[The suggestion of covered wings explained the garment's exposed nature, at least; from his (admittedly extremely limited) impression of her, she didn't strike him as the sort for that kind of outfit otherwise.]
A sensible approach. Better than ruining fine clothes, or having to pay extra to have everything altered after the fact.
[At least Mikasa also knew Tataru for any alterations... though it's not as though any discount would be guaranteed; the lalafell was too savvy for that.
Emet-Selch gestures vaguely in the direction where they held the ceremonies.]
So- this shall be my fifth time through this routine, but with one behind you as well, I assume you know the procedure.
[For someone disparaging of 98% of people who've ever existed he's sure had a number of Bonded.]
[She waves a hand.] I can sew well enough to be hired for it. I managed to get a few shirts for not doing a lot last week too... [Lunasa...On paper, she liked the idea. Gave it a chance to meet a few people and see if she got along well with anyone else looking for a bond. But that plan had been a bust. The whole event had been strange, mock weddings? She wasn't looking for that kind of bond. At least she got to keep some nice clothes from it, even if they were probably a bit fancy for mucking around in the garden.
At the gesture, she makes a start for the building, but then at the other comment, she pauses midstep. Turning and giving him a frown.]
...I'm not sure. We stood in a circle while the Coven witches cast the spell. [And she shrugs. Emet-Selch was very different to Tendou and well, bonding with Tendou had been an experience.] I don't need to promise to never forget your birthday do I?
[It was dry, a joke. She didn't care much for her own birthday beyond realising she'd lived 95% longer than most who joined the scouts. And while she wasn't sure how old he was, he looked older than her, so it probably wasn't a grand event for him either.]
So I'm Bonding to a practical sort, hm? Perhaps I shall ask for your tailoring, rather than your memorization of particular dates. I assume you'll return the favor of indifference towards the marking of years?
[It's true, after thousands of years, you stop caring about those sorts of details. Though even when he'd been young(er), he'd never given much attention to it.]
But yes, that's about the sum of the experience. [A faint shrug, and though he had paused when she did, he continues after a moment in his slow-yet-long stride towards where the ceremonies were arranged. None of the Bonds he'd taken had been emotional affairs at the time. Three to friends who had killed him, one to a puca he had only met once before.] For tying souls together, it's something of a lackluster affair, isn't it?
[Which was fine with him, he preferred to treat Bonding as a pragmatist, these days. He had one Bond for sentiment; if he could fill his remaining slots with practical choices, with people he didn't dislike? That would be best. A mutually beneficial boost in power and ability.]
[It gets a snort.] Memorising a day isn't that special. I just don't get why he made a big deal about saying he'd remember... [Maybe that was just a thing people from peaceful places worried about. To her it was just another day, maybe with a sweet treat if one was lucky. But a place that didn't have famine probably made more of a show of it.
She follows when he starts again. Giving a small burst of speed to keep up.] Yeah... They compare it so much to marriage but I don't think it's anything like that. [She'd never been married but looking at the people she'd seen who were bonded, they didn't act married or anything. Then there was things like Lunasa.
'Tis something mortals do. With so few years ahead of you, I suppose it's not a surprise that you'd take to celebrating each one of them as though they mattered. [A pause; a sideways glance at Mikasa.] Something some mortals do, anyway. Or some people, rather....
[As Mettaton had seemed bound and determined to celebrate his, the next time it came around, despite his indifference-bordering-on-disapproval. Neverminding that the robot had also claimed an entire month for himself. He sighs inwardly.]
Though if memorizing a single day will make your friend happy, it's a simple thing to accomplish. If only all people were so easily satisfied. [He waves it off with a small, dismissive gesture.] But as I mentioned before, Bonding is like marriage only in that they can both be done for practical purpose alone. Romance is a rarity in my experience... and ill-advised.
[And he nearly pauses himself as he frowns, though he shakes it off.]
Though I'll admit that Lunasa certainly appeared to conflate the two... but I doubt we're in any danger of mistaking this for an engagement.
I can understand celebrating. I've lived longer than most back home. But he... [She shrugs. Eyes slipping shut. She'd already explained her bonded's behaviour towards it, and that he was loud. He could probably guess how the bonding ceremony had gone with that.
