Monday, February 5, 2018

A Story By Cards

The following is a copy of my own notes while practicing story writing while using playing cards for prompts when I hit writers block. It has been left as-is. Feel free to take a look for an example of what this method can do. If you just want the results, scroll to the bottom and read the draft of the story.

PROMPT: Past-Present-Future Spread

6H 8S XD

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SIX OF HEARTS MEANINGS

A Boot, Sax, Sex, Spotter, Whiteskin
From the changes of the 5 comes the need to ADJUST to the value of 6.
Exhausted from all that change and restlessness, Sixes don't like to move forward. The past needs to be reevaluated and reflected upon. We need to stop, look and listen. Sixes bring us people from our past, feelings, thoughts and health issues we may need to deal with not later, but NOW. Debts repaid, or entered into. Sixes are karmic - the result of past actions or the sowing of seeds to come. For good or for worse, things remain the same.
Diamonds - Values - Security - Dharma
6 of Diamonds - Completion of Obligations
Karma for the 6 of Diamonds - True Worth
Six of Diamond symbolizes the need for understanding VALUE. A very successful and satisfactory life can be built for the Six of Diamond when money is not made the sole objective.
The acquisition of knowledge is not easy for the Six of Diamonds; there are obstacles and frustrations for them. There may be difficulty in acquiring an education in early life -- or there may be unwillingness to bother with it on their own part. Money, however, is vital to the people born under this card. Often times they want to begin earning it even before they know where, or how! The women of this Card should strive not to depend on their personalities for success, and the men not seek a wealthy marriage to promote their own objectives.
For both men and woman Six of Diamond, finances tend to go to extremes and remain in one state for a long time -- either way up, or way down.
An early marriage, but an unhappy one and one not destined to last. A second marriage would also be unhappy.
Balance
Responsible
Nurturing
Sixes are order, union, fairness, and cooperation.
(The Payer)
Card of Financial Responsibility
This card represents taking full responsibility for payment of financial debts, handling investments, or the need to start budgeting your finances. It may indicate an overall improvements in your finances. Help may come from family and friends in the repayment of loans. Money might be spent on a vehicle, as in purchasing or trading in a car, paying a car loan off, spending money for mechanical repairs, or troubles on a car trip.
Relationship problems, arguments. Separation.
Problems in a second marriage.
ANXIETY Further material unrest; one is starting to lose control of that which is in and around one.
The 6 of Diamonds more or less assures steady progress and as you continue to move forward, you will be recognised for all that you have achieved. Enjoy this time of peace while it lasts and make the most of it.

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EIGHT OF SPADES MEANINGS

Fat Lady, Ocho, Snowman, 8 Land, Race track, Time travel, Hog Nads, Spotter, Whiteskin, Pusher, Spot
From the victory of the 7 comes the POWER of the 8.
8s are a strong number and seek CONTROL.
Eights are the number of will, strength and force. They can be bossy and must be handled with care! The number 8 is the number of work and gains that are made because of that work. In its positive state, the vibration of the 8 will get us back to where we want to be. It has restorative powers. In its negative state, the vibration of the 8 will attempt to conquer and destroy.
Spades - Wisdom - Labor - Acceptance
8 of Spades - Power in Work
Karma for the 8 of Spades - Materialism
These people have a keen sense of their inherent obligation to work. They have been known to tax their health and sacrifice their loved ones in their drive to get things done. The Eight of Spade often ends up inheriting property or money from their parents or will otherwise obtain substantial help from family members.
Although primarily concerned with hard work, this Card does have a higher calling. It is often considered the Healers Card. Should the 8 of Spade use their enormous spiritual energy, and the application of higher wisdom to accomplish their goals, they are sure to find their place among the great ones.
Still another class of Eight of Spade will realize nothing besides their innate power. They work solely for the amount of money they can amass, and the joy of being called a "big shot"!
False friends, traitors, someone who will betray. Most of the trouble can be avoided if caught early on. Examine all relationships closely.
Power
Abundance
Movement Eights are special, powerful, successful, well-organized, and contain wealth.
(The Workaholic)
Card of Work
This card represents health and work matters. Obstacles can be overcome. Opposition may be present from others. Examine relationships closely. A crossroad relating to work or friends. Plans may go awry or friends let you down. Time for a vacation.
Temptation, misfortune, danger, upsets.
Trouble and disappointment. Plans go awry. Friends let you down. Cancellations.
LOSS The loss of something physical or mental.
The 8 of Spades brings with it obstacles, disruptions and unforeseen problems. It can be very easy to feel like there is no end to the bad luck or that there is not a way out, but as long as you only try to make small changes rather than big ones at this time, progress can still be made.

