ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Name: Yuki
Date: 2/27
Format: Video
Warnings: Mentions of death, recent event

[Yuki's wearing a plain, off-white shirt that leaves his neck exposed, where the spots of color shift gradually throughout the video, like a tell of his moods. He tries a faint, idol-like smile at first, before he settles into playing the guitar he holds. The tune he plays is soft on solo guitar, but with a hopeful central rhythm that it keeps coming back to. He sings along with it, familiar words for some, but for others they'll likely be new.

When he finishes, he puts the guitar down and folds his hands between his knees.]

Greetings, everyone. This is Re:vale's Yuki.

It seems like a lot of things have happened lately, and a lot of them weren't... good. I hope everyone involved is recovering well, and that no one has been seriously hurt. Mm... Even if that's too much to hope, I want to say it anyway. [He flashes the smile again.] I had some small trouble of my own.

Because of that, I'm actually looking for some advice. Since I know there are some garden shops and horticulturalists around, does anyone have recommendations for easy-to-grow native plants that thrive indoors? I'm thinking about getting something new.

[There's a bit of shifting, and he takes a breath before launching into the second part.]

Not to alarm anyone, but my second request is a little sensitive. If you're easily upset, please end the video here. [A pause.] Can anyone tell me about people who have left? About their last days here. Was anything unusual? Was it sudden? I'm not... I'm sorry, before anyone asks, I'm not going to pretend to have answers and I won't figure anything useful for anyone else out from this. It's just... something I need to hear right now.

[He loathes being vulnerable, so just ignore the deep blue color on his spots and the way he avoids looking toward the camera.]

Certain reasons.

Ah, anyway. Thank you to anyone who made it this far. This is Yuki, signing off for now.

Name: Mikasa Ackerman
Date: Backdated to about the 20th November? After regains but before full moon
Format: Audio


I'm not sure how many have you have heard. But there's an orphanage in the harbor district that... [She pauses, had Eren told everyone he was the mysterious benefactor?] That changed hands recently. They've been making improvements now, but there's a lot of things that need doing.

[She really lacked the charisma for this. A huff slips out as eventually she gives up and just goes for the good old blunt way.]

Children grow a lot and they need clothes that fit better and will keep them warm when the snow comes.

[And that's it. Message sent. She tried.]

[The smiling face of Jin Guangyao shows up on the sepia-tinted video of the Watch.]

Good evening, everyone. I've been considering several things for some time, and I thought I would ask my fellow Mirrorbound for their opinions, if you would spare a moment or two.

[The smile is soft, perhaps a little sad here.] I'm afraid that even if a way back to my home was found, going back would be quite impossible. Of course I am sure there are others who would hope to remain, if given the choice. Or perhaps some have not given the issue much thought? No matter which way your intentions lie, I would ask for you to please indulge me by answering the following 'poll'. Even if you have no interest in commenting further on the issue, even a simple yes or no would be appreciated.

I do think that, even though we are all strangers in this land, many of us share an interest in improving the world here. We are not temporary visitors, but rather, people whose homes are here now, and for that group of us, putting this forth plainly to the local folk this may be viewed well, I had thought.

Name: Leslie
Date: Octeuril 28
Format: text (and photo).

[ “On the back of the device, inlaid in the curve, is a small camera of a fairly decent quality, which allows for sepia-toned videos and photos to be taken and saved on and off the network.”

The Watches are truly a marvel. Despite a lack of anything similar in her home world, Leslie has been slowly growing accustomed to their functions. But she does occasionally make mistakes. For example, saving a photo on the network rather than off the network.

The photo seems to be a closeup of a wall where two somewhat wobbly chalk lines have been drawn one above the other. The lower line is surrounded by a smudge: the remnants of other chalk lines drawn and erased on the same spot. To one side, slightly out of focus, is a very magnified version of a fountain pen and Leslie’s hand holding it inside the shot. Assuming a standard fountain pen size, the chalk lines seem to be between 1-2 cm apart, or around half an inch.

