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

[weiward]

My bonded. A witch, wears white robes like he's always in mourning. Having too much fun is against everything he stands for, so maybe that's why he seems happier here.

[or it might have something to do with wei wuxian not being dead here. unless lan wangji kills him himself.]

[clickclickbang]

Mourning...?

[White's a mourning color? Alright then.]

Either way, I don't think one guy can solve everything here.

[weiward]

Well, he does have an older brother.

[clickclickbang]

...two guys can't solve it all, either. Unfortunately.

[weiward]

[a little awkward laughter. he knows it's true.]

I guess we should all pull together.

[sigh. happy hour is cancelled.]

[clickclickbang]

Yep. And with the new Mirrorbound seats on the council, maybe we can figure more out.

[weiward]

Council?

[oh no, politics, that's definitely gonna make things worse.]

[clickclickbang]

Parliament, whatever. After the trials the other day, they opened up a few seats to Mirrorbound.

[weiward]

How are they going to choose who's in those seats?

[fulgency]

It is on a volunteer basis. Those who wish to take part may. Each member of the council is afforded the opportunity to sit in one of those three seats.

No one council member holds more authority over the rest.

[weiward]

What happens if too many people volunteer?

[clickclickbang]

That I don't know. I'm not good for that, so I didn't think to ask.

[weiward]

Yeah, it's not something I'd be interested in either.

[wei wuxian imagines that it involves listening to old men talk and...he's had his fill, thanks.]

impromptu video;

[taciturnly]

( NO THAT'S NOT WHY YOU FOOL. as someone already mentioned, lan wangji's broken up with most of what his clan told him to stand for, when it let you down a cliff.

count your blessings that he doesn't have the emotional strength to even think about strangling you anymore. he definitely does have to strength to stare, however. right into your soul. ) Wei Ying.

( stop fooling around. a sigh, deep, and an apologetic nod meant for the young blond man. ) I am Lan Zhan.

[clickclickbang]

Oh!

[...wow opposites attract?]

Prompto, nice to meet you, sorry I didn't mention that before.

[taciturnly]

( yeah well. you should see him when he's drunk.

another nod, longer this time. ) Crucial matters needed to be discussed. ( aka #priorities, so no harm done. )

[weiward]

Lan Zhan! I was just talking about you!

[and he dares to have this face and everything.]

[taciturnly]

( fortunately, he's way past wondering why he fell for you because if he wasn't, he'd probably ask himself every minute of every day. it's just something he's accepted long ago now, though... that smile is kinda worth it. )

Wei Ying. ( again!! ) Less talking. More research.

[weiward]

[he sighs. lan zhan, he'll be happy to smile that way for you. but you have to stop saying things that make it go away again - like nonsense about 'not talking' and 'more research'.]

But Lan Zhan, how much is there to really research? I bet it's the same thing on every world.

We should focus on taking care of each other, and those who can't take care of themselves.

[taciturnly]

( BOOKS DON'T KILL, WEI WUXIAN. )

If it were, we would already know how to rid these lands of the Cwyld. ( and... well. lan wangji sure doesn't. ) If you wish to help, we must first understand their laws and abide by their rules. ( laws of nature. physical. spiritual. aka figuring out how everything works and work alongside it. against, if necessary. )

[weiward]

[YOU ALMOST KILLED HIM OVER A BOOK just one with pictures.]

It depends on the laws and the rules. If someone created the Cwyld, then someone's not going to help us get rid of it.

[taciturnly]

( HE WAS YOUNG AND INNOCENT AND YOU DID THINGS TO HIM HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO COPE WITH OKAY.

but also, yes, that's exactly why research should be mandatory. he's not disagreeing there. he's nodding, actually, barely, but it's there, and after a pause: ) Then we must learn how to effectively break them. ( which requires... yup, you got it. research. investigation, and all that. nevermind that lan wangji just literally suggested they break rules if need be; for the greater good, so long as his conscience remains clear, he'll do what he must. )

[weiward]

...Wait. Lan Zhan, what did you just say?

[no, that's exactly the part that wei wuxian catches onto. he blinks a couple of times, as if making sure that this is lan 3,000 rules wangji that he's still speaking to.

wei wuxian's eyebrows lift slowly.]

You want to learn more...so you'll know the best ways to break the rules. If we need to.

[what is this tingling feeling inside of him right now, feels a lot like an l word.]

[taciturnly]

( ...okay, when you put it that way, it makes him sound a lot more rebellious than he actually is. it’s just. they don’t know how things work around here. where the plague comes from, how monsters came to be, magic, who did what and when. knowledge is power, and yes, if certain rules need to be broken somewhere, they ought to know and master the foundations—extensively, ideally.

but he knows wei wuxian’s mind, sharp as a blade, even though he always was an awful student; he’s not actually worried. well. maybe a little. but he’s taught him many things, and lan wangji’s world is now so much more than a monochrome tapestry.

so he nods, again; keep that l word coming. ) Mn.

[weiward]

[it's always the quiet ones. wei wuxian stares for just a moment longer before breaking into another one of his wide, lan zhan inspired grins. if he ever doubts him again, he will think back to this moment and be reassured.]

I guess I could keep you company while you do some of your research, at least part of the time. Refill your tea, maybe play some music for you. What do you say, Lan Zhan?