[A perfectly stable, if low-leveled Bond. Humming along quietly in the background, inoffensive as one could please, it's pretty much exactly what he expected out of it. A modest boost to his general spellcasting, with no particular downsides. Mikasa had struck him as stable, pragmatic- precisely the sort of person he'd want in any other Bondmate. Mettaton was all he required when it came to both sentiment and emotional intensity.
A mutually-beneficial exchange like this though, with each of them knowing and getting what they wanted from it, could make use of it while otherwise ignoring it... yes, he could live with this just fine.
And what a completely normal day this was being. Emet-Selch was even awake at this time (which was hardly a guarantee, no matter the time of day), and he's even making himself a cup of tea. How cozy, and one of the few things the man regularly provided himself (most meals he obtained elsewhere, but he couldn't go out every time he wanted a drink). Boiling water is involved. This is probably not the best time to be around boiling anything.
--Wordless, mindless intensity fills his mind and blocks out all other considerations. It's not even that it hurt him terribly badly to receive. But oh, it was startling. It was startling and sudden and gives him with a moment's worth of panic, having no idea what was wrong or why or where. It's inevitable: he drops the cup he'd happened to be holding, which had just as inevitably shattered. And then Emet-Selch was surrounded by broken shards of pottery and had scalded himself on boiling water (the pain from that further disorienting him, having to work backwards to realize that it was pain elsewhere that caused this to happen) and everything was mysterious and uncomfortable.
But he collects himself. Realizes that it was a sensation experienced via-Bond, and via-Mikasa, in particular. He also grudgingly cleans up the mess he'd made, with a lot of mumbled cursing towards it and his sore foot which had gotten splashed.
Some time later, Mikasa will receive a message via watch. Since nothing that intense had continued, he figured she was probably fine... not being tortured or something, which meant there was nothing he needed to do other than complain (if she were captured, well... he'd probably have to do something about that, if just to stop the background of pain it would presumably leave him in).]
If you were dead I think it would feel different than this, so I'll assume you haven't been murdered.
If you're not presently being tortured I would appreciate an explanation.
[The minor freak out is temporary. Another burst coming not long after the first. Then a stinging lingering pain after. That'd get worse when her ears tried to move, unused to the new weight attached to them. It was better this way...Having them pierced so she couldn't lose them as easily in a fight. They wouldn't just fly off if someone hit her in the head. Very useful if someone went after her with an iron pipe.
But that had hurt.
She was used to pain. Her ribs being broken, the bond shard that had pierced her leg before. But it was very different willingly having pain inflicted. And her ears were more sensitive than expected. She may have teared up a little. Earning some doting from the worker.
The message is marked as read for...a good while. The fae working out how to explain that she was fine. That it had been intentional.]
Mettaton told me how to get charms that make iron less of an issue.
[The discomfort transmitted had been of some minor concern as it occasionally continued to pop up, but as it hadn't ramped up, he'd decided to be patient and wait for a response. He did huff a little in irritation at seeing that his message had been received, but without any bother put towards a reply.
The answer he finally gets does clarify things, though. A practical way of keeping that anti-iron charm close by... and while for Mettaton it was a matter of survival, any other iron-weak monster could only benefit from it as well, fae included.]
An earring, then. Did they accidentally remove the entire ear with it? I didn't know you were so sensitive.
[Still grumbly because he had been startled. But his own ears were pierced, though he tended to only wear one earring at a time, preferring the asymmetry. So he's familiar with the process; it's not comfortable. But the strength of the reaction surprised him; if she was a soldier, she'd surely been hurt before. How bad could a couple of piercings be?]
[Ah... well, he could perhaps believe that Mikasa's sort of ears would be more painful than most to pierce, if they reacted to any sort of stimulus. He'll still complain.]
So you thought to pierce a place sensitive to even casual touch?
The next time you intend on doing anything quite so intense, I would appreciate a warning... or at least some attempt to block it. Did your other Bond not protest?
[As he just assumes she still has her monster friend who screams a lot and who she isn't sure if she's dating or not.]
[That was also fair enough, he supposed, and baring this incident of personal disruption, it was a perfectly reasonable choice. And considering the chitin of her body, he wondered if this really was one of the more plausible locations anyway.
(He hadn't noticed Mettaton getting his own ear pierced, had only seen the result of it afterward- but then, perhaps it wouldn't have hurt his rabbit ear as much as Mikasa's... appendages. Also, perhaps, he might've enjoyed it, leading Emet-Selch to not notice anything out of the ordinary.... Mikasa, on the other hand, was sensible, with normal reactions.)]
