avalononline | video; un: lilmonix3

Hi everyone! Monika here~! I am here with two things today: an announcement regarding my new channel, and a request for all fellow technomages.

First off: I am now a social media influencer! Sort of, ahaha! Being verified doesn't give me more subscribers out of thin air. My channel is The Literature Corner! I will post three videos a week analyzing various literary genres and formats, recommending and reviewing books as well as recording audio books. On top of that, I'll read and comment on the poetry people send me, so please check my channel if you can.

I've put so much effort into it, that'd mean the world to me. I've linked my channel and my website with this video. I'm really looking forward to what will come from this...!

[ Link: The Literature Corner. ]

Now, onto technomancy! I've done some testing and found something amazing: did you know spells can be stored in like, your phone's mailbox? And then you can "open" it anytime. So like say a Technomancer send another Technomancer a fire spell, they'll be able to open the fire spell anytime even though they can't do fire magic on their own! That's like, so neat.

And I thought we could probably help each other by sharing spells. That's only for Technomancer, of course. But that's a great asset. I can send Cognitive spells to put in reserve if any of you need. I'd be happy to receive any sort of spells, but a stock of healing spells would be great.

Contact me if you'd like to share spells through technomancy, okay? Thanks!

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[Mukuro fumbled to lock the call, mentally scolding herself for not doing that sooner- what would she do if anyone who was already suspicious of her saw that?

Well. Um. After a somewhat awkward silence, she hesitantly continued.]

A mission briefing huh- yeah, I see what you mean. I guess that's how my mind sorta works when it's trying to figure stuff out? Weird, huh?

[She put on her best fashionista grin.]

But yeah, like, I thought it'd be too complicated if I tried to rhyme or all of that so I just focused on making a pattern...I guess, I guess it was like that. Not a pretence, I mean.

[Unlike...basically everything else about her.]

But- no you're fine! Really!

[ Had she... Just locked the call? But why? Poetry was something really personal, yet nothing they'd written was really that revealing... Or was it? Monika re-read her poem. Again. And again. Then she thought back to the mirrors. When she'd come to help her fight off her reflection. She didn't remember everything in detail, but she remembered quite clearly her reflection saying something about "carrying out orders." There also had been talk about another woman. Her sister, right? And of course the focus had been about her fear of no one ever seeing the real "her." Hence the suggestion to write a poem about her feelings.

... More recently, there had been that traumatic episode triggered by the sight of a weapon. And that grin she now gave. She recognized it, too. That was the same smile Sayori gave whenever she tried too hard to hide her emotions. It was the same smile she put on whenever her past in DDLC was mentioned and she tried avoid the topic. In a void, none of these things really revealed anything. But together, they brought something new to light. And Monika was pretty good at connecting things. Ironically, she would never have thought of connecting the dots. It was Mukuro locking their conversation that triggered this.

Still, there was much she didn't know. So the picture forming in her mind was a blurry and incomplete one. And above all, Monika knew she wouldn't want someone to pry into her past just because of her carelessness. So rather than question Mukuro about it—

After a moment of hesitation, Monika forced a smile, too. ]

Ahaha, yeah, I do! It's really neat.

[ It was possible to tell something had gone through her mind, but now she was as normal as ever. ]

Now, keep that poem preciously. Right now? That's your best! But next time you write a poem? Try to make it a little bit better than this one. [She raised her finger again.] By constantly beating your own best, it'll give you a feeling a satisfaction that'll keep you wanting to do more. And after a while? All those tiny steps will turn into a huge leap!

[There was something off about the way Monika reacted. Something that didn't fit quite right- but unlike her, Mukuro's talents did not lie with reading other people, so she didn't realise what she figured out by that point.

...Maybe a reaction to her fumbling?]

Sorry, sorry, I guess I just- I got a bit self-conscious, you know? I know that's totally weird coming from a model but...it's just like that sometimes.

[A nervous laugh- another that seemed a bit too forced.]

But yeah, I'll definitely try writing another one. You don't mind if I send it over, do you? It'd be good to get your feedback. Are you gonna be reading some of the ones you wrote in your videos?

[ Monika nodded. It was a bit hard not to give in to curiosity and straight-up ask her. But respecting people's boundaries was important. Should she want to speak about it someday, then she'll do it when she feels ready, right? If ever she found Mukuro clearly suffering, then she'd probably ask then to try helping her... But hopefully no such day would come. ]

I understand, don't worry. I was like that too when I first shared my poems.

[ Gosh, it'd been so awkward... Mukuro was doing great in comparison, really. ]

Please do! I'd be happy to see what else you write~! [She smiled.] And yeah! I think it's a good way to motivate people to try. Not that my poems are anything special, ahaha.

You got nervous about it too, huh...?

[Well, at least the momentary tension seemed to have dissolved. That was a relief to her.]

Hey if they're anything like the one you wrote earlier then I think they're gonna be great- I'm looking forward to hearing them!

We all do. [She nodded.] Some people are just better at hiding their emotions. It's a learned skill, like everything else.

[ She was among those people, most of the time. She did poorly whenever her past was brought up or when something surprised her. But if someone came and said they were never nervous or afraid of anything? Then they were, in all likelihood, a liar. Or a crazy person. ]

Thank you! And I'm looking forward to yours, too. Anyway, I'll see you later for the fashion show's preparations, alright?

I seriously need to get better at that...

[Maybe then she wouldn't be such a disappointment, right? Mukuro gave a small, nervous laugh.]

Yeah, see you later- thanks again!

video; un: lilmonix3

2/2 Video -> Private

i'm so sorry for Monika's brain ruining the mood

Not at all! I love things like this

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