ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Name: Percy de Rolo III
Date: Septeril 14
Format: Video

[ Percy is visibly in the forge, no surprise there, but it doesn't seem like much work is getting done. He looks more than a little manic, not quite able to sit still at the moment. And also like he may not have slept much recently, which might explain it. ]

Alright. I wasn't going to...[ he takes a breath and makes himself settle. A little. ] I've been hearing a lot about bonds recently. And obviously, I can only speak to the Witch side, but for that, I'm going to tell you a secret.

[ He leans forward a bit, mostly to make the point. ] You don't need one. If you want to bond, by all means enjoy yourself, but my gods don't let anyone convince you that you must have one. Going without may not be pleasant or comfortable or even particularly safe, but it is possible. I've managed without for well over a year, and I--

[ Whatever he is gets cut off by a deeply unimpressed woman's voice somewhere in the background easily overriding him: ] Percival, what the fuck?

[ And Percy's eyes shoot wide with maybe just a hint of panic before the video abruptly ends. ]

Name: Byleth Eisner
Date: 5/10
Format: video

[ a dark-haired young woman in glasses and dark local fashion sits in front of the camera. she can't be older than 21, surely. anyway, byleth's been here for over a month and she's only posting to the network now. ]

I'm Byleth Eisner. I've met some of you already. I suppose you would call this an... interest check? [ she takes off her glasses, hanging them from the neckline of her shirt. ] Most of my recent work before coming here was in commanding my Emperor's army, but I'm an experienced teacher as well. Armed and unarmed combat, archery, strategy and tactics, riding, magic... rhetoric and composition. [ was that last one a joke? it's impossible to tell. her face gives no hints one way or another. ]

The Coven trains witches in magic, but that only does so much good. I'd like to work towards establishing a school where the Mirrorbound without martial skills can learn them. As it is, the Wilde is too dangerous for too many of us, and ad-hoc lessons aren't enough. [ she waves a hand. ] This is all... hypothetical, right now. But if this sounds something you'd like to either help with or learn from, please, let me know. In the meantime, I'm open to teaching one-on-one.

[ she seems to consider something, briefly, before: ]

... Also, firearms are new to me. I'm familiar with powder explosives, and I've seen cannons, but if anyone might help me to understand the use and maintenance of guns, I would appreciate it.

[ byleth pauses again. ]

That's all. [ and off it goes. nailed it? ]

[ ooc: open to fourth wall people! ]

Name: Percy de Rolo III
Date: Octeuril 21
Format: Video

[ The image that appears is a slightly harried looking Percy, smudges of soot on his face and a pair of work googles pushed to the top of his head, half hidden in his white hair. He gives the device a slightly distracted smile as he leans back. ]

Good evening. My name is Percival Fredrickstein von Musel Klossowski de Rolo III. Call me Percy. I have...well, I suppose it's half a question and half an offer, really.

I'm something of a tinkerer, you could say, and I'm wondering what sorts of things people might find helpful here. It's been made abundantly clear to me that I can't make assumptions based on what I'm used to back home, so. I open it to the world at large. I specialize somewhat in metalwork, so that's a start. I'm no swordsmith, but armor, arrows, [ there's the slightest pause before he makes himself continue ] guns, explosives. Anything with black powder. I've also a fair bit of experience with clockworks and other machinery, on the less dangerous end of things. Enchantments as well, though I'd hardly call myself an expert at it. Just enough to know what I'm doing.

The offer part is that if you do have a suggestion, I'm willing to have a go at it, free of charge. Even if it's something I've not heard of. I wouldn't mind stretching my skills a bit, to be honest.

[ The smile he's been wearing takes on a very slightly strained edge. Genuinely interested in trying new things? Yes. Attempting to keep himself too busy to think much about what happened over the full moon? Also yes. ]

So that's the sales pitch. Feel free to let me know if you have an idea or a request, I promise you that there's very little that can surprise me. Otherwise, thank you for your time.