Intro Log: October 2020

[faileas]

Intro Log: October

I. ARRIVAL Out of nowhere, a glint of light catches your eye; your heart thunders in your ears as your body moves on its own, your mind consumed with inspecting the source. Your reflection stares back at you, just as curious from the surface - a mirror, a pool of water, your most trusted sword, something fleeting that your mind can barely remember - then ripples at your touch. A moment later, you feel a tug, and you find yourself stumbling into a dark, musty room. Behind you, a mirror stands ornately decorated with reminders of home wrought in brass and wood: the faces of people you know, and symbols important to you; all things that send a pang through your chest with the desire to return to them. Touching the mirror's surface does nothing but leave the stain of your fingerprints. When you turn to survey the room, you find there are hundreds of other mirrors. None of them are as decorated as yours - they're plain and dusty, speckled with age. Then you realize a second thing: You're not alone. Distantly, the ringing bell of a clocktower can be heard. But no matter its distance, the time is clear to make out: it chimes three times, stark, resonating like a pulse of something in this mirrored hall that you and many others have found yourselves in. For those familiar with magic, they might feel the power of the witching hour upon them, though it will feel different from what they're used to - in fact, everything does. You're certainly not the only ones here, however. On the first floor, with the doors wide open behind them in the foyer, is a small group headed by two individuals. As people begin to arrive, to come from the higher floor, they're waiting - and they're waiting for you, and your questions. Explore the rest of the mirrored halls you've now found yourselves in, or proceed to the foyer? Leaving the Looking-Glass House makes it obvious that the clock striking three was for 3 AM - the night sky is faintly cloudy, but the stars are dim in the face of two moons, even so close to the new moon as it is. The Looking-Glass House is rather nondescript two-story cottage made of grey brick, sitting at the edge of The Coven's courtyard; stones which glow as you step on them mark the path to and from the two buildings. While fairly small and plain on the outside, the inside has been enchanted to be the size of a large library, with hundreds upon hundreds of mirrors hanging, standing, and resting inside its walls. Some are broken, some are cracked, and some seem completely uninjured - but all of them are just as plain as the cottage itself, showing age in the silver beneath their glass and in the greening of their metals... Well, all except a character's personal mirror; to characters, one mirror - the one they came through - will be decorated lavishly with metal-and-wood-wrought reminders of home, and the surface will be as clear as a brand-new mirror.

II. THE WELCOME PARTY Whether you've decided to find a way out of the building you've arrived in, or decided to explore the rest of the Looking-Glass House - and perhaps finding a few familiar faces among the crowd - you feel a pull towards the foyer of the first floor. It's like a firm suggestion, as if to take you by the hand and draw you to where it begins, and the source of it becomes quite apparent upon finding one's way to the front room: a tall, comfortably-dressed older woman and her even taller wolfish companion, along with those which feel to resemble yourselves in a world-traversing sense: Mirrorbound, they're called. "My goodness. In the middle of the month! We weren't expecting you, we weren't!" The woman smiles broadly, with her Bonded glancing over the newly arrived and those who may have followed them in to volunteer explanations and assistance to the newest addition of their Mirrorbound bunch. "Let's get through the introductions, shall we? This here's Mhairi Ainsley, ambassador to the Parliament, and of course, my Bonded. And I'm Nerissa Bell, Head Witch of the Coven -- but you can just call me Miss Nessie, you can," she adds with a wink. "I know you must all be tired and confused after all that. We're here to help get you settled, dearest. Let me just..." With nothing more than a wave of her hand, rows of seats are summoned; despite their wooden nature, they're all sturdy and comfortable, filling the foyer and spreading out a ways into the lawn behind them, making room for all of the new arrivals as well as the previous batch. After all, they'll find this just as interesting. The Witches and Monsters that accompanied Nessie and Mhairi move to make room, and some disperse into the building itself to see if there's anyone who needs tending to. Mhairi steps forward as the chairs materialize. "Please, those who are able, join us for a moment. There are many questions that I'm sure you have. We will do our utmost best to answer them, and you may take any that we can't as a promise to find some sort of solution or answer." NOTE: If you wish to handwave interaction with Nessie and Mhairi, please comment here. All responses will be summarized answers rather than an IC thread. For those that'd like a more player-based interaction, Aefenglom has its own Welcome Wagon! These are players who've volunteered for the role, and those that didn't sign up may assist as well if they'd feel their character would -- have fun, and make friends. Additionally, those with notable injuries or sickness will be attended to ASAP by Coven-based witches, and should anyone be curious about what they are -- namely, if they have magic potential or not -- then this can be done during this and the general hour or so the new arrivals are within the Coven's grounds. There are ongoing classes on magic, monsters, and Bonding as well, though they take place more during the day than at night. Feel free to have your characters attend them at any time!

