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Entry tags:

ddlc: monika

[OPEN]

Who: Monika & You!
When: Daytime; After the Full Moon
Where: Around The City (TM)
What: Magic Practice and Deliveries!
Warnings: None (yet)

Monika hadn't really embraced her status as a witch since she'd arrived in town. A few displays of magic here and there, and pretty regular attendance in the classes that interested her. Yet aside from that, actually practicing her magic was more of a rarity than it was the norm. Well, she finally finally decided to change all that! The Divination and Illusion types of magic were that really interested her. Lessons were all nice and good, but the only way to really get better at something was to practice it over and over again!

[I]

She had bought decently sized mirror and propped it up against a wall. Monika wanted to try her hand at a bit of scrying, and for that, a nice reflective surface was needed. She knelt down in front of the mirror and began to close her eyes and focus. Honestly, she would consider this a success if anything even appeared. Her eyes opened a few moments later and an imagine began to appear and come into focus. It was... a blue screen, with a little frowny face and a message.

The mere sight of this was enough to cause Monika to quickly grab the mirror and throw it against the wall, causing it to loudly and audibly shatter.

By now, the mirror was broken into countless piece, but she was no less rattled. Her quick breaths and clenched fists were a dead give away.

[II]

If seeing the future was out of the question, then what about looking into someone else's past? She'd already found some success with that before, and felt more comfortable attempting it. The only thing that was needed?

A volunteer.

"Excuse me? Hi! I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me practice my magic for a little bit."

How could you possibly resist a request from this cute, upbeat teenage girl. Monika figured that getting them to stop and help her would be easy enough.

The challenge would come from having them agree to look into their past.

But hey, one step at a time, yeah?

[III]

She had been working at Precogstitchin' and helping them with their deliveries. It was easy work, kept her busy, and allowed her to walk around the city. And they paid her, so that was nice too! Whether it's inside the comfort and familiarity of the Inner City, or all the way out in the Harbor District, Monika stands outside the front door and knocks.

"Hello? I have a delivery for you. It's from the lovely employees at Precogstitchin'!"

[IV]

[Got an idea for something else not listed? Hit me up for that Wildcard option! Also I'll gladly match bracket format.]

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"Oh, um! Hi!"

Momiji wasn't paying too much attention to his surroundings when the girl picked him out of those wandering through Haven's streets. He'd still been restless this morning from the aftermath of the full moon and had ducked out of Kyo's apartment first thing to hunt for something to distract himself. So far, it had been a...less-than-thoroughgoing success. He still had a niggling discomfort left over from the night past, on top of the strangest toothache at his front two teeth.

Still, he brightened almost on reflex at the question, stopping in place with a hop and giving Monika a small, sunny wave.

"Mm, me? What kind of help do you need? I don't think I can really do magic stuff, but if you just need somebody to watch...!"

All things considered, a magic show did sound like a pretty great distraction.

"That's okay, I don't need someone to actually do magic with me." Their role wouldn't be nearly as active as that. "But I'd still like for you to be a little more involved than to just watch."

What exactly did she have in mind? Well, they'd find out soon enough.

"See, I'm trying to improve my Divination abilities a little bit. So I was wondering, if you'd let me look a little bit into your history."

This was always the hard part, Monika figured.

"I know how this must all sound... but I promise it won't hurt at all!"

"Oh. That's a neat trick, I guess."

Monika is right, though, to expect that out-of-the-blue proposal to be concerning. Momiji bites his lip and fidgets in place, visibly considering. Back home, there would have been no question that he'd have to make an excuse for refusing; there would simply be too much risk that something Monika saw would reveal the Curse.

On the other hand, that concern felt pretty silly here, where he waited tables with a literal dragon. Still, it was ingrained, gut-level instinct. Some things were secret. And plenty of others were at least private.

"Um, that would probably be okay? But you might just see me going to school and stuff like that, I don't know if it'd be that exciting!" He hefts a little shrug, smiling back at her. "What would I need to do?"

"That's okay! Honestly, just hearing you agree to this is a huge relief for me." She sounded weird, to be sure, but at least they didn't say no.

"I wouldn't really mind something ordinary like that at all. It's more about just getting some good practice in, for me."

Practice made perfect!

Or at least, made for less screw-ups.

"Right now, I think I just need for you to focus on any one specific memory. But don't tell me anything about it!"

"Oh, okay! That sounds pretty simple."

