Of Light and Darkness

[Aaron van Valen]

With a neutral face, Aaron refrains from replying to Cynthia's comment. The test is there as it is. Yes, the question is a bit strange, but also not as straightforward as might seem.

Ironically, at the end of the Course of Light, he finally notices himself agreeing with her more and more. The end results are totally different from his though... All those years ago.

He grabs the middle pile, which the Priscus of Haunts had given five cards. Hope. Her defining quality. Prudence a close second. Though, in his opinion, it sometimes seemed more like common sense.

'Very well. The cards have chosen Hope. An optimist in our ranks. Good.' He spreads the cards in in his hands, showing the five. No further explanation is necessary. 'Now the Course of Darkness.'

And a wide grin appears. These are the good questions. He would watch with great joy. So quickly he grabs all cards, carefully, and shuffles them onto one pile. Then he makes room for the Grand Wyrm.

Charity 3 | Faith 3 | Fortitude 2 | Hope 5 | Justice 2 | Prudence 4 | Temperance 2

[Cynthia Weiss]

Cynthia seemed a bit surprised by the result. Out of all the things people have called her over the years, Optimist was not one of them. Then Lina took over the table and this part of the test was laid out to her. "So me at my worst then?" Other than that comment, her face was impassive.

Jumping right in aren't we? She thought. With the first card drawn in hand, Greed was the first vice to claim it. There was little hesitation in her choice.

The question itself gave Cynthia another hint of when this test was devised. She placed the card in the empty Envy slot.

The first pause for this round of questions came, until eventually the card was slowly lowered into Pride. It was followed by Gluttony, Greed, Sloth. The last question again made her hesitate before Greed again won out and the deck gained its third card.

[Cynthia Weiss]

And so it continued.

Cynthia smirked a bit at the question before placing the card into Wrath. The sting of humiliation was lessened to clan Nosferatu.

She tilted her head slightly, slightly confused before settling the card on Gluttony.

Another flurry of answers was produced. Greed, Envy, Sloth, Lust. Some of these were not positions she ever saw herself in. A disconnect she was starting to feel.

Wrath gained the final card of this collection. "I did mention the other guy with debts..." She muttered quietly.

[Cynthia Weiss]

Cynthia looked at Lina plainly before putting the card on top of the only other card in Pride.

Greed gained another card with that question. Wrath, Gluttony and Envy were the next ones to find themselves a home. The question about the widow made her eye twitch uncomfortably.

"You can always take it back." She mumbled as the second to last card was placed in Wrath. The last question was easy to answer. Sloth gained the final card. Its kinda obvious where someone had their mind when making this set of questions... Not that I mind. A smirk formed before she relaxed back into the chair.

[Aaron van Valen]

Aaron watches as the two walk through the Course of Darkness. It seems answers came quicker. He had spent a lot of time finding relatable situations for Kindred. Which, he realizes, does not make that much sense since the test is devised for Kindred. He just knows that as a human he had found it easier to walk away from a feast than he would as a Kindred walking a away from a willing vessel.

The questions continues and he realizes Cynthia is a lot greedier. Especially interesting with situations where it opposes Envy or Gluttony.

Some answers surprise him a little bit, but he tries not to show it. They probably wouldn't notice anyway.

I think here I learned more about myself than with the previous questions.

For now he stays silent, waiting for Lina to say the final words. In his mind, he's matching the courses of Light and Darkness to find Cynthia's Fate Card.