III. THE HAVEN After an hour or two of general chaos, questions that the natives attempt to help with, and injuries tended to for those who arrive in poor condition, it's time to make the trek to where you'll be staying. As you're leaving -- with Coven and/or Mirrobound escorts as guides -- you'll be given a peculiar-looking device. It's a very special watch, the native Witches explain, compliments of Parliament. These watches are passed around to all the new arrivals, who are given a quick rundown on their functions and encouraged to test them out when they can. They can even do it as they make their way out of the Coven's courtyard and to the Haven. Formerly part of the Aristocratic District, The Haven is just as well-kept and brightly-lit as the district it hails from. The houses err on the tall and ornamental side, large enough to fit several families (or, according to the upper class, their one family, several dozen servants, and guests), especially closest to the Aristocratic District. They become a little more modest and smaller as one gets away from the realm of high society and nearer to the Residential District proper. Newcomers are shuffled here and invited to find somewhere to live, free of cost. The Coven is currently handling expenses for the houses themselves in a program implemented by the Parliament, though if your character wishes to have anything extra -- like maids, chefs, and so on -- they'll have to pay for them with their own earned money. Much of the landscape and fixtures are the same as in the Aristocratic Districts, though it lacks formal emergency services. Much of the housing already has furnishing as well: standard items such as kitchenware, couches, beds, etc. were left behind by the relocated owners for those moving in. Though some are fairly newly-unoccupied, the dust on the floors of other houses suggests they were left long before the new arrivals even showed up -- a reminder that the Cwyld can strike just about anyone, regardless of standing. Another portion of this district has been opened up to the new arrivals: the barracks, the row of buildings pressed against the very edge of the Bright Wall. As the city's military force no longer has the same presence it previously did, the barracks have gone into disuse, and a cleanup effort has been in place since before the new arrivals came through the Looking-Glass House. For those who desire something a little less opulent, the barracks might just be the answer. The barracks can also be used for business, for a welcome center, a communal space, for anything that the residents of the Haven see fit to use them for -- so long as the legality isn't questionable, at least on the surface. To help with filling up the larger houses -- and even some of the smaller ones, or the shared rooms in the barracks -- the Coven put together a little roommate finding service, on a smaller scale from the grand opening of the Haven a while back. For those who aren't entirely sure who they want to shack up with, they have a small survey for them to fill out and post on the board they've magicked up in the center of The Haven. The board also very helpfully reads aloud each form for everyone to hear in a cheerful, monotone voice. It isn't able to be shut up, nor is it easy to ignore, being imbued with a kind of amplification magic. It simply reads the information you've offered up yourself -- or that someone might have written up for you, should that be their idea of fun.

Welcome to the intro log! While mingling on the log itself is highly encouraged, feel free to make your own logs if you prefer! The network system is free to use once characters have their watches as well; information on that can be found at the bottom of the Setting page, while any extra questions about it can be found in the FAQ index. Quests can be picked up throughout the month as well! While new characters will have to get settled in, you can go ahead and put your name on some by replying to the October's Quest Pickup thread on the Quest Board. Finally, if your character is getting into any Shenanigans or if you have any other questions, just let the mods know here!