And if he got to pick out what Monika saw to start with, there was really nothing to worry about. So, with a relieved, little nod, Momiji took a step back to lean himself against the nearest wall. His brow furrowed just a hint as he tried to think of what exactly he should think about.

It might as well be something recent, right? Instead of trying to come up with something that was both really memorable and not so personal that he'd be embarrassed to have a stranger see it. So, why not the memory that had stuck most clearly in his mind, recently--the last thing he really remembered before this place had borrowed him from the world he knew: Everyone out on the beach, the sun just starting to set. There'd been sand underfoot, and the waves washing up on the shore had turned wine dark against the pink and orange of the sky. And they'd all gathered around and watched the fireworks he'd brought twisting and sputtering themselves out in the dunes, giving off smoke and sparks...

It had been a pretty perfect summer evening. Enough that he'd been able to forget everything else from their visit there, if only for a little.

"Okay, got it," the blond declared, finally. He'd closed his eyes without quite thinking about it, but now he peeped back at Monika, throwing a small shrug and a smile her way. "I think, at least. Tell me if it's working...!"

"I will! Thanks again for letting me do this." And now it was all on her.

While she felt pretty confident in her abilities, it wasn't like she had no reservations about what she was going to attempt. She'd been honest about her intents, but not about the possible outcomes. Seeing the wrong memory, or having it all mixed up and have him view her past were all very real possibilities.

Now that she had a Bonded, however, it was supposed to mean better control.

At least, she hoped so.

She reached out with both hands, placing them near his head as she too closed her eyes and began her spell. Slowly, she began to see.

"I see... a beach." Monika had never been to one before. "The sound of waves. And fireworks, too."

It was beautiful.

So much so that her eyes began to water.

"Oh, wow!"

One eye peeks open in surprise as Monika immediately picks out the image in his head. He hadn't expected her not to get it--it was magic, after all!--but he hadn't know how much of a production to expect it to be.

His concentration breaks, however, when he notices her beginning to tear up, blinking back at her with concern.

"You got it. I was remembering the end of summer vacation, back home. It was right before I came here, so maybe it was a strong memory--um. Are you okay, though? I didn't mean to think of anything sad...!"

"Oh, sorry! I didn't notice that I was, um..." The spell and the vision both end at this point, and Monika hurriedly wiped her eyes clean.

"I-It wasn't sad at all!"

The real reason, she'd never been to a beach before. Or seen waves.

Or even experienced fireworks.

"I was, uh... I was always so busy with school, that I never really had the time for much else. Seeing the beach and firworks like that... It all looked really fun!"

"Oh..."

Momiji tried, but there was no concealing the uncertainty that hit his brow and eyes at that explanation.

If Monika had said that she had never gotten to visit the beach because her hometown had been invaded by orcs or robots while she was a child, maybe he could have managed! He'd gotten used to not just blurting out his surprise at the worlds other mirrorbound came from. Some of them were just too much for him to really conceive of, and he'd gotten used to that.

But, sorry, being so busy with school that normal summer vacation things prompted that kind of reaction was weird. Even super hard schools had holidays!

"Did...you go to a really strict school, back home? Or--I guess maybe you had cram school and stuff when you were on break--"

Whatever the case, it was pretty distressing that a memory like that would make her cry! It hadn't even been a good vacation, overall, after Akito had crashed everything, however much he'd savored that last evening.

"...I still have some of the sparklers we were playing with. That was right before I woke up here, so they were all in my bag."

If Monika wanted any, was the obvious implication. Aefenglom may not have had beaches, but the harbor was pretty enough at sunset, and nobody could really complain over sparklers.

Edited 2019-09-06 23:57 (UTC)

"I wouldn't really say it was super strict, but I did have to study a lot so I could keep my grades where I wanted them to be! I also ran my own club after school, so that took up even more of my time."

And wouldn't you know it? It was like the day was already gone between just those two.

"I really am sorry, I didn't mean to start tearing up like that."

Now she looked really weird and they were just looking to keep on asking questions.

"Sparklers? Oh!" As in... actual fireworks? She had to admit, it was really tempting.

"I wouldn't mind if you're sure!" Honestly? Monika was far more excited about it than she was letting on.

Seeing Monika again already has Rich smiling a bit, though his mouth is closed to avoid showing off his fangs too much. He can't do anything to hide the speckling of scales around and on top of his scars or his talons, but he tries not to let it bother him as he wanders over to her.

"Hey! Magic practice? You're not going to try to blow me up, right?"

"Ahaha, nope. Nothing as flashy like that!" Monika tastes lied elsewhere, rather than types she could use in direct combat. She couldn't really help herself, but it was what she was already familiar with.

