Chapter Text
Celestia wasn't one to be honest about herself, she was the self proclaimed Queen of Liars after all. Poker Face that went unrivaled by anyone and the poor fool who dare try and knock it down did not have a pleasant experience. The one time it fractured a bit everyone was too afraid to try and get past the blockade of masks she had adorned, other then her brother and sister of course, however they're her family. Celestia wouldn't dare snap at those she held so dearly to her heart, imagine if she were to snap at her precious Grand Bois Cheri Ludenberg. It is unimaginable.
Hope's Peak. An academy full of successful and rich students, Celestia would love to just see how many losers she could persuade to gamble against her. Hopefully a quick game of Blackjack with thousands of million yen on the line would suffice, she just needed an opponent. Celestia did quite a considerable amount of research on her peers, such as Byakuya Togami, Heir to the Togami Corporation. Perhaps she could snag a couple million from him, if Togami happened to have the mindset of the many rich brats with the ego to challenge Celestia.
Yes, he was the wealthiest out of all her classmates. A far from close second would be Leon Kuwata, third Toko Fukawa. Celestia knew her prey, knew secrets they believed were well hidden, at this point she was confident she could predict their behaviours and actions to the T.
Taeko couldn't help but mumble that people weren't always wearing their heart on their sleeve, Celestia shut her down with her poisonous snarl. Taeko squeaked out a warning to be careful before hiding back in the depths of her mind, where she belonged. Personal weakness was not what the Queen of Liars possesed, and never will.
Celestia liked to think she was great at reading people, so once she lay her gaze on her class she knew. believed. That she would have them at her call, whether they were aware or not. Especially the boy who already looked infatuated with the lolita when she strolled in. A difficulty may be the girl with the cold gaze and greying from stress lavender locks that framed her own rather impressive poker face, Celestia felt a flame of a challenge, a true risk that she'll very willingly take.
Her brother and sister confort her as she rants about the feeling of conflict of the risk she regrets taking yet loves the result of stemming from her impromptu decision. The question is, who was the one truly talking?
A year in, and it's a mess. Celestia underestimated the fools. She's snapped at her class a handful of times, three in actuality, and each time the class gave her proper time to call down and those who felt at fault apologised. Celestia couldn't believe why, she's shown she was not one to care, so why would they treat her in a caring manner. Gundham had warned her that her classmates had very little darkness in their hearts, that she should prepare for the souls of her classmates to entangle into her life the way his classmates did. Ibuki summarized it; to prepare for affection and found family. Celestia grew up with these two and still had yet to truly be on the same page as them, she was scared. Scared of people knowing her. Why weren't they afraid? maybe they used to be.
Celestia internally sighs, it's the first semester of her and her class as second years. And she's in a handful of social groups that she wasn't sure how she was incorporated into. Ibuki very cheerily hugged her and told her how proud her and Gundham are for her coming so far.
Kyoko Kirigiri was the daughter of the headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy, she was known as just that. The daughter of the headmaster. Celestia didn't know why, the detective truly was really interesting, she knew that Kyoko was awkwardly kind to everyone and would talk about the things she liked for a more prolonged time. Kyoko also knew a bit more about the history of coffee and caffeine then others, she fell asleep quickly if given green tea and a hug, she likes bunnies and did not like being referred to as Kirigiri. Kyoko never actually confirmed that last bit, however Celestia would notice how uncomfortable she got being referred to by her family name. So her given name was a must.
"My dear Kyoko, my apologise. My mind is fleeting, could you repeat what you said?" The detective, tilted her head at the gambler. She blinked in sync with the slight twitch of her ear then moved to push a lock of pale lavender hair behind it. She was leaning her side against the wall of the slightly busy hallway of the dorm, students walked past the pair to their designated buildings.
She was surprisingly playful, it was a cute attribute about the detective.
"Of course, Ms. Ludenberg. Hifumi has asked me to inform you he had left the design for the outfit he has been creating and that he'd appreciate any suggestions and critique you have. And also to mind the slight cuts or scratches, he and Toko were collaborating when she sneezed and Syo appeared." Celestia felt her eyes widen a tad bit, she also felt the brewing of fear at the slight show of excitement. She hummed a tune that Ibuki had been working on for weeks, and Kyoko stood indifferent.
Kyoko was also patient, although Celestia supposes that was expected.
"Why thank you Kyoko-san, I'll be sure to help the storytellers of our class." Kyoko nodded, her lavender eyes bore into Celestia's red ones. She wanted to say something, so the gambler waited patiently with a small smile. Unlike the one she made sure was painted onto her mask.
"Celes, I hope you know it's alright to be excited. I know you have an interest in fashion, it's surprising to see you appear frighten." Kyoko. Ever the observer.
