ǣfenglōm (main comm)

Name: Leanne
Date: 09/02
Format: Audio


Greetings, I have come to ask an important question. At least one that is important to one as myself. If it is of no burden, I would like to ask of you whom became monsters...

[She goes to take a deep breath and then slowly lets it out.]

How did you know what type you were changing into? How soon were you able to figure it out? And for the undesirable instincts.... How did you fight against them?

I still do not know what type I am and I cannot seem to stop the spread of the scales or the pain in my legs, no matter what I do.

Thank you for indulging one as myself.

Name: Sasuke Uchiha
Date: 07/09
Format: Text/Video

[ The video opens with a perfectly still, immaculately framed sepia shot of a storefront. The glass of the windows is smudged with dirt and dust that’s far less noticeable at the center but which appears borderline opaque around the outside edges, and with a flecked paint job on the wood siding it’s clear that this particular store isn’t wearing its age well.

Nevertheless the signage above the store appears newly updated, stark and clean in sharp contrast to the rest. ]

This is an advertisement for Daemonologie. [ There’s a pause as if even he doesn’t know how to quite handle the appearance of the business he somehow has to make appealing, at least managing to hold in a sigh. ] I’m fixing it.

Check the attached text in accordance with this video. [ Which is how the clip itself abruptly ends, though not before Sasuke turns the camera to the left and then to the right to make the shop’s location in the southwestern Shopping District more apparent to any who might be on the lookout. ]

The following is a statement prepared by my employer:

Daemonologie is an all-ages magical menagerie and emporium servicing both witches and monsters. Are you tired of sourcing your mystical beasts from the Wildes? Are you feeling overwhelmed trying to find the right breeder for your ideal familiar? Do you need the feather of an enchanted sparrow for your latest potion but don’t feel like buying the whole bird?

Then Daemonologie is the place for you. We not only provide quality companionship in the form of magical creatures aplenty but we also offer a variety of animal byproducts for any of your witching needs. Quills? Not a problem. Unfertilized and fertilized eggs? We have them. Scales both decorative and deadly? You know the answer! Stop on by today!

(Note: Vampires welcome! Ask about our animal blood specials (guaranteed to be high in magic)! Also don’t miss our weekly sale items: enchanted brushes for even the thickest fur, pewter cauldrons, and a humidifying enchantment to offer comfort and relief from a dry molt.)

As a bonus we’re offering a special promotion. Comment here if you would like to take a short quiz that will pair you with the familiar best suited to your personality type. You will then receive a 5% discount on the animal that you receive as your result. What a deal!

For the first question: what is your ideal vacation spot?

A. The city
B. The beach
C. Somewhere woodsy
D. The mountains
E. The desert

[ He did not expect for his second day on the job to require him to market his workplace to other Mirrorbound, but here he is. ]

Name: Anonymous
Date: 7/2 (after new mirrorbound arrive!)
Format: Text

question. what's supposed to go into a bonding vow? how did your bonding ceremonies go? are you supposed to wear something nice? bring presents? would appreciate some advice.

[ Help out an anonymous space mullet? ]

Name: Lance
Date: 5/4
Format: Video

[ the video feed starts and reveals a boy with short brown hair and sharp teeth. yep, it’s ya boi, lancey lance. the background is nothing but a white wall with the corner of a pillow peeking out from the bottom of the frame. despite the dull background, lance’s smile is bright, eyes wide with enthusiasm. he grins toothily into the camera and gives a little wave just as he starts speaking. ]

What’s up, Aefenglom! Lance here, for those of you who don’t know me yet! I figured now would be the perfect time to take a survey since there’s a lot more of us here now — man, where did you all come from?

[ anyway. his expression shifts, and he frowns a little while squinting at the camera. ] I’m trying to prove a point so work with me here, alright?

[ there’s a dramatic clearing of his throat before he continues, showing his best smile. ]

The instructions are simple: When I say “Aefen”, you say “glom!” [ complete with little hand moves too, kinda like a dj scratching a record. ]

Aefen?

Man becomes monster: what a common theme throughout human literature. Yet in this world, it's an aspect of life that's hardly worth batting an eye at. Were Shakespeare here, he'd cream himself over the ripe psychological suffering among the Mirrorbound. Him, or certain nuns...