Knowing things.

"I wouldn't want to do that to you even if I could. What kind of person would that make me?" There's a bit of laughter.

"I'm trying to improve my use of Divination-type magic, actually. So I was wondering..."

Time for the actual hard part of this.

"If you could let me look a little bit into your past!"

"I mean, it would make you a bit of a jerk, it's true."

He laughs along with her, but falters a bit when he hears her actual request. He hesitates for a moment, but... well, it's not like he's really been actively hiding what happened to him. If it comes up, it comes up. He shrugs and nods.

"Sure, I guess... do you get to choose what part of my past you look at?"

Maybe a time that was a little happier?

"I think for this, I'd like to see a memory that you've chosen. I still feel a little bad even asking for your help with this. At least this way, you have some control over what I get to see."

People like being control, didn't they?

"Once you have something in mind, just go ahead and let me know! Then I'll try to use my powers to see that memory."

Rich definitely likes having control over himself at the very least, so relief smooths out his face and he offers a small smile.

"Yeah, sure. That makes sense."

He tries to think of something. He could go with a simple memory of his friends, but he doesn't think any of them would really be interesting to Monika. Nerds getting stoned and playing video games is pretty simple. But... well, there's something that does come to mind. It's a bittersweet memory, but he kind of wants to remember it better, if her powers will make it any clearer for him.

When he thinks he has it, he nods.

"Go for it!"

"Alright! Let's have a look."

Monika reaches out with her hands and casts her spell. She's done this a few times, and feels like she has a better grasp on it now than when she first tried it. Her eyes close and she begins to focus. Her main goal is always to see someone else's memories instead of letting them see her own.

"I see..."

A party? Some kind of celebration.

"Your birthday!"

"Yeah, that's it! Exactly!"

Rich nods enthusiastically, brightening instantly. In the memory, Rich is sitting at a table with a bright colourful tablecloth. A larger man is across from him, giving a slight smile, a can of beer by his side. There's a slightly older boy to one side of him, trying to reach out with a finger to sneak a taste of the bright blue icing decorating the cake a woman has placed in front of Rich. That woman reaches out to gently grab the other boy's arm.

"Robin, that's for Rich, okay? Let him blow out his candles, and then you can have a nice big slice."

Rich turns so what seems to be his mother's face fills his vision. She gestures towards the cake, resting one hand on his shoulder.

"Okay, my little muppet. Make a wish!"

He turns back towards the candles, their flames flickering and dancing along with the faint music from the radio.

"Go ahead, Richard. Do it."

The flames suddenly seem to grow, brighter and brighter, the candle morphing into a lighter, clenched in shaking hands.

It all looked and sounded really pleasant. She'd never really celebrated a birthday before, much less her own, so it was to see someone else go experiencing it it. That cake looked especially delicious, too! Innocent and fun was how it all seemed, something felt... off. Nothing that was immediately noticeable, it was only after she'd been seeing the memories for a bit that Monika noticed.

"Why is there... a lighter?"

The flames are growing, too.

More violent.

"Rich?"

"What? A lighter?"

Rich's own voice is faint, from somewhere else. For a moment, he sounds confused, but it only takes him a second to realize what she might be seeing, and then he swears.

"Uh, don't watch that! How do you... turn off the memory thing?"

He tries to think of something else, anything else, but it's hard to interrupt what's already starting. The lighter falls from the hands in front of her, into a pool of gasoline, setting it and what feels like her body alight. There's two voices screaming, one a teenage boy, and one an older woman, though the latter is masked with static.

She pulls her hands away, ending the vision, though the images are still fresh in her mind. Like a dream she remembers far too much of.

"Sorry, I..."

Her breathing is quick, with Monika herself looking visibly rattled.

"Rich, what did I just see?"

Rich looks rattled too, and frustrated, though certainly not with her. His hands curl into fists, and he shakes his head.

"You saw something I've been trying to pretend I got over, that's all. It was... an accident at a Halloween party. Gave me some scars."

It certainly was not an accident, from what was visible, but perhaps she'll accept the answer.

Accident? She wondered about that. It sure didn't look like one on her end. But to have seen that kind of a memory, and judging by his reaction to it...

"I'm sorry. I was hoping I'd be able to have more control by now. But I guess I still have a ways to go!"

She'll just leave it alone for now.

"No, no, it's okay. I'm not going to blame you. If I can't control what monster parts I suddenly grow, it's hard to expect you to control magic perfectly. Still, you had it for a minute there!"