Leslie adds a couple of notes onto the image. For her own use, she thinks, not realizing that she just published the photo to the network. ]

Aguril 23 - Octeuril 28
My growth spurt is finally here!

[ It seems that Leslie has been measuring her own height against a wall:specifically, a patch of wall normally hidden behind her dresser to make it harder for anyone to find out about what has been up until now a very stalled record of growth. She’d been in the habit of checking her height very frequently, but even without experiencing the attack on Dorchacht or the hunt for Morgana personally, there have been too many stressful events for her to remember to do so over the past couple of months, with the benefit that her finally arrived growth seeming a little more dramatic. A little. ]

Remember to find out which foods promote faster growth to accelerate the change.

How to casually let people know I’m growing:
1.

[ The list is empty. She could not brainstorm a way to brag about this small change in height in a way that isn’t embarrassing before saving the picture in what she thought was off the network. She thinks she can get to it later. ]

Name: Henry
Date: 10/07
Format: voice (please feel free to theadjack!)

I've been thinking about this decision we're left to make about Morgana Drummond. Sheesh, talk about a toughie, right? I mean, why NOT kill Drummond dead? Sounds easy-peasy to me! Dorchacht's Coven is even preparing the pyre and everything. Yay, fire!

[Henry busts out in a raucous laugh.]

You have to admire that initiative. Oh, by the by, you can't resurrect bones without the body stuffs, I guess. Reanimation ONLY. Trust me on that.

So anyway, they say they're gonna seal away her ashes. But I can't help but wonder if there's reeeeally any way to guarantee that she won't be resurrected after we burn her to bones at the stake. Imagine how awesome it'd be, facing off against an UNDEAD Drummond, revived by her necromancer lackeys! Nya ha ha! Guess we'd better hope that pile of ashes doesn't end up in the wrong hands, huh?

Who are you guys gonna side with? Dorchacht's death sentence, or Aefenglom's curious Coven?

Name: Bishop
Date: 7/31
Format: Text

I'll keep this brief, I need sparring partners. Martial arts, swords, spears, fire arms, fucking silverware, I don't care. I'm starting to feel rusty and I need to shake it off, preferably now. This isn't a quest but I'm willing to compensate you for your time. Anyone will do my only condition is don't hold back.

Have a nice day.

Name: Claude von Riegan
Date: 7/3
Format: Video

[At first, nothing appears in the video aside from the expanse of sky and the hint of a stone wall at the edge of the image—-soon enough however, something large and white encompasses the screen, a muted snuffing noise filling the audio.

Soon after, a gloved hand appears in the frame as well, pushing what appears to be a scaled snout out of the picture with some indistinguishable words before the face of a tan man appears in the frame, hair mussed from what appears to be a large reptile nuzzling its snout against the back of his head.]

Sorry about that, I’m still working out the kinks of how this thing works. [A hand gestures to the screen.] I’m in a bit of a bind though, and I figured this would be the quickest way to get answers.

[The white creature shoves it’s head under his arm, resulting it a bit of a scuffle before Claude settles for scratching its chin.] See, my girl here is getting kind of antsy, and I was wondering if there were any good places to let her go flying, as well as hunt for food. Of course I could buy her meat at the shopping district, but-- [he’s temporarily shoved out of frame before pushing the scaly head away] --stop for just a second would you--but I think some exercise would do us both good. Does anyone more familiar with this place know somewhere to stretch out your wings?

Name: Yona
Date: 6/1
Format: Text

[ Considering how long she's been here now and how... enthusiastic her Coven mentors have been about her finding a Bond, Yona's finally worked up the courage to try and use this strange device for herself and ask for some advice. ]

How did those of you who have made Bonds know that your partner was right for you? Was it just something casual and easy? Was it something deeper than that? Did you have a hard time finding someone when you first arrived?

[ Was that too intrusive? Insecure? She hopes not... ]

And those of you who haven't yet... what is it you're looking for?

Name: un: taru
Date: 05/14
Format: video

Hullo again! I hope everyone is well!

