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

QUESTIONS

[moustre]

DORCHACHT

[moustre]

AEFENGLOM

[moustre]

[hallucinogem]

iv. if it's true what they say

Emerald doesn't buy it. She hasn't bought it for a while, but she buys it even less now. Massive change like this doesn't just happen overnight, no matter how trustworthy the dignitaries try to make themselves seem. It doesn't matter that it's been a couple months and she's never actually seen Dorchacht in person; the weight of the Witch she'd killed still hangs on her shoulders, but it doesn't seem to hurt quite as hard when she hears all this garbage about a "brand new Dorchacht".

With some of her puca features coming in a little more prominently—her snout is pronounced, her ears are budding up out of her green hair, and her legs are getting a little bulkier—Emerald is taking this time to reacquaint herself with the city. To handle herself with a little more confidence, to build more relationships after her recent breakdown with Chandra and the other... instance with Lancer.

She's got a lily tucked into the front pocket of her top, though, and she smells distinctly of oranges and cloves and sea salt, and there's a fresh coat of black lipstick on her lips. If people had been kind enough to give her these gifts, it would be rude not to make use of them. (Maybe she can find whoever gave her that lily.)

Over the course of a few days, she can be found cleaning graffiti off storefronts, though she's never been able to actually catch anyone in the act (so far). She's taken to spending a little more time in a local monster-friendly bar, the one where she's had a few drinks now and the one that Lancer seems to frequent more often than not. In both places, she's going to be muttering loudly about how it doesn't feel like Dorchacht has changed at all, about how she doesn't believe it, about how they're still not going to catch her dead in that city. Of course, if she's had a few, she's doing a little more than muttering about it.

Or maybe, if you don't want a bitter girl who's unconvinced that huge sweeping change is that easy, you can run into her in the streets, asking if there's anywhere she can be made useful or if anyone in particular knows anything about flowers.

There's also the action option. Her Bonded is going through what could charitably be called a Time, and she's out there in the Cwyld, trying to work away some of the transferred anger and also hone her close-range combat. Her guns have their blades extended, and she's mostly working on slicing things up in melee and occasionally delivering some powerful kicks that might make Mercury jealous if he were here. It's not wildly dangerous work; it's routine for her by now, and it's part of being a "hero". But it's something new to do.

[integrous]

Asahi may not exactly be the bar-going type, but bars need things delivered as well. And the delivery place she works for seems to have realised it's easier to send the local harpy over to a monster-friendly bar rather than a witch. And Asahi is really just planning on heading out right after she's made her delivery, already stretching her wings to prepare to fly away again, when she hears someone mumbling. Or, well, more like raving with that volume.

Usually that wouldn't be too weird in a bar. There's always drunk people around. But the moment she hears the word Dorchacht, she's immediately paying attention.

.. maybe her next delivery can wait a moment or two.

She moves a little closer to Emerald, trying to draw her attention. ".. Hey, you're talking about that other city, right?"

the streets

[scatmaam]

An added benefit of that perfume...

[ A familiar voice calls from behind, the source wearing a fur cape to stave away some of the cold her actual fur couldn't quite keep away, and a familiar red spear flung over her shoulder. She could actually carry it in public now, though it did bring some attention from those who remembered the stories of a blood red spear that brought justice against the slavers, but... She was ignoring it, for the most part.

Her eyes were focused on Emerald, her expression soft. ] It makes you very easy to find in a crowd. [ She said as she tapped the side of her nose. ]

L Lawliet (Linden Tailor) | Witch | OTA

[hearthebell]

A. Dorchacht- Covering Tracks

[Wearing the triple stars might be a good idea, for any who wish to be seen as allies in this city... but it seems that L has been too occupied with other matters or too absentminded to have gotten the memo. As a result, people he passes regard him with more distrust than they might ordinarily display, and that's saying something, since the spindly and staring young witch is hardly a reassuring presence on the best of days.

And it is not that, surely, because the way the bones stand out in his wrists and his haggard, over-pale face say that he's been distracted from other things, as well. A comb hasn't touched his wild mop of hair in at least a week, and his clothes are ill-matched, wrinkled, and even visibly dirty. Get too close, and depending on how sensitive your nose is? He smells like old coffee and stale sweat. Not quite "pungent", perhaps, but well on his way there.

If your approach is a quiet one, he may actually fail to notice you... but even though he's very focused on his task in this quiet place in the city with only a few park benches to suggest a place to rest, he's aware of his surroundings, glancing over his shoulder and squinting at the distance at regular intervals as though waiting for someone. He has a tremendous pile of spent candy wrappers, all the same brand, frozen to four strips of ribbon with individual beads of ice, and four enchanted ravens on standby. It's possible he's sent some off already, but he's in the middle of placing one of the ribbons in a raven's beak when he glances your way.]

I haven't had time to get my stars, if that's what you're here to hassle me about.

[He's heard it a few times, that he should really make affixing some to his clothes a priority, and seems flustered about it. He intones a soft word, and one of the ravens takes off with the ribbon, presumably to scatter candy wrappers wherever it flies.]

B. Dorchacht- Cleansing the Walls

[Healing might not be in L's repertoire of reliable and effective spells, but the creation and removal of runes are rather a specialty of his. Therefore, he can for once assist in some sort of effort to heal, even if it's a series of damaging ideologies and their lasting legacy instead of sick organs or wounded flesh. He waves aside the cheat sheets, familiar enough with the base of the runes already... but the sander they hand him to grind them off manually is heavy and unwieldy in his delicate, careful-fingered grasp. It actually looks somewhat comical, so while he knows the runes, and even magic that can soften the stone... he's ill-suited to this.

He glances your way.]

You look strong. Why don't we work together?

[He hands you the sander before you reply in the affirmative. Though it's not particularly heavy, you can probably feel his stick-scrawny arms trembling as they're relieved of the weight.]

C. Dorchacht- Bond Lessons

[Not normally a social creature, L's finding that he needs to adjust his normally solitary existence to account for the fact that he has a vengeful stalker on his trail. So far, he hasn't seen hide or hair of Niles in Dorchacht, but he still gravitates toward safe-feeling crowds (though he still hasn't managed to get a set of triple stars) and, of course, free food. The coffee and cookies aren't exactly a balanced meal, but by the looks of him, the most nutritious things he's had lately.

Even if he looks homeless (is homeless, since he intentionally dropped the key to the house he shared with the departed SQUIP down a storm drain), he is recognizable as a Mirrorbound, and is roped into one of the seminars fairly promptly. This is annoying to him, both because he'd rather be left alone to stuff his face with empty calories, and because the SQUIP's disappearance is one he still hasn't processed healthily. He hasn't talked about it, and he hasn't allowed himself the space to properly feel it, and so predictably, he bombs.]

Yes, I have... two Bonds. It was three.

[Expectant stares, questioning gazes. Someone clears their throat.]

It's better... to have lived and. Mm. Been Bonded than it is to not Bond at all.

[He shrugs stiffly, ready to hand this off to someone else, but no, they're prolonging his torture. A voice pipes up, asking what it feels like when a Bond breaks.]

It's like someone has taken a melon baller and just...

[He imitates a scooping motion with a vague twist of his wrist. More sympathy than L wanted ripples through the crowd.]

...it's fine. You're just... fine when that happens.

[His denial is so poignantly transparent that, just like that, he has a flour sack baby trailing after him. A large and gentle and very cuddly older arachne man, some species of tarantula, offers L many-armed hugs often, as well as the chance to talk about his ex-Bonded and let it all out.

Gerry is grating on him, but hey, you might get along, whether or not you were at the seminar yourself.]