Comments

[fuelingfire]

"Which is why Loghrif and Mitron were given the First, and I stayed well away," is the prompt, easy response. "The inevitable result is simply not to my tastes."

Something every Ascian could probably agree on! Who wanted to be there during or right after a Flood of light? He's content to leave that one in the hands of others and remain somewhere not likely to give him a rash simply for stepping outside. But he is at least prepared for the cold, setting the ever-present pineapple on the ground to go fishing up one sleeve and withdrawing ... a golfball sized bomb.

It looks less than pleased to be out of its pleasantly dark sleeve, tiny arms windmilling in helpless indignation. "Should you grow chilled walking about, I suppose I may let you borrow it, if it becomes necessary. Surely what magic you have remaining would allow something more convenient however.." He, for his part, will stick with his own creations. That is what they're made for!

Explaining to anyone else the purpose of a bomb might be a challenge. "I have no intention of subjecting myself to any of that either." He didn't miss that part! "While there might be a worthy individual or two amongst the millions of this city, likely fellow stolen immortals, linking my soul to someone else's is.." THOROUGHLY INDECENT. "Unacceptable. I will contend with what arises as a consequence on my own."

And he is aware there are consequences at least! "While you might be content to embrace mortals and their demands, and clearly anticipate amusement in seeing me do the same, you will be disappointed."

[unsundered]

While it was tempting again to point out that Loghrif and Mitron were dead (or rather, that yet another of their fragments were), which was part of why Emet-Selch had been made to pick things up in their wake, he doubts much would come of it. But even now he could well agree that Light remained the most unfavorable of elements. And how unfortunate, that a shard had required tipping in a direction congenial to none of them.

But then Lahabrea draws forth one of his smaller bombs. "Ah, one of your more convenient toys," though with the way the Ascian says it, he does seem to approve, watching the little thing flail about, likely enjoying the cold no more than its bearer. A nice warm sleeve was better for a nice warm bomb, both benefiting from its natural heat being trapped. Certainly a practical creation to have around. "Thank you, but I believe I can manage, my magic and wardrobe sufficient."

He still has to occasionally spare an odder look to that pineapple of all things, now set by Lahabrea's feet. Part of him is curious, the rest almost prefers the mystery of why.

More important for now was Lahabrea's expected dismissal of the requirement towards Bonding. But though Emet-Selch gives it a heavier sigh- perhaps to the point of theatricality- he's not about to insist too profoundly that the man should jump onboard the 'tying-his-soul-to-strangers' train. "Then I shall endeavor to survive somehow, this disappointment of mine. In any case, you'll have a few months ahead before you notice any ill effects. And should you be a witch, there's the use of animal familiars to further sustain you for a time. But should you discover yourself leaning in a more bestial direction... supplementing your diet with witch's blood might help, given its clarifying nature."

Helpful advice, that incidentally suggests becoming a maneater as a reasonable solution to being Bondless.

[fuelingfire]

Well aware that the little bomb isn't about to go anywhere too far, he releases it, where it hovers midair and continues to flail and now spiral in agitated little circles. Whatever it was expecting, Aefenglom is clearly not it. "I might have brought a few more had I known the advent of returning here would be so swift." Then they could make more and he could seed a foreign world with little exploding monsters.

What could possibly go wrong.

As the bomb works on getting back up a sleeve where it is nice and warm and dark, Lahabrea considers Emet-Selch silently. There's a fair bit more concern than he's used to dealing with in his compatriot, and it's ... strange.

Almost as if Emet-Selch believed anything at all could actually harm him here. What a ridiculous notion!

"I'm certain you'll find something to amuse yourself with!" Just not him. At least, not intentionally. "It had seemed to me in the earlier half-hearted presentations that should I simply frequently utilize sorcery, albeit at low levels, the chance of too much aether build-up should become negligible." Lahabrea's fairly certain he can find any number of things to put to use, if only to cease having to walk about like some sort of mundane hyur.

