video; un: METTATON

[glitzandglamour]

Name: Mettaton
Date: 02/20
Format: video
Warnings: mention of death (he's better now!), talk of the recent event (Cwyld, kidnappings)

[Propped up against a plain pillow in the Coven's infirmary is Mettaton. His manner is languid, slow, and his rabbit ears are in such poor shape that they no longer stand anymore, sore-ridden and flopped over. Cradled against his shoulder and chest is a man's head, dark haired with a shock of white at his bangs, fast asleep.

Ears aside, his hair... is perfect. He flashes a photogenic smile otherwise interrupted by rabbit-like teeth.]

Hey there, beauties! It's Mettaton again, coming to you live from the... infirmary. [Not very glamorous, suggests his flat tone.] My sincerest apologies to those of you who've encountered me over the past few weeks. I haven't been in my right mind!! And not only that, but I was infected with the Cwyld. It was horrible. Terrible! Disturbing! To clear things up: I don't actually endorse contracting the Cwyld. In fact... Oh my. I died, thanks in part to it.

In the end, I was offed by one of you lovely darlings, before I... Before it got too bad. I was told it was a duo! [Mettaton tilts his head.] If that encounter sounds familiar, get in touch, gorgeous! I want to thank you personally. I promise I don't bite much... Haha.

[The idol pauses heavily, stuck with a smile. This is the more taxing part of his broadcast, and there's a flash of remorse in his gaze. Mettaton is a practiced face, however, so he's able to pull himself together with startling ease despite the overall tone.]

I'm sure many of you know Mikasa Ackerman. It seems... she's departed all too recently. I looked for her. Everywhere. Trust me. [Mettaton sighs; it's clear he's trying to remain composed enough for conversation, but he allows a measure of genuine sorrow to soften his expression.] She's... one of my best friends. She's a remarkable human who never fails to entrance me, no matter how quiet and stoic. She's powerful, protective, and fierce, and you'd know what I meant if you've met her. She's amazing enough to dazzle yours truly!!

...I tried to tell Eren about Mikasa, but I couldn't reach him, either. If anyone knows where... if he's still here, would you be a dear and let me know? He still owes me money!!

[Mettaton smirks playfully, but it fades as he continues.]

Well. Ahem. As some of you may have known, Mikasa and Eren live in a perilous world. It didn't sound... [Mettaton glances aside, disturbed.] I can't help but wonder if she... If they'll be all right.

[A surprisingly thoughtful silence follows, but Mettaton's quick to shake off his reverie with a quiet sigh and a hard blink. He puts his best face forward and continues, addressing more the rest of the Mirrorbound.]

Speaking of perilous... After a week of disappearances, sickness, and kidnapping alike, how are you all doing? Talk to me, darlings. You aren't going this alone!

Comments

[glitzandglamour]

[His voice is a touch lighter and quieter.] Right... His proclivity for fae. Fae are quite magical, though I find they smell different from a Witch's magic...

[Idle thought there, one that Mettaton shakes off because that's weird?? His nose wrinkles.]

Anyway. It seems he never got a chance for redemption. How sad. But you did your best, darling. Even going so far as to Bond with him... Perhaps you made all of the difference in settling his monstrosity, for his final moons here! And for Mikasa, I bet. She was constantly being hassled by him. And his tongue.

[glitzandglamour]

Neither of us can see souls right now...

[Not in Geardagas, though they'd both seen their ability for it in memories. Mettaton isn't tripped up about that point: if anything, it just made his ability to see the souls in Emet-Selch's memory a touch more believable, though he couldn't help but marvel at how many there were, all lasting beyond death.

His hand's clasped, and he stares down at their fingers together with a wide gaze.]

... You're right. I'll mention it to him, and see if he doesn't recognize this. Not that I understand what's going on! Though... [There is one recent culprit that might be responsible for this jumbled mess, and he glances toward the door.] I remember hearing them talk about corruption, post... resurrection. It's a real concern!

[While he talks, his eye follows up Irhya's arm. Fixes on her eyes. Dwells on this, and "his" "friend" Azem, and the thought that maybe this is Emet-Selch's memory somehow. It would certainly mean something new. His lips part without sound for a few moments.]

So... You have part of the soul belonging to Azem, somehow. [A feature he cannot see in Geardagas, again. He'll have to take her word for it. His voice is light, slow, and thoughtful, as though still catching up.] That would mean you were, in another life... Hades' friend.

[omnicrafter]

Yes... in the distant past.

[Before everything went to shite, apparently. Perhaps there's no "quirk of luck" involved in it at all; perhaps it was simply meant that Azem's soul would be a Warrior of Light, though it's all speculation right now. Still undertaking the task of trying to fix everything, even beyond being sundered...

But why Hydaelyn's chosen? That, she still cannot answer.]

