Event Log: January, Return to Dorchacht

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Return to Dorchacht

I. A Tarnished Reality The teleporter to Dorchacht becomes operational by the 4th and the ambassadors return to their city with the first open, ceremonial operation of the device - along with any Mirrorbound who wish to join them, and Theodore Rosethorne and Sowilo, who make the trip as representatives of the Coven to ensure that all is well. Those who missed the first teleportation, never fear! Now that both waypoints are functional, Mirrorbound and others may travel freely between Aefenglom and Dorchacht at any point they choose to. Notably absent from the group, though - most of the Dorchacht refugees originally smuggled into Aefenglom. Only three or four are going back with the ambassadors, and they're primarily Witches. The rest have chosen to stay. Upon return to Dorchacht, it's obvious that some major changes have been made with the new regime. The sky is overcast, but it's merely fault of the weather at this time of year - the oppressive fog that used to hang over the Black City is gone, along with its effects on the natural lunar cycle. The auction blocks, damaged in the fires of the event the locals now call "The Rising", have been fully torn down, not a trace of them left to sully the streets. Where the triple stars of the Resistance used to be worn in secret, a majority of citizens now bear them openly (and in many cases, proudly) on pins and on clothing. In fact, any Witches who do not display the triple stars on their person somewhere, are generally regarded with suspicion, disgust, or fear unless they're recognized as Mirrorbound Witches - careful not to be mistaken for a Drummond sympathizer. The Monster citizens won't be outwardly cruel to any Witches, but will be somewhat fearful, hurrying their children along or crossing the street to get away. Recognizable Mirrorbound, those who were there during The Rising and before, are treated a bit like celebrities on the streets, though any Mirrorbound are given a warm welcome, albeit a little less warm for Witches. Storytellers share tales of how diplomats treating one another, Witches and Monsters alike, as equals so publicly and openly within Dorchacht gave them hope that such a life is attainable, or how a band of Mirrorbound snuck into the city under the cover of darkness and helped give their Resistance a leg up in the good fight against Drummond's extremists. Others share stories of being rescued from burning buildings or cruel Witches during The Rising by brave heroes. Many of these tales are shared in the form of song, as homage to those Mirrorbound who brought hopeful music to Dorchacht through the radio, which is still operational and playing a selection of music with a little more variety. Still a bit soft, their speakers and songs are, but as time passes, they grow a little more experimental, branching out from the lullabies that used to be played. Overall, the Black City is much less black these days, a little greener and brighter from the plants left by Mirrorbound before. Where the old Dorchacht could take your breath away with its feeling of barred oppression, many of those barricaded windows have been opened, reinforcements on the doors broken down. Though things are never perfect after a revolution, and it's clear that the work continues. Armed Resistance guards patrol the streets in trios, normally two Monsters and a Witch, to keep the peace. Their first priority is the protection of Monsters, many of whom still seem anxious and scared as they go about their days - not of the guards themselves, who they often greet with smiles, but of the Witches and humans they pass on the streets. In some cases, keeping the peace means breaking up fights between their own and those humans and Witches who do not want to accept Monsters as their equals, and in some cases it means putting Drummond sympathizers in their places with intimidation and force. While they do their best to keep skirmishes out of Mirrorbound sight, it's clear that despite the improvements, Dorchacht is still no utopia, and the road to a true peace is fraught with speedbumps. As noted, characters are free to travel between Aefenglom and Dorchacht by teleporter as often as they'd like! The waypoints will remain open even after this month and travel will be unrestricted; we will note if this situation changes in the future. Dorchacht quests are also now available ICly!