"Frighten? Ma Cheri, don't tell me you believe that I am frighten over a little chemical reaction in the mind." Giggle and raise of her hand to float over her bottom lip, Celestia knew she couldn't prevent the inevitable. Yet lies tend to choke you at moments, either from being caught or the way some gamblers get a crazed look in their eyes that was enhanced by the obsessive frizz of their hair.
Taeko learned from the nights while being bandaged by Gundham and Ibuki that the choking feeling was the addiction that could fall upon anyone. Gambling and Lies happened to be quite similar hand in hand.
"Were you aware that your proximal interphalangeal joint tends to bend when frighten or uncomfortable?" Kyoko suddenly informed. oh so she genuinely was worried.
What?
Taeko very annoyingly and informatively remembered the middle joint of her finger. Celestia made sure to straighten her fingers. Any longer and the exhaustion of the day was going to catch on and make Celestia slip up.
"Really? I must fix that, I applaud you Kyoko for noticing." Celestia needed to leave, why wouldn't her body move. Stupid Taeko. Why is the loser keeping her here with Kyoko?
Blasted. she knew why.
"No one is out late at night other then the upperclassmen with jobs, it's rather peaceful to roam around alone." Ms. Detective, why must you be so oblivious to the internal conflict within the person standing before you?
Celestia knew the caffeine addict was in the right, not many tended to understand Kyoko's tendency to bluntly yet ominously offer advice. And for once, Celestia wished she didn't. Yet she understood what Kyoko meant to get across.
A chance to be Taeko, without fear of appearing weak to everyone else. To the people she found herself respecting the opinions and thoughts of. To be Taeko. Taeko Yasuhiro.
'It's better to prevent the identity crisis now then have to actually go through that shit in the future; plus our class already knows our real name. Trust them.' Taeko remarked. Such a smart girl she was. Too bad she was weak.
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Kyoko, your presence is always enjoyed. Bonne nuit, ma ciel." Celestia. Taeko? The gambler offered a smile, pas une autre fissure. Maybe that crisis was happening now.
Celestia Ludenberg. The ultimate gambler, Queen of Liars, and one of the go to for fashion tips and... other specific safety tips.
She delicately combed her fingers through her hair, reminiscing of when she used to brush out her black locks that once fell into an ocean of black waves from their imprisonment. Celestia was grateful she convinced Fukawa to cut her hair, her drills were a pain to do in the morning.
It was also good that Fukawa was getting less nervous about being around scissors with others.
The gambler trailed her index finger across her cheek as if she were able to feel the light dusting of freckles that decorated her face like stars, she was a lot less pale then the others had suspected when they forced her to wipe off her makeup before sleeping. If the squeals from Asahina, Junko, and Maizono were anything to go by that one dreaded sleepover in Ikusaba's room. At least the soldier's room was pleasant, smelt faintly of citrus and the dim lighting made it comforting.
She squinted in the mirror, staring at her eyelashes. They were longer and thicker then the last she checked, Celestia disliked the fluttery softness they had when she blinked. Taeko adored them however and hadn't trimed them in ages.
The gambler reached and took out her earrings, then she admired the little ruby gems in the centers. Always a habit of hers, the earrings held a dangerous secret that she worried would accidentally be revealed. She did worry about the health of her classmates after all, Taeko wouldn't want them to get poisoned, violent losers after poker tournaments however...
Taeko. Taeko wasn't so sure who she was, she knew what she was, she's a little sister to a musician and animal breeder; the Lolita Vampire that was rumoured to drink blood for her gambling abilities, and the fact she's weak.
Celestia was so much better, confident and feared by the weak .
But Taeko knew, that the line between her and "Celestia" was blurring into an ocean that's currents lead you one way or another and lost you in the sea. She's glad that "Celestia" was willing to face that fact too.
Taeko tugged at her hoodie, she liked wearing them. They were comfortable, and if they happen to have cat ears or cat designs well that's for her to live with. Gosh she'd never hear the end of it from the twins, Gundham would chuckle at her obvious fondness for the little felines while Ibuki would say the cat ears reminded her of her own horns and try to get Taeko a cat headband. Not that she'd decline.
A deep meow erupted from behind her and Taeko turned to Grand Bois, who strolled to her side and pawed at her feet. Taeko smiled "Hello my big honey tree, I hope you weren't too lonely." He meowed and began kneading at her leg, Taeko really couldn't see why people disliked cats. Grand Bois was a sweetie honestly, even if he tends to get jealous occasionally.
Taeko kneeled down and scoped Grand Bois into her arms, she made her way over to her bed and layed down cradling the spoiled feline. "My little raisin, I have a question. Do you think I should walk around at the dead of night as Taeko?" she placed a soft peck on the cat head and chuckled at the immediate rumble from the cat. "That may have been worded a tad wrong, sorry if I worried you. Kyoko suggested I build up confidence in the empty public." At the name of the awkwardly functional detective Grand Bois mewed, a whisper at his liking towards her.
Taeko smiled and hummed in agreement, Kyoko was certainly a... good person.