Though his comment does earn him a stare as the now much shorter girl (5'6!! She'd been 5'7 when she was a teen, the fuck is this?). He'd mentioned being married before..hadn't he? Not that she gets time to question that as he moves on.]
I hope not. [Blunt. But calm, not a flustered denial or anything. But she'd be a bit concerned if they were mistaken for a couple given than neither looked exactly cheerful about being bound.] But that does explain a few things about the last time I was here... [The giggling witches.]
[If Mikasa was older than average in her world... it gets her another look, as though he needed to remind himself of her apparent age. From a world either on the brink of ruin, or well past it, for something like that to be the case. A similar thing had happened to the mortal populations on his world, immediately after each Calamity.
But they always hung on, as vermin were wont to.]
I wonder... I admit I haven't paid particular attention to the Bonding habits of the locals. Perhaps a businesslike tying of the souls is unusual to them, and they assume all who pass before them are already emotionally bound together- either by romance or friendship.
[But he didn't think they would make the same mistake with them.]
Or, I can well imagine your other Bonded's... personality leading to something of the wrong impression.
It explains why the Coven witches would act like they did when I came for potions before. If that's how all the locals are. [Magic potions for monsters without a bond. It'd been what a large chunk of the money she'd earned had been going to in place of the magic from a witch bond. She'd gone less since bonding with Tendou, getting energy from his witch bond.
They'd nagged her. Mother henning and mentioning loudly that she didn't have a bond near witches... She really hoped one of those Coven members wouldn't be here today.
Mikasa stayed quiet for a moment. Frowning, wrong impression? It takes a few seconds. Because this wasn't the first time someone had thought that about her and Tendou, and after speaking to a few others, she'd worked out why. Even she wasn't that oblivious. It gets a sigh, more tired than the others he might have heard from her.]
I'm not sure if it's a wrong impression anymore.
[Was it possible to accidently start dating someone? She'd not really thought of it as dates, but people kept mistaking it for them. So maybe she was the one misunderstanding.]
Who knows, perhaps we're being quite rude with our pragmatic approach.
[Though from his tone it's clear that Emet-Selch is unconcerned with what the locals- or for that matter, anyone else- thinks.
Mikasa's delay, though, gets her another look as they begin to close in on where the Bonding rituals are organized.]
Oh...? Are congratulations in order then? Or condolences?
[He's never met her Bonded, but from the impression she's given of him (plus the impression he's received from Tataru's description of him) it sounds... dreadfully unappealing, bordering on the bizarre. But Emet-Selch, for once, holds back his commentary expressing as such; considering his own relationship with Mettaton, he didn't have much room to criticise.]
[Mikasa hums for a second, shrugging as she walks.] No. We'd have already been attacked by an old lady if we were. [Viscious things, old biddies. She wasn't scared of them, but if they were doing something wrong the old ladies would have loudly chased them down to let them know. That had been a thing she'd learnt in the underground. It was fun to watch as long as they didn't start nagging you as well.
Still, she keeps plodding along.]
...Probably both. [And that was all he was getting there. She'd have to talk to Tendou, work it out...Maybe. Either way, they were almost at the ceremony room.
Hopefully, Emet-Selch would enjoy the lingering confusion. Because that wouldn't be going away for a while.]
[Mikasa's first comment just gets a sound of amusement and a shrug of agreement. A stern telling off would probably be underway if they were doing anything too offensive, unspeakably uncouth. And as foreigners to this world, they might receive a degree more of tolerance in that regard anyway, not expected to hold up their traditions in the same way.
And this is all terribly routine, even bureaucratic, a union of souls made mundane. Perhaps the locals have a sense of pragmatism about it after all, the Ascian has to admit. And at least they don't keep records of who's Bonding to who, as a man arriving with his fifth ever Bond in less than a year speaks of a problem somewhere (the problem is Emet-Selch).]
Then allow me to express both. [Emet-Selch allows himself whatever he likes. A reply delayed until they're at the room itself, witches setting up whatever last minute details of the ritual they need to.] With any luck your feelings will coalesce in one direction or another. However likely a negative result may be, 'tis better than the alternatives of remaining uncertain.
[But he'll live with the confusion as it occurs; there were worse things to deal with than that.]
