone from skipping meals out of forgetfulness some days to overeating, mostly sweets, so Vesna, who didn't yet have a stomach, could instagram them. He used to enjoy desserts. Now they inspired a sense of dread.
To his dismay, Vesna reached the café before he did, floating above the crowd to get ahead. By the time he had dodged his way through, she had already ordered for him.
"I got one of each," Vesna said brightly, greeting him with four different crepes containing generous scoops of ice cream slathered in fresh fruit. "I'll pose with them, then you should eat them quickly before they melt."
"Four," Lorenzo said weakly.
"I know," Vesna complained. "Such a small selection!" She squinted and took a picture of the strawberry one, then thrust it at Lorenzo, scrolling on her phone to find the ideal filter.
"I can't wait until I have a stomach," she sighed wistfully, publishing the picture after a few minutes of fussing.
Lorenzo licked the ice cream tentatively and sighed. "Agreed."
Lorenzo Fisch normally tried to keep a low profile at conventions. It was important that he attend such gatherings to stay abreast of magical research and catch up with non-necromantic contacts, but the field of necromantic study in California was small, and the broader field of magical study was enormous, and Lorenzo was hardly at home in a crowd. Normally he'd be nursing a coffee somewhere quiet this early before the lectures started, holed up with a few other necromancers for support. But, having heard that she might get a chance to see cool magic instead of gross magic for a change, Vesna had asked to attend, and when she found out that the convention center had a café that sold ice cream crepes, the deal was unfortunately sealed.
"I saw them in a manga once!" Vesna babbled as Lorenzo pushed through the crowd behind her, keeping up a steady stream of pardons and sorries and excuse-mes as he did so. "You're supposed to go get them with your friends, but everyone whose number I have was busy, so I guess I'll just get them with you."
"Lucky me," Lorenzo muttered in between a 'sorry' and a 'beg your pardon'. Since Vesna had come to live with him, he had gone from skipping meals out of forgetfulness some days to overeating, mostly sweets, so Vesna, who didn't yet have a stomach, could instagram them. He used to enjoy desserts. Now they inspired a sense of dread.
To his dismay, Vesna reached the café before he did, floating above the crowd to get ahead. By the time he had dodged his way through, she had already ordered for him.
"I got one of each," Vesna said brightly, greeting him with four different crepes containing generous scoops of ice cream slathered in fresh fruit. "I'll pose with them, then you should eat them quickly before they melt."
"Four," Lorenzo said weakly.
"I know," Vesna complained. "Such a small selection!" She squinted and took a picture of the strawberry one, then thrust it at Lorenzo, scrolling on her phone to find the ideal filter.
"I can't wait until I have a stomach," she sighed wistfully, publishing the picture after a few minutes of fussing.
Lorenzo licked the ice cream tentatively and sighed. "Agreed."
As Reuben sipped his tea, his eyes wandered around the café, taking in the eclectic mix of magical beings. It wasn’t long before his attention was drawn to a mesmerizing sight — a creature that seemed to float effortlessly to the counter. Reuben tried not to stare, but it was nearly impossible not to. Compared to the other two-legged beings and those wrapped in ornate robes, this figure stood out starkly. He squinted slightly, thinking to himself, What an incredible costume, and took another sip of his tea.
But as he watched, something didn’t quite add up. There were no wires, no stilts — nothing holding her up. She appeared to be genuinely floating, supported only by what seemed to be fin-like wings, a delicate ribbon trailing beneath her. Reuben did a double take, blinking as if to clear his vision, but the scene remained unchanged. What kind of creature is that? he wondered. His mind raced through possibilities — a familiar, an enchanted spirit, or maybe a construct of some immensely talented mage.
She ordered like anyone else would and then turned to a man who approached her. Reuben couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of curiosity and awe. The creature held a cell phone and interacted as casually as any teenager, her voice light and melodic as she responded to the man. It seemed both surreal and oddly normal, given the extraordinary setting. Reuben took a longer sip, trying to process what he was seeing.
Driven by his fascination, Reuben subtly changed seats, inching closer to the pair to listen in, but the hum of the café masked most of their words. That’s when he heard something that jolted him upright: “I can’t wait until I have a stomach.” His eyes widened, and a dozen questions raced through his mind. What did she mean by that? The creature clearly had a mind of her own, which only deepened the mystery.
Reuben felt like he was back in high school, nervously hovering near the “cool kids,” trying to find an opening to join their conversation. He hated that feeling, but this wasn’t high school, and he was an adult — or at least, he kept telling himself that. Yet, the challenge remained: how does one approach an obviously powerful mage and his half-humanesque companion?
Without realizing it, Reuben had made his way over to their table, standing there with a blank, slightly stunned expression on his face. When he realized where he was, panic surged, and the heat of embarrassment flushed his cheeks. Not knowing what else to do, he laughed — an uncomfortable, nervous chuckle that only made things worse.
“Hello there!” he stammered, his voice just a bit too loud in his attempt to cover his discomfort. “I, uh, thought you were someone I knew… but clearly, you’re not.” He pointed awkwardly at the man, regretting it instantly.
Reuben rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension in his muscles as he tried to salvage the moment. He cleared his throat and forced a small, sheepish smile. “I’m Reuben,” he said, awkwardly introducing himself as he glanced between the floating being and her presumed creator. His eyes reflected a mixture of curiosity, embarrassment, and a hint of admiration for what he had stumbled upon.
But as he watched, something didn’t quite add up. There were no wires, no stilts — nothing holding her up. She appeared to be genuinely floating, supported only by what seemed to be fin-like wings, a delicate ribbon trailing beneath her. Reuben did a double take, blinking as if to clear his vision, but the scene remained unchanged. What kind of creature is that? he wondered. His mind raced through possibilities — a familiar, an enchanted spirit, or maybe a construct of some immensely talented mage.
She ordered like anyone else would and then turned to a man who approached her. Reuben couldn’t help but feel a strange mix of curiosity and awe. The creature held a cell phone and interacted as casually as any teenager, her voice light and melodic as she responded to the man. It seemed both surreal and oddly normal, given the extraordinary setting. Reuben took a longer sip, trying to process what he was seeing.
