Welcome to Gaia! ::

Reuben studied Oliver's face as he tensed and looked to be in deep thought. Finally, when he spoke, Reu nodded whilst listening. Ahh, breakups. Yeah, they were toughies sometimes. Reuben instantly thought of Clark, his most recent relationship. Thoughts and feelings flooded Reu's brain. That break up was probably the worst he had ever dealt with.

Reuben figured that to have this man open up and feel comfortable, he'd have to do the same. He finally chuckled a bit when he pieced his thoughts together enough to respond. "Yeah...I think we've all been there before. My last relationship actually ended rather recently and it was probably the hardest I've had to deal with. It was only a short lived relationship, but I really felt like I loved him. It was very up and down most of the time, though. Treated me wonderfully for a time, then terribly for a time. It came in waves. But in the end, he broke up with me and won't talk to me at all. It still hurts to this day, you know? But I'm making the best of life in my time away and working on myself."

When he finished, he hoped that the man wasn't too scared off to discuss his own issues. "I'm assuming that's what you're having to deal with now? Did she get back into contact with you and reopen an old wound?" he pried.

When Oliver laughed, Reuben looked at him in shock, but a smirk grew upon his face regardless (more out of the situation being uncomfortable and less because the man was laughing). That was, until Oliver explained; then it made sense. Reuben always just assumed everyone was straight until otherwise told. This was mainly due to his being raised around strict parents and the fact that as growing up, he had learned better than to assume someone was gay. Gay men and women normally weren't bothered by being considered straight; it was the other way around that made many straight people uncomfortable. Thus, in Reu's mind, everyone was straight until otherwise proven.

Reuben listened to Oliver speak and his smirk turned into a look of surprise. He didn't pin the man for a polyamorous person, but to each his own. The look of surprise fell into a saddened face by the time the man finished.

"Oh, nostalgia can be a b***h. I'm sorry you're feeling so down because of an old trip down memory lane. So you just needed some time away from it all? That I can understand. I'm not one to hold onto such things, personally. Not anymore anyway. Maybe what you need is a fresh start. Find something, or someone, you like and go for it. This may sound rather bad, but the best way to get over someone is to find someone new; at least that's what I've found in my own personal experiences," Reu began, patting the man's back as he finished.

Then he folded his hands around his knees and looked out over the water. "Or you could get really ballsy and go find your old lovers and speak with them. At least that way you could get closure, especially if you hadn't gotten it fifteen years ago. But I don't necessarily suggest it unless you're truly ready for those consequences. Honestly, though, sometimes closure is the only way to really get over someone."

Reuben nodded and took note of the nerves that these men supposedly brought Oliver. "Everybody deals with things differently, it'll just take time for you to realize how to deal with that situation and when it happens, it'll happen. But maybe what you need is more time for yourself. Do things that make you happy."

Reuben smiled and glanced out over the water. "Doing something nice for yourself is always the best medicine," he said, gazing out over the shimmering waters.

When he began to speak again, Reuben cocked his head slightly. Lab 305. It had sounded faintly familiar, like it had been around or he had seen it on a flier somewhere. "Eh, it sounds vaguely familiar. Is that what you're looking forward to? A new job at this place, perhaps?" he prodded.

Reuben furrowed his brow a moment. That was...interesting...to say the least. A child that wasn't human? He knew that Gaia was a strange world, but having these things...Raevan...that lived in the world, that sounded intriguing.

Reuben looked at Oliver with utter fascination. "So, you're adopting a...raevan? That's...wonderful? I didn't know such a creature existed. I wouldn't mind taking a look at the pamphlet if you have it."

Becoming a guardian would definitely be interesting. Reuben thought and what could it hurt to just look at a pamphlet. "So, you'll be a father then, huh? That's great. Congratulations," he stated, his face turning up into a somewhat confused, but genuine smile. "And a professor, I'm sure you're always busy with your students and planning, right? That'd be fun. What subject do you teach?"

Taking the pamphlet, Reuben quickly looked it over and his expression brightened. "Mind if I keep this one?" he asked, flipping it over and looking at the back. It seemed interesting enough, and with more time and thought, he may even apply one day. He listened to the man as he spoke, still looking over the pamphlet a moment before turning his attention to Oliver once more.