I'm hurt, to have not even warranted a hint of forewarning. What if I was concerned?
[He hadn't been (not more than briefly, anyway). But he will play it up a bit regardless, mollified enough just by having an explanation for what had happened.]
Well, I hope you enjoy your new iron resistance. Though no matter how tempted you might be to test it out, I would suggest avoiding any errant stabbings regardless, be they metal or otherwise.
[As friendly a statement as any, though he does add--]
Though if it had persisted in an increasingly troublesome manner... I may have been forced to investigate. However it feels when a Bonded dies, I'd prefer to avoid experiencing. So in that sense, you could say I'm well-invested in your continued safety and security... an honor to know, I'm sure.
But ah yes, your new piercing would have more mundane, practical applications than merely reducing damage from deliberately metallic assaults. A world of convenience has opened up to you.
Reassuring. But that makes sense. Getting a bond is a pain and I'd rather not die. Though I don't know if you'd be able to do anything if I was dying.
Amazing isn't it. I won't have to worry about the door handles in some houses. Some have iron inlaid to deter fae from sneaking things out.
[Normally what was meant to be childrens' bedrooms. But she wasn't going to mention that troubling factor. Most doors had brass anyway, that didn't burn anyone.]
A shared preference towards survival... the things we have in common.
[As though this were some kind of rare trait.]
As for what I could do... it would depend on how quickly you were expiring, and how soon I could find you, perhaps. But I wouldn't rely on my healing magic, as I can't say I know a whit of it. Teleport you to safety, yes, or failing that... avenging your untimely demise were I so inclined. There's options.
But if one was predisposed towards thievery, 'tis hardly much of a deterrence... unless you're the first fae to ever consider utilizing gloves for such rare obstacles as door handles.
[There's a pause, a small hiccup in the bond as she blocks completely for a moment. Thinking, thinking about some of that info she'd bartered fruits for.]
They got all the dangerous ones. Or they made them hide.
True fae, I assume...? You lesser varieties of insects amongst the Mirrorbound population aren't significantly more difficult than any other type of monster to discover.
[Assuming they're not using their illusion-based magic, anyway.]
And I suppose that even they would realize that attempting to cut down Mirrorbound fae in the open would be viewed with a certain amount of displeasure from the rest of us.
I assume your senses are more attuned to these hidden fae- or that their sort of magic is ineffective upon other fae?
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A mutually-beneficial exchange like this though, with each of them knowing and getting what they wanted from it, could make use of it while otherwise ignoring it... yes, he could live with this just fine.
And what a completely normal day this was being. Emet-Selch was even awake at this time (which was hardly a guarantee, no matter the time of day), and he's even making himself a cup of tea. How cozy, and one of the few things the man regularly provided himself (most meals he obtained elsewhere, but he couldn't go out every time he wanted a drink). Boiling water is involved. This is probably not the best time to be around boiling anything.
--Wordless, mindless intensity fills his mind and blocks out all other considerations. It's not even that it hurt him terribly badly to receive. But oh, it was startling. It was startling and sudden and gives him with a moment's worth of panic, having no idea what was wrong or why or where. It's inevitable: he drops the cup he'd happened to be holding, which had just as inevitably shattered. And then Emet-Selch was surrounded by broken shards of pottery and had scalded himself on boiling water (the pain from that further disorienting him, having to work backwards to realize that it was pain elsewhere that caused this to happen) and everything was mysterious and uncomfortable.
But he collects himself. Realizes that it was a sensation experienced via-Bond, and via-Mikasa, in particular. He also grudgingly cleans up the mess he'd made, with a lot of mumbled cursing towards it and his sore foot which had gotten splashed.
Some time later, Mikasa will receive a message via watch. Since nothing that intense had continued, he figured she was probably fine... not being tortured or something, which meant there was nothing he needed to do other than complain (if she were captured, well... he'd probably have to do something about that, if just to stop the background of pain it would presumably leave him in).]
If you were dead I think it would feel different than this, so I'll assume you haven't been murdered.
If you're not presently being tortured I would appreciate an explanation.
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But that had hurt.
She was used to pain. Her ribs being broken, the bond shard that had pierced her leg before. But it was very different willingly having pain inflicted. And her ears were more sensitive than expected. She may have teared up a little. Earning some doting from the worker.
The message is marked as read for...a good while. The fae working out how to explain that she was fine. That it had been intentional.]
Mettaton told me how to get charms that make iron less of an issue.
[That explains...Actually quite a bit.]