Driven by his fascination, Reuben subtly changed seats, inching closer to the pair to listen in, but the hum of the café masked most of their words. That’s when he heard something that jolted him upright: “I can’t wait until I have a stomach.” His eyes widened, and a dozen questions raced through his mind. What did she mean by that? The creature clearly had a mind of her own, which only deepened the mystery.
Reuben felt like he was back in high school, nervously hovering near the “cool kids,” trying to find an opening to join their conversation. He hated that feeling, but this wasn’t high school, and he was an adult — or at least, he kept telling himself that. Yet, the challenge remained: how does one approach an obviously powerful mage and his half-humanesque companion?
Without realizing it, Reuben had made his way over to their table, standing there with a blank, slightly stunned expression on his face. When he realized where he was, panic surged, and the heat of embarrassment flushed his cheeks. Not knowing what else to do, he laughed — an uncomfortable, nervous chuckle that only made things worse.
“Hello there!” he stammered, his voice just a bit too loud in his attempt to cover his discomfort. “I, uh, thought you were someone I knew… but clearly, you’re not.” He pointed awkwardly at the man, regretting it instantly.
Reuben rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the tension in his muscles as he tried to salvage the moment. He cleared his throat and forced a small, sheepish smile. “I’m Reuben,” he said, awkwardly introducing himself as he glanced between the floating being and her presumed creator. His eyes reflected a mixture of curiosity, embarrassment, and a hint of admiration for what he had stumbled upon.
Lorenzo was a man naturally inclined to be sympathetic to such social gaffes, being fairly awkward himself, and, more importantly, he was a man who dreaded the thought of finishing four ice cream crepes alone. "No, please!" he exclaimed, waving one crepe-filled hand. "We're all colleagues here. Crepe?"
He shoved the crepe in Reuben's general direction only to find Vesna pushing the next one in his face. "Great idea!" she gushed. "He's way more photogenic." She turned to Reuben and smiled, waving a different crepe at him in greeting. "I'm Vesna, and this is Lorenzo, my dad. He's the boring necromancer and I'm the food blogger. Buuut someday I might try to be a magical girl."
Lorenzo cleared his throat. "I'm a licensed necromancer in private practice," he elaborated. "I do a lot of public image work with the Licensed Necromancer Committee as well." He moved to reach for a business card, but remembered his hands were full of pastry. "Ah... I'll give you a card later. What line of work are you in? Is this your first time at this convention? It's mine."
He shoved the crepe in Reuben's general direction only to find Vesna pushing the next one in his face. "Great idea!" she gushed. "He's way more photogenic." She turned to Reuben and smiled, waving a different crepe at him in greeting. "I'm Vesna, and this is Lorenzo, my dad. He's the boring necromancer and I'm the food blogger. Buuut someday I might try to be a magical girl."
Lorenzo cleared his throat. "I'm a licensed necromancer in private practice," he elaborated. "I do a lot of public image work with the Licensed Necromancer Committee as well." He moved to reach for a business card, but remembered his hands were full of pastry. "Ah... I'll give you a card later. What line of work are you in? Is this your first time at this convention? It's mine."
Reuben couldn’t help but smile as the man offered him a crepe. The gesture was unexpected and surprisingly kind, and Reuben’s eyes lit up with a mix of gratitude and excitement. “Uh, yeah, sure, thanks!” he replied, eagerly accepting the crepe. Moments later, the floating girl handed him one as well, and his smile brightened even further. He took a seat and took a careful bite, savoring the delicious flavors.
“Th-thank you as well!” Reuben managed to say, cheeks bulging slightly with the bite of crepe he was trying not to choke on. Her compliment caught him off guard, and he felt a blush creep up as she complimented him. With a shy grin, he struck a small pose for her, allowing her to snap a quick photo. There was something endearing about her words, and he couldn’t help but appreciate the kindness.
When the girl introduced herself and her “father” as Lorenzo, Reuben’s curiosity deepened. A necromancer? That was not a term typically associated with good vibes or warm intentions. Yet here they were, sharing food and casual conversation. He studied the girl thoughtfully, noticing that something about her felt oddly familiar, like a distant memory he couldn’t quite place. Perhaps she was Lorenzo’s creation, given his talents in necromancy, but there was something more to it — something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Reuben’s eyes lit up when she expressed her aspirations. “I bet you’ll make the best magical girl if that’s what you want!” he said earnestly. “You seem like you’re well on your way already to either path.” His voice was warm, sincere, and tinged with excitement for her, as if he truly believed she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Reuben took another enthusiastic bite of his crepe, enjoying both the food and the company.
Turning to Lorenzo, Reuben chuckled softly at their banter, feeling more at ease despite the initial awkwardness. “I’m not much of a magic user myself,” he admitted, smiling sheepishly. “My best friend is a witch, and she tends to drag me to events like this. Today, she told me to meet her here, but it looks like she’s decided not to show up after all.” He let out a small, amused sigh. “This is definitely the biggest convention I’ve ever been to, though. Quite the experience.”
He glanced back at the girl, returning her smile before focusing on Lorenzo again. “How about you?” Reuben asked, curious to hear their perspective. “How are you enjoying the convention so far?” He felt a genuine interest in hearing their thoughts, intrigued by both the unconventional duo and the world they inhabited.
“Th-thank you as well!” Reuben managed to say, cheeks bulging slightly with the bite of crepe he was trying not to choke on. Her compliment caught him off guard, and he felt a blush creep up as she complimented him. With a shy grin, he struck a small pose for her, allowing her to snap a quick photo. There was something endearing about her words, and he couldn’t help but appreciate the kindness.
When the girl introduced herself and her “father” as Lorenzo, Reuben’s curiosity deepened. A necromancer? That was not a term typically associated with good vibes or warm intentions. Yet here they were, sharing food and casual conversation. He studied the girl thoughtfully, noticing that something about her felt oddly familiar, like a distant memory he couldn’t quite place. Perhaps she was Lorenzo’s creation, given his talents in necromancy, but there was something more to it — something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Reuben’s eyes lit up when she expressed her aspirations. “I bet you’ll make the best magical girl if that’s what you want!” he said earnestly. “You seem like you’re well on your way already to either path.” His voice was warm, sincere, and tinged with excitement for her, as if he truly believed she could achieve anything she set her mind to. Reuben took another enthusiastic bite of his crepe, enjoying both the food and the company.