It was nice to recall one of his birthdays, and to share it with someone who might have needed a happy moment. Shame the latter backfired.

"Phew, I'm glad you're being this understanding, it really appreciate it." She felt a little less bad about messing up, at least.

"Maybe we could try this again once I know that I've gotten better? If you don't... mind, that is."

"I mean, I'd hope for the same if our situations were switched around. Seriously, don't worry."

He offers a big smile, as energetic as ever despite the unpleasant memory. "Yeah, of course I don't mind! Let me know whenever you want to practice again."

Has Lloyd seen her around since he started showing up to divination classes? Quite possibly.

But even if not, they're all trying to learn here. It's only right to help each other out, isn't it?

"Sure, what do you need help with?"

"I was thinking that I wanted to practice some more with my Divination magic, and how helpful a volunteer like you would be!" Not as awkward as you could've made it, but still kind of awkward.

"Do you think you could let me take a quick look into your past? It can be whatever you'd like! I just want to be able to practice."

There are a great many things in Lloyd's past that one honestly couldn't blame him for keeping buried.

But despite all that...there's very little he can look back on and say that he regrets. He had his moments, like anybody else, but for the most part, he's secure in the knowledge that he did what he could with what he knew and had. It's better to look forward, rather than backwards.

So he nods. "Sure. Should I just focus on something for you to try and pick up, then?"

"I think I'll be more comfortable if I just let you choose the memory. I'm glad you're agreeing to let me do this, but I still feel a little weird, you know?" For someone who was used to knowing everything as she was, Monika couldn't help but feel uncertain about what she was trying to do.

But that uncertainty also made it exciting for her.

"I'm ready whenever you are!"

"Okay, let's do it."

Best to keep it simple, he thought, so he focused on one of the daily rituals closest to his heart, and thus easy to picture in all of its detail. Opening the door, another day of work done. Stopping in the door and bracing himself for what inevitably comes next. A small girl, looking to be maybe nine, with long green hair flinging herself towards him at high speed with a joyful shout of "Llooooooyd!"

That might be the toughest thing about living here. He can't help but worry about KeA.

And KeA, he belatedly realized, may have not been the ideal subject for something that ought to have him focusing on a single moment, because his thoughts were all over the place, even if she was at the middle of all of them.

- opening a box while undercover at a mafia auction, and the shock he felt at finding that the contraband inside was a girl -

- waking up in bed and sitting up, finding that KeA snuck in with him again at some point during the night, probably after another bad dream -

- making the final ascent to the heart of a storm of magic, causality, and forces beyond human understanding, to find her. Memories and moments from all everywhere swirling around them. A vision of a fight gone wrong, all of them dead on the ground, and the confusion from his friends - "that's not how it happened" - even as Lloyd knew he'd seen that outcome before, in a dream he wrote off as meaningless -

- the final confrontation. KeA at the center of the sanctuary, hovering in the middle of what could only be called a pillar of pure power. A blonde woman in an outfit that fairly screamed "final boss" telling them that the past reality had already been changed by KeA - for their sake.

"The altered reality where you were all killed by Joachim."

His eyes snap open. "Sorry...that was a really awful job of focusing on one thing, I just went...all over the place."

Had she even managed to get anything from that? Had she gotten something far more disturbing and confusing than he'd meant to send? He was pretty sure that however that went, he must've screwed it up pretty badly.

Edited 2019-08-24 00:42 (UTC)

It starts out innocently enough. A straightforward memory, easy to visualize and take note of. Then it all begins to escalate so quickly. She's not quite able to grab all of it, just bits and pieces here and there. At the center of it all, is a small girl. A child, rather. With green hair.

What sort of kid had natural green hair to begin with?

There's so much flowing into her, it's tough to retain it all. Most of it's already gone by the time they're interrupted.

"I-It's fine, really." Though she did feel out of breath, the sheer information overload causing her heart to race.

"This is just practice, you know? Can't expect it to go smoothly all the time! But if you don't mind me asking... Who was that girl?"

Well, if she got the girl out of it, that means it did work, even if he sent...a little too much her way.

"She was...part of a project by some unsavory people, to recreate a powerful magical artifact."

An oversimplification, maybe, but it cuts to the heart of it without getting bogged down in the details. And anyway, that's not the part he'd rather dwell on. "Her name is KeA. She's just living like a normal little girl now." His manner gets a lot warmer once he gets to KeA now, and not the awful place she came from. "She's friends with every kid on West Street and she loves to cook. She's so smart the sisters let her come to class with the older kids at Sunday School."