D. Aefenglom- Coven Library

[L's returned home, without actually returning home. While he lived with the SQUIP, and did so quite happily in the Haven, the house they shared is currently locked up and the key discarded. He's found himself uninterested in going back inside given the absence of its other inhabitant; perhaps he's actually unable to. Having a caretaker is so ingrained on his nature that without one, he is prone to wandering, assigning himself tasks that make the hours fly by and leave him exhausted and ravenous when they're complete with no immediately obvious recourse.

He's the type of rare human, after all, who can soar... but needs some help when the time comes to return to earth. Hours of studying were broken up only by a supper of alcoholic anesthetic at a nearby bar, and those few shots of hard liquor sit acridly on a stomach that is already cramping and eating itself. The coffee at his side only nurses a growing migraine, and does nothing for his exhaustion... which is why you're likely to find a bit of a mess when you enter the library, whether it's at this ungodly hour or in the morning at a more reasonable time, and you brush aside L's mess only to nudge a thankfully breathing body with your foot when you sit down at his sort-of vacated study space.]

E. Wildcard

[Obviously, I wrote incredible prompts... but if you want something different, take a crack at another scenario! I'm reachable on Discord at ladylazarus#2235 and always down to talk plotting, whether we play all the time or never have before.]

D. Aefenglom - Coven Library

[onamissile]

[If Mello always appears to be just on the edge of anger when he enters the Library, it's only because he can't remember a time in his life where he had to make time to study.]

[Things were so different back then, weren't they? Cornsilk-haired child curled up in a corner chair with materials spread in front of him, sometimes studying by the light of a single lamp long after the rest of the House had fallen asleep. Studying was his priority, a means to an end — as it is now.]

[But now? There is no one providing a roof, no endless access to online resources to aid his research. There are no snacks to steal from the kitchen at two a.m. and there ... is no space on this table.]

[His brows furrow as he tucks his own books against himself with one arm (Advanced Pyromancy: Divination by Fire, Protection Spellwork Vol. II, among four others), as he sweeps the mess aside with the other. Nothing that would knock these precious books to the ground, only enough to — ]

[Oh.]

[Quietly, he sets his books down, draws a chair far enough away from L so he isn't looming; and what does it matter? How many times has Mello fallen asleep in the library.]

[But L looks. Well. Off.]

Oi, [Comes with the nudge, and Mello purposely rattles the bag of snacks he's brought with him for this session.]

Alucard | Castlevania | witch

[cryptsleeper]

When Alucard first heard Dorchacht described, he had blanched. Not only for what had happened, but because it felt far too close to what his life might have been like had the fortune of his birth and parents been miserably reversed. The kind of fear it struck into him was a primal thing, the kind of fear brought upon by not only growing up as half-vampire but knowing full well the kind of natural repulsion that came with the mere concept.

So with the news of where Dorchacht stands now, that it seeks to rebuild? How could he not go?]

A: The Walls
There. That section's complete.

[Alucard found the process of removing spells an easier thing than anything else magic related in this world so far. Some of it is because it's removing a thing, not putting it in place, but the rest? That would be the sanders. That's far closer to technology, the world where he's comfortable. At home.

He might look ridiculous with extra-thick gloves on along with safety goggles, but that too makes him feel at home. Alucard recalls the endless lectures about lab safety in his youth.

Task completed, Alucard takes a few steps back to view the whole of the wall. The grind of other sanders continue, and he breathes out for just a moment.]


B: Reconstruction
[Understanding the walls and their magic was step one of becoming comfortable with the real thing that compelled Alucard to come. Back home, he built his keep under Gresit and was able to keep it functioning. Draftsmanship was a matter he had learned from his father, and here? That was a skill that could be put to use in a way that would meet his mother's wishes far better than any other action he could imagine. Rebuilding a city from a destroyed way of life, and making it into something new.

The thing she wanted for the world most.

What Alucard is not accustomed to is the work of construction being more than himself, his father, and a lot of magic. In the case of this (mercifully approved) row of town houses, it means that he's standing in front of a large drafting table, watching other people do the work. And then being told a minor change has to be made.

There's a sigh from Alucard as he puts pencil over a thin overlay of paper and starts to make adjustments.]

That isn't going to be as easy a fix as you seem to think it will be.

C: Municipal approval
[Design one building, get it looking decent, then do a bunch more. Alucard is sat in front of a destroyed area with a make shift drawing set up (paper taped to a large board) and a future city grid beside him.]

I'm...hm. [He frowns at the grid.] I'm not sure about that zoning choice.

D: Wildcard
Exactly what it says on the tin.

b

[beariot]

You'd think they'd have more witches here with this kind of experience. [ Ursula sighed, bringing with her two cups of coffee, one for herself and the other for alucard, setting it to the side for the moment and making sure it was well clear of the paper. ]

But I guess that's how Morgana preferred it... Ignorance dispels rebellion, after all. No one with the knowledge to unmake her machinations.

Mello - Death Note - Witch - OTA

[onamissile]

I. A. Dorchacht

[It didn't take long for Mello to notice the difference in reception offered to Witches who bore stars versus those who have elected to ignore this important detail. His own — tucked just below his right ear and only visible with his hair pulled back — was a meticulous choice.]

[No need to advertise himself as a Witch, even if the people here are a bit friendlier than he'd expected. Of course, he doesn't trust it.]

[If you happen to come across him, you will just find him either casually strolling or leaning against a wall, taking stock of his surroundings and the people within. Some smiling child had presented him with a small brownie, and he's taking the tiniest bites, feeling around with his tongue for anything strange.]

[Tastes all right.]

I don't take kindly to being tailed, you know.

[Yes, he saw you. No, his tone holds no threat.]


II. C. Dorchacht - Bonds

["Tell us about your Bonded. Just the one?"]

Yea, just the one.

[They say it as though it's the improper thing to do, that spreading yourself out over multiple people is the proper thing as opposed to giving everything you have from one person. And taking everything they have in return. Mello is the art of disgruntlement, right now. Tucked into a chair, legs sprawled, arms crossed over his chest. He's giving the entire room a flat stare — yes, even you — and he'd prefer to avoid this conversation, right now.]

[Forever, optimally.]

I don't want to talk about them. [Good luck getting any info out of Mello.] We prefer it that way. Neither one of us mentions the other to outside parties, and everything comes together nicely.

[Oh, Bullshit. And it rolls off of his tongue with ease.]

Told you pulling me in here was pointless.

[Or is it? Can a man with a waterfall on his tongue to spill truly remain so silent on the very topic that burns at him constantly? Remains to be seen.]

III. Wildcard

[Want it? Don't see it? Either PM me here, hit me up at Pendancy#9139 or just throw me a starter! We can make stuff work.]

iic

[digiorno]

[Honestly, he couldn't say how he got dragged into this either. With absolutely no intention of speaking candidly about his Bond — Bonds, now — he's been pushed up against the metaphorical wall for long enough that he's made the executive decision to just lie. Having made up a Bonded Witch wholecloth and shared intimate details of their Bond with these fucking vultures (she's like a sister to me, from a world much like my own with minute differences, the first night we arrived we shared a room at Aefenglom's Coven and I woke her up from a nightmare — whatever), he's now occupying himself watching the Bond-curious torture details out of other people.]

[Including a familiar face or two. Almost-but-not-quite-silently, Giorno sighs.]

Is it such an insane concept that a Bond might be a mutually beneficial arrangement and nothing more? Just because it isn't what you've heard so far doesn't mean it doesn't exist as a potential Bond type.

[Diversity in Bond. Except he doesn't actually believe it, but Jesus Christ, some privacy.]

Rose | Fae | OTA

[poisontippedcure]

[Throughout the City]

[Having missed the earlier excursions to Dorchacht, Rose decides to make use of the new teleported. She’s not sure what to expect. The stories are bad, from what she’s heard, but not terrible enough to remember details.]

[Unfortunately for her, it’s still pretty bad. There’s no masking the concern on her face as she walks through the streets. Her fae transformation hasn’t completely taken hold yet, but she does leave a trail of glitter in her wake.]

