This was it. This was the chance Sindri needed. A groan tried to work its way into existence, but was quickly stifled. Fate was dropping at this journeying mystic's feet a filthy, scrawny, starving and moneyless child to be taken care of and guided down the path of goodness. Benevolence… Propriety… The only result of these actions that Sindri's mind could project was the deprivation of scents, jewelry, tea - there would be two mouths to feed, and Sindri already consumed enough to rival a small town. It wouldn't be possible to take responsibility for the boy when there was already so much to be taken care of (Mainly Sindri)… And yet… a somewhat sour expression took over as the itinerant realized that this inner battle was lost before it ever truly began. The shame of turning away this virtuous duty would be unbearable. It was Sindri's job to teach this child sincerity, benevolence, and propriety… How could such things be taught when Sindri wasn't even able to abide by them without exception? It would be a difficult journey, yes, but a journey that must be taken. And anyways, that kid was just so damn pathetic, like a mangy, malnourished pup. The momentarily insincere spiritualist cursed a long list of things, and then focused once again on the boy standing there holding an oracle bone in his hand.
Giving up completely allowed a broad grin to creep down past the mischievous psychic's ears, up above the pointed chin, and finally sit, triumphantly, on the pale face. A stray hand tucked white-blond hair behind an ear, pulled slightly down with the weight of the hoop.
Intrigue glinted and danced between two ivy green eyes. "That's the wan-gu," Sindri said, speaking the last two words with a native Eastern accent. "It's considered one of the luckiest bones- that you chose it means you must be lucky too. I'll teach you to read them," The slender body twisted, unfolded and then folded again to face the piteous boy. "But only if you stop stealing. That which is gained through dishonesty is not worth gaining at all. That which is gained with hard work and virtue is worth more than anything money could buy. Unfortunately, most people here don't accept hard work and virtue in lieu of money. Would you like to eat? I'll treat you if you agree to be my assistant."
At this Sindri paused, making faces as if suddenly tasting something bad. "Apprentice…" No, this was even less palatable. "Associate." That triumphant grin worked its way back up, and suddenly so did the fortune teller. The cards and bones were swept back into the pouch. Fingers fastened around the street rat's wrist and dragged him along as the flashy figure tromped with determination through the muck and mayhem of the streets of inner Rhelys.
"Also, you mustn't lie. Well." Sindri stopped walking, a deep, sullen thought working its way across the expressive face. The blond gave a long sigh. "Alright. You can lie, if you choose to. The same goes with stealing. I… I won't stop you being dishonest, but if you choose to you must bear with the choice you make." The words hesitated coming out of the elder vagabond's mouth, their speaker desiring to tell the boy exactly what to do and feeling shortchanged by the obligation not to. "But you really, really, really should try not to lie or steal…" The thought that they were standing in the middle of a chaotic street suddenly occurred to the clairvoyant, who, with a quick turn, was off again with that same resolute march. "I'm working on listening more than I speak," Sindri projected over a gaudy shoulder, "So pinch me if I talk too much! There was this o-" Catching the mistake, Sindri's pale pink lips pressed shut, flickering green eyes narrowing to locate a specific destination.
"Hello!" The vibrantly-clad wanderer called, peeking a head in the doorway. This time the eccentric fool had a victim. A scrawny boy, shock of dark curls hanging in his face. The big man at the counter couldn't help but bark a deep laugh.
"Sindri, what poor lad are you torturing with your path to enlightenment, eh? I didn't think I'd see you back here. Come on in. That boy looks skinny as a vine! Sit down, I'll have a pot of tea out and something to eat in a bit." The man boomed, turning and stomping into a room in the back. Sindri, sporting a coiling grin, flung the grimy victim down at a table and took a seat across from him. Whether the fortune-teller's subsequent silence was intentional, allowing the boy that had just been effectively kidnapped to take in the recent flurry of events, or unintentional, a result of the thoughtless routine of pulling off earrings, massaging pink earlobes, picking at dirty nails, rubbing an aching right elbow, it lasted long enough for a pot of steaming tea to be brought out. At the interruption, those green eyes glinted, realizing that this time there was company sitting on the other end of the table instead of an empty chair. Sindri beamed, thrilled all over again with the rediscovery of this newfound companion. The contents of the sapphire silk pouch were dumped out on the table, bones and cards quickly pushed into neat little piles, and then the mystic's chin jerked up as yet another thought occurred, "Say. What do you think about caravans?"
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