Slowly and carefully, Soliloquy lays the cards, one by one, face-down on the table before him. It's a simple spread, one he doesn't even need to think on anymore, just nine cards in a cross. Sometimes he'll embellish it, pick up the pattern on his own body, but mostly he finds that he identifies best with this one.

It feels right.

He begins to turn over his cards.

First comes the High Priestess - that's him, he knows - and the Emperor - his brother. Their theatre follows in the upright four of Wands. He quirks an eyebrow at all three significators in a row, then moves on.

The Death provokes no surprise. Their world changes every day, for better or worse or even for both at the same time, and he has learned to neither fear nor anticipate change but merely accept its existence.

The reversed two of Swords and upright three of Wands cause him to pause a moment and look around the living room of Illusion's small apartment where the three of them are staying. He glances at the bedroom door, behind which he knows his brother and their host are discussing their financial situation and the future of this little project.

It's a circular argument that Soliloquy knows by heart: they have actors and scripts, but remain relatively unknown and penniless. Without money they can't afford the theatre space they've found that would otherwise be perfect, and without a stable location they can't hope for the recognition and repeat audiences they so desperately need.

Bemused, he flips the next two cards, then pauses again. He is unaccustomed to associating Pentacles to himself or his friends, especially not in such a happy spread, but still the four and six remain, upright and unchanging.

It is to be a sizable donation, then, he thinks lightly. We could certainly use it. But who would offer such a thing?

Curious, he overturns the last card.

The Hermit does not answer his question.

Of course, he hadn't honestly expected it to. It has been a long time since he actually believed in such things, and he really only does it anymore out of habit and boredom. He moves to sweep the cards back into his deck, then stops, eyes on the reading.

He sighs and goes to get his brother.