【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.
Due to a high volume of check-ins, temporary accommodations have been made in our parking garage for all new arrivals. We aim to have all guests moved into their reserved rooms as soon as possible. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience!
All are invited to There Is No Tomorrow, a Phoenix Casino soiree to celebrate our beloved guests. The festivities will begin at 1800 hours on January 20th and end at 1800 hours on January 27th. Please look forward to 168 hours of delight.
In an effort to raise happiness and encourage better guest relationships, attendance is required. The house will assist guests that are too shy to appear of their own accord. Please note that black tie attire is mandatory. As always, we hope you enjoy your stay! 】
PARKING GARAGE
ANY CAR IN A STORM
PHOENIX CASINO HALL
WELCOME TO THE NEXT 168 HOURS
Phoenix Casino is a-flutter with activity and packed to the beak with guests. As a famously ever-changing space, the staff would be remiss if they didn't deck the crown jewel of the Golden Peacock out. The casino glitters from top to bottom, shining brighter than diamonds, rubies, sapphires, opals! Party-goers are shiny and glamorous with picture perfect makeup, fluttering gowns, and sharp suits. Card tables are packed and the slot machines are a-ringing as guests play, play, play! Prizes, luxury, booze, attractive people, it's the place that everyone wants to be at.
Those people being dragged inside by some invisible force...? Silly, they were so excited to come that their bodies moved before they realized what was happening. Those are struggles of joy and definitely not the casino's infamous ghost hands dragging unwilling guests to the party at the behest of the house. Look, they're literally hurling their bodies at the card tables with unrestrained glee!
All clocks indicating day hours and night hours have been removed from the casino. Once a guest has entered, their Watch will jam, making it impossible to keep track of the time. You don't need to worry about that tonight.
▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's January event.
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▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are prioritized and receive attention! If you would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header. This month we also have an ongoing ATP / EMP where players can connect. Please feel free to utilize this for all of your peafowl needs!
▶ If you aren't satisfied with these prompts, please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort!
▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread regardless!
▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.
▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.
[That phrasing is distinct enough to get the point across, even if it isn't as outwardly crude as much of what he's encountered these last few miserable days. Flustering over something that slight, given the apparent nature of this place — Sunday controls himself. If he cannot alter or effect his surroundings, then at least he has this: a discipline wielded over his own reactions.
She asks him to stay, and he hesitates, mind halfway out the door for how quickly it seems he's prepared to leave, running from that sight of the young woman's figure on the bed.]
... When you make demands, do those around you usually listen? [It isn't sharp, though. Only a little tired.] Tell me what you want. I'll at least hear you out.
They do. [ an instant answer! ] I am a genius astrologist. Any demand I make should be heeded.
[ with that said, mona gestures towards him and then down at the platters of food. beside the delicious, still steaming breakfast, there appears to be a little... first aid kit, of sorts? and with a migraine beginning to thrum in her temples, she'll certainly need to use it. ]
Sit and have breakfast with me. We will exchange introductions, and then I will ask a few simple questions.
[ but she doesn't stop there, oh no. mona begins to move under the bedsheets, sliding her legs to the side of the mattress before rising to her feet. she is clad in only her nightwear.
[The word is quiet under his breath, his voice an echo of hers changed by confusion. A genius astrologist? That is a claim worthy of merit, if it's true — he's known individuals to call themselves geniuses, wearing their own pride and confidence in its identity. Then again, he's also met far more merely full of hot air. Which sort of genius is this woman?
Sunday doesn't ask, because in the next moment, she's standing — and his gaze immediately cuts away. By his ears, those wings twitch in a telling discomfort.]
... I'll sit with you, as long as... [He's DYING here. He cannot just look at a woman's body like this?] Please put more clothing on first. That is my condition.
[ so it would seem he didn't find her disheveled state distasteful, but that he could not handle her being partially undressed. how silly. with a reaction like that, mona is already convinced that this man will be facing more than a handful of challenges in this particular world.
regardless, she walks around the bed past sunday, makes a short detour towards her wardrobe, and then enters the restroom connected to her bedroom. it's there that she discovers she is... well, to be frank, a mess. more so than she believed. and what are these poking out of her hair? small, fluffy little things. very familiar. ]
...Feathers?
