middaeg | Aguril catchall

[The man's spluttering just earns him a sharp breathy hiss as the fae's wings spread out behind her. Making the relatively small fae look a lot bigger. Appearance-wise the wings probably weren't that impressive though, white and pink with almost see-through parts of the membrane between the veins that ran along them.

...But they did have that fairy dust.

Mettaton does get her attention with that though. Along with the glare. What was he-? Ah...That makes her face soften. Offering a small hum. Then a nod.] And learning...They should be taught how to read.

[They had no choice in where to work or what to do. It was unfair, the lords were taking advantage of them.]

[Well... Education IS an important part of growing up. And it aligns with Mettaton's belief system well. Yes, kids need nutrients, entertainment, water, sleep, and education! How could he forget!

(If Mettaton ran a country, education would be put on the backburner. That's why.)

He nods along with Mikasa's decision and claps his hands together.]

Then it's settled. Yes, you ought to guarantee education so that they can take flight in their future pursuits as full-fledged members of society. Haven't you ever heard about making your business competitive?? [tsk tsk. Mettaton wags a finger at him.] Well! We'll let you iron out the details...

[Mettaton joins Mikasa at her side, leaving the glaring, sputtering noble to do more of his glaring and sputtering. These damn Mirrorbound are robbing him of an entire workday! (Not like the kids are doing anything but slacking off.) And unless the lord has any more protests, he turns to her.]

Well? Have any ideas on how to round up a bunch of kids?

[Monster and human alike, there are quite a few. But Mettaton's taken to noticing that Mikasa has an affinity for them... The way she has an affinity for small animals. The robot considers that if Mikasa has no ideas, he'll just yell for them to come with them. Where they'll go, what they'll do? Who knows, who cares! They'll figure it out.]

[If it was any consolation. Mikasa's idea of education was probably lacking compared to most people in the city. The curriculum was reading, writing and basic maths...that was it. Those were things they needed.

But not teaching the children...That was another knock against the lord, wasn't it. He was trapping them. Leaving them with only the skills that benefited him. Mettaton right. They wouldn't be able to take flight like this.

It makes her own wings give a little flicker. Yeah, she'd been grounded for so long. It wasn't fair to trap them like that.

At the question of how to gather the kids. She just glances back at the strikers, they'd been playing before. Several hiding behind her before she'd took to the air. She just gives a wave, beckoning a few braver ones over. The others were still nervous about being in trouble. Then back to Mettaton with a small frown.]

Do you know somewhere we can take them...That's safe?

[Because there wasn't enough space at the cottage.]

[Mettaton stretches, even though he doesn't have muscles to stretch, rocking onto the tips of his boots before landing back on thin heels. He keeps his arms raised above his head while he examines the sky in thought.]

Well... The Coven's pretty safe. Isn't it? And they have our backs, as Mirrorbound. [Mettaton is a lot more trusting of the Coven than some Mirrorbound are. Then again, Mettaton's more trusting of anyone in general. That's a trait of a monster.] They have plenty of outdoor space: courtyards, gardens... Maybe we could even take them to see inside! Who knows? Some of these may be future Witches.

[It's not the worst idea Mettaton could generate, but the biggest problem is that the Coven's at the north end of the city, while the Harbor District - where they're at presently - is at the completely southern end. It would be quite a walk for all of these little feet. Mettaton (the machine, the Puca) doesn't seem to be considering this.]

Is it? [Mikasa was one of the more skeptical mirrorbound there. Given what some of the others had said about the coven possibly being responsible for their arrival. Along with how oddly trusting they'd been of mirrorbound. Allowing them to move freely, giving them rooms.

...Too nice, so there had to be a catch.

Though Mikasa wasn't going to press it.] That's too far. They have worn shoes... [Worn shoes might have been okay for some of the dirt paths in the harbor. But the moment they got to a main road that was paved it'd blister.] They wouldn't be able to stay the night either... [A place to stay, a place.]

The barracks would be good if they weren't so far... [There was plenty of rooms there. But like the Coven, it was too far.]