[She’s at least able to refrain from any untoward commentary—until she sees a trio of guards walk through the story. She quickly finds the nearest Mirrorbound she can, hoping for safety in numbers.]

What in the seven hells happened here? This can’t be making the citizenry feel better.

[A ‘Bonding’ Experience]

[Subterfuge was never Rose’s strong suit, and that has never hurt more than now. She was walking throughout the city, minding her own business, when she was accosted by a Dorchacht citizen.]

[‘Bonding training’ was what they referred to it as. ‘Torture’ is her name for it.]

[Having neglected to mention having a bond of her own, she was assigned a partner. A cheery, smiling, sunspot of a witch named Marsha. A person who tried to see the bright side of everything, who insists on commenting on the wonders of the city every other minute.]

[Rose hates this. She hates every minute of this. It’s clear they couldn’t have chosen a worse candidate.]

[The majority of Rose’s afternoon is spent trying to elude Marsha. She’ll jump into any door or window she can. She’ll duck into any alleyway. If noticed by another Mirrorbound, she’ll quickly put a finger to her lips.]

Don’t you dare tell her where I am.

[Home Sweet Home...?]

[Finally free of Marsha, Rose decides it’s best to return to the city proper. Before heading home, she first makes a stop at one of the local flower shops in the Haven...]

[...Only to find it covered in graffiti. She crosses her arms and frowns.]

Well, this is pleasant.

[Wildcard]

[Feel free to message me here or on plurk if you’d like to plot something else!]

'bonding'

[spaghettimonster]

[Whatever this skeletal turnskin's doing in this shop, he's distracted by the sudden entrance of a woman through the window. Not that he's in any way against window-based travel! But that's usually an egress thing, for him.]

Tell who??

[Having not yet chanced into one of the many bond workshops through the city, Papyrus is short on context. He slouches a little bit lower, his ears twisting to listen out, and softens his voice.]

Are you playing hide-and-seek...?

Randy Orlando | Witch | OTA

[guardianreaper]

[Back to Dorchacht]

[Surprising absolutely nobody, the first place Randy heads to once he reaches the city is a bar.]

[What is surprising, though, is how he’s carrying himself. He seems genuinely happy, and he’s surrounded by people. Not only that, but the other people appear to be buying him drinks. He seems pretty familiar with everybody, too.]

Ha ha, yeah! I’m happy to see you all are doing so well.

[...Because these are the people he helped during the attack.]

[Cleaning Up]

[Randy has been here when things were bad, and he remembered just how bad things were. He’s one of the first to volunteer to clean up the walls, and is doing his best with his magic to make quick work of the runes.]

[Until he gets to the secluded area. Something about the way that they refer to the Drummond extremists doesn’t sit right with him. He makes sure to mention this to the Mirrorbound working next to him.]

If I didn’t know better, I’d say there’s something more going on here.

[Wildcard]

[Feel free to plot for more!]

cleaning up

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup clicks off his sander when the person working near him says something, pushing a pair of amber-lensed goggles up onto his head, leather straps mussing his already-messy hair with the few little braids in it. He's been at this for a little while now, keeping his reference sheet attached to the wrist of his glove for ease of use.

The comment has him sliding his gaze over toward the cordoned-off area and the trio of guards posted at the entrance. It's... not an encouraging sight, but he seems a little hesitant to say so.] There's probably a lot going on here that we don't know about. It's been a few months since we were last here.

Lady Maria | Witch | OTA

[whomthebelltolls]

[1: Return to the Black City]

[Despite the problems - and there are a lot of them - Maria sort of liked Dorchacht. It reminded her of home; tall, dark spires of buildings jutting into the sky, the depressing atmosphere, the dark and dreary weather. Yharnam was fraught with far less slavery... at least not as obviously as such; the Church was subjugating citizens in a different way than Morgana, and one that was bathed in the Good Intentions. But it felt like home in a way, as well.

Coming back, it feels similar, though things have loosened up. There's a spring in the step of the Monsters, but a wary look to them, as well. It probably doesn't help that Maria sort of refuses to wear the stars. After all, she didn't actually help their little rebellion... at least not in ways she'll admit to. On the other hand, she can just give a wide enough smile - show off her fangs, or talk about being Mirrorbound (which is far more rare; she doesn't often admit to being one, because she doesn't like most of them), to get herself out of the situations where the Monsters look like they want to come down on her for doing something, for some reason.

But outside of that, she wanders the town. First stop? The bars, to talk to the locals, to get a feel for their town. What they did, and what they want to do in the future.

Second stop? The old Coven, disappointing herself with the lack of information. Morgana really was thorough in eliminating the identity of this city before she came along, and it's frustrating. She might get sucked into a lesson or two there, but she really doesn't want to stick around long.

Third stop? The old barracks. She said she would help with the Wilders training, and she will, but first, she wants to see what became of the old strike force.

Feel free to run into her at any of those locations!]

[2: A Rose By Any Other Name]

[What she actually came here for: Whipping some of these poor saps into shape. What she finds: That there's a good number of capable people mixed in among the greenhorns that are probably going to get themselves killed in five minutes in the Wildes, but a force is only as good as its weakest links, so those are what she wants to focus on first.

First step, a quick jaunt a little ways outside the city gates. Nothing too far, nothing too bad, and she reels back the newbies that say they want to go further, that the leash is too short.

It's not long afterward one of them is left hollering across the empty spaces, and Maria comes upon them, hanging upside-down, wrapped in vines.

She rubs her forehead.] ... And this is why we listen. I know you all do not want to take orders from anyone ever again, but these are not the kinds of orders that are going to take away your rights as a person. They are the kind that actually are needed for the good of all involved.

[Anyway, time to cut down this idiot, as they get paler from the blood loss. Help her out?]

[3: And In This Corner]

[Apparently, they couldn't take that little lesson to heart. Just because a group of people is over-eager and wants to prove themselves doesn't mean they're any more capable, and Maria arrives one morning to find that of the group of Wilders everyone has been training, a handful are just... gone.

Another sigh, another trek out into the Wildes, but this one takes most of a day. By the time Maria finds her first one, and is leaning down to try to administer a little healing, and talking them out of their panic, a scream shatters the silence.

It's a familiar scream, too, and she's bolt up onto her feet and whirling on the source of it before she knows it.

What she sees doesn't assuage her, either, and for a moment, she looks... stunned. Mouth slightly ajar, eyes a little wide.

In her head, a Beast screams just the same in rage and agony, as it throws itself around the big room it's in, tromping through the pool of blood on the floor, stomping over the piles of corpses that seem to be the origin of all the blood. The corpses move, as well, as it tramples over them, as though not all of them are dead...

... And Maria comes right back into her senses in not enough time to avoid an initial attack from one of the horse-creatures. She barely gets off her feet and below it before it chomps into the thick leather of her cape, and all the layers covering her shoulder.

Her swords are only partially ready. The hallucination seems to have left her off-balance, and she has to try to figure out how to do this before the creature bites through her armor. May be a good time to help.]

[4: Wildcard!]

[Anything for this stretch of the month we talked about but isn't covered here? Hit me up here! I also have a plotting comment, you can hit me up at Reslari and/or on Discord at Reslari#9561]

2

[cryptsleeper]

[Much of Alucard's time in the city has been focused on architecture in some form or another. Creating drafts or sanding down walls, and in truth, it has felt a little too much like an indulgence. What Alucard's good at, what he's good for at this point is dealing with the wild things, and today has felt like a good day for it. Acclimating himself to things first, and then possibly offering guidance after that.

It is no wonder to him that Maria has taken on a cadre of overeager recruits. One who's gotten tangled up in something predictable.

Alucard heralds his approach with heavy bootsteps, his sword drawn out. Rather than butt in, he instead regards Maria first.]