[ mona recalls the wings sprouting from her guest's head. hm.
she returns to sunday's side a short venture later, now with a comb in hand and wearing a blouse and skirt. the feathers are still there, but she'll be removing them shortly. he'll have to endure the embarrassment. ]
[Sunday awaits her return patiently, though with no small amount of discomfort. Suffice to say, he was not raised to be idling in a woman's bedroom suite like this, and he can't help that oppressive feeling he is somewhere he shouldn't be. He makes a point not to go rifling around any of her things; eventually he does take a seat at the foot of the bed where the plates for breakfast have been left on a tray for them. In her absence, he doesn't begin eating yet — although now he recognizes the hunger gnawing at him after however long it has been since he last ate.
At her reappearance, Sunday looks over and... clears his throat. Ah. The feathers.]
My apologies.
[It comes quietly under his breath.]
... What is your name? You said you were a genius astrologist, correct?
despite his earlier fussing, this little apology of his sounds very timid. mona could reassure him that it's fine, but she doubts that he would believe her. whether known due to her astrological ability or simply intuition, it's clear that her guest finds shame in having shed a few of those small feathers. ]
My name is Mona Megistus, meaning the Great Astrologist Mona. [ her rehearsed line first, voice elevated and haughty. one hand works the comb through her hair as she speaks. ] And I will reiterate it again; I am a genius. Should you ever seek divination from me, then respect both my art and myself.
[Mona Megistus — he is not familiar with every genius in the universe by name, but that one is new, he's certain of it. It reminds him that there is always something to learn on a journey, and introductions like this are inevitable, even if the circumstances are less than ideal.
And he can tell she's practiced. The confident air in its delivery almost tempts him to smile, a little twitch at the corner of his mouth. She takes pride in her identity; he cannot fault her for that.]
... Oh. [The word startles out of him, breathy.] You divined my name? I underestimated your ability. I shouldn't make that mistake again.
[Somehow, he is comfortable where others might recoil and withdraw, fearing that keen perception. It isn't like he has anything to hide. Instead he reaches to pour them both hot tea from the pot placed on a low table at the foot of the bed.]
I admit that I'm not very familiar with astrology. Do you study the stars?
from the moment mona opened her eyes, the man who had found himself in her bedroom had been visibly agitated and flustered. however, upon revealing something so simple, so easy for mona to uncover, a bit of that tension has dissipated. mona can't help but be pleased. she even takes it upon herself to situate herself beside him, silently appreciative that he feels comfortable enough to pour them tea. ]
Not quite. For proper divination, I would require my scryglass. This... I suppose you can consider it very high-functioning intuition. A flash of insight.
[ similarly, mona can use this power to determine what someone has on their person, or even little facts. the knowledge gained isn't as extensive as it'd be through a proper reading, but it is still advantageous. ]
And, yes, I study the stars. The sky in this world is fabricated, but so was the sky in mine.
[ a refreshing smile has softened mona's features. ]
[An intuition powerful enough to discern a name? It's an impressive ability on its own, but it seems Mona is capable of even more through true divination. He has heard of the power of true geniuses, but it is his first personal glimpse of it before his eyes.
Thoughtfully, Sunday lifts his cup of tea to his lips, feeling the bed depress slightly where her weight settles beside him. It is also... physically closer than he's used to being with another individual, and if he considers too long where they are — in this woman's bedroom, on her bed — he suspects it will disrupt his attention on more important topics. Like the stars.]
I see. I have heard of... fabricated worlds. [Is the dreamscape so different?] Yet even when you're looking up at a real sky full of stars, you're only seeing images of the past — those lights from long ago.
[Mona has unlocked Mr. Philosopher unfortunately.]
Ah, but you've been here so long. What are your thoughts on this place? Or... advice, that you'd give to a newcomer like me.
As I read the stars to determine one's future, it does make you consider just how long ago their fate was decided.
[ it was a stroke of lucky, really, that the sky here performed similarly to teyvat's. mona was taught of the false sky during lessons, but it really is something else entirely to... well, see it so visibly. the flickering of the simulation, the way in which the stars themselves are illusory but still associated with the inhabitants below.
if teyvat's stars and sky are fabricated, then would it be fair to say teyvat itself is fabricated, too? were their fates predetermined by an outside force or possibly ever reset? toyed with?
mona figures that the traveler will be the one to uncover that mystery. ]
I initially found it difficult to settle here, [ she says, gently plucking a feather from her hair and setting it aside. mona continues combing. ] I'll admit that before I arrived, I had no desire to seek relations with anyone. I had little experience in such matters. My research was more important.
