ii; magician, the stern will and unfailing determination

[complementing]

Name: Minako Arisato
Date: July 3rd
Format: Video

[Hello friends, here is a video of Koromaru. He's sitting on a bed, looking as happy and alert as can be, with a sign hanging from his neck that says:

ATTENTION ALL WITCH FRIENDS!
FOLLOW THE WITCH CODE SO YOU DON'T EXPLODE!
CREATE A BOND IF YOU'RE FOND OF LIFE!

Koromaru is patiently motionless for about five seconds, and then he raises himself up to vigorously shake his body, turning the sign around and askew. Minako laughs off screen, a hand reaching out to pull it off him.]

Okay, fine, I'm relieving you of your duty.

[Camera view change! Minako is now the focus, holding the sign with her free hand and offering a jaunty wiggle of her fingers as a hello.]

Yes, I know it's really dumb, but really dumb rhymes help people remember them better! And this is important. If you saw the Coven infirmary during that shared dream last month, I think you'd agree with me. Nobody should-- nobody needs to go through that.

I know it might not be easy for some people to make a Bond. It has a capital B, after all, it's important and telepathic-y and binding and things here are weird and confusing as they are without adding that to the mix.

But remember, you can un-Bond anytime you want! If you don't like your partner, you can find and Bond with a new one you trust later down the line. Putting it off will only worsen how much you're endangering yourself the longer you wait. And for what? Pride? Solitude? Forgetfulness?

[Her eyes go wide with a beseeching look.]

It's not worth your life. Please take care of yourself first. The rules in this world are different, and it hasn't and won't be easy to adapt to them, but this is about your health. You owe it to yourself to be in a comfortable mental and physical condition. If you don't want to do it for yourself, then do it for the people who are waiting for you back in your own world. Think of the promises you've made and the regrets you'd have if you let everything end here, so far away from home.

[She's quiet for a moment, and then huffs.]

So-- here! If you're a Monster and you're willing to Bond with a Witch, reply to this! If you're a Witch and you're looking for a Monster, you should definitely reply to this! Get it done so you have one less thing to worry about while you're on this world!

[A bright, encouraging smile.]

And seriously, if you're trying to find a Bond, take care, okay? The hallucinations and headaches get pretty bad.

Thanks for listening.

Comments

voice

[fifty]

I'm not here to find a bond but you can get potions at the coven if you want to help with the feral thing, so like, I dunno if bonds are really that super necessary. [You'll never take him alive, bond coppers!

Warning: potions endorsed by America may or may not actually work as well as advertised. Talk to your witch doctor before seeing if Potion is right for you.]

[complementing]

I didn't know that there were potions for the Monsters! I'm glad you have them. But Witches can't suppress their magic in the same way, as far as I know. We're giving off too much magic energy, it'd be like putting taping down a hole that's about to crack in a dam.

Voice;

[fiddlestick]

Well said! I hope people listen...

[complementing]

Thank you, and I hope so too. We should take care of each other, and make sure we're all doing okay. Miss Nessie and Mhairi can only help us so much. And I think they'll be especially busy after what happened last month.

voice;

[haillenarte]

[the pocketwatch catches the tail end of francel's laughter as he, well, can't help but chuckle over the animated and adorable shots of minako with koromaru. he's sympathetic to the content of her speech as well, but, you know... dog.]

Your caution is much appreciated, milady.

I do like your wolf pup.

[complementing]

I'm glad it is! I don't want to sound like I'm nagging people into doing it, but I think it's too important to not bring up.

[Koromaru barks when he hears mention of him, and Minako giggles.]

He says thank you. Though he's not a wolf, he's an albino Shiba Inu.

Voice;

[hearthebell]

Do you really think that there are that many people who are refraining from establishing a Bond by choice? The benefits are obvious.

[complementing]

It might be obvious, but it's never easy to trust complete strangers. Some people just don't have the temperament for it, or were taken advantage of before.

[Like this girl, right here.]

un: Caster | voice

[futhark]

[ What a well-trained dog... that's how you get all the views. *gasp* the dog is a clickbait! ]

But how many witches have you seen explode since you got here? And what I mean, some of us are surely enjoying our brief freedom.

[ The joking lilt in his tone, makes it pretty clear is not serious. Even if part of what he says is true. It's not that he's opposed to idea Bonds, but being untethered to someone is new for him. Pragmatic choice is to find someone, but, eh, he still got time... ]

[complementing]

[You've discovered her secret oh no!]

If that's true, then I sincerely hope those people are enjoying that freedom! [She laughs wryly.] I'm the last person who wants people to be unhappy or stifled by their life here. I just want people to be safe, in the end.

private

[digiorno]

[So . . . bonding.]

[Giorno has neither broadcast nor concealed his feelings about this. That is, he has not made them public on purpose, but one ill-timed panic attack in the Coven basement blew his cover for anyone who happened to be there at the time. Not that many people know, probably. But more than zero people know, and he hates it. His paranoia is at an all-time high, not helped, of course, by not being Bonded. And after the incident last month at full moon—]

[He doesn't believe, yet, that it's an absolute necessity to be bonded. Or rather: he does, but is choosing to lie to himself. Still, he can't help but respond.]

I like your rhyme. And Koromaru is a very good mascot.

Do you truly think there's no danger in a Bond? That it fixes all problems and creates none?

private;

[complementing]

[She hums softly.]

I didn't say that. It's not a cure-all.

[A little rustle-- she's reaching for a book, it sounds like, and flipping through it.]