[Mettaton frowns at their shoes, worn in as they are. Scandalous! Shoes for children are cheap enough, right? Mettaton may be an absurd, self-absorbed moneymaking monstrosity, but he has a hearty stroke of generosity in him, and given an aspect to focus on, he wants to make that right if they're going to be watching after these kids.

(Watching after them. He doesn't think for a second about how this is an ill-advised endeavor, in the long run. Everything always works out, for him.)

Mettaton contemplates this further. Then, he snaps his fingers.]

Mikasa, darling! Did you know... that since the banning of theater, some of the older buildings have been converted into housing? [Let's not talk about how sometimes, some shadier people occupy the theaters. The Entertainment District in general has some darker corners, after all. Mettaton is good at dealing with people of all walks, so he doesn't see it as a problem.] Theater may be legal now, but some of the theaters are still in disuse. We could use one of them for shelter!

[And since Mettaton is so familiar with the area, he can think of a few theaters left unoccupied still, though some of them are occasionally used when a small-time performer wants to dip their toes in the slowly-reviving scene. Mettaton reaches down to place his hand upon one of the kid's heads, one of the bold who has decided to investigate Mettaton's odd splendor.]

What do you think of that idea? It's just beyond the Shopping District.

[Given that what the kids were striking for, Mikasa had the feeling they couldn't afford shoes. Not that she knew how much they'd cost here. She still wore her boots. The only other shoes she'd gotten had been a gift.

The comment gets a small tilt of the head because...]

What else would they do with the buildings? [Shops, houses or more factories. The buildings would have been converted or it'd be a waste.] And even then the building is empty? [Did the people the buildings were converted for move out? The theater would be pretty noisy, maybe that scared them off.

The child Mettaton pats just pulled a sour little face at the head pats. Excuse you they were a brave and fierce little faun investigating the strange. Gonna headbutt and push the hand back.

Mikasa meanwhile shrugs, shuffling the puca child that was clinging to her leg. Hiding behind...]

Is it like this district? Full of smog? [Her nose wrinkles at that. Because it was very easy to get used to the stench, the salt of the sweat and harbor water. It'd be nice to get the kids away from that for a bit.]

[A lot of comments. Mettaton laughs, not at all minding the kid who has shied away from his attentions as he places a hand upon Mikasa's shoulder. ...Where she's wearing fabric, a conscious decision.]

Oh, Mika-darling. [MIKASA HATH EARNED A NICKNAME.] You worry too much! Like their very own guardian...

[And he lists off answers to her queries on his fingers:]

Some of them have been converted to housing, but plenty have been left vacant! [Next:] Some of the buildings are, yes, empty. [Finally:] And it's as smoggy as you might expect the Haven or the Residential districts to be... Which is less than this one. All positive answers, I'm sure.

[Since that meant there would be a clean-aired theater for a gaggle of children. The worst of it would be securing the theater at night so that weird people didn't come in while they were using it, but Mettaton's sure that won't be much trouble, so he doesn't mention it.]

They'll like it, I think! You will, too. It's spacious. We just have to block off access to the rafters... unless those lovely wings of yours are working. Ha-ha.

[It was a good job they'd stop walking to plan, she might have tripped over the clingy little puca. The new name gets a blink. But it's not the first time someone's just called her Mika, and Mettaton had called her darling so many times now, that it gets no response. Just that unimpressed stare... Was he trying to butter her up?

The little calf faun just gives a huff of warm air, large ears flapping and stomping his hooves. Sulking on the spot, bottom lip sticking out, but listening. Like Mikasa was, once Mettaton was done she gave a small nod. Wings stretching out and giving the smallest flicker.]

I can fly...Why would they need blocking? [She hadn't said it out loud. But asking that question was answer enough. She was warming to the idea. As long as it seemed okay when she could see it in person.]

If you can fly, there's no problem!

[He snaps his fingers excitedly, ears standing tall in his delight.]

That's because it's high up! If you can fly, you could rescue anyone who got a little too daring, couldn't you?