The concern about being a monster is clearly irrelevant. "Or greater spells if the need arises. Mastering familiar skills in unfamiliar ways is sure to take up a fair bit of time and effort for a while. Merely mastering the paltry creation method this star uses is sure to require more than a day or two."

If it was actually in his future that would in fact be a useful and practical way to handle it, even if he really would be better off with a familiar or two. Unfortunately it's not to be.

[unsundered]

That poor bomb... as clearly just as out of place as its master, preferring flames over freezing and demonstrably Displeased at its new fate. Similarly helpless to do anything about it either, allowed only to flail and shake its tiny fists at the world, fluttering around in its indignant plight- though Emet-Selch keeps that musing to himself. "Well, perhaps you can find a way to construct them here. I'm sure it'll appreciate the company of its kind."

Could bombs feel lonely? Emet-Selch had never given them much thought before.

"But yes, that certainly works for a time, draining one's magic through sufficiently regular spellcasting." And if the intention was to master the magic here, there were certainly plenty of outlets for practice. "But a build up apparently occurs regardless of how studious one is... along with some other nasty effects. I've never been long enough without one to notice, myself."

He had no problem with humoring the assumption that Lahabrea was also a witch; Emet-Selch had been rendered one, so surely all Ascians would be, considering their natural ties to magic. And if he weren't, he'd learn it soon enough, the moment he tried and failed to utilize any of this world's magic.

"Of course, it's not all for survival, Bonding. One's magic becomes more effective, with appropriate creatures to draw from." Emet-Selch concludes his statement with a broad shrug, as though content to imply that his primary motivation with Bonding was this, choosing to allow that tether for the sake of power. Which was still, at least partially, true.

[fuelingfire]

"In time. It would not be wise to attempt a living thing with this mess they call 'conjuration' without due practice." Lahabrea might in fact be reckless and outright foolish on occasion, but he still took creation very seriously. A flawed living thing simply would not be acceptable. He'd either manage perfection, or he'd stick to nonliving objects until he COULD manage. "Until then I will have to manage for its poorest company." At least he had some sense of responsibility for his creations.

And that bomb is his very last. There would be no further creations forged of aether and will alone. Not here, where the ability simply didn't exist for him, nor upon returning to the Source, where only death awaited in the span of mere hours. For all Lahabrea's numerous crafts, works and creatures that echoed throughout time in memory and myth, the final herald of his mastery is a lone cherry bomb.

"If it is so inevitable that a bond is required, how did they manage before such a method was discovered? As it has been told this is a rather new revelation, a handful of centuries ago." It was ... possibly reasonable that a linked creature could enhance a certain specific sort of magic. His bomb might well be useful for that! "Tethering souls together is a messy affair even for our kind if not done carefully." And he's reasonably sure mortals aren't going to be reliable for instigating that.

He can make some guesses as to the bonds Emet-Selch might have. At least.. one of them. "The viera-bot." He makes a brief gesture upwards, as if to indicate ears. Lahabrea had SURELY been told Mettaton's name, but he doesn't use it. Even if he were given the name, it's not his to use. "He's one of yours, isn't he?" It's not really a question. "What in all the stars in heaven do you receive as a benefit to that?"

It would be very easy to assume he means Mettaton himself with 'that', and what sort of gain there was in having an egotistical rabbit machine as a companion, but Lahabrea's far more interested in the power side, which might well be predictable. What did a MACHINE bring to the table, even a thinking one? An enhancement of lightning magic?? Faster spellcasting?

Steel armor?

EXCELLENT HEARING??

[unsundered]

There was something sad, or perhaps even tragic- that the last of Lahabrea's noble creations wasn't anything that echoed the beautiful masterworks he'd once fashioned in Amaurot- but something small and fragile. Something of minor practical use, but nothing extraordinary, nothing that reflected the brilliant genius in design he'd once demonstrated. Perfectly designed for what it was, perfectly formed and shaped... but so simple. Something that could be snuffed out in an instant- and that would be it.