However, the House has its means of encouraging you to participate. To avoid their insistence, I would play along with their game.
[Fate. It's something to consider, in light of everything that has happened. Are those decisions destined to be made, or can a person act of their own freedom and independence? His thoughts drift, threatening to take him away in silent rumination — but her words bring him back, a line worrying itself between his brow.]
'Play along'... then, you mean, having relations.
[There is no better way to say it, so he repeats her chosen words, voice low and circumspect. His eyes carefully do not linger on the woman beside him; he remembers how she had looked on the bed in only sheer nightwear, the first time he'd ever seen someone else so exposed in the flesh under the pretext of a 'hangover', his presence imposed upon her by the House.]
My experience is also limited. Like you, I was preoccupied with other matters in my own world. Was it difficult for you to make that adjustment? And by insistence, do you mean coercion on behalf of the House?
It was. Though, the day I awoke was tumultuous already. I had not been given time at all to prepare myself.
[ she recalls it now, the embarrassing memory of finding herself tricked by a magical leash and collar, one that snagged her by the neck and demanded another guest be her 'master'. it wouldn't release either of them unless a condition was met—a sexual act of sorts, befitting of the environment she'd found herself in. mona has not stumbled across another bewitched item since, but it made a large impression.
you mustn't put your trust in the features here. the house will use anything to encourage salacious behavior. ]
Be wary of anything charmed, [ she warns, nose wrinkling in displeasure. ] They will influence you regardless of your reservations.
[ another two feathers are removed, and then mona sets the comb onto the bed. her hair, long and spilling down her back and shoulders in rivulets, is no longer is disarray. now, she can finally take a long-earned sip of tea to help alleviate her migraine. ]
I am certain you've read about it, but there is also the matter of your suit. Should you avoid any relations at all, it will take it upon itself to correct that.
[He wonders at the meaning of her words, only able to guess at the implications — no time to prepare herself? It deepens the downward curve of his mouth. Perhaps he should be more grateful for these strange, dreaming days over the course of the party to orient himself to his surroundings. Nothing has yet been thrust upon him, nothing has influenced his behaviors or actions that he's noticed. And he would notice, he promises himself.
The suit. There's a slight tilt of his chin, eyes staring into the still, glassy surface of his tea, steam pluming as it continues to cool. He'd done his best to research everything he could through the device — so he understands what she references.]
What is yours? Of the four suits. [... Ah. Sunday looks up, caught by the sight of the woman's long, silky hair. A beauty well-suited for a dream.] I apologize. You were the one who wanted to ask questions, and here I am, not allowing you the chance.
[Will he ever stop trying to control things... no...]
[ he is silent for a moment, and in that time, mona takes a few long sips of her tea before placing it to the side and reaching for a plump biscuit. steam unfurls upon tearing it open, and she smiles to herself in her satisfaction. it's as mona is carefully smearing cinnamon-flavored butter into its warm crevice that sunday speaks again.
she pauses, and then lifts out her left arm for him to get a proper look at the symbol imbued into her wrist. the knife is held delicately between her fingers. ]
I was assigned a Diamond. [ sure enough, its shape has been inked into her fair skin, visibly elegant in design and curvaceous. little stars are mottled around it. mona supposes they are meant to represent her passion as an astrologist. ] I believe I received this suit because of my lack of initiative.
[ she snorts softly before resuming spreading the butter. ]
And my first question is a simple one. Will you become my disciple?
[A Diamond. His fingertips are hesitant, barely making contact with Mona's slender wrist as if not daring to visit the flawless surface of her skin — but his eyes have found that elegant suit and affixed to it. He can't really look away from the sight of patterned stars surrounding the mark, delicate as freckles.]
It's beautiful.
[Yes, he whispers it aloud, and unlike the flustering of earlier his voice is confident. He doesn't feel ashamed to state his opinion, since it is the truth.
— Lack of initiative? The remark goes over his head, as unfortunately he still lacks the knowledge of what the suits each mean; he only knows that there are four, and they divide all of the guests into categories. It's her question that shocks him, chin tilting up, expression open.]
I... beg your pardon. You'll need to be more clear, Miss Megistus. Your disciple?
[ mona nonchalantly licks her finger of excess butter and does away with the knife. ]
Oh? Is it an unusual question?
