Luna Child Makes a First Impression!

This was Luna Child’s first time being by herself.

That wasn’t technically true. There was a period before fairies had names and identities that she could vaguely remember, back when all fairies were little bit more than blobs of intent and concept. Then there was that period of time where the San-Yousei didn’t exist like it did now. Sun, moon, and stars would always coalesce into light, but that union wasn’t always peaceful.

She had to admit, she liked the current present most. Luna Child couldn’t imagine life without Sunny Milk and Star Sapphire supporting her, even if Star Sapphire ran away the fastest when something went wrong. She always came back though.

Where was she going with this? Oh right, the Unmoving Great Library. And also that nasty thing Boss-man talked about having. Started with an A. Two of them. Oh right, anxiety attacks. Luna Child was going to the Unmoving Great Library and was going to have an anxiety attack now.

Luna really wished Star Sapphire and Sunny Milk were here to help. She felt like she was about to throw up and today wasn’t even supposed to be an interview. Unfortunately, Star Sapphire had to distract the Gatekeeper so she could sneak in and Sunny Milk had gotten caught by the scary maid lady, so it was just her.

Clutching the clipboard holding her resume, cover letter, and application that Boss-man helped her create and fill out, Luna looked around the hallway and bit her lip, trying very hard not to cry. It really was a good thing today wasn’t supposed to be interview day, because she was so very, very lost. Boss-man said it was always good to leave early before an interview, especially if you didn’t know where it was. Or something. Luna didn’t really remember because she was lost.

Why did everything look the same? Luna felt as if she had passed the same creepy painting a dozen times already. She didn’t even know what it was except it was shades of red that looked way too much like blood.

“You doing okay?” a voice cried out, spooking her.

Sniffling, Luna couldn’t help but tremble as she realized she had been found. How? She was silent and invis-- Oh right, Sunny Milk wasn’t here to do the twistings-of-the-light thing she did. The wood of the clipboard creaked under her grip as she turned around, bracing herself.

She sighed in relief when she saw the black and white attire of an Ordinary Witch, Marisa Kirisame. Hanging her head, Luna admitted, “I’m lost.”

Guiding her broomstick lower to hover next to her, Marisa kicked her legs with a smile and grinned, “Well, what are you looking for?”

“The Library,” Luna replied, brightening. Boss-man was always laughing at Marisa’s escapades from the Library. She would know for sure where to go. “I’m trying to work there.”

Marisa cocked her head, tapping her chin as she muttered herself, “Hm… Koakuma did mention that Sakuya was looking into hiring fairies to help her maid. Makes sense that the library would handle their own staff,” She grinned, “Sure! I’ll help you get to Patchouli!”

“Yay!” Luna cheered.

The two blonds quickly flew off in search of the library. Luna didn’t understand how Marisa could navigate the mansion so easily and quickly realized that the witch didn’t when they flew outside through a window.

“Do you actually know where the library is?” Luna pouted.

Marisa gestured for Luna to move closer. When she did, Luna shrieked softly in surprise when the flick came from the witch’s free hand. Ignoring the fairy’s glare, Marisa motioned silently for her to follow as she drifted towards the clocktower at the top of the mansion.

Reaching the top and softly dismounting onto the scarlet tiles of the roof, Marisa treaded as quietly as she could to a window. Luna rolled her eyes, tucking the clipboard under one armpit, and clapped twice, creating a field of silence. “There, we can hear each other, but nobody will hear us. Do you actually know where the library is?”

“...I want that ability, ze~” Marisa murmured quietly before clearing her throat, “I do, in fact, know where the library is! It’s right under the Clocktower.”

“Why were you inside earlier then!?”

“Because I have to throw off Patchie!” Marisa grinned, “She locks the doors inside, but she doesn’t remember to do the windows. I’ve been sneaking in this way and then opening the door when I leave, so she thinks that I’m sneaking in through the front door!” Marisa rubbed her hands together as she gleefully recounted her mad schemes, “The explosion helps trick her into thinking I just broke in instead of having already been reading for a good bit. I just borrow the books with interesting rituals that I can’t write down in time.”

Rubbing her chin, Luna nodded, “That makes sense. Why are you telling me this?”