Not that Emet-Selch is thinking of that in any detail, only nodding at the entirely logical decision to forego attempting to conjure up anything alive for the time being. It was a kind of perfectionism he could well understand.

"They made do with familiars," he offers, considering what he'd heard on the history of Bonds, though it was a reasonable point. "It's possible our conditions as Mirrorbound leave us more susceptible to madness. Whatever the case is, they seem practiced enough at the procedure. I've not heard of any ceremony going wrong." Though that made him wonder what a failed Bonding ritual would even look like, apart from the souls just... not tethering.

But Lahabrea's description of Mettaton and apparent disapproval- along with the incredulity that Emet-Selch would choose to remain Bonded to him at all- nearly gets a laugh from the Ascian. In any case, he seems amused at the reaction. "Mettaton. Yes, he's one of mine. Though he's not a viera of any description, not heralding from our star at all. A robot originally, rendered a puca in this place- a monster with rabbit-like traits, that is."

Which didn't explain why he was Bonded to him, and he pauses, searching for an explanation that didn't involve sentiment or the real answer of 'for company'. Not that he'd accepted the Bond for any of those reasons to start with, but only to fulfill a bet that he'd lost to him. And it wasn't as though pucas even benefited the types of magic Emet-Selch used- or at least, he'd never noticed a difference. "And, well... the connection to any monster will improve my magic," he finally suggests, waving it off as though it weren't important. "Troublesome as he is, he's not as terrible as he appears at first glance."

[fuelingfire]

"Familiars it is." Maybe several. Maybe one would be a bomb. He'd worry about that when it was more of a pressing concern, because finding a pet he could provide enough care for in its short life to keep it healthy might be a challenge. Cats and dogs were never in short supply in cities, but they were rather domesticated, not quite capable of taking care of themselves if needed..

Responsibility over an animal's life was at least easier to contemplate than Bonding with some monster or other witch. That a witch-witch bond would increase power but came at risk of more explosions is interesting but he's not certain he's interested in getting to know Emet-Selch THAT well. Their status quo over the eons has been quite fine by him. "That is very much a matter of opinion," is the immediate answer to whether or not Mettaton is terrible. "However my opinion holds little weight in others' relationships, as it should."

That Emet-Selch is in a relationship with such a creature doesn't really bother him much, what did was the implication that he would have to put up with Mettaton himself if he intended to maintain any sort of connection to his fellow Ascian.

He doesn't approve at ALL, that bunbot was outright obnoxious. "This isn't the first time, after all, you have chosen similar tempered companions. I must needs at least acknowledge this time you chose something less likely to shrivel up and blow away in a scant few decades. I will endeavor to not do permanent damage to whatever passes for a core processor. But if improving magic was the goal, it would have been wiser to select something that gives an immediate and tangible increase in some specific field or other beyond a generic usefulness!"

Like that fae that he doesn't know about, boosting illusion magic. That was sensible!

[unsundered]

It's for much the same reason that Emet-Selch doesn't immediately offer to Bond with his fellow Ascian. Whether he was witch or monster didn't matter to him- he'd Bond with either- but the working relationship they'd maintained over the millennia, each attending to their own tasks, had been fine with him. And with both Lahabrea and Elidibus... watching them deteriorate in their own ways over the years hadn't been his idea of a good time. Being outright tethered to Lahabrea's madness- Emet-Selch wasn't jumping at the opportunity.

Still. He'd keep an eye on him nonetheless, and if he hadn't sorted things out himself and had reached a point of particular decay... he knew he'd at least offer. Whether Lahabrea accepted would be up to him; there was a limit to what he could do. None of them had been able to prevent him from burning himself out over the years, and he wondered if he'd end up witnessing the same thing all over.

He holds back a sigh at the thought; this seems to be happening with some frequency in his compatriot's company. But it was for a similar reason that he hadn't offered Lahabrea a place to stay. He assumed the other man would prefer a place of his own, and for all that Emet-Selch had two houses of his own to return to, neither, he thought, would appeal. One was crowded and infested with Warrior(s) of Light, the other had plenty of space that was filled with Mettaton. Neither was exactly ideal, and unlike with a Bond (which was potentially more of a matter of survival and sanity), in this much, at least, he assumed Lahabrea could handle himself.

