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sweethymns2015-11-30 07:11 pm
formidable) wrote in sweethymns2015-11-30 07:11 pm
Tᕼᙓ ᕼOᒪIᗪᗩY ᑭOᔕT
 Let's celebrate. ➢ "Obligatory Christmas Music". |
[Winter in Fuyuki City ranged from mild to bone-chillingly cold. Tonight there was an unusually large amount of snowfall and while it's a romantic sight for some during the holiday season...]
—ACHOO!!
[... For others, like the young magus, Ai Thao, it's more or less an inconvenience. She wanted to make a stop into the city to stock up on some winter necessities such as coffee, tea, comforters, and matches... Those sort of things. The streets have taken on a festive fashion, with lights, evergreens, and shades of red, white, gold, decorating the insides of shops.
Ai's not feeling particularly festive though as she wraps her scarf around her nose and rubs her cheeks to warm them. ]
Nn. Lien's right. I'm too sensitive to the cold.
—ACHOO!!
[... For others, like the young magus, Ai Thao, it's more or less an inconvenience. She wanted to make a stop into the city to stock up on some winter necessities such as coffee, tea, comforters, and matches... Those sort of things. The streets have taken on a festive fashion, with lights, evergreens, and shades of red, white, gold, decorating the insides of shops.
Ai's not feeling particularly festive though as she wraps her scarf around her nose and rubs her cheeks to warm them. ]
Nn. Lien's right. I'm too sensitive to the cold.
Edited 2015-12-01 04:02 (UTC)
[ Diarmuid's heard about Christmas 'on paper', of course: festivities of a religious sort, accompanied by lore and all of the modernizations that occur after centuries and centuries of being in practice. Incidentally, it also happens to be one of the many instances of Grail knowledge failing to live up to the actual event, and it's only his sense of discipline that doesn't have Diarmuid stopping at every shop window to glance at the multicolored trinkets displayed inside.
That, and the fact that Ai looks cold. She should probably be heading home and warming up soon. ]
She may be right, but it isn't something you can help, I'm afraid.
[ His general nonconporeal status bars him from being inconvenienced by the cold, but he can sympathize; reaching out with one hand, he adjusts Ai's scarf tighter around her neck, and places one hand over one of her exposed ears to warm them up.
He's grown to be a little more forward, in that sense. ]
It won't be much longer until you're home. Stay strong, Master.
That, and the fact that Ai looks cold. She should probably be heading home and warming up soon. ]
She may be right, but it isn't something you can help, I'm afraid.
[ His general nonconporeal status bars him from being inconvenienced by the cold, but he can sympathize; reaching out with one hand, he adjusts Ai's scarf tighter around her neck, and places one hand over one of her exposed ears to warm them up.
He's grown to be a little more forward, in that sense. ]
It won't be much longer until you're home. Stay strong, Master.
[His hand on her ear is very effective. She doesn't even remind him to call her by her name when they're in public because she gives a brief sigh of contentment, leaning her head into his hand before pulling back.]
I'll be able to hold out a bit more. England was just as cold, if not colder!
[The twins had to adjust to the climate change, from the humid and hot of the tropical Vietnam, to the mild and sometimes gloomy weather of Great Britain. The cold here in Fuyuki was bearable for Ai, not because she was accustomed to it, but because of Diarmuid... (It's embarrassing to say that aloud though, is what she thinks currently).]
And aside from that, at least we won't have to clean the house since Lien said she'd help out with that.
[And by helped out, Ai told her sister that she owed her when the elder twin barged in a few days ago, saying her heater was broken and Ai's place was much warmer. Needless to say, Ai was only half-appreciative of Lien's presence.]
I'll be able to hold out a bit more. England was just as cold, if not colder!
[The twins had to adjust to the climate change, from the humid and hot of the tropical Vietnam, to the mild and sometimes gloomy weather of Great Britain. The cold here in Fuyuki was bearable for Ai, not because she was accustomed to it, but because of Diarmuid... (It's embarrassing to say that aloud though, is what she thinks currently).]