[That they didn't keep records hadn't even occurred to Mikasa at first. Though it made sense given that they didn't exactly keep tabs on the mirrorbound. When they probably should have, but Mikasa wasn't going into that. Even someone like her, who wanted to belive the best found it strange how trusting they were... Though it did make her wonder about the insistence that each mirrorbound got a watch.]
I don't think it'd be...that negative. No matter what happens. [In the entire time she'd been bonded to Tendou there'd been cheer. The closest to sadness was when she felt sad. She rolled her shoulders in a half-hearted shrug.] It's if he thought we were- [The word catches for a moment.] A couple this whole time. And I didn't know.
[Enjoy your future of being bonded to dumb teen learning feels. Though by this point the issue of when her real birthday was moot. Enough months had passed that she'd be twenty now no matter what.
Still young enough to be bashfully looking at a wall as she walked. Head dipped so only the red ears were visible.] ...I don't have anything to say for the ceremony.
[She was just going to silently hold his hand in the circle.]
[Well, if Mikasa was looking for something to balance that cheer with unrelenting unhappiness, Emet-Selch is more than up to the task. And it's no matter whether she was a teen or young adult learning feels, it's all answered with a sigh, a shake of his head. Whether it's directed more at Mikasa not being certain of her own relationship status, or at her optimistic partner making assumptions- it's an open question. Both, perhaps.
But he holds off on any comment other than that, as they take their places in the circle that had been prepared for them, for all prospective Bonding partners.]
That's fine. I've never made more of the ritual than what has been required of me.
[And silent hand-holding would be all he'd offer as well, though with more of an air of indifference, perhaps, than awkwardness. ...And considering how physical contact was the primary way of increasing the overall effectiveness of a Bond, he wondered if there would be equally as passive handholding in their future. Just politely and efficiently-scheduled handholding. The thought amused him slightly.
...But for the ritual itself now, it's not a long process. Fortunately, the witches involved seemed as disinterested as the participants. Something that may have been a bit of a mood-kill were this any kind of romantic arrangement- but as this was anything but, it felt appropriately neutral.
As in each time past, Emet-Selch is distracted more by the passing glimpse it gives him of his own soul- a fleeting look at dark purple. On arriving in this world, he'd been unable to see it any other way, and he's never sure if this small hint of it provides comfort, or serves only as a reminder of everything he'd lost.
It's something that leaves him subdued, anyway, as it concludes.]
[His more cynical approach helped in a weird way. After all the pity she'd gotten from people when she talked about everyday life back home. The lack of talking during an event that so many made more significant than it was let the fae concentrate on what was happening around her.
...Why couldn't these witches have been here the last time?
Her own soul, something she doesn't even recognise. Was something small and blue flitting through a flurry of white. It's not there long enough for her to dwell on it.
And the first thing after? Curiosity, as she peered up at the taller witch. It was probably to be expected. But Emet-Selch was so...muted compared to Tendou. Except in one regard, magic. It was shaky, a new bond wobbling along with the training wheels still, but the worn-out fae's antenna lifted, giving a flicker.]
[Despite his focus on his own soul, he had taken note of what impression he could get of Mikasa's, unintentionally a bit curious of it. This was his first semi-look of an unbroken human soul. A pity he couldn't see more of it, as should have been natural for him... but a little intriguing nonetheless. Inferior to his own, of course, but at least (presumably) intact. And for all that the Ascian remained scornful towards humanity, it would be a small point to her favor.
And there it was, that small, fragile-seeming tether to someone that hadn't been there before. It had been a while since Emet-Selch had felt a Bond so weak, so new- a tie to his soul that he'd have to adjust to. But it wasn't unpleasant, and he hums to himself after they depart, bored witches already ignoring them. Glancing down at Mikasa, he wondered if he was imagining the barest hint of added life to her. Magically-starved as she had been, the Ascian wondered if even this small-yet-steady thread of sustenance would already be providing some suggestion of relief.
Eventually he breaks the silence, tone casual as ever. Soul-tying, no big deal.]
Well. You should feel an improvement soon enough. I hope you'll make the most of the magic I'll be unconsciously feeding you.
[Not that he wouldn't be getting a bonus out of it as well, but that won't keep him from mildly implying that she was some kind of leech.]
