AN: Finally gave Bluesky a shot because Twitter/X is a non-stop tire fire...
Oops (Celine, Emma)
It wasn't as if things like this were unheard of. On the contrary, spellcasters trying new and untested things tended to invite surprising outcomes.
With that said, once the smoke had cleared it was a safe bet neither Celine nor Emma had expected to see a giant crater where a rather large tree had once stood.
"… Uh, did you mean to do that?"
"N-No!" Emma stammered, her eyes wide and panicked behind her glasses. "Well, I mean I certainly intended to use it as a target, but… oh, you don't think anyone will notice, do you?"
"Gee, I wonder."
Wonder (Elliot, Fiona, Vita)
Elliot hadn't been sure what to expect at first. While he revered music in all its forms, he'd also be the first one to admit that opera simply hadn't called to him like the strings had. His sister had been much the same way, preferring her black and ivory keys to the grandiosity of the stage.
They had come to sate their curiosity above all else, the rumors of a prodigiously talented newcomer proving too difficult to ignore. She more than lived up to the billing, and they listened in awestruck rapture as Vita Clotilde made Heimdallr remember her name.
All's fair (Kurt/Juna, Ken, Nana)
"… Strange."
"Something wrong?" Juna asked innocently, her hands folded in her lap as Ken and Nana tried their best to stifle giggles.
"Not as such. It's just - I could have sworn," Kurt began, setting some refreshments down before taking his seat, "that the board layout looked somewhat different before I left."
Juna tilted her head, green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Really? Well, isn't that interesting. Maybe you're seeing things?"
Ken nodded vigorously. Nana followed suit. Well trained, those two.
His gaze flicked upwards again before he sighed and smiled.
"Perhaps. My move?"
Juna flashed him a grin. "Yup."
Sometimes I win, sometimes you lose (Crow)
Here's the thing with stuff like double-sided coins and loaded dice; only amateurs bust those out all the time. Sure, y'might win big at first but anyone with a brain in their head's gonna catch on and if you somehow get outta there without yours getting bashed in – congrats, you just burned an easy payday.
Took me a while but I learned that playing legit and taking your lumps every so often is worth it if sets you up for some huge wins, and if you space 'em out properly? They won't even notice.
Suckers really are born every minute.