aefenglom | un: qionglin

Entry tags:

un: qionglin

Name: Wen Ning
Date: leneur 28
Format: video

[Wen Ning, when he appears, has his hands clasped in his lap. He seems, perhaps, a bit twitchier than usual. The stutter is nothing out of the ordinary, though even that is more frequent than it should be.]

H-hello?

[Video is so awkward. This would have been so much easier over text.]

Um. So, uh. M-my name is Wen Ning. I'm a witch. I... I know some of my fellow witches have, ah, animal companions? Familiars? I wanted to know what... how you decided what was right for you. A-am I supposed to... have a gut feeling? Will I just know? O-or is there anything even to know...

[He glances around nervously, as though he can feel the judgmental gazes of everyone over the network.]

Thank you, in... in advance.

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I happen to have two, one of which is here with me, and the stories of how I came to contract them is different for each.

Alcor, my bird, I had found injured when he was still a chick, injured, and practically raised him. I suppose that helped make the decision for me.

Arcas, a bear, well she lived in the forest near an important artifact, and wasn't quite keen on me being there, but that was mostly because she thought I was a threat to her cubs. When she realized I was friendly, we formed a bond of trust that lasted for years, and she took up a position as my familiar to protect said artifact.

Hey!

[video is awkward, isn't it? it's why Styx is using voice despite Wen Ning's own stylistic choice here, still not having recovered from recording a video of his own for the network earlier in the month. it does nothing to dampen his enthusiastic tone - nor does it stop him from having at the unused camera, unbeknownst to the man he's addressing.

...that part's probably for the best.]

Uh, dunno how helpful 'm gonna be - was gonna take a familiar but then I got a bond before I needed to? But I didn't really think too much about it...I got pets, so I was just gonna match up with them.

[although he had been wondering if that was strictly safe, considering Charon was a fish...he hadn't wanted to overwhelm the poor little guy.]

Figure, like, long as they like you it should be cool, you know? Same as with a real bond.

It was easy enough for me. I already had a companion back home-

[Diarmuid tilts his device downwards, where a wolf-sized dog is sleeping at his feet. His ear twitches slightly at the sound of his master's voice and he opens one golden-brown eye just for a moment before settling back down.]

- and one day he simply turned up here too. I'm not the best at magecraft so I can't say whether Coill makes for a good familiar or not. I think any difficulties we're having are more to do with my own shortcomings than his.

[A pause. Then, smiling, he adds-]

Don't be nervous, sir, you're doing very well. What kind of animals do you like?

Edited 2021-01-29 12:56 (UTC)

So you didn't choose either of them here?

[He's not sure those are situations he's going to find himself in anytime soon.]

Have you needed the one that's here for the same reason other witches get them in this place?

I-I don't... have a bond yet either, so I wouldn't know.

[It's why he's asking about a familiar in the first place. He would like to delay exploding as long as possible.]

Nor have I ever had any pets. I d-didn't think it would be as... as simple as that.

Aw, is this your first time talking to the device network? Don't worry, you're doing great!

[ nami, meanwhile, seems to have no issues with recording a video of herself, peering at wen ning with a bright grin. ]

I ended up adopting one of the teleporting kittens, and when I needed a bond, I figured making Tangerine my familiar would work just fine... I guess it was more not wanting to explode with all the magic and taking the first obvious step to avoid that? But she's been great, and she's still my familiar even though I have bonds, now.

[he nods, another gesture that remains completely unseen behind the camera. honestly.]

Haha, right? Kinda feels like it should be way more complicated...but uh, really don't think it is. Just gotta figure out some good vows 'nd you're set!

[there is absolutely no requirement for writing a set if vows to say to a fucking cat, but no one has actually told Styx this. that's the problem with someone disseminating information who never had a reason to double-check most of it with a person in authority...or possessing more brain cells.]

Maybe if you hit up one of the pet shops around here you'll find somebody you think's cute, 'nd then the words'll just come to you. Get it all done at once, you know?

[It's mostly nerves, partially an overabundance of energy. Wen Ning does his best to look more collected, with only minor success.]

I'm not sure, I... I've never had a pet.

[It would have most likely been guaranteed a short lifespan if he tried keeping it back when Wen Ruohan was still alive, if one of his sons didn't claim it instead.]

I don't know if any animal would like me.

I am very fortunate to have two Bonded that are very near and dear to me. Honestly, Alcor gets to basically treat this whole experience like a vacation, as a result.

[It's certainly his first time making an open post to everyone. He flushes slightly at the praise, even though he's sure she's just being nice.]

I haven't... heard of cats like that. Teleporting...?

[The word is unfamiliar, even with the automatic translations this world provides. He's heavily distanced from his usual time period here.]

A... a vow?

[Oh dear. He knows there's some sort of vow involved with bonding to another witch or monster, but he didn't think there was one needed to bond with an animal. Somehow that sounds even more complicated, as the animal won't be able to tell him if he's getting it wrong.

What if he says the wrong thing and it doesn't work?]

M-maybe. I'll... have to consider that...

Are you asking because you've been unsuccessful finding a Bond? If you can find a Bond with a monster, it's going to keep your magic more stable for the long term.

[ she laughs a little — yeah, it does sound a bit unbelievable, doesn't it? ]

I hadn't, either, until I came here! But apparently some magic gets to the cats and they end up moving from one place to another in the blink of an eye.

[ as if on command, suddenly there's a cat sitting on her shoulder, orange like her hair, meowing. ]

Oh! Tangerine! Good timing. [ she turns back to the video while scratching her cat behind the ear. ] See, just like that! Just a second ago, I'm pretty sure she was playing with a ball in the kitchen.

[although this mean appears to be rather jittery as a rule, Styx can tell that he's become particularly nervous now. he gets it, honestly - it's the same sort of anxious fears he's experienced himself.]

You got any animals you really like, dude? Like, if you had the money for anything what would you wanna get?

I'm glad for you. Not everyone is so fortunate.

I have friends here myself. It would be more difficult to adapt to this place without them.

[Though he hasn't confronted any of them with the possibility of a bond.]

I don't want to be rude but I feel like this all sort of begs the question:

Do you need a Bond? Are the familiars meant to be an alternative to that?

[a familiar? he thought wen ning had been talking to someone about bonding before. but that was a while ago, and the way that people come and go here...]

A bunny would fit right in, but eh...maybe we have enough of those.

[especially with the flying ones. wei wuxian smiles, hidin some of his concern behind it.]

Did something happen that made you decide on this?

I know. It's a priority.

But I don't want to rush anyone, and a familiar would be a great help.

O-oh... That seems... startling.

[And Wen Ning is someone who's easily startled. Though he isn't as bad with that as he used to be, he would still hate to accidentally set something on fire with his magic because of the sudden appearance of a stray kitten.]

She's very cute. I-I'm not used to seeing people keep cats for much more than catching mice.

I haven't ever thought of owning an animal...

[He fiddles his thumbs, hands still clasped, eyes down at his lap.]

I'm... concerned I won't take care of it right. Th-that I might accidentally hurt it somehow.

[oh...that hits him in a very personal spot, and his voice softens almost instantly.]

Hey, dude, you don't gotta worry. 'm not gonna say it's real easy or nothing, 'cause it's not, but that don't mean you shouldn't try! If you're already thinking about that stuff it means you're gonna be real good about figuring out what they need.

'Sides, look at me -

[ah, wait. Styx is halfway through smiling by the time he realizes that the video hasn't magically gone on; there's the sound of quiet fumbling for a moment or two, and then - damn, that's one hell of a large dude grinning bashfully on the feed now.]

Uh, ok, now look at me! 'm real big, right? 'nd I got the same problem you do...but 'm still doing pretty ok. They're not scared of me or nothing!

[and they wouldn't feel that way if they weren't being taken care of properly, right? it had to be.]

So if a dumbass like me can do it, you're definitely gonna kill it. [uh-] I mean, um, do real good at it.

Not an alternative, really... A familiar won't be as strong as a real bond.

But it will help me until I can get to that point.

Oh. Master Wei.

[Wen Ning tries to give the man a small smile, which doesn't make him look any less awkward about all of this.]

Do you think a rabbit would...? B-but they're so small and delicate...

[He shakes his head.]

I... well I haven't had much luck with bonds yet. A familiar would... would help me while I find one.

You're not one of those who feels that their existence is a burden to others, are you? Plenty of people make Bonding a priority, and they're just as much in need.

I understand. [ No judgement, on her part. Bonding was a fairly personal, and difficult process. ]

In that case, you can never go wrong with a classic; a housecat.

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text; un: ursamajor

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video; un: firstspear

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