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It's been about two hours since the school festival opened, and Mona hasn't had a single customer.
Well, it's not HER fault if people aren't willing to fork over the money for quality fortune telling. She's different from the dime-a-dozen teenagers who look up one WikiHow then tell you whatever you want to hear- she's a teenager who bought books on the subject, and a whole authentic astrolabe off the internet! (Then also looked up the WikiHow on how to use it.) Basically an expert, she prides herself on daily.
...Well, expert or not, it doesn't change the fact that she still hasn't made any money. (Not that she's trying to get rich quick or anything- just spreading her knowledge to the people! ...Even if the people rarely want to listen.) And she had to make a pretty big upfront payment to the student council to get her own table, so if she can't at least dig herself out of that hole, it's probably another day without lunch. Why did the food stalls have to be so close and smell so GOOD...
She looks down when her stomach gives an obnoxiously loud growl, discretely trying to cover it when she senses a presence at the table that makes the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
Seriously bad vibes... But a potential customer is a potential customer. She adjusts her hat and sits up a bit straighter, ready to greet them.
Two guys are standing in front of her booth wearing school uniforms that she doesn't recognize. Somewhere out of town? One, a tall redhead, wears an easy-going smile as he reads her price list with mild amusement, but the other, shorter one with dark hair is openly scoffing.
"'Fortune telling'? 'Tarot card reading'? What a load of crap."
"Excuse you." Mona slams her hand down noisily on the table, the cheap flimsy plastic buckling and barely holding itself together. She half rises from her chair to lean over and glare at him directly. "It's NOT a load of crap, and if you're not interested, then you can keep moving."
The shorter one freezes and looks over at her curiously. The other hums like he's thinking it over, then shrugs. "I think I'll pass, little lady. I'd rather whatever I run into be a surprise- makes it more fun that way~"
Too bad, Mona thinks to herself. He's pretty cute, seems like a nice guy-
He claps the other boy on the back with enough force to make him stumble and cough, and his grin takes on a sharp edge as he ruffles his hair in a way that's obviously meant to annoy him. "This one here, though, can use all the help he can get. Have fun!"
The smaller one scowls and swats at his hand, opening his mouth to retort, but before he gets the chance the other has disappeared into the crowd. Well, as much as you can disappear when you're a head taller than everyone else.
"...You don't need to hang out with an upperclassman who's just gonna bully you, you know," Mona offers from her seat, unprompted. "Unless that's your big brother, or something. I don't see much resemblance."
The boy's scowl only deepens.
"Gross, of course not. And I'm HIS upperclassman, actually. Pain in the ass, thought he'd never leave..."
As Mona wonders to herself if the other was way too big for his age, or maybe this one is just seriously small (not that she can talk,) he shrugs off the subject and leans in to scrutinize her booth more closely. Huh, maybe she will get a sale out of this after all.
"...What's with the witch hat?" he finally asks after a long pause. "Is that supposed to help you 'contact the spirits,' or whatever it is you're doing?"
She gasps in indignation (comparing her to some hack medium, how dare he!) but she can't hide the slight embarrassment that creeps onto her face. Sure, it's not necessary, but... It looks cool, okay?!
"It's- It's standard for the profession!" She hurriedly adjusts the brim so the giant bow reading TRICK OR TREAT is facing behind her. "And I do my best to be professional, of course, no matter the circumstances-"
"What the hell is a 'natal chart'? Sounds weird." He ignores her as he peers down at her list of services, his bored expression growing more dubious as he reads.
"It's one of the fundamentals of modern astrology!" she exclaims excitedly, then clears her throat and continues in a businesslike manner. Tone it down, Mona. "Based on when you're born, I can evaluate the stars' position at that moment in time to tell basically everything about you. Your strengths, your weaknesses, your destiny..."
"The stars?" He sounds confused.
"Yeah, the stars... Like, in the sky." She points upward, as if that will help clarify, when she sees his expression doesn't change.
"You seriously expect me to believe that?" he sneers. "I don't need stars to tell me that. They're not real. This is all so stupid."
"This IS real, and it's NOT stupid!" she yells back indignantly out of habit, a bit louder than necessary. A girl in cat ears selling some questionable fanart at the next table over gives her a dirty look. Mona ignores her and continues glaring at the boy, who glares right back, but the gears start turning in her head a second later.
"...Wait, did you just say the stars aren't-"
"I'm leaving."
"No, wait!"