II. A Few Alterations a. The Coven Major changes are still underway. One of the biggest that Mirrorbound will notice is that the new administration of Dorchacht have moved the Coven. The old building is in a state of disrepair right now, doors and windows wide open, the interior stripped of trappings. The library has shed its books to somewhere else. The basement where so many horrors took place is abandoned. Instead, a sign has been erected outside it, stating that this center of Drummond's operations will be turned into a museum to remember their unpleasant history, and to memorialize those who lost their lives fighting for freedom. It's still a work in progress, and not high on the priority list when survival and care of the citizens have to take precedence, but inside, characters may still find small shrines set up in various places to Resistance members who died there. Instead, Dorchacht's new Coven is currently based inside an old manor located just a handful of blocks from the town square, and it's a much more informal affair. Magic lessons have continued with Resistance Witches, though the subject matter has changed instead. They experiment with different types of magic based on their own interests, but many are studying plant magic, medicine, and defensive spells that can be used out in the Wilde. Anything that will prove to be practical going forward. Lessons are also open to Monsters now, so they can see what their magical brethren are learning (and know that the compulsion and control spells that Morgana loved so much are no longer being taught). With the Coven being moved, visitors from Aefenglom are offered places to stay either within the manor of the new Coven, or in various empty houses around the city. Stay as long as you'd like, they say, and apologize that the accommodations aren't nicer - reconstruction is still obviously ongoing all over the city, repairing damages from The Rising and the fighting that happened afterward. They don't really have anywhere as nice as the rooms their ambassadors were given in Aefenglom. b. The Walls One of the biggest on-going projects in Dorchacht right now is removing the Monster control spells from the set of enchantments on their city walls. High on the list of priorities is making sure that Monsters can feel safe again, secure in their own minds and bodies. As the spells are made visible, particular sets of runes have to be ground down and smoothed over. A spell is either cast or provided to soften the stone temporarily, and then it's basically going at it with magitech-powered sanders created by Hilda. The particular runes that need to be gotten rid of will be provided on reference sheets - please don't touch the others, they chide! Those are to protect from the Cwyld, and are still very important. While help is welcomed with open arms and enthusiasm at most sections of the walls, those guards posted at one particular small district, guarded with trios of Resistance members at each entrance and warded with alarm magic to warn of escape, turn Mirrorbound away; these runes are being altered, not removed, to help contain unruly Drummond loyalists, they say. The people who now live in that guarded district are all human, whether they're Witches or no, and all refuse to bear the triple stars. "Troublemakers," the guards will explain grimly. "We have to contain them for now. It isn't a perfect solution, but they've hurt people, or tried to hurt people, since Drummond was run out of town." c. Bond Lessons Bonding is a bit of a tricky subject in the new Dorchacht. Many Monsters are afraid of the idea, as it was once used as one of the collars around their necks, but the Circle of Three recognize it as an important way to wean citizens off the lullabies and calming draughts that prevent going feral during full moons. As part of encouraging others to form Bonds, partnerships at the very least the way most Resistance members describe theirs, there are demonstrations and public seminars that pop up around Dorchacht on the regular. They may be as informal as a circle in what's going to be a park or as official-seeming as a talk held inside a shop or lecture hall, but they have one thing in common. Many of the citizens are keen on getting Mirrorbound in on it -- mostly by dragging them in, asking if they have a Bonded, and if they do, they tell the Mirrorbound to talk about their Bonded. They're interested in the ups and downs (but mostly ups) of having one in order to show that if the Mirrorbound are into it, you should be too! They accept all stories but prefer the happy ones - the aim is to encourage their Monster citizens and help them be less afraid of taking that step with Witches. And for those who aren't in a Bond, or decline to talk -- well, they get what amounts to a "flour sack baby" in the form of a Dorchacht citizen of the opposite role of their own (a Monster would receive a human/Witch, a Witch would receive a Monster) that they must hang with for a day, ensuring no harm comes to them, bound by one of the temporary Bonding potions so popular in the Wilders' ranks. (As a note, for the second option, you have free reign of the NPC; do the personalities you find fun, be they cooperative or mischievous, shy or loud, abrasive to your character or someone they can genuinely get along with. They are all willing - no one is being forced into this. No Fae or Dragons allowed for Monster NPCs, unfortunately, as they are still very much not about.)

III. Ahoy Mateys! With Dorchacht opening up again after the last few months of closed off internal fighting, plenty of trading ships' Captains are ready and raring to go build business relations with the new regime and find a new market for some of their wares. There has been increased interest in finding a shorter route to Dorchacht by sea - the teleporter is useful for small groups of people, sure, but it can't handle much cargo. The only problem? Ships are being turned back, barely halfway there, with significant damage to their hulls. Brave individuals looking for a seafaring adventure are asked to come aboard and help the crew navigate tumultuous waters, hopefully figuring out along the way what's causing the damage to previous ships. It's a three day trip to Dorchacht if the waters are kind, and characters can simply teleport back home once there. On board the various ships brave enough to return to the sea, Mirrorbound find the problem halfway through the trip: a colossal squid that's made it home at this point, thrashing ships that come too close to its den. While uninfected, it does have injuries on its body, which may be the source of its lashing out. The ships are able to bring themselves close enough for longer ranged attacks, and the Harpy on board are careful not to be captured by the churning waves caused by the thrashing, but there's others who want to seek a less violent mean to end this surf and turf conflict. Killing, healing, subduing, or relocating it are all valid options, but getting in close to do any of those will be difficult, as it has a tendency to ink up the waters around it and reduce visibility to nothing. Be careful of any creatures swimming around that are interested in the weakened squid as well, such as various carnivorous fish, sea-plants, and things that appear alike to Merrow, but rely only on instinct. The Merrow cannot be spoken to, nor are they infected; the Captains of the ships will explain that they're "wild", and refer to them as distant cousins to the Merrow that sparsely populate Aefenglom itself.