[bro what the FUCK are you talking about]

Thinking about those two in cahoots gives me an ulcer. I feel like vigorously scrubbing my brain smooth, so I can't picture it! Maybe that way, I won't be beset by stupid thoughts!

But I am, unfortunately, sentient, and I will continue to suffer this farce of an existence. As if that wasn't enough, I've been plagued by a question for the past few days. Witches, I'm not talking to you. You can gawk and stare if you'd like, I certainly can't stop you from being voyeurs.

Monsters. What are your feelings towards being pet? Is there truly a polite way to ask for a petting?

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.]]

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: Anonymous | Vanitas
Date: 3/1
Format: Text



[ So Vanitas has been terribly frustrated for the last few days trying to figure this out himself. Unfortunately, he isn't really equipped to come to the answers on his own. ]

Normally I wouldn't bother with things like this, but it would appear that all my other options are exhausted or unavailable.

A little while ago I found myself experiencing some strong urges. I can't say that they are entirely unfamiliar, but the circumstances and conditions are different. Wanting to throttle someone and make them pay is nothing new, but because they hurt someone I am acquainted with is. So I suppose my question there is why. This person is perfectly capable of handling it themselves so why is it that I also want to?

Which brings me to the second issue since this is all tied to the same situation. The look this person had on their face? I didn't like it and I don't want to see it again. That is new and I don't know what that means or what it is at all.

This is probably a waste of time, but I can't figure it out. So here we are.

[ tl;dr: Vanitas might actually care about someone - or at least have something of an urge to protect them - but he can't recognize it at all because pfft he's not the sort that does that, right? ]

Name: Marie Antoinette
Date: 2nd
Format: text, with pictures added

[Marie opens the post with a smiling photograph of herself, taken in the main square of the city. After all, most of those she was addressing have not met her yet so it would be nice to give them a face to go with her words, right?]

Hello to everyone who arrived in Aefenglom recently! Without doubt you must be feeling lost and confused right now. But fear not, that is where I and the other Mirrorbound come in! My name is Marie Antoinette, it’s a pleasure to meet you! I have been here for some time, so I would love to offer you some of the experience I have accumulated during these months - I was lost and confused at some point as well and I wand you all to have access to the assistance I know I needed back then! I was blessed to have close friends from home here with me but I know that not everyone’s situation is like this. Maybe you are the only person from your homeland to ever arrive in Aefenglom or maybe you have been separated from your friends and family.

Fear not! Our homelands are as different as possible but we are all in this together and we will help each other! I will write up what strikes me as most important and others, especially Witches can add to it! I am a Fae so much of the Witch business is unknown to me. However, that’s why we all need to share experiences!

[She attaches a small and very simple smiling drawing of herself]

Firstly, you will hear this many more times but whether you are a Witch or not, do not neglect your Bonds! You might be thinking that you do not need anything like that, that you have always managed without any kind of connection. The truth is, it is different in Aefenglom. You need a Bond to survive. I know what you are going to say, that you do not want this kind of closeness with anyone. Still, I recommend you at least try it with someone, for your own good - if it does not work out, you can always call the Bond off. You can also use the temporary Bond potions to get a feel of how a Bond feels fist. If making friends is not your forte, just contact me and I will do my beat to introduce you to someone!

Secondly, and this is directed to those who are not Witches... You are going to experience changes. These will start happening when full moon comes and will repeat every month. Depending of what you are transforming into, these might be faster or slower, but whatever happens, it will probably hurt you, a lot. You might feel as if you weren’t yourself. Do not stay alone during these harsh days. Have someone to give you a hot cup of tea and hold your hand. If you can, find a Bond before that. Even if your Bonded does not stay with you, the connection will make the whole process less painful and more bearable.

Do not hesitate to reach out to other Mirrorbound with any questions you might have. We have all been new here at some point. I can take care of you during your first transformation if you do not have anyone else. Just contact me via the watch!

[Her own transformations were... more or less bearable by now.]

Please take care of yourself, everyone. If the recent events have shown me anything, it is that we as the Mirrorbound of Aefenglom are always ready and willing to help each other, no matter how bad the situation might be. It is when the Mirrorbound refuses to accept the help when the worst tragedies can occur.

[She ends the post with a photo of some fresh flowers]