Turning to Lorenzo, Reuben chuckled softly at their banter, feeling more at ease despite the initial awkwardness. “I’m not much of a magic user myself,” he admitted, smiling sheepishly. “My best friend is a witch, and she tends to drag me to events like this. Today, she told me to meet her here, but it looks like she’s decided not to show up after all.” He let out a small, amused sigh. “This is definitely the biggest convention I’ve ever been to, though. Quite the experience.”
He glanced back at the girl, returning her smile before focusing on Lorenzo again. “How about you?” Reuben asked, curious to hear their perspective. “How are you enjoying the convention so far?” He felt a genuine interest in hearing their thoughts, intrigued by both the unconventional duo and the world they inhabited.
"I know," Vesna said flippantly as Reuben complimented her, taking his picture from another angle. "Ok, now the other crepe, so I can take a picture of it before it gets all melty."
Lorenzo sighed and obediently lifted his second crepe, and when Vesna was finished, looked at both of them and took alternating bites of each.
"I just got here," he admitted in between bites. He had been pretty much dragged bodily over to the cafe as soon as possible. "But so far it hasn't been too overwhelming. I'm not one for crowds." He scanned the hall and said, "I'm going to be meeting up with a group from the Licensed Necromancer Committee later, we organized for a few of them to speak in panels on interdisciplinary studies and on Ethical Necromancy Awareness."
Vesna yawned theatrically. "I'm here to look for cool stuff to instagram and magical girls," she informed Reuben airily.
"What kind of witchcraft does your friend specialize in?" asked Lorenzo. "Maybe I know of her."
Lorenzo sighed and obediently lifted his second crepe, and when Vesna was finished, looked at both of them and took alternating bites of each.
"I just got here," he admitted in between bites. He had been pretty much dragged bodily over to the cafe as soon as possible. "But so far it hasn't been too overwhelming. I'm not one for crowds." He scanned the hall and said, "I'm going to be meeting up with a group from the Licensed Necromancer Committee later, we organized for a few of them to speak in panels on interdisciplinary studies and on Ethical Necromancy Awareness."
Vesna yawned theatrically. "I'm here to look for cool stuff to instagram and magical girls," she informed Reuben airily.
"What kind of witchcraft does your friend specialize in?" asked Lorenzo. "Maybe I know of her."
Reuben couldn’t help but giggle at the girl’s flair. She was lively and animated, almost like an actual teenager if he’d ever seen one. He took a bite of the crepe and smiled. “I’ll definitely have to get your info and follow you. I don’t use Instagram much either, but I’ve got one. Tumblr is more my speed, though,” he admitted with a chuckle.
When the conversation shifted to Lorenzo, Reuben nodded sympathetically. “Trust me, I’m not much for crowds either,” he agreed, his voice carrying a tone of shared understanding. He checked his phone again, hoping for a message from Calista, but his notifications remained stubbornly empty. He sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “Still no reply,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
The topic of necromancy hovered in his mind, lingering like a shadow. Reuben recalled how Calista had always been vocal about her distaste for the practice. She often said, ‘Dealings with the dead shouldn’t happen. They’re dead, so leave them to their afterlives in peace,’ or something along those lines. But Reuben wasn’t one to judge people’s choices, especially not after meeting someone like Lorenzo and his floating companion.
“Her name is Calista Khova,” Reuben explained. “She’s not really well known in the magical world, at least not to my knowledge, mostly because she doesn’t attend conventions or anything like this. She…kind of pushed off her training for a while. Back in the day, she experimented with some dark magic and hexes — I’d know, since I was usually around when it happened — but nowadays, she sticks more to illusionary magic. She’s tried to teach me a thing or two, but she’s got this knack for it, and I’m just a ‘damn mundane,’ as she likes to say.” Reuben chuckled at the memory, shaking his head slightly.
“But I don’t mind,” he continued. “I enjoy watching her practice and explore new things. As for me, I work with herbs and do a bit of divination. I guess trying to read the future might count as something ‘magical,’ but who knows?” he finished with a casual shrug, not particularly concerned with defining his abilities in the traditional sense. Reuben had always been more focused on finding balance in what he did than in proving whether or not it counted as real magic.
When the conversation shifted to Lorenzo, Reuben nodded sympathetically. “Trust me, I’m not much for crowds either,” he agreed, his voice carrying a tone of shared understanding. He checked his phone again, hoping for a message from Calista, but his notifications remained stubbornly empty. He sighed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “Still no reply,” he muttered, more to himself than to anyone else.
The topic of necromancy hovered in his mind, lingering like a shadow. Reuben recalled how Calista had always been vocal about her distaste for the practice. She often said, ‘Dealings with the dead shouldn’t happen. They’re dead, so leave them to their afterlives in peace,’ or something along those lines. But Reuben wasn’t one to judge people’s choices, especially not after meeting someone like Lorenzo and his floating companion.
“Her name is Calista Khova,” Reuben explained. “She’s not really well known in the magical world, at least not to my knowledge, mostly because she doesn’t attend conventions or anything like this. She…kind of pushed off her training for a while. Back in the day, she experimented with some dark magic and hexes — I’d know, since I was usually around when it happened — but nowadays, she sticks more to illusionary magic. She’s tried to teach me a thing or two, but she’s got this knack for it, and I’m just a ‘damn mundane,’ as she likes to say.” Reuben chuckled at the memory, shaking his head slightly.
“But I don’t mind,” he continued. “I enjoy watching her practice and explore new things. As for me, I work with herbs and do a bit of divination. I guess trying to read the future might count as something ‘magical,’ but who knows?” he finished with a casual shrug, not particularly concerned with defining his abilities in the traditional sense. Reuben had always been more focused on finding balance in what he did than in proving whether or not it counted as real magic.