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TEN OF DIAMONDS MEANINGS

Dime, Sawbuck, Bo Derek, Spotter, Whiteskin, Broadway Card, Honor Card, Big Cassino
The last number - the biggest number - the sum total. This is the number of SUCCESS, the number of achievement and the number of fulfillment.
10s are usually a wonderful number to have in predictions and will strive to give their best and create success and fulfillment. On the other hand, the 10 is very capable of reducing itself to the number 1 (1+0=1) and when this happens, the inflated ego creates a false sense of security and we end up tripping over our own personal pride.
Diamonds - Values - Security - Dharma
10 Diamonds - Material Control
Karma for the 10 of Diamonds - Expediency in Associations
The Ten of Diamond is the most important of the money Cards, and not surprisingly, placed in the exact center of the Life Spread of Cards. Man chose to make money the pivotal point around which all life revolves, and the 10 of Diamond is the most powerful of the money cards to symbolize it's success.
The majority of 10's of Diamond make excellent merchants, and marketing execs, and will almost always succeed - one way or another - where money is concerned.
The 10 of Diamonds like to stand well in the world, and want their surroundings to give evidence of prosperity. The positive 10 of Diamonds have a strong sense of universal obligation, and enjoy shining their spotlight of success on those less fortunate. While the negative 10 of Diamond are able to amass their fortunes with equal brilliance, they are ruthless, and known to be self-centered.
Money. Money being the driving force of a journey or partnership. Greed.
Renewal
Accomplishment
Success Tens are ambitious, successful, powerful, and can be obsessive.
(The Money Tree)
Card of Prosperity
This is a card of financial success and is the best money card to appear. There will be financial success, especially in a business which requires travel. This is a great card to have when starting a business. Changes are occurring with financial success.
A change in financial status, often for the better.
Money and travel highlighted. Fortunate changes.
FRAUD Lies, deceit, sin.
The 10 of Diamonds is a card of achievement and it is very likely that there has been success and reward. The only negative side to this card is that it may be too much of a good thing; an example of this is where you may have been working for a promotion, but now there is just too much work to handle.

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Brainstorming:

A lone man, driving his old green car through the woods on a foggy and overcast early morning.
He just finished having sex with his ex wife from his second marriage.
He is on his way to pay off a debt.
His life is spinning out of control, and he is desperate.

Seeks power and control
Attempts to conquer and destroy
Materialism
Willing to sacrifice loved ones to achieve his goals
came into an inheritance
Betrayal- obvious in hindsight
Workaholic
Plans may go awry or friends let you down. Time for a vacation.
Temptation, misfortune, danger, upsets.
Loss
Meeting with the assassin

Success
False Ego
Ruthless
Self-Centered
Greed
Renewal
Fraud, lies, deceit, sin

This is apparently a revenge story, with a thoroughly unpleasant protagonist. I need to justify his vengefulness, and add some element of interest surrounding the protagonist. He can't just be a wretch who has his ex killed for money.

Perhaps the ex won custody in the divorce? Bad, but not worthy of execution.

What of the second ex? How does she fit in? Should she fit in? :O WAIT! What if the second ex IS THE ASSASSIN HE HIRED?

OK, So maybe we can add in the second ex manipulating him, tricking him, lying to him, which partially inspired him to hire an assassin. In the second act, he discovers her betrayal, laments the needless death of his former wife, and then fears for his own life. Instead, he confronts her.

In the end, somehow, he gets out of it. Maybe he kills the assassin or something? Seems a little extreme- he only acted as a second party until now. Hm.

So what was the assassint lie though? How could she inspire such wrath in him? Let's draw another card to act as a significator for our protagonist.

Our protagonist is a King of Hearts. Let's just read that one a bit...

