aefenglom | text; un: feal (forward-dated to the 17th)

[Ferran has had some thoughts about the fallout of the Circle's experiments, and how he wouldn't have been able to do much to help that night even if he hadn't been occupied with something else. He's lucky that neither of his bonds were hurt in any lasting way, but... what about the next time danger shows up? Is he just supposed to cower at home and wait because fairies are a fragile species, especially against the Cwyld? It doesn't feel right to him.]

I'm looking for some suggestions on learning to fight. Long-range, if at all possible. I can't use magic, and none of the powers I have access to can be used offensively.

[He'll get some ideas on that later, but it's not really a weapon, per se.]

I was thinking about archery, but I don't know how easy it would be to pull a bow out in an emergency or anything. Do they have collapsible bows here? [Better not ramble too much on his thoughts, though.]

I'm basically a beginner with any kind of weapon, but I'm willing to put in the work. If anyone has ideas or can point me to somewhere I can learn, I'd appreciate it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[it's definitely just theory!!

or fantasy. you know. similar exercises, right?? er, anyway]

Don't most upholding organizations or whatever like that usually have crooked people amongst their ranks??? That's kind of what I was getting at. Trusting the Coven utterly feels pretty naive...... lolol though I guess trusting anyone is arguably pretty dang naive

Oh hmm who knows. I bet at least a few, or other powerful types? At least, that's how it usually goes.

A cult though, huh. That's interesting. But pretty gross. Feels fitting this place would have all that too. Nasty. You know anything about the cult thing? Like what forbidden magic they were getting all freaky with, to start?

They were magically brainwashing people to force them into experiments with the Cwyld. Then they tried to execute their test subjects all at once as some initiation rite. It didn't end well for them.

[To say the least.]

Whether the Coven is corrupt or not, I think you'd have better luck starting outside their reach than trying to dive straight in. They hold a lot of the power here, which is why Mirrorbound get things like free housing without a bunch of locals running us out of the city with torches and pitchforks.

Wow. Awful! And unsurprising.

[though he does actually find that information a bit unsettling, Midousuji probably doesn't feel as strongly, truly revolted like that as he should, and he knows it. not because he agrees with it or anything so insidious—Midousuji's not evil, but... well. it's hard to feel much about much.]

Right, I was wondering about that, how this place seems to react to other-world people. So it's cuz of the Coven. I bet plenty of locals WANT to chase us out by pitch-forks, though. Mirrorbound must be an annoying thorn in their economic and cultural side. Even though we don't wanna be here.

So that's a lot of control, I feel like. I don't trust the Coven.

Even if I'm looking elsewhere, I'm still interested in their resources, though... Tricky, tricky, tricky...

Apparently the Mirrorbound have fixed a lot of their problems since we started coming here, too, so that's influenced a lot of the attitude. I'm sure there's still a lot of mistrust, though.

[While he can appreciate those efforts, Ferran has no real desire to try to fix up this world himself, outside of whatever keeps him and his friends safe. It's not really his problem.]

So you want to have your cake and eat it too? I don't have any advice for you on that one, sorry to say.

Oh yeah?? I see. Good to know, good to know...

I don't know about THAT, I think it's more like I'm considering the menu. I'm still not even sure how serious I wanna get about magic, or, to be honest, if this is even real. It's too silly to bear. Objectively speaking. And gross. So unbearably, crushingly gross.

It is a bit much.

[Ferran is decently sure none of his dreams have lasted for several months, but he can agree that there is a lot to adjust to that's utterly bizarre.]

Good luck on waking up, but if you ask me, it's better to put in the effort and not need it than be put in a bad situation because you avoided it.

[... thus the earlier weaponry question.]

What would you do with all your new free time, anyway?

Hmmmmmmm...

[a good point... a lot of people do also cite that they never die in their dreams—they always wake up just before it happens. so in theory...]

Ah? Free time?

[the real answer is nothing. unless Aefenglom sprouts complex, smooth roads, light racing bikes, and an entirely self-sustaining and self-sufficient, long endured culture of competitive road cycling, complete with the Tour de France for Midousuji to work towards for the sake of carrying his mom's honor or whatever... what was the point? he can't even emptily go through the motions of school, here. magic might serve as an adequate replacement, but... the whole purpose of carrying on was to move forward. he had an objective. and it's not attainable, here.

if this is a coma, there's nothing that can be done. if it's real, he has to get back home. if he can't go back home, he can't bear to stay here. anime teens need therapy]

I don't do that. I'll be using all my time to figure out a way for me to get out of here. One way or another.

Can you stand it for that long without a break?

[He has his doubts.]

Try not to break down from frustration and disappointment too soon.

I'M NOT GONNA BREAK DOWN, YOU MITE!! WOW! I can handle frustration and disappointment.

[that is not true at all. Midousuji, AS ONE MAY NOTICE, is sometimes prone to dramatic tantrums in high stress if stuff's not going his way. times of high stress when things are going his way result in a fit of yeehaw mania, but..... it doesn't seem to be in the cards.]

I rest when I collapse! So I guess that's what I do with my "free time." Rest!!

Sure, sure.

[Ferran will only concede in a way that is obvious that he doesn't believe Midousuji at all.]

I can't say that's the optimal choice. Breaking down physically isn't any better than mentally, you know.

[and that is. incredibly fair]

Of course I know that. Probably better than most people, actually. I know how to flirt with my limits due to practice.

You're not a fan of moderation, are you?

text; un: feal (forward-dated to the 17th)

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