Vesna considered. "Tumblr is preeeeetty cool," she admitted, "I have an aesthetic blog on there, but I like how I can put stuff up on insta super easy. I don't have a tablet yet or anything, and traditional art and stuff looks way better on instagram." She showed Reuben her phone, which was open to her own instagram page. "My main is sailorvesna on everything," she explained, "And the other one is something my friend and I run because we had to pretend to be restaurant critics once. Most of my pics today are gonna be for sailorvesna, buuuuut I double post a lot of the food pics. What's your url??"
Lorenzo grimaced sympathetically. "We'll keep you company until she shows up if you want," he offered. "It'll take us at least that long to eat these crepes, surely."
"Dad's all about punctuality," Vesna explained. "Showing up fashionably late is a little too cool for him." She scrunched up her face and did her best prim Lorenzo impression, saying, "People rely on licensed necromancers to be timely when the time comes."
"We're a professional institution now," Lorenzo shrugged uncomfortably. "Dramatic entrances just make people think of the Bad Old Days."
"I've never heard of your friend," Lorenzo admitted. "I'm sorry to hear her training was difficult." The world of academic magic could be rigorous, after all. "I can't say I approve of hexes and dark magic, but I'm glad she's found a different niche." He shook his head and added, "And it's nonsense to belittle a nonmagical being for studying magic. I know several nonmagical licensed necromancers who only deal with theory, and their research is vital for necromancers who do have clients to tend to. Anyone can contribute to the magical fields, gift or not."
"Yeah, but having magic is cooler," Vesna said, imitating a Sailor Moon pose. "I have illusionary magic, too!" she told Reuben eagerly. "Well, sort of, but I can't control it."
"Vesna is part rusalka," Lorenzo elaborated. "Her magical glamour persists, so it seems like people see her differently depending on what they project on her."
Lorenzo grimaced sympathetically. "We'll keep you company until she shows up if you want," he offered. "It'll take us at least that long to eat these crepes, surely."
"Dad's all about punctuality," Vesna explained. "Showing up fashionably late is a little too cool for him." She scrunched up her face and did her best prim Lorenzo impression, saying, "People rely on licensed necromancers to be timely when the time comes."
"We're a professional institution now," Lorenzo shrugged uncomfortably. "Dramatic entrances just make people think of the Bad Old Days."
"I've never heard of your friend," Lorenzo admitted. "I'm sorry to hear her training was difficult." The world of academic magic could be rigorous, after all. "I can't say I approve of hexes and dark magic, but I'm glad she's found a different niche." He shook his head and added, "And it's nonsense to belittle a nonmagical being for studying magic. I know several nonmagical licensed necromancers who only deal with theory, and their research is vital for necromancers who do have clients to tend to. Anyone can contribute to the magical fields, gift or not."
"Yeah, but having magic is cooler," Vesna said, imitating a Sailor Moon pose. "I have illusionary magic, too!" she told Reuben eagerly. "Well, sort of, but I can't control it."
"Vesna is part rusalka," Lorenzo elaborated. "Her magical glamour persists, so it seems like people see her differently depending on what they project on her."
When Vesna handed him her phone, Reuben took it eagerly, curiosity shining in his eyes. He couldn’t help but glance up at her repeatedly, captivated by the way she moved. Everything about her — from her demeanor to her animated expressions — was strikingly reminiscent of a typical teenage girl. But the reality was far from typical; she was missing half her body and clearly possessed an ethereal quality that made him question whether she was a magical being or a remarkably convincing cosplayer.
As she explained her experiences with Instag r am and her friend’s influence, Reuben nodded along. When Vesna asked for his Tumblr URL, he offered with a grin, “Mine’s thetarotist.tumblr.com, if you want to look me up and follow. I’m also ‘thetarotist’ on pretty much everything else,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
Turning his attention to Lorenzo, Reuben responded with a grateful nod. “Thanks! I’d appreciate the company. I’m not really a fan of large crowds, and this place is definitely packed today,” he admitted, his voice betraying a hint of unease. “Are conventions usually like this?” he asked, genuinely curious. The overwhelming atmosphere made him reconsider attending future events, but meeting someone as intriguing as Vesna made this one worth it.
When Vesna did an impression of her father, Reuben chuckled despite Lorenzo’s slightly unamused reaction. The playful banter between them spoke to a bond he found endearing. When Lorenzo began to defend mundane witches, Reuben’s smile softened into something more genuine. “That’s very kind of you,” he said. “Calista and I have collaborated on spells before, but she’s the one with the real magic to make them work,” he admitted with a small laugh. “I just handle the prep while she handles the spark.”
As the conversation shifted to Vesna’s powers, Reuben’s fascination only deepened. The idea that he might perceive her differently than others was a revelation, and it stirred a mix of curiosity and contemplation within him. “So, I see her differently?” he murmured, almost to himself, trying to piece together what that might mean. He glanced back at Vesna, his gaze lingering as he studied her closely. There was an intriguing question lurking in his mind — how did she perceive herself? — but it felt too intimate to voice, at least not yet.
Instead, he opted for a simple, sincere compliment. “Well, however others see you, I think you’re quite beautiful,” he said with a warm smile, his words carrying a genuine acceptance of whatever mystery surrounded her. Reuben’s intention was clear: she was more than her appearance or her magic — she was someone worth valuing, just as she was.
As she explained her experiences with Instag r am and her friend’s influence, Reuben nodded along. When Vesna asked for his Tumblr URL, he offered with a grin, “Mine’s thetarotist.tumblr.com, if you want to look me up and follow. I’m also ‘thetarotist’ on pretty much everything else,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
Turning his attention to Lorenzo, Reuben responded with a grateful nod. “Thanks! I’d appreciate the company. I’m not really a fan of large crowds, and this place is definitely packed today,” he admitted, his voice betraying a hint of unease. “Are conventions usually like this?” he asked, genuinely curious. The overwhelming atmosphere made him reconsider attending future events, but meeting someone as intriguing as Vesna made this one worth it.