IV. Back At Home Back in Aefenglom, the stir caused by the Circle of Three's arrival takes time to calm. It's the talk of the town for days - many seem happy about Morgana Drummond's apparent demise. "Good for them," is the general sentiment in the residential areas more populated by Monsters and the Harbor District. They're glad to know that things are on the way up there. Others think this is a boon; should anything happen, now Aefenglom has an ally city to stand with them, one in their debt. Others still don't really care either way, and go about their lives as if nothing's happened. The refugees, in their neighborhoods on the far reaches of the Haven, seem happy to hear news from home and find The Dragon/Starlight/Fafnir freed, and while a few of them choose to return to Dorchacht, having never put down roots in Aefenglom, more still don't wish to leave the homes and families they've formed here, or the Mirrorbound who have helped them so much over the months. Some even doubt that things are as good as they say, and choose to remain for that reason - slavery and ill treatment from the upper class in Aefenglom instilled in them a sense of (well-earned) paranoia regarding the intentions of Witches, especially those back home. They hear that things have changed, but don't necessarily want to find out for themselves. Even still, the mood is upbeat, with a general consensus that if Morgana is really gone, that's at least a solid step in the right direction. In the Aristocratic District, though, the atmosphere is sour. The general sentiment is that they wish the refugees would have left with those ambassadors. The kinder ones think Aefenglom should focus on its own citizens - the people from the Outer City brought in to weather the blizzard have never left, after all, still living in the neighborhoods with the refugees. Those who are more vocally outspoken about the Mirrorbounds' presence in the city think they should have all left to Dorchacht. Let another city shoulder all the misfortune they bring with them! Many of the people grumbling about that are ones who were directly affected by the Mists back in October, either through temporary changes themselves or through being attacked by ferals. Some of the more hot-headed young people try to spread this message - through graffiti, on homes and businesses in the Haven and the refugees' district, though if caught, they're quick to run away and not willing to enter into a confrontation. The graffiti is wholly mundane and not particularly difficult to remove, just unpleasant, telling Mirrorbound and refugees alike to "go home" or "go back to Dorchacht", in so much colorful language. Seems there's still some work to do at home, as well.

Welcome to your establishing post for the current situation in Dorchacht! This log takes place through the entire month; characters can come and go as they please. As always, you can direct all your questions HERE. This month we're also putting up a City Tracker for PC actions, both in Aefenglom's plot later on and Dorchacht's log here. Let us know what your character is doing, good or bad! The cut-off for the tracker is February 3rd.

Comments

[freeing]

[ The display itself was not of interest to her — halls were halls, rooms were rooms. It was the people and the essence of magic that drips in the air that brings a sense of discomfort to her core, yet she studies onward in her own way.

Wherever she had rooted herself, her eyes remained focused on the dance of magic in front of her and it was not until another voice garners her attention away from a few people being trained on Conjuration magic.

Her feet stumble to the side and she looks to the source with an apologetic look. ]

Oh, please forgive me — I didn't see you there. Am I still in your view?

[cyclopticsadist]

[Niles waves his free hand dismissively. The jab at his eye this time around is a swing and a miss. He's far less raw than he was in the tea shop, much more composed, content even. Watching Linden torture himself has sated his appetite for cruelty for now and put him in a downright charitable mood.]

Yes yes, I know. I'm an ungrateful, moronic bastard who doesn't deserve your great and noble sacrifice. Tell yourself whatever you like.

[The purr vacillates strangely under his words. It's an independent but closely related process to breathing. The rumble continues on both the inhale and the exhale, so speaking doesn't cut it short. Instead it wavers just behind his words, adding a strange sort of texture to what he has to say.]

But you and I both know that life isn't fair.

[The quaver in his hands holds Niles' attention. This man was starving, really starving. Under any other circumstances he might have felt sympathy, but for Linden all he can muster is a noxious mixture of delight and contempt. He nudges the box closer with his tail, the other cinnamon roll ready and waiting for when he finishes his first.]