[ beside her, sunday looks thoroughly lost, but she isn't perturbed in the slightest. rather, this is all going as planned. it would just appear that she'll have to elaborate a little to get him onto the same page. a master should be benevolent, so this isn't of issue.
she nibbles into her biscuit while flourishing her free hand. a watery disk stretches into existence, its surface containing an arrangement of symbols and small texts that would take an average astrologist a minimum of two weeks to decipher. mona, however, doesn't struggle to view them at all; her finger scans them with ease. ]
You are very interesting, Sunday. Someone with your capabilities at my side would benefit me. [ at least she's honest. ] Of course, I would do my utmost to advise you, too.
[ when she glances at him, his features are dappled in reflections of hydro. ]
[Oh. He's not — upset by the statement, or its honesty. But it does surprise him, because it's not what he expected and he fears he may have led her on, at least in regard to who he is. What he's done.]
... You aren't aware of my capabilities. We've only just met.
[Yes, he may be unpracticed in what this place demands of its guests, but he understands that his past is heavier than he should put on anyone, especially her. Someone clearly brilliant and capable.]
Unless that is something you've intuited as well.
[She did uncover his name so effortlessly, after all — the Harmony's presence would be only another step, even if it appears more as an impression of light around him, softly thrumming. The call of a distant, harmonic chorus.]
Have you taken on disciples before? Are any of them here in this place, now?
mona pulls her finger away from its surface to bring the disk a bit closer to sunday's side, gesturing at the many glyphs and symbols reflected there. of course, he has not studied how to read them, exactly, but there's information obviously being presented. a number of things, some flickering and clipping with the flow of hydro. ]
I would have to sit and properly analyze the data, but I can discern enough about you to know you are valuable.
[ praise from mona megistus... oh, how pleasant. ]
Here, in this world, I have just one disciple. You would be my second.
[There is no recognition in his gaze as he studies the scryglass, features lit in the glow of glyphs, but curiosity makes up the difference. To imagine so much could be divined from this source — it's a wondrous example of another world, something he would never have witnessed if he hadn't taken that first step off of Penacony's shoreline.
... A look darkens on his face in the next moment, something internally wounded, an imperceptible hurt. She wouldn't know why her statement is not a compliment to him, and so he chooses his words carefully.]
I apologize, but I'll have to refuse. Not because your power isn't magnificent to behold — I can only imagine what it would be like to learn the stars as you have. But... I've made mistakes in the past. While I may have value to you, it wouldn't be for any good reason.
[ despite his refusal, mona does not appear perturbed. she simply dispels her scryglass with a flick of her wrist, scarce, hardly visible water droplets scattering onto the carpet by their feet. mona then uses that hand to reach out to touch the bottom of sunday's jaw, carefully turning his chin in her direction so that he is looking into her eyes.
a smile is curving her lips. it's knowing, confident. ]
Then, I will rephrase, [ she says, tilting her head slightly and sending black hair over her shoulder. ] You will become my disciple.
[ it isn't a polite request anymore. ]
While it is true I find you valuable, I am also interested in you, Sunday. Will you trust in the 'magnificence' of my powers? Because of it, I know that your mistakes do not define you. The glimpses I saw were enough.
[ she delicately releases him. mona then sits up straight again. ]
Your fate here will be arduous but not without positive twists. I want to guide you.
[The touch turns his head, her fingertips cool against his skin — he has no choice but to look back at her, unable to conceal the surprise that washes over his face. Against such certain confidence, his own uncertainty dims.
What does she see when she looks at him? For a moment he's crippled by the thought of that question, cut to the naked bone. Glimpses. Glimpses of what? Perhaps all of it, all of his mistakes, are projected by the light of the stars that she reads, and it was known from the beginning.
Or perhaps it isn't so clear, but her genius is enough. The magnificence of that power is all she needs.
Feeling shaken, he stands, brushing off his lap as if he was the one nibbling on a biscuit.]
Your belief in me is... too kind, Miss Megistus. Allow me to consider it seriously then.
[Listen, he's still recovering from being a cult leader.]