[The comment just got a small grunt as they started moving to leave. It might not have been a strong bond, compared to her and Tendou. Mikasa didn't trust this man like she did the teen who'd been that strange that he was harmless. But she could feel the difference in the amount of magic coursing through...Even if it was on the lower end of the scale for a monster-witch bond.]
I won't be as tired. Will that be enough?
[Not that she's expecting an answer there. For her it was enough. She wouldn't nearly pass out while working or be at risk of biting someone. She wasn't going to mention the latter though.
Like she wasn't going to mention that beyond keeping herself awake. She had little use for magic. Not until she worked out how to use it.]
Now what? [Tendou had gone with her for ice cream after, though she doubted that was the case here.]
[The newness of the Bond, on top of the business-like nature of it and a lack of mutual trust, certainly made it a tether that could hardly be described as particularly strong, or weighty. But it was more magic than a monster could've provided her, and even if guided by the gentle hand of cordial indifference, it was an amount that would improve over time.
Mikasa's statement gets a half-snort as he replies anyway, amused, waving it off.]
It shall suffice.
[She could make as much or as little use of her magic as she liked, even if it would take time for the Bond to provide more than the basic amount of energy. And his own magic use would gradually become more refined with an added monster available, though the specific bonus fae granted was to... illusion, he believed. A pity. Not a field he had ever focused in.
Her question draws a shrug, looking down at her with a tilt to his head. Alas, no ice cream offers seem to be in her future.]
What more did you expect? I'll leave you to the remainder of your day, and you'll leave me to mine. We'll have to encounter one another now and again to encourage our connection past this larval stage, but there's little more we can do for it now. Should you have any questions you think I might be willing to answer, you know how to contact me... and I'm 'oft at Mettaton's house, if you were determined to bother me in person.
[He assumes she knows where the robot lives, friends as they were. And he is, if nothing else, willing to tolerate her turning up unannounced, which is more than he'd accept from most humans.]
Nothing. It's just...strange after all the fuss. [And she'd expected to take more time. Though it was easy enough to find things to do. She just didn't think she'd have so much time. Though her garden was still a state, that'd take more than a day.]
I will...Make sure he doesn't make you drink vinegar. A chitin covered hand gives a small wave as she started to drift, going her own way. ]
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A sensible approach. Better than ruining fine clothes, or having to pay extra to have everything altered after the fact.
[At least Mikasa also knew Tataru for any alterations... though it's not as though any discount would be guaranteed; the lalafell was too savvy for that.
Emet-Selch gestures vaguely in the direction where they held the ceremonies.]
So- this shall be my fifth time through this routine, but with one behind you as well, I assume you know the procedure.
[For someone disparaging of 98% of people who've ever existed he's sure had a number of Bonded.]
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At the gesture, she makes a start for the building, but then at the other comment, she pauses midstep. Turning and giving him a frown.]
...I'm not sure. We stood in a circle while the Coven witches cast the spell. [And she shrugs. Emet-Selch was very different to Tendou and well, bonding with Tendou had been an experience.] I don't need to promise to never forget your birthday do I?
[It was dry, a joke. She didn't care much for her own birthday beyond realising she'd lived 95% longer than most who joined the scouts. And while she wasn't sure how old he was, he looked older than her, so it probably wasn't a grand event for him either.]
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[It's true, after thousands of years, you stop caring about those sorts of details. Though even when he'd been young(er), he'd never given much attention to it.]
But yes, that's about the sum of the experience. [A faint shrug, and though he had paused when she did, he continues after a moment in his slow-yet-long stride towards where the ceremonies were arranged. None of the Bonds he'd taken had been emotional affairs at the time. Three to friends who had killed him, one to a puca he had only met once before.] For tying souls together, it's something of a lackluster affair, isn't it?
[Which was fine with him, he preferred to treat Bonding as a pragmatist, these days. He had one Bond for sentiment; if he could fill his remaining slots with practical choices, with people he didn't dislike? That would be best. A mutually beneficial boost in power and ability.]
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She follows when he starts again. Giving a small burst of speed to keep up.] Yeah... They compare it so much to marriage but I don't think it's anything like that. [She'd never been married but looking at the people she'd seen who were bonded, they didn't act married or anything. Then there was things like Lunasa.
