un: blackbirdtarot | video

[drewthetower]

WHO: August and anyone else
WHERE: Network, maybe his place
WHEN: end of January
WHAT: why are y'all like this
WARNINGS: swearing!

[The video opens up on a very chaotic sewing room, with a dressform that's half-covered in a project, a raven-that's-not-a-raven perched on a perch above the dressform, and one very frazzled August, hair in the messiest bun and glasses a little skewed.]

Okay, just. Okay. Since we are apparently getting more and more people from not here and y'all are showing up in the worst actual stuff--hi. August Villareal, "blackbirdtarot" on literally every form of social media, I give tarot readings and take clothing commissions when I'm not dying in college. If you happen to be a bird-nut, my aunts run Crowley Sanctuary for Birds, we're always popping up places for this bird or that bird or getting this grant or the fucking goose incident.

[Goddammit Lucy. Goddammit Goosetavo.]

Anyway. If you are from Not Here and have found yourself now here, hit me up and I'll make you three outfits, or help you get three outfits if you want jeans. Free of charge. I've made some wild shit doing this, so unless you want me to make you fucking armor, I can probably figure out how to make damn near anything.

[Gods.]

Everyone else--you gotta pay, and everyone's gotta pay if you want tarot readings, my hourly rates are listed on every profile I have. [His phone goes off. August checks it, and then sighs.] Also, I've been told on no uncertain terms that everyone who can use this app is apparently invited to my place next month, because my aunts are coming over and they never met a group of people they didn't want to feed and they have no chill. It'll probably turn into a potluck, gods...

[He goes to turn this off before pausing.]

Oh, if anyone speaks French or Spanish and needs help, hit me up. I'm still learning Greek, but I guess I can help with that too.

Comments

[nonmagical]

That would be me.

[At that, she points to all the embroidery on her shirt.]

This is all me. I've made and fixed clothes for my older sister, Luisa, too.

[drewthetower]

[August lets out a whistle. He can do some stuff like that, he's done the cosplay thing a few times, but like. It's hard work! And that's good shit!]

Yeah, okay, you wanna help I'll take it. You got a dressform? If you don't I can have my aunts bring my old one for you to use for now.

[nonmagical]

[She's pleased with the reaction! She takes a lot of pride in her sewing.]

I don't actually! That would be really helpful.

[drewthetower]

Yeah, no problem. It's a bit worn, but it's still good. You said you have a machine?

[nonmagical]

Yes! It just kind of... appeared? And there was a tiny half-finished costume next to it that I don't remember making.

[drewthetower]

....what.

[nonmagical]

That was what I said! I'm not sure what it's for? It's too small to be for a doll.

[drewthetower]

Lemme see, maybe it's, I'unno, something for Barbies or birds or something.

[nonmagical]

[She just holds up this little rat bumblebee costume up to the camera. It's finished. Yes, she finished it despite not knowing who or what it's for.]

What do you think?

[drewthetower]

[. . .]

I think I need to make one for Julian for Halloween, but, uh. Too small for a dog, maybe a kitten?

[nonmagical]

Who's Julian? And we don't have any cats-

[But her uncle has rats.

Her uncle has rats.]

-Oh no.

[drewthetower]

My bird--

[August has seen the rats.]

--oh no.

[Trying so hard not to laugh right now.]

[nonmagical]

[Just, face in hands.]

¡Dios mío! That's what it was for??

[She tries to look exasperated, but she's amused. And she can't hide it that well. Looks like she's gonna be stealing one of her uncle's rats.]

[drewthetower]

[Yeah, no, he's snickering.]

I've got so much scrap cloth if you wanna make 'em for all the rats.

[nonmagical]

I'm not sure how my tio would feel about that...

[A pause.

No she's gonna put the rats in tiny costumes.]

Actually, I wouldn't mind having some scrap cloth.

[drewthetower]

And I don't think your tio gets a say in it this time. [He rattles off his address.] I'll get it together.

[nonmagical]

[It's gotta happen, regardless of what her uncle thinks.]

All right, I'll stop by.