005 | Video

[clickclickbang]

Name: Prompto Argentum
Date: 2/8
Format: video

[In the background of this video, there's the (relatively) hushed sounds of a certain Sun King's voice, trying to get someone to stop and rest, as she should. He's being met with growls of "I'm busy!" along with some pots and pans clanging and chopping as she’s clearly trying to make Something. It might be a stew? There's still the remains of a varied breakfast and food packages that were just set on the table. Pointing this out does not appear to be much of a deterrent.

While all that’s going on, Prompto just sort of. Gives the camera a Look.]

So, I was going to let everyone know that hey, I'm back, Insomniac Delivery is back up and running, please do not try to eat my chocobo, photos will be back soonish, et cetera et cetera, but Caren dropped some interesting information at breakfast this morning and that takes priority. So.

[Pause for effect. An effect that is likely somewhat spoiled as more extreme measures of putting things on higher shelves is met with highly vocal protests decrying it as an unfair move.]

Apparently Dorchacht used to be a monster city.

[Yet another pause for further effect. And also a drink of coffee because boy, does Prompto need the (sugary, creamy, mostly everything but coffee) caffeine this morning.]

So, according to Caren's...contact? Before Drummond or whoever came around, witches lived in a separate part of the city because they were considered the dangerous ones. They said they treated the witches fairly and I'm pretty sure it'd be hard to treat people worse than how Dorch was when we got there, but, uh, maybe take that part with a grain of salt?

[And of course, in the midst of Prompto trying to explain, he’s interrupted by the menace in the background.]

This also could have been centuries ago so- no, I don't want tea. I don't feel like being drugged today, thank you!

That's not what-- [He lets it go. It's not that important right now. He plucks a ladle away from Caren.] It sounds as though they avoided the consequences of full moons without Bonds, but still engaging with one another.

[Prompto is just gonna ignore all that going on in the background. This is important. And also Ozy can handle Caren better than he can, let’s be real.]

They also told Caren about where Monsters and Witches came from, according to Dorchacht's lore, and what the Cwyld is...sort of. At least why it's a thing.

It's different from what they tell us here. According to their story, the Sisters freed the monsters from the True Fae and...Ozymandias! Don't put my knives there!

[And there she goes, back into the background. Specifically, onto the counter to save her knives. Her efforts are near-immediately spoiled as Ozymandias loops an arm around her middle and tosses her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

You're only going to confuse everyone worrying about something like that right now. If you’re not going to rest, at least focus. [He brings Caren back into view, setting her down, but keeping a firm arm wrapped around her. It would probably be a very nice hug under other circumstances.] What Caren was trying to say is that the True Fae then angered the Sisters by teaching humans magic. Thus, they created the Cwyld as punishment for their insolence.

Prompto, I trust you can manage from here. I'm going to remove the temptation to continue trying to cook.

[He barely waits for an answer before opting this time to at least princess carry Caren.

Prompto, meanwhile, stares in utter bafflement as they go off because that sure is a Witch princess carrying a freaking Chimera. Just for a moment, though, before he turns back to the watch.]

Yeah, what Ozy said. Anyway, uh. That was a lot, but there were other things Caren’s contact mentioned, but this is already pretty nuts so...any questions?

[[Prompto, Ozymandias, Caren. All three are available for questions!]]

Comments

video, un: jonas.

[coherer]

Did none of you learn how to present ideas in school? Like, not only are all of you talking over one another, but this is so difficult for new listeners to figure out.

(read a book, jonas. also criticize them harder, they'll love that.)

Gimme four months to read up on all these buzz words and I'll get back to you with questions.

[fulgency]

This form of communication is far from ideal or my preference.

[It's literally the first time he's ever said anything on the network at large. Old man pharaoh doesn't know about all these slapchats and tweeters and facespaces?? Why can people just listen to proclamations or write things down like normal?]

But to clarify: when we came across Dorchacht, the city itself was more or less ruled by a Witch named Morgana Drummond. The entire population of Monsters were enslaved. The Mirrorbound made the decision to liberate those enslaved and the city has made efforts to establish equality.

What Caren has discovered suggests that Dorchacht was once primarily run and dominated by the Monsters. She has also discovered something that conflicts with Aefenglom's understanding of the Cwyld.

[He stops there to allow for questions.]

[coherer]

(bless you, man. if you need him to write you letters etched into stone tablets later, he'll go out and buy some rocks.

jonas' expression sobers with ozymandias' explanation, realizing he may have been disrespectful. while his knee-jerk reactions typically manifest sarcastically, he's self-aware enough to take a calming breath in and apologize.)

That's– thanks. Sorry I– you know... was a bit of a dick.

What happened to Morgana Drummond after the slave emancipation?

[showsnopiety]

Currently unknown.

From what our allies of the city said, she vanished into the woods, presumed dead. Dragon, who was Morgana's former bond, spoke of their bond snapping. However, that's not a true indicator of death, as bonds can snap due to distance as well as death.

[A beat, and:]

We were also being completely intrusive on Prompto's announcements.

[clickclickbang]

Seriously.

[All he has to say on that, thanks.]

[coherer]

What have we leaaarned?

[clickclickbang]

[Ass.]

Next time, I'm doing this in the stable. Prim'll try and go for my hair but at least she's quiet.

[coherer]

(TRULY.

a flash of a smile, too entertained to resist.)

I think that's for the best, man. You guys seem like pretty good friends, though, if you're all hanging out like that.