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The answer he finally gets does clarify things, though. A practical way of keeping that anti-iron charm close by... and while for Mettaton it was a matter of survival, any other iron-weak monster could only benefit from it as well, fae included.]
An earring, then. Did they accidentally remove the entire ear with it? I didn't know you were so sensitive.
[Still grumbly because he had been startled. But his own ears were pierced, though he tended to only wear one earring at a time, preferring the asymmetry. So he's familiar with the process; it's not comfortable. But the strength of the reaction surprised him; if she was a soldier, she'd surely been hurt before. How bad could a couple of piercings be?]
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They
don't like being touched.
They wiggle.
[Her little pointy ears that just moved and flickered as soon as someone touched them. Even just a glance.
And yet, earrings were still among the better options she'd been offered.]
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So you thought to pierce a place sensitive to even casual touch?
The next time you intend on doing anything quite so intense, I would appreciate a warning... or at least some attempt to block it. Did your other Bond not protest?
[As he just assumes she still has her monster friend who screams a lot and who she isn't sure if she's dating or not.]
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I didn't want something that could off with how much it costs.
[It seemed more practical. A bracelet or necklace could get unlatched.
She had not been told of other things.]I will. I didn't think it would be so bad.
He knew I was doing it.
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(He hadn't noticed Mettaton getting his own ear pierced, had only seen the result of it afterward- but then, perhaps it wouldn't have hurt his rabbit ear as much as Mikasa's... appendages. Also, perhaps, he might've enjoyed it, leading Emet-Selch to not notice anything out of the ordinary.... Mikasa, on the other hand, was sensible, with normal reactions.)]
I'm hurt, to have not even warranted a hint of forewarning. What if I was concerned?
[He hadn't been (not more than briefly, anyway). But he will play it up a bit regardless, mollified enough just by having an explanation for what had happened.]
Well, I hope you enjoy your new iron resistance. Though no matter how tempted you might be to test it out, I would suggest avoiding any errant stabbings regardless, be they metal or otherwise.
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I'll avoid that. I just want to be able to hold a pan without gloves.
There's a limit to what these things can do.
[She doubted having a lump of iron jammed straight into her would be stopped at all. ]
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[As friendly a statement as any, though he does add--]
Though if it had persisted in an increasingly troublesome manner... I may have been forced to investigate. However it feels when a Bonded dies, I'd prefer to avoid experiencing. So in that sense, you could say I'm well-invested in your continued safety and security... an honor to know, I'm sure.
But ah yes, your new piercing would have more mundane, practical applications than merely reducing damage from deliberately metallic assaults. A world of convenience has opened up to you.
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Reassuring.
But that makes sense. Getting a bond is a pain and I'd rather not die.
Though I don't know if you'd be able to do anything if I was dying.
Amazing isn't it. I won't have to worry about the door handles in some houses.
Some have iron inlaid to deter fae from sneaking things out.
[Normally what was meant to be childrens' bedrooms. But she wasn't going to mention that troubling factor. Most doors had brass anyway, that didn't burn anyone.]
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[As though this were some kind of rare trait.]
As for what I could do... it would depend on how quickly you were expiring, and how soon I could find you, perhaps. But I wouldn't rely on my healing magic, as I can't say I know a whit of it. Teleport you to safety, yes, or failing that... avenging your untimely demise were I so inclined. There's options.
But if one was predisposed towards thievery, 'tis hardly much of a deterrence... unless you're the first fae to ever consider utilizing gloves for such rare obstacles as door handles.
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I guess that will do.
It's stupid. You could break the door or use a window. I think it's just a luck thing.
I've been told that they used to just kill fae.
[Which made the whole iron thing redundant.]
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How lucky for you, eh? And for any other Mirrorbound unfortunate enough to become a fae.
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[There's a pause, a small hiccup in the bond as she blocks completely for a moment. Thinking, thinking about some of that info she'd bartered fruits for.]
They got all the dangerous ones. Or they made them hide.
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[The small pause in the Bond was unusual, though he doesn't think too much of it.]
What mercy. Permitting only the weak and ineffective to survive in their relative freedom. The barest tolerance of only the most inoffensive.
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From what I can tell, fae are hard to find.
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True fae, I assume...? You lesser varieties of insects amongst the Mirrorbound population aren't significantly more difficult than any other type of monster to discover.
[Assuming they're not using their illusion-based magic, anyway.]
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[There was also the matter of the elderly fae Eren had told her about. But she'd not met the dude.]
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I assume your senses are more attuned to these hidden fae- or that their sort of magic is ineffective upon other fae?
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Something like that. I can't see the illusion and I can tell when a spell is being cast.