Cowboy, K-Boy, Knight, Monarch, Sergeant, Coat Card, Court Card, Face Card, Figure, Liner, Paint, Paintskin, Picture, Picture Card, Redskin, Rembrandt, Royal Cards, Picasso, Monkey, Broadway Card, Honor Card, Charlamagne, Charles, Suicide King
Hearts - Emotions - Relationships - Love
King of Hearts - Paternal Love
Karma for the King of Hearts - Easygoing Inactivity
By nature, these people are the most desirable people on earth and the most worthy of love. They will respond to any true call for help from any quarter - and you can forget to thank them if you choose; it will make no difference to them.
The front they present to the world is kindly, friendly and magnetic. They give an impression not so much of power but of peace, protection and "safe harbor". Within themselves, however, they know they have the full power of love, a power invincible!
Sometimes, we find the Kings of Heart are quarrelsome and overbearing. They are met with constant disappointment in others, and are frequently deceived or betrayed.
When we meet a King of Hearts on their own terms and tune into their love and kindness, they never bring us anything but joy. They are the heart and center of family life, and harmonizer of friends.
Represents an influencial man, someone who has the power or ability to do something good for the querent.
Leader
Power
Wisdom Kings are fathers, teachers, leaders, discipliners, and in positions of power.
(The Saint)
Card of Holiness
This card represents an influential man, someone who has the power or ability to do something good. It can represents a man who is a loving father, the conception or birth of a child, the perfect lover, or partner. He is very romantic and passionate. He is affectionate and emotional, but is give to rash judgments.
A fair-haired man with a good nature; or a man with Water signs predominating in his chart. Fair, helpful advice. Affectionate, caring man. This man helps you out without much talk. His actions reveal his kindness and concern.
A good-natured, fair-haired man. Good advice.
SELF-DESTRUCTION The taking of oneself, literally or figuratively, for selfish and worthless causes.
This is an extremely affectionate King who is looking for love and an emotional connection. He wants to settle down and is very family minded and is not afraid to show how he feels.

Aha, of all the cards, the suicide king! He's self-destructive at least!
Frequently decieved and betrayed.
Easily disappointed by others
Has the power to do something good for the querent- the querent being himself in this case.
I like the idea of him being a more mild-mannered sort. Perhaps a teacher?
Given to rash judgements

Ok, so he's an overall good person, but he's gone through a string of bad luck. Two major relationships in his past resulted in divorces. Part of that is likely his fault- he jumps to conclusions, and judges people too easily. He is a negative of the KH. He wound up being convinced because of his easily agreeable nature, and because he makes decisions too easily without enough information to make informed decisions.

But what was the lie?

OK, let's draw a card for our antagonist: The assassin ex

She's a 4 of Hearts.

Boat, Four Spot, One Legged Ace, Broken Ace, Sailboat, Sharp Top, Spotter, Whiteskin, Wheelcard
The opportunities of the 3 bring the need for structure and SERVICE as symbolized by the number 4.
4 is a base number and is considered the number of luck and good fortune. Sometimes, we can feel TOO lucky with this number and we wind up feeling smug, complacent or stubborn.
Positively expressed, 4s symbolize SATISFACTION.
Negatively expressed, 4s are lazy and bored!
Hearts - Emotions - Relationships - Love
4 of Hearts - Protection in Relationships
Karma for the 4 of Hearts - Self Satisfaction
The majority of people born with this card have a strong sense of fairness, justice, tolerance, and understanding. They make good judges, counselors, leaders, and directors. There is also a strong attraction to the theatre - and with even a small amount of talent, a measure of success in this field is assured.
The pitfall of this Card is self-satisfaction. The negative 4 of Heart can become very smug, taking all the credit for their success. When this happens, their success does not last long. Self alone has no power for this Card. The 4 of Heart should never ask what can this person, this job, or this project do for them, but rather - what can I do for thee!
The Four of Hearts have so much to give to the world! And if only they could realize their satisfaction in life is measured by the amount of their giving.
The bachelor or old maid card. This card represent someone who is too fussy in their selection of a partner. Someone who, by their picky nature, is destined to remain alone.
Stability
Hard Work
Formation Fours are stable, fortunate, serious, and protective. Fours are dependable.
(The Protector)
Card of Commitment
The card means feeling protected and secured in love, marriage, and/or family. This card is a strong indicator of commitment or marriage. The card has a positive influence for a happy family and social life. The foundation of love is strong when this card appears.
Travel, change of home or business.
A change, a journey or a move of house/business. A late marriage.
INSPIRATION That spark of genius that arises when one is touched by love.
A solid emotional state is indicated by this card. This can refer to the way you are feeling inside or to a relationship or friendship. No matter what may come, the strength of these feelings and relationship connections will stand strong and not be shaken.

"Broken Ace", I like that.
Complacent and smug- she thinks she has this in the bag
Also lazy- her arrogant sloppyness is what is her undoing
Her pickiness is what undid her marriage to our hero; she divorced him.

Hm. Not much to use as a deception there. Maybe, instead of looking at the liar, I should look at the lie itself...