<sub>[Yes that's right Aefenglom...your favourite Lalafellian entrepreneur is back and has clearly been...busy? She seems to be in her kitchen, a set of distilling equipment behind her, various metal and glass containers connected with piping and tubing to create an apparatus that's purpose soon becomes clear. The confident little lady is proud of herself as she stands on a chair in all her three feet of glory, large glass bottles grasped in each hand. The one on the left sports a liquid with a light blue hue to it and what seems to be golden flecks that shimmer as they float about. The other bottle though holds a liquid that looks like a rosé in color, seemingly innocent enough, until one notices the small but very apparent wormlike larvae whose bio-luminescent skin gives off a faint green glow.

She gives each of the bottles a shake, the flakes and larvae floating about respectively.]</sub>

I've been attempting to recreate a few of the most popular spirits one can find in Ul'dah and I've almost managed to get the recipe juuust right! Of course it isn't perfect, as ingredients here are a bit different to what's available in Eorzea...but so far I'm happy with the result! The blue one here is said to make the drinker see stars if they have too much of it and this one _{[Yeah, the worm one...]} well they say if you can down a whole bottle you'll be strong enough to take down a rampaging goobbue with your bare fists!

_{[She sets the two bottles down on the table so she can talk with her hands, as one does.]}

While these spirits suit my own palette just fine, I wanted to survey how other Mirrorbound might find them, so I'm looking for willing taste testers, if you will! The more the merrier. If you like what you taste I'll give you a bottle of it to take with you. If you don't, then I'll buy you a drink of your choosing.

_{[What's there to lose, right?]}

And speaking of brews...does anyone have a particular favourite drink from where they hail from? If so, what is it? I'd love to hear about it, alcoholic or otherwise!

<sub>[For science, naturally.]

((ooc: 4th wallers welcome!))</sub>

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! ]

( You're about to view content that the poster has marked as potentially inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

Name: Marie Antoinette
Date: 3/5
Format: text with some pictures

[The post opens with a picture of Marie in a fluffy dress making a victory sign. She looks excited!]

Hello, fellow Mirrorbound! I have just found out that Dorchacht will be hosting a sports event soon! And what does that mean? Well, naturally it means that we will need to cheer on the participants!

I am looking for volunteers to join the cheerleading squad during the games. It does not matter if you are athletic or not really, Witch or not, smaller or bigger, there will always be a way to participate!

If you would rather not go out and cheer by yourself, I am also looking for choreographers, someone to come up with a few chants we can use and the crafty types to help out with making the costumes!

If you are interested, just let me know! This is going to be so fun! :D

[She already made some pom-poms, you know]

Name: Saber
Date: 3/5
Format: Text

I am seeking to move out of the barracks, for the sake of my own peace of mind. I am quiet and try to keep to myself. I would prefer somewhere with an open area for my own exercises or training, but if one is merely nearby that is sufficient.

I will contribute to food and other expenses as necessary.

If anyone is seek a boarder or roommate, please let me know. If you know of somewhere accepting applicants, please inform me.

My thanks in advance.

-Saber

Name: Hresvelg (Edelgard von Hresvelg)
Date: 3/4
Format: Video

[A video feed flickers to life in the early evening, not long after sunset. The focus is briefly on Edelgard, dressed in a crisp looking white shirt with a high collar. Her hair is down, her crown set aside for the moment. She smiles, offering the viewers a quick nod, before speaking]

Good evening. My name is Edelgard, for those of you who do not know me.

[She clears her throat and the video lurches in unpracticed hands. Turning down towards a dog that's peering curiously up at the watch. It's jaw hangs open a bit in a doggy smile, but otherwise it doesn't seem too bothered by the device.]]

I was wondering if this dog belongs to anyone. He's remarkably well trained, and I believe he's escaped from his owner, but there was no collar. Unfortunately, he seems to have taken a shine to me after I found him rooting around in my garden two nights hence, and he's been trying to follow me indoors.