When Vesna did an impression of her father, Reuben chuckled despite Lorenzo’s slightly unamused reaction. The playful banter between them spoke to a bond he found endearing. When Lorenzo began to defend mundane witches, Reuben’s smile softened into something more genuine. “That’s very kind of you,” he said. “Calista and I have collaborated on spells before, but she’s the one with the real magic to make them work,” he admitted with a small laugh. “I just handle the prep while she handles the spark.”
As the conversation shifted to Vesna’s powers, Reuben’s fascination only deepened. The idea that he might perceive her differently than others was a revelation, and it stirred a mix of curiosity and contemplation within him. “So, I see her differently?” he murmured, almost to himself, trying to piece together what that might mean. He glanced back at Vesna, his gaze lingering as he studied her closely. There was an intriguing question lurking in his mind — how did she perceive herself? — but it felt too intimate to voice, at least not yet.
Instead, he opted for a simple, sincere compliment. “Well, however others see you, I think you’re quite beautiful,” he said with a warm smile, his words carrying a genuine acceptance of whatever mystery surrounded her. Reuben’s intention was clear: she was more than her appearance or her magic — she was someone worth valuing, just as she was.
While Vesna seemed mostly engrossed in looking up Reuben's various social media accounts, she was also half-aware of his staring. Looking away uncomfortably, she floated a little behind Lorenzo and pretended to be more focused on her phone than she really was.
"Licensed Necromancer Committee conventions are much smaller," Lorenzo said, speaking from his own experience. "There aren't that many of us, but normally almost everyone in the organization attends. Luckily for us, this isn't even a quarter of the magical population." Admittance was also accordingly more expensive, and Lorenzo briefly wondered how much that and these fancy ice cream crepes were actually costing him.
"Well, improving upon a spell or creating one is just as important as performing it," Lorenzo pointed out. "I know plenty of magic users who don't necessarily have the gift for innovation, just as you don't necessarily have the gift for performing magic. When you're working with a client, you don't care who made the spell, you care about whether or not it does what it's supposed to."
"Could I make spells?" Vesna asked innocently, floating around to perch her elbows on Lorenzo's shoulder.
"After years of dedicated study, maybe," Lorenzo offered.
"Ugh," drawled Vesna, pulling away from Lorenzo and floating higher to scan the crowd for something more interestingly magical looking to pay attention to.
Lorenzo rolled his eyes and looked back to Reuben. "We believe so. Certainly no one seems to describe her the same way, and there was an incident when she was choosing her name that suggested that even her perception of herself can affect how she sees herself."
"She's right here still," Vesna said from slightly above Lorenzo's head. Floating upside down to glance at Reuben without having to move too much, she added, "I just look like any other raevan. Nobody knows if I'm cute for real real, and I can't take selfies or anything, so I just don't like talking about it." She made a face and swiped at her phone, showing him pictures on her blog she'd taken of other people- some of Lorenzo, some of an undead black cat, but mostly of strangers as eccentric looking as she was.
"Anyway," she said, "I've got super cute and pretty friends to take pictures of so I don't need to take selfies!"
"Licensed Necromancer Committee conventions are much smaller," Lorenzo said, speaking from his own experience. "There aren't that many of us, but normally almost everyone in the organization attends. Luckily for us, this isn't even a quarter of the magical population." Admittance was also accordingly more expensive, and Lorenzo briefly wondered how much that and these fancy ice cream crepes were actually costing him.
"Well, improving upon a spell or creating one is just as important as performing it," Lorenzo pointed out. "I know plenty of magic users who don't necessarily have the gift for innovation, just as you don't necessarily have the gift for performing magic. When you're working with a client, you don't care who made the spell, you care about whether or not it does what it's supposed to."
"Could I make spells?" Vesna asked innocently, floating around to perch her elbows on Lorenzo's shoulder.
"After years of dedicated study, maybe," Lorenzo offered.
"Ugh," drawled Vesna, pulling away from Lorenzo and floating higher to scan the crowd for something more interestingly magical looking to pay attention to.
Lorenzo rolled his eyes and looked back to Reuben. "We believe so. Certainly no one seems to describe her the same way, and there was an incident when she was choosing her name that suggested that even her perception of herself can affect how she sees herself."
"She's right here still," Vesna said from slightly above Lorenzo's head. Floating upside down to glance at Reuben without having to move too much, she added, "I just look like any other raevan. Nobody knows if I'm cute for real real, and I can't take selfies or anything, so I just don't like talking about it." She made a face and swiped at her phone, showing him pictures on her blog she'd taken of other people- some of Lorenzo, some of an undead black cat, but mostly of strangers as eccentric looking as she was.
"Anyway," she said, "I've got super cute and pretty friends to take pictures of so I don't need to take selfies!"
Reuben kept his smile in place, turning his focus to Lorenzo as he took in the man’s comments. He nodded, absorbing the reality of just how large the magical community must be. Reuben wasn’t even sure how costly this entire event was, considering he was here on Calista’s invitation and her dime. The fact that she’d stood him up and was ghosting him still didn’t sit well.
“I’m sure this is barely a fraction of the magical populace,” Reuben remarked, glancing around at the myriad of beings moving through the convention. “Since opening my shop, I’ve been meeting more and more magical folk than I ever expected,” he admitted, his eyes reflecting both fascination and mild exasperation.
Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text from Calista, finally saying she was on her way. Reuben let out a small sigh of relief, thinking about time, as he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
When Lorenzo expressed his pragmatic view on spells, Reuben found himself in complete agreement. The mechanics of who created a spell mattered far less than whether the spell actually worked.
He was about to respond when Vesna’s question about spell-making cut him off. He chuckled lightly at the timing of her curiosity. “Your dad’s right,” he said, meeting her eyes. “It takes a lot of practice to get good at creating spells. But if you’re dedicated, you’ll get the hang of it in no time, I’m sure.” His encouragement was sincere, and he couldn’t help but glance up as Vesna floated a little higher, radiating enthusiasm.