[Mettaton is GROSSLY oversimplifying the experience of Being Organic and Falling From Great Heights. Forgive him: he can fall from high places and have a bit of a scuff here or there at best. If a limb came off, he could just put it back on. He understands that these people can do things like Break Bones and Sustain Injury, but he doesn't imagine falling from the rafters could be too unmanageable. And if Mikasa can fly, surely she could just pluck unruly kids from the catwalk if they dared to climb up there, right?

Mikasa... to the rescue. He daydreams about it, clutching his cheek. But he spends a moment corralling the clingy little Puca away from Mikasa's feet, if not to spare her the accident of tripping.]

Edited 2020-09-04 04:34 (UTC)

...[Yeahh, about that Mettaton. She wasn't going to sugarcoat it.] I think most of them that can fly, will be better than me. [Because they'd been born with them. She was still getting used to her wings. Though her wings lent her a maneuvrability harpy or dragon wings didn't.] And the walkways in there will be better than the factory ones...

[Given that at least one had collapsed with an adult's weight on it.

The little puca squeaks, actually squeaks then scurries away. Scampering around the fae and away from the robun for a second. Then trying to scamble up Mikasa, but was only able to reach her thigh. It just got a sigh from her as she silently watched the chase. Eventually cutting in by just scooping the tiny up and letting him cling up there and out the way. Starting to slowly walk again, looking back to make sure the others were okay.]

Mettaton...Do you know why the theaters were banned before? [Because she'd heard about it being banned, but not why.]

[Right... he can't touch Puca. He forgot. He's never really... interacted with many fellow Puca, only Fae. They're one in the same, when it comes to iron weakness. The poor thing must have been scared he'd touch them.

He nearly protests that the catwalks are accessible by even non-fliers, but then Mikasa asks a pertinent question, all while one of the human orphans takes a daring step forward to greater examine the tall robotic Puca with her jaw shamelessly agape, having never... seen something like him before. Mettaton's attention isn't on her, nor the small Naga who accompanies her in her curiosity. He raises a finger.]

Simple. There was a Witch some years ago... He used a manner of enchantment on his audience, rather than actually putting on a show. Deplorable.

[Mettaton sighs, shaking his head at the very thought. (Mettaton from a MTT-Brand Neutral Route who was a Witch would probably do the same thing, though... Hypocrite.)]

This enchantment veered dangerously into thought-manipulation. Dipping his toes into mind control magic, one can assume... given that his punishment was so severe that he hasn't been heard of since! Anyway, his charm failed him, resulting into a purported meltdown on stage. The entire theater went up in flames. Ever since that accident, all of Aefenglom's been deprived of theater... until we Mirrorbound changed their hearts.

[Read: Mettaton thinks he changed their hearts. It couldn't be coincidence that he was arrested, then only a week after his complaining, theater was re-legalized...?!]

[The skittish boy might have hid anyway. All to happy to let the human and naga take the spotlight. Them leaning slightly. Not that it helped much...Too much leggy for them to see anything else. Forcing them to look almost straight up to see him.

The mere mention of the enchantment gets the fae's face to crumple in distaste. Before he even explains more. Like the locals, that was a big NOPE for her. Her own issues with the supposed bond she'd had with Eren aside. There was the founding titan, even if she was immune, that was more than one hundred years of people being mind-controlled.]

One man destroyed it for the city? [There had to have been other groups right? Or had their reputation been so ruined? Though the thought of it-

Made the fae suddenly freeze up. A free hand going to her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. As though that would alleviate some of the pressure that had suddenly built up. ]

You've got it! It took one rotten apple to spoil the bunch, apparently.

[Mettaton makes more of an exasperated face this time, thinking it just as ridiculous as Mikasa as he shrugs... totally ignoring Mikasa for the moment.

But he notices that his small Fae friend isn't keeping in step with him, then, and he slows; blinks, turns. Mikasa's standing a few strides behind him at this point, some of the kids (read: a majority of them) either stopped up behind her in confusion, or expressing a muted, fretful worry. Mettaton's long ears spring upright, alert and wary.]

