ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Name: Wen Ning
Date: leneur 28
Format: video

[Wen Ning, when he appears, has his hands clasped in his lap. He seems, perhaps, a bit twitchier than usual. The stutter is nothing out of the ordinary, though even that is more frequent than it should be.]

H-hello?

[Video is so awkward. This would have been so much easier over text.]

Um. So, uh. M-my name is Wen Ning. I'm a witch. I... I know some of my fellow witches have, ah, animal companions? Familiars? I wanted to know what... how you decided what was right for you. A-am I supposed to... have a gut feeling? Will I just know? O-or is there anything even to know...

[He glances around nervously, as though he can feel the judgmental gazes of everyone over the network.]

Thank you, in... in advance.

Name: Styx
Date: 01/09
Format: video

[Styx doesn't really like to use the voice function, let alone video. but he's got a question that would greatly benefit from some visual aid, so...enjoy your view of a fish tank, network. there's a single resident inside just chilling, weaving his way around the lush plants and the decorative skull without a care in the world. the skull's eye sockets are continuously changing colors, but that doesn't seem to bother him.

this is a much nicer view than his stupid face for sure.]

Um, hey! You guys have tattoos where you're all from? Just mean in general, not, uh...actually on you or nothing, haha.

[it would kind of be a pointless question if they already had a piece done, wouldn't it? this was off to a great start already.]

I'm gonna get a new piece done real soon, but 'm kinda stuck on what to do with the design. There's just so much killer shit, you know? So I thought maybe if I heard what everybody here's into it'd help me pick something out...'nd if not at least I'll get to see some cool stuff!

[the camera shifts now, briefly glimpsing an extremely large man before it narrows in on what is presumably that same massive guy's upper arm and the wicked tattoo on display.]

This is what I already got! Picked it 'cause it went with my name, but I dunno if I should do more skulls again? Be like too much of a good thing, you know?

Oh, hey, Soren! Dunno if you're listening but you should check everybody's shit out too! 's your money 'nd all, I wanna get something you think's awesome.

Name: Klaus Hargreeves
Date: Ieneuer 4
Format: text
NOTE: Blanket content warning for mild discussion of drug use in the comments.

single 30ish male witch seeking strapping monster to bond with
fur feathers fins etc are all fine
but bonus points if youre horny
my hobbies include long hot baths listening to music released before 1980 and whatever thing im trying right now to see if it sticks
call me!


what do you guys think? too forward? not forward enough?
i feel like the word strapping is a little outdated but like
what other word can you use for that?

anyway tips on ad writing are very appreciated

Name: Marie Antoinette
Date: Dec 14th
Format: text


This Modranicht, I am going to do it again!


[By this, Marie means going around on Modranicht and leaving sweets and small gifts on people’s doorsteps, just like she did last year. However, her Fae nature means she just could not resist posting a small message that could be interpreted in much more sinister way.

Sometimes, especially when it was around full moon and Aefenglom gifted you with trickster tendencies, it was just entertaining to watch the world burn. And come to think of it, this city had its share of burning for real this year. Time for something more lighthearted.]

Name: Jasper
Date: 12/21 [Forward-dated]
Format: Text

[Come the evening of the 21st, a message pops up in words and sentences. Not a single letter is out of place. The script is formal and almost designed for an audience.]

It is a truth unfortunate that joyous times bring out those villainous souls who prey on the citizenry.

Bandits and cutpurses. Thieves who steal and contribute nothing. Should it be illegal to transmogrify those vermin into forms more suited for their crimes?

[The message falters for a moment; its sender considering his own question. Would he curse such boorish people? Yes. Would he were it illegal? Well, he ignores the fact he might have done so and continues.]

Rats, perhaps?

There is poetic justic in such literal representation if nothing else.

[This is all hypothetical. Clearly.]