An English teacher, eh? That was impressive! Reu himself hadn't been to college in years, and his days there were numbered. He dropped out early to focus on a more personal life adventures, but he knew how much schooling was important to the world as a whole.

"Ahh, a teacher. That sounds both stressful yet very rewarding. You must be a very patient man to be able to deal with the young students. How long have you been teaching?"

Reuben chuckled and looked out over the water. "You're going to laugh when I tell you," he paused a moment, taking a deep breath. "I'm an herbalist. I basically find plants and create different home remedies and sell them to my clients for whatever ails them. Oh, and I'm also a freelance tarotist. Two totally different things, but I find balance in bringing the tarot to my plant-based lifestyle," he said, rubbing the back of his head a minute and closing his eyes. He always felt like a fool telling others, especially those who had "real jobs", what he did for a living.

"Thanks," Reuben nodded and smirked, folding the pamphlet and sticking it into his pocket quickly.

"Oh wow, ten years is a long while. Congratulations. You must really like it to have stuck it out such a long time," he replied.

Reuben began to blush a bit with the man's enthusiasm. He was nice enough to even compliment the job! Reuben didn't even know why he cared about what other's thought; it was just intrinsically ingrained into him the only way to be successful is to have a "real" career. Though all of that could have been because of his parents and upbringing.

"That's amazing. Aromatherapy is exquisite. I use my herbs all the time and grind them into incense for my home. Sometimes you can make some beautiful scents and other times the two just don't mesh when you think they will. It's very difficult!" Reu chuckled.

"Basically, I do just that. I read the cards for others for a small portion of my living. I do a daily meditation ritual that includes a reading for myself and by appointment I do readings for some of my clients. It definitely doesn't pay the bills by any means, but that's why I also deal with herbs and create salves, medicines, teas, and such that will. A lot of the times we're considered fortune tellers or some s**t, but I don't prefer that term. So I go with tarotist instead."

Reuben couldn't help but chuckle at the little story Oliver told. He then nodded, agreeing that roses did have a stronger smell, though it was one that was pleasing to Reu, regardless.

When Oliver asked about demonstrating a reading, Reuben smiled. "Yeah, actually, if it's one thing I always have, it'd be the cards," he began. He grabbed his little bag and began rummaging through it a bit. Finally pulling out one of his favorite decks, the Victorian Fairy Tarot.

Reuben turned to face Oliver head on and took the cards out of their protective velvet bag and began to shuffle the cards in his lap. "The easiest way to show you would be to do a reading, so I'll go ahead and give you a general one, if that's alright?" he asked. It was always important to have the person's permission to do a reading for them, or so Reuben thought anyway.

"If you want, we just have to start with a quick mind-clearing. Anything you're thinking about, put it to the back of your mind for just a moment, and just continuously think about this question: What is the universe trying to tell me at this time? Then we will begin the reading."

With the acceptance of the reading, Reuben continued to shuffle. "Generally, I charge about fifty dollars for a general reading of a three card spread. Then, from there, a much deeper look into the cards, with more cards being pulled, like a five card spread or even the Celtic cross, the price increases," Reu began, looking down at the cards a moment as he continued to shuffle. "but obviously, for this, I'm not going to charge you. That's my rule of thumb. If someone is needing my services and makes an appointment, I'll charge. Otherwise, I do this because tarot is a huge part of my life and I love to share the knowledge I receive from the cards with others."

With that, and a grin on his face, he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths, just as he did with his meditation moments before. Reuben slightly opened one eye and chuckled. "You know, this isn't going to work if you don't at least try," he said, opening both eyes. He stopped shuffling for the time being and spoke again, "Deep breaths and just constantly ask yourself over and over what the universe is trying to tell you. Once you feel like you're ready, tell me to stop shuffling."

Reuben, once more with a smile on his face, began to shuffle the cards, taking in deep breaths and exhaling any negative energy he may have. That was how every reading started for him, a mini meditation was necessary each and every time.

~~~~~

OOC || Don't worries, Pidge, take your time. 8D