Would you like assistance?

Iskandar (Rider) | Fate/Zero | WITCH

[towards_okeanos]

Dorchacht - I. The Coven
While Iskandar was hardly a fan of the Black City when it was still black, and still holds those that did not act against the previous ruler in contempt, he's more interested in the group of the ambitious, the adventurous and the foolhardy that are starting to form what would in future constitute the Dorchacht's own Wilders.

It is no surprise then he's often seen tagging along with this or that group going outside the city. More unusual though is what he does when he stays in the city. He assumes the role of the teacher. While by no means an expert, and to that he's fast to admit, he's already proficient healer due to his intense studies and no less extensive practice. King of Conquerors never does anything half-way!

He can teach basic to mid-level healing spells to Witches but he offers other instructions to everyone. If anyone were to raise a doubt what he as a Witch can teach Monsters on the subject of healing, he just laughs.

"I am first a warrior who has seen countless battles. You don't have to heed my words, I have many scars to prove it. So hear me when I say there is still a lot one can do before he'll need to resort to any magic at all."

He acts with most enthusiasm and encouragement to his favourite Wilders, of course, but he has a good word for anyone willing to learn.

Dorchacht - II. Bond Lessons

It is probably that there is no greater proponent of Bonds in both cities than Iskandar. The connection he had with his people was always his greatest treasure, the foundation of his conquest when he was alive, crystallized into his Noble Phantasm when he became Heroic Spirit of legend.

He's most happy to give all and quite detailed information about it to anyone who'd be interested. Many may find that there is very little that can embarrass him and he's surprisingly open with his answers. When asked about his Bonded he's eager to extoll his many virtues. It's evident to anyone with a pair of eyes that this is a man deeply in love. Only if asked why they're not in Dorchacht together does his expression ever turn grimmer.

"My dear boy doesn't have good memories of this place. It's not something I wish to discuss." This is his only reply no matter who asks but he's fast to smile again and adds almost immediately "But if you wish to ask him something, I can relay your question and come back with an answer later. Though, I cannot guarantee there will be an answer. He's quite busy right now with setting of the new shop and everything. I don't want to bother him too much."

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."

Asura | Witch | OTA (Dorchacht)

[mirshikar]

I): A PIN FOR YOUR TROUBLE

[ Asura understands the importance of symbols. For the Lost, they fostered community; marked the places that were safe, those hollows where they could belong. They stood as staunch reminders that even those forgotten by the world could be unshakeable, utterly inviolable in their standards and in their principles, and that every soul among them who donned their heraldry with pride would forever be a custodian of the highest purpose of all—freedom. In this way, the triple stars of the Resistance are no different from the Biscione of the King's Freehold in Milan, and that's why... in the days before setting foot in Dorchacht for the second time, Asura had taken to the forge, smelting down a gilded torc of solid gold (a 'gift' from the other side of the mirror) and had hand-poured the molten metal into custom molds.

The first of his design: the triple stars. And the second? A crowned, coiling dragon, its maw opened wide to devour a man whole.

To your good fortune, it is not the latter emblem which Asura offers to you. Though he wears it for himself, the miniature dragon form fastened to the lapel of his red and gold brocade overcoat, what he presses into the palm of your hand is a triple star pin—you hadn't been wearing one, right? And because that golden torc had been more weighty than a damn Gargantuan, Asura's got plenty of them to spare. ]

It'll help you to open some doors, yeah? [ Regardless if you're Witch or Monster. ] Wear it with pride.

II): SUMMER IS FOR TRAINING

[ Just outside the reaches of the Onyx Wall, see....! A gaggle of Wilder recruits, all in the thick of running basic training drills to the tune of Asura's draconic bellowing. All those present, Monster and Witch alike, have seized upon the King's offering of tutelage for hunting out in the Wilde.

And for it...? W e l l, they're doing fine. Before one can hunt, they first need to learn how to survive, and the ground fighting techniques that Asura's got pairs of two (battle buddies, he's called them, and while it's far from a Bond, it'll do) working through will give him enough insight into their current level of ability. Sure, if this were Summer territory, Asura wouldn't be nearly so kind (new recruits, they get dropped off in the middle of nowhere in the Hedge with nothing but an auroch's horn, and are judged by the length of time they can go without pissing themselves sounding the horn for help). But... here, while Asura is hard-nosed and scrutinizing, he is not unkind while correcting ("an attack must be grounded in the proper footing! do not attempt to press your opponent before regaining balance!"), and there is even—

—a hint of a smile playing upon his lips. Asura, he is almost at home, in this. If he let it, it could remind him of his Court's training grounds at the crack of dawn; the Wilder recruits none too dissimilar from wrathful novitiates.

But that sentimental shit doesn't happen upon him, because you do first. And recognizing you as Mirrorbound, Asura's voice breaks from the rolling deep of its thunderous holler to...! Extend an offer?: ]

You up for joining me in running these newbies through a drill or two?

III): A NEW SPECIES

...should use you damn kids as bait on the regular. [ The kids in question being a trio of Wilder recruits (two of them Asura's own students, so hungry to earn for themselves the laurels of battle that they hadn't bothered to heed his wisdom of before: venture out into the Wilde before you are ready, and you are dead!), wounded and bloodied but still breathing now that you and Asura are here. The recruits stammer, telling the tale of how their party had been separated by one of t-t-those things, or whatever it is that lies in the stillness of death at the King's feet. ]

Yeah, it's particularly nasty, isn't it? [ —Asura agrees, but the way he says that, it sounds like he's giving the creature its due acclaim rather than calling it repulsive. Sure, there's no way to put lipstick on a ...shrieking horse-man-beast with its guts on display, but the way the creature had pursued (the kids) its prey so single-mindedly (ferocious and unyielding, jaws gnashing until the instant it'd lost its human head) deserves acknowledgement. And were you and the King both not around to take the Screamer down, the would-be Wilders would have been toast.

Looking nearly as wild as the horse-man-beast had been (Asura, his hair is heavy and matted with blood and gore from the kill, the red of his overcoat darkened with the same because the take-down had been far from clean), the King crouches down beside the felled creature, taking his time to study it now that the wayward recruits have quieted.

To his Mirrorbound companion, he murmurs: ] You ever seen a creature like this before, out in Aefenglom's Wilde?

IV): WILDCARD

( Asura can be found in and/or around Dorchacht through Ieneu 13, doing the following!: (1) playing the flute, (2) starting to map the Wilde outside of Dorchacht, and (3) drinking heavily somewhere while canvassing the locals about how things have been since the Circle of Three came to power. Want to incorporate any of these things into a thread? Go for it! Got another idea? I'm still game! o9 Feel free to write a starter or hmu on the CR meme to plot something out. )

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. ]

daenerys targaryen | game of thrones | dragon

[freeing]

RETURN TO DORCHACHT

[ Daenerys will find it difficult to go back to the city. The last time they walked the pathways, fire and chaos engulfed the area. Children cried. People were killed. Fire burned. It was almost as if the area had been healed with magic and honestly, she wouldn't put it past the natives of this world.

She'll spend only a day here, opting to leave Drogon in the care of someone she trusts back in Aefenglom. Her main goal was simple, to assess the conflict she has on the true change the new ambassadors swear to have spread across the city. The change in temperature makes it difficult for Daenerys to feel comfortable, so her time will be cut short in returning back to her home in Aefenglom.