(He definitely sounds like a doting parent, now.)

Her hands go behind her back, taking notice of the way he talks about her. It definitely doesn't escape Monika. "She sounds pretty smart and capable already. And I'm positive she already has a bright future ahead."

There's a smile on her face at this point.

"Why, given the way you talk about her, I'm sure she must seem like a sister to you too!"

He laughs, a bit awkwardly. "Well, usually I get accused of being more like a doting parent, but she's certainly family, however you want to look at it."

A doting parent sounded more like it, she had to admit. "I'm glad you have someone like that. Family is important, after all!"

Was it? She couldn't really relate.

"You must miss really miss her."

"I do." He frowns. "The person who made her never...seemed to think of her as a person. Nobody should be trapped in that kind of a life. If they weren't going to give her the freedom to decide what she wants to do and what makes her happy...it's the least I can do for her. But then it's hard not to worry about what's happening if I'm not there."

Nobody should be trapped in that kind of a life.

The words kept echoing inside her mind. This girl and herself sounded pretty similar in some unpleasant ways. If they ever got the chance to meet, Monika would no doubt think they would have a lot to talk about!

She hoped that moment never came.

"I can understand why you would feel that way. She's obviously very important to you, and it must be driving you crazy being separate from her like this. But I'm sure she'll be just fine."

What's the worst that could happen?

[It's impossible not to hear the shattering-- a sound that is particularly loaded in this of all places, given their relationship with mirrors. The SQUIP had been focused inward, seemingly meditating, though what it was doing was much more akin to a search of its own databases, reviewing the magic knowledge and experience it had accrued since its arrival there, arranging it neatly and working to make plans based around its new skills.

It startles sharply at the sudden sound, and it picks itself up from where it had been leaning against the Coven wall, quickly making its way over to investigate.

... and then its gaze lands on Monika's panicked form, and the shattered mirror before her, and it's quiet for a moment.]

... that's the danger of Divination: there's always the chance you might see something you don't like.

[Its own calculation of potential paths showed it that long before it had ever even begun to believe in magic, much less practice it. Not every likely outcome is favorable; sometimes, it's simply a matter of making the most of the inevitable, especially when dealing with humans.

It slowly approaches her, carefully, and goes to her side. Its voice is soft.]

Are you okay?

[Her hands were clenched into fists, shaking slightly as she bit on her trembling bottom lip. It was hard to get a full read on Monika's face, given how her bangs were covering up her eyes.

The voice, she knew that voice.

Oh, how she wished it was anyone else right now.

The shaking finally stops as she turns to face the SQUIP.]

I'm fine!

[Everything Is Fine.]

Sorry about that! I guess I got a little startled just now.

[She isn't fine. It doesn't need to see her face to know that much. It's also keenly aware of her distaste for it, and that is disappointing; it can't really blame her, however, given their last interaction. It did come on a bit strong during Litha.

Litha was... a confusing time.

It stalks over to the shattered pieces of the mirror, and kneels to pick one up carefully in its long fingers.]

Do you need help cleaning this up?

[Help? Not really.]

Ah, would you really? I'd appreciate it a lot.

I wouldn't want to miss any pieces.

[What a mess.

Anyways, she begins to clean up, picking the shattered mirror shards one by one. Though as careful as she is, Monika still ends up with a cut on one of her fingers. Nothing severe by any means, but it's enough to draw some blood.

It's a different kind of sensation.

The only other time she drew blood was when she cut herself... back then.]

[... ah. She's hurt herself. Though... her reaction to it is...

... well. "Surprising" would be the wrong word. It isn't surprised at all. It's far from the SQUIP's first encounter with someone who had experimented with self-harm, of course, or even engaged in it regularly; SQUIP users, especially the younger ones, have a tendency to be... troubled. But she doesn't seem the type to engage in it regularly.

It retrieves the handkerchief from its pocket and offers it to her; it's picked up a few of the old-timey habits from its surroundings, and carrying one of those is typical, particularly tucked into a gentleman's pocket.]

Here, put some pressure on it.

Huh? Oh, sorry!

[She'd zoned out for a moment there, over a simple cut.]

I guess I wasn't being as careful as I thought.

[Monika takes the handkerchief and presses it against the cut.]

It's nothing to worry about, really. Just a little cut, is all.

Do you think you can help me pick up the rest? There shouldn't be too many left.

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[OPEN]

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cw: mentions of self-harm

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