[She sighs.]

Asking him to sit yields results, but he won't leave. I confess I've little experience with dogs, and if he doesn't belong to anyone...does anyone know if such behavior is normal?

Thank you for any information you can provide. I can meet you somewhere if you'd prefer not to use the watches or want to see him. I await your-oh! Goodness!

[She cuts off as the dog moves suddenly, tail wagging as it decides to get closer, feeling more friendly.]

...Response!

[That strained, croaked out word is the last before the feed cuts out.]

( ooc )

Name: Momo
Date: March 5th
Format: audio radio!

[After the expedition last month wrapped up, in the next few days, radio listeners of Aefenglom may have noticed a newcomer to the airwaves. Despite being a fresh voice, there's an air of experience to how he takes his programs, upbeat and cheerful but professional, talking with other hosts and guests and drawing out the interesting and comedic things about them for a good fun show.

And now he's here to get some talk show comedy out of the locals and Mirrorbound, wrapping up an informative little segment about local music to transition into that most loved and dreaded of call-in shows--

--the advice column.]

...Now we're back to just Momo, and you know, I've been in a real bind since I got here last month...I had all these juniors running around to give advice to, and now I've come to another world all fresh and inexperienced, my advisory skills as a weathered old-timer are getting rusty! [He's...26...] I've got to keep that stuff sharp like any good mother does, so if you need advice or a sounding board on anything that doesn't need me to know the deepest lores of this place, call in - or send a text in if you're shy, anons welcome too - and I'll help you out with it! Maybe someone else is having the same worries as you, so everyone benefits, you know? Send your daily quandaries, your work problems, your sordid love triangle stories...though not too sordid, we're still on daytime radio!

If you've got a question I can't answer, like monster or magic problems or something, then I'll put that to the audience and maybe we'll get some interesting answers from them, too! But whether we're talking it out or I'm reading it out for the audience, I'm sure we can solve some people's problems today. Even the weird ones. [Read: he welcomes the possibility of outright silly and questionably true responses.

The watch connection he gives for the calls isn't his own device, but rather one the radio station owns, because he's not here to tango with questionable calls after the show is over. He does enough of that at home. As for the texts, he puts up a post for those alongside the opening of the segment, so he'll both be talking and texting in response to those (and non-radio listeners can spot it even if they weren't listening to the segment).]

[[Tag-ins will be presumed as chronological, e.g. the first tag-in would be the first call/message and so on, so reacting to stuff from before your character sends their response is valid. Any question Momo puts to the audience will be open to threadjacking from when he does.]]

Hey.

I don't have anything to advertise or promote right now. [He'll just toss that out there, in case this was the time of the month for that. All he's got are questions.]

I was looking around town. What's with the theaters around here? I heard they got banned? Is that for real? I started acting back home and I'm not abandoning it just because I ended up in a magic world.

How'd they even get banned?

Name: Kurumi Ebisuzawa
Date: 3/1, Evening
Format: Text

Hey. Good Morning. Or is it evening already?

Whatever. I have a problem. My Bonded vanished. We arrived together last month, she was someone from home, so I thought we got this whole Bond thing sorted immediately. But, well... I think she's gone back home. To anyone who knows Yuuri Wakasa, she's no longer here.

[Kurumi had cried a lot about it, to the point tears aren't coming out anymore.]

I heard things that we could go crazy under the full moon and it'll get worse without a Bond. Being a vampire sucks on its own already and I'd rather not lose control of myself, thanks, so I figure I should reach out.

This is a call for friendship. Let's be friends! Maybe we'll eventually get to bond, too?

[Also horribly, horribly lonely, but she's not going to write that down. The implication is already there in the post.]

Name: Lorenz Hellman Gloucester (un: LHG)
Date: 3/1, Evening
Format: Text


To those who know Marianne von Edmund:

I wish to thank you. It is with regret that I inform you that she no longer resides within these walls, but her time here was made easier and less stressful because of the people who had the kindness to speak and spend time with her. Given her reserved nature, I am not certain how many here have had the priviledge of meeting her, but it seems only fair to let others know in case her presence is missed by someone I am not yet aware of.

