Monday's Game

@TheGenerator

"Ha! I think you’re bluffing, Robin! You don’t have the killer instinct to break my things on purpose," Monday says with a sneer. They slide a face down card forward. "But I do. Do you think I’m bluffing?"

Gertrude sees the 7 in play, ten other diamonds face up, and two were sent to the box. (…unless Monday bluffed earlier, that is.)

Gertrude looks for something to destroy while patiently waiting for Robin’s turn to end.

As Robin and Monday clash in a battle of wills, Yazeba looks at the empty card draw pile. "So now the cards have been dealt and it only remains for us to meet our fates. We must be willing to do whatever it takes to recover Gertrude's heart."

Robin hesitates when Monday asks the question. They look around at their friends for guidance and notice that they don't seem worried about what's going on with Robin's card. In fact, they're just doing their own thing. That must mean that they trust Robin's actions.

"I do think you're bluffing, Monday." They say, holding onto their card to flip it over when Monday does so as well. "You know, it's not to late to just stop this."

@TheGenerator

Monday flips their card to reveal the 4 of Clubs. Robin has called their bluff!

"The hour is later than you think," Monday snarls, their glamours faltering.

"You know what?" Robin says after seeing that Monday was once again beaten. "I think you're just all talk, Monday!" They look stern. "I don't think that any of your suggested deals are worth a penny. So I'm going to suggest that you shouldn't even bother with them anymore. I for one won't believe you!" They puff out a little smoke cloud to show their heated resolve in this matter.

Gert puts forward the Queen of Diamonds.

"I am going to destroy the most beautiful thibg in this house. I’m not bluffing, but I am going to wait until the game is done."

@Legendary_Sidekick

Monday grimaces as they slide a card forward to counter Gertrude. "I won't let you do that. My power is still strong! Do you think I'm bluffing?"

"Yes," Gert says flatly.

Monday growls as they reveal their card, the 2 of Spades.

"You called me a… urine-ant, or something like that. Seems you took my action as a personal insult.""That’ll be enough of that."

By pulling out an X card Hey Kid handed out one D&D night, Gert somehow "helps" Monday not find reasons to be insulted.

After an awkward silence… "You’re welcome."

"You are both handling this quite well. An outside observer would scarcely be able to guess you are both rank amateurs at fairy negotiating," Yazeba says, allowing a small smile to quirk up at the corners of her mouth.

Monday continues to offer up deals in an attempt to gather enough power for their fairy ring, but it's clear by this point that you've found their weakness. The fairy is unable to defend their prized possessions as you smash your way through their house. With each act of destruction, Monday's glamours are stripped away, revealing more and more of their true nature.

With a snap of their fingers, they try to bury you in a deluge of countless treasures. They snarl and spit as they retort with teeth like stinging nettles, with claws like curled thorns. They rage.

At last, the final illusion is stripped away, and you see Monday for who they really are: a bitter, hateful, pathetic little being, deserving not of fear or awe. The fairy groans and rakes their claws across the table, leaving deep furrows. "Inconceivable! I can't lose! I... I never lose!" they whine. But the truth is laid bare, and Monday has no further tricks left to play. "Fine. Just take the bloody heart. Take it and go!"

With a poof of fairy dust, the Heartless Contract that Gertrude signed appears. Monday makes a violent gesture, and the contract tears itself to shreds! There is a soft *whump* sound, and Gertrude feels the emptiness in her chest fill once again. Her heart is back, and with it, all of the emotions she has missed out on these past few weeks. Feelings, both good and bad.

You've gotten what you've came for. All that remains now is to decide what to do with Monday...

A tidal wave of mixed emotion almost knocks Gertrude flat on her back. With each thumping of her revived heart comes regret upon regret over how she’d acted without it—the way she treated people.

"I was… so cruel…" Her words are choked by tears. "But that’s not… it’s not who I am. Sure, I’ve made a lot… a lotta mistakes, but never… never out of meanness."

She looks at the pathetic little being. Her expression is hidden behind the mask, but her body language displays an unmistakable gentleness. She cannot hate Monday. She pities the fairy.

"I forgive you." If there is any magic left in her, she uses it to restore Monday’s ability to perform fairy miracles. "I was a fool to sign your contract, so I don’t need an apology from you. I don’t deserve to receive an apology while I have so many to give. But if you’re to stay at the B&B, Monday, I do require a promise:

"No more heartless contracts."

Monday nods resignedly. "Very well. No more contracts. I suppose I'll... find another hobby..."