Marisa cocked her head in confusion, eyes quickly widening as she realized she had just confessed how she was breaking into the library to someone who wanted to work at said library, and facepalmed with a physically silent but spiritually loud slap.

“Good point! Anyways, if you do get hired, don’t tell Patchie about this, please and thank you, ze~?” Marisa pleaded wryly, gingerly pushed the window open, eyes widening at how silent it was. Still grinning, but shifting from wryly to wildly, Marisa whirled around and asked gleefully, “Wait, could you do that silent thing on me? Just like whole body, no sound?”

“...I don’t think it would look good on me if I helped you steal books on the day that I’m turning in my application.”

“Please?” Marisa clasped her hands together, “I won’t steal anything! This time. I just want to read the books! Patchie’s going crazy and she’s trying to start a one-woman war against outsiders with the whole unofficial opening thing. Normally, she’d just kick me out, but I think she might actually fry me this time, ze!”

Face grimacing, Luna waffled before she drooped in defeat, nodding acquisence. Marisa let out a soft whoop of victory and leaned in upon Luna’s motioning hand. Making sure the witch had closed her eyes, Luna proceeded to flick the witch’s forehead. Flinching back, Marisa opened her mouth to shout a complaint only to close it when no sound came out.

Opening and closing her mouth, Marisa marveled at how silent she had become before testing it in full. As the witch began acting rambunctiously; clapping, shouting, stomping silently, Luna explained, “You’ll be quiet for about an hour, but no longer! And don’t steal anything! Or if you do steal, don’t say that I helped you.”

Clapping her hands, Marisa cackled silently at how silent she was before looking at the Fairy of Silent Moonlight with a madcap grin. Flicking a thumbs up in thanks, Marisa hopped onto her broom and whirled off silently into the depths of the library.

Luna decided right then and there that whatever happened next would be something she’d be better off not knowing. Plausible deniability and all that.

---

Luna had waffled for a good bit about following the witch. Breaking in didn’t seem like a good way to make a first impression, but if she tried the proper way, she was absolutely going to get lost. She wish Star Sapphire was here. Even if the Fairy of Showering Starlight could only detect living things, she would still have a better idea of how to get there.

...Eventually, Luna gave up and went in. Better done than never done or something. Luna just wanted to turn in her application at this point. Descending sedately, Luna shuffled her papers. How’d it go again? Cover letter on top of application on top of resume, right? That seemed right. Luna’s papers seemed to be in order, so now all she had to do was find--

“Freeze!” a command cut off her focus.

“Eep!” Luna went, freezing in place. Dropping a few centimeters, she quickly remembered to begin flapping her wings.

“Why are you here!?” a sultry but mostly stressed voice demanded from behind, “If you’re here for the Library, we’re not open!” There was a bit of silence before, “And no borrowing! Marisa doesn’t count! We’re still trying to get what she took back!”

“I’m here to apply for a job!”

“You’re here to what?” the voice repeated, “Also turn around, it’s weird talking to your beret. Nice beret, by the way.”

“Apply for a job!” Luna repeated, slowly turning around and careful to not make any sudden movements. “I want to read. Also thank you.”

“You can just borrow books though?” a succubus suggested with a wry smile.

Long hair cascaded down the back of her black dress that the little devil wore over a nicely pressed white dress shirt. A scarlet necktie adding a splash of color to the ensemble, matching the shade of her eyes and hair. Two sets of batwings adorned her body, two small ones on the sides of her head with two larger ones flapping to keep the sultrily stressed succubus afloat. All in all, Koakuma would have looked very professional if her entire attire wasn’t drenched with sweat and wrinkled in stress.

Frowning, Luna muttered, “You just said that there’s no borrowing though.”

“...Right, right, I did,” the bat-winged lady tittered before shaking her head violently, “No, wait! I meant from somewhere else! Not here! Like the Suzunaan,” she trailed off as she looked up and down the unamused fairy. Shuffling as well as one could mid-air, the succubus regretfully murmured,  “...Ooh right, you’re a fairy. Not allowed in the human village. Whoops.” Heaving a deep sigh, the devil apologized, “Sorry, it’s been hectic today. Madame Patchouli’s on the warpath. People keep on sneaking in and we have to keep on kicking them out and it’s just a mess and now I’m supposed to find all the books with curses and seals and put them into the new restricted section and… I’m so tired.” She stretched and yawned, “At least I remembered I can fly. Bit of advice, don’t run if you don’t have to. Always remember that you can fly. Teleport if you can.”