During her day, she spends it as follows:

morning: visiting with the monsters who are still recouping from their previous enslavement. She's stopped by orphanages, but despite her initial desire to see things through, she finds herself uncomfortable being around the children for too long. Perhaps it was her own longing for Drogon or something deeper, but she stays for as long as she can before excusing herself to their caretakers for first-hand recounts of their plans for the future. Notably, Dany seemed interested in how they plan to explain the freedoms they now have, as many assumed she was a Witch upon arrival and did not lament until she rolled her sleeves up to reveal her scales.

late morning: touring the new Coven building was no simple fear. It feels all the less extravagant than the old building she stayed in, but she wants to see it herself none the less. She watches magic lessons, primarily trying to understand if the spells being taught are anything dubious.

afternoon: the talks of bonding is an uncomfortable one, as the concept still falls questionably to her – but she has chosen both of the bonds, so there's that. Perhaps you see her being coaxed to come discuss them, or you see how bashful she gets over such a topic, frustrated at the complications she has with a certain old bear bond. She respectfully declines if not approached.

evening, before departure: the pub calls her name. The day was long and one by one the streetlights flickered with a faint glow to lead tired workers home to their families. Dany, on the other hand, finds herself needing a drink before returning back. The bards sing songs of the Mirrorbound, they praise the new era of their city and weep over those lost. She's sitting in a corner enjoying the music, nursing a small mug of ale until it was empty. ]

BACK HOME

[ Dany was disheartened at the sight. At first, she believed she misread or mistook the small picket signage littered in front of the refugee housing. It wasn't until the culprits dropped the signage stakes and ran off, leaving Dany to piece it together. Everything she had planned for the day, the social excursions she wished to have – she's stuck and unmoving. Standing rooted with Drogon, a tiny black dragon, on her shoulder to see the hate messages for Mirrorbound and the refugees of Dorchacht.

Even if half the signs fall over and seem harmless, there's something bitter about this — I was right. We will never belong here. Drogon screeches, sensing the discomfort in Dany's heart and with her rage, she utters one word that sends a small, burst of fire from her child's maw to the signage: ]

Dracarys.

[ But, even with her coat, a hot glow radiates from the embers in her heatsac deep in her chest – her neck visibly a deep blue glow of anger to match that of her child. ]

OOC

hi guys! i plan to also do an open private log for the second part of the monthly event. if we have kidnapping plans, that's where that'll go! this is for some CR building and pre-kidnapping plans since we'll be locked into interactions. :')

morning

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup has always felt better with something to do. He's not used to quiet, or to staying still - with no more pressing construction projects around his home or the forge, he's happy to head to Dorchacht to see where he can lend a hand. Not all of the damage is fixed, he knows, but they've made a lot of progress since the last time he was here. Still, there's work to do. One of the caretakers in an orphanage that suffered some fire damage wants some tips on a new roof, and Hiccup spends a short while walking the building and area around with them; Toothless is unmistakable, playing with a few of the children outside. They seem enamored by a black dragon - "Like Starlight!" one can be heard crying out happily - and Toothless is a champ, putting up with them crawling all over him with only mild annoyance.

He has a roll with some half-charred original architectural designs (it helps to know what was done when it was built, to rebuild it sturdier) under his arm, heading out to check the state of the roof again, when he runs into Daenerys talking to another of the caretakers.

He doesn't interrupt, but he does wave to catch her eye, smiling, a stick of charcoal stuck behind his ear.]

Momiji Sohma | Fruits Basket | Puca

[selfishwish]

I. a. Tarnished Reality - Dorchacht

[Three days after the teleporter is announced open to the public, Momiji slips through carrying an overnight bag, without bothering to tell anyone.

He hadn't ever expected to see Dorchacht outside of the Dream. There was no reasonable reason for him to go in person--he hadn't been one of the people to help liberate it. And shouldn't the ambassadors' and the first visitors' word that everything was as improved as they said it was be enough for him to go on?

It wasn't, though. His sleep's been restless for over a month, now, but suddenly it's full of dreams of the auction blocks he'd nearly stood on and of cages hidden in tunnels underneath Aefenglom. And, well--it couldn't hurt just to go and see, if they were being invited!

He finds a (surprisingly plain, for him) cloak and hood that (somewhat) covers his ears and makes the rounds. Through the ruins of the old Coven first, he can be found poking and nosing his way along, looking for signs of old life or lurking, recalcitrant conspirators. But there's just dust mostly, along with rubble and graffiti here and there.

The new Coven is more interesting. He goes intending to poke around in every lurking corner, just in case--but almost immediately, there's a helpful witch smiling and asking his name, if he wants to sit in on any of the classes that are still wrapping up, though it is rather late. He doesn't have the heart to say no, so he twiddles his thumbs and kicks his feet in the back of one of the last sessions for the day. But, as soon as it's over, he decides to borrow the face of one of the novice mages he was sitting close to and take a stroll further into the manor. He'll just see if he can get down to the basement, and if there's anything suspicious that stands out--

Which is to say, there's an odd child who sometimes looks like his puca self and sometimes like a somewhat mousy, teenage human (depending on how hard he's concentrating) poking around in the oddest corners of the Coven.]

I. b. Alterations - Dorchacht

[When he heads back out onto the street for the night, he's unsure where he means to go. His nerves ought to be resolved now, but they're not. Even the brighter streets of the Black City still feel vaguely oppressive, once the sun sets, and he fidgets and looks over his shoulder, trying to decide whether to make back for "home" or to find quarters for the night.

He's still standing when someone plucks back his hood to peer down at him, and he blinks up in surprise at an older, white-furred puca with tired eyes and a distressed patch missing from one of her long ears.

"Are you lost, dear? The streets are safer than they were, but you shouldn't be out by yourself this late--"

This is how he ends up at an inn for the night, crammed in at a little booth full of puca, pressed between the one who'd found him and a gaggle of denmates. He's not even sure, far along as his transformation is, if they realize he's Mirrorbound. From the sound of it, impromptu dens of found friends, after the uprising, weren't that far from the norm.

But...it's nice. Cozy. He's almost unnaturally quiet (for himself, at least), holding the older puca's hand when she doesn't need it and politely accepting any food or drink that's offered. By the time the evening draws on--dinner gradually transitions into stories and drinks--he's curled up in his chair and against the puca's shoulder, drowsing. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing just to stay like this? For the night, if he's invited and offered a bed. Or--for a while, maybe.]

IV. Back at Home

[But he does, eventually, return to Aefenglom, and outside Kyo's apartment building he's greeted by glaring, red letters painted onto the front wall, "Mirrorbound GO HOME."

He is a little miffed, and there are enough similar scrawls on the day's stroll that he stays miffed. Then, in the evening, on his walk home from Particularly Good Finders, there's a pair of human teens spraying something on stone, just inside the Haven--

They don't even really pay any mind to the petite puca-boy giving them a dirty look from across the street, and beat a path out of the neighborhood as soon as their artwork's complete. Momiji, though, is not nearly as harmless as he looks! And they have put him in the mood...for vengeance.]

(a)

[Hence, a half-hour later, the peace officer standing outside a particularly ostentatious manor in the Aristocratic District, frowning behind an oversized, walrus mustache at a woman.

"Miss," says the officer in a deep, gruff voice, though with the oddest hint of constrained excitement in his words' cadence. "I'm--umm, chagrined! To have to report that your sons were witnessed defacing private property earlier today. I'm going to let them off with an official police warning today. But you should know that next time they'll be subject to serious consequences."

What follows is a good quarter hour of the lady of the house calling down the culprits and giving them an earful, along with assurances that they'll be disciplined for acting like ruffians, while the officer...tries very hard not to snicker behind his mustache?

When it's over, Momiji barely makes it around the corner of the manor before the glamour he's been struggling to hold onto drops, along with himself, as he seats himself on the sidewalk and dies laughing at the top of his lungs.]

(b)

[Of course, after one taste of delivering justice, it's hard to just give up such a noble calling. Sometimes, though, local vandals are old enough to have moved out on their own, or he's turned away at the door by the help. And then he simply has no choice but to engage in escalated tactics.