And aside from that, at least we won't have to clean the house since Lien said she'd help out with that.
[And by helped out, Ai told her sister that she owed her when the elder twin barged in a few days ago, saying her heater was broken and Ai's place was much warmer. Needless to say, Ai was only half-appreciative of Lien's presence.]
Cleaning. If you've trusted Miss Lien with the task, I won't say anything more about it.
[ Sifting Ai's hair so that it sits more comfortably over her ears, Diarmuid gives her one of those looks that suggest that he has his doubts about Lien's ability to...clean effectively. Not that he thinks she's a slob— far be it for him to suggest something that rude— but the presence of a certain other Heroic Spirit might bar Lien from getting anything done.
(As much as he respects and idolizes Cu Chulainn, he can't actively imagine the other Servant helping with the cleaning. He may be mistaken, of course.) ]
Will she also be redecorating?
[ Sifting Ai's hair so that it sits more comfortably over her ears, Diarmuid gives her one of those looks that suggest that he has his doubts about Lien's ability to...clean effectively. Not that he thinks she's a slob— far be it for him to suggest something that rude— but the presence of a certain other Heroic Spirit might bar Lien from getting anything done.
(As much as he respects and idolizes Cu Chulainn, he can't actively imagine the other Servant helping with the cleaning. He may be mistaken, of course.) ]
Will she also be redecorating?
When she puts her mind to a task, she'll put her all into it! I know I can depend on her for that at least.
[Ai sounds confident enough about the matter as they head in the direction towards home.]
As for decorating, I didn't ask, but maybe she'll surprise us yet!
[Ai sounds confident enough about the matter as they head in the direction towards home.]
As for decorating, I didn't ask, but maybe she'll surprise us yet!
I don't doubt her enthusiasm for a second.
[ Incidentally, Lien is the one person who's been able to mercilessly tease him despite their positions in this War, so... yes, he has a good idea of how ambitious and goal-driven Lien can be. ]
We've almost returned, at the very least. Did you need help carrying anything, Miss Ai?
[ Incidentally, Lien is the one person who's been able to mercilessly tease him despite their positions in this War, so... yes, he has a good idea of how ambitious and goal-driven Lien can be. ]
We've almost returned, at the very least. Did you need help carrying anything, Miss Ai?
[Ai shakes her head.]
It's no trouble. If I carry a lot, it should make me work up a sweat. And then I'll get warm!
[And she'll get tired, but that's neither here nor there.
As they make their way past the bridge and back into their neighborhood, Ai thinks about how strange it is, spending a Christmas in Japan and with a Servant no less. (Then again, the life of a magus was never going to be normal in the first place.)
The thing is though, Lancer, or rather, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne is not quite just her Servant anymore at this point...
They're almost home before she speaks up again.]
Lancer? If you'd like and if time permits it, we can go out to the city again and look at the decorations. It shouldn't be as cold later on and this is your first Christmas in the modern age...
[So what she's saying is that she wants him to enjoy himself.]
It's no trouble. If I carry a lot, it should make me work up a sweat. And then I'll get warm!
[And she'll get tired, but that's neither here nor there.
As they make their way past the bridge and back into their neighborhood, Ai thinks about how strange it is, spending a Christmas in Japan and with a Servant no less. (Then again, the life of a magus was never going to be normal in the first place.)
The thing is though, Lancer, or rather, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne is not quite just her Servant anymore at this point...
They're almost home before she speaks up again.]
Lancer? If you'd like and if time permits it, we can go out to the city again and look at the decorations. It shouldn't be as cold later on and this is your first Christmas in the modern age...
[So what she's saying is that she wants him to enjoy himself.]
Edited 2015-12-03 03:15 (UTC)
[ He understands that in this country, Christmas is a couples' event: he could surmise as much just by observing all the held hands and shared scarves in town, from girls with their gloved hands pressed against brightly-colored displays and their male counterparts, nervously patting their wallet to check its contents.
He's not sure if he should interpret Ai's suggestion as a request to indulge in that sort of behavior— which would be hilariously inappropriate for a knight and his liege, if that was the only relationship that they shared, which he's hard-pressed to say that they do now— so he pauses, mulls over those words for a moment in his mind.
