[ VOICE ] - dated before the first ship to Dorchacht

[interlucere]

My name is Lux, and I have a favor to ask of a few of you.

A number of us will be traveling to Dorchacht to... smooth over some rough patches in our relationship with them. Say what you will about how they treat others—I have my own opinions, and that isn't necessarily something I wish to speak about here. That isn't the point of this. Talks are bound to be tense, and many of us will be going in blind.

I am looking for a few monsters to align with, who won't shy away from gathering information, by any means necessary. In exchange for this, I offer a temporary Bond, during our time there; and protection if things don't turn out as expected. I will do what I can to keep you safe while in Dorchacht.

I am also looking for a few Witches willing to come together to push for equal treatment of Monsters within Dorchacht. Neither city can afford a war; and while I have experience with this sort of situation, there is strength in numbers. We have the resources—and it only makes sense to gather as many in one place before attacking this problem.

This is asking a lot, I know, but I want to be prepared for anything. I doubt I am the only one. I will be leaving in a few days. I would prefer to have these discussions before then, either in person, or here. Thank you.

Comments

voice

[bloodwit]

Ah. So it's the Witch from the Looking-Glass House.

[ it's - almost strange that viren feels like he doesn't know many witches.

regardless, "any means necessary" he can do. ]

If not a temporary bond, then... something else.

[interlucere]

Oh, hello there. I'm glad to hear from you again. I hope you're doing better than the last time we spoke.

[ She hears the hesitation in his voice and empathizes. ]

It's not ideal, but we need to be willing to look after one another while we are there. But I'm curious what this "something else" might be.

[bloodwit]

As best as I'm able, circumstances considered.

[ so - that's a yes. sort of. consider his behavior, he's a little surprised by her open friendliness, sincere or not. anyway! ]

The resistance's runes. From my understanding, the Witches here have been studying it. Are you familiar with that spell yet?

[interlucere]

I think that's the best any of us could hope for.

[ Lux pauses after his question. ]

More or less, yes, but I'm not confident I could recreate it without a visual guide. Why do you ask?

[bloodwit]

Because I need one inscribed.

[ flatly. ]

From how I understand it, with that compulsion charm they have in place, any Monster without one is at a greater risk.

[interlucere]

[ She pauses once again. Ah. That may be manageable—and if she can't do it, she can find someone who can. ]

Do you have anything that you wear regularly? Or something that could be concealed?

[bloodwit]

I'd like it tattooed.

[ go big or go home, apparently. ]

But if that is outside your skillset, then I'm sure I can find something.

[interlucere]

[ That's... extreme. Effective, to be sure. But Veiled Woman help her, this is not the sort of assistance she intended to offer. The pause she takes is longer than the last. ]

...I'm fairly certain something like this would be frowned upon by both Covens.

[ Please don't ask a teenager to be your magic tattoo artist, Viren. ]

private

[bloodwit]

[ ... he's going to. quietly move this to private ]

I have seen it done. ... But, as I said, I can find something else to inscribe if that is something you won't do.

[ but because he is curious as to her meaning: ]

Why would it be frowned upon? [ did he successfully hide his disdain for that? probably not. ]

[interlucere]

[ ...Ah. This time, she doesn't hesitate. She genuinely needs to know in order to proceed. ]

Here, or where you're from?

[ The question sounds conversational, but she's a bit unsettled by his tone. ]

[bloodwit]

[ a good thing he's using voice; that's met with a narrowing of his eyes, his frown deepening to a grimace, before the intensity of his expression subsides again. he does briefly wonder if she's a mage back home, as well. ]

Here, is what I meant.

[interlucere]

I've not heard of anything like this being done in Aefenglom.

[ Her answer is definitive, but there's a very clear distinction. She can only speak to what she's seen, and she has faith that Witches here wouldn't employ such tactics.

Dorchacht and beyond, however... ]

Consider how that might look, if anyone from this city—Witch or Monster, mirrorbound or not—were found to have counterspells etched into their skin. Any room for negotiation would lost. I understand your concern, whether you believe it or not, but we cannot afford to come off as hostile or aggressive.

[bloodwit]

[ in aefenglom, hm. a tidy specifiction. there are a few things that jump out to him about that explanation --

namely, that he does think it to be... weak. ]

And you don't think merely finding an inscribed object on me, or some other manner of inscription, would have the same effect regardless?

[interlucere]

[ It might be a weak sidestep to someone more practiced in this particular dance, but he isn't pushing it. Hopefully that statement will be taken at face value.

Thank goodness he can't see the wince on her face. ]

I suppose you're right.

[ A small concession, but— ]

But an inscribed object would more likely be viewed as something worn out of caution, instead of a proclamation of intent. Those runes were used by the resistance, and while we could feign ignorance with a piece of jewelry, carving a spell onto your body sends an entirely different message. Finding someone like that among our ranks could destroy what little opportunity we have to deescalate the situation.

[bloodwit]

And I'm sure the situation will be escalated, regardless. [ she can probably hear the thin, bitter smile in his voice. he doe already know of at least on dragon with the tattoo, after all, but nor does he have much faith in aefenglom's assigned dignitaries in regards to deescalation. ] But, if that's your speculation on the matter, then so be it.

[ there's a scoff from his end of the feed - he's not pleased with her disagreement, no, but he feels he doesn't have a choice but to accept it. he's essentially at her mercy in terms of getting anything magical done. ]

[ awful, that reliance on witches. ]

I'll clarify, then. You will still help me with inscribing an object, whether it be you or finding someone else up for the task?

[interlucere]

[ She can hear the disdain dripping in every word. A lesser person would have probably hung up on him long ago, but she's going to hear him out. She might not agree with him, but she wants to hear his side nevertheless.

But oh, that scoff almost throws all of that out the window. With a quiet, pinched breath through her nose, she forces herself to sound at least reasonably cheerful. Don't let him get to you, Lux. ]

...I can, yes. What sort of object did you have in mind?

[bloodwit]

On cloth, will do - Then I will sew it somewhere it discreet. I will deliver the fabric as soon as you are able to comply.

[ he would sew it within a lapel of a coat pocket, he supposes. if that doesn't work - then trial and error, so long as he has the rune. ]

[ and because this is a two-way street: ]

What information do you seek from within Dorchacht?

[interlucere]

[ That's clever, but a bit limited unless he intends to buy a decent amount of fabric. She gives both his plan and his question some thought. ]

I believe that I should be able to handle that, but you might consider making that cloth into a pocket square or a neckband. ... Although I wonder if enchanting thread might work...

[ She will have to ask around. ]

Right now, my focus is learning more about the history of Dorchacht—not what the Coven will tell us, but what might be locked away in that library of theirs.

[bloodwit]

Enchanting thread sounds as if it would be more efficient, yes. Whatever works, hm?

[ "the history of dorchacht," viren can do, as is accompanied with a noise of assent. he's genuinely contented with this exchange - not living in fear of some individual offhandedly issuing a command, wherein he has to obey to a fault, sure is a nice idea.

with a grin in his voice (and he suspects she might not be too fond of his next statement), ]

So glad for the assistance. Hopefully, we may cooperate again in the future.

[interlucere]

Feel free to bring me both. If nothing else, I can help you sew the runes into whatever you intend to wear.

[ Wonderful. ]

Of course, I'm happy to help. [ """Happy""". Hopefully the next time he calls, he'll be more personable. ]