THE LIE TOOK THE FORM OF THE ACE OF DIAMONDS

Alas, As-Nas, Bull, Bullet, Eyes, MasterCard, One Spot, Rocket, Seed, Sharp Top, Spike, Spot, No-Spotter, Whiteskin, Wheelcard, Broadway Card, Honor Card, Pig's Eye
The Beginning "I AM". The Ace ranks supreme importance as the ego and we call it the ACE.
The Ace is the Card of DESIRE. It is the WISH Card, the HOPE and the I WANT.
If we can turn our desire for self into a desire for ALL, the Ace may be called the Card of the ALTRUIST.
Diamonds - Values - Security - Dharma
Meaning of the Ace of Diamonds - I AM Worth.
Karma - Acquisition
Ambition is the key word for this card, and usually in form of cold, hard, cash.
Contacts are very important to the Ace of Diamond. They like secrecy in connection with their associations; both business and personal. The Ace of Diamond can be incredibly charismatic, able to focus their magnetism to achieve success. They are curious about metaphysics and spirituality, but they have a hard time believing in such things unless they can profit from them.
There can be a lot of obstacles and difficulties for this card - and it's mostly the women who suffer in the realm of relationships and matters of the heart. The negative Ace of Diamond has issues with greed for money and power. The positive Ace of Diamond are willing to love for love's sake alone, thus able to reap the personal and material success so strongly desired.
an important message. A letter or package/gift arriving, the contents of which are very important.
Beginnings
Independence
Self-Discovery Ones have positive energy in the start of a cycle. Ones contain ambition, activity, and drive.
(The Ally)
Card of Messages
This card represents an important message that will be received regarding a union in either love or business. It also means the desire for money or enterprise in earning money. In love, the card can signify a marriage proposal. In business, a new partnership is forming which will be financially beneficial.
Change; a message, often about money, and usually good news.
A ring or present of jewellery. News about money. A letter.
MATERIALITY The physical; the temptations.
The Aces represent a beginning or new journey. The Ace of Diamonds shows new beginnings in relation to new projects and ventures and can also indicate working or socialising with a group of people who draw out the creative aspects of your personality.

Seed. He's supposed to be fatherly, and I already considered a custody loss in the backstory... Hm... Perhaps something regarding his children?
Ambition for cold hard cash. That is indeed the motivation behind the lie.
Secrecy regarding social connections
She seduced him as a part of the lie.
An important package or letter- the initiation of the lie was delivered.
The lie is at the very beginning of our story; it is the root of all events that unfold.
The letter regarded either love or business.
Physical temptation

So, really, our story is more of a mistery plot founded upon a revenge plot in the prologue.

But this is a terrible situation he's in! He's banging the villain, and he doesn't even know it! If he isn't careful, what's stopping her from killing him and taking everything all for herself??

How is he going to escape this black widow's web? How will he even discover that he's trapped??

OK, I already decided that she will be discovered due to laziness. But what, specifically, could it be? There's only two things connecting Four to the con through King:
1. A falsified paternity test and letter.
2. The money paid for the assassination.

The letter being around is pretty convincing OF the lie, so I'm not sure how it could backfire.

The money though... Maybe if she did something stupid with it that makes its value stand out to King in some way? It's all in cash though... What about the packaging?? Maybe he sent it in a particular box- and one day he found it back in his home and empty!

But what of the climax?! How does he get out of this? Let's leave it to chance! Time for one last single card draw!

THE FIVE OF HEARTS

Five Spot, Nickel, Pedro, Fever, Spotter, Whiteskin, Wheelcard
From the stability of the 4 comes the RESTLESSNESS of the 5.
Fives symbolize CHANGE. Life is change: "Creation, Preservation, Dissolution". As well, the middle point of anything is the point of change as either which way, nothing will ever stay the same. The number 5 IS that middle point.
5s symbolize fluctuations, travel and variety. A fickle heart or a fickle mind. A new experience is most definitely desired.
Hearts - Emotions - Relationships - Love
Five of Hearts - Changing Affections
Karma - Dissatisfaction With Personal Life
Five of Heart want complete and total satisfaction in everything. No half measures! Trouble is, things never seem to happen that way - so all the good stuff must be elsewhere! Not.
The people born with this Card tend to seek, then change, then experiment, then scatter their forces to the wind. When their position in the charts brings obstacles and difficulties, they often blame it on their environment or associations, and they fondly imagine they can escape it all by moving on. Socially, the 5 of Heart are oh so vibrant, fun, and full of spit and vinegar! On the inside however, their quandaries tax their health and leave them gasping for air.
There are of course, those 5 of Hearts who have learned to accept their circumstances and make the very best of them. There are also the "lucky" 5 of Hearts; ones who profit by gifts and inheritance!
Indecisiveness: The querent's inability to make up his/her mind on a subject. A tendency to make and break plans with others.
Change
Freedom
Variety Fives are adventurous, free spirited, versatile, and progressive thinkers.
(The Separator)
Card of Separation
This card represents changes in love, family, or home. There may be a chance for a separation, break-up, or divorce. It could also represent changes to a home, such as remodeling, moving to a new location, or a family member leaving the home. It could be as simple as a trip or a family member going off to college. In relationships, there may be a need to worry over indiscretions. Also, plans may be broken during this time.
Jealousy; some ill-will from people around you.
Jealous people around you. Take your time to make any decisions.
APATHY Disinterest. One of the more dangerous of the evils.
There may be disruptions in feelings and relationships when this card appears. You will do yourself no favours by turning a blind eye to the turmoil. If you can face the disturbances now, it will help with the upheavals and doubts.

