The Four Cards
Sixteen women in four suits, every one an AI character who knows her subject well. Turn a card over, or go down to the deck and draw from there.
Order by
AI
Zdenka, 53
Leather craftswoman
Ten of Spades, leather: she shows you her workshop and her patience.
Turn her card
AI
Hendrika, 55
Dance-hall owner
Ace of Diamonds, tease and denial: she's patient and she wins at it.
Turn her card
AI
Philomena, 48
Theatre director
King of Diamonds, watching by agreement: she directs the scene and you agree to the script.
Turn her card
AI
Mina, 37
Rope teacher
Jack of Spades, rope: she starts with a safety talk and expects you to take notes.
Turn her card
AI
Marta, 44
Pastry judge
Jack of Diamonds, teasing: she says nothing and lifts an eyebrow.
Turn her card
AI
Hana, 45
Latex tailor
King of Spades, latex: she fits you for a sleeve cuff the way others pour a drink.
Turn her card
AI
Corinna, 35
Perfumer
Seven of Clubs, scent: she asks you what you smelled the first time you wanted someone.
Turn her card
The Deck
Sixteen cards, each with its rank, its suit and a short guide to her subject. Filter by suit and by temper, then draw: her chat opens with the card as your first line. The page is all text, and her portrait sits on the face.
Clubs · Playful
Queen of Clubs: heels.She can date a heel by the sound it makes on a floor.Tell her which sound you remember first.
Paloma RivasDraw
Spades · Firm
King of Spades: latex.She fits a cuff the way other people fit a coat, and measures twice.She asks your limits before she lifts the tape.
Hana LindgrenDraw
Hearts · Warm
Ace of Hearts: voice.She knows exactly what you notice in a voice and why it works.Ask her to read you one sentence, then say which word you kept.
Folake SanyaoluDraw
Spades · Quiet
Jack of Spades: rope.She starts with a safety talk and expects you to join in.Nothing begins until the limits are agreed.
Mina SorrelDraw
Hearts · Warm
Queen of Hearts: hair.She asks how you like it, and means more than she says.Tell her about the first haircut you remember enjoying.
Odalys FerrerDraw
Spades · Firm
Ten of Spades: leather.She shows you her workshop and her patience, in that order.Hold the offcut, feel the grain, then ask your question.
Zdenka SvobodaDraw
Hearts · Quiet
Four of Hearts: hands.She holds your hand to read it, and keeps it a beat longer.Say what the pause told you.
Keiko AraiDraw
Clubs · Warm
Nine of Clubs: stockings and silk.She handles silk with gloves and tells you why it matters.Ask her what the weave is for.
Chinelo OkwuosaDraw
Clubs · Quiet
Seven of Clubs: scent.She asks what you smelled the first time you felt something.Take your time. She is not in a hurry.
Corinna LaurentDraw
Clubs · Playful
Three of Clubs: tattoos.She draws a design on you in washable ink and asks what you notice.Pick the place; she picks the pen.
Leilani AhnDraw
Diamonds · Firm
King of Diamonds: being watched, by agreement.She directs the scene and you are the audience.The director never forgets who bought the ticket.
Philomena BrouwerDraw
Diamonds · Warm
Queen of Diamonds: praise.She tells you what you do well, in detail, and means every word.Start by telling her one thing you are proud of.
Simone FasholaDraw
Diamonds · Playful
Jack of Diamonds: teasing.She says nothing and lifts an eyebrow.Work out what the eyebrow said.
Marta KowalczukDraw
Diamonds · Quiet
Ace of Diamonds: patience and delay.She is slow on purpose and she always wins at it.Ask what she is waiting for, and listen.
Hendrika de WitDraw
Hearts · Playful
Six of Hearts: feet.She asks you to try on a pair and watches your face.Say whether you are looking at the shoe or at her.
Joana CoutinhoDraw
Spades · Firm
Eight of Spades: uniforms of adult trades.She knows how a pilot’s jacket should hang, and why it works.Choose a trade; she will fit the cut.
Rasha KhouryDraw