Though when Lahabrea points out that this wasn't the first time he'd selected those with that kind of temperament, he opens his mouth to protest, but- can't, really, so he settles for frowning. It was just annoying to know that it was that obvious that he had A Type, and that it was for obnoxious extroverts. Terrible.

"Yes, with any luck he'll be around for a long time," he says instead, with a somewhat pointed look. "I'm certain you can endeavor to limit your disagreement with him to words alone. Who knows, perhaps you'll even grow to tolerate one another."

Or not. Emet-Selch had little hope in that regard, and can feel the beginning of a headache forming. This was almost worse than when Hythlodaeus was around.

"As actually," deciding he might as well explain that much, "I never selected him to start. We made a wager, and with my loss the penalty was to Bond with him." A wager of souls seemed careless in retrospect, but he'd assumed he would win. "We didn't exactly get along at first, but found things to appreciate in the other over time. And now I would say... that the success of our cooperation makes up for a strength less specific. Were I to take on a monster who I despised, yet would increase my conjuration prowess- any benefit would be minimal, due to the disagreement of our souls, a Bond that would fail to thrive."

[fuelingfire]

"I won't kill him." He sets one metal-taloned hand on his chest, smile brief and jagged. "I give you my word." That's ... something anyway! Assuming he could - and Lahabrea is absolutely assuming he could. Never anyone mind that he's barely begun any changes and Mettaton wasn't an easy opponent to contend with even if he had a measure of his power. "But scowl not, for all that I am not fond of such sorts, it is at least familiar. I can .. contend with such a being without leaving his bits across the landscape as a treasure hunt for his kith and kin." Not happily, but it's really the best amount of reassurance he can possibly offer.

Anything more would be asking far too much. At this juncture or possibly ever. It's been a long, long time since he could maintain an exacting control over his temper, but if he says he won't take it to the point of actually trying to kill the robot ... he does at least mean it, and Lahabrea isn't given to breaking his word.

There was precious little joy to be had in life. As much as he didn't much care for the source of it, he had no intention of removing it from Emet-Selch's already sullen existence.

He couldn't offer much else that might help. Couldn't remember how to, anymore.

Why is he not surprised Emet-Selch might be inclined to wager his own soul frivolously? Elidibus would surely chastise him thoroughly about it! "Well. I may not much like the choice, but if it assists you, it assists you. If it is to truly a measurable benefit, I would still recommend selecting those who might be of use to a specific skill, you may have up to three and that's only one." A moment's pause, and a frown, head turned briefly back to the hall of mirrors. "Mayhap two. Your tolerance of mortals is nigh legendary, you might as well make use of it."

Wait when did this become about Emet finding new bonds and not Lahabrea accepting he'd need to?

[unsundered]

The terrible thing is, Emet-Selch can tell he's trying. That this, for Lahabrea, counted as trying, as moderation, as consideration. So though his look is rather flat at the thought of his compatriot's presumed desire to tear apart his Bonded and scatter him across the countryside, he was also willing to accept his word that he would not attempt it. Which, in the end, was what mattered.

Moreover, in his current state, Emet-Selch doubted that Lahabrea even could exact any lasting damage on Mettaton, even if he tried. With the combination of those thoughts in mind, he recognizes that this was probably the best he could ask for. "Your restraint is appreciated."

And it was, sort of, even as he sounds unimpressed. But as Lahabrea continues, suggesting that he find additional Bonds, his look changes to one of mild humor.

"Ah. I do, in fact, already have a second. A mortal, this time." Legendary tolerance, really? (Though in comparison to the other Ascians, he supposed that might be true, even before his death and subsequent acceptance of it.) "And a fae... not that I make much use of illusions, as of yet." So this is another Bond of limited strategic use. "But for a human she's not terrible. Serious, pragmatic, naive. You might even manage to not wholly despise her."