He creeps along in the dead of night, then, with a bucket of his own green paint and, once he's out of the Mirrorbound's neighborhood, another borrowed face, to the homes he's tailed the perpetrators to. Once the place settles for the night, he lights a lantern, gets close, and makes quick work of delivering payback on a stoop or a front-facing wall, with such cutting messages as:]

"GRAFFITI-ING PEOPLE'S STUFF IS MEAN!!" and "YOU SHOULD STOP BEING A BUTTHEAD!!"

[Occasionally, when he's done, he can't help but duck off down the street and admire his handiwork from afar, his cottontail eagerly twitching. He is the hero Aefenglom deserves.]

IV b

[integrous]

[ Usually Asahi would be prefering to be sleeping at night. In her bed. Like a normal person. But a combination of sheer paranoia over everything that seems to be going on here lately and harpy instincts lead her to instead sit on a roof and think at night.

And although the streets aren't entirely quiet at night, they're a lot more calm. Calm enough to easily spot it when something does go on, especially with harpy sights. Asahi can easily spot someone sneaking around and..

Oh god, it's graffiti. Is that another one of those idiots putting those terrible things all over the place? Before Momiji can even finish the sentence, Asahi is already flying over - no longer paying attention as to what exactly is being painted on the wall. And it's that misconception that brings her to quickly drop down in the alley he has fled to to look at his work from a distance.

Asahi spreads her wings wide, crossing her arms and trying to seem as intimidating as she can. ]

Hey, what do you think you're doing, you jerk?!

[ She apparently doesn't realise who it really is.. ]

Henry | Witch

[morbide]

DORCHACHT;

A. THE (OLD) COVEN.

Hmm... Still no good. I thought a change in scenery would help jog my memory, but I'd have better luck trying to remember the old-fashioned way, at this rate.

[His ability to perform the Coven's style of divination isn't refined, and his spellwork makes that evident to any Witch skilled in the field. Henry sits on the ground, his cape pooling around him as he tries to perform magic in the decrepit basement of the Coven. Though some may be sensitive to the ghosts of this room and its recent history, Henry seems entirely unbothered.

Though he doesn't turn to face his new company, he acknowledges their presence:]

Divination was so much easier for me back home. This stuff doesn't make a lick of sense. Any tips for a seasoned-sorcerer-turned-mediocre-mage?

B. THE DORCHACHT WILDE.

[Leading his own small band of fresh Wilders, anxious to make a big first impression, Henry suddenly raises his arms on either side of his body, motioning for anyone nearby to halt in their tracks. When he speaks, his voice is a cheery singsong.]

I wouldn't take another step forward, if I were you! Unless you WANT to step right into some kind of illusory trap.

[With a sideways grin and a tilt of his head, Henry regards the gaggle of paling Dorchacht Wilders and his fellow Mirrorbound.]

Yeah. There's a pre-tty imposing source of magic up ahead. I sort of specialize in this kind of stuff, you know? Anyway, I'd hate to have to put any of you out of your misery so soon. Say, think you can give me one of your hairs?

[Henry does not drop his arms, but he turns toward you.]

AEFENGLOM;

C. MARKET.

Pssst. Hey!

[Lurking in an alley as a good dark mage should, Henry still stands out with his silvery hair. He beckons with a scoop of his hand.]

I really wanna get that lady some GENUINE publicity. Something that really sells old Orin's soap, I mean! So I whipped up a batch of my own soap and need someone to test 'em out. Will you?

[Sure enough, Henry's holding a tray of soaps. They are a brick red in color, and certainly not that Witch's soap. What could they be...? He offers them with an earnest smile.]

Pretty please, with an eyeball on top? Hee hee!

D. [CLOSED TO NILES.]

Aw, man. She's gonna have my head on a plate for that one... With brains for filling, and blood for garnish...

[So working for Karen's isn't going too well. Henry's not known for being a cook, and baking takes a different level of finesse. He was excited at the idea of getting to work around so many delectable sweets he's scarcely had the chance to see before, but Karen's severity and inflexibility isn't what he had in mind.

The budding necromancer bows away from his work station, almost as though trying to steal away. He crawls on all fours (threes? he's holding something) under tables and across the floor before rising again at a different work table with his awful... eclair-looking thing. Maybe he what he needs is to sit next to people who aren't as awful at pastries as he is for a change!

Henry turns to chat up his new acquaintance of a stranger, donning one of his sheepish smiles.]

Hey, how're you doing with this sweet stuff?

Market!

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose had been minding her own business when she saw the stranger beckon towards her. Every part of her feels like this is a bad idea, but she’s morbidly curious. Reluctantly, she walks over.]

I beg your pardon? I don’t see any reason I should trust soap sold out of a back alley.

[Her arms are crossed and she’s frowning.]

h.c. andersen | witch

[manlet]

I | A TARNISHED REALITY
[How could Andersen resist the allure of Dorchacht's offer? Come see, they say. We've changed. And though he hasn't experienced the horrors of Drummond's Coven firsthand, he is undeniably curious to know how people are living in the aftermath. It's his natural itch as a writer, as someone who must know the ticks of a story for better or for worse.

He shows up in attire much more casual (in his view) to his usual fit. If one is going to a city to gauge its spirit, one has to be in the right attire for it. That's his mindset, anyway.

Andersen arrives at Dorchacht on Ieneur 6th and will be staying until Ieneur 11th. He doesn't want to spend the money for a longer "vacation."

He spends some time at the old Coven-turned-museum, with his leather-bound journal tucked beneath his arm. He walks what grounds are open with a solemn air and, near the end of his stay at Dorchacht, he goes and buys flowers so he may lay them at the shrines.

At the current Coven, he joins the lessons. In his eyes, it's a waste of time to teach himself combat spells. He's always been a supporter, first and foremost, and if he can aid efforts into purifying the Cwyld, he'd be more than happy to. Andersen focuses on plant magic and defensive spells. If your character happens to be learning as well, he'll edge slowly into your space, his hair dotted with flower petals from his failed (read: exploded) spells.]

How are you doing that?

[And, of course, there's the storytellers. Andersen slips into their company as easy as anything. He laughs and drinks with them, and is in extremely high spirits. At one point in the night, he'll slip into the seat next to you and cheerfully say:]

We ought to take some of these bards back. A collaboration with Aefenglom's artists would be fantastic!

II | BOND PRACTICE
[To hear about the people secondhand is all well and nice, but Andersen knows that some subjects are best seen firsthand. Which is to say: he goes to the public seminars to see how the Monsters have been faring in the aftermath of... well, everything. And as it turns out, he winds up netting the company (and temporary bond) of one very quiet sheep faun, whose hairdo is kinda. Wild. They stand right behind Andersen - they kind of hover, actually, silent and unknowable.

Andersen grabs you by the sleeve and lowers his voice.]

You look tough enough. Come with us.

III | BACK AT HOME
[Andersen returns home and goes back to his usual routine. He continues to take lessons at the Coven, with a special focus on healing and enchantment - if you're injured or you're looking for someone to practice their questionable magical medical skills on you, Andersen's your man.

He frequents DiplomaTea for the drinks and at night visits the Dulcet to watch the performances - sometimes, you'll see him trying to sweet talk his way into the backstage, though he's usually turned away by exasperated bouncers.

But the tension in Aefenglom is twisting tighter and tighter. On his way home one night, Andersen is bowled over by a pair of young vandals fleeing the scene when he turns the corner. His bag goes flying, the books inside flying out.]

Hey, you brats! Watch it!

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?

Kaede | Monster | OTA

[long_live_the_queen]

I. [Dorchacht]

[This...wasn't what Kaede expected. Her time in Dorchacht—the dream and the waking city—had been...unpleasant. The dreams were worse, and she was just as dubious of sleeping here.

But in the day, the city wasn't holding to its old promises. The layout was still the same—but more open, somehow. The auction blocks were gone, the cages torn free of the windows. And she could actually see the sky in glimpses through the endless narrow spires—less like the bars of a prison, but hands reaching for the dim light. The smog haze in the sky still cast much of the streets below them into shade most of the day, but that was fine by Kaede.