[ the despondence darkening his features softens with her bold display, and then sunday appears to regain a bit of peace of mind. mona is not an idiot; convincing him immediately would be a difficult. with time, however... she hopes that sunday will feel comfortable enough to trust her. the way in which he marveled her magic was pleasant, and with what she can discern about him, he is someone in need of support.
so, she doesn't reply just yet, finishing off her biscuit as he makes a move to stand once more. the nervous tic sunday displays afterwards is admittedly endearing. ]
Good, [ she says, reaching out to wipe her hand on a napkin. ] An answer like that is satisfactory.
[ when mona lifts her gaze up to look at him, her confident smile has transitioned into one a little gentler. ]
We will meet again, Sunday. For now, please look after yourself.
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
no subject
She asks him to stay, and he hesitates, mind halfway out the door for how quickly it seems he's prepared to leave, running from that sight of the young woman's figure on the bed.]
... When you make demands, do those around you usually listen? [It isn't sharp, though. Only a little tired.] Tell me what you want. I'll at least hear you out.
no subject
[ with that said, mona gestures towards him and then down at the platters of food. beside the delicious, still steaming breakfast, there appears to be a little... first aid kit, of sorts? and with a migraine beginning to thrum in her temples, she'll certainly need to use it. ]
Sit and have breakfast with me. We will exchange introductions, and then I will ask a few simple questions.
[ but she doesn't stop there, oh no. mona begins to move under the bedsheets, sliding her legs to the side of the mattress before rising to her feet. she is clad in only her nightwear.
it's so over. ]
no subject
[The word is quiet under his breath, his voice an echo of hers changed by confusion. A genius astrologist? That is a claim worthy of merit, if it's true — he's known individuals to call themselves geniuses, wearing their own pride and confidence in its identity. Then again, he's also met far more merely full of hot air. Which sort of genius is this woman?
Sunday doesn't ask, because in the next moment, she's standing — and his gaze immediately cuts away. By his ears, those wings twitch in a telling discomfort.]
... I'll sit with you, as long as... [He's DYING here. He cannot just look at a woman's body like this?] Please put more clothing on first. That is my condition.
no subject
Alright.
[ so it would seem he didn't find her disheveled state distasteful, but that he could not handle her being partially undressed. how silly. with a reaction like that, mona is already convinced that this man will be facing more than a handful of challenges in this particular world.
regardless, she walks around the bed past sunday, makes a short detour towards her wardrobe, and then enters the restroom connected to her bedroom. it's there that she discovers she is... well, to be frank, a mess. more so than she believed. and what are these poking out of her hair? small, fluffy little things. very familiar. ]
...Feathers?
[ mona recalls the wings sprouting from her guest's head. hm.
she returns to sunday's side a short venture later, now with a comb in hand and wearing a blouse and skirt. the feathers are still there, but she'll be removing them shortly. he'll have to endure the embarrassment. ]
no subject
At her reappearance, Sunday looks over and... clears his throat. Ah. The feathers.]
My apologies.
[It comes quietly under his breath.]
... What is your name? You said you were a genius astrologist, correct?
no subject
despite his earlier fussing, this little apology of his sounds very timid. mona could reassure him that it's fine, but she doubts that he would believe her. whether known due to her astrological ability or simply intuition, it's clear that her guest finds shame in having shed a few of those small feathers. ]
My name is Mona Megistus, meaning the Great Astrologist Mona. [ her rehearsed line first, voice elevated and haughty. one hand works the comb through her hair as she speaks. ] And I will reiterate it again; I am a genius. Should you ever seek divination from me, then respect both my art and myself.
[ her head turns slightly to meet his gaze. ]
You are... Sunday, I believe.
[ spooky. ]
no subject
And he can tell she's practiced. The confident air in its delivery almost tempts him to smile, a little twitch at the corner of his mouth. She takes pride in her identity; he cannot fault her for that.]
... Oh. [The word startles out of him, breathy.] You divined my name? I underestimated your ability. I shouldn't make that mistake again.
[Somehow, he is comfortable where others might recoil and withdraw, fearing that keen perception. It isn't like he has anything to hide. Instead he reaches to pour them both hot tea from the pot placed on a low table at the foot of the bed.]
I admit that I'm not very familiar with astrology. Do you study the stars?
no subject
from the moment mona opened her eyes, the man who had found himself in her bedroom had been visibly agitated and flustered. however, upon revealing something so simple, so easy for mona to uncover, a bit of that tension has dissipated. mona can't help but be pleased. she even takes it upon herself to situate herself beside him, silently appreciative that he feels comfortable enough to pour them tea. ]
Not quite. For proper divination, I would require my scryglass. This... I suppose you can consider it very high-functioning intuition. A flash of insight.