I think it took him a while to come to terms with it. It would have probably taken me a while, too, if I were in his position. Someone you used to know and love, reborn as a totally new person with little resemblance to the original... that would hurt. It would hurt just to look at them, to remember they're a stranger to you now.

[And yet he still regards her fondly, somehow. Nami had teased her about it being like a fantasy romance, and under better circumstances, perhaps it might've been easier to fathom. If they hadn't been trapped on opposite sides of an impossible divide... perhaps. She watches him in Mettaton's lap, breathing slow and even, and muses aloud.]

Probably why it's better he has you now, at least. He doesn't have to keep going on that path alone anymore. When the rest of us are dead and gone, you'll still be there. That, I think, is the most important part for him.

[whomthebelltolls]

I wouldn't go so far to call it that, but it was a better and more peaceable option than causing a scuffle and killing one of the other Mirrorbound.

[That comes with legal ramifications that she... doesn't particularly care for. She finds this place far too soft for her liking, even if it has also helped to soften her up a little. She wishes the city would toughen up on some things.

Regardless, she did get him to cut his leg off, so... she got some kind of physical punishment back onto him for it.]

Yes, they had some kind of odd relationship between them. I was not trying to get in the middle of it; but if it helped her, then I suppose all the better.

[judgementor]

I'll make a point of it, if you insist.

[Red Wine is not without his flirtatious side, and he flashes a half-smile as he delivers that promise. Taking care of himself hasn't often been too high on his list of priorities here, but he's grown better at it of late.]

After all, you'll want me at my best.

[glitzandglamour]

[Mettaton closes his eye to consider this. He remembers once wondering if Emet-Selch had ever met someone he knew, only in the new world among the young races of people that had come as a result of his broken star. And with absolutely no memories of their world before, they would be nothing more than strangers indeed.

It's still somewhat hard for Mettaton to consider. Adamant souls that can be recycled in new bodies... Still a remarkable thing, even if it's only pieces of one larger soul. He thinks that if he met the soul belonging to a friend of his—Alphys comes to mind with immediacy—he thinks... it would be a pang of hurt, to not be recognized. He'd feel compelled to watch over her—or, whoever she became, if it were even possible for a monster's soul to be anywhere else.

His considerations are interrupted, and he turns his head to Irhya with an open gaze. His fingers return to Emet-Selch's hair. For now, he can stop thinking about the startling thought that Azem isn't his own friend; he'll consider all of that another time.]

Oh... No, that's. [Mettaton's smile grows a little sad, and he sighs, shaking his head.] Irhya... We come from completely separate worlds. And, as Mirrorbound... we have very little control over whether we stay or go. There's no chances of our paths crossing beyond our mirrors, if we're drawn to return...

[Geardagas was all they had, and they've already almost gone home once each. Mikasa's gone now, and Eren, too. Who would disappear next? But Mettaton closes his eye and lets his smile grow.]

I'd love to have him by my side forever. But, well... No matter how long each of us could live, there are no promises for a future together. So I focus on the marvelous moments we live in. It's hard for him, but sometimes even Hades can do that, too. [If only barely. Mettaton lets his clawed fingers run up the back of his neck, burying itself in his hair from behind his head.]

[omnicrafter]

[Her face falls; she'd apparently neglected to consider that. As far as she'd been concerned, they could just stay here forever if they had no further use for their own worlds.]

But...

[After all of this, if he ends up dragged back by the mirrors... Her eyes start to mist over.]

...I don't want him to go back to being dead. He should be here, happy with you. You should have that choice...

[In a perfect world, anyway. She swallows down the lump in her throat. And that's not even considering if they both ended up leaving, because neither of them would remember any of it, according to what Hades had said. Perhaps the Hades of her world would even still hold what she did against her, without all the things they went through to get to this point...]

If there's ever... [she bites her lip,] ...ever anything I can do to help either of you, let me know. I guess if taking it day by day is all you can do, I'll just have to keep doing that, too.

[glitzandglamour]

[Mettaton pinches a strand of Emet-Selch's hair in his fingers, thoughtful and with considerations that drift from the conversation, to somewhere more personal. Something to the tune yearning for the impossible; Mettaton has so much out there for him on the Surface yet, the bright beginnings of a career as a robotic star among humanity. It's only been but months there but he's eager and raring to go, with a storm of ideas to unleash and needing the right moment to take off.

If Emet-Selch returned home, though... He'd return to being dead, he knew. And even thinking about Emet-Selch's death—it reminds him that he'd killed him too. A whole list of Bondmates who had seen Emet-Selch to his death. Though he still can't help but feel wronged by it all somehow, he snorts, smile rueful as his clawed fingers squeeze her shoulder. Affectionately or for stability, it's hard to tell which.

And he sighs.]

I wish we had the luxury of choice too, darling. [If he had any choice... Mettaton bites his lip.] I'd take him home with me, if I could...

[He has family, friends, a career. He feels ever more trapped the more he thinks about it, so he... stops thinking about it resolutely.]