Turning back to Lorenzo, Reuben pondered the interaction between them. Vesna couldn’t even take a photo of herself — a small, but significant reminder of the limitations she faced despite her otherwise vibrant personality. Reuben’s grin faded momentarily as old memories of carefree photos with Calista surfaced. He cherished those times, and it was hard to imagine not having that freedom. Yet Vesna’s spirit seemed undeterred, and Reuben admired that about her. With a newfound appreciation for her resilience, he smiled again.
“That’s the spirit,” he said warmly, “I’m sure you find ways to have fun, right?”
As Vesna seemed absorbed in her phone, Reuben leaned in a bit closer to Lorenzo, lowering his voice in an attempt to ask his next question delicately. He hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to pry, but his curiosity got the better of him. “I hope this isn’t offensive,” he began cautiously, “but did you…create her?” His eyes briefly flicked up to Vesna before settling back on Lorenzo, watching the man’s reaction closely. Reuben’s tone was respectful, conveying that his curiosity was driven by genuine interest rather than judgment.
“I’m sure this is barely a fraction of the magical populace,” Reuben remarked, glancing around at the myriad of beings moving through the convention. “Since opening my shop, I’ve been meeting more and more magical folk than I ever expected,” he admitted, his eyes reflecting both fascination and mild exasperation.
Just then, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a text from Calista, finally saying she was on her way. Reuben let out a small sigh of relief, thinking about time, as he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
When Lorenzo expressed his pragmatic view on spells, Reuben found himself in complete agreement. The mechanics of who created a spell mattered far less than whether the spell actually worked.
He was about to respond when Vesna’s question about spell-making cut him off. He chuckled lightly at the timing of her curiosity. “Your dad’s right,” he said, meeting her eyes. “It takes a lot of practice to get good at creating spells. But if you’re dedicated, you’ll get the hang of it in no time, I’m sure.” His encouragement was sincere, and he couldn’t help but glance up as Vesna floated a little higher, radiating enthusiasm.
Turning back to Lorenzo, Reuben pondered the interaction between them. Vesna couldn’t even take a photo of herself — a small, but significant reminder of the limitations she faced despite her otherwise vibrant personality. Reuben’s grin faded momentarily as old memories of carefree photos with Calista surfaced. He cherished those times, and it was hard to imagine not having that freedom. Yet Vesna’s spirit seemed undeterred, and Reuben admired that about her. With a newfound appreciation for her resilience, he smiled again.
“That’s the spirit,” he said warmly, “I’m sure you find ways to have fun, right?”
As Vesna seemed absorbed in her phone, Reuben leaned in a bit closer to Lorenzo, lowering his voice in an attempt to ask his next question delicately. He hesitated, unsure if it was appropriate to pry, but his curiosity got the better of him. “I hope this isn’t offensive,” he began cautiously, “but did you…create her?” His eyes briefly flicked up to Vesna before settling back on Lorenzo, watching the man’s reaction closely. Reuben’s tone was respectful, conveying that his curiosity was driven by genuine interest rather than judgment.
"I think there are probably cooler things I could be dedicated to," drawled Vesna. "Right now, I'm pretty dedicated to food blogging."
She nodded at his next statement. "Yeah! Friends are the best! And according to my research, friendship is actually way more powerful than magic, so maybe I won't even need to be magical to become a magical girl." she said flippantly. "Although so far most of the wizards I've met don't have many friends."
Lorenzo cleared his throat awkwardly and began, "Well, popularity is all relati--" until Reuben's next question caused him to choke a little on his extravagant ice cream crepe.
"Create?" he hissed quietly, looking carefully back at Vesna to make sure she wasn't listening. "I understand your concern, but I assure you, no licensed necromancer would ever create a living being out of body parts. All that stuff is in the bad old days where it belongs, and if a necromancer did it today, he would absolutely lose his license."
"What're you whispering about?" Vesna asked, floating between them.
"Ice cream crepes," Lorenzo lied.
Above a whisper, he explained, "Vesna is my client. She's reborn from the soul of a rusalka who contacted my mother's law office and was put in touch with me. Since rusalki and other unstable undead people often can't be resurrected through traditional means, the rusalka's soul was bonded with an energy source and transferred to a new body through a lab."
"You weren't talking about ice cream crepes," Vesna intuited with a pout. "You were talking about me."
"About the tragic circumstance that forbids you from eating ice cream crepes?" Lorenzo hazarded.
Vesna seemed mollified. "If I work hard at growing up, I'll grow a stomach someday," she explained to Reuben. "That's something else I have to be dedicated at."
She nodded at his next statement. "Yeah! Friends are the best! And according to my research, friendship is actually way more powerful than magic, so maybe I won't even need to be magical to become a magical girl." she said flippantly. "Although so far most of the wizards I've met don't have many friends."
Lorenzo cleared his throat awkwardly and began, "Well, popularity is all relati--" until Reuben's next question caused him to choke a little on his extravagant ice cream crepe.
"Create?" he hissed quietly, looking carefully back at Vesna to make sure she wasn't listening. "I understand your concern, but I assure you, no licensed necromancer would ever create a living being out of body parts. All that stuff is in the bad old days where it belongs, and if a necromancer did it today, he would absolutely lose his license."
"What're you whispering about?" Vesna asked, floating between them.
"Ice cream crepes," Lorenzo lied.
Above a whisper, he explained, "Vesna is my client. She's reborn from the soul of a rusalka who contacted my mother's law office and was put in touch with me. Since rusalki and other unstable undead people often can't be resurrected through traditional means, the rusalka's soul was bonded with an energy source and transferred to a new body through a lab."
"You weren't talking about ice cream crepes," Vesna intuited with a pout. "You were talking about me."
"About the tragic circumstance that forbids you from eating ice cream crepes?" Lorenzo hazarded.
Vesna seemed mollified. "If I work hard at growing up, I'll grow a stomach someday," she explained to Reuben. "That's something else I have to be dedicated at."
Reuben wasn’t prepared for Lorenzo’s reaction to his question, but he remained attentive, his wide eyes conveying both curiosity and concern. He nodded as Lorenzo spoke, looking up at Vesna with a newfound understanding. The revelation that she was essentially reincarnated from a rusalka, with energy infused to create her current form, left Reuben feeling both awed and introspective. This wasn’t just powerful magic; it was a groundbreaking blend of mystical and scientific forces. It moved Reuben in a way he hadn’t anticipated, igniting a deep curiosity within him.