Eyes wide, she reaches over the table and desperately grabs his arm when he turns to go. She REALLY needs to make at least one sale today, if she can just keep this annoying guy here, and maybe even prove him wrong...!
"Look, let's just start with your name, okay?"
"Do I have to tell you?" He glances down at her hand on him, which she promptly removes once she senses he won't run away. Again with the guarded, suspicious eyes... But at least he's not saying no.
"What, is your name that embarrassing?" She's joking, but he only scowls back. Yeesh. "Anyway, it can only help, if you do want a reading."
"I don't REALLY want one. I kind of just want to see whatever nonsense you come up with."
So he is interested! Well, kind of. Attitude aside.
"Whatever, you scorpio moon. Fine, I guess we can go on without it."
"Scorpiwhat...?"
He hasn't exactly agreed to anything, but he hasn't left yet, either. He hums in thought, looking her over again in consideration. Feeling a bit impatient, she clears her throat and waves him closer, eager to get started.
"It's easy, okay? I just need to know the day, time, coordinates, and direction you were facing when you were born. Oh, the weather that day would be helpful too, if you can remember. And the color the doctor was wearing. Ah, and shoe size..."
She moves to pull her astrolabe out from under the table, but pauses when she sees the boy is just staring at her in disbelief.
"...Are you serious? Are those things you expect me to just know?"
"Uh, yeah, if you want the most accurate reading." She groans at his stunned silence. "Ugh, you're giving me nothing here. Nothing! If you can't tell me any basic information-"
"What about that information is basic??"
"-Then I'll have to work with what we've got."
She grabs his hand faster than he can react to pull it back, and starts lightly tracing her fingertips over it in a way that makes him forget about moving at all.
"Wh-"
A funny look crosses his face, but Mona is too focused on her reading to notice.
"Hmm. Your life line is crazy short. Are you accident prone, or something?"
His wide eyes narrow suddenly. "Are you saying I'm going to die?"
She shrugs. "Well, we're all going to die. But you probably will, like, super soon. Sucks."
"Are you even allowed to say that? I feel like you shouldn't be allowed to say that."
She ignores him and continues, confidence growing as she gets into the zone. No references needed; she's got all the books, articles, tips and tricks memorized. She's the finest astrologer in all of Teyvat... probably!
"The fate line says... big changes ahead! Could be good, could be bad."
"Helpful."
"And the sun line... Well, congratulations, it seems you'll be pretty famous! Maybe famous for dying so young."
"Can you stop with that?"
"And last, the heart line is... Oh!" She snorts a laugh, but doesn't continue.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"What do you mean nothing," he demands, squinting at his own hand as though it'll tell him anything. "How can there be nothing?"
Smirking, Mona traces her fingertip back along the length of his palm. He swallows hard.
"When it's curved like this, it means your relationships are doomed 'cause you suck at expressing your emotions. But I could've told you that from the second I saw you, reading or not."
He bristles at her bluntness, but doesn't try to deny it, glowering down at his hand like he's been betrayed.
"...So, that's it, huh? I'm gonna die, but I'll also be miserable the whole time I'm still alive?"
"Yep! That's that. 5,000 Mora, please."
He was about to ask for more details, but he balks when he hears the price and yanks his hand back. "Five thousand?! For THAT?"
She taps the sign. Well, that IS what it says for a palm reading, but...
"I didn't even ask for this-" he sputters. "You basically forced me into it!"
"Forced you?" Mona scoffs and turns up her nose. "Didn't look like it. And you got the results all the same, so I'm getting my payment, thank you very much!"
He mutters something about ripoffs and scam artists, but pulls out his wallet anyway.
"Not that it actually means anything, but basically everything you told me was bad. Are you just messing with me, or something?"
"I would never!" she gasps and puts her hand to her heart. "An astrologer's integrity is of the utmost importance! And I'm not in the business of sugarcoating, no matter the consequence."
Despite her customer's soured mood, Mona hums as she counts out the money he puts on the table, relishing in her first sale. In her good cheer, she decides to offer a bit of advice. When dealing with those less versed in the art, it's basically her duty.
"You know, if you're that upset, you can always try to take charge and change your own destiny, even if just a little. The stars are absolute- but we can always make the best of what we have."
She holds up her hand and taps her own heart line as an example.
"For starters, that last one is probably the one you have the most control over. Just try being more honest. Or at least a little nicer, like your friend."
"He's not my friend- and I'm NOT upset."
"And that's exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about."
She waves him off cheerfully as he walks away, staring at his own palm.