Scrunching her brow at that odd bit of advice, Luna ignored it and focused on the job portion, “Is it just you doing it? The organizing books thing?”

“Just me, but I like to think I do a good job! I am the Little Devil Assistant, Koakuma!” Koakuma introduced herself, flashing a peace sign over an eye, “I do what my master tells me to do and I do it with a twist!” She held the position for a bit before slumping, “...Not that much of a twist for the ones I like though. But don’t tell Madame Patchouli that!”

“I won’t!” Luna promised brightly. Then, a thought came upon her and she slyly smiled, “...If you let me help.”

Koakuma raised an eyebrow, “Hm?”

“Well, I’m trying to get a job here, and I have my resume and application and cover letter here, not in that order.” “I know I’m supposed to have an interview, but I’m hoping if I’m… don’t know the word, but it’s like… go-getter? Something active? I want to do something good so she’ll like me. And you’ll maybe put in a good word for me?”

“It’s proactive, and “ Koakuma corrected before crossing her arms and stroking her chin, batwings fluttering in place and contemplation, “...Hm, I haven’t done things with a twist in a while, so… yeah.  That’ll work.” A grin grew on her face as the little devil rubbed her hands together in glee,  “Ooh! I could get an assistant myself! The Little Devil Assistant’s Little Fairy Assistant! I like the sound of that. And Sakuya is looking into hiring Fairy Maid’s too! We can slip you in that way if Miss Patchouli doesn’t hire you directly.”

Coming to a decision, Koakuma nodded and held out a hand, “Pass me those papers.” Looking up and down, Luna shrugged and passed over the clipboard. Koakuma flipped through them quickly, nodded to herself in satisfaction,  and then, to Luna’s horror, unhinged her jaw to eldritch proportions, neatly shoving the clipboard, papers and all, down her throat. Letting out a soft burp, Koakuma grinned, “There! Madame Patchouli should have them now.”

“The clipboard!” Luna dragged her cheeks down in horror, “That was Dai’s!”

“It’s fine, Madame Patchouli has it,” Koakuma waved her worries off. Turning to fly off, the devil changed her mind, whirling around to Luna’s surprise. Uncomfortable surprise seeing how close the devil shoved her face into the fairy’s, “Actually, why don’t you go meet her? She’s directing me telepathically on where to go to collect the dangerous books, but if you’re going to help me, you’re going to need to talk to her directly.” Grinning maniacally, Koakuma didn’t bother waiting for confirmation, holding out a hand to manifest a summoning circle that plopped out a chubby, black cat with devil wings, “Just follow Chomusuke to her and you can have your interview today! Ciao for now though, I’ve got to go make sure Marisa doesn’t blow up the door again! And also doesn’t steal any more books!”

Having finished her ramble, Koakuma waved and was gone, leaving Luna with a demonic cat. She looked at the feline. The feline stretched its back as if it were on solid ground, showing the typical cats’ casual disregard for the suggestions of physics.

“...Uh, hello?” Luna waved to her escort.

The cat yawned, stretched one more time, and then popped out of existence. Luna blinked for a moment in surprise, then bodily blinked out of existence. Thankfully, unlike the last time she was discorporated, she reincorporated near instantaneously instead of painfully dragging consciousness back from the void.

The demon-cat booped her nose before popping out of existence, leaving Luna standing as still as a statue in the garden, staring unblinkingly at the purple pajama-ed Librarian having tea near a patch of patchouli flowers.

“Ah, hello,” Patchouli Knowledge, the Unmoving Great Librarian and hopefully Luna’s new boss, greeted after a long, awkward silence, “Are you here for the interview?”

If she was in a better state of mind, Luna would have returned the greeting. As it was, she found herself slowly listing to the side, before collapsing into the fetal position and emitting a low, keening sound slipping out of her lips as she grappled with the reminder of how the spontaneity of existence was equal to that of the abruptness of non-existence. A terrifying realization to be reminded of, to be sure.

The small part of her not grappling with existential ennui for the second time in a month noted that this was probably not the best of first impressions.