Name: Hiccup Haddock III
Date: backdated to very early December
Format: Video

[The forge in the background is slightly smoky with the big hearth-fire going, and Hiccup has a smudge of charcoal on his cheek, and black dust all over his tunic and leather apron. Some project or another is on the worktable behind him, but he's fixated on something that has him frowning in thought.

He turns the video around to catch Toothless in the shot, peering down at a much smaller, black and white dragonling, who is making loud, insistent screeching noises at the night fury, practically crying while the bigger dragon seems at a loss.] Am- Am I crazy, or does anyone else see a family resemblance here? [He turns the video back, still frowning. The sound continues like a background track, interspersed with confused sounds from Toothless.] I guess this one's been harassing fishmongers in the Harbor District for the last few weeks... No one recognizes the little fella, do they?

[It's been a bit of a headscratcher, figuring out where she came from. A mirror, obviously, but- his? Really?]

Uh- well. Regardless! Hi, I'm Hiccup, I own the forge just outside town with Percy, and also the Phoenix Tear, which is a clinic for, uh. Mostly Monsters, but anybody, really! It used to be my Bonded's so I'm trying to keep it running. If you're new and need- anything, honestly, just go there! It's located in the barracks. At the forge, we do a little bit of everything, including enchantments, so if you need anything made, weapons or armor or whatnot, just talk to me or Percy. We do custom work, great for gifting!

[He seems like he's about to sign off, but then something occurs to him, and he leans into the camera again to ask,] Wait, before I- What charities are taking donations this year? For the holidays? Modranicht and stuff. Toys or- or money, whatever. Okay, that's everything!

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.]

Name: Mettaton
Date: 11/01
Format: video

Hey there darlings! Happy Noveuer! I hope you all had a fantastic Samuin full moon!!

...Unless your name is Eren Jaeger.

[It's Mettaton EX, on video this time, as is his element. He's holding the camera close enough at first to be a charming headshot, but as he pulls the camera back, it becomes obvious with dents and scratches that his metal chassis has been damaged. From the very moment he spat Eren's name, his smile's colored with malice.]

Public Service Announcement: Eren tried to eat me last night! Oh yes! I was minding my own business, out near the Wilde as any good Monster might, on his merry mischief-making, during a full moon like this... When suddenly, I was attacked!

Thank my lucky STARS that Mikasa arrived on the scene, my knight in glittering armor. Or else, I would have been rendered into incredibly sumptuous scrap metal. I'd love it if someone could give her a big round of applause!!

Since I can't.

[The camera is pulled back ever more. Mettaton is missing an arm, and sparks and wires emerge from its socket. Can't applaud without a second hand.]

If anyone so much as catches a GLIMPSE of his sorry tail, give me a hand, and tell him for me:

1. He needs to keep that tongue and those teeth firmly AWAY from others,
   
2. Give me my arm back,
   
3. And, he owes me money.

Eren, if YOU see this: Give me my arm. Also: you owe me money!

[On the afternoon of the 1st, a disgruntled post goes up on the network.]

Did you know some moths produce silk from their salivary glands? Because I didn't until after I spat out a bunch of string this morning.

[He didn't make that connection immediately, mind you; after the initial utter bafflement, he took the time to go do more research on Fae and the insects they resemble. Nerd.]

Someone let me know if there's a market for organic fae silk. And if you could invent some kind of google or wikipedia while you're at it, that would be appreciated.

[Do you know how LONG it takes to look through PHYSICAL BOOKS]

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: Yazoo
Date: 26th Octeuril
Format: Video

( The video feed shivers into life to show a static image of a ceiling. This is Yazoo's second attempt to reach a family that he hasn't figured out isn't here, but he isn't ready to give up just yet! Sephiroth didn't make his Remnants that way, after all, and he has no plans to entertain the idea of being without his brothers. )

... Kadaj? ( A beat. ) Loz?