It doesn't take him too long to come to a conclusion. ]
I'd like that. [ 'I would like', not 'if you'd like'. Baby steps. ] Grail knowledge only tells me so much; if you'd do me the honor of pointing me towards the things I should experience, I'd gladly share them with you.
He's not sure if he should interpret Ai's suggestion as a request to indulge in that sort of behavior— which would be hilariously inappropriate for a knight and his liege, if that was the only relationship that they shared, which he's hard-pressed to say that they do now— so he pauses, mulls over those words for a moment in his mind.
It doesn't take him too long to come to a conclusion. ]
I'd like that. [ 'I would like', not 'if you'd like'. Baby steps. ] Grail knowledge only tells me so much; if you'd do me the honor of pointing me towards the things I should experience, I'd gladly share them with you.
[His response is pleasant for her to hear and it shows on her face. She seems to glow, but hides it with her scarf.]
Ah, then it's set then! There's a lot to show you after all even if Christmas is slightly different in Japan.
[She almost said, 'date' but the word is too weird for her even in this context.
When she walks up to the house and opens the door, there are some lights inside, but no Lien in sight.]
Lien must have left already... If she were still here, Christmas music would be playing...
[Or greeting the duo with a knowing look in her eye and a smart remark to make Ai fume. That sort of thing.]
Ah, then it's set then! There's a lot to show you after all even if Christmas is slightly different in Japan.
[
When she walks up to the house and opens the door, there are some lights inside, but no Lien in sight.]
Lien must have left already... If she were still here, Christmas music would be playing...
[Or greeting the duo with a knowing look in her eye and a smart remark to make Ai fume. That sort of thing.]
Edited 2015-12-04 03:22 (UTC)
[ Let's be real, it's absolutely a date... the eternal question is if they'll finally muster the courage to hold hands in public.
Diarmuid figured as much about the house being empty, since he doesn't sense the familiar prana that he would if there'd been a Servant nearby. There's still the possibility that they're cloaking their presence, but he doubts that Lien and Cu would go through the trouble of doing that just to prank them. He chooses to place his faith in them... perhaps unwisely...
But the house is warm, regardless of the lack of a certain two people, which makes it inviting. He steps inside, ushers Ai in too. ]
Will they be returning? I understand that Miss Lien's heater may still be broken.
Diarmuid figured as much about the house being empty, since he doesn't sense the familiar prana that he would if there'd been a Servant nearby. There's still the possibility that they're cloaking their presence, but he doubts that Lien and Cu would go through the trouble of doing that just to prank them. He chooses to place his faith in them... perhaps unwisely...
But the house is warm, regardless of the lack of a certain two people, which makes it inviting. He steps inside, ushers Ai in too. ]
Will they be returning? I understand that Miss Lien's heater may still be broken.
She said she might bear with it or invest in a kotatsu... Oh!
[Ai trails off when she switches on the lights and finds that not only is the house spic and span, but that there are some Christmas decorations, in the form of a small Christmas tree set up on one of the small tables, some multi-colored Christmas lights that line the wall along with paper snowflakes. And most importantly of all, most of the household is filled with pots of...]
Poinsiettias! She got so many of them!!
[Wow, Lien had a lot of time to kill.]
[Ai trails off when she switches on the lights and finds that not only is the house spic and span, but that there are some Christmas decorations, in the form of a small Christmas tree set up on one of the small tables, some multi-colored Christmas lights that line the wall along with paper snowflakes. And most importantly of all, most of the household is filled with pots of...]
Poinsiettias! She got so many of them!!
[Wow, Lien had a lot of time to kill.]
[ Whoa, look at all of this stuff. It's nothing like Diarmuid has ever seen, so pardon him for wandering around the room for a bit to reach for some of these decorations, to run his fingers over a delicate paper snowflake or two. ]
...She has a talent, your sister.
[ Note to self to compliment Lien later for her efforts!! The flowers are a nice touch, too: flora during the cold winter always warms homes up a bit. ]
It's remarkable that she found so many of them this season. Does she have an interest in flowers?