[ similarly, mona can use this power to determine what someone has on their person, or even little facts. the knowledge gained isn't as extensive as it'd be through a proper reading, but it is still advantageous. ]
And, yes, I study the stars. The sky in this world is fabricated, but so was the sky in mine.
[ a refreshing smile has softened mona's features. ]
no subject
Thoughtfully, Sunday lifts his cup of tea to his lips, feeling the bed depress slightly where her weight settles beside him. It is also... physically closer than he's used to being with another individual, and if he considers too long where they are — in this woman's bedroom, on her bed — he suspects it will disrupt his attention on more important topics. Like the stars.]
I see. I have heard of... fabricated worlds. [Is the dreamscape so different?] Yet even when you're looking up at a real sky full of stars, you're only seeing images of the past — those lights from long ago.
[Mona has unlocked Mr. Philosopher unfortunately.]
Ah, but you've been here so long. What are your thoughts on this place? Or... advice, that you'd give to a newcomer like me.
no subject
[ it was a stroke of lucky, really, that the sky here performed similarly to teyvat's. mona was taught of the false sky during lessons, but it really is something else entirely to... well, see it so visibly. the flickering of the simulation, the way in which the stars themselves are illusory but still associated with the inhabitants below.
if teyvat's stars and sky are fabricated, then would it be fair to say teyvat itself is fabricated, too? were their fates predetermined by an outside force or possibly ever reset? toyed with?
mona figures that the traveler will be the one to uncover that mystery. ]
I initially found it difficult to settle here, [ she says, gently plucking a feather from her hair and setting it aside. mona continues combing. ] I'll admit that before I arrived, I had no desire to seek relations with anyone. I had little experience in such matters. My research was more important.
However, the House has its means of encouraging you to participate. To avoid their insistence, I would play along with their game.
no subject
'Play along'... then, you mean, having relations.
[There is no better way to say it, so he repeats her chosen words, voice low and circumspect. His eyes carefully do not linger on the woman beside him; he remembers how she had looked on the bed in only sheer nightwear, the first time he'd ever seen someone else so exposed in the flesh under the pretext of a 'hangover', his presence imposed upon her by the House.]
My experience is also limited. Like you, I was preoccupied with other matters in my own world. Was it difficult for you to make that adjustment? And by insistence, do you mean coercion on behalf of the House?
no subject
[ she recalls it now, the embarrassing memory of finding herself tricked by a magical leash and collar, one that snagged her by the neck and demanded another guest be her 'master'. it wouldn't release either of them unless a condition was met—a sexual act of sorts, befitting of the environment she'd found herself in. mona has not stumbled across another bewitched item since, but it made a large impression.
you mustn't put your trust in the features here. the house will use anything to encourage salacious behavior. ]
Be wary of anything charmed, [ she warns, nose wrinkling in displeasure. ] They will influence you regardless of your reservations.
[ another two feathers are removed, and then mona sets the comb onto the bed. her hair, long and spilling down her back and shoulders in rivulets, is no longer is disarray. now, she can finally take a long-earned sip of tea to help alleviate her migraine. ]
I am certain you've read about it, but there is also the matter of your suit. Should you avoid any relations at all, it will take it upon itself to correct that.
no subject
The suit. There's a slight tilt of his chin, eyes staring into the still, glassy surface of his tea, steam pluming as it continues to cool. He'd done his best to research everything he could through the device — so he understands what she references.]
What is yours? Of the four suits. [... Ah. Sunday looks up, caught by the sight of the woman's long, silky hair. A beauty well-suited for a dream.] I apologize. You were the one who wanted to ask questions, and here I am, not allowing you the chance.
[Will he ever stop trying to control things... no...]
Is there anything you'd like to know?
no subject
she pauses, and then lifts out her left arm for him to get a proper look at the symbol imbued into her wrist. the knife is held delicately between her fingers. ]
I was assigned a Diamond. [ sure enough, its shape has been inked into her fair skin, visibly elegant in design and curvaceous. little stars are mottled around it. mona supposes they are meant to represent her passion as an astrologist. ] I believe I received this suit because of my lack of initiative.
[ she snorts softly before resuming spreading the butter. ]
And my first question is a simple one. Will you become my disciple?
[ that is not very simple, miss megistus... ]
no subject
It's beautiful.