( The voice that breaks the momentary silence is soft and a little dreamy, his words spoken as though he's having difficulty organising his thoughts. He isn't pleased by the fact that he has to resort to this to reach his brothers: he's spent days looking for them, encouraged by the gentle pull of two more cellular signatures that match his own, and yet ... )

I know you're here. I can feel you.

( Eventually he'll learn that it isn't Kadaj or Loz he can feel at all, but until then? He's going to keep trying. )

Big Brother is with me, but— ( He thinks of the Sephiroth that he's slowly getting to know — a near stranger, nothing like the man he was in the splintered memories Yazoo holds in the back of his mind. When he speaks again it's with an edge of something like concern: ) There's something wrong with him. He needs help.

( The image finally tilts to show a young man with long silver hair, unnaturally bright eyes with slit pupils, and lips ever so slightly downturned with displeasure. )

... If what they say about Bonding is true, I need help too. I don't want a weak human.

( He leans in closer, his hair slipping forwards around his face as those strange eyes bore into the camera. )

Find me.

[Omi's wearing a broad smile this time when he hits up the general populace, and he's holding a digital camera in one hand. There's a distinct wolflike quality to him these days.]

Ah, hi everyone. I'm Omi Fushimi. I was looking for a way to kind of give back to everyone here, and I came up with an idea... well, half of one. I'll need help with the second half, I think.

See, I'm a photographer, for lack of a better way to put things. I was thinking it might be nice to document people who are here, what they did back home, what they do now, their experiences... Like a big community yearbook or something. That way as people come and go, nobody will be forgotten, and we won't forget where we started.

I'm not the most compelling writer ever, so if anyone wants to help me with the interviews I'd be grateful. I'm mostly in it for the portraits, sure, but I could do some great candids while people are being interviewed!

So if anyone is interested in helping with interviews or wants to be interviewed or photographed, just let me know. I'll arrange everything else.

Thanks for your time! Stay safe, and take care.

Name: Klaus Hargreeves
Date: today-ish
Format: video
WARNING: Probable drug use discussion in the comments, will warn in headers. Pop a request in your subject line if you want to avoid discussion of drug use, and I will oblige.

[It is pretty obvious that whoever is using the watch is not used to cell-phone style devices. Used to being recorded, yes, of course, but not like...selfies or recording himself. So at first the video swings wildly and dizzily all over the place before settling on a very close up recording of a single green eye. Then the camera pans out, and Klaus lifts a hand with "Hello" clearly tattooed on the palm to wave with a little wiggle of his fingers.

He's grinning, but he looks exhausted. Are the smudges around his eyes from sleep deprivation or smudged eyeliner? The world will never know.]

Hello, citizens! Or whatever we're calling ourselves this fine day. Victorian-era folks? Old-timey wizards? Whatever, whatever, you know what I mean.

[A pause, and he rubs at one eye, still smiling.]

So. Important question. If a guy were in say...some serious physical and-or emotional pain, where would he go to get a little relief in this place?

[A pause, and he lifts his free hand to cover his face, shaking his head, murmuring under his breath.]

No no no...that's not right. Fuck, there's probably not even an NA chapter in this place.

[A few seconds, he gives his head another shake, and the smile comes back up as if it never left.]

Or, well, you know! Other distractions. Right. Non-medicinal distractions. What do you do for fun around here?

Name: Louis
Date: post-new arrivals & event.
Format: Video.

[ On the camera comes your friendly, neighborhood red deer. He lifts up a hand in greeting then proceeds with what he is here for. ]

Hello, newcomers and long-time Mirrorbound alike. Before I get started - I will address the inevitable questions:

One - I am a deer, and I am a Witch.
Two - I do have fingers and toes.
Three - No, my antlers do not make a good hat rack.

[ He definitely has only gotten asked about that last one once. Only once. He doesn't prompt anyone to ask anything because he knows how people are going to ask anyway. ]

And, down to the important business.

Last year, near this time, we had a Masquerade. I find that after a stressful several months, dressing nice and socializing, drinking, eating, and dancing is a pretty effective way to relax.