...She has a talent, your sister.
[ Note to self to compliment Lien later for her efforts!! The flowers are a nice touch, too: flora during the cold winter always warms homes up a bit. ]
It's remarkable that she found so many of them this season. Does she have an interest in flowers?
You know, I don't believe she does, no more than most people. Maybe it's a change of pace for her?
[Ai is recalling some very brief instances of Lien stopping to look at flowers, mentioning offhandedly about which flowers would look best in her apartment...]
I'll bring the tea and coffee into the kitchen. She might have decorated it too!
[And off Ai goes and in her excitement she has neglected to notice some extra decorations that are placed in innocuous locations where they're not immediately noticeable when one walks under them, but they're unavoidable to walk past and under. In fact, there's quite a few scattered about, one on the ceiling, some on the doorways, another one or two innocently hanging off the corners...]
[Ai is recalling some very brief instances of Lien stopping to look at flowers, mentioning offhandedly about which flowers would look best in her apartment...]
I'll bring the tea and coffee into the kitchen. She might have decorated it too!
[And off Ai goes and in her excitement she has neglected to notice some extra decorations that are placed in innocuous locations where they're not immediately noticeable when one walks under them, but they're unavoidable to walk past and under. In fact, there's quite a few scattered about, one on the ceiling, some on the doorways, another one or two innocently hanging off the corners...]
[ Somewhere, in some part of Fuyuki, Cu Chulainn is teasing Lien Kha about poinsettias and what they mean: "my heart burns for you".
In this part of Fuyuki, Diarmuid is learning that innocuous things are as dangerous as they are pleasant.
The police report for this incident would read thusly: Culprit– mistletoe. Offense– trapping Lancer right underneath it on his way to following Ai to the kitchen.
Rooted to the spot, Lancer blinks and looks up at the thing hanging over his head. Lien... ]
—Master, I'm going to request that you don't move from where you are, until I've sorted something out.
In this part of Fuyuki, Diarmuid is learning that innocuous things are as dangerous as they are pleasant.
The police report for this incident would read thusly: Culprit– mistletoe. Offense– trapping Lancer right underneath it on his way to following Ai to the kitchen.
Rooted to the spot, Lancer blinks and looks up at the thing hanging over his head. Lien... ]
—Master, I'm going to request that you don't move from where you are, until I've sorted something out.
Hm? What is it?
[Lien Kha is currently buried under several quilts and not letting Cu Chulainn get to her. He totally is.
Ai was just filling a kettle with water for tea, one Christmas Card in hand (ominously, all it says in red and green letters is, "You're Welcome.") before glancing at Diarmuid, finally noticing the... Ah.]
[Lien Kha is currently buried under several quilts and not letting Cu Chulainn get to her. He totally is.
Ai was just filling a kettle with water for tea, one Christmas Card in hand (ominously, all it says in red and green letters is, "You're Welcome.") before glancing at Diarmuid, finally noticing the... Ah.]
Edited 2015-12-04 06:19 (UTC)
[ You know what's great about Noble Phantasms??? The fact that you can't tell someone to pick it up off the wall and bring it to you, that's what. Gáe Dearg could conceivably break this stupid mistletoe spell in a second, but it's infuriatingly out of his reach for the moment. Let's say that he can't just... summon it... because Reasons.
So here's Diarmuid, infuriatingly pretty and infuriatingly troubled, looking back and forth between his beloved golden lance and Ai, who is similarly beloved. What a conundrum. ]
I seem to be... [ he clears his throat. how humiliating... to be this way in front of his Master?! ] ...Stuck.
[ kill him now ]
So here's Diarmuid, infuriatingly pretty and infuriatingly troubled, looking back and forth between his beloved golden lance and Ai, who is similarly beloved. What a conundrum. ]
I seem to be... [ he clears his throat. how humiliating... to be this way in front of his Master?! ] ...Stuck.