Not that he's sure whether he'd deliberately inflict Lahabrea on Mikasa, or on much of anyone, really. "At one point I had four, actually," as he joins Lahabrea in musing about his Bonding-status, for some reason. "I don't recommend it. Even with souls like ours, the strain isn't sustainable for long."

Would he do it again? Absolutely (but more responsibly).

[fuelingfire]

One day he would be more capable of carrying out such a threat. If he kept his mind, such as it was as-is, then he would maintain his word even then, when spellcraft or monster's gifts would make him a more dangerous foe. He'd simply find other targets to take his fury out upon, misdirected rage was still rage bled off rather than bottled up.

"If it's all the same I intend to avoid your Bonded." It's not exactly personal, since that would require a level of attachment that simply wasn't there, but he couldn't be tempted into malevolent action by them if he simply never encountered them. "But neglect not putting them to use if the option is available. Illusions are good for more than disguises." Which ... Emet-Selch surely already knows! And probably has known for quite a long time.

The witch had made it clear three was the limit. If witch bonds improved power and monster bonds purified it, then two of each should be the ideal state, why three? "That is the one subject I may wish to seek more on. It's unreasonable, given the information they've laid out. If you were to take two mages and a beast, you would be thus boosted twice over and your magic made improved, yes? Why would adding another beast disrupt that?" He clearly has no intention of doing any of that, but on a purely discussion-level.. "Another mage, certainly potential trouble.. or too many beasts and no mages to tip it in the other direction. The strain should be negligible if balance is kept."

There's a pause, and the entire thing is dismissed as irrelevant. "That aside. I can study others at leisure another time."

[unsundered]

"That's likely for the best." Lahabrea and Mettaton were bound to incite one another the more they came into contact, and promises or no, the city had a way of influencing the mind. Though the Ascian was likely incapable of hurting the robot at the moment, even an attack wouldn't exactly go over well. Lahabrea could bleed his frustrations out elsewhere, on people Emet-Selch had no stake in.

The criticism over his careless overabundance of Bonds gets a tilt of his head.

"Why trust the information they give without testing it?" he says with a steady frown. "Is the limit truly three, or is that only what they tell us in order to keep our power manageable, weaker than their own?"

That, and after being captured and tortured, the thought of amassing enough magic to defend himself next time (because there would always be a next time, when it came to humanity- even now, he believed that) was appealing- and surely his soul was capable of supporting any number of smaller, lesser entities?

"Unfortunately," Emet-Selch admits with a shrug, "their advice seems to have been true. Or at least my combination- three beasts and a mage- wasn't sustainable. Still, it was worth the attempt- I haven't noticed any long-term ill effects."

Not that it mattered, "Though if you're intending to remain at the base strength this world gives you, you've nothing in that regard to concern yourself over."

[fuelingfire]

"Did you test it, beyond the single incident?" He sounds mildly curious; it's not an investment he really has but if there had been some sound science going on it doesn't hurt to know. He damned well isn't going to trust the average person's opinion around here, but Emet-Selch is somewhat higher in his evaluations. "A two witch, two monster pairing, or merely the triad of beasts?" If not, well, it can't be helped, and he's certainly not going to volunteer to find a few people and give it a try.

An Ascian soul certainly should be able to support three, but if it's merely a matter of aetheric drain, and the changed requiring far more than they put in..

It's an easier subject to consider than what would or would not happen with Mettaton. He's convinced of his own inevitable victory, but right now the puca had all the advantages, and then some. "I doubt I'm likely to find a mere mortal that is up to my standards, two or three far less likely. I'll content myself with 'lesser power' during re-education. Mayhap one can be caught and trained into usefulness, if the stay here drags on."

He really should be considering the fact that he might not even be a mage anymore.

[unsundered]

"Oh, only the one time, thus far." He says it with a smile; no this was not remotely scientific. "Open-minded as I am, it's not as though I'm eager to tie my soul to every passing mortal."