We never know when we'll be beckoned away. So... make it count. [He smiles at her—too brightly to be a hospital patient recently deceased.] Oooh, that's how humans live, isn't it?? Living every moment extraordinarily and extravagantly!! Ohh yesss!

[mettaton shut up you'll wake the sleeping ascian]

[omnicrafter]

[That does make her laugh a little as she tweaks him on the side of the head teasingly.]

Shush. People are sleeping.

[A pause.]

...I wonder sometimes how it is you're not human, really. It seems to me you are in all but physical body. I guess it's hard to think of you as a robot when you're so expressive and emotional, right?

[She glances down at Hades, her mind wandering again to Nami's earlier words.]

It almost makes me not want to get too attached... but I can't help it. I still wouldn't give you two up for the world. Though I know I'll have to go back eventually, I guess... the real secret is that I'm not sure if I want to just yet.

[discarding]

[Midousuji blinks when Mettaton laughs, then narrows his eyes—but is reassured by Mettaton's relating to his plight... interesting... peh. as if he'd believe that so easily.]

...Eschew them?

I don't really think I can... But if it's real, and there's no escape... maybe it's better to just think of this as temporary setback...

Huhhh, is that right. To be honest, even though I'm a talented athlete, anything outside of my specialty is kind of difficult. It never came naturally.

But... I guess I'd like to hear your suggestions anyway, if you come up with any. For health...

[right. his health. is he going to maintain that? it almost feels like there's no point, but it's sort of ingrained. it's weird, but Midousuji realizes for the first time he really... has no idea what he's going to do. it's strange to not be able to clearly anticipate your own trajectory of behavior.]

[glitzandglamour]

[At her commentary about his human-ness, Mettaton smirks, lips curling almost deviously. Knowingly. Of course he's convincingly human, he thought. He knows so much about them! He knows what they like to look at and eat, he knows what they enjoy driving and wearing, and now he even knows what they look like inside! ...He's not going to think too hard on that last point, but he is a shapeshifter in Geardagas.

Simply, Irhya gets a nod and a hummed "Mmhmmm~♪". He remembers Mikasa telling him that he's more expressive than any human she's met, so he's clearly doing something right.

Her next point isn't quite as upbeat, so Mettaton's smile uncurls into something a bit more gentle around the edges.]

I can't think of a single human here who hasn't felt that way, Irhya-darling. [He thinks back to his first encounter with that sentiment in the form of Fugo, long ago. He's since left, and Mettaton closes his eye, wondering if he'd ever opened his heart to any of these inter-dimensional strangers during his stay.] But in the end, you've got it! Our hearts do what they will. There's nothing stopping the tides of affection.

[He turns back to Emet-Selch, though his posture is open enough that he can easily glance between the two.]

You want to stay, do you... I'll put a good word in with lady luck, on your behalf. [He winks, but it's only conveyed by the charming tilt of his head.] I hear I'm popular with her. Maybe you'll get the chance to linger for longer.

[glitzandglamour]

I couldn't expect you to abandon your dreams, darling. Not if you're really as dedicated as you say! But, yes. See it as but a setback.

[That said, the very-sick-and-bedridden-robot (??? how does that work) nods resolutely, lifting his hand to tuck one of those flopped-over ears back behind his shoulder like he's tossing long hair. Yes... those ears are that long. (And good lord it looks like it was missing a whole chunk out of the side?!)

Mettaton chuckles, confident.]

You just wait, beautiful. I'll have thoughts for you yet. I've got a knack for human healthiness, robot that I am. [It's 100% impossible to tell if Mettaton's joking, sincere, or being ironic about the whole thing.] Until then, take care of yourself, Hotaru-darling. Ta-ta for now!

[It seems he's decided to wrap this conversation up there, as Mettaton cuts his own feed with the curl of fingers as a wave.]

[omnicrafter]

Yeah... I guess they do. Whether it's right or not...

[She takes a breath and exhales it in a half-sigh. He would say that. Even if he doesn't exactly know the extent of her feelings, it makes her feel better all the same. And like with Hades, it keeps her close all the same, so it works out well enough, given the circumstances.

She leans her weight against him fully, one ear pressed into his shoulder.]

Thanks. And... do try not to get yourself killed again, all right?

[glitzandglamour]

[Speaking of those shoulders, at least he had the good decency to remove the sharp, triangular guards that normally cap them. They're removable, apparently. His shoulders are fortunately rounded and easy to lean on.

Mettaton's laugh is only subdued by their current, slumbering company, coming out in something more like a chuckle.]

I'll do my best, sweetheart. I'm not very fond of it! I have incentive. [Incentive: it sucks. Also that lots of people don't want him to die, himself included.] I might not get so lucky next time, anyway! And too much life left in me to say farewell with a macabre finale. Though...

[He looks squarely at Irhya with the same easy smile.]

I'd be more worried about you. Don't die, either. It's no cake walk!