"Thanks for your business, come again soon!"
"Pleaaaaaase, Mona? Jean's still up to her neck in paperwork, don't you think it'd be nice if the president could enjoy her own festival?"
A short while after Mona's first (and only) customer leaves, Lisa is practically on her knees in front of her booth.
"What's that got to do with me? It's your decision to ditch your own booth and help her out, isn't it? And after you were supposed to be the 'big draw'- your own words, obviously."
"So cold, aren't you? Come on, you can do it, you're cute!" Lisa pauses. "...And also the only one I know who's not that busy?"
She gestures at the lack of activity around her table, receiving a glare from Mona in return. She puts her hands up in sheepish apology and continues.
"Anyway, it's just one hour; Kaeya basically took the rest of them after I bribed- asked him to."
Mona still doesn't look convinced.
Lisa sighs dramatically.
"The profits still have to be donations, but I can buy you lunch?"
"...And dinner later, after cleanup?"
Lisa gives her a flat look.
"Seriously? Fine, fine, yes, dinner too- so long as you do your best to bring in some customers."
"...Alright, I'll do it," Mona finally agrees. "Not for the food, of course, but for the sake of helping a friend!"
She offers her hand to shake, which Lisa takes with an eyeroll. (She's learned by now that pointing out Mona's conflicting ideals will go nowhere.)
"Just be sure you're actually helping the president with all that time, instead of just ma-"
"Very funny, Mona. And you remember to be nice, okay? It's for charity!"
"Excuse you? I am nice!"
"You know what I mean."
It'll be fine, she tells herself, now situated behind the student council's official kissing booth, which is over-decorated with some truly awful red ribbons and construction paper hearts (no doubt Amber's doing). All she has to do is survive an hour, and she'll get not one, but TWO free meals! Ahh, what should she order... She could probably eat a whole steak right now, smothered in gravy and-
"Hey, you're not Lisa. Her story said she'd be here now, what gives?"
Mona blinks away from her daydream, wiping her mouth just in case. An older boy she doesn't recognize is waving his phone screen at her, looking pretty ticked off. Seems like Lisa failed to properly update all her socials about the schedule change. She sure must be distracted...
"Oh- She had to go do something. Though, it's not like she just abandoned her job- Well, actually, she kind of did, but for a good cause. Kind of? She said she's helping Jean with paperwork. Instead of being here. Kissing you. In any case, I'm filling in for now, if you're still..."
She wilts slightly under the boy's angry gaze.
"...Interested?"
He groans, obviously dissatisfied, but then looks her up and down in a way that makes her skin crawl.
"Well, you're no Lisa..."
She crosses her arms over her chest self-consciously. That much she knows.
"Can I get a discount?" he finally asks. "False advertising, and all."
Mona's mouth drops open at the blatant insult. Obviously Lisa's more suited to this sort of thing, but still...!
She considers slapping the life out of him, but before she can make a move someone beats her to it. A hand lands on his shoulder, and a cheerful voice calls out from behind him.
"If you're not interested, why don't you quit holding up the line?"
Mona recognizes that voice... she thinks. At least, she'd heard it scathing and disinterested, but with that sort of tone, it couldn't be...
She leans to look around the Lisa fanboy. As she'd suspected, the dark-haired boy from earlier has a dangerously tight grip on his arm, but he's smiling innocently in a way she'd never have thought possible. He's clearly in a better mood now, instead of just looking like he'd rather be anywhere else. Maybe he just likes picking fights. Ugh, boys.
But that still doesn't tell her why he's here...
"What the hell- Dude, get off me. Can't you wait your turn?"
"Hmm. Don't think I can," the smaller boy responds, tilting his head. "Maybe you should come back later to get what you came for. I'm here for this one."
And what does he mean by that?
His grip tightens to the point of making the other wince, then elbow the shorter boy in the chest to get him off. He seems to let go reluctantly, hardly bothered by the blow, then smiles wickedly at the other with an excited glint in his eyes that dares him to do more.
The older boy looks around them, then mutters something Mona can't really make sense of ('white knight chads' and 'doesn't even go here') before walking off.
The boy from earlier sighs like he's disappointed to end it there, but then finally turns to face Mona with a shit-eating grin.
"So, turns out you sell more than just overpriced magic bullshit, huh?"
Seriously? All that and he just wants to keep insulting her? But, more importantly-
"You- What are YOU doing here?"
"Hmm..." He puts a hand to his chin in mock thought. "Changing my destiny?"