Darling...? Is something the matter?

[It's only for a moment, a child bumping into her making her start moving again. Eyes still closed and not seeing the puca's worry ]

It's...[Not nothing, but her mouth closes. Mikasa thinking about her words. Not wanting to say too much near the kids, but explaining...difficult.] Remember what I said Eren could do? [The mind control that would make people forget?] Before he could, the nobility could. [She looks at the kids instead, checking to make sure they were following okay.]

Have they found a way to stop it from happening again?

[He blinks at Mikasa, a bit flabbergasted by her explanation. Because it doesn't make much sense to him... He knew about the Eren thing, but he didn't know it was real still, nor did he think anyone could. But she segues back into theater.]

Oh. Yes. Their solution is to legalize it with strict limitations placed on magic. For example... I'm not allowed to shapeshift during a performance. I'd be too brilliant if they couldn't hinder me SOMEhow...

[But he's still focused on Mikasa's explanation. He lifts a finger.]

I thought you said your bond issue with Eren turned out to be a hoax... So how was he, or nobility, responsible for... that?

[Her headaches, he means. He's being a bit more careless around the kids, they could handle it, they're collateral, whatever, it's fine. But he smirks, snapping a finger.]

Unless you mean to say that both Eren, and nobility, give you headaches... Just that insufferable, is it? Ha-ha.

[She's shrugging. She didn't blame him for being confused, she still didn't know how it worked. Eren had been lying, but there had to have been something to it. Like why she could do so much that others couldn't. Why in that moment, in the cabin with the corpse of one of her kidnappers, everything had been so clear? That she'd known exactly where to step, where to plunge the blade. Where she'd gotten the strength for it to go straight through his ribs.

The new rules. As interesting as they were, and as flawed as that one seemed. Couldn't someone good at magic, hide they were doing it? Ultimately didn't affect her much. She had very little interest in the theater. She couldn't read a book without getting bored. A play, something that was shorter might have been able to keep her attention for longer, but she'd still rather be moving about.

There was always work to be done.

And she wasn't good enough at acting to pretend to know, or fully understand it, or feign interest enough to move the topic on.

Sorry kiddos. Sure hope they didn't put together this conversation and the name of their future benefactor.]

He made it up. The part where we were bonded...The part where he can change memories wasn't. It's...complicated. [An understatement. Just how did one say 'so our royal family had an ability that allowed them to mind-control the populace. They had to pass this down by feeding the person with this power to a family member. Eren has this ability because his dad went and eat the royal family.'

So yeah...Mikasa has to think about that.]

The two things are separate. My...supposed bond with him was because of my blood. His abilities are because of what he is. Before Eren had that ability, our old nobles did.

[These poor fucking kids must be so confused.]

[Mikasa's concern about how to break this news, especially while making it family-friendly for all of the kiddos who tagged along behind and around them, was totally valid. It would be a horrifying thing for any of the kids more interested in the Fae and the Puca and thus paying attention to hear.

The poor kids remain confused and unable to make sense of it all and fortunately, most of them don't really connect with the name "Eren" and thus let it leak from their brains. Maybe they'd think about it later... Who knew? As for Mettaton... He is also confused. Mikasa's world was strange and sad and confusing and really dated. Dated enough that he knows she had no electricity, no running water... The sun and the stars, and a massive wall around the population. Mettaton stares off skyward just thinking about such differences.

He wonders what it would be like to be Bonded to her. What memories he's see, what dreams he'd share. It's okay if it's just entertaining the thought... but Mettaton's thought is clear, his ears leaning back, one of them swiveling and flicking and angling back and everything. Maybe he'd have a better understanding of what she'd been through that way.]

So your head hurting... Have they altered your memories, darling? Is that what you mean? [He pulls a face, exasperated, and leveraging his fingers against his temple, nursing it the way she did just moments before.] Oh! Now my head hurts, just thinking about all of this!

[His head doesn't hurt. He doesn't get headaches.]

[It was fine. Mikasa only just understood it herself, and that was with three years to come to terms with it. Work it out.