He pulls a switcheroo of some sort.
He cuts her out of his life.
He changes the locks.
He sends the kids away to somewhere safe.

OMFG HE CONFRONTS HER.

He deliberately antagonizes her, forcing her to take desperate action. She's put too damn much into this con to give up now just because he's having a fickle heart! She's falsified documents before. She's killed for money before. She can do both again! With no kids in the house, there will be no witnesses.

She breaks in, fully intending to force him to sign a false will leaving almost everything to her, with paltry inheritance for the children. He stalls. He wastes her time. He starts arguments over little things and major things, he never signs the paper. Then the police arrive, responding to an anonymous tip delivered by a recording over the phone. Speaking of recording, he has microphones planted in each room of his house. He wasnt expecting a full confession, maybe proof of his death at best, but this worked out far better than he had planned! His suicide mission was a success!

Oh, snap, I should be doing a draft by now!

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Draft:

King was married, and had some kids.
That relationship ended because he made rash judgements and lost respect and trust for his wife.
The wife took custody of the kids, which he is deeply upset about.
Later, King married Four.
That relationship didn't last long; she left him out of annoyance and boredom.
Then he gets a letter in the mail.
It's a paternity test from the custody suit, with a letter explaining that lab contamination had altered the results of many tests. The tests were redone, and these were the results: Them kids aint yours.
He calls the first ex and loses his shit- weeping and falling apart, of course.
A few days later, Four shows up. They've only been separate for a week, and he's hurting.
She came to try and patch things up, but ends up being the shoulder to cry on.
She seduces him.
After some discussion, it became apparent that the ex still had King listed as her beneficiary should she die- and that custody of the children would go to him in such an event as well.
He is angry- but he is also the one who notes these things. Four doesn't push him into it, she just lets it happen naturally.
King and Four watch a movie about a mafia hitman. That night, on a whim, he does some looking to see if such a person is real.
He finds one.
He hires them.
We enter the story several days later.
The ex is dead, and he has instructions on where to leave payment.
He secretly celebrates for himself by taking Four out on the town. She arrives dressed to the nines, silks and diamonds, and fancy lingere later that night to boot!
He drives to the dead drop the next morning, and drops a package without postage or address into the mail box. It's a secure lockbox that he bought just for this occasion, he throws the key out the window as he drives into the fog.
Later, things seem great! And terrible!
For the first little while, especially during the mourning scenes, we get frequent flashbacks revealing the events preceding our entry to the plot.
The money comes in!
Then the kids move in.
He remembers loving them, and still does- but he is also still angry at the apparent infidelity, and that anger involves the children now in his care as well.
All the same, he tries his best to be the better man and care for the children- with the encouragement of Four.
Then the funeral. For the first time in years, he sees his ex, the woman he used to love, but now she is dead, in a coffin, surrounded by people mourning her death. His children are weeping uncontrollably, her father looks devastated. Four does not go to the funeral, feeling it would be inappropriate.
Guilt begins to eat away at him. Life happens, good and bad, but all mixed together with paranoia, guilt, depression, and fear.
Little does he know, he and his children are currently in the grips of pure evil.
The letter was falsified, created by a bribed employee of the lab that did the tests. The con artist? Four. That assassin he hired, the one who killed his ex? Four. The one he just recently proposed to again? Four.
While Four is out dress shopping (This time, it will be THE dress!) King is going through the garage, looking for his original tuxedo.
He finds a lockbox.
It's the lockbox.
It has to be.
He hides it and goes on with his day.
Later that evening, he tries to open it, but to no avail. He doesn't have a key.
Of course not, he threw it away in that farmer's field!
I has a plan.
He convinces Four to have an outdoor wedding, and pays the farmer to use the field for the event.
In the days leading up to the party, he takes every opportunity to search for the key.
After the wedding, one of the kids asks if he lost a key. He says yes, and the little girl hands him the lost key!
The next night, at 3AM he finally opens the box.
Tenthousand dollars. Full pay. Not a bill missing.
He closes the box and goes to bed next to a murderer.

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