She blinks like she's missing something. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, forget it," he says immediately, shaking his head. "I just happened to be passing by."
Somehow she doesn't believe that, but it's not like he'd have any reason to lie about it...
"You know, it's a good thing you took that stupid hat off. You'd never get any business looking like that." He leans over with one hand on the table, obviously trying to get a rise out of her, and reaches over to play with the tip of one of her pigtails. "Besides... it's easier to see your cute face this way."
She swats his hand away and huffs, not having it.
"What's with you? You're totally different from before."
He shrugs. "You said yourself I should act nicer."
"That's not what I-" Mona rubs her forehead. "It doesn't work when you obviously don't mean it!"
His snicker in response confirms as much.
"And anyway," she continues, crossing her arms. "If you're so worried, I was getting business just fine right now, before you showed up and ruined it."
He blinks in confusion, smirk disappearing.
"Ruined-? That guy was an asshole."
"So were you. I could've handled it myself, you know." She waves her hand dismissively. "Anyway, I made a promise to help make sales. So if you're going to chase away my customers, feel free to buzz off again."
His expression darkens.
"Sales, customers, is that all it is..." He sighs and pulls out his wallet. "Fine~ I can play that game too."
"Huh?"
"I don't really want to get swindled by you again... But at least here I'll definitely get something worth paying for."
He drops some money on the table with disdain, but Mona's mind is caught on other things. Swindled?! That was a perfectly legitimate and accurate palm reading, worth two- no, three times that price! Wait a second, he's getting closer, is he seriously-
...
.
For the first time in a while, the master astrologist of Teyvat stops thinking.
Surprisingly gentle, is the only feeling she has time to put into words before he quickly pulls away again, and when her eyes flutter open she can see his expression matches. He doesn't linger unnecessarily, as if somehow he knows there will be... more...
"...It'll be a pain if anyone else comes around here," he finally mutters, though it doesn't seem like that's what he'd wanted to say. He turns and surveys the area around the booth with a frown, even though no one's even remotely close to approaching after his earlier spectacle. "How much to buy out your timeslot?"
"What?!" It takes Mona a second to compute. "You can't just-!"
"20,000 Mora will do the trick!" Katheryne, student council treasurer and apparent traitor to womankind, suddenly swings by with the cash box.
He frowns, but pulls out the money and hands it over as Mona gapes.
"You... rich kid! How come you were so cheap before?!"
"Hmm? This is Ajax's money, don't worry about it."
Katheryne smiles and disappears as quickly as she came, leaving the two of them alone again. Mona is speechless, not even sure how to react.
"Now... Should I collect what I paid for here? Or are you the type that prefers somewhere private?" He presses on suggestively. "At that rate, I should be getting a little more than a normal kiss."
She gasps and raises a hand to slap him, but he catches it just as quickly, laughing.
"It's a joke, a joke~" His voice lowers as he leans in. "We should get to know each other better first, don't you think?"
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, head spinning from the dizzying closeness.
"Somehow this was easier when you were just being a little brat..."
He laughs again, and this time it sounds at least a little genuine.
"Sorry. Someone convinced me recently to try being a little more honest with what I want."
Mona slowly opens her eyes again and looks over at him. Of all the people to finally take her readings to heart...
Maybe there are some things the stars can't account for. (Or maybe he isn't a Scorpio after all. That seems more likely.)
"...And what is it that you want, exactly?" she asks quietly.
She's prepared to slap him again with her free hand if he tries anything, but all he does is pull out a pen.
"How about for now... You take my number." He releases her hand when he's finished writing on it, and grins. "Let me know when I can collect on the rest."
"Never pegged you for the 'love at first sight' type, bahaha...!"
On the train back home, Ajax can barely get the words out through his laughter, wiping tears away. "A pretty girl touches your hand once and you can't leave her alone, what a creep! Ahh, I can't believe that seriously worked for you..."
"Shut up, I don't want to hear that from the guy who made us come all this way to do his own stalking. Besides, she probably won't even-"
They both look down when his phone buzzes with a new message.
"So do u seriously think the stars aren't real"
At Mona's insistence, they meet at a planetarium, though it ends up being the first in a series of lectures rather than a date. He promises—begrudgingly, still working on the honesty thing—to come back for the rest of the material she didn't get to cover, and she starts chipping away at her festival debt, though she eventually quits using it as an excuse the more times they meet.
(He's still not convinced the stars are real, but as Mona excitedly points out constellations and tells him stories, he thinks the ones glittering in her eyes might be.)