Still, she huffs. Rolling her shoulders, getting moving again. Almost like she wasn't going to answer.]

No. Mine can't be altered. Because of Hizuru. [Because she was half their blood and not fully Eldian. Because she was an Ackerman. Because she was different to everyone she'd grown up with when she'd rather be the same.] Do you remember? The mark on my wrist and what that woman said? [How she was their hope, a long lost descendant. How there'd been no one else of East Sea descent left on the walled island.] Everyone but me can be manipulated.

[Supposedly.] ...I don't know why my head hurts.

[It was fitting though. Wasn't it? That a fae could see through illusions...]

I see... Yes. Of course I remember the mark, and that woman. Kiyomi, talking about you as Hizuru's hope...

[One thing he understands in a sea of confusion is still enough to bring brightness to Mettaton's expression, his ears standing up again.]

Such power, to manipulate the world... save for you. But it turns out you still don't know why your head randomly hurts like that... [Mettaton reaches out to touch it, but thinks better of it and abstains.] Have you considered that you have chronic migraines?

[He knows what those are. Though he's never felt a migraine, nor a headache, and is just regurgitating modern medical conditions unrelated to some grand plot-based scheme...]

[Technically the world was wrong. Eren could only potentially control and manipulate Eldians, but...if Eren had his way. Then the rest of the world wasn't really an issue there.

But she's moving on. Frowning and squinting at him as she led the children on. To this theater.]

Chronic migraines..? [She was not from a modern world. The heck is this.] No...It's not all the time. ['Chronic' was the word she'd understood out of that.]

Hmm. [And unfortunately, Mettaton is very inorganic and has no idea what a headache or a migraine feel like. But he'll still impart his understanding:] Even if it's not all the time, I think it can still be a chronic condition if it's routine! Still.

[Shrug! What does he know. Mettaton just assumes that she knows what a migraine is, leading her and the kids to the theater proper. Mettaton quickly asks,]

I've been meaning to inquire. Have you found yourself a Witch Bonded yet, Mika?

[There's a grumble. But...she just kind of accepts her fate, his energy drowning her out for now. But she's nodding.]

Yeah... [There's a few seconds pause. Maybe it was suspense. Or maybe it was just cause she'd thought he'd already know given him and said bonded where...doing things. That was how she'd going the bond offer in the first place.] Emet-Selch offered when he thanked me for telling you how...to not cause him to bleed out.

[Not exactly. It'd been more for stopped Mtt from paniking and doing anything too dumb really. Because he hadn't been that close to dying in the end.]

[Indeed, Emet-Selch would have been fine, probably. But it did help Mettaton's panic simmer down to talk to Mikasa. Had Mettaton continued to siphon blood from him like an idiot, exsanguination wasn't out of the question, but he had the sense to stop that at least.

But surprisingly, Mettaton does not know of Emet-Selch's recent Bond to her, and his eye alights, his ears spring upright, and he clasps together his hands.]

Really?! You're Bonded to Emet-Selch, then. Mikasa! Do you know what that makes us...???

[He fumbles with his hands. He clearly wants to clasp hers in his again, and thinks better of it. He doesn't touch her.]

We're Bonded-in-laws!! Or... Oooh, [He tries to figure this out. Bonded to the same person... Not necessarily in-laws.] His paramours... Co-Bondmates. Cicisbeo and mistress...

[Mettaton I am begging you to stop while you're ahead. There are children.]

[Mikasa halts, almost going to her tiptoes with how sudden it is. One of the children bumping into the back of her...They're not able to budge her.

She does not share his enthusiasm. Her face set in it's normal unfazed look.

Then it goes on a journey. The eyebrows winkling, then the nose scrunching up a little. Downturned mouth opening, then closing for her lips to press in a fine line. That's a whole lot of words. She didn't quite get all of them but. 'Mistress' Her head jerks a little in that. Turning slightly towards the kids, like she was just about to change direction with them instead of following, but her feet didn't move.

She just scowled.

...No.]

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haha Aot...

god

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