Who: Mikasa and open with some closed prompts
When: Throughtout the month
Where: Mainly in Aefenglom
What: Full moon things and quests plus some investigating
Warnings: Some body horror for the full moon and some casual parital nudity, will add more if needed
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
...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.]
no subject
(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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
[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.]
no subject
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...?!]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
[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?
no subject
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?
no subject
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.
haha Aot...
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.]
god
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.]
no subject
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...]
no subject
[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...]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[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?
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
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.]
no subject
[He can read expressions, apparently. Mettaton chuckles, unfazed by his own creativity. Amused at himself, at her reaction. At his colorful choices in words.]
Well. He's very emotional... So prepare yourself, darling. Still! I'm glad you've found a Witch to Bond with. And that you two have met.
[... It's a nice feeling, having two of his friends meet. His ears lean back and he nods approvingly, before he starts to wonder if they, too, will start sharing memories and dreams.....
Well, he's not going to think about that for the moment, though it does get Mettaton to pull a... face, glancing away as he contemplates the nightmares they'd sure feed each other if it grew to that level of sharing. But he pushes that aside just as quickly as he pushes open the heavy theater doors to the unused, spacious foyer that eventually leads to a likewise unused theater (kinda like this; more). Not one of the biggest ones in the district, but unused, unclaimed, save for the rare and surely illicit use in recent history. The magitech lighting still works, giving off a glow like oil lamps.
Mettaton sighs.]
Thank GOD they lifted that ban. I hope to see every single theater eventually in use! But for now... What do you think? Is this enough room?
no subject
I know a few... [There's a small shrug. There had been a few reasons she'd not gained a witch bond before. Partly because of her trust issues. But she'd also had the issue of most witches she met already had bonds, or were waiting in the hopes of that one person appearing.
Mikasa was silent as they went into the dusty threater, antenna flickering around. While some of the children gasped, mouths hanging open as they eyes took in the large room. They'd seen big rooms before but...no machines? So much space. The chairs looked soft! They didn't move from their spot though, hiding behind the fae and puca like they might get in trouble for touching anything.]
...I'd hope so. [Mettaton there was only a few dozen kids.] I doubt they'd grow that quickly. [Was that a poor attempt at a joke? But seriously, this place would have room for more adults. It was fine.]
no subject
Bonding with Mettaton means perpetual cheer, all the time, conversely. It cancels itself out.
Mikasa's little joke gets a snort from Mettaton as he glances back at the gaggle of children, human and Monster alike. ...In a way, it reminds him of what the Surface would look like back home in time, gazing upon this eccentric little bunch. It earns a sort of genuine smile out of the robot as his ears fall slightly back, somewhere between contentment and deeper feelings.
But enough of that. Mettaton claps his hands together.]
Well! For the present, this can be their new abode, then. Home away from factory life... Uneducated and unpaid. Terrible conditions. Couldn't even be bothered to furnish them with appropriate footwear.
[Mettaton stares long and hard at their worn-down shoes with a sort of judgemental squint. He counts children with a quick scan of his eyes, then files away that number.]
Given that we're not looking at any unsettling growth spurts... We'll get settled in here. Don't be shy! [With a raise of his finger, Mettaton continues, ushering the kids to file inside with a sweep of his arm as he turns to Mikasa.] I'm want to get them new shoes. The ones they're wearing aren't even shoes anymore. Another tragedy.
no subject
His comment on their footware gets a gruff noise from her almost a cough really. It's coupled with a low murmur. One that probably not meant to be heard, especially by the children.] Can't run very far on bleeding feet.
[Some of the kids did spread out, exploring. Slowly leaving the muted fae. Some of them were still wary of the loud and bombastic puca, even if they were coming to realise this was normal. Though they, and the fae looked down at the mention of the shoes.]
It'd take a while to get enough money for all of them to get shoes. [She wasn't against it. But she didn't have the money for it, clothes were expensive. Something rarely replaced, even if it was cheaper here. Shoes probably weren't brought more than once a year.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)