❀ monika

[cranelike]

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Week 0, Monday

[cranelike]

(They say after a storm is the best time to find sea treasures and Tsurumaru is out collecting sea shells. If Monika gets close enough, a magpie might swoop by her ear towards Tsurumaru who holds out his hand and catches something it drops. )

Oh! (He waves to Monika,) Have you come looking for treasure, too?

[rerouter]

[BIRB... Her daemon trails behind her, currently in the form of a black swan, and slows to a stop about the same time she does. She gives the hand he used to catch that Something a curious look.]

Ahaha, like buried treasure? [A shake of her head and a small laugh.] I'm just taking a walk. Sounds like you found something fun to do, though.

[cranelike]

After a storm is the best time to search for treasure.

(The magpie chirps, flying circles around him before landing on his shoulder,)

You never know what surprises the sea will share.

[rerouter]

Oh, so that's why? I guess that's true... All sorts of things can be pulled to the shore by the tide.

[Smash cut to the lighthouse corpse. It's fine.]

Well, have you found anything good?

[cranelike]

(Who knows how many bodies are in the sea.)

Hmmm. (He holds out his hand to show Monika the thing Kiku has dropped. A piece of sea glass, green in color.) This and that.

What do you think?

[rerouter]

Oh!

[Her eyes light up, leaning a teensy bit closer to get a better look at the glass.]

It's pretty... I wonder what it used to be.

[cranelike]

A bottle, perhaps? There are plenty here.

(Like, not here here. But you know.)

[rerouter]

Probably.

[She leans back, nodding.]

Now it's here, just one tiny piece of what used to be a whole.

[cranelike]

In a new, beautiful form. How exciting.

(Anyway, he holds it out to her once more,)

Here.

(She can have it.)

[rerouter]

[...? She holds out her hands for it, but also???]

You're giving it to me?

[cranelike]

It suits you.

(He taps his face, right next to his eye. It's green! Like her eyes.)

And green isn't my color. I'd rather have something red or white.

[rerouter]

[Oh... She smiles.]

Actually, green's my favorite color too. Thank you.

[Pocketing it!]

But since you gave me a gift, I'll feel awful if I let you go without giving you something in return now. Let's go find something red or white, okay?

[cranelike]

(If Monika ever tells anyone Tsurumaru Kuninaga is thoughtful or kind, he'll end himself, thanks.)

Is it? What a wonderful surprise!

(Wow, that worked out great.)

Yes! Let's see what we can find! And if you find any turtles, let me know, too.

[rerouter]

[Can't wait to tell everyone that he's a very good person, 10/10, would recommend.]

Eh? Turtles? [With a bit of a laugh, baffled.] I will, but why?

[cranelike]

(Stop no one is allowed to know. He needs to be cryptic and dramatic in public at all times or else he will literally die.)

Hm? So she can take us to the Dragon King's Palace, of course. And then we can ask him to take care of us instead.

[rerouter]

Ahaha, like the one in that old story? Then if we find one, maybe we shouldn't open any boxes for a while. Just to be safe.

[cranelike]

Exactly!

(The exact story!)

Of course, if a spirit tells you not to do something, it's best not to do it. But I wonder... to give a box to someone and tell them not to open it seems rather cruel, don't you think?

week 1, sunday (post-execution)

[cranelike]

(Catching Monika at the edge of the bubble!)

Maybe we'll go somewhere high up in the sky next.

[rerouter]

[She has one hand pressed against the bubble as she gazes at the area beyond it, but she tilts her head in his direction when he speaks up.]

... Ahaha, like a castle in the sky? That would be amazing.

[cranelike]

I don't know! I've never been to the heavens before.

(And he looks up. They're too far down to see,)

Are there castles in the sky where you're from?

[rerouter]

[She shakes her head.]

Not really? Things like that only exist in stories. And even if they were real, I never would have seen them.

[Oh, well. She looks up, at the murky darkness surrounding them.]

If we end up in the heavens tomorrow, let's take a look together. Since, you know, neither of us have been there.

[cranelike]

Oh?

(Kind of an interesting thing to say? he wonders if Monika was a girl that was like, stuck inside all day or something.)

Regardless, let's explore together. The cities we visit are important.

[rerouter]

[Sometimes, you are just [redacted]...]

Ahaha, that's true. You saw that note from the other day, too?

[cranelike]

I did. It makes you wonder what everyone's found, doesn't it~?

thursday, week two.

[rerouter]

[Hello, sir... Monika is crouched by the canals, watching the shards shimmering in the water. Pygmalion can be found nearby, swimming in the water as a swan while taking this opportunity to preen. You know, as a swan does.

She looks up when she notices she has company, though, and immediately smiles when she sees who it is.]

It's not a city in the sky, but what do you think?