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“Hey mister!”
“Hey Jose.” Joker Smiles as he sits down across from the boy. “I’ve got some flowers-”
“HELLO!” Joker’s vision is filled with white hair and red eyes. “NICE to MEET you!”
“Hello?” Joker glaces towards Jose. “This is?”
“MOONY is MOONY.” The child pulls back. “WHO are YOU?”
“Moony is keeping me company.” Jose smiles. “They’re very friendly.”
“DO you WANT to BE friends!?” Moony grabs his hand. He can feel the chill though his gloves. “MOONY loves FRIENDS.”
“Sure.” Ren shakes their hand. “Friends.”
"I am thou... Thou art I...
Thou hast acquired a new vow...
It shall become the wings of rebellion
That breaketh thy chains of captivity.
With the birth of the Celestial Arcana
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power..."
—-
“Hey mister!”
“Hey MISTER!”
“Jose. Moony.” Joker bobs his head at them. “I’ve got more flowers to trade.”
“Oh Great!” Jose’s eye’s light up. “I’ve got some more Somas, I know you like them!”
“Do you like the Flowers too?” Joker completes the trade.
“MOONY doesn’t NEED them!” Moony fiddles with their black headband. “MOONY gets THEIR human EMOTIONS from KOTONE and MAKOTO.”
“Queen?!”
“No SILLY!” Moony shakes their head. “MOONY’S kotone AND makoto. THEY are THE best.”
—
“Hey mister!”
“HEY mister!”
“Is it safe for you to be here?” Joker watches one of the shadows meander around. “I know they don’t bother Jose but what if you’re alone?”
“It’s NO problem! WATCH!” Moony puts their hand towards the shadow. They yank it back and the shadow flies towards them shrinking. It lands in Moony’s open palm. They close it, then open it again. A card spins in their hand. “A GIFT for MY friend!”
“Thanks?” Joker takes the card, and Tsukiyomi becomes his mask. “How did you?”
“THAT’S a MOONY secret!”
—--
“Hey mister!”
“hey MISTER!”
“Where did you come from?” Joker watches as Moony clings to one of Jose’s star shaped balloons.
“JOSE let MAKOTO and KOTONE touch A wishing STAR.” Moony laughs as they swing.
“Where are Mak-You have more wishing stars?!”
“You already have one!”
—
“Hey mister!”
“HEY mister!”
“Do you know what you are?” Joker asks, thinking of morgana’s plight.
“MOONY is MOONY.” Joker’s face doesn’t change. “MOONY is A unison OF death AND mortal. OF human AND god.”
“You’re Moony.”
“THAT’S right!”
—-
“Hey mister!”
“Hey MISTER!”
“WILL you SHOW moony WHAT you DO for FUN?” Moony is vibrating. Joker blinks a few times. “MOONY loves FUN!”
“Sure.” Joker Nods. Can’t be any worse than the wardens.
—-
“WEEEEEeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeEEEEEE!” Moony lowers their arms as the roller coaster cart comes to a stop. “Again! AGAIN!”
“Fifth time is the last time.” Joker helps them out of the cart. “We agreed, remember?”
“CAN’T pull A fast ONE on YOU!” Moony smiles. “THAT’S why YOU’RE a PHA-”
“Shhhhh.” Joker puts a finger to his lips. “It’s a secret! Don’t blow my cover!”
“YES!” Moony looks down. “THEY don’t MAKE roller COASTERS for BIRDS.”
“I don’t think birds would like them.”
“MOONY would!”
—--
“WHERE are WE going!?” Moony’s eyes dart around Shibuya. “IS it TO get RAMEN? Moony LOVES ramen!”
“We can, but I’ve got some friends you’d want to meet.” Joker leads them towards the velvet room.
“MORE friends! MOONY loves-!” They turn the corner and lock eyes with Justine . “NO! no! NO! No! NO!”
Moony shoves Joker to the ground. By the time he gets up moony is gone and Justine is standing next to him.
“Inmate.” Justine’s not mad, just disappointed. “What were you doing with that fugitive abomination?”
“Nothing.” Joker shakes his head. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”
—--
“Hey mister!”
“Where’s Moony?” Joker scans the car. “I’m worried about them.”
“They don’t want to talk to you.“ This is the first time Jose’s looked sad. “Said you were going to lock them up.”
“It was a misunderstanding.” Joker puts a hand on his heart. “I thought that they’d want to be friends with Caroline and Justine. I would never lock them up.”
“Really?” Moony’s voice echoes around.
“Cross my heart.”
—-
“JOKER.”
Ren turns around, Moony stands before him.
“THANK you. FOR being MY friend. I HAD fun.”
“Wait-!”
"I am thou, thou art I
Thou hast turned a vow into a blood oath.
Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion
and break the yoke of thy heart.
Thou hast awakened to the ultimate secret
of the Celestial Arcana, granting thee infinite power…”
Moony Vanishes. A colorless wishing star lands on the ground.
It’s a bittersweet memento.
—---
While he’s searching for the rest of the thieves in the velvet room, he comes across a birdcage.
A pair of Hawks caged within. One Red, one Blue. He’s not sure why but he opens the cage, setting them free. The birds bow. As they’re taking flight a voice rings in his mind.
THANK you!