As Lorenzo continued to explain, a connection suddenly clicked in Reuben’s mind. He remembered the pamphlet Oliver had given him the week prior. What was the name of that lab again? Lab 305? He couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the same place.
“The lab you’re talking about…it wouldn’t happen to be Lab 305, by chance?” Reuben asked, his voice careful yet eager. If Lorenzo confirmed it, Reuben knew he’d need to dig deeper into this place. It seemed like the key to unraveling a whole new understanding of magic and its intersections with the mundane world.
Reuben turned his attention back to Vesna, who still appeared lost in her thoughts. “I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy these crepes with us in no time,” he said with a bright smile, offering her a small reassurance.
As he finished speaking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down to see a message from Calista:
I’m here! Where the hell are you?
Reuben sighed inwardly but slipped his phone back into his pocket without replying. This conversation was too important to cut short. He sensed this could be his only chance to gain more insight into Vesna’s origins and Lab 305’s role in her creation. His eyes remained focused on Lorenzo, waiting for confirmation or any further information that might illuminate this extraordinary connection.
As Lorenzo continued to explain, a connection suddenly clicked in Reuben’s mind. He remembered the pamphlet Oliver had given him the week prior. What was the name of that lab again? Lab 305? He couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be the same place.
“The lab you’re talking about…it wouldn’t happen to be Lab 305, by chance?” Reuben asked, his voice careful yet eager. If Lorenzo confirmed it, Reuben knew he’d need to dig deeper into this place. It seemed like the key to unraveling a whole new understanding of magic and its intersections with the mundane world.
Reuben turned his attention back to Vesna, who still appeared lost in her thoughts. “I’m sure you’ll be able to enjoy these crepes with us in no time,” he said with a bright smile, offering her a small reassurance.
As he finished speaking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced down to see a message from Calista:
I’m here! Where the hell are you?
Reuben sighed inwardly but slipped his phone back into his pocket without replying. This conversation was too important to cut short. He sensed this could be his only chance to gain more insight into Vesna’s origins and Lab 305’s role in her creation. His eyes remained focused on Lorenzo, waiting for confirmation or any further information that might illuminate this extraordinary connection.
"Ah, so you've heard of it," Lorenzo acknowledged. "I hadn't when I was looking into this sort of thing. One of my mother's assistants was reborn herself, though, so she suggested that kind of thing and helped me look into various ways to go about it. Apparently, there aren't nearly as many facilities or techniques as there used to be available, but Lab 305 seemed to have both a long history and a reputable business model, so I was pleased with the solution."
He cleared his throat and added, "My mother's assistant impressed upon me that it was going to be different from the usual sort of client's case, since her guardians growing up apparently were unprepared to handle raising another person. Even going in knowing that, I'm still surprised at how personal it all becomes." He shrugged, glancing back at Vesna, who appeared to be preoccupied briefly with instagram notifications- twelve likes already!!-. "I wanted to maintain more of a client-necromancer distance, but she very quickly established that she wanted to be family. To an extent, I've accommodated her."
Apparently Vesna heard him anyway. She drawled, "Sorry for not being dead enough," and leaned idly on his shoulder. "You got, like, so many likes, Reuben! I told you, super photogenic."
He cleared his throat and added, "My mother's assistant impressed upon me that it was going to be different from the usual sort of client's case, since her guardians growing up apparently were unprepared to handle raising another person. Even going in knowing that, I'm still surprised at how personal it all becomes." He shrugged, glancing back at Vesna, who appeared to be preoccupied briefly with instagram notifications- twelve likes already!!-. "I wanted to maintain more of a client-necromancer distance, but she very quickly established that she wanted to be family. To an extent, I've accommodated her."
Apparently Vesna heard him anyway. She drawled, "Sorry for not being dead enough," and leaned idly on his shoulder. "You got, like, so many likes, Reuben! I told you, super photogenic."
Reuben nodded thoughtfully, recalling his brief interaction with Oliver, another guardian who had mentioned Lab 305. Meeting Vesna was his first real encounter with a Raevan, and the experience left him feeling both intrigued and eager to learn more.
“Yeah, I get that,” Reuben said, offering a supportive smile. “I’m glad you found the place and that it worked out for you. I’ll definitely have to dig deeper and see if it’s something I should explore myself.” He glanced over at Vesna, who was still absorbed in her phone, the digital world seemingly holding her attention.
Turning back to Lorenzo, Reuben couldn’t fully grasp everything Lorenzo had been through, but he could empathize with the complexity of their situation. “Family’s not a bad thing, right?” he said with a chuckle. “She seems to like you well enough,” he added, looking at Vesna again, marveling at her ethereal appearance and the way she moved with ribbons extending from her half-formed body.
When Vesna suddenly mentioned something about likes, Reuben’s brow furrowed in confusion. “W-what? Likes?” he repeated, bewildered. He hadn’t realized she had posted the photos she took of him earlier, let alone that they were gaining traction so quickly. “Let me see,” he asked, leaning closer to check her phone. He was used to social media but wasn’t the type to keep a constant eye on it, so the idea of getting so many likes in such a short time seemed almost surreal to him.
Reuben’s curiosity blended with a sense of mild disbelief, reflecting his unfamiliarity with the speed and impact of Vesna’s online presence.
“Yeah, I get that,” Reuben said, offering a supportive smile. “I’m glad you found the place and that it worked out for you. I’ll definitely have to dig deeper and see if it’s something I should explore myself.” He glanced over at Vesna, who was still absorbed in her phone, the digital world seemingly holding her attention.
Turning back to Lorenzo, Reuben couldn’t fully grasp everything Lorenzo had been through, but he could empathize with the complexity of their situation. “Family’s not a bad thing, right?” he said with a chuckle. “She seems to like you well enough,” he added, looking at Vesna again, marveling at her ethereal appearance and the way she moved with ribbons extending from her half-formed body.