[ kill him now ]
Edited (THE WRONG GAE AND THE WRONG SPELLING, STEP IT UP ME) 2015-12-04 06:26 (UTC)
[Okay, so she finally gets what the note means, THANKS SIS, but at the same time, good lord.]
You're stuck? Mistletoe shouldn't do that! Oh dear...!
[They have totally been punked to hell and back.]
Let's see, I can't remove it from here, not safely anyways.
[She moves towards him, only intending to be about a feet away, but the mistletoe is magnetizing and she finds herself right next to him.]
You're stuck? Mistletoe shouldn't do that! Oh dear...!
[They have totally been punked to hell and back.]
Let's see, I can't remove it from here, not safely anyways.
[She moves towards him, only intending to be about a feet away, but the mistletoe is magnetizing and she finds herself right next to him.]
[ THANKS MISTLETOE?? Here's Diarmuid trying to be a proper gentleman, and this stupid cursed mistletoe comes and ruins everything. Everything!!!
He supposes the charm works that way— drawing people like moths to a flame— and he can only manage a grim smile before Ai sidles up right next to him, effectively trapping herself. ]
...It must be enchanted. I suspect foul play.
[ Lien ]
He supposes the charm works that way— drawing people like moths to a flame— and he can only manage a grim smile before Ai sidles up right next to him, effectively trapping herself. ]
...It must be enchanted. I suspect foul play.
[ Lien ]
[ There are so many of them... so many. Did Lien truly put a mistletoe over every single doorway in this house?! How far does this prank go. ]
...That would make her definition of 'well meaning' slightly skewed.
[ He's not petty enough to seek revenge, but LIEN. ]
...Does she know?
[ 'About all of this, about our current status with respect to each other', is what he doesn't articulate. ]
...That would make her definition of 'well meaning' slightly skewed.
[ He's not petty enough to seek revenge, but LIEN. ]
...Does she know?
[ 'About all of this, about our current status with respect to each other', is what he doesn't articulate. ]
[Ai feels her cheeks flare up when he asks the question, but she keeps her voice at a level and calm volume even if she may not look it.]
I-I may not say anything, but I can't exactly evade her either...
[Aka, yeah, Lien knows. Like. It's OBVIOUS. She clasps her hands together nervously because being this close to him makes her feel odd and guilty for feeling that way at the same time.]
If it's something that catches her attention, she makes sharp enough conclusions.
I-I may not say anything, but I can't exactly evade her either...
[Aka, yeah, Lien knows. Like. It's OBVIOUS. She clasps her hands together nervously because being this close to him makes her feel odd and guilty for feeling that way at the same time.]
If it's something that catches her attention, she makes sharp enough conclusions.
...And that would mean her intentions are to make us kiss.
[ Those words are surprisingly forthright, and it comes with a short accompanying sigh: not exasperated or resigned, but just. A sigh, for the sake of one.
(Listen, it's not like he's against the idea, but there are steps—) ]
She's a bit of a romantic, your sister.
[ Those words are surprisingly forthright, and it comes with a short accompanying sigh: not exasperated or resigned, but just. A sigh, for the sake of one.
(Listen, it's not like he's against the idea, but there are steps—) ]
She's a bit of a romantic, your sister.
As simple as it is difficult. Yes, I believe I understand it.
[ His reverence for Ai would have him refuse, out of sheer chivalry, but their current situation affords him no alternative actions. How inconvenient.
So, like a knight, he elects to take the path of thorns: as angry as Ai may get at him, this is the only way he can free her. He isn't thrilled— this is still, after all, a charm he needs to break— but he doesn't feel a crushing sense of guilt or self-disappointment, both things he may have felt before. ]
May I ask you to close your eyes, Master?
[ His reverence for Ai would have him refuse, out of sheer chivalry, but their current situation affords him no alternative actions. How inconvenient.
So, like a knight, he elects to take the path of thorns: as angry as Ai may get at him, this is the only way he can free her. He isn't thrilled— this is still, after all, a charm he needs to break— but he doesn't feel a crushing sense of guilt or self-disappointment, both things he may have felt before. ]
May I ask you to close your eyes, Master?
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