...No wonder people got nervous about it.]
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[As Mettaton had seemed bound and determined to celebrate his, the next time it came around, despite his indifference-bordering-on-disapproval. Neverminding that the robot had also claimed an entire month for himself. He sighs inwardly.]
Though if memorizing a single day will make your friend happy, it's a simple thing to accomplish. If only all people were so easily satisfied. [He waves it off with a small, dismissive gesture.] But as I mentioned before, Bonding is like marriage only in that they can both be done for practical purpose alone. Romance is a rarity in my experience... and ill-advised.
[And he nearly pauses himself as he frowns, though he shakes it off.]
Though I'll admit that Lunasa certainly appeared to conflate the two... but I doubt we're in any danger of mistaking this for an engagement.
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Though his comment does earn him a stare as the now much shorter girl (5'6!! She'd been 5'7 when she was a teen, the fuck is this?). He'd mentioned being married before..hadn't he? Not that she gets time to question that as he moves on.]
I hope not. [Blunt. But calm, not a flustered denial or anything. But she'd be a bit concerned if they were mistaken for a couple given than neither looked exactly cheerful about being bound.] But that does explain a few things about the last time I was here... [The giggling witches.]
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But they always hung on, as vermin were wont to.]
I wonder... I admit I haven't paid particular attention to the Bonding habits of the locals. Perhaps a businesslike tying of the souls is unusual to them, and they assume all who pass before them are already emotionally bound together- either by romance or friendship.
[But he didn't think they would make the same mistake with them.]
Or, I can well imagine your other Bonded's... personality leading to something of the wrong impression.
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They'd nagged her. Mother henning and mentioning loudly that she didn't have a bond near witches... She really hoped one of those Coven members wouldn't be here today.
Mikasa stayed quiet for a moment. Frowning, wrong impression? It takes a few seconds. Because this wasn't the first time someone had thought that about her and Tendou, and after speaking to a few others, she'd worked out why. Even she wasn't that oblivious. It gets a sigh, more tired than the others he might have heard from her.]
I'm not sure if it's a wrong impression anymore.
[Was it possible to accidently start dating someone? She'd not really thought of it as dates, but people kept mistaking it for them. So maybe she was the one misunderstanding.]
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[Though from his tone it's clear that Emet-Selch is unconcerned with what the locals- or for that matter, anyone else- thinks.
Mikasa's delay, though, gets her another look as they begin to close in on where the Bonding rituals are organized.]
Oh...? Are congratulations in order then? Or condolences?
[He's never met her Bonded, but from the impression she's given of him (plus the impression he's received from Tataru's description of him) it sounds... dreadfully unappealing, bordering on the bizarre. But Emet-Selch, for once, holds back his commentary expressing as such; considering his own relationship with Mettaton, he didn't have much room to criticise.]
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Still, she keeps plodding along.]
...Probably both. [And that was all he was getting there. She'd have to talk to Tendou, work it out...Maybe. Either way, they were almost at the ceremony room.
Hopefully, Emet-Selch would enjoy the lingering confusion. Because that wouldn't be going away for a while.]
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And this is all terribly routine, even bureaucratic, a union of souls made mundane. Perhaps the locals have a sense of pragmatism about it after all, the Ascian has to admit. And at least they don't keep records of who's Bonding to who, as a man arriving with his fifth ever Bond in less than a year speaks of a problem somewhere (the problem is Emet-Selch).]
Then allow me to express both. [Emet-Selch allows himself whatever he likes. A reply delayed until they're at the room itself, witches setting up whatever last minute details of the ritual they need to.] With any luck your feelings will coalesce in one direction or another. However likely a negative result may be, 'tis better than the alternatives of remaining uncertain.
[But he'll live with the confusion as it occurs; there were worse things to deal with than that.]
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I don't think it'd be...that negative. No matter what happens. [In the entire time she'd been bonded to Tendou there'd been cheer. The closest to sadness was when she felt sad. She rolled her shoulders in a half-hearted shrug.] It's if he thought we were- [The word catches for a moment.] A couple this whole time. And I didn't know.
[Enjoy your future of being bonded to dumb teen learning feels. Though by this point the issue of when her real birthday was moot. Enough months had passed that she'd be twenty now no matter what.