Aef d

[cyclopticsadist]

We've talked about this Henry, blood is a sauce. For garnish I'm sure she would go with teeth or fingernails.

[He looks at the phallic flour based disaster that Henry is showing him and winces. He's working with choux pastry himself, but for cream puffs instead of eclairs. He eyes the amount he has in his piping bag.]

How many of those were you supposed to make? I have some extra dough here.

[morbide]

1. How much does the "unpleasant history" in their Coven-turned-museum say about the Black City's old magical methods? Does it specify anything interesting that Henry might not know about up to this point?


2. What's the current state of the basement? Is it left with all of the tables and instruments and such, or did they clean it out? probably should have asked that one before i made a prompt, but IT'S FINE...


3. If a character decides they want to spend their trip skimming books in Dorchacht's new Coven, assuming they're somewhat familiar with whatever's accessible in Aefenglom, are they likely to find anything unusual in their available texts?

[scatmaam]

You didn't have to. [ Scathach shrugged, clearly not bothered by that truth. She wasn't the sort to value that sort of thing, anyways, even if she did like giving those she favored little things here and then. But she hardly expected the same in return.

When Emerald was close, Scathach showed no hesitation in draping an arm over the girl, leaning in close to nuzzle against her. ]

I've a bond now. It's helped my moods even out.

[beariot]

It's a Parisian style roast... Or, well, as close as I can get to it in a foreign world. Should help lift you up a little.

[ She sipped her own, eyes scanning over his work so far. Architecture had never been something she could truly parse, though she did understand its astrological connection in some cultures. ]

We should assume you can get them to a point where they can build without you, at least.

[cryptsleeper]

I'll need a small education about roast standards at another time. It sounds like a worthwhile detour.

[Alucard's interest in food is largely functional, given what used to be a specialized diet, but there's also real pleasure in cooking. Learning how something completely new works as it relates to food? That's something to anticipate with great joy.

That said, Alucard takes a few steps back, allowing Ursula to take a real look at the interior he's working on at the moment if she so chooses.]

I'd hope. This is just...[He takes a sip of the coffee, considering the next few words.] It's nice to be using this skill.

[cryptsleeper]

It isn't as if I've been making myself obvious. You're quite fine.

[Which okay, man walking around sketching things within view? That isn't subtle and Alucard knows it. But with a class still going on, he can at least pretend that that's the case, and his eyes remain ceiling word for a few more moments.

The corbel itself is some sort of fox-like animal. Alucard can't place it exactly, but he can render the content expression on it's face with decent enough accuracy. Just in time for the whole group to break for coffee or tea or other hot beverages, permitting the din of conversation to fill the room.]

[morbide]

[No, Asahi, this is shady. Henry is shady. He practically reeks of shady... Or maybe that's just this "off" air about him.

Henry seems to take a moment to rewind what he just said, curling a finger against his lower lip while he takes stock of his vocabulary. Yes, it seems like he says stuff like this all the time.]

Oh, yep. Did that not make sense? It's like a cherry, but cherries might be a bit too sweet for the situation at hand. Besides, I've never had a cherry.

[The implications here are staggering.]

[morbide]

I'm not making any profit!

[Henry pouts, his eyebrows knit. He's not selling!]

And this is really for Orin's sake. That's my motive, clear as crystal. The back alley's so that none of the vendors see me. Happy? I don't get what's not to trust. I'm a sincere and honest fellow, once you give me the time of day.

[morbide]

Bet I could make it a garnish if it were desiccated.

[Henry laughs, pleased with the mental picture Niles has painted for him based on Karen's strictness with his ineptitude. It's a hoarse laugh that gets some of the other workers to look their way, but Karen's fortunately busy elsewhere.]

I have to make a bunch. Fourty-something. This is the best one yet... out of twenty. [Sad thing though it is. Henry pokes the peclair. Peniclair. This isn't working.

That being said, working over here is his new idea. He surveys Niles's work, which seems better than his by a long shot, not that it's hard to do.]

