Ep. 26- The Heart that Betrays You

Have you ever seen your own organs?

Sorry, I know this is off topic. We have a story to tell and all. But this feels sorta relevant.

Have you ever seen your organs?

Like, really seen them? Had someone wave wand or roll a ball or tack on a bunch of electrodes or even cut you open so they could see what all’s packed inside?

It changes your life. Like, you don’t look at yourself the same.

That’s especially true if its your heart. When you see your body’s engine upon a screen, laboring away- that realization that a lump of muscle and electric impulse is all that’s keeping you going…

It makes you reassess things. Specifically, you realize how fragile you are.

I envy the people who never think about this.

I’ve thought about it every single day since the first time- when they rushed me back, took my pulse, wired me up and showed me my heart- my very own heart, betraying me, letting me down, giving up on me for no good reason.

I wonder if it saw me too. I wonder if my heart was as disappointed in me as I was in it.

Oh, and who am I? Still just the storyteller. I pop in every once in a while to offer some personal insight. Don’t worry too much about what I have to do with any of this for now. Maybe someday we’ll get to that, but for now, just leave it be. Let’s rejoin the story…

int. hovel night

The party remains poised at the Devil’s pointed question to the Pale Horse. Even the Hanged Woman, normally aloof, peaks from beneath her cap at the Major Arcana. The Knight of Cups has ceased smoking his pipe and the Queen of Swords has withheld from taking another pull of fajro juice. The Hermit remains still, his face placid under the orange glow of his lantern. Alice, herself, can’t help but be deeply curious as she leans into a pressing question she didn’t realize had been dogging her all this time.

ALICE
(to Pale Horse)
What…what were you doing there? You never explained that.

KNIGHT OF CUPS
Perhaps he was still seeking his rider…?o

QUEEN OF SWORDS
The only thing one seeks from the Tower is death.

HANGED WOMAN
That’s exactly what he was seeking.

The room goes quiet. Not a movement from anyone- part surprise at the frank speech of the Hanged Woman, part apprehension of the Pale Horse’s reaction. The Pale Horse’s face strains, a fix of pain, embarrassment and anger ripples across the normally stoic features before he abruptly turns, leaving the room, his rusted armor awkwardly clanking in his wake.

KNIGHT OF CUPS
The Pale Horse was trying to die?

QUEEN OF SWORDS
It’s the only sensible answer. His shame runs deep- the shame of a swordsman who has lost his own blade due to negligence.

DEVIL
So he’s being an asshole.

ALICE
(blurts out)
Don’t be rude.

DEVIL
Seriously? He is! You were there too, you know. If he dies, what do you think was scripted to happen to you? And he didn’t even think to mention that or apologize! He’s an asshole.

KNIGHT OF CUPS
We do not know his heart, boy.

DEVIL
What does a Minor Arcana know about this? I was a GOD. I had POWER. I know a thing or two about family problems- my brothers and I RULED this world-

QUEEN OF SWORDS
(cuts in)
You were a good-for-nothing who was cast of of the Tower for his laziness. You weren’t fit to guard its gates, let alone serve as its administrator. You are a paltry excuse of a Major Arcana, fallen or not.

The Devil rises, and his right eye, normally squinted closed, widens. It glows with a brownish, copper Arcane aura.

DEVIL
If I wasn’t reversed you’d never have the guts-

The Queen rises and places her hand on the hilt of her greatsword.

QUEEN OF SWORDS
I fear you no more than a mother would fear a toddler. I’m not wanting for bravery, child.

DEVIL
Parent your own House first, Mother of Swords. It would be one hell of a first if you did.

The Queen pulls her sword from the earthen floor. It glows green the blade itself washing with waves of acrcane energy. She swings it ina cleaving motion at the Devil, whose own arcane aura bursts forth from his right eye in a release of energy directed at the queen.

DEVIL
My brothers kicked your ass up and down your castle, so it’s fitting I finish the job-

At this momen the flickering auras of the Devil’s eye and the Queen’s sword extinguish- the wispy waves of energy drawing out from their wielders like a candle’s flame being pulled from the wick- and toward Alice’s wide open mouth. When the last traces of arcane energy are absorbed, Alice closes her mouth, wipes it. Her eyes, bleary with emotion, silence further aggression from the two unruly cards.

ALICE
(quietly)
Please…