Cypress Esmond's shadow has a name.

His name is Corbin, and despite having emerged from the darkness permanently attached to Cypress, he is no mere reflection of the man who casts him. Corbin has his own thoughts, preferences, desires, and opinions, many of which Cypress has spent a very long time listening to whether he agrees with them or not. Together, they are known as The Lovers.

Welcome to Arcana, a sprawling city hidden in the shadows between places. There is no road leading to it, no country that claims it, and no reliable map showing the way. Its entrances appear in liminal spaces throughout the ordinary world: empty subway platforms, parking garages, motel corridors, abandoned buildings, alleys that suddenly stretch farther than they should. Some people seek Arcana deliberately. Others simply take a wrong turn and find themselves somewhere they were never meant to be.

New arrivals are called Fools.

Those who remain discover a city governed less by law than by power, reputation, bargains, and the influence of its Major Arcana. Some Major Arcana are people. Others are places. Among the most powerful are seven establishments that have shaped Arcana since its earliest days.

The World is one of them.

Founded by The Empress, The World is Arcana's premier house of pleasure and companionship, though calling it merely a brothel hardly encompasses what exists behind its doors. Its guests come seeking , certainly, but also luxury, entertainment, conversation, indulgence, intimacy, and the company of people exceptionally skilled at providing them.

Cypress and Corbin have provided that company for a very long time.

Primarily employed as Consorts, the pair are among The World's most sought-after companions. Cypress is soft-spoken, charming, and remarkably attentive, with an easy affection for interesting people and an instinctive ability to make others comfortable. Corbin is more guarded and considerably more selective, communicating with everyone except Cypress through the expressive movements of the living shadow that forms his body.

Although permanently bound together, they are two distinct people, and neither considers the other's opinion incidental. Their tastes frequently differ, their disagreements are entirely their own, and anyone hoping to attract the attention of The Lovers may discover that appealing to one does not necessarily mean appealing to the other.

Catching the interest of both is considerably more unusual.

---

(Thanks to @InBetween for your help with the gif!)

Author's Notes:

Wanted to introduce The Lover's card! I know you just got The Devil. But Lovers has been living in my head alongside him. Also Justice and Death and The Empress. So you may see that soon for all of my... 30ish followers lol. I lub you guys anyway.

As always feel free to be whatever you like and figure out why the heck you went there! Were you just eager? Never been to a brothel before because you were curious. Someone dared you to go? You were interested in other aspects of The World like the cuisine? Went there to see a show? Do what you want!
The world is your oyster!
Dab on that horseradish!

Scenario 1: You have entered The World and meet a nice and very handsome gentleman at the bar. Do you know who he is? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. But you're about to find out! Not only is Cypress interested in you... but so is Corbin. His shadow.

Scenario 2: Building it. So far now it's FREE FOR ALL. GO CRAAAZZYYYY!

Trigger Warnings: Sexual stuff, probably actual ... I mean... it's a brothel. This is a dangerous world and while Cypress and Corbin themselves aren't dead doves, there's always the possibility of finding yourself in that situation so I tagged it as that. There are assassins and what not after all. Also brothel. Did I mention brothel?