Hey, you're not too shabby at this! Are you here because you secretly have a passion for pastries?

ii + a little bit of wildcard ✨

[usurpers]

[ eren wasn’t a drill sergeant— but he’s been through one. as much as a bystander keith shadis spoke of being, he was still a respected man on paradis and among trainees. used to be in the corps. how much respect he held now, he hasn’t been so sure with the military dividing so poorly amongst themselves (god damn it floch? the “jaegerists”, as they call it, are an embarrassment).

it isn’t so far fetched an idea for eren, especially with thoughts so painfully scattered into places where you wouldn’t find reminders of sex so easily— yet, here he is. he finds them just about everywhere, and it’s gotten excruciatingly difficult to concentrate. such adversities brings frustration to his mood, of course! he readily accepts asura’s offer to give these kids a good time, perhaps holds his hand a little longer than a greeting should, and scrapes his talons against the opposing until light clicks sounds on them in scrapes. augh. even that sort of contact makes the thin spines along his back rise visibly, and not underneath his wilde-appropriate clothing (because he’s just wearing pants; his poncho is folded and tucked away somewhere to put back on when they enter city territory, and winter once more). his scales are scandalous in color, and he’s rather given up on being reticent as he struts. much less blacks than stormy sunset hues drag down his cheeks and his lengthy arm-wingspan, joints and tattooed back. tail, legs and more. is he . . . are his muscles flexing as he weaves through daunting exercises? he has ten abs. ten real abs, born and raised on his island.

after plenty of scrapes to make a kid or two cry, well! he’ll probably be sorry for this later, or not— it’s just too much. onto the last stretch of the day, and homework for the next meeting. they weren’t bonded, but the witch-dragon and the dragon-human could be the testimony they need. what do you do when you’re in the wilde? you’ll come across plenty of monstrosities. but, the first thing he learned, before being prepared to dual with a beast, was dual with your own kind.

annie taught him better, in fact, and he thanks her for his growth in the right direction to this day. his stance in front of asura and some safe steps away is a dedication as much as an invitation. ]

They’re going to need a demonstration.

[ so, if the king of summer hasn’t already realized— this is what eren looks like when he tries to flirt. ]

[scatmaam]

[ A monster, to be sure, but it attacked with purpose, that Scathach noticed. It didn't simply flail and lash out to keep its territory or defend itself from intruders. But it wasn't treating them as prey, either... not in the strictest sense.

It fought with a purpose, and that purpose wasn't simple hunger. Scathach kept her guard up, letting Maria counter the beast's charge as she felt fit, but her senses trained to the area around them...

There had to be more. ]

[poisontippedcure]

You’re not. Honestly, I doubt you’d be making a profit even if you did choose to charge for the soaps.

[She knows absolutely nothing about business.]

And how does this help Orin, exactly.

i

[scatmaam]

Overhearing his conversation, Scathach can't help but chuckle and call out.

"A finer warrior would have no scars at all, wouldn't they?" she laughed, teasing of course as she approached. "Your majesty, you've taken well to teaching. And of course I don't say that so lightly."

i

[beariot]

[ Help wasn't far off, at least. Chariot's hand rested on Kaede's shoulder stepping up beside her and slightly to the front, keeping point before her between Kaede and the enthusiastic Puca. ]

Alright, alright, please, give her some space. I'm sure you have a great many questions, but there are instructors at the Coven that can answer pretty much all of them. Why don't you all head that way, hm?

[morbide]

Never did think I'd make a great salesman, which is why it's totally free. Dunno what it is that gets people to turn their noses up at the stuff I make.

[Wonder What It Could Be...? Henry's grin returns to him, and he points to his tray of soaps, growing more excited as he explains his plan.]

Glad you asked, though! So. I was checking out his soaps, and they're nice. I wager that some Monsters like 'em even better than I do. And his competition is selling soap that's prettier and smellier... But maybe she'll move if she starts to realize that everyone down this street has the nose of a Chimera or Turnskin! That's where I come in. I'm here to make that anomaly a reality. Flawless, right?!

[poisontippedcure]

I can’t tell if you’re trying to make a fool of me, or you’re actually that oblivious.

[Because there is nothing more comforting than some weirdo giving soap out in an alleyway. For free.]

So what you’re saying is the soap you’re giving away is enchanted, and is meant to turn innocent bystandards into monsters?

[morbide]

I WISH it could turn people into Monsters. If I could do that, I'd be using it on myself in a jiffy... Aaand then I'd lose the ability to do any of this magic. No, my soaps are enchanted, but their power is to enhance your sense of smell. Not to turn you into a Monster.

[Henry plucks one of the bars of soap from the tray and waves it around.]

One whiff of this, and even soft scents will smell as fresh as spilled blood in the desert heat! Your reaction of horror at the mere scent of her shop will be genuine as can be! And if it works on you, I can plant them all around so that everyone around is plagued with a sensitive sniffer. It'll get her outta here in no time!