She didn't escape detection—given how bright and flashy her colors were, even if she wasn't a Chimera. Even though she didn't take part in much besides being penned up like some garish canary in the then-Coven building, her forays out without a collar or glazed eyes hadn't gone unnoticed. The Witch at her side then caused most humans to simply dismiss Kaede's presence—but their Monsters saw otherwise, even if they could say nothing about it if they weren't Ordered to. The Monsters remembered.

A gaggle of them had cornered her while Kaede had stopped to peer up at the spires, pelting her with excitable questions. You were here for The Rising! What did you do? How did you get so close to a Witch without a collar before? It wasn't a...Bond, was it?

One particularly enthusiastic Puca was right in front of her, entirely unafraid of the Chimera's aura and her ears almost bobbing in Kaede's face.

Suddenly being able to speak freely after years—or longer—of repression and restraint was something Kaede understood well. She still looked distinctly uncomfortable with this sudden social attention, ears flat and her tail rapidly curling and uncurling on itself. Please send help.]

II. [Aefenglom]

[Once she'd gotten used to the absolutely-medically-sound feeling of herself being yanked through the teleporter in parts and stitched back together at the end of it, Kaede had stepped back and forth between the cities with...ease, sort of. She still felt a bit queasy if she jumped through the thing more than once in a day. Something about being a Chimera and sensitive to these things, a slightly unnerved attendant said when asked.

Back in this city, the unease and doubts of Dorchacht had given way to familiarity. The lingering snow and ice was no impediment to someone with clawed feet like hers.

Kaede had a camera in her hands; quite boxy, but without an attached flash pan. It didn't need one—not when a burst of light magic from its mechanical guts would do just fine. It didn't have a bulky tripod either, and its operator possessed wings, claws, a healthy capacity for climbing, and a thorough disregard for things like trespassing. Kaede could be found in any number of places—on a rooftop taking a picture of the city's skyline and fending off overly curious pigeons, with the camera pointed down at one of the Shopping District's busier squares to see how well it captured motion, at the mansion's garden though there weren't terribly many blooms to photograph. Even in darker side streets, to see how the camera dealt with low light.

She wasn't trying to get anyone in the pictures, and tended to be where people weren't anyway. But, well—Kaede hadn't gotten the hang of all the buttons yet. Or the timing, which was quite a bit longer than she was used to. An unexpected flash of magnesium-bright light tore out of the box camera at unexpected moments, falling on someone equally unexpected—or in at least one instance, directly in Kaede's face when she tried to see if the flash bulb needed cleaning.

She was rather unhappy about that one, if the shout and bitten off curse was any indication.]

[Wildcard]

[My plotting post is here, or feel free to contact me on plurk for other prompts!]

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?

[wordsinthesoul]

A. Dorchact - Surrounds

[The absence of the oppressive fog is a huge relief to Thancred on first stepping back into Dorchact- looking up for a moment, before he turns his attention to the others to see how they're holding up. For a first step, it's a good look… though overall, he's intending to stay in sight of the others as much as he can. And while he can't hep some concern seeing the patrols, the removal of the blocks is a huge improvement. He shifts his wings, still, but-]

Well. I'd say it's a better sight than before, at least.

[And later on, the storytelling has caught Thancred's ear, and he's settled in at one of the bars to listen, a mug on the table.]

Ah, now there's something to inspire the muse… and so it has, it seems. Towards companionship, forged and true- not bad, hm?

B. Wilde - Dorchact

[Well. There's nothing like finding out what's out there beyond going out there in person, is there? And if they help out a little here, Thancred imagines they'll be able to foster cooperation- and perhaps find something of use against the world's troubles. Though perhaps the latter's better suited once the area's been scouted a little more.]

It rather feels like exploring somewhere entirely new, don't you think? All the more reason to keep our guard up.

[But for now, while the area is clearly overgrown, the sounds are normal- though it smells perhaps a little sweet.]

C. Graffiti - Aefenglom

[That's… not exactly what he would have liked to come back to, and Thancred stares for a moment, bfore shaking his head.]

…Well. How charming. [Hardly what he'd hope for, but… he's going to look for cleaning supplies. It's hardly motivating seeing that.]. Let's take this one step at a time.

[…which doesn't mean there won't be interruptions, of course…]

D. Wildcard

A!

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose had not come to the bar for the storytelling, but that doesn’t mean she’s not intrigued. Especially when she sees a friendly face. Mug in hand, she takes a seat next to Thancred...and smiles.]

Yes. From the stories I’d heard, I’d honestly expected a lot worse.

[Not that there aren’t things that concern her here, but.]

[thejoyrider]

i. hello dorchacht

[Marie has heard a lot about this city. She was not here to witness its fight for freedom and how the Mirrorbound of Aefenglom contributed to it. Even her friends did not speak much about their experiences here, preferring to gloss over the details. “It was bad”, “It was not a place for someone like you to stay”, “It was a place I never want back to” they would say.

However, she disregarded their advice because she wanted to see the infamous city of Dorchacht with her own eyes. And here she was, taking a stroll through its streets, not unlike on her first day in Aefenglom.

Perhaps the her fellow Mirrorbound will be more willing to share their stories now that there was no escape from the subject? Show her around, tell her about their experiences from a few months before? She can handle it, really!]

c. get two bonds and third is for free

[Bond seminars? That is perfect for Marie! She will gladly hold as many of these as the locals want her too and then some extras as well. Too bad she will not be offered the temporary bonding potion here - she has her two Bonds already, after all - but that is still fine, since she gets to talk about them!]

I have two Bonds so far, although I really hope this number can increase in future! One of my Bonded is a Witch and the other is a Chimera. I might be cheating a bit since we did not exactly meet in Aefenglom... but I am glad for the Bonds because thanks to them we were able to form a new form of connection we did not have before! I am grateful to have been given this opportunity and...

[Oh, is this a familiar face in the crowd? Someone who is not of the locals came to listen to her talk about Bonds? Maybe add something of their own? Or is just waiting for her to finish?]

wildcard!

[let’s discuss something on Plurk or Discord or elsewhere!]

I.

[manlet]

[Andersen hasn't experienced Dorchacht for himself. He's heard tales of what's happened - knows that some of the Mirrorbound have suffered under this city's Coven - but the traces of these horrific acts are being cleaned up by the new leadership. He recognizes the slow wheels of change happening in this city and is quite pleased by it.]

Well, well! If it isn't Santa Maria!

[He chuckles at his own joke as he sidles up to Marie.]

You've no entourage with you? I was certain Mozart and Salieri would be up in arms over you walking around by yourself.

Papyrus } Turnskin } OTA

[spaghettimonster]

I - AEFENGLOM ERRANDS
For much of the first couple weeks, Papyrus spends a lot of time in the Wildes surrounding Aefenglom. Between the upcoming Mirrorbound-owned tattoo shop and Mettaton's request, he has a lot of cause to be out gathering supplies... And with Chandra's anger driving her out of the city to go wreck things, well. Even if he's not tagging around with her directly, he'd like to be close enough to maybe help in an emergency. If it comes up.

So, some of the time he's tagging along with her within shouting distance - far enough for her privacy, close enough either could intervene if the other's ambushed. Other times, he heads out with other people - Wilders patrolling, other Mirrorbound running errands of their own. One way or another, he's crossed paths with you.

"So what brings you out here?" he asks, possibly for the second time - his thoughts having wandered until he forgot.


II - BOND DISCUSSIONS
A few times, mostly in the first week of the month, he ventures into Dorchacht to see firsthand the changes that everyone has wrought. He's a startling sight to the people of Dorchacht, having not been part of the revolution... But people who realize he's not some kind of necromantic construct quickly realize - he's so strange, he must be a Mirrorbound. And a few of those people, excited by this, drag him to nearby demonstrations on Bonds.