Still young enough to be bashfully looking at a wall as she walked. Head dipped so only the red ears were visible.] ...I don't have anything to say for the ceremony.
[She was just going to silently hold his hand in the circle.]
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But he holds off on any comment other than that, as they take their places in the circle that had been prepared for them, for all prospective Bonding partners.]
That's fine. I've never made more of the ritual than what has been required of me.
[And silent hand-holding would be all he'd offer as well, though with more of an air of indifference, perhaps, than awkwardness. ...And considering how physical contact was the primary way of increasing the overall effectiveness of a Bond, he wondered if there would be equally as passive handholding in their future. Just politely and efficiently-scheduled handholding. The thought amused him slightly.
...But for the ritual itself now, it's not a long process. Fortunately, the witches involved seemed as disinterested as the participants. Something that may have been a bit of a mood-kill were this any kind of romantic arrangement- but as this was anything but, it felt appropriately neutral.
As in each time past, Emet-Selch is distracted more by the passing glimpse it gives him of his own soul- a fleeting look at dark purple. On arriving in this world, he'd been unable to see it any other way, and he's never sure if this small hint of it provides comfort, or serves only as a reminder of everything he'd lost.
It's something that leaves him subdued, anyway, as it concludes.]
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...Why couldn't these witches have been here the last time?
Her own soul, something she doesn't even recognise. Was something small and blue flitting through a flurry of white. It's not there long enough for her to dwell on it.
And the first thing after? Curiosity, as she peered up at the taller witch. It was probably to be expected. But Emet-Selch was so...muted compared to Tendou. Except in one regard, magic. It was shaky, a new bond wobbling along with the training wheels still, but the worn-out fae's antenna lifted, giving a flicker.]
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And there it was, that small, fragile-seeming tether to someone that hadn't been there before. It had been a while since Emet-Selch had felt a Bond so weak, so new- a tie to his soul that he'd have to adjust to. But it wasn't unpleasant, and he hums to himself after they depart, bored witches already ignoring them. Glancing down at Mikasa, he wondered if he was imagining the barest hint of added life to her. Magically-starved as she had been, the Ascian wondered if even this small-yet-steady thread of sustenance would already be providing some suggestion of relief.
Eventually he breaks the silence, tone casual as ever. Soul-tying, no big deal.]
Well. You should feel an improvement soon enough. I hope you'll make the most of the magic I'll be unconsciously feeding you.
[Not that he wouldn't be getting a bonus out of it as well, but that won't keep him from mildly implying that she was some kind of leech.]
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I won't be as tired. Will that be enough?
[Not that she's expecting an answer there. For her it was enough. She wouldn't nearly pass out while working or be at risk of biting someone. She wasn't going to mention the latter though.
Like she wasn't going to mention that beyond keeping herself awake. She had little use for magic. Not until she worked out how to use it.]
Now what? [Tendou had gone with her for ice cream after, though she doubted that was the case here.]
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Mikasa's statement gets a half-snort as he replies anyway, amused, waving it off.]
It shall suffice.
[She could make as much or as little use of her magic as she liked, even if it would take time for the Bond to provide more than the basic amount of energy. And his own magic use would gradually become more refined with an added monster available, though the specific bonus fae granted was to... illusion, he believed. A pity. Not a field he had ever focused in.
Her question draws a shrug, looking down at her with a tilt to his head. Alas, no ice cream offers seem to be in her future.]
What more did you expect? I'll leave you to the remainder of your day, and you'll leave me to mine. We'll have to encounter one another now and again to encourage our connection past this larval stage, but there's little more we can do for it now. Should you have any questions you think I might be willing to answer, you know how to contact me... and I'm 'oft at Mettaton's house, if you were determined to bother me in person.
[He assumes she knows where the robot lives, friends as they were. And he is, if nothing else, willing to tolerate her turning up unannounced, which is more than he'd accept from most humans.]
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Nothing. It's just...strange after all the fuss. [And she'd expected to take more time. Though it was easy enough to find things to do. She just didn't think she'd have so much time. Though her garden was still a state, that'd take more than a day.]
I will...Make sure he doesn't make you drink vinegar. A chitin covered hand gives a small wave as she started to drift, going her own way. ]