[beariot]

It's all a bit beyond me... [ a small, nervous laugh. ]

Was this something you picked up as part of your education, or as a hobby?

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede felt the Witch's presence before the touch on her shoulder—at least, one of them. Maria was elsewhere, and she felt no tug at her mind calling her off to the Wilde again. The Chimera didn't need to turn and look to see who it was—not when the touch was all she needed to feel, the gentle, steady breeze of Chariot's mana distinct from Maria's calm, disciplined burn. A measure of the tension in her mind unwound like a taut spring and her next breath came out more as a quietly relieved sigh. With a human shield between her and social interaction, some of Kaede's usual grumpy demeanor returned.

Many of the questions stilled at Chariot's arrival, the Monsters falling silent around a Witch by habit. The Puca was less wary, just as unafraid of Chariot as she had been of Kaede.]

"But this is easier." [She said, a long ear turning sideways to listen for any other approaching sounds.]

[beariot]

Trust me, [ Chariot emphasized, shaking her head. ] It's definitely not.

Kaede and I do have a Bond, but we don't have a lot of time to explain it. There's a lot of work to be done, after all, so please bring your quest for knowledge to the Coven, for now. I promise, you'll get all you want and then some.

[long_live_the_queen]

[If that wasn't enough emphasis, Kaede growled over her Bonded's shoulder, tail flicking in a more agitated motion.

A murmur went through the little gathering of Monsters, though more at Chariot's statement than Kaede's bluster. Things were different--very different, now, but the mention of the Coven still carried a brief hesitation with it before more pleasant memories replaced the ingrained and negative. One of the Monsters, a Faun taller than the rest, broke from the group first, though he didn't go far. "Come on, he said; the other Monsters continued murmuring amongst themselves.

The Puca frowned, her ears twitching after her companions before returning forwards.]

"If you say so."

[She turned on her foot--and that seemed to be a signal the rest were waiting for. The remaining Monsters left all at once, talking first quietly amongst each other and then at a normal volume after putting space between them and a Witch they didn't know--another habit.

Once they were even further down the street and thus finally out of Kaede's personal space bubble, she finally let the rest of herself relax. Her tail flopped to the ground out of its irritable curl, she slumped out of that tense posture in relief--and, gently, bumped her shoulder against Chariot's.]

I didn't expect to see you here so soon.

III

[integrous]

[ .. geez.

Asahi may think Andersen is.. kind of weird, and that's putting it very, very lightly. But all of these tensions are putting her firmly on the side of her fellow Mirrorbound, no matter her opinion of them. So when she spots the guy - kid? tiny grandpa? - getting knocked over, she's already jogging over, her wings spread in tension. ]

Hey, are you okay?

III

[glitzandglamour]

[It's not like Mettaton to take on dangerous quests himself, but he figures that with a Witch at his side and ample experience in the outer city at his back, it couldn't be too steep a challenge. Boy, was he wrong.

Not too unlike the amateur Wilders, Mettaton wasn't much help in slaying the beast — he forgets how much of his offensive abilities he's lost in coming to Aefenglom, and how little his new abilities lend themselves to combat. It wouldn't be the first time he's seen a creature who looked so much like the sum of many parts, but its behavior was fearsome and powerful... And Asura, equally so in his action. Its appearance and its thirst for blood caught him off guard less than their collective ferocity. If he had any sense for temperature, he'd consider the Wilde's summer heat sticky and oppressive in this heart-pounding moment. Even without, the thought strikes him. Who knew that it could all happen so quickly?

Or maybe Mettaton lost track of time — with his sore-ridden ears tied back and wrapped neatly in a golden scarf to hide its unsightliness, it might be easy to forget that the android's becoming a Puca and is, therefore, susceptible to the way which Puca handle shock. Few things have scared Mettaton up until now, but this was enough to elicit a very primal response in him. He's been standing frozen still, eyes wide and unblinking. Compared to Asura's blood-splattered appearance, the TV star has but a few splashes of deep scarlet on his thighs and across his chest, at best.

It takes Asura's address to snap him out of his reflective trance.]

. . . Hmm? Have I...?

[He tries to pull himself together; his blank expression is replaced with a cool smile. He continues, doing his very best to disguise his previous unease with well-practiced acting.]

Ah, no. But that's to be expected, isn't it? We're in a whole different world, in a manner of speaking. Aefenglom and Dorchacht... It DOES feel as though Dorchacht's Wilde is untamed in a way entirely unlike Aefenglom's.