[ He taps his finger against his muzzle, as if he's thinking. ]

This time, instead of trying to plan it in a week, it's going to be in almost three weeks. Which means that it has to be better. Grander.

I need something from you, though. I want to make sure it's not just a repeat of last year, so I want to hear any special requests you may have for an event like this.

[ He's prepared to hear interesting things here. ]

If anyone has any talents they want to bring to the table, I'd like to hear about it. Especially if you're good at decorating, you play music, or anything like that.

After all, there's so many of us here, and who's here is always changing. It would be a real shame to not enjoy the gifts of some of our newcomers.

[ Which - ]

Speaking of - I never gave my name, I'm Louis. And, if we've never met, now's better than never.

Name: Akko Kagari
Date: after the new arrivals
Format: text

since we got some newbies, i thought maybe it'd be a good idea
to talk about what's been the best and worst thing about being here
u know so they kinda know what to expect??

so the worst thing for me was some of the weird stuff i'd do because i'm a puca now ૮⍝◜•˕̮•◝⍝ა
like chewing on furniture
or
freezing up because someone spooked me
or hopping around when i get real excited
(well i kinda did that anyway before, but it's different??? idk how to explain it)
or that one time i kept digging holes
but i've gotten the hang of a lot of those things and don't do them as much
(sorry professor about the coffee table leg!! ( ´•̥ו̥` ))

best thing hmmmmmm...
well, i've met a lot of really cool people i wouldn't have a chance to back home! o(≧∇≦o)
some of them have left since then
but i won't be sad about anybody being gone
just happy that i got the chance to meet them
even people who kinda annoy me at first have a lot to offer
and it's nice having a bunch of people who are going through similar things as you
because doing this alone would SUCK (゜▽゜;)

anyway, what about everybody else?

Name: ANONYMOUS
Date: Before the event part 2
Format: Text

I swore I'd never make a post like this but I really am in a predicament and could use some perspectives.

Okay. So.

Let's say you are considering a pretty big life change. For example, moving in and sharing a living space with a significant other that you became close to, here. But both you and this person have bonded! And you're all REALLY close with said bonded! Like, also significant other levels. Or family. Just really really close.

How

do you manage all of those moving pieces? Can you? I feel like I'm going to lose my hair stressing over this.

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: Gon Freecss | un: kingkon55
Date: 9/10
Format: voice (Gon finally figured it out! or probably, Killua showed him)

---

[good evening. here is a whiny Yell:]

Uuuuugggghhh, I can't take it anymooore!!!

I feel so crazy!! I was bedridden for a about a week because of my Faun changes, and was weakening before that too... and I'm finally done changing I think, and now I just—! Everything makes me feel—[um]—on edge! [yeah. not untrue!] And I realized, since coming here... and even back home, a little bit... It's been a long time since I've done something to burn off that kind of energy...

So!! Someone fight me!! I prefer martial or melee or whatever you call it, but I'll do anything! I need to do it soon before I just attack someone I regret attacking! And I need to get used to my new cow legs... so maybe another Faun male!! [FOR MYSTERIOUS REASONS, THAT SOUNDS THE MOST APPEALING. of course, Fauns optional; Gon is desperate. and reckless. sorry, Killua.]

And yes, I have a Bond, but he's already been helping me so much! Even though he could fight me best, he needs a break.

—Oh. This is Gon!!! Anyway! Fight me! Please! Thanks!

Name: Anonymous
Date: 7/16
Format: text

what's a good gift for a 1-year anniversary? For a dude?

I'll take all suggestions, even stupid ones.

Name: Minato Arisato |
Date: 7/14
Format: Text

For those who are Witches, how do you decide what you want to learn first or specialize in?

I was a bit of a jack of all trades back home, you could say. A wildcard. [Heh. Of course only Persona Protags would get that.] I know I could just try everything and see what sticks. But I’d like to hear other opinions, please.

Thanks.