[Yes, he whispers it aloud, and unlike the flustering of earlier his voice is confident. He doesn't feel ashamed to state his opinion, since it is the truth.
— Lack of initiative? The remark goes over his head, as unfortunately he still lacks the knowledge of what the suits each mean; he only knows that there are four, and they divide all of the guests into categories. It's her question that shocks him, chin tilting up, expression open.]
I... beg your pardon. You'll need to be more clear, Miss Megistus. Your disciple?
cutest chimken icon i've seen
Oh? Is it an unusual question?
[ beside her, sunday looks thoroughly lost, but she isn't perturbed in the slightest. rather, this is all going as planned. it would just appear that she'll have to elaborate a little to get him onto the same page. a master should be benevolent, so this isn't of issue.
she nibbles into her biscuit while flourishing her free hand. a watery disk stretches into existence, its surface containing an arrangement of symbols and small texts that would take an average astrologist a minimum of two weeks to decipher. mona, however, doesn't struggle to view them at all; her finger scans them with ease. ]
You are very interesting, Sunday. Someone with your capabilities at my side would benefit me. [ at least she's honest. ] Of course, I would do my utmost to advise you, too.
[ when she glances at him, his features are dappled in reflections of hydro. ]
🥺
... You aren't aware of my capabilities. We've only just met.
[Yes, he may be unpracticed in what this place demands of its guests, but he understands that his past is heavier than he should put on anyone, especially her. Someone clearly brilliant and capable.]
Unless that is something you've intuited as well.
[She did uncover his name so effortlessly, after all — the Harmony's presence would be only another step, even if it appears more as an impression of light around him, softly thrumming. The call of a distant, harmonic chorus.]
Have you taken on disciples before? Are any of them here in this place, now?
no subject
[ or more specifically, her scryglass.
mona pulls her finger away from its surface to bring the disk a bit closer to sunday's side, gesturing at the many glyphs and symbols reflected there. of course, he has not studied how to read them, exactly, but there's information obviously being presented. a number of things, some flickering and clipping with the flow of hydro. ]
I would have to sit and properly analyze the data, but I can discern enough about you to know you are valuable.
[ praise from mona megistus... oh, how pleasant. ]
Here, in this world, I have just one disciple. You would be my second.
no subject
... A look darkens on his face in the next moment, something internally wounded, an imperceptible hurt. She wouldn't know why her statement is not a compliment to him, and so he chooses his words carefully.]
I apologize, but I'll have to refuse. Not because your power isn't magnificent to behold — I can only imagine what it would be like to learn the stars as you have. But... I've made mistakes in the past. While I may have value to you, it wouldn't be for any good reason.
[It's Not You, It's Me.]
I hope you can understand.
ikemen mona
a smile is curving her lips. it's knowing, confident. ]
Then, I will rephrase, [ she says, tilting her head slightly and sending black hair over her shoulder. ] You will become my disciple.
[ it isn't a polite request anymore. ]
While it is true I find you valuable, I am also interested in you, Sunday. Will you trust in the 'magnificence' of my powers? Because of it, I know that your mistakes do not define you. The glimpses I saw were enough.
[ she delicately releases him. mona then sits up straight again. ]
Your fate here will be arduous but not without positive twists. I want to guide you.
HELP
What does she see when she looks at him? For a moment he's crippled by the thought of that question, cut to the naked bone. Glimpses. Glimpses of what? Perhaps all of it, all of his mistakes, are projected by the light of the stars that she reads, and it was known from the beginning.
Or perhaps it isn't so clear, but her genius is enough. The magnificence of that power is all she needs.
Feeling shaken, he stands, brushing off his lap as if he was the one nibbling on a biscuit.]
Your belief in me is... too kind, Miss Megistus. Allow me to consider it seriously then.
[Listen, he's still recovering from being a cult leader.]
I should leave you to your breakfast now.
no subject
so, she doesn't reply just yet, finishing off her biscuit as he makes a move to stand once more. the nervous tic sunday displays afterwards is admittedly endearing. ]
Good, [ she says, reaching out to wipe her hand on a napkin. ] An answer like that is satisfactory.
[ when mona lifts her gaze up to look at him, her confident smile has transitioned into one a little gentler. ]
We will meet again, Sunday. For now, please look after yourself.
[ will, she emphasizes.
fate has been decided. ]