[clickclickbang]

Ozymandias is our neighbor, I've only met him like, once before. But he can handle Caren better than I can, so...

[coherer]

Wait, that guy's name is Ozymandias?

... sick...

(this is what we're focusing on right now, a name. just a regular ol' teenager with a low attention span, gearing up to gossip.)

Are they– are they dating or something?

[clickclickbang]

[Prompto opens his mouth.

Prompto considers.

Prompto closes his mouth and considers some more.]

...I don't think so?

[fulgency]

It bears mentioning that attempts to scry for her have proven fruitless as well. Even those talented in Divination have failed to find her body.

Those in Dorchacht are willing to accept her death, but frankly, until a body is found or recovered, I shall remain skeptical.

[It just seems so unlikely that wretched woman would allow herself to die.]

[coherer]

Who knows what a seriously powerful Witch can do with their magic?

(they were brought here with it. that's power, something to be in awe of and fear.)

Maybe we can't find her, but we can stay prepared or– I don't know, put some of our own feelers out there. What's this Dragon's story? If he's still alive, wouldn't he have ideas on where she might go to lie low?

[fulgency]

Caren has perhaps the best knowledge of Dragon, so I would ultimately defer to her.

[Out of the three of them at the very least, but perhaps out of all the Mirrorbound.]

But it is difficult to tell how much information Dragon might possess about Morgana though. The magics that kept the Monsters enslaved took a great toll on their minds.

[So even if memory is not necessarily an issue, it seems likely that talking about it is unpleasant at best.]

[coherer]

Jesus, that's– that's horrible.

(they're people, the same way sasuke and stiles are people—they're only acquaintances and already it's sad to consider them falling prey to drummond loyalists. what the hell's so wrong about living differently, looking differently, or handling magic differently?)

You mentioned her needing to rest– is she okay? That's a lot to take in, especially if she talked to some of the Monsters directly.

[fulgency]

It is up to Caren if she wishes to speak at length about any of it, but she has been through an ordeal fairly recently and has not allowed herself much time to rest.

She continues to fuss over the well-being of others without putting much into her own.

[coherer]

They're always the stubborn ones, aren't they? (a half-smile, fond. anyone like that is appreciated by jonas.)

What about you? How're you handling all this? ... I guess it's easier to get by in this world when you're a Witch.

i am so sorry this happens when people ask for his thoughts/opinions

[fulgency]

It has been an adjustment to grow accustomed to the magecraft of this world, particularly as I was never a mage myself in my own lifetime and my abilities did not appear to carry over into this world.

But that is rather insignificant compared to what some have experienced since their arrival.

[He cannot and will not pretend as though the changes to his own body truly compare to what the Monsters among the Mirrorbound experience. There is a stark difference between frustration over the loss of strength and durability, and losing control over one's mind and form.]

I am, however, not immune to the attitudes towards the Mirrorbound. I was fortunate enough not to experience what Caren and others had to endure, but it was divine intervention and luck, not station or status, that protected me.

[Witches were among those taken after all. The only thing that mattered to the kidnappers were that they felt the Mirrorbound did not belong. It did not matter if they were Monsters or Witches.]

I think it is a shame that so much knowledge in this world has been lost, however. I imagine much of the answers that the natives seek lie within what they have lost. Perhaps even some of the answers the Mirrorbound seek as well. I believe the journey for all has been made much more difficult for it.

All I can do at this juncture is to offer my wisdom and abilities as Pharaoh.

[To protect and guide, inspire and lead as needed. What he does not specify is that his interests lie more with the Mirrorbound than the natives of this world. He cannot afford to make such statements, not with the council in its infancy, and in the end, there is only so much in which he can discriminate so long as the Mirrorbound find themselves in this city. He must not think with his emotions and see beyond that for a greater good.]

[...And, in the end, he would not deem the natives worthy of suffering under the Cwyld either. Those responsible for the kidnappings perhaps, but not even those who remained complacent are inherently deserving of such fates.]

And, of course, look after those I deem friends.

[coherer]

...

(looks from caren to prompto, then back. sorry, bro.)

I don't wanna' rain on anybody's parade, but "presumed" dead usually just means "will come back stronger and with a vengeance." (sucking his teeth with a petty raise of his eyebrows—evidently more at the situation then at any of them.) Just saying. We should probably keep an eye on that sitch.

[showsnopiety]

Oh no, I don't believe it at all. Especially when she's supposed to be so powerful and managed to take a city for herself.

We'll have to keep as good of an eye as we can. Not as easy as it sounds, but we can at least keep contacts, perhaps help train and encourage the Wilder branch out there.

[coherer]

Yeah, enslaving all those monsters... that'd take one sick, devious– (was going to say "bitch," but decides against it.

there's no sense in getting too worked up, so he exhales hard through his nose instead.)

Anyway, I'm in. I can at least help out by keeping my eyes peeled.

[showsnopiety]

It can't hurt.

[A beat. And:]

In any case...I would have a way for you to slip in, but I have no idea of your current baking skills, so.

You could just use the teleporter and visit the city yourself. I'm not sure how a patrol would go though.

[coherer]

Baking skills?

Uh, how would that be relevant to spying or whatever?

(sweet summer child)

[showsnopiety]

You don't think I managed to get the goodwill of the city by walking around and glowering, do you?

[coherer]

I mean, you could've? Some people find that appealing. Like, masochists. (...) And other grouches.

What do you bake?