He lets them drag him along, curious just what's going on in them... And when it comes to talking Bonds, he's down for it. He regales them with the benefits of his bond, how his first few full moons always resulted in a wrecked room as he hurt through the shifting and lost consciousness... and, after the bond, remained sedate enough to eat the snacks put out without wrecking anything not meant for it. He still didn't remember things, but wow! What an improvement! Knowing that he has a friend out there who cared enough to help through it, such a difference.

Once or twice, though, they don't just want to hear about his improved shifting experience. They want to hear about his Bond! And more than that, his Bonded. As they insist, asking leading questions and pushing for a reaction... they get one. One of annoyance.

"Wow! That's private! Stop prying, you're being rude," he scolds with a scowl.


III - CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
And once or twice... He loiters outside the unchanged walls of the small district where the captured Drummond supporters are being held. The guards aren't shooing him away like they are so many others - he's talked with them, and they've organized visiting hours for the captives.

No, what he's doing is standing just a little out of (ordinary human) hearing range, giving himself a pep-talk.

"I'm great, and smart, and insightful! I thought of this before anybody else... Even if they don't know that, even if they never realize it, they'll be glad to have me! And my words will surely guide them...!"

Closed to Cú

[silentsavant]

As it turns out, the Black City is no longer quite so shrouded in darkness and laden with oppression as once was. Soren's self-guided tour turned up that much. There were plenty of places worth checking out, from the scrubbed walls to the new Coven building. Great change really did seem to happen overnight. It shouldn't be reassuring to see growing pains in the streets with leftover Drummond supporters being detained and many meek Monsters still wary of humans, but it made the startling transformation seem all the more real and natural.

Many aspects of the new city are worth checking out, but a trouble cannot escape his mind. One of his prevailing worries revolves around his current lack of a stable Bond. Moving through the neighborhoods where he and Yako had once worked together to improve the lives of the less well-to-do residents only serves as a heavy reminder of what's missing. He can't count how many times the people greeted him with warm exuberance before asking him where his sweet and helpful Bonded was. He disappointed them at every turn. They pitied him. He didn't know how to take it. Soon, the dull pain of severance pulsing within his chest pulled harder on him, and he steadily became more reluctant to even explain to them the truth anymore.

Two months is all Soren has, he figures. Two months and who knows how feral he will become when the sisters wax their fullest. The thought of losing control scares him. But ideally, he would like to take care of this sooner, if only to quell the occasional ache in his chest with more than just the medicine Waver had helped him acquire.

It is with this weighing down upon him that Soren encounters Caster by the walls. Chances are, he already has enough Bonds, thinks Soren with bitter jealousy, but that doesn't mean he won't need a backup someday. Nobody is immune to losing bondmates, and he has a feeling Caster might be a worthy prospect to consider.

Soren may look quite different since the last time they met, whenever that may have been. Most notably, a long, slender tail spiked at the ends trails behind him as he approaches calmly, which had been completely absent since the last time they were in Dorchacht. His horns have grown a little taller, too. The rest of his body's changes, parts of him Caster had grown necessarily intimate with, remain a mystery beneath the wraps of his dark clothes.

"Good day, Caster. Faring well out here, I hope. Find anything interesting?"

[futhark]

Return to Dorchacht has been— something else. Traversing the town now, months later after the events the Mirrorbound caused and participated in is like revisiting an old memory; or maybe an old nightmare that turned into a dream. Not a pleasant one, but one that won't disrupt sleep. Many Mirrorbounds found themselves distrustful of what ambassadors said, seeing how things are truly going with own eyes was the best what one could do.

Cú isn't certain if this chapter is indeed closed, but it gave him some peace. Enough to jump into removing the mind control spells. Another way to study the runes and enchantment, another way to help the city; and above else something to do, to not be left alone with just thoughts.

As Cú finishes for today and prepares to leave, he hears greeting of a familiar voice and turns to him— what a change. The draconic aspects more visible and prominent, but he gets the immediate impression that Soren carries himself with more confidence than the last time they talked.

"Greetings, this city has its way of putting us together, eh?" he slips a quip as he approaches and immediately offers with a smile "How about celebrating these happier circumstances with a drink?"

That's a good way of catching up, no? Up to this point, their meetings always happened during what turned out to be... big important moments. Sharing the found knowledge, traveling to the dark city covered in a veil of fear and suffering. Soren is a reliable ally, and he had heard of his helpful exploits in tandem with Yako; but they really never got to chat in more casual setting, didn't they?

Newt Scamander | Witch

[newtralize]

I. Coven
[Returning to Dorchacht is an odd affair. The differences are palpable to what it was like before. From how things were in the "dream" to his time in Dorchacht months ago to now was an impressive sight to behold.

The difference was also the treatment. His last visit, he had to stay on the downlow and now he was finding it to be almost a little too much with Resistance members recognizing him.

He hadn't gotten access to the Coven before, so he didn't know what it was like before. Seeing the abandoned building though and the signage was uplifting in a way. It was important, he thinks, to move forward while still remembering what had happened. Remembering history to avoid the same mistake was important.

Newt goes by the new Coven. He lingers to talk with others about magic. In particular, he lingers and helps others to talk more about their plans moving forward along with with things like first aid and herbology.

The Mirrorbound Witch can be found seated at a table with rolls of parchment talking at length about non magic first aid and remedial potions and more natural cures based on the flora and fauna accessible.]

II. Bond Lessons
[Newt had given a promise to try and help Dorchacht with a multitude of things. On top of bringing more knowledge on remedies, he had packed a plethora of plants and seeds into his briefcase to bring over.

He has left some of the plants with the infirmary and had talked at length about them erecting greenhouses on top of using their farmland.

Newt spends much of his time helping with planting seeds and introducing some of the young plants he had brought into their land. Whether or not these will take is another thing entirely as the quality of the earth and the weather and temperature would decide whether some of these would thrive or not.

Small talk is made while they work and when they aren't talking about the tasks at hand. Bonds are eventually brought up though when they're taking a break and walking the streets and Newt answers rather simply.] Yes? I- Yes, I have a Bond.

[He isn't sure what to expect, but it certainly isn't being crowded and asked at length about his Bond. It flusters him at length and he stammers and stutters while his face just turns unbelievably red.] I. N-No. He's another Witch. Uhm, he- How I feel about him? I-I wouldn't have Bonded with someone I, uhm, didn't have c-close relation to. [Help.]

ii

[thisisamazing]

[While Newt has been helping the farmers with the cultivation of plants, Hiccup has been helping a couple of would-be engineers from the city plan and start implementing a new, updated irrigation system into their fields to water the crops more efficiently. He's been roaming up and down the fields with the locals, making sketches, planting cloth flags at certain points, and discussing where wells may need to be dug. It's been nice to do some useful work, and while he and Newt haven't been on the same project, they've been in the same vicinity, which is always pleasant.

He jogs up toward Newt and the locals when they take a break, a bit dirty from his own work, but smiling. He slows down about halfway there, just in time to catch Newt turning red and stammering out an answer about his Bond; it's a sight that makes him stifle a laugh, filled with a warm feeling.

Which just gets his own buddies from the irrigation project, all Monsters, turning on him. They're not quite caught up yet, so Hiccup isn't aware if Newt's noticed them.] Yeah, I'm Bonded. It's- you know, it's really great when you find the right person. Like you're never actually lonely, even if you're alone, because you can feel them at the end of the string.

It's not strange to be Bonded to a Witch?

Not at all! It doesn't matter what your Bonded is, as long as you trust them. It's- it's important to be friends first, I think.

What are they like?

Huh? My Bonded? He's- he's amazing. I mean, really incredible. I can't imagine being Bonded to anyone else.