Though his standards had certainly changed since he'd first arrived. He was entirely willing now to Bond to people he didn't know particularly well, so long as his initial impression wasn't terrible and the whim struck him. It wasn't as though considering his Bonds carefully had worked out at all, while his careless one to Mettaton had, so- he's ended up a bit fatalistic about it. Success or failure was as good as random.

"But if I find my way into another overbonded situation, I can keep you informed as to its success."

But he waves off the idea after a moment regardless. "Who knows, perhaps you can find yourself someone suitably impressionable and inoffensive. Not that I expect you'll be looking."

[fuelingfire]

For all her hinting about, Lahabrea's vaguely surprised that Emet-Selch had not named the Warrior of Light among his bonds. He may have misconstrued her constant efforts at implication.

"..Do so. At the very least should you find yourself overburdened, it will be easier to stay ahead of severe or lasting harm with two keeping watch." If nothing else, Lahabrea would keep tabs on such a hypothetical situation. Undue harm to their kind simply in the pursuit of curiosity would be lunacy.

...A lunacy he can actually recognize. It's ill-advised, but if it happens..!

It's certain Emet-Selch's assumption is true. He's not going to go looking. "Of course not. There's other things to be doing than roaming the streets attempting to find a single pebble in a shoreline." He's pretty sure there's simply nobody who WOULD meet his standards, and since he also doesn't buy the idea that he'll just explode if he doesn't find a partner... there's no real rush. Not for him.

"You needn't concern yourself with any of it." He's certain there is some level of concern, too, by the way the matter gets tracked around. "I have managed quite well for all this time, that's not going to change."

[unsundered]

He'd certainly been Bonded to a Warrior of Light, Irhya included. At one point he'd been Bonded to three of them at once. But two he'd discarded and one had vanished... and while he'd yet reconciled with Irhya (something that Emet-Selch thought might be easier to maintain now that his own perspective was more... complete (also dead)), he was currently unbonded to her.

His history with all of these Warriors is something he decides not to volunteer, though. There was tolerating mortals, and there was tolerating enemies, and there was deliberately tying his soul to three of them. Though he had realized it hadn't been the best of ideas afterward, that's another thing he'd be unlikely to admit.

"Your interest is duly noted," such as it was, and such as Emet-Selch is not at all certain over having Lahabrea's assistance, either in regards to his safety or in his decision-making abilities.

"And I wouldn't worry- my concern is reserved for those who require it." That's not to say that he wouldn't keep some tab on Lahabrea (if partially out of a morbid curiosity for how he'll fare), but the man hardly required fussing over. Neither of them would appreciate that, and while Emet-Selch could argue that Lahabrea hadn't exactly managed well, considering his deterioration over the years... he knew just as well that it was a lost cause.

But he would be there, observing, as he was wont to do. "Well, I should let you get on with your business then. Housing is unlikely to claim itself, and if you'd care to avoid housemates, you'd best work quickly."

Even now, that announcement board was occasionally chirping out suggestions for roommates.

[fuelingfire]

It's honestly for the best that he doesn't really know about that yet. It wouldn't surprise him in truth, Lahabrea's rather used to Emet-Selch doing his own thing whenever he so chose to do it, but bringing one of Hydaelyn's champions that close had some risks even he wasn't sure would be worth it.

THREE OF THEM would be absolutely worth some alarm.

Eventually he might be able to handle such an idea better, but for now.. some secrets are best kept! "I've a small idea growing as to handle such an irritation as finding 'housing' amongst such a place as this."

That pineapple from earlier is plucked off the ground. "This had been meant for Halmarut, as finding a tropical fruit growing healthily in the northernmost parts of Dravania should be enough of a mystery to keep him happy a while, but it is not to be. If this miserable place is like unto other temperate climes of little advancement, there may be some value to it."

And if there's a LOT of value.. he's going to get himself somewhere nicer than a hole in the wall. "All I require is someone foolish enough to part with enough coin to see my way forward for it."