When Vesna suddenly mentioned something about likes, Reuben’s brow furrowed in confusion. “W-what? Likes?” he repeated, bewildered. He hadn’t realized she had posted the photos she took of him earlier, let alone that they were gaining traction so quickly. “Let me see,” he asked, leaning closer to check her phone. He was used to social media but wasn’t the type to keep a constant eye on it, so the idea of getting so many likes in such a short time seemed almost surreal to him.
Reuben’s curiosity blended with a sense of mild disbelief, reflecting his unfamiliarity with the speed and impact of Vesna’s online presence.
"Did you have a purpose in mind for the program?" Lorenzo asked curiously. There were guardians who had seemingly applied on a whim, he knew, but even before he had fully realized the scope of the responsibility he had taken on with Vesna, he had barely been able to imagine making such a decision for personal reasons.
Vesna was of a decidedly different nature than Lorenzo. "Maybe he wants a cool kid!" she enthused. "I've seen Raevans with cat ears and bunny ears just like anime," she informed Reuben somberly. "Well, I found out the cat ears were wolf ears later. Still, it was cool." She noticed Reuben was eyeing her again, so once more she floated a little ways behind Lorenzo. It might be conceptually understandable to want a cool looking kid, but being inspected as a potential cool kid was something else entirely.
From over Lorenzo's shoulder, she flashed her phone at Reuben. "See-ee?" she bragged. "You got a few more while we were talking, too." Since Vesna had spent her first two months of life stuck at home, she had a healthy social media following- there had not been much else for her to do as far as hobbies went, and a necromancer's office made for some unique #aesthetic posts if nothing else. "You should go on Instagram more," she informed him, "You could do a whole tarot blog or something."
Vesna was of a decidedly different nature than Lorenzo. "Maybe he wants a cool kid!" she enthused. "I've seen Raevans with cat ears and bunny ears just like anime," she informed Reuben somberly. "Well, I found out the cat ears were wolf ears later. Still, it was cool." She noticed Reuben was eyeing her again, so once more she floated a little ways behind Lorenzo. It might be conceptually understandable to want a cool looking kid, but being inspected as a potential cool kid was something else entirely.
From over Lorenzo's shoulder, she flashed her phone at Reuben. "See-ee?" she bragged. "You got a few more while we were talking, too." Since Vesna had spent her first two months of life stuck at home, she had a healthy social media following- there had not been much else for her to do as far as hobbies went, and a necromancer's office made for some unique #aesthetic posts if nothing else. "You should go on Instagram more," she informed him, "You could do a whole tarot blog or something."
Reuben leaned back, mulling over the idea of joining the program. He didn’t have a clear purpose for it, not like Oliver, who seemed both eager and slightly stressed about the whole ordeal. Reuben had just learned about the concept, and while adopting a raevan seemed like an extraordinary commitment, it also sparked a thought he had tucked away long ago. The idea of having a family had always lingered in the back of his mind, a quiet longing that resurfaced now that he was faced with this unconventional possibility. He wasn’t getting any younger, and with his path in life, the traditional route to a family wasn’t likely.
“Honestly, I’ve only just heard about it from one other person — Oliver,” Reuben admitted, his voice thoughtful. “He gave me a pamphlet, and what he was talking about makes a lot more sense after meeting you two. I’ve always thought about having a family one day, since I don’t really have one of my own.” He offered a small, reflective smile, feeling a flicker of possibility settle in.
Just then, Lorenzo tossed the phone over his shoulder, showing Reuben the unexpectedly high number of likes his photo had garnered. Reuben raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “Maybe I should start a tarot blog on there,” he mused with a laugh. “You’ve got quite the following. I might need you to tag me in a few things—see if I can steal some of your fans for myself.”
He chuckled at the thought, leaning forward as if pulled into a world he hadn’t quite understood before. Despite his initial apprehensions, there was a part of him curious to explore this digital space Vesna navigated so effortlessly.
Reality, however, came knocking as he remembered Calista’s message. Reuben knew better than to test Calista’s patience. Her wrath was legendary, and he had no intention of being on the receiving end of it. “Well, my friend texted me — she’s finally here, so I should probably find her before she blows up my phone,” he said, standing up and reaching into his pocket.
He pulled out a sleek business card and offered it to Lorenzo with a friendly smile. “Here, take my card. If you ever need some herbal remedies, a tarot reading, or anything metaphysical, give me a call. I’d be happy to help however I can. It was really great meeting you both. Enjoy the rest of the convention.”
With one last nod and a warm smile, Reuben turned and melted into the crowd, feeling both energized and contemplative about what the day had brought him.
“Honestly, I’ve only just heard about it from one other person — Oliver,” Reuben admitted, his voice thoughtful. “He gave me a pamphlet, and what he was talking about makes a lot more sense after meeting you two. I’ve always thought about having a family one day, since I don’t really have one of my own.” He offered a small, reflective smile, feeling a flicker of possibility settle in.
Just then, Lorenzo tossed the phone over his shoulder, showing Reuben the unexpectedly high number of likes his photo had garnered. Reuben raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “Maybe I should start a tarot blog on there,” he mused with a laugh. “You’ve got quite the following. I might need you to tag me in a few things—see if I can steal some of your fans for myself.”
He chuckled at the thought, leaning forward as if pulled into a world he hadn’t quite understood before. Despite his initial apprehensions, there was a part of him curious to explore this digital space Vesna navigated so effortlessly.
Reality, however, came knocking as he remembered Calista’s message. Reuben knew better than to test Calista’s patience. Her wrath was legendary, and he had no intention of being on the receiving end of it. “Well, my friend texted me — she’s finally here, so I should probably find her before she blows up my phone,” he said, standing up and reaching into his pocket.
He pulled out a sleek business card and offered it to Lorenzo with a friendly smile. “Here, take my card. If you ever need some herbal remedies, a tarot reading, or anything metaphysical, give me a call. I’d be happy to help however I can. It was really great meeting you both. Enjoy the rest of the convention.”
With one last nod and a warm smile, Reuben turned and melted into the crowd, feeling both energized and contemplative about what the day had brought him.