Unfortunate has her departure from here is, she does grow into a strong, admirable person by several accounts. None can say for certain what fate has in store for her; I only hope that she sees some kindness in the months and years to come.

However, my friend's absense has left me with a particular... shall we say problem?

When we arrived several months ago and were searching for a residence, we found a small home which was already occupied by a family of cats. As the kittens were still newborn, Marianne took it upon herself to stand as steward for them. In time, she named them after our friends who yet remain in our home:

Claude. Hilda. Raphael. Ignatz. Lysithea. Leonie.

But, with only myself in the house now, I find that I am not in a position to care for all of them with the attention that they deserve. Ideally, we would find someone willing to adopt all six, but that is not a reasonable request. Because of my friend's kind heart and how habituated the cats have become to house life, it would also be a disservice to abandon them to the streets.

Thus, I am asking you all to help me find homes for them. If they are adopted separately, I would like to keep one. However, if someone is able to care for the entire family, I will give no argument on the matter.

All I care about is that they find themselves in a safe and attentive home.

Thank you.

-LHG.

Name: un: taru
Date: March 1st
Format: Video

_{[When the feed connects there's a moment before anyone can be spotted. All there seems to be is the backdrop of a kitchen and a lone, wooden chair set out. Soon enough Tataru's hopping up onto the chair as if to draw even more attention to herself (and add a few feet to her, uh, short stature). Up her arms go as she waves them about, determined to be seen and heard.]}

Attention, attention! After asking many people I've realized that an extremely important Eorzean holiday is unknown here! I thought that perhaps it might be celebrated since Valentione's Day was but apparently not...and I simply can't let that be!

_{[Is someone passionate about this? Seems that way.]}

What sort of holiday could be so important? Why, it's Little Ladies' Day - a celebration of all womenfolk! A day where every lady, regardless of age, race, creed or class is treated like they're the sultana themselves!

_{[To put it frank, it's an All Women Are Queens day. Who wouldn't think that's a good idea?]}

As someone from Ul'dah it's especially special, thanks to the tale of its founding! So, I've decided it's my duty as a Lalafellian lady from Ul'dah to bring it to all the ladies here! It's a day to dress up in your finest garments for a day out, eat tasty treats and best of all be attended to all day by a loyal seneschal.

_{[If you want something you've got to make it happen yourself, which seems to be the case here with Tataru. What a busybody...does she ever chill out? (The answer is no.)]}

I've already been in talks with local establishments who seem willing to participate if celebrations are held later on in the upcoming weeks, but their support won't be enough. It may be a day for ladies, but without dashing men to play their part any organizing I do will be for naught.

So! _{[She jumps off her chair, disappearing for a moment before the feed is adjusted and she can be seen again, this time far closer.]} Won't any men step up to the challenge and help this 'Little Lady' make her efforts successful? I'll be taking volunteers soon!

_{[And...that seems to be the end of it...only it's not.]}

Oh! And if anyone else would like to lend a helping hand in general I certainly wouldn't be opposed to it! There are still a few matters I'm trying to get in order, after all. Music, sweets...there's still much to be accounted for!

_{[OOC: Little Ladies' Day will be celebrated on the 22nd of March, as an addition to Eostre. Details and a proper sign-up will be posted at a later date on the OOC com for those who wish to sign their characters up for a bit of silly matchmaking/shenanigans to occur.]}

Name: flat escardos (un: 46692)
Date: 1/3
Format: text

lol heads up if you try to make a candle w food coloring, the food coloring will just sink to the bottom of the glass, and when the flame eventually reaches the bottom all the food coloring will catch fire and become one giant tall flame that you cannot possibly blow out and the glass will start to crack and then you’ll throw your tea on it in a panic and then the extremely hot food coloring will boil and sizzle horribly and then the glass will shatter. please take my word on this lmfao.