From what I read, it's not a passive connection. Witches get feedback from their Bonded Monsters, and vice versa. It's a give and take from both sides, so of course there'd be chances for misunderstandings to happen, or feelings to get confused. It's just like any other relationship between two people. It takes work to keep it healthy.

voice;

[kaowont]

[ She's got a point, but... — might as well tease her a little first. ]

Hahah. Sounds like you're offering to be a dating service of sorts. It's reeeally cute, actually. So, if I'm a Monster looking to be matched up with another happy single, do you need to interview me or something? Ask me twenty questions? Get to know me and my hobbies?

[complementing]

Phffahaha! I didn't intend for it to sound like that. But if you want me to write you a recommendation, then [she clears her throat for a "professional" voice] you can submit yourself to a thorough interview process, and after three to five business days, a summary of your worthiness as a Bond will be available in paper and-or Pocketwatch format to distribute to potential partners.

[whomthebelltolls]

No.

[And then there's this asshole.]

[complementing]

[Aw come on Maria, she thought you were cool.]

Okay, thank you for your opinion.

video

[juzubeads]

[He just kind of automatically replies the same way -- video. Probably because he forgot about the new addition of cat ears.]

...what was that?

[The....sign thing.....? It was almost as if Shigure was around somehow.]

But ah. I dunno. I know they're supposed to help, but I just....

[Still seem so unsure about it since it seems like a Big Deal. And it is. For someone like him who is not the best with socializing and such. Kyo gives a shrug, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

[complementing]

[She of course notices Kyo-sensei's ears immediately but she will leave that aside for now because what she's talking about is important!!! Minako gives him an encouraging smile.]

I know. It's not easy. Any bond, even one that isn't magical, isn't easy to accept at first.

[voice]

[horkbajir]

[Toby's voice is deep, guttural.]

I have to say that I don't like the telepathic aspect, but what alternatives to these bonds exist are not as reliable or as long term as I could wish.

[complementing]

[A little hum of agreement.]

Yeah. Temporary Bonds are well and good, and I'm glad that people who are adverse to permanent bonding can use those potions, but-- well, from what I understand, having a Bond is the Witch's equivalent to breathing easier. [A laugh.] And I'm pretty easily tired out as it is, so any way that I can improve my health is worth it to me!

video;

[lonewanderer]

Good boy, Koromaru, [ Lex coos; she's petting Dogmeat, of course, so that neither of them can get jealous of their friend. ]

Honestly- I don't like the potential side-effects of bonding. I'm used to being on my own, save Dogmeat, and I've been burned by people I trusted.

[ Deep breath. ]

But I also don't want to go feral. I've seen how that ends, back home.

[complementing]

[Koromaru is pleased and barks a hello to Dogmeat, while Minako gives her a tiny nod of agreement.]

I never want to lose my sense of self. I don't want to hurt anyone. Not the people from my world who are here, and not the people from other worlds that I'm starting to make friends with.

text

[beariot]

I suppose I'm more open to the idea after the festival. [ And a lot of wine. ]

But even with the practical reasoning aside, it still feel like Bonding is a bit. Much. To think about.

[complementing]

it is, for sure

even if someone from the same world as you is in aefenglom, it might not be easy to ask for a bond

[Case in point, this girl.]

all I know is that the people who came through the mirror are special in a way that Miss Nessie and Mhairi can't understand. we're all in the same situation. we should have each other's backs

[Text]

[spaghettimonster]

IF IT'S THAT EASY TO BREAK THEM...
WE COULD HAVE AN EMERGENCY STOPGAP BONDING SERVICE.
BALANCE EACH OTHER OUT FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS!
NO LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO LOTS OF PRIVATE THINGS.
...
AND, UH,
DO WITCHES REALLY EXPLODE IF THEY DON'T FORM BONDS??

[complementing]

but having an official method of finding temporary bonds is a great idea! wonder if we could ask the coven to organize it...maybe people would be more trusting if the coven vetted potential witch or monster bond partners?

and also yes, they do, according to what I read (⌣_⌣”)

text

[lovebiter]

I've been using the temporary bonds. A few times a month.

I'm not gonna get magic fuckin married to somebody lightly.

[complementing]

Good! You shouldn't.

voice; Archer

[boneofsword]

Are you sure that putting so much trust in complete strangers is a wise choice?

[complementing]

Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet!

--but no, I never said it's a completely wise choice. It's a leap of faith, and it's understandable that the leap isn't worth it to some people.

[oceanschild]

O-Oh. I didn't, um. I didn't know you could undo them easily... they made it sound much more permanent...

[That does make him feel better; this way if someone is tired of him or finds someone better then he won't be holding them back. Paris for fucks sake--]

[complementing]

They really do, don't they? I think the locals need to start emphasizing that a little more. Maybe I can put together a little bullet point document together to make it easier for people to understand.

[Insert a tiny, quiet, tired sigh here.]

If I have some spare time!

Voice;

[darkbreak]

[He's been looking a little worse for wear, so sticking to voice here.]

Good job getting out the message, Koromaru.

[He does get what she's saying but, being without a Bond for so long might be skewing his perception just a little.]

Hope this gets through to some people. Trusting is hard and the amount of emphasis the locals put on bonding is... ["Awkward and nerve-wracking."] a lot for some people, but it seems to be beneficial.

[complementing]

I hope so too. [A wry laugh.] If even one person decides to take initiative because of this post, then it'll be worth it.

[Who knew it'd be so tiring dealing with stubborn people. Now she kind of understands how her senpai must've felt, dealing with their kouhai.]

voice;

[loadme]

What if someone doesn't have anything or anyone waiting for them?

[despite the subject matter, her tone is awfully relaxed and casual.]

[complementing]

[She expected at least one person to say this, thank you for fulfilling her expectations...]

You can always find a different reason to want to keep living, if it's